iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

How do we build a fair society? You may have heard of the idea of “distributive justice.” This says that a fair society is one where goods and services are fairly allocated across a population.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Fair warning that a solid 50% of my posts may just turn out to be uncovering latent potentialists in psychology, philosophy, and history. Here’s one from the article “Mattering at the Intersection of Psychology, Philosophy, and Politics” onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I spent ten years writing from a place of fear. That’s what academic writing does to you. It makes you constantly afraid—afraid that the wrong term, the wrong phrase, the wrong citation will inflame the sensitivities of the wrong reviewer…

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Two years I left academia with the daft ambition of starting a new type of social science lab. Its aim: leverage insights from the latest psychology research to ancient Greek wisdom (and everything in between)…

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁. That's the core maxim of the new political philosophy we are developing at the Beacon Project called "potentialism."

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

There is a smoldering question at the heart of our political life: how do we balance people's freedom pursue their own path with their obligation to the common good? Thousands of debates roiling our public discourse can be reduced to this simple dilemma.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

For most of my life, the word “community” evoked images of boring town hall meetings. But the more I dug into ideas for how to escape our current political mess, the more I realized that there is no solution WITHOUT community. That led me to @petedavis.bsky.social

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I joined @cspanwj.bsky.social to discuss the importance of civic education to a pluralistic democracy. How do we show up for each other? How do we navigate difference? We can build more active and productive members of civic life by teaching civic education skills at a young age.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

What is the Beacon Project? I joined @cspanwj.bsky.social to discuss our work to identify a vision that speaks to the Exhausted Majority of Americans who feel as though their views are not reflected in current politics and want something better. WATCH:

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RobertNDouglass🇺🇳🇵🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺🇰🇷🇯🇵 @realantipartisan.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Washington Journal #CSPAN #CSPANWJ Skeet at @c-span.bsky.social and cspanwj.bsky.social Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social on survey findings on how USians define civic responsibility in modern life and what it can mean for addressing #politicalpolarization. Watch live here: tinyurl.com/2ntjnby8

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

We all *think* we know a lot more than we actually know. Caroline Mehl at Constructive Dialogue Inst. explains the "illusion of explanatory depth" & how closing gaps between strong views & knowledge makes young people more open to new perspectives. thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/our-minds-...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Was America always this polarized? How did we get here? And what can we do to foster better communication across lines of difference among the next generation? Watch my conversation with Caroline Mehl at the Constructive Dialogue Institute thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/our-minds-...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

When asked at @spspnews.bsky.social what I've been up to, I told folks that the Beacon Project at @moreincommonus.bsky.social is building a new vision for America's Exhausted Majority. What's the Beacon Project? What do you mean by vision? By the time I answered, people's eyes had glazed over.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Hey psychology friends! If you’re at #SPSP2026, stop by the Morality or Political Psychology precons to see my poster on ideological differences in moral dilemma judgments. We find liberals are more likely than conservatives to excuse low-power individuals for wrongdoing.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

I had a fascinating conversation with Ted Johnson, Senior Fellow at @newamerica.org and columnist at @washingtonpost.com, on civic bravery and how its incumbent on us as ‘moral patriots’ to call out our nation’s institutions when they fall short. open.substack.com/pub/thebeaco...

open.substack.com

What does it mean to be brave right now?

Watch now | A conversation with Ted Johnson, columnist at The Washington Post

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Can we realign civic life with the values of America's Exhausted Majority? I've obsessed over this question for 10 years & I believe the answer is yes. Grateful to Paul Rader for the thoughtful dialogue on potentialism and civic renewal. Give it a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Ve...

youtube.com

Is Potentialism the Key to American Civic Renewal? w/ Daniel Yudkin | Politics with Paul #79

YouTube video by Paul Rader

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The Syllabus @the-syllabus.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Don’t be fooled: Trumpism is not a monolithic movement. Our hidden gem of the week maps the diverse sections whose shared disgust at elite power and “wokeness” masks sharp splits over democracy and America's future. By @dyudkin.bsky.social et al. at @moreincommonus.bsky.social buff.ly/CK7zFIs

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Opinion Today @opiniontoday.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

The Four Types of Trump Supporter: The president’s political power depends on his ability to play different roles for different parts of his coalition. (@dyudkin.bsky.social and Stephen Hawkins) www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

theatlantic.com

The Four Types of Trump Supporter

The president’s political power depends on his ability to play different roles for different parts of his coalition.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

In @usatoday.com, I reflect on the Beacon Project's new research that asked 5,000 Americans: What are our civic responsibilities? We found a country not divided over whether citizenship matters, but one with different ideas about what good citizenship looks like. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

usatoday.com

America feels more divided than ever. But is it? | Opinion

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, civic habits feel especially urgent. We asked 5,000 people across 50 states what is good citizenship.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

My latest piece for @usatoday.com reminds us that America has never been about sameness. From the beginning, this country has depended on people who show up differently, bring different gifts and express commitment in different ways. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

usatoday.com

America feels more divided than ever. But is it? | Opinion

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, civic habits feel especially urgent. We asked 5,000 people across 50 states what is good citizenship.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Fixing democracy isn't just about reforming institutions—it's about mending civic culture. Folks like Robert Putnam and James Davison Hunter argue that our current political problems are the result not just of a culture of individualism that places the “me” over the “we.”

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Last year I gave up on my lifelong dream of being a university professor and venture out in search of "other marshmallows." Little did I know I'd find a Reese's instead. Lessons in Marshmallow Hunting, Part II open.substack.com/pub/thebeaco...

open.substack.com

Lessons in Marshmallow Hunting, Part II

Celebrating the Beacon Project's 1-year anniversary

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Something in America is deeply broken. It’s tempting to think the fix lies in the next policy or election—but our challenges run deeper than that. We need a new way of thinking about what we owe each other and what it means to be American. Call it a new “civic vision.”

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

When I was invited to be the Keynote Speaker at the Cato Institute’s Sphere Alumni Fellowship kickoff event last Friday, I was thrilled. Not just because I was honored to present almost ten years of More in Common’s work in political polarization at a well-respected think tank.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 29/05/2025

Reddit’s AITA? board is a goldmine of data on how real people conceptualize and solve moral dilemmas. A study of posts on the board finds that the nature of the relationships between people in a dilemma is central to moral decision making. In PNAS Nexus: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

A semantic map of the situations described across all posts. The most frequently occurring situations pertained to family (21%), the office (8.4%), and weddings (4.2%).

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koenfucius @koenfucius.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

What makes people assholes? Fascinating research by @dyudkin.bsky.social et al of 370k everyday moral dilemmas on Reddit's “Am I the Asshole?” reveals → 29 types of dilemma → relational obligations most common → dishonesty most often condemned →…and much more! academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

🚀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 beaconproject.us

beaconproject.us

Beacon Project

In search of a new civic vision

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

My hottest take of 2025: the best La Croix flavor is Limoncello.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

I got over 100 emails today and I am a nothing nobody with zero clout or responsibility. I can't imagine the number of emails that real people get.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

I find this so refreshing…it means the battle lines we see as permanent are less than a handful of decades old

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Nina Turner @ninaturner.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Musk’s wealth in 2012: $2 Billion Musk’s wealth in 2024: $447 Billion Bezos’s wealth in 2012: $18 Billion Bezos’s wealth in 2024: $249 Billion Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2012: $44 Billion Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2024: $224 Billion Minimum wage in 2012: $7.25 Minimum wage in 2024: $7.25

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

An consequence of aiming high is that no matter how well things are going, you must always confront painful nearby possible worlds where things went a little better, where you were a little smarter or were quicker on your feet. Call it the price of ambition.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

The longer people participate in collective action, the enraged they get and the more “moralized” they consider the issues they are fighting for. psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...

psycnet.apa.org

APA PsycNet

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Offended that someone correctly guessed my age

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Feeling strangely in awe of the reviewer who wrote 13 single-spaced pages explaining why my paper is trash.

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Opinion Today @opiniontoday.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

The Perception Gap That Explains American Politics. (@stephen-hawkins.bsky.social @dyudkin.bsky.social) More, via Opinion Today: opiniontoday.substack.com/p/241129-top...

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Gilad Edelman @giladedelman.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Absolutely eye-popping result from a survey conducted by @dyudkin.bsky.social and @stephen-hawkins.bsky.social. Americans generally believe that Democrats are obsessed with LGBT issues—but it's not true. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

“If elections are a battle of perceptions, our data suggest this was a battle Democrats lost.” My colleague Stephen Hawkins and I have an article out today in The Atlantic showing how Americans mistakenly think Democrats prioritize Progressive causes over economic ones. t.co/1O4CmhFjy2

t.co

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-defined-progressive-issues/680810/

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Had a great time re/connecting with amazing scholars at #SJDM2024. It was my first time at the conference, but it definitely won’t be my last! 🙏 @katymilkman.bsky.social @dgrand.bsky.social @sdpbht.bsky.social @ikesilver.bsky.social @juliaminson.bsky.social @rafmbatista.bsky.social o

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Nick Byrd, Ph.D. @byrdnick.com · 23/11/2024

I’m sharing talks and posters from this weekend’s @SJDM-tweets.bsky.social conference. First, a talk about the #jobMarket — by the way, I’m hiring a 3-year #postdoc researcher who does quantitative #decisionScience and can #workFromHome in the U.S.: geisinger.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/GeisingerExt... …

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Nick Byrd, Ph.D. @byrdnick.com · 24/11/2024

Who’s the a$$hole?   It's not @dyudkin.bsky.social: his team harnessed #Reddit's r/AITA to categorize, rank, and analyze response options to "everyday moral dilemmas". Follow Dr. Yudkin and the paper: scholar.google.com/citations?vi... #corpusLinguistics #dataViz #moralPsych #webScraping #xPhi

Dr. Yudkin and a breakdown of moral dilemma decisions

Study 2: Preregistered Replication with US-Representative Sample (N = 500). The correlations between r/AITA and the representative samples were high: about 0.7 (of 1.0)

Common variables (like moral foundations and virtues) didn't predict whether a subreddit post contained a dilemma. What did? The "interpersonal closeness of the interactants" in the post.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Note to anyone thinking of having kids: DO NOT DO IT. You will start to love them so much it becomes physically painful

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

PSA for anyone wondering what professional life is like outside of academia: TEN OUT OF TEN Truly could not be happier, more motivated, or excited by what I'm working on right now. 🙏

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the the Beacon Project at More in Common. The Beacon Project will be using insights from social science to help build a new moral framework that can speak to modern challenges.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 15/02/2024

In the past decade, Effective Altruism has motivated people to give hundreds of millions of dollars to charity. In this post, I argue that EA's foundational theory, utilitarianism, overlooks a core feature of morality: honoring relational obligations. www.partialspectator.com/p/effective-...

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 01/02/2024

Allow me to (re)introduce myself. My name is Daniel, and I walked away from academia to live in New Orleans. I believe success takes many forms.

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Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social · 12/12/2023

I'm launching a new monthly newsletter about morality, mind, and society. It's called The Partial Spectator. My first post is about how I decided to step away from academia and move to New Orleans. www.partialspectator.com/p/lessons-in...

partialspectator.com

Lessons in marshmallow-hunting

Why I'm stepping away from academia

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