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Rebecca M. Townsend

@rmtownsend.bsky.social
3K followers 1.4K following 1.6K posts

Deliberation, democracy & public engagement scholar #TeamRhetoric politics in US & #CEE #transportation, public memory, Town Meeting. Lifter. Aromanian. Views here are personal & do not represent my employer #WMASS @TownModerator.bsky.social

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
UConn School of Social Work @uconnssw.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
As part of a new research study on understanding parent-children perspectives of food insecurity, Assistant Professor Alex Forté is searching for potential participants. Learn more: socialwork.uconn.edu/foodinsecuri...
socialwork.uconn.edu
Research Study: Understanding Parent-Child Perspectives of Food Insecurity | School of Social Work | University of Connecticut
PARTICIPANTS NEEDED Does your family have enough to eat? Can you afford to feed your family nutritious meals? Do you know where your next meal will come fro ...
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 18h
"There can be no compact when one party is not acting in good faith, nor under conditions of duress." I'm someone who studies and supports deliberation as a means to engage productively across disagreement. But one cannot be forced to engage.
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Christopher Hanusa @mathzorro.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I think this is all of us these days.
An error message that says "The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation.
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Please try to reclaim your precious precious attention, at all costs. Do puzzles. Take walks without a phone. Dear god, try to read, almost anything that isn’t a manifesto will really do. You are going to need your brain.
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Anna Nagurney @annanagurney.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
When I teach my various Transportation & Logistics courses I always tell students that - armchair generals talk strategy - realy generals talk logistics. Logistics are essential also to the functioning of economies www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/w...
nytimes.com
Stuck on the Battlefield, Russia Wages ‘Total War’ on Ukraine’s Economy
The economic damage from Russian strikes, resulting in lost sales, disrupted workdays and logistical snarls, is in the billions of dollars.
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Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Ironically, the White House Media ban should remind journalists to center American democracy - rather than the President. Sure "access journalism" has its place, but when power is being consolidated in the Executive Branch as it is now, access journalism can reinforce autocratization.
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Powerful article. A must-read.
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Citizen.Coping @propcazhpm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
#MApoli #VoteNoOn3
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Citizen.Coping @propcazhpm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
#MApoli #VoteNoOn3
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Citizen.Coping @propcazhpm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
#MApoli #VoteNoOn3
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
TIL that typewriters are still being developed. No internet. getfreewrite.com/products/fre...
getfreewrite.com
Smart Typewriter (Gen3)
Smart Typewriter is a dedicated drafting device for anyone who writes without the distraction – or temptation – of browsers, email, or notifications.  Get in writing flow and develop more prolific wri...
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
#Caturday with Leo and Veronica of the laser eyes
Fluffy black and white cat next to a black cat in a doorway. The black cat looks back at the camera which has a flash on so the cat's eyes are glowing
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Ed Markey @edmarkey.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Grateful to be with the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee this morning, and honored to work with such great leaders all across the Commonwealth.
Senator Ed Markey speaks at the Massachusetts Democratic Senate Committee Meeting.Senator Ed Markey with supporters at the Massachusetts Democratic Senate Committee Meeting.Senator Ed Markey with elected officials and supporters at the Massachusetts Democratic Senate Committee Meeting.Member of the Massachusetts Democratic Senate Committee Meeting.
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David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Republican South Dakota secretary of state endorses Democrat to succeed her “South Dakota deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation,” Monae Johnson wrote in a column published Saturday.
politico.com
Republican South Dakota secretary of state endorses Democrat to succeed her
“South Dakota deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation,” Monae Johnson wrote in a column published Saturday.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19/09/2026
Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied entry to the White House on Saturday. First Amendment experts condemned President Trump’s ban on the news outlets as unconstitutional. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/09...
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loreleikelly @loreleikelly.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
C’est flagrant:Trump’s new statues block language inscribed to share Washington DC’s vision of an inclusive, cultural hub for America. They also block Article 1 —powers of Congress.
One of Trump‘s new statues blocks a quotation praising Washington DC as a cultural hubOne of Trump’s new statues blocks the language of article one section 8, that describes Congress’s powersOne of Trump’s statues blocks a lovely phrase from American cities by George sessions Perry
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Drew Starr @thedrewstarr.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
People who run festivals and markets need to add "No AI" to their signage rules. AI "photos" of food probably violate truth in advertising laws, but they also just look like crap and devalue the experience for everyone.
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A couple weeks ago for me. How about you?
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Professa Murray @kalimurray.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
THANK YOU, Norm Eisen for pointing out that you can’t declare bankruptcy on charitable trust, which would make it difficult in the case of administrative trust.
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Catherine Prendergast @badtoss.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The only statement that counts is walking out with them.
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 19/09/2026
From the information available, it seems this US-Denmark deal over Greenland changes almost nothing. US had bases there before; US continues to defendsl Greenland because it s in NATO. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. and Denmark Reach Security Deal on Greenland, Trump Says
The full contours of the deal were unclear, but Denmark and Greenland both indicated they expected an agreement to be signed soon.
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Doremus Jessup @doremusjessup.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Is "imagine if Obama did it" cliche even when Obama himself asks?
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Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open
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DCMediaGroup @dcmediagroup.us · 19/09/2026
At the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 1000s have linked hands and are demanding “Hands Off the Arts” while surrounding the center.
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Drew Starr @thedrewstarr.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I have loved going to grocery stores since I was a kid. One of the best times of year is when college kids who've never cooked or been food shopping in their lives are learning how food works. Overhead this week: -you can make tea from leaves? -do I need to own salt? -you can get tofu in a store?
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Dan Kennedy @dankennedy.net · 16/09/2026
Note to #mapoli news outlets doing endorsements, candidate profiles, deep dives on the issues and anything else election-related: The election begins on Oct. 17. Nov. 3 is simply the last day of voting.
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Jim Wald @citizenwald.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s plan to limit mail-in voting in midterms | CNN Politics
cnn.com
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s plan to limit mail-in voting in midterms | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to change how mail ballots are sent to voters across the country, rebuffing a proposal that election officials warned would have had catastrophic consequences if allowed to take effect for this year’s midterms.
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UrSza @ursza.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
„Rosyjski terroryzm nie puka do drzwi Europy. On już przez nie przeszedł, a wojna hybrydowa jest teraz prowadzona przy użyciu broni” – powiedział. Polska jest sojusznikiem NATO. Te drony spadły w odległości kilometra od granicy, której Stany Zjednoczone są zobowiązane bronić na mocy traktatu. 3/3
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UrSza @ursza.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Polski minister Radosław Sikorski nazwał Rosję „wrogiem wolnego świata”. Rosja, jak stwierdził, chce uznania za państwo specjalne, uprawnione do dominowania nad swoimi sąsiadami. „Ukraina i Polska odmawiają Rosji tego prawa, przynajmniej w odniesieniu do nas. To się nie stanie i nie wróci”.
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UrSza @ursza.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Rosyjskie drony uderzyły w nocy w pociąg pasażerski na trasie Kijów–Warszawa, niedaleko granicy z Polską. Drugi spadł w pobliżu przejścia granicznego Dorohusk–Jagodzin. Polska poderwała myśliwce i ostrzegła mieszkańców terenów przygranicznych. 1/3
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Maria Popova @popovaprof.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Kushner claims there’s a peace deal if only Ukr withdrew from Donbas. Thats not true. Ru wants Ukr withdrawal as the condition to begin peace talks not to end the war. Ru has not agreed to a single thing Ukr wants: NATO membership, peacekeeping troops, reparations, return of kidnapped children, etc.
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Jay in Kyiv @jayinkyiv.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Putin's war comes home, as Ukraine strikes key facilities. youtu.be/GTWbYiw9PbI
youtu.be
Putin Humiliated As Ukraine Takes the War Deep Into Russia
YouTube video by Jay in Kyiv
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings UMass Amherst Friday, October 16, 3:30pm to 5:00pm EDT #TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy #MAPOLI @umassamherst.bsky.social Thompson Hall Rm420 & on Zoom. events.umass.edu/event/local-...
events.umass.edu
Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Tuesday, Sept. 15 7:30 PM "How a little hill town in central Massachusetts participated in the buildup of courage in the colonies to sever ties with the Crown" talk by Harry Pape, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social #TownMeeting #Rev250 #MA250 cornell.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Celebrating Our Declaration of Independence: A Public Reading and the Planting of the Tree of Liberty on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 1:00 pm on the Longmeadow, MA Town Green. #Rev250 #MA250
Flyer with picture of a bas relief elm tree, 
for Celebrating Our Declaration of Independence:A Public Reading & the Planting of the Tree of Liberty 
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:00 PM Longmeadow Town Green
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Tuesday, Sept. 15 7:30 PM "How a little hill town in central Massachusetts participated in the buildup of courage in the colonies to sever ties with the Crown" talk by Harry Pape, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social #TownMeeting #Rev250 #MA250 cornell.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings UMass Amherst Friday, October 16, 3:30pm to 5:00pm EDT #TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy #MAPOLI @umassamherst.bsky.social Thompson Hall Rm420 & on Zoom. events.umass.edu/event/local-...
events.umass.edu
Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings
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Emily Wood @ebwood.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
#TapestryOnTour
britishmuseum.org
The Bayeux Tapestry online experience
Follow the story and discover the people, places and events of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. Made for young learners, open to all.
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FinTwitter @fintwitter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
10-year Treasury yield climbs 2.6 bps to 4.9708%, reaching its highest since October 2023.
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Travis @someforeignfield.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Houthis now have complete control of the eastern side of Bab el Mandab (a 12 mile strait, narrower than Hormuz), and have declared it blocked to Saudi shipping. It'll take days or weeks to consolidate control of the territory to use it to launch weapons against ships, but they'll get there soon
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
My mathematical jewelry @hanusadesign.com arrived today! Thank you @mathzorro.bsky.social !
A necklace, two pendants and a pair of earrings with business cards from Hanusa Design, Mathematical Jewelry hanusadesign.com
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Thomas J. Tobin @thomasjtobin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
NEURODIVERSITY GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS @sarahesilverman.bsky.social's new book, *Classroom Mindscapes: An Introduction to Neurodiversity for Educators* is coming in the @oupress.bsky.social Teaching, Learning & Thriving series. Follow Sarah . . . & get your copy! www.oupress.com/978080619720...
Tom Tobin looks intently into his copy of *Classroom Mindscapes: An Introduction to Neurodiversity for Educators* by Sarah E. Silverman.
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Thomas J. Tobin @thomasjtobin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Hey, Toronto-area friends, go hear this cool workshops. And, everyone, buy this book (I did)!
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BlackJew 🏳️‍⚧️ @blackjew.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Proud with @jonathancohn.bsky.social and all the people who wake up every day thinking about how to make Massachusetts a better place to lead opposition to Jungle Primaries. If you are in #mapoli we would love your help to take on the billionaires backing this ballot initiative.
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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Taking care of sheep in the summer between undergrad and grad school. Also that summer: stocking mens and boys clothes at Ames.
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Anna Nagurney @annanagurney.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Happy Labor Day with thanks to all the hard workers everywhere!
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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Fresh evidence that car touchscreens are a giant step backwards for road safety: "For all tasks, the touchscreen was associated with increased visual distraction." doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
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Jim Wald @citizenwald.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Moving article on Grzegorz's vital work in preserving the materiality of #Holocaust memory in #Poland At Stutthof, victims’ shoes are preserved inside and disappearing into the earth outside. [gift link in case you need it] www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/04/o...
bostonglobe.com
Just beyond the museum fence, the Holocaust is still surfacing - The Boston Globe
At Stutthof, victims’ shoes are preserved inside and disappearing into the earth outside.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Yikes. “We sent it out to actors, and no Black actors wanted to play in a movie where there are no good Black people. And it sort of died. But then AI came along, and I didn’t need Black actors.” Asked if that meant he would create the actors himself, Schrader replied, “We’re making them!”
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 06/09/2026
Witkoff and Kushner landed in Rzeszow, Poland close to the Ukrainian border. So they’ll have to take a train. But… I thought daddy Putin was granting them a flyover to Kyiv directly? He also conveniently bombed both airports in and near Kyiv the day prior.
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