Jenna Bednar
Umich prof, polisci & public policy, Director of UMICH Votes &
Democratic Engagement, & Santa Fe Institute. Institutions, federalism, robustness, sustainability. New work on democratic norms, coming soon.
- "Regimes that rely on repression face a challenge: The more force they deploy, the more they risk exposing their own brutality to politically persuadable observers. Overreach doesn’t just project strength; it also undermines legitimacy." @owasow.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/o...
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- Reposted by Jenna BednarApplications open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program. Are you fascinated by transdisciplinary questions that transcend or combine disciplines? UCR is a fully funded, 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates curious about complexity science. Apply by Jan 14, 2026 santafe.edu/ucr
- From interim President Mahoney's letter: "We seek no special treatment.... the integrity of science ... depends on merit-based assessment." Yay UVa.
- Reposted by Jenna BednarMy department is hiring an assistant professor of environmental behavioral sciences. The research area is open but we are particularly interested in people with research on collective action or computational social sciences. Happy to answer questions about the Doerr School or the department.
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- ⭐ Book rec to understand Trump's Epstein August: www.harpercollins.com/products/the.... There's no better guide to the evangelicals’ embrace of Trump. This is no outsider’s ethnography; he is a pastor’s son trying to understand how the church he loves has chosen earthly power over the Gospel.
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- "Fear is the tool of a tyrant."
- Cutting the CPB devastates rural public radio. On a recent roadtrip w @scottepage.bsky.social we listened only to public radio. It was incredibly...local: hog sales, new biz, swaps, & in western KS, a book club of Verghese's Covenant of Water. We lose more than emergency alerts. We lose community.
- Reposted by Jenna BednarSpecial Issue Captures Vibrant Moment in #ComplexityEconomics Editorial team: @jennabednar.bsky.social @sfiscience.bsky.social @maria-drc.bsky.social @doynefarmer.bsky.social @francoislafond.bsky.social +J.Kaszowska-Mojsa, P.Mealy, M.Pangallo & A.Pichler #EconSky www.inet.ox.ac.uk/news/vibrant...
- Over 1K rejected kings in Brighton, MI, a red town of 8k in the midst of a deep red county. The vibe: highly patriotic, pro people power, pro freedom. A rousing collective pledge of allegiance. Pro constitution signs on fishing poles and marshmallow sticks.
- Reposted by Jenna BednarMelissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government. That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
- Can federalism hold? Here's a decent review of recent federalization of national guard troops. Last time done over a gov's wishes was 60 years ago, to protect protesters. BTW the president's order can include all states, not just CA. Where are the R governors? D govs? Pritzker? wapo.st/3ZXocaZ
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- DeVos family creates a 501c4, headed by Ronna McDaniel, to promote R candidates in Michigan. Open seats in 2026 for gov, AG, SOS, and US Senate.
- On the flight to Amsterdam a rowdy group of septuagenarian women from New Orleans kept saying 86 this trash, 86 this movie, 86 this wine, it’s terrible. It’s true, they killed me.
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- Consumer confidence is in free fall, across all segments of the population. www.sca.isr.umich.edu/files/featur...
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- Problem solving by cognitively diverse teams is such a dangerous idea that the Navy has pulled @scottepage.bsky.social ‘s book The Difference from their shelves. press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
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- Tune in now to catch Cory Booker finish his filibuster. He is speaking lovingly of John Lewis now. The past hour has been on the rule of law, the spirit of liberty, and asking: is the Constitution in your heart? He reminds us that our country is worth loving, and it’s because of our Constitution.
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- "Democracy dies in darkness, so we're shining our spotlight on free markets."
- Over 400 showed up in the midst of a snowstorm last night to learn about executive orders, the rule of law, and democratic norms. They stayed for 3 1/2 hours. Go Blue! Go Team Democracy!
