Academic Freedom Under Fire by Louis Menand

Somewhat atypically, Louis Menand brings a whole lot of fire to this essay prompted by the right wing’s recent crusade against higher education officials, ostensibly out of concern for antisemitism but really part of an ongoing assault against intellectual empowerment. This time around, too many feckless college and university officials have fallen right in line with the disingenuous alarm, often siccing the police on students and faculty. Better than anyone else I’ve seen thus far, Menand makes it clear why the government threats and administrative acquiescence to them are such betrayals of the fundamental good that is academic freedom. This piece is published by The New Yorker.

Federal Spending Rescued Mass Transit During Covid. What Happens Now? by Colbi Edmonds

Reporting for The New York Times, Colbi Edmonds details the ways that deliberate governmental neglect is pushing mass transit in many cities to the point of extinction, a dilemma that was temporarily assuaged by an influx of cash in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its many socials ripple effects. As usual, the problem started with the Reagan administration and its determination to heartlessly strip away any federal spending that made citizens’ lives better. There is hope in the article; Edmonds notes municipalities that are doing right by their residents, such as Richmond, Virginia, which makes the investments necessary to provide a free fares for its bus service. I’m reminded of the message of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gives to her staff when they’re feeling particularly dejected about the slow progress in instilling large solutions (which I’ve shared in this space previously):