“If the Follow the Rules Act were better known, then perhaps more public servants might be willing to resist improper orders—and more military and civilian leaders might think twice before giving them,” writes University Professor Emeritus Sean O'Keefe and co-author Joshua Gotbaum (@brookings.edu ).

When told to break the law, must feds just follow orders? | Brookings

Federal law protects public servants who refuse illegal orders, but most don't know their rights exist or how to use them.

brookings.edu

Maxwell's MPH program is adding a concentration in epidemiology, drawing on the strength of the #1-ranked public affairs school in the country. Students now have three concentration tracks to choose from: epidemiology, public health policy, and global health. https://bit.ly/4xstn0E

“I think there’s a narrow slice of the electorate that could potentially be persuaded and moved, swayed by that cross-party endorsement. But in the states that we’re talking about, that narrow slice of the electorate could be pivotal,” says Professor Richard Barton.

Candidates in purple states tout cross-party endorsements

Several 2026 candidates in purple states have opted to lean into a, sometimes subtle, cross-party appeal as they vie for independent voters.

washingtonexaminer.com

Of the traditional Mercator map, which was designed to help European navigators at sea, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Mark Monmonier says, “Outside of that very narrow navigation application, there is no point in using it.”

UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to endorse a new world map that shows Africa's large size more accurately.

apnews.com

Taylor, Sydney and Lauren Grosso grew up on their family farm with different plans for the future. Each found her way to Maxwell, earned an M.P.A. and followed her own path, with mentors helping along the way. 🧡 Read more: https://bit.ly/4xTzewR

“The U.S. must start thinking more about policies that promote population growth in addition to policies that help women control their fertility. Both are necessary for a healthy family planning program,” writes Professor Leonard Lopoo. @cprmaxwell.bsky.social

Family planning in the US should also support egg freezing

Our programs are designed to assist when women want to restrict their childbearing but offer no support when women want to have children.

thehill.com

25 years later, we remember. Never forgotten. 🇺🇸

“The long-term conservative or Republican or MAGA criticism of the federal government” was actually “a criticism or a fight against what we call a vague liberal enemy, which was sometimes mapped onto the government when it was convenient,” says Professor Mark Brockway. @supolisci.bsky.social

MAGA Government Officials Don’t Seem To Know That They Are The Government

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently said he has a “hard time believing in the government,” and he’s not the only one in the Trump administration.

huffpost.com

“Nepal is owed something more substantial than sympathy. ...Monitoring of unstable ice and glacial lakes concerns the whole basin and should be funded on a standing basis, with hydrological data crossing borders as a matter of routine rather than negotiation,” writes Professor Farhana Sultana.

The Ice Failed Upstream. The Debt is Downstream.

Nepal is owed something more substantial than sympathy and more useful than a loan charging interest on damage it did not cause. Monitoring of unstable ice and glacial lakes concerns the whole basin a...

counterpointbd.com

“President Trump’s post references ‘purposeful inaccuracy’ in an apparent attempt to suggest her comment meets the standard for libel, but characterizing his record on recent endorsements as ‘mixed’ is neither inaccurate nor malicious,” says Prof. Johanna Dunaway. @supolisci.bsky.social

Trump wants FCC to go after this TV host. What happens now?

Legal and media experts believe any action by the FCC against NBC anchor Kristen Welker or NBC is highly unlikely to succeed.

usatoday.com

LISTEN via @historyextra.bsky.social - Andrew Wender Cohen, professor of history, discusses his new book “Gangster of New York: A Violent Life in Nineteenth-Century America.”

How bullies shaped 19th-century America

HistoryExtra podcast · Episode

open.spotify.com

When she graduated in May, Maxwell's Amelia Rudolph looked back on a senior year that included presenting research on trust in maps at AAG's annual meeting, with mentor Meghan Kelly. @geographers.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4gMVpxI

“Being a Trump ally, getting the Trump endorsement, and at least supporting Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020, or even beyond that, seem to give candidates an electoral boost,” says Professor Richard Barton.

Election Deniers Could Soon Control Elections in Three Swing States

Secretary of state candidates in Nevada, Arizona and Wisconsin have cast doubt on the outcome of the 2020 election.

notus.org

“I think Putin's strategy is unlikely to work and unlikely to change the basic trajectory of the war, which is still that his strategic objectives that he set out at the very beginning of the invasion, which is basically to control Ukraine, will not be achieved,” says Prof. @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social

Professor Brian Taylor on Russo-Ukraine War

YouTube video by War & Politics 24

youtube.com

Emily Thorson, associate professor of political science, has been named Maxwell's inaugural Fortunato Priore Endowed Faculty Fellow in Civic Engagement—honoring the late Col. Fortunato “Fred” Priore '55 and his belief in “the hard work of democracy.” @supolisci.bsky.social 🔗: https://bit.ly/4cQht9k

“You’re going to have businesses on both sides of the border that are dealing with higher costs and more uncertainty, both of which are not sort of conducive to good business and to providing products to consumers at their sort of most efficient prices,” says Prof. Ryan Monarch.

Economists, contractors, farmers talk escalating trade war between U.S., Canada

Stakeholders say the ongoing uncertainty is causing problems within their industries.

spectrumlocalnews.com

Ian Buruma of The New Yorker discusses Professor @glynmorgan.bsky.social's “short and punchy” new book, “The Rise and Fall of American Europe.” (the article may require a subscription) @supolisci.bsky.social

The U.S. Helped Make Europe. Can It Break It?

During the Cold War, U.S. policymakers pushed for a unified Europe. Their MAGA successors are trying to undo all that.

newyorker.com

Andrew Lunetta '14 M.P.A. planned a career abroad but found his true calling while studying at Maxwell, launching A Tiny Home for Good the same year he graduated. The nonprofit has provided homes for 47 people, and Lunetta has been recognized as a 2026 CNN Hero. Read now: https://bit.ly/4xoy4th

If D.S.A. and Justice Democrats underperform in their own races, Professor Richard Barton says, “then we might reasonably infer that, in a nationalized and polarized environment, they likely cause indirect electoral harm to other Democrats in purple and red districts.”

Opinion | ‘The Easiest Explanation for This Phenomenon Is That Ideology Really Matters’

Trying to determine how much of a problem the D.S.A. poses for the Democratic Party’s electoral prospects. If it actually does.

nytimes.com

LISTEN: Maxwell professors @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social and Colleen Heflin, share insights on food policy and American secession on the nationally broadcast program “The Academic Minute.” @supolisci.bsky.social @cprmaxwell.bsky.social

Syracuse Scholarship Takes the Spotlight Again on ‘The Academic Minute’

Five Syracuse faculty share findings on food policy, AI, architecture, political science and marine biology on the nationally broadcast program "Academic Minute."

news.syr.edu

“These are both terrible policy and politics,” says Prof. Emeritus Leonard Burman. The benefits of both would “disproportionately accrue to the wealthiest households,” given the existing distribution of assets in the U.S., he says.

These Americans would benefit from Trump's capital gains tax proposal

Fox host Larry Kudlow said Trump had "liked" two potential changes to the existing capital gains tax framework.

bit.ly

Via @gothamist.com - Because of the Democratic party edge, Blakeman should concentrate on pocketbook issues that could appeal to independent voters, says Professor Grant Reeher. @supolisci.bsky.social

Blakeman turns to Trump playbook for his pitch to New York Republicans

The Nassau executive trails Gov. Kathy Hochul by 10 points statewide in a new Siena poll.

gothamist.com

“Russians generally are tired of the war and want it to end. They are well aware that the full-scale war against Ukraine started in 2022 has already lasted longer than the ‘Great Patriotic War’ against Nazi Germany,” says Professor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social. @supolisci.bsky.social

Russia’s War Toll Mounts In Ukraine Amid A Possible Mobilization

Russia faces mounting casualties and economic strain from its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, some observers warn of another possible Russian mobilization.

forbes.com

“They’ve been under way for that very, very long period of time, approaching nine months, and they’ve also been under combat conditions for much [of it] because of their time in the Middle East. That’s very, very tough on a crew,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of PAIA.

US navy veterans and military health experts express concern over USS Abraham Lincoln sailors

Prolonged deployment is coupled with reports of water shortages, plumbing issues and attempts to jump overboard

theguardian.com

“A strong military makes a currency more appealing because it’s a signal to foreign investors that their assets are safe,” says Professor @danielmcdowell.bsky.social. @supolisci.bsky.social

Jamie Dimon warns dollar dominance depends on the military: ‘If we're not the strongest military in 25 years…we won't be the reserve currency either’ | Fortune

The JPMorgan Chase CEO said U.S. military might well be the only thing keeping the world from being “very dangerous for us.”

fortune.com

WATCH: Professor @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social joins James Ker-Lindsay to discuss his book “The Disunited States: Threats of Secession in Red and Blue America and Why They Won't Work.” @supolisci.bsky.social

James Ker-Lindsay@jameskerlindsay.bsky.social · last mo.

Could the #UnitedStates break apart? Aside from deep political differences between Red and Blue states, it also has some fascinating separatist movements. It was great to talk about all this with @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social #CalExit #Texit youtu.be/ZmGfSa2gfXQ

Congratulations to six Maxwell School faculty on promotions for 2026-27: Bernard Appiah, Ethan Coffel, Jun Li, and Tomás Olivier earned tenure as associate professors. @supolisci.bsky.social was promoted to full professor, and Michael Lorenzo to associate teaching professor. https://bit.ly/4bFDs2o

“There's only so much you can do with air strikes to coerce foreign governments, this case the Iranian government, to get them to behave differently,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.

Analysis of Trump's potential deal with Iran as he threatens more strikes

YouTube video by CBS News

youtube.com

As we prepare for a new academic year, join us in celebrating changes to Maxwell's leadership team: Bob Bifulco, Gladys McCormick, Shana Gadarian, Daniel McDowell and Yüksel Sezgin. Thank you, Carol Faulkner, for 9 years as senior associate dean. https://bit.ly/4hqMljU

And “when similar decisions are repeated thousands of times across schools and other organizations, they can reinforce the unequal division of caregiving responsibilities that already exists within many families,” co-writes Professor @kbuzard7.bsky.social.

The Conversation U.S.@us.theconversation.com · last mo.

Even when Dad is the primary contact, schools often call Mom first. Just another part of the #BackToSchool mental load that often falls on moms. theconversation.com/better-call-...