Pranav Jani

‘Very Republican, very patriotic’: right-leaning civic centers now offer courses at US public colleges Republican lawmakers push for conservative professors to counter purported leftwing indoctrination in schools

Want to know more about the sweeping trend of state mandated taxpayer financed and hyper empowered civics centers, and the political project they embody, as in Ohio? See this excellent @theguardian.com article @osuaaup.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Conservative-leaning civic centers now teach courses at public colleges A growing number of Republican legislators are using their power in the name of intellectual diversity to get right-leaning professors in front of all students, at conservative-leaning civic centers.

The Hechinger Report on OSU’s Chase Center: very useful information and data.

Especially visible is the contrast between what politicians & Chase director Lee Strang says and the reality that we all see.

hechingerreport.org/conservative...

Our cartoon series continues with Leaf and Brutus salting the campus walkways. “Really think this will keep ICE out?” says Brutus, holding a bag that says “4th amendment.” Lead replies “we’ll be here until it does,” pouring salt from a bag labeled “Protest.”

Cartoon #5! Yes, the weather’s improved recently. But it’s still ICE-y out.

The quotation from Nichols says that many faculty staffed students have been talking about the possibility of being secretly recorded in the classroom and how detrimental it would be in this political moment

describes our statement to the Lantern, saying that accuracy in media lied to people, secretly recorded them, edited their words, and still did not find any evidence of wrongdoing by OSU It continues to say that OSU has in fact over, complied with federal and state legislation that limits the free speech of students and academic freedom of faculty.

Secretly recorded video draws scrutiny to Ohio State’s DEI efforts under Senate Bill 1 A video released Wednesday by a conservative media organization suggests Ohio State is ignoring a state-imposed diversity, equity and inclusion ban, based on an interview of a single Ohio State employ...

Another day, another crisis.

Accuracy in Media attempted to portray OSU as ignoring the DEI ban, trapping and recording a staff member.

See our statement in the Lantern article, as well as a comment by our board member Prof. Chris Nichols.

www.thelantern.com/2026/02/secr...

Professor Filmed Allegedly Tackling Documentarian to the Ground on Campus. A Day Later, He Was Put on Leave On Monday, Feb. 9, Luke Perez, an assistant professor at Ohio State University, was captured on camera tackling a filmmaker to the ground. The next day, he was placed on leave pending an investigation...

On Monday, someone in charge of PR at the Chase Center said, "Gee, I'd give *anything* to have our leadership class and one of its conservative instructors featured in PEOPLE Magazine this week." And then the monkey's paw curled.

Four episodes of my podcast are out! Please listen, and share as you see fit.

Episode 4: Liliana Rivera Baiman on ICE defense, tenant organizing, and how we keep us safe Liliana Rivera Baiman has worked to build progressive movements alongside workers and working families for over 18 years.   Born in rural San Luis Potosí, Mexico, she immigrated to the U.S. as…

I’m thrilled to share my interview with Liliana Rivera Baiman, the new episode of “Together We Rise: Solidarity Stories From Central Ohio.” I hope that listening to her words and her story inspires people to be brave in our work, and also link struggles together. ✊🏽❤️

pranavjani.com/2026/01/28/e...

Some events in Columbus this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Come out and show your support— for the immigrants, being targeted by ICE and CBP, for the brave activists giving their all, for the millions of people who have had enough of this racism, violence, and terror.

The Moral Right to Defend Yourself Against ICE - Public Seminar If you saw an armed stranger forcing his way into your neighbor's home at dawn, would you have the right to stop him?

"...we maintain this weird double standard: Soldiers in combat zones must refuse unlawful orders, but civilians facing unlawful force from domestic law enforcement must submit."

publicseminar.org/2026/01/the-...

AAUP President on the Killing of Alex Pretti: “This Moment Demands A Powerful Response from the Labor Movement” AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24.

It’s time for labor to stand up around the country against ICE’s racism and violence - just as unions and working people are doing in Minnesota.

www.aaup.org/news/aaup-pr...

GRAPHIC OF WHITE HOUSE WITH A SYMBOL TO BLOCK IT ON BLUESKY

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THE WHITE HOUSE HAS JOINED BLUESKY.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR A LIST OF THIER ACCOUNTS SO YOU CAN BLOCK THEM.
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bsky.app/profile/did:...

A narrative from a faculty member on the current escalation of ICE activity in Columbus.

Please see the list of resources at the end for ways to get involved with orgs doing the work on the ground.

ICE terrorizes Columbus - A better approach is to let immigrants stay and continue contributing — Ohio Immigrant Alliance Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents terrorized Columbus today, trolling parking lots and arresting people in various parts of the city. Officials with the City of Columbus, including the ...

The AAUP-Ohio State executive board condemns ICE escalation in our communities. We urge our members and all who love democracy to do what they can in this moment.

Here’s a statement from the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

ohioimmigrant.org/blog/2025/12...

Together We Rise: Solidarity Stories From Central Ohio Recent Episodes

Some kind words from listeners of pranavjani.com/togetherwerise

This is basically all me on the production and marketing side. Any and all comments, shares, etc are beneficial 🙏🏽

Together We Rise: Solidarity Stories From Central Ohio Recent Episodes

Listen and subscribe at pranavjani.com/togetherwerise or wherever you usually get your podcast.

We need to hear the stories of grassroots organizers now more than ever.Catch the first three episodes of my podcast, “Together We Rise: Solidarity Stories from Central Ohio” ✊🏽❤️

This is how you stand up for educators against politically motivated attacks on teaching.

Please sign OU AAUP’s petition demanding that OU protect the freedom to teach & learn, & stand up against targeted harassment & intimidation.

⬇️⬇️⬇️
actionnetwork.org/forms/defend...

'This isn't your granddad's KKK.' Inside the hate group expanding its presence in Tennessee They are the largest hate group in America, wrapping themselves in the red-white-and-blue of the flag, marching into the middle of American cities and claiming to be patriots.

CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...

I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis. “It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."

This is a harrowing account of city under siege

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Tell USA TODAY Co. to Recognize the Dispatch News Guild! We are the reporters, photographers and digital producers of The Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate, two of the oldest news organizations in Central Ohio. We are fighting for our own futures and th...

We heartily endorse this call from workers at the Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate.

Please sign the letter to The USA Today Co demanding they recognize the Dispatch News Guild-CWA

actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

Grateful for this note from my friend and comrade. Podcast launched today: pranavjani.com/togetherwerise

Thanks my friend! ❤️✊🏽