Ben Cecil
@BenCecil
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PhD @McBeeIHE. Senior Policy Advisor @ThirdWayEDU. Formerly @FSU_HE & @UGA_SPIA. Higher ed policy with the occasional hot take. Views my own.
Washington, D.C.
Joined August 2009
Wondering how the tariffs will impact institutions—especially those already stretched by rising tech and operating costs? @BenCecil shares insights in @govtechnews on what’s ahead for education. ➡️ https://t.co/hBg3ln4IZL
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"Is it too much to ask, though, for Democrats to be more clear-eyed about winning elections? The point isn’t to find a savior, it’s to get closer to 51 votes in the United States Senate. Act like discerning shoppers, not fanboys." SAY IT LOUDER!
politico.com
Democrats keep falling for charismatic newcomers and viral candidates — and it keeps costing them elections.
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Democrat here. Stunts like this are why people don't like us. You may be technically right on the math, but discarding and laughing at 40% of your electorate before you're the general candidate is *not* the path forward. Always having to be "right" is never a winning strategy.
Porter: “I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you.” Reporter: “I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, either.”
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dog regrets, denies catching bus
one of the hallmarks of the current centrist movement is to pretend they haven't been running the show for the last decade. in fact, they've been in charge the whole time and drove us into the ditch.
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🍎🦡 I'm recruiting a PhD student in Ed Policy (fall '26) at @UWMadEducation! Come work with me on college access, admissions, & fin aid in our top-ranked, fully-funded program. I’m especially excited for this student to immediately join our direct admissions RCT team.
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Grad debt makes up nearly half of student loans. In our latest blog, @BenCecil argued Congress intended a narrow definition of ‘professional’ programs so students aren’t overborrowing and have manageable debt. More from @JessicaEBlake (@InsideHigherEd)🔗: https://t.co/eYrBAMt8Z9
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Student loan rules are on the table. As negotiators define ‘graduate’ and ‘professional’ programs under OBBBA, access to federal aid and student debt outcomes hang in the balance. Learn more from @BenCecil ⤵️ https://t.co/0dLVLgX4xO
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"Professional Program Exceptions Would Swallow the Rule on Loan Limits" - great stuff from @BenCecil
https://t.co/cwpVmXRONr
thirdway.org
Third Way is a center-left think tank that champions modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US public policy, including the economy, climate and energy, national security, social...
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It’s #HBCUWeek! HBCUs are just 3% of US colleges but graduate about 1 in 5 Black undergrads. Eight made the top tier of our Economic Mobility Index—here are 4 standouts👇 https://t.co/a9tAJcuCJF
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📣We’re growing our education team! Third Way is hiring a Higher Education Policy Advisor. If you’re ready to make an impact in higher ed policy, apply today! 🔗 https://t.co/naqJUyjj7q
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📣 💼 Come work with us @ThirdWayEDU! We're currently looking for our next Higher Education Policy Advisor to join our team focused on improving the higher ed system to focus more on student success. Info and application: https://t.co/bt4hqXtcUM
#HigherEducation #highered
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ICYMI: The earnings threshold in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act might sound wonky, but our latest video breaks it down. It’s simple—if a credential doesn’t lead to better financial outcomes, the program shouldn’t receive federal dollars. Check it out! 🎥 https://t.co/f544BLDwIL
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Feels worth repeating (again) that New York City politics are not a playbook for Democratic success at the national level.
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Senior Policy Advisor @BenCecil partnered up w/ @NewAmericaEd for a presentation on measuring higher ed value to students & stakeholders at the 2025 NCAN Conference—because confirming that college delivers real results is key to keeping it a trusted pathway for opportunity. 🤝
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Shot: "Ben Tribbett, a Virginia-based Democratic strategist, wrote on X that his party had a “Karen” problem, with some activists leading ineffective and alienating protests that hurt the whole ticket." Chaser: "Going away would help Democrats win.” https://t.co/lMtNxN8zBj
semafor.com
From Sydney Sweeney to the Virginia gubernatorial race, the party sees an opportunity.
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My colleague @MichelleDimino has a vitally important message to blue states: do NOT opt out of free federal money for education. https://t.co/CMdfC5punP
washingtonpost.com
A new tax credit program funds student services at no cost to states. Opting in should be a no-brainer.
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As you’re stung by rising electricity bill, remember the Trump admin is shadow banning virtually all new wind and solar and forcing us to pay to keep old, inefficient coal plants online. We’re paying for stupid.
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🚨New Budget Analysis🚨 We @ThirdWayEcon did the math on the Republican Budget Bill--By 2030 it takes more away from kids than potential benefits. By the end of the budget window its a $42B net drain on kid's and their future. /1
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This is the first of over a dozen big ideas from Third Way to kick off the 2028 ideas primary. "I reject the notion that moderate ideas have to be small. Moderates have just as many transformative ideas as the far left," @HorwitzGabe tells @AlexThomp. https://t.co/oUT3CtsHdV
axios.com
The proposal is a reflection of the growing "Abundance" movement that urges Democrats to remove red tape and focus on building things if they want to win more elections.
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This is the type of policy that is critical for Dems to reconnect with working class and young voters. Third Way lays out how to build 12 million new homes with an "Abundance" housing plan @ThirdWayTweet This is our way back. A strong economic agenda
axios.com
The proposal is a reflection of the growing "Abundance" movement that urges Democrats to remove red tape and focus on building things if they want to win more elections.
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