The hottest U.S. Politics Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

We Can Come Back From The Brink

Hold That Thought by Sarah Haider • 235 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Culture Institutions Elections Modernity Youth
  1. Institutions in the US are under assault, but they continue to function and there are mechanisms for resistance and change.
  2. The American people have the power to influence their political landscape through voting, ensuring a system of checks and balances.
  3. Modernity relies on objective realities like physics and mathematics, which will persist despite ideological pressures.

Yes, It is Snowing in New York

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 3 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Local government Civil Liberties Emergency powers National Security Campaign Finance Media Criticism
  1. News outlets exaggerated a routine Northeast snowfall as an unprecedented emergency, which helped build public panic and justify strict city measures.
  2. The mayor’s emergency order banned private vehicle travel while exempting many nonprofits, delivery services, and essential workers, and it forced property owners to clear wide paths or face fines, raising questions about fairness and civil liberties.
  3. Closing bridges and restricting movement could create real security risks by trapping people during an attack, and allegations about staff and donor ties to extremist groups increase fears these powers might be abused.
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At The Speed of Light.

News Items • 216 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidency Election Special counsel
  1. President Joe Biden's job approval rating among Democrats has dropped significantly.
  2. 2024 election in Pennsylvania shows a close race between Biden and Trump due to economic concerns.
  3. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows spoke to special counsel about baseless voting fraud claims after being granted immunity.

What Everyone Really Wants to Hear

OK Doomer • 121 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Discourse Public Opinion Media influence Election Dynamics Social movements
  1. People often say they want their beliefs challenged, but when faced with hard truths, they usually react defensively. It's easier for them to cling to their own ideas than to accept a different perspective.
  2. Many individuals prioritize preserving their self-image over being open to new ideas. This tendency influences their choices in news and politics, often leading to repeated mistakes.
  3. Understanding what people want to hear is complex because it can change day by day. Effective communication means balancing honesty with the need to resonate with people's current feelings and beliefs.

UK Online Safety Act Restricts Access to Substack Unless You "Prove Your Age"

Tessa Fights Robots • 24 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Online safety Privacy Digital Rights Surveillance
  1. Substack users in the UK now need to prove their age to access certain content, like chats and comments. This is because of a new law called the UK Online Safety Act.
  2. To verify their age, people may need to submit a selfie or a government ID. Without verification, users will often see blurred content or access restrictions.
  3. While age verification is designed to protect younger audiences, it raises concerns about privacy and control. Many feel that such measures can limit free access to content online.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #20

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trade policy Nuclear Energy Economic Growth Populism Technology Policy
  1. Free trade is good for the economy because it helps increase productivity and wages. Even if it disrupts some jobs, the overall benefits are greater.
  2. Tech companies are starting to embrace nuclear energy to power their data centers. This move aims to cut carbon emissions and manage rising energy demands.
  3. Despite economic challenges, the American system has shown resilience. The economy has adapted and grown stronger after tough times like the financial crises.

A new framework for media polling analysis

G. Elliott Morris's Newsletter • 456 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Data journalism Election forecasting Media Analysis
  1. Polls should be adjusted based on both accuracy and bias, evaluated based on all factors of data-generating process.
  2. Future polling aggregation may move towards Bayesian statistical techniques for measurement-oriented models.
  3. Models focusing on measurement over prediction can help explore polling components directly, improving journalistic storytelling.

Fauci is pardoned

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 311 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Legislation Government Public Policy Health Policy
  1. Biden's last pardons included Anthony Fauci, which raises questions about his past actions related to pandemic research.
  2. Fauci might face consequences for his alleged past actions, especially if questioned again about funding controversial research.
  3. His handling of the pandemic was criticized, as he oversimplified responses and made many incorrect recommendations that impacted public health and schools.

Congress' Lack of Transparency is a Choice

OpenTheBooks Substack • 347 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Legislation Transparency Accountability Political Ethics
  1. Congress often rushes through big budget bills, expecting quick approvals without proper review. This approach makes it seem weak and disconnected from the people it serves.
  2. Taxpayers deserve transparency and more straightforward processes in how Congress handles budgets. Fewer agencies and clearer debates would make it easier for everyone to understand government spending.
  3. Just like in hard jobs, Congress members need to roll up their sleeves and work through tough issues. They have the power to make significant changes, so they should step up and do just that.

This politics newsletter was almost destroyed by Facebook's algorithm changes

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Business Technology Subscription Advertising
  1. Facebook's algorithm changes can seriously hurt online businesses. It happened to a politics newsletter that lost a lot of traffic and income overnight.
  2. Switching to a subscription model helped save the newsletter. This change allowed them to focus on their loyal readers instead of just chasing traffic.
  3. Building a direct relationship with subscribers is important. It helps secure income and creates a more dedicated community around the content.

Democrats Are Praying for an Open Convention

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 830 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Democratic Party Political strategy
  1. Many Democrats believe Biden is doomed in the upcoming election due to his age and current polling numbers.
  2. There is a desire among some Democrats for an open convention to bring forth a younger and more dynamic nominee to lead the party.
  3. Several potential candidates, including governors and Senators, are being considered to replace Biden, with varying levels of enthusiasm and skepticism.

Tolstoy On Disagreement

The Ruffian • 264 implied HN points • 26 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Argumentation Political theory Literature Philosophy
  1. People often argue about politics without realizing they value different things. Understanding what others care about can help resolve disagreements.
  2. When discussing, it's helpful to express what you truly love or believe. This can lead to surprising agreement and reduce pointless arguments.
  3. Tolstoy highlights that many arguments are similar to digging up the same truth. Acknowledging shared values can make discussions more productive.

🗽🧠 Pro-immigration policy and mutual brain gain: A Quick Q&A with … economist Gaurav Khanna

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Economics Policy Labor Globalization
  1. Immigration benefits workers in both the US and India. It leads to better job opportunities and innovation in both countries.
  2. Indian students often pursue IT skills to try for jobs in the US. Even those who don't make it can help grow India's own tech sector.
  3. The US gains when foreign students study there, even if they return home. Their presence supports local schools and boosts the economy.

Election Countdown, 270 Days to Go: The Elderly Man in the White House.

Breaking the News • 872 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election President Age Media Campaign
  1. Biden's age is a complex topic, with some seeing him as a 'superager' like Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Paul Stevens.
  2. Biden's experience might make him more capable of making sound judgment calls compared to younger presidents.
  3. Biden's stutter affects his speech but not his intelligence, showcasing his resilience in navigating his condition.

TOO MANY SUBSCRIPTIONS? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

OpenTheBooks Substack • 281 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government spending Media Public Policy Political News Bureaucracy
  1. The federal government has spent $44 million on POLITICO subscriptions since 2017. This spending comes from various agencies, showing a trend of reliance on paid news sources.
  2. The White House, especially under Biden, dramatically increased its spending on subscriptions, reaching $7.8 million in 2023. This raises questions about efficiency and whether multiple officials need separate subscriptions.
  3. Many people are skeptical about supporting media outlets with tax dollars, especially when there are many who already don't trust these sources. It's worth considering if the government should be funding private news businesses at all.

December 1, 2025

Letters from an American • 27 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Executive Branch Military Foreign Policy Congress Legal Affairs
  1. The president's odd late-night rants and refusal to fully disclose medical details—like what an MRI examined—have raised real worries about his mental and physical fitness for the job.
  2. A reported double-tap strike that killed survivors of a boat attack is being called a potential war crime, triggering bipartisan outrage and promises of congressional oversight while defense leaders downplay or shift blame.
  3. The administration has repeatedly placed unqualified people in key legal posts through questionable appointments, and courts have overturned several of those moves, revealing a pattern of trying to bypass legal rules.

The Political Preferences of DeepSeek AI Models

Rozado’s Visual Analytics • 283 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science AI Ethics Public Policy Data Analysis Technology Trends
  1. DeepSeek AI models show political preferences similar to those of American models. This suggests that AI might reflect human biases in their programming.
  2. The findings indicate that AI can carry the same ideologies as the people who create and train them. It's important to be aware of this influence.
  3. For those curious about how political preferences impact large language models, there are more detailed analyses available to explore.

Covidgate

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1383 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Officials Research
  1. A small group of scientists and government officials tricked the public by promoting misinformation about the origins of Covid-19.
  2. The cover-up, known as Covidgate, aimed to shut down discussion of a possible lab leak as the cause of the pandemic.
  3. The Proximal Origins paper dismissed the possibility of a research-related origin of Covid-19, despite some of the authors initially believing in that hypothesis.

American polarisation

Wrong Side of History • 408 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Polarization Elections Partisanship Political Identity Democracy
  1. America is very politically divided, with people seeing each other as serious threats rather than just political opponents. This hostility has been growing for decades.
  2. Many voters believe the other party is immoral or a danger, which creates a belief that winning is all that matters, and losing means disaster. This view can damage democracy.
  3. Recent elections have shown signs of increased conflict, with both sides preparing for legal battles over outcomes and growing distrust in the electoral process.

the porkulous is dead

bad cattitude • 336 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Social media Governance Public Opinion Political strategy
  1. Social media changed how people discuss and analyze big bills. Instead of waiting for Congress to pass a bill without scrutiny, people can now quickly share and dissect it online.
  2. More eyes on a problem means faster and better solutions. With many people looking at a bill, issues can be spotted and addressed almost instantly, making it harder for Congress to sneak in unwanted parts.
  3. The rise of social media has empowered everyday people to hold Congress accountable. Now, representatives who engage with social media can access real-time feedback from their constituents, leading to stronger governance.

Don’t Be Fooled

Points And Figures • 906 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Energy Abortion
  1. Don't just focus on all-time highs in the stock market, also consider the rate of change and velocity of growth.
  2. Analyze hard statistics objectively to compare economic performance under different presidencies.
  3. Take into account various economic indicators like natural gas and crude oil production when evaluating administration policies.

November 24, 2025

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary Executive Congress Military Constitution Rule of Law
  1. A federal judge threw out the Comey and Letitia James indictments because the president’s appointment of an interim U.S. attorney was unlawful, which invalidated the prosecutor’s actions.
  2. The episode shows an attempt to use the Justice Department to pursue political enemies by replacing a reluctant prosecutor with a loyal appointee, raising concerns about abuse of prosecutorial power and threats to the rule of law.
  3. After the court losses, the administration escalated by threatening military-style responses against lawmakers who urged troops to refuse unlawful orders and publicly targeted Senator Mark Kelly, prompting sharp pushback and concern about intimidation.

{Part 1} Proof of Devilry: The Crimes of Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jeffrey Epstein

Proof • 87 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Justice Politics Corruption Influence
  1. Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jeffrey Epstein are linked to a serious child trafficking network. This situation is significant and could impact history.
  2. The book discusses various events and actions involving these figures, including their personal relationships and alleged illegal activities.
  3. Evidence continues to mount regarding Trump's connections to Epstein, raising questions about their past friendship and Trump's actions.

Poisoned Water in Missouri Public Schools? Let The Kids Eat Cake.

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 199 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Public Schools School choice
  1. Criticism of Jean Evans for pushing for school choice in rural Missouri despite concerns about poisoned water in public schools
  2. Questioning the motives of those advocating for privatization of public schools and the impact on rural communities
  3. Highlighting the lack of real school choice options and the challenges faced by rural families in accessing alternative education

Ukraine's Women

Diane Francis • 1159 implied HN points • 08 Mar 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Refugee Crisis Women's Rights International relations
  1. Ukrainian women are showing incredible resilience during tough times. They are stepping up to help their communities and families.
  2. Many women in Ukraine are taking active roles, even making weapons to defend themselves. Their bravery is truly inspiring.
  3. It's important to celebrate the strength and contributions of women, especially on occasions like International Women’s Day. They play a crucial role in society.

'Net-Zero' ESG banking cartel continues collapse in aftermath of Trump victory

The Dossier • 311 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Climate Policy Banking Economic Freedom Global Governance
  1. BlackRock and several major U.S. banks have left the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. This signals a shift away from the previous focus on climate-focused banking practices.
  2. The Net-Zero Banking Alliance aimed to reduce carbon emissions and support climate initiatives. Some believe these goals may have hurt economic growth and innovation.
  3. The victory of President Trump is seen as a factor in the collapse of the ESG banking agenda. This change could allow for more freedom in the American economy from international influences.

More Thoughts On Intellectual Diversity In Biglaw

Original Jurisdiction • 599 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Ethics Diversity Legal analysis Free speech
  1. Big Law firms have a lack of intellectual diversity which is not beneficial for the legal profession.
  2. There is pressure on Big Law firms to conform to certain ideological standards based on clients' expectations.
  3. Encouraging diverse perspectives and civil discourse in the workplace can lead to better outcomes and a more enjoyable environment.

When left and liberal don’t go together - the case of strikes

The Path Not Taken • 110 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Rights Political Ideology Social justice Political Economy
  1. Strikes in different industries, like mining and academia, show how cultural and structural differences impact worker solidarity. In mining, there were strong community ties that enforced collective action, while in academia, remote work and less shared community make it harder to hold people accountable.
  2. Left-authoritarian views often prioritize group loyalty and can lead to harsher reactions towards those who break picket lines. This creates a clear enemy and strengthens the resolve of strikers.
  3. Public sector workers tend to lean towards left-liberal beliefs, which can make it difficult for them to engage strongly in strikes. They prefer to avoid judging others and might not feel the same urgency to support collective actions.

Fake Jobs and Fake Facts

Can We Still Govern? • 375 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Legislation Political strategy Elections Public Policy
  1. Musk's claim that some government jobs are 'fake' highlights a misunderstanding of how important certain roles are in addressing public issues, like climate change. Real government work often goes unnoticed and underappreciated.
  2. The idea of restructuring government with big influence from private sector billionaires raises concerns about accountability and transparency. People worry that this could lead to a lack of proper checks and balances in government operations.
  3. Musk's plans to reduce federal regulations and budgets might sound appealing, but the legal and practical realities show it would be much harder to achieve than claimed. Many regulations require processes that can't just be ignored or wiped away.

Two visions of America: Bedford Falls and Pottersville

America in Crisis • 99 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Social Impact Political Ideology Government intervention Income Inequality
  1. The movie 'It’s a Wonderful Life' showcases two visions of America through Bedford Falls and Pottersville, illustrating the impact of individual actions on the community.
  2. The film emphasizes the importance of economic stimulus and the difference in societal outcomes between stakeholder capitalism (Bedford Falls) and shareholder primacy (Pottersville).
  3. There is a social contrast between SC (Bedford Falls) and SP (Pottersville) economic cultures, impacting birth rates, marriage rates, and family formation trends in America.

Top Links 620 Sanewashing & Starmaggedon. Congress really is at an impasse & would Lenin really have approved of the IMF?

Chartbook • 300 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Congress Economics History Culture
  1. Congress is currently stuck and unable to make decisions effectively. This shows how divided and complicated politics can be.
  2. There's talk about Britain's bond yields reaching concerning levels, but it's important to consider the larger global context. U.S. bond yields are also very high right now.
  3. The discussion around whether Lenin would approve of the IMF brings up interesting questions about economics and political ideology. It encourages us to think about how different philosophies view financial institutions.

Update: Back To Regularly Scheduled Programming

Fisted by Foucault • 125 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International relations War Analysis Health Issues Political Commentary Current Events
  1. The shoulder injury has healed, allowing for a return to regular posting schedules. It's great to be back after a tough time dealing with pain.
  2. There are important thoughts to share regarding the recent Israel vs. Iran war, which haven’t been discussed yet.
  3. New content, including an essay on the war, will be published soon, with more material coming each week.

November 28, 2025

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Executive Branch Immigration National Security Military Congress Intelligence
  1. Senior envoys pushed a ‘peace’ plan that would accept Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian territory while sidelining U.S. diplomats and European and Ukrainian partners, and leaked calls suggest the plan closely matched Russian demands and could open big business opportunities.
  2. Immigration rhetoric has escalated into xenophobic, sweeping proposals — including mass deportations and stripping some naturalized citizens — with a shooting used to blame political opponents.
  3. National security institutions are being politicized and stretched into unusual roles, from military leaders conducting diplomacy to aggressive strikes that raise legal and war‑crime concerns, and controversial pardons that undermine oversight.

Natural Capitalism is a Fallacy

JoeWrote • 104 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism Socialism Economics Political theory Class Struggle
  1. Many people confuse capitalism with markets. Markets can exist in different systems, but capitalism is specifically about private ownership of production.
  2. Capitalism isn't a natural part of human existence; it was created and is maintained by those who benefit from it. This is an important distinction in discussions about economic systems.
  3. A big reason people defend capitalism is that it's easier to say it's natural than to argue why the private ownership of companies should stay as it is. This simplification can mislead discussions about alternatives.