The hottest U.S. Politics Substack posts right now

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The Trump Administration Is Eroding The Case For Keeping Protests Nonviolent

Singal-Minded • 1237 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Law enforcement Civil Rights Executive Power Protests Accountability Investigations
  1. The large ICE operation in Minneapolis looks politically driven and out of proportion to the local immigration issue, suggesting enforcement is being used as a tool of grievance rather than as a targeted response.
  2. After two fatal shootings by federal agents, officials quickly blamed the victims and pushed misleading narratives while blocking or undermining independent investigations, which prevents accountability.
  3. Those actions erode faith that the system can deliver justice and make it harder to honestly argue that nonviolent protest alone can secure redress, even though political and legislative checks could still restore oversight.

Kristi Noem’s Reckless Lies

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1511 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homeland security Law enforcement Police violence Accountability Media Government Criminal Justice
  1. Kristi Noem publicly said Alex Pretti brandished a firearm, attacked officers, and that an agent fired in self‑defense.
  2. Multiple videos from the scene contradict that account and show a different sequence of events.
  3. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed by a border patrol officer in Minneapolis — the second federal‑agent killing in the city this month — and critics say the administration is misleading the public.

Meet The 5 Finalists For Federalist Society President

Original Jurisdiction • 459 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Political movement Conservative Politics
  1. The Federalist Society is about to choose a new president after its longtime leader announced his retirement. This decision is important because it will shape the future direction of the organization.
  2. There are five strong candidates for the position, each with significant legal experience and ties to conservative politics. Their backgrounds bring diverse strengths to the table.
  3. The conservative legal movement is facing challenges and divisions now that a major goal, overturning Roe v. Wade, has been achieved. How the new leader navigates these divides will influence the Society's future.

The way we live in the United States is not normal

Changing The Channel • 33626 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Healthcare Economics Culture Society
  1. In the United States, there is a sense of normalcy around high costs for education and healthcare, which contrasts with other countries where these are considered basic human rights.
  2. The social dynamics in the US make casual, spontaneous interactions with friends difficult to maintain, unlike in some other parts of the world where daily connections are more common.
  3. The increasing expenses, especially in housing, in the US are leading to a situation where even successful professionals find it challenging to afford a balanced life, pushing many towards burnout and dissatisfaction.

How Democrats Lost Men

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1465 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Politics Voting Trends Party Strategy Identity politics Gender Politics Culture Wars Populism
  1. When men stop feeling respected or honored, they can become more likely to embrace far-right narratives that cast them as victims.
  2. In crisis situations many societies rely on traditional roles—men for defense and women for protecting children—so treating the sexes as fully interchangeable ignores how people actually behave under threat.
  3. Politically, mocking or dismissing men as "toxic" can push them away, so winning them back requires outreach that restores respect rather than derision.
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Shutting Down NCAR Is Vindictive Governance

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3591 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science Policy Research Funding Federal Agencies Climate research Higher education
  1. Shutting down NCAR appears politically motivated and vindictive, not based on a clear national need. It would harm U.S. scientific capacity and undermine research that supports public safety and the economy.
  2. NCAR is a large, federally funded research center that provides broad atmospheric science, community models, and high-performance computing used worldwide, and it is not simply a hub of ‘climate alarmism.’ Its work spans weather, climate, space physics, and observational technology essential to many sectors.
  3. NCAR has real issues like mission creep and competition with universities that deserve reform, but modernizing and narrowing its mission is far smarter than dismantling the center. Terminating the center would cause unnecessary, long-lasting damage to the scientific enterprise.

EMERGENCY POD: SCOTUS Slashes Tariffs!

ChinaTalk • 296 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Supreme Court Trade policy Executive Power International Trade Economic Policy
  1. The Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs, meaning many tariffs imposed under that law are likely illegal and could trigger mass refund lawsuits and a substantial hit to federal receipts.
  2. The administration can and likely will try to recreate tariffs under other authorities — for example a temporary 10% under Section 122 or country-specific measures under Section 301 — but those routes are more constrained, slower, and invite country-by-country litigation.
  3. Global partners are unlikely to walk away from negotiated deals despite the ruling, Canada faces particular exposure, and small businesses (plus entrenched Chinese supply chains for things like toys) played a crucial role in challenging the tariffs and expose how hard it is to shift manufacturing quickly.

TGIF: ICE on Ice

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1956 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidency Elections Congress Foreign Policy Media Public Opinion Domestic Policy
  1. Most politicians are unpopular right now, and Democrats are struggling to find an effective response to a performative, transactional Trump who dominates the news cycle.
  2. American diplomacy is being disrupted by presidential priorities, illustrated by the G7 being delayed because of a planned MMA birthday event.
  3. The news roundup mixes alarming and surreal moments—incendiary political claims, extremist-inspired crimes, and odd tech stories like an app that asks “Are you dead?”—showing a blend of outrage, spectacle, and weirdness in public life.

In This Dystopia You Can't Vote Against Wars But You Can Gamble On When They'll Start

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1769 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Defense industry Electoral Politics Campaign Finance Political Economy Public Opinion
  1. People are allowed to gamble on if and when military attacks will happen, even though they aren't given a real political way to vote against wars.
  2. The system legally rewards profiting from war—through prediction markets, arms companies, investments, and lobbying—while efforts to reduce violence are sidelined or blocked.
  3. The relentless pursuit of profit drives ongoing war, environmental destruction, inequality, and corruption, and meaningful change will only come if people collectively force new systems.

Brace Yourselves: The Jobs Market Is Teetering on the Edge

COVID Reason • 475 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Market Economic Policy Employment Trends Federal Reserve Consumer confidence
  1. Hiring is way down and fewer jobs are being created. This shows that companies are worried about the future.
  2. People are not leaving their jobs as much because they feel the job market is risky. They prefer to stay where they are to avoid unemployment.
  3. The Federal Reserve is taking actions like cutting rates, but these steps won't fix the deeper problems in the job market that stem from lower demand for goods and services.

Norway’s Wealth Tax Is Backfiring. Are Americans Paying Attention?

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 277 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy Economic Impact Wealth Inequality Regulatory issues
  1. Norway's increased wealth tax led to many rich people leaving the country. This departure caused the government to lose significant income.
  2. The wealth tax was supposed to bring in more money, but it ended up costing the government much more than expected. The wealthy took their money elsewhere, leaving a big gap in revenue.
  3. Similar wealth tax proposals are being considered in the U.S., but if they mirror Norway's experience, they could drive wealthy individuals out of the country too.

DSA’s Electoral Strategy Works: A Response to Left Voice & DSA’s Left-Wing Critics

JoeWrote • 33 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Parties Campaigns Socialism Labor Progressives Electoral Strategy
  1. DSA favors a pragmatic electoral strategy, running on multiple ballot lines rather than being tied to the Democratic Party, and that approach has increased its membership and elected wins.
  2. Demanding a fully independent socialist party misunderstands American politics: independent left parties have had little electoral impact, so meeting people where they are is needed to build power.
  3. Open debate and criticism are part of the organization, and wasting time on purity fights weakens the left — unity around practical, result‑driven organizing is more effective than ideological infighting.

More Endorsements

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Campaigns State Politics Public Finance Fiscal policy Governance Endorsements
  1. Endorsers want viable candidates who will work with conservatives after election and who will fight instead of compromising or staying on the sidelines.
  2. The state treasurer should be non‑partisan and focused on maximizing returns and cutting taxpayer debt, not staging political theater or prioritizing DEI/ESG goals.
  3. The office needs more professionalism and modernization to eliminate waste, fraud, and missed opportunities. Relying mainly on short‑term U.S. Treasuries looks strong now but could cause trouble if the Fed starts cutting rates.

American Conservatives Are Disgusting Frauds

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2347 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Partisanship Law enforcement Immigration Foreign Policy Civil Liberties
  1. Multiple videos show an ICE officer shooting a mother of three in a way that looks clearly unjustified and contradicts claims he was run over.
  2. Many American conservatives defended that killing while also cheering aggressive actions abroad, highlighting a pattern of hypocrisy where they claim to oppose tyranny but support state violence and warmongering.
  3. The argument is that conservatives craft moral narratives about faith, free speech, and the rule of law, yet in practice they prioritize power, militarism, and repression over those professed values.

The Corrupt & Craven Supreme Court Has a Tariff Opinion This AM!

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 369 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Supreme Court Judiciary Executive Power Emergency powers Trade policy Partisanship
  1. The three dissents mainly defend the idea that it's acceptable when a Republican president takes these powers, showing partisan and authoritarian commitments rather than neutral legal reasoning.
  2. The court's center (Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch) was corrupt or craven in giving a Republican president a full year to use emergency tariff powers, which let him create facts on the ground and deter businesses from resisting.
  3. Allowing an "emergency" plus "unreviewable" tariff authority is structurally dangerous: it weakens property rights, risks long‑term economic harm, and the opinions signal shifts on the Major Questions Doctrine and on treating foreign trade as a presidential privilege.

Public Choice Links, 2/23/2026

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Policy Political Economy Lobbying Social Policy Governance Nonprofits Regulation
  1. Firms exist because centralized coordination has its own costs, but market coordination also has transaction costs, so internal management can be more efficient when that tradeoff favors it.
  2. Lobbying reached record levels in 2025 as companies spent more to influence an unpredictable federal government, and foundations/nonprofits increasingly fund projects tied to donors' ideological priorities like social justice.
  3. A universal flat Social Security benefit set above the poverty line would more effectively and cheaply reduce senior poverty, raising benefits for low earners and reducing them for higher earners, and would shift the common 'you earned it' narrative.

The Father Battling Palestinian Terror in Court

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 384 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Law Courts Foreign Policy National Security Litigation Terrorism
  1. The Palestinian Authority’s “Martyrs Fund” pays money to people who carried out or were imprisoned for attacks on Israel, amounting to hundreds of millions a year and reportedly reflected in a proposed constitution despite claims it would end.
  2. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the PA and PLO can be held civilly liable for sponsoring terrorism, opening a new legal path for American victims to sue.
  3. Taylor Force’s father has filed a lawsuit in New York alleging the PA’s payment program induced the 2016 stabbing, making his case one of the first to test the new ruling.

New Issue Of JOHNSTONE: The System Is Working Exactly As Intended

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 973 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Imperialism Corruption Civil Liberties Media National Security Criminal Justice
  1. People split into two camps over the Epstein revelations: reformers who think the system is broken and can be fixed, and revolutionaries who believe the system is working exactly as intended and must be dismantled.
  2. The abuses tied to Epstein are presented as products of a capitalist, imperial system that protects elites, so real accountability or high-level prosecutions are unlikely under the current institutions.
  3. Genuine change requires popular radical politics and pressure, not mainstream parties, and growing awareness of elite corruption may push more people from wanting reform to demanding systemic overthrow.

The singularity won't be gentle

Silver Bulletin • 800 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Policy Regulation Public Opinion Governance Political Economy Partisanship
  1. If AI even somewhat transforms work and daily life, it will change politics in deep and unpredictable ways. Expect big disruptions rather than a smooth, gentle transition.
  2. Tech elites are out of touch with the broader public and often misread political dynamics. Their concentration of power and overconfidence could provoke strong backlash.
  3. Creative and knowledge workers who shape public opinion are particularly vulnerable to AI-driven job disruption. If they or their children feel their livelihoods are threatened, that could drive substantial political pushback.

Tim Walz ‘Crowded Theater’ Argument Is Misinformation

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 356 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Supreme Court Political Debate Misinformation Censorship
  1. The 'crowded theater' saying isn't a real Supreme Court test, and it never was used in the case that Tim Walz mentioned. It's a misconception that people often use when talking about free speech.
  2. The Supreme Court case he referred to, Schenck v. United States, was actually about distributing anti-draft leaflets, not yelling fire in a crowded place. So, Walz's argument doesn't really hold up.
  3. Citing the 'crowded theater' idea can be dangerous because it can justify limiting free speech, especially unpopular speech. History shows that suppressing free speech often leads to larger problems.

Why does everyone still hate the Democrats?

Noahpinion • 18117 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political parties Public Opinion Voting behavior Campaign strategies
  1. Even with Trump losing support, people still view Democrats less favorably. This shows that many voters are not happy with the Democratic Party right now.
  2. Dissatisfaction from left-leaning Democrats plays a big role in the party's unpopularity. Some very liberal voters are unhappy, which affects overall approval ratings.
  3. There is a noticeable shift in party identification since the pandemic, with fewer people identifying as Democrats. This trend is seen across different demographics, indicating a broader change in public perception.

The Campaign to Crush Free Speech in Minnesota

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1581 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Civil Liberties Immigration Law enforcement Protests Federalism
  1. Recent protests in Minneapolis show which kinds of speech the First Amendment protects and which, like true incitement, are not protected.
  2. Federal grand jury subpoenas for the governor, mayor, and other officials show authorities are treating political criticism and public statements as potential criminal incitement tied to obstruction of immigration enforcement.
  3. The episode is a warning that when officials conflate angry but lawful political speech with criminal conduct, it risks chilling public debate and undermining commitment to free speech.

If Newsom Is the Front-Runner, Democrats May Be Doomed

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1066 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Campaigns Candidates Political parties Polling Public Opinion Media
  1. Gavin Newsom has surged into clear front-runner status for the 2028 Democratic nomination, leading major polls and betting markets.
  2. His national profile has been boosted by high-profile media attention and a nonstop political blitz that appeals to elites and tastemakers.
  3. There’s a real risk his elite-focused image won’t translate into votes in key states, repeating the danger of a liberal California Democrat failing to connect with the voters who decide national elections.

Open Thread 410

Astral Codex Ten • 5161 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Community Activism Fundraising Debate
  1. There are fundraisers happening for both shrimp and human welfare, and they each have matching donations until the end of the month. So, you can support either cause you care about.
  2. If you prefer social gatherings, there are upcoming rationalist community meetups on the West Coast and East Coast, along with a Solstice celebration you can join.
  3. For those who like reading, there's a new post discussing the arguments around trans athletes in sports, touching on how biological advantages are treated in general sports discussions.

Horses and Cowboys

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns Elections Political strategy Political culture Civic engagement
  1. A good candidate or public servant should travel to rural communities and listen to people, because it’s about serving them, not promoting yourself.
  2. Being a successful venture capitalist (and a good campaigner) means outworking others, going where opportunities are, and acting as a supportive partner rather than making it all about you.
  3. Horses and cowboys are a strong American symbol of freedom and independence, and many worry that cultural forces are trying to redefine or diminish that heritage.

‘Am I a Racist?’ Is Brilliant. More Importantly, It's Funny

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 456 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Commentary Social Issues Cultural critique Media Analysis Race relations
  1. Matt Walsh's documentary 'Am I a Racist?' uses humor to criticize the DEI industry and its practices. It shows how some people profit from creating racial tensions.
  2. The film exposes the contradiction in some anti-racist beliefs, where individuals are seen only through their group identity. Walsh highlights the absurdity of these ideas while making the audience laugh.
  3. Alongside the mockery, the film also presents positive examples of people who view others as individuals, suggesting a more constructive way to address racism.

Anti-Jew Bigotry Will Not Be Tolerated Here

Disaffected Newsletter • 3337 implied HN points • 10 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Identity politics Free speech Social Issues Community Standards
  1. No anti-Jewish bigotry will be allowed. This means any hateful comments or discrimination against Jewish people will not be tolerated.
  2. There's a difference between discussing issues related to Jewish identities and promoting bigotry. It's important to have rational conversations without being hateful.
  3. If someone breaks these rules, they will be asked to leave. There won't be chances for explanations or discussions about it.

Coming out of the coconut closet

Jeff Giesea • 2176 implied HN points • 21 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Candidates Political parties Democracy Ideologies
  1. The author has changed their political stance and now endorses Kamala Harris because they believe Trump is unfit for office. They feel Trump's actions after the 2020 election crossed a serious line.
  2. The author has reevaluated their view of Kamala Harris, acknowledging her strengths in campaigning and leadership that they previously underestimated. They feel she could be a solid choice in the upcoming election.
  3. Lastly, the author sees the election as a critical choice for democracy versus chaos. They believe defending democracy is more important than any economic policies at play, and that's why they support Harris.

Donald Trump’s State of Exhaustion

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 324 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidency Administration Policy Rhetoric Legislation Public Opinion
  1. The State of the Union no longer moves the public. It still serves as a clear window into what the president and his team are thinking.
  2. The recent speech revealed an exhaustion of ambition and no clear agenda for the rest of the term. It failed to clarify priorities or lay out a concrete plan.
  3. The administration lacks an organized policy process and is not meeting normal budget deadlines. It operates largely as an extension of the president's personal whims rather than a conventional governing team.

Insane Clown Pentagon

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 4427 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy National Security Military Policy Executive Power Legal Accountability Media Coverage
  1. The boat-bombing operations risk being war crimes, especially if forces fired on shipwrecked survivors, which could create serious legal exposure for commanders and political leaders.
  2. Blustery, inconsistent public remarks by top officials have politically self-sabotaged the administration and may provide evidence that leaves military leaders exposed.
  3. Treating drug cartels as terrorist enemies and relying on broad legal theories to justify lethal strikes has blurred legal norms, unsettled military lawyers and troops, and risks normalizing extrajudicial killings.

A Tale of Two States: Pennsylvania and Florida in a Post-COVID Election

COVID Reason • 436 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voter Turnout Political parties Voting behavior
  1. Pennsylvania has kept strong early voting rules from the pandemic, with a lot of Democrats using mail-in ballots this year. This shows their commitment to making voting easier and more accessible.
  2. In Florida, early voting is down as the state returned to stricter rules, showing that fewer people are participating compared to the pandemic. This shift may change the chances for both parties in the upcoming election.
  3. The differences in voting styles between Pennsylvania and Florida highlight how each state adapted after COVID-19, which could heavily impact the 2024 election outcomes.