The hottest U.S. Politics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Securitization Discourse, Social Justice Discourse

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 19
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security Civil Rights Social justice Political Discourse
  1. Securitization rhetoric attempts to turn non-security issues into matters of national security by framing them as threats to safety and security.
  2. Politicians often use the politics of fear, such as securitization, to win support by promising safety measures, but this can be damaging to democracy.
  3. Media outlets tend to reinforce politicians' preferred security framing, contributing to the perpetuation of securitization narratives and fear-mongering.

Cowen on Classical Liberals and the New Right

Nothing Human is Alien • 0 implied HN points • 20 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Philosophy Society Policy Government Ideology
  1. Classical Liberals value capitalism, democracy, civil liberties, and free trade, while expressing concern about elites not keeping society as free as it should be.
  2. The New Right is more focused on political power, coercion, and cultural issues, with skepticism towards elites and a darker view of their impact on society.
  3. There is a complexity in the New Right movement where they are fueled by populism but their intellectual core is anti-democratic and elitist, sometimes admiring the liberal elite they oppose.

The Newsome Absolution

Variations on a Theme • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy Covid response Public Perception
  1. The concept of absolution is being used politically to shift blame from individuals to groups, offering freedom from guilt without self-reflection.
  2. Political figures like Newsome strategically employ absolution to consolidate their base and deflect criticism, emphasizing collective ignorance and intentions instead of personal growth.
  3. The absence of self-awareness and reflection in absolution allows individuals to repeat similar behaviors in the future, perpetuating cycles of misguided actions and outcomes.
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Wealth distribution and feedback loops

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Wealth Distribution Economic Theory Tax policy Social justice Incentives
  1. Wealth distribution behaves like a feedback loop, where the rich can continue to get richer without sufficient checks. This happens when there's less competition or enforcement against hoarding wealth.
  2. Currently, wealth is distributed in an exponential way, meaning a few people have a lot while most have very little. This leads to an unstable system that might keep expanding the income gap.
  3. To fix the growing wealth gap, we need to introduce ways to balance the system, like better policies or incentives, to help distribute resources more fairly.

How to Own the Libs on the Covid Conspiracy Argument

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conspiracy Theories COVID-19 Government Response Public Health Civil Rights
  1. Show Bill Gates' video to challenge belief in Covid response - it reveals his acknowledgment of Covid's low threat to most people.
  2. Question why governments didn't act on public knowledge about Covid's low fatality rate early on - it exposes potential manipulation.
  3. Highlight global leaders' decisions contrasting with known data - it points to a deliberate, authoritarian agenda during the pandemic.

MRF Not DEI

Synystron Synlogica • 0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Democracy Social Issues Equity Activism
  1. MRF is a new social policy that aims to improve society while being less divisive than DEI. It focuses on gaining wider support from people.
  2. The key elements of MRF include Meritocracy, Reality, and Fairness, which work together to create a balanced approach.
  3. MRF promotes treating everyone equally and aims to avoid discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, or sexuality, including protections for all groups.

A Coup Unfolding in Slow Motion

Synystron Synlogica • 0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Events Public Sentiment Voter Behavior Government Power
  1. A coup can happen slowly over time, with small steps instead of a sudden change. People involved often test how much they can do without getting caught.
  2. It's important to be aware of what is happening in governments, as many citizens might not recognize the danger. Ignorance can be risky when it comes to politics.
  3. The situation can be especially tough for the people affected, as they may not see how serious things have become until it’s too late. Understanding the early signs is key.

Hey, Trudeau! Fuck off! Your intimidation tactic in the cross walk tonight didn't work. I am still running for Parliament, you piece of shit!

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Political Figures Campaigning
  1. The writer is not happy with Trudeau and is adamant about running for Parliament.
  2. The writer uses strong language to express frustration and opposition.
  3. The writer seems to perceive a form of intimidation from Trudeau but asserts their determination.

📣 Join Naomi Wolf for a Live Premium Q&A

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Events Community Discussion Engagement
  1. There's a live Q&A with Dr. Naomi Wolf on November 26th at 8 PM ET. It's a chance for premium subscribers to ask questions directly.
  2. Participants are encouraged to bring a drink and connect with Dr. Wolf and other community members during the event.
  3. If you're not a premium subscriber yet, you can sign up for a membership to join the live session and access more content.

Steelmanning Reauthorization: Way More Than You Wanted to Know II

Exasperated Infrastructures • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Infrastructure Federalism Urban planning Legislation Funding Governance
  1. ISTEA put regional planning front and center by empowering MPOs and shifting attention away from just interstate highways toward the places where most trips actually happen.
  2. The law moved policy beyond highway silos toward intermodal, multimodal thinking and smarter transportation systems, elevating transit and integration across surface, air, and maritime modes.
  3. It made funding and planning more flexible and complex to match real travel patterns and regional needs, but money still flowed mainly through state DOTs and political earmarks and high‑priority corridors remained important.

In 2019, the US was ranked No.1 for pandemic preparedness

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 02 Oct 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy Government Response
  1. In 2019, the US was ranked number one for pandemic preparedness, with a score of 85.3 in the Global Health Security Index.
  2. The Global Health Security Index's ranking of countries' pandemic preparedness had flaws, like giving undue weight to wealth and not accounting for experience with infectious diseases.
  3. The ranking influenced countries' expectations when COVID-19 hit, but it was found to be inaccurate in predicting how well countries responded to a global pandemic.

The Intense Focus on *White* Evangelicals Misses Where ‘The Action’ Is

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting behavior Political trends
  1. Understanding electoral outcomes requires focusing on populations with growing influence or majorities, rather than shrinking or less significant groups.
  2. White evangelical voters have shown remarkable consistency in their voting behavior over the past two decades, making them less influential in explaining recent political outcomes.
  3. The decline of evangelical Christianity is occurring at a slower rate than other Christian denominations, with non-white evangelicals playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping political trends.

The Media’s ‘Great Awokening’ Preceded Trump and has Continued Uninterrupted Since He Was Deposed

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Coverage Trump presidency
  1. The 'Great Awokening' in media existed before Trump and continues even after his departure, suggesting it's not solely tied to him.
  2. Media coverage on prejudice and discrimination escalated across political spectrums from 1970 to 2019, showing significant increases in usage of related terms.
  3. Despite Trump leaving office, media discourse on prejudice and discrimination remains at high levels under Biden's presidency, indicating broader societal dynamics.

I Support the Current Thing

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 0 implied HN points • 17 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Analysis Social Issues Media influence Political Ideologies Cultural Shifts
  1. The traditional political divide between left and right has shifted due to the emergence of corporate manipulation and media narratives, leading to a new artificial divide based on identity politics rather than class distinctions.
  2. The rise of terms like systemic racism and white privilege in media discourse from 2012 onwards coincided with a coordinated effort to distract public condemnation away from corporate power and societal inequalities, ultimately dividing the populace.
  3. The establishment, faced with challenges to its power, rebranded itself as 'leftist' by co-opting liberal narratives, steering the mainstream narrative towards woke progressivism, thus manipulating the perception of what 'left' and 'right' represent.

Fire the Chicago Teacher's Union

startupdreams • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education
  1. Chicago Teachers Union has controversial demands like massive raises and housing assistance
  2. Chicago schools struggle academically despite high spending per student
  3. The article suggests that supporting the teachers' union may not be a solution to improve the Chicago school system

Russia Is Producing More Artillery Shells Than All of NATO Combined

Autodidact Obsessions • 0 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Defense Policy Global Security Military Affairs International relations NATO Dynamics
  1. Russia is producing a large number of artillery shells, reportedly outpacing NATO by a significant margin. This has raised concerns about NATO's ability to keep up with Russia's production rates.
  2. Despite claims of increased production from NATO, estimates suggest that their output is still much lower than Russia's, with figures indicating a potential gap of over 4:1 in favor of Russia.
  3. The accuracy of production claims on both sides is questionable, making it hard to determine the real situation. Especially, NATO's projected growth in production might not meet their targets.

American Conversations: Representative Jim Himes

Letters from an American • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Interviews Policy Elections Foreign Policy Bipartisanship
  1. A conversation featuring Representative Jim Himes offers a direct interview with a sitting member of Congress, giving readers access to his perspectives on public issues.
  2. The piece is part of the "American Conversations" series, which focuses on in-depth discussions with notable public figures.
  3. Published on Mar 06, 2026, the listing includes engagement numbers (263, 8, 32), showing measurable reader interest.

Example of a Point 2 Failure: Soviet Partners

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conspiracy Theories Assassination Cold War Geopolitics Intelligence Services
  1. Linking JFK's speech about cooperation with the Soviets to his assassination is not a solid motive, as both leaders had to balance public perception during the Cold War.
  2. The idea that immediate proximal causes, like the timing of Kennedy's speech, hold special significance in geopolitics is problematic. Context plays a crucial role in assessing causality.
  3. Failure in argument structure can occur when the evidence provided does not adequately support the underlying warrant. In this case, the connection between Kennedy's speech and ending the Cold War is not well-founded.

I've got all the Kamala profiles you need right here

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 20
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Social Issues Government Civil Rights Media
  1. Three comprehensive profiles on Kamala Harris are highlighted from different time periods and sources.
  2. A colorful post-mortem on the struggles of the fashion industry, offering an insightful and entertaining read.
  3. An in-depth look at a viral video misinterpretation involving BLM protesters, showcasing the importance of digging deeper into online content.

Please Get This To Glenn Greenwald. It’s the Year 2000. Facebook® and Twitter® do not exist, and I Have No Other Way of Contacting His Office.

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jan 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Media Government Political Commentary Elections
  1. Glenn Greenwald is valued for his radical perspectives on U.S. government actions and war crimes.
  2. Glenn Greenwald has garnered a large following due to his work on government malfeasance and civil liberties, although he has faced criticism for becoming more of an influencer than a journalist.
  3. The post discusses the January 6 Capitol riot, the power of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and challenges the idea of free speech protection in certain situations.

Ten Years Of Marriage Equality

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights LGBTQ Rights Supreme Court Social Policy Public Opinion Family Policy
  1. Marriage equality has reached a ten-year milestone, marking a major legal and social change.
  2. Now is the time to take stock of what was won and what was lost, celebrating gains while facing the challenges and trade-offs that remain.
  3. The landmark 2015 ruling reshaped politics and culture, but its long-term effects and unfinished work still need careful examination.

The Military As A Murder Weapon

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Executive Power War Powers Authoritarianism Civil Liberties Congress Oversight National Security
  1. A strong leader can use the military as a murder weapon by ordering strikes without wider approval.
  2. There may be no congressional vote or legal defense when that happens, so checks and balances can be bypassed.
  3. Missiles in the hands of a reckless leader pose a grave danger to civilians and democracy, so institutions and oversight must be protected.

The Question Of Decency

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidency Political Ethics Political culture Democratic Norms Authoritarianism Political History
  1. A profoundly indecent person in the presidency can seriously damage the country by flouting norms, lying, and abusing power.
  2. Orwellian dynamics—where language is warped and truth is undermined—are a real risk when leaders act indecently and seek to reshape reality.
  3. Personal decency and character in leaders matter because indecency normalizes cruelty and corruption, erodes public trust, and weakens democratic institutions.

James Madison and His Impact on the Founding of America

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Constitution Policy Founding Fathers Civil Liberties
  1. James Madison played a significant role in writing The Federalist Papers with a vision for a strong federal government that protects citizens' rights while balancing state and federal power.
  2. Madison was instrumental in drafting the Bill of Rights to protect citizens from government overreach, with many provisions reflecting his ideas on civil liberties.
  3. Madison's influence on government policies, emphasizing the balance of state and federal authority, is still relevant today and has shaped debates on issues like taxes and healthcare reform.

"The attack is an advertisement"

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Racism Extremism Disinformation Violence
  1. The attack carried out by a white supremacist was seen as an advertisement for his racist beliefs, attracting attention through various means like live streams, memes, and news coverage.
  2. The response from white supremacists in online forums to the attack came in three forms: false flag theories, sleuthing, and hero worship, all conveyed with a casual and disturbing tone.
  3. The experience of delving into extremist online communities led to a deeper understanding of their vocabulary and tactics, prompting reflection on the role of media and the spread of dangerous ideologies.

Why now?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Congress Far-right Trans rights
  1. The toxic mass delusion known as 'Q' has resurfaced and is causing concerning impacts in society, including misinformation and seditious behavior.
  2. Various interesting articles have been shared, covering topics like transphobia, period trackers, ADHD communities, neuroscience breakthroughs, and underground party scenes.
  3. In the tech and media world, worker-owned platforms, unique internet content, diaspora community accounts, and the impact of online platforms on society are discussed.

The New/Old Clothes of Joe Biden

Wide World of News • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Accountability Medical Ethics Press freedom
  1. President Biden's cognitive decline raises concerns about government accountability and media's role in informing the public.
  2. Past presidents like Trump have also faced scrutiny over the transparency of their health reports.
  3. The media's silence on Biden's decline contrasts with the constant coverage of Trump's weaknesses, and calls for a more transparent approach to informing voters.

The Illusion of Political Support

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Social media Political Influence Public Opinion Misinformation
  1. The illusion of political support can be created through media focus and online bots, making bad ideas seem more popular and widely accepted than they actually are.
  2. This illusion gives politicians false confidence to push forward with unpopular ideas and makes it harder for opponents to gain traction in debates and rallies.
  3. It's vital to do your own research and not rely solely on online or media perceptions of political support to make informed decisions, especially during voting.

In defense of firework conspiracists

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 20
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conspiracy Theories Race relations Social Issues Media Critique
  1. Some people believe in conspiracy theories about fireworks being orchestrated by the police, which may seem complex but come from a place of valid fear and distrust.
  2. Conspiracy theories can reflect the privilege or oppression experienced by different groups - like embittered middle-aged white individuals versus Black city residents.
  3. The rise of new conspiracy theories independent of historical events like assassinations, for instance, in the case of fireworks conspiracies.

Jak Ritger & Anthony Simons: Plotting Attention Bubbles

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Activism Online Activism Social media Attention Economy Political engagement
  1. Internet users' attention is fleeting, with online trends rising and disappearing quickly, posing challenges for sustained activism.
  2. Attention bubbles cover diverse topics but share ephemerality, reaching peaks rapidly but crashing equally fast.
  3. Activism relying on online engagement faces challenges of sustainability and real-world impact, emphasizing the need for cohesive, collaborative efforts offline.

Bella Kozyreva: America's Uncanny Valley

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Foreign Policy Political narratives Neoliberalism
  1. Mori's concept of the uncanny valley explains how we feel repulsed when robots resemble humans closely but not perfectly. This theory also applies to our interactions with realistic humanoid robots and AI assistants.
  2. The current political landscape, from the Trump presidency to the Biden administration, can be likened to moving through an uncanny valley. Each administration represents a shift between familiarity and unsettling foreignness in governance.
  3. The eerie and weird, described by scholars like Fisher, offer insights into the disquieting feelings of our current uncertain times. To move forward, we must embrace the 'weird' by challenging existing political norms and demanding new, transformative policies.

Free Speech: How slippery is your slope?

Moral Mayhem Podcast • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Hate Speech First Amendment Political Commentary Civil Liberties
  1. Free speech has real value, but it comes with challenges in deciding what is acceptable. We need to think carefully about what we allow and why.
  2. There are tricky situations like hate speech and pornography that raise questions about when free speech should be limited.
  3. The recent discussions about antisemitism and freedom of speech at places like Harvard show how complicated and important these issues are right now.

A response to some very thoughtful and intelligent reader feedback

White Hot Harlots • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Ideology Culture College DEI
  1. Criticism was received about prioritizing indoctrination over fundamentals in higher education, leading to negative impacts on students' mental health.
  2. The post addresses the concerns but emphasizes that the issues described are symptoms rather than root causes, and not directly related to ideologies like Marxism or antisemitism.
  3. There is a mention of the impact of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives on the education system, portraying them as mainly superficial attempts to address deeper systemic issues.