The hottest U.S. Politics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

At Last: John Brennan and James Comey Under Criminal Investigation for Russiagate

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 7996 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Government Investigations Scandals Intelligence
  1. John Brennan and James Comey are under criminal investigation for their roles in the Russiagate allegations. This could lead to serious consequences for these high-ranking officials.
  2. The investigation will focus on whether Brennan and Comey committed perjury or conspiracy during their assessments of Russian interference in the 2016 election. This means they might have lied about what they knew.
  3. There's concern that the investigations may not be tough enough, as some important documents remain classified. Still, many believe there is strong evidence against both individuals.

The Jewish Question

Points And Figures • 1305 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Anti-Semitism Extremism Political parties Legislation Religious politics Civil Rights
  1. Antisemitism is rising and showing up across the political spectrum, making it a growing and urgent public safety concern.
  2. Personal relationships and encounters with Jewish people and Holocaust survivors make the threat real and underscore why empathy and historical memory matter.
  3. Condemning antisemitism isn’t enough—people need daily action, legal protections, and community safety measures to confront bigotry and protect Jewish communities.

Humilitism

In My Tribe • 1184 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Ideology Political Identity Political Philosophy Media Politics Populism Foreign Policy Public Policy
  1. Humilitism is the view that no one can have a highly accurate understanding of complex social systems, so people should be humble about their political knowledge and judgments.
  2. It rejects confident technocratic elites and crisis-driven politics, preferring to treat social issues as problems with trade-offs rather than urgent calls for sweeping solutions.
  3. Humilitism is distinct from labels like conservative, libertarian, or populist — you can hold strong opinions yet still accept fallibility and worry about the fragility of social order.
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The Shape of Things to Come

Bulwark+ • 8628 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Candidates Policies Legislation Political Behavior
  1. Donald Trump is likely to be the Republican nominee for the 2024 election, with strong support from the party base.
  2. Joe Biden's candidacy is characterized by hidden strengths, legislative accomplishments, and a focus on governance.
  3. There is a concern about a segment of society motivated by a desire for chaos, which could impact the political landscape.

Some useful Trump-Hitler comparisons (in light of Minneapolis and Venezuela)

Nonzero Newsletter • 892 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Domestic Policy Foreign Policy Immigration Law enforcement Civil Rights Executive Power Economy
  1. The use of aggressive, masked enforcement agents and the targeting of political opponents can create a vicious cycle of protests and heavier government responses that pushes democratic norms toward authoritarian practices, even if it isn’t the same as historical totalitarianism.
  2. A pattern of low-commitment military strikes and an open rejection of the norm against transborder aggression weakens international law and raises the chance that repeated interventions will escalate into bigger, more dangerous conflicts.
  3. Weak job growth alongside continued economic growth may signal AI-driven hidden productivity gains that could hurt workers and spark political backlash, and large language models differ wildly in how much copyrighted text they can reproduce, which matters for publishers and courts.

Minnesota Fraud Isn't Just in Minnesota

Points And Figures • 1172 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy State Politics Local government Corruption Elections Migration
  1. Allegations of large-scale taxpayer and voter fraud, including claims involving Somali immigrants, are eroding trust in local government and making fraud feel personal to property owners.
  2. Punitive taxes, heavy regulation, and aggressive property assessments discourage improvements and business formation and push wealthy residents to relocate, creating a ‘‘trickle-down taxation’’ effect where the tax burden shifts to people who can’t leave.
  3. Career politicians often avoid real consequences for mismanagement or alleged corruption, so the suggested remedy is to hold them accountable at the ballot box to stop taxpayers from bearing the cost.

Happy New Year

Points And Figures • 1065 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Campaigns Policy State Politics Congress Political Economy
  1. Prediction markets look mispriced on the 2026 House outcome, with Democrats possibly overrated, and state elections are becoming more nationalized than before.
  2. The economy and tech are expected to accelerate in 2026: expect tax cuts and baby savings accounts, deeper AI progress, at least one interest-rate cut, higher markets, mainstream medical and finance innovations, renewed focus on nuclear power, and a negotiated settlement in Ukraine.
  3. On the personal side, two grandchildren are due in January and February, and the cabin in Minnesota will get helical piers this summer to shore up its foundations.

Inside The Trump-Affiliated Outfit Trying to Repeal The Affordable Care Act

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 559 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy Public Policy Republican Politics Healthcare Reform
  1. There's a group trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, led by people connected to Trump. They believe that Obamacare has failed and want to make major changes.
  2. Bobby Jindal, a key figure in this group, argues that patients should have more control over their healthcare choices, but this could risk leaving some people without proper coverage.
  3. Critics say Obamacare has actually helped many Americans get health insurance, and there's evidence suggesting that healthcare costs have not risen as much as claimed by its opponents.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Sarah Kendzior’s Newsletter • 6549 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Age Corruption Leadership Policy
  1. The US is facing a debate about the impact of an aging leadership and how it affects the country's decline, highlighting the importance of focusing on corruption rather than age.
  2. The oldest and least popular Congress and presidential candidates reflect an issue of endemic corruption in the US, with senior citizens disproportionately in power for extended periods.
  3. The challenge lies in distinguishing between age-related concerns and corruption, recognizing the importance of holding officials accountable and seeking out truth despite the complexities of political dynamics.

"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."

Today's Edition Newsletter • 8097 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Government Policy Justice Campaigns
  1. Donald Trump's cognitive ability and recent statements raise concerns about his mental fitness.
  2. Republicans in New Hampshire used deceptive tactics in the primary election, prompting investigation for voter suppression.
  3. US Supreme Court's recent decision highlights the importance of expanding the Court to uphold federal supremacy.

I’m Finally Hanging My American Flag

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 8133 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Patriotism Activism Identity History Culture
  1. The author grew up in an environment that viewed the American flag and patriotism negatively. Their upbringing focused on social justice and activism rather than celebrating the flag.
  2. The author's perspective changed over time, leading them to finally hang the flag outside their home, which signifies a shift in how they relate to their country's symbols.
  3. The flag has personal significance for the author, tied to the memories of their grandparents, yet they struggle with the conflict between national pride and historical injustices.

Trump’s Tough-Talking Antitrust Chief Is Pushed Out

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 255 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Antitrust Justice Department Administration Personnel Regulation Mergers
  1. Gail Slater, the Justice Department’s antitrust chief, abruptly left her post after senior Trump officials decided to push her out.
  2. She led the Antitrust Division and was known as a tough antitrust hawk who focused on merger reviews and enforcement.
  3. Her exit highlights ongoing infighting and high-level turnover inside the administration, even as officials publicly thanked her for her service.

Exit DeSantis

Bulwark+ • 8078 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Republican party Presidential campaign Trump administration Political Analysis
  1. Ron DeSantis ended his presidential campaign by endorsing Donald Trump, after a campaign that failed due to strategic blunders and lack of appeal.
  2. Donald Trump's recent actions demonstrate admiration for dictators, spreading conspiracy theories, mocking opponents, and continuing aggressive rhetoric.
  3. Republican party dynamics show a strong preference for Trump over other candidates, even if they exhibit extreme behaviors or controversies.

Nation Shrugs as Godzilla Eats Washington

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 18122 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Legislation Policy Governance Administration
  1. There's a lot of chaos happening in Washington with Trump's return, and many people are indifferent to the changes he's making. It feels like he's causing a big stir, but some see it as a refreshing shake-up.
  2. People are questioning the work and spending of groups like USAID, suggesting some of their projects aren't justifiable. There's a debate about whether funds for certain programs are worth it, especially concerning national security.
  3. The political atmosphere is tense, with ongoing legal challenges to Trump's actions and many officials rushing to defend policies that many find controversial. The situation is creating a lot of friction and public spectacles in politics.

Good Trump-related News!

Nonzero Newsletter • 485 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Authoritarianism Civil Unrest Law enforcement Immigration Public Opinion Foreign Policy Technology Policy
  1. Grassroots protest and bipartisan political pushback forced a pullback from aggressive federal tactics, showing that popular feedback can check a slide toward authoritarian escalation.
  2. That de-escalation looks partly cosmetic and contingent—leaders often back down only after real blowback, and future incidents could produce very different outcomes.
  3. Workplace AI adoption is rising and may already be boosting productivity, which could help explain the mix of low inflation, weak hiring, and solid GDP growth, so watching those metrics and AI-use surveys matters.

March 10, 2026

Letters from an American • 32 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Foreign Policy Defense Budget Oversight Public Opinion
  1. Senators are furious that classified briefings left them with more questions than answers about the Iran campaign, including unclear goals, rising costs, and the real risk of U.S. troops being put in harm's way and the conflict widening.
  2. The government is prioritizing massive war and Pentagon spending while cutting or threatening domestic programs, with troubling examples of wasteful 'use-it-or-lose-it' purchases amid people losing food and health benefits.
  3. A longer view warns that militarization diverts resources from schools, healthcare, and basic needs, and that investing in prosperity at home and abroad is a smarter way to prevent extremism and sustain peace.

Trump Declares a Legal War on Sanctuary Cities

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 621 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Law enforcement Constitutional Law Federalism Local government Executive Power Criminal law
  1. The Justice Department is reportedly investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly conspiring to obstruct ICE.
  2. Sanctuary policies let local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration agents, and those choices are generally protected under the Constitution.
  3. The White House argues sanctuary rules create a hostile climate that endangers federal officers and is using that claim to press a legal campaign against sanctuary cities.

Trump's Schedule F Rule Finalized

Can We Still Govern? • 324 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Service Executive Power Administrative Law Whistleblowing Government Ethics
  1. The new Schedule Policy/Career rule removes job protections for many policy-making federal employees, making it much easier to fire them and weakening whistleblower and oversight safeguards.
  2. The rule ignores broad public and expert opposition and misrepresents research, while claiming politicization won’t occur and pushing a legal theory that expands presidential removal power.
  3. Lawsuits are likely, but if the rule stands it could hollow out the civil service, strip union protections, suppress transparency, and create long-term political control and instability in government.

Scholastic's "bigot button"

Popular Information • 14151 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Education Bias Diversity Legislation
  1. Scholastic faces criticism for potentially excluding books featuring people of color and LGBTQ characters from book fairs.
  2. Scholastic claims to segregate books due to pending legislation in U.S. states, risking exclusion for teachers and librarians.
  3. There is a backlash against Scholastic from publishers like Brave Books that promote different values and books for children.

Health NZ puts the ‘men’ in menstruation.

A B’Old Woman • 759 implied HN points • 31 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Public Policy Health Policy Social Issues Activism
  1. Health NZ's new policy claims that menstruation is not just for women, stating that people of all genders can menstruate.
  2. Many people are surprised and upset by this policy, feeling it's confusing and not in line with most people's understanding of gender.
  3. There are concerns about how this affects cultural beliefs, especially in Māori culture, which emphasizes the sacredness of women's experiences.

It’s Time for Former Trump Officials to Come Out Against Him

Bulwark+ • 8196 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Political Commentary Elections Political Figures Policy
  1. Former Trump officials are speaking out against him, highlighting his moral depravity and incompetence.
  2. There is a need for these officials to reach out to more people, especially swing voters, to convey the dangers of a Trump presidency.
  3. Former Trump officials should come together and make a sustained effort to speak out against him, prioritizing the truth over partisan loyalties.

Who’s ahead on the generic congressional ballot?

Silver Bulletin • 379 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Polling Congress Forecasting Public Opinion Data Analysis
  1. Democrats hold a modest lead of about D +5.5 on the generic congressional ballot, up from roughly D +3 between June and November.
  2. Individual polls vary a lot — results this week ranged from about D +1 to D +9 — but the average smooths those swings and weights polls by pollster quality, sample size, recency, and frequency while preferring likely-voter samples.
  3. Many of the polls in the average were conducted before the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti, so subsequent public reaction could push the generic ballot further toward Democrats, and paid subscribers can access state benchmarks and historical generic-ballot averages back to 1994.

Substack, Nazis, Free Speech, and Me & Trump Is Popular Among Black Voters?

kareem • 7802 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Social Issues Presidential Election News Activism
  1. Kareem emphasizes the importance of treating everyone with love and respect, striving for a world where exploitation doesn't exist.
  2. Substack is under scrutiny for allowing hate speech content, sparking debates about free speech and censorship.
  3. Effective protest movements online can lead to positive changes in platforms' policies, demonstrating the impact of public activism.

Life Under a Clicktatorship

Can We Still Govern? • 802 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Social media Political Communication Public Administration Executive Branch Law enforcement Immigration
  1. Powerful people hooked on social media ('poster brain') start chasing likes and outrage, and that can impair judgment and decision-making.
  2. Government choices are increasingly made for viral optics instead of sound policy, degrading professional norms, accountability, and sometimes causing real harm.
  3. Hiring and rewarding meme-ready, attention-seeking actors shifts government culture toward aggression and misinformation, which undermines effective, representative governance.

Supreme Court poised to appoint federal judges to run the US economy.

Today's Edition Newsletter • 8078 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Supreme Court Government Economy Elections Legislation
  1. Supreme Court might overturn Chevron deference doctrine, changing how US economy is regulated
  2. Conservatives aim to diminish power of executive branch and Congress, while empowering the courts
  3. Federal regulations in the US ensure safety, honesty, transparency, and accountability in the large economy

What the state of the US economy can tell us about Trump's populist appeal

Econ Populi • 19 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Populism Elections Political trends Governance
  1. Bad economies can help populist candidates win elections. When people's lives are hard, they may choose someone who promises big changes, even if that candidate has been less successful.
  2. Populists like Donald Trump can be popular even when the economy is doing fine. Many voters don't rely on economic indicators and instead follow narratives that make them feel understood.
  3. Good economic governance might not be enough for traditional parties to win against populists. They need to connect with voters on a personal level and address their feelings about the elites and the current system.