The hottest Campaigns Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Trump Loses At SCOTUS on Tariffs

Points And Figures • 666 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The Supreme Court limited the president’s ability to impose tariffs unilaterally, so future tariffs will generally need Congressional approval even though tariffs themselves are not banned.
  2. Economists warn tariffs hurt free markets and can be damaging, but some argue tariffs can be an effective negotiating tool that pressures foreign actors; they also risk being hard to remove and can strain allies.
  3. A pro-market alternative is aggressive deregulation and fiscally conservative state leadership, and downballot races matter because state officials shape tax, regulatory, and investment policies.

I Tried To Tell You: Matt Yglesias Is a Shameless Liar

JoeWrote • 180 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Matt Yglesias and other Democratic establishment figures often flip or lie to protect their money, status, and access, then shift blame onto the left instead of owning failed policies. They prioritize defending the political status quo over consistent principles or admitting mistakes.
  2. Yglesias reversed his long-standing opposition to online gambling after accepting a Polymarket sponsorship, claiming prediction markets are different even though they function like unregulated sportsbooks. That flip normalizes risky gambling behavior and benefits sponsors at the expense of readers.
  3. Centrist groups like Third Way are investing big in a top-down, behind-the-scenes campaign to block left candidates in the 2028 primary using skewed polls, donor convenings, and covert influence. This approach favors preserving elite power over persuading the public and undermines democratic accountability.

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 Campaigns
  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 Campaigns
  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.

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 Campaigns
  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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Horses and Cowboys

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  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.

Which 2028 Democrats have the best electoral track record?

Silver Bulletin • 473 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Gavin Newsom has never lost statewide in California, but his victory margins are consistently smaller than the margins Democrats get in presidential years, so he underperforms the presidential benchmark.
  2. The Simple Benchmark (SB) Score compares a Democrat’s margin to the Democratic presidential baseline in their state or district, and it adjusts for non-presidential years using nearby presidential results and shifts in the House popular vote.
  3. Several Democrats — notably Andy Beshear, Amy Klobuchar, Ruben Gallego, Gretchen Whitmer and Josh Shapiro — post much stronger SB Scores, indicating they have better electoral track records and may be more electable than Newsom.

Lying Media, Lying People

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The media and many people often lie or shade the truth nowadays, and this trend shows up strongly in politics.
  2. Voter ID has broad public support and is seen as a way to restore trust in elections. Passing measures like Nevada’s Question 7 is important to make that trust more permanent.
  3. Candidates should be honest and straightforward, especially for offices like State Treasurer where trust matters, and a culture where your word is your bond is essential.

upon a platform of lies

bad cattitude • 203 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Many politicians win by promising popular things and then quickly abandoning or reversing those promises once in power, creating a pattern of bait-and-switch governing.
  2. One major party is portrayed as hollow and out of touch, relying on culture-war rhetoric and negative campaigning instead of coherent, practical policies, which is eroding public trust.
  3. Voter frustration with broken promises and declining services is creating openings for political realignment and demand for more competent, pragmatic leadership.

Niall Ferguson: Trump, the Midterms, and the Six-Year Itch

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 871 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The US constitutional election cycle creates a predictable "six-year itch" where second-term presidents often see their domestic agenda stall and face scandals, crises, or public fatigue.
  2. Historically the president's party almost always loses seats in the midterms, which can leave the president politically weakened or a lame duck for the rest of the term.
  3. Even energetic leaders with foreign-policy successes can be hit by this cycle, so Trump is vulnerable to the same midterm troubles in a second term.

Breaking News; Jeff Carter For Nevada Treasurer

Points And Figures • 1092 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. A candidate is running for Nevada State Treasurer who highlights real-world finance experience and positions himself as an outsider to career politicians.
  2. The campaign promises to protect taxpayer dollars by rooting out waste and investing public funds responsibly rather than for political reasons, while modernizing the Treasurer’s Office with technology and transparency.
  3. The message stresses fiduciary stewardship, accountability, and long-term fiscal stability to restore public trust and prevent risky or unsustainable spending.

Young Republicans Endorsement

Points And Figures • 426 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The Young Republicans endorsed Jeffrey Carter for State Treasurer.
  2. They said the endorsement was based on his competency, professionalism, and actual results rather than hyperbole.
  3. He expresses gratitude for the endorsement and directs readers to JeffCarterNV.com to learn more.

Harris vs Trump Poll Updates

COVID Reason • 99 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Kamala Harris is currently slightly ahead of Donald Trump in the polls, with a 1.6% lead.
  2. The polling data is based on a moving average from late September to mid-October.
  3. Recent individual polls show varying results, but overall, Harris remains ahead of Trump.

Table Stakes

Points And Figures • 559 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The State Treasurer should have real finance credentials or proven financial experience because the job runs large public investment portfolios and requires technical skills. Electing someone without that background risks poor management of taxpayer money.
  2. Treasury work is complex and measurable — it includes managing billions in investments, protecting the state’s credit rating, modernizing systems, and separating real innovation from hype. That work can’t be done with slogans or vague promises.
  3. Inexperienced candidates often repeat generic talking points, but taxpayers need accountable leaders with quantifiable track records who prioritize returns and fiduciary duty over virtue signaling. Professionals with real-world finance experience bring the networks and discipline needed to save money and reduce risk.

TGIF: An Alcoholic’s Personality

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2045 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Susie Wiles bluntly calls Trump an "alcoholic’s personality" and labels other insiders as odd or conspiracy-prone, speaking with a sharp, grandmotherly frankness.
  2. There’s a wistful hope for a tech-driven, more efficient government (the "DOGE" dream) where younger, smarter workers deliver cheaper, faster public services, even though that dream has mostly been disappointed.
  3. After the public roasting, the political team rallied in support, highlighting how loyalty and media spectacle often shape responses more than accountability.

Kamala Harris has Liz Cheney Syndrome

Silver Bulletin • 481 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Harris ran a largely substance-free campaign and didn’t clearly signal her positions, so many voters defaulted to viewing her as left-wing instead of a centrist.
  2. Liz Cheney Syndrome is when different groups each see you as their ideological opposite, and the analysis shows voters reward candidates who seem to match their own views.
  3. Because Harris didn’t define herself strongly, opponents and ads filled the gap; clear messaging (and overcoming possible gendered typecasting) is crucial for persuading voters and reducing ideological distance.

Polls: Harris slipping! Race Tightens

COVID Reason • 178 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Polls show Kamala Harris is losing ground to Donald Trump, with the race tightening as the campaign progresses.
  2. Harris is facing criticism for not delivering on her campaign promises, which has disappointed some voters.
  3. Concerns about Harris's past support for certain policies could be used against her in the election, indicating a potential political vulnerability.

Financial Empowerment

Points And Figures • 426 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Many athletes have short earning windows and often lack the skills to protect their money, so they need targeted support even though helping them at scale is challenging.
  2. The phrase “financial literacy” is vague and hard to measure, while “financial empowerment” is a clearer, more actionable goal that focuses on practical self-reliance.
  3. Financial empowerment means giving people the ability to be self-reliant regardless of education, and making it a public priority can guide programs and invite people to join the effort.

Progressives Shouldn't Cut Income Taxes

JoeWrote • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Promising income tax cuts only reinforces the Republican idea that taxes are a burden and makes Democrats look weak. That dynamic can help Republicans win and ultimately hurt the working-class people progressives aim to help.
  2. Progressives should reframe taxes as a positive civic tool that pays for public services and a higher quality of life, and push for steadily rising, progressive tax brackets that ask more from those who earn more. This avoids treating taxes as something the average person should resent.
  3. Being honest about raising taxes to fund popular programs can work politically; clear, adult messaging about trade-offs builds trust and helps break the bipartisan neoliberal agreement that treats taxes as inherently bad.

The Right-Wing Troll Who Would Be Governor. Plus. . . 

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 421 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. A young, very online right-wing candidate has built a cult-like following among disaffected young men, showing how trollish internet culture can translate into real political energy.
  2. Big Food’s corporate power and lobbying are major drivers of rising childhood obesity, and experts argue only sweeping policy changes will curb the crisis.
  3. Dark-money donations, threats to press freedom, platform harms, and major labor actions together suggest institutions are under strain and accountability is weakening.

Sunday Strip: Convoy to Cuba

Who is Robert Malone • 26 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The Republican Party is jeopardizing its midterm chances by ignoring the voters who elected them and failing to address issues important to their MAHA-aligned base.
  2. Some climate activists are being called out as hypocritical for pushing to allow fossil-fuel imports to Cuba despite previously arguing against fossil fuel use.
  3. Fundraising drives framed as "Free Cuba" efforts to send oil are being portrayed as grifts that would prop up the Cuban regime rather than genuinely help the Cuban people.

Things Worth Remembering: The Day Jesse Jackson Asked for Forgiveness

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 245 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Concession speeches are one of the hardest tasks for any politician, demanding honesty and composure.
  2. Jesse Jackson’s 1984 concession showed extraordinary humility and public repentance and is remembered as a master class in oratory.
  3. After alienating American Jews and losing the presidential bid, he asked for forgiveness, making the speech a lasting example of humble leadership.

Affecting Change

Points And Figures • 399 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Lots of political noise comes from people who never held elected office, so talking loudly doesn't equal the power to make change.
  2. People with real-world business experience should run for office. They can get real stuff done like modernizing outdated government systems and easing taxpayer burdens.
  3. Academic theories and ivory-tower analyses often sound impressive but don't work in practice, so measurable, practical results matter more than clever-sounding ideas.

Explaining Russiagate: Why the December 9th, 2016 Meeting Mattered

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 8408 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The meeting on December 9th, 2016, was crucial because it involved discussions on how to address Russian interference in the election. It's important to understand who was involved in these conversations.
  2. Some people are arguing that documents released about the meeting do not matter. They believe the main point is that there was no cyber manipulation of election results.
  3. Political tensions are high around this topic, with statements being made from both sides. It's a contentious issue that still affects political discussions today.

Elections Have Been Nationalized; Did You See Virginia?

Points And Figures • 746 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. State elections now shape national politics, so what happens in a state like Virginia can affect who controls Washington and national policy.
  2. Democratic control at the state level is portrayed as leading to higher taxes, more regulation, and progressive changes in education, elections, and criminal justice that could raise living costs.
  3. The suggested response is to focus on state-level politics by registering and voting in primaries, supporting and donating to candidates, and working to keep or flip key states to prevent a national shift.

Two Whole Milks with . . . RFK Jr. at the ‘Disneyland for cows’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 463 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is touring under the MAHA banner to promote the Trump administration’s new dietary guidelines and to push dairy as an important part of American diets.
  2. He visited Kreider Farms, a large family dairy with a 1,600-cow milking operation, and the owners and he emphasized the benefits of milk and dairy products.
  3. His dietary proposals have ruffled feathers in Washington, and he used the trip to also discuss other topics like legalizing marijuana and a personal anecdote about sharing a Big Mac with Trump.

Dear Nikki, Bring It

Bulwark+ • 8176 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The economy grew by 3.1% in 2023 due to spending and a strong labor market.
  2. Trump is threatening Nikki Haley's donors from the 'MAGA camp'.
  3. There is a call for Nikki Haley to embrace bold truth-telling and distance herself from Trump to save the country.

Happy New Year

Points And Figures • 1065 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  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.

All eyes on Congress.

Today's Edition Newsletter • 7586 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. Democrats prioritize middle-class and poor Americans while Republicans protect big businesses.
  2. US funding for Ukraine remains uncertain due to ties to immigration reform bill.
  3. GOP faces challenges in fundraising and legal troubles, impacting Trump's campaign and party's future.

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

Today's Edition Newsletter • 8097 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

BOOM: LVT Candidates Get Elected - Landscape #5

Progress and Poverty • 2155 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. More candidates who support land value tax (LVT) are being elected, like mayors in Seattle and Buffalo. This shows that LVT is gaining traction in local politics.
  2. Katie Wilson's victory in Seattle is significant as she plans to push for LVT, making her city a leader in property tax reform.
  3. There is a growing conversation about LVT across the country, with more media coverage and legislative proposals, indicating it's becoming a mainstream topic.

It's Kamala Time

Diane Francis • 1179 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. The upcoming US Presidential election in November is a major focus, with concerns about Joe Biden's ability to continue. His health and debates have caused divisions within the Democratic Party.
  2. Kamala Harris is seen as a strong and prepared candidate who can step in if needed. She has experience and could appeal to a diverse voter base.
  3. The 2024 election will focus on issues like gender and social justice, not just age or health. Kamala Harris's presence could be a significant advantage for Democrats.

#30: A Plea for Silicon Valley to Enter Politics

Loeber on Substack • 651 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns
  1. California is heading toward serious fiscal strain with big deficits and pension debts, which makes it likely politicians will try to extract more revenue from wealthy tech companies and individuals.
  2. If the state pursues heavy or punitive taxes and bad policy, highly mobile tech workers and firms will relocate, eroding the Bay Area ecosystem, shrinking tax revenue, and weakening America's AI advantage.
  3. The practical defense is for successful technologists to run for and win office at local, state, and federal levels so the industry has direct representation and can help shape smarter policy.