The hottest Federalism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

“Dear Beloved Elder, Please Stop

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 4 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. ICE is a federal agency bound by statutes, DHS policy, and the Constitution, so calling it a lawless militia misreads how it operates and obstructing its work can cross legal lines the First Amendment does not protect.
  2. If citizens or states pick and choose which federal laws to obey, the rule of law erodes and history shows that can lead to chaos, violence, or even civil conflict, with the most vulnerable — women, children, the disabled, and the elderly — suffering most.
  3. Many anti‑ICE protesters are relatively privileged, and tactics like blocking vehicles, harassing people, or bringing weapons create real dangers and unintended harms; if you oppose immigration policy, the democratic way to fix it is to change the law, not to obstruct enforcement.

Alexander Hamilton Did too Believe in "Industrial Policy"!!

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 176 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. Alexander Hamilton supported the idea of using government policies to help grow local industries. He believed that controlling foreign competition can actually help American goods become cheaper over time.
  2. Hamilton thought that while tariffs might raise prices temporarily, they could lead to long-term benefits for domestic manufacturers and even help farmers by making goods more affordable.
  3. Critics of Hamilton miss the point that he advocated for state involvement in the economy to promote national growth, which is a form of planned economic strategy.

federalism fixes this

bad cattitude • 179 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. In a free market, consumer choices provide valuable information to producers, leading to better products and services.
  2. Monopolies created by governments can disrupt market mechanisms like pricing signals and consumer sovereignty, resulting in inefficiencies.
  3. The 17th Amendment fundamentally changed the US government structure by shifting power away from states' representation in the Senate to direct election by the people, impacting federalism and democratic principles.

Too Big for Fascism

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 37 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. The presidential election is very close, and either candidate could win. Both parties shouldn't be too confident, as polls show a tight race in key states.
  2. The idea that Trump represents fascism is debated, but the US's complex system of federalism makes it harder for any one leader to impose such control. The many local and state governments act as a barrier.
  3. Historically, America's institutions have proven resilient, and they are unlikely to be easily dismantled. Even if Trump were to win, significant changes to democracy or governance wouldn't happen overnight.

ADDENDUM F: State Nullification and Constitutional Breakdown in Federal Immigration Enforcement

Autodidact Obsessions • 4 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. States are creating laws that ignore federal immigration rules, which disrupts how immigration laws are enforced and can lead to dangerous situations.
  2. Sanctuary policies can create a two-tier legal system, making some areas safer than others and allowing illegal activities to continue unchecked.
  3. When courts do not enforce federal supremacy in immigration, it leads to a breakdown of the law, making it harder for the government to keep the country secure.
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It turns out we can, in fact, build things. Time to build sidewalks.

Exasperated Infrastructures • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. Emphasize the importance of building and maintaining infrastructure like sidewalks to improve safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities.
  2. Highlight the need for collaboration and coordination between different levels of government and private entities to address infrastructure challenges.
  3. Call for leadership from government officials and active participation from citizens to advocate for necessary infrastructure improvements.

On The Idea of Repealing the 17th Amendment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. Repealing the 17th Amendment would mean that state legislatures, not the people, would choose Senators again. Some people think this could make Senators focus more on state interests.
  2. Many argue that direct election of Senators helps reduce corruption and ensures that states are represented fairly. They worry about empty seats and political manipulation when legislators choose Senators.
  3. Changing how Senators are elected might change who can become a Senator. Elections could favor more seasoned politicians, rather than regular people, which could affect the diversity of the Senate.

On federalism, pot, and this November

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. If California legalizes marijuana, it could change the marijuana market in the whole country. Prices would likely drop and the state could make over a billion dollars in taxes.
  2. The federal government might struggle to enforce its marijuana laws if states keep changing theirs. This could cause conflicts, especially as more states consider legalization.
  3. Politicians in California might support legalization if the people vote for it. If it passes big, they could push back against federal laws and become advocates for marijuana rights.

My Political Vision

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🌍 World Politics Federalism
  1. Federalism is proposed as the most just way to organize society, with decentralized government and regional sovereignty.
  2. Democracy is emphasized with specific rules for presidential elections, separation of powers, and accountability mechanisms.
  3. Concrete political propositions include military independence, specific education policies, law enforcement measures, and constitutional rights.

Steelmanning Reauthorization: Way More Than You Wanted to Know II

Exasperated Infrastructures • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  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.

Understanding the Significance of James Madison

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. James Madison is considered the most influential of all the founding fathers due to his crucial role in creating the nation's foundation.
  2. Madison's work during the Constitutional Convention and in drafting The Federalist Papers helped shape critical aspects of America's foundation, including federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights.
  3. His efforts leading up to the ratification of the Constitution by all thirteen colonies in 1789 have had a lasting impact on the United States, influencing how the nation operates even today.

DC statehood and political self-interest: Where are the flag makers?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. DC statehood could mean a lot of flags need to be replaced, which has a big impact on flag manufacturers. If DC becomes a state, every flag in the country would have to change.
  2. Most people decide political issues based on self-interest, especially economic factors. This means statehood movements often don’t get support since many don’t see clear benefits for themselves.
  3. Flag manufacturers could actually have a powerful reason to push for statehood. They might want to lobby for states to be added regularly, turning it into a profitable business opportunity.

Monday APD Blogging: Civil War and Western Politcial Development

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. The Civil War changed many important parts of American politics, like how states were formed and the power of the federal government. This period shaped the U.S. we know today.
  2. War often leads to big political changes. The Civil War pushed Congress to make quick decisions about new territories and statehood in the West, which wouldn’t have happened without the conflict.
  3. By the end of the Civil War, the political map of the West was set, with new states and territories established. This laid the groundwork for the future of American politics, shifting focus away from slavery issues to new regional interests.

A Thing Worth Reading

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federalism
  1. The Lincoln-Douglas debates show how two politicians, Lincoln and Douglas, had different views on slavery despite being on the same side politically. Their discussions highlight the complex opinions in the North, with both men arguing from various perspectives on a divisive issue.
  2. Douglas criticized the Republican Party for being too regional and failing to have a national stance, while Lincoln emphasized the moral wrongness of slavery. This reveals a deep divide in how they approached political and moral questions surrounding slavery.
  3. The debates also shed light on the problems of state elections being influenced by national politics. This situation pushed for the change to direct voting for senators, allowing voters more freedom in choosing state representatives without interference from national concerns.