The hottest Political History Substack posts right now

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

John Horgan Listened To Me But Then He Didn't. I Was Thrown Out Of The NDP.

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History
  1. John Horgan took action to help the homeless during COVID by approving a policy to put them in hotel rooms. This move not only supported vulnerable people but also helped the hospitality industry.
  2. The CERT program was created to provide direct payments to Canadians, helping many survive the economic impacts of the pandemic. This program influenced further economic support for small businesses.
  3. Horgan faced backlash after implementing vaccine mandates, leading to a personal split with those who opposed them. This situation highlighted tensions around medical ethics and government policies during the pandemic.

Predictions for a Trump presidency

Tolu’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History
  1. Predictions about Trump often missed how much of an impact he would have on domestic policy. Many thought he wouldn’t be able to change much due to resistance from both parties, but he actually had significant support from his followers.
  2. Trump's presidency could redefine international relations. His approach might lead to a more isolationist America, which would shift power dynamics around the world as other countries adapt.
  3. It's important to be cautious when making predictions, especially in politics. Past assumptions about party politics may not hold true, and factors like grassroots support can greatly influence outcomes.

Abolish the Income Tax

The Oasis • 0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History
  1. Some people believe that income tax is a way to control the population and discourage hard work. They feel that the more you earn, the more you pay, which can be unfair.
  2. The history of income tax in the U.S. shows that it has changed a lot over time, especially during wars. Many believe that it was introduced to help fund wars, not necessarily to support the people.
  3. There are ideas about completely getting rid of the income tax and going back to a system before it was established. Some see this as a chance to rethink how taxes work and what they are used for.

What is Europe?

Numb at the Lodge • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History
  1. The idea of 'Western civilization' as a shared culture linking America and Europe is misleading. America has its own unique identity that differs significantly from European traditions.
  2. The argument that Europe was created by American influences highlights a different perspective on history. It suggests that contemporary European society isn't just a continuation of historical traditions, but rather shaped by various complex interactions over time.
  3. Freedom and governance in America and Europe are fundamentally different. America is built on diverse foundations and agreements among its people, while European governance has evolved from a long history of hierarchy and territorial control.

The whispering ones

Numb at the Lodge • 0 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History
  1. John Hinckley, who tried to assassinate President Reagan, may symbolize how media and politics have evolved, beyond just his supposed motive of impressing Jodie Foster.
  2. George H.W. Bush's actions and whereabouts during the assassination attempt raise many questions, with evidence suggesting he was not where he was officially reported to be.
  3. The CIA has deeply influenced events in American history, and this influence often goes unnoticed, shaping the country in ways beyond what people usually recognize.
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The Question Of Decency

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

December 7, -43: 2067 Years Ago Roman Politics Had a Very Sharp Edge Indeed

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Political History
  1. Cicero was killed on December 7, 43 BC by soldiers acting for the Second Triumvirate, a violent outcome of the post‑Caesar power struggles.
  2. The phrase "adolescentem laudandum, ornandum, tollendum" is rhetorically powerful and ambiguous; its gerundive form signals necessity and can mean praise, honor, and—crucially—removal, hinting at sanctioned violence.
  3. Octavian played a double game in the aftermath of Caesar's death—borrowing, shifting alliances, and ultimately joining Antony and Lepidus to form the Triumvirate—which helped bring about Cicero's downfall.

Specter of 1917: Anne Applebaum on Putin and Soviet Russia

The Octavian Report • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Political History
  1. Russia’s 1917 upheaval mixed long-term inequality and wartime collapse with a spontaneous February revolt that was later seized by a small, well-organized Bolshevik party in October.
  2. The Bolsheviks consolidated power through careful planning, political violence, and institutions like the Cheka, crushing rivals and imposing Soviet rule across diverse national and social groups.
  3. The Soviet approach left a lasting legacy: chaotic 1990s privatization helped create oligarchs, and Putin revived security‑state instincts, favoring insider rule, secrecy, and suppression of dissent.

Greatest War: Tom Holland and Graham Allison on Thucydides

The Octavian Report • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Political History
  1. When a rising power threatens a ruling one, the structural stress between them makes large-scale conflict more likely and ordinary flashpoints can trigger war.
  2. War is not inevitable—leadership choices and lessons from past cases can prevent catastrophe, but managing a rising power will be a long, stressful generational task.
  3. Thucydides emphasized power politics and left out cultural and social factors, so ancient Athens and Sparta are imperfect models and should be applied to modern states with caution.

Life During Wartime: Elliot Ackerman on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Anabasis

The Octavian Report • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Political History
  1. People often ask the wrong questions before going to war, and charismatic leaders can hide their true motives so armies become committed before they know why they’re fighting.
  2. Chance, not intelligence or bravery, often decides who wins or loses in war. Small, random events — like a single javelin — can flip men’s fortunes overnight.
  3. The Anabasis depicts a "directionless" war where soldiers debate whether to return, settle, or keep fighting, which mirrors modern conflicts fought for many reasons other than actually ending them.

Master Plan: An Interview with John Lewis Gaddis

The Octavian Report • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Political History
  1. Effective grand strategy mixes hedgehog focus and fox agility, knowing when to pursue one big aim and when to shift into adaptive, creative problem-solving.
  2. Planning and disciplined preparation are essential, but you must be ready to abandon plans and improvise when unexpected realities hit.
  3. Today’s short attention spans, political polarization, and technological pace make long-term strategy harder, so leaders should cultivate a lightness—flexibility and a broad perspective—rather than rigid ideology.