The hottest Politics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Re-Enchantment of Men

Reactionary Feminist • 13 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Men are showing a shift towards more right-wing ideas and groups lately. This change is part of a bigger conversation about masculinity in today's world.
  2. The rise of figures like Bronze Age Pervert has sparked discussions about the 'moral rebellion' of men. It's all about how men are rethinking their roles and identities.
  3. There's a return of a more poetic and heroic sensibility in culture today. This shift is partly due to the impact of the digital age and how we connect with ideas and movements online.

Anyone That Uses The Term "Illegal Immigrant" Is A Hardcore Racist & Should Be Rejected From Polite Society.

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 18 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Wealthy people often blame immigrants for economic problems instead of looking at their own role in creating issues like low wages.
  2. The economy relies on workers to drive demand, not just on the wealthy who claim to create jobs.
  3. Using the term 'illegal immigrant' is considered offensive and highlights issues of racism in society.

Happy Paintings and Propaganda

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Politics
  1. The text discusses the power of propaganda and how it influences opinions and perceptions, emphasizing the impact of repeated messaging.
  2. There is a strong critique of nuclear weapons, highlighting their destructive potential and the author's belief in the urgency of addressing this global threat.
  3. The author expresses skepticism and criticism towards political leaders, particularly focusing on their role in conflict and perpetuation of harmful ideologies.

How to safeguard your sanity in the last days of the election

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 99 implied HN points • 30 Oct 20
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Consider taking breaks from social media to preserve your mental well-being, try focusing on positive distractions like creating Pinterest boards filled with puppies.
  2. Avoid election stress by engaging in activities that help you relax and stay away from constant polling updates and online political debates.
  3. Remember the importance of voting to contribute towards a sense of normalcy and to have a say in the future, regardless of the chaos around.

Interview: QTR's Take On The Election Results, Macroeconomics & More

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 19 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
💰 Finance Politics
  1. Mainstream media and universities often promote ideas that don't reflect real-world logic. It's important to think critically about what we're being told.
  2. Identity politics can distract from true merit and qualifications in leadership. Focusing on skills and experience is more beneficial for progress.
  3. I prefer to get news from independent sources. This helps me find a wider range of viewpoints and avoid echo chambers.
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Season's Greeting

Two Pages Double Spaced • 17 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Voting and following election results can feel like a big event, similar to watching a sports game with friends.
  2. The arrival of fall brings cozy activities, like enjoying pumpkin treats and lighting candles, which can help create a sense of warmth and community.
  3. The holidays can be a time for reflection and imagination, reminding us that each season requires our participation and effort to truly enjoy it.

The Jock/Creep Theory of Fascism

Unpopular Front • 70 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The Jock/Creep Theory of Fascism categorizes Italian Fascism as 'Jock-Douche' and German Nazism as 'Creep-Loser'.
  2. These ideal-types reflect different affective dimensions of the fascist self, with one embodying physical domination and the other being reflective and resentful.
  3. The theory can be applied to contemporary contexts, such as the paradoxical unity of jock-bullies and online incels in the American right.

With the Breaking News in Georgia That Trump Is Almost Certain to Be Indicted, What Are We to Make of How Major Media Seems to Be Already Trying to Discredit the Indictment?

Proof • 74 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Certain figures in major media are casting doubt on a Trump indictment before it happens without a good reason.
  2. Legal experts confirm that Emily Kohrs did not violate any laws by giving interviews post-grand jury service.
  3. The grand jury that Kohrs was on does not have the power to issue indictments, so her actions cannot impact a future Trump prosecution.

Buses Are For Commuting Not Polluting

Living Fossils • 6 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Politics
  1. Complex systems like transportation networks can create unintended effects, which means just because they cause pollution doesn't mean that's their goal.
  2. Birds and buses have functions, but we can't always tell what they were designed for based on what they do; one must look deeper to understand their true purpose.
  3. Some people might ignore logic about these systems just to attack others and blame them for negative outcomes, even when those effects were not intended.

Notes on the Canzukian Schism

The Seat of Loss • 9 implied HN points • 07 Apr 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Canada's unique position between the U.S. and the UK shapes its culture and media. Growing up, many Canadians feel like they toggle between American and Canadian identities, leading to a rich understanding of both cultures.
  2. Cultural policies like Canada's CanCon ensure that Canadian artists get airtime, even if listeners sometimes wish for more variety. These rules are meant to protect and nurture local talent, although they can feel limiting to some.
  3. As the U.S. adopts protectionist practices, there's a push in Canada for closer ties with other English-speaking nations. This could reshape how Canada navigates its culture and economy amidst changes in global politics.

Two Ways of Approaching Marx's Capital

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 2 HN points • 06 May 24
🚌 Education Politics
  1. Approach Marx's Capital as a critical reader, engaging with the arguments and questioning premises to truly understand the insights presented.
  2. Under capitalism, exploitation is centered on workers surrendering part of their labor to capitalists due to inherent power dynamics and lack of viable alternatives, not solely based on the Labor Theory of Value.
  3. Marx's Capital is primarily a class analysis of capitalism, emphasizing the structural inequalities embedded in the system and highlighting the potential for societal change.

How Culture Adopts Technology

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Politics
  1. Culture plays a crucial role in how societies adopt technologies, influencing norms, behaviors, and decision-making processes.
  2. The adoption of technologies is influenced by factors such as cultural norms, political systems, and societal needs, leading to varied acceptance or rejection.
  3. Understanding cultural elements in technology adoption is key to creating impactful solutions that benefit society and anticipate potential challenges.

Out of the Sandbox

Reboot • 32 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Politics
  1. Jailbreaking iPhones was a way to explore the full potential of Apple devices beyond the limitations set by the company.
  2. Jailbreaking in China was not only common but essential for accessing features like multilingual support and blocking spam calls.
  3. Through jailbreaking, individuals found a way to challenge authority, explore political subversiveness, and open up to alternative possibilities.

Feminisation

Kvetch • 55 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The conversation highlighted the concept of 'feminisation' as a social force.
  2. The discussion explored the idea of societal changes affecting gender roles.
  3. The dialogue delved into the impact of cultural shifts on various aspects of society.

The New Jersey Drone Situation, but With Jokes

I Might Be Wrong • 13 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
😂 Humor Politics
  1. Recently, strange flying objects have been spotted in New Jersey, causing a lot of buzz and confusion among locals. Many people joked around trying to figure out if they were drones, aliens, or just planes.
  2. Rumors spread quickly on social media, with citizens flooding a Facebook group about the mystery. Despite various tips sent to authorities, it turned out most sightings were easily explained, like airplanes and stars.
  3. Politicians jumped into the conversation, making some silly statements and fueling conspiracy theories. In the end, it was just a case of overactive imaginations and a good dose of humor about the situation.

The Thomas-Crow Affair

Unpopular Front • 59 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas received lavish gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow, revealing unusual taste in decor
  2. Collecting sculptures of dictators and Nazi memorabilia indicates a creepy fascination with power and domination
  3. Conservatives publicly defending Crow show a strong loyalty to their business patrons, highlighting the close ties between right-wing politics and wealthy elites

The Bomb, the Man, the Morality

Skeptic • 49 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Christopher Nolan's film 'Oppenheimer' renews debate on the use of nuclear weapons to end World War II and the nature of moral conflicts.
  2. Human conditions are rarely black-and-white, and approach-avoidance conflicts are common in life, culture, and politics.
  3. The dropping of the atomic bombs, while not a moral act, was the least destructive option at the time and likely saved lives by ending the war and preventing a potentially higher death toll from prolonged conventional bombing or invasion.

The Sugar Conspiracy

KCKlatt’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Politics
  1. The article talks about how politics and power issues can really affect our food guidelines. It suggests that decisions about what we should eat might not be as straightforward as we think.
  2. There’s a focus on the history of nutrition, particularly related to sugar. It raises questions about why certain foods are blamed or praised over others.
  3. It hints that our understanding of nutrition could be limited by outside influences. This means we should be cautious about only following mainstream dietary advice.

Twee Whistler: Conspiracy Advertisement Campaign

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 11 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The art installations based on the #Pizzagate conspiracy theory are a blend of fake-news ads and product placement, reflecting the nature of capitalism seeking profits.
  2. The images serve as projections of contemporary anxieties surrounding gender policies, child exploitation, immigration, and environmental issues.
  3. While conspiracy theories should not be condemned, addressing the root issues behind them can help prevent individuals from resorting to extreme actions out of feelings of powerlessness.

Contrasts between Aristotelianism and Liberalism

Logos and Liberty • 19 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Politics
  1. Aristotle's value theory focuses on what people should want, while Liberal value theory is based on what people do want.
  2. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of human association within a community, while Liberalism tends to focus on individualism to an extreme extent.
  3. Aristotle acknowledges spirituality and a transcendent reality, contrasting with the scientistic approach of many Liberal thinkers.

What Liberals Missed In Sound of Freedom

Marginally Compelling • 44 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The movie 'Sound of Freedom' tells a compelling story of child trafficking and was surprisingly successful despite initial doubts.
  2. The success of 'Sound of Freedom' was due to a unique production history involving crowd-funding and a strategic distribution approach.
  3. The backlash against 'Sound of Freedom' highlights a dangerous trend of viewing everything through a political lens, even important issues like child sex trafficking.

Liberation to Celebration: How Green Became the Color of St. Patrick's Day

JoeWrote • 29 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. St. Patrick's Day was initially a respectful commemoration of the patron saint of Ireland, but it evolved into a secular celebration of Irish culture internationally, with green becoming a key symbol.
  2. Before the 1800s, Ireland's national color was blue, but the rebellion of 1798 against British rule led to green becoming the color of Irish nationalism.
  3. The history of Ireland's struggle for independence teaches the importance of symbols like the color green as declarations of resistance against oppression and commitment to freedom.

Suffering wives

Kvetch • 55 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Lady Bird Johnson subordinated herself to her ambitious husband, enduring his public humiliation and supporting his career with grace and dignity.
  2. Both LBJ and JFK had mistresses who were exceptional in beauty, talent, and glamour, paralleling the extraordinary qualities of their wives.
  3. Skyler White from Breaking Bad represents a different portrayal of a suffering wife, illustrating a contrasting dynamic where role reversal and descent into criminality occur in the relationship.

1917 and Hollywood’s false dichotomy between humanizing and politicizing war

Geopolitical Economy Report • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 20
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. 1917 and similar Hollywood films glorify war by depoliticizing it, focusing on technical brilliance over deeper messages.
  2. Despite stunning visuals, 1917 lacks depth in its social and cultural commentary, portraying war as a backdrop for personal challenges.
  3. Hollywood's false binary of humanizing vs. politicizing war is debunked - films can humanize war without stripping it of political context.

Information as Public Good

Something to Consider • 39 implied HN points • 13 Feb 22
📖 Philosophy Politics
  1. Information is a public good, meaning it spreads easily and people who discover new facts often don't get rewarded for their efforts. This can lead to less investment in finding important information.
  2. One idea to fix this is to allow people to be paid for revealing bad information, even if it sounds like blackmail. By doing this, we might prevent bad behavior from companies or individuals because they would pay to keep wrongdoings secret.
  3. Legalizing this kind of 'blackmail' could actually help society by making people more open about wrongdoing and allowing for better accountability. It could also adjust how we punish people based on what's really important to the public.

Tyler Cowen is an Information Monster

Never Met a Science • 44 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Tyler Cowen is viewed as an information monster due to his exceptional capacity to process vast amounts of information and his focus on information density in media.
  2. Cowen's ideologies and arguments should be understood in the context of his information consumption habits, which prioritize speed and quantity over control and deliberation.
  3. There is a debate on whether society should prioritize consuming more information at a faster pace, as emphasized by Cowen, or slowing down to regain control and promote thoughtful decision-making.

In the Grim Darkness of 2024, There is Only War

Trantor Publishing • 2 HN points • 18 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Wokeness has been impacting various entertainment franchises, pushing for diversity and representation, often leading to controversies and changes in beloved IPs.
  2. The Left utilize tactics like gaslighting, representation demands, and creating unnecessary problems to sway companies and control the narrative in the entertainment industry.
  3. Creating entertainment properties grounded in truthful depictions of humanity can resist Leftist influences and provide spaces for storytelling that align with right-leaning perspectives.

Power

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 10 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
💼 Business Politics
  1. Being friendly with your boss is often more important than just working hard. It's good to build relationships at work instead of only focusing on your tasks.
  2. Life is about connections and asking for what you want. If you want a raise, it's okay to ask, but it helps if you're friendly first.
  3. Social media can be useful for staying in touch with people and celebrating their successes. A simple click of 'like' can show you care and can have a positive impact.

A Genealogy of Gentrification

Urben Field Notes • 48 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Gentrification can have different meanings to different people, leading to a complex perspective on urban change.
  2. Historically, gentrification has roots in the ideologies and actions of the first-wave gentrifiers in Brooklyn.
  3. The narrative around gentrification has been influenced by brownstoners, shaping the understanding of urban inequality and development.

An Apology And A Few Suggestions.

Trying to Understand the World • 4 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. The writer had a busy week and decided to postpone their new essay because they wanted it to be high quality.
  2. They shared popular essays on topics like the Ukraine crisis and the Professional and Managerial class for new readers to enjoy.
  3. The writer encourages support through likes, comments, and sharing their work, and they appreciate those who help translate their essays into other languages.

Shakespeare in a Divided America

Holodoxa • 59 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. James Shapiro examines the intersection of current political tensions in America with Shakespeare's work, notably discussing a Trump-inspired production of 'Julius Caesar.'
  2. The organization of Shapiro's book, 'Shakespeare in a Divided America,' is criticized as being somewhat haphazard.
  3. Consider subscribing to access more detailed insights on this topic and explore related themes in the post archives with a 7-day free trial.

The Untethering

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 13 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Politics and culture often clash, but they don’t always have to be mixed together. Good art can exist outside of politics.
  2. In the past, people pushed for art to always reflect certain political views, which limited creative freedom. Not all artists want to be activists, and that’s okay.
  3. Although we might see political ideas in art, the intense focus on social justice from the 2010s is fading. Art is likely to be viewed differently moving forward.

Links for Friday, March 15

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 25 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Politics
  1. Julius Caesar's death shows the delicate balance between democracy and dictatorship in leadership roles.
  2. A significant percentage of US parents are financially supporting their adult children, with variations in support based on generational groups.
  3. Climate Reanalyzer is a useful site for climate data and graphics, highlighting concerning trends like continuous record-breaking high ocean temperatures.

Lessons from the Ides of March

The Octavian Report • 49 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
💾 History Politics
  1. Julius Caesar's forgiveness towards his enemies ultimately led to his downfall.
  2. Caesar's policy of clemency humiliated his enemies and alienated his allies.
  3. Leaders should balance clemency with rewarding friends and displaying modesty to avoid creating dangerous power dynamics.

America Can't Afford Bidenomics

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 25 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Many Americans are not optimistic about the economy under Bidenomics, with challenges such as declining real wages and increasing part-time employment
  2. Bidenomics relies on Keynesian policies involving significant deficit spending, contributing to a ballooning national debt and potentially harmful economic impacts
  3. There's a call for a fiscal rule to limit government spending based on population growth and inflation, along with reducing the Fed's balance sheet to promote a more sustainable fiscal and monetary direction

New essay: Mystifying the Appearances

Reactionary Feminist • 8 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The essay discusses how different thinkers, like Owen Barfield and Jacques Derrida, interpret our connection to what we perceive. Barfield sees it as magical, while Derrida views it as dangerous.
  2. Derrida's perspective has become more dominant, leading to a culture filled with confusion and skepticism. This has created a sense of emptiness in society.
  3. However, there seems to be a shift happening now, with people questioning this dominant way of thinking and exploring new ideas in politics and culture.