The hottest Presidency Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

SBSQ #29: Will AI terminate democracy? And why did Gallup terminate its approval ratings?

Silver Bulletin ā€¢ 260 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Gallup stopped its long-running presidential approval polling, likely from a mix of risk-averse business judgment and concern about political or legal pushback.
  2. Public polling is costly but acts as a prestige-building loss leader for Gallupā€™s consulting business, so ending the series sacrifices visibility to protect perceived commercial and contracting interests.
  3. Thereā€™s a broader pattern of independent media and pollsters becoming more responsive to political pressure, which can shrink critical coverage and make organizations more cautious.

The Great Entertainment

Kylaā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 472 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Politics is turning into nonstop spectacle, with leaders treating governance like reality TV; that showmanship erodes trust, breaks alliances, and makes policy unpredictable.
  2. Financial markets are already punishing the drama: foreign selling, unwind of carry trades, and tariff threats are pushing yields up and could sharply raise U.S. borrowing costs.
  3. The durable path forward is material reality, not nostalgia or performance ā€” energy, industry, and truthful institutions matter for the AI race and for rebuilding global trust.

Trump Helps Putin Kill Ukrainians: A Case Study

Phillipsā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 329 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike targeting Ukraineā€™s power and heating systems during an extreme cold snap, a deliberate move to maximize civilian suffering.
  2. The U.S. president publicly claimed he had secured a week-long pledge from Putin not to strike energy targets, but strikes continued, which undermines that claim and spread misleading information that aided Russia.
  3. There is urgent pressure for the U.S. to impose sanctions and restart military aid to Ukraine, since inaction or the spread of disinformation enables further attacks on civilians.
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How Trump/USA Is Helping Putin Kill Ukrainians

Phillipsā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 147 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Some U.S. actions under Trump are effectively aiding Putin and are argued to be contributing to Ukrainian casualties.
  2. Patriot antiā€‘air systems are presented as the single most important, advanced, and expensive layer of Ukraineā€™s integrated air defenses and are combatā€‘tested.
  3. Ukrainians and analysts are increasingly saying they were ā€˜playedā€™ by the U.S., showing how political and arms decisions can undermine Ukraineā€™s defense.

March 7, 2026

Letters from an American ā€¢ 31 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Mar 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. The presidentā€™s public demand for Iranā€™s ā€œunconditional surrenderā€ and shifting goals show chaotic decision-making with little planning for the aftermath, escalating violence and risking wider regional conflict and global disruption.
  2. The administration is pushing military-style interventions in the Western Hemisphereā€”calling for an anti-cartel coalition, convening right-wing allies, and openly threatening Cubaā€”which signals expanded U.S. aggression beyond the Middle East.
  3. Lawmakers and reporters warn that the presidentā€™s actions often align with Russian interests, and concerns about ties linked to the Epstein files and reports of Russia aiding Iran raise serious national security and motive questions.

This is getting ridiculous!

Today's Edition Newsletter ā€¢ 9001 implied HN points ā€¢ 25 Sep 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. The Washington Post poll results were deemed implausible and called an outlier, highlighting issues with presidential polling.
  2. Reject the influence of sensationalized polls on politics and focus on the real issues at hand.
  3. Trump's veiled threat against General Mark Milley is concerning and potentially in violation of pretrial release conditions.

The Whitewashing Of Trump

Phillipsā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 317 implied HN points ā€¢ 28 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. The president created and empowered a heavily armed, ill-suited ICE force and his rhetoric and policies made civilian killings predictable and encouraged retribution.
  2. Many media outlets and commentators deflect blame onto officials, aides, or opponents instead of holding the president personally accountable, effectively whitewashing his role.
  3. This recurring pattern of excusing the leader by blaming advisors undermines accountability and lets dangerous policies continue, so naming his responsibility is necessary for an effective response.

Thoughts on Joe throwing in the towel.

Mattā€™s Five Points ā€¢ 499 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jul 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Biden stepping down from the nomination seems like a good decision given concerns about his age and abilities. This change helps avoid the risk of having someone unfit for the presidency.
  2. The political landscape is changing fast, and Biden's exit may lead to a smoother path for Harris, who is likely to get a lot of support from the party.
  3. It's important to remember that even if a new candidate like Harris faces challenges, the decision to move on from Biden was likely the best option for the party right now.

Transcript - America This Week, Dec 16, 2025: "Trump's Speech and the 'Lost Generation' of Men?"

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 600 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. The president delivered a forceful address claiming he inherited a mess and has fixed problems like high inflation and a porous border, using dramatic figures and strong accusations about who was coming into the country.
  2. A host noted that the consumer price index came in lower than expected, which weakens forecasts that tariffs would trigger runaway inflation and gives the president fresh political ammo to brag and criticize the Federal Reserve.
  3. The conversation mixes light holiday banter with political analysis and will also cover cultural pieces, including a viral essay about a soā€‘called "lost generation" of men and a discussion of werewolf themes in Train Dreams.

Lock Him Up!

Slack Tide by Matt Labash ā€¢ 317 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. People casually talk about Trumpā€™s latest antics, showing how his behavior dominates everyday conversation and the news.
  2. He floated the idea of taking Greenland and then backed off, demonstrating a pattern of making alarming claims and then denying them.
  3. That unpredictability and grandstanding risks undermining international alliances and invites ridicule from other countries.

Bill Clinton Has an Epstein Problem, and So Does America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 533 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. New Justice Department photos show Bill Clinton socializing closely with Jeffrey Epstein, which clashes with claims that their relationship was very brief.
  2. The images ā€” including scenes on Epsteinā€™s plane, at celebrity dinners, and a hot tub photo with a woman ā€” donā€™t prove sex with minors but do weaken Clintonā€™s earlier explanations.
  3. The photo release forces Clinton to answer more questions and intensifies the scandalā€™s political and public fallout nationwide.

Trumpā€™s Plan to Make Gaza Great Again

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 245 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. He proposed a "Board of Peace" and a plan to rebuild Gaza that includes a luxury "Gaza-Lago" resort city as part of a broader peace effort.
  2. The initiative is driven by a philosophy of positive thinking rooted in Norman Vincent Peale, prioritizing optimism over detailed political or historical solutions.
  3. Many see the vision as wildly optimistic and possibly naive given the deep, complex realities of the Israelā€“Palestinian conflict.

If Salvador Dali painted a Supreme Court appeal

Lucian Truscott Newsletter ā€¢ 3400 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Jan 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Trump's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding his ban from Colorado is seen as surreal because it interprets the 14th Amendment in a peculiar way.
  2. Legal scholars argue that the 14th Amendment should bar insurrectionists from office, without the need for them to hold office first.
  3. Trump's appeal presents a bizarre argument that attempts to sidestep the 14th Amendment's provisions regarding disqualifying insurrectionists.

Poll and open thread on the Iran war

Unreported Truths ā€¢ 44 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Mar 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. U.S. forces eliminated Iran's top leaders and the opening days of the conflict have gone well from a military standpoint, though four American troops were killed.
  2. Iran so far seems unable to defend itself or mount meaningful counterattacks, and stocks rose as investors bet the war won't disrupt oil supplies or trigger a recession.
  3. The situation is only a few days old and highly uncertain, so a public poll and an open discussion are being offered to gather readers' views; the poll is open to all while comments are for subscribers.

The Art of the Pardon. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 384 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. President Trump has dramatically expanded clemency in his second term, and the pardon process increasingly benefits people with wealth or close ties to the administration.
  2. J.D. Vance is urging the MAGA movement to drop purity tests and broaden its base, a deliberate strategy that risks embracing people who flirt with conspiracy theories and antisemitism.
  3. Thereā€™s a growing alarm about generational economic strain, with expensive entitlements that funnel money from younger people to retirees being called ā€œTotal Boomer Luxury Communismā€ and argued to be unsustainable.

The Trump "Tell"

Phillipsā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 173 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. A "tell" is an unconscious physical or behavioral cue people repeat that reveals their true position or intentions.
  2. Donald Trump has a consistent, discernible tell that indicates when an issue doesn't matter to him.
  3. Noticing that tell can be used to predict real-world actions, such as his likely stance toward Putin or cuts to aid for Ukraine.

And People Had No Problem Saying That Joe Biden Was Cognitively "Challenged"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality ā€¢ 369 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Many people openly said Joe Biden was cognitively "challenged." That would have been unthinkable before 2016 without invoking the 25th Amendment.
  2. The case being made against him is largely falseā€”almost every sentence of that argument is inaccurate.
  3. Professional Republicans and many reporters apparently recognize these falsehoods but overwhelmingly do not correct them, which raises concerns about declining norms for calling out untrue claims.

Trump Laid a Trap and Democrats Went Into It Genitals-First

I Might Be Wrong ā€¢ 26 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Democrats failed to visibly stand up for American voters during the State of the Union, which handed Republicans a potent attack line and forced months of damage control.
  2. A hard left shift is risky because Democratic voters are heavily concentrated in fewer states, making it hard to win the Senate and other national contests without appealing in swing and red-leaning states.
  3. Political psychology favors in-group loyalty to right-wing figures, while extreme left positions are often seen as siding with outsiders, so moving far left can alienate the broader electorate.

Betrayal, Refusal, and the Yes that Follows

Charles Eisenstein ā€¢ 12 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Mar 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. A leader who campaigned against endless wars has instead escalated conflict, risking catastrophic violence and eroding American global influence.
  2. Traditional protests alone may not be enough; coordinated economic actions like boycotts, debt strikes, and mass financial withdrawals can quickly pressure institutions and governments, and they require organization, timing, and collective courage.
  3. Any mass refusal should reject vengeance and dehumanization and instead build a new "yes" grounded in dignity, consent, and equal human worth for all.

TGIF: The Lame Duck

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 4488 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Dec 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. President Biden is facing criticisms about his mental health and lack of engagement with key government officials, raising concerns about his leadership capabilities.
  2. President-elect Elon Musk and Donald Trump are disrupting the traditional budget process, causing Congress to struggle with passing a new budget amid rising tensions.
  3. There's a contrast in political styles between Biden, who presents a moderate image, and Musk, who is approaching governance in a radically different way, hinting at significant changes ahead.

LETTER FROM LONDON

Seymour Hersh ā€¢ 27 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Feb 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Traveled to London for an awards event, didnā€™t win the prize, and had the return to Washington delayed by Northeast storms.
  2. The State of the Union came across as a performative show and raised concerns that the U.S. is preparing a Middle Eastern military buildup without clear aims.
  3. Commentators warn that a tendency for the leader to believe his own lies and be surrounded by flatterers, rather than honest advisers, increases the risk of reckless foreign-policy decisions.

The Fire Next Time

Persuasion ā€¢ 1474 implied HN points ā€¢ 19 Jan 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. During Trump's first term, the military faced challenges from its commander-in-chief.
  2. Concerns arise about potential misuse of military power in a second Trump term.
  3. The military may face impossible choices in a second Trump term, impacting civil-military relations.

Here is why Joe Biden is skipping a Super Bowl interview

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie ā€¢ 1498 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Feb 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Joe Biden is skipping a Super Bowl interview for the second time due to difficulty handling questions and not wanting to debate Trump.
  2. Concerns about Biden's age and mental deterioration are rising among voters, even within the Democratic party.
  3. Biden's path to re-election may involve the GOP making mistakes, but relying solely on that is risky if one truly believes Trump is a threat to the republic.

Making Venezuela Mediocre Again

Slack Tide by Matt Labash ā€¢ 168 implied HN points ā€¢ 06 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Over the holiday period he kept working and took a string of provocative, authoritarian-leaning actions ā€” from public threats and nonstop social posts to controversial law-enforcement moves ā€” showing a chaotic, self-focused presidency.
  2. He invaded Venezuela and removed Maduro, a move that contradicts his usual antiā€“nation-building rhetoric and signals a dramatic, unsettling shift in foreign policy that could alarm regional strongmen.
  3. His behavior reveals hypocrisy toward authoritarian leaders and double standards, while policy choices like letting ACA subsidies lapse have real, harmful consequences for people at home.

joe biden can beat trump

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank ā€¢ 1159 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Feb 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. There are concerns about Biden's memory and cognitive function affecting his potential reelection campaign.
  2. Biden could prevent Trump's second term by stepping down and allowing new Democratic candidates to enter the race.
  3. Allowing a different candidate to replace Biden could address challenges like lack of enthusiasm among voters and the threat of a second Trump presidency.

In a Perfect World, Powell Would Not Be Fed Chairman and Trump Would Be President

Peter Navarro's Taking Back Trump's America ā€¢ 2397 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Mar 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. In a perfect world, Peter Navarro believes Jerome Powell wouldn't be the Fed Chairman and Trump would still be the President.
  2. Navarro discusses how Mnuchin convinced Trump to appoint Powell, who in turn negatively impacted the economy.
  3. Navarro criticizes Powell's policies and highlights the challenges of dealing with stagflation and the Federal Reserve's limitations.

Further Thoughts on: CROSSPOST: DAN DREZNER: Revenge of the Toddler-in-Chief

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality ā€¢ 84 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. A president fixated on symbolic detailsā€”like map projections and perceived personal slightsā€”is a symptom rather than the root problem.
  2. The deeper scandal is the failure of American guardrails and institutions meant to restrain dangerous or erratic executive behavior.
  3. This pattern points to broader risks of authoritarian or neofascist drift, showing systemic dangers that go beyond any one leader's tantrums.

How to Win a Pardon from Trump

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 190 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Dec 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Presidents often dole out a big batch of pardons around the end of a term, and Trump reportedly granted more than 1,500 on his first day back.
  2. Personal access and favors ā€” like playing golf at Marā€‘aā€‘Lago, recommendations from allies, or shared grudges ā€” can help get someoneā€™s case in front of the president.
  3. A presidential pardon can erase serious federal charges and prison exposure, underscoring the huge and sometimes controversial power of the pardon power.

Donald Trump Is The Empire Unmasked

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2947 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Trump openly talks about the U.S. being an empire run by wealthy elites. He doesn't shy away from admitting the truth about America's global ambitions.
  2. Unlike other politicians, Trump openly reveals the darker side of U.S. foreign policy. This makes it harder for the government to hide its intentions.
  3. The more people see the real actions of the empire, the less they believe the propaganda. This awareness could potentially lead to positive change in society.

PROOF EXCLUSIVE: Trumpā€™s ā€œBoard of Peaceā€ Just Became a Criminal Enterprise

Proof ā€¢ 71 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Trump has launched a new international organization and put himself in charge of it.
  2. That organization may violate federal criminal law and could be treated as a criminal enterprise.
  3. If the group isnā€™t illegal, it might be intended as a vehicle for refusing to accept the 2028 election results if Democrats win, posing a serious democratic risk.

Joe Bidenā€™s Silent War on Americaā€™s Steel Industry

Peter Navarro's Taking Back Trump's America ā€¢ 982 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Feb 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Joe Biden's actions have negatively impacted the U.S. steel and aluminum industries, leading to a decline after years of Trump's tariffs.
  2. Imports of steel and aluminum surged under Biden as he dismantled Trump's tariffs, causing a decrease in domestic manufacturing jobs.
  3. Reinstating Trump's tariffs could help revive the steel industry, and forming domestic partnerships like U.S. Steel with Cleveland Cliffs may be beneficial for national security.

February 11, 2026

Letters from an American ā€¢ 37 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Feb 26
šŸ’¾ History Presidency
  1. Lincoln argued the nationā€™s real founding idea was the Declarationā€™s claim that all people are created equal, not the parts of the system that protected property and hierarchy.
  2. He warned that once you allow exceptions to equalityā€”saying some people are naturally superiorā€”you open the door to enslavement and rule by the few, which threatens everyoneā€™s freedom.
  3. Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and urged a "new birth of freedom" so that democracy ā€” government of, by, and for the people ā€” would survive.

Politics Chat, March 17, 2026

Letters from an American ā€¢ 1 implied HN point ā€¢ 17 Mar 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. The item is labeled Politics Chat and dated March 17, 2026, so itā€™s a timely political post.
  2. It shows engagement numbers ā€” 463, 12, and 60 ā€” and includes a share option, indicating measurable reader interaction.
  3. The link points to Substack, which means the content is published as part of an online newsletter or commentary platform.

Michael Wolff on Stephen Miller

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger ā€¢ 115 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Presidency
  1. Stephen Miller was viewed by insiders as an extreme, almost fascistic figure whose demeanor and rhetoric suggested something deeply troubling.
  2. He went from being treated as a joke to becoming a central power in Trumpā€™s orbit, helping design harsh immigration enforcement and driving Trumpā€™s comeback and second-term agenda.
  3. Trump didnā€™t invent Americaā€™s brutal global actions, imperial presidency, or cruel neoliberal policies ā€” heā€™s exposing, testing, and more openly delivering what already existed.