The hottest Presidents Substack posts right now

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

February 17, 2025

Letters from an American • 18 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents History Democracy Elections
  1. Presidents Day celebrates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and it's a reminder of the qualities we expect from our leaders. Washington set a standard for honesty and integrity as a president.
  2. The cherry tree story about Washington was popularized to teach children the importance of honesty in leadership. It became a symbol of the virtues that citizens should look for in their leaders.
  3. Running a democracy relies on leaders being honest with the public. Trust is essential for good governance, and history shows us how damaging lies can be in politics.

Network News And The Wannabe Dictators

Richard Lewis • 1297 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Presidents Election Political Discourse
  1. FOX News used a provocative chyron about Biden and Trump, stirring controversy.
  2. Media outlets across the political spectrum have engaged in hyperbolic language towards political figures, including calling Trump a dictator.
  3. Biden's actions and statements have also been scrutinized for behavior that could align with the characteristics of a dictator, challenging the perception of who fits that label.

When Presidents Show Backbone, Israel Caves

Spoils of War • 589 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Presidents Congress United Nations Aid
  1. U.S. presidents have historically influenced Israel's actions by showing backbone and making clear demands.
  2. Actions taken by U.S. presidents like Eisenhower and Carter have led Israel to comply with international resolutions.
  3. Threats of trade sanctions and aid cutoffs have been effective in pushing Israel to withdraw from occupied territories.

JIMMY CARTER’S MIXED LEGACY

Seymour Hersh • 37 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents History Political Legacy American Society Conflict
  1. Jimmy Carter was seen as a peace-seeker after his presidency, but during his time in office, he often acted like a hawk. He had a complex approach to foreign policy, trying to balance peace with military actions.
  2. Carter's legacy includes efforts to support human rights, which he championed more as an ex-president. His post-presidency work focused on humanitarian efforts around the world.
  3. His time in office faced many challenges, like the Iran hostage crisis, which affected how people viewed him. Carter's presidency was marked by both significant achievements and controversies.
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No country for old men?

A User's Guide to History • 235 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Aging Decision-making Campaigns
  1. Presidents have strengths and weaknesses, and age can impact their performance, but wisdom often outweighs age-related challenges
  2. Health issues can affect a president's ability to govern effectively, as seen with Wilson's stroke during the ratification of the Versailles treaty
  3. Age alone should not be a disqualifying factor for a presidential candidate; what truly matters is their ability to make sound decisions

What’s a prez to do? Buchanan and secession

A User's Guide to History • 255 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Secession Civil War Constitution Reconstruction
  1. James Buchanan faced challenges as a 'lame duck' president during a time of political turmoil
  2. The Dred Scott case and John Brown's raid heightened tensions between the North and South
  3. Buchanan struggled with deciding how to address secession, emphasizing the complexity of peaceful reconstruction after the Civil War

Woodrow the Terrible, Warren the Good

Bastiat's Window • 393 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Race relations Civil Liberties Foreign Policy Government
  1. Presidential historians tend to rate Woodrow Wilson highly and Warren Harding poorly, but recent perspectives are starting to shift.
  2. Woodrow Wilson's racist tendencies and damaging actions have overshadowed his accomplishments.
  3. Warren Harding, despite being perceived as in over his head, managed to achieve significant positive outcomes during his presidency.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 196 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💾 History Presidents Animals Events
  1. First Lady Grace Coolidge had a pet raccoon named Rebecca and a male raccoon was brought to her in hopes they would become a couple.
  2. President Hoover had an opossum named Billy who was borrowed as a good luck charm by a high school and they won all their post-season games.
  3. Billy the opossum did not bring President Hoover any luck, unfortunately.

Our Birdy Presidents

Bird History • 139 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents
  1. Many of America's early presidents hunted birds for sport rather than necessity, reflecting the leisurely pursuits of wealthy white men back then.
  2. Presidential interest in birds varied, with some owning exotic pets like parrots and canaries, and others engaging in birdwatching and conservation efforts.
  3. Some presidents, like Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt, had a genuine love for birds, actively birdwatched, and contributed to bird conservation efforts.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 157 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
💾 History Space Exploration Presidents Milestones Achievements Speeches
  1. President Kennedy set the ambitious goal of putting a man on the Moon before the end of the decade, and it was achieved in 1969 by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
  2. Kennedy believed in unifying US agencies towards a common goal in space exploration.
  3. Kennedy's vision for space exploration highlighted the importance of American pre-eminence and exploring new frontiers.

Richard Cook on Bill Clinton the War Criminal, Rafiq on Atan the Revolutionary

Kevin’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Books Novels Ideologies Global Politics
  1. Richard Cook critiques Bill Clinton's presidency, highlighting his role in transitioning the US into a state of global domination through war.
  2. Rafiq's novel 'Atan the Revolutionary' delves into spiritual battles and the clash between indigenous wisdom and the power of the bankster-dominated Deep State.
  3. The text includes references to debates on controversial topics like 9/11 conspiracies and the challenges faced by those who question the mainstream narrative.

An Ideological Reservoir Plagues the American Electorate

Study Marry Kill • 157 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Society Elections Presidents Public Opinion
  1. Different public reactions to personal scandals of political figures highlight shifts in American electorate ideologies.
  2. Charisma and voter focus on fulfilling objectives can overshadow shocking behavior in political leaders.
  3. The comparison between Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump exemplifies an ideological divide impacting how politicians are perceived by the American public.

When you pick a VP, you're picking a future presidential nominee

Silver Bulletin • 177 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Presidents Political strategy
  1. When selecting a Vice President, you are essentially choosing a potential future presidential nominee.
  2. The role of Vice President has evolved over time, becoming more visible and influential in shaping future party nominations.
  3. Historically, most Vice Presidents who ran for President after their term were successful in securing their party's nomination.

The Real Reason Donald Trump Is Mixing Up Joe Biden and Barack Obama Isn’t His Dementia—It’s Something Much Worse

Proof • 58 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Conspiracy Theories Mental health
  1. Donald Trump has been confusing Joe Biden with Barack Obama, and while some attribute it to dementia, Trump himself referenced a far-right conspiracy theory claiming Obama still runs the country.
  2. Trump's repeated mix-up of Obama and Biden may stem from his belief in a baseless conspiracy theory, which could be more concerning than signs of dementia.
  3. Understanding the historical context between Trump and Obama sheds light on Trump's peculiar behavior regarding the two former presidents.

The Last of Us: Part II

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Judges Presidents History
  1. In the 19th century, there were actively-serving appointees of 12 different presidents at two different times.
  2. Franklin Pierce played a significant role in the number of judges appointed and serving during his presidency.
  3. Senior judges can play a unique role in the judiciary system, contributing to the historical context of concurrently serving judges from different administrations.

DOES IT TAKE A WAR?

Seymour Hersh • 95 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Wars Leadership History
  1. There is a gap between what a president tells us about a war and the reality on the ground.
  2. President John F. Kennedy struggled to understand the war in South Vietnam six decades ago.
  3. Even amidst struggles, President Kennedy and his wife Jackie were admired for their glamorous life in the White House.

How the New Deal Order fell

America in Crisis • 39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Presidents Deficits Vietnam War
  1. Elite acceptance of the New Deal paradigm started to break down during the 1960s, leading to significant policy shifts that impacted economic stability and inflation.
  2. The decline in US gold reserves and the failure to address fiscal deficits were key signals of the breakdown of the New Deal Order, highlighting the challenges in managing the economy.
  3. Policy decisions around taxation, military spending, and social programs during the era reshaped economic cultures and paved the way for the transition from the New Deal to the Neoliberal Order.

February 11, 2024

Letters from an American • 16 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💾 History American history Civil War Equality Presidents
  1. Abraham Lincoln believed in the principle of equality and fought to preserve American democracy during a tumultuous period.
  2. Lincoln challenged the arguments that limited equality to certain groups by emphasizing the importance of equality before the law for all individuals.
  3. In the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln highlighted the critical need for the nation to uphold the values of equality and government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Everything is espionage: Things I learned researching Assange

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 4 HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Espionage Julian Assange Presidents Extradition
  1. The US Espionage Act is defined very broadly and has been used over time in various ways to charge individuals with offenses related to obtaining or communicating information harmful to national defense.
  2. There is a history of government restraint in charging individuals with espionage, focusing mainly on actual spies, but recent administrations have expanded the use of the Act to charge whistleblowers and journalists.
  3. Julian Assange's case has raised questions about the constitutionality of the Espionage Act and the need for clarity in distinguishing between whistleblowing and espionage in the modern era.

Objectively Ranking the Presidents

Gideon's Substack • 3 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Ratings History Academia Political Ideology
  1. Presidential rankings can be subjective and change over time based on historical perspectives and societal values.
  2. Greatness in a president can be defined by their impact, leadership style, and ability to navigate complex political landscapes.
  3. Moderates may provide a more objective evaluation of presidents due to potentially weaker ideological filters.

Friday whimsy: Inaugural Address Word Clouds

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Speeches Government Symbolism
  1. Presidential inaugurations symbolize the transfer of power, which is an important aspect of a republic. It's a moment when the entire government comes together.
  2. The inaugural speeches are significant and often contain themes that reflect the era they were given in. Analyzing them can reveal a lot about the country's values and priorities at that time.
  3. Word clouds from these speeches highlight key themes and words used, offering a fun way to engage with history and test our knowledge of past inaugurations.