The hottest State Politics Substack posts right now

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

Sunblock

Doomberg • 11128 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy Environmental Issues Legislation State Politics Public Safety
  1. California's energy system is struggling because it has shifted away from reliable sources like nuclear and natural gas in favor of solar power. This change has made it harder to manage the electricity supply effectively.
  2. A major fire at California's large battery storage facility caused serious environmental damage and highlighted the risks of relying too much on green energy solutions without a solid backup plan.
  3. The government's new bill may worsen California's energy crisis by cutting tax credits for green energy projects, which could halt new installations and leave the state without enough power during peak demand times.

Whoa! Is California Shifting... Red?!

COVID Reason • 971 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting Trends Political parties Demographics Election Impact State Politics
  1. California, which has always been a Democratic stronghold, is experiencing more voters registering as Republicans now. This change is getting attention and making people wonder about future elections.
  2. Groups that typically support Democrats, like Latinos and young voters, are switching to the Republican Party in larger numbers. This could change the political landscape there.
  3. Even though the shift to Republican registration is small, it's a sign that Democrats might be losing support in important groups, which could lead to bigger changes in the future.

A (successful) test of the state-by-state approach!

The Crucial Years • 2012 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental Activism Legislation State Politics
  1. The state-by-state approach is an effective way to make climate progress. Even small victories in big states like New York can have huge impacts.
  2. New York has passed a 'polluter pays' law that requires fossil fuel companies to contribute financially to repair climate damage. This means that polluters will be held accountable for their actions.
  3. Activism and public pressure played a big role in getting this legislation signed. Many people came together to push for this change, showing how powerful community action can be.

The Other American Border Towns

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3083 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics Border issues Local Governance
  1. Churubusco is a small town in upstate New York, very different from the bustling cities like New York City. It's a place where life is quieter and more rural.
  2. The town feels isolated, especially since it's right on the border with Canada, making it easy to accidentally cross into another country. This adds a layer of caution to everyday activities.
  3. People in upstate New York often feel disconnected from the political decisions made by the more populated areas downstate, which can create frustration about representation and governance.

The GOP Walkout That Ended Badly

The Status Kuo • 18632 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Political parties Elections Government State Politics
  1. Oregon GOP Senators boycotted the state senate to prevent a quorum, violating a voter-approved measure banning officials with 10 or more absences from reelection.
  2. Voters passed Measure 113 to disqualify legislators with unexcused absences, leading to a Supreme Court ruling against the GOP Senators.
  3. The GOP Senators' walkout impacted their ability to run for office again, causing disruptions in the state senate and a potential shift in power dynamics.
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EARLY VOTING COUNTS ARE IN

COVID Reason • 178 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voting Political parties Policy Changes State Politics
  1. Early voting policies have changed in many states since the decline of COVID, affecting how people vote.
  2. Republicans are seeing positive trends in party switching and county-level details, especially in Pennsylvania.
  3. However, the number of early ballots returned is still lower than expected, raising concerns for the Republican Party.

DeSantis Is Defunct But Not Defused & Newsom Rejects Ban on Tackle Football for Children

kareem • 6132 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics Government Policies Elderly Care Children's Health
  1. Ron DeSantis ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump, leaving a significant impact
  2. Florida's state congressman introduced a bill to ban Pride flags in schools, sparking debate
  3. California governor opposes banning tackle football for kids, raising questions on child safety in sports

Eyes on the Bleeding States

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 398 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics Legislation Policy Social Issues Government
  1. Red states have uncontested seats leading to extreme Republican representation caused by years of disinvestment by Democrats.
  2. Laws passed in red states can have far-reaching effects beyond their borders, affecting everyone regardless of the state they live in.
  3. The impact of oppressive legislation in bleeding states showcases the potential for similar actions to occur in any state, posing a threat to rights and safety.

American Politics & Governance Is Actually in Relatively Good Shape

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 207 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Legislature State Politics Political Ideologies
  1. American politics and governance are relatively stable compared to other countries
  2. The approach of legislators should focus on compromise and cooperation to pass effective laws
  3. Political candidates should aim to work with others rather than position themselves as fighting against all opponents

Weekly Retrospective #6

Novum Newsletter • 84 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
📰 News Global State Politics Social
  1. The author is putting their weekly review series on hold to focus on other writing projects.
  2. The newsletter is being reorganized to make it easier to navigate, with sections like Global, State & Politics, and Social.
  3. The author expresses gratitude for the subscribers and provides an overview of the newsletter's categories.

A Number One!! NY Passes Digital Fair Repair Act

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Advocacy Consumer Rights State Politics
  1. New York passed the Digital Fair Repair Act, becoming the first state to do so, enabling consumers to repair their electronics and reducing waste.
  2. Years of work by right to repair advocates led to this milestone, overcoming heavy lobbying from tech firms and previous failures in other states.
  3. The passing of the act is a win for consumers, small businesses, and the environment, allowing easier access to spare parts, repair software, and service diagrams for a wide range of devices.

Senior Moment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Congress Legislation Political Behavior State Politics
  1. When a senior representative from a state retires, it can impact that state's influence in Congress. New members usually have to start from scratch without the same seniority or connections.
  2. States with experienced representatives have a better chance of getting powerful positions in the House. This is because seniority helps members get put into important roles more easily.
  3. Having a lot of experienced representatives in a state can be more beneficial than just having a few highly experienced ones. A state with more representatives can gain more powerful roles as they have a larger pool of seniority.

California Dreamin'

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Ideology State Politics Political parties Voting behavior
  1. California Republicans can be very conservative, sometimes even more than those in traditionally conservative states like Alabama. It's a common myth that Republicans in liberal states are less conservative.
  2. Voting patterns can be misleading when judging state political leanings. Just because a state leans liberal overall doesn't mean that all its Republican voters think the same way.
  3. Party dynamics, like support from influential media and party leaders, can play a big role in shaping primary elections. This means voters might have less influence than expected on who gets nominated.