The hottest State Politics Substack posts right now

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

"Your Word Is Your Bond", What It Means.

Points And Figures • 479 implied HN points • 25 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Honesty and personal accountability are core to managing money; if you don’t stand behind your decisions, you lose trust and face real consequences.
  2. Public finance roles like Treasurer require proven experience, expertise, and transparency, so voters should prefer candidates who have actually managed money.
  3. Trustworthy officials sustain public confidence and shape how effectively government works, so who holds the office matters for protecting taxpayers and shared values.

Last Rights

Astral Codex Ten • 32279 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Congress is deeply unpopular and its members have little incentive to pass reforms that would reduce their power, so fixes that require Congressional approval are unlikely to happen.
  2. Ratifying the old Congressional Apportionment Amendment would expand the House to thousands of representatives without Congress’s help, which would make gerrymandering harder, reduce the influence of big money, and make representatives more locally accountable.
  3. The amendment contains a long-noted typo that could prompt a legal showdown over textualism versus originalism, but most expect courts to uphold the amendment’s intended meaning; to become law it still needs 27 more states to ratify.

SEIU Delenda Est

Astral Codex Ten • 41984 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. SEIU repeatedly uses ballot initiatives as leverage, proposing attractive-sounding measures designed to wreck targeted industries and then demanding money or union access in exchange for withdrawing them.
  2. The proposed California Billionaire Tax is poorly written—taxing unrealized gains, valuing stakes by voting rights, and applying retroactively—and could drive billionaires and tech founders out of the state, possibly reducing revenue and harming Silicon Valley.
  3. The ballot proposition system creates a perverse incentive for interest groups to design destructive but popular measures as bargaining chips, effectively turning direct democracy into a tool for political extortion.

EXCLUSIVE: Groypers Are Not Welcome, California GOP Says

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 482 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The California Republican Party has started a formal vetting process to block Nick Fuentes and his far-right influence from joining or shaping the party.
  2. A memo told all county GOP organizations not to recruit, support, or endorse candidates who promote Fuentes’s ideas and to update bylaws so leaders can remove members aligned with him.
  3. The party explicitly rejected antisemitism, white supremacy, and Holocaust denial, and it is the first state Republican organization to take this formal public stand.

Want To See What a Blue State Looks Like

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Illinois is used as an example of a deeply blue state where Democrats dominate elections, leading to left-leaning officials, higher taxes, and people moving away.
  2. To avoid a similar outcome, Republicans and conservatives are urged to fund and back viable candidates in purple states like Nevada and, above all, turn out to vote.
  3. A candidate stresses decades of financial experience and is seeking donations and national backing to win the Nevada state treasurer race and counter heavy Democratic spending.
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THE SWAMP LOG - The March To War, A President Deposed, Bigger in Texas

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2367 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The newsletter spotlights big political storylines — a march to war, a president being deposed, and major developments in Texas.
  2. It bills itself as a weekly dispatch pushing back against Washington’s “Blob” and aiming to demystify D.C. by using public resources and plain language instead of insider chatter.
  3. It’s published on Racket as paid newsletter content with subscription options, while occasionally offering free posts or promotional free access.

“We’re No Longer Having a Political Debate. We’re Having a Moral Debate.”

Breaking the News • 9452 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Federal agents killed civilians and officials then pushed false self‑defense stories, but video evidence quickly exposed those lies. Real‑time footage changed the public record and made accountability possible.
  2. State leaders and ordinary Minnesotans responded with disciplined courage, mutual aid, and clear moral language, refusing to be intimidated. Their unified response helped protect civic rights and reclaim the victims’ stories.
  3. This crisis is a national test of democratic norms and could be a precursor to broader federal overreach, and the successful pushback shows both the cost and power of civic resistance. Americans are being asked to choose a moral side about the use of force and government accountability.

Lassiez-Faire vs Control

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Campaigns feel different from other risky situations because the vote happens on a fixed schedule and you can’t control the final result, even though you can manage messaging and strategy.
  2. Voters prize integrity, honesty, and real professional experience, so candidates who emphasize stewardship of public funds and practical qualifications stand out over empty talk.
  3. Turnout decides elections, so local organizers, precinct workers, and individual registration choices matter a lot, and active mobilization and early voting can change the outcome.

Mamdani’s Tax Fantasy Is Already Failing Somewhere Else

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 52 implied HN points • 22 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Targeted taxes on high earners can raise money at first but often push wealthy people and income out of a jurisdiction, eroding the tax base over time.
  2. People who can move or change where they earn money will respond to tax incentives, so migration can carry away far more income than raw population numbers suggest.
  3. Lowering estate tax thresholds to modest levels risks hitting ordinary homeowners and retirees, encouraging them to leave and leaving behind a smaller pool of taxpayers who then get labeled as the new "rich".

Corporations Should Move To Nevada

Points And Figures • 239 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Nevada is positioned to attract corporations leaving Delaware and should be actively courted as a new corporate home.
  2. Nevada’s legal framework—like a statutory business judgment rule, limits on director/officer exposure, inspection rules, and dedicated business courts—offers protections that appeal to boards and corporate leaders.
  3. Bringing corporations to Nevada would boost the state’s legal and intellectual workforce and provide ongoing revenue from corporate registration fees that benefit taxpayers.

Once States Go Blue, They Only Fleece You

Points And Figures • 479 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Everyday people should get involved in local and state politics by running for office or actively supporting candidates, because taking action matters more than just complaining.
  2. The piece argues that when states shift to Democratic control they expand government and raise taxes, which is portrayed as taking money from families and eroding freedoms.
  3. Nevada could boost prosperity by cutting red tape and developing energy sources like nuclear and geothermal, and running or supporting like-minded candidates is affordable and practical.

When Reality Hits You Over the Head

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1152 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Experts who favor elegant theory over messy reality can be wrong when policies ignore actual outcomes, so evidence should steer decisions.
  2. Legalizing and taxing drugs does not automatically eliminate black markets or crime, because tax incentives, regulatory burdens, and cross‑jurisdictional demand keep illegal supply alive.
  3. Basing budgets and policy on optimistic models or drug tax revenue can backfire, since oversupply and falling prices can collapse revenues and undermine promised services.

Endorsements

Points And Figures • 239 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Endorsements from two sitting legislators mean the treasurer will have partners in the legislature to modernize and professionalize the state treasury and to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.
  2. The candidate brings professional finance experience, a strong network, and startup background that other contenders lack, so they can start delivering results on day one.
  3. Joe Brown’s endorsement is significant because he helped build Nevada, is widely respected, and adds credibility and institutional support to the campaign.

Sporting Clays With Keystone

Points And Figures • 426 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The state treasurer’s office should be depoliticized and run by skilled professionals who prioritize investment returns and fiduciary duty instead of political virtue signaling about industries like guns.
  2. A Keystone sporting clays shoot showed that shooting can be fun but challenging in windy conditions, prompted thoughts of switching to a semi-automatic, and reflected a family tradition of hunting and careful gun handling.
  3. We should be cautious about restricting the right to bear arms while also making gun safety, maintenance, and proper storage central to responsible ownership.

Why blue states are crashing, volume one trillion

Unreported Truths • 55 implied HN points • 23 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Wealthy blue states and cities are failing to deliver basic services despite large budgets and resources. Many public systems like schools, infrastructure, and safety are deteriorating for most residents.
  2. Local NIMBY land‑use rules and growth limits in liberal college towns choke housing supply and lock land from development. That drives up rents and home prices, pushing young families and businesses away.
  3. High taxes and anti‑growth policies create a feedback loop of low growth, shrinking tax bases, and budget shortfalls. The result is rising costs that squeeze out the middle class and threaten long‑term vitality.

How Nevada's State Treasurer Won't Screw Up

Points And Figures • 319 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Risky investment choices by a state treasurer can wipe out college savings, leaving families to recover only a portion of their losses after settlements.
  2. Voters should prefer a treasurer with real professional finance experience and accredited-investor credentials to responsibly manage public funds.
  3. Rapid change in finance means a hands-on treasurer with industry experience and networks can protect citizens and spot real innovation versus snake oil, unlike inexperienced career politicians.

Not An Accredited Investor?

Points And Figures • 346 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Accredited investor status shows you can access and analyze complex private investments, which matters for someone managing a large public portfolio and sitting on investment boards.
  2. Non-accredited people are legally barred from many private funds and deals. If they invest anyway it can break the law and create havoc for other investors.
  3. Managing a state treasury requires prior hands-on experience with sophisticated investments and a strong sense of fiduciary responsibility; it’s not a job you should be learning on the fly.

Whoa! Is California Shifting... Red?!

COVID Reason • 971 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

The most enraging piece you will read this year

Unreported Truths • 51 implied HN points • 23 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Seattle's criminal justice system is struggling to deliver timely justice because competency and insanity claims often lead to hospitalization or stalled trials instead of prison.
  2. In the Jahmed Haynes case, a repeat violent offender who killed an elderly woman and her dog is refusing medication and participation to delay trial, leaving victims' families feeling the system favors defendants over victims.
  3. While some defendants genuinely need involuntary treatment, current rules on forced medication, privacy, and civil commitment make it hard to keep dangerous, mentally ill, or drug‑abusing people off the streets, prompting calls to ease civil commitment.

Filing For Office; Choices

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Filing in Nevada is simple and cash-only: candidates pay a $200 fee in person, which lowers barriers to entry compared with signature-based systems and can make races more competitive.
  2. Voters are facing ballot questions on things like ranked-choice primaries and a voter ID constitutional amendment, and registering with a party matters for participating in primaries; independents who want influence are encouraged to join a party.
  3. One candidate stresses extensive finance and leadership experience as qualification to manage the state’s $12B treasury and asks for volunteers and donations while contrasting that background with an opponent seen as inexperienced.

Florida Leading the Way on Taxes

Points And Figures • 826 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Florida has moved to eliminate nearly all property taxes, leaving only taxes that fund schools.
  2. High property taxes can be a heavy burden for homeowners, prompting comparisons to paying 'rent to the government' and motivating people to move to lower-tax states.
  3. A State Treasurer candidate supports adopting Florida’s approach, cutting government size and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse to reduce taxes and increase personal freedom.

We Filed for Nevada State Treasurer

Points And Figures • 399 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Filing for statewide office in Nevada is a quick, mostly digital process: make an online appointment, pay a $200 cash fee, complete the forms, and have them notarized.
  2. Filing early removes surprises and opens the door to endorsements, while also kicking off fundraising and reporting—so volunteers and even small donations really matter.
  3. This midterm is framed as a critical moment for Nevada, urging support for Republican candidates (especially reelecting the governor) and asking right-leaning independents to re-register and turn out to vote.

Da Bears. Moving to Indiana?

Points And Figures • 799 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The Chicago Bears are moving to Hammond, Indiana because Illinois politicians and taxes made building in Arlington Heights impractical. Indiana is offering a more business-friendly option that could support stadium-driven development.
  2. High property taxes and intrusive bureaucracy in Illinois are pushing residents and businesses to lower-tax states like Nevada, changing where people buy homes and where companies choose to operate.
  3. Relocations of major teams and businesses can spur redevelopment in struggling regions and become central political talking points about taxation and governance, influencing campaigns focused on avoiding an "Illinois-like" decline.

The Exploitation of Legal Delay

David Friedman’s Substack • 233 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Lawmakers can exploit delays in the court system by passing laws they expect to lose and getting some effect before the laws are struck down, sometimes repeating variants to prolong enforcement.
  2. One response is to neutralize harms after a law is overturned — refund fines, compensate those harmed, and reimburse legal costs — but invisible harms and imperfect refunds mean compensation will often be incomplete.
  3. Another response is to change incentives: make lawmakers or the state bear costs for clearly unconstitutional laws, or require faster pre‑enforcement review or a short challenge window; these reduce abuse but come with practical and fairness trade‑offs.

More Endorsements

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Endorsers want viable candidates who will work with conservatives after election and who will fight instead of compromising or staying on the sidelines.
  2. The state treasurer should be non‑partisan and focused on maximizing returns and cutting taxpayer debt, not staging political theater or prioritizing DEI/ESG goals.
  3. The office needs more professionalism and modernization to eliminate waste, fraud, and missed opportunities. Relying mainly on short‑term U.S. Treasuries looks strong now but could cause trouble if the Fed starts cutting rates.

Racket is Hiring

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1892 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
đź“° News State Politics
  1. A news outlet is hiring general assignment reporters and columnists who have subject-matter or geographic expertise.
  2. Candidates should have strong reporting skills—good writing, phone reporting, public-records research, and source development—and experience covering beats like Washington politics, defense/intelligence, immigration and law enforcement, regional state politics, or tech and finance is preferred.
  3. Editing or video experience and backgrounds in fields like law, medicine, or academia are helpful. Citizen journalists and independents are welcome, and applicants should submit a brief cover letter, resume, and writing samples.

Virginia shows how it's done

Of Boys and Men • 123 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Virginia has created a first‑of‑its‑kind, bipartisan Boys and Men Advisory Commission that passed the legislature with overwhelming support.
  2. The 18‑member commission will sit in the legislature, focus on education, health, economic opportunity, family life, and social media, has a small annual budget, and a three‑year sunset to prove its value.
  3. The effort is explicitly framed as non‑partisan and meant to complement, not compete with, support for women and girls, offering a potential model for other states.

The Great California Wealth Exodus

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1275 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. A proposed California ballot measure would authorize a first-of-its-kind asset seizure or wealth tax targeting billionaires, creating major legal uncertainty and likely court battles.
  2. Many wealthy founders and investors say they plan to leave California if the measure advances, effectively prompting a potential exodus of high-net-worth people.
  3. That exodus could have big economic ripple effects because these individuals control companies worth roughly $1.3 trillion and employ about 50,000 people, putting jobs and the tech ecosystem at risk.

The GOP Walkout That Ended Badly

The Status Kuo • 18632 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

Lying Media, Lying People

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The media and many people often lie or shade the truth nowadays, and this trend shows up strongly in politics.
  2. Voter ID has broad public support and is seen as a way to restore trust in elections. Passing measures like Nevada’s Question 7 is important to make that trust more permanent.
  3. Candidates should be honest and straightforward, especially for offices like State Treasurer where trust matters, and a culture where your word is your bond is essential.

A Federalism Bottleneck?

Can We Still Govern? • 242 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Immigration enforcement depends as much on local governments and private contractors as it does on federal law and funding. ICE’s day-to-day capacity is enabled by contracts, supply chains, and 287(g) agreements, not just Washington directives.
  2. States and localities can meaningfully shape or limit federal enforcement by restricting access to state property, ending jail contracts, withdrawing personnel, or banning 287(g) partnerships. Those local actions change how and where enforcement can be carried out.
  3. Congressional budgetary and statutory fixes have limits because American federalism creates operational chokepoints. That layered system gives local officials and activists real leverage to influence enforcement and hold agencies accountable.

Breaking News; Jeff Carter For Nevada Treasurer

Points And Figures • 1092 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. A candidate is running for Nevada State Treasurer who highlights real-world finance experience and positions himself as an outsider to career politicians.
  2. The campaign promises to protect taxpayer dollars by rooting out waste and investing public funds responsibly rather than for political reasons, while modernizing the Treasurer’s Office with technology and transparency.
  3. The message stresses fiduciary stewardship, accountability, and long-term fiscal stability to restore public trust and prevent risky or unsustainable spending.

Links For July 2025

Astral Codex Ten • 13627 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. AI trained for creative writing may produce repetitive content because it often plays it safe. This shows us the difference between what is considered good writing and good taste.
  2. A unique political event in 1952 Texas saw a candidate run on both major party tickets and win. It was a strategy to attract voters from different sides.
  3. Chances are, we're not burning as many calories during activities like chess as popular belief suggests. The claims of extreme calorie burn by players may be exaggerated.

Mamdani's Estate Tax Will Suffocate NYC's Middle Class

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 44 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. The plan cuts the estate tax exemption to $750,000 and raises the top rate to 50%, which sounds like it targets billionaires but the low threshold changes who actually gets hit.
  2. In New York City, $750,000 is often just a modest family home or the life savings of a teacher, nurse, or firefighter, so many middle-class estates would be taxed.
  3. Using this tax to close budget gaps would leave New York with one of the lowest exemptions in the country and end up taxing ordinary homeowners instead of only extreme wealth.

Financial Empowerment

Points And Figures • 426 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Many athletes have short earning windows and often lack the skills to protect their money, so they need targeted support even though helping them at scale is challenging.
  2. The phrase “financial literacy” is vague and hard to measure, while “financial empowerment” is a clearer, more actionable goal that focuses on practical self-reliance.
  3. Financial empowerment means giving people the ability to be self-reliant regardless of education, and making it a public priority can guide programs and invite people to join the effort.

Can Democrats escape their Florida death spiral?

Silver Bulletin • 384 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. Florida has shifted from a true swing state to a Republican-leaning state, with registration and voting trends moving steadily right and the GOP holding statewide power.
  2. The state Democratic Party is underfunded and poorly organized, having diverted resources to outside groups and spread money too thin, which hurts candidate quality and field operations.
  3. Those problems make recovery much harder—mid-decade redistricting and population shifts can entrench GOP advantages—so rebuilding will take years and a focused, well-funded strategy that targets winnable legislative races first.

EARLY VOTING COUNTS ARE IN

COVID Reason • 178 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

Sunblock

Doomberg • 11128 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  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.

Elections Have Been Nationalized; Did You See Virginia?

Points And Figures • 746 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State Politics
  1. State elections now shape national politics, so what happens in a state like Virginia can affect who controls Washington and national policy.
  2. Democratic control at the state level is portrayed as leading to higher taxes, more regulation, and progressive changes in education, elections, and criminal justice that could raise living costs.
  3. The suggested response is to focus on state-level politics by registering and voting in primaries, supporting and donating to candidates, and working to keep or flip key states to prevent a national shift.