Steven Hill

Using democracy to kill democracy—Trump takes a redistricting trick from Viktor Orbán Democrats’ unilateral disarmament via independent redistricting commissions is coming back to haunt them

"Using democracy to kill democracy—Trump takes a redistricting trick from Viktor Orbán"
Redistricting wars are newly erupting,courtesy of our winner-take-all electoral system. Democrats’ unilateral disarmament via indie commissions has returned to haunt them
democracysos.substack.com/p/using-demo...

Trump’s Health Care Law Could Double Premiums for Millions by 2026 Millions of Americans face skyrocketing premiums as ACA subsidies expire under Trump’s new law.

"Trump’s Health Care Law Could Double Premiums for Millions by 2026"
Millions of middle-class Americans face skyrocketing premiums as ACA subsidies expire under Trump’s new law. Get details from my article @fulcrum_us
thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Democrats are their own worst enemy Democrats often oppose political reforms that would both empower voters AND help Democrats

"Democrats are their own worst enemy"
Dems criticize Trump as anti-democracy, but Dems often oppose political reforms that would both empower voters AND help Democrats. Dumb! Dems don't walk their talk on being pro-democracy. Details on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/democrats-...

Another nail in Democracy’s coffin: “crafted talk” and “simulated responsiveness” [Dear DemocracySOS readers: this newsletter about US political reform is unique in the breadth and depth of its coverage.

Another nail in Democracy’s coffin: “crafted talk” and “simulated responsiveness,” used to fool We the People. Digital and AI communication technologies are sinisterly suited for manipulating voters. #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/another-na...

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill: Hidden Cuts, Legislative Tricks, and Who Really Pays the Price President Donald Trump received a great Fourth of July present -- he signed his administration’s signature piece of federal legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is a sweeping tax cut and...

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill used hidden cuts, legislative tricks, to hide who really benefited. Tax cuts (mostly for the rich) will kick in BEFORE Nov 2026 midterms. Cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, student loans, clean energy programs kick in AFTER midterms. Clever!
thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Democracy done right in NYC mayor’s race using RCV Ranked Choice Voting freed up New Yorkers to pick the candidates they really like. An exit poll shows all demographics liked and understood RCV

"Democracy done right in NYC mayor’s race using RCV"
#RankedChoiceVoting freed up New Yorkers to pick mayoral candidates they really liked.It allowed an upstart candidate to build coalitions and win.An exit poll shows all demographics liked &understood RCV
democracysos.substack.com/p/democracy-...

When Taliban America arrested and tried women for voting Women’s rights have long been contested terrain. But in June 1873, one courageous women took on the patriarchy and won -- with lessons for today

152 yrs ago this month: "United States vs. Susan B. Anthony"
When Taliban America arrested and tried women for voting. In June 1873, one courageous women took on the patriarchy and won-- with lessons for today as we see US democracy eroding before our eyes
democracysos.substack.com/p/when-talib...

America’s urban majority has been disenfranchised—here’s how to fix it Why we need a City-State revolution that partitions the largest states to restore majority rule to the Senate and Electoral College

Now on #DemocracySOS:
Political scientist Thor Hogan's provocative plan for how to fix the disenfranchisement of America’s urban majority: partition the largest states to restore majority rule to the Senate and Electoral College ‪@thorhogan.bsky.social‬
democracysos.substack.com/p/americas-u...

Reformers' dilemma: which Pro Rep method for US democracy? As electoral reformers plot out “next steps,” the devil will be in the details. Here are some thoughts.

"Reformers' dilemma: which Pro Rep method for US democracy?"
As electoral reformers plot out “next steps,” the devil will be in the details.
#DemocracySOS offers some thoughts about which electoral system would allow for a robust & representative democracy
democracysos.substack.com/p/reformers-...

The reform pathway for Pro Rep and Ranked Choice Voting How do you get a city or state with millions of people to vote “yes” on changing the electoral system? Here is a guide for how to do that

"The reform pathway for Pro Rep and Ranked Choice Voting"

RCV lost in 4 states in 2024, so what's now the way forward for reform?
#DemocracySOS lays out a strategy blueprint for both RCV & PR
Here's how to get millions of people in cities/states to vote YES
democracysos.substack.com/p/the-reform...

The coming political realignment of the Democrats and Republicans Who are the real advocates for the working- and middle-classes? Is it a new generation of populist GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?

"The coming political realignment of the Democrats and Republicans"
Who are the real advocates for the working- and middle-classes? Is it a new generation of populist GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?
Where's Democrats "populism"?
Now on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/the-coming...

Could Splits Within the GOP Over Economic Policy Hurt the Trump Administration? Who are the real populists speaking for the middle- and working-classes? Is it a new generation of GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?

Reflecting on House GOP's recently passed budget:
"Could Splits Within the GOP Over Economic Policy Hurt the Trump Admin?"

Younger economic populist wing (more pro-labor) vs traditional libertarian free market wing. Sign of an ideological realignment within GOP?
thefulcrum.us/business-dem...

I liked this article--it was very focused on cool ideas that work, and we need more of that right now.

"European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments" #ELB Steven Hill: Europe democracies’ staunch belief in a pluralistic democracy is evident in other ways. I recall interviewing the deputy mayor of Bonn, Germany, who told me about a remarkable institution...

“European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments” electionlawblog.org?p=149905

European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments As Donald Trump trashes American democracy, the democracies of Europe emerge as leading lights for the 21st century

"European democracies lead the way – w/ Children’s Parliaments"
As Trump trashes US democracy, democracies of Europe have incorporated various “little d” democracy ways for more representative &pluralistic systems such as Childrens Parliaments. Fascinating
democracysos.substack.com/p/european-d...

Are President Trump’s Economic Promises Falling Short? Donald Trump has promised a better economy. But so far he has delivered turbulence and uncertainty.

"Are President Trump’s Economic Promises Falling Short?"
Donald Trump has promised a better economy but so far delivered turbulence and uncertainty. 44 months to go, will Donald Trump turn it around? So far the numbers show little evidence that this is going to end well
thefulcrum.us/ethics-leade...

Will Democrats retake the House due to Trump’s bumbling? The architecture of winner-take-all elections make Democrats’ chances in 2026 an uphill climb

Will Democrats retake the House due to Trump’s bumbling?
There's a chance, but unfortunately the architecture of America's winner-take-all elections make Democrats’ chances in 2026 an uphill climb.
Dose of reality on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/will-democ...

Trump's Project 2025 is a threat to democracy The White House is slowly dismantling one federal agency after another in pursuit of an audacious “soft overthrow” of US democracy

"Trump's Project 2025 is a threat to democracy"
The White House is slowly dismantling one federal agency after another in pursuit of an audacious “soft overthrow” of US democracy
Now on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/trumps-pro...

Thanks to @blackgaynerd.com for showing such good taste! ;-)

April lessons: in truth, the South won the Civil War, not the North …and Trump is the heir to that toxic legacy

Now on DemocracySOS: "April lessons: in truth, the South won the Civil War, not the North"
…and Trump is the heir to that toxic legacy.
Civil War didn't end til 1876 when northern troops left the South, unleashing Jim Crow & "racialization" of US politics
democracysos.substack.com/p/april-less...

Trump and Musk mounting furious attack on labor rights and workers Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to roll back worker standards and labor enforcement that have taken many decades to enact. But labor unions and workers are starting to push back.

My article at Hans Hans-Böckler-Stiftung:
"Trump and Musk mounting furious attack on labor rights and workers"
Trump/Musk trying to roll back worker standards & labor enforcement that have taken decades to enact. Labor unions & workers are starting to push back
www.mitbestimmung.de/html/donald-...

Roadmap to RCV: Legislative Debrief · FairVote Washington The Washington VOICES Act is not moving forward this session. Join us to unpack what went well this session, and where we're excited to work together to get stronger in the future. And, join us to h...

Talk democracy with our researcher Shannon Grimes and
@fairvotewa.bsky.social, tonight at 6pm!

Shannon had so much good to offer - you can check out this conversation on our YouTube Channel! www.youtube.com/@FairVoteWA

Ranked Choice Voting as a stepping stone to Proportional Representation Voter support for ranked choice voting translates into support for proportional representation in ways that support for other reforms do not

New article from Eveline Dowling from ExpandDemocracy

"Ranked Choice Voting as a stepping stone to Proportional Representation"
Voter support for Ranked Choice Voting translates into support for Proportional Representation, but not other reforms
democracysos.substack.com/p/ranked-cho...

How the White House plans to gain control over US elections Trump executive orders aim to politicize the federal agencies that oversee elections and media regulation, the FEC and the FCC

"How the White House plans to gain control over US elections"
Trump executive orders aim to politicize federal agencies overseeing elections & media,the FEC and FCC, removing congressionally-mandated independence. "Its not who votes,its who counts the votes"
democracysos.substack.com/p/how-the-wh...

Another step toward the US becoming the next Turkey, Hungary, Russia, etc. A sad day for America.

Project 2025: How the White House Plans to Gain Control Over U.S. Elections Executive order aims to strip the independence of the federal agencies that oversee elections and media regulation.

Here's how Donald Trump & Elon Musk are planning to gain control over US elections -- takeover of @FEC & @FCC, following Project2025 blueprint. Fire directors, strip away independence of federal agencies that oversee elections and media regulation. It's happening now
thefulcrum.us/media-techno...

Trump: Macron’s Puppet in the Pursuit of Europe’s Strategic Autonomy - The Globalist It is widely recognized that Donald Trump is a tool of Putin's. Few people realize is that Trump is also a tool of Emmanuel Macron's.

An interesting counter-intuitive. Stephan Richter from The Globalist making the deliciously provocative point that it took Trump's bombast to finally help French prez Emmanuel Macron convince Germans and EU to rearm and break from US defense dominance
www.theglobalist.com/united-state...

Could Trump’s tariffs have unintended consequences that hurt America? The first few weeks of the Trump administration have been head-spinning. President Trump and his team were well-prepared to launch their policy agenda, signing over 50 executive orders, the most in a ...

"Could Trump’s tariffs have unintended consequences that hurt America?"
Trump is returning global trade to the mercantilist days of early 20th century, in which the global rules were more chaotic & transactional.Will hurt US consumers & businesses and other nations too
thefulcrum.us/business-dem...

How to democratize New York City (and Philly and Baltimore and…) NYC once used proportional representation to elect its city council in party-based elections. Here’s how and why it should start doing so again.

Great discussion about potential for Proportional Representation in city government for NYC and other cities.

Party List, Open List, Proportional Ranked Choice
@stevenhill1776.bsky.social