Mark Copelovitch

It was more than one reporter

If you put the DOGE guys on a desert island where the only way out was to say the magic words “I’m not sure what the answer is, let me consult someone who has worked on this problem for a long time” they would all starve to death

<all together now>

Headline from Harvard Crimson: "Harvard President Garber Tells Faculty He Is Not Considering a $500 Million Deal With Trump."

Text of story: Harvard prez Garber says report of a deal "was apparently leaked to the press by White House officials." NYT ran with it as a story.

Important details from this story:

1) Yet another news-break by student journalists (this time @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social) www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

2) Harvard saying "see you in court," not "let's make a deal."

3) Per Garber, WH/MAGA leaked news of a "deal." NYT then ran with it.

The Great Khan of the Northern Steppes shall restore honor and the rule of law to the Eagle Throne

like, obviously organizing continues to be important.

also organizing can't really overcome fascists just stealing elections.

<all together now>

People often think of politics (and markets) as self-correcting: when things move too far in one direction, rational forces push them back in the other direction. Gerrymandering and unregulated money have made Republican politics self-reinforcing, however, and we’re going to test new limits soon.

White House Press Release: BLS Has Lengthy History of Inaccuracies, Incompetence

We know Trump lies all the time, but it feels important that reporters covering his politicization of employment data make sure to point out that even his stated reasons are bullshit!

It is really stupefying to see the Article 1 branch acting like it's merely an appendix at the end. I've never imagined Congress so absolutely feckless and powerless, but also corrupt...

Let’s hope so

Excellent piece, including this quote from the head of Greece's statistical agency about why fights over data are also fights about whether a country can see itself clearly:

👇🎯

If there ever was a “major question” requiring more specific delegation … and yet …

The Great Khan shelters the brave rebels of the Texas Hegemony. Such generosity! Like a father to his children.

No, but that is another willingness question, not an ability one.

Letter to Congress on Ending Single Member Congressional Districts and Adopting Proportional… AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS:

We don't even need to rewrite the Constitution to do that. Enlarging the house, having MMDs, proportional representation, adding states, etc. All of these things can also be done with simple majorities & normal legislation.

Yes, Chief Keyser Söze is also a charlatan & also an authoritarian, & also responsible for where we are. But he is only allowed to run amok as he has because...Congress has let him. It all comes back to Article I failure in the end.

Congress, of course, is not going to do any of those things. But they are all "normal" legislative possibilities. And again, the reason why "Congress" is not going to do that is very clear, so we should stop only yelling at Democrats & stop giving the people responsible total free passes every day:

Congress can pass a new VRA...tomorrow.

It can abolish IEEPA/Section 232 & end Trump's tariff power...tomorrow.

It can eliminate SCOTUS clerk funding, add seats, make justices ride the circuit, & end the shadow docket...tomorrow.

It can end DOGE & restore all the jobs/funding...tomorrow.

Etc.

Poorest US workers hit hardest by slowing wage growth Trend adds to pressure on Donald Trump over inequality as he threatens to undermine reliability of economic data

Today in "All the economic things folks said were happening under Joe Biden are <actually> happening under Donald Trump"

👇🎯 A lot of folks don't seem to understand that 90+% of our authoritarian problem is the total failure of Article I of the Constitution, not Article III.

There was an at least somewhat reasonable argument for serious policy-engaged academics to accept invitations to work in Trump I, on "guardrails" grounds. There was none for accepting invitations this time around, let alone sticking around now amidst the unprecedented corruption & authoritarianism.

👇🎯 ...

...The Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics is pleased to announce its Spring 2029 Fellows

US Conservatism as we understand it, did not exist before the New Deal. And so it is a rejection of all the New Deal accomplished -- life with less day-to-day risk. Procedures put in place to help people deal with joblessness, failing health, etc. Opposing this has never been a sane project. -OS

🎼 The Finding Out is the Har..dest…Part… 🎶

The president obsessed with trade literally has no idea what our most globally competitive export industry is.

👇🎯 The worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

<all together now>

Once again, the imperial presidency, created by both parties during the Cold War, by passing laws allowing the POTUS to act like a king simply by using the magic words “national security” or “national emergency” w/o evidence, was a grave mistake, & if we make it through this, it must be dismantled.