Rachel Kleinfeld

For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.

People like me, who have spent a lifetime building credibility, face a real problem when most Americans no longer trust institutions. We need to face the new terms of trust for our expertise to matter. Renée DiResta@noUpside & I wrote this to explain why & how: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

YouTube video by TWP Community of Practice What Future for International Democracy Support? - TWP Community of Practice Webinar

Given strategies that are not working like they used to and a slashed budget, how does international democracy support need to change? What Future for International Democracy Support? - TWP Community of Practice Webinar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8-O...

There's No Substitute For Public Opinion What democracy defenders can learn from the presidency of Andrew Jackson.

I warned that Trump would create build a new spoils system: (www.persuasion.community/p/theres-no-...): 1 fire civil service; 2 Make clear you keep your job only via loyalty; 3) move jobs to districts where their votes could make a difference. It is starting: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

How to Prevent Political Violence “At some point, you got to look in the mirror, when you look at what’s going on here — every single elected official does.” ~ Sen. Amy Klobuchar

This is the blueprint- we know what to do. Can our country do it? amandaripley.substack.com/p/how-to-pre...

We need to stand together - Scouting America declared woke. Churches sued for helping immigrants - WWJD? Palestinians& supporters should be free to speak & protest peacefully in a free society. Daughters of the American Revolution should remind people why many left Europe (hint: freedom of belief)

Unite in Advance: Philanthropy Coalition Launches Solidarity Campaign - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly We’re announcing a public sign-on statement to support philanthropy’s freedom to give. We are united to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. Join us by ...

This. Is. So. Important. nonprofitquarterly.org/unite-in-adv...

When Populists Rise, Economies Usually Fall Business leaders are quick to abhor left-wing populism, with its government giveaways to supporters, spending on boondoggle projects, and disregard for financial discipline and investor confidence. Th...

Hm - wish someone would have told us that stock markets plummet and have a lot more volatility in the second term of a politician like Trump. Oh, wait, I wrote that last summer w/Roberto Foa in the Harvard Biz Review: hbr.org/2024/10/when...

Why are we unilaterally disarming from fighting Russia, China, and other authoritarians? Because that is what Trump wants: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

Opinion | Why Trump is ending U.S. democracy promotion abroad Defunding Voice of America and Freedom House only helps the world’s despots.

This: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

In Nome, Alaska, a cadre of tinkerers and partisans keeps aiding Ukraine These volunteers won’t let go of the cause as Russia’s war on Ukraine enters a fourth year. They’ve sent ambulances, generators and more to the front line.

The people I grew up with and the world I grew up in - Alaskans take every bit of power and agency they had and use it - along with our Senator Murkowski, bless her: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

How to Take Heart From What Really Worked in the First Resistance Marches and lawsuits are fine, but the real wins over MAGA last time were powered by grassroots activists pushing from thousands of districts across the country.

It's always worth paying attention to Theda Skocpol: newrepublic.com/article/1905...

How *you* can protect democracy 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect our system of government

It's been a dark time in America - but there are things regular people can do, right now. Stop doomscrolling. Join or create local, in-person groups across partisan lines if possible to build community and connection. Support local news. More here: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-you-ca...

x.com/bariweiss/st...

WSJ, last 48 hours:

There's No Substitute For Public Opinion What democracy defenders can learn from the presidency of Andrew Jackson.

Fighting Trump's destruction successfully requires getting the American people on our side. There is NO SUBSTITUTE in the courts or anywhere else for public opinion: www.persuasion.community/p/theres-no-...

Is Peace of Mind for Parents Even Possible? Parents are told that by tracking their kids, they can feel peace of mind. But in truth, only letting go builds a parents’ confidence.

I love @LetGrowOrg and this is a particularly great post: letgrow.org/parents-peac...

How will militias, extremists respond to Jan. 6 pardons? President Trump told Fox News that it would have been too “cumbersome” to review each case individually.

People keep asking me about the effects of the Jan 6 pardons on future political violence. Here's a quick take: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

Mitigate Risk, Stand Strong: Defending Civil Society in 2025 With civic organizations and funders facing imminent threats from the incoming administration, guest author Rachel Kleinfeld argues philanthropy should avoid appeasement.

What do funders need to do to support democracy? Prudential risk mitigation, and then real moral courage , recognize that the best defense is a good offense! www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/mitigat...

Opinion | What a Trump Presidency Means for U.S. Business Populists may promise low taxes and deregulation, but they also undermine the institutions that help an economy run smoothly.

The anniversary of Jan 6 is as good a time as any for U.S. business to understand that their glee may be misplaced: @robertofoa and I on "What a Trump Presidency Means for U.S. Business" www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/o...

Such a good podcast conversation with Nic Cheeseman on how to bring down the threats and violence against candidates we are seeing in the US, France, and Germany newbooksnetwork.com/how-to-tackl...

I would be surprised if militias don't end up playing a role - probably highly localized, working with local sheriffs or local units of CBP rather than something national. Governments use militias to maintain deniability abut their actions.

YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment Why Pluralism Matters: Rachel Kleinfeld at the 2024 Obama Foundation Democracy Forum

Miriam-Webster's just picked their Word of the Year. It's "Polarization". What to do about it? My thoughts at Obama's Democracy Summit last week: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVao...

Anatomy of a Military Fall Why did Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces fail to act, unlike those in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Sudan?

Anyone who wants to unseat a dictatorship - or preserve a democracy - needs to deeply understand the armed forces of a country. This piece by @SayighYezid is key to understanding what just occurred in Syria: carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/...

YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment Why Pluralism Matters: Rachel Kleinfeld at the 2024 Obama Foundation Democracy Forum

So I did this cool thing with the Obama Foundation last week: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVao...

Why Pluralism Matters: Rachel Kleinfeld at the 2024 Obama Foundation Democracy Forum Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

History shows 2 common responses to diversity: the creation of hierarchy & repression.

@rachelkleinfeld.bsky.social highlights pluralism as a third path—one that embraces equality & cooperation to strengthen society.

Watch her talk at the Obama Foundation #DemocracyForum ➡️ youtu.be/aVao3K8yFDs

The North Carolina General Assembly’s GOP supermajority just approved a hugely corrupt power grab, seizing authority from the governor and the courts to prevent any meaningful check on legislative abuses. Authoritarian stuff. A very dark day for democracy in NC. amp.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

What Trump Doesn’t Understand About the Military Politicizing the U.S. armed forces won’t just hurt democracy. It will make the military weaker.

“A politicized military—dragged into confrontations on behalf of party or president, rather than country—will have a hard time recruiting and retaining personnel, and its legitimacy will suffer both at home and overseas.”

111. Ex parte Milligan and the Limits of Martial Law Although it was later narrowed, the Supreme Court's 1866 repudiation of Civil War-era military commissions remains a bulwark against military authority wherever civilian courts are functioning

In today’s “One First,” I wrote about #SCOTUS’s 1866 decision in Ex parte Milligan—and the limits on martial law and military rule for which it still stands. (It’s also a good excuse to talk about the first “class photo” of the justices—from February 1867):

www.stevevladeck.com/p/111-ex-par...

Jewelry This beautiful jewelry is carefully crafted by hand using amber mined from the Sierra Madre Mountains by local men and women.  Esta joyería hecha con ámbar y jobillo de las montañas de la Sierra Madre...

For Christmas this year - the beautiful jewelry from LoveAnyway# helps build peace, courtesy of @SFCG_ www.loveanyway.com/collections/...

Tammy Duckworth on Tulsi Gabbard: "I think she's compromised ... Russian controlled media called her a Russian asset."