Jeremi Suri

Trump and Putin, One-on-One in the Presidential Limousine, August 15, 2025 This morning, Moscow released a transcript of Trump’s private meeting with Putin. It is very revealing.

Transcript of the private Putin-Trump meeting. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

An End-of-Week Mindshare on Democracy Gerrymandering has shaped U.S. politics from the nation’s founding to today, entrenching power, limiting competition, and challenging the very idea of representative democracy.

The history and harms of gerrymandering. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

This is Democracy – Episode 304: Russia-Ukraine War Update An update before Trump and Putin meet in Alaska. Ukraine’s resilience and shifting global alliances will shape the war’s next chapter. It will not end soon.

In anticipation of Friday’s Putin-Trump meeting, our update on the war in Ukraine. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Making Sense of the Texas Redistricting Fight In this detailed interview, Jeremi explains the history of redistricting and the current controversy.

My extended interview on Texas redistricting. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Governors Can Not Remove Elected Legislators. Period. A democracy must have an independent legislature. Only voters elect and unelect representatives.

No kings in statehouses or the White House. substack.com/@jeremiandza...

This is Democracy – Episode 304: Russia-Ukraine War Update Podcast Episode · This is Democracy · 08/07/2025 · 41m

Ukraine continues its heroic resistance to Russian aggression. Our update with Michael Kimmage. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Why Texas Redistricting Will Destroy Republicans When power cheats to survive, it dies faster. Texas Republicans' second gerrymander may protect incumbents—but at the cost of their legitimacy and voters' trust.

Those who cheat lose legitimacy to rule. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Friday is Tariff Day – The End of An Era For 70 years, low tariffs fueled global peace and prosperity. On Friday, a new era begins – one where trade walls rise, prices soar, and America’s economic compass spins into uncertainty.

Friday marks the end of the open trade era, begun after WWII. Americans and Europeans have benefited enormously. What comes next? open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Winning Votes When People Hate Both Parties Most Americans don’t trust either party. But history shows that leaders who focus on real needs – jobs, health care, housing – can unite the disillusioned and build a winning majority.

Voters hate both political parties. How can we move past that? open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

This is Democracy — Episode 303: U.S. Military Podcast Episode · This is Democracy · 07/24/2025 · 38m

How has the U.S. military changed in recent decades? What is the relationship between the U.S. military and democracy, at home and abroad? Our new podcast episode. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

If you don't already, watch Colbert. He is a man with no more f*cks left to give. And it's glorious.

Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September

How Can We Live Truth in a Time of Lies? Living truth today means resisting fear, embracing integrity, and acting with purpose – even when the world rewards silence, and the loudest lies seem to win.

My thoughts on living truth in a time of lies. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Learning to Live in Unprecedented Times Even in times of crisis, life continues in small, human ways. Auden shows how we endure upheaval not by ignoring suffering—but by living alongside it, with grace, quiet defiance, and meaning.

Zachary’s beautiful reflections on how we must go on living amidst tragedy, and avoid despair.
open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

What the Epstein Mess is Really About MAGA Republicans' obsession with Jeffrey Epstein reveals deep distrust of elites, fractures within the movement, and how conspiracy politics distract from real harms facing American democracy.

Why Epstein matters. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Competence is More Important Than Courage In times of crisis, courage saves lives, but only if leaders are competent. Without expertise and preparation, even heroic efforts fail. Good government begins with trained people in charge.

We must restore competent leadership in government. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

This is Democracy — Episode 302: Freedom Season 1963 Podcast Episode · This is Democracy · 07/10/2025 · 42m

New podcast episode on lessons from the Civil Rights Movement for combating the new Jim Crow, with the extraordinary Peniel Joseph. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Zachary taking charge of our podcast, “This is Democracy.” Look for an inspiring new episode (episode 302) to drop on Thursday afternoon. podcasts.la.utexas.edu/this-is-demo...

Intergenerational Destruction and the Floods Greed and low taxes are making it impossible to prepare for disasters that threaten all our lives. If we do not invest in public services, future floods will be worse.

The floods caused awful suffering. Bad policies made it worse. We must learn so this doesn’t happen again. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Time to Turn It Around and Think Big A cruel budget may break the system—but it also opens the door for bold, inclusive reforms. History shows that from great suffering can come the momentum for real, lasting change.

My assessment of our deep hole as country and how we get out of it. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

‘Furore Teutonico Diruta, Dono Americano Restituta* *Destroyed by Teutonic Fury, Restored by American Donations

On July 4 - we should remember how Americans have helped the world, and how we must help again. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

Can rural schools teach us how to get along? A new study suggests public schools in rural Texas can be models of pluralism.

Zachary’s first story for public radio. www.texasstandard.org/stories/rura...

Our broken immigration system is subverting the rule of law Here’s how to fix it.

My colleague, Lorraine Pangle, on how to fix immigration. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

The Summer of Our Discontent In a season of chaos and fear, democracy depends not on retreat but on everyday truth, dignity, and courage lived out by ordinary citizens across a fraying republic.

Why we must live truth. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

My radio show this morning on events in the Middle East. www.wortfm.org/jeremi-suri-...

My comments on the history behind the current conflict in Iran. www.kxan.com/video/ut-pro...

This is Democracy — Episode 301: War in Iran Podcast Episode · This is Democracy · 06/24/2025 · 41m

What brought us to this moment of war between Iran and Israel (and the US)? Our discussion with regional expert, Steven Simon. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Bombs Will Not End Our Iran Nuclear Problem Precision bombs can't fix what only diplomacy can. U.S. strikes on Iran failed to stop its nuclear program—and may have only hardened its resolve. It’s time to relearn the limits of airpower.

We cannot bomb our way to peace in the Middle East. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...