LSE US Politics and Policy blog - USAPP

How local activism to make inequities visible can change the public conversation about school funding | USAPP This funding change was driven by local activists’ ability to foreground children and their needs to educational officials.

How local activism to make inequities visible can change the public conversation about school funding write @karismjones.bsky.social of @baylor.bsky.social and Jyl Josephson and Nooreen Fatima of Rutgers University-Newark

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

How local activism to make inequities visible can change the public conversation about school funding | USAPP This funding change was driven by local activists’ ability to foreground children and their needs to educational officials.

How local activism to make inequities visible can change the public conversation about school funding blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

How a new measure can tell us about how government agencies are performing | USAPP If we are to make government work better for the citizens it serves, then we need to better understand how its agencies are performing.

A new measure from George A. Krause of @universityofga.bsky.social and David E. Lewis of @vanderbilt.edu can tell us about how government agencies are performing

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

“Destroying civilian boats without concrete proof is unlawful”: Q&A with Dr Aileen Teague | USAPP Since September, the US has been carrying out strikes against alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela prompting accusations that the actions are illegal. In this Q&A, USAPP Managing Editor, Chri...

“Destroying civilian boats without concrete proof is unlawful” - read our Q&A with Dr Aileen Teague of @tamu.bsky.social on the recent US strikes against alleged drug boats off the Venezuela coast

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

AI and deepfakes with Dr Gili Vidan | The Ballpark podcast | USAPP As long as there has been photographic and video imagery, there have been manipulated videos and photos. But only in the last decade or so have the public become aware of what are known as “deepfakes”...

AI and deepfakes with Dr Gili Vidan of @cornelluniversity.bsky.social | The Ballpark podcast blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

For many firms, political relationships have a big influence on how they report financial results | USAPP Firms with more transactional political relationships focus on low-cost short-term earnings manipulation.

For many firms, political relationships have a big influence on how they report financial results blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

US influence is waning in Africa’s Sahel, but new partnerships could rebuild influence to counter Russia and China | USAPP In the aftermath of recent military coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in Africa’s Sahel region, US influence has eroded and Russian and Chinese involvement on the continent have…

#US foreign policy in the #Sahel has rested on diplomatic relations, limited support for democratisation & regional security.

But #Russia’s support of authoritarian regimes & France's dwindling influence marks a geopolitical realignment across the region.

Olukayode Bakare @lseusablog.bsky.social

US influence is waning in Africa’s Sahel, but new partnerships could rebuild influence to counter Russia and China | USAPP In the aftermath of recent military coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in Africa’s Sahel region, US influence has eroded and Russian and Chinese involvement on the continent have bee...

US influence is waning in Africa’s Sahel, but new partnerships could rebuild influence to counter Russia and China writes Olukayode Bakare of @sunyofficial.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Trump’s attacks on the laws of war risks emboldening other leaders | USAPP Trump’s explicit attacks on the laws of war are distinctive among modern American presidents, and risk undermining the global architecture of accountability.

Trump’s attacks on the laws of war risks emboldening other leaders writes writes Thomas Gift of the @ucl.ac.uk Centre on US Politics blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

How Supreme Court justices use racial stereotypes when deciding cases | USAPP Conservative justices are consistently less likely than liberals to side with criminal defendants, and that gap grows wider for defendants of color.

Supreme Court justices use racial stereotypes when deciding cases find Elizabeth Maltby of @unlv.edu and @abbymatthews.bsky.social of @sunyofficial.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Trump’s immigration policies deny human dignity, but another way is possible | USAPP Human dignity is an inherent quality, and should not be based on someone’s worth to American society.

Trump’s immigration policies deny human dignity, but another way is possible

@sandranoduerme.bsky.social for @lseusablog.bsky.social

Inclusive – not hostile – state policies promote linked fate among Latino immigrants | USAPP Inclusive state policies related to immigration are associated with stronger immigrant linked fate among Latino immigrants.

Inclusive – not hostile – state policies promote linked fate among Latino immigrants finds @tntrummel.bsky.social of UC Santa Barbara blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2026 Midterms: Trump will try and steal the midterms by suppressing the vote and controlling the narrative | USAPP Trump’s recent actions suggest he may try to manipulate the outcome of the midterms by undermining the voting system and by pushing disinformation about the result being “rigged”.

Trump will try and steal the midterms by suppressing the vote and controlling the narrative argue @benworthy.bsky.social of Birkbeck College and @josephineharmon.bsky.social of @northeasternu.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2026 Midterms: Prop 50’s victory in California has secured Governor Gavin Newsom as the leader of the Trump redistricting counterattack | USAPP Gavin Newsom has set himself to be the face of the Democratic response to Donald Trump’s redistricting ambitions.

Prop 50’s victory in California has secured Governor Gavin Newsom as the leader of the Trump redistricting counterattack writes Jeff Cummins of Fresno State University

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Trump’s immigration policies deny human dignity, but another way is possible | USAPP Human dignity is an inherent quality, and should not be based on someone’s worth to American society.

Trump’s immigration policies deny human dignity, but another way is possible writes Sandra Portocarrero of the LSE Department of Management

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

To shore up American democracy, look to city hall | USAPP Recent years have seen increasing concerns over the state of democracy in the US, with a majority of Americans believing it to be under threat. Using data from an annual survey, Stephanie Leiser, Debr...

To shore up American democracy, look to city hall write Stephanie Leiser, Debra Horner and Natalie Fitzpatrick of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Reinvented Tyranny with Dr Jennifer Lind | The Ballpark podcast | USAPP The last three decades have seen China’s economic rise. Alongside this, China has become much more influential on the global stage, emerging as a competitor to the United States in many arenas, includ...

Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Reinvented Tyranny with @proflind.bsky.social | The Ballpark podcast

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

A greater focus on tangible economic issues like student debt relief could help Democrats win back young voters | USAPP Many voters were potentially persuadable had the Biden administration taken more actions on student debt.

A greater focus on tangible economic issues like student debt relief could help Democrats win back young voters argue William Harrison and @jacobfhsmith.bsky.social of Fordham University

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Economic populism isn’t as appealing to Americans as progressive Democrats believe | USAPP Most Americans are not supportive of economic policies which would widely redistribute resources across the country.

Economic populism isn’t as appealing to Americans as progressive Democrats believe writes Andrew J. Taylor of North Carolina State University

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Political parties create the conditions that mobilize interest groups – especially on the left | USAPP As legislatures became more liberal, there were more liberal interest groups.

Political parties create the conditions that mobilise interest groups – especially on the left.

Thomas Holyoke (California State University, Fresno) for @lseusablog.bsky.social

Political parties create the conditions that mobilize interest groups – especially on the left | USAPP As legislatures became more liberal, there were more liberal interest groups.

Political parties create the conditions that mobilize interest groups – especially on the left finds Thomas Holyoke of California State University, Fresno

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Our post on the Great Pasta War is out at LSE Blogs explains why the US administration picks seemingly random, non-strategic products to pick a fight against foreign governments.

#USAPP #CBP #Pasta #tariff #US #Italy

The Great Pasta War: how America turned spaghetti into a trade weapon | USAPP US-duties on Italian pasta are more likely to be political theatre than sound trade policy.

The Great Pasta War: Chiara Paola Donegani and @shepotylo.bsky.social of @astonpress.bsky.social write on how America turned spaghetti into a trade weapon blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

How Donald Trump could overcome the 22nd Amendment and get a third term in 2028 | USAPP We should not dismiss the possibility of Trump remaining president beyond 2028.

How Donald Trump could overcome the 22nd Amendment and get a third term in 2028 blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2026 Midterms: Democrats have cemented New Jersey’s Blue State status | USAPP Democratic victories should largely end any speculation that New Jersey is shifting to the right.

The 2026 Midterms: Democrats have cemented New Jersey’s Blue State status writes @juliasassrubin.bsky.social of @rutgersu.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

In voting for Prop 50, California has upended two centuries of redistricting tradition | USAPP The passage of the measure is extraordinary given voters’ usual dislike for gerrymandering.

In voting for Prop 50, California has upended two centuries of redistricting tradition writes @uhackett.bsky.social of @royalholloway.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

US-China strategic competition with Professor Evan Medeiros | The Ballpark podcast | USAPP In August 2025, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held its 25th annual summit in Tianjin, China, with the country’s leader Xi Jinping, hosting representatives from more than 20 countries including...

US-China strategic competition with Professor Evan Medeiros | The Ballpark podcast

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2026 Midterms: Following historic election victories in Virginia, the state’s Democrats may be lining up a fight with Donald Trump | USAPP Tuesday’s elections in Virginia saw the Democratic Party retake the state governorship to gain a legislative trifecta. Richard J. Meagher writes that the Democrats’ margins of victory should be cause ...

Following historic election victories in Virginia, the state’s Democrats may be lining up a fight with Donald Trump writes Richard J. Meagher of Randolph-Macon College

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2025 elections showed the many different ways Democrats can win | USAPP In the wake of Tuesday’s off-year elections, Democrats scored major victories across the country—sweeping key governorships, winning the New York City mayorship, and passing a consequential redistrict...

The 2025 elections showed the many different ways Democrats can win writes Thomas Gift of @ucl.ac.uk

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

The 2026 Midterms: Election Day 2025 was a good one for the Democrats | USAPP While 2025 is an off year in the US electoral system, Election Day on November 4, at the midway between the 2024 Presidential Election and the 2026 midterms, still featured many important election rac...

Election Day 2025 was a good one for the Democrats writes Peter Finn of @kingstonuniversity.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...