Zak Taylor

For thirty years I worked in the post-Soviet successor states in Central Asia and observed over and over again precisely the cycle that Bill Kristol describes. Corruption leads to authoritarianism, directly. The path is utterly predictable.

But if Congress passes a law to release the files, then on what basis can the DoJ refuse to release those files?

I dont think this needs to be semi-serious!
@segoddard.bsky.social
have a very related approach in what we call neo-royalism and how it could shape the international system. Now I'm going to do a deeper read of Anderson.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...

Trump-Licensed Presidential Seal Beer Pong Set Could Violate Federal Law A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.

New: A site licensing Trump's name is selling merch with the presidential seal — including a $20 beer-pong set with “Presidential themed balls.”

Federal law says you can’t manufacture or sell likenesses of the seal without authorization.

me, for @forbes.com

1/

Opinion | Trump’s Spending Abuses Are Out of Control. He Shouldn’t Have That Power in the First Place.

Good brief summary of the constitutional powers that Trump has taken from Congress with the full acquiescence of the Republican majority. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/o...

Inside ICE's Toxic Culture The Trump administration says immigration enforcement officials are being assaulted. The evidence tells a different story.

Really important piece from my colleague @donmoyn.bsky.social www.lincolnsquare.media/p/whos-threa...

MEGYN KELLY IS RIGHT ABOUT EPSTEIN - Catholic League Bill Donohue

Did the Catholic Church learn nothing from decades of sexual abuse & cover-up, and the widespread distrust it caused? Republicans, please don’t follow suit!

www.catholicleague.org/megyn-kelly-...

The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Voters Is That They’re Pretty Great Stop panicking: They are the most progressive generation ever, especially on race. If that surprises you, you’ve been listening to the wrong story.

2/🧵 New piece with @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social in @NewRepublic: We analyzed 60,000+ respondents in the 2024 Cooperative Election Study. Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation. The generational shift overwhelms the education divide that supposedly defines modern politics.

Free speech on campus for me, but not for thee...

Opinion | How to Replace Christian Nationalism

Good piece: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...

Again, a full-throated defense of Republicans who have sex with underage girls is NOT a good look for the party. Please stop.

To Save Democracy, We Can’t Shy Away From the Toughest Issues A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.

ICYMI - My contribution to the NYU Law Democracy Project's 100 Ideas is up now, drawing from the conclusions of Backlash Presidents: democracyproject.org/posts/to-sav...

I'm not cheering this on! We need a healthy, competitive two-party system. But R's are doing everything they can to turn America into a 1-party state...and that only & always ends in corruption.

Repubs need to clean house fast! They are slow-walking into becoming the "party of pedophilia." Seen as flabby, grey-haired, wealthy perverts drooling over America's children. "We'll take away their govt welfare and their jobs...then they'll be forced into sex-work for us, bwahaha."

Median Age of All US Homebuyers: 59 Years.

It was 39 in 2010.

Torsten at Apollo

The folks who spun a grand conspiracy theory about a massive pedophilic cannibal ring over emails talking about pizza are here to inform you there’s not much there in these Epstein emails

Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals The Nazi dictator had Kallmann syndrome, which hinders normal puberty and the development of sexual organs, according to groundbreaking research

Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists

It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder

www.thetimes.com/article/e728...

"Kindly take 10 minutes to provide us your thoughts about generative AI in the classroom -"

P.S.: I'm *not* saying "DBL is crap, don't watch it!" I actually think DBL is very entertaining and, say, 90% accurate. I plan to keep watching! I'm just nitpicking b/c it's an area of my research.

-Chester Arthur: as Conkling's intimidating "muscle", lol? I doubt Arthur had a mean/violent bone in his body. He was chummy, friendly, loved the social aspects (& wealth) of political machines. (I kinda wonder if he leaned gay).

-Dialogue: far too modern! Deadwood did it better.

END/

-Roscoe Conkling: the real Conkling was even *more* flamboyant & fun than portrayed...lost opportunity to milk this really entertaining character! 3/

-Charles J. Guiteau: the actor & writers really him get right! And that's a difficult thing to pull off b/c Guiteau was a bizarre combo of crazy, violent, criminal but also happy-go-lucky. Good job! 2/

I wrote a book on Gilded Age presidents, so here's my 2-cents on "Death by Lightning" (E1) on Netflix:

-Garfield was not an innocent political naif in 1880! He'd been in Congress for years and was then seen as the voice of the Republican party. 1/n

Opinion | Chuck Schumer Is a Convenient Punching Bag, but He’s Not the Real Problem

Good take: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

First step towards private military funded by the wealthy for their own policy priorities.

Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:

One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.

The actual amount of #IEEFA tariffs likely to be refunded, in the event of a full reversal: $115b to $145b, says a Goldman estimate.

SOLICITOR GENERAL SAUER, last week: “.. They are not revenue-raising tariffs.” 🤡

Because the average Republican legislator is a multi-millionaire who doesn’t care about a paycheck and may be taken care of by a billionaire mega donor anyway?

Once again, EVERY R1 research university depends on federal funding for ~15-25% of its budget. You simply can't unplug the largest or 2nd-largest source of $$ of every R1 university & expect it not to have devastating consequences for graduate education, which will spill over to undergrad education.