David Austin Walsh
@davidaustinwalsh.bsky.social
Historian. Academic Advisor @ University of Virginia. Columnist @ Boston Review. Book: TAKING AMERICA BACK: THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT AND THE FAR RIGHT // Yale Press // April 2024
Pinned
The Conservatives Who Think Trump Isn’t Going Far Enough - Boston Review
MAGA’s base is more fractured than it looks.
www.bostonreview.net
My latest for @bostonreview.bsky.social, where I look at the growing discontent and infighting within the MAGA coalition (h/t to Curt Mills of AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE and Matt McManus at Spelman College for sharing their insights with me!) www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
What even is the point of Chuck Schumer anymore? The Democratic rank-and-file are pro-Palestine. The New York Democratic establishment has imploded. Even Third Way is signaling they’re done with his Senate leadership.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
What even is the point of Chuck Schumer anymore? The Democratic rank-and-file are pro-Palestine. The New York Democratic establishment has imploded. Even Third Way is signaling they’re done with his Senate leadership.
Somewhat surprising. I guess they figure that overturning OBERGEFELL will only just add fuel to the political fire right now, when far more important/substantial victories -- like NLRA overturn -- are within grasp.
New: The Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis' request to overturn Obergefell, the marriage equality decision. No noted dissents. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Somewhat surprising. I guess they figure that overturning OBERGEFELL will only just add fuel to the political fire right now, when far more important/substantial victories -- like NLRA overturn -- are within grasp.
*sips scotch*
Well, the Democrats caving for absolutely nothing less than a week after the best election they've had in years will surely only make people hate Democratic leadership more.
Well, the Democrats caving for absolutely nothing less than a week after the best election they've had in years will surely only make people hate Democratic leadership more.
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 AM
*sips scotch*
Well, the Democrats caving for absolutely nothing less than a week after the best election they've had in years will surely only make people hate Democratic leadership more.
Well, the Democrats caving for absolutely nothing less than a week after the best election they've had in years will surely only make people hate Democratic leadership more.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
Thomas is an outstanding scholar who does excellent work drawing on his understanding of the past to comment on events today.
If you're not subscribing already, check him out!
If you're not subscribing already, check him out!
Some major personal news:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Onward. Forward. Steady.
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
steady.page
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Thomas is an outstanding scholar who does excellent work drawing on his understanding of the past to comment on events today.
If you're not subscribing already, check him out!
If you're not subscribing already, check him out!
An amazingly warm person. Very sad news. RIP Prof. Isenberg.
I've been waiting to comment publicly on this until the university made its announcement, but the Department of History at Princeton is devastated by the recent death of our wonderful colleague Alison Isenberg.
Alison Isenberg, distinguished urban historian and co-founder of Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities, dies
A public memorial and celebration of Isenberg’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the University Chapel.
www.princeton.edu
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
An amazingly warm person. Very sad news. RIP Prof. Isenberg.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
Friends, “Furious Minds” is out!
@lkatfield.bsky.social wrote an important book - one that truly is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the rightwing intellectual scene, the defining ideas on today’s extremist Right, and the ideological traditions they draw on.
Please read:
@lkatfield.bsky.social wrote an important book - one that truly is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the rightwing intellectual scene, the defining ideas on today’s extremist Right, and the ideological traditions they draw on.
Please read:
Furious Minds
“[An] excellent new book.”—Michelle Goldberg, New York TimesThe story of the radical conservative intellectual movement shaping Donald Trump’s agenda—and how it threatens American freedoms, values, an...
press.princeton.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Friends, “Furious Minds” is out!
@lkatfield.bsky.social wrote an important book - one that truly is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the rightwing intellectual scene, the defining ideas on today’s extremist Right, and the ideological traditions they draw on.
Please read:
@lkatfield.bsky.social wrote an important book - one that truly is essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand the rightwing intellectual scene, the defining ideas on today’s extremist Right, and the ideological traditions they draw on.
Please read:
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
extremely cursed screenshot
November 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
extremely cursed screenshot
Lemme guess: this is the Very Serious Discussion by Very Serious Intellectuals at a Very Serious Publication of that Helen Andrews essay.
the question nobody with a soul is asking, answered by people nobody wants to hear from
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Lemme guess: this is the Very Serious Discussion by Very Serious Intellectuals at a Very Serious Publication of that Helen Andrews essay.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
It strikes me that the past 20 years in American politics have been defined by the quest for a realignment election on the scale of 1932/1936 or 1980/1984 and that simply has not happened.
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
It strikes me that the past 20 years in American politics have been defined by the quest for a realignment election on the scale of 1932/1936 or 1980/1984 and that simply has not happened.
One of the quickest ways to build trust with undergraduates is to just be open and honest with them about the pettiness of academic politics and academic grudges while still recommending good work to them.
November 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
One of the quickest ways to build trust with undergraduates is to just be open and honest with them about the pettiness of academic politics and academic grudges while still recommending good work to them.
At the risk of sounding petty, calls for Democratic unity going forward are all well and good, but let’s not forget that the reason Cuomo ran against Mamdani in the first place was a last-ditch effort by the New York Democratic Party to ratfuck their duly elected nominee.
November 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
At the risk of sounding petty, calls for Democratic unity going forward are all well and good, but let’s not forget that the reason Cuomo ran against Mamdani in the first place was a last-ditch effort by the New York Democratic Party to ratfuck their duly elected nominee.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
“Free enterprise is at risk.” Hmm, where have I heard that before.
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
“Free enterprise is at risk.” Hmm, where have I heard that before.
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
No wonder MSNBC is rebranding
No better way to capture last night's zeitgeist than "Morning Joe" bringing on ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt to attack Mamdani
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
No wonder MSNBC is rebranding
Huge, huge night for the left in particular but the Democratic Party in general; terrible night for MAGA and their crypto-allies within the Democratic Party and the media.
But this is just the beginning of a long and intense struggle. 2017 and 2018 were bad years for MAGA, too.
But this is just the beginning of a long and intense struggle. 2017 and 2018 were bad years for MAGA, too.
November 5, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Huge, huge night for the left in particular but the Democratic Party in general; terrible night for MAGA and their crypto-allies within the Democratic Party and the media.
But this is just the beginning of a long and intense struggle. 2017 and 2018 were bad years for MAGA, too.
But this is just the beginning of a long and intense struggle. 2017 and 2018 were bad years for MAGA, too.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
not to bring the vibe down, but my guess is that after tonight Trump will probably double down on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and intimidation as tactics to disincentivize Dem turnout ahead of next year‘s midterms. (with margins like these, it won’t matter, but it’s a time to be vigilant)
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
not to bring the vibe down, but my guess is that after tonight Trump will probably double down on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and intimidation as tactics to disincentivize Dem turnout ahead of next year‘s midterms. (with margins like these, it won’t matter, but it’s a time to be vigilant)
Woke 2.0 is going to look a lot more like the Bernie Bros than the KHive, and this is a good thing.
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Woke 2.0 is going to look a lot more like the Bernie Bros than the KHive, and this is a good thing.
But populist socialism was *not* an instant win button in New York. This is the culmination of over a decade of organizing work that built the socialist movement in the city into a viable political force for the first time in almost a century.
i'm deeply glad he won but i do want to note that these are not exactly results that suggest that populist socialism is an instant win button in national politics
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
But populist socialism was *not* an instant win button in New York. This is the culmination of over a decade of organizing work that built the socialist movement in the city into a viable political force for the first time in almost a century.
So what's the vibe on here right now?
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
So what's the vibe on here right now?
Cheney Death Twitter just doesn’t have the energy of Kissinger Death Twitter, probably because everyone is far more excited about the Muslim guy being elected as New York City mayor.
Seems to be the same on Bluesky.
Seems to be the same on Bluesky.
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Cheney Death Twitter just doesn’t have the energy of Kissinger Death Twitter, probably because everyone is far more excited about the Muslim guy being elected as New York City mayor.
Seems to be the same on Bluesky.
Seems to be the same on Bluesky.
I voted for Spanberger today but if she vetoes repealing right-to-work I will do everything in my limited power to ensure that her administration is a failure.
November 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I voted for Spanberger today but if she vetoes repealing right-to-work I will do everything in my limited power to ensure that her administration is a failure.
Reposted by David Austin Walsh
My essay – "What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Political Violence" – is in the new print issue of Boston Review.
I hope you'll subscribe to what's unquestionably one of the best magazines, and perhaps the best political magazine, in the country.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/wha...
I hope you'll subscribe to what's unquestionably one of the best magazines, and perhaps the best political magazine, in the country.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/wha...
What Is Political Violence? - Boston Review
Pundits and politicians conceal the truth: it’s all around us, perpetrated by our political system itself.
www.bostonreview.net
November 4, 2025 at 3:56 AM
My essay – "What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Political Violence" – is in the new print issue of Boston Review.
I hope you'll subscribe to what's unquestionably one of the best magazines, and perhaps the best political magazine, in the country.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/wha...
I hope you'll subscribe to what's unquestionably one of the best magazines, and perhaps the best political magazine, in the country.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/wha...
Thanks, @gregsargent.bsky.social for having me on, and hopefully I was coherent despite running a 100-degree fever while we were recording!
What the Tucker/Nick Fuentes fiasco really reveals is that the "white nationalist wing of the GOP" is "a major force within internal GOP politics," says @davidaustinwalsh.bsky.social.
On the pod, David is so good on the GOP's 50-year refusal to police its extremists:
newrepublic.com/article/2026...
On the pod, David is so good on the GOP's 50-year refusal to police its extremists:
newrepublic.com/article/2026...
MAGA Rages at Tucker Carlson after “Nazi” Shocker Reveals Too Much
As Tucker faces criticism for hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes, an expert on conservatism decodes how this tells the bigger story of the American right’s refusal to police its extremists for the...
newrepublic.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Thanks, @gregsargent.bsky.social for having me on, and hopefully I was coherent despite running a 100-degree fever while we were recording!