Naomi Schalit
@democracyeditor.bsky.social
Senior Politics & Democracy Editor, @us.theconversation.com; co-founder w/hubby John Christie of The Maine Monitor. Family of journos & writers. We proofread menus.
With more Trump administration pressure on the Smithsonian this week to sanitize US history, George Orwell, via historian Laura Beers, helps you understand what's going on: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” theconversation.com/the-orwellia...
The Orwellian echoes in Trump’s push for ‘Americanism’ at the Smithsonian
Donald Trump aims to rewrite America’s official history, including at one of the nation’s key sites of public history-making: the Smithsonian. George Orwell would recognize Trump’s impulse.
theconversation.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM
With more Trump administration pressure on the Smithsonian this week to sanitize US history, George Orwell, via historian Laura Beers, helps you understand what's going on: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” theconversation.com/the-orwellia...
Headlines in the past focused on unidentified elites who may be exposed or embarrassed, rather than on the people whose suffering made the case newsworthy in the first place: the girls and young women Epstein abused and trafficked, writes Sam Martin at Boise State theconversation.com/as-doj-begin...
As DOJ begins to release Epstein files, his many victims deserve more attention than the powerful men in his ‘client list’
Powerful men connected to Jeffrey Epstein are named, dissected and speculated about. The survivors, unless they work hard to step forward, remain a blurred mass in the background.
theconversation.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Headlines in the past focused on unidentified elites who may be exposed or embarrassed, rather than on the people whose suffering made the case newsworthy in the first place: the girls and young women Epstein abused and trafficked, writes Sam Martin at Boise State theconversation.com/as-doj-begin...
Are Americans about to be led again into a war with Venezuela based on misrepresentations and lies? It’s happened before, writes Betty Medsger, who describes the run-ups to the wars in Iraq and Vietnam theconversation.com/deception-an...
Deception and lies from the White House to justify a war in Venezuela? We’ve seen this movie before in run-ups to wars in Vietnam and Iraq
Two US wars based on lies, in which tens of thousands of American troops and millions of civilians died, offer a cautionary tale about the rush to war.
theconversation.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Are Americans about to be led again into a war with Venezuela based on misrepresentations and lies? It’s happened before, writes Betty Medsger, who describes the run-ups to the wars in Iraq and Vietnam theconversation.com/deception-an...
What to do when Orwell is all I can think of while watching Karoline Leavitt? Ask Orwell expert @fieryparticle.bsky.social
to analyze the "transparency," doublespeak, doublethink & constant reminders of “WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
to analyze the "transparency," doublespeak, doublethink & constant reminders of “WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
Karoline Leavitt’s White House briefing doublethink is straight out of Orwell’s ‘1984’
A historian analyzes how White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claims about her boss and his administration are ‘doublespeak’ straight out of the pages of George Orwell’s ‘1984.’
theconversation.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
What to do when Orwell is all I can think of while watching Karoline Leavitt? Ask Orwell expert @fieryparticle.bsky.social
to analyze the "transparency," doublespeak, doublethink & constant reminders of “WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
to analyze the "transparency," doublespeak, doublethink & constant reminders of “WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
Orwell expert @fieryparticle.bsky.social finds the Orwell in Karoline Leavitt's White House briefings: "In Leavitt’s usage, “transparency” has become a form of Orwellian “doublespeak,” a word or phrase ...that... had come to encompass its exact opposite meaning" theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
Karoline Leavitt’s White House briefing doublethink is straight out of Orwell’s 1984
A historian analyzes how White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claims about her boss and his administration are ‘doublespeak’ straight out of the pages of George Orwell’s ‘1984.’
theconversation.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Orwell expert @fieryparticle.bsky.social finds the Orwell in Karoline Leavitt's White House briefings: "In Leavitt’s usage, “transparency” has become a form of Orwellian “doublespeak,” a word or phrase ...that... had come to encompass its exact opposite meaning" theconversation.com/karoline-lea...
Headlines about the Epstein files "focus on unidentified elites and who may be exposed or embarrassed, rather than on the people whose suffering made the case newsworthy in the 1st place: the girls and young women Epstein abused and trafficked," writes Sam Martin theconversation.com/epsteins-vic...
Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’
Powerful men connected to Jeffrey Epstein are named, dissected and speculated about. The survivors, unless they work hard to step forward, remain a blurred mass in the background.
theconversation.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Headlines about the Epstein files "focus on unidentified elites and who may be exposed or embarrassed, rather than on the people whose suffering made the case newsworthy in the 1st place: the girls and young women Epstein abused and trafficked," writes Sam Martin theconversation.com/epsteins-vic...
As reporters and the public wait breathlessly for more Epstein files to be released by the end of this week, Sam Martin says Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’ theconversation.com/epsteins-vic...
Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’
Powerful men connected to Jeffrey Epstein are named, dissected and speculated about. The survivors, unless they work hard to step forward, remain a blurred mass in the background.
theconversation.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
As reporters and the public wait breathlessly for more Epstein files to be released by the end of this week, Sam Martin says Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’ theconversation.com/epsteins-vic...
Trump politics infect the US Mint's America 250 coins sethographer.bsky.social writes. "The Black Abolition, Women’s Suffrage & Civil Rights quarters were replaced with quarters that commemorate the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War & the Gettysburg Address" theconversation.com/trump-admini...
Trump administration replaces America 250 quarters honoring abolition and women’s suffrage with Mayflower and Gettysburg designs
US coins showcase American identity and public memory through their designs. The America 250 coins just unveiled reflect the nation’s divided politics and history.
theconversation.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Trump politics infect the US Mint's America 250 coins sethographer.bsky.social writes. "The Black Abolition, Women’s Suffrage & Civil Rights quarters were replaced with quarters that commemorate the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War & the Gettysburg Address" theconversation.com/trump-admini...
"My takeaway as an American citizen and as a former judge is that at bottom, President Trump simply lacks respect for our system of justice. The president believes the law is whatever he says it is" -- Dickinson College President John E. Jones III
theconversation.com/as-a-former-...
theconversation.com/as-a-former-...
As a former federal judge, I’m concerned by a year of challenges to the US justice system
A university president who’s a former federal judge looks at the rule of law and the Trump administration’s first year, concluding the president ‘simply lacks respect for our system of justice.’
theconversation.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"My takeaway as an American citizen and as a former judge is that at bottom, President Trump simply lacks respect for our system of justice. The president believes the law is whatever he says it is" -- Dickinson College President John E. Jones III
theconversation.com/as-a-former-...
theconversation.com/as-a-former-...
Reposted by Naomi Schalit
Here's TCUS's version. @democracyeditor.bsky.social and I both edited this piece, so you know it's going to make the necessary connections reproductive rights and the state of U.S. democracy.
2026’s abortion battles will be fought more in courthouses and FDA offices than at the voting booth
Judges and federal regulators will make significant decisions over Americans’ reproductive rights.
theconversation.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Here's TCUS's version. @democracyeditor.bsky.social and I both edited this piece, so you know it's going to make the necessary connections reproductive rights and the state of U.S. democracy.
Too many words, people. While there are great Substacks to read right now, as a reader, writer and editor, I beg all of you to get an editor and cut your content down by half. I promise you, you can say it in 750 words.
December 7, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Too many words, people. While there are great Substacks to read right now, as a reader, writer and editor, I beg all of you to get an editor and cut your content down by half. I promise you, you can say it in 750 words.
The 5 different ways to "hold accountable those who ordered and carried out the...operation in the Caribbean that killed two survivors of an earlier attack," laid out by military law scholar Josh Kastenberg, who spent 20 years as a lawyer & judge in the Air Force theconversation.com/pete-hegseth...
Pete Hegseth could be investigated for illegal orders by 5 different bodies – but none are likely to lead to charges
Allegations are swirling around a US military strike on an alleged drug boat that resulted in 2 civilian deaths. A military law scholar outlines how facts and accountability can be determined.
theconversation.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The 5 different ways to "hold accountable those who ordered and carried out the...operation in the Caribbean that killed two survivors of an earlier attack," laid out by military law scholar Josh Kastenberg, who spent 20 years as a lawyer & judge in the Air Force theconversation.com/pete-hegseth...
House Speaker Mike Johnson's in trouble with a growing number of his frustrated GOP colleagues. Is it because he's been giving away the House's power to President Donald Trump? theconversation.com/speaker-john...
Speaker Johnson’s choice to lead by following the president goes against 200 years of House speakers building up the office’s power
The founders’ vision of the speaker of the House – a nonpartisan moderator and referee – has yielded to a far more powerful position. But has Speaker Mike Johnson given away his chamber’s power?
theconversation.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:31 PM
House Speaker Mike Johnson's in trouble with a growing number of his frustrated GOP colleagues. Is it because he's been giving away the House's power to President Donald Trump? theconversation.com/speaker-john...
Giving it away: Most speakers, says UVA's SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, worked "to strengthen the position & power of Congress; Johnson’s choice to lead by following President Trump drifts the position further from the framers’ vision of congressional primacy" theconversation.com/speaker-john...
Speaker Johnson’s choice to lead by following the president goes against 200 years of House speakers building up the office’s power
The founders’ vision of the speaker of the House – a nonpartisan moderator and referee – has yielded to a far more powerful position. But has Speaker Mike Johnson given away his chamber’s power?
theconversation.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Giving it away: Most speakers, says UVA's SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, worked "to strengthen the position & power of Congress; Johnson’s choice to lead by following President Trump drifts the position further from the framers’ vision of congressional primacy" theconversation.com/speaker-john...
Reposted by Naomi Schalit
Donald Heflin, career diplomat and director of Fletcher's Murrow Center, analyzes the peace plan presented to Ukraine by the U.S. @us.theconversation.com @democracyeditor.bsky.social
theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
Peace plan presented by the US to Ukraine reflects inexperienced, unrealistic handling of a delicate situation
In a war that’s lasted almost four years, a former diplomat says it’s not realistic to say, ‘In the next week, come up with a very complicated peace deal, sign off on it and it’s going to stick.’
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Donald Heflin, career diplomat and director of Fletcher's Murrow Center, analyzes the peace plan presented to Ukraine by the U.S. @us.theconversation.com @democracyeditor.bsky.social
theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
Reposted by Naomi Schalit
As Matthew Sitman points out — like @zohrankmamdani (and MLK, etc) ‘1984’ author George Orwell was a Democratic Socialist who fought for workers.
He also opposed communism because the two are not the same things and words have meanings.
theconversation.com/orwells-oppo...
He also opposed communism because the two are not the same things and words have meanings.
theconversation.com/orwells-oppo...
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
As Matthew Sitman points out — like @zohrankmamdani (and MLK, etc) ‘1984’ author George Orwell was a Democratic Socialist who fought for workers.
He also opposed communism because the two are not the same things and words have meanings.
theconversation.com/orwells-oppo...
He also opposed communism because the two are not the same things and words have meanings.
theconversation.com/orwells-oppo...
"In a war that’s been going on now for almost four years, you don’t say, 'OK, within the next week, come up with a very complicated peace deal and sign off on it and it’s going to stick.' That’s just not the way it works," says former diplomat Don Heflin theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
Peace plan presented by the US to Ukraine reflects inexperienced, unrealistic handling of a delicate situation
In a war that’s lasted almost four years, a former diplomat says it’s not realistic to say, ‘In the next week, come up with a very complicated peace deal, sign off on it and it’s going to stick.’
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
"In a war that’s been going on now for almost four years, you don’t say, 'OK, within the next week, come up with a very complicated peace deal and sign off on it and it’s going to stick.' That’s just not the way it works," says former diplomat Don Heflin theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
"Something’s missing from RFKJr.’s accounts of 'Operation Northwoods,'” writes @fatalpolitics.bsky.social in a sharp essay that challenges RFKJr.'s version of that menu of false flag operations. "Something about his father." theconversation.com/what-robert-...
What Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t tell you about ‘Operation Northwoods,’ the false flag operation he loves to denounce
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s accounts of the notorious false flag operations proposed during the Kennedy years omit the most important part of the story. Hint: It’s a family affair.
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"Something’s missing from RFKJr.’s accounts of 'Operation Northwoods,'” writes @fatalpolitics.bsky.social in a sharp essay that challenges RFKJr.'s version of that menu of false flag operations. "Something about his father." theconversation.com/what-robert-...
The Democratic lawmakers' video about refusing illegal orders: Many service members "do understand the distinction between legal and illegal orders, the duty to disobey certain orders, and when they should do so," say two @umassamherst.bsky.social scholars theconversation.com/just-follow-...
Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands
A majority of service members understand the distinction between legal and illegal orders.
theconversation.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The Democratic lawmakers' video about refusing illegal orders: Many service members "do understand the distinction between legal and illegal orders, the duty to disobey certain orders, and when they should do so," say two @umassamherst.bsky.social scholars theconversation.com/just-follow-...
I have a new understanding of Boston’s scary bad drivers after watching the new @kenlburns.bsky.social documentary: they’re all the aggressive, opinionated descendants of Sam Adams
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I have a new understanding of Boston’s scary bad drivers after watching the new @kenlburns.bsky.social documentary: they’re all the aggressive, opinionated descendants of Sam Adams
I give you the Minister of Mixed Metaphors: The tax proposal, said campaign strategist Dan Newman, “opens up a can of worms sliding down a slippery slope" www.wsj.com/business/cal...
The California Campaign to Introduce a First-of-Its-Kind Billionaire’s Tax
The union-backed ballot measure is aimed at raising healthcare funding, but it faces opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
www.wsj.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I give you the Minister of Mixed Metaphors: The tax proposal, said campaign strategist Dan Newman, “opens up a can of worms sliding down a slippery slope" www.wsj.com/business/cal...
Can Graham Platner attract more than Southern Maine progressives? Nick Jacobs says "Every few years, Democrats try to convince themselves they’ve found the one – a candidate who can finally speak fluent rural, who looks and sounds like the voters they’ve lost" theconversation.com/why-rural-ma...
Why rural Maine may back Democrat Graham Platner’s populism in the Senate campaign − but not his party
Whether Maine’s Graham Platner wins or loses, his campaign to knock off longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins already points to a deeper question: Can Democrats do more than rent rural authenticity?
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Can Graham Platner attract more than Southern Maine progressives? Nick Jacobs says "Every few years, Democrats try to convince themselves they’ve found the one – a candidate who can finally speak fluent rural, who looks and sounds like the voters they’ve lost" theconversation.com/why-rural-ma...
Upset about the government shutdown at any of its various stages, including how it might end? Consider @roberttalisse.bsky.social's take: The fault, dear voter, lies in ourselves and not the politicians theconversation.com/blame-the-sh...
Blame the shutdown on citizens who prefer politicians to vanquish their opponents rather than to work for the common good
Politicians get blamed for government shutdowns. But does the fault lie also with citizens, who are more invested in punishing partisan rivals than in demanding competent government?
theconversation.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Upset about the government shutdown at any of its various stages, including how it might end? Consider @roberttalisse.bsky.social's take: The fault, dear voter, lies in ourselves and not the politicians theconversation.com/blame-the-sh...
The old days: "The framers viewed congressional oversight as a key component of legislative authority. They wanted presidents to take Congress seriously and structured the Constitution to ensure that the executive would be accountable to the legislature" 1/2 theconversation.com/a-brief-hist...
A brief history of congressional oversight, from Revolutionary War financing to Pam Bondi
Congress has played an important role in holding federal agencies accountable since the late 1700s, but oversight can also devolve into a political circus.
theconversation.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The old days: "The framers viewed congressional oversight as a key component of legislative authority. They wanted presidents to take Congress seriously and structured the Constitution to ensure that the executive would be accountable to the legislature" 1/2 theconversation.com/a-brief-hist...
If you're gonna write a story from the vast perspective of "half a decade" in Maine, please get the details right: It's the Common Ground FAIR, not "festival" and lose the "h" in "Sarah" Gideon - the big loser of that race was Sara Gideon www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Maine’s Case of Platner Fasciitis
The scandals engulfing the Democratic Senate hopeful expose a rift between the state's provincial and national identities
www.thenation.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
If you're gonna write a story from the vast perspective of "half a decade" in Maine, please get the details right: It's the Common Ground FAIR, not "festival" and lose the "h" in "Sarah" Gideon - the big loser of that race was Sara Gideon www.thenation.com/article/poli...