Jonathan Bernstein
@jonathanbernstein.bsky.social
Good Politics/Bad Politics - Subscribe! https://goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/ Also I root for the Giants. The Making of the Presidential Candidates 2024.
This is absolutely correct and extremely important about governing. Excellent thread.
It is unfortunately not clear at all that it's true about winning elections, *especially* as the out-party. Perhaps! But 2016 and 2024 - and 2010, for that matter - are not encouraging.
It is unfortunately not clear at all that it's true about winning elections, *especially* as the out-party. Perhaps! But 2016 and 2024 - and 2010, for that matter - are not encouraging.
The forces that make Trump impervious to internal correction within the GOP are going to create huge obstacles to the party winning elections and governing for a generation.
The tragedy of today's GOP is that they have purged anyone inclined to independence and leadership. Those who are left chose to climb into the back seat, and now they're lost. But they're finally yelling at the driver.
February 9, 2026 at 6:53 PM
This is absolutely correct and extremely important about governing. Excellent thread.
It is unfortunately not clear at all that it's true about winning elections, *especially* as the out-party. Perhaps! But 2016 and 2024 - and 2010, for that matter - are not encouraging.
It is unfortunately not clear at all that it's true about winning elections, *especially* as the out-party. Perhaps! But 2016 and 2024 - and 2010, for that matter - are not encouraging.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
From our latest issue: Partisans of Color: Asian American and Latino Party ID in an Era of Racialization and Polarization by EFRÉN PÉREZ, JESSICA HYUNJEONG LEE, GUSTAVO MÁRTIR LUNA. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
February 9, 2026 at 3:28 PM
From our latest issue: Partisans of Color: Asian American and Latino Party ID in an Era of Racialization and Polarization by EFRÉN PÉREZ, JESSICA HYUNJEONG LEE, GUSTAVO MÁRTIR LUNA. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
wrote a bit this week about how my take on backlash presidential politics intersects with @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social's "How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism" open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
We can't appease the politics of racial backlash, and we shouldn't try
Some thoughts on "How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism," presidential power, and my conversation last week with the New York Times
open.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:50 PM
wrote a bit this week about how my take on backlash presidential politics intersects with @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social's "How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism" open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
To be clear: baseball season never ended. Thanks to all the great winter leagues, there’s been baseball to watch almost every single day since the World Series ended — trust me, I’ve watched as much of it as possible!!
But now, MLB is up! And the WBC!!
BASEBALL IS THE BEST !!!
But now, MLB is up! And the WBC!!
BASEBALL IS THE BEST !!!
a baseball player is getting ready to swing at a ball
ALT: a baseball player is getting ready to swing at a ball
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:46 AM
To be clear: baseball season never ended. Thanks to all the great winter leagues, there’s been baseball to watch almost every single day since the World Series ended — trust me, I’ve watched as much of it as possible!!
But now, MLB is up! And the WBC!!
BASEBALL IS THE BEST !!!
But now, MLB is up! And the WBC!!
BASEBALL IS THE BEST !!!
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Why yes.
GOOD PENALTY -- degenerate gambler.
February 9, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Why yes.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Enjoying this game stress free like every Cowboys fan for the last 30 years.
February 9, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Enjoying this game stress free like every Cowboys fan for the last 30 years.
Let's Go Under!
February 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Let's Go Under!
Almost baseball.
February 8, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Almost baseball.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Acquisition reform...or some new laws of physics
"To overcome Golden Dome ‘affordability’ hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official"
To overcome Golden Dome 'affordability' hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official - Breaking Defense
Marcia Holmes, DoD deputy director for Golden Dome, said AI and autonomy will "change how we deploy and use our weapons."
breakingdefense.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Acquisition reform...or some new laws of physics
Democracy runs on ambition. But Trump's *private* ambition doesn't make Madisonian sense, and helps explain why he's so bad at presidenting. Also: DId W. have any ambition at all? Plus all the links! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/trumps-pri...
Trump's Private Ambition
And all the links.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Democracy runs on ambition. But Trump's *private* ambition doesn't make Madisonian sense, and helps explain why he's so bad at presidenting. Also: DId W. have any ambition at all? Plus all the links! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/trumps-pri...
LA filing deadline? Feb 13.
john bel edwards have a drastic and sudden change of heart regarding your future employment plans challenge impossible
Final results in the Louisiana #HD60 (Trump+13) special election:
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
February 8, 2026 at 6:31 AM
LA filing deadline? Feb 13.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Perhaps if they constructed a large wooden badger
February 8, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Perhaps if they constructed a large wooden badger
So...for the GOP state of mind right now should we be using the "Run Away!" from the killer rabbit at the cave or the one when the French throw the large constructed rabbit at them?
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
February 8, 2026 at 4:10 AM
So...for the GOP state of mind right now should we be using the "Run Away!" from the killer rabbit at the cave or the one when the French throw the large constructed rabbit at them?
Talarico up during primetime Olympics.
February 8, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Talarico up during primetime Olympics.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
🚨House Republicans have made substantial changes to the revised SAVE America Act, dropping provisions which would have forced Americans to prove their citizenship at the polls on Election Day. 🧵 1/
February 7, 2026 at 4:05 PM
🚨House Republicans have made substantial changes to the revised SAVE America Act, dropping provisions which would have forced Americans to prove their citizenship at the polls on Election Day. 🧵 1/
Feel like the judge should have called this The Official Trump Court Order.
Also, losing loser loses again.
Also, losing loser loses again.
Major news in NYC: NY secretary of state won a court order blocking the Trump admin from freezing funds for the new Hudson tunnel, the Gateway project.
February 7, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Feel like the judge should have called this The Official Trump Court Order.
Also, losing loser loses again.
Also, losing loser loses again.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Earlier this week, I reported that some Dems were considering breaking out parts of the DHS funding bill (like TSA, FEMA & Coast Guard) and funding them while negotiations on ICE and CBP continue.
Now House Approps Comm Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro is also saying she would support that.
Now House Approps Comm Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro is also saying she would support that.
February 6, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Earlier this week, I reported that some Dems were considering breaking out parts of the DHS funding bill (like TSA, FEMA & Coast Guard) and funding them while negotiations on ICE and CBP continue.
Now House Approps Comm Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro is also saying she would support that.
Now House Approps Comm Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro is also saying she would support that.
Gorillaz
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Who do you want to guest host a potential revival of The Muppet Show?
Here’s Who We Want to Guest Host ‘The Muppet Show’ If It’s Revived
February 6, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Gorillaz
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Want to see me talk with my hands?
I joined @perrybaconjr.bsky.social @baseballot.bsky.social for a very early 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary draft. It’s a big bench, and a lot can happen.
My No. 1 pick drew more skepticism than anticipated😅
open.substack.com/pub/baseball...
I joined @perrybaconjr.bsky.social @baseballot.bsky.social for a very early 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary draft. It’s a big bench, and a lot can happen.
My No. 1 pick drew more skepticism than anticipated😅
open.substack.com/pub/baseball...
February 6, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Want to see me talk with my hands?
I joined @perrybaconjr.bsky.social @baseballot.bsky.social for a very early 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary draft. It’s a big bench, and a lot can happen.
My No. 1 pick drew more skepticism than anticipated😅
open.substack.com/pub/baseball...
I joined @perrybaconjr.bsky.social @baseballot.bsky.social for a very early 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary draft. It’s a big bench, and a lot can happen.
My No. 1 pick drew more skepticism than anticipated😅
open.substack.com/pub/baseball...
I think that's fair (especially with the caveat he adds about limits on legislators, especially in the minority), but I also think that part of what it shows is that while some are more effective than others, Dems are more united than divided on a lot, including democracy issues broadly defined.
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
February 6, 2026 at 8:14 PM
I think that's fair (especially with the caveat he adds about limits on legislators, especially in the minority), but I also think that part of what it shows is that while some are more effective than others, Dems are more united than divided on a lot, including democracy issues broadly defined.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
to put it another way, for these people religion is basically an ethnic identity, or which soccer club's hooligan firm they run with
arbitrary-set religion, to borrow the argot of social dominance theory; these ppl make more sense when you stop thinking of their religion in terms of coherent doctrine & simply think of it as another interchangeable identity that's been plugged into psychological systems governing group competition
Organizers of the National Prayer Breakfast invite Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez, the dictator of El Salvador, best know for his torture camps and friendly relations with drug cartels, as a featured speaker. The invitation is a good demonstration of the political values of Christian Nationalists.
February 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
to put it another way, for these people religion is basically an ethnic identity, or which soccer club's hooligan firm they run with
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Interesting new paper in Political Psychology from @benmtappin.bsky.social and Ryan McKay investigating party cues
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
February 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Interesting new paper in Political Psychology from @benmtappin.bsky.social and Ryan McKay investigating party cues
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Yeah bigotry is not the national interest of the US.
Personalist, neo-royalist, or just plain corrupt.
Personalist, neo-royalist, or just plain corrupt.
The major flaw with the claim that Trump's foreign policy is "realist" is the fact that it is so deeply ideological. There is no "realist" case for driving South Africa into China's embrace, rather than competing for its partnership. The only reason Trump is doing so is based on racist memes.
Facing high Trump tariffs, Africa's leading economy says it's close to a new trade deal with China
China and South Africa have signed a framework agreement for a new trade deal. It shows how Africa’s leading economy is looking for other options following the high U.S. import tariffs imposed on it b...
apnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Yeah bigotry is not the national interest of the US.
Personalist, neo-royalist, or just plain corrupt.
Personalist, neo-royalist, or just plain corrupt.