Jon Rauch
@jonrauch.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, unlicensed epistemologist. Brookings and The Atlantic. Please be sane, BlueSky.
Here's a brilliant and also moving analysis of the U.S. shift toward authoritarianism...and the importance of individual acts of resistance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FeO...
“Life During a Constitutional Crisis” - Professor Bernard Harcourt
YouTube video by University of Miami School of Law
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Here's a brilliant and also moving analysis of the U.S. shift toward authoritarianism...and the importance of individual acts of resistance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FeO...
"Next year Europe will have to change its approach and start copying China. It needs to punch back to deter an increasingly hostile America." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
We need deterrence against America too
English original of article published in Italian this morning by La Stampa. The footnote has been added [and is meant to be whimsical...]
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"Next year Europe will have to change its approach and start copying China. It needs to punch back to deter an increasingly hostile America." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
"As for Trump, the only things that can be predicted with confidence is that he will continue to call for peace and continue to collude with Putin." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
An important counter to the Putin-Trump narrative
English original of article on the EU's big loan to Ukraine published in Italian this morning by La Stampa
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
"As for Trump, the only things that can be predicted with confidence is that he will continue to call for peace and continue to collude with Putin." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
Trump's gift to Putin. 73 percent of Germans say relations with the US are "bad." www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
German Views of the U.S.-Germany Relationship Turn Sharply Negative
Nearly three-quarters of German adults say relations with the United States are bad, while only 24% of U.S adults say the same of relations with Germany.
www.pewresearch.org
December 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Trump's gift to Putin. 73 percent of Germans say relations with the US are "bad." www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
Bill Emmott: "Europe offends Trump in much the same way as Democratic Ukraine offends Putin." billemmott.substack.com/p/trumps-hat...
Trump’s hatred demonstrates Europe’s importance
From now on, we must act as if the transatlantic alliance does not exist, because under Trump-Vance it doesn’t. English original of column published in Italian today by La Stampa [with minor updates]
billemmott.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Bill Emmott: "Europe offends Trump in much the same way as Democratic Ukraine offends Putin." billemmott.substack.com/p/trumps-hat...
At RDI's conference in DC, I just heard a retired federal judge, Mark Wolf, say Trump might declare martial law to impede the 2026 elections. He's not predicting, but no one thinks he's crazy to raise it. rdi.org/2025-frontli...
2025 Frontlines of Freedom Conference – RDI
2025 Frontlines of Freedom Conference December 9-10, 2025 | Washington, DC Registration RDI’s Frontlines of Freedom Conference (FOFCON) is the premier US event focused on fostering a culture of freedo...
rdi.org
December 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
At RDI's conference in DC, I just heard a retired federal judge, Mark Wolf, say Trump might declare martial law to impede the 2026 elections. He's not predicting, but no one thinks he's crazy to raise it. rdi.org/2025-frontli...
Tim Mak has it about right. www.counteroffensive.news/p/trumps-str...
Trump's strategy for diminished America
The White House just put out a National Security Strategy, laying out its principle of “flexible realism”: a dwindling and darker role for America in the world.
www.counteroffensive.news
December 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Tim Mak has it about right. www.counteroffensive.news/p/trumps-str...
This is a stunning indictment...not of Letitia James but of DOJ and the Trump administration. Serious prosecutors and lawyers would be hanging their heads in shame. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Grand jury refuses to reindict Letitia James in mortgage fraud case
Before a Virginia grand jury’s ruling Thursday, a judge had dismissed an earlier indictment after finding that the prosecutor had been unlawfully appointed.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:02 AM
This is a stunning indictment...not of Letitia James but of DOJ and the Trump administration. Serious prosecutors and lawyers would be hanging their heads in shame. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Rob Shapiro: Trump has made the affordability crisis worse, and opened the door wide for Democrats to mount a populist campaign from the left. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/12/02/a...
December 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Rob Shapiro: Trump has made the affordability crisis worse, and opened the door wide for Democrats to mount a populist campaign from the left. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/12/02/a...
Tom Nichols states the obvious...but let's please not forget that the first boat strike, which targeted civilians posing no imminent threat or hostility to the US, was probably as illegal as the second. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Pete Hegseth Needs to Go—Now
A man with such contempt for the military should not run the Pentagon.
www.theatlantic.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Tom Nichols states the obvious...but let's please not forget that the first boat strike, which targeted civilians posing no imminent threat or hostility to the US, was probably as illegal as the second. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
"Conspiracy theories define what it means to be a conservative in America today. It used to be the Reaganite agenda of low taxes, deregulation, individual freedom. But it really is whether you believe in these weird theories that partake of a different reality." www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDA...
Why Populism Is Winning (w/ Francis Fukuyama)
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:28 AM
"Conspiracy theories define what it means to be a conservative in America today. It used to be the Reaganite agenda of low taxes, deregulation, individual freedom. But it really is whether you believe in these weird theories that partake of a different reality." www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDA...
DOGE unleashed chaos in federal agencies. Many are rehiring after firing; key talent is gone. www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
How many people can the federal government lose before it crashes? | Brookings
An in-depth look at how sweeping federal workforce cuts under Trump are straining government services and risking operational failures.
www.brookings.edu
November 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
DOGE unleashed chaos in federal agencies. Many are rehiring after firing; key talent is gone. www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
"The serious way in which to understand this American “peace plan” is that it shows that Trump is the weakest president to occupy the White House for 100 years." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
The weakest US president in the past 100 years
English original of article published in Italian by La Stampa this morning, on Trump's capitulation to America's old enemy, Russia, and Europe's moment of destiny
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
"The serious way in which to understand this American “peace plan” is that it shows that Trump is the weakest president to occupy the White House for 100 years." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...
I warmly recommend Josh Szeps's detailed analysis of why Tucker Carlson is the most talented and dangerous rhetorician on the right. youtube.com/watch?v=CURq...
How Tucker Carlson Manipulates An Argument
YouTube video by Josh Szeps
youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I warmly recommend Josh Szeps's detailed analysis of why Tucker Carlson is the most talented and dangerous rhetorician on the right. youtube.com/watch?v=CURq...
This is what it looks like to be laughed out of court. Humiliating for DOJ lawyers--the creme de la creme--to be treated this way. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Federal judge blasts potential ‘government misconduct’ in Comey case
A federal magistrate judge excoriated the government’s handling of the case against former FBI director James B. Comey.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This is what it looks like to be laughed out of court. Humiliating for DOJ lawyers--the creme de la creme--to be treated this way. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Worth your time. www.execfunctions.org/p/what-are-w...
What Are We Living Through?
Three ways to understand the Trump administration
www.execfunctions.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Worth your time. www.execfunctions.org/p/what-are-w...
Would someone like to tell me why the Algorithm God is showing me ads for butt-enhancing pants? Better yet...don't.
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Would someone like to tell me why the Algorithm God is showing me ads for butt-enhancing pants? Better yet...don't.
A social issue I never thought about...but should have. Land hoarding! open.substack.com/pub/kenilgun...
Who owns America?
Plus, utopian ideas for a fairer future
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A social issue I never thought about...but should have. Land hoarding! open.substack.com/pub/kenilgun...
It's ironic that gays are called upon to make the case against polygamy, a standard heterosexual concept. Matt Vines does it brilliantly. youtu.be/ZzDh4XfFVN4?...
Matthew Vines: Why Monogamy Matters
YouTube video by The Reformation Project
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
It's ironic that gays are called upon to make the case against polygamy, a standard heterosexual concept. Matt Vines does it brilliantly. youtu.be/ZzDh4XfFVN4?...
New poll from Buckley Institute finds the plurality of students support Cuban and Russian style socialism.
November 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
New poll from Buckley Institute finds the plurality of students support Cuban and Russian style socialism.
Good question. "How about asking Trump to stop spreading antisemitism via his associations and appointments?" www.thebulwark.com/p/right-wing...
Right-Wing Critics of Antisemitism Keep Weirdly Mum About Trump
But this fish rots from the head.
www.thebulwark.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Good question. "How about asking Trump to stop spreading antisemitism via his associations and appointments?" www.thebulwark.com/p/right-wing...
This is sick, if accurate (The Counteroffensive is a reputable outlet). Russians are using drones to "safari hunt" civilians in Ukraine. www.counteroffensive.news/p/russias-di...
Russia’s disturbing human ‘safaris’
Violating the laws of war, Russians have created a sick game of hunting civilians with FPV drones near the frontline. We take you behind the scenes, to the people most affected.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is sick, if accurate (The Counteroffensive is a reputable outlet). Russians are using drones to "safari hunt" civilians in Ukraine. www.counteroffensive.news/p/russias-di...
"The president and vice president should explain to backers and all citizens that the Republican Party has no place for bigots, purveyors of vile conspiracy theories, and sycophants of blood-stained anti-American dictators." Yes, they should. Any minute now. www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"The president and vice president should explain to backers and all citizens that the Republican Party has no place for bigots, purveyors of vile conspiracy theories, and sycophants of blood-stained anti-American dictators." Yes, they should. Any minute now. www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
Here are some of the people being summarily executed at sea by the Trump Admin. They're mostly ordinary folks running drugs (to Europe, not the US) as a side gig. Their deaths will have zero effect on drug availability. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced
One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.
apnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Here are some of the people being summarily executed at sea by the Trump Admin. They're mostly ordinary folks running drugs (to Europe, not the US) as a side gig. Their deaths will have zero effect on drug availability. apnews.com/article/trum...
Congress loses another good member. It's disgraceful that the problem of threats to MCs and judges isn't taken more seriously. leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...
Politics Keeps Driving Out the People Who Want to Reform It
Jared Golden is the latest problem-solving politician to decide Congress isn’t worth the cost. And so the doom loop takes another turn.
leedrutman.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Congress loses another good member. It's disgraceful that the problem of threats to MCs and judges isn't taken more seriously. leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...