Jen Dresden
@jrdresden.bsky.social
Political Scientist | Ex-Professor | Democracy Advocate
Personal account, views are my own, etc.
Personal account, views are my own, etc.
Upholding nonviolence is an active effort.
People with a mic have to speak up to say violent threats and actions have no place in a healthy democracy.
Responsible media should cover the full context & story - including calls for nonviolence.
(But they can't cover it if you don't say it.)
People with a mic have to speak up to say violent threats and actions have no place in a healthy democracy.
Responsible media should cover the full context & story - including calls for nonviolence.
(But they can't cover it if you don't say it.)
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Upholding nonviolence is an active effort.
People with a mic have to speak up to say violent threats and actions have no place in a healthy democracy.
Responsible media should cover the full context & story - including calls for nonviolence.
(But they can't cover it if you don't say it.)
People with a mic have to speak up to say violent threats and actions have no place in a healthy democracy.
Responsible media should cover the full context & story - including calls for nonviolence.
(But they can't cover it if you don't say it.)
Reposted by Jen Dresden
Americans are fed up with our political system. The first step to sweeping reform could be "fusion voting" and some states already implement it. @jrdresden.bsky.social explains how fusion parties could revive the pathway to better representation.
A practical path to ending the two-party system
Why allowing multiple nominations is the first step to multiple parties
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Americans are fed up with our political system. The first step to sweeping reform could be "fusion voting" and some states already implement it. @jrdresden.bsky.social explains how fusion parties could revive the pathway to better representation.
As New York City voters go to the polls today, their ballots reflect New York's use of fusion voting. What is fusion? Learn more here: protectdemocracy.org/work/fusion-...
Fusion voting, explained
Fusion voting allows more than one political party to nominate the same candidate on the ballot, empowering minor parties to unite a cross-ideological coalition behind a single candidate.
protectdemocracy.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
As New York City voters go to the polls today, their ballots reflect New York's use of fusion voting. What is fusion? Learn more here: protectdemocracy.org/work/fusion-...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
MSNBC Live coverage: @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social interviewing a pink unicorn on live television is giving me life. #NoKings
October 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
MSNBC Live coverage: @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social interviewing a pink unicorn on live television is giving me life. #NoKings
Reposted by Jen Dresden
Fusion voting can be a pathway to proportional representation. Our own @jrdresden.bsky.social joined @msifry.bsky.social at @centerforballotfreedom.org to discuss how:
“What fusion would do is create the space and the ability for more minor parties to grow, to flourish, to build skills."
“What fusion would do is create the space and the ability for more minor parties to grow, to flourish, to build skills."
How Could Fusion Voting Create a Path to Proportional Representation?
open.spotify.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Fusion voting can be a pathway to proportional representation. Our own @jrdresden.bsky.social joined @msifry.bsky.social at @centerforballotfreedom.org to discuss how:
“What fusion would do is create the space and the ability for more minor parties to grow, to flourish, to build skills."
“What fusion would do is create the space and the ability for more minor parties to grow, to flourish, to build skills."
Reposted by Jen Dresden
NEW: How fusion voting—an American tradition allowing candidates to appear on multiple party ballot lines—can bolster efforts to reform our broken politics. It's time to revive this pathway to better representation. Summary is threaded plus full report is 🔗: protectdemocracy.org/work/fusion-...
October 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
NEW: How fusion voting—an American tradition allowing candidates to appear on multiple party ballot lines—can bolster efforts to reform our broken politics. It's time to revive this pathway to better representation. Summary is threaded plus full report is 🔗: protectdemocracy.org/work/fusion-...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
🎧 Just dropped: the latest episode of our podcast #ThisOldDemocracy! @msifry.bsky.social talks to @jrdresden.bsky.social from @protectdemocracy.org about fusion voting and proportional representation. Give it a listen now. centerforballotfreedom.org/this-old-dem...
October 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
🎧 Just dropped: the latest episode of our podcast #ThisOldDemocracy! @msifry.bsky.social talks to @jrdresden.bsky.social from @protectdemocracy.org about fusion voting and proportional representation. Give it a listen now. centerforballotfreedom.org/this-old-dem...
The next week includes the International Day of Democracy (today), Constitution Day (9/17), and International Day of Peace (9/21).
It’s a good week to look for inspiration and hope, so I’ll be setting aside some time to post studies and data that remind us why the work is worth it.
It’s a good week to look for inspiration and hope, so I’ll be setting aside some time to post studies and data that remind us why the work is worth it.
September 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The next week includes the International Day of Democracy (today), Constitution Day (9/17), and International Day of Peace (9/21).
It’s a good week to look for inspiration and hope, so I’ll be setting aside some time to post studies and data that remind us why the work is worth it.
It’s a good week to look for inspiration and hope, so I’ll be setting aside some time to post studies and data that remind us why the work is worth it.
Reposted by Jen Dresden
⚠️ A proposed change to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility threatens to politicize the program, targeting those working in areas this admin dislikes, leaving room for weaponization by any future admin. All nonprofits should be worried, read below for details and how to take action: 🧵⬇️
September 15, 2025 at 4:34 PM
⚠️ A proposed change to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility threatens to politicize the program, targeting those working in areas this admin dislikes, leaving room for weaponization by any future admin. All nonprofits should be worried, read below for details and how to take action: 🧵⬇️
Incendiary rhetoric is dangerous and media needs to cover it with care and context.
protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...
protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...
protectdemocracy.org
September 6, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Incendiary rhetoric is dangerous and media needs to cover it with care and context.
protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...
protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
My team and I at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman@bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) have a new piece out: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/amer.... In it, we show that through May 2025, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests have dwarfed those in 2017. 🧵
June 13, 2025 at 2:25 AM
My team and I at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman@bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) have a new piece out: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/amer.... In it, we show that through May 2025, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests have dwarfed those in 2017. 🧵
Reposted by Jen Dresden
NEW: Are you getting accurate information? With protests unfolding across the country, and more expected this weekend, we put together a guide to help you spot responsible reporting that prioritizes accuracy and context: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/are-report...
June 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
NEW: Are you getting accurate information? With protests unfolding across the country, and more expected this weekend, we put together a guide to help you spot responsible reporting that prioritizes accuracy and context: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/are-report...
Universities can, should, and must stand up for themselves and their missions. Read more👇
The Trump administration is at war with higher education in the United States. The question is not “will universities resist or submit” — it is: “will they survive the onslaught?”
There’s no negotiating with an annihilation attempt: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/universiti...
There’s no negotiating with an annihilation attempt: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/universiti...
June 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Universities can, should, and must stand up for themselves and their missions. Read more👇
Reposted by Jen Dresden
The project "How to Make the Case for Democracy" has been funded by @dfg.de! 🎉
This grant supports two positions for exploring innovative strategies to bolster citizen support for democracy in established democracies. (1/6)
This grant supports two positions for exploring innovative strategies to bolster citizen support for democracy in established democracies. (1/6)
April 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The project "How to Make the Case for Democracy" has been funded by @dfg.de! 🎉
This grant supports two positions for exploring innovative strategies to bolster citizen support for democracy in established democracies. (1/6)
This grant supports two positions for exploring innovative strategies to bolster citizen support for democracy in established democracies. (1/6)
Quick reminder - the US electoral system unfairly disadvantages new parties.
But if we had proportional representation, new parties like the PANICANs actually could form & appeal to voters who don’t like the idea of risking crashing the economy as part of some quixotic quest.
But if we had proportional representation, new parties like the PANICANs actually could form & appeal to voters who don’t like the idea of risking crashing the economy as part of some quixotic quest.
April 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Quick reminder - the US electoral system unfairly disadvantages new parties.
But if we had proportional representation, new parties like the PANICANs actually could form & appeal to voters who don’t like the idea of risking crashing the economy as part of some quixotic quest.
But if we had proportional representation, new parties like the PANICANs actually could form & appeal to voters who don’t like the idea of risking crashing the economy as part of some quixotic quest.
Reposted by Jen Dresden
New op-ed out @goodauth.bsky.social based on our global research w Ken Roberts, @muratsomer-eng.bsky.social @jennifermccoy.bsky.social
Timely lessons re pressure on institutions and nature of pro-democracy coalitions
goodauthority.org/news/us-demo...
Timely lessons re pressure on institutions and nature of pro-democracy coalitions
goodauthority.org/news/us-demo...
U.S. democracy is under attack. Here are some lessons for democracy’s defenders.
A global study of democratic backsliding and resilience offers ways to resist authoritarian attacks.
goodauthority.org
March 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
New op-ed out @goodauth.bsky.social based on our global research w Ken Roberts, @muratsomer-eng.bsky.social @jennifermccoy.bsky.social
Timely lessons re pressure on institutions and nature of pro-democracy coalitions
goodauthority.org/news/us-demo...
Timely lessons re pressure on institutions and nature of pro-democracy coalitions
goodauthority.org/news/us-demo...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
History holds lessons for today’s political disruptions. The 19th century anti-slavery movement built power by strategically fusing w/major parties. What if disaffected conservative voters could do the same today? Read @jrdresden.bsky.social & Beau Tremitiere:
Strategic Fusion and the GOP
Whether it's foreign-policy hawks on the right, cultural conservatives on the left, or fiscal conservatives anywhere, the reductive binary of today's electoral options can be deeply frustrating for…
www.nationalaffairs.com
March 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
History holds lessons for today’s political disruptions. The 19th century anti-slavery movement built power by strategically fusing w/major parties. What if disaffected conservative voters could do the same today? Read @jrdresden.bsky.social & Beau Tremitiere:
Fantastic piece on how proportional representation could improve our politics and better represent the American people. If you're not already familiar with PR and its potential benefits (more party choices, better problem solving, less gerrymandering...) start here!
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | How to Fix America’s Two-Party Problem
Proportional representation could help restore American democracy.
www.nytimes.com
January 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Fantastic piece on how proportional representation could improve our politics and better represent the American people. If you're not already familiar with PR and its potential benefits (more party choices, better problem solving, less gerrymandering...) start here!
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
The House hasn’t grown since 1910, but our population has nearly tripled. Expanding the House is critical to building a more responsive government — and we’ve mapped out how it can be done with modern infrastructure. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/where-will...
Where will they all sit?
An interactive vision for an expanded, modernized House of Representatives
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
December 17, 2024 at 4:26 PM
The House hasn’t grown since 1910, but our population has nearly tripled. Expanding the House is critical to building a more responsive government — and we’ve mapped out how it can be done with modern infrastructure. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/where-will...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
Ok here’s the State Democracy Index 2.0! Please enjoy
democracypolicylab.berkeley.edu/state-democr...
democracypolicylab.berkeley.edu/state-democr...
December 11, 2024 at 7:51 PM
Ok here’s the State Democracy Index 2.0! Please enjoy
democracypolicylab.berkeley.edu/state-democr...
democracypolicylab.berkeley.edu/state-democr...
It can be easy to forget that members of Congress actually have a job to do: legislate.
But one new study found House members who voted against certification on Jan. 6 later saw drops in multiple measures of their legislative effectiveness. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
But one new study found House members who voted against certification on Jan. 6 later saw drops in multiple measures of their legislative effectiveness. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Interpersonal Relationships, Bipartisanship, and January 6th | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
Interpersonal Relationships, Bipartisanship, and January 6th
www.cambridge.org
December 4, 2024 at 10:38 PM
It can be easy to forget that members of Congress actually have a job to do: legislate.
But one new study found House members who voted against certification on Jan. 6 later saw drops in multiple measures of their legislative effectiveness. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
But one new study found House members who voted against certification on Jan. 6 later saw drops in multiple measures of their legislative effectiveness. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
If we planned Thanksgiving like we elect Congress, we’d only end up with turkey and stuffing. According to our poll with Citizen Data, Americans are hungry for reform and there are other ways to plan the menu. More on support for proportional representation ⬇️
protectdemocracy.org/work/how-ope...
protectdemocracy.org/work/how-ope...
November 26, 2024 at 6:54 PM
If we planned Thanksgiving like we elect Congress, we’d only end up with turkey and stuffing. According to our poll with Citizen Data, Americans are hungry for reform and there are other ways to plan the menu. More on support for proportional representation ⬇️
protectdemocracy.org/work/how-ope...
protectdemocracy.org/work/how-ope...
Reposted by Jen Dresden
I created a starter pack of phenomenal scholars who are also super kind people. Necessarily incomplete—
Please nominate someone for me to add!
go.bsky.app/Hv3iMGV
Please nominate someone for me to add!
go.bsky.app/Hv3iMGV
November 24, 2024 at 10:53 PM
I created a starter pack of phenomenal scholars who are also super kind people. Necessarily incomplete—
Please nominate someone for me to add!
go.bsky.app/Hv3iMGV
Please nominate someone for me to add!
go.bsky.app/Hv3iMGV
There's a tendency in public opinion for more folks to support anti-democratic moves when their preferred party's in power.
For a data-driven way to ruin Thanksgiving, share this finding and ask your loved ones where they'd draw the line. (j/k, please don't.)
academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
For a data-driven way to ruin Thanksgiving, share this finding and ask your loved ones where they'd draw the line. (j/k, please don't.)
academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
It’s Not Just Trump: Americans of Both Parties Support Liberal Democratic Norm Violations More Under Their Own President
Abstract. There is a growing worry about the health of American democracy, and political scientists and pundits alike are looking for possible explanations
academic.oup.com
November 18, 2024 at 9:57 PM
There's a tendency in public opinion for more folks to support anti-democratic moves when their preferred party's in power.
For a data-driven way to ruin Thanksgiving, share this finding and ask your loved ones where they'd draw the line. (j/k, please don't.)
academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
For a data-driven way to ruin Thanksgiving, share this finding and ask your loved ones where they'd draw the line. (j/k, please don't.)
academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...