Lily Geismer
@lilygeismer.bsky.social
I research and write about the history of American liberalism and the Democratic Party.
My latest piece for Jacobjn on the NYC mayors race and campaign finance reform
Though the issue has been put on the back burner in recent years, the influence of big money is still wreaking havoc on US politics.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
Big Money Is Still Warping US Politics
Though the issue has been put on the back burner in recent years, the influence of big money is still wreaking havoc on US politics. Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
jacobin.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
My latest piece for Jacobjn on the NYC mayors race and campaign finance reform
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Though the issue has been put on the back burner in recent years, the influence of big money is still wreaking havoc on US politics.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
Big Money Is Still Warping US Politics
Though the issue has been put on the back burner in recent years, the influence of big money is still wreaking havoc on US politics. Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
jacobin.com
August 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Though the issue has been put on the back burner in recent years, the influence of big money is still wreaking havoc on US politics.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots-powered, publicly funded campaign for New York City mayor suggests a way out of this morass.
A great review of Mastery and Drift from @henrymjtonks.bsky.social!
Bill Clinton said his colleagues were “new” Democrats who thought and governed differently to the “old” party. Was this true?
I reviewed @lilygeismer.bsky.social and @brentcebul.bsky.social’s “Mastery and Drift” for @clereviewbooks.bsky.social. #USPolitics www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/bren...
I reviewed @lilygeismer.bsky.social and @brentcebul.bsky.social’s “Mastery and Drift” for @clereviewbooks.bsky.social. #USPolitics www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/bren...
Thinking like a Technocrat: On Brent Cebul and Lily Geismer's "Mastery and Drift" — Cleveland Review of Books
This reconfiguration of liberalism has created a new Democratic coalition that is capacious yet precarious.
www.clereviewofbooks.com
June 4, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A great review of Mastery and Drift from @henrymjtonks.bsky.social!
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Far from the cure to authoritarianism, the U.S. constitutional system is driving our democratic decline.
The forum in our new issue—led by Lisa L. Miller, with @ericblanc.bsky.social @samuelmoyn.bsky.social @mskellymhayes.bsky.social @mayaschenwar.bsky.social @lilygeismer.bsky.social + others:
The forum in our new issue—led by Lisa L. Miller, with @ericblanc.bsky.social @samuelmoyn.bsky.social @mskellymhayes.bsky.social @mayaschenwar.bsky.social @lilygeismer.bsky.social + others:
The Dead End of Checks and Balances - Boston Review
Far from the cure to Trumpian authoritarianism, the U.S. constitutional system is driving our democratic decline.
www.bostonreview.net
May 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Far from the cure to authoritarianism, the U.S. constitutional system is driving our democratic decline.
The forum in our new issue—led by Lisa L. Miller, with @ericblanc.bsky.social @samuelmoyn.bsky.social @mskellymhayes.bsky.social @mayaschenwar.bsky.social @lilygeismer.bsky.social + others:
The forum in our new issue—led by Lisa L. Miller, with @ericblanc.bsky.social @samuelmoyn.bsky.social @mskellymhayes.bsky.social @mayaschenwar.bsky.social @lilygeismer.bsky.social + others:
I was so honored to be interviewed by @iancoss.bsky.social. The entire Scratch &Win series is incredible and I’ve learned so much h from it
Today on Scratch & Win, the fantastic historian @lilygeismer.bsky.social helps me unravel my conflicted nostalgia for the old ways of patronage and machine politics...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
Podcast Episode · Scratch & Win · S2, E10 Bonus · 39m
podcasts.apple.com
March 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I was so honored to be interviewed by @iancoss.bsky.social. The entire Scratch &Win series is incredible and I’ve learned so much h from it
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Thrilled to have a copy of this brilliant new collection edited by @brentcebul.bsky.social and @lilygeismer.bsky.social with a fantastic lineup of young historians.
March 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Thrilled to have a copy of this brilliant new collection edited by @brentcebul.bsky.social and @lilygeismer.bsky.social with a fantastic lineup of young historians.
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Got the hot new cabin (beach? idk it's 20 out and I shoveled off a lake ice rink today) read for the season.
Congrats to @brentcebul.bsky.social, @lilygeismer.bsky.social, and all the authors on what I'm already finding to be a really enjoyable and challenging volume.
Congrats to @brentcebul.bsky.social, @lilygeismer.bsky.social, and all the authors on what I'm already finding to be a really enjoyable and challenging volume.
February 23, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Got the hot new cabin (beach? idk it's 20 out and I shoveled off a lake ice rink today) read for the season.
Congrats to @brentcebul.bsky.social, @lilygeismer.bsky.social, and all the authors on what I'm already finding to be a really enjoyable and challenging volume.
Congrats to @brentcebul.bsky.social, @lilygeismer.bsky.social, and all the authors on what I'm already finding to be a really enjoyable and challenging volume.
Reposted by Lily Geismer
TODAY at 7pm ET via Zoom!
@lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb discuss the Democrats in disarray and the limits of professional-class liberalism, moderated by Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
@lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb discuss the Democrats in disarray and the limits of professional-class liberalism, moderated by Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
February 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
TODAY at 7pm ET via Zoom!
@lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb discuss the Democrats in disarray and the limits of professional-class liberalism, moderated by Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
@lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb discuss the Democrats in disarray and the limits of professional-class liberalism, moderated by Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
Please join us tomorrow for a Mastery and Drift virtual book event!
TOMORROW!
Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social
& Dylan Gottlieb at 7pm via Zoom to discuss The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social
& Dylan Gottlieb at 7pm via Zoom to discuss The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
February 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Please join us tomorrow for a Mastery and Drift virtual book event!
Reposted by Lily Geismer
“Modern liberalism has the uncanny habit of appearing at once politically wan and culturally omnipresent.” - @brentcebul.bsky.social & @lilygeismer.bsky.social
February 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
“Modern liberalism has the uncanny habit of appearing at once politically wan and culturally omnipresent.” - @brentcebul.bsky.social & @lilygeismer.bsky.social
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Updating the BR event with the correct link! secure.givelively.org/event/boston...
secure.givelively.org
February 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Updating the BR event with the correct link! secure.givelively.org/event/boston...
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Also: on Th, 2/20 @7PM ET @bostonreview.bsky.social is hosting a free, virtual convo on the book with us + Dylan Gottlieb @pastpunditry.bsky.social and @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social Join us! ushttps://secure.givelively.org/event/boston-critic-inc/the-limits-of-professional-class-liberalism (11/10)
secure.givelively.org
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Also: on Th, 2/20 @7PM ET @bostonreview.bsky.social is hosting a free, virtual convo on the book with us + Dylan Gottlieb @pastpunditry.bsky.social and @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social Join us! ushttps://secure.givelively.org/event/boston-critic-inc/the-limits-of-professional-class-liberalism (11/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
We hope you find the essays as stimulating and clarifying as we do, especially as we all undertake the hard work of remaking American politics. You can find the book in the usual places, but if you purchase directly from the press at the link above, you can receive 30% (use the code UCPNEW). (10/10
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
We hope you find the essays as stimulating and clarifying as we do, especially as we all undertake the hard work of remaking American politics. You can find the book in the usual places, but if you purchase directly from the press at the link above, you can receive 30% (use the code UCPNEW). (10/10
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Across these chapters, we see the origins of a liberalism that has become overwhelmingly concerned with procedural questions, mistrustful of mass democracy, and inclined toward the containment rather than the pursuit of political struggle. (9/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Across these chapters, we see the origins of a liberalism that has become overwhelmingly concerned with procedural questions, mistrustful of mass democracy, and inclined toward the containment rather than the pursuit of political struggle. (9/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
LGBTQ rights activists, the media, political consultants, Democratic Party elites, and through contestations over disability, welfare, and refugee rights -- as well as in the historical profession itself. (8/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
LGBTQ rights activists, the media, political consultants, Democratic Party elites, and through contestations over disability, welfare, and refugee rights -- as well as in the historical profession itself. (8/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Adam Goodman, @pastpunditry.bsky.social and @gabrielwinant.bsky.social. Their brilliant essays trace these historical developments across a range of topics and themes: philanthropies, government contractors, public interest lawyers, housing activists, Black liberals and neoliberals, (7/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Adam Goodman, @pastpunditry.bsky.social and @gabrielwinant.bsky.social. Their brilliant essays trace these historical developments across a range of topics and themes: philanthropies, government contractors, public interest lawyers, housing activists, Black liberals and neoliberals, (7/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Lily and I learned so much from our wonderful authors: @lilacb.bsky.social @smacekura.bsky.social @allofmilov.bsky.social Reuel Schiller, Marisa Chappell, @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social Alex Beasley, Dylan Gottlieb, Tim Shenk, Julilly Kohler-Hausmann, @kmtani.bsky.social @maidino.bsky.social (6/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Lily and I learned so much from our wonderful authors: @lilacb.bsky.social @smacekura.bsky.social @allofmilov.bsky.social Reuel Schiller, Marisa Chappell, @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social Alex Beasley, Dylan Gottlieb, Tim Shenk, Julilly Kohler-Hausmann, @kmtani.bsky.social @maidino.bsky.social (6/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
In other words, today’s liberals are supremely competent when it comes to the fiscal, legal, and regulatory challenges of modern governance. But they lack a compelling vision of society worth fighting for. (5/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
In other words, today’s liberals are supremely competent when it comes to the fiscal, legal, and regulatory challenges of modern governance. But they lack a compelling vision of society worth fighting for. (5/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
and economists who staff public interest law firms, NGOs, and government agencies.
Liberalism today is technically masterful but its social and political vision has steadily narrowed — and is now decidedly adrift. (4/10)
Liberalism today is technically masterful but its social and political vision has steadily narrowed — and is now decidedly adrift. (4/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
and economists who staff public interest law firms, NGOs, and government agencies.
Liberalism today is technically masterful but its social and political vision has steadily narrowed — and is now decidedly adrift. (4/10)
Liberalism today is technically masterful but its social and political vision has steadily narrowed — and is now decidedly adrift. (4/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Where unions or diverse local party organizations were once significant contributors to the liberal coalition, its institutional expression has become dominated by philanthropic elites, the corporate media, think tanks and consultancies, universities, and by the lawyers, policy wonks, (3/10)
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Where unions or diverse local party organizations were once significant contributors to the liberal coalition, its institutional expression has become dominated by philanthropic elites, the corporate media, think tanks and consultancies, universities, and by the lawyers, policy wonks, (3/10)
Reposted by Lily Geismer
@lilygeismer.bsky.social and I are thrilled that our new project, Mastery and Drift: Professional Class Liberals since the 1960s, is published today. When we began this work a few years ago, we had no idea how sadly relevant exploring the evolution . . . (1/10)
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Mastery and Drift
A revelatory look at modern liberalism’s historical evolution and enduring impact on contemporary politics and society. Since the 1960s, American liberalism and the Democratic Party have been rema...
press.uchicago.edu
February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
@lilygeismer.bsky.social and I are thrilled that our new project, Mastery and Drift: Professional Class Liberals since the 1960s, is published today. When we began this work a few years ago, we had no idea how sadly relevant exploring the evolution . . . (1/10)
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Lily Geismer
Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb on Feb 20 at 7pm for a virtual event on The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
February 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb on Feb 20 at 7pm for a virtual event on The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta.
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa
Brent Cebul and i wrote aboit the professional-class problems of Biden jacobin.com/2024/12/why-...
Why Bidenism Failed
Despite lofty ambitions, four years of professional-managerial approaches to governing moved the Democrats even further away from their New Deal roots.
jacobin.com
February 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Brent Cebul and i wrote aboit the professional-class problems of Biden jacobin.com/2024/12/why-...
My rant on the problems of the “opportunity economy” jacobin.com/2024/12/demo...
The Democrats’ “Opportunity” Pitch Is a Dead End
Following a proud centrist tradition, Kamala Harris’s campaign promised to build an “opportunity economy” that would grant success to the deserving. The meritocratic pitch was emblematic of Democrats’...
jacobin.com
February 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
My rant on the problems of the “opportunity economy” jacobin.com/2024/12/demo...