Mischiefs of Faction
@misofact.bsky.social
A political science community blog, started in 2012, now in its Substack era. Subscribe! https://open.substack.com/pub/misofact
@mattngreen.bsky.social discusses what he got wrong -- and perhaps got right -- about the shutdown. The latest from Mischiefs of Faction. misofact.substack.com/p/lessons-fr...
Lessons from the longest shutdown ever
What I got wrong and (arguably) got right
misofact.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social discusses what he got wrong -- and perhaps got right -- about the shutdown. The latest from Mischiefs of Faction. misofact.substack.com/p/lessons-fr...
Matthew Green's latest on Mischiefs of Faction: what data tell us about the types of Republicans in Congress who resist Trump -- and why do so. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Are Members of Congress Pushing Back against President Trump? Part III
Explaining GOP Resistance
misofact.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Matthew Green's latest on Mischiefs of Faction: what data tell us about the types of Republicans in Congress who resist Trump -- and why do so. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Should Senate Democrats deliberately shut down the government to stop Trump? In his latest post at Mischiefs, Matt Green argues no. misofact.substack.com/p/not-the-hi...
Not the hill to die on
A government shutdown would not stop Trump or restore legislative democracy.
misofact.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Should Senate Democrats deliberately shut down the government to stop Trump? In his latest post at Mischiefs, Matt Green argues no. misofact.substack.com/p/not-the-hi...
Dr. Smith helps to put Gavin Newsom's recent political surge and strategy into historical perspective at this latest MoF post. The Founders designed the system to leverage politicians' ambitions to serve as a check on power.
I have a @misofact.bsky.social guest post today on Gavin Newsom, the Founders, and political ambition. open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Ambition motivates Gavin Newsom. According to the Founders, that’s actually good.
The US system was designed to keep power in check by pitting the politically ambitious against one another.
open.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Dr. Smith helps to put Gavin Newsom's recent political surge and strategy into historical perspective at this latest MoF post. The Founders designed the system to leverage politicians' ambitions to serve as a check on power.
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
Turns out it's not really true that Democrats want to fall in love (with their candidates) while Republicans fall in line. Great post at @misofact.bsky.social by @bcburden.bsky.social using cool data he, et al collected by talking to party convention delegates.
misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats and Republicans Disagree about What Makes a Winner
Democrats tend to think Republicans win when they moderate their position; Republicans tend to think they win when they turn out the base. Both are driving forces.
misofact.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Turns out it's not really true that Democrats want to fall in love (with their candidates) while Republicans fall in line. Great post at @misofact.bsky.social by @bcburden.bsky.social using cool data he, et al collected by talking to party convention delegates.
misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Do parties do better when they moderate to appeal to the median voter, or stick to principles? @bcburden.bsky.social shows that Republicans believe they do better sticking to principles but think Dems do better by moderating. Dems have an entirely different POV. misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats and Republicans Disagree about What Makes a Winner
Democrats tend to think Republicans win when they moderate their position; Republicans tend to think they win when they turn out the base. Both are driving forces.
misofact.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Do parties do better when they moderate to appeal to the median voter, or stick to principles? @bcburden.bsky.social shows that Republicans believe they do better sticking to principles but think Dems do better by moderating. Dems have an entirely different POV. misofact.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Matthew Green took a two-week break from the news. His thoughts on what happened in U.S. politics during that period: misofact.substack.com/p/two-weeks-...
Two weeks in August
Some impressions of domestic politics after taking a hiatus from the news.
misofact.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Matthew Green took a two-week break from the news. His thoughts on what happened in U.S. politics during that period: misofact.substack.com/p/two-weeks-...
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
Scandals and Wedge Issues: Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.
(@mattngreen.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social)
misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
(@mattngreen.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social)
misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
Scandals and Wedge Issues
Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.
misofact.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Scandals and Wedge Issues: Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.
(@mattngreen.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social)
misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
(@mattngreen.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social)
misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
To document and make sense of the executive overreach at her university, @jenvictor.bsky.social provides a timeline of key events. Transparency is the best disinfectant.
misofact.substack.com/p/authoritar...
misofact.substack.com/p/authoritar...
Authoritarians are attacking universities. Here's how it's going at one public school.
I'm publicly documenting an event timeline to help bring order to the chaotic nature of events and help other schools plan the responses they are likely going to need.
misofact.substack.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
To document and make sense of the executive overreach at her university, @jenvictor.bsky.social provides a timeline of key events. Transparency is the best disinfectant.
misofact.substack.com/p/authoritar...
misofact.substack.com/p/authoritar...
Wedge issue + scandal = a politically fruitful topic for the minority party. An analysis of the Epstein papers affair by @mattngreen.bsky.social. misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
Scandals and Wedge Issues
Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.
misofact.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Wedge issue + scandal = a politically fruitful topic for the minority party. An analysis of the Epstein papers affair by @mattngreen.bsky.social. misofact.substack.com/p/scandals-a...
What happens when societies polarize by partisanship? First the norm of mutual tolerance erodes, then institutional forbearance. The US case is textbook under Trump 2.0, explains @jenvictor.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Partisan polarization destroys democracies. Here's how.
As polarization grows, partisans struggle to respect one another, then fail to show self-restraint. Loss of these norms erodes the institutions that create free societies.
open.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
What happens when societies polarize by partisanship? First the norm of mutual tolerance erodes, then institutional forbearance. The US case is textbook under Trump 2.0, explains @jenvictor.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
@mattngreen.bsky.social reviews what political science literature, and his own recent research, suggests will be the electoral consequences -- if any -- of voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill. misofact.substack.com/p/will-the-o...
Will the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” hurt Republicans in 2026?
What political science tells us.
misofact.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social reviews what political science literature, and his own recent research, suggests will be the electoral consequences -- if any -- of voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill. misofact.substack.com/p/will-the-o...
@mattngreen.bsky.social argues that Trump didn't bully Congress into passing last week's reconciliation bill, nor was he the only person who helped get it enacted. misofact.substack.com/p/the-big-go...
The big GOP reconciliation bill is now law. Did Trump browbeat Congress into passing it?
The president helped get the bill across the finish line, but so did others – and Trump used tactics with lawmakers that are typical for presidents.
misofact.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social argues that Trump didn't bully Congress into passing last week's reconciliation bill, nor was he the only person who helped get it enacted. misofact.substack.com/p/the-big-go...
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
In my latest at @misofact.bsky.social I draw on political science findings to explain why Trump’s populist government passed a deeply unpopular and regressive set of policies. open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Why do populist governments pass unpopular policies?
Populists don't stay in power by being popular—they stay in power by keeping people mad.
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:40 AM
In my latest at @misofact.bsky.social I draw on political science findings to explain why Trump’s populist government passed a deeply unpopular and regressive set of policies. open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
New at Mischiefs of Faction, @jenvictor.bsky.social explains why populist governments sometimes pass very unpopular policies.
Read.
Share.
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open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Read.
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Subscribe.
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Why do populist governments pass unpopular policies?
Populists don't stay in power by being popular—they stay in power by keeping people mad.
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
New at Mischiefs of Faction, @jenvictor.bsky.social explains why populist governments sometimes pass very unpopular policies.
Read.
Share.
Subscribe.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Read.
Share.
Subscribe.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
@mattngreen.bsky.social asks, do voters support the GOP's "One Big Beautiful Bill"? And if not, does it matter? open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Do Voters Support the “One Big Beautiful Bill”? And Does it Matter?
Lawmakers respond to many inputs. The public’s preferences are just one of them.
open.substack.com
June 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social asks, do voters support the GOP's "One Big Beautiful Bill"? And if not, does it matter? open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
@mattngreen.bsky.social notes some early signs of resistance to Trump from congressional Republicans. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Are Members of Congress Pushing Back against President Trump? Part II
Some (Small) Signs of GOP Resistance
misofact.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social notes some early signs of resistance to Trump from congressional Republicans. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
My latest at @misofact.bsky.social breaks down the audacity of the "Big Beautiful Bill" -- spending more to do less, putting the US on weak financial footing.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
What the giant House spending bill tells us about Republicans’ vision for America
Why it’s a bad idea to let the guy who bankrupted casinos run your fiscal house, in four charts.
open.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
My latest at @misofact.bsky.social breaks down the audacity of the "Big Beautiful Bill" -- spending more to do less, putting the US on weak financial footing.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Can the US afford the "Big Beautiful Bill?" @jenvictor.bsky.social breaks it down. [Spoiler: No.]
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
What the giant House spending bill tells us about Republicans’ vision for America
Why it’s a bad idea to let the guy who bankrupted casinos run your fiscal house, in four charts.
open.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Can the US afford the "Big Beautiful Bill?" @jenvictor.bsky.social breaks it down. [Spoiler: No.]
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
Trump’s dramatic, unauthorized cuts to federal government are an executive power grab, I argue at @misofact.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
How shrinking the government adds power to the presidency
Asserting authority to cut government is DOGE's most profound accomplishment to date
open.substack.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Trump’s dramatic, unauthorized cuts to federal government are an executive power grab, I argue at @misofact.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
“Trump math”—how federal cuts are an expansion of the executive power. @jenvictor.bsky.social explains.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
How shrinking the government adds power to the presidency
Asserting authority to cut government is DOGE's most profound accomplishment to date
open.substack.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
“Trump math”—how federal cuts are an expansion of the executive power. @jenvictor.bsky.social explains.
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
open.substack.com/pub/misofact...
Can confirm.
Hi! Mischiefs of Faction @misofact.bsky.social lives and fills that void. Our first submission form is linked at the bottom of each post.
misofact.substack.com
misofact.substack.com
Mischiefs of Faction | Substack
A political science blog focused on analysis of current events, managed by professors Jennifer N. Victor (George Mason U.) and Matthew N. Green (Catholic U.), editors-in-chief. Our staff list is dynam...
misofact.substack.com
May 19, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Can confirm.
Playing board games is a fun hobby for many -- one that will be harmed by Trump's protectionist tariffs, as @mattngreen.bsky.social explains. misofact.substack.com/p/tariffs-an...
Tariffs and Board Games
One example of how Trump’s tariffs affect niche industries that Americans value.
misofact.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Playing board games is a fun hobby for many -- one that will be harmed by Trump's protectionist tariffs, as @mattngreen.bsky.social explains. misofact.substack.com/p/tariffs-an...
@mattngreen.bsky.social discusses some of the ways that congressional Democrats have been pushing back against Trump and the GOP - despite being in the deep minority. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Are Members of Congress Pushing Back against President Trump?
Part I: What Congressional Democrats are doing
misofact.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
@mattngreen.bsky.social discusses some of the ways that congressional Democrats have been pushing back against Trump and the GOP - despite being in the deep minority. misofact.substack.com/p/are-member...
Reposted by Mischiefs of Faction
Must read this morning from @jenvictor.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social “US Constitution is imperfect, but it has clear instructions for resolving the current crisis.” misofact.substack.com/p/the-us-cri...
The US crisis is political, not constitutional
The Constitution provides instructions for how to resolve the crises generated by executive overreach, but partisanship thwarts the remedy.
misofact.substack.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Must read this morning from @jenvictor.bsky.social @misofact.bsky.social “US Constitution is imperfect, but it has clear instructions for resolving the current crisis.” misofact.substack.com/p/the-us-cri...