Mark Schmitt
@mschmitt9.bsky.social
Political Reform Program, @NewAmerica. Previously, @rooseveltinst; @theprospect; @OpenSociety; US Senate for Bill Bradley, D-NJ.
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
"We're seen as too close to the civil rights movement,' 'We're too close to Jesse Jackson' ...Anytime Dems lose,
there's always some version of, 'We're seen as too left,' which usually means too tied to people of color," says @smotus.bsky.social. Centrist complaints about "wokeness" are not new.
there's always some version of, 'We're seen as too left,' which usually means too tied to people of color," says @smotus.bsky.social. Centrist complaints about "wokeness" are not new.
January 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM
"We're seen as too close to the civil rights movement,' 'We're too close to Jesse Jackson' ...Anytime Dems lose,
there's always some version of, 'We're seen as too left,' which usually means too tied to people of color," says @smotus.bsky.social. Centrist complaints about "wokeness" are not new.
there's always some version of, 'We're seen as too left,' which usually means too tied to people of color," says @smotus.bsky.social. Centrist complaints about "wokeness" are not new.
Key to understanding the senior generation of Democratic pols, eg Schumer, is that they are influenced more by worry about "Vietnam syndrome"--the idea that the US or Dems were too reluctant to use force after 1973--than by Vietnam itself, even if they were in college/draft-age during that debacle.
January 4, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Key to understanding the senior generation of Democratic pols, eg Schumer, is that they are influenced more by worry about "Vietnam syndrome"--the idea that the US or Dems were too reluctant to use force after 1973--than by Vietnam itself, even if they were in college/draft-age during that debacle.
Thrilled to see this strong and informed endorsement of popular assemblies (also citizen or civic assemblies) from Jacobin, for Mamdani and NYC in particular. Assemblies appeal to centrists as a way to find consensus, but can also build popular power and agency. jacobin.com/2025/12/mamd...
Zohran Needs to Create Popular Assemblies
If Zohran Mamdani is serious about delivering on his promises, he needs more than policies — he needs institutions that empower working people. Popular assemblies offer a way to build a new, bottom-up...
jacobin.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Thrilled to see this strong and informed endorsement of popular assemblies (also citizen or civic assemblies) from Jacobin, for Mamdani and NYC in particular. Assemblies appeal to centrists as a way to find consensus, but can also build popular power and agency. jacobin.com/2025/12/mamd...
New post on affordability, and why a political theme that doesn't name a villain might work. open.substack.com/pub/markschm...
"Affordability" is a Cause Without an Enemy
It's a wonderfully inclusive theme, but tests a basic rule about narrative
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
New post on affordability, and why a political theme that doesn't name a villain might work. open.substack.com/pub/markschm...
What annoys me most about "Strong floor, no ceiling" (which will soon be forgotten) is that someone, or some comms firm, probably got paid well for it. (Yes, I've been dealing with some of the "progressive communications firms" recently. Does it show?)
I agree insofar as I, market liberal that I am, don't even dislike the substance. But it's both wrong for the moment and, as campaign comms, a pretty mediocre slogan in that you have to think a second to process what it even means. Something that requires you to visualize a chart is too complicated.
This will probably get me yelled at, because I can see the consensus forming here that "strong floors, no ceiling" is the dumbest of all possible slogans. I would argue that it's actually not that bad, but that it's wrong for this moment (please read 🧵before yelling at me)...
November 30, 2025 at 11:04 PM
What annoys me most about "Strong floor, no ceiling" (which will soon be forgotten) is that someone, or some comms firm, probably got paid well for it. (Yes, I've been dealing with some of the "progressive communications firms" recently. Does it show?)
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
I disagree. He's not talking about "Cadillac" insurance policies, generous private plans that were taxed under original ACA. He's never heard of them. He's talking about actual Cadillacs, the car. He's referencing an old talk-radio canard from the 1970s/80s about people on welfare driving Cadillacs.
oh my fucking god he is 100% confusing cadillac insurance plans with people buying cadillacs
"and it's gonna be locked so they can't go out and buy, uh, a cadillac, they can go out and buy health insurance"
"and it's gonna be locked so they can't go out and buy, uh, a cadillac, they can go out and buy health insurance"
Trump on healthcare: "I've had personal talks with some Democrats about paying large amounts of dollars back to the people. This was my idea ... why don't we just pay this money directly to the people of our country and let them buy their own health insurance?"
November 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I disagree. He's not talking about "Cadillac" insurance policies, generous private plans that were taxed under original ACA. He's never heard of them. He's talking about actual Cadillacs, the car. He's referencing an old talk-radio canard from the 1970s/80s about people on welfare driving Cadillacs.
Love this in @newrepublic.com from the brilliant @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social & @adambonica.bsky.social, but while the headline is, Gen Z is alright, I'm also struck by how little difference there is between those born in 1970 and the 1940 cohort, on racial resentment. Gen X is a political disaster.
November 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Love this in @newrepublic.com from the brilliant @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social & @adambonica.bsky.social, but while the headline is, Gen Z is alright, I'm also struck by how little difference there is between those born in 1970 and the 1940 cohort, on racial resentment. Gen X is a political disaster.
Anxiety about *change* to health care has been a key factor in several consequential elections: 1994 (Clinton plan), 2010 (ACA), and (to some degree) 2018 . Even if people are unhappy w/ health care costs and choices, change is terrifying. GOP setting itself up on the wrong side of this dynamic. 1/3
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Anxiety about *change* to health care has been a key factor in several consequential elections: 1994 (Clinton plan), 2010 (ACA), and (to some degree) 2018 . Even if people are unhappy w/ health care costs and choices, change is terrifying. GOP setting itself up on the wrong side of this dynamic. 1/3
Hemp vote indicates that cannabis is long past being a wedge issue, or even a "social issue," but is now just a parochial ag/revenue issue. Senators from legal states expecting revenue don't want competition from online/gas station hemp products. Many senators from legalized states voted no.
The hemp thing in the senate deal is interesting because weed legalization is hugely popular and could be a useful wedge issue for Dems, and yet
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Hemp vote indicates that cannabis is long past being a wedge issue, or even a "social issue," but is now just a parochial ag/revenue issue. Senators from legal states expecting revenue don't want competition from online/gas station hemp products. Many senators from legalized states voted no.
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
Few of us will see the faux-gold applique on the walls. This is the closest to the White House ("the people's house") that most people will get, looking west from 15th St along Pennsylvania Ave., yesterday evening at 5:45 pm
November 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Few of us will see the faux-gold applique on the walls. This is the closest to the White House ("the people's house") that most people will get, looking west from 15th St along Pennsylvania Ave., yesterday evening at 5:45 pm
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
A pro-affordability, anti-Trump-corruption message unites the party. Every candidate can run on that, and every candidate can have their own take to fit that to their constituents. There's really no need to find fights to pick when the party agrees on more than it disagrees
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
A pro-affordability, anti-Trump-corruption message unites the party. Every candidate can run on that, and every candidate can have their own take to fit that to their constituents. There's really no need to find fights to pick when the party agrees on more than it disagrees
The minority report of the committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal, signed by Cheney when he was a member of the House in 1987, is a key document in the theory of an all-powerful president. nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/182...
November 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The minority report of the committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal, signed by Cheney when he was a member of the House in 1987, is a key document in the theory of an all-powerful president. nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/182...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
One underrated aspect of Zohran is that he always wears a suit, always presents himself professionally while still doing fun and approachable retail politics. You don’t have to drape yourself yourself in hypebeast and post thirst traps, you can be fucking grown up respecting the office and be fun
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 AM
One underrated aspect of Zohran is that he always wears a suit, always presents himself professionally while still doing fun and approachable retail politics. You don’t have to drape yourself yourself in hypebeast and post thirst traps, you can be fucking grown up respecting the office and be fun
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Not to diminish law review articles & law school committee work, but right now law professors should be working collectively on an intellectual & service project of immense, existential importance: building consensus around a revolutionary constitutional framework-of a Reconstruction 2.0 magnitude.
October 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Not to diminish law review articles & law school committee work, but right now law professors should be working collectively on an intellectual & service project of immense, existential importance: building consensus around a revolutionary constitutional framework-of a Reconstruction 2.0 magnitude.
He's going to put his name on it, isn't he?
Trump waves around renderings of his new ballroom, which appears to be entirely gold
October 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
He's going to put his name on it, isn't he?
"He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place."
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
October 22, 2025 at 1:55 AM
"He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place."
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Okay, look, I gotta ask because I feel like I’m having a stroke. Did we switch teams on the democracy versus economics messaging? Because the way I remember it, the libs ran on democracy and the left said they should focus on material issues like healthcare instead and now it’s opposite, I think?
October 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Okay, look, I gotta ask because I feel like I’m having a stroke. Did we switch teams on the democracy versus economics messaging? Because the way I remember it, the libs ran on democracy and the left said they should focus on material issues like healthcare instead and now it’s opposite, I think?
For @newamerica.org's #DemocracyDeciphered podcast, I did a short (16-min.) explainer on govt shutdowns. Points at the end on why this is different: 1 Vought layoff threat; 2 Admin will break a deal & rescind spending anyway; 3 Admin got the $ it wants, e.g. ICE. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Consequences of Government Shutdowns
Podcast Episode · Democracy Deciphered · 09/30/2025 · 17m
podcasts.apple.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
For @newamerica.org's #DemocracyDeciphered podcast, I did a short (16-min.) explainer on govt shutdowns. Points at the end on why this is different: 1 Vought layoff threat; 2 Admin will break a deal & rescind spending anyway; 3 Admin got the $ it wants, e.g. ICE. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
"Infrequent voters are voting. It's a very low-trust environment. So the traditional left-right spectrum and going moderate on issues, it's not as clear. Anybody saying, 'I can win the election by tweaking positions" slightly is selling you something," says @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
September 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"Infrequent voters are voting. It's a very low-trust environment. So the traditional left-right spectrum and going moderate on issues, it's not as clear. Anybody saying, 'I can win the election by tweaking positions" slightly is selling you something," says @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
Of all the awful things that Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins did as senators, their joint creation of DHS, in the post-9/11-Iraq frenzy, may be the awful thing with the most lasting bad consequences. A full reorg should be a priority for a future Dem president, but will take time.
When I was at DHS, I’d have calls with lawyers from the components (especially CBP and ICE) in which they’d refer to things “DHS” wanted them to do as of we didn’t have the same boss. The lack of a coherent identity is a nightmare for any DHS Secretary trying to reform (or control) the Department.
Aside from everything else wrong with it, DHS is a random grab-bag of agencies and missions thrown together less because they have any coherent common purpose and more because they were the ones who didn't have enough political pull to successfully resist being put somewhere nobody wants to be.
September 26, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Of all the awful things that Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins did as senators, their joint creation of DHS, in the post-9/11-Iraq frenzy, may be the awful thing with the most lasting bad consequences. A full reorg should be a priority for a future Dem president, but will take time.
I wouldn't write off Dem senate candidates in OH, IA, NE. All long shots but worth trying. But try a thought experiment: Is Sherrod Brown the strongest D candidate in OH? Of course. He ran 3 pts ahead of Harris and won 3 times. Would he be a stronger candidate if he declared himself pro-life? No! 1/
September 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I wouldn't write off Dem senate candidates in OH, IA, NE. All long shots but worth trying. But try a thought experiment: Is Sherrod Brown the strongest D candidate in OH? Of course. He ran 3 pts ahead of Harris and won 3 times. Would he be a stronger candidate if he declared himself pro-life? No! 1/
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
September 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
This also goes to a point @donmoyn.bsky.social made last week: College campuses are *uniquely* open, among all American institutions, to debate and disagreement. You can't go to an evangelical church (or any church) or corporation and expect them to give a hearing to an alternative viewpoint.
September 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This also goes to a point @donmoyn.bsky.social made last week: College campuses are *uniquely* open, among all American institutions, to debate and disagreement. You can't go to an evangelical church (or any church) or corporation and expect them to give a hearing to an alternative viewpoint.