Sam Ulmschneider
@samulmschneider.bsky.social
Teaching Constitutional studies, poli sci, political theory, US history topics in Virginia. Own views & comments, these don't reflect my institutional affiliations. Husband / cat person / Madisonian / Lincolnite / Trekkie / strategy gamer / metalhead.
man, American political systems are so utterly unsuited for the internet information age. Even the party structures, grafted onto the system in the early 19thc, assume autonomy of state level political and info environments that's downright ludicrous to attempt to manage today.
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
man, American political systems are so utterly unsuited for the internet information age. Even the party structures, grafted onto the system in the early 19thc, assume autonomy of state level political and info environments that's downright ludicrous to attempt to manage today.
The ACA is really a great example of the horrors of policy development in the US system. From contemplation to cornhusker kickback to the Medicaid expansion being ruled an unconstitutional coercion, the policy process embodies every perversion of our process and is tailor made to mystify citizens.
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 AM
The ACA is really a great example of the horrors of policy development in the US system. From contemplation to cornhusker kickback to the Medicaid expansion being ruled an unconstitutional coercion, the policy process embodies every perversion of our process and is tailor made to mystify citizens.
I'm not sure that I agree with it (probably don't?) but the most compelling case for voting to limit the shutdown, even on these terms, is that starving children with suspended and damaged SNAP and WIC systems and putting lives in danger with a hamstrung set of travel safety systems is too cruel.
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I'm not sure that I agree with it (probably don't?) but the most compelling case for voting to limit the shutdown, even on these terms, is that starving children with suspended and damaged SNAP and WIC systems and putting lives in danger with a hamstrung set of travel safety systems is too cruel.
It's bad but impressive in a certain way how dogged the GOP has been in its quest to destroy the main legislative accomplishment of the Obama admin. For nearly a decade and a half the party's political and policymaking energy has consistently found new ways to limit, undermine, deconstruct the ACA.
November 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's bad but impressive in a certain way how dogged the GOP has been in its quest to destroy the main legislative accomplishment of the Obama admin. For nearly a decade and a half the party's political and policymaking energy has consistently found new ways to limit, undermine, deconstruct the ACA.
One of the more important long term impacts of these 10 months - layoffs, furloughs, shutdown threats and shutdowns, insane EOs, internal management upheavals - is going to be a brain drain of outstanding employees from fed service and a much harder time hiring future good employees in fed service.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
One of the more important long term impacts of these 10 months - layoffs, furloughs, shutdown threats and shutdowns, insane EOs, internal management upheavals - is going to be a brain drain of outstanding employees from fed service and a much harder time hiring future good employees in fed service.
Worth noting while we're all in the midst of this that voters - even primary voters - have a very very limited grasp of the ins and outs of complex legislative procedure or who votes for measures and how, even ones you or I consider less complex like breaking filibusters.
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Worth noting while we're all in the midst of this that voters - even primary voters - have a very very limited grasp of the ins and outs of complex legislative procedure or who votes for measures and how, even ones you or I consider less complex like breaking filibusters.
on a really fundamental level, having a minority in both houses means that there are no good deals and negotiating which are the less-bad deals in both the short and medium term is an exceptionally complicated and fraught matter. Being mad is fine, but being sure you understand all the variables....
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
on a really fundamental level, having a minority in both houses means that there are no good deals and negotiating which are the less-bad deals in both the short and medium term is an exceptionally complicated and fraught matter. Being mad is fine, but being sure you understand all the variables....
Reposted by Sam Ulmschneider
not enough chatter about how frequently members fly and how attacking airport capacity directly affects them in a way that cutting SNAP does not
November 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
not enough chatter about how frequently members fly and how attacking airport capacity directly affects them in a way that cutting SNAP does not
Students are not primarily data points to be tracked for progress goals. That's a necessary evil, a concession to logistics and a policy reality. It's not a part of the craft or a positive motivator for good teacher-student relationships or curricular expertise or passion for the field etc etc.
November 9, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Students are not primarily data points to be tracked for progress goals. That's a necessary evil, a concession to logistics and a policy reality. It's not a part of the craft or a positive motivator for good teacher-student relationships or curricular expertise or passion for the field etc etc.
putting aside political strategy takes (which are aplenty), if the Senate votes on something tonight, what's the chance NPS sites are available again by Weds? Basically non-existent?
November 9, 2025 at 10:10 PM
putting aside political strategy takes (which are aplenty), if the Senate votes on something tonight, what's the chance NPS sites are available again by Weds? Basically non-existent?
Found myself somewhere between annoyed and bored by the Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein, which I feel kinda guilty about. The themes are interesting! Relevant to our times! The filmmaking fine to good! It just felt like being bludgeoned with a brick being told to see the point over and over.
November 9, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Found myself somewhere between annoyed and bored by the Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein, which I feel kinda guilty about. The themes are interesting! Relevant to our times! The filmmaking fine to good! It just felt like being bludgeoned with a brick being told to see the point over and over.
Torn between not wanting to pay inflated ass prices for movie theater beer and wanting my local theater to stay in business
November 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Torn between not wanting to pay inflated ass prices for movie theater beer and wanting my local theater to stay in business
Gonna die yearning for "noir detective film but Star Wars," "working class buddy comedy but Star Wars" and "WW2 classic platoon-of-misfits-bonds-in-wartime movie but Star Wars," because Disney has no courage to make such things.
ironically what makes star wars stuff best is when it is 'something else, but also star wars'
e.g. Andor, a British political thriller but also Star Wars
the Mandalorian, an episode-of-the-week Western but also Star Wars (when it was good)
e.g. Andor, a British political thriller but also Star Wars
the Mandalorian, an episode-of-the-week Western but also Star Wars (when it was good)
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Gonna die yearning for "noir detective film but Star Wars," "working class buddy comedy but Star Wars" and "WW2 classic platoon-of-misfits-bonds-in-wartime movie but Star Wars," because Disney has no courage to make such things.
Reposted by Sam Ulmschneider
Thinking about the many times I've seen "Obama is ignorant" or "AOC doesn't understand economics" or the like while Trump belches out a half-baked insincere proposal for a two-step version of the same ACA subsidy he's trying to eliminate.
November 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Thinking about the many times I've seen "Obama is ignorant" or "AOC doesn't understand economics" or the like while Trump belches out a half-baked insincere proposal for a two-step version of the same ACA subsidy he's trying to eliminate.
Reposted by Sam Ulmschneider
This is actually a pretty standard and unremarkable move, as evidenced by Justice Jackson issuing it.
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
#BREAKING: Justice Jackson has issued an "administrative" stay, temporarily pausing a district court order that would've required the USDA to continue using contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits.
The stay expires 48 hours after the First Circuit rules on USDA's request for a stay pending appeal.
The stay expires 48 hours after the First Circuit rules on USDA's request for a stay pending appeal.
November 8, 2025 at 2:40 AM
This is actually a pretty standard and unremarkable move, as evidenced by Justice Jackson issuing it.
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
Reposted by Sam Ulmschneider
I need to emphasize what I say down-thread: this is a temporary, procedural move known as an administrative stay issued in haste by Justice Jackson.
Little to nothing should be read into this ruling for how SCOTUS might ultimately rule on SNAP—either way.
Little to nothing should be read into this ruling for how SCOTUS might ultimately rule on SNAP—either way.
BREAKING: the Supreme Court has granted Trump administration’s request.
So the justices will weigh the irreparable harm to the government of having to transfer the funds against the irreparable harm of tens of millions of people not eating
November 8, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I need to emphasize what I say down-thread: this is a temporary, procedural move known as an administrative stay issued in haste by Justice Jackson.
Little to nothing should be read into this ruling for how SCOTUS might ultimately rule on SNAP—either way.
Little to nothing should be read into this ruling for how SCOTUS might ultimately rule on SNAP—either way.
One of my favorite books to teach w remains Michael Sandel's Justice, but I worry that the moral dilemma case studies it is oriented around are aging out of usefulness (like his discussions of the Iraq War in the section on the political philosophy dilemmas of conscription), and I'd love an update.
November 8, 2025 at 12:19 AM
One of my favorite books to teach w remains Michael Sandel's Justice, but I worry that the moral dilemma case studies it is oriented around are aging out of usefulness (like his discussions of the Iraq War in the section on the political philosophy dilemmas of conscription), and I'd love an update.
This is absolutely true and why I've read and listened to more material about Nixon than anyone except Jefferson - he's fascinating and frustrating, evil and full of potential to not be, smart as hell but always making brutishly dumb choices due to emotional instability etc etc
I think Nixon was the most "tragic Shakespearean character" we've ever had as POTUS.
He was extremely smart and talented, and also immensely flawed. He had the actual capacity to be one of the truly great leaders of the last 100 years, but never outran his personal demons.
He was extremely smart and talented, and also immensely flawed. He had the actual capacity to be one of the truly great leaders of the last 100 years, but never outran his personal demons.
And if that blew your mind, read up on the Family Assistance Plan, the proposal from Milton Friedman (!) that Nixon embraced -- would've been essentially a negative income tax for the poor in which they'd get cash payments.
November 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
This is absolutely true and why I've read and listened to more material about Nixon than anyone except Jefferson - he's fascinating and frustrating, evil and full of potential to not be, smart as hell but always making brutishly dumb choices due to emotional instability etc etc
increasingly convinced me and my students would be better off if I just taught a really good undergrad Polisci / American Govt course for most of the year, ignoring AP, and then, for 2-3 weeks before the test, just ran some cram-and-strategy sessions about the College Board's test format and focus.
November 7, 2025 at 1:53 PM
increasingly convinced me and my students would be better off if I just taught a really good undergrad Polisci / American Govt course for most of the year, ignoring AP, and then, for 2-3 weeks before the test, just ran some cram-and-strategy sessions about the College Board's test format and focus.
the National Constitution Center's 'alternative constitutions' written by conservative/libertarian/progressive scholars are great to teach with but it's incredibly dumb that they didn't have any editorial standards, so a team with Ilan Wurman and Robert George could bloviate to its hearts content.
November 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
the National Constitution Center's 'alternative constitutions' written by conservative/libertarian/progressive scholars are great to teach with but it's incredibly dumb that they didn't have any editorial standards, so a team with Ilan Wurman and Robert George could bloviate to its hearts content.
been about 10,000 years since I did something stupidly self-indulgent like go to an out of town concert on a Thursday, but I'm deeply tempted to snag tickets for Die Spitz in DC later this month.
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
been about 10,000 years since I did something stupidly self-indulgent like go to an out of town concert on a Thursday, but I'm deeply tempted to snag tickets for Die Spitz in DC later this month.
re-upping this sentiment: few but the NY Times would have the resources to run today's amazing, reflective piece on the ethical complexity of photojournalism and poverty. Worth your time to read it if you haven't, it's short and it's moving.
I know people like to hate on the NYT sometimes but they really are irreplaceable as one of the few journalistic outlets with real reporting resources deployed everywhere that remains. Their audio piece on the SNAP crisis today, for example, was really outstanding.
November 7, 2025 at 1:09 AM
re-upping this sentiment: few but the NY Times would have the resources to run today's amazing, reflective piece on the ethical complexity of photojournalism and poverty. Worth your time to read it if you haven't, it's short and it's moving.
Learning a little bit about noncompetes and about the structure of (some) occupational licensure regimes will make almost anyone at least a little bit of a libertarian.
Abusive non-competes are part of the Plot to Enslave America. They want serfs and slaves. Making it impossible to switch jobs has been an explicit goal of the capitalist class for as long as it's existed.
Last week, a unemployed Texan barred from getting a job in his field by a noncompete agreement stepped up to intervene in the federal lawsuit and defend the FTC's ban on noncompetes that Trump's FTC won't. @whitneycwimbish.bsky.social talked to Ric Davidson about his story & why he decided to fight.
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Learning a little bit about noncompetes and about the structure of (some) occupational licensure regimes will make almost anyone at least a little bit of a libertarian.
I'm a lot less of a Thomas Jefferson hater than most (I know I know) but one of the things he burdened our political culture w that is consistently bad and hard to overcome is the idea that the populations of urban centers are somehow more dangerous exercisers of political power than rural people.
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I'm a lot less of a Thomas Jefferson hater than most (I know I know) but one of the things he burdened our political culture w that is consistently bad and hard to overcome is the idea that the populations of urban centers are somehow more dangerous exercisers of political power than rural people.