Shikha Dalmia
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
President, Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism. Founder @ismapolicy.bsky.social. Editor, The UnPopulist www.theunpopulist.net. Classically liberal. Hate dogmas, esp my own. Rightwing populism is the threat of our time to liberal democracy.
When I visited China, I recall Beijing constantly browbeating rural peasants visiting cities to dress and behave appropriately. There were signs and billboards all around. It was so paternalistic and snobbish. And, now, here we are!
Duffy on his demand that air travelers not wear slippers or pajamas: "It honors our country ... don't take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you"
November 25, 2025 at 3:35 AM
When I visited China, I recall Beijing constantly browbeating rural peasants visiting cities to dress and behave appropriately. There were signs and billboards all around. It was so paternalistic and snobbish. And, now, here we are!
Thanks for letting us pontificate and your piercing questions:
What comes after Trump? It won't be a return to the status quo but instead a new American Reconstruction. Today on the show I'm joined by The UnPopulist's @andycraig.bsky.social and @shikhadalmia.bsky.social to discuss what that reforged American democracy will look like.
ReImagining Liberty 094: A New American Reconstruction
A conversation with Andy Craig and Shikha Dalmia
www.aaronrosspowell.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Thanks for letting us pontificate and your piercing questions:
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
The BBC was guilty of sloppy editing. That's undeniable. But to make the BBC’s error the most salient aspect of this story is to play into Trump’s hands and do his bidding.
Trump Goes After the BBC for Telling True Lies About His Insurrection
He and the U.K. right are making bad faith attacks on the broadcaster to extract a heavy price for a small editorial error
www.theunpopulist.net
November 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The BBC was guilty of sloppy editing. That's undeniable. But to make the BBC’s error the most salient aspect of this story is to play into Trump’s hands and do his bidding.
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
“The best researched and most comprehensive account of the New Right that has appeared—or is likely to.”
From William Galston’s reflections on @lkatfield.bsky.social’s superb new book.
From William Galston’s reflections on @lkatfield.bsky.social’s superb new book.
The Neo-Right's Multi-Front Revolt Against America
A political theorist traces the intellectual history of the various strains of a movement gone rogue
www.theunpopulist.net
November 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
“The best researched and most comprehensive account of the New Right that has appeared—or is likely to.”
From William Galston’s reflections on @lkatfield.bsky.social’s superb new book.
From William Galston’s reflections on @lkatfield.bsky.social’s superb new book.
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
Super knowledgeable discussion of Trump 2.0 and beyond by @aaronrosspowell.com @shikhadalmia.bsky.social and @andycraig.bsky.social
www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
America Will Need a Reconstruction Project After Trump: A Conversation with Shikha Dalmia and Andy Craig
Liberals will have to rebuild the institutions of governance and accountability that Trump is destroying and The UnPopulist plans to lead the way
www.theunpopulist.net
November 23, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Super knowledgeable discussion of Trump 2.0 and beyond by @aaronrosspowell.com @shikhadalmia.bsky.social and @andycraig.bsky.social
www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
Authoritarians destroy institutions, liberals build them. At @theunpopulist.net I am working with v. smart colleagues to do just that in a post-Trump, post-authoritarian world. @andycraig.bsky.social @aaronrosspowell.com and I discuss. www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
America Will Need a Reconstruction Project After Trump: A Conversation with Shikha Dalmia and Andy Craig
Liberals will have to rebuild the institutions of governance and accountability that Trump is destroying and The UnPopulist plans to lead the way
www.theunpopulist.net
November 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Authoritarians destroy institutions, liberals build them. At @theunpopulist.net I am working with v. smart colleagues to do just that in a post-Trump, post-authoritarian world. @andycraig.bsky.social @aaronrosspowell.com and I discuss. www.theunpopulist.net/p/america-wi...
Mamdani-Trump meeting was a victory for Trump. He broke the momentum of the -ve headlines that were finally putting him underwater in the polls and control the narrative once again. Mamdani stood there helplessly while Trump used him as a prop to get away with all his self congratulatory lies.
November 22, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Mamdani-Trump meeting was a victory for Trump. He broke the momentum of the -ve headlines that were finally putting him underwater in the polls and control the narrative once again. Mamdani stood there helplessly while Trump used him as a prop to get away with all his self congratulatory lies.
MSM ain't perfect. But the right's bad faith attacks for the sake of peddling bogus narratives (Trump did not try to steal an election) means that people of good will must rise to set the record straight. @daliborrohac.bsky.social at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-goes...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-goes...
Trump Goes After the BBC for Telling True Lies About His Insurrection
He and the U.K. right are making bad faith attacks on the broadcaster to extract a heavy price for a small editorial error
www.theunpopulist.net
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
MSM ain't perfect. But the right's bad faith attacks for the sake of peddling bogus narratives (Trump did not try to steal an election) means that people of good will must rise to set the record straight. @daliborrohac.bsky.social at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-goes...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-goes...
This is a v. important piece running you through your lack of legal options if Trump makes good on his threat to deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and a soldier hurts you or violates your rights. By @ij.org's Anthony Sanders at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/if-soldier...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/if-soldier...
If Soldiers Become Cops, Americans Will Have Even Less Legal Redress Against Abusive Law Enforcement
This is yet another reason why President Trump should not be allowed to call in the military for fighting crime
www.theunpopulist.net
November 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This is a v. important piece running you through your lack of legal options if Trump makes good on his threat to deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and a soldier hurts you or violates your rights. By @ij.org's Anthony Sanders at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/if-soldier...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/if-soldier...
Washington DC has become a sanctuary city for human rights abusers and war criminals. Disgusting spectacle today of MBS being feted in the White House.
November 19, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Washington DC has become a sanctuary city for human rights abusers and war criminals. Disgusting spectacle today of MBS being feted in the White House.
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
Make no mistake: we are witnessing an authoritarian revolution in the United States.
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
Trump Has Taken Only Months to Accomplish the Level of Authoritarian Consolidation That Took Orbán and Modi Years
But America's aversion to tyranny gives it a much better chance of restoring its liberal democracy than their countries
www.theunpopulist.net
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Make no mistake: we are witnessing an authoritarian revolution in the United States.
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
"If Roberts survives the outrage, the Carlson-friendly forces will quietly win this fight at Heritage." @cathyyoung63.bsky.social at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-alt-ri...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-alt-ri...
The Alt-Right to Heritage Foundation Pipeline: a 10-Year Journey
Extremist rot goes up and down on the right
www.theunpopulist.net
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 PM
"If Roberts survives the outrage, the Carlson-friendly forces will quietly win this fight at Heritage." @cathyyoung63.bsky.social at @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-alt-ri...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-alt-ri...
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
I don't know when I'll write it up, but among the things Rudy Giuliani got pardoned for is destroying the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I don't know when I'll write it up, but among the things Rudy Giuliani got pardoned for is destroying the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
"The sad and shocking reality is that the authoritarian consolidation that took Viktor Orbán and Narendra Modi eight or so years to accomplish (India’s 2009 Freedom House score was 77, Hungary’s was a whopping 90), Trump has accomplished in eight months."
By moi at @theunpopulist.net: Trump has consolidated more power in a shorter amount of time compared to other authoritarians because his brazen motto is that unless stopped, he'll act lawlessly. He has no interest in staying within the law.
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
Trump Has Taken Only Months to Accomplish the Level of Authoritarian Consolidation That Took Orbán and Modi Years
But America's aversion to tyranny gives it a much better chance of restoring its liberal democracy than their countries
www.theunpopulist.net
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
"The sad and shocking reality is that the authoritarian consolidation that took Viktor Orbán and Narendra Modi eight or so years to accomplish (India’s 2009 Freedom House score was 77, Hungary’s was a whopping 90), Trump has accomplished in eight months."
By moi at @theunpopulist.net: Trump has consolidated more power in a shorter amount of time compared to other authoritarians because his brazen motto is that unless stopped, he'll act lawlessly. He has no interest in staying within the law.
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
Trump Has Taken Only Months to Accomplish the Level of Authoritarian Consolidation That Took Orbán and Modi Years
But America's aversion to tyranny gives it a much better chance of restoring its liberal democracy than their countries
www.theunpopulist.net
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
By moi at @theunpopulist.net: Trump has consolidated more power in a shorter amount of time compared to other authoritarians because his brazen motto is that unless stopped, he'll act lawlessly. He has no interest in staying within the law.
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trump-has-...
Mamdani's moving reading of an excerpt from the prison diary an Indian dissident imprisoned for agitating against Muslim lynchings. Khalid has been in jail for 1000 days, without bail. In a few hours, the Indian SC will take up his bail petititon. youtu.be/OSyd3IJtzzo?...
Mamdani Reads Umar Khalid's Prison Diary, First Published In Outlook
YouTube video by Outlook Magazine
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Mamdani's moving reading of an excerpt from the prison diary an Indian dissident imprisoned for agitating against Muslim lynchings. Khalid has been in jail for 1000 days, without bail. In a few hours, the Indian SC will take up his bail petititon. youtu.be/OSyd3IJtzzo?...
The vibes, they are a shifting again :)
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The vibes, they are a shifting again :)
We can survive hamhanded attempts at free bus service. We cannot survive masked gestapo picking up people from streets.
Thank you for your attention to this matter :)
Thank you for your attention to this matter :)
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 AM
We can survive hamhanded attempts at free bus service. We cannot survive masked gestapo picking up people from streets.
Thank you for your attention to this matter :)
Thank you for your attention to this matter :)
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
The last month of the anti-Mamdani campaign was an absolutely shameful undertaking, an attempt to rip the city and Democratic coalition apart and I'm very happy to see it failed.
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The last month of the anti-Mamdani campaign was an absolutely shameful undertaking, an attempt to rip the city and Democratic coalition apart and I'm very happy to see it failed.
Brilliant speech by Mamdani. Reaganesque. Positive. Inclusive. Hopeful. Cheerful. So refreshing compared to Mr. American Carnage. One can disagree with his policies but without dread and fear in one's stomach.
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Brilliant speech by Mamdani. Reaganesque. Positive. Inclusive. Hopeful. Cheerful. So refreshing compared to Mr. American Carnage. One can disagree with his policies but without dread and fear in one's stomach.
Congratulations of Zohran Mamdani. And let's hope the answer the question is Abundance Liberal. At @thelibertypear.com:
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
Will Mamdani Govern More as a Democratic Socialist or as an Abundance Liberal?
His policy evolution and the team he’s assembling suggest that he could be moving in a market-friendly direction
www.theunpopulist.net
November 5, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Congratulations of Zohran Mamdani. And let's hope the answer the question is Abundance Liberal. At @thelibertypear.com:
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
Reposted by Shikha Dalmia
This is hands down the most important graphic @reason.com ever published
“What Part of Legal Immigration Don’t You Understand?”
reason.com/2008/09/24/n...
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
“What Part of Legal Immigration Don’t You Understand?”
reason.com/2008/09/24/n...
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
Seeing this chart as an impressionable young man was a formative moment in my political development
November 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This is hands down the most important graphic @reason.com ever published
“What Part of Legal Immigration Don’t You Understand?”
reason.com/2008/09/24/n...
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
“What Part of Legal Immigration Don’t You Understand?”
reason.com/2008/09/24/n...
@shikhadalmia.bsky.social
There are certainly things to be concerned about with Zohran Mamdani, especially about his economic policies. But he is infinitely better than the corrupt and thuggish alternatives. And his message of inclusion is fundamentally in keeping with New York's tolerant, pluralistic spirit.
Ahead of New York City's mayoral election, Tibita Kaneene, the political director of @cnliberalism.org's NYC chapter, lauds Zohran Mamdani as a champion of multiracial and multiethnic democracy, and suggests market-friendly liberals can be cautiously optimistic about a Mamdani victory.
Will Mamdani Govern More as a Democratic Socialist or as an Abundance Liberal?
His policy evolution and the team he’s assembling suggest that he could be moving in a market-friendly direction
www.theunpopulist.net
November 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
There are certainly things to be concerned about with Zohran Mamdani, especially about his economic policies. But he is infinitely better than the corrupt and thuggish alternatives. And his message of inclusion is fundamentally in keeping with New York's tolerant, pluralistic spirit.
Mamdani is a decent and charismatic politician who has some wrongheaded economic ideas. He won't ruin New York as hysterics suggest. But to fix it he will have to rethink his silly socialism and there are signs that he is doing just that. At @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
Will Mamdani Govern More as a Democratic Socialist or as an Abundance Liberal?
His policy evolution and the team he’s assembling suggest that he could be moving in a market-friendly direction
www.theunpopulist.net
November 3, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Mamdani is a decent and charismatic politician who has some wrongheaded economic ideas. He won't ruin New York as hysterics suggest. But to fix it he will have to rethink his silly socialism and there are signs that he is doing just that. At @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/will-mamda...
The central goal of NSPM-7 is to establish special privileges for a conservative ideological minority, whose views are to be protected from criticism or opposition, w/ such criticism in treated as literal terrorism. @tracinski.bsky.social @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-new...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-new...
Trump's New Directive Could Treat All Those Who Oppose Him as Terrorists
NSPM-7's scope is so broad and vague it would allow the president to target anyone who speaks out against him or MAGA as a national security threat
www.theunpopulist.net
October 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The central goal of NSPM-7 is to establish special privileges for a conservative ideological minority, whose views are to be protected from criticism or opposition, w/ such criticism in treated as literal terrorism. @tracinski.bsky.social @theunpopulist.net
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-new...
www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-new...