Robert J. Spitzer
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spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer
@spitzerb.bsky.social
81 followers 19 following 21 posts

Distinguished Service Prof. emeritus, Pol. Sci. SUNY Cortland; author The Gun Dilemma (@oxunipress.bsky.social 2023), The Politics of Gun Control 9th ed. (2024)

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Robert James Spitzer is an American political scientist, commentator, and author. Spitzer is the author of numerous books, articles, essays, papers, and op-eds on many topics related to American politics. His areas of specialty include the American presidency and gun politics. .. more

Political science 66%
Law 12%
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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele , and 40 more

chriso-wiki.bsky.social
ChrisO_wiki @chriso-wiki.bsky.social · 2d
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · 5d
Fascinating discussion with distinguished NYS Assemblyman Lavine:

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · 5d
My thanks to @RockefellerInst for the chance to discuss Gun Laws & Constitutional Originalism with the distinguished @CharlesLavineNY: rockinst.org/issue-area/e...
Ep. 117. Gun Laws & Originalism | Rockefeller Institute of Government
Decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States in Heller and Bruen have recast the "right to bear arms" in a new legal framework that makes it more challenging to create effective firearm regulat...
rockinst.org

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

rockefellerinst.bsky.social
Rockefeller Institute of Government @rockefellerinst.bsky.social · 5d
New episode of Policy Outsider features NYS Assemblymember Charles D. Levine and political science scholar @spitzerb.bsky.social discussing constitutional originalism & legislating firearms in the complex legal environment created by SCOTUS's interpretation of 2A.
rockinst.org/issue-area/e...
Ep. 117. Gun Laws & Originalism | Rockefeller Institute of Government
Decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States in Heller and Bruen have recast the "right to bear arms" in a new legal framework that makes it more challenging to create effective firearm regulat...
rockinst.org

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 5d
What? Shitting on the non-partisan experts that keep us safe is not working?

www.nextgov.com/people/2025/...
A leadership vacuum and staff cuts threaten NSA morale, operational strength
The signals intelligence giant has halted recruitment for its Legal Honors Program, two people familiar say, slowing inflow of top legal talent. Other long-term capabilities are at risk.
www.nextgov.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 6d
Congratulations to Virginia’s new Governor!

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 7d
“The majority extended absolute immunity to a president who orders the Department of Justice to conduct “sham” investigations. In the year since, rather than preventing the weaponization of prosecutions, the court has unleashed it.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
Opinion | How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Revenge Prosecutions
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
David Cay Johnston @davidcayjohnston.bsky.social · 18d
Why we should hope the judge doesn't grant former FBI Director James Comey's request to dismiss his indictment as vindictive prosecution explained in 98 seconds in my new RealityCheck for DCReport.
www.dcreport.org/2025/10/23/c...
James Comey: Vindictive Prosecution? David Cay Johnston Weighs In
David Cay Johnston explains why the judge should not dismiss James Comey’s case—and how it could expose vindictive prosecution by the Trump administration.
www.dcreport.org

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 23d
I see my old tweet is making the rounds on Instagram and Facebook. 😊 If you get a chance, pls watch “Surviving Ohio State” on HBO. You will be outraged that this cretin in in the Congress.

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Sep 29
How about “Trump”?
johnsipher.bsky.social John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · Sep 29
We still need a word for someone both evil and incompetent.

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · Sep 29
We still need a word for someone both evil and incompetent.

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jrakove.bsky.social
Jack Rakove @jrakove.bsky.social · Sep 22
The main point UE advocates neglect is that the Framers emphasized responsibility as the key duty and perpetual obligation of a unitary executive while the ostensible virtues of energy, vigor, dispatch, and secrecy were only advantages of decision-making that would be exercised only occasionally..
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Sep 22
genuinely crazy to me how unitary executive advocates read the vesting clause as granting a huge scope of essentially royal "inherent" powers. one would think that if the framers intended to give the president royal authority, they would have just said so.

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Sep 11
Sadly relevant at this moment: the Trump administration's proposal to strip gun rights from trans people; my take: thehill.com/opinion/civi...
thehill.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jrakove.bsky.social
Jack Rakove @jrakove.bsky.social · Sep 10
Proud to contribute an essay on "A Brief Biography of the Second Amendment" to this amazing collection.

www.vitalcitynyc.org/issues/issue...
Vital City | Issue 13
The supply side of America's gun problem
www.vitalcitynyc.org

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Sep 10
@scholars.org Happy to join with SSN colleague Giraldi as a contributor to this series on guns in the U.S.: www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/one...
Vital City | One Nation Under Guns
Era by era, how firearms conquered America
www.vitalcitynyc.org

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Sep 10
Our country's gun past isn't what most people think: in many respects, guns were more heavily regulated in the nation's first 300 years than in the last 30, and the spread of firearms owes more to marketing than necessity. My piece: www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/one...
Vital City | One Nation Under Guns
Era by era, how firearms conquered America
www.vitalcitynyc.org

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

scholars.org
Scholars Strategy Network @scholars.org · Sep 10
Gun violence affects thousands in the U.S. each year. In this policy brief, @deannagiraldi.bsky.social (@dspi-oxford.bsky.social) shares gaps in research and calls for inclusive, tailored studies and policies that address the real impacts of gun violence.

🔗 Read now: scholars.org/contribution...
Graphic with a background of blurred candlelight and a lit candle on the right. On the left is a large quote in white text: “A more equitable approach to gun violence policy must reflect the real, everyday nature of this crisis and the communities who endure it.” Below, in italic text: Deanna M. Giraldi, University of Oxford. At the top right, a label reads SSN Policy Brief. A circular photo of Deanna M. Giraldi is shown beside the candle. At the bottom right is the Scholars Strategy Network logo and website URL.

Reposted by Bryan D. Jones, American Library Association, Robert J. Spitzer , and 8 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · Sep 8
"Half the population” of greater Los Angeles "now meet the government’s criteria for reasonable suspicion," in the wake of today's 6-3 SCOTUS ruling.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Supreme Court upholds 'roving patrols' for immigration arrests in Los Angeles
The Supreme Court says immigration agents may stop and question people they suspect are here illegally based on little more than working at a car wash, speaking Spanish or having brown skin.
www.latimes.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jacobdcharles.bsky.social
Jake Charles @jacobdcharles.bsky.social · Sep 8
Well that’s quite the push notification.

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
David Cay Johnston @davidcayjohnston.bsky.social · Sep 7
Jennifer and I drove 90 minutes through the Finger Lakes countryside yesterday to meet with 60 fans - from Alaska to Florida - of socially conscious comedian Pete Dominick standupwithpete.com and all I got was a jar of honey - fabulous honey from Slate Hill Edible Forest Farm in Marcellus NY.👍🏼 😅

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
David Cay Johnston @davidcayjohnston.bsky.social · Aug 5
Tonight at 7PM I'll speak on How to Save Our Democracy at the Riviera Theatre in Geneseo about 30 minutes south of Rochester.

The Riviera Theatre
4 Center St
Geneseo, NY 14454

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · Jul 26
“The director of national intelligence and the White House are lying, again.”

www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
Gabbard and White House 'lying' about intel on Russian interference in 2016, ex-CIA official says
"We definitely had the intel," Susan Miller, who helped oversee the 2017 intelligence assessment of Russia's efforts in the 2016 election, told NBC News.
www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jacobdcharles.bsky.social
Jake Charles @jacobdcharles.bsky.social · Jul 24
Ahhh our casebook is officially published & on the way!!! If you have any interest in teaching (or learning about!) the Second Amendment or firearms law, I hope you'll consider our casebook! Feel free to reach out with any questions about the book or the field!!

www.westacademic.com/Blocher-Char...

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Jul 23
Don't know if I've ever read a better piece on Unitary executive, presl power run amok in age of Trump: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
This Is the Presidency John Roberts Has Built
The country is witnessing the creation of an all-powerful institution, and one man is responsible.
www.theatlantic.com

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Jul 8
As I note the ATF has been barred from computerizing its records since the 1980s; the building holding the paper records nearly collapsed a few years ago. Make any sense? Read on…

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

scholars.org
Scholars Strategy Network @scholars.org · Jul 7
In this op-ed, @spitzerb.bsky.social explains how Trump is dismantling the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, rolling back ghost gun regulations, and ultimately making it easier for criminals to get guns. #GunPolicy

@thehill.com:
Trump is making it easier than ever for criminals to get guns
Central to the Trump administration’s deregulation of gun access is its evisceration of the federal agency charged with administering the nation’s gun laws, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms…
thehill.com

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Jul 3
@davidcayjohnston.bsky.social‬ Given your post from last week, thought you'd find my new piece @thehill.com of interest on Trump admin dismantling of ATF, criminals, and guns: thehill.com/opinion/crim...
thehill.com

spitzerb.bsky.social
Robert J. Spitzer @spitzerb.bsky.social · Jul 3
New de facto Trump policy, apparently-make sure criminals can get guns. My @thehill.com piece: thehill.com/opinion/crim...
thehill.com

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jrakove.bsky.social
Jack Rakove @jrakove.bsky.social · Jul 2
If you want a podcast suitable for the 4th of July, I hope not the last one we will celebrate as citizens of a free state, this might be of interest. It's based on my book, Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America.

pioneerinstitute.org/featured/sta...
Stanford's Pulitzer Winner Jack Rakove on American Independence | Featured Latest News
Learn all about Stanford's Pulitzer Winner Jack Rakove on American Independence and other public policy research within Featured from Pioneer Institute.
pioneerinstitute.org

Reposted by Robert J. Spitzer

jrakove.bsky.social
Jack Rakove @jrakove.bsky.social · Jun 30
For all you constitutionalists, Madisonians, and Cubs fans: I'll be on @lastword.msnbc.com tonight at the :45 mark to further discuss
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/06/27/i...
It’s Not Just a Constitutional Crisis in the Trump Era. It’s Constitutional Failure | Washington Monthly
While Trump defies constitutional norms, Congress remains conspicuously silent and the Supreme Court has abdicated its responsibility.
washingtonmonthly.com