Stewart Ulrich
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stewulrich.bsky.social
Stewart Ulrich
@stewulrich.bsky.social
Political Science PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia. Presidential nerd. News Junkie. Travel fan. Transportation nut.

Opinions are my own, because who else’s would they be?

https://www.stewart-ulrich.com
Pinned
Pleased to announce that I will be joining the faculty of Sam Houston State University in the fall as an Assistant Professor of Political Science. Very excited for this new chapter of my career and to continue teaching and researching with my future colleagues there!
We continue to see the clemency power used for political purposes: Trump Gives Clemency to More Than Two Dozen, Including Political Allies www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...
Trump Gives Clemency to More Than Two Dozen, Including Political Allies
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Stewart Ulrich
Modern presidents have shifted the pardon power from an act of mercy to a political tool writes @stewulrich.bsky.social of Sam Houston State University

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
May 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Leaving campus after submitting the final version of my dissertation feels both weird and exciting. Wild to be at this stage!
April 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Leaving Chicago after a great time at #MPSA2025. Thanks for all I met and interacted with. Fun time mingling with a bunch of amazing scholars.
April 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
apnews.com/article/hunt... We continue to see pardons used as a political tool and not the act of mercy the founders intended.
President Trump pardons former Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer
President Donald Trump pardoned a former business partner of Hunter Biden who was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to defraud a Native American tribe.
apnews.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Stewart Ulrich
Donald Trump's disapproval rating is now higher than his approval rating: projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/approv...
March 5, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Pleased to announce that I will be joining the faculty of Sam Houston State University in the fall as an Assistant Professor of Political Science. Very excited for this new chapter of my career and to continue teaching and researching with my future colleagues there!
February 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
youtube.com/watch?v=HlJa... On this #PresidentsDay I am reminded of this great friendship among former rivals and presidents, showing that you can be friends across the aisle.
youtube.com
February 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Noticed this in recent days as Pres. Trump came into office. There is a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy on the table behind the Resolute Desk, and it struck me as a bit odd. I know the US is co-hosting the tournament next year and it was announced during his 1st term. But still seems odd?
February 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
civiqs.com/results/favo... Interesting to see this favorability rating of Trump on a state-by-state basis. Particularly of note are GA, NC, and VA in the South. Just one poll from one organization, of course, but curious as we’re getting polling on Trump’s 2nd term coming out
Civiqs
civiqs.com
February 6, 2025 at 5:29 PM
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli... Great piece by @juliaazari.bsky.social examining the executive orders of the new administration
Bright vs. blurry lines: how to think about executive power grabs
Needless to say, it’s been quite the week (or so) for expansive use of executive power.
open.substack.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Stewart Ulrich
Trump starts with a +7 net approval rating (50% approve, 43% disapprove), according to 538's new and constantly-updating average.
That's lower than the starting approval for every other modern president, except Trump's own starting rating in his first term (just +3)
abcnews.go.com/538/trump-st...
Once again, Trump starts a term with a weak approval rating
Introducing 538's new average of President Donald Trump's job approval rating.
abcnews.go.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Great piece about the New Era of Pardons we find ourselves in
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
A New Era of Pardons
Where does it end?
open.substack.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Check out my recent piece on Biden’s pardons leaving office and how it will affect his legacy at the LSE American Politics and Policy blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20... #PoliSci #poliSky
President Biden’s extensive pardons may overshadow the rest of his legacy
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden pardoned nearly 2,500 people in the biggest act of clemency in presidential history. Stewart Ulrich writes that Biden’s use of this presidential power…
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb... Great piece that puts the Jan 6th pardons in the context of history
Opinion | Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 insurrectionists turn the Founders’ vision on its head
As one of the first acts of his presidency, it certifies his view that we are two nations, not one.
www.msnbc.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:33 PM
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti... In last week’s flurry of pardons, one group stands out as particularly worrying:
Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons Will Encourage More Political Violence
The president is sending a message — to both his supporters and his opponents — saying such crimes are fine as long as they are done in his name.
www.bloomberg.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Heard someone on the news describe this week as “pardon palooza” and isn’t that the perfect way to describe it? Both the incoming and outgoing president used their pardon pen a lot this week.
January 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Pres. Biden started his term slow to use the clemency power but left office as the modern president who used it the most. His legacy may be overshadowed by these pardons more than any his accomplishments. I wrote about it for the LSE USAPP blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
President Biden’s extensive pardons may overshadow the rest of his legacy
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden pardoned nearly 2,500 people in the biggest act of clemency in presidential history. Stewart Ulrich writes that Biden’s use of this presidential power…
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 23, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Stewart Ulrich
A retired federal judge examines Trump's pardons of hundreds convicted in the violent storming of the Capitol: "When it comes to #Jan6 offenders, not only do I think they received appropriate due process, but in some cases, I believe they received excessive due process."
Trump’s Jan. 6 clemency ‘flies in the face of the facts’ of violent insurrection, retired federal judge explains
The new president has shown clemency to supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
buff.ly
January 21, 2025 at 3:30 AM
apnews.com/article/capi... Man, what a day for pardons. That pardon pen got used mightily by two presidents today.
Trump issues sweeping pardon of supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack
President Donald Trump says he is pardoning about 1,500 of his supporters who have been charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S.
apnews.com
January 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM