Terry Bouton
@terrybouton.bsky.social
Historian of the American Revolution and Creation of the US Constitution. Author of Taming Democracy.
Forthcoming Book: Madison's Mistake: The Rise and Fall of American Monarchism.
Democracy Dies in Doomerism. Don't be a Doomer.
Forthcoming Book: Madison's Mistake: The Rise and Fall of American Monarchism.
Democracy Dies in Doomerism. Don't be a Doomer.
Pinned
Terry Bouton
@terrybouton.bsky.social
· Aug 6
It’s finally real. I have a publication date! The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging comes out Jan 6, 2026. Five years inside conspiracy culture—what draws people in, what it costs to leave. Pre-orders are up: noellecook.com/book
An amazing book (as @noellecook.com's proud husband, I've read it several times, so I know!). It's a timely, fascinating, head-scratching, heartbreaking, funny, sobering, empathetic, and intimate look at the epidemic of conspiracism sweeping the nation and the world. A wild and entertaining ride!
Reposted by Terry Bouton
It's not even midnight and we're already at "Deport Elmo."
February 9, 2026 at 3:15 AM
It's not even midnight and we're already at "Deport Elmo."
Screwing over small farmers is the American way. It's Bacon's Rebellion and its aftermath in the 1670s and 80s. It's the rural catastrophe of the 1780s and 90s that led to the Shays, Whiskey, and Fries Rebellions. It's the Populist Movement of the 1880s and 90s and on and on. Excited about this!
Sarah is kicking off a new series of videos unpacking how agriculture in the US became politically conservative. First one dropped this morning:
How Did Farming Become Conservative?
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Screwing over small farmers is the American way. It's Bacon's Rebellion and its aftermath in the 1670s and 80s. It's the rural catastrophe of the 1780s and 90s that led to the Shays, Whiskey, and Fries Rebellions. It's the Populist Movement of the 1880s and 90s and on and on. Excited about this!
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Sarah is kicking off a new series of videos unpacking how agriculture in the US became politically conservative. First one dropped this morning:
How Did Farming Become Conservative?
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Sarah is kicking off a new series of videos unpacking how agriculture in the US became politically conservative. First one dropped this morning:
Mike hangs out on conspiracy theory forums so you don't have to. And things are getting interesting there.
Donald Trump Became President By Appealing to Conspiracy Theorists — Now He’s Driving Them Away talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/donald-...
Donald Trump Became President By Appealing to Conspiracy Theorists — Now He’s Driving Them Away talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/donald-...
Donald Trump Became President By Appealing to Conspiracy Theorists — Now He’s Driving Them Away
This excerpt is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Mike hangs out on conspiracy theory forums so you don't have to. And things are getting interesting there.
Donald Trump Became President By Appealing to Conspiracy Theorists — Now He’s Driving Them Away talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/donald-...
Donald Trump Became President By Appealing to Conspiracy Theorists — Now He’s Driving Them Away talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/donald-...
Reposted by Terry Bouton
I'm quoted (and my book is mentioned!) in this excellent piece by Jennifer Schuessler about the President's House site in Philadelphia and our broader fight over George Washington and slavery. My first time ever having my name in the NYT, pretty excited about it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
How Trump Brought the Fight Over American History to Philadelphia
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:08 PM
I'm quoted (and my book is mentioned!) in this excellent piece by Jennifer Schuessler about the President's House site in Philadelphia and our broader fight over George Washington and slavery. My first time ever having my name in the NYT, pretty excited about it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Good. Now let’s see the response when local law enforcement refuse to comply.
NEW: Abigail Spanberger this afternoon ordered that all state agencies leave ICE's 287(g) program.
This means that the state police (and some other agencies) will no longer be empowered to detain and arrest people for ICE.
Big, big move by the governor within weeks of coming into office.
This means that the state police (and some other agencies) will no longer be empowered to detain and arrest people for ICE.
Big, big move by the governor within weeks of coming into office.
Virginia’s New Governor Ends ICE Program. Local Contracts Remain, For Now. - Bolts
Abigail Spanberger left the 287(g) program, which empowered state law enforcement to detain immigrants. Will Democrats also bar local police and sheriffs from the program?
boltsmag.org
February 4, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Good. Now let’s see the response when local law enforcement refuse to comply.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Our hot new MJ cover story on all the idiotic things Trump is doing to control America's 250 anniversary celebrations and ictate the presentation of US history and culture is online. Read it before the First Amendment gets canceled. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
February 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Our hot new MJ cover story on all the idiotic things Trump is doing to control America's 250 anniversary celebrations and ictate the presentation of US history and culture is online. Read it before the First Amendment gets canceled. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
We called him "Fin" because he has a narrow black stripe from neck to tail along his spine that look like a fin when he walks. Sweet boy! Except for the teething.
It’s a boy! Meet Fin.
After a gut-wrenching December and losing both our dogs to cancer, we adopted an 8 week-old puppy who was pulled from a shelter just hours after birth by a Southern California rescue. He’s a small-breed mash-up—alert, clever, observant, and already very sure he belongs here. ❤️
After a gut-wrenching December and losing both our dogs to cancer, we adopted an 8 week-old puppy who was pulled from a shelter just hours after birth by a Southern California rescue. He’s a small-breed mash-up—alert, clever, observant, and already very sure he belongs here. ❤️
February 4, 2026 at 12:16 AM
We called him "Fin" because he has a narrow black stripe from neck to tail along his spine that look like a fin when he walks. Sweet boy! Except for the teething.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Columbia administration looking especially craven and incompetent about now.
February 3, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Columbia administration looking especially craven and incompetent about now.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
February 3, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Terry Bouton
A stark moment in this morning's hearing in Minnesota when an attorney for the state is staying this:
Carter: If this is not stopped, right here, right now, I don't think anyone who is seriously looking at this can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future.
January 26, 2026 at 4:12 PM
A stark moment in this morning's hearing in Minnesota when an attorney for the state is staying this:
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Love songs. Nothing but love songs.
NEWS: Bari Weiss will hold an all-hands meeting to discuss the future of CBS News tomorrow, per note that just went out to employees.
January 26, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Love songs. Nothing but love songs.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
HISTORIAN HERE: I don't think you can say this any better. If "originalists" want to claim that the 2A is about containing government....
Of course, that interpretation was always wrong, but let's say it was right. See below for what that means. 👇
Of course, that interpretation was always wrong, but let's say it was right. See below for what that means. 👇
January 26, 2026 at 3:58 AM
HISTORIAN HERE: I don't think you can say this any better. If "originalists" want to claim that the 2A is about containing government....
Of course, that interpretation was always wrong, but let's say it was right. See below for what that means. 👇
Of course, that interpretation was always wrong, but let's say it was right. See below for what that means. 👇
Wait. This article isn't about academia?
"There’s an irreducibly temperamental component. Men—and they usually are men—who just can’t stand to be corrected. It's not (or not merely) that their paradigm was wrong, there was a flat refusal to ever consider how the world looks from within another." (from April 2025)
Trump ‘Alarmists’ Were Right. We Should Say So.
Commentators who got it wrong wouldn’t listen, won’t learn, and can’t lead.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Wait. This article isn't about academia?
Reposted by Terry Bouton
I'll say again: some Americans have been trying to silence this history from the very beginning. Yet it's also true that—while Washington was still alive and every time after—other Americans criticized him and reminded the public of his legacy of slavery. We've been arguing over this for 250 years.
January 23, 2026 at 3:25 AM
I'll say again: some Americans have been trying to silence this history from the very beginning. Yet it's also true that—while Washington was still alive and every time after—other Americans criticized him and reminded the public of his legacy of slavery. We've been arguing over this for 250 years.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Mike writes beautifully about what it’s like when a fire takes everything but your family and the clothes on their backs. You can support his excellent work here: www.patreon.com/cw/MikeRoths...
January 23, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Mike writes beautifully about what it’s like when a fire takes everything but your family and the clothes on their backs. You can support his excellent work here: www.patreon.com/cw/MikeRoths...
Reposted by Terry Bouton
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
January 23, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
To all my media friends. This is the guy you want to talk to about the situation at the President's House in Philly.
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
January 23, 2026 at 2:09 AM
To all my media friends. This is the guy you want to talk to about the situation at the President's House in Philly.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
A year post-Eaton Fire, my Patreon has seen a big spike in cancellations. So if you've ever considered supporting my work writing about conspiracy theories and disinfo, now is a great time. Rebuilding is a massive sink hole of time, and subscriptions help!
patreon.com/MikeRothschild
patreon.com/MikeRothschild
Mike Rothschild | Patreon
Documenting the Eaton Fire and its aftermath
patreon.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:32 PM
A year post-Eaton Fire, my Patreon has seen a big spike in cancellations. So if you've ever considered supporting my work writing about conspiracy theories and disinfo, now is a great time. Rebuilding is a massive sink hole of time, and subscriptions help!
patreon.com/MikeRothschild
patreon.com/MikeRothschild
Reposted by Terry Bouton
Reposted by Terry Bouton
People often describe The Conspiracists as unsettling & ask if there’s any hope in it. Tammy, featured in the book, is reading it now. She told me it’s making her think about some things & that she hopes it helps people better understand people like her.
I feel more hopeful than I have in awhile.
I feel more hopeful than I have in awhile.
January 17, 2026 at 8:23 PM
People often describe The Conspiracists as unsettling & ask if there’s any hope in it. Tammy, featured in the book, is reading it now. She told me it’s making her think about some things & that she hopes it helps people better understand people like her.
I feel more hopeful than I have in awhile.
I feel more hopeful than I have in awhile.
Reposted by Terry Bouton
"It's a surprise to people when I don't go at them. But I think if you want to learn about people, if you want to understand where they're coming from, you have to approach it with curiosity and you have to be willing to listen."
- @noellecook.com
- @noellecook.com
GLOBAL WARNING: Noelle Cook (Ep 10)
YouTube video by AWKWORD
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
"It's a surprise to people when I don't go at them. But I think if you want to learn about people, if you want to understand where they're coming from, you have to approach it with curiosity and you have to be willing to listen."
- @noellecook.com
- @noellecook.com
This is how subjects act in monarchies. You can't criticize the king. You criticize his ministers instead.
“BAD ADVICE.” Republicans are embracing a method to criticize Trump’s actions without calling him out
Blame advisers.
Threaten Greenland? Just “bad advice.”
Tariffs? “It’s not the president,” it’s Navarro.
Investigating Powell, credit card rates… List is long.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Blame advisers.
Threaten Greenland? Just “bad advice.”
Tariffs? “It’s not the president,” it’s Navarro.
Investigating Powell, credit card rates… List is long.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
'Bad advice': Republicans criticize Trump's policies without going directly at him
Republicans frequently say those around Trump are giving him "bad advice" as a way to disagree with his policies while avoiding blaming him.
www.nbcnews.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:10 PM
This is how subjects act in monarchies. You can't criticize the king. You criticize his ministers instead.
We've been big fans (and paid subscribers) of QAA for years. It's our go-to podcast on long road trips. It's so surreal to hear Noelle on as a guest with Travis and Jake!
Thanks to QAA for having me on. We talked about my book, The Conspiracists, the work behind it, and what these stories reveal about meaning, identity, and community.
on.soundcloud.com/Kxb90Hxeei76...
on.soundcloud.com/Kxb90Hxeei76...
The Conspiracists feat. Noelle Cook (E355)
The new book The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging by Noelle Cook offers an unusually intimate look at why seemingly bizarre conspiracy worlds that involve starseeds, ascended
soundcloud.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
We've been big fans (and paid subscribers) of QAA for years. It's our go-to podcast on long road trips. It's so surreal to hear Noelle on as a guest with Travis and Jake!