Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Historian - Democracy and Its Discontents - Newsletter: Democracy Americana https://democracyamericana.com - Podcast: Is This Democracy https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/is-this-democracy
Pinned
Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Onward. Forward. Steady.
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
steady.page
Some major personal news:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
In an even remotely healthy political system and culture - and everywhere else in the democratic world - January 6 would have been a dealbreaker: The end of Trump as a major political figure. He would have been convicted, shunned, banished - everyone associated with him ostracized from public life.
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
January 6 in History
Was it a key moment in the republic’s eventual demise or a milestone on the road to democracy’s ultimate triumph? The meaning of January 6 is yet to be determined
steady.page
January 6, 2026 at 7:39 PM
In an even remotely healthy political system and culture - and everywhere else in the democratic world - January 6 would have been a dealbreaker: The end of Trump as a major political figure. He would have been convicted, shunned, banished - everyone associated with him ostracized from public life.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
January 6 in History
Was it a key moment in the republic’s eventual demise or a milestone on the road to democracy’s ultimate triumph? The meaning of January 6 is yet to be determined
steady.page
January 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
January 6 in History
Was it a key moment in the republic’s eventual demise or a milestone on the road to democracy’s ultimate triumph? The meaning of January 6 is yet to be determined
steady.page
January 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Smart and incisive thoughts on the “neo-royalist” world order the Trumpists envision, from @abenewman.bsky.social.
The key really is: Trump doesn’t have a coherent ideology, but he *does* have a consistent worldview defined by hierarchies. That’s where he and the Trumpist ideologues come together.
The key really is: Trump doesn’t have a coherent ideology, but he *does* have a consistent worldview defined by hierarchies. That’s where he and the Trumpist ideologues come together.
1/Leaders are abducted/allies are threatened but pundits and governments are scratching their heads on what the US is doing. Danish PM on Greenland "It makes absolutely no sense". Why? Because actors using old IR models when we need a new lens. Enter neo-royalism.
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Denmark's PM urges Trump to 'stop the threats' of annexing Greenland
The prime minister of Denmark called on Trump to “stop the threats” of the U.S. annexing Greenland after renewed comments garnered international attention.
abcnews.go.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Smart and incisive thoughts on the “neo-royalist” world order the Trumpists envision, from @abenewman.bsky.social.
The key really is: Trump doesn’t have a coherent ideology, but he *does* have a consistent worldview defined by hierarchies. That’s where he and the Trumpist ideologues come together.
The key really is: Trump doesn’t have a coherent ideology, but he *does* have a consistent worldview defined by hierarchies. That’s where he and the Trumpist ideologues come together.
Good people doing good work to build and sustain liberal democracy. Please consider supporting @aselrod.bsky.social and the great folks at The Pulaski Institution.
2026 is the year we level up The Pulaski Institution in our mission to promote democracy in the heartlands.
I’m so proud of what we’ve done so far on an almost non-existent budget, and I know we have a unique vision that is more relevant than ever.
Won’t you join us?
www.zeffy.com/en-US/donati...
I’m so proud of what we’ve done so far on an almost non-existent budget, and I know we have a unique vision that is more relevant than ever.
Won’t you join us?
www.zeffy.com/en-US/donati...
January 4, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Good people doing good work to build and sustain liberal democracy. Please consider supporting @aselrod.bsky.social and the great folks at The Pulaski Institution.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
My readership now shrinks with every piece I publish. You don’t need to know much about the newsletter business to see how that math doesn’t work. Not sure yet how to handle this.
For now, I’ll just ask you to consider supporting Democracy Americana in whichever way you see fit:
For now, I’ll just ask you to consider supporting Democracy Americana in whichever way you see fit:
Democracy Americana
A newsletter on U.S. politics and history - and the ongoing struggle over how much democracy, and for whom, there should be in America
steady.page
January 4, 2026 at 4:14 PM
My readership now shrinks with every piece I publish. You don’t need to know much about the newsletter business to see how that math doesn’t work. Not sure yet how to handle this.
For now, I’ll just ask you to consider supporting Democracy Americana in whichever way you see fit:
For now, I’ll just ask you to consider supporting Democracy Americana in whichever way you see fit:
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Y’all, Democracy Americana is a fantastic newsletter and really deserves your support (and is not Substack)
If you’ll indulge me for a second:
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
Sunday reading:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
January 4, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Y’all, Democracy Americana is a fantastic newsletter and really deserves your support (and is not Substack)
If you’ll indulge me for a second:
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
Sunday reading:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 4, 2026 at 4:08 PM
If you’ll indulge me for a second:
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly.
Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.
Sunday reading:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Sunday reading:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring.
But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo.
This week’s piece:
And not just your analysis of foreign policy: It’s an idea so profoundly ignorant of what defines Trump, the man and Trumpism, the political project - the desire to dominate and punish - that no one should waste time listening to what the “Trump, the peace president” crowd has to say about anything.
If you thought he was gonna have a restrained foreign policy, you are a mark and a dope and your foreign policy analysis should be discounted.
Trump: "I think Cuba is gonna be something we'll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation. It's very similar"
January 3, 2026 at 8:56 PM
And not just your analysis of foreign policy: It’s an idea so profoundly ignorant of what defines Trump, the man and Trumpism, the political project - the desire to dominate and punish - that no one should waste time listening to what the “Trump, the peace president” crowd has to say about anything.
As much as this government is all impulse/no plan in some areas, they are hyper-consistent in their quest to re-segregate all elite spaces and fully restore / re-impose white male dominance across all spheres of life. The defining project of Trumpism as a political project.
"...about a dozen senior career diplomats who, before the start of the Trump administration, had gotten assignments to be deputy chiefs of mission overseas were told they would no longer have those jobs. Most of them were women or people of color."
Trump Administration Orders Nearly 30 U.S. Ambassadors to Leave Their Posts
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:23 PM
As much as this government is all impulse/no plan in some areas, they are hyper-consistent in their quest to re-segregate all elite spaces and fully restore / re-impose white male dominance across all spheres of life. The defining project of Trumpism as a political project.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Cannot recommend more highly @thomaszimmer.bsky.social latest essay especially this part on why returning to pre-Trump status quo is not enough, we need larger transformation steady.page/en/democracy...
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Cannot recommend more highly @thomaszimmer.bsky.social latest essay especially this part on why returning to pre-Trump status quo is not enough, we need larger transformation steady.page/en/democracy...
Trump has no interest in governing - but he loves the pageantry of the presidency and the power to order violence while “looking strong.”
He has no coherent ideology, but a worldview defined by reactionary grievances and an insatiable impulse to dominate.
An incredibly dangerous combination.
He has no coherent ideology, but a worldview defined by reactionary grievances and an insatiable impulse to dominate.
An incredibly dangerous combination.
Trump to Fox & Friends on the raid that captured Maduro: "I mean, I watched it literally l like I was watching a television show. If you would've seen the speed, the violence -- it was an amazing thing."
January 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Trump has no interest in governing - but he loves the pageantry of the presidency and the power to order violence while “looking strong.”
He has no coherent ideology, but a worldview defined by reactionary grievances and an insatiable impulse to dominate.
An incredibly dangerous combination.
He has no coherent ideology, but a worldview defined by reactionary grievances and an insatiable impulse to dominate.
An incredibly dangerous combination.
Yes, this!
The reason you go scorched-earth on this is the same reason we should have gone scorched-earth on impoundment; you can't stop it from happening, but you absolutely need to stop it from becoming a normal part of politics. You have to draw a line.
They didn’t even bother to ask for an AUMF, impeachment
January 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Yes, this!
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Happy New Year!
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Happy New Year!
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Happy New Year!
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Happy New Year!
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are You Going, America?
I dive deep into “The Price of American Authoritarianism,” a crucial essay Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way, and Danile Ziblatt published in Foreign Affairs - an opportunity to take stock of where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Where Are Aou Going, America?
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
I dive deep into “The Price of American Authoritarianism,” a crucial essay Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way, and Danile Ziblatt published in Foreign Affairs - an opportunity to take stock of where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Where Are Aou Going, America?
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Where Are Aou Going, America?
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
Where Are Aou Going, America?
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Where Are Aou Going, America?
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
At the start of 2026, America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work.
The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece, to start 2026:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece, to start 2026:
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. Authoritarianism has not won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
steady.page
January 1, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Where Are You Going, America?
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece, to start 2026:
America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. But merely restoring the pre-Trump status quo won’t work. The country needs a democratic transformation.
My new piece, to start 2026:
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Sunday reading:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
steady.page
December 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Sunday reading:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
Sunday reading:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
steady.page
December 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Sunday reading:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
I wrote about the MAGA civil war - about the different factions and what they want, the dynamics that are shaping the Right, and where MAGA is headed as the end of Trump’s reign is looming on the horizon.
This week’s piece:
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
The first part of this piece is free for everyone. If you want to read more than the preview or gain access to the audio version, please consider becoming a paid member of Democracy Americana, which is solely funded by readers:
The first part of this piece is free for everyone. If you want to read more than the preview or gain access to the audio version, please consider becoming a paid member of Democracy Americana, which is solely funded by readers:
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
steady.page
December 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
The first part of this piece is free for everyone. If you want to read more than the preview or gain access to the audio version, please consider becoming a paid member of Democracy Americana, which is solely funded by readers:
The first part of this piece is free for everyone. If you want to read more than the preview or gain access to the audio version, please consider becoming a paid member of Democracy Americana, which is solely funded by readers:
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
"we are into the twilight of the Trump era – the end of his reign as the Right’s leader is looming. . . .The conflict has entered a different phase, and the Trumpist Right is ill-prepared for the prolonged struggle that is next." - @thomaszimmer.bsky.social
democracyamericana.com/posts/279fc0...
democracyamericana.com/posts/279fc0...
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
democracyamericana.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"we are into the twilight of the Trump era – the end of his reign as the Right’s leader is looming. . . .The conflict has entered a different phase, and the Trumpist Right is ill-prepared for the prolonged struggle that is next." - @thomaszimmer.bsky.social
democracyamericana.com/posts/279fc0...
democracyamericana.com/posts/279fc0...
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
steady.page
December 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
What the “MAGA Civil War” is Really About
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Different factions are fighting for supremacy on the Right. What will post-Trump MAGA look like – and how dangerous is Trumpism without Trump?
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵