Andrew Tuck
@tuckdrw.bsky.social
Recovering attorney. Areas of interest/ expertise: political economy & development of Latin America; trade & investment law; history. Aspiring guitarist. Mini Schnauzer dad. Tennis fan. Go Dodgers!
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
I’m convinced that lots of folks are unwilling to (accurately) call the Trump administration white supremacist or segregationist because the terms are negative coded and would require an uncomfortable reckoning with their personal overlapping beliefs. Or, the beliefs of their friends and family.
January 9, 2026 at 1:48 PM
I’m convinced that lots of folks are unwilling to (accurately) call the Trump administration white supremacist or segregationist because the terms are negative coded and would require an uncomfortable reckoning with their personal overlapping beliefs. Or, the beliefs of their friends and family.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Democrats need to understand that they can just say “It’s insane to threaten Greenland” and “I don’t think ICE should murder Americans in the street” and you don’t need to pretend to link it to the affordability crisis.
Say bad things are bad.
Say bad things are bad.
January 7, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Democrats need to understand that they can just say “It’s insane to threaten Greenland” and “I don’t think ICE should murder Americans in the street” and you don’t need to pretend to link it to the affordability crisis.
Say bad things are bad.
Say bad things are bad.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
sounds like something that would happen in a shithole country
I hate to break it to you, but heavily-armed government militias are roaming unchecked through US cities and shooting human rights observers dead in the streets. That's happening in our country.
January 7, 2026 at 11:55 PM
sounds like something that would happen in a shithole country
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
And by the way, that very same right wing YouTuber is now sharing video of the shooting and using it for more propaganda purposes, including one post which says "liberal white women have been radicalized to TERRORIZE ICE."
Because of course he is.
Because of course he is.
January 7, 2026 at 7:28 PM
And by the way, that very same right wing YouTuber is now sharing video of the shooting and using it for more propaganda purposes, including one post which says "liberal white women have been radicalized to TERRORIZE ICE."
Because of course he is.
Because of course he is.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
This is typical after leadership transitions in authoritarian regimes. The new incumbent doesn't want anyone to think that the shift in leadership means an opening in the regime.
It also clearly shows that the US has no control, and media should stop accepting the administration's version.
It also clearly shows that the US has no control, and media should stop accepting the administration's version.
January 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
This is typical after leadership transitions in authoritarian regimes. The new incumbent doesn't want anyone to think that the shift in leadership means an opening in the regime.
It also clearly shows that the US has no control, and media should stop accepting the administration's version.
It also clearly shows that the US has no control, and media should stop accepting the administration's version.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Some reflections from me on January 6 in comparative and historical perspective (first time on substack)
open.substack.com/pub/ziblatt4...
open.substack.com/pub/ziblatt4...
January 6 in Historical Perspective
January 6, 2026
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Some reflections from me on January 6 in comparative and historical perspective (first time on substack)
open.substack.com/pub/ziblatt4...
open.substack.com/pub/ziblatt4...
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
"In normal liberal democracy terms, the US is in bad shape. But in consolidated authoritarianism terms, we’re doing pretty well."
I wrote about the weirdness of walking around the monuments in DC, three ways the Trump regime stumbled this year, and why I'm cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.
I wrote about the weirdness of walking around the monuments in DC, three ways the Trump regime stumbled this year, and why I'm cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.
Washington DC is Messed Up, But the Regime is Failing
America is no longer a constitutional democracy yet is far from consolidated authoritarianism. It's important to recognize both of those at once.
www.arcdigital.media
January 5, 2026 at 6:38 PM
"In normal liberal democracy terms, the US is in bad shape. But in consolidated authoritarianism terms, we’re doing pretty well."
I wrote about the weirdness of walking around the monuments in DC, three ways the Trump regime stumbled this year, and why I'm cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.
I wrote about the weirdness of walking around the monuments in DC, three ways the Trump regime stumbled this year, and why I'm cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
It’s genuinely wild that the United States spent decades building an elaborate rules-based international order which de facto cemented its permanent status as the dominant global hegemon, sustained by ideology rather than might, and now is just blowing it all up for literally no reason
January 6, 2026 at 12:35 AM
It’s genuinely wild that the United States spent decades building an elaborate rules-based international order which de facto cemented its permanent status as the dominant global hegemon, sustained by ideology rather than might, and now is just blowing it all up for literally no reason
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
This is obviously true, but at the same time, the numerous structural deficiencies of our political institutions allowed for this iteration of the GOP to be viable. A Republican Party that had to compete for a majority of voters nationally would look profoundly different.
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
January 5, 2026 at 6:29 PM
This is obviously true, but at the same time, the numerous structural deficiencies of our political institutions allowed for this iteration of the GOP to be viable. A Republican Party that had to compete for a majority of voters nationally would look profoundly different.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Trump has accomplished the feat of replicating 12 years of disastrous Reagan-Bush era foreign policy and tax + spending reforms in just 11 months. Truly impressive
January 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Trump has accomplished the feat of replicating 12 years of disastrous Reagan-Bush era foreign policy and tax + spending reforms in just 11 months. Truly impressive
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
The smallest man in the largest office
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 5, 2026 at 3:17 AM
The smallest man in the largest office
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
It simultaneously signals loyalty to the regime and contempt for the citizenry.
Performative public lying is a hallmark of far right authoritarian parties
Tom Emmer: "God bless this president of peace, Donald J Trump"
January 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM
It simultaneously signals loyalty to the regime and contempt for the citizenry.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
A concept I've been meaning to float to make sense of what's happened to the US Constitution is an idea from the British constitutional tradition: "implied repeal."
It's useful because it helps us to understand that Article I, & much else of the US Constitution, has been implicitly repealed.
It's useful because it helps us to understand that Article I, & much else of the US Constitution, has been implicitly repealed.
January 3, 2026 at 7:35 PM
A concept I've been meaning to float to make sense of what's happened to the US Constitution is an idea from the British constitutional tradition: "implied repeal."
It's useful because it helps us to understand that Article I, & much else of the US Constitution, has been implicitly repealed.
It's useful because it helps us to understand that Article I, & much else of the US Constitution, has been implicitly repealed.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
For those trying to make sense of the underlying ideas & motivations at work here, in the history of US foreign relations ideology, unilateralism + interventionism have been core components of isolationism along with Monroe Doctrine justification to use force + assert influence in the hemisphere.🗃️
January 3, 2026 at 6:47 PM
For those trying to make sense of the underlying ideas & motivations at work here, in the history of US foreign relations ideology, unilateralism + interventionism have been core components of isolationism along with Monroe Doctrine justification to use force + assert influence in the hemisphere.🗃️
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
This is exactly the reason why this is not only wildly illegal, under both domestic & international law, but also why it is so disastrous for world order & US national security.
So, now what stops Turkey from taking over Syria, Russia from taking over Ukraine, and China from taking over Taiwan? US?
January 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
This is exactly the reason why this is not only wildly illegal, under both domestic & international law, but also why it is so disastrous for world order & US national security.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
January 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
People have no idea what a premium we have enjoyed and what losing it will cost us
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:15 PM
People have no idea what a premium we have enjoyed and what losing it will cost us
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
there is one and only one political strategy, and that is: “hang trump like an anchor around the neck of every single elected republican and the party itself.” no ‘friends across the aisle.’ no ‘the fever will break.’ anyone not on board with that has to go. no exceptions
![Gallup poll | 12/1-12/15
President Trump approval crosstabs (%)
🟥Overall (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥Democratic (93/3 disapprove) [-90]
🟩Republican (89/8 approve) [+81]
🟥Independent (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥18-34 (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥35-54 (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥55+ (53/43 disapprove) [-10]
🟥No college (55/37 disapprove) [-18]
🟥College graduate (59/37 disapprove) [-22]
🟥Male (53/42 disapprove) [-11]
🟥Female (64/30 disapprove) [-34]
🟥White (52/46 disapprove) [-6]
🟥Non-white (71/21 disapprove) [-50]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreifnv6vxufu6icjvsd5toirz3lmqkzertdpdnlqh7q44momevhfjqq@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 2:42 AM
there is one and only one political strategy, and that is: “hang trump like an anchor around the neck of every single elected republican and the party itself.” no ‘friends across the aisle.’ no ‘the fever will break.’ anyone not on board with that has to go. no exceptions
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
The 2007-20 economy relied, to an unhealthy degree, on very low interest rates.
Whole industries made bank as long as they got virtually free money from the govt and could easily roll over debt, but now have trouble and appear out of ideas.
Also helps explain why Trump keeps demanding lower rates.
Whole industries made bank as long as they got virtually free money from the govt and could easily roll over debt, but now have trouble and appear out of ideas.
Also helps explain why Trump keeps demanding lower rates.
December 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The 2007-20 economy relied, to an unhealthy degree, on very low interest rates.
Whole industries made bank as long as they got virtually free money from the govt and could easily roll over debt, but now have trouble and appear out of ideas.
Also helps explain why Trump keeps demanding lower rates.
Whole industries made bank as long as they got virtually free money from the govt and could easily roll over debt, but now have trouble and appear out of ideas.
Also helps explain why Trump keeps demanding lower rates.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
On the one hand, we can have people being economically productive, contributing to their communities, and paying most taxes without receiving most government benefits.
On the other hand, the rest of us could pay to have less of that in exchange for seeing images of people getting hurt.
Trade-offs.
On the other hand, the rest of us could pay to have less of that in exchange for seeing images of people getting hurt.
Trade-offs.
Forgetting the whole inhumane thing, it's not even cost effective to imprison illegal immigrants. It makes no sense except as a message. And that message is invaluable to fascist racists.
December 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
On the one hand, we can have people being economically productive, contributing to their communities, and paying most taxes without receiving most government benefits.
On the other hand, the rest of us could pay to have less of that in exchange for seeing images of people getting hurt.
Trade-offs.
On the other hand, the rest of us could pay to have less of that in exchange for seeing images of people getting hurt.
Trade-offs.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Folks, you can’t have Christian Nationalism without the antisemitism. It’s a central tenet of the ideology. The fact some of these Jewish Heritage folks are just realizing this is wild to me.
December 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Folks, you can’t have Christian Nationalism without the antisemitism. It’s a central tenet of the ideology. The fact some of these Jewish Heritage folks are just realizing this is wild to me.
Reposted by Andrew Tuck
Putin calling all the shots. Witkoff either doesn’t understand Putin’s goals or doesn’t want to and doesn’t care. Ukraine deserves better. And so do we. www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA
The Kremlin fueled the rise of Trump’s friend Steve Witkoff with a prisoner release, sidelining career diplomats.
www.wsj.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Putin calling all the shots. Witkoff either doesn’t understand Putin’s goals or doesn’t want to and doesn’t care. Ukraine deserves better. And so do we. www.wsj.com/world/putin-...