Josh Zingher
@zingherpolisci.bsky.social
Political Scientist. Author of “Political Choice in a Polarized America” @OUP. Dad. Sauna enthusiast. Crossword solver. Powerlifter. Cyclist. ✡️ ∞
Views are mine alone. RT!=endorsement
Views are mine alone. RT!=endorsement
Pinned
Everything that’s happened over the past six months has been a response to an imaginary crisis. There is no immigrant invasion. No trade crisis. No scientific or governance crisis. Just people completely high off their own supply trying to fundamentally reorder society. None of this had to happen.
It’s all happening on X, the everything app.
BREAKING: X’s chatbot Grok isn’t just making AI porn deepfakes, it’s now making Nazi AI porn deepfakes, undressing women and showing them wearing “swastika bikinis”. Many of these women are Jewish, including a recently deceased Holocaust survivor.
Elon Musk’s “Grok” is undressing women and showing them in swastika bikinis
One woman targeted is a Jewish Holocaust survivor
decoherence.media
January 7, 2026 at 1:44 PM
It’s all happening on X, the everything app.
This quest for territorial expansion is directly downstream from MAGA’s effort to redefine America as an ethnostate for White Americans. When you view the world this way, every action is zero sun.
Ogles: "It's important that we have a stake in Greenland, that they are quite frankly a protectorate of the US. They've been in relationship with Denmark - that needs to end. We've spilled more blood protecting Greenland than the Danes... we are the dominant predator force in the Western Hemisphere"
January 7, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This quest for territorial expansion is directly downstream from MAGA’s effort to redefine America as an ethnostate for White Americans. When you view the world this way, every action is zero sun.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
if we can't clearly say that a party whitewashing a coup is anti-democratic and un-American, then we've truly lost the plot
Pardon my coup
Accurate political journalism requires a bias toward democracy
www.gelliottmorris.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
if we can't clearly say that a party whitewashing a coup is anti-democratic and un-American, then we've truly lost the plot
Reposted by Josh Zingher
People are sleeping on Alaska as a potential Dem Senate pickup. It is a state with unique libertarian politics and is heavily dependent on federal spending. Peltola has won statewide before and is very much live underdog.
ANALYSIS | Why the potential return of a popular Alaska congresswoman could spell doom for Senate Republicans
Why a return of a popular Alaska politician could spell doom for Senate Republicans
www.independent.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
People are sleeping on Alaska as a potential Dem Senate pickup. It is a state with unique libertarian politics and is heavily dependent on federal spending. Peltola has won statewide before and is very much live underdog.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
the entire 2024 campaign was a national exercise in mass delusion and gaslighting and nothing in my life compares to it. It was a lonely feeling for those of use experiencing reality.
January 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM
the entire 2024 campaign was a national exercise in mass delusion and gaslighting and nothing in my life compares to it. It was a lonely feeling for those of use experiencing reality.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
You see this right down to micro-levels- the person who is an absolute asshole on the community Facebook group shuts up really quickly at the town meeting if you call them out. They're all cowards deep down, hiding behind money and privelege, and it's why it's so so important to stand up to them
So many of our well bred elites have never encountered an actual bully and are just completely flummoxed in the presence of one. He always backs down. Bullies look for easy targets.
January 6, 2026 at 9:35 PM
You see this right down to micro-levels- the person who is an absolute asshole on the community Facebook group shuts up really quickly at the town meeting if you call them out. They're all cowards deep down, hiding behind money and privelege, and it's why it's so so important to stand up to them
Yarvin is not a good thinker, just fundamentally lazy. It's crazy people view him as some sort of oracle--he struggles to string together coherent thoughts. This is just gutter racism masquerading as enlightened thought.
Give me the American Constitution, birthright citizenship, equal protection of the laws, and simple republican government. Not whatever the heck this is.
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Yarvin is not a good thinker, just fundamentally lazy. It's crazy people view him as some sort of oracle--he struggles to string together coherent thoughts. This is just gutter racism masquerading as enlightened thought.
People are sleeping on Alaska as a potential Dem Senate pickup. It is a state with unique libertarian politics and is heavily dependent on federal spending. Peltola has won statewide before and is very much live underdog.
ANALYSIS | Why the potential return of a popular Alaska congresswoman could spell doom for Senate Republicans
Why a return of a popular Alaska politician could spell doom for Senate Republicans
www.independent.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
People are sleeping on Alaska as a potential Dem Senate pickup. It is a state with unique libertarian politics and is heavily dependent on federal spending. Peltola has won statewide before and is very much live underdog.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
You cannot be “protect western civilization” and reject enlightenment rationalism and the pluralism that is baked into our constitution. They fundamentally reject the mantle they claim to have inherited.
January 6, 2026 at 5:27 PM
You cannot be “protect western civilization” and reject enlightenment rationalism and the pluralism that is baked into our constitution. They fundamentally reject the mantle they claim to have inherited.
We’re a rogue state governed by barbarians. They’re triggering a chain of events they can neither appreciate nor understand. We’ve empowered a group of people that cannot understand the country’s best interests in the short or long terms. Instant gratification via graft is their only commitment.
“when the strong dominate the weak, the weak try to become strong…That can mean global rearmament. That can mean nuclear proliferation. It can also mean that a foolish world once again endures the high cost of forgetting what it’s like when great powers go to war.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Unleashing Forces Beyond His Control
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM
We’re a rogue state governed by barbarians. They’re triggering a chain of events they can neither appreciate nor understand. We’ve empowered a group of people that cannot understand the country’s best interests in the short or long terms. Instant gratification via graft is their only commitment.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
It’s 2026. This current Era feels like the most unstable period I’ve experienced. We’re dealing with disruptive technologies that are running out way ahead of regulations and the culture’s ability to handle them. Know nothing populism is rampant. Yet, I’m pretty hopeful despite the chaos. 1/x
January 1, 2026 at 7:31 PM
It’s 2026. This current Era feels like the most unstable period I’ve experienced. We’re dealing with disruptive technologies that are running out way ahead of regulations and the culture’s ability to handle them. Know nothing populism is rampant. Yet, I’m pretty hopeful despite the chaos. 1/x
Reposted by Josh Zingher
Fascism is about exerting power over others. Some power is physical coercion, but more insidious is that fascists want to force you to accept lies that contradict with what you observe with your own eyes. Thus, it’s no surprise that fascists love AI slop.
This video, viewed millions of times on TikTok, Facebook and X, claims to show Venezuelans taking to the street to thank the US for detaining Maduro.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
January 4, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Fascism is about exerting power over others. Some power is physical coercion, but more insidious is that fascists want to force you to accept lies that contradict with what you observe with your own eyes. Thus, it’s no surprise that fascists love AI slop.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
Trump is reportedly asking advisors what countries we can invade to obtain VHS tapes, Ford Taurus station wagons, and smoking inside restaurants.
A reminder that Trump has been fantasizing about seizing oil from other countries for more than a decade, before he even ran for president: www.nationalreview.com/2015/07/dona...
Donald Trump’s Odd Fixation on Seizing Middle Eastern Oil Fields | National Review
Trump has in recent years repeatedly endorsed the bizarre, bellicose fantasy that the U.S. could and should seize oil fields in Iraq and Libya.
www.nationalreview.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Trump is reportedly asking advisors what countries we can invade to obtain VHS tapes, Ford Taurus station wagons, and smoking inside restaurants.
Trump is reportedly asking advisors what countries we can invade to obtain VHS tapes, Ford Taurus station wagons, and smoking inside restaurants.
A reminder that Trump has been fantasizing about seizing oil from other countries for more than a decade, before he even ran for president: www.nationalreview.com/2015/07/dona...
Donald Trump’s Odd Fixation on Seizing Middle Eastern Oil Fields | National Review
Trump has in recent years repeatedly endorsed the bizarre, bellicose fantasy that the U.S. could and should seize oil fields in Iraq and Libya.
www.nationalreview.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Trump is reportedly asking advisors what countries we can invade to obtain VHS tapes, Ford Taurus station wagons, and smoking inside restaurants.
Fascism is about exerting power over others. Some power is physical coercion, but more insidious is that fascists want to force you to accept lies that contradict with what you observe with your own eyes. Thus, it’s no surprise that fascists love AI slop.
This video, viewed millions of times on TikTok, Facebook and X, claims to show Venezuelans taking to the street to thank the US for detaining Maduro.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
January 4, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Fascism is about exerting power over others. Some power is physical coercion, but more insidious is that fascists want to force you to accept lies that contradict with what you observe with your own eyes. Thus, it’s no surprise that fascists love AI slop.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
So if this is accurate reporting (originally from October) then it makes the current talk of investment and “transition” governments much clearer. It seems Maduro was exploring possible negotiated settlements but Rubio drew a hard line at his remaining in power.
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Exclusive: Venezuelan leaders offered U.S. a path to stay in power without Maduro
Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez used Doha backchannels to offer Washington a 'Cartel Light' plan for a managed Venezuela transition that keeps chavismo in power.
www.miamiherald.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:15 AM
So if this is accurate reporting (originally from October) then it makes the current talk of investment and “transition” governments much clearer. It seems Maduro was exploring possible negotiated settlements but Rubio drew a hard line at his remaining in power.
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Whispers <Venezuela is twice the size of Texas and still has a government>
Trump says Venezuela's oil wealth "goes also to the United States of America in the form of reimbursement for the damages caused us by that country"
January 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Whispers <Venezuela is twice the size of Texas and still has a government>
Reposted by Josh Zingher
At the end of the day, these are just some not very bright guys who are in way over their heads.
January 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM
At the end of the day, these are just some not very bright guys who are in way over their heads.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
In this vein, what I keep coming back to is that this group of principals -- especially Trump -- have strong generalized dispositions about how social life works but unusually weak cognitive & institutional frameworks for translating that into policy. (3/n)
January 3, 2026 at 11:46 PM
In this vein, what I keep coming back to is that this group of principals -- especially Trump -- have strong generalized dispositions about how social life works but unusually weak cognitive & institutional frameworks for translating that into policy. (3/n)
Reposted by Josh Zingher
for me, the apparent absence of any serious policy process, clear thinking about the national interest or more concrete foreign-policy goals, or effort to look down the game tree is impressive even by Trump standards (1/n)
“.. There is no evidence that anyone on the Trump team has thought about what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next year ..
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
January 3, 2026 at 11:46 PM
for me, the apparent absence of any serious policy process, clear thinking about the national interest or more concrete foreign-policy goals, or effort to look down the game tree is impressive even by Trump standards (1/n)
Reposted by Josh Zingher
Thank god Chuck Schumer isn’t alive to see this.
January 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Thank god Chuck Schumer isn’t alive to see this.
Thank god Chuck Schumer isn’t alive to see this.
January 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Thank god Chuck Schumer isn’t alive to see this.
This thing is gonna make Iraq look like an exercise in competence
January 3, 2026 at 6:15 PM
This thing is gonna make Iraq look like an exercise in competence
Congress is a dead letter.
News: Gang of Eight in Congress were only notified about Trump's Venezuela operation after it began, source familiar tells me. That means the heads of the Intelligence Committees in Senate and House were *not* consulted. Just crazy.
January 3, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Congress is a dead letter.
Reposted by Josh Zingher
The president is getting intravenous drugs and taking repeated cognitive exams and MRIs with no explanation and the entire country is going along as if business as usual. We need something to pop this bubble of delusion.
The entire 2024 campaign was a hallucination. There is no other way to put it. The whole thing was a collective fever dream.
I’m thinking this morning about all the people I spoke to last year who were absolutely convinced, and tried to convince me, that Trump would be antiwar compared to Biden and Harris.
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
The president is getting intravenous drugs and taking repeated cognitive exams and MRIs with no explanation and the entire country is going along as if business as usual. We need something to pop this bubble of delusion.