Valerie Bunce
@bunski.bsky.social
Political scientist, retired from Cornell, specialist
in transitions from democracy to dictatorship (and vice-versa) in Postcommunist Europe and Eurasia. Agonized observor of US transition.
in transitions from democracy to dictatorship (and vice-versa) in Postcommunist Europe and Eurasia. Agonized observor of US transition.
Women go to grocery stores, not men in Trump’s world—but only middle class and lower women. I really doubt Trump ever bought his own groceries.
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Women go to grocery stores, not men in Trump’s world—but only middle class and lower women. I really doubt Trump ever bought his own groceries.
Why do you think he ever shopped for himself?
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Why do you think he ever shopped for himself?
Unlikely he ever shopped in a grocery store. I suspect he was watching a movie and saw someone in a grocery store writing a check. Also possible he has never used a credit card and thought (as again he was watching a movie) that was ID.
November 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Unlikely he ever shopped in a grocery store. I suspect he was watching a movie and saw someone in a grocery store writing a check. Also possible he has never used a credit card and thought (as again he was watching a movie) that was ID.
We are always too ready to assume he will do the right thing. Stop hoping, start taking seriously all the data we already have on Trump and his enablers. Maya Angelou comes to mind: when someone tells you who they are (again and again), believe him.
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We are always too ready to assume he will do the right thing. Stop hoping, start taking seriously all the data we already have on Trump and his enablers. Maya Angelou comes to mind: when someone tells you who they are (again and again), believe him.
So right. And so many members of the caring professions, for example, are women.
October 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
So right. And so many members of the caring professions, for example, are women.
My reading of the Trump-Putin game is different. It reminds me of a common relationship dynamic in which the purpose of couples’ arguing is to experience the pleasures of reconciliation.
October 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
My reading of the Trump-Putin game is different. It reminds me of a common relationship dynamic in which the purpose of couples’ arguing is to experience the pleasures of reconciliation.
He is so good at not being embarrassed. Or for that matter, truthful.
October 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
He is so good at not being embarrassed. Or for that matter, truthful.
Yes—the constant is the flattery, the acceptance into the club of “tough guys.” Democratic leaders are wimps, but Putin—now there’s a trophy leader to go with Trump’s trophy wife.
October 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Yes—the constant is the flattery, the acceptance into the club of “tough guys.” Democratic leaders are wimps, but Putin—now there’s a trophy leader to go with Trump’s trophy wife.
I am wondering: what does she know that people outside the Trump
Circle don’t know. She could be looking ahead to Maga post-Trump and creating a lane for herself. Especially likely if other Rs will be brought down along w Trump.
Circle don’t know. She could be looking ahead to Maga post-Trump and creating a lane for herself. Especially likely if other Rs will be brought down along w Trump.
October 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I am wondering: what does she know that people outside the Trump
Circle don’t know. She could be looking ahead to Maga post-Trump and creating a lane for herself. Especially likely if other Rs will be brought down along w Trump.
Circle don’t know. She could be looking ahead to Maga post-Trump and creating a lane for herself. Especially likely if other Rs will be brought down along w Trump.
If only Republicans in Congress would just ignore Trump’s dangerous, stupid, policies and carry out their constitutional duties.
October 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
If only Republicans in Congress would just ignore Trump’s dangerous, stupid, policies and carry out their constitutional duties.
Yes! Just what we need.
September 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Yes! Just what we need.
But any thoughts about why the authors put out this report?
September 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
But any thoughts about why the authors put out this report?
Reposted by Valerie Bunce
The report completely neglects the way that much of the momentum in far right extremism has now become part of STATE VIOLENCE. It does not count ICE actions, militia actions, vigilantism clothed in state authority. THIS IS WHERE THAT VIOLENCE NOW RESIDES. (4)
September 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The report completely neglects the way that much of the momentum in far right extremism has now become part of STATE VIOLENCE. It does not count ICE actions, militia actions, vigilantism clothed in state authority. THIS IS WHERE THAT VIOLENCE NOW RESIDES. (4)
Great comments! I know you know what you are talking about!
September 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Great comments! I know you know what you are talking about!
Grievances have to be continuously invented, restocked and repeated, if they are the driving force behind politics and policy.
September 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Grievances have to be continuously invented, restocked and repeated, if they are the driving force behind politics and policy.
So did embarrassment. The more grandiose, self-promoting and moralistic the claim, the more likely it is a lie. These people specialize in super-size whoppers.
September 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
So did embarrassment. The more grandiose, self-promoting and moralistic the claim, the more likely it is a lie. These people specialize in super-size whoppers.
So the UN is only one more case of retribution for this guy, like, say, Letitia James or Columbia? One wonders—what did Tylenol do to him? Windmills? Shower heads?He is quite the grievance collector.
September 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
So the UN is only one more case of retribution for this guy, like, say, Letitia James or Columbia? One wonders—what did Tylenol do to him? Windmills? Shower heads?He is quite the grievance collector.
Geopolitical genius striles again.
September 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Geopolitical genius striles again.
But why just the northeast—Michigan and the other great state schools in the Midwest. But there is the small matter of weather…
September 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
But why just the northeast—Michigan and the other great state schools in the Midwest. But there is the small matter of weather…
Perfect. And the states are making no cuts. It’s a matter of sharing with localities. And the localities are making no cuts, it’s a matter of sharing with neighborhoods.
September 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Perfect. And the states are making no cuts. It’s a matter of sharing with localities. And the localities are making no cuts, it’s a matter of sharing with neighborhoods.
Hard choices for blue states, because they care about the well-being of their populations. Red states have less of a problem, because they don’t care.
September 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Hard choices for blue states, because they care about the well-being of their populations. Red states have less of a problem, because they don’t care.
Surreal, but not if you were in Moscow in the second half of the ‘90s.
September 3, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Surreal, but not if you were in Moscow in the second half of the ‘90s.