Debra Leiter
@debraleiter.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Political Scientist at UMKC. Proud comparativist. Warning: Be prepared to hear about political science. All opinions expressed are my own.
I know people love political scientists, but we don’t usually get a parade! At ISA-MW in St. Louis.
November 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I know people love political scientists, but we don’t usually get a parade! At ISA-MW in St. Louis.
At the start of the term, voters seemed skeptical of the “iron rule” of midterm loss. More recent data from @verasight.io paints a more complex picture. Check out our (@marystegmaier.bsky.social & Mike Lewis-Beck) new piece @center4politics.bsky.social
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
centerforpolitics.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
At the start of the term, voters seemed skeptical of the “iron rule” of midterm loss. More recent data from @verasight.io paints a more complex picture. Check out our (@marystegmaier.bsky.social & Mike Lewis-Beck) new piece @center4politics.bsky.social
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
Just came across this great piece by Claassen, Ackermann and Zechmeister about measuring attitudes towards democracy, and it’s great. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Just came across this great piece by Claassen, Ackermann and Zechmeister about measuring attitudes towards democracy, and it’s great. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Does anyone else ever get a song stuck in your head when you are reading academic work? For me just one paper on wishful thinking or even motivated reasoning and I have Go West blaring in my head for the next two days.
July 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Does anyone else ever get a song stuck in your head when you are reading academic work? For me just one paper on wishful thinking or even motivated reasoning and I have Go West blaring in my head for the next two days.
Does resentment drive policies attitudes that impact women and families? Nicole Kalaf-Hughes and I find clear impacts in our new article in ConLawNow. Open access!
ideaexchange.uakron.edu/conlawnow/vo...
ideaexchange.uakron.edu/conlawnow/vo...
It's Not About Children: How Gender Resentment Shapes Public Opinion on Abortion in the United States
The debate around women’s reproductive health care, and particularly restrictions on abortion, remains a hotly contested area of American politics. Increasingly, restrictions on abortion access have b...
ideaexchange.uakron.edu
June 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Does resentment drive policies attitudes that impact women and families? Nicole Kalaf-Hughes and I find clear impacts in our new article in ConLawNow. Open access!
ideaexchange.uakron.edu/conlawnow/vo...
ideaexchange.uakron.edu/conlawnow/vo...
Will 2026 see the classic midterm loss? Voters aren't so sure. Using @verasight.bsky.social data, @marystegmaier.bsky.social, Michael Lewis-Beck and I see voters uncertain of the "iron law" of midterm loss. Today @center4politics.bsky.social's Crystal Ball.
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
The Midterm Loss Rule: What Do Voters Expect in 2026? - Sabato's Crystal Ball
The public's early assessment of which party will win control of Congress in 2026
centerforpolitics.org
May 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Will 2026 see the classic midterm loss? Voters aren't so sure. Using @verasight.bsky.social data, @marystegmaier.bsky.social, Michael Lewis-Beck and I see voters uncertain of the "iron law" of midterm loss. Today @center4politics.bsky.social's Crystal Ball.
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/...
Reposted by Debra Leiter
🗳️ Populism is a warning sign.
English local elections show it again: People feel abandoned & look scapegoats.
Drawing on own research & others, I argue 👇🏽
💡 To counter populism: We need to reinvest in citizens, e.g. housing, health & dignity.
Short 🧵
📖 www.socialeurope.eu/to-counter-p...
English local elections show it again: People feel abandoned & look scapegoats.
Drawing on own research & others, I argue 👇🏽
💡 To counter populism: We need to reinvest in citizens, e.g. housing, health & dignity.
Short 🧵
📖 www.socialeurope.eu/to-counter-p...
To Counter Populism and Bolster Security, Europe Must Reinvest In Its Citizens
Facing security threats and rising populism, Europe needs state investment in citizens, not austerity that fuelled discontent.
www.socialeurope.eu
May 2, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🗳️ Populism is a warning sign.
English local elections show it again: People feel abandoned & look scapegoats.
Drawing on own research & others, I argue 👇🏽
💡 To counter populism: We need to reinvest in citizens, e.g. housing, health & dignity.
Short 🧵
📖 www.socialeurope.eu/to-counter-p...
English local elections show it again: People feel abandoned & look scapegoats.
Drawing on own research & others, I argue 👇🏽
💡 To counter populism: We need to reinvest in citizens, e.g. housing, health & dignity.
Short 🧵
📖 www.socialeurope.eu/to-counter-p...
This is just very, very cool.
🚨 Very excited that our paper on *Rulers on the Road* has been cond. accepted at the AJPS @ajpseditor.bsky.social. We analyze emperors' strategies of itinerant rule in the Holy Roman Empire 919-1519. Fun working with @claranw.bsky.social, @andrejkokkonen.bsky.social & Jørgen Møller shorturl.at/Spm7z
April 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This is just very, very cool.
Our new paper in PRQ examines how resentment shapes efficacy- we find high resentment lowers external but raises internal- folks with high resentment think they understand the system all too well.
t.co/Sa6SFyKtTC
t.co/Sa6SFyKtTC
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10659129251336169
t.co
April 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Our new paper in PRQ examines how resentment shapes efficacy- we find high resentment lowers external but raises internal- folks with high resentment think they understand the system all too well.
t.co/Sa6SFyKtTC
t.co/Sa6SFyKtTC
A great APSA resource!
Need research grant opportunities? 📢 Consider applying for APSA’s Spring Centennial Center #Research #Grants, which are available to contingent and community college faculty, graduate scholars, and educators in departments without PhD programs.
politicalsciencenow.com/apsa-spring-... #polisky
politicalsciencenow.com/apsa-spring-... #polisky
APSA Spring Centennial Center Research Grant Applications Now Open | Deadline: April 15, 2025 -
Each year, the APSA Centennial Center offers over $100,000 in research grants to APSA members through its Spring and Summer application deadlines. Learn more about eligibility and funding areas for…
politicalsciencenow.com
March 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A great APSA resource!
Does it ever feel like some parties are immune from scandal? We check! Newest article with Beth Vonnahme in JEPOP. Thanks to are amazing editors - the entire special issue is awesome
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Are some parties immune from scandal? Party family, scandal exposure, and party evaluation
Across Europe, the populist far-right has seen increasing electoral success, often by criticizing political elites as disconnected, failed, and inherently corrupt. Yet for all their emphasis on “cl...
www.tandfonline.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Does it ever feel like some parties are immune from scandal? We check! Newest article with Beth Vonnahme in JEPOP. Thanks to are amazing editors - the entire special issue is awesome
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
New paper in press! Check out our new article discussing the evolution and impact of political-economy forecasting models and where they are going in future. So proud to be a part of this amazing team of co-authors. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Election forecasting: Political economy models
We draw globally on a major election forecasting tool, political economy models. Vote intention polls in pre-election public surveys are a widely know…
www.sciencedirect.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
New paper in press! Check out our new article discussing the evolution and impact of political-economy forecasting models and where they are going in future. So proud to be a part of this amazing team of co-authors. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Who is in government matters- the opportunities start here. If you are able, please consider supporting our students seeing themselves in the halls of power. Support a student. Shape the future.
giving.umkc.edu/schools/Univ...
giving.umkc.edu/schools/Univ...
Student Legislative Internships
Join me this Giving Day in helping legislative interns with their travel costs!
giving.umkc.edu
March 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Who is in government matters- the opportunities start here. If you are able, please consider supporting our students seeing themselves in the halls of power. Support a student. Shape the future.
giving.umkc.edu/schools/Univ...
giving.umkc.edu/schools/Univ...
Reposted by Debra Leiter
New issue of the Political Science Educator is available!
educate.apsanet.org/political-sc...
Great contributions by @edorssom.bsky.social, @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social, @thornburg.bsky.social, and @debraleiter.bsky.social among others
#TeachLearnSky #Polisky #EduSky
educate.apsanet.org/political-sc...
Great contributions by @edorssom.bsky.social, @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social, @thornburg.bsky.social, and @debraleiter.bsky.social among others
#TeachLearnSky #Polisky #EduSky
Political Science Educator: Volume 28, Issue 2
A Newsletter from APSA's Political Science Education Organized Section Volume 28, Issue 2 - Winter/Spring 2025 Editors: Matt Evans (Northwest Arkansas Community College) & Colin M. Brown (Northeastern...
educate.apsanet.org
February 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
New issue of the Political Science Educator is available!
educate.apsanet.org/political-sc...
Great contributions by @edorssom.bsky.social, @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social, @thornburg.bsky.social, and @debraleiter.bsky.social among others
#TeachLearnSky #Polisky #EduSky
educate.apsanet.org/political-sc...
Great contributions by @edorssom.bsky.social, @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social, @thornburg.bsky.social, and @debraleiter.bsky.social among others
#TeachLearnSky #Polisky #EduSky
Want a quick and engaging lesson on forecasting? Check out @danijoemartin.bsky.social and my new piece in the APSA Educator on Super Bowl forecasting. educate.apsanet.org/super-bowl-f...
Super Bowl Forecasting: Turning the Big Game into a Big Lesson
Everyone loves a nail-biter, a close competition where the winner is left in doubt until the very last minute. When the stakes are high, people care about winning and everyone pays attention.
educate.apsanet.org
February 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Want a quick and engaging lesson on forecasting? Check out @danijoemartin.bsky.social and my new piece in the APSA Educator on Super Bowl forecasting. educate.apsanet.org/super-bowl-f...
Free parking was one of the most engaging discussions and debates in my environmental politics class. I never met Donald Shoup but he will be missed. Sharing his work here
shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PrefaceHighC...
shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PrefaceHighC...
shoup.bol.ucla.edu
February 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Free parking was one of the most engaging discussions and debates in my environmental politics class. I never met Donald Shoup but he will be missed. Sharing his work here
shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PrefaceHighC...
shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PrefaceHighC...
My UMKC students have a Super Bowl forecast: KC 31, Philly 26! Now you know!
February 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
My UMKC students have a Super Bowl forecast: KC 31, Philly 26! Now you know!
APSA deadline extended til the 20th! Consider submitting to the Political Forecasting Related Group- there’s a lot of politics to forecast this year!
Deadline Extended to January 20th!📢There's still time to submit your #APSA2025 proposals! Join us for the 121st APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition to explore the theme, “Reimagining Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times,” in Vancouver, Canada.
Submit by 1/20! connect.apsanet.org/apsa2025
Submit by 1/20! connect.apsanet.org/apsa2025
January 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
APSA deadline extended til the 20th! Consider submitting to the Political Forecasting Related Group- there’s a lot of politics to forecast this year!
If you are an elections person for any and all regions of the world, this year has been WILD and nothing is slowing down for next year.
December 4, 2024 at 10:41 PM
If you are an elections person for any and all regions of the world, this year has been WILD and nothing is slowing down for next year.
Saying the quiet part out loud:
“That would not be novel in Washington, D.C.,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, when asked whether the allegations about Mr. Hegseth’s treatment of women and alcohol abuse would be disqualifying.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12...
“That would not be novel in Washington, D.C.,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, when asked whether the allegations about Mr. Hegseth’s treatment of women and alcohol abuse would be disqualifying.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12...
Trump Considers Others for Defense Secretary as Hegseth Meets With Senators: Live Updates
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Saying the quiet part out loud:
“That would not be novel in Washington, D.C.,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, when asked whether the allegations about Mr. Hegseth’s treatment of women and alcohol abuse would be disqualifying.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12...
“That would not be novel in Washington, D.C.,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, when asked whether the allegations about Mr. Hegseth’s treatment of women and alcohol abuse would be disqualifying.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12...
Finally heading over - All these awesome starter packs have made it so much easier!
November 14, 2024 at 12:16 AM
Finally heading over - All these awesome starter packs have made it so much easier!