Frank DiStefano
@distefanofj.bsky.social
Pinned
Frank DiStefano
@distefanofj.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Why We Can't Govern Cities: Rousseau, Locke, and the Good Woman of Seztuan
Are people inherently good? Or are they inherently disappointing?
substack.com
Ezra Klein made news when he called out the failure of Democrats to properly govern major cities.
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
We need to bring back middlebrow culture. Middlebrow culture like art, poetry, history, great books, learning languages, philosophy, dance, and museums is aspirational culture.
It's meant to push you to make you better.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/bring-back...
It's meant to push you to make you better.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/bring-back...
Bring Back the Middlebrow
You're more than just a worker. Learning and bettering yourself are necessary to be a democratic citizen.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
We need to bring back middlebrow culture. Middlebrow culture like art, poetry, history, great books, learning languages, philosophy, dance, and museums is aspirational culture.
It's meant to push you to make you better.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/bring-back...
It's meant to push you to make you better.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/bring-back...
Why have so many prominent people from the left “moved right” (think Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Taibbi, and RFK)? They didn’t change their views, and the left-right spectrum was never real or permanent anyway.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-broken...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-broken...
THE BROKENISTS DID NOT MOVE RIGHT
People haven't moved politically. It’s a different fight. It’s also transitional. This isn't the final form of the Republican or Democratic Parties.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Why have so many prominent people from the left “moved right” (think Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Taibbi, and RFK)? They didn’t change their views, and the left-right spectrum was never real or permanent anyway.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-broken...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-broken...
The question isn’t whether what DOGE is good or bad (it’s some of both). It’s why no one has done anything similar around their priorities and beliefs—going through federal agencies and programs and laws to ensure they’re doing what we expect them to?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-actio...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-actio...
DOGE, Action Bias, and the New Deal
Put aside whether you think DOGE is good or bad. What interests me is why it hasn’t happened before in my lifetime.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The question isn’t whether what DOGE is good or bad (it’s some of both). It’s why no one has done anything similar around their priorities and beliefs—going through federal agencies and programs and laws to ensure they’re doing what we expect them to?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-actio...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-actio...
Five Reflections on the First Month of the Second Trump Presidency:
I. Trump and his brand of politics is normal now
II. Republicans have become the cool party
III. DOGE is important
IV. Foreign policy matters again
V. Woke isn’t dead; it’s losing
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/five-refle...
I. Trump and his brand of politics is normal now
II. Republicans have become the cool party
III. DOGE is important
IV. Foreign policy matters again
V. Woke isn’t dead; it’s losing
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/five-refle...
Five Reflections on the First Month of the Second Trump Presidency, in Light of the Realignment
Here are the five most surprising developments, and what I think they mean for the current realignment and future of America.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Five Reflections on the First Month of the Second Trump Presidency:
I. Trump and his brand of politics is normal now
II. Republicans have become the cool party
III. DOGE is important
IV. Foreign policy matters again
V. Woke isn’t dead; it’s losing
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/five-refle...
I. Trump and his brand of politics is normal now
II. Republicans have become the cool party
III. DOGE is important
IV. Foreign policy matters again
V. Woke isn’t dead; it’s losing
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/five-refle...
If you want to find meaning and purpose in your life and become the person you want to be, become a virtuous American citizen.
I don’t mean kindness, charity, or sexual morality. I mean character.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/you-should...
I don’t mean kindness, charity, or sexual morality. I mean character.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/you-should...
You Should Become a Virtuous Citizen
A self-help program to become the American you ought to be.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
If you want to find meaning and purpose in your life and become the person you want to be, become a virtuous American citizen.
I don’t mean kindness, charity, or sexual morality. I mean character.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/you-should...
I don’t mean kindness, charity, or sexual morality. I mean character.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/you-should...
The Trump administration’s seemingly perplexing moves to bully formerly friendly nations is almost certainly rooted in a logic about future war with China.
Should America throw off its empire of tributaries to build a hardened empire in North America?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/should-ame...
Should America throw off its empire of tributaries to build a hardened empire in North America?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/should-ame...
Should America Be a Bully?
Is it in America’s interest to throw around its considerable weight to get its way? That depends on your view of Thucydides and China.
www.renew-the-republic.com
February 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The Trump administration’s seemingly perplexing moves to bully formerly friendly nations is almost certainly rooted in a logic about future war with China.
Should America throw off its empire of tributaries to build a hardened empire in North America?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/should-ame...
Should America throw off its empire of tributaries to build a hardened empire in North America?
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/should-ame...
I write about how the trainwreck of twenty-first century work is the black hole warping American politics. Like a black hole, you see it because of it's powerful affect distorting everything around it.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/work-is-wa...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/work-is-wa...
Work is Warping Politics
Americans rarely touch their government directly. They engage with the American system at work.
www.renew-the-republic.com
January 30, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I write about how the trainwreck of twenty-first century work is the black hole warping American politics. Like a black hole, you see it because of it's powerful affect distorting everything around it.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/work-is-wa...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/work-is-wa...
Another reason why making elite professions the backbone of the Democratic coalition was terrible politics—they’re ladder climbers. Ladder climbers can’t have firm beliefs if they want to succeed at climbing to the top of ladders.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/further-re...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/further-re...
Further Reflections on the Obama Coalition In Light of the Executive Orders
For years, these policies were on a steady march through the institutions and society. With one small push, the whole thing wisped away into vapor.
www.renew-the-republic.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Another reason why making elite professions the backbone of the Democratic coalition was terrible politics—they’re ladder climbers. Ladder climbers can’t have firm beliefs if they want to succeed at climbing to the top of ladders.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/further-re...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/further-re...
The Obama Coalition was a mistake. It was never going to work.
It increasingly looks like our current realignment didn’t start with Donald Trump coming down the escalator. It started when Democrats sought to claim their “permanent majority” in 2008.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-obama-...
It increasingly looks like our current realignment didn’t start with Donald Trump coming down the escalator. It started when Democrats sought to claim their “permanent majority” in 2008.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-obama-...
The Obama Coalition Was a Mistake
Everyone should have realized from the start it was never going to work.
www.renew-the-republic.com
January 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The Obama Coalition was a mistake. It was never going to work.
It increasingly looks like our current realignment didn’t start with Donald Trump coming down the escalator. It started when Democrats sought to claim their “permanent majority” in 2008.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-obama-...
It increasingly looks like our current realignment didn’t start with Donald Trump coming down the escalator. It started when Democrats sought to claim their “permanent majority” in 2008.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-obama-...
If you want to understand how the failures of the California wildfires happened, you need to understand America is in an epidemic of our new most popular business buzzword: enshitification.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/wildfires-...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/wildfires-...
Wildfires, Mediocrity, and the Curse of "Ensh*tification"
Our elites aren’t failing. They’re doing this on purpose.
www.renew-the-republic.com
January 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
If you want to understand how the failures of the California wildfires happened, you need to understand America is in an epidemic of our new most popular business buzzword: enshitification.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/wildfires-...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/wildfires-...
I wrote about our meritocracy problem—not a problem with the idea of meritocracy, which is good, but of “The Meritocracy” we implemented.
substack.com/profile/4350...
substack.com/profile/4350...
Frank DiStefano on Substack
I wrote about our meritocracy problem—not a problem with the idea of meritocracy, which is good, but of “The Meritocracy” we implemented.
substack.com
January 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I wrote about our meritocracy problem—not a problem with the idea of meritocracy, which is good, but of “The Meritocracy” we implemented.
substack.com/profile/4350...
substack.com/profile/4350...
Among the most frustrating problems in how we talk about immigration is we don’t agree on what it means to have a good economy. To people who run things, it means the machinery of America churning out resources. For ordinary people, it means opportunity.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/our-elites...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/our-elites...
Our Elites Don't Understand What a Strong Economy Is
Everyone wants a strong economy. The problem is we don’t all agree on what a strong economy is.
www.renew-the-republic.com
January 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Among the most frustrating problems in how we talk about immigration is we don’t agree on what it means to have a good economy. To people who run things, it means the machinery of America churning out resources. For ordinary people, it means opportunity.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/our-elites...
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/our-elites...
A roundup of my best pieces from Renew the Republic.
If you’re not reading me yet, you'll enjoy an independent analysis of politics with philosophy, history, strategy, and a mission to support an independent movement to navigate the realignment and reform America.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re not reading me yet, you'll enjoy an independent analysis of politics with philosophy, history, strategy, and a mission to support an independent movement to navigate the realignment and reform America.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Year End Roundup
The Top Pieces of the Year, and What’s to Come
substack.com
December 31, 2024 at 10:12 PM
A roundup of my best pieces from Renew the Republic.
If you’re not reading me yet, you'll enjoy an independent analysis of politics with philosophy, history, strategy, and a mission to support an independent movement to navigate the realignment and reform America.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re not reading me yet, you'll enjoy an independent analysis of politics with philosophy, history, strategy, and a mission to support an independent movement to navigate the realignment and reform America.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The drone controversy has me thinking about what I call imperial lies.
There are three kinds of government lies: personal lies, sanctioned lies, and imperial lies. Imperial lies—lies governments tell to manipulate their citizens— are the dangerous ones.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/imperial-l...
There are three kinds of government lies: personal lies, sanctioned lies, and imperial lies. Imperial lies—lies governments tell to manipulate their citizens— are the dangerous ones.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/imperial-l...
Imperial Lies
The mystery of the craft flying over America has me thinking about the danger of official lies.
www.renew-the-republic.com
December 22, 2024 at 12:00 AM
The drone controversy has me thinking about what I call imperial lies.
There are three kinds of government lies: personal lies, sanctioned lies, and imperial lies. Imperial lies—lies governments tell to manipulate their citizens— are the dangerous ones.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/imperial-l...
There are three kinds of government lies: personal lies, sanctioned lies, and imperial lies. Imperial lies—lies governments tell to manipulate their citizens— are the dangerous ones.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/imperial-l...
Of course the pardon was corrupt. This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans because both would have done this.
We need to stop making excuses for abuses of power and selfish behavior.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/of-course-...
We need to stop making excuses for abuses of power and selfish behavior.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/of-course-...
Of Course the Pardon Was Corrupt
If we want to once again live in a society with integrity where things work, we have no choice but to denounce corruption wherever we see it without partisanship or favor.
www.renew-the-republic.com
December 7, 2024 at 9:52 PM
Of course the pardon was corrupt. This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans because both would have done this.
We need to stop making excuses for abuses of power and selfish behavior.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/of-course-...
We need to stop making excuses for abuses of power and selfish behavior.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/of-course-...
In a January Gallup poll, 43% of American adults said they were political independents. Only 27% said they were Republicans and 27% Democrats.
The question isn’t which party will win independents. The question is which party independents seize.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/which-part...
The question isn’t which party will win independents. The question is which party independents seize.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/which-part...
Which Party Will Independents Seize?
The question isn’t which party will capture independents. The question is which party independents will capture.
www.renew-the-republic.com
December 4, 2024 at 9:24 PM
In a January Gallup poll, 43% of American adults said they were political independents. Only 27% said they were Republicans and 27% Democrats.
The question isn’t which party will win independents. The question is which party independents seize.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/which-part...
The question isn’t which party will win independents. The question is which party independents seize.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/which-part...
Why has online world been great for discovery of new music but terrible for writing and ideas? For example, the rise of 70-something British drill rappers Pete and Bas, who you should check out.
Because it's built around the wrong metric: engagement.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/social-med...
Because it's built around the wrong metric: engagement.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/social-med...
Social Media and Substack Stepped Into the Building
I’ve been listening to the British drill rappers Pete and Bas. It has me thinking about what’s wrong with written social media and America’s market for ideas.
www.renew-the-republic.com
November 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Why has online world been great for discovery of new music but terrible for writing and ideas? For example, the rise of 70-something British drill rappers Pete and Bas, who you should check out.
Because it's built around the wrong metric: engagement.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/social-med...
Because it's built around the wrong metric: engagement.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/social-med...
Ezra Klein made news when he called out the failure of Democrats to properly govern major cities.
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why We Can't Govern Cities: Rousseau, Locke, and the Good Woman of Seztuan
Are people inherently good? Or are they inherently disappointing?
substack.com
November 19, 2024 at 8:29 PM
Ezra Klein made news when he called out the failure of Democrats to properly govern major cities.
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Democrats claim they’re the party of good government, but they completely control these pockets of wealth and opportunity and the results don’t match the promises.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I have the best hope for the Elon and Vivek's DOGE because who doesn’t want a government that’s a wise steward.
However, it’s trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem isn’t wasting money on dumb programs. Government doesn't deliver value.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-is-tr...
However, it’s trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem isn’t wasting money on dumb programs. Government doesn't deliver value.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-is-tr...
DOGE is Trying to Solve the Wrong Problem of Government
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are launching a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It shouldn't be looking to improve government efficiency but value.
www.renew-the-republic.com
November 16, 2024 at 9:45 PM
I have the best hope for the Elon and Vivek's DOGE because who doesn’t want a government that’s a wise steward.
However, it’s trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem isn’t wasting money on dumb programs. Government doesn't deliver value.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-is-tr...
However, it’s trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem isn’t wasting money on dumb programs. Government doesn't deliver value.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/doge-is-tr...
If they want to get back into America's good graces, Democrats over the next four years must come to terms with who is in their coalition.
A lot of people we're calling progressives are not in fact progressives.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/how-democr...
A lot of people we're calling progressives are not in fact progressives.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/how-democr...
How Democrats Went Wrong: Not All Progressives Are Progressives
The Democratic Party doesn’t understand its coalition.
www.renew-the-republic.com
November 13, 2024 at 5:31 PM
If they want to get back into America's good graces, Democrats over the next four years must come to terms with who is in their coalition.
A lot of people we're calling progressives are not in fact progressives.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/how-democr...
A lot of people we're calling progressives are not in fact progressives.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/how-democr...
In this piece I talk about what the election results tell us about the ongoing party realignment.
The big demographic shifts aren’t the important story. The demographics are changing because who and what our parties represent have changed.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/here-comes...
The big demographic shifts aren’t the important story. The demographics are changing because who and what our parties represent have changed.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/here-comes...
Here Comes the Realignment: Why the Democrats Lost and What Happens Now
The next few years are going to be a ride.
www.renew-the-republic.com
November 9, 2024 at 5:39 PM
In this piece I talk about what the election results tell us about the ongoing party realignment.
The big demographic shifts aren’t the important story. The demographics are changing because who and what our parties represent have changed.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/here-comes...
The big demographic shifts aren’t the important story. The demographics are changing because who and what our parties represent have changed.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/here-comes...
Tomorrow's election isn’t just about the top the ticket. There are five different kinds of political pieces and the way this election plays out will change how they are arranged on the board.
My thoughts about what’s really at stake.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-chessb...
My thoughts about what’s really at stake.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-chessb...
The Chessboard of This Election: Don't Watch the Kings, Watch the Board
If you want to know how the result of this election will affect the next years in America, pay attention to what it means for the positions of all the other pieces on the board.
www.renew-the-republic.com
November 4, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Tomorrow's election isn’t just about the top the ticket. There are five different kinds of political pieces and the way this election plays out will change how they are arranged on the board.
My thoughts about what’s really at stake.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-chessb...
My thoughts about what’s really at stake.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/the-chessb...
Feel like neither candidate has a compelling agenda and you’re voting against someone instead of for something?
Twelve rules for an agenda that would win and energize America.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/twelve-rul...
Twelve rules for an agenda that would win and energize America.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/twelve-rul...
Twelve Rules to Win the Election and Energize America
We’re a week away from another election. These are the principles and agenda that would win.
www.renew-the-republic.com
October 30, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Feel like neither candidate has a compelling agenda and you’re voting against someone instead of for something?
Twelve rules for an agenda that would win and energize America.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/twelve-rul...
Twelve rules for an agenda that would win and energize America.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/twelve-rul...
There are three reasons people chase power: status, utopia, and glory.
The problem with these candidates and parties is they’re status seekers. America flourishes when glory seekers are in charge.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/these-two-...
The problem with these candidates and parties is they’re status seekers. America flourishes when glory seekers are in charge.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/these-two-...
These Two Depressing Candidates are Chasing Status Instead of Glory
There are three reasons people chase after power: status, utopia, or glory. We need to replace the mediocre status seekers for people chasing glory.
www.renew-the-republic.com
October 23, 2024 at 4:50 PM
There are three reasons people chase power: status, utopia, and glory.
The problem with these candidates and parties is they’re status seekers. America flourishes when glory seekers are in charge.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/these-two-...
The problem with these candidates and parties is they’re status seekers. America flourishes when glory seekers are in charge.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/these-two-...
Winning the White House could be a poisoned chalice for the Democrats.
As the Australian breakdancer Raygun learned in Paris this summer, opportunities are only opportunities if you’re ready for your moment. If not, they’re a chance for self-destruction.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/is-the-pre...
As the Australian breakdancer Raygun learned in Paris this summer, opportunities are only opportunities if you’re ready for your moment. If not, they’re a chance for self-destruction.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/is-the-pre...
Is the Presidency a Poisoned Challenge for the Democrats?
Why the Democrats winning the White House could lead to the fate of Australia’s Raygun.
www.renew-the-republic.com
October 19, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Winning the White House could be a poisoned chalice for the Democrats.
As the Australian breakdancer Raygun learned in Paris this summer, opportunities are only opportunities if you’re ready for your moment. If not, they’re a chance for self-destruction.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/is-the-pre...
As the Australian breakdancer Raygun learned in Paris this summer, opportunities are only opportunities if you’re ready for your moment. If not, they’re a chance for self-destruction.
www.renew-the-republic.com/p/is-the-pre...