Jonathan Ladd
@jonmladd.bsky.social
I'm a political scientist in @mccourtschool.bsky.social. I study trust in institutions and media effects on the public.
Web page: https://www.jonathanmladd.com/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=J6tt69QAAAAJ&hl
Apologies for typos.
Web page: https://www.jonathanmladd.com/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=J6tt69QAAAAJ&hl
Apologies for typos.
It’s hard to remember the last time I saw a bigger defensive breakdown at the end of an NBA game.
WHAT A SET FROM SPO WHAT A FINISH FROM WIGGINS WHAT A NIGHT OF BASKETBALL
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
It’s hard to remember the last time I saw a bigger defensive breakdown at the end of an NBA game.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
It would be deeply unwise to keep the government shut down through Jan 2027. And real people were suffering. But if Dems withheld their votes for at least several more weeks you had a decent chance that:
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It would be deeply unwise to keep the government shut down through Jan 2027. And real people were suffering. But if Dems withheld their votes for at least several more weeks you had a decent chance that:
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
The last sentence should lead you to doubt how certain researchers could possibly be about the first sentence.
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The last sentence should lead you to doubt how certain researchers could possibly be about the first sentence.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Prioritize the anti-Trumpism coalition. Don't prioritize factional fighting within the Democratic Party. Point out the crimes of Trumpism. Resist whataboutism. Remember that Trump will not be in power forever. Plan to prosecute all his crimes. Remember that the Constitution is on your side. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
November 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Prioritize the anti-Trumpism coalition. Don't prioritize factional fighting within the Democratic Party. Point out the crimes of Trumpism. Resist whataboutism. Remember that Trump will not be in power forever. Plan to prosecute all his crimes. Remember that the Constitution is on your side. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
An agenda to oppose Trumpism: Assist non-Trumpists to take back control of the Republican party. Strengthen American civil society, with powerful groups/institutions to oppose Trumpism. A broad tent anti-Trump coalition, including moderate/conservative Dem candidates in conservative states.
November 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
An agenda to oppose Trumpism: Assist non-Trumpists to take back control of the Republican party. Strengthen American civil society, with powerful groups/institutions to oppose Trumpism. A broad tent anti-Trump coalition, including moderate/conservative Dem candidates in conservative states.
It would be deeply unwise to keep the government shut down through Jan 2027. And real people were suffering. But if Dems withheld their votes for at least several more weeks you had a decent chance that:
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It would be deeply unwise to keep the government shut down through Jan 2027. And real people were suffering. But if Dems withheld their votes for at least several more weeks you had a decent chance that:
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
1) Repubs popularity falls further
and/or
2) Repubs decide to end the filibuster
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
"Democrats could have held the line on the shutdown, and spent weeks watching Trump’s approval ratings fall," writes @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Senate Democrats Just Made a Huge Mistake
The shutdown was hurting Trump. Ending it helps him.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
"Democrats could have held the line on the shutdown, and spent weeks watching Trump’s approval ratings fall," writes @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
NEW: Donald Trump has pardoned a long list of allies in his bid to subvert the 2020 election including:
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 AM
NEW: Donald Trump has pardoned a long list of allies in his bid to subvert the 2020 election including:
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
A reasonable person would wonder why they bother doing things like this. The politically disengaged people who would be fooled by this essentially ceremonial vote will never learn that it happened at all.
This is key. The vote the Dems secured here is a fake nominal vote. Everyone knows this.
Markey & Pritzker weigh in…
November 10, 2025 at 3:39 AM
A reasonable person would wonder why they bother doing things like this. The politically disengaged people who would be fooled by this essentially ceremonial vote will never learn that it happened at all.
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
Two of the most counterproductive political system choices you can make, which increase corruption but sound good, are:
1) low salaries for elected office holders and bureaucrats
2) term limits for legislators
1) low salaries for elected office holders and bureaucrats
2) term limits for legislators
ryan is right. people HATE hearing this. but it is just a matter of simple incentives. if you want a more representative legislature — and if you want a legislature more resistant to corruption — then you need to jack up the salaries. serving as mayor of NYC should net you a cool 500K *at least*
people hate hearing this but it's 100% true, creating a huge pay gap between political leaders, their staffs, and other elites is a recipe for corruption. of course the flip side of that is taxes on the rich should be jacked way the hell up
November 8, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Two of the most counterproductive political system choices you can make, which increase corruption but sound good, are:
1) low salaries for elected office holders and bureaucrats
2) term limits for legislators
1) low salaries for elected office holders and bureaucrats
2) term limits for legislators
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
apropos james watson’s death i had an idle thought today about how stupid race/iq stuff sounds. “buh if your skin is darker you are biologically less smart” is a thing only a dumbass can believe
November 7, 2025 at 8:53 PM
apropos james watson’s death i had an idle thought today about how stupid race/iq stuff sounds. “buh if your skin is darker you are biologically less smart” is a thing only a dumbass can believe
I watched “City Slickers” with my family, a favorite I rented many times as a child. Discovered that the men having a midlife crisis in this movie are 39. I did not expect to be attacked in this way.
November 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I watched “City Slickers” with my family, a favorite I rented many times as a child. Discovered that the men having a midlife crisis in this movie are 39. I did not expect to be attacked in this way.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
The fact that pollsters had so much trouble modeling the electorate when he was running is a serious issue for pollsters to think about. However, it's unclear whether it will have significant short and medium-term political consequences, as Trump will never appear on a presidential ballot again.
But that's just variance. Everyone wants to know about average bias. Here it is. Polls in the last two weeks of the campaign overstated Democratic margins by 2.7 points across all offices—smaller than the 4.6-point overestimate in 2020 and 3.1 points in 2016. But that's a Dem bias 3 cycles in a row.
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The fact that pollsters had so much trouble modeling the electorate when he was running is a serious issue for pollsters to think about. However, it's unclear whether it will have significant short and medium-term political consequences, as Trump will never appear on a presidential ballot again.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Trump at a -16 net approval rating among all adults now, per our average at @fiftyplusone.news, and flirting with dropping below 40% approval.
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Trump at a -16 net approval rating among all adults now, per our average at @fiftyplusone.news, and flirting with dropping below 40% approval.
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
The book is real! To celebrate, I will give out five copies to interested early career folks. DM if you’d like one.
November 8, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The book is real! To celebrate, I will give out five copies to interested early career folks. DM if you’d like one.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Religion note: The first plaintiff in this case pushing the Trump admin to fully fund SNAP benefits is the Rhode Island State Council of Churches.
By my count, that makes 62 religious organizations (including denominations!) that have been part of lawsuits against the Trump admin this year.
By my count, that makes 62 religious organizations (including denominations!) that have been part of lawsuits against the Trump admin this year.
November 8, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Religion note: The first plaintiff in this case pushing the Trump admin to fully fund SNAP benefits is the Rhode Island State Council of Churches.
By my count, that makes 62 religious organizations (including denominations!) that have been part of lawsuits against the Trump admin this year.
By my count, that makes 62 religious organizations (including denominations!) that have been part of lawsuits against the Trump admin this year.
It's wild because you could make a plausible argument that Musk adds negative value to Tesla. Their consumer car business could be a long-term success if they detached their brand from his. And any rational future Dem president would cancel his security clearance.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
Elon Musk Wins $1 Trillion Tesla Pay Package
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:02 AM
It's wild because you could make a plausible argument that Musk adds negative value to Tesla. Their consumer car business could be a long-term success if they detached their brand from his. And any rational future Dem president would cancel his security clearance.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Don't fire workers if you want them to vote for you:
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Don't fire workers if you want them to vote for you:
An agenda to oppose Trumpism: Assist non-Trumpists to take back control of the Republican party. Strengthen American civil society, with powerful groups/institutions to oppose Trumpism. A broad tent anti-Trump coalition, including moderate/conservative Dem candidates in conservative states.
November 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
An agenda to oppose Trumpism: Assist non-Trumpists to take back control of the Republican party. Strengthen American civil society, with powerful groups/institutions to oppose Trumpism. A broad tent anti-Trump coalition, including moderate/conservative Dem candidates in conservative states.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
This is a strange hack punditry, in which everything anyone does is the Democratic Party's fault. Dems' mistakes are their fault. Repubs' mistakes are the Dems' fault for not stopping them.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is a strange hack punditry, in which everything anyone does is the Democratic Party's fault. Dems' mistakes are their fault. Repubs' mistakes are the Dems' fault for not stopping them.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
This is a strange hack punditry, in which everything anyone does is the Democratic Party's fault. Dems' mistakes are their fault. Repubs' mistakes are the Dems' fault for not stopping them.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is a strange hack punditry, in which everything anyone does is the Democratic Party's fault. Dems' mistakes are their fault. Repubs' mistakes are the Dems' fault for not stopping them.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
No party is perfect. But we should examine their actual actions. You can't learn anything from this punditry.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
My theory of why:
1) leaning into lifestyle products
2) simply having the biggest brand name in a nationalized industry
3) the organizational suicide of the Washington Post as a national competitor
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...
1) leaning into lifestyle products
2) simply having the biggest brand name in a nationalized industry
3) the organizational suicide of the Washington Post as a national competitor
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...
The Times’s Profit Jumps With 460,000 More Subscribers
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
My theory of why:
1) leaning into lifestyle products
2) simply having the biggest brand name in a nationalized industry
3) the organizational suicide of the Washington Post as a national competitor
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...
1) leaning into lifestyle products
2) simply having the biggest brand name in a nationalized industry
3) the organizational suicide of the Washington Post as a national competitor
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...