Josh Scacco 🗳️
@joshscacco.bsky.social
Director, Center for Sustainable Democracy, University of South Florida | Political Communication researcher | News, public opinion, political leadership | Book: "The Ubiquitous Presidency" | Friend of democracy
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📊 📊 State of Democracy and the 2024 Election: Americans Very Interested in Election Despite Concerns about Democracy in America 🗳️ 🗳️
▶️ Majority say democracy is "not working."
▶️ A third support a 'strong leader' form of govt.
▶️ Six-in-ten see opposing political party as "sabotaging" America.
▶️ Majority say democracy is "not working."
▶️ A third support a 'strong leader' form of govt.
▶️ Six-in-ten see opposing political party as "sabotaging" America.
Election 2024 & Democracy White Paper Release 241103.pdf | Powered by Box
usf.app.box.com
📊 🗳️ Our @sustaindemocracy.bsky.social survey results on the "State of Democracy and the 2024 Election" are live. Eye popping toplines 👀
Appreciate that Jill Lepore used "The Ubiquitous Presidency" to help make sense of why the president communicates the way he does for her @newyorker.com article. @kcoe.bsky.social and I wrote our book to help people make sense of contemporary political leadership and messaging.
On social media, Donald Trump riffs, cusses, dodges, weaves, raises money, and spreads lies. “He is the world’s most outspoken troll, and its most dangerous,” Jill Lepore writes.
Trump and the Presidency That Wouldn’t Shut Up
His posts and rants are omnipresent, ugly, and unhinged. Don’t look to history to make it make sense.
www.newyorker.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Appreciate that Jill Lepore used "The Ubiquitous Presidency" to help make sense of why the president communicates the way he does for her @newyorker.com article. @kcoe.bsky.social and I wrote our book to help people make sense of contemporary political leadership and messaging.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
UC’s Academic Council calls on the Office of the President & the UC Board of Regents to unequivocally reject governmental demands that compromise institutional autonomy and #academicfreedom.
This is the way.
#DefendHigherEd
This is the way.
#DefendHigherEd
October 4, 2025 at 12:25 AM
UC’s Academic Council calls on the Office of the President & the UC Board of Regents to unequivocally reject governmental demands that compromise institutional autonomy and #academicfreedom.
This is the way.
#DefendHigherEd
This is the way.
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Special issue of Political Communication CFP on "the political communication dynamics at work in democratic decline—and in democratic resilience" - full manuscripts due December 15.
think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
Communicating Democratic Decline & Resilience
think.taylorandfrancis.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Special issue of Political Communication CFP on "the political communication dynamics at work in democratic decline—and in democratic resilience" - full manuscripts due December 15.
think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Strib coverage is in front of their paywall. Please follow their coverage and resist the urge to speculate about *anything* about the attack itself.
www.startribune.com/brooklyn-par...
www.startribune.com/brooklyn-par...
Live: Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, Sen. John Hoffman shot in ‘targeted shootings’
Gov. Tim Walz said there were targeted shootings in both Brooklyn Park and Champlin on Saturday.
www.startribune.com
June 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Strib coverage is in front of their paywall. Please follow their coverage and resist the urge to speculate about *anything* about the attack itself.
www.startribune.com/brooklyn-par...
www.startribune.com/brooklyn-par...
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
The news isn’t being clear about this but to people hearing about these Minnesota shootings: Melissa Hortman is the Dem leader in the Minnesota House and was Speaker of the House 2019-2025. She’s probably the most influential state-level Democrat barring the governor.
June 14, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The news isn’t being clear about this but to people hearing about these Minnesota shootings: Melissa Hortman is the Dem leader in the Minnesota House and was Speaker of the House 2019-2025. She’s probably the most influential state-level Democrat barring the governor.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
A DHS official told me Noem & security had no idea who Senator Padilla was. Now, the FBI is running with the statement that the senator "did not identify himself and was not wearing his senate security pin" — but he very much did identify himself, loudly, on video...
June 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A DHS official told me Noem & security had no idea who Senator Padilla was. Now, the FBI is running with the statement that the senator "did not identify himself and was not wearing his senate security pin" — but he very much did identify himself, loudly, on video...
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
We drill into military officers that Members of Congress have Constitutional oversight rights, Members outrank four-stars in protocol, and even Congressional staffers are treated like generals/admirals.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
"There's no recording allowed out here, per FBI rights"
Senator Padilla’s office sends me this video of his take-down and detention at Sec. Noem’s press conference in L.A.
June 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
We drill into military officers that Members of Congress have Constitutional oversight rights, Members outrank four-stars in protocol, and even Congressional staffers are treated like generals/admirals.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
"If you saw all this in any other country — soldiers sent to crush dissent, union leaders arrested, opposition politicians threatened — it would be clear that autocracy had arrived."
June 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
"If you saw all this in any other country — soldiers sent to crush dissent, union leaders arrested, opposition politicians threatened — it would be clear that autocracy had arrived."
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
This sounds unlawful as hell. apnews.com/article/mari...
June 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
This sounds unlawful as hell. apnews.com/article/mari...
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
The targeting of reporters in LA is inexcusable. The public interest in press coverage of protests couldn’t be more self-evident.
We helped lead this letter to remind federal officers of journalists’ constitutional right to report on civil unrest.
media.freedom.press/media/docume...
We helped lead this letter to remind federal officers of journalists’ constitutional right to report on civil unrest.
media.freedom.press/media/docume...
media.freedom.press
June 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The targeting of reporters in LA is inexcusable. The public interest in press coverage of protests couldn’t be more self-evident.
We helped lead this letter to remind federal officers of journalists’ constitutional right to report on civil unrest.
media.freedom.press/media/docume...
We helped lead this letter to remind federal officers of journalists’ constitutional right to report on civil unrest.
media.freedom.press/media/docume...
The deploying of American military into U.S. cities is an attempt to functionally curtail the right to peacefully assemble and protest for a redress of grievances.
LA seems to be the prototype to attempt to tamp down the possibility of nationwide protests.
LA seems to be the prototype to attempt to tamp down the possibility of nationwide protests.
i personally do not think the administration is actually prepared for what happens if they are facing mass protests in every major city in the country
June 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The deploying of American military into U.S. cities is an attempt to functionally curtail the right to peacefully assemble and protest for a redress of grievances.
LA seems to be the prototype to attempt to tamp down the possibility of nationwide protests.
LA seems to be the prototype to attempt to tamp down the possibility of nationwide protests.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
June 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
1 in 12 Americans live in California.
1 in 35 Americans live in LA County.
LA is America
1 in 35 Americans live in LA County.
LA is America
not the main issue here but i'd really appreciate it if democratic politicians spoke out in support of big-city life and culture with the same energy and reverence that all politicians have for small towns
los angeles is "real america" and so are all the other big cities the president hates
los angeles is "real america" and so are all the other big cities the president hates
June 9, 2025 at 12:00 AM
1 in 12 Americans live in California.
1 in 35 Americans live in LA County.
LA is America
1 in 35 Americans live in LA County.
LA is America
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
What's happening in LA is a redux of the federal invasion of Portland. It took a 'Wall of Moms' using their privilege to protect more marginalized protesters to turn that around.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Who Won the Battle of Portland?
How Portland, Oregon's uprising turned back President Trump’s authoritarian revival of ‘law and order’ politics. Reporting by Tim Dickinson.
www.rollingstone.com
June 8, 2025 at 11:31 PM
What's happening in LA is a redux of the federal invasion of Portland. It took a 'Wall of Moms' using their privilege to protect more marginalized protesters to turn that around.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
June 3, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
New: Trump is posting to Truth Social three times as often as he tweeted during his first presidency - 2,262 'truths' in 132 days. Outrageously false stuff, too, like that Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robot clone. 3 a.m. polemics at a pace surprising even his aides wapo.st/43HBtpb
Tallying Trump’s online posting frenzy: 2,262 ‘truths’ in 132 days
In his current term, the president has left his own record for social media missives in the dust. He posts day and night.
wapo.st
June 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM
New: Trump is posting to Truth Social three times as often as he tweeted during his first presidency - 2,262 'truths' in 132 days. Outrageously false stuff, too, like that Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robot clone. 3 a.m. polemics at a pace surprising even his aides wapo.st/43HBtpb
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
This is literally an authoritarian using the power of the state to jail an opponent, and attempt to intimidate all other opponents, in the United States of America. This doesn't happen if the US is still a democracy
NEW: The charges against Rep. Lamonica McIver escalate a confrontation between the political branches at a time when President Trump is seeking to maaximize executive branch dominance.
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault
The charge against Rep. LaMonica McIver stems from a scuffle at a Newark migrant detention facility.
www.politico.com
May 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
This is literally an authoritarian using the power of the state to jail an opponent, and attempt to intimidate all other opponents, in the United States of America. This doesn't happen if the US is still a democracy
Journalists: Report the pattern, not just the episode. DOJ charges a sitting Member of Legislative branch. Follows DOJ charges against a sitting member of Judicial Branch.
The Executive is at war with the separation of powers in service of expanding its unilateral power.
The Executive is at war with the separation of powers in service of expanding its unilateral power.
May 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Journalists: Report the pattern, not just the episode. DOJ charges a sitting Member of Legislative branch. Follows DOJ charges against a sitting member of Judicial Branch.
The Executive is at war with the separation of powers in service of expanding its unilateral power.
The Executive is at war with the separation of powers in service of expanding its unilateral power.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Another update: I can't share the text of my appeal but MIT's OGC has said they are happy to connect with OGC at other institutions going through the appeal process. So if you are planning to appeal, DM me and I can make the connection.
I'm working with MIT to appeal this decision by the May 14th deadline for appeals (notwithstanding the termination notice that said the decision was unappealable)
Just heard from the VP research that my grant with @dgrand.bsky.social, "Promoting Accurate Information on Social Media" was terminated as well
May 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Another update: I can't share the text of my appeal but MIT's OGC has said they are happy to connect with OGC at other institutions going through the appeal process. So if you are planning to appeal, DM me and I can make the connection.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
From Jeffrey Toobin's 2008 book THE NINE, this remains the greatest Justice Souter anecdote I can possibly share. RIP.
May 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
From Jeffrey Toobin's 2008 book THE NINE, this remains the greatest Justice Souter anecdote I can possibly share. RIP.
Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
Press freedom in the United States has hit a record low, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index published annually by Reporters Without Borders.
U.S. press freedom falls to historical low
Reporters Without Borders cites economic strains on the media as the biggest driver of press freedom declines globally.
www.axios.com
May 2, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Press freedom in the United States has hit a record low, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index published annually by Reporters Without Borders.
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There's a bill in Florida that would ban public colleges and universities from doing polling: www.insightsassociation.org/Portals/INSI...
Some of the only non-partisan public polling in FL these days comes from FAU and UNF, etc. If you're in FL, please contact your state rep / senator to oppose
Some of the only non-partisan public polling in FL these days comes from FAU and UNF, etc. If you're in FL, please contact your state rep / senator to oppose
www.insightsassociation.org
April 29, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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Reposted by Josh Scacco 🗳️
To read the Criminal Complaint and attached FBI Affidavit that gave rise to Wisconsin State Judge Hannah Dugan’s federal criminal arrest today for obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest
April 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
To read the Criminal Complaint and attached FBI Affidavit that gave rise to Wisconsin State Judge Hannah Dugan’s federal criminal arrest today for obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest
U.S. enters the political influencer era online. Discussed with @juanbennjr.bsky.social at @politico.com the implications for Democrats who lack a unifying national figure at this moment.
Influencers angle for a bigger seat at the political table
www.politico.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
U.S. enters the political influencer era online. Discussed with @juanbennjr.bsky.social at @politico.com the implications for Democrats who lack a unifying national figure at this moment.