Norm Ornstein
@normornstein.bsky.social
Political scientist, co-host of Words Matter podcast, contributor to The Contrarian
Delighted that our powerful and inspirational documentary on urban debate will be showcased at the wonderful St. Louis Film Festival. If you are in the area, don’t miss it!
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Delighted that our powerful and inspirational documentary on urban debate will be showcased at the wonderful St. Louis Film Festival. If you are in the area, don’t miss it!
Very maddening, blue sky must’ve updated in some fashion and won’t let me share directly my Wordle results. So I have to jerry rig, Copying what I have shared on the site I will not name
October 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Very maddening, blue sky must’ve updated in some fashion and won’t let me share directly my Wordle results. So I have to jerry rig, Copying what I have shared on the site I will not name
Not sure why blue sky would not let me share my Wordle results today. I tried multiple ways.
October 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Not sure why blue sky would not let me share my Wordle results today. I tried multiple ways.
With the wonderful @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social who is just what we need in an ossified and too timid Senate. Support her!
October 28, 2025 at 12:32 AM
With the wonderful @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social who is just what we need in an ossified and too timid Senate. Support her!
The University of Kansas press is out with a new addition of Dan Glickman’s funny and insightful autobiography, with a preface where Dan reflects on the current political catastrophe. Well worth reading and buying.
October 15, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The University of Kansas press is out with a new addition of Dan Glickman’s funny and insightful autobiography, with a preface where Dan reflects on the current political catastrophe. Well worth reading and buying.
At the wonderful Ukrainian restaurant Ruta in Bethesda enjoying the delicious beer Putin Huyla. You don’t need to know the language to imagine what it means!
September 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
At the wonderful Ukrainian restaurant Ruta in Bethesda enjoying the delicious beer Putin Huyla. You don’t need to know the language to imagine what it means!
Emmanuel won the Matthew Harris Ornstein Awardwhen he was in high school at our summer debate camp for public school kids. We could not be more proud of him.
August 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Emmanuel won the Matthew Harris Ornstein Awardwhen he was in high school at our summer debate camp for public school kids. We could not be more proud of him.
Today would have been our son Matthew‘s 45th birthday. The day always coincides with our Matthew Ornstein debate camp, and we always throw a birthday party for him including wonderful Jeni‘s ice cream for our 260 public school kids. The party is bomb for our souls on an otherwise wrenching day.
July 28, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Today would have been our son Matthew‘s 45th birthday. The day always coincides with our Matthew Ornstein debate camp, and we always throw a birthday party for him including wonderful Jeni‘s ice cream for our 260 public school kids. The party is bomb for our souls on an otherwise wrenching day.
My friend Jane Callen in Kenya at Makindu Children’s Center amidst orphans. Limited food, many HIV positive. Thanks to the vile DOGE and Marco Rubio, deprived of their needed antiviral meds. And with food rotting in warehouses while Rubio spends tax dollars to destroy it.
July 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
My friend Jane Callen in Kenya at Makindu Children’s Center amidst orphans. Limited food, many HIV positive. Thanks to the vile DOGE and Marco Rubio, deprived of their needed antiviral meds. And with food rotting in warehouses while Rubio spends tax dollars to destroy it.
Matthew Ornstein Debate Camp College Fair. This year, seven of our instructors talking about applications, scholarships, their experiences, sage advice to our high schoolers. From Morehouse, Harvard, Liberty, Kentucky, Maryland, Yale, USC. Most alums of our camp!
July 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Matthew Ornstein Debate Camp College Fair. This year, seven of our instructors talking about applications, scholarships, their experiences, sage advice to our high schoolers. From Morehouse, Harvard, Liberty, Kentucky, Maryland, Yale, USC. Most alums of our camp!
My late son Matthew’s favorite number was 117. I’m not sure why. But we created a 117 club for debaters who’ve been at the camp for at least three years. Some have done nine or 10! A number of campers who became coaches. Here are some of them.
July 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
My late son Matthew’s favorite number was 117. I’m not sure why. But we created a 117 club for debaters who’ve been at the camp for at least three years. Some have done nine or 10! A number of campers who became coaches. Here are some of them.
Assembly, first day of full debate camp!
July 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Assembly, first day of full debate camp!
Monday is the beginning of our 11th full summer debate camp for public school kids in the DC area, after a week with the varsity kids. We will have 260 or more from sixth grade through high school. The topic this year is the Arctic. All public school, most Title 1, they learn life skills. 1
July 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Monday is the beginning of our 11th full summer debate camp for public school kids in the DC area, after a week with the varsity kids. We will have 260 or more from sixth grade through high school. The topic this year is the Arctic. All public school, most Title 1, they learn life skills. 1
With my friend James Carville at Chautauqua. Along with the wonderful Kristen Soltis Anderson we did a really good program this morning. You might be able to check it out at chq.org
June 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
With my friend James Carville at Chautauqua. Along with the wonderful Kristen Soltis Anderson we did a really good program this morning. You might be able to check it out at chq.org
With my friend James Carville at Chautauqua. We did a terrific program this morning along with the great Kristen Soltis Anderson. You might be able to stream it at chq.org much trouble
June 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
With my friend James Carville at Chautauqua. We did a terrific program this morning along with the great Kristen Soltis Anderson. You might be able to stream it at chq.org much trouble
Big beautiful bill? Sadistic move to destroy the lives of poor people. Read @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy on work requirements that rely on falsities about “malingerers” on Medicaid to take away benefits from the poor to pay for tax cuts for the super rich. Monstrous.
May 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Big beautiful bill? Sadistic move to destroy the lives of poor people. Read @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy on work requirements that rely on falsities about “malingerers” on Medicaid to take away benefits from the poor to pay for tax cuts for the super rich. Monstrous.
Just re-watched the great movie Veronica Mars, with the especially great executive producer, Daniel Ornstein!
May 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Just re-watched the great movie Veronica Mars, with the especially great executive producer, Daniel Ornstein!
A few words about Greg Popovich. I have had the honor of getting to know him a bit, of sharing wine and stories with him and even bottles of his own superb Pinot Noir. More than just one of the best coaches ever. One of the best human beings.
May 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A few words about Greg Popovich. I have had the honor of getting to know him a bit, of sharing wine and stories with him and even bottles of his own superb Pinot Noir. More than just one of the best coaches ever. One of the best human beings.
One of my favorite pictures, taken at a White House picnic probably in 1978.
January 3, 2025 at 2:51 AM
One of my favorite pictures, taken at a White House picnic probably in 1978.