Rory Truex
@rorytruex.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton. Academic website, www.rorytruex.com. For more informal writing, see https://rorytruex.substack.com/. Host of The Civic Forum: https://www.youtube.com/user/rorytruex
Pinned
The State of American Science with Holden Thorp | The Civic Forum E11
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
Just wanted to share this conversation with Science EIC @holdenthorp.bsky.social on the state of American science. We talked about the Trump administration and "gold standard science," how universities must do more to engage the public, and science in China. open.spotify.com/episode/64bV...
Here's a new session of The Civic Forum with the great @debpearlstein.bsky.social on how the U.S. is "losing the law." We talk about how the courts and legal norms have changed, the implications for our democracy, and possible paths to reform. open.spotify.com/episode/4pyY...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Here's a new session of The Civic Forum with the great @debpearlstein.bsky.social on how the U.S. is "losing the law." We talk about how the courts and legal norms have changed, the implications for our democracy, and possible paths to reform. open.spotify.com/episode/4pyY...
Reposted by Rory Truex
A coalition that ranges from democratic socialists to neoconservatives, including a lot of energized liberals in between, is large and formidable.
A big pro-democracy tent. A united front. Any internal disagreements can be hashed out once the authoritarian emergency is over.
This really can work.
A big pro-democracy tent. A united front. Any internal disagreements can be hashed out once the authoritarian emergency is over.
This really can work.
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A coalition that ranges from democratic socialists to neoconservatives, including a lot of energized liberals in between, is large and formidable.
A big pro-democracy tent. A united front. Any internal disagreements can be hashed out once the authoritarian emergency is over.
This really can work.
A big pro-democracy tent. A united front. Any internal disagreements can be hashed out once the authoritarian emergency is over.
This really can work.
Had a great conversation with @leedrutman.bsky.social on the need for political reform in the US. Lee has been a long time proponent of proportional representation, along with other reforms like fusion voting and expanding Congress that can improve representation. open.spotify.com/episode/3DLo...
Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop with Lee Drutman | The Civic Forum E12
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Had a great conversation with @leedrutman.bsky.social on the need for political reform in the US. Lee has been a long time proponent of proportional representation, along with other reforms like fusion voting and expanding Congress that can improve representation. open.spotify.com/episode/3DLo...
Just wanted to share this conversation with Science EIC @holdenthorp.bsky.social on the state of American science. We talked about the Trump administration and "gold standard science," how universities must do more to engage the public, and science in China. open.spotify.com/episode/64bV...
The State of American Science with Holden Thorp | The Civic Forum E11
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Just wanted to share this conversation with Science EIC @holdenthorp.bsky.social on the state of American science. We talked about the Trump administration and "gold standard science," how universities must do more to engage the public, and science in China. open.spotify.com/episode/64bV...
Reposted by Rory Truex
October 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Rory Truex
In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it?
If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?
Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.
If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?
Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.
September 30, 2025 at 12:01 AM
In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it?
If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?
Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.
If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?
Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.
Sharing this thoughtful post from Ned Downie in The Diplomat on the importance of high-level diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China. thediplomat.com/2025/09/a-us...
A US Congressional Delegation Just Visited China. More Should Follow.
A lack of exchanges puts blinkers on the United States’ China policy.
thediplomat.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Sharing this thoughtful post from Ned Downie in The Diplomat on the importance of high-level diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China. thediplomat.com/2025/09/a-us...
Here's 90 minutes with @adamprz.bsky.social,
Sue Stokes, Steven Levitsky, and
@dziblatt.bsky.social on the state of American democracy right now. It was a great honor for me to be able to convene this set of people to speak together at this moment. Please share! open.spotify.com/episode/0F8W...
Sue Stokes, Steven Levitsky, and
@dziblatt.bsky.social on the state of American democracy right now. It was a great honor for me to be able to convene this set of people to speak together at this moment. Please share! open.spotify.com/episode/0F8W...
The State of American Democracy with Steven Levitsky, Adam Przeworski, Susan Stokes and Daniel Ziblatt | The Civic Forum E10
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Here's 90 minutes with @adamprz.bsky.social,
Sue Stokes, Steven Levitsky, and
@dziblatt.bsky.social on the state of American democracy right now. It was a great honor for me to be able to convene this set of people to speak together at this moment. Please share! open.spotify.com/episode/0F8W...
Sue Stokes, Steven Levitsky, and
@dziblatt.bsky.social on the state of American democracy right now. It was a great honor for me to be able to convene this set of people to speak together at this moment. Please share! open.spotify.com/episode/0F8W...
Reposted by Rory Truex
Nothing to worry about, just a GOP governor saying his state has to redistrict to favor Rs before 2026 or lose money to his state www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Authoritarians frequently exploit state power to make it impossible for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field
Authoritarians frequently exploit state power to make it impossible for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field
Indiana’s governor offers an eye-popping warning on gerrymandering
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he’s concerned that his state could face political ramifications — potentially, a loss of federal benefits — unless it forces through a mid-decade redraw of its congressio...
www.yahoo.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Nothing to worry about, just a GOP governor saying his state has to redistrict to favor Rs before 2026 or lose money to his state www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Authoritarians frequently exploit state power to make it impossible for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field
Authoritarians frequently exploit state power to make it impossible for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field
Reposted by Rory Truex
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel
Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.
www.yahoo.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Reposted by Rory Truex
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
September 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
This Thursday at noon EST I'll be joined by @adamprz.bsky.social, Sue Stokes, Steve Levitsky (stevelevitsky.bsky.social), and @dziblatt.bsky.social on a webinar to talk about the state of American democracy. Please come! Registration here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Please share.
The Civic Forum - S1E11 - Season Finale: The State of American Democracy
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E11 - Season Finale: The State of American Democracy on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on September 18, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.
www.crowdcast.io
September 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This Thursday at noon EST I'll be joined by @adamprz.bsky.social, Sue Stokes, Steve Levitsky (stevelevitsky.bsky.social), and @dziblatt.bsky.social on a webinar to talk about the state of American democracy. Please come! Registration here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Please share.
Reposted by Rory Truex
As scary as this moment is, remember that support for political violence went DOWN after the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump, not up www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
We need to make the same thing happen this time.
We need to make the same thing happen this time.
September 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
As scary as this moment is, remember that support for political violence went DOWN after the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump, not up www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
We need to make the same thing happen this time.
We need to make the same thing happen this time.
Reposted by Rory Truex
The ad campaign criticizing the use of masks by federal agents working in Washington, D.C. has expanded to 115 bus stops, per organizers
September 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The ad campaign criticizing the use of masks by federal agents working in Washington, D.C. has expanded to 115 bus stops, per organizers
Tomorrow I'll be joined by @brendannyhan.bsky.social and @johncarey.bsky.social on The Civic Forum to talk about their important work at Bright Line Watch. We'll be talking about the erosion of American democracy can register for the event here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
The Civic Forum - S1E9 - Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States - John Carey, Brendan Nyhan, and Gretchen Helmke with Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E9 - Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States - John Carey, Brendan Nyhan, and Gretchen Helmke with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on Septem...
www.crowdcast.io
September 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Tomorrow I'll be joined by @brendannyhan.bsky.social and @johncarey.bsky.social on The Civic Forum to talk about their important work at Bright Line Watch. We'll be talking about the erosion of American democracy can register for the event here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
Join me tomorrow live on Crowdcast for a session with @chenoweth.bsky.social. We'll be speaking about effective opposition and where the pro-democracy movement needs to go from here. Registration link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
The Civic Forum - S1E6 - Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement - Erica Chenoweth with Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E6 - Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement - Erica Chenoweth with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on August 7, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.
www.crowdcast.io
August 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Join me tomorrow live on Crowdcast for a session with @chenoweth.bsky.social. We'll be speaking about effective opposition and where the pro-democracy movement needs to go from here. Registration link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
Come see @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social live with me tomorrow! We're going to talk about Strongmen rule and how to oppose authoritarian government. www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
The Civic Forum - S1E5 - Strongmen - Ruth Ben-Ghiat with Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E5 - Strongmen - Ruth Ben-Ghiat with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 31, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.
www.crowdcast.io
July 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Come see @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social live with me tomorrow! We're going to talk about Strongmen rule and how to oppose authoritarian government. www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
Reposted by Rory Truex
Just published in @goodauth.bsky.social: my piece on what I call “authoritarian backscratching” - quid-pro-quo policies between dictators - and how it helps authoritarian regimes survive. goodauthority.org/news/what-is...
What is authoritarian backscratching – and why is this a threat?
Quid pro quo policies help authoritarian regimes stay in power.
goodauthority.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Just published in @goodauth.bsky.social: my piece on what I call “authoritarian backscratching” - quid-pro-quo policies between dictators - and how it helps authoritarian regimes survive. goodauthority.org/news/what-is...
Please join me tomorrow at noon for a conversation on all things Putin, Russia, and Trump with the wonderful Mark Beissinger. Sign-up link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
The Civic Forum - S1E4 - Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia Relations - Mark Beissinger with Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E4 - Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia Relations - Mark Beissinger with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 24, 2025, 12:00 P...
www.crowdcast.io
July 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Please join me tomorrow at noon for a conversation on all things Putin, Russia, and Trump with the wonderful Mark Beissinger. Sign-up link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...
Please join me this Thursday at noon EST for our second session of The Civic Forum. We'll have a discussion with
@keeanga.bsky.social on race, Black History, and the MAGA movement. Registration link here:
@keeanga.bsky.social on race, Black History, and the MAGA movement. Registration link here:
The Civic Forum - S1E3 - Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor with Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E3 - Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 17, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.
www.crowdcast.io
July 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Please join me this Thursday at noon EST for our second session of The Civic Forum. We'll have a discussion with
@keeanga.bsky.social on race, Black History, and the MAGA movement. Registration link here:
@keeanga.bsky.social on race, Black History, and the MAGA movement. Registration link here:
The first session of The Civic Forum is today at noon EST! Link is here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Come for a short lecture on democratic erosion in the U.S. Full series info here: www.thecivicforum.com
The Civic Forum - S1E2 - Forum Overview and Introduction to Democratic Backsliding - Rory Truex
Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E2 - Forum Overview and Introduction to Democratic Backsliding - Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 10, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.
www.crowdcast.io
July 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The first session of The Civic Forum is today at noon EST! Link is here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Come for a short lecture on democratic erosion in the U.S. Full series info here: www.thecivicforum.com
Reposted by Rory Truex
I encourage everyone to read this letter.
Please then realize the president is imposing a tax on American consumers to leverage a foreign nation into making a domestic political decision that will help one of his political allies.
Please then realize the president is imposing a tax on American consumers to leverage a foreign nation into making a domestic political decision that will help one of his political allies.
July 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I encourage everyone to read this letter.
Please then realize the president is imposing a tax on American consumers to leverage a foreign nation into making a domestic political decision that will help one of his political allies.
Please then realize the president is imposing a tax on American consumers to leverage a foreign nation into making a domestic political decision that will help one of his political allies.
Thinking more and more about the unfolding human rights abuses in this country. When you dehumanize a group of people enough, you can do pretty much anything you want to them. And no one seems to care. www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/a...
Florida officials deny accusations of inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz
Detainees claim they are enduring inhumane conditions, including lack of access to water, inadequate food and denial of religious rights.
www.cbsnews.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thinking more and more about the unfolding human rights abuses in this country. When you dehumanize a group of people enough, you can do pretty much anything you want to them. And no one seems to care. www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/a...
Reposted by Rory Truex
A summer reading list on democratic backsliding via @rorytruex.bsky.social: rorytruex.substack.com/p/democratic...
Also check out The Civic Forum (www.thecivicforum.com), "to study democracy and authoritarianism, to think about the meaning of citizenship, and to face the political moment."
Also check out The Civic Forum (www.thecivicforum.com), "to study democracy and authoritarianism, to think about the meaning of citizenship, and to face the political moment."
Democratic Backsliding: A Summer Reading List
A Little Bit of Political Science, But Not Too Much
rorytruex.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A summer reading list on democratic backsliding via @rorytruex.bsky.social: rorytruex.substack.com/p/democratic...
Also check out The Civic Forum (www.thecivicforum.com), "to study democracy and authoritarianism, to think about the meaning of citizenship, and to face the political moment."
Also check out The Civic Forum (www.thecivicforum.com), "to study democracy and authoritarianism, to think about the meaning of citizenship, and to face the political moment."
There is nothing patriotic about Trump and his faction of the Republican Party. They wrap themselves in the American flag, and then proceed to do the most un-American things imaginable. More here:
There is Nothing Patriotic About MAGA
Reclaiming Patriotism from the Authoritarian Right
f.mtr.cool
July 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
There is nothing patriotic about Trump and his faction of the Republican Party. They wrap themselves in the American flag, and then proceed to do the most un-American things imaginable. More here: