Sean M. Theriault
seanmtheriault.bsky.social
Sean M. Theriault
@seanmtheriault.bsky.social
Professor
Department of Government
The University of Texas at Austin
Black smoke today… here are my thoughts on how to think of who might succeed Pope Francis.

open.substack.com/pub/utaustin...
Fat Pope, Skinny Pope
What an Italian proverb can tell us about the next head of the Catholic Church
open.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The amazing Policy Agenda Project at UT-Austin have coded President Trump’s 2025 address to the Congress. See how his priorities have changed and how they differ from other presidents.
March 6, 2025 at 10:32 AM
This strikes me as disgusting. It’s one thing for a parish priest to ask for prayers for an ailing Holy Father. It’s another thing for a frequent critic, who has a vote to elect his successor, to be doing it. If I know Pope Francis, I know that such a slight will only spur him to get better.
February 25, 2025 at 1:53 AM
This from the New York Times this morning. Beyond a doubt, the most responsible are the voters. He told us what he would do and a plurality still voted for him.
February 24, 2025 at 1:27 AM
If I were to do a second edition, I think I would call it CAPITULATION. Sigh.
Today is the official release date for my latest book. I worked with 19 authors who wrote 15 chapters assessing the extent to which Donald Trump disrupted the Senate. Spoiler alert: We had at least 15 different answers to that question. www.amazon.com/Disruption-S...
Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era: Theriault, Sean M.: 9780197767849: Amazon.com: Books
Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era [Theriault, Sean M.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era
www.amazon.com
January 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Sean M. Theriault
A great @psjeditor.bsky.social paper from Lewallen, Park and @seanmtheriault.bsky.social examines when members of Congress use hearings to grandstand.

They find more grandstanding in solution (legislating) oriented hearings, with variation across topics.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
January 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I think this is the wrong strategy. They should be working with him now to permanently get rid of the debt ceiling forever. Short-term loss for huge long-term gain.
Democrats flip the script, eyeing debt limit to block Trump’s agenda
Republicans have leveraged the debt ceiling for years to block Democrats’ agenda. Now liberals see an opening to stymy Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Two things about the Vance pick interest me. First, he doesn’t help electorally. No one in MI or PA are going to find him compelling if they aren’t already on the Trump train. Second, among that generation, this pick eclipses Don Jr.’s political future. And, yet, Jr drove this decision. Hmmm…
July 16, 2024 at 12:53 AM
Today is the official release date for my latest book. I worked with 19 authors who wrote 15 chapters assessing the extent to which Donald Trump disrupted the Senate. Spoiler alert: We had at least 15 different answers to that question. www.amazon.com/Disruption-S...
Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era: Theriault, Sean M.: 9780197767849: Amazon.com: Books
Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era [Theriault, Sean M.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era
www.amazon.com
May 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM
A comparison of the 2024 SOTU address to previous presidents.
March 11, 2024 at 4:16 PM
What issues did Biden highlight in the 2024 SOTU Address?
March 11, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Sean M. Theriault
Was thrilled to work on this article with Jonathan Lewallen and Ju Yeon Julia Park. I was also happy to have LSE United States Centre ask us to write a blog post about it. Happy reading!

t.co/7Q6G35sr8T
February 23, 2024 at 2:04 AM
Was thrilled to work on this article with Jonathan Lewallen and Ju Yeon Julia Park. I was also happy to have LSE United States Centre ask us to write a blog post about it. Happy reading!

t.co/7Q6G35sr8T
February 23, 2024 at 2:04 AM
Reposted by Sean M. Theriault
This didn't used to be a partisan or controversial statement.
February 11, 2024 at 6:24 PM
Exactly this. I’ll take an “elderly man with a poor memory” over someone who would side with Putin over our allies.
Our top story at the Mississippi Free Press today: "Trump Encourages Russia to Attack American Allies: ‘Do Whatever the Hell They Want’"

We may be a local Mississippi outlet, but this is important. It should be leading every newspaper in the country.
www.mississippifreepress.org/39734/trump-...
February 11, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Along with Molly Reynolds from the Brookings Institute, and Kevin Kosar from AEI, I’m organizing a one-day workshop on congressional oversight in July. See the call for abstracts, which are due in less than 2 weeks.

mailchi.mp/wayne/call-f...
January 17, 2024 at 9:36 PM
It’s time for him to suspend his campaign and endorse Nikki. And then, Pence, Christie, Scott, and everyone else needs to jump in the bandwagon. I’m not sure it will make a difference, but it’s the only chance of saving us from him. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 2, 2023 at 1:08 AM
Such a morbid topic… who goes to Rosalynn Carter’s funeral? Traditionally First Ladies go. Does Bill? Does Joe? Does Melanie? I saw yes no yes. What say you?
November 20, 2023 at 12:36 AM