James
@withoutillusion.bsky.social
Political analyst | Campaigns, elections & public policy
First-class IR & Politics | MSc Public Policy
Former Campaign Strategist (May 2024 locals)
https://withoutillusion.substack.com/
First-class IR & Politics | MSc Public Policy
Former Campaign Strategist (May 2024 locals)
https://withoutillusion.substack.com/
Pinned
James
@withoutillusion.bsky.social
· Dec 17
What is Without Illusion?
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
Reposted by James
insane scenes coming out of Minneapolis
January 24, 2026 at 5:38 PM
insane scenes coming out of Minneapolis
Reposted by James
Canadian PM Carney: Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in the economy, in security, and in rich cultural exchange. But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.
January 23, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Canadian PM Carney: Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in the economy, in security, and in rich cultural exchange. But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.
Reposted by James
Americans not knowing geography is supposed to be a stereotype, but it just keeps happening.
January 23, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Americans not knowing geography is supposed to be a stereotype, but it just keeps happening.
Reposted by James
Maybe the President would like to chat to the 800+ families who lost someone helping support US policy in Afghanistan?
Death toll in Afghanistan when NATO answered the US’s call:
- 453 Britons
- 158 Canadians
- 89 French
- 59 Germans
- 53 Italians
- 44 Danes
- 17 Spaniards
“Stayed a little back, off the front lines “!
No one in the media will call him out over this lie or any of the others he spouts.
- 453 Britons
- 158 Canadians
- 89 French
- 59 Germans
- 53 Italians
- 44 Danes
- 17 Spaniards
“Stayed a little back, off the front lines “!
No one in the media will call him out over this lie or any of the others he spouts.
Trump on NATO: "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That's really the ultimate test. I'm not sure of that. We've never needed them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, off the front lines."
January 22, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Maybe the President would like to chat to the 800+ families who lost someone helping support US policy in Afghanistan?
'Like Hobbes' Leviathan, the superpower's authority stems from the power instilled in it via the social contract between the sovereign and the populus. Once that consent is void, the leviathan loses its power. This is the Hobbesianism which Trump ignores. The Hobbesianism of responsibility.'
January 19, 2026 at 1:02 AM
'Like Hobbes' Leviathan, the superpower's authority stems from the power instilled in it via the social contract between the sovereign and the populus. Once that consent is void, the leviathan loses its power. This is the Hobbesianism which Trump ignores. The Hobbesianism of responsibility.'
Sowhatism
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
Sowhatism
Trumpism cannot be defined in ideological terms
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Sowhatism
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
Landscape is Political
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/landscape-...
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/landscape-...
Landscape is Political
On Attachment to Place
withoutillusion.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Landscape is Political
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/landscape-...
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/landscape-...
Reposted by James
I gave this lecture 3 years ago:
Explaining the Causes and Consequences of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine with Mike McFaul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzf...
Explaining the Causes and Consequences of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine with Mike McFaul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzf...
Explaining the Causes and Consequences of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine with Mike McFaul
YouTube video by Stanford Alumni
www.youtube.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I gave this lecture 3 years ago:
Explaining the Causes and Consequences of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine with Mike McFaul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzf...
Explaining the Causes and Consequences of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine with Mike McFaul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzf...
Working on a post surrounding how to understand the presidency as a layman. This is far from a academic effort, but provides for a interest-based understanding of the presidency - why it’s interesting, how us presidential nerds understand it, and why it provides such unique insights to humanity.
December 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Working on a post surrounding how to understand the presidency as a layman. This is far from a academic effort, but provides for a interest-based understanding of the presidency - why it’s interesting, how us presidential nerds understand it, and why it provides such unique insights to humanity.
New blog post on my personal light optimism around a Newsom campaign!
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
Let Newsom Cook
Considering the disaster that the 2024 election was, Newsom's early rise is certainly nothing to complain about
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:49 AM
New blog post on my personal light optimism around a Newsom campaign!
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
open.substack.com/pub/withouti...
John Bolton is right - if Donald Trump cannot commit to NATO Arcticle 5, why on Earth would Ukraine buy a Arcticle 5-like guarantee from the very nation that refuses to engage with the logic of collective security?
December 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
John Bolton is right - if Donald Trump cannot commit to NATO Arcticle 5, why on Earth would Ukraine buy a Arcticle 5-like guarantee from the very nation that refuses to engage with the logic of collective security?
In the coming days, I hope to publish two arcticles I'm very excited about:
Firstly, a article on the democratic party's relation to Gavin Newsom now that he has emerged as a 2028 'front runner'.
I hope to explore his post-2024 attitudes, his worldview and his positioning.
Firstly, a article on the democratic party's relation to Gavin Newsom now that he has emerged as a 2028 'front runner'.
I hope to explore his post-2024 attitudes, his worldview and his positioning.
December 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
In the coming days, I hope to publish two arcticles I'm very excited about:
Firstly, a article on the democratic party's relation to Gavin Newsom now that he has emerged as a 2028 'front runner'.
I hope to explore his post-2024 attitudes, his worldview and his positioning.
Firstly, a article on the democratic party's relation to Gavin Newsom now that he has emerged as a 2028 'front runner'.
I hope to explore his post-2024 attitudes, his worldview and his positioning.
What is Without Illusion?
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
December 17, 2025 at 12:34 AM
What is Without Illusion?
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
Like many of you, I too feel disenfranchised with the current political climate. I can admit to nostalgia over the choice elections like the 1997 General Election or 2008 Presidential Elections offered - how serious, how classy, how respecable. Today this era feels so far.
Here is my very first blog post: A very delayed post-mortem of the 2024 Presidential Elections. I wrote this up last year in between my dissertation writing, and I am very interested in what other people thing of my undoubtedly dated assessment!
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
Thoughts on 2024 Presidential Election
A Very Delayed Election Post-mortem
withoutillusion.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Here is my very first blog post: A very delayed post-mortem of the 2024 Presidential Elections. I wrote this up last year in between my dissertation writing, and I am very interested in what other people thing of my undoubtedly dated assessment!
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
withoutillusion.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
Hello everyone! This is my first time posting here, and I hope to post way more over the coming weeks.
I am a 21 year old masters student with cerebral palsy and a passion for politics as a science and a historical study. I have started a blog, where I hope to express my perspectives.
Thank you!
I am a 21 year old masters student with cerebral palsy and a passion for politics as a science and a historical study. I have started a blog, where I hope to express my perspectives.
Thank you!
December 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Hello everyone! This is my first time posting here, and I hope to post way more over the coming weeks.
I am a 21 year old masters student with cerebral palsy and a passion for politics as a science and a historical study. I have started a blog, where I hope to express my perspectives.
Thank you!
I am a 21 year old masters student with cerebral palsy and a passion for politics as a science and a historical study. I have started a blog, where I hope to express my perspectives.
Thank you!