ROUGH HEWN: A Serialized Essay Collection by Shon Mehta

I didn’t write these essays. I felt them. Rough Hewn is a space for my unpolished thoughts.

Read the series as it unfolds:

www.shonmehta.com/2025/11/roug...

The first installment is out TOMORROW.

#RoughHewn #ShonMehta #EssaySeries #book

What can soldiers teach us about sex?
The coda of the Str8 No Chaser® military series explores same-sex intimacy, sex work, and the courage to live beyond labels.

#Str8NoChaser #EssaySeries #Masculinity #Military #Sexuality

"Tenant organizing illuminates a path toward economic policies responsive to the needs of people and communities, nourishing to democracy, and an antidote to excesses of populism."

@povertyscholar.bsky.social on housing and right-wing populism👇 #EssaySeries

🔗:

"Voters’ attitudes and preferences cannot simply be attributed to their economic circumstances alone."

In this piece, Yotam Margalit explores the importance of identifying the cultural roots of right-wing populism and charting a path forward. ⬇️

#EssaySeries

"Lessening the nation’s geographic divide is critical to rebalancing and strengthening U.S. democracy."

@jacobhacker.bsky.social and Paul Pierson on how economic geography in the U.S. has fueled right-wing populism and what Democrats can do about it. #EssaySeries
equitablegrowth.org/how-the-econ...

"The crisis of poor job quality has encouraged right-wing populist leaders to pitch divisive rhetoric to struggling workers and their families..."

@elkelly.bsky.social on drivers of poor job quality and concrete policy responses to address them 👇

#EssaySeries

equitablegrowth.org/americas-job...

"The China trade shock accounts for approximately one-quarter of the decline in manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2007." @davidautor.bsky.social @profdaviddorn.bsky.social and Gordon Hanson explore how the China trade shock affected U.S. politics #EssaySeries

🔗 equitablegrowth.org/how-the-chin...

"This debate often pits cultural explanations of populism’s growing support against economic ones. Are these really opposing forces...?"

@sirdeh.bsky.social on how concerns about immigration and economic factors translate into political behavior:

#EssaySeries
equitablegrowth.org/understandin...

In economically distressed places, "job problems" can be addressed by improving access to good jobs.

@timbartik.bsky.social on how federal and state aid can target these places with effective job creation programs. @upjohninstitute.bsky.social #EssaySeries

🔗: equitablegrowth.org/federal-and-...

"Current economic indicators don't reflect popular sentiment."

Jonathan Cohen and Katherine Cramer on the importance of transitioning to people-focused indicators to more accurately reflect how the economy is performing for Americans. #EssaySeries

Read more 👇
equitablegrowth.org/more-accurat...

What are the effects of declining job quality for workers and democracy? @adamdean.bsky.social and @jamiemccallum.bsky.social explore how unions bolster workers’ well-being and why unions counteract the rightward trend among working-class voters. #EssaySeries

➡️: equitablegrowth.org/the-politica...

The next thing to think about is: What are the policies and practices that strengthen democracy and the economy?

Panelists @timbartik.bsky.social, @adamdean.bsky.social, @cmehta3.bsky.social, @povertyscholar.bsky.social and moderator @jerusalem.bsky.social explore potential solutions.

#EssaySeries

Step 1 is diagnosing the problem: "What has caused the surge in economic populism?"

Panelists Jonathan Cohen, @smettler.bsky.social and @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social's Paul Pierson, alongside moderator Jia Lynn Yang, explore.

See our new #EssaySeries for more: equitablegrowth.org/insights-exp...

Our #EssaySeries on "The Rise of Populism and the Future of Economic Policy" is now live!

It explores economic factors contributing to the rising support for authoritarian populism, as well as any potential policy solutions.

Learn more & see all essays here. ⬇️
equitablegrowth.org/insights-exp...