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Steven S Smith

@profstevensmith.bsky.social

2.2K followers 200 following 450 posts

Political scientist, ASU and Wash U. Congress, elections, public opinion, survey research. Husband, dad, granddad. RT ≠ endorsement. Personal views. https://stevesnotes.substack.com https://sites.wustl.edu/smith/

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Steven S. Smith is Professor of Political Science at Arizona State University. He also is the Kate M. Gregg Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. For many years, he was the Director of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy, He served on the faculties of George Washington University, Northwestern University, and the University of Minnesota and was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Smith is one of the leading scholars of legislative institutions and congressional politics and is cited frequently by major news sources. He served as editor of Legislative Studies Quarterly and chaired the Legislative Studies Section of the American Political Science Association. He won the Barbara Sinclair Lecture Award from the American Political Science Association in 2023. .. more

Political science 62%

Business 12%

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith

RalstonReports @ralstonreports.bsky.social · 10h

My latest tease for my Harry Reid bio:

Talking points on the nuclear option in 2005, a lot different from 2013, prepping for his first big interview as Dem leader and...Norman Lear (!) on Reid.

Pre-order the book already!

jonralston.substack.com/p/reids-firs...

Reid's first year as Dem leader: Heading off the nuclear option, appearing on national TV and articulating a vision

And a note about the legendary Norman Lear!

jonralston.substack.com

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith

Politico @politico.com · 12h

The Senate won’t touch the filibuster to end the shutdown, Thune said.

The “nuclear option” has gained traction in some circles — mostly off Capitol Hill.

Senate won’t touch filibuster to end shutdown, Thune says

The “nuclear option” has gained traction in some circles — mostly off Capitol Hill.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith

ringwiss @ringwiss.bsky.social · 16h

It might make more sense to seek recognition before or between the prayer, the approval of the Journal or the Pledge—not after. An oath-related matter would take precedence over any of those.

The chair could still adjourn/recess the House,* but it would keep them on their toes.

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 1d

Portland sewers www.portland.gov/bes/resource...

About Our Sewer and Stormwater System

Portland’s sewer and stormwater system includes pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants. It also includes green street planters, rain gardens, and trees. Together, this “grey” and “green” infrastru...

www.portland.gov

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 1d

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Trump's off-script comments cause shutdown headaches for GOP

President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are straining to project a united front against Democrats.

www.politico.com

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 1d

Can you imagine a worse backchannel to Senate Democrats on the CR than Markwayne Mullin? Thune, where were you when Trump deputized Mullin? This is more about Trump's PR game than legislative substance. Mullin says, "I don't have a badge." I bet he wishes he was given one.

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith

The DSR Network @thedsrnetwork.bsky.social · 1d

"When they go low, we go high" is officially dead—and @djrothkopf.bsky.social and @normornstein.bsky.social are here to hold a scathing critique of the Democratic Party's refusal to fight back. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

youtu.be/GllA_0PaU3k

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Reposted by Valerie Mueller

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 1d

Who is thinking that Democrats are not demanding enough as conditions for supporting a CR? And what about the appropriation bills to follow?

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 1d

"This is where we’ve been headed since Jan. 6.

The man who fomented an actual insurrection will invent a fantasy insurrection to justify overturning the rule of law & deploying the military against civilians.

The thing about Rubicons is they can’t be uncrossed."

www.thebulwark.com/p/emergency-...

Emergency Triad: The Chicago Rubicon and What Comes Next

We aren’t at the worst-case scenario yet. But if you squint, you can see it looming out there, just over the horizon.

www.thebulwark.com

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 2d

A reasonable prediction: The Trump team's manic commitment to preaching about the coming economic Nirvana prevents them and Repubs from coming to grips the recession (and tech bust) they are bound to create. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Why Aren’t We Partying Like It’s 1999?

Fear, not hope, permeates today’s technology hype

substack.com

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 2d

We can count on @tombedsall.bsky.social to sum it up. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Opinion | Trump Is Not Afraid of Civil War. Neither Is Stephen Miller.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by David R. Miller

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 3d

Speaker Johnson fails to explain why his House failed to act on 9 of 12 appropriations bills by the Oct 1 start of the new fiscal year. He fails to explain why the House has not acted already on the healthcare tax credits. Everything else is distraction. It is his failure to get House Repubs to act.

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 4d

The commitment to democracy started with the president, who served as a model for his White House.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Steven S. Smith

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 4d

The Trump administration’s deployment of ICE and others in the mass deportation effort has led to more violence and turmoil, and less safety and security for all, including US citizens. But that’s a feature not a bug. The chaos justifies further authoritarian crackdowns. The chaos is the point.

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Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio , and 24 more Stephen M. Walt, Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio, Norbert Schwarz, Nancy Kanwisher, Brendan Nyhan, Joshua S. Weitz, Tom Clark, Scott L. Greer, Steven S. Smith, Martin Paul Eve, Charles West, Elaine Treharne, Bonnie Honig, James Grimmelmann, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Jacob T. Levy, Margot C. Finn, Michael Jones‐Correa, Kate Starbird, Josh Pasek, Georg Weizsäcker, Robert L. Tsai, Charles T. Mathewes, Adam Sacarny, Kimberly A. Clausing

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 5d

I thought I'd put the administration's proposed "compact" with universities in context, so I wrote the blog post below.

It's especially for journalists covering this story!

Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.

Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics

balkin.blogspot.com

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 6d

No jamming here. A confession that extending the shutdown for 10 days is inevitable so House Repubs might as well go home. The bet is that the tide of public opinion will turn against the Dems eventually. Trump's behavior is surely going to make that a bad bet.

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 6d

This GOP move does several things:
+ No votes in the House until at least October 14
+ No swearing-in for Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva D-AZ
+ No 218th signature from Grijalva on the Epstein Files discharge petition
+ Continues the House 'jam' of the Senate on the CR

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 6d

🚨🚨The House reading clerk just read a letter from House Speaker Mike Johnson where he declares a 'District Work Period' from October 7 to October 13.

That would mean no votes in the House until mid-month.

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith, Rosemary A. Joyce, Daniel W. Drezner , and 1 more Steven S. Smith, Rosemary A. Joyce, Daniel W. Drezner, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 6d

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith, Rosemary A. Joyce, John Kenneth White

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 6d

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 6d

The 9 were given until Nov 21 to respond. I hope they join together to refuse to sign on. In the meantime, let's hope the AAU and other president groups, with unanimous backing, oppose the compact.

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 6d

So....what are university presidents doing in response to the compact "offer" to 9 universities? Info please.

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 6d

”…the future of higher education in America requires that every university reject it. If any schools capitulate, the pressure will be enormous on all to fold. The only solution is solidarity and collective action against this effort at federal control over higher education.”

Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 6d

Trump’s university “compact” is extortion.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion (Gift Article)

There seems to be no limit to the president’s odious attempts to control higher education.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Steven S. Smith

Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 6d

If you've published a book, you should check to see if it was used by Anthropic and, if so, file a claim for your piece of the class-action settlement! www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

ANT Homepage | ANT

www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Steven S. Smith

Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 6d

Trump’s university “compact” is extortion.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion (Gift Article)

There seems to be no limit to the president’s odious attempts to control higher education.

www.nytimes.com

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 7d

Agreed on Vought. But don't underestimate the importance of political cover & rationalization. Politicians so need to explain themselves, even if it entails lies & deception. The media, unfortunately, feels obligated to tell us what politicians tell them. Correctives are there but lost in the noise.

Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 7d

Who will be the first to sign the Trump compact? Will Vandy’s chancellor call for creation of TAU, the Trump Association of Universities?

Reposted by Steven S. Smith, Anders Sundnes Løvlie

Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 7d

I tested Sora's AI video "guardrails" and I'm honestly shocked how much OpenAI allows. Really, really bad

www.tiktok.com/@drewharwell
www.instagram.com/bydrewharwell/

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Reposted by Steven S. Smith

Mona Burns @monaburns.bsky.social · 7d

Dem Senator Tim Kaine after the bipartisan gaggle on the Senate floor yesterday:
“There are Republicans telling us, ‘We agree with you. For our own interest, we have to fix this,’”
So ..
Thune wants Dems to acquiesce
As MAGA Repubs appear to be softening on extending ACA credits
Helluva standoff

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 7d

In the blame game, context matters. No one believes the Republicans want a fully functioning government. Trump reinforces the “kill agencies, fire the bastards“ theme every day.

Reposted by Steven S. Smith

Paul Kane @pkcapitol.bsky.social · 7d

Don’t expect the shutdown to end soon with Dems caving. Not with polls like our WaPo version showing the public blames Trump and Rs for this by 17 points.
17!
(Caveat: let’s see over next couple days what other polls show.)

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

We asked 1,000 Americans who is to blame for the shutdown. Here’s what they said.

More Americans blame Trump and Republicans than Democrats for shutdown, poll finds.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Steven S Smith @profstevensmith.bsky.social · 8d

Off hand, don't know.