Alexis Coe
@alexiscoe.bsky.social
Presidential historian. American History Columnist @NYTBR. Senior Fellow @NewAmerica. NYT bestselling author of (almost!) 3 books.
Obviously my take—it was actually about wistful longing for a life unlived—remains the best take. substack.com/home/post/p-...
Built (Maybe) for City Hall, Sitting in the Oval Office: One Look at Mamdani and Trump Saw the Life He Wanted
History cranks and fiends, a lil’ prompt: If the presidency keeps exposing men who weren’t built for its scale, how would you redesign the path to it?
substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Obviously my take—it was actually about wistful longing for a life unlived—remains the best take. substack.com/home/post/p-...
Can I blow this up into a huge print? I love it.
November 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Can I blow this up into a huge print? I love it.
Well this didn't age well alexiscoe.substack.com/p/in-bidens-...
In Biden's America, Turkeys Get Pardons and Sons Get Sentencing Dates
Only two presidents have pardoned family members in almost 250 years of American history: Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Well this didn't age well alexiscoe.substack.com/p/in-bidens-...
In today’s newsletter, my favorite kind of scandal: one where everyone involved has been dead for centuries.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Don’t Let Your Husband Stop You From Meeting Your Other Husband (Plus some Boyfriends and Lovers...)
Women in men's fields
substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
In today’s newsletter, my favorite kind of scandal: one where everyone involved has been dead for centuries.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
As I testified in the spring, releasing the SSN of living Americans was egregious--and they did it anyway. Now Bondi will redact parts Epstein records that "contain personally identifiable information" and would "constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."
November 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
As I testified in the spring, releasing the SSN of living Americans was egregious--and they did it anyway. Now Bondi will redact parts Epstein records that "contain personally identifiable information" and would "constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."
Factional excommunication: the old guard using ritual as its last veto.
November 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Factional excommunication: the old guard using ritual as its last veto.
I couldn't help but wonder, had hate chuckling at Post headlines helped me come up with the best line I've ever written:
"Gloria Swanson slept with the patriarch so Olivia Nuzzi could sext the scion."
open.substack.com/pub/alexisco...
"Gloria Swanson slept with the patriarch so Olivia Nuzzi could sext the scion."
open.substack.com/pub/alexisco...
November 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I couldn't help but wonder, had hate chuckling at Post headlines helped me come up with the best line I've ever written:
"Gloria Swanson slept with the patriarch so Olivia Nuzzi could sext the scion."
open.substack.com/pub/alexisco...
"Gloria Swanson slept with the patriarch so Olivia Nuzzi could sext the scion."
open.substack.com/pub/alexisco...
$1500 doesn't seem like nearly enough
November 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
$1500 doesn't seem like nearly enough
We don't have to be ruled by the size matters club
well @profgabriele.com and I like short books and we cannot lie.
But now I've written an even shorter one.
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
But now I've written an even shorter one.
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
I (do not) like big books, and I cannot lie
Reflecting back on The Bright Ages and giving people a "way in" to the past
buttondown.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
We don't have to be ruled by the size matters club
Over the summer, I asked about your favorite American history myths. Thanks for supplying today's, @arrscott.bsky.social, which I break down in my newsletter.
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/lies-we-le...
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/lies-we-le...
Lies We Learned: The Pilgrims Fled Tolerance, Not Tyranny
Contribute thy mite.
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Over the summer, I asked about your favorite American history myths. Thanks for supplying today's, @arrscott.bsky.social, which I break down in my newsletter.
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/lies-we-le...
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/lies-we-le...
Still can't believe this happened
I pregamed the 30th anniversary of "The American President" by asking Aaron Sorkin (!!!) why he set me up for a lifetime of civic heartbreak.
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
Aaron Sorkin on Writing Presidents and America's 'Cult-Like Devotion' to Trump
On the 30th anniversary of The American President, Aaron Sorkin talks about the coarsening of politics and why the movie now seems "quaint"
www.rollingstone.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Still can't believe this happened
Me, 50x a day: "I would have to get out the machete."
November 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Me, 50x a day: "I would have to get out the machete."
Reposted by Alexis Coe
I had a great time this morning on @alexiscoe.bsky.social’s “Study Marry Kill” Substack Live! We talked a lot about the new @netflix.com James A. Garfield series “Death by Lightning.” Here’s a clip. More to follow the next day or two.
Thanks to Alexis for having me on!
Thanks to Alexis for having me on!
November 17, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I had a great time this morning on @alexiscoe.bsky.social’s “Study Marry Kill” Substack Live! We talked a lot about the new @netflix.com James A. Garfield series “Death by Lightning.” Here’s a clip. More to follow the next day or two.
Thanks to Alexis for having me on!
Thanks to Alexis for having me on!
I pregamed the 30th anniversary of "The American President" by asking Aaron Sorkin (!!!) why he set me up for a lifetime of civic heartbreak.
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
Aaron Sorkin on Writing Presidents and America's 'Cult-Like Devotion' to Trump
On the 30th anniversary of The American President, Aaron Sorkin talks about the coarsening of politics and why the movie now seems "quaint"
www.rollingstone.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I pregamed the 30th anniversary of "The American President" by asking Aaron Sorkin (!!!) why he set me up for a lifetime of civic heartbreak.
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
We also talked about horny/Sisyphean presidents, and he dropped some good goss on Redford v Reiner!
www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
Happening now!
And I'm somehow not done!
Join me and the great Todd Arrington on Sunday, 10am EST on Study, Marry, Kill.
alexiscoe.substack.com/publish/post...
bsky.app/profile/btar...
Join me and the great Todd Arrington on Sunday, 10am EST on Study, Marry, Kill.
alexiscoe.substack.com/publish/post...
bsky.app/profile/btar...
November 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Happening now!
If I had a dollar for every time a presidency hung on Bill Clinton’s zipper, I’d have two dollars. Not a great return on investment, but that’s the market for you.
November 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
If I had a dollar for every time a presidency hung on Bill Clinton’s zipper, I’d have two dollars. Not a great return on investment, but that’s the market for you.
TikTok is really owning this Bubba game
November 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
TikTok is really owning this Bubba game
Me: Sets an alarm so I don't spend four hours on the first paragraph.
Also me: Ignores alarm and spends five hours on the first paragraph.
Also me: Ignores alarm and spends five hours on the first paragraph.
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Me: Sets an alarm so I don't spend four hours on the first paragraph.
Also me: Ignores alarm and spends five hours on the first paragraph.
Also me: Ignores alarm and spends five hours on the first paragraph.
Reposted by Alexis Coe
I'm still in my Garfield era!
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
November 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I'm still in my Garfield era!
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
I'm still in my Garfield era!
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
November 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I'm still in my Garfield era!
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
Here's my third piece on @netflix.com's Death by Lightning: A Q&A with @candicemillard.bsky.social.
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts...
Reposted by Alexis Coe
Mark your calendars for 10 am (Eastern) this Sunday, Nov. 16! I’ll be appearing on my friend Alexis Coe’s Substack Live to discuss the new James A. Garfield Netflix series “Death by Lightning!”
My thanks to @alexiscoe.bsky.social for this kind invitation. This should be fun!
My thanks to @alexiscoe.bsky.social for this kind invitation. This should be fun!
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Mark your calendars for 10 am (Eastern) this Sunday, Nov. 16! I’ll be appearing on my friend Alexis Coe’s Substack Live to discuss the new James A. Garfield Netflix series “Death by Lightning!”
My thanks to @alexiscoe.bsky.social for this kind invitation. This should be fun!
My thanks to @alexiscoe.bsky.social for this kind invitation. This should be fun!
Reposted by Alexis Coe
Join me for a Substack Live today at noon with Zara Anishanslin: alexiscoe.substack.com/p/todays-liv...
Today's Live, 12pm: Genteel Denial & the East Wing Demolition
The Live is open to all, with a couple of advantages for paid subscribers:
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Join me for a Substack Live today at noon with Zara Anishanslin: alexiscoe.substack.com/p/todays-liv...
Reposted by Alexis Coe
Calm, surgical strike (not to say there isn't deserved outrage coursing through) from @alexiscoe.bsky.social.
I particularly appreciated the part about enslaved people underwriting Mr. Washington's success...
I particularly appreciated the part about enslaved people underwriting Mr. Washington's success...
Like taking candy from a platformed baby--I couldn't help myself.
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/douthat-th...
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/douthat-th...
Douthat Threatens Me with a Good Time: On His Latest Nonsense
If you’re even vaguely online, you’ve already seen Interesting Times with Ross Douthat try to troll us by asking its conservative guests, Helen Andrews and Leah Libresco Sargeant, whether “liberal fem...
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Calm, surgical strike (not to say there isn't deserved outrage coursing through) from @alexiscoe.bsky.social.
I particularly appreciated the part about enslaved people underwriting Mr. Washington's success...
I particularly appreciated the part about enslaved people underwriting Mr. Washington's success...
Reposted by Alexis Coe
As someone who listened to the first half of that interview and then turned it off in disgust, this was pretty satisfying.
Like taking candy from a platformed baby--I couldn't help myself.
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/douthat-th...
alexiscoe.substack.com/p/douthat-th...
Douthat Threatens Me with a Good Time: On His Latest Nonsense
If you’re even vaguely online, you’ve already seen Interesting Times with Ross Douthat try to troll us by asking its conservative guests, Helen Andrews and Leah Libresco Sargeant, whether “liberal fem...
alexiscoe.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:29 PM
As someone who listened to the first half of that interview and then turned it off in disgust, this was pretty satisfying.