Kevin Elliott
@kjephd.bsky.social
Political theorist studying democracy, ethics, & institutions. Author of Democracy for Busy People (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo194847654.html); more at kevinjelliott.net. Generally poasting my way through this thing
Pinned
Kevin Elliott
@kjephd.bsky.social
· Jun 24
New article out from me, in which I consider: what if I'm wrong about everything re: what's important for a flourishing democracy?
I use a recent book attacking institutions & advocating disintermediated localism to explore the limits of my view.
Get it free here: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
I use a recent book attacking institutions & advocating disintermediated localism to explore the limits of my view.
Get it free here: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
A big part of American politics for decades has involved not being directly confronted with the consequences of elections. Welp
At least nobody will ask “what’s the worst that can happen?” for another 20 or 30 years
February 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
A big part of American politics for decades has involved not being directly confronted with the consequences of elections. Welp
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Like most of the House, Mike Johnson has only been there in the Trump era. It’s not simply that he’s abdicating his power as a coequal branch, it’s that he doesn’t seem to understand that it *is* a coequal branch.
WELKER: MTG says you're '100% under the direct orders of the WH'
JOHNSON: The president and I work closely together because we have unified govt. That's what the American people voted for
W: Is there any area where you disagree?
J: Yes. But we do that privately. I'm going to support my president.
JOHNSON: The president and I work closely together because we have unified govt. That's what the American people voted for
W: Is there any area where you disagree?
J: Yes. But we do that privately. I'm going to support my president.
February 1, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Like most of the House, Mike Johnson has only been there in the Trump era. It’s not simply that he’s abdicating his power as a coequal branch, it’s that he doesn’t seem to understand that it *is* a coequal branch.
Listened to @adamtooze.bsky.social talk about China with Ezra Klein & he mentioned the CCP has 100 million members distributed into every organization of any size in a country of 1.4 billion: ~7%.
If a party tried that in the US, proportionally they'd need 24.3 million formal, card-carrying members
If a party tried that in the US, proportionally they'd need 24.3 million formal, card-carrying members
February 1, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Listened to @adamtooze.bsky.social talk about China with Ezra Klein & he mentioned the CCP has 100 million members distributed into every organization of any size in a country of 1.4 billion: ~7%.
If a party tried that in the US, proportionally they'd need 24.3 million formal, card-carrying members
If a party tried that in the US, proportionally they'd need 24.3 million formal, card-carrying members
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
You could add up all the corruption in US history from every Administration and not even sniff Trump’s year in office.
Every other President in history gets impeached unanimously for this. Every one.
Every other President in history gets impeached unanimously for this. Every one.
WSJ: “.. The deal marked something unprecedented in American politics: a foreign government official taking a major ownership stake in an incoming U.S. president's company."
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
February 1, 2026 at 2:04 PM
You could add up all the corruption in US history from every Administration and not even sniff Trump’s year in office.
Every other President in history gets impeached unanimously for this. Every one.
Every other President in history gets impeached unanimously for this. Every one.
31 point (!) swing to Democrats in a Texas state Senate district; Democrat wins.
apnews.com/article/texa...
apnews.com/article/texa...
Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate and flipped a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:52 PM
31 point (!) swing to Democrats in a Texas state Senate district; Democrat wins.
apnews.com/article/texa...
apnews.com/article/texa...
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
A little girl in Portland, OR after being tear gassed by ICE. what the actual fuck.
February 1, 2026 at 2:14 AM
A little girl in Portland, OR after being tear gassed by ICE. what the actual fuck.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
I agree that students shouldn't shout down speakers, but "authoritarian" is not even close to the right word.
The shouting down of speakers (who typically have power and authority) by students (who typically have little or no power or authority) is the opposite of "authoritarian".
The shouting down of speakers (who typically have power and authority) by students (who typically have little or no power or authority) is the opposite of "authoritarian".
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I agree that students shouldn't shout down speakers, but "authoritarian" is not even close to the right word.
The shouting down of speakers (who typically have power and authority) by students (who typically have little or no power or authority) is the opposite of "authoritarian".
The shouting down of speakers (who typically have power and authority) by students (who typically have little or no power or authority) is the opposite of "authoritarian".
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
One of the things I love about this special election for the State Senate in the suburbs of Fort Worth is guess which one is the Democratic candidate and which one's the Republican :). The South's much more interesting & complex than folks who've never been here think it is.
February 1, 2026 at 1:11 AM
One of the things I love about this special election for the State Senate in the suburbs of Fort Worth is guess which one is the Democratic candidate and which one's the Republican :). The South's much more interesting & complex than folks who've never been here think it is.
I kept hearing about some level at which Bitcoiners who bought on margin (?) or something would be forced to sell? Is that right? Is that still a thing? Are we anywhere near it?
February 1, 2026 at 12:17 AM
I kept hearing about some level at which Bitcoiners who bought on margin (?) or something would be forced to sell? Is that right? Is that still a thing? Are we anywhere near it?
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Know someone (perhaps yourself!) who presented a great paper on a Presidents and Executive Politics panel at APSA in 2025?
Submit a nomination for the Founders Best Paper Award by February 2!
Submit a nomination for the Founders Best Paper Award by February 2!
January 31, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Know someone (perhaps yourself!) who presented a great paper on a Presidents and Executive Politics panel at APSA in 2025?
Submit a nomination for the Founders Best Paper Award by February 2!
Submit a nomination for the Founders Best Paper Award by February 2!
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
This is incredible???
An unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume angrily confronted Santa Clara city officials during a joint meeting of the City Council, city authorities, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Monday, using his public comment to condemn the city’s stance on cooperation with ICE.
January 31, 2026 at 10:30 PM
This is incredible???
Getting rid of Miller *should* be easier than getting rid of Trump, but somehow I don't think Trump will part with him under any circumstances. Are there any really good deep dives on the nature of the relationship between Trump & Miller?
Millerism means Minneapolis times 100 for a decade. It would tend the United States apart. It is something close to Milosevic’s line.
January 31, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Getting rid of Miller *should* be easier than getting rid of Trump, but somehow I don't think Trump will part with him under any circumstances. Are there any really good deep dives on the nature of the relationship between Trump & Miller?
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
telling my adorable daughter i'm not putting the drawing she made on the fridge because it's toddlerslop
January 30, 2026 at 11:02 PM
telling my adorable daughter i'm not putting the drawing she made on the fridge because it's toddlerslop
A first for which we've waited long enough
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Mamdani names reformer Stanley Richards to steer chaotic Rikers complex
Exactly one month into his term, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed a formerly incarcerated person to manage the facility.
gothamist.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:42 PM
A first for which we've waited long enough
In exchange for 107 seconds, the Mayor gives you more than a little understanding of the NYC budget.
(SO WELL DONE)
(SO WELL DONE)
The City’s Budget is our future. And you deserve to know how it works.
January 31, 2026 at 9:35 PM
In exchange for 107 seconds, the Mayor gives you more than a little understanding of the NYC budget.
(SO WELL DONE)
(SO WELL DONE)
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
It’s not doomerism to say trump, his party, and his government are trying to rig elections including the midterms; that’s just … reality
It is doomerism to act like they are likely to “cancel” the midterms or that their success in rigging it is at all a given
It is doomerism to act like they are likely to “cancel” the midterms or that their success in rigging it is at all a given
Hey now, I've been informed that such claims are doomerism, and that's something we shouldn't tolerate here.
Besides, everyone knows that the midterms will fix this.
Besides, everyone knows that the midterms will fix this.
January 31, 2026 at 8:52 PM
It’s not doomerism to say trump, his party, and his government are trying to rig elections including the midterms; that’s just … reality
It is doomerism to act like they are likely to “cancel” the midterms or that their success in rigging it is at all a given
It is doomerism to act like they are likely to “cancel” the midterms or that their success in rigging it is at all a given
Classic old guy thing: go to the gym, lift weights, feeling real good; tweak back when getting dressed after
January 31, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Classic old guy thing: go to the gym, lift weights, feeling real good; tweak back when getting dressed after
This judge does the thing quoting the Declaration of Independence at the Trump regime then adds for good measure: "Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power & the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds & are bereft of human decency."
Order to release Adrian and Liam Arias is a real barn burner storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 9:11 PM
This judge does the thing quoting the Declaration of Independence at the Trump regime then adds for good measure: "Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power & the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds & are bereft of human decency."
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Not to take away from the ridiculously-on-point righteousness of this order, but it is also clear that these judges are writing for maximum exposure, and that is GREAT.
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
January 31, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Not to take away from the ridiculously-on-point righteousness of this order, but it is also clear that these judges are writing for maximum exposure, and that is GREAT.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
whatever dem wants to run for president in 2028 is going to need, basically, a project 2029 plan to screen existing federal workers and rebuild federal administrative capacity, and it's going to be really, really tough, they're going to be running on empty for *awhile*
Dems are in a real bind if we take power again.
There will have to be purges and reform at DOJ/FBI.
but bad faith right wing media will instantly do the "you're acting like trump" thing and dems will back down
Leaving double agents and fascists littered throughout the federal government
There will have to be purges and reform at DOJ/FBI.
but bad faith right wing media will instantly do the "you're acting like trump" thing and dems will back down
Leaving double agents and fascists littered throughout the federal government
January 31, 2026 at 8:33 PM
whatever dem wants to run for president in 2028 is going to need, basically, a project 2029 plan to screen existing federal workers and rebuild federal administrative capacity, and it's going to be really, really tough, they're going to be running on empty for *awhile*
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
A reminder that those who took for granted that Trump victory would be the end of Ukraine were wrong. Ukraine continues to hold Ru off despite the fact that Trump ended US aid. Ukraine has innovated and developed its military capacity, Europe has stepped up, and Ru is weaker than many assume.
January 31, 2026 at 8:34 PM
A reminder that those who took for granted that Trump victory would be the end of Ukraine were wrong. Ukraine continues to hold Ru off despite the fact that Trump ended US aid. Ukraine has innovated and developed its military capacity, Europe has stepped up, and Ru is weaker than many assume.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, who studies democracy backsliding, on Don Lemon's arrest:
“This is a new dimension. In democracies, journalists don't get arrested. In authoritarian regimes, journalists get arrested."
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/don-lemon-...
“This is a new dimension. In democracies, journalists don't get arrested. In authoritarian regimes, journalists get arrested."
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/don-lemon-...
January 31, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, who studies democracy backsliding, on Don Lemon's arrest:
“This is a new dimension. In democracies, journalists don't get arrested. In authoritarian regimes, journalists get arrested."
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/don-lemon-...
“This is a new dimension. In democracies, journalists don't get arrested. In authoritarian regimes, journalists get arrested."
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/don-lemon-...
"I am brainless, but money is the real brain of all things and how then should its possessor be brainless? Besides, he can buy clever people for himself, and is he who has...power over the clever not more clever than the clever?"
As a side note, it’s funny to see so many of these emails with thirsty academics repeatedly enact Marx’s bit in the 1844 Manuscripts about the power of money. “Oh Mr Epstein, your house in New York is enormous and, unrelatedly, your questions at dinner were so intelligent, so insightful, so deep.”
![That which is for me through the medium of money - that for which I can pay (i.e., which money can buy) - that am I myself, the possessor of the money. The extent of the power of money is the extent of my power. Money's properties are my - the possessor's - properties and essential powers. Thus, what I am and am capable of is by no means determined by my individuality. I am ugly, but I can buy for myself the most beautiful of women.
Therefore I am not ugly, for the effect of ugliness - its deterrent power - is nullified by money. I, according to my individual characteristics, am lame, but money furnishes me with twenty-four feet.
Therefore I am not lame. I am bad, dishonest, unscrupulous, stupid; but money is honoured, and hence its possessor. Money is the supreme good, therefore its possessor is good. Money, besides, saves me the trouble of being dishonest: I am therefore presumed honest. I am brainless, but money is the real brain of all things and how then should its possessor be brainless? Besides, he can buy clever people for himself, and is he who has [In the manuscript: is. - Ed.] power over the clever not more clever than the clever? Do not I, who thanks to money am capable of all that the human heart longs for, possess all human capacities? Does not my money, therefore, transform all my incapacities into their contrary?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:myqic77tkmdhmaufgkvj43hr/bafkreidpuxbx764xh7vobavcnvs3v2lo5fnfi6dukfrmk3ygxmseznkyxi@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 4:10 PM
"I am brainless, but money is the real brain of all things and how then should its possessor be brainless? Besides, he can buy clever people for himself, and is he who has...power over the clever not more clever than the clever?"
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
DM me? We used to get hundreds of highly qualified applicants for a single job posting. Good prosecutors are increasingly hesitant to work for this DOJ.
January 31, 2026 at 3:51 PM
DM me? We used to get hundreds of highly qualified applicants for a single job posting. Good prosecutors are increasingly hesitant to work for this DOJ.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
This is a part of the perpetual tension of free societies that we seem to have forgotten. We have to constantly mind it. We can’t get rid of this tension. This is actually what I am working on in the historical contribution of puritans to liberal societies.
Yes, regimes allowing for organized internal dissent & the peaceful movement into & out of power by different social formations are better than those that don't, in many ways. But when groups organize themselves to destroy that system of power circulation, democracy should protect itself from them.
January 31, 2026 at 3:57 PM
This is a part of the perpetual tension of free societies that we seem to have forgotten. We have to constantly mind it. We can’t get rid of this tension. This is actually what I am working on in the historical contribution of puritans to liberal societies.