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
This is exactly the energy we need.
It's near-white out conditions in Chicago as the snow comes down, and tonight's anti-ICE/CBP rally is wrapping up in front of city hall.
But not before the crowd bounces and chants, "I believe that we will win!"
But not before the crowd bounces and chants, "I believe that we will win!"
January 31, 2026 at 1:52 AM
This is exactly the energy we need.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
One thing I think we should consider more is how caring about politics and being a reliable voter are correlated but distinct traits. There are habitual voters who don’t want to discuss politics, and people who care about politics but struggle to follow through and vote.
Characteristically thoughtful discussion of a known snag of survey research -- people who care a lot about politics are more likely to take political polls -- and what we might be able to do to address that
(As noted, I think this is such a fun experiment)
(As noted, I think this is such a fun experiment)
Hello super friends.
There is a new @crosstabspodcast.com
It features a cool experiment in talking to non-political voters by @kabirkhanna.bsky.social at @cbsnews.com
He's super smart. You should listen to him.
Hey, did you know it's an election year?? Again??!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
There is a new @crosstabspodcast.com
It features a cool experiment in talking to non-political voters by @kabirkhanna.bsky.social at @cbsnews.com
He's super smart. You should listen to him.
Hey, did you know it's an election year?? Again??!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
January 31, 2026 at 1:27 AM
One thing I think we should consider more is how caring about politics and being a reliable voter are correlated but distinct traits. There are habitual voters who don’t want to discuss politics, and people who care about politics but struggle to follow through and vote.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Gender assassinated a billionaire
January 31, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Gender assassinated a billionaire
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
January 30, 2026 at 11:58 PM
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Senate Dems split almost down the middle on tonight’s appropriations bill.
Remember, folks: They have never secured a guarantee that a single dollar will be used as appropriated.
Here are those that rightly voted no.
Remember, folks: They have never secured a guarantee that a single dollar will be used as appropriated.
Here are those that rightly voted no.
January 31, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Senate Dems split almost down the middle on tonight’s appropriations bill.
Remember, folks: They have never secured a guarantee that a single dollar will be used as appropriated.
Here are those that rightly voted no.
Remember, folks: They have never secured a guarantee that a single dollar will be used as appropriated.
Here are those that rightly voted no.
Five classes from college:
1. Dinosaurs and their Relatives
2. African American Freedom Narratives
3. The Body in Ancient Greece
4. Collapses of Past Societies and Lessons for Our Future
5. Good & Evil in Tolkien's The Hobbit
1. Dinosaurs and their Relatives
2. African American Freedom Narratives
3. The Body in Ancient Greece
4. Collapses of Past Societies and Lessons for Our Future
5. Good & Evil in Tolkien's The Hobbit
Five classes from college:
1. Honors Analysis in R with Paul Sally
2. Religion in Western Civilization with Jonathan Z. Smith
3. American Landscapes with Neil Harris
4. American Literature and Culture 1776-1855 with Laura Rigal
5. History Made Difficult with Peter Novick
1. Honors Analysis in R with Paul Sally
2. Religion in Western Civilization with Jonathan Z. Smith
3. American Landscapes with Neil Harris
4. American Literature and Culture 1776-1855 with Laura Rigal
5. History Made Difficult with Peter Novick
Five classes from college:
1. The City of Rome in Antiquity
2. Earthquakes
3. Latin Comedy
4. Imperial Russia, 1613-1917
5. Chemistry 105a
1. The City of Rome in Antiquity
2. Earthquakes
3. Latin Comedy
4. Imperial Russia, 1613-1917
5. Chemistry 105a
January 31, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Five classes from college:
1. Dinosaurs and their Relatives
2. African American Freedom Narratives
3. The Body in Ancient Greece
4. Collapses of Past Societies and Lessons for Our Future
5. Good & Evil in Tolkien's The Hobbit
1. Dinosaurs and their Relatives
2. African American Freedom Narratives
3. The Body in Ancient Greece
4. Collapses of Past Societies and Lessons for Our Future
5. Good & Evil in Tolkien's The Hobbit
What percentage of Americans do all the Senate Democrats plus Murkowski & Collins represent
I would like to see this information included in every report of a Senate vote, the same way journos eventually established the norm of reporting the party of the president who appointed federal judges.
I would like to see this information included in every report of a Senate vote, the same way journos eventually established the norm of reporting the party of the president who appointed federal judges.
👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.
January 31, 2026 at 12:18 AM
What percentage of Americans do all the Senate Democrats plus Murkowski & Collins represent
I would like to see this information included in every report of a Senate vote, the same way journos eventually established the norm of reporting the party of the president who appointed federal judges.
I would like to see this information included in every report of a Senate vote, the same way journos eventually established the norm of reporting the party of the president who appointed federal judges.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Very important vote. It makes repealing ICE surge funding the mainstream position in the party, with bipartisan support.
👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.
January 30, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Very important vote. It makes repealing ICE surge funding the mainstream position in the party, with bipartisan support.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
The government also sought and was denied a detention hearing as to Jamael Lundy, a state senate candidate. He was to be released as well.
January 30, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The government also sought and was denied a detention hearing as to Jamael Lundy, a state senate candidate. He was to be released as well.
"The pact follows months of heated negotiations that reportedly made use of a diplomatic backchannel with Pedotopia maintained by American casting directors, superyacht owners, youth ministers, and scoutmasters."
Not sure how @theonion.com stays on top of breaking news like this but the print edition just showed up at my house with this:
January 30, 2026 at 9:39 PM
"The pact follows months of heated negotiations that reportedly made use of a diplomatic backchannel with Pedotopia maintained by American casting directors, superyacht owners, youth ministers, and scoutmasters."
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Texas now following the lead of Hungary under Orban.
Texas A&M ends its women's & gender studies program while hundreds of syllabi remain flagged and censored under top-down review policies.
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
Texas A&M Ends Women’s Studies and Overhauls Classes Over Race and Gender
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Texas now following the lead of Hungary under Orban.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
![— Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee in Rhode Island, ruled Tuesday that the administration defied her orders regarding the location of an ICE detainee, who was moved to a facility in Massachusetts that McElroy had deemed “wholly unsuitable.” “It seems clear that the Court can conclude that the [administration] willfully violated two of this Court’s orders and willfully misrepresented facts to the Court,” McElroy wrote.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:65vkd7kbacss37t7uj75g2qt/bafkreibyy667popnsiv6d6r5ebqxmgfd6ltnll4bwycfsiu2t4ij4ctos4@jpeg)
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Autocratic regimes hate the free press. They hate journalism because they don’t want to be held accountable. These Minnesota journalists are being targeted because journalism has prevented this administration from doing even more insane things in Minnesota. Remember it was video that proved lying …
January 30, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Autocratic regimes hate the free press. They hate journalism because they don’t want to be held accountable. These Minnesota journalists are being targeted because journalism has prevented this administration from doing even more insane things in Minnesota. Remember it was video that proved lying …
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
In any other presidency this would be a world-shattering scandal leading to months if not years of investigations and reporting
In this one it's a day that ends in Y
In this one it's a day that ends in Y
Email from Jeffrey Epstein: "supposedly a girl said that donal= had sex with her at my house when she was underage.. =C2 . she said she has a witness. in 1993"
January 30, 2026 at 7:40 PM
In any other presidency this would be a world-shattering scandal leading to months if not years of investigations and reporting
In this one it's a day that ends in Y
In this one it's a day that ends in Y
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Weaponizing civil rights law against the very groups it was written to protect is a hallmark of neofascism.
It’s meant to punish. And also declare loudly that they are above the law and will interpret it to mean whatever they want.
This, in a nutshell, is why policy won’t stop fascism.
It’s meant to punish. And also declare loudly that they are above the law and will interpret it to mean whatever they want.
This, in a nutshell, is why policy won’t stop fascism.
Journalist Don Lemon is charged with federal civil rights crimes in anti-ICE church protest
The Department of Homeland Security says journalist Don Lemon has been charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a...
apnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Weaponizing civil rights law against the very groups it was written to protect is a hallmark of neofascism.
It’s meant to punish. And also declare loudly that they are above the law and will interpret it to mean whatever they want.
This, in a nutshell, is why policy won’t stop fascism.
It’s meant to punish. And also declare loudly that they are above the law and will interpret it to mean whatever they want.
This, in a nutshell, is why policy won’t stop fascism.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Is Trump fascist? One Wall Street Journal columnist believes to ask the question is un-American--how could one question the judgment of the American people? To do so raises the appalling prospect that everything might be broken. I discuss why it matters:
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
The Appalling Vista
Clear vision in hard times
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Is Trump fascist? One Wall Street Journal columnist believes to ask the question is un-American--how could one question the judgment of the American people? To do so raises the appalling prospect that everything might be broken. I discuss why it matters:
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
From the WSJ: "'The clearest sign that we are not actually in a bubble,' investor Ben Horowitz remarked last month, 'is the fact that everyone is talking about a bubble.' You could say the same about fascism."
You could say that, if you wanted to look ridiculous.
You could say that, if you wanted to look ridiculous.
Is Trump fascist? One Wall Street Journal columnist believes to ask the question is un-American--how could one question the judgment of the American people? To do so raises the appalling prospect that everything might be broken. I discuss why it matters:
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
open.substack.com/pub/musgrave...
The Appalling Vista
Clear vision in hard times
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:04 PM
From the WSJ: "'The clearest sign that we are not actually in a bubble,' investor Ben Horowitz remarked last month, 'is the fact that everyone is talking about a bubble.' You could say the same about fascism."
You could say that, if you wanted to look ridiculous.
You could say that, if you wanted to look ridiculous.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
really glad that america voted for the epstein party to take control of congress, the white house, and the supreme court
www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-t...
www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-t...
January 30, 2026 at 7:05 PM
really glad that america voted for the epstein party to take control of congress, the white house, and the supreme court
www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-t...
www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-t...
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
The book will be written about geographies of authoritarianism and how this regime zeroed in on cities w/ large Black populations, African immigrant populations, Black leadership and histories of Black protest. That book has already been written many times over about US history, but history repeats
Far From Minneapolis, Memphis Remains Under a Different Federal Crackdown
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:06 PM
The book will be written about geographies of authoritarianism and how this regime zeroed in on cities w/ large Black populations, African immigrant populations, Black leadership and histories of Black protest. That book has already been written many times over about US history, but history repeats
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
I talked to the brilliant @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social about the sentence he has been repeating for months, "I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win." We discussed anti-Trump organizing and the important of sharing resistance successes. newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I talked to the brilliant @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social about the sentence he has been repeating for months, "I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win." We discussed anti-Trump organizing and the important of sharing resistance successes. newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
@abenewman.bsky.social to the Neo-Royalist courtesy telephone
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: Kevin Warsh—expected to be Trump's Fed chair pick—is the son-in-law of Trump donor Ronald Lauder (billionaire Estée Lauder heir), who convinced Trump in 2018 of the need to annex Greenland (and then invested heavily there), and who benefits from the Ukraine rare-earth deal?
Trump Administration Prepares for Warsh Fed Chair Nomination
The Trump administration is preparing for the president to nominate Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chair, according to people familiar with the matter.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:23 PM
@abenewman.bsky.social to the Neo-Royalist courtesy telephone
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
The good news is this means things are going terribly for them. The bad news is they’re going to become increasingly desperate, violent, and brutal. And have three years to escalate unless Trump can be removed first.
the arrest of journalists in minneapolis, including don lemon, is more evidence that the only move the administration knows how to make is to use force, and does not know how to respond when that force is met with defiance and indifference.
January 30, 2026 at 5:12 PM
The good news is this means things are going terribly for them. The bad news is they’re going to become increasingly desperate, violent, and brutal. And have three years to escalate unless Trump can be removed first.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.
January 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
very fun to think that there are at least four votes for "the president can unilaterally rewrite a constitutional amendment"
A different kind of April fools
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
January 30, 2026 at 4:35 PM
very fun to think that there are at least four votes for "the president can unilaterally rewrite a constitutional amendment"
Reposted by Kevin Elliott
Surprising no one, the whole internet introvert-extrovert thing is complete unscientific bullshit and the idea that the world is "built for extroverts" is actually just "people with better communication skills have more success."
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutt...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutt...
Extroverts vs. Introverts: Is One Better? Myths and Truths
When discussing advantages and disadvantages of well-known personality traits, such as extroversion-introversion, we need to fully understand the personality-behavior relationship.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Surprising no one, the whole internet introvert-extrovert thing is complete unscientific bullshit and the idea that the world is "built for extroverts" is actually just "people with better communication skills have more success."
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutt...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutt...