Nick Davis
@ntd.bsky.social
political scientist at football-u @ http://nicholastdavis.com, outdoorsperson, gardener of two small humans, PI @ http://demos-lab.net, stuff older than 60 days self-destructs.
Pinned
Nick Davis
@ntd.bsky.social
· Mar 17
curious to see whether SCOTUS permits Trump's abuse of constitution across lots of issues but rn it looks like trump take legitimacy. @matthewhitt.bsky.social and i are finally...finally forthcoming in AJPS talking at length abt a new era of judicial public opinion.
preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
i don't now that theres a straight line from Abu Ghraib to the Trump / Hegseth murders-at-sea, but the fact that governmental officials have apparent immunity for all their terrible deeds is probably a pretty shitty way to establish a justice regime.
December 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
i don't now that theres a straight line from Abu Ghraib to the Trump / Hegseth murders-at-sea, but the fact that governmental officials have apparent immunity for all their terrible deeds is probably a pretty shitty way to establish a justice regime.
The council of Republican clerics has spoken
BREAKING: Supreme Court sides with Texas Republicans in fight over congressional map. The new gerrymandered map will be used in the 2026 midterms. The vote is 6–3, with the Republican appointees siding with Texas.
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The council of Republican clerics has spoken
huge service lift, this.
Survey experiments' popularity in political science is getting attention. What is good and bad about them? How can one maximize their benefits and mitigate their downsides?
Greg Huber and I wrote up our thoughts:
Paywalled: doi.org/10.1016/bs.h...
Free: m-graham.com/papers/Huber...
Greg Huber and I wrote up our thoughts:
Paywalled: doi.org/10.1016/bs.h...
Free: m-graham.com/papers/Huber...
December 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
huge service lift, this.
i ask my students at the end of intro to America government: would you design a government like this? and almost every kid just sighs and admits “no.” they don’t have strong priors on ideal types or what changes matter most but they intuitively understand that this is fucked.
The U.S. is the only democracy in the world with:
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
i ask my students at the end of intro to America government: would you design a government like this? and almost every kid just sighs and admits “no.” they don’t have strong priors on ideal types or what changes matter most but they intuitively understand that this is fucked.
"a new breed" is a tell
"asexual, asocial males" is a tell
stories of provision being gendered is a tell
being a gen x biz school profe--uh, well
"asexual, asocial males" is a tell
stories of provision being gendered is a tell
being a gen x biz school profe--uh, well
What if men don't want to protect anyone? (And presumably, they're protecting women from other men). What if men want to create art?
What if men don't want to provide? What if they want to be in an equal partnership? Or be supported when they're unwell?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
What if men don't want to provide? What if they want to be in an equal partnership? Or be supported when they're unwell?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Scott Galloway on the masculinity crisis: ‘I worry we are evolving a new breed of asexual, asocial males’
When his book Notes on Being a Man was released last month, it raced to the top of the bestseller lists. The US author, tech entrepreneur and podcaster explains his theories on dating, crying – and th...
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"a new breed" is a tell
"asexual, asocial males" is a tell
stories of provision being gendered is a tell
being a gen x biz school profe--uh, well
"asexual, asocial males" is a tell
stories of provision being gendered is a tell
being a gen x biz school profe--uh, well
this entire generation of politicians is a complete wash.
Hillary Clinton blames TikTok and “totally made up” videos for young people’s views on Israel and Palestine.
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
December 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
this entire generation of politicians is a complete wash.
alas that this was but hours too late for the final lecture on foreign policy in introduction to american government.
US foreign policy is apparently for sale. Here’s how much it costs.
Zeteo breaks down how countries are using gifts to sway Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions.
Read the full article: zeteo.com/p/6-countrie...
Zeteo breaks down how countries are using gifts to sway Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions.
Read the full article: zeteo.com/p/6-countrie...
December 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
alas that this was but hours too late for the final lecture on foreign policy in introduction to american government.
Haidt's Google Scholar profile reveals one (1) peer-reviewed paper on social media use and mental health and one (1) paper on technology use and loneliness since 2015. He is not the lead author on a single paper in the area for which he claims expertise. The word for that is: charlatan.
Haidt is "stunned" that ChatGPT asked how it would threaten youth reveals that its plan would be what Haidt has argued in his books. The secret plan!
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
December 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Haidt's Google Scholar profile reveals one (1) peer-reviewed paper on social media use and mental health and one (1) paper on technology use and loneliness since 2015. He is not the lead author on a single paper in the area for which he claims expertise. The word for that is: charlatan.
It is now 12/01 and if you’re not watching then you’re behind. Chop chop!
Christmas movies ranked:
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
December 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It is now 12/01 and if you’re not watching then you’re behind. Chop chop!
Jingle Bell Heist on Netflix was cute.
December 1, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Jingle Bell Heist on Netflix was cute.
i know that bar is owned by Nazis but damn they make good drinks and my friends who drink there with me aren’t into Nazis so even though this other bar isnt owned by Nazis its drinks just aren’t as yummy and the patrons are annoying sometimes so really I have to go to the Nazi bar
November 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
i know that bar is owned by Nazis but damn they make good drinks and my friends who drink there with me aren’t into Nazis so even though this other bar isnt owned by Nazis its drinks just aren’t as yummy and the patrons are annoying sometimes so really I have to go to the Nazi bar
Relatedly: it’s still low key mindboggling that the war on terror and housing collapse eras of wrongdoing passed by without much hiccup. Our political class is just riddled with unpunished criminality.
if there's a reason to keep up the "tribunals for all involved" discourse one such reason it is to put in stark relief how far away some of the Dem politicking is from the mood on the ground
eric swalwell said on msnow that a major goal of a dem majority after the midterms would be for ice masks to come off and badges to come out, this is insufficient
November 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Relatedly: it’s still low key mindboggling that the war on terror and housing collapse eras of wrongdoing passed by without much hiccup. Our political class is just riddled with unpunished criminality.
The fix for good turkey is just refusing to bake a whole ass bird. Instead, marinate turkey loins and sous vide them. Sear it to finish. 100% better.
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 AM
The fix for good turkey is just refusing to bake a whole ass bird. Instead, marinate turkey loins and sous vide them. Sear it to finish. 100% better.
Christmas movies ranked:
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Christmas movies ranked:
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
1. Klaus
2. That Christmas
3. Arthur Christmas
4. Holidate
5. Santa Clause 1
6. Home Alone 1
7. The Grinch (animated)
8. The Grinch (live action)
9. Meet Me Next Christmas (A Pentatonix Christmas)
10. White Christmas
In my fantasy academic world (where I am a rich scion in addition to regular faculty person), I pay a lot of smart researchers to write chapters for an edited textbook on “media and politics“ that takes seriously the cause of representing how “(new) media” actually operate. 1/2
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege reut.rs/48eKxnO
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege
Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a class action by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.
reut.rs
November 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
In my fantasy academic world (where I am a rich scion in addition to regular faculty person), I pay a lot of smart researchers to write chapters for an edited textbook on “media and politics“ that takes seriously the cause of representing how “(new) media” actually operate. 1/2
Wanted to be an art teacher still confused how i got here
November 23, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Wanted to be an art teacher still confused how i got here
Physician assisted suicide passes in IL and its interesting to track response. Bear in mind that burden of proof is high (two physicians confirming less than six month prognosis), and this is Catholic Bishop Malloy on the matter (Image). ”False charity“ is quite the turn of phrase.
November 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Physician assisted suicide passes in IL and its interesting to track response. Bear in mind that burden of proof is high (two physicians confirming less than six month prognosis), and this is Catholic Bishop Malloy on the matter (Image). ”False charity“ is quite the turn of phrase.
interesting datapoint for the ole bio-politics research. personally think we can put most of that to bed as a well-intentioned but far-too-messy line of work.
So there you have it, twin study estimates were greatly inflated, and molecular data sets the record straight. I walk through possible counter-arguments, but ultimately the uncomfortable truth is that genes contribute to traits much less than we always thought.
November 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
interesting datapoint for the ole bio-politics research. personally think we can put most of that to bed as a well-intentioned but far-too-messy line of work.
“Today, as the Roberts court rewrites the Constitution in the image of Trumpian autocracy…We are watching a rigged game, and Roberts set it up.”
I’m glad journalists are allowed to say this bc academics are often muzzled on this point by editorial niceties and disciplinary norms.
I’m glad journalists are allowed to say this bc academics are often muzzled on this point by editorial niceties and disciplinary norms.
🎯🎯Must read piece on how John Roberts created the conditions for Trump’s rise and has enabled his criminality at every turn by @pemalevy.bsky.social and @ariberman.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“Today, as the Roberts court rewrites the Constitution in the image of Trumpian autocracy…We are watching a rigged game, and Roberts set it up.”
I’m glad journalists are allowed to say this bc academics are often muzzled on this point by editorial niceties and disciplinary norms.
I’m glad journalists are allowed to say this bc academics are often muzzled on this point by editorial niceties and disciplinary norms.
Solidarity to all who return “home”
This holiday season
And are forced to (again)
Deal with parents whose brains
Have been boiled by Fox News
This holiday season
And are forced to (again)
Deal with parents whose brains
Have been boiled by Fox News
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Solidarity to all who return “home”
This holiday season
And are forced to (again)
Deal with parents whose brains
Have been boiled by Fox News
This holiday season
And are forced to (again)
Deal with parents whose brains
Have been boiled by Fox News
Reposted by Nick Davis
This is like someone asking you or me for twenty bucks and they’re going to act like it is Armageddon
CALIFORNIA IS CONSIDERING A ONE-TIME 5% WEALTH TAX ON BILLIONAIRES, PER A PROPOSED 2026 BALLOT INITIATIVE
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This is like someone asking you or me for twenty bucks and they’re going to act like it is Armageddon
it is very difficult to convey to fledgling researchers that writing academic research involves a *recipe* not a *formula*
formulas imply formal demands and requirements, but recipes are made to be broken, for ingredients to be swapped
formulas imply formal demands and requirements, but recipes are made to be broken, for ingredients to be swapped
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
it is very difficult to convey to fledgling researchers that writing academic research involves a *recipe* not a *formula*
formulas imply formal demands and requirements, but recipes are made to be broken, for ingredients to be swapped
formulas imply formal demands and requirements, but recipes are made to be broken, for ingredients to be swapped
Not the point but Huff Post is so laden with pop up ads that I could barely read the post without my phones browser crashing repeatedly — a little extra spice that emphasized the stupidity of technology.
Anyways, AI is causing me to go back to blue book exams, a pivot that I truly hate.
Anyways, AI is causing me to go back to blue book exams, a pivot that I truly hate.
"And I guess that’s why I hate AI in the classroom as much as I do. Students are afraid to fail, and AI presents itself as a savior. But what we learn from history is that progress requires failure. It requires reflection."
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Not the point but Huff Post is so laden with pop up ads that I could barely read the post without my phones browser crashing repeatedly — a little extra spice that emphasized the stupidity of technology.
Anyways, AI is causing me to go back to blue book exams, a pivot that I truly hate.
Anyways, AI is causing me to go back to blue book exams, a pivot that I truly hate.
*states at Arizona*
climate change comes for us all at some point. this is wild.
climate change comes for us all at some point. this is wild.
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
*states at Arizona*
climate change comes for us all at some point. this is wild.
climate change comes for us all at some point. this is wild.
Those deadass eyes are spooky as hell this dude looks exactly like the type of bootlicker on the wrong side in black and white ww2 films
Cotton on Trump's boat strikes: "Use common sense. If any of these had been boats full of fisherman or refugees, CNN would've already been on the ground & interviewed all their families & told their stories. We can be confident all of these strikes have been against cartel-based drug traffickers."
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Those deadass eyes are spooky as hell this dude looks exactly like the type of bootlicker on the wrong side in black and white ww2 films