Chris Karpowitz
@profkarpo.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Political Behavior
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Political Behavior
The tragic destruction of the Washington Post's brand is a sad tale of Bezos's hubris and cravenness. He has completely misjudged what is required at this moment ... and why the Post's readership is declining.
February 4, 2026 at 5:41 PM
The tragic destruction of the Washington Post's brand is a sad tale of Bezos's hubris and cravenness. He has completely misjudged what is required at this moment ... and why the Post's readership is declining.
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
“What we are seeing is the weakness of strong states. Regimes that rely on repression face a challenge: The more force they deploy, the more they risk exposing their own brutality to politically persuadable observers. Overreach doesn’t just project strength; it also undermines legitimacy.” Gift link
Opinion | We’re Seeing the Weakness of a Strong State
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:55 PM
“What we are seeing is the weakness of strong states. Regimes that rely on repression face a challenge: The more force they deploy, the more they risk exposing their own brutality to politically persuadable observers. Overreach doesn’t just project strength; it also undermines legitimacy.” Gift link
More evidence of federal agents behaving in ways that are flagrantly inconsistent with the Constitution and basic principles of a free society.
ICE pointed guns at a retired couple in a church lot and lied. No warrant. No rights. Just terror.
PAXIS tells us that’s unconstitutional. You have the right to remain silent, see a judicial warrant, and not open the church door.
PAXIS holds that line. Learn more & support: www.paxis.app
PAXIS tells us that’s unconstitutional. You have the right to remain silent, see a judicial warrant, and not open the church door.
PAXIS holds that line. Learn more & support: www.paxis.app
January 28, 2026 at 5:57 PM
More evidence of federal agents behaving in ways that are flagrantly inconsistent with the Constitution and basic principles of a free society.
This is from December, but it carefully highlights tactics used by ICE and the Border Patrol, including against U.S. citizens. Put simply, these scenes are deeply inconsistent with respect for public safety, the Constitution, and, more broadly, a free society.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
Video: How ‘Turn and Burn’ Immigration Operations Unleash Chaos — and Sweep up U.S. Citizens
A video analysis of one early morning raid in Los Angeles revealed the vast web of consequences brought by new aggressive Border Patrol tactics.
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:46 PM
This is from December, but it carefully highlights tactics used by ICE and the Border Patrol, including against U.S. citizens. Put simply, these scenes are deeply inconsistent with respect for public safety, the Constitution, and, more broadly, a free society.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
January 18, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“Trump’s assertion of unlimited authority — subject only to his moral judgment and his mind (whatever that means) — is a total rejection of popular sovereignty and the logic of the Constitution,” our columnist Jamelle Bouie writes.
“Trump’s assertion of unlimited authority — subject only to his moral judgment and his mind (whatever that means) — is a total rejection of popular sovereignty and the logic of the Constitution,” our columnist Jamelle Bouie writes.
Opinion | Trump Has Stopped Pretending That This Is All Normal
The president’s assertion of unlimited authority is a total rejection of popular sovereignty and the logic of the Constitution.
nyti.ms
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 PM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“Trump’s assertion of unlimited authority — subject only to his moral judgment and his mind (whatever that means) — is a total rejection of popular sovereignty and the logic of the Constitution,” our columnist Jamelle Bouie writes.
“Trump’s assertion of unlimited authority — subject only to his moral judgment and his mind (whatever that means) — is a total rejection of popular sovereignty and the logic of the Constitution,” our columnist Jamelle Bouie writes.
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
Lucky that no congregants were injured or killed. Torahs take a year to write so this is really long term damage to the community.
Horrible. Arson attack today at Mississippi’s largest synagogue, on Shabbat, destroyed multiple Torahs and left parts of the building in ruins
Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
January 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Lucky that no congregants were injured or killed. Torahs take a year to write so this is really long term damage to the community.
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
The official position of the White House is that on January 6, "it was the Democrats who staged the real insurrection by certifying a fraud-ridden election."
January 6, 2026 at 6:47 PM
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
“This is a radical change, and one that will surely leave the United States poorer, weaker and more isolated. I cannot help but detect in these nativist outbursts against Indian immigrants and their descendants a profound loss of confidence.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
Opinion | One of America’s Most Successful Experiments Is Coming to a Shuddering Halt
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:22 AM
“This is a radical change, and one that will surely leave the United States poorer, weaker and more isolated. I cannot help but detect in these nativist outbursts against Indian immigrants and their descendants a profound loss of confidence.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
None of this is new, and it's as problematic today as it was then.
November 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
None of this is new, and it's as problematic today as it was then.
Are you kidding me?! What an inning.
November 2, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Are you kidding me?! What an inning.
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands … may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
Mike Johnson: "The irony was that they called it the No Kings Rally, but if President Trump was a king, the government would be open. If President Trump was a king, he would've closed the nationals parks and the National Mall so they couldn't of had the rally out here."
October 21, 2025 at 3:05 AM
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands … may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
This opinion is worth reading. Here's the portion of Judge Young's decision that concerns masked ICE officers. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This opinion is worth reading. Here's the portion of Judge Young's decision that concerns masked ICE officers. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Thanks to Robert Redford, not only for his movies and promotion of the arts, including the Sundance Institute, but also for providing a place just minutes from Provo to experience the extraordinary natural beauty of this area.
September 16, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Thanks to Robert Redford, not only for his movies and promotion of the arts, including the Sundance Institute, but also for providing a place just minutes from Provo to experience the extraordinary natural beauty of this area.
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
¡¡VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 IS NOW OUT!!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Featuring work by: @natekelly.bsky.social, @janamorgan.bsky.social, @annkristinkolln.bsky.social, @felixlehmann.bsky.social, @feligsantos.bsky.social, @abenewman.bsky.social & ....,
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Featuring work by: @natekelly.bsky.social, @janamorgan.bsky.social, @annkristinkolln.bsky.social, @felixlehmann.bsky.social, @feligsantos.bsky.social, @abenewman.bsky.social & ....,
September 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
¡¡VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 IS NOW OUT!!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Featuring work by: @natekelly.bsky.social, @janamorgan.bsky.social, @annkristinkolln.bsky.social, @felixlehmann.bsky.social, @feligsantos.bsky.social, @abenewman.bsky.social & ....,
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Featuring work by: @natekelly.bsky.social, @janamorgan.bsky.social, @annkristinkolln.bsky.social, @felixlehmann.bsky.social, @feligsantos.bsky.social, @abenewman.bsky.social & ....,
The message is clear: don't dare to contradict Dear Leader, no matter what the facts say. Purging anyone who disagrees is a recipe for groupthink, for short-sighted and ill-informed decision-making, and for abandoning effective reality-testing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/u...
Pentagon Fires the Defense Intelligence Agency Chief
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The message is clear: don't dare to contradict Dear Leader, no matter what the facts say. Purging anyone who disagrees is a recipe for groupthink, for short-sighted and ill-informed decision-making, and for abandoning effective reality-testing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/u...
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
What Danielle said.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average effective tariff rate in this economy right now is 18.2%
Let me put that another way.
President Trump has raised taxes on American businesses and consumers by -- on average -- 18.2%
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average effective tariff rate in this economy right now is 18.2%
Let me put that another way.
President Trump has raised taxes on American businesses and consumers by -- on average -- 18.2%
A thing I really need people to keep in mind: 15% tariffs are high, historically speaking. 10% tariffs are high.
The average effective tariff rate before this term was just over 2%. Anything double-digits is high!
The average effective tariff rate before this term was just over 2%. Anything double-digits is high!
August 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
What Danielle said.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average effective tariff rate in this economy right now is 18.2%
Let me put that another way.
President Trump has raised taxes on American businesses and consumers by -- on average -- 18.2%
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average effective tariff rate in this economy right now is 18.2%
Let me put that another way.
President Trump has raised taxes on American businesses and consumers by -- on average -- 18.2%
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
Very interesting work from @ethanbusby.bsky.social and colleagues looking at persuasion of *voice AI* by gender. Finding point to a complicated relationship between the topic of discussion, the gender of the human discussant, and the gender cue of the AI voice #pacss2025 #polnet2025
August 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Very interesting work from @ethanbusby.bsky.social and colleagues looking at persuasion of *voice AI* by gender. Finding point to a complicated relationship between the topic of discussion, the gender of the human discussant, and the gender cue of the AI voice #pacss2025 #polnet2025
So, you're telling me Utah is a cultural leader not just in dirty sodas but also in oversized bean bags?
Luxury bean bags for adults are having something of a moment. We found the very best. nyti.ms/4fnlXEt
August 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
So, you're telling me Utah is a cultural leader not just in dirty sodas but also in oversized bean bags?
Reposted by Chris Karpowitz
Me three months ago:
My prediction is that in that scenario, he blames the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which puts out employment data. Calls them corrupt, run by Democrats, out to get him. Fires people there, insists their numbers cannot be trusted, White House puts out its own fictitious data to make Trump look good
August 1, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Me three months ago:
What an unnecessary and sad loss.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down operations after loss of federal funding:
August 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
What an unnecessary and sad loss.
Seen on my recent visit to Prague
July 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Seen on my recent visit to Prague
This is exactly right. Media framing of these tariffs is problematic because the comparison point is always Trump's latest (and often outlandish) threats. The proper comparison point is the current tariff, and on that score, this is a loss, not a gain.
It's like NPR's trying a Kahneman & Tversky experiment here. Rather than framing the 15 percentage point tariff as the loss it is for consumers, they're going to try to frame it as a 15 percentage point gain by comparing it to 30%. Pathetic. Shameless.
July 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This is exactly right. Media framing of these tariffs is problematic because the comparison point is always Trump's latest (and often outlandish) threats. The proper comparison point is the current tariff, and on that score, this is a loss, not a gain.