Steven S Smith
@profstevensmith.bsky.social
Political scientist, ASU and Wash U. Congress, elections, public opinion, survey research. Husband, dad, granddad. RT ≠ endorsement. Personal views. https://stevesnotes.substack.com https://sites.wustl.edu/smith/
How grossly unconstitutional presidential actions can become more gross.
Trump says he'll impose a 10% tariff (rising to 25% in June) on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, because they've sent people to Greenland, until the US can buy Greenland.
January 17, 2026 at 4:58 PM
How grossly unconstitutional presidential actions can become more gross.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation has canceled youth sports because ICE is terrorizing our community
January 16, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation has canceled youth sports because ICE is terrorizing our community
Reposted by Steven S Smith
This is important
A number of House Dem moderates, and more than a couple of Dem Senators are waffling on the DHS funding bill
It is critical that they vote 'no' on additional ICE funding
And that will be in the DHS funding bill coming up by Jan 30
GET ON THE PHONE!
A number of House Dem moderates, and more than a couple of Dem Senators are waffling on the DHS funding bill
It is critical that they vote 'no' on additional ICE funding
And that will be in the DHS funding bill coming up by Jan 30
GET ON THE PHONE!
January 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
This is important
A number of House Dem moderates, and more than a couple of Dem Senators are waffling on the DHS funding bill
It is critical that they vote 'no' on additional ICE funding
And that will be in the DHS funding bill coming up by Jan 30
GET ON THE PHONE!
A number of House Dem moderates, and more than a couple of Dem Senators are waffling on the DHS funding bill
It is critical that they vote 'no' on additional ICE funding
And that will be in the DHS funding bill coming up by Jan 30
GET ON THE PHONE!
Reposted by Steven S Smith
ICE has kidnapped so many people from their cars that the city had to put out this statement. Let that sink in.
Vehicles that are abandoned due to an ICE detention and towed to the City's impound lot will be released to their owners or a representative at no cost.
Learn more: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/parking-driving/impound-lot/#d.en.200746
Learn more: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/parking-driving/impound-lot/#d.en.200746
January 16, 2026 at 11:42 PM
ICE has kidnapped so many people from their cars that the city had to put out this statement. Let that sink in.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
There is a special place in Hell for scammers who peddle bogus autism treatments to desperate parents. Under RFK Jr. -- a friend of the scammers -- FDA has deleted online warnings about these treatments. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/fda-...
FDA Deletes Warning About Bogus Autism Treatments
In The Politics of Autism , I write: The conventional wisdom is that any kind of treatment is likely to be less effective as the child ge...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:27 PM
There is a special place in Hell for scammers who peddle bogus autism treatments to desperate parents. Under RFK Jr. -- a friend of the scammers -- FDA has deleted online warnings about these treatments. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/fda-...
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Make the Miscellaneous Receipts Statute great again …
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Make the Miscellaneous Receipts Statute great again …
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Corrected in the Record 👍
January 15, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Corrected in the Record 👍
Proud to be a Minnesotan. www.youtube.com/live/QKknvYa...
Gov. Tim Walz addresses ICE presence in Minnesota | full video
YouTube video by CBS News
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Proud to be a Minnesotan. www.youtube.com/live/QKknvYa...
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Let's remember Renee. If the Dems win the House this fall, there will be hearings on events surrounding her death, the administration's reactions, and the FBI investigation. Impeachment likely. The opportunity for prosecutions will return in January 2029. Expect Trump pardons. DHS folks do.
January 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Let's remember Renee. If the Dems win the House this fall, there will be hearings on events surrounding her death, the administration's reactions, and the FBI investigation. Impeachment likely. The opportunity for prosecutions will return in January 2029. Expect Trump pardons. DHS folks do.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
The Minnesota shooting case is now metastasizing unlike any i've ever seen. The successive resignations of heads of the crim section at CRD and 3 top career prosecutors in Minn -- who had hung in all this year n/w/stg multiple outrages-- means the Department is in open revolt in DC and the field.
January 13, 2026 at 5:47 PM
The Minnesota shooting case is now metastasizing unlike any i've ever seen. The successive resignations of heads of the crim section at CRD and 3 top career prosecutors in Minn -- who had hung in all this year n/w/stg multiple outrages-- means the Department is in open revolt in DC and the field.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
This is Minneapolis:
Walk into my neighborhood ACE last night & see the signage on their door notifying fed agents that it’s private property and cannot be used for immigration enforcement. These signs are all over the city.
Walk in & the nearest shelf has goggles & whistles.
Walk into my neighborhood ACE last night & see the signage on their door notifying fed agents that it’s private property and cannot be used for immigration enforcement. These signs are all over the city.
Walk in & the nearest shelf has goggles & whistles.
January 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This is Minneapolis:
Walk into my neighborhood ACE last night & see the signage on their door notifying fed agents that it’s private property and cannot be used for immigration enforcement. These signs are all over the city.
Walk in & the nearest shelf has goggles & whistles.
Walk into my neighborhood ACE last night & see the signage on their door notifying fed agents that it’s private property and cannot be used for immigration enforcement. These signs are all over the city.
Walk in & the nearest shelf has goggles & whistles.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration over unconstitutional ICE conduct. And, SCOTUS hears two cases on whether states can bar transgender athletes from women's sports. n.pr/4qX0lUd
Minnesota sues over Trump's ICE enforcement. And, SCOTUS hears trans athlete cases
Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration over unconstitutional ICE conduct. And, SCOTUS hears two cases on whether states can bar transgender athletes from women's sports.
n.pr
January 13, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration over unconstitutional ICE conduct. And, SCOTUS hears two cases on whether states can bar transgender athletes from women's sports. n.pr/4qX0lUd
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Where is the business community and corporate leaders of Minnesota based companies in speaking up? Why aren't the big law firms sending lawyers to represent the people being attacked?
We are not at the end of this authoritarianism, we are at the beginning. And, sadly, we are on our own.
We are not at the end of this authoritarianism, we are at the beginning. And, sadly, we are on our own.
January 13, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Where is the business community and corporate leaders of Minnesota based companies in speaking up? Why aren't the big law firms sending lawyers to represent the people being attacked?
We are not at the end of this authoritarianism, we are at the beginning. And, sadly, we are on our own.
We are not at the end of this authoritarianism, we are at the beginning. And, sadly, we are on our own.
The shame, the shame.
January 13, 2026 at 1:27 AM
The shame, the shame.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
ICE kidnap 17-year-old U.S. citizen working at Target then dump him bleeding and crying miles away in a Walmart parking lot… 🤬
January 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM
ICE kidnap 17-year-old U.S. citizen working at Target then dump him bleeding and crying miles away in a Walmart parking lot… 🤬
Reposted by Steven S Smith
FLASH: Sen Mark Kelly (D-AZ) files federal civil lawsuit against Pete Hegseth
===>
youtube.com/shorts/UA4Ok...
===>
youtube.com/shorts/UA4Ok...
FLASH: Sen Mark Kelly (D-AZ) files federal civil lawsuit against Pete Hegseth
YouTube video by Scott MacFarlane Reports
youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:29 PM
FLASH: Sen Mark Kelly (D-AZ) files federal civil lawsuit against Pete Hegseth
===>
youtube.com/shorts/UA4Ok...
===>
youtube.com/shorts/UA4Ok...
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Its not that the media is not covering what is happening, but it does feel like the military occupation of an American city should be treated as a national crisis.
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Its not that the media is not covering what is happening, but it does feel like the military occupation of an American city should be treated as a national crisis.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
With Trump going full authoritarian on Venezuela-Greenland, ICE, and the Fed, the response has to be serious. Four Republican senators (Tillis, McConnell, Murkowski, Collins?) could announce they’ll caucus for now with the Dems to give them control of the Senate to check Trump.
January 12, 2026 at 2:14 AM
With Trump going full authoritarian on Venezuela-Greenland, ICE, and the Fed, the response has to be serious. Four Republican senators (Tillis, McConnell, Murkowski, Collins?) could announce they’ll caucus for now with the Dems to give them control of the Senate to check Trump.
Sorta. Science funding, which is primarily distributed through peer-reviewed grants, lacks some of the credit-claiming features of earmarks and other forms of pork. But, yeah, protecting science/health institutions and universities more generally plays a role here.
January 10, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Sorta. Science funding, which is primarily distributed through peer-reviewed grants, lacks some of the credit-claiming features of earmarks and other forms of pork. But, yeah, protecting science/health institutions and universities more generally plays a role here.
Let's remember Renee. If the Dems win the House this fall, there will be hearings on events surrounding her death, the administration's reactions, and the FBI investigation. Impeachment likely. The opportunity for prosecutions will return in January 2029. Expect Trump pardons. DHS folks do.
January 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Let's remember Renee. If the Dems win the House this fall, there will be hearings on events surrounding her death, the administration's reactions, and the FBI investigation. Impeachment likely. The opportunity for prosecutions will return in January 2029. Expect Trump pardons. DHS folks do.
Reposted by Steven S Smith
From earlier in the week:
How Congress Talks About Somalia and Somalis
(And Why That History Matters Now)
open.substack.com/pub/dcinboxi...
How Congress Talks About Somalia and Somalis
(And Why That History Matters Now)
open.substack.com/pub/dcinboxi...
How Congress Talks About Somalia and Somalis
(And Why That History Matters Now)
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:12 PM
From earlier in the week:
How Congress Talks About Somalia and Somalis
(And Why That History Matters Now)
open.substack.com/pub/dcinboxi...
How Congress Talks About Somalia and Somalis
(And Why That History Matters Now)
open.substack.com/pub/dcinboxi...
Reposted by Steven S Smith
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE]
YouTube video by Disturbed
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Agreed. Protests of this Court need to be loud and eventually produce reform. paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats Need to Treat the Supreme Court Like the Villain It Is
The Court is out of control, and we'll never see reform unless we build the case for it. Starting now.
paulwaldman.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Agreed. Protests of this Court need to be loud and eventually produce reform. paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Reposted by Steven S Smith
Why aren't the serious journalists on 60 Minutes resigning?
December 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Why aren't the serious journalists on 60 Minutes resigning?