Rick Shenkman
@rickshenkman.bsky.social
Historian’s can’t predict the future. We can’t even agree on the past. Journalist & historian. Author of POLITICAL ANIMALS: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics (Basic Books).
Pinned
Rick Shenkman
@rickshenkman.bsky.social
· Nov 22
A quarter century ago I wrote and produced a series on TLC—The Learning Channel—called Myth America. These are the links to the 13 half-hour shows. Enjoy!
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Any President who calls for the opposition party to be hanged should be immediately impeached and removed from office.
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Any President who calls for the opposition party to be hanged should be immediately impeached and removed from office.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Raskin: If this were to pass, this astounding provision would give eight Republican senators a personal payday of at least a million dollars each, paid for by the U.S. Taxpayers at a time when we are throwing millions of people off of their health care…
November 12, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Raskin: If this were to pass, this astounding provision would give eight Republican senators a personal payday of at least a million dollars each, paid for by the U.S. Taxpayers at a time when we are throwing millions of people off of their health care…
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
That's why political scientists use a term called "illiberal democracy."
I'm thinking that last Tuesday suggested that yes, in fact, people can vote bad guys out of power.
I'm thinking that last Tuesday suggested that yes, in fact, people can vote bad guys out of power.
Democracy voted in a fascist government, Tom.
Your 'authoritarian movement' has the House, the Senate, the Administration, the Supreme Court, one of the two major national political parties as well as several of the states.
Let's see if 'democracy' successfully votes them out of power, shall we?
Your 'authoritarian movement' has the House, the Senate, the Administration, the Supreme Court, one of the two major national political parties as well as several of the states.
Let's see if 'democracy' successfully votes them out of power, shall we?
November 9, 2025 at 4:07 AM
That's why political scientists use a term called "illiberal democracy."
I'm thinking that last Tuesday suggested that yes, in fact, people can vote bad guys out of power.
I'm thinking that last Tuesday suggested that yes, in fact, people can vote bad guys out of power.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
New College is a good metaphor for the whole MAGA project
Chris Rufo/Ron DeSantis overhauled New College and made it "the most financially inefficient school in the university system"
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
New College of Florida shows soaring expenses as state targets 'woke waste'
A report by Florida DOGE found that Sarasota's New College is the most financially inefficient school in the university system.
www.heraldtribune.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
New College is a good metaphor for the whole MAGA project
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
This is beautiful -- Xi was apparently not impressed by Trump
x.com/BraddrofliT/...
x.com/BraddrofliT/...
Brad on X: "The Chinese Embassy posted this on their X account. https://t.co/e0pB7hxWjd" / X
The Chinese Embassy posted this on their X account. https://t.co/e0pB7hxWjd
x.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:58 AM
This is beautiful -- Xi was apparently not impressed by Trump
x.com/BraddrofliT/...
x.com/BraddrofliT/...
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Using his powers to extract tribute from foreign countries, "donors," etc. and then using those extraconstitutional slush funds to bypass the Constitution and the rule of law. Literally the opposite of originalism and a profound threat to the continuation of constitutional democracy in this country.
$550 billion in Japanese funding.
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
Trump’s Japan Deal and the Disappearing Appropriations Clause
The deal circumvents the Appropriations Clause and congressional safeguards, creating a system answerable only to the White House.
www.justsecurity.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Using his powers to extract tribute from foreign countries, "donors," etc. and then using those extraconstitutional slush funds to bypass the Constitution and the rule of law. Literally the opposite of originalism and a profound threat to the continuation of constitutional democracy in this country.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
It is shocking that Trump is quickly tearing down a portion of the White House. But isn’t the bigger story that this action is of a piece with his autocratic presumption that he can unilaterally destroy public goods without any public consultation or explanation?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
Trump Is Wasting No Time in Tearing Down the East Wing
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:20 AM
It is shocking that Trump is quickly tearing down a portion of the White House. But isn’t the bigger story that this action is of a piece with his autocratic presumption that he can unilaterally destroy public goods without any public consultation or explanation?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Trump's move "is a pure attack on Congress & consequently, on the rule of law. It reduces Congress to a single, negative power: the right to not appropriate any money. Anything they do grant the executive might end up being spent on anything. Welcome to England, circa 1615." *Way* beyond impoundment
October 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Trump's move "is a pure attack on Congress & consequently, on the rule of law. It reduces Congress to a single, negative power: the right to not appropriate any money. Anything they do grant the executive might end up being spent on anything. Welcome to England, circa 1615." *Way* beyond impoundment
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
The GOP is the Guardian of the Pedophiles.
It'll all come out, folks.
Trump is a degenerate, vile human being and I pray all these men who raped girls are inshallah going to be exposed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
It'll all come out, folks.
Trump is a degenerate, vile human being and I pray all these men who raped girls are inshallah going to be exposed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Epstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs show
Matthew Menchel, who spearheaded Jeffrey Epstein’s 2007 criminal prosecution, left the DOJ in 2007 to take a job as a trial lawyer at Kobre & Kim. Epstein’s calendars show Menchel met with Epstein in ...
www.miamiherald.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The GOP is the Guardian of the Pedophiles.
It'll all come out, folks.
Trump is a degenerate, vile human being and I pray all these men who raped girls are inshallah going to be exposed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
It'll all come out, folks.
Trump is a degenerate, vile human being and I pray all these men who raped girls are inshallah going to be exposed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Imagine lying as easily as @RepTimBurchett does. Nobody is paying the millions of people who will be out there.
Wanting better for your country isn’t hating it, Tim. Quite the opposite. It’s real patriotism. 🇺🇸
Throwing out the constitution to cling to power is the real hating your country.
Wanting better for your country isn’t hating it, Tim. Quite the opposite. It’s real patriotism. 🇺🇸
Throwing out the constitution to cling to power is the real hating your country.
October 16, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Imagine lying as easily as @RepTimBurchett does. Nobody is paying the millions of people who will be out there.
Wanting better for your country isn’t hating it, Tim. Quite the opposite. It’s real patriotism. 🇺🇸
Throwing out the constitution to cling to power is the real hating your country.
Wanting better for your country isn’t hating it, Tim. Quite the opposite. It’s real patriotism. 🇺🇸
Throwing out the constitution to cling to power is the real hating your country.
Picture of ICE in action! Oh sorry. It’s a pic from the NYT of Hamas in the Gaza strip today.
October 16, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Picture of ICE in action! Oh sorry. It’s a pic from the NYT of Hamas in the Gaza strip today.
Smart
1. Using humor & mockery to punch holes in fear-based authoritarian power grabs is a tried & true method
2. 1 point of such display is inspiring folks to see they're not alone in anger at this regime; that most folks agree w/them; & to fuel action
3. It's not aimed at DJT
It's building a movement
2. 1 point of such display is inspiring folks to see they're not alone in anger at this regime; that most folks agree w/them; & to fuel action
3. It's not aimed at DJT
It's building a movement
If only the Germans had dressed in animal costumes in the 1920's and 30's, Hitler would have been stopped in his tracks. I'm all for humour and satire but it's going to take more than some funny costumes.
October 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Smart
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Friday night massacre at the CDC per the New York Times.
October 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Friday night massacre at the CDC per the New York Times.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
We might soon have a Tienenman Square situation or maybe an Oklahoma City. Possibly some mixture, which I suppose would be a Kristallnacht. Maybe I should start a pool. Either way, I'll be there in Chicago on October 18 with a bright white shirt like Harvey Milk wore to rallies. We shall overcome.
Mike Johnson: "This hate America rally that they have coming up for October 18? The antifa crowd, the pro-Hamas crowd, and the Marxists, they're all gonna gather on the Mall. It is an outrageous gathering for outrageous purposes ... all this has gotta come to an end."
October 11, 2025 at 1:28 AM
We might soon have a Tienenman Square situation or maybe an Oklahoma City. Possibly some mixture, which I suppose would be a Kristallnacht. Maybe I should start a pool. Either way, I'll be there in Chicago on October 18 with a bright white shirt like Harvey Milk wore to rallies. We shall overcome.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
We've put the idiots in charge and they're doing idiotic things.
SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled
The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency
@heatmap.news
The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency
@heatmap.news
Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.
heatmap.news
October 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
We've put the idiots in charge and they're doing idiotic things.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
"So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It's literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system."
This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.
This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.
October 8, 2025 at 2:27 AM
"So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It's literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system."
This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.
This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
They’re liars—and bad at lying.
These photos of “war-ravaged Portland” are from other countries.
Not Portland.
If it weren’t so dangerous, it would be laughable.
These photos of “war-ravaged Portland” are from other countries.
Not Portland.
If it weren’t so dangerous, it would be laughable.
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:04 AM
They’re liars—and bad at lying.
These photos of “war-ravaged Portland” are from other countries.
Not Portland.
If it weren’t so dangerous, it would be laughable.
These photos of “war-ravaged Portland” are from other countries.
Not Portland.
If it weren’t so dangerous, it would be laughable.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Yeah cool. Pull even more federal agents off counterterrorism, child porn, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and fraud investigations to do absolutely nothing.
October 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Yeah cool. Pull even more federal agents off counterterrorism, child porn, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and fraud investigations to do absolutely nothing.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
This applies to dictatorial regimes as well as chatbots.
Part of what keeps you sane is other people’s perspectives.
Silencing all opposition leads to crazy thoughts and actions.
Including violence.
Part of what keeps you sane is other people’s perspectives.
Silencing all opposition leads to crazy thoughts and actions.
Including violence.
Memorizing this
October 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This applies to dictatorial regimes as well as chatbots.
Part of what keeps you sane is other people’s perspectives.
Silencing all opposition leads to crazy thoughts and actions.
Including violence.
Part of what keeps you sane is other people’s perspectives.
Silencing all opposition leads to crazy thoughts and actions.
Including violence.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Interesting for Hegseth and Trump railing about “political correctness” after the admin spent two weeks policing what people can and can’t say about Charlie Kirk
September 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Interesting for Hegseth and Trump railing about “political correctness” after the admin spent two weeks policing what people can and can’t say about Charlie Kirk
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Trump shared a seemingly AI-generated video that included a deep-fake version of himself promoting a nonexistent product related to the broader QAnon conspiracy theory known as “MedBed,” fictional health care technology that supposedly heals the ailments of any individual who lays in it.
Trump Shares AI Deep-Fake Video of Himself Promoting Fictional “MedBed” Product
The “MedBed” conspiracy theory has led to websites seeking to scam people who wrongly believe that the product is real.
truthout.org
September 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Trump shared a seemingly AI-generated video that included a deep-fake version of himself promoting a nonexistent product related to the broader QAnon conspiracy theory known as “MedBed,” fictional health care technology that supposedly heals the ailments of any individual who lays in it.
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
I wonder how many people fully appreciate that Trump just falsely declared the blue state of Oregon to be in a state of Rebellion against the United States so he could deploy active-duty military from the Department of War to kill American citizens
Meanwhile, he *pardoned* the January 6 terrorists
Meanwhile, he *pardoned* the January 6 terrorists
September 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I wonder how many people fully appreciate that Trump just falsely declared the blue state of Oregon to be in a state of Rebellion against the United States so he could deploy active-duty military from the Department of War to kill American citizens
Meanwhile, he *pardoned* the January 6 terrorists
Meanwhile, he *pardoned* the January 6 terrorists
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Left: we want the Epstein files
Right: we also want the Epstein files
Trump: best I can do for you is the Amelia Earhart files
Right: we also want the Epstein files
Trump: best I can do for you is the Amelia Earhart files
September 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Left: we want the Epstein files
Right: we also want the Epstein files
Trump: best I can do for you is the Amelia Earhart files
Right: we also want the Epstein files
Trump: best I can do for you is the Amelia Earhart files
Reposted by Rick Shenkman
Ezra Klein conducted a good interview with Corey Robin, about which I have some thoughts. The first is that Ezra's opening claim that the Reichstag fire analogy is "wrong" suggests a zero sum view that does not do justice to how most historians think about analogy.
September 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Ezra Klein conducted a good interview with Corey Robin, about which I have some thoughts. The first is that Ezra's opening claim that the Reichstag fire analogy is "wrong" suggests a zero sum view that does not do justice to how most historians think about analogy.