Ryan LaRochelle
@rlarochelle.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer at the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine. Researching and teaching about American political development and political history. Views are mine, not my employers. https://www.ryanlarochelle.com
I feel very fortunate that my relatively apolitical parents have been avoided this. My dad, a convicted felon, called voting for Trump in 2016 the thing he’s most ashamed of in his entire life.
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 2:46 AM
I feel very fortunate that my relatively apolitical parents have been avoided this. My dad, a convicted felon, called voting for Trump in 2016 the thing he’s most ashamed of in his entire life.
I gave a talk on zoom for a local historical society today. I’m really glad everyone survived.
November 21, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I gave a talk on zoom for a local historical society today. I’m really glad everyone survived.
I interviewed John Podesta via Zoom for my biography of Bill Cohen earlier this week. So I now have a screenshot of me talking with John Podesta with my vintage Klipsch Forte speakers positioned behind me. Pretty cool I guess.
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I interviewed John Podesta via Zoom for my biography of Bill Cohen earlier this week. So I now have a screenshot of me talking with John Podesta with my vintage Klipsch Forte speakers positioned behind me. Pretty cool I guess.
"Compromising on basic democratic norms like equity, justice, rights for all, and rule of law emboldens those who reject these ideals to demand more and more." Great piece by @nathanielcgreen.bsky.social on the dangers of compromising with anti-democratic actors
time.com/7326230/poli...
time.com/7326230/poli...
The Perils of Political Compromise
History shows that compromising on basic tenets of democracy is not the route to peace or stability.
time.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"Compromising on basic democratic norms like equity, justice, rights for all, and rule of law emboldens those who reject these ideals to demand more and more." Great piece by @nathanielcgreen.bsky.social on the dangers of compromising with anti-democratic actors
time.com/7326230/poli...
time.com/7326230/poli...
Almost just had a heart attack thinking I had lost a bunch of archival materials I scanned at the Reagan Library over a year ago. Thanks a lot, multiple Adobe Scan login credentials.
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Almost just had a heart attack thinking I had lost a bunch of archival materials I scanned at the Reagan Library over a year ago. Thanks a lot, multiple Adobe Scan login credentials.
As a lifelong New Englander, I absolutely love this time of year. I will take 15 degree days and a 4:15 sunset over 90+ degrees and humid 100 times out of 100.
Light a fire in the fireplace, crack open a nice oatmeal stout, and doze off reading at 7:00PM. Doesn't get much better than that.
Light a fire in the fireplace, crack open a nice oatmeal stout, and doze off reading at 7:00PM. Doesn't get much better than that.
Autumn is a lie. Bright leaves, sweater weather, gourd-flavored lattes last for two weeks. Then it's five months of brown grass, gray skies, coats, rain, snow, and freakishly dry air.
I don't know why humans chose to live north of the Georgia-Tennessee border, but it was clearly a mistake.
I don't know why humans chose to live north of the Georgia-Tennessee border, but it was clearly a mistake.
November 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
As a lifelong New Englander, I absolutely love this time of year. I will take 15 degree days and a 4:15 sunset over 90+ degrees and humid 100 times out of 100.
Light a fire in the fireplace, crack open a nice oatmeal stout, and doze off reading at 7:00PM. Doesn't get much better than that.
Light a fire in the fireplace, crack open a nice oatmeal stout, and doze off reading at 7:00PM. Doesn't get much better than that.
In order for American democracy to survive, a post-Trump GOP needs leaders who will take concerted action to marginalize this faction on the right. There is extensive research in the literature on comparative democratization on the need for center-right parties to police their boundaries.
In this new essay on the internal culture of the right, I report on something big: allegations by a Heritage Foundation insider that the organization has allowed a toxic culture of "open misogyny and racism" to grow among a segment of the staff
www.vox.com/on-the-right...
www.vox.com/on-the-right...
The toxic culture behind the right’s civil war
A Heritage insider alleging “openly misogynistic and racist” conduct shines a light on the right’s inner workings.
www.vox.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In order for American democracy to survive, a post-Trump GOP needs leaders who will take concerted action to marginalize this faction on the right. There is extensive research in the literature on comparative democratization on the need for center-right parties to police their boundaries.
I think my greatest public service is sharing university press book sale info whenever I get it.
November 15, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I think my greatest public service is sharing university press book sale info whenever I get it.
Now seems like a good time to take a break from social media.
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Now seems like a good time to take a break from social media.
My awesome colleague @robglover.bsky.social and his ENACT colleagues just published a how-to guide on teaching civic engagement and advocacy. I can't think of a better person to provide insights on this than Rob. @scholars.org @mainessn.bsky.social press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
ENACTing Change
Explains the ENACT model of student civic engagement, empowers instructors to implement it, and shows them how to assess its impact. ENACT: The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation ai...
press.uchicago.edu
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My awesome colleague @robglover.bsky.social and his ENACT colleagues just published a how-to guide on teaching civic engagement and advocacy. I can't think of a better person to provide insights on this than Rob. @scholars.org @mainessn.bsky.social press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Ryan LaRochelle
Ok but GUYS MY BOOK IS ACTUALLY OUT TODAY
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Ok but GUYS MY BOOK IS ACTUALLY OUT TODAY
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
The UMaine economics department is hiring an assistant professor with expertise in applied economics. fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
#academicjobs #econjobs
#academicjobs #econjobs
Assistant Professor of Economics
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the stat...
fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The UMaine economics department is hiring an assistant professor with expertise in applied economics. fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
#academicjobs #econjobs
#academicjobs #econjobs
It’s hard to think of anything in modern American politics and culture with as much staying power as the myth that there are millions of people out there totally fleecing the government by “taking advantage” of our stingy welfare state.
Trump claims that food stamps "puts the country in jeopardy. People that are able-bodied can do a job, they leave their job because they figure they can pick this up, it's easier."
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
It’s hard to think of anything in modern American politics and culture with as much staying power as the myth that there are millions of people out there totally fleecing the government by “taking advantage” of our stingy welfare state.
Reposted by Ryan LaRochelle
I've got the unenviable task of taking over as editor of Clio, the APSA Politics and History newsletter after @shamiragelbman.bsky.social made good on her threat to step down 😉
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I've got the unenviable task of taking over as editor of Clio, the APSA Politics and History newsletter after @shamiragelbman.bsky.social made good on her threat to step down 😉
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
Reposted by Ryan LaRochelle
I’ve been looking for a political biography of Pelosi for our Congressional Leaders series at Kansas. If you’re interested in writing one, send me an email or DM.
i think this is a pretty good take on pelosi, who is unquestionably one of the most consequential house speakers in the history of the institution
Opinion | Nancy Pelosi Is an American Political Giant
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I’ve been looking for a political biography of Pelosi for our Congressional Leaders series at Kansas. If you’re interested in writing one, send me an email or DM.
Reposted by Ryan LaRochelle
"Golden got it. Our electoral rules are obsolete. He understood why representatives who don’t fit easily into either party are so rare: the electoral system works against them."
leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...
leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...
Politics Keeps Driving Out the People Who Want to Reform It
Jared Golden is the latest problem-solving politician to decide Congress isn’t worth the cost. And so the doom loop takes another turn.
leedrutman.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"Golden got it. Our electoral rules are obsolete. He understood why representatives who don’t fit easily into either party are so rare: the electoral system works against them."
leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...
leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...
I've got the unenviable task of taking over as editor of Clio, the APSA Politics and History newsletter after @shamiragelbman.bsky.social made good on her threat to step down 😉
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I've got the unenviable task of taking over as editor of Clio, the APSA Politics and History newsletter after @shamiragelbman.bsky.social made good on her threat to step down 😉
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
The call for submissions for the Winter 25-26 issue is live. Please be in touch if you're interested in writing something!
Golden often frustrated me. But I know that his district (where I live) is much more conservative than I am. He would always give detailed explanations for his votes, especially when he bucked his party. I think he was a dedicated public servant who tried to accurately represent his constituents.
Exclusive BDN Opinion from U.S. Rep. Jared Golden: "What I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
Jared Golden: I won’t seek reelection. Here’s why.
"What I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
www.bangordailynews.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Golden often frustrated me. But I know that his district (where I live) is much more conservative than I am. He would always give detailed explanations for his votes, especially when he bucked his party. I think he was a dedicated public servant who tried to accurately represent his constituents.
Reposted by Ryan LaRochelle
In Maine, voters yesterday were asked to vote on a set of election changes that would have made voting more difficult.
The question went down in flames, with 63% voting against it.
But importantly, it was unpopular even in _many_ places that Trump won last year.
Voters want to make voting easier!
The question went down in flames, with 63% voting against it.
But importantly, it was unpopular even in _many_ places that Trump won last year.
Voters want to make voting easier!
November 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
In Maine, voters yesterday were asked to vote on a set of election changes that would have made voting more difficult.
The question went down in flames, with 63% voting against it.
But importantly, it was unpopular even in _many_ places that Trump won last year.
Voters want to make voting easier!
The question went down in flames, with 63% voting against it.
But importantly, it was unpopular even in _many_ places that Trump won last year.
Voters want to make voting easier!
Political campaigns should be shorter and the period between the end of the campaign and the publication of post-election takes should be much, much longer.
November 5, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Political campaigns should be shorter and the period between the end of the campaign and the publication of post-election takes should be much, much longer.
Turns out that living through a potential critical juncture is pretty wild. Who would've thunk it?
I've heard a number of smart people make the case that the time we're in is akin to the Civil War & Reconstruction, or the Great Depression, or other major turning points in US history. A time of major chaos and upheaval, a time of mass suffering, but also a time where things *could* really change.
November 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Turns out that living through a potential critical juncture is pretty wild. Who would've thunk it?
Folks, I know there are a bunch of elections today. But the biggest news is that Radiohead returned to the stage for the first time since 2018.
November 5, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Folks, I know there are a bunch of elections today. But the biggest news is that Radiohead returned to the stage for the first time since 2018.
Read this as an undergrad in @isanetexdir.bsky.social's European politics seminar. Probably the most influential book I read in college.
Teaching this tomorrow. Just can't recommend enough. For running a seminar, it's like fishing with dynamite
November 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Read this as an undergrad in @isanetexdir.bsky.social's European politics seminar. Probably the most influential book I read in college.
Please, pundits, tell me more about Trump's ability to build that "multiracial working class coalition."
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Please, pundits, tell me more about Trump's ability to build that "multiracial working class coalition."
Has anyone done any follow-up research on GOTV strategies to see how effective certain tactics are in our new information environment? I know one of the more successful messaging strategies is the "make a plan" cue, but I wonder if the ubiquity of certain messages dilutes their effects?
November 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Has anyone done any follow-up research on GOTV strategies to see how effective certain tactics are in our new information environment? I know one of the more successful messaging strategies is the "make a plan" cue, but I wonder if the ubiquity of certain messages dilutes their effects?