Terry Bouton
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terrybouton.bsky.social
Terry Bouton
@terrybouton.bsky.social
3.4K followers 1.1K following 390 posts
Historian of the American Revolution and Creation of the US Constitution. Author of Taming Democracy. Forthcoming Book: Madison's Mistake: The Rise and Fall of American Monarchism. Democracy Dies in Doomerism. Don't be a Doomer.
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An amazing book (as @noellecook.com's proud husband, I've read it several times, so I know!). It's a timely, fascinating, head-scratching, heartbreaking, funny, sobering, empathetic, and intimate look at the epidemic of conspiracism sweeping the nation and the world. A wild and entertaining ride!
It’s finally real. I have a publication date! The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging comes out Jan 6, 2026. Five years inside conspiracy culture—what draws people in, what it costs to leave. Pre-orders are up: noellecook.com/book
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What makes ordinary people believe extraordinary things?
Coming January 6 from Broadleaf Books. #Conspiracy #nonfiction #BookSky #Book #BookClub Preorder available: noellecook.com/book
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I could not be prouder that my law firm is currently litigating 60 voting, election and redistricting cases in 30 states. Even as large law firms bow down, we continue to fight for democracy every single day.
Trump could break out Senor Pepe on live tv and not a single republican would say a word afterward.
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five days and a few hours to go and at this point I'm just gonna be shameless: if you can help signal-boost this thing, I'd be grateful. I've done very well through my own channels, but haven't had much luck breaking out beyond them.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom...
Our Long National Nightmare by Tom Tomorrow
Relive the trauma of the last five years through the cartoons of Herblock Award winner and Pulitzer nominee Tom Tomorrow.
www.kickstarter.com
No Dickens fetishes these days.
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There's no red line, except maybe one defined entirely by self-interest. The GOP getting blown out in 2026 would use up the last of Trump's political juice, and it might be expeditious for younger Republicans to drop him as the party resets for a post-Trump future.
A thing I wonder about (and I don’t want to sound naive asking it but I mean it genuinely): is there any red line for any Republican lawmakers for Trump, currently? Like is there anything he could do, that he realistically might, that would get them to, say, vote to impeach and remove?
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Don’t laugh at this. Don’t dismiss it. They’re serious. Prepare for it. And get ready to fight against it.
Historic preservationist:
It's clear from today's AP photos that Trump has entirely demolished the East Colonnade—added to the White House by Thomas Jefferson in 1805—and restored by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.

The East Colonnade didn't occupy the footprint of the Trump "ballroom"—its demolition was completely unnecessary.
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It's clear from today's AP photos that Trump has entirely demolished the East Colonnade—added to the White House by Thomas Jefferson in 1805—and restored by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.

The East Colonnade didn't occupy the footprint of the Trump "ballroom"—its demolition was completely unnecessary.
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A trans activist who’s spent years tracking far-right streamers and content creators online made this flyer to warn activists in Portland. They’d seen the same names traveling city to city, showing up at protests to provoke chaos and film it for clicks. The message: “Do. Not. Take. The. Bait.” 🧵1/5
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Fellow Americans!

I’m happy to announce that, thanks to you, I’m sending $100,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union (@aclu.org) to help them defend something that truly Makes America Great: our civil liberties.

🧵
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"UT is being dismantled piece by piece. Those who see higher education as a threat are intervening directly — breaking norms, rules and even constitutional protections — in an effort to suppress and punish controversial opinions among our students and faculty." www.statesman.com/opinion/colu...
After 35 years at UT Austin, I hardly recognize my university | Opinion
What was once a beacon of access and discovery is now fighting for its soul and mission as political attacks upend norms, rules and rights, Lisa L. Moore writes.
www.statesman.com
Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive have democratized learning and research by making resources available to the public that otherwise would be limited to those with access to special collections libraries at exclusive research institutions. These people are unsung heroes.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Greg Newby, who led Project Gutenberg ( @gutenberg.org ) with passion and purpose. Greg’s belief in free and open access to knowledge continues to inspire us and so many others working to preserve our shared culture online. gutenberg.org/about/newby....
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We are deeply saddened by the loss of Greg Newby, who led Project Gutenberg ( @gutenberg.org ) with passion and purpose. Greg’s belief in free and open access to knowledge continues to inspire us and so many others working to preserve our shared culture online. gutenberg.org/about/newby....
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The optics of Trump building a ballroom that 99.9% of Americans will never set foot in while millions line up for food banks are worth more than any policy paper or economic proposal. This image is a visceral punch in the mouth that needs no words. It should haunt the GOP for a generation.
a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom
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Insider joke especially for early American historians — but
One begins to suspect the speaker has not read or at the very least lacks. Common Sense
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Trump does not believe in public goods. He views the federal treasury as his private purse; public employees are to be his personal advocates, or they get fired; public property (like the White House) his to do what he wants, even if it means gutting the East Wing without permission./1
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Buddy Kennedy, 2025 World Series Champion.
Buddy Kennedy could get a ring this year if the Phillies, Blue Jays or Dodgers win the World Series.
Certainly signaling the conspiracist base at the very least. Vile however you slice it.
WWE SmackDown! Interviews from the Oval Office. Where someone pulls a folding chair from beneath the Resolute Desk.
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Good thread here
My response to the NYT’s “moderate to win” argument: The data shows the strategy is tapped out. Being seen as moderate by voters doesn’t boost votes, replacing every progressive with moderates would net 0 seats, and the graveyard of defeated D incumbents if full of moderates, not progressives.
The New York Times Argues “Moving to the Center Is the Way to Win.” But the Data Shows the Strategy Is Tapped Out.
Democrats already run moderates in nearly every swing district. It's not enough. A data-driven response to the case for centrism as a core electoral strategy.
data4democracy.substack.com