Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Historian - Democracy and Its Discontents - Newsletter: Democracy Americana https://democracyamericana.com - Podcast: Is This Democracy https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/is-this-democracy
Pinned
Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Onward. Forward. Steady.
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
steady.page
Some major personal news:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Crucial analysis from @kevintmorris.bsky.social. Required reading, really, for anyone who works / opines on recent US history and the current political moment - and for anyone who seeks to understand the Right's assault on elections.
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Crucial analysis from @kevintmorris.bsky.social. Required reading, really, for anyone who works / opines on recent US history and the current political moment - and for anyone who seeks to understand the Right's assault on elections.
ICYMI: I wrote something about the MAGA mess.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
ICYMI: I wrote something about the MAGA mess.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
The good folks at @liberalcurrents.com are regularly producing and publishing stuff that will actually make you think - and leave you better equipped to understand the political, intellectual, and historical forces that are shaping this moment.
Very much worth your support.
Very much worth your support.
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 is that. Help us grow our voice. www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
www.gofundme.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The good folks at @liberalcurrents.com are regularly producing and publishing stuff that will actually make you think - and leave you better equipped to understand the political, intellectual, and historical forces that are shaping this moment.
Very much worth your support.
Very much worth your support.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era: What becomes of MAGA as Donald Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era: What becomes of MAGA as Donald Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
Sunday evening reading: I wrote about the state of the fever swamp.
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Sunday evening reading: I wrote about the state of the fever swamp.
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
The long-simmering MAGA Civil War has been heating up. The tensions between the different factions are not new. But they were integrated via escalation and through Trump. As the revolutionary zeal tires out, however, and the frustrations are mounting, this doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The long-simmering MAGA Civil War has been heating up. The tensions between the different factions are not new. But they were integrated via escalation and through Trump. As the revolutionary zeal tires out, however, and the frustrations are mounting, this doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
Do not misread this moment: This is no revolt of the “moderates” on the Right that is potentially bringing Trump down, no uprising of the decent.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Do not misread this moment: This is no revolt of the “moderates” on the Right that is potentially bringing Trump down, no uprising of the decent.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Bluesky is labeling this post “sexually suggestive” because I am using Goya’s painting “Saturn devouring his son” from 1823, literally one of the most famous paintings in the world, as an illustration. And as a result, the post announcing my new piece gets almost no traction
Fucking stupid.
Fucking stupid.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Bluesky is labeling this post “sexually suggestive” because I am using Goya’s painting “Saturn devouring his son” from 1823, literally one of the most famous paintings in the world, as an illustration. And as a result, the post announcing my new piece gets almost no traction
Fucking stupid.
Fucking stupid.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Trump is incapable of resisting charm, (male) charisma, and - most importantly - celebrity. He has an unquenchable desire to be near it, has been chasing it his whole life.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
Every article by a 'savvy' political analyst reads like a focus group transcript with a low-information voter.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
November 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Trump is incapable of resisting charm, (male) charisma, and - most importantly - celebrity. He has an unquenchable desire to be near it, has been chasing it his whole life.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
"his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy"
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy"
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
The next time - and we all know it will be very soon - you encounter someone babbling about "leftwing cancel culture" as an an equivalent to (and perhaps even the cause of) the rightwing assault on free speech, please remember this.
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The next time - and we all know it will be very soon - you encounter someone babbling about "leftwing cancel culture" as an an equivalent to (and perhaps even the cause of) the rightwing assault on free speech, please remember this.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Just started listening to the audiobook of Furious Minds and it’s as good as @thomaszimmer.bsky.social and @lioneltrolling.bsky.social say. Highly recommended. libro.fm/audiobooks/9...
November 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Just started listening to the audiobook of Furious Minds and it’s as good as @thomaszimmer.bsky.social and @lioneltrolling.bsky.social say. Highly recommended. libro.fm/audiobooks/9...
In this piece, I tackle three building blocks of the misleading “realignment” narrative:
The idea that U.S. society moved right in accordance with the broader outlines of Trumpism’s vision; that Trump is the tribune of the working class; that he is building a stable multiracial coalition.
The idea that U.S. society moved right in accordance with the broader outlines of Trumpism’s vision; that Trump is the tribune of the working class; that he is building a stable multiracial coalition.
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
Unterstützung von Donald Trump: Die Irrtümer über Donald Trumps Rückhalt
Rechtsruck, multiethnische Koalition, Held einfacher Leute: Trump gilt als fest verankert. Doch diese Überzeugung beruht auf drei großen Missverständnissen.
www.zeit.de
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
In this piece, I tackle three building blocks of the misleading “realignment” narrative:
The idea that U.S. society moved right in accordance with the broader outlines of Trumpism’s vision; that Trump is the tribune of the working class; that he is building a stable multiracial coalition.
The idea that U.S. society moved right in accordance with the broader outlines of Trumpism’s vision; that Trump is the tribune of the working class; that he is building a stable multiracial coalition.
America is not experiencing a rightward realignment as much as it is going through a de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
New piece:
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
Unterstützung von Donald Trump: Die Irrtümer über Donald Trumps Rückhalt
Rechtsruck, multiethnische Koalition, Held einfacher Leute: Trump gilt als fest verankert. Doch diese Überzeugung beruht auf drei großen Missverständnissen.
www.zeit.de
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
America is not experiencing a rightward realignment as much as it is going through a de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
New piece:
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
Unterstützung von Donald Trump: Die Irrtümer über Donald Trumps Rückhalt
Rechtsruck, multiethnische Koalition, Held einfacher Leute: Trump gilt als fest verankert. Doch diese Überzeugung beruht auf drei großen Missverständnissen.
www.zeit.de
November 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
I wrote about three stubborn myths about Trump’s support – and why America has experienced a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment.
My new piece for @zeit.de – and some thoughts in English:
Was ist da wirklich los in dieser Gesellschaft, die Donald Trump ein zweites Mal ins mächtigste politische Amt der Welt gewählt hat?
Wir müssen uns dringend von ein paar haltlosen Mythen verabschieden.
Mein Versuch einer grundlegenden Revision, für @zeit.de:
Wir müssen uns dringend von ein paar haltlosen Mythen verabschieden.
Mein Versuch einer grundlegenden Revision, für @zeit.de:
Unterstützung von Donald Trump: Die Irrtümer über Donald Trumps Rückhalt
Rechtsruck, multiethnische Koalition, Held einfacher Leute: Trump gilt als fest verankert. Doch diese Überzeugung beruht auf drei großen Missverständnissen.
www.zeit.de
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Was ist da wirklich los in dieser Gesellschaft, die Donald Trump ein zweites Mal ins mächtigste politische Amt der Welt gewählt hat?
Wir müssen uns dringend von ein paar haltlosen Mythen verabschieden.
Mein Versuch einer grundlegenden Revision, für @zeit.de:
Wir müssen uns dringend von ein paar haltlosen Mythen verabschieden.
Mein Versuch einer grundlegenden Revision, für @zeit.de:
There is absolutely nothing old or consolidated about *multiracial, pluralistic democracy* in America. It only started 60 years ago.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
From 2022:
November 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
There is absolutely nothing old or consolidated about *multiracial, pluralistic democracy* in America. It only started 60 years ago.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
Don’t waste your time fact-checking these numbers, don’t engage Vance's vile propaganda as if he was advancing an argument in good faith.
Call out the underlying political project: A violent, authoritarian blood-and-soil nationalism that defines “America” as a white Christian homeland.
Call out the underlying political project: A violent, authoritarian blood-and-soil nationalism that defines “America” as a white Christian homeland.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Don’t waste your time fact-checking these numbers, don’t engage Vance's vile propaganda as if he was advancing an argument in good faith.
Call out the underlying political project: A violent, authoritarian blood-and-soil nationalism that defines “America” as a white Christian homeland.
Call out the underlying political project: A violent, authoritarian blood-and-soil nationalism that defines “America” as a white Christian homeland.
Absolutely correct. So much of the discourse around restoring trust in the institutions is focused on decorum and civility theater. But why would anyone trust the institutions if, after the horror show that we are suffering through, they yet again fail to impose some measure of real accountability?
Something the US needs to accept too is that without a large-scale correction imposing consequences on a large number of people, the crisis of governance here will continue indefinitely
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Absolutely correct. So much of the discourse around restoring trust in the institutions is focused on decorum and civility theater. But why would anyone trust the institutions if, after the horror show that we are suffering through, they yet again fail to impose some measure of real accountability?
For many years, @americanstudier.bsky.social has worked tirelessly to make scholarship more accessible to a broader audience and help interject academic observations into our political discourse.
He is now continuing that crucial mission away from Substack - and he deserves your support:
He is now continuing that crucial mission away from Substack - and he deserves your support:
In these fraught times, we need spaces & communities of our own, that we can make what we want & use to support each other & our work. &, yes, to avoid Nazis as much as possible. That's why we left Substack, & why @gvaughnjoy.bsky.social worked so hard on our new website. So+🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com
blackwhiteandread.com
Black and White and Read All Over
Where Scholarship Meets the Public
blackwhiteandread.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 PM
For many years, @americanstudier.bsky.social has worked tirelessly to make scholarship more accessible to a broader audience and help interject academic observations into our political discourse.
He is now continuing that crucial mission away from Substack - and he deserves your support:
He is now continuing that crucial mission away from Substack - and he deserves your support:
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
ICYMI yesterday: A roundup of the latest developments in America’s authoritarian crisis:
How the Trumpists plan to bring down the Republic – and how they might react to electoral defeat.
MAGA Will Rule or Ruin – some thoughts from my new piece:
How the Trumpists plan to bring down the Republic – and how they might react to electoral defeat.
MAGA Will Rule or Ruin – some thoughts from my new piece:
MAGA Will Rule or Ruin
A roundup of the latest developments in America’s authoritarian crisis: How the Trumpists plan to bring down the Republic – and how they might react to electoral defeat
steady.page
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
ICYMI yesterday: A roundup of the latest developments in America’s authoritarian crisis:
How the Trumpists plan to bring down the Republic – and how they might react to electoral defeat.
MAGA Will Rule or Ruin – some thoughts from my new piece:
How the Trumpists plan to bring down the Republic – and how they might react to electoral defeat.
MAGA Will Rule or Ruin – some thoughts from my new piece:
Do me a favor: If you find this analysis helpful, consider subscribing to Democracy Americana for free.
Or better yet: Become a paid member. Democracy Americana is funded by readers and it’s my main source of income. Your support makes this work possible.
steady.page/en/democracy...
Or better yet: Become a paid member. Democracy Americana is funded by readers and it’s my main source of income. Your support makes this work possible.
steady.page/en/democracy...
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Do me a favor: If you find this analysis helpful, consider subscribing to Democracy Americana for free.
Or better yet: Become a paid member. Democracy Americana is funded by readers and it’s my main source of income. Your support makes this work possible.
steady.page/en/democracy...
Or better yet: Become a paid member. Democracy Americana is funded by readers and it’s my main source of income. Your support makes this work possible.
steady.page/en/democracy...