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Colin Woodard

@colinwoodard.bsky.social

3.7K followers 1.9K following 1.6K posts

Director, Nationhood Lab, @PellCenter.bsky.social - Salve Regina University. Author, American Nations, American Character, Union, Republic of Pirates, and others. www.colinwoodard.com and www.nationhoodlab.org

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Colin Strohn Woodard is an American journalist and writer known for his books American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America (2011), The Republic of Pirates (2007), and The Lobster Coast (2004), a cultural and environmental history of coastal Maine. He is known for his writing that examines how the historically distinct regional cultures of America shape its current politics, society and health status. .. more

Political science 22%

Medicine 20%

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Reposted by Colin Woodard

LeeDay22 @leeday22.bsky.social · 3h

"It’s between an unpopular authoritarian project and a popular democratic one. The sooner everyone realizes this, the better the prospects that the American Experiment won’t perish from the earth". @colinwoodard.bsky.social @bangordailynews.bsky.social

Opinion: America is sliding toward authoritarianism. That’s not popular.

Discover how regional cultures have shattered America and the rise of an authoritarian regime. Author Colin Woodard explores the clash of ideologies.

www.bangordailynews.com

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Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Jocalyn Clark, Joshua S. Weitz , and 12 more Lisa W. Fazio, Jocalyn Clark, Joshua S. Weitz, Steven French, Evelyne de Leeuw, Mark D. White, Michael J. Allen, John L. Cotter, Gerald Friedman, Stephen Ryan, Karen O’Donnell, Henry Jones, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Colin Woodard, David Darmofal

Reuters @reuters.com · 3h

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reposted by Alan Richardson, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Colin Woodard

Willamette Week @wweek.com · 12h

Jack Dickinson, 26, says “we’re winning this.”

An Interview With the Portland Chicken

Rachel Saslow

www.wweek.com

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Reposted by Colin Woodard, David Darmofal

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 13h

The Senate has defeated a plan from Democrats to block President Trump's use of National Guard troops in various cities - if local officials oppose their deployment from other states.

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Melanie C. Green, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò , and 2 more Lesley A. Hall, Melanie C. Green, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Colin Woodard

Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · 13h

I know this case is all over - & it should be - but Turning Point USA has waged a harassment campaign against faculty for more than a decade. I know of at least a half dozen other faculty, personally, who have received death threats and several of those who felt so unsafe they too left their homes

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 13h

Are we great yet?

Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor and expert on anti-fascist groups, is fleeing to Spain with his family due to death threats that stem from a campaign by Turning Point USA and other conservative groups to get him fired, falsely labeling him as an antifa member.

Antifa expert at Rutgers University says he is moving to Spain because of death threats

An expert on anti-fascist groups who teaches at New Jersey’s flagship state university is moving his family overseas.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, David R. Miller, Michael J. Hicks , and 2 more Brendan Nyhan, David R. Miller, Michael J. Hicks, Greg Linden, Colin Woodard

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 14h

This is good, from Hakeem Jeffries. More of this please, in every conceivable forum:

"Sycophants who aid and abet the President’s vengeful schemes will not be able to hide from the serious legal consequences of their behavior. They will be held accountable."

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Reposted by Colin Woodard

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 18h

Shapiro: I filed that amicus brief last night to make it very clear that the Pennsylvania National Guard is under my command.

The way the President has chosen to deploy the Guard in other states—and, in at least one case, deploy the Guard from one state into another—is extremely dangerous.

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Reposted by Meredith Farkas, Dan Immergluck, Colin Woodard

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 18h

“.. the first time a Republican governor has questioned the interstate deployment of National Guard troops over a governor’s objections.”

@nytimes.com #OKgov
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

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Reposted by Colin Woodard

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 22h

Whether it’s Donald Trump saying J.B. Pritzker should be in jail or Donald Trump being convicted of 36 felonies but not going to jail because the American people re-elected him as president, both sides have been linked to jail time.

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Reposted by Ian Campbell, Michael D. McDonald, Colin Woodard

Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 1d

The Speaker of the House has firm views that Bad Bunny is a terrible pick for singing at the Super Bowl, but hasn't had time to watch the President's speech to our military leadership or form an opinion whether furloughed federal workers should be paid or Illinois' governor should be thrown in jail.

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine being this much of a coward and having this little respect for the Constitution you pledged an oath to.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Rosemary A. Joyce, American Library Association , and 10 more Will Jennings, Rosemary A. Joyce, American Library Association, Sanford F. Schram, Laurent Pech, David R. Miller, Robert B. Reich, Michael D. McDonald, Alexandra Kemmerer, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Dan Immergluck, Colin Woodard, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 1d

This is aiming for a higher degree of resolution than the "dominant regional cultures of North America" in #AmericanNations and, broadly speaking, ain't bad. I think it captures some things very well, but misses a few really important, domain-level distinctions and continuities.

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, David R. Miller, Colin Woodard

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 1d

The Constitutional crisis you've been waiting for is here.

The right moment to speak up—that moment of clarity you've been waiting for—that's here too.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

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Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, James Q. Wilson, Patrick A. Jansen , and 25 more Ben H. Ansell, James Q. Wilson, Patrick A. Jansen, Nicole Dubilier, Steve Peers, Carl Henrik Knutsen, Michael A. Clemens, Efrén O. Pérez, Juan Cole, John Collins, Jussi T. Eronen, Laurent Pech, David R. Miller, Ben Tonra, Michael D. McDonald, Philipp Sarasin, Henry Jones, Greg Linden, Matthew P. McAllister, Cullen S. Hendrix, Nancy M. Wingfield, Aviel Roshwald, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Francesco Nicoli, Colin Woodard, Andrew Kydd, David Darmofal

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

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Reposted by Erich Fromm, Will Jennings, W. Andy Knight , and 4 more Erich Fromm, Will Jennings, W. Andy Knight, Eric D. Knowles, Henry Jones, Olivier Mannoni, Colin Woodard

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

"Plenary authority," for those who don't swim in the jargon of despotisms, means you have absolute unchecked dictatorial power to do whatever you want.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 2d

Stephen Miller said the quiet part out loud. Trump has “plenary authority,” then suddenly went silent. Their plan wasn’t to be public yet. Clearly, someone hit the panic button in his earpiece.

It gets weirder: CNN uploaded the interview with the “plenary authority” comment edited out.
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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

Just saw this in my feed, as you may have. This reporter interviewed the pastor in the photo: religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

I mean, the empirical data supports your standing mode, but....

Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

FWIW, I first saw this shot posted last week, so it's got at least some staying power.

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Reposted by David R. Miller, Kate Starbird, Colin Woodard

Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 2d

Texas National Guard troops arriving in Chicago (via ABC News)

Remember: These are not MAGA stormtroopers. These are everyday teachers and accountants who signed up to serve their country with their spare time. They're being used as political pawns by venal, un-American, draft-dodging president

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Peter Thorne, Andreas Ortmann , and 4 more Anna O. Law, Peter Thorne, Andreas Ortmann, Fabián Muniesa, David Murakami Wood, Henry Jones, Colin Woodard

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 2d

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rebecca Solnit, Jonathan A. Eisen , and 27 more Anna O. Law, Rebecca Solnit, Jonathan A. Eisen, Erich Fromm, Brendan Nyhan, Paul R. Bierman, Patrick A. Jansen, Patrick Dunleavy, Steve Peers, Christopher Wright, Steven French, Lisa M. Thompson, Laura K. Taylor, Marina Jirotka, Kevin J. O’Brien, Juan Cole, Erwin Dekker, Brian Medeiros, Silvia Secchi, W. Andy Knight, Michael Zimmer, Christine Kooi, Erica Weintraub Austin, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Henry Jones, Blair Fix, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Francesco Nicoli, Colin Woodard

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 2d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

Just here to pile on about this 1992 photo. Whoever was involved shouldn't be, ever again.

Reposted by Steven Heydemann, Kimberly A. Prather, Leah Stokes , and 1 more Steven Heydemann, Kimberly A. Prather, Leah Stokes, Colin Woodard

Senator Patty Murray @murray.senate.gov · 2d

The scenes out of Chicago should outrage us all. These federal agents are out of control, committing senseless acts of violence & putting everyone at risk.

American citizens are being detained & brutalized.

This kind of immigration "enforcement" shouldn't be acceptable to anyone.

Immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Activists, residents and elected leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’s third-largest cit...

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Kimberly A. Prather, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson , and 4 more Kimberly A. Prather, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman, Daryl Adair, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Colin Woodard

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 2d

This has nothing to do with crime. This is an attempt to crush political dissent.

Never before, in our entire 250 year history, has the military or immigration agents been used like this. It's dystopian, illegal, and it should stop.

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

What is with his fixation on "windmills"?

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

And the southwestern corner of PA? I mean, that's *literally* the cultural hearth of the Greater Appalachian regional culture. Its about as Midwestern as Savannah.

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Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

I really don't see Pittsburgh or Chautauqua as "Midwestern" places in any case.

Colin Woodard @colinwoodard.bsky.social · 2d

In historical -- not cultural -- terms, MO wasn't part of the old Northwest Territory and, indeed, was a slave state that became part of the Confederacy. PA and NY weren't part of the Old Northwest Territory either, and were settled well before parts Westward and governed by Eastern capitals.

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