David Mermin
@dmermin.bsky.social
(he/him) Pollster based in Berkeley, California. Empiricist, urbanist, egalitarian, cartophile. Fan of democracy, habitable planets, public transit, association football.
Reposted by David Mermin
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
January 1, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Reposted by David Mermin
Happy New Year with real fascist stuff about expelling a third of the nation. Wonder who’ll be targeted.
December 31, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Happy New Year with real fascist stuff about expelling a third of the nation. Wonder who’ll be targeted.
Reposted by David Mermin
Seems to me if voting didn’t matter the people who benefit most from the destruction of democracy wouldn’t be trying so hard to demolish democracy
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Seems to me if voting didn’t matter the people who benefit most from the destruction of democracy wouldn’t be trying so hard to demolish democracy
Reposted by David Mermin
A third of the women in the maternity ward have life-threatening complications that could be treated simply with food.
They suffer from anemia and high blood pressure.
Their babies are born early, weighing too little and with underdeveloped lungs.
They suffer from anemia and high blood pressure.
Their babies are born early, weighing too little and with underdeveloped lungs.
The Summer of Starvation: Amid Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts, a Mother Struggles to Keep Her Sons Alive
After the Trump administration cut off food from the third-largest refugee camp in the world, thousands of families faced impossible choices as their children starved.
www.propublica.org
December 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
A third of the women in the maternity ward have life-threatening complications that could be treated simply with food.
They suffer from anemia and high blood pressure.
Their babies are born early, weighing too little and with underdeveloped lungs.
They suffer from anemia and high blood pressure.
Their babies are born early, weighing too little and with underdeveloped lungs.
Reposted by David Mermin
How the Trump “National Security Strategy” is read abroad.
Meanwhile in Russia: inspired by the Trump administration’s anti-European stance, state TV host Vladimir Solovyov predicted that Russian and American combat troops will jointly storm European cities.
youtu.be/3PWkEmc0we0?...
youtu.be/3PWkEmc0we0?...
Vladimir Solovyov predicts that America and Russia will jointly attack Europe
YouTube video by Russian Media Monitor
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
How the Trump “National Security Strategy” is read abroad.
Trump Announces 5,000% Increase In All Numbers — theonion.com/trump-announ...
Trump Announces 5,000% Increase In All Numbers
WASHINGTON—Touting his latest executive order as a historic win for the U.S. economy, President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was mandating a 5,000% increase in all numbers nationwide. “Effect...
theonion.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Trump Announces 5,000% Increase In All Numbers — theonion.com/trump-announ...
Reposted by David Mermin
Sunday reading: I wrote about how the regime’s latest racist hate campaign is tied to the Right’s broader attempt to redefine citizenship and national identity in service of an exclusionary white nationalist vision.
A deep dive into the Right’s visions of blood-and-soil nationalism:
A deep dive into the Right’s visions of blood-and-soil nationalism:
Trumpism Is at War with the Idea of a Citizenry of Equals
The regime’s latest racist fury is tied to the Right’s much broader attempt to redefine citizenship and national identity in service of an exclusionary white nationalist
steady.page
December 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Sunday reading: I wrote about how the regime’s latest racist hate campaign is tied to the Right’s broader attempt to redefine citizenship and national identity in service of an exclusionary white nationalist vision.
A deep dive into the Right’s visions of blood-and-soil nationalism:
A deep dive into the Right’s visions of blood-and-soil nationalism:
This is deadly serious and horrible, but "Armada" LOL
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 12:16 AM
This is deadly serious and horrible, but "Armada" LOL
Reposted by David Mermin
My latest @flux.community: The president's recent rant against Somalis spotlights a white nationalist vision to remake the U.S., and needs to be called out for the unforgivable hate speech that it is. 1/
plus.flux.community/p/when-donal...
plus.flux.community/p/when-donal...
When Donald Trump attacks Somali immigrants, he attacks America
The president's recent rant against Somalis spotlights a white nationalist vision to remake the U.S., and needs to be called out for the unforgivable hate speech that it is.
plus.flux.community
December 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
My latest @flux.community: The president's recent rant against Somalis spotlights a white nationalist vision to remake the U.S., and needs to be called out for the unforgivable hate speech that it is. 1/
plus.flux.community/p/when-donal...
plus.flux.community/p/when-donal...
Reposted by David Mermin
Disabled veterans are getting scammed.
And thanks to Donald Trump’s attacks on government watchdogs like the CFPB, the scammers are getting away with it.
And thanks to Donald Trump’s attacks on government watchdogs like the CFPB, the scammers are getting away with it.
December 13, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Disabled veterans are getting scammed.
And thanks to Donald Trump’s attacks on government watchdogs like the CFPB, the scammers are getting away with it.
And thanks to Donald Trump’s attacks on government watchdogs like the CFPB, the scammers are getting away with it.
Good strategic analysis here - our data was part of it.
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024 newrepublic.com/article/2042... via @newrepublic.com
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024 newrepublic.com/article/2042... via @newrepublic.com
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024
It wasn’t because Biden voters shifted to Trump—but because so many of them stayed home. Here’s how Democrats can motivate them once more.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Good strategic analysis here - our data was part of it.
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024 newrepublic.com/article/2042... via @newrepublic.com
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024 newrepublic.com/article/2042... via @newrepublic.com
Reposted by David Mermin
Trump’s DOJ is using secret memos to justify lethal boat strikes, mirroring the Bush-era "torture memos." By redefining drug cartels as military foes, MAGA lawyers are creating a legal shield for extrajudicial killings and bypassing congressional oversight. #NoForeverWars
December 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Trump’s DOJ is using secret memos to justify lethal boat strikes, mirroring the Bush-era "torture memos." By redefining drug cartels as military foes, MAGA lawyers are creating a legal shield for extrajudicial killings and bypassing congressional oversight. #NoForeverWars
Reposted by David Mermin
December 10, 2025
December 10, 2025
Today is Human Rights Day, celebrated internationally in honor of the day seventy-seven years ago, December 10, 1948, when the United Nations General Assembly announced the Universal Declaration of Hu...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:19 AM
December 10, 2025
Reposted by David Mermin
Pay to play. The two most corrupt entities on earth unite.
Days after FIFA awarded Trump a fake peace prize, DOJ moves to drop charges in FIFA corruption case www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/n...
U.S. Moves to Drop Charges in International Soccer Corruption Case
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Pay to play. The two most corrupt entities on earth unite.
Reposted by David Mermin
A reminder that before the Trump admin/RFK took over this year, the U.S. had officially declared measles eliminated in 2000.
The measles outbreak in South Carolina is “accelerating” with no end in sight following Thanksgiving and other large gatherings, state health officials say.
South Carolina measles outbreak is 'accelerating,' driving hundreds into quarantine
Some students who remain unvaccinated are now in a second 21-day quarantine since the beginning of the school year.
nbcnews.to
December 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
A reminder that before the Trump admin/RFK took over this year, the U.S. had officially declared measles eliminated in 2000.
Good conversation here with @timkmak.bsky.social from Kyiv, including the need for the world’s liberal democracies to form a more explicit alliance that does not include the U.S.
The Inevitable, Trumpian Betrayal of Ukraine... from Tim Mak a searing and heartbreaking look at the US betrayal of allies and our deepest values open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
The Inevitable, Trumpian Betrayal of Ukraine
All Things Ukraine, Venezuela, and European Allies on Where in the World is Tim Mak?
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Good conversation here with @timkmak.bsky.social from Kyiv, including the need for the world’s liberal democracies to form a more explicit alliance that does not include the U.S.
Reposted by David Mermin
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
Reposted by David Mermin
After a backroom meeting with Donald Trump and a donation to the Trump ballroom, NVIDIA got a deal to sell the most advanced AI chip it has ever sold to China.
The NVIDIA CEO should testify under oath in Congress.
The NVIDIA CEO should testify under oath in Congress.
December 9, 2025 at 1:02 AM
After a backroom meeting with Donald Trump and a donation to the Trump ballroom, NVIDIA got a deal to sell the most advanced AI chip it has ever sold to China.
The NVIDIA CEO should testify under oath in Congress.
The NVIDIA CEO should testify under oath in Congress.
Reposted by David Mermin
Extrajudicial killings - murder by another name - is becoming the de facto official position of the Republican Party.
WELKER: Is there any hard evidence showing this particular boat was headed to the US?
TOM COTTON: That didn't come up in my briefing
WELKER: Are you comfortable having the US target a boat that you're not sure is heading to the US?
COTTON: I'm not just comfortable with it -- I want to continue it
TOM COTTON: That didn't come up in my briefing
WELKER: Are you comfortable having the US target a boat that you're not sure is heading to the US?
COTTON: I'm not just comfortable with it -- I want to continue it
December 7, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Extrajudicial killings - murder by another name - is becoming the de facto official position of the Republican Party.
Reposted by David Mermin
An American president is pressuring politicians of his own party on social media by name, even after some of them have received threats and been swatted in the wake of prior Trump postings. This is what experts on political violence call "stochastic terrorism." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Trump puts screws on Indiana Senators to greenlight a GOP-friendly voting map
The Supreme Court seems unlikely to halt a tsunami of partisan gerrymanders.
www.motherjones.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM
An American president is pressuring politicians of his own party on social media by name, even after some of them have received threats and been swatted in the wake of prior Trump postings. This is what experts on political violence call "stochastic terrorism." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Mermin
New via @ariberman.bsky.social & me: For years, right-wing groups have pushed for access to voter rolls, hoping to bolster unproven claims of widespread fraud.
Now, Trump’s Justice Department is leading that effort. “The election deniers are now ascendant in the federal government.” bit.ly/4phNz1V
Now, Trump’s Justice Department is leading that effort. “The election deniers are now ascendant in the federal government.” bit.ly/4phNz1V
Trump’s DOJ is building a voter purge machine—powered by your private data
The federal agency ordinarily would prevent attacks on voting rights. Now it’s carrying them out.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
New via @ariberman.bsky.social & me: For years, right-wing groups have pushed for access to voter rolls, hoping to bolster unproven claims of widespread fraud.
Now, Trump’s Justice Department is leading that effort. “The election deniers are now ascendant in the federal government.” bit.ly/4phNz1V
Now, Trump’s Justice Department is leading that effort. “The election deniers are now ascendant in the federal government.” bit.ly/4phNz1V
Reposted by David Mermin
the elevation of “separation of powers” as the paramount value of the constitution is just rhetorical justification for presidential dictatorship, since that is what you have when the legislative branch cannot constrain the exercise of executive power through law.
In her dissent, Judge Pan says the emerging view of executive power by Trump and his backers in the courts "concentrates excessive power in the President and thus paves the way to autocracy." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
the elevation of “separation of powers” as the paramount value of the constitution is just rhetorical justification for presidential dictatorship, since that is what you have when the legislative branch cannot constrain the exercise of executive power through law.
Reposted by David Mermin
This regressive move will literally kill people. It's making kids' liver cancer great again. And it's a sign of more harm to come.
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine
The CDC's ACIP panel voted to recommend delaying the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, ending a policy that has reined in the virus.
www.statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This regressive move will literally kill people. It's making kids' liver cancer great again. And it's a sign of more harm to come.
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
Reposted by David Mermin
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?
December 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?