Dante Scala
@graniteprof.bsky.social
Political science professor, University of New Hampshire. Opinions my own.
Pinned
Dante Scala
@graniteprof.bsky.social
· Mar 19
Speaking Out for Democracy and US Higher Education
Speaking Out for Democracy and US Higher Education To add your name to this statement, go to https://bit.ly/DemocracyAndHigherEdSign We publicly affirm our commitment to the enterprise of higher educ...
docs.google.com
Reposted by Dante Scala
Pew Research Center just released a big report on religiosity in America, finding little shift since 2020 across four big indicators of religious commitment in its high response-rate NPORS surveys. Worth a read -> www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
Religion Holds Steady in America
Analysis of our polls and other data shows no clear evidence of a religious revival among young adults. Read more about religiousness by age and gender.
www.pewresearch.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Pew Research Center just released a big report on religiosity in America, finding little shift since 2020 across four big indicators of religious commitment in its high response-rate NPORS surveys. Worth a read -> www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
Reposted by Dante Scala
"She can be heard screaming as agents attempt to handcuff her. 'I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me,' she shouted after agents forced her to the ground. 'This is unfair. Why are you doing this to me?'”
Gift link:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Gift link:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
December 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
"She can be heard screaming as agents attempt to handcuff her. 'I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me,' she shouted after agents forced her to the ground. 'This is unfair. Why are you doing this to me?'”
Gift link:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Gift link:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Dante Scala
This isn't just about writing — it's also a testament to the importance of all writers to have a good editor!
Oh man! This paragraph is brutal. The best thing about this review is it's not trying to be mean. It's just listing how bad the writing is.
December 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This isn't just about writing — it's also a testament to the importance of all writers to have a good editor!
Reposted by Dante Scala
i strongly, strongly believe that good writing is downstream of clear thinking and a strong understanding of the subject matter at hand. without fail, tortured writing comes from writers who don’t know and can’t think clearly about anything.
Oh man! This paragraph is brutal. The best thing about this review is it's not trying to be mean. It's just listing how bad the writing is.
December 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
i strongly, strongly believe that good writing is downstream of clear thinking and a strong understanding of the subject matter at hand. without fail, tortured writing comes from writers who don’t know and can’t think clearly about anything.
Reposted by Dante Scala
I wrote this essay about pardons in a very different moment but it holds up imo www.lawfaremedia.org/article/dona...
December 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I wrote this essay about pardons in a very different moment but it holds up imo www.lawfaremedia.org/article/dona...
Reposted by Dante Scala
Two things can be true:
-Regulation and procedure are strangling government's ability to achieve its goals
-The solution can't be constantly violating the law and the Constitution
-Regulation and procedure are strangling government's ability to achieve its goals
-The solution can't be constantly violating the law and the Constitution
There is such a thirst in some progressive centrist circles that they will look at the Trump administration as a model to get things done. I think its worth addressing the argument. This is from Mark Dunkelman, author of the widely praised "Why Nothing Works."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
Opinion | What the Left Could Learn From Trump’s Brutal Efficiency
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Two things can be true:
-Regulation and procedure are strangling government's ability to achieve its goals
-The solution can't be constantly violating the law and the Constitution
-Regulation and procedure are strangling government's ability to achieve its goals
-The solution can't be constantly violating the law and the Constitution
Reposted by Dante Scala
Who directs spending: Congress or the president?
There's long been a gap between what Congress appropriates & what agencies spend. presidents find ways to not spend money they don't request
New #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript with Kevin Angell
www.niskanencenter.org/who-now-dire...
There's long been a gap between what Congress appropriates & what agencies spend. presidents find ways to not spend money they don't request
New #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript with Kevin Angell
www.niskanencenter.org/who-now-dire...
Who now directs spending: Congress or the president? - Niskanen Center
Kevin Angell compares what Congress appropriated to what agencies actually spent over decades, finding that presidents have long moved spending toward their preferences.
www.niskanencenter.org
December 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Who directs spending: Congress or the president?
There's long been a gap between what Congress appropriates & what agencies spend. presidents find ways to not spend money they don't request
New #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript with Kevin Angell
www.niskanencenter.org/who-now-dire...
There's long been a gap between what Congress appropriates & what agencies spend. presidents find ways to not spend money they don't request
New #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript with Kevin Angell
www.niskanencenter.org/who-now-dire...
Reposted by Dante Scala
The gang that couldn't persecute straight, cont'd: federal judge dismisses criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that Justice Department illegally appointed prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging. /5
Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed
A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at Presiden...
apnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The gang that couldn't persecute straight, cont'd: federal judge dismisses criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that Justice Department illegally appointed prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging. /5
Reposted by Dante Scala
"Democrats are much less religious than Republicans" is an axiom of American politics, but there's more going on beneath the surface. Among Democrats, religiousness varies greatly by race and ethnicity, as this chart shows. New from @pewresearch.org: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
November 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
"Democrats are much less religious than Republicans" is an axiom of American politics, but there's more going on beneath the surface. Among Democrats, religiousness varies greatly by race and ethnicity, as this chart shows. New from @pewresearch.org: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Reposted by Dante Scala
So I would say in general when a headline like this happens things would not be going well
*LEAVITT: TRUMP DOES NOT WANT TO EXECUTE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
So I would say in general when a headline like this happens things would not be going well
Reposted by Dante Scala
In Virginia and New Jersey, Dems made disproportionate gains with Hispanic and Asian voters
But White working class has been pretty steady for GOP
Dems can win back House with gains like they saw in NJ/VA
But would need more movement with WWC to have a shot in Senate
But White working class has been pretty steady for GOP
Dems can win back House with gains like they saw in NJ/VA
But would need more movement with WWC to have a shot in Senate
November 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
In Virginia and New Jersey, Dems made disproportionate gains with Hispanic and Asian voters
But White working class has been pretty steady for GOP
Dems can win back House with gains like they saw in NJ/VA
But would need more movement with WWC to have a shot in Senate
But White working class has been pretty steady for GOP
Dems can win back House with gains like they saw in NJ/VA
But would need more movement with WWC to have a shot in Senate
Reposted by Dante Scala
I feel like Person of the Year should go to college student journalists
November 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I feel like Person of the Year should go to college student journalists
Reposted by Dante Scala
Lots of talk about the shift back among Gen Z men and Latino voters toward Democrats in this month's off-year elections. But the bigger story is Gen Z women: 8 in 10 broke for Dems. In a word, MAGA holds no appeal. See my latest using @prri.org data:
prri.substack.com/p/maga-and-g...
prri.substack.com/p/maga-and-g...
MAGA and Gen Z Women: Far From a Marriage Made in Heaven
Democrats enjoyed a resounding victory this month, sweeping the major electoral prizes, including the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey, by large margins.
prri.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Lots of talk about the shift back among Gen Z men and Latino voters toward Democrats in this month's off-year elections. But the bigger story is Gen Z women: 8 in 10 broke for Dems. In a word, MAGA holds no appeal. See my latest using @prri.org data:
prri.substack.com/p/maga-and-g...
prri.substack.com/p/maga-and-g...
Reposted by Dante Scala
Cole Hamels is the only serious candidate among the newcomers. Otherwise, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are the candidates to watch.
The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot as announced moments ago by @baseballhall.org (baseballhall.org/news/2026-bb...). Results will be announced Jan. 20th. Game on!
November 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Cole Hamels is the only serious candidate among the newcomers. Otherwise, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are the candidates to watch.
Reposted by Dante Scala
"This assault on higher education is best understood as a means of destroying a locus of political opposition."
Over the last 10 months, the federal government has cracked down on political expression with a persistence and viciousness reminiscent of some of the darkest periods of U.S. history. Welcome to the Third Red Scare.
The First Amendment Won’t Go Quietly
Welcome to the third Red Scare.
www.theatlantic.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"This assault on higher education is best understood as a means of destroying a locus of political opposition."
Reposted by Dante Scala
New roundup from me at @cato.org on voting and elections, including: judge quashes Trump bid to require documentary proof of citizenship in federal voter registration form, Maine ballot measure fails, Supreme Court agrees to review Fifth Circuit ruling on ballot receipt, and more.
Election Policy Roundup
A roundup of items on voting and elections, including Supreme Court review of Fifth Circuit ruling on ballot receipt, judge puts to bed Trump’s attempts to graft documentary proof of citizenship onto ...
www.cato.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New roundup from me at @cato.org on voting and elections, including: judge quashes Trump bid to require documentary proof of citizenship in federal voter registration form, Maine ballot measure fails, Supreme Court agrees to review Fifth Circuit ruling on ballot receipt, and more.
Reposted by Dante Scala
This was a fun opportunity to get granular about #NHPolitics!
We've got a jam-packed podcast this week!
First up is @jlray.bsky.social to discuss a fascinating polling experiment we conducted w/YouGov Blue.
Then we talk to @cgaldieri.bsky.social about all things New Hampshire, including the already nasty GOP Senate primary.
Listen here!
First up is @jlray.bsky.social to discuss a fascinating polling experiment we conducted w/YouGov Blue.
Then we talk to @cgaldieri.bsky.social about all things New Hampshire, including the already nasty GOP Senate primary.
Listen here!
The inside scoop on The Downballot's new polling
Listen now | And a deep dive into New Hampshire politics with Chris Galdieri
www.the-downballot.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This was a fun opportunity to get granular about #NHPolitics!
Reposted by Dante Scala
The trend here is remarkable, but will just note that this is the epitome of an expressive responding question -- answering yes is a way to signal profound dissatisfaction, not really a declaration of intention to move.
November 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The trend here is remarkable, but will just note that this is the epitome of an expressive responding question -- answering yes is a way to signal profound dissatisfaction, not really a declaration of intention to move.
Reposted by Dante Scala
So the history of this is that presidential approval bounces back quickly once shutdowns end. But no one has ever acted the way Trump has acted, and his policies taking effect are very unpopular. Also never been a shutdown during year one; this could just be honeymoon wearing off.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Trump dips below 40% approval on @gelliottmorris.com's tracker for the first time.
November 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
So the history of this is that presidential approval bounces back quickly once shutdowns end. But no one has ever acted the way Trump has acted, and his policies taking effect are very unpopular. Also never been a shutdown during year one; this could just be honeymoon wearing off.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Reposted by Dante Scala
Trump dips below 40% approval on @gelliottmorris.com's tracker for the first time.
November 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Trump dips below 40% approval on @gelliottmorris.com's tracker for the first time.
Reposted by Dante Scala
Utah Democrats are getting something they haven't had in a very, very, very long time: a safely Democratic U.S. House seat to run for.
Morning Digest: Utah's new congressional map guarantees a Democratic pickup
And that means a Republican will have to walk the plank—but which one?
www.the-downballot.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Utah Democrats are getting something they haven't had in a very, very, very long time: a safely Democratic U.S. House seat to run for.
Reposted by Dante Scala
2013: GOP shut down govt to DEFUND ACA
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
2013: GOP shut down govt to DEFUND ACA
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
Reposted by Dante Scala
For those interested, last night I wrote about what's in the CR deal for Congress. If you want a slightly more coherent take...
firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/whats-in-t...
firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/whats-in-t...
What's in the CR Deal for Congress?
With a vote as early as tonight, we quickly ran the numbers
firstbranchforecast.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
For those interested, last night I wrote about what's in the CR deal for Congress. If you want a slightly more coherent take...
firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/whats-in-t...
firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/whats-in-t...
Reposted by Dante Scala
No party that ever started a shutdown won it. It's a little shocking how many people genuinely believed Dems could win policy concessions.
Democrats caved because their phones were likely ringing off the hooks from people without paychecks, food assistance, the ability to travel safely, etc.
Democrats caved because their phones were likely ringing off the hooks from people without paychecks, food assistance, the ability to travel safely, etc.
MSNBC reported Schumer's office felt that the longer that shutdown went on, the more likely it was that people would start to blame the Dems.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
No party that ever started a shutdown won it. It's a little shocking how many people genuinely believed Dems could win policy concessions.
Democrats caved because their phones were likely ringing off the hooks from people without paychecks, food assistance, the ability to travel safely, etc.
Democrats caved because their phones were likely ringing off the hooks from people without paychecks, food assistance, the ability to travel safely, etc.
Reposted by Dante Scala
Easily the most interesting (and optimistic) thing I've read in a while climatedrift.substack.com/p/why-solarp...
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Easily the most interesting (and optimistic) thing I've read in a while climatedrift.substack.com/p/why-solarp...