Rachel
@lrigknat.bsky.social
A nerd on a journey beyond space and time
Reposted by Rachel
While this is a good point, it's also true that it's never too late. Anyone who chooses Team Republic today, regardless of what they've done or supported so far, is going to have a better reputation than those who stick with Team Trump. Fair or not. And those on Team Republic should welcome them.
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 AM
While this is a good point, it's also true that it's never too late. Anyone who chooses Team Republic today, regardless of what they've done or supported so far, is going to have a better reputation than those who stick with Team Trump. Fair or not. And those on Team Republic should welcome them.
Reposted by Rachel
wrote about whatever last week was, and its implications for Trump as Republican Party leader open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Is Trump losing his grip on the Republican Party? Does it matter?
The president-party relationship is more complicated than people think
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
wrote about whatever last week was, and its implications for Trump as Republican Party leader open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Reposted by Rachel
I'm not sure that Trump has finally killed off a US political ritual that's been ready to die for a while now. I am sure he's terrible at it. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/prime-time
(Not Ready for) Prime Time
Saying goodbye to a presidency ritual.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I'm not sure that Trump has finally killed off a US political ritual that's been ready to die for a while now. I am sure he's terrible at it. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/prime-time
Reposted by Rachel
Really liked this one and think it's a very helpful way to think about something that confuses a lot of analysts. Although he really missed the obvious chance to make a Hegseth/Rise of Skywalker analogy. But overall: Don't miss this one.
Trump and congressional Republicans have a tacit “suspension of disbelief” agreement about “emergencies” requiring expanded executive power. Has Pete Hegseth burst that bubble? My new piece:
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Why Hegseth is Flailing
Congressional Republicans have agreed to suspend their disbelief, about a lot of things. Hegseth has let reality intrude.
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Really liked this one and think it's a very helpful way to think about something that confuses a lot of analysts. Although he really missed the obvious chance to make a Hegseth/Rise of Skywalker analogy. But overall: Don't miss this one.
Reposted by Rachel
a belief that liberals are not in spiritual communion with the white working class, which is held as the virtuous repository of american identity.
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
a belief that liberals are not in spiritual communion with the white working class, which is held as the virtuous repository of american identity.
Reposted by Rachel
In my new piece, I consider Trump’s very limited communications strategy, from calling affordability a hoax to yesterday’s no-real-press-allowed Pentagon press conference. Please read and subscribe!
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
In Whom To Trust
Trump's White House communications is all about reducing trust in other institutions. That isn't going to be enough.
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
In my new piece, I consider Trump’s very limited communications strategy, from calling affordability a hoax to yesterday’s no-real-press-allowed Pentagon press conference. Please read and subscribe!
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Reposted by Rachel
ICYMI
Trump is learning the limits of mandate politics. Maybe. open.substack.com/pub/goodpoli...
Trump is learning the limits of mandate politics. Maybe.
After the 2024 election, Trump and his communication team – especially press secretary Karoline Leavitt – seized on the idea that his 49.8% of the popular vote constituted a historic mandate. This, ac...
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
ICYMI
Reposted by Rachel
Oops forgot to push yesterday's (not-yet-stale!) speculation about, among other things, Thomas and Alito, and why strategic retirement for them might be more complicated than one might think. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/shutdown-i...
Shutdown II? Court Changes? Election Upsets?
Playing a little What If today.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Oops forgot to push yesterday's (not-yet-stale!) speculation about, among other things, Thomas and Alito, and why strategic retirement for them might be more complicated than one might think. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/shutdown-i...
Reposted by Rachel
My live interview with Ian Silverii about how Democrats should be running and what kinds of candidates they should be finding begins in just a few hours!
LIVE SOON: Live with political consultant Ian Silverii
Starting Nov 17 at 5:15 PM EST
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
My live interview with Ian Silverii about how Democrats should be running and what kinds of candidates they should be finding begins in just a few hours!
Reposted by Rachel
Donald Trump sent more money to bail out Argentina than it would have cost to extend the ACA tax credits for just 1 year.
I don't plan to let anyone forget it.
I don't plan to let anyone forget it.
November 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Donald Trump sent more money to bail out Argentina than it would have cost to extend the ACA tax credits for just 1 year.
I don't plan to let anyone forget it.
I don't plan to let anyone forget it.
Reposted by Rachel
Ugh with all the fuss I forgot to tweet out my item today: In praise of Pelosi and why they should be building statues of her all over. Plus so many links. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/the-speaker
The Speaker
On Pelosi. Plus all the links.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Ugh with all the fuss I forgot to tweet out my item today: In praise of Pelosi and why they should be building statues of her all over. Plus so many links. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/the-speaker
Reposted by Rachel
Don’t worry your heads ladies, the menfolk are handling US-Central Asia relations
November 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Don’t worry your heads ladies, the menfolk are handling US-Central Asia relations
Reposted by Rachel
Five Lessons from the 2025 Election Results:
honestgraft.substack.com/p/five-lesso...
honestgraft.substack.com/p/five-lesso...
Five Lessons from the 2025 Election Results
“Unless the president is unusually popular, the party holding the White House will suffer significant losses in off-year elections” is a very well-established pattern, so nothing about the Democratic ...
honestgraft.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Five Lessons from the 2025 Election Results:
honestgraft.substack.com/p/five-lesso...
honestgraft.substack.com/p/five-lesso...
Reposted by Rachel
Alt-pitch: Trump, the WH, Jafar, the Genie, I love the Capitol...plus all the links! @adambonica.bsky.social @smotus.bsky.social @dcinbox.bsky.social @mirandayaver.bsky.social @hsulli.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social and more goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/trumps-att...
Trump's Attack on the White House
The Disney villain he resembles. Plus all the links.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Alt-pitch: Trump, the WH, Jafar, the Genie, I love the Capitol...plus all the links! @adambonica.bsky.social @smotus.bsky.social @dcinbox.bsky.social @mirandayaver.bsky.social @hsulli.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social and more goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/trumps-att...
Reposted by Rachel
Trump wants the Department of Justice to pay him $230 million of YOUR taxpayer dollars.
So, while health care costs rise for millions of Americans, our billionaire President is sticking his hand out.
Trump is the most corrupt president in American history. Full stop.
So, while health care costs rise for millions of Americans, our billionaire President is sticking his hand out.
Trump is the most corrupt president in American history. Full stop.
October 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Trump wants the Department of Justice to pay him $230 million of YOUR taxpayer dollars.
So, while health care costs rise for millions of Americans, our billionaire President is sticking his hand out.
Trump is the most corrupt president in American history. Full stop.
So, while health care costs rise for millions of Americans, our billionaire President is sticking his hand out.
Trump is the most corrupt president in American history. Full stop.
Reposted by Rachel
If you attend a No Kings Day event, please record the number of people in attendance in our crowdsourced crowd-counting sheet. We prefer official estimates above ad-hoc counts — if you count yourself, pls be conservative (people are bad at estimating crowd sizes). docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
20251018_No Kings Day 2 Protests Unofficial Attendance Crowdsourcing
docs.google.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:09 PM
If you attend a No Kings Day event, please record the number of people in attendance in our crowdsourced crowd-counting sheet. We prefer official estimates above ad-hoc counts — if you count yourself, pls be conservative (people are bad at estimating crowd sizes). docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Rachel
Feel like we could use more reporting on those "lots of GOP polls." What's the business model for partisan survey results?
Dems are up 6 and 10 points, respectively, in our new polling averages for the New Jersey and Virginia gov races. This is generally higher than competing args , which don't account for pollster house effects or poll partisanship (lots of GOP polls out there) www.gelliottmorris.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats up 6, 10 points in new averages of New Jersey and Virginia governor polls
Aggregators take note: We found that many polls in these contests are sponsored by or affiliated with GOP campaigns, increasing potential bias of unadjusted polling averages
www.gelliottmorris.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Feel like we could use more reporting on those "lots of GOP polls." What's the business model for partisan survey results?
Reposted by Rachel
I don't think I remembered to pitch yesterday's item - which I think holds up just fine today, mainly because I leaned heavily on people who know what they're talking about. At GP/BP. Please consider supporting us! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/after-more...
After More Political Violence
Another bad day for the US
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I don't think I remembered to pitch yesterday's item - which I think holds up just fine today, mainly because I leaned heavily on people who know what they're talking about. At GP/BP. Please consider supporting us! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/after-more...
Reposted by Rachel
The heart of God breaks with every act of deadly violence; every life ended by another by greed, anger, envy, revenge, or retribution.
Blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the peacemakers.
September 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The heart of God breaks with every act of deadly violence; every life ended by another by greed, anger, envy, revenge, or retribution.
Blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the peacemakers.
Reposted by Rachel
Political violence is never acceptable. It's really that simple. We can't have a democracy otherwise. I hope Mr. Kirk makes a full recovery. My thoughts are with his family.
September 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Political violence is never acceptable. It's really that simple. We can't have a democracy otherwise. I hope Mr. Kirk makes a full recovery. My thoughts are with his family.
Reposted by Rachel
Midterm conventions: The GOP version will probably be just a rebranded Trump rally, so whatever; a Dem version would likely be an utter and pointless fiasco, highlighting their weaknesses instead of playing to their strengths. At GP/BP. Don't be the last kid on your block to subscribe!
September 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Midterm conventions: The GOP version will probably be just a rebranded Trump rally, so whatever; a Dem version would likely be an utter and pointless fiasco, highlighting their weaknesses instead of playing to their strengths. At GP/BP. Don't be the last kid on your block to subscribe!
Reposted by Rachel
I'll keep saying it: RFK Jr. is a deadly threat to our public health and safety.
He is razing CDC, NIH, and other health agencies to the ground—putting politics and deranged conspiracy theories over science.
We need bipartisan oversight immediately, and he must be FIRED.
He is razing CDC, NIH, and other health agencies to the ground—putting politics and deranged conspiracy theories over science.
We need bipartisan oversight immediately, and he must be FIRED.
Sen. Patty Murray is calling for RFK Jr. to be fired.
"We cannot let RFK Jr. burn what's left of the CDC and our other critical health agencies to the ground—he must be fired."
"I hope my Republican colleagues who have come to regret their vote to confirm RFK Jr. will join me."
"We cannot let RFK Jr. burn what's left of the CDC and our other critical health agencies to the ground—he must be fired."
"I hope my Republican colleagues who have come to regret their vote to confirm RFK Jr. will join me."
September 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I'll keep saying it: RFK Jr. is a deadly threat to our public health and safety.
He is razing CDC, NIH, and other health agencies to the ground—putting politics and deranged conspiracy theories over science.
We need bipartisan oversight immediately, and he must be FIRED.
He is razing CDC, NIH, and other health agencies to the ground—putting politics and deranged conspiracy theories over science.
We need bipartisan oversight immediately, and he must be FIRED.
Reposted by Rachel
Trump loses *all the time*. Not always, and it's certainly not the whole story, but few presidents get defeated anywhere near as often.
Congestion pricing is actually the perfect example here. Trump declared that “congestion pricing is dead” (and that he is the king)
Hochul and the MTA told him to fuck off, and now, more than 6 months later, congestion pricing is still alive and working exactly as planned
Hochul and the MTA told him to fuck off, and now, more than 6 months later, congestion pricing is still alive and working exactly as planned
August 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Trump loses *all the time*. Not always, and it's certainly not the whole story, but few presidents get defeated anywhere near as often.
Reposted by Rachel
Folks, my usual election night post: if you appreciate our coverage of these local elections at Bolts,
… consider becoming a donor or subscriber to support it! boltsmag.org/donate
… & even if it’s not the right time for that, sign up for our free newsletter to be informed: boltsmag.org/newsletter
… consider becoming a donor or subscriber to support it! boltsmag.org/donate
… & even if it’s not the right time for that, sign up for our free newsletter to be informed: boltsmag.org/newsletter
August 27, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Folks, my usual election night post: if you appreciate our coverage of these local elections at Bolts,
… consider becoming a donor or subscriber to support it! boltsmag.org/donate
… & even if it’s not the right time for that, sign up for our free newsletter to be informed: boltsmag.org/newsletter
… consider becoming a donor or subscriber to support it! boltsmag.org/donate
… & even if it’s not the right time for that, sign up for our free newsletter to be informed: boltsmag.org/newsletter
Reposted by Rachel
As I become a one-woman broken record book self-promotion machine, this kind of thing makes me glad that I dropped everything to spend ~5 years writing a book that reemphasizes just how much politics in this country are driven by race, starting with slavery.
The White House official leading Trump’s review of the Smithsonian Institution believes the museum focuses too much on slavery
Trump aide leading Smithsonian overhaul says museum 'overemphasizes' slavery
The White House official leading Trump’s overhaul of the Smithsonian Institution believes the museum focuses too much on slavery.
www.whatimreading.net
August 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
As I become a one-woman broken record book self-promotion machine, this kind of thing makes me glad that I dropped everything to spend ~5 years writing a book that reemphasizes just how much politics in this country are driven by race, starting with slavery.