Michael Evans
@mevanspolisci.bsky.social
I teach & conduct political science research, seeking a healthier democracy.
Reposted by Michael Evans
Three things that would improve trust in the political process across party lines:
1. More than just two parties
2. Campaign finance limits
3. Term limits
Love 1 & 2.
I've long been skeptical of term limits, but I could get behind 24-year limits, or age limits at 76.
snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/u...
1. More than just two parties
2. Campaign finance limits
3. Term limits
Love 1 & 2.
I've long been skeptical of term limits, but I could get behind 24-year limits, or age limits at 76.
snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/u...
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Three things that would improve trust in the political process across party lines:
1. More than just two parties
2. Campaign finance limits
3. Term limits
Love 1 & 2.
I've long been skeptical of term limits, but I could get behind 24-year limits, or age limits at 76.
snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/u...
1. More than just two parties
2. Campaign finance limits
3. Term limits
Love 1 & 2.
I've long been skeptical of term limits, but I could get behind 24-year limits, or age limits at 76.
snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Michael Evans
Ranked-choice voting makes sense for party primaries because party primaries often feature fractured fields.
“Scoop: Dems eye ranked-choice voting for primaries” electionlawblog.org?p=153200
"Scoop: Dems eye ranked-choice voting for primaries" #ELB
Axios: Democratic politicians and activists are quietly lobbying to upend the way the party picks its presidential nominee by urging the use of ranked-choice voting. Driving the news: Democratic Natio...
electionlawblog.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Ranked-choice voting makes sense for party primaries because party primaries often feature fractured fields.
Reposted by Michael Evans
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.
Reposted by Michael Evans
We’ve spent 15+ years as a field in political science/IPE trying to make trade the primary culprit for populist authoritarianism when cycles of financial bubbles, crashes, bailouts, & austerity are right there in front of us.
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 PM
We’ve spent 15+ years as a field in political science/IPE trying to make trade the primary culprit for populist authoritarianism when cycles of financial bubbles, crashes, bailouts, & austerity are right there in front of us.
Reposted by Michael Evans
"America’s 902 billionaires are collectively worth more than $6.7 trillion, the most wealth ever amassed by the nation’s ultra-rich, according to Forbes."
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
"America’s 902 billionaires are collectively worth more than $6.7 trillion, the most wealth ever amassed by the nation’s ultra-rich, according to Forbes."
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
Reposted by Michael Evans
Where America stands, one year after the election.
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet.
New piece:
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet.
New piece:
Escalation, Authoritarian “Normalization,” or a Democratic Turnaround?
One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here
steady.page
November 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Where America stands, one year after the election.
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet.
New piece:
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet.
New piece:
Reposted by Michael Evans
The moment Trump dies, this will be the sum total of the GOP. It took them 60 years, but the Dixiecrats finally took over the entire party.
America has no idea what's about to hit them. "Young Republicans" are fully steeped in neo-Nazi edge lord talking points. Fuentes is the present and future of the GOP. After Trump, this is the new form of MAGA. The establishment isn't built for this fight.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The Firewall Against Nick Fuentes Is Crumbling
The white-supremacist influencer is entering the MAGA mainstream.
www.theatlantic.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The moment Trump dies, this will be the sum total of the GOP. It took them 60 years, but the Dixiecrats finally took over the entire party.
Reposted by Michael Evans
Absolutely shameful abuse of state power. Video in link. Protestors were there after ICE picked up a man and two kids on their way to school.
November 2, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Absolutely shameful abuse of state power. Video in link. Protestors were there after ICE picked up a man and two kids on their way to school.
Reposted by Michael Evans
Mail voting seems to amend one of the most commonly highlighted downsides of electoral democracy: low information voting.
It affords voters the opportunity to take their time to learn about the candidates & choices so they can make choices that truly reflect their political values & priorities
It affords voters the opportunity to take their time to learn about the candidates & choices so they can make choices that truly reflect their political values & priorities
Just out at @polbehavior.bsky.social w/Carey Stapleton:
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Effects of Voting by Mail on Correct Voting - Political Behavior
The share of Americans voting by mail surged in 2020. For those casting a mail-in ballot, their voting experience was different from those who voted in-person. When voting by mail, people can make the...
link.springer.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Mail voting seems to amend one of the most commonly highlighted downsides of electoral democracy: low information voting.
It affords voters the opportunity to take their time to learn about the candidates & choices so they can make choices that truly reflect their political values & priorities
It affords voters the opportunity to take their time to learn about the candidates & choices so they can make choices that truly reflect their political values & priorities
Reposted by Michael Evans
Our 249-year-old system -- two-party presidentialism -- has sometimes worked in spite of itself due to favorable conditions, un-codified norms, & a few periodic fixes.
That run is clearly over. I argue below that we need a multiparty democracy with the legislature supreme and a limited executive.
That run is clearly over. I argue below that we need a multiparty democracy with the legislature supreme and a limited executive.
“We cannot go back to anything approaching the old constitutional order, which already had been in a long, terminal decline.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-american...
The American Presidency Can Never Be Trusted Again
It’s time for multiparty democracy and a limited executive.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Our 249-year-old system -- two-party presidentialism -- has sometimes worked in spite of itself due to favorable conditions, un-codified norms, & a few periodic fixes.
That run is clearly over. I argue below that we need a multiparty democracy with the legislature supreme and a limited executive.
That run is clearly over. I argue below that we need a multiparty democracy with the legislature supreme and a limited executive.
Reposted by Michael Evans
I jump into the moderation debate. I agree with @adambonica.bsky.social and @gelliottmorris.com on the methodology, but I want to draw attention to a bigger issue. The collapse of candidate effects generally.
leedrutman.substack.com/p/the-modera...
leedrutman.substack.com/p/the-modera...
October 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I jump into the moderation debate. I agree with @adambonica.bsky.social and @gelliottmorris.com on the methodology, but I want to draw attention to a bigger issue. The collapse of candidate effects generally.
leedrutman.substack.com/p/the-modera...
leedrutman.substack.com/p/the-modera...
Reposted by Michael Evans
Donald Trump broke a promise and then ruined something?
Well, I never.
Well, I never.
Trump in July, on the WH $250MM ballroom project:
“It won’t interfere with the current building.... It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of."
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
“It won’t interfere with the current building.... It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of."
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
October 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Donald Trump broke a promise and then ruined something?
Well, I never.
Well, I never.
Reposted by Michael Evans
No institutional design can overcome a lawbreaking president, a Congress defending lawbreaking and forfeiting its own power, a Supreme Court that pretends legal text doesn’t count to facilitate lawbreaking, and a citizenry that votes for all that.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
No institutional design can overcome a lawbreaking president, a Congress defending lawbreaking and forfeiting its own power, a Supreme Court that pretends legal text doesn’t count to facilitate lawbreaking, and a citizenry that votes for all that.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.
Reposted by Michael Evans
To his great credit
“Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”
The Republican chair of the National Governors Association breaks with Trump.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
The Republican chair of the National Governors Association breaks with Trump.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
To his great credit
This will be a great discussion with my colleague, @jennifermccoy.bsky.social. Hope you can join us!
Join Georgia SSN for the first webinar in their "Defending U.S. Democracy" webinar series with
@jennifermccoy.bsky.social, moderated by @bernardtamas.bsky.social!
📅 Tues, Oct. 14
🕓 4pm - 5:15pm
🔗 Register for the event now: scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/d...
@jennifermccoy.bsky.social, moderated by @bernardtamas.bsky.social!
📅 Tues, Oct. 14
🕓 4pm - 5:15pm
🔗 Register for the event now: scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/d...
October 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This will be a great discussion with my colleague, @jennifermccoy.bsky.social. Hope you can join us!
Reposted by Michael Evans
I wrote back in June that Trump is essentially attempting a Little Rock 1957 deployment only this time for white people, and he just tweeted it out
smotus.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
smotus.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
October 8, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I wrote back in June that Trump is essentially attempting a Little Rock 1957 deployment only this time for white people, and he just tweeted it out
smotus.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
smotus.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
Reposted by Michael Evans
I am of the relatively rare belief that LLMs are very useful and not environmentally damaging in comparison to most anything else we do but that generative video is horrifically bad on both counts and mixing that with the attention dynamics of social media is a disaster.
October 8, 2025 at 5:34 AM
I am of the relatively rare belief that LLMs are very useful and not environmentally damaging in comparison to most anything else we do but that generative video is horrifically bad on both counts and mixing that with the attention dynamics of social media is a disaster.
Reposted by Michael Evans
Gifting this one: interesting, important read on how the USA shook off authoritarianism of 1920s. Yes cataclysm is part of it.
But bolstering the WEB Duboises & Sidney Hillmans of today?
Pushing Grand Experiments for democracy?
BRING IT ON.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...
But bolstering the WEB Duboises & Sidney Hillmans of today?
Pushing Grand Experiments for democracy?
BRING IT ON.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...
Opinion | How to Save the American Experiment
www.nytimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Gifting this one: interesting, important read on how the USA shook off authoritarianism of 1920s. Yes cataclysm is part of it.
But bolstering the WEB Duboises & Sidney Hillmans of today?
Pushing Grand Experiments for democracy?
BRING IT ON.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...
But bolstering the WEB Duboises & Sidney Hillmans of today?
Pushing Grand Experiments for democracy?
BRING IT ON.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...
Reposted by Michael Evans
Back in 2016 I wrote a chapter called "The President as Minority Leader" in a volume on the just-concluded election (link in next post). Feeling pretty good about that early conclusion...
all presidential administrations are partisan, but trump and the people in his white house are partisans bordering on sectarians, and one result is that they see nothing of actions that strain and weaken the union itself
Trump targets states that voted for Harris in shutdown fight
The Office of Management and Budget is withholding billions in energy and infrastructure money in more than a dozen states that voted against Trump.
www.politico.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Back in 2016 I wrote a chapter called "The President as Minority Leader" in a volume on the just-concluded election (link in next post). Feeling pretty good about that early conclusion...
Reposted by Michael Evans
Fusion is a good single-seat complement to a PR system that presumes multiple parties fielding joint lists. Thanks to PD for this work and for inviting my feedback!
NEW: How fusion voting—an American tradition allowing candidates to appear on multiple party ballot lines—can bolster efforts to reform our broken politics. It's time to revive this pathway to better representation. Summary is threaded plus full report is 🔗: protectdemocracy.org/work/fusion-...
October 1, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Fusion is a good single-seat complement to a PR system that presumes multiple parties fielding joint lists. Thanks to PD for this work and for inviting my feedback!
Reposted by Michael Evans
The president said, in a televised speech, that he's sending his new, less restrained, more violent military into US cities to practice their brutality on immigrants and minorities, to better train them to apply that brutality to other countries.
He said this out loud.
He said this out loud.
September 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The president said, in a televised speech, that he's sending his new, less restrained, more violent military into US cities to practice their brutality on immigrants and minorities, to better train them to apply that brutality to other countries.
He said this out loud.
He said this out loud.
Reposted by Michael Evans
The president just gathered the highest ranking officers in the military to tell them that he may order them to kill American citizens -- and that they better follow his orders. All in response to a series of crises that have no basis in reality.
I don't know how to yell any louder.
I don't know how to yell any louder.
September 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The president just gathered the highest ranking officers in the military to tell them that he may order them to kill American citizens -- and that they better follow his orders. All in response to a series of crises that have no basis in reality.
I don't know how to yell any louder.
I don't know how to yell any louder.
Reposted by Michael Evans
I’m opening a movie theater in which I show recently released films that I ripped from the internet but the studios are welcome to opt out if they wish.
Exclusive: OpenAI is planning to release a new version of its Sora video generator, which creates videos featuring copyrighted material unless copyright holders opt out of having their work appear.
OpenAI’s New Sora Video Generator to Require Copyright Holders to Opt Out
Executives at the startup notified talent agencies and studios over the last week.
on.wsj.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I’m opening a movie theater in which I show recently released films that I ripped from the internet but the studios are welcome to opt out if they wish.
Reposted by Michael Evans
This is really fucking bad.
September 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
This is really fucking bad.