Mark Schmitt
@mschmitt9.bsky.social
Political Reform Program, @NewAmerica. Previously, @rooseveltinst; @theprospect; @OpenSociety; US Senate for Bill Bradley, D-NJ.
(Photo was from yesterday, 11/6, around 5:30 pm)
November 8, 2025 at 5:25 AM
(Photo was from yesterday, 11/6, around 5:30 pm)
This is true, but the challenge, esp for Dems,is how to use a favorable environment (meaning 2 more elections and 3 ugly yrs) to maintain a favorable environment for longer than four years. Not forever, but enough to improve lives sustainably. Thermostatic politics is a disaster if one side is Trump
November 5, 2025 at 3:55 AM
This is true, but the challenge, esp for Dems,is how to use a favorable environment (meaning 2 more elections and 3 ugly yrs) to maintain a favorable environment for longer than four years. Not forever, but enough to improve lives sustainably. Thermostatic politics is a disaster if one side is Trump
If he changed positions on abortion rights, Brown would seem/be a calculating phony. People don't vote for a set of issue positions, but will vote for someone who listens, engages and is straightforward about their views. Lots of people who will vote for Mamdani don't share his issue positions. 2/2
September 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
If he changed positions on abortion rights, Brown would seem/be a calculating phony. People don't vote for a set of issue positions, but will vote for someone who listens, engages and is straightforward about their views. Lots of people who will vote for Mamdani don't share his issue positions. 2/2
Jamelle and Ezra also both immerse themselves in context--often historical in one case, process in the other--before writing. They have different perspectives this week (and I'm w/ Jamelle), but are not as far apart as comments make it sound. And they are vastly better than other political analysts.
September 16, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Jamelle and Ezra also both immerse themselves in context--often historical in one case, process in the other--before writing. They have different perspectives this week (and I'm w/ Jamelle), but are not as far apart as comments make it sound. And they are vastly better than other political analysts.
And the bigger point is that people don't view politicians as transactional vehicles to deliver policies or programs they favor. Policies represent an attitude or tone. The person who says, "Why not make buses free?" is my kind of person--even if he doesn't achieve that specific policy.
September 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
And the bigger point is that people don't view politicians as transactional vehicles to deliver policies or programs they favor. Policies represent an attitude or tone. The person who says, "Why not make buses free?" is my kind of person--even if he doesn't achieve that specific policy.
Yes, but it also reminds me of something I heard a pollster say after 2024--that people liked Harris's ideas but doubted she could make them happen, and didn't like most of Trump's ideas, but also didn't think he would actually follow through. The mutual skepticism somehow played in Trump's favor.
September 10, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Yes, but it also reminds me of something I heard a pollster say after 2024--that people liked Harris's ideas but doubted she could make them happen, and didn't like most of Trump's ideas, but also didn't think he would actually follow through. The mutual skepticism somehow played in Trump's favor.