Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Transcript: Democrats Got Something Really Big Done in New Mexico

1 8 29

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 13h

Not related to today's news. But in 2002, when I first started covering politics, the pundits compared all Democratic campaigns to what they viewed as the pinnacle of Dem electoral success---Clinton 1992. I worry my generation of pundits now compares everything (unfavorably) to Obama 2008.

5 2 69

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

Yes. Well said.

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 14h

another thing Weiss does is give other very dull people a vehicle to spout bog-standard right-wing ideas and pretend they're being iconoclasts or innovative.

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

Weiss very intentionally does not describe herself as a conservative or Republican and wraps her politics in terms like "free press." That makes more useful at advancing Trumpism than explicitly right-wing figures. newrepublic.com/article/2014...

1 11 79

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

I interviewed @govmlg.bsky.social and she explained how New Mexico gradually built its universal childcare program (first in the nation) and how other states could do the same. Some good things are happening! newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham explains how New Mexico became the first state with universal childcare and why Democrats should look to states and governors for leadership.

MAGA Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

1 23 99

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

Weiss very intentionally does not describe herself as a conservative or Republican and wraps her politics in terms like "free press." That makes more useful at advancing Trumpism than explicitly right-wing figures. newrepublic.com/article/2014...

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

MAGA Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

8 72 330

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

Bill Maher says he still votes for Democratic candidates. But Weiss has helped provide language for Maher, Bezos and other coastal, non-evangelical people to express their views and resentments. It's a new version of "moderate" conservatism. newrepublic.com/article/2014...

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

MAGA Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

2 14 61

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 14h

Weiss has done journalism that mattered--Free Press reporting got the interim Columbia president dumped. She will make CBS more conservative. But her real influence has been in politics, not media. She has helped create a conservatism that coastal elites can embrace. newrepublic.com/article/2014...

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

MAGA-Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

2 7 36

Reposted by Perry Bacon

Andrew Prokop @awprokop.bsky.social · 1d

Another analysis from @perrybaconjr.bsky.social of Bari Weiss as the convener of a new political faction.

newrepublic.com/article/2014...

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

newrepublic.com/article/2014...

2 21 38

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

MAGA-Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

3 13 54

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

It's worth reading this as a guide to what progressive candidates/causes in particular should do to win in purple/red areas. For many center-left candidates and pundits, Dems moving to the right is fine because that want a more conservative party anyway. www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

4 6 33

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

In reading this @anatosaurus.bsky.social piece, it's worth thinking about what strategies/tactics can be used by ALL Democratic candidates. Many successful candidates in red areas (like Jared Golden) succeed by bashing the party. Everyone can't do that. www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

3 7 28

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

Sidelining marginalized groups/causes for electoral purposes is morally bad, as Ta-Nehisi Coates argued so well recently. @anatosaurus.bsky.social is making an important case---that strategy's electoral benefits are often limited or non-existent. A must-read. www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

2 22 54

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

"Polling-ism" versus "Magnet-ism" is such a sharp frame. It's the difference between an approach that can win in the right circumstances (Spanberger) versus one that creates and changes circumstances (Mamdani.) Yes, I get that Mamdani's advisers read polls! www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

1 9 35

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 1d

Confronted with the "The left must move right to help Dems electorally" argument, Ta-Nehisi Coates distinguished between politicians and everyone else. But @anatosaurus.bsky.social
articulates the electoral flaws of moving right and offers alternatives. www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

1 14 42

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

"And I will scold anyone who points out I was totally wrong and made a huge strategic error.'

2 2 140

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

The problem with elected Dems is not just age. Schatz is 52. But he 1. likely has internalized and sincerely believes the Polling-ism strategies 2. understands that advancing within the party (he wants to be Senate Dem Leader) is helped by publicly articulating this perspective.

aaron from queens from twitter @aaronnarraph.bsky.social · 3d

absolutely brutal

21 47 260

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

This piece is just an essential, important and excellent intervention as Coates' Vanity Fair essay was. One NYT column isn't that important, but an accommodationist mindset has spread in center-left elite circles. And it should be rejected forcefully. democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

19 160 670

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

"Democracy depends on all of us, and especially with a broader public platform, drawing the line. It is an obligation we must accept. Who are we to draw the line? We are citizens who demand to live in a democratic Republic," writes @thomaszimmer.bsky.social. democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

2 11 59

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

"Finding ways to do politics with the other side is not the same as creating fiction of the other side. There is acknowledging political realities and adapting to a new situation – and then there is denying reality so you can continue to do “normal politics." democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

2 10 90

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

"The idea that if a political movement garners mass support, it can’t possibly be extremism, incompatible with democratic self-government, or beyond the pale in a broader cultural and societal sense is utterly implausible and historically illiterate."
democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

1 15 78

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 2d

"Klein’s musings about redrawing the line are, more importantly, a manifestation of a pervasive tendency in American elite circles to accommodate rather than fight back, to acquiesce rather than stand firm," says @thomaszimmer.bsky.social. Excellent piece. democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

Trump Administration Is Said to Plan to Cut Refugee Admissions to a Record Low

2 32 130

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks.

2

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 3d

Terrible this is happening; great that we have a prominent governor telling us about it in real time.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 3d

This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

12 64 420

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 3d

As @hakeemjefferson.bsky.social says, "This is a very race-conscious administration. It just happens to be the case that its policies, its prescriptions, its advocacy, its project is in service of whiteness. ...Whiteness is a race, too. It's also an ideology." bsky.app/profile/perr...

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 4d

Breaking News: The Trump administration is said to have plans to slash refugee admissions to a record low, with many slots reserved for white South Africans.

Many of the slots would go to white South Africans and others facing “unjust discrimination,” according to people familiar with the matter and documents obtained by The New York Times.

nyti.ms

5 56 140

Reposted by Perry Bacon

Way to Win @waytowinus.bsky.social · 4d

This @perrybaconjr.bsky.social interview with @vanhollen.senate.gov was one of the #Persuasion2025 highlights. Don't miss the framing of the first question; that single question set the bullshit-free tone for the entire day.

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 4d

"You can be angry about the assault on our democracy and our freedoms and still be a happy warrior in how you confront that. Roosevelt, when he was going after big-money special interests, said, 'I welcome their hatred," says @vanhollen.senate.gov. newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Chris Van Hollen Is Angry—at Trump, and at His Party’s Lame Pollsters

The Maryland senator explains why he went to El Salvador earlier this year while the rest of the party tried to downplay immigration issues, and his decision to go to Iowa and flirt with a 2028 presid...