Jacob Holt
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publius2481.bsky.social
Jacob Holt
@publius2481.bsky.social
I am a Political Science professor at the University of Cincinnati. I research American legislative institutions (mostly Congress, but also state legislatures) and legislative elections. All opinions are my own.
A sign of how bad most Republicans expect 2026 to go for them
thehill.com/homenews/cam...
thehill.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The Trump administration is planning to spend $1 billion to add mini-gyms and play areas to US airports. Here’s the thing:PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE IN AIRPORTS! Spending that money to put gyms and play areas where people live would have a greater impact on people’s health
December 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Democrats have picked up the Miami Mayor’s office with Eileen Higgins win tonight. With Florida’s recent move to the right, a win here is a big boost to Florida Democrats

www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/p...
Eileen Higgins will win Miami mayor’s race, CNN projects, breaking a nearly 30-year GOP hold | CNN Politics
Eileen Higgins will be the next mayor of the city of Miami, according to a projection from CNN’s Decision Desk, breaking a nearly 30-year Republican streak in holding the nonpartisan seat and giving D...
www.cnn.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Most people are focusing on the vote margin in the TN-7 special election, but that is not the key statistic. Look at the turnout; it is almost identical with 2022’s TN-7 election. Why is this important? The result is not due to low turnout; it is likely due to Republican voters switching sides
December 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Chief Justice Roberts and the conservative majority on the Supreme Court continue to destroy the credibility of an institution they claim to love and whose credibility they want to protect

www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
Supreme Court allows Texas to use Trump-backed congressional map in midterms | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Texas to use a congressional map that will boost President Donald Trump’s effort to keep Republicans in control of Congress, blocking a lower court decision that ...
www.cnn.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
As a university professor who assigns reaction papers, I think I have some insight on this. First, do students cite their religious beliefs in assignments like this. Yes, that is common. The real problem is how the student did it. Rather than say, the author argues 1/
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-stat...
OU puts graduate instructor on leave after student claims discrimination on Bible-based essay grade
OU has placed a graduate student instructor on leave after a student publicly contested a grade and filed an illegal discrimination claim after receiving a failing grade on an essay
www.oudaily.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I want to encourage you to talk about politics with your relatives (you cannot change people’s minds if you refuse to have “tough” conversations). However, make sure you do it effectively; don’t just assume your “crazy” relative is an idiot. So, how to argue better 1/
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Lots of interesting data from Pew Research. Some key findings: 1. 1/3 of Hispanic Republicans disapprove of Trump’s job performance. 2. 55% of Hispanic Republicans think his policies are harmful to Hispanics 3. Among Hispanic Trump voters, his job approval is only 81%
www.npr.org/2025/11/24/n...
New poll shows Latino support for Trump is slipping after gains in 2024
The Pew Research Center's survey of Latinos show majorities disapprove of the president, especially his policies on the economy and immigration.
www.npr.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
This would be a big recruiting win if it happens. While Republicans would still be favored to win, remember 1. It is easier for Dems to flip state offices in Red States than federal offices 2. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office for 24 years which 1/

politicalwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
Doug Jones Running for Alabama Governor
Former Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) "has quietly filed paperwork with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office to run for governor, taking the first formal step toward what could become one of the most close...
politicalwire.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This is not surprising. Social media companies have been aware of this problem, they have just chosen irresponsibility in the hope that damaging America will make them money
politicalwire.com/2025/11/24/a...
America’s Polarization Is the World's Side Hustle
"A new feature on X is making people suddenly realize that some large portion of the divisive, hateful, and spammy content designed to inflame tensions or, at the very least, is designed to get lots
politicalwire.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:40 PM
This was always a big risk and why Republicans should have been cautious about following Trump’s redistricting plan

politicalwire.com/2025/11/18/f...
Federal Three-Judge Panel Strikes Down New Texas Map
A federal court blocked Texas from using its new congressional map for the 2026 midterms -- which created five new likely Republican districts -- and ordered the state to use its 2021 map, Punchbowl N...
politicalwire.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Political Science lost a big name with John Petrocik’s passing. I remember when I got my first academic job he congratulated and made fun of me for being a Democrat (ironically, while we had different political views, our political science beliefs were often in agreement). He will be missed
November 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Trump’s reversal on the bill requiring the release of the Epstein files is baffling because if he suddenly feels they should be released he could order there release. He does not need congressional authorization to release them.
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Now we will see if Trump successfully pressured a Republican to withdraw their name from the discharge petition

thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I have seen people claiming with Adelita Grijalva’s upcoming swearing means the Epstein files will soon be released. Unfortunately, her signing the discharge petition will only trigger a House vote. The bill still needs to pass the Senate (unlikely) and have the president’s veto overridden
November 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
As more information like this comes out, it makes it look more like Speaker Johnson’s decision to keep the House of Representatives out of session for 7 weeks (during a major legislative crisis) look like a coverup

politicalwire.com/2025/11/12/e...
Jeffrey Epstein Alleged That Trump Knew of His Conduct
House Democrats released emails in which Jeffrey Epstein wrote that President Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims, among other messages that suggested that the convicted ...
politicalwire.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Jacob Holt
I do not think that Mayor Brandon Johnson was elected by people who wanted to defund their library and give that money to CPD.

Following the link in thread to write a budget letter is a good thing to do.
The People Want to Read: on the massive budget cuts proposed for Chicago Public Library. What's at stake and what you can do, whether or not you live in Chicago.

buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
The People Want To Read: On Massive Budget Cuts Proposed in Chicago
If passed, Chicago Public Library will lose half their budget for acquiring new books and materials.
buttondown.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I am so glad she is doing this. Men who behave this way do so because they do not feel they will be held accountable for their actions (you see that with this jerk since he did the same to two other women that day)

www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/a...
Mexico’s President Sheinbaum takes legal action after groping incident | CNN
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is pressing charges against a man who she said was “drunk” and harassed her on Tuesday, calling the incident “an assault on all women.”
www.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
As a congressional expert, I would argue she was one of the most effective (by effective I mean her ability to enact her party’s legislative agenda) and influential Speakers in the history of the House of Representatives
politicalwire.com/2025/11/06/p...
Pelosi Plans to Retire in 2027 After 39 Years in Congress
Rep. Nancy Pelosi "announced on Thursday that she will retire when her term concludes in early 2027, ending a remarkable career in which she rose to become one of the most powerful women in American
politicalwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Jacob Holt
California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi reflected on her nearly 40 years in office representing San Francisco in Congress in a video message announcing that she will not seek reelection next year.
Nancy Pelosi Retiring After 38 Years Representing San Francisco in Congress | KQED
Nancy Pelosi’s 38-year congressional career transformed San Francisco, steered historic laws and cemented her place as one of the most influential leaders in U.S. history.
n.pr
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Looking at the New Jersey results, Governor-elect Sherrill improved in every county in the state, but the real good news for Democrats is the two counties she improved the most (Hudson and Passaic) are counties with large Hispanic populations (we saw similar shifts in VA)
November 5, 2025 at 11:35 PM
The Virginia election results show Democrats making gains across the state but where they made there biggest gains shows great news for Democrats. First, they made two of their largest gains in Manassas and Manassas Park, two cities with large Hispanic populations, suggesting a Democratic 1/
November 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
A underlooked but important result last night happened in Mississippi. Due to a court ordered redrawing of state legislative districts, there were several special elections for state legislature. Democrats picked up two seats in the Mississippi Senate breaking the GOP supermajority
November 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM