Marc C. Johnson
@thejohnsonpost.bsky.social
Political historian, columnist, former journalist and top aide to Idaho's longest serving governor Cecil D. Andrus.
Latest book (University of Oklahoma Press) is "Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate." Story of when the Senate worked.
Latest book (University of Oklahoma Press) is "Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate." Story of when the Senate worked.
Pinned
"Mansfield and Dirksen" - A study of politics but also analysis of different approaches to leadership in a U.S. Senate that no longer exists, a reminder of what is possible when national interest stands before partisanship.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Don't pretend for a minute - even a second - that any of this is remotely normal. We're seeing the mental and physical decline of the man with the nuclear codes.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
The Vanity Project Presidency
A White House ballroom, the Trump-Kennedy Center, a Trump class warship, all utterly unreal and all in service to a very needy, very small man
marccjohnson.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Don't pretend for a minute - even a second - that any of this is remotely normal. We're seeing the mental and physical decline of the man with the nuclear codes.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Symbolic air strikes, whether in Syria or Nigeria, will not defeat ISIS. Many of Trump’s other actions, from cutting foreign aid to trying to eliminate online moderation, are actually undermining the struggle against ISIS and other terrorist groups. As i just wrote: wapo.st/4qrV8U5
December 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Symbolic air strikes, whether in Syria or Nigeria, will not defeat ISIS. Many of Trump’s other actions, from cutting foreign aid to trying to eliminate online moderation, are actually undermining the struggle against ISIS and other terrorist groups. As i just wrote: wapo.st/4qrV8U5
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
"'Reagan: His Life and Legend' is an outstanding political biography that like all good political biography helps explain the subject, but also puts Reagan in the larger context of our politics both before and after his eight years in the White House." marccjohnson.substack.com/p/a-reading-...
A Reading List
A few of the good reads I enjoyed this year
marccjohnson.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"'Reagan: His Life and Legend' is an outstanding political biography that like all good political biography helps explain the subject, but also puts Reagan in the larger context of our politics both before and after his eight years in the White House." marccjohnson.substack.com/p/a-reading-...
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Dog ate my Epstein files.
WASHINGTON (AP) — DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files despite Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress.
December 24, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Dog ate my Epstein files.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
This is an almost shockingly wise essay. I'm glad I've finally read it.
There Is No Mary Problem in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
George’s vision of his wife without him is essential to the film, but critics continue to miss its true—and profound—meaning.
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is an almost shockingly wise essay. I'm glad I've finally read it.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
It was hard to convince Americans torture is wrong as a moral principle during Bush's term, and that was with the debate about whether torture makes us safer. I'm afraid for a portion of Trump's base, that calculation matters less. Idea of torturing undocumented immigrants may even bring pleasure.
December 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
It was hard to convince Americans torture is wrong as a moral principle during Bush's term, and that was with the debate about whether torture makes us safer. I'm afraid for a portion of Trump's base, that calculation matters less. Idea of torturing undocumented immigrants may even bring pleasure.
Two fascinating characters. Not discussing the pitch clock.
Branch Rickey born on this day in 1881.
Branch Rickey born on this day in 1881.
December 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Two fascinating characters. Not discussing the pitch clock.
Branch Rickey born on this day in 1881.
Branch Rickey born on this day in 1881.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
The incompetence is funny right up until you remember they're covering up for pedophiles and sex traffickers
At least 16 files have disappeared from the DOJ webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein
The Justice Department’s webpage for documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is missing at least 16 of its files a day after they were released.
apnews.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The incompetence is funny right up until you remember they're covering up for pedophiles and sex traffickers
The Trump A++++ economy.
It’s impossible to overstate what a big deal this is for this legendary Kentucky brand. The last time Jim Beam closed down like this was during Prohibition. Trump’s tariffs & fight with Canada are surely to blame.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
The Trump A++++ economy.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
The Epstein file is the only thing Trump has ever taken his name off of
🚨 "The Justice Department redacted the names and identifiers of victims. Fox News Digital has learned that the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials. "
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social
Epstein files explode open as DOJ details discovery of powerful figures and more than 1,200 victims
EXCLUSIVE: More than a dozen people and government officials' names appear in the hundreds of thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein files made public Friday, sources said.
www.foxnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The Epstein file is the only thing Trump has ever taken his name off of
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Sen. Ron Wyden on the Trump DOJ not producing all of the Epstein files, as required by law:
"Anything short of a full release today is a violation of the law and a continuation of this administration’s coverup on behalf of a bunch of pedophiles and sex traffickers."
"Anything short of a full release today is a violation of the law and a continuation of this administration’s coverup on behalf of a bunch of pedophiles and sex traffickers."
December 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Sen. Ron Wyden on the Trump DOJ not producing all of the Epstein files, as required by law:
"Anything short of a full release today is a violation of the law and a continuation of this administration’s coverup on behalf of a bunch of pedophiles and sex traffickers."
"Anything short of a full release today is a violation of the law and a continuation of this administration’s coverup on behalf of a bunch of pedophiles and sex traffickers."
The Kennedy Center name is established by federal statute, and therefore may be repealed only by federal statute. www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
December 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
And this warrants wall to wall prime time coverage?
What a farce.
What a farce.
The year-end speech will address his accomplishments so far and look ahead to next year n.pr/45fEuP7
Watch: Trump to address the nation as economic concerns drag on his approval ratings
The year-end speech will address his accomplishments so far and look ahead to next year
n.pr
December 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
And this warrants wall to wall prime time coverage?
What a farce.
What a farce.
Every sociopath has his enablers.
Susie Wile trashes nearly everyone in the Trump orbit (including Trump) in Vanity Fair interviews. Shades of David Stockman? www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/u...
Trump’s Top Aide Acknowledges ‘Score Settling’ Behind Prosecutions
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Every sociopath has his enablers.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
What kind of person, let alone a President, reacts to the murder of an American this way?
December 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
What kind of person, let alone a President, reacts to the murder of an American this way?
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
"I said they betrayed the country, and they’re still betraying the country" - Senate expert Ira Shapiro
Worst. Senate. Ever.
Republican senators surrendered to Trump, and now they own this catastrophe.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"I said they betrayed the country, and they’re still betraying the country" - Senate expert Ira Shapiro
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Rob Reiner was a renowned actor and director. His wife Michelle was an accomplished and respected photographer and producer. Donald Trump is a disgusting human being.
December 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Rob Reiner was a renowned actor and director. His wife Michelle was an accomplished and respected photographer and producer. Donald Trump is a disgusting human being.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
This is a real headline on the New York Times website.
Support independent media.
Support independent media.
December 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
This is a real headline on the New York Times website.
Support independent media.
Support independent media.
This will be recorded in history as the week the US formally switched sides.
A monumental Trumpian abandonment of American leadership and our historic allies.
marccjohnson.substack.com/p/we-switche...
A monumental Trumpian abandonment of American leadership and our historic allies.
marccjohnson.substack.com/p/we-switche...
We Switched Sides
Authoritarianism has come to the United States. Is it too late to turn toward democracy?
marccjohnson.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This will be recorded in history as the week the US formally switched sides.
A monumental Trumpian abandonment of American leadership and our historic allies.
marccjohnson.substack.com/p/we-switche...
A monumental Trumpian abandonment of American leadership and our historic allies.
marccjohnson.substack.com/p/we-switche...
And the beatings will continue until morale improves, dammit!
Leavitt lies: "Every economic metric does in fact show that the economy is improving"
December 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
And the beatings will continue until morale improves, dammit!
A great performer.
These are 12 of Raul Malo's best, from the Mavericks’ ebullient “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” to his own smoldering solo cut “Every Little Thing About You” and a stunning live take on “O Sole Mio.”
Raul Malo: His Best Vocal Performances
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A great performer.
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
Ossoff: "This is so much deeper than the politics. What does it say about the moral condition of this Congress that the thing that has them all tied up in knots is a very simple question: Should people's health insurance premiums go up double or triple? This is a policy choice."
December 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Ossoff: "This is so much deeper than the politics. What does it say about the moral condition of this Congress that the thing that has them all tied up in knots is a very simple question: Should people's health insurance premiums go up double or triple? This is a policy choice."
Reposted by Marc C. Johnson
$12 billion giveaway to "farmers" in 2018 and $12 billion now.
Maybe there's a better way?
Maybe there's a better way?
December 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
$12 billion giveaway to "farmers" in 2018 and $12 billion now.
Maybe there's a better way?
Maybe there's a better way?