The UnPopulist
@theunpopulist.net
Defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism in the U.S. and around the world. https://www.theunpopulist.net
Does migration drain democracies—or create opportunities for democratic renewal? Explore the debate in this insightful article: https://cup.org/4g1N1dp #PolSky #Democracy #Book
Does Immigration Lead to ‘Democratic Drain’ and Illiberalism in Native Countries?
A fascinating book by a political scientist says yes—but, in fact, there is strong evidence for the opposite case, too
theunpopulist.net
This is really important work. Most people don’t know about many of these abuses of power. Share widely, please!
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 14h agoIt just never ends with this guy
A very scary prospect for Germany: far-right Nazi-adjacent Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is closer than ever to winning control of several more states and even the Bundestag. www.theunpopulist.net/p/germanys-a...
Germany's AfD Is Closer Than Ever to Power
How a country shaped by its fascist past is on the verge of watching the far-right party close in on control
theunpopulist.net
"The country has decided that two parties are not enough -- one finding where popular opinion remarkably tracks expert consensus." @andycraig.bsky.social @theunpopulist.net www.theunpopulist.net/p/americans-...
Americans Hate the Two-Party System But Don’t Know What Should Replace It, ISMA Populism Survey Finds
Voters overwhelmingly want something different, but don’t know or understand the reform options on the table
theunpopulist.net
“Donald Trump is not a genius. I hate it when people say this. Donald Trump inherited a Republican media empire that has been destroying the Democratic Party on messaging for 30 years.” — @destiny.gg
Is Gen Z Really More Radical Than Older Generations? A LibCon2026 Panel Discussion
Not really—but liberals haven't yet built the media ecosystem to correct the record compellingly
theunpopulist.net
In Baden-Württemberg—one of Germany's wealthiest, most moderate states—37% of manual laborers voted AfD in March. Only 5% went to the Social Democrats, the party built to represent them. The far right's German problem is no longer regional.
Germany's AfD Is Closer Than Ever to Power
How a country shaped by its fascist past is on the verge of watching the far-right party close in on control
theunpopulist.net
*Beyond expansion & term limits. Really persuasive piece by @protectdemocracy.org's Justin Florence & Erica Newland, originally published in @theunpopulist.net www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-two-br...
The two-branch doom loop
Eight ways to check the Supreme Court's role in the authoritarian project
ifyoucankeepit.org
by @theunpopulist.net 1/2 “None of these reforms eliminates judicial review entirely. None eliminates judicial independence. None engages in partisan power plays. None threatens the ability of individuals to vindicate their rights in court. None requires a constitutional amendment..
Congress Must Rein In the Anti-Democratic Roberts Court Enabling Trump's Power Grabs
A mutually enforcing court-presidency doom loop is eroding the rule of law and making each branch less accountable
open.substack.com
Btw this is of course a must read, a forensic analysis of the six opinions in the case
Paul Gowder@gowder.io · last mo.Long form version of my postmortem on the birthright citizenship case (tldr just listen to Justice Jackson), courtesy of the fine folks at @theunpopulist.net www.theunpopulist.net/p/there-is-n...
This is a fantastic, digestible explainer of the contradictory, incoherent "reasoning" of the 4 justices who voted against birthright citizenship and propped open the door for another swing at nullifying the citizenship clause of the 14th amendment.
Paul Gowder@gowder.io · last mo.Long form version of my postmortem on the birthright citizenship case (tldr just listen to Justice Jackson), courtesy of the fine folks at @theunpopulist.net www.theunpopulist.net/p/there-is-n...
For our mega-survey on populist attitudes, we asked whether people would prefer a more multi-party system or a two-party system. The former blew the latter out of the water. Asked about specific reforms to get there, people are less sure. Also, Trump populists are the most fond of the status quo.
Americans Hate the Two-Party System But Don’t Know What Should Replace It, ISMA Populism Survey Finds
Voters overwhelmingly want something different, but don’t know or understand the reform options on the table
theunpopulist.net
Kennedy canceled $500 million in mRNA research and announced no new mRNA projects will ever be initiated—killing the technology that produced the fastest vaccine rollout in human history.
RFK Jr. Lied His Way Into Office and American Health Is the Victim
He is pushing quackery as science as health secretary
theunpopulist.net
Thank you, @donmoyn.bsky.social, for covering our new survey—part of an ongoing project that tracks populist sentiment among Americans. More below 👇
Trump's Hardcore Populist Base Has Declined By a Third, ISMA's Survey Finds
They are uneasy by his extralegal use of executive authority even as some express greater hostility toward Muslims, trans people and university/entertainment elites
theunpopulist.net
Don Moynihan@donmoyn.bsky.social · 4d agoFirst, @theunpopulist.net published a poll showing that hard core Trump support has declined by about a third in the last two years. Now that Trump is governing, and governing poorly, fewer think he is on their side. (Would like to see more polling on this). www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-har...
“We cannot rebuild our democracy and the rule-of-law—including constraining the imperial presidency—without solving the problem of the Roberts Court.”
Congress Must Rein In the Anti-Democratic Roberts Court Enabling Trump's Power Grabs
A mutually enforcing court-presidency doom loop is eroding the rule of law and making each branch less accountable
theunpopulist.net
"Here’s when “we don’t get them” is a genuine problem, though: when the people doing the not-getting are the people leading a political movement, and when the group being misunderstood and unreached is arguably the demographic it most needs to activate." www.theunpopulist.net/p/is-gen-z-r...
Is Gen Z Really More Radical Than Older Generations? A LibCon2026 Panel Discussion
Not really—but liberals haven't yet built the media ecosystem to correct the record compellingly
theunpopulist.net
Thank you, @donmoyn.bsky.social, for covering our new survey—part of an ongoing project that tracks populist sentiment among Americans. More below 👇
Trump's Hardcore Populist Base Has Declined By a Third, ISMA's Survey Finds
They are uneasy by his extralegal use of executive authority even as some express greater hostility toward Muslims, trans people and university/entertainment elites
theunpopulist.net
Don Moynihan@donmoyn.bsky.social · 4d agoFirst, @theunpopulist.net published a poll showing that hard core Trump support has declined by about a third in the last two years. Now that Trump is governing, and governing poorly, fewer think he is on their side. (Would like to see more polling on this). www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-har...
I've seen a couple of polls now showing a decline in support around this amount, which would put Trump in the same company as Herbert Hoover in 1932
Don Moynihan@donmoyn.bsky.social · 4d agoFirst, @theunpopulist.net published a poll showing that hard core Trump support has declined by about a third in the last two years. Now that Trump is governing, and governing poorly, fewer think he is on their side. (Would like to see more polling on this). www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-har...
Clean out the rot. www.theunpopulist.net/p/congress-m... www.theunpopulist.net/p/congress-m...
Congress Must Rein In the Anti-Democratic Roberts Court Enabling Trump's Power Grabs
A mutually enforcing court-presidency doom loop is eroding the rule of law and making each branch less accountable
theunpopulist.net
First, @theunpopulist.net published a poll showing that hard core Trump support has declined by about a third in the last two years. Now that Trump is governing, and governing poorly, fewer think he is on their side. (Would like to see more polling on this). www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-har...
New from me: Some data points for a MAGA melt-down: *Hardcore Trump loyalists declining *Right wing influencers losing viewers *The Heritage Foundation is rife with dissent and incompetence, with conservatives worried about the pipeline of talent 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/is-maga-me...
Is MAGA Melting Down?
Signs and wonders, portents and data points
donmoynihan.substack.com
Powerful new essay in @theunpopulist.net from two @protectdemocracy.org thinkers. This is well worth your time even if you ultimately land in a different place on what to do about the Roberts Court.
Congress Must Rein In the Anti-Democratic Roberts Court Enabling Trump's Power Grabs
A mutually enforcing court-presidency doom loop is eroding the rule of law and making each branch less accountable
theunpopulist.net