Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Historian - Democracy and Its Discontents - Newsletter: Democracy Americana https://democracyamericana.com - Website: https://www.thomaszimmer.online/
And that, more than anything else, is the promise of Trumpism as a political project: Look at me, Trump says, this is what you can have if you follow me, enable me, elevate me. Complete impunity, shamelessness, domination without restraint. Please consider subscribing:
Democracy Americana
A newsletter on U.S. politics and history - and the ongoing struggle over how much democracy, and for whom, there should be in America
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Weekend reading: I wrote about cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. Some thoughts from this week’s piece - on power, opportunism, and ideology in Republican Politics: 🧵
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics
About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right
steady.page
Weekend reading: I wrote about cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. Some thoughts from this week’s piece - on power, opportunism, and ideology in Republican Politics: 🧵
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics
About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right
steady.page
Meinen Newsletter gibt es seit einigen Wochen also auch auf Deutsch. Ich hoffe, es finden sich genug Lesende, so dass sich das Experiment trägt, meine Arbeit in zwei Sprachen gleichzeitig anzubieten. Übersetzt und überarbeitet von mir, von Hand, garantiert ganz ohne KI. Bitte weitersagen!
Demokratie Americana
Essays und Analysen zur Politik und Geschichte der USA – und dem andauernden Kampf um die amerikanische Demokratie
steady.page
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 4d agoLektüre fürs Wochenende: Ich habe diese Woche über Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei geschrieben. Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen.
Lektüre fürs Wochenende: Ich habe diese Woche über Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei geschrieben. Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen.
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
The German version of my latest essay is out: I wrote about cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics:
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
The German version of my latest essay is out: I wrote about cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics:
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen. Neuer Essay, auf Deutsch: steady.page/de/demokrati...
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
Ich hoffe sehr, Demokratie Americana findet ein Publikum, dass groß genug ist, die deutsche Version meines Newsletters zu tragen. Bitte helft mir dabei, die Nachricht unter die Leute zu bringen. Dafür bin ich euch aufrichtig dankbar!
Demokratie Americana
Essays und Analysen zur Politik und Geschichte der USA – und dem andauernden Kampf um die amerikanische Demokratie
steady.page
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · last wk.Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen. Neuer Essay, auf Deutsch: steady.page/de/demokrati...
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen. Neuer Essay, auf Deutsch: steady.page/de/demokrati...
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
Ich habe über Lindsay Graham geschrieben – und über die Republikanischen Eliten wie ihn. Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Anführer - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen. Mein neuer Essay, jetzt auf Deutsch:
Macht, Opportunismus und Ideologie in der Republikanischen Partei
Über Feiglinge und Überzeugungstäter, die Komplizenschaft konservativer Eliten - und wie diese sich selbst die Erlaubnis zur Radikalität erteilen
steady.page
I"m a paid subscriber, and I always learn from Thomas' superb analysis.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · last wk.The first part of this piece is free – the rest is exclusively for paid members. Being an independent writer offers a lot of autonomy, which is a privilege. But it is also consistently precarious and comes with lots of financial uncertainty. If you can become a paid member, please do.
One of the most thoughtful and clear-eyed readings of Lindsey’s career. All to say, utterly typical of Zimmer’s writing.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · last wk.Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece:
The first part of this piece is free – the rest is exclusively for paid members. Being an independent writer offers a lot of autonomy, which is a privilege. But it is also consistently precarious and comes with lots of financial uncertainty. If you can become a paid member, please do.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · last wk.Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece:
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece:
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics
About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right By Thomas Zimmer, July 26, 2026 A note before…
steady.page
Sunday reading: I grapple with how opportunism, cowardice, and careerism on one side vs. ideology and reactionary conviction on the other overlap and intersect in Republican politics – creating a permission structure that doesn’t allow for lines that can’t be crossed.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · last wk.Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece:
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece:
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics
About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right By Thomas Zimmer, July 26, 2026 A note before…
steady.page
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right. My new piece - about Lindsay Graham and about so many more like him:
Power, Opportunism, and Ideology in Republican Politics
About cowardice and conviction, the complicity of conservative elites, and the permission structure that governs the Right By Thomas Zimmer, July 26, 2026 A note before…
steady.page
Really helpful way to think about a core dynamic in U.S. history. This is a crucial fault line that has defined the political conflict since Reconstruction. As a political project, MAGA is defined by its devotion to undoing the attempt to reconceptualize the nation around the idea of equality.
Jonathan Ladd@jonathanmladd.com · 2w agoArguably, the major question in American political thought is whether you agree with the authors of the 14th and 15th Amendments and their goals. Or if you agree with the post-Civil War Supreme Court that tried desperately to deny and suppress the radicalism of those amendments.
Sunday reading: The glass is half-full. Or at least this is my attempt to argue it might be. We are confronted with a world-historic chance. I am taking down the paywall for this one, as I believe it remains relevant as a potential antidote to cynicism and declinism. This week’s piece:
A World-Historic Chance
The Right is freaking out because we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. A glass-half-full interpretation of our moment.
steady.page
Sunday reading: The glass is half-full. Or at least this is my attempt to argue it might be. We are confronted with a world-historic chance. I am taking down the paywall for this one, as I believe it remains relevant as a potential antidote to cynicism and declinism. This week’s piece:
A World-Historic Chance
The Right is freaking out because we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. A glass-half-full interpretation of our moment.
steady.page
I am taking down the paywall for this one, as I believe it remains relevant as a potential antidote to cynicism and declinism. The glass is half-full. Or at least this is my attempt to argue it might be. We are confronted with a world-historic chance. The German version of this week’s piece:
Eine welthistorische Chance
Die Rechten rasten aus, weil wir nahe dran sein könnten zu beweisen, dass eine egalitäre plurale Demokratie möglich ist. Eine optimistische Interpretation dieses Moments.
steady.page
I am taking down the paywall for this one, as I believe it remains relevant as a potential antidote to cynicism and declinism. The glass is half-full. Or at least this is my attempt to argue it might be. We are confronted with a world-historic chance. The German version of this week’s piece:
Eine welthistorische Chance
Die Rechten rasten aus, weil wir nahe dran sein könnten zu beweisen, dass eine egalitäre plurale Demokratie möglich ist. Eine optimistische Interpretation dieses Moments.
steady.page
Eine welthistorische Chance Die Rechten rasten aus, weil wir nahe dran sein könnten zu beweisen, dass eine egalitäre plurale Demokratie möglich ist. Eine optimistische Interpretation unseres Moments:
Eine welthistorische Chance
Die Rechten rasten aus, weil wir nahe dran sein könnten zu beweisen, dass eine egalitäre plurale Demokratie möglich ist. Eine optimistische Interpretation dieses Moments.
steady.page
The German version of my latest essay is out - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment: The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. We are facing a world-historic chance:
Eine welthistorische Chance
Die Rechten rasten aus, weil wir nahe dran sein könnten zu beweisen, dass eine egalitäre plurale Demokratie möglich ist. Eine optimistische Interpretation dieses Moments.
steady.page
My new piece - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment: The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. We are confronted with a world-historic chance:
A World-Historic Chance
The Right is freaking out because we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. A glass-half-full interpretation of our moment.
steady.page
I sort through the latest survey data to figure out what kind of society most Americans really want. The contrast between “real Americans” as they exist in the feverish minds of the Trumpists and the majority of people who call this country home is so stark.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 3w agoMy new piece - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment: The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. We are confronted with a world-historic chance:
My new piece - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment: The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. We are confronted with a world-historic chance:
A World-Historic Chance
The Right is freaking out because we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. A glass-half-full interpretation of our moment.
steady.page
MAGA delivers more evidence every day that the movement exists in a constant state of rampant anxiety and self-victimization even as they control the government. What a bunch of pathetic creeps. Theirs is an empire of white male fear, panic, and desperation.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 3w agoA World-Historic Chance The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. My new piece - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment:
Love this framing, will be bringing it up and repeating it at every opportunity.
Thomas Zimmer@thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 3w agoA World-Historic Chance The Right is freaking out because they know we could be on the brink of proving that egalitarian, pluralistic democracy is possible. My new piece - a glass-half-full interpretation of our moment: