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John Sides

@johnsides.bsky.social
9.2K followers 403 following 151 posts

Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University - johnsides.org Publisher of Good Authority - goodauthority.org

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Reposted by John Sides
Ryan Enos @ryanenos.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
One note about this, because I was curious: remarkably, the state-level explanatory power of Google searches for testosterone and Trump vote survives controls for education, income, and rurality.
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Does vote buying even work? Trump offered every American $5,000. But it might not help Republicans in November. Read the latest from @johnsides.bsky.social & Kenneth Greene: goodauthority.org/news/does-vo...
goodauthority.org
Does vote buying even work?
Donald Trump's $5,000 midterm pledge raises a critical question: Can politicians actually buy votes effectively? Research by Kenneth Greene explains the big flaws in this approach.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I wrote a thing for @msnowreports.bsky.social about whether the Trump superPAC has waited to late to start spending to help the GOP in 2026. Based on what we know about whether earlier or later campaigning matters more, the answer is: probably not.
ms.now
Opinion | Did Trump’s Super PAC wait too long to start funding GOP candidates?
Despite the fears of some in his party, the president’s midterm spending strategy may work out.
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
How do people decide who’s deserving in politics? A lot of it comes down to partisanship. Read the latest by @johnsides.bsky.social here: goodauthority.org/news/how-peo...
goodauthority.org
How people decide who’s deserving in politics
It turns out we're more likely to support policies that benefit people we assume share our political views.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
As the chair of the Vanderbilt political science department, I can say that reports of our death are greatly exaggerated.
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Geneva @genevavalerie.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
If you're teaching political behavior, race and politics, or criminal justice in the fall, this is for you! My latest for @goodauth.bsky.social synthesizing some of the excellent literature on how carceral contact influences politics 👇 goodauthority.org/news/good-to...
goodauthority.org
Good to Know: How contact with the carceral state affects our politics
Can direct and indirect contact with police and immigration enforcement officials influence political participation?
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Very excited to welcome these new fellows to @goodauth.bsky.social! goodauthority.org/news/new-voi...
goodauthority.org
New voices join Good Authority in 2026
We welcome nine political scientists to our team of experts in our latest cohort of Good Authority fellows.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Neat new APSR paper by my Vanderbilt colleague Alan Wiseman along with Volden, Treul, and Thomsen: "Legislative Effectiveness, Progressive Ambition, and Electoral Success." www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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Christopher Clary @claryc.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
I think readers interested in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and US policy toward the region will want to stick around to the end of this conversation with Asfandyar Mir.
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eric gonzalez juenke @egojunk.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Wrote about political scientists' favorite "Well, actually..." It's our favorite for a reason. With data from New Jersey's recent election. goodauthority.org/news/good-to...
goodauthority.org
Good to Know: How composition effects can distort election narratives
Can elections reveal the public’s true opinions? It depends on who shows up to vote.
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Colette @csmarcellin.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Excited to share that Cindy Kam’s and my article is published online! We examine item refusal pre- and post-Dobbs and find a significant increase in women’s refusal to disclose their pregnancy status after the decision, with concerning implications for research, policy, and women’s health.
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Women in Congress are wealthier than men in Congress. A new article looks at nearly 40 years of financial disclosures from members of Congress. See the data in the latest article from @johnsides.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/women-i...
goodauthority.org
Women in Congress are wealthier than men in Congress
Women in Congress are wealthier than men in Congress. A new article looks at nearly 40 years of financial disclosures from members of Congress.
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why. A new book argues that politics influences how we explain inequality. Read the latest from @johnsides.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/fewer-p...
goodauthority.org
Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why
Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why. A new book argues that politics influences how we explain inequality.
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Drew Engelhardt @amengel.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Interesting AmericasBarometer result from @johnsides.bsky.social in this week's @goodauth.bsky.social newsletter. Strong public willingness to trade features of democracy (free elections, free expression) for material and physical security, with some party differences. mailchi.mp/goodauthorit...
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Sol Messing @solmg.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Here's the post on Good Authority! Thanks @goodauth.bsky.social @johnsides.bsky.social & Vanessa Lide! goodauthority.org/news/was-the...
goodauthority.org
Was there censorship on TikTok after the U.S. takeover?
A TikTok outage more likely explains recent anomalies – there’s no evidence of larger platform changes so far.
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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
📣📣📣Announcing...Chalkboard Politics @chalkboardpolitics.bsky.social, a podcast by students, for students (and their teachers). Written, edited, and mixed by the students at @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social and distributed by @goodauth.bsky.social. 1/ www.podbean.com/media/share/...
Chalkboard politics logo, a chalkboard with the podcast name and affiliations
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Christopher Clary @claryc.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Happy to listen and learn from Brian Greenhill on Trump's withdrawal from dozens of international organizations last week, @goodauth.bsky.social . Part of what Brian calls the liberal international order's "moment of crisis." goodauthority.org/news/trump-p...
goodauthority.org
Trump plans to pull the U.S. out of dozens of organizations
Trump plans to pull the U.S. out of dozens of organizations. Brian Greenhill discusses the impact of this move – and how Americans see international organizations.
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Heather Sullivan @hsulli.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
The admin is proposing indefinite control of Venezuelan oil, but evidence suggests that Venezuelan cooperation will only extend as far as it‘s coerced - and can’t extend past what the crumbing infrastructure can generate. Meanwhile ordinary Venezuelans continue to suffer. @goodauth.bsky.social
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
The Vanderbilt Dept of Political Science is looking for two post-doctoral scholars in national security for 2026-27. Please apply or encourage others to apply! apply.interfolio.com/179844
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
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Christopher Clary @claryc.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I’ve learned much from @jeffcolgan.bsky.social over the years and his take on Trump’s Venezuela antics is well worth reading. goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Some thoughts on what Trump has done in Venezuela and what it might mean for US national security. Caveat: not a Latin America scholar so this is focused on US policy. Clearly huge consequences for Venezuela that others can address. First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it. 1/
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
"And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end..." Here are Good Authority's top 10 articles of the year. goodauthority.org/news/good-au... A super thread 🧵
goodauthority.org
Good Authority’s top 10 posts of 2025
Thermostatic politics, democracy under attack, Venezuela, South Africa, and more – the analysis Good Authority readers counted on in 2025.
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Jan Zilinsky @janzilinsky.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
My latest for @goodauth.bsky.social goodauthority.org/news/what-we...
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Stephen Maynard Caliendo @smcaliendo.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
If you are a member of @apsa.bsky.social, please consider putting forward a nominee for the annual Carey McWilliams Award. This year, I am serving on the committee with Dr. @johnsides.bsky.social and Dr. Erika Franklin Fowler. Past award winners include @jamellebouie.net (2025). More info below.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
This is a bad survey question that likely exaggerates any Holocaust skepticism. www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... www.jstor.org/stable/26952...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
I'm chairing the APSA Carey McWilliams Prize Committee. This prize goes to someone who has made "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." More information is here: apsanet.org/programs/aps... We would be grateful for people to submit nominations!
apsanet.org
Carey McWilliams Award - American Political Science Association (APSA)
Carey McWilliams Award Carey McWilliams Award Nominations now open. The McWilliams Award honors a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions is now acceptable applications for the 2026-27 year. Please share and encourage people to apply! Post Doctoral application apply.interfolio.com/177609 Visiting Scholar application apply.interfolio.com/177613
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Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
us12.campaign-archive.com?u=6a195a173a... this by @johnsides.bsky.social at @goodauth.bsky.social seems exactly right to me.
us12.campaign-archive.com
New evidence on whether moderate candidates do better in elections
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Have our personal networks become more politically segregated? New research looks at the consequences for political participation and political tolerance. @johnsides.bsky.social breaks down the data here: goodauthority.org/news/have-ou...
goodauthority.org
Have our personal networks become more politically segregated?
New research looks at the consequences for political participation and political tolerance.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Under Biden, there was no thermostatic shift in public opinion about the size of government. The public stayed relatively liberal. Take attitudes toward the government's role in health care:
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt: 1) having a democratic political system 2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections What percent says *both* are good? 44%!
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Three new publications from Vanderbilt political science faculty! First up, Diana Lee and @yamilrvelez.bsky.social, "Measuring Descriptive Representation at Scale: Methods for Predicting the Race and Ethnicity of Public Officials." www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 31/07/2025
thermostat go click-click-click
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Phil Klinkner @pklinkne.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Just like in his 1st term, Trump is going to hover around 40% approval. As @johnsides.bsky.social et al point out in their 2020 election book, Trump always sides with his base rather than choose policies with broader appeal. When you only aim to satisfy 40% of the population, you get 40% approval.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Some more great new research from Vandy polisci faculty! Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance." www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
The popularity of ICE is plunging. goodauthority.org/news/america...
goodauthority.org
ICE’s popularity is plunging.
ICE’s budget is skyrocketing, but more and more Americans view the agency unfavorably.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
I worked with E.J. for many years and highly recommend her for any academic looking to polish their writing and reach a larger audience!
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
For @goodauth.bsky.social, I updated the affective polarization trend using the newly released 2024 ANES. Here's the graph. A few important points...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
And while I'm at it, a THIRD piece in the AJPS from Vanderbilt polisci faculty came out yesterday -- this one by my colleagues @BradSmithUNC and Peter Bils: "The Logic of Secret Alliances" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Somehow I neglected to mention a SIXTH APSR by Vanderbilt polisci faculty. This one, by Jorge Mangonnet et al., is now out and formally forthcoming in 2026! "Family Ties, Social Control, and Authoritarian Distribution to Elites" www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
There’s so much interesting research coming from Vanderbilt political science faculty. As dept chair, it is a pleasure to highlight a bunch of it. First, up, @trounstine.bsky.social and Sarah Anzia in the @apsrjournal.bsky.social on civil service adoption: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Congress was hiding in plain sight 🤓. Join me & @johnsides.bsky.social for Episode 2 of @goodauth.bsky.social's Where's Congress? We consider the big (yes), beautiful (eye of beholder) bill House GOP are trying to pass thru House --Senate GOP views be damned (for now) www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvfR...
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
In the latest episode of "Where's Congress?" for @goodauth.bsky.social, @sarahbinder.bsky.social and I discuss the Big Beautiful Bill (TM). Learn what's different about this bill and the politics that are complicating is bigness and beauty. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvfR...
youtube.com
Good Authority Podcast | Where's Congress? Episode 2 | John Sides & Sarah Binder
YouTube video by Good Authority
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Americans are more pro-choice than people think. Two studies show that both elected leaders and voters overestimate Americans' conservatism on abortion. New from me @goodauth.bsky.social. goodauthority.org/news/the-chr...
goodauthority.org
The chronic misperception of Americans’ abortion attitudes.
Leaders and voters think Americans are more conservative than they are.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
This, by @tesler.bsky.social, is looking more prescient everyday. goodauthority.org/news/why-dem...
goodauthority.org
Why Democrats should keep talking about immigration
Democrats can once again turn immigration into a losing issue for Trump.
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Shifts to Trump from 2020-24 are not just a story about the youngest voters or about the youngest men. They are a story about shifts among *men and women* who are *under 40*. 1,000 takes on the youngest men. Virtually zero on everyone else.
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Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
What tools do Democrats have to do anything in Congress? The full episode with @johnsides.bsky.social and @sarahbinder.bsky.social is out now on our Substack: open.substack.com/pub/goodauth...
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Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
We're live with "Where's Congress?" 🤓🤓 Got topics or questions you'd like me and @johnsides.bsky.social to tackle in future @goodauth.bsky.social episodes? Send them along!
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John Sides @johnsides.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
So @sarahbinder.bsky.social and I inaugurated a new regular feature for @goodauth.bsky.social: "Where's Congress?" We talk about why a once-strong Congress became a flabby weak mess. The highlights of this week's episode are... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byct...
youtube.com
Good Authority Podcast | Where's Congress? | John Sides & Sarah Binder
YouTube video by Good Authority
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