Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 1hIf you're so innocent, then how did my staff find this receipt from you shopping at [squints] Traitor Joe's? 07010
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18h@jonathanbernstein.bsky.social wrote a while back that there was such a low threshold for getting a Republican scandal claim on Fox News that people weren't bothering to do basic research on them before trying them out, and I think we're seeing a great example of that todaynytimes.comJack Smith Defends Trump Charges as Senator’s Perjury Claim Falls ApartA Republican eager to prove the former special counsel was dishonest appeared to instead demonstrate his own confusion over basic facts. 518436
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026In the 2019 "Silicon Valley" finale, the company had inadvertently created an AI that was trying to destroy all data encryption and end privacy rights. The team decided to blow up their own creation while making it look like a failure so no one else would try it. 2473
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026New at the Smotus Report: A network analysis of presidential announcement speeches can give us an idea of who is central to the party and who isn’t — and who is more likely to win as a resultsmotus.substack.comPredicting the presidential nominees... from their announcement speechesA new paper focusing on presidential announcement speech rhetoric 2151
Reposted by Seth MasketThe Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 26/09/20261. The Washington Sun called it "panic week." Republicans seemed to wake up to the fact that things are not going to get better. This was the week in which they realized, all at once, that the light at the end of the tunnel may be from an oncoming train. mailchi.mp/washingtonsu...mailchi.mpPanic Week 432776
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 26/09/2026A Terminator film that focuses on the humans who remain convinced that Skynet will still work for them if they use it correctly, long after they’ve launched the nuclear missiles 59110
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Folks check out this call for submissions for @theforum-degruyter.bsky.social's special issue on Sports and American Politics. @amandafriesen.bsky.social and Christopher Dawes are guest editing. Deadline is 12/1. 021
Reposted by Seth MasketAmanda Friesen @amandafriesen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Chris Dawes (NYU) and I are editing a special issue of The Forum on Sports and American Politics. Deadline for full papers is December 1. We welcome a variety of methods and levels of analysis! Happy to answer questions. 0118
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Interviewing the inventor of napalm about his hats 33672901085
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Will no one rid me of this meddlesome creature that I continue to construct? 5475
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026We don't talk enough about how Neil Diamond’s “Acapulco,” from the Jazz Singer album, features a ton of steel drums, which are a Caribbean instrument and have nothing to do with Acapulco, located on Mexico’s west coast. It’s like if he did a song called “Dublin” featuring didgeridoos. 2502
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026New at the Smotus Report: A post-midterms GOP is not about to pivot away from Trump, even if they get wiped outsmotus.substack.comWhat if November is catastrophic for the GOP?Could the party pivot? How? Toward what or whom? 3247
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Both HRC and Harris ran in years when the environment was not favorable for a Democratic win. (HRC even won the popular vote.) Their losses are far better explained by conditions than by sex. (And as David notes, women run statewide all the time without any notable disadvantage.) 1413521
Reposted by Seth MasketDavid Karol @davidkarol.bsky.social · 22/09/2026There are reasons not to want AOC as a nominee, and she may have her own reasons if, despite signals, she doesn't run, but the idea that a woman per se is less electable is not well-supported. Sexism is real, but so is racism and Obama and other Black candidates have won outside Black districts.1) 107211
Reposted by Seth Masketmonstrous_gloss @monstrousgloss.bsky.social · 21/09/2026I think about this scene from Andor a LOT and repeat this phrase to myself often: "Power doesn't panic." 4600146
Reposted by Seth MasketJennifer N. Victor @jenvictor.bsky.social · 21/09/2026What's the opposite of a "convention bounce?" @smotus.bsky.social may know smotus.substack.com/p/and-thats-...smotus.substack.comAnd that’s why you never do a midterm conventionTrump wants people to vote as if he’s on the ballot. They’re listening. 74810
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026New at the Smotus Report: Since Trump’s GOP midterm convention, his approval rating has stayed the same, while his party’s candidates are doing worse — he made himself the issuesmotus.substack.comAnd that’s why you never do a midterm conventionTrump wants people to vote as if he’s on the ballot. They’re listening. 4457
Reposted by Seth MasketSteven (with a PH) @sjksalisbury.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Christening a baby is nothing like christening a ship. I know that now. Once again I can only apologise. 159191003837
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026We’re at a point where to signal moderation you distance yourself from Twitter 4535
Reposted by Seth MasketLarry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 20/09/2026The future tense of the headline (“will pay him back”) conflicts with the past tense that the president used (“I hear he’s paid him back”). The story doesn’t tell us whether the Times attempted to confirm whether Don Jr. has done this or plans to do so. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/u...nytimes.comTrump Says His Son Will Pay Back Russian Businessman for Wedding PartyThe president said his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., had decided to return the money, but defended the gift worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as “totally allowed.” 1231048244
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Oh fuckcpr.org‘Just a big rock pile:’ St. Mary’s Glacier has meltedAn abnormally hot summer following record snow drought has melted one Colorado’s most iconic natural landmarks. 38537
Reposted by Seth MasketKathleen Lenihan @kathleenlenihan.bsky.social · 19/09/2026The entire article is fantastic, but the writer's definition of a trad wife is *chef's kiss* perfection. "Those are conservative women who dress like the women in The Sound of Music, but without the opposition to the Anschluss." 241408349
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026This is way more CD3 behavior than CD4 #coloradohumorrawstory.comLauren Boebert accused of sex with three staffers in complaint alleging $200K hush paymentAn explosive sworn complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee alleges Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) carried on a sexual relationship with her district director in the office, in a car and in campaig... 8978
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026The ratio of what I’ve seen and heard *about* Hasan Piker to what I’ve seen and heard *from* Hasan Piker is approaching Kim Kardashian levels 4775
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026You: The 1990s were a rare moment of tranquility between the endless militarism of the Cold War and the endless militarism of the War on Terror Me: 4472
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Now witness the integrity and solidarity of the fully operational White House Press Corps 5624
Reposted by Seth MasketMike Noble @mikenoble.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Ultimate Man shook my hand and then told me exactly how I was going to die. 2631627233
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Ted Lasso is a Muppet movie, and Ted is the only human  91123
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026"Much of Donald Trump’s second term has been about him asserting the presence of a crisis, which gives him the power to act quickly and avoid oversight or even lawmaking. Many observers said that there just wasn’t a crisis, but the Constitution actually doesn’t give us much of an answer on that."smotus.substack.comOur four constitutional crisesSome thoughts on Constitution Day 1164
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Don't want to read *too* much into this, but in the wake of the GOP midterm convention, Trump's approval rating is unchanged, but the generic congressional vote has moved sharply in the Democratic direction. That is, it didn't change people's view of Trump, it just applied that view to the midterms 1422329
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026My hot take: We are not arguing about SSRIs. Some of us are using them as prescribed by our doctors to treat mental health difficulties. This administration has decided that's a problem based on no actual research. 552157346
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026New at the Smotus Report: On Constitution Day, looking at the four types of crisis our constitution faces. smotus.substack.com/p/our-four-cons…smotus.substack.comOur four constitutional crisesSome thoughts on Constitution Day 041
Reposted by Seth MasketJacob Geller @jacobgeller.com · 17/09/2026Mel Blanc screams are like Greek fire, we lost the technology to make sounds like this 191149484045
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026From @kevinmkruse.bsky.social / Zelizer, a reminder from 1974 about how things can go during a gas shortage 1621860
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I wrote the other day about AI becoming a populist issue that transcended party lines, not realizing Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon were about to share a stage on this topic! smotus.substack.com/p/ai-as-the-... 2150
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 15/09/2026At the Smotus Report: AI/data centers has all the makings of a big populist issue at a time when the populist wings of both parties are ascendant: -Shady elites who think they're above the law -Emotional resonance rooted in grievance -A sense of conspiracysmotus.substack.comAI as the next big populist issueThis is the kind of thing that can fundamentally change a party or a political system 0122
Reposted by Seth MasketSteven Mazie @stevenmazie.bsky.social · 15/09/2026BREAKING: Supreme Court refuses to greenlight Trump‘s postal voting rule. The apparent vote is 7-2, with Justices Alito and Thomas dissenting 1415347
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 14/09/2026In an interview with me, United's chatbot says I might have a shorter layover in Atlanta than in Dallas-Fort Worth 2241
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 14/09/2026New at the Smotus Report: AI is quickly emerging as the new populist issue — the sort of thing that can upend parties and transform the political systemsmotus.substack.comAI as the next big populist issueThis is the kind of thing that can fundamentally change a party or a political system 0151
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 14/09/2026This week I'm teaching about the election of 2020, which happened a few months ago and also when my students were in middle school 21168
Reposted by Seth MasketChristina Wolbrecht @cwolbrecht.bsky.social · 14/09/2026As the mom of a recent college graduate and current college freshman and a college prof for 30+ years I am BEGGING you not to do this. Worried About Your College Kid? Now You Can Hire a Local Mom. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/w...nytimes.comWorried About Your College Kid? Now You Can Hire a Local Mom.At some universities, parents can pay to make sure their children are cared for, the way they were back home. 2927530
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 14/09/2026My wild-ass forecast from earlier this year of Dems picking up 46 House seats is looking less wild-ass with each passing day 59617
Seth Masket @smotus.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Here's a Joe Biden ad vowing to root out systemic racism, in an election he won comfortablylivingroomcandidate.orgThe Living Room Candidate - Commercials - 2020 - Heal AmericaAn archive of presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to the present, organized by year, type, and issue, with teacher resources and playlists by experts. 34011