David A. Hughes, Ph.D.
@davidhughesphd.bsky.social
Political scientist studying American law and courts, state politics, and southern politics | Coonhound dad | Southern highlander | https://davidhughesphd.com/
One of my favorite days teaching US government 101 is where we look at Article III side by side with Articles I and II to see just how badly the framers phoned in the judiciary.
We infer that there should be a Chief Justice because it is mentioned once in Article 1, where it says he will preside at impeachment trials. But no other explanation of this office is given anywhere. This is the only appearance of the term in the entire Constitution.
December 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
One of my favorite days teaching US government 101 is where we look at Article III side by side with Articles I and II to see just how badly the framers phoned in the judiciary.
Water pressure was way down today, so of course I freaked out, going around the house checking for leaks. After about 10 hours, the water company calls telling me to boil my water because they had a rupture in the city lines. Not ideal--but at least it wasn't on my end.
December 5, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Water pressure was way down today, so of course I freaked out, going around the house checking for leaks. After about 10 hours, the water company calls telling me to boil my water because they had a rupture in the city lines. Not ideal--but at least it wasn't on my end.
It's that time of year: "Where my background singers at!?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84Q...
Patti LaBelle- Where My Background Singers?
YouTube video by Ryan Bloomquist
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:50 AM
It's that time of year: "Where my background singers at!?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84Q...
Last day of class for the fall term!
December 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Last day of class for the fall term!
Adding a smoked pork shank to my red beans has really been a game changer. I'm done with ham hocks.
December 4, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Adding a smoked pork shank to my red beans has really been a game changer. I'm done with ham hocks.
Conditional accept!
December 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Conditional accept!
I referenced Popeye Doyle in class today, and nobody got it. One googled it and said, "That movie was mad in 1971!" Anyway, I hope you're feeling young today.
December 3, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I referenced Popeye Doyle in class today, and nobody got it. One googled it and said, "That movie was mad in 1971!" Anyway, I hope you're feeling young today.
Journal hits me up for a review one month after I submit a piece to it: Totally fair.
I submit my review for that request a month later when I *still* have not heard back from that journal after my paper's spent months being under review there: Starting to annoy me.
I submit my review for that request a month later when I *still* have not heard back from that journal after my paper's spent months being under review there: Starting to annoy me.
December 3, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Journal hits me up for a review one month after I submit a piece to it: Totally fair.
I submit my review for that request a month later when I *still* have not heard back from that journal after my paper's spent months being under review there: Starting to annoy me.
I submit my review for that request a month later when I *still* have not heard back from that journal after my paper's spent months being under review there: Starting to annoy me.
I'm not sure what this means (aside from being a bureaucratic/administrative nightmare). Course materials like what? Slides? Assignments? Syllabi? This seems destined to fail simply for lack of bureaucrats to review it all. I change tons of stuff semester-to-semester. Who'd even notice?
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
December 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
I'm not sure what this means (aside from being a bureaucratic/administrative nightmare). Course materials like what? Slides? Assignments? Syllabi? This seems destined to fail simply for lack of bureaucrats to review it all. I change tons of stuff semester-to-semester. Who'd even notice?
The athletics program at this uni begging for donations from faculty and staff on "Giving Tuesday" after helping land us in a tens of millions of dollars deficit that will take us years to ever see a cost-of-living raise is, "chef's kiss."
December 2, 2025 at 2:48 AM
The athletics program at this uni begging for donations from faculty and staff on "Giving Tuesday" after helping land us in a tens of millions of dollars deficit that will take us years to ever see a cost-of-living raise is, "chef's kiss."
I feel like Volunteer fans need to make a self-help guide for Ole Miss fans (and LSU fans, very shortly), called "So you went and hired Lane Kiffin."
December 2, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I feel like Volunteer fans need to make a self-help guide for Ole Miss fans (and LSU fans, very shortly), called "So you went and hired Lane Kiffin."
I don't currently have any photos of the boys in the house. Considering framing some of these.
December 1, 2025 at 2:43 AM
I don't currently have any photos of the boys in the house. Considering framing some of these.
Got the bug to build something today, so I installed these shelves in the home office. Will stain them tomorrow when sawdust in the garage settles down.
November 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Got the bug to build something today, so I installed these shelves in the home office. Will stain them tomorrow when sawdust in the garage settles down.
Class preps done for the semester. All over but the grading.
November 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Class preps done for the semester. All over but the grading.
Three peer-reviews finished today, woot-woot! (Though I guess now I have to write my own stuff.)
November 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Three peer-reviews finished today, woot-woot! (Though I guess now I have to write my own stuff.)
Table is set, and we're ready to go!
November 27, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Table is set, and we're ready to go!
I swear to god, I'm going to find the sucker who wrote my syllabi and put all these assignments/exams in there for me to grade, and I'm gonna kick his butt.
November 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
I swear to god, I'm going to find the sucker who wrote my syllabi and put all these assignments/exams in there for me to grade, and I'm gonna kick his butt.
One loaf of cornbread done as we march onward toward dressing.
November 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
One loaf of cornbread done as we march onward toward dressing.
Rejection! Only took 8 months, but we finally got the verdict: These results are too intuitive, lol. Alright, onward we go.
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Rejection! Only took 8 months, but we finally got the verdict: These results are too intuitive, lol. Alright, onward we go.
I've largely avoided posting about the day-to-day absurdities of this administration (mainly for my sanity), but this is truly something to behold. I thought the government's case was weak to begin with, but at this point, I'll be surprised if there aren't sanctions. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Trump Loyalist Admits Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I've largely avoided posting about the day-to-day absurdities of this administration (mainly for my sanity), but this is truly something to behold. I thought the government's case was weak to begin with, but at this point, I'll be surprised if there aren't sanctions. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Apropos of nothing, I am this morning reminded of the Eddie Izzard bit about the wisdom of invading Russia. youtu.be/Pmf8byuHJWw?...
Eddie Izzard "Russians" Sketch From Dress to Kill
YouTube video by Eddie Izzard
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Apropos of nothing, I am this morning reminded of the Eddie Izzard bit about the wisdom of invading Russia. youtu.be/Pmf8byuHJWw?...
This might be one area where the majority is strategically ducking. They know that, eventually, Dems will win the WH, House, and Senate, and judicial reform will be on the agenda. Unlike Roe, this hasn't become some half-century cause defining conservative jurisprudence. www.wsfa.com/2025/11/10/s...
Supreme Court rejects call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
www.wsfa.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This might be one area where the majority is strategically ducking. They know that, eventually, Dems will win the WH, House, and Senate, and judicial reform will be on the agenda. Unlike Roe, this hasn't become some half-century cause defining conservative jurisprudence. www.wsfa.com/2025/11/10/s...
One hopes--or another centrist. I'm not sure if Buttigieg will ever be able to get the stink of the Biden admin off him to win the nod (though he had some strong headwinds against him that will perhaps always keep us from having nice things). www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
Opinion | Mamdani Isn’t the Future of the Democrats. This Guy Is.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
One hopes--or another centrist. I'm not sure if Buttigieg will ever be able to get the stink of the Biden admin off him to win the nod (though he had some strong headwinds against him that will perhaps always keep us from having nice things). www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
Yeah, I think this is where I am. Federal employees and SNAP beneficiaries badly need relief. As the holidays approach, it's time to let the hostages go. Congress can resume their fight in January when the CR expires yet again.
I will probably get excommunicated from Bsky for saying that, but I can see a case for ending the shutdown now.
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Yeah, I think this is where I am. Federal employees and SNAP beneficiaries badly need relief. As the holidays approach, it's time to let the hostages go. Congress can resume their fight in January when the CR expires yet again.
I'm hearing mostly teeth-gnashing amongst Dems about this, but there are some upsides. The RIFs reversals and backpay are something. The ACA vote will fail. Mostly, MCs don't want this to continue into the holidays, and the pain amongst constituents is real. This was always the most likely off-ramp.
Tentative Senate deal to end shutdown, multiple sources tell me & @frankthorp.bsky.social:
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I'm hearing mostly teeth-gnashing amongst Dems about this, but there are some upsides. The RIFs reversals and backpay are something. The ACA vote will fail. Mostly, MCs don't want this to continue into the holidays, and the pain amongst constituents is real. This was always the most likely off-ramp.