Jonathan Ladd
@jonathanmladd.com
I'm a political scientist in @mccourtschool.bsky.social. I study trust in institutions and media effects on the public.
Web page: https://www.jonathanmladd.com/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=J6tt69QAAAAJ&hl
Apologies for typos.
Web page: https://www.jonathanmladd.com/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=J6tt69QAAAAJ&hl
Apologies for typos.
Pinned
Why do I post about the Constitution and the rule of law? Not because I think these things are self-enforcing! But because it is our duty to live up to them. And one goal of the Trumpist movement is to make such bold assertions of power that we are disoriented and forget our rights and liberties.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
They thought Americans could be scared off by violence and give up on their constitutional liberties. Maybe think again. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This administration is cooked. Literally no one is scared of them.
January 25, 2026 at 7:29 PM
They thought Americans could be scared off by violence and give up on their constitutional liberties. Maybe think again. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
What’s so misguided about the formulation “authoritarianism is here, it’s just unevenly distributed,” which I have heard from Ezra Klein and others, it’s that it misses the point: that’s true of authoritarianism *everywhere*.
January 25, 2026 at 8:29 PM
What’s so misguided about the formulation “authoritarianism is here, it’s just unevenly distributed,” which I have heard from Ezra Klein and others, it’s that it misses the point: that’s true of authoritarianism *everywhere*.
So far, Drake Maye looks totally lost out there.
January 25, 2026 at 8:50 PM
So far, Drake Maye looks totally lost out there.
They thought Americans could be scared off by violence and give up on their constitutional liberties. Maybe think again. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This administration is cooked. Literally no one is scared of them.
January 25, 2026 at 7:29 PM
They thought Americans could be scared off by violence and give up on their constitutional liberties. Maybe think again. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
If you won't eliminate a government secret police force dedicated to murdering your party's voters, I'm not sure what any electoral victories you might possibly be more likely to achieve from that stance are really worth.
How many Democratic voters have to be executed by the secret police force before Senate Democrats decide to filibuster its funding?
January 25, 2026 at 2:17 AM
If you won't eliminate a government secret police force dedicated to murdering your party's voters, I'm not sure what any electoral victories you might possibly be more likely to achieve from that stance are really worth.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
again: utterly, mindblowingly absurd that this is what they’re going with when you can see from angle after angle that Pretti did not have his gun out and was in fact restrained on the ground when they disarmed and then shot him
these are bad lies and they’re going to backfire horrendously
these are bad lies and they’re going to backfire horrendously
Noem lies shamelessly: "An individual approached order Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic gun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently. This looks like a situation where an individual arrived to inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement"
January 24, 2026 at 10:59 PM
again: utterly, mindblowingly absurd that this is what they’re going with when you can see from angle after angle that Pretti did not have his gun out and was in fact restrained on the ground when they disarmed and then shot him
these are bad lies and they’re going to backfire horrendously
these are bad lies and they’re going to backfire horrendously
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Interesting results in the new NY Times Sienna College poll. Any new support for Republicans among nonwhite voters that appeared in 2024 has evaporated. But also, there is no college/non-college educational polarization among nonwhite voters. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
January 23, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Interesting results in the new NY Times Sienna College poll. Any new support for Republicans among nonwhite voters that appeared in 2024 has evaporated. But also, there is no college/non-college educational polarization among nonwhite voters. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:”
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”
United States Declaration of Independence
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”
United States Declaration of Independence
January 25, 2026 at 2:54 PM
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:”
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”
United States Declaration of Independence
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:”
United States Declaration of Independence
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
YouGov is out with a new poll after ICE killed another person in Minnesota today. Abolishing ICE is now +5 among all adults, and **+12 among independents**
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
January 25, 2026 at 2:10 AM
YouGov is out with a new poll after ICE killed another person in Minnesota today. Abolishing ICE is now +5 among all adults, and **+12 among independents**
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
If you won't eliminate a government secret police force dedicated to murdering your party's voters, I'm not sure what any electoral victories you might possibly be more likely to achieve from that stance are really worth.
How many Democratic voters have to be executed by the secret police force before Senate Democrats decide to filibuster its funding?
January 25, 2026 at 2:17 AM
If you won't eliminate a government secret police force dedicated to murdering your party's voters, I'm not sure what any electoral victories you might possibly be more likely to achieve from that stance are really worth.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
UPDATE: @dropsitenews.com has obtained the very graphic video from the lady in the pink coat, which shows ICE executing yet another person in broad daylight:
January 24, 2026 at 6:49 PM
UPDATE: @dropsitenews.com has obtained the very graphic video from the lady in the pink coat, which shows ICE executing yet another person in broad daylight:
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
The key point is that the ICE military occupations are predominantly not about enforcing immigration law. That is a pretext. They are an attempt to terrorize, injure or kill those in political conflict with the Trump Administration. They make no meaningful attempt to follow or enforce the law.
It’s currently operating totally outside of our constitutional rules. Habeas corpus , due process of law, equal protection, freedom of speech, 4th amendment protections against search and seizure, are all not being enforced in any common sense or meaningful way.
January 24, 2026 at 1:06 PM
The key point is that the ICE military occupations are predominantly not about enforcing immigration law. That is a pretext. They are an attempt to terrorize, injure or kill those in political conflict with the Trump Administration. They make no meaningful attempt to follow or enforce the law.
How many Democratic voters have to be executed by the secret police force before Senate Democrats decide to filibuster its funding?
January 24, 2026 at 6:24 PM
How many Democratic voters have to be executed by the secret police force before Senate Democrats decide to filibuster its funding?
Withdraw the military occupation and restore the rule of the U.S. Constitution in Minnesota. Simple.
It’s currently operating totally outside of our constitutional rules. Habeas corpus , due process of law, equal protection, freedom of speech, 4th amendment protections against search and seizure, are all not being enforced in any common sense or meaningful way.
January 24, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Withdraw the military occupation and restore the rule of the U.S. Constitution in Minnesota. Simple.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
You did not bear the shame.
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
January 24, 2026 at 4:25 PM
You did not bear the shame.
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Significant religion sub-story here: the clergy mentioned in this video were part of the same convening I was embedded with (they fanned out into many separate groups throughout the two days).
But per this report, ICE was allegedly *tailing the clergy* when this encountered occurred.
But per this report, ICE was allegedly *tailing the clergy* when this encountered occurred.
ICE attacked an observer after they tailed a group of clergy on a spiritual pilgrimage.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
January 24, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Significant religion sub-story here: the clergy mentioned in this video were part of the same convening I was embedded with (they fanned out into many separate groups throughout the two days).
But per this report, ICE was allegedly *tailing the clergy* when this encountered occurred.
But per this report, ICE was allegedly *tailing the clergy* when this encountered occurred.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
I'm glad this person (and I hope more like him) now realize that you have to anticipate future public opinion when planning political strategy. Not just mindlessly follow current issue polls.
But I hope they remember that this is not only true when you find a poll result you disagree with.
But I hope they remember that this is not only true when you find a poll result you disagree with.
January 23, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I'm glad this person (and I hope more like him) now realize that you have to anticipate future public opinion when planning political strategy. Not just mindlessly follow current issue polls.
But I hope they remember that this is not only true when you find a poll result you disagree with.
But I hope they remember that this is not only true when you find a poll result you disagree with.
The key point is that the ICE military occupations are predominantly not about enforcing immigration law. That is a pretext. They are an attempt to terrorize, injure or kill those in political conflict with the Trump Administration. They make no meaningful attempt to follow or enforce the law.
It’s currently operating totally outside of our constitutional rules. Habeas corpus , due process of law, equal protection, freedom of speech, 4th amendment protections against search and seizure, are all not being enforced in any common sense or meaningful way.
January 24, 2026 at 1:06 PM
The key point is that the ICE military occupations are predominantly not about enforcing immigration law. That is a pretext. They are an attempt to terrorize, injure or kill those in political conflict with the Trump Administration. They make no meaningful attempt to follow or enforce the law.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
Having the constitutional text and American traditions on your side is an advantage, but it does not guarantee victory, of course. There are no guarantees, certainly not here. But advocates of republican government would be at a much greater disadvantage if the Constitution were not on our side.
January 22, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Having the constitutional text and American traditions on your side is an advantage, but it does not guarantee victory, of course. There are no guarantees, certainly not here. But advocates of republican government would be at a much greater disadvantage if the Constitution were not on our side.
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
A political protester in Minneapolis was captured by ICE. They removed her bra and cut off her wedding ring. They never returned her clothes to her. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
January 22, 2026 at 8:38 PM
A political protester in Minneapolis was captured by ICE. They removed her bra and cut off her wedding ring. They never returned her clothes to her. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
A coworker took this from her apartment. I haven't seen a crowd this size before. Maybe the first Women's March? But it was much much warmer that day. ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA!
January 23, 2026 at 11:19 PM
A coworker took this from her apartment. I haven't seen a crowd this size before. Maybe the first Women's March? But it was much much warmer that day. ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA!
Reposted by Jonathan Ladd
ICE attacked an observer after they tailed a group of clergy on a spiritual pilgrimage.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
January 24, 2026 at 4:22 AM
ICE attacked an observer after they tailed a group of clergy on a spiritual pilgrimage.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.