Mark Schmitt
@mschmitt9.bsky.social
Political Reform Program, @NewAmerica. Previously, @rooseveltinst; @theprospect; @OpenSociety; US Senate for Bill Bradley, D-NJ.
Anxiety about *change* to health care has been a key factor in several consequential elections: 1994 (Clinton plan), 2010 (ACA), and (to some degree) 2018 . Even if people are unhappy w/ health care costs and choices, change is terrifying. GOP setting itself up on the wrong side of this dynamic. 1/3
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Anxiety about *change* to health care has been a key factor in several consequential elections: 1994 (Clinton plan), 2010 (ACA), and (to some degree) 2018 . Even if people are unhappy w/ health care costs and choices, change is terrifying. GOP setting itself up on the wrong side of this dynamic. 1/3
Hemp vote indicates that cannabis is long past being a wedge issue, or even a "social issue," but is now just a parochial ag/revenue issue. Senators from legal states expecting revenue don't want competition from online/gas station hemp products. Many senators from legalized states voted no.
The hemp thing in the senate deal is interesting because weed legalization is hugely popular and could be a useful wedge issue for Dems, and yet
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Hemp vote indicates that cannabis is long past being a wedge issue, or even a "social issue," but is now just a parochial ag/revenue issue. Senators from legal states expecting revenue don't want competition from online/gas station hemp products. Many senators from legalized states voted no.
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
Few of us will see the faux-gold applique on the walls. This is the closest to the White House ("the people's house") that most people will get, looking west from 15th St along Pennsylvania Ave., yesterday evening at 5:45 pm
November 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Few of us will see the faux-gold applique on the walls. This is the closest to the White House ("the people's house") that most people will get, looking west from 15th St along Pennsylvania Ave., yesterday evening at 5:45 pm
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
A pro-affordability, anti-Trump-corruption message unites the party. Every candidate can run on that, and every candidate can have their own take to fit that to their constituents. There's really no need to find fights to pick when the party agrees on more than it disagrees
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
A pro-affordability, anti-Trump-corruption message unites the party. Every candidate can run on that, and every candidate can have their own take to fit that to their constituents. There's really no need to find fights to pick when the party agrees on more than it disagrees
The minority report of the committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal, signed by Cheney when he was a member of the House in 1987, is a key document in the theory of an all-powerful president. nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/182...
November 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The minority report of the committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal, signed by Cheney when he was a member of the House in 1987, is a key document in the theory of an all-powerful president. nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/182...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
One underrated aspect of Zohran is that he always wears a suit, always presents himself professionally while still doing fun and approachable retail politics. You don’t have to drape yourself yourself in hypebeast and post thirst traps, you can be fucking grown up respecting the office and be fun
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 AM
One underrated aspect of Zohran is that he always wears a suit, always presents himself professionally while still doing fun and approachable retail politics. You don’t have to drape yourself yourself in hypebeast and post thirst traps, you can be fucking grown up respecting the office and be fun
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Not to diminish law review articles & law school committee work, but right now law professors should be working collectively on an intellectual & service project of immense, existential importance: building consensus around a revolutionary constitutional framework-of a Reconstruction 2.0 magnitude.
October 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Not to diminish law review articles & law school committee work, but right now law professors should be working collectively on an intellectual & service project of immense, existential importance: building consensus around a revolutionary constitutional framework-of a Reconstruction 2.0 magnitude.
He's going to put his name on it, isn't he?
Trump waves around renderings of his new ballroom, which appears to be entirely gold
October 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
He's going to put his name on it, isn't he?
"He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place."
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
October 22, 2025 at 1:55 AM
"He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place."
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
--Washington Post reporter David Broder to Post columnist Sally Quinn. About Bill Clinton. In a more naive time when "trashed the place" was a metaphor for not going to the right parties.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/life...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Okay, look, I gotta ask because I feel like I’m having a stroke. Did we switch teams on the democracy versus economics messaging? Because the way I remember it, the libs ran on democracy and the left said they should focus on material issues like healthcare instead and now it’s opposite, I think?
October 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Okay, look, I gotta ask because I feel like I’m having a stroke. Did we switch teams on the democracy versus economics messaging? Because the way I remember it, the libs ran on democracy and the left said they should focus on material issues like healthcare instead and now it’s opposite, I think?
For @newamerica.org's #DemocracyDeciphered podcast, I did a short (16-min.) explainer on govt shutdowns. Points at the end on why this is different: 1 Vought layoff threat; 2 Admin will break a deal & rescind spending anyway; 3 Admin got the $ it wants, e.g. ICE. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Consequences of Government Shutdowns
Podcast Episode · Democracy Deciphered · 09/30/2025 · 17m
podcasts.apple.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
For @newamerica.org's #DemocracyDeciphered podcast, I did a short (16-min.) explainer on govt shutdowns. Points at the end on why this is different: 1 Vought layoff threat; 2 Admin will break a deal & rescind spending anyway; 3 Admin got the $ it wants, e.g. ICE. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
"Infrequent voters are voting. It's a very low-trust environment. So the traditional left-right spectrum and going moderate on issues, it's not as clear. Anybody saying, 'I can win the election by tweaking positions" slightly is selling you something," says @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
September 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"Infrequent voters are voting. It's a very low-trust environment. So the traditional left-right spectrum and going moderate on issues, it's not as clear. Anybody saying, 'I can win the election by tweaking positions" slightly is selling you something," says @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
Of all the awful things that Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins did as senators, their joint creation of DHS, in the post-9/11-Iraq frenzy, may be the awful thing with the most lasting bad consequences. A full reorg should be a priority for a future Dem president, but will take time.
When I was at DHS, I’d have calls with lawyers from the components (especially CBP and ICE) in which they’d refer to things “DHS” wanted them to do as of we didn’t have the same boss. The lack of a coherent identity is a nightmare for any DHS Secretary trying to reform (or control) the Department.
Aside from everything else wrong with it, DHS is a random grab-bag of agencies and missions thrown together less because they have any coherent common purpose and more because they were the ones who didn't have enough political pull to successfully resist being put somewhere nobody wants to be.
September 26, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Of all the awful things that Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins did as senators, their joint creation of DHS, in the post-9/11-Iraq frenzy, may be the awful thing with the most lasting bad consequences. A full reorg should be a priority for a future Dem president, but will take time.
I wouldn't write off Dem senate candidates in OH, IA, NE. All long shots but worth trying. But try a thought experiment: Is Sherrod Brown the strongest D candidate in OH? Of course. He ran 3 pts ahead of Harris and won 3 times. Would he be a stronger candidate if he declared himself pro-life? No! 1/
September 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I wouldn't write off Dem senate candidates in OH, IA, NE. All long shots but worth trying. But try a thought experiment: Is Sherrod Brown the strongest D candidate in OH? Of course. He ran 3 pts ahead of Harris and won 3 times. Would he be a stronger candidate if he declared himself pro-life? No! 1/
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
September 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
This also goes to a point @donmoyn.bsky.social made last week: College campuses are *uniquely* open, among all American institutions, to debate and disagreement. You can't go to an evangelical church (or any church) or corporation and expect them to give a hearing to an alternative viewpoint.
September 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This also goes to a point @donmoyn.bsky.social made last week: College campuses are *uniquely* open, among all American institutions, to debate and disagreement. You can't go to an evangelical church (or any church) or corporation and expect them to give a hearing to an alternative viewpoint.
I've been involved w/ a number of think tank startups, but this is the first I've seen started with the mission of *not* doing things. There are no ideas here
My only other thoughts were in response to Jentleson's 9/16 op-ed
markschmitt.substack.com/p/the-groups...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...
My only other thoughts were in response to Jentleson's 9/16 op-ed
markschmitt.substack.com/p/the-groups...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...
A New Democratic Think Tank Wants to Curb the Influence of Liberal Groups
www.nytimes.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I've been involved w/ a number of think tank startups, but this is the first I've seen started with the mission of *not* doing things. There are no ideas here
My only other thoughts were in response to Jentleson's 9/16 op-ed
markschmitt.substack.com/p/the-groups...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...
My only other thoughts were in response to Jentleson's 9/16 op-ed
markschmitt.substack.com/p/the-groups...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
Please join New America's Political Reform Program, Columbia World Projects, and
@north.america.fidemocracy.org
tomorrow from 11am to 12pm ET for an exciting panel that will explore the past, present, and future of assemblies in America, and their role in broader institutional reform movements.
@north.america.fidemocracy.org
tomorrow from 11am to 12pm ET for an exciting panel that will explore the past, present, and future of assemblies in America, and their role in broader institutional reform movements.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Democracy Beyond Elections: Citizens’ Assemblies and Institutional Reform. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webina...
The U.S. has a surprising history of deliberative democracy—from bold experiments in sortition to grassroots-led reforms. Most failed to take root. Citizens' Assemblies - such as those in Bend and Bou...
columbiauniversity.zoom.us
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Please join New America's Political Reform Program, Columbia World Projects, and
@north.america.fidemocracy.org
tomorrow from 11am to 12pm ET for an exciting panel that will explore the past, present, and future of assemblies in America, and their role in broader institutional reform movements.
@north.america.fidemocracy.org
tomorrow from 11am to 12pm ET for an exciting panel that will explore the past, present, and future of assemblies in America, and their role in broader institutional reform movements.
One of the privileges of my life was to work w/ both @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and @jamellebouie.net at @prospect.org in 2008-2011, though they didn't quite overlap. They are not "opposing viewpoints," but are both motivated by curiosity, not just glib "takes," and a commitment to human dignity. 1/2
September 16, 2025 at 7:27 PM
One of the privileges of my life was to work w/ both @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and @jamellebouie.net at @prospect.org in 2008-2011, though they didn't quite overlap. They are not "opposing viewpoints," but are both motivated by curiosity, not just glib "takes," and a commitment to human dignity. 1/2
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
I offer up “Borgen” as a tv series that political scientists appreciate for getting politics right.
an interesting subtopic! which shows/movies are beloved by the profession for Getting It Right! Lawyers famously love MY COUSIN VINNIE, doctors I believe love SCRUBS, apparently Aussie barristers are surprisingly fond of RAKE's depiction of some aspects of the law.
Oh god I remember watching HOUSE with some doctors, it was a the usual mix of “you would get fired instantly and never practice medicine again no matter how good u are” and “that case actually isn’t hard to solve at all”
August 29, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I offer up “Borgen” as a tv series that political scientists appreciate for getting politics right.
My office for 10 years has been at 15th and H in DC, above Joe's Stone Crab. The President of the United States, describes our block: “Here I am standing out in the middle of the street. I wouldn’t have done this three months ago, four months ago. I certainly wouldn’t have done it a year ago."
September 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
My office for 10 years has been at 15th and H in DC, above Joe's Stone Crab. The President of the United States, describes our block: “Here I am standing out in the middle of the street. I wouldn’t have done this three months ago, four months ago. I certainly wouldn’t have done it a year ago."
Reposted by Mark Schmitt
I guess on this point I am on team abundance! The climate crisis is very real, and very serious. But I don't think scarcity in an economic sense is the right way to think about it. Seriously addressing climate should raise material living standards - there's no tradeoff.
September 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I guess on this point I am on team abundance! The climate crisis is very real, and very serious. But I don't think scarcity in an economic sense is the right way to think about it. Seriously addressing climate should raise material living standards - there's no tradeoff.
If we're going to have a Department of War, maybe it's time to revive the idea of a Department of Peace, which has a long (Benjamin Rush, 1893) and bipartisan history. (I associate it w/ Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-OR, but there were many other R supporters.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departm...
Department of Peace - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
If we're going to have a Department of War, maybe it's time to revive the idea of a Department of Peace, which has a long (Benjamin Rush, 1893) and bipartisan history. (I associate it w/ Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-OR, but there were many other R supporters.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departm...
I served on a DC jury last week. For @newamerica.org , I wrote about the weird experience of civic responsibility in an occupied city where Jeanine Pirro is the US Attorney: www.newamerica.org/the-thread/d...
Civic Trust Under Threat in Trump’s Washington
After jury duty in DC, a city overtaken by force, policy expert Mark Schmitt reflects on civic trust and responsibility under Trump’s rule.
www.newamerica.org
September 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I served on a DC jury last week. For @newamerica.org , I wrote about the weird experience of civic responsibility in an occupied city where Jeanine Pirro is the US Attorney: www.newamerica.org/the-thread/d...