Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Historian - Democracy and Its Discontents - Newsletter: Democracy Americana https://democracyamericana.com - Podcast: Is This Democracy https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/is-this-democracy
Pinned
Thomas Zimmer
@thomaszimmer.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Onward. Forward. Steady.
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
steady.page
Some major personal news:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
Things have really changed. Now I need your help.
On why I left academia, why I left America, and why I need your support as I am starting over as a full-time independent writer:
Onward. Forward. Steady:
In this lecture, @lioneltrolling.bsky.social offers a brilliant synthesis of the fascism debate, demonstrates why it makes sense to conceptualize the Trumpist Right as a specifically American version of fascism, and provides an extremely incisive analysis of where America stands. Excellent.
Video of my U Chicago lecture is now available.—
youtu.be/gVdv1tWqmaw?...
youtu.be/gVdv1tWqmaw?...
John Ganz | What's Happening Here? Fascism as Past and Prologue
YouTube video by The Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 8:11 PM
In this lecture, @lioneltrolling.bsky.social offers a brilliant synthesis of the fascism debate, demonstrates why it makes sense to conceptualize the Trumpist Right as a specifically American version of fascism, and provides an extremely incisive analysis of where America stands. Excellent.
And a lot of these billionaires perceive even the slightest amount of pushback they are getting from us peasants as a totalitarian leftist threat that leaves them no choice but to go all hyper-reactionary and use their wealth to support a far-right "counter-revolution" against liberal democracy.
The billionaires who own much of the the infrastructure of our 21st century lives have progressively enshittified that infrastructure while expanding their wealth, and then they scold us for being small-souled peasants who don’t believe in progress anymore.
it is amazing how so much tech gets unremittingly worse year on year at whatever you once used it for and less pleasant to use and more bound up with creepy politics as well as personal and environmental harms and yet also still less productive of actual goods and these are somehow great visionaries
December 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
And a lot of these billionaires perceive even the slightest amount of pushback they are getting from us peasants as a totalitarian leftist threat that leaves them no choice but to go all hyper-reactionary and use their wealth to support a far-right "counter-revolution" against liberal democracy.
!!!
The billionaires who own much of the the infrastructure of our 21st century lives have progressively enshittified that infrastructure while expanding their wealth, and then they scold us for being small-souled peasants who don’t believe in progress anymore.
it is amazing how so much tech gets unremittingly worse year on year at whatever you once used it for and less pleasant to use and more bound up with creepy politics as well as personal and environmental harms and yet also still less productive of actual goods and these are somehow great visionaries
December 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
!!!
"In Bed With the Right" is easily among the smartest, most incisive analysis of gender politics, culture, and whatever is happening on the Right you'll find anywhere. Grateful to @adriandaub.bsky.social and @moiradonegan.bsky.social for what they are offering with their podcast. Please listen!
We're doing a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion for @inbedwiththeright.bsky.social -- sign up for our Patreon before 11:59 on Dec. 4, 2025 and you get 20% off the first month! www.patreon.com/13085879/join
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www.patreon.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:07 PM
"In Bed With the Right" is easily among the smartest, most incisive analysis of gender politics, culture, and whatever is happening on the Right you'll find anywhere. Grateful to @adriandaub.bsky.social and @moiradonegan.bsky.social for what they are offering with their podcast. Please listen!
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths regarding Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election – and why America is experiencing a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment:
I wrote about three stubborn myths regarding Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election – and why America is experiencing a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
What is really going on in this society that elected Donald Trump president a second time?
I wrote about three stubborn myths regarding Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election – and why America is experiencing a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment:
I wrote about three stubborn myths regarding Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election – and why America is experiencing a de-alignment rather than a rightward realignment:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
A Thanksgiving piece of sorts: I wrote about the most persistent myths regarding Trump’s support in American society.
Perhaps you’ll feel better equipped to handle these pervasive misconceptions when you’ll inevitably encounter them in conversations with friends and family over the weekend:
Perhaps you’ll feel better equipped to handle these pervasive misconceptions when you’ll inevitably encounter them in conversations with friends and family over the weekend:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
A Thanksgiving piece of sorts: I wrote about the most persistent myths regarding Trump’s support in American society.
Perhaps you’ll feel better equipped to handle these pervasive misconceptions when you’ll inevitably encounter them in conversations with friends and family over the weekend:
Perhaps you’ll feel better equipped to handle these pervasive misconceptions when you’ll inevitably encounter them in conversations with friends and family over the weekend:
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Probably not ideal to publish a long piece on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving… Would you help me spread the word?
I wrote about some persistent myths regarding what’s happening in American society and politics we desperately need to discard:
I wrote about some persistent myths regarding what’s happening in American society and politics we desperately need to discard:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Probably not ideal to publish a long piece on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving… Would you help me spread the word?
I wrote about some persistent myths regarding what’s happening in American society and politics we desperately need to discard:
I wrote about some persistent myths regarding what’s happening in American society and politics we desperately need to discard:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment of the established order.
New piece:
Crucial analysis from @kevintmorris.bsky.social. Required reading, really, for anyone who works / opines on recent US history and the current political moment - and for anyone who seeks to understand the Right's assault on elections.
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Crucial analysis from @kevintmorris.bsky.social. Required reading, really, for anyone who works / opines on recent US history and the current political moment - and for anyone who seeks to understand the Right's assault on elections.
ICYMI: I wrote something about the MAGA mess.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
ICYMI: I wrote something about the MAGA mess.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
Trump is indeed in trouble as his hold over the Right is weakening, MAGA is showing signs of disintegration. But unfortunately, an opening for moderation this is not - all the energy on the Right is with the extremists.
The good folks at @liberalcurrents.com are regularly producing and publishing stuff that will actually make you think - and leave you better equipped to understand the political, intellectual, and historical forces that are shaping this moment.
Very much worth your support.
Very much worth your support.
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 is that. Help us grow our voice. www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
www.gofundme.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The good folks at @liberalcurrents.com are regularly producing and publishing stuff that will actually make you think - and leave you better equipped to understand the political, intellectual, and historical forces that are shaping this moment.
Very much worth your support.
Very much worth your support.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era: What becomes of MAGA as Donald Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era: What becomes of MAGA as Donald Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
(@thomaszimmer.bsky.social)
steady.page/en/592d8a22-...
Sunday evening reading: I wrote about the state of the fever swamp.
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Sunday evening reading: I wrote about the state of the fever swamp.
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era:
The long-simmering MAGA Civil War has been heating up. The tensions between the different factions are not new. But they were integrated via escalation and through Trump. As the revolutionary zeal tires out, however, and the frustrations are mounting, this doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The long-simmering MAGA Civil War has been heating up. The tensions between the different factions are not new. But they were integrated via escalation and through Trump. As the revolutionary zeal tires out, however, and the frustrations are mounting, this doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
Do not misread this moment: This is no revolt of the “moderates” on the Right that is potentially bringing Trump down, no uprising of the decent.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Do not misread this moment: This is no revolt of the “moderates” on the Right that is potentially bringing Trump down, no uprising of the decent.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
All the energy in the struggle for control of the Right is with the more extreme, most conspiratorial factions.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning?
A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Bluesky is labeling this post “sexually suggestive” because I am using Goya’s painting “Saturn devouring his son” from 1823, literally one of the most famous paintings in the world, as an illustration. And as a result, the post announcing my new piece gets almost no traction
Fucking stupid.
Fucking stupid.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Bluesky is labeling this post “sexually suggestive” because I am using Goya’s painting “Saturn devouring his son” from 1823, literally one of the most famous paintings in the world, as an illustration. And as a result, the post announcing my new piece gets almost no traction
Fucking stupid.
Fucking stupid.
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp
steady.page
November 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Into the Twilight of the Trump Era
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
What becomes of MAGA as Trump’s hold over the movement is weakening, his ability to integrate its different factions is waning? A deep dive into the state of the fever swamp.
New piece:
Trump is incapable of resisting charm, (male) charisma, and - most importantly - celebrity. He has an unquenchable desire to be near it, has been chasing it his whole life.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
Every article by a 'savvy' political analyst reads like a focus group transcript with a low-information voter.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
November 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Trump is incapable of resisting charm, (male) charisma, and - most importantly - celebrity. He has an unquenchable desire to be near it, has been chasing it his whole life.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
That's mostly it. Forget all the "He's a populist!" bullshit from both the centrist commentariat and the anti-liberal Left.
"his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy"
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy"
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
Beyond parody. And utterly disgusting.
The next time - and we all know it will be very soon - you encounter someone babbling about "leftwing cancel culture" as an an equivalent to (and perhaps even the cause of) the rightwing assault on free speech, please remember this.
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The next time - and we all know it will be very soon - you encounter someone babbling about "leftwing cancel culture" as an an equivalent to (and perhaps even the cause of) the rightwing assault on free speech, please remember this.
Reposted by Thomas Zimmer
Just started listening to the audiobook of Furious Minds and it’s as good as @thomaszimmer.bsky.social and @lioneltrolling.bsky.social say. Highly recommended. libro.fm/audiobooks/9...
November 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Just started listening to the audiobook of Furious Minds and it’s as good as @thomaszimmer.bsky.social and @lioneltrolling.bsky.social say. Highly recommended. libro.fm/audiobooks/9...