Jacob Hacker
@jacobhacker.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science; co-director, Ludwig Program on Public Leadership, Yale Law School; co-leader, Consortium on American Political Economy (CAPE); director, Yale American Political Economy eXchange (APEX); jacobhacker.com
Pinned
Jacob Hacker
@jacobhacker.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Here are some of the best voices -- mostly in political science but also in history, economics, law, and journalism -- on the increasingly fraught relationship between democracy and capitalism in the United States: go.bsky.app/M6p7Ahw
Republicans' hugely unpopular bill is law; will they pay the electoral price for it they should? My research with @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social for @equitablegrowth.bsky.social has good news: voters informed about the bill's effects overwhelmingly oppose it. equitablegrowth.org/americans-in...
Americans informed about the distributional effects of Republicans’ tax and budget bill overwhelmingly oppose it
Republicans’ tax and budget bill would, if enacted, be the most regressive U.S. tax and budget law in at least the past four decades.
equitablegrowth.org
July 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Republicans' hugely unpopular bill is law; will they pay the electoral price for it they should? My research with @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social for @equitablegrowth.bsky.social has good news: voters informed about the bill's effects overwhelmingly oppose it. equitablegrowth.org/americans-in...
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
This megabill GOP lawmakers are trying to shove through polls very poorly as is. And when Yale's @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Patrick Sullivan showed folks how the combined tax and spending cuts affect family finances, BOY did they hate it. Even Republicans thought it stunk! Via @motherjones.com
Ordinary Republicans hate Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill"—once they know what it does
Solid support turns to strong opposition, a new Yale study shows.
www.motherjones.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
This megabill GOP lawmakers are trying to shove through polls very poorly as is. And when Yale's @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Patrick Sullivan showed folks how the combined tax and spending cuts affect family finances, BOY did they hate it. Even Republicans thought it stunk! Via @motherjones.com
@justinwolfers.bsky.social discussing how unbelievably unpopular the Big Beautiful Bill becomes among REPUBLICANS when you show them how much it takes from ordinary Americans to pad the pockets of the rich, based on the survey @basicmountain.bsky.social and I did. Grateful he’s spreading the word!
"once you understand the reality of what this bill does, it turns out to be incredibly unpopular."
June 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
@justinwolfers.bsky.social discussing how unbelievably unpopular the Big Beautiful Bill becomes among REPUBLICANS when you show them how much it takes from ordinary Americans to pad the pockets of the rich, based on the survey @basicmountain.bsky.social and I did. Grateful he’s spreading the word!
Republicans recoil when they learn about the the reserve-Robin Hood effects of their own party's signature policy bill. Honestly, @basicmountain.bsky.social and I were gobsmacked by how large these effects were in our survey experiment. Also, @justinwolfers.bsky.social should create all our figures!
When Republican voters learn that the "Big Beautiful Bill" takes from the poor to give to the rich, they oppose it.
June 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Republicans recoil when they learn about the the reserve-Robin Hood effects of their own party's signature policy bill. Honestly, @basicmountain.bsky.social and I were gobsmacked by how large these effects were in our survey experiment. Also, @justinwolfers.bsky.social should create all our figures!
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
How Awful Is the Republican Megabill? Here Are Four of the Worst Parts.
(@jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social, New York Times-unlocked)
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
(@jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social, New York Times-unlocked)
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
Opinion | How Awful Is the Republican Megabill? Here Are Four of the Worst Parts.
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
How Awful Is the Republican Megabill? Here Are Four of the Worst Parts.
(@jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social, New York Times-unlocked)
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
(@jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social, New York Times-unlocked)
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
I don’t typically post much, but I’m excited to share a guest essay co-authored with @jacobhacker.bsky.social which was published today in the @nytimes.com, as well as two reports we just published at the @equitablegrowth.bsky.social on Republican’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
June 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I don’t typically post much, but I’m excited to share a guest essay co-authored with @jacobhacker.bsky.social which was published today in the @nytimes.com, as well as two reports we just published at the @equitablegrowth.bsky.social on Republican’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
"It would shift more resources up the income ladder than any bill passed since scorekeepers started keeping track."
In this opinion piece, @jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social highlight four most regressive aspects of the 'Big Beautiful Bill.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
In this opinion piece, @jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social highlight four most regressive aspects of the 'Big Beautiful Bill.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
Opinion | The Four Ugliest Points About the Big Beautiful Bill
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"It would shift more resources up the income ladder than any bill passed since scorekeepers started keeping track."
In this opinion piece, @jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social highlight four most regressive aspects of the 'Big Beautiful Bill.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
In this opinion piece, @jacobhacker.bsky.social and @patrick-sullivan.bsky.social highlight four most regressive aspects of the 'Big Beautiful Bill.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
It's the economy, stupid. Right? A new tool, now at Yale, seeks to rethink how we measure economic success: bit.ly/44fqeon @jacobhacker.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
It's the economy, stupid. Right? A new tool, now at Yale, seeks to rethink how we measure economic success: bit.ly/44fqeon @jacobhacker.bsky.social
Day 2 of "The Promises and challenges of Governance in Blue Trifectas" starts at noon ET today. Day 1 was revelatory, and today we have an amazing group of experts, advocates, and policymakers discussing housing affordability and decarbonization. Sign up below! 👇
Really excited about this online convening May 19-20 to better understand the contemporary challenges and opportunities of Democratic governance in blue trifectas. Important for housing, climate, inflation, and so much more -- especially today! Register: t.co/Pm4bIJHn1O
May 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Day 2 of "The Promises and challenges of Governance in Blue Trifectas" starts at noon ET today. Day 1 was revelatory, and today we have an amazing group of experts, advocates, and policymakers discussing housing affordability and decarbonization. Sign up below! 👇
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
Really excited about this online convening May 19-20 to better understand the contemporary challenges and opportunities of Democratic governance in blue trifectas. Important for housing, climate, inflation, and so much more -- especially today! Register: t.co/Pm4bIJHn1O
May 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Really excited about this online convening May 19-20 to better understand the contemporary challenges and opportunities of Democratic governance in blue trifectas. Important for housing, climate, inflation, and so much more -- especially today! Register: t.co/Pm4bIJHn1O
How the economic and political geography of the United States fuels right-wing populism—and what the Democratic Party can do about it…with Paul Pierson… via @equitablegrowth.bsky.social equitablegrowth.org/how-the-econ...
How the economic and political geography of the United States fuels right-wing populism—and what the Democratic Party can do about it
The shifting coalitional bases of America’s two major parties and how they are related to political-economic geography.
equitablegrowth.org
May 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
How the economic and political geography of the United States fuels right-wing populism—and what the Democratic Party can do about it…with Paul Pierson… via @equitablegrowth.bsky.social equitablegrowth.org/how-the-econ...
So grateful to be joining a truly amazing set of fellow fellows at the American Academy in Berlin (@americanacademy.bsky.social)--including @oonahathaway.bsky.social.
@cape-team.bsky.social is doubly represented with @chloethurston.bsky.social joining, too! www.americanacademy.de/announcing-t...
@cape-team.bsky.social is doubly represented with @chloethurston.bsky.social joining, too! www.americanacademy.de/announcing-t...
www.americanacademy.de
May 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
So grateful to be joining a truly amazing set of fellow fellows at the American Academy in Berlin (@americanacademy.bsky.social)--including @oonahathaway.bsky.social.
@cape-team.bsky.social is doubly represented with @chloethurston.bsky.social joining, too! www.americanacademy.de/announcing-t...
@cape-team.bsky.social is doubly represented with @chloethurston.bsky.social joining, too! www.americanacademy.de/announcing-t...
Really excited about this online convening May 19-20 to better understand the contemporary challenges and opportunities of Democratic governance in blue trifectas. Important for housing, climate, inflation, and so much more -- especially today! Register: t.co/Pm4bIJHn1O
May 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Really excited about this online convening May 19-20 to better understand the contemporary challenges and opportunities of Democratic governance in blue trifectas. Important for housing, climate, inflation, and so much more -- especially today! Register: t.co/Pm4bIJHn1O
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
The event will showcase speakers, including @jamiemccallum.bsky.social @adamdean.bsky.social @jacobhacker.bsky.social, along with moderators @jerusalem.bsky.social and Jia Lynn Yang, with more to come!
🚨 Also feat. former Sen. Sherrod Brown as a keynote speaker
RSVP ➡️ web.cvent.com/event/a88d72...
🚨 Also feat. former Sen. Sherrod Brown as a keynote speaker
RSVP ➡️ web.cvent.com/event/a88d72...
April 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The event will showcase speakers, including @jamiemccallum.bsky.social @adamdean.bsky.social @jacobhacker.bsky.social, along with moderators @jerusalem.bsky.social and Jia Lynn Yang, with more to come!
🚨 Also feat. former Sen. Sherrod Brown as a keynote speaker
RSVP ➡️ web.cvent.com/event/a88d72...
🚨 Also feat. former Sen. Sherrod Brown as a keynote speaker
RSVP ➡️ web.cvent.com/event/a88d72...
How do we reduce the appeal of right-wing populism in the U.S. through economic policy? Such a privilege to be part of this important effort tackling this fundamental question!
The essay accompanies an AMAZING set of essays we have from folks including @jacobhacker.bsky.social, @davidautor.bsky.social, @povertyscholar.bsky.social, @timbartik.bsky.social, @adamdean.bsky.social, Kathy Cramer, Jon Cohen, Yotam Margalit,and many others! 6/
May 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
How do we reduce the appeal of right-wing populism in the U.S. through economic policy? Such a privilege to be part of this important effort tackling this fundamental question!
This is what the American Political Economy eXchange (APEX) at Yale ISPS is all about!
Thank you so much to @jacobhacker.bsky.social @ispsyale.bsky.social for the opportunity to have presented yesterday on my findings on inequitable health insurance barriers and potential policy interventions to promote access (even in this political climate!). A real treat to have this conversation!
April 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This is what the American Political Economy eXchange (APEX) at Yale ISPS is all about!
Trump's nominated SSA commissioner, Frank Bisignano, a self-described “DOGE guy,” engineered the appointment of SSA CIO “wreck-it Mike” Russo. At his confirmation hearings, he’ll make the Acting Commissioner the fall guy. Democrats MUST push him to say he’s against the assault on Social Security!
The recently "retired" head of Social Security's research office gives a firsthand account of DOGE marauding to
@ncpssm.bsky.social
www.ncpssm.org/entitledtokn...
@ncpssm.bsky.social
www.ncpssm.org/entitledtokn...
Former Social Security Official Says Musk/DOGE Caused "Trauma and Chaos" at SSA - NCPSSM
Laura Haltzel is the first former Social Security Administration (SSA) official who was present for the Trump administration’s takeover of the agency to speak out publicly in an on the record intervie...
www.ncpssm.org
March 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Trump's nominated SSA commissioner, Frank Bisignano, a self-described “DOGE guy,” engineered the appointment of SSA CIO “wreck-it Mike” Russo. At his confirmation hearings, he’ll make the Acting Commissioner the fall guy. Democrats MUST push him to say he’s against the assault on Social Security!
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
The CR is obvs different, but Senate Democrats' behavior is reminiscent of the fact that on ave 48% of D senators voted for bills pertaining to GOP agenda (as IDed by Curry & Lee) each Congress w R trifecta, 2003-2022. The inverse for Rs is 12%
(from WIP w @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Paul Pierson)
(from WIP w @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Paul Pierson)
March 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The CR is obvs different, but Senate Democrats' behavior is reminiscent of the fact that on ave 48% of D senators voted for bills pertaining to GOP agenda (as IDed by Curry & Lee) each Congress w R trifecta, 2003-2022. The inverse for Rs is 12%
(from WIP w @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Paul Pierson)
(from WIP w @jacobhacker.bsky.social & Paul Pierson)
Senate Dems should have stood up just to exercise those atrophied muscles and inspire voters to stand up too. Trump is already shutting down the government. And they could have gotten the spotlight on Musk, which would have been good if they had a simple line (e.g., Musk is killing Social Security).
March 14, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Senate Dems should have stood up just to exercise those atrophied muscles and inspire voters to stand up too. Trump is already shutting down the government. And they could have gotten the spotlight on Musk, which would have been good if they had a simple line (e.g., Musk is killing Social Security).
DOGE is threatening huge damage to our greatest social program, Social Security.The National Academy of Social Insurance annually awards the Robert Ball Award. Every living award recipient (a group I gratefully belong to) demands reversal of these risky DOGE moves. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - Final - 3-13- 2025
STATEMENT ON DOGE THREATS TO SOCIAL SECURITY FROM RECIPIENTS OF THE ROBERT BALL AWARD OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY INSURANCE, MARCH 12, 2025 The Social Security Administration (SSA), which administers our...
docs.google.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:23 PM
DOGE is threatening huge damage to our greatest social program, Social Security.The National Academy of Social Insurance annually awards the Robert Ball Award. Every living award recipient (a group I gratefully belong to) demands reversal of these risky DOGE moves. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
@tomedsall.bsky.social generously quotes my claim that the Trump/Musk threat may push the party toward organizational/ governance reforms and greater economic populism. Not sure I'm a "Democratic optimist," but I'll take activating optimism over debilitating despair! www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/o...
Opinion | The Problem for Democratic Optimists
How much have Democrats learned from their ‘shattering defeat’?
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
@tomedsall.bsky.social generously quotes my claim that the Trump/Musk threat may push the party toward organizational/ governance reforms and greater economic populism. Not sure I'm a "Democratic optimist," but I'll take activating optimism over debilitating despair! www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/o...
Amid the deluge, read this warning from Henry Farrell and take action:
Trump is weaponizing financial payments: here's what you can do.
"Put more bluntly: the Trump administration is trying to turn private banks into enforcers ... If banks give in, it will be an enormous and dangerous step."
www.programmablemutter.com/p/trump-is-w...
"Put more bluntly: the Trump administration is trying to turn private banks into enforcers ... If banks give in, it will be an enormous and dangerous step."
www.programmablemutter.com/p/trump-is-w...
February 13, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Amid the deluge, read this warning from Henry Farrell and take action:
Reposted by Jacob Hacker
ICYMI: Emily Zackin & @chloethurston.bsky.social's The Political Development of Debt Relief reviewed by The Nation! Read CAPE's latest spotlight here: www.americanpoliticaleconomy.org/post/zackin-...
Emily Zackin & Chloe N. Thurston Reviewed by The Nation | Consortium on the American Political Economy
APE scholars Emily Zackin and Chloe N. Thurston's new book, The Political Development of American Debt Relief, is reviewed by The Nation.
www.americanpoliticaleconomy.org
November 13, 2024 at 4:55 PM
ICYMI: Emily Zackin & @chloethurston.bsky.social's The Political Development of Debt Relief reviewed by The Nation! Read CAPE's latest spotlight here: www.americanpoliticaleconomy.org/post/zackin-...