Nicholas Grossman
@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
International Relations prof at U. Illinois. Editor of Arc Digital. Author “Drones and Terrorism.” Politics, national security, and occasional nerdery.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
"The Appeasement Eight gave Republicans bipartisan cover, and established another point of leverage Trump has over Congressional Dems...in a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Therefore, preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move."
Yep:
Yep:
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"The Appeasement Eight gave Republicans bipartisan cover, and established another point of leverage Trump has over Congressional Dems...in a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Therefore, preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move."
Yep:
Yep:
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
This sums it up nicely
The harm caused by the shutdown was real, affecting millions, and no one should downplay that. But America is not in a situation of harm or no harm. Rapidly backsliding into authoritarianism, America is in a terrible situation where appeasement trades short-term relief for more long-term harm.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This sums it up nicely
Good read by @jilldlawrence.bsky.social about Elise Stefanik, who started as a smart conservative, went all in on MAGA, got her nomination to UN Ambassador yanked, and is now attempting to run for governor of New York.
Elise Stefanik’s Bad Bet on MAGA Politics
For a promise of power, she has let herself be yanked around. Now she’s launched a Trumpian campaign for governor of New York.
www.thebulwark.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Good read by @jilldlawrence.bsky.social about Elise Stefanik, who started as a smart conservative, went all in on MAGA, got her nomination to UN Ambassador yanked, and is now attempting to run for governor of New York.
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Hoax (noun): Something real that actually happened that one dislikes and would've preferred hadn't happened
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
Trump in lengthy new post says he will reward air traffic controllers who have worked through the shutdown, punish those who took time off.
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Hoax (noun): Something real that actually happened that one dislikes and would've preferred hadn't happened
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
“We will keep fighting.”
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Democrats have been fighting for months to address America's healthcare crisis
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
“We will keep fighting.”
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
It’s not left v. center or progressive v. liberal or anything like that. It’s fight v. don’t fight.
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
It’s not left v. center or progressive v. liberal or anything like that. It’s fight v. don’t fight.
Capitulating Democratic senators waited until after the election, indicating they know capitulation was a bad politics that bothers their voters and reduces their chances of retaking power.
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Capitulating Democratic senators waited until after the election, indicating they know capitulation was a bad politics that bothers their voters and reduces their chances of retaking power.
The craziest part is that Republicans could’ve ended the shutdown on their own anytime they wanted. 50 senators is all it would take.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The craziest part is that Republicans could’ve ended the shutdown on their own anytime they wanted. 50 senators is all it would take.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
“I also think it’s highly significant that we’ll have 3 year-long appropriations bills attached,” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said.🤦♀️WHAT GOOD are those bipartisan bills if Trump spends taxpayer $s however he wants, whatever the Constitution says? www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
“I also think it’s highly significant that we’ll have 3 year-long appropriations bills attached,” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said.🤦♀️WHAT GOOD are those bipartisan bills if Trump spends taxpayer $s however he wants, whatever the Constitution says? www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Teaching the Trump administration that disrupting air travel gets them what they want would be a bad idea. They’d pull that lever again.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Teaching the Trump administration that disrupting air travel gets them what they want would be a bad idea. They’d pull that lever again.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
Dear the Bills,
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Dear the Bills,
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Opinion | Democrats shouldn’t bail out Trump as the shutdown drags on
The best time for the opposition to take a stand, rather than settle for untrustworthy promises, is right now.
www.msnbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
been doing some light reading about the aftermath of the korean dictatorship and I think it's really important that we repeat this to ourselves, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our politicians
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
been doing some light reading about the aftermath of the korean dictatorship and I think it's really important that we repeat this to ourselves, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our politicians
Another pardoned January 6 attacker arrested and charged with other, new felonies (in this case, kidnapping and sexual assault).
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
A Trump supporter who fired off a gun during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol was arrested last month on kidnapping and sexual assault charges, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois.
Former Jan. 6 defendant arrested on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges
The Utah man was previously charged with firing a gun outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
www.nbcnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Another pardoned January 6 attacker arrested and charged with other, new felonies (in this case, kidnapping and sexual assault).
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
Democrats ran a variety of candidates in 2025, who tailored campaigns to their constituents—all anti-Trump, but offering different economic specifics based on their locales.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
This NYT framing is ludicrously overstated. Sure, there are primaries. But if anything, the results showed a lot of Dems that there's a way to unify the factions around anti-Trump and affordability politics (as I try to argue in the piece/thread below).
November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Democrats ran a variety of candidates in 2025, who tailored campaigns to their constituents—all anti-Trump, but offering different economic specifics based on their locales.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
The lies can work when they're about abstractions or something distant, which few can evaluate themselves. Vaguely-defined voter fraud in another state, for example.
The lies falter when they try to tell the public that something many are directly experiencing isn't happening. See also: COVID.
The lies falter when they try to tell the public that something many are directly experiencing isn't happening. See also: COVID.
I was really worried about this basic idea. Propaganda being able to overcome facts on the ground.
But I think they picked the wrong fight here. Inflation, shutdown, deportation. These aren’t fooling people.
Maybe an “insurrection” following violent protests would have been a better issue.
But I think they picked the wrong fight here. Inflation, shutdown, deportation. These aren’t fooling people.
Maybe an “insurrection” following violent protests would have been a better issue.
The whole GOP shutdown strategy is hoping that sheer force of propaganda can convince the public that things getting worse does not reflect badly on the people in charge of the government, and that hurting America more will get Democrats to acquiesce to the Trump admin hurting America in other ways.
November 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The lies can work when they're about abstractions or something distant, which few can evaluate themselves. Vaguely-defined voter fraud in another state, for example.
The lies falter when they try to tell the public that something many are directly experiencing isn't happening. See also: COVID.
The lies falter when they try to tell the public that something many are directly experiencing isn't happening. See also: COVID.
Interesting how when someone criticizing Musk or Trump hits on something real, they try to counter by calling the person (usually a woman) "mean" or "nasty."
Such weak little men. Some of history's most pathetic "can dish it out but can't take it." Can practically hear them going "mods! mods!"
Such weak little men. Some of history's most pathetic "can dish it out but can't take it." Can practically hear them going "mods! mods!"
November 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Interesting how when someone criticizing Musk or Trump hits on something real, they try to counter by calling the person (usually a woman) "mean" or "nasty."
Such weak little men. Some of history's most pathetic "can dish it out but can't take it." Can practically hear them going "mods! mods!"
Such weak little men. Some of history's most pathetic "can dish it out but can't take it." Can practically hear them going "mods! mods!"
Foreign aid is a tiny fraction of the federal budget, less than 1%, but commonly assumed to be much higher. And the strategic and humanitarian benefits of the aid are large.
Besides, we've cut a lot (illegally) thanks to DOGE. Are unemployment, poverty, healthcare, and education better as a result?
Besides, we've cut a lot (illegally) thanks to DOGE. Are unemployment, poverty, healthcare, and education better as a result?
The entire project here is so cynical. "We have to end foreign aid until we fix unemployment and bad schools!"
ok are you working to fix those problems?
"No."
ok are you working to fix those problems?
"No."
November 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Foreign aid is a tiny fraction of the federal budget, less than 1%, but commonly assumed to be much higher. And the strategic and humanitarian benefits of the aid are large.
Besides, we've cut a lot (illegally) thanks to DOGE. Are unemployment, poverty, healthcare, and education better as a result?
Besides, we've cut a lot (illegally) thanks to DOGE. Are unemployment, poverty, healthcare, and education better as a result?
Doublethink might’ve finally reached a limit in (1) “we’re totally in charge, nothing can stand in our way, everything is great” and (2) “things are awful and getting worse, we’re powerless, it’s all the minority party’s doing.”
Especially when the people in charge grin as they say “getting worse.”
Especially when the people in charge grin as they say “getting worse.”
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Doublethink might’ve finally reached a limit in (1) “we’re totally in charge, nothing can stand in our way, everything is great” and (2) “things are awful and getting worse, we’re powerless, it’s all the minority party’s doing.”
Especially when the people in charge grin as they say “getting worse.”
Especially when the people in charge grin as they say “getting worse.”
The whole GOP shutdown strategy is hoping that sheer force of propaganda can convince the public that things getting worse does not reflect badly on the people in charge of the government, and that hurting America more will get Democrats to acquiesce to the Trump admin hurting America in other ways.
Sean Duffy: "We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays, they want to see their family. Listen, many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane."
November 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The whole GOP shutdown strategy is hoping that sheer force of propaganda can convince the public that things getting worse does not reflect badly on the people in charge of the government, and that hurting America more will get Democrats to acquiesce to the Trump admin hurting America in other ways.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
They've already murdered someone in my city, shot another woman, zip tied children, tear gassed an elementary school, and broke six ribs of a bystander.
The president of the United States of America says: that's not enough.
The president of the United States of America says: that's not enough.
"No. I think they haven't gone far enough because we've been held back by the – by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama," Trump replied.
Read more here: www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...
Read more here: www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...
Trump backs ICE raid tactics, says they 'haven't gone far enough'
President Donald Trump said he believes his immigration deportation goals will be achieved when around 25 million people are deported.
www.foxnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
They've already murdered someone in my city, shot another woman, zip tied children, tear gassed an elementary school, and broke six ribs of a bystander.
The president of the United States of America says: that's not enough.
The president of the United States of America says: that's not enough.