Steven L. Taylor
@sltaylor.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus of PoliSci and former Dean of Arts & Sciences. My research is focused on comparative democratic institutions.🖖🤘
I write about politics at www.outsidethebeltway.com
I write about politics at www.outsidethebeltway.com
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Same week, y’all.
November 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Same week, y’all.
In Front of Our Noses: A President Who Calls for the Execution of Members of Congress – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/in-front-of-...
In Front of Our Noses: A President Who Calls for the Execution of Members of Congress – Outside the Beltway
outsidethebeltway.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
In Front of Our Noses: A President Who Calls for the Execution of Members of Congress – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/in-front-of-...
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
If an attractive young woman a third my age didn't want to date me, then why did she ask me for feedback on an economics paper?
by Larry Summers
by Larry Summers
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
If an attractive young woman a third my age didn't want to date me, then why did she ask me for feedback on an economics paper?
by Larry Summers
by Larry Summers
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Best case: The President of the United States knew about a pedophilia ring and did nothing to stop it.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
November 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Best case: The President of the United States knew about a pedophilia ring and did nothing to stop it.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Northern lights down south in Alabama.
November 12, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Northern lights down south in Alabama.
More on why it was always going to end this way, and an ongoing reminder about how American parties work.
Nonhierarchical Parties in Action – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/nonhierarchi...
Nonhierarchical Parties in Action – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/nonhierarchi...
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
More on why it was always going to end this way, and an ongoing reminder about how American parties work.
Nonhierarchical Parties in Action – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/nonhierarchi...
Nonhierarchical Parties in Action – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/nonhierarchi...
Shutdowns don't work to force majorities to make real concessions.
It Was Always Going to End This Way – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/it-was-alway...
It Was Always Going to End This Way – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/it-was-alway...
It Was Always Going to End This Way – Outside the Beltway
It all starts with this: I do not believe that there is any real chance for the Democrats to get what they want on healthcare. This is not a moment in which, this time, finally, the hostage-taking minority party is going to get what it wants.
outsidethebeltway.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Shutdowns don't work to force majorities to make real concessions.
It Was Always Going to End This Way – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/it-was-alway...
It Was Always Going to End This Way – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/it-was-alway...
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
The PR was fine. The polling was good. The ask was targeted. And it still didn't matter. You can't win real concessions so the question is whether the base likes a long fight with little to show for it or if it just angers them more because you caved in the end.
Shutting down is the easy part, starting up on your terms very hard. Maybe a lost shutdown fight would bring catharsis, but last time (DACA in 2018) it angered base & public because it was fruitless. Ask would need to be something Rep lawmakers want, not stop all Trump is doing
November 10, 2025 at 3:55 AM
The PR was fine. The polling was good. The ask was targeted. And it still didn't matter. You can't win real concessions so the question is whether the base likes a long fight with little to show for it or if it just angers them more because you caved in the end.
This largely fits my initial assessment as well.
I will probably get excommunicated from Bsky for saying that, but I can see a case for ending the shutdown now.
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
This largely fits my initial assessment as well.
I am open to someone explaining the counter position, but I can’t see how the Dems were ever going to get legislation on the ACA out of this confrontation. This was always about making a point about the GOP and health care. So, point made (along with clear cruelty and lack of caring Trump).
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I am open to someone explaining the counter position, but I can’t see how the Dems were ever going to get legislation on the ACA out of this confrontation. This was always about making a point about the GOP and health care. So, point made (along with clear cruelty and lack of caring Trump).
Seriously: what is the positive evidence of the value of the filibuster?
What actual compromise and negotiation does it regularly create?
A Question for the Filibuster – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/a-question-f...
What actual compromise and negotiation does it regularly create?
A Question for the Filibuster – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/a-question-f...
A Question for the Filibuster – Outside the Beltway
outsidethebeltway.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Seriously: what is the positive evidence of the value of the filibuster?
What actual compromise and negotiation does it regularly create?
A Question for the Filibuster – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/a-question-f...
What actual compromise and negotiation does it regularly create?
A Question for the Filibuster – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/a-question-f...
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
40 men Trump sent to CECOT tell the NYT they were beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted. The details are worse than you can imagine.
We can’t let them get away with this. Miller and the other architects of this sadism need to go to prison.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
We can’t let them get away with this. Miller and the other architects of this sadism need to go to prison.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
‘You Are All Terrorists’: Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:20 AM
40 men Trump sent to CECOT tell the NYT they were beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted. The details are worse than you can imagine.
We can’t let them get away with this. Miller and the other architects of this sadism need to go to prison.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
We can’t let them get away with this. Miller and the other architects of this sadism need to go to prison.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Happy Four Seasons Total Landscaping Day to all who celebrate. Five years now since the funniest political moment of my entire life.
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Happy Four Seasons Total Landscaping Day to all who celebrate. Five years now since the funniest political moment of my entire life.
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
If sandwich shops don’t start offering a sandwich named “the acquittal” then what are we even doing
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
If sandwich shops don’t start offering a sandwich named “the acquittal” then what are we even doing
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
remember all those hot takes during the primary about how Mamdani was the candidate for rich white liberals? a "champagne socialist" ?
yeah, about that
yeah, about that
November 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
remember all those hot takes during the primary about how Mamdani was the candidate for rich white liberals? a "champagne socialist" ?
yeah, about that
yeah, about that
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
ah, perhaps instead of pumping millions into endless factional infighting Dem donors could invest in making local Dem organizations genuine civic spaces that can reach people during and between elections
November 5, 2025 at 12:49 PM
ah, perhaps instead of pumping millions into endless factional infighting Dem donors could invest in making local Dem organizations genuine civic spaces that can reach people during and between elections
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Generally, when a party is trying to appeal to a new cohort of voters, they don’t send masked men to publicly kidnap and disappear thousands of members of that cohort.
Latinos in VA also moved hard back to the left from last year
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Generally, when a party is trying to appeal to a new cohort of voters, they don’t send masked men to publicly kidnap and disappear thousands of members of that cohort.
A bad night for Trump.
Thoughts on Outcomes – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/thoughts-on-...
Thoughts on Outcomes – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/thoughts-on-...
Thoughts on Outcomes – Outside the Beltway
outsidethebeltway.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
A bad night for Trump.
Thoughts on Outcomes – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/thoughts-on-...
Thoughts on Outcomes – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/thoughts-on-...
Some hope amid ongoing concern.
The Main Takeaway from Last Night: Democracy Lives – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/the-main-tak...
The Main Takeaway from Last Night: Democracy Lives – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/the-main-tak...
The Main Takeaway from Last Night: Democracy Lives – Outside the Beltway
outsidethebeltway.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Some hope amid ongoing concern.
The Main Takeaway from Last Night: Democracy Lives – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/the-main-tak...
The Main Takeaway from Last Night: Democracy Lives – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/the-main-tak...
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
Trump, holding the GOP in front of him as a shield from the bullets
November 5, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Trump, holding the GOP in front of him as a shield from the bullets
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
I know a lot of people are excited because Democrats are winning
But tonight I'll sleep easier knowing that its much harder for these proto-autocrats to consolidate their authoritarian regime after extremely strong public signals of discontent.
But tonight I'll sleep easier knowing that its much harder for these proto-autocrats to consolidate their authoritarian regime after extremely strong public signals of discontent.
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I know a lot of people are excited because Democrats are winning
But tonight I'll sleep easier knowing that its much harder for these proto-autocrats to consolidate their authoritarian regime after extremely strong public signals of discontent.
But tonight I'll sleep easier knowing that its much harder for these proto-autocrats to consolidate their authoritarian regime after extremely strong public signals of discontent.
Reposted by Steven L. Taylor
whatever you think about his policies, hard to deny that he is one hell of a talented politician
November 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
whatever you think about his policies, hard to deny that he is one hell of a talented politician