Thomas Zeitzoff
@zeitzoff.bsky.social
Professor @au-spa.bsky.social
Pol Violence | Pol Psychology
New Book: “NO OPTION BUT SABOTAGE”
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/no-option-but-sabotage-9780197796849
1st Book: "Nasty Politics"
https://www.zeitzoff.com/book-project.html
Pol Violence | Pol Psychology
New Book: “NO OPTION BUT SABOTAGE”
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/no-option-but-sabotage-9780197796849
1st Book: "Nasty Politics"
https://www.zeitzoff.com/book-project.html
2. This combination of unpopularity + economic trouble creates incentives for escalation: adventurism abroad (Venezuela) and repression at home (prosecuting political opponents).
AKA "gambling for resurrection."
AKA "gambling for resurrection."
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
2. This combination of unpopularity + economic trouble creates incentives for escalation: adventurism abroad (Venezuela) and repression at home (prosecuting political opponents).
AKA "gambling for resurrection."
AKA "gambling for resurrection."
A few things are true at once:
1. Trump is deeply unpopular and increasingly seen as a lame duck. The economy is also looking shaky.
And the Epstein Files.
1. Trump is deeply unpopular and increasingly seen as a lame duck. The economy is also looking shaky.
And the Epstein Files.
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
A few things are true at once:
1. Trump is deeply unpopular and increasingly seen as a lame duck. The economy is also looking shaky.
And the Epstein Files.
1. Trump is deeply unpopular and increasingly seen as a lame duck. The economy is also looking shaky.
And the Epstein Files.
Trump is still the charismatic leader and driver of the MAGA movement.
Yet, ambitious Republican politicians are already jockeying to inherit his base.
History and academic research suggest that replacing a charismatic leader is hard, and that they’ll struggle to replicate his appeal.
Yet, ambitious Republican politicians are already jockeying to inherit his base.
History and academic research suggest that replacing a charismatic leader is hard, and that they’ll struggle to replicate his appeal.
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Trump is still the charismatic leader and driver of the MAGA movement.
Yet, ambitious Republican politicians are already jockeying to inherit his base.
History and academic research suggest that replacing a charismatic leader is hard, and that they’ll struggle to replicate his appeal.
Yet, ambitious Republican politicians are already jockeying to inherit his base.
History and academic research suggest that replacing a charismatic leader is hard, and that they’ll struggle to replicate his appeal.
3) Given his unpopularity, watch for “gambling for resurrection” behavior in foreign policy. He and his advisors may try to escalate or manufacture crises to distract or recover his political support. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblin...
And at home, expect increased repression.
And at home, expect increased repression.
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
3) Given his unpopularity, watch for “gambling for resurrection” behavior in foreign policy. He and his advisors may try to escalate or manufacture crises to distract or recover his political support. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblin...
And at home, expect increased repression.
And at home, expect increased repression.
A few observations based on this week's election results
1) Trump is unpopular and the elections were a rebuke to him and his unpopular policies.
1) Trump is unpopular and the elections were a rebuke to him and his unpopular policies.
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
A few observations based on this week's election results
1) Trump is unpopular and the elections were a rebuke to him and his unpopular policies.
1) Trump is unpopular and the elections were a rebuke to him and his unpopular policies.
Big night for Big Candy!
November 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Big night for Big Candy!
The two competing dynamics that will define Trump's second term:
1) He wields more unchecked power than his first term—and arguably than any other president in history.
2) He is deeply unpopular, and getting more so.
1) He wields more unchecked power than his first term—and arguably than any other president in history.
2) He is deeply unpopular, and getting more so.
October 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The two competing dynamics that will define Trump's second term:
1) He wields more unchecked power than his first term—and arguably than any other president in history.
2) He is deeply unpopular, and getting more so.
1) He wields more unchecked power than his first term—and arguably than any other president in history.
2) He is deeply unpopular, and getting more so.
This previous paper had been my guide europepmc.org/article/ppr/...
October 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This previous paper had been my guide europepmc.org/article/ppr/...
Chili night in the DMV
October 26, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Chili night in the DMV
Suburban Maryland—great vibes!
October 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Suburban Maryland—great vibes!
I think there’s a comfort in blaming our current politics on social media.
When I think a boring but more accurate story is that plutocratic tech elites and right-wingers *made a lot of choices*.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...
When I think a boring but more accurate story is that plutocratic tech elites and right-wingers *made a lot of choices*.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...
October 14, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I think there’s a comfort in blaming our current politics on social media.
When I think a boring but more accurate story is that plutocratic tech elites and right-wingers *made a lot of choices*.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...
When I think a boring but more accurate story is that plutocratic tech elites and right-wingers *made a lot of choices*.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...
Some thoughts on where we are right now and the state of US democracy.
Trump is both deeply unpopular right now—and yet more politically powerful than during his first term, thanks to a pliant Congress and Supreme Court. That’s an uncertain, and dangerous, place to be.
Trump is both deeply unpopular right now—and yet more politically powerful than during his first term, thanks to a pliant Congress and Supreme Court. That’s an uncertain, and dangerous, place to be.
October 10, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Some thoughts on where we are right now and the state of US democracy.
Trump is both deeply unpopular right now—and yet more politically powerful than during his first term, thanks to a pliant Congress and Supreme Court. That’s an uncertain, and dangerous, place to be.
Trump is both deeply unpopular right now—and yet more politically powerful than during his first term, thanks to a pliant Congress and Supreme Court. That’s an uncertain, and dangerous, place to be.
L’shanah tova!
🍎 🍯
🍎 🍯
September 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
L’shanah tova!
🍎 🍯
🍎 🍯
Thanks to the folks at APSA for organizing a great conference, and Vancouver for being a great host city!
cc @janzilinsky.bsky.social
cc @janzilinsky.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Thanks to the folks at APSA for organizing a great conference, and Vancouver for being a great host city!
cc @janzilinsky.bsky.social
cc @janzilinsky.bsky.social
True! I just wanted to get a sense of the trends in assassinations over time.
But our gun ownership rate is total outlier. H/T @garciaponce.bsky.social
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimat...
But our gun ownership rate is total outlier. H/T @garciaponce.bsky.social
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimat...
September 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
True! I just wanted to get a sense of the trends in assassinations over time.
But our gun ownership rate is total outlier. H/T @garciaponce.bsky.social
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimat...
But our gun ownership rate is total outlier. H/T @garciaponce.bsky.social
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimat...
In contrast, President Trump has blamed the "radical left" for Kirk's assassination and vowed to "beat the hell out of them" (www.politico.com/news/2025/09...).
His supporters have taken note and have vowed revenge (www.reuters.com/world/us/rig...).
The U.S. is in a dangerous place.
His supporters have taken note and have vowed revenge (www.reuters.com/world/us/rig...).
The U.S. is in a dangerous place.
September 12, 2025 at 11:04 PM
In contrast, President Trump has blamed the "radical left" for Kirk's assassination and vowed to "beat the hell out of them" (www.politico.com/news/2025/09...).
His supporters have taken note and have vowed revenge (www.reuters.com/world/us/rig...).
The U.S. is in a dangerous place.
His supporters have taken note and have vowed revenge (www.reuters.com/world/us/rig...).
The U.S. is in a dangerous place.
Finally, as I found in research my on nasty politics, elite rhetoric matters—especially from national leaders.
Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, has sought to reduce the political temperature following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. www.axios.com/local/salt-l...
Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, has sought to reduce the political temperature following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. www.axios.com/local/salt-l...
September 12, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Finally, as I found in research my on nasty politics, elite rhetoric matters—especially from national leaders.
Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, has sought to reduce the political temperature following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. www.axios.com/local/salt-l...
Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, has sought to reduce the political temperature following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. www.axios.com/local/salt-l...
Assassinations peaked after the Civil War in the late 19th century, and again in the 1960s-1970s.
There’s been a recent uptick, but it’s still below the 1970s peak.
There’s been a recent uptick, but it’s still below the 1970s peak.
September 12, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Assassinations peaked after the Civil War in the late 19th century, and again in the 1960s-1970s.
There’s been a recent uptick, but it’s still below the 1970s peak.
There’s been a recent uptick, but it’s still below the 1970s peak.
Still, the bottom right for the next 3.5 years is going to be rough
August 27, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Still, the bottom right for the next 3.5 years is going to be rough
Spotted on the Beltway in DC— it’s a relatively new car, and a new bumper sticker.
August 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Spotted on the Beltway in DC— it’s a relatively new car, and a new bumper sticker.
Super important point buried in the 14th and 15th paragraphs:
Right-wing extremist groups have been relatively quiet because the Trump administration is carrying out much of their agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
Right-wing extremist groups have been relatively quiet because the Trump administration is carrying out much of their agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
August 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Super important point buried in the 14th and 15th paragraphs:
Right-wing extremist groups have been relatively quiet because the Trump administration is carrying out much of their agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
Right-wing extremist groups have been relatively quiet because the Trump administration is carrying out much of their agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
As the U.S. under Trump does everything it can to stop EVs, China is racing ahead
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
August 15, 2025 at 11:36 AM
As the U.S. under Trump does everything it can to stop EVs, China is racing ahead
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Fascinating paper by @haasvioleta.bsky.social and colleagues.
Using a field experiment around climate protests, they find that protests don't durable change bystander norms or attitudes, but they do change their immediate behavior.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Using a field experiment around climate protests, they find that protests don't durable change bystander norms or attitudes, but they do change their immediate behavior.
osf.io/preprints/os...
August 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Fascinating paper by @haasvioleta.bsky.social and colleagues.
Using a field experiment around climate protests, they find that protests don't durable change bystander norms or attitudes, but they do change their immediate behavior.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Using a field experiment around climate protests, they find that protests don't durable change bystander norms or attitudes, but they do change their immediate behavior.
osf.io/preprints/os...
If you want to understand the timing of Trump’s authoritarian political theater around DC policing, check out @janzilinsky.bsky.social in @goodauth.bsky.social.
He shows how critical coverage of Trump and Epstein spiked with both liberal & conservative media
goodauthority.org/news/the-eps...
He shows how critical coverage of Trump and Epstein spiked with both liberal & conservative media
goodauthority.org/news/the-eps...
August 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
If you want to understand the timing of Trump’s authoritarian political theater around DC policing, check out @janzilinsky.bsky.social in @goodauth.bsky.social.
He shows how critical coverage of Trump and Epstein spiked with both liberal & conservative media
goodauthority.org/news/the-eps...
He shows how critical coverage of Trump and Epstein spiked with both liberal & conservative media
goodauthority.org/news/the-eps...
We're hiring!
The @au-spa.bsky.social is hiring an assistant professor specializing in political violence and terrorism.
Deadline: September 22nd.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions!
See below for the job ad and application.
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
The @au-spa.bsky.social is hiring an assistant professor specializing in political violence and terrorism.
Deadline: September 22nd.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions!
See below for the job ad and application.
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
August 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We're hiring!
The @au-spa.bsky.social is hiring an assistant professor specializing in political violence and terrorism.
Deadline: September 22nd.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions!
See below for the job ad and application.
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
The @au-spa.bsky.social is hiring an assistant professor specializing in political violence and terrorism.
Deadline: September 22nd.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions!
See below for the job ad and application.
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...