As we ask what the attacks on Iran have actually accomplished this year, it may be useful to reread a warning against such attacks that I posted 14 years ago, in 2012: econciv.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/s...

For 2026, 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, a new essay on how to defend democracy in America: home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/de... Instead of demagoguery & strategic neglect, America needs two parties listening to voters and competing to represent them in every part of every state.

In 1990, the introduction of local democracy in Russia created an irresistible force for popular accountability of government at all levels. The promise of local democracy in Russia was destroyed by Putin. Now he should be challenged to restore it. tippinsights.com/putin-should...

President Zelensky uses truth as the ultimate weapon for the defense of his nation. Everyone should read his letter to Putin.

Other key insights from Shane Massey in the SC Senate: "Republicans are stronger when the Democrat party is vibrant and viable... Competition makes you better, y'all." (See 25:20-26:45)

Shane Massey in SC Senate: "Regardless of who the President is, regardless of who's in charge, there has to be somebody in South Carolina who can make a phone call, and somebody at the White House will answer it... Our state is stronger with [two] vibrant parties." www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrRL...

"For years, Democrats in many Southern states have prioritized motivating voters in majority-minority districts. Now that cities like Memphis have been spread across 3 congressional districts, Democrats have to figure out how to appeal to white Southerners." www.thebulwark.com/p/a-democrat...

In 1990, the introduction of local democracy in Russia created an irresistible force for accountability of government at all levels. The promise of local democracy in Russia was destroyed by Putin. Now he should be challenged to restore it. @projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/n2qYi8s?refe...

"Trump’s initial post about removing US troops from Germany came just hours after he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long sought to reduce the number of NATO troops in Europe... "The Pentagon 'was not expecting it'... www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

Hungary's democrats succeeded by reaching beyond the capital, rallying voters in small towns across the country. Democrats seeking lessons from the victory over Orban should not miss this one: Listen to voters everywhere, even in the authoritarian leader's core base. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/w...

Under the SAVE Act, if the FBI could find anyone in a state registered to vote without proof of citizenship, the White House could threaten election officials with criminal prosecution. Requests to find 11,780 more votes would become much harder to refuse. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

#NoKings in Chicago.

A pattern seems to be emerging: Might the ultimate result of this Iran War just be to end US sanctions on Iran, leaving the current regime in place, with Trump Administration still looking strong because it bombed Iran before making this concession?

Here in Boston on March 17, 1776, Evacuation Day, Americans can find the roots and true meaning of our Second Amendment.

@pkrugman.bsky.social raises a vital point. At $1 billion/day, six weeks of the air war on Iran would cost as much as a year of US military support for Ukraine. Which would do more for US national security? The answer may be debated, but the question is essential for America.

An outstanding expert on international trade clarifies the key point: Tariffs as an instrument of arbitrary power have been dismantled.

In "Why Empires Fall," Peter Heather & John Rapley explain that the Roman Empire fell, not from internal decline, but because its external rivals had become richer and better organized, generally in response to challenges and opportunities from the Romans. www.penguin.co.uk/books/313711...

Now is the time for the President of Harvard to begin an extensive tour of Harvard Clubs in states that voted for Trump. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

It is worth noting the parallels between Boston in 1774 and Minneapolis in 2026. The United States was born when Americans everywhere supported Boston against George III. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/b...

In the real world, power depends on trust. A US attack on a NATO ally would decimate American power. The Kremlin knows this. Does Congress? www.reuters.com/world/senior...

Might the ultimate result of Maduro's abduction just be to let the Trump Administration look strong while it ends sanctions and starts buying Venezuelan oil? We may expect Nicolas Maduro to ultimately get comfortable asylum in Moscow.

Five years ago.

An important warning from Mark Hertling in The Bulwark: www.thebulwark.com/p/what-regim...

Why is the US National Security Strategy for Primacy of Nations against "sovereignty-sapping incursions" of transnational organizations? This indefensible position would have opposed creation of the US federal system that intrusively organized 13 sovereign states. www.jstor.org/stable/48573...

At this holiday season, we should remember people in Ukraine and their fight for freedom. I am proud to support @razomforukraine.org and the Kyiv School of Economics, which is helping to build a brighter future in Ukraine. foundation.kse.ua/en/

The Trump administration implicitly recognized the potential need for state-building in the 2025 National Security Strategy: "We want to ensure that the Western Hemisphere remains reasonably stable and well-governed enough to prevent and discourage mass migration to the United States."

🔔 👀 BEAMAN: “IT WAS A FAIR ELECTION.” Tennessee Republican megadonor Lee Beaman, a Trump TVA board appointee, admits to @schiff.senate.gov he no longer believes the 2020 election was stolen, after previously calling for alternate electors. Seems like a big deal! 🤷🏼

There is zero excuse for police, in a free society, to wear a mask. Cowards

Prism has published "Decentralized Stabilization Assistance," on general lessons from failed state-building missions. A strong democratic system must be rooted in local politics throughout the nation. State-building missions fail when local politics is ignored. home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/re...

Patriotic Americans are gathering peacefully on Oct 18 to affirm the democratic constitutional values on which this great country was founded. #nokings This economist will be in the crowd with an American flag here in Chicago. www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

A manifesto calling for red-state Democrats to lead in the political revival of our great country: thehill.com/opinion/camp...

Good for him. More of this. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Even as the President sends troops to Chicago where I live, I affirm that local Democrats in red states are also on the front line for defense of democracy in America today. They need more support from @democrats.org. thehill.com/opinion/camp... #DemocracyInAmerica

What would Texans say if the President sent Illinois Guard troops to patrol their town? The Second Amendment affirms that people's right to keep local order by locally accountable forces is necessary to the security of a free state. This right is vital for all of us. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Defending democracy is fundamentally different from winning elections when rules of democracy can be taken for granted. In a must-read article, @jvl.bsky.social observes that "Democrats are negotiating about policy when they should be negotiating about power." www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-...

The President's threats to unseat congressional representatives by endorsing primary challengers is a profound change in America. In 1913-1960 Presidents rarely endorsed primary challengers against incumbents in their own party, and half these challengers lost. See Riker&Bast doi.org/10.1007/978-...

A new paper revisits results of Thomas Worrall 1990: In the long run, incentive-constrained risk-averse agents tend to be enriched with competitive credit, but impoverished with monopolistic credit. But agents prefer the insurance that a credit monopolist can offer. home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/re...

What should Democrats stand for? Democrats should be the party that does not just march to its Leader’s command, but everywhere supports candidates who focus on their local voters' concerns and who work for practical solutions in a broad coalition. thehill.com/opinion/camp...

The second amendment guarantees the right to a militia to guard against federal tyranny. But if a president can use that force against its own state, against the wishes of that state, then it is no militia at all and a clear violation of the second amendment.

America's Founders would have been shocked by any suggestion of a President sending troops to cities where local authorities have kept order. If police had existed in 1791, the 2nd Amendment might have also affirmed people's right to well-regulated local policing. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/u...

ICYMI

Netanyahu's government has vowed to eliminate Hamas but has supported no alternative leadership for the people of Gaza. This basic contradiction has prevented Israel's invasion from achieving any positive political result beyond horrific suffering and destruction. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/w...

What is the real end of midterm redistricting? New maps in red & blue states send a message that "both parties manipulate elections, so condemning election interference is hypocrisy," priming people to accept 2026 election interference with all POTUS's power on one side. thehill.com/homenews/cam...

"Blackmailing was nearly ubiquitous. Across five different frontier AI models from five different companies, the best behaving AIs chose blackmail 79 percent of the time. The worst behaved blackmailed in 96 percent of cases." I'm sorry, Dave; I can't do that. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/ai-m...

A President with a nationwide force for mass arrests would be among the worst fears of America's Founders. They faced such issues in Fugitive Slave Acts, which mandated arrests by local officials & private slave-catchers, with certification under federal courts. www.thebulwark.com/p/the-worst-...

To mark 80 years since the Trinity Test, an outstanding group of scientists, diplomats, and journalists assembled in Chicago for 3 days of intense discussion about the prevention of nuclear war. I was proud to participate and support the group's final declaration. thebulletin.org/2025/07/the-...

What should Democrats stand for? Democrats should be the party that does not just march to its Leader’s command, but everywhere supports candidates who focus on their local voters' concerns and who work for practical solutions in a broad coalition. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...

Announcing ruinous tariffs brings world leaders as supplicants to the White House, which makes a POTUS feel strong. Why would he want to stop this for some deal that just benefits others? But still some "hope that that these tariffs are a means and not solely an end." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/b...

Are you: ✅ A young scholar in econ, poli sci, or law ✅ Working on institutions, broadly defined ✅ Interested in spending a week in Italy with amazing faculty If so, please apply to this year’s Coase Institute Workshop! It’s a transformative experience for many, and always fun. I’ll be there.