Michael Podhorzer
@mikepod.bsky.social
📤 120462
📥 290
📝 570
Former political director, AFL-CIO. Senior fellow, CAP. My Substack: www.weekendreading.net
pinned post!
Are we on the brink of a constitutional crisis? No—we’re already in one, and have been for two decades. Here, I explain how even progressive legal experts have enabled this coup, and how we can start to reclaim our own power to decide constitutional meaning.
www.weekendreading.net/p/the-courts...
loading . . .
The Courts Will Not Save Us
We must resist the learned helplessness of judicial supremacy.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/the-courts-will-not-save-us
8 months ago
19
516
250
Join me live with Esosa Osa of Onyx Impact at 2:30 pm ET! We'll talk about their new report (
blackoutreport.org/report/?utm_...
) showing over 15,000 instances of the Trump regime suppressing info about Black history, health, education, and economic opportunity.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: WER Live with Esosa Osa
Starting Nov 6 at 2:30 PM EST
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/75914?r=103bk&utm_medium=ios
about 23 hours ago
1
4
0
Unpacking last night's election results and more, with
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
www.weekendreading.net/p/why-democr...
loading . . .
Why Democrats Dominated
Meeting the Moment with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/why-democrats-dominated
2 days ago
0
7
4
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Anat Shenker-Osorio
2 days ago
Mamdani is a Magnetist. And last night showed the credulity chasm is closing.
www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...
loading . . .
Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight
“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a-survey-to-a-gun-fight
2
46
15
Tune in at 1pm! We'll talk about last night's election results, what they mean, and what's next, and take your questions.
add a skeleton here at some point
2 days ago
0
2
0
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Murshed Zaheed
10 days ago
“Stop conferring symmetry where there is none. Stop calling capture “jurisprudence.” Stop laundering tyranny as “the [
#SCOTUS
] decisions.” Name shadowcasters, not the shadows. Then act as if the govt belongs to the people who live under it—because if we don’t, it never will.”
@mikepod.bsky.social
🔥
loading . . .
Calling This Court "Supreme" Is Obeying in Advance
When will legal elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelpodhorzer/p/calling-this-court-supreme-is-obeying?r=brec&utm_medium=ios
5
165
47
1️⃣ Calling This Court “Supreme” Is Obeying in Advance When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law? Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?
loading . . .
Calling This Court "Supreme" Is Obeying in Advance
When will legal elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/calling-this-court-supreme-is-obeying
10 days ago
2
59
25
Join me at 1pm ET on Substack Live for an interview with Harvard Law Professor Michael Klarman to discuss his essential work on the Constitution and the Supreme Court.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Weekend Reading Live with Michael Klarman
Starting Oct 23 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/71481?r=103bk&utm_medium=ios
15 days ago
0
3
2
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
23 days ago
Join
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
again today @ 1pm ET for Meeting the Moment on Substack! Live stream here:
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Meeting the Moment with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Oct 15 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/68570
0
1
1
The Roberts Court could use this case to rig Congress in Republicans' favor for at least a generation:
www.politico.com/f/?id=000001...
loading . . .
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000199-c097-dae2-ab9d-ded7d6fb0000
30 days ago
5
30
20
Join me and
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
at 1pm today! We'll discuss the new Roberts Court term and Anat's vital new piece about why "Pollingism" has failed Democrats and voters (
www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...
)
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Meeting the Moment with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Oct 8 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/66259?r=103bk&utm_medium=ios
about 1 month ago
0
25
6
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Jen Mercieca
about 1 month ago
This is a long, thoughtful, and brilliant post about how to understand political campaigning & strategy from one of the progressive left's most brilliant thinkers and practitioners
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
. Read it and listen to her: Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight
open.substack.com/pub/michaelp...
loading . . .
Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight
“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelpodhorzer/p/bringing-a-survey-to-a-gun-fight?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
13
250
129
ICYMI, a tour de force guest post at Weekend Reading by
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
0
35
17
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Anat Shenker-Osorio
about 1 month ago
Here it is, my answer for every time I get asked "why don't (most) Dems just...[message better, be bolder, sound authentic...etc]"
www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...
loading . . .
Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight
“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a-survey-to-a-gun-fight?r=318cl8&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
16
340
153
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Please join me on Substack Live today at 2pm ET with
@thelisagraves.bsky.social
. Her must-read new book "Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights" breaks much new ground on how we got here.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Weekend Reading Live with Lisa Graves
Starting Oct 1 at 2:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/64292?r=103bk&utm_medium=ios
about 1 month ago
2
13
5
Please join me on Substack Live today at 2pm ET with
@thelisagraves.bsky.social
. Her must-read new book "Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights" breaks much new ground on how we got here.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Weekend Reading Live with Lisa Graves
Starting Oct 1 at 2:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/64292?r=103bk&utm_medium=ios
about 1 month ago
2
13
5
New at Weekend Reading: What the Kimmel dust-up tells us about the demise of free speech. This incident felt like state censorship—but Kimmel’s suspension and un-suspension were both business decisions. And we almost never notice or object to the ways that censorship has been privatized. 🧵
loading . . .
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Lives On While the Oligarchs' Power Grab Rolls On
What the Kimmel dustup tells us about the demise of free speech
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/jimmy-kimmel-live-lives-on-while
about 1 month ago
3
35
11
It’s no accident that authoritarians like Trump attack both public education and the labor movement. Great chat with
@rweingarten.bsky.social
on why fascists fear teachers:
www.weekendreading.net/p/randi-wein...
loading . . .
Randi Weingarten on Why Fascists Fear Teachers
A recording of Weekend Reading Live
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/randi-weingarten-on-why-fascists
about 1 month ago
1
30
17
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
about 1 month ago
Today @ 1pm ET - join
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on Substack Live. Join the live chat here:
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Meeting the Moment with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Sep 24 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/62157
1
1
2
A geeky deep-dive on opinion research and message testing with
@farrahbostic.bsky.social
www.weekendreading.net/p/how-to-fix...
loading . . .
How to Fix Democrats' Brand Problem
Start by treating it like an actual brand. With Farrah Bostic on Weekend Reading Live.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/how-to-fix-democrats-brand-problem
about 2 months ago
1
20
6
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Laurence H. Tribe
about 2 months ago
And remember: it’s not just corporations, it’s wealth however packaged that drives politics — — unless effectively constrained by law as made by and for ordinary people, not just the wealthy or the elite
add a skeleton here at some point
19
313
119
New at Weekend Reading: John Dewey warned us: big business casts the shadow we call politics. Today, we ignore the shadow-casters, construing their shadows—politicians and their campaigns—to be the whole story.
www.weekendreading.net/p/shadows-an...
loading . . .
Shadows and Shadow Casters
Politics is about power.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/shadows-and-shadow-casters
about 2 months ago
4
57
33
Join me on Substack Live at 1pm ET with
@farrahbostic.bsky.social
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Weekend Reading Live with Farrah Bostic
Starting Sep 17 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/60092
about 2 months ago
0
3
1
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
🗽LOLGOP🗽
about 2 months ago
Get this in your brain. Listening to it for the second time and it just keeps hitting harder. I’m going to pull some clips of
@mikepod.bsky.social
and
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
don’t mind.
add a skeleton here at some point
2
16
1
This was such a rich and wide-ranging conversation with
@ositanwanevu.com
about his essential new book—what democracy means, how to make it real, and how to bring back the lost understanding of “economic democracy.”
www.weekendreading.net/p/osita-nwan...
loading . . .
Osita Nwanevu on Democracy (Part 1)
A recording of our live conversation.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/osita-nwanevu-on-democracy-part-1
about 2 months ago
1
23
2
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
about 2 months ago
"No dollars for dictatorship."
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
this week on Substack Live.
loading . . .
A New World Struggles to Be Born
Substack Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://substack.com/home/post/p-173118146
2
37
15
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Join me and
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
on Substack Live at 1pm ET! We'll take your questions and discuss my new Weekend Reading post (publishing momentarily!), how to frame the government shutdown fight, and the latest Robert's Court ruling.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Conversation with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Sep 10 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/57641
about 2 months ago
0
9
4
Weekend Reading is back! Today’s post: “Monsters and their Enablers”—on how we got to this moment, why we’re trapped in an interregnum where monsters thrive, and what it will take to chart a new way forward.
loading . . .
Monsters and Their Enablers
A Weekend Reading Reboot
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/monsters-and-their-enablers
about 2 months ago
2
23
6
Join me and
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
on Substack Live at 1pm ET! We'll take your questions and discuss my new Weekend Reading post (publishing momentarily!), how to frame the government shutdown fight, and the latest Robert's Court ruling.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Conversation with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Sep 10 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/57641
about 2 months ago
0
9
4
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
"The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters." -Gramsci We have to be part of the birth of a new, better America. And the same leaders who got us here won't be the ones who get us out.
www.weekendreading.net/p/a-consumer...
loading . . .
2 months ago
2
98
23
"The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters." -Gramsci We have to be part of the birth of a new, better America. And the same leaders who got us here won't be the ones who get us out.
www.weekendreading.net/p/a-consumer...
loading . . .
2 months ago
2
98
23
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
2 months ago
"People have to be inspired to go out and vote...as a hell no... and as a clap back."
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on Weekend Reading this week.
loading . . .
A Consumer's Guide to "Resistance" Discourse
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://substack.com/home/post/p-172606013
1
9
5
Missing here is the reality that mainstream media—and even many “progressive” Substacks—largely ignore union voices. Then their own disregard becomes evidence that there’s nothing to regard. If a tree falls in the forest but no one has the forest beat or takes forestry seriously, would anyone know?
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
1
40
17
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
For all the hand-wringing over Democrats losing "the working class," union members actually shifted toward Harris in 2024. And beyond voting, unions are the one institution equipped to channel our collective will to resist authoritarianism into collective action to stop it.
loading . . .
Labor Day Resistance and Refusal
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/labor-day-resistance-and-refusal
2 months ago
5
73
20
This is literally the largest act of union busting in American history.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/u...
loading . . .
Trump Orders Have Stripped Nearly Half a Million Federal Workers of Union Rights
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/us/politics/trumps-unions-federal-workers.html
2 months ago
20
1053
500
For all the hand-wringing over Democrats losing "the working class," union members actually shifted toward Harris in 2024. And beyond voting, unions are the one institution equipped to channel our collective will to resist authoritarianism into collective action to stop it.
loading . . .
Labor Day Resistance and Refusal
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/labor-day-resistance-and-refusal
2 months ago
5
73
20
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
2 months ago
"If you'd like to know who has taken your money - here's a hint: it's the people with all the money."
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on Weekend Reading.
#Unions
#LaborDay
loading . . .
Labor Day Resistance and Refusal
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://substack.com/home/post/p-172080130
0
80
21
Unions are our best and most proven defense against oligarchy and authoritarianism—which is why the Trump regime is trying to take labor rights back to the 1920s. I discussed this and more with
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
www.weekendreading.net/p/labor-day-...
loading . . .
Labor Day Resistance and Refusal
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/labor-day-resistance-and-refusal
2 months ago
2
48
23
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
2 months ago
Today @ 4pm ET join
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on Substack LIVE to hear their thoughts on the latest fascist power grabs by the Trump regime, and, in anticipation of Labor Day, the role of labor unions and working people in fighting back. Live stream here:
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Conversation with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Aug 27 at 4:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/54289?&utm_campaign=Messaging&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8vem7E9HS4GfYXjWM4cD-ym_3YIIbCs0Tw2oVG3OwGpfb4-R3Wx3AI1B-AxD5kc6JeLafx9PhsvnUrmfrslUSjA4Gs0el5M_wvJFYFL7oySMzmzC4&_hsmi=377792376&utm_content=377792376&utm_source=hs_email
0
7
3
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
3 months ago
"The only way to stop a bully is to face them and make clear WE draw the line. That's why California voters are taking power into our own hands to ensure that our elections allow the will of the people to prevail."
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on
#WeekendReading
loading . . .
Redistricting: We Draw the Line
WER Live with Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://substack.com/home/post/p-171467777
2
28
3
Here's an old writeup of the point I made on
@talkingfeds.bsky.social
about redistricting. Why does Texas even have 5 more seats to gerrymander? Because earlier gerrymandering focused on making it almost impossible to vote out MAGA insurrectionists:
www.weekendreading.net/p/you-cant-g...
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
0
23
4
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Jim Carroll
3 months ago
@mikepod.bsky.social
and
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
are great for understanding the D.C. occupation, particularly on not falling for Trump's canard that this is all about crime. 9/
www.weekendreading.net/p/the-maga-r...
loading . . .
The MAGA Regime Comes for D.C.
With Anat Shenker-Osorio on WER Live
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/the-maga-regime-comes-for-dc
1
6
1
Essential reading.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
loading . . .
The umpire who picked a side: John Roberts and the death of rule of law in America
The chief justice of the US has painted himself as a modern institutionalist over the past 20 years. Experts say he’s emboldening Trump’s drive toward authoritarianism
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/aug/21/justice-john-roberts-supreme-court
3 months ago
11
102
50
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Harry Litman
3 months ago
Here you have it, an ALL NEW
@talkingfeds.bsky.social
w/ a stellar roundtable of
@mikepod.bsky.social
,
@stuartpstevens.bsky.social
&
@jacobweisberg.bsky.social
. Trump’s pretextual invasion of DC; gerrymandering wars in TX & CA; & an overall analysis of what ails the Dems. Link at
bit.ly/CheckpointTF
3
54
14
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Jen Rubin
3 months ago
Americans should seize the opportunity on Labor Day to join union members and leaders (who have been front and center in fighting authoritarianism) to protest peacefully.There are few more effective ways to show the bully-in-chief who still holds power
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-cri...
loading . . .
Trump’s "Crime" Canard
The battle in D.C. is every American’s fight
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-crime-canard
12
270
65
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Talking Feds with Harry Litman
3 months ago
In “Checkpoint D.C.,”
@mikepod.bsky.social
,
@stuartpstevens.bsky.social
, &
@jacobweisberg.bsky.social
join Harry to take on Trump’s occupation of DC and CA. We then move to the TX and CA gerrymander wars and pan out for a general critique of what Dems sh be doing now. Link at
bit.ly/CheckpointTF
2
54
13
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
3 months ago
Today at 1pm ET join
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
on Substack LIVE for a chat on the latest in American politics, including the MAGA regime's plans for taking over our elections. Live stream here:
loading . . .
LIVE SOON: Conversation with Anat Shenker-Osorio
Starting Aug 20 at 1:00 PM EDT
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/52296
0
0
1
It’s not a “distraction” when Trump deploys military and feds against DC—it’s part of MAGA’s fascist project. We must act as if we believe this is true, because it is, and because doing otherwise makes it impossible to think strategically about how to fight back. With
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
loading . . .
The MAGA Regime Comes for D.C.
With Anat Shenker-Osorio on WER Live
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/the-maga-regime-comes-for-dc
3 months ago
3
48
9
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
Words to Win By
3 months ago
"Today the most dangerous place in D.C. is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."
@anatosaurus.bsky.social
and
@mikepod.bsky.social
talking this week about the MAGA regime's hostile takeover attempt of D.C.
loading . . .
The MAGA Regime Comes for D.C.
With Anat Shenker-Osorio on WER Live
https://substack.com/home/post/p-170811033
1
26
8
reposted by
Michael Podhorzer
The New Republic
3 months ago
"That is a little different than gerrymandering state X or state Y in 1973 ... just because something has happened before in America doesn't mean when Donald Trump does it right now, it's okay." Watch
@perrybaconjr.bsky.social
discuss this moment with strategist Michael Podhorzer.
trib.al/Gl41LWy
loading . . .
2
90
26
I talked to
@perrybaconjr.bsky.social
, one of the sharpest analysts of American politics out there, about why so many institutions are failing to reckon with the current authoritarian moment, and how we should think about it instead.
www.weekendreading.net/p/wer-live-w...
loading . . .
WER Live: Why Elites Are Caving to Trump
A conversation with Perry Bacon Jr.
https://www.weekendreading.net/p/wer-live-why-elites-are-caving-to
3 months ago
1
15
8
Load more
feeds!
log in