Accidentally put double the simple syrup in my old fashioned and now it’s basically whiskey candy. Happy Christmas Eve to me.

Happy Christmas Eve eve. Only 315 days until the midterms.

Now out at SPPQ, coauthors and I take a look at the current state of redistricting research and discuss where it might go next. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Happy end of the fall semester to everyone. Only 321 days until the midterms.

More train please

Final grades submitted. Another successful semester in the books.

Imagine students who like you filing complaints as a favor to give you time off.

Put up some new office art today— George Caleb Bingham was a painter and a politician from Missouri. He created these works in the 1850s depicting elections at the time. From top to bottom we have “Stump Speaking,” “The County Election,” and “The Verdict of the People.”

In the least surprising turn of events in the history of ever—Woody Allen pictured with Epstein.

Is 6:36pm too early to go to bed? I gotta make it until at least 6:46 right?

Sunrise at the trailhead never gets old.

A very funny and annoying thing my brain does is make me anxious leading up to a big event, and then it decides it’s not worth being anxious anymore once the event starts. I have a big talk to give in six hours, which obviously means I can’t do anything between now and then.

Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:

Fun fact: Roman Harper’s dad was my football coach, drove the bus that took me to school, and taught my health class.

The proxy war between me and @jsievert.bsky.social continues. This round goes to me.

No one has ever been sleepier than Zuzu is at all times.

We are devolving. www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

Green Lantern Theory strikes again

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

You’d think given how often it updates that Outlook wouldn’t be ass. But you’d be wrong.

You can help Bolts continue to provide crucial coverage of local elections. Here's how: - Repost this = I donate $1. - Follow @boltsmag.org = I donate $1. - Donate (link below) + tell me how much = I match your donation. (Donate monthly = I match a year's worth)

Has anyone trademarked Blue-nami yet?

Apropos of nothing, he fathered 20 children, one of which was named Salmon.

The nicest thing I can say about this image is at least it isn’t AI generated.

Vanderbilt’s head coach is Lex Luthor in a quarter zip.

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. Only 340 days until the midterms.

If you haven’t picked up Nationalized Politics yet, I think you should! global.oup.com/academic/pro... If you have already picked up Nationalized Politics, you should think about preordering Divided Nation! www.degruyterbrill.com/document/isb...

She’s got style. She’s got grace. She’s a lady.

Zuzu is the coolest person I know

I fixed it.

“You'll be visited by three spirits" The three spirits:

I watched both Kansas City and Dallas make impressive comebacks today. 0/10 do not recommend. Will not do again.

Doug Jones may be a long shot but he’s a fantastic candidate and doing really important work that could help downballot candidates. Just like when Beto ran against Cruz in Texas in 2018, this could have substantial implications for the state legislature.

Everything else sounded dumb and boring.

Not sure if anyone else has shared the news, but apparently MTG is resigning.

Other people have pointed out how far flattery goes with Trump, but this is impressive.

Big brained stuff happening in the comment section

Birds are so cool.

Political violence is bad.

It continues to amuse and amaze me how I can go weeks without a review request and then get three in a matter of hours.

Zuzu has melted, becoming one with the floor.

Ah yes. Politics. That thing that famously does not intersect with any other topic in any way.

Ironically, the California gerrymander will stay in place even if the Texas map is struck down. Republican attempts to preserve their majority may ultimately create an even greater Democratic majority.

The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions is now acceptable applications for the 2026-27 year. Please share and encourage people to apply! Post Doctoral application apply.interfolio.com/177609 Visiting Scholar application apply.interfolio.com/177613

And I thought Congress was bad at acronyms…

What a novel concept. www.npr.org/2025/11/14/n...

We need a new Progressive Era.

Free to read until the end of 2025 from State Politics & Policy Quarterly - Is Gerrymandering Poisoning the Well of Democracy? Evaluating the Relationship between Redistricting and Citizens’ Attitudes - https://cup.org/4p61kQX - @ryandane.bsky.social & @fjustwan.bsky.social #SPPQ25

Northern lights showing out tonight

Only 358 days until the midterms.