What can deter a supreme leader from violating the Constitution? Fear that a violation would shock his essential supporters from trusting and supporting him. A constitution will fail if a leader who violated its norms can still get support to retain power. jstor.org/stable/27644502

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. nytimes.com/2025/07/14/opi…

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 nuclear weapons. I was proud to participate and support the group's final declaration. thebulletin.org/2025/07/the-no…

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, certified under federal courts. thebulwark.com/p/the-worst-ic…

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

Netanyahu 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. nytimes.com/2025/08/09/wor…

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.

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 work for solutions in a broad coalition. #DemocracyInAmerica thehill.com/opinion/campai…

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

The President's ability to control Congress by primary threats is a profound change in American politics. In 1913-1960 Presidents rarely endorsed primary challengers against incumbents in their own party, and half these challengers lost. See Riker & Bast doi.org/10.1007/978-94…

What would Texans say if the President sent Illinois Guard troops to patrol their town? The Second Amendment affirms: People's right to keep local order by locally accountable forces is necessary to security of a free state. This right is vital for us all. nytimes.com/live/2025/10/0…

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 thehill.com/opinion/campai… #DemocracyInAmerica

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

Prism has published "Decentralized Stabilization Assistance," on 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/rese…

Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors. Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s

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

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.

Capitalism requires an extraordinary amount of cooperation. It depends on trust, shared norms, voluntary coordination, and people choosing to work together across firms, communities, and borders. Markets function because individuals are embedded in social relationships, not

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