@daniel-drezner · 40 positions · 2 changes of mind · On ppll ↗
Political scientist writing Drezner’s World on international relations, American politics and the marketplace of ideas; author of The Ideas Industry.
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Their wordsIn practice, Hochman's hire is another nauseating sign that the Trump administration is destroying the bureaucracy in favor of some corrupt, neo-royalist husk of an apparatus that mostly posts memes and occasionally deploys the 82nd Airborne to extract rents.
Their wordsThis suggests that Rubio is having some difficulties hiring anyone with talent and is settling for a putz who will do what Rubio tells him to do on Latin America.
Their wordsThe most obvious problem is that Marco Rubio continues to hold both the Secretary of State and national security advisor positions. This has been going on for nearly 18 months now and it's obviously not working well at all.
Daniel W. DreznerPolitical scientist writing Drezner’s World on international relationsBut the story also reveals why the culture of the Trump administration guarantees that this will not happen: The secretary of state is not managing anything at Foggy Bottom so he can stay close to the president; The deputy secretary of state is an insecure martinet who would never have been placed in such a high position in any competent administration; The special envoys appointed by Trump will either leak to the press or complain to the White House if anyone tries to rein in their activities.↗Heckuva Job You’re Doing, Marco Rubio!danieldrezner.substack.com · 15 Oct 2026
Their wordsBut the story also reveals why the culture of the Trump administration guarantees that this will not happen: The secretary of state is not managing anything at Foggy Bottom so he can stay close to the president; The deputy secretary of state is an insecure martinet who would never have been placed in such a high position in any competent administration; The special envoys appointed by Trump will either leak to the press or complain to the White House if anyone tries to rein in their activities.
Their wordsI honestly do not know if the Trump administration will be able to completely eviscerate American power over the next two year - but damn they sure seem to be accelerating the decline and fall of American hegemony.
Their wordsthe Trump administration's deferential posture towards Russia and China has alienated allies. But on the other hand, it has gained the United States nothing in the way of strategic stability.
Their wordsIn Machiavellian terms, Trump is no longer feared, and he's definitely no longer liked. Instead, he is hated - which is the one thing Machiavelli stressed should be avoided at all costs.
Their wordsExcessive use of financial statecraft, alliances with overseas populists, or prolonged bouts of anti-immigrant hysteria, however, will force even close allies to start thinking about alternatives.
Their wordsSo it does not seem as though U.S. preferences in the Persian Gulf will be achieved - which means prices in general and energy prices in particular are likely to stay high.
Noah SmithEconomics writer; author of the Noahpinion newsletterTrump has done lots of things to make inflation worse in his second term: 1. Tariffs 2. Massive deficits that he says we can "pay back" with inflation 3. The Iran War↗@Noahpinion on Xx.com · 3 Oct 2026
Their wordsTrump has done lots of things to make inflation worse in his second term: 1. Tariffs 2. Massive deficits that he says we can "pay back" with inflation 3. The Iran War
Their wordsThe current problem with prices might be one part AI construction boom, but it is one part Trump's tariffs and one part Trump's war in Iran as well.
Their wordsEconomically, the tariffs have accomplished very little beyond a moderate increase in inflation and a moderate increase in the trade deficit.
Their wordsThe public mood on Trump is already historically sour. It will only get more so after a bad midterm performance, as Republicans disillusion in their standard-bearer kicks in.
Their wordsIf the Democrats shellack the Republicans in a few weeks, will Trump be able to claw back control over Congress using more extralegal means? Nah. Maybe they will try — but they will not succeed.
Daniel W. DreznerPolitical scientist writing Drezner’s World on international relationsThe thing is, while Trump’s staffers and advisers might be aware of the effect of political gravity, Trump himself remains unaware that he and his feckless subordinates have steered his administration off of a political cliff.↗Welcome to the Wile E. Coyote Momentdanieldrezner.substack.com · 22 Sept 2026
Their wordsThe thing is, while Trump’s staffers and advisers might be aware of the effect of political gravity, Trump himself remains unaware that he and his feckless subordinates have steered his administration off of a political cliff.
Their wordsThere is nothing wrong with promoting perspectives that have political commitments; in fact, intellectual diversity requires this, because some viewpoints include political commitments.
Their wordsUniversities are too busy scrapping diversity statements, funding centers for conservative thought, and appeasing conservative trustees to be able to indoctrinate anyone into Marxist ideology.