Alex Smith

Detainee says guards bet on suicide Like other detainees, Ramsingh said that between cleanings the rooms, restrooms and showers were often filthy and infested with insects. He said detainees stole others’ food because everyone was hungry due to the small and sometimes inedible meals, which led to fights, and the conditions took a toll on his mental health. At one point he said he overheard a security guard talking about bets made among the staff over which detainee would be next to die by suicide. The guard said he had paid $500 into a pool, with the total pot riding on the outcome. The talk was particularly jarring, he said, because he had contemplated suicide himself.

This is a sign of the complete moral failure of our society. AP report. apnews.com/article/suic...

But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department, the necessary constitutional means, and personal motives, to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defence must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to controul the abuses of government. But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controuls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to controul the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to controul itself. A dependence on the people is no doubt the primary controul on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions. This policy of supplying by opposite and rival interests, the defect of better motives, might be traced through the whole system of human affairs, private as well as public. We see it particularly displayed in all the subordinate distributions of power; where the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other; that the private interest of every individual, may be a centinel over the public rights. These inventions of prudence cannot be less requisite in the distribution of the supreme powers of the state. But it is not possible to give to each department an equal power of self defence. In republican government the legislative authority, necessarily, predominates. The remedy for this inconveni…

Federalist 51: “But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others.”

Behold, the fatal error.

Can’t wait for it to arrive! Congratulations!

Added a category for 5 tracks:

Singles: Out of the Woods (TV), 22, You Belong with Me
Ballad: All Too Well (10 minute version)
Title track: Fearless
Feature: Exile
Deep Cut: Death by a Thousand Cuts
Opener: Ready for it?
Closer: Long Live
5 track: You’re on Your Own Kid
Wildcard: Marjorie

A Drake has gotten destroyed in consecutive Super Bowls

One of these years I am finally going to submit something for this conference

Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."

Add Spuddy Buddy and you’ve definitely got something

Northern lights appear red and green in night sky

Northern lights appear red and green in night sky

Northern lights appear green in night sky

Northern Lights showing up in Iowa City!

REPOST IF YOU'RE READY FOR OCTOBER BASEBALL

…. @gbeaumier.bsky.social, @apsmith2.bsky.social & more!

¡¡VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 IS NOW OUT!!

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Featuring work by: @natekelly.bsky.social, @janamorgan.bsky.social, @annkristinkolln.bsky.social, @felixlehmann.bsky.social, @feligsantos.bsky.social, @abenewman.bsky.social & ....,

Cover of the September 2025 issue of Perspectives on Politics by APSA, featuring an Amnesty International installation. The installation includes a large yellow block with a quote about freedom of the press, with a cityscape in the background.

Just in time for #APSA2025!

New issue from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social -

Perspectives on Politics - Special Section: Challenges to Democracy - Volume 23 - Special Issue 3 - September 2025 -

cup.org/3VCgRep

cc @apsa.bsky.social

@chaselaspisa.bsky.social is an IR scholar who examines how offshore fossil-fuel resources influence when and where maritime conflicts occur. He has two publications, he is teaching his own course, and he was a 24-25 Fulbright Study/Research Grantee to Norway. See chaselaspisa.github.io /4

Semal Gerot is an Americanist who examines how habitual news consumption shapes public opinion & attitudes about misinformation, polarization, & emotional well-being. She is a 2025–26 APSA/NSF DDRIG awardee and she won the UI Outstanding TA Award. See sbgerot.github.io /3

Alex Bezahler Alex D. Bezahler

Alex Bezahler (alexbezahler.weebly.com) is an IR/CP scholar who studies the intersection of resource development (petroleum and water) and national identity. He has 2 solo publications and 1 R&R. He was a 2024-2025 Boren Fellow in Tbilisi, Georgia & he also has a J.D. /2

Side profile of a chocolate Labrador chewing on a bully stick. It looks like he has a cigar.

Had no idea I’ve been walking with the Barking Crooner

This CFP looks so good. The program committee includes
@pastpunditry.bsky.social @gauthamrao.bsky.social @rachelshelden.bsky.social & other luminaries. Via @legalhistoryblog.bsky.social
legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/cfp-...

Spectacular save to keep it level

First attempt at tacos al pastor was pretty successful #poliscicooks

In the political literature this is known as donating for access. It’s very common. Campaign donations should be interpreted as strategic manifestations of political goals, not expressions of true preference.

Congratulations Matt!

If a Democratic president were openly & repeatedly saying that neither the 14th nor the 22nd amendment constrained him, the country would grind to a halt, the NYT & WaPo would have 96-point font front page headline articles, & the Senate impeachment trial would already be underway.

A chocolate lab puppy with his new family

A little girl missing her front two teeth holding her puppy for the first time!

Twin sisters and their new puppy!

Today we brought home Ranger! We are so excited this sweet little guy is part of our family!

Clemson University logo featuring an orange paw print with a white outline painted on the grass in the foreground, with a brick building in the background.

🚨 Job Alert!

Clemson University is hiring a lecturer in American Politics for Fall 2025. Position open with respect to specialty, but ability to offer research methods and institutions courses is a plus. Deadline is 5/16. Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/167554 #poliscisky #academicsky

Very honored to be featured in the University of Iowa’s Class of 2025’s “Faculty and Staff Who Made a Difference”. It’s been an honor to teach and get to know these students. Can’t wait to see what they do in the future!

provost.uiowa.edu/students-ide...

Half marathon #5 about to get started. Looking forward to finishing in Drake Stadium!