Jeffrey C. Isaac

Jeffrey C. Isaac

Jeffrey C. Isaac is James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His books include: "Democracy in Dark Times"(1998); "The Poverty of Progressivism: The Future of American Democracy in a Time of Liberal Decline" (2003), and "Arendt, Camus, and Modern Rebellion" (1994).

Articles by this author

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) speaks at the event in the Capitol on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Views
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Now Is the Time to Really Prosecute the Case Against Trump—By Pivoting to Real Democratic Reform
Impeachment 2.0 has now come and gone. It’s over. The case was made. The opposition between constitutionalism and thuggery was staged before the public on the floor of the United States Senate. Each side did what it does best. And the very best constitutional lawyering could not prevent the...
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In this handout provided by congress.gov webcast, lead impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) speaks on the third day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol on February 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. House impeachment managers will make the case that Trump was singularly responsible for the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol and he should be convicted and barred from ever holding public office again. (Photo by congress.gov via Getty Images) Views
Friday, February 12, 2021
Trump's Guilt Clearly Demonstrated During Senate Trial
Over the past two days the House impeachment managers, under the leadership of Jamie Raskin, have done a masterful job of presenting the case against Donald Trump. While Wednesday’s presentation was breathtaking—even for those, like me, who have followed every turn in the Trump saga for months and...
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Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) greets supporters after speaking to a crowd during a rally against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) on January 28, 2021 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Gaetz added his voice to a growing effort to vote Cheney out of office after she voted in favor of impeaching Donald Trump. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) Views
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
The False Equivalence Between the Democratic Left and the Republican Right Is Absurd
This week Jonathan Chait published an eviscerating profile of gun-toting Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in New York Magazine, cleverly entitled " GOP Congresswoman Blamed Wildfires on Secret Jewish Space Laser ." Chait leads with a reference to " The Mischief Makers ," a short...
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Members of the National Guard walk through the Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol on January 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. Security has been increased throughout Washington following the breach of the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday, and leading up to the Presidential inauguration. (Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images) Views
Thursday, January 14, 2021
A Second Trump Impeachment Has Not Lessened the Current Danger
Last August 11, two distinguished retired U.S. Army officers, John Nagl and Paul Yingling, published a piece in a major military periodical entitled " 'All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic': An Open Letter to Gen. Milley ." The piece argued that "we do not live in ordinary times"; that president Trump...
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Police seen around Capitol building where pro-Trump supporters riot and breached the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Views
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Trump, the Coup, and the Collusion That Made It Possible
The U.S. Capitol building was assaulted and occupied this past Wednesday, by an angry and violent insurrectionary mob incited by Donald Trump and his closest family members and cronies. Was it a “coup?” Republican House member Adam Kinzinger said so. Many have called it that. Republican Senator...
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Rioters clash with police trying to enter Capitol building through the front doors. Rioters broke windows and breached the Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 election. Police used batons and tear gas grenades to eventually disperse the crowd. Rioters used metal bars and tear gas as well against the police. (Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Views
Thursday, January 07, 2021
The United States Is in a Dangerous State of Emergency
Yesterday, the "unthinkable" that many of us predicted took place: Donald Trump completed his years-long long incitement of his mob, who came to the nation's capital, as invited, were riled up by Roger Stone, Rudy Giuliani, the Trump boys, and Trump himself, and then marched to the Capitol building...
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Pro-Trump rioters entered the U.S. Capitol building after mass demonstrations in the nation's capital during a joint session of Congress to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Views
Wednesday, January 06, 2021
This Is an Insurrection Incited by Trump
Normal political order has broken down. The prescribed Congressional proceeding to confirm the presidential election results has been disrupted. The peaceful transfer of power has been subverted. The Capitol building has been taken over by violent protesters. Pence, Pelosi, and Grassley have been...
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Trump has defied conventional wisdom, expert forecasting, and the Constitution itself time and time again these past four years. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc) Views
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Illegality Does Not Mean Impossibility, and Seeking Consolation About Trump From Legal Experts Is Stupid
Today’s Washington Post features an “analysis” by Amber Phillips whose title provocatively asks: “ Could Trump declare martial law to try to steal the election? ” This question is on the minds of many, and with good reason, because Trump continues to insist that the election was stolen from him,...
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Proud Boys march in support of President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, December 12, 2020. (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) Views
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
The Here and Now Dangers of 'Standing Down' and 'Standing By' for Donald Trump
Yesterday the Electoral College voted to officially designate Joe Biden as the President-Elect, in anticipation of his inauguration on January 20, 2021. Yet Donald Trump is not finished trying to overturn the election. The New York Times reported on Sunday what has long been clear, that " Trump...
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US President Donald Trump speaks at the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit on December 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. The president signed an executive order stating the US would provide vaccines to Americans before aiding other nations. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Views
Friday, December 11, 2020
What Trump's Doing Is Crazy and Dangerous—and It Ain't Over Yet
Ever since November 7, when the election was more or less authoritatively “called” by all major media, a wide range of pundits have spoken as if the election was decided. Some of these pundits have explained away Trump’s consistent and angry refusal of the results as a sign of his narcissism and...
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