Politics Posts - Nate Shivar

I don’t usually read best-selling political books of the moment. They feel too tied to whatever news cycle is happening right now, and I’d rather read something that has aged a bit.

But it feels like we’re at a genuine inflection point in American politics. The party coalitions that formed in the late 60s and early 70s—now going on 50 years old—are breaking down.

Network State by Balaji Srinavasen

The Network State by Balaji Srinivasan is a book I picked up mainly because my work is tech-adjacent, and for a while this book was everywhere among the tech elite. Even though it seemed ridiculous on the cover, I wanted to understand what my peers were paying attention to.

The Woman Behind The New Deal by Kirstin Downey

Perkins may have had more direct impact on the everyday lives of ordinary Americans than almost anyone else in the 20th century. The 40-hour work week. The minimum wage. Social Security. Child labor laws. Unemployment insurance. These aren’t abstractions — they are the literal architecture of how Americans work, save, retire, and survive hard times. Frances Perkins built most of that architecture.

That was a serious underestimate.

Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill by John Stuart Mill

The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill is a Modern Library compendium of Mill’s most famous works—On Liberty, The Subjugation of Women, Utilitarianism, and more. I bought it years ago for a college philosophy class and ended up keeping it, not because I reference it constantly, but because rereading essays like On Liberty reminded me of something important.

Pew Research on What Makes People Proud of Their Country?

What makes people proud of their country? -> https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/02/17/what-makes-people-proud-of-their-country/

Fund Literally Anything But This

Regarding the Iran War -> https://fundliterallyanythingbutthis.netlify.app/

Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

In 2006, before his presidential run, then-Senator Barack Obama published The Audacity of Hope. It was part of a long tradition of presidential hopefuls publishing sort of a detailed personal & policy driven vision for the country. For myself, it was the only book of this genre that I’d ever read before or since. So, of course, I think it’s far and away the best.

Wyoming Has Fewer People Than 116 Counties

I find this map via Mapper_X absolutely insane. And the first thing that comes to mind is the Equal Representation…

Who I’m Voting For in the November 2025 Special & Municipal Elections in Atlanta, Georgia

Here is the problem that I run into every 2 years. I’m sold on the idea that voting in every…

Friedrich Hayek on Why He Wasn’t a Conservative

Though lionized by “free market conservatives”, the economist Friedrich Hayek wrote an incredible essay on “Why I Am Not a Conservative”.

Barack Obama on When To Speak Up & Stick With It

Three threads on taking a bundle of opinions and making them real in a way.

Georgia House of Representative’s Minority Leader Tanya Miller’s Closing Speech

Tanya Miller is my Representative in the State of Georgia House of Representatives. She is one of those rare individual politicians that I actively vote for (rather than ticking a box for an abstract person / party).

Things to argue about over the holidays instead of politics

All of these lists are hilarious, useful & awesome -> Things to argue about over the holidays instead of politics

How To Compose a Successful Critical Commentary

If you disagree w/ someone and want them to actually listen – express their position better than they can; list any points that you agree with; say what you’ve learned from the position; only then can you express disagreement.

How Fraudsters Are Bilking the Government Out of Billions of Dollars

Fascinating podcast episode from Odd Lots -> How Fraudsters Are Bilking the Government Out of Billions of Dollars

Sloth was not the right answer

Love this post about the intersection of politics & culture -> Sloth was not the right answer

Barack Obama on Connected Disconnection

We live in a time of such confusion and rancor, with a culture that puts a premium on things that don’t last: money, fame, status, likes.

How Will You Save Small Midwestern Towns without Mass Immigration?

Thoughtful post on a hot topic -> How Will You Save Small Midwestern Towns without Mass Immigration?

Who died and left the US $7 billion?

Fascinating financial story about the largest single tax payment ever -> Who died and left the US $7 billion?

Governments are bigger than ever. They are also more useless [Because Almost All The Money Goes To Old Age Care and Not Investment]

There’s yet another fake fight brewing in the United States (and across the rich world) about government spending and borrowing….

Expand The House & Pass The Equal Representation Amendment

The US flag and the House of Representatives both used to change regularly to reflect the nation’s growth. Since the Reapportionment Act of 1929, the number of Representatives has been fixed at 435, despite significant population growth. This discrepancy leads to unequal representation and inefficiency. A possible solution is to expand the House to better represent the current population.