John Pelissero
@govethics.bsky.social
Political Scientist and Government Ethics scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University. Coauthor of Voting for Ethics (2nd ed, 2024).
Reposted by John Pelissero
It might have been a mistake to put the dumbest mother-fucker alive in charge of the federal government.
Q: Have you been briefed on the hantavirus?
TRUMP: Yes I have
Q: What have you learned?
TRUMP: Ahhh -- it's very much we hope under control
Q: Should Americans be concerned it's going to spread?
TRUMP: I hope not. We'll do the best we can.
TRUMP: Yes I have
Q: What have you learned?
TRUMP: Ahhh -- it's very much we hope under control
Q: Should Americans be concerned it's going to spread?
TRUMP: I hope not. We'll do the best we can.
May 8, 2026 at 1:03 AM
It might have been a mistake to put the dumbest mother-fucker alive in charge of the federal government.
Reposted by John Pelissero
Trump threatened to nuke Iran during the same press event where he called a woman reporter "baby" and a "bitch" and we'll all just supposed to continue on tomorrow as though any of this insanity is normal or acceptable
May 8, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Trump threatened to nuke Iran during the same press event where he called a woman reporter "baby" and a "bitch" and we'll all just supposed to continue on tomorrow as though any of this insanity is normal or acceptable
Reposted by John Pelissero
"Following the Ukraine-US meeting, Trump lauded Putin, saying the Russian president “wants to see Ukraine succeed”.
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks fail to deliver breakthrough on Ukraine peace deal
US president says ‘thorny’ issues remain on ending Europe’s biggest land war in 80 years
giftarticle.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:23 AM
"Following the Ukraine-US meeting, Trump lauded Putin, saying the Russian president “wants to see Ukraine succeed”.
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Reposted by John Pelissero
Yes hold these people accountable
Swalwell: There’s going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year. To the FCC chairperson and anyone in involved in these dirty deals: get a lawyer and save your records because you’re going to be in this room answering questions
September 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Yes hold these people accountable
Reposted by John Pelissero
Swalwell: There’s going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year. To the FCC chairperson and anyone in involved in these dirty deals: get a lawyer and save your records because you’re going to be in this room answering questions
September 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Swalwell: There’s going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year. To the FCC chairperson and anyone in involved in these dirty deals: get a lawyer and save your records because you’re going to be in this room answering questions
Reposted by John Pelissero
Look what Trump and Hegseth have already made our military look like. How long can we endure this shame?
August 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Look what Trump and Hegseth have already made our military look like. How long can we endure this shame?
Trump sabotages everything he puts into motion with his own social posts. He is neither strategic nor tactical and is a danger to the security of the U.S.
Trump announces that Ukraine will not get Crimea back and and no NATO for Ukraine
August 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Trump sabotages everything he puts into motion with his own social posts. He is neither strategic nor tactical and is a danger to the security of the U.S.
Reposted by John Pelissero
Since Trump plays
golf so much
we have to put the
Alaska meeting
into terms he understands.
On the manicured
greens of the world
Trump performs as
Putin's caddie.
golf so much
we have to put the
Alaska meeting
into terms he understands.
On the manicured
greens of the world
Trump performs as
Putin's caddie.
August 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Since Trump plays
golf so much
we have to put the
Alaska meeting
into terms he understands.
On the manicured
greens of the world
Trump performs as
Putin's caddie.
golf so much
we have to put the
Alaska meeting
into terms he understands.
On the manicured
greens of the world
Trump performs as
Putin's caddie.
Reposted by John Pelissero
Late last night I mapped crime rates for cities in OH, SC and WV to show how often they exceeded the rate in DC — where those states’ governors are sending National Guard troops to “combat crime.” www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
More people in Ohio need protection from violent crime than there are people in D.C.
Governors of three states — Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia — are sending members of their state National Guards to D.C. to … well, theoretically to combat crime but, if the past week is any in...
www.pbump.net
August 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Late last night I mapped crime rates for cities in OH, SC and WV to show how often they exceeded the rate in DC — where those states’ governors are sending National Guard troops to “combat crime.” www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
My comments on what the Senate should be looking at in her confirmation hearings. Penny Schwinn Sought to Start a Business After Being Nominated for Ed Dept. Role. It Could Raise Questions www.the74million.org/article/penn...
Schwinn’s Business Venture After Nomination to Ed Dept. Could Raise Questions
The department said the nominee, who goes before the Senate Thursday, 'worked with the relevant ethics officials and resolved any conflicts.'
www.the74million.org
June 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
My comments on what the Senate should be looking at in her confirmation hearings. Penny Schwinn Sought to Start a Business After Being Nominated for Ed Dept. Role. It Could Raise Questions www.the74million.org/article/penn...
Reposted by John Pelissero
Trump is taking a $400 million luxury jet bribe from Qatar while denying North Carolina $200 million in disaster relief funding.
May 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Trump is taking a $400 million luxury jet bribe from Qatar while denying North Carolina $200 million in disaster relief funding.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Yes he is!
Yes he is!
Is Trump in mental decline? He sounds far worse than Biden ever did. | Opinion
For those who spent weeks, months and even years howling about then-President Joe Biden's 'mental decline,' what say you about Trump's rambling?
www.usatoday.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Yes he is!
Yes he is!
Reposted by John Pelissero
Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is one more reason we shouldn’t have confidence in Trump’s economy.
Holy shit—this is so bad!
Holy shit—this is so bad!
April 5, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is one more reason we shouldn’t have confidence in Trump’s economy.
Holy shit—this is so bad!
Holy shit—this is so bad!
Reposted by John Pelissero
Warren: "Congress has a chance right now to put a stop to this, but the Republicans in Congress have to be willing to stand up to Donald Trump and say, 'No, you don't get to break the American economy.'"
April 5, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Warren: "Congress has a chance right now to put a stop to this, but the Republicans in Congress have to be willing to stand up to Donald Trump and say, 'No, you don't get to break the American economy.'"
Reposted by John Pelissero
House Republicans are frantically canceling town halls after voting yesterday to take away your health care, close rural hospitals, and shut down addiction clinics.
They're terrified of facing the American people, but we need to keep chasing them wherever they go.
Make them feel the heat.
They're terrified of facing the American people, but we need to keep chasing them wherever they go.
Make them feel the heat.
February 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
House Republicans are frantically canceling town halls after voting yesterday to take away your health care, close rural hospitals, and shut down addiction clinics.
They're terrified of facing the American people, but we need to keep chasing them wherever they go.
Make them feel the heat.
They're terrified of facing the American people, but we need to keep chasing them wherever they go.
Make them feel the heat.
Reposted by John Pelissero
Trump’s firing of the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is not just unprecedented in the modern era and terribly stupid, but it will undermine our national security.
None of this has anything to do with effectiveness, or “lethality,” or promoting “warfighters," or any other buzzwords. It is praetorianism, plain and simple, and it is an assault on our military and our democracy.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
A Friday Night Massacre at the Pentagon
Trump’s purge started with his firing of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top Navy officer, and the vice chief of the Air Force.
www.theatlantic.com
February 22, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Trump’s firing of the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is not just unprecedented in the modern era and terribly stupid, but it will undermine our national security.
Trump’s conflicts of interest are growing as he exercises power for his own benefit. My comments on this serious array of ethical breaches are included in this important NYT report. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
With Truth Social, Trump Has Official Mouthpiece and a Channel for Revenue
The president’s company, Trump Media & Technology Group, represents a clear mingling of his official duties and his business interests.
www.nytimes.com
February 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Trump’s conflicts of interest are growing as he exercises power for his own benefit. My comments on this serious array of ethical breaches are included in this important NYT report. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
Reposted by John Pelissero
Reposted by John Pelissero
"DOGE has no authority": Attorneys general plan to sue to block Musk's data access: Representatives of more than a dozen states said they hope to DOGE's "unacceptable" federal rampage
"DOGE has no authority": Attorneys general plan to sue to block Musk's data access
Representatives of more than a dozen states said they hope to DOGE's "unacceptable" federal rampage
www.salon.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:13 AM
"DOGE has no authority": Attorneys general plan to sue to block Musk's data access: Representatives of more than a dozen states said they hope to DOGE's "unacceptable" federal rampage
Reposted by John Pelissero
PBS NewsHour started a running series on democracy and invited me on tonight. Yes, I said, Trump won the election, but “I just don’t believe there’s a majority of Americans who said, ‘Yes I want the president to come in and break the law.’” youtu.be/W5IoHAyY4R4
Democracy advocate examines how Trump is changing the U.S. government
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
shared.outlook.inky.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:15 AM
PBS NewsHour started a running series on democracy and invited me on tonight. Yes, I said, Trump won the election, but “I just don’t believe there’s a majority of Americans who said, ‘Yes I want the president to come in and break the law.’” youtu.be/W5IoHAyY4R4
www.barrons.com/articles/mus...
The media should continue to investigate and report about Musk’s unconventional role in a presidential administration. #elonmuskdoge
The media should continue to investigate and report about Musk’s unconventional role in a presidential administration. #elonmuskdoge
Musk Gets a New Government Title. Why It’s a Big Deal.
Billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a special government employee but it’s unclear if he has a conflict-of-interest waiver.
www.barrons.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:51 AM
www.barrons.com/articles/mus...
The media should continue to investigate and report about Musk’s unconventional role in a presidential administration. #elonmuskdoge
The media should continue to investigate and report about Musk’s unconventional role in a presidential administration. #elonmuskdoge
Not surprising that Trump is back with an uncaring approach to public health. This is not a policy area for disrupters.
U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately.
CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal
U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. The surprise decision is focused on the U.S.
apnews.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Not surprising that Trump is back with an uncaring approach to public health. This is not a policy area for disrupters.
Reposted by John Pelissero
One thing to look out for in state voting legislation in 2025: bills that would require a passport, birth certificate, or other proof of citizenship to register or vote. Unnecessary requirements like these would disenfranchise many Americans.
Voting Laws Roundup: 2024 in Review
2024 was another extremely active year for voting legislation, and early indicators suggest little signs of a slowdown in 2025.
www.brennancenter.org
January 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
One thing to look out for in state voting legislation in 2025: bills that would require a passport, birth certificate, or other proof of citizenship to register or vote. Unnecessary requirements like these would disenfranchise many Americans.