Politiglue is a political reference system for people who want to understand how things connect—institutions, incentives, media narratives, and the permission structures that turn the unthinkable into the normal.
We don’t do neutrality theatre. We do clarity: what’s happening, what it means, what it resembles, and what it makes possible next.
What you’ll find here: explainers, timelines, comparisons, and essays—clearly labeled as Explainer, Analysis, or Opinion so you always know what you’re reading. Start with an Explainer if you want the map; start with Opinion if you want the argument.
Two Voices, One Project
Politiglue is written through two recurring lenses. The goal isn’t “balance.” It’s coverage of the machinery.
E. H. Mercer writes about institutions, norms, incentives, and the slow drift from “that would never happen here” to “that’s just how it is now.” Mercer is allergic to performative certainty and obsessed with precedent—the kind you notice only after it’s done its damage.
Cass Wilder writes about narrative, media, algorithms, and cultural politics—how attention gets shaped, how arguments get packaged, and why the loudest story is rarely the truest one. Wilder is interested in the systems that decide what we argue about before we even start arguing.
What We Track
We track the mechanics that outlast the news cycle:
- Institutions under pressure (rules, loopholes, enforcement, erosion)
- Incentives (what people are rewarded for, not what they claim to value)
- Narrative and attention (how stories spread, flatten, and mutate)
- Normalization (how “unacceptable” becomes “inevitable”)
- Second-order effects (what a decision quietly makes easier next time)
How We Write
- We separate Explainer / Analysis / Opinion and label posts accordingly.
- We update pieces when facts change and note meaningful updates.
- We try to represent opposing arguments accurately before critiquing them.
- We aim for readable structure: clear claims, clean headings, and minimal throat-clearing.
If you want the rules of the room: sources, updates, corrections see our Editorial Standards.
Start Here
If you’re new, start with these four pieces (they explain the “why” of Politiglue):
- Start with: “Republic On A Razor’s Edge“(E. H. Mercer)
- Next: “The Algorithm Is Running for Office” (Cass Wilder)
- Then: “The Center Cannot Hold, But It Can Be Rebuilt” (E. H. Mercer)
- Finish with: “The Year The Feed Learned Your Triggers” (Cass Wilder)
Then browse by intent.
- Explainers – When you want the “how it works” version: the system, the incentives, the mechanics behind the headline.
- Timelines – When you want events in order: what happened, when it happened, and why each step mattered.
- Comparisons – When you want contrast: two narratives, two strategies, two eras, or two ways of framing the same problem.
- Glossary – When you want definitions: key terms, recurring concepts, and the vocabulary you’ll keep seeing across the site.
- Opinion – When you want a point of view: an argument, a warning, a critique, or a case for what should change.
Corrections & Contact
If you spot an error, missing context, or a broken link, tell us – seriously.
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Where To Find Us
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