Counting the Right Votes

White Christian nationalism and the fight for control of America.

Anti-Gay Extremism in Nigeria

Where religious zealotry can lead. (So, yes, a digression into American politics).

The Quest for a Non-Trump Republican

The Establishment is desperate for an alternative that’s not coming.

Unrepresentative Democracy and Child Labor

We’re getting weird policies almost nobody is asking for.

Weak Parties, Part Gazillion

“The GOP” is not a singular unit.

Ben Sasse to Leave Senate to Become Florida President

The Nebraska Republican got an offer he can’t refuse.

Dueling Takes on the End of Roe

So, what now?

Evangelical Politics in the Time of Polarization and Covid

A piece in The Atlantic inspires thoughts.

Could Trump Shock the World Again?

Fear of a reprise of 2016 is still with us.

We Dismiss Potential Religious Allies At Our Peril

Ignoring religious diversity makes polarization much worse.

White Evangelicals and the Trump Paradox

Why the ‘moral majority’ is willing to tolerate so much immorality from their leader.

Private Talk and Character

Dennis Prager makes me feel like we are living in the Upside Down.

Donald Trump’s Supporters Are Living In #Cult45

The Republican Party is a cult with Donald Trump at the center and his ardent supporters are brainwashed cult members.

Trump Ignores International Law, Hands Israel Another Gift

Reversing decades of policy, the Trump Administration reversed decades of policy on settlements in disputed territory.

Democrats and Republican Converts

It’s not the responsibility of the opposition party to make up for Donald Trump.

Shot And Chaser: Barry Goldwater Was Right Edition

Barry Goldwater saw what the so-called “religious right” would become decades ago.

Conservatism Has Become A Haven For Grifters And Frauds. No Wonder We Got Trump

At some point, what we call conservatism turned into a racket. It’s not surprising that this led directly to Trump.

Bill Weld Prepares For Primary Challenge To Trump

Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld is preparing for a primary challenge against Donald Trump. He won’t win, but he could still have an impact.

Trump Losing Support Among Part Of His Base

New polling seems to indicate that President Trump is losing support among an important part of his base.

Ted Cruz Vulnerable? A New Poll Says It’s Possible.

A new poll shows Ted Cruz in a much tighter than expected race for re-election, but it’s going to take more to consider Texas a state that Democrats could pick up in the fall.

Mike Pence Used To Think Presidential Morality Mattered

There was a time when Mike Pence believed that a President’s personality morality and trustworthiness mattered. He clearly doesn’t believe that anymore.

How Conservatives Learned To Discard Their Morality And Love Donald Trump

In the age of Trump, morality is optional for conservatives.

Percentage Of Americans Professing “No Religion” On The Rise

The number of Americans professing no religious affiliation is on the rise. This will have some interesting cultural and political implications.

After Controversial Removal, Ryan Reinstates House Chaplain

After hastily removing the House Chaplain under unclear circumstances, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has reversed himself.

On Discussing and Analyzing the Trump Presidency

An attempt at defining the conversation.

The Myth And Dangers Of “No Daylight” Between The United States And Israel

The Trump Administration has acted in a manner to create the impression that there is “no daylight” between the United States and Israel. This is a myth, and pursuing such a goal poses real dangers for America’s national interests.

Challenges to the Health of American Democracy

Democratic norms are eroding.

The Growing Partisan Divide Over America’s Relationship With Israel

Americans were once largely united in their opinions about Israel and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. That’s not the case anymore.

Trump To Recognize Jerusalem As Israeli Capital, Breaking Decades Of U.S. Neutrality

A foolish, and potentially dangerous, decision by President Trump.

The Mentality Of Roy Moore’s Defenders

Roy Moore’s most die-hard defenders are living in a world of their own, and it’s unlikely they’ll change their minds.

Losing Our Religion

Americans as a whole are becoming less religious and some people are panicking about it.

Is Centrism A Viable Political Strategy? It Sure Doesn’t Look Like It

The ‘No Labels’ movement is back, and it’s as irrelevant to contemporary politics as ever.

Americans Favor Obamacare Over GOP Replacements Two-To-One

New polling indicates that the Affordable Care Act has gained in popularity with the American public, while Republican reform efforts are viewed overwhelmingly negatively.

Donald Trump: Establishment Candidate

On Tuesday night the Establishment won and won yuge. (From new OTB contributor, Michael Bailey)

Clinton Holds Slight Lead Over Trump As General Election Race Begins

Hillary Clinton has a slight lead in national polling over Donald Trump as the battle for the White House really begins.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

Does Donald Trump Really Believe Ted Cruz’s Father Is Connected To JFK’s Assassination?

The GOP race for President takes yet another bizarre turn.

Donald Trump Wins Michigan, Mississippi, Adds To Delegate Lead

Another big night for Donald Trump puts him another step closer to being the presumptive GOP nominee.

Voters Head To Polls And Caucuses In Five States On ‘Super Saturday’

They haven’t gotten much attention, but there are five contests today as the 2016 nomination process continues to move forward.

Trump, Cruz Well Positioned Heading Into Super Tuesday, Rubio Not So Much

Donald Trump is positioned to do very well on Super Tuesday, while Ted Cruz should win his home state. Marco Rubio, meanwhile, seems to be struggling to maintain his relevance.

Donald Trump Scores Solid Win In Nevada

Donald Trump won his third contest in a row in Nevada, putting him one step closer to inevitability.

Trump Wins South Carolina, Rubio & Cruz Fight For Second, Bush Drops Out

Donald Trump racks up another big win, while Marco Rubio surges into second and likely saves his campaign for now.

Donald Trump Set To Sweep To Victory In South Carolina

Donald Trump is on the verge of another big victory.

Donald Trump Says He Might Sue Ted Cruz Over Citizenship

Donald Trump says he might sue Ted Cruz over his citizenship if Cruz continues attacking him.

Ted Cruz Wins Iowa GOP Caucus, Trump Second, Marco Rubio A Strong Third

Ted Cruz won, Marco Rubio surged into a stronger than expected third place, and Donald Trump was humbled just a little bit, but he was hardly a “loser.” The race for the GOP nomination has begun for real.

Trump and the Social Conservatives

Politics makes strange bedfellows, but come on.

If The Latest Polls Are Right, Everything’s Coming Up Trump

With mere days until voting starts, the possibility of Donald Trump running the table in the February primaries and caucuses, or nearly doing so, is more and more likely.

Race For The GOP Nomination All About Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, And A Panicking GOP

With less than a week to go before voting starts, Donald Trump continues to dominate the GOP race, with Ted Cruz the only candidate even close to looking like a viable challenger.