On Handcounts

Ignorance, it turns out, isn’t bliss.

Thoughts on the US Presidential Primary System

The system isn’t very good.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden portrait style Donald Trump and Joe Biden portrait style

Objective Journalism in an Objectively Uneven Contest

What if one of the candidates is Hitler?

‘From the River to the Sea’

When the obvious is controversial.

On Parties

Because I think it is really important.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Suddenly a Republican

Another illustration of the weakness of the American party system.

Republican Crazies Forcing Government Shutdown

The House is in recess as the exasperated GOP leadership tries to figure a way out.

Wayne Maynard, 1948-2023

A longtime friend has passed.

Grumpy Uncle Joe?

Say it ain’t so!

Doug Burgum Trying to Buy His Way Into the Debates

The North Dakota governor really, really wants to be on TV.

The Threat of Political Violence

Separating rhetoric from action.

Age Limits? (not Term Limits)

It is something we need to think about.

On the Number of Parties 4: The Oddity of Two, Part 3 (Thinking About Just Two)

A post about thinking in a comparative way.

Ivy Ressentiment

Old men still bitter about where they went to college.

OTB at 20

A look back at two decades of blogging.

Ending College Degree Requirements

Too many jobs needlessly specify a bachelor’s.

Yearly Reminder: Dr. King Had A Lot More To Say Than That One Sentence

My (apparently) annual reflections on “The content of their character” day

Blake Hounshell, 1978-2023

A brilliant journalist is gone at 44.

On Spurious Majorities and Other Thoughts on Electoral System Critiques

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

The Nationalization of American Politics

Local issues barely matter in Congressional races anymore.

Midterm Polls Shifting Republican

The race is returning to expectation.

Supreme Court Poised to Upend Everything

The term that kicks off today could undermine our entire system of government.

Democracy Scholars for Proportional Representation

A lot of folks who study democracy have sent an open letter to Congress.

David Kay, 1940-2022

A man made famous for discovering Iraq’s WMD program was virtually nonexistent is gone at 82.

American Ideological Self-Identification

“Moderate” is up, “Liberal” is down, and “Conservative” is static. What does it mean?

The January 6 Hearings Didn’t Change Entrenched Opinion

Can American democracy survive its information bubbles?

Dueling Takes on the End of Roe

So, what now?

Myths of American Democracy

Tweaking the message and getting out the vote don’t matter as much as strategists think.

Maximal Angst Despite Minimal Cause

Quite often, political fights are about attitudes rather than issues and polices.

On American Parties

More on primaries with a foray into Madison and the general politics of power-seekers and incentives.

The Flawed Nature of Representation in the US

Our representation problems are far, far more about structure than they are about the messaging of the parties.

Democratic Backsliding and the American Right

The only way to save our freedom is to destroy it.

Madeleine Albright, 1937-2022

A trailblazing diplomat has died at 84.

Dumping Russian Vodka is Stupid

It might feel good but it has zero impact on Putin.

It’s Not Time To Eulogize The Old Order

Pundits like Thomas Friedman struggle with premature prognostication.

On Moderate Legislative Power and Other Political Dreams

A bloc of moderates is not coming to a Senate near you.

Public Schools vs The Public

The pandemic seems to have broken the social contract.

The Disqualification Clause and January 6

A provision of the 14th Amendment to keep Civil War generals out of office is back in play.

Why isn’t Biden Magical?

Some pundits have high standards.

Civil Servants Aren’t in the Administration

An irresponsible Trump-era practice continues.

Capitol Riot: One Year Later

A roundup of reflection on a somber anniversary.

The Big Lie is Working

A majority of Americans are less than sure that Biden won the 2020 election.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks to the National Congress of American Indians Annual Conference, Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks to the National Congress of American Indians Annual Conference, Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Kamala Harris is Frustrated

Apparently, getting her elected President is not a high enough priority in the Biden White House.

Podcast Recommendation

Arend Lijphart on the “Peaceful Political Revolution in America” podcast.

Airman 1st Class Thadyn DuPont, an aerospace medical technician with the 137th Special Operations Medical Group, prepares to administer a coronavirus vaccine for an Oklahoma National Guard soldier at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Okla., on Jan. 15, 2021. (Andrew LaMoreaux/U.S. Air National Guard photo) Airman 1st Class Thadyn DuPont, an aerospace medical technician with the 137th Special Operations Medical Group, prepares to administer a coronavirus vaccine for an Oklahoma National Guard soldier at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Okla., on Jan. 15, 2021. (Andrew LaMoreaux/U.S. Air National Guard photo)

Oklahoma National Guard Vaccine Standoff

The politicization of the virus continues.

photo of view, thinking, zoo, mammal, fauna, primate, chimpanzee, ape, vertebrate, mimic, western gorilla, great ape, common chimpanzee photo of view, thinking, zoo, mammal, fauna, primate, chimpanzee, ape, vertebrate, mimic, western gorilla, great ape, common chimpanzee

Election Results Validate Everyone’s Priors

Too woke! Not woke enough!

Debt Ceiling Thoughts

American exceptionalism at its worst. (Plus some history!).

This Week in Bad Tweets

This time: Senator Marco Rubio.

Senators Graham and Lee Owe us an Explanation

Really, they owed (and still owe) us better behavior.