Boebert’s District Switch

Lines on the map for the win.

Thoughts on the US Presidential Primary System

The system isn’t very good.

Counting the Right Votes

White Christian nationalism and the fight for control of America.

On Parties

Because I think it is really important.

An Observation about American Democracy

The ongoing Republican debacle and what it says about representative democracy in the US.

A Different Democracy, Indeed

A trip through comparative democratic reform.

(Last) Sunday’s Discussion Question Revisited

Wherein I finally reveal my answer (spoiler: it is hardly surprising). And, also, wherein despite the goal of brevity, I fail at that goal.

Some Electoral College Thoughts

It really is rife with problems.

Fear of a Third Party

The Electoral College is holding a nation of millions back.

Yet Another Example of the Weakness of US Parties

The parties do not control their labels.

More on Alabama Districts

Diving into the structure of Alabama’s districts and highlighting deep problems.

On Primary Candidacies

Thinking about what is predictive as well as the usefulness of historical case studies.

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

A post about thinking in a comparative way.

On the Number of Parties 4: The Oddity of Two, Part 1

A real example of American exceptionalism.

GOP Behavior

Ezra Klein has some thought on the Republican Party.

Primaries and Party Evolution

Open access to party labels has consequences.

More Alaskan Politics

And thoughts on party systems more generally.

Minority Rule Isn’t a Myth

The will of the majority can prevail even in a skewed system.

Podcast Recommendation

On Spurious Majorities and Other Thoughts on Electoral System Critiques

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

The Centrist Fantasy

Can moderate Republicans take back their party?

Moving Away From Off-Off Year Elections

Localities are consolidating local elections to coincide with national ones. Some don’t like that.

Republicans Winning House Popular Vote?

A surprising factoid in a bad election for the party.

The Prevailing Myth of American Politics

A bit of a rant, I expect.

An Observation on Geography-Based Representation

A thought inspired by the PA Senate race.

A Basic Theory of Voting Behavior

And a reminder of the role of political parties.

When Autocrats Get Desperate

Autocrats facing defeat have all kinds of counterproductive, dangerous ideas.

N=1 Means, Well, Not a Lot

No one should draw conclusions about RCV from the AK special election.

politics outrage shouting politics outrage shouting

What’s Politics For, Anyway?

Capitol Hill Republicans are turning the concept on its head.

Failed and Has-Been Politicians Start New Party

The Forward Party will almost certainly go nowhere.

The January 6 Hearings Didn’t Change Entrenched Opinion

Can American democracy survive its information bubbles?

Originalism and the Declaration of Independence

The implications of modes of interpretation.

Fixing the Primary Problem

Could Alaska point the way to a solution?

The free high-resolution photo of technology, symbol, brand, product, font, 3d, angle, question, problem, graphics, support, issue, puzzles, question mark, problem solution, product design, automotive design , taken with an unknown camera 04/06 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of technology, symbol, brand, product, font, 3d, angle, question, problem, graphics, support, issue, puzzles, question mark, problem solution, product design, automotive design , taken with an unknown camera 04/06 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

Q&A Time

Hopefully answering a reader question (but probably just making it all worse).

On American Parties

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

An Extreme Example of the Problem with Primaries

Nobody is keeping the gate.

New York’s Gerrymandering Disarmament

When doing the right thing is the wrong thing.

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

A Lament and The Reality of Politics

A illustration from the Senate race in Georgia.

An Action-Oriented Prescription

A follow on from yesterday.

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.

Mike Lee’s Texts

He was clearly willing to subvert the election.

A “Fairer” Map for the 2022 House?

A potentially more representative map that still underscores deep flaws in our system.

Democratic Backsliding and the American Right

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

America’s Four Parties

Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans truly represent most Americans. Fixing that is exceedingly unlikely.

Virginia’s Youngkin Already ‘Underwater’

The Commonwealth’s undemocratic political system is, shockingly, unrepresentative of the will of its people.

Elections with Foregone Conclusions

Greatest democracy in the world, right?

Of Laws and Men

Our system lacks accountability.

More Rogan (but not Just Rogan)

Musings about US politics and culture.

On Moderate Legislative Power and Other Political Dreams

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