Donald Rumsfeld, 1932-2021

He was both the youngest and oldest man to run the Pentagon.

Book Review: Kill Switch

Discussing the filibuster.

Congress May Repeal Iraq AUMF

A meaningless gesture that’s long overdue.

Working From Home and Polarization

Yet another thing driving Americans apart.

Virginia’s Weird Politics

The Commonwealth is much more diverse than national election returns might indicate.

More Census 2020 Takeaways

The trends over the last half century are really something.

Governor McConaughey?

A new poll from Texas give us a chance to think about parties and nominations in the US.

Nick Burns to Be China Ambassador

An exceptional choice that breaks the recent tradition of politicos in the post.

Trump Judges Will Hit Their Peak in 2040

A quirk in our system combined with shrewd gamesmanship will give them unprecedented power.

Democrats Have 9 Point Advantage

49 percent of Americans lean Democratic, compared to 40 for Republicans. Yet a plurality identify as Independent.

What is Infrastructure, Anyway?

We can all agree that it’s important but not what it is.

Most January 6 Rioters Won’t Go to Jail

Judges are pressuring prosecutors to strike deals, most of which will be for misdemeanors.

Transphobia, Academic Freedom, and the First Amendment

The 6th Circuit is allowing a professor fired for misgendering a transwoman to sue his state university.

Beverly Cleary, 1916-2021

The beloved author of children’s books had died days short of her 105th birthday.

President Joe Biden takes notes doing a G7 Leaders’ Virtual Meeting Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in the White House Situation Room. President Joe Biden takes notes doing a G7 Leaders’ Virtual Meeting Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in the White House Situation Room.

Judging Presidents and Presidencies

We tend to focus on the wrong qualities in our early assessments.

Biden First Since Reagan to Get All Cabinet Picks Confirmed

The seemingly unremarkable event hadn’t happened in four decades.

Biden’s Lack of Press Conferences

On the one hand, true. On the other, so what?

On Coups, Insurrections, and Security Theater

Reflections on the events of 6 January two months later.

CPAC as a Leading Indicator

The annual gathering showed us what the Republican Party would become years ago.

Our Unrepresentative Government (Yet Again)

Yet another reminder about pathologies of US democracy.

[Merick Garland] [Merick Garland]

Merrick Garland Ready to Take on Domestic Extremists

The man most famous for getting screwed out of a Supreme Court seat has a more interesting backstory.

Rush Limbaugh is Still Dead

The reflections on the departed right-wing talk host continue.

Rush Limbaugh, 1951-2021

The talk radio megastar has died, aged 70.

Still the Party of Trump

The disgraced loser remains as popular as ever with his base.

Trump Trial Fallout: Who Knows?

Early analysis merely confirms analysts’ priors.

The Leaderless GOP

The Republican Party is not really a thing.

All Lies Are Not Created Equal

President Biden told a little fib.

Return of the Technocrats? Or Sinking in the Swamp?

Policy wonks are seeing a refreshing return to the normal order. Some believe that’s a bad thing.

The Return of Dumb Political Stories

Who watches the watch, man?

Ousting Trump Early Incredibly Unlikely

The President of the United States is a national security threat. Can we get rid of him now?

Former SecDefs Sign off on an Extraordinary Message

On the op/ed page of WaPo, the 10 living former U.S. secretaries of defense say things that shouldn’t have to be said.

The Pending Electoral Vote Challenge

It will be symbolic, but the symbol will be an anti-democratic one.

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

Trump’s Final Meltdown

The President of the United States is an existential threat to the Republic.

Pete Buttigieg to be Biden’s Transportation Secretary

He wanted a cabinet post. And this is a cabinet post.

Charley Pride Dead at 87

A country music legend is yet another victim of COVID.

Reforming the EC is not the Same as Overturning it

Wherein I respond to a ridiculous comparison.

The Flynn Pardon

Perhaps the most normal thing President Trump has done.

Cracks in America’s Election System?

Was Trump’s attempt to overturn the outcome a one-off or a sign of things to come?

Coming to Grips with Reality

In a sane world, Joe Biden’s election win would not have come as a surprise. Alas . . . .

GSA Head Refuses to Sign Transition Order

A nonpartisan official is refusing to do her duty.

GOP Fracturing Over Trump

While many are congratulating President-Elect Biden, too many are still following a loser.

President Donald J. Trump greets guests on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, prior to boarding Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md. to begin his trip to Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Nevada. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) President Donald J. Trump greets guests on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, prior to boarding Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md. to begin his trip to Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Nevada. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

A Repudiation After All?

The early reaction was premature.

Two Parties, Not Two Countries

We’ve just had an election, not psychoanalysis.

President Donald J. Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Friday, July 10, 2020, en route to Miami International Airport in Miami President Donald J. Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Friday, July 10, 2020, en route to Miami International Airport in Miami

Trump Likely to Claim Victory

The expectations game will be especially tricky this year.

Glenn Greenwald Quits Intercept

The iconoclastic journalist is out at the publication he founded.

Was I Wrong on Harriet Miers?

Rethinking what qualities we should be looking for in Supreme Court Justices.

The Shadow of 2000

The two parties learned different lessons from the last contested election.

Thoughts on ACB and SCOTUS in General

Some judicial alphabet soup in dialog with my co-blogger.

Biden Open to SCOTUS Expansion

After weeks of evasion, the frontrunner hints at a compromise policy.

SNL Does Trump-Biden Debate

A parody of a joke.