Biden’s Documents vs Trump’s

One of these is not like the other.

In Revolutions, The Worst Often Rise To The Top

The Robespierres in the House of Representatives are driving American politics in a predictably horrible direction.

Kyrsten Sinema’s ‘Side Hustle’

The Arizona Senator runs an online thrift store in her spare time.

On Spurious Majorities and Other Thoughts on Electoral System Critiques

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

A Consensus Speaker of the House!

More centrist fantasies.

Districting and the 2022 House Results

The lines aren’t everything, but they need more attention than they get.

Marginal Differences Magnify Individual Races

We used to (usually) know the results on Election Night because the outcomes were clearer.

____ Will Bring Extremism to Your Doorstep!

A generic attack ad that’s cringeworthy in the specific.

NFL and College Football Going Head to Head

The most popular television product is running out of room to expand.

Why Not Direct Democracy?

Would bypassing politicians altogether make the system more just?

The Size of the House

Linking to a piece I wrote for The Conversation.

Trump Subpoenaed by January 6 Committee

A dramatic if likely symbolic move.

Four Seats

31 of the 35 Senate races next month are noncompetititve.

Native American History in the House

Mary Peltola’s election was a milestone for America’s First Peoples.

N=1 Means, Well, Not a Lot

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

Is Biden Hiring 87,000 New IRS Agents? Not Exactly.

A new meme started by Republican leaders is mostly false.

Pelosi’s Ill-Advised Taiwan Visit

The Speaker’s trip was reckless, needlessly escalating an already tense situation.

On Senate Reform

A proposal by Jamell Bouie

Defending the Constitution Against All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic

What should conservatives who can’t support the party of Trump do?

Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop

[Updated] Picturing The Gap Between Fantasy And Reality

Police and the Punisher Skull

Abortion and the Filibuster

Assuming they had the votes, should Democrats carve out yet another exception?

The Weak Case Against the January 6 Committee

Republicans killed their parents and demanding mercy for being orphaned.

The Lack of Competition for House Seats

Yet another reminder of the pathologies of American institutions.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Gun Bill

The most expansive firearms legislation in decades is likely to become law.

Bipartisan Senate Gun Control Talking Points

Calling it a “deal” is vastly over-selling it.

Replacing Biden in 2024?

From the Cliché File.

Podcast Recommendation (Plus: More on US Democracy)

Ezra Klein discusses the dynamics of American conservatism in historical perspective. Plus, he helps illustrate a key problem that we have in thinking about American politics (IMHO).

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.

Republican-led States Testing Abortion Limits

Oklahoma’s near-total ban is part of a larger trend.

Elections with Foregone Conclusions

Greatest democracy in the world, right?

Republican Vote Needed to Confirm Biden Justice?

New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján is hospitalized with a stroke.

SCOTUS Rejects House Republican Challenge to Proxy Voting

The court wisely deferred to Congress in setting its own rules.

1+1=3 1+1=3

Pence Likens Election Reform to Capitol Riots

It doesn’t add up.

Biden’s January 6 Anniversary Speech

A necessary but likely irrelevant gesture.

Harry Reid, 1939-2021

The longtime Senate leader is gone at 82.

House Democrats Retiring in Droves

Twenty-three and counting will not run in 2022.

On the Number of Parties 1: Basic Counting, Part 1

Counting is not necessarily as straightforward as it may seem.

RVA Pro Gun Rally 2020-11 Streets of Richmond, VA RVA Pro Gun Rally 2020-11 Streets of Richmond, VA

Vigilante Politics

We’re likely to see more instances like the Capitol Riot and the Kyle Rittenhouse shootings.

Unilateral Disarmament on Gerrymandering

Democrats and Republicans are playing by different rules.

Trump, Electoral Fraud Lies, and the Primaries

Our system and the shaping of the GOP’s future.

The House of “Representatives”

The erosion of representativeness continues.

Backwards: When Politicians Choose Their Voters

Voters are suppose to choose elected officials, not the other way around.

Irrelevant Republicans Being Ignored!

The liberal media is giving all their attention to the tax and spend Democrats!

Senators Graham and Lee Owe us an Explanation

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

The Size of the US House of Representatives

It hasn’t changed in over 100 years (but the population sure has).

The Radicalization of Ross Douthat

An interesting podcast conversation.

The Stupid, Evil Party

It’s not getting any better, folks.

Negotiating the For the People Act?

Kinda, sorta, maybe, but probably not really.

Juneteenth to be National Holiday

It passed the Senate unanimously.