Pence Speaks the Truth

Trump asked him to overturn the election.

Unenthusiastic Voters Not Donating

The electorate is less alarmed than it was four years ago. Which is good!

On Diversity and Standards

A Representative’s slip of the tongue and the ensuing debate.

America’s “Family Secret” or Just Plain Denial?

Slavery is an inextricable part of our past, whether we want to talk about it or not.

MTG vs Boebert

Breaking a cardinal rule.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Alabama Districts

A surprising ruling on the Voting Rights Act.

A Stew of Stupidity

Eight state have withdrawn from a system to prevent illegal voting because of ignorance and agitation.

Unrepresentative Democracy and Child Labor

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

Patricia Schroeder, 1940-2023

The trailblazing Congresswoman is gone at 82.

The Obligatory Daylight Saving Time Post

The fight over changing the clock twice a year continues.

SOTU 2023: Normal vs Crazy

The state of the union is . . . not good.

Nikki Haley Running for President

Someone has stepped up to challenge former President Trump.

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.