Biden Strikes Bipartisan Tone

The President used his first speech to Congress as an attempt to unite the country.

The Filibuster Isn’t The Problem

It’s undemocratic and we should get rid of it. But doing so isn’t a panacea.

Joe Manchin’s Weird Filibuster Defense

It doesn’t work like the movies, Senator.

Biden at Odds with Pelosi and Schumer and SALT Repeal

A Trump-era policy designed to screw over blue states may actually be a good one.

Manchin Supports Tax Hike for Infrastructure

While progressives in the party are often frustrated with the West Virginia Senator, he is demonstrating yet again that he’s no Republican.

Duckworth and Hirono Holding Biden Nominees Hostage

Appoint more Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Or else!

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Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Deal-making in Washington is next to impossible.

Another Anti-Filibuster Post

Defense of the filibuster tend to be a combo of mistakes and mythology.

President Joe Biden signs two executive orders on healthcare Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in the Oval Office of the White House. President Joe Biden signs two executive orders on healthcare Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in the Oval Office of the White House.

Biden’s First 50 Days

A way-too-early assessment of how it’s going.

Are Moderate Democrats the New Republicans?

Reacting to the asymmetrical polarization of the electorate.

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.

Biden’s Last Hurrah?

Is the stimulus bill it for this administration?

Joe Manchin and the Art of Legislating

How the West Virginia Democrat came to vote for the stimulus bill.

$15 Minimum Wage Dead for Now

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled against ramming it through in the COVID relief bill.

Manchin Opposes Tanden for OMB

The Senate’s last conservative Democrat is taking President Biden’s call for unity seriously.

Trump Trial Fallout: Who Knows?

Early analysis merely confirms analysts’ priors.

How Powerful is Kamala Harris?

Could the Vice President end the filibuster herself?

More on the Evolution of US Party Politics

Specifically: the former confederacy and Democratic dominance.

The Filibuster Needs to Go

It is not a tool to foster compromise. It is tool of obstruction, plain and simple.

Democrats Win Georgia Runoff, Likely to Take Senate

Kamala Harris will be very, very busy the next two years.

Chuck Yeager Dead at 97

An American hero is gone.

Amy Coney Barrett Nomination Coming Today

Multiple reports have the Notre Dame graduate replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The Filibuster is Going Away

The writing is on the wall for simple-majority voting in the Senate.

Senate Acquits Trump On Party Lines (Minus Mitt Romney)

Donald Trump is the third President to be impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate.

Feinstein and Three Democratic Moderates Leaning Toward Acquittal?

Surprising news from an unsurprising process.

Louisiana Reelects Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards

In what many are seeing as a rebuke of the President, Louisiana voters re-elected Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards over his Republican opponent.

Kyrsten Sinema Facing Blowback For Being The Senator She Said She’d Be

Far-left Democrats in Arizona want to punish Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema for being exactly the kind of Senator she said she’d be when she ran for office a year ago.

Top Democrats Throw Cold Water On Idea Of Impeaching Kavanaugh

While some Democrats are calling for the impeachment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Democrats on Capitol Hill aren’t nearly as eager to go down that road.

Trump Backs Away From Gun Control Yet Again

As he has in the past, President Trump has backed away from support for any gun control measures in the wake of the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

Trump Administration Reportedly Still Looking At Buying Greenland

On the Sunday shows today, one of the President’s top aides insisted that the Administration is seriously looking at the idea of buying Greenland even though it isn’t for sale.

Susan Collins Faces Political Headwinds Back Home

Susan Collins hasn’t officially announced her intentions for 2020 just yet, but she looks like she’s running for re-election. If she does, she appears to be facing some political headwinds.

House Passes Measures To Strengthen Gun Background Checks

Last week, the House passed two bills to strengthen the laws regarding background checks for guns, but they’re not likely to even make it to the floor of the Senate.

William Barr Confirmed As 85th U.S. Attorney General

William Barr was easily confirmed as Attorney General in a 54-45 votes that included three Democrats crossing over to support him.

Senate Rejects Competing Proposals To End Government Shutdown

The Senate rejected Republican and Democratic proposals as expected but there are some signs of movement forward.

Democrats United In Opposition To Trump’s Shutdown Offer

Not surprisingly, the President’s proposed shutdown deal is not being received well by Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Shutdown Drags On With No End In Sight As Trump Refuses To Relent

After twenty-five days, there’s no end in sight to the Federal Government shutdown. You can thank the President for that.

Attention Shifts To Senate Republicans As Shutdown Drags On

As the government shutdown enters through its twenty-fourth day, attention is shifting to Senate Republicans who could be pressured to break ranks and potentially force a resolution.

Jeff Flake 2020? He Seems Open To The Idea.

It would be a rather quixotic effort, but Jeff Flake isn’t ruling out challenging the President for the Republican nomination in 2020.

Kyrsten Sinema Wins Arizona Senate Race

Democrats have flipped the Senate seat currently held by Republican Jeff Flake.

Democrats Grab Hold Of House, Republicans Make Gains In Senate In Mixed Results Midterm

As expected, the midterm elections ended up being a split result that gives Democrats and Republicans alike reason to celebrate.

No ‘Blue Wave’ But Democrats Retake House

The 2018 midterms were mostly about Donald Trump. The results were idiosyncratic.

Trump Continues To Stoke The Political Fire Of The Kavanaugh Confirmation

With four weeks to go until Election Day, Donald Trump and the Republicans are continuing to stoke the divisions laid bare by the Kavanaugh nomination.

Brett Kavanaugh Confirmed As 114th Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court

After a long and contentious battle, Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed to become the 114th Supreme Court Justice.

Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Assured With Support Of Collins And Manchin

With the support of two holdout Senators, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh now appears to be all but official.

Kavanaugh Nomination Passes Procedural Test, Final Outcome Still Uncertain

The Senate voted to proceed to an expected floor vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court tomorrow, but the final outcome is still uncertain.

Regrets, Brett Has A Few, But Then Again Too Few To Mention

Brett Kavanaugh is expressing some regrets over his performance last Thursday, but it’s largely far too little, far too late.

Senate Set For Key Vote On Kavanaugh Nomination

As the Senate prepares for a key procedural vote on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh this morning, the Judge’s fate remains up in the air. However, signs are pointing to reasons for Republican optimism.

F.B.I. Completes Kavanaugh Background Check, Senate Moves Forward On Vote

The F.B.I.’s updated background check is complete and will be reviewed by Senators beginning today. As a result, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is moving forward toward a final vote on the Kavanaugh nomination later this week.

White House Has No ‘Plan B’ If Kavanaugh Nomination Fails

The GOP has no alternative but to push forward with the Kavanaugh nomination, because they don’t have a viable alternative at this point.

Is The F.B.I’s Reopened Investigation Real, Or Just A Political Sham?

Is the reopened investigation of Brett Kavanaugh a real investigation of the charges made against him by three separate women, or is it a political sham? It’s beginning to look much more like the latter than the former.

Kavanaugh Confirmation Vote On Hold Pending Renewed F.B.I. Investigation

Surprise developments yesterday led to a pause in the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh. Where it goes from here is unclear.