The free high-resolution photo of white, game, play, male, recreation, think, black, thoughtful, board game, fun, king, figure, sports, chess, queen, pawn, chessboard, games, champion, practice, challenge, stick, serious, tactics, win, schedule, strategic, clever, keeps, the player, checkerboard, the winner of the, indoor games and sports, tabletop game, the strategy, the championship, prevx, the cunning , taken with an NIKON D700 03/09 2017 The picture taken with 105.0mm, f/5.6s, 1/200s, ISO 100 The free high-resolution photo of white, game, play, male, recreation, think, black, thoughtful, board game, fun, king, figure, sports, chess, queen, pawn, chessboard, games, champion, practice, challenge, stick, serious, tactics, win, schedule, strategic, clever, keeps, the player, checkerboard, the winner of the, indoor games and sports, tabletop game, the strategy, the championship, prevx, the cunning , taken with an NIKON D700 03/09 2017 The picture taken with 105.0mm, f/5.6s, 1/200s, ISO 100

Institutions Matter, French Edition

How rules shape the game.

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.

Santa’s a Socialist

And other tales from the AK special election.

Multiparty Presidentialism

No, presidentialism does not lock us into two parties.

On Respect and SCOTUS

The Court is out of balance–and it is a design flaw.

America’s Four Parties

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

Elections with Foregone Conclusions

Greatest democracy in the world, right?

People Moving for Politics?

It seems that some Americans are relocating to be with people who share their social and cultural views.

A Note on Primary Elections

Data from Texas underscore a frequent point about primaries.

Normalizing Political Violence

In their censure of Cheney and Kinzinger the GOP wants to rewrite history.

On Moderate Legislative Power and Other Political Dreams

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

Why Are Biden’s Polls So Awful?

A pretty good President has numbers comparable to his historically bad predecessor.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the passing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Tuesday, August 10, 2021, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the passing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Tuesday, August 10, 2021, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Breaking: Country Polarized

And Biden approval down.

Speaking of Moderates and Independents…

More on self-identification and partisan ID.

Partisan ID in the United States

Gallup has the 2021 numbers.

On the Number of Parties 3: More Sophisticated Counting

The effective number of parties.

On the Number of Parties 2: Basic Counting, Part 2

This time: some multi-party examples.

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

Counting is not necessarily as straightforward as it may seem.

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.

Is Autocracy Really Winning?

A depressing magazine piece argues it is.

Goodbye to Swing Districts?

A largely mythical beast may become even more rare.

Thoughts on Partisan Cues and Filters

Thoughts on how we think.

Vaccines v. Monoclonal Antibodies

The difference is politics, not reason.

More on Standing

The CA Recall

The system is not defensible.

The Radicalization of Ross Douthat

An interesting podcast conversation.

Nicholas Kristof Is Exploring a Run for Oregon Governor

The two-time Pulitzer winner is considering a career change.

Elite Behavior Matters

The College Republican National Committee Chairman elections shows the lessons taught by the national party.

The Reality Show Party?

Another R/D cleavage?

Money and Intra-Party Competition

More in a series of ongoing observations about the GOP primaries.

More Intra-Party Manuevers

This time: the Alaska GOP.

Ohio, Trump, and the Primaries

Thinking about party evolution and behavior going into 2022.

The State of America’s Political Parties

One party is divided on how to govern and the other is united in not governing.

Start the Steal?

Cries that American democracy is in jeopardy are not hyperbole.

The GOP: Not a Civil War, Not a Purge

The GOP is actually pretty healthy at the moment, despite some public rhetoric to the contrary.

Liz Cheney and the GOP

A quick lesson about American parties.

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.

Weak Parties and the CA Recall

With an appearance by Caitlyn Jenner’s choice of party.

Governor McConaughey?

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

Peru to the Polls

A problematically wide-open election in difficult times.

Duckworth and Hirono Holding Biden Nominees Hostage

Appoint more Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Or else!

The GOP’s Trump Primary Problem

Nonhierarchical parties strike again.

Arguments Over Definitions

The lack of common understandings and shared assumptions makes political conversations challenging.

The Rise of Negative Partisanship

Yes, partisanship is real. And it influences more than just voting behavior.

Iowa Limits Early Voting

Making it harder to vote in Iowa.

Rush Limbaugh, 1951-2021

The talk radio megastar has died, aged 70.

The Lincoln Project Grift

Its founders are laughing all the way to the bank.

Partisan Control in the Congress

Some political history,