The US’ Flawed Democracy

Forget the “republic v. a democracy” abstraction. The numbers show some serious flaws in translating popular will into government.

Supreme Court Largely Rejects Racial Gerrymandering Challenge Against Texas

The Supreme Court has largely rejected a challenge to state and Federal redistricting maps in the State of Texas.

Madison, Will, and the Ambitions of the GOP

Madison was right about politicians and ambition. He just didn’t see the how it would all play out.

SCOTUS Punted On Partisan Gerrymandering, But The Issue Isn’t Going Away

The Supreme Court avoided ruling on the merits of two partisan gerrymandering cases, but the issue will be back before them sooner rather than later.

Trump and the Baby Boomers

The President continues to enjoy enthusiastic support from the over-65 set.

A Busy Two Weeks Ahead For The Supreme Court And Supreme Court Watchers

With two more weeks to go, there are plenty of “big” cases still awaiting the release of a decision.

Supreme Court Set To Hand Down Several Landmark Decisions By End Of June

With one month to go in its term, there’s still a lot on the Supreme Court’s plate.

How Should We View Trump’s Tweetstorms?

President Trump has been tweeting up a storm since Sunday, raising a question. Should we view his Tweets as the rantings of a cranky old man, or as something more serious?

Percentage Of Americans Professing “No Religion” On The Rise

The number of Americans professing no religious affiliation is on the rise. This will have some interesting cultural and political implications.

Republicans Fighting Against Efforts To Limit Gerrymandering

Republicans are trying to fight back against efforts to limit their ability to gerrymander Congressional and State Legislative Districts. It’s a fight they deserve to lose.

Ohio Voters Approve Redistricting Reform

Ohio voters have approved a referendum designed to reform the manner in which district lines are drawn.

Supreme Court Hears Argument In Case Challenging Texas Redistricting

The Supreme Court heard oral argument yesterday in a case alleging that Texas’s Congressional and state legislative districts were drawn with the intent to discriminate based on race.

The Midterm Storm Clouds Are Gathering For The GOP

With just over six months to go before the 2018 elections, the storm clouds are starting to gather for the Republican Party.

Tim Pawlenty Running For Minnesota Governor Again

Tim Pawlenty is attempting a comeback in Minnesota. It won’t be easy.

Census Bureau Announces Plan To “Cross-Check” Responses To Citizenship Question

Yet more troubling news about the proposed citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

Eighteen States Sue To Block Citizenship Question On Census

New York and nearly two dozen other jurisdictions have filed a lawsuit seeking to bar the Trump Administration from asking about citizenship in the 2020 Census.

Yes, Non-Citizens are Represented in Congress

If you recall your grade school civics, you already knew this.

California Sues To Block Addition Of Citizenship Question To Census

California has pushed back quickly against the Trump Administration’s decision to include a question regarding citizenship in the 2020 Census.

Census to Ask Citizenship Question for First Time in Seven Decades

Critics warn this move would lead to a drastic undercount of Hispanic voters, impacting Congressional districting, federal programs, and more.

Democrats Need A Big Wave To Take Back The House. They Might Not Get It.

If the polls are any indication, Democrats may fall short in their bid to take back the House in November.

Opponents Of New Pennsylvania Redistricting Map Suffer Two Big Setbacks In Court

Challengers to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on Congressional redistricting suffered two big setbacks in court yesterday that suggest that they’ve reached the end of the road legally.

Democrat Holds Slight Lead In Congressional District Trump Won By 20 Points

Tomorrow’s Special Election in Pennsylvania isn’t looking good for Republicans, even if their candidate manages to eke out a win.

Economic Illiteracy from POTUS

The President provided a contender for most ignorant tweet this morning, as he makes a proposal that would disrupt the global economy.

Putting an End to the Millennial Generation

We form stereotypes about generational cohorts when they’re very young and then freeze them.

Are People Too Stupid to Raise Taxes?

Daniel Triesman offers an explanation as to “Why the poor don’t vote to soak the rich.”

What is the Middle Class and is It Shrinking?

Salary-based definitions distort the conversation. And lifestyle-based definitions are a moving target.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Redraws State’s Gerrymandered Congressional Districts

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has redrawn the state’s Congressional Districts based on its recent ruling finding the current map to be unconstitutional partisan Gerrymandering. It makes a lot more sense than the map the state is currently using.

Supreme Court Declines To Place Hold On Pennsylvania Gerrymandering Decision

The Supreme Court has declined to stay a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling requiring the legislature to redraw the state’s Congressional District map.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Strikes Down House District Map Due To Partisan Gerrymandering

Another win for forces fighting partisan Gerrymandering.

Federal Court Strikes Down North Carolina Congressional Districts As Partisan Gerrymandering

A Federal Court in North Carolina has issued a stinging ruling against the partisan gerrymandering undertaken by the Republican legislature in that state.

Disputed Virginia Election Heads To Court

The battle for control of the Virginia House of Delegates remains up in the air as both sides continue to dispute the outcome in one district.

Supreme Court Takes On A Second Political Gerrymandering Case

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a second case dealing with political Gerrymandering.

Ralph Northam Defeats Ed Gillespie In Virginia In Strong Democratic Rebuke Of Trump

Democrats, Republicans, and Independents came out for an an election that can only been seen as a strong rebuke to President Trump and the Republican Party.

Skewed Majorities are Bad for Democracy

And even moreso when they are consciously created by the winner.

Supreme Court Appears Split In Political Gerrymandering Case

The Supreme Court appears split on the question of whether or not partisan Gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

Catalonia Votes For Independence In Chaotic Vote Marred By Police Violence

Catalonia voted overwhelmingly for independence from Spain, but it’s not at all clear that the vote will amount to anything.

Baby Boomers No Longer The Majority Of U.S. Voters

A new study shows that Baby Boomers no longer account for the largest segment of voters in the United States.

Hillary Clinton Blames Everyone For Her Election Loss, Except Herself

Hillary Clinton is blaming everyone she can for her loss, except the most obvious suspects.

Supreme Court Rejects Racially Gerrymandered Districts In North Carolina

An important redistricting decision was handed down by the Supreme Court today.

Democrats Are More Out Of Step Than Republicans, Poll Says

Polling indicates that voters find the Democratic Party to be even more out of step than the Republican Party.

Town Hall Protests Continue, But Will It Translate Into Election Results?

Members of Congress and the Senate are once again facing down angry constituents, but it’s unclear whether it will translate into anything substantial in 2018.

Has 2016 Really Been An Unusually Bad Year For Celebrity Deaths?

It seems as though 2016 has taken many more celebrities lives than past years.

Senate Democrats Look To Be On The Defensive In 2018

As things stand, Democrats will have a hard time winning back control in the Senate in 2018.

Nancy Pelosi Beats Back Challenge For Leadership Of House Democrats

To the surprise of nobody who paid attention, Nancy Pelosi won re-election as leader of the House Democrats.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions Picked For Attorney General

Alabama’s Jeff Sessions will become the nation’s top law enforcement officer. That’s not a good thing.

After Election Losses, Democrats Battle For Some Top Leadership Positions

In what seems like a replay of the primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, some top Democratic Party leadership positions may be in jeopardy.

Polling Illiteracy

While not quite the great unskewing of argument past, here is an example of why non-experts need to avoid critiquing polling.

Trump Gaining With Less Educated Whites, Losing With College Grads

Donald Trump is doing worse with white voters than Mitt Romney did in 2012.

What Happens To The GOP If Trump Loses?

A Trump loss in November could lead to battles inside the GOP that could take years to resolve.