John Feinstein, 1956-2025

The acclaimed sportswriter is gone.

WASHINGTON,DC-DEC12: Proud Boys during a rally for Donald Trump in Washington, DC, December 12, 2020. WASHINGTON,DC-DEC12: Proud Boys during a rally for Donald Trump in Washington, DC, December 12, 2020.

The Big Chilling Effect

Our leaders are afraid to lead.

Mid-Week Tabs

Mitch McConnell Announces Retirement

Don’t let the door . . .

Trump Deploys Tariff Hammer on Colombia (Updated)

More immigration politics.

Muted Outrage Over Trump Pardon Outrage

Only a handful of Republican Senators have objected. Mildly.

Passing the ERA By Fiat

Amending the Constitution with one simple trick.

Final 2024 Predictions

A low confidence Election Day forecast.

[Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on stage before Senator Amy Klobuchar announces her 2020 presidential bid by Lorie Shaull from Washington, United States [Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on stage before Senator Amy Klobuchar announces her 2020 presidential bid by Lorie Shaull from Washington, United States

Tim Walz’ Military Record III

A third (and hopefully final) post on the matter.

William Calley, 1943-2024

One of the most notorious war criminals in American history is dead at 80.

MAGA is Getting More MAGA

Trump’s second term would be much worse than his first.

Trump Picks J.D. for V.P

Doubling down on the MAGA.

Another Political Signal on an Alito Home

A beach home and “An Appeal to Heaven”

high-resolution photo of restaurant, dish, meal, food, produce, seafood, fresh, breakfast, dessert, lunch, cuisine, lime, dinner, tacos, mexican food high-resolution photo of restaurant, dish, meal, food, produce, seafood, fresh, breakfast, dessert, lunch, cuisine, lime, dinner, tacos, mexican food

When is Taco a Sandwich?

It depends.

high-resolution photo of music, building, transport, food, business, shopping, supermarket, grocery store, retail, purchasing, shopping cart high-resolution photo of music, building, transport, food, business, shopping, supermarket, grocery store, retail, purchasing, shopping cart

Amazon Ends ‘Just Walk Out’ Grocery Checkout

Spying on customers is expensive.

Trump Fatigue

Fighting a cult of personality is exhausting.

[Clarence Thomas] [Clarence Thomas]

The Corruption of Justice Thomas

We need reform.

Deutschland Unter Alles

Germany’s economy is among the worst in the OECD.

The Injustice of Place

A new book looks at the confluence of geography and disadvantage.

What Would It Take to Beat Trump for the Republican Nomination?

The former President has a 50 point lead. Is he unstoppable?

high-resolution photo of acceptance, alphabet, bisexual, blur, close up, colorful, culture, equality, focus, gay, gay pride, gay wallpaper, gender, gender identity, hands, holding, individuality, lesbian, letters, lgbt, lgbt wallpaper, lgbtq, LGBTQIA, pride month, queer, rainbow colors, transgender high-resolution photo of acceptance, alphabet, bisexual, blur, close up, colorful, culture, equality, focus, gay, gay pride, gay wallpaper, gender, gender identity, hands, holding, individuality, lesbian, letters, lgbt, lgbt wallpaper, lgbtq, LGBTQIA, pride month, queer, rainbow colors, transgender

California Revisiting Travel Ban

A symbolic gesture is now highly impractical, if not harmful.

The Limits of Academic Freedom

UPenn law professor Amy Wax as a test case.

Debbie Stabenow Retiring

The Michigan Senator’s stepping down at a reasonable age shocked everyone.

Poor, Poor, Pitiful Pence

The past just won’t let him be.

Red and Blue States Aren’t Permanent

The margins for 2024 are likely to be slim. But that hides a larger story.

Election Denialism did Poorly at the Polls

The “America First” slate of candidates lost all but one contest.

Democrats Outperform Expectations

The Needle is Broken

Democrats and Meh Voters

For the first time in a long time, Presidential approval numbers and voter preferences aren’t’ aligned.

Anti-Zionism Isn’t Anti-Semitism

Many young, progressive Jews are feeling unwelcome in young, progressive circles.

Saturday Afternoon Tabs

It’s been more of a reading than writing morning.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Gun Bill

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

Watergate at 50

Half a century have passed since a botched burglary changed history.

Orrin Hatch, 1934-2022

The longest-serving Republican Senator has died at the age of 88.

People Moving for Politics?

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

Race and the Myth of Meritocracy: Supreme Court Edition

When “obviously qualified” apparently isn’t enough

The Disqualification Clause and January 6

A provision of the 14th Amendment to keep Civil War generals out of office is back in play.

Disparate Sentencing of Capitol Rioters

A pattern is emerging.

SCOTUS Denies Emergency Injunction Against Maine Vaccine Mandate

There will be no religious exemptions. For now, at least.

Jon Gruden ‘Resigns’ After Racist, Sexist, Homophobic Emails Revealed

A spectacular fall for a man who has been at the center of the football world for three decades.

First Capitol Rioter Sentenced Gets No Jail Time

The second won’t be so fortunate.

Ralph Puckett Gets Medal of Honor 70 Years Too Late

The 94-year-old legend is finally getting his due.

Andrew Yang, Mayor of New York City?

Would a woman with his credentials be taken seriously?

Vaccine Eligibility Floodgates Open Before Supply

Many states are moving to a first come, first served basis for COVID shots.

Freedom, Security, and Insurrection

The aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots runs into the First Amendment,

Alabama-Ohio State National Championship

The best two teams in college football play for it all amid some controversy.

Pete Buttigieg to be Biden’s Transportation Secretary

He wanted a cabinet post. And this is a cabinet post.

The Republican Party’s Shame

The Party of Lincoln went over the cliff like lemmings in support. It’s tough to see how they recover.

Sean Connery, 1930-2020

The iconic actor best known as the original movie James Bond is dead at 90.

VP Debate 2020

Kamala Harris wins by not losing.