The Impulse to Want a Strong Man

And the intuition that things aren’t really working.

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Biden Proposes Limiting Overdraft Fees to $3

A well-meaning concept with obvious pitfalls.

Biden and Trump Are Apparently Old

Stop me if you’ve heard this one . . .

President Joe Biden participates in a joint press conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Thursday, June 8, 2023, in the East Room of the White House. President Joe Biden participates in a joint press conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Thursday, June 8, 2023, in the East Room of the White House.

US-UK Strike Houthi Targets

The inevitable response to attacks on international shipping.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III briefs the press from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, VA, Feb. 19, 2021. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III briefs the press from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, VA, Feb. 19, 2021.

Austin Hid Cancer Diagnosis

“This is not the way it is supposed to go,” indeed.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 19, 2023 Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 19, 2023

The Case of the Missing SECDEF

A truly weird story.

Biden: “Is Democracy Still America’s Sacred Cause?”

Making 2024 about 2021 and 1777.

Biden, Harris, and Tha God

A powerful voice in Black media is a thorn in the administration’s side.

Foreign Policy Tops American Priorities!

A misleading survey result.

Early 2024 Polling

Election year is upon us, but the polling is still a bit fuzzy.

Comparing Trump to Hitler

The coiner of Godwin’s law gives his blessing.

The Limits of Ideology

John Fetterman says he’s not a progressive.

Guiliani Ordered to Pay $148 Million

A Pyrrhic victory in one of many cases against America’s mayor.

Biden and Netanyahu at Odds Over Gaza War

The inevitable has happened.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Republicans Start Biden Impeachment Inquiry

A shameful farce.

New York Gerrymander May Be Back

A never-ending saga of politicians choosing their voters.

Thoughts on the US Presidential Primary System

The system isn’t very good.

US Alone In Support For Israel War Effort

World opinion and American opinion diverge significantly.

Hunter Biden Indicted for Tax Fraud

He faces up to 17 years in prison.

Why Americans Are So Anxious About Inflation

Prices are way up, even though the CPI is back under control.

Dean Phillips to Focus on White House Bid, Will not Seek Re-election to House

More importantly, comments on challenges to incumbent presidents.

President Joe Biden boards Marine One at the Wall Street Landing Zone in Manhattan, Wednesday, September 20, 2023 en route to JFK International Airport in Queens, New York. The Statue of Liberty can be seen in the background. President Joe Biden boards Marine One at the Wall Street Landing Zone in Manhattan, Wednesday, September 20, 2023 en route to JFK International Airport in Queens, New York. The Statue of Liberty can be seen in the background.

Old Man Biden and Young Would-Be Voters

The President has tepid support in the 18-29 demographic.

Israel Agrees to Pause in Exchange for Hostage Release

Hamas gets rewarded for its crimes.

Gender, Choice, and Immutability

A fascinating conversation between two queer journalists.

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Objective Journalism in an Objectively Uneven Contest

What if one of the candidates is Hitler?

Trump Calls Political Rivals “Vermin” and Seeks to “Root Out” the “Threat from Within”

Leading candidate for Republican nomination deploys eliminationist rhetoric in Veteran’s Day speech.

Democrats Win Key Off-Year Elections

Abortion, an unrepresentative electorate, and candidate idiosyncracy ruled the off-off-year election.

The Polls Are Skewed!

Survey research is not without flaws. But we dismiss it at our peril.

One Year Out

Looking ahead to November 5, 2024

The (American) Politics of Israel-Palestine

Pick a side. No nuance allowed.

Romney and the Decline of the GOP

The party’s 2012 nominee is an indicator of how fall it has fallen.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Mike Johnson (Who?) for Speaker?

Could the fourth time be the charm?

The Fine Line Between Supporter and Co-Belligerent

America’s involvement in the Israeli and Ukrainian war efforts is more than advertised.

Squaring the Circle on the Israel-Gaza War

Outsiders seem to want the impossible.

A Foreign Policy Election?

A competent leader versus a lunatic would seem an easy choice. Alas.

Swing State Voters Prefer Trump

Bidenomics is dragging Biden’s approval.

Biden in Israel in Aftermath of Hospital Explosion

The timing is not auspicious.

President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina. President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina.

President Biden to Visit Israel

A high-stakes move.

President Joe Biden meets with leaders of his federal emergency preparedness and response team, cabinet and staff members for a briefing on hurricane, wildfire and extreme weather preparedness, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. President Joe Biden meets with leaders of his federal emergency preparedness and response team, cabinet and staff members for a briefing on hurricane, wildfire and extreme weather preparedness, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

Why Doesn’t Biden Get More Credit?

Some people say there’s a reporter to blame.

Politics as Sport

The game is the game.

California’s Next Senator Lives in Maryland!

A mere technicality?

Fraudster Trump

The chickens are slowly coming home to roost.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Suddenly a Republican

Another illustration of the weakness of the American party system.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Senate Confirms Army, Marine Chiefs

Congress is doing something, at least.

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Should The Press Pick a Side?

The mainstream media isn’t and shouldn’t become a counterpart to the right-wing infotainment complex.

Trump Meets The Press

It turns out, he wasn’t all that truthful.

Impeachment Rationalizations

Jonathan Turley’s defense of the impeachment inquiry is not impressive.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

The Clown Car Has No Brakes

The MAGA wing is driving us over a cliff.

President Joe Biden drives a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon during a clean cars event, Thursday, August 5, 2021, on the South Lawn Driveway of the White House. President Joe Biden drives a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon during a clean cars event, Thursday, August 5, 2021, on the South Lawn Driveway of the White House.

The Politics of An Auto Strike

The President’s support for labor and aggressive action on climate change are in tension.