President Donald J. Trump, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, and Attorney General William Barr, displays his signature after signing an Executive Order to Prevent Hoarding and Price Gouging, Monday, March 23, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, and Attorney General William Barr, displays his signature after signing an Executive Order to Prevent Hoarding and Price Gouging, Monday, March 23, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

The Magical Thinking Presidency

Trump’s approach from the beginning has been reality-denying. It makes it difficult to take anything the administration proposed seriously.

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, and Attorney General William Barr, displays his signature after signing an Executive Order to Prevent Hoarding and Price Gouging, Monday, March 23, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, and Attorney General William Barr, displays his signature after signing an Executive Order to Prevent Hoarding and Price Gouging, Monday, March 23, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Trump Approval Up During Crisis

The President seems to be enjoying a mild rally effect.

The Self-Serving Presidency: Trump and Covid-19

In his own words

(Alternative title: Narcissist-in-Chief III)

The Narcissist in Chief, II

This could be a very long series.

Why Did Russia Start Oil Price War?

There are two theories, neither of them good.

Afghanistan Has Two Presidents

As if the country needed more turmoil.

Trump Fires Chief of Staff via Tweet

This is no way to run a railroad.

Tom Steyer Drops Out

The billionaire has decided to stop tilting at windmills.

Joe Biden Makes it a Two-Man Race

The 78-year-old is the Comeback Kid. And the only chance of preventing a Bernie Sanders nomination.

On the Act of Voting

A discussion of what #NeverTrump means, on Sanders v. Trump, and some about the philosophy of voting.

Dictatorships and the Democrats

Bloomberg waffles on China while Sanders has a soft spot for Castro.

On the Issue of (d)emocratic Nominations

Primaries are not all they are cracked up to be.

American Exceptionalism in Choosing the Head of State

We are truly exceptional in how we choose the president.

Bloomberg to Sell Business if Elected

The mega-billionaire commits to a path quite different from the fake billionaire currently in office.

The US’ Nonhierarchical Parties

Lack of control of label is lack of control, ultimately, of a party.

Bloomberg’s Influence-Buying

Unprecedented spending since leaving City Hall has put him in a unique position.

Brokered Democratic Convention a Real Possibility

Could the fevered dream really come true?

Deval Patrick Drops Out

The Democratic nominee will be white.

Sanders Benefitting from Low Expectations

The Vermont Senator is a better politician than most give him credit for.

SOTU Ends Pretense of Normalcy

The State of the Union is petulant.

Is Presidential Impeachment Constitutional Dead Letter?

(At least the removal part)

Trump’s Acquittal and American Democracy

Has this precedent permanently damaged the country? Or is it just politics as usual?

Senate Republicans Think Trump Guilty, Shouldn’t Be Removed

A binary choice will produce a worse outcome than necessary.

Our Constitutional Crisis

To defang impeachment is an invitation for presidents to ignore the rule of law.

Why Democrats Have to Play By Different Rules

The Republicans are playing a different game.

What if November’s Loser Refuses to Concede?

There’s a very real possibility the legitimacy of the 2020 election will be contested.

The NYT’s Dual Endorsement

The paper of record endorsed both Warren and Klobuchar

Explaining the Sanders-Warren Flap

Two progressives enter. One progressive leaves.

More on NATOME

More on presidential nonsense with a brief diversion into blogging philosophy.

U.S. Drone Strike Hits Head Of Iranian Revolutionary Guard

An American drone strike has taken out the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a move likely to significantly increase tensions across the Middle East.

Julian Castro Ends Presidential Bid

Another one bites the dust.

Happy New Year And New Decade

It’s been quite a year, and quite a decade.

Trump Impeached On Abuse of Power And Obstruction of Congress

For the third time in history, an American President has been impeached.

As Impeachment Gets Closer, Trump Becomes Even More Unhinged

Despite denials and dismissals, it is clear that being an impeached President is getting under Trump’s skin.

House Set To Debate And Vote On Impeachment

By the end of today, Donald Trump will most likely be the third President of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

On Eve Of Impeachment, Trump Sends Bizarre Rant-Filled Letter To Pelosi

The President of the United States has sent a bizarre, rant-filled letter to the Speaker of the House. Revealing just how unbalanced he actually is.

Polling On Impeachment Largely Unmoved On Eve Of House Vote

With the House of Representatives just days away from impeaching President Trump, polling shows that public opinion on the issue has not changed much since October.

The Framers Aren’t All They’re Cracked up to Be

The men who gathered in Philadelphia to write the Constitution were geniuses. But they couldn’t predict the future.

No, Joe Biden Should Not Make A Single Term Pledge

Some reports are indicating that Joe Biden’s campaign is considering making a pledge that he would only serve a single term if elected. This would be a mistake.

Kamala Harris’s Failure Had Nothing To Do With Her Race

Kamala Harris didn’t fail because of her race, she failed because she was a bad candidate.

House Judiciary Committee Unveils Articles Of Impeachment

The House Judiciary Committee has revealed the Articles of Impeachment against the President that it will vote on later this week.

DOJ Inspector General Rebuts Trump On Russia Investigation

After a two-year investigation, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice found no basis for the conspiracy theories being pushed by the Republicans regarding the Russia investigation.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Congressional (In)Action

Especially Senate inaction.

November Job Growth Beats Expectations

November saw much higher jobs growth than economic analysts were expecting, but it could just be a statistical blip.

Impeachment Hearings Go To Law School

Yesterday’s hearing before the House Judiciary Committee did a good job of explaining how the facts of the Ukraine scandal meet the Constitution’s definition of impeachable offenses.

White House Rejects Invitation To Participate In Impeachment Hearings

After arguing for a month about an “unfair” impeachment process, the WHite House is saying ‘no thanks’ to an invitation to participate in the next round of impeachment hearings.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock Drops Out Of Presidential Race

And another one gone, another one gone, another one bites the dust.

Poll Finds Republicans Think Trump Is A Better President Than Lincoln

Further evidence that the Republican Party has turned into a cult of personalty built around Donald Trump.

William Ruckelshaus, Who Balked At ‘Saturday Night Massacre,” Dies at 87

A Justice Department official who had the courage to stand up to the President has died at the age of 87.

Obama May Intervene In Democratic Race

Former President Obama has been largely quiet about the race for the Democratic nomination, but that may not last.