In the wake of a “wave” election, it’s always more fashionable to emphasize change over continuity. Despite plenty of talk these days about electoral realignments, resurgent socialism, and the political coming-of-age of a potentially transformational millennial generation, however, neither of the two parties looks all that much different now than […] Read more »
Republicans Must Do Some Soul-Searching
Over the next few months, as election results are finalized, exit polling massaged, and post-election polling conducted and examined, we will be spending a lot of time slicing and dicing the data. But in the meantime, Republicans need to be doing some soul-searching about their party and its future. Of […] Read more »
When Trump stretches democratic norms, do voters care?
… As a candidate and president, Trump has tested — and in some instances broken — established norms of democratic politics. He has expressed admiration for autocrats and reacted with indifference to violations of democratic principles abroad. Yet his approval ratings among Americans, while low when compared to other presidents, […] Read more »
The Psychology of Political Polarization
Many stories can be told about the 2018 midterm elections, but their mixed results make one thing clear: We are a country divided. Pundits have attributed our historically high levels of polarization to a variety of sources, including the isolating effects of social media, the corrupting influence of dark money […] Read more »
Democrats sweep Reagan Country in California
It was where “good Republicans go to die,” Ronald Reagan often quipped. Now, with the final ballots counted, Democrats have achieved a total takeover of congressional seats in the one-time Republican bastion of Orange County. Across the country on Election Day, Democrats shifted the balance of power in the US […] Read more »
The Midterms Sent an Unmistakable Message to Republicans
In last week’s election, the bill came due on the defining bet placed by congressional Republicans during the Donald Trump era. Led by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House and Senate Republicans made a strategic decision to lock arms around Trump over the past two […] Read more »