I and others often say that the partisan conflict in the United States puts our democracy at risk. And it’s true. But that framing implies that the core conflict is about democracy — as if we have one side that supports fair elections while the other prefers dictatorship. But the […] Read more »
Hotline’s Senate Power Rankings
Democrats had a rough 2021, and entering 2022, things still look bleak. A president’s party typically loses seats in their first midterm election, and President Biden doesn’t look to be an exception to that rule at the moment, with his approval rating mired in the low 40s. While the House […] Read more »
Grievance is no substitute for ideas
About a year ago, an impartial friend well-versed in the art of politics asked me a tough question, “What has happened to the Republican Party?” he said. “You used to be the party of optimism. Now, you seem to be the party of grievance.” Having spent decades opposing the Democratic […] Read more »
Status Anxiety Is Blowing Wind Into Trump’s Sails
What is the role of status discontent in the emergence of right-wing populism? If it does play a key role, does it matter more where someone stands at any given moment or whether someone is moving up the ladder or down? … It is hardly a secret that the white […] Read more »
Fewer Americans now say Trump bears a lot of responsibility for the Jan. 6 riot
A little more than a year after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, Americans remain deeply divided about the events of that day and the ongoing congressional investigation into what happened. Last year, in the immediate wake of Jan. 6, about half of U.S. adults (52%) said Donald […] Read more »
Don’t bet on the GOP coming to its senses just yet
… Yes, I understand that some people are angry with the establishment, believe Democrats are a threat to our economy and culture, and yearn for the 1950s. Some uneducated Americans even like Trump’s vulgarity and name-calling. But Trump continues to get crucial support from people who are educated — the […] Read more »