Trump’s World of Peril and Opportunity
Wherever I’ve traveled over the past year, I’ve encountered a world teetering between peril and promise. As we step into 2025, that precarious balance feels more pronounced than ever. On one side, the shadow of global conflict looms large, threatening…
Jimmy Carter: The Unexpected Conservative President
Often called the last liberal president, Jimmy Carter will be remembered by many Americans for his legacy after he left the presidency, human rights and peace activist. Still, this account greatly mischaracterizes Carter’s own presidency: the last in the line…
Jimmy Carter: The Last Progressive Evangelical
The passing of Jimmy Carter means more than the loss of a former president; it also marks the end of an era for progressive evangelicalism, a distinguished yet dwindling tradition in American religious and political life. Emerging from the Second…
Dean Phillips Reflects: Regrets, Leadership, and a Call for Change
Dean Phillips, the outgoing Democratic Congressman from Minnesota, has no regrets about launching his quixotic primary challenge against President Joe Biden—a decision he says was vindicated after Biden’s disastrous debate with Donald Trump. But in a candid exit interview with…
Farewell to The Axe Files: A Podcast That Bridged the Divide
In an age when political discourse is often reduced to sound bites and partisan bickering, David Axelrod’s The Axe Files stood apart as a beacon of thoughtful conversation. Over nine years and 605 episodes, Axelrod’s podcast offered something increasingly rare:…
Stay the Course: Why Federal Workers Must Resist the Urge to Quit
As the holiday season unfolds, a grim reality confronts many U.S. civil servants: Should they stay in their positions and endure a president who disdains their work and threatens their job security, or leave before they’re forced out? For some,…
Elon Musk’s ‘Move Fast and Break Things’ Ethos Hits a Wall in Washington
House Republicans are in disarray. A rushed government funding package has sparked intraparty conflict, frustration with Speaker Mike Johnson is boiling over, and Democrats are claiming victory. Even President-elect Donald Trump is shifting blame toward Joe Biden for the chaos….
Why Canada’s Top Diplomat in Washington Isn’t Sweating Trump’s Tough Talk
Donald Trump loves to flaunt his deal-making prowess. For allies, this often feels less like diplomacy and more like a high-stakes negotiation. Recently, Canada has found itself in Trump’s crosshairs, with the president-elect openly challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on…
From Firebrand to Statesman: Patrick McHenry’s Two Decades in Congress
When Patrick McHenry first arrived in Congress in 2005, he was brash, aggressive at 29, with a reputation for being the GOP’s “attack dog-in-training.” Two decades on, and with his retirement today, he has done the trick of shedding that…
The Black Swan Election Inside Trump’s Unlikely Victory
Earlier this month, at Harvard’s Institute of Politics during the quadrennial campaign managers’ conference, I spent nearly an hour with two of the key architects behind Donald Trump’s stunning presidential victory: co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita and chief pollster Tony Fabrizio….
Brian Schatz to Democrats: Ditch the Jargon and Listen to Voters
Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has the easygoing charm of his home state, but don’t let that fool you. At 52, Schatz is a seasoned political operator who has already spent 12 years in the U.S. Senate. As he ascends the…
Republican Power Struggle: Cotton Edges Out Cornyn for Senate Intelligence Chair
Senate Republicans are abuzz with discussions about elevating Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee—a prestigious position that would reward the Texan after his loss in last month’s GOP leadership race. However, one significant hurdle looms: Sen….