MISCHIEFS OF FACTION

Reflections on Parties and Their Place in Politics

Matthew Green

Jun 1, 20234 min read

The debt limit bill passes the House

What the House's passage of the debt limit bill tells us about the speakership of Kevin McCarthy and political parties in Congress.

Matthew Green

Jan 8, 20236 min read

The struggle to select a Speaker

The historic and dramatic election for Speaker underscores some basic features of Congress and congressional parties.

Could a bipartisan coalition elect the next Speaker?

Matthew Green

Dec 14, 20224 min read

Could a bipartisan coalition elect the next Speaker?

State legislatures have sometimes chosen leaders with cross-party coalitions, but conditions in the U.S. House make it unlikely

Matthew Green

Oct 5, 20223 min read

Assessing the “Commitment to America”

Like other congressional party platforms, it isn’t likely to influence the election -- but it does serve other purposes.

Political parties in Congress: a ten-year retrospective

Matthew Green

Sep 27, 20223 min read

Political parties in Congress: a ten-year retrospective

Congressional parties have changed in the past decade -- and differently across parties and chambers.

Matthew Green

Jun 14, 20224 min read

The most powerful caucus in Congress?

When it was founded eight years ago, few expected the House Freedom Caucus to be as influential in American politics as it turned out to be.

Seth Masket

May 5, 20224 min read

Who Fled the Center?

Elon Musk is wrong about polarization, but the truth is actually complicated depending on which part of parties you examine.

Do congressional party platforms matter?

Matthew Green

Mar 30, 20222 min read

Do congressional party platforms matter?

Election-year minority party agendas are important, but not for the reasons most people think.

Matthew Green

Feb 22, 20224 min read

The continuing war against Liz Cheney

Why did GOP leaders commit the risky move of endorsing Cheney’s primary challenger? And what does it tell us about the GOP?

The Staff

Jan 26, 20228 min read

When a Party Censures

Julia and Seth argue about Sinema, whether parties should censure, and whether this was the time to do it.

Bipartisanship should not be an end in itself

Matthew Green

Jan 20, 20223 min read

Bipartisanship should not be an end in itself

History tells us that both political parties can – and sometimes have – agreed to do harmful things.

Matthew Green

Nov 30, 20213 min read

Is Kevin McCarthy in trouble?

Recent warnings that Kevin McCarthy won't be chosen speaker in a GOP-led House are not credible.

Why the “GOP Thirteen” aren’t likely to be punished

Matthew Green

Nov 15, 20213 min read

Why the “GOP Thirteen” aren’t likely to be punished

Strong sanctions are rarely used against party defectors in Congress – for good reason.

Matthew Green

Oct 4, 20214 min read

The Misconceptions that Guide Congress

The ongoing debate over the passage of transportation and budget bills underscore how lawmakers act on behalf of misleading assumptions.

Are Democrats retaliating against Republicans who voted to undo the 2020 election?

Matthew Green

Sep 22, 20214 min read

Are Democrats retaliating against Republicans who voted to undo the 2020 election?

Inter-party punishments for the events of January 6th may be less widespread than they seem.

To Reform the Filibuster, Parties Need to Protect Marginal Senators

Gregory Koger

Jun 11, 20213 min read

To Reform the Filibuster, Parties Need to Protect Marginal Senators

If majority parties can help marginal members navigate the tension between the policy demands of their party base and the moderate preferenc

The Tea Party and the Rise of a Conservative Insurgency

Matthew Green

May 12, 20216 min read

The Tea Party and the Rise of a Conservative Insurgency

A conversation with Rachel Blum about her recent book How the Tea Party Captured the GOP.

The Staff

May 10, 20214 min read

Why Republicans are Ousting Liz Cheney

The House GOP has decided it can’t win without Trump’s voters and it can’t keep Trump’s voters if a party leader is condemning Trump.

The Staff

May 3, 20214 min read

It Takes (At Least) Two to Do Democracy

A third of state legislative contests regularly go uncontested, undermining one of the basic facets of democratic governance.

Matthew Green

Apr 26, 20214 min read

Mayor of Crazytown

John Boehner’s new memoir underscores the challenges of governing in today’s Congress.