Cheney versus the Freedom Caucus
The recent GOP brouhaha is indicative of how closely the House Freedom Caucus and its allies have tied themselves to Trump.
MISCHIEFS OF FACTION
Reflections on Parties and Their Place in Politics
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Two Things the Trump Team is Sort of Getting Right
The Trump campaign is playing a bad hand reasonably well.
The Supreme Court reminded us that the Electoral College doesn't deliberate
The Court's decision makes clear that the Electoral College doesn't deliberate - it exists to give some states a representational advantage
What Molly Ball’s new book teaches us about leadership in Congress
The latest biography of Speaker Nancy Pelosi offers some sharp insights into her political career and how power is exercised in Congress.
Surprise, the better-known candidate with more money and party backing won despite gaffes
Hickenlooper had the edge on the fundamentals, but Romanoff was the better campaigner. Guess which mattered more.
How Covid-19 Lockdowns Contributed to Black Lives Matter Protests
The Black Lives Matter protests in June show that having time off work is one of the most important resources for social movements.
What would a Biden era be like? Recent protests give us some ideas.
I didn’t know when I wrote my Super Tuesday blog post on March 4 that I was in the last week of a normal, pre-pandemic world. I wrote...
Biden’s VP Selection is Unlikely to Have Much of an Effect on the Dynamics of the Race
Should Joe Biden choose Kamala Harris or Elizabeth Warren as his VP? New polling suggests neither has a strong effect on voters' choices.
Does protesters' dissatisfaction with democracy explain willingness to use violence?
By Michael Heaney Within days of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020, peaceful protests – as well...
What's a Proportional Police Response? It Depends on Who's Watching
It turns out that white people and black people have different views about what's an appropriate police response to disruptive protest.
In Defense of (Good) Photo Ops
A good photo op has important symbolic value and can be empowering. Trump's Bible stunt was pretty much the opposite.
When D.C. Becomes a Political Prop
Trump’s odd photo-op underscores how most politicians see the nation’s capital: as a cheap political prop.
Americans Are Taking Collective Action on Both Sides of COVID-related Policies
By Michael T. Heaney If you have followed recent news stories about protests seeking to end COVID-related stay-at-home orders –...
Democracy is an individual trait
As unrest in America’s cities grows in response to overwhelming injustices, along with the devastating scourge of pandemic disease that...
To Crack Down on Dissent in Hong Kong, Beijing is Sidelining Local Democratic Institutions
The COVID-19 crisis presents challenges for transnational allies to remain vigilant against encroaching threats in Hong Kong.
Parties pick Vice Presidents, and they're not bad at it
The VP nominee process looks a lot like the one party reformers have been pushing for the presidency
Rally (Mostly) ‘Round the (State) Flag
Not all U.S. governors are getting pandemic-related boosts in public support.
Democrats, Republicans Agree on the Science, Disagree on the Politics of Covid-19
A recent survey shows bipartisan support for social distancing, but some important partisan splits on other issues related to the pandemic.
The Trump presidency thrives on norms
The administration that run on a message of disruption, yet has unfailingly maintained power arrangements.
Is the Coronavirus a Threat to American Democracy?
Despite some alarmist headlines, there’s good reason to think American democracy will survive the pandemic.