Mischiefs of Faction

Discharge petitions and the fragile authority of Republican leaders

Speaker Johnson is trying to lead a House whose members increasingly reject strong party leadership.

Dec 24, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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How much trouble is Speaker Johnson in?

Johnson is likely to survive this Congress, but the speakership is not the secure position it once was.

Dec 9, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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November 2025

Lessons from the longest shutdown ever

What I got wrong and (arguably) got right

Nov 11, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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Are Members of Congress Pushing Back against President Trump? Part III

Explaining GOP Resistance

Nov 6, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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October 2025

You love me. You hate me. I'm the Ross & Rachel of Capitol Hill.

The Senate filibuster is adored when parties are in the minority and despised when parties are in the majority. If the filibuster could talk, it wants…

Oct 29, 2025 • Gregory Koger

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September 2025

Not the hill to die on

A government shutdown would not stop Trump or restore legislative democracy.

Sep 10, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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August 2025

Ambition motivates Gavin Newsom. According to the Founders, that’s actually good.

The US system was designed to keep power in check by pitting the politically ambitious against one another.

Aug 27, 2025 • Jacob Smith

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Democrats and Republicans Disagree about What Makes a Winner

Democrats tend to think Republicans win when they moderate their position; Republicans tend to think they win when they turn out the base. Both are…

Aug 26, 2025 • Barry C. Burden

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Two weeks in August

Some impressions of domestic politics after taking a hiatus from the news.

Aug 19, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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July 2025

Authoritarians are attacking universities. Here's how it's going at one public school.

I'm publicly documenting an event timeline to help bring order to the chaotic nature of events and help other schools plan the responses they are likely…

Jul 31, 2025 • Jennifer Nicoll Victor

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Scandals and Wedge Issues

Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.

Jul 29, 2025 • Matthew N. Green

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Partisan polarization destroys democracies. Here's how.

As polarization grows, partisans struggle to respect one another, then fail to show self-restraint. Loss of these norms erodes the institutions that…

Jul 21, 2025 • Jennifer Nicoll Victor

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