The Political Scene
The characters and issues shaping American politics.
The Two-Pronged Attack on a Muslim Judicial Nominee
How the smearing of Adeel Mangi became a bipartisan exercise.
The Workingman and the Company Store
Can a progressive campaign break the coal industry’s hold on West Virginia politics?
Can Suing People for Lying Save Democracy?
The lawyers at Protect Democracy have brought defamation suits against Rudy Giuliani, Kari Lake, and Project Veritas, hoping to limit the spread of disinformation. Others worry that their efforts could impinge on freedom of speech.
The G.O.P.’s Election-Integrity Trap
Donald Trump has spent years arguing that mail-in voting is fraudulent and corrupt. Now the Republican National Committee, which sees mail-in voting as essential, must persuade his base to embrace it.
The Fight to Restore Abortion Rights in Texas
With a statewide ban in effect, an unlikely political coalition works to insure that women can get lifesaving care.
Can Joe Biden Fight from Behind in a Rematch Against Donald Trump?
As the general election is set to begin, there is a new protagonist in American politics: not the man seeking to take back the White House as retribution but its current, outwardly placid occupant.
The Last Gasp of the Iowa Kingmakers
A group of local influencers, who have held sway in past caucuses, recently gathered to try to derail Donald Trump’s candidacy. Will their effort make any difference?
How Trump Captured Iowa’s Religious Right
The state’s evangelical voters were once skeptical of the former President. Now they are among his strongest supporters.
Watching Rudy Giuliani Self-Destruct at a Defamation Trial in Washington
A jury decided that Giuliani owes two election workers whom he defamed nearly a hundred and fifty million dollars. Even his lawyer suggested he “hasn’t been so great lately.”
Cherelle Parker Defies the Progressive Agenda
Philadelphia’s new mayor insists that the city’s safety depends on expanding its police department.