Biden’s low poll numbers are exactly what we should expect
We’re back to a world in which a weak economy hurts presidential approval.
Why aren’t Americans rallying around Biden during a war?
Encouraged by some of their leaders, more Republicans disapprove of Biden than Democrats disapprove of Trump.
A new bill in Congress would end ‘legacy’ college preferences. Here’s why that matters.
‘Legacy’ admissions were introduced to keep elite schools White. My research finds that that’s hurting Black and Brown students today.
Biden’s rhetoric on Ukraine has been quite moderate. Here’s what that means.
The language leaders use can shape international disputes, this research finds.
Biden just rescinded the ‘global gag rule.’ The next Republican president will restore it.
Policies about family planning once had bipartisan support. Here’s what changed.
Democratic presidents have traditionally hurt their parties. Joe Biden may be different.
Will he invest in building up a strong Democratic Party?
Look beyond Trump’s language to see the roots of recent political violence in the U.S.
For the past 50 years, conservatives have capitalized on demonizing the federal government
How a possible Biden victory is shaping international politics, even before Nov. 3
Americans aren’t the only ones watching the 2020 presidential election closely
How will Florida’s Cuban Americans vote? That’s more complicated than many believe.
Let’s debunk the myths.
If a president becomes incapacitated, here’s what the Constitution says
The 25th Amendment answers at least some of the big questions.
Trump’s top intelligence official is curtailing congressional briefings on foreign election interference
Perhaps he’s worried that the intelligence community is doing its job.
Why Trump has received a much smaller approval bump than other world leaders during the pandemic
The country’s highly polarized two-party system discourages ‘rallying around the flag’
Paul Volcker won his fight on inflation. The battle to regulate big finance is ongoing.
Fed Chairman Paul Volcker testifies in 1981. (Photo by James
Republicans say that Trump’s quid pro quos were normal. Here’s why they’re wrong.
The body of existing testimony shows how Trump has crossed the line
Can the U.S. protect its nuclear weapons in Turkey?
Here’s the backstory — and the downside of removing this nuclear cache.
No, the Trump impeachment inquiry is not a coup
There were four coups attempted in 2019. Trump supported one of them.
President Trump tapped Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here are 3 things to know.
Statements by the JCS chairman can have a significant impact on public opinion.
Trump will send troops to Saudi Arabia. Here’s why it matters that there’s no formal defense alliance.
The U.S. has a number of mutual defense treaties — but not with Saudi Arabia or Israel.
What does Israel’s response to two U.S. congresswomen mean for the future?
The U.S.-Israel relationship has been rocky for years.
With Boris Johnson in charge, will the U.K. face escalating international crises?
Here’s what we know about new leaders and the risk of military conflict.
Trump has been awarding a lot of Presidential Medals of Freedom. Here’s what that says about his values.
Arthur Laffer yesterday, Tiger Woods last month — Trump is awarding Medals of Freedom much in the way he’s used his power to pardon.
The Trump administration is revealing U.S. intelligence operations. Is it revealing too much?
Every administration faces tension between credibility and protecting sources — but it’s especially sharp for Trump.
Trump is at the NRA today. It didn’t used to be a Republican ally.
The organization was nonpartisan before the 1970s. What happened?
How the Mueller report reminds us of Watergate
Four curious echoes of the iconic White House abuse of power.
It’s a big deal that Trump didn’t allow notes on his meetings with Putin
Editors' note: In light of a January 2019 Washington Post
Big elections are coming in 2019. Here’s how they could reshape foreign policy.
[caption id="attachment_80963" align="aligncenter" width="960"] At the Group of 20 summit
When President Trump heads to Europe, discussion turns to burden-sharing.
Editor's note: On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that French President Emmanuel
Is Obama breaking norms as a former President? Not really.
As former president Barack Obama has begun campaigning for Democrats
What’s most shocking about the ‘resistance’ op-ed? How personal the attacks are.
It turns out that studying the workings of the presidency
By ending ‘temporary protected status’ for half a million people, Trump has probably increased illegal migration
Since taking office, President Trump has shown a firm commitment
This might be the way to prove partisan gerrymandering, according to the new Supreme Court standard
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/business/gerrymandering-explained/2016/04/21/e447f5c2-07fe-11e6-bfed-ef65dff5970d_video.html Last month, the Supreme Court dismayed opponents of partisan
Why Austria’s response to the Skripal poisoning wasn’t so tough on Russia
[caption id="attachment_72394" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sebastian Kurz, 31, led Austria's conservative
John Bolton’s appointment reveals this much bigger problem
Last week, when President Trump announced he was replacing H.R.
Trump isn’t benefiting from economic growth. But he’s not unusual.
As President Trump begins his second year in office, observers
What the JFK assassination files can tell us about the U.S. plot to kill Castro
[caption id="attachment_65582" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Fidel Castro welcome their
In a new poll, half of Republicans say they would support postponing the 2020 election if Trump proposed it
Critics of President Trump have repeatedly warned of his potential to
Rhetorical ‘fire and fury’ can help the U.S. globally – if the president has enough backing at home
President Trump is making news for saying that North Korea
Here’s a voter fraud myth: Richard Daley ‘stole’ Illinois for John Kennedy in the 1960 election
[caption id="attachment_62041" align="aligncenter" width="1721"] (Associated Press)[/caption] President Trump has chartered
Donald Trump is wrong. When Democrats were offered secret help by the Soviets, they refused.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/donald-trump-jr-defends-his-meeting-with-russian-lawyer/2017/07/12/cbb7082e-66c4-11e7-94ab-5b1f0ff459df_video.html Yesterday, President Trump suggested in a Reuters interview that
Trump opponents have rediscovered the 25th Amendment. Here is what you should know about it.
[caption id="attachment_59230" align="aligncenter" width="960"] (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)[/caption] Donald Trump’s
This is why presidents want back channels and how it can go wrong
[caption id="attachment_58931" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Secret intelligence suggests that Jared Kushner
When Trump signs bills into law, he objects to scores of provisions. Here’s what that means.
[caption id="attachment_57675" align="alignleft" width="960"] President Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in
Two factors help a president get a lot done in 100 days. Trump has only one.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/the-first-100-days/2017/04/27/84533bc2-2b48-11e7-9081-f5405f56d3e4_video.html In early 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the now-famous
This is why the first 100 days is a ‘ridiculous standard’ for judging presidents
http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/editorial/by-the-numbers-trumps-first-100-days/2017/04/24/2e8b42bc-26b5-11e7-928e-3624539060e8_video.html President Trump, who has yet to pass any major
Is President Trump irrational — or just playing a different game than everyone else?
[caption id="attachment_54809" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump addressing the National Governors
Trump pledged to reverse Obama’s executive orders. Here’s how well past presidents have fulfilled that pledge.
[caption id="attachment_52847" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump hands Chief of Staff
What the U.S. can learn from its Cold War fight against Kremlin propaganda
In January 2017, James R. Clapper Jr., the director of
The Cabinet was the easy part. Staffing (and steering) the bureaucracy takes much more work.
[caption id="attachment_51814" align="aligncenter" width="858"] Excerpts of H.R. Haldeman's notes from
Would President Trump go to war to divert attention from problems at home?
[caption id="attachment_51440" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives
Yes, NATO is sharing the defense burden. Here’s what we found.
Since the United Kingdom's “Brexit” referendum in June, European leaders
Trump’s proposed administration isn’t ideologically diverse. That can be dangerous.
[caption id="attachment_42060" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)[/caption] Should Americans
Trump wants a White House that’s not ‘top down.’ Here’s why this won’t work.
[caption id="attachment_49548" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President-elect Donald Trump, left, stands with
Obama has set the record for the most Presidential Medals of Freedom
[caption id="attachment_49976" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Barack Obama awards former Washington
Two of the most prominent arguments for the electoral college are completely wrong
[caption id="attachment_49740" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People protest against President-elect Donald Trump
Obama built a policy legacy. But he didn’t do enough to build the Democratic Party
[caption id="attachment_35812" align="aligncenter" width="908"] (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)[/caption] President Obama has
When the White House changes hands, it is a dangerous time in foreign policy
[caption id="attachment_42601" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The presidential seal is placed on
NATO members are supposed to be democratic. What happens when Turkey isn’t?
[caption id="attachment_47719" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Obama shakes hands with Turkish
White Christian America is dying
Robert P. Jones is the founding CEO of the Public
Mitch McConnell said you don’t need experience to be president
Here's why he's wrong.
Will Tim Kaine deliver Virginia (and Catholics)? Don’t count on it.
[caption id="attachment_44317" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hillary Clinton and Sen. Timothy M.
Vice-presidential candidates do win votes. But Mike Pence won’t help Donald Trump win the election.
[caption id="attachment_43886" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with
Two myths about the unruly American primary system
[caption id="attachment_38412" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] The symbols of the Democratic (donkey)
This research shows that vice presidential candidates actually do win votes in their home states
[caption id="attachment_35097" align="aligncenter" width="908"] (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post; Melina Mara/The
Who should Trump and Clinton pick as running mates? This research says it doesn’t really matter.
[caption id="attachment_38412" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Karen Bleier/AFP)[/caption] Even with the Democratic
Does shielding the public from the costs of war actually affect attitudes about the war?
[caption id="attachment_38375" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Would Americans support foreign wars if
Obama’s symbolic visit to Cuba is the exception. What’s the real history of presidents and international travel?
Historically, U.S. presidents and their secretaries of state did not travel.
Is Donald Trump leading a realignment of the GOP? Maybe not.
[caption id="attachment_36766" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listens
Donald Trump’s foreign policy views are actually pretty mainstream
[caption id="attachment_35230" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks
New evidence shows that the pope can change Catholics' minds about the culture war
[caption id="attachment_29644" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Are Americans listening? Pope Francis greets
New evidence shows that the pope can change Catholics’ minds about the culture war
[caption id="attachment_29644" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Are Americans listening? Pope Francis greets
Guess who used to be okay with the death penalty?
[caption id="attachment_29629" align="aligncenter" width="982"] FILE - Nebraska's lethal injection chamber
New research shows just how much presidents try to manipulate public opinion
[caption id="attachment_28333" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)[/caption] The political scientists
If the Obama presidency is winding down, why is his group Organizing for Action ramping up?
[caption id="attachment_27986" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Tony Dejak/AP)[/caption] On June 30, Organizing
How to manage Saudi anger at the Iran nuclear deal
[caption id="attachment_25174" align="aligncenter" width="262"] The U.S. can continue to negotiate
New ranking of U.S. presidents puts Lincoln at No. 1, Obama at 18; Kennedy judged most overrated
Although it has been celebrated officially since 1879, Presidents' Day
Why our success in managing the banking crisis was the mother of failure
[caption id="attachment_20376" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Hall of Mirrors (courtesy, Oxford University
The power of Lyndon Johnson is a myth
[caption id="attachment_20023" align="aligncenter" width="620"] President Lyndon B. Johnson addresses a
The trials and tribulations of prosecuting heads of states: Kenyatta and the ICC
[caption id="attachment_19336" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta appears before
The curious case of nuclear studies
[caption id="attachment_12712" align="aligncenter" width="600"] June 3, 1961: Soviet Premier Nikita
Robert Strauss is dead, but political parties are alive and well
The New York Times uses the passing of Washington super-lawyer
Nelson Mandela demonstrates the importance of taking leaders seriously
[caption id="attachment_3809" align="aligncenter" width="648" special=""] (Michelly Rall/Getty Images)[/caption] This is
Why so many Americans believe Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories
[caption id="attachment_2798" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] The Kennedy's motorcade drives through
The passionate, anonymous Mr. White
[caption id="attachment_2524" align="alignleft" width="270" special=""] Lee White and President Johnson,
The Political Science of Battlestar Galactica
We welcome another guest post from Stephen Benedict Dyson. His
The Political Science of Star Trek
We welcome this guest post from Stephen Benedict Dyson. *****
Romney’s Candidacy has Piqued Curiosity about Mormons: Evidence from Google Searches
This is a guest post from political scientists Donald Green
Do Presidential Debates Really Matter?
In this month's Atlantic Monthly James Fallows has a long
Where the Presidential Race Stands Now
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First E-Chapters of THE GAMBLE Are Available
Lynn Vavreck and I are pleased to announce that the
We Can’t Wait (Except When We Can)
This weekend, former Nixon staffer Charles Colson died at the
Military Strikes against Iran’s Nuclear Facilities: Are They Likely and Will They Work?
I am delighted to welcome a guest post by Matthew
Ash(es) to Ashes: Reorganizing the Executive Branch
Roy Ash, an important figure in the "battles of the
Is it Turnip Day?
Today is the 37th anniversary of Proclamation 4311, better known
Forget the Dukakis-in-a-tank effect: the Democrats would’ve lost in 1988 even if they’d had Burt Reynolds at the top of the ticket
Jonathan Chait writes that the most important aspect of a
JFK’s Grades in Political Science
Presidency scholar "Matthew Beckmann":http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5089 sends along the grades from "Rupert
Who Was the First President Born in the Twentieth Century?
That sounds like a simple question, doesn't it? Well, it's
Desks of Destiny
The US Senate website has a great feature that lets
All in the Family: How Political Leaders Secure Their Regimes
George W. Bush has two, but Saddam Hussein had six.
But for the Grace of God &c
The "NYT":http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/obama-aide-apologizes-for-calling-clinton-a-monster/index.html?hp tells us that Samantha Power (who is, on
Why Is It Hard for Senators to Become President?
This Washington Post piece delves into the perennial question of