1. the city politic
    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
    Mamdani Couldn’t Resist Attacking Israel in October 7 StatementThis won’t do much to repair his relationship with New York’s Jewish Establishment.
    By Benjamin Hart and Chas Danner
  2. 2026 midterms
    Ken Paxton Is Kicking the GOP Lifeguards Trying to Save HimThe GOP can’t afford to lose the Texas Senate race. Their candidate isn’t helping.
    By Ed Kilgore
  3. 2026 midterms
    Democratic Senate Candidate For South Carolina Dr. Annie Andrews Campaigns Throughout The State
    Is Everything Suddenly Possible for Democrats?Kansas? Texas? South Carolina? Democrats are expanding the midterms map, and it’s getting pretty wild.
    By Ed Kilgore
  4. the national circus
    Trump’s Shameless CollaboratorsThe cronies of his second term are heading for a harsher comeuppance.
    By Frank Rich
  5. u.s. supreme court
    Like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alito Is Gambling on Outliving His CriticsHe could retire and let a GOP Senate confirm a like-minded successor. But like RBG, he can’t let go of the power a lifetime appointment confers.
    By Ed Kilgore
  7. 2026 midterms
    U.S. Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Visits "The Story With Martha MacCallum"
    Abdul El-Sayed Is No Longer a Risky BetAfter working hard to achieve party unity after a fractious primary, the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee now leads the race against Mike Rogers.
    By Ed Kilgore
  8. 2026 midterms
    6 Midterms Takeaways With a Month to GoGOP turf and money advantage still matter, but Democrats have a message and are leading in polls all over the country as Trump’s popularity craters.
    By Ed Kilgore
  9. tremendous content
    ‘Super Intelligence,’ Trump’s Dopey AI Rebrand, ExplainedTrump is trying to shut down AI doomerism by giving “artificial intelligence” a friendlier name. But he may have a hard time making “SI” happen.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  10. social studies
    The Inescapable Hasan PikerFor good or ill, the Twitch streamer is now the most volatile force in American politics.
    By Simon van Zuylen-Wood
  11. early and often
    MAGA Can’t Let Go of Tricky DickNixon apologists have now spurred a Justice Department investigation of Watergate. But the Trump parallels they draw aren’t flattering to either man.
    By Ed Kilgore
  12. the schoolyard
    Mamdani’s 2K Is a Mathematical MessExperts say that the paltry funding set aside for universal child care is more likely to bankrupt many day cares than help them thrive.
    By Claire Suddath
  13. 2026 midterms
    GOP Saving the Unpopular Stuff for After the ElectionOn a range of issues from Iran to safety-net cuts to voting rights, Trump’s party is holding back until he’s beyond accountability once and for all.
    By Ed Kilgore
  14. poll position
    How Low Can Trump Go?He is now flirting with some of the worst presidential popularity measures on record, and this probably isn’t his rock bottom yet.
    By Ed Kilgore
  15. just asking questions
    Nikole Hannah-Jones Worries You’re Missing the PointThe writer on the misplaced backlash to her school-choice story, recognizing her daughter’s agency, and why Mamdani should take on segregation.
    By Nia Prater
  16. war games
    Elon Musk Rewarded for DOGE Debacle With ‘Warfare’ GigThe world’s richest man will advise the Pentagon on the future of war.
    By Bess Levin
  17. 2026 midterms
    Dems Affordabilty 9/16/26
    The Biggest Sign Yet That Democrats Will Flip the HouseThe very cautious Cook Political Report is pointing to a Democratic House win, while most election forecasters flat out predict a House-Senate sweep.
    By Ed Kilgore
  18. 2026 midterms
    Trump’s Midterms Convention Blew Up in Poor Ken Paxton’s FaceThe GOP’s big bash in Texas was supposed to boost the state’s embattled Senate candidate. He privately told donors it actually hurt him.
    By Ed Kilgore
  19. early and often
    Vance’s Wild Senate-Takeover Plan Has a Big FlawHe and Trump “war-gamed” plans to nix the Senate parliamentarian and filibuster to pass the toxic SAVE America Act.
    By Ed Kilgore
  20. oops
    Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee
    GOP Senator’s Failed Jack Smith Takedown Is an Instant ClassicA serious Schmittshow unfolded on Tuesday.
    By Chas Danner
  21. 2026 midterms
    Trump’s Campaign Schedule Is a Really Bad Sign for RepublicansThe president is focused on places where Republicans should win easily — an ominous development for November.
    By Ed Kilgore
  22. tremendous content
    Trump Scores 98 Percent Approval (by Cherry-Picking Polls)Trump shared 43 seconds of a CNN report, omitting the 13 minutes where Harry Enten showed his numbers have “plummeted into the ocean.”
    By Margaret Hartmann
  23. tremendous content
    Trump Woos Taxpayers by Wasting Their Money on Campaign AdsTrump is doubling down on self-promoting, government-funded commercials, which may be illegal. His affordability pitch might need some work.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  24. 2026 midterms
    How Trump Will Claim Victory on Election NightIf there’s an early GOP lead, he’ll probably declare premature victory. If not, he may cite foreign interference.
    By Ed Kilgore
  25. early and often
    AOC’s Upstate Tour Looks Like a Preview of Something BiggerThe congresswoman is drumming up support for Democrats in November — and maybe for herself in 2028.
    By Benjamin Hart
  26. education
    Nikole Hannah-Jones
    Nikole Hannah-Jones and Her Daughter Had It Out on AirThey had a poignant and at times tense conversation about parenting and school inequality on This American Life. Here are the most notable moments.
    By Nia Prater
  27. early and often
    It’s Not Just Peltola: How Congress Treats Its SerfsStaff complaints about the Alaska Senate candidate shouldn’t be dismissed. But abuse is built right into the institution.
    By Ed Kilgore
  28. politics
    America LastTrump promised to put ordinary people first. A year in, they have fallen to the bottom of his priority list.
    By Sarah Jones
  29. u.s. supreme court
    Supreme Court Voter-Roll Order Won’t Affect Midterms, But Look Out in 2028The six conservative justices see no problem with letting DHS access personal data to screen voter eligibility. That could matter a lot down the road.
    By Ed Kilgore
  30. politics
    Pretty Much Every Poll Is Good for Democrats NowWith just weeks to go before the midterms, polls are showing a wide range of Democratic candidates ahead. Here’s a quick scan.
    By Nia Prater
  31. 2026 midterms
    Rise of the Red-State DemocratsCan all this Democratic overperformance in red-state Senate races last?
    By Ed Kilgore
  32. tremendous content
    US-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP-XI
    Trump Makes Xi Greeting As Awkward As PossibleHe showed up in a winter coat and leather gloves, commented on Xi’s attractiveness, and then exclaimed “(Airport!)” for unclear reasons.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  33. 2026 midterms
    Hasan Piker May Not Matter As Much As Republicans WantNew polling shows a majority of Michiganders, and an even bigger majority of young voters, don’t even know who the leftist streamer is.
    By Ed Kilgore
  34. politics
    All the Republicans Backing Away From TrumpA growing number of GOP candidates are awkwardly attempting to downplay their links to Trump. Here’s a running list.
    By Nia Prater
  35. early and often
    Election Day Is Already UnderwayHere’s how to understand early voting ten times better than Donald Trump.
    By Ed Kilgore
  36. the media
    CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Regain White House Access After Court OrderA Trump-appointed federal judge granted a temporary restraining order against the ban.
    By Michael Calderone
  37. tremendous content
    Trump’s Shoddy Ballroom Design Is the Real National Security ThreatThe president reportedly shrugged off the original architect’s concerns that he was violating fire and safety regulations, saying, “I am the code.”
    By Margaret Hartmann
  38. poll position
    Trump’s Popularity Is Circling the DrainAt the worst possible time for his party, the president’s job-performance numbers continue to sag in every possible way.
    By Ed Kilgore
  39. tremendous content
    Trump TV Is Finally Here, and No One Is WatchingA media boycott drove Trump to dabble in state TV. But instead of a network competitor, Trump TV is just a dinky livestream with abysmal ratings.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  40. 2026 midterms
    Do Voters Care Whether Susan Collins Is Corrupt?A new report alleging the senator may have traded pork for contributions could be a good test of public tolerance for self-dealing in the Trump era.
    By Ed Kilgore
  41. politics
    Trump’s Iran War Is Bombing With RepublicansA new poll finds that the ongoing Iran war is reaching new heights of unpopularity, even among members of the president’s own party.
    By Nia Prater
  42. 2026 midterms
    Trump Hates Communism But Likes Hanging Out With CommunistsIt’s hard to promote a preelection Red Scare when you’re palling around with a socialist mayor and the Chinese premier.
    By Ed Kilgore
  43. 2026 midterms
    The Key Difference Between Christian Left and Christian RightChristian clergy running as Democrats in 2026 are defying the alleged GOP monopoly over Christianity without seeking to impose their faith on others.
    By Ed Kilgore
  44. we’ll do it live
    President Donald Trump.
    Trump Promotes War and ‘Super Intelligence’ at U.N.: As It HappenedIn his big UNGA speech, Trump celebrated his own peacemaking, threatened to annihilate Iran, and tried to rename AI. Here’s what else happened.
    By Intelligencer Staff
  45. magalopolis
    Trump
    Who Is Natalie Harp? Trump’s Most Ardent Aide, ExplainedTrump’s “human printer” is reportedly a driving force behind his unhinged Truth Social posts and the White House press ban.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  46. nerd fight
    Wave or No Wave: Two Paths for the MidtermsPoll-based forecasters and race-rating “experts” have different perspectives on how the midterms will unfold. Somebody’s going to be wrong.
    By Ed Kilgore
  47. encounter
    The City Council Speaker Who Bested Anna WintourJulie Menin is a dogged fighter of antisemitism, and, depending on the day, she is either the mayor’s greatest ally or most imposing antagonist.
    By Emma Rosenblum
  48. the body politic
    Troy Jackson, the Accidental CandidateHow the Democratic Party is seizing control of his Senate campaign.
    By Rebecca Traister
  49. politics
    President Trump Meets New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani At White House
    Trump and Mamdani Meet at Gracie Mansion: What HappenedOnce again the president seemed like he was a fan of the mayor despite their disagreements. Here’s how their post-meeting press conference played out.
    By Nia Prater and Chas Danner
  50. tremendous content
    President Trump tries to speak while being drowned out by Marine One.
    Trump’s First Press-Pool-Free Event Was a DisasterIf Trump speaks at a White House helipad ribbon cutting and there are no reporters with microphones, did it actually happen?
    By Chas Danner
  51. tremendous content
    Trump Reveals Arch Is Fully Armed and Operational Battle StationThat harmless, half-finished joke from the Great American State Fair? Now Trump says it’s going to be a “top grade Military Complex.”
    By Margaret Hartmann
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