1. Jesus, Trump, and Guns: Luther Strange’s Ultimate Alabama GOP AdIn a race marred by negative ads, Senator Luther Strange has a positive spot that’s got more shout-outs to conservative icons than you can count.
    By Ed Kilgore
  2. Why Nuking the Filibuster Could Be Part of a Debt-Limit DealWith conservatives now threatening to take must-pass legislation hostage, they could get together with Trump and permanently end Democratic leverage.
    By Ed Kilgore
  3. Justice Department Changes Sides, Wants to Let States Purge Infrequent VotersIn a policy reversal, the Justice Department now supports quick purges of infrequent voters, which especially affect minorities (and Democrats).
    By Ed Kilgore
  4. the national interest
    The Republican Dream of Partisan Tax Reform Is ImpossibleA bill can be tax reform, or it can pass exclusively with Republican votes. But it can’t be both.
    By Jonathan Chait
  5. Mike Pence Has Every Reason to Gear Up for 2020 — But Don’t Tell His BossThe hysterical response of Team Pence to reports his political team has contingency plans for 2020 illustrates the deep neuroses of the White House.
    By Ed Kilgore
  7. the national interest
    The Alt-Right and Glenn Greenwald Versus H.R. McMasterStrange new allies wage a strange new war against the national security adviser.
    By Jonathan Chait
  8. Could Republican Infighting Send the ‘Ayatollah of Alabama’ to the Senate?Nobody thought Judge Roy Moore had a chance to win a special Senate election in Alabama, until his main opponents began destroying each other.
    By Ed Kilgore
  9. The Government Could Be Headed for a Showdown and a Shutdown Over Trump’s WallCongressional Democrats and Republicans can probably avoid a government shutdown or a debt default. But Trump’s border wall could be a deal-breaker.
    By Ed Kilgore
  10. Republicans Are Playing With a Stacked Deck in the SenateThe GOP’s advantage in dominating small states is giving it a permanent advantage in controlling the U.S. Senate, even in “bad” years for the party.
    By Ed Kilgore
  11. the national interest
    Republicans Gearing Up for Third Financial Crash In 3 Tries“This is the third time in 100 years we’ve had this alignment of government,” says Paul Ryan. So, how did the previous two go?
    By Jonathan Chait
  12. presidential tweets
    Has John Kelly Reined in Trump’s Tweetatorship?Many have tried. All have failed.
    By Chas Danner
  13. early and often
    Pence Denies He Is Already Running for Trump’s Second TermA new Times report says that some Republicans, including Pence, are quietly betting against Trump being willing or able to run for president again.
    By Chas Danner
  14. legal challenges
    How Jeff Sessions Might Channel the Far-Right Crusade Against Affirmative ActionThe DOJ inserting itself into this debate would represent a dramatic break with history and prior practices.
    By Cristian Farias
  15. trump palace
    Trump and Kushner Push Back on Right-Wing Campaign to Fire McMaster, for NowEven the Russian Twitter bots have been piling on McMaster over the past week.
    By Chas Danner
  16. There May Not Be As Many ‘Trump Democrats’ As Previously ImaginedThe obsession with “Obama-Trump voters” showing the fatal Democratic weakness in 2016 may be based on imaginary party-switchers voting GOP as usual.
    By Ed Kilgore
  17. Forget ‘Tax Reform.’ Republicans Will Settle for Tax Cuts for the Rich.For all the talk of “tax reform,” Republicans would prefer to offset tax cuts with spending cuts, and in the end won’t insist on offsets at all.
    By Ed Kilgore
  18. the national interest
    Trump’s Fledgling Presidency Has Already CollapsedAnd the one thing that could save him now is terrifying.
    By Jonathan Chait
  19. July Jobs Report: 2017 Looking Exactly Like 2016It’s becoming monotonous to report, but it’s true: the slow but steady recovery continues, which could help Trump stabilize his shaky popularity.
    By Ed Kilgore
  20. Senate Democrats Let a Big Bunch of Trump Nominations Go Through TodayDemocrats had slowed down confirmations of Trump nominees to protest the Senate’s handling of health care legislation. Today they gave it a rest.
    By Ed Kilgore
  21. West Virginia’s Marginally Democratic Governor Flips to the GOPIn a surprise timed to coincide with a Trump appearance in his state, Jim Justice switched parties, giving the GOP 34 governorships — for the moment.
    By Ed Kilgore
  22. Can Trump and Sessions Kill Criminal-Justice Reform? Probably Not.While Trump’s election showed a return to “backlash” criminal-justice policies was politically feasible, state and local decision-makers matter more.
    By Ed Kilgore
  23. GOP Struggles to Secure a ‘Clean’ Debt-Limit IncreaseIn theory everybody in Congress favors a straightforward debt-limit increase. But side deals and other complications loom large.
    By Ed Kilgore
  24. Australia’s Prime Minister Slowly Realizes Trump Is a Complete IdiotAn American ally is heard talking to the president of the United States like he’s a slow-witted child.
    By Jonathan Chait
  25. it’s looking grimm
    Report: Michael Grimm Wants to Run for Congress AgainSources are saying the Staten Island politician may be looking to 2018 for a comeback.
    By Jen Kirby
  26. intrigue
    Felix Sater: Donald Trump’s Original Russia ConnectionFelix Sater has cut deals with the FBI, Russian oligarchs, and Donald Trump. He’s also quite a talker.
    By Andrew Rice
  27. All the Scary Deadlines Congress Is Facing This FallAfter repeatedly pushing off major undertakings like tax reform and raising the debt ceiling, they’re in for a truly hellish fall.
    By Margaret Hartmann
  28. The GOP Health-Care Bill Was a Mess. The GOP’s Tax and Budget Plans Are Messier.The GOP’s plans to use the budget process for health-care and tax legislation are already half-ruined. The worst could be yet to come.
    By Ed Kilgore
  29. Democrats Could Have a 2020 Presidential Field As Large As an Iowa CornfieldSanders, Biden, or Warren may run in 2020 and clear the field of pretenders. If not, Democrats could have the kind of field the GOP sported in 2016.
    By Ed Kilgore
  30. the national interest
    Trump’s Last-Gasp Attack on Obamacare Is Wild ThreatsAfter defeat, wild, pointless anger.
    By Jonathan Chait
  31. The Mess in Washington Could Soon Drive Republicans Into Rebellion Against TrumpIf the prospects of vulnerable 2018 GOP candidates get much worse, and the chaos in D.C. doesn’t improve, an anti-Trump rebellion is a possibility.
    By Ed Kilgore
  32. the national circus
    John Kelly Is Destined to FailThe retired general may have had early success in ousting Scaramucci and instilling some order. But this is Trump’s White House we’re talking about.
    By Frank Rich
  33. the national interest
    Mitch McConnell Tricked Into Admitting He Just Wants to Cut Taxes for the RichThe “tax reform” ruse has been blown.
    By Jonathan Chait
  34. Tom Price at HHS Is Just What the Doctors OrderedOut of the spotlight, HHS secretary Tom Price has been busily dismantling regulations that hold his fellow physicians accountable for results.
    By Ed Kilgore
  35. Heller’s Hamlet Act on Health Care Bombing Back HomeFor a long time Dean Heller looked likely to thwart his party’s drive for health-care legislation. Then he flipped back, but the GOP failed anyway.
    By Ed Kilgore
  36. Democrats Don’t Need a Litmus Test on Abortion, But Do Need to Respect WomenThe problem with arguments against a Democratic litmus test on abortion is the habit of disrespectfully treating reproductive rights as disposable.
    By Ed Kilgore
  37. the national interest
    Trump Has Finally Erased the Line Between Conservatism and Conspiracy TheoriesHow paranoia took over the Republican Party.
    By Jonathan Chait
  38. The GOP’s Latest Health-Care GambitThis last-gasp effort at a GOP-only bill mostly gives states the flexibility to cut health-care services, while threatening insurance-market chaos.
    By Ed Kilgore
  39. In Alabama Senate Race, There’s Stiff Competition to Be the Most Pro-TrumpAll three major candidates profess to love the president. But they’re really fighting about Mitch McConnell.
    By Ed Kilgore
  40. the national interest
    Trump Is Proving That Obama’s Legacy Will SurviveQuite by mistake, a failing presidency reveals the true scale of its predecessor’s achievements.
    By Jonathan Chait
  41. The Mooch’s Wild, 11-Day Ride Through Trump’s White HouseScaramucci’s hiring was a Trump-style shock to Washington, but his White House career was over before it even began.
    By Olivia Nuzzi
  42. Ejected by Voters, ‘America’s Toughest Sheriff’ Could Wind Up in PrisonIt’s been a long way down for Joe Arpaio since he lost reelection last year. And now he’s been convicted of contempt of court, and could be jailed.
    By Ed Kilgore
  43. The Final Stake Through the Heart of Repeal Is … Orrin Hatch?Obamacare is alive, and Anthony Scaramucci’s job is dead.
    By Jonathan Chait
  44. Kris Kobach Wants a Promotion. But Will He Stay in Topeka or Head to D.C.?The famous immigrant-baiter and vote-suppressor is running for governor, but certain moves by Trump could mean Kobach’s future is in D.C.
    By Ed Kilgore
  45. the national interest
    Republicans Might Abandon Trump, But Trump Is Not Abandoning ThemA presidency rides conservative dogma all the way to the bottom.
    By Jonathan Chait
  46. scary things
    North Korea Can Now Strike L.A., But Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Still M.I.A.The White House isn’t instilling much confidence in its plan for handling the ever-escalating North Korea crisis.
    By Chas Danner
  47. trump palace
    Why ‘the Mooch’ Whacked Reince PriebusAn undignified end for the Trump team’s original outsider.
    By Olivia Nuzzi
  48. politics
    Trump Is Trying to Reanimate Trumpcare Using Threats and RidiculeThe president finished out his terrible week by calling Republicans fools and quitters while threatening to spike congressional health coverage.
    By Chas Danner
  49. foreign policy
    White House Says Trump Will Sign Russia Sanctions Bill, Avoiding Veto FightThe first major legislation passed during Trump’s presidency will be a bill he opposed and now has no choice but to sign.
    By Chas Danner
  50. the national interest
    Reince Priebus: Requiem for a MinionA hack forever tainted in Trump’s eyes by his one moment of decency.
    By Jonathan Chait
  51. Surge in House Democratic Candidates Could Fuel a 2018 Wave ElectionIt’s too early to tell whether Democrats have a real shot at winning back the House next year, but a big jump in candidates running is a good sign.
    By Ed Kilgore
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