Politics

Trump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China Trump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China

On Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson on Trump’s efforts to overcome collapsing support, and critic John Powers talks about the new TV series “Blossoms Shanghai” by Wong Kar Wai….

Start Making Sense / Jon Wiener

The Real Welfare Fraud Scandal The Real Welfare Fraud Scandal

If the Trump administration were truly concerned with fraud in social services spending, it wouldn’t start with childcare, and it wouldn’t start with Minnesota.

Bryce Covert

How Elon Musk Turned Grok Into a Pedo Chatbot How Elon Musk Turned Grok Into a Pedo Chatbot

The tech oligarch sets a new low—for now—in the degeneration of online discourse.

Jacob Silverman

Trump’s New Endowment Tax Is Already Reshaping Higher Education Trump’s New Endowment Tax Is Already Reshaping Higher Education

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” added additional taxes on a small set of universities. Now budget cuts have hit campuses across the Ivy League and elsewhere.

StudentNation / Zachary Clifton

State Politics

Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter Bad Bunny has some warnings.

Listen to Bad Bunny: Abolish Act 22 Listen to Bad Bunny: Abolish Act 22

An egregious tax-evasion loophole is inflaming the displacement crisis in Puerto Rico.

Nomiki Konst and Federico de Jesús

Hell Cats vs. Hegseth

Hell Cats vs. Hegseth Hell Cats vs. Hegseth

Meet the military women who are fighting to win purple districts for the Democrats and put the defense secretary on notice.

Feature / Joan Walsh

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reacts during a press conference at the Unisphere in the Queens borough of New York City on November 5, 2025.

Zohran Mamdani Must Not Give Good Intentions a Bad Name Zohran Mamdani Must Not Give Good Intentions a Bad Name

John Lindsay expanded welfare, civil rights, and public spending—yet left New Yorkers politically disarmed. Zohran Mamdani should learn the lessons of his mayoralty.

Daniel Wortel-London

The Right

How Elon Musk Turned Grok Into a Pedo Chatbot

How Elon Musk Turned Grok Into a Pedo Chatbot How Elon Musk Turned Grok Into a Pedo Chatbot

The tech oligarch sets a new low—for now—in the degeneration of online discourse.

Jacob Silverman

James Fishback, the groyper candidate to be Florida's governor, appears on The Tucker Carlson Show.

Tucker Carlson Platforms Another Groyper—Only This One Is Running for Florida Governor Tucker Carlson Platforms Another Groyper—Only This One Is Running for Florida Governor

James Fishback is trying to bring the neofascist politics of Nick Fuentes still further into the GOP mainstream—and the grievance-peddling podcaster is glad to oblige.

Ben Lorber

Dismantling the Meme Logic Behind Renee Good’s ICE Execution

Dismantling the Meme Logic Behind Renee Good’s ICE Execution Dismantling the Meme Logic Behind Renee Good’s ICE Execution

The Trump administration is once more invoking upside-down alibis of state to conjure the bogus specter of imminent threat.

Jeb Lund

Democrats

Elizabeth Warren’s Plan for a Revived Democratic Party Elizabeth Warren’s Plan for a Revived Democratic Party

The Massachusetts senator argues that, in order to prevail in the midterms, the party needs to recover its populist roots—and fighting spirit.

Elizabeth Warren

Despite Themselves, Democrats Look Well Positioned for the Midterms Despite Themselves, Democrats Look Well Positioned for the Midterms

An otherwise inert opposition party may well clean up on Donald Trump’s destructive and hubristic governing record.

David Faris

Abolish ICE or GTFO Abolish ICE or GTFO

In this week’s Elie v. U.S., our justice correspondent makes the case to get rid of ICE, explores George Conway’s congressional campaign—and shares his New Year’s resolution.

Elie Mystal

Latest in Politics

The storming of the Bastille.

How Has the Idea of Revolution Changed? How Has the Idea of Revolution Changed?

A new history examines the long history of a radical and sometimes conservative concept.

Jan 13, 2026 / Books & the Arts / Peter E. Gordon

Minnesota Frost and Seattle Torrent take part in a moment of silence for Renee Good at Grand Casino Arena on January 11, 2026, in St Paul, Minnesota.

Is the Sports World Finally Giving Up Its Right to Remain Silent? Is the Sports World Finally Giving Up Its Right to Remain Silent?

Last year, the sports industry remained quiet in the face of Trump’s violence. Now with the killing of Renee Good, it may be waking up to the dangers of this administration.

Jan 12, 2026 / Dave Zirin

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 8, 2026.

Renee Good’s Killing Has Unleashed MAGA’s Misogyny Renee Good’s Killing Has Unleashed MAGA’s Misogyny

To defend the indefensible, the right is going after white women as race traitors.

Jan 12, 2026 / Jeet Heer

Renee Lives!

Renee Lives! Renee Lives!

“I never died,” says she.

Jan 9, 2026 / Steve Brodner

President Donald Trump hosts a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025.

European Cowardice Is Empowering Trump’s New Imperialism European Cowardice Is Empowering Trump’s New Imperialism

NATO allies don’t want to confront Trump’s aggression. But they may ultimately not have a choice.

Jan 9, 2026 / Jeet Heer

People demonstrate against ICE during a vigil honoring Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an immigration officer earlier in the day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7, 2026.

Minneapolis to ICE: Get the Fuck Out! Minneapolis to ICE: Get the Fuck Out!

An ICE agent shot dead Renee Nicole Good. Residents are ready to fight back.

Jan 8, 2026 / Alyssa Oursler

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