Chris Lehmann

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Chris Lehmann is the DC Bureau chief for The Nation and a contributing editor at The Baffler. He was formerly editor of The Baffler and The New Republic, and is the author, most recently, of The Money Cult: Capitalism, Christianity, and the Unmaking of the American Dream (Melville House, 2016).

Democratic senatorial candidate Joshua Turek celebrates his victory during a midterm-election-night party at the Iowa Historical Building and Museum in Des Moines on November 3, 2026.

Scenes From a Democratic Earthquake in Iowa Scenes From a Democratic Earthquake in Iowa

The state was a MAGA citadel. Not anymore.

Nov 4, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Dubuque, Iowa, US, on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Donald Trump Has Lost It Donald Trump Has Lost It

At one of his final midterm rallies, the president showed just what a spent political force he has become—and what little grip on reality he still has.

Nov 2, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the McMorran Place Sports & Entertainment Center in Port Huron, Michigan, on October 25, 2026.

Donald Trump Is Bad at Politics Donald Trump Is Bad at Politics

The president’s flailing midterms campaign underscores a truth we should be acknowledging more often: He kind of sucks at this.

Oct 26, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

Ramaswamy and Trump

Vivek Ramaswamy’s New Attack Ad Should Be a National Scandal Vivek Ramaswamy’s New Attack Ad Should Be a National Scandal

The Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate has accused his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, of lying about being raped when she was 12 years old.

Oct 22, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

Former House speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois attending the unveiling of his portrait at the Capitol on July 28, 2009, in Washington, DC.

The Picture of Dennis Hastert The Picture of Dennis Hastert

The disgraced former congressman was a better representative of the GOP than the party would like to admit.

Oct 6, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

The White House claims that new TV ads featuring Trump are part of a series of “public service announcements.”

Trump Is Using Your Taxpayer Money to Pay for Illegal Election Propaganda Trump Is Using Your Taxpayer Money to Pay for Illegal Election Propaganda

But as brazen and authoritarian as these ad spots are, they seem likely to backfire.

Sep 29, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

The White House Briefing room, on September 19, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Trump Wants to Keep Journalists Out of the White House. He Should Get His Wish. Trump Wants to Keep Journalists Out of the White House. He Should Get His Wish.

The president has banned MS NOW, CNN, and Politico from attending press briefings. The rest of the media should respond with a boycott.

Sep 22, 2026 / Column / Chris Lehmann

CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman, President Donald Trump, and CEO of DeepMind Demis Hassabis attend a working lunch during the G7 Summit on June 17 in Évian-les-Bains, France.

AI Is a Kitchen-Table Issue AI Is a Kitchen-Table Issue

And with the Trump administration encouraging unregulated growth in the industry, Democrats need to start acting like it.

Sep 18, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

President Trump responds to a reporter’s question about domestic violence, in 2018.

Populists Can’t Be Populist if They Suppress the Vote Populists Can’t Be Populist if They Suppress the Vote

The crusade against ballot access, like virtually every other facet of Trump’s agenda, does nothing to serve the interests of “the people,” but our press is too brain-dead to noti...

Sep 16, 2026 / Column / Chris Lehmann

Trump Wants Voters to Pretend He’s on the Ballot

Trump Wants Voters to Pretend He’s on the Ballot Trump Wants Voters to Pretend He’s on the Ballot

But Republican midterm candidates are hoping everyone forgets he exists.

Sep 11, 2026 / Chris Lehmann

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