Shocking Rahm’s Shock Doctrine Shocking Rahm’s Shock Doctrine
Mayor Emanuel’s flash school-closing announcement is meeting civil disobeidence from Chicago teachers—who are having no trouble poking gaping holes in every one of the city’s argum...
Mar 29, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Anthony Lewis, 1927–2013 Anthony Lewis, 1927–2013
The late New York Times columnist believed telling critical truths about your country was a higher form of patriotism.
Mar 25, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Why a Democratic Majority Is Not Demographic Inevitability (Part Three: The Fungibility of Fears) Why a Democratic Majority Is Not Demographic Inevitability (Part Three: The Fungibility of Fears)
Past predictions of progressive ascendancy have foundered on new mass fears no one could have predicted—or new mass fears conservative political entrepreneurs deliberately wo...
Mar 25, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Why a Democratic Majority Is Not Demographic Inevitability (Part Two: The Politics of Immigration Reform) Why a Democratic Majority Is Not Demographic Inevitability (Part Two: The Politics of Immigration Reform)
Just because the Hispanic population is growing doesn't necessarily mean Democrats will harvest their votes forever—for what if they become “white”?
Mar 20, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Right and Left in Democratic Politics: The Long View Right and Left in Democratic Politics: The Long View
The party has always harbored conservatives and sell-outs to big business and pro-austerity boosters. The point is not to deny them, but to beat them.
Mar 18, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Small Print, Big Problem (Part II: Remedies) Small Print, Big Problem (Part II: Remedies)
The problem of unfair and inscrutible boilerplate contracts might find its remedy in Washington or the state capitols—or we might be able to seize the day ourselves.
Mar 15, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Small Print, Big Problem (Part I: Diagnosis) Small Print, Big Problem (Part I: Diagnosis)
When you click on or sign an inscrutable boilerplate contract, you sign away rights. The problem is getting worse all the time—and helps explain a lot of our current economic...
Mar 14, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
C. Everett Koop, 1916–2013 C. Everett Koop, 1916–2013
From ideologue to reality-based public servant, the evolution of a fascinating man.
Mar 12, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
What to Make of the Droning on Drones From the Right? What to Make of the Droning on Drones From the Right?
A surprising number of conservatives backed Rand Paul's filibuster. How much of that was sincere?
Mar 9, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Reading Bob Woodward Reading Bob Woodward
A smoking-gun demonstration of how the formerly great reporter trims his sails according to the power politics of the moment.
Mar 6, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein