Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: Reckless Spending Cuts Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: Reckless Spending Cuts
Calling the sequester bluff was par for the course for a party that hates popular government programs.
Mar 4, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
(Son of) Constitutional Roadblock to Efforts to Fix Federal Elections (Son of) Constitutional Roadblock to Efforts to Fix Federal Elections
When it comes to a federal right to vote, things are a little more complicated than I wrote before—but that’s not to say we should be encouraged.
Mar 1, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Rahm on the Ropes Rahm on the Ropes
New polling suggests Rahm Emanuel isn't playing in Chicago. Here's why—and why the national media should pay attention.
Feb 27, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Politics and Oscar Night Politics and Oscar Night
The Academy Awards this year were supposed to be “political.” A reminder of a time when that word really meant something.
Feb 25, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Moderate Republican Mugged By Reality Moderate Republican Mugged By Reality
A smart young college student tried to find a place for himself in the modern Republican Party—and ended up running screaming in the other direction.
Feb 21, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Happy Birthday, Mr. Fortieth President! Happy Birthday, Mr. Fortieth President!
In a belated birthday wish, a reminder of how morally obtuse Ronald Reagan could be.
Feb 19, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: A Coming Preschool Backlash? Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: A Coming Preschool Backlash?
In his State of the Union, Obama naively proposed universal preschool as a conservative idea. Conservatives will not agree.
Feb 14, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: ‘Textbook Wars’ Nothing New Under the Wingnut Sun: ‘Textbook Wars’
When conservatives challenge curricula like they did last week in Fairfax County, Virginia, they reveal fundamental tensions in liberal education that aren’t going away.
Feb 11, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Aaron Swartz’s DC Memorial: Radical Brings Bipartisanship to Washington Aaron Swartz’s DC Memorial: Radical Brings Bipartisanship to Washington
This week, friends and colleagues of Aaron Swartz gathered to remember the late activist—and produced a ritual unlike anything Washington has seen in ages.
Feb 8, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
The Constitutional Roadblock to Efforts to Fix Federal Elections The Constitutional Roadblock to Efforts to Fix Federal Elections
We'd all like to see Congress make voting more free, fair and uniform—but unfortunately federalism gets in the way.
Feb 6, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein