“Shrewd” is not the word that comes to mind when describing the Trump White House’s media operation. “Blunt” and “heavyhanded” come more readily to mind. So when both the New York Times and the Washington Post both come out with stories about Kushner’s supposedly much diminished role in policy-making, one has to wonder what exactly is […]
David Atkins
Follow David on Twitter @DavidOAtkins. David Atkins is a Washington Monthly contributing writer, activist, and research professional living in Santa Barbara as well as an elected DNC Member from California. He is president of The Pollux Group, a qualitative research firm.
Posted inPolitical Animal
Blue States and Cities Need to Step Up to Save Net Neutrality
The Trump FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai appears dead set on killing net neutrality. Despite a massive public outcry against the changes, the Republican-led commission seems almost guaranteed to implement new rules allowing internet service providers to throttle and deny access to any online content they want, leading to a whole host of evils including […]
Posted inFeatured, Political Animal
Democrats Should Reject the Defeatism of Serwer and Coates
Things are not as bleak as they appear.
Posted inPolitical Animal
Yes. It’s an Entire Culture of Sanctioned Sexual Abuse.
Yesterday I wrote that Roy Moore’s behavior was in keeping with hardcore conservative evangelical culture of sanctioned patriarchal sexual abuse. I have also stated that the release of the Access Hollywood tape almost certainly actually helped Trump with some evangelicals because, despite being a philandering adulterer, Trump established a more fundamental cultural rapport with their moral value […]
Posted inPolitical Animal
Trump and Tillerson Are Gutting the State Department for No Good Reason
It’s a spiteful move that won’t save any money.
Posted inPolitical Animal
Republicans Are in a No-Win Situation with Moore
Reeling from allegations of child molestation and sexual conduct with teenagers by Senate candidate Roy Moore, the Alabama GOP is reportedly seeking ways to postpone the election: Now, some in the GOP are determined to push Moore out of the Alabama race, however they can. Sources briefed on deliberations among those in Washington said that […]
Posted inPolitical Animal
Is Trump Really Dumb Enough to Believe Putin?
Once again, the President of the United States is saying publicly that he believes the word of Vladimir Putin over that of the U.S. intelligence services and multiple bipartisan investigations: “He said he didn’t meddle. He said he didn’t meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times,” Trump told reporters aboard […]
Posted inPolitical Animal
The Curious Defenses of Roy Moore Betray the Evangelical Culture of Child Sexual Abuse
You can’t separate Moore’s politics from his sordid personal affronts.
Posted inPolitical Animal
There Was No Reason To Hire Manafort Except to Collude with Russia
As the political world waits anxiously for the seal to be broken on special counsel Robert Mueller’s indictments, the smart money is on Paul Manafort as the principal target. Manafort is clearly corrupt, having made millions under the table selling his services to pro-Putin forces in Ukraine. He’s the target of an FBI probe focused […]
Posted inPolitical Animal
Just How Dumb Are These Republican Billionaires?
Is there ever an expose on the political opinions of billionaires that doesn’t unmask them as shortsighted incompetents? Whether it’s Mark Zuckerberg’s embarrassing tour of the heartland or Bill Gates saying the government should beg corporations to give people jobs, or Republican billionaires aghast that their pet dragons bit the noxious hands that fed them, […]
