David Atkins

David Brooks notwithstanding, this is not a wonderful moment to be a conservative. A new poll out of California highlights the disaster looming for the Republican Party across the nation, but particularly in blue states. The most troubling problem is that even in a big blue state like California, Trump holds a commanding 7-point lead […]

As Sanders and Clinton tussled nationally this cycle over their minimum wage proposals, Californians were ramping up for an expensive, contentious ballot initiative fight for a $15 minimum wage. But now it appears that legislators may have saved voters from a torrent of mudslinging and misinformation by reaching a groundbreaking deal to be one of […]

Bernie Sanders appears headed to wins in today’s contests in the Pacific states of Washington, Hawaii and Alaska. And not just wins, but overwhelming ones. With 68% reporting in Washington, Sanders leads 72% to 28%. With 73% reporting in Alaska, Sanders is ahead 79% to 21%. Hawaii is also very likely to go big for […]

The most frustrating thing about being a liberal activist isn’t fighting against conservatives and Republicans: a genuine tug-of-war between dramatically competing philosophies can lead to mutual respect and a genuine confrontation or even Hegelian synthesis of ideas. No, the most frustrating thing is the battle with supposed centrists within the fold. When centrists oppose a […]

What little attention the right wing media machine isn’t devoting to the sordid mudslinging between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump is focused on a statement President Obama made about practicalities and ideologies: I guess to make a broader point, so often in the past there’s been a sharp division between left and right, between capitalist […]

At its heart, the broader context for the rise of populist forces in this election is economic insecurity. Even those making six-figure incomes often know that they are one job loss or cancer diagnosis away from financial uncertainty or ruin. Due to globalization, automation, and an intentional set of policies that shifted economic risk from […]

I have argued somewhat controversially this weekend that as bad as Donald Trump may be, establishment conservatism not only created him but is actually more morally objectionable. This is because while Trump’s base is motivated by ugly and ignorant prejudices of all kinds, establishment conservatism is motivated by a far more morally objectionable ideology of […]

Few serious observers of American politics would dare to suggest that Donald Trump’s emergence as the Republican frontrunner is having a salubrious effect on America. The violent racial tensions at his rallies are enough to make many of us fear for the health and safety of our fellow citizens, and the prospect of his potential […]

For those who are celebrating the supposed GOP civil war, it’s important to remember that when push comes to shove, Republican donors will still back Trump: A top Republican fundraiser says he believes the majority of the party’s donor class will ultimately “fall in line” behind Donald Trump as the party’s presidential nominee despite last-ditch […]

Hillary Clinton is still taking heat today for comments she made in the context of Nancy Reagan’s funeral. Clinton claimed that Nancy Reagan was responsible for “low key” activism on the AIDS crisis, and that both Reagans helped start “a national conversation” on AIDS. Nothing could be further from the truth: the Reagans were directly […]