In November, for the first time in his second term, the president’s average job approval dropped below 45 percent. That spells trouble for the 2026 midterms.
Politics
Reporting and analysis on American politics: campaigns, elections, Congress, the White House, and the fight to make our democracy work.
Posted inPolitics
What America’s Allies Can Learn From Our Recent Elections
A populist reaction to Trump is brewing. Liberal governments in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere must join the fight.
Posted inHealth Care
Trump Could Deal With the Epstein Scandal by Addressing Health Care
Republicans know that soon-to-spike health insurance costs are political poison but have no antidote. Maybe the sex-trafficking disclosure can spur them to contain premium hikes.
Posted inHigher Education
Where Might Trump’s Attacks on Universities Lead? Just Look at Florida
Two years ago, Governor Ron DeSantis engineered a conservative takeover of New College, a small progressive public institution in Sarasota. Even Republicans say it’s been a disaster.
Posted inPolitics
The Magical Thinking Behind Graham Platner’s Rise
How fetishizing the working-class does it—and all Americans—a disservice.
Posted inPolitics
Make California a G7 Member
The Golden State is poised to join vital international organizations as the Trump administration retreats from them.
Posted inPolitics
What Senator Robert F. Kennedy Could Teach Donald Trump
The slain U.S. senator, like his martyred brother, knew how important it was to concede defeat—a lesson Trump still hasn’t learned.
Posted inPolitics
What Is the “American Contradiction”?
Paul Starr on the deeper historical roots of what will be called the Trump Era—whether we like it or not.
Posted inPolitics
The Democratic Shutdown Capitulation: A Perfect and Unnecessary Failure
Once again, an opposition party instigated a shutdown but failed to win a big-time White House concession. It didn’t have to be this way.
Posted inFeatured
Ideas for Beating MAGA and Building a Better Future
Election Day showed Trumpism is wearing thin. The Washington Monthly has the ideas to build a better politics and a better America.
