Could the Clerk of the House lead a midterm coup? Garrett Epps looks to 1863 and 1865 for warnings about our current crisis.

Law and Justice

Can the House Clerk Lead a Midterm Coup?

by Garrett Epps September 16, 2026September 16, 2026

It’s happened before. History underscores how rickety our elections and democracy are.

Case Reopened: Mary Todd Lincoln—widow of Abraham Lincoln, pictured here circa 1846—was scorned by her country and put on trial. Now, she’s been given a new lease on legacy

2026 College Guide

Mary Todd Lincoln Reconsidered

by Sara Bhatia August 30, 2026August 14, 2026

Visitors view exhibits in the Lincoln Memorial undercroft in Washington, D.C.

Politics

A Better Celebration of America at 250

by Dale Berning Sawa July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

Smoke rises from behind an American flag after a fireworks show honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Politics

The Heart of America Still Beats for Connection

by Dr. Gail C. Christopher July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

Books

Mary Todd Lincoln Reconsidered

by Sara Bhatia June 5, 2026August 14, 2026

Wong Kim Ark of the 1898 birthright citizenship case

Law and Justice

Birthright Citizenship and the Making of Citizens

by Allen C. Guelzo March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Politics

The Charlie Kirk Assassination: More Than Just Murder

by Matthew Cooper September 11, 2025September 11, 2025

Law and Justice

Listen, MAGA: Presidents Rarely Defy the Courts

by Paul Finkelman June 23, 2025June 23, 2025

Politics

The Lost Lincoln-Douglas Debate at the Trump Saloon!

by Garrett Epps August 3, 2024August 2, 2024

From standing armies to tariffs, the Declaration of Independence’s case against King George offers a striking lens on Donald Trump’s presidency.

Politics

Can the Declaration of Independence’s Ideals Hold America Together?

by Colin Woodard May 15, 2024May 15, 2024

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Abraham Lincoln

Can the House Clerk Lead a Midterm Coup?

Mary Todd Lincoln Reconsidered

A Better Celebration of America at 250

The Heart of America Still Beats for Connection

Mary Todd Lincoln Reconsidered

Birthright Citizenship and the Making of Citizens

The Charlie Kirk Assassination: More Than Just Murder

Listen, MAGA: Presidents Rarely Defy the Courts

The Lost Lincoln-Douglas Debate at the Trump Saloon!

Can the Declaration of Independence’s Ideals Hold America Together?

The Red Undertow in the Midterms

Why Won’t the Clean Energy Industry Play Dirty?

This Is the Biggest Reason Why a Blue Wave Is Probably Coming

Many Health Care Grad Students Can’t Get the Loans They Need

The Unitary Executive Theory in All of Its Historical Perversity

The Secret Monopoly Making Everything More Expensive

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