We studied three million primary voters and have learned that primary voters are not representative of....anything. We have ideas about how to make candidate selection more democratic.

We studied three million primary voters and have learned that primary voters are not representative of....anything. We have ideas about how to make candidate selection more democratic.

Before asking who will show up in November, ask who is still in the pool

John Leganski’s account of his time working for Congressman Kevin McCarthy sheds some light on why the House GOP has become so difficult to lead.

The rules of power in Washington that Trump did – and did not – follow last week.

A running list of reforms.

Amidst an overwhelming decline in democratic institutions over the past year, political science professors are talking more about AI than the state of affairs in the US.

Amidst an overwhelming decline in democratic institutions over the past year, political science professors are talking more about AI than the state of affairs in the US.

Watching House Republicans seize victory from the jaws of defeat.

Speaker Johnson is trying to lead a House whose members increasingly reject strong party leadership.

Johnson is likely to survive this Congress, but the speakership is not the secure position it once was.

What I got wrong and (arguably) got right

Explaining GOP Resistance

A government shutdown would not stop Trump or restore legislative democracy.

Democrats tend to think Republicans win when they moderate their position; Republicans tend to think they win when they turn out the base. Both are driving forces.

Democrats tend to think Republicans win when they moderate their position; Republicans tend to think they win when they turn out the base. Both are driving forces.

Some impressions of domestic politics after taking a hiatus from the news.

Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.

I'm publicly documenting an event timeline to help bring order to the chaotic nature of events and help other schools plan the responses they are likely going to need.

Why the Epstein affair has been an ideal topic for Democrats to exploit.

As polarization grows, partisans struggle to respect one another, then fail to show self-restraint. Loss of these norms erodes the institutions that create free societies.

What political science tells us.

The president helped get the bill across the finish line, but so did others – and Trump used tactics with lawmakers that are typical for presidents.

Populists don't stay in power by being popular—they stay in power by keeping people mad.

Populists don't stay in power by being popular—they stay in power by keeping people mad.

Lawmakers respond to many inputs. The public’s preferences are just one of them.

Some (Small) Signs of GOP Resistance

Why it’s a bad idea to let the guy who bankrupted casinos run your fiscal house, in four charts.

Why it’s a bad idea to let the guy who bankrupted casinos run your fiscal house, in four charts.

Asserting authority to cut government is DOGE's most profound accomplishment to date

Asserting authority to cut government is DOGE's most profound accomplishment to date

One example of how Trump’s tariffs affect niche industries that Americans value.

Part I: What Congressional Democrats are doing

The Constitution provides instructions for how to resolve the crises generated by executive overreach, but partisanship thwarts the remedy.

The Constitution provides instructions for how to resolve the crises generated by executive overreach, but partisanship thwarts the remedy.

The Constitution provides instructions for how to resolve the crises generated by executive overreach, but partisanship thwarts the remedy.

A simple four-category test applied to acts over the first 90 days of Trump-II shows autocracy rising in the US due primarily to violations of the rule of law, which many people don't perceive.

Documenting a presidency unlike any other.

A simple four-category test applied to acts over the first 90 days of Trump-II shows autocracy rising in the US due primarily to violations of the rule of law, which many people don't perceive.

A simple four-category test applied to acts over the first 90 days of Trump-II shows autocracy rising in the US due primarily to violations of the rule of law, which many people don't perceive.

A political science blog focused on analysis of current events, managed by professors Jennifer N. Victor (George Mason U.) and Matthew N. Green (Catholic U.), editors-in-chief. Our staff list is dynam...

Now in its fourth evolutionary form, we reintroduce Mischiefs of Faction -- a political scientist's "community blog."