All Politics
Art of the deal: In politics, Trump finds negotiations a different ballgameA zero-sum negotiating posture 鈥� one side wins, the other loses 鈥� is counterproductive in Washington, where the two parties ultimately have to work with one another. Experts say probing underlying interests could reveal ways to satisfy both sides.
Employees 鈥榯aken hostage鈥�: the ethics of the US government shutdownCompelling people to work without pay is fast becoming more than a legal issue for the federal government. Viewed as a social compact, it raises serious ethical questions, too.
Emergency alert: Declaration could end shutdown 鈥� and create new challengesUsing an emergency declaration to build a border wall would not only run into political opposition but also likely get snarled in litigation 鈥� so that any construction would proceed at the pace of the legal system.
Politics WatchShutdown Day 26: A game of chicken no one wants to loseAs costs of shutdown grow, so does sense among both sides that they need a substantial win to show for it.
First LookShutdown: no end in sight as next round of paychecks for workers loomsAs the government shutdown reaches the 26th day, President Trump refuses to back out of his demand for Congress to provide $5.7 billion to build a border wall with Mexico, while Democrats insist they will only discuss border security when government reopens.
Politics WatchYes, bipartisanship happensWhy a criminal justice reform package passed Congress this week.聽
Politics WatchAnd they're off: Democrats to watch in 2020 raceAs the 2020 presidential race begins, we look at a short list of prospective Democratic candidates and their prospects.
Shunned by colleagues on the Hill. But at home, support for King runs deep.The Iowa congressman has come to encapsulate the heated battles over immigration and race. Before the turmoil over Iowa Rep. Steve聽King鈥檚 white supremacy comments, we sent a reporter to take the measure of the district that elected him nine times.
Trump pick for 鈥榯op cop鈥� on hot seat: Is Mueller criticism disqualifying?As a cabinet member, the attorney general should align with the president, experts say, while still protecting the Justice Department from political interference. That balance may be difficult to strike.
What does it mean to be 鈥榗onservative鈥� in the Trump era?The outsider presidency has challenged core conservative principles, such as commitment to free markets and limited government spending. As factions seek to define this new era, what is replacing 鈥渙fficial conservatism?鈥�
Bipartisan 鈥榯alking stick鈥� session? Not in this shutdown.Just a year ago, Sen. Susan Collins was able to break a shutdown logjam by gathering senators in her corner office to hash out a bipartisan solution. Here's why that bridge-building technique is not working now.
US voters tackle gerrymandering with gusto. Incumbents are less sure.Gerrymandering used to be the province mostly of spelling bee contestants and policy wonks. But for many today, redistricting reform has become a fundamental struggle for fairness.
A shutdown fight that鈥檚 about much more than a wallThe impasse over funding for a barrier on the US-Mexico border reflects broader disagreements between President Trump and Democrats over questions of security and American identity.
As shutdown鈥檚 impact grows, pressure rises to end itPartially closing the federal government is not just about politics. It has a human face, too.
With no deal in sight, shutdown reveals depth of 鈥榯rust deficit鈥�Lack of trust can hinder any negotiation, but it鈥檚 especially harmful in politics, where compromise is increasingly portrayed by activists on both sides as capitulation.
Think Trump is a gift to cartoonists? They beg to differ.In an era of tribalism and rage, helping people see things from a different perspective is harder than it looks. Through humor and satire, cartoonists hope they can help the country get to a better place.
Ocasio-Cortez gains instant stature in Congress, and social media is a keyAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez has drawn attention, in part, for her use of social media. The congresswoman represents a new kind of politician maximizing this direct line to the public.
The Trump effect at two: Have views of an unconventional presidency shifted?Supporters see his norm-busting approach as good for the country at the same time that critics view it as dangerously unstable. Is he sowing chaos or being unconventionally effective?
When she picks up gavel again, Pelosi will preside over a very different HouseReturning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been a polarizing political figure. But one part of her legacy has echoed beyond policy and partisanship: her role as a trailblazer for women.
Rising hopes for democracy in the American heartlandIt鈥檚 a trying time for the American republic, but in my travels for the Monitor this year I saw encouraging signs from Kansas to Kentucky.聽
