Congress

Former speaker of the House Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) listens during a press conference with members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party at the Cannon House Office Building on November 15, 2023.

Kevin McCarthy’s Empire of Lies Kevin McCarthy’s Empire of Lies

The former House speaker is currently spouting a wildly inaccurate take on the history of American empire.

Nov 28, 2023 / John Nichols

Voters leaning over voting booths in front of an American flag mural.

Abortion Wins Elections for Democrats. What Should Advocates Demand in Return? Abortion Wins Elections for Democrats. What Should Advocates Demand in Return?

How can this popularity translate into political power for a movement that is not accustomed to making bold demands of its political leaders?

Nov 20, 2023 / Amy Littlefield

A photo of a marble wall reading

If Only AR-15 Murder-Scene Photos Would Bring About an Assault Weapons Ban If Only AR-15 Murder-Scene Photos Would Bring About an Assault Weapons Ban

Washington Post leaders thought they were doing right by showing the carnage those weapons of war create. But we already knew that.

Nov 17, 2023 / Joan Walsh

Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Russia’s occupation of Ukraine threatens to weaken Moscow’s power but leave it more determined to confront the US and allies and to wield nuclear threats, a top US spy said.

Goodbye, Joe Manchin—We Won’t Miss You Goodbye, Joe Manchin—We Won’t Miss You

The departure of the pro–fossil fuel, pro–Big Pharma senator from West Virginia is not the tragedy many Democrats think it is.

Nov 16, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Representative Greg Casar (D-Tex.) participates in the House Oversight and Accountability Committee organizing meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Texas Democrat Greg Casar’s Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for a Cease-Fire Texas Democrat Greg Casar’s Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for a Cease-Fire

The congressman polled his constituents and found what every other poll is finding: Americans want the killing in Gaza to stop.

Nov 16, 2023 / John Nichols

Senate Armed Services Committee members Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Joe Manchin (R-W.Va.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) talk before a hearing of the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Republicans Get Ready to Rumble Republicans Get Ready to Rumble

After House Democrats narrowly averted a shutdown, GOP congresspeople are in brawling mode.

Nov 15, 2023 / Chris Lehmann

Sean O'Brien faces off against Markwayne Mullin.

Republican Senators Are Taking the Class War Way Too Literally Republican Senators Are Taking the Class War Way Too Literally

In a wild Senate hearing, union leaders heralded a new age for labor, while one GOP senator actually tried to pick a physical fight.

Nov 15, 2023 / John Nichols

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., left, answers a question for the media following his announcement that he is nominating Kimberly Teehee, right, as a Cherokee Nation delegate to the U.S. House, in Tahlequah, Okla., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.

One of the Oldest Broken Promises to Indigenous Peoples Is for a Voice in Congress One of the Oldest Broken Promises to Indigenous Peoples Is for a Voice in Congress

A treaty commitment to seat a delegate representing the Cherokee Nation in the House has gone unmet for two centuries.

Nov 14, 2023 / John Nichols

Fetterman greets Rabbi Myers, Tree of Life

Senator John Fetterman Is a Progressive Icon, a Republican Hate Figure—and a Pro-Israel Pinup Senator John Fetterman Is a Progressive Icon, a Republican Hate Figure—and a Pro-Israel Pinup

The Pennsylvania Democrat has long bucked convention on everything from legalizing marijuana to the Senate dress code. But his views on Israel/Palestine risk alienating his base.

Nov 14, 2023 / Ross Barkan

Biden with Israeli, US flags

Will Biden Sacrifice His Presidency for Another Middle Eastern War? Will Biden Sacrifice His Presidency for Another Middle Eastern War?

To defend democracy from Trump, Democrats have to listen to their voters.

Nov 13, 2023 / Jeet Heer

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