How Can We Explain the Amash Vote to Defund the NSA?
A peculiar thing happened in the House last week. An amendment offered by Justin Amash (R-MI) narrowly failed on the floor, with a majority Democrats voting for the amendment (offered… Read More
Are Members of Congress “Truthful?” A Response to the PolitiFact Study
The Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) at George Mason University released a report examining PolitiFact ratings gauging Republicans’ and Democrats’ “truthfulness.” PolitiFact developed their so-called… Read More
Perspectives on the South Carolina Special Election
Voters in South Carolina’s 1st district head to the polls today for a special election. What follows is my perspective on the election with links to worthwhile readings on… Read More
Follow Up: Simulating Elizabeth Colbert Busch’s Vote on “The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act”
Tuesday’s post simulated Elizabeth Colbert Busch’s roll-call record taking into consideration the 1st district’s partisanship and the campaign contributions she has received from unions. The main point was that voters in the 1st district… Read More
Colbert Busch vs. Sanford: Who Will They Represent?
Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Mark Sanford met last night for the first—and presumably only—televised debate for South Carolina’s vacant 1st congressional seat. There were a few notable exchanges. For example,… Read More
A Primer on the Primary: The South Carolina Special Election
Voters in the lowcountry head to the polls today in a special election primary. The vacancy in South Carolina’s 1st district opened when Republican Tim Scott accepted Governor Nikki… Read More
Is the GOP Debt Ceiling Proposal Constitutional?
Over the weekend, House Republicans unveiled a debt ceiling proposal that’s the subject of some controversy. Shocking, I know. The controversy hinges on the fact that, while Republicans tout themselves… Read More
Jim DeMint’s Retirement: Good News or Bad News for Lindsey Graham?
So yeah, this happened. While Jim DeMint had publicly stated he would not run seek reelection in 2016, today’s announcement is surprising nonetheless. And as if his premature retirement… Read More
Did Strategic Disagreement Kill the Disability Treaty?
Yesterday the Senate rejected the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty. As political scientist Jeff Peake noted, this was the first treaty… Read More
Obligatory Electoral College Maps Are Obligatory
If the antiquated Electoral College is good for one thing, it’s making fun maps. Here are some Electoral College results you might see tomorrow morning (or late tonight if you’re… Read More