Filter Content
Why so little dissent? Explaining the stability in this week’s House GOP leadership contests
The House Republican Conference met Wednesday to choose their top leaders for the 116th Congress. Despite the fact that the midterm elections cost them between 30 and 40 seats and, importantly,… Read More
ICYMI: Top reads on Congress
Mike Gallagher, “How to Salvage Congress,” The Atlantic: “I have come to believe that the problem is not the people. The problem is a defective process and a power… Read More
R Sheet on forcing votes
KEY POINTS 1) Today’s majority leaders exercise unprecedented control over the Senate floor. 2) They do so to prevent their colleagues from offering amendments without their prior approval. 3) Leaders… Read More
How to restrain the President: Congress and trade policy
Since his inauguration, President Trump has levied aggressive, unilateral tariffs on numerous products, which has triggered foreign retaliation against American exports. However, the controlling of international trade is originally Congress’s… Read More
Assessing McConnell’s Role in Judicial Confirmations
The Senate has spent much of its time in the 115th Congress confirming President Trump’s judicial nominations. Before the midterm elections, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., touted… Read More
LegBranch launches new website
LegBranch.org, the hub for the congressional reform movement, launches a new and improved website today. The site features the latest research and writing on topics like congressional leadership, legislative… Read More
Freshman class of Congress is looking younger, more female: Today’s talker
Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives and are currently projected to finish with about 234 seats to the Republicans’ 201. Once the dust settles, the freshman class is projected to… Read More
Administration revokes press pass in act of retaliation
On Nov. 7, CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials were revoked in the wake of a heated interaction with the President during the White House’s post-election press conference. Press… Read More
Echoes of Our Great War
When describing the state of American politics today, pundits have often turned to the phrase: “partisan trench warfare.” Martial metaphors of all kinds are ubiquitous in our political commentary, but… Read More
ICYMI: Top reads on Congress
Kate Zernike, “Nancy Pelosi: Demonized or Celebrated, She Refuses to Agonize,” New York Times: “Ms. Pelosi, 78, is the highest-ranking woman in American politics and American political history. And… Read More