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Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Julia Ioffe, Marianna Sotomayor, John Heilemann, & Abby Livingston
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Sunday through Thursday
Puck’s daily political newsletter from Washington—featuring Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Marianna Sotomayor, Julia Ioffe, John Heilemann, and Abby Livingston—on what’s really happening in this town, from the White House to the Pentagon to Capitol Hill, K Street, the campaign trail, and beyond.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Abby Livingston
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September 15, 2025
The Dems’ Biden Flu
Amid enduring party anger over Biden’s decision to stand for reelection despite his decline, Democrats are trying to figure out what to do with well-funded, institutionally coddled elderly members who have no intention of stepping aside.
Abby Livingston
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September 8, 2025
Throw Mamdani From the Train
Pressure is mounting on Democratic leaders to suck it up and endorse Zohran Mamdani, even as the consultant class frets that he’ll hurt their candidates in the midterms. Of course, Republicans are gearing up to make the mayoral candidate the face of ’26 either way.
Abby Livingston
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September 4, 2025
Democrats’ Midterm Fog of War
Until recently, conventional wisdom held that Democrats would almost certainly retake the House in 2026. Now, amid the political wreckage of the redistricting arms race, they’re no longer so sure.
Abby Livingston
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August 25, 2025
Red Light Redistricting
A scintillating conversation with redistricting wiz Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report on the fate of the current mid-decade arms race and its effects on the midterms and beyond.
Abby Livingston
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August 18, 2025
Golden State Warriors
As the gerrymandering battle shifts to the West Coast, two fading California political heavyweights, Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, are being drawn back into the ring for another round.
Abby Livingston
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August 11, 2025
Epstein Recess Theories
Republicans fled D.C. early for August recess to avoid votes on releasing the Epstein files. But the issue has been waiting for at least some of them in their home districts—and will be unavoidable when they return to town in September.
Abby Livingston
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August 4, 2025
The Texas Redistricting Butterfly Effect
Washington insiders worry that Trump’s push to slice up the Texas congressional map could destabilize politics nationwide, sparking an arms race that pits members against members, makes it easier to topple incumbents… and placing Capitol Hill at the mercy of state legislators with their own agendas.
Abby Livingston
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July 28, 2025
The 2024 Donor Hangover
Democrats have had a sluggish start to fundraising for the midterms amid the party’s lingering post-election identity crisis. And yet, there are emerging signs that angry donors who swore off giving are slowly overcoming their trust issues and returning to the fold.
Abby Livingston
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July 21, 2025
Alone on Epstein Island
Inside the Epstein anxiety on Capitol Hill, where Republicans can’t begin their recess quickly enough as the fracas continues to intensify—and Trump keeps making it worse. Yes, Democrats are benefitting from the scandal, but mostly as a chance to message…
Abby Livingston
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July 14, 2025
Elon’s America Party Crasher
Musk is threatening to go scorched-earth on the G.O.P., and the party has responded, so far, with a collective shrug. How much damage can one scorned billionaire do?
