Julia Ioffe • December 18, 2025

The Prodigal Son-In-Law Returns

Jared Kushner has quietly reemerged as an off-the-books diplomat in Trump’s second term, securing a ceasefire in Gaza and now negotiating with Putin to end the war in Ukraine. And foreign-policy types, who often disdained Kushner during Trump I, are mostly happy to have him back.

Peter Hamby • December 17, 2025

Vance in His Pants

Everyone knows that J.D. Vance is desperately positioning himself to become Trump’s heir apparent, and our exclusive data suggests that he has the field almost to himself. But his popularity depends on his closeness to Trump, who could change his mind at any minute, for any reason.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • December 16, 2025

Midterms in the Garden of Good and Evil

With an election cycle looming, immense power has been invested in the congressional campaign committee chairs responsible for delivering the House: Suzan DelBene and Richard Hudson. I sat down with both of them to hear their dueling plans for ’26 and why they’re more bullish than ever.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • December 14, 2025

Chuck & Mike’s Freaky Friday

In a sudden inversion of political fortunes, the Senate minority leader is no longer in the party’s doghouse, while the House speaker is facing revolts within his own caucus.

Peter Hamby • December 12, 2025

Retirement Watch 2026!

It’s no fun serving in the House these days, even (or perhaps especially) in the G.O.P. majority. A wide-ranging conversation with Leigh Ann Caldwell about the red team’s congressional blues.

John Heilemann • December 11, 2025

Hegseth’s Battlefield Caribbean

A chilling conversation with retired Air Force Major General Steven Lepper, a former top military lawyer, about Trump’s legally dubious boat strike campaign, the dangers of an unfettered Department of Defense, and why he expects the worst is still to come.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • December 10, 2025

The G.O.P.’s Healthcare Groundhog Day

Once again, Republicans are trying to repeal Obamacare—and once again, leadership doesn’t appear to have any clear plan for what should replace it. Democrats, already anticipating an election year with the wind at their backs, couldn’t be more pleased.

Peter Hamby • December 9, 2025

What the Dems Talk About When They Talk About A.I.

With an A.I. profiteer in the White House and no congressional mojo, Democrats have been shockingly impotent on A.I., an issue that infuriates or scares the hell out of most Americans. Now, even as they muster some resistance, they risk being outflanked.

Abby Livingston • December 8, 2025

Blue Jasmine

After a string of election victories, Democrats are pondering an honest-to-god blue wave in 2026. But progressive euphoria could be the party’s undoing in Texas, where human attack ad Jasmine Crockett just launched her Senate bid, and the moderate Colin Allred bowed out.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • December 7, 2025

Johnson’s Career Crisis & The House G.O.P. Exodus

Serving in the House—even when your party controls that chamber, the Senate, and the Oval Office—just ain’t what it used to be. The 119th Congress has been divided and demoralized, and is on track to be the least productive in recent memory. Now, frustrated G.O.P. members are running for the exits before things get worse.

Peter Hamby • December 5, 2025

Can Trump Kill the Netflix-WBD Deal?

Paramount staged an aggressive, last-ditch effort to secure its own bid for Warner Bros. Discovery by warning that Netflix would face severe regulatory obstacles in Washington. Could the White House have less leverage than it seems?

Julia Ioffe • December 4, 2025

A Few Bad Men

Experts are debating whether a war crime was committed when the U.S. military executed a double-tap strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, killing the survivors. But who is ultimately responsible: Pete Hegseth or Frank Bradley, the admiral overseeing the mission? And who might actually take the blame?

Leigh Ann Caldwell • December 3, 2025

Bleak House

Republicans are increasingly resigned to losing their House majority, a fate they ascribe to Speaker Mike Johnson’s mismanagement, and to the redistricting crusade prosecuted by the White House itself.

Peter Hamby • December 2, 2025

The Trump Endorsement Trap

In some swing states, the president’s primary endorsement could become an anchor in the midterms. So why are Republicans bear-hugging Trump as they walk out onto the plank? Any G.O.P. operative will tell you the same thing: They don’t have a choice.

Abby Livingston • December 1, 2025

The A.O.C. of the South

In the final hours of the Tennessee special election, the district Trump won by 22 points has suddenly become ultra-competitive—a supermagnet for donors and a potential early warning system for a Democratic tsunami.