Peter Hamby • November 25, 2025

The Newsom Succession

In the Golden State, local politics is often national—and the governorship can be a path to the White House. But with a suffocating housing market, punishing taxes, and a persistent homeless crisis, the state’s crowded ’26 race has yet to produce a candidate that seems up to the challenge.

Abby Livingston • November 24, 2025

Lame Duck à l’Orange

Amid Trump’s power grabs and the Epstein revolt, the G.O.P. is facing growing discontent among the House rank-and-file, whose potential retirements could endanger their slim majority and hasten the president’s lame-duckification, even before the midterms.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • November 23, 2025

The Bros Fade on Trump

A generational civil war has erupted within the MAGA coalition, with some young men gravitating toward extremists like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, and others abandoning Trumpism entirely. For Democrats, it’s an opportunity to win back disaffected voters who flipped in 2024.

Peter Hamby • November 21, 2025

Jeffries Democracy

Hakeem Jeffries, the presumptive future Democratic speaker, opens up about his “Trump 2028” moment with J.D. Vance, taking back the House, the next front in the A.C.A. fight, banning congressional stock trading, and his M.C. alter ego.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • November 20, 2025

Big Guthrie Energy

The A.I. gold rush has touched off a mad scramble to produce enough energy—oil, natural gas, coal, solar, wind, geothermal, you name it—to power the thousands of data centers popping up across the country. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie confronts whether a divided Washington can ever reach a consensus on energy growth before China wins the whole ballgame.

Julia Ioffe • November 19, 2025

Trump’s Venezuela Doctrine

The president’s saber-rattling in the Caribbean reflects his instinct for both political theater and indecisiveness, as well as the competing advisors in his ear. In fact, Trump’s plan for Venezuela may be a mystery even to himself. “I think he thinks about what will make him look tough, but he doesn’t think much beyond that,” said John Bolton. “He never does.”

Peter Hamby • November 18, 2025

Bad Luck, Chuck

Exclusive new polling from Puck and Echelon Insights reveals that while Democrats decisively won the shutdown P.R. battle, voters have definitely soured on the party’s 74-year-old Senate leader.

John Heilemann • November 17, 2025

Not-So-Private Ryan

Congressman Pat Ryan, a Democrat from the deep purple heart of New York’s Hudson Valley, thinks his party has a lot of work to do despite its off-year election win. Herewith, he makes the case for a broad Democratic coalition, praises the pugnacity of A.O.C., and explains why Trump isn’t a lame duck—yet.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • November 16, 2025

The G.O.P.’s Epstein Sophie’s Choice

The week ahead is likely to be the hardest for Republicans this session, with a lose-lose proposition on the Epstein vote: Cross Trump, or alienate the base? And then there’s the healthcare conversation they’d much rather avoid…

Peter Hamby • November 14, 2025

One Shutdown After Another

A wide-ranging conversation with Leigh Ann Caldwell about the deal that finally ended the government shutdown—and what happens when it runs out in January.

Julia Ioffe • November 13, 2025

Dan Driscoll’s Army of One

J.D. Vance’s man in the Pentagon is a rare Trump appointee who commands bipartisan respect and affection. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with his boss, Pete Hegseth, who doesn’t.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • November 12, 2025

Tick, Tick… Schumer

The embattled top Senate Democrat is once again facing calls to step down from leadership.

Peter Hamby • November 11, 2025

How to Lose a Man in 365 Days

Hell hath no fury like a young man scorned. Gen Zyn swung right for Trump in 2024, but last week’s elections show they’re beginning to question whether the president can make life more affordable. Whether Democrats can keep them remains to be seen.

Abby Livingston • November 10, 2025

The G.O.P.’s Mess With Texas

After an election night upset defined by major swings with Hispanic voters, some Republican operatives worry they shouldn’t have started a redistricting war with California—and that their own map may backfire.

Leigh Ann Caldwell • November 9, 2025

Can Democrats Become a Big Tent Party?

After last week, ebullient Democrats gathered in Washington to plot how to instill the lessons of the election: make room for disagreement, run younger candidates, dump the litmus tests, and hammer Trump on affordability.