Tara Palmeri • January 24, 2023

The House of Biden

News and notes on the latest innerworkings and shifts in Bidenworld: Zients tea leaf reading, the complexities of the Dunn-Bauer dynamic, and the resurgence of a campaign foe.

Tara Palmeri • January 19, 2023

Who’s Afraid of Rick Scott?

“Rick Scott’s team is vicious,” said a former Ron DeSantis aide. “It’s very bad news for Ron if Rick gets in the race.”

Tina Nguyen • January 18, 2023

The Madness of Rep. George

News and notes on the most astounding storylines emerging from the right: Santos’s attempt to refashion himself as a MAGA idol, DeSantis’s proto D.T.C. campaign, and more.

Julia Ioffe • January 17, 2023

The Putin Poison Pill

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, pressure is building on all sides for the Biden administration to begin negotiations with the Russians, if only to prove what everyone inside the White House, State Department, and Pentagon already knows: the Russians have absolutely zero interest in negotiating.

Tara Palmeri • January 17, 2023

Feeling the Vern

Vern Buchanan exploded after losing Ways & Means to a McCarthy ally, fueling anxiety that he could retire out of pique—and that McCarthy’s favor trading has eroded his narrow margin of support.

Tara Palmeri & Peter Hamby • January 16, 2023

Feinstein Succession Dish & Primary Foreplay

The real inside story that everyone is talking about in D.C.: Biden’s political mess, life after Feinstein, D.N.C. convention ‘Survivor,’ and much more.

Tara Palmeri • January 13, 2023

Robert Hur’s Fear Factor

The special counsel appointed to investigate Biden’s classified docs fiasco is “as tough as they come,” according to a former colleague. “He should scare the shit out of people.” Where have we heard that before?

Tara Palmeri • January 13, 2023

Motion to Vacate Roulette

News and notes on the chaos under the Dome: hurt feelings in Congress, Ted Cruz’s ‘24 calculation, the Santos sitch, a key DeSantis ally, and more.

Tina Nguyen • January 11, 2023

Kevaggedon & The Discontents

Can Marjorie Taylor Greene make peace with the Taliban 20? It’s a modern MAGA political love story.

Julia Ioffe • January 11, 2023

Kevin McCarthy’s Permanent Crisis

With the Speaker’s office on a MAGA leash, Hill insiders worry a shutdown is “guaranteed.” Others fear a disastrous debt ceiling debate, military spending freeze, or government funding limping along on continuing resolutions. Welcome to McCarthy’s Washington.

Tara Palmeri • January 9, 2023

Can Hakeem Make It Rain?

Nancy Pelosi has spent half a decade grooming her historic successor, a leader who has unified his party as his old boss sits in the back bench. Everyone likes him and admires him. But can he shake the money tree?

Tara Palmeri • January 7, 2023

The McCarthy-Scalise Detente

Sure, Kevin McCarthy needs to tame and indulge his saboteurs. But he also needs to continue to ensure that his No. 2 doesn’t get any of his own ideas…

Tina Nguyen • January 5, 2023

McCarthy’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Here’s what the so-called Taliban Twenty really want. Hint: it largely starts and ends with McCarthy rapturing out of the Speaker’s office.

Tara Palmeri • January 5, 2023

Scalise Smoke Signals

As McCarthy struggles to get to 218, Republican leaders are considering once unthinkable concessions—and beginning to talk openly about realistic alternatives.

Julia Ioffe • January 5, 2023

The War of Boebert Aggression

Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert might grandstand about their opposition to funding the Ukrainian opposition. But the reality is that the majority of our aid is being spent on munitions factories in the ruby red states of their allies.