Tina Nguyen • December 28, 2022

The M.T.G.-McCarthy Referendum

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s support of Kevin McCarthy is testing her popularity among her MAGA peers in Congress. After all, passing legislation is one thing; it’s more important to stick it to the establishment.

Tara Palmeri • December 22, 2022

Biden’s Surprise Challenger & Scalise’s Speaker Weapon

News and notes around town as Washington prepares to enjoy the brief calm before the new Congress storm.

Tina Nguyen • December 21, 2022

McCarthy’s Rebellion & The Greene-Gaetz Civil War

News and notes from the Washington bubble, namely the G.O.P.’s lame-duck War of the Roses and Bari Weiss’s new alt-press stardom.

Julia Ioffe • December 20, 2022

Africa’s Xi-Biden Power Play

An exit interview with Martin Kimani, the Kenyan ambassador, on the U.N. Security Council, about playing China against the U.S., Africa’s debt conundrum, and standing up for Ukraine.

Theodore Schleifer • December 20, 2022

Romney Regrets & The Media’s ‘Succession’ Problem

A blunt retrospective with Peter Hamby about partisan myopia, Twitter echo chambers, and the most underrated political narratives heading into 2024.

Tara Palmeri • December 15, 2022

Biden’s Inevitability Mythology

So, countless signs suggest that Biden is running, and with an aura of inevitability. But Democrats-in-waiting are already busy working on plans B, C, and D—just in case, you know…

Tina Nguyen • December 14, 2022

Nothing But an M.T.G. Thang

The alarming rise and mainstreaming of Marjorie Taylor Greene, the QAnon kook turned gigawatt D.C. fundraiser, evidences a multitude of uncomfortable facts for Kevin McCarthy. Namely, he needs her more than she needs him.

Julia Ioffe • December 14, 2022

“Putin’s Chef”: The Man Behind Russia’s Shadow Army

Evgeny Prigozhin, the terrifying and inscrutable muscle behind Russia’s most notorious mercenary group, has been the hidden hand behind some of the worst carnage in Ukraine—and an increasingly vocal threat to Putin, himself.

Tara Palmeri • December 13, 2022

The Biden Switcheroo & McCarthy’s Life After Congress

News and notes on the hottest topics in town: speculation about Biden’s musical chairs, and schadenfreude regarding how McCarthy’s lust for the speakership may set back his post-speakership financial opportunities.

Julia Ioffe • December 9, 2022

Inside the Griner Prisoner Swap

Behind the scenes, the White House has alternated between pessimism and fury over Russia’s bad-faith negotiations, which is just how the Kremlin likes it. In the end, Biden had to settle for what he could get: a partial political victory.

Tina Nguyen & Tara Palmeri • December 9, 2022

Breitbart, Ye & A Mercer Retreat

After defining the alt-right and MAGA in 2016, the culture seemed to move on from Breitbart. Now the Mercers have, too.

Tina Nguyen • December 7, 2022

The Ronna McDaniel Mutiny

News and notes from around the MAGAverse: on the R.N.C. leadership race and the continuing fallout of Ye-gate.

Julia Ioffe • December 6, 2022

Putin’s Shadow Fleet

The West’s blunt new economic policy, designed to starve the Russian petrostate of its lifeblood, could be the end of the global oil market as we know it. The battle of wills is just beginning.

Tara Palmeri • December 5, 2022

Remembrance of House Coups Past

In assessing Kevin McCarthy’s current conundrum, Mick Mulvaney draws parallels with Boehner’s final days, recalls a botched House vote, and explains why he’ll likely survive the “saboteurs.”

Tara Palmeri • December 1, 2022

McCarthy’s New Buds & Pompeo’s ’24 Curiosity

New reporting on the inside conversation on Capitol Hill about McCarthy’s “Five Saboteurs,” Herschel’s touch-up, Hakeem’s kryptonite, and Mike Pompeo’s unusual meeting.