The Editors

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: THE ANTI-REGULATOR. This week, the president announced his nomination of the Mercatus Institute’s Susan Dudley as federal regulatory czar. In an administration packed with fox-guarding-henhouse scenarios, this is one the most extreme — and the president just may install her, John Bolton-style, through a recess appointment.* Genevieve Smith brings us […]

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: DEMOCRATIC DILEMMAS. Liberals cheered the passage of the Voting Rights Act extension last month, but Columbia political scientist David Epstein, who’s done research on race and redistricting, makes the case for feeling some ambivalence. At issue is the interplay of majority-minority districting and Republican dominance in the South, a dynamic […]

THE NUTMEG STATE STAKES. Over on PoliticsTV, our own Tom Schaller offers further thoughts on the Lamont–Lieberman showdown. Give it a look. –The Editors

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: PUTTING DOWN NETROOTS. Once you’ve read Scott Winship‘s article on the netroots and ideology and Ezra‘s comments below, read Mark Schmitt‘s response to Winship: I think the most remarkable and distinctive thing about the new generation of activists, whether described as readers of liberal websites or strong supporters of, say, […]

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: TAKE A PAY HIKE. Ezra makes the case for raising congressional salaries. –The Editors

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: IDEOLOGY, NETROOTS, AND LIEBERMAN-LAMONT. Two new pieces address debates and themes that have either been raised or reinvigorated by the Nutmeg State primary. Scott Winship of Democratic Strategist fame takes on the “netroots are partisan, not ideological” nostrum and says it’s bunk; he makes an argument that is likely to […]

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: CONTRA IRAN. Last month Laura Rozen talked to Mark Perry about Hezbollah and the unfolding crisis in Lebanon. Today, she talks with another Hezbollah expert, Magnus Ranstorp, who offers a very different perspective. –The Editors

JUST POSTED ON TAP ONLINE: THE CENTER HOLDS. Mike considers the argument that a defeat next week for Joe Lieberman will signal the death of moderation in the Democratic Party. He doesn’t buy it. –The Editors

BEAT THE PRESS. We’re very excited to announce that TAP Online will now be hosting Beat the Press, Dean Baker‘s blog on economics and reporting. Many Tapped readers already know about Dean; he’s an economist and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He was a Social Security “crisis” debunker before Social Security […]

THE LEFT’S WEDGE ISSUE: REALITY. The Washington Post reported today on a political rebellion in Kansas against the state’s notorious Board of Education standards on evolution. In an appearance on PoliticsTV, Tapped‘s own Addie Stan explains why she smells political blood in the water in this fight. –The Editors