David Dayen and Prospect co-founder Bob Kuttner look at the politics and policy of the end of the government shutdown.
Democrats
Posted inTAP
Collateral Damage From the Epstein Files: Larry Summers
It’s long past time to jettison Summers as hopelessly contaminated. But there are far more serious reasons to dump Summers than his gross connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
Posted inPolitics
Epstein Confidant Larry Summers Guiding CAP’s ‘Project 2029’
Summers was overseeing the economic policy plank of the Center for American Progress’s effort. Emails released this week show him in regular contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
Posted inTAP
The Shutdown’s End as a Republican Victory? No Way.
The shutdown enabled the Democrats to highlight the Republicans’ withdrawal of health coverage from millions of Americans, and Trump’s withholding food stamps—while he was praising himself for building a ballroom and rebuilding the Lincoln bathroom—only accelerated his descent in the polls.
Posted inLaw and Justice
How on Earth Are We Just Now Hearing About Trump’s ‘Hours’ With an Epstein Victim?
The recent release of more emails is only the latest in about 10,000 stories implicating Donald Trump in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuses. What were the Justice Department and congressional Democrats doing with the information all this time?
Posted inPolitics
Key Nebraska House Primary Features an Establishment Progressive and an Outsider Moderate
State lawmaker John Cavanaugh, despite his record and the backing of the Progressive Caucus, represents the local party establishment. Meanwhile, Democratic activist Denise Powell, the self-styled outsider, is rapidly becoming the favored candidate of many in the national party’s donor and operative class.
Posted inTAP
A Blessing in Disguise?
The Republicans now own the reopening of the government on Trump’s terms, and they have a real problem when it comes to the cost crisis. Whether that helps the Democrats depends entirely on how the Democrats play it.
Posted inPolitics
One Weird Trick to Get Rid of Chuck Schumer
Multiple Democratic groups, House members, and candidates say it’s time for the Senate minority leader to go. It turns out any single Senate Democrat can force a vote on Schumer’s job.
Posted inPolitics
The Myth of the Democrats’ Gerontocracy Problem
The Democrats’ problem is not age—it’s corporate and centrist Democrats of all ages. What distinguishes some of the most successful young Democrats is not just their youth but the fact that they are compelling progressive populists.
Posted inPolitics
The Most Frustrating Thing About the Shutdown Cave
Senate Democrats actually know how to use their power to counter Donald Trump and ensure that legislative funding gets spent—but this continuing resolution makes it clear they chose not to.