Democrats Try to Brush Aside 'Woke 1' By Michael Barone
"'Woke 1' was crazy." So said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on ABC News' "This Week" earlier this month.
Political Commentary
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August 28, 2026
August 26, 2026
Neither Party Represents People Like Me By Brian C. Joondeph, M.D.
If you listen to Democrat politicians describe their opponents—whether Republicans in general or, more specifically, President Donald Trump, MAGA, or the America First coalition—one of their favorite terms is “extremist.” Yet voters don’t appear to perceive ideological extremism quite as the rhetoric would suggest.
August 25, 2026
Why Hasan Piker Mocks a Murdered Man By Daniel McCarthy
Hasan Piker is deeply envious of Charlie Kirk.
August 25, 2026
Is the USA Going Bankrupt? By Stephen Moore
Thank God, no, we aren't going bust as a nation, despite our gargantuan $40 trillion national debt.
August 21, 2026
Socialists Shove the Resistance Aside in Florida By Michael Barone
The most surprising result in the batch of primaries held this week over the vast stretch of America from Florida through Wyoming to Alaska was the defeat of famed anti-Trump whistleblower Alexander Vindman by state Rep. Angie Nixon in the contest for the Democratic nomination against appointed Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody in Florida.
August 20, 2026
Democratic Outlook Brightens in Races for Vital State AG Posts By Louis Jacobson
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— This year, 30 states are holding elections for attorney general. Currently, the GOP holds 27 attorney general offices to 23 for the Democrats (counting an independent in Hawaii who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Green).
— Our analysis suggests that eight AG races this year are currently competitive, up from seven when we last looked at these races a year ago. Two are Toss-ups, down from five a year ago, with three of last year’s Toss-ups shifting to Leans Democratic.
— All the shifts we’ve made in this analysis benefit the Democrats. In addition to the three races that switched from Toss-up to Leans Democratic, two races shifted from Safe Republican to Likely Republican and two races shifted from Likely Republican to Leans Republican.
August 19, 2026
Florida’s Primary: Senate Race Moves Back to Safe Republican, While a Pair of House Races Remain Where They Were By J. Miles Coleman
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— In an upset last night, Florida Democrats nominated state Rep. Angie Nixon over the much better funded, and less progressive, Alex Vindman.
— Without Vindman’s fundraising capacity, Democrats will probably have an even harder time against appointed Sen. Ashley Moody (R), so we are moving the race from Likely Republican to Safe Republican.
— In the 7th District, Rep. Cory Mills (R) became the 12th member this year to lose a primary; his defeat actually leaves the GOP better-positioned to hold his seat.
— South Florida Democrats also made an electorally wise choice of their own, opting to renominate Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) in the marginal FL-25 over his more progressive primary opponent.
August 18, 2026
Democrats' Southern Strategy By Daniel McCarthy
Don't believe the Democratic National Committee's official storyline -- the DNC's decision to make South Carolina the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028 isn't about introducing more racial diversity into the early contests.
August 18, 2026
Net Zero Is Dead and Gone By Stephen Moore
It was only a few years ago when the climate change alarms and green energy fad were all the rage at the White House and corporate board rooms. Former President Joe Biden's policies were all tilted to ending fossil fuels, and many of America's biggest corporations embraced the concept of net-zero fossil fuels. This was the movement during the Biden years to eliminate virtually ALL oil, natural gas and coal production, and replace these energy sources with windmills, solar panels and electric vehicles.
August 14, 2026
Midwest Shows DSA Left Could Take Over the Democratic Party By Michael Barone
It's worth poking around the entrails of the returns for the agonizingly close and, given the pre-primary polls, surprising results of recent Democratic primaries in the key swing Midwestern states of Michigan and Wisconsin, with a side look at Minnesota.
August 13, 2026
Sanders 2016 to El-Sayed 2026: Two Different Paths to Narrow, Progressive Primary Wins in Michigan By J. Miles Coleman
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— Last week, Abdul El-Sayed captured the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan over Rep. Haley Stevens (D, MI-11).
— That El-Sayed narrowly won the nomination running as a progressive was one of the many parallels this primary had to the state’s 2016 Democratic presidential contest.
— However, there was considerable change between the two Democratic primaries, as El-Sayed fared better than Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in metro Detroit but worse in rural areas.
August 13, 2026
Fauci’s Faustian Bargain By Brian C. Joondeph, M.D.
A Faustian bargain is a deal with the Devil, trading principle for power, prestige, or personal ambition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared to make such a bargain – exchanging the skepticism and humility that define sound science for the adoration, celebrity, and political influence that transformed him into “America’s doctor.”
August 12, 2026
Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Moves to Leans Democratic After the Establishment’s Great Escape; Other Primary Takeaways; Rating Changes in Montana and Ohio By Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) did just enough down the stretch of the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary to edge out far-left state Rep. Francesca Hong (D).
— Crowley enters the fall campaign as a modest favorite to hold the Wisconsin governorship for Democrats. If Hong had won, the race would have remained a Toss-up.
— The tally of House incumbent primary losers, already high, increased on Tuesday as Rep. John Larson (D, CT-1) was swamped. Meanwhile, South Carolina Republicans set up a Senate runoff in two weeks as appointed Sen. Darline Graham (R) attempts to hang onto her late brother’s seat.
— The Montana Senate race moves further toward Republicans, while Rep. Max Miller’s (R, OH-7) embattled reelection bid becomes a Toss-up.
August 11, 2026
Homebuyers Deserve the Facts About Crime and Schools By Daniel McCarthy
Nothing is more natural when buying a house than looking into how safe the neighborhood is, and, if you have or plan to have children, whether the schools are any good.
August 11, 2026
What Bank ATMs Teach Us About AI By Stephen Moore
New inventions and technologies, from the lightbulb to the farm tractor to the automobile to the laptop computer to Uber drivers, cause serious job market disruptions. They also cause a backlash, as horse and buggy operators, cab drivers, video rental stores and typewriter makers inevitably predicted chaos and job losses.
August 7, 2026
Is Public Opinion Turning Against Trump’s Iran War? By Brian C. Joondeph, M.D.
A recent Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 54% of likely U.S. voters believe that, in hindsight, President Donald Trump’s decision to enter the war in Iran was the wrong one, while only 35% believe it was the right one.
August 7, 2026
The Long Rise of the New Democratic Party By Michael Barone
Can I claim to have predicted, way back in 1988, the result of Michigan's fiercely contested Democratic primary for U.S. senator this week?
