Living in the USA

The Democrats in Maine have got to pick a new candidate to replace Platner by July 27th. As we've learned from Kamala Harris, replacing a candidate this late is hard – but​, Harris carried Maine by 7 points in 2024, the Democratic candidate for governor there leads by 15 points, and Susan Collins' approval rating is negative. So, what​ chance ​does new Democratic candidate ​have to defeat Collins?...

On the Supreme Court today there is a 6 to 3 majority—I hesitate to call them 'conservatives' because they have been ripping apart tradition so drastically—right-wing Republican rule; Harold Meyerson comments on the "week of do this but don't do it here decisions". Trump​'s biggest losses in the Supreme Court rulings announced this week were on birthright citizenship—widely anticipated—and the vot...

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani's three candidates for the House all won, showing that Mamdani has "one heck of a lot of clout in New York". Meanwhile, some point out that Democrats should be focusing NOT on DSA victories in urban areas, but on the districts that voted for Trump – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Election protection: defending Ohio’s biggest voter registration group, and blocking...

Trump says his memo of understanding is a big win for him because Iran has pledged NOT to develop nuclear weapons and to open the Strait of Hormuz. But, that only "gets us back to what the status quo was before Trump decided to go to war" and "the Iranian pledge not to develop nuclear weapons, that's a pledge they made 40 or 50 years ago". Next: News from Ohio, where Trump's favorable rating has g...

Democratic strength, and Democratic divisions, in primaries from L.A. to Maine—Harold Meyerson has our analysis of the week’s political developments. Also: Can AI write poetry? Good poetry? Katha Pollitt decided to find out. She’s an award-winning poet herself, and a columnist for The Nation​. Plus: From the archives: We remember George Harrison with Allan Kozinn; he​ was music critic for The New...

California's next Governor will likely be Xavier Becerra – as a former California Attorney General, he has a record of suing Trump; but is also known to be a corporate-friendly Democrat. Still, ​with California's notoriously slow count, it is too soon to call. Meanwhile, the 35% Karen Bass has in the LA mayoral race, "reflects the lack of enthusiasm" among LA voters – Harold Meyerson comments. Als...

The big picture of national politics: Trump is not just sinking in the polls, he's accelerating into the most unpopular and toxic parts of his presidency. People are focused on the economy, they want the war in Iran finished – instead, Trump is pushing his billion-dollar ballroom and his slush fund to pay-off the white-supremacist insurrectionists – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Trump’s Billion-...

The primary elections results this week show the success of Trump's revenge campaign — and the limits of that campaign. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: History on the March: The American Historical Society has filed a lawsuit and a federal judge has ordered the Trump White House to comply with the Presidential Records Act. Next: State legislatures have a lot of power in America—the States Project...

Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024: The Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of the South and opened the door to the creation of several more Republican House seats, and then the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state’s initiative that created four more Democratic House seats was invalid. Nevertheless, Trump is so unp...

Fifty-nine percent of Americans believe Trump does not have the mental sharpness necessary to lead the country; 55 percent think Trump does not have the physical health to serve as president; and 67 percent think Trump does not carefully consider important decisions – according to a new Washington Post/ABC News Ipsos poll. And, in a time when energy costs are soaring and many Americans are losing...

What Democrats need to do to counter the Supreme Court abolishing Black congressional districts: Harold Meyerson comments on the continuing reapportionment wars and the upcoming elections. Also: John Nichols explains why Trump may never succeed at building any of his ICE prison camps, and how this Friday’s May Day strike is a test of our power to resist. Plus: MOCA’s “Monuments” show in LA critiqu...

Trump’s support continues to decline on everything he does, especially the war with Iran. But as he becomes weaker, he becomes more dangerous. Harold Meyerson comments; he’s editor-at-large of The American Prospect. Also: We need an AI revolution that works for the people, not just the billionaires. That’s Ro Khanna’s “AI Manifesto.” He’s the member of Congress who represents Silicon Valley, and a...

Trump's terrible week started Sunday when he attacked the Pope and then presented himself in an AI image as Jesus Christ; he then took control of the Strait of Hormuz, making sure that oil and gas prices continue to rise; and then Victor Orbán, Trump's MAGA ally in Hungary, lost his election to Peter Magyar – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: It’s been only a couple of weeks since the No Kings 3 pro...

The War in Iran: A lot of people on both sides are saying Iran won – that the Iranian regime has emerged stronger than it was before the war; while the US has emerged weaker, unable to force the surrender of a 4th-rate military, demonstrating our strategic ineptitude, and then there is the TACO factor, Trump Always Chickens Out – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Minnesota changed everything: how Mi...

Trump's failed Iran war speech, and his firing of Pam Bondi: a big week in Washington. Harold Meyerson comments. Plus: We’re still thinking about No Kings 3 day on Saturday: 8 million people. 3,300 events. ‘No Kings’ protests in almost every city and town in the country. 100 towns in Texas alone had No Kings protests! It was the largest single-day nonviolent protest in American history. John Nicho...

Trump's approval rating has hit an all-time low for a modern president. Jimmy Carter had the same rating on the economy – 29% – back in 1979. And what was happening in 1979? An oil embargo and revolution in Iran. Next: Trump is trying to limit voting by mail and SCOTUS will make a ruling soon. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The No Kings 3 protests this Saturday are going to be big – maybe the big...

Why is the US at war with Iran? "It's entirely a war based on Trump's whim and his apparent desire to do what Bibi Netanyahu has asked him to do". Next up: Elections in Illinois, where AIPAC, AI and Crypto money did not win. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The Working Families Party is organizing voters not just to win a Democratic majority in Congress but for a movement election, a historic expan...

Tom Stevenson analyzes the latest news and long-term prospects of Trump's Iran war, for both Iran and the US. Tom is a contributing editor for the London Review of Books, where he writes about, among other things, politics in the Mideast. Also: what news are people getting these days, and where are they getting it? Especially the people we call “news avoidant” & “low information” voters – the...

59% of Americans disapprove of the war in Iran, according to a CNN poll. Democrats offered a War Powers resolution that would have set some limits on Trump's war in Iran; it lost in the Senate on Wednesday with one Republican – Rand Paul – voting in favor. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: After Senate Democrats block the SAVE act, Trump is likely to declare a national security emergency – claiming...

Trump's State of the Union speech was the expected firehose of lies – and went on at an unprecedented length. Meanwhile, the foremost issue of concern on the minds of most Americans was the Epstein files. And, what did Trump say about the Epstein files during the speech? "Nada." The other issues of great concern are the actions of ICE. Again, Trump did not say anything about that either. So, what...

Trump, facing the wave of popular opposition to pretty much everything he’s doing, is working to block Democrats from voting in the midterms, and “election protection” has become a key part of the preparations underway from blue state attorneys general and from voting rights groups like the Brennan Center and the ACLU. Harold Meyerson explains. Also: A large proportion of slaves who escaped from s...

Your Minnesota Moment: Today, ICE is pulling out of Minneapolis after a massive and sustained resistance movement – demonstrating that when you fight Trump you CAN win. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The size and scale of the resistance to ICE in Minneapolis is too vast to fully comprehend. John Nichols has our report – he’s The Nation’s executive editor, and he’s just spent several days talking...

Congress is debating restrictions for ICE this week, we'll go into the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security; it seems the real negotiations are not between the Democrats and the Republican senators, but between the Democrats and Trump. The "Big Beautiful Bill" provided an additional $75 billion to ICE last July so, if no funding deal is made next week, the Coast Guard and FEMA will...

Eyes on Minneapolis: three-quarters of Americans have seen all or some of the video of the murder of Alex Pretti. With this attention, we have the power to challenge ICE; where do we stand on the Democrats' bill proposing to enforce restrictions? Harold Meyerson comments. Next: The Nation nominates Minneapolis for the Nobel Peace Prize; the first time a city and its people have been nominated for...

Trump's first year has seen a collapse of support in DC and among voters nationwide, huge losses in the lower courts, and the rise of a massive opposition movement. Meanwhile, as Trump year two begins and the midterms approach, it's looking very good for the Democrats. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The landscape of resistance in Minneapolis, John Nichols reports, includes surprisingly powerful a...