politics

• 
• SOURCE: The Atlantic
  11/12/19
  

  Against Reconciliation

  by Adam Serwer

  The gravest danger to American democracy isn’t an excess of vitriol—it’s the false promise of civility.

• 
• SOURCE: Tom Dispatch
  11/3/19
  

  Down the Rabbit Hole With Donald Trump

  by Tom Engelhardt

  Who not in Blunderland could ever have imagined that a bankrupted casino magnate and reality TV host might essentially -- like his lawyer recently -- butt-dial us all into a new form of (un)reality?

• 
• SOURCE: The New York Times
  November 3, 2019
  

  Presidential Candidates Crave the Spotlight. 200 Years Ago That Was Taboo.

  by David Botti

  For a century, presidential candidates were discouraged from openly campaigning - lest they appear power hungry like the British king America revolted against. Here's why that all changed. 

• 
• 11/3/19
  

  As The Trump Administration Demonstrates, We Have Undervalued Virtues And Values

  by Walter G. Moss

  What is so bad about Trump is that he has no values other than inflating and aggrandizing his own ego. Democrats shoudl place values at “the heart” of their politics.

• 
• 11/3/19
  

  This Election Day, Remember That Local Politics Matter

  by Jonah Hassenfeld

  In 1831, Alexis de Toqueville concluded local government  was “the life and mainspring of American liberty.” 

• 
• SOURCE: NPR
  10/25/19
  

  A History Of 'Quid Pro Quo'

  The whole idea of a "quid pro quo" is so fundamental to the human experience that we have all kinds of ways to say it. Here, a look at how our understanding of "quid pro quo" has changed over time.

• 
• 10/27/19
  

  These American Political Bachelors Were Known as ‘Siamese Twins’ During the Antebellum Era

  by Erik Moshe

  Bosom Friends demonstrates that intimate male friendships among politicians were—and continue to be—an important part of success in American politics by exploring the relationship of James Buchanan and William Rufus King. 

• 
• 10/20/19
  

  A Democratic GUT-Check: A Grand Unifying Theory of Democratic Victories

  by Jeff Bloodworth

  The preceding century of Democratic presidential politicking reveals that “electability” is not milquetoast, split the difference centrism. Historically, Democrats win when they adhere to a grand unifying theory (GUT).

• 
• SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
  10/13/19
  

  Americans have spent 230 years trying to rein in presidential misconduct

  by James M. Banner Jr.

  While freighted with danger, impeachment is the only instrument offered by the Constitution to bring an administration otherwise out of direct reach of the law to book.

• 
• SOURCE: Time
  10/10/19
  

  Could Trump Lose the Republican Nomination? Here's the History of Primary Challenges to Incumbent Presidents

  by Olivia Waxman

  While an incumbent President has never lost a primary nomination in modern U.S. history, these five challengers put up a serious fight.

• 
• SOURCE: AP
  10/12/19
  

  Historians Jon Meacham, Mark Summers, Keri Leigh Merritt, Michael Ross, Brenda Wineapple, and Benjamin Railton Featured in Article on Andrew Johnson and Impeachment

  As the impeachment inquiry of Trump unfolds, Johnson, never among America’s most famous presidents, though widely considered one of the worst, is attracting renewed attention.

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  10/9/19
  

  Impeachment is the latest chapter in the battle between democracy and white supremacy

  by Carol Anderson

  The connections aren’t as obvious, but America’s front lines remain the same as they’ve always been.

• 
• SOURCE: The Hill
  10/4/19
  

  Ginsburg predicts historians will call this political era an 'aberration'

  Ginsburg offered her thoughts Thursday on how historians will view this period of American history.

• 
• SOURCE: Time
  10/7/2019
  

  Inside America's Political History of Problematic Relatives

  Since America’s early days, leading politicians have had to contend with awkward problems posed by their family members. 

• 
• SOURCE: WBUR
  10/2/19
  

  Heather Cox Richardson on How History Informs The Trump Impeachment Inquiry

  Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives could push for depositions to begin this week as Congress considers whether to impeach President Trump.

• 
• SOURCE: CNN
  10/2/19
  

  Historians on Trump: We've never seen anything like this

  by Elizabeth Cobbs, Kyle Longley, Ken Osgood, Jeremi Suri

  We are historians who have researched every president since George Washington, and we've never seen anything like this.

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  10/01/2019
  

  Why Donald Trump is much more dangerous than Andrew Johnson

  by Sidney M. Milkis and Daniel J. Tichenor

  While both presidents are demagogues who faced impeachment, today’s political reality means that Trump can do more damage

• 
• 9/29/19
  

  Impeachment—a Tool to Prevent War?

  by Paul W. Lovinger

  We should only impeach the President if he starts a new war or uses a nuke.

• 
• SOURCE: Bloomberg News
  9/26/19
  

  Will Impeachment Backfire? Here's What History Suggests.

  Featuring the insights of historian Brenda Wineapple. 

• 
• SOURCE: New York Times
  9/23/19
  

  America’s Secret History in East Asia

  by Alexis Dudden

  Japan and South Korea are at odds today because Washington has been playing favorites for decades.