The Senate

trains Mar. 7, 2023

East Palestine Deserves New Rail-Safety Reforms NowMore stringent regulation is justified no matter what the investigation into the Norfolk Southern derailment finds.

By Eric Levitz

early and often Jan. 4, 2023

No, Congress Doesn’t Need More ‘Independents’ Like SinemaThe senator’s superficial rebranding does not make Congress more representative of the country.

By Eric Levitz

early and often Nov. 11, 2022

Mark Kelly’s (Likely) Win Is an Indictment of Sinema’s PoliticsTurns out, you don’t need to sabotage your president’s agenda to win swing voters in close states.

By Eric Levitz

the midterms Nov. 7, 2022

For Democrats This Midterm, Winning Isn’t EverythingThe long-term survival of social safety-net programs and blue-state abortion rights may depend on Democrats losing by a little instead of a lot.

By Eric Levitz

infrastructure week July 30, 2021

5 Reasons Biden Got His Bipartisan Infrastructure DealMitch McConnell is poised to hand the president a big win. Here’s why.

By Eric Levitz

the national interest Apr. 21, 2021

Why Should Black Protesters Trust a Senate That Underrepresents Them?Peaceful police reform means taking democratic reform seriously.

By Jonathan Chait

capitol hill Apr. 16, 2021

Chuck Schumer Has ChangedWhy is the former “angry centrist” pushing his party to go bigger, bolder, and more progressive?

By Gabriel Debenedetti

mitch mcconnell Mar. 16, 2021

McConnell’s Warning of a ‘Scorched-Earth’ Senate Is an Empty ThreatMcConnell warns that Democrats will regret abolishing the filibuster, but the GOP leader may not actually have liberals’ best interests at heart.

By Eric Levitz

the filibuster Mar. 4, 2021

How Dems Can Turn Filibuster Reform Into the ‘Moderate’ OptionThe imperative to pass a new voting rights act – and renew Biden’s child allowance – could erode moderate resistance to weakening the filibuster.

By Eric Levitz

the republican party Mar. 3, 2021

The GOP’s Establishment Is More Populist Than Its TrumpistsHouse Republicans are more staunchly pro-Trump — and anti-minimum-wage hikes – than Mitch McConnell is.

By Eric Levitz

the senate Oct. 7, 2020

The GOP Is Sabotaging Trump’s Economy a Month Before Election Day. Here’s Why.McConnell can afford to walk away from COVID relief because the Senate’s partisan skew tightly limits how many seats his party can lose.

By Eric Levitz

federal reserve Mar. 27, 2020

The Coronavirus Crisis Reveals How Undemocratic America Has BecomeWe are outsourcing some of the most consequential policy decisions any republic can make to unelected bureaucrats.

By Eric Levitz

foreign interests Jan. 14, 2020

Here’s How Trump’s Iran Policy Looks From Inside the SenateSenator Chris Murphy says his GOP colleagues know there’s no evidence that Soleimani posed an imminent threat. They just don’t care.

By Eric Levitz

democracy Dec. 11, 2019

The Democrats Love Bipartisanship More Than They Fear TrumpAs Pelosi hands Trump a win on trade, and Biden defends the GOP’s good name, conservatives are entrenching their minority rule.

By Eric Levitz

the democrats Aug. 26, 2019

Some Senate Democrats Value Susan Collins’s Friendship More Than PowerCollins does the bidding of plutocrats and pro-lifers. Democrats probably can’t govern unless she loses — but some are rooting for her, anyway.

By Eric Levitz

vision 2020 June 13, 2019

Joe Manchin Is the Worst, But We’ll Miss Him When He’s GoneIf Manchin follows through on his retirement threat, Democrats will have a hard time taking back the Senate in 2020 — or the foreseeable future.

By Eric Levitz

jamal khashoggi Dec. 4, 2018

The Senate Is Now So Sure MBS Killed Khashoggi, It Might Oppose Starving YemenGOP senators are now convinced that the Saudi Crown prince ordered the killing. As punishment, they just might stop helping him commit war crimes.

By Eric Levitz

Feb. 14, 2018

A Dreamers-for-Wall Deal Could Pass the Senate — If Trump Lets ItA bipartisan group of senators just struck such a deal. But Trump is (reportedly) unwilling to compromise on cuts to legal immigration.

By Eric Levitz

Jan. 17, 2018

The Case for New CaliforniaBreaking up the Golden State may sound crazy — but so is having a Senate that gives equal representation to California and Wyoming.

By Eric Levitz

July 25, 2017

McCain Gives Heroic Speech Denouncing Terrible Thing That He Just Voted ForThe senator calls on his colleagues to abandon their indefensible approach to Obamacare repeal — minutes after voting to let them keep at it.

By Eric Levitz

Apr. 11, 2017

Susan Collins Says She May Run for Governor of Maine in 2018If she does, New England’s most racist governor will get to appoint Maine’s next senator.

By Eric Levitz

Mar. 23, 2017

Chuck Schumer Says Democrats Will Filibuster GorsuchBut some moderate Democrats are reportedly willing to support Trump’s Supreme Court nominee for the right price.

By Eric Levitz

the senate Nov. 27, 2016

GOP Senators Are Anxious About Nuking the FilibusterThe threat of the filibuster may be the only way for Senate Republicans to resist Trump, should that need arise.

By Chas Danner

early and often Nov. 9, 2016

Democrats Pick Up Their Second Senate Seat As Kelly Ayotte ConcedesRepublicans still have a majority, with 51 seats.

By Charley Lanyon

Oct. 11, 2016

Down-Ballot Republicans Are Trumped If They Do, Trumped If They Don’tIf vulnerable Republican candidates disavow Trump, they invite the ire of their own base. If they don’t disavow him, they alienate swing voters.

By Eric Levitz

Sept. 7, 2016

Conservative Plutocrats Make Massive Investment in GOP Senate RacesTwo super-pacs designed to retain GOP Senate control took in $42 million last month, as Trump-averse donors focus their funds on the upper chamber.

By Eric Levitz

Feb. 25, 2016

Sandoval Declines Supreme Court ConsiderationThat was fast.

By Eric Levitz and Claire Landsbaum

Jan. 29, 2016

Report: Obama Administration Handed Child Migrants Over to Human TraffickersA Senate report finds that the federal government failed to conduct background checks on adults entrusted with the care of child migrants.

By Eric Levitz

spy games July 31, 2014