Worst U.S. president? Consider James Buchanan
Buchanan, a Pennsylvania Democrat, was president in the four years leading up to the Civil War, including the final months of his term when southern states started seceding.
Eric Black Ink
Eric Black Ink is a column by veteran journalist Eric Black covering national and state politics, policy, government and history.
NYT editorial cites Trump’s ‘ruinous tenure,’ threat to democracy
Titled “End Our National Crisis,” it begins: “Donald Trump’s re-election campaign poses the greatest threat to American democracy since World War II.”
On Zoom with the U’s Larry Jacobs, Tom Friedman talks about Trump and democratic decay
Friedman, who said he is really worried right now, suggested that American governance needs a dose of “radical centrism.”
‘The Scheme’: Sen. Whitehouse pulls back the veil on big money and judicial nominations
Of course, rich and powerful interests are involved, usually behind the scenes, in matters affecting their business and their ideological interests. But Whitehouse laid out in some detail how it works.
Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination is emblematic: We are headed into uncharted waters
The hearings, which began this morning, are a bit of a sham and not subtly so.
Women’s role in U.S. politics explored in U of M event
A big finding of University of Virginia professor Jennifer Lawless’ work is that when women run for office they are just as likely as men to win their races. The offset is that they are so much less likely to run.
Harris-Pence debate: a tame event, bordering on boring
Kamala Harris did fine, but engineered no real breakthrough moments. Mike Pence’s strategy was clear: Don’t address the questions you were asked, most of which might lead to dark places.
NYT/Siena College poll finds debate hurt Trump in two swing states
In the poll of likely voters, by 37-21 they said Biden won the debate; 48% said they were less likely to support Trump after the debate, compared to 31 percent who said the same about Biden.
Control of the U.S. Senate looks to be in play
The Inside Elections summary puts it this way: “Most likely outcome: Democratic gain of +3-5 seats.”
Presidential debate was a Trumpian I-am-a-colossal-jerk show from beginning to end
All the president did Tuesday night was show his worst, rudest, cruelest side in the first debate of the season.
Barton Gellman offers alarming scenarios for the Nov. 3 aftermath
You must read it, but you won’t sleep well afterwards. Headlined “The Election That Could Break America,” it’s in The Atlantic.
Masha Gessen on Trump, political language, and totalitarianism
Vox’s Sean Illing interviewed Gessen, mostly about the Trump moment, for a great piece that the headline said was about “American politics after the death of ‘truth.’”
On the Constitution and the grave test that may loom before us
I wonder whether our founding document’s power to bind us might be about to face its most difficult test since the end of the Civil War.
Al Franken: Trump’s ‘laying a lot of groundwork’ for not accepting the election results
In an interview with U professor Larry Jacobs, Franken said he was worried about what Trump might do on Election Day, like declare victory without waiting for the huge number of mail-in ballots to be counted, taking the position that “The only way I’m not sworn in again on January 20 is if it’s been stolen from me.”
Frontline’s ‘The Choice’ tells the Biden, Trump stories
“The Choice,” smart as ever, airs tonight on TPT 2 in the Twin Cities and on other PBS stations everywhere.
Lincoln Project’s Steve Schmidt tweets against Trumpism
His 10 tweets from Saturday night have been turned into an op-ed.
Views of the U.S. plunge in Pew Research survey
Previous ups and downs were nothing compared to the steep drop measured in 2020, hitting an all-time low in almost every nation surveyed.
WaPo-ABC News poll has Biden up 16 points among likely voters in Minnesota
The same batch of Post-ABC News polls included fresh results from neighboring Wisconsin. That poll showed Biden also ahead, but by a narrower 52-46 percent margin.
U of M forum explores AG Barr and how far his loyalty to Trump might go
Washington Post reporter Tom Hamburger joined professor Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota and former Vice President Walter Mondale for a long interview/conversation via Zoom.
AARP swing-state polling shows Biden up, with some tight races
If all these states were to go to the current leader in these polls, Joe Biden would win by a landslide in the Electoral College, although the size of the lead in many states was within the margin of error.
