political commentator and author
Mickey Kaus is a political commentator and the author of The End of Equality. A former blogger for Newsweek, Slate and the Daily Caller, he now blogs at KausFiles. He was also a former candidate for the Democratic nomination for Senate against then-incumbent Barbara Boxer.
No one knew governing could be so hard What were the most important developments in Trump's first 100 days?
Do the first hundred days really matter? President Trump promised big things in his first 100 days , but his most important achievement may be keeping the government open. To get that--even with Republicans running Congress -- he's had to delay his demand for big money for his Great Wall on the Mexican border. His biggest applause line has been replaced by talk about tax reform. So the government probably won't shut down on Saturday — his hundredth day in office. But 100 days is just the beginning of a four-year term, and there's time left for a lot more surprises.
Lofty new rhetoric for a familiar message The President who's picked so many fights with so many people told Congress last night it's time for a change. "The time for trivial fights is behind us… Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope. Our citizens deserve this, and so much more – so why not join forces to finally get it done and get it done right?" Even some "Never Trump" hold -outs were impressed — but the bar was low for supporters who only hoped their President would act "presidential." The consensus is that he did, but without explaining how ambitious plans can be paid for or how to resolve conflicts with his own Republican Party in Congress. Has "Teleprompter Trump" replaced "Twitter Trump" for the long term — or just for a one-night stand?
President Trump says he's making good on a campaign promise There's "fear and panic" among America's 11 million undocumented immigrants among reports of hundreds of recent raids and round-ups by federal agents. While such actions are being called "routine" by immigration officials, President Trump is claiming the credit. And so many people are expected to be detained that new privately run facilities may be constructed to house them. Supporters of undocumented workers who've been in the country for decades call it "terrorism." Trump's backers call it "shock and awe." Meantime, leaders of agriculture and other vital industries warn of a labor shortage if deportations don't prioritize real criminals and leave workers alone.
The Inauguration from the left, right & center How much will Donald Trump's posture shift now that he is president?
It's New Year's pundit accountability time A year ago pundits were laughing off Donald Trump. Now who's the joke?
Polls say Clinton won the first debate Will post-debate banter be more important?
What Brexit means for the U.S. We’re going to be hearing more in coming days about what Britain's vote to leave the EU means for the U.S. -- Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump landed in Scotland just as Brits were deciding on their future in the European Union. He’s there reportedly to visit his resort and golf course, but he didn’t waste time weighing in. Mickey Kaus joins us now to talk about populist sentiment and concerns about border control and whether there is any parallel Britain and the U.S.
Cleaning the Barn and Passing the Gavel Today, Congress is likely to pass the first federal budget in five years. If the Senate agrees, the government will stay open and pay the bills until after the next election. For the most part, Democrats will be happy to go along, but Republican candidates for President and the right wing of the GOP are on the warpath against it . The likely new Speaker, Paul Ryan, won't have to deal with default or a government shutdown, but that looks like a curse to conservative colleagues. We hear how a temporary return to business as usual is dramatizing the Republican Party's radical change.
Democrats and Public Unions: A Rift between Friends? Last week's national election story was the failed recall of Republican Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin, a state where Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided. There's another division — within the Democratic Party. Consider California, one of the bluest states in the nation. In the Republican stronghold San Diego, 67 percent of voters approved limitations on the pensions of public workers, but in San Jose, the margin was 70 percent -- for reductions in pensions and benefits for public employees, including police and firefighters. We hear more about what happened in California and whether it's likely to spread.
Public Unions and Democrats: A Rift between Friends? Last week's failed recall of Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker was bad news for public employee unions in a crucial swing state. The news from blue-state California may be worse. In Republican stronghold San Diego, 67 percent of voters approved limitations on the pensions of public workers. No big surprise. But Democrats who run the City of San Jose persuaded 70 percent of the voters to roll back retirement benefits for public workers. More and more Democrats agree that union benefits are so high they threaten major cuts in basic services, including public safety. If Democrats don't support unions, will union members support them? What are the consequences for this year's elections? This story was informed in part from sources in the Public Insight Network, find out more: www.KCRW.com/insight
Blogger-Provocateur Andrew Breitbart Dead at 43 A phenomenon in conservative publishing, Andrew Breitbart helped start the Huffington Post , was a long-time editor of the Drudge Report and ran his own websites attacking what he called "big Hollywood," "big government" and "big media." He brought down New York's Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner for tweeting pictures of himself in his underwear and was accused of cherry-picking a speech by a black Agriculture Department official to make it sound like a racist attack on white people. The 43-year-old had a history of heart trouble and died suddenly near his home in Brentwood early this morning. Mickey Kaus is based in Venice where he writes the blog Kausfiles for the website Daily Caller .
The Whitman-Brown Debate, Revisited Even before Saturday's television debate in Fresno, Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown cancelled a radio debate scheduled for tomorrow that would have included voters' questions in the kind of format that might have forced specific discussion on the deficit, which programs ought to be cut and which might deserve an increase in taxes. So far, it's been a campaign of generalities except for the ongoing dispute about Whitman's former housekeeper, which also became Saturday's focus. In this first debate on Spanish-language TV, the candidates were also questioned about the federal DREAM ACT by a woman about to graduate with honors from Fresno State, who would not be able to work without a path to citizenship. We hear excerpts and analysis of the debate.
Senate Candidate Mickey Kaus, Tilting at Windmills? For dinner with President Obama and California's US Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrats spent $35,000 a couple. That's just about the total amount Mickey Kaus has raised for his primary campaign against Boxer , plus $7,000 of his own money. It's not much, but enough to produce one TV commercial. Senator Boxer declined our invitation to appear, but Mickey Kaus, best known for his blog Kausfiles on Slate.com, joins us.
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?