Atlantic Media / National Journal Group
Editorial director for the National Journal Group, publishers of the Atlantic, National Journal and the Hotline, among other publications; syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America
Donald Trump doubles down on the wall and deportations Donald Trump performed a political pivot yesterday afternoon in Mexico — away from the familiar populist rhetoric of his campaign. After meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto, he sounded more like a diplomat. "I was straight forward in presenting my views on the impacts of current trade and immigration policies on the United States." But, back at a rally in Arizona just hours later, Trump pivoted back in the other direction. "On Day One we will begin working on an impenetrable, tall, powerful, southern border wall… zero tolerance for criminal aliens, zero, zero!" Ron Brownstein is Senior Editor at the Atlantic and a student of the nuances of the Trump campaign.
Political Fallout of Hacked Emails Day 3 of the DNC comes with no share of political intrigue. Will the alleged Russia angle to the DNC email hack have an impact on the Democratic convention and the race in general? Will Trump’s defense of his relationship with Russia give Hillary Clinton’s campaign attack fodder.
Are Trump's Polls Improving? Donald Trump has surprised pundits and pollsters alike with his unexpected success in this raucous election year. But are there more surprises in store? Just how accurately are pollsters measuring voter support for The Donald, and are his backers sometimes shy about admitting they like him? Photo: Gage Skidmore We get perspective from Ron Brownstein, editorial director of National Journal Group, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a longtime student and number cruncher of American politics; and from Courtney Kennedy, director of survey research for the Pew Research Center .
With Iowa Over, It's On to New Hampshire Hillary Clinton officially won in Iowa, but it was so close that the real truth may never be known. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz are both claiming victories over the media and the Washington establishment — for very different reasons. Donald Trump is still being called the favorite next week in New Hampshire, even though he's now a "loser" and Marco Rubio is hard on his heels. For three sitting Republican Governors — Bush, Kasich and Christie — it's nail-biting time.
Gun Control and the Race to the White House For the first time since Al Gore lost to George W. Bush, Democrats are pushing for gun control in a presidential campaign. Three years ago, the US Senate refused to enact new gun control legislation. Now President Obama is using his bully pulpit to explain admittedly "modest" executive actions guaranteed to get the political pot boiling. Sure enough, Hillary Clinton's embracing them, while Republicans are predictably outraged. With California enacting new restrictions while Texas goes for open carry, which party is taking the greatest risk in the national campaign?
Drama and Comedy in the Race for the White House In their first prime-time debate last night, ten candidates for next year's Republican presidential nomination were pummeled with challenging questions. One columnist called it less a debate than an interrogation. The result was both entertainment and substance, displaying agreement on some familiar issues but revealing divisions on others. Front-runner Donald Trump refused to pledge loyalty to the party, which could have major consequences for his continued leadership down the line. We hear how the other candidates jockeyed to take over first place if his chances appear to be fading.
The Politics of Medicare, 50 Years On It was 50 years ago today that Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. Today, they’re providing healthcare for 55 million people. In 2003, George W. Bush expanded Medicare with a prescription-drug benefit. But now, in his campaign for the presidential nomination, brother Jeb says , "We need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others and move to a new system that allows them to have something, because they're not going to have anything." On the other side, Campaigning for the Democratic nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders says , "We need Medicare to cover every man, woman and child as a single payer healthcare program." For students of politics, Medicare and Medicaid comprise an issue that’s both old and new, as Ron Brownstein well knows. He's editorial director for the Atlantic Media and columnist for the National Journal.
Long Shots Are Changing the Short Game for 2016 Rank and file voters won't be heard from until January of next year, but Hillary Clinton is already getting an unexpected challenge from Bernie Sanders — and others as well. Earlier just an annoyance, the Vermont senator now is becoming a real threat to Clinton's "coronation" by the Democrats next year. Bernie Sanders Photo: Peter Stevens On the Republican side, it’s a political free for all. Donald Trump is hitting the top ten just in time to make the first debate next month as Republicans pick their way through a multitude of candidates. Donald Trump Photo: Gage Skidmore Controversial issues are piling up for both parties, from immigration to income inequality, and the early going is being shaped by unlikely contenders.
The Death of the Iowa Straw Poll As next year's presidential campaign begins to get serious, the Democrats are looking for competition to Hillary Clinton, while the Republicans have too many candidates to fit on the same stage. The latest obstacle to winnowing the Republican presidential field is cancellation of the Iowa Straw Poll. Since 1979, it's been part of the early action for the GOP. But it's been discontinued — for lack of interest. Ron Brownstein is editorial director of the National Journal Group .
Clinton Cash: Corruption or Conspiracy? President Bill Clinton survived potential scandals, including "Whitewater," "Travelgate" and "Filegate" because no wrongdoing was ever proven. Now, as Hillary Clinton runs for the White House on her own, the family's Global Foundation is making news of a similar kind. It's accused of selling influence for tens of millions of dollars under the cover of doing "good works" all over the world. The latest potential scandal facing the Clinton family originates in a book called Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich . Even before its recent publication, stories based on it have been running in newspapers, including the New York Times and the Washington Post . Once again, the attackers admit that no wrongdoing's been proven. Will the smell of scandal be enough damage the latest Clinton campaign?
Obama - Losing His Base or Quietly Fighting for It? Almost six years into the Obama presidency, a funeral is being held in Ferguson, Missouri, memorializing Michael Brown, the unarmed, young black man shot to death two weeks ago by a white policeman. The White House has sent a delegation, but the first black president is not there. Did the President miss an opportunity by not going himself?
A Crisis of Confidence in America's Leadership Class The latest Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll is out today, and it shows it’s not just the Tea Party; Americans across the board are having a crisis of confidence with national leadership in politics, government and business. But disillusionment with those at the top is also fueling a more positive dynamic at the local level. Can problems be solved from the bottom up rather than from the top down? Are states and localities likely to reach consensus on solving the nation’s problems? Ron Brownstein is editorial director of the National Journal.
What Will the Senate's Nuclear Winter Bring? Now that Democrats in the Senate have changed the rules for confirmation, President Obama has submitted a long list of nominees for vacant jobs in the administration and on federal courts all over the country. Ron Brownstein is political director of the National Journal Group and author of The Second Civil War : How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America.
Budget Crisis Fallout: What's the Damage? Government workers are returning. The United States will continue to pay its bills. The President says there are no winners and that all Americans lost. Polls show Republicans and the Tea-Party dropping in public opinion, while the Affordable Care Act has gained some popularity. Did the President and the Democrats really win? Will there be a next round? What can Washington do now to regain the confidence of the American people—and the rest of the world? In today’s speech at the White House, President Obama said the threat of default has increased America’s borrowing costs and that, “the American people’s frustration with what goes on [in Washington] has never been higher…” The President said, “those who pushed for the shutdown and threatened default claim their actions were needed… to make America strong.”
Political Dysfunction in Washington Hurting the Economy and American Credibility With government offices closed, the Pentagon says it won’t pay death benefits to the families of combat casualties. Billionaire investment guru Warren Buffett compares failure to raise the debt ceiling to “a nuclear bomb.” How long can the US government lead the free world if it can’t keep its doors open or pay its bills? As Republicans and the White House hint at potential fixes, how long are they liable to last? Is there any permanent solution? There’s a slight crack in the political pavement today from two influential right-wing advocacy groups. Heritage Action and Freedom Works are still adamant about keeping the government shut down until Obamacare is de-funded. But both say that refusing to increase the debt ceiling is going too far. President Obama says his Treasury Secretary is running out of emergency powers. Speaker Boehner responded that the President is demanding that Republicans “capitulate” before talks can begin.
Is the GOP Tearing Itself Apart over Obamacare? Republicans on Capitol Hill are talking about each other as if they belonged to opposing parties. It’s all about trying to stop Obamacare. Tea partiers, backed by well-funded conservative groups, say they’re willing to shut down the government or stop the US from paying its bills. Outraged GOP leaders say it’s their own party that will take the blame for whatever happens in an effort they insist is bound to fail, and Democrats agree. Washington veterans say nothing quite like this has ever happened before. We look at what’s at stake for both sides and for the nation.
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?
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?