Brookings Institution / University of California, Berkeley
Thomas Mann is a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and a resident scholar at the University of California. Berkeley. He is the co-author of The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track and It's Even Worse than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism.
Gorusch confirmation: Filibusters and the 'nuclear option' Photo by Master Steve Rapport Several Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee made clear today why they won't vote to confirm the President's nomination of Appellate Judge Neil Gorsuch to the US Supreme Court. Al Franken of Minnesota voiced concern that confirming Gorsuch "would guarantee 40 more years of 5-4 decisions favoring corporations over workers and consumers, preventing Americans from getting access to the courts, favoring dark money in our elections and giving states a permission slip to target people with almost surgical precision." But, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Majority Leader, says Gorsuch will be confirmed, "one way or another." Thomas Mann, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a resident scholar at UC Berkeley, discusses possible changes in the US Supreme Court… and in the US Senate.
Trump's First Constitutional Confrontation Refugees and visa-holders from seven mostly Muslim countries have been allowed into the US again since last Friday. That's when President Trump's order banning them was temporarily halted by Federal Judge James Robart in Seattle. America's new Chief Executive is outraged and has personally denounced Robart, labeling him "a so-called judge," for putting the country "in peril." The Administration's appealed, but three states, technology companies, foreign policy veterans and civil right groups say reinstating the ban would create more chaos than ever. As the issue winds through the court process, will Trump have a scapegoat to blame for a future act of terrorism?
What Has Congress Actually Accomplished Lately? As the 114th Congress limps toward its extended summer break, observers are taking stock of what its achievements this session. However, it might be easier to talk about the things that it hasn’t accomplished. For example, Congress has not passed a budget or reacted to the Flint water crisis. There’s been no action on mitigating the Zika virus in the U.S. or movement to prevent opioid addiction and overdoses. And, oh yes, there’s that vacancy on the Supreme Court. What has Congress actually accomplished lately?
Congressional Hearings From McCarthy to Iran-Contra, GM to Planned Parenthood, Congress has used high-profile hearings as a way to shed light on injustice and score political points. Sometimes it is hard to tell which they’re trying to accomplish. You could say that about the Benghazi hearings now taking place on Capitol Hill.
House Speaker John Boehner Is Stepping Down After the Vice President, the House Speaker is next in line to be President of the United States. The Speakership is the pinnacle of a politician’s career. John Boehner, Republican of Ohio, has called it the job he’d always wanted. But today, Boehner announced that he’s resigning from Congress — to avoid a battle over House leadership.
Another Split Decision, Another Political Firestorm The President says he is "deeply disappointed" with today's decision by a divided US Supreme Court, this time over the voting rights of blacks and other minority citizens. Writing for a 5-to-4 majority of the court, Chief Justice John Roberts declared that Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act -- a major achievement of the civil rights movement -- is out of date and therefore, unconstitutional. Roberts said federal guidelines for oversight of minority voting don't reflect present reality. Nine mostly Southern states and parts of others will no longer have to ask Washington to approve changes in their voting laws. Is voting discrimination against blacks and other minorities a thing of the past? We hear the dispute that's already raging.
Will Partisanship Take a Break for Immigrant Reforgeorm? In 2009, President Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, but his first term saw record numbers of deportations. The partial “dream act” won him a break in November’s election, but growing numbers of Latino and Asian voters are losing their patience. As for Republicans, the angry white voters they’ve come to depend on are declining in number. All that has led some to predict that comprehensive immigration reform is “not only possible but also likely.”
Will Partisanship Take a Break for Immigrant Reforgeorm? In 2009, President Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, but his first term saw record numbers of deportations. The partial “dream act” won him a break in November’s election, but growing numbers of Latino and Asian voters are losing their patience. As for Republicans, the angry white voters they’ve come to depend on are declining in number. All that has led some to predict that comprehensive immigration reform is “not only possible but also likely.”
The Election's Over: What Happened? What's Next? Just as predicted, Republicans have swept into control of the Congress, while Democrats hold a somewhat reduced majority in the Senate. Harry Reid held on in Nevada, but the Illinois seat once held by President Obama was lost. Was the election a referendum on White House leadership? Some prominent favorites of Sarah Palin were defeated. How much influence will the Tea Parties have on a Congress led by Speaker John Boehner ? President Obama conceded that yesterday’s election results were " humbling " and that very difficult issues lie ahead. Despite their differences, he also called for cooperation—and possibly compromise. We assess the results from different political perspectives. Congressman John Boehner addresses "the trust that the American people have placed in us"
The August Recess Is Finally Over Legislative proposals for healthcare, global warming and financial regulation present major political and legislative challenges, but Capitol Hill may seem like a refuge to some members of the House and the Senate. Congress returns to Washington with its lowest public approval ratings in 24 years, according to the Pew Research Center for the Public and the Press.
The August Recess Is Finally Over After a month of angry town halls all over the country, Congress returns to Washington with its lowest public opinion ratings in 24 years. Tomorrow night, President Obama will address a joint session on healthcare reform , promising that he's "all fired up and ready to go." But there's a cold wind blowing from the Republicans and from Blue-Dog and Progressive Democrats. Next up on the legislative agenda are global warming and finance reform. What are the prospects for an ambitious agenda in an environment of political hostility?
From Making History to Governing the White House An African-American rode to the White House yesterday on what pollsters call "a storm of voter dissatisfaction" and the promise of change. The challenge facing Barack Obama is to transform his iconic status into effective leadership on war, the economy, health care and global warming. We talk about how he mobilized a diverse coalition of blacks, Latinos and whites, including young people across ethnic lines. What's the reaction from those African-Americans who thought it would never happen? What's left of the Republican Party? Will fellow Democrats help or hinder the Obama Administration?
President Bush Fighting to Stay Relevant Two term presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton had their problems, but Iran-Contra and Monica Lewinsky were not the war in Iraq. Add the flap over Walter Reed, the trial of "Scooter" Libby, the firings of US Attorneys and the defections of former aides. It all adds up to a lame-duck president with 21 months left in office. Can a beleaguered chief executive regain the initiative? We talk with some loyal Republicans who say they're fed up and hear about the awesome powers of the White House.
The Democrats Reclaim Congress Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel helped make history this morning by nominating Nancy Pelosi to be the first woman House Speaker as the Democrats took charge today on Capitol Hill. Pelosi leads a 31-vote Democratic majority, while the new Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid , has just one vote to work with. What's the Democratic agenda, and can the new leaders hold their party together? Will new legislation be met with vetoes from the Republican in the White House? What about the war in Iraq?
Terrorist Suspects and the November Election Yesterday, the House passed new rules for detaining, interrogating and prosecuting suspected terrorists . They are key to President Bush's national security agenda, which Republicans plan to showcase during the mid-term election campaigns. Today, Bush went to Capitol Hill, urging Senate approval of the bill . While even some Republicans say the measure might be thrown out by the courts, most Democrats are lying low to avoid being called "weak" on security. Are the Democrats sacrificing principles or are they really tougher than Republicans want to admit? Has preoccupation with the November elections made this a do-nothing Congress? What's the likely impact on voters?
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?
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.
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?