The Democrats' Miserable Week
From Iowa to impeachment, Biden burnout to Trump triumph, the opposition party had itself a rough 7 days.
While President Donald Trump gleefully consolidates both power and popularity (the latter if graded on a curve), the men and women who aim to replace him are having themselves a time. On today's Reason Roundtable podcast, Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch talk about the Iowa caucus debacle, Joe Biden's ongoing face-plant, the identity politics wipeout, Pete Buttigieg's tenuous deficit hawkery, and so much more.
Along the way, the gang manages to argue about—surprise!—Trump, Sen. Mitt Romney (R–Utah), The Irishman, the economy, and the potential meanings of "lying, dog-faced pony soldier." And yes, we go to the Oscars, in terms of both speechifying and merit. A fun time for the whole family!
Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.
Music: 'Black Moons' by the 126ers.
Relevant links from the show:
"Joe Biden Just Called a Woman at One of His Events a 'Lying, Dog-Faced Pony Soldier.' What?" by Eugene Volokh
"The Iowa Caucuses Have Always Been Terrible," by Peter Suderman
"Dems Want to Run the Country, but They Can't Even Run an Election in Iowa," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"The Woke Primary Is Over and Everyone Lost," by Matt Welch
"Buttigieg Makes the Democratic Case for Cutting Debt," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"Smart Debate Responses Against Drug War Lead Inevitably to Big Pharma Bashing," by Scott Shackford
"As Progressive Twitter Erupts at Joe Rogan Endorsing Bernie Sanders, a Reminder: Elizabeth Warren's Sexism Gambit Backfired," by Matt Welch
"Trump Denounces 'Dirty Cops,' 'Leakers,' and 'Liars' in Post-Acquittal Victory Speech," by Billy Binion
"Senate Votes To Acquit Trump on All Charges," by Billy Binion
"Instead of Removing Trump From Power, Remove Power From the Presidency," by Matt Welch
"'The President Is Guilty.' Mitt Romney Will Break Party Lines, Vote To Remove Trump," by Eric Boehm
"Consultant in Chief," by Peter Suderman
"Trump Bashes Socialism While Endorsing a Status Quo Socialism of His Own," by Peter Suderman
"State of the Union: Trump Tells Tall Tales, Dems Walk Out," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"Trump Is Making Criminal Justice Reform a Theme of his Campaign," by C.J. Ciaramella
"Donald Trump Stomps Bill Weld and Joe Walsh in Iowa," by Matt Welch