Tim Scott Is Proposing a Major Reform to Qualified Immunity
The GOP has resisted reining in the doctrine. That might change.
Senate
Abolishing the Filibuster Is About Power, Not Anti-Racism
Even Joe Biden and Barack Obama were willing to acknowledge this basic fact just a few years ago.
Will Democrats Really Nuke the Filibuster—and What Happens If They Do?
Are Mitch McConnell's threats credible, or is he a paper tiger?
The 'COVID Relief Bill' Is Mostly an Expensive Bundle of Politically Motivated Giveaways
The Senate is preparing to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that has very little to do with the pandemic, and we all know it. Congress should admit as much.
Rand Paul, Ron Wyden Want To End Endless National Emergencies
Under a bill the two senators reintroduced on Friday, all presidential emergency declarations would expire after 72 hours unless Congress votes to allow them to continue.
Democrats Can't Use Reconciliation To Pass a $15 Minimum Wage. Here's What They Might Do Next.
But the real reason why Democrats should abandon the effort to hike the federal minimum wage has nothing to do with arcane Senate rules or the filibuster.
Despite Its Own Warning That 'Congress Itself Is the Target,' the Capitol Police Did Not Expect Anything Like Last Month's Riot
The agency also missed an FBI bulletin citing "specific calls for violence."
After Voting to Acquit Trump, Mitch McConnell Explains Why He Was Guilty
The Senate minority leader's triangulation does not bode well for the GOP's ability to stand for something other than a personality cult.
Trump Acquitted in Second Impeachment Trial Despite 7 Republicans Voting To Convict
Whether the reality-show-star-turned-first-president-to-be-impeached-twice has a future in American politics, however, sadly remains an open question.
Impeachment Evidence Leaves Republicans Cold, Dems Hot, and America Tired
Plus: Dems ask FDA to change abortion pill prescribing rule, Vice targets Clubhouse, and more...
Trump's Impeachment Lawyers Try To Deconstruct the Link Between What He Said and What His Followers Did
No amount of parsing can obscure his responsibility for the deadly attack on the Capitol.
Trump's Dubious First Amendment Defense Against Impeachment
He is on firmer ground in arguing that the Senate does not have the authority to try a former president, although that issue is highly contested.
In First Tie-Breaking Vote, Kamala Harris Helps Senate Dems Pass Budget Resolution
Plus: Pandemic housing prices are overvalued, U.S. will withdraw support for war in Yemen, and more...
McConnell and Schumer Agree to Senate Power-Sharing Deal
Senate Democrats will now take (partial) control of the Senate chamber.
Ramming a $15 Minimum Wage Bill Through the Senate Using Reconciliation Would Be a Norm-Busting Mistake
The reconciliation process exists for a reason. Discarding it for political expediency should be viewed with skepticism.
The Constitutionality of Trump's Impeachment Trial Is Not 'Crystal Clear'
There are plausible arguments on both sides of the debate.
Trump's Lawyers Say He Can't Be Impeached for Trying to Subvert the Election Because He Was Just Expressing an Opinion
They also argue that the Senate has no authority to try a former president.
'See Something, Say Something Online Act' Punishes Big Tech for Not Snitching
Plus: Oregon decriminalizes hard drugs, Kroger closes stores over hazard pay rule, and more...
The Constitutional Argument Against Trump's Senate Trial Is Convenient. Is It Also Wrong?
While many prominent constitutional scholars think trying a former president is perfectly legal, the dissenters make some points that are worth considering.
Should Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley Be Expelled From the Senate for 'Insurrection'?
That punishment for reinforcing the delusions that drove the Capitol riot is highly unlikely, and it would set a troubling precedent.
Saying Trump 'Provoked' the Capitol Riot With 'Lies,' Mitch McConnell Tries To Distance His Party From a Dangerous Demagogue
The Senate minority leader sees a grave political risk in failing to repudiate the former president.
Does the Chief Justice Preside over an Ex-President's Impeachment Trial?
Conflicting signals from the Belknap impeachment
Will Lisa Murkowski Be the Jim Jeffords of 2021?
The last time the Senate split 50-50, the even balance did not last long.
Will the Democrats Truly Have Control of the 50-50 Senate?
Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to case the tie-breaking vote, but 50+1/50 is still not 51/49.
After a Chaotic Day, Congress Finally Confirms That Joe Biden Won the Presidential Election
The usually rote process was marred by President Donald Trump's conspiracy theories and a Republican attempt to thwart the outcome, but the result is now official.
Republicans Got What They Deserved. America Will Now Have To Pay the Price.
When one party controls both Congress and the White House, the result is never a reduction in the size or cost of government.
Georgia Senate Runoff Elections Still Undecided, but It Looks Good for the Democrats
It's a nailbiter as Kelly Loeffler appears headed for defeat, while David Perdue barely hangs on. The control of the Senate is at stake.
For Trump, the Georgia Senate Runoff Is All About Him
Plus: Gov. Andrew Cuomo demonstrates how not to handle vaccine distribution , Americans are fleeing big cities and high tax states, and more...
As Key Georgia Senate Election Looms, Republicans Are Making It Difficult To Root for Divided Government
The ideal (if unlikely) outcome might be a split decision.
Ted Cruz Plans To Restore Confidence in the Election System by Lending Credence to the Wild Fraud Claims of a 'Pathological Liar'
To alleviate "deep distrust of our democratic processes," the Texas senator is leading a doomed challenge to Joe Biden's electoral votes.
Josh Hawley Is Not Doing His Party or 'Election Integrity' Any Favors by Supporting Challenges to Biden's Electoral Votes
The Missouri senator does not explicitly endorse Trump's loony conspiracy theory, but he can't escape its taint.
Senate Hearing on Election 'Irregularities' Highlights Trump's Reckless Disregard for the Truth
Sen. Ron Johnson, a Trump ally, now concedes there is no credible evidence to support the president's fanciful conspiracy theory.
Josh Hawley's Latest Plan To Hike Tariffs Would Be a Win for China
Shutting down the GSP program would reduce economic growth in developing countries and raise taxes on American importers.
Senators Once Again Berate Twitter and Facebook CEOs for Content Decisions They Dislike
But what one side likes, the other side hates. There's no way Twitter and Facebook can appease them both.
Libertarian Shane Hazel Is Proud To Be a Spoiler in Georgia Senate Race
Hazel tells angry partisans "Give me your tears. They are delicious." He campaigned against lockdowns and for peace, and earned nearly twice the number of votes in Georgia as L.P. presidential pick Jo Jorgensen.
Georgia Will Determine the Nation's Political Fate
No, we're not talking about the presidency.
Democrats' Crumbling Hopes of a Blue Wave Make Divided Government More Likely
A GOP Senate could act as a powerful check on a Biden administration.
A Big Tech Hearing As Pointless and Performative As Every Other One
Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Jack Dorsey faced the music. The tune is becoming familiar.
What Should Have Happened at the Amy Coney Barrett Hearings
"This is probably not about persuading each other unless something really dramatic happens," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.)
Senate Republicans Sour on Trump as They Try To Save Their Majority
Sens. John Cornyn and Ben Sasse have spoken out sharply against Trump's policies and character as the election nears.
Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Hearings Were a Master Class in Political Posturing
Americans likely learned very little about her judicial philosophy.
Senate Democrats Have Stopped Attacking Amy Coney Barrett's Faith for Now
Republicans understandably prepared for attacks on Barrett's faith which thankfully haven't materialized.
Tom Cotton Won't Debate His Libertarian Challenger. The Event Will Happen Anyway.
Ricky Dale Harrington is polling at 38 percent in a two-way race against one of the leading voices of the GOP's ascendant authoritarian nationalism.
Coronavirus in Congress Won't Stop Barrett Confirmation Hearings, Which Start Today
Plus: $150,000+ in fines in NYC's first weekend of new shutdowns, California ballot-box confusion, and more...
Will the Senate Have a Quorum to Confirm Judge Barrett? (Updated)
As more senators test positive for COVID-19, the ability of the Senate to conduct business is threatened.
Jo Jorgensen Is 'Fine' With Filling SCOTUS Vacancy Before Election
"If it were me, I would certainly put my nominee forth," Jorgensen says. Partisan bickering over the confirmation process is just "politics as usual."
The 5 (Mostly Libertarian) Candidates Who Might Get Blamed for Tipping Control of the Senate
Lindsey Graham just dodged a third-party bullet, but there are a handful of other tossup Senate races where third-party candidates could exceed the major candidates' margin.