30 October 2026
A Blue Wave’s Limits
If we can still believe the pollsters, Democrats are headed for a very good night next Tuesday. Across the United States, candidates running as Democrats are either leading or running even with their Republican opponents. That the president’s party loses ground in the midterms, often decisively, is one of the more reliable patterns in American politics. But if such a blue wave materializes, we should neither read it as voters’ repudiation of the Republican Party, nor as an endorsement of the Democrats. It is better understood as evidence that American democracy can still deliver on some, if not all, of its promises. Continue reading >>
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30 October 2026
Die Grenzen einer Blue Wave
Wenn man den Umfrageinstituten noch trauen darf, steht den Demokraten am kommenden Dienstag ein ziemlich guter Wahlabend bevor. Im ganzen Land liegen demokratische Kandidat:innen entweder vorn oder liefern sich mit ihren republikanischen Konkurrent:innen ein Kopf-an-Kopf-Rennen. Dass die Partei des Präsidenten bei den Midterms an Zustimmung verliert – oft sogar deutlich –, gehört zu den verlässlichsten Mustern der US-Politik. Eine solche „Blue Wave“ sollte aber weder als Abrechnung mit den Republikanern noch als Blankoscheck für die Demokraten missverstanden werden. Sie wäre vielmehr ein Zeichen dafür, dass die amerikanische Demokratie zumindest einige ihrer Versprechen einlösen kann – wenn auch nicht alle. Continue reading >>12 October 2026
Politicizing the U.S. Postal Service
The American electoral system divides authority between the states and Congress. The President, by contrast, has no formal role in election administration. The rule of law, though, has never deterred President Trump from plowing ahead in pursuit of his policy desires. One such yearning is to substantially reduce mail voting, which, against all evidence, Trump believes favors Democrats and is susceptible to widespread illegal voting by noncitizens. Continue reading >>17 February 2026
Nationalization Nonsense
Fueled by resentment, xenophobia, and, one can assume, a growing awareness of his party’s diminishing prospects in the upcoming midterms, President Trump recently suggested that his party “nationalize” elections. As every expert to have weighed in on the matter has noted, the claim is preposterous. Simply put, the President has no direct authority over elections. While there are legitimate fears about Trump’s willingness to interfere with this Fall’s elections, he has no power to assume the control he desires. Continue reading >>
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15 November 2024
Political Resistance and Two Dirty Words
On November 6, Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election in a landslide, winning all Swing States and the popular vote. Given the dire consequences of Trump’s second presidency looming on the horizon, it would be natural for Democrats’ reactions to include some of English’s finest swear words, the f- and the s- words in particular. But besides swearing being impolite, there are at least two other dirty words to consider: Federalism and (State) Sovereignty. It is time to use them for progressive purposes and shield Democrat states against excessive overreach by the Trump administration, as some had already suggested during the first Trump presidency Continue reading >>
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08 November 2024
Farewell to the Rules-Based Order
As political analysts debate the reasons for Trump’s victory, one contributing factor is surely the utter failure of Biden’s Gaza policies. As the US has continued to fund an Israeli war of annihilation against Gaza, the democratic ticket became a hard sell for many who care about Palestinians. Yet, Gaza has also triggered a veritable renaissance of international litigation. With Gaza destroyed and Trump in the White House, this tension may have reached a terminal point. And yet, I argue, the ghost of a rule-based order lingers in our political imagination despite its inability to shape outcomes. Continue reading >>
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01 November 2024
The Messiah and His Oligarchs
On Power, Personalities and Populism. Continue reading >>
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