GOP’s Corporate Soul Trying to Wrest Control From the Tea Party

BLANK Nov 1, 2013 In a couple of special elections for congressional seats, traditional big business backers of the Republican Party are investing heavily in primary campaigns to try to grab the steering wheel from the tea party. How successful they are could have broad repercussions for how Washington works, and for the nation. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Biggest Problem With Congress? There Is No Middle Anymore

BLANK Oct 29, 2013 Republican political consultants dissected the recent battle over Obamacare and the government shutdown and concluded that consensus is hard to find in the House because the political middle has disappeared. Blame gerrymandering, big bucks campaigning, and voters. Yep, we got the government we asked for. Well, that some people asked for. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Whom to Blame for the Shutdown? How About Ourselves?

BLANK Oct 1, 2013 With a political process skewed to ensure the re-election of incumbents, and low voter turnout in midterm congressional primaries and elections, we have a system ripe for exploitation. And so it has been. Yet we do nothing to try to change it. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Voter Rights Act

Adam Zyglis, Cagle Cartoons, The Buffalo News Jun 30, 2013 Dig deeper

Rubio Not Convinced on Climate Change, Fox News Goes After Hillary, and More

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Feb 7, 2013 A look at the day's political happenings, including the death of the Virginia GOP's gerrymandering scheme and a Republican lawmaker in Idaho who wants to make Ayn Rand required reading in high school. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sen. Leahy Calls Out NRA’s LaPierre, Fox News’ Ratings Drop, and More

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Jan 31, 2013 A look at the day's political happenings, including John Kerry's Senate replacement named and the GOP's failing attempt to rig the 2016 presidential election. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

How Gerrymandering Stacked the House With Republicans

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Nov 14, 2012 In the 2012 elections, it appears that Democrats won the popular vote for House seats by a narrow margin, 49 percent to 48.2 percent, according to The Washington Post. So how did Republicans expand their margin to win the "second-biggest House majority in 60 years and their third-biggest since the Great Depression"? Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Redistricting, a Devil’s Dictionary

Staff / Truthdig Nov 6, 2011 Redistricting should be a way of ensuring your vote counts. But instead of voters choosing politicians, the practice often works the other way around. The right lines can all but guarantee an incumbent a decade's worth of electoral success, or help send others into retirement.The right lines can all but guarantee an incumbent a decade's worth of electoral success, or help send others into retirement. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

While You Were Sleeping, California Made New Election Laws

Richard Reeves / Truthdig Nov 24, 2010 Politicians have ways of protecting themselves from ordinary people, but Californians have passed a series of ballot measures mandating that election districts -- from school boards to Congress -- be redrawn by 14 randomly selected citizens. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Court Upholds Gerrymandering Madness

Staff / Truthdig Jun 28, 2006 The Supreme Court ruled that state legislators may draw new electoral maps as often as they like -- meaning that we'll likely see new gerrymandered voting districts every time there is a power shift at a state capital. Disgustingly enough, this ruling is actually a vindication for Tom DeLay. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )