Washington Monthly

On affordability, Democrats have the stronger hand. They just need to stop folding. The winter issue of the Washington Monthly is here, featuring @glastris, @alexbronzini, @JRakove, @klowmn, @clairekelloway, @billscher, @_GoozNews, @DavidAstinWalsh, and more.

Before this war, Pentagon wargames showed the U.S. would run out of critical munitions 8 days into a conflict with China over Taiwan. That timeline just got shorter. Whatever happens with Iran, Beijing is the real winner. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/19/asy…

The logic behind the use of the major questions doctrine in Trump's tariff loss suggests that the three conservatives who joined the liberal Justices in denying POTUS tariff power should also oppose his attempts to politicize the civil service. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/18/how…

Women have been writing the nation’s story for 250 years now. They deserve a museum that celebrates that role, @lmchervinsky writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/18/let…

The Supreme Court rebuke of Trump tariffs might mean serious problems for other Trump initiatives, like gutting the civil service. Much depends on the Court’s internal fight over the “major questions doctrine,” @petermshane writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/18/how…

Jonathan Alter (@jonathanalter) with historian and journalist Tim Weiner on how ideology is the enemy of intelligence, not just for Trump in Iran but for every American president. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/17/the…

ICYMI: Our EVP of Education @KellyMcManusEdu’s op-ed in @monthly explains why the debate over which degrees count as “professional” misses the bigger issue, whether graduates can realistically repay their loans. (1/)

Party leaders should not be silent while outside groups misrepresent themselves, @billscher writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/17/cry…

“Crypto, AI, and AIPAC Are Corrupting Democratic Primaries” — my latest for @monthly washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/17/cry…

Trump’s expressed desire is for Cuba “to fall very soon.” As with Iran, there’s no apparent democratic successor at the ready, @KounalakisM writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/16/cub…

At-large districts may not be a silver bullet, but they are one way to reduce polarization. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/15/can…

New tax cut proposals from Senators Cory Booker and Chris Van Hollen may sell in a campaign year, but they abandon effective progressive policies, @billscher writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/13/the…

“The Problem with Making ‘Affordability’ The Problem” — my @monthly look at how the one-word mantra is tempting Democrats down the path of tax cuts washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/13/the…

With AI creating insatiable demand for electricity, an old but clean source is getting a second look thanks to favorable politics and new extraction technology. It’s Landman for environmentalists, @KounalakisM and Theo Snoey write. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/12/geo…

Forget AI going haywire. The real problem is that it’s working as intended: making us lazier and less able to connect. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/12/ai-…

Long sought by both the right and left, Trump-era changes to higher ed could protect consumers and lower costs, @JonMarcusBoston writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/11/hig…

For candidates running for office this fall, @_GoozNews has a health care plan: protect families first. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/11/a-h…

So-called “Constitution-First” Republicans are uncomfortable with Trump’s abuses of power, @PublicAgenda and @SNFAgora say. They could be the key to a pro-democracy coalition that cuts across party and ideology. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/11/the…

Every energy crisis is a windfall for oil refiners—and consumers pay the price, @HalSinger writes. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/10/ano…

Bombing Iran may be the easy part. What hawks refuse to reckon with is everything that comes next, @billscher writes.  washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/10/ira…