Michael Tomasky

Will the great and mighty United States of America, the oldest democracy in the world, celebrating its 250th birthday this July, be demoted to “partly free”? I don’t know. But the mere fact that we even have to ask this question is chilling. trib.al/hCNJvvP

This is U.S. foreign policy now: maximal devastation and chaos, minimal planning and goals, and a dose of haberdashery. We’re just leapfrogging from slogan to slogan, from war to war. Graham will be there, every time, to cheer it on. trib.al/QOuxIbz

"Moderate Democratic voters are not centrists clamoring for a return to the Clinton era or rebukes of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders." trib.al/8xqQAzI

The man is, whatever his other faults, just way in over his head. Maybe Democrats should say that more often. The fact that he’s costing taxpayers a billion dollars a day on a war most of them didn’t want may be a good place to start. trib.al/OJZ9EUo

Immigration as an issue has been transformed from a notable Trump strength into one of his most glaring weaknesses. We’ve learned that most Americans value what immigrants bring to this country. It’s been heartening to see. trib.al/U0VSN2t

"Trump has squandered some of the country’s greatest sources of strength. By repelling nearly all of America’s allies—alliances that are among the best instruments of leverage Washington has in the world—he has paid China and Russia enormous dividends." trib.al/UvO4iry

One of this year’s most closely watched midterm contests is in Georgia, but if H.B. 1108 were to become law, the whole country might have to wait weeks after the fall elections, or even longer, to learn which party has won control of the chamber. trib.al/W1VrnOk

"If Trump insists on steamrolling over other countries, the United States will eventually discover—like Napoleon’s France, Hitler’s Germany, and Stalin’s Soviet Union before it—that other countries always have options to resist." trib.al/nrNZs1i

For the court’s conservatives, the only consistency is their inconsistency. Still, things rather conspicuously keep going the GOP’s way. trib.al/xYc3x8C

"A 36-year-old Bible-quoting former public school teacher against a philandering, corrupt 63-year-old career politician is about as ideal a contrast as Democrats could have wished for." trib.al/xd8nPqB

"Immigrants have helped reduce deficits every year between 1994 and 2023, in large part because the amount they pay in taxes outstrips the cost of the benefits they receive." trib.al/yQnsVH5

It’s clear the Democratic Party rank and file demands a new position on Israel. There’s one candidate, or maybe two, who can best answer that call, if they choose to. trib.al/wxzyVm8

The court’s conservative members went out of their way to change their normal procedures in shadow-docket cases to benefit a Republican member of Congress as she tries to fend off a less favorable legislative map. trib.al/RzOHCeE

"Facing sustained criticism from the MAGA faithful who rightly see the war as a “betrayal,” Trump could well spiral into unprecedented territory." trib.al/yV6FKWw

"Democrats should hope that Paxton wins. He’s the ideal opponent for Talarico. Calling the attorney general scandal-plagued would be way understating his issues." trib.al/IdsSuvU

The Fourteenth Amendment says this in no uncertain terms: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” trib.al/ZzjPKxh

“By Hegseth’s standard, any country having any advanced defensive weaponry of any kind can be labeled an imminent threat.” trib.al/pcYy30q

"Trump is clearly law breaking right now and being allowed to, which is really frightening. He’s operating like a king." trib.al/uT6kTgX

Even cursory knowledge of this history ought to be enough to prevent any industrial-scale MAGA finger-wagging at those of us who aren’t popping champagne corks just yet. trib.al/wA62M9F

The results are in from our recent readers’ poll. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gets high marks. Kamala Harris, not so much. trib.al/l1pvjka