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In his first two budgets, President Trump proposed steep cuts in foreign aid, but Congress didn't approve them and the final bills kept the money flowing overseas. So last month Trump instructed the State Department to freeze $3 billion in funds for projects in Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank, leading to broad push back from Congress, special interests, and lobbying groups like the One Campaign (whose goal is to allocate one percent of ever federal budget to foreign aid). In the face of increas

The point, they say, of campaign debates is to give the public a chance to get to know the candidates and understand the differences between them on issues, policy and the like. When I watched the KCPT Kansas Gubernatorial Debate that was hosted by the Johnson County Bar Association last week, prepared to follow the nuances of the discussion, I was instead struck by something else entirely. There were three candidates on the stage. Three. A Republican. A Democrat. And an Independent. And everyo

Political reformers across America are paying close attention to key elections on November 6. But their focus is not on candidates or political parties. It’s about how Americans vote on ballot measures to unrig the system. Here are some highlights: Voters Not Politicians (Michigan) In Michigan, an anti-gerrymandering measure is on the ballot after Voters Not Politicians gathered more than 425,000 petition signatures with only volunteers within just 110 days. The measure creates an independen

In the current political environment, the perception is that there is much that divides Americans. Yet there is one important thing that unites most people across the political spectrum: the idea that America's political system is not working for the people and something needs to change. Donald Trump often uses the term "drain the swamp." Regardless of how one feels about the president as a person or leader, most voters agree with the sentiment -- though are not sold that anyone in Washington w

I greatly admire and appreciate moving, memorable speeches, and former President Barack Obama has given many. Some of his most powerful have been when he stepped outside of his role as a politician. I cannot help but think of the timeless eulogy, more than a speech, that he gave at the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, in which Obama remembered and memorialized the pastor and the eight parishioners killed by a white supremacist gunman at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charle

WASHINGTON DC - Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) made reference to Spartacus in day three of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court. Booker professed, “This is about the closest I'll probably ever have in my life to an, I am Spartacus’ moment.” Interestingly, the documents Booker was referring to had already been made public. The national GOP twitter page took the opportunity to hit Booker: https://twitter.com/GOP/status/1037735984182517761 Just another turn in the bizar

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As soon as the room was gaveled to order on day one of the Senate’s confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, a circus ensued. Democrats interrupted the proceedings, protestors erupted and were escorted from the audience, and it went on for more than an hour. Judge Kavanaugh, if confirmed, would replace what was a powerful swing vote and push the Court into conservative control -- so both parties have plenty at stake. Coordinated Attack? According t

Washington, D.C.- On Tuesday the Senate confirmation hearing begins for Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s pick for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. If confirmed, Kavanaugh would tip the balance of the bench, with conservative justices holding the majority. Trump's nominee will be introduced at his hearing by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Kavanaugh's extensive political and judicial record which has already drawn criticism from both Democrats

Modern data-driven map making capabilities have made the age-old practice of drawing congressional districts to favor a political party – gerrymandering – a frighteningly precise and effective weapon in American politics.A SCOTUS punt of two high-profile cases that were before the Supreme Court this summer (one an example of Republican partisan gerrymandering, the other Democratic) led to citizen ballot initiatives in several states, while just this week in North Carolina, a federal court ruled

Nick Brana, who was the national political outreach coordinator for Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign and I had an extensive conversation looking ahead to 2020. Brana and I talked about the new DNC rules passed over the weekend, but we also discussed Bernie in 2020 and his current standing with independent voters. Listen to the full interview here. The DNC passed new rules for 2020 that institute a party purity test for presidential candidates, bar superdelegates from voting on the first president