Latest articles by David A. Hopkins
It’s not just about Trump. Power has shifted markedly toward non-elected figures like Steve Bannon and Sean Hannity.
Republican governance is wrecked by rebellious challenges over ideological infidelity; Democrats are having more success holding their social group coalition together. Don’t expect that to change.
Ideological challenges are much more common for Republican officeholders than for Democrats. This leads to significant governing challenges that imperil the Republican leadership in Congress. It will not change anytime soon.
Because the Democrats are a pragmatic group coalition facing a Republican ideological movement, American public policy pursues Democratic goals like health care through Republican means like private markets and decentralization.
History shows that political reforms designed to reduce the power of established interest groups and enable legislation often help the more ideological party, the Republicans, over the Democratic group coalition.