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Sean Illing

Sean Illing

Host of The Gray Area

    Latest articles by Sean Illing

    Politics
    The GOP’s existential crisis, explained by a former Republican Congress memberThe GOP’s existential crisis, explained by a former Republican Congress member
    Politics

    “There’s no post-Trump plan. And they all know it.”

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    “The central weakness of our political system right now is the Republican Party”“The central weakness of our political system right now is the Republican Party”
    Politics

    A political scientist explains why the GOP has to reform if we want to fix American democracy.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    Can the Republican Party be saved?Can the Republican Party be saved?
    Politics

    Why de-radicalizing the GOP is both urgent and extremely difficult.

    By Sean Illing
    The fantasy-industrial complex gave us the Capitol Hill insurrection
    Politics

    This is America’s brain on misinformation.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    Are we entering a new era of political violence?Are we entering a new era of political violence?
    Politics

    “We are in very dangerous territory.”

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    President Trump is considering pardoning himself. I asked 15 experts if that’s legal.President Trump is considering pardoning himself. I asked 15 experts if that’s legal.
    Politics

    Is a self-pardon constitutional? The answer is strangely murky.

    By Sean Illing
    Here are the 9 most interesting conversations I had in 2020
    Podcast
    Podcasts

    The conversations that challenged me the most and got me thinking about a difficult problem or provocative idea.

    By Sean Illing
    What the 2020 debate over free speech missed
    Politics

    Our fights over free speech have gotten more heated precisely because speech has never been freer.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    “The party can’t move on”: Ross Douthat on the Republican Party after Trump“The party can’t move on”: Ross Douthat on the Republican Party after Trump
    Politics

    A conversation about the chaotic future of the GOP.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    Americans don’t think like citizens. They think like shoppers.Americans don’t think like citizens. They think like shoppers.
    Politics

    One political scientist says politicians should embrace this reality if they want to win.

    By Sean Illing