Bill Scher

Northampton

Politics Editor at Washington Monthly

Politics Editor for the Washington @Monthly. Also, contributor @politico @realclearnews, @DMZShow, When America Worked podcast. (Avi by @Jess_Sassenach.)

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Articles

How Susan Crawford Neutralized Attacks on Transgender Rights

2 weeks ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

One of the ads Donald Trump deployed to defeat Kamala Harris argued “Kamala’s for they/them. President Trump is for you.” Since the November election, Democrats have been embroiled in an internal debate regarding transgender rights. Some, like California Governor Gavin Newsom, believe Democrats need to pivot rightward.
The Republican Party Is No Longer the Party of Tax Cuts

3 weeks ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

According to President Donald Trump, April 2, 2025, is “Liberation Day,” for it is the day he imposes a new protectionist tariff regime. But the date more accurately marks the end of a Republican Party defined by support for tax cuts. On Sunday, during a Fox News interview, Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, sketched out what is presumably Trump’s economic vision: We’re going to raise about $100 billion with the auto tariff alone.
J.D. Vance Is the Most Disliked New Vice President in History

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

Kamala Harris’s likability, competence, and political acumen were publicly questioned throughout her vice presidency. Viewed through the lens of poll numbers, that was understandable. According to Real Clear Politics, her average favorabilityseldom cracked 50 percent. It was higher than her average unfavorability for only her first five months (save for a brief post-presidential debate spike last September). Maybe it’s time for J.D. Vance to face some questions.
The Filibuster is Working. You Just Can't See It

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

“The same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster ‘for when we need it’ do not use it when we need it,” posted Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Democrat’s complaint followed Senate passage of the House Republican “continuing resolution”—aided by 10 Senate Democratic caucus members who supported cloture—that kept the government open without restraining President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional attempts to impound congressional appropriations.
Cut the Senate Democrats Some Slack

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

Last month, discussing legislation to keep the federal government open after March 14, I argued that “Democrats should insist that money appropriated by Congress in the bill actually gets spent. Otherwise, the bill isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.” I still believe that. If I were a senator, I would filibuster the House Republican bill even though the shutdown deadline is here. However, it appears that’s not going to happen.
I Regret to Inform You That Donald Trump Does Not Understand the Economy

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Bill Scher

8 hours ago'Not A Good Look': Fox News Host Spots Trouble For Trump After Stock Market PlungeJohn Roberts, co-anchor of Fox News' "America Reports," declared that it "wouldn't be a good thing" if there was a recession on the president's watch.
I Regret to Inform You That Donald Trump Does Not Understand the Economy

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

During a March 9 Fox News interview, President Donald Trump was asked, “Are you expecting a recession this year?” His response was so disturbing the stock market tanked the following day: I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing. And there are always periods of—it takes a little time. It takes a little time. But I don’t—I think it should be great for us.
Democrats Should 'Do Something.' And They Are

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Bill Scher

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Democrats Should "Do Something." And They Are.

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 100-minute propaganda barrage before the joint session of Congress, congressional Democrats have assumed the familiar circular firing formation. Party leadership wanted their primary response to be a scripted retort, delivered by the moderate Senator Elissa Slotkin of the battleground state of Michigan that largely skirted culture war battle lines and focused on the cost of living and national security.
Elon Musk Misunderstood the Film "Office Space." Now He’s Decimating the Federal Workforce

1 month ago | washingtonmonthly.com | Bill Scher

Last week’s New York Times investigation into how mega-billionaire Elon Musk created Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE] and executed “a radical takeover of the federal bureaucracy” included the odd tidbit that he “had a DOGE T-shirt emblazoned with a quote from one of his favorite movies, ‘Office Space’: ‘What would you say you do here?’” The line from the Mike Judge-directed movie—delivered by one of the two soulless management consultants named Bob eager to impose layoffs—clearly...