Charles Mahtesian

Washington, D.C.

Senior Politics Editor at POLITICO

Senior Politics Editor, POLITICO. Ex-NPR, National Journal, CQ, Almanac of American Politics, Wawa. Fan of small towns and big cities. Especially Philadelphia.

Articles

Jak Godzilla i King Kong. Donald Trump sam stworzył sobie rywala. Republikańscy wyborcy zdążyli pokochać Elona Muska

3 weeks ago | wiadomosci.onet.pl | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Donald Trump mówi, że jest zaskoczony i rozczarowany Elonem Muskiem w związku z ich chaotyczną, publiczną awanturą. Powinien być jednak ostrożny. Prezydenta nie musi nawet niepokoić fakt, że Musk jest właścicielem jednej z najbardziej wpływowych platform mediów społecznościowych, ani jego status najbogatszego człowieka na świecie, finansującego nie tak dawno republikańskie kampanie.
The Polling on Elon Musk Is a Warning for Republicans

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

He’s a potentially dangerous man for Trump. Elon Musk and President Donald Trump shake hands during a press conference in the Oval Office at the White House May 30, 2025. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Charlie Mahtesian is senior politics editor at POLITICO. Donald Trump says he is surprised and disappointed with Elon Musk over the messy public meltdown of their partnership. He also should be wary.
Wes Moore versus the cancel culture

4 weeks ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore takes questions from reporters on the last day of Maryland's legislative session on April 7. | Brian Witte/AP LESSONS NOT LEARNED — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is headlining a dinner and fundraiser for South Carolina Democrats tonight, marking the first real political foray into a key early presidential state by one of the brightest stars in the Democratic Party. But if it was up to some South Carolina Democrats, he wouldn’t be there at all.
A ride on Trump’s wild market rollercoaster

2 months ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Charlie Mahtesian is POLITICO’s senior politics editor. He oversees the Nightly newsletter, and writes and edits for POLITICO magazine. Prior to joining the magazine, he directed POLITICO’s election coverage from 2008 through 2012, and from 2015 to 2022. He also wrote a blog on campaigns and elections and co-hosted the Nerdcast, POLITICO’s podcast on the White House and politics. In between, he spent two years at NPR, where he served as politics editor and deputy Washington desk chief.
Never Mind Wisconsin

2 months ago | portside.org | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

There were two special House elections in Florida Tuesday, both in comfortably Republican districts where Democrats typically don’t have a prayer. It was clear going in that Democrats were poised to overperform in each of them — a result of grassroots rage toward Trump and the party’s frequent advantage in special and off-year elections. The Democratic nominees in both districts indeed ran better than expected — far better than in 2024 — but in the end, the GOP held both seats.
The GOP Pays an Elon Musk Tax

2 months ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

In a test of the mood in the wake of Musk’s tenure atop DOGE, persuasive evidence emerged in Florida that the tech mogul has become a political liability. Elon Musk speaks at a town hall, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. | Jeffrey Phelps/AP Charlie Mahtesian is a senior politics editor at POLITICO. From the time the Donald Trump-Elon Musk governing partnership took shape, it’s had an expiration date attached to it.
The long and relentless arc of Chuck Schumer

Mar 17, 2025 | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington. | Win McNamee/Getty Images BITTER MEDICINE — There’s talk of a primary challenge. There are demands for him to step down as party leader. He’s been forced to postpone a book tour that was scheduled for this week.
The Long and Relentless Arc of Chuck Schumer

Mar 17, 2025 | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

The Senate minority leader has a history of delivering bitter medicine when the party most needs it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington. | Win McNamee/Getty Images Charlie Mahtesian is a senior politics editor at POLITICO. There’s talk of a primary challenge. There are demands for him to step down as party leader.
The midterms won’t save the Democrats

Mar 13, 2025 | politico.com | Calder McHugh |Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) questions Pete Hegseth during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images UNFRIENDLY MAP — If there’s any silver lining for Democrats in the gray storm cloud that is GOP-dominated Washington, it’s that in two years there’s likely to be a backlash. That’s not an assessment of Trump’s first two months in the White House so much as it is a historical fact.
Gavin Newsom’s declaration of independence

Mar 6, 2025 | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

President Donald Trump talks with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 24, 2025. | Mark Schiefelbein/AP NEWSOM’S NUKE — Gavin Newsom kicked off his new podcast today with a bang. The California governor and prospective presidential candidate broke with Democratic Party orthodoxy on a host of issues, including one of the most polarizing of all — the participation of transgender athletes in female college and youth sports.