James Pindell

1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | James Pindell

As Senate Democrats huddled behind closed doors recently, the shouting reportedly grew so loud that it could be heard from the hallway. Even into this week, the episode had all the hallmarks of classic Washington insider drama with real consequences. And it has fueled growing mistrust between the party’s leaders in the nation’s capital and is at odds with what Democrats across the country want to see. All of which has led Democrats to where parties out of power often turn: governors.

1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | James Pindell

But one question they’ve been trying to script for weeks is now out in the open: which party will get the blame if the government does indeed shut down? Democrats say it’s obvious — Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, so of course, they should be blamed. Republicans, meanwhile, just one House Democrat voted earlier in the week to keep the government open. They argue that the real test will come today in the Senate, where Democratic votes are needed to move forward.

1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | James Pindell

Even people who have worked for and been personally close to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen were only informed over the weekend. Other longtime allies were told just minutes before the announcement. But by Wednesday morning, the three-term senator made it public that she would not seek re-election. Many were stunned by the news. For months, a small core of advisors had been laying the groundwork for another re-election bid, and the annual Shaheen “Snowflake” fundraiser was set for March 20.

1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | James Pindell

Representative Seth Moulton, of Salem, set off a firestorm last fall among his fellow Democrats over comments he made about transgender athletes competing in female sports. Two days after the November election, The New York Times quoted Moulton in a piece analyzing how Trump managed to win a second term. A widely discussed Trump campaign ad had ended with the tagline, “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you.” Many believed it was highly effective.

1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | James Pindell

For the past 46 or so days, one question has dominated Democratic circles: What, if anything, can force President Trump to abandon his aggressive MAGA approach in his second term? The traditional checks on presidential power haven’t worked. Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, have publicly praised Trump even as he steamrolls their constitutional authority. The courts can’t keep up with the flood of Trump’s actions, and even when they do rule, the decisions have been mixed. The press?