Joanne B. Freeman

2 days ago | staytuned.substack.com | Preet Bharara |Heather Richardson |Joanne B. Freeman

Thanks to all of you who joined me live with Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman. I always love hearing their historical perspective, especially at this moment in American political life. I think I’m starting to get the hang of this whole Substack Live thing. What do you all think? They also joined me beforehand for a special in-person taping of the Stay Tuned podcast — that episode drops Thursday. Don’t miss it!It’s only been two days, but I’m so thrilled to be here on Substack with you all.

Nov 5, 2024 | theatlantic.com | Joanne B. Freeman

Americans are headed to the polls today, to cast their ballots in a crucial election. People are anxious, hopeful, and scared about the stakes of the election and its aftermath. But this is not the only such electoral test that American democracy has faced. An earlier contest has much to say to the present.

Oct 6, 2023 | inkl.com | Geoff Kabaservice |Mary Berry |Liam Donovan |Joanne B. Freeman

It’s not easy to shock official Washington, but the sudden defenestration of Kevin McCarthy managed to surprise and unsettle even those who had predicted it since he was elected speaker earlier this year. While McCarthy became the first speaker ever ousted by a motion to vacate, he’s the latest in a long line of GOP leaders to do battle with conservative rebels and be felled in one way or another.

Oct 6, 2023 | banoyi.com | Geoff Kabaservice |Mary Berry |Liam Donovan |Joanne B. Freeman

Unfortunately, that’s not the Republican Party we have. Instead, we have a party that prefers temper tantrums to governing, fantasies about stolen elections to the hard work of appealing to swing voters. It would rather destroy the federal bureaucracy than use it to implement conservative policies. Increasingly it poses a threat to national stability and world order. Kevin McCarthy did little to resist the feral direction of his party and much to indulge it.