Norman Ornstein

1 week ago | newrepublic.com | Benjamin Miller |Norman Ornstein |Kavita Patel

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time when the nation is supposed to recommit to the mental health and well-being of millions struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. But instead of renewed support, the American people are getting a very different kind of message from the Trump administration: one of disinvestment, dismantling, and disregard. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness—and over half receive no treatment. That’s not just a failure.

2 weeks ago | contrarian.substack.com | Norman Ornstein

Paul Volcker was a towering figure in every respect. His career in government, capped by service as chairman of the Federal Reserve, had been courageous and exemplary. Widely and accurately lauded as the man who ended horrendous inflation in the late 1970s, he was one of a handful of figures held in high respect across the spectrum—and around the world--for his savvy, integrity, acumen and decency. I first met Volcker in 1988.

2 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Drew Penrose |Norman Ornstein

Congress needs an expansion. A ‘high line’ could make it possible. (washingtonpost.com) Congress needs an expansion. A ‘high line’ could make it possible. By Drew Penrose; Norman Ornstein 2025042909450400 The House of Representatives was designed to evolve alongside the country. The clearest representation of that is its size. The House originally had 65 members — approximately one representative for every 30,000 people.

2 months ago | contrarian.substack.com | Norman Ornstein

Not long after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer engineered enough of his party’s votes to smooth passage of the partisan Republican “Continuing Resolution” to avoid a government shutdown, he made sure that his rationale made it into a sympathetic piece in the New York Times. According to Schumer, his maneuvers were adroit, leaving him to take the heat while giving leeway to many of his colleagues to vote “No” without it leading to a shutdown.

2 months ago | rsn.org | Norman Ornstein

Some counsel the Democrats to just wait and let the GOP immolate itself. This is horrible advice. Here are some better ideas. Democrats are in the middle of an internal battle over how to react to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their depredations. That Democrats are divided is nothing new. But the stakes are higher than ever.