Perry Bacon Jr.

United States

Columnist at The Washington Post

I write about government and elections. https://t.co/BXWSzMymPf

Articles

How red states tiptoe around Trump’s wreckage

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

How red states tiptoe around Trump’s wreckage (washingtonpost.com) How red states tiptoe around Trump’s wreckage By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025061609450000 LOUISVILLE — Community leaders here have big plans for Alberta O. Jones Park, which is named after a civil rights activist who also worked as a lawyer and once negotiated a contract for Muhammad Ali.
Sending the National Guard is bad. Arresting 3,000 a day is worse.

2 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

Sending the National Guard is bad. Arresting 3,000 a day is worse. (washingtonpost.com) Sending the National Guard is bad. Arresting 3,000 a day is worse. By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025061021180200 ICE agents making arrests in the parking lot of a Home Depot helped set off mass protests in Los Angeles. But that wasn't an isolated incident.
Trump shouldn’t be able to tax colleges he doesn’t like

2 weeks ago | phillytrib.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

Rice University could go from owing the federal government $9 million to $87 million, Princeton from $39 million to $586 million, Harvard from $57 million to a whopping $849 million. In its first four months back in office, the Trump administration has relentlessly attacked prestigious colleges. They have been stripped of billions in federal funding, unfairly accused of antisemitism and repeatedly investigated on legally dubious grounds.
The New York mayor’s race shows a badly divided Democratic Party

3 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

The New York mayor’s race shows a badly divided Democratic Party (washingtonpost.com) The New York mayor’s race shows a badly divided Democratic Party By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025060421121200 At first glance, it's stunning that former New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo and state Rep. Zohran Mamdani are so far ahead of their competitors in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York.
How ‘flyover country’ took over the NBA

3 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

How ‘flyover country’ took over the NBA (washingtonpost.com) How ‘flyover country’ took over the NBA By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025060310450000 The New York Knicks almost made it. So did the Minnesota Timberwolves. But instead, the NBA Finals will feature teams from the 33rd (Indianapolis) and 42nd (Oklahoma City) most-populous areas in the country. Is the NBA self-sabotaging? Does the league just have terrible luck?
To see the problem with Trump’s endowment tax, look at who’s exempt

4 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

To see the problem with Trump’s endowment tax, look at who’s exempt (washingtonpost.com) To see the problem with Trump’s endowment tax, look at who’s exempt By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025052910000000 Rice University could go from owing the federal government $9 million to $87 million, Princeton from $39 million to $586 million, Harvard from $57 million to a whopping $849 million.
We don’t have an education crisis in America

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

We don’t have an education crisis in America (washingtonpost.com) We don’t have an education crisis in America By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025052710000000 America's public schools are failing their students and the country. That's long been the argument of many Republican politicians, who are moving aggressively at the state and federal levels to expand voucher programs.
The democrats who will save us are not the ones in office

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

The democrats who will save us are not the ones in office (washingtonpost.com) The democrats who will save us are not the ones in office By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025050817231600 The Democratic Party, despite its name, has been too timid in defending the rule of law and other core ideals of U.S. government in the face of an increasingly authoritarian President Donald Trump and Republican Party. But Democratic politicians aren't the only ones falling short.
This billionaire could unify the Democrats against Trump

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

This billionaire could unify the Democrats against Trump (washingtonpost.com) This billionaire could unify the Democrats against Trump By Perry Bacon Jr. 2025050510000400 America's super-rich have far too much political power: We were overdue for the "fighting oligarchy" movement that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) has started. But I have to admit that one of my favorite politicians these days is worth nearly $4 billion. Illinois Gov.
Polls aren’t going to save us from Trump

2 months ago | phillytrib.com | Perry Bacon Jr.

About 50% of Americans now disapprove of President Donald Trump, compared with just 46% who approve of him, according to recent polls. Fifty-four percent don’t like how Trump is handling foreign policy; 56% are dissatisfied with his economic approach. Unfortunately for those of us opposed to Trump, these numbers matter close to 0%. People on the left, including Democratic officials, are excitedly touting surveys showing rising discontent with the president. They should curb their enthusiasm.

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