Matt Lewis & the News(letter)

1 week ago | mattklewis.substack.com | Matt Lewis

If you’re like me, you’ve been noticing a trend: Dems are getting horrible press. Sure, a lot of it is deserved. But the tone also gives the impression that the Democrats are going to be consigned to the political wilderness for a LONG time. But as the above video points out, that might — or might not — be true. That’s the topic of my latest column for The Hill. In case you missed it, here’s a snippet:Sure, Democrats look impotent. Yes, the bench looks more like a waiting room at the Mayo Clinic.

1 week ago | mattklewis.substack.com | Matt Lewis

Hey there,My apologies for going dark over the holiday (and beyond). But I’m still here, still watching the American experiment teeter on the edge like a drunk at a wedding. Yesterday, I brought in Chuck Todd for a VERY wide-ranging conversation that ping-ponged between cynical nostalgia and the gallows humor you need to stomach today’s politics. Among many topics, we covered Trump’s crypto grift, the collapse of political norms, and the Democrats’ tragic inability to read the room.

2 weeks ago | mattklewis.substack.com | Matt Lewis

Lately, I’ve been chewing on the word “moderate” — a term so drenched in ambiguity it practically sags under its own weight. It’s one of those labels that sounds neutral until you realize nobody wants it. Calling someone a moderate is like saying their personality is “fine” on a dating app. It's technically a compliment, but we all know what it really means. And yes, I get it — this is all semantics. The ideological goalposts are constantly migrating. Yesterday’s conservative is today’s moderate.

2 weeks ago | mattklewis.substack.com | Matt Lewis

Welcome to the newsletter, where we dive into the latest political currents with insights from my recent podcast conversation with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, founder of Country First. From the chaos of Republican legislative efforts to the erosion of democratic norms, we covered a lot of ground. Let’s unpack it.

2 weeks ago | mattklewis.substack.com | Matt Lewis

On today’s pod, I was joined by Will Saletan of The Bulwark. We tackled the Ashli Babbitt settlement, Donald Trump’s foreign policy fumbles, and the broader cultural decline fueling today’s chaos. Buckle up — it’s a wild ride. Yes, you read that right. The family of Ashli Babbitt — the Trump supporter shot while trying to storm the Capitol like it was the Bastille, only with less ideology and more Facebook memes — is now $5 million richer, courtesy of a wrongful death settlement.