Columnists

Pittsburgh, PA - Inside mission control at Voyager’s North Side headquarters, where engineers will steer the Griffin lander to the moon. (Shannon M Venditti)

Pittsburgh’s moon shot

Salena Zito · November 6, 2026 12:55 pm

marco rubio and jd vance

In the GOP, a new 2028 race

Blue wave congress

America does the right thing after exhausting every other option

Ken Paxton election night watch party

The Red Wedding election

From left: Sen.-elect Troy Jackson (D-ME) celebrates his victory over Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in Portland, Maine, Nov. 3, 2026; Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-TX) celebrates in Austin, Texas, Nov. 3, 2026; and Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton (D-KS) thanks supporters at a victory party in Overland Park, Kansas, Nov. 3, 2026. (From left: Scott Eisen/Getty; Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty; Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty)

Character matters, unfortunately for Republicans

There are two stories to tell about conservative congressman Tim Huelskamp's loss. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

How believing in free enterprise — and just being difficult — led to a Republican’s defeat

Timothy P. Carney August 5, 2016 3:26 am

Making the case against Trump is easier than convincing U.S. to embrace a sweeping liberal policy agenda. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

How liberals can beat Donald Trump and still lose

Philip Klein August 4, 2016 9:45 pm

Many in the GOP remain fatalistic when it comes to Hillary Clinton's political survival. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Cleveland, cockroaches and the Clintons

Robert Ehrlich August 4, 2016 4:03 am

Donald Trump cannot seem to remember that he is running against Hillary Clinton, not Paul Ryan, John McCain, Kelly Ayotte, Khiz Khan and various local fire marshals. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)

Trump-ocalypse now? GOP panic sets in

W. James Antle III August 4, 2016 4:01 am

Donald Trump’s opportunity cost

Michael Barone August 3, 2016 8:58 pm

A Trump-Ryan partnership of that sort was never possible, because that's not the sort of man Donald Trump is. (AP Photos)

Ryan learns that endorsing Trump was only the first indignity

Timothy P. Carney August 2, 2016 8:29 pm

Russia is in a special category in that its authorities seem to have been in on the racket. But performance-enhancing substances themselves are used in most countries and most sports. (AP Photo)

A solution to the Russian doping scandal

Dan Hannan August 1, 2016 4:04 am

The Clinton convention was forced to claim that things are better than you think and even to take on the trappings of optimistic nationalism and, at some risk of boos from Bernie bros, add flags and generals in its third and fourth days. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Does either party have a winning strategy? Not clear

Michael Barone August 1, 2016 4:03 am

It’s the Supreme Court, stupid

Hugh Hewitt July 31, 2016 9:00 pm

The Clinton campaign strategy is to re-assemble Obama's 51 percent 2012 coalition. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The Democratic convention: Mission partly accomplished

Michael Barone July 29, 2016 4:32 am

Hillary Clinton attempted to thread the needle between acknowledging problems while expressing an optimism that the nation can overcome them. (AP Photo)

Democrats portray two Americas

Philip Klein July 29, 2016 3:13 am

Sanders' revolution is about something prior to the issues. It's about democracy and civic engagement. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Why conservatives should listen to Bernie

Timothy P. Carney July 27, 2016 5:11 am