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

Speaker Ryan has tried nobly to not only replace Obamacare but also to figure out how to govern the GOP. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

How to form a governing majority? Try the committee process

Timothy P. Carney April 5, 2017 4:07 am

As Casey Stengel, while managing the New York Mets on their way to a 40-120 season in 1962, reportedly asked, "Can't anybody here play this game?" (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)

Doesn’t anybody know how to play this game?

Michael Barone March 30, 2017 4:42 am

Rarely has America witnessed such a radical turnabout in such a brief period of time. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Trump era’s 5 emerging constituencies

Robert Ehrlich March 30, 2017 4:03 am

Party leadership can no longer control the message. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Republicans haven’t learned how to govern in Tea Party era

Timothy P. Carney March 28, 2017 9:03 pm

Police officers stand guard on a road leading to the Houses of Parliament in London on March 13. On Wednesday a man went on a deadly rampage, first driving a car into pedestrians then stabbing a police officer to death before being fatally shot by police within Parliament's grounds. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The real danger to democracy

Dan Hannan March 27, 2017 4:05 am

A Fayette County Sherrif's car drives through Uniontown, Pa. The elites, who have the power, money, influence and education in every aspect of society, find the way of life of those living in small towns to be intolerable. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

What is the matter with small town America?

Salena Zito March 26, 2017 4:04 am

The base’s rage ill serves the Democratic Party

Michael Barone March 24, 2017 5:00 am

It's a fight for healthcare reform. But it is also an old battle between insurgents and institutionalists. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

On Obamacare, conservatives in familiar fight with GOP leadership

W. James Antle III March 23, 2017 4:01 am

'Do what we want first, and we'll give you what you want later.' Conservatives have heard that line before, and they may want Trump to pay up first. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

On healthcare, Trump and Ryan tell conservatives to get in line behind the lobbyists

Timothy P. Carney March 21, 2017 9:40 pm

It has become a commonplace that voters are fed up with nuance, that they want clarity and conviction. But that is not the same as wanting pig-headedness. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Partisanship isn’t a crime; it’s a blunder

Dan Hannan March 20, 2017 4:03 am

President Trump's first budget proposal is being savaged for slaying Big Bird, running Meals on Wheels off the road, even ushering in a new dark ages. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Save Big Bird, reform entitlements

W. James Antle III March 17, 2017 3:28 am

Republicans are already facing an uphill battle in crafting a healthcare bill that can pass the House. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Republicans’ Obamacare repeal fight turning into battle over Senate procedure

Philip Klein March 17, 2017 3:19 am