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Mississippi Goddamn
We're still tabulating the final results of the 2026 midterm elections, but the biggest takeaway already seems quite clear – southern politics have been completely upended. Georgia has led the way here, thanks in large part to the tireless work of Stacey Abrams and her associates. Both its senators
Operation: Albatross
As the midterm elections draw near, it seems ever likelier that we're finally going to witness a reckoning for Republicans. For nearly two years now, Republican members of the House and Senate have tied themselves as closely as humanly possible to President Trump. Whether they were shrewdly riding
Puzzling Out the Past
Occasionally at talks I get asked what drew me to become a historian. It's a very good and somewhat obvious question, but it still catches me off guard. I've known I wanted to do this since high school, so it's difficult to think back
Denouncing Extremists
One of the media's favorite activities is demanding that Democratic politicians denounce individuals on their side who have made extreme statements. This is a pattern that stretches back to the 1992 presidential campaign, when Democratic presidential Bill Clinton denounced Sistah Souljah – a minor rapper who had made extremist