I think 3 things are true of Democrats: 1. The Democratic brand is in tatters. 2. Democrats are likely — as of today — to have a very good 2026 midterm election. 3. Truth #2 doesn’t negate or disprove Truth #1. Full piece is here: chriscillizza.substack.com/p/why-you-ab...

My son got his driver's license last week. It made me think a whole lot about parenting, risk and raising resilient kids. How do we decided what acceptable risk is? How do you ensure your kid’s safety while allowing him his freedom? chriscillizza.substack.com/p/four-words...

Donald Trump is setting a political trap for Democrats on crime in big cities. Will they fall into it?

There are 3 BIG questions about Trump's DC takeover: 1. Is there a real crime wave/emergency he is reacting to? 2. Can he legally do what he is doing? 3. Why is he doing it? Answered all 3 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVW...

"He doesn't understand leverage…The reason why he thinks he is such a great dealmaker is he welches on his deals all the time" -- Chuck Todd on Donald Trump

3 reasons why Donald Trump refuses to pick a successor www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbwO...

I am on a quest to re-put together a full collection of Almanacs of American Politics. (Many were lost during Covid/CNN days.) Here are the years I need: 1974, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024, 2026. Got one? Message me or email me at [email protected]

I answer questions from my newsletter subscribers every Friday. And every Friday I get a question about whether democracy is dying or dead. Here's my answer this week:

AMA! Taking any and all questions about politics (and everything else) at my YouTube channel at 1 pm eastern today! Come hang out! youtube.com/live/rl3LzQp...

Donald Trump wants you to believe that DC is a crime-ridden, hellhole. The actual data tells a very different story.

What states aren't considering re-opening their congressional lines before 2026? And is the era of redrawing lines once a decade now officially dead? Lee Drutman and I discuss it all at 4 pm eastern today! WATCH: open.substack.com/live-stream/...

Donald Trump may have just guaranteed a Zohran Mamdani win in New York City

Texas Democrats fled the state to try to keep the new GOP-friendly Congressional map from becoming law. It won't work.

We think of American politics as split in two: Republicans and Democrats. The reality is FAR more complex. I talked to GOP pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson about America’s 8 political tribes

🚨5-MINUTE WARNING🚨 I am chatting live on YouTube at 1 pm eastern today. Ask me anything! youtube.com/live/BLrGwfe...

The U.S. economy created 106,000 jobs in the last THREE months. That is really bad. Especially when you consider that tariffs were largely paused. If I am a Republican on the ballot in 2026, I am VERY worried today.

🚨 10-minute warning!🚨 At 3:30 pm eastern, I am talking to Kristen Soltis Anderson about her research into our 8 American political tribes. Fascinating stuff. Watch for FREE here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...

If I were a Democratic strategist trying to win in 2028, Kamala Harris' renewed high profile is NOT what I would want to see www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgl8...

Laura Loomer doesn't have an official role in the Trump administration. But she is VERY powerful nonetheless. She functions as a sort of personnel vigilante -- a loyalty gatekeeper, strictly enforcing total fealty to Trump. And most importantly? Trump listens to her.

I think Kamala Harris made a BIG mistake in deciding not to run for governor in 2026. Because I think that she thinks she is running for president in 2028. But here's the thing: Kamala Harris was not and is not a particularly gifted candidate. chriscillizza.substack.com/p/kamala-har...

The biggest political story NO ONE is talking about www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZOU...

It's easy to dunk on the Washington Post. But, the truth is that what's happening to WaPo either is or will happen to EVERY legacy media outlet over the next 5-10 years. This is my BIG think piece on the future of legacy media. You can read it here: chriscillizza.substack.com/p/the-washin...

Pete Hegseth is desperately looking for an off-ramp www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIXO...

On week 3 of the Epstein files controversy, I think 2 things are clear: 1. Trump will survive this — as he has survived so many other scandals/controversies/gaffes over the past decade. 2. This story has reached critical velocity chriscillizza.substack.com/p/the-epstei...

There are at least three different stories about why Donald Trump's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein ended. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TaJ...

JD Vance is the frontrunner for 2028. But his path to the GOP nomination isn't as easy as you might think

RESOLVED: Both parties sort of suck! And you are telling me (or anyone?!?!) that I have to line up behind one of these two no matter what? No way. That’s a recipe for more of the same from politics. And I think we can do WAY better. chriscillizza.substack.com/p/what-if-yo...

As of today, I think Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has the best chance of being the 2028 Dem nominee. I explain my thinking here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVbn...

In new Wall Street Journal polling, just 33% of the public view Democrats favorably. That's the lowest EVER in the 30+ year history of the poll. This should be a massive red alert for Dems.

I got to 100K subs on YouTube! www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BaC...

🚨10 MINUTE WARNING🚨 I am doing a livestream on my YouTube channel at 1 pm eastern. Ask. Me. Anything. youtube.com/live/4vRbV9y...

Every Friday I answer a whole bunch of questions from my readers. Here's my favorite one: "At this point in 'Epsteingate,' if the White House called and asked you for a plan to get the presidency back on track, what would your plan be?" My answer:

Democratic Congressional leaders are urging their members to make Jeffrey Epstein a major talking during the August recess. Is that a strategic mistake?

The North Carolina Senate race could see close to $1 billion in spending -- smashing all previous records www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPlU...

I had a conversation with @davidlitt.bsky.social yesterday that I think is really important for anyone looking for hope about how we get through this particular political moment. We covered surfing, bad faith, fear and common ground.

Boden, the high-end child's clothing brand? They have a TRAIN?!?!

If there was actual evidence that Donald Trump took part in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual exploitation of very young girls, I believe it would have come out when Joe Biden was president. So why is Trump acting so guilty?

When Jeffrey Epstein was initially arrested, Donald Trump was quick to note that he barely knew the guy. He's stuck by that position for years. I think that's a huge mistake. I explain why here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=suS3...

Republicans are getting out of DC with the quickness today -- in hopes of leaving the Epstein story behind. But the history of August recesses when there's a big issue in the country suggests they may not be able to run away from it.

After this weekend, you could have convinced me that the Epstein story was starting to fade. But, in the last 24 hours it has come roaring back. chriscillizza.substack.com/p/just-when-...

Hunter Biden is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts. And the whole "he was on Ambien" thing about his dad's debate performance is easily debunked by known facts.

Republicans are trying a NEW Epstein Strategy: Run out the clock www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7OZ...

We are in the middle of a political earthquake, says Chuck Todd. And the ground hasn't stopped shaking. Full convo is here: chriscillizza.substack.com/p/we-are-in-...

How much attention did you pay to the news this week? Take my quiz! sowhat.quizlab.ai/quiz/231/

Every single Democratic elected official and voter needs to print this chart out and tape it over their desks.

Got plans tonight? CANCEL THEM. I am guest hosting Leland Vittert's show tonight at 9 pm eastern on NewsNation!

🚨 5-MINUTE WARNING🚨 I am going LIVE on my YouTube channel at 1 pm eastern to answer any and all questions about the week in politics. Tune in here: youtube.com/live/dzo02mW...

Every Friday, I do a Mailbag post -- answering questions from subscribers. This was my fav question (and answer) from this week:

In our up-is-down political world, the Wall Street Journal story on Trump and Epstein is probably a good thing for the president as he tries to dig out of the hole of the last 11 days I explain here:

NPR gets 2% of its budget from federal grants. For PBS, it's 15%. Congress isn't getting rid of PBS or NPR. They are just creating more local news deserts. I explain here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIE9...