Julian Zelizer

Historian reflects on George McGovern’s enduring impact on presidential politics

Global Politics

George McGovern, in 1972, lost his bid to be elected president in a landslide. But four years earlier, he led a commission that totally changed how presidential party nominees are chosen. That system remains in place to day and is, perhaps, one of McGovern’s most enduring legacies. He died this weekend, at age 90.

Obama expected to foreshadow campaign in State of the Union address tonight

Global Politics

VIDEO: Republican Eric Cantor bristles when confronted with Reagan’s tax increase

Global Politics

McCain takes aim at Obama’s foreign policy weakness

Global Politics

The Identity of the Republican Party

Obama’s State of the Campaign Address

Tuesday night’s state of the union address will be a prime-time assessment of the nation’s policy, economy and infrastructure and a laundry list of Administration policy goals set for the future. It will also serve  as the opening salvo to President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. To look at the State of the Union as prime time […]

The World

Changes in advisors and White House staff

Global Politics

Soon, there will be several changes at the top levels of the Obama administration. What are we to make of this seemingly tumultuous time?

The World

Dems may use reconciliation to pass health care reform

Conflict & Justice

Without enough votes in the Senate to revote on a modified bill and pass health care reform, the Democrats may resort to using a budgetary law known as reconciliation. We discuss the history of reconciliation and why it is so controversial.

The World

Frustration nation: why Americans are angry and D.C. broken

Global Politics

A new CNN poll finds that 86 percent of Americans think that government is broken. This week, we kick off a series called ‘Frustration Nation,’ where we examine the gridlock in the capital and how politics has come to be so divisive in America.

The World

What history teaches us about the supermajority

Global Politics

The election of Republican Scott Brown as Massachusetts’ new junior senator on Tuesday night sent shock waves through Washington.But how did we come to expect a 59-vote majority as a bad thing? We look at the history of the supermajority.