The Cross Section

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We Need to Talk About Charisma
The next Democratic presidential candidate better have it, because the last few haven't.
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Paul Waldman
23
The Chaos Strategy Is Working
"Flooding the zone" with you-know-what has never been more effective.
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Paul Waldman
6
Republican Courts Are Getting Ready to Party
Don't be fooled by a couple of setbacks for Trump. The GOP seized the courts, and it's time to use them.
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Paul Waldman
6
The Tech Oligarchs Have Found Their Man
Turns out the corrupt, buffoonish Trump is what they were looking for all along.
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Paul Waldman
8

December 2024

Trump and Musk Give MAGA Masses a Rude Awakening
Trump's supporters never understood the subtleties of the ethnonationalism they were being fed.
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Paul Waldman
14
The Cross Section At One Year
This newsletter is one year old. It's been something.
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Paul Waldman
6
Too Many Democrats Don't Understand Voters At All
An opposition party in the grip of fatal delusions.
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Paul Waldman
47
Trump's New Strategy to Terrorize the Media and Punish Dissent
I've been on the receiving end of a Trump lawsuit. Here's what I'm afraid of now.
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Paul Waldman
19
Everything Is Awful
What if shapeless disgruntlement is the most powerful force in our politics?
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Paul Waldman
18
Americans' Rage at Health Insurance Companies Is an Opportunity
Democrats should start preparing now for the next health care reform push.
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Paul Waldman
19
The World's Worst Negotiator Is Back
Trump hasn't even taken office yet, and he's already showing how terrible he is at making deals.
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Paul Waldman
20
The Vacuum Democrats Must Fill
What are the essential things Democrats believe?
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Paul Waldman
20
© 2025 Paul Waldman
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