The hottest Political strategy Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

GOP Primary Candidate Venn Diagram #2: Jon Huntsman Jr.

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Jon Huntsman Jr. is one of the candidates in the GOP primary race. He is noted for his unique positions compared to other candidates.
  2. The Venn diagram shows the overlapping views and differences among GOP primary candidates. It helps to visualize where they stand on various issues.
  3. Other candidates have their own Venn diagrams which highlight their specific traits and policies. This provides a broader understanding of the primary race.

Hardball and HARDBALL

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. The Senate operates largely on norms, but these norms are being pushed aside for strict adherence to rules, which can lead to short-term wins but long-term consequences.
  2. As individual Senators aim for their goals, they often avoid playing absolute hardball since it could harm their future ambitions and cooperation with others.
  3. Changing Senate rules can only happen through extreme measures, and while hardball tactics are causing concern, they might also lead to solutions by forcing necessary changes.

Filibusters and Cloture

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Filibusters are tricky to measure because not all of them get recorded, and political decisions can change how many cloture votes are taken. This makes it hard to see the true level of obstruction in the Senate.
  2. Using the number of failed cloture votes as proof of filibusters isn't foolproof. Sometimes, votes fail not because of obstruction but due to party preferences.
  3. The number of filibusters isn't the only important thing; the overall size of the legislative agenda matters too. More legislation can mean more chances for filibusters, even if the percentage of filibustered items goes down.

Talking about the filibuster

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. The term 'filibuster' can be confusing and it's important to use it correctly when discussing Senate events. Just because a vote fails doesn't mean the filibuster didn't happen.
  2. Using clear language like 'defeated by a motion to end debate' can provide better understanding than just saying 'filibustered.' It tells readers exactly what occurred.
  3. The concept of a filibuster is more about strategy and tactics than just blocking a vote. Various actions can lead to preventing a majority vote, and it's good to see it as a process, not just one event.

Friday Congress Blogging: Unanimous Consent

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. The Senate uses unanimous consent to limit debate on bills. This way, all Senators agree to give up their right to unlimited discussion to make things run smoothly.
  2. Unanimous consent works when no Senator objects to a proposal. If they do object, everything can slow down or come to a halt.
  3. Senators might agree to limit debate even if they oppose a bill because it gives them leverage for future negotiations or other bills they care about.
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Whigging out

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 30 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Congress has the power to shape its own support systems, like the Congressional Budget Office, but if they weaken these tools, they risk giving more power to the President.
  2. It’s tough for Congress to challenge the President directly because the President has a unified message and strong public support, making it hard for Congress to counter effectively.
  3. Congress can either centralize power to act more decisively or expand its capacity to gather information, but these approaches often conflict and can create internal tensions within the legislature.

The Other Caucuses

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Political parties in Congress have their own rules, which are separate from the House of Representatives' official rules. These party rules help organize how members work together and make decisions.
  2. Caucuses, which are groups of party members in Congress, have a key role in choosing committee chairs and leadership. They consider factors like seniority, merit, and proposal from a committee before nominations are made.
  3. Caucus rules can also affect how much power party leadership has, and they can create a better or worse position for leaders depending on how the rules are structured.

By the Numbers: Constitutional Amending in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 18 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Since 1978, no new amendments to the Constitution have been successfully passed by Congress for states to ratify. Only one amendment, the 27th, was ratified many years later.
  2. For an amendment to pass in Congress, a two-thirds majority vote is needed. This means at least 289 votes in the House, depending on the number of members present.
  3. A total of 59 proposed amendments have been introduced in the House in the current Congress, highlighting ongoing discussions about potential changes to the Constitution.

Shoe Leather

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Local elections often rely on door-to-door campaigning because there are usually no polls to guide candidates. This means candidates must use their personal connections and intuition to gauge their chances.
  2. Campaigning for local office requires different skills than running for higher offices. Candidates need to be comfortable talking to people face-to-face rather than just asking for money.
  3. When candidates knock on doors, people should feel free to ask them questions. It can reveal the candidate's honesty and help voters decide if they want to support them.

A House Divided

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Lincoln faced a divided nation and had to adjust his views, ultimately moving towards abolishing slavery when public sentiment shifted. Obama is in a tough spot because he doesn't have a clear, unilateral action like the Emancipation Proclamation to tackle today's issues.
  2. The call for Obama to adopt more aggressive leftist policies, like higher taxes on the wealthy, might not actually resolve underlying economic problems. It's important to recognize that such actions alone won't fix the economy or reduce unemployment significantly.
  3. Moving to the left could risk alienating moderate voters and lead to more gridlock in government. Lincoln was a savvy politician who adapted to his situation, and it's unclear if moving left is the best strategy for Obama as he approaches upcoming elections.

On non-debatable motions

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. The Senate can create new precedents through motions and appeals, changing how rules are applied. This means they can clarify what is considered a dilatory motion after cloture.
  2. When cloture is invoked, it doesn't stop everything; it sets up specific rules for how the Senate continues. This includes limits on debate and what types of amendments can be introduced.
  3. In the Senate, certain motions can't be debated once cloture is in effect. This allows for quicker decisions and can affect how the minority party engages in debate.

Flux Capacitor

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Chris Christie dropped out of the race, likely because he saw no viable path to winning. This opens the door for other potential candidates to make a comeback.
  2. Polls can show fluctuating support for candidates, as they often reflect changing media attention more than actual voter conviction. This could mean candidates like Herman Cain gain initial popularity but might not last.
  3. The Republican Party likely prefers safe candidates with known qualities like Mitt Romney to avoid risking their chances in the election. New or inexperienced candidates may not be seen as viable options in this context.

Aftermath of the CR failure

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. A government shutdown is now more likely following the failure to pass the funding bill. The disagreements within both parties mean it's harder to find common ground.
  2. House leadership has to decide quickly on their next steps. They can either push a more conservative bill or try to appeal to centrist Democrats, each with its own risks.
  3. The Senate's response to the situation is uncertain. If they reject bills that require spending cuts, it might escalate the conflict, especially with strong opposition from House Democrats.

Five Things I Expect to See in Tonight's GOP Debate

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Perry is expected to have a better plan for discussing Social Security than in the past. He has been preparing to counter attacks from other candidates.
  2. Bachmann is likely to launch a strong attack against Perry to boost her own standing in the debate. She risks being pushed out of the race if she does not perform well.
  3. Romney will probably take a more indirect approach to criticize Perry, aiming to unify GOP support against him while maintaining his own position in the race.

On Package Deals

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jul 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Logrolling is a strategy where different policies are bundled together so that people can vote for something they like even if it means accepting other policies they don't. This is often how large bills get passed.
  2. Sometimes, putting too many different policies into one big bill can backfire. If groups strongly oppose certain parts, they all might just vote against the entire bill instead.
  3. Breaking a big bill into smaller, separate pieces can help solve the problem. By doing this, legislators can get the support of those who can agree to individual parts without forcing everyone to compromise on what they strongly believe.

Fugitive Filibusters

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Minority parties in some state legislatures can leave the chamber to stop a vote by denying a quorum. This happened recently in Wisconsin when Senate Democrats were absent to block a controversial vote.
  2. The U.S. House and Senate don’t allow this tactic because they have majority-quorum rules, which means a minority can't stop a vote if the majority shows up.
  3. Super-majority quorums in states may only benefit the minority by allowing them to block actions, raising questions about whether they are necessary or effective.

On the idea that both parties might prefer not to control the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Some believe Democrats might benefit from losing the House, as it could set them up for a stronger comeback in the next election. This is because a small GOP majority may struggle to pass significant legislation.
  2. The argument for both parties not wanting control suggests they might think the next two years will be tough no matter who holds power. If that’s the case, they might prefer to wait for a better opportunity.
  3. Having control of the House gives significant advantages, like more influence in decision-making and accessing resources. Even less powerful party members can gain from being in the majority, which makes the idea of not wanting control less appealing for them.

Five Points Episode 3 - Nominations Politics

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Sep 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. If there are 50 votes for a Supreme Court justice, they will almost always be confirmed and can't be easily stopped by Democrats.
  2. Electorally vulnerable senators are likely to stick with their party line when it comes to confirmations, ensuring those 50 votes will be there.
  3. Political parties aim for more than just winning seats; they have broader goals that guide their strategies.

On federalism, pot, and this November

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. If California legalizes marijuana, it could change the marijuana market in the whole country. Prices would likely drop and the state could make over a billion dollars in taxes.
  2. The federal government might struggle to enforce its marijuana laws if states keep changing theirs. This could cause conflicts, especially as more states consider legalization.
  3. Politicians in California might support legalization if the people vote for it. If it passes big, they could push back against federal laws and become advocates for marijuana rights.

Breaking Barriers: Kamala Harris Steps into the Spotlight

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Kamala Harris is now the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination after Joe Biden decided not to run for re-election. This gives her a strong chance to represent the party in the upcoming election.
  2. Harris has been a strong advocate for abortion rights and climate change, which are key issues for many voters. Her focus on these topics could resonate well with the public during her campaign.
  3. Despite facing challenges due to her race and gender, Harris has the potential to rally support, especially from younger voters and the Black community. Her recent poll surge shows she could be a strong opponent against Donald Trump.

L'Étrange défaite: Réalité et réalisme

Trying to Understand the World • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🌍 World Politics Political strategy
  1. Many Western leaders struggle to understand the situation in Ukraine, often ignoring the harsh realities on the ground. This disconnect leads to ineffective decision-making and a lack of realistic strategies.
  2. Current political leaders lack the necessary skills to manage complex crises, as they often focus more on internal politics than on effective crisis management. Their inability to formulate clear strategies makes it difficult to navigate conflicts like the one in Ukraine.
  3. The Western approach often relies on assumptions and unrealistic hopes, believing that military support will lead to quick victories. This mindset prevents them from grasping the complexities of warfare and the real objectives behind military actions.

Trump Could Defeat Himself

Erik Examines • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Trump and his allies might be overreaching by breaking laws too quickly, which could help Democrats in the long run. People might be more willing to support legal actions against them if they see clear lawbreaking.
  2. The current situation resembles a crisis where leaders are hesitant to act decisively. This fear of conflict can lead to a greater crisis later, as ignoring problems doesn't make them go away.
  3. Understanding the motivations and fears of influential figures like Trump and Elon Musk is crucial. Their psychological state could greatly influence the political landscape and the actions that follow.

MAHA In Middle School

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 0 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. Political movements need to grow up and adapt. Relying on personal drama and immature tactics can derail important agendas.
  2. Listening and respecting constituents, especially women, is key. Strong female voices are essential to foster a successful movement.
  3. A clear and effective communication strategy is vital. A solid press office can help maintain relationships and convey progress consistently.

The Democrat Iceberg

The Oasis • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy
  1. There are suspicions that Obama and Hillary had a plan for power that was disrupted by Trump's election. This plan involved creating a reliable voting base for Democrats.
  2. The narrative around the 'Russia Hoax' aimed to undermine Trump's presidency and maintain Democratic control over political narratives.
  3. Some believe the actions taken during Biden's presidency, especially regarding immigration, are part of a broader strategy to influence demographics and maintain power for the Democrats.