B. Jay Cooper

McCarthy grew as Speaker by raising the debt limit and surviving the right-wing backlash. He showed he can lead rather than follow.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis passed a right-wing agenda, including a six-week abortion ban, extended death penalty, and restrictions on LGBTQ+ education. While appealing to Republican primary voters, will it be enough to beat Donald Trump?

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing challenges including falling poll numbers and opposition to key items in his agenda by a majority of Americans. He is also not taking on Donald Trump directly, allowing the former president’s campaign to define him to primary voters.

Action on guns and abortion rights will be major U.S. election issues. The actions of politicians like DeSantis in Florida for authoritarian control could help in Republican primaries but sink them in general elections.

I have what I’ll call “mixed emotions” about the Manhattan indictment against former President Donald Trump, B. Jay Cooper writes.

Dirty little non-secrets: Trump on the stump and other political madness.

B. Jay Cooper, a veteran political consultant who served in the Reagan and Bush I administrations, weighs in on some of the reactions to President Biden’s State of the Union.