Analysis

The often startling numbers behind Trump’s indictment in Georgia

The staggering number of alleged crimes and overt acts.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 15, 2023
Analysis

4 things revealed by Trump’s Georgia indictment

The "co-conspirators," including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Mark Meadows, do get indicted, while Donald Trump and Co.'s false statements catch up to them.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 15, 2023
Analysis

Finger-pointing begins inside Trump team over Jan. 6 indictment

Key figures are pointing fingers at Sidney Powell, while another alleged co-conspirator suggests his "advice of counsel" wasn't actually followed by Trump's campaign.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 14, 2023
Analysis

Trump ups the ante on going after judges and witnesses. Where’s the line?

A look at what that Trump has said, and what the law says.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 14, 2023
Analysis

Yes, Ohio’s vote was about abortion, but it was also about majority rule

The debate was largely about abortion. As for the vote itself, other factors probably played a role.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 11, 2023
Analysis

Joe Manchin’s journey toward a potential divorce from the Democrats

Dissecting Manchin's move from denying a possible party switch to leaning into it, and what it means.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 10, 2023
Analysis

Trump now adds ‘my opinion’ and ‘what I think’ to stolen-election claims

“In my opinion.” “I believe.” “That’s what I think.” “That’s my opinion.” “It’s a strong opinion.” “I think.”

By Aaron BlakeAugust 10, 2023
Analysis

As state antiabortion moves sputter, GOP base warms to federal bans

The portion of the GOP voters that prefers federal restrictions to state ones has doubled in the year since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 9, 2023
Analysis

4 takeaways from rejection of Issue 1 in the Ohio special election

Another big setback for antiabortion forces, in a long string of them.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 8, 2023
Analysis

The GOP’s belated — but growing — admission that Trump lost

Virtually all major 2024 candidates and party leaders have acknowledged in some form that Donald Trump lost, even as Trump himself doubles down on his claims.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 8, 2023
Analysis

A better analogy for the role of delusion in Trump’s Jan. 6 indictment

How to explain the importance of whether Trump actually believed his claims? Some popular analogies come up short.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 7, 2023
Analysis

Trump’s habitual line-stepping on witness tampering

Donald Trump's history makes it seemingly clear what he's trying to do with, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” Whether he'll ever be sanctioned is another matter.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 7, 2023
Analysis

What that new poll says about Trump and DeSantis in crucial Iowa

DeSantis holds a surprising edge over Trump on likability, but we might be grasping at straws here.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 4, 2023
Analysis

5 things Trump’s Jan. 6 indictment week tells us about the 2024 election

No presidential candidate can escape the specter of Jan. 6, and other things we learned.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 4, 2023
Analysis

GOP sides with Pence on Jan. 6 more than you might think

Around half of Republicans have sided with Pence over Trump on the question of Jan. 6. That doesn’t mean Pence’s newfound focus on the subject will work, but there is some real nuance here.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 3, 2023
Analysis

The problems with Trump’s ‘advice of counsel’ defense

Former Trump attorney general William P. Barr and Pence aide Marc Short say the former president wasn’t relying on his lawyers’ advice in his Jan. 6 efforts, and the indictment backs them up.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 3, 2023
Analysis

Why Trump’s third indictment is so unprecedented

'This seems like the closest thing you can charge to treason in peacetime'

By Amber PhillipsAugust 2, 2023
Analysis

A dumbed-down defense of Trump on Jan. 6 indictment

One key argument apparently will be that the former president couldn’t possibly have been savvy enough to know he was spouting nonsense.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 2, 2023
Analysis

4 things that stand out from the Trump Jan. 6 indictment

Jack Smith's case that Trump knew the "big lie" was a lie, the role of the co-conspirators and other takeaways.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 2, 2023
Analysis

Trump’s alleged obstruction sounds familiar. Remember Mueller?

Some of the allegations hark back to instances when Robert Mueller suggested Trump might have obstructed justice.

By Aaron BlakeAugust 1, 2023