politics
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2026 Midterm Election Predictions From Caffeinated Politics, And Winning Election Night Cake Recipe For Watch Party
Welcome to the Super Bowl for political nerds. Every two years, starting in 1980, I have put my thoughts together about the November elections. Since the internet era began, I have posted my predictions online the Sunday before the balloting. My enthusiasm for Election Night never wavers. This year I am more excited than ever,… Continue reading
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34 Years Ago Today In Stevens Point, Wisconsin, President George Bush (41) Chugged Into Town
October 31, 1992, was a cold and blustery day across Wisconsin. Light snow flurries swirled through the air as many thousands stood for hours at the old train depot in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The presidential campaign was winding down that year, and even though President George Bush campaigned with David McCullough’s latest book, “Truman,” in his hand… Continue reading
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The Sands Of Ogaden And Iran’s 1979 Revolution
My current active reading pile includes Zbig by Ed Luce, a grand narrative and meticulously researched biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter’s National Security Advisor. On this chilly, gray day, I read the chapter titled “The Sands of Ogaden”. It takes its name from the conflict in the Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia and Somalia became caught… Continue reading
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Elections Are Not A Pause Button For UW Regents
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson’s call to halt the search for the next Universities of Wisconsin president until a new governor and Legislature take office is not merely misguided. It reflects a troubling notion that government should stop working whenever election winds blow. Thompson and former UW system administrator James Langdon asked the Regents to… Continue reading
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David Crowley “Hasn’t Threatened Our Democracy” And The Civics Test For Wisconsin Voters
The Wisconsin State Journal‘s endorsement of David Crowley for governor ended with this line. We’re recommending Crowley for governor because he’s run a much bigger ship, shows more independence and hasn’t threatened our democracy. That last phrase is most remarkable, because the Board even had to evaluate it and then write it. It makes us… Continue reading
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Balkans To Brazil: Lesson For American Voters In Midterm Elections
This weekend, the world reminded us that democracy, for all its vulnerabilities and threats, often from within, is beating strong. That reminder comes just when we need it most. Voters who had grown weary of strongmen, political intimidation, corruption, and leaders who mistake public office for personal entitlement took a strong stand in two places… Continue reading
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Oak Park’s Ballot Question Reflects a Nation Correctly Rethinking Israel
For decades, support for Israel in the United States was one of the closest things American politics had to a bipartisan consensus. Republicans and Democrats disagreed about taxes, spending, health care, and foreign policy, but support for Israel remained remarkably durable. One of the visible and justified consequences of the over-the-top military attack by Israel… Continue reading
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Pete Hegseth Staff Broke More Than Dwight Eisenhower Globe
Pete Hegseth’s staff damaged a priceless globe associated with Dwight D. Eisenhower after bypassing trained curators, trying to move it themselves, dropping it, and leaving a gash near Antarctica. The Army acknowledged the damage occurred during an attempted move, and reports indicate the Defense Secretary’s office had been seeking the globe. The broken globe is… Continue reading
