91-6: The Senate Advances AGOA Renewal With Almost No One Watching
The Senate voted 91-6 to advance the AGOA Extension Act, a rare near-unanimous vote crossing party lines while this week's Russia sanctions bill drew sharper splits.
Most of us are in the middle.
Almost none of the money is.
Political donations come overwhelmingly from the hardest partisans — so politicians answer to the edges, not to the majority. The Middle covers the news, the people, and the reforms that give moderate voters what they've been missing: representation.
Wall of Fame
Political bravery, on the record.
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith The senator who stood up to her own party firstSee the full wall →Wall of Shame
Extreme partisanship, on the record.
Sen. Joseph McCarthy The demagogue his own colleagues finally condemnedSee the full wall →Latest from The Middle
86-11: A Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Vote With Real Tradeoffs
The Senate overwhelmingly backed tougher pressure on Russia and Iran. The bipartisan result matters, but so do the costs and implementation choices Congress must still confront.
48-50: The One Senator Who Broke Ranks on a PFAS Reporting Rule
A Senate vote to overturn an EPA PFAS reporting rule split almost perfectly by party. Susan Collins was the only exception, and that tells you something.
84-12: The Senate Still Agrees, When Nobody's Watching
Senate votes on a modest tax bill cleared 84-12 and 86-12 this week, while Iran war-powers and nominee votes split almost exactly along party lines.
An 89-4 vote nobody is talking about
An 89-4 Senate cloture vote on AGOA trade extension drew dissent only from Paul, Sanders, Warren, and Kaine — a small case study in how the middle actually governs.
Why the middle gets outspent
Most Americans hold mixed, moderate views. Almost none of the money in politics comes from them — and candidates notice.
What we mean by "the middle" (it isn't mush)
Centrism has a reputation for splitting the difference. That's not what representing the majority means.
Alaska showed what happens when candidates need everyone's vote
After Alaska adopted its top-four open primary with ranked-choice general elections, candidates had a reason to campaign beyond their base.
Spotlight: the Problem Solvers Caucus
Problem Solvers Caucus — U.S. House of Representatives (bipartisan caucus)
Roughly sixty House members, split evenly between the parties, who agree to negotiate before they posture. It's harder than it sounds.