Wendy Schiller: Republicans head to border, Democrats promote aid; both seek to appeal to voters ahead of 2022 midterms

The new administration understands that restoring America's influence abroad requires an end to the coddling of Russia, and that end has begun.

Bonnie Honig writes about race for The Constitutionalist

Wendy Schiller: You typically see higher retirements when there is some sort of party shift.

Pressure builds as Democrats see Republican filibusters as main obstacle to next big priorities.

Rich Arenberg: The House has reviewed many contested elections -- over 100 of them since 1933

Robert Blair with Philip Roessler: Evidence on Chinese and US Aid to Africa from Surveys, Survey Experiments, and Behavioral Games

Margaret Weir: The new Democratic stance is “a long cry from the days of ‘big government is over.'"

Mark Blyth: The idea that Covid-19 changes everything is nonsense that has become fashionable.

How does violence during civil war shape citizens' demand for state-provided security, especially in settings where non-state actors compete with the state for citizens' loyalties? This article draws on Hobbesian theory to argue that in post-conflict countries, citizens who were more severely victimized by wartime violence should substitute away from localized authorities and towards centralized ones, especially the state.

“We can read two pages a minute,” Mary Anne Clarkson, senior assistant legislative clerk, told TPM matter-of-factly. “It won’t take 10 hours.”

This article cites Peter Andreas' book, Killer High: A History of War in Six Drugs.

Jeffrey Robbins writes about Carl Levin for Creators.com

Wendy Schiller: “The Gina Raimondo narrative is a powerful narrative. It’s a narrative of a homegrown Rhode Island working-class woman."

Richard Arenberg: “Republicans in the Congress seem set on opposing the plan with or without the minimum wage increase."

Wendy Schiller: “GOP senators who vote to acquit may be protecting themselves against primary challenges from the more extreme wing of their party in 2022, or even 2024."

Jeffrey Robbins writes for Creators.com

A democracy which speaks with one voice, which elevates citizen duties over citizen rights, which privileges obedience over freedom, which uses fear to instil ideological uniformity, which weakens checks on executive power, is a contradiction in terms.

As familiar a figure as Biden has been for the past half-century, it has been easy to sell him short, to somehow overlook the qualities that equip him so well to steer the country through an existential crisis that is medical, economic and civic all at the same time.

Arenberg called it “remarkable” that the office has managed to maintain its nonpartisan posture while the rest of Congress has become steadily more polarized.

Ashutosh Varshney weighs in during this NDTV segment.

Wendy Schiller: "It is not acceptable to have no leadership at the top in a time of crisis."

Eric Patashnik stressed that Democrats’ main concern should be making “good public policy” rather than legislating only with short-term electoral consequences in mind.

James Morone: “Will he get pushback from Progressives? Not much. That's because Biden has stuck to his guns on a $1.9 trillion bailout despite calls for pairing it down from the likes of Larry Summers."

The book African American Political Thought: A Collected History, Edited by Melvin L. Rogers and Jack Turner is published by University of Chicago Press.

Wendy Schiller: "If a corporation were to offer him a speaking appearance, the social media backlash would be swift and severe, with possible boycotts of their products."

Opinion by Mark Blyth: Recurrent, direct payments should be a permanent part of the U.S. recession-fighting arsenal.

Jeffrey Robbins writes about voter suppression for Creators.com

Richard Arenberg: "In theory, the former president could be convicted without any Republican votes—as few as 34 [votes in favor]."

Wendy Schiller: "Jen Psaki has become must-see TV. I think many people are glued to these press conferences."

Richard Arenberg: "The filibuster is fundamental to the protection of the minority’s right to debate and offer amendments. It fosters negotiation, moderation and compromise."

Party switching among legislative candidates has important implications for accountability and representation in democratizing countries. We argue that party switching is influenced by campaign costs tied to the clientelistic politics that persist in many such countries.

Guest post from Jeff Colgan

Jeffrey Robins writes about the Republican Party for Creators.com

Jeff Colgan in the Financial Times

Rose McDermott: "The specific issue, whether it's taxes or welfare, can change over time and from country to country. But the underlying issues remain: How do we decide who gets what within our community; how do we decide who's allowed into our community; how do we decide who we're going to fight against?"

Isaac Herzog says that the Agency is focused on three major challenges.

Eric Patashnik: Let’s look closely at what words [McConnell] used to blame the former president for provoking the Capitol attack

James Morone writes about Trump for the History News Network

Robbins writes about the Trump impeachment for Creators.com

Jeffrey Robbins writes about Trump supporters for Creators.com

Corey Brettschneider: "Ginsburg’s view of liberty does not involve being race- or gender- blind, but taking active steps to ensure ... stereotypes and outright discrimination do not prevent marginalized groups from full participation in society.”

Ashutosh Varshney writes: When the history of this period is written, America’s courts might be singled out as the institution that protected the nation’s election integrity.

Georgia Senate victories, which surprised some business groups, could ease way for Biden cabinet picks, lead to increased oversight of financial, oil industries.

Rose McDermott: The 25th Amendment question is especially tricky, since a majority of White House Cabinet members need to sign off, in addition to the vice president. With staffers resigning, that makes that option harder.

James Morone: Why we can't ignore the underlying problems driving the post-election battle

Wendy Schiller: "In terms of what we need out of a governor taking over mid-term, McKee has the portfolio and experience, at least economically, to get us through this very difficult crisis."

Corey Brettschneider: Congress has the power and precedent to do so. Otherwise what happened on Wednesday may be a dress rehearsal for future attacks on rule of law.

Who were the protesters that broke into buildings on Capitol Hill after attending a rally in support of Donald Trump?

Wendy Schiller is a guest speaker on today's show.