How the Two Party System Makes America Less Stable
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Release Date: 04/04/2024
How the Two Party System Makes America Less Stable
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Conventional wisdom says that America's two-party system maintains stability by keeping more radical ideologies out of government. But is this the case? With voters entering an election season where the winning candidate could realistically pass away or be in jail by the time of their inauguration, Dan examines the data showing how America's two-party system has actually made it easier for radical ideology to enter the mainstream and one piece of legislation that could change it. For supporting documentation and write-ups of other episodes, check out Middleweight Politics on Substack here:...
info_outline
The Battle for Senate Majority: How Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Last week, Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek reelection in 2024. Democrats had long feared Sinema's presence in a three-way race for Arizona's Senate seat would tilt the election in favor of the presumed Republican candidate, Kari Lake. Are Democrats any better off without her? In this episode, we dive into the changing electoral landscape in Arizona and how the Democrats may have had a better chance of holding the state and their majority in the Senate by backing Sinema.
info_outline
Saving House Moderates from Extinction
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
After the Democratic pick-up of a House seat left vacant by Cameo star George Santos, the Republican majority has dwindled to razor-thin margins. This has left Speaker Johnson in a difficult position as he attempts to keep the government open past the March 1 funding deadline. In years past, moderate members of Congress could be relied upon to counter partisan hardliners and pass critical legislation, however this group has become an endangered species. In this episode, Dan explores the reasons fewer and fewer moderates sit in the House today, and what can be done to bring them back. A...
info_outline
Biden, the Arab American Vote, and Identity Politics in 2024
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
In January. leaders from Michigan's Arab American community declined to meet with Biden's campaign manager after feeling their concerns regarding US policy towards Gaza have gone unheard. This same community helped deliver the state for Biden in 2020, leading many on the Democratic side to worry this could cost him in the next election. Religious and ethnic identity has always played a large role in shaping American politics, but why? In this episode, we explore the structures that make identity so effective in US elections, their historical impact, and whether there's a better way to give...
info_outline
Can Congress Still Do Its Job? How Polarization Threatens Your Favorite Cause.
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Just yesterday, Senate negotiators released final language on a bill to fix the crisis at America's southern border and provide aid to Ukraine and Israel. This would be cause for celebration if House Speaker Mike Johnson hadn't announced the bill was dead on arrival. These three aren't the only crises Washington has been unable to act on - just the biggest - begging the question, is Congress still capable of doing its job? This episode reviews 50 years of Congressional data and finds a history of increasing polarization and decreasing productivity. A write-up of this episode and relevant...
info_outline
Trump's Republican Realignment: A Historical First
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Election results in Iowa and New Hampshire show the MAGA wing is the dominant force in the GOP, but hasn't yet won over all party members, with some taking measures to help Joe Biden win in 2024. In this episode, we explore the history of political realignments within both major parties and how Trump, yet again, is a historical first for America. Additional reading: Ranked choice poll of GOP candidates after 2nd Debate (FairVote and WPA Intelligence): https://fairvote.org/new-ranked-choice-poll-examines-the-republican-presidential-field-after-second-debate/ Did a Young Democratic Activist in...
info_outline
An Early Call in Iowa: How the Media Impacts Elections
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Last Monday at 7 PM Central Time, Iowa Republicans gathered at caucus sites across the state to cast the first ballots in the 2024 GOP Primary. At 7:32 PM Central Time, with under 1% of precincts reporting their results, the Associated Press declared Donald Trump the winner. This came as such a surprise that the AP issued a statement clarifying their decision 8 minutes after making the call. This prompted claims of voter suppression by the DeSantis campaign and criticism from voices on the left and right over calling an election where the majority of voters had yet to cast ballots. While most...
info_outline
Trump's Removal from the Ballot: How Both Parties Stack the Deck in Elections
Middleweight Politics: Political Analysis for the Independent Voter
Over the past few weeks, two states have removed Donald Trump from the ballot on the grounds his role in the January 6th attack on the Capitol disqualified him from holding office under the Constitution. While Trump's claims of a rigged election are as dubious as the case for removing him from the ballot, there are some ways the deck is stacked in favor of particular candidates. In this episode, we discuss how both he and Biden have rigged their party's primaries in their favor, and how both major parties routinely take action to suppress independent and minor party candidacies.
info_outlineConventional wisdom says that America's two-party system maintains stability by keeping more radical ideologies out of government. But is this the case?
With voters entering an election season where the winning candidate could realistically pass away or be in jail by the time of their inauguration, Dan examines the data showing how America's two-party system has actually made it easier for radical ideology to enter the mainstream and one piece of legislation that could change it.
For supporting documentation and write-ups of other episodes, check out Middleweight Politics on Substack here: https://middleweightpolitics.substack.com/publish