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Ed Kilgore

Columnist, Intelligencer

Ed Kilgore is a longtime political observer who has been a columnist for Intelligencer since 2015.

  1. early and often
    Scenes on Capitol Hill after U.S. President-elect Trump called on U.S. lawmakers to reject a stopgap bill to keep the government funded in Washington, U.S.
    Government Shutdown Canceled As Democrats Support Pared-Down Spending BillBut there’s more trouble down the road.
  2. early and often
    What Democrats Should Demand to Help the GOP Escape a Shutdown CrisisDemocrats share Trump’s interest in getting rid of debt-limit politics. But they should drive a bargain as good as the discarded stopgap bill.
  3. early and often
    Mike Johnson’s Speakership Has Crashed and BurnedHe may hang on to his gavel for a bit as Republicans look for an alternative, but the stopgap spending fiasco and Trump’s new demands could doom him.
  4. early and often
    Trump’s Shutdown Threat Is a Loyalty Test for GOP LawmakersAfter blowing up a stopgap spending bill, Trump is now demanding that his supporters back a new spending bill and debt-limit increase they will hate.
  5. early and often
    Elon Musk Is Trying to Force a Government ShutdownMike Johnson carefully negotiated a bill to keep the government funded past December 20. It collapsed instantly when Musk attacked it.
  6. early and often
    Trump Claims Nonexistent Youth-Vote LandslideThe president-elect’s habit of wild exaggerations about his election performance is getting worse.
  7. early and often
    Johnson Grovels Before Musk to Save His Stopgap Spending BillConservative critics of the bill the speaker built to avoid a government shutdown have been joined by the edgelord leading DOGE.
  8. early and often
    Swing state Pennsylvania on the eve of the 2024 Presidential elections
    Backlash to Trump Agenda Could Begin in His Rural BaseTariffs, mass deportations, health-care cuts, and school vouchers could all undercut Trump’s support where he might least expect losses.
  9. early and often
    ERA Ratification Is Now Up to Trump’s Supreme CourtCongressional Democrats had asked Joe Biden to recognize the landmark women’s-rights measure as already ratified. But courts will have the final say.
  10. early and often
    Trump Sues Iowa Pollster Who Annoyed HimIn an alarming escalation of his litigious habits, he cast Ann Selzer’s polling miss as intentional “election interference.”
  11. early and often
    Kamala Harris Can Aim for Governor or President — But Not BothIf she wants to be governor of California, that prize is within her grasp. But it’s not an ideal way to set up another presidential run.
  12. early and often
    Democrats’ Five Strategies for Coping With Trump 2.0Elected Democrats are trying various tactics from cozying up to Trump to seeking deals to mitigate the damage.
  13. early and often
    How Fast Can Trump Enact His 2025 Agenda?Trump has an ambitious day-one agenda, and the GOP-controlled Congress seems ready to give him much of what he wants by the end of the year.
  14. early and often
    Democrats Will Look Weak If They Boycott Trump’s InaugurationThe peaceful transition of power he did not respect four years ago is precious. The opposition can wait until he actually takes office.
  15. early and often
    Many Voters Aren’t Stressing Over Trump’s Drastic Transition MovesPostelection polling shows a muted reaction to Trump’s wild Cabinet picks and policy proposals, even among people who voted against him.
  16. early and often
    Manchin and Sinema Fire Parting Shot at Democrats and UnionsThe two ex-Democrats gifted Donald Trump a majority on the NLRB that he’ll probably use to smite unions.
  17. early and often
    What the Numbers Tell Us About the Recent Immigration SurgeThere was an unprecedented increase in immigration during the Biden years, but no spike in crime or illegal voting.
  18. early and often
    Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Threat Shows His True TargetWhile he ran on expelling undocumented immigrants, he wants to challenge the idea of who’s really American.
  19. early and often
    Why Joni Ernst Is Caving on Hegseth ConfirmationAll it took was a few threats from MAGA-land and Ernst became more positive about the Pentagon nominee, despite the troubling allegations.
  20. early and often
    Does the Latino Shift to Trump Spell Doom for Democrats?Some GOP gains among Latinos are inevitable, but Trump could easily squander them with bad economic policies and ham-handed mass deportations.
  21. early and often
    Sen. Mitt Romney
    Mitt Romney’s Complicated Political Career Comes to an EndFor some a figure of rare integrity, for others a shape-shifter, Mitt Romney leaves the Senate as a symbol of the Republican Party of the past.
  22. 2024 election
    Trump Has Lost His Popular-Vote MajorityLet’s be clear about the limited nature of what he calls an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” from voters.
  23. early and often
    Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalism Is Fair Game for Confirmation HearingsIt’s not a religious test when religious convictions dictate government policies.
  24. early and often
    5 Takeaways From the 2024 Elections Now That They’re Finally OverIt was a solid if limited Republican win — but not necessarily any sort of realignment.
  25. early and often
    President Clinton Speaks At DLC Conference
    Democrats Don’t Need a New Centrist Pressure GroupA Democratic Leadership Council reboot is both unnecessary and counterproductive for today’s Democratic Party.
  26. early and often
    The Year Without a Christmas Shutdown BattleGovernment-shutdown drama has been a regular tradition. But this year, Republicans are happy to wait until they control Washington.
  27. early and often
    Progressives’ Plan for Handling Trump Is Too Clever to WorkSanders, Warren, and other progressives are looking to steal some of Trump’s populist street cred. Their plan will just deny Democrats a united front.
  28. early and often
    Trump Just Casually Suggested Bombing HamasThreatening the group with unprecedented firepower if they don’t release hostages immediately will damage his credibility. Does he really mean it?
  29. early and often
    Trump Campaign
    Huckabee As Envoy to Israel Spells End of Two-State SolutionTrump’s ambassador pick refuses to acknowledge the existence of Palestinians and thinks God gave the region to Jews 4,000 years ago.
  30. early and often
    Don’t Worry: MTG Will Supervise Elon Musk and Vivek RamaswamyTheir pretend DOGE agency will get some pretend oversight in Congress.
  31. early and often
    Is the Danger of Trump Using Recess Appointments to Stock His Cabinet Over?The withdrawal of Matt Gaetz for attorney general shows Trump might not go to the ultimate lengths to impose his will on Congress.
  32. life after roe
    "The ABC News Presidential Debate: Race for the White House"
    The Unlikely Reason RFK Jr. Could Be Rejected by the SenateHis past pro-choice views could be a bigger problem than what he believes about vaccines or food, but Kennedy may agree to kowtow to his new allies.
  33. early and often
    Ranked-Choice Voting Loses Everywhere Except AlaskaThe narrow vote to keep RCV in Alaska is great news for Lisa Murkowski but didn’t save Mary Peltola. Meanwhile, RCV lost in five other states.
  34. early and often
    How Poor People Will Pay for Trump’s AgendaTrump’s campaign promises, from tax cuts to mass deportation, all but guarantee another attack on Obamacare, Medicaid, and other low-income programs.
  35. early and often
    Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds rally in Richmond
    What If Trump Refuses to Withdraw Doomed Nominees?Typically presidents withdraw nominees who can’t be confirmed. Trump may prefer to force a public rejection by GOP senators to expose disloyalty.
  36. 2024 election
    What Happened to the Minor Party Presidential Candidacies?No Labels went away, Kennedy quit, and the Greens and Libertarians faded.
  37. early and often
    Trump Is Blowing Up Washington. Will Republicans Let Him?The new administration doesn’t seem to care about the GOP’s long-range future at all. Republicans must decide quickly whether to surrender or resist.
  38. early and often
    Trump’s Clown-Car Cabinet Is Headed for the New Republican Senate LeaderThe winner of Mitch McConnell’s old gig might want to demand a recount.
  39. early and often
    Trump Is in Danger of Blowing His Chance at a Political RealignmentHis win wasn’t as massive as he claimed, and his agenda and his temperament suggest the kind of overreach that could blow up his coalition.
  40. 2024 election
    Kamala Harris Came Much Closer to Winning Than You ThinkHer campaign had a positive impact in the battleground states.
  41. past is prologue
    Democrats Were Crushed in 2004, Too. It Didn’t Last Long.Losing to George W. Bush was a lot like losing to Donald Trump a second time, with predictions that the Republicans were the true majority party.
  42. early and often
    Tiny GOP Congressional Majorities Are Perilous for TrumpObamacare repeal foundered during the first Trump administration despite a GOP trifecta. Disunity could hamper his second term, too.
  43. early and often
    Can a MAGA Blitzkrieg Impose Rick Scott on Senate Republicans?Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and other MAGA warriors want Trump ally Scott as majority leader. It likely won’t happen, but it’s an early show of force.
  44. past is prologue
    Trump’s 2024 Win Isn’t a Repeat of 1980’s Reagan RevolutionThere are some superficial similarities, but there’s no reason to assume Trump is presiding over a dramatic electoral realignment.
  45. 2024 election
    Democrats Lost Because of Their Bad Policies, Not Their Bad AttitudeDemocratic policies on inflation and immigration didn’t work and were unpopular. That mattered more than candidate sympathy for Trump voters.
  46. life after roe
    The Pro-Choice Ballot Winning Streak EndsAfter seven straight pro-choice wins, three states rejected abortion rights, but seven others — including four in Trump country — approved them.
  47. early and often
    The Battle for the House Moves WestRepublicans are favored to nail down a trifecta, but Democrats could see a big swing in the West, where votes are still rolling in.
  48. poll position
    What the Harris vs. Trump Polls Got WrongThe polls weren’t off that much in capturing a near-uniform swing in very close states. But they underestimated the Trump vote once again.
  49. 2024 election
    Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump Holds Election Night Event In West Palm Beach
    Americans Wanted Change and That Meant TrumpHis unlikely comeback coincided with the election in which it could work.
  50. 2024 election
    Donald Trump points to supporters with former first lady Melania Trump during an election night event
    Trump Claims a Real Victory This TimeThere were no lies or conspiracy theories about the election and no mention of his vanquished enemies, even Kamala Harris.
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