Nicole Lafond
Where Things Stand: That Raised Fist Pays Off 
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is learning that, in 2021, sowing distrust in basic functions of democracy can be good electoral politics.
Where Things Stand: Suppressing Democracy To Appease The Faithful
Brian Kemp is up for reelection in 2022. And the true leader of the Republican Party, former President Donald Trump, has made it pretty clear that Kemp has fallen far outside of his good graces.
Where Things Stand: Traditional Conservative Values Butt Heads With The New Culture Wars
Asa Hutchinson’s veto of an anti-trans bill in his state, which we covered yesterday, proved to be for naught — it was promptly overridden by his GOP colleagues in the state legislature.
But his defense of his veto saw him position himself at a crossroads for conservatism, between libertarian values and the increasing desire on the right to punish one’s perceived enemies.
Where Things Stand: GOP Governor Steps In To Stop Anti-Trans Bill
As Republicans fling one culture war after another at the wall to see what sticks in recent weeks, at least one GOP governor isn’t playing along.
Where Things Stand: The Happy Marriage Between The GOP And Corporations Hits A Rough Patch
While Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) statement decrying the “bullying” of Americans by corporations might mark a new low in the once-fruitful backscratching relationship between corporate American and the GOP, the tension between the two institutions has been building and moving us in this direction for some time.
Where Things Stand: Where Are Gaetz’s Friends Now?
Apparently, they were always few and far between. At least in Washington.
According to a new Daily Beast report, Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) colleagues on the Hill have been wary for some time that he might eventually become embroiled in scandal. Lawmakers told the Daily Beast that it’s widely known in Congress that the Florida Republican has an affinity for partying hard, and it was an open secret in 2018 that he was dating a college student who came to Washington, D.C. as an intern.
Where Things Stand: Gaetz Tries, Fails To Pick Up Deep State Baton In Trump’s Absence
Where Things Stand: Preparing For The Next Pandemic
The global community has taken significant steps in the last week to try to properly arm the world against the inevitability of another pandemic. In a letter published in newspapers around the world, 24 world leaders — including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron — made the case for some form of a global treaty for pandemics, arguing COVID-19 was “a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.”
Where Things Stand: The Sad Wedding Guest
It’s a Monday in the new Trump-free world and most days it’s best to keep it that way. But we thought this particularly sad weekend news was worth flagging.
Where Things Stand: Militias And Other Right-Wing Groups Get Particularly Worked Up About Red Flag Laws
After back-to-back mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder in the past week, gun reform advocates are once again hoping to see an expansion of red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate guns from individuals deemed to be particularly dangerous. They’re one of the few gun control measures that some members of the pro-gun lobby will get behind due to their case-by-case enforcement.