Speaker

Question 1

Policy or airtime?

Answer 1

These are people who care more about airtime than policy, Michelle says, and if you’ve watched any cable news this week, it’s easy to see that they’re winning. It’s also reasonable to assume that this is not a one-off event, but rather the beginning of the next stage of institutional breakdown. These incentives are not going away.

Question 2

Can parties govern?

Answer 2

“That the simple first act of a new House — the majority party choosing a speaker — is so fraught,” he writes, “exemplifies the difficulties that political parties” — and he means both parties — “now face in being able to manage themselves, let alone govern.”