The Odd Years

aflinn@cookpolitical.com

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Both parties' voters are freaked out by AI. So what is Congress going to do about it?

June 16, 2026

It’s rare for voters from different political leanings to share feelings on the major issues of the day. But when it comes to AI, it’s pretty clear that no matter the party, Americans have a lot of apprehension around this new technology. The worries range from job security to kids’ online safety to the environmental impact of massive data centers. This also presents a rare opportunity for policy makers in Washington to work together - across party lines - to come up with a solution. To gau...

"Redistricting giveth and redistricting taketh away." A conversation with elections expert Sean Trende.

May 12, 2026

When the Supreme Court released their decision to limit the scope and scale of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in late April, Amy knew she wanted to dig into the political and legal repercussions with someone who is well-versed in both of those areas. She immediately turned to Sean Trende, a senior analyst at RealClearPolitics and a lawyer who has deep expertise in redistricting law. In fact, back in 2022, Sean was one of two special masters assigned to draw Virginia’s congressional maps. ...

Does Congress Even Matter Anymore?

April 10, 2026

Americans have a pretty dismal view of Congress. Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate are seen as ineffective and a much diminished power under President Trump. Last year, for example, Congress passed a record low number of laws while President Trump issued the most executive orders in modern history. Paul Kane, a veteran Capitol Hill reporter and one of its smartest chroniclers recently wrote a column for the Washington Post in which he argued that “Congress needs a major course correctio...