The backlash against abortion restrictions has been bigger than expected. Abortions in the U.S. have gone up in the last year. Now, Republicans have a strongly antiabortion speaker.
Homicides went up in 2020 and 2021 and are now rapidly coming back down. Violent crime nationwide hasn't increased. But the perception of a crime wave still colors U.S. politics.
U.S. elected officials across the ideological spectrum have denounced Hamas' killings of Israeli civilians and its taking of hostages, reflecting a surge in public support for Israel. A long war could change that.
Sooner or later, someone will be elected speaker of the House. But as Kevin McCarthy discovered, that's just the ante. Winning the game means delivering results.