Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement In the final days of his presidential campaign, President Trump’s unorthodox behavior has been on full display — from to threatening to fire the FBI director. As down-ballot Republican candidates and strategists tear their hair out over a president who resolutely refuses to take advice, Trump’s behavior triggers a fundamental question for the rest of us: If he loses, what can he do in the three months between election day and Inauguration Day?The answer is — not much. Thank you, Founding Fathers, who after experiencing monarchy under...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement In the final days of his presidential campaign, President Trump’s unorthodox behavior has been on full display — from to threatening to fire the FBI director. As down-ballot Republican candidates and strategists tear their hair out over a president who resolutely refuses to take advice, Trump’s behavior triggers a fundamental question for the rest of us: If he loses, what can he do in the three months between election day and Inauguration Day?The answer is — not much. Thank you, Founding Fathers, who after experiencing monarchy under...WW…

When former Vice President Joe Biden steps on the stage for his first debate with President Trump, some of us will harken back forty years to another presidential debate and the lessons it taught.On October 28, 1980, President Jimmy Carter met for the one and only debate with his challenger, former California Governor Ronald Reagan. Like Donald Trump, Carter was a first-term president whose path to re-election was challenging, to say the least. Carter’s average approval rating (over the length of his term) a paltry 45.5%, the lowest of all the postwar presidents with the sole exception...…When former Vice President Joe Biden steps on the stage for his first debate with President Trump, some of us will harken back forty years to another presidential debate and the lessons it taught.On October 28, 1980, President Jimmy Carter met for the one and only debate with his challenger, former California Governor Ronald Reagan. Like Donald Trump, Carter was a first-term president whose path to re-election was challenging, to say the least. Carter’s average approval rating (over the length of his term) a paltry 45.5%, the lowest of all the postwar presidents with the sole exception...WW…

Editor's Note:Parts of this blog post are excerpted from , an e-book now available from Brookings Press.We are in the middle of weeks of speculation over who Joe Biden will choose as his running mate. In the 21st century this is a different process. It used to be that vice presidents were chosen primarily to “balance” the ticket. But beginning in 1992 and continuing into the 21st century the past four presidents have abandoned the balancing model for what I call the “partnership” model. They have chosen running mates for their ability to help them be partners in the ever more complex...…Editor's Note:Parts of this blog post are excerpted from , an e-book now available from Brookings Press.We are in the middle of weeks of speculation over who Joe Biden will choose as his running mate. In the 21st century this is a different process. It used to be that vice presidents were chosen primarily to “balance” the ticket. But beginning in 1992 and continuing into the 21st century the past four presidents have abandoned the balancing model for what I call the “partnership” model. They have chosen running mates for their ability to help them be partners in the ever more complex...WW…

As news began to leak out that the White House was thinking about winding down the coronavirus task force, it was greeted with some consternation. After all, we are still in the midst of a pandemic—we need the president’s leadership, don’t we? And then, in an abrupt turnaround, President Trump reversed himself and stated that the task force would go on indefinitely.So should the task force continue? Well, no.Frankly, it’s better that this president and this White House get out of the way and let the government do its work. White House task forces are never a substitute for government...…As news began to leak out that the White House was thinking about winding down the coronavirus task force, it was greeted with some consternation. After all, we are still in the midst of a pandemic—we need the president’s leadership, don’t we? And then, in an abrupt turnaround, President Trump reversed himself and stated that the task force would go on indefinitely.So should the task force continue? Well, no.Frankly, it’s better that this president and this White House get out of the way and let the government do its work. White House task forces are never a substitute for government...WW…

As more and more states move to mail-in ballots as the safest way to vote during a pandemic, Trump has mobilized the Republican Party to fight them and the Republican National Committee last week. He has made two accusations about mail-in ballots; the first is that they favor Democrats and the second is that they make it easier to cheat. Neither one is supported by the facts. There is towards one party or another from mail-in ballots. Nor is there any evidence that there is widespread fraud in the use of mail-in ballots.This is not the first time that President Trump has been obsessed with...…As more and more states move to mail-in ballots as the safest way to vote during a pandemic, Trump has mobilized the Republican Party to fight them and the Republican National Committee last week. He has made two accusations about mail-in ballots; the first is that they favor Democrats and the second is that they make it easier to cheat. Neither one is supported by the facts. There is towards one party or another from mail-in ballots. Nor is there any evidence that there is widespread fraud in the use of mail-in ballots.This is not the first time that President Trump has been obsessed with...WW…