| The Virginia governor's race had us primed for a nailbiter late night/early morning — wait, how many absentee ballots are still outstanding? Columnists' fingers poised over the keyboards, editors' nerves taut even on Slack. Though the race was not formally called by most media outlets until the early hours Wednesday, the trend became clear early: It was basically over before the seventh-inning stretch in the other big contest Tuesday night. How did Glenn Youngkin do it and what does it mean? Gary Abernathy says it was a matter of tapping into the populist sentiment that helped make (and makes) Donald Trump so popular with tens of millions of Americans, and even accepting the former president's endorsement, but avoiding sharing a stage with him. GOP candidates in 2022 no doubt have been taking copious notes. "Not every Republican will be lucky enough to have an opponent say aloud that parents should stay out of decisions involving their children's education," Abernathy writes. "Instead, Republicans will have to rely on the rest of the Youngkin blueprint, which is particularly applicable in swing states: Embrace Trump's populism and many of his programs, while keeping the man himself in the background. Whether Trump's ego allows that to happen beyond Virginia is an entirely different question."  (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Embrace Trump's populism and many of his programs, while keeping the man himself in the background. By Gary Abernathy ● Read more » | | | | Glenn Youngkin's victory highlights the Democrats' key challenge for the midterms. By Karen Tumulty ● Read more » | | | | Democrats are running out of time to save democracy. By Dana Milbank ● Read more » | | | | It's not hard to identify the subtext in Glenn Youngkin's making an example of Toni Morrison's novel. By Christine Emba ● Read more » | | | Michelle Wu's victory in the mayor's race sets the stage for a test of the left's governing vision. By Perry Bacon Jr. ● Read more » | | | | A joint for breakfast instead of a chocolate on your pillow. By Kathleen Parker ● Read more » | | | | It's an example of the "skimpflation" that makes rising prices sting even more. By Helaine Olen ● Read more » | | | | It is a chronic, manageable condition humanity can live with. By Marc A. Thiessen ● Read more » | | | | They've tried cajoling him and flattering him and leaning on him to support the Build Back Better social and climate spending plan. By Charles Lane ● Read more » | | | | It looked like the issue would be a symbol of their failure. Instead, it's an important success. By Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent ● Read more » | | | If more congressional districts looked like mine, the country would be better for it. By David Von Drehle ● Read more » | | | | Mohammed bin Salman's legal feud with a former senior intelligence official takes a bad turn for him. By David Ignatius ● Read more » | | | | In keynote speeches at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, the 2024 hopefuls part ways in both tone and substance. By Henry Olsen ● Read more » | | | |
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