election-2016

Ben Carson's Campaign Is An ATM For His Advisors

Jordan Sargent · 02/01/16 02:36PM

It is not exactly a secret that one convenient feature of Ben Carson’s political campaign is the amount of money it’s willing to pay its advisors and fundraisers. A few weeks ago, Dean Parker, Carson’s top moneyman, walked the plank after a Politico article detailed frustrations within the campaign regarding the cash funneled to companies owned by Parker and his cohorts. Now the campaign’s new FEC filing details the extent to which senior staffers are plundering the doctor’s war chest.

Every Candidate’s Impossible First-Day Agendas, Ranked

Ashley Feinberg · 02/01/16 02:03PM

With the Iowa caucuses officially kicking off primary voting season, it won’t be long before a brand new butt is working a fresh groove into Obama’s old chair. In preparation, our various candidates are already hard at work making wild schedules for their first day on the job. And each one is more impossible than the last.

Wall Street's Political Influence Is Growing

Hamilton Nolan · 02/01/16 12:05PM

The latest numbers on presidential campaign donations for this election cycle show that even while all the candidates are vowing to take on Wall Street, the political power of Wall Street’s money is increasing.

Flyboy Donald Trump Is Getting Cocky With His Fancy Airplane

Brendan O'Connor · 01/31/16 09:44PM

On Saturday, Trump held another one of his airplane-hangar rallies, except this time he buzzed the tower, because the spectacle always needs to exceed itself. That music is the theme from Air Force One. Top Gun might have been more appropriate, but then again there’s no accounting for taste.

All the Dumb Questions You Asked Google About the GOP Debate, Answered

Ashley Feinberg · 01/29/16 02:38PM

Last night, we got a taste of our very first taste of a debate night duel. On one side, we had our typical, Fox News-facilitated pageantry of foot-stomping candidates vying for our love. On the other side, we got Trump. As for you—well, you had questions.

The Curse of Peggy Noonan Descends Upon Bernie Sanders

Hamilton Nolan · 01/29/16 09:30AM

Ronald Reagan action figure collector Peggy Noonan has, shall we say, a checkered record of political predictions. Today, she tars one Bernard Sanders with her dastardly Wand of Bad Luck.

No One Wants to Talk to Ted Cruz

Ashley Feinberg · 01/28/16 11:39PM

At the end of tonight’s Trump-less GOP debate, the candidates played the customary “wander around the stage and pretend you actually like each other” game. But apparently, even when they’re just pretending, the candidates still can’t bring themselves to stomach Ted Cruz.

The Mercifully Trump-less GOP Debate Liveblog

Ashley Feinberg · 01/28/16 11:02PM

Right now, Fox News is airing the last GOP debate before the Iowa caucuses on February 1. And for the first time in our roughly 78 GOP primary debates, Donald Trump is nowhere to be seen, meaning that tonight’s theme is tear apart Ted Cruz. And we’re liveblogging every last gory detail.

Join Us Tonight for the Fox News Debate vs. Donald Trump Exhausted Tantrum Battle Royale

Ashley Feinberg · 01/28/16 04:36PM

Tonight at 9 p.m. EST, every GOP candidate who is not a[n openly] narcissistic, insolent infant will be debating on the Fox News stage for the one thousandth time. Also at 9 p.m., Donald Trump will be offering counter programming in the form of his very own, hastily assembled “Fuck You Fox News” rally. Who will win? Trick question—tonight, we all lose.

Hero Throws Tomato at Donald Trump

Gabrielle Bluestone · 01/27/16 02:25PM

Last night’s Donald Trump rally was interrupted by a splattered tomato, a term which is, perhaps for the first time, not being used in reference to Trump’s appearance.