Matt BaiMatt Bai, a Washington Post contributing columnist, is a journalist, author and screenwriter. He spent more than a decade at the New York Times, where he was chief political writer for the Sunday magazine and a columnist for the newspaper. https://www.washingtonpost.comThu, 12 Sep 2024 10:42:39 +00001hourly1‘This was plain and simple a rout’: 3 columnists discuss the Harris-Trump debatehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/11/harris-trump-presidential-debate-reaction/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/11/harris-trump-presidential-debate-reaction/Matt BaiWed, 11 Sep 2024 10:00:27 +0000The vice president had a strong night. But did she win over any voters?Debates are about choosing your audience. Harris should choose wisely.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiMon, 09 Sep 2024 23:31:20 +0000Harris’s job at the debate is actually quite simple.Debates are about choosing your audience. Harris should choose wisely.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/09/harris-trump-presidential-debate-strategy/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/09/harris-trump-presidential-debate-strategy/Matt BaiMon, 09 Sep 2024 23:13:08 +0000Harris’s job at the debate is actually quite simple.I understand Trump voters. Do I also have to empathize with them?https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiThu, 05 Sep 2024 21:11:49 +0000By now, they know who he is. In fact, it’s exactly what they love about him.I understand Trump voters. Do I also have to empathize with them?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/05/trump-voters-empathy-respect-demeaning-kristof/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/05/trump-voters-empathy-respect-demeaning-kristof/Matt BaiThu, 05 Sep 2024 20:34:07 +0000By now, they know who he is. In fact, it’s exactly what they love about him.The media gets nothing from Kamala Harris. That’s mostly on us.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiTue, 03 Sep 2024 16:49:57 +0000Conversations between candidates and reporters often fail to reveal anything. There’s a better way.The media gets nothing from Kamala Harris. That’s mostly on us.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/03/harris-media-interview-better-questions/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/03/harris-media-interview-better-questions/Matt BaiTue, 03 Sep 2024 16:33:33 +0000Conversations between candidates and reporters often fail to reveal anything. There’s a better way.Harris can put Trump away when they debate. Here’s how.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 28 Aug 2024 16:15:14 +0000The first debate led to a reshuffling of the Democratic ticket. This one matters just as much.Harris can put Trump away when they debate. Here’s how.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/28/harris-trump-debate-strategy-win/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/28/harris-trump-debate-strategy-win/Matt BaiWed, 28 Aug 2024 16:06:21 +0000The first debate led to a reshuffling of the Democratic ticket. This one matters just as much.Did Kamala Harris meet the moment?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/23/kamala-harris-dnc-speech-2024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/23/kamala-harris-dnc-speech-2024/Matt BaiFri, 23 Aug 2024 10:30:19 +0000The Democratic National Convention was all about joy. Will it be enough to win?Tim Walz and JD Vance are having the argument that mattershttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiThu, 22 Aug 2024 15:02:36 +0000In his convention speech, Tim Walz articulated a view of America sharply contrasting with JD Vance’s.Tim Walz and JD Vance are having the argument that mattershttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/22/tim-walz-democratic-convention-speech/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/22/tim-walz-democratic-convention-speech/Matt BaiThu, 22 Aug 2024 11:32:02 +0000In his convention speech, Tim Walz articulated a view of America sharply contrasting with JD Vance’s.Doug Emhoff has something he needs to tell youhttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiTue, 20 Aug 2024 23:12:04 +0000The precarious balancing act of the man who would be America’s first gentleman.Doug Emhoff has something he needs to tell youhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/20/doug-emhoff-role-harris-campaign-message/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/20/doug-emhoff-role-harris-campaign-message/Matt BaiTue, 20 Aug 2024 22:40:22 +0000The precarious balancing act of the man who would be America’s first gentleman.Democrats always come back to Chicago. Harris can lead them beyond it.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiMon, 19 Aug 2024 21:39:34 +0000Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were about 4 years old in 1968. Time to move on, boomers.Democrats always come back to Chicago. Harris can lead them beyond it.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/19/chicago-1968-democrats-harris-walz-boomers/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/19/chicago-1968-democrats-harris-walz-boomers/Matt BaiMon, 19 Aug 2024 21:21:10 +0000Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were about 4 years old in 1968. Time to move on, boomers.Donald Trump is making all of us sleepyhttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiFri, 16 Aug 2024 14:01:34 +0000The former president’s third campaign has turned out to be pretty boring.Donald Trump is making all of us sleepyhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/16/donald-trump-boring/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/16/donald-trump-boring/Matt BaiFri, 16 Aug 2024 10:30:00 +0000The former president’s third campaign has turned out to be pretty boring.Does Harris need a serious policy agenda? Only if she wants to win.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 14 Aug 2024 16:56:31 +0000Running without one is a really good strategy for Kamala Harris to come in second.Does Harris need a serious policy agenda? Only if she wants to win.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/14/matt-bai-kamala-harris-policy-agenda/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/14/matt-bai-kamala-harris-policy-agenda/Matt BaiWed, 14 Aug 2024 16:20:52 +0000Running without one is a really good strategy for Kamala Harris to come in second.The unbearable lightness of being Donald Trumphttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiMon, 12 Aug 2024 13:51:00 +0000The presidency didn’t age Trump the way it does everyone else. That tells you something about him.The unbearable lightness of being Donald Trumphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/12/trump-age-feel-weight-history-presidency/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/12/trump-age-feel-weight-history-presidency/Matt BaiMon, 12 Aug 2024 10:15:00 +0000The presidency didn’t age Trump the way it does everyone else. That tells you something about him.Is it weird to choose Tim Walz?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/07/impromptu-podcast-walz-harris-pick/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/07/impromptu-podcast-walz-harris-pick/Charles Lane, Molly Roberts, Matt BaiWed, 07 Aug 2024 16:41:50 +0000The choice unifies the party. But is peace with the left going to cost Harris the election?Another Minnesota liberal takes center stage. That’s a good thing.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 07 Aug 2024 14:44:28 +0000Tim Walz comes from a tradition of reform-minded Democrats who became the conscience of their party.Another Minnesota liberal takes center stage. That’s a good thing.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/07/tim-walz-minnesota-liberal/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/07/tim-walz-minnesota-liberal/Matt BaiWed, 07 Aug 2024 10:45:00 +0000Tim Walz comes from a tradition of reform-minded Democrats who became the conscience of their party.Harris is playing Trump’s gamehttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiThu, 01 Aug 2024 16:57:51 +0000Her response to Donald Trump’s bigotry was a missed opportunity to deliver her own message.Harris is playing Trump’s gamehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/01/kamala-harris-response-trump-racism-divisive-weird/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/01/kamala-harris-response-trump-racism-divisive-weird/Matt BaiThu, 01 Aug 2024 16:02:38 +0000Her response to Donald Trump’s bigotry was a missed opportunity to deliver her own message.Harris has an answer for the ‘DEI’ slur. But she has to give it.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiTue, 30 Jul 2024 18:08:17 +0000By telling her personal story, she can embody American opportunity, which voters still want to believe in.Harris has an answer for the ‘DEI’ slur. But she has to give it.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/kamala-harris-dei-answer-personal-story/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/kamala-harris-dei-answer-personal-story/Matt BaiTue, 30 Jul 2024 17:06:21 +0000By telling her personal story, she can embody American opportunity, which voters still want to believe in.Who should Kamala Harris choose as her vice president?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-vp-candidates-ranking/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-vp-candidates-ranking/Matt BaiThu, 25 Jul 2024 18:28:11 +0000What does she need in her running mate to govern well?Today’s Democrats love unity and hate arguing. Here’s why.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/23/1980-kennedy-carter-democrats-hate-disunity/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/23/1980-kennedy-carter-democrats-hate-disunity/Matt BaiTue, 23 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000Blame 1980. And the problem with the unity-is-everything argument is that it’s simply not true.Harris is next in line for the Oval Office — the nomination is another matter https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiMon, 22 Jul 2024 12:42:55 +0000Democrats should just take a minute before giving the vice president their party’s nod.What Kamala Harris is missinghttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/22/kamala-harris-succession-democrats-nomination/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/22/kamala-harris-succession-democrats-nomination/Matt BaiMon, 22 Jul 2024 10:30:00 +0000Democrats should just take a minute before giving the vice president their party’s nod.Did Donald Trump blow his RNC acceptance speech?https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiFri, 19 Jul 2024 12:44:50 +0000The former president had an amazing opportunity. He failed to grasp it.Did Donald Trump blow his RNC acceptance speech?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/19/trump-rnc-acceptance-speech-convention/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/19/trump-rnc-acceptance-speech-convention/Matt BaiFri, 19 Jul 2024 10:00:34 +0000The former president had an amazing opportunity. He failed to grasp it.Americans always need an existential threat. This time, it’s each other.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 17 Jul 2024 18:05:57 +0000The end of the Cold War left a gaping vacuum in our national psyche that we’ve never managed to fill.Americans always need an existential threat. This time, it’s each other.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/17/biden-trump-lower-temperature-generational-failure/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/17/biden-trump-lower-temperature-generational-failure/Matt BaiWed, 17 Jul 2024 16:40:30 +0000The end of the Cold War left a gaping vacuum in our national psyche that we’ve never managed to fill.Here’s how Biden should campaign for president nowhttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiTue, 09 Jul 2024 19:49:51 +0000This time, not as a bridge but an exit ramp — for the boomers.Here’s how Biden should campaign for president nowhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/09/biden-campaign-strategy-baby-boomers-exit/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/09/biden-campaign-strategy-baby-boomers-exit/Matt BaiTue, 09 Jul 2024 18:55:24 +0000This time, not as a bridge but an exit ramp — for the boomers.They know we can see Joe Biden, right?https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiTue, 02 Jul 2024 23:37:30 +0000Like Team Trump before them, Team Biden is telling us that the truth is whatever they say it is.They know we can see Joe Biden, right?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/02/biden-gaslighting-age-debate-response/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/02/biden-gaslighting-age-debate-response/Matt BaiTue, 02 Jul 2024 21:45:11 +0000Like Team Trump before them, Team Biden is telling us that the truth is whatever they say it is.Democrats fear a messy convention. Trump should fear their meltdown more.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiFri, 28 Jun 2024 20:49:14 +0000What could draw more people into politics than a must-watch nightly drama, with the fate of the nation at stake?Democrats fear a messy convention. Trump should fear their meltdown more.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/28/democrats-should-welcome-convention-floor-fight-chicago/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/28/democrats-should-welcome-convention-floor-fight-chicago/Matt BaiFri, 28 Jun 2024 20:23:31 +0000What could draw more people into politics than a must-watch nightly drama, with the fate of the nation at stake?J.D. Vance wasn’t just some hillbilly after allhttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiFri, 17 May 2024 15:21:19 +0000His journey from author to Trumpist senator is a fable for the GOP’s devolution into full-on farce.J.D. Vance wasn’t just some hillbilly after allhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/17/jd-vance-trump-veepstakes-conversion/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/17/jd-vance-trump-veepstakes-conversion/Matt BaiFri, 17 May 2024 11:45:00 +0000His journey from author to Trumpist senator is a fable for the GOP’s devolution into full-on farce.We built 7 EV chargers in 2 years. That’s actually not the problem.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiMon, 08 Apr 2024 15:55:14 +0000The charger program makes a ton of sense. The problem lies in the way the Democrats habitually mislead the public on the near-term impact of public investment.We built 7 EV chargers in 2 years. That’s actually not the problem.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/08/green-jobs-climate-transition-infrastructure-messaging/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/08/green-jobs-climate-transition-infrastructure-messaging/Matt BaiMon, 08 Apr 2024 10:30:00 +0000The charger program makes a ton of sense. The problem lies in the way the Democrats habitually mislead the public on the near-term impact of public investment.In 2016, Trump was lucky to win. In 2024, he’s desperate.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 06 Mar 2024 03:26:47 +0000Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign was a lark. In ’24, he’s running as a desperate man. For the star of politics’ greatest reality show, cancellation’s not an option.In 2016, Trump was lucky to win. In 2024, he’s desperate.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/05/trump-super-tuesday-victories-desperation-survival/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/05/trump-super-tuesday-victories-desperation-survival/Matt BaiWed, 06 Mar 2024 01:44:13 +0000Trump’s 2016 campaign was a lark. In 2024, he is running as a desperate man. For the star of politics’ greatest reality show, cancellation is not an option.Social media companies are not the same as public utilitieshttps://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiWed, 28 Feb 2024 21:39:18 +0000Have Facebook and X now become the modern equivalent of public utilities, or are they more like media companies? They need to decide.Social media companies are not the same as public utilitieshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/28/social-media-supreme-court-public-utility/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/28/social-media-supreme-court-public-utility/Matt BaiWed, 28 Feb 2024 20:49:10 +0000Have Facebook and X now become the modern equivalent of public utilities, or are they more like media companies? They need to decide.Biden or Haley? For some Democrats, it’s about who can stop Trump.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/21/biden-haley-who-can-stop-trump/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/21/biden-haley-who-can-stop-trump/Matt BaiSun, 21 Jan 2024 20:36:43 +0000It’s not hard to see why some Democrats would root for Nikki Haley to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — and why Biden would not.Biden or Haley? For some Democrats, it’s about who can stop Trump.https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.comMatt BaiSun, 21 Jan 2024 18:53:24 +0000It’s not hard to see why some Democrats would root for Nikki Haley to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — and why President Biden would not.The (sort of) redemption of Chris Christiehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/10/chris-christie-2024-campaign-redemption/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/10/chris-christie-2024-campaign-redemption/Matt BaiThu, 11 Jan 2024 02:04:43 +0000Lashing himself to Trump changed the story arc of Christie’s once promising career, and he was dead set on changing it back.Ron DeSantis is betting you won’t click on this campaign finance storyhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/18/desantis-super-pac-coordination/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/18/desantis-super-pac-coordination/Matt BaiMon, 18 Dec 2023 10:30:19 +0000Ron DeSantis might fade into irrelevance, but his campaign is leaving us with a question: Why should we care about the rules of campaign finance anymore?What does Gavin Newsom think he’s doing?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/29/gavin-newsom-2024-campaign-hannity-debate-desantis/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/29/gavin-newsom-2024-campaign-hannity-debate-desantis/Matt BaiWed, 29 Nov 2023 19:18:19 +0000Sean Hannity is set to host the most intriguing debate of this presidential season, a showdown between Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis and California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom.A plea to Republican voters: Make this debate matterhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/07/third-gop-debate-needs-viewers-importance/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/07/third-gop-debate-needs-viewers-importance/Matt BaiTue, 07 Nov 2023 10:45:43 +0000For one night, do your civic duty and at least entertain the possibility that you have a choice.Google Pixel’s ad campaign is destroying humanityhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/31/google-pixel-ad-campaign-smartphone-misinformation-reality/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/31/google-pixel-ad-campaign-smartphone-misinformation-reality/Matt BaiTue, 31 Oct 2023 09:45:29 +0000If you want to muddy the line between truth and invention in your Instagram feed, this is the phone for you.Trump’s rivals helped create him. They won’t win without admitting it.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/19/haley-christie-pence-desantis-helped-create-trump/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/19/haley-christie-pence-desantis-helped-create-trump/Matt BaiThu, 19 Oct 2023 10:45:06 +0000Taking some responsibility for the grotesque monster you created might be the only way the townspeople are ever going to trust you to dismantle it.Master and Commander: Biden’s dog troubles hint at a larger problemhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/03/commander-biden-dog-bites-secret-service/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/03/commander-biden-dog-bites-secret-service/Matt BaiTue, 03 Oct 2023 09:45:00 +0000Here’s why Biden and his aides shouldn’t dismiss the Commander fiasco as just another “dog bites man (and woman)” story.There’s a way for Biden to talk about the economy. This isn’t it.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/11/biden-economy-voters-reelection/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/11/biden-economy-voters-reelection/Matt BaiMon, 11 Sep 2023 10:30:30 +0000Biden’s best bet isn’t to keep insisting that the economy is better than you think it is. Trump won’t profess loyalty to his party. Neither will most Americans.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/17/gop-debate-loyalty-oath-trump-why/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/17/gop-debate-loyalty-oath-trump-why/Matt BaiThu, 17 Aug 2023 11:00:53 +0000Here’s why Trump won’t even pretend to sign a loyalty oath to the eventual Republican nominee — even though he and the rest of the world assume it will be him.Gerald Ford has a lesson for Joe Biden. And it’s not about pardons.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/07/gerald-ford-biography-richard-norton-smith-biden-trump-indictment/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/07/gerald-ford-biography-richard-norton-smith-biden-trump-indictment/Matt BaiMon, 07 Aug 2023 11:15:42 +0000Our current leaders really are worse than they used to be, and there really was a time when Washington was better and more ennobling. How No Labels is ruining the label of ‘independent’https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/20/no-labels-ruining-independent-meaning-centrist/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/20/no-labels-ruining-independent-meaning-centrist/Matt BaiThu, 20 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0000By espousing a bunch of mushy, meet-in-the-middle policies, No Labels advances a dated and uninspiring idea of what an independent political movement should be.Biden won on the debt ceiling. Why doesn’t he want it to look that way?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/01/biden-debt-ceiling-deal-victory/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/01/biden-debt-ceiling-deal-victory/Matt BaiThu, 01 Jun 2023 21:01:34 +0000That Biden isn't reveling in his triumph says a lot about how he intends to run for reelection.The quiet race to be the GOP’s biggest loser in 2024 beginshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/23/gop-nomination-president-moderate-sununu-hutchinson/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/23/gop-nomination-president-moderate-sununu-hutchinson/Matt BaiTue, 23 May 2023 10:45:38 +0000A pro-governing pragmatist probably can't win the GOP nomination. But celebrity, adoration and even financial opportunity can be won by trying.His name is Kennedy. His campaign is pure Trump.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/15/rfk-jr-2024-campaign-trump-celebrity-conspiracy/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/15/rfk-jr-2024-campaign-trump-celebrity-conspiracy/Matt BaiMon, 15 May 2023 11:15:14 +0000Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president with the same cynical mix of star power and misinformation that fueled Trump's rise in 2016.How Joe Biden should solve the Kamala Harris Conundrumhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/08/kamala-harris-joe-biden-succession-2024-campaign/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/08/kamala-harris-joe-biden-succession-2024-campaign/Matt BaiMon, 08 May 2023 11:45:35 +0000If voters believe they’re being asked to elect not just a president but possibly the next president after that, then there’s no getting around the issue.Ron DeSantis needs to ask himself this questionhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/27/desantis-2024-campaign-question-why-running/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/27/desantis-2024-campaign-question-why-running/Matt BaiThu, 27 Apr 2023 15:08:59 +0000It's this: Am I running to replace Trump as the leader of a party remade in his image or am I running to replace Trumpism with something else?My neighbor found Lincoln’s hair in his basement. I found a mystery.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/14/lincoln-marshall-family-legacy-mystery/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/14/lincoln-marshall-family-legacy-mystery/Matt BaiTue, 14 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000Last fall, my friend turned to me and asked a question so bizarre that I was sure I’d misheard him: “Hey, did I tell you I have John Marshall’s gallstones?”The Sierra Club doesn’t want to offend. It won’t persuade you, either.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/06/sierra-club-equity-language-guide-persuasion-science-lakoff/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/06/sierra-club-equity-language-guide-persuasion-science-lakoff/Matt BaiMon, 06 Mar 2023 17:56:22 +0000Language calibrated not to offend is pretty much guaranteed not to change anyone's mind about anything, either.Don’t fret over antisemitism in schools. We have restorative circles.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/16/antisemitism-walt-whitman-high-school-opaque-social-justice-jargon/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/16/antisemitism-walt-whitman-high-school-opaque-social-justice-jargon/Matt BaiThu, 16 Feb 2023 19:34:42 +0000If we’re going to take the language of intolerance seriously, and we should, we need to stop responding with a modern lexicon of incomprehensible blather.I should care more about Hunter Biden. Here’s why I don’t.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/10/hunter-biden-laptop-why-i-do-not-care/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/10/hunter-biden-laptop-why-i-do-not-care/Matt BaiFri, 10 Feb 2023 11:45:03 +0000The affair seems like a family tragedy — a lost son careening recklessly through public life, and the anguished father who couldn’t bear to stand in his way.Scott Rolen doesn’t seem like a Hall of Famer. Maybe that’s my fault.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/28/scott-rolen-baseball-hall-of-fame-greatness/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/28/scott-rolen-baseball-hall-of-fame-greatness/Matt BaiSat, 28 Jan 2023 11:00:31 +0000I never thought of Rolen as an all-time great. That says more about our shifting perspectives — in sports and in society generally — than it does about him.A not-too-deep look at Biden’s presidency so farhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/01/19/biden-presidency-book-chris-whipple/https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/01/19/biden-presidency-book-chris-whipple/Matt BaiThu, 19 Jan 2023 11:30:58 +0000Chris Whipple’s “The Fight of His Life” offers an inside account of the president’s term but doesn’t ask probing questions.McCarthy is the last of three little pigs. He’d best start packing.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/03/kevin-mccarthy-political-fable-boehner-cantor-ryan/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/03/kevin-mccarthy-political-fable-boehner-cantor-ryan/Matt BaiWed, 04 Jan 2023 00:02:22 +0000His house is swaying ominously with a wolf at the door. And even if he gets to keep the house a while longer, he’ll effectively be imprisoned inside.Why I finally gave away our air hockey tablehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/28/air-hockey-table-suburban-dream-ending/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/28/air-hockey-table-suburban-dream-ending/Matt BaiWed, 28 Dec 2022 22:02:24 +0000Back when basements had shag carpets instead of stadium seats, the air hockey table was an aspirational part of childhood — attained by few, coveted by all.Kanye West, Elon Musk and the problem with public shaminghttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/07/twitter-kanye-west-susan-hussey-public-shaming/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/07/twitter-kanye-west-susan-hussey-public-shaming/Matt BaiWed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:43 +0000Displays of basic idiocy dominate the headlines, because it makes the rest of us feel more virtuous. But these controversies are inflated beyond all proportion.If you ignore history, Biden looks like the only Democrat who can winhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/28/biden-2024-reckless-risky/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/28/biden-2024-reckless-risky/Matt BaiMon, 28 Nov 2022 12:00:56 +0000There’s plenty of recent history to suggest that renominating Biden for president in 2024 would be reckless, for both the Democratic Party and the country.Cancel election night!https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/08/cancel-election-night-democracy-news-media/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/08/cancel-election-night-democracy-news-media/Matt BaiTue, 08 Nov 2022 21:27:14 +0000If the news media really wanted to keep the country from spinning apart, we would squash the whole concept under our collective heel and start again.Messaging isn’t Democrats’ problem with the midterms. Reality is.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/07/democrats-midterms-message-does-not-matter-matt-bai/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/07/democrats-midterms-message-does-not-matter-matt-bai/Matt BaiMon, 07 Nov 2022 12:00:50 +0000If you think the Democrats are on the brink of disaster because they failed to find the killer message, then I have to tell you: That’s just total nonsense.I’m hooked on ‘Clash Royale.’ It’s a problem.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/17/clash-royale-video-games-addiction-matt-bai/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/17/clash-royale-video-games-addiction-matt-bai/Matt BaiMon, 17 Oct 2022 20:01:52 +0000The game has me wasting precious minutes a day, to no intellectual benefit.In the political metaverse, DeSantis and Biden do battle as avatarshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/16/dark-brandon-desantis-daily-avatar-politics/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/16/dark-brandon-desantis-daily-avatar-politics/Matt BaiSun, 16 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000Presidential contenders are now encouraging — or at least not discouraging — the creation of gamer-like personas that stand in for their actual selves.Judge holds the home run record. Bonds doesn’t. Reality is real.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/05/aaron-judge-barry-bonds-home-run-record/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/05/aaron-judge-barry-bonds-home-run-record/Matt BaiWed, 05 Oct 2022 18:28:45 +0000Our most pressing responsibility as a society now is to embrace reality over myths. Judge broke the record honestly. He is the rightful heir to Ruth and Maris.Who really owns your neighborhood school?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/29/bethesda-neighborhood-school-land-sits-unused/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/29/bethesda-neighborhood-school-land-sits-unused/Matt BaiMon, 29 Aug 2022 20:13:53 +0000An unused building sinking into disrepair points out a too-familiar story — a government body that has forgotten who it serves.El ataque a Salman Rushdie es una advertencia sobre hacia dónde nos dirigimoshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/es/post-opinion/2022/08/17/salman-rushdie-escritor-versos-satanicos-ataque/https://www.washingtonpost.com/es/post-opinion/2022/08/17/salman-rushdie-escritor-versos-satanicos-ataque/Matt BaiWed, 17 Aug 2022 10:00:46 +0000La única respuesta ganadora a la anarquía y la censura es una dedicación renovada a los ideales democráticos fundamentales, y no solo cuando reafirman tu visión del mundo. The attack on Salman Rushdie is a warning about where we’re headed https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/16/salman-rushdie-attack-harbinger-political-violence/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/16/salman-rushdie-attack-harbinger-political-violence/Matt BaiTue, 16 Aug 2022 11:00:16 +0000The only winning response to lawlessness and censorship is a rededication to bedrock democratic ideals — and not only when it reaffirms your worldview.Inside Trump’s chamber of secretshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/13/trump-mar-a-lago-classified-documents/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/13/trump-mar-a-lago-classified-documents/Matt BaiSat, 13 Aug 2022 17:30:25 +0000Trump never understood what it meant to be president. These Jan. 6 witnesses are doing the right thing now. They’re not heroes.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/22/pottinger-matthews-witness-jan-6-not-heroes/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/22/pottinger-matthews-witness-jan-6-not-heroes/Matt BaiFri, 22 Jul 2022 20:51:34 +0000We don't need to praise Sarah Matthews and Matthew Pottinger for their “bravery and honor.”John Hinckley paid for attacking democracy. Will Trump’s cronies? https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/23/john-hinckley-jan-6-insurrectionists/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/23/john-hinckley-jan-6-insurrectionists/Matt BaiThu, 23 Jun 2022 20:35:07 +0000Where’s the remorse for attacking democracy?Why losing the midterms isn’t the worst thing for Democratshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/06/democrats-losing-midterms-success-2024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/06/democrats-losing-midterms-success-2024/Matt BaiMon, 06 Jun 2022 11:00:57 +0000How losing the midterms sets the Democrats up for success in 2024.Elon Musk thinks Trump belongs on Twitter. Here’s why he’s right.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/17/elon-musk-twitter-donald-trump-youtube-lufthansa-social-media/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/17/elon-musk-twitter-donald-trump-youtube-lufthansa-social-media/Matt BaiTue, 17 May 2022 19:06:37 +0000Social media companies just aren't designed for policing speech.If Biden wipes out college debt, why work hard and play by the rules?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/05/biden-forgiving-student-debt-could-backfire-on-democrats/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/05/biden-forgiving-student-debt-could-backfire-on-democrats/Matt BaiThu, 05 May 2022 17:57:45 +0000The president would steer Democrats back to the days when they were branded as the party of the free lunch.Why Elizabeth Warren is stirring up an intra-party feudhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/25/elizabeth-warren-oped-democratic-priorities-reaches-beyond-midterms/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/25/elizabeth-warren-oped-democratic-priorities-reaches-beyond-midterms/Matt BaiMon, 25 Apr 2022 21:16:17 +0000She knows her proposals have no chance of becoming law this year and that the party’s trajectory isn’t likely to change.No, really: Sarah Palin belongs in the Househttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/07/sarah-palin-perfect-for-todays-house/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/07/sarah-palin-perfect-for-todays-house/Matt BaiThu, 07 Apr 2022 17:27:53 +0000The lower chamber is almost entirely performative — lots of shouting and tweeting and fundraising, but almost nothing in the way of lawmaking. A madman threatens to use nukes. It’s just not the madman we expected.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/01/matt-bai-putin-nukes/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/01/matt-bai-putin-nukes/Matt BaiFri, 01 Apr 2022 20:03:51 +0000The old guardrails against despots and madmen are slipping away.How Republicans can beat Trumphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/25/how-republicans-can-beat-trump-2024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/25/how-republicans-can-beat-trump-2024/Matt BaiFri, 25 Mar 2022 15:47:21 +0000Republicans can stop Trump from taking their party over the edge. Here's how.Our cause in Ukraine is inspiring. It probably won’t stay that way.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/13/biden-us-ukraine-lessons-cold-war/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/13/biden-us-ukraine-lessons-cold-war/Matt BaiSun, 13 Mar 2022 23:01:14 +0000The period of easy choices and simple story lines is coming to an end. We’re reaching the phase of the crisis where the interests of Ukraine and the United States are no longer perfectly aligned, and the balance will be hard to navigate.Putin thinks he can win a new Cold War. He may be right.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/25/why-winning-a-second-cold-war-with-russia-is-harder-than-you-think/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/25/why-winning-a-second-cold-war-with-russia-is-harder-than-you-think/Matt BaiFri, 25 Feb 2022 12:00:56 +0000Weapons alone didn’t win the first Cold War. And they won’t win the next one, either.I reject both parties’ ideas of Americanism. And I’m not the only one.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/15/both-parties-extreme-ideas-repel-center-matt-bai/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/15/both-parties-extreme-ideas-repel-center-matt-bai/Matt BaiTue, 15 Feb 2022 20:45:11 +0000I’m confronted with two extreme interpretations of what it means to be American, and I emphatically reject them both.