Dissecting George H.W. Bush's Unusual Electoral Record
The elder Bush won an election that was hard to win, and lost one that was hard to lose. How does this happen?
Bill Clinton
Explaining the Constitutional Crisis Dodge
Be wary of political parties' dismissal of impeachment as the invocation of a constitutional crisis.
Explaining Our Indifference to Presidential Character
When it comes to presidential scandals, is all press really good press?
Why National Borders Are Bad for Workers
As long as national borders are strictly enforced, workers at the bottom of the labor ladder will be pitted against one another.
Frederick Douglass' Most (Mis)quoted Words
Setting the record straight on the abolitionist's 200th birthday.
The Clinton Foundation's History of Controversy
The FBI's latest probe into the foundation may seem like a political witch hunt, but there are reasons to wonder what's going on with the organization.
A Brief History of Presidential Art
With the upcoming release of his crime thriller, former president Bill Clinton joins a long line of creative (and often amusingly mediocre) president-artists.
The Long Generational Shadow of the Clintons’ Crime Bill
How a 20-year-old piece of legislation highlights the changing face of African-American activists.
Who Cares for Feminism?
The rifts in feminism are not new; we've just been ignoring those working to understand them.
This Isn't the First Time: Hillary Clinton’s Top Five Clashes Over Secrecy
The latest flap over her private emails as secretary of state is far from the first time she’s been accused of lacking transparency.
Hillary Clinton's Email Scandal Looks a Lot Like the Whitewater Investigation of 20 Years Ago
Hillary Clinton’s defense of her use of personal emails while she was secretary of state triggers memories of the "pink press conference."
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: E. Glen Weyl, 28, Economics
For the month of April we're profiling the individuals who made our inaugural list of the 30 top thinkers under 30, the young men and women we predict will have a serious impact on the social, political, and economic issues we cover every day here at Pacific Standard.
Should a Drug Conviction Mean a Lifetime Ban on Food Stamps?
A new report from The Sentencing Project assesses the damage of a Clinton-era policy.
The Unintended Consequences of a Government Shutdown
What happens this week won't end this week. The reverberations of a shutdown will be felt for years to come.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Win the Last Government Shutdown?
It's mostly the younger members of Congress who are pushing for a shutdown of the federal government this week. Do they need a history lesson about what happened in the winter of 1995-96?
How Anthony Weiner Isn't Like Bill Clinton
On why the Democratic base was (eventually) able to forgive President Clinton for his infidelity, but probably won't give the New York City mayoral hopeful the same pass.
Why Are You So Smart, Stan Greenberg?
Noah Davis talks to the democratic pollster and political strategist about the over-reliance on numbers, understanding new places, and being really intelligent.
Congratulations, Obama. Here's Your Decay Curve.
Researchers analyze the productivity and popularity of new U.S. presidents.