Which path will the Republican Party take? 📊 February 7, 2021

The party's infighting presents an interesting natural experiment over the strength of opinion leadership, especially after leaving office

Dear reader,

The last five years must have been all the while fascinating and burdensome for political scientists. The next few years might be quieter, yet for now, persistent infighting among Republican lawmakers is raising a ton of interesting questions about the role of ideology and the strength of opinion leadership in electoral accountability — even for presidents who have been impeached, and possibly convicted, of serious crimes.

It is also a busy time to be a journalist, hence this post is coming to you late in the evening on Sunday instead of the much-more-preferable early afternoon hours. This is partly due to me being busy, but also due to having to brainstorm some ideas on the fly. Which reminds me: you have anything you’re wondering about or want to share, feel free to pass it along. I get some of my best ideas from emailing y’all.

Next week is another cold and snowy one here in Washington. As always, I’m wishing you a safe and healthy week.

—Elliott