THE WIDE WORLD OF NEWS WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE WEEK
As a great man once said (ok – he said it more than once….), “In politics, good gets better and bad gets worse.”
But the same gentleman also said, “Nothing in politics is as good or as bad as it seems.”
Both aphorisms, while true, can’t both be true.
So with that seeming paradox in mind, let’s play the Beltway’s favorite game – who’s up and who’s down!!???
JOE BIDEN, I
Closing the week with all that and a bag of CHIPS (and Science), with his hands-off/hands-on approach to Capitol Hill yielding legislative wins (and on the cusp of more) and press coverage suddenly touting his Midas touch – now, with no serious 2024 intraparty rivals making real moves, he’s free to host White House events for the Obamas (in September for a portrait ceremony) and a grandkid wedding in the fall, with renewed talk of midterm barnstorming. So long, Uncle Joe; hello Master of the Senate and of the Universe!
JOE BIDEN, II
What’s worse than presiding over a recession? Being in denial and inarticulate about presiding over a recession. And the job approval and 2024 poll numbers remain just historically hideous.
DONALD TRUMP
We are all Sarah Longwells now: Probes at DOJ and in the Peach State simultaneously escalate, with a parade of former senior aides going before the 1/6 committee and grand jury, and more missing text messages sure to keep a very different sort of Trump Train in locomotion for months to come, finally (!) threatening his poll standing with a restive MAGA crowd. Oh, and cuddling with the Saudis is not a good look.
NANCY PELOSI
Like Sinatra, she just keeps on winning – and doing it her way. Flaunting her trademark stylish iron fist, keeping her diverse caucus unified around her legislative goals and not being deterred from her Taiwan visit, when this Speaker speaks, people listen.
CHUCK SCHUMER
LBJ, Howard Baker, and Harry Reid all rolled into one, the Democrats’ Senate topper closes the week pocketing deals, giving Braveheart speeches to his fired up caucus, and watching the clown car that is the 2022 Republican Senate candidate field implode over a range of misfit misfires. They call him MAJORITY Leader for a reason. Keeping the gavel in 2023: Sweeter than a Junior’s strawberry cheesecake!
MITCH MCCONNELL
Call it “rolled” or “rinky-doo’d” – the Kentucky colonel looked snookered (even to his own conference) over CHIPS and dips, beaten at his own game and now fighting a multifront war against vets and Jon Stewart. Efforts to use the old standbys of tax increases, an IRS boogeyman, and stagflation are underway, but he faces a weakened hand and a Dominant Media that is recalling why they never liked him in the first place.
KYRSTEN SINEMA
Powerful patient policy/politics pondering. An enigmatic endgamer who will not be pushed or pulled before she is ready. Round and round she goes, and where she lands, nobody really knows. And she’s good with that.
JOE MANCHIN
Suddenly, gets the policy he wanted and accolades from Democrats, including House progressives and the press. Will skip the Lauriol Plaza brunch for a near-full Ginsberg sweep of Sunday show hits, keeping Big Joe Big Mo alive and well into next week.
BEYONCE
She’s got a great beat and you can dance to it. All hail the Queen Bey’s latest “Renaissance.”
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