Author Archive
Russell Berman
Russell Berman is a senior associate editor at The Atlantic, where he covers political news. He was previously a congressional reporter for The Hill and a Washington correspondent for The New York Sun.
Finance
The Revolution Will Be Improvised
President Joe Biden’s hastily announced framework for his “Build Back Better” plan doesn’t mean the deal is done.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Infrastructure
Biden Won Over Mitch McConnell. Now He Needs AOC.
The president won’t be able to celebrate the Senate’s bipartisan passage of an infrastructure bill until Democrats deliver the rest of his economic agenda this fall.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
America’s Bluest State Loves Its Republican Governor
Vermont has weathered the pandemic better than any other state, making Phil Scott a surprising star in Bernie Sanders's backyard.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
The Forgotten Governor’s Race
The pandemic has silenced the campaign to lead North Carolina, a major presidential swing state.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
How New York Explains the Other 49 States
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s lockdown has divided the Empire State.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
The City That Has Flattened the Coronavirus Curve
Mayor London Breed’s early and aggressive moves to contain the outbreak have made San Francisco a national model in fighting the pandemic.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
Wisconsin’s Warning for the November Election
How are people expected to vote if they’re not supposed to even leave their homes?
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Dream Comes True in Kansas
A Democratic governor coaxed a Republican legislative leader into backing Medicaid expansion after years of opposition. Could this be a model for Washington?
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
The Deferred Dream of an Equal Rights Amendment
Newly empowered Democrats are likely to make Virginia the final state needed to ratify the long-dormant ERA.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
Democrats in New York Are Ready to Deploy Their Newfound Power
With its largest governing majority in decades, the party has a plan for an ambitious progressive agenda—if the governor and lawmakers can avoid the infighting that’s stymied them before.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
Maine Voters Overrule Their Leaders
With support from Governor Paul LePage, the legislature nullified a statewide referendum approving ranked-choice voting. On Tuesday, the citizens got the final word and enacted it again.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Digital Government
Maine's Fitful Experiment With a New Way of Voting
The state will be the first to implement ranked-choice voting in its June primaries, but not all the candidates will commit to accepting the results.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Finance
'God Made Republicans to Cut Taxes'
On a 227-203 party-line vote, the House on Tuesday passed a far-reaching, $1.5 trillion revision of the tax code, cutting rates for corporations, small businesses and individuals.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Finance
The Republican Tax Bill Might Need an Escape Hatch to Pass
Ahead of a key vote this week, senators from states where tax cuts busted the budget want the plan to include a “backstop” in case the party’s rosy revenue predictions don’t come true.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
The Red-State Revolt Spreads to Oklahoma
Republican voters soured on tax cuts in Kansas. Now a similar budget crisis is playing out in Oklahoma, and in a string of special-election wins, Democrats are taking advantage.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Finance
A Major Step Forward for the Republican Tax Bill
The House on Thursday approved its legislation in a surprisingly drama-free vote. But hurdles await in the Senate.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Management
A Victory Lap for Obamacare at the Ballot Box
With Medicaid expansion in Maine and Democratic wins in Virginia, voters affirm a bigger role for government in health care.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Finance
The Essential Questions the GOP Tax Bill Will Finally Answer
After months of secret talks, Republicans are just about ready to provide the critical details of their long-awaited proposal for tax reform.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Infrastructure
The Republican Who Left Congress to Drain an Actual Swamp
Former Representative Candice Miller gave up a senior post in the House to manage the drains and sewers of Macomb County, Michigan. She has no regrets.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Finance
Kansas Republicans to Congress: 'You Better Learn Our Lesson'
Lawmakers from the Sunflower State say they are worried that Congress and the Trump administration will repeat the mistake they made in enacting budget-busting tax cuts.
- By Russell Berman, The Atlantic