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Walter Shapiro

Walter Shapiro is a staff writer at The New Republic and a lecturer in political science at Yale. He has been a columnist for USA Today and Esquire and has covered politics for Time, Newsweek, and The Washington Post. He has published two books, performed standup comedy in New York, and was a White House speechwriter for Jimmy Carter.

All Articles
January 6, 2020
MagazineWalter Shapiro
A Man in Full
Joe Biden wants to be a normal president in a highly abnormal age.
December 20, 2019
Walter Shapiro
The Democrats’ Vaudeville Act
Thursday's debate featured few gotcha moments and many familiar shticks.
December 19, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Tom Perez’s Preposterous Debate Rules
How the don't-blame-me Democratic chair mucked up the debates
December 16, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Does Amy Klobuchar Have a Path to the Nomination?
The Minnesota senator is pitching herself as a more electable, funnier alternative to the other moderates in the race.
December 11, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Does It Really Matter That Buttigieg Worked for McKinsey?
All presidential candidates have controversial entries on their résumés.
November 22, 2019
MagazineWalter Shapiro
The Media’s Irrational Obsession With Campaign War Chests
By constantly tallying candidates' fundraising hauls, journalists perpetuate a misleading narrative about how elections are won.
October 16, 2019
Walter Shapiro
The Moderates Fight Back
Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg came out swinging during the fourth Democratic debate. Is it enough to dent Warren's momentum?
October 15, 2019
Walter Shapiro
The Democrats Don’t Have a Frontrunner
With less than four months before the Iowa caucuses, none of the leading contenders have been able to overcome the obstacles in their paths.
October 4, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Pete Buttigieg’s Undeniable Allure
The mayor of South Bend knows how to enchant an audience. Is it enough to overcome his age and inexperience?
September 13, 2019
Walter Shapiro
What the Press Gets Wrong About Primary Debates
They aren't meant to gin up scathing attacks and YouTube moments. They're supposed to give voters a chance to get comfortable with the candidates.
September 9, 2019
Walter Shapiro
The Also-Rans Hoping for a New Hampshire Miracle
Do Klobuchar, Booker, and Bennet have a shot in hell at the nomination?
August 15, 2019
MagazineWalter Shapiro
Arguing the World
Can Elizabeth Warren run for president and bring ideas back into our politics, all at the same time?
August 1, 2019
Walter Shapiro
The Democratic Party Is Culling the Field Too Soon
Candidates should be focusing on retail politicking in Iowa and New Hampshire. Instead, they're wasting money trying to meet arbitrary debate requirements.
July 9, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Lindsey Graham’s “Achilles’ Heel”
Jaime Harrison wants to turn South Carolina's senate race into a referendum on Graham's character. Will it work?
June 28, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Joe Biden: Bruised Over Busing, But Still Standing
Kamala Harris landed a skilled body blow on the former vice president Thursday night, but it wasn't enough to take him out for good.
June 27, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Miami Moonglow for Booker and Klobuchar
With a few breakout moments and a deft soundbite or two, the two senators stepped out of Elizabeth Warren's shadow.
June 24, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Waist-Deep in the ‘Big Muddle’
Days before the first Democratic debates, the candidates struggle to stand out in a melee of South Carolina fish fries and forums.
June 21, 2019
MagazineWalter Shapiro
The Polling Industry Is in Crisis
Everyone knows the numbers are as unreliable as ever, and yet the political press still hypes every little rise and fall.
June 11, 2019
Walter Shapiro
On the Oratory Trail in Iowa
How candidates in the crowded 2020 Democratic field are honing the fine art of turning a phrase
June 9, 2019
Walter Shapiro
Beto’s Bet on Iowa
The candidate who graced the cover of "Vanity Fair" settles in for a long tour of retail politicking.

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