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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
September 10, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Biden’s Done His Part on Vaccines. Now (Gulp!) It’s Up to America.
His terrific speech Thursday constitutes his bet-the-presidency moment. Will enough Americans roll up their sleeves?
September 3, 2021
Walter Shapiro
In Texas, the GOP Has Just Overplayed Its Hand
Hideous as the Texas law is for women, it could be good for Democrats in 2022—anger is a much greater motivator than complacency.
August 23, 2021
Walter Shapiro
It Took a Week, But Biden Finally Got Afghanistan Right
The president finally retreated from his hyperdefensiveness and reached into his bag of empathy. And it was about time.
August 17, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Biden’s Reckoning on Afghanistan Has a Gaping Hole
The president gave a mostly honest accounting of the Afghanistan disaster, but he really skipped over the epic intel failure.
August 16, 2021
MagazineWalter Shapiro
Can Biden Defy History in 2022?
Conventional wisdom says the Democrats are finished after the midterms. But the conventional wisdom might be wrong.
August 12, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The Only Thing Worse Than Leaving Afghanistan? Staying.
It’s tragic to watch the Taliban on the march. But the one unalterable truth we’ve learned is that we can’t create a nation out of gestures and statements.
June 24, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Why Are Democrats Acting Like the Sky Is Falling?
The Biden administration has already accomplished a lot—and the party is in a better position than many on the left claim.
June 17, 2021
Walter Shapiro
In Joe Biden, Putin Has Finally Met a U.S. President Who Sees Him for Who He Is
The Russian leader has now met five U.S. presidents. The latest seems to have no illusions about his intentions.
June 9, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Are Democrats Done Fighting Big Money in Politics?
New York City has one of the most generous campaign finance programs in the country. So why are all the leading Democrats in the mayoral race relying on super PACs?
May 28, 2021
Walter Shapiro
How Did New York City Politics Become So Boring?
The mayoral race used to be a reliably entertaining fight between outsize personalities and master operators. Now it’s a snooze fest.
May 6, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The Washington Media Is Overblowing the Liz Cheney Story
The Republican coup against her is an irresistible story, but it’s hardly a national referendum on Trump.
April 29, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Joe Biden’s Bold Defense of American Democracy
In his first joint address to Congress, the president spoke out against the forces that threaten democratic values. That may be what defines his legacy.
April 26, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The U.S. Senate’s Oldest Office Building Honors a Racist
Richard Russell was a segregationist and a fervent opponent of civil rights. So why does his name still adorn the Russell Senate Office Building?
April 21, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Walter Mondale’s Visionary Liberalism Is Still Echoing Today
He pushed for universal daycare and battled the filibuster. And yet he spent most of his presidential campaign pretending to be more of a centrist than he actually was.
April 13, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The Case for the Talking Filibuster
Sure, it has its drawbacks, but forcing politicians to stand on the Senate floor for hours at a time, monologuing, might be the only way to pass desperately needed voting rights legislation.
April 7, 2021
MagazineWalter Shapiro
How Trump Wrecked the Conservative Money Machine
As corporate donations to the GOP decline, establishment Republicans are struggling to raise money, and extremists are raking in small donations. That just might give Democrats the edge in 2022.
March 12, 2021
Walter Shapiro
Joe Biden’s Confident, Unconventional Politics
The president has chosen time and again to ignore the obvious political moves. It’s paying off.
March 4, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The Cult of the Thuggish Democratic Politician
Obsessed with looking tough, the party has elevated bullies like Andrew Cuomo for years. Is that changing?
February 22, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The GOP Is Imploding in Spectacular Fashion
Republican blood feuds are jeopardizing the party’s hope of reclaiming Congress in 2022.
February 14, 2021
Walter Shapiro
The Botched Democratic Effort to Convict Donald Trump
Had Senate Democrats called witnesses during the impeachment trial, they could have won over some independent voters. Instead, they rushed to go on recess.

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