Kamala’s Choice: Complementary Chemistry
In less than 24 hours we’ll know who Kamala Harris has chosen as her running mate, the Veepstakes will be over, and I will disappear from the public eye for the next four years. The politics of Harris’ choice have been discussed endlessly (including by yours truly.) Long and short, it probably doesn’t make that […]
Down the Hall, the VP (not quite) Weekly #7: Harris, Vance, and the Unique Challenges of Veeping
There is a lot going on with VPs since DTH last posted. Harris is facing an unprecedented situation, as the party seeks to oust the president, while Trump has chosen his running mate (probably the least experienced politician picked in modern times.) So without further ado… What Vice President Harris is and isn’t Doing What […]
Trump’s Pick: Safe Bet, Burgum / Wild Card Haley (?)
We don’t have any special insight into who Trump will pick as VP. The truth is that academic research finds that the VP pick doesn’t matter that much in terms of the election. We are generally more interested in what VPs do, and Trump isn’t exactly looking for a governing partner. But, since we are […]
Analyzing Assassination Plots Against VPs
To any readers from law enforcement or intelligence: this is an analysis of historic assassination attempts on high U.S. officials. It is not an endorsement in any way shape or form. I absolutely DO NOT believe in taking human lives nor would I encourage anyone to do so. This is an academic exercise linked to […]
The Veeps of Tehran: Veepology goes Global
In a previous life I was a Middle East specialist and news of Iranian President Raisi’s death would have led to analysis of what this meant for power games in Tehran and the region. Now, it isn’t at the top of my concerns, except that it turns out that Iran has a vice president. Actually, […]
Down the Hall: The VP Weekly #6: Guns, Dogs, and Veeps
April 28, 2024 Given last week’s mega-issue, this week’s Down the Hall will be scaled back, at least a bit. VP Harris wins on Gun Control VP Harris is up to quite a lot these days. Most of it, to be honest, isn’t particularly interesting here at DTH, it’s important, but predictable. Harris is speaking […]
Veeps Present and Possible, Past and Irrelevant: Down the Hall Returns!
Down the Hall #5 About two years ago I started a newsletter on the vice presidency, focusing on the current occupant of the office, but with other notes about the vice presidency in general and the doings of past VPs. It was all an effort to begin building the field of Veepology (the study of […]
Diplomatic Gardening in Latin America: A Role for the VP?
After attending the International Political Science Association conference in Buenos Aires, I heard a lot about U.S. policy towards Latin America. Long and short, the region deserves more positive and sustained attention than the U.S. is inclined to give it. I wrote a short piece about this and why, unfortunately, it probably won’t happen. I […]
Down the Hall: The VP Weekly (?), Harris #4
June 21, 2022 Down the Hall: The VP Weekly (er… monthly?), June 21, 2022 With Alex Weinberg (UMCP ‘24) and Rohan Sharma, UMCP ‘23) So we are way, way behind on things and the news cycle is just passing us by. We never claimed to break news, but we are hoping to provide valuable context […]
Down the Hall: The VP Weekly, Harris #3
Down the Hall: The VP Weekly(?) #3 With Alex Weinberg (UMCP ‘24) We’re a little behind on the whole weekly thing (about 4 weeks). Holidays and travel ate what little free time we had. We’ll see if weekly is sustainable, or perhaps move to bi-weekly (that is publishing every fortnight.) In the meantime, there has […]