The Obsidian

The Politics Desk

Politics

Power, process, and the institutions reshaping public life.

Lead Story

Alex Murdaugh Wins a New Trial — and Reopens a Question About the Verdict

A South Carolina court has granted the disgraced attorney a new trial three years after his conviction for the murders of his wife and son. The decision turns less on guilt than on what jurors were allowed to hear — and from whom.

Politics

The National Mood Has Turned. Will the Maps Save Republicans?

Polling and special-election results point to a difficult midterm for the GOP. Mid-decade redistricting in four states could blunt the damage — but it cannot fully cancel it.

Politics

Four States, One Map, and the Voting Rights Act After the Court

Republican legislatures across the South are redrawing congressional districts after a Supreme Court decision narrowed minority-vote protections. The fights are local; the design is coordinated.

More from the Desk

A Billion Dollars for the Ballroom: The Senate Weighs the Bill

Senate Republicans are debating whether to back President Trump's $1 billion request for security around the new White House ballroom complex. Some in the conference are calling the figure unjustifiable.

Mamdani Claims a $12 Billion Deficit Is Closed. The Question Is for How Long.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani presented a $124.7 billion executive budget on Thursday, arguing that aggressive savings, targeted taxes on the wealthy and state cooperation have erased a projected shortfall without cutting services or raising property taxes. Critics say the arithmetic leans heavily on one-time revenue and deferred costs.

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