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Does America Need a President?
Why subordinates or the “deep state” can’t substitute for a vacuum at the top.
By Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat joined The New York Times as an Opinion columnist in April 2009. His column appears every Tuesday and Sunday. He is also a host on the weekly Opinion podcast, “Matter of Opinion.” Previously, he was a senior editor at The Atlantic and a blogger on its website.
He is the author of “The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery,” which was published in October 2021. His other books include "To Change the Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism,” published in 2018; “Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics” (2012); “Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class” (2005); “The Decadent Society” (2020); and, with Reihan Salam, “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream” (2008). He is the film critic for National Review.
He lives with his wife and four children in New Haven, Conn.
Why subordinates or the “deep state” can’t substitute for a vacuum at the top.
By Ross Douthat
Gretchen Whitmer, Kamala Harris, President Biden — who is best positioned to beat Donald Trump in November?
By Charles M. Blow, Ross Douthat, David French, Nicholas Kristof, Pamela Paul, Lydia Polgreen, Derek Arthur, Sophia Alvarez Boyd, Vishakha Darbha and Jillian Weinberger
A second Biden term would be unusually dangerous for the country in a very significant way.
By Ross Douthat
A late-Soviet debate night doesn’t mean we’re in late-Soviet America.
By Ross Douthat
Three Opinion writers weigh in on the first presidential debate of 2024.
By Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat and Ezra Klein
We take a look at J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, Elise Stefanik and more possible Republican running mates.
By Ross Douthat, David French, Michelle Goldberg and Bret Stephens
The candidates have no shortage of flaws.
By Ross Douthat
Can populist leaders actually fix the world’s unsolvable problems?
By Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen
In a long conversation, the first-term senator from Ohio talks about Trump, populism, the 2020 election, Ukraine and the Republican V.P. slot.
By Ross Douthat
How Latin Mass Catholics embody the spirit of Vatican II.
By Ross Douthat