Skip to content
RollCall logo

Obama’s Populist Pivot Yields to Pragmatism

By Don Wolfensbergergerwilsoncenter and Roll Call Contributing Writer
Posted February 23, 2010 at 1:00am

William Jennings Bryan-style
special Senate election
“The Paper Chase”
Elmer Gantry.
meaning of the Massachusetts debacle
Don Wolfensberger is director of the Congress Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and former staff director of the House Rules Committee. He writes a regular column for Roll Call.

Recent Stories

President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler at a campaign event in Rockland County. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump tests midterm coattails with visit to Lawler’s ‘Harris district’

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, talks with reporters after a Senate Budget Committee markup on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. President Donald Trump endorsed Cornyn’s opponent Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate primary.

Ad in Texas GOP Runoff Attacks Cornyn on Immigration, Islam

House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James R. Comer, R-Ky., is leading an inquiry into prediction markets.

Prediction markets put under spotlight by House Oversight panel

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats on March 18.

Tulsi Gabbard out as DNI but Trump doesn’t tee up a confirmation fight

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is seen in the Senate subway on Dec. 9. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Dems see ‘missed opportunity’ in Trump resisting Xi’s Hormuz help

Work continues on painting the National Mall's Reflecting Pool blue on Monday. The paint job is slated to be completed by the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4th. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Photos of the week | May 15-21, 2026