John Nichols

National Affairs Correspondent

@NicholsUprising

John Nichols is a national affairs correspondent for The Nation. He has written, cowritten, or edited over a dozen books on topics ranging from histories of American socialism and the Democratic Party to analyses of US and global media systems. His latest, cowritten with Senator Bernie Sanders, is the New York Times bestseller It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.

Democratic candidate for governor Representative Mikie Sherrill attends a Latinos for Mikie event at the Rancho Mateo restaurant.

New Jersey’s November Election Will Be a Referendum on Trump’s Autocracy New Jersey’s November Election Will Be a Referendum on Trump’s Autocracy

Voters nominated a Republican who is “all-in for MAGA” and a Democrat who pledges to “stand up to Trump and Musk with all I’ve got.” Buckle up.

Jun 11, 2025 / John Nichols

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher in an Off-Year Election

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher in an Off-Year Election The Stakes Have Never Been Higher in an Off-Year Election

Forget the midterms. The fight to bring Trumpism down runs through 2025’s elections.

Jun 9, 2025 / Feature / John Nichols

From left, New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer; Newark Mayor Ras Baraka; Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop; moderator NJ Spotlight News anchor Briana Vannozzi; moderator WNYC Morning Edition host Michael Hill; New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill; and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney attend the New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial primary debate Monday, May 12, 2025, in Newark, N.J.

Will New Jersey and Virginia Send Trump a Message? Will New Jersey and Virginia Send Trump a Message?

On this episode of The Nation Podcast, John Nichols talks about 2025's unusually important off-year elections.

Jun 9, 2025 / Podcast / D.D. Guttenplan and John Nichols

Zohran Mamdani arrives at the NBC studios to participate in a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York.

Zohran Mamdani Is Surging at Just the Right Time Zohran Mamdani Is Surging at Just the Right Time

By running a campaign in the La Guardia tradition, the insurgent New York mayoral candidate is closing the gap with Andrew Cuomo—and winning support from AOC.

Jun 6, 2025 / John Nichols

Harvey Milk Loved Something That Scares Pete Hegseth: Democracy

Harvey Milk Loved Something That Scares Pete Hegseth: Democracy Harvey Milk Loved Something That Scares Pete Hegseth: Democracy

The defense secretary’s scheme to rename a Navy ship honoring the LGBTQ+ rights activist is an insult to what’s most hopeful about the American experiment.

Jun 5, 2025 / John Nichols

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Joni Ernst’s Cruelty and Sarcasm Might Cost Her Her Job Joni Ernst’s Cruelty and Sarcasm Might Cost Her Her Job

Iowa’s Republican senator says gutting Medicaid is no worry because “we all are going to die.” Voters seem to disagree.

Jun 3, 2025 / John Nichols

Charlie Rangel in Harlem in 1970.

How Charlie Rangel Defied His Party to Save New York From the Reactionary Right How Charlie Rangel Defied His Party to Save New York From the Reactionary Right

The late congressman’s upending of New York politics by choosing progressivism over partisanship offers a lesson for today.

May 29, 2025 / John Nichols

Larry Krasner after winning the Democratic primary for Philadelphia District Attorney on May 20, 2025.

They F’ed Around With Philly DA Larry Krasner... and Found Out They F’ed Around With Philly DA Larry Krasner... and Found Out

Philadelphia’s progressive DA stood up to Trump, and to compromising Democrats. He just won his reelection primary by a 2–1 margin.

May 23, 2025 / John Nichols

Ken Martin, then the chair of the Minnesota DFL party and now the chair of the DNC, introduces Amy Klobuchar to an election watch party in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 5, 2024.

Democrats Are Overperforming in 2025 Thanks to Trump and a Fresh Focus on Grassroots Organizing Democrats Are Overperforming in 2025 Thanks to Trump and a Fresh Focus on Grassroots Organizing

More than 16,000 volunteers are already in the field, creating what DNC chair Ken Martin describes as an unprecedented organizing infrastructure for a non-presidential year.

May 20, 2025 / John Nichols

Bruce Springsteen/Donald Trump

Springsteen Gets America in Ways Trump Never Will Springsteen Gets America in Ways Trump Never Will

And that reality has caused the president of the United States to lose it.

May 19, 2025 / John Nichols

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