Chris Brennan is a national columnist for USA Today, writing about people, power and politics. He previously worked as a reporter, political editor and columnist at The Philadelphia Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Follow him on X: @ByChrisBrennan and write to him at [email protected]. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Translating Politics, here.
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My Recent Work
Here's how Trump's plan to oust Jerome Powell may backfireChris Brennan
Translating Politics: I'm still cringing at Trump's DoorDash stunt
Team Trump's strategic Epstein outrage ramps up as midterms nearChris Brennan
I had two questions for Trump's DOJ. Here's what they said.Chris Brennan
Trump, who votes by mail, is now attacking voting by mailChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Trump's unpredictability was predictable
Pam Bondi tried to act above the law. It's come back to bite her.Chris Brennan
Trump's threats to pull US out of NATO won't make his war popularChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Pay up on 'Liberation Day'
Want to tell Pam Bondi what you think of her power grab? Here’s howChris Brennan
DOJ's legal gymnastics show they don't trust Trump to protect himselfChris Brennan
Translating Politics: The GOP SAVE America Act shell game
Congress had a plan to pay TSA. Trump would rather sow chaos with ICE.Chris Brennan
Trump never had a plan for Iran. Now he's scrambling.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: Trump pushes for law that'll hurt his voters most
Trump claims counterterrorism head he hired was 'weak on security.' Perfect.Chris Brennan
If NATO ghosts US, Trump only has himself to blameChris Brennan
MAGA was never anything more than Trump's coverChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Another DOJ lawyer under investigation
Trump's war with Iran has been very helpful – to RussiaChris Brennan
Congress gets one more chance to derail Bondi's cover-upChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Bondi employs a favorite Trump tactic: Stall 'em
Trump needs an 'emergency' to federalize elections. Convenient.Chris Brennan
Democrats can't just kill the SAVE Act. Voters need to know why.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: In the Trump era, we can count on two things
One issue unites us. At State of the Union, it got bipartisan support.Chris Brennan
Judge's spree of 'unprecedented deference' hands Trump another winChris Brennan
Trump can't keep his story straight on Iran's nuclear weaponsChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Here's what I didn't tell you last week
Americans paid for Trump's tariffs – and he knows itChris Brennan
Trump's tariff tantrums show just how much he's losing his gripChris Brennan
Trump's terror is going viral. It's changing voters' opinions on ICE.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: Unpacking Obama vs. Trump on immigration
Trump rode Obama's immigration failure to a win. Has the tide turned?Chris Brennan
We've forgotten Obama's immigration legacy. Trump is building on it.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: Voters don't trust Trump on immigration
I said Trump's attacks would be a windfall for Mark Kelly. I was right.Chris Brennan
America doesn't want or need a secret police forceChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Trump blames guns, alarming allies
Pam Bondi is holding Minneapolis hostage over voter recordsChris Brennan
Translating Politics: It's been 35 days – and counting
Trump doesn't want de-escalation. He needs ICE to provoke the fight.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: Let's talk about what's going on with Greenland
Jerome Powell told the president no. And to Trump, that's a crime.Chris Brennan
I asked the DOJ why Trump's US attorney picks keep getting oustedChris Brennan
Even Republicans are 'sick of stupid' about GreenlandChris Brennan
Translating Politics: Kelly cashes in on Hegseth's harassment
Big Oil knew about Trump's Maduro raid. Congress didn't.Chris Brennan
Translating Politics: MAGA makes the arts all about Trump
Trump doesn't care if his election lies are fueling violenceChris Brennan