APS Politics
@apspolitics.bsky.social
APS Politics Department, sharing articles on US and UK politics that could be useful to A level Politics students.
For content up to July 2024 see @apspolitics on Twitter (X)
For content up to July 2024 see @apspolitics on Twitter (X)
British politics - parliament (also of interest to History students):
(NB - remember there was a second Parliament Act in 1949 which cut the time the Commons has to wait to overturn the Lords from 2 years to 1 - they had to use the first Parliament Act to pass it)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
(NB - remember there was a second Parliament Act in 1949 which cut the time the Commons has to wait to overturn the Lords from 2 years to 1 - they had to use the first Parliament Act to pass it)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Assisted dying: could a rarely used 1911 act help supporters override the Lords?
Parliament Act, passed after row over David Lloyd George’s budget, was last used in 2004 to pass ban on foxhunting
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:48 AM
British politics - parliament (also of interest to History students):
(NB - remember there was a second Parliament Act in 1949 which cut the time the Commons has to wait to overturn the Lords from 2 years to 1 - they had to use the first Parliament Act to pass it)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
(NB - remember there was a second Parliament Act in 1949 which cut the time the Commons has to wait to overturn the Lords from 2 years to 1 - they had to use the first Parliament Act to pass it)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Interesting on the NRA's view of the Trump administration's response to the latest shooting in Minnesota (and useful for understanding the NRA).
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
NRA and pro-gun groups call for ‘full investigation’ into killing of Alex Pretti
Groups typically aligned with Trump call for investigation as NRA wades into the national dialogue
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Interesting on the NRA's view of the Trump administration's response to the latest shooting in Minnesota (and useful for understanding the NRA).
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Interesting on midterms, checks and balances and partisanship:
wapo.st/4aVlucB
wapo.st/4aVlucB
Opinion | How to make the midterms slightly less disgusting
Divided government would be good outcome next fall.
wapo.st
January 15, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Interesting on midterms, checks and balances and partisanship:
wapo.st/4aVlucB
wapo.st/4aVlucB
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) following a pattern of GOP politicians coming out as anti-Trump after they announce that they will not be seeking re-election.
Interesting insight into what they really think?
wapo.st/3YAtSqz
Interesting insight into what they really think?
wapo.st/3YAtSqz
Column | Thom Tillis wants you to know something: ‘I’m sick of stupid’
The North Carolina Republican has been at the forefront this month of staking out anti-MAGA ground and criticizing Trump’s aides.
wapo.st
January 15, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) following a pattern of GOP politicians coming out as anti-Trump after they announce that they will not be seeking re-election.
Interesting insight into what they really think?
wapo.st/3YAtSqz
Interesting insight into what they really think?
wapo.st/3YAtSqz
MIdterms - presidential power / elections / federalism:
wapo.st/3YCkrqx
wapo.st/3YCkrqx
Trump is trying to change how the midterm elections are conducted
Many of these endeavors go far beyond typical political persuasion, challenging long-established democratic norms.
wapo.st
January 14, 2026 at 10:24 AM
MIdterms - presidential power / elections / federalism:
wapo.st/3YCkrqx
wapo.st/3YCkrqx
More on the House vote on ACA - not the highest profile news story, but a very useful example for parties, policy, workings of Congress (note discharge petition, executive power & midterms:
Note: 2 articles both free to access (second post links to another)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Note: 2 articles both free to access (second post links to another)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US House expands healthcare subsidies but bill faces uphill battle in Senate
Seventeen moderate Republicans defied their party leadership and sided with Democrats to help pass the bill.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM
More on the House vote on ACA - not the highest profile news story, but a very useful example for parties, policy, workings of Congress (note discharge petition, executive power & midterms:
Note: 2 articles both free to access (second post links to another)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Note: 2 articles both free to access (second post links to another)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Congress v Executive, GOP beginning to split against Trump?
Important read: This link should work without a subscription.
wapo.st/49uM4ab
Important read: This link should work without a subscription.
wapo.st/49uM4ab
Trump suffers day of significant Republican defections on House and Senate votes
More than two dozen Republicans in the House and Senate broke with President Trump in votes on Thursday.
wapo.st
January 9, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Congress v Executive, GOP beginning to split against Trump?
Important read: This link should work without a subscription.
wapo.st/49uM4ab
Important read: This link should work without a subscription.
wapo.st/49uM4ab
2 of 2: Executive Power / Foreign policy & Congress (NB - important context - the Trump administration did inform some Congressional GOP members in advance of strikes on Iran in June - but was criticised for only briefing selected members of Congress)
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump’s attack on Venezuela without alerting Congress tests limits of executive power
Trump’s audacious arrest of Maduro marks a conspicuous break with convention, even as previously observed by the president himself
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:39 PM
2 of 2: Executive Power / Foreign policy & Congress (NB - important context - the Trump administration did inform some Congressional GOP members in advance of strikes on Iran in June - but was criticised for only briefing selected members of Congress)
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Court / Race + Rights - ongoing example
wapo.st/4rZY77B
wapo.st/4rZY77B
Supreme Court to review Mississippi case on alleged omission of Black jurors
The Supreme Court agreed to review the conviction of a death-row inmate who says prosecutors discriminated by excluding Black jurors during his 2006 trial.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Court / Race + Rights - ongoing example
wapo.st/4rZY77B
wapo.st/4rZY77B
Presidential Power: Executive Orders
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
Trump has signed more executive orders in 2025 than in his entire first term
One third of Trump’s executive orders have been explicitly challenged in court, a Post analysis of data from nonprofits CourtListener and JustSecurity found.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Presidential Power: Executive Orders
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
Presidential power v Congress (also relevant to the court who seem likely to decide)
December 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Presidential power v Congress (also relevant to the court who seem likely to decide)
Interesting on MAGA support and the midterms - possibly more useful for Y12 than Y13.
wapo.st/44tphK5
wapo.st/44tphK5
MAGA leaders warn Trump the base is checking out. Will he listen?
President Donald Trump is taking criticism from supporters for not addressing cost-of-living issues while focusing too much on foreign policy and billionaires.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Interesting on MAGA support and the midterms - possibly more useful for Y12 than Y13.
wapo.st/44tphK5
wapo.st/44tphK5
Discharge process - great example:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US House to vote next week on bill compelling release of Epstein files
Mike Johnson announces move hours after swearing in Adelita Grijalva, Democrat whose signature triggered vote
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Discharge process - great example:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US shutdown, as predicted on Friday, is nearing its end:
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Several Democrats side with Republicans to pass deal aimed at ending US government shutdown
The deal paves the way for the government to reopen but the agreement still needs to be voted on in the House.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
US shutdown, as predicted on Friday, is nearing its end:
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Parliamentary Scrutiny - an example of scrutiny of ministers / departments (Home Office and Justice Department):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chris Mason: The justice system is failing and the buck stops with Lammy
Problems in the prisons and the courts are not new but they are growing and the government doesn't have a grip on them.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Parliamentary Scrutiny - an example of scrutiny of ministers / departments (Home Office and Justice Department):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK update - parties (Liberal Democrats) and Electoral Reform:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ed Davey wants to 'work with government' on electoral reform
The Liberal Democrat leader backs replacing first-past-the-post with proportional representation.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:26 PM
UK update - parties (Liberal Democrats) and Electoral Reform:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK update:
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Plaid Cymru wins Caerphilly by-election for Welsh Parliament
The prime minister is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
UK update:
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Final update: Election week. State / local elections are not in our syllabus, but midterms are and so worth looking at the state of play:
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
2026 Senate Election Forecast Maps - 270toWin
Compare the current 2026 Senate map projections of various political pundits. Use any of the maps to create and share your own 2026 forecast
www.270towin.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Final update: Election week. State / local elections are not in our syllabus, but midterms are and so worth looking at the state of play:
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
US Shutdown latest:
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US government shutdown becomes longest in American history
The shutdown has gone on for more than a month but there are signs that a compromise could be on the horizon.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
US Shutdown latest:
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Gerrymandering - the redrawing of congressional districts has received a lot of attention - especially with the California vote on Prop 50 this week. Here is some context (see image and two linked articles in subsequent posts)
November 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Gerrymandering - the redrawing of congressional districts has received a lot of attention - especially with the California vote on Prop 50 this week. Here is some context (see image and two linked articles in subsequent posts)