Author Archive

Elaina Plott

Elaina Plott is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously a staff writer at Washingtonian, and a Buckley Fellow at National Review.
Elaina Plott is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously a staff writer at Washingtonian, and a Buckley Fellow at National Review.
Management

Why Trump (Probably) Won’t Ditch Rudy

The president’s personal lawyer is at the center of the House impeachment probe—perhaps too close to risk setting free.

Management

Analysis: Why Firing Mick Mulvaney Is Riskier Than Keeping Him

President Trump’s third chief of staff seemed destined for the door until impeachment came along.

Management

Who is Ken Cuccinelli?

President Trump’s biggest immigration hard-liner has become the consummate ideological ally.

Management

Ignoring Trump’s Orders, Hoping He’ll Forget

Slow-walking or flat-out disobeying Trump’s fleeting obsessions has become common practice across various sectors of government.

Oversight

Infrastructure Week Isn’t a Joke Anymore

A deal with the Democrats may now be Trump’s best chance for a legislative win ahead of 2020.

Management

Trump’s Chief of Staff Is Having a Great Time

Mick Mulvaney wants you to know that he’s no narc like John Kelly.

Management

Trump’s ‘Major’ Border Deal Is No Deal for Democrats

The president offered three-year protection for “Dreamers” and immigrants with protective status in exchange for $5.7 billion in border-wall funding. Democrats rejected it out of hand.

Management

Analysis: Why Mike Pence Couldn’t End the Shutdown

The vice president has led negotiations to reopen the government. But even after the White House’s state-of-emergency threat, he doesn’t appear to have the authority to do much about it.

Management

Trump Picks a Washington Insider as His Next Attorney General

William Barr served in the role under President George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993 and has been critical of the Russia probe.

Management

The White House Has No Plan for Confronting the Mueller Report

Nervous aides expect the president to lead the way, tweet up a storm—and, Rudy Giuliani promises, fight back.

Management

President George H. W. Bush’s Capitol Rotunda Ceremony Offers a Glimpse of Grace

The event was a somber, respectful collection of moments sealed off from the political turmoil to which Americans have become accustomed.

Oversight

The GOP’s Bill to Stop Family Separations Looks Dead for Now

Waffling on the part of the White House likely means that no legislation on the matter will come up for a vote before recess next week.

Management

Pruitt Aide Resigns Amid Scandals

Millan Hupp filed her paperwork shortly after portions of her congressional testimony were made public.

Management

A Pruitt Aide's Attack on Zinke Angers the White House

A press staffer at the Environmental Protection Agency attempted to distract from his boss’s troubles by planting stories that would reflect poorly on the secretary of the interior.

Management

An Internal Email Contradicts Scott Pruitt's Account of Controversial Raises

The EPA administrator has said he “didn’t know” about unusual salary bumps given to a pair of trusted aides, but a message from one of those staffers claims otherwise.

Management

Scott Pruitt Bypassed the White House to Give Big Raises to Favorite Aides

The embattled EPA chief used an obscure provision last month to increase the salaries of a pair of staffers by tens of thousands of dollars.

Management

Kellyanne Conway Edges Toward Accepting the Job of Communications Director

The counselor to the president had resisted Trump’s previous entreaties, but is now considering replacing Hope Hicks on an interim basis.