Ben Roback: Impeachment and scandals – the backdrop to the 2020 election is set

“Read the transcript” has become the à la mode at Trump rallies, replacing previous favourites including “Lock her up” and “Build the wall”.

Lord Ashcroft: With a year to go, my latest research looks at Trump’s chances of getting a second term

A portion of his 2016 voters are unimpressed and wavering – but the President’s fate is not settled. Particularly as the Democrats are yet to agree a candidate.

Ben Roback: The Democrats, gender, diversity, youth – and why Biden (76) may take on Trump (72)

By nominating him, they would be wagering a similar bet to the one they placed in 2016 when Clinton was selected as the safe candidate.

Ben Roback: Can a true progressive win the presidency in 2020?

Hopefuls should remember that what plays well in the primaries may be un-deliverable from the White House.

Sanders is a refreshing change from the careerists who infest American as well as British politics.

So though he presents himself as anti-Trump, he has something in common with him. And there could, astonishingly, be a future for socialism in America.

Ben Roback. America’s mid-terms. Not so much a blue wave as a blue ripple.

The Republicans made gains in the Senate, the Democrats won back the House – but that’s not enough to give them the stranglehold on Trump that they wanted.

Lord Ashcroft: “I was like, we must pick one of these? But I’m pleasantly surprised.” My pre-election focus groups from California.

Despite his dominance of the national scene, Trump was hardly a consideration for most of our participants when it came to deciding how to vote this week.

Outsiders are not always good, and governments are not always bad

The columnist Steve Richards examines the rise of the modern demagogues, and their eventual, inevitable failure.

Daniel Hannan: Populists flourish after financial crises – but they get found out in the end

One historical study has found that, on average, authoritarian parties surge by around 30 per cent as the economic consequences play out.

Rebecca Coulson: America. Vast cars, vast variety and a vastly complex verdict.

It’s easy, even comforting, to stick a simple narrative onto the election result. But it would be a mistake.

Lord Ashcroft : What my focus groups said about Clinton and Trump in swing part of Wisconson – itself a swing state

They want change, which doesn’t help Clinton. But they also distrust Trump, which does.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Tea Party provides a warning to Labour

I believe we Conservatives will be able to unite again after the EU referendum. Meanwhile, Labour Labour are seeking to remove the ideologically impure from their party.

Towards a Charter for Party Reform

The row over the Prime Minister’s remarks about local Associations has been mostly concocted. But the need for Party reform is real. We open a ConHome series.

Iain Dale: Over at Corbyn Central, the comrades are eating each other

Plus: Trump v Sanders? Beckett’s report: smell the ostrich dung. And: I have never used poppers.

Citizen Corbyn v Dave Baldwin

As Labour’s conference opens, we can’t afford to lose our radical edge.