Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a major in religious studies, and a minor in integrated liberal studies.
Rafi lives in the Twin Cities, where he does not bike, run or take part in any team sports. He does, however, have a variety of interests, hobbies and passions.
Latest articles by Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Speaker Mike Johnson cleared a shutdown hurdle but isn't in the clear yet
Talking Point By relying heavily on Democrats' help to pass his government funding plan, has the Republican speaker given himself an even bigger problem down the line?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
The Supreme Court finally has a code of ethics. Will it matter?
Today's Big Question By codifying an existing amalgam of rules and standards, justices hope they can correct any 'misunderstanding' about their roles on the bench
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Hamas planned second wave of Israel attacks to prompt larger war
Speed Read Militants reportedly prepared for an extended incursion into Israeli territory
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Speed Read -
Trump's Veterans Day speech gives new urgency to an old dilemma
Talking Point By vowing to 'root out' his enemies like 'vermin,' Trump's echo of Hitler and Mussolini raises the stakes for 2024 and beyond
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Did Sen. Joe Manchin just throw a wrench in the 2024 election?
Today's Big Question By not running for reelection, the conservative West Virginia Democrat may have become the ultimate presidential spoiler.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Mike Johnson comes face to face with a familiar crisis
Talking Point With a government shutdown looming (again), can an untested House speaker pull his party together in time?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Democrats rally around election night victories
Talking Point Anxious liberals see glimmers of hope for 2024 from a suite of off-year election wins
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Will abortion on the ballot in today's elections be a bellwether for 2024?
Today's Big Question Reproductive rights fights in Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania could be a sign of things to come
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Why are some experts skeptical of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas?
Today's Big Question As the death count climbs and international outcry grows, not everyone is convinced that an immediate cease-fire is the right way to end the bloodshed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Is Eric Adams' growing Turkish scandal a distraction or disaster for his administration?
Today's Big Question The New York City mayor scrambles to 'address a matter' as federal investigators ratchet up a probe into his 2021 campaign
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
George Santos lives to legislate another day
Talking Point The embattled New York Republican may have survived an emotional expulsion vote in the House, but that doesn't mean he's in the clear
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Supreme Court weighs whether politicians blocking constituents is constitutional
Talking Point Are public servants' private social media accounts truly private to the public?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Is Biden's Israel-Palestine posturing an election year risk?
Today's Big Question The administration's response to the war in Gaza could end up alienating key voting blocs the White House needs for reelection.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Where does Mike Pence go from here?
Today's big question The former veep has dropped his quixotic presidential bid — that doesn't mean he's out of options for the future
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's big question -
Will newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson quell the GOP chaos or amplify it?
Today's big question A Republican caucus, if you can keep it
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's big question -
Minnesota Congressman Dean Philips is gunning for Biden's presidential nomination
Talking point With an official announcement looming and a campaign bus already on the road, what does the onetime gelato mogul hope to accomplish?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking point -
The big winner of the GOP speaker mess might be Hakeem Jeffries
Talking Point While Republicans scramble to get their House in order, the New York Democrat has emerged as a counterbalance to conservative chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Has the GOP speaker's race gone from firing squad to royal rumble?
Today's Big Question What was once a single-file sequence of aspiring Republican speakers is degenerating into a nine-person free-for-all
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
The ceasefire calls are coming from inside the White House
Talking Point Biden faces blowback for Israel-Hamas war stance from his own administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Is AI thickening the fog of the Israel-Hamas war?
Today's Big Question How cutting-edge tech is helping — and hurting — our attempts at understanding an already complex conflict
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Has the answer to the GOP's speaker woes been in front of them all along?
Talking Point Without a consensus pick, Republicans are increasingly looking to empower the man already holding the gavel
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Republicans rush to reject Gaza refugees
Talking Point GOP rhetoric could be the difference between life and death for Palestinians fleeing violence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Talking Point -
Rep. Jim Jordan's speaker bid: Are Republicans damned either way?
Today's Big Question Win or lose, Ohio congressman's quest for the gavel could backfire on the GOP in a big way
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's Big Question -
Is this the end of the Israeli intelligence service's vaunted reputation?
Today's big question Hamas' surprise attack may have punctured the myth of Israel's famed security apparatus once and for all
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
Today's big question