This writing intensive course will explore a range of current and historic political writing, from political speeches and manifestos, to longform reporting and advocacy journalism, in order to develop an understanding of political writing as a varied set of genres. Some political texts (like Tom Paine's Common Sense, and The Communist Manifesto) have arguably changed the world. Some investigative pieces of journalism have had a similar impact (one thinks of how The Washington Post covered the Pentagon Papers, a previously secret history of the war in Vietnam).  We will take a critical look at media coverage of elections, the White House and the Beltway, but will also focus on issues and stories far beyond this, including race and racism, the far right and left, #Metoo and feminism, immigration, the environment, LGBTQ struggle, and more.