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David Litt is a former speechwriter for President Obama, the New York Times bestselling author of "Thanks, Obama" and "Democracy in One Book or Less," and a semi-finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. His newest book, "It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground," will be published in June by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. He also writes Word Salad, a free newsletter.

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opinion

Bro, Trump’s Coming for Your Toys with His Dumba** Tariffs

DUDE, FOR REAL

No one knows more about acquiring gear than the manosphere. And David Litt has a warning for his fellow men: Trump is going to cost us.

David Litt | Published May 12, 2025
opinion

Why White House Corrs Got Shriveled Party They Deserved

MIC DROP

David Litt wrote the jokes for Obama. Now he writes an epitaph for an American institution left a shell of itself by bending to Trump.

David Litt | Published Apr 27, 2025
opinion

Why the GOP’s No. 1 Goal Is Protecting Companies From COVID

CREAM

The same Supreme Court that gave us Citizens United, enshrining the rights of corporations and wealthy donors, gutted the Voting Rights Act three years later.

David Litt | Published Jul 30, 2020
opinion

Here’s How a Real President Would Talk to Us About the Virus

CONSISTENCY, EMPATHY, HONESTY

Trump has shown this week that he can do it—when he wants to. Here’s how he can keep it up, and cover the public confidence debt that he’s built up over the past three years.

David Litt | Published Mar 17, 2020
opinion

Trump’s Big Problem: His Reality-TV Shtick Is Getting Boring

ZZZZZZZZZ…….

Tuesday night’s Oval Office address illustrated how unimaginative the president's approach truly is.

David Litt | Published Jan 09, 2019
opinion

Dear Democratic Voters, Don’t Make 2020 a Reality TV Show

WHAT IT TAKES

You may think that someone needs charisma or good social-media skills to win. But remember, this job—the presidency—is a BFD and we need someone who can do it well.

David Litt | Published Dec 20, 2018
opinion

Those Republican Anti-Fraud Crusaders Are, of Course, Frauds

SHENANIGANS

When politicians falsely allege fraud, they’re not sparring with the other party. They’re attacking their own voters.

David Litt | Published Nov 12, 2018
opinion

Mueller Must Finish Probe Before Trump Gets His SCOTUS Pick

PAUSE BUTTON

A profound, debilitating constitutional crisis awaits if we find out that the Senate confirmed an illegitimate president’s nominees.

David Litt | Published Jun 28, 2018
opinion

Why Politicians Don’t Just Say, ‘Yes, I F*cked Up’

OWN IT

We have a system that rewards blustering one’s way through controversies and punishes self-awareness. No wonder they deliver so much bluster.

David Litt | Published Jun 08, 2018
opinion

Why Won’t a Commencement Speaker Just Say the Word ‘Trump’?

HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED

The president is the focus of many speeches—except his name never gets uttered.

David Litt | Published May 22, 2018

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