Plus: Mueller, seen as a cat in a fun little suit   Opinions you may have missed. Democratic Sen. Michael F. Bennet of Colorado visited The Post and talked about who’s really running Washington these days, how social media is poisonous for democracy and how he hopes to spark change to both. Here’s a transcript of what we hope will be the first in a series of conversations with presidential candidates. “If Joe Biden is toast,” our columnist Eugene Robinson asks, “why is he still so far ahead in all the polls?” But in our latest Post Pundit 2020 Power Ranking , Robinson and some of our other experts agree the stakes for the former vice president are very high in this week’s debate. Danielle Allen, our Harvard historian/philosopher/contributing columnist, says we are in “our Articles of Confederation moment” — meaning our institutions, especially Congress, aren’t working. Not news, maybe, but Allen has two very specific repairs in mind. A public option has become the “moderate” health-care position for Democratic presidential candidates who don’t support Medicare-for-all. But Seema Verma, who administers Medicare for the Trump administration, argues here that a public option is neither moderate nor workable. John A. Burtka IV, executive director of the American Conservative magazine, wrote the clearest description I have seen to date of what a new conservative philosophy might look like in a Trumpian era — something “consciously distinct and admittedly superior” to what he calls establishment conservatism. But our columnist Megan McArdle warns that these so-called national conservatives are reviving an idea that, “while it can work, it usually doesn’t”: industrial policy. Finally, I’m assuming you have read as much commentary on the Robert S. Mueller III hearings as you care to read. But you still might enjoy Alexandra Petri’s irreverent version . She likens the event to “trying to put your cat into a fun little suit. All signs indicated that he does not want to be put in the suit, but you put him in the suit anyway, and then you act surprised when nobody has a good time.” After the hearing, Petri was inspired by the congresswoman who observed, “Impeachment isn’t a binary thing that you either are or you aren’t.” Here’s Petri’s typically mordant take on Democratic arguing and agonizing over whether to accuse the president of high crimes and misdemeanors. Enjoy, and have a great week. Fred Hiatt Editorial Page Editor A conversation with Michael Bennet: Mueller, climate change and the Democratic Party Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.) joins The Post's Editorial Board. Editorial Board  •   Read more » If Biden is toast, why’s he still so far ahead? The conventional wisdom here is off-base. The Ranking Committee  •   Read more » We are in our Articles of Confederation moment Checks and balances just aren’t working anymore. Danielle Allen  •   Read more » Under Trump, a very different agenda for conservatives emerges A conference in D.C. lays establishment conservatism in its grave. John Burtka  •   Read more » Conservatives want to revive a one-time trick from more than 100 years ago Such an economic model could work if done smartly. But that’s rarely the case. Megan McArdle  •   Read more » Mueller and Dems’ low-energy performance was an optics disaster! I promise you I have enough synonyms for 'not in my purview' to go for hours. Alexandra Petri  •   Read more » We’re having fun, right? Do we really need to label this ‘impeachment’? Can’t this just be meaningful, you and me and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) Alexandra Petri  •   Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT     Share The Week in Ideas:          Twitter          Facebook    Trouble reading?  Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for The Week in Ideas or because it is included in your subscription. Manage my email newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe from The Week in Ideas Privacy Policy | Help ©2019 The Washington Post  |  1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071 Democracy Dies in Darkness