Inside Ryan’s Power Play

New York Times: “Mr. Ryan’s refusal to endorse Mr. Trump was a reminder of a lost Washington art — not just the willingness to take on the political opposition, but a readiness to publicly challenge the leader of one’s own party.”

“If sustained, it would break dramatically with the recent pattern of lawmakers’ regularly deferring to a president of their own party and ceding power from Capitol Hill to the White House. In raising concerns about Mr. Trump, Mr. Ryan seemed to acknowledge the potential for Republican-on-Republican clashes should Mr. Trump prevail in November. And the fights could come not just on discrete policy issues like taxes and trade, but also over Mr. Trump’s very interpretation of the powers of the presidency.”