As they struggle with the challenge of the most unpredictable—and unpresidential—president in American history, Democrats face a vexing problem. The leader of the other party is strangely charismatic, intensely verbose, apparently gaffe-proof, and constitutionally incapable of “politicalspeak,” the preferred lexicon of Washington, D.C.

This isn’t just some noteworthy personality quirk: It’s a central aspect of Trump’s appeal—key to his connection with blue-collar Democrats in places like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. It gives him an air of total authenticity in the eyes of a great many voters: What you see is what you get—whether you like it or not.

By setting off Twitter firebombs that go directly to the people, President-elect Trump not only dominates the news (and in particular the fake news) cycle, but also stymies his opponents. Democrats can’t process his spontaneous messages fast enough to counter with thoughts of their own, and they are further hampered by their own political considerations, which prevent them from engaging down on his level. (There’s little advantage for Chuck Schumer, for example, to call the next president of the United States “a clown,” even as Trump labels Schumer exactly that).

But there is one prominent Democrat who can match Trump blow for blow. Someone who speaks candidly and honestly. Someone with media savvy, policy expertise that his plain-spokenness makes accessible. Someone who, if my party is smart, they will find a way to deploy in a quasi-official role: It’s time to unleash Joe Biden.

Three of Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks came under growing fire Wednesday on ethical issues, potentially jeopardizing their nominations.

The most serious concerns surround personal investments by Trump’s health and human services nominee, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), in health-care firms that benefited from legislation that he was pushing at the time.

Additionally, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), Trump’s choice to head the Office of Management and Budget, has acknowledged during his confirmation process that he failed to pay more than $15,000 in state and federal employment taxes for a household employee.

And Commerce Department nominee Wilbur Ross revealed that one of the “dozen or so” housekeepers he has hired since 2009 was undocumented, which he said he discovered only recently. The employee was fired as a result, he added.

All of those are the kinds of problems that have torpedoed nominees in the past. But it is far from certain — or even likely — that any of Trump’s nominees will buckle under the political pressure.

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Around 200 people marched into the liberal enclave, where several homeowners had already hung up LGBT pride flags alongside their American flags. Residents set up the rainbow flags when they learned in December that Pence was moving into the neighborhood.

When the march finally made its way up to Pence's house, it was blocked by police. The car and motorcycles leading the queer cavalcade stopped there, and an impromptu dance party began. Firas Nasr, the founder of Werk for Peace, danced on the roof of the car that blasted dance music. Nasr shouted from the roof, "Daddy Pence, come dance!" The crowd chanted, "We are queer, we are here, we will dance!"

Werk for Peace partnered with DisruptJ20 for the event, dubbed a "queer dance party at Mike Pence's house," but it is only the first of several events activists plan for the week of the inauguration, which is Friday.

On that big day, the group will host a "qockblockade brigade," which the group describes as "a queer anti-Inauguration party." Wetk for Peace describes itself as a "queer-based grassroots movement that uses dance to promote peace." The group was formed in response to the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Nasr told The Advocate that dance has the power to effect social change.

Of what use is art? It’s a question often asked in societies where money is the prime measure of worth, usually by people who do not understand art—and therefore dislike it and the artists who make it. Now, however, the question is being posed by artists themselves.

For American writers and other artists, there’s a distinct chill in the air. Strongmen have a well-earned reputation for suppression and for demanding fawning tributes: “Suck up or shut up” has been their rule. During the Cold War, many writers, filmmakers, and playwrights received visits from the FBI on suspicion of “un-American activities.” Will that history be repeated? Will self-censorship set in? Could we be entering an age of samizdat in the United States, with manuscripts circulating secretly because publishing them would mean inviting reprisal? That sounds extreme, but considering America’s own history—and the wave of authoritarian governments sweeping the globe—it’s not out of the question.

In the face of such uncertainties and fears, the creative communities of the United States are nervously urging one another not to surrender without a fight: Don’t give up! Write your book! Make your art!

But what to write or make? Fifty years from now, what will be said about the art and writing of this era? The Great Depression was immortalized by John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, which described in detail what the Dust Bowl years felt like to those living through them at the lowest level of American society. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible provided an apt metaphor for McCarthyism, with its witch hunts and mass accusations. Klaus Mann’s 1936 novel Mephisto, about the rise of a famous actor, showed absolute power corrupting an artist absolutely—a fitting story during the reign of Hitler. What sorts of novels, poems, films, television series, video games, paintings, music, or graphic novels will adequately reflect America’s next decade?

Many Americans hoped 2016 was going to be the year we elected the first woman to the White House. Instead, the first female nominee of any major party lost to the most brazenly misogynistic candidate in modern history—Donald Trump. He won with the support of over 50 percent of white women who voted. Critics and supporters alike have urged Americans not to take his campaign comments literally.

In that case, what should we take seriously? The truth is, Donald Trump’s offensive, anti-woman rhetoric has been mirrored by Republican policy for decades.

We should take the President-elect at his word. And even if we don’t, we should take seriously Republican efforts to limit women’s healthcare, revoke women’s autonomy over their own bodies, and destroy the safety net that so many women and their families depend on.

We need to figure out how to step up in 2017 and beyond to make America as fair as we know it can be. This election made clear that America is not a post-sexist society in which all women have “made it.” Sure, women have seen huge gains in employment, education, and economic autonomy since the 1960s. Yet, in 2017, women and children are still more likely to live in poverty.

Dear Ms. Paltrow,

I’ve been reading all about the jade eggs you are selling on GOOP for $55-66 a pop and the corresponding interview with a jade egg enthusiast. I have tried not to respond to this hot mess, after all a man who leers at naked 15 year-olds and brags about sexual assault is about to assume the highest office in the land. Quite frankly women have more compelling health interests right now, however, I have been asked by so many people about your vaginal rocks that I felt it necessary to drop you a line.

I read the post on GOOP and all I can tell you is it is the biggest load of garbage I have read on your site since vaginal steaming. It’s even worse than claiming bras cause cancer. But hey, you aren’t one to let facts get in the way of profiting from snake oil.

My issue begins with the very start of your post on jade eggs specifically that “queens and concubines used them to stay in shape for emperors.” Nothing says female empowerment more than the only reason to do this is for your man! And then the claim that they can balance hormones is, quite simply, biologically impossible. Pelvic floor exercises can help with incontinence and even give stronger orgasms for some women, but they cannot change hormones. As for female energy? I’m a gynecologist and I don’t know what that is!? How does one test for it? Organically sourced, fair trade urine pH sticks coming soon to GOOP for $77 I presume?

Steve Harvey is defending his face-to-face with President-elect Donald Trump, saying, “Change can only happen when we sit at the table.”

“If we sit at the table, then we can have a say as to what’s to be eaten on the menu,” the TV host said Monday on his radio show while deflecting criticism of his meeting with Trump. “I have an obligation to take a seat at the table when invited.”

The comedian and face of “The Steve Harvey Show” and "Family Feud" touched down at Trump Tower on Friday for a one-on-one that he said came at the president-elect’s request. In comments to reporters immediately following the meeting, Harvey said he discussed urban development with a “really sincere” Trump.

Harvey — who had been critical of Trump during the 2016 White House race — called it “important” to meet with the real estate mogul because “the only way we can heal the divide in this country is through conversation.”