Outside the Beltway

An odd union contract creates powerful incentives against making escalators at subway stations in the nation’s capital work.

How would appointed Senators affect the partisan mix of the Senate?

Why would policy outcomes be different under the 17th Amendment?

SNL’s Julian Assange spoof isn’t their best work but it’s mildly amusing

Would returning to indirect election of Senators really have a significant impact on the growth of the Federal Government? Probably not.

Republican maneuvering to extend the Bush tax cuts for all Americans appears about to pay off.

Are American diplomats lying to reporters because they figure our citizens can’t handle the truth?

While the University of Oregon’s athletic programs are flourishing in a seas of green, its academic programs are woefully underfunded.

Wayne State has canceled the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award, citing its namesake’s controversial remarks.

In her new book, Sarah Palin puts forward a view of the role of religion in politics that is in direct contrast with America’s own traditions.

Democrats are losing the debate over the extension of the Bush tax cuts, but when you look at the playing field it seems pretty clear that that they never had a chance.

Those of us who think we’re overreacting to terrorism should remember that we’re in a tiny minority.

The Obama administration is banning hundreds of thousands of federal employees from calling up the WikiLeaks site on government computers because the leaked material is still formally regarded as classified.

The editors of the Washington Post want you to know that “Fair Game,” the new movie about the Valerie Plame affair, is “Hollywood myth making.” Propaganda and lies is more like it.

Let’s keep our eye on the ball, people.

They aren’t going to stop, but the cliches that pass for debate sure are tiresome (plus some musings about the tax cut extension debate).

The Senate rejected an effort to limit the extension of the Bush tax cuts based on income level. At this point, the only question is when Democrats will concede defeat on this debate.

Viacom says a lower court ruling in favor of Google “would radically transform the functioning of the copyright system and severely impair, if not completely destroy, the value of many copyrighted creations.”

The commander-in-chief, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all support removing the ban on gays in the military without further delay. A long-awaited Pentagon study showed no reason not to do so. But three of four Service chiefs disagree.

Today’s job numbers make it clear that Congress has only one duty, and that is to do everything it can to stimulate real economic growth.

So, if Hispanics formed a political party, what do you think it should be called?

Sorting out, to some degree, the role of the states in our constitutional order.

A document uncovered in a Freedom of Information Act request demonstrates the extent to which Federal law enforcement works outside the requirements of the Constitution.

Unemployment rose to 9.8% from 9.6% in November.

Iowa Republicans are targeting professor sabbaticals, thus demonstrating that they understand neither higher ed nor economics.

Despite recurring predictions that the Internet and mass communications would allow people to work from anywhere, talent continues to cluster in big cities.

WikiLeaks domain name service was terminated for violating terms of use.

Why would anyone buy Johnnie Walker Blue, when amazing single malts can be had for less?

If 33 states can muster support to kill a law, how would it have gotten enacted to begin with?

Are the interests of a given state different than the interests of the people living in that state?