Outside the Beltway

While everyone is paying attention to the government shutdown, the Trump Administration is preparing for a never-ending, unwise, and unauthorized military commitment in Syria.

One year after his Inauguration, Donald Trump is the most unpopular new President since the invention of modern polling. However, his numbers are generally the same that they’ve been for some time now.

Fortunately, yesterday’s missile alert in Hawaii was a false alarm. However, it is raising questions about the early warning system that’s in place and the state’s preparedness in case of an actual attack.

America’s closest allies sent a strong signal that they do not agree with President Trump on the nuclear deal with Iran.

Donald Trump’s irrational tweets are once again focused on the leader of North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is extending an olive branch of sorts to South Korea while simultaneously claiming success in achieving a nuclear deterrent.

POTUS decided to start the New Year by insulting Pakistan over Twitter.

Anti-government protests are spreading in Iran.

Three U.S. cities are suing the Federal Government over the failure to properly report military convictions to the national gun background check database.

Late yesterday, a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling striking down the latest version of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

As we near the end of the year, the President’s job approval numbers remain at historically low levels, and there’s no sign that they’ll improve in 2018.

My latest for The National Interest, “How Trump’s National Security Strategy Breaks with the Past,” has posted.

Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been erratic, illogical, and demonstrated a clear disdain for diplomacy.

Transgender Americans will be able to enlist in the military beginning January 1st thanks to a ruling from a Federal District Court Judge.

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is floating the idea that the U.S. might not take part in the Olympics due to safety concerns. This would be a foolish decision.

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision reveals yet again that he is an appallingly bad deal maker.

Russia has been barred from participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics after an investigation uncovered extensive evidence of cheating.

Most Americans are unlikely to remember John Anderson, but he was a harbinger of things to come.

The Supreme Court is allowing the latest version of Donald Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban to go into effect.

It appears that Rex Tillerson’s days at the State Department may be numbered, but his proposed replacement leaves a lot to be desired.

Big problems for the Air Force.

North Korea tests another missile, and sends another message to the United States and its allies in Asia and the Pacific.

A horrible terror attack in Egypt.

For the second time in as many months, a Federal Court is blocking the Administration’s ban on transgender troops in the military.

The early numbers in the battle to control Congress look good for Democrats, but there are are a number of caveats to keep in mind.

Is it time to reexamine Presidential authority to launch a nuclear strike?

A Los Angeles reporter says that Minnesota Senator Al Franken groped her and engaged in other inappropriate conduct during a 2006 USO tour.

A Fox News host has debunked the Uranium One conspiracy theory being pushed by his own network.

A preemptive attack on North Korea would be illegal, immoral and, most importantly, insane.

Even during an overseas trip, President Trump continues to try to undermine the Russia investigation.

On North Korea, there are two options, deterrence and war. And only one of those options makes sense.

In his time as President, Donald Trump has demonstrated as much contempt for the rule of law as he did as a candidate.

Bowe Bergdahl received a dishonorable discharge and reduction in rank, but will not serve time in prison.

The Justice Department appears to be on the verge of charging Russian government officials in connection with election-related hacking.

A month that was highlighted by the capture of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa ends with an apparent lone wolf ISIS-inspired attack in New York City

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. has blocked the Trump Administration from implementing its ban on transgender soldiers.

Due mostly to cowardice and naked self-interest, you shouldn’t expect many other Republicans to speak out against Trump in the near future.

Another day, another Trump lie.

America has become involved in conflicts around the world, largely without the knowledge of the American people or the consent of their representatives, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to end anytime soon.

The White House believes that it is ‘inappropriate’ to question Generals. This argument is not only wrong, it’s downright dangerous.

White House Chief Of Staff John Kelly publicly defended the President’s call to a military widow yesterday, but he got several facts wrong in the process.

The capital of the purported caliphate declared by ISIS has apparently fallen, but that doesn’t mean the end of ISIS. In fact, it may make the group more dangerous.

President Trump sinks even lower.

Two Federal Judges have issued orders blocking the latest version of President Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Now Donald Trump is using the death of American soldiers to tell lies about his predecessor.

The Bergdahl case comes to an end.

Iraqi military forces begin to crack down against Iraqi Kurds after last month’s independence referendum.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to agree that Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons deal, President Trump took steps that will undermine that agreement and do serious damage to American credibility around the world.