Outside the Beltway

Most agree that it was good theater. But it’s not clear what they’ve proven.

Historical precedents fall apart when we’re in a truly unprecedented time.

The Republican Party is not really a thing.

Biden’s America is a place and idea in which the trappings of empire or glory are ephemera in comparison with perennial human relationships—families; friendships; communities; schools; neighbors; partners.

Some of the Capitol rioters were much more dangerous than others.

The live coverage of Wednesday’s assault on American democracy underplayed its seriousness.

There’s a word for people who use outrageous violence to terrorize.

Granted, there are more than two. But from a political science/political history POV, these two stick out in my mind.

An exploding RV did substantial property damage but caused only minor injuries to bystanders.

The man behind the 1998 embassy attacks is dead.

They are standing by as ordered.

Shame on him for defending authoritarian actions.

A thought experiment on what we have seen in Portland.

How about crowd sourcing a timeline for all of Trump’s enablers?

The trend line shifted this week.

A researcher has documented 66 separate incidents since May 27.

A look at the employment records of one of the men involved in the Ahmaud Arbery shooting.

Some global comparisons.

Despite our poor showing against COVID-19, we have the best infrastructure in place.

Dueling Washington Post op-eds are sowing confusion.

Speaking of xenophobia.

The assassination of a top Iranian official on a visit to Baghdad is having the expected negative impact on our relationship with Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

Despite Pompeo’s assurances, we are already seeing consequences for the Suleimani killing.

An American drone strike has taken out the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a move likely to significantly increase tensions across the Middle East.

A new report details the extent to which the eighteen-year Afghanistan War has been marked by mistakes, and lies by the government to cover-up the fact that we went to war without a clear understanding of what we were doing.

Questions linger after a shooting leaves three people and the shooter dead in an incident at one of the nation’s largest Naval facilities.

With her eyes on her political future in a GOP dominated by Trumpism, Nikki Haley is attempting to rewrite the history of one of the most significant events of her time as Governor of South Carolina.

If the United Kingdom does go through with Brexit, it could lead to an existential crisis for the United Kingdom itself.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared that the NATO alliance is suffering brain death due to President Trump’s neglect and lack of leadership.

If President Trump expected to get a political bump from the death of the leader of ISIS, he is most likely going to be disappointed.

There’s apparently big news in the fight against ISIS.

A Federal District Court Judge gave the House of Representatives, and the nation, a big win yesterday.

President Trump’s sudden decision to withdraw troops from Syria isn’t receiving much public support.

ISIS is quickly taking advantage of the abrupt American withdrawal from northern Syria.

As the Turkish invasion of northern Syria continues, Donald Trump responds with basically nothing.

President Trump is basically saying he does not care if ISIS prisoners return to Europe to commit terror attacks.

Just days after President Trump agreed to remove American forces from the scene, Turkish forces are entering northern Syria and Kurdish forces say they ar ready for war.

It’s not just Ukraine.

Eighteen years after the September 11th attacks, it’s becoming harder to remember what the world used to be like.

A Federal Judge in Virginia has found the terrorist watch list unconstitutional.

Once again, President Trump is doing Vladimir Putin’s bidding.

Protests in Hong Kong have been going on for nine weeks now, but they are reaching a point where the patience of the leaders in Beijing is being tested.

Donald Trump has found a new far-right lunatic to retweet.

The Trump Administration has effectively declared economic warfare against the government of Nicolas Maduro. It won’t succeed, and will further victimize the already suffering Venezuelan people.

Cesar Sayoc, the man who started a panic in October when he sent apparent explosive devices to a number of President Trump’s critics, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison

Part 2 of 2.

Another day, another mass shooting and, as is becoming all too common in this country, this one appears to have been racially motivated.

President Trump has withdrawn his nominee for Director of National Intelligence after controversy regarding his qualifications and resume.

A strangely under-publicized story.

Last night New York City experienced what turned out to be a short-lived blackout mostly limited to Manhattan’s West Side, but it brought back memories of much bigger events.