Outside the Beltway

And threatening states.

And other tales of subverting knowledge and expertise on the altar of a preferred mythic narrative.

Elections, the states, and the presidency edition.

A strange obsession.

A heavy-handed move.

“Influencer” Benny Johnson wants to bulldoze certain neighborhoods in DC.

The Kennedy Center “Honors” get a Trumpian makeover.

A review of museums.

This is all for show.

Authoritarian instructions from Trump.

We are observing an effort to embed democratically questionable sectarian norms into the day-to-day life of federal workplaces. 

Thinking about the evolution (or is it devolution) of the GOP since the 1990s.

A window into White Christian Nationalism (as endorsed by Pete Hegseth!).

Are Red and Blue states even part of the same country anymore?

A gift for Dear Leader.

The optics are not good.

In this case, Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council.

A member of the Texas legislature reminds us that we are in an era of pure power politics.

Golf reveals character.

It is textbook authoritarianism.

Most of the world knows that PR is a better way to elect legislatures.

Here we go again.

This time at the Georgia Capitol.

Steven is a guest on Michael Bailey’s podcast.

Things are not operating as Madison intended.

Tit-for-tat is maybe good power politics, but is any of this good for democracy?

Trump asks Texas to further gerrymander the state.

Destroying aid because they destroyed USAID.

Thinking about ideology in the Trump era.

Both the policy issues but also the way it illustrates the politics of us versus them.

An unserious idea from an unserious man.

American Angst 101

One expert says yes.

America is always both what it claims to be and what it actually is. The Fourth of July, then, marks our aspirations—and also our shortcomings.

Reality v. unreality.

Have I ever noted the Congress is less responsive to the public than it should be?

Thoughts on the election and on the electoral rules used.

Say what Trump wants or he’ll threaten to sue!

This one was in Tuskegee, AL (and this isn’t a photography post).

Gas prices.

The pattern of attempted intimidation continues.

Not really posts, but hey, here they are anyway.

Trump’s latest social media screed.

Montgomery, AL.

A state Representative and his wife have also been shot and are in the hospital.