Outside the Beltway

Trump and Iran.

The Supreme Court ordered a new trial in the case of a Mississippi defendant whose trial was tainted by a prosecutor who routinely struck black jurors from the jury pool.

The costs to the American economy of President Trump’s ill-advised trade war continue to add up.

Despite his claims, President Trump is actually deporting fewer people than were deported under former President Obama.

Just days after being named the next Acting Secretary of Defense, the President is appointing Mark Esper to be full Secretary of Defense.

The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s sex offender registry violates due process protections in the state and Federal Constitutions.

The Supreme Court ruled that a World War One memorial that had been on public grounds for 70 years can stay where it is.

Congress is considering a bill that would establish a commission to examine the issue of reparations for slavery.;

Donald Trump has endorsed a proposal by a Republican Senator to ban flag burning.

As if the situation in the Persian Gulf weren’t already tense enough, the Iranians shot down an American reconnaissance drone late yesterday

Democrats are trying to rein in President Trump. It won’t work.

Not surprisingly, the President’s opening speech of the 2020 campaign was filed with lies.

The Supreme Court rejected an effort by the Virginia House of Delegates to overturn a Federal Court ruling that the state’s district lines constituted gerrymandering by race. But they didn’t rule on the merits of the appeal.

The Justice Department has released a memo attempting to justify the Administration’s refusal to comply with a subpoena for the President;’s tax returns. Their argument is weak to say the least.

President Trump’s opening rally of the 2020 campaign sounded an awful lot like a rally from 2016

Patrick Shanahan is out as nominee to be Secretary of Defense after questions were raised during his background investigation.

As we head toward a potential crisis in the Persian Gulf, the consequences of the President’s lies are coming home to roost.

A new poll finds that public support for abortion rights is increasing, but it also shows growing support for extreme views at both ends of the spectrum.

While the world is largely focused on the much larger trade war with China, the United States is engaged in a similar battle with a nation that ought to be a natural ally.

Tensions are increasing in the Persian Gulf as the Iran war hawks seem to be winning the battle for the President’s support.

The Supreme Court has ruled to keep the long-standing “dual sovereigns” exception to the Double Jeopardy Clause in place.

A new poll finds increasing support for transgender rights, even among Republicans.

Maine has become the eighth state to pass a law allowing terminally ill the choice to bring their lives to a dignified end.

Just fire the pollster.

A new report in The New York Times raises both national security and Constitutional concerns.

Bret Stephens (and others) are overreacting.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg laid out his foreign policy platform in a speech this week. It’s certainly an improvement over the current President.

This time on Venezuela

It’s still way too early to be predictive, but the latest head-to-head matches between the President and the top contenders for the Democratic nomination.

The lineups for the first Democratic debate of the 2020 season are set but some candidates are likely to be unhappy.

Totally respectful, am I right?

The participants for the two-night opening debate of the 2020 campaign season have been announced, and the candidates who were excluded aren’t happy.

Texas has become the latest state to eliminate red-light cameras amid increasing evidence that they are largely counterproductive.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is leaving office at the end of the month.

Presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway stands credibly accused of multiple violations of Federal law. The President will do nothing about it.

Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr’s defense of campaign law violations against him suffered a big setback yesterday when his wife and co-Defendant entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors.

For 2020, Kansas Democrats are making some interesting changes to how they will have a say in he race for the Democratic nomination.

Hope Hicks, a former top aide to Donald Trump during the campaign and in the White House, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee.

Beginning tomorrow in a British courtroom, the United States will begin the process of having Julian Assange extradited to the United States to face espionage and other charges.

President Trump says that he would not spy on a rival regime like North Korea, once again making one wonder where his loyalties lie.

While the scope of Federal power has expanded beyond the ken of the Framers, this is not an example.

President Trump says in a new interview that he would be willing to break the law to get “oppo research” on an opponent.

The President is once again claiming Executive Privilege to prevent Congress from getting access to certain documents.

A quadrennial reminder.

There isn’t a lot of legislating going on.

Amusing results, and a history lesson, in a new poll

A new poll shows the former Vice-President leading Senator Elizabeth Warren in her home state.

With the Trump Administration continuing to stonewall investigations, the House of Representatives is seeking to ramp up the pressure.

Almost eighteen years after the greatest terrorist attack on our country, we haven’t taken care of those who risked it all.

Recent comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel make it clear that the United States cannot be considered a neutral party In the Middle East peace process.