Outside the Beltway

Public misconceptions about federal waste invite tolerance for questionable workarounds to the constitutionally prescribed manner of determining appropriations.

Being nice at dinner is easy.

The Trump administration treats personally disfavored American institutions the way past administrations treated foreign adversaries. His goal is political submission.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

In particular in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case

Fifth Amendment edition.

Sad and strange circumstances have forced the Democratic party to become the conservative party now. It’s important to remind ourselves of what is good in our lives and what is worth defending. 

We are at least on the precipice.

A seemingly obvious ruling was nonetheless 5-4.

The unorthodox non-agency agency run by no one in particular may violate the basic rules of our system.

When does Executive overreach become something more?

The 47th President is flooding the zone.

Remember kids, DEI is the REAL racism

Just beyond parody at this point.

This could be a issue for common ground… if both sides are prepared to give a little

An entire Congressionally-created agency seems to have been shut down by fiat.

The courts will decide whether we have a President or a King.

Is it even a traditional “Buy Out” and is it already in conflict with OPM statutes?

You get what you vote for

Trying to upend 150 years of legal understanding with the stroke of a sharpie.

Today’s an appropriate on to think about the role of suffering in change

Going out on another unforced error

It is not ratified.

Eleven weeks with no accountability.

I question the timing.

Amending the Constitution with one simple trick.

We have crossed Putin’s red line.

The wrong solution for a real problem.

In which I agree with Trump about the problem, but NOT the solution

It’s neither unprecedented nor powerful. It doesn’t exist.

And the real destruction of mail-in ballots

Trump is significantly outpeforming his 2020 results in New York and Florida. It doesn’t matter.

Should military officers substitute their judgment for the Commander-in-Chief’s?

Perfectly sensible suggestions that are unconstitutional, politically infeasible, or both.

Spoiler: the same people often work at both

Taking a closer look at Cooper, Kelly, and Shapiro

Some interesting, if unworkable, ideas.

All of the legal remedies are impossible.

If only we knew why Mississippi chose to join the Confederacy…

A longstanding project inches forward.

It’s easy if you try.

A truly insane proposition.

Gregg Abbott is now defying the U.S. Supreme Court, forcing a showdown.

A literal Mexican stand-off.

I know a fireable offense when I see it.

This is the logical result of Trump’s legal arguments & that should give everyone pause

The Lawfare podcast offers a great primer on the eve of oral arguments