Outside the Beltway

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules that existing civil rights laws bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As with any such discretionary power given to police, it will surely be abused. But the Parkland shooting was yet another in a long line of situations where obvious “red flags” were ignored until it was too late.

After yesterday’s oral argument, the Supreme Court seems poised to deal a major blow to public-sector unions.

Daniel Triesman offers an explanation as to “Why the poor don’t vote to soak the rich.”

Democrats appear to have regained momentum in the Generic Congressional Ballot.

The Obama Administration called and wants its foreign policy back.

China’s Xi Jinping solidified his hold on power well into the next decade over the weekend.

The shipping giant FedEx is coming under serious pressure to sever its ties with the NRA. Its president has issued a strong statement as to why they won’t.

I don’t see how the state legislature making tax decisions on the basis of the public position an company takes is legal under the 14th Amendment. 

The Supreme Court has declined an invitation to intervene early in the legal arguments surrounding DACA.

New polls show increased support for various gun control measures, including limitations on so-called “assault weapons,” but that doesn’t mean we’re likely to see Congressional action on the subject.

Jonathan Bernstein thinks so and Chuck Todd and company outline a pretty strong case.

The President’s fecklessness here is incredible. Either take these people out of sensitive posts or take the responsibility for granting them waivers. 

President Trump’s job approval hits a new low.

Mark Levin says we’re “morons” and “illiterate in English” because we’ve quoted the NYT.

The octogenarian failed to get her party’s endorsement for a sixth term.

The President would like to copy Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy. The US Constitution stands in his way.

What is CPAC telling us about the contemporary conservative movement?

Salary-based definitions distort the conversation. And lifestyle-based definitions are a moving target.

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee have released a memo that completely eviscerates the memo prepared by Committee Chairman Devin Nunes.

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case that could prove crippling to public employee unions across the nation.

Mexico’s President canceled a visit to the United States for the second time since Donald Trump became President due to a continued disagreement over who will pay for Trump’s border wall.

Presidents are much more constrained in issuing and rolling back regulations than they or the public think.

A mass wave of mainland Chinese immigration to Australia has led to discrimination against Taiwanese expats there.

More than a dozen companies have ended relationships with the gun rights organization and protesters are demanding more follow suit.

Here’s one vote for ending this annoying practice.

Some thoughts on the biggest Marvel blockbuster yet. [Modest spoilers]

President Trump continues to make irresponsible and dangerous threats in connection with American policy toward North Korea.

Dave Schuler argues the US would have a much better healthcare system if we had modeled it on VA clinics rather than private insurance.

The Defense Department will reportedly recommend to President Trump that transgender members of the service currently serving in the military be allowed to continue serving.

An emerging technology will take “fake news” to a whole new level.

President Trump has announced a new round of sanctions against North Korea, but they are unlikely to work given the unrealistic nature of the Administration’s current policy toward North Korea.

The Mueller investigation moves forward.

If a law enforcement officer with 30 years of experience can’t stop an active school shooter, what makes anyone think a teacher with a gun can?

An emergency room physician explains why “assault rifle” wounds are much harder to treat than shots from a pistol.

I’ve noticed in the last day or two that, suddenly, all of Google’s search services have gotten ridiculously worse.

Since the Supreme Court handed down its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller four separate Federal appellate courts have ruled that state and local laws banning “assault weapons” do not violate the Second Amendment.

Continuing a long-standard tradition, the Trump Administration claims it doesn’t need to get legal authorization to keep American troops in Syria.

National Security Adviser H.L. McMaster is the latest person rumored to be considering moving on from the Trump Administration.

President Trump is pressing the idea of arming teachers to stop shootings in schools.

The U.S. Army is once again embroiled in an internecine fight over hats.

The students who survived last week’s mass shooting in Parkland, Florida are speaking out, and some on the right are responding by engaging in personal attacks and spreading conspiracy theories.

A new poll suggests that Republicans would get the blame if Congress fails to pass a bill to protect DACA beneficiaries.

While the glass ceiling in high-level posts was shattered decades ago, men still dominate the field.

Billy Graham was the son of a North Carolina farmer who grew up to become a counselor to Presidents, Prime Ministers, and even a Queen.