Outside the Beltway

The Trump Administration is seeking to overhaul the food stamps program.

Intelligence officials are warning that the Russians are set to seek to influence the 2018 elections just as they did in 2016. Despite this, the Trump Administration refuses to acknowledge this publicly while the President seeks to undermine the investigation into past Russian interference.

A Federal Court in New York City is set to hear argument tomorrow in a case that essentially argues that a large swath of Federal laws regarding marijuana are unconstitutional.

Women voters are turning decidedly against Donald Trump, this could pose problems for Republican in 2018 and beyond.

The only reason March 5th is “our last chance” at a DACA deal is if Trump makes it so.

If Trump is able to insist upon a package deal or no deal at all, he may muck up his chance of policy success, but it may be the Democrats who lose politically.

The Tea Party is dead, but it was never really alive to begin with.

Two classic pieces of American Literature have been banned from the curriculum in Duluth, Minnesota. This is a mistake.

Republicans spent the eight years of Obama Administration railing against fiscal irresponsibility. Now that they have power, they’re the ones being fiscally irresponsible.

Expecting North Korea to agree to diplomatic talks that are aimed at getting rid of their nuclear weapons is asking for the impossible, and ensuring there will be no progress on the diplomatic front for the foreseeable future.

Combining universal and mandatory (and free) college-board exams with a program for targeting college recruitment of disadvantaged groups could–if coupled with a commensurate financial commitment by the state to such groups–go some distance in bringing more qualified economically disadvantaged groups into higher education. 

One of the main objections that many on the right seem to have to proposals to legalize DACA beneficiaries and other illegal immigrants is the idea that they could eventually become citizens. There’s no good reason they shouldn’t be able to do so.

The Judge presiding over a case dealing with Trump’s proposed border wall expressed doubts about the project. The President will no doubt be irked by the identity of that Judge.

More than a year into the Trump Presidency, dozens of White House personnel lack proper security clearances.

Friday’s eight-hour shutdown was not the non-event it seemed from the outside.

President Trump spoke up about the spousal abuse charges against his former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. His response was entirely predictable.

As Brexit negotiations go on and the consequences of Britain leaving the European Union become clearer, some Britons are starting to ask for a chance at a second referendum.

Donald Trump has blocked the release of a memo prepared by House Intelligence Committee Democrats to rebut the Nunes memo. It’s hard not to see this as a blatantly partisan move.

WaPo is overhyping things a bit.

President Trump is reportedly considering replacing his chief of staff. Again.

Yet another top Trump administration official has resigned.

Bret Stephens thinks so.

The Rob Porter story, which is quickly becoming the Rob Porter scandal, tells us a lot about the Trump White House, and none of it is good.

My latest for RealClearDefense.

While most of America slept, the government was shutdown thanks to some faux theatrics by a single Senator.

Today in an increasingly liberal, educated, globalized, and democratic world, we have more reason than ever to listen to the opinion of our peers and, where appropriate, to be open to their counsel.

A Federal Judge In Kansas has blocked enforcement of a state law barring anyone who does business with the state from engaging in a boycott of Israel.

Contrary to the claims that were made by conservatives and Trump supporters before its release, the memo prepared by Congressman Devin Nunes has done nothing to undermine the Russia investigation.

Congress seems likely to pass a budget deal today that will massively increase spending, putting to rest once and for all the rank hypocrisy of Republicans when it comes to claims that they are “fiscally conservative.”

Yesterday’s Falcon Heavy Launch was a near-complete success and another amazing advance in the race to the stars.

Administration officials are admitting that it’s likely that Russia will try to interfere in the midterm elections just as it did in 2016, but they don’t seem inclined to do anything about it.

Of course Donald Trump wants a military parade, it would be consistent with his delusions of grandeur.

Last week, the President was calling for national unity. This week, he called political opponents “treasonous.”

Congress appears to be moving closer to a budget deal even as the President tries to throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing.

The rise of ‘car sharing’ services has greatly benefitted consumers but had a devastating effect on taxi drivers.

Recent polls have caused Republicans to become more optimistic about their chances in this year’s midterms. That optimism is both premature and misplaced.

In a healthy democracy we need not agree, nor must we finally even respect one another’s objects of devotion.  But we should exercise a salutary measure of mutual forbearance and be willing to acknowledge that no side has a monopoly on either truth or justice.

Poland’s President has signed a controversial bill that purports to criminalize any effort to tie Poland to the Holocaust.

Michele Bachmann asked God if she should run for the U.S. Senate. Apparently, she got an answer.

A new poll indicates that most Americans support a DACA deal, but don’t think it should be linked to measures to avoid a government shutdown.

Donald Trump spent much of the past year touting the rising stock market, now he’s getting a lesson in reality.

President Trump has harsh words for Democrats who didn’t applaud his SOTU.

Donald Trump’s own lawyers are afraid he can’t help but lie to such an extent that he should not sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller.

In the United States, in contrast, the judgment citizens hold of the media, along increasingly with everything else, turns on one’s identification with a political tribe. 

With Republicans fully in control in Washington, their concerns about the budget deficit seem to have disappeared.