Outside the Beltway

Be clear on what one is defending.

Concepts, basic applications, and even a bibliography! Merry Festivus, everyone.

Big news in the war against a horrible virus.

A trial balloon hopefully made of lead.

Survivors and family members of the Pulse Nightclub attack have filed what amounts to a frivolous lawsuit.

The economy grew strongly in the third quarter of the year, but it doesn’t seem likely to last.

Republicans are afraid to oppose Donald Trump for fear that his supporters will come after them.

Ambassador Karlov is mostly likely not a modern day Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

The number of faithless electors was both historical and trivial.

Another attack in what has been a bloody 2016 for Europe.

While hardly the most compelling argument against an archaic institution, yesterday’s silliness was noteworthy.

Obama has issued more commutations than all his predecessors combined. He set the single-day record Monday.

Delegating the morning briefing to advisors isn’t actually that unusual.

The situation in the Middle East just potentially became much more complicated.

Trump will maintain some level of private security once in office.

Beginning late this morning, the Electors in each of the states will meet to carry out their Constitutional function. Despite the drama accompanying this year’s election, there’s likely to be far less drama than some people seem to be hoping for.

In the wake of the Democratic victory in the North Carolina Governor’s race, the Republican-controlled legislature has stripped the Governor’s office of significant power.

Wherein a law professor makes the absurd argument that the Electoral College, which exists pursuant to the Constitution, is unconstitutional.

To nobody’s surprise, Dylann Roof was convicted of the race-motivated murders in a Charleston church.

These are the possible outcomes (both probable and improbable).

Republicans sure have changed their mind about Vladimir Putin.

As we approach the vote, the fantasies keep coming.

The Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates for only the second time in a decade, but it still seems like it’s chasing an inflation monster that doesn’t exist.

Hillary Clinton’s national campaign wasn’t nearly as well-organized as we’d been led to believe.

Eliminating the department would mean parceling out most of its activities to other federal agencies, a sleight of hand maneuver that might create the appearance of smaller government but would disrupt the ordinary operations of the federal government. 

Congressional term limits are a good idea, but they are only a partial solution at best and may not be the best solution to the problems facing our political system.

A controversial member of George W. Bush’s foreign policy team is up for a post in Donald Trump’s State Department.

The head of the biggest energy company in the world is reportedly Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State.

Good thing the world is a static, simple place…