Outside the Beltway

Some discussion of history, politics, and policy.

It’s going to be a long four years.

Was Marbury v. Madison a mistake?

Who are you going to believe, the WSJ or your lying eyes?

Well, more than two…

A longstanding project inches forward.

Trump is giving aid and comfort to insurrectionists.

Punditry, complexity, and democracy.

It’s easy if you try.

If so, he’ll almost surely win bigly.

The Supreme Court has effectively derailed the main criminal case against the likely Republican nominee.

A truly insane proposition.

A narrow ruling in a civil case could have huge consequences.

The inevitable threats to remove Biden from the ballot emerge.

Really not much to add on this one

A compelling document.

Some historical context.

Trump betrayed his oath. That should disqualify him from office. That’s the whole point of section 3 of the 14th.

Another state has declared him an insurrectionist.

He appointed a third of the Justices but has the worst record before them in modern history.

A few predictions that are going to disappoint just about everyone.

A historic ruling likely to be overturned.

It’s going to be up to the American people to keep Trump out of the White House.

State election officials are standing by for challenges to Trump’s right to run.

One weird trick could save us from Trump.

The justices declined to review a bizarre 4th Circuit decision.

There’s been a load of compromising.

Because screw the other students.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats are happy. But one man is.

Either it’s a public forum or it’s not.

When we do it, it’s negotiation. When they do it, it’s hostage taking—and terrorism.

A silly workaround to an infuriating problem that won’t go away.

A pending Supreme Court ruling could be more impactful than many realize.

The January 6 Committee recommends invoking the Insurrection Clause.

Congress is poised to legislate protections previously mandated by the courts.

The court, rightly, punted the issue to Congress and local leaders.

The investigation produced mounds of evidence. Will it matter?

Another example of why the filibuster needs to go.

The symbolic vote attracted a handful of Republican votes.

Who should have the final say on the law of the land?

Assuming they had the votes, should Democrats carve out yet another exception?

A provision of the 14th Amendment to keep Civil War generals out of office is back in play.

It doesn’t add up.

American exceptionalism at its worst. (Plus some history!).

A long-overdue change appears to be happening.

Here we go again.

A defensible distinction could give way to a Constitutional crisis.

The Lone Star state is making up its own rules.

A feminist icon offers some advice her allies will not want to hear.