Outside the Beltway

CNN reports that the Interior Secretary, who claims to be a “geologist,” merely has a geology degree.

Not surprisingly, a joint Senate Committee failed to really lay a glove on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at yesterday’s hearing.

Mississippi’s Governor has chosen a replacement for Thad Cochran, but the White House isn’t too happy about the pick.

What the heck is going on in Kentucky and Tennessee?

John Bolton is leading a cry for preemptive war against North Korea.

Following yesterday’s move by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart has raised the age for all gun sales to 21.

The tragedy in Florida last week revealed once again how hyperpartisanship is destroying our politics and harming the country.

The White House’s immigration plan is facing opposition in both chambers of Congress from moderate and conservative Republicans alike.

It’s been seven years since Congress eliminated earmarking, and what we’ve seen has provided good evidence for the argument that it should never have been eliminated.

The Trump Administration is reversing policy on an Obama Era policy that allowed states to choose their own course on marijuana laws.

Republicans passed their tax bill yesterday. What that means for the economy and the 2018 midterms is another question.

Roy Moore’s loss in Alabama is bringing out into the open a civil war that has been going on for seven years now.

The longest-serving member of the House has retired amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Senate passed a tax cut bill last night, but it leaves a lot to be desired.

On North Korea, there are two options, deterrence and war. And only one of those options makes sense.

A new poll shows that a record majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support legalization of marijuana.

Roy Moore’s victory in Alabama is raising fears of a wider battle in the Republican Party heading into 2018.

Despite, or perhaps because of, his bigoted, radical, far-right positions on the issues, Roy Moore beat the sitting Senator from Alabama in a runoff election that essentially guarantees that he will win the General Election later this year.

The latest effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act appears to be dead.

More evidence of apparent Russian-backed efforts to interfere in the election.

The GOP’s effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act appears to suffer a fatal blow as Senator John McCain announced his opposition to what is the last gasp of that effort in the Senate.

Senate Republicans have ten days to act on their last-ditch attempt to ‘repeal and replace’ Obamacare, and it’s not at all clear if they have the votes to do so.

Sarah Palin’s lawsuit against The New York Times suffers a significant setback.

Another escalation on the Korean peninsula.

Seven years of rhetoric on health care reform ended early this morning with a narrow vote on a bill that even Republicans didn’t really support.

In a vote close enough to require the Vice-President to cast a tie-breaking vote, the Senate voted to proceed to debate on a health care bill even though nobody seems to know what bill they’ll ultimately be voting on.

The Senate isn’t giving up in its efforts to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act, despite the fact that it seems clear that the votes aren’t there.

What looks like it will be the Senate GOP’s last effort on the issue of health care reform died less than a day after being put on the table.

With the defection of two more Senators, the latest effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act has gone down in flames.

The Senate GOP’s effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act is headed for a bumpy ride.

More provocation from Pyongyang.

Sarah Palin has filed a defamation suit against The New York Times alleging defamation in an Editorial linking her to the January 2011 shooting of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. From the facts alleged, she appears to have a good case.

Once again, Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to attack women, embarrass himself, and embarrass the nation he purports to represent.

Once again, a bad CBO score is casting doubt on a Republican health care reform bill.

The Senate GOP health care reform care bill faces a crucial week, and things aren’t looking good.

Senate Republicans released their proposed health care plan this morning, but it could already be doomed.

Puerto Rican voters voted overwhelmingly for statehood yesterday in a referendum whose legitimacy is being questioned due to boycotts by opposition parties.

Soon visitors to the White House will be able to see Donald Trump’s “yuge” election win on display for all to see.

By the barest of margins, the House passed its bill repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, but the future of that bill is highly uncertain.

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party is set to follow through on a campaign promise.

Whether you call it TrumpCare, RyanCare, or GOPCare, the Republican replacement for the PPACA isn’t very impressive.

The President’s choice for Labor Secretary withdrew his name from consideration yesterday, but this is just the latest example of what has been a transition that has largely consisted of fumble after fumble by the Trump team.

Independent of the current controversy surrounding President Trump’s immigration order, Republicans in Congress are looking at a plan to break up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Despite two Republican defections, Betsy DeVos was confirmed today as Secretary of Education.

President Trump hinted today that he’s likely to name his Supreme Court choice next week, and the list to appears have narrowed to three men.

What is the deal with the love-fest for Julian Assange?

The fight for marijuana legalization advances in California.