Outside the Beltway

The President’s new attempt to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military is as legally defective as the original ban was.

The President issued an incredibly confusing order that contradicts the advice of his generals and is probably illegal.

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

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

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.

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.

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. 

The recent cooling of relations between North and South Korea has led to some talk of eventual reunification, but for many South Koreans that idea is a non-starter.

President Trump has alienated America’s allies and friends, and they are acting accordingly.

Transgender Americans will be able to enlist in the military beginning January 1st thanks to a ruling from a Federal District Court Judge.

After a long wait, gays and lesbians in Australia have achieved marriage equality.

A huge loss for the world of Rock & Roll.

A Fox News host has debunked the Uranium One conspiracy theory being pushed by his own network.

An overwhelming majority of Australians voted in favor of marriage equality in a non-binding referendum. The ball is now in the court of the nation’s legislature to move forward.

President Trump returns home from an Asian trip that wasn’t exactly impressive.

Since taking office, President Trump has made an average of 5.5 false claims per day.

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

Ending a mission that began when it was launched nearly twenty years ago, the Cassini probe was sent into Saturn’s atmosphere to perform one final task.

Sixteen Senators are backing a single-payer system. Another forty-four to go.

At a time when our alliance is more important than ever, President Trump is responding by attacking our ally.

President Trump’s effort to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military faces two new legal challenges.

The Trump Administration has reportedly finalized its order to the Defense Department regarding a ban on military service by transgender soldiers.

Just about two weeks after being announced, the President’s proposed ban on military service by transgender troops is being challenged in Court.

Things are getting far more complicated on the Korean Peninsula. Diplomacy isn’t working, and a military option would most likely lead to disaster.

The President has endorsed a bill that would cut legal immigration in half.

A step backward on civil rights from a President who claimed he would be a friend to the LGBT community.

Donald Trump has been President for nearly four months, but has yet to name Ambassadorial picks for many slots including several important posts.

Has China finally had enough of North Korea?

A warning to North Korea.

In a closer than normal vote for the position, Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State.

The mystery of what happened aboard Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 may remain at the bottom of the Indian Ocean forever.

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

A new report concludes that Malaysia Air Flight 17 was brought down by a missile brought into Ukraine from Russia.

Despite being much more conveniently located for viewers in the United States, viewership for the just-concluded Olympics were the lowest they’ve been in sixteen years.

More saber rattling from Pyongyang.

China’s economy is still growing, but it’s most recently reported growth rate is slower than the nation has seen in quite some time.

America’s much touted international coalition against ISIS is, essentially a Coalition In Name Only.

Virginia Democrats tried to capture control of the Virginia State Senate by, in part, emphasizing gun control issues. The fact that they failed is instructive.

Will Canada ditch FPTP?

A new poll shows an up-tick in public support for some gun control measures, but gun control advocates can’t ignore the political reality that says those restrictions are unlikely to ever become law.

A Dutch inquiry has largely confirmed what was widely believed about the fate of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

Obama’s first Secretary of State has come out against Obama’s Trans Pacific Partnership.

In the past month, the Chinese stock market has lost more than 1/3 of its value.

PolitiFact rates President Obama’s claim that other countries don’t have mass shootings at rates comparable to America”Mostly False.”

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.