Outside the Beltway

WIth the top two candidates in the race on the same stage, the second night of the first Democratic debate was much feistier than the first night.

Democrats clashed, to some degree, in last night’s inaugural debate of the 2020 season but they clearly agreed far more than they disagreed.

There are children being held in what amount to internment camps on the southern border under appallingly bad conditions and the President is more concerned with falsely blaming his predecessor for the problem.

The Democratic Socialist wants to absorb $1.6 trillion of student debt.

The latest is about deportations

Another woman has accused President Trump of sexually assaulting her some 20 years ago.

Despite his claims, President Trump is actually deporting fewer people than were deported under former President Obama.

Congress is considering a bill that would establish a commission to examine the issue of reparations for slavery.;

As we head toward a potential crisis in the Persian Gulf, the consequences of the President’s lies are coming home to roost.

Tensions are increasing in the Persian Gulf as the Iran war hawks seem to be winning the battle for the President’s support.

President Trump says that he would not spy on a rival regime like North Korea, once again making one wonder where his loyalties lie.

As the Supreme Court enters the final weeks of its term, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hints at deep divisions and disappointment for people on the left.

At least some conservatives appear to finally be recognizing that their movement has been taken over by grifters and frauds. The only question is, what took them so long?

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would extend protection to DACA beneficiaries and other Dreamers, but it’s likely to die in the Senate.

The original ‘scandal’ was silly. The follow-up is sillier.

While the drumbeat for impeachment of the President continues on the left, political reality suggests caution.

Justice Clarence Thomas is seemingly putting to rest any reports that he’s considering retiring in the near future.

His colum in WaPo isn’t very good.

For the first time since being appointed Special Counsel, Robert Mueller spoke to the media regarding his report on the Russia investigation. The news was not good for the President.

Mitch McConnell has had an unsurprising change of heart on the issue of Senate consideration of Supreme Court nominees in a Presidential election year.

Hypocritical? Sure. Surprising? No.

Most of us define ourselves largely through our jobs. That’s increasingly a problem.

A Federal Judge in Mississippi has blocked Mississippi’s law that purports to ban abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat.

A Federal Judge has put at least a partial hold on President’s Trump’s effort to use a “national emergency” to fund his border wall.

At some point, what we call conservatism turned into a racket. It’s not surprising that this led directly to Trump.

The size of the Democratic Presidential field, combined with other things peculiar to the way Democrats pick their nominee, is leading some to wonder if we might see a brokered convention in 2020.

Some 2020 Democratic hopefuls are turning to a surprising source for counsel.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt another legal setback to the Trump Administration’s efforts to end the DACA program,

Republican Congressman Justin Amash has always been a rebel within his own party, now he’s making that even more apparent.

A new poll indicates that at least some Democrats continue to hold Biden’s 2002 vote in favor of the Iraq War.

Two youngish Rhodes Scholars turned mayors are getting covered differently.

Other than confirming a lot of Trump Judges, the Senate has not been getting much work done so far this year.

Patrick Shanahan, who has been serving as Acting Defense Secretary since James Mattis left in December, is being selected to replace Mattis in that position.

Two weeks into his campaign, Joe Biden continues to build an impressive lead in polling at the state and national levels.

While he campaigned on a message of restraint, Donald Trump has largely adopted the interventionist foreign policies of his predecessors.

Despite poll numbers suggesting otherwise, one political analyst suggests that the United States may not be “ready” for a gay President.

There’s a lot of talk right now about “electability.” but what the heck does it mean?

Another post-announcement poll brings good news for the former Vice-President, but there’s a long way to go.

The IRS is outgunned.

There’s some very good news for Joe Biden in the first polls taken after he entered the Presidential race.

A new poll shows that a majority of Americans say they won’t vote for President Trump in 2020. but that’s only half the battle for Democrats

A law professor asks some interesting questions, but ultimately not the right ones.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden had a very successful first day when it comes to campaign fundraising.

The Trump Administration’s policies toward Iran aren’t going to work, but that’s because they aren’t supposed to work.

He’s tan. He’s rested. He’s ready. But is the Democratic Party going to buy what Joe Biden is selling?

Trump campaign officials are worried about the President’s chances of holding onto a state that was crucial to his win in 2020. They should be.

A Federal Appeals Court has rejected Chelsea Manning’s bid to be released from jail notwithstanding her refusal to comply with a Grand Jury Subpoena.

An argument for an exception to the style guides.

Pete Buttigieg is getting a lot of attention for a relatively unknown candidate. but it’s unclear if it can last.

Donald Trump speaks largely just to his base, ignoring the nation as a whole. Whether this will be enough to win re-election in 2020 is an open question.