Outside the Beltway

He’s tan. He’s rested. He’s ready.

Throughout the War On Terror, John McCain stood out as a strong moral voice against the use of torture against prisoners. For that he deserves the thanks of a grateful nation.

A new poll shows that most Americans believe that race relations have gotten worse under President Trump.

Based on what can only be described as pure vindictiveness, the President is apparently planning on revoking security clearances of former officials who have been outspoken against the Administration and its policies.

President Trump’s short list of potential Supreme Court nominees consists mostly of conventionally conservative, well-qualified, jurists.

With two more weeks to go, there are plenty of “big” cases still awaiting the release of a decision.

With the start of the Singapore Summit just hours away, it’s not at all clear what the respective parties can possibly agree to other than what amounts to a photo opportunity.

“Winging it” isn’t how foreign policy should be made.

President Trump’s attorneys have put forward a shockingly expansive view of the powers of the President.

May’s jobs report was stronger than the previous two months, but not entirely great.

President Trump has issued another controversial pardon.

After the Ronny Jackson disaster, President Trump has made a new selection for Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

As expected, Gina Haspel was confirmed as C.I.A. Director yesterday despite her controversial record when it comes to torture.

Not surprisingly, the North Koreans are pushing back against American efforts to force them into a corner on denuclearization.

The Leader of the Free World is, sadly, enabling atrocities.

While longtime supporters have turned on the legendary attorney over his support of Donald Trump, he’s been astonishingly consistent.

Gina Haspel faced some tough questions from Democrats regarding her role in the C.I.A.’s post-9/11 torture programs, but she’s likely to be confirmed anyway.

Another one of Trump’s lawyers bites the dust, and hired someone with some very specific experience.

The United States is apparently looking to Libya as a guide for upcoming talks with North Korea. The DPRK most likely sees the fate of that nation and its leader as a warning.

General (Retired) Michael Hayden has some harsh, and concerning, criticisms of the Trump administration.

Instead of attending the White House Correspondents Association Dinner last night, Donald Trump took his show on the road where he continued his long-standing attacks on the press. Unfortunately, it’s a message that resonates with his supporters.

As has often been the case, the White House Correspondent’s Dinner is arousing some degree of controversy, mostly because of the comedy or lack thereof.

Hillary Clinton isn’t running for anything in 2018, but that isn’t stopping Republicans from running against her.

Barbara Bush, only the second woman in history to be the wife and mother of a U.S. President, has died at the age of 92.

In the wake of the latest attack on Syria, some of the President’s strongest supporters seem shocked to discover that the unprincipled egomaniac they supported is, in fact, an unprincipled egomaniac.

Out of the blue, President Trump plans to pardon Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff, but the move seems to have more to do with James Comey than it does Scooter Libby.

The Atlantic fired one of their few conservative voices for saying women who have abortions should be hanged. Was this beyond the pale?

The Trump presidency is the latest step in treating commentators like policy experts. It is all a manifestation of how the modern GOP is a populist party.

Polls released since the Parkland, Florida shooting show that support for gun control measures is at its highest level since 1993, but will it last?

The nominations of Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel could be in trouble in the Senate.

By all accounts, Gina Haspel is exceedingly well qualified to be the next C.I.A. Director, but she has a troubling past that the Senate will need to at least force her to answer questions about.

Rex Tillerson was an awful Secretary of State who simply had to go, It’s quite possible his successor will be an even greater disaster.

By threatening to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran, Donald Trump is making it far less likely that any upcoming talks with North Korea will succeed.

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

Staffers are fleeing the administration like rats from a sinking ship.

Presidents are much more constrained in issuing and rolling back regulations than they or the public think.

President Trump continues to make irresponsible and dangerous threats in connection with American policy toward North Korea.

Donald Trump’s own lawyers are afraid he can’t help but lie to such an extent that he should not sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller.

With Republicans fully in control in Washington, their concerns about the budget deficit seem to have disappeared.

The military options thus far presented for dealing with the DPRK have not been satisfying.

Robert Mueller’s investigators are looking at the President’s role in drafting a false statement regarding the June 2016 meeting between his son and a lawyer linked to the Russian government.

Yet another demand for a loyalty pledge from a law enforcement official by a President under investigation.

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

The Supreme Court heard argument today in a case challenging a 1992 law barring sports gambling in all but a handful of states, and the Justices appeared skeptical of the law.

A preemptive attack on North Korea would be illegal, immoral and, most importantly, insane.

A sign of hope that Alabama voters could end up rejecting the far-right theocratic politics of Roy Moore? Possibly.

While there are real differences between what’s being reported about White House officials such as Jared Kushner and what Hillary Clinton did, the charge of hypocrisy is well-founded.

Once again, Congress is abdicating its Constitutional responsibilities.

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