Outside the Beltway

His attacks are, in fact, the best case for tenure.

Drug smuggling edition.

Counting is not necessarily as straightforward as it may seem.

Barbados provides an illustration of a frequently misunderstood concept.

A possible murder plot in Colombia embedded into a problematic multi-decade narrative.

The Biden admin is about to take a demilitarized group off the terrorist list and some people aren’t happy about it.

Several stories for your consumption.

Behind the CDC’s messaging debacle.

SLT talking Colombia.

More voice, more votes, more representation.

A problematically wide-open election in difficult times.

A bizarre case of bureaucratic ineptitude.

How well do single-seat districts lead to representation? (And of what?)

A story that is both unserious and yet emblematic of our age in a serious way.

Some reflections

Let me point you to a reform proposal.

Granted, there are more than two. But from a political science/political history POV, these two stick out in my mind.

But, still very bad.

Considering Breonna Taylor’s death, police shootings, and human rights.

Pondering lack of US interest in our friends to the south.

The pandemic is having serious effects in the region, and they will persist for some time.

In recent weeks the US has ramped-up pressure on Maduro.

Lack of control of label is lack of control, ultimately, of a party.

In the US, the candidate defines the party, not the other way around.

More of the wit and wisdom of the 45th President of the United States.

With his attempt to overthrow the government clearly a failure, Juan Guaidó is back to calling for foreign military intervention in Venezuela.

The ongoing apparent attempted coup in Venezuela is already leading to talk of American intervention in the event of a crackdown. That would be unwise and unjustified.

“If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition…” — James Mattis

A lesson from Puerto Rico and further reasons why the EC is a problem.

Some context for ongoing discussions.

The key remains the military.

American military intervention in Venezuela would make the situation in that country worse, not better.

US policy is creating nonconstructive confrontation.

The self-appointed Acting President of Venezuela has said he doesn’t rule out the idea of American intervention in his country, but we should rule it out immediately.

The situation in Venezuela entered a new stage yesterday as opposition leader Juan Guaidó claimed the nation’s Presidency.

Carlos Sanchez, who portrayed Juan Valdez the unofficial ambassador of Colombian coffee for some 30 years, has died at the age of 83.

The NYT is trying to start a conversation.

Part III is here (a lot sooner than Part II was).

Republicans have set a Judiciary Committee vote for less than a day after hearing from Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

A significant advance for LGBT rights in the world’s most populous democracy.

Thankfully, they chose not to help.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro survived an apparent, albeit amateurish, assassination attempt yesterday in what could be a sign of underlying instability in Venezuela.

Donald Trump had to be talked down from considering military intervention in Venezuela.

A thoughtful liberal argues the Justice has “altered and destroyed his legacy” by allowing Donald Trump to appoint his successor.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a populist from the left, rode a wave of populism and public disdain for the outgoing President to a landslide win in Mexico

Colombia is currently choosing its next president.

President Trump is not being bold on drugs. Instead, he is just recycling old, failed idea.

A photo in honor of Colombian congressional elections this weekend.