Outside the Beltway

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.

The Democratic frontrunner is being wrongly blamed for an explosion in the prison population.

Jack Goldsmith pushed back on “over the top” reaction to the AG’s handling of the Mueller report.

In case anyone needs a refresher.

The principal findings of the Mueller report are now public. They’re good news for the President on Russia and a mixed bag on obstruction.

Last November the state voted overwhelming to amend its constitution. The lawmakers they elected at the same time are sabotaging it.

The business of the news is business–and it’s a weird business.

Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are the most famous of dozens of rich folks trying to get their kids into elite schools.

The relatively light sentence that Paul Manafort received is raising eyebrows. Hopefully it will lead to a long-overdue debate on sentencing reform.

For the fourth time since the 2008 election cycle, Michael Bloomberg flirted with the idea of running for President. For the fourth time, he declined to do so.

The Supreme Court issued a ruling that places new limits on civil asset forfeiture by state and local government.

Before even taking office, Mitt Romney is taking on the President. It’s a good sign, but we’ll see what it leads to.

A preliminary report from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan found at least 500 Catholic Priests whose abuse of children had been covered up by Church officials.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed major reforms in Federal sentencing and related laws. As the name of the bill implies, it’s a first step, but a good first step.

Senator Mitch McConnell and others are blocking a criminal justice reform bill currently pending in the Senate.

Cory Booker’s interest in running for President has been an open secret for some time, now he’s being far less coy about it.

Later this week, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could rewrite decades of law interpreting the Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy rule.

The Supreme Court appears ready to impose at least some limits on civil asset forfeiture at the state level.

Yesterday. the Supreme Court heard argument in a case that makes the argument that nearly half of Oklahoma is actually Native American territory.

The European Union has approved the final Brexit deal negotiated with Theresa May’s government, but the final chapter has yet to be written.

Who’s John Delaney? Well, he’s a Congressman from Maryland who’s apparently running for President.

Florida voters approved an amendment to the state’s Constitution that will restore the voting rights of as many as 1.2 million ex-felons and make it easier for future released felons to get their civil rights back.

Last week, the Washington State Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. The latest in a string of victories for opponents of capital punishment.

California is taking a major step in Criminal Justice reform by eliminating cash bail.

Another step forward in the seemingly unstoppable movement toward nationwide legalization.

We may finally get a ruling applying the Excessive Fine Clause to the states and limiting the ability of police to confiscate property.

An inordinate amount of cruelty is being perpetrated in the name of border security. It’s only partly the fault of the current President.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that reaffirmed a principle that should be axiomatic, namely the idea that a Defendant has the sole authority to decide whether or not to concede guilt.

Unable to get his way with the legislature, New York’s governor is taking a provocative step.

Dan Drezner notes some challenges on this topic, and I add some of my own thoughts.

Wisconsin-Stevens Point is shuttering 13 majors, including English, history, political science and sociology while expanding more job-oriented programs.

The circumstantial case for corruption by Kushner is growing.

The octogenarian failed to get her party’s endorsement for a sixth term.

Donald Trump is without question the pettiest, most vindictive person to ever occupy the Oval Office.

In his time as President, Donald Trump has demonstrated as much contempt for the rule of law as he did as a candidate.

A race for the Virginia House of Delegates straight out of a civics book.

A Massachusetts teenager faces 20 years in prison for contributing to her boyfriend’s suicide via text message.

An assessment of the 45th President’s first 100 days.

The Supreme Court made it harder for states to keep fines and other payments in cases where defendants are exonerated.

A military judge has rejected a motion to dismiss the case against Bowe Bergdahl based on comments made by Donald Trump when he was a candidate for President.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer hinted that the Federal Government may stop giving deference to states that have legalized marijuana.

After a highly contentious nomination process, Jeff Sessions was confirmed last night as the new Attorney General of the United States.

A potentially controversial commutation from President Obama today.

Public defenders in New Mexico are overworked, underfunded, and outmatched, but then that’s true pretty much everywhere in the country.

Obama has issued more commutations than all his predecessors combined. He set the single-day record Monday.

Despite a video that clearly shows what appears to be cold-blooded murder, the trial of a South Carolina cop who shot an African-American man in the back while he ran away ended in a hung jury. Fortunately, this isn’t the end of the road.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is speaking out against several of President-Elect Trump’s proposed Cabinet nominees.

The fight for marijuana legalization advances in California.