Outside the Beltway

Come for the shots fired at the cabinet, stay for the weird digression.

Democrats are considerably less happy with their party than are Republicans.

Brought to you by the “America First” crowd.

Another win for big donors.

The disconnect between perception and reality about elections.

The heavy metal legend has passed at 76.

Looking backwards in the energy sector.

They’re talking a big game now, but they’ll likely bend a knee. Again.

Senate Republicans are balking at several measures, but fixing those would make passage in the House impossible.

Maybe they weren’t serious about fiscal discipline after all?

Well, most of them.

The GOP budget bill.

So little art; not really any deal.

Facts are stubborn things.

Trump’s weird rhetoric on trade.

Or they maybe happening at 10%… Who knows?! Clearly not the White House.

Just in case that wasn’t already obvious.

If this is American greatest, I prefer it when things were “going to hell.”

We are about to find out the degree to which trade wars are good and easy to win.

Spoiler alert: This is going to be a disaster

Small cruelties can add up to far larger ones.

A year-long Continuing Resolution or bust?

Deciphering the meaning of a vague slogan.

The efficiency is something to behold.

Unfortunately it is a destructive one.

We deserve better than clowns giving political commentary.

It certainly isn’t how the US Constitution functions.

More immigration politics.

Legions of unpaid drones . . . ? . . . budget cuts.

Oligarchy and populism don’t mix.

Turning a campaign slogan into policy.

Not a lot of true competition on my ballot in Alabama.

Elon is on record warning Trump supporters to be prepared for “temporary hardship”

Plus some thoughts on mass deportation.

A modest disturbance in the force.

The 45th President and the press, part a million.

Or, more accurately, Trump-o-Nonsense

Is it the press’s responsibility to turn nonsense into sense?

Whatever that means anymore.

The slide continues.

Gaming the appointment process.

Sally Buzzee is out and the staff is “pissed.” Readers will likely notice no difference.

Voters in Mexico, India, and South Africa are making their voices heard.

Most of the biggest countries in the world have birth rates below replacement level.

Are we betraying the Founders?

Five months too late, we’re back to the Biden-McCarthy deal.

Here we go again.

Will wonders never cease?

And the intuition that things aren’t really working.

A David Brooks column inspires some thoughts.