Outside the Beltway

Foolishly, President Trump is rolling back part of President Obama’s opening to Cuba.

Maryland and the District of Columbia are suing President Trump based on alleged violations of two provisions of the Constitution that have never been litigated before.

President Trump is reportedly considering at least partly reversing one of the great foreign policy successes of the Obama Presidency.

Some thoughts on presidential interruptions.

President Trump’s speech on Islam was a change of tone. However, as critics noted, it was short on substance and is unlikely to accomplish anything.

#RulesMatter

The infamous former sheriff and current Trump Homeland Security official committed academic fraud.

A Constitutional coup d’etat is not the way to solve the Donald Trump problem.

South Korea has elected a new President who breaks with his impeached predecessor in favoring dialogue with the North.

How close to success is the National Popular Vote initiative? (Spoiler alert: not close).

As usual, an attempt to explain congressional behavior brings us back to the issue of our basic institutions. The way we elect congress matters.

Wayne LaPierre’s perverted view of the world in two sentences.

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

By a narrow margin, Turks voted for some significant changes.

The tiny Balkan nation of Montenegro is set to become the latest member of the NATO alliance despite the fact that there is seemingly no good reason for it.

More evidence of ties between the Trump campaign and Russian interests.

Two more losses for the Trump Administration.

South Korea removes a corrupt leader by peaceful means.

Well, at least someone has a backbone.

Another judicial slap at the Trump Administration.

As with so many things, the President is demonstrating that he really doesn’t know what he is doing.

A movement motivated by hurt and fear turned into a political force eight years ago. Can another follow suit?

A speech traditionally used to unite was instead a continuation of a divisive campaign.

A potentially controversial commutation from President Obama today.

Be clear on what one is defending.

Concepts, basic applications, and even a bibliography! Merry Festivus, everyone.

The number of faithless electors was both historical and trivial.

Trump will maintain some level of private security once in office.

Wherein a law professor makes the absurd argument that the Electoral College, which exists pursuant to the Constitution, is unconstitutional.

Those who voted for him thinking he would be guided or controlled by more sober individuals or that he would start acting presidential once elected: you were wrong.

Democracy produces good rulers, right?  Sometimes.  What good democracies actually produce best is good losers. Let us then be grateful for gracious losers, for our losers no less than our winners carry forward the American experiment in self-rule.  

Donald Trump is not Adolf Hitler. But that’s not the standard.

The President-elect lost the popular vote. Legally, that is the way that is it. This is a disgrace for “the Greatest Democracy in the World.”

Despite resentments, power will transition peacefully from President Obama to President Trump. We should be thankful for that rather than protesting it.

Americans are rioting in the streets because they don’t like the outcome of a democratic election.

Obama v. Trump in handling protesters at rallies (and a helping of untruth from Trump).

For better or worse, the third Presidential debate will largely be remembered for one thing.

Wherein an initial attempt to understand something seen on Facebook leads to ruminations on religious liberty.

The Republican nominee is threatening our fragile democracy.

The reputation of the US matters in global affairs.

There’s nothing compasssionate about protectionism.

Basic trust in process is essential for democratic governance to function and major party nominees ought not be undercutting that trust for cynical gain.