Outside the Beltway

Americans don’t trust their government or each other. There’s no reason to hope it’ll get better.

Donald Trump remains firmly at the top of of the GOP field in what is likely one of the last polls of the GOP race for 2015.

A political cartoonist for The Washington Post crossed a line and, rightfully, got condemned for it.

People don’t much care whether information supporting their prejudices is true.

Marco Rubio has been getting a lot of love lately from both conservatives and so-called ‘establishment’ Republicans, but his seemingly meager ground game in early states is raising doubts about his campaign.

A Colorado Republican Congressman has introduced a resolution meant to involve our nation’s representatives in the non-existent ‘War On Christmas.’

As longtime OTB readers may have noticed, I’m not writing much these days.

Sarah Palin has joined such luminaries as Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, and former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke in endorsing Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim immigration plan.

The Director of the F.B.i. told Congress today that the San Bernardino shooters were apparently radicalized much earlier than previously believed.

The probability that the shootings in San Bernardino were at least inspired by ISIS and/or other Jihadist terror networks is increasing.

Different criteria than in the past, but there may not be much of a change in the participants.

A collection of material that tries to separate the facts of the U.S. Syrian refugee screen process from the fear, myth, paranoia, and xenophobia.

Remarks by a Democratic politician in Virginia regarding the Administration’s Syrian refugee program have brought up disturbing reminders of a shameful time in American history.

In the wake of the attacks in Paris, some people have argued that American solidarity with France, in contrast to seeming disregard for tragedy elsewhere, is something we should feel bad about. That argument is ridiculous.

The news that at least some of the men who were involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris were among the refugees who have arrived in Europe since the summer is likely to complicate an already complicated situation.

France’s President blames ISIS, vows response, as death toll from Paris terror attacks stands at at least 127.

You may not be aware, but your local Starbucks is the new front in the ‘War On Christmas.’

Ben Carson’s campaign now admits that he fabricated a key portion of his biography.

As Ben Carson rises in the polls, it’s worth noting his many examples of having what can only be called a very odd relationship with truth and the basic facts of history.

While it did draw 14 million viewers, last night’s CNBC debate had the smallest audience of any Presidential debate so far. That was probably a good thing for CNBC considering how bad the debate was.

From now on, you’ll just have to read it for the articles.

When may I shoot a student?

Most of the Republican candidates for President would rather support a lawbreaker than the Rule of Law. The American people should judge them accordingly.

International relations prof mostly assign readings by male scholars. Female profs are slightly less likely to do so.

A reporter and cameraman for a local television station were killed, and a third person wounded, live on the air this morning.

Thanks to $500,000, Rand Paul bought himself a caucus so he can run for two offices at once.

Last night reinforced what I thought about some candidates and changed what I think about others.

Donald Trump is center stage, John Kasich is in, and Rick Perry is relegated to the kid’s table.

Donald Trump’s campaign seems to be making a play for whatever portion of the GOP it may be that still likes Sarah Palin.

Tragedy in Tennessee.

A good first step, but there’s a lot more than needs to be done to reform the criminal justice system.

Things that make you go hmmmm…..

An important tenet of the internet is “don’t read the comments.” Well, I have violated that rule of late–which means more musings on the symbols of the CSA.

It’s been obvious from the moment the news broke that the murders in Charleston were rooted in racism, but some Republicans have had trouble acknowledging that.

The nine-year-old ‘Army Strong’ ad campaign is ended.

A word that has come in recent years to be used to refer chiefly to Muslim fanatics obviously applies to a man who murdered nine people because they’re black.

Nine people died overnight in a shooting at an historic African-American Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

This should be the end of this story, but it probably won’t be.

The head of the Spokane NAACP has apparently been lying about her racial background, and that’s led to a whole other argument.

So much for freedom of speech.

Lincoln Chafee began his bizarre run for the Presidency in the strangest way possible.

The Supreme Court has narrowed the means by which Federal prosecutors can prosecute someone for making statements online that could be perceived as threats.

Starting tomorrow, we can expect to see the Supreme Court hand down decisions in some of its most high profile cases. Here’s a preview.

Los Angeles became the latest major city to increase its minimum wage. It’s a risky bet that is likely to do more harm than good.

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.