Outside the Beltway

If a law enforcement officer with 30 years of experience can’t stop an active school shooter, what makes anyone think a teacher with a gun can?

Since the Supreme Court handed down its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller four separate Federal appellate courts have ruled that state and local laws banning “assault weapons” do not violate the Second Amendment.

President Trump is pressing the idea of arming teachers to stop shootings in schools.

The students who survived last week’s mass shooting in Parkland, Florida are speaking out, and some on the right are responding by engaging in personal attacks and spreading conspiracy theories.

Billy Graham was the son of a North Carolina farmer who grew up to become a counselor to Presidents, Prime Ministers, and even a Queen.

President Trump is calling on the Justice Department to ban bump stocks, but it seems clear that this is an area where Congress needs to be taking the lead.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has redrawn the state’s Congressional Districts based on its recent ruling finding the current map to be unconstitutional partisan Gerrymandering. It makes a lot more sense than the map the state is currently using.

Donald Trump’s dereliction of duty in response to clear evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election is a staggering and flagrant dereliction of the duties he agreed to take on when he took the Oath Of Office more than a year ago.

The tragedy in Florida last week revealed once again how hyperpartisanship is destroying our politics and harming the country.

Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fund-raiser for George W. Bush’s campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban.

Phil Carter makes an interesting argument but he’s ultimately mistaken.

From the F.B.I. on down, there were multiple warnings that could have prevented Wednesday’s tragedy in Parkland, Florida.

To the surprise of nobody, Mitt Romney entered the race to succeed Orrin Hatch in the Senate. He’ll probably win.

Another school shooting, this time in Florida.

With time seemingly running out, the Senate debate over extending DACA is moving slowly.

Women voters are turning decidedly against Donald Trump, this could pose problems for Republican in 2018 and beyond.

One of the main objections that many on the right seem to have to proposals to legalize DACA beneficiaries and other illegal immigrants is the idea that they could eventually become citizens. There’s no good reason they shouldn’t be able to do so.

Yesterday’s Falcon Heavy Launch was a near-complete success and another amazing advance in the race to the stars.

Congress appears to be moving closer to a budget deal even as the President tries to throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing.

Donald Trump spent much of the past year touting the rising stock market, now he’s getting a lesson in reality.

With Republicans fully in control in Washington, their concerns about the budget deficit seem to have disappeared.

A newly released poll has encouraging signs for Democrats in 2018, but there are several caveats.

Embattled New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has dodged a bullet, but still faces uncertain prospects for reelection.

The government is shut down and Washington is playing the usual blame game. In reality, there’s plenty of blame to go around, and one of the guilty parties is the American people.

The GOP’s potential troubles in 2018 don’t just exist at the Congressional level.

The numbers aren’t looking good for Republican prospects in this year’s midterm elections.

Donald Trump’s irrational tweets are once again focused on the leader of North Korea.

After nearly twenty years, the Republican domination of the Virginia House of Delegates came to an end thanks to a single vote.

The final version of the tax bill appears to be on track for passage, but the devil is in the details.

House and Senate Republicans say they have reached agreement on a final tax bill, and Democrats are engaging in an effort to delay a vote in the Senate until Doug Jones can be seated.

November’s Jobs Report was stronger than expected, but there are several caveats to keep in mind.

Mueller crosses Trump’s “red line.”

The current temporary spending measure reached by Congress in September expires on Friday, and Republicans haven’t come up with a solution yet.

Even a ceremony honoring American heroes wasn’t immune from President Trump’s habit of attacking racial minorities.

President Trump put his thumb on the scale for Roy Moore, ignoring the allegations of harassment and sexual abuse that have been made against the candidate.

The early numbers in the battle to control Congress look good for Democrats, but there are are a number of caveats to keep in mind.

New Jersey Senate Bob Menendez has temporarily dodged a bullet, but his ultimate fate is far from clear.

Notwithstanding overwhelming public support, Congress is not moving forward on a proposal to ban bump stocks.

The Jobs Market bounces back in October, but the numbers are far from impressive.

House Republicans unveiled their tax reform bill today, but its fate is far from clear.

A month that was highlighted by the capture of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa ends with an apparent lone wolf ISIS-inspired attack in New York City

President Trump remains the most unpopular newly elected President since the end of the Second World War, and there’s no sign that will change.

The widow of Sgt. La David Johnson spoke out about the death of her husband and the controversy over the phone call she received from President Trump. And Trump proceeded to attack her and call her a liar.

White House Chief Of Staff John Kelly publicly defended the President’s call to a military widow yesterday, but he got several facts wrong in the process.

Without mentioning his successor by name, former President Bush delivered a stinging rebuke to Trump and Trumpism.

Donald Trump’s entire modus operandi involves pushing divisive cultural hot buttons.

The President’s job approval numbers remain at historic lows, while a growing number of Americans say that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Just three weeks after their home was hit by a devastating storm, Donald Trump is attacking Puerto Ricans for not recovering from the storm sooner.

Donald Trump is continuing to up the ante in his rhetorical war against one of America’s most fundamental freedoms.