New Michigan Law Allows Religious Adoption Agencies To Discriminate Against Gay Couples

A new Michigan law allows religious-affiliated adoption agencies to turn away parents for religious reasons, and it seems fairly obvious what the target is in this case.

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New North Carolina Law Allows Government Employees To Refuse To Do Their Job

A new North Carolina law allows government employees to decline to perform their jobs by claiming it violates their “religious liberty.”

2016 And The Politics Of Same-Sex Marriage

Republicans running for President need to tread carefully in their responses if the Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

Marco Rubio Thinks That Gay Marriage Is A Threat To ‘Religious Liberty’

Marco Rubio seems to be in lockstep with the extreme social conservatives when it comes to same-sex marriage.

President Of Boy Scouts Of America Calls For End Of Ban On Gay Scout Leaders

Robert Gates, the former Defense Secretary who now serves as head of the Boy Scouts Of America, has called for an end to that organizations ban on gay Scout Leaders.

Bobby Jindal’s Utterly Pointless ‘Religious Liberty’ Campaign Stunt

Thwarted by the legislature, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal used his executive power to take action that seems directed more toward evangelicals in Iowa than anything happening in his home state.

2016 A Close, Noncompetitive Election?

Once again, only six or seven states are likely to matter.

More Immigrants To The U.S. Come From China And India Than Mexico

The sources of new immigrants to the United States are changing, but it’s unclear if that will have any impact on the political debate over immigration reform.

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Republicans Largely Out of Step With The Rest Of America On ‘Religious Freedom’ Laws

Another poll shows that Republicans are largely out of step with public opinion on the question of whether businesses should be free to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings.

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Majority Of Americans Oppose ‘Religious Freedom’ Laws

A new poll suggests that the American public does not support laws that give religious exemptions to businesses that want to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

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Louisiana Set To Become The Next ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Battleground

A bill pending in Louisiana seems likely to become the next national focus in the debate between marriage equality and claims of ‘religious freedom.’

Most Voters Not Even Paying Attention To 2016 Race At This Point

The political media is breathlessly reporting on every event in a campaign that is just beginning, and voters aren’t really paying attention to it at this point.

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Indiana Legislature To Vote On Revised RFRA Addressing Discrimination Concerns

Indiana’s RFRA will be amended to address most of the concerns of its opponents. That counts as a victory.

Will The GOP Drop Its Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage?

Some Republicans are trying to move their party in the right direction on marriage equality, but it’s unclear if they will succeed in the short term.

The Bright Side of RFRA

We’re down to debating whether bigots should have to sell cakes to gay people.

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RFRA Battle Moves Beyond Indiana

Arkansas, North Carolina, and Virginia may soon see the same battle over RFRA laws that is playing itself out in Indiana

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Indiana Governor Calls For Changes To State’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill

The devil is in the details of what the legislature passes, but Indiana’s Governor has essentially conceded defeat in the battle over his state’s controversial new “religious freedom” law.

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Indiana To Give Religious Business Owners The Right To Discriminate Against Gays

Indiana is about to become the latest state to grants special rights to religious business owners.

Supreme Court Declines Challenge To Wisconsin’s Voter ID Law

Another setback for those opposed to Voter ID laws.

Yes, Veterans Should Pay Taxes. And We Do!

Alec MacGillis argues for Slate that “Veterans Should Pay Taxes Like Everyone Else.” I agree!

Scott Walker ‘Gutting’ Organized Labor?

Wisconsin has become the 25th “right to work” state.

Supreme Court Appears Divided In Latest Obamacare Case

Once again, the Supreme Court appears to be sharply divided on the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

The Supreme Court Sends More Signals That It’s Ready To Strike Down Same-Sex Marriage Bans

By refusing to stay the legalization of same-sex marriage in Alabama, the Supreme Court has sent the strongest signal yet that it is ready to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.

Scott Walker Surges In Iowa, But How Much Does Iowa Really Matter?

Scott Walker surged to the top of a new poll of Iowa Republicans, but Iowa is not a very good predictor of success in the race for the GOP nomination.

Indiana’s “Limited Government” Governor To Start State-Run News Agency

Indiana Governor Mike Pence is supposed to be a champion of limited government. So why is he starting up a state run news agency?

Texas, 16 Other States, File Lawsuit Over Obama’s Immigration Executive Action

Texas has joined with 16 other states in a lawsuit against the Obama Administration over the President’s executive action on immigration. At first glance, it doesn’t appear to have much legal merit.

Scott Walker Looks To Be Preparing To Run For President

Fresh off his third statewide win in four years, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appears to be getting ready to run for President.

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Obama Announces Immigration Plan, But Constitutional Confrontation Lies Ahead

On substance, the President’s immigration actions aren’t very objectionable. How he is implementing them, though, is problematic and seems needlessly confrontational.

Can Hillary Expand The Electoral College Map In 2016? In An Important Sense, It Doesn’t Matter

An adviser close to Hillary Clinton is talking about expanding the Electoral College map in 2016, but even without such an expansion the GOP faces an uphill battle.

Polygraph Critic Charged with Training People to Thwart Polygraphs

A 69-year-old former polygraph examiner for the Oklahoma City police department has been indicted for coaching people to thwart the machines.

Latest Round Of Same-Sex Marriage Appeals Arrive At Supreme Court

The process that seems likely to lead to a Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage has begun.

Voter Turnout In 2014 Midterms Hit Lowest Point Since 1942

Voter Turnout was lower this year than in any midterm since the one held eleven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Governor Thinks Governors Make The Best Presidential Candidates

Scott Walker argues that Governors tend to make the best Presidents. He’s largely correct, but he’s not the only Republican who fits that bill.

The Sixth Circuit Just Made Nationwide Same-Sex Marriage Even More Likely, And Closer To Reality

An unsurprising ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that only seems to bring closer the day when same-sex marriage will be legal nationwide.

Most Americans Support Supreme Court Decision, Expansion Of Same-Sex Marriage

The Supreme Court’s expansion of same-sex marriage seems to be sitting well with the American public.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law

A victory for opponents of Voter ID in Texas, but it’s not likely to stand up on appeal.

Supreme Court Blocks Wisconsin Voter ID Law, But Will Likely Uphold It In The End

Opponents of Voter ID laws should not get too excited over the fact that the Supreme Court has stayed Wisconsin’s law from going into effect for now.

Same-Sex Marriage Goes From 19 States To 29 States In One Week

In the space of one week, we’ve gone from 19 states that recognize same-sex marriage to 29. Soon, it will be 35.

The Tea Party Lost Badly In 2014, But It’s Not Going Anywhere

The death of the Tea Party is greatly exaggerated.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Wisconsin Voter ID Law

An unsurprising decision from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Supreme Court Declines Review Of Rulings Allowing Same-Sex Marriage

By failing to act, the Supreme Court has effectively legalized same-sex marriage in eleven more states.

US Marine First Casualty in Fight Against ISIS

Corporal Jordan Spears died in a V-22 accident in operations against the Islamic State.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Subsidies For Federal Obamacare Exchanges

A legal setback for the Affordable Care Act, but the important arguments on this issue lie in higher courts.