Outside the Beltway

One hundred years after the end of World War One, the forces that led to it are waking up from a long slumber.

Angela Merkel announced yesterday that she would step aside as Chancellor at the end of her current term. What that means for the short and long term future of Germany and Europe is unclear.

Measles cases are on the rise in Europe due to the fact that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, people still believe the lies of the anti-vaccination movement.

California Republican Duncan Hunter Jr, who was an early backer of President Trump’s campaign, has been indicted on charges he used massive amounts of campaign funds to pay for personal expenses.

The right-wing government in Warsaw has purged more than one-third of the members of the Polish Supreme Court in a crackdown on political opponents.

Trump spent much of Tuesday praising a dictator who has murdered and imprisoned millions of people. Then he returned to attacking the democratically elected leader of one of our closest allies.

Hurricane Trump hit the G-7 this weekend, and the damage it left behind will take years to clean up.

Former Trump Campaign Director Paul Manafort has been hit with a new round of charges.

Anthony Bourdain was a renowned chef, writer, television host, and storyteller. He also suffered from demons that ultimately caught up with him.

As he headed to the G-7 Summit, President Trump threw our ostensible allies another curve.

The actions of the Trump administration are helping Russian-EU relations (to the detriment of the US).

The arguments in favor of a permanent U.S./NATO base in Poland are not very convincing.

May’s jobs report was stronger than the previous two months, but not entirely great.

Poland makes the U.S. and NATO an offer they might want to consider refusing.

The number of Americans professing no religious affiliation is on the rise. This will have some interesting cultural and political implications.

Seven years after deactivation, the U.S. Second Fleet will be patrolling the North Atlantic again.

Joe Arpaio is saying he might reopen his “investigation” into former President Obama’s birthplace if he’s elected Senator.

The United States has joined Great Britain and much of Europe in retaliating against Russia for the attempted murder of a former Russian spy on British soil.

The latest, and most grave, example of the current tide of right-wing populism can be found in Italy.

Pork barrel politics is complicating Germany’s replacement of its 1970s fighter jet.

President Trump spoke up about the spousal abuse charges against his former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. His response was entirely predictable.

Controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio is running for Senate in Arizona.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is extending an olive branch of sorts to South Korea while simultaneously claiming success in achieving a nuclear deterrent.

Yesterday was the seventy-sixth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. For most Americans, though, it was just another day. That’s only natural.

After a long wait, gays and lesbians in Australia have achieved marriage equality.

Angela Merkel was re-elected to a fourth term as German Chancellor as expected, but voters also sent a warning.

President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords was neither the big win his supporters claim nor the disaster his critics fear.

Donald Trump’s first overseas trip went about as badly as you’d expect it would.

Political change coming to Germany? Or more of the same.

There’s nothing compasssionate about protectionism.

A man who helped create a multi-billion dollar a year industry, and some mighty fine wine, has passed away.

“Tom, can you get me off the hook? For old times’ sake?”

“Can’t do it, Sally.”

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

Should Donald Trump be classified as a fascist?

An apparent ongoing terrorist attack in Central Africa.

Even the people hired to advice Ben Carson on foreign policy seem to recognize that he is clueless on the subject, and has no apparent desire to educate himself.

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.

We are legally, morally, and practically obligated to respond. Let’s not do so stupidly.

It’s easy to see what Greece thinks it still needs Europe, it’s more of puzzle why Europe thinks it needs to hang on to Greece.

A plan to distribute migrants from the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa across the entire European Union seems destined to cause political conflict.

Marco Rubio is often described as one of the GOP’s leaders on foreign policy, but a close look reveals a decided lack of substance.

Pope Francis continues his world tour and has issued a paradox from his private jet.

With major theater chains having pulled out, Sony bowed to the inevitable, but now there appears to be proof that a foreign power is behind the Sony hacking attacks and threats of violence.

Russia’s own government is projecting that its economy will slip into recession next year. How that will impact Putin’s current belligerence remains to be seen.

The House Intelligence Committee has concluded that the conspiracy theories regarding the 9/11/2012 attack in Benghazi are not supported by the evidence. That’s unlikely to change anyone’s mind, though.