Jazz Shaw, 1959-2024

The longtime conservative blogger is gone at 65.

Doug Update

What we know thus far.

Doug Mataconis, 1968-2021

The longtime OTB front-pager has passed far too soon.

COVID Passports Redux

Competing analogies and externalities.

New York Launches COVID Passport

The Excelsior Pass is the nation’s first. Will it start a trend?

On the Act of Voting

A discussion of what #NeverTrump means, on Sanders v. Trump, and some about the philosophy of voting.

Trump’s Threat To Sanction Iraq Is Ridiculous And Stupid

President Trump is making ridiculous threats against the regime in Iraq that are likely to draw it closer to Iran.

Bloomberg’s Prison Labor “Scandal”

Mike Bloomberg’s campaign was forced to apologize for something that really isn’t a scandal.

Hallmark Channel Caves To Anti-LGBT Bigots

The Hallmark Channel caved to the complaints of a small group of so-called Christians who objected to a television commercial.

Duncan Hunter Jr. To Resign Early Next Year

California Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. will remain in office for the rest of 2019 notwithstanding his guilty plea.

Ocasio-Cortez Settles Lawsuit Over Twitter Blocking, Apologizes

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has apologized for blocking constituents on Twitter as part of a legal settlement.

Houston Businessman Ensared By Trump’s Irrational Immigration Policies

The case of Roland Gramajo is an excellent example of what’s wrong with the Trump Administration’s immigration policy.

#metoo artistic graffiti girl shocked #metoo artistic graffiti girl shocked

Mark Halperin Attempts A Comeback After #MeToo Allegations

Mark Halperin, the former MSNBC political analyst who was accused of misconduct during the height of the #MeToo Movement, is trying to make a comeback with a new book.

New York Law Makes It Easier For Congress To Get Trump’s Tax Returns

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill that will make it easier for Congress to get President Trump’s tax returns.

Thousands Show Up To Mourn A Departed Veteran

Late last week it appeared as if a 90-year-old veteran of the Korean War would be buried without anyone to say goodbye. Then the word got out, and thousands of people responded.

Bill de Blasio Running For President For Some Reason

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has entered the race for the Democratic nomination for President, making him the 23rd candidate in an already crowded field.

Chelsea Manning Released From Jail, But It Won’t Last For Long

Chelsea Manning, who was being held in jail for refusing to comply with a Grand Jury subpoena, was released yesterday but it’s likely to only be a temporary freedom.

A Separate Election For Vice-President?

A seemingly out-of-the-blue political movement is arguing in favor of independent election of Vice-Presidents.

Kamala Harris Disqualified Because She Owns A Gun?

One opinion writer says that Senator Kamala Harris should be disqualified as a Democratic candidate because she owns a handgun.

On A Personal Note

Checking in after an extended absence.

Where’s Doug?

Our most prolific front-pager hasn’t posted in two weeks. Readers are beginning to ask questions.

New Hampshire Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To Prosecutions Of Topless Women

The New Hampshire Supreme Court rejected a challenge by three women to their prosecution for going topless on a public beach in the Granite State.

Utah To Enact Strictest DUI Law In Nation, Lowering BAC Limit To .05

A new law set to take effect in Utah before the New Year will lower the BAC limit for drunk driving by 40% to .05. Will the rest of the nation follow?

Leave Notorious RBG Alone

Once again, people on the left are complaining that Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t retire when they wanted her to.

Kirsten Gillibrand Shifts Her Stand On Running For President

With the election over, New York’s junior Senator seems to have changed her mind about running for President.

SCOTUS To Consider Case On Employment Discrimination Based On Gender Identity

The Supreme Court is set to consider whether to take a case involving employment discrimination based on gender identity.

Trump Administration Moving To Make Transgender Americans Unpersons

The Trump Administration is preparing a policy change that will essentially define transgender Americans out of existence.

Malfunction Leads Soyuz Mission Carrying Men To The ISS To Abort

A Soyuz mission sending two men to the International Space Station was forced to abort shortly after launch. Fortunately, the American and Russian on board returned safely to Earth.

Chuck Grassley Says He Wouldn’t Consider SCOTUS Nominee In 2020

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley says he would not consider a Supreme Court nominee in 2020. But does he really mean it?

Chris Collins Un-Suspends Campaign Despite Securities Fraud Indictment

Indicted New York Congressman Chris Collins will run for re-election despite being indictment for securities fraud.

Andrew Cuomo Easily Fends Off Challenge From The Left

As expected, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo easily fended off a challenge from actress Cynthia Nixon. Let the Presidential speculation begin.

Why It Matters That The U.S. Talked With Venezuelan Coup Plotters

The fact that American officials talked with Venezuelans plotting a coup against the government of their country is a dangerous turn of events.

Federal Judge Declines To Grant Texas Request To End DACA, For Now

A Federal Judge in Texas has declined to grant a request to bring the DACA program to an end, but its days appear to be numbered unless Congress acts.

California Eliminates Cash Bail

California is taking a major step in Criminal Justice reform by eliminating cash bail.

Federal Court Tosses North Carolina Congressional Districts For Second Time

For the second time this year, a three-judge panel of Federal Judges has struck down North Carolina’s Congressional District map. The immediate question is what impact, if any, this will have on November’s election.

Democrats Finalize Superdelegate Reforms

Democrats have pulled the trigger and essentially eliminated the power of superdelegates except in the unlikely event that a nominating convention goes to a second ballot.

John McCain’s Finest Hour

One moment at a campaign rally in October 2008 defines better than anything else what American politics lost when John McCain passed away.

New York Congressman Suspends Campaign After Insider Trading Indictment

Just days after being indicted on insider trading charges, New York Congressman Chris Collins is suspending his campaign for re-election.

New York City Cracks Down On Uber And Lyft

In an obvious effort to pander to the city’s taxi industry, New York City is placing new limits on ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Targeted In Apparent Assassination Attempt

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro survived an apparent, albeit amateurish, assassination attempt yesterday in what could be a sign of underlying instability in Venezuela.

A Senate Surprise In The Garden State? Probably Not

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is running for a third term under a dark ethical cloud. That probably won’t matter.

Democrats Take First Step Toward Reducing Power Of Superdelegates

Democrats are on the verge of reducing the power of superdelegates to the point where they will essentially become meaningless in the nomination process.

Andrew Cuomo’s Celebrity Challenger Clearly Going Nowhere

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s celebrity challenger doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

Democrats Adopt New Rule Requiring Candidates To Actually Be Democrats

Democrats have adopted a new rule requiring future candidates for President to certify that they are Democrats, but it seems largely unenforceable.

After Ethics And Criminal Charges, Bob Menendez Gets A Slap On The Wrist

After three years of ethical and criminal charges, Bob Menendez got a bit of a slap on the wrist from New Jersey Democrats.

Don’t Buy The Hype About North Korea Agreeing To ‘Denuclearization.’

South Korea’s President is saying that Kim Jong Un has renewed his supposed commitment to ‘denuclearization,’ but it isn’t at all clear what that means.

A Compromise On Transgender Rights?

A writer at National Review is proposing a compromise on the issue of transgender rights. Needless to say, many conservatives aren’t very happy about it.

Mitt Romney Falls Short At Utah GOP Convention, Forced Into Primary

Mitt Romney stumbled in his bid to become Utah’s next Senator but he’s still likely to win the nomination anyway.

Andrew Cuomo’s Celebrity Challenger Not Going Over Well With Voters

As suspected, Cynthia Nixon is not shaping up to be much of a challenge for Andrew Cuomo.

Trump Likes ‘President for Life’ Idea

The President jokingly praised his Chinese counterpart’s power grab at a fundraiser. But he seriously doesn’t understand the rule of law.