Outside the Beltway

In what many are seeing as a rebuke of the President, Louisiana voters re-elected Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards over his Republican opponent.

The Democratic victory in Virginia’s legislative elections has revived hopes for advocates of the Equal Rights Amendment, Even if Virginia does become the 38th state to ratify the measure, though, the actual status of the Amendment is exceedingly unclear.

Tuesday’s elections continued a trend in which Republicans have lost support among suburban voters, even in deeply red states. Guess who’s responsible for that.

Governor Matt Bevin still won’t concede the Kentucky Governor’s race.

A big win for ranked-choice voting in the Big Apple as voters approve a referendum that will bring ranked-choice voting to the nation’s most populous city.

A key diplomat and close supporter of the President has essentially confirmed the existence of a quid pro quo between Ukrainian aid and negative information about the President’s political opponents.

Another bad night for Republicans in Virginia, and another warning sign for Republicans nationally.

Republicans in general and Donald Trump in particular suffered a big loss in the Kentucky Governor’s race.

Virginia voters don’t like Donald Trump, or Republicans in general, very much right now, and that could translate into Democrats taking control of the state legislature for the first time in nearly 30 years.

It’s mostly a quiet Election Day around the country, but there are some races for Governor worth watching.

A Federal District court Judge in Alabama has blocked implementation of that state’s latest attempt to challenge Roe v. Wade

The Trump Administration from projects to build on-base schools and daycare facilities to spend on his border wall.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has once again upheld a local ordinance banning assault weapons.

President Trump and the Republican Senate rewarded a top Republican donor with a prized diplomatic appointment.

A Federal Judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a Kentucky teenager alleging he had been defamed by the coverage of his confrontation with a Native American man in January.

While much of the talk about Robert Mueller’s testimony has focused on the Trump campaign, there was another part to his testimony that brings attention to a far more serious threat.

The evidence is clear that Russia interfered in the election in 2016 and intends to do so again. Despite this, Mitch McConnell is blocking legislation designed to enhance election security.

Just over nine years after retiring from the Supreme Court, former Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has passed away at the age of 99.

The failure of Republicans and conservatives to denounce the President’s racism reveals everything that has gone wrong with the “right” in the Trump Era.

The Trump Administration is warning Congress that we will need to raise the debt ceiling by September. Congress should take this as an opportunity to eliminate it entirely.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a challenger. Much like 2014, though, it’s far too early to start writing his political obituary.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi suffered a major defeat on a signature issue.

The Supreme Court ordered a new trial in the case of a Mississippi defendant whose trial was tainted by a prosecutor who routinely struck black jurors from the jury pool.

Much to the chagrin of Republicans hoping to win back a Senate seat they never should have lost, Roy Moore is running for Senate again in Alabama.

Donald Trump has endorsed a proposal by a Republican Senator to ban flag burning.

There isn’t a lot of legislating going on.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is being accused of giving preferential access to businesses and businessmen tied to her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would extend protection to DACA beneficiaries and other Dreamers, but it’s likely to die in the Senate.

The President’s foolish tariffs against Mexico are finally causing many Republican Senators to stand up against him.

Republicans nationwide are trying to discourage Roy Moore from running for Senate again. Roy Moore doesn’t care.

The Supreme Court sent a signal yesterday that seems to indicate how it might deal with future abortion law challenges and it doesn’t bode well for pro-lifers.

Mitch McConnell has had an unsurprising change of heart on the issue of Senate consideration of Supreme Court nominees in a Presidential election year.

Hypocritical? Sure. Surprising? No.

Bart Starr, who led the Green Bay Packers to five N.F.L. Championships in the pre-Super Bowl era and in Super Bowls I and II, has died at the age of 85.

A Federal Judge in Mississippi has blocked Mississippi’s law that purports to ban abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s patently unconstitutional abortion law.

Jon Bel Edwards is a reminder that our divide is cultural, not just partisan.

Following in the footsteps of Alabama, the Missouri legislature has passed a law that would severely restrict abortion rights in the Show Me State.

The problem is with our politics, not our institutions.

The President’s eldest son has been subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding Trump campaign contacts with Russia.

While he campaigned on a message of restraint, Donald Trump has largely adopted the interventionist foreign policies of his predecessors.

The former Kentucky coal executive, Republican fundraiser, and Ambassador to Canada would replace Nikki Haley in what used to be a position dominated by more experienced diplomats.

A Federal appeals court says the traditional means of parking enforcement violates the 4th Amendment.

President Trump has not surprisingly vetoed a Congressional resolution to limit American support for the Saudi war on Yemen. His defense for doing so is utterly absurd.

Princeton historian Sean Wilentz lays to rest a pernicious idea propagated by . . . Princeton historian Sean Wilentz.

While polarization in our national politics gets the most attention, several states also face serious rural-urban tensions.

In 2016, a crowded Republican field yielded an unlikely nominee. Could history repeat itself in 2020?

The Southern Law Poverty Center has fired its co-founder for vaguely-specified reasons.

Congress is doing its damned job for a change.

Sometimes symbolism is important. This is one of those times.