Outside the Beltway

Note to the folks at Fox and Friends: Central America is not part of Mexico.

The (Acting) Secretary of Defense has issued an unconstitutional order.

Some context for ongoing discussions.

Congress is doing its damned job for a change.

President Trump will ask for $8.6 billion for his border wall in his Fiscal Year 2020 budget. He’s unlikely to get it.

Not good, not easy to win.

Notwithstanding President Trump’s tariffs, America’s trade deficit hit a record level last year.

It turns out there actually is a crisis on the US-Mexico border.

There appear to be enough votes in the Senate to pass the resolution disapproving President Trump’s border wall “emergency,” but there’s not enough Republican support to override an expected veto.

Reason’s Nick Gillespie makes an interesting case but I don’t buy it.

In a two-hour rant before an adoring crowd of CPAC sycophants. President Trump displayed everything wrong with him and his Presidency.

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to block the President’s declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border. Now the matter goes to the Senate.

A bipartisan group of foreign policy luminaries says there is no factual basis for President Trump’s claim.

The House of Representatives has begin the process of challenging the President’s recent declaration of a ‘national emergency’ at the southern border.

Following Donald Trump’s lead, the GOP is making clear that its game plan for 2020 is paint all Democrats as ‘socialists, baby killers, and anti-Semites.’

The American Civil Liberties Union has joined the list of groups with lawsuits against the President’s declaration of a “national emergency” at the southern border.

The lawsuits against President Trump’s “national emergency” have begun. Except more.

The Trump Administration continues to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe, can it ever be repaired?

Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld is preparing for a primary challenge against Donald Trump. He won’t win, but he could still have an impact.

President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border while at the same time undercutting his own case for doing so.

The President will sign the bill to fund the government and avert another government shutdown, but in doing so he’ll also lay the groundwork for another showdown with Congress.

When it comes to the shutdown and border wall showdown that started back in December, Donald Trump is the biggest loser.

If all goes well, the bill to avert another shutdown should become law today.

President Trump now appears to accept the compromise worked out by Congress to avoid another shutdown even though he’s not pleased with it.

It was only a matter of time before Trump’s rhetoric against the press would lead to something violent. Last night in El Paso, it happened.

In his business career Donald Trump relied largely on fear and intimidation to get his way on business deals. As President, he’s finding that nobody is afraid of him.

The President’s second State of the Union began and ended with calls for unity. In between, it was filled with the divisive partisanship that has marked his Presidency.

Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld has rejoined the Republican Party, leading many to wonder if he’s considering a challenge to President Trump in 2020.

A new poll shows most Americans oppose President Trump’s border wall and support more liberal immigration laws.

The American withdrawal from the I.N.F. Treaty gives Vladimir Putin exactly what he wants.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has warned the President against using a national emergency to fund his border wall.

A new poll shows that most Americans would oppose a second government shutdown over the border wall.

The White House isn’t ruling out the idea of a second government shutdown, but Senate Republicans have other ideas.

As public opinion of the President continues to slide his pandering to his far-right base increases.

The economy took quite a hit from the President’s pointless shutdown over a border wall that will never be built.

Looking ahead, the political landscape does not look well for the President.

Regardless of whether or not you think Nancy Pelosi won the government shutdown, Donald Trump clearly lost.

The Speaker was dealt a winning hand and played it with the skill of a seasoned pro. But the outcome was all but inevitable.

In a deal that can only be described as a cave by the President, the government shutdown is on course to be ended by the end of the day today.

As the shutdown enters day thirty-five, there are some signs of movement in Washington but no real progress.

The Senate rejected Republican and Democratic proposals as expected but there are some signs of movement forward.

As the shutdown enters its thirty-fourth day and the Senate gets ready to vote on proposals that have no chance of succeeding, Democrats are preparing a new proposal.

As the shutdown continues, the President’s political position is becoming weaker. He doesn’t seem to care, though.

Not surprisingly, the President’s proposed shutdown deal is not being received well by Democrats on Capitol Hill.

President Trump put an offer on the table to end the shutdown, the question is whether it will actually lead anywhere.

Despite the President’s claims, the American steel industry isn’t doing well at all.

Instead of staying in Washington, Congress should go on recess so Members of Congress and Senators can hear from the people how the shutdown is impacting them.

Donald Trump continues to appear to advocate ideas that harm American national interests and benefit Vladimir Putin. Draw your own conclusions as to why.

After twenty-five days, there’s no end in sight to the Federal Government shutdown. You can thank the President for that.

As the shutdown goes on, the polls are getting worse for the President.