Outside the Beltway

As Hurricane Florence bears down on the East Coast, most people are listening to orders to evacuate, but some people aren’t.

Several states are opening new investigations of the Catholic Church abuse scandal. It’s about time.

The second day of questioning for Judge Brett Kavanaugh was a bit rockier than the first, but nothing happened that seriously threatens his eventual confirmation.

Day One of questions for Judge Brett Kavanaugh went about as you’d expect.

The first day of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings was much ado about pretty much nothing, but then that can be used to describe a process whose outcome is pretty much foreordained.

Entertainers work for a living, too.

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

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continues to lead in the polls, but his lead is far from secure.

Another step forward in the seemingly unstoppable movement toward nationwide legalization.

One year after Charlottesville, it’s clear that President Trump still doesn’t understand what happened there, or that he just doesn’t care.

Tuesday’s election results were a defeat for the progressive effort to remake the Democratic Party in their image.

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.

A Federal Judge in Washington State has, at least temporarily, blocked the release of files that would allow anyone to make a 3-D printed gun. The First Amendment seems to clearly indicate that this ruling is wrong.

A powerful political network is distancing itself from the Trump-dominated Republican Party.

One of the most prominent members of the American Catholic hierarchy has been removed from office in the face of mounting allegations of sexual abuse that stretch back decades.

The Garden State has put a hold on marijuana prosecutions in anticipation of full legalization by the end of the year.

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

New York and several other states have filed an incredibly dubious lawsuit against the Republican’s new tax law.

Some Democrats want to compel President Trump’s translator to testify about his private meeting with Vladimir Putin. That’s a bad idea.

The midterm elections are still four months away, but Democrats are already making moves to prepare for the race for their party’s Presidential nomination in 2020.

A selection that is likely to keep the Senate GOP united and red-state Democrats up for re-election under pressure to vote to confirm.

The President is generating so much outrage on a daily basis that we’re missing important stories.

An idiot climbed the monument, wasting police resources and ruining the day for hundreds of visitors.

In November, Michigan voters will be able to make their state the tenth state to legalize marijuana. This is just the latest step in what seems to be an irreversible trend.

What was once a rare symbol of national mourning has become so commonplace as to be meaningless.

A Republican organization dedicated to abortion rights is shutting down after 30 years, eight fewer than the Party has opposed them.

Pending the mere formality of approval by the Governor-General, Canada will soon become the largest nation in the world where recreational use of marijuana is legal.

Both President Trump and Ivanka Trump are profiting handsomely from their time in the White House.

Has the party paid too big a price to attract suburban voters?

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

After a period where Republicans seemed to be closing the gap, Democrats may be widening their lead heading into November.

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

Based on a strict reading of the Constitution, a sitting President probably does have the power to pardon himself. That doesn’t mean he should be allowed to get away with it without consequence.

The leading candidate for the GOP nomination for Tennessee’s next Governor has a unique explanation for gun violence.

In an early morning Tweetstorm, President Trump said he would not have hired Jeff Sessions if he knew he’d recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

The Supreme Court has declined to accept yet another Second Amendment case for review, continuing a streak that goes back some eight years.

A big win for Federalism and common sense at the Supreme Court.

Ebola is making a reappearance in Central Africa.. Will the world be better prepared this time?

Eleven states plus DC, who have 172 of the 270 electoral votes needed to elect a President, are now part of the compact.

After hastily removing the House Chaplain under unclear circumstances, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has reversed himself.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans support marijuana legalization according to a new poll.

General (Retired) Michael Hayden has some harsh, and concerning, criticisms of the Trump administration.

Republicans joined with Democrats to advance a bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but it’s unlikely to go anywhere beyond that.

The Donald Trump presidency has some eerie parallels with his run on “The Apprentice.”

The highest ranking Democrat in the Senate has introduced a bill that would effectively decriminalize marijuana nationwide and leave it up to each state to decide how far they wish to go with regard to cannabis regulation. It’s a huge step in the right direction.

Republicans on Capitol Hill and in positions of power are slavishly backing their President over their country. They should be ashamed.

Running for and being President of the United States has been very lucrative for the family business.

President Trump is on the attack against James Comey as the former F.B.I. Director begins his book tour.

Mark Zuckerberg’s second day before Congress was somewhat more contentious than the first, but at the end of the day it’s still unclear that more regulation is the answer to the issues raised by recent Facebook “scandals.”