Outside the Beltway

.Many have tried to justify N.S.A. data mining on the theory that it could have prevented 9/11. Is that true?

More details.

Another Federal District Court ruling on the Constitutionality of the NSA’s data mining program, this time more favorable to the NSA.

The Sunbelt continues to dominate.

The danger of saying stupid things online apparently has not sunk in with some people.

The beginnings of a populist challenge to Hillary Clinton in 2016?

Does a determination that NSA data collection practices are likely unconstitutional mean that Edward Snowden’s actions were, in some sense, justified?

Ron Fournier sees major similarities but ignores key differences.

A potentially big legal setback for a big National Security Agency program.

When it comes to thinks like Mike Bloomberg’s large-sized soda ban, most Americans prefer to just say no.

The Fox News Channel created “War On Christmas” officially entered the absurd zone last week.

David Brooks thinks that the problem with American Government is that the Presidency isn’t strong enough.

Without a deal of some kind, it’s quite likely that Edward Snowden will remain beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement or some time to come.

Gun control has faded as a political issue as the memory of Newtown has faded, and that was entirely predictable.

Time to start talking about lame ducks?

Wall Street Journal was looking hard for a story.

Much like the guy who’s afraid to talk to girls in High School, Republicans don’t seem to know how to talk to women. But their problems are actually bigger than that.

The most important leader to come out of Africa in the 20th Century, and perhaps in all of history, has died.

The Supreme Court may have just given a boost to those who want to subject online sales to the same sales taxes as in-person sales.

The Federal Exchange website seems to be functioning better, but many questions about implementation of the PPACA remain to be answered.

A third term for any of these guys? Don’t count on it.

Politics aside, the challenges to the PPACA’s birth control mandate raise important legal issues.

The Justice Department is reportedly not planning to prosecute Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in connection with the Bradley Manning case.

Republican hardliners are pushing a position on immigration that is completely out of sync with the nation as a whole.

Guess what’s coming to the dinner table.

Another government mandate that doesn’t address a real problem.

Was the Jobs Report released one month before Election Day 2012 rigged? Despite a new report, there’s no evidence to suggest that it was.

Don’t blame Dallas, or 60s era Texas conservatism, for what happened in Dallas 50 years ago,

Amazon’s new deal with the USPS offers a way out of the agency’s problems if only Congress would give up its last bit of control.

The FDA is declaring war on trans fats. That’s a bad idea on many levels.

A second Federal Court of Appeals in a week in two weeks has ruled the PPACA’s birth control mandate is unconstitutional.

The state where the same-sex marriage battle began is just days away from legalizing same-sex marriage.

Do prayers opening legislative sessions violate the First Amendment? The Supreme Court is set to decide that issue.

A 500 pound French man was denied a return flight by British Airways.

Accusations of blame are already being tossed around about why Republicans lost in Virginia, and they mirror a broader debate in the Republican Party nationally.

Chris Christie did as well as expected last night, but that’s just the beginning.