Outside the Beltway

A new book by former SecDef Robert Gates is making political waves in Washington power circles, but will it matter to ordinary Americans?

There are some signs that there may be room to strike a deal on the extension of unemployment benefits, but it’s likely to require some drama on Capitol Hill before it happens.

An excellent argument for immigration reform can be found in the case of one Californian named Sergio Garcia.

The latest news on the marijuana legalization front has led David Brooks and others to go into a completely pathetic panic.

A Federal Judge in New York upholds, for the most part, that state’s new gun control law.

The “paper of record” joins the call for some kind of deal with Edward Snowden.

Has Speaker Boehner breathed new life into immigration reform in the House? Maybe.

The New York Times Benghazi report raises as many questions as it purports to answer.

.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.