Outside the Beltway

Under the Trump Administration, the American commitment to human rights around the world is basically dead.

Just over a week after Dan Coats announced he was stepping own as Director of National Intelligence, there are more shakeups at the top of the U.S. intelligence community.

President Trump’s nominee to be the next Director of National Intelligence is quite simply not qualified for the position he has been nominated to.

Dan Coats is stepping down as Director of National Intelligence, and President Trump wants to replace him with an inexperienced, obsequious toady.

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.

The Trump Era is raising doubts about many things, including America’s most important alliance.

The House of Representatives passed a defense spending bill that seeks to limit Presidential authority when it comes to striking Iran and aideing the Saudi war on Yemen.

Joe Biden delivered his first major foreign policy address of the campaign. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than what we have right now.

Realistically, President Trump has very few options when it comes to dealing with Iran and its nuclear program.

Is the United States finally ready to give up on the fantasy that North Korea will surrender its nuclear weapons?

President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un met at the Demilitarized Zone for what amounts to their third summit in a year. As with the previous two, there was nothing of substance accomplished.

Eight months later, the President and his Administration continue to refuse to acknowledge the truth about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

A possible way forward?

The latest is about deportations

Trump and Iran.

Patrick Shanahan is out as nominee to be Secretary of Defense after questions were raised during his background investigation.

As we head toward a potential crisis in the Persian Gulf, the consequences of the President’s lies are coming home to roost.

Four years ago, Donald Trump began his campaign for President. What has followed has been as bad as could have been predicted that day.

A new report suggests that the Chinese movie-going market will surpass the American market in 2020.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg laid out his foreign policy platform in a speech this week. It’s certainly an improvement over the current President.

This time on Venezuela

President Trump says that he would not spy on a rival regime like North Korea, once again making one wonder where his loyalties lie.

The Trump Administration continues to misstate what the DPRK agreed to regarding its nuclear program. That’s why talks between the two nations are stalled.

While the American media was paying attention to President travels and travails in Europe, there was another meeting taking place.

Donald Trump has betrayed the legacy and the sacrifices of the soldiers who fought their way onto the beaches of Normandy.

Thirty years ago, when the veterans of D-Day were still relatively young and still largely with us, President Reagan delivered one of the finest speeches of his Presidency.

While the drumbeat for impeachment of the President continues on the left, political reality suggests caution.

His colum in WaPo isn’t very good.

A thinly-sourced but utterly believable tale of evil.

The DPRK sent a message to the United States over the weekend, but it’s unlikely the President was listening.

Do you want to get money out of politics? You need to get politics out of money.

President Trump is in Japan, and while there is is dismissing the seriousness of new North Korean missile tests that threaten Japan.

President Trump is reportedly planning to pardon several American servicemen convicted of war crimes, an action that would be an insult to everyone who has ever worn an American uniform.

President Trump’s foreign policy has largely been a failure, and there are specific reasons why.

President Trump’s obsequious effort to please Russian President Vladimir Putin continues.

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.

The Trump Administration’s policies toward Iran aren’t going to work, but that’s because they aren’t supposed to work.

The United States agreed to pay North Korea $2 million for “medical treatment” for Otto Warmbier. Did the Trump Administration actually pay the bill? They aren’t saying.

The Trump Administration still doesn’t have realistic goals for its negotiations with North Korea.

In the wake of the failure of the Hanoi Summit to reach any agreement at all, North Korea appears to be returning to old form.

Once again, President Trump gets taken for a sucker by the North Koreans.

He conjures the imperialist past with such comments (and he doesn’t even use the term correctly).

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.

And a link to a worthwhile read.

In the end, the reason the Hanoi Summit failed is because the Trump Administration is pursuing an unattainable goal.

Once again, President Trump proves that in the face of evil he is a coward and a disgrace.

The President of the United States and the most-talked-about freshman Representative in ages could not be more different.

Michael Cohen pulled back the curtain and revealed much about the true nature of Donald Trump yesterday. It’s not a pretty picture.