Outside the Beltway

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed on with Fox News Channel to continue her career of lying on behalf of the President.

David Koch, one-half of the Koch Brothers and the head of a wide-ranging business empire who also went on to have a huge impact on politics and cultural philanthropy, has died at the age of 79.

As many as twelve candidates for the Democratic nomination may not qualify for the next debate. They should use that as an opportunity to get out of a race they clearly aren’t going to win.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions toward two Democratic Congresswomen,seemingly at the bidding of President Trump, is the latest example of the growing partisan divide over policy toward Israel.

There are hints that former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper could abandon his seemingly doomed Presidential bid to run for Senate.

The Federal Budget Deficit rose 27% in July, putting it on course for the $1 trillion by the end of September.

A Federal Court has ruled once again in favor of a transgender student in Virginia who was prevented from using the bathroom conforming to their gender identity.

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.

July’s Jobs Report was in line with expectations, but hardly indicative of a booming economy.

As was the case a month ago, Vice-President Biden and Senator Kamala Harris were the focus of last night’s debate. Things turned out very differently, though.

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

The economy slowed somewhat during the second three months of 2019, but the economic recovery still looks strong as we head into the 122nd month of positive growth.

Mark Esper has been confirmed and sworn in as the next Secretary of Defense, ending a period of nearly 100 days during which the Pentagon was headed by a succession of Acting Secretaries.

President Trump and the Congressional leadership have reached agreement on a multi-year budget deal that that busts through all remaining controls on spending.

The Federal Budget Deficit passed the $700 Billion mark with three months still to go in the Fiscal Year.

The White House office specifically charged with advising on and developing science policy now has no staffers whatsoever.

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.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a District Court ruling that President Trump cannot block Twitter users from accessing his account.

June’s jobs report brought in stronger than expected numbers but the fact that these numbers have not been consistent all year makes one wonder what the state of the economy really is.

Can the commander-in-chief’s tweets be unlawful command influence?

Just over a year after the United States repudiated the JCPOA, Iran has surpassed a limit on uranium enrichment set by the JCPOA

A leading same-sex marriage advocate is pushing back on the trans movement.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a series of cases challenging the President’s decision to end the DACA program.

The Trump Administration unveiled new sanctions against Iran yesterday. They’re unlikely to accomplish the entirely unrealistic goals the President claims to have in mind.

There are children being held in what amount to internment camps on the southern border under appallingly bad conditions and the President is more concerned with falsely blaming his predecessor for the problem.

A possible way forward?

Despite his claims, President Trump is actually deporting fewer people than were deported under former President Obama.

Just days after being named the next Acting Secretary of Defense, the President is appointing Mark Esper to be full Secretary of Defense.

Not surprisingly, the President’s opening speech of the 2020 campaign was filed with lies.

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

The President is once again claiming Executive Privilege to prevent Congress from getting access to certain documents.

With the Trump Administration continuing to stonewall investigations, the House of Representatives is seeking to ramp up the pressure.

Recent comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel make it clear that the United States cannot be considered a neutral party In the Middle East peace process.

The State Department has barred American Embassies from flying the Pride Flag during Pride Month as has been the custom for several years.

Michigan Congressman Justin Amash has quit a group he helped found nine years ago after they voted to condemn him for advocating for the President’s impeachment.

The tree that President Trump and French President Macron planted last year has died.

May’s Jobs Report came back with disappointing jobs growth, suggesting that the economy may be slowing down.

According to one new study, President Trump’s tweets aren’t having the same impact they used to.

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed a lawsuit against Trump “national emergency” to fund the border wall, but his ruling did not reach the merits of the lawsuit’s claim.

The House of Representatives will vote to hold the Attorney General in contempt next week but it may not mean anything.

Further progress for advocates of marijuana legalization from the Land of Lincoln.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been indicted on seventeen counts under the Espionage Act arising out of his role in the Chelsea Manning affair.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin punted once again on the question of replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, making clear that any change that does occur won’t happen until after Donald Trump is out of office.

Not surprisingly, Chelsea Manning is headed back to jail for her refusal to answer questions before a Federal Grand Jury investigating Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Attorney General William Barr has opened a new investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation, a move that seems suspiciously political.

A longstanding legal question may finally come to a head.

The President is systematically defying Congress. Whatever can be done about that?

Chelsea Manning, who was being held in jail for refusing to comply with a Grand Jury subpoena, was released yesterday but it’s likely to only be a temporary freedom.

While he campaigned on a message of restraint, Donald Trump has largely adopted the interventionist foreign policies of his predecessors.