Biden Fires ‘Independent’ Social Security Administrator

President Trump’s destruction of longstanding norms continues under his successor.

Census Results Likely a Boost for GOP

The long shift of population from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt continues—with the unusual exception of California.

This image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere. This image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere.

The ‘Right to Inspect’ in the Internet Era

The law is out of sync with modern realities.

The Rhetorical Framing of HR1

A truly silly characterization from Senator Mike Lee.

Beverly Cleary, 1916-2021

The beloved author of children’s books had died days short of her 105th birthday.

WASHINGTON,DC-DEC12: Proud Boys during a rally for Donald Trump in Washington, DC, December 12, 2020. WASHINGTON,DC-DEC12: Proud Boys during a rally for Donald Trump in Washington, DC, December 12, 2020.

The Pendulum Is Broken, Not Swinging

Historical precedents fall apart when we’re in a truly unprecedented time.

The Leaderless GOP

The Republican Party is not really a thing.

Radicalism and Internet Culture

Does online performance logically devolve into rage and violence?

Making it Harder to Vote

Lots of places in the US don’t make it easy.

The Senate’s Rural Skew

Injecting data into the conversation.

politics outrage shouting politics outrage shouting

All’s Fair, Even if It’s Unfair?

A defense of the indefensible.

Big Ten Football Back October 24

Yet another twist in an ongoing saga.

President Donald J. Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Friday, July 10, 2020, en route to Miami International Airport in Miami President Donald J. Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Friday, July 10, 2020, en route to Miami International Airport in Miami

More on Trump and the Fires

Trump appears to have been shamed into doing part of his job.

President Trump at the Bioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies President Donald J. Trump listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference Monday, July 27, 2020, at the Bioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies in Morrisville, N.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Trump at the Bioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies President Donald J. Trump listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference Monday, July 27, 2020, at the Bioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies in Morrisville, N.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Trump’s Free Fall Over?

The President has hit rock bottom.

Reporting on Portland

Framing matters.

Wilford Brimley Dead at 85

A great character actor is gone.

Richmond Police Claim White Supremacists Behind BLM Riots

The ‘outside agitators’ trope strikes again.

A Simple Comparison

A thought experiment on what we have seen in Portland.

Cops Should Not Look Like Soldiers

Pentagon officials are speaking out about the militarization of police.

Federal Agents Using Strong-Arm Tactics in America’s Cities

Portland may be a preview of what’s to come.

Big Ten and ACC Change Fall Sports Schedules

More dominoes are falling. They won’t be the last.

QAnon and Congress

The GA14 House race.

Transparent Hypocrisy on Mail-in Voting

Hypocrisy, lies, and dangerous rhetoric from Trump and his allies on mail-in voting.

What the Oregon Senate Primary Tells us about our Party System

This is more about structural conditions than it is about the GOP.

QAnon Conspiracist Republican Senate Nominee from Oregon

Jo Rae Perkins may be a nut, but she won a four-person primary.

No, Mr. President, COVID-19 isn’t a Democratic Hoax

Donald Trump is once again trying to deflect reality.

NCAA Allows ‘Image and Likeness’ Compensation

Bowing to Immense political pressure to pay college athletes will dramatically change the game.

Federal Judge Rules Terrorist Watch List Unconstitutional

A Federal Judge in Virginia has found the terrorist watch list unconstitutional.

Mississippi Wedding Venue Refuses Service To Interracial Couple, Citing Religious Beliefs

A wedding venue in Mississippi is citing religious beliefs in support of its decision not to allow an interracial couple to utilize their facilities.

Federal Court Rules In Favor Of Transgender Student In Bathroom Access Case

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.

Nine Dead, 26 Injured In Mass Shooting In Dayton, Ohio

Less than twelve hours after the mass shooting in Texas, another one occurred overnight in Dayton, Ohio.

Trump’s Electoral College Advantage Growing

He could lose the popular vote by an even larger margin in 2020—and still coast to re-election.

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Government Cracking Down on Robocalls

Various federal and state agencies are enforcing existing laws while Congress scrambles to update them.

SCOTUS Remands Case Of Oregon Baker Who Refused Service To Same-Sex Couple

The Supreme Court declined to rule on the merits in a case dealing with a Oregon baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding reception.

Maine Becomes 8th State To Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide

Maine has become the eighth state to pass a law allowing terminally ill the choice to bring their lives to a dignified end.

Illinois Set To Become 11th State To Legalize Marijuana

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

SCOTUS Lets Ruling In Favor Of Transgender Student Bathroom Access Stand

The Supreme Court let a ruling against students opposed to a school district policy allowing transgender students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity stand.

Denver Votes To Decriminalize Psychadelic Mushrooms

In a first of its kind move, voters in Denver have voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms.

Democrats Trying to Block Trump from 2020 Ballot

Ballot measures across the country would deny access to those who refuse to release tax returns.

A Reminder about Higher Ed

US higher education is made up of far more than just the Ivies and other elite schools.

books library books library

41 States’ Higher Ed Funding Down Since 2008

Per-student investment in public colleges has not recovered from the Great Recession.

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Lying With Statistics

Are people fleeing blue states to avoid repressive taxes? It depends who you’re asking.

Time for a National Primary

The consolidation of Super Tuesday makes the current system even more broken than before.

On Personal Liberty And Vaccination

Mandatory vaccination laws raise personal liberty issues that ought to be taken seriously, but in the end, public health concerns weigh heavily in favor of laws mandating vaccination.

Marijuana Legalization Becoming Consensus Issue Among 2020 Democratic Candidates

Democratic candidates for President are quickly voicing support for marijuana legalization.

Hillary Clinton Not Running For President Again

We won’t have Hillary Clinton to kick around anymore.

John Hickenlooper, Former Colorado Governor, Enters Presidential Race

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is the latest entrant into an already crowded Democratic field.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee Is Running For President

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is running for the Democratic nomination for President on a platform primarily focused on climate change. Whether that helps distinguish him from a growing field of candidates remains to be seen.

Trump’s Electoral College Problem

Based on his job approval numbers, President Trump could face an uphill battle in 2020.

Authorities Arrest Coast Guard Officer Plotting To Kill Journalists, Democrats

A Coast Guard officer and aspiring domestic terrorist was arrested late yesterday for plotting to kill Democratic politicians and members of the media.