Outside the Beltway

More thoughts related to Gill v. Whitford and the problem of extreme gerrymandering.

And even moreso when they are consciously created by the winner.

Stephen Paddock’s crime was clearly terrorizing, and will impact the lives of survivors, families, first responders in many ways for a long time. Based on the currently available evidence, though, the Las Vegas shooting was not “terrorism.”

Previewing the next term of the Supreme Court, which starts today.

Most Americans don’t support President Trump’s statements about the protests by N.F.L. players, but it’s just another example of him using hateful rhetoric to pander to his base.

More evidence of apparent Russian-backed efforts to interfere in the election.

Sixteen Senators are backing a single-payer system. Another forty-four to go.

A recent uptick in retirements from Congressional Republicans is leading some Republicans to become concerned about the party’s prospects in 2018.

A race for the Virginia House of Delegates straight out of a civics book.

The First Amendment protects the rights even of the people who gathered in Charlottesville to promote hatred and violence, However, it does not shield them from the consequences of that speech.

Ignorance of history and process is a hallmark 17th Amendment repeal arguments.

Thoughts on the quality of our democracy.

Some thoughts on presidential interruptions.

An important redistricting decision was handed down by the Supreme Court today.

In Fox News Channel’s America, Donald Trump can do no wrong and Hillary Clinton is still a threat.

Centrist candidate Emmanuelle Macron scored a decisive win over the far-right Marine Le Pen in today’s runoff round of the French Presidential election.

As usual, an attempt to explain congressional behavior brings us back to the issue of our basic institutions. The way we elect congress matters.

The FBI Director faced a damned if you do, damned if you don’t choice.

A big win for opponents of Voter ID laws.

Stop romanticizing the filibuster (and don’t appeal to the intent of the Founders).

Senate Democrats are set to almost unanimously oppose virtually all of the Trump Cabinet nominees yet to be voted on.

A speech traditionally used to unite was instead a continuation of a divisive campaign.

While vigilance is called for, America will survive Donald Trump just as it has survived everything else we’ve faced since the nation’s founding.

The answer is pretty straight-forward.

Another conflict of interest for President-Elect Trump.

Another name may be on the short list for Secretary of State.

Another month of solid but not spectacular jobs growth seems to guarantee that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates this month.

Political change coming to Germany? Or more of the same.

With just one day to go, Clinton’s paths to victory continue to look far more realistic than Donald Trump’s.

Some musings on the RCP average and such.

Two Republican Senators are exchanging barbs over the idea that the GOP should block any attempt by Hillary Clinton to nominate anyone to the Supreme Court if she becomes President.

Two weeks before Election Day, everything seems to be going Hillary Clinton’s way.

Damon Linker writes, “Millions of people disagree with your political views. That doesn’t make them moral monsters.”

A new study debunks an old idea.

Apparently, even people who support Donald Trump don’t believe his claim that he can get Mexico to pay for his border wall.

We’re further from a public option than we were in 2009. The need for it has become more acute.

Many pundits are arguing that the victory for ‘Leave’ presages good news for Trump in November, but there’s no reason to believe that.

The man who was brought in to clean up the I.R.S. after the alleged targeting scandal became public is facing censure and possible impeachment. Proving that there really is such a thing as a thankless job.

Ted Cruz and John Kasich have come up with yet another plan to stop Donald Trump.

Putting Donald Trump at the top of the ticket would likely lead to an Electoral College disaster for Republicans.

The coming political battle over President Obama’s effort to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia will likely be unlike anything we’ve seen before.

February’s Jobs Report was relatively positive, but there are still shadows hovering over the economy as we head further into the year.

Dare I say: hate the game, not the players?

The politicization of Supreme Court appointments didn’t start with Republicans last night.

Jim Webb’s recent criticism of Hillary Clinton is renewing speculation about an independent bid for the White House, but he hardly seems like a viable candidate for such a run.

Americans don’t trust their government or each other. There’s no reason to hope it’ll get better.