Outside the Beltway

The legendary singer, songwriter, and actor is gone at 88.

Back when people were kinder and man’s word was his bond.

A brilliant national security leader is gone too soon.

Most Americans are choosing to live a normal life in abnormal times.

Who gets to claim Latino heritage?

A trailblazing diplomat has died at 84.

Apparently, New York and Oregon are not the same place.

President Biden’s domestic policy chief is a stickler for grammar.

The two-time Pulitzer winner is considering a career change.

Some square pegs are being forced into some round holes for the sake of inclusion.

Joe Biden has either narrowed down his choice for running mate down to two women or he hasn’t.

The women, minority, and non-geriatric candidates have been all but eliminated from the race.

It got somewhat ugly at the kids’ table.

Kamala Harris didn’t fail because of her race, she failed because she was a bad candidate.

Two youngish Rhodes Scholars turned mayors are getting covered differently.

His passing is a sad reminder of another era of the Republican Party.

It’s possible to conclude that Pete Buttigieg is smarter than Elizabeth Warren for reasons having nothing to do with sex.

A milestone for the nation’s oldest service academy, founded in 1802.

The Republican Governor of Missouri is resigning amid growing accusations related to an extramarital affair, blackmail, and sexual assault.

A well-meaning journalist brushes off critiques by experts in the field. He owes it to his readers to keep learning.

While a brilliant and accomplished man, he’s absolutely clueless about politics and world affairs.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal enters the Presidential race today, but it’s hard to see how he even manages to become a plausible candidate.

Once seen as a rising Republican star, Bobby Jindal’s impending Presidential bid now looks like it’s over before it begins.

MSNBC’s attempt to be the liberal Fox News isn’t working.

Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson will be the first woman to lead a service academy.

Denied her chance at being Secretary of State, Susan Rice will be moving to a position that is arguably just as important in shaping American foreign policy.

John Nagl, who became famous as a leading counterinsurgency theorist and practitioner, is taking on a new challenge: grooming young boys for life.

A new book about the President details his marijuana use in High School and at Occidental College.

Nicholas Katzenbach, a central figure in the civil rights fights of the 1960s, has died.

Cal Thomas made a tasteless joke at Rachel Maddow’s expense. He describes the lesson in civility he learned.

The American military personnel system works against keeping the best and brightest officers in the service.

Are we nearing the point where presidents won’t be able to fill Supreme Court vacancies?

NYT Magazine has an illuminating piece entitled, “Professor Nagl’s War.” It’s especially interesting to me because I knew John Nagl when he was an 18-year-old cadet on the West Point debate team. He was a very impressive fellow then and has certainly gone on to do well for himself.