Outside the Beltway

A Black columnist argues that Will Smith set back a whole race.

If this is the best they have, they don’t have a lot

A man most have never heard of is being reassessed more than a half-century after his death.

A too-small step in the right direction.

It’s always a good idea to reread a text before referencing it, especially if you’re a history Ph.D. like Newt Gingrich

Two controversial monuments are gone.

A just verdict—but just a verdict.

A depressing magazine piece argues it is.

A favorite anecdote from Robert Caro’s first masterpiece is likely untrue.

A piece in The Atlantic inspires thoughts.

It does not create better deliberation.

Legislatures and school boards politicize what our kids are taught.

An arrest underscores what the problem isn’t.

New York Times columnists are not a representative sample.

Discussing the filibuster.

That escalated quickly.

It passed the Senate unanimously.

And linkages to broader US politics.

You know, some light weekend thoughts.

A truly bizarre controversy at Chapel Hill.

The latest bogey man is likely not well understood.

It doesn’t work like the movies, Senator.

AOC v. MTG: one of these things is not like the other.

Large chunks of a hackish report were lifted from previous works of Commission members.

A parting shot from the Trump administration.

Disconnected representation in action.

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

Great journalism can result in lousy history.

If we embrace the Founders to justify the present, let’s think about what we are doing.

I couldn’t help myself.

Having failed to prevent or contain it, aggressive stupidity is now washing over us.

General Milley speaks an obvious truth. Will apologists listen?

What has the Supreme Court wrought?

The crowd for DC’s fireworks celebration was small but weird.

The Magnolia State is the last in the nation to have the stars and bars on its state banner.

An accomplished racist will no longer be honored by the university.

The evolution of America’s racial language continues.

1619, Episode Three

A brand dating back to 1889 is being retired.

The state of American debate is not strong.

The evidence is clear. Injustice feeds rage and rage sometimes boils over.

Sigh.

A disgraced governor is signing a wave of progressive legislation

The wrong people are choosing the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

A long overdue correction.

Continuing a discuss from below.

With her eyes on her political future in a GOP dominated by Trumpism, Nikki Haley is attempting to rewrite the history of one of the most significant events of her time as Governor of South Carolina.

Much like it did during the McCarthy Era, the Republican Party has to decide what side of history it wishes to be on. The right side, or the wrong side.

Is social media making it harder for Democrats to nominate a winning candidate?

In this case, Rich Lowry’s.