Outside the Beltway

With one month to go in its term, there’s still a lot on the Supreme Court’s plate.

A big win for Federalism and common sense at the Supreme Court.

Republicans are planning on pushing judicial nominees through the Senate in case they lose control in November. Meanwhile, the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy raises the stakes.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a Trump Administration Order that purported to punish so-called ‘sanctuary cities.’

Republicans on Capitol Hill and in positions of power are slavishly backing their President over their country. They should be ashamed.

The Supreme Court heard argument yesterday on the issue of whether online sellers can be required to collect sales taxes, and the status of the issue remains as confused as ever.

Getting to a DACA deal isn’t going to be easy.

It’s Day Two of the Federal Government shutdown and there are few signs of a quick resolution.

With less than two days to go, the prospects for Congress finding a way to prevent a government shutdown aren’t looking good.

Late last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving the question of whether online and out-of-state businesses can be required to collect sales taxes in states with which they have no connection.

With the results from Alabama. the GOP faces a hard road ahead defending its majority in the Senate.

As expected, Minnesota’s Governor has named his Lt. Governor to replace Al Franken in the Senate.

A Federal Judge in California has entered an order permanently blocking a Trump Administration effort to deny funding to so-called sanctuary cities.

Chicago is joining the growing list of jurisdictions challenging the Administration’s policy on sanctuary cities.

Once again, a bad CBO score is casting doubt on a Republican health care reform bill.

Another Federal Court has found another Trump Executive Order unconstitutional.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch even as it became inevitable that Republicans would be forced to invoke the ‘nuclear option’ to confirm him to the Supreme Court.

Next week’s big news is likely to be the Senate’s vote to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, which could mean invocation of the so-called ‘nuclear option’ by Senate Republicans.

The President’s choice for Labor Secretary withdrew his name from consideration yesterday, but this is just the latest example of what has been a transition that has largely consisted of fumble after fumble by the Trump team.

There were fireworks on the floor of the Senate last night, but it was really just politics as usual.

Be clear on what one is defending.

The “independent conservative” running for President is finding it hard to even get on the ballot.

The second night of the Democratic Convention seemed much calmer than the first, as the Clinton campaign moves forward toward the biggest speech of Hillary Clinton’s life.

The Trump campaign is out with its own ‘short list’ of potential running mates.

Hillary Clinton won the final Super Tuesday of the 2016 primary season, thus officially sending us into what promises to be among the most contentious General Election battles in recent memory.

An historic achievement.

Bernie Sanders is continuing to let his supporters believe he has a chance to win the Democratic nomination. He is either delusional, or he is lying to his supporters.

Oklahoma’s Republican legislature passed a clearly unconstitutional bill outlawing abortion in the state.

Another round of victories puts Donald Trump another step closer to the Republican nomination.

Is Ted Cruz really the only alternative to Donald Trump?

The Supreme Court appeared deadlocked during oral argument in the latest case dealing with the PPACA’s contraceptive coverage mandates.

It seems increasingly apparent that the only way to stop Donald Trump now is by trying to force a contested convention. It also seems clear that such a plan probably wouldn’t succeed.

September’s Jobs Report was disappointing to say the least, and calls into question the Federal Reserve’s apparent plan to raise interest rates in the near future.

The 2016 election will be fought on a very small battlefield, and right now the makeup of that battlefield heavily favors the Democrats.

Low costs and regulatory barriers are attracting people to red states–thus turning them purple and blue.

Taxes on wine, beer, and spirits vary wildly from state-to-state and even within each state.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court let stand a ruling striking down North Carolina’s mandatory ultrasound law.

Los Angeles became the latest major city to increase its minimum wage. It’s a risky bet that is likely to do more harm than good.

Texas has joined with 16 other states in a lawsuit against the Obama Administration over the President’s executive action on immigration. At first glance, it doesn’t appear to have much legal merit.

The Keystone XL pipeline bill is dead until the next Senate. Mary Landrieu’s political career, on the other hand, is basically dead for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday’s Republican wave didn’t change the fundamentals.

Increasing the minimum wage proved to be popular at the ballot box Tuesday, unsurprisingly, However, it did not help Democrats on the same ballot.

2014 was not supposed to be a wave election, but it clearly qualifies as one.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle like to tell people they’re just “average Americans,” but they’re lying and the American people seem to have figured out that they’re lying.

Things are looking good for the GOP to take over the Senate, but there are still several right races that could tip the balance one way or the other.