Outside the Beltway

North Korea’s Dear Leader has baited the President of the United States into a trap.

The legal distinction between “personal capacity” and “official capacity” makes no sense for senior presidential appointees.

After six months, Angela Merkel has apparently succeeded in forming a coalition government.

I’ve made the sad discovery that longtime friend of the blog John Burgess passed away on February 16, 2016.

President Trump continues to make irresponsible and dangerous threats in connection with American policy toward North Korea.

Continuing a long-standard tradition, the Trump Administration claims it doesn’t need to get legal authorization to keep American troops in Syria.

The new Black Panther movie raises a variant of the central question of the superhero genre. [No significant spoilers]

Another day, another Court ruling against the Trump Administration.

Administration officials are admitting that it’s likely that Russia will try to interfere in the midterm elections just as it did in 2016, but they don’t seem inclined to do anything about it.

Poland’s President has signed a controversial bill that purports to criminalize any effort to tie Poland to the Holocaust.

The President talked about national unity last night, but given his own rhetoric as a candidate and as a President, it’s a call that seems to be hypocritical.

A quarter century ago, soldiers were first using GPS to help them navigate the battlefield. Now, GPS is giving away their location.

The Polish Government appears ready to approve a law that seeks to whitewash the truth about the role that many Poles played in the Holocaust.

With the Administration set to commit the United States to a forever war in Syria, it’s time for Congress to act.

While everyone is paying attention to the government shutdown, the Trump Administration is preparing for a never-ending, unwise, and unauthorized military commitment in Syria.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Government’s appeal of the Trump Administration’s revised Muslim Travel Ban

Some thoughts about why the president’s remarks on immigration are so problematic.

America’s closest allies sent a strong signal that they do not agree with President Trump on the nuclear deal with Iran.

Late yesterday, a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling striking down the latest version of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

The Supreme Court is allowing the latest version of Donald Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban to go into effect.

A horrible terror attack in Egypt.

It appears Russia attempted to influence last year’s Brexit vote in the same manner it did the 2016 election in the United States.

President Trump returns home from an Asian trip that wasn’t exactly impressive.

Even during an overseas trip, President Trump continues to try to undermine the Russia investigation.

A month that was highlighted by the capture of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa ends with an apparent lone wolf ISIS-inspired attack in New York City

While the President of the United States continues to create chaos, Xi Jinping consolidates his power in China.

America has become involved in conflicts around the world, largely without the knowledge of the American people or the consent of their representatives, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to end anytime soon.

The White House believes that it is ‘inappropriate’ to question Generals. This argument is not only wrong, it’s downright dangerous.

The capital of the purported caliphate declared by ISIS has apparently fallen, but that doesn’t mean the end of ISIS. In fact, it may make the group more dangerous.

Two Federal Judges have issued orders blocking the latest version of President Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to agree that Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons deal, President Trump took steps that will undermine that agreement and do serious damage to American credibility around the world.

Tensions continue to rise between the White House and Foggy Bottom.

The U.S is joining the rest of the world in refusing to recognize the independence referendum conducted by Iraqi Kurds.

Kurds in Iraq voted overwhelmingly for independence in a non-binding referendum, and the result is threatening to create a new conflict in the Middle East.

The Trump Administration has issued a new travel ban to replace the temporary one that expired late last week, but it still suffers from most of the same defects as its initial efforts.

Angela Merkel was re-elected to a fourth term as German Chancellor as expected, but voters also sent a warning.

In a marked departure from previous American Presidents, Donald Trump delivered a highly belligerent speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

America’s longest war seems likely to soon turn into America’s never-ending war.

Notwithstanding his promises during the campaign, President Trump seems likely to go forward with sanctions reductions required under the nuclear deal with Iran.

Once again, Congress is abdicating its Constitutional responsibilities.

The Trump Administration has suffered another Court defeat related to the President’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Donald Trump’s Secretary of State is refusing to defend his response to the violence in Charlottesville.

President Trump continues his war on one of the most important guardians of American democracy.

Based on initial reports, Trump’s Afghanistan policy looks a lot like what we’ve seen for the past sixteen years.

President Trump’s reaction to the terror attack in Spain included an easily debunked lie about one of America’s most decorated Generals.

At least thirteen dead in an apparent terrorist attack in Spain.

“Why the hell would we do that?” — White House official.

Donald Trump kowtows to Vladimir Putin yet again.

On the special election for US Senate in Alabama

Is there anyone in the Trump Administration or family who hasn’t held undisclosed meetings with Russians?