Outside the Beltway

Public misconceptions about federal waste invite tolerance for questionable workarounds to the constitutionally prescribed manner of determining appropriations.

An OTB example to illustrate a larger problem.

The sadly predicted has come to pass.

The unorthodox non-agency agency run by no one in particular may violate the basic rules of our system.

Legions of unpaid drones . . . ? . . . budget cuts.

The move paves the way for Kash Patel or another Trump appointee.

Appointing unqualified loyalists is only the start.

The Congressman and Green Beret colonel will head Trump’s national security team.

What makes a good school good?

And yes, Trump fits the definitions all too well.

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

The US Presidential election pits “two evils” who are “against life.”

Thoughts that didn’t fit in my last post

Fast food silliness.

A third (and hopefully final) post on the matter.

Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.

“Dr. Ruth” is gone at 96.

A deep dive into why imperfect Criminal Legal System data is still reliable

A pending mandate in Louisiana

Americans are concerned about very different things.

The AP journalist taken hostage for almost seven years has died.

Two related questions.

The inevitable pushback against the pushback has begun.

A longtime friend has passed.

Our pacing threat is hiring military veterans with special skills.

The push to return to the office comes with domestic consequences.

There’s an inherent tension in public education.

West Virginia University may be the canary in the coal mine.

What to call non-crazies who aren’t Democrats?

They average more than any other occupation and considerably more than their European counterparts.

Sanity has prevailed.

The state has banned the teaching of science in science classes.

A tale from the DeSantis’ Woke Wars.

An appropriate step.

Don’t offend the Lt. Governor in Texas.

Doubling down on state standards on slavery.

Tommy Tuberville’s stunt is now impacting the highest levels of the military.

Slavery is an inextricable part of our past, whether we want to talk about it or not.

Another entry into the ongoing performative politics of Ron DeSantis.

We’re seeing our lowest test scores in decades among a key cohort.

Another call for letting kids be kids.

Should we reform the way we train a high-tech workforce?

When prejudice overrides simple humanity.

The times, they are a-changin’.

A bill in Alabama would bar Chinese nationals from buying property in the state.

The worst of the worst Capitol Riot players have been brought to justice.