Outside the Beltway

But from what? Comparing two stories from Tennessee that show our society’s contradictory impulses when it comes to “protecting the children.”

Elections have consequences: Old Dominion Edition

A long peek at history in the making.

Mayor Pete is being mocked for telling obvious truths.

It’s usually more effective to run for something rather than against someone.

A piece in The Atlantic inspires thoughts.

The trailblazing soldier-statesman has died at 84.

A series of mismatches mean would-be workers can’t find employment despite an abundance of openings.

The right questions are: 1) why do some some on the right like him, and 2) should this concern us all?

Legislatures and school boards politicize what our kids are taught.

Oh, FFS.

Tab clearing time.

Most aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

New York Times columnists are not a representative sample.

Ron DeSantis and friends are afraid of higher education.

Another narrowly-crafted but overwhelming opinion from the Supreme Court.

You know, some light weekend thoughts.

Our love for cheap goods and services requires lots of people willing to work for very little.

Even the smartest designers can’t anticipate all the flaws with the rules they write.

The least controversial subject in school is suddenly controversial.

The President is about to roll out another massive spending plan.

An odd complaint from parents who voluntarily send their kids to religious schools.

The Watergate conspirator, author, and talk show host was 90.

The 6th Circuit is allowing a professor fired for misgendering a transwoman to sue his state university.

The author of “Lonesome Dove,” “Terms of Endearment,” and so many more great novels is gone at 84.

What at first blush appears a case of hypocrisy and cancel culture is a violation of professional ethics.

Israel is taking an aggressive approach to inoculation.

Also some ironic positions on capitalism.

Some reflections

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

A parting shot from the Trump administration.

We’ve shouldn’t be surprised we’ve arrived at this destination.

Social media makes the line much harder to draw.

The science and ethics are not the hardest part of determining who should go first.

A silly, sexist WSJ op-ed has generated plenty of attention.

Gridlock doesn’t mean government stops. It just shifts who is governing.

A rather remarkable milestone in that it’s coming so late.

“Now this campaign is over, what is the will of the people? What is our mandate?”

The two parties learned different lessons from the last contested election.

One man’s fecklessness has gotten untold people sick.

Are those with kids getting over?

What would a reborn GOP look like and who would vote for it?

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

The lousy hybrid option has been scrapped in favor of a worthless virtual one.

Two rulings greatly expand the ability to evade the law for on Free Exercise grounds.

Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.

The emotional and economic impact of the pandemic is hitting women especially hard.

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

My latest at War on the Rocks.