Outside the Beltway

With three weeks to go until Election Day, it’s looking like we’ll end up with a Congress divided between Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate.

One of the people most responsible for the personal computer revolution has passed away at the far-too-young age of 65.

The first poll taken in the wake of the Kavanaugh nomination fight suggests the voter enthusiasm gap is shifting toward Democrats.

For the second time this year, a Federal Court has struck down a state law designed to punish businesses that engage in a boycott aimed at Israel.

Just when I thought political humor was dead.

Fifty years ago, a young college student who would become one of the most influential women in Washington was sexually assaulted by a Senator. She didn’t come forward with her story for more than fifty years, and the reasons why strike close to what we’ve been talking about for three weeks now.

Beto O’Rourke isn’t eager to get Barack Obama’s endorsement, but there’s a good reason why.

After a long and contentious battle, Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed to become the 114th Supreme Court Justice.

Thanks in large part to an aggressive public health education program and vaccination, Australia is on course to effectively eradicate cervical cancer.

September jobs growth fell short of expectations even as the top-line unemployment rate reached a point unseen since 1969.

The State of Texas is arguing in Court that a school district can force a student to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a blatant violation of the First Amendment.

By popular demand . . .

Surprise developments yesterday led to a pause in the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh. Where it goes from here is unclear.

Republicans intend to “plow through” on the Kavanaugh nomination even after yesterday’s hearing, but it’s not clear that they have the votes to confirm him.

After eight hours of testimony, the only impression a non-partisan mind could be left with from the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh is that we need a full investigation of the charges against the Supreme Court nominee. Unfortunately, we’re not going to get that.

Amber Guyger has been fired by the Dallas Police Department, now it’s up to the justice system to hold her accountable for her actions.

In an ordinary year with an ordinary candidate New Jersey should be a slam dunk for Democrats. This, however, is not an ordinary year.

Trumpism is a direct by-product of the poisonous populism of the Tea Party movement, and they’ve both taken over the Republican Party.

While one must give the benefit of the doubt to Ted Cruz, the Senate race in Texas is getting very interesting.

A look at the numbers behind the influx of women into electoral politics this year.

Former President Bush has waded back into politics but don’t expect him to be campaigning for Ted Cruz.

The shooting of Botham Jean by off-duty Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger earlier this month seems like a clear cut murder. So why is she only charged with manslaughter?

President Trump is apparently a Hurricane Maria Truther.

President Trump has made no secret of the fact that he is displeased with the performance of Jeff Sessions, but he could find it hard to replace him.

Mitch McConnell has a plan that could pose problems for Democrats fighting for re-election.

After spending most of his post-Presidency on the political sidelines, former President Bush is hitting the fundraising trail for GOP candidates in Texas and Florida.

Kevin Drum makes an important point.

The #MeToo movement brings down the head of a Fortune 500 company.

As I have repeatedly noted: Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.

The second day of questioning for Judge Brett Kavanaugh was a bit rockier than the first, but nothing happened that seriously threatens his eventual confirmation.

The tough guy actor best known for the “Smokey And The Bandit” movies has passed away at the age of 82.

The first day of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings was much ado about pretty much nothing, but then that can be used to describe a process whose outcome is pretty much foreordained.

Author Sam Anderson puts forward a rather strange hypothesis in Politico.

A Federal Judge in Texas has declined to grant a request to bring the DACA program to an end, but its days appear to be numbered unless Congress acts.

Passports being denied to citizens whose birth records are being questioned.

Alex Jones lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed by families of children killed in the Sandy Hook massacre.

Despite the evidence, the President thinks he did a great job handling a disaster in which nearly 3,000 American citizens died.

A new study concludes that the total death toll from Hurricane Maria was vastly higher than previously reported.

Senator John McCain has died at the age of 81,

A new poll shows Ted Cruz in a much tighter than expected race for re-election, but it’s going to take more to consider Texas a state that Democrats could pick up in the fall.

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has suspended football coach Urban Meyer for three games over his handling of allegations of domestic violence by an Assistant Coach dating back to 2015.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh reportedly told Senator Susan Collins that he considers Roe v. Wade
“settled law.” This will likely be enough to get her support and that of another holdout Republican Senator.

A group of lawsuits filed across the country are seeking to challenge the predominant method for allocation of Electoral College votes. These lawsuits appear to have little merit.

A new government report indicates that President Trump’s border wall will cost billions more than initially projected. And Mexico still isn’t going to pay for it.

The legal fight over DACA could end up posing problems for Republicans in November.

Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination appears to be on track for confirmation before the new Supreme Court term begins in October.

Nominating Corey Stewart is beginning to look like the biggest mistake Virginia Republicans have ever made.

Facebook, Google, and several other companies have closed down accounts associated with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Another Federal Judge has dealt a legal blow to President Trump’s effort to shut down the DACA program.

The Texas Senate race between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke is looking close, but Democrats should not hold out much hope of flipping this seat.