Outside the Beltway

This time: Senator Marco Rubio.

Our brains are wired to seek approval but may not be equipped to handle our modern existence.

Is there a sarcasm font?

The actor known for his roles on “The Wire” and “Boardwalk Empire” is gone at 54.

A new story archetype is all too common.

Sound decisions require sound reporting.

When “the news” isn’t just “the news.”

The risks are real but the rewards are spectacular.

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

Could it be?

Hungary is part of a broader global trend, but the real issue isn’t Hungary, it is the Americans who praise Hungary.

Whataboutism about a visit to Whataburger (and other tales of obfuscation).

Some recent news items that add to concern about American democracy.

It turns out that the GOAT is a human being.

An interesting podcast conversation.

And so general discussion of vaccine passports and requirements in the US.

Gotta clear those tabs.

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

The longtime OTB front-pager has passed far too soon.

He has nominated only 304 people out 1,200+ that require Senate confirmation.

Not surprisingly, it has been a bit contentious.

UNC’s loss is the nation’s most prestigious HBCU’s gain.

An ugly situation that’s getting uglier.

Conservatives have lost it one generation at a time.

Thinking about party evolution and behavior going into 2022.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Stories, links, and brief observations from the week that never grew into posts.

Quick takes from the week.

Yet another thing driving Americans apart.

The post really isn’t about Sinema as much as it about a theory of poltiics.

A special session looms. (And how this is not like the filibuster in the US Senate).

My contribution to a continuing debate.

The fact-checkers blew this one and blew it big.

The saga continues.

A powerful symbol has been robbed of its significance.

The GOP is actually pretty healthy at the moment, despite some public rhetoric to the contrary.

The latest front on the war on truth.

The reaction to the pandemic has long since been about much more than the pandemic.

The numbers are staggering and getting worse.

The CDC is green-lighting much, much more activity for the fully-vaccinated (with some caveats).

The President has overturned decades of US foreign policy and alienated a NATO ally for, well, reasons.

The latest variant of the “No Justice, No Peace” threat is unhelpful.

An exceptional choice that breaks the recent tradition of politicos in the post.

We need to rethink traffic stops.

An interesting but uneven debate.

National Review’s Kevin D. Williamson advocates for less democracy in America.

Overruling every case President Trump was involved in is getting silly.