Outside the Beltway

The Senate overwhelmingly passed major reforms in Federal sentencing and related laws. As the name of the bill implies, it’s a first step, but a good first step.

The Trump Administration is reportedly preparing to withdraw the small contingent of American troops from Syria. If it actually happens, this would be a good move.

The mystery surrounding a secret proceeding in Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation has at least partly been solved.

As expected, the Justice Department has issued a new rule banning bump stocks. However, it is likely to face legal challenges.

Thanks apparently to the fact that it remained unwilling to get in line behind the Trumpidians, the conservative owner of The Weekly Standard has shut the magazine down.

The scandal-plagued Secretary of the Interior is leaving office at the end of the year.

On the way out the door, Scott Walker signed a bill to take powers away from his successor (and demonstrated a lack of understanding of Venn diagrams).

Eight years after it was signed into law, a Federal Judge has ruled the Affordable Care Act to be unconstitutional.

Trump has selected current Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to replace John Kelly as Chief of Staff, but that’s unlikely to change how the West Wing operates.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the Trump Inaugural Committee, adding to the long list of the President’s legal troubles.

Theresa May is facing an unexpected challenge to her leadership even as she deals with trying to save a Brexit deal that nobody seems to like.

Theresa May is trying to save a Brexit deal that appears to be becoming more doomed by the day.

Europe’s highest Court appeared to hand the United Kingdom a way of escaping Brexit altogether if it chose to go that route. This will greatly complicate the domestic political situation for Theresa May.

This month’s budget fight is likely the last chance the President will have to get any funding for his border wall.

President Trump’s first choice to replace John Kelly as Chief of Staff turned the job down, leading one to wonder why anyone would want the job.

French authorities are investigating reports that Russian interference may be helping to exploit and expand the five-week-old “yellow vest” protests.

Cory Booker’s interest in running for President has been an open secret for some time, now he’s being far less coy about it.

This time, the rumors about John Kelly leaving appear to be true.

Lies and possible evidence of obstruction of justice make up the bulk of Robert Mueller’s new case against former Trump campaign director Paul Manafort.

Current attempts to take power away from the state executive branch illustrates a lot of what I have been writing about for years.

Moscow continues using information warfare to sow division in Western society.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the U.S, Attorney for the Southern District of New York have filed sentencing memos that directly implicate the President in a series of felonies.

There’s yet another rumor that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly could be on the way out.

Though in poor health himself, Bob Dole made his way to the Capitol to pay his respects to his old friend and political rival.

Michael Avenatti, the California lawyer best known for representing Stormy Daniels in her claims against the President, is dropping a bid for the Democratic nomination that never seemed like a serious effort.

Glenn Reynolds announced via his USA Today column that he has deleted his Twitter account.

The continued problem cause by a lack of shared reality.

Despite aggressive vaccination efforts, measles cases surged worldwide last year. You can “thank” that anti-vaccination movement.

Trump continues to struggle at major international meetings.

President Trump has canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the recent confrontation between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.

The Trump Administration is attempting to bypass the Circuit Courts of Appeal and get immediate Supreme Court review of the President’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military.

Even as its leader continues to deny the reality of Global Climate Change, the Trump Administration has released an utterly devastating report on the impact of such change over the course of the coming decades.

A confrontation at sea between Russia and Ukraine is increasing tensions in a long-simmering conflict.

A bad look for all concerned.

It isn’t about foreign policy, it is about self-serving manipulation of the public.

President Trump’s latest attack on the Federal Judiciary prompted a rare rebuke from the Chief Justice of the United States.

A federal judge has found the practice outside the scope of Congress’ authority.

The White House and CNN have settled the dispute over Jim Acosta’s press pass, but future conflict between this Administration and the press corps seems inevitable.

Despite a court ruling that says otherwise, the Trump White House appears prepared to once again revoke the press pass of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.

The Governor’s race in Florida is over, and the Senate race isn’t far behind.

Is Donald Trump thinking about dumping Mike Pence in 2020? Probably not, but that’s not going to stop the speculation.

A filing in an unrelated case has apparently revealed the existence of a sealed indictment against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Theresa May’s government is barely hanging on to power thanks to Brexit negotiations that clearly seem to be headed for disaster.

Donald Trump is engaging in another round of baseless and bizarre conspiracy theories about alleged voter fraud.

It would be a rather quixotic effort, but Jeff Flake isn’t ruling out challenging the President for the Republican nomination in 2020.

Trump, Scott, and their allies are not doing America any favors.

Losing the midterms is not going over well with the President.

CNN fires back in the Administration’s ongoing war with the news media.

Democrats have flipped the Senate seat currently held by Republican Jeff Flake.