Outside the Beltway

In the wake of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on C.I.A. torture, some have suggested that eight years of Jack Bauer helped make torture more acceptable to the American public.

An American freed from captivity, and potentially huge changes in America’s diplomatic and trade relationship with Cuba.

Sony is warning the press not to publish material leaked by hackers, but it doesn’t have much of a legal leg to stand on.

The U.S. Government continues to lose money on production of two coins that people barely use anymore.

Rick Santorum looks to be getting ready to hit the campaign trail again, but it’s doubtful he can find appeal beyond the religious conservatives who supported him in 2012.

Rick Perry is sounding for all the world like a candidate for President, and says he’s a different candidate this time, but initial perceptions are hard to overcome.

The budget bill Congress set to pass Congress would effectively reverse the will of the voters of Washington, D.C., who just voted to legalize marijuana.

Judging by recent polling, the President’s executive action has hardened GOP opposition to immigration reform, making progress on the issue going forward much less likely.

The GOP donor class would like the 2016 race to be short and sweet, but that’s unlikely to happen.

An utter journalistic failure from Rolling Stone.

The next President will have a profound ability to shape the future of the Supreme Court, but that is unlikely to be the most important issue on voters minds in 2016.

The U.S. Government is looking for lawyers willing to work for free.

Not surprisingly, last night’s announcement that there would be no state court indictment in the Michael Brown shooting led to violence and confrontations with police. That’s not going to solve any of the real problems that face Ferguson, or any other community in the United States.

The Office of Legal Counsel told the president Wednesday he couldn’t do what he did on Thursday.

The CIA has always separated its core spying and analysis functions; that may soon change.

Mary Landrieu’s Keystone XL Hail Mary isn’t going to save her.

Mike Huckabee seems to be making the moves necessary to run for President again, For reasons only he can understand.

Trying to explain one of the biggest surprises of Election Night 2014.

Despite speculation, both Angus King and Joe Manchin will stay with the Democratic caucus. And that makes sense for both of them.

The GOP added to its majority in the House, giving it the biggest majority it has had since Truman was President.

Arguably the most surprising Senate race of 2014 was in Virginia, and it’s not over yet.

Reports from the Justice Department seem to be laying the groundwork for more disappointment for those hoping for charges against Officer Darren Wilson.

Just over one year ago, Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was attacked by his son, revealing problems with our mental health system that have yet to be adequately addressed.

Another setback for commercial space ventures, the second this week and this time with tragic consequences.

Once again, reporters and pundits are arguing that Chris Christie’s “New Jersey style” won’t play well on the stump. I’m not so sure they’re right.

Important numbers in recent polling suggest big problems for Democrats on Tuesday.

Pope Francis restates something the Catholic Church has taught for a long time and, again, the American media thinks its something new and revolutionary.

A disappointing setback.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul continues to challenge Republican orthodoxy on foreign policy, and that’s a good thing.

Things are looking good for the GOP to take over the Senate, but there are still several right races that could tip the balance one way or the other.

In many states, there aren’t really any races at all this year even if both parties have candidates on the ballot.

What if the Grand Jury investigating the Michael Brown shooting fails to indict Officer Darren Wilson? We may find out if newly leaked evidence is accurate.

The passing of a true legend in American journalism.

America’s federal workforce is increasingly disenchanted.

For the ninth time since 1974, the next Governor of Maine will likely be elected with less than 50% of the vote.

The Supreme Court’s expansion of same-sex marriage seems to be sitting well with the American public.

We’ve become aware of failures in how we’ve handled the Ebola situation. The response is to figure out what went wrong and do our best to fix it, not to panic.

Sometimes, being evasive in answering a question just makes a politician look silly. This is one of those times.

A desperation move by NBC News?

The Supreme Court has given the GOP a way out of a battle that they are going to lose anyway.

Closing down international air travel won’t stop Ebola from becoming a bigger public health threat.

It appears that there will be no Federal charges against George Zimmerman for shooting Trayvon Martin. This is not a surprise.

An inevitable outcome for the head of a once proud agency.

In the current situation, speaking out forcefully as some are demanding can only do more harm than good.

The security lapses at the Secret Service just continue to mount.