Outside the Beltway

Republicans are at least a bit more confident that they’ll hold on to the Senate this year.

Donald Trump may or may not be racist himself, but he has most certainly exploited and helped widen racial divisions ever since bursting on the political scene in 2015.

Conservatives claim to support freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but they’ve utterly failed that test when it comes to their reaction to players who peacefully and respectfully kneel during the National Anthem.

Although he came in third place in the GOP primary, Don Blankenship is now running as a third-party candidate and could potentially be a problem for Republicans in November.

As expected, Gina Haspel was confirmed as C.I.A. Director yesterday despite her controversial record when it comes to torture.

At least one red state Democrat will be voting against Gina Haspel.

With a third Democrat crossing the aisle to support her, Gina Haspel now has the votes she needs to become the next C.I.A. Director.

Joe Manchin looks to be facing a strong challenge from Patrick Morrisey.

Gina Haspel faced some tough questions from Democrats regarding her role in the C.I.A.’s post-9/11 torture programs, but she’s likely to be confirmed anyway.

Republican chances to hold the Senate were boosted in West Virginia last night thanks to the fact that a fringe candidate was soundly defeated.

Whether Don Blankenship wins or loses in West Virginia, his success is yet another example of how Donald Trump has changed the GOP for the worse.

National Republicans are increasingly concerned that an upstart, racist candidate who has unleashed personal attacks on Mitch McConnell’s family will sneak through and win tomorrow’s primary to decide who will face Joe Manchin in November.

A new lawsuit seeks to have the 2012 DACA program declared unconstitutional.

Republicans are worried about 2018, and they’re even more worried that they have a President who is refusing to acknowledge political reality.

General (Retired) Michael Hayden has some harsh, and concerning, criticisms of the Trump administration.

Not surprisingly, Mike Pompeo was confirmed as America’s 70th Secretary of State today. Now, the hard work begins.

The GOP’s most vulnerable incumbent is still looking very vulnerable.

For better or worse, Mike Pompeo will be confirmed as the 70th Secretary of State by the end of this week.

The transformation is complete. The GOP is now the party of Donald Trump. If you’re sticking around and not speaking out against what the President represents, you’re part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Despite facing headwinds in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mike Pompeo will probably be confirmed as the next Secretary of State. That’s unfortunate.

Kyrsten Sinema, the likely Democratic nominee for the Senate in Arizona, is leading all three of her potential Republican challengers. This could spell trouble for the GOP.

Republicans are blaming the President for the fading popularity of the tax reform law passed in December. It’s more complicated than that.

Republicans have been hoping that the tax bill passed in December would help them in the midterms. That’s appearing to be less and less likely by the day.

Whether they like it or not, Republican candidates in the midterms will have to run with the albatross of Donald Trump around their necks.

Mississippi’s Governor has chosen a replacement for Thad Cochran, but the White House isn’t too happy about the pick.

We may about to see a wave of teacher strikes.

President Trump appeared to change positions on several gun control ideas, but he probably doesn’t mean it.

The prospects for extending legal protections for DACA beneficiaries are getting grimmer by the day.

A Federal Judge In Kansas has blocked enforcement of a state law barring anyone who does business with the state from engaging in a boycott of Israel.

After an extended break for the Republican retreat, Congress heads back to work today with just three days before a possible government shutdown.

The current budget deal expires in six days and Congress doesn’t seem to know what it’s going to do about it.

A train carrying Republican Congressmen and Senators, and their families, was involved in a crash in western Virginia.

With just hours to go, it seems increasingly unlikely that the Senate can reach a deal to keep the government open.

The GOP’s potential troubles in 2018 don’t just exist at the Congressional level.

Some Democratic Senators are suggesting that Al Franken should reconsider his decision to resign from the Senate.

Charles Manson, who led a cult-like “family” to a series of murders in 1969 and subsequently spent more than 40 years in prison, has died at the age of 83.

Arguments advanced by those advocating a bill that would prevent Americans from participating in a boycott of Israel would not violate the First Amendment appear to be without merit.

Big developments in the Russia investigation that could start making President Trump deeply uncomfortable.

“I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. “

President Trump delivered a wholly inappropriate political speech to the Boy Scout Jamboree, but that should surprise nobody.

The Senate isn’t giving up in its efforts to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act, despite the fact that it seems clear that the votes aren’t there.

What looks like it will be the Senate GOP’s last effort on the issue of health care reform died less than a day after being put on the table.

With the defection of two more Senators, the latest effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act has gone down in flames.

Senate Republicans have introduced their latest version of a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Senate Republicans are back home and hearing from their constituents on health care reform. It’s not going well for them.

Once again, Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to attack women, embarrass himself, and embarrass the nation he purports to represent.

Once again, a bad CBO score is casting doubt on a Republican health care reform bill.

The Senate GOP health care reform care bill faces a crucial week, and things aren’t looking good.