Outside the Beltway

Echoing the Obama Administration, the Trump Administration is arguing that it did not need Congressional authorization to attack Syria earlier this year.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a bombastic speech on Iran yesterday that reveals just how empty and dangerous the Trump Administration’s policy toward Iran actually is.

As expected, President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran. There was no rational basis for doing so.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in the U.S. hoping to lobby President Trump to keep the United States in the nuclear deal with Iran. He’s got his work cut out for him.

The United States can’t do any good in Syria, but we can do a lot of bad.

Without Congressional authorization, any attack on Syria would be illegal, but don’t expect Congress to do anything about it.

The United States has several options in Syria. None of them are good and one of them would be disastrous.

President Trump is talking about pulling American troops out of Syria, but his own White House is contradicting him.

President Trump seems intent on walking away from the nuclear deal with Iran. If he does, he’ll be handing a gift to Iran and harming American national interests significantly.

A package exploded in San Antonio overnight. It was believed bound for Austin. It would be the fifth in a spree of bombings in the city this month.

The selection of Mike Pompeo as the next Secretary of State makes it more likely that President Trump will take the foolish and dangerous step of withdrawing the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran.

The British prime minister and outgoing US Secretary of State declared a red line crossed. There’s no reason to think this White House will follow through.

A disturbing report in the Miami Herald highlights the farce into which this trial has descended.

Continuing a long-standard tradition, the Trump Administration claims it doesn’t need to get legal authorization to keep American troops in Syria.

Another day, another Court ruling against the Trump Administration.

The Trump Administration has acted in a manner to create the impression that there is “no daylight” between the United States and Israel. This is a myth, and pursuing such a goal poses real dangers for America’s national interests.

With the Administration set to commit the United States to a forever war in Syria, it’s time for Congress to act.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Government’s appeal of the Trump Administration’s revised Muslim Travel Ban

Some thoughts about why the president’s remarks on immigration are so problematic.

Late yesterday, a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling striking down the latest version of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been erratic, illogical, and demonstrated a clear disdain for diplomacy.

The Supreme Court is allowing the latest version of Donald Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban to go into effect.

America has become involved in conflicts around the world, largely without the knowledge of the American people or the consent of their representatives, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to end anytime soon.

The capital of the purported caliphate declared by ISIS has apparently fallen, but that doesn’t mean the end of ISIS. In fact, it may make the group more dangerous.

Two Federal Judges have issued orders blocking the latest version of President Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to agree that Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons deal, President Trump took steps that will undermine that agreement and do serious damage to American credibility around the world.

The Trump Administration has issued a new travel ban to replace the temporary one that expired late last week, but it still suffers from most of the same defects as its initial efforts.

In a marked departure from previous American Presidents, Donald Trump delivered a highly belligerent speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

President Trump continues his war on one of the most important guardians of American democracy.

“Why the hell would we do that?” — White House official.

President Trump took to Twitter again this morning and promptly shot himself in the foot.

The Administration suffers another defeat in defense of its effort to ban Muslim immigrants.

President Trump’s speech on Islam was a change of tone. However, as critics noted, it was short on substance and is unlikely to accomplish anything.

It’s not at all clear that there is a useful strategy at work here.

Despite American air strikes, ISIS is expanding its power amid the chaos in Libya.

Donald Trump took to Twitter again this morning with predictable results.

President Trump has issued a revised ban on travel from six predominantly Muslim nations.

A new Pentagon proposal would place more discretion in the hands of field commanders, removing the need for Presidential approval.

The announcement of a new Muslim travel ban Executive Order has been delayed once again.

Another judicial slap at the Trump Administration.

Two new polls show that most Americans oppose President Trump’s ban on travel from seven majority Muslim countries, but that most Republicans support it.

An initial setback for the Federal Government in its appeal of the ruling putting President Trump’s Muslim travel ban on hold.

A legal victory, at least for now, for opponents of Donald Trump’s ban on immigration from seven majority Muslim nations.

In a closer than normal vote for the position, Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State.

The first day of implementation of President Trump’s order barring immigration from certain Muslim nations did not go smoothly for the Administration.

As expected, Donald Trump yesterday signed Executive Orders targeting Muslims and refugees.

Despite campaign promises, President Trump appears to be putting off any immediate decision on the location of the U.S. Embassy to Israel.

President Obama will leave office as the first two term President who presided over eight years of war. It didn’t start with him and it won’t end with him.

The wave of Ramadan attacks continues, including a strike near the second holiest site in Islam.