Outside the Beltway

The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled against a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding.

By the end of last night’s oral argument, at least two of the three judges hearing the appeal of the stay on the President’s Muslim travel ban appeared to be skeptical of the Federal Government’s arguments.

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.

The Federal Judge presiding over Dylann Roof’s murder trial suggested late last week that Roof may not presently be competent to stand trial. This does not mean that he’ll be set free, though.

Good riddance.

Wherein an initial attempt to understand something seen on Facebook leads to ruminations on religious liberty.

The Supreme Court begins another term faced with the prospect of having to spend much of their time dealing with the fact that they’re short a member.

A high-level French Court has struck down the ban on the so-called ‘burkini’ adopted by many towns along the French Riviera.

For largely irrational reasons, French police are arresting women on the beach for wearing swimsuits that are compatible with their faith.

Of course Donald Trump responded to a Gold Star Father in the worst possible way.

More than any politician that spoke last night, it was the father of a fallen solider who stole the night.

Once again, the GOP platform is turning into a surrender to social conservatives on issues such as same-sex marriage and transgender rights.

Mississippi tried to provide special protection to opponents of same-sex marriage and transgender rights. A Federal District Court Judge, properly, finds the law to be unconstitutional.

A third major ISIS-inspired or planned attack in three weeks.

The Supreme Court won’t hear the appeal of a pharmacist who objects to providing the ‘morning after’ pill.

Americans have increasingly come to view their political opponents as not just wrong, but evil, stupid, and immoral. That’s not something that makes for a healthy representative democratic republic.

Donald Trump has insinuated that President Obama is not fighting the War On Terror aggressively because he somehow identifies with terrorists.

Donald Trump responded to the attack on the Pulse nightclub by renewing his call to ban members of an entire religion from coming to the United States.

Following in the footsteps of state prosecutors, Federal prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty for Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof.

Faced with the prospect of a 4-4 tie, the Supreme Court instead came up with a decision on the PPACA’s birth control mandate that didn’t decide anything.

The walk backs begin.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been removed from office again.

Justice Sotomayor argued last week that we ought to look somewhere other than just the Courts of Appeal, the Ivy League, and the Northeast for Supreme Court Justices. She’s right.

The Supreme Court appears to be looking for a way to resolve an issue that has been mired in controversy for six years now.

The Supreme Court appeared deadlocked during oral argument in the latest case dealing with the PPACA’s contraceptive coverage mandates.

As if to further demonstrate just how fair off the rails the GOP has gotten, Donald Trump’s unconstitutional, wrong-headed, racist notions are supported by wide majorities in the party that still claims to the by the “Party of Lincoln.”

Observations, questions, and some toastosity.

The Babar-ians At The Gate Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Politics makes strange bedfellows, but come on.

Last night’s Republican debate had a different feel with the absence of a certain bloviating narcissist.

A look at the history behind the ideology driving the standoff in Oregon.

A five minute segment on the O’Reilly Factor clearly underscores how intertwined he is in secular politics.

The people who believe there is a ‘War On Christmas” tend to be the same ones who hold to the largely false idea that their religious beliefs are under assault due to a “culture war.”

A Colorado Republican Congressman has introduced a resolution meant to involve our nation’s representatives in the non-existent ‘War On Christmas.’

Heading into another Presidential debate, a new poll shows that Republicans are very receptive to Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigration to the U.S.

A Mormon Republican Senator visits an Arizona mosque.

Polling shows that most Americans oppose Donald Trump’s plan to bar Muslim’s from immigrating to the United States, but Republicans are far more receptive to the idea.

A new poll appears to show that a majority of Republicans support Donald Trump’s plan to bar Muslims from immigrating to the United States.

Donald Trump’s plan to bar all Muslim immigration to the United States is being widely condemned by his fellow Republicans and others, but the proposal probably won’t hurt him politically in a Republican Party that is deeply bigoted against Muslims in general.

Donald J. Trump continues to turn the dial higher and higher on his fascist demagoguery.

As we deal with the fall out from the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, we need remember the years after September 11th, 2001 and avoid holding an entire religion responsible for the actions of fanatics.