Outside the Beltway

A David Brooks column inspires some thoughts.

Looking ahead to November 5, 2024

Bidenomics is dragging Biden’s approval.

West Virginia University may be the canary in the coal mine.

The President is trying to change perceptions ahead of the election.

All states but one receive more in federal money than they pay out in taxes.

My two cents.

Should we reform the way we train a high-tech workforce?

Sanctions and a costly war are taking their toll.

The Greatest of All Time is hanging up his cleats a year too late.

The infuriating fight to authorize spending already-allocated money is back.

A moderate Republican almost diagnoses the problem.

The elite consensus that free trade would bring them around is gone.

Her emphasis on turnout has helped other Democrats but she’s a two-time loser.

There are at most eight toss-up states for the 2024 Presidential election.

When you tax sin, you need more of it.

A bill that was never about the thing it’s called doesn’t do that thing.

Joe Manchin has come around on a pared back BBB, surprising just about everyone.

Are plurality winners less legitimate than popular vote losers?

The West Virginia Senator has pulled away the football yet again.

The US armed forces are looking for a few more good men and women.

The pressure and expectations of a king, but with considerably less power.

This will just reinforce minority rule in the US.

Growth continues.

The role of American political institutions.

A follow on from yesterday.

Crises tend to be distracting.

The President is taking a page out of Elizabeth Warren’s playbook.

Most people liked it more than I did.

65 million Americans are fully vaccinated but just 35 percent are boosted.

The West Virginia Senator has taken the football from Charlie Brown and gone home.

A long peek at history in the making.

An interesting but rather misleading report from a Biden Treasury official.

Some suggested stories.

Magical? Impressive? Or just too much money?

The least controversial subject in school is suddenly controversial.

On fiscal policy and historical comparisons.

Jimmy Carter’s Vice President and the 1984 Democratic nominee has died at 93.

We can all agree that it’s important but not what it is.

An interesting proposal to improve tax collection.

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled against ramming it through in the COVID relief bill.

The talk radio megastar has died, aged 70.

An opportunity for unity and a restoration of normal order.

Gracious concessions are the norm except when they’re not.

We’ve just had an election, not psychoanalysis.

Trump needs them both.

Some surprising poll numbers.

Injecting data into the conversation.

A long-winded and esoteric discussion about an elusive idea.