Open Forum

Our new bi-weekly tradition continues.

On Closing the US-Mexican Border

Trump’s threat will not make things better (and the notion of actually closing the border is insane).

Fox Chyron: “3 Mexican Countries”

Note to the folks at Fox and Friends: Central America is not part of Mexico.

How to Make the Border Situation Worse

Trump declares he will end aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Biden’s Indeciveness Costing Him

The peril of not yet running for President include not yet having a campaign staff in place.

More on Moore

John Fund thinks I am afraid of Stephen Moore (and that I am an economist). He is wrong on both counts.

Trump, the Fed, and the Economy

More simplism from the WH.

The Biden Backlash

The early frontrunner for the Democratic nomination is drawing fire from multiple fronts. It may destroy his candidacy before it begins.

EU Likens Brexit to Divorce

As a no-deal Brexit becomes more likely, the EU is taking things personally.

Misogyny and Nano-Bubbles

It’s increasingly challenging to discuss media coverage because we’re all consuming a hand-selected bit of it.

The Demise of Local News and the Rise of National Partisanship

Scholars argue that the shifting media landscape is largely to blame for our political crisis.

Majority of Americans Believe Trump Not Exonerated by Mueller Investigation

Another demonstration that evidence doesn’t much matter in modern American politics.

Andrew Marshall Dead at 97

The legendary figure was in charge of strategic forecasting at the Pentagon for decades.

Open Forum

It’s that time again.

Justices Divided on Partisan Gerrymandering

Oral argument hints that we may have a 5-4 ruling allowing state legislatures to continue stacking the deck.

Navy Ending Red ‘Misconduct’ Stripes

Military culture is a strange beast.

Does Media Coverage of 2020 Distort Reality?

A Washington Post columnists tries to make the case.

Trump ObamaCare Reversal Overruled AG and HHS Secretary

The decision to hand Democrats a victory and step on the good news from the Mueller report apparently came from the very top.

Jussie Smollett Charges Dropped for No Apparent Reason

One of the most bizarre cases in recent memory gets . . . much more bizarre.

Trump Administration Says ObamaCare Unconstitutional

The Justice Department has reversed course and will not fight a December ruling overturning the Affordable Care Act.

Spacesuits Don’t Come in Size ‘Small’

History’s first all-female spacewalk was thwarted by a lack of smaller suits.

Medicare for All’s Unintended Consequences

What would it mean for the companies’ workers, the stock market and the cost of care?

Pentagon Diverts $1 Billion for Illegal Wall Funding

The (Acting) Secretary of Defense has issued an unconstitutional order.

Post-Mueller Recriminations

The mea culpas and I-told-you-so’s are rather premature.

On Coverage of the Coverage of the Mueller Report

Before we draw broad conclusions of the reporting on the report, don’t we need to see the report?

Batman Turns 80

Issue #1000 of Detective Comics is hitting the stands.

Time for Theresa May to Go?

Many are calling for the UK Prime Minister’s ouster. But the problem is Brexit itself, not any one leader.

Gaza Rockets Hit Tel Aviv

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is cutting short his US trip to deal with what his government is calling a Hamas attack.

Everything Isn’t Sexism

It’s possible to conclude that Pete Buttigieg is smarter than Elizabeth Warren for reasons having nothing to do with sex.

Where’s Doug?

Our most prolific front-pager hasn’t posted in two weeks. Readers are beginning to ask questions.

Legal Experts Weigh in on Barr Summary of Mueller Report

The Lawfare gang and Popehat weigh in.

Open Forum

So, what do you want to talk about?

More on the Pathologies of the EC

It’s the battleground states that are the issue, not small states v. large states.

Mueller Report: No Conspiracy or Coordination Between Trump Campaign and Russian Government

The principal findings of the Mueller report are now public. They’re good news for the President on Russia and a mixed bag on obstruction.

Douthat Attempts a Defense of the Electoral College

Ultimately, it isn’t a very good one.

Second Parkland Shooting Survivor Commits Suicide

A male sophomore makes two suicides in less than a week.

Pelosi Demands Open Release of Mueller Report

The Speaker says she will reject any attempt to deliver it in a “highly classified” manner.

Stephen Moore is a Terrible Choice for the Fed

Only the best people, dontcha know.

New Zealand to Ban Semiautomatic Weapons

Institutions matter. (No, seriously, they really, really matter).

Feeding The Trolls Only Makes Them Stronger

Deny them the pleasure of an angry reaction, and they’ll probably leave you alone.

Barbra Streisand’s Bizarre Defense of Michael Jackson’s Child Molestation

“His sexual needs were his sexual needs.” And, you know, criminal.

No Secretary of Defense in Sight

The office has been vacant for 81 days. President Trump has yet to nominate a replacement.

Mueller’s Report: We Don’t Know Much

Predictably, news that the investigation has ended has people on both sides cheering. It’s unwarranted.

Mueller Report Delivered to Attorney General

The Friday news dump to beat all Friday news dumps.

Parkland Survivor Sydney Aiello Takes Her Own Life

Tragedy piled on top of tragedy.

Lauren Duca Isn’t Very Nice

A weird takedown from within the #Resistance.