Posts by Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

The Hanoi Summit Failed Because Trump Is Pursuing The Wrong Goal

In the end, the reason the Hanoi Summit failed is because the Trump Administration is pursuing an unattainable goal.

A Crucial Test Flight For NASA And SpaceX

Early tomorrow morning, NASA and SpaceX will be testing a crucial part of America’s return to manned space flight.

Once Again, Trump Becomes An Apologist For A Dictator

Once again, President Trump proves that in the face of evil he is a coward and a disgrace.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee Is Running For President

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is running for the Democratic nomination for President on a platform primarily focused on climate change. Whether that helps distinguish him from a growing field of candidates remains to be seen.

Biden Says The Family Is On Board For A 2020 Run

Former Vice-President Joe Biden isn’t officially running for President yet, but says his family is on board if he does.

Trump Ordered Security Clearance For Jared Kushner Despite Objections

President Trump personally overrode the objections of security officials, the White House Counsel, and the Chief of Staff to make sure his son-in-law got a security clearance.

Supreme Court Appears Likely To Let ‘Peace Cross’ On Public Property Stay In Place

The Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward letting a war memorial on public property stay in place.

Benjamin Netanyahu To Be Charged In Criminal Corruption Case

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being charged with three charges of corruption even as he faces an election in just over a month.

Economic Growth Slows In Final Quarter Of 2018

Economic growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter of 2018 from where it had been earlier in the year. And it’s likely to slow down even more.

Congress Needs To Fix The National Emergencies Act

Instead of merely seeking to block the President’s declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border, Congress should instead significantly amend the National Emergencies Act.

Michael Cohen Hearing Paints Trump In Horrible Light

Michael Cohen pulled back the curtain and revealed much about the true nature of Donald Trump yesterday. It’s not a pretty picture.

Hanoi Summit Ends Early With No Agreement

The second summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un ended early without any kind of agreement, signalling that no real progress has been made in talks between the two countries.

Federal Court Upholds Trump Administration’s Bump Stock Ban

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. has upheld the Administration’s ban on bump stocks.

Tensions Flare Between India And Pakistan

While the rest of the world looks at other events, tensions are flaring in a long-standing global hot spot.

The Dangers Of U.S. Military Intervention In Venezuela

American military intervention in Venezuela would make the situation in that country worse, not better.

Michael Cohen Set To Deliver Potentially Blockbuster Evidence Against Trump

Michael Cohen, the President’s former lawyer and “fixer,” is set to deliver several bombshells in his testimony before Congress today.

House Passes Bill To Block Trump’s Emergency, With Minimal GOP Support

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to block the President’s declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border. Now the matter goes to the Senate.

Separation Of Church And State Back Before The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral argument in a case involving a World War I Memorial in the form of a cross on public land in Suburban Maryland.

Republicans Face A Choice: Do They Support The Constitution, Or Trump?

Republicans face a choice in the coming days. Do they support the Constitution, or do they support Donald Trump? You can count on them making the wrong choice.

Trump’s Electoral College Problem

Based on his job approval numbers, President Trump could face an uphill battle in 2020.

Michael Cohen Heads To Capitol Hill

Donald Trump’s former lawyer begins three days of testimony before Congress today. By the time he’s done, he could end up doing real damage to the Trump Presidency.

Australia’s Top Cardinal Convicted Of Abusing Children

Cardinal George Pell, the top Catholic Cleric in Australia, has been convicted of sexually abusing boys in the 1990s.

Former Trump Campaign Staffer Files Lawsuit Alleging Assault By Trump

A 2016 Trump Campaign staffer has filed a lawsuit against the President alleging that she was assaulted by Trump during the campaign.

Trump And Kim Headed To Second Summit. It’s Unlikely To Accomplish Anything.

President Trump and Kim Jong Un hold their second summit in Hanoi later this week, but it’s unlikely anything significant will happen.

[Voter Fraud Graphic] [Voter Fraud Graphic]

Republican Silence On Actual Voter Fraud Is Deafening

After a decade of using the alleged problem of “voter fraud” to justify things like Voter ID Laws, Republicans are remarkably silent in the fact of an actual example of fraud and election tampering.

America’s Allies Refuse Trump’s Request To ‘Fill The Gap’ In Syria

After two years of spitting in their faces, President Trump is finding it hard to get America’s European allies to come to his aid.

Felons Are Keeping Guns That Should Be Taken Away From Them

Gun laws requiring guns to be taken away from convicted felons are either being ignored or have too many loopholes. We need to fix that.

U.S. Leaving Behind A Token Force In Syria

Rather than pulling completely out of Syria the United States will be leaving behind a token force of about 200 troops. This is a mistake.

Larry Hogan, Republican Iconoclast, Edges Closer To A Run Against Trump

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan continues to sound like someone seriously considering running against Donald Trump.

Solving The District Of Columbia Problem

There’s only one solution to the D.C. statehood issue. It’s called retrocession.

Racist Republican Congressman Steve King Is Unrepentant And Running For Re-Election

Steve King isn’t backing down from his history of white supremacy and racism. And he’s also running for re-election.

Majority Of Americans Oppose Overturning Roe v. Wade

A new poll shows that most Americans believe the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision should remain the law on the land. Opinion on other abortion-related issues is more divided.

Trump Picks Kelly Knight Craft As U.N. Ambassador

President Trump has selected Kelly Knight Craft, the current Ambassador to Canada, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Congress Moves Forward With Legislative Challenge To Trump’s ‘National Emergency’

The House of Representatives has begin the process of challenging the President’s recent declaration of a ‘national emergency’ at the southern border.

Florida Student Charged With Creating Disturbance Over Pledge Of Allegiance

A student in Florida has been charged with creating a disturbance after declining to recite the Pledge Of Allegiance in class.

Mike Pompeo Passes On Senate Run In Kansas

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be running for Senate despite urging from Republicans in Washington and back in Kansas,

Doug Jones Gets A Strong Republican Challenger For 2020

Congressman Bradley Byrne has entered the race to challenge Doug Jones for the Senate from Alabama in 2020. This seat is likely to be a Republican pick-up regardless of who the Republicans nominate.

North Carolina Elections Board Orders New Election In Tainted Congressional Election

A North Carolina Congressional Election that was tainted by Absentee Ballot Fraud will be redone.

Roger Stone Gets Off Easy As Federal Judge Imposes Gag Order

After posting an image that clearly threatened a Federal Judge, Roger Stone walked out of court with a full gag order imposed on him. It could’ve gone a lot worse.

Jussie Smollett Charged With Faking “Hate Crime”

Actor Jussie Smollett is charged with staging an attack initially called a “hate crime.”

Trump Gets His Space Force, Sort Of

President Trump will get his Space force, but it won’t exactly be what he wanted when he first proposed that idea.

Ralph Northam Is Still Governor Of Virginia, And He’s Likely To Remain There

Twenty days after we learned about racist yearbook photos and everything that followed from it, there’s been no action against any of Virginia’s top political leaders. Don’t expect to see it either.

Mueller Report Coming Soon?

Robert Mueller appears to be winding down his investigation and getting ready to submit a report to the Attorney General.

Authorities Arrest Coast Guard Officer Plotting To Kill Journalists, Democrats

A Coast Guard officer and aspiring domestic terrorist was arrested late yesterday for plotting to kill Democratic politicians and members of the media.

The Republican Game Plan For 2020: Demonization And Demagoguery

Following Donald Trump’s lead, the GOP is making clear that its game plan for 2020 is paint all Democrats as ‘socialists, baby killers, and anti-Semites.’

Supreme Court Places Limits On Civil Asset Forfeiture

The Supreme Court issued a ruling that places new limits on civil asset forfeiture by state and local government.

Virginia Voters Split On Whether State Leaders Should Resign

Polling continues to suggest that voters in Virginia are not nearly as concerned with the past behavior of state leaders as the political establishment might be.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Trump Over ‘Emergency’ Declaration

The American Civil Liberties Union has joined the list of groups with lawsuits against the President’s declaration of a “national emergency” at the southern border.

Theresa May Still Searching For A Brexit Deal

With just over two months to go until the March 29th deadline, British Prime Minister Theresa May is no closer to a Brexit deal.

Martina Navratilova Faces Blowback For Comments On Transgender Athletes

Tennis great Martina Navratilova is facing criticism for raising questions about how sports handles the issue of transgender athletes competing within the gender they identify with. She shouldn’t be.