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.

Reviving National Anthem Fires, Trump Revokes Eagles White House Invite

President Trump waded back into the National Anthem debate when he revoked the invitation of the Philadelphia Eagles to come to the White House today.

The President Probably Can Pardon Himself, But If He Does He Should Be Impeached

Based on a strict reading of the Constitution, a sitting President probably does have the power to pardon himself. That doesn’t mean he should be allowed to get away with it without consequence.

Former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci Dies At 87

Frank Carlucci, who served as President Reagan’s last Secretary of Defense, has died at 87.

In Narrow Ruling, Supreme Court Sides With Baker In Same-Sex Wedding Discrimination Case

In an exceedingly narrow ruling, the Supreme Court sided with a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding reception. However, the ruling did not address the broader issues raised by the case.

Former President George H.W. Bush Released From Hospital

A week before he turns 94, the former President is out of the hospital.

Trump Administration Argues It Didn’t Need Congressional Authorization To Attack Syria

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

Trump’s Nixonian Response To The Russia Investigation: ‘L’etat c’est moi’ (‘I am the state’)

President Trump’s attorneys have put forward a shockingly expansive view of the powers of the President.

The Shrinking, And Substance-Free, White House Press Briefing

In the Trump Era, the White House Press Briefing is becoming shorter and less informative.

Report: Trump Considering Blocking Importation Of German Luxury Automobiles

According to reports, President Trump is preparing to go to war against luxury German cars.

Republicans Growing Confident Of Holding The Senate

Republicans are at least a bit more confident that they’ll hold on to the Senate this year.

Is The E.R.A. Really Just One State Away From Ratification? Maybe, Maybe Not.

Earlier this week, the Illinois legislature ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. What’s unclear is if this act has any meaning at all.

Trump Revives His Claim That Mexico Will Pay For His Wall, Mexico Still Says No

Donald Trump continues to claim that Mexico will pay for his still non-existent border wall. Mexico says otherwise.

Destruction Of North Korean Nuclear Test Site Apparently Just For Show

A couple weeks ago, the North Koreans made a big deal about destroying their nuclear test site. It now appears that the event the media witnessed was less than meets the eye.

Trump Summit With Kim Jong Un Is Back On For June 12th

Just over a week after he called it off, President Trump announced this afternoon that the June 12th Summit in Singapore was back on.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

Trump Violates Yet Another Norm, And Possibly The Law

The President teased the Jobs Report an hour before it was officially released. This was both a violation of Federal law, and yet another example of this President violating long-established norms governing how politicians are supposed to act.

Donald Trump And The Mainstreaming Of Racism

Donald Trump may or may not be racist himself, but he has most certainly exploited and helped widen racial divisions ever since bursting on the political scene in 2015.

New Book Reveals Obama’s Initial Reaction To Trump’s 2016 Win

A new book reveals President Obama’s initial reaction to Donald Trump’s election, and provides some detail about their first meeting.

May Jobs Report Better Than Expected, But Still Not Great

May’s jobs report was stronger than the previous two months, but not entirely great.

Tennessee Republican Blames Gun Violence On ‘Grocery Store Pornography’

The leading candidate for the GOP nomination for Tennessee’s next Governor has a unique explanation for gun violence.

Trump Pardons Right-Wing Provocateur Dinesh D’Souza

President Trump has issued another controversial pardon.

Donald Trump Expands Idiotic Trade War, Takes Aim At America’s Allies

President Trump is setting off another trade war, this time with some of America’s closest and most important allies.

Trump: I Didn’t Fire Comey Over Russia. (He Totally Fired Comey Over Russia.)

President Trump is claiming that he didn’t fire former F.B.I. Director James Comey because of the Russia investigation, even though he admitted the exact opposite just weeks after it happened.

How Conservatives Learned To Discard Their Morality And Love Donald Trump

In the age of Trump, morality is optional for conservatives.

Ted Cruz Not Looking So Vulnerable After All

A new poll indicates that Texas Senator Ted Cruz isn’t as vulnerable as previously thought, and reminds us that Texas is still a very red state.

Trump Once Again Openly Humiliates His Attorney General

In an early morning Tweetstorm, President Trump said he would not have hired Jeff Sessions if he knew he’d recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

Effort To Liberalize Abortion Laws Shifts To Northern Ireland

The overwhelming success of the abortion referendum in Ireland is leading to calls for similar action in Northern Ireland, but it won’t be easy.

Puerto Rico Death Toll From Hurricane Maria Much Higher Than Officially Reported

A new study suggests that the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria was much higher than previously reported.

Missouri Governor Resigns Amid Allegations Of Affair, Blackmail, And Sexual Assault

The Republican Governor of Missouri is resigning amid growing accusations related to an extramarital affair, blackmail, and sexual assault.

Supreme Court Places Limits On Automobile Exception To Fourth Amendment

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that a police officer violated the Fourth Amendment when he conducted a search on a vehicle parked in a Defendant’s driveway without a search warrant.

ABC Cancels Top-Rated ‘Roseanne’ After Racist Tweetstorm

Hours after she unleashed a racist Twitter tirade, Roseanne Barr has had her show canceled by ABC. Of course, ABC knew who it was doing business with well before today.

The Proper Scope Of Inquiry In Judicial Confirmation Hearings

How far should judicial confirmation hearings go in asking potential Judges and Justices their opinions about issues that may come before them?

Some Senators Are Trying To Force A Deal On DACA

A small group of Senators is engaged in a seemingly quixotic effort to save DACA before the election.

The Cynical Truth Behind Trump’s Attacks On The News Media

The President’s constant attacks on the news media are meant for a single purpose, to undermine even accurate reporting about wrongdoing in his Administration.

Giuliani Admits “Spygate” Allegations Meant To Undermine Russia Investigation

With the President’s “Spygate” allegations standing largely discredited, his attorney and at the moment chief spokesperson Rudy Giuliani admits that the entire conspiracy theory was created to discredit the Mueller investigation.

Supreme Court Set To Hand Down Several Landmark Decisions By End Of June

With one month to go in its term, there’s still a lot on the Supreme Court’s plate.

Donald Trump’s Deplorable Memorial Day Tweet

Donald Trump chose to mark Memorial Day by talking about himself.

Former President George H.W. Bush Hospitalized In Maine

The 41st President has been hospitalized in Maine.

Poland Offers $2 Billion For Permanent U.S. Base

Poland makes the U.S. and NATO an offer they might want to consider refusing.

U.S. Has ‘Lost’ 1,500 Immigrant Children And Now It’s Taking Children Away From Parents

The Trump Administration has lost track of nearly 1,500 children at the same time that it is implementing a new policy that will result in children who arrive at the border with their parents or other family members.

Don’t Buy The Hype About North Korea Agreeing To ‘Denuclearization.’

South Korea’s President is saying that Kim Jong Un has renewed his supposed commitment to ‘denuclearization,’ but it isn’t at all clear what that means.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

It’s Time To Call The President What He Is, A Liar

This President lies on a daily basis. It’s time to start calling him what he is.

Alan Bean, Fourth Person To Walk On The Moon, Dies At 86

Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the Moon, has died at the age of 86

Irish Voters Overwhelmingly Vote To Repeal Ban On Abortion

Just as they did three years ago when they legalized same-sex marriage, Irish voters turned out in record numbers to repeal the nation’s ban on abortion.

Conservatives Are On The Wrong Side Of The N.F.L. Anthem Debate

Conservatives claim to support freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but they’ve utterly failed that test when it comes to their reaction to players who peacefully and respectfully kneel during the National Anthem.

More Sandy Hook Families Sue Alex Jones

Alex Jones is finally being called on to answer for his irresponsible lying about events like the Sandy Hook shooting.

School Shootings No Longer Shock Students. It Shouldn’t Be Like This

We have a generation of schoolkids who aren’t even surprised when there’s a shooting at their school. That’s a problem.

Trump Hints Summit With Kim Jong Un May Be Back On The Table

One day after canceling his summit meeting with Kim Jong Un, President Trump is suggesting it may be back on. Before it happens, though, there ought to be far more adequate preparation.

Three Years After Obergefell, Two-Thirds Of Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage

As we approach the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, a new poll finds that two-thirds of Americans support same-sex marriage.

Harvey Weinstein Charged With Rape, Sexual Assault

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been charged with rape and sexual assault in a New York Court.