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.

Hillary Clinton Has A Theory To Explain Why White Married Women Didn’t Vote For Her

Hillary Clinton has found another group to blame for her loss, educated white married women in suburbia.

Stanislav Petrov, Soviet Officer Who Helped Avert Nuclear War, Dies At 77

Early on the morning of Sept. 26, 1983, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov helped to prevent the outbreak of nuclear war.

Sean Spicer Does The Emmys, And The Punditocracy Freaks Out

Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer poked fun at himself on last night’s Emmy broadcast, and the political pundits are all in pearl-clutching mode because of it.

Trump Administration Preparing To Stay In Afghanistan For The Long Haul

America’s longest war seems likely to soon turn into America’s never-ending war.

Federal Judge Blocks Dept. Of Justice Policy Withholding Funds From ‘Sanctuary Cities’

A Federal Judge has blocked enforcement of a Dept. of Justice policy purporting to block funding to so-called ‘sanctuary cities.’

Cassini Probe Plunges Into Saturn, Ending A Twenty Year Mission Of Discovery

Ending a mission that began when it was launched nearly twenty years ago, the Cassini probe was sent into Saturn’s atmosphere to perform one final task.

Trump Reopens Charlottesville Wounds By Resurrecting His ‘Both Sides’ Argument

Donald Trump went there again, and in the process reopened a wound that was starting to heal just a little bit.

Trump Openly Humiliated Jeff Sessions After Mueller Appointment

President Trump reportedly openly humiliated his own Attorney General after learning of Bob Mueller’s appointment.

McConnell Open To Eliminating ‘Blue Slips’ For Judicial Nominees

The Senate appears ready to get rid of another procedural move designed to block judicial nominees.

Trump Administration Set To Further Reduce Sanctions Against Iran

Notwithstanding his promises during the campaign, President Trump seems likely to go forward with sanctions reductions required under the nuclear deal with Iran.

Democrats Say They Reached A Deal With Trump On DACA

Trump makes a DACA deal, apparently.

Republicans To Introduce Tax Reform Package By The End Of September

Republicans will introduce a tax package by the end of the month, but whether they can actually pass anything is another question entirely.

Senate Rejects Amendment To Repeal AUMFs Authorizing The Bush-Obama-Trump Forever Wars

Once again, Congress is abdicating its Constitutional responsibilities.

Most Americans Want Dreamers To Have Pathway To Citizenship

Americans support allowing Dreamers to stay in the country, and most of them also support allowing them to eventually become citizens.

United Nations Passes Watered Down North Korean Sanctions

The Trump Administration’s effort to impose sanctions against North Korea suffered a significant defeat in the United Nations Security Council.

Laws That Forbid Americans From Joining In Boycotts Violate The First Amendment

Arguments advanced by those advocating a bill that would prevent Americans from participating in a boycott of Israel would not violate the First Amendment appear to be without merit.

Retirements By Capitol Hill Republicans Starting To Pile Up

A recent uptick in retirements from Congressional Republicans is leading some Republicans to become concerned about the party’s prospects in 2018.

Republicans Have Lost The Gamble They Took On Donald Trump

Republicans on Capitol Hill and elsewhere were gambling when they lined up behind Donald Trump. So far, they’ve lost.

Remembering 9/11 Without Obsessing Over It

At some point, it will be time to move on.

Steve Bannon Is Going To War Against The Republican Congress

Steve Bannon may be out of the White House, but his efforts to continue pushing President Trump, and the Republican Party, even further to the populist far-right continues.

Mitt Romney For Senate?

For the second time this year, there are rumors that Mitt Romney could run for Senator from Utah if Orrin Hatch decides to retire.

Why Negotiations With North Korea Are (Currently) Impossible

Absent significant changes, expecting normal diplomatic relationships with the DPRK is a pipe dream.

Hillary Clinton Says She’s Done Being A Candidate For Office

Hillary Clinton delivers the most obvious news ever.

University Of California Sues Trump Administration Over Decision To End DACA

The University of California has joined the list of Plaintiffs suing the Trump Administration over its decision to end DACA.

Catalan Independence Vote Set For October 1st, Propelling Spain Into Crisis

In less than a month, voters in the Catalan region of Spain will be voting whether to remain part of Spain or assert independence.

Dept. Of Justice Declines To Charge Lois Lerner In Connection With I.R.S. Targeting Scandal

Despite pleas from conservative lawmakers, the Dept. of Justice will not reopen the case against former I.R.S. official Lois Lerner.

Republican Candidate For Virginia Governor: Dreamers Should Not Be Deported

Ed Gillespie, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, has come out against the most recent immigration-related action by the national leader of his party.

Federal Judge Halts Ezekiel Elliott Suspension

Once again, the National Football League sees its disciplinary and appeal process criticized by a Federal Judge.

Senate Republicans Accept Defeat On Obamacare ‘Repeal And Replace’

The effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act is dead for now.

Trump Administration Suffers Another Court Defeat On Travel Ban

The Trump Administration has suffered another Court defeat related to the President’s Muslim Travel Ban.

Trump Jr.’s Explanation For Russia Meeting Raises More Questions

Donald Trump Jr. spoke yesterday with Senate investigators, and his answers raise more questions than they answer.

Eliminating The Debt Ceiling: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Perhaps it’s time to consider getting rid of the debt ceiling entirely.

Democratic States Sue Trump Administration Over Decision To End DACA

As expected, a group of Democratic states is suing the Trump Administration over the decision to end the DACA program.

Donald Trump And The Art Of The Bad Deal

Donald Trump made a deal with Democrats on spending and the debt ceiling, but it was an exceedingly bad one.

Removing Confederate Statues Is Not ‘Erasing History’

The battle over Confederate statues that was resurrected by the violence in Charlottesville is off the front pages, but that doesn’t mean it’s over quite yet.

So Far, Trump’s Economy Is Doing Worse Than Obama’s

President Trump likes to take credit for the state of the economy, but the truth is that things are actually doing slightly worse under his Administration than they were under his predecessor.

Blue States Threatening To Sue Trump Over DACA Decision, But Their Case Seems Weak

Several Democratic Attorneys General are threatening to sue the Trump Administration over the decision to end DACA, but their legal arguments appear to be especially weak.

David Clarke Heads To Pro-Trump SuperPAC After Kelly Blocks White House Job

Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke loses out on yet another Trump Administration position thanks to Chief of Staff John Kelly.

Majority Of Americans Support Extending DACA, Allowing Dreamers To Become Citizens

Two polls find that most Americans support letting DACA beneficiaries to stay in the United States. Will that help move Congress to act?

Obama Speaks Out About Trump’s Decision To End DACA

The Trump Administration’s decision to end DACA motivated former President Obama to speak out, and he’s absolutely right.

Trump Administration Announces End Of DACA, With Six Month Delay

The Trump Administration announced today that the program that provided deportation relief to nearly a million people brought to the United States as children would end unless Congress acts to save it.

Democrats Already Maneuvering For Support And Donors In 2020

We’re a long way away from the start of the 2020 election cycle, but Democrats are already maneuvering for support and money.