Outside the Beltway

The most important and controversial American diplomat of the postwar era is gone at 100.

Germany’s economy is among the worst in the OECD.

The first of a potential three rounds.

The Justice responds to ethics charges.

The Pope is siding with evil.

Donald Trump and friends speak to the NRA.

A possible murder plot in Colombia embedded into a problematic multi-decade narrative.

What constitutes a “low income” or “high income” country?

More voice, more votes, more representation.

Multiple indicators point to a decline in the representativeness of the American system.

For those wondering what a textbook coup would look like.

A shameful farce continues to unfold.

The Times investigation sheds more light on what most of us already knew.

Shame on him for defending authoritarian actions.

Not that one. The other one.

We are truly exceptional in how we choose the president.

November saw much higher jobs growth than economic analysts were expecting, but it could just be a statistical blip.

President Trump said this morning that he’s fine with letting his trade war with the rest of the world continue all the way to the 2020 election.

Sigh.

The victory of the U.S. Women’s team in the World Cup has renewed a long-standing argument over pay equity, but the issue is far more complicated than it seems.

Taiwan has become the first nation in Asia to legally recognize same-sex marriage.

The situation in Venezuela entered a new stage yesterday as opposition leader Juan Guaidó claimed the nation’s Presidency.

Notwithstanding the temptation to do something, both the United States and NATO need to resist the temptation to get involved in the latest conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Presidents Trump and Xi have agree to a “90 day cease fire” on new tariffs. This means that Trump will not raise tariffs on Chinese imports that were scheduled to take effect on January 1st of next year. The tariffs will go into effect if the two countries cannot reach an agreement within that 90 day time frame.

President Trump has canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the recent confrontation between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.

President Trump is now claiming he will end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants via Executive Order. He clearly lacks the authority to do this.

A significant advance for LGBT rights in the world’s most populous democracy.

A top Vatican official is alleging that Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI were both aware of previously unknown allegations of sexual abuse and chose to allow them to be covered up rather than bringing them to light.

A Special Election tomorrow in suburban Columbus, Ohio could tell us a lot about where the midterm elections might be headed.

Contrary to last week’s reports, we won’t be seeing a second summit with Vladimir Putin in the near future.

A thoughtful liberal argues the Justice has “altered and destroyed his legacy” by allowing Donald Trump to appoint his successor.

The current discussion about SCOTUS is a good excuse to look at how other countries handle these things.

GOP primary voters continue to reward staunch supporters of the President and punish those who get on his bad side.

The Trump Administration has acted in a manner to create the impression that there is “no daylight” between the United States and Israel. This is a myth, and pursuing such a goal poses real dangers for America’s national interests.

Is there anyone in the Trump Administration or family who hasn’t held undisclosed meetings with Russians?

By a narrow margin, Turks voted for some significant changes.

More stepping back from free trade and the established global economic order.

Concepts, basic applications, and even a bibliography! Merry Festivus, everyone.

It’s been a bad week for Donald Trump, something he can ill-afford with less than 100 days left until Election Day.

A decision from Mexico’s Supreme Court has opened the door to legalization of marijuana south of the border, but it’s likely to proceed much slower than in the United States or Canada.

Pope Francis’s new encyclical isn’t exactly being received positively by American conservatives, because they seem to be missing the point.

Thanks largely to a series of court decisions, same-sex marriage is effectively legal in all of Mexico.

Vaccination has eliminated a disease that used to be a serious threat from the Americas.

The Obama Administration took some fire yesterday for recent Ambassadorial Appointments, but the President’s record has been consistent with those of his recent predecessors.

After success in Scotland, it may be time to consider allowing at least some teenagers to vote.