Outside the Beltway

The current temporary spending measure reached by Congress in September expires on Friday, and Republicans haven’t come up with a solution yet.

Jim Nabors, who became famous as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle USMC, has died at the age of  87.

For a guy who considers the Russia investigation “Fake News,” President Trump sure is doing a lot to try to stop it.

A not guilty verdict in a case that Donald Trump turned into a political issue.

Senator Al Franken faces new charges of sexually inappropriate conduct on the same day that House Democrats are beginning to pressure one of their members to resign.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument yesterday in what could end up being a landmark case on the issue of the scope of Fourth Amendment rights in the 21st Century.

The latest domino to fall in the ongoing wave of sexual harassment and abuse revelations is Matt Lauer.

The Supreme Court has declined to hear yet another Second Amendment case.

More troubles for Minnesota Senator Al Franken.

A Federal Judge in California has entered an order permanently blocking a Trump Administration effort to deny funding to so-called sanctuary cities.

Drip, Drip, Drip?

Charles Manson, who led a cult-like “family” to a series of murders in 1969 and subsequently spent more than 40 years in prison, has died at the age of 83.

Is it time to reexamine Presidential authority to launch a nuclear strike?

New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand says Bill Clinton should have resigned over his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Raising the question of just how stringently we should apply the standards of today to the events of the past.

House Republicans passed their tax reform bill. That was the easy part.

A Los Angeles reporter says that Minnesota Senator Al Franken groped her and engaged in other inappropriate conduct during a 2006 USO tour.

As a candidate, Donald Trump liked to claim that he only hired the “top people.” and said he would do the same thing as President. So far, it isn’t working out that way.

Will Joe Biden be ‘tan, rested, and ready’ enough to take on 2020?

Notwithstanding overwhelming public support, Congress is not moving forward on a proposal to ban bump stocks.

The shooter in the Texas church shooting was apparently able to get his weapons because the Air Force failed to report his domestic violence conviction.

In his time as President, Donald Trump has demonstrated as much contempt for the rule of law as he did as a candidate.

Federal Courts continue to rule against the Administration, and the President continues to lash out at Judges and demonstrate his contempt for the Rule Of Law.

President Trump remains the most unpopular newly elected President since the end of the Second World War, and there’s no sign that will change.

A new poll shows that a record majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support legalization of marijuana.

Vice-President Pence left an Indianapolis Colts game early in what was obviously a cynical pre-planned publicity stunt.

A complicated concurrence to Steven Taylor’s recent postings.

The District of Columbia has decided not to risk an appeal of a lower court ruling striking down its restrictive concealed-carry law.

The Las Vegas shooting provides a good opportunity to enact a common sense gun control law that even Second Amendment advocates agree is called for.

Stephen Paddock’s crime was clearly terrorizing, and will impact the lives of survivors, families, first responders in many ways for a long time. Based on the currently available evidence, though, the Las Vegas shooting was not “terrorism.”

The band leader of the Heartbreakers and the Traveling Wilburys is gone.

In its upcoming term, the Supreme Court will hear a case that is likely to have a significant impact on the powers of public-sector unions.

A Federal Appeals Court has declined to review a panel decision striking down the District of Columbia’s restrictive concealed-carry law.

More evidence of apparent Russian-backed efforts to interfere in the election.

Yet another lawsuit against yet another controversial Trump Administration policy.

The Trump Administration has been hit with two new lawsuits over the President’s decision to end the DACA program.

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

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.

Once again, Congress is abdicating its Constitutional responsibilities.

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.

The University of California has joined the list of Plaintiffs suing the Trump Administration over its 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 made a deal with Democrats on spending and the debt ceiling, but it was an exceedingly bad one.

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.

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

President Trump is threatening to end a program that has benefited at least 750,000 innocent people.

Kamala Harris has joined Bernie Sanders’ call for creation of a single-payer healthcare system.

The pardoning of Joe Arpaio was distasteful and an affront to the Rule of Law, but it was completely within the powers of the President and should not be a ground for impeachment.

Not surprisingly, the District of Columbia is seeking review of last month’s decision on its concealed-carry law by the full Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.