Outside the Beltway

Another step forward toward ending a U.S. policy regarding Cuba that was outdated twenty years ago.

The race for the Republican nomination is as tight as ever, and so far nobody seems to be emerging as a clear front-runner.

Some unusually blunt, but true, language from the U.S. Secretary Of Defense.

A Cleveland police officer has been acquitted of manslaughter and other charges in a case that resulted in the death of two African-American individuals.

With 14 candidates vying for the Republican nomination, TV execs are scrambling to make the debates watchable.

Iraq seems to becoming a political headache for yet another member of the Bush family.

There must be something odd in the water in the Lone Star State, because a bizarre conspiracy theory seems to have taken root there.

It’s complicated. And probably not a scandal.

Two men were killed last night before they could carry out what appears to be a planned attack on an anti-Islam event in Texas.

A sharply divided Court heard argument today on an issue that has sharply divided the nation.

There is no excuse for last night’s rioting in Baltimore, but that should not deflect attention from the problems with that city’s police.

Just over a week after a death at the hands of police that remains incredibly suspicious, Baltimore is the sight of violent riots.

It’s time for another White House Correspondent’s Dinner, and it’s going to be just as atrocious as the last one. But, the dinner isn’t the real problem.

Another poll shows that Republicans are largely out of step with public opinion on the question of whether businesses should be free to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings.

Less than two weeks after entering the race, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is at the top of the GOP field in a new poll.

Former Hewlett Packard CEO, and failed Senate candidate, Carly Fiorina will be running for President for some reason.

The GOP race remains tight, but some candidates have benefited from their entry into the race more than others. Overall, though, Hillary Clinton continues to dominate.

Some observations about Stewart’s interview (and some digression from me–okay, a lot of digression by me).

The US economy added 126,000 jobs, much less than the guess of 244,000.

Rand Paul has been cozying up to social conservatives lately, but he risks alienating the people most likely to support his campaign for the White House.

We’re down to debating whether bigots should have to sell cakes to gay people.

Harry Reid made outlandish claims about Mitt Romney during the 2012 election. He probably knew they were lies when he made them. And he doesn’t care.

President Obama thinks that it would be a good idea if everyone were forced to vote. He’s wrong, and his idea is most likely unconstitutional.

Two weeks after the email story broke, there’s no sign that Hillary Clinton is losing ground in the 2016 race.

A powerful Democratic Senator looks like he’s about to be in a whole lot of trouble.

Ben Carson is inching closer to running for President, and he’s continuing to pander to the most extreme elements of the Republican Party.

By a wide margin Americans think it was wrong of the GOP to invite Israel’s Prime Minister to speak to Congress.

ISIS apparently now has a foothold in Libya, and is making inroads in Yemen.

John McCain is not a fan of Code Pink.

Mitt Romney is set to make an announcement at 11 Eastern today. [UPDATE: He’s out!]

There’s really no point in watching tonight’s speech.

The Republican National Committee is trying to bring some sanity to the Presidential debate process, but there’s no guarantee it can succeed.

Pope Francis has earned a reputation as a liberal in comparison to recent predecessors but he’s no liberal.

Some are criticizing the President for not going to Paris for yesterday’s rally.

The terrorism wave that began with the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo offices has not ended with the killing of the perpetrators. A follow-on attack has occurred in Germany and there are reports of “sleeper cells” being activated in France.

He’s tan. He’s rested. And, apparently, he’s ready. Mitt Romney seems very interested in 2016 all of a sudden.

The terror attack in Paris seems likely to undercut GOP efforts to use the DHS budget to attack the President’s immigration policies.

At least 11 are dead and 10 wounded in an attack on free expression.

President Obama believes the North Korean attack on Sony was “an act of cyber vandalism” rather than “an act of war.”

President Obama criticized Sony for backing down, and said that the U.S. would respond to North Korea’s cyber attack “at a place and time we choose,”

With major theater chains having pulled out, Sony bowed to the inevitable, but now there appears to be proof that a foreign power is behind the Sony hacking attacks and threats of violence.

Judging by recent polling, the President’s executive action has hardened GOP opposition to immigration reform, making progress on the issue going forward much less likely.