What’s ‘Political Dysfunction’?

I know it when I see it.

Israel, Hamas, and the Laws of War

It’s . . . complicated.

Is This Time Different?

America survived a civil war and the turmoil of the 1960s. Can we rebound again?

Ukraine vs Taiwan

Do we have to pick one?

Biggest Leaker in Decade Should Never Have Had Access to Secrets

The United States has not learned from Snowden and Manning.

Patrick Lang, 1940-2023

An old soldier has faded away.

The free high-resolution photo of pedestrian, road, traffic, street, city, new york, cityscape, downtown, taxi, transport, red, nyc, usa, yellow, lane, yellow cab, art, infrastructure, metropolis, urban area , taken with an unknown camera 03/26 2017 The free high-resolution photo of pedestrian, road, traffic, street, city, new york, cityscape, downtown, taxi, transport, red, nyc, usa, yellow, lane, yellow cab, art, infrastructure, metropolis, urban area , taken with an unknown camera 03/26 2017

Exodus from Big Cities?

People are leaving our cities for the suburbs. But not on an equal basis.

The Democrats’ Patriotism Problem?!

Whither American civil religion?

OTB at 20

A look back at two decades of blogging.

Crisis of Confidence

Why have Americans lost trust in their institutions?

Raymond Pritchett, 1975-2022

Galrahn is gone much too soon.

Why Not Direct Democracy?

Would bypassing politicians altogether make the system more just?

U.S. Kills Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda Founder and Leader

A precision drone strike on a balcony in Kabul took out a longtime nemesis.

64 Percent of Democrats Want Biden Replaced in 2024

With record-low poll numbers, the grass roots wants someone new on the ticket next time.

Police Have No Duty to Protect You

“Protect and Serve” is just a slogan, not a guarantee.

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Ukraine and the ‘New Rules of War’

Many and small beats large and heavy. Finding beats flanking. Swarming beats surging.

Projecting China’s Future

Can it overcome demographics and decoupling to sustain its current unprecedented growth?

If It Was an Insurrection, Why Hasn’t Anyone Been Charged with ‘Insurrection’?

It doesn’t matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove.

The Divide Within Our Parties is Almost as Wide as that Between Them

Pew’s new typology shows the diversity of both US political parties.

RVA Pro Gun Rally 2020-11 Streets of Richmond, VA RVA Pro Gun Rally 2020-11 Streets of Richmond, VA

Vigilante Politics

We’re likely to see more instances like the Capitol Riot and the Kyle Rittenhouse shootings.

Gun Control is Jim Crow protester Gun Control is Jim Crow protester

Tribal Lenses and Criminal Justice

Our reactions to recent murder trials tells us a lot about our divided country.

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Ranked Choice Voting for Everyone?

It’s not perfect but it beats our usual approach to picking winners and losers.

Tab Clearing

Some interesting stories or columns that I’ll never get around to writing full posts on.

The State of America’s Political Parties

One party is divided on how to govern and the other is united in not governing.

Classifying Countries by Income

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

Vaccine Patent Rights

Should live-saving drugs be protected intellectual property?

The Republican Advantage in the House

Any “fair” drawing of districts will yield a GOP advantage over time.

Competing Visions For a Biden Presidency

Will he be a uniter or a divider?

Non-Violent Protests

At what point does a demonstration become something else?

Gun Violence Spiking Across American Cities

A marked rise in shooting deaths is going largely unnoticed.

What We Don’t Know About COVID-19

Two new studies bring more questions than answers.

"Kim Jong-un visiting Berlin" by driver Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Uploaded on March 30, 2017 "Kim Jong-un visiting Berlin" by driver Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Uploaded on March 30, 2017

What if Kim Jong Un is Dead?

Some informed speculation.

Presidential Generations

We’re going to make history one way or another in November.

America Ready for a Gay President?

It’s a reasonable question but not the right one.

Afghan War Marked By Incompetence, Misrepresentation, And Outright Lies

A new report details the extent to which the eighteen-year Afghanistan War has been marked by mistakes, and lies by the government to cover-up the fact that we went to war without a clear understanding of what we were doing.

The Next Steps Forward On Impeachment

The next steps in the impeachment process are relatively easy to predict.

What is American Patriotism?

There’s an inherent tension in our national ethos.

Trump Immune from ‘Racism’ Charge?

The President’s approval is up and disapproval down after the latest incidents.

Threatened Immigration Raids Haven’t Happened

Another case where the cruelty is the point?

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$15 Minimum Wage Would Do More Harm Than Good

The Congressional Budget Office assesses several reform proposals.

Whither Green Eyeshade Conservatives?

We could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.

Not Your Great-Grandfather’s Presidency

The job laid out by the Framers in Article II of the Constitution has expanded a mite.

Congressional Oversight is not Overreach

While the scope of Federal power has expanded beyond the ken of the Framers, this is not an example.

To Impeach Or Not To Impeach? That Is The Question

I continue to be opposed to impeachment of the President, but I’m slowly moving in that direction thanks primary to the Administration’s own actions.

The Cautionary Tale of Vermont’s Failed Single-Payer System

Despite seemingly ideal conditions, Green Mountain Care was an absolute debacle.

Census Constitutionally Required to Ask Citizenship Question?

A novel argument, untested in court, suggests that it might.

Our Shrinking Cities

The New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago metro areas are all losing people.

Splitting States

While polarization in our national politics gets the most attention, several states also face serious rural-urban tensions.

Jussie Smollett Charges Dropped for No Apparent Reason

One of the most bizarre cases in recent memory gets . . . much more bizarre.

Medicare for All’s Unintended Consequences

What would it mean for the companies’ workers, the stock market and the cost of care?