Outside the Beltway

Some last minute dramatics in the Kavanaugh nomination fight, but it seems unlikely to impact the outcome of the nomination fight.

Day One of questions for Judge Brett Kavanaugh went about as you’d expect.

The first day of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings was much ado about pretty much nothing, but then that can be used to describe a process whose outcome is pretty much foreordained.

Former Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty failed in his comeback effort last night, confirming yet again that the GOP is now the Trump Party.

Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination appears to be on track for confirmation before the new Supreme Court term begins in October.

President Trump appears to be ready to expand his ignorant, counterproductive trade war with China.

Notwithstanding his dismissive public rhetoric about the former Vice-President, Donald Trump apparently sees Joe Biden as his biggest potential threat in 2020.

If President Trump’s trade war continues, it could have a serious impact on the political fortunes of President Trump and his party.

Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who challenged Nancy Pelosi for a leadership spot in 2016, is telling supporters he’s running for President in 2020.

The President is apparently getting ready to take yet another ill-advised step in his ill-advised, economically illiterate trade war.

The midterm elections are still four months away, but Democrats are already making moves to prepare for the race for their party’s Presidential nomination in 2020.

Some additional comparative info (internationally and state-to-state).

The ill-advised move is sure to raise costs for businesses and consumers and roil global stock markets.

Donald Trump’s trade war continues to have negative consequences for American consumers and businesses.

President Trump’s short list of potential Supreme Court nominees consists mostly of conventionally conservative, well-qualified, jurists.

Once touted as an example of his deal-making prowess, Harley-Davidson sent a rebuke to President Trump by announcing it was moving some manufacturing to Europe to counteract the impact of his ongoing trade war.

Three months after it started, the Trump Trade War is already starting to have a negative impact on American businesses and American consumers.

Either the President of the United States is a knowing liar or he is very easily duped. Neither is a comforting thought.

President Trump once said that “trade wars are good and easy to win.” It’s only been three months since he started this war and we’re already finding out just how wrong he is about that.

Senators hoping for a long summer recess have had their hopes dashed.

Quietly, Mike Pence is seeking to create his own power base inside the GOP even as the White House pushes back.

Rudy Giuliani is basically now suggesting that his client would be willing to set off a Constitutional crisis that would make Watergate seem like a picnic.

While the Trump Administration slowly tries to remake the Federal Judiciary, states are moving to pass radical new challenges to Roe v. Wade.

Republicans joined with Democrats to advance a bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but it’s unlikely to go anywhere beyond that.

Michael Cohen will invoke his rights under the Fifth Amendment in response to any questions asked in discovery in the civil suit filed against him by Stormy Daniels. That’s really the only option he has.

Unable to get his way with the legislature, New York’s governor is taking a provocative step.

Trump’s tariff plan isn’t going over well in farm country, and that could cause problems for the GOP in November.

Tim Pawlenty is attempting a comeback in Minnesota. It won’t be easy.

Mississippi’s Governor has chosen a replacement for Thad Cochran, but the White House isn’t too happy about the pick.

Will Bunch wildly exaggerates the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Conor Lamb’s win in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District has set off an inevitable debate inside the Democratic Party about how to approach the upcoming midterm elections.

While the glass ceiling in high-level posts was shattered decades ago, men still dominate the field.

Billy Graham was the son of a North Carolina farmer who grew up to become a counselor to Presidents, Prime Ministers, and even a Queen.

A bipartisan group of Senators has proposed a largely reasonable fix to the DACA problem, but its fate remains unclear.

With time seemingly running out, the Senate debate over extending DACA is moving slowly.

The White House’s immigration plan is facing opposition in both chambers of Congress from moderate and conservative Republicans alike.

Despite mounting evidence and outrageous behavior, Republicans nationwide and on Capitol Hill continue to do the Administration’s dirty work. They’ll most likely live to regret it.

The GOP’s potential troubles in 2018 don’t just exist at the Congressional level.

After nearly twenty years, the Republican domination of the Virginia House of Delegates came to an end thanks to a single vote.

A Trump judicial nominee who could not answer basic legal questions in a hearing last week has withdrawn his nomination, but this is likely to happen again unless the Administration fixes some obvious flaws in its selection process.

Most Americans are unlikely to remember John Anderson, but he was a harbinger of things to come.

The longest-serving member of the House has retired amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

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.

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

Don’t hold your breath, but the Las Vegas shooting may actually prompt Congress to do something.

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

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

Trump makes a DACA deal, apparently.

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