Blake Hounshell, 1978-2023

A brilliant journalist is gone at 44.

On Moderate Legislative Power and Other Political Dreams

A bloc of moderates is not coming to a Senate near you.

Reaction to Letter on Justice and Open Debate Proves its Point

Free speech is not for everyone.

McConnell Says Senate Would Fill SCOTUS Vacancy In 2020

Mitch McConnell has had an unsurprising change of heart on the issue of Senate consideration of Supreme Court nominees in a Presidential election year.

The War On Yemen, Congress, And The Constitution

The Wall Street Journal tries, and fails, to defend President Trump’s indefensible veto of the Congressional resolution regarding the war on Yemen.

Politics is not about Willpower

Math rules.

Trump Administration Argues It Didn’t Need Congressional Authorization To Attack Syria

Echoing the Obama Administration, the Trump Administration is arguing that it did not need Congressional authorization to attack Syria earlier this year.

Attacking Syria Without Congressional Authorization Would Be Illegal

Without Congressional authorization, any attack on Syria would be illegal, but don’t expect Congress to do anything about it.

Trump Administration Claims It Needs No Legal Authorization To Keep Troops In Syria

Continuing a long-standard tradition, the Trump Administration claims it doesn’t need to get legal authorization to keep American troops in Syria.

Congress Needs To Act In Response To Trump’s Illegal War In Syria

With the Administration set to commit the United States to a forever war in Syria, it’s time for Congress to act.

Donald Trump Continues His Despicable War On The News Media

President Trump continues his war on one of the most important guardians of American democracy.

Republican Karen Handel Wins Georgia Special Election

In one of the most closely watched Special Elections in American history, the outcome turned out to be not entirely surprising.

Federal Reserve Raises Rates For Third Time Since December

For the third time since December,, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates.

Rush Limbaugh Really Doesn’t Get Donald Trump

Chris Cillizza thinks “Rush Limbaugh totally gets Donald Trump.” I disagree.

Obama’s National Security Strategy Is Better Than His ‘National Security Strategy’

My latest for War on The Rocks, “IS OBAMA REAL(IST) CONFUSED?”

Retailers Opening On Thanksgiving Day Yet Again, But Don’t Blame Businessmen

Once again, some people are upset because retailers are opening on Thanksgiving Day, but that’s only because people are coming out to shop.

With The Midterms Done, Will Republican State Legislators Revisit Electoral College “Reforms?”

After the 2010 elections, several newly Republican state legislatures flirted with the idea of changing the way their state allocates Electoral Votes. The outcome of last weeks elections raises the possibility that this could happen again.

Are Book Publishers Useless?

Have digital books rendered the publishing houses obsolete?

Congress Has Abdicated Its Constitutional Responsibility In The War Against ISIS

Speaker Boehner wants to delay a vote on the ISIS war until January, but any such debate will be meaningless because Congress has already abdicated responsibility.

Congress Ready To Abdicate Its Responsibility On Attacks Against ISIS

Congress seems ready to avoid having to vote on expanded attacks against the Islamic State

Sarajevo, The Media, And ‘Breaking News’ Coverage, 100 Years Later

The news media of 1914 didn’t see World War One coming, but it’s not clear that we’re any better.

Obama’s New Carbon Rules Pose Political And Economic Risks For Questionable Benefits

The EPA’s new carbon rules leave much to be desired.

Far Right’s Rise In Europe Lays Largely In The Failures Of Mainstream Parties

Far right parties are succeeding in Europe because the mainstream parties aren’t offering an alternative.

December Jobs Report Comes In Way Off Estimates, 300,000+ Leave Labor Force

A surprisingly disappointing jobs report for December.

Is It Okay To Lie In Order To Get Amazon Discounts?

If Amazon gives discounts to people with children, is it acceptable to falsely claim you have a child in order to get a discount?

Revised GDP Figures Show Strong Growth, Until You Look At The Details

3.6% GDP growth in the 3rd Quarter, but the devil is in the details.

Conservative Group Calls For Boycott Of Radio Shack For Not Using “Christmas” In Ads

It’s the return of the most absurd meme of all time.

Time To Welcome Our Amazon Delivery Drone Overlords?

Jeff Bezos’s latest idea may never get off the ground, but it sure is interesting.

What’s The Big Deal About Retailers Opening On Thanksgiving?

It may not strike most people as “fun,” but there’s nothing wrong with retailers being open on Thanksgiving Day.

China Relaxes One Child Policy

China’s Communist Party has announced a significant change to the nation’s infamous “One Child” policy.

Boehner Won’t Allow Default Over Debt Ceiling, Still Insisting On Negotiations

Speaker Boehner told his caucus members that he will not allow a default over the debt ceiling but don’t look for a change in strategy.

Obama Won’t Go To Congress, Because History Has Taught Him He Doesn’t Have To

Presidents have gotten away with ignoring Congress when it comes to foreign military adventures for a very long time.

The Economics of Slavery

Some striking data to illustrate the role slavery played in the economy of the South.

Flying On A Plane Is Safer Than It Has Ever Been

Despite yesterday’s tragic events in San Francisco, flying by plane remains the safest way to travel.

Obamacare Employer Mandate Delayed Until 2015

On a slow news day, a major concession on Obamacare

An Automobile Showroom Where You Can’t Buy A Car

Thanks to archaic state laws, you can look at cars in a Tesla showroom, but in my states you can’t but anything there.

Institutions 101 and the Sequester

Institutional dynamics in the US constitutional system are the key to undertstanding our current predicament.

Ezra Klein’s Meteoric Rise

How he went from Juicebox Mafia member to the most important young journalist in DC.

Should We Continue To Subsidize Rural Mail Delivery?

It may have made sense to subsidize rural mail delivery once, that may not longer be the case?

Initial GDP Report Shows Economy Contracting In Final Quarter Of 2012

Some surprisingly bad economic news

A Different Way Of Handling Disaster Relief

It’s time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to disaster relief.

With Five Days Left, No Fiscal Cliff Deal In Sight

With less than a week left, the odds of a deal to avert the “Fiscal Cliff” seem longer than ever.

Obama Administration Sending Mixed Signals On Marijuana

President Obama’s recent statements on the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington are not consistent with his own Administration’s policies.

Filibuster Reform On The Agenda In 2013?

Once again, Senate Democrats are talking about filibuster reform, but will they actually follow through?

Federal Reserve Announces Another Round Of Stimulus Creating Money Out Of Thin Air

Ben Bernanke thinks doing more of the same is just what the economy needs.

August Jobs Report Shows Continued Weakening Of Labor Market

Another bad jobs report threatens to undermine whatever good will the President had coming off the Democratic National Convention.