Outside the Beltway

A new book looks at the confluence of geography and disadvantage.

When something simple isn’t so simple.

You can’t fire me, I quit!

All states but one receive more in federal money than they pay out in taxes.

Who knew they got cell reception?

A symbolic gesture is now highly impractical, if not harmful.

It’s probably not strange visitors from outer space but we can’t rule it out.

Tales of threat assessment and media reactions.

You be the judge.

A tough map for the Democrats.

The will of the majority can prevail even in a skewed system.

A repeat of 1860 can’t happen. But something even worse could.

The longtime Senate leader is gone at 82.

It’s usually more effective to run for something rather than against someone.

There will be no religious exemptions. For now, at least.

Get vaccinated edition

The Democrats are apparently selling their omnibus spending package the wrong way.

Cries that American democracy is in jeopardy are not hyperbole.

The long shift of population from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt continues—with the unusual exception of California.

An exceptional choice that breaks the recent tradition of politicos in the post.

It’s seemingly just a matter of time before recreational use is allowed throughout the United States.

A Trump-era policy designed to screw over blue states may actually be a good one.

The author of “Lonesome Dove,” “Terms of Endearment,” and so many more great novels is gone at 84.

Most agree that it was good theater. But it’s not clear what they’ve proven.

Too little, too late.

A country music legend is yet another victim of COVID.

The Party of Lincoln went over the cliff like lemmings in support. It’s tough to see how they recover.

It’s getting worse, not better.

Predicting a Biden wave.

The state polling is not lining up along usual patterns.

Reminders from a perusal of the news.

Forecasters give Democrats better than even odds of a majority.

Injecting data into the conversation.

The President has hit rock bottom.

A hundred days out, a wave election is the best bet.

States can punish Electors who substitute their judgment for those of the voters.

A seemingly obvious result that isn’t.

And another one gone, another one gone, another one bites the dust.

More good news for Mayor Pete.

It’s not clear if Congresswoman Liz Cheney wants to run for the open Senate seat in Wyoming. If she did, though, she’d be the prohibitive favorite.

The Supreme Court returns to work today with a significant number of high-profile cases on its docket.

The criteria for the November and December debate will make it much harder for some Democrats to get on the national stage. That isn’t a bad thing.

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is ending a Presidential bid that few people were paying attention to.

As many as twelve candidates for the Democratic nomination may not qualify for the next debate. They should use that as an opportunity to get out of a race they clearly aren’t going to win.

We won’t have Hickenlooper to kick around anymore.

Rich candidates are buying artificial donors to stay in the contest.

As was the case a month ago, Vice-President Biden and Senator Kamala Harris were the focus of last night’s debate. Things turned out very differently, though.

The first night of the second Democratic debate consisted largely of clashes between the party’s progressive wing and more moderate elements.

The lineups for the second Democratic debate are set, and they include some interesting pairings.

Once again, twenty candidates will participate in the second debate scheduled to take place over two nights at the end of the month.