Outside the Beltway

The GOP’s most vulnerable incumbent is still looking very vulnerable.

Republicans are planning on pushing judicial nominees through the Senate in case they lose control in November. Meanwhile, the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy raises the stakes.

The highest ranking Democrat in the Senate has introduced a bill that would effectively decriminalize marijuana nationwide and leave it up to each state to decide how far they wish to go with regard to cannabis regulation. It’s a huge step in the right direction.

Kyrsten Sinema, the likely Democratic nominee for the Senate in Arizona, is leading all three of her potential Republican challengers. This could spell trouble for the GOP.

Whether they like it or not, Republican candidates in the midterms will have to run with the albatross of Donald Trump around their necks.

Republicans are raising the fear of impeachment to motivate a base that could become disaffected heading into November.

President Trump’s call for National Guard troops isn’t going over well even with Republican Governors.

Like many Presidents before him, Donald Trump wants a line-item veto. Getting there won’t be easy, nor should it be.

Once again, there’s speculation in Washington that Justice Anthony Kennedy could retire this year.

Democrats appear to have regained momentum in the Generic Congressional Ballot.

Recent polls have caused Republicans to become more optimistic about their chances in this year’s midterms. That optimism is both premature and misplaced.

Two Amtrak crashes in less than a week is newsworthy. It is not, however, a trend.

The deal that led to the end of the Federal Government shutdown isn’t sitting well with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

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

The Trump Administration is reversing policy on an Obama Era policy that allowed states to choose their own course on marijuana laws.

Federal Appeals Court Judge Alex Kozinski is resigning immediately after a barrage of sexual harassment allegations.

With the results from Alabama. the GOP faces a hard road ahead defending its majority in the Senate.

Roy Moore’s loss in Alabama is bringing out into the open a civil war that has been going on for seven years now.

There are no good outcomes for the GOP in Alabama.

The Supreme Court heard argument today in a case challenging a 1992 law barring sports gambling in all but a handful of states, and the Justices appeared skeptical of the law.

The early numbers in the battle to control Congress look good for Democrats, but there are are a number of caveats to keep in mind.

A new poll shows that a record majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support legalization of marijuana.

Former Trump aide Steve Bannon is declaring war on Republicans in the Senate.

Vice-President Pence left an Indianapolis Colts game early in what was obviously a cynical pre-planned publicity stunt.

Stephen Paddock’s crime was clearly terrorizing, and will impact the lives of survivors, families, first responders in many ways for a long time. Based on the currently available evidence, though, the Las Vegas shooting was not “terrorism.”

A gunman opened fire on a crowd of over 20,000 people in Las Vegas, and the results have been predictably horrific.

Previewing the next term of the Supreme Court, which starts today.

Roy Moore’s victory in Alabama is raising fears of a wider battle in the Republican Party heading into 2018.

A recent uptick in retirements from Congressional Republicans is leading some Republicans to become concerned about the party’s prospects in 2018.

A new poll shows that most Americans want Republicans want to move on from their failed effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act.

Donald Trump is unlikely to ever be a popular President, but that may not matter.

With the defection of two more Senators, the latest effort to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act has gone down in flames.

New polling indicates that the Affordable Care Act has gained in popularity with the American public, while Republican reform efforts are viewed overwhelmingly negatively.

With the fate of the Senate health care reform bill hanging in the balance, the Senate will delay consideration of the bill due to the unexpected absence of one Senator.

Senate Republicans have introduced their latest version of a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving New Jersey’s challenge to a Federal law outlawing sports betting.

A big setback for Republican efforts to ‘repeal and replace’ Obamacare.

Once again, a bad CBO score is casting doubt on a Republican health care reform bill.

The Senate GOP health care reform care bill faces a crucial week, and things aren’t looking good.

Senate Republicans released their proposed health care plan this morning, but it could already be doomed.

The polls are looking worse and worse for Donald Trump.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer hinted that the Federal Government may stop giving deference to states that have legalized marijuana.

Members of Congress and the Senate are once again facing down angry constituents, but it’s unclear whether it will translate into anything substantial in 2018.

Independent of the current controversy surrounding President Trump’s immigration order, Republicans in Congress are looking at a plan to break up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In a call to supporters, Hillary Clinton blames her loss on F.B.I. Director James Comey

The fight for marijuana legalization advances in California.

Defying the odds, Republicans held on in several traditionally Democratic states to keep control of the Senate.

My predictions for the House and Senate.