Outside the Beltway

When we do it, it’s negotiation. When they do it, it’s hostage taking—and terrorism.

Did you even notice?

What does it all mean? It depends on who you ask.

The average American is neither progressive nor all that interested in politics.

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

A typical case of American blind justice.

The economy looks to be in full recovery. But it’s not clear how much credit the President deserves.

The longtime host of Jeopardy! is gone.

Some guy you never heard of is the guy.

The state of American debate is not strong.

Every Democratic woman seems to be under consideration.

David Koch, one-half of the Koch Brothers and the head of a wide-ranging business empire who also went on to have a huge impact on politics and cultural philanthropy, has died at the age of 79.

What happened to “building a lasting relationship within the African American community”?

A weird media narrative has formed.

Another woman has accused President Trump of sexually assaulting her some 20 years ago.

Two youngish Rhodes Scholars turned mayors are getting covered differently.

Massachusetts Democrat Seth Moulton makes an argument familiar to OTB readers.

There is a frustration and a growing sense that the American political system is illegitimate.

Longstanding policy that the Justice Department defend an Act of Congress if there is “any reasonable argument” it is constitutional is being ignored.

European alliance and Russian goals edition.

Andrew Sullivan wonders, “Will there always be an England?”

How ‘tainted’ must a funder be before a charity is obliged to reject the donation?

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

Another one bites the dust.

The Russia investigation seems to be getting closer to the Oval Office.

Donald Trump is losing something much more important to him that an election.

As the allegations of sexual harassment grow, reports are also growing that Roger Ailes may be out at Fox News much sooner than many may have anticipated.

The rise of Trump and Sanders has resurrected a debate as old as Western civilization.

The fallout from Donald Trump’s debate performance, and his comments afterward, continues, and it’s leading some to wonder if we may finally be at the end of this ridiculous charade.

A series of mini-scandals point to the conflicts of interest around the Clintons.

Pundits and political scientists agree that, if the 2016 presidential election were today, we’d have a much better idea who would win.

The first episode of “Seinfeld” aired 25 years ago yesterday.

The editors of our great newspapers are interchangeable.

The anti-vaccination movement has earned a dubious achievement, the return of a disease that was effectively eradicated 15 years ago.

Does a determination that NSA data collection practices are likely unconstitutional mean that Edward Snowden’s actions were, in some sense, justified?

A outline of a deal both sides could live with.

Dick Armey has resigned as chairman of Tea Party group FreedomWorks over unspecified principles.

Republicans are going to get trounced among Latino voters tomorrow, and they only have themselves to blame.

Jonathan Chait makes an astute observation about the media’s role in meme generation.

Sometimes, art imitates life rather than the reverse. And sometimes reality seems stranger than fiction.

There are three and only three circumstances under which a man may wear a bracelet.