Outside the Beltway

Patrick Shanahan is out as nominee to be Secretary of Defense after questions were raised during his background investigation.

The President is once again claiming Executive Privilege to prevent Congress from getting access to certain documents.

With the Trump Administration continuing to stonewall investigations, the House of Representatives is seeking to ramp up the pressure.

Recent comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel make it clear that the United States cannot be considered a neutral party In the Middle East peace process.

The State Department has barred American Embassies from flying the Pride Flag during Pride Month as has been the custom for several years.

Michigan Congressman Justin Amash has quit a group he helped found nine years ago after they voted to condemn him for advocating for the President’s impeachment.

The tree that President Trump and French President Macron planted last year has died.

May’s Jobs Report came back with disappointing jobs growth, suggesting that the economy may be slowing down.

According to one new study, President Trump’s tweets aren’t having the same impact they used to.

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed a lawsuit against Trump “national emergency” to fund the border wall, but his ruling did not reach the merits of the lawsuit’s claim.

The House of Representatives will vote to hold the Attorney General in contempt next week but it may not mean anything.

Further progress for advocates of marijuana legalization from the Land of Lincoln.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been indicted on seventeen counts under the Espionage Act arising out of his role in the Chelsea Manning affair.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin punted once again on the question of replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, making clear that any change that does occur won’t happen until after Donald Trump is out of office.

Not surprisingly, Chelsea Manning is headed back to jail for her refusal to answer questions before a Federal Grand Jury investigating Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Attorney General William Barr has opened a new investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation, a move that seems suspiciously political.

A longstanding legal question may finally come to a head.

The President is systematically defying Congress. Whatever can be done about that?

Chelsea Manning, who was being held in jail for refusing to comply with a Grand Jury subpoena, was released yesterday but it’s likely to only be a temporary freedom.

While he campaigned on a message of restraint, Donald Trump has largely adopted the interventionist foreign policies of his predecessors.

As expected, the House Judiciary Committee voted yesterday on party lines to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for refusing to turn over a full copy of the Mueller Report

In an effort to block the release of the full report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the Trump Administration is invoking Executive Privilege.

Later this week, the House Judiciary Committee will vote to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt, but it most likely won’t go anywhere.

Jobs Growth in April was much higher than expected, seemingly putting to rest for now fears that the economy might be slowing.

New poll numbers suggest that Congressional Democrats need to be careful about how aggressively they pursue their investigations of the Trump White House.

Despite seemingly ideal conditions, Green Mountain Care was an absolute debacle.

Counter-Intelligence officials are warning that Russia is preparing another election interference campaign for the 2020 election.

First quarter economic growth came in higher than expected, but there are several caveats worth keeping an eye on.

Thus far, the full(ish) release provides plenty of juicy details but no real revelations.

Both major parties have claimed victory but it certainly looks like Likud will hang on.

It’s a lot harder than it looks.

Nein. Nein. Nein.

The Justice Department has issued a damning report.

After a flood of stories saying the former Vice President is unsuitable for the modern era, the inevitable pushback is happening.

More simplism from the WH.

Only the best people, dontcha know.

The relatively light sentence that Paul Manafort received is raising eyebrows. Hopefully it will lead to a long-overdue debate on sentencing reform.

The first test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon appears to have been an all-around success.

Chelsea Manning is in jail for refusing to comply with a Grand Jury subpoena apparently related to an ongoing investigation of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Job growth in February was far below estimates, but we did see some solid wage growth and other signs that we’re approaching what economists refer to as “full employment.”

Democratic candidates for President are quickly voicing support for marijuana legalization.

Economic growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter of 2018 from where it had been earlier in the year. And it’s likely to slow down even more.

Instead of merely seeking to block the President’s declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border, Congress should instead significantly amend the National Emergencies Act.

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to block the President’s declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border. Now the matter goes to the Senate.

President Trump will get his Space force, but it won’t exactly be what he wanted when he first proposed that idea.

Patrick Caddell, who helped Jimmy Carter win the Democratic nomination and White House in 1976, has died at the age of 68.

Two months after being named, Heather Nauert withdrew her name as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations due to a ‘Nannygate’ problem.

When it comes to the shutdown and border wall showdown that started back in December, Donald Trump is the biggest loser.

The National Debt officially topped $22 trillion, marking a $2 trillion increase since President Trump took office.

The former Attorney General is seriously pondering a presidential bid. Seriously.