Packing the Courts with Young Judges

The Senate yesterday confirmed a 37-year-old to a lifetime Court of Appeals seat.

Illegal Border Crossings Break Record Again

It turns out there actually is a crisis on the US-Mexico border.

House Vote Votes To End U.S. Assistance For Saudi War On Yemen

In a rare display of assertiveness in the foreign policy arena, the House voted yesterday to bar U.S. assistance in Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war on Yemen.

Trump Threatens To Close Southern Border If He Doesn’t Get His Border Wall

President Trump is now threatening to close the border if he doesn’t get funding for his border wall.

Military Deployment To Southern Border Extended Through End Of Year

Defense Secretary James Mattis has announced that the deployment of U.S. troops to the Mexican border will be extended through the end of this year.

Migrants Storm U.S. Border, Repelled by Tear Gas

A bad look for all concerned.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration’s Asylum Policy Changes

A Federal Judge has ruled that the Trump Administration’s efforts to limit the ability of migrants to claim asylum violates Federal law.

Kyrsten Sinema Wins Arizona Senate Race

Democrats have flipped the Senate seat currently held by Republican Jeff Flake.

The Link Between Anti-Semitic Violence And Far-Right Conspiracy Theories

Anti-Semitic violence has increased markedly over the past two years. So has the spread of far-right “anti-Globalist” conspiracy theories. This is not a coincidence.

As Midterms Near, Trump And The GOP Turn To Fear And Demonization Of Immigrants

As the midterm campaign draws to a close, Donald Trump is returning to the message of xenophobia and fear that dominated his Presidential campaign.

Trump Sending 5,200 Troops To Border In Response To Non-Existent ‘Caravan’ Threat

President Trump wants to send more troops than we have in Syria and Iraq combined to the border to deal with a non-existent threat.

Cesar Sayoc, 56, Arrested And Charged In Connection With Political Bombing Attempts

Authorities have arrested a Florida man named Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old Trump supporter, in connection with the wave of bombing attempts directed at critics of the President.

Jamal Khashoggi’s Final Words Should Carry Far Beyond The Arab World

Jamal Khashoggi’s final column includes a message that should resonate far beyond the Arab world it was addressed to.

Trump Withdraws America From The World, And The World Responds

President Trump is alienating our allies and making friends with dictators, and the world is responding as you might expect they would.

The Lessons In John McCain’s Final Words

In his final words to his fellow Senators, and to his fellow Americans, Senator John McCain left a legacy, and a challenge.

Alex Jones Loses Access To Social Media

Facebook, Google, and several other companies have closed down accounts associated with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Patriotism In The Trump Era

Recent polling finds that Americans aren’t feeling quite so patriotic right now. It’s understandable, but we shouldn’t give up hope.

Populist Wins Landslide In Mexican Presidential Race

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a populist from the left, rode a wave of populism and public disdain for the outgoing President to a landslide win in Mexico

Two Women Leave GOP Over Policy GOP Has Espoused 38 Years

A Republican organization dedicated to abortion rights is shutting down after 30 years, eight fewer than the Party has opposed them.

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Civil Asset Forfeiture Case

We may finally get a ruling applying the Excessive Fine Clause to the states and limiting the ability of police to confiscate property.

Troops Sent To Guard Border Aren’t Guarding Border

Two months ago, the President called on states to send National Guard troops to the border. As expected, they’re not guarding the border.

California to Vote on Plan to Split into Three States

Tim Draper’s fantasy will finally get a vote this November.

Former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci Dies At 87

Frank Carlucci, who served as President Reagan’s last Secretary of Defense, has died at 87.

Donald Trump And The Mainstreaming Of Racism

Donald Trump may or may not be racist himself, but he has most certainly exploited and helped widen racial divisions ever since bursting on the political scene in 2015.

Fixing Schools Requires Changing the Social Contract

Solving the problems created by neighborhood-based schools isn’t going to be easy.

Will Mexico Pay for the Wall?

The answer is, of course, no. Really, this is a post about the wall as policy.

Trump Wants To Send Troops To The Border; That’s A Bad Idea

President Trump wants to send the military to the Mexican border. This is both unnecessary and a bad idea.

Nick Kristof and the Perils of Parachute Journalism

A well-meaning journalist brushes off critiques by experts in the field. He owes it to his readers to keep learning.

Former ‘Sex And The City’ Star Enters New York Governor’s Race She Will Most Likely Lose

A famous name enters the race to challenge Andrew Cuomo, but it’s unlikely she’ll have much of an impact.

Are People Too Stupid to Raise Taxes?

Daniel Triesman offers an explanation as to “Why the poor don’t vote to soak the rich.”

What is the Middle Class and is It Shrinking?

Salary-based definitions distort the conversation. And lifestyle-based definitions are a moving target.

Black Panther Movie Review Roundup

Some thoughts on the biggest Marvel blockbuster yet. [Modest spoilers]

Rev. Billy Graham Dies At 99

Billy Graham was the son of a North Carolina farmer who grew up to become a counselor to Presidents, Prime Ministers, and even a Queen.

Why Aren’t Nonprofits More Regulated?

A series of scandals at Oxfam and other charitable organizations raise troubling questions.

Mugabe Removed As Head Of Zimbabwe’s Ruling Party, Threatened With Impeachment

After more than thirty years in power, Robert Mugabe is on his way out in Zimbabwe, but that doesn’t mean things will improve.

Maine Voters Vote To Expand Medicaid, Making An End Run Around Governor LePage

Voters in Maine hand their conservative Governor a setback.

Robert Guillaume, Star Of “Benson,” Dies At 89

Robert Guillaume, who starred in situation comedies in the 70s, 80s, and 90s such as “Soap,” “Benson,” and “Sports Night,” has died at the age of 89.

John McCain Is Taking On Donald Trump Without Regret

John McCain has been standing out from his fellow Republicans largely by unleashing on President Trump, and it is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Without Mentioning Trump, George W. Bush Rebukes Trumpism

Without mentioning his successor by name, former President Bush delivered a stinging rebuke to Trump and Trumpism.

Trump Administration Issues Indefinite Travel Ban Aimed Mostly At Muslims

The Trump Administration has issued a new travel ban to replace the temporary one that expired late last week, but it still suffers from most of the same defects as its initial efforts.

Who Could Have Seen this Coming? (Trump and Racial Politics Edition)

Who could have predicted we would be where we are at the moment in terms of racial politics and the White House?

GoDaddy Boots Racist Website ‘Daily Stormer’

It couldn’t happen to a nicer domain. But it’s a slippery slope.

CBO Score Casts Even More Doubt On Senate Health Care Reform Bill

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

Senate GOP Health Care Bill Faces Crucial Week, And Many Doubts

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

Puerto Rico Votes Overwhelmingly For Statehood in Heavily Boycotted Referendum

Puerto Rican voters voted overwhelmingly for statehood yesterday in a referendum whose legitimacy is being questioned due to boycotts by opposition parties.

Policy Analysts From Left, Right, And Center Criticize House GOP Obamacare Replacement

Health care policy analysts seem united in their assessment of the House GOP’s replacement for the Affordable Care Act, and it’s overwhelmingly negative.

The Most Dreadful Inaugural Address in History

A speech traditionally used to unite was instead a continuation of a divisive campaign.