Outside the Beltway

North Korea’s mercurial leader now claims to have thermonuclear weapons, but analysts are saying this is likely braggadocios nonsense.

The Director of the F.B.i. told Congress today that the San Bernardino shooters were apparently radicalized much earlier than previously believed.

The attack in San Bernardino has seemingly left the Administration’s anti-terror strategy in disarray, so the President is addressing the nation tonight to say, well, something I guess.

The probability that the shootings in San Bernardino were at least inspired by ISIS and/or other Jihadist terror networks is increasing.

The United States and Europe are giving everything the perpetrators of the Paris attacks hoped for.

John Kasich wants the United States Government to create an agency to spread ‘so-called ‘Judeo-Christian values.’

In the wake of the attacks in Paris, there’s a strong impulse to do “something,” but that doesn’t mean we should do something utterly foolish. And a no-fly zone would be utterly foolish.

France launched its first attacks against ISIS even as the investigation into Friday’s attacks continues, but it’s not clear that the retaliation really accomplished anything.

Massive boycotts and protests likely spell the end of Tim Wolfe’s tenure as president.

America’s much touted international coalition against ISIS is, essentially a Coalition In Name Only.

Semantics aside, Carson has a clear relationship with a company whose products are nothing but junk science.

Public support for marijuana legalization continues to rise. As with the marriage equality movement, it’s obvious where this will end, The only question is how long it will take to get there.

In the wake of failure that could have been easily foreseen, the Obama Administration is ending a program to train so-called “moderate” Syrian rebels.

A front page cover on yesterday’s murders in Virginia crosses the line from reporting to exploitation.

Donald Trump’s immigration plan is would create a police state, violate people’s rights, and hurt America’s economy. And his supporters will most likely love it.

The Administration announced changes to the way the government handles hostage situations, but it really doesn’t amount to much.

If a Russian solider dies, it’s now a secret thanks to a new decree signed by the Russian President.

North Korea now claims it has miniaturized nuclear warheads sufficienctly so that they can be placed on missiles. They also say they can launch missiles from submarines.

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.

The Holocaust was a very atypical case of genocide.

New allegations regarding foreign government donations to the Clinton Foundation seem likely to become a campaign issue.

Senate Republicans have done more harm to the goal of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than they have done good.

Amateurish? Condescending? Yes. Treasonous? No.

The Atlantic has a fascinating cover story by Graeme Wood titled “What ISIS Really Wants.”

For a year that started out with regaining long-lost territory in Ukraine, 2014 is not ending so well for Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

A day of terror at a school in Pakistan.

Today is a day for turkey and football, not a day for politics.

The idea that the U.S. does not negotiate with terrorists is simply not historically accurate, so should we be reconsidering the policy of not negotiating with ISIS for the release of Western hostages?

The latest ISIS video is horrible and barbaric but we should not take the bait they are offering before considering the consequences of our actions going forward.

Vladimir Putin’s reception at the G-20 Summit in Australia has been less than warm thanks to recent events in Ukraine.

The U.S. embargo of Cuba, and our lack of diplomatic recognition of the government in Havana, is an outdated relic of the Cold War. It’s time to end it.

The mystery continues.

In the current situation, speaking out forcefully as some are demanding can only do more harm than good.

Self-described socialist Bernie Sanders is contemplating an independent run for the presidency.

After 200 years, Francis Scott Key’s most famous work may have outlived its usefulness..

What the West does in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine is largely up to Europe, not the United States.

Things are getting serious in eastern Ukraine.

If you live in Russia, you’re getting a different version of the story of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

And odd report from Washington Post and Stars and Stripes.

Native American names are everywhere.

After two and a half decades, the images of June 4, 1989 resonate with many, unless you happen to live in China.

Once again, President Obama’s attempt to communicate a foreign policy vision falls short.

The latest chapter in an all too familiar story.

A great American writer has passed away.