Outside the Beltway

Can’t a pundit fantasize about an alternative to the two major parties?

When the obvious is controversial.

So, what now?

The right questions are: 1) why do some some on the right like him, and 2) should this concern us all?

Hungary is part of a broader global trend, but the real issue isn’t Hungary, it is the Americans who praise Hungary.

Legislatures and school boards politicize what our kids are taught.

An interesting podcast conversation.

Several stories, not enough time for full write-ups.

New York Times columnists are not a representative sample.

The reflections on the departed right-wing talk host continue.

An opportunity for unity and a restoration of normal order.

Free speech is not for everyone.

Ultimately, it isn’t a very good one.

Free expression sometimes enables horrible crimes. How does a free society deal with that tension?

Social media has altered the way writers and readers interact in odd ways.

Old-fashioned notions of journalistic neutrality are chafing young reporters in the Age of Trump.

Due mostly to cowardice and naked self-interest, you shouldn’t expect many other Republicans to speak out against Trump in the near future.

A Constitutional coup d’etat is not the way to solve the Donald Trump problem.

The problem with all the replacement talk is that there is no evidence that the GOP pathways will work.

Judging 2016 by historical standards hasn’t worked out well thus far.

Every public school in Los Angeles, which covers over 600,000 students, plus teachers and staff, has been closed for the day in the wake of unspecified threats.

With the election behind him, David Cameron’s biggest problems may be yet to come.

A critic of the imperial presidency becomes an imperial president.

Vatican politics is older than American politics, and can be just as entertaining.

David Brooks thinks that the problem with American Government is that the Presidency isn’t strong enough.

We shouldn’t overreact. But we shouldn’t fool ourselves either: We’re not safe.

Ross Douthat bemoans the evolution of American cultural norms over the past fifteen years.

The Iraq War did significant damage to the legacy of the Republican Party.

The GOP is following a strategy on the debt ceiling that cannot possibly succeed.

For the New Year, how about challenging your ideas just a little bit?

Alex Pareene’s annual hack list omits an obvious candidate: Alex Pareene.

Ross Douthat says American women should stop being decadent and have more babies, explaining that raising children is easier than it used to be, so there’s really no excuse for women to be so selfish.

Many conservatives are living inside of a media bubble and they’ll continue to have problems until the consciously decide to break out of it.

The Republican Party needs more than outreach to Hispanics to become a viable national party again.

Last night’s debate was rough and tumble, but it’s unlikely to change the state of the race.

In Rick Santorum’s brand of conservatism, no smart people need apply.

Security at the Republican Convention in Tampa looks more like a war zone than a political convention in a democratic republic.

It’s a wonder the Constitution gets followed at all.

Contrary to what you’re hearing, the Facebook I.P.O. was a huge success.

Americans Elect is dead. This should surprise nobody.

Far from being deterimental, there is a case to be made that SuperPACs have actually expended democracy during this election cycle.

If you listen to the punditocracy, you’d think that there’s actually a doubt as to who the GOP nominee will be.

You didn’t think it was over, did you?

Mitt Romney won big last night, Newt Gingrich was Newt Gingrich, and the race is coming to the beginning of the end.

Why are all the candidates for president so awful?

So, was the financial crisis a result of too much meritocracy?