Houston Businessman Ensared By Trump’s Irrational Immigration Policies

The case of Roland Gramajo is an excellent example of what’s wrong with the Trump Administration’s immigration policy.

Conservatism without Originalism

A defense of a modest philosophy of judicial interpretation.

These Reporters Today . . .

Despite all the complaining, we’re in a golden age of political and policy coverage.

Mueller Doesn’t Deliver

Everything you always wanted in a hearing. And less.

Trump’s Mass Immigration Raids Netted 35 Arrests

President Trump threatened mass immigration raids. What was delivered was far less met the eye.

Trump’s Electoral College Advantage Growing

He could lose the popular vote by an even larger margin in 2020—and still coast to re-election.

Basic Democratic Models

Presidential v. parliamentary democracy, some basics.

Great Britain’s Next Leader Will Be Chosen By 0.03% Of The British People

The next Prime Minster of the United Kingdom will be chosen by a very small segment of both the population and the Conservative Party. Does that make sense?

Whither Green Eyeshade Conservatives?

We could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.

Trump Assisting Putin In His War On Liberal Democracy

Whether he knows it or not, Donald Trump is assisting the Russian leader in his goal of undermining the foundational institutions of democracy and freedom.

Trump Backs Down On Mass Deportation Threat

With hours to go before they were set to start. the President delayed the mass deportation raids that were supposed to begin this morning.

Kansas Democrats Dump Caucuses, Implement Ranked-Choice Voting

For 2020, Kansas Democrats are making some interesting changes to how they will have a say in he race for the Democratic nomination.

Small Majority Of Americans Favor Abolishing The Electoral College

A new poll finds that a small majority of Americans support abolishing the Electoral College, but that’s not nearly enough to make any change in how we elect Presidents possible.

A Strong Defense of Barr

Jack Goldsmith pushed back on “over the top” reaction to the AG’s handling of the Mueller report.

Yes, Barr Misled the Public

The attorney general hasn’t said a single thing that wasn’t technically true about the Mueller report. But he was dishonest.

Herman Cain Withdraws From Consideration For Federal Reserve Board

When it comes to Herman Cain’s nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, the answer is officially Nein, Nein, Nein!

White House Looking For Replacements For Controversial Federal Reserve Nominees

The White House appears to be preparing for the worst when it comes to the nominations of Herman Cain and Stephen Moore to the Federal Reserve Board.

Netanyahu Wins Yet Another Term

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

books library books library

41 States’ Higher Ed Funding Down Since 2008

Per-student investment in public colleges has not recovered from the Great Recession.

Secret Service Chief Out as Part of DHS Shakeup

The tumultuous turnover at the top of the Trump team is too much.

More on Moore

John Fund thinks I am afraid of Stephen Moore (and that I am an economist). He is wrong on both counts.

Post-Mueller Recriminations

The mea culpas and I-told-you-so’s are rather premature.

Time for Theresa May to Go?

Many are calling for the UK Prime Minister’s ouster. But the problem is Brexit itself, not any one leader.

Where’s Doug?

Our most prolific front-pager hasn’t posted in two weeks. Readers are beginning to ask questions.

Feeding The Trolls Only Makes Them Stronger

Deny them the pleasure of an angry reaction, and they’ll probably leave you alone.

Where Have All the Commenters Gone?

The mysterious disappearance of long-time OTB commenters.

Should There Be A Political Statute Of Limitations On Acting Like An Idiot?

The cases of Ralph Northam and Mark Herring raise a question of when, if ever, something we did in the past should follow us for the rest of our lives.

Explaining Ralph Northam’s Weird Response to the Blackface Scandal

A man somehow got elected governor without being very good at politics.

Ralph Northam’s Forgivable Sin

Virgnia’s governor has to resign. But not because of some 35-year-old photos.

The Constitution Makes A Successful Third-Party Presidential Run Unlikely

The way we elect Presidents make it unlikely that a third-party candidate like Howard Schultz could ever actually win the the Presidency.

Trump Offers Temporary DACA Protection In Exchange For Wall Funding

President Trump put an offer on the table to end the shutdown, the question is whether it will actually lead anywhere.

New Jersey Democrats Abandon Controversial Redistricting Plan

After a barrage of criticism, New Jersey Democrats are abandoning a controversial redistricting proposal.

Donald Trump Makes More Bizarre, Baseless Claims About Voter Fraud And Voter ID

Donald Trump is engaging in another round of baseless and bizarre conspiracy theories about alleged voter fraud.

New Allegations Begin A Crucial Week For Brett Kavanaugh

New allegations of sexual misconduct mark the start of a crucial week for the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh is Toast and So is Our Political Climate

We’ll likely never know whether the Supreme Court nominee is a sexual assaulter. But it really doesn’t matter.

Why It Matters That The U.S. Talked With Venezuelan Coup Plotters

The fact that American officials talked with Venezuelans plotting a coup against the government of their country is a dangerous turn of events.

A ‘Soft Coup’ Inside The White House Isn’t The Antidote To Trumpism

Donald Trump is a bad, inept, and potentially dangerous President. That doesn’t mean that a ‘soft coup’ inside the White House is the answer to the problem he presents to our democratic republic.

Voters Voting Voters Voting

Georgia County Abandons Plan To Close Polling Stations In Rural Areas

A Georgia County is abandoning a dubious plan that would have closed 2/3 of the county’s polling stations.

The Conservative Legal Machine

There’s a reason President Trump’s Supreme Court picks are “normal” in a way his national security and economic teams are not.

Trump’s Shameful Betrayal of Immigrant Soldiers

America promised immigrants who volunteered to serve in our military a fast track to citizenship. Now, we’re throwing them out.

Happy Independence Day From Outside The Beltway!

Yes, it’s still okay to celebrate America.

politics outrage shouting politics outrage shouting

Outrage Over Minority Rule

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

Maine Voters Head To The Polls To Give Ranked-Choice Voting A Try

Maine voters head to the polls today to pick nominees for Governor and several other offices, but the most interesting thing is way they’ll be voting.

A Contrarian View of ‘Solo’

It may be my favorite Star Wars film since ‘Empire Strikes Back.’

Bolton Sees Libya As Model, North Korea Likely Sees It As a Warning

The United States is apparently looking to Libya as a guide for upcoming talks with North Korea. The DPRK most likely sees the fate of that nation and its leader as a warning.

North Korea Halts Nuclear And Ballistic Missile Tests

The Kim regime has announced the end, for now, of its nuclear and ballistic missile testing programs. To understand why they made this concession, one needs to read between the lines.

NYT: The President is Not Above the Law

The Editorial Board of the Newspaper of Record urges Congressional Republicans to steady themselves for a constitutional crisis.

Tillerson’s Ouster Was Hardly A Surprise

While the nature of Rex Tillerson’s firing as Secretary of State was shocking in its abruptness, taken in context with the rocky nature of his tenure it was hardly surprising.