Outside the Beltway

A Representative’s slip of the tongue and the ensuing debate.

Sigh.

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

The lines aren’t everything, but they need more attention than they get.

We used to (usually) know the results on Election Night because the outcomes were clearer.

A generic attack ad that’s cringeworthy in the specific.

Would bypassing politicians altogether make the system more just?

Linking to a piece I wrote for The Conversation.

No one should draw conclusions about RCV from the AK special election.

Yet another reminder of the pathologies of American institutions.

Ezra Klein discusses the dynamics of American conservatism in historical perspective. Plus, he helps illustrate a key problem that we have in thinking about American politics (IMHO).

Our representation problems are far, far more about structure than they are about the messaging of the parties.

Greatest democracy in the world, right?

Counting is not necessarily as straightforward as it may seem.

It hasn’t changed in over 100 years (but the population sure has).

And general considerations on mid-term elections.

A recent report shows 78 of 435 seats in the US House are truly competitive.

And what GOP opposition says about the party.

Yet another reminder about pathologies of US democracy.

Some political history,

Perhaps the most normal thing President Trump has done.

More on SCOTUS expansion and other issues.

A quick overview and some examples to start a longer conversation.

Some comparative history.

An iconic and honorable Member of Congress has passed away.

A Republican State Legislator in Nebraska says things that other Republicans don’t have the courage to say.

In contrast to the idea of granting statehood to the District of Columbia, the American public appears to strongly support statehood for Puerto RIco.

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

The House of Representatives has begin the process of challenging the President’s recent declaration of a ‘national emergency’ at the southern border.

After a week of scandal and chaos in Virginia politics, there’s no sign that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is going anywhere, and there’s very little that can be done to force him out of office.

Nancy Pelosi is “suggesting” to the President that the State of the Union be rescheduled for a time after the government shutdown ends, but it clearly seems like more than just a suggestion.

As the shutdown drags on, Republicans are beginning to fear that members in the House and Senate may begin to fall away from supporting the President.

Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of The House again after eight years out of power, but there’s little time for her to celebrate.

House Republicans reportedly don’t have the votes to fund the President’s border wall.

Nancy Pelosi is apparently close to a deal with dissident Democrats that will keep her in power until at least 2022.

Nancy Pelosi won a key vote yesterday on the road to returning as Speaker of the House again in January.

Some examples from 2018 of the problems with single seat districts.

With their House majority secure, Democrats must now select their leadership team for the next two years. It’s not going smoothly.

A new round of Congressional Ballot polls seems to put Democrats in a strong position for the ‘blue wave’ they’ve been hoping for all year.

With just 72 days to go until Election Day, the chances that the Democrats will take control of at least one chamber of Congress are looking quite good.

New Generic Congressional Ballot polls have good news for Democrats.

Recent reports have indicated that doubts are growing about the wisdom of keeping California Democrat Nancy Pelosi at the top of House Leadership.

New polling shows that the ground looks fertile for Democrats in the fall.

The effort by a group of Republican rebels to force a vote on a DACA bill is moving closer to success, but that may end up being the easy part.

The number of Americans professing no religious affiliation is on the rise. This will have some interesting cultural and political implications.

Ohio voters have approved a referendum designed to reform the manner in which district lines are drawn.

A small group of Republican rebels in the House are attempting to push legislation protecting DACA beneficiaries to a floor vote. Unfortunately, they’re not likely to succeed.

After hastily removing the House Chaplain under unclear circumstances, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has reversed himself.

Republicans are worried about 2018, and they’re even more worried that they have a President who is refusing to acknowledge political reality.

With just over six months to go before the 2018 elections, the storm clouds are starting to gather for the Republican Party.