Toomey/Sestak Race Starts Ugly

On Tuesday night as Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter took the stage to give his concession speech he thanked the crowd and remarked at the large number of media in the room – which nearly doubled the size of his audience. “Look at all these reporters, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many,” he said [...]

Rand Paul Shifts Gears

The electoral inadvisability of discussing his views on the 1964 Civil Rights Act have dawned on Rand Paul. He has abandoned his first instinct to defend himself on abstract, philosophical grounds and shifted to a more political tack. “I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” he says in [...]

The Salahis Return Because They Lack Self-Awareness

For the good of America, do not watch Bravo’s forthcoming Real Housewives of D.C., or buy the forthcoming Salahi action figure, or Halloween costume, or read their might-be-published 500-page book. Giving them, champions of our asinine nothing-based culture, anything at this point would be akin to handing a toddler a lollipop for pooping in your [...]

In the Arena

The “Crisis” in Education

Politicians, especially Democratic politicians, have perennially talked about the “crisis” in education–the need to hire scads of new teachers (especially recently as baby boomers retire). Somehow the crisis has never materialized. I suspect, it never existed in the first place–there are always plenty of young people who want to be teachers–and the Democrats are taking [...]

Inside the Passage of Health Care Reform

Jonathan Cohn may be the smartest, most well-sourced health care writer in the country. When I was first assigned to the health care beat in early 2009, his book Sick was among my required reading. Today, he unveils the first in a series of five pieces that explain how the White House and congressional Democrats [...]

In the Arena

Latest Column

On the meaning of the diplomatic wranglings over Iran’s nuclear program–beyond Iran.

Rand Paul’s Dilemma: Theory Vs. Practice

UPDATE: Thursday on the Laura Ingram show, Rand Paul responded to last night’s Rachel Maddow interview. The libertarian approach, which heavily favors private rights over government rights, has always produced some interesting conversations. Most libertarians, for instance, don’t own a bong or watch extremely violent pornography, but Republican doctors like Ron Paul will defend your [...]

Morning Must Reads: Hazard

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza –The Senate’s financial reform legislation will get another cloture vote this afternoon. Despite Wednesday’s 57-42 failure, it seems likely the bill will clear today’s procedural hurdle. Arlen Specter, who wasn’t back in Washington for yesterday’s vote, is expected to be present. Republican Scott Brown, who told Harry Reid [...]

Today’s Winner

Sure, yesterday’s primaries sent the signal that just about everyone outside the Beltway loathes just about everyone inside the Beltway. But there is one guy here who’s coming out of this a king maker. A profile of Senator Jim DeMint and his crop of candidates.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Tonight’s State Dinner But Were Afraid To Ask

Beyoncé is performing. The striped linens are in three shades of “Mayan blue.” There will be “Fuchsia Cattleya orchids,” “Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole,” and toasted marshmallows. All the details after the jump.