An overwhelming majority of us would be delighted to identify a policy or law that would prevent mass killing incidents. But the problem does not lend itself to an easy solution. Published October 4, 2017
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of passing tax reform for both the Trump White House and congressional Republicans. Published September 27, 2017
First, President Trump marshalled the full attention and focus of the federal government in response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, winning broad praise for the federal government's response. Criticism has not come, despite the size and scope of the storms and the harsh partisan atmosphere. Published September 20, 2017
The combination of the debt ceiling and the continuing resolution made it combustible, with the political reality that the party in power will be held responsible for keeping government open and functioning, particularly in the aftermath of a major natural disaster. Published September 13, 2017
Democrats are now in a tough spot. Their policy of saying "No!" to President Trump has reached its limit. Published September 6, 2017
Hurricane Harvey has been called a "500-year flood" and the pictures that we have seen this past week confirm the grim description. Published August 30, 2017
As we enter the fall, the White House, including the president, must narrowly focus on the twin goals of raising the president's approval rating and moving his legislative agenda before 2018 begins. Anything that does not assist in these goals must be put on the back burner, as there is an opportunity cost for everything they do. Published August 23, 2017
The last five days have been terrible for this country. And the sad reality is that President Trump has not only failed to make those days better, he has intentionally made them worse. Published August 16, 2017
It is generally believed that foreign adversaries deliberately try to test a new U.S. president early in the first term. Just past the 200-day mark for President Trump, we had not yet seen a major international foreign policy crisis. Published August 9, 2017
Throughout the campaign, President Trump's hardline views on ending sanctuary cities, stopping illegal employment, building the border wall, rapidly deporting criminal aliens and pushing for Kate's Law were brought up in nearly every speech. Published August 2, 2017
It has been almost unprecedented to watch a president of the United States repeatedly criticize and undermine his own attorney general in the way President Trump has gone after Attorney General Jeff Sessions these past two weeks. Published July 26, 2017
There is no doubt that the pathway to repealing and replacing Obamacare has been rockier than expected. Published July 19, 2017
I served as press secretary to Montana Sen. Conrad Burns in 2006, a particularly rough year for Republicans that ultimately ushered in the reign of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the House of Representatives. Published July 12, 2017
President Trump is spending the week in Europe, first visiting Poland, then attending the Group of 20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, and then he heads back across the Atlantic again next week to attend a Bastille Day parade in Paris at the invitation of new French President Emmanuel Macron. Published July 5, 2017
Consider, as an important case study, Sen. Elizabeth Warren's drive to regulate personal hearing aids, known as PSAPs (personal sound amplification products). Her legislative vehicle is the Federal Drug Administration reauthorization bill, which needs to pass in the next couple months. The bill would impose new FDA regulations on existing PSAPs, preempting state laws and regulations that have been on the books for decades. Published June 28, 2017
I freely admit that we can spend far too much time analyzing the results of one special election, occurring in a particular district, with two particular candidates, held on a particular day more than 16 months from the 2018 midterms. Published June 21, 2017
Short of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and its threat to the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon, it is hard to recall a time in our recent history when a large group of elected officials were targeted for assassination. Published June 14, 2017
Former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate intelligence committee Thursday will receive breathless television coverage, unlike anything in recent years. Published June 7, 2017
By now you've seen the tasteless, shocking, gruesome and disgraceful image of third-rate comedienne Kathy Griffin holding a prop meant to be the bloody, severed head of President Trump. Published May 31, 2017
As President Trump wraps up his first foreign trip as commander-in-chief, one result to watch is whether this nine-day, five-nation swing whets his appetite for future foreign travel. Published May 24, 2017
