Last week, the U.S. Congress was partly rehabilitated from its dreggy popular ratings. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) in the Senate were withdrawn after immense opposition from a broad cross-section of internet participants. At long last, millions of Americans...

While there was much to be thankful for last week, the rise of Newt Gingrich in the GOP polls made some of us eat the apple pie early. We were afraid it might rot like so many other fine American institutions -- namely the United States Congress. It was, after...

I'm all for exclusive relationships. Except for today. Today, I'd like you to ask your man to commit to every woman in the world. Guys, If you made it to sentence #2, this is your chance. Committing yourself to women's rights is HOT! And while roses and tubs of those...

Last night, Columbia University's Task Force on Military Engagement released its findings. ROTC -- the Reserve Officer's Training Corps -- is welcome back on campus. Harvard followed suit. Both pro and con voices at these Ivy League schools have legitimate feelings about a uniformed presence on campus. The recent difficult...

The F-35's extra engine got the ax this week, but don't put away your air quotes. The arguments over "security" have just begun. Democrats and freshmen Republicans deserve congratulations for protecting taxpayers, but let's face it, this extra engine could not have been more unwanted if it had been wearing...

Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan. Indeed, GOP types are doubtless hoping that a cake and ice cream sugar high will vault them over an awkward ideological split that's the size of the river Nile.

What would Reagan say about Egypt today? His presidential track record on security policy seems confusing:...

Today Congresswoman Giffords will leave the hospital. Her steady convalescence sends a signal of hope -- one that should inspire all of us to step back, assess our own surroundings and do our best to make sure a Tucson massacre never happens again.

Who do we blame, The gunman...

Today the US Senate will approve a cooperative agreement to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons. This agreement is called the START treaty -- and was originally championed by Ronald Reagan. Despite its conservative origins and its importance for US credibility, most Republicans have tried to slow-walk it to nowhere....

Five things I'm grateful for:

1. Bike Lanes

In DC, people put on ties and lipstick to get a midnight slurpee. The city's type A drivers -- flustered by the dastardly indirect French roadplan -- have made biking to work a Road Warrior sport. Until now. Today, showing up in...

Decency and depravity have something in common: they are behaviors characterized by the same human desire to be included, to follow the rules, to be liked, and to win approval. In social systems, leaders are vital -- they persuade large groups to prefer one type of validation over the other....

Today is Veterans Day. Thank you veterans and everybody else who has sacrificed for the rest of us. Thanks to those in uniform and to those in regular clothes.

A rumble has broken out amongst DC defense wonks and it will be a defining fight for the Tea Party....

Okay. It's over.

Wealthy conservatives in America have played the long-game. For 40 years they have mapped and organized the takeover of public institutions to benefit themselves. This election proved the success of a consistent minority repeating the same things over and over again to influence the majority. Now...

Hey you twenty-something independent who voted for Obama but is now too bummed to show up. Who worked on the campaign and then felt dropped like a hot rock. I hear you. Lots of us do. But Tuesday is vital. This time you will be voting for control of the...

The Tea Party has done us all a favor. It has pointed out how absent we've been in building a common narrative about modern American citizenship. Their candidates are fascinating -- like watching campaign season through beer goggles. But every time I hear one of them speak in public, I...

I hope that some bright young lights in the Democratic party grab the steering wheel. Here we are in the midst of an economic crisis and a war and today's Republican talking points run the gamut from the laissez-faire to the feral. Are you an angry independent? Keep in mind...

No, I don't think either of the stars of last Saturday's "Restoring Honor" gathering in DC will run for office this year. I do think that they have revealed a compelling narrative just in time for campaign season, however. The well produced plot -- funded by billionaires with...

The fracas over General McChrystal departing Afghanistan is a reminder that impressive fireworks exist year round in our nation's capital. I'm hoping everyone got a good refresher on civil-military relations out of this experience because we, as a nation, really need it. And despite what you think of the situation,...

Yesterday was Memorial Day. Here in Washington, the National Mall was packed with Americans paying their respects. The motorcycles of Rolling Thunder echoed through the streets. Sunday night featured a concert in front of the Capitol. At dinner parties, everyone was talking about the President's new National Security Strategy. And...

I tried to take off my DC defense wonk hat when I saw The Hurt Locker. I sat down in front of the TV determined to just enjoy the story about an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at work in Iraq.

But I couldn't.

I know that this movie...

Ronald Reagan must be smiling. A massive snowstorm just closed down the federal government and disproved global warming. (joke!). But as I sit here with the snow drifting 12 feet off the ground, covering my windows -- eating 70% chocolate bars (cupboards bare!) what amazes me is the silence. Snow...