Beltway Confidential

The Cedar Viaduct, designed to take high-speed trains over Cedar and North avenues and State Route 99, is shown in an aerial view, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Fresno, California.

California high-speed rail CEO’s resignation won’t save the project

Zachary Faria · October 30, 2026 1:44 pm

Collage of President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.

If you like your Cheesecake Factory, you can keep your Cheesecake Factory

Pennsylvania state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.

Meet Tracy Pennycuick, the trailblazing Pennsylvania state senator pioneering bipartisan AI safeguards

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Becerra will be Newsom, but worse for California

Former President Barack Obama speaks in support of Democratic candidates Sen. Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms during a rally on Oct. 28 in Morrow, Georgia. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

Obama is ‘tired of being divided’: Pot, meet kettle

This Oct. 2010 file photo shows CalTrans, left, working along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. A new report commissioned by California's top transportation officials concludes that the state department in charge of highway planning and construction needs a major overhaul. The report authors say that the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, is stuck in the past.

California’s new tax: A monthly subscription to use state roads

Zachary Faria December 9, 2025 3:54 pm

An emoji with a black rectangle over its mouth with chat bubbles and people in the background.

Europe absolutely does not have freer speech than the US

Tom Rogan December 9, 2025 3:53 pm

A Person holds an Apple TV remote using the new Netflix app with a hand.

Netflix was supposed to save us from cable. Now, it looks like we’re going back

Ian Haworth December 9, 2025 2:13 pm

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Europe needs less emotion in assessing Trump’s strategy

Ani Chkhikvadze December 9, 2025 12:02 pm

The Air Force confirms Santa Claus isn't real while trying to break up a quarrel between two bases on Twitter. "We didn't want to have to do this, but if you 2 can't get along we must...Santa will bring you nothing this year...becuase he isn't real!" (iStock Photo)

Philadelphia Democrats’ Christophobic ‘holiday tree’ ceremony

Christopher Tremoglie December 9, 2025 11:44 am

Sisu: Road to Revenge

Sisu: Road to Revenge is even better than the original

Harry Khachatrian December 9, 2025 11:00 am

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hungary’s little baby bust

Timothy P. Carney December 8, 2025 3:38 pm

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Europe escalates its war on free speech

Zachary Faria December 8, 2025 3:37 pm

President Donald Trump.

Trump must extend defense of religious freedom beyond Nigeria

Michael Rubin December 8, 2025 1:41 pm

In this Nov. 26, 2013 file photo, toy department manager Gayla Harris stocks shelves for Black Friday sales at a Wal-Mart store in Oklahoma City.

The hidden cost of holiday gifts: How forced labor ends up on our shelves

Samir Goswami, Annick Febrey December 8, 2025 7:00 am

A 1791 copy of the book Curiosities of Literature, believed to have belonged to novelist Jane Austen, on display at Sotheby's, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)

Modern romance could use a little Jane Austen

Faith Moore December 7, 2025 2:57 pm

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), House Select Committee on Intelligence ranking member, speaks during the House Select Committee on Intelligence's annual open hearing.

Democrats are choosing cartels over Americans

Elizabeth Stauffer December 6, 2025 5:00 am