We have witnessed the startling new willingness of our leaders to grind government to a halt over partisan disagreements — but just how new is this? Will it ever end? —

For forty years Elliott Abrams has made a career overturning unfriendly regimes for the United States — now he looks ready, willing and poised to do it again. — News about the elevation of controversial figure Elliot Abrams should concern all impartial observers of the unfolding crisis in Venezuela. On Janurary 25th, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made Abrams the U.S. Special Envoy to Venezuela. It is an explosive new development that is expected to have major repercussions in…

You could be forgiven if the news out of Caracas this week has left you exasperated and entirely confused. It’s a terribly sticky and increasingly deadly situation to unpack. — It is important to understand that the politics of Venezuela does not operate in a vacuum. There are larger, unseen forces contributing to the decades old, often international conflict for control of the oil-rich nation. No matter your opinion of the strong-man —his peculiar type of petro-socialism — or even…