Receive Updates from John McCaslin
John McCaslin, a former broadcast news anchor, award-winning correspondent for United Press International, and member of the White House press corps during the Reagan administration, pens the popular “Inside the Beltway” column for The Washington Times and Chicago Tribune Syndicate.
One of Washington's favorite storytellers, McCaslin's topics and readers are one and the same - including the president of the United States, members of Congress and literally thousands of bureaucrats. William F. Buckley's magazine, National Review, proclaimed McCaslin 'national ombudsman' for his knack of uncovering political shenanigans on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. In his book, Inside the Beltway: Offbeat Stories, Scoops and Shenanigans From Around the Nation's Capital
(Nelson Current, 2004), McCaslin humorously and insightfully explores and reveals more of the rules behind the political game.
His daily dose of outrageous anecdotes have appeared under his byline in numerous magazines, including Reader’s Digest and are fodder for numerous network news and talk shows. He’s been a regular on National Public Radio’s “Weekend Edition,” a frequent substitute host of The Rush Limbaugh Show on the EIB Network, The Mary Matalin Show on CBS Talk Radio Network and The Oliver North Show on Radio America, and he presently anchors a weekly “Inside the Beltway” segment on the ABC affiliate in Washington.
He was the 2000 conference chairman of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, which presented him with its 1999 best-column award. Other recent honors include the 1999 Carlton Sherwood congressional media award. He was served on the board of directors of SCAN, Stop Child Abuse Now, and sits on the board of the Old Dominion University Alumni Association. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his daughter, Kerry.
By
John McCaslin (Jun 03, 2009)
As the fate of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility for terrorism suspects dangles in the wind awaiting President Obama's decision, the Pentagon has made it clear that the... more
By
John McCaslin (Jun 02, 2009)
A follow-up to Monday's item on Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and whether his so-called indiscipline and frequent gaffes have strained his relationship with President... more
By
John McCaslin (Jun 01, 2009)
"Not a shred of truth to it."
Or so a senior White House official tells this columnist, referring to reports that President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden... more
By
John McCaslin (May 29, 2009)
Don't look now, but certain bureaucrats carrying Uncle Sam's credit card in their wallets are back to spending your hard-earned taxpayer dollars on everything from... more
By
John McCaslin (May 28, 2009)
"Date on which Barack Obama implemented new ethics guidelines restricting former lobbyists' roles in government: 1/21/09.
"Days later that he waived the guidelines for... more
By
John McCaslin (May 27, 2009)
Unlike the bound encyclopedias of the past, it took only seconds Tuesday for the Internet's wealth of online encyclopedias to update their Nancy Drew pages to show the... more
By
John McCaslin (May 26, 2009)
President Bush, Oct. 9, 2006, 9:58 a.m.:
"Last night, the government of North Korea proclaimed to the world that it had conducted a nuclear test ... . The United States... more
By
John McCaslin (May 20, 2009)
Traveling overseas is always risky for a vice president, especially this one.
Vice President Joe Biden late Tuesday was in Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the... more
By
John McCaslin (May 19, 2009)
It is indeed unusual to bump into recently retired five-term Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner and have him hand you his business card:
"John W. Warner, Partner,... more
By
John McCaslin (May 18, 2009)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin can thank Washington lobbyist and political consultant Rick Davis, chief executive officer of John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, for being... more
By
John McCaslin (May 08, 2009)
As downsizing continues in journalism, it's difficult to find a top-notch White House correspondent who can get the facts straight when filing a White House pool report, as... more
By
John McCaslin (May 06, 2009)
The public feud between Hollywood actor Josh Lucas and renowned pollster Frank Luntz has no sign of dissipating before Friday's Washington premiere of the Barry Levinson... more
By
John McCaslin (May 05, 2009)
Longtime CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield (he has served in one or another public affairs capacity for nine CIA directors) is moving to a new assignment at the spy agency.... more
By
John McCaslin (May 04, 2009)
Not surprisingly, after two decades on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice David H. Souter has announced his pending retirement at age 69. He longs for the calm and... more
By
John McCaslin (May 01, 2009)
We had to laugh at Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat, when he reminded his colleagues on the Senate floor: "It has been somewhat less remarked upon, but this week also... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 30, 2009)
At 4:07 p.m. Tuesday, the front page of the Democratic National Committee website flashed the headline: "Welcoming Sen. Specter to the Democratic Party."
"Earlier... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 29, 2009)
"So did you hear about Arlen Specter?" Inside the Beltway asked Sen. Diane Feinstein, California Democrat, as she was enroute to the Senate floor on Tuesday.
"No,... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 28, 2009)
Why all the fuss over President Obama's first 100 days in office, a milestone to be marked Wednesday?
Consider there are 1,360 days left in his presidential term -... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 27, 2009)
'GREEN FATIGUE'
Stephen Drucker, the creator of the New York Times Sunday "Styles" section who after steering Martha Stewart Living is now editor-in-chief of House... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 24, 2009)
In defending President Obama's easing of U.S. policy towards Cuba, Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, remarked this week: "I had some friends who recently went to... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 23, 2009)
The 2009 Miss California controversy isn't going away, with renewed calls for gay activist Perez Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.,to apologize to... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 22, 2009)
Campaigning for president on Jan. 29, 2000, George W. Bush asked residents of Concord, N.H., the somewhat confusing question: "Will the highways on the Internet become more... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 20, 2009)
How unstable might Iraq actually become once President Obama shifts the U.S. focus further east, to Afghanistan?
Pretty unstable, although that might not be such a... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 17, 2009)
What's all this about President Obama wanting to decide where Americans will live?
Such a scenario sounds far-fetched, but Ronald D. Utt, a senior research fellow for... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 16, 2009)
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., Illinois Democrat, is collecting a series of legal bills months after it was disclosed he was "Senate Candidate No. 5" in the arrest documents... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 14, 2009)
Amid concern that younger generations are getting the "news" from cable TV comedy shows, NASA has chosen Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" to announce tonight the name... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 13, 2009)
CNN anchor Rick Sanchez launched into a fit of editorializing last week by accusing a former CNN colleague, Glenn Beck, of contributing to the recent rash of mass killings... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 10, 2009)
Inside the Beltway would be remiss to overlook a decision in recent days by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) surrounding 2008 presidential candidate Hillary Rodham... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 09, 2009)
The economy crumbles and the Washington media are mesmerized by the pending arrival of a White House dog.
”It's like the best kept secret in Washington,” Washington... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 07, 2009)
There were mostly amused expressions on the faces of D.C. shoppers at the checkout counter of one major grocery chain Monday as they read the latest headline in the... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 06, 2009)
Who hasn't heard parents complain that the frantic pace of society allows scarce precious time for family bonding?
In her book to be released Monday, D.C. author... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 03, 2009)
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is using The Washington Times newspaper and other familiar organizations as examples in its 24-page State Department employees'... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 02, 2009)
”Reminds me of Jimmy Carter turning off the lights at the White House,” says our insider at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who forwards a memo he and his... more
By
John McCaslin (Apr 01, 2009)
Sen. Judd Gregg, the New Hampshire Republican and ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee who withdrew his name to become commerce secretary, says President Obama in... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 31, 2009)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington Republican, observes: “History teaches us that the pharaohs drove Egypt to bankruptcy building the pyramids. At least they got... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 27, 2009)
We were a bit amused that President Obama sought to console the wealthy attendees of a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Washington, telling them to hang in there... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 26, 2009)
So, what's with all the buzz about 1111?
Every day, more and more people report experiencing the so-called 1111 phenomenon - mainly glancing up and seeing 11:11 staring... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 25, 2009)
Americans awakened this week to a new warning (rehashed and reissued every few years, actually) that eating cheeseburgers will send them to the grave sooner rather than... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 20, 2009)
Regarding the AIG bonus bonanza and numerous economic bailout packages, a Tennessee constituent of Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn said it best when he told the... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 19, 2009)
America's No. 1 nationally syndicated columnist (now appearing in more than 550 newspapers) Cal Thomas tells Inside the Beltway: "I've had a lot of things happen while... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 18, 2009)
So how did we get into this mess?
It was exactly one year ago that the Federal Reserve took the unprecedented step of loaning $29 billion to JP Morgan Chase after the... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 17, 2009)
Jesse H. Merrell, who lives on Garfield Street in Washington, tells Inside the Beltway that a pair of deputy U.S. marshals paid him a visit last Friday after he had written... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 16, 2009)
As five congressional panels held hearings in recent days on Mexican drug cartel violence and border security, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff had one... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 13, 2009)
Bernard Madoff, ordered jailed Thursday after admitting that he masterminded the largest Ponzi scheme in history, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to mostly... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 12, 2009)
The late Walt Disney, who in testimony before Congress accused the Screen Actors Guild of being a Communist front, must have rolled over in his grave when Walt Disney Co.... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 11, 2009)
If you didn't get caught up in traffic bottlenecks caused by Angelina Jolie, who's been in town (accompanied by husband and fellow traffic-stopper Brad Pitt) this week... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 10, 2009)
The Federal Election Commission says it finds no reason to believe campaign violations occurred when then-Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, obtained a discounted... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 06, 2009)
Unlike Las Vegas Democratic Mayor Oscar Goodman, Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley, a fellow Democrat, thought twice about criticizing President Obama when she took the House... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 05, 2009)
"Minority Leader Limbaugh" is the headline of an op-ed by political consultant David Plouffe, who you will recall was the campaign manager for Obama for America and... more
By
John McCaslin (Mar 04, 2009)
For her recent 97th birthday, Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign-spirited mother, Roberta, celebrated by cooking beef stroganoff - by herself, no less - for 20 family... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 27, 2009)
Dialogue between Republican Reps. Paul Broun of Georgia and Todd Akin of Missouri.
Mr. Broun: "President Obama has promised the American people that he would veto any bill... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 23, 2009)
The Democratic National Committee has a new political director, Clyde Williams, who previously served as senior policy adviser at the community-minded Clinton... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 20, 2009)
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl and Fox News host Greta Van Susteren are the latest to echo this columnist's question: "Does President Obama practice what he preaches?"
In other... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 19, 2009)
Media exposure surrounding the Feb. 12 crash in suburban Buffalo, N.Y., of Colgan Air Flight 3407 practically has been nonstop.
Yet, on that tragic day, when 50 people... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 18, 2009)
"Has anyone noticed that it's taking the president longer to select the White House dog than to pick his Cabinet?" writes Inside the Beltway reader J. Griffin Crump of... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 17, 2009)
Noted historian and best-selling author James Swanson and his wife, Andrea, invited guests into their Capitol Hill home over the weekend to celebrate the release of a new... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 13, 2009)
The Free Flow of Information Act was reintroduced in Congress this week to allow reporters the privilege of shielding confidential sources in federal court.
The House... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 12, 2009)
It was just over a year ago that conservative blogger Matt Margolis filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission surrounding questionable fundraising... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 11, 2009)
Who said former judge Robert Bork doesn't have a sense of humor?
Actually, the former acting attorney general and solicitor general, who was nominated to the Supreme... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 10, 2009)
Back in 2004, before fuel prices skyrocketed and the country spiraled into economic crisis, the Air Force estimated it cost $56,800 per hour to operate Air Force One.... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 09, 2009)
Patrick Beckerdite, senior property manager for the Southridge Mall in Des Moines, Iowa, was one of several Inside the Beltway readers reacting to our item about Senate... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 06, 2009)
Lest there be any confusion, this columnist is a red-blooded American male.
I say so because of the initial response I received from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 05, 2009)
Given the current economic crisis that President Obama warns will only get worse before it gets better, Inside the Beltway has inquired why Senate Democrats for a "retreat"... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 04, 2009)
A female caller to C-Span admitted Tuesday that she approached an illegal alien living in her state of Georgia and called him a "wetback" [-] an offensive term for a person... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 03, 2009)
A recent correction published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "A story in Monday's paper about James Carville's class at Tulane University wrongly attributed the quote... more
By
John McCaslin (Feb 02, 2009)
Headline of our column item two years ago: "A Steal."
After all, the late President Gerald R. Ford's longtime residence in Alexandria, which had languished on the... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 30, 2009)
That was the "first former welfare mother to serve in Congress," as Rep. Lynn Woolsey's official bio states, reciting "the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Bush... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 29, 2009)
It didn't take a rocket scientist to predict - given Monday's and Tuesday's respective arrests of suspected financial scammers Nicholas Cosmo and Arthur Nadel, which follow... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 28, 2009)
Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been complaining all week - including in person to President Obama on Tuesday - about the Democratic leadership's proposed... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 27, 2009)
In the category of the more things change the more they stay the same, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs during... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 26, 2009)
"Several empty frames" are all that's left.
A source within the White House tells Inside the Beltway that several poster-size official photographs snapped during eight... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 23, 2009)
Doing the math, Rep. Virginia Foxx, North Carolina Republican, figures the Democrats' proposed economic stimulus package would spend $275,000 per job in creating or saving... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 22, 2009)
Who in the National Cathedral's pews, President Obama and former President Bill Clinton included, wasn't stirred by Wednesday's National Prayer Service rendition of... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 20, 2009)
TWO SHIPS PASSING
That was President Bush's motorcade getting in formation to depart the White House for a Sunday night dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 19, 2009)
BRAVE FANS
Oprah Winfrey makes her much-anticipated arrival today at the Kennedy Center Opera House for a special pre-inaugural broadcast of her popular TV talk-show, and... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 16, 2009)
"You could have fun with this," writes a well-known Washington figure who shall remain anonymous, forwarding word that John Berry, the National Zoo director since 2005, has... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 15, 2009)
The departing commander in chief is receiving no fond-farewell wishes from Michigan Rep. John Conyers Jr., who is busy this week touting the new report, "Reining in the... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 14, 2009)
Iraq and Guantanamo pullouts aside, Secretary of State nominee Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was reminded by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski during her confirmation hearing... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 13, 2009)
Who isn't riding Barack Obama's longer-than-life coattails into the glaring inaugural spotlight in hopes of earning a profit?
"Oprah's losing 15 pounds before... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 12, 2009)
"The 111th Congress is less than a week old, and already the first tax increase has been put on the table," complains Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), referring to a... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 09, 2009)
Arguably one of the hardest-working White House correspondents of the past three decades is Mark Knoller, heard every day on CBS Radio News and beyond.
This week, Mr.... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 08, 2009)
The Madison hotel on 15th Street Northwest is unveiling its own "Lincoln Bedroom" to commemorate the much-heralded inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 07, 2009)
Two months ago, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain was mobbed by crowds everywhere he stepped.
Tuesday, following the swearing in of the 111th Congress,... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 06, 2009)
Time it took President Bush once his motorcade arrived back to the White House at 8:29 a.m. Sunday morning to change out of his church clothes and into his biking gear,... more
By
John McCaslin (Jan 05, 2009)
Susan Glasser, the former Washington Post assistant managing editor who became executive editor of Foreign Policy magazine, brings readers an eye-opening headline for her... more