Ron Elving

To me, the chief executive moment of the week was Trump's news conference Thursday morning about the midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport. Diverting attention from that tragedy to make a tech on diversity hiring. When we still don't know who or what was responsible for that crash, Trump said he was using common sense and that's a phrase he's been using a lot lately.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

Trump sent firing notices to a dozen of these last night, some of whom are people he himself appointed in his first term. And it's unclear what the legal effect of this will be. As the law says, Congress has to get 30 days notice in advance. And obviously that didn't happen.

Trump sent firing notices to a dozen of these last night, some of whom are people he himself appointed in his first term. And it's unclear what the legal effect of this will be. As the law says, Congress has to get 30 days notice in advance. And obviously that didn't happen.

Jimmy Carter left the White House in defeat in January 1981, handing the keys to the man who had defeated him, Ronald Reagan. But in a post-presidential career that spanned nearly four decades, Carter set a new standard for achievement by a former chief executive. He founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982 and oversaw its many peacekeeping and hunger relief missions in more than 80 countries.

Jimmy Carter left the White House in defeat in January 1981, handing the keys to the man who had defeated him, Ronald Reagan. But in a post-presidential career that spanned nearly four decades, Carter set a new standard for achievement by a former chief executive. He founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982 and oversaw its many peacekeeping and hunger relief missions in more than 80 countries.