Many analysts have argued that the next FBI director shouldn’t be a politician. But try telling that to Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), who has been pressing Senate Democratic leaders to consider former GOP congressman Mike Rogers (Mich.) for the post. Ruppersberger told me that in conversations with Democratic leadership, he had endorsed Rogers’s ‘integrity, competence and patriotism.’ Rogers, a …

A spat is developing at the European Central Bank about how — and how soon — the institution should signal its intention to scale back its monetary stimulus program. Data buried in the central bank’s most recent survey of companies suggests a rebound in inflation may inflame the debate sooner rather than later. Peter Praet, the bank’s chief economist, said …

President Donald Trump’s first budget is truly remarkable in its unseriousness. To see why, try for a moment to take it seriously. The plan purports to be fiscally responsible, saying that the national debt will fall from 77 percent now to 60 percent in 2027. A worthy goal, to be sure. At the same time, it calls for tax cuts …