Beyond the Byline
Dispatches on history, music, sports, law, politics, numismatics, pop culture and the other obsessions that fuel my writing.
FEATURED SERIES
Career Killers
A look at albums, songs, performances and other moments that derailed an artist’s career.
Some musical careers get derailed by the legal system. Read about the artists who fought the law and the law won.
The Coin Blog
Standing at the intersection of history, politics, economic policy and art, numismatics are a fascinating, and fun, hobby.
Every vote counts. Some votes count more than others. Read about the individuals who singlehandedly decided Presidential elections.
SELECTED READS
Van Hagar was swimming along, generating #1 albums and making tons of money. But then some contracts got in the way and we ended up with Hatfields vs. McCoys. And that’s saying something, considering this is Van Halen.
Jamie Walters was poised to be the next big star. Instead, he ended up a pop music oddity: the double one-hit wonder. Becoming the Ike Turner of the Beverly Hills 90210-verse will do that to you.
The Eisenhower dollar was the culmination of a long-running battle over the use of silver in coins.
LATEST POSTS
I’m very honored to win First Place in The BookFest Fall 2026 Awards for Nonfiction/History. Thank you so much!
Get your copy today!
I always enjoy writing about Jack Bauer and 24. This time, I got paid to do it.
Just got word that The Coin Blog is ranked among the Top 60 coin blogs on Feedspot.
I’m very gratified to see Supreme Pressure: The Rejection of John J. Parker and Birth of the Modern Supreme Court Confirmation Process named as a finalist for the inaugural Kirkus Indie Awards (History & Biography Category). Thanks a lot Kirkus!
Thanks to the Journal of Supreme Court History for mentioning Supreme Pressure. And thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court Library for buying a copy for its collection.
A NOTE FROM VICTOR
Most of my professional writing focuses on law, business and technology. But I’ve always been interested in the stories behind the headlines—and sometimes well beyond them. This is where I explore music, pop culture, numismatics, sports, law, history, politics and whatever else captures my imagination.
