Beltway

An American term for the orbital highway or ring-road that often surrounds major cities.

In political reporting the term generally refers to congressional business undertaken inside the highway surrounding Washington DC - Interstate 495.

E.g. "A beltway issue" refers to a political issue or debate considered to be of importance only to the political class and of little interest to the general public.

Alternatively those considered to have a "beltway mentality" are seen as being out of touch with the ordinary voters elsewhere in the country.