Do we need a new category?

Yours is an interesting suggestion, which I think will be considered (or has been considered by) the Rick Steves' Europe staff. They seem to be constantly mindful of the issues you bring up.

It is one of the reasons I enjoy the Fodors forum, as they have the Lounge, where all the discussions that aren't about travel can take place. Unfortunately, last year they cut off any new members joining. I don't know what purpose that had.

Could easily see something similar on this forum. It could take all the run-off questions and the off-topic discussions.

If it's the threads I'm thinking of, the original posters appear to be getting their information from politically-biased sources that are misrepresenting the situation in Europe for US-focussed ideological reasons. So it's hard not to drift into political territory.

Certainly looks that way , Philip . Right you are !

Do we need a new category for "political discussions"...

I think not, or, at least not for the reason suggested. When major world events are taking place, political considerations are as interwoven into travel abroad as luggage weight and sightseeing priorities. To fragment the discussion further only takes focus away from the big picture.
Sometimes a question or comment necessarily exposes a political viewpoint, and the occasional "pounce" is inevitable on topics that elicit strong feelings. Hopefully the Forum can continue to navigate these waters-I think it can.

If a whole new category were created for political discussions, it would surely be interesting, but I think we would find that political discussions lead to travel questions and talk...

If you find that a discussion has diverged far from the original travel question or become disrespectful, please use the "Report" link to report it to the web master. I do the same when I have those concerns, so that team has an overview of issues. Of course, Rick's Holy Land show has its own forum, which is expected to be somewhat political, but also polite.