Seven Republican state senators in Indiana voted against Trump's redistricting push. Now $7 million in outside spending is trying to end their careers. This is what political loyalty looks like in 2026.
Cole Allen walked into the most press-saturated room in Washington with a shotgun and two pistols. The story everyone covered was the shooting. The story fewer people covered is what it means for journalism.
The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's majority-Black district as an 'unconstitutional racial gerrymander.' The timing, right before the midterms, is not accidental.
ICE, otherwise known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was established to protect communities. That purpose has been catastrophically abandoned. In recent months, ICE has not simply been detaining undocumented immigrants. It has been abusing detainees, separating children from their families, shooting innocent bystanders, and setting records for deaths in custody. This is not enforcement. It is terror. A Pattern of Violence In October 2025, ICE shot U.S. citizen Marimar Martinez...
On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on Louisiana v. Callais. The 6-to-3 decision, drawn largely along partisan lines, dismantled a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, dealing a significant blow to minority representation in Congress. The case turned on the application of Section 2 of the VRA, the Gingles Test, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In Louisiana v. Callais, a group of non-African American voters sued Louisiana over...
It is statistically unlikely. California has 10.37 million registered Democrats and 5.78 million registered Republicans; Democrats overwhelmingly dominate the state. Yet somehow, two frontrunner Republicans have led the California governor polls while a Democratic base remains split among four likely candidates. There are multiple reasons why Republicans are optimistic about this race: the top-two primary system, Democratic division, and a string of ongoing controversy. Had this election been...
Recently, citizens across the United States have noticed concerning details about President Donald Trump's appearance, including bruising on his hands and rashes on his neck. He has also exhibited unusual behavior in recent months. These observations pose a question that resonates across the political spectrum: is the U.S. government providing accurate information about the state of President Trump's health? At 79 years old, Trump is the oldest president to be sworn in. Health concerns, while...
A Statement Goes Viral On April 7, 2026, President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social a message about Iran’s regime that quickly spread across news platforms and social media. In the post, Trump warned that a whole civilization would die that night, never to be brought back. He issued what many read as a direct threat tied to potential U.S. strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants. Trump called explicitly for complete and total regime change, expressed hope for something revolutionarily...
Political literacy is more than just knowing who runs the government or what laws are passed. It is a vital skill that empowers us to understand the systems shaping our lives, engage meaningfully in civic life, and challenge the narratives that influence public opinion. In a world saturated with information and misinformation, political literacy becomes a tool for clarity, agency, and justice. Why Political Literacy Matters More Than Ever Political literacy is the foundation of a functioning...
A Presidency Without Pause It has been difficult to identify a sustained period of peace since the beginning of the Trump administration. Every other month brings a new war, conflict, or so-called military operation. This pattern of interventionism is not unprecedented; presidents Clinton, Reagan, and Truman all demonstrated a sustained reliance on military force across party lines. Under this administration, however, the pace feels almost unrelenting, with breaks between conflicts rarely...
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at the Department of Justice. The Firing On April 1, 2026, President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi. The meeting was brief, held in the Oval Office just before Trump addressed the nation on the war in Iran. By the following morning, the decision was public. Trump announced on Truth Social: "Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a...
Today's Congress marks a period when attempts to compromise with the other party are rare. Such perceived disloyalty can even cost a representative or senator their seat. That said, members of Congress on both sides still cross party lines, in events ranging from confirmation hearings to budget bills to discharge petitions. Two of the most notable examples of frequently cooperative members of Congress are Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). Their stories...
On November 24, 2025, James Thomas Fishback announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election. Throughout his campaign videos, Fishback has consistently challenged Byron Donalds, another frontrunner in the Republican primary. Donalds is a U.S. representative endorsed by President Trump. Fishback has been critical of Donalds for accepting donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and has pledged to refuse contributions...
Turn on the news or join nearly any dinner table conversation, and you'll notice a common assumption: that politicians and government officials are, at heart, trying to do what's best for everyone. This thinking is reminiscent of what we learned in our middle school civics class. Public choice theory challenges that idea. It analyzes the incentives, self-interest, and institutional rules behind political decisions, cutting through idealism to reveal something more practical. Political...
Democrats and Republicans rarely find themselves in agreement on any social, economic, or political topics. One topic, however, deviates from the norm: stocks and Congress. Both Democrats and Republicans alike support - even overwhelmingly so - a Congressional stock trading ban. In fact, according to the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, 86% of the nation’s registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 1.9%, support prohibiting members...
Preventing nuclear weapons. Destroying missile capabilities. Projecting power in the Hormuz Strait. Cutting off the support of terrorist groups. The GOP famously hailed the Trump-Vance candidacy as the “peace ticket” – today, Iran becomes the eighth country where the president has ordered military strikes since January 20th of 2025. The Trump administration has offered many shifting justifications for its new war in Iran: which is it? Fluctuating Justifications for War Since the beginning of...
“If it bleeds, it leads” is a long-standing journalistic adage that describes how stories about violence, conflict, or tragedy often dominate news coverage. Bleeding stories lead because they capitalize on the audience's natural curiosity toward danger and conflict. Moral panic takes it a step further. Stanley Cohen developed the term moral panic, defining it as an event or person that becomes defined as a threat to societal values and interests. Outrage isn’t just a byproduct of modern...
On February 28th, The Cleric and former Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Hosseini Khamenei was assassinated from Tehran as a part of Israeli airstrikes aimed for the high ranking official of Iranian. Ali Khamenei has been in power since 1981, he previously served as a third president from 1981 to 1989. He declared tenure leadership since then. He served as Head of State, for a total of 36 years and six months. This made him the longest-serving leader in the Middle East. He was widely considered as...
Every generation produces women who reshape the political imagination of their time. Some do so loudly, through sweeping legislation or defining speeches. Others do so simply by occupying spaces that once excluded them. Vice President Kamala Harris represents both. Her presence in American political life reflects not only an individual career, but a broader story about women, power, and the unfinished work of democratic inclusion. During Women’s History Month, conversations about...
In 2026, the United States finds itself navigating complex domestic and international pressures that are shaping its political landscape and global leadership role. Foreign Policy Under Scrutiny The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has thrust American foreign policy into the spotlight. Allied military cooperation in strikes against Iran and the widening regional war have stirred debate across the political spectrum. Administration leaders have defended these actions as necessary for...
Americans are rightfully concerned about the potential passage of the SAVE Act. Their concern is reasonable; American voting rights are deeply in danger. More specifically, it is the low-income, rural, naturalized, and married U.S. citizens – women in particular – who are in danger of disenfranchisement. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Proponents of the SAVE Act make it sound harmless: after all, we have to make sure voters are eligible citizens,...
In an era of intense partisanship and plunging public trust, America's news media faces a crisis, not only from bias or misinformation, but also from who owns and controls the flow of information. This ownership crisis threatens democracy itself: a strong republic depends on informed citizens, who in turn rely on trustworthy news. The American news media have long been dominated by private conglomerates that control much of the broadcast, print, and digital media. While complete private...
As the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalates, its effects are being felt not just on the battlefield but in boardrooms, oil markets, and national capitals around the world. Analysts say this crisis has the potential to disrupt global energy commodities and shift long-term economic trends. Strait of Hormuz: A Chokepoint Under Siege The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime passages, funneling about 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade....
Most people regularly engaged in politics have at least heard of the military-industrial complex (MIC). Coined by former President Eisenhower, the MIC describes the informal relationships among a country's military, defense contractors, and political leaders that work together to sustain high levels of military spending through government policies. Homeland defense operates on an eerily similar model. While often discussed from political or moral perspectives, this article will analyze...
In a remarkable display of bipartisanship and strict interpretation of the Constitution in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, SCOTUS struck down nearly all of Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign countries. The Supreme Court found that the power to collect taxes, duties, etc., lies explicitly in the legislative branch, whose approval is required for Trump’s tariffs. The administration argued that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) granted it the authority to establish...
February 22 sits at the intersection of two distinct election stories that illuminate a broader truth about democracy. On February 18, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission held a public hearing focused on election audit standards. Officials and experts discussed how structured, transparent audits can strengthen public trust in American elections. Audits are technical exercises. They verify counts, examine procedures, and assess compliance. But they are also symbolic. In a political climate...
The last two weeks in the United States have seen nationwide protests against ICE, Donald Trump, and the actions of the DOJ within the last year. In those two weeks, students took to the streets in droves, participating in school walkouts, chanting, and claiming intersections and/or sidewalks in massive crowds. Although some in more organized manners than others, students have provided the bulk and blade of anti-ICE attention & action as of late. Local partisan groups have the choice to...
Understanding the complex world of US politics can feel overwhelming. The landscape shifts quickly, and the stakes are high. I’ve spent time diving into key articles that shed light on the forces shaping American political life today. These pieces offer clarity, context, and insight. They help us see beyond the headlines and understand the deeper currents at play. Exploring Key Articles on US Politics When I read through various analyses, I notice patterns. Some articles focus on electoral...
On December 31st of 2025, justice prevailed in the San Francisco Federal District Court. That was the day Judge Breyer officially rejected this administration’s justification for their use of the National Guard, which some have described as an “intimidation” of LA residents. The administration argued that exigency for the federalization of the National Guard is only needed in the initiation of the process. Their argument implies that, once federalized, the National Guard is available to the...
It was a typical Sunday morning at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Warm greetings, handshakes, and friendly banter filled the room. Outside, however, tension was brewing. A group of protesters gathered, intent on making their voices heard. As the service began, protesters marched into the building and disrupted it with loud chants. Their slogans echoed off the church walls and drowned out all other noise. "Justice for Renee Good,” "ICE out,” and "Hands up, don’t shoot" - a nod to past...
The general public of the United States is constantly plagued by gloom and the feeling of inevitability. Upon encountering polarization or feeling unrepresented, voters rush to blame the parties and their domination of the US’s politics. The average high school graduate will tell you that the two-party system is flawed; they would be correct. The system’s flaws, however, don’t always stem from itself. Frequently, it is the voters who, with their neglect of civic participation and education,...
Politics in the United States is a vast, ever-changing landscape. It shapes our laws, our rights, and our daily lives. I find myself drawn to the currents of change, the debates, and the stories that define this moment. Today, I want to take you on a journey through some of the most popular US politics topics. Together, we will explore what they mean, why they matter, and how they might shape our future. Understanding Popular US Politics Topics Today When we talk about popular US politics...
The killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents is not only a tragedy. It is a warning. Pretti was not a fugitive, not the target of an immigration warrant, and not engaged in violent wrongdoing. By all public accounts, he was a civilian who encountered a federal enforcement operation and did not survive that encounter. The precise details remain under investigation, but the broader implications are already clear: when federal law enforcement operates with expansive authority and...
Over the weekend in Minneapolis, federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, during a large immigration enforcement operation that has drawn intense local and national scrutiny. According to federal authorities, a U.S. Border Patrol agent fired on Pretti during a confrontation early Saturday morning. The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that Pretti was armed with a handgun...
Only a year ago, the United States boasted a prospering, growing alliance, unmatched credibility on the world stage, and numerous trade agreements & partners. Only a year ago, being American would not have been met with immediate wariness or hostility in Greenland or Canada. Only a year ago, the United States was the force that countries and people in need alike appealed to for protection against oppression and violence. Now, the US has utilized violence to force the hand of foreign bodies...
For decades, public recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a presidential constant. When that recognition becomes delayed, conditional, or optional, it raises a deeper question about how power remembers and what it chooses to forget.
As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on transgender athlete bans, America confronts a collision between competing visions of justice. On January 13, 2026, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases that distill one of the most contentious questions in contemporary American law: What does fairness mean when fundamental rights collide? The cases involve two transgender athletes Lindsay Hecox, a 24-year-old seeking to compete on Boise State's women's track team, and B.P.J., a...
Nicolás Maduro Moros, born on November 23, 1962, in a working-class neighborhood of Caracas, rose from a bus driver and trade union leader to become one of the most polarizing figures in modern Latin American politics. A devoted follower of Hugo Chávez, Maduro served as foreign minister and vice president before succeeding his mentor as president of Venezuela in 2013. His 12-year rule, marked by deepening authoritarianism, economic catastrophe, mass migration, and international isolation,...
Trump is back, and this time he’s not tweeting, he’s firing. Thousands of federal employees, gone overnight, the largest reduction in force in modern U.S. history. Officially, it’s about “efficiency.” Unofficially, it’s about power. The headlines call it a “restructuring,” but the language feels familiar; cleansing, draining, cutting. Words that sound managerial but echo something darker. The president who once promised to “drain the swamp” has finally pulled the plug, and Washington is...
She’s not running, she’s reflecting and maybe reminding us that politics was never supposed to be this absurd. Harris is back, and she’s tired of pretending otherwise. At a Los Angeles book event, she leaned into the mic and dropped what might be the most relatable line of her career: “These mothaf–kas are crazy.” The crowd roared. Twitter exploded. For a moment, America agreed on something: Kamala said what everyone was already thinking. The moment was funny, but it was also revealing....