There are few things in American life more emotionally charged than the number glowing on a gas station sign. It’s basically our national mood ring, except instead of telling us how we feel, it causes how we feel. So, when Energy Secretary Chris Wright and President Trump start publicly disagreeing about when gas will dip…
Impeachments, Headlines, and Hype
House Democrats are moving to introduce articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, citing concerns tied to alleged misconduct, judgment, and overall fitness for a high-level national role. Reporting from The Hill makes one thing clear: this is less of a quiet procedural step and more of a very loud political moment. And here’s the reality…
Expulsion or Excuses? Congress Confronts Its Own Credibility Problem
At first glance, the situation involving Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick looked like yet another entry in the long-running series called Congressional Ethics Questions: Season 47. You know the script: allegations surface, everyone calls for an investigation, and leadership urges patience while quietly calculating the political fallout. But this case doesn’t sit comfortably in that familiar script…
Photo ID for Voting: Security Upgrade or Solution in Search of a Problem?
At first glance, requiring photo ID to vote sounds almost too obvious to argue about. You show ID for everyday tasks that carry far less civic weight, so why wouldn’t voting—arguably the most important civic act—require the same? That’s exactly the intuition behind Husted’s amendment that was recently rejected by Democrats. But like most things…
From MMA to DHS? Mullin’s Unconventional DHS Bid
In Washington, there are safe picks, and then there are statements. The nomination of Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security definitely falls into the latter category. On paper, it’s the kind of move that makes half the room cheer and the other half reach for antacids. Supporters see a tough, no-nonsense outsider…
When Oil Prices Rise, Do “We” Actually Make Money?
During a recent discussion about rising energy costs, President Trump offered a characteristically blunt assessment of the situation. The United States, he argued, is now the world’s largest oil producer, so when oil prices go up, “we make a lot of money.” On the surface, that sounds logical enough. If you sell something and the…
The Abortion Pill Showdown: Should Congress Override the FDA on Mifepristone?
Last week, Hawley introduced legislation that would remove the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval for mifepristone, the first pill used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen. Hawley argues the drug is unsafe and that regulators ignored mounting evidence of complications. Critics say the proposal is little more than political theater aimed at restricting abortion…
Trump’s “Shield of the Americas”: Bold Strategy or Just Another War on Drugs?
Every few decades, Washington rediscovers something that most Americans already know: drug cartels are violent, wealthy, and deeply embedded in international networks that are extremely difficult to dismantle. The rediscovery is usually followed by a familiar sequence of events: stern speeches, bold promises, and a new policy initiative with a name designed to sound decisive.…
SCOTUS Draws a Hard Line on Tariffs
The Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down President Trump’s sweeping emergency tariff program wasn’t some vague procedural technicality. It was a direct constitutional confrontation over who has the authority to impose tariffs and how far a president can stretch an emergency statute to achieve economic policy goals. In Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, the Court…
When Politics Meets the Chain of Command
There are political skirmishes that flare up, dominate a news cycle, and disappear. Then there are moments that quietly test the structural integrity of the republic. This controversy falls into the second category. Last fall, six Democratic lawmakers appeared in a video urging U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders. That message, resurfacing in today’s…