The renewed debate over presidential war powers, sparked by Vice President J.D. Vance’s dismissal of the War Powers Resolution as “fake” and unconstitutional, exposes more than a technical disagreement about statutes. It reveals a deeper conflict over authority, restraint, and accountability in the exercise of force. At stake is not merely how wars are authorized,…
Power Without Righteousness Is Not Strength
Yesterday’s closed-door briefing to lawmakers on U.S. actions in Venezuela did little to resolve the most troubling questions raised by the operation. If anything, it exposed a widening gap between executive power and moral clarity. Members of Congress emerged divided not merely over tactics or outcomes, but over first principles: who authorizes force, what limits…
Power, Precedent, and the Perils of Unilateral Force: The High-Risk Gamble of Capturing Maduro
The U.S. military strike on Venezuela and the announced capture of Nicolás Maduro mark one of the most dramatic assertions of American power in the Western Hemisphere in decades. The operation will likely stand alongside the most consequential unilateral interventions of the modern era, not only because of its immediate tactical audacity but because of…
Tariffs, Tyrants, and Tough Love: Considering the Proposed Sanctions on Russia
The U.S. Senate is rolling out a bold new bill aimed squarely at countries still doing business with Putin’s energy empire. It would slap a whopping 500% tariff on imports from any nation that continues buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium. The goal? Hit Vladimir Putin where it counts: in the pocketbook. And let’s be…
Taking Stock of the U.S. Strikes on Iran
In the pre-dawn hours of June 22, 2025 (Iranian time), President Trump gave the green light for a high-stakes military operation targeting Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear installations at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This was no ordinary strike: the U.S. unleashed some of its most sophisticated firepower, including six 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—colossal bunker-busting…
Law, Mercy, and the Migrant: Reflecting on the Supreme Court’s TPS Decision for Venezuelans
The Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision affirming President Trump’s authority to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan nationals. These individuals were originally granted protection due to the collapse of civil society in Venezuela—rampant political persecution, economic devastation, and violence that made safe return virtually impossible. For years, they’ve lived and…
Trump and Recess Appointments
The possibility of President-elect Donald Trump using recess appointments to bypass Senate confirmation and fill his Cabinet has sparked heated debate. Recess appointments, a tool enshrined in the Constitution, allow a president to temporarily fill positions when the Senate is not in session. While this strategy has been used by presidents of both parties, its…
The Independent Christian Conservative 