It’s mid-October 2025. The leaves are turning, daylight is shrinking, and Washington, D.C., remains locked in a standoff. Congress never passed its funding bills. The government is shut. We’re now on Day 16 (if you’re keeping score). The halls of power echo with partisan recriminations, press releases, and the occasional soundbite about “who’s to blame.”…
Shutdown Brinkmanship, Medicaid Backlash, and the Perils of Political Posturing
Washington is once again doing its favorite dance: the Shutdown Shuffle. The Capitol's buzzing, tempers are flaring, and if you listen closely, you can almost hear the circus music playing faintly in the background. On one side, you've got Democrats clutching their talking points like pearls at a Southern dinner party; on the other, Republicans…
Raising the Roof or Digging a Hole? A Look at the OBBBA Debt Limit Hike
Tucked inside the sprawling One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a hefty clause that raises the federal debt ceiling by a whopping $4 trillion. In plain English, this means the U.S. Treasury gets permission to borrow up to that higher limit so it can keep paying the bills Congress has already racked up, things…
Faith, Freedom, and Fiscal Honesty: A Look at the House GOP’s Tax-and-Spending Bill Tweaks
The latest maneuvering in Washington’s halls of power has the House GOP finalizing changes to their tax-and-spending reconciliation bill, tweaks necessary to keep the legislation compliant with the Senate's "Byrd Rule." Now, before your eyes glaze over at Senate procedure, here's why it matters: if the bill doesn’t follow this rulebook, it loses its “privileged”…
A Senior Tax Break That Gets It Half-Right
There’s a saying in Scripture: “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding” (Job 12:12). Our elders are a treasure trove of experience, faith, and fortitude. They’ve worked, fought, and sacrificed for this country. So, when our lawmakers propose a tax provision that acknowledges their worth, it’s worth paying attention. Enter the…
A Common-Sense Victory, But the Clock is Ticking
In a late-night scramble, the House managed to pass a temporary funding plan that keeps Uncle Sam’s lights on and provides disaster aid, while thankfully leaving out President-elect Donald Trump's call for a debt limit increase. I can’t help but feel a mix of relief and skepticism. This feels like one of those duct-tape solutions—you…
Navigating the Chaos of Spending Bills
Well, folks, here we are again. Another government spending bill showdown, another threat of a shutdown, and—predictably—another round of political theater. As an independent Christian conservative, I’m not here to blindly defend either side of the aisle. Instead, let’s take a clear-eyed look at this mess and ask ourselves: How did we get here? More…
The Independent Christian Conservative 