I never bother watching the State of the Union address. It’s nothing more than an opportunity for the president—whether Democrat or Republican—to spin the truth in their favor. So, I didn’t watch last night. I simply read summaries of Trump’s speech. One thing that stood out for me was the fact that Democrats refused to…
Should the DOJ Be Suing New Jersey?
The Department of Justice has decided to sue the State of New Jersey over Executive Order No. 12, signed by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The order restricts when and how federal immigration officers can access nonpublic state property—like state-run facilities—unless they have a judicial warrant. Now, should the DOJ sue? Legally speaking, it absolutely can. Immigration…
Congress Finally Takes Housing Seriously
In a Congress that often seems more invested in partisan theater than practical governance, the House’s bipartisan passage of a housing package stands out as something unusual: an acknowledgment of reality. Housing affordability is no longer a regional issue confined to coastal cities or high-growth metro areas. It’s a national pressure point affecting families in…
Ed Markey, Trump, and the Limits of Election Rhetoric
Sen. Ed Markey didn’t wake up one morning seized by a sudden desire to protect the delicate architecture of American federalism. His Senate resolution condemning President Trump’s remarks about “nationalizing” elections is, without question, a political act. It’s meant to draw contrast, mobilize a base, and frame Republicans as hostile to democratic norms heading into…
Election Reform, Minus the Hysteria
Election reform has become one of those topics where reasonable people suddenly forget how to be reasonable. One side starts shouting “voter suppression” before finishing the first sentence. The other starts muttering about fraud like it’s hiding under every ballot box. Meanwhile, thoughtful discussion quietly packs its bags and leaves the room. The House Republicans’…
History, Power, and the Peril of Governing by Spectacle
The controversy surrounding President Trump’s attempted National Guard deployments to major U.S. cities is not merely a skirmish over public safety policy. It is a revealing moment about how power is exercised, justified, and constrained in a constitutional republic, and about what happens when political theater collides with historical and legal reality. At its core,…
Proof of Citizenship Makes Sense If We Do It with Sense
President Trump’s executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections has stirred up a political hornet’s nest. Democrats are calling it “voter suppression.” Republicans hail it as a “return to election integrity.” And most ordinary Americans are probably scratching their heads wondering, “Wait a minute… shouldn’t we already be doing that?” It’s…
The Supreme Court and the Sword: A Case That Could Redefine Presidential Power
There’s a tug-of-war playing out across America right now, and it’s not between two candidates or even two political parties. It’s between the Constitution’s two halves: federal and state power. President Trump’s latest legal battle over deploying the National Guard in cities like Portland, Chicago, and San Francisco has pulled that rope tighter than it’s…
When Courts Say “No” to Troops, Should the President Invoke the Insurrection Act?
Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration’s attempt to insert federal military (or Guard) force into major American cities has triggered a cascade of courtroom pushbacks. What looked like a bold posture on law and order is increasingly turning into a legal war of attrition. The administration, frustrated by injunctions and restraining orders, is…
Whose Guard Is It Anyway?
When armored trucks and camo uniforms roll down city streets, it’s hard not to feel a twinge of unease, even for those of us who appreciate law and order. Over the past few months, National Guard convoys have appeared in a few urban battlegrounds, all under orders from Washington. Governors are suing, federal lawyers are…
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