The recent actions by Republican leadership in Texas and Florida aimed at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) deserve more than reflexive applause or predictable outrage. They require sober analysis. Whatever one thinks of CAIR’s activism, rhetoric, or policy positions, the mechanism being used against it should trouble anyone who takes constitutional limits seriously. These…
Peace, Principles, and the Perils of Political Amnesia
Some weeks in politics feel like a three-ring circus, and lately the lions, clowns, and tightrope walkers have all shown up at once. On one side of the world, we’ve got a draft peace plan for Ukraine that asks them to hand over territory to Russia like it’s a neighborhood potluck. On the other side…
Justice, Reputation & the Peril of Precedent
In the unfolding case where Letitia James stands accused of mortgage fraud, the stakes go well beyond her own future. At its heart, this is a question about the character of our justice system: Does it serve justice or is it serving someone’s agenda? As Proverbs 16:11 reminds us: “A just weight and balance are…
High Noon for Free Speech: Showdown at the ABC Corral
Well, that didn’t take long. For about five minutes, it looked like Sinclair and Nexstar—the two broadcasting giants carrying many of America’s ABC affiliates—were going to flex their muscles by refusing to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Disney dragged him back on stage. But reality set in faster than a Marvel reboot. Just as quickly…
Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC, and the Free Speech Fire Drill
Well, here we are again, folks: another cultural meltdown over who’s allowed to flap their gums on TV. And this time the lucky contestant on America’s Next First Amendment Crisis is none other than Jimmy Kimmel. He managed to land himself in the hot seat after cracking jokes about the tragic shooting of conservative activist…
The Free Market vs. National Security: Where Should Conservatives Draw the Line?
Who would’ve thought a goofy app for dance challenges and lip-syncing would spark one of the biggest debates about freedom, capitalism, and national security in modern America? Welcome to 2025, where TikTok isn’t just a time-waster for teenagers; it’s a test case for whether conservatives really believe in both free markets and strong national defense.…
AI, the OBBBA, and the Great 10-Year Gag Order on the States
Today, we’re going to look at a provision in the OBBBA that has recently stirred a lot of controversy. Marjorie Taylor Greene railed against this provision, which imposes a 10-year federal ban on states and local governments from enacting or enforcing any laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI) systems, models, or automated decision-making tools involved in…
Weighing the Evidence: The Federal Case Against Kilmar Abrego Garcia
I’ve previously written about the troubling deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was removed from the United States without the benefit of a full and fair legal process. My position then—and now—was simple: every individual, regardless of status, deserves due process under the law. If there were grounds to believe Garcia had…
Cutting Off the Money Trail: A Look at the One Big Beautiful Bill’s Crackdown on Terror-Funding Nonprofits
Today, we’re zeroing in on a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that hands the Treasury Department the power to yank the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that are found to support terrorism. Now, on the surface, that sounds like a no-brainer. I mean, who wants their tax dollars subsidizing groups that cozy up…
A Tax Too Far? Weighing the 3.5% Remittance Levy in the One Big Beautiful Bill
Let’s talk about money—specifically, money flying out of the country faster than a kid bolting from chores. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has an interesting provision that I haven’t heard anyone talk about: a 3.5% tax on money sent abroad by non-citizens, including green card holders and visa workers. Let’s examine this from an…
The Independent Christian Conservative 