A recent decision from the Supreme Court has dropped us right back into one of the most stubborn legal debates in modern America: qualified immunity. If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, that’s because this issue never really goes away. It just rotates through new fact patterns, new plaintiffs, and new frustrations. At the…
Supreme Court to Mississippi: “Yeah… You Might Have Overdone It”
When the Supreme Court of the United States steps in and revives a case instead of deciding it outright, it’s a bit like a teacher handing back a test and saying, “You didn’t totally fail… but you definitely need to show your work.” That’s essentially what happened here. The Court didn’t rule that the Mississippi…
Breonna Taylor, Broken Chains of Causation, and the Case That Collapsed
Six years after the death of Breonna Taylor, the Justice Department has moved to dismiss the remaining charges against the officers accused of falsifying the warrant used in the raid on her apartment. And if you blinked, you might have missed just how significant that is. This wasn’t just a procedural hiccup or a minor…
SAVE America Act: Safeguard or Symbolic Politics?
The SAVE America Act is a proposal that aims to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. On its face, it sounds about as controversial as saying water is wet: only citizens should vote in U.S. elections. Fair enough. But as with most things in politics, the simplicity ends right…
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…
Voucher Wars: The Growing Clash Over Islamic Schools and Public Funds
Here’s the latest entry in America’s never-ending culture war series: Texas and Florida are trying to exclude certain Islamic schools from school voucher programs due to alleged ties to CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations). Supporters say this is about protecting taxpayer money and avoiding even the possibility of funding problematic organizations. Critics say it’s…
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: A Fix for Housing… or a Detour to Nowhere?
Housing policy is one of those issues everyone agrees is broken, but the moment someone proposes a fix, half the room suddenly decides the cure is worse than the disease. Enter the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a Trump-backed proposal that just cleared the Senate but is already running into skepticism from House Republicans.…
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…
Spies, Security, and the Fourth Amendment: The Never-Ending Fight Over FISA Section 702
Every few years, Washington dusts off one of its most awkward debates: whether the federal government should continue using Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreign targets. The argument has returned again, and like clockwork, it has managed to unite some very strange political bedfellows. Civil libertarians…
The Independent Christian Conservative 