Planned Parenthood is back to billing Medicaid for non-abortion services after a one-year federal reimbursement ban expired in early July 2026. That has pro-life groups furious, Planned Parenthood relieved, and Republican lawmakers once again discovering that campaign promises are much easier to shout into a microphone than to turn into durable law. Funny how that…
Who Should Write the Rules for Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence has officially entered the “Congress is trying to do something about it” phase, which means we’ve now moved from “terrifyingly fast technological disruption” to “terrifyingly fast technological disruption, but with committee hearings.” According to reports surrounding the Obernolte-Trahan AI negotiations, Reps. Jay Obernolte, a California Republican, and Lori Trahan, a Massachusetts Democrat, have…
When Pills, Power, and Policy Collide
A federal court decision to block telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone might sound, at first glance, like one of those niche regulatory tweaks that only healthcare lawyers and policy wonks get excited about. But in reality, this is a ruling with massive ripple effects legally, culturally, and morally. To understand why, you have to look at…
Opening the Retirement Investment Floodgates
President Trump’s executive order on retirement benefits is a meaningful shift in how Americans might be allowed to invest their long-term savings. At its core, the order aims to expand the universe of investment options available within retirement accounts, especially those tied to employer-sponsored plans. Traditionally, these plans have been limited to relatively straightforward, regulated…
Back to the Firing Squad?
When the Department of Justice floats the idea of bringing back the firing squad, the immediate reaction from a lot of people is predictable: shock, discomfort, and a chorus of “this feels like a step backward.” But let’s be honest for a second. That reaction says more about how we’ve packaged capital punishment in recent…
The Federal Marijuana Pivot
For decades, the federal government treated marijuana like it belonged in the same category as the most dangerous drugs on the planet: no medical value, high abuse potential, end of discussion. That stance held firm even as states legalized it, doctors prescribed it, and millions of Americans quietly (or not so quietly) incorporated it into…
Dignity on the Line: Can Immigration Reform Thread the Needle?
The Dignity (Dignidad) Act is what happens when lawmakers attempt something that feels almost nostalgic in modern Washington: an actual compromise. Instead of leaning hard in one ideological direction, the bill tries to stitch together two competing priorities that have defined the immigration debate for decades—enforcement and legalization—and present them as a single, cohesive plan.…
The Line, the Law, and the Loophole: Should Asylum Seekers Be Turned Away?
When immigration policy hits the courtroom—especially the U.S. Supreme Court—you can be sure we’re dealing with more than just a technical dispute. We’re dealing with competing visions of law, sovereignty, and human obligation, all wrapped into one messy, politically radioactive package. At the center of this particular fight is “metering,” which is a practice where…
Counting Votes After Election Day: Fairness Fix or Trust-Busting Loophole?
When the Supreme Court wades into election law, it’s rarely a quiet splash. The latest dispute over whether mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day should still be counted is no exception. On the surface, it sounds like a dry procedural question. In reality, it’s a proxy battle over something much bigger: what we value…
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…
The Independent Christian Conservative 