President Trump has never been accused of underreacting, and his latest dust-up with Canada proves the point. When an ad popped up north of the border quoting Ronald Reagan about “the dangers of protectionism,” Trump slammed the brakes on trade talks faster than you can say “NAFTA.” There was just one small problem: the ad…
The Grijalva Mess Is a Bad Look for Washington
The State of Arizona has done something extraordinary, and not in a good way. It has sued the United States House of Representatives. The reason? Because the House, under Speaker Mike Johnson, still hasn’t sworn in Adelita Grijalva, the Democrat who won September’s special election to fill the late Raúl Grijalva’s seat. Her election is…
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…
John Bolton’s Indictment: Justice Without a Team Jersey
So, John Bolton has now joined the “Indicted Former Officials Club.” The federal government dropped an 18-count indictment on him this week for allegedly mishandling classified documents. That’s eight counts of allegedly sharing defense secrets and ten counts of holding onto them like they were baseball cards. Now before anyone starts yelling “witch hunt” or…
The Risks and Rewards of a Trump–Putin Summit in Budapest
As we all remember, President Trump and Vladimir Putin already met once this year: the much-ballyhooed Alaska Summit in August 2025. It was chilly in more ways than one. The meeting produced no binding agreement, no grand peace plan, and no Nobel-worthy handshake moment. But what it did produce was symbolism, lots of it. It…
Don’t Let Politics Hold the Troops Hostage
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.”…
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…
Tariffs as a Foreign Policy Tool: Strength or Strategic Overreach?
When President Trump announced plans for a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, the usual suspects on Wall Street gasped like they’d just seen the national debt clock explode. But while the markets hyperventilated, Main Street folks nodded and said, “Well, it’s about time somebody stood up to China.” And that’s the heart of the debate…
The Test of True Peace: Why Hamas Must Lay Down Its Arms
President Trump’s diplomacy has won an important and dramatic pause: Israel and Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a ceasefire plan that promises hostage releases, humanitarian corridors, and an initial Israeli withdrawal. This is a relief worth noting, but it’s not, on its own, an assurance of lasting peace. The reason is…
The Federal Reserve Soap Opera: Supreme Court Edition
Well, folks, I called it, and I mean exactly called it. Back in my September 18 installment of The Federal Reserve Soap Opera, I said, “If I had to make an educated guess, the Supreme Court may be inclined to give Lisa Cook a short-term reprieve.” And lo and behold, that’s precisely what they did.…
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