Posts in National
Donald Trump Calls on Republicans to “Nationalize” Elections
Donald Trump Calls on Republicans to “Nationalize” Elections

On Tuesday, February 2, President Trump called on the federal government and the Republican Party to “nationalize” elections in the United States. The President was interviewed by Dan Bongino, his former deputy FBI director, on his podcast, where he suggested Republican officials “take over” voting procedures in 15 states. President Trump’s suggestion that the federal government intervene in certain elections blatantly undermines the Constitution, highlights major divisions within the Republican Party, and is a clear effort by the Trump administration to claim fraud in the 2020 election and to prepare for major losses in the 2026 midterms.

Read More
NationalHannah GhaliTrump, SAVE Act, Save Act, Trump ElectionsComment
Armed Man Shot and Killed Trying to Enter Mar-a-Lago
Armed Man Shot and Killed Trying to Enter Mar-a-Lago

21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin was shot and killed at 1:30 a.m. on February 22 while attempting to enter Mar-a-Lago, one of President Trump's private residences located in Palm Beach, Florida. Reports indicate that he trespassed 20-30 yards onto the property before he was confronted by law enforcement, who proceeded to fatally shoot Martin.

Read More
NationalMarlowe SimpsonTrump Assassination, Mar a Lago, Trump Kilelr, Trump attemptComment
Setting the Narrative of the Deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good
Setting the Narrative of the Deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good

The homicides of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti represent a larger trend in which federal agents murder American citizens, and then attempt to manipulate public narratives. The rash labeling of Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and the forced reversal of a court order that limited DHS’ supervision of evidence reveal how government institutions attempt to influence the story, even when the facts are not fully confirmed.

Read More
NationalKhadija MohammedAlex Preeti, Nicole Good, Renee Nicole Good, Minneapolis, ICE Minneapolis, ICE, Trump ImmigrationComment
Thomas Massie and the Limits of GOP Loyalty
Thomas Massie and the Limits of GOP Loyalty

Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) remains one of the few Republicans willing to challenge the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, even as he faces a primary challenge backed by the President. This clash highlights the limits of GOP loyalty and illustrates why Massie’s brand of principled independence is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate in the modern Republican Party.

Read More
NationalHolden RayMassie, Thomas Massie, Trump, Trump GOP, Trump Massie, Epstein Comment
SAMHSA Grant Cuts Expose the Fragility of the U.S. Mental Health System
SAMHSA Grant Cuts Expose the Fragility of the U.S. Mental Health System

These cuts halted naloxone distribution, overdose prevention efforts, mental health and substance abuse support in schools, and substance abuse recovery programs. The cuts affected nearly all discretionary funds, accounting for nearly $2 billion of SAMHSA’s budget. Less than 24 hours later, US health officials countered and began reinstating the funding to mental health and substance use programs. Some programs received notice of reinstatement on Wednesday night, while others are waiting for an official notice that they can resume work.

Read More
NationalKate TurnerSAMHSA, Mental Health, Trump Funding, Trump cuts, Trump Mental Health, Trump, OpioidComment
Judge Refuses to Issue Restraining Order Against ICE Operations in Minnesota
Judge Refuses to Issue Restraining Order Against ICE Operations in Minnesota

At the heart of the case is a fundamental question about federalism: how far can the federal government go in unilaterally imposing law enforcement operations on a state that explicitly opposes them? The case remains open, with Menendez denying the federal government’s request to postpone their January 19 deadline to respond.

Read More
NationalAbram GregoryICE, ICE Raids, ICE Minnesota, Minneapolis, ICE Minneapolis, Immigration, Trump ICE, TrumpComment
Texas Becomes the First State to Drop ABA-Accreditation for Law School
Texas Becomes the First State to Drop ABA-Accreditation for Law School

On January 6th, the Supreme Court of Texas amended the state constitution so that law schools are no longer required to receive accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA), the organization in charge of overseeing legal education in the United States. An accreditation is a recognition that the education a law school provides is consistent with standards laid out by the ABA. Graduates from ABA-accredited law schools are eligible to take the Bar, the final exam necessary to become an attorney. Instead of the ABA providing this accreditation, it is now the responsibility of the court.

Read More
National, FellowsDaniel ReyesTexas Law School, UT Austin Law, Texas Law, ABA, Bar ExamComment
Amazon’s Expansion of Its AI Endeavors Symbolizes Changing Economic Landscape
Amazon’s Expansion of Its AI Endeavors Symbolizes Changing Economic Landscape

As artificial intelligence makes its way into more and more aspects of everyday life, it is important to remain aware of its magnitude and potential harm as it relates to our social interactions and the preservation of our originality. Recently, the decisions of companies like Amazon to expand their artificial intelligence branches have shifted the technology’s target toward the job market. AI is a massive venture, and it is growing at a pace with which the general population cannot keep up. Consequently, it is unclear just how severe these job losses and competition for employment will become.

Read More
NationalHalle TourianAmazon, AI, AI RegulationsComment
Delays in the October Unemployment Rate Figure Present Major Risks to American Workers
Delays in the October Unemployment Rate Figure Present Major Risks to American Workers

On November 19th, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it would delay its usual October estimate of the national unemployment rate until December. The recent government shutdown has impeded their ability to release the figures this month. This is not the first time the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has faced issues with calculating the unemployment rate, as the Trump Administration has raised issues over the integrity of its data collection methods. Recent doubts and delays over the number of unemployed workers in the United States have the potential to prolong the current rise in unemployment for American workers in the coming months.

Read More
Fellows, NationalDaniel ReyesEconomy, US Economy, Unemployment, Inflation, Fed, Federal Reserve, DLSComment
Texas’s Blocked Map and the Growing National Fight Over Redistricting
Texas’s Blocked Map and the Growing National Fight Over Redistricting

Texas’s blocked map is more than a state dispute; it’s a preview of a brewing national crisis. As courts reconsider long-standing Voting Rights Act protections and both parties escalate their redistricting tactics, American democracy risks slipping into an arms race where voters, not politicians, pay the price.

Read More
National, Editor's PicksKrisha PatelRedistricting, California, Newsom, Election mapsComment
Playing Politics With Hunger: SNAP Benefits Caught in the Aftermath of Intense Government Shutdown
Playing Politics With Hunger: SNAP Benefits Caught in the Aftermath of Intense Government Shutdown

Earlier this month, intense political gridlock between the Trump administration and Democratic senators led to delayed action in getting food into the hands of vulnerable Americans who depend on SNAP assistance. Political leaders and average citizens alike were angered by the fact that the lives of seniors, low-income parents, the disabled, retired veterans, and more have been turned into a partisan issue. Although the government shutdown has now allowed for SNAP funding to resume, new eligibility restrictions will cause millions to lose access to the program.

Read More
NationalJaya NadellaSNAP, Welfare, Trump SNAP, Trump Shutdown, SNAP NCComment
Trump and Hegseth Push Overhaul of U.S. Military, Raising Questions of Power and Purpose
Trump and Hegseth Push Overhaul of U.S. Military, Raising Questions of Power and Purpose

Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly claimed that military leaders are prioritizing administrative concerns and “woke” personnel policies over readiness, combat effectiveness, and national security. By redirecting military resources toward domestic presidential priorities, the administration says it is correcting what it views as years of misaligned spending and leadership.

Read More
NationalCorrie KelleighTrump Hegseth, Hegseth, Pete HegsethComment
Gridlock in Washington: The Partisan Divide Over America’s Budget
Gridlock in Washington: The Partisan Divide Over America’s Budget

Ultimately, the federal government shutdown is not merely a failure to pass a budget but about two conflicting visions for America’s role in the lives of its citizens: one centered on public welfare, and the other on fiscal restraint. While both parties are at a stalemate, the burden lies on the shoulders of working-class Americans who rely on federal support to make ends meet.

Read More
NationalKhadija MohammedBudget, Federal Budget, Federal Spending, TrumpComment
From Portland to Chicago: How Courts are Shaping Trump’s National Guard Agenda
From Portland to Chicago: How Courts are Shaping Trump’s National Guard Agenda

With the case before the Supreme Court, the consequences of Trump’s National Guard deployment have culminated in a tumultuous moment. The Court’s ruling will, ultimately, shape how future presidents intervene in domestic affairs. Until then, the growing tensions between Washington and state leaders undermine the delicate balance between executive and local power.

Read More
NationalKhadija MohammedImmigration, National Guard, Trump Immigration, TrumpComment