Author: Brittany Mays

Nine people were convicted by a federal jury Friday for charges stemming from last year’s attack on an ICE detention facility in Texas, in what federal prosecutors called the first-ever terrorism The convictions landed after a high-profile federal case tied to an attack on a Texas immigration detention site last year. The rulings mark a rare use of terrorism-related charges in domestic prosecutions connected to protest violence. The outcome has already stirred debates about policy, enforcement, and public safety. Nine people were convicted by a federal jury Friday for charges stemming from last year’s attack on an ICE detention facility…

Vermont’s political posture has shifted well left of what many expect, producing tensions between local progressive priorities and federal law enforcement, especially over immigration policy and public safety. Most Americans still picture Vermont as a quiet, rural state, but that image is outdated. Over recent years the state has moved sharply into progressive policy territory, adopting stances that surprise even some newcomers who left places like California. That political shift has created friction with federal authorities and fueled debates about enforcement, local control, and practical consequences for residents. Some Vermont activists have openly challenged the federal government on immigration enforcement,…

The Supreme Court refused to review Glenn Brooks’ challenge to a pardon that ended his appeal, leaving intact the idea that a presidential pardon can nullify ongoing cases even over a defendant’s objections. The justices on Monday declined to take up the petition from Glenn Brooks, a January 6 defendant who asked the Court to let him keep fighting his conviction even after President Trump pardoned him. Brooks wanted the chance to clear his name in the appellate process, but the high court left lower-court rulings untouched and issued no opinion. Brooks had been convicted on four misdemeanor counts tied…

Democratic-led states are responding strongly after reports that federal immigration officers may be present near polling locations this midterm season, and officials on both sides are preparing legal, administrative, and public messaging moves to handle the fallout. News that federal immigration officers could appear near polling sites has set off quick action across several Democratic-led states, which frame the presence as intimidation while Republican voices stress enforcement of federal law. State officials are talking about new guidance for local election workers and possible legal challenges, and federal agencies insist their role is law enforcement, not voter suppression. The tension is…

Unmarried voters skew Democratic, and the share of adults who remain unmarried has been rising, a shift with real consequences for political strategy and policy debate. Voter behavior is changing as family patterns change, and that matters at the ballot box as much as it does in the classroom and workplace. The Republican response should be practical and straightforward: understand the shift, adapt messaging, and propose policies that strengthen families without lecturing. If the party wants to broaden its appeal, it must reckon honestly with why more people are choosing not to marry and what that means for civic life.…

This report covers the International Energy Agency’s coordinated release of 400 million barrels of oil and what that move means for markets, supply chains, and consumers. The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that member countries will release 400 million barrels of oil to alleviate price pressures from the war in Iran. That announcement aims to blunt a spike in crude costs linked to disruptions and heightened risk in the region. Officials framed the release as a temporary measure to steady markets while diplomatic and military tensions continue to unfold. The IEA is a consortium of advanced-energy economies that coordinates policies…

This piece looks at why soaring beef prices have not produced a boom in plant-based alternatives, how market signals and consumer choices are shaping protein supply, and why policy responses in Washington miss the core problem. Smashburgers and smaller portions are more than a food fad; they’re a visible reaction to tighter beef supplies and higher costs. Ground-beef prices are up 17% year-over-year and the U.S. cattle herd sits at its lowest level in 75 years. Restaurants and shoppers are stretching beef the way past generations did, turning scarcity into menu creativity rather than surrender. Compare that to the shale…

The bishop of a small Chaldean Catholic community in the San Diego area has resigned amid charges that he embezzled $270,000 from his parish, Pope Leo XIV announced Tuesday. The resignation landed abruptly and left parishioners and local clergy scrambling for answers. The allegation centers on $270,000 that church officials say is missing from parish accounts. The announcement from Pope Leo XIV made clear the Vatican is involved in the removal and next steps. For small, tight-knit congregations like this Chaldean community, any hint of financial misconduct cuts deep. Parish finances typically run on tight budgets, donations and careful accounting,…

Federal year-end spending spiraled to record highs, raising questions about waste and oversight. Congress and the Pentagon closed 2025 with a spending rush that deserves tough questions from taxpayers and lawmakers. The rush did not look like careful budgeting or strategic investment. It looked like unchecked spending that piled up at the last minute. ‘Unfortunately, the Pentagon’s traditional year-end spending spree in 2025 was the worst ever on record at a staggering $93.4 billion.’ That quote captures the scale of the problem in a single line, and the number is impossible to ignore. When sums that large are committed in…

At least a half-dozen Senate Democrats are preparing a campaign of repeated war powers votes and other procedural tactics to slow Senate business, creating a standoff that will test the chamber’s rules and majority will. Washington is bracing for a raw, procedural fight as a group of Senate Democrats signals they will use every tool at their disposal to force votes and disrupt the legislative calendar. Their strategy centers on repeated war powers resolutions, along with holds and other minority motions designed to generate floor time and publicity. Republicans see this as a deliberate effort to stall priorities and box…