Author: Darnell Thompkins

Recent polling, gathered just days before the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Watson v. RNC, shows an overwhelming majority of voters oppose counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, and the court signaled clear skepticism about allowing late-arriving ballots. The Supreme Court’s questions on Monday made it obvious that justices worry about the legal and practical consequences of accepting ballots after Election Day. That skepticism aligns with a poll completed shortly before the oral arguments showing most voters do not want election results stretched past the deadline. For many Americans, Election Day is a firm cutoff that preserves…

The Trump administration has moved to close the “Correspondents’ Corridor” at the Pentagon, a long-used workspace for military reporters, setting up a clash between access and security that is now playing out in Washington. The Pentagon’s long-standing workspace known as the “Correspondents’ Corridor” has been a familiar spot for journalists who cover the Defense Department. For years that area served as a hub where reporters could gather, trade tips, and quickly reach uniformed officials for on-the-spot questions. The decision to shutter it is straightforward but symbolic, because it touches both practical routines and press access expectations. Defense Department officials announced…

An 18-year-old Loyola freshman was killed near the lakefront in Chicago after an encounter with a masked gunman, and the suspect — a 25-year-old Venezuelan immigrant with prior contacts with authorities — now faces murder and weapons charges amid sharp criticism of border and sanctuary policies. Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was shot in the head while trying to flee a masked attacker near Tobey Prinz Beach around 1:30 a.m. She later died. The accused, identified as 25-year-old Jose Medina, had been detained at the border in May 2023, released, then arrested and released again after…

A powerful flood event struck Hawaii, the worst in roughly two decades, sweeping entire homes off foundations, nudging cars into streets and leaving interiors and surfaces caked in thick, reddish volcanic mud. The storm dumped huge amounts of water in a short period, turning familiar streets into roaring channels and sending debris downstream with little warning. Many neighborhoods found their basements, living rooms and kitchens layered in the distinctive rust-colored mud that comes from volcanic soils. Emergency crews and neighbors moved quickly to rescue people trapped in rising water and to pull cars from current-swept driveways. Several homes were ripped…

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to make it harder for drug dealers and predators to reach kids on social media, using the story of a 16-year-old boy who died as the human example driving the push. Lawmakers from both parties have coalesced around a single, uncomfortable truth: social platforms are channels where illegal activity and predation can reach children quickly. Republicans are pushing hard on accountability, arguing that platforms must do more than issue apologies after a tragedy. The conversation is no longer abstract – it features a real family, a real loss, and bipartisan pressure to change how…

The House of Representatives recently passed the Deporting Fraudsters Act, a measure designed to speed the removal of people here illegally who are found to have committed welfare fraud, and the vote split 231-186 with all opposition coming from Democrats. The bill cleared the House by a 231-186 margin, with every no vote cast by Democrats, signaling a sharp partisan divide on immigration enforcement and benefits integrity. Supporters framed the law as a straightforward fix to stop noncitizens from gaming taxpayer-funded programs. Opponents argued the measure trades nuance for a headline and raises civil liberties questions. Rep. David Taylor (R-OH)…

Florida enforces strict immigration measures that require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities and ask patients about immigration status at hospitals, reflecting a state-first approach under Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida has put in place some of the toughest immigration rules in the nation, insisting local police work with federal authorities and even directing hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status. These moves are part of a broader effort to assert state authority over border-related challenges and to manage the local impact of illegal immigration. Supporters say the policies protect taxpayers and public safety; critics warn they risk…

Short take: A college basketball bench player with giant shoes and a small role has become a tournament favorite, turning limited minutes into a viral, feel-good story that lights up arenas and social feeds. He barely plays. He wears size 20 shoes. And somehow, he has become the most beloved player in the NCAA Tournament. That simple trio of facts captures why fans keep talking about him: his presence is more about personality and heart than minutes on the scoreboard. Coaches will tell you rosters are about depth, practice habits, and matchups, yet this story shows another side of the…

When the richest are pushed to pay more than what politicians call their “fair share,” the consequences ripple through investment, jobs, and civic life in ways voters and lawmakers need to reckon with. Ask whether the top earners should shoulder extra fiscal burden and you get more than a debate about fairness; you get real effects on economic choices and incentives. The phrase “fair share?” captures the political punch of the idea, but policy outcomes are where the argument lives or dies. From a Republican viewpoint, that tradeoff matters more than slogans. Higher marginal tax rates on high incomes change…

A fresh look at California testing shows per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) turning up across many fruits, sparking questions about contamination routes, monitoring practices, and what it means for consumers and growers. Researchers who examined California pesticide testing data report that PFAS residues appeared in numerous produce samples, particularly in fruits. The findings are notable because PFAS are persistent chemicals that do not break down easily and can accumulate in the environment. That persistence raises obvious concerns when residues show up on food people eat every day. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), is a broad class of…