Author: Darnell Thompkins

House Speaker Mike Johnson says six House and Senate Democrats “should be indicted” after a federal grand jury declined to bring charges over a video urging military and intelligence personnel to disobey orders, and the episode raises tough questions about elected officials inserting themselves into the chain of command. The Justice Department’s grand jury in the District of Columbia chose not to return indictments after prosecutors failed to convince enough jurors there was probable cause to charge the lawmakers. That failure lands squarely on the prosecutors, but it doesn’t erase the facts on camera: six members of Congress asked service…

The federal workforce has shrunk to a multi-decade low, and that shift is reshaping how government works, where it spends money, and how taxpayers get services. The number of federal government jobs is at a multi-decade low, and that change is not happening in a vacuum. It reflects years of policy choices, budget pressure, and an appetite for smaller, more focused national administration. For Republicans, a leaner federal payroll can signal better discipline so long as core duties stay covered. A smaller federal headcount can be a sign of fiscal restraint and respect for taxpayers, but it also forces hard…

The U.S. job recovery has shifted from being propped up by government hiring to one driven entirely by private-sector payroll gains, and while overall employment remains solid, hiring momentum cooled after mid-2025, leaving the pace of future job creation uncertain. The early rebound in jobs after the pandemic leaned heavily on government hiring, which inflated payroll gains for a period. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, private employers have supplied all of the net payroll increases. That shift matters because private hiring reacts differently to interest rates, demand, and profit signals than public-sector payrolls do. Through 2024…

Nearly every Democrat in the House opposed a bill that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote in federal elections, while the chamber passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act 218-213 with only Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas joining Republicans in support. The vote in the House was a clear moment. Nearly every single Democrat voted against legislation that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID for voting in federal elections. The House passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act 218-213. Only one…

People gathered on the State House Yard beneath a clear sky, drawn there by the tolling of bells and held by a mix of curiosity, habit, and a shared civic rhythm. The crowd stood as if it were a single body breathing in and out, an unconscious, restless shuffle under an open sky. The scene felt intimate and reverent at once, with low conversation flowing through groups like whispers in a church. It was a public moment that carried private weight for everyone present. They had been summoned by the bells of the city, a sound that cut through everyday…

President Trump publicly attacked U.S. freestyle skier Hunter Hess after Hess said he felt “mixed emotions” about representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, sparking a broad backlash, heated social-media posts, and a later clarification from Hess that softened his language. President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess after comments Hess made about wearing the American flag at the Milan-Cortina Games. The president’s post framed Hess as ungrateful and questioned whether someone who dissents publicly should have sought a spot on the team in the first place. “U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter…

This piece explains how financial records make it possible to identify and prosecute sham daycare operations by tracing payments, matching attendance claims to subsidies, and exposing false business practices. Sham daycare centers are often set up to collect public subsidies and private payments without delivering legitimate care. They can exist as paper entities that bill for children who never attend, or as physical locations that never meet basic licensing standards. Financial records provide the clearest trail to show where money flowed and whether services were actually provided. The first step in any inquiry is gathering routine financial documents that businesses…

This piece argues that federal rules for disciplining judges deserve a careful overhaul to restore accountability, clarify misconduct standards, and protect the judiciary’s role in a constitutional republic. Our system depends on judges who obey the law and the Constitution, yet the statutes that govern how judges are disciplined have grown murky. Vague standards and inconsistent processes breed confusion and distrust among the public and elected officials alike. That gap invites uneven enforcement and gives critics room to charge politicization whether it exists or not. Congress has a constitutional duty to preserve the balance of powers while protecting the courts…

Israeli leaders approved a set of steps intended to expand Israeli authority in the West Bank, limit Palestinian Authority powers, and shift the security and administrative balance in contested areas. The move by Israel’s top ministers has been framed as a response to security realities and political pressure at home, with proponents arguing that clearer control will protect civilians and deter attacks. Critics warn this will further erode Palestinian self-rule and complicate any future negotiations, creating deeper friction on the ground. The debate now centers on how these changes will be implemented and enforced amid rising tensions. Israel ‘s security…

A federal appeals decision cleared the way for the administration to push back on diversity, equity, and inclusion rules in federal contracting, altering how agencies and contractors approach race-based preferences. A federal appellate court handed President Trump a major victory on Friday by shutting down a lower court blockade on his efforts to eliminate racist DEI programs in federal contracting. In its unanimous decision, a three-judge panel for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a preliminary injunction issued by Maryland District Judge Adam Abelson […] The 4th Circuit’s ruling is straightforward and narrow, but its practical effect is broad:…