Author: Darnell Thompkins

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison term after being convicted in a conspiracy case tied to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, marking the first time a modern French head of state has been jailed; the sentence, the prison location, the ongoing appeals process, public reaction and questions about equal treatment under the law are all central to this moment. This week brought a rare and consequential development in French politics when authorities said Sarkozy would start a five-year sentence following his conviction for criminal conspiracy linked to Gadhafi. The case stands out not only…

When Institutions Go Bad: The Long March Effect Institutions rot when practice overtakes purpose, and many conservatives have watched that erosion unfold in education, media, corporations, and government where outcomes no longer match stated missions or public expectations. The result is a steady trickle of poor decisions, mounting waste, and institutional behavior that increasingly looks performative and self-referential rather than grounded in competence, accountability, or service to ordinary citizens. The mechanism is straightforward, involving deliberate placement of activists who prize ideological victory over subject-matter expertise, followed by internal rules and incentives that reward conformity and loyalty instead of critical thinking…

How Exploration of ‘Different Beliefs’ Can Reprogram a Generation’s Moral Compass What looks like harmless exploration of ‘different beliefs’ is increasingly being framed as a normal part of learning, but those encounters can quietly reshape what young people take for granted about right and wrong. Exposure is not neutral; it layers new ideas over existing intuitions and, over time, shifts how moral questions are judged. Children’s moral development happens in stages, and repeated encounters with contrasting viewpoints accelerate certain patterns of thought while muting others. When novelty is constantly presented without context, the process favors immediate acceptance or rejection rather…

Appeals Court Reverses Block on National Guard Deployment for Portland The federal appeals court flipped a district judge’s order and cleared President Trump to send National Guard troops to Portland, reversing a recent block by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut. This move handed the administration a significant legal win and sharpened the clash over federal authority to protect buildings and personnel. The Ninth Circuit issued a divided ruling that found the president likely acted within his statutory power, leaning on the core text of the federal statute. “After considering the record at this preliminary stage, we conclude that it…

Why Trump Pulled Back on Green Energy and Obamacare Conservatives see Big Green and Big Healthcare as overlapping failures that cost taxpayers and choke economic freedom, and that view drives much of the pushback. The argument is straightforward: policies sold as fixes created new problems and left Americans worse off. Green energy incentives, critics say, swapped reliable power for expensive experiments and higher utility bills for families. When subsidies and mandates steer markets, innovation gets distorted and taxpayers pick up the tab for politically favored projects that often underdeliver. Obamacare added mandates, entangled healthcare with more federal rules, and left…

Trump Commutes George Santos’ Prison Sentence This past July, former New York Republican Rep. George Santos began serving his 87-month federal prison sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The case has been a lightning rod in Washington, and the president’s recent action sent shockwaves through both parties. President Donald Trump announced the commutation in a post on his Truth Social platform and framed the move as corrective and merciful. “George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” the president wrote, arguing for…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently made significant strides in curbing criminal activities by arresting several illegal aliens with extensive criminal records. Among those apprehended is Jonatan Monzon-Olivares from Guatemala, notorious for his 38 arrests and 15 convictions in the United States. His criminal history spans serious offenses, including sexual and aggravated assault, burglary, and obstructing justice. The Department of Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin highlighted the severity of Monzon-Olivares’s criminal activities. She stated, “One of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested by ICE yesterday had 38 prior arrests and 15 convictions, including sexual assault, aggravated assault, and…

A rising wave of skepticism is sweeping through the Department of Defense, focusing especially on vaccine mandates. This sentiment mirrors the concerns within the Department of Veterans Affairs, where doubts about the flu vaccine have been quietly brewing. A whistleblower has stepped forward, revealing that employees in the VA have voiced similar hesitations. The stories of service members like Marine Corps officer Major Brennan Schilperoort, Army Sergeant Dan McGriff, and Air National Guard Technical Sergeant Tony Oslin highlight a troubling trend. Their experiences show the Department of Defense’s reluctance to grant religious or medical exemptions for vaccines. This stance raises…

Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a former ranger and wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park, was dismissed on August 12. Her termination was linked to her involvement in displaying a transgender pride flag on El Capitan. The event was part of the “Trans is Natural” project, which gained significant attention. The flag, measuring 55 by 35 feet, was unfurled by activists before being removed by park staff. Organizers claimed no park regulations were breached during the display. Joslin, determined to fight her dismissal, argued it was a matter of free speech. Following the incident, Yosemite leadership criticized Joslin for not maintaining “acceptable…

The Trump administration has announced the appointment of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as the co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Bailey will join the FBI leadership alongside Deputy Director Dan Bongino, marking a new chapter in the bureau’s hierarchy. This move, reported by Fox News Digital, is part of a broader strategy to align the FBI with President Donald Trump’s second-term objectives. Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed her support for Bailey’s appointment, describing him as a “decorated war veteran” and a “dedicated public servant.” Bondi highlighted Bailey’s extensive experience as a state prosecutor, emphasizing how it…