Author: Darnell Thompkins

Multiculturalism has shifted public standards toward moral relativism, challenging long-held ideas about liberty, life, and civic cohesion. Across classrooms, courts, and cultural institutions, we are seeing a steady shift toward treating every cultural practice as equally valid. That approach too often ignores basic rights and the role of shared values in a free society. When all practices are declared equal, it becomes hard to defend liberty as a common standard. Republican thinking favors a durable moral framework that protects individual freedom and human dignity. We believe some norms are essential to a free society and not every tradition merits equal…

The Pentagon will be authorized to resume underground nuclear tests under a provision of the pending defense authorization bill. Congress is considering language in the defense authorization bill that would allow the Pentagon to carry out underground nuclear tests if senior leaders judge them necessary. This pivots current policy by giving the military and laboratories a clearer legal pathway to full-scale testing after decades of moratorium. The move has prompted a sharp debate about strategy, deterrence, and the U.S. role as a responsible nuclear power. Supporters argue the change corrects a dangerous assumption: that simulation and subcritical experiments alone can…

Bangladesh is set to hold national elections on Feb. 12, coming 18 months after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power amid a mass uprising and weeks of violent unrest. The new election date, Feb. 12, arrives with a country still recovering from a dramatic political shakeup that toppled Sheikh Hasina. That ouster came after a mass uprising and weeks of violence that unsettled cities and disrupted everyday life. Voters and political actors now face the test of whether institutions can manage a return to orderly politics. The schedule raises questions about security, turnout, and the credibility of…

Israel and Syria are farther from a diplomatic breakthrough than they look on the surface, and a former ambassador warns that a reliable peace between Damascus and Jerusalem could still be a long way off. The former ambassador’s observation lands on a basic point: the public talk about talks can mask deep, persistent disagreements that negotiations alone do not solve. On the ground, the mix of hostile actors and competing strategic interests keeps any quick fix out of reach. From a Republican point of view, that gap is not surprising and should shape how policymakers approach the region. First, security…

Space-focused research center and think tank launches to sharpen strategy, policy, and industry ties. Leaders from the Space Force Association have unveiled plans for a dedicated think tank and research center aimed at the complex challenges of the space domain. The new organization will focus on policy work, technology analysis, and fostering closer ties between operators, industry, and academia. Its stated objectives include producing timely research and shaping practical approaches to resilience and deterrence in space. Space Force Association leaders announced Thursday the creation of a space-focused think tank and research center. That announcement sets a clear signal that stakeholders…

President Trump has shifted decision-making to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over whether to release footage from a September 2, 2025, U.S. military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, and that deferral has intensified scrutiny from Congress and the public. The operation on September 2, 2025 targeted a vessel believed to be carrying drugs and presented a tough, real-world law enforcement moment at sea. What drew sustained attention was a follow-up attack on two survivors of the initial strike, a detail that has raised questions about rules of engagement and post-engagement choices. That second action is the core…

President Trump’s “Golden Dome” czar says he’s held “one-vs-one” talks with more than 300 private companies in recent months to hash out the secretive architecture of the The account from the White House aide reads like a business pitch and a policy brief rolled together. It shows an administration leaning on private sector expertise to design large projects faster and cut through government red tape. The tone is unapologetically results oriented, and supporters see it as a practical choice to get things built instead of getting bogged down in process. Critics will call for more scrutiny, but the supporters argue…

Federal judge ordered refunds to two pardoned January 6 defendants, returning $570 apiece after vacating convictions and triggering a political uproar that has conservatives both relieved and skeptical. Two people who entered the Capitol on January 6, 2021 — Christopher Price and Cynthia Ballenger — just won a narrow victory when a federal judge reversed course and directed refunds for restitution they paid after conviction. Each will get $570 back after their convictions were vacated, a result tied to their later pardons. The move has become a flashpoint for critics who see it as both legally sound and politically charged.…

The Trump administration is bringing back dozens of Education Department staffers who were slated to be laid off, saying their help is needed to tackle a mounting backlog of discrimination complaints. The move to rehire dozens of Education Department staff who were set to be let go is a sharp, practical pivot. Officials say those experienced employees are essential to address a mounting backlog of discrimination complaints clogging the system. For a department charged with enforcing civil rights in schools, timing and expertise matter more than ideological purity. Republicans favor decisions that restore capability and cut through red tape, and…

A blunt, plain look at where the party stands and the honest choices it faces as it tries to regain traction with voters. Critics say the Republican Party is stuck, and they point to poor messaging, infighting, and missed opportunities as proof. This article addresses those complaints directly and suggests how the party can rebuild credibility while holding fast to core principles. By every measure, the GOP is more useless than that raccoon that broke into an ABC store, got drunk, and passed out on the bathroom floor. That image lands with voters because it captures a sense of chaos…