Author: Karen Givens

Hollywood’s 98th Academy Awards turned into a political performance where jokes and speeches leaned heavy on partisan digs, leaving many viewers feeling lectured rather than entertained. The show opened with a monologue that set a snarky tone instead of a celebratory one for cinema. Conan O’Brien delivered a line that landed as both a joke and a jab: “Last year when I hosted, Los Angeles was on fire. But this year, everything is going great,” a sarcastic shot about the war in Iran. That choice signaled the evening would blend film tribute with pointed political commentary. The awards kept slipping…

The U.S. sled hockey team beat Canada on Sunday to claim its fifth straight Winter Paralympics gold, reinforcing a streak of dominance and sparking fresh conversation about depth, preparation, and the sport’s rising profile. American sled hockey added another chapter to a run that now stretches to five consecutive Paralympic titles, with the latest win coming over Canada this past weekend. The result continued a pattern of consistent excellence that few programs enjoy in any discipline. Fans on both sides of the border felt the weight of the rivalry, and the game delivered both intensity and a reminder of how…

An Israeli airstrike struck a Tehran compound the Israel Defense Forces said was being used to develop weapons aimed at threatening Israeli satellites and the space assets of other countries, a move that raises the stakes for space security, regional escalation, and how democracies respond to hostile state programs. The Israel Defense Forces reported the strike Monday, describing the target as a facility tied to efforts against satellites and space systems. That kind of operation is not just a tactical strike, it is a direct response to a strategic threat aimed at crippling vital communications and navigation tools. This event…

The filibuster debate is back: with President Donald Trump and some Senate Republicans weighing the idea of eliminating the legislative filibuster before the November midterms, conservatives face a choice between preserving Senate traditions that protect minority rights or embracing majoritarian tactics that could reshape governance for good or ill. Is the filibuster just an archaic holdover of times past? That exact question has been raised as President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans consider killing the legislative filibuster before the November midterm elections, and it’s worth asking what purpose the rule once served and whether it still matters today. The filibuster…

Federal prosecutors say a drug-addicted South Carolina couple is being sent to federal prison after they stole an intellectually disabled man’s phone and threatened his family members. The case shows how addiction can fuel crimes that target people who are already vulnerable. Prosecutors pursued federal charges that reflect both the theft and the pattern of intimidation aimed at the victim’s relatives. The federal involvement signals the severity of the conduct and a prioritization of protecting disabled individuals. The reported theft of the phone created more than a property loss; it gave the defendants access to private information and a way…

The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security entered month two on Saturday, March 14, leaving thousands of employees in uncertainty while a partisan funding standoff keeps key operations strained. The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security entered month two on Saturday, March 14, and there is still no clear end in sight. Lawmakers from both parties are standing firm, which leaves essential DHS work in limbo. For thousands of department employees, the gridlock is more than politics; it is real stress and interrupted paychecks. Border security operations have been thrust into the spotlight as House Republicans…

Ric Grenell will leave his post at the Kennedy Center as the facility shifts from programming to a full-scale reconstruction, with Matt Floca stepping in to oversee the two-year closure and rebuilding effort announced by President Trump. The change was framed by the administration as a practical handoff from a diplomatic leader to a facilities specialist now that the work will be mostly construction. President Trump announced the transition on Truth Social and set a clear timeline: a shutdown after the July 4th celebration and a grand reopening targeted for 2028. Materials are expected to start arriving the week the…

A frank, plainspoken look at America’s use of force, the political debate it sparks, and what conservatives should demand from their leaders when the military is sent abroad. The past few years have turned foreign policy into front-page politics, and that’s by design. From intense operations directed at hostile regimes to precision strikes that reshape local balances of power, the United States has proven its capacity to act. Conservatives cheer a strong posture but also expect prudence, clear goals, and care for the men and women who execute orders. The debate now is not whether America can act but whether…

Sara Jacobs has poured more than $200,000 of family money into her boyfriend Ammar Campa-Najjar’s repeated bids for office, yet his string of losses, shifting positions, and unpaid bills keep raising questions about money, judgment, and influence in Democratic politics. Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs, heir to Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, has repeatedly backed Ammar Campa-Najjar with substantial family donations even as he keeps losing races. He has run for multiple offices, including eastern San Diego in 2018 and a Chula Vista mayoral race in 2022, without ever winning. The pattern looks less like momentum and more like a well-funded hobby…

Michael Cohen is back in President Trump’s corner, defending him against unsubstantiated claims that he is implicated in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Cohen says the allegations lack evidence and insists the record does not support a link between Mr. Trump and Epstein’s criminal conduct. Michael Cohen, once a fierce critic and legal adversary of Donald Trump, now publicly rejects fresh reports suggesting the president had a role in Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network. Cohen’s shift is striking because it comes from someone who has been willing to speak out against Mr. Trump in the past. He frames the new claims as unproven…