Author: Karen Givens

The latest lava fountaining episode of an erupting Hawaii volcano reached 1,000 feet (300 meters) high Tuesday, prompting temporary closures at a national park and part of an important highway. The volcano produced a dramatic lava fountain that shot molten rock and incandescent material up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the air Tuesday. That display of eruptive energy led authorities to close sections of a national park and an adjacent stretch of highway as a precaution. Officials acted quickly to limit exposure to falling debris and airborne hazards. Park rangers and transportation crews coordinated the temporary closures to keep…

Schools are the frontline where free speech, religious liberty, and cultural priorities collide, and debates over curricula, DEI, and classroom instruction are forcing parents, teachers, and policymakers to pick sides. Classroom content has become a political battleground, with many parents and communities pushing back against what they see as ideological instruction disguised as education. Republican-leaning voices argue that schools should teach core skills, not social engineering, and that students’ religious beliefs deserve equal protection. This tension shows up in fights over critical race theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, and curriculum choices related to marriage and family. Free speech in…

Sen. John Kennedy squared off with Cato Institute scholar David Bier in a tense hearing, and the exchange showed both Kennedy’s knack for blunt pressure and Bier’s readiness to push back with prepared arguments. Sen. John Kennedy has made a career out of embarrassing witnesses in congressional hearings, but he met his match Tuesday with Cato Institute scholar David Bier, who came ready for combat. The two traded barbs and facts in a hearing that highlighted a broader clash between cautious national security instincts and a libertarian push for looser rules. Voters watching saw a classic debate over how to…

Health officials in Washington state and federal regulators are warning consumers to avoid certain raw oysters tied to a norovirus outbreak that has sickened people in Washington and prompted recalls. State and federal health authorities have issued warnings after a cluster of norovirus illnesses was linked to consumption of raw oysters. Officials say the implicated oysters are associated with recent recalls and should not be eaten raw. The advisory aims to prevent further infections while investigations continue. Retailers and restaurants have been urged to remove suspect products from sale immediately. Norovirus spreads easily and often turns up in shellfish harvested…

After a sharp political reversal 20 months ago that ended in demoralizing losses to a 79-year-old President Trump, the Democratic Party is scrambling to answer its identity and strategy questions while Republicans look to turn that disarray into durable gains. The collapse that began 20 months ago still shapes the political terrain. Democrats who once seemed confident are now debating basics like message, leadership, and whether their coalition can hold. That uncertainty opens space for a clear, conservative case focused on results and accountability. The immediate fallout is obvious in how Democrats talk about elections and power. Local and state…

The situation in Iran has become a test of American clarity and will, exposing a gap between force on the map and a plan on paper; this piece argues for clear objectives, accountable leadership, and a strategy that protects American lives and interests while deterring further aggression. “We’re more than a week into the Iran war and yet we have no clear or consistent objectives, no theory of victory.” That sentence captures the immediate problem: tactics without a plan leave our troops vulnerable and our international standing frayed. From a Republican perspective, strength without clarity is wasteful and dangerous. Voters…

This piece explains the placement of a plaque on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol honoring the officers who defended the building on January 6, 2021, the legislative and legal detours that delayed it, and the continuing disputes over whether that installation satisfies the 2022 law and pending litigation. Staffers from the Architect of the Capitol installed a plaque on the Senate side over the weekend honoring U.S. Capitol Police, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, and other law enforcement who defended the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 riot. The action followed a Senate resolution that cleared the way for…

President Trump said Sunday he won’t sign any more legislation until Congress passes the SAVE Act, the federal voter-ID bill he’s been pushing. President Trump said Sunday he won’t sign any more legislation until Congress passes the SAVE Act, the federal voter-ID bill he’s been pushing. That announcement turns a routine hill for negotiation into a clear, public stake in the ground from the White House. It makes the SAVE Act the leverage point for any further deals on spending, policy, or must-pass bills. The SAVE Act is a federal voter-ID proposal aimed at standardizing identification requirements in federal elections,…

The New York Police Department said officers arrested six people Saturday after protesters and counter-protesters clashed outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home, an episode that underscores growing concerns about public safety, the limits of tolerance for street confrontations, and the political fallout that follows when demonstrations turn confrontational. The incident on Saturday left neighbors shaken and city officials answering tough questions about how to keep public life peaceful while protecting free speech. When protesters and counter-protesters met near the mayor’s residence, tensions quickly escalated and the New York Police Department stepped in, ultimately making six arrests. That intervention stopped the immediate…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement now operates in Minnesota with just 47 deportation officers, concentrating their work on arrests inside prisons and jails while broader interior enforcement has been scaled back. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has trimmed its deployment in Minnesota to 47 deportation officers, and those officers are primarily making arrests of deportation targets inside correctional facilities. That narrower focus means agents are spending most of their time handling cases tied to jails and prisons rather than conducting broader community enforcement. For residents and local officials, the change is noticeable and raises questions about priorities and public safety.…