Author: Karen Givens

The Supreme Court, in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on February 20, issued a 6-3 decision rejecting President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing that the IEEPA “cannot bear such weight”. The Court’s ruling cuts to the core of executive power over trade and national security. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion in a 6-3 split, a clear signal that the majority found the statutory basis for those tariffs insufficient. That line, “cannot bear such weight”, will be quoted repeatedly in the legal debates that follow. IEEPA…

Sheriff’s deputies in California arrested a man on a vehicular manslaughter charge after he drove through flooded waters with a passenger who later died, and authorities are investigating the driving decisions and circumstances that led to the fatal outcome. Local law enforcement says deputies took the driver into custody after emergency responders linked the vehicle’s route through rising water to the passenger’s death. The arrest narrows the immediate focus to whether the driver’s choices met the legal threshold for vehicular manslaughter. Officials are collecting facts while the case moves through the criminal justice system. Flooded roadways create sudden hazards that…

The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s use of an emergency economics law to impose tariffs in Learning Resources, Inc., et al v. Trump, but that decision does not eliminate other legal or political routes for pursuing trade measures. The high court’s decision in Learning Resources, Inc., et al v. Trump drew a clear line around one method of imposing tariffs, and it will change the playbook for anyone in the White House who wants to act quickly on trade. Conservatives who favor robust border and trade enforcement see the ruling as a challenge, not a full stop. The question now…

If you’re looking for a Cinderella story in the Texas GOP Senate race, retired Lt. Col. Allen West thinks former Apache helicopter pilot Wesley Hunt might just be it. Allen West has put his weight behind Wesley Hunt in a race that’s drawing national attention, and his endorsement carries clear political signals. West’s support frames Hunt as a candidate who blends military service and conservative principles, which resonates with base voters. That combination is the Republican playbook in Texas politics: strong national defense, fiscal restraint, and a clear cultural message. Wesley Hunt’s military background is central to how supporters describe…

The United States and Iran held their second round of nuclear weapons talks on Feb. 17, and the session produced some early, limited signals of progress amid deep skepticism about Tehran’s intentions. Washington and Tehran met again for nuclear weapons talks on Feb. 17, a follow-up to an already cautious first meeting. Reports say the second round was short but offered a few tentative positives, mostly procedural and aimed at reducing immediate confusion. In diplomacy, those first moves are often about setting a clearer baseline for what each side actually wants. When adversaries meet to reach common ground, the first…

Melania Trump’s recent box office draw has turned a simple entertainment payday into a political punching bag, and that clash says more about our media and political theater than about the woman herself. Melania makes bank at the box office and the reaction from political circles was predictable: some actors rushed in to make a point. Instead of treating it like a business success, too many commentators turned it into a referendum on politics and personality. That shift matters because it changes how Americans see private enterprise when public life is involved. From a Republican standpoint, there is nothing wrong…

Many Virginians are pointing to what looks like a weak institutional Republican response to the recent referendum, noting gaps between party structures and the energy of voters and local volunteers. Across the state, activists and rank-and-file Republicans say they expected a stronger, coordinated push from party leadership when the referendum came up. They describe dedicated volunteers, energized precinct captains and well-attended local meetings that weren’t matched by the kinds of centralized resources you usually see for high-stakes votes. That mismatch has left some voters wondering whether official channels are prioritizing the outcome or assuming victory without the necessary groundwork. Local…

The federal government has moved to challenge a judge’s order about a Philadelphia display tied to George Washington’s household, and the legal fight now centers on how history is presented at a federal historic site. The Trump administration will appeal a federal judge’s order to restore a Philadelphia exhibit on the nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home on Independence Mall. That move puts a national spotlight on who gets to decide what is shown at federally affiliated sites and how sensitive chapters of American history are interpreted for the public. The appeal signals that the executive…

Investigators continue to probe leads and physical traces in the case of Nancy Guthrie, working methodically through forensic material, reported ransom communications and purchase records as the inquiry moves into its third week. As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s likely abduction enters its third week, officials say they are examining forensic evidence, reported ransom communications and possible purchase records. Those three investigative lanes now form the backbone of the inquiry and will shape both short-term search tactics and longer legal steps. Local and federal teams are coordinating to keep evidence intact and avoid mistakes that could slow progress. Search and…

This piece looks at Adam Kinzinger’s nonstop speaking circuit, who he’s speaking to, and what it suggests about his post-congressional career and political posture. Adam Kinzinger appears to be on tour. We write “appears” because the Never Trump former Republican congressman never seems to actually get off the speaking circuit. In recent months, the Kinzinger road show has included feature billing as part of a pricey multi-state “speaker series” aimed at affluent progressives willing to pay top dollar to hear him. That pattern is hard to ignore when you track where he shows up and who fills the seats. His…