Author: Karen Givens

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…

A missile strike hit a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad and debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates, deepening a dangerous cycle of attacks and counterattacks across the region. The incidents underline how Iran’s proxy networks and drone capabilities are exporting instability, complicating U.S. efforts to protect personnel and partners. The response now needs muscle and clarity to stop escalation and deter future strikes. The immediate picture is stark: American personnel and regional partners face escalating threats from Iranian-backed forces and Tehran’s own drone and missile arsenal. Local commanders…

Parents say a school policy is being used to quiet critics who worry about a private school’s theological direction, sparking concerns about free speech, religious liberty, and parental rights. Parents around the private school have spoken up, saying the new policy feels like a gag. They argue it targets people raising questions about the school’s theological choices and community standards. Those parents see the rule as a deliberate way to shut down debate rather than address concerns. The central complaint is simple: when a private institution sets rules that chill criticism, it undermines accountability. Families want a place where they…

Thursday’s violent incidents underscore a tough truth: immigration policy touches public safety, legal limits, and community cohesion all at once, and any realistic response has to face that complexity head-on. “Thursday’s attacks are just the latest reminder that good immigration policy isn’t simple a matter of legality.” That sentence lands hard because it forces a bigger question: what do we expect government to do when law intersects with safety? Conservatives see this as a test of whether policy protects citizens first, rather than treating law as an abstract idea detached from real consequences. First, borders matter. A secure border reduces…

A large explosion struck an area of Iran’s capital during a state-organized rally where thousands had gathered to support the Palestinians and call for Israel’s demise. An explosion rocked a section of Tehran during an annual, state-organized demonstration that draws large crowds every year. Thousands were on site Friday for a march supporting the Palestinians and denouncing Israel when the blast occurred, creating immediate panic and confusion among participants. The rally is a familiar spectacle, staged by the government to showcase its stance against Israel and to rally domestic support around foreign-policy postures. State-organized events like this are carefully choreographed,…

An American military refueling plane went down in Iraq and rescue efforts were underway, U.S. Central Command said Thursday. The report that an American military refueling plane went down in Iraq and rescue efforts were underway came from U.S. Central Command said Thursday. Military officials confirmed search-and-rescue activity shortly after the aircraft was reported missing. Local authorities and coalition partners were notified as crews moved to the scene. Rescue teams often combine air and ground assets when responding to incidents of this kind, and witnesses described seeing multiple support aircraft in the area. Emergency responders worked to establish secure perimeters…

President Trump said Thursday there is an upside to rising oil prices as a result of the war against Iran — the U.S. will make money as a major producer. Energy markets have reacted sharply to tensions in the Middle East, and that reaction is reshaping conversations at home. Prices are higher, traders are nervous, and Americans are paying attention to who controls supply. The U.S. sits in a different position than it did a decade ago, and that matters. President Trump said Thursday there is an upside to rising oil prices as a result of the war against Iran…