Author: Karen Givens

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…

Attorney General Pam Bondi pushed Abigail Slater out of the Justice Department’s antitrust post after a pattern of insubordination, misleading claims about intelligence input, and the repeated use of Vice President JD Vance’s name as a shield. Pam Bondi removed Abigail Slater from the antitrust division amid a string of clashes that made the office untenable. Those clashes involved a high-stakes merger fight, disputed intelligence briefings, and direct defiance of supervisory orders. The story shows how quickly privilege and political connections can evaporate when trust breaks down. The flashpoint was a $14 billion merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper…

The voters have spoken: the baby female Asian elephant at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be called Linh Mai, zoo officials announced Friday. The announcement that the National Zoo’s newest calf is named Linh Mai landed quickly and clearly. Fans, visitors and supporters followed the naming process closely, and the zoo confirmed the choice on Friday. That public involvement turned a simple naming into a community event people felt part of. The moment underscored how a single name can connect a zoo to a wider audience. Naming contests at zoos are more than window dressing; they invite real participation. Museums…

A whistleblower complaint about an intercepted foreign call mentioning Jared Kushner was filed, quickly judged not credible by inspectors, then kept under wraps for months before resurfacing and fueling a politically charged narrative. An intercepted phone call between two foreign nationals that discussed Iran — and included allegations about Jared Kushner — sits at the center of a whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The complaint, filed last May, accused Gabbard of restricting access to the call for political reasons and was administratively closed within weeks after being deemed not credible. The highly classified nature of the…

Jeanine Pirro has filed a $250,000 slip-and-fall suit against the City of Rye and Con Edison after tripping over a piece of plywood embedded in gravel on a local road, alleging serious injuries and ongoing pain related to the August 28 incident. The fall happened on August 28 on Boston Post Road in Rye, about a mile from Pirro’s five-bedroom home in Westchester County. Police reports say the 74-year-old looked both ways before crossing and then went down hard on the roadway. That single misstep set in motion a negligence claim against both the municipality and a utility company. “Next…

Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. has initiated a recall of one lot of farm-raised Atlantic salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores across seven states after FDA sampling detected potential listeria contamination. Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. is recalling one lot of farm-raised Atlantic salmon that was sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores across seven states following FDA sampling that detected potential listeria contamination. The recall applies to a single production lot, and the company has identified the affected product through routine testing and inventory records. Retailers and health officials are monitoring the situation while additional testing and tracebacks continue.…

President Trump publicly threw his support behind Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, endorsing him for reelection while noting Orban is a personal friend and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The endorsement has stirred debate across Europe and the United States, touching on ideology, geopolitics, and pragmatic alliance-building. It puts a spotlight on how conservative leaders align on sovereignty and security even when those ties complicate relations with NATO partners. Viktor Orban has become a defining figure of modern European conservatism, known for pushing strict immigration controls, defending national sovereignty, and challenging Brussels on cultural and economic issues.…