Author: Karen Givens

Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.

This piece examines a court challenge aimed at taking over the president’s White House renovation project, looks at who brought the case, the legal and political arguments being used, and why this fight matters for public accountability and presidential prerogative. It didn’t take long for someone to go to court and attempt to seize control of the president’s White House renovation project. That quick legal move set the tone: this will be a courtroom battle as much as a political one. From a Republican perspective, the rush to the courthouse looks like an attempt to undermine executive authority and inject…

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Thousands of pilgrims gathered Sunday in Romania’s capital for the consecration of religious paintings inside the world’s largest Christian Orthodox church, marking the public opening of a building completed after 15 years of work. The ceremony focused on the newly finished interior art, drawing crowds and attention for both its scale and spiritual purpose. The moment blended devotion, craftsmanship and a sense of long-awaited completion. The structure has been a long-term project that reached a major milestone with the unveiling of its interior paintings. After 15 years, the church’s decorative program reached completion enough to allow a formal consecration of…

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The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, his family, and key officials, accusing his administration of failing to control record cocaine production and allowing cartels to flourish, while tensions over US strikes on smuggling boats and broader security cooperation have pushed a once-close partnership toward open confrontation. The move is sharp and deliberate: Washington says cocaine output has surged since Petro took office and that this surge is flooding American streets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said production has “exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.” Those are heavy words,…

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President Trump has publicly warned Hamas that he will be watching their actions closely in the coming days, pressing for the return of more bodies tied to his proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The focus is on accountability and immediate humanitarian steps while the political and security pieces move into place. “President Trump said he’s watching Hamas over the next few days as he calls for them to release more bodies of hostages as part of his ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.” That sentence lays out the core point: a watchful timeline, a demand for tangible action, and…

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This article examines allegations that court-ordered community service tied to Jay Jones may have been used for political advantage, and it lays out the implications for accountability, transparency, and public trust. It looks at how service hours can be diverted into partisan activity, why that matters to voters and taxpayers, and what questions should be asked about oversight and enforcement. The piece keeps a Republican perspective, stressing fairness and responsibility in public life. It looks like much of Jay Jones’ court-mandated community service hours were spent advancing his and Democrats’ political interests. That sentence captures the core allegation and must…

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Comey retained another former leak recipient as an attorney, raising the question: Is there anyone on his defense team he wasn’t leaking to? This development looks like another knot in a pattern that conservatives have been pointing out for years: close ties between a former FBI director and a network of leaks, lawyers and friendly media. The move demands tougher questions about judgment, privilege and national security risks tied to close circles that trade information among themselves. At face value, hiring a lawyer who previously received leaked information from you is at least eyebrow-raising. From a Republican perspective, it suggests…

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The Department of Defense has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier and an accompanying strike group to the Caribbean to intercept suspected drug-smuggling vessels, marking a clear escalation in the Trump administration’s push to disrupt transnational trafficking networks and protect America’s southern approaches. Sending a carrier strike group into the Caribbean is a loud, visible statement that the United States takes drug interdiction seriously. This move expands naval presence where smugglers operate and supports partners who need help disrupting shipments before they reach our shores. Using the Navy to pressure drug routes is smart, practical deterrence. The carrier provides…

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This article examines a recent Wisconsin move to strip a tax exemption from the CCB and similar groups, explains the broader implications for religious and secular organizations across the state, and lays out the legal and practical consequences from a conservative perspective. Wisconsin is seeking to deny a tax exemption not only to the CCB, but to all such religious and nonreligious organizations across the state. That single decision raises questions about property rights, precedent, and how government treats institutions that serve communities without asking for permission first. For conservatives who prize limited government, it looks like unnecessary interference with…

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President Donald Trump approved major disaster declarations for Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe late Wednesday, while denying requests from Vermont, Illinois and Maryland and leaving other states still waiting for answers. This move sends federal help to places that met the threshold for assistance and denies requests that, at least for now, did not. The decisions show the administration moving fast on clear-cut cases while sticking to criteria where evidence or need was less convincing. A major disaster declaration unlocks federal resources, allowing FEMA to coordinate funds, supplies and technical support for recovery. That…

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Austin Farm Fiasco Shows Why Rhetoric Matters The incident at the Austin farm forced a clear lesson into the open: words matter and they have consequences. When political leaders and cultural influencers normalize contempt, it makes it easier for people to justify harmful actions against their neighbors. Language that strips people of dignity does not stay abstract; it steers social norms and lowers the bar for violence. The left’s rhetoric too often treats opponents as less than human, and that pattern shows up in threats, harassment, and property attacks. Our laws rely on shared respect for private property and for…

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