Author: Karen Givens

Many people woke up Tuesday morning and found social media, video games and news sites returning error messages, an outage that left a large slice of the web temporarily unreachable and highlighted how dependent the internet is on a few central services. When users across the globe tried to check feeds, jump into online matches or read the morning headlines, they were met with error pages instead of content. The interruption affected a wide variety of services, not just one app or site, so it felt like the internet itself hiccupped. For millions, a routine online session became a reminder…

Republicans control the levers of power but voters see little movement, and that disconnect is creating frustration and opening the door to serious political and policy consequences. Republicans have a majority and are doing nothing with it, and that fact is the starting point for any realistic conversation about where the party goes next. Voters who expected action on spending, the border, and regulation are watching a stalled agenda and growing impatient. This piece looks at how stagnation happened, what it costs the party, and where pressure is likely to come from next. Control without results chips away at credibility.…

President Trump addressed a gathering of McDonald’s restaurant owners, praising his administration for lowering prices and revisiting a standout moment from his 2024 campaign. President Trump spent time with McDonald’s restaurant owners explaining how his policies helped ease price pressures that had burdened families. He pointed to broad economic moves that, from his view, nudged costs down across key categories. The tone was confident and aimed at a business-focused crowd who live the day-to-day effects of price swings. He emphasized that energy policies, regulatory rollbacks, and a stronger supply chain translated into cheaper inputs for restaurants and retailers. Those are…

The Dubai Air Show kicked off on Monday with Emirates placing an order for 65 of Boeing’s upcoming 777-9 jets, underscoring the airline’s push to expand its fleet following a period of record earnings and renewed global demand for long-haul travel. The biennial Dubai Air Show opened on Monday, and the big headline was an Emirates commitment for 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft. The move reinforces Emirates’ status as a launch partner for large widebody programs and signals confidence in returning long-haul demand. Industry watchers are parsing how this purchase will reshape Emirates’ network planning and capacity over the next decade.…

House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling the effort to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein files a partisan maneuver aimed at damaging former President Trump, framing the move as political theater rather than a search for justice. House Speaker Mike Johnson argues the push to unseal the Epstein files is driven by politics, not a neutral desire for transparency. He sees the timing and the actors involved as part of a coordinated effort to target President Trump. Johnson’s comments reflect a broader Republican concern about selective disclosure and politically motivated investigations. On the House floor and in media interviews, Johnson…

Federal officials confirmed that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city had begun as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations Saturday. Federal agents carried out a coordinated enforcement action in North Carolina’s largest city over the weekend, and the operation was visible across several neighborhoods. Witnesses reported arrests at multiple locations Saturday, and agency confirmation made clear the activity was intentional and organized. The enforcement drive reflects a federal decision to act where it sees noncompliance with immigration laws. This operation underscores the basic principle that borders and immigration laws matter for public safety and…

President Trump said he will ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an inquiry into alleged ties between Jeffrey Epstein and prominent Democrats after additional Epstein-related emails surfaced this week that mentioned the president. President Trump announced his intention to ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate connections between Jeffrey Epstein and Democratic figures, citing newly surfaced emails as the catalyst for action. The claim centers on messages that this week reportedly referenced the president, and Trump framed the request as a matter of accountability. His statement pushed the story back into the spotlight and forced a fresh look at…

A longtime prosecutor announced he will take over the Georgia election interference case against President Trump and others after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case. The news that a longtime prosecutor has stepped in to take over the Georgia election interference case comes at a tense moment for a case already loaded with political heat. With Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis removed, this handoff is more than routine — it reshuffles who will make charging and tactical decisions going forward. The move will be watched closely by both supporters of the former president and…

A man armed with a handgun was shot and killed by police in New York City after he allegedly aimed the weapon at a passenger in an apartment building elevator, threatened a deli worker, and warned he would “shoot up a hospital.” The incident unfolded inside a residential building where witnesses say the suspect pointed a gun at another man while riding an elevator. After that encounter, the same individual confronted a deli employee and made a threat to attack a nearby hospital, creating alarm in the neighborhood. Those actions prompted a rapid police response that ended in a fatal…

This piece argues that the current political shorthand around “affordability” misses the deeper problem of persistent inflation, traces how both parties are using the term, and pushes for a clear Republican focus on defeating rising prices rather than rebranding the pain. It notes President Trump’s recent use of the phrase in private talks with CEOs and highlights a CEO’s account of that conversation, while contrasting Democratic pitches like “affordability proposals” with the need to confront inflation directly. The article also cites J.D. Vance’s commentary and critiques the idea that tariffs or messaging alone will solve the core economic challenge. Finally,…