Author: Karen Givens

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,…

Dana Williamson and others are accused of scheming to take roughly $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account tied to Xavier Becerra, raising hard questions about oversight, accountability, and how campaign funds are handled when campaigns go inactive. Dana Williamson and others allegedly conspired to steal around $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s dormant political campaign funds. That claim, whether true or not, lands squarely in the middle of how campaign money is tracked and who watches the books. The allegation alone demands clear answers about bookkeeping, authorizations, and who signed off on any transfers. Campaign accounts that go dormant do not…

Sen. John Fetterman broke with most Senate Democrats to end a 42-day federal shutdown, sparking sharp criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and a public defense from Fetterman that he acted to protect Pennsylvanians and federal workers. Sen. John Fetterman was one of eight Senate Democrats who voted to reopen the federal government after a 42-day shutdown. The move split his party and drew fierce public comment from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Conservatives and many Republicans framed Fetterman’s vote as the sensible choice to end needless harm to Americans. Democrats who wanted to keep the shutdown going saw it as political…

The Department of Transportation says flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will stay at 6 percent instead of increasing to 10 percent by the end of the week because more air traffic controllers are coming to work. Airlines and travelers can breathe a little easier after a last-minute change in staffing patterns at key airports. The planned jump from 6 percent to 10 percent in flight reductions has been paused, and the Department of Transportation confirmed the shift came as additional air traffic controllers reported for duty. That doesn’t erase disruption, but it does lower the immediate risk of…

This piece argues that a true America first policy must prioritize everyday Americans across jobs, security, and community, and challenges policies that trade citizens’ well being for abstract goals. You cannot put America first by putting Americans last. The phrase cuts straight to the point Republicans hear in towns across the country: policy should serve people, not paper promises. Voting decisions, budget fights, and trade deals must be measured by whether they make life better for families, workers, and small businesses. That means asking honest questions about who benefits from every law and regulation. Economic policy should be built around…

Pakistan’s prime minister has renewed a peace overture to Afghanistan’s Taliban government, making the offer about a week after talks between the two sides broke down in Istanbul. Pakistan’s move to reopen dialogue with the Taliban came after a recent round of negotiations failed to produce results in Istanbul. The Pakistani prime minister presented the offer on Wednesday, signaling a fresh push to stabilize a tense relationship along a porous border. That timing reflects both diplomatic patience and pressure to manage spillover risks. The collapse of the Istanbul talks left a gap that Islamabad appears intent on filling, but this…

Algeria ‘s president on Wednesday granted a humanitarian pardon to the French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, releasing him after a yearlong imprisonment that sparked widespread criticism. This move ends a punitive spell that drew attention from writers, rights groups, and international observers worried about free expression. The pardon raises questions about justice, political messaging, and whether mercy here masks deeper issues in state-society relations. The decision to free Boualem Sansal by way of a humanitarian pardon looks like an attempt to ease pressure without confronting the root causes of his detention. From a Republican viewpoint, this outcome highlights a tension between…

Three Bob Ross paintings sold at auction on Tuesday for more than $600,000, marking the first group of 30 works being offered to benefit a public television station. The auctioned pieces came from the collection of Bob Ross, the public television painter known for calm narration and quick landscapes. Collectors and fans showed strong interest, pushing the hammer price above six hundred thousand dollars for the trio. These sales opened a larger campaign to offer a total of thirty Ross works to support the station’s mission. Bob Ross has become an unlikely pop-culture icon whose work draws both nostalgic fans…

Indivisible is planning its biggest primary push yet after Senate Democrats agreed to end the shutdown, and Republicans see this as proof that Democrats chose short-term stability over long-term responsibility. Washington just witnessed another coalition shift that will reshape primaries and messaging for the next election cycle. Political operatives are already recalibrating strategies after leaders in the Senate accepted a deal to end the government shutdown without renewing certain provisions, and grassroots groups responded fast. That reaction has clear implications for both party discipline and voter turnout in battleground states. On the left, activism groups moved quickly. The liberal campaign…