Author: Karen Givens

Representative Smith’s decision to approve those subpoenas ignored the clearly established rights of congressional Republicans and set off legal and institutional alarms about fairness, precedent, and the balance of oversight in Washington. Smith never should have approved the subpoenas since they violated the congressional Republicans’ clearly established rights. That single move has become a flashpoint for concerns about how the majority treats minority participation in oversight. Republicans see this not as a procedural slip but as a pattern that undermines basic expectations of fairness in Congress. The constitutional foundation for congressional rights is longstanding and not negotiable because one party…

House Speaker Mike Johnson made a direct play to boost Republican Mat Van Epps by calling voters and encouraging support in a race where every turnout push matters. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to personally call voters on Monday to rally support for Mat Van Epps is a clear, hands-on move from national GOP leadership. It shows the party is treating this contest as strategically important and willing to invest high-profile time and effort. For Republicans, a phone call from the Speaker is both a signal and a boost that can mobilize donors, volunteers, and local activists. From a Republican…

A new documentary and newly surfaced documents claim top California officials failed to act during a deadly wildfire, and footage plus legal discovery are fueling the controversy. The film in question is titled Paradise Abandoned and it accuses Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of inaction during a major fire that consumed parts of the Pacific Palisades. A preview of the documentary is available as an embedded video inside this article, and the story has picked up steam after independent reporting and documents surfaced. The debate now centers on whether political decisions and operational choices left neighborhoods…

College football fever meets institutional reality in the Lane Kiffin episode, showing how personal ambition collides with public duty and why organizations, from universities to government, respond when loyalties shift. Fans of the SEC know “It Just Means More” isn’t just a slogan; it’s how football becomes identity in the South. The Lane Kiffin situation captured that intensity because it combined high stakes, big money, and public emotion. That mix makes every move look personal, even when it’s a business decision. Kiffin’s jump for a raise and a new seat isn’t shocking in itself; people take better jobs all the…

In late October, the House Oversight Committee urged the Justice Department to investigate executive actions taken by President Joe Biden’s (D) administration, stating that some orders were issued without his explicit approval, and the report alleged some of Biden’s aides may have used the autopen to sign off on some of the actions without him knowing about it. The timing of the committee’s request landed in late October and instantly raised questions about how executive power is being exercised and documented. Republicans on the committee argued this was not just a paperwork problem but a governance problem that touches on…

The Metropolitan Police Department is enforcing temporary juvenile curfew zones in the U Street Corridor and at Navy Yard this weekend to prevent youth rowdiness, with extra patrols and targeted enforcement meant to reduce disruptive behavior and keep public spaces safer for nearby residents and visitors. The Metropolitan Police Department is enforcing temporary juvenile curfew zones in the U Street Corridor and at Navy Yard this weekend to prevent youth rowdiness. Officers will be visible in those specific areas, focusing on deterring large groups and interventions when needed. Community members can expect a heightened police presence during the designated period.…

The Obamas shared a warm family Thanksgiving photo on Instagram, drawing fresh attention after months of public speculation about their marriage. Former first couple Barack and Michelle Obama posted a happy-looking family Thanksgiving photo in a joint Instagram post on Thursday, following months of divorce rumors based on the couple being across the country from each other and some cryptic comments by Michelle at times. The picture shows the four of them close together, with Michelle and Barack each embracing members of the family and all of them smiling for the camera. The daughters look fashion-forward while the parents favor…

Three elderly nuns in Austria left a care home to return to their longtime convent and have clashed with the provost after he demanded they leave social media. A small group of senior sisters made a quiet but determined move from a care facility back to the convent where they spent most of their lives. They say the convent is where they feel most at home, and they acted to reclaim that familiar environment. Their return quickly became a flashpoint because the provost set a condition tied to their online activity. The provost’s demand that the women stop using social…

President Trump announced Friday that he has “terminated” all executive orders and other documents signed by autopen under President Biden and threatened to charge his predecessor with perju. President Trump made the announcement on Friday, declaring that every executive order and related document signed by autopen during the Biden administration is voided, using the word “terminated” to describe the action. The statement also included a threat to pursue charges against his predecessor, saying he would charge him with perju. The declaration landed squarely in the center of a growing dispute over presidential authority and the mechanics of the transfer of…

Paris’ Louvre will raise the price for non-European visitors from 22 to 32 euros ($25 to 37) starting in January to help fund an overhaul after the building’s degradation was exposed. The Louvre in Paris has approved a ticket increase for non-European visitors, moving admission from 22 to 32 euros. Officials say the change takes effect in January and is intended to support a major overhaul of the aging complex. The museum is one of the world’s busiest, so even modest increases can add up quickly. The stated purpose of the rise is straightforward: generate revenue to repair and renovate…