Author: Kevin Parker

Americans have long remembered 1979 and the hostage crisis, and the idea of holding the Iranian regime accountable keeps resurfacing in politics and policy debates. The memory of dozens of Americans held hostage in 1979 still shapes how many see Iran today, and Ayatollah Khomeini’s chant of “death to America” became a defining statement for a brutal theocratic regime. That era set a pattern: repeated provocations, anti-American rhetoric, and a refusal to play by international norms. Over decades, presidents and voters have wrestled with how best to respond to a government that sponsors proxies, represses its people, and threatens regional…

A fast-moving synthetic opioid linked to overdoses has appeared in U.S. communities, prompting concern across multiple states and raising fresh challenges for detection, emergency response, and treatment. Health officials and toxicologists are tracking a synthetic opioid believed to have originated in China that is now showing up in overdose cases across the country. The substance is chemically manufactured and often discovered mixed with other opioids, which complicates identifying the cause of death or overdose. Reports list its presence in at least seven states, including New York, California, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Because synthetic opioids are created in labs rather…

New York City officials say they are probing reports that men may have brought improvised explosive devices to a protest outside the mayoral residence, and the police commissioner announced the matter is under investigation. New York City’s police commissioner said Monday that authorities are investigating whether men who brought improvised explosive devices to a protest outside New York City’s mayoral residence. The statement underlines how seriously the department is treating allegations tied to threats near an official residence. Officials are moving through the early stages of an inquiry while trying to keep details controlled to avoid inflaming tensions. The possibility…

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on public criticism of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign aimed at Iran, saying the mission was “on track” while stressing coordination and disciplined execution amid intense scrutiny. Pete Hegseth publicly addressed mounting criticism of Operation Epic Fury, insisting the campaign remains “on track” and under careful direction. He framed the effort as a joint U.S.-Israeli response aimed at degrading threats and protecting regional partners, and he was clear that operational discipline guides decisions. That line — that the mission is “on track” — was repeated to reassure supporters and belie alarmist narratives. Critics…

The debate over voter ID and the stalled SAVE America Act has become a central fight ahead of the midterms, with Republicans pushing for stronger rules and opponents warning of voter suppression. The SAVE America Act, which would require identification at the polling place and proof of citizenship in order to register, passed the House almost a month ago and now sits in the Senate. Republicans see this as common sense: legitimize ballots and restore confidence in elections. With the midterms approaching, the issue is getting louder and more urgent. From a Republican standpoint, securing the ballot box is not…

This piece argues that Washington is treating the current oil spike as strategic leverage, accepting short-term pain at the pump to tighten energy pressure on rivals and strengthen U.S. bargaining power ahead of a pivotal summit. Oil jumped to $108 a barrel and gas nudged past $3.45, and the usual alarms about 1970s-style disaster started ringing. Democrats are pointing to political danger — and that danger is real — but the facts suggest a different reading. Instead of scrambling to hide rising prices, the administration is shaping conditions where higher energy costs serve a purpose. Trump said it himself Sunday.…

Last week’s primary elections produced a wave of surprises: incumbents at both state and federal levels were pushed into runoffs or toppled by upstarts, and Democrats appeared particularly exposed as voters voiced clear displeasure with the status quo. Voters showed up with a message: they are done tolerating the same political playbook that delivered higher prices, open borders, and rising crime. Longstanding officeholders found themselves answering for policy outcomes rather than party loyalty, and that accountability translated into real consequences at the ballot box. Several entrenched Democrats faced tougher fights than expected, with some forced into costly runoffs and others…

Actor Andy Dick says he was clinically dead after an apparent December overdose and later described scan results he called multiple “holes” in his brain; the report and reactions have touched on his medical condition, past struggles, and public response. Actor and comedian Andy Dick said this week that he was clinically dead following an apparent overdose in December and that a subsequent scan showed what he described as multiple “holes” in That claim has landed in headlines because it is vivid and alarming, and because Andy Dick has a long, public history of substance problems and erratic behavior. People…

Corey Lewandowski is set to leave the Department of Homeland Security as the agency resets under new leadership, following Secretary Kristi Noem’s firing and questions about his influence and role. Corey Lewandowski has been operating as a powerful, unpaid special government employee inside DHS, and the White House now expects him to be out of power when Senator Markwayne Mullin steps in later this month. That transition follows a chaotic stretch where Lewandowski functioned like a de facto chief of staff without the usual accountability. Republicans leaning on management and results see this as a necessary course correction. The unusual…

The Senate failed to advance a Republican bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, leaving the agency in limbo as lawmakers trade leverage for policy fights and the threshold for approval remains locked behind the filibuster. The Senate voted 51-45 on the funding measure, falling short of the 60 votes required to move forward, and every Democrat opposed the bill except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. That split tells you where the parties stand: Republicans pushed a clean funding plan while Democrats used the process to press for policy changes. The result is a shutdown entering its fourth week…