Author: Kevin Parker

Iran’s latest political shakeup has pushed scheduled peace talks into limbo as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserts control, sidelining Iran’s civilian leaders and complicating any diplomatic path forward. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has stepped forward inside Iran, exerting influence that undercuts the authority of civilian officials and throws planned negotiations into doubt. That shift has real consequences for regional stability, because commanders answer to different priorities than Tehran’s technocrats. Observers see a clear reallocation of power toward hardliners who prefer coercion over compromise. Diplomatic contacts that were supposed to open a window for de-escalation are now stalled, with…

FBI Director Kash Patel publicly denied a media claim that he was drunk on the job, angrily pushing back at reporters and insisting his conduct has been professional and sober. FBI Director Kash Patel confronted reporters Tuesday after a story alleged he had been intoxicated while working, and he did not hold back. He disputed the report forcefully, portraying it as a smear that threatens both his reputation and the integrity of the agency. His response was sharp and pointed, leaving little doubt that he views the item as outright false. Patel made a direct denial on the record, and…

Justice Elena Kagan is widely seen as a strategic, analytical presence on the Supreme Court, but a recent report and a new book accuse her of treating law clerks in a way described as “emotionally abusive,” raising questions about court culture and leadership. Elena Kagan’s reputation on the bench is one of sharp intellect and careful coalition building, yet those same strengths can have a hard edge behind closed doors. A recent report and Federalist Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway’s new book, Alito: The Justice Who […] bring forward accounts that paint a different picture of her interactions with clerks. The phrase…

Taiwan’s president called off a scheduled Africa trip after three countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories, a move his office said came under pressure from China and forced the cancellation. The abrupt change to the itinerary highlights the daily reality for Taiwan: diplomatic space is shrinking under sustained pressure from Beijing. Taiwan’s president canceled a planned visit to Africa this week after three countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories, under pressure from China, his office said Tuesday. That sentence from the office captures both the factual chain and the diplomatic bluntness of…

Airlines for America expects 171 million passengers to travel to spring break destinations between March 1 and April 30, 2026, averaging a record 2.8 million flyers per day, and the travel system is bracing for heavy crowds, stretched staffing, and shifting logistics. Spring break travel in 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest periods on record thanks to that 171 million passenger forecast and the 2.8 million daily average. Airports, airlines, and ground transportation networks are already planning to handle packed terminals and fuller flights. Travelers should expect busy security lines, crowded gate areas, and higher demand…

Thousands of survivors of the 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, have accepted an upfront settlement from the utility accused of causing the blaze, trading the possibility of larger jury awards for quicker, guaranteed payments and a faster path to rebuilding. The decision by so many to take the immediate settlement reflects a pragmatic choice in the face of destroyed homes, lost possessions, and ongoing expenses. For many households, waiting through years of litigation is not an option when temporary housing, debris removal, and basic needs are urgent. The settlement shortcut delivers cash on a schedule, even if it means…

The British insistence that American colonists pay for an outside power to govern them set a chain of events that made independence nearly inevitable. The conflict began with a simple, stubborn idea: Parliament could tax and govern people across an ocean without their consent. Colonists saw that as a direct attack on local authority and individual rights, not a mere policy dispute. What followed was a steady buildup of resistance, argument, and political organization. At first the fight centered on taxes and trade rules, but those were symptoms, not the disease. The deeper issue was who had the authority to…

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna says she handed information about Sen. Ruben Gallego to Senate leaders and ethics officials, alleging a sexual incident and campaign finance issues; Gallego’s office denies contact from the ethics committee while Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirms his office referred material to the Senate Ethics Committee as the matter draws scrutiny amid the wider Swalwell controversy. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna told reporters she provided material to Senate leadership that she believes implicates Sen. Ruben Gallego in an incident “sexual in nature, allegedly” and in apparent campaign finance problems. She said she spoke with Sen. John…

This piece examines the pattern of labeling policies as temporary, how that language masks permanence, why those measures tend to stick, and how that dynamic reshapes budgets, institutions, and liberties over the long run. “Democrats label policies or programs ‘temporary,’ knowing full well once they’re in place they’re almost impossible to undo.” That sentence captures a political habit: promise short-term fixes, then let bureaucratic momentum and partisan incentives lock them in. The tactic works because once a program has beneficiaries, cutting it becomes politically costly and administratively complex. Temporary language gives political cover while the mechanics of permanence proceed quietly.…

Federal leaders say a reset is needed in higher education, and this piece outlines why reform is overdue, what broken incentives keep schools from serving students and taxpayers, and which practical shifts would restore meaning, accountability, and useful skills to college. American higher education has drifted from its original promise: train citizens and prepare workers. Too many campuses reward ideology over learning, saddle students with debt, and fail to report clear outcomes. Conservatives see responsibility in restoring results and fiscal sanity. ‘Now is the time for a hard reset in higher education,’ the department stated. That line captures a rare…