Author: Mandy Matthews

The government is poorly equipped to detect emerging infectious diseases across human and animal populations because federal surveillance efforts remain fragmented, according to a new report. Federal disease surveillance is trending toward confusion rather than clarity, and the consequences are real and avoidable. Local clinics, state labs, veterinarians and farmers are left to patch together responses while national systems sputter. That gap matters because pathogens do not respect agency lines or political boundaries. Washington’s patchwork approach has left frontline responders with outdated tools and mixed signals. Laboratories face inconsistent funding and reporting rules that slow down detection and follow-up. Private…

This article covers the fallout and political consequences after a high-profile Senate hearing in which Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly relied on the Fifth Amendment, examining what that means for oversight, public trust, and accountability from a Republican perspective. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times Wednesday during a tense hearing before a Senate committee. The moment was brief but explosive, and it immediately shifted the hearing from question-and-answer to a fight over privileges and transparency. For Republicans watching, that invocation raised sharp questions about whether key pandemic decisions and internal communications will ever see full daylight. Lawmakers on…

Federal tapes and a special counsel’s report have exposed new details about classified documents found in President Biden’s possession, revealing recorded moments that confirm both the presence of secrets and the memory problems the prosecutor described. At the end of 2022, classified government documents were found at Joe Biden’s house in Wilmington, Delaware, including some in the garage, and more turned up at a Washington think tank where he kept an office. Classified documents are kept secret because publishing them can put lives at risk, and taking them home can be a crime. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special…

Police say ballistics from two bystanders killed at a Seattle festival don’t match the gun a 15-year-old arrested at the scene was firing. The weekend shooting at a Seattle street festival left two innocent bystanders dead and dozens more shaken. Bullets recovered from the two victims do not appear to have come from the firearm that a 15-year-old detained at the scene was using, police said, complicating an already chaotic crime scene. Authorities are treating the case as an active, multi-faceted investigation while trying to piece together what happened in public view. Witnesses described a crowded festival turning panicked when…

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to postpone a scheduled Thursday vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general as two Republicans on the panel are not yet prepared to support The committee’s move to delay a Thursday vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination signals friction inside GOP ranks, with two Republicans withholding support. That split highlights the rare but real possibility that a nominee can stall even when their party controls committee assignments. For conservatives who value thorough vetting, a pause can be a responsible step rather than a setback. This delay forces a cleaner spotlight on qualifications, priorities, and…

Lindsey Graham’s career, a failed Supreme Court push by Alan Dershowitz, and a landmark AR-15 case at SCOTUS are all on the table in this episode of Liberty Road. Lindsey Graham’s public life reads like a study in transformation, from a young solicitor to a long-serving senator who has made both allies and critics. Supporters say he’s a steady defender of conservative principles and national security, while opponents call him inconsistent or politically driven. Either way, his name carries weight inside the Senate and in Republican circles. Replacing a U.S. senator is a quiet but consequential process that often gets…

The Supreme Court struck down an executive order, spotlighting a clash over authority and the rule of law, and suggesting that when the White House and Congress join to pass a statute the political and legal dynamic shifts to two branches aligned against one. The Court’s decision to overturn an executive order shows how the judicial branch can check unilateral action by the presidency. Conservatives often view that role as essential to prevent overreach and protect the Constitution. When judges step in, they remind elected officials that power has limits, even in urgent moments. Executive orders are tempting because they…

Fauci’s public praise for a reporter sparked fresh questions about the line between friendly ties and journalistic independence, and those questions are especially sharp when a powerful health official commends a journalist while the public still debates pandemic-era decisions. When a top public health figure praises a reporter, it invites scrutiny. That praise can sound friendly on the surface, but for those who value strict separation between officials and the press, it looks like a comfort zone that risks skewing coverage. Republicans have long warned that coziness between influential figures and media can dull accountability. The exact line between professional…

Pirated copies of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” spread rapidly across X over the weekend, racking up millions of views before Universal Pictures moved to take them down. Pirated uploads of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” showed how fast content can go from a private copy to a public mess on X, gathering millions of views in hours. The surge exposed weaknesses in how platforms detect and remove stolen content, and it forced Universal Pictures into a rapid takedown campaign. That scramble left studios, platforms, and audiences watching how enforcement and exposure collide in real time. The initial wave of clips and…

Congressman Barry Loudermilk talks about faith, history, and the role of prayer in shaping America in “And Then They Prayed: Moments in American History Impacted by Prayer.” Congressman Barry Loudermilk sits down with Billy Hallowell to talk about faith and the lessons history hands us when citizens and leaders turn to prayer. The conversation centers on specific moments where prayer intersected with pivotal decisions and public life. Loudermilk frames these incidents as evidence that faith played a real role in guiding the republic at critical points. The book “And Then They Prayed: Moments in American History Impacted by Prayer.” is…