Author: Mandy Matthews

Amir Hassan, the Trump-backed former federal law enforcement officer running for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, lost the Republican primary to a retired engineer who had already suspended his campaign, leaving the GOP with a nominee who may not even want the job. Decision Desk HQ projected Hassan’s defeat to Thomas Smith, who quit the race last month but stayed on the ballot long enough for voters to choose him anyway. That result hands Republicans a general-election nominee with no active campaign apparatus heading into November. It also marks another entry in a list of primary setbacks for Trump-endorsed candidates this…

Americans built welfare systems for a time when neighbors trusted one another and institutions could assume broad civic responsibility; today those assumptions no longer hold. This piece looks at how that shift matters for policy, how it affects people who rely on benefits, and what a conservative approach prioritizing work, accountability, and local control would emphasize. The goal is to unpack practical consequences and clear principles without getting lost in partisan slogans. Welfare programs were created in a ‘high trust’ America that no longer exists. Back then policymakers expected that most recipients would use help as a bridge, families would…

A clear, plain look at how massive welfare spending shapes incentives, budgets, and everyday choices across the country. The problem isn’t just welfare fraud. It’s all the hundreds of billions of dollars in welfare itself, starting with food stamps. That short line captures a bigger point: the issue is systemic and about scale, not just a few bad actors. When programs reach that size, they change behavior and priorities across whole communities. Welfare fraud grabs headlines, but it distracts from the structural incentives built into long-standing programs. Big, open-ended spending creates expectations and habits that are hard to reverse. Conservatives…

President Trump told a casino ballroom crowd on Wednesday that his policies are putting money in their pockets, a direct midterm message aimed at voters unhappy with the status quo. The scene was a casino ballroom filled with supporters, and the tone was clear: economics first, politics second. He stressed that everyday Americans are seeing the benefits of his agenda at the register and on their paychecks. That straightforward claim set the tempo for a message aimed at midterm voters who feel sidelined by current leadership. He framed the conversation around pocketbook issues, pointing to lower prices and stronger wages…

A Mexican content creator was shot to death Tuesday night while livestreaming outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, as two people on a motorcycle opened fire in view of the camera. The attack happened during a live broadcast, turning what was meant to be a routine social media moment into a deadly scene. Viewers and bystanders were left stunned as the shooter pair on a motorcycle drove up and opened fire. Authorities arrived after the shooting and have described the incident as a targeted attack under investigation. Livestreams are meant to connect creators with their…

Washington Democrats landed center-left nominees in two closely watched Virginia House primaries, setting up competitive general election fights that will shape control dynamics in the coming cycle. The primary results handed Washington Democrats the center-left choices they were pushing for in two Virginia House contests, and those victories now flip the focus to general election strategy. Both primaries attracted national attention because the districts involved are competitive and because the outcomes could influence the balance of power. Campaigns on both sides are already pivoting from nomination fights to turnout and persuasion in the fall. For Republicans, the new lineups create…

The law would repeal a state ban on abortions after 24 weeks and allow termination up to the moment of birth, raising urgent questions about viability, maternal safety, and basic protections for unborn life. This change removes a state law that barred abortion after 24 weeks and makes the killing of unborn babies legal up to the very moment of birth. For Republicans, that shift strikes at long standing limits on late term procedures and at mainstream expectations about reasonable regulation. It also reframes the debate around medical ethics, fetal pain, and whether a state has any interest in protecting…

The White House’s June mixed martial arts matches cost UFC’s owners about $30 million, but long-term exposure and deals could make it worth every dollar. The spectacle in June put a spotlight on how politics and big business intersect, and not always in tidy ways. From a Republican view, it looked like the administration was trading governance for glitz, even as private enterprise counted up the price and the potential upside. This piece breaks down the money, the optics, and why the bargain might make sense for the UFC even if it raises questions about who benefits politically. The headline…

Merrillville faces a legal challenge from the state attorney general, who says the town’s recent actions conflict with Indiana’s anti-sanctuary statutes and raise questions about local compliance with state immigration law. The attorney general has argued that Merrillville crossed a line by adopting practices that, in his view, amount to sanctuary protections. That claim frames this as a clash between a local government’s policies and statewide legal standards. From a Republican viewpoint, the state’s response is about enforcing law and protecting public safety. At the heart of the dispute is whether a town can carve out exceptions to statutes meant…

Chinese medical experts arrived in Kinshasa and were received by Democratic Republic of Congo health officials, a moment that underscores cooperation in global public health. A team of Chinese medical experts landed Saturday at Kinshasa’s airport, and Democratic Republic of Congo health officials were on hand to greet them. The arrival drew attention because it put international medical assistance squarely in the public eye. Officials welcomed the delegation with open arms as they stepped off the plane. The scene at the airport was cordial and public, signaling a deliberate show of partnership between the two governments. Such arrivals often serve…