Author: Mandy Matthews

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…

New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday the city will open five government-owned food stores by 2029 and will offer a 30% discount on bread and cheese as well as “a c” New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday a plan to open five government-owned food stores by 2029 and to offer a 30% discount on bread and cheese as well as “a c”. The proposal is being framed as a way to lower grocery costs for residents, but it raises immediate questions about cost, competition, and results. The timing and scale are ambitious, and many…

The Democratic National Committee has moved South Carolina to the front of the 2028 presidential calendar, stripping Iowa of its long-held first-in-the-nation spot, a decision that has sparked official defiance from New Hampshire and exposed deep divisions within the party. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted 26, 4 on Friday to place South Carolina first, passing over bids from Nevada, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Iowa, which held the opening spot on the Democratic calendar for 56 years, was removed from the early-state lineup entirely. The full DNC is expected to formally approve the new schedule when it meets in…

Republican lawmakers pushed the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act through with language that creates a route to H‑2A status for some unauthorized farmworkers, sparking fierce backlash from immigration hawks who call it amnesty and prompting heated debate about labor shortages, enforcement, and political promises. The bill, introduced by House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson, would allow certain farmworkers who have been employed in agriculture since May 31, 2026 to seek H‑2A visas. The H‑2A program exists to let American employers bring foreign nationals to the United States for temporary agricultural work, and this measure folds a pathway to that program into broader…

Americans increasingly trade lived experience for curated online life, and that shift is shrinking the stories, characters, and curiosity that once made people interesting. People used to be known for their quirks, talents, and local reputations, but today much of what passes for personality is filtered through feeds and algorithms. Social platforms feed millions the same viral clips and talking points, and convenience culture means fewer real-world encounters that produce memorable stories. Algorithms push users toward a narrow set of publishers and recycled content, which makes it harder to find fresh talking points or unique perspectives. A study summarized by…

Urban experiments with socialist policies are reshaping local governance and daily life in several American cities, producing visible tradeoffs between ideological goals and practical outcomes, and sparking fierce public debate over priorities like public safety, housing, and fiscal responsibility. WATCH: Socialism moves from protest to power in American cities is the headline many voters are seeing, and that shift matters because it affects how people get from paycheck to paycheck. In city halls where progressive coalitions have gained influence, policy choices are being tested in real time. Conservatives are watching the results closely, weighing costs against promises. On public safety,…

Paul Pelosi, 86, was charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run after a July 3 collision in Yountville, and his case raises questions about his prior DUI sentence and whether his probation had expired. Paul Pelosi faces one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run involving property damage and an infraction for making an unlawful turn after a July 3 collision in Yountville, Napa Valley. Napa County prosecutors filed the charges on July 18, and he is scheduled to answer them in court on Aug. 14. The new case comes amid scrutiny over his driving history and the legal consequences that could follow. The incident…

The United States paused strikes on Iranian targets for a second straight day on Sunday, reportedly in part over concerns about dwindling stockpiles of the interceptors needed to shoot down retaliatory Iranian attacks. The pause in strikes, coming on a Sunday for the second day in a row, has stirred frustration among those who see firm action as the soundest way to deter Tehran. From a Republican perspective, halting operations because of limited defensive munitions looks like giving an adversary room to breathe. The core fact is simple: the U.S. stepped back, and one reported reason was concern over running…