Author: Mandy Matthews

On May 2, 2026, the McCain Institute’s annual gathering showed that the same old Capitol Hill and Beltway networks remain active and influential, with familiar faces and institutions steering policy talk and fundraising, even a decade after the 2016 realignment. “Ten years since the 2016 Trump Tsunami, an old alignment soldiers on.” That line still cuts through the noise, and it frames what you see at the McCain Institute event: a crowd that looks a lot like Washington always has. The panels, the closed-door chatter and the donor lists all suggest the permanent political class is comfortable holding the center…

Local health agencies say a person with measles was contagious while moving through multiple locations in the Washington area, creating possible exposures that public health officials are tracking and investigating. A confirmed case of measles has prompted regional health partners to review where the infected person traveled during the contagious period. Officials described the situation as a targeted exposure event rather than a widespread outbreak, while they work to identify and alert people who may have been at risk. The focus is on tracing contacts and understanding when and where transmission might have occurred. Measles is highly contagious and can…

Dr. Amy Acton, a Democrat running unopposed in her party’s primary for Ohio governor, is heading into a general election where her record and political liabilities will shape a tough contest. Dr. Amy Acton is already clear at one thing: she has the Democratic nod without a primary challenger, which gives her time to focus on the bigger fight ahead. As a former state health director, she carries a well-known public profile that will be both an asset with some voters and a target for opponents. Being unopposed inside her party removes immediate intraparty pressure but does not erase questions…

President Donald Trump on Friday endorsed Kentucky congressman Andy Barr in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell. The endorsement lands as a clear signal from the party’s center of gravity and immediately reshapes the primary conversation. Trump’s backing in a brittle, competitive environment gives Barr both momentum and a ready audience. Supporters and rivals will now recalibrate strategy around a high-profile presidential nod. Andy Barr has represented Kentucky in the U.S. House and now steps into a wider statewide contest with Trump’s public support. That support translates into name recognition and…

The House delivered a bruising week of wins for the GOP, securing funding for the Department of Homeland Security, advancing FISA reauthorization with reforms, and passing a farm bill, all after sharp internal fights and tough negotiations. Republicans in the House pushed through several major measures this week, forcing difficult choices and winning hard-fought policy victories. Those wins came with real political cost inside the conference and heavy bargaining with the Senate and the White House. The result is a set of bills that reflect conservative priorities while also showing the limits of majority control. “The GOP got DHS funding,…

Federal prosecutors released video Thursday that authorities say shows a man armed with guns and knives attempting to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and to kill the President. Federal prosecutors made public a video Thursday that they say captures an alleged attacker approaching the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with weapons. The footage, according to officials, shows the suspect armed with both firearms and knives and moving toward the event. Authorities identified the moment as the point when the threat was intercepted. The release of the video puts law enforcement tactics on full display and gives the public a clearer…

A concise look at the fallout and stakes after the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, covering the political reaction, legal ripple effects, and what this means for conservative principles and state authority. “Since its release, leftists have been in full freak-out mode about the consequences the Supreme Court’s Callais decision may have on their political power.” That reaction tells you everything you need to know about the stakes and how different sides are reading the ruling. For many on the right, the case represents a reset toward traditional limits on federal reach and a stronger role for states. Republicans see the…

The recent New York Times argument equating limits on immigration enforcement with bans on racial preferences in college admissions sparked a sharp debate over law, fairness, and sovereignty. “Immigration sob stories are a dime a dozen in The New York Times, but an argument the paper made this week opposing immigration law enforcement is truly one for the history books. In earnest, the Times said if it’s unconstitutional for colleges and universities to racially discriminate in their admissions process, it should also be […]” That framing treats two very different legal areas as morally identical, and that’s where the controversy…

Elon Musk took the stand for the second day Wednesday in the landmark trial that pits the world’s richest person against Sam Altman, a fellow OpenAI co-founder he accuses of betraying promises to The courtroom has turned into a rare stage where tech vision, corporate promises, and money meet law. Witnesses and documents are lining up to explain how a once-tight band of founders ended up in a high-stakes legal battle. Observers are watching not just for legal rulings but for signals about how control and incentives get decided in fast-moving AI ventures. The trial’s mix of personal testimony and…

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is an essential touchstone in American law, meant to end blatant discrimination at the ballot box. Over time, its enforcement has raised tough questions about how much power the federal government should have over state-run elections. Republicans argue that protecting voting rights must not come at the expense of the constitutional structure that assigns states primary control over election mechanics. ‘Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 … was designed to enforce the Constitution — not collide with it,’ wrote Justice Alito. That sentence captures a central conservative point: civil-rights protections and…