Author: Mandy Matthews

Many Americans are skipping the turkey, and it’s changing how families cook and celebrate. Roasting a turkey still feels like Thanksgiving to a lot of households, but more people are putting something else on the table. More than 34% of American adults say the turkey is their least favorite traditional holiday item, and that statistic is reshaping menus, budgets, and kitchen plans. Practical reasons drive the shift. Turkeys are big, require time and a steady hand to avoid dry meat, and often create leftovers people don’t want to handle for days. For busy families and hosts who prefer simpler prep,…

Republican pressure on Judge Boasberg has surged after Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, filed Articles of Impeachment earlier this month, and conservatives are pushing for accountability in the judiciary. The move to impeach Judge Boasberg reflects a growing frustration among Republican lawmakers who see judicial overreach as a threat to checks and balances. Many conservatives argue that when judges step beyond legal bounds, impeachment remains the constitutional remedy. That view is gaining momentum in some House circles and among grassroots activists. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, formally filed Articles of Impeachment earlier this month, a step that signals Republican readiness to use…

The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits as “federal public benefits,” which will bar some immigrant taxpayers from receiving them. This change has immediate policy and legal implications and it raises questions about how benefits and tax law intersect. The administration’s move to treat certain refundable tax credits as “federal public benefits” shifts the landscape for noncitizen taxpayers who rely on those credits to make ends meet. From a Republican viewpoint, this is about enforcing immigration and benefits rules consistently so federal programs serve the intended recipients. Critics warn the reclassification could be…

This article explains the rule tying non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to a person’s lawful time in the United States, reports on a PennDOT date extension, and outlines practical consequences for drivers and enforcement agencies. Non-domiciled CDL licenses should expire when the license holder’s time in the U.S. expires. PennDOT extended the dates, U.S. DOT says. Those two facts lie at the center of how states and the federal government handle drivers who are not permanent residents but hold commercial credentials. States issue CDLs under federal rules that require a close link between a driver’s legal presence in the country and…

A mobile lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport struck a United Airlines luggage cart Wednesday, injuring a United employee and prompting an on-site response and review of operations. The incident involved a mobile lounge used to move passengers between terminals, which made contact with a luggage cart while in service. Airport staff and emergency responders were on scene to address the injury and assess any immediate safety concerns. Mobile lounges are specialized vehicles that shuttle travelers and their luggage across expansive airport layouts, and they operate on tight schedules to keep connections flowing. When something goes wrong in that system,…

The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey faces new questions after the Justice Department stumbled over how the case was presented to a grand jury, producing legal and political fallout that could reshape the next steps in this high-profile matter. The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey hit another hurdle Wednesday as the Justice Department encountered mounting questions about how the case was presented to a grand jury for indictment. That development has created immediate procedural headaches for prosecutors and opened the door for defense lawyers to attack the process at every turn. Republicans see this as yet…

The U.N. atomic watchdog’s board of governors urged Iran on Thursday to “extend full and prompt cooperation,” provide the agency’s inspectors with “precise information”, and face international scrutiny over unexplained nuclear activity. The board made its call amid growing concern about Tehran’s recent behavior around nuclear sites, and those concerns should not be treated as minor paperwork errors. From a Republican perspective, the situation reads like a pattern: Tehran delays, stonewalls, and then claims transparency when the cameras are rolling. That kind of choreography requires firm, consistent follow up rather than soft statements that let bad actors reset the clock.…

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has asked the Justice Department to investigate and possibly prosecute Thomas Windom, an aide to former special counsel Jack Smith, signaling a focused push for accountability. Chairman Jim Jordan formally asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to open an inquiry into Thomas Windom, who worked as an aide to former special counsel Jack Smith. The request frames the issue as a matter of law enforcement discretion and congressional oversight. Republicans view this as necessary to ensure legal standards are applied equally. The letter to the DOJ emphasizes that no one should be above scrutiny when…

The MacArthur Foundation is providing $100 million to a private pandemic prevention network across Africa to bolster infectious disease surveillance as governments pull back on global health spending. This $100 million commitment from the MacArthur Foundation lands at a critical moment for global health security. A private pandemic prevention network across Africa will get resources aimed at strengthening surveillance systems, lab capacity, and early warning tools. The move responds directly to shrinking government budgets for global health and the resulting gaps in detection and response. The funding is meant to keep watch where state spending is retreating. Surveillance is the…

This piece looks at how a recent SNAP funding scare unfolded in the courts and on Capitol Hill, the emergency move to the Supreme Court, and how a Democratic-appointed justice handled requests tied to the case. When Senate Democrats moved to block funding and effectively shut down the government this autumn, millions of SNAP recipients were thrown into uncertainty. The halt left families wondering whether benefits would arrive on schedule and put pressure on courts and the White House to act fast. The episode exposed the risk of letting partisan stalemates interfere with basic benefit programs. A federal judge in…