Author: Rana McCallister

Senate Confirms Hung Cao: Service, Salt, and a Clear GOP Win The Senate moved forward this week and confirmed Hung Cao to be under secretary of the U.S. Navy by a 52-45 vote, a result Republicans view as a necessary step toward harder-edged, mission-focused leadership in the fleet. That achievement didn’t come easy — obstruction from Democrats and a lone GOP holdout made it messy, but leadership pushed confirmations anyway to fill critical civilian posts. Conservatives see Cao’s elevation as a win for veterans, common-sense standards, and accountability in uniformed services. Nominated in February President Trump tapped Cao in February,…

A man convicted in the 2015 killing of a 6-year-old boy was released from prison this week, sparking fresh outrage and fear from the victim’s family. The case has reopened raw wounds in a small Kentucky community and raised questions about mental illness, sentencing outcomes, and parole decisions. This article summarizes the facts, the family’s response, and what comes next. Ronald Exantus, 42, was convicted in connection with the December 2015 attack that left 6-year-old Logan Tipton dead while he slept. The defendant, identified at the time as a dialysis nurse who traveled from Indianapolis to Versailles, forcibly entered the…

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced in New York City on Friday to 50 months in federal prison for two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution, a ruling that closes a long, public legal chapter for the music mogul. The sentence came from U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York, a judge appointed under the Biden administration, and reflects the court’s decision to impose a term longer than what Combs’s lawyers requested. Combs has already served roughly 12 months behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a fact the court credited toward…

Guttmacher Shows Progress — Telehealth Pills Could Undo It The latest Guttmacher data showing a 5% drop in abortions nationwide in 2025 is a win worth celebrating. In Florida alone that decrease translates to nearly 300 fewer abortions every month, meaning hundreds of potential lives saved. That kind of measurable progress deserves clarity about how it happened and resolve to protect it. Conservative leaders and pro-life advocates should take a victory lap but not a nap. Policy changes at the state level, public awareness, and support services for pregnant women all played roles behind the scenes. Those successes were the…

The southern border is tighter now, and a caravan of migrants has changed its destination. Instead of pushing north to the United States, this group says it will seek asylum in Mexico City. That shift matters, and not just for headlines. The caravan is largely made up of Cuban and Haitian refugees, with people from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Venezuela also among them. They left the area near Mexico’s border with Guatemala and are moving toward Mexico City to find more stable work and security. If they stick to that plan, it’s a clear signal that tougher policies are…

Trump Floats Handing Out $2,000 Tariff ‘Rebates’ To All Americans President Donald Trump is again pushing a simple, populist idea: use tariff receipts from imported goods to send cash back to Americans. The pitch is straightforward and politically savvy, promising direct relief while rewarding a trade stance that prioritizes American industry. It’s a proposal that forces a clear choice between returning money to families or letting Washington keep every dollar. The administration has dramatically raised tariffs since taking office, targeting broad categories and specific industries. This year alone the federal government has collected roughly $214.9 billion in tariff revenue, and…

Why the Viral “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous,” Kiss Sparked a Consumer Revolt The short version: a teen lesbian kiss in the kids show “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous,” exploded across social media and coincided with a wave of subscription cancellations at Netflix. Parents saw a children’s program carrying themes they felt were unnecessary for that age group, and they acted the way consumers do—by voting with their wallets. This moment is about more than a single scene; it highlights a growing split between entertainment companies and the families who pay for their service. Let’s be clear and plain: families expect content…

FBI Summer Crackdown: Facts, Fails, and What Comes Next The bureau conducted “Operation Summer Heat” from June 24 through September 20, which featured teams from all 55 FBI field offices and other law enforcement partners. The initiative cracked down on violent crime in major U.S. cities. That basic fact deserves a straight, no-fluff read. This was a broad federal push into neighborhoods where residents have been living with fear and too many unanswered calls for help. Local police, federal agents, and task forces combined resources to pursue violent offenders, gangs, and fugitives. For conservatives who have been pushing for real…

Trump Shares AI Deepfake Targeting Schumer and Jeffries President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated deepfake this week that put Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries front and center, with Jeffries pictured in a sombrero. Supporters called it satirical and sharp, while Democrats reacted with predictable outrage and demanded condemnation. The collision of modern tech and old political theater landed squarely in the middle of a polarized news cycle. Jeffries Condemns “xenophobic stereotype” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly denounced the clip, calling it “a xenophobic stereotype, which is why we’ve heard from many Latino organizations…

Saints and State Seal Superdome Future with Lease Through 2035 In a move that clears the horizon for professional football in New Orleans, the Saints and Louisiana’s governor have agreed to extend the lease on the state-owned Superdome through at least 2035. The deal keeps the team in the city and ties the iconic building’s fate to local fans, workers, and the tourism economy for another decade. That certainty matters in a place where the stadium is more than a building; it is part of the city’s identity. The Superdome has long been an anchor for New Orleans, hosting championships,…