Author: Rana McCallister

The Senate voted 47 to 53 on Wednesday, March 4, rejecting a resolution meant to limit President Donald Trump’s actions toward the Iranian regime, and the House is set to take up a similar measure on March 5. The Senate outcome on March 4 was a clear moment: the upper chamber declined to tie the president’s hands, with the vote falling largely along party lines at 47 to 53. That result reflects a conservative view that commanders in chief need latitude to respond to threats without being hamstrung by immediate congressional micromanagement. Lawmakers who opposed the resolution argued that restricting…

Democrats are dressing radical ideas in religious language, and the press treats that as clever messaging rather than a serious shift in values. “When Democrats conceal radical left-wing ideology in Christian language, media celebrate it as a savvy communications strategy and describe it as ‘healing.'” That line captures how many conservatives see a pattern: a political party packaging policies in faith-sounding words while reporters applaud the move. This piece looks at why that matters and how it plays out in public life. It sticks to clear examples and plain language. First, language matters because it shapes trust. Voters who value…

The Texas primary results are a mixed bag: they could amplify the preaching of Sen. James Talarico on controversial medical and social issues while also producing winners who reduce opportunities for students in arts programs, creating a political and cultural tug of war across the state. Texas voters headed to the polls for primary elections that will reshape who speaks for them at the state and local level. For conservatives, the outcome matters not just for policy but for the tone of public debate, especially when prominent figures take extreme stances. One such figure, Sen. James Talarico, has been a…

The piece summarizes a recent federal lawsuit alleging decades-old abuse and the legal and emotional fallout surrounding those claims. Four adult siblings have filed a $200 million federal lawsuit against Michael Jackson’s estate, alleging that the late pop music icon groomed, drugged and raped them in the 1990s. The filing reopens old wounds and throws the spotlight back onto allegations that have shadowed Jackson’s legacy for years. The claim centers on the siblings’ accounts and seeks significant damages from the estate. The lawsuit names the estate as the defendant and lays out a timeline rooted in the 1990s, when the…

The Justice Department told a federal appeals court on Monday that it was dropping a host of appeals challenging lower court rulings that had blocked President Trump’s attempts to punish Democrats. The Justice Department’s move to abandon those appeals landed like a political grenade, changing how ongoing disputes over presidential authority will play out in court. For Republicans, the decision raises immediate questions about consistency and the proper use of prosecutorial discretion. The choice to step back from appeals leaves the lower court orders in place and hands the narrative to critics of the administration. Legal conservatives worry that pulling…

The recent weekend strikes alongside Israel against Iranian targets reignited the old fight over executive war-making power, with about half of Congress complaining that the president acted without prior authorization and critics framing the move as another unilateral use of force done on a weekend. The president’s decision to strike Iran in concert with Israel came over a weekend, and many lawmakers immediately voiced outrage that they were not consulted first. About half of Congress publicly objected, arguing the Constitution vests the power to declare war in the legislative branch. Those complaints landed fast, but they reflect a long-standing tension…

D.C. officials say the Potomac River is open again for recreational use after a January sewage spill that introduced disease-carrying bacteria into the water. City authorities closed affected stretches and warned people to stay out of the water after tests found contamination linked to the January discharge. Public health notices went up and recreational activities were temporarily paused while crews investigated the source and scope of the problem. Now officials report that follow-up sampling shows bacteria levels have fallen back into ranges considered safe for swimming and boating. The decision to lift restrictions followed a series of water-quality tests conducted…

Washington state House majority leader Joe Fitzgibbon admitted he drank alcohol before a House Appropriations Committee hearing where he spoke on the operating budget and at times “appeared to slur his words.” This article reviews what happened, how he responded, and why it matters for the work of government and public trust. The moment unfolded during a committee meeting where the operating budget was on the table, the kind of unglamorous work that actually decides priorities and spending. Reports say Fitzgibbon spoke while appearing to slur his words as he tried to thank members and explain the proposed spending plan.…

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna led a closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton as part of the House Oversight Committee’s probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s network, with Luna stressing cooperation from Clinton, pressing on plea deals for alleged co-conspirators, and raising alarming questions about possible intelligence and national security implications. Former President Bill Clinton sat for the deposition amid an ongoing probe into the Epstein network. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna briefly left the session to speak with reporters and described Clinton as cooperative during questioning. Her comments set a tone of firmness without theatricalism, and she emphasized accountability over headlines. “As…

Customs agents intercepted a shipment of ancient copper-alloy weapons and, after expert review, concluded the items were looted from graves in northern Iran and dated to more than 3,000 years ago. Customs agents seized copper-alloy weaponry from over 3,000 years ago shipped from the Middle East after experts determined the artifacts were looted from graves in northern Iran. The discovery came during routine inspections that flagged an irregular shipment, prompting a more detailed archaeological assessment. Authorities moved quickly to involve specialists who could evaluate the objects and their probable origin. That assessment changed the shipment from mere curiosity to evidence…