Author: Rana McCallister

After President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, attention turned to his approval numbers and the polls that claim to measure them, with supporters and critics arguing over what those numbers really show. In the wake of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, much media attention has been paid to his popularity and approval ratings. Polling is often treated as the best short-term gauge of a leader’s standing outside of an election, but it only tells part of the story. How you interpret those numbers matters as much as the raw figures themselves. Polls capture perception more than…

Katherine Short, 42, the daughter of actor and comedian Martin Short, has died at her Hollywood Hills home, the family confirmed; law enforcement sources have reported an apparent suicide and media outlets say she was found Monday evening around 6 p.m. The Short family issued a statement through a representative confirming the loss and asking for privacy during their grief. Their words captured both shock and sorrow as they tried to process what happened to someone they called a light in their lives. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family…

Five of nine Supreme Court justices did not attend President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union, an absence that came days after the Court’s 6-3 ruling that his tariff plan exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the president publicly criticized the justices from the podium. On Tuesday night Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett sat in the front row while Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson were absent. The timing was hard to ignore: the Court had just struck down…

President Trump honored a World War II veteran and a Coast Guard member during his State of the Union address, putting personal recognition of service at the center of the speech. President Trump singled out World War II veteran George “Buddy” Taggart and U.S. Coast Guard Scott Ruskan during the State of the Union, a reminder that public ceremonies are also stages for respect and recognition. The moment was brief but meaningful, calling attention to two Americans whose service spans generations and branches. For many viewers, that recognition did what speeches should: it put faces to the idea of sacrifice.…

Senate Democrats again blocked Department of Homeland Security funding Tuesday, marking a second vote this month as they press for major changes to how the Trump administration carries out homeland security policy. On Tuesday, Senate Democrats cast a second vote this month to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security, insisting on major policy changes before they will allow the bill to move forward. The move came amid heated debate over how the Trump administration manages border security, immigration enforcement, and DHS operations. Republicans argued the tactic is political and puts national security at risk. Lawmakers on the Democratic…

Data now show a sharp rise in loneliness, delayed marriage, and fewer births, and this piece examines how those trends interact and what they may cost society over time. Across developed countries recent numbers point to higher rates of social isolation, people postponing marriage, and a steady drop in fertility. Those trends are linked by lifestyle changes, economic pressures, and shifting priorities that are reshaping family formation. The combination amplifies risks for long-term demographic and economic strain. Loneliness is not just a private pain; it has measurable health and productivity consequences that ripple through communities and local economies. Studies tie…

A new Heritage Action poll further confirms voters’ overwhelming support for proof of citizenship and ID to vote. The survey underlines a clear public demand for secure, reliable elections and shows that a large share of Americans back basic verification as part of casting a ballot. That poll is a valuable data point for anyone who cares about election integrity, and conservatives should treat it as both a mandate and a roadmap. Voter ID laws are framed as common-sense safeguards, not barriers, and the poll gives political cover to lawmakers who want to strengthen the system. The message from voters…

Joe Rogan blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s budget plan on his podcast, zeroing in on migrant spending and calling the mayor “a fucking psychopath,” while a guest pushed back on whether any funding can truly be cut without practical consequences. On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan focused squarely on one budget line: spending related to migrants. A report noted the podcaster singled out that item and framed it as emblematic of broader spending priorities that burden taxpayers. The exchange with author Michael Malice quickly turned into a blunt debate about practical options. “The amount…

JPMorgan Chase has acknowledged closing bank accounts tied to President Trump and some of his businesses after the Jan. 6, 2021 events, and that admission raises questions about how big banks handle politically sensitive clients. JPMorgan Chase confirmed for the first time that it shut accounts linked to President Trump and several of his companies in the political and legal fallout after Jan. 6, 2021. The disclosure landed in a climate where corporate choices get treated like political action and every decision is analyzed for partisan motive. That simple admission creates a lasting policy and reputational issue for the bank…

This piece reports on a presidential directive to have defense and intelligence officials identify and release government files tied to extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects, including who will lead the effort and the context around previous military encounters and congressional pressure. President Trump announced Thursday that he will direct top defense and intelligence officials to begin identifying and releasing government files related to extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and UFOs. The campaign will be led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is to coordinate with other departments and agencies across the federal government. The announcement…