Author: Rana McCallister

Justice Samuel Alito has reached a 20-year mark on the Supreme Court, and this piece highlights 10 notable statements that capture his approach, tone, and legal instincts over two decades. Two decades on the bench have made Justice Alito a familiar voice in conservative jurisprudence, and his remarks often reveal the reasoning behind those votes. He brought a steady, plainspoken perspective to the Court that many conservatives value for its clarity and restraint. These 10 quotes are selected to reflect that style and the themes he returned to most. Alito’s words frequently circle back to originalism and textualism, the ideas…

The Senate on Friday passed an amended spending package that replaces a full-year Department of Homeland Security funding bill with a two-week stopgap to give lawmakers time to hash out policy disagreements. The Senate punted a full-year Department of Homeland Security bill and approved a short two-week extension to avoid a shutdown, and that choice will shape the next round of negotiations. Republicans argue this move buys time but does not solve the most pressing border and funding issues. The stopgap is temporary by design and forces the rest of the Congress to face hard choices on policy and priorities…

Grandmothers are reshaping how Americans think about food by sharing time-tested cooking, community knowledge, and cultural recipes to wide online and local audiences. “Grandmothers are becoming some of the most influential voices in American food culture, drawing large audiences by cooking the way they always have.” That line captures a clear shift: the people who kept recipes alive in kitchens are now broadcasting them to millions. Many of these women cook without fancy plating or trendy techniques, and that plain confidence is exactly what draws viewers. Their appeal comes from skill, memory, and familiar rhythms rather than flash. These cooks…

Madhu Gottumukkala, now serving as interim director at CISA, is facing scrutiny after reportedly uploading government contracting records to a public version of ChatGPT last summer, an action that triggered automated alerts and an internal review of potential risks to federal operations. The episode reportedly took place even though Department of Homeland Security systems restrict use of public AI platforms without approval, and the files in question were meant for internal government channels. That combination of restricted access and sensitive material is at the center of an accountability debate. The incident raises questions about how top officials handle new tools…

The recent Southern ice storm exposed a clear split between local response and political responsibility, with Nashville’s recovery lagging and city leadership facing sharp criticism for communication failures and decisions about outside help. The Democratic Party often says it “believe[s] the science” on climate and every headline that follows, but I have one big question for any Democrat in elected office: Why are you guys the only ones shocked when “climate” happens? Last week a massive ice storm moved through the South, hitting Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia among other places. Meteorologists warned of…

LinkedIn’s recent moderation choices sparked sharp criticism from conservative circles, arguing the platform favors a narrow set of views and punishes dissenting voices. This piece walks through the reaction, the broader implications for professional speech, and why many on the right see a pattern rather than an accident. It keeps a clear focus on the debate over moderation power and platform responsibility. ‘LinkedIn just proved once again that their woke censorship machine is still running full throttle,’ SFCN President Andy Roth told The Federalist. That line captures the mood among many conservatives who feel the site is policing acceptable viewpoints…

The Constitution has always been a living framework, but the amendments and the courts’ interpretations have steered how closely modern America follows the Founders’ original intent. The Constitution was designed to set boundaries and to allow the nation to adapt without losing its core principles, especially limited government and individual liberty. Throughout U.S. history, amendments and judicial rulings have either tightened federal power or restored authority to the states. This tension between national reach and local control is at the heart of modern debates over what the Framers intended. Many conservatives argue that the Founders wanted a durable charter that…

Republican readers should note Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told CNN that “There was a tone shift. I wish it was because of the horrific […]” after meeting Trump Border Czar Tom Homan about immigration law enforcement in Minneapolis, and that shift matters for how we think about public safety and federal involvement. Gov. Walz’s on-air line was brief but revealing, and it landed on a national stage where messaging shapes policy. He acknowledged a change in tone after meeting with a federal immigration official, and that acknowledgment is worth unpacking for anyone focused on law and order. Tom Homan is…

Chris Madel abruptly ended his run for Minnesota governor after accusing a federal immigration enforcement push of overreach that has swept up U.S. citizens, citing a January 19 incident in St. Paul as a turning point. Republican Chris Madel said Monday that he has terminated his campaign for governor, faulting Operation Metro Surge for exceeding its stated aims and entangling ordinary people in enforcement actions. He once backed the effort’s focus on public safety but now argues it has become a broader problem that threatens civil liberties. His break with the operation is blunt and public. The decision follows a…

Officials in Arizona reported that one person was shot and remained in critical condition after an incident Tuesday involving the Border Patrol near the U.S.- Mexico border. Local and federal officers responded quickly, and an investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened. The scene has drawn attention from residents and officials who are waiting for more details. One person was shot and in critical condition Tuesday in a shooting involving the Border Patrol near the U.S.- Mexico border, authorities in Arizona said. Law enforcement sources say agents and local police converged on the area after reports of shots fired,…