Author: Rana McCallister

New York’s mayor has presented a stark choice: get Albany to approve a higher income tax on the wealthy or face a nearly 10% rise in property taxes under a $127 billion city budget. The clash exposes a clash over who sets tax policy and how far officials will push to fund expanding government priorities. Mayor Zohran Mamdani rolled out a 2027 budget that clocks in at $127 billion, a number that dwarfs many state budgets. With about 8.4 million residents, New York City is pushing a spending plan that, in raw terms, outpaces entire states with far larger populations.…

Eric Dane, the actor widely recognized for his work on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria”, died Thursday. He was 53 and later devoted part of his life to raising ALS awareness. Eric Dane built a career that spanned network television and streaming hits, turning supporting parts into memorable screen moments. Viewers came to know him for both intensity and ease, traits that helped him stand out on ensemble shows. His presence on screen was steady and unmistakable. On “Grey’s Anatomy” he became part of a cast that defined medical drama for a generation, contributing to plots that mixed high stakes with…

The North Carolina State Election Board agreed to no longer register voters missing required information, and that decision has immediate consequences for how voter rolls will be managed and for the guarantees of clear, lawful registration processes. The North Carolina State Election Board agreed to no longer register voters missing required information. That move strips away a previous option to enroll applicants who left essential fields blank and signals a stricter approach to paperwork and compliance. For those who favor stronger election rules, it reads as a straightforward step toward clearer, more secure voter lists. Supporters on the right see…

A former Ukrainian energy and justice minister was arrested at the border and charged in a sprawling corruption probe tied to a $100 million kickback scheme, raising fresh questions about oversight as Western aid pours in. Former energy and justice minister German Galushchenko was detained while attempting to leave the country and charged with money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said he was “exposed for money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.” The arrest came the day after authorities moved to press charges. Investigators link Galushchenko to…

A fiery explosion tore through a church in upstate New York on Tuesday, injuring five people, including the pastor and firefighters who had come after reports of a gas odor. The blast blew out windows and left charred sections of the building, driving nearby residents into the street and sending a plume of smoke into the sky. Emergency crews moved quickly to secure the scene, isolate hazards and treat those who were hurt. Officials have stressed caution as investigators sort through what happened and why gas was present at the site. Five people were reported injured, and the list specifically…

This piece looks at how corporate newsrooms are handling the Dorgan story and what it means for facts, fairness, and public trust. Reporters and editors are making judgment calls about what readers can know, and those choices matter beyond a single profile. The debate around Dorgan’s identity exposes how newsroom norms and activism sometimes collide. The pressure to avoid a simple descriptor has become its own news item. Some outlets are steering clear of calling Dorgan a man, treating basic descriptors as controversial rather than factual. That editorial stance shapes the narrative from the start and signals priorities to audiences…

This piece argues that the policies Sullivan criticizes from Democrats are actually the policy wins delivered by the Trump era, and it pushes back from a conservative angle. Conservative voters have watched a pattern form where Democrats complain about the very priorities mainstream Republicans achieved in recent years. This article lays out how the Trump presidency translated rhetoric into concrete policy and why that undercuts critiques from the left. The goal is to show practical outcomes rather than chase partisan talking points. “Someone please tell Sullivan that what he wants from the Democrat Party is precisely what’s offered by Trump’s…

Denver’s Health and Safety Committee advanced a 7-0 proposal to ban law enforcement — including federal immigration agents — from wearing masks during operations and to require visible badges or identification, with penalties for violators. The committee vote moves the proposal to the full Denver City Council, where it must secure two more votes before it could become law. The measure would force all officers to display a badge or other identification and would attach fines and potential jail time for violations. Supporters say it protects communities; critics say it endangers officers and conflicts with federal authority. The Department of…

Ed Crane’s career shows how steady conviction and a clear defense of individual liberty can shape policy debates and institutions for decades to come. Ed Crane had a gift for identifying moments when liberty required an unpopular defense — and history has a way of catching up to him. He built institutions and arguments that refused fashionable compromises, and those efforts altered how policymakers and voters think about limits on government. His approach was pragmatic but principled, favoring free markets, personal freedom, and restrained government action. Crane was never content with partisan posturing; he pursued arguments that would survive scrutiny…

This piece examines a high-profile misstep by a member of Congress, the constitutional immunity that enabled it, and the political context around the episode. On February 10, Congressman Ro Khanna used the House floor to name six men he said appeared in newly unredacted Epstein files. Three days later the Justice Department confirmed that four of those men were actually FBI lineup fillers—stock photos, control images, the investigative equivalent of typing “generic businessman” into a search engine. The correction was released on February 13, and Khanna subsequently walked back the four names. Those four were private citizens, not public figures,…