Author: Rana McCallister

Washington has finally moved to block Chinese-made drones from U.S. markets, enforcing a long-expected ban rooted in national security concerns tied to devices from companies like DJI and Autel. The Federal Communications Commission announced a broad rule on Monday restricting Chinese-built drones from entering the U.S. market, a policy that traces back to actions and warnings originating in the Trump administration. This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision; officials and lawmakers have flagged risks for years and now regulators have acted. The move targets future sales and imports while leaving existing devices in place for now. Concerns about data collection and…

American lottery players waited on Monday with hopes pinned to a massive Christmas-era jackpot that could turn a single ticket into a life-changing sum. Across the country, interest in the weekend drawing swelled as the jackpot climbed into eye-catching territory. Players talked about dream purchases and bills wiped clean while retailers reported lines and quick sales. The spike in attention is a familiar pattern whenever the prize hits headline numbers. The headline figure matters because it drives behavior, with casual players squeezing in a quick line and regular ticket buyers increasing their spend. State lotteries see surges in revenue during…

Gov. Mike DeWine signed SB 293 on Friday to tighten Ohio’s mail-in ballot rules, requiring that all absentee ballots be received by the close of Election Day; local coverage noted the bill “eliminates the current four-day buffer for boards of elections to receive absentee ballots, now requiring all […]” This move by Gov. Mike DeWine closes a window that allowed late-arriving absentee ballots to be counted several days after Election Day. Supporters describe it as a commonsense step to make returns final when voters expect them to be final. Opponents warned it could create extra hurdles for legitimate ballots that…

The Justice Department’s pared-down, heavily redacted release of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files has triggered sharp accusations that the Trump administration is shielding certain associates tied to Epstein. The Justice Department put out a version of the Jeffrey Epstein files that many people found incomplete and heavily redacted. That release immediately drew accusations that the Trump administration was covering up involvement by select associates linked to Epstein. The timing and scope of what was withheld raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. From a Republican perspective, the pattern looks like a bad habit: when an institution can protect powerful people, it often…

U.S. forces intercepted another vessel off the coast of Venezuela as President Trump ratchets up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, reinforcing U.S. enforcement actions and signaling tougher posture toward the Maduro regime. The latest interdiction came as part of a broader push to hold the Maduro government accountable and to disrupt activities that undermine regional stability. U.S. forces stopped another vessel off the coast of Venezuela as President Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. That short, blunt fact frames a larger effort to use American maritime power where diplomacy and sanctions have met resistance. The operation shows…

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi renewed his call for structural change in the U.N. Security Council, arguing that Africa needs a stronger, more influential role in global decision-making to reflect its growing population, economic impact, and security concerns. President el-Sissi’s appeal is simple and bold: the current Security Council does not reflect the world as it is today. Africa, with more than a billion people and 54 countries, has limited representation at the highest table where decisions on peace and security are made. That gap creates legitimacy problems and dulls the United Nations’ ability to respond to conflicts that have direct…

HHS unveiled proposed rules on December 18, 2025 to block hospitals from offering gender-related medical interventions to minors, igniting a national debate over health risks, parental authority, and federal enforcement. Washington’s move on December 18, 2025 landed like a jolt for many parents who worry about the medical choices being made for children. The Department of Health and Human Services rolled out proposed regulations aimed at stopping hospitals from providing gender-related surgeries, hormone therapies, and puberty blockers to minors. That announcement has shifted what was mostly a state-level fight into a federal flashpoint. For conservative families the core concern is…

The appeals court reversed a lower ruling and said the University of Washington could not discipline a professor for mocking the campus practice of land acknowledgments, finding the punishment violated free-speech protections. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Friday that the University of Washington is not allowed to punish a professor for making fun of the “land acknowledgments” they tried to force on their staff. The win at the circuit level comes after the district court sided with the school. “A public university […] The professor had satirized the ritual of reading land acknowledgments, which many…

A controversy at the Department of Homeland Security centers on claims that a temporary political appointee pushed for law enforcement privileges, then used influence in ways critics say harmed career officials and skirted standard safeguards. The story begins with allegations about Corey Lewandowski, a temporary special government employee at DHS and a close ally of Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly pushed to obtain a federally issued gun and badge—privileges normally reserved for trained law enforcement. Sources say that request triggered alarm among career staff who saw it as a potential bypass of required training and authority. Lewandowski disputes the claim…

The annual White House Christmas ornament is celebrating its 45th edition with a nostalgic look back at state dinners during the Reagan era, and the piece traces design choices, historical echoes, and the collectible appeal of presidential keepsakes. This year’s ornament leans into a clear theme: memories of formal White House gatherings from a distinct period. Designers pulled cues from table settings, lighting, and the kind of pageantry that marked state dinners in the 1980s. The result is an object meant to sit comfortably on a mantel and also carry a slice of institutional memory. The ornament’s 45th anniversary gives…