During the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism for distributing a taxpayer-funded video blaming Democrats, which some airports declined to air. Public Citizen filed a Hatch Act complaint, alleging the video and other government communications violated ethics laws prohibiting the use of government resources for partisan purposes. Ethics experts believe the administration’s actions demonstrate a disregard for ethical norms, and note that enforcement is difficult as agencies are dominated by Trump loyalists. While the administration claims it is simply sharing the truth, experts believe the administration’s disregard for ethical norms has resulted in personal profit and constitutional issues.
Read More
During a press conference on November 5th, Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan interrupted House Speaker Mike Johnson, demanding action to end the then-record-breaking government shutdown. Houlahan urged Johnson to collaborate with both parties and find a solution. In response, Johnson accused Democrats of causing the shutdown, which Houlahan refuted, accusing him of misrepresenting the situation. The exchange highlighted the increasing partisan divide and the ongoing stalemate in budget negotiations.
Read More
President Trump has approved federal disaster aid for several red states while denying it to blue states, raising questions about political motivations. Notably, the denied aid in Maryland impacted western counties that heavily supported Trump in the 2024 election. MSNBC’s Steve Benen highlights Trump’s selective approach, arguing the denial is a form of punishment against non-supporting states, even if it harms his own voters. This latest action further illustrates the problematic nature of Trumpism.
Read More
So, let’s break this down: the Trump administration, defying the established rules of the game, decided to shuffle around money specifically earmarked for anti-terrorism efforts. The twist? This wasn’t a random decision; the funds were diverted away from states typically aligned with the Democratic party and steered towards those that lean Republican. It’s like Congress created a system, a framework for how these funds should be used and where they should go, but the administration went, “Nah, we’ll do our own thing.”
It’s important to understand the basics here: Congress, the legislative branch, had a law in place directing how anti-terrorism money should be allocated.… Continue reading
Education Department employees returning from furlough discovered their out-of-office email messages had been altered to include partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Several civil servants reported that their pre-approved, nonpartisan messages were replaced with accusatory statements without their consent, and some had the changes revert back even after they corrected them. The altered messages, presented in the first person, stated that the employee was unable to respond due to the actions of Senate Democrats. This action by the Education Department appears to cross a line, pulling civil servants into partisan political statements, with one official defending the messaging by saying, “Where’s the lie?”
Read More
During the government shutdown, Education Department employees on furlough discovered their out-of-office email replies had been altered to include partisan messages blaming Democrats. These messages, which employees did not authorize, were changed from the initially provided nonpartisan templates, and in some cases reverted to the altered version even after employees attempted to change them back. The altered messages included language that attributed the shutdown to the Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution. This action has raised ethical and legal concerns among the employees, who believe it violates the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees’ political activity.
Read More
Following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Representative Nancy Mace immediately asserted that Democrats were responsible, despite the shooter’s identity and motive being unknown. When challenged by a reporter who drew a parallel to violence against Democratic lawmakers, Mace dismissed the comparison and doubled down on her claim. This sparked criticism on social media, with many users accusing Mace of hypocrisy and attempting to politicize the tragedy. The overall reaction condemned her rhetoric and highlighted the issue of political division.
Read More
The “loyalty enforcer” has successfully influenced the Trump administration by targeting individuals on her X account, leading to at least 16 federal government firings. Recently, Dr. Vinay Prasad was fired from his FDA position after being accused of disloyalty. This occurred while Prasad was overseeing clinical trials for Sarepta’s drug Elevidys, which had been put on hold following patient deaths related to acute liver toxicity.
Read More
The attorney general of Idaho’s decision to ban “Everyone is Welcome Here” signs in schools, declaring the sentiment a partisan opinion, highlights a deeply concerning trend in contemporary politics. This move isn’t just a bureaucratic misstep; it’s a deliberate attempt to redefine the core values of public education and, by extension, society itself. The very notion that welcoming everyone is somehow inherently Democratic reveals a stark ideological divide, one that seems determined to exclude rather than embrace.
Earlier this year, the West Ada School District also displayed this same ideology when they banned a teacher from displaying a sign that read “Everyone is Welcome Here.”… Continue reading
President Trump’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were preceded by notification to top Republican congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. However, key Democrats, such as the top members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, were informed only after the attacks. While Republicans largely supported the president’s actions, Democrats overwhelmingly condemned the unilateral decision, citing a lack of congressional approval and demanding briefings. This partisan divide fueled an already tense debate in Congress regarding the president’s war powers, with votes expected in both chambers.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood