The White House is working on an executive order on elections, the press secretary has confirmed, and this has naturally sparked a flurry of reactions. It’s the kind of announcement that immediately gets people thinking: what’s the angle here? What’s the goal? And, perhaps most importantly, is it even legal?
It’s crucial to understand that the power to set election laws and procedures primarily resides with state legislatures and Congress, not the president. While an executive order can certainly be issued, it doesn’t automatically override existing state or federal laws. That’s a fundamental principle of how our system of government is structured.… Continue reading
Texas officials announced that SNAP benefits for the state’s most vulnerable residents are at risk due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. If the shutdown continues past October 27th, more than $614 million in food assistance will be halted, impacting approximately 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that November SNAP payments may cease. The Texas Health and Human Services is directing Lone Star Card users to their website for more information, while other assistance programs remain unaffected.
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The federal government has been shut down due to an impasse in the Senate over funding bills. Democrats blocked a Republican-backed short-term funding measure, while Republicans rejected a bill proposed by Democrats. Critical services like Social Security will continue, but delays are possible, and approximately 750,000 federal employees may face furlough. The duration of the shutdown and its full impact remain uncertain, with both parties signaling a willingness to stand their ground, making a resolution unclear.
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Snubbing Kennedy, States Announce Plans to Coordinate on Vaccines
The unfolding scenario revolves around states taking matters into their own hands, particularly regarding public health, and specifically, vaccines. The key sentiment here is that certain states are stepping up to fill the void, or perhaps the perceived void, left by a perceived lack of federal leadership or, even worse, active obstruction. The catalyst? A perceived threat, specifically a certain individual whose stance on vaccines is seen as dangerous and harmful. This individual is seen as a national security threat.
The response to this perceived threat is multifaceted. One aspect is the formation of coalitions among states, particularly those with shared political ideologies or a common understanding of public health priorities.… Continue reading
President Trump’s administration took control of Washington D.C.’s police department, sparking immediate legal challenges. The Justice Department appointed a federal official to oversee the police, leading the city to sue, citing the move as illegal and a threat to law and order. The takeover, which the city’s attorney general argued was an affront to its autonomy, has increased the federal presence in the city and is the latest action in a series of moves by Trump to test the limits of his legal authorities. Protests erupted, demonstrating the city’s resistance to federal control and highlighting tensions over immigration and policing policies.
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US military to remove 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, a move that sparks a mix of reactions, from relief to cynicism. The initial deployment, a matter of contention from the start, is now winding down, leaving many to question the purpose and effectiveness of the whole operation. Was it a genuine attempt to quell unrest, or was there another agenda at play?
The fact that these troops, primarily engaged in what appeared to be passive observation, are returning home is not surprising to many. Some commentators highlight the lack of clear objectives and the perception that the troops were essentially “standing around” while seemingly doing nothing productive.… Continue reading
Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at the FEMA Review Council meeting, renewed her call for a complete overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Despite FEMA’s ongoing involvement in search and recovery efforts following devastating floods in Texas, Noem advocated for its elimination and replacement with a more responsive agency. She specifically stated that FEMA should shift its operational model to be state and locally driven, departing from its decades-long federal-led approach. This proposed restructuring aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness in disaster response.
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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard asserted that federal employees confided in her that they were mandated to dedicate half their workday to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Gabbard argued this significant time commitment detracted from crucial intelligence work, potentially impairing the president’s access to timely and objective information. However, this claim was met with widespread skepticism and accusations of fabrication from numerous online commentators. The controversy follows a broader trend of the current administration’s efforts to curtail DEI programs within the federal government.
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Twenty state attorneys general and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration for dismantling the Department of Education, citing the termination of over 1,300 employees. The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions, effectively starving the agency of resources, constitute an illegal circumvention of Congress’s power to abolish executive agencies. The defendants include President Trump, Secretary McMahon, and the Department itself. The administration counters that returning education authority to the states was part of the president’s mandate, while simultaneously asserting that the dismantling is proceeding rapidly.
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In response to a presidential mandate for aggressive federal downsizing, Elon Musk ordered all federal employees to self-report weekly achievements by Monday or face termination. Subsequently, an Office of Personnel Management email mirrored this demand, but was largely ignored by numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the FBI. This widespread defiance constituted a surprising reversal, contradicting recent reports suggesting improved relations between Musk and the White House. The White House had been under the impression that relations between Musk and Trump’s senior staff were improving.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker