Articles by Eleanor Stratton

A Judge, a Gang Member, and a Quiet Resignation: What the New Mexico Scandal Says About Accountability

What happens when a sitting judge is connected—however loosely—to one of the world’s fastest-growing criminal syndicates? In Las Cruces, New Mexico, that question just stopped being theoretical. A local magistrate judge, Jose “Joel” Cano, abruptly resigned in March after a Venezuelan...

Musk’s DOGE Departure: A Strategic Retreat or Political Fallout?

Elon Musk has announced plans to significantly reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative aimed at cutting federal spending. Starting in May, Musk intends to limit his participation to one or two days per week, allowing him to focus...

Supreme Court Halts Deportations of Venezuelans Under 18th-Century Law: A Constitutional Standoff

Can a law written during the presidency of John Adams still determine who stays in the United States today? That’s the constitutional dilemma at the center of a new Supreme Court order blocking the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 . In a...

Latest Polls: Technically, the Constitution doesn’t care about approval ratings

Is a presidency still powerful if the public turns away from it? As Donald Trump enters the second quarter of his second term as President of the United States, his approval rating is not just a political metric – it’s becoming a constitutional stress test. With numbers hovering in the low- to...

Washington’s War on Big Tech Heats Up

How far can the federal government go to dismantle private power? That’s no longer a hypothetical question. This month, the Biden-era legal framework collided head-on with a Trump-era enforcement engine, as Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon all face serious antitrust trials—some of which could...

Kilmar Abrego Garcia: Human Trafficking Allegations Complicate Legal Debate

Can the government defy a judge based on secret intelligence? What happens when due process collides with national security claims? The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Salvadoran man deported from Maryland in defiance of a federal court order—has become a constitutional flashpoint. Now, newly...

Delay Denied: Diddy Says He’s Not Ready. Should the Court Care?

Sean “Diddy” Combs will stand trial on May 5, 2025, after a federal judge denied his legal team’s request for a two-month delay in his sex trafficking and racketeering case. Combs, who has been in pretrial detention since his arrest in September 2024, now faces a fast-approaching courtroom...

‘NOT coming back’: White House Attacks NYT For ‘Wrong’ Headlines

Can a president ignore a court order and still claim to uphold the rule of law? That question continues to intensify following new statements from the Trump White House, which forcefully rejected recent criticism over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador. Responding to concerns...

“Loyalty or Leave”: Trump’s Civil Service Reshape Raises Constitutional Alarms

What if your job in government depended not on competence, but on loyalty to the president? That’s the question at the heart of a sweeping proposal unveiled this week, in which the Trump campaign pledged to implement a new civil service classification—“Schedule Policy/Career”—for federal...

Second Amendment Irony: Disarming the Government, Not the People?

Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama has introduced the “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act,” proposing to remove firearms and ammunition from IRS agents. The plan would: Prohibit the IRS from using funds to acquire firearms and ammunition Transfer existing weapons to the Administrator of General Services...

Appeals Court Rejects DOJ Bid to Block Return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

What happens when a court orders the government to correct a mistake, but the government refuses? This question lies at the heart of the ongoing legal battle over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a court order protecting him from removal....

The potential expiration of key provisions from the 2017 tax law could lead to a significant tax increase for Americans. Without Congressional action, taxpayers might face an average increase of 22% . This could impact various aspects of family finances, from purchasing a new car to saving for...

Rogers Steps Up for Michigan as GOP Looks to Flip Long-Held Senate Seat

Former Rep. Mike Rogers has announced his candidacy for the 2026 Michigan Senate race to succeed Democrat Gary Peters. Rogers, a former FBI special agent and House Intelligence Committee chair, made his announcement through Fox News, emphasizing his commitment to Michigan and alignment with...

Tax Cuts For Everyone Or Should The Wealthy Pay More?

Tax policy remains a contentious issue in U.S. politics, with the Republican Party steadfastly committed to reducing taxes across the board. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key figure in this approach, has consistently voiced opposition to tax increases on high-income earners. Recent discussions...

2 Pentagon Leaks That Should Worry Everyone

The alleged Pentagon briefing of Elon Musk on China war scenarios raises serious concerns about the separation of private and governmental spheres. As a CEO with significant influence in tech and defense sectors, Musk’s potential access to sensitive military strategies is troubling. Key questions...

The White House Was Ordered to Let the AP In. It Didn’t. What Now?

The Associated Press faces a challenge balancing journalistic integrity with the Trump administration’s demands. The AP’s use of ‘Gulf of Mexico’ instead of Trump’s preferred ‘Gulf of America’ led to their exclusion from the White House press pool. In response, the AP invoked...

4 Things the New Drug Executive Order Changes Immediately

In a decisive move to rein in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, the White House issued a sweeping executive order on April 15 that could alter how medication is priced, reimbursed, and delivered across the country. While several directives in the order include implementation windows...

REAL ID and Surveillance State Concerns

The REAL ID Act, set to be enforced on May 7, 2025 , will change domestic travel in the United States. This federal law requires REAL ID-compliant licenses or other approved identification for boarding domestic flights. To obtain a REAL ID in Arizona, for example, individuals need: Proof of birth...

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Trump administration must "facilitate" the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. This occurred amid broader deportation initiatives, with Abrego Garcia alleged to have MS-13 gang affiliations, which his...

China has suspended some critical exports, escalating the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. This strategic move is a response to recent trade policies and tariffs. On the international trade stage, this decision will likely impact global supply chains significantly. Industries,...