Articles by Eleanor Stratton

A Judge, A President, and a Prison in El Salvador

This is not a mere procedural dispute. It is a profound conflict over a simple but vital question: Does the Constitution have an off-switch? Can the executive branch extinguish a person’s right to due process simply by placing them on a plane and flying them beyond our borders? The temporary stay...

A judge rules the President’s deployment “illegal,” but an appeals court overturns it hours later.

In a tense courtroom on Thursday, the raw conflict between executive power and judicial review was laid bare. A federal judge, holding up a pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution, declared President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles to be “illegal.” Hours later, an appeals...

When a Senator’s Question Becomes a Precedent for Arrest

A United States senator, on the floor and in handcuffs. This is the stark image that now defines the fraught relationship between the legislative and executive branches. The forcible removal of Senator Alex Padilla from a press conference held by the Secretary of Homeland Security is not merely a...

A poor European country may be paid to accept 50 migrants deemed inadmissible by the United States

The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement has taken a new turn—this time across the Atlantic. In a quietly unfolding international deal, the small Balkan nation of Kosovo has agreed to temporarily host up to 50 deported migrants from the United States over the next year. The...

California Sues Trump Over National Guard Deployment Amid L.A. Unrest

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the federalization and deployment of the California National Guard to Los Angeles without state consent. The legal action follows President Donald Trump’s decision to...

Marines Ordered to Los Angeles as Anti-Immigration Riots Escalate: A Moment of Force, a Test of Federal Power

In a move that has stunned observers and reignited fierce debate over federal authority, the Pentagon confirmed Monday that 700 U.S. Marines from Twentynine Palms are deploying to Los Angeles to reinforce security amid days of violent protests following mass ICE raids. Their mission: protect...

The Last Time a New Party Won: What Lincoln’s Rise Tells Us About Musk’s Third-Party Moment

In the mid-19th century, the United States stood at a pivotal juncture. The nation’s expansion westward reignited fierce debates over slavery, states’ rights, and federal authority. Amidst this turmoil, a new political force emerged—the Republican Party—rooted in constitutional principles...

Rand Paul Opposes Debt in Trump’s Bill

Sen. Rand Paul stands firm against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s proposed $5 trillion debt ceiling hike. For Paul, this isn’t just another legislative detail; it’s a philosophical battleground. He views it as a departure from core conservative principles. "We have never raised the debt...

Putin Promises Response to Ukrainian Drones

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a 75-minute phone call, focusing primarily on the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Trump shared details of the conversation on Truth Social, stating that while the discussion was thorough, it would not lead to immediate peace. The...

Judge Blocks Trump’s Trans Ban in Prisons, Cites Eighth Amendment

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has issued a ruling that mandates the Bureau of Prisons continue providing gender-affirming care to transgender inmates, defying an executive order from President Donald Trump. This decision centers on the continuation of hormone therapy and social accommodations,...

Trump Tax Leaker Exercises Constitutional Right To Decline To Testify

In a case that has shaken the foundations of taxpayer confidentiality and raised profound questions about the politicization of justice, Charles Edward Littlejohn, a former IRS contractor, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for leaking the tax returns of President Donald Trump and over...

Trump Admin Seeks SCOTUS OK on Federal Layoffs

The Trump administration has made another urgent plea to the Supreme Court, seeking immediate approval to reduce its federal workforce. This appeal follows a district court’s decision that significantly impeded President Trump’s broader workforce reduction strategy. Solicitor General D. John...

Why Are Taxpayers Paying for a Birthday Parade with Tanks?

After DOGE’s lectures on efficiency, Trump’s $61 million spectacle is hard to defend. After months of finger-wagging from the Department of Government Efficiency — slashing budgets, freezing hiring, and sermonizing about “doing more with less” — we’re now expected to salute a $61...

Trump Appointed Judge Blocks Deportation

U.S. District Court Judge John Holcomb has issued a ruling halting the deportation of Venezuelan migrant Darwin Antonio Arevalo Millan. The decision, handed down on Monday, underscores the critical need for adequate notice and due process under the Alien Enemies Act. Holcomb, a Trump appointee,...

80 Hours of Constitution Training for Senior Officials

In the complex machinery of U.S. governance, the Senior Executive Service (SES) plays a crucial yet often overlooked role. Composed of the highest-ranking career officials, the SES connects presidential appointees to the larger federal workforce, translating top-level policies into everyday...

Trump Appeals Tariff Court Loss

President Trump’s ambitious “Liberation Day” tariff plan has encountered significant legal hurdles in American courts. Judges are grappling with the task of determining the legal validity of these sweeping economic measures. Recent rulings have gone against Trump’s broad application of the...

Trump Supreme Court Win on Parole

In a decisive move, the Supreme Court granted President Trump’s administration a win, allowing them to proceed with significant immigration policy changes affecting 500,000 migrants . The justices’ decision to stay a lower court’s block permits the revocation of Temporary Protected Status...

Ukraine Attack: Drone Warfare and the Collapse of Congressional War Powers?

As smoke curled over scorched Russian airfields and the hum of drone propellers faded into silence, the true significance of Ukraine’s latest strike was just beginning to register. This wasn’t just about the 40 aircraft reportedly damaged or the A-50 surveillance plane knocked offline — it...

Trump’s Tariffs Just Hit a Legal Wall

On April 15, 2025, President Trump unveiled his “Liberation Day” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These tariffs aimed to penalize countries for alleged unfair trade practices, sending economic and diplomatic shockwaves globally. Key events in the tariff...

Federal Oversight in Question After Firebombing at Pro-Israel Rally

On Sunday afternoon, Boulder, Colorado, witnessed a shocking incident of violence. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, allegedly attacked a pro-Israel group during a weekly event held by “Run for Their Lives” on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. Soliman, who had overstayed his...