As news reports proliferate of multimillion-dollar -- and possibly billion-dollar -- fraudulent diversions of government funds involving Minnesota's Somali immigrant community, it may be time at one year's end and the next one's beginning to take a longer look at America's experience with immigration, and to seek the guidance of the first and one of its two greatest presidents.
While campaigning, President Donald Trump said, "We're a nation in decline."
A recent Rasmussen Reports national survey shows that Christmas has once again regained its status as America’s most important holiday, with 55% of American adults saying it’s among the nation’s top celebrations and another 30% placing it “somewhere in between.”
Well, Donald Trump has done it again!
At Harvard University today, professors who teach Western history are history.
People criticize capitalism. A recent Axios-Generation poll says, "College students prefer socialism to capitalism."
I've been shocked that Americans are in such a grumpy mood as reflected in all the public opinion polls.
With America's 250th birthday as an independent nation coming up in 2026, the big debate on the right this season about what it means to be an American couldn't be more timely.
It's been a cold winter so far in the Midwest and much of the Northeast, early-in-the-season snow even in Washington, D.C., and temperatures falling to freezing and below in much of the South. Come to think of it, North America's 2024-25 winter was pretty cold too. It's gotten to the point that "polar vortex" is a phrase on just about everyone's lips.
— In Pennsylvania, Democrats swept this year’s state Supreme Court retention contests, which could be interpreted as a victory for Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) as he looks ahead to 2026, and perhaps beyond.
— In swing counties like Erie and Northampton, Democratic county executive nominees outperformed Kamala Harris’s 2024 showing, including with Hispanic voters.
— Republicans did continue to narrow Democrats’ statewide voter registration advantage throughout 2025, although Democrats did end the year on a better note.
Reading and math scores are abysmal across the country, as national testing results keep documenting. Illiteracy rates are rising: The number of 16- to 24-year-olds reading at the lowest literacy levels increased from 16% in 2017 to 25% in 2023, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Politicians push government IDs.
What can Donald Trump do to stop morphing into Joe Biden?
— In what was a surprising bipartisan move last week, President Donald Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar (D, TX-28), who was indicted on corruption and money laundering charges.
— Though the state’s new GOP-drawn House map faced some legal hurdles, the Supreme Court recently greenlit the mid-decade gerrymander for 2026.
— Republicans will very likely net seats under the new Texas map, though Cuellar may have actually gotten a more favorable district.
— Considering his pardon and the new lines, we are moving Cuellar from Toss-up to Leans Democratic.
— To the delight of national Republicans, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D, TX-30) made a late entry into the Senate race. We are holding the race at Likely Republican.
Wikipedia is "Wokepedia," complains Elon Musk. That's because it's become so left-wing.
The New York Times has invented a new genre of reporting -- covering big stories showing Democrats in a bad light years after the events that matter.
President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei have a special relationship. Each is engaged in a crusade to make his respective country's economy great again. Trump was all in on helping Milei win his elections earlier this year, and he has also offered the Argentines a $20 billion "lifeline" as they adjust to the bumpy path to needed free-market reforms.
Can the United States come up with an immigration policy that will prove sustainable? Two writers whom I respect and take delight in reading, despite their widely differing views, Tyler Cowen, who favors more immigration, and Christopher Caldwell, who favors less, have their doubts. Both, incidentally, are writing for The Free Press, Bari Weiss' eclectic startup.
Survey results released last week are as stark as they are unsurprising. According to Rasmussen Reports, 80% of likely U.S. voters say the federal government is corrupt, and 44% declare it “very corrupt.” Only 14% believe corruption in Washington is minimal. How many of the 14% are employed by or benefit from this corruption?
Google settled a racial bias lawsuit for $50 million.
Merrill Lynch paid $20 million.
