Should the Government Shutdown Threaten Food Benefits for 42 Million Americans?
The federal government entered a shutdown on October 1, 2025, after Congress missed its September 30 deadline to pass new funding. Nearly 42 million Americans who depend on the Supplemental…
Biden’s Autopen Use Sparks Constitutional Fight Over Presidential Authority
For over 70 years, the presidential autopen has operated quietly in the White House. The machine uses a real pen to replicate a president's signature on everything from constituent letters…
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Most Read This Week
Debate: Pros and Cons for Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”
A massive piece of legislation is working its way through Congress that could reshape American…
Financial Assistance for Federal Employees During the 2025 Government Shutdown
The financial and professional lives of millions of federal workers have been thrown into uncertainty.…
Mental Health Support: Your Guide to Government Programs and Benefits
Mental health affects one in five American adults, and that number likely increased during the…
Explainers
Types of U.S. Federal Agencies: How the Executive Branch Is Organized
To many Americans, the federal government is just an "alphabet soup" of agencies. We hear about the FBI, EPA, NASA,…
About the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that would fundamentally…
John Bolton Indicted: Former National Security Advisor Charged with Mishandling Classified Information
In a move that sent shockwaves through the American political landscape, a federal grand jury in Maryland on October 16,…
Analyses
Trump’s White House Ballroom: How Construction Bypassed Federal Oversight
The White House is the seat of executive power and one of the nation's most secure facilities. Its physical form…
Is the US on a War Footing with Venezuela?
In October 2025, the long-simmering tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalated dramatically, pushing the two nations to the…
Do Presidential Debates Change Elections? What the Evidence Shows
Every four years, the American political landscape braces for its marquee event: the presidential debate. The news media often frames…
American History
School Safety Drills in America: From Fire Alarms to Lockdowns
The rhythmic clang of a fire alarm, the urgent command to "drop, cover, and hold on," the quiet tension of…
Is it Normal in a Government Shutdown to Cancel Programs or Funding Benefiting the Opposing Political Party?
Historically, government shutdowns have served as legislative leverage, used by one party or branch to compel the other to agree…
How America’s Communications Watchdog Has Shaped the Media
Editor's note: This article discusses hypothetical vaccine guidance for the 2025-2026 season. Some events described have occurred (RFK Jr.'s appointment,…
National Debates
Debating the Supreme Court Shadow Docket: Fast Rulings, Little Explanation, Big Consequences
The Supreme Court has two ways of doing business. Most Americans know the first: the merits docket. This is where…
The Debate Over Trump’s Proposed $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration signed a presidential proclamation that imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa…
The Case for Ending Quarterly Earnings Reports
For more than 50 years, quarterly earnings reports have set the rhythm of American capitalism. Every 90 days, publicly traded…
Is the National Security Council Too Powerful?
Deep within the White House, just steps from the Oval Office, lies the National Security Council. Officially, it serves as…
Trending Federal Guidance
Understanding the Social Security Earnings Limit
You can receive Social Security retirement or survivor benefits while still employed. However, if you begin receiving benefits before reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA), specific rules limit how much…
USPS Package Size Limits (2025 Guide)
Whether you're shipping products nationwide as a small business owner or sending gifts to loved…
Understanding Your Passport Costs: A Clear Guide to Fees
Getting a U.S. passport is your ticket to international travel, but understanding the associated costs…
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees: Understanding Your Rights Under the FLSA
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the cornerstone of federal wage and hour law…
Food Safety: How 48 Million Americans Get Sick Every Year
Every year, 48 million Americans get food poisoning. That's one in six people. While the…
Other Top Federal Guidance
How Opioids Hijack the Brain: The Science Behind America’s Addiction Crisis
The opioid crisis is not a crisis of willpower or character. It is a public health emergency rooted in the…
Step-by-Step Guide for Applying for Social Security Benefits
Navigating Social Security benefits doesn't have to be complicated. This guide breaks down the application process for Retirement, Disability, and…
Challenging a Social Security Decision: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Appeals Process
Receiving a notice that your claim for Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has been denied can be…
Understanding the Trusted Traveler Program
The frustration of long lines at airport security and tedious customs processes after international flights are common travel headaches. These…
WIOA Explained: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The Goals Behind WIOA The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act was signed into law on July 22, 2014, marking a…
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Federal Workforce Crisis: How Skeleton Crews Are Asked to Manage Your Tax Dollars
With a budget of approximately $6.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. federal government is one of the largest and most complex entities in the world. It handles everything…
How Congress Calculates State Costs of Federal Budget Cuts
When Congress debates cutting federal spending or enacting new national standards, a critical question arises: Who ultimately pays the price? While decisions made in Washington manage the federal budget, their…
How Federal Actions Drive Up Costs for States and Cities
In October 2025, Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency in response to a wave of federal immigration raids. Officials said the raids were causing severe financial hardship for…
Why Federal Judge Blocked Trump Plan to Fire Thousands of Furloughed Workers
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to permanently terminate thousands of furloughed federal employees during the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025. The move thrusts…
[Updated] Why is the Government Still Shut Down? What Comes Next?
As of October 16, 2025, the United States federal government remains in a partial shutdown. The impasse began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, marking the 11th time in…
Trump’s Proposed ‘Arc de Trump’ Monument: Design, Funding, and Legal Hurdles
President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a grand triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. Officially called the "Independence Arch" but quickly nicknamed the "Arc de Trump," the project would link…
Trump’s $40 Billion Argentina Bailout: Strategic Gamble or Political Favor?
With Argentina facing another financial crisis ahead of crucial midterm elections, the Trump administration has announced a potential $40 billion economic support package. The White House framed the move as…
How Supreme Court Cases Could End Voting Rights Act Protections
As of October 2025, the Supreme Court is poised to issue rulings in two cases that could fundamentally reshape American democracy. At stake is the future of the Voting Rights…
How Criminal Tax Enforcement Works
Recent debates about the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have raised questions about whether the agency could be weaponized to target political opponents or party donors. This analysis explores the controls…
How Republicans and Democrats Have Handled Past Bigotry Scandals in Their Own Ranks
In October 2025, Politico exposed thousands of racist, sexist, and pro-Hitler messages exchanged in a private chat group among Young Republicans leaders. The revelations forced a familiar cycle: condemnation, deflection,…
K-12 Education in America: How Curricula Differ Across States
The concept of a singular "American" public education system is a myth. The United States operates more than fifty distinct K-12 education systems, each governed by a unique combination of…