The Supreme Court’s Opinion Schedule: Who Decides What Gets Released When
Most Americans will learn about Supreme Court decisions through news headlines, probably while scrolling their phones. What they won't see is the months of invisible maneuvering that determined why these…
When SCOTUS Rules, Federal Agencies Have 30 Days to Respond. Here’s What Happens.
On February 20, the justices are expected to release opinions in cases involving Trump's tariff authority and Louisiana's congressional redistricting. Both rulings will trigger immediate implementation challenges and put federal…
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An Independent Team to Decode Government
Our articles are referenced by trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill, and USA Today.
Your Money & Home
If TSA Agents Walk Out, Can They Be Fired? What Federal Workers Risk in Shutdowns
On February 14, 2026, roughly 47,000 to 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents reported to work at America's airports knowing their…
Your Company Paid Tariffs. Here’s How to Prepare for Possible Refunds.
The Supreme Court has spent approximately 100 days deliberating over whether President Trump's tariffs violated federal law—a timeline measured from…
Billions Collected in Tariffs Could Be Refunded If the Supreme Court Rules Against Trump
If the Supreme Court rules these levies were illegal—a ruling that could arrive any day now—every dollar may need to…
Your Health & Safety
Inside the Grand Jury: The Citizens Who Check Prosecutorial Power
The jury refused to charge them. What Grand Juries Are Supposed to Do The Constitution requires that before the federal…
When Federal Agents Kill Citizens, These Laws Determine Accountability
On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fired three shots in less than one second at…
The Federal Program That Lets You Buy Prescription Drugs From the White House
The discounts look dramatic. But here's what the White House doesn't emphasize: for most people with insurance, using the program…
Your Voice & Rights
TSA Agents Must Work Unpaid During Shutdowns. Here’s What Labor Law Says.
This isn't some bureaucratic oversight or emergency improvisation. It's exactly what federal law allows. The legal framework permitting the government…
The Speech or Debate Clause: Why Prosecuting Lawmakers Is Nearly Impossible
Grand juries indict more than ninety percent of the time when federal prosecutors ask them to. This wasn't one of…
Your Fourth Amendment Rights During Immigration Enforcement Operations
On January 7, 2026, federal immigration agents shot and killed Renée Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother and U.S. citizen, in…
Your World
Data Centers Need Massive Power. Here’s Who Decides If They Get It.
Microsoft's stock plummeted in early 2026 after the company revealed an $80 billion backlog of customer orders it cannot fulfill.…
The Environmental Reviews Required Before Building a Massive Data Center
Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are preparing to spend nearly $700 billion on artificial intelligence data centers in 2026. Most of…
373 Judges Rejected This Detention Policy. Why ICE Can Still Enforce It.
Right now, 373 federal judges have rejected the Trump administration's sweeping immigration detention policy. Only 28 have sided with it.…
When Federal Courts Issue Conflicting Immigration Orders, This Is What Happens
More than 18,000 federal habeas petitions filed by detained immigrants since Trump took office. Over 4,400 favorable rulings issued by…
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…
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…
USPS Package Size Limits
Whether you're shipping products nationwide as a small business owner or sending gifts to loved…
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…
USPS Media Mail Rules and Restrictions
Media Mail is an economy shipping service provided by the USPS specifically for sending media…
Other Top Federal Guidance
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 in the United States. Enacted…
The Tax Consequences of Early Retirement Account Withdrawal
Retirement savings accounts like Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) and employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s are designed to help individuals save…
A Guide to Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides monthly payments to help meet basic needs for people with…
What the IRS Does
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the United States government agency responsible for collecting federal taxes and enforcing tax laws.…
How the Postal Reform Act Affects Your Mail Service
Congress enacted the Postal Reform Act of 2022 to modernize USPS and secure its future. This article explains the Act…
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The Sedition Law Prosecutors Tried to Use Against Democratic Lawmakers
In 2010, federal grand juries refused only 11 of 162,000 proposed indictments. That's about 0.007 percent—roughly one in fifteen thousand. The system is designed to make indictments routine. So on…
What Safeguards Exist Against Weaponizing Criminal Law for Politics
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. did something this week that almost never happens: they refused to indict. The target was six Democratic members of Congress. The charge prosecutors…
The Legal Authority Behind Reassigning FBI Agents to Immigration Duty
They sent agents to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement round up undocumented immigrants. This happened fast, starting within days of the January 20, 2025 inauguration. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,…
Big Tech’s $690 Billion Spending Spree Could Strain the US Power Grid
Five American technology companies plan to spend nearly $690 billion on infrastructure in 2026—almost double what they spent in 2025. Amazon alone is committing $200 billion. Microsoft, $120 billion. Google's…
Why Tech Companies Can’t Just Build Data Centers Anywhere They Want
Major tech companies including Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft plan to spend somewhere between $660 billion and $690 billion in 2026. Amazon alone has committed $200 billion annually. Microsoft has…
Which Federal Employees Work Without Pay During a Shutdown—And Why
This isn't a glitch in the payroll system. It's the intended outcome of how the United States government interprets its own laws during a shutdown. The workers affected include TSA…
How Congress Uses Appropriations Riders to Control Agency Operations
When the Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown on February 15, 2026, something strange happened. Or rather, something strange didn't happen. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents kept making…
A DHS Shutdown Freezes These Grant Programs First
The Department of Homeland Security shut down at midnight on February 13, 2026 (Friday night/Saturday morning). By Sunday afternoon, fire departments across the country were doing the math on how…
Detained Without a Bond Hearing? How to File a Habeas Corpus Petition.
Over 18,000 immigrants have sued in federal court saying their detention is illegal since the Trump administration took office. That's more court petitions challenging whether they can be held in…
When DHS Shuts Down, Who Decides Which 200,000 Employees Keep Working?
On February 14, 2026, at 12:01 AM, the Department of Homeland Security ran out of money. Within hours, someone had to decide which of DHS's employees would keep showing up…
DHS Shutdown Begins: What Immigration Enforcement Looks Like Without Funding
The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Airport security screeners kept working without paychecks. FEMA disaster recovery payments stalled. Coast…