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…
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Your Money & Home
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…
Section 230 Protects Social Media Companies—Except When It Doesn’t
A 1996 law called Section 230 protects internet companies from lawsuits for what users post—a reasonable protection when the internet…
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
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…
When Government Officials Post Racist Content: What the Law Allows
On Thursday night, February 5, 2026, at 11:44 PM ET, President Donald Trump posted a 62-second video to Truth Social…
Your World
A DHS Shutdown Would Halt These Immigration Services—But Not Enforcement
When the Department of Homeland Security's money expires on February 13, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will keep investigating,…
Can Military Members Refuse Orders? The Law Is More Complex Than You Think
A grand jury—a group of ordinary citizens—said no. While grand juries do typically approve most prosecutorial requests, they retain the…
The Statutory Authority Behind ICE’s Mass Enforcement Operations
In December 2025, the Trump administration announced Operation Metro Surge, with initial arrests of about 12 people by December 5.…
The 1977 Law That Lets Presidents Impose Tariffs—And Its Limits
American businesses have paid approximately $130 billion in tariffs since January 2025 under President Trump's emergency orders. The Supreme Court…
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…
Understanding Your Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA)
Returning from deployment marks a significant transition. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requires service members to complete a series…
Navigating Concerns in the U.S. Military: A Guide to IG and EEO/EO Complaint Processes
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the largest and most complex organizations globally. Within its structure,…
Navigating Health and Human Services: Understanding the Roles of Federal and State Agencies
The United States provides a vast network of government programs aimed at protecting public health and offering essential human services.…
Your Guide to Medicaid Services: What’s Typically Covered?
Medicaid serves as the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for America's lower-income populations. It accounts for…
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When Supreme Court Delays Signal Deep Disagreement Among Justices
What it signals: The justices are deeply divided, not on whether President Trump's sweeping tariffs exceed his authority, but on something more fundamental. They're struggling to explain where presidential emergency…
How Congress Uses Funding Deadlines to Control What Federal Agencies Can Do
On or around February 13-14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security ran out of money. Not because Congress couldn't agree on a budget number—they had one. Not because anyone disputed…
What Happens When Presidents Demand Prosecutions of Political Opponents
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. refused to charge six Democratic lawmakers with a crime on February 11, 2026, despite prosecutors arguing they had committed a crime under federal…
Can States Block Federal Immigration Enforcement? The Anti-Commandeering Doctrine
Minnesota deployed lawyers and courts against what federal officials called Operation Metro Surge—the real question is whether states have any power to resist when the federal government sends thousands of…
Why the Supreme Court Rarely Second-Guesses Presidential Trade Decisions
The delay itself tells a story that goes beyond legal complexity. It reveals something about how American courts approach presidential power in trade—and why they almost never say no. The…
Can Congress Block Presidential Tariffs? The Legislative Tools That Exist.
The gap between what Congress can do and what Congress does tells you almost everything you need to know about how power works in Washington. Over the past century, Congress…
The Unwritten Rules That Keep DOJ Independent From the White House
On February 11, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi sat before the House Judiciary Committee and defended what dozens of career prosecutors say is the President taking more control over prosecutions.…
What Career Prosecutors Can Do When Political Appointees Direct Cases
Over the past year, more than six thousand Justice Department employees have left—some fired, many resigned, hundreds let go specifically because they worked on investigations the administration deemed illegitimate. Federal…
When Congress Questions the Attorney General, What Can They Compel?
Pam Bondi sat before the House Judiciary Committee on a Wednesday morning in February 2026, facing questions about whether she had turned the Justice Department into a weapon. The hearing…
Why Congress Can Fund Most of Government for a Year But DHS for Two Weeks
Congress hasn't passed all twelve spending bills on time in nearly thirty years. The government now runs on last-minute deals and manufactured crises. This wasn't an accident or a mistake.…
What Happens to Border Operations When DHS Funding Expires February 15
The Department of Homeland Security has three days of money left. On Friday, February 13, 2026, unless Congress passes another spending bill and President Trump signs it, DHS can't pay…