Inflation is often discussed in abstract terms — percentages, indexes, and economic forecasts. But for most Americans, it isn’t abstract at all. It shows up at the grocery store, where the same cart of essentials costs noticeably more each week, even as package sizes quietly shrink.

Imagine going to the grocery store with your EBT card in hand only to find it empty — because the federal government decided the rules were optional this month. That’s exactly what millions of Americans faced when SNAP benefits were delayed and cut in November 2025. The nation’s largest food-aid program, serving roughly 1 in 8 people, suddenly became collateral damage in a shutdown fight. And at the center: a president who treated food security like a bargaining chip.

The ACLU of Florida, along with the Community Justice Project and National Immigrant Justice Center, has filed a landmark federal lawsuit targeting the legality of "Alligator Alcatraz"—a makeshift immigration detention center erected in the Florida Everglades.Diario AS+15American Civil Liberties Union+15Florida Politics+15

Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran refugee and Maryland resident, survived a wrongful deportation to El Salvador by court order. Returned to the U.S., he now faces human smuggling charges and deportation threats that veer into legally murky territory. Instead of resolving his case in court, the U.S. government appears to be using a diplomatic agreement with Uganda as leverage to force a guilty plea. If he refuses, he risks being deported to a country where he has no ties, unsafe conditions, and no legal protection.AP News+15Vox+15The Washington Post+15

Whenever the U.S. and Venezuela square off, the question of Russian backing looms large. Moscow has long been one of Maduro’s most important allies, providing military, intelligence, and energy support — and loudly condemning U.S. sanctions and intervention.

“Fire and freedom: Photorealistic depiction of an American flag set ablaze — a constitutional flashpoint.”

When government power feels unchecked and injustice becomes the norm, ordinary citizens often ask: what can we really do? Marches are powerful, petitions help raise awareness, but there’s one tactic that has consistently shaken those in power — the labor strike. When workers stop, the flow of money stops. And when money stops, leaders are forced to listen.

In times like these, the news feels like a constant storm — relentless, overwhelming, and often emotionally draining. We want to stay engaged because we care. We want to fight for justice, protect democracy, and help those who can’t speak for themselves. But being plugged in 24/7 comes at a cost: anxiety, exhaustion, even a creeping sense of hopelessness.

On August 11, 2025, President Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act to assume temporary federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department. He also activated 800 National Guard troops and deployed over 500 federal agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, and Marshals Service, citing a public safety emergency. (AP News Al Jazeera+15AP News+15The Washington Post+15; Time TIME+2Reuters+2)

In her memoir No Going Back, Kristi Noem recounts a hunting trip gone wrong with her 14‑month‑old dog, Cricket. She described the dog as “out of her mind with excitement,” attacking chickens, snapping at her, and being “untrainable.” The moment she decided to end Cricket’s life in a gravel pit was chilling:

A new Trump-backed law makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in federal history. Over the next four years, ICE will receive $75 billion—including $45 billion for detention beds and $30 billion for staffing, facilities, and technology.That’s more funding than the combined annual budgets of the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Prisons.The Daily BeastPolitiFact+1

For years, Donald Trump and MAGA influencers stoked conspiracy theories around the Epstein case—promising that a client list would expose Democratic elites. Influencers like Joe Rogan, Alex Jones, and Michael Flynn repeatedly demanded transparency. MAGA rallies featured chants demanding the files be released. Trump himself once confirmed, “Yeah, yeah, I would” release them if elected. FOX 11 Los Angeles+12ABC News+12Houston Chronicle+12