Federal Infringement versus Constituent Sovereignty

By Raven W.M.

The activities of ICE agents resemble the “stop and frisk” laws of the 1980s, suggesting that the protection of due process in immigration laws heavily relies on the discretion of agents. Individuals can be taken into custody based solely on the suspicion of violating immigration laws, regardless of their actual immigration status. During the Trump administration, there has been a notable lack of equitable treatment of those arrested by ICE or detained in their facilities. A relevant example is the arrest of Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, who was detained by ICE simply for supporting a congressional tour of an ICE facility. From my perspective, many individuals are entering the system and effectively disappearing unless they have strong advocacy on their behalf. This raises an important question: where is the regulation of this agency and its agents?

A Significant Swing

By Chandler Flowers

On Saturday, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, flipping a Republican district that Trump had won by 17 points in 2024. This was not a narrow victory; he won by more than 14 percentage points. I grew up in Tarrant county where this election took place, and I could literally count the number of Democrats on one hand when I was a kid. When Obama briefly led in Texas in 2008, it was a huge moment for us. Now, this upset means only one thing: times are changing more than ever. The GOP is failing, and the American people are tired.

The Cost of a Commercial Christmas

By Meghan Fincher

 Is America’s “separation of church and state” becoming ill-mannered? The recent trend toward the secularization of religious holidays, especially Christmas, has raised concerns among individuals who feel their faith is being disrespected. This concern is understandable; those who celebrate a watered-down version of Christmas still use Saint Nicholas as their “gift-giver”. Ultimately, it is inappropriate to take a religious holiday, commercialize it, and then refuse to acknowledge its spiritual significance. Furthermore, the commercialization of religious holidays for profit reflects a consumer problem in America’s capitalist society. Religious holidays should be observed with reverence, not turned into secular festivals meant for shopping. 

Democracy in Action

By Taylor Lopez

Student activism is often dismissed asdisruptive or merely symbolic, but this perspective overlooks its significant civic value. When students organize walkouts or protests, they are actively practicing democracy while learning how to communicate, mobilize, and engage with power structures in real time. Although student protests may not lead to immediate policy changes, they continuously shape public discourse and indicate where the next generation stands on various issues. In a political climate marked by polarization and disagreement, it is essential to take those who choose participation over passivity seriously, rather than sidelining their efforts. 

Virtue Signaling

By Alexandra Miskewitz

Billie Eilish’s recent speech at the Grammys has sparked considerable controversy after expressing her political views in  her award acceptance speech, stating that “no one is illegal on stolen land” and “f___ ICE.” Many people online have criticized her for these sanctimonious remarks, questioning how she can advocate for an open America while also acknowledging that the land was taken unlawfully. Some have labeled her a hypocrite because she lives in a million-dollar mansion surrounded by walls. They argue that if she truly feels guilty about residing on “stolen land,” she should give up her home and welcome strangers to live in it. Ultimately, her speech appears to be an attempt to gain praise and recognition by addressing a current social issue. This situation exemplifies why many ordinary people are uninterested in hearing the political grandstanding of any out-of-touch celebrity.  

Defending Dictatorship

Sofia Cabrera Barroso

Even as the dust begins to settle regarding the removal of Venezuela’s former dictator, Nicolás Maduro, many people online continue to criticize the action. Gen Z, in particular, has been vocal in their unwavering support for what remains of Venezuela’s regime, despite the horrific actions of that regime coming to light. Gen Z often rallies behind the banner of equality for all, but in situations like Venezuela, the pursuit of equality has turned into a defense of the dictators, masked as communism. Historically, communism has been shown to fail in numerous countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea, yet many young people still believe fervently in the concept. President Trump’s actions in Venezuela were aimed at liberating an oppressed people, and the primary resistance to the movement has come from Gen Z. What is it about brutal dictatorships, like Maduro’s, that resonates so much with young people of America today?

Even amidst tragedy, we must ask questions about immigration

By Jason Lee

I want to be very clear: the tragic killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti are a consequence of the Trump Administration’s severe and unnecessary escalation of aggressive and ineffective immigration enforcement tactics.

However, this does not absolve us from discussing immigration and the need for immigration laws to be enforced (or reformed, even). I think it is evident that while people shouldn’t be forcibly taken from the streets, and Americans should not be shot by untrained officers, this country still has legal processes for immigration and a responsibility to deport immigrants who have committed crimes.

The actions of Trump and his extremist officials represent a troubling reaction to an issue that previous administrations have failed to address effectively. They overlooked the concerns of people who raised questions about the destabilizing effect of uncontrolled immigration on their local communities.

The issue seems to be that we often view immigration in binary terms: being pro-immigrant or being pro-security. For some reason, if you’re pro-immigrant, you are pitted against the security of everyday Americans. Conversely, if you’re pro-security, you are seen as lacking compassion for immigrants. This false dichotomy has left many people frustrated, especially those who want to support both perspectives. 

Let us continue to ask questions and move forward on this issue. We should mourn the loss of these two Americans, but we must not allow grief to cloud our discussions or end them prematurely.

Please Stop Drinking Raw Milk

By Garrison Rushing

A newborn has recently died in New Mexico, likely due to an infection from bacteria in unpasteurized milk that its mother consumed, believing in its supposed superior medical benefits. In recent years, there has been a growing trend surrounding raw milk that rejects well-established medical knowledge. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has only encouraged this skepticism with claims that acetaminophen (Tylenol) causes autism, attacks on vaccines, and efforts to defund many medical studies. While it is reasonable and often necessary to seek a second opinion, it is important to remember that medical professionals are not infallible, but they are not out to harm you either. Much of what we know in medicine has been built upon the experiences and sacrifices of many individuals, not just created arbitrarily.  When we dismiss this knowledge, it is innocent people, like this baby, who ultimately suffer.

Math is Hard, but Sick Burns are Funny

Dominick Blanda

According to President Trump, “We’re a rich country. Again, we have debt. We also have growth, and the growth will soon make the debt look very small.” Ummm… I’m no money guru, but that doesn’t sound right.

Currently, our national debt exceeds $38.5 trillion, with debt growth nearing 6%. Our deficit-to-GDP ratio is also around 6%. This means that the government would need to generate a surplus of 12% of GDP annually over the next decade just to address this crisis effectively. 

Simply put: money doesn’t grow on trees, and neither do ~~unicorns or~~ politicians who care about our debt crisis. But as long as the country remains polarized, there’s little incentive to worry about our impending financial doom. Instead, let’s just cheer on our political leaders for sick-burning the opposition in viral clips!

A Less Religious Republican Party?

Alexia Silvia

On Thursday, President Trump remarked, “Did you know that, Mr. Speaker, you know, Mike Johnson’s a very religious person, that he does not hide it?” He continued. “He’ll say to me sometimes at lunch, ‘Sir, may we pray?’ I say, ‘Excuse me, we’re having lunch in the Oval.’ It’s okay with me. But, he’s a very religious person, and he is popular, and he’s doing an unbelievable job.” Trump’s acknowledgement that he is not very religious himself is very intriguing for a Republican president. Since Reagan’s time, evangelical Christians and the Republican Party have maintained a very strong relationship. However, as belief in Christianity declines in the West, it is interesting to contemplate what a political landscape with less emphasis on religion might look like. Evangelicals could lose muchof their influence within the party as religious adherence gradually diminishes.

The Quiet Expansion of Power

Erol Yilmaz

The real fear in the current state isn’t that the federal government has swollen to unforeseeable proportions; it’s that we’ve all more or less decided to act as if this is just normal “governance.” Picture the average person in 2026, looking at his bank account, wondering why his paycheck keeps shrinking while Washington finds fresh ways to “fix” things. If conservatism still means anything, it has to mean saying no to the soft lies, saying no when they call cuts “streamlining” or call more rules “equity.” The answer isn’t nostalgia for some lost golden age. It’s the plain, stubborn choice to insist that self-reliance and local control are not outdated ideas. That they are the only things that can keep the federal machine from swallowing the rest of us.