Civics

The Looming 2030 Census

The 2030 Census: A Political Earthquake for Democrats Amid Illegal Alien Counts and Southern Migration The 2030 U.S. Census will reshape the political landscape through population shifts driven by the "new great migration" to southern states and the inclusion of an estimated 12 million illegal aliens in congressional apportionment. For Democrats, the census poses a structural threat, potentially slashing their Electoral College and House representation while amplifying Republican power. This column explores the political and electoral implications, including a detailed projection of House seat shifts. The interplay of migration, illegal alien counts, and Republican-controlled redistricting creates a daunting landscape for Democrats,…

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Summary of Newsom v. Trump, 9th Circuit Stay

Summary of Newsom v. Trump from an Originalist Perspective From an originalist perspective, which emphasizes interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning at the time of ratification, the Ninth Circuit's decision in Newsom v. Trump (filed June 19, 2025) aligns with the constitutional framework of federal authority over the militia as understood in 1787-1788, particularly through the lens of Congress’s enumerated powers and historical judicial interpretations like Martin v. Mott (1827). Below is a summary of the case through this perspective: Summary of the Case The State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom challenged President Donald J. Trump’s invocation of…

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Fisking Sen. Ron Johnson’s 2025 Budget Reconciliation Analysis

Analysis of "FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis" by Senator Ron Johnson Introduction Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) authored the "FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis" report, released on June 18, 2025, which examines the U.S. federal budget’s fiscal challenges. Notably, Johnson is also recognized for producing an immigration chart that gained historical significance during a July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump, unscripted, turned to reference this chart on illegal immigration-originally shared with him by Johnson during an April 2024 plane ride-when he was grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt.…

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An Originalist Analysis of United States v. Skrmetti

An Originalist Analysis of United States v. Skrmetti Balancing Constitutional Text and State Authority Introduction On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti, upheld Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 (SB1), which bans gender-affirming medical treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormones, for minors with gender dysphoria. The majority opinion, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, applied rational basis review, finding the law constitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by classifying based on age and medical purpose, not sex or transgender status. Concurring opinions by Justices Thomas, Barrett, and Alito, and…

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China’s Role in 2020’s Election Fraud

China’s Shadow and the Silenced Questions How Weakened Ballot Security and Stifled Debate Left the 2020 Election Vulnerable The 2020 U.S. presidential election unfolded under the shadow of a global pandemic widely believed to have originated in China. To protect public health, 47 states and the District of Columbia expanded mail-in voting, a move that boosted voter turnout to a historic 68% but introduced vulnerabilities that may have allowed foreign interference to influence close races. Recently declassified FBI documents allege that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploited these loosened election protocols by producing nearly 20,000 counterfeit U.S. driver’s licenses to facilitate…

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The Federal Budget Process

How Congress Passes a Budget Editorial Note: The June 2, 2025, post, "Learning About Congressional Budgeting," focuses on Congress’s role in budgeting, particularly the budget resolution and committee actions. This post broadly covers the entire federal budget process, including the President’s proposal and agency roles. The former is Congress-specific, while this is more comprehensive. The federal budgeting process in the United States is a sprawling, intricate endeavor, a high-stakes balancing act where lawmakers navigate competing priorities to keep the government humming. Under “regular order,” as outlined by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Congress follows a deliberate, structured…

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Supreme Court Roundup

Supreme Court Roundup, 6/5/2025 In a series of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions in 2025, the Court addressed critical issues of discrimination, liability, religious liberty, jurisdiction, and class-action certification. In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, the Court unanimously struck down the Sixth Circuit’s “background circumstances” rule, affirming that Title VII protects all individuals from workplace discrimination equally, regardless of majority or minority status. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos saw the Court uphold the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, dismissing Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers for failing to prove intentional aiding and abetting…

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The Conservative Canon

The Conservative Canon With Summaries and Influence on Civics and Policy The conservative canon presented here is a carefully curated collection of 32 seminal works that have profoundly shaped the intellectual and civic landscape of American conservatism. Spanning from the Enlightenment to the late 20th century, these texts-ranging from Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France to Irving Kristol’s Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea-offer a rich tapestry of philosophical, political, and cultural insights that articulate the principles of limited government, individual liberty, tradition, moral order, and free markets. Including foundational works like John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government The…

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