Signs Of Spine: Republican senators are beginning to show an ounce of resistance to President Trump and his loyalist Department of Justice. Here, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to meet with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on May 21, 2026 in Washington.

Todd Blanche’s Hobson’s Choice

by James D. Zirin June 2, 2026June 2, 2026

Go along with Trump’s most corrupt schemes, like the settlement slush fund, or become attorney general. Republican U.S. senators, finally showing some spine, are unlikely to let him do both.

Shell Shock: Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again for posting a photo showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “86” and “47.” Here, Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, June 8, 2017, in Washington.

Law and Justice

James Comey Is Insufferable. The Trump Charges Against Him Are Absurd

by James D. Zirin May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

The former FBI director has been indicted for a threat spelled with seashells. Why this lawfare will falter.

The King: Britain's King Charles III speaks to a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington.

Politics

The King’s Visit Couldn’t Save the U.S.-Anglo Relations, But It Didn’t Hurt

by James D. Zirin May 7, 2026May 5, 2026

His journey to America was the most important since FDR entertained his grandfather in 1939.

President Donald Trump listens to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speak during a visit to the Federal Reserve, July 24, 2025, in Washington.

Law and Justice

Trump’s Witch Hunt of Jerome Powell May Be Over, But Keep Worrying

by James D. Zirin April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

His administration had to drop the case to get a new fed chair, but it could be revived amid a flurry of selective prosecutions.

Open Season: The assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the outset of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran sets a dangerous precedent. Here, A poster of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and an anti-U.S. placard are carried in Tehran, Iran, April 1, 2026.

Law and Justice

Amid War in Mideast, Lingering Questions Over Killing Iran’s Leader

by James D. Zirin April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Assassination isn’t illegal under U.S. law, but don’t tell Trump. A legal primer.

Arc de Trump: Artist renderings and diagrams for President Donald Trump's new triumphal arch released by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts that is planned to be built in Washington between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Politics

The Arc de Trump—A Monstrosity in the Making

by James D. Zirin April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

His proposed 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery is pure Trump.

Law and Justice

The Mystery of the Joan Little Case

by James D. Zirin April 13, 2026April 9, 2026

A Black woman claimed self-defense after killing her jailer. Her 1975 high-profile trial shook the American South, and a recent documentary highlights eternal questions about juries and public pressure.