A data-driven breakdown of the seven Senate races that will likely determine which party controls the chamber after November 2026.
Inspector General offices are the federal government's internal watchdogs. Here's how the system works — and what it looks like when officials are dismissed.
For two decades, lawmakers in both parties have promised to close the carried interest provision. It's still there. Here's why.
"Sanctuary city" is not a legal term. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what these policies actually cover and what the courts have said.
Redistricting happens every decade but shapes politics for a generation. A state-by-state breakdown of who draws the lines, what the rules are, and whether any of them work.
Hundreds of millions flow into U.S. elections each cycle with no public record of the source. Here's how 501(c)(4) dark money works — and what it would take to change it.
Immigration enforcement operations vary widely. Here's what agents are authorized to do, what rights residents have, and what the research shows about community effects.
The U.S. tax code taxes investment income at lower rates than wages. Here's how that gap emerged, how large it is, and what the evidence says about changing it.
The Constitution bans federal officeholders from accepting payments from foreign governments. After three lawsuits, no court has ruled on the merits. Here's why.
Q2 campaign finance filings are in. The gap between grassroots donations and super PAC money tells a story about who 2026 Senate candidates actually answer to.
Constitutional protections apply to all people in the United States regardless of immigration status. Here's a plain-language breakdown of Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights.
Ranked-choice voting has moved from reform proposal to real-world system. Here's an evidence-based look at what results in Alaska, Maine, and cities around the country show.
Down-ballot measures on abortion access, minimum wage, and voting rights appear on November 2026 ballots — and some have longer policy legs than any Senate race.
Midterm electorates look fundamentally different from presidential ones. Here's who drops off, why it matters, and what the evidence says actually moves turnout.
Over 3.5 million cases are pending in U.S. immigration courts. Average wait times have reached four years. Here's how the backlog built and what proposals exist.
Term limits poll above 70% consistently. Congress has never come close to passing them. The gap between public support and legislative action explains a lot about American democracy.
From 94% to 37%: a data-driven history of the top marginal income tax rate, the political forces behind each change, and what economists say about the effects.
Presidential budget proposals generate alarming headlines. Here's what those numbers mean — mandatory vs. discretionary spending, baseline cuts, and ten-year windows explained.
The federal estate tax affects fewer than 0.1% of estates. Critics call it double taxation; defenders call it the most direct check on dynastic wealth concentration.
Over 2,500 newspapers have closed since 2005. Research shows communities without local journalism see higher government costs and lower civic participation.
Congress has broad authority to investigate the executive branch. How that authority works in practice — and consistently fails under unified government — is a story about incentives.
An ongoing log of open ethics inquiries, Inspector General investigations, and congressional referrals involving federal officials. Updated as developments occur.
Federal law prohibits officials from hiring relatives — but gaps, exceptions, and a contested White House carve-out complicate enforcement. Here's what the statute says.
Weekly coverage of the 2026 midterms, government ethics, immigration, and tax policy — without spin. Free, always.
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