CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY (Morgan Wirthlin) - A Republic, if we can keep it
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was...
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was struck by lightning. Smoke billowed from the wood dome, but firefighters found no fire. The lightning rod atop the dome, constructed to Benjamin Franklin’s specifications 208 years prior, safely redirected the current, preserving the historic building. Although Franklin’s inventions1 are valuable, his most significant impact was as a statesman. The only American to sign the Declaration of Independence,2  the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was arguably second only—or perhaps equal to—George Washington in influence and equally necessary to victory. He led the development of U.S.…Open
CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY (Kyle Shideler) - The Revolution will not be tweeted
“The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760...
“The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington.” –John Adams to Thomas Jefferson (1815) It is very doubtful that there should have been a successful American Revolution if the colonists had the opportunity to avail themselves of Twitter or TikTok. If Samuel Adams and John Hancock had a video podcast, I suspect we would all still be speaking the King’s English. This view runs counter to the populist instincts dominating political discourse today –and runs afoul of the utopianism of the technologists who promise us that ubiquitous access to information is the key to liberation.1 Surely, one might argue, if…Open
WAR (Matthew Olay) - Hegseth Thanks National Guard for D.C. Mission Ahead of Nation's 250th
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised National Guardsmen in Washington for reducing city crime ahead of America's 250th birthday celebration.
WAR (Army Sgt. Katherine Devereaux, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve) - Vietnam Veteran Receives Purple Heart 57 Years Later
After 57 years, a Vietnam veteran received his long-overdue recognition thanks to a dedicated Army Reserve officer.
YOUTUBE (NewsNation) - Republicans to host a first-ever midterm convention this fall
President Trump announced Republicans will hold their first-ever midterm national convention ahead of a midterm election later this year.
NPR (Meredith Nierman) - Photos: Fans gather in the Bay Area for the World Cup match between the U.S. and Bosnia-Herzegovina
World Cup watch parties in Santa Clara and the San Francisco Bay Area brought fans together for the United States vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match, where the U.S. earned a 2-0 win to reach the Round of 16.
AXIOS (Josephine Walker) - America's 250th fireworks party collides with burn-bans
Data: U.S. Drought Monitor ; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Firework associations expect a massive boom in backyard fireworks this July 4, a surge that collides with dry conditions and a blistering heatwave that could drastically increase the risk of fires. Why it matters: Climate change is increasing the likelihood and severity of wildfires, and large chunks of the U.S. are under burn bans because of severe drought. What they're saying: "It only takes one small spark landing in dry vegetation under the right conditions to start a fast-moving wildfire," April Newman, a public information officer at Cal Fire, tells Axios. - Embers can smolder for over a minute, Newman says, "increasing the potential for ignition even after the…
NEWSNATIONNOW (Brian Entin) - At 15, Clint John is already preparing the next generation of American civic leaders
Clint John doesn't just think about America at 250. He's already planning for America at 500.
BABYLONBEE (Babylon Bee) - Democrats Vow To Reform ICE So It Only Deports Immigrants Who Love America
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Washington Democrats were getting out the vote early ahead of the November midterms, pledging to reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) so it only deports immigrants who love America.