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The Man on Cable News

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

For years, Eric Swalwell built a national profile as a defender of accountability and advocate for survivors. The record now emerging tells a more complicated story—one that raises deeper questions about power, image, and how accountability is applied in Washington.

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1 - Now / Breaking / Politics / Politics / Politics & Power

Swalwell to Resign from Congress as Ethics Committee Opens Probe Into Sexual Misconduct Allegations

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he will resign from Congress after the House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, marking a rapid and dramatic collapse of his political career and gubernatorial ambitions.

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California / Congress / Congress / Democrats / democrats / Government / Government / Government Accountability / Government Ethics & Accountability / Institutions & Accountability / Politics / Swalwell Series

The Open Secret

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

For years, it was an open secret in Washington. The real story isn’t just what happened — it’s what Congress chose to keep hidden.

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2 - Analysis / California / Campaigns / Congress / Congress / Corruption / Dead Reckoning / Democrats / democrats / Elections / Government / Government Ethics & Accountability / Government Watch / Politics / Politics / Politics & Power / Swalwell Series

After Swalwell: The Confluence

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The Swalwell situation in California exemplifies the intersection of political accountability and electoral strategy. While serious allegations against him prompted a swift Democratic response, the urgency was fueled by the state’s top-two primary system, threatening the party’s viability. Swalwell’s removal may consolidate Democratic support, reshaping the gubernatorial race.

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2 - Analysis / California / Congress / Congress / Government / Government / Government Accountability / Government Ethics & Accountability / Government Watch / Institutions & Accountability / Politics / Swalwell Series

The 24-Hour Demolition

- by Michael Phillips - 1 Comment

A rising political career didn’t unravel over months — it collapsed in a single weekend. This analysis examines how power, pressure, and party machinery moved with unusual speed.

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2 - Analysis / Geopolitics / Global News / Government / Military & Defense / Pentagon Watch / Politics / War & Conflict

The Toll Booth at the End of the War

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Trump’s recent post suggests a positive shift for Iran, framing it as a potential “Golden Age,” but it reveals a U.S. commitment to support an IRGC-controlled toll system in the Strait of Hormuz. This intensifies regional tensions as Iran now manages a critical chokepoint while U.S. allies express concerns about security and economic implications.

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2 - Analysis / Media & Influence / News & Media / Politics / Politics & Power

The Left Discovered Media Ownership Bias — Right When They Lost Control of the Media

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The article discusses the shift in perception regarding media ownership among the institutional left in the U.S. It argues that selective outrage arises not from a newfound concern for press independence but from a loss of control over the media narrative. The left previously ignored ownership biases until ownership changed hands, igniting panic.

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2 - Analysis / Geopolitics / Government / Military / Military & Defense / Pentagon Watch / Politics / U.S. Foreign Policy / War & Conflict

The Ceasefire Illusion

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A ceasefire was declared. Markets rallied. But missiles kept flying.
This analysis breaks down Iran’s Mosaic Defense doctrine, fragmented command structure, and the deeper reality markets may be missing.

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2 - Analysis / Government / Military / Military & Defense / Military Health & Readiness / Pentagon Watch / Politics

The Bill for Losing Wars vs. The Bill for Winning One

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Not all military losses are the same.

In Afghanistan, $7 billion in U.S.-funded equipment was left behind and absorbed into the طالبان’s arsenal. In Iraq, American-backed forces collapsed, handing ISIS a stockpile of weapons. And over Iran, aircraft were lost in combat—but every pilot was recovered, and nothing usable was left for the enemy.

Three conflicts. Three outcomes. Only one reflects control.

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3 - Investigations / Child Welfare / Dark Money / Family Court / Foster Care / Money & Influence / Money and Finance / Politics / The Schaefer Files

Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Since 1997, the federal government has paid states over $1 billion in adoption incentives, encouraging adoptions instead of family reunification. While foster care numbers declined, adoption assistance payments surged by nearly 43% in recent years, highlighting a troubling financial structure favoring permanent separations over reunifications.

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