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Two Sites, One Fall: A Personal Reckoning with September 11

Twenty-five years after September 11, a personal reckoning with Ground Zero, the Pentagon, a wounded New York City, and the people and moments that kept connecting one life to that morning long after the smoke cleared.

Two Sites, One Fall: A Personal Reckoning with September 11 Read More

A Year After Kirk: Is the Rate Actually Up, or Is the Coverage Just Louder?

A year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the numbers show a genuine rise in threats and targeted violence. What they don’t show is an unprecedented era of political bloodshed—or that every high-profile death belongs in the same statistical bucket.

A Year After Kirk: Is the Rate Actually Up, or Is the Coverage Just Louder? Read More

The Private Sector Grew. Government Shrank. The Headline Blurred Both.

The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, primarily due to a 53,000 decrease in local government employment, particularly in education. However, private payrolls rose by 30,000. This complex picture indicates a cooling labor market, with misleading headline statistics overshadowing the nuances of private sector growth and labor force participation decline.

The Private Sector Grew. Government Shrank. The Headline Blurred Both. Read More

Dead Reckoning: After Barbara, Trump Charts a Narrower Course on Citizenship

President Trump signed two executive orders targeting commercial birth tourism and tightening citizenship eligibility for children of foreign enemies. This move follows a recent Supreme Court ruling asserting that children born in the U.S. are automatically citizens, despite their parents’ immigration status. The orders aim to enforce existing regulations with more rigor.

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What the Documents Actually Say — And Why Nobody Wanted to Hear It

Michael Phillips reviews the implications of declassified documents following President Trump’s speech on election security. While some claims in the speech are substantiated, others are exaggerated or misconstrued. The central argument—that China aimed to influence the 2020 election—contradicts intelligence assessments, highlighting discrepancies between presented narratives and actual judgments.

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The Price of Losing: Why the World Cup Ceiling Is Written in Registration Fees

Belgium defeated the U.S. 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, showcasing the structural flaws in American soccer development. While the U.S. struggles with a costly pay-to-play system, Belgium benefits from a robust academy structure. Successful youth development should focus on ability, not financial resources, to truly grow the sport.

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Born in Brooklyn, Raised in London, Playing for America: How Folarin Balogun Became a U.S. Citizen and a USMNT Player

Folarin Balogun, born in Brooklyn in 2001 to a Nigerian mother, faced a crucial choice between representing the U.S., England, or Nigeria in soccer. After training in England and competing at youth levels for multiple nations, he committed to the U.S. in March 2023, later making history by scoring twice in his World Cup debut.

Born in Brooklyn, Raised in London, Playing for America: How Folarin Balogun Became a U.S. Citizen and a USMNT Player Read More

The Least Patriotic Thing Said All Week Came From Someone Insisting He Loves His Country

This week’s backlash against the U.S. soccer team stems from discontent with FIFA’s processes, particularly regarding player Folarin Balogun. Critics distinguish between opposing a president and rooting against their country, yet some citizens express a desire for America’s defeat as protest. This conflation undermines valid critiques and inadvertently punishes the players.

The Least Patriotic Thing Said All Week Came From Someone Insisting He Loves His Country Read More

The Card That Can’t Be Questioned: FIFA’s VAR Broke Its Own Rules Against Balogun — and There’s No Appeal

Folarin Balogun made World Cup history by scoring and receiving a red card in the same knockout match, following a controversial decision by the referee. The U.S. team won 2-0 but will face Belgium without their key player. FIFA’s protocols on VAR usage are called into question amid criticisms of accountability.

The Card That Can’t Be Questioned: FIFA’s VAR Broke Its Own Rules Against Balogun — and There’s No Appeal Read More