Political Commentary

January 9, 2026

How the U.S. Captured Nicolas Maduro: A Rapid, High Stakes Operation

Condensed from **“How the US Operation to Capture Maduro Unfolded” by Ryan Morgan, The Epoch Times (Jan. 3, 2026).

Late on January 2, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered a carefully planned U.S. special operations mission to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Within five hours, U.S. forces had landed, overcome resistance, and exited Venezuelan airspace with Maduro and his wife in custody , all without any reported American casualties.

The mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, reflected months of preparation. Prior to the raid, the U.S. had built up military assets in the region , including warships, aircraft, and Marines , and repeatedly tightened pressure on Maduro through strikes on drug-related targets and a naval blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.

December 11, 2025

Executive Overreach and the Eroding Balance of Powers: What Voters are Telling US

by David Badertscher

Introduction:

In his December 10, 2025 column for Justia VERDICT, legal commentator Akshai Vikram argues that growing public concern over what many view as executive overreach under Donald J. Trump’s second administration is fueling calls for a stronger, more assertive Congress. Verdict

Widespread Disquiet Among Voters

November 28, 2025

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Update: Tariffs, Revenues and the Federal Defecit–What the Latest Numbers Show

by David Badertscher

An Update from the Congressional Budget Office. *

INTRODUCTION:

The Congressional Budget Office’s November 2025 update shows that rapidly changing tariff policies have significantly reshaped federal budget projections. As of mid November, the effective U.S. tariff rate is about 14 percentage points higher than a year earlier, and CBO now estimates that tariffs implemented in 2025 could reduce federal deficits by roughly $3.0 trillion over the next decade, including lower interest costs. The report explains why these estimates are smaller than earlier projections, highlights exemptions and policy shifts affecting major trading partners. It also underscores the considerable uncertainty surrounding the long term fiscal and economic effects of today’s unprecedented tariff levels.

November 19, 2025

Why the United States Has Not Yet Elected a Woman President

by David Badertscher

This posting provides a concise analytical summary of several key explanations for why the United States, despite more than two centuries of democratic development and expanding opportunities for women in public life, has yet to elect a female president. A curated selection of relevant reference sources follows, intended to enhance context and support further inquiry into this persistent political phenomenon.

OVERVIEW:

1. Historical and Structural Barriers

October 3, 2025

Power Plays in Washington: A Deep Dive Into the 2025 Government Shutdown

by David Badertscher

OVERVIEW:

In their opinion feature “‘The wrong hill to die on’: 3 writers discuss the government shutdown”, Benjy Sarlin (Assignment Editor), Robert Gebelhoff (Editorial Board), and James Hohmann (Deputy Opinion Editor) dissect the unfolding government shutdown standoff. The authors explore the tug of war between Democrats’ demand to extend health care subsidies and Republicans’ insistence on passing a clean continuing resolution, all while President Donald Trump threatens to fire rather than furlough federal workers. The Washington Post

Together, they engage in a frank conversation about whether Democrats have picked the wrong political battlefield, who currently holds leverage, and how the high stakes of this shutdown could reshape the broader narrative over health care and governance.