Of all the powers the Constitution gives Congress, the power of the purse may be the most important. Article I, Section 9 states: "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." The executive branch can spend only what Congress has approved, for the …
The Bill of Rights, Amendment by Amendment
The Constitution was ratified without a bill of rights. Several states agreed to ratify only on the understanding that one would be added. James Madison drafted the amendments, the First Congress proposed twelve in 1789, and ten were ratified by December 15, 1791. Together they are the Bill of …
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New Bill Would Bar Members of Congress From Buying Individual Stocks
The push to stop members of Congress from trading individual stocks is moving again. On January 12, 2026, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) introduced the Stop Insider Trading Act (H.R. 7008). The Committee on House Administration, which Steil chairs, advanced it on January 14. The bill would bar members …
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Justice Department Stands Up an AI Litigation Task Force to Challenge State AI Laws
The federal government has opened a new front in the fight over who regulates artificial intelligence. On January 9, 2026, the Attorney General formally established an AI Litigation Task Force within the Department of Justice. Its job is to challenge state AI laws the administration views as …
How Federal Regulations Are Made, and How You Can Comment on One
Most of the federal rules that touch daily life were never voted on by Congress. Congress passes laws. Federal agencies then write the regulations that fill in the details, from workplace safety standards to how veterans' benefits are processed. These regulations carry the force of law. In a …
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Timeline of Events and Primary Sources: Crossfire Hurricane, FISA, and the Trump-Russia Investigation
Crossfire Hurricane was the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into possible links between Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russian election interference. This timeline follows the investigation from its opening through the Carter Page FISA applications, Inspector General findings, …
Steele Dossier – Trump Intelligence Allegations
The Steele dossier became one of the most consequential intelligence documents in modern American political history, influencing public debate, federal investigations, FISA surveillance applications, and years of congressional scrutiny. Whether viewed as credible intelligence, unverified source …
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Understanding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC): The Secret Court Behind America’s Intelligence Operations
For most Americans, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) is one of the least understood institutions within the federal government. Unlike traditional federal courts, its proceedings are generally classified, its opinions are often unavailable to the public, and the individuals who …
What Is FISA? Understanding America’s Foreign Intelligence Surveillance System
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—better known as FISA—is one of the most important and frequently misunderstood national security laws in the United States. For some Americans, FISA represents an essential legal framework that allows the federal government to identify foreign spies, …
The Origins of Truth Trench: Where the Mission Began
April 24, 2023 Every organization has an origin story. Truth Trench began with a simple idea: people should have better access to information, better tools for understanding the world around them, and a place where difficult subjects could be explored beyond headlines, sound bites, and partisan …
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