Many veterans do not know they may have the right to see a doctor outside the VA, at VA expense, when the VA cannot see them in time. The VA MISSION Act of 2018 created the Veterans Community Care Program. Its rules are written in federal regulation at 38 CFR 17.4010 and 17.4040. Knowing them can …
Should Members of Congress Trade Stocks? The STOCK Act, the Stop Insider Trading Act and What Happened in the Senate
Members of Congress write the laws, receive classified briefings and oversee the industries whose stocks they can legally buy and sell. Few issues unite Americans across party lines the way this one does. Yet on September 30, 2026, the most recent attempt to restrict congressional stock trading …
Who Can Search Your License Plate? Flock Cameras, Federal Agencies and the Fourth Amendment
A camera bought by your city council may be answering questions from federal agencies you never voted on. In June, Truth Trench examined the national debate over Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), the cameras sold by companies such as Flock Safety that photograph passing vehicles and log …
Constitution Day: How the Constitution Is Amended
Today is Constitution Day. On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution in Philadelphia. The Framers knew they had not written a perfect document, so they built in a way to change it: Article V. They also made it deliberately difficult, so changes would require a broad …
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The Fourteenth Amendment: Citizenship, Due Process and Equal Protection
If the original Constitution built the federal government, the Fourteenth Amendment reshaped the relationship between Americans and their states. Ratified on July 9, 1868, after the Civil War, it is the longest and most litigated amendment in the Constitution. What Each Section Does Due …
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Can Washington Block State AI Laws? Federal Preemption, the AI Litigation Task Force and the States
Who gets to make the rules for artificial intelligence: Washington or your state capitol? In 2026, state legislatures introduced dozens of bills on AI and children alone, and states including California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Colorado enacted broader AI laws. The federal government has …
How the Electoral College Works
When Americans vote for President, they are technically choosing electors. Those electors cast the votes that decide the presidency. The Basics How States Award Electors Every state now chooses electors by popular vote. Forty-eight states and D.C. use winner-take-all: the candidate with …
Fauci Held in Contempt: Who Else Could Face Congressional Scrutiny Over the COVID-19 Response?
On August 6, 2026, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions about the federal government’s handling of COVID-19. The …
Who Controls ICE? Government Funding, Congressional Oversight, and Immigration Enforcement
Examining how Congress funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Executive Branch administers immigration law, and the constitutional checks that shape federal enforcement policy. Few federal agencies receive as much public attention as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). …
Could Canada Become the 51st State? Tariffs, Alberta Separatism, and the Law of American Expansion
Examining the U.S.–Canada trade dispute, Alberta’s independence movement, the constitutional path to American statehood, and the history of U.S. territorial expansion. Why This Matters The United States and Canada share more than a border. The two countries are deeply connected through …
House Passes Limits on Congressional Stock Trading, 232-198
For the first time, the House has voted to restrict members of Congress from buying individual stocks. On July 22, 2026, the House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act (H.R. 7008) by a vote of 232-198. All 218 voting Republicans and 13 Democrats voted yes; 198 Democrats voted no. What the Bill …
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Steele Dossier to the Mueller Report: The Full Story
Part of the Truth Trench Think Tank Crossfire Hurricane, FISA, and Russia Investigation Research Series Introduction Few government investigations in modern American history have generated as much public debate as the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. …
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International Court of Justice or “International Court of Injustice”? The Debate Over Sovereignty, Global Courts, and Marco Rubio’s Criticism
As tensions grow between the United States and international judicial institutions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has renewed criticism of international courts headquartered in The Hague, arguing they have exceeded their intended role and threaten American sovereignty. Supporters of international …
Election Integrity Research Series: Truth Trench Think Tank
American elections depend on public confidence in the systems that register voters, cast ballots, count votes, and certify results. This research series compiles publicly available reports, investigations, and primary source documents examining several election integrity topics that have generated …
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Noncitizens on State Voter Rolls
The integrity of voter registration systems depends on one fundamental principle: only individuals who meet the legal qualifications established by federal and state law may register to vote. Among those qualifications, United States citizenship remains a requirement for voting in federal elections, …
Michigan Voter-Registration Investigation
Accurate voter registration records are one of the foundational components of election administration in the United States. Every election begins long before ballots are cast, relying on voter registration databases maintained by state and local election officials to verify eligibility, assign …
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China’s Acquisition and Exploitation of American Voter Data
TAs elections become increasingly digital, the information surrounding them has become as valuable as the votes themselves. Voter registration databases contain millions of records that, while often public in varying degrees under state law, can become far more powerful when aggregated, analyzed, …
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Vulnerabilities in Electronic Voting & Ballot-Counting Systems
Electronic voting systems have transformed the administration of elections across the United States by increasing efficiency, improving accessibility, and accelerating vote tabulation. From voter registration databases and electronic poll books to ballot scanners and tabulation software, modern …
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Congress Proposes New U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Partnership Through the FUTURES Act of 2026
Artificial intelligence, missile defense, quantum computing, biotechnology, and cyber warfare are all part of a proposed bipartisan initiative that could reshape defense cooperation between the United States and Israel. A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives—H.R. 7540, …
The History of the Q Clearance: Protecting America’s Most Sensitive Nuclear Secrets
For most Americans, the term "Q Clearance" is unfamiliar. Those who have heard it often associate it with Hollywood films, Cold War espionage, or recent political movements. In reality, the Q Clearance has a long and significant history rooted in one of the most consequential scientific and military …
How to File a FOIA Request, and Why Federal Agencies Fall Behind
The Freedom of Information Act is one of the most powerful tools a citizen has. It is also one of the most underused, and most frustrating. Since 1967, FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) has given any person the right to request records from federal executive branch agencies. You do not need to be a …
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When Accountability Comes to the Watchdogs: What the Federal Indictment Against the SPLC Means for Nonprofit Transparency
“FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation would end its longstanding relationships with both the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)” Americans donate billions of dollars each year to charitable organizations because they …
Two Flags, One Vote? The Debate Over Foreign-Born Citizens, Dual Citizenship, and Public Office
The United States has long been a nation of immigrants. From the Founding Fathers to modern America, millions of foreign-born individuals have become citizens and contributed to every aspect of national life. Yet questions continue to arise concerning citizenship, loyalty, and political …
When Love Becomes a Battlefield: The Debate Over Parental Alienation and the Hidden Cost to Families
Divorce and custody disputes are among the most emotionally difficult experiences families can endure. While courts and legal systems are designed to protect children and ensure their well-being, some parents, mental health professionals, and family advocates argue that these systems can …
Is Your Phone Really Listening? What the FTC’s “Active Listening” Case Means for Consumers
For years, Americans have shared a common experience. You mention a product in conversation, and hours later an advertisement for that exact product appears on your phone or social media feed. The experience has fueled a persistent question: Are our devices actually listening to us? A …
