politics
Politics does not dictate our collective cultural mindset as much as it simply reflects it; We've got to look in the mirror sometimes, and we've got one.
US and Japan Reach Trade Deal with 15% Tariffs on Imports
Since “Liberation Day,” the Trump administration has pursued hefty “reciprocal” tariffs on major trade partners — including Japan — citing U.S. trade imbalances. Japan faced threats of up to 35% on select goods, with a looming 25% tariff on vehicles and autos if no agreement was reached by August 1.
By Kageno Hoshino6 months ago in The Swamp
Hunter Biden Denies White House Cocaine Link—Says He’s Been Sober Since 2019
In a fiery and emotional new interview that’s lighting up headlines, Hunter Biden—the son of U.S. President Joe Biden—has firmly denied any involvement in the now-infamous White House cocaine incident that dominated media cycles in 2023. Speaking candidly, he declared, “I’ve been sober since 2019,” putting to rest the persistent rumours that linked him to the bag of cocaine discovered in a secure area of the West Wing.
By Bevy Osuos6 months ago in The Swamp
The Next 15 Dumb Ideas the Left Will Probably Fight For
If you thought we hit peak lunacy with “men can get pregnant” or “climate change causes racism,” buckle up. Because the activist Left — powered by hashtags, hysteria, and a TikTok-fueled moral superiority complex — is just getting started.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
The GCC Is Rewriting the Script on Global Diplomacy
While once relegated to strategic hedges and security dependence on major powers, GCC states are now actively shaping a new narrative; one rooted in pluralistic engagement, mediation, and global partnership.
By Victor Trammell6 months ago in The Swamp
What If Donald Trump Had Run as a Democrat?
Imagine this alternate political reality: Donald J. Trump, a former registered Democrat and lifelong New York powerbroker, never joins the Republican Party. Instead, he leverages his populist instincts, media mastery, and brash celebrity persona to storm the gates of the Democratic Party. What happens next? Would the world implode—or would America look startlingly different today?
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Badenoch Reshuffle!
If anyone was the action man of the last Tory administration, it was James Cleverly. Cleverly served in the Territorial Army for nearly 20 years. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and mobilised in support of returning soldiers during the Iraq War. Educated privately at Riverston School and Colfe's School. He earned a BA in Business from the University of West London in 1991.
By Nicholas Bishop6 months ago in The Swamp
Mike Tyson’s Knockout Case for Cannabis Reform
When most Americans think of Mike Tyson, they recall the heavyweight champ who dominated the boxing world with raw power and unfiltered honesty. But in 2025, Tyson’s biggest punches aren’t being thrown in the ring—they’re being delivered on the front lines of cannabis policy reform.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Why Is Maryland Powering Virginia’s Data Centers Instead of Building a Smarter Grid?
The story is as maddening as it is predictable: Marylanders could end up paying $800 million to power Virginia's data center boom—a surge of AI-driven server farms whose insatiable appetite for electricity is pushing our grid to its limits. Meanwhile, cutting-edge solutions like sodium-ion batteries and micro nuclear reactors, widely adopted in Europe and Asia, remain frustratingly sidelined here in the United States.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Maryland’s Family Courts Are Failing Families
In theory, Maryland’s family courts are supposed to be the guardians of justice for families in crisis—handling divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence with impartiality and compassion. But in reality, they’ve become a bureaucratic maze riddled with inefficiencies, financial hurdles, and questionable practices that harm the very families they claim to protect. And despite the glossy brochures and polished websites, Maryland’s Judiciary continues to ignore the warning signs.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Trump’s ‘Anarchist Jurisdiction’ Talk Was Mostly Nonsense — But Could Such a Thing Exist?
On January 5, 2021, I wrote on my blog about a peculiar phrase that emerged during the Trump administration: "anarchist jurisdictions." It was used by the Department of Homeland Security to describe cities like Portland, Seattle, and New York — places that had seen protests in response to police brutality or simply didn’t align with Trump’s political narrative. The term, however, made little sense. Anarchism isn’t jurisdictional. It isn’t something defined or confined by government-sanctioned borders, laws, or frameworks. If anything, the concept of an "anarchist jurisdiction" is oxymoronic.
By Wade Wainio6 months ago in The Swamp
Justice for Sale?
Family court was once seen as a sanctuary for the vulnerable—a place where children’s best interests reigned supreme and families could find resolution amidst conflict. But today, a growing chorus of parents, whistleblowers, and reform advocates are sounding the alarm: this system is broken. Worse, some say it's corrupt—not necessarily through envelopes stuffed with cash, but through something more insidious: institutionalized greed, judicial bias, and a profiteering machine hiding behind closed doors.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
