“A newly formed anti-corruption group has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the deal that sold TikTok’s U.S. operation to a group of administration-backed investors. The suit, filed by the Public Integrity Project, a law firm that seeks to raise the ‘reputational cost of corruption in America,’ argues the deal violates a law intended to prevent the spread of Chinese government propaganda and has enriched Trump’s allies. … Trump signed an executive order in September paving the way for the deal, and the White House and China finalized a deal to give control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a group of investors who were backed by Trump earlier this year. The deal included investors ‘Oracle, MGX, and affiliates of Susquehanna International Group, LLP and General Atlantic, among other companies,’ which the lawsuit said ‘have close ties to the President, and have at times personally enriched him.'” (03/05/26)
“For everyone saying the Limited Military Operation in Iran is ‘Unconstitutional,’ we agree. The problem is the 1973 War Powers Act. It was designed to curb Nixon’s ‘Imperial Presidency.’ (Look it up.) That act of Congress allows an Executive to (a) commit troops/military action without either (i) a Declaration of War from Congress, or (b) any other sort of ‘Authority’ from Congress; (b) provided the President informs Congress within 48 hours of taking the action, and (b) provided the actions are limited to 60 days without Congressional approval. (Up to 90 days if American troops need more time to ensure their own (relative) safety.) TPOL submits that the War Powers Act is itself unconstitutional: it wrongly transfers powers from Congress to the Executive Branch.” (03/05/26)
“Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said late Thursday he was withdrawing from his reelection race, after having admitted an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide, but he vowed to finish out his term in Congress. He had faced calls from GOP leadership to end his reelection bid, and from others in Congress to resign. … The move is the latest in a quickly changing situation that stunned Capitol Hill and resulted in a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct. Gonzales’ decision to bow out of the race appears to clear the field. On Tuesday, he had been forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly lost to him in the 2024 primary.” (03/06/26)
Source: Orange County Register
by the editorial board
“Setting aside any potential merits to war with Iran, part of the preparation should’ve included seeking explicit authorization from Congress. That would’ve allowed the American people, through their representatives, to decide whether it made sense to sacrifice American lives and American tax dollars on yet another regime change war. Instead, the president chose to initiate a conflict that has already claimed the lives of Americans and civilians, including hundreds of deaths at an Iranian girls’ school. These are not the outcomes Americans expected when electing the ‘anti-war’ president.” (03/05/26)
“A pronounced increase in home relistings suggests U.S. sellers are gearing up for a potentially busier spring housing season, according to a new analysis from Redfin. Nearly 45,000 homes that were taken off the market in 2025 were relisted in January 2026 — the highest January relisting count in records going back to 2016, and equivalent to 3.6 % of all active listings for the month. Relistings occur when a home that was previously taken off the market is listed again after at least 31 days off the market, signaling renewed seller confidence. The surge follows a period in which many sellers withdrew homes rather than accept low offers amid declining demand, high housing costs, and economic uncertainty.” (03/05/26)
