Author: jonathanturley

Biden’s Doctor: Take a Fifth and Call Me in the Morning (With Immunity)

Dr. Kevin O’Connor appeared before the House Oversight Committee, but he had little to say about the investigation into the alleged cover-up of President Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline. The former White House physician invoked his privilege against self-incrimination in refusing to answer any questions. His prescription for the Committee seems clear: take a Fifth and call me in the morning (with an immunity grant). The question is now whether Congress will move to compel his testimony.  Continue reading “Biden’s Doctor: Take a Fifth and Call Me in the Morning (With Immunity)”

UChicago Professor Denounces School as an “Evil” and “Colonialist” Institution . . . But Wants to Stay

While universities have largely purged their faculty ranks of conservatives, there often seems to be no academic who is too far left for hiring committees. The latest example is University of Chicago Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Eman Abdelhadi, who used her appearance at the Socialism 2025 conference to denounce UChicago as “evil” and a “colonialist” institution. (For full disclosure, I graduated from UChicago as an undergraduate). Continue reading “UChicago Professor Denounces School as an “Evil” and “Colonialist” Institution . . . But Wants to Stay”

“Shameful”: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Trump Administration But Adds His Own Personal Condemnation

The Trump administration notched another victory this week when U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington granted a motion to dismiss a case brought by five organizations to stop the cancellation of more than 360 grant awards by the Justice Department. However, in reaching this relatively straightforward conclusion, Judge Mehta opted to follow a pattern set by other judges in adding his own personal commentary on the wisdom of the policy change.

Continue reading ““Shameful”: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Trump Administration But Adds His Own Personal Condemnation”

Admission Against Interest: Valley State University Honors College Director Brags About Race-Based Admissions

“We accept virtually all students of color.” Those words from Professor Roger Gilles, director of the Frederick Meijer Honors College, may seem a bit odd to Supreme Court justices who believe that they ended racial discrimination in admissions years ago in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023). The college is part of Grand Valley State University in Michigan and still apparently uses race as not just one factor but an overriding factor in admissions. Continue reading “Admission Against Interest: Valley State University Honors College Director Brags About Race-Based Admissions”

“Have You Tried Gasoline?”: Democrats Admit Followers are Embracing Violent Rhetoric

“What we really need to do is be willing to get shot.” Those words to a Democratic member are part of a chilling Axios story on the rising violent rhetoric on the American left. As alleged Antifa members are arrested in Texas for the attempted murder of ICE agents, Democratic members are beginning to express private concerns over unleashing uncontrollable rage after their election defeat. Continue reading ““Have You Tried Gasoline?”: Democrats Admit Followers are Embracing Violent Rhetoric”

‘Hit Us, Please’ — America’s Left Issues a ‘Broken Arrow’ Signal to Europe

Below is my column in The Hill on calls from the left for other countries to hit the United States with sanctions and other measures as a “bad actor.” After losses in elections and Congress, some are sending out a “broken arrow” signal for other nations to crack down on the United States.

Here is the column: Continue reading “‘Hit Us, Please’ — America’s Left Issues a ‘Broken Arrow’ Signal to Europe”

‘Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste”: Press and Pundits Push False Story on Trump Cuts Causing Texas Tragedy

Democratic strategist and former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel once stated that “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” That philosophy seemed to be the playbook for the media and pundits immediately after the flood in Texas as many rushed to claim that it was caused by Trump budget cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS). From George Stephanopoulos to Rosie O’Donnell, the hoax was spread that there was an understaffing at the NWS that may have caused these deaths. It did not matter that it was an easy matter to confirm or that the underlying claims of understaffing the NWS team were false. Continue reading “‘Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste”: Press and Pundits Push False Story on Trump Cuts Causing Texas Tragedy”

New York Times Struggles to Explain Why It Reported News to Traumatized Readers

This week, the New York Times experienced an uprising in its ranks and among its readers. The paper was denounced by its own staff and liberal pundits called for the entire editorial staff to be canned. Why? Because The New York Times actually reported news that was deemed harmful to the Democrats, specifically Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. The newspaper took the additional step of publishing a cringing explanation of why it reported the news that Mamdani lied on his Columbia application in claiming to be black. Continue reading “New York Times Struggles to Explain Why It Reported News to Traumatized Readers”

Smithsonian Institution Under Fire for Political and Social Commentary in American Pop Exhibit

The Smithsonian Institution is again under fire over alleged political or social commentary in the presentation of historical exhibits. I have previously criticized the Smithsonian for its stress on narratives over artifacts. There was also the outrageous exclusion of Clarence Thomas as one of the great African Americans in history. Now, the White House is demanding changes after the Smithsonian was unable to offer an exhibit on American pop culture without extraneous social or political commentary. Continue reading “Smithsonian Institution Under Fire for Political and Social Commentary in American Pop Exhibit”

Sex and the Cringy: Celebrities Under Fire for Making Light of Abortions

(Image: instagram/@cynthiaenixon)

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Nixon decided to virtue signal on abortion by sending out a picture of herself lounging on a boat wearing a cap that read “Make Abortion Great Again.” In the same week, “Smile” singer Lily Allen was laughing in an interview about how she has had so many abortions that she cannot remember the precise number. It is only the latest example of how the messaging on the left could be alienating many Americans on the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision.

Continue reading “Sex and the Cringy: Celebrities Under Fire for Making Light of Abortions”

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Happy Independence Day!

Despite the planned protests, most Americans will join today in celebrating our common article of faith in the Declaration of Independence. This country remains the greatest hope for freedom in the world, and these protests reaffirm those rights.  We celebrate the ideals of the people we strive to be — and the millions who came before us.  We will be watching the fireworks tonight at home with family and setting off our own after grilling up burgers, brats, corn, and other items for our Independence Day celebration.

Continue reading “HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!”

Justice Kagan Joins Colleagues in Rebuking Liberal Boston Judge Over His Defiance of the Court

Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a relatively rare clarification of its earlier opinion, which lifted the injunction on the deportation of immigrants to third-party countries. In a surprising response, Judge Brian Murphy in Boston ruled that he considered his orders regarding the eight immigrants set for deportation to South Sudan to remain unchanged by the decision. The Court quickly disabused him of that notion by declaring that he was not in compliance with its order. What was most remarkable, however, was the sharp concurrence by Justice Elena Kagan who, despite voting against the original order, called out Murphy for defying the authority of the Court. It was a commendable and principled position that escaped her colleagues, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, in dissent. Continue reading “Justice Kagan Joins Colleagues in Rebuking Liberal Boston Judge Over His Defiance of the Court”

“Did Jesus Pack Heat?”: Maine College Professor Accused of Mocking and Abusing Religious Student Over Gun Rights

There is a controversy at Eastern Maine Community College after a professor reportedly attacked a Christian conservative student for writing an essay about gun control. Katherine Parker accused English instructor Carol Lewandowski of engaging in raw political bias and then receiving no support from the community college.

Continue reading ““Did Jesus Pack Heat?”: Maine College Professor Accused of Mocking and Abusing Religious Student Over Gun Rights”

My Wray or the Highway: New Report Raises Troubling Questions Over the FBI Spiking Report Contradicting Wray

Newly declassified FBI documents obtained by Fox raise troubling questions over the FBI allegedly spiking findings that contradicted the testimony of  then-FBI Director Christopher Wray. The FBI had uncovered a Chinese conspiracy to influence the election in favor of then-President Joe Biden, including the creation of false driver’s licenses. Wray denied that such efforts were occurring and the FBI reportedly proceeded to effectively bury the report. Continue reading “My Wray or the Highway: New Report Raises Troubling Questions Over the FBI Spiking Report Contradicting Wray”

Federal Judge Rules Against Trump on Use of “Invasion” Powers to Expedite Deportations

In Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Randolph Moss has issued a notable decision against the Trump Administration in Refugee and Immigrant Center for Legal and Educational Services v. Noem. Judge Moss rejected the use of Trump’s January 20 “invasion” executive proclamation to block undocumented immigrants from pursuing asylum applications and other legal pathways. The court essentially rules that the Guarantee Clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution is something of a paper tiger, finding that states are protected from “invasion,” but affording the President no additional powers to carry out that guarantee. Continue reading “Federal Judge Rules Against Trump on Use of “Invasion” Powers to Expedite Deportations”

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks