National Review
A Visit to Jefferson’s Monticello as the Declaration of Independence Turns 250
It’s a vibrant house museum, a scholarly center, and as close to Jefferson’s clone as we’ll get.
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The Dispatch
What the Declaration Declared
Center Right
Thomas Jefferson’s belief in liberty as a universal cause is reflected in his words severing ties with Britain.
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WSJ.com : U.S. News
Vatican Declares Schism With Traditionalist Group
The crackdown caps decades of tension with the Society of St. Pius X over its opposition to the Catholic Church’s modernization.
Center
NPR Topics: News
Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicates bishops
The Vatican responded Thursday to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope's consent, declaring the Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicating its bishops and priests.
Center
National Review
No, the Declaration of Independence Did Not Reject Executive Power
This week’s expansion of federal power is in line with the Declaration’s view of what the presidency should be.
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The Federalist
Alito: John Roberts Sold Out The Declaration Of Independence ‘Only Days Before’ 250th Anniversary
'Every step of this story is incorrect," Alito wrote. 'The Declaration of Independence repudiated the foundation on which the British rule was based.'
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The Dispatch
Why the Constitution Is Better Than the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson’s rhetorical flourishes justified the creation of a new nation, but the Constitution gave us a government.
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Latest Political News on Fox News
Ethics panel clears Gallego as Luna declares, 'Once a creep, always a creep'
The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed sexual misconduct and campaign finance allegations against Sen. Ruben Gallego after finding no evidence.
Right
Alternet.org
Supreme Court declares war on democracy: Krugman
The U.S. Supreme Court has “declared war” on American democracy, on “modern society,” and on “everything it takes to function in the 21st century,” warns Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, after the court expanded presidential powers once again. Six of the court’s members, presumably the conservative wing, “are fundamentally hostile to democracy, fundamentally hostile to the modern world and determined to put the catastrophically bad leader that we currently have sitting in the White House in charge of everything, which is a nightmare scenario on every level.”Krugman scorches the court for ruling that presidents can fire, without cause, the heads of independent federal agencies (except the Federal Reserve). In doing so, the court overturned a 91-year-old precedent. He explains that in a modern society, “the agencies that operate the U.S. government and basically run our society are supposed to be professional. They’re supposed to be following their legal mandate. They’re not supposed to be personal tools of a dictator in the White House.” Krugman says that the court has now given “essentially dictatorial powers to the occupant of the White House,” while also making it extremely difficult for the economy and for society to function.He explains that in today’s complicated world, ground rules are necessary. Offering the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example, Krugman says that producers need to know that their products will be approved based on merit, and not on “spurious grounds.” “And what would cause those decisions to happen?” he asks. “Well, how about the fact that some businesses are better at the business of bribing the president and his family than others. And if you think that this is outlandish — you know, a few years ago you might have said this was outlandish, things like that wouldn’t really happen — well, as we speak, these things are happening all the time.”Ultimately, Krugman says, America cannot continue on this path — and he calls for some form of restructuring or constraining of the Supreme Court.“This is a clear argument that says we have to one way or another disempower the Supreme Court. I don’t know enough to tell you what is the best route to do that but court packing or something else is going to have to happen.” Professor of law Barb McQuade, commenting on the court’s opinion, wrote, “Today’s decision in Slaughter will destroy the independence of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which will have a cascading effect on all federal employees, who have been free from political interference for 150 years. The spoils system is back, baby!”
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