Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
IRS gives up after blowing $500K a year on broken self-serve kiosks
Three decades ago the IRS stormed into the digital age with self-help kiosks, intended to give taxpayers an option for figuring out their taxes without having to wait for a human. Published August 18, 2025
Trump can’t take over D.C. police, but federal troops ramping up show of force in the city
The District of Columbia remains in political turmoil after President Trump declared a safety-inspired "takeover" of the city's streets, with a federal judge forcing him to retreat from total control of the police department and Republican governors rushing National Guard troops to deploy at federal command. Published August 17, 2025
Crackdown on border cuts court backlog: Trump eliminates de facto amnesty
President Trump took the adage about finding yourself in a hole and stopping digging to heart -- at least when it comes to illegal immigration, where his almost miraculous improvements at the southern border have resulted in the first sustained decrease in the immigration court backlog in nearly two decades. Published August 17, 2025
Court halts Trump administration probe of Media Matters; claims First Amendment violation
A federal judge issued an injunction against the Federal Trade Commission ordering it to stop an investigation into left-wing group Media Matters, saying the Trump administration illegally retaliated against the group for its liberal activism. Published August 16, 2025
Trump retreats on D.C. police takeover but gets cooperation on ICE enforcement
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a new set of orders late Friday clarifying President Trump's attempt to take over the police department in Washington, leaving Chief Pamela Smith in charge but directing the city's officers to comply with federal immigration enforcement. Published August 16, 2025
Appeals court upholds Pelosi’s vote-by-proxy rules for U.S. House
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on solid legal footing when she allowed lawmakers to cast colleagues' votes on the chamber floor during the coronavirus pandemic. Published August 16, 2025
Biden judge: ‘I freak out around guns’
The federal judge deciding on President Trump's takeover of Washington's police department said Friday that she has a problem with firearms. Published August 15, 2025
ICE now deporting more than 1,400 illegal immigrants a day
The Department of Homeland Security has set a new record for detaining illegal immigrants with more than 59,000 in ICE custody, according to new agency numbers released this week. Published August 15, 2025
D.C. attorney general sues to stop Trump’s police takeover
Brian L. Schwalb, the attorney general for the District of Columbia, asked a federal judge Friday to issue a restraining order against President Trump to block his takeover of the police department, saying it violates the home rule charter Congress granted to the city. Published August 15, 2025
D.C. police to start limited cooperation with ICE
The Metropolitan Police Department will now be allowed to report illegal immigrants they encounter to federal deportation authorities under a new order issued Thursday by Chief Pamela A. Smith that breaks with the District's longstanding status as a migrant sanctuary. Published August 14, 2025
Drag queens, puberty guides: See the Pentagon’s list of banned books
To Matt Corey, the Defense Department's move to boot a transgender coming-of-age novel from the shelves at its civilian schools is the work of "bigots" afraid of letting children encounter different perspectives. Published August 14, 2025
Florida opens second migrant facility named ‘Deportation Depot’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that his state is opening a second migrant detention facility, dubbed the "deportation depot," to help President Trump achieve his mass deportations. Published August 14, 2025
J.D. Vance reveals why he was running funny
Vice President J.D. Vance finally dishes details on a viral video where he did an awkward slow run with his family at Disneyland. Published August 14, 2025
U.N. officials skim U.S. aid intended for Afghanistan, collude in bribe scheme with Taliban
Corrupt U.N. officials in Afghanistan have stolen U.S. assistance by demanding bribes to allow the aid money to flow, an American inspector general charged. Published August 13, 2025
Mexican cartels turn to timeshare fraud, target Americans with fake offers
Your timeshare in Mexico may actually be helping prop up that country's violent drug cartels, the U.S. government said Wednesday, warning Americans to think twice before buying south of the border. Published August 13, 2025
Trump tallies third straight month of no catch-and-release at the border
Homeland Security notched its third month in a row where it didn't catch and release a single illegal immigrant at the border, the department said Tuesday, celebrating new record-breaking achievements. Published August 12, 2025
Trump Justice Dept. reaches agreement barring race-based admissions at West Point, Air Force Academy
The Justice Department announced a settlement Tuesday that promises the Military Academy at West Point and the Air Force Academy will stop using race-based admissions preferences and instead pick future students "exclusively on merit." Published August 12, 2025
Rushing for the exit: Illegal immigrant population down 1.6 million under Trump crackdown
President Trump is booting out illegal immigrants faster than President Biden added them, according to the latest Census Bureau numbers that show an unprecedented drop in the number of immigrants living in the U.S. Published August 12, 2025
Judge orders Trump to restore funding to National Endowment for Democracy
A federal judge ordered the administration Monday to turn back on the pipeline of money to the National Endowment for Democracy, saying President Trump doesn't have the power to override Congress' spending decisions. Published August 11, 2025
Texas standoff enters second week as Democrats thwart GOP on new redistricting map
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called on President Trump to accept a ceasefire in the fight over redrawing congressional lines, vowing Monday to make the GOP pay if Texas follows through on the president's plans. Published August 11, 2025
