Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Supreme Court returns to the bench for new term, rejects dozens of legal battles on first day
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear arguments in Missouri's effort to declare itself a "gun sanctuary" where federal firearms restrictions do not apply. That was one of dozens of cases the high court refused to add to its docket on the first day of its new term. Published October 6, 2025
Illinois Democrats escalate confrontation with Trump’s ICE sweeps, National Guard deployments
Illinois officials made a bid for sanctuary supremacy Monday with Chicago's mayor signing an executive order declaring city property to be "ICE-free zones," and the city and state suing to block President Trump from sending in the National Guard to quell anti-ICE protests. Published October 6, 2025
Senate chairman to investigate judges’ use of AI after courts issued botched rulings
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley opened a probe into two federal district judges who had to retract opinions this summer amid allegations that the rulings were plagued with errors from using artificial intelligence. Published October 6, 2025
Supreme Court rejects Missouri’s bid to defend gun sanctuary law
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Missouri's case that sought to declare the state a gun sanctuary that negates federal firearms restrictions. Published October 6, 2025
Judge issues new order blocking Trump from bringing out-of-state troops to Oregon
A federal judge issued a new restraining order late Sunday barring the Trump administration from deploying other states' National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, moving to head off President Trump's end-run around a previous order. Published October 6, 2025
Trump to send 300 National Guard troops into Chicago after more violent clashes
President Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago this weekend to safeguard federal agents fighting crime and enforcing immigration law in the city, which has resulted instead in riots against the crackdown. Published October 5, 2025
Agents shoot woman accused of ‘ambush’ vehicle attack on Border Patrol in Chicago
Federal immigration agents shot at a woman they say was attempting to use her vehicle to run down officers in the Chicago area on Saturday. Published October 5, 2025
U.S. District judge in Oregon blocks Trump from sending troops to Portland
A federal judge on Saturday blocked President Trump's attempt to federalize and deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. Published October 5, 2025
Labor union sues to stop Trump from blaming Democrats for shutdown in fed employees’ emails
The largest federal labor union sued the Education Department on Friday, accusing it of a free speech violation by inserting language into employees' emails blaming the government shutdown on Democrats. Published October 4, 2025
Kavanaugh attempted assassination plotter gets 8-year prison term; government had sought 30 years
Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's would-be assassin was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison, delivering a sentence in a shocking case of political violence that became ensnared with gender identity politics. Published October 3, 2025
Supreme Court allows Trump to shut down deportation amnesty for Venezuelans
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can shut down Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, ending a Biden-era deportation amnesty that had protected hundreds of thousands of migrants. Published October 3, 2025
Illegal immigrant school superintendent in Iowa had ‘extensive criminal history’
Ian Roberts, the illegal immigrant who had been serving as superintendent of Iowa's largest school system until his arrest on immigration charges, also had an "extensive criminal history," ICE said, pointing to drug, weapons and reckless driving offenses. Published October 3, 2025
Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be eligible for Obamacare subsidies
Whether he's called an illegal immigrant or not, Kilmar Abrego Garcia could qualify for taxpayer subsidies under Obamacare. Published October 3, 2025
Supreme Court kicks off new ‘Trump term’ with clashes on powers
The Supreme Court is ready to kick off the "Trump term," with the justices on Monday opening a session in which they will grapple squarely with questions about President Trump's aggressive first-year agenda and the limits of executive power. Published October 3, 2025
Triple-dipping federal worker doesn’t get jail time, used telework to claim three jobs at same time
A federal employee who claimed full-time pay from three agencies at the same time was spared jail time this week, with a judge ordering her to serve one year of probation. Published October 2, 2025
Appeals court rejects illegal immigrant journalist’s bid to fend off deportation
A federal appeals court shot down Mario Guevara's appeal trying to head off what he believes to be his looming deportation, saying the illegal immigrant journalist didn't show the immigration courts were wrong. Published October 1, 2025
DHS’ name-and-shame sanctuary list fizzles out
The Department of Homeland Security's name-and-shame list for sanctuary jurisdictions appears to have landed on the scrap heap. Published October 1, 2025
Shutdown’s latest victim: Hundreds of Trump lawsuits across the country
The tsunami of Trump lawsuits could be another victim of the government shutdown, as the Justice Department fanned out to federal courts across the country Wednesday, asking judges to put the cases on hold. Published October 1, 2025
The Supreme Court keeps backing Trump. Justice Kavanaugh explains why
President Trump has been on a winning streak at the Supreme Court, though it's often not clear why. Enter Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who has emerged as a kind of court interpreter. Published October 1, 2025
Supreme Court allows Fed Reserve member Lisa Cook to remain in job despite Trump firing
The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve board member whom Donald Trump is trying to fire, can remain on the job at least into early next year, when the court will hear oral argument on the case. Published October 1, 2025
