TOP POLITICS

CNN: Former SPLC Executive Heidi Beirich Arrested on Federal Fraud Charges

Heidi Beirich, a former senior executive at the Southern Poverty Law Center, was arrested in California on Tuesday and charged with federal fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from her time overseeing the organization's intelligence-gathering operations, according to the Department of Justice and a CNN report that first disclosed the arrest.

RELATED NEWS

Fighter Jets Scramble to Intercept Civilian Aircraft Near Trump’s Ohio Event

Two F-16 fighter jets scrambled Tuesday evening to intercept a civilian aircraft that had strayed into restricted airspace over northeast Ohio while President Donald Trump was on the ground attending a youth sporting event, according to defense and aviation officials.

ICE Plans Up to $20 Million Purchase of Electric-Shock Gloves

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to acquire thousands of specialized gloves capable of delivering an electrical stimulus during close-contact encounters. The proposed purchase, valued between $10 million and $20 million, would give ICE officers another less-lethal option for dealing with individuals who physically resist, while manufacturer guidelines place specific restrictions on when the technology should be used.

Karoline Leavitt Stepping Down as White House Press Secretary, Trump Announces

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, citing a desire from the 28-year-old to spend more time with her two young children after recently returning from maternity leave.

Christians Face Ongoing Attacks in Europe

More than three dozen attacks against Christians have occurred throughout July across Europe, a new report from the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) says.

The subject of politics tends to be a controversial and divisive subject for many people. Behind every idea is one’s ideology or beliefs about what is essential and true. Given that politics includes things like identity, culture, wealth, to name a few, it’s not surprising that we find ourselves divided in the United States. The idea that religion and politics do not belong together has been with us for a long time. When and where did we succumb to this idea? Was it that we feared our faith would be diluted by the rigors of politics, or did we imagine that God would frown on those who did not neglect everything but God? Our nation has an inseparable relationship with religion and politics. Our forefathers fled the oppression of a monarchy and state religion that hindered liberty and freedom. At the cost of their reputation and life, the colonists risked it all to establish a new nation. The reality is that both freedom of religion and politics are an essential part of everyday life. Without (good) government, we cannot possibly hope to have the freedom of religion that we enjoy in America. As Americans, we sometimes assume that most have a similar patriotic view. However, in recent days we have been confronted with a very different ideology. An ideology that threatens to undermine the basic tenants of our constitutional republic. Fueled by biased media and “fake news,” it is hard to know what exactly the state of the union is. The great American experiment and freedom of religion has tested over the years – it will continue to be questioned and challenged. As citizens, we can never assume that the past guarantees the future. Each person must pick up the mantle left by those who paid the price for our liberty. It will require great qualities of character of perseverance to overcome this United States division.