A federal law barring marijuana users from possessing guns violates the Constitution, a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled. The decision cites last year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that affirmed an individual right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The ruling came … Continue reading Federal law banning marijuana users from having firearms is unconstitutional, judge rules
A retired man living on a boat near San Francisco is suing a local agency that is trying to evict him from his home to protect a species of sea grass that lines the bay where he lives. Dozens of … Continue reading Retiree living on boat near San Francisco sues agency trying to evict him to protect sea grass
Later this month, the Supreme Court will consider a case arising out of a botched sex-trafficking investigation about whether state and local police officers enjoy immunity from lawsuits when they are federally cross-deputized as members of joint state-federal task forces. … Continue reading SCOTUS to consider immunity of police on joint state-federal task forces in bungled sex-trafficking prosecution
President Joe Biden caused confusion on Jan. 31 when he told a reporter the Supreme Court would “end” national COVID-19 emergency policies, after telling Congress the day before that his administration would terminate the emergencies on May 11. In response … Continue reading Biden sparks confusion by saying Supreme Court will end national COVID-19 emergency
I just stumbled upon an old American Spectator column of mine that I thought had been lost in the sands of time. Someone at San Diego State University posted it in an article titled “Drinking the Kool-Aid: A (Partial) 2009 Directory.” It’s not bad, so I’ve reposted it below: Bill Ayers Should Avoid “Drinking the Kool-Aid” by Matthew Vadum, American Spectator, 19 May 2009 Retired terrorist Bill Ayers, a kind of folk hero among today’s left, had a run-in with Washington Times editorial staffer Kerry Picket. Picket’s encounter with the would-be mass murderer who plotted to bomb a crowded dance hall at Fort Dix, … Continue reading Bill Ayers should avoid “drinking the Kool-aid”
A new documentary film attempting to throw light on the rise of government power wielded by unelected experts–known today as the fourth branch of government, or the administrative state—launched online Jan. 27. This unaccountable administrative state, which is reined in at … Continue reading Documentary exposes rise of the unaccountable fourth branch of government, rule by experts
A baker who won a U.S. Supreme Court case over religious freedom violated a state anti-discrimination law when he refused to make a cake celebrating a gender transition, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled on Jan. 26. Lawyers for the baker, Jack Phillips of … Continue reading Colorado appeals court rules against baker in case over gender-transition cake
Public opinion of the Supreme Court remains underwater but has improved by several percentage points since it dropped precipitously in June 2022 when the court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to a new poll. Among U.S. adults responding to the … Continue reading Poll says public approval of Supreme Court slowly rising after abortion ruling
I was on “The Gary Nolan Show” in Missouri this morning (January 25, 2023) talking about the failed Supreme Court leak investigation and other things. My part is roughly the first 15 minutes. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gary-nolan-show/id1463431586?i=1000596607053 Continue reading Vadum on “The Gary Nolan Show” this morning
A disabled Navy veteran who owns a small business is suing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in federal court over a contracting program that excludes nonminorities from participating. Marty Hierholzer filed suit (pdf) recently in the U.S. District Court … Continue reading Disabled Navy veteran sues Small Business Administration over racially discriminatory contracting program
The Supreme Court turned away an appeal on Jan. 23 over a $2.1 million penalty the IRS assessed against a grandmother whose family fled Nazi persecution, for failing to report a foreign bank account. The decision came as the U.S. … Continue reading Supreme Court won’t stop $2 Million IRS penalty against grandmother whose family fled Nazis
After a town in central Massachusetts dramatically seized more than what a farmer owed in property taxes, the farmer is suing the town in federal court for alleged “home equity theft.” Alpaca farmer Alan DiPietro, an engineer by training who lives outside … Continue reading New England farmer sues town for ‘home equity theft’ in federal court
The Supreme Court released a report stating that, after a months-long internal investigation, the leaker of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade last year couldn’t be identified. The leak shattered the image of the Supreme Court, which has long … Continue reading New Supreme Court report fails to identify leaker of Roe v. Wade draft opinion
A public school system in Michigan wronged a deaf student by failing to properly educate him, and the student was justified in suing the system under two federal laws, the Supreme Court heard on Jan. 18. The hearing came as parents nationwide have become … Continue reading Deaf student neglected by Michigan schools should be able to sue under anti-discrimination law, SCOTUS hears
The Supreme Court on Jan. 18 turned away an emergency request from firearms dealers to halt a months-old New York law that imposed new restrictions on gun purchases and dealers that the dealers say adversely affected sales and violated their rights. The ruling … Continue reading Supreme Court again refuses to halt New York gun restrictions
A bank controlled by Turkey told the Supreme Court Jan. 17 that it should not be criminally prosecuted in U.S. courts for allegedly helping Iran defy U.S. economic sanctions because it enjoys legal immunity as an arm of the Turkish government. The … Continue reading Turkish bank urges Supreme Court to halt prosecution over dodging Iran sanctions
The Supreme Court seemed resistant to the Biden administration arguments Jan. 17 that could lead to the deportation of a transgender illegal alien from Guatemala seeking asylum. The issue is whether noncitizens have to petition the Board of Immigration Appeals … Continue reading Supreme Court hears transgender migrant’s claim of procedural unfairness
The Supreme Court refused on Jan. 17 to take up an appeal by Missouri challenging a ban on states using federal pandemic-relief funds to offset state revenue reductions, such as those attributed to tax cuts or other policy changes. The decision is … Continue reading Supreme Court turns away appeal about states using COVID-19 relief funds for tax cuts
Two longtime midwives are suing Iowa over a state law that they say unconstitutionally discriminates against their profession, preventing them from opening a freestanding birth center that would compete against local hospitals. The midwives claim that the state’s certificate of need (CON) … Continue reading Midwives sue Iowa over law allowing hospitals to veto new childbirth facilities
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a whistleblower-initiated case that pharmacy operators SuperValu and Safeway submitted false Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement claims for prescription drugs. The case is considered to be important because it could have an impact on the government’s ability to … Continue reading Supreme Court will hear pharma fraud cases against SuperValu and Safeway