Discussion of Congress’ handling of the estate tax lapse and the possible effects of both inaction and any future action.

Written By: Adam Shelton
Research By: Matt Schroettnig
Edited By: Jesus M. Palomares
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
If the best things in life are free, then it’s probably unfortunate that we often take for granted what is freely given. Since the advent of free radio broadcasting, radio stations have enjoyed a unique role in American culture–they tell us [...]

Written By:  Casey E.R. Sanders
Researched By:  Moorisha Bey-Taylor
Edited By:  Stephen Robbins
Managing Editor:  Mary Anne Nash
Every week, Animal Planet airs the reality television series “Whale Wars.” The show chronicles the

missions of the radical environmental group Sea Shepherd as they attempt to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet from the hunting of minke and fin whales. The [...]

Written by:  Adam Gottlieb
Researched by:  Daniel Kwak
Edited by:  Eric Blaine
Managing Editor:  Mary Anne Nash
America is losing the war on drugs.  Over the past 40 years, the United States Government

has spent more than $2.5 trillion dollars fighting the “war on drugs” yet the number of drug users in the United States has risen to a [...]

Written by: Eric Blaine
Researched by: Eric Wasik
Edited by: Casey Sanders
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
It should come as no surprise that political figures can get as excited about sports as the rest of us, college football in particular. With strong regional and state affiliations, enthusiastic alumni, and big-time media alliances, college football games are one of [...]

Written by: Nick Caleb
Researched by: Tom Borton
Edited by: Amy E. Seely
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
People love sex. From Shakespeare to Spielberg, sex has always found its place into literature, art, and history. And with its obvious popularity, it is not surprising that people will pay for it. Because some are willing to accept payment for [...]

Written by: Kirk Strohman
Researched by: Casey E. Sanders
Edited by: Daniel Kwak
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
Executive orders can be as socially important as integrating the armed forces or simply a means of calming public anxiety in the face of the “Y2K problem.” They can be effective tools to block financing to terrorist organizations or authorize controversial [...]

Written by: Tracy Frazier
Researched by: Casey King
Edited by: Adam Gottlieb
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
In the midst of the excitement and revelry surrounding the election of our 44th president, the success of California’s Proposition 8 was easily lost in the commotion. However, for many, the passage of Proposition 8 damped their [...]

Written by: Jeff W. Richards
Researched by: Peter Fehrs and Casey King
Managing Editor: Brady Iandiorio
These days, it seems like Americans have to hand over their Social Security Numbers (SSN) every time they turn around. From job or rental applications to buying a house, the SSN has become the de facto way of proving that you [...]

Sarah Palin has always been an attractive person: at one time she was a beauty pageant contestant. Still, when Senator John McCain tapped the governor of Alaska to be his partner in a different kind of contest, the Republican National Committee (RNC) went shopping. And shopping. And shopping. Over the last two months, the RNC has dropped over $150,000 to spruce up the Palin family’s wardrobe and accessories.

This spending frenzy raises a number of disturbing questions: What were they thinking? Will Joe the Plumber like this? Do suits from Neiman Marcus fit in with the governor’s “hockey mom” image? And, most importantly from the tax attorney’s perspective, are the Palins required to treat the wardrobe enhancements as taxable income?

Written by: Edward S. Bushnell
Researched by: Daniel Kwak and John Deininger
Edited by: Casey E. Sanders
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
There are some legal jobs where you just have to get your hands dirty. Criminal defense attorney Robert Simels may have such a job – he’s known for defending high-profile alleged criminals, [...]

Written by: Brady Iandiorio
Researched by: Tracy Frazier
Edited by: Jeff Hinman and Dean Micknal
Managing Editor: Mary Anne Nash
Apparently life in these United States has changed dramatically; orgies are more popular than apple pie. At least that’s what the defense attempted to show in a recent Florida trial. Using “Google Trends,” which shows the popularity of individual [...]