On Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk’s passing now poses the same challenge for TPUSA: can an organization built on his energy adapt to new leadership, or will it remain frozen as a reflection of its founder?

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From Appropriations to Aloha: Following Native Hawaiian Line Items in FY 2026

In the end, it’s a mixed bag so far – some deep cuts where support is most needed, and a few glimmers of consistency that, if nothing else, show someone’s still reading the fine print. For Native Hawaiians, it’s not the full erasure feared by some, but it’s certainly no full-throated embrace either.

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The (DOGE) gatekeepers left their post — with a ticking clock

DOGE’s grip on the grant process may have lasted only a few months, but the effects could stretch much longer. There’s growing uncertainty about what rules now apply, and confusion is spreading — even among experienced organizations that once felt confident in how to compete for federal support.

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When habeas corpus was suspended, Hawaiʻi paid the price

Over the past few weeks, there has been a growing debate nationally about statements from the Trump Presidential Administration about…

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In the shadows of power: The letters that protected native rights

While the clarification ultimately came from a different source than Murkowski’s original inquiry, it validates the power of persistent, quiet advocacy. Even amidst the high-volume churn of the current administration, voices are still being heard—and sometimes, even heeded.

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Zelenskyy vs. Trump: A confrontation of trust or disrespect?

Did Zelenskyy, in the end, really need to confront Trump in front of the press?

The answer to this is Zelenskyy, sensing an opportunity to make his point, chose to address it directly in front of the press. This bold move wasn’t accidental—it was calculated. With U.S. leaders focused on their agendas, Zelenskyy had little choice but to raise his concerns in the most direct way possible. Though uncomfortable, the confrontation may, in the end, spark the much-needed conversation about the reliability of U.S. commitments and whether any ally can truly trust the U.S. to honor its word.

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Historical amnesia: The US–South Africa shift

The executive order, in the view of this blogger, therefore, dismisses the United States’ long history and the bonds we share with South Africa. It opts for quick fixes of things that are not seen as true on the ground or in analysis by those watching it from far away.

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Imperial echoes: Renaming and its forgotten consequences

While the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico may seem like a symbolic gesture, it reflects a broader pattern of asserting dominance through acts of rebranding. The reversion of Denali to Mount McKinley, however, strikes closer to home for Native Hawaiians, as it underscores the painful legacies of U.S. expansionism.

President McKinley’s legacy in Hawai‘i is inseparable from the annexation of the islands during the Spanish-American War, a land grab that also included the Philippines and Cuba. For many Native Hawaiians, McKinley is not a figure of greatness but a symbol of stolen sovereignty—a leader who absorbed their homeland into the United States without consent, perpetuating the broader narrative of American imperialism

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