Is America Better Yet?

J.D. Vance Says “If That Leads to the End Times, OK.” What Should Americans Make of That? — Is America Better Yet?

By Roberto Zapatero Is America Better Yet? There are statements from political leaders that can be explained away as a poor choice of words. There are others that deserve to be heard exactly as they were spoken. Vice President J.D. Vance recently made one of those. During a long

1,000 Federal Election Monitors Are Planned for November. What Will They Actually Be Allowed to Do? — Is America Better Yet?

The Justice Department plans roughly 1,000 federal election monitors for November. Here is who they are, what authority they have — and what voters should know before entering a polling place.

Trump Administration Again Asks Supreme Court to Let New Mail-Ballot Rules Take Effect — Is America Better Yet?

The Trump administration is again asking the Supreme Court to let new Postal Service mail-ballot rules take effect. Ballots are already going out, while a required federal portal was not yet operational.

When Government Power Meets the Body, the Water Tap and the Press — Is America Better Yet?

An ICE hunger striker, Jackson families exposed to contaminated water and fired Stars and Stripes journalists confront the same hard question: what happens when government power outruns the rights people can actually enforce?

ICE Hired Thousands Fast. A Whistleblower Says Basic Vetting Was Skipped — Is America Better Yet?

A former ICE vetting official says recruits advanced before fingerprint, identity and credit checks were complete during a massive hiring surge. ICE says it followed proper rules. Now an inspector general is investigating.

Who Gets to Decide Whether Your Ballot Enters the Mail? — Is America Better Yet?

A federal judge has blocked new USPS mail-ballot requirements for the November midterms. The Postal Service has now gone to the Supreme Court, asking it to let the rules take effect.

When the Water Fails, Who Protects You? — Is America Better Yet?

A federal court says the Constitution does not guarantee clean water. From Jackson and Flint to Erin Brockovich’s new investigations, IABY follows the larger question: when the water fails, who protects you?

Judge Blocks New USPS Mail-Ballot Rules as the Election Clock Runs Down — Is America Better Yet?

By Roberto Zapatero Forensic Investigative Journalist | Is America Better Yet? Voting Rights | Election Administration | Living Record *Reporting checked through September 5, 2026 Millions of Americans vote by mail. You request a ballot. Your election office checks that you qualify. They prepare it. The Postal Service brings it to you. Simple

Gas Is Above $4 Before Labor Day. What the Record Shows — Is America Better Yet?

AAA puts regular gas at $4.15 a gallon, about 94 cents more than a year ago. Federal data confirms lower inventories and near-full refineries, while the final Labor Day record remains a forecast.

ICE/HSI Moves Toward a $2–5 Million Voter-Data Contract — But It Has Not Been Awarded — Is America Better Yet?

ICE/HSI is planning a $2–5 million contract involving voter-registration and voting-history files nationwide. No contract has been awarded. Here is what federal records actually show.

Supreme Court Lifts Block on Trump Election Order but Does Not Rule It Constitutional — Is America Better Yet?

The Supreme Court lifted a block on Trump’s election order without ruling it constitutional. Now DHS citizenship lists and new USPS ballot-mail rules move closer to the 2026 midterms.

Capital One Closed More Than 300 Trump-Linked Accounts After Money-Laundering Review — Is America Better Yet?

Capital One says it closed more than 300 Trump-linked accounts after months of anti-money-laundering review. Now Congress wants to know what transactions triggered the bank's concerns.