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Hawaii RNC members pay their way to represent state: ‘It’s not a cheap hobby’ Be honest—this is ridiculous. SANTA BARBARA, California — Hawaii’s Republican National Committee members pay thousands of dollars out of pocket, burn vacation days, and still show up to winter meetings to prove their loyalty to the party and the president. Unlike some states that receive funding, Hawaii’s RNC delegation must cover the cost of quarterly trips to the mainland to get face time with RNC officials and keep its state’s issues top of mind. Hawaii RNC Committeewoman Shirlene Ostrov at the RNC Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Barnini Chakraborty/Washington Examiner) At this week’s RNC winter meeting in Santa Barbara, Hawaii’s chairperson, alongside multiple committee members, spent close to $2,000 each on plane tickets, hotel stays, food, transportation, and incidentals. “It is not a cheap hobby,” Hawaii committeewoman Shirlene Ostrov told the Washington Examiner, adding that “people forget that this is 100% volunteer. You’re all on your own with the cost.” While a handful of state party chairmen and chairwomen do have their travel paid for, Hawaii is not among them. Typically, there are at least three meetings per year. This year, the RNC is moving forward with plans for a national convention ahead of the midterm elections, which will likely add even more zeroes to the final cost for Aloha State committee members. “I was properly informed that if I wanted to serve as committeewoman, it would be something that I paid for myself, and I had to be prepared,” Laura Nakanelua told the Washington Examiner. “It wasn’t going to be cheap. And I’m not a wealthy person, per se, but I was a working person, and so my husband and I talked about it and realized in advance the cost that it would incur.” Not only does she travel on her own dime, but Nakanelua also uses up her vacation days at work to attend RNC events. “I had to really balance those leave days as well, getting permission from the company, making sure that I cleared the decks before I came here for a full four or five days to get that work done,” she added. Hawaii RNC committee members Laura Nakanelua and Scott Smart at the 2026 Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California. (Barnini Chakraborty/Washington Examiner) Committeeman Scott Smart, a veteran who came to Santa Barbara with his wife, told the Washington Examiner that it was worth it. “It’s part of what we can give back to the party,” Smart said. “Not everyone has the resources or the time because, you know, flying back and f…

The Root of Trump’s Immigration-Enforcement Image Problem This isn't complicated—it's willpower. The administration can’t seem to distinguish between law enforcement and national security.

Gavin Newsom’s Big Ambulance Scam Every delay has consequences. California is inflating ambulance service reimbursements to get more federal taxpayer dollars. Congress can end this swindle.

February Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in six days This feels like a quiet policy shift. February 2026 Supplemental Security Income payments, worth up to $994, will be issued to recipients in six days. SSI payments are typically issued on the first day of a month. However, February’s payment will go out on Jan. 30. When the first of a month falls on a weekend or holiday, SSI payments are issued on the last business day of the previous month. This year, Feb. 1 falls on a Sunday. Beneficiaries are people with limited income who are either blind, aged 65 and older, or have a qualifying disability. The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing. For example, individual filers can receive up to $994, couples filing jointly can receive $1,491, and those providing essential care to SSI recipients can receive up to $498. In addition to the previous prerequisites for receiving SSI payments, recipients must also be U.S. citizens or noncitizens in one of the alien classifications granted by the Department of Homeland Security. WHO WAS INVITED TO BE ON TRUMP’S ‘BOARD OF PEACE’? Additionally, recipients must live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, and must not be absent from the United States for a full calendar month or 30 consecutive days. A full calendar for the Social Security Administration payments can be viewed on the agency’s website.

Third round of January Social Security payments goes out in four days Who's accountable for the results? The third round of January Social Security payments for retirees, now capped at $5,108, will be issued in four days. When will payments arrive? Retirees born on or after the 21st of a month will receive this payment on Jan. 28. The first round of payments went out on Jan. 14 to recipients born on or before the 10th of a month, and the second round went out on Jan. 21 to those born between the 11th and 20th of a month. When am I eligible? Citizens are eligible for Social Security payments beginning at 62 years old. How can I maximize my check? Social Security payment amounts are determined by several factors, including age of retirement, the amount paid into Social Security, and the number of years paid into Social Security. Payments largely depend on a recipient’s retirement age. A beneficiary retiring at the youngest age, 62, could receive up to $2,831 per month, while a 70-year-old retiree could receive up to $5,108 per month, according to the Social Security Administration. Beneficiaries can see a personalized estimate of how much they could expect each month through the SSA’s calculator. GOP PLAYS BALL WITH DEMOCRATS ON ICE FUNDING, BODY CAMERAS FOR AGENTS How is it financed? Social Security is financed by a payroll tax paid for by employers and employees. Social Security payment amounts are set to shrink unless Congress takes action to prevent it. Analysts estimate the SSA will no longer be able to issue full payments as early as 2034, due to a rising number of retirees and a shrinking workforce.

Firebrand vs. pastor: Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico to collide in Texas primary debate Confidence requires clarity. Rep. Jasmine Crockett‘s viral, confrontational style will square off against state Rep. James Talarico‘s softer, faith-driven approach on Saturday when the duo meet for the first Democratic primary debate of the U.S. Senate race in Texas. The side-by-side showdown between the millennial candidates will give national Democrats and Lone Star voters an early look at which style of politics could be more electable ahead of the start of early voting on Feb. 17. Crockett has gone viral and grabbed national headlines for fiery exchanges and spats with former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Elon Musk. “She’s going to be better off being who she has been, not hoping to come up with some augmented version designed for this particular occasion,” a Texas Democratic strategist, whose spent 30 years enmeshed in the state’s politics, told the Washington Examiner. “The challenge for her is that she basically only exists in snippets online.” Talarico, a former sixth-grade teacher and seminary student with 1.2 million TikTok followers, has pitched himself as a more measured, faith-focused alternative who can win over moderates and independents. “You’re not going to convince him he’s a bad dude,” said the Texas strategist. “And so don’t try.” DEMOCRATS FRET JASMINE CROCKETT MAY BE A TOUGH SELL STATEWIDE IN TEXAS There have been few consistent polls in the race. One conducted earlier this month by Emerson College with Nextstar found Talarico up by 9 percentage points. Another poll conducted by Texas Southern University in December found Crockett up by 8 percentage points. National attention has yet to focus on the race. That’s why Saturday’s debate presents an opportunity for both candidates to not just garner attention but also show that their style is what’s needed to flip the seat. “I expect James Talarico to remain controlled and substantive, while Jasmine Crockett may be more inclined to seek moments that generate headlines,” a national Democratic strategist told the Washington Examiner. “Against the backdrop of ongoing questions about her viability in a general election and Talarico’s meteoric rise on the national stage, I could easily see her using that to create contrast.” It’s unlikely, though, that those watching the debate will see it devolve into an outright slug fest, at least from Talarico. PARIS HILTON TEAMS UP WITH AOC TO PUSH HOUSE TO PASS STALLED AI DEEPFAKE PORN BILL “We will always treat Congresswoman Crockett with the utmost respect…

DHS Claps Back: No Rights Denied to Army Vet Held After Assaulting Officer During Minneapolis ICE Op What's the administration thinking here? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pushed back against claims made by an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who alleged he was wrongfully tackled, arrested, and held for eight hours by ICE agents in Minneapolis without access to his attorney.

My Husband Is Forcing Me to Choose Between Our Kid and Our Marriage. This Is Impossible. This affects the entire country. Care and Feeding My Husband Is Forcing Me to Choose Between Our Kid and Our Marriage. This Is Impossible. It’s a cruel ultimatum. Advice by Michelle Herman Jan 24, 20268:00 AM Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Rani Nurlaela Desandi/iStock/Getty Images Plus and Liubomyr Vorona/iStock/Getty Images Plus. Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, My husband and I are at an impasse about our 23-year-old son. He went away to college for a year after high school, then left and came home. He’s lived at home on and off and has taken some classes at a local college for the past few years. He now wants to move back home to finish school. My husband doesn’t want him to come back. He feels that our son is entitled and immature, and will become a stay-at-home son, dragging out his schooling and anchoring us in place. I understand his concerns, and I’ve suggested setting a time limit for our son before he has to move on. But my husband says that he can’t live in the same house with our son, and if he comes home, my husband will leave. I feel like I’m being forced to choose between my child and my marriage. —No-Win Situation Dear No-Win, Popular in Advice This Content is Available for Slate Plus members only New People Always Hate Me When They Find Out What I “Do.” It’s Not My Fault! This Content is Available for Slate Plus members only Help! There’s an Unspoken Rule About What Makes a “Good Woman.” It All Comes Down to One Chore. You don’t just feel like you’re being forced to make this choice: Your husband actually is making you choose. Which, if you ask me (and you did ask me, right?), is awful of him. Possibly unforgivable. This is your child. At 23, he’s still in the process of becoming who he’s going to be. Wanting to move back home so that he can finish school doesn’t seem to me “entitled” or immature, so unless there’s a lot of untold backstory here that supports your husband’s convictions … well, those convictions just seem unfeeling and selfish to me. I think it’s reasonable to set some structures in place around your son’s homecoming—his contributions, whether material or not, to the household (certainly including his share of housekeeping and other tasks that keep things running), and a rough plan for what will happen once he graduates. But forbidding him to come home? If your husband really means it when he says he’ll leave if this happens, I say let him leave. Why would you want to stay marr…

EXCLUSIVE: Early Look at the House Anti-Sharia Law Caucus’ Priorities Ahead of First Press Conference What's the administration thinking here? FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Sharia Free America Caucus will present a suite of policies to prevent Sharia law from entering U.S. politics during its first press conference scheduled for Feb. 3, The Daily Signal has learned. During the press conference, the caucus, led by Republican Reps. Keith Self and Chip Roy of Texas, will present legislative actions that seek to “protect the American people from the advancements of Sharia Law.” “Members of Congress are convening to sound the alarm about the rising presence and accelerating spread of Sharia in the United States,” Self told The Daily Signal. “If allowed to spread, Sharia will completely erode the bedrock of Western values, individual liberties, and freedoms that define America.” Sharia law is a system of Islamic religious law that guides personal behavior and civil and criminal justice, often in conflict with Western concepts of liberty and government. ? BREAKING: An inside look by the @DailySignal at the Sharia-Free America Caucus, founded by @RepChipRoy and me.Sharia poses a clear and imminent threat to our liberties. Now is the time for decisive action through legislation and education. https://t.co/5tpPgsAfuE — Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) January 21, 2026 Measures that will be promoted in the press conference include the No Tax Exemptions for Terrorist Act. The bill aims to target funding for groups allegedly tied to Sharia law, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council for American Islamic Relations, Self’s office told The Daily Signal. Other measures include Roy’s Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act and the No Sharia Act, which bars the enforcement of Sharia-based judgments in U.S. courts and designates followers of Sharia law as “inadmissible” to the United States. “Any alien in the United States found to be an adherent of Sharia law by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Homeland Security, or Attorney General shall have any immigration benefit, immigration relief, or visa revoked, be considered inadmissible or deportable, and shall be removed from the United States,” the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act states. The press conference will also focus on resolutions that aim to codify President Donald Trump’s executive orders designating groups like the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. The caucus hopes to “educate” Congress, foreign lawmakers, and the American people on the “clear dangers of Sharia” to “U.S. law and our constitutional rights.” “We need to call evil by its name. Sharia Law seeks to subjugate women and wage violence against non-Muslims; it seeks to destroy what made America, America,” Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., recently told The Daily Signal. The post EXCLUSIVE: Early Look at the House Anti-Sharia Law Caucus’ Priorities Ahead of First Pre…

House candidate predicts historic rise of ‘new generation’ in Congress as parties target key demographic Who's accountable for the results? After making historic inroads with Hispanic voters in the last several election cycles, the Republican Party is going all in on winning the Latino vote this midterm election. The party, which currently holds a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, is confident that Hispanic voters will help it retain and shape the future of its majority both this November and in the years to come. Longtime South Texas Democratic Judge Tano Tijerina told Fox News Digital during an interview that he and Hispanics are ready to buck the Democrats and embrace a "new generation" of political leadership. Alongside former assistant U.S. attorney Eric Flores and former California mayor Kevin Lincoln, Tijerina is one of three Hispanic Republicans running to unseat Democrats in Congress who have been endorsed by President Donald Trump. There are eight other Hispanic Republicans running in competitive, heavily Latino districts in border states, Texas, New Mexico and California. If elected, these candidates will join an already influential group of Hispanics in Congress, including Reps. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., and Gabe Evans, R-Colo. HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL': WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS Tijerina is running to unseat longtime Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in a district along the Texas-Mexico border. He said that despite long being a Democratic stronghold, the Biden administration’s mismanagement of the border and prioritization of DEI "really opened up a lot of eyes of the Hispanics down here in South Texas." "Being a Democrat after so many years, I'm just sick and tired of seeing all the social issues that the Democrats are [promoting]. And I'm not the only one. That's why Webb County, that's why South Texas, voted for Trump plus 10 numbers." "We have always been conservative, everybody knows it," he went on, adding, "Down here in South Texas, the only thing that we care about is good-paying jobs [and] making sure that we're getting protected." Cuellar also counts himself as one of the last "blue dog" conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. He was highly critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the border and immigration issues. Cuellar has said that it was this stance that led to him being indicted by the Biden Department of Justice on foreign bribery charges. He was later given an unconditional pardon by Trump, who also posited that the ch…