As America marks the 251st year of its independence, more citizens are waking up to the toll of political factionalism and rediscovering the wisdom behind George Washington's decision to voluntarily relinquish power after two terms. Recommitting to that example of restraint, rather than escalating tribalism, is essential to keeping the country's democratic foundations intact.

Trump's initial strikes on Iran were a bold move, but months of on-again, off-again conflict without a clear breakthrough now reflect America's failure to secure major concessions from Tehran. Offering sanctions relief before Iran commits to real nuclear limits would squander leverage, and additional pressure — potentially including strikes on Kharg Island — may still be needed before a favorable deal is possible.

Both parties have misjudged the durability of Trump's grip on American politics — Republicans by assuming his control of the GOP is permanent, Democrats by assuming his combative style must be copied to compete. The country's political future belongs to leaders who break from that model of division rather than imitate it.

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson's shift toward supporting partisan redistricting, following the Supreme Court's rollback of the Voting Rights Act, risks turning Maryland into part of the same gerrymandering problem the state should be resisting. Maryland still has time to set a better example, especially since Democrats remain favored to retake Congress without needing to redraw the map.

President Trump's trip to Beijing produced little of substance, with Chinese state media treating the visit as routine rather than a breakthrough, and no explicit commitment from China on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The right response is for Trump to recommit to Asian allies — including approving a pending advanced weapons package for Taiwan — to signal that the U.S. won't be dismissed by Beijing.

Maryland's Gov. Wes Moore should follow the lead of Democratic governors in New York and Colorado and opt into the federal school-choice tax credit program created by last year's tax law. Participating wouldn't necessarily undermine funding for Maryland's public schools, and would let in-state donors support Maryland children directly rather than sending their scholarship contributions to programs in other states.

Chris Murphy and JD Vance chose opposite sides in foreign political battles, but both weakened an important American norm.

Gov. Wes Moore, who expressed sympathy for opening Maryland's primaries to independent voters during a national TV appearance, has a chance to make Maryland a leader on the issue. Following through would put Moore in the same company as Larry Hogan and Senate President Bill Ferguson in setting a different standard for the state's politics.

Democrats are poised to retake the House in November not out of enthusiasm for their party but out of exhaustion with both, and this discontent is quietly building the foundation for a genuine third-party breakthrough. A Forward Party mayoral win in South Carolina and the record 45% of Americans now identifying as independents are early signs that the two-party duopoly can't indefinitely contain voter frustration.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's celebration of a new congressional map heavily favoring Democrats — leaving Republicans with far fewer seats than their share of the electorate — costs Democrats the moral high ground in the broader gerrymandering fight. Both parties' escalating redistricting tactics are accelerating the rise of independent and third-party movements as voters lose patience with the two-party system.

Japan's unenforceable claim to the Dokdo (Takeshima) Islands, administered by South Korea since the 1950s, serves no real economic or military purpose and is an unnecessary obstacle to closer Japan-South Korea security cooperation against China. Relinquishing the claim could build on improving generational attitudes between the two countries and send a clear signal to Beijing about the resistance it faces from a more unified Indo-Pacific alliance.

President Trump presents himself as a shield for Christians against secularism, but his behavior has little in common with the values Christianity teaches. By accepting Trump's short-term protection without holding him accountable for his conduct, Christians risk damaging their long-term credibility and influence.

America must think beyond battlefield gains to long-term political success.

Attorney General Pam Bondi's dismissal shows that no degree of loyalty to President Trump guarantees job security once he views someone as a liability, despite her aggressive efforts to carry out his agenda. Both parties bear responsibility going forward — Republicans in scrutinizing future nominees for competence and independence, and Democrats in supporting qualified nominees regardless of policy disagreements.

Democrats won major concessions on immigration enforcement but their refusal to compromise risks deepening a cycle that makes governing nearly impossible.

Criticism of how the Iran war was launched is fair, but any credible critique needs an alternative plan for containing Iran's nuclear program and regional threats. Absent a full Iranian uprising, U.S. goals should stay focused and limited — degrading Iran's nuclear and missile programs rather than pursuing an open-ended conflict.

A limited war can achieve meaningful gains, but only with disciplined strategy and messaging.

The president's reaction to Robert Mueller's death underscores how far American political culture has drifted from the values Mueller embodied.

Maryland's restrictions on independent voters participating in party primaries deepen the same political dysfunction that's pushing more Americans away from both parties. A more ambitious primary-reform proposal recently considered by the legislature would have gone further than the weaker version that ultimately passed the House.

President Trump's misleading claims about the conflict with Iran—its origins, its progress, and the tragedy in Minab—are weakening public trust and the case for military action.