When Home Is the First Thing a Child Loses — Is America Better Yet?
Adults tell children to ask for help. Homelessness teaches a more complicated lesson: help may come with conditions.
Roberto Zapatero
Roberto Zapatero is an independent forensic investigative journalist at ‘Is America Better Yet?’ focusing on truth-driven reporting and public accountability.
A Fleet Under Strain: Is the Navy Doing Enough? — Is America Better Yet?
By Roberto Zapatero Is America Better Yet? A sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln sent his wife a message that frightened her enough to carry it directly to senior Navy leaders. He did not want to wake up the next morning, she told them. She was not alone. About 200
Anthony Fauci; Rand Paul; COVID-19; Fifth Amendment; COVID Origins; Congress; Public Health; Government Accountability
Johnathan Mansfield Died After Repeated Use of an Electrical-Shock Glove and Taser. Now ICE Wants Thousands of Similar Gloves — Is America Better Yet?
Johnathan Mansfield died after jail officers repeatedly used an electrical-shock glove and a Taser. Now ICE plans to buy thousands of similar gloves, raising urgent questions about safeguards, oversight and accountability.
Anthony Fauci; Rand Paul; COVID-19; Fifth Amendment; COVID Origins; Congress; Public Health; Government Accountability
Fauci Took the Fifth. What Congress Knows, What It Alleges, and What Remains Unanswered — Is America Better Yet?
Fauci is no longer simply a former federal scientist. He became a political symbol during the pandemic. Supporters viewed him as an experienced public-health official trying to communicate science during a rapidly changing crisis.
Rubio’s Visa Policy Does Not Bar Left-Wing Americans From Leaving the Country. Passports Are Another Question — Is America Better Yet?
State Department rules require written notice when a passport application is denied or a passport is revoked. The notice must provide the specific reasons and, when applicable, explain available review procedures.
Check Your Refrigerator: Taylor Farms Recalls Jalapeño Foods — Is America Better Yet?
Salsa, guacamole, dips, sandwiches and other prepared foods sold under several store brands are being recalled because they may contain jalapeños tied to a Salmonella outbreak. A separate Taylor Farms lettuce outbreak has caused two reported deaths. By Roberto Zapate The warning Taylor Fresh Foods announced a recall on August
The 2026 Midterms: What Is Documented and What Remains Hypothetical — Is America Better Yet?
By Roberto Zapatero Independent Forensic Investigative Journalist Is America Better Yet? Less than three months before the November 3 midterm elections, there is a documented struggle over how much power the federal executive branch can exercise over voting and election administration. There are also warnings about actions that have not
Jason Watson’s Case Is Still Publicly Unresolved — Is America Better Yet?
By Roberto Zapatero Independent Forensic Investigative Journalist, Is America Better Yet? Originally published July 1, 2026 | Updated August 4, 2026 On July 1, active-duty U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason P. Watson spoke outside the U.S. Capitol in uniform and called for President Donald Trump and Vice President
Seventh Circuit rejects DHS’s expanded mandatory-detention rule
Decision date: July 30, 2026 New reporting date: August 2, 2026 Case: Jaciel Cirrus Rojas v. Samuel Olson and Scott Smith, No. 25-3127 Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Facilities and agencies involved: ICE Chicago Field Office; Dodge County Jail, Wisconsin; DHS; immigration courts within
WHEN DOES A CITIZEN'S DIGITAL PRIVACY BECOME A CRIME? - Is America Better Yet?
By Roberto Zapatero For journalists, attorneys, whistleblowers, activists, and everyday people, smartphones basically hold the most personal parts of modern life. They contain conversations with family, confidential sources, financial records, photos, location history, and years of memories. A federal criminal case involving Atlanta activist Samuel Tunick now raises an important
The campaign against Fauci and what brought him back before Congress
PBS Jul 29, 2026 6:52 PM EDT By — Andrew Merlis TranscriptAudio Dr. Anthony Fauci helped lead the White House pandemic response for Presidents Trump and Biden and is now retired from government service. He appeared under congressional subpoena and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times during
The First Metro Surge Prosecution Was Not the Last — Is America Better Yet?
Minnesota prosecutors have now charged two federal immigration agents over alleged conduct during Operation Metro Surge, marking a rare effort by state authorities to hold federal officers criminally accountable. The first case was filed on April 16, 2026, against ICE agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. Hennepin County prosecutors charged Morgan