Information on the "IKE DIKE" Coastal Barrier November 2: The Gateway Pundit: Musk; The secret behind why the Dems won't give up on shutdown without federal funding of healthcare for illegals Tech billionaire Elon Musk just dropped a political bombshell during an interview with Joe Rogan. He revealed what he calls the Democrats' dirty secret behind the ongoing government shutdown. Musk contends blue states like California and New York are propped up by billions in fraudulent federal handouts disguised as "Medicaid" for illegals, and says that cutting off this cash spigot would trigger a mass exodus of these imported voters, crippling the left's electoral machine. Musk hammered home the point that sanctuary states are addicted to this federal gravy train. Democrats are refusing to open the government unless Republicans agree to give health benefits to illegal aliens. November 2: The Epoch Times: Canada unveils 26 Critical Minerals Initiatives Canada has announced the first round of 26 new investments, partnerships, and measures as part of a G7 critical minerals alliance to counter China's current global dominance in the sector. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said $6.4 billion in investments in Canadian projects is a significant step forward in creating a resilient G7 supply chain for critical minerals that will be less reliant on China and protect member nations' national security interests. The Critical Minerals Production Alliance was put forward by Canada in June of this year to put its Critical Minerals Action Plan into effect. The alliance aims to incentivize public and private investments in the mining and processing of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, among G7 countries and allies. Meanwhile The Epoch Times also reported that Treasury Secretary Bessent says the US is working at 'Warp Speed' to reduce reliance on Chinese critical minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Nov. 2 that the United States is aiming to achieve supply chain independence from China on critical minerals within a year or two. "The U.S. has been asleep at the switch, and now this administration, we're going to go at warp speed over the next one, two years, and we're going to get out from under the sword that the Chinese have over us—and they have it over the whole world," he said. On Oct. 9, the Chinese regime announced sweeping restrictions on rare earths sourced from China that were broadly considered to have a disruptive effect on global trade. Bessent said the licensing regime covered products containing 0.1% of several rare earths, making the controls "China versus the world." Meanwhile, countries around the world have accelerated efforts to diversify the critical minerals supply chain away from China, with scores of government initiatives, investments, and deals announced in the weeks since Beijing instituted restrictions on it's sale of critical rare earth minerals. Bessent said, "This time, we have rallied the allies. And so it is going to be all the Western democracies, the Asian democracies, and India are also going to join us in this, in trying to form our own supply chains. We don't want to decouple from China, but we need to de-risk—they've shown themselves to be an unreliable partner in many areas." November 2: The Daily Caller: Treasury Secretary; Maybe unnoticed is the reduction of spending during the shutdown, helps keeps us from recession Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pointed out Sunday that the administration's cutback on government spending may have gone "unnoticed" during the shutdown, calling it one of the factors helping the U.S. avoid a recession. With less spending, the need to print more money and adding to the money supply becomes less of an issue and helps reduce inflationary pressures. The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it would lower the interest rate benchmark by a quarter-point, bringing it to a range of 3.75%-4.00%. CNN's Jake Tapper asked Bessent about the latest rate slash and the Fed's warnings that the U.S. could face a recession if cuts continue rapidly, questioning if the country is at risk of a downturn. "I believe that we are in a transition period here as we are seeing the Trump administration has cut back on government spending. What has gone unnoticed during the shutdown is, for the fiscal year, the government spent less than it did the year before. And because the GDP grew we weren't in a recession ever," Bessent said. "… If we go back and look, MIT just published a study that said 42% of the great inflation of 2022 came from excess government spending. So, if we are contracting spending then I would think inflation would be dropping. [If] Inflation is dropping then the Fed should be cutting rates." November 2: The Gateway Pundit: Maduro pleads with Russia and China for military assistance against the U.S. increase of drug enforcement efforts Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro is pleading for help from China and Russia as President Donald Trump escalates his military campaign in the region. While the U.S. has yet to formally invade Venezuela, it has already carried out numerous drone strikes against vessels smuggling narcotics at the behest of the Maduro regime. According to official U.S. memos Maduro is now asking Moscow, Beijing, and Iran to provide military equipment that will somehow allow him to fend off the American threat. Reportedly Maduro is reaching out to Russia, China and Iran to enhance its worn military capabilities and solicit assistance, requesting defensive radars, aircraft repairs and potentially missiles. The requests to Moscow were apparently made in the form of a letter meant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and was intended to be delivered during a visit to the Russian capital by a senior aide this month. A similar letter was also sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping seeking "expanded military cooperation" between their two countries to counter "the escalation between the U.S. and Venezuela." In the letter, Maduro asked the Chinese government to expedite Chinese companies' production of radar detection systems, presumably so Venezuela could enhance its capabilities. November 1: Breitbart News: Illinois passes law prohibiting arrests of illegals within 1,000 feet of their courthouses Joining at least two other Democrat-run states, Illinois lawmakers passed a bill on Friday prohibiting federal immigration agents from arresting illegal aliens near and around state courthouses. But wait a minute, isn't it true that federal law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction everywhere in the United States with the exception of foreign diplomatic missions which are considered foreign property? One of the bill's top sponsors, Democratic Senate President Don Harmon, is questioning whether it can withstand a court challenge. The bill, sent to anti-Trump Gov. JB Pritzker, not only seeks to prevent ICE operations inside courthouses but establishes a 1,000-foot "buffer zone" outside of buildings. The bill also would allow Illinois residents to bring lawsuits against agents whom they allege violated their constitutional rights, including for due process and unreasonable search and seizures. November 1: Fox News: Trump threatens actions if Nigeria doesn't stop massacring Christians President Trump Saturday announced the U.S. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria if its government continues to allow the killing of Christians, and may even go into the country "guns-a-blazing" to "completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists" responsible. "I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action," Trump wrote. "If we attack, it will be fast and vicious… WARNING: The Nigerian Government better move fast!" The post comes after the president on Friday designated Nigeria as a "country of particular concern," citing the widespread killings of Christians. November 1: One America News Network: Canadian Prime Minister apologizes to Trump for anti-tariff ad with Ronald Reagan's voice over Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he apologized to President Trump over an anti-tariff political advertisement that utilized the voice of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize Trump's trade policy. On Saturday, Carney informed reporters after attending an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea that he privately apologized to the president, stating: "I did apologize to the president." During a dinner hosted by South Korea's president on Wednesday, Carney noted that he had ordered Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run the advertisement. After the advertisement was announced, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute released a statement saying the ad "misrepresents" Reagan's comments by utilizing "selective audio and video" while noting that the "Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks." October 31: The Epoch Times: Tariffs on Trucks effect tomorrow, Mexico and Canada to feel the impact Starting Nov. 1, the United States will impose a 25% tariff on imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, impacting billions in imports from Mexico and Canada. Of the $12 billion in U.S. imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in 2024, Mexico ($5.9 billion) and Canada ($3.3 billion) led the way and accounted for 48% and 27% of total imports, respectively. The United Kingdom and Japan each contributed 8% to the overall import share, according to official trade data. Reportedly, American-made heavy-duty trucks have been up to a $10,000 or more per truck cost disadvantage compared to trucks assembled in Mexico. It has been argued that Mexican-built trucks that incorporate non-tariffed Chinese parts and foreign steel and aluminum can be imported into the U.S. tariff-free if they meet the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) rules of origin for finished vehicles. October 30: The Daily Caller: Jefferies digs in his heals as major airline unions call for an end to the Schumer Shutdown House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) rebuffed calls from major U.S. airlines to get behind a clean continuing resolution and end the 30-day shutdown on Thursday. Delta Air Lines called on Congress to "immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government" and ensure air traffic controllers and TSA agents among other federal employees receive their paychecks. Though air travel industry leaders did not mention either party by name, Republicans have consistently urged Democrats to support their clean continuing resolution to open the government. Although the House bill simply extended current spending, Democrats are attempting to unravel the changes made earlier this year in the reconciliation bill that passed and was signed into law by the President. Legacy media outlets have taken issue with the Democrat leadership assertion that the House-passed spending bill is not a "clean" continuing resolution. The New York Times issued a fact check on Democrats' claim the Republicans' proposal is not "clean," stating that Jeffries has "misused budget jargon." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the majority of the Democrat caucus have rejected the clean extension measure 13 times. October 30: Breitbart News: Blood on hands of Illinois sanctuary policies after illegal kills GOP official and his wife in an automobile crash In the sanctuary state of Illinois, where Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has attempted to impede federal immigration enforcement, an illegal alien is accused of killing a Republican elected official and his wife in Coles County. Police say that 34-year-old Edwin Pacheco-Meza of Honduras was driving a van on Oct. 24 when he crossed the center lane and struck 71-year-old Michael Clayton and his wife, 66-year-old Gail Clayton — killing them instantly. Clayton served on the Coles County Board. Pacheco-Meza, who crossed the southern border as an unknown got-away, was in his vehicle with 18-year-old illegal alien Juan Morales-Martinez of Guatemala, who crossed the border in December 2023 and was released into the United States interior by the Biden administration. The illegal aliens were found with an extended magazine, firearm ammunition, drugs, and an open container of alcohol in their vehicle, police say. Pacheco-Meza was charged with reckless homicide and drunk driving, while Morales-Martinez was charged with drug possession and weapons violations. After they were arrested ICE lodged detainers against them but the detainers were ignored by the Clark County Jail thanks to Pritzker's sanctuary state policy. Still, ICE agents waited for Morales-Martinez to be released from jail and arrested him outside of the jail. Pacheco-Meza remains in Clark County Jail. October 30: The Gateway Pundit: Shutdown of Food Stamps may be a good time to assess why 54% of recipients are foreign born Instagram and Twitter are abuzz with complaints about how the government shutdown is cutting food stamp (SNAP) benefits, and children in the U.S. are going hungry. Liberals blame Republicans for the shutdown and claim Republicans don't care about Americans. But these liberals omit the fact that the shutdown happened because Democrats refused to cut funding for illegal aliens. And as for children "going hungry," only about 4 percent of American households face what's called "food insecurity," which is not the same as hunger. These households already qualify for federal assistance programs. In reality, there is almost no true hunger in the United States. If Democrats are truly concerned about these people, they shouldn't have allowed the government to shut down. Moving from logic to data, liberal media claim that 89.4% of food stamp recipients are U.S.-born citizens and less than 11% are foreign-born, including 6.2% naturalized citizens, 1.1% refugees, and 3.3% other non-citizens (such as lawful permanent residents). Therefore, they say, Republicans are wrong to argue that benefits are going to illegals. However, illegal-alien parents can, and do, use their U.S.-born citizen children to qualify for benefits, and the numbers are staggering. The total estimated cost to American taxpayers of providing SNAP benefits to the children of illegal aliens is almost $5.8 billion. Studies from 2022 indicate that 54% of households headed by immigrants used one or more major welfare programs. By comparison, 39 percent of U.S.-born households received such benefits. At the start of 2023, the net cost of illegal immigration to the United States at the federal, state, and local levels was estimated at $150.7 billion. October 30: The Epoch Times: Federal judge weighs whether food stamps should be paid regardless of Schumer shutdown U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointed judge, said during a hearing in Boston the government should find a way to continue giving limited benefits to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, rather than cutting it off completely. "The steps involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits," she said. Talwani is expected to issue a ruling in the near future. Approximately 1 in 8 Americans receive food stamp benefits at a cost of around $100 billion per year, it is one of the country's most amply funded social service/welfare initiatives. On Oct. 10, the USDA informed states that it would not disburse benefits for November because of the government shutdown. The program is set to run out of funding on Nov. 1 if the shutdown continues. Senate Democrats have declined to support a House-passed clean bill to fund the government, and earlier this week. As Republicans and Democrats continue to face off on the issue of reopening the government, 25 states sued on Oct. 27, insisting that the USDA could harness the $5 billion emergency fund to keep the program going. However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said dipping into the emergency fund is illegal because those funds were meant to pay for school meals and infant formula, not for food stamps. The USDA echoed Johnson's contention and has warned states that they will not be reimbursed if they choose to cover food stamp benefits on their own. They also not that the Antideficiency Act prohibits the government from using funds for something there is no appropriation for. USDA notes further that even if it could legally reallocate funds, that decision belongs to the agency and "not a federal court" and not to the states. October 29: The Galveston County Daily News: SCOTUS 2025-26 Docket, some important cases Every October the Supreme Court opens a new term. High profile cases often grab the headlines and this time may not be any different. This term the court may sharpen laws related to state bans on transgender athletes playing on women's and girls' sports teams, voting rights, religion, campaign-finance laws, and the death penalty. Each of these cases could impact how states act within the states' rights (10th Amendment). Two cases stand out. One deals with a prohibition of transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The second case deals with the constitutional powers granted to state legislatures for creating Congressional Districts and whether it is appropriate to establish districts solely for the purpose of having districts based upon race. Our hope is that our Republic, indeed our states, will be more representative of their citizens. If statewide voting patterns are 60%-40% then the Congressional districts should reflect such. For the protection of women/girls, men shouldn't be allowed to play against them or be given access to their locker rooms and bath rooms. October 29: The Post Newspaper: Highway safety and foreign-born truckers   According to the American Trucking Association about 67% of America's surface freight was moved by truck in 2024. But this sector of our economy is facing a persistent and growing shortage of truck drivers; estimated to be between 60,000-80,000 this year. This has a significant impact on products to market. Of the current drivers about 18%, or approximately 720,000, are foreign-born and this number is growing, not declining. Without foreign-born truckers the transportation of goods in our nation would come to a screeching halt! At the same time concerns are growing that many of these drivers cannot read English, let alone road signage. Recent reports of deadly crashes on U.S. highways have raised concerns. Some possible solutions? (1) allow immigration of foreign truckers who are proficient in English, (2) require all trucking companies to verify legal immigration status and valid CDL's before hiring drivers and levy a fine against those who fail to do so, and/or (3) Have all weighing stations verify the legal weight of trucks and the validity of driver's CDL. No solution is perfect, but we need to find a balance between the shortage of truck drivers that keep out country "moving" and safeguarding the motoring public. October 29: The Gateway Pundit: Trump Goes Scorched Earth, Calls For Immediate Investigation into Jack Smith, Andrew Weissmann, Wray, Garland, Norm Eisen and Others President Trump called for an immediate investigation into former FBI agent Walter Giardina, Jack Smith, and other lawyers such as Andrew Weissmann and Norm Eisen. Trump wants every official involved in the Arctic Frost and Russiagate operations to be investigated. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is under fire for abusing his power and targeting hundreds of Republicans and conservative organizations in addition to his lawfare cases against Trump during his Arctic Frost operation. Chris Wray, Merrick Garland and Lisa Monaco personally signed off on the Arctic Frost investigation. Over 180 lawsuits or ethics complaints were brought against President Trump. October 29: The Daily Caller: DOJ Announces New Batch Of Arrests In Crackdown On Left-Wing Terror The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest Wednesday of 10 defendants accused of committing violence against law enforcement and property during anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations in Southern California earlier this year. The incidents are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers," Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in the release. "During the summer we warned the public that anyone who engages in any violence will eventually be brought to justice. Today we are delivering on that promise and will continue to hold those who violated the law accountable." While most demonstrators exercised their First Amendment rights peacefully, some allegedly assaulted, obstructed or impeded officers. This included injuring officers and attacking public and private property. After the Los Angeles Police Department declared the protest an unlawful assembly, demonstrators allegedly moved onto a nearby highway and blocked traffic. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers later cleared the freeway and demonstrators assembled on overpasses, authorities said. People allegedly hurled objects including rocks, electric scooters and street signs at CHP officers and a CHP vehicle caught fire. October 29: One America News Network: Federal Reserve lowers rates by .25% The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate to its lowest level in three years, lowering the federal funds rate target range by 0.25 percentage point. The move, which was announced Wednesday, is the second rate cut of 2025 as policymakers seek to bolster economic growth amid slowing consumer spending. Officials predicted rate cuts in both October and December, but Powell indicated that the government shutdown, which has stopped economic data, could prevent that from coming true. "A further reduction in the policy rate at the December meeting is not a foregone conclusion. Far from it," Powell said. "Policy is not on a preset course." "We haven't made a decision about December, and you know, we're going to be looking at the data that we have, how that affects the outlook and the balance of risks." October 29: News Max: Trump makes a show of force before meeting with Chinese President The U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command has reportedly issued orders to prepare a potential "show of force" in response to increasing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The move comes as President Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Reportedly the planned operation would involve launching HIMARS precision rockets toward the disputed Scarborough Shoal, though it remains uncertain if or when the mission will proceed. The exercise, intended to demonstrate U.S. resolve, would mark one of the most assertive U.S. military actions in the region in years. The Scarborough Shoal — known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc — lies within Manila's exclusive economic zone but has been under effective Chinese control since 2012. Chinese coast guard and naval vessels have repeatedly clashed with Philippine ships, including an August incident in which Chinese vessels collided while pursuing a Philippine cutter near the reef. Recent satellite images suggest Beijing has installed a floating barrier across the shoal's entrance, drawing condemnation from Washington and Manila. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced China's creation of a "nature reserve" there as an attempt to cement its territorial claims. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also criticized the move, calling it a violation of international law and his nation's sovereignty under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitration ruling that rejected China's expansive claims. Officials say the U.S. show of force could precede trade negotiations or aim to deter Beijing from establishing a permanent barrier at the reef. October 28: One America News Network: Committee releases report on Biden Administration's use of the Auto Pen House Oversight Committee released a report Tuesday which details its investigation's findings and appear to confirm long-held suspicions about former President Joe Biden's mental and physical decline during his term, as well as allegations that his aides exercised presidential authority without his direct involvement or awareness. The 93-page report issued by Chairman James Comer (R-KY) draws on over 47 hours of depositions from 14 former Biden administration officials and accuses Biden's inner circle — including top advisors and his physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor — of coordinating a cover-up through scripted messaging, restricted access, and misuse of the autopen to authorize executive actions such as pardons. The probe documents state Biden staffers occasionally used an autopen to sign executive actions without the president's direct authorization, arguing this could provide grounds to challenge the validity of those executive actions and pardons issued during his administration. "The Department of Justice should immediately conduct a review of all executive actions taken by President Biden between January 20, 2021, and January 19, 2025. Given the patterns and findings detailed herein, this review should focus particularly on all acts of clemency. However, it should also include all other types of executive actions," the report contended. In their investigation the committee called on 14 witnesses during the duration of three months accumulating up to 47 hours' worth of testimony. October 28: Fox News: Virginia Dem. VA candidate has his case moved from a deep Red jury pool to a deep blue one – smells of politics in a highly contested election year The ongoing investigation into Virginia Democrat attorney general candidate Jay Jones' reckless driving arrest and ensuing 1,000 service hours has now moved to its third jurisdiction – 200 miles across the state. Jones was originally picked up in 2022 in New Kent for going 116 mph on the notorious straight-arrow stretch of Interstate 64 between Charles City and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Judge Elliott Bondurant moved the case from Williamsburg to Roanoke due to conflicts of interest concerns. Roanoke is in very different confines from where Jones' original case took place. New Kent and James City counties are reliably Republican, while Roanoke stands out in stark contrast as a dark blue circle on the map surrounded by deep-red Roanoke County and the conservative New River Valley. The Star City's lead prosecutor, Donald Caldwell, is a Democrat-turned-independent who is also the longest-tenure Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia, having been in office since 1979. Roanoke is four hours due west on US-460. Questions have arisen about the validity or specifics of Jones' 1,000 hours of community service – split evenly between his own personal action committee: Meet Our Moment, and the NAACP of Virginia. October 28: The Gateway Pundit: California is not only allowing illegals to vote but to also oversee elections as well In small local California elections, illegal aliens are already allowed to vote. In larger, statewide elections such as the gubernatorial race, citizenship is verified through an affidavit system—essentially an honor system. Now, California Governor Newsom has signed a bill into law that will allow illegal aliens to oversee elections. In July 2018, San Francisco began allowing noncitizens, including those without legal status, to register and vote in local school board elections. The measure, approved by voters in a 2016 referendum, permits only parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of children under 19 to vote in school board races. The program, set to expire after 2022 unless renewed, was justified by supporters who noted that about one-third of children in San Francisco's public schools have foreign-born parents. Opponents argued voting should remain an exclusive right of citizens. The issue also surfaced in the California governor's race, drawing national attention and criticism from politicians who said it undermined the principle that only citizens should vote. Similar initiatives exist in other U.S. municipalities. Takoma Park, Maryland, has allowed noncitizen voting for over two decades, and several neighboring communities have adopted comparable policies. In the U.S., the right to vote is restricted to citizens, not green card holders and not illegal aliens. For presidential and gubernatorial elections in California, state law limits voting to U.S. citizens, but the system operates entirely on the honor system. Like in Texas, a person proves their citizenship by signing an affidavit of registration under penalty of perjury. In practice, this means voters simply check a box and sign. There is no verification of actual citizenship status. So California's voter registration system functions entirely on self-declaration, an "honor system." October 28: The Daily Caller: Special Counsel Jack Smith's Artic Frost investigation potentially targeted over 150 Republican Congressmen The House Judiciary Committee said Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) "Arctic Frost" probe potentially targeted more than 150 Republican officials and allies. Newly released committee documents reveal the Biden-era Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI ran an investigation into Trump allies. Nearly 200 pages of records provide insight into the sweeping probe. The move reportedly started under FBI Director Chris Wray and later continued by Special Counsel Jack Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The committee alleged that "45 individuals … were potentially under investigation." FBI emails from May 2022 reveal a redacted Washington Field Office official thanking multiple regional offices for their help with Arctic Frost interviews while another official said "everything" connected to the probe "is restricted" within FBI systems. Another email reportedly detailed the Arctic Frost team requesting about $16,600 from the DOJ Public Corruption Unit for June travel to carry out over 40 interviews, serve subpoenas and conduct multiple device search warrants. These targeted numerous GOP-linked officials across Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, the committee documents contend. The committee further claimed "[a]nother 111 individuals … were also potentially under investigation." The House Judiciary Committee has requested DOJ open a criminal investigation into Jack Smith and his grave violation of the Fourth Amendment during Operation Arctic Frost. October 27: The Epoch Times: Secretary of Transportation pulls $160 million in funding for California Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Oct. 26 that he would pull $160 million in federal funds from California, citing Gov. Gavin Newsom's refusal to halt issuance of commercial driver's licenses to noncitizens. Duffy said Newsom has refused to comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) emergency rules requiring the state to stop issuing commercial driver's licenses to non-domiciled drivers and to review those already granted to ensure that they were issued lawfully. The department took emergency action in September following a fatal crash in Florida on Aug. 12 that involved a semitruck driver who illegally entered the United States in 2018 through the southern border. The driver, identified as Harjinder Singh, obtained a commercial driver's license in California. [See Related Story] "I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy said. "And as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California's ability to issue commercial driver's licenses." Duffy had previously warned that California could lose its ability to issue commercial driver's licenses and also risk losing more funding if it failed to comply with DOT rules. The federal government has already withheld more than $40 million in funding from California after an investigation found that the state had not met federal English-language proficiency standards for truck drivers. California contends it has issued restricted commercial driver's licenses which limit drivers to intrastate operations. October 27: Reuters(as reported on News Max): Rubio has conversation with Chinese counterpart in preparation for Trump visit with PRC President Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump have "long-standing exchanges and respect each other," PRC Foreign Minister Wang said after a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The call came ahead of an expected meeting between Xi and Trump in South Korea later this week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit. The Chinese stopped short of directly confirming the two would meet, but the White House has previously said they will Thursday. There has been a new flare-up of trade friction between the world's two largest economies in recent weeks after a period of relative calm, with Beijing expanding its rare earths control and Washington pressing through with additional port fees on Chinese ships, sparking a wave of mutual countermeasures. Trade negotiators from the two countries met in Malaysia last weekend to hash out a framework trade deal for the presidents to consider, on issues including soybeans and TikTok. "China-U.S. trade and economic relations (have) experienced some twists and turns," Wang contended. October 26: CNBC and AI sources: 2025 Argentine Elections landslide victory for pro-U.S. government The 2025 legislative elections in Argentina were held on October 26, 2025, the first national test of President Javier Milei's support since he took office. Voters elected representatives for half of the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate with Milei's party increasing its House members from 37 to 64 and winning six seats in the Senate – approximately 41% nationwide ahead of its nearest competitor's 32%. Milei's party made significant gains in Buenos Aires a former stronghold of the Peronist party. Milei's victory is expected to strengthen his government's ability to implement economic reforms by providing him with a larger minority in the Congress, which is crucial for maintaining presidential vetoes and countering potential impeachment efforts. The election comes amid ongoing economic challenges, including high inflation rates, which have decreased from 12.8% to 2.1% recently. Additionally, the U.S. government has shown a willingness for a potential $40 billion bailout contingent on Milei's performance. October 26: The Daily Caller: Congress looking at tightening standards for foreign-born truckers who don't speak English Republican lawmakers are pushing for permanent fixes to address the startling number of illegal migrant truckers wreaking havoc on American highways. In response to a growing number of fatal accidents caused by illegal migrant truck drivers, the Trump administration has mandated tougher English standards on commercial drivers and demanded state officials tighten their handling of Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs). While similar reforms have been rolled back in Democratic administrations, lawmakers in Congress are touting bills that would keep these changes locked in place long after President Donald Trump leaves office. [See related story – Embargoed until October 29th] October 26: The Washington Times: USS Gerald Ford headed to the Caribbean and Venezuela The Department of Defense is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier and a strike group to the Caribbean, an escalation of Donald Trump's efforts to target suspected drug-smuggling vessels. The enhanced U.S. presence "will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. Parnell said the move, ordered by SECDEF Hegseth, will "enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking" and "degrade and dismantle" transnational criminal organizations. The Ford carrier — considered the largest and one of the most advanced warships ever built — is currently deployed in the Mediterranean. It is the focus of Carrier Strike Group 12, which includes aircraft squadrons a guided missile cruiser, and three guided missile destroyers. The action comes as the U.S. ordered an overnight strike on another alleged drug boat. October 26: Fox News: Another day, another peace deal, this one in Asia President Trump kicked off his five-day Asian tour as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed an expanded ceasefire agreement at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The agreement requires Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and for both countries to begin removing heavy weapons from the border. Trump, who helped broker the deal said, "We did something that a lot of people said couldn't be done." Cambodia's prime minister called it a "historic day," and the Thai Prime Minister said the agreement establishes "the building blocks for a lasting peace." Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, saying during opening remarks at the summit that "it reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage." After the expanded ceasefire agreement was signed, Trump reached separate economic deals with Cambodia and Thailand. October 25: News Max: Reclusive Billionaire Mellon gives $1.3 million to ensure U.S. troops are paid during the "Schumer Shutdown" Reclusive billionaire Timothy Mellon, a frequent financial supporter of President Donald Trump and a banking and railroad magnate, reportedly made the private donation of $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay troops while the government shutdown continues. Trump, when announcing the money on Thursday night, named the person only as a "patriot" and a friend, and on Friday continued to decline identifying the donor, telling reporters on Air Force One that the person is a "great American citizen" and a "substantial man." "He doesn't want publicity," Trump said, adding that he prefers "that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned." But someone leaked the identity of the donor, it is Washington, DC after all. The Pentagon says it accepted the money for the troops under the "general gift acceptance authority," but also has not identified the donor publicly. "The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost-of-service members' salaries and benefits," a Pentagon spokesman said. However, legal experts, however, have warned that the use of the $130 million private donation to pay U.S. troops without congressional approval, could be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act. October 25: Fox News: Garcia may be deported to tiny West African nation The Trump administration said it could soon deport Salvadoran illegal immigrant Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the African nation of Liberia after reaching an agreement with that country, according to a Department of Homeland Security filing Friday. The court filing said that Abrego Garcia could be sent to the West African nation as soon as Oct. 31 to fulfill a standing deportation order against him. Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 protection finding and a court order barring his removal to his home country. His case has become a focal point in the clash between Trump's hardline deportation agenda and Democratic efforts to block removals. October 25: The Gateway Pundit: DOJ to send monitors to California and New Jersey to ensure election integrity As the Department of Justice did back in the day here in Texas, DOJ will be sending federal inspectors to monitor polling sites in California and New Jersey to ensure election integrity and to guard against cheating. According to a Justice Department Passaic County, New Jersey, and Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties in California will receive monitors. The stakes in California are particularly high where the issue of Congressional redistricting is on the ballot. Governor Newsom (D-CA) has forced a special election over redistricting in retaliation for Texas redistricting earlier this year. Newsom wants voters to approve five Democratic seats drawn by the State Legislature even though his redistricting push likely violates California's state constitution. October 24: News Max: Trump suspends trade talks with Canada after advertisement falsely invoking audio of Ronald Reagan President Trump said on Thursday trade talks with Canada were terminated after a Canadian political advertisement used the recorded voice of the late President Ronald Reagan saying tariffs cause trade wars and economic disaster. Trump, who imposed import tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and autos earlier this year, called the video ad fraudulent. Canada has responded to the tariffs with trade sanctions of its own, but the two sides have been in talks for weeks on a deal for the steel and aluminum sectors. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said this week that the ad from his provincial government, more than a week old, had caught Trump's attention. The ad's voiceover consists of Reagan criticizing tariffs on foreign goods while saying they cause job losses and trade wars. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation said the ad used "selective audio and video," and that the Reagan Foundation was examining legal options. "The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address [by Reagan in 1987], and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks," a Reagan Foundation statement said. The Canadian government had no immediate comment. October 24: The Epoch Times: Social Security COLA to increase 2.8% in 2026 Social Security benefits will increase by 2.8% in 2026, federal officials have announced, with the inflation-related adjustment boosting payments for an estimated 75 million Americans. The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment—known as COLA—was announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Oct. 24, the same day that government data on inflation was released. It affects both Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, ensuring that payments to retirees, people with disabilities, and low-income beneficiaries reflect rising costs. October 23: The Epoch Times: Governor declares a looming emergency because of the "Schumer Shutdown" and a possible lapse in food stamp payments Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) declared a state of emergency in Virginia Oct. 23 to provide relief for residents at risk of losing federal food benefits next month. The ongoing government shutdown will cause low-income residents in the state to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting Nov. 1 if lawmakers are unable to reach an agreement to pass a budget bill and reopen the government. Over 850,000 residents in the state could lose benefits, according to the governor who blamed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. October 22: News Max: Trump Administration announces heavy sanctions against Russia; Putin isn't being honest President Trump has slapped major sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies after concluding that Vladimir Putin was not being "honest and forthright" in Ukraine talks, the U.S. Treasury chief said Wednesday. The sanctions came a day after a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest was shelved, with Washington expressing its disappointment at the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations with Moscow. "Given President Putin's refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia's two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin's war machine," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement announcing the sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil. He warned that Treasury was prepared "to take further action if necessary." The European Union said Wednesday it was also imposing new sanctions on Russia. They include a ban on importing liquefied natural gas from Russia by 2027, the blacklisting of oil tankers used by Moscow and travel curbs on Russian diplomats. News of the sanctions drove oil prices higher in after-hours trading, with the benchmark WTI and Brent both gaining more than 1%. October 22: Fox News: Cruz prediction comes true ten years later as healthcare cost rise and government ObamaCare subsidies set to expire Over a decade ago, Sen. Cruz (R-TX) predicted healthcare premiums would skyrocket, even in the face of subsidies put into effect under Obamacare that were meant to bring them down. Today, the ballooning of those premiums and their accompanying subsidies are at the center of the 22-day shutdown that looks poised to get longer still. "Despite Obamacare subsidies, many Americans will still be paying higher premiums in 2014 as a result of Obamacare," Cruz said in 2013, referring to the [UN]Affordable Care Act (ACA). In his 2013 floor speech, Cruz pointed to research that made the case that subsidies passed by the Obama administration would do little to stop government-backed healthcare plans from growing more expensive over time or competing effectively with non-government-backed plans. But even those forecasts have paled in comparison to the costs of the government's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidies under Obamacare have vastly expanded in recent years. An emergency provision included in President Joe Biden's 2021 American Rescue Plan widened the range of eligible applicants as a response to the global pandemic. Now that those COVID-era provisions are set to sunset at the end of 2025, an expiration date set by Democrats themselves, Democrats are voicing alarm that Obamacare policyholders will have to shoulder the costs of health insurance without the enhanced supplemental aid. Congressional Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have demanded some sort of extension to the already expanded COVID-era subsidies as a condition for passing spending legislation to end the current government shutdown, which is now the longest full shut down in history. Republicans, who maintain that the subsidies are completely unrelated to government funding considerations, have said lawmakers will address the subsidies once the government reopens. The most conservative members in Congress have said cutting back on the subsidies is key to returning the government to pre-COVID levels of funding. The Senate lawmakers have voted 11 times (make that 12 now) on a short-term spending extension meant to keep the government open through Nov. 21 but have so far failed to move past the Democrat gridlocks over the enhancing the failed ObamaCare program and it's high premiums. October 21: The Daily Caller: Dems fixing to break the Red Wall in 2028 A memo from a progressive candidate recruitment organization shows that Democrats are looking beyond the "blue wall" and are ready to spend millions to challenge Republican states in the 2028 general election. A donor memo suggests Democrats shouldn't give up on Blue Wall states but will need to expand their operation beyond short-term engagement by creating "political infrastructure" and venturing out into Red State elections. "The core Blue Wall states, which Democrats have invested in for years, are not sufficient," Amanda Litman [a prominent Democratic strategist best known as president of Run for Something, a nonprofit that recruits and supports young progressive candidates for state and local offices] said. "We cannot keep hyper-targeting our work to only places that are seen as competitive right now. We have to prepare not just for the likely fall of the Voting Rights Act and the current round of redistricting, but what comes after in 2032. That's why we have to expand the map." The memo focuses on what they see as purple states, such as Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio and Georgia, and crimson red states like Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. October 21: The Epoch Times: Texas finds 2,700 non-citizens on its voting roles Texas's election review has identified 2,724 individuals on the voter registration list for whom they cannot verify are U.S. citizens (i.e. no proof of citizenship available). Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said Oct. 20 that a comparison of Texas's 18 million registered voters against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' SAVE database reveals "2,724 potential noncitizens who are registered to vote in Texas. Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections," Nelson said noted. "The Trump Administration's decision to give states free and direct access to [the SAVE] data set for the first time has been a game changer, and we appreciate the partnership with the federal government to verify the citizenship of those on our voter rolls and maintain accurate voter lists." The alleged non-citizen voters will receive a notice from their county and be offered an opportunity to dispute their removal by presenting proof of citizenship to remain a registered voter. If no response is received within 30 days, their registration will be canceled. The county breakdown of the review released by the Secretary of State's office showed that Harris County had the most problematic voters, with 362 found. Dallas County wasn't far behind, with 277, while Bexar County, home to San Antonio, had 201, and El Paso County had 165. October 21: The Washington Times: Former Iowa school superintendent sent Maryland absentee ballots Former Des Moines, Iowa, schools Superintendent Ian Roberts' name remains on Maryland voter rolls, multiple sources said. After his arrest late last month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the nation learned that Roberts was an illegal immigrant and lived 1,000 miles away from Maryland. How Roberts ended up on Maryland's voter list has the makings of a scandal. Deepening the questions for the state, he had multiple absentee ballots printed for the address on file, even though he had long ago moved away and, under Maryland rules, probably should have been booted from the lists years ago. The voter profile for "Ian Andre Roberts," obtained by the American Accountability Foundation [AAF], indicates that he received an absentee ballot from Maryland in 2020, about the time he was leaving a school job in St. Louis and taking a job as superintendent in Millcreek, Pennsylvania. He was listed for more absentee ballots in 2024 and again this year when he ran schools in Iowa's biggest city. AFF obtained Roberts' voter registration form through a FOIA request from Prince George's County and for unexplained reasons the county redacted Roberts' answer to whether he was a citizen, something FFA has never seen before. No matter what he indicated about U.S. citizenship Maryland registered him anyway. This exposes a possible problem within the Maryland voter registration system. October 21: News Max: Noem; more than 480,000 illegals arrested so far The Department of Homeland Security has arrested more than 480,000 illegal immigrants in nine months — 70% of whom had been previously convicted of crimes or had criminal charges against them. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem made an announcement saying, "President Trump unleashed ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Some of the criminals arrested include illegal aliens convicted of incest with a minor, homicide, sexual assault of a minor, and domestic violence. 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S. This statistic doesn't even include foreign fugitives, illegal aliens convicted of crimes in other countries, gang members, and suspected terrorists," she continued. "We are not going to let these individuals terrorize our streets anymore, and we're not going to let them make victims out of families that live in this country," Noem concluded. October 20: The Daily Caller: Democrats concerned about Governors race in New Jersey Reportedly New Jersey Democrats are concerned that NJ Representative Mikie Sherrill may under-perform in the state's gubernatorial election if there is a lackluster minority turnout. The report comes after the Republican Party gained millions of registered voters between 2020 and 2024, while the Democrat Party lost roughly 2.1 million registered voters during the same time period. "I believe that although our next governor has to represent the entire state — and we're okay with that — but where [do] black people land in the conversation? We should be at the top of the food chain, particularly from the Democratic Party side," Dr. John Harmon, founder, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, said Saturday. I don't want to bring President [Donald] Trump into this conversation, but I will say whether you love him or hate him, he's doing what he says he's going to do," adding that that is what New Jersey voters want from their next governor. Reportedly some Democrats have begun signaling concern that Sherrill has played it "too safe" in her gubernatorial campaign. October 20: One America News Network: Family tips off law enforcement of mass shooting plot in Atlanta A mass shooting plot was reportedly foiled after authorities were tipped off about a man who had been threatening to "shoot up" the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and discovering a loaded AR-15-style rifle in his truck. The suspect in question, 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, was arrested Monday at the airport after his family alerted authorities that he had been livestreaming threats and planned to go to the airport with an assault rifle. After making threats during a livestream on social media, Cagle allegedly detailed his plan to harm as many people as possible at the airport. He is being charged with terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon, and firearm possession during the commission of a felony, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. He is a prior convicted felon who suffers from mental health issues, Atlanta Mayor Andrew Dickens disclosed. October 20: Breitbart News: Ninth Circuit rules Trump can send National Guard into Portland to protect ICE agents and federal property The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Monday that President Donald Trump has the authority to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, reversing a decision by a district judge earlier this month. It was the second tie the Ninth Circuit — despite its reputation as a liberal bastion — overruled lower courts and allowed Trump to exercise his constitutional powers as commander-in-chief; the first case was California. The court ruled "After considering the record at this preliminary stage, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority under 10 U.S.C. § 12406(3), which authorizes the federalization of the National Guard when 'the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.'" October 20: The Gateway Pundit: Left-wing socialist ousted in Bolivian election Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira, son of former President Jaime Paz Zamora, has secured a decisive victory with a margin of over nine points against former President Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, bringing an end to decades of dominance by the left-wing Movement Toward Socialism (MAS). His win marks the return of order, transparency, and traditional values to Bolivia's political core. In a historic moment Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira achieved a resounding victory in Bolivia's presidential runoff election, garnering 54.6% of the vote. This result closes a chapter of left-wing governance that, over two decades, was involved with clientelism, economic mismanagement, institutional and decay. This victory signals a shift towards a center-right direction, where order, legitimate authority, family values, and respect for tradition are reinstated as priorities. The defeat of the left has been as decisive as it is symbolic. The Movement Toward Socialism, had for years monopolized power with its populist "redistribution rhetoric." The country has rejected economic experiments and intervention that stifled productivity and fueled corruption. Citizen turnout—ranging between 85% and 89% of the electorate—bolsters the legitimacy of the new leadership. In his victory speech, Rodrigo paz promised "capitalism for all," a growth model rooted in individual responsibility, private initiative, and honest work. October 19: The Gateway Pundit: Michigan Democrat City Official at the center of election fraud allegations Hamtramck, Michigan has become ground zero for election fraud in the state, and at the center of the scandal is Democrat City Councilman Mohammed Hassan. Thursday, a judge ruled there is evidence that Hassan forged an absentee ballot application during the 2023 election, confirming what Republicans have warned for years: Democrats exploit absentee ballots to rig the system. Hassan faces charges of forging a signature, election law forgery, and making false statements in connection with an absentee ballot application. The case involves Hamtramck resident who testified she never signed the application, never asked for an absentee ballot, and does not even vote. Michigan police handwriting analysis proved the signature on the forms were not hers. Judge Alexis Krot ruled the evidence indicates Hassan knowingly signed that he assisted in filing an application he knew was fraudulent. This is not an isolated case. Another Democrat councilman, Muhtasin Sadman, is also charged with election fraud and will face his own preliminary hearing next week. Sadman is also facing two felony charges for attempting to vote as an unqualified elector, a serious offense under Michigan election law. Prosecutors allege he knowingly tried to cast a ballot despite being ineligible, which carries potential prison time and heavy fines. Such charges are rarely brought unless officials believe there is clear evidence of intentional misconduct, highlighting the gravity of the case and the broader concerns about election integrity in local races. October 19: Associated Press and Reuters(as reported by News Max): Hamas breaks ceasefire and Israel responds The fragile ceasefire in Gaza faced its first major test Sunday as an anonymous Israeli security official said the transfer of aid into the territory was halted "until further notice" after a Hamas ceasefire violation, and Israeli forces launched a wave of strikes. A formal announcement is expected shortly. Israel's military earlier Sunday said its troops came under fire from Hamas terrorists in southern Gaza, and later said two soldiers were killed there. Israel subsequently struck dozens Hamas targets. Some 29 people have been killed but reports are not yet available how many were Hamas terrorists and how many could have been civilians caught in the cross fire. An anonymous senior Egyptian official said "round-the-clock" contacts were underway to deescalate the situation. Hamas officials contended that communications with its remaining units in the area of Rafah had been cut off for months and "we are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas." October 19: The Epoch Times: Changes coming next month in the food stamp program Federal officials plan to enforce changes to the food stamp program beginning in November. The changes will cut federal funding for program by $187 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The SNAP, or food stamp program, gives money to people to buy groceries. Some of the Congressionally imposed changes include a requirement that recipients work a minimum of 80 hours per month to receive food stamps for more than three months. This requirement will cover adults aged 18-under 65. Parents with children who are not yet adults used to be exempt from the work requirement but now parents will only be exempt if they have one or more dependents aged 13 or younger. The new Congressionally imposed requirements also removes exemptions for people who are homeless, veterans, and individuals aged 24 and younger who aged out of foster care. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these changes will reduce number of food stamp recipients by 2.4 million people per month by 2034. October 19: Fox News: Hamas October 7th terrorist found in the U.S., raised questions about Biden border policies A suspected terrorist allegedly linked to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel has been arrested in Louisiana. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the revelation "alarming," blaming the former Biden administration's border policies for allowing the suspect into the country. "I had no idea. It's alarming to all of us, but I'm certainly glad that we have an administration who is prioritizing rounding up these dangerous people. It's a great relief to a lot of folks down there," Johnson said. Mahmoud Amin Ya'qub A-Muhtadi, a Gazan native living in Louisiana, was arrested by the FBI in early October. The Justice Department said he was an operative in a paramilitary group that participated in Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel killed roughly 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and sparked the ongoing war in the Middle East that has killed tens of thousands in Gaza. October 18: The New York Post: Russian oil exports fall to lowest levels following Ukrainian drone strikes Ukraine's orchestrated attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure seem to be having an effect. Russian fossil fuel exports plummeted in the month of September, dipping to their lowest point since the start of Moscow's nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air claims its figures indicate Russia exported an average of $637 million of fuel a day last month — a 4% slip from August, and a 26% drop from oil exports recorded in September 2024. Eighteen Russian oil facilities have been targeted in recent months, with drones taking out a key oil terminal in Crimea, halting much of Russia's crude oil production. It is the hard currency receipts Russia gets from these exports that pay for its invasion and ongoing war with Ukraine. October 18: The Washington Times: Trump rewrites shutdowns shielding everyday Americans and focusing pain on federal workforce and Dem pet projects The current government shutdown is like no previous one in that, this time, the president has labored to reduce the pain on everyday Americans, putting the suffering almost exclusively on federal workers and congressional Democrats' pet projects. During the shutdown's first three weeks, Trump took steps to shield federal law enforcement officers, military service members and welfare recipients from shutdown hardships. At the same time, he shifted the burden of the shutdown onto civil servants and Democratic-controlled states. He fired thousands of workers and slashed programs that Democrats favor. Friday, the White House paused $11 billion in Army Corps of Engineers' projects in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston and Baltimore, which are all Democrat-led cities in Democrat-led states. It's a glaring dichotomy. He's protecting many who rely on federal services, such as assistance for poor women and children. He is also targeting the pain at Democratic politicians, whom he blames for the shutdown. Previous presidents ensured the pain of government shutdowns was felt by as many people as possible to increase pressure on Congress to reopen the government. In 2013, President Obama reduced government services far and wide beyond the legally required minimums. National parks, museums and monuments were shuttered and operated on a threadbare staff. Not so, under Trump. October 18: The Gateway Pundit: Trump orders the destruction of narco-terrorist drug running submarine Another vessel carrying narco-terrorists to America has been blown up on orders from President Trump as he continues to safeguard our national security from these terrorists. Trump announced this afternoon that he had ordered the destruction of a massive drug-carrying submarine that was heading toward the United States. According to him, the vessel had a large quantity of illegal narcotics, especially fentanyl. Four terrorists were also on board, and two of them were killed. The other two will be returned to their country of origin. Trump argued that he had not ordered this vessel destroyed, potentially 25,000 Americans could have perished. October 18: The Epoch Times: US Army Corps of Engineers pauses projects because of funding shutdown – could this impact progress on the Galveston Ike Dike? Russ Vought, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, has added to the growing pile of federal projects paused during the government shutdown. He announced on Oct. 17 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "will be immediately pausing over $11 billion in lower-priority projects & considering them for cancellation, including projects in New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore." (All "blue" cities) He promised the corps would soon provide additional information on the pause. In an email the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works wrote that "because of the lapse in appropriations that provide for oversight of Army Corps projects, we believe that our office and the Corps may be unable to provide adequate oversight of all the projects currently in the portfolio, which includes projects essential to life and safety." "To enable continued oversight of the most critical projects throughout the nation, we will pause and review other projects to see if we can deliver them more efficiently," the office stated. This is the latest in a round of similar moves since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. October 17: Fox News: National Guard stops violent attack in Washington, DC Members of the National Guard helped break up a violent street brawl in Southeast Washington, D.C., Wednesday night after a woman allegedly stabbed a man with a 12-inch kitchen knife. Just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, MPD officers and members of the National Guard responded to a brawl after being flagged down by a concerned citizen. During the fight, a man was stabbed in the hand with what he described as a foot-long kitchen knife, according to a court affidavit. Investigators said the confrontation started as the victim and his cousin were leaving a restaurant, heading to the Navy Yard Metro Station, and realized a man and woman were following them. An argument ensued, and Evans allegedly punched the victim's cousin in the face "out of nowhere" with a closed fist, prompting the victim to step in, according to witnesses. October 17: The Gateway Pundit: Two DOJ prosecutors fired for leaking documents to the press The Justice Department is cleaning house as prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia 'leak to the stenographers documents to the mainstream media. Politico reported that prosecutors Elizabeth Yusi and Kristin Bird were fired. Reportedly the fired prosecutors were escorted from the building and stripped of security clearances for leaking sensitive information to the media. Several prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia have been attacking US Attorney Lindsey Halligan with leaks after she successfully returned an indictment against Letitia James. James was indicted by a federal grand jury last Thursday. According to the Department of Justice, James was charged with two crimes: Bank Fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1344 and False Statements to a Financial Institution under 18 U.S.C. Section 1014. The charges are related to a mortgage loan on a property James purchased in Norfolk, Virginia. October 17: The Washington Free Beacon: George Soros and Illinois Governor pitch in $270K to Dem running for Virginia Attorney General In the final days of the campaign George Soros and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, two Democratic heavyweights who have funded anti-gun groups and pushed for strict gun control policies, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the campaign of Jay Jones, who faces growing calls to quit the race over text messages in which he fantasized about shooting a Republican colleague and wished death upon that colleague's children. Soros's PAC gave $250,000 to Jones's campaign on Sept. 30. National Review reported Oct. 3 that Jones sent text messages in 2022 to a Republican colleague saying he wished to put "two bullets" in the head of then-Virginia house speaker Todd Gilbert. Jones, a former Virginia state delegate who is running against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, also wished death on Gilbert's children, calling them "little fascists." People are asking, "Is this really the kind of person that Virginians want as their top law enforcement official in the state?" Time will reveal the answer as the November 3rd Election Day approaches. October 16: The New York Post: Zohran Mamdani suffers awful showing in NYC mayoral debate — but Andrew Cuomo still can't seem to pull together a winning solution While Zohran Mamdani has vile communistic views and worse politics, his campaign has been a logistical triumph and his Democrat debate performance in May was startlingly impressive. There was every reason to expect his debate showdown last night with Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa would be another feather in his cap. It wasn't. Mamdani flopped. His answers were defensive. He seemed angry at being questioned at all. It seemed offensive to him that he would have to offer an explanation for having called for defunding the police and refusing to accept the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. He claimed he never said things he said or that he shouldn't be accountable for words he wrote only five years ago. He did not seem like a young and happy warrior, more like a petulant graduate student. But if Mamdani did badly, Andrew Cuomo did worse. And an enjoyable Curtis Sliwa buried Cuomo even deeper. The only real life in the debate came from Curtis Sliwa, the populist New York crime-fighting hero of the 1980s. He was easily the most substantive of the three candidates. He aimed his fire at both his rivals — on the ludicrous financial fantasies of Mamdani's expensive and unworkable proposals and Cuomo's policy failings in signing soft-on-crime legislation into law as governor. October 16: One America News Network: Former National Security Advisor Bolton indicated on 18 counts A federal grand jury has indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton on 18 counts of illegally hoarding or sending sensitive national security information. The indictment in a Greenbelt, Maryland federal court, alleges that Bolton knowingly transmitted materials related to foreign policy matters after President Trump fired Bolton from the White House in 2019. These sensitive national security documents were shared through a personal email. If found guilty, Bolton faces up to 10 years behind bars on each count of the indictment. The concerns over Bolton's mishandling of classified information arose in 2020 when he published a memoir after having a falling-out with the president. A copy of the memoir was leaked to the New York Times during the first impeachment fight in 2020. The White House had told Bolton not to publish the memoir until the classified information allegedly in the book was removed. He published it anyway. The judge ruled that Bolton had likely compromised national security. The Biden administration let the matter drop, but Trump revived it, revoking Bolton's security clearance earlier this year. October 16: Reuters(published by News Max): Trump warns Hamas terrorists if it continues to kill people we will kill them Donald Trump issued his sternest warning yet of Hamas terrorists amid the tentative ceasefire enacted Monday. "If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them," Trump said. There have been reports and videos of Hamas terrorists executing "Gaza gang" members, and there are reports it is retribution for those who had been helping Israel root out the terrorist regime in Gaza during the war that began Oct. 7, 2023. The warning capitalizes on what Trump said Tuesday: He had communicated to Hamas that the terrorist group must disarm or it will be forced to. "If they don't disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently," Trump said at the White House. Hamas has not publicly committed to downing its weapons. Trump said he communicated this to Hamas and they had agreed to disarm, as his 20-point peace proposal stated. October 16: Fox News: Virginia Democrat AG candidate challenged regarding his integrity Democrat party candidate for Virginia attorney general Jay Jones was pressed during a debate on his accountability and asked why voters should trust his judgment following revelations of politically violent rhetoric he made in 2022 about wanting to kill his GOP rival and a reckless driving conviction that he has been accused of trying to skirt his community service requirements for. His GOP opponent, incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, said Jones had driven 116 miles per hour on Interstate 64 in Virginia in his opening remarks of a debate Thursday night at the University of Richmond. Miyares claimed that the day Jones went to court after getting caught for reckless driving, there were four people, including Jones, who had all been caught driving roughly the same speed. But, Miyares claimed, Jones was the only person not to receive a jail or suspended jail sentence. Miyares also claimed Jones sought to undermine his 1,000-hour community service requirement that was part of his conviction, alleging he completed the service for a political action committee which he controlled. October 16: The Gateway Pundit: VA Dems bring out Obama in an effort to drag their candidate across the finish line Virginia Democrats are enlisting Former President Obama to endorse Abigail Spanberger for governor. This won't mean much to many, but to Democrats, Obama is the best they've got. This is them bringing out the big guns. Of course, it didn't work when Obama endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024. It didn't work when Obama endorsed Terry McAuliffe in Virginia in 2021, either. The closer we get to this election, the closer the polls are. According to one reliable poll, the race is now a statistical tie. Democrats are doing everything they can to drag Spanberger over the finish line, while their tarnished candidate for Virginia Attorney General is tending to negatively impact their entire slate of statewide candidates. October 15: News Max: Thune Aims to Force Democrats' Hand in Shutdown Fight Senate Majority Leader John Thune is looking to back Democrats into a corner by bringing a full-year Pentagon funding bill to the Senate floor on Thursday. In doing so, Thune aims to force Democrats to take action — and perhaps move toward an end to Washington's weeks of paralysis — as a government shutdown stretches into its third week with no end in sight. Thune's move marks a deliberate escalation by Senate Republicans, who hope to break the stalemate by daring Democrats to vote against military funding. This puts Democrats under fresh pressure. They've been nearly unanimous in opposing GOP efforts to pass what has been called a "clean" short-term resolution to reopen the government. Thune's push for a full-year defense vote puts Democrats in a bind. If they support it, they risk undercutting their shutdown strategy by funding the military separately and losing leverage for a broader deal. If they oppose it, Republicans can accuse them of blocking military pay and national security funding. The military funding bill is a bipartisan measure that cleared committee earlier this year by a 26–3 vote. In short, Thune is trying to force Democrats to either break ranks or take the blame for prolonging the shutdown. So far, the Senate Democrats have blocked the clean funding bill nine times with similar votes expected in the days ahead. October 15: The Daily Caller: SCOTUS hints that the days of drawing voting districts based upon race may be coming to a close The Supreme Court signaled on Wednesday that the days of creating congressional districts based on race may be numbered. Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned during oral arguments whether the time for using race-based remedies had expired. "The issue, as you know, is that this court's cases in a variety of contexts have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time, sometimes for a long period of time, decades in some cases, but that they should not be indefinite and should have an endpoint," Kavanaugh said. "What exactly do you think the end point should be for the intentional use of race to create districts?" At issue are the "conflicting demands" of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits election practices that result in "denial or abridgement" of citizens to vote based on race, and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Limiting Section 2 could have "pretty catastrophic" results because almost every black Congressional member in Louisiana was elected from a VRA "opportunity district." The high Court's liberal wing agreed that race-based remedies are still appropriate, highlighting that Section 2 of the VRA speaks to current discrimination. "The issue, as you know, is that this court's cases in a variety of contexts have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time, sometimes for a long period of time, decades in some cases, but that they should not be indefinite and should have an endpoint," Kavanaugh suggested. "What exactly do you think the end point should be for the intentional use of race to create districts?" October 15: The Daily Signal: Antifa needs to be dealt with; some Members of Congress are doing exactly that In January, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced a resolution in the House that would codify President Trump's designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. The resolution details multiple instances of unlawful activity by the group and its affiliates, and includes the doxing of at least 1,500 Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees in 2018, and the attempted firebombing of an ICE detention facility in 2019. Greene's House resolution is co-sponsored Wesley Hunt (R-TX). Hunt, a combat veteran said, ""Labeling Antifa a terrorist organization and bringing the full force of the federal government down on their networks lets us do more than talk. It lets us choke off funding, freeze assets, and give Treasury and law enforcement the legal tools to sanction and prosecute those who bankroll and enable political violence." October 14: The Washington Times: For the eighth time Schmer and Sente Democrats block funding for the government as the Schumer shutdown continues An eighth failed Senate vote Tuesday night on the House-passed stopgap bill to fund the government through Nov. 21 sent the government shutdown into its third week. Wednesday will mark day 15 of the shutdown with no clarity on how or when it will end. Democrats want to increase spending by extending a COVID-era expansion of Obamacare premium subsidies set to expire this year, among other health care and spending demands. Republicans refuse to hold negotiations while the government is shut down and are demanding Democrats stop filibustering their "clean" stopgap funding bill. President Trump said how long the shutdown lasts is up to the Democrats, noting "all they have to do is just vote to extend" the previous fiscal year's spending levels and policies. He said the White House is expected to release a list of government programs Friday that it is canceling because of the shutdown. Reportedly the Democrats are getting killed on the shutdown because we're closing up programs that are Democrat programs that the White House is opposed to. October 14: Breitbart News: Transgender ID in free fall among the younger generation Identifying as transgender and queer appears to be "going out of fashion among young people, especially in elite settings," according to a new report. A report, authored by Eric Kaufmann, director of the centre and professor of politics at the University of Buckingham, found that transgender and queer identification has dropped sharply among young Americans in Generation Z since 2023. Kaufmann analyzed troves of data from recent surveys about gender and sexuality, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) survey, and surveys from elite institutions like Andover Phillips Academy in Boston and Brown University. "Whether trans and queer identities will drop to 2010 levels is an open question. But the fact both have declined sharply in just two years is a startling and unanticipated post-progressive development that the education and media establishments will be reluctant to acknowledge," Kaufmann wrote of his research in an article published to UnHerd on Tuesday. October 14: The New York Post: Leticia James' relative living in her "primary residence" in Virginia arrested twice for assaulting law enforcement New York's top law enforcement official – Leticia James – is housing a cop-hating fugitive relative with a lengthy felony rap sheet who was twice arrested for assaulting police officers, one of them in one of James' Virginia homes. State attorney general Letitia James' grand-niece, Nakia Thompson, 36, is currently wanted for "absconding" from North Carolina after failing to complete the terms of her parole following a 2011 arrest in Winston-Salem, authorities said. In that case, she was charged with malicious conduct by a prisoner, a felony, along with assault of a government official and resisting a public officer, court records show. But Thompson has also been repeatedly arrested and cited in Virginia, since moving there — with charges including possession of burglary tools, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and grand larceny. October 13: Fox News: Bill Clinton; Trump and others 'deserve great credit' for Israel-Hamas ceasefire Former President Bill Clinton praised President Trump for his administration's efforts in brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, saying the president and regional partners "deserve great credit" for keeping negotiations on track. "The horrors of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the conflict they reignited have resulted in unbearable human loss," he wrote. "It has been hard to watch and nearly impossible to rationalize. "I'm grateful that a ceasefire has taken hold, that the last 20 hostages have been freed, and that desperately needed aid has begun to flow into Gaza," the former president continued. "President Trump and his administration, Qatar, and other regional actors deserve great credit for keeping everyone engaged until the agreement was reached." October 13: News Max: Remaining hostages released Israel Defense Forces and the families of hostages released by the Hamas terrorists on Monday used social media to show former captives returning home. The Hamas terrorists released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza, as part of President Trump's ceasefire plan. The IDF referred to "Operation Returning Home" with posts that gave updates on released hostages. October 13: The Gateway Pundit: Released Israeli Hostage; When Trump was elected they stopped spitting on me Hamas abducted Omer Shem Tov from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. He was held by Hamas for 505 days. The former hostage told a reporter after his release that "Hamas was very scared of Trump" and they "wanted Kamala to win." Since his release, Omer has traveled the world to advocate for the release of the remaining hostages. He recently spoke about his ordeal as a Hamas hostage. "As soon as Donald Trump was elected, they understood that he wanted to bring us back home," he said. "So immediately, the way they treated me changed." "He [Trump] got me out. He got the hostages out." Before we felt like nothing was happening, you know? And I remember for me there, ever since he came into the role [as President], they were very scared of him. October 12: The Post Newspaper: ICE protestors; Sin Makes You Stupid! An observer said, "Sin makes one stupid" and she's absolutely correct. Just look at Portland and Chicago. The rioters are wearing masks. Why? It's not because they're afraid of COVID. It's because they are afraid of being identified and held fully accountable for their destructive conduct. Even local governmental officials attempt to gaslight the real truth, but it's not working. The liberal media says nothing about the evil doers wearing masks but when law enforcement wears masks, it's a completely different story. They love to gaslight the public by decrying masks worn by ICE special agents are signs of cowardice. It's plainly not so. Federal agents are wearing masks in order to protect themselves and their families from physical harm. The Antifa-aligned protestors in Chicago are doxing federal agents, making known to the public and fellow protestors agents' names and home addresses and in some cases offering bounty for their kidnapping and/or murder. The rioting, anarchy, needs to stop. We need to support law enforcement as they do their jobs. October 12: The Daily Caller: Comey defense team wants to stop his case before it goes to trial; Experts say chances are slim Former FBI Director James Comey's defense team wants to kill the Trump administration's case before it goes to trial, but legal experts say their chances of success are slim. Comey's attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Wednesday that the defense intends to file motions alleging vindictive and selective prosecution "at the direction of President Trump," as well as challenging the appointment of the prosecutor who brought the indictment, Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. If Halligan had not gotten an indictment of Comey on Sept. 25, the statute of limitations would have expired within days, making it crucial for the government to prevail on a motion to dismiss. However, legal experts have said the two motions Comey hopes to file will be difficult to prove. Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges for allegedly lying during his September 2020 to Congress about authorizing someone to be "an anonymous source in news reports" and for obstruction of a congressional proceeding. Motions for selective or vindictive prosecution are "rarely granted," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani contends, noting the "burden is high" and would require Comey to prove a discriminatory or retaliatory motive. "Here, President Trump's social media posts will be used as evidence of animus against Comey and intent to retaliate against him," Rahmani said. "Even though the President's rhetoric helps the defense argument, the chances of a selective or vindictive prosecution motion being granted are slim. Trump and Hunter Biden both raised the same argument in their respective criminal cases, and were denied." October 12: Associated Press (published by News Max): Trump lifts off for Israel and Egypt after brokering Israel-Hamas peace deal Donald Trump set off for Israel and Egypt on Sunday to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas and urge Middle East allies to seize the opportunity to build a durable peace in the volatile region. Israel and Hamas are currently in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the Trump agreement designed to bring a permanent end to the war sparked by the heinous Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It is a moment, the President says, that has been helped along by his administration's support of Israel's decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. "Very excited about this moment in time," Trump told reporters before Air Force One took off. He said many people in both Israel and Arab countries were "cheering" the agreement, adding that "everybody's amazed and their thrilled …" The White House says momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim states are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final 48 hostages held by Hamas, including about 20 believed to be alive; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza's main cities. Israeli troops on Friday finished withdrawing from parts of Gaza, triggering a 72-hour countdown under the deal for Hamas to release the Israeli hostages, potentially while Trump is on the ground there. He said he expected their return to be completed on Monday or Tuesday. October 12: The Washington Examiner: Vance; Active Duty military will be paid using tariff revenues if Congress doesn't act Vice President JD Vance promised Sunday that the Trump administration intends to pay the military troops despite the government shutdown. Vance assured people that President Trump is "doing some pretty nonconventional things, as President Trump often does, to ensure that our troops are able to get paid." "A lot of this will come from incoming revenues to the Internal Revenue Service, tariff revenue, but also income tax revenue, that is going to make it possible for us to pay our troops," Vance said. "And this is another reason why President Trump's decisive action on tariffs is one of the reasons why we have the money in the Treasury to actually be able to pay our troops," he said. Continuing he said, "It is one of the critical things that we've done, of course, to reshore America's industrial base, to create good jobs in the United States of America. But the tariffs have also given us a little bit of financial flexibility so that we can keep on as many essential services as possible, including, most importantly, paying the troops." October 11: The Daily Caller: Trump to find funds to pay troops while "Schumer Shutdown" continues As the federal government shutdown ensues, President Trump announced Saturday his administration will pay U.S. service members so they would not miss their Oct. 15 paycheck. Trump said his administration has identified funding to pay the 1.3 million active-duty troops expected to miss their next paycheck, and will direct Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to ensure they are paid. The announcement comes as Senate Democrats continue to drag their feet in reopening the federal government. "If nothing is done, because of 'Leader' Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to do this." October 11: Fox News: Rescue mission turn to recovery as no survivors seem to have survived the massive TN blast Authorities in Tennessee announced Saturday that no survivors have been recovered from a massive explosion at a rural manufacturing plant a day earlier after more than 300 investigators combed through the blast site. The blast happened at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort, located about 50 miles west of Nashville, just before 8 a.m. local time Friday. Since then, more than 300 people had conducted a "very delicate, very methodical" search of the scene, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a press conference Saturday. "I can tell you that more than 300 people have been through almost every square inch of this facility, and at this time, we've recovered no survivors," Davis said, at times growing emotional. "We find it even more devastating than what we thought initially," he added, saying he has spoken with the families of those lost. "Truly devastated. It's a tremendous loss. A great loss." October 11: iHeart Radio/KTRH: Significant federal layoffs announced as shutdown continues White House Budget Director, Russ Vought, announced Friday federal layoffs are to come. In a twitter post, Vought stated: "The RIFs have begun." A reduction in force means a permanent lay off as opposed to a "furlough" which is temporary. The Trump administration says it is cutting down on agencies that mainly "support Democrat officials" as he stated on Fox News. Congressman Wesley Hunt (R-TX), says it's the President's way of "eliminating federal waste." October 10: Fox News: AG James day gets worse as social media posts come back to haunt her New York Attorney General Letitia James faced an avalanche of criticism on social media Thursday following news she was indicted for mortgage fraud as many brought up past tweets of her taunting then presidential candidate Donald Trump for being indicted. "Roses are red. Violets are blue. No one is above the law. Even when you think the rules don't apply to you…!" AG James had posted about Trump in February 2024, days before he was barred from operating his business in New York for three years and was found liable for more than $350 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him, his family and the Trump Organization by James. Many thought that her case against Trump was politically motivated. The federal indictment fostered social media posts chiding James. One said, "Roses are red. Violets are blue. If you commit mortgage fraud, a grand-jury will indict you!" Another said, "According to the indictment, Tish James claimed this was a second residence, as opposed to an income property. If true, then it would seem based on her own tweets, she believes that is a prosecutable offense as it resulted in a more favorable loan." A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan said James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture if she's convicted. In addition, if convicted she could potentially loose her law license. October 10: The Washington Times: Chairman Jordan "Stupid Decisions" by judges should be appealed before considering impeachment Although he would want to explore other avenues first, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) said impeachment of judges who issue "stupid" rulings in an effort to tie up the President's initiatives is "on the table." Jordan also said other former senior officials could be in line for indictment following that of former FBI Director James Comey. He also said he thought former CIA Director John Brennah might be indicted. "It looks to me like he may have misled Congress," he said, and that "We are looking at that." Any impeachment proceeding would need to start in Jordan's committee and the Chairman said, "The history of our great country has been you don't impeach judges for stupid decisions, or bad decisions, what we, and common sense, would say is a poor decision," he said. "But I don't think you should rule out impeachment." Jordan contended that the traditional route for dealing with bad decisions is to appeal. And he pointed out that the president has had significant success arguing his cases in circuit courts of appeals and at the Supreme Court, where he's tallied more than 20 wins for his position. Thirteen district judges and one Supreme Court justice have been impeached over the years. Half were convicted and booted from office, four were acquitted and three resigned. October 10: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Massive explosion at a military bomb plant in Tennessee A massive explosion just outside of Nashville, Tennessee at a military explosives plant leaves multiple people dead with many people unaccounted for. The Humprey's County Sheriff's says its difficult for first responders to get into the area due to ongoing secondary blasts. Nearby residents rattled by the blast said the explosion happened this morning. The Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC, Facebook page says it manufactures "various high explosive compositions and specialty products for the U.S. DoD and Industrial markets. Humprey county officials are asking everyone to stay away from the area while they conduct their investigation. October 10: The Washington Examiner: Trump announces 100% tariff increase on goods from Communist China President Trump slapped China with a 100% tariff increase starting Nov. 1 on imports "over and above any tariff that they are currently paying" in an escalation of a trade war. The announcement on Friday evening on Truth Social followed an earlier post where Trump appeared to cancel a meeting with the Chinese President during his trip to Asia, possibly endangering recent talks on a bilateral trade agreement with the communist nation. October 10: News Max: Trump meeting with Chinese leader taken off the table Donald Trump said Friday that "there seems to be no reason" to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea after China restricted exports of rare earths needed for American industry. The president suggested that he was looking at a "massive increase" of import taxes on Chinese products in response to Xi's moves. "One of the Policies that we are calculating at this moment is a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States of America," Trump said. "There are many other countermeasures that are, likewise, under serious consideration." The United States and China have been jockeying for advantage in trade between the world's two largest economies. Both nations agreed to ratchet down tariffs after negotiations in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, yet tensions remain as China has sought to restrict America's access to the difficult-to-mine rare earths needed for a wide array of U.S. technologies. Trump said that China is "becoming very hostile" and that it's holding the world "captive" by restricting access to the metals and magnets used in electronics, computer chips, lasers and other technologies. "I have not spoken to President Xi because there was no reason to do so," Trump said. "This was a real surprise, not only to me, but to all the Leaders of the Free World." October 9: The Associated Press(reported by News Max): U.S. sending about 200 troops to monitor Hamas/Israel ceasefire agreement The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector players, U.S. officials said Thursday. The officials said U.S. Central Command is going to establish a "civil-military coordination center" in Israel that will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into the territory wracked by two years of war. October 9: Fox News: Federal Grand Jury indicates New York Attorney General Letitia James for banking fraud A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Ironically, these are the same type of charges James attempted to saddle Donald Trump with in an effort to keep him from being reelected as President. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan said James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture if she's convicted. "No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public's trust," Halligan said. "The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served." In September, a housing and finance banker familiar with the investigation into James told Fox News that she is under investigation for, in at least one instance, declaring an investment property she owns as her primary or secondary residence, which would give her better loan terms. Pardon us, but was it Letitia James who was saying last year that Nobody is above the law?!! October 8: One America News Network: Wisconsin's Justice Department asks for stay in state justice's decision calling for verification of U.S. citizenship After a Wisconsin state judge mandated the Wisconsin Elections Commission [WEC] verify the U.S. citizenship of all registered voters and new registrants by February 2026, Wisconsin's Department of Justice [WDOJ] requested a stay on the order — arguing it would require significant changes to the registration system and could disrupt voter rights. WDOJ represents WEC in the case including advising them on legal compliance, and handling its litigation. Two voters in Milwaukee filed a lawsuit ahead of the 2024 presidential election, expressing concerns about how elections were conducted in the state. While Wisconsin law requires voters to be U.S. citizens, election officials have not been mandated to verify proof of citizenship. On Friday, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Maxwell ordered the WEC to review the state's voter rolls in time for the February 18th Spring Primary — determining if any illegal aliens are registered to vote — while ensuring that all newly registered voters are verified citizens. The judge emphasized that the WEC is "violating state and federal statutes by maintaining an election system that potentially allows individuals on to the voter rolls who may not be lawfully entitled to cast a vote in Wisconsin." The judge also asserted that the state "is failing in the most basic task of ensuring that only lawful voters make it to the voter roll from where lawful votes are cast." October 8: The Washington Times: SCOTUS may be poised to embrace new rules that would allow candidates to challenge election rules changes The Supreme Court seemed poised Wednesday to embrace new rules that would give candidates for federal office the chance to challenge election rules in court well before the voting takes place — a move that could give Republicans more room to confront Democrat states' mail-in ballot laws. The justices heard oral argument on a case from Rep. Mike Bost who was denied the chance to challenge Illinois' law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted for up to two weeks after Election Day. Lower courts ruled he didn't have legal standing to sue, saying he couldn't show he was particularly injured by the ballot-counting law. But most of the justices seemed dismayed by that argument, saying it seemed reasonable to give candidates at least some chance to sue. October 8: News Max: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA); Need Special Counsel to investigate Biden Admin. surveilling GOP lawmakers Sen. Ernst is joining a growing chorus of lawmakers demanding accountability after revelations that the Biden-era FBI and Special Counsel Jack Smith allegedly surveilled GOP members of Congress. On Wednesday, Ernst strongly condemned the reported surveillance, calling for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate what she described as a dangerous abuse of power. "I am 100% with [Sen.] Marsha [Blackburn, (R-TN)] and every other member that was targeted by the Biden administration," Ernst said, referencing Blackburn's call for a deeper inquiry into the Operation Arctic Frost investigation. According to documents released by her colleague, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that disclosed the FBI conducted a form of communications metadata review on several Republican lawmakers. Ernst emphasized the need for transparency and oversight, stating that more information would come to light soon. October 7: The Daily Signal: Trump delays firing of workers but may need to proceed if government shutdown persists President Trump has extended the decision on when to fire federal workers as a result of the Democrat/Schumer government shutdown. Tuesday Trump told reporters he will know which permanent jobs are being eliminating "in four or five days," if the shutdown continues. "It'll be substantial," he said, "and a lot of those jobs will never come back." Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is looking at the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed as a result of this federal government shutdown, both at the White House and across the entire federal government. "At agencies, across the board, there are federal workers who are staying home. Many of them work in the White House," Leavitt said. "You know them, some of them sit just behind me at those desks. They are not unable to show up to work right now because the Democrats chose to shut the government down." Regarding rumors that furloughed federal workers wouldn't receive back pay caused by the shutdown, Trump said, "… for the most part, we're going to take care of our people. [But] There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of," he contended. October 7: The Daily Caller: Democrat VA Attorney General candidate appears to have violated his community service terms Democrat Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones appears to have violated the community service terms for his 2022 reckless driving charge, according to a statement the office that prosecuted the case. Jones was arrested in New Kent County for driving 46 miles per hour over the speed limit. He avoided jail time through a "deferred deposition," which allowed him to pay a fine and complete community service hours. New Kent Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Del Rossi has said that Virginia defines community service as "unpaid service or labor performed through any non-political, charitable non-profit. That's all I'm gonna say," Del Rossi added. However, Jones completed roughly 500 hours of his community service through his own political action committee (PAC), Meet Our Moment (MOM), which is registered with the Virginia Board of Elections and not recognized as a nonprofit charity. Because of numerous delays Jones' hearing on the reckless driving charge appears to have taken place after he had already completed his "community service" and a driver improvement course, timing that appeared particularly advantageous for him. Jones' community service documentation included a letter from MOM's executive director, which states vaguely that the group's mission is to "train civic leaders." The letter does not mention Jones's involvement in the creation of the group, its designation as a state PAC, or that its true mission is to "recruit and train minority Democrat candidates to run for and win state and local offices." The attestation letter to the court appears to be a clear misrepresentation of the group's purpose. October 7: The Washington Times: Supreme Court skeptical of Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children Colorado's law banning "conversion therapy" for children confounded the Supreme Cout on Tuesday, with justices saying it seemed to shut down speech that would normally be protected by the First Amendment. Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor, has challenged the law, saying it prevents her from bringing her Christian perspective to her work with families as their kids grapple with gender dysphoria or same-sex attraction. "Ms. Chiles is being silenced, and the kids and families that want her help are unable to access it," said her lawyer, James Campbell. He said if Colorado prevails, counselors and therapists could turn into "mouthpieces of the government" and be muzzled on other issues such as abortion and divorce. Meanwhile Colorado argues that it has the right to regulate medical practices, claiming states can regulate it as a "reasonable regulation of professional conduct." The case comes to the justices a year after they upheld a Tennessee law that constrained so-called "gender-affirming" treatments for children. In a 6-3 ruling in that case, the court said the science was rapidly developing and states needed to be allowed to explore without the heavy hand of the courts. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. suggested the Colorado law is "…like blatant viewpoint discrimination," noting the Court already dealt with these issues in a 2018 case where the justices struck down a California law that tried to dictate what pro-life crisis pregnancy centers could counsel their clients. The Solicitor General's office told the justices Colorado's state's law poses a credible threat of enforcement over speech violations and that the state has no evidence that the talk therapy is harmful to minors. "They just don't have any of that," they claimed. October 7: The Daily Wire: University of Chicago Assistant Professor charged with felonies for participating in riots University of Chicago assistant professor Eman Abdelhadi, who teaches in the department of comparative human development, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a government employee, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of resisting/obstructing peace, a Class A misdemeanor, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said. Abdelhadi posted a photo of Illinois state police outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on X [Twitter] the day of her arrest with the caption: "Here's a picture of Illinois state tax dollars going to enforcing Trump's agenda of terrorizing our community with abductions." The Trump administration deployed 200 Texas National Guard soldiers to Illinois amid an uptick in anti-ICE assaults. A federal judge declined to block President Trump's deployment of Texas troops to Chicago Monday, rejecting a lawsuit filed by the state of Illinois challenging said deployment. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Monday to create "ICE-free zones" across the city. [See Related Story] October 6: Fox News: All eyes focus on the Senate Democrats as the government shutdown continues into its sixth day The focus for the current government shutdown is less on the White House as all eyes are locked on Congress and its budget impasse. Trump is remaining in the wings during the partial shutdown, and Democrats are taking the fall for the consequences, according to libertarian political columnist Kristin Tate. "By staying relatively quiet right now, President Trump is allowing Democrats to 'own' the shutdown," Tate said. "The president realizes that if he says anything confrontational right now, the narrative will center around his remarks rather than the Democrats' refusal to support a reasonable spending bill. By maintaining a low profile, Trump is allowing the public to see how the Democrats are acting," continued. "Democrats will ultimately bear most of the political consequences of the shutdown." October 6: Breitbart News: Special Counsel Jack Smith reportedly tracked private conversations of eight GOP Senators Nearly ten Republican senators and a representative had their private communications allegedly tracked by former Special Counsel Jack Smith under the Biden administration, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Monday. Files obtained show that Smith, in his official capacity at the Department of Justice (DOJ) as he investigated President Trump and the events of January 6, 2021, was allegedly tracking the private phone calls of Republican Sens. Graham (SC), Blackburn (TN), Johnson (WI), Hawley (MO), Lummis (WY), Hagerty (TN), Sullivan (AK), Tuberville (AL), and Republican Rep. Mike Kelly (PA). Director Patel confirmed the information saying, "We recently uncovered proof that phone records of U.S. lawmakers were seized for political purposes." An FBI official revealed that Smith and his team, established in 2022 under the Biden Administration, were able to see which numbers the politicians contacted, the locations from where the calls originated, and the locations where they were received. Officials also explained that the records were investigated pursuant to an oversight request from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), which Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino personally directed in response. October 6: News Max: Trump halts talks with Venezuela signaling pivot in U.S. strategy Richard Grenell, Trump's special envoy who had been leading months of negotiations with the government of President Nicolás Maduro, was directed last week to halt all talks after the president expressed frustration over Caracas' refusal to relinquish power and continued denial of involvement in narcotics trafficking. The decision reflects a hardening U.S. stance. Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio has labeled Maduro an "illegitimate" leader and a "fugitive from American justice," citing a U.S. indictment on drug trafficking charges. The State Department recently increased its reward for Maduro's capture to $50 million. A recent notice to Congress declared that the U.S. is in a formal "armed conflict" with drug cartels, labeling their members as "unlawful combatants." October 6: Fox News: Suspected Latin Kings gang leader arrested after offering bounty to capture and kill a senior ICE officer Federal agents in Chicago on Monday arrested a suspected Latin Kings leader accused of offering cash bounties to capture and kill a senior immigration officer working with "Operation Midway Blitz." The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois unsealed a criminal complaint Monday charging 37-year-old Chicago resident Juan Espinoza Martinez with a single count of murder for hire. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the official Martinez allegedly placed a bounty on as Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. Martinez was taken into custody Monday morning. U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said, "Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is an attack on the rule of law. The defendant's actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago will hold defendants accountable for their grave criminal actions and ensure that no federal officer has to fear for their life for doing their job." According to the complaint, Martinez is a ranking member of the Latin Kings, a gang notorious for violent crimes and drug trafficking across Chicago. DHS said Martinez is from Mexico and entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and time. October 5: News Max: Radicals offering a $10K bounty for kidnapping or murder of ICE agents Anti-American leftist anarchists are doxing, stalking, and targeting federal agents in coordinated plots across major U.S. cities, with some groups offering thousands of dollars to kidnap or kill them, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "So, our intelligence indicates that these people are organized," Noem warned in a Sunday morning TV interview. "They're getting more and more people on their team, as far as attacking officers, and they're making plans to ambush them and to kill them. We have specific officers and agents that have bounties on their heads. It's been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They've released their pictures. They've sent them between their networks. It's an extremely dangerous situation and unprecedented." According to Noem, leftist agitators and protesters have gone beyond merely protesting and rioting, moving to racketeering conspiracies for deadly violence forcing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to have their own security detail, foisting added costs on American taxpayers. "So, we've put protective detail around those individuals, changed some of our operations to keep our officers safe, but make no mistake, this isn't just about protesting free speech or that they don't like that people out here are upholding the law of our country," Noem continued. "They're actually going out there and saying kill these people and we'll give you this much money to do it." October 5: The Gateway Pundit: Portland Police; Conservative Journalist at fault for being attacked; she shouldn't have been there The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is under fire for defaming a conservative journalist who was viciously assaulted by Antifa militants, claiming that she "instigated" the assault by simply being there. Katie Daviscourt, a staff reporter for The Post Millennial, was labeled a "counter-protester" in an internal police report that suggested she and others deliberately antagonized protesters, leading to their own assaults. Earlier this week, Daviscourt was bashed in the face by a female masked Antifa militant with a flag pole and left with a black eye. Police refused to arrest the assailant after she fled into a nearby "safehouse" for the extremist activists. The Post Millennial said "Daviscourt has been diligently reporting on the protest and riot activity for months, recording her work both in The Post Millennial and on X for all the world to see while local legacy media stayed away for safety reasons. On Sept. 30, the world saw another report from Daviscourt, but this one ended with a concussion and an eye hemorrhage. She was reporting outside the facility when a woman swung a flagpole at her, bashing her in the face." October 5: The Epoch Times: White House; Government layoffs will start soon if government is not reopened A top White House economy official, Kevin Hassett, said Sunday layoffs to the federal workforce could occur quickly if negotiations with Democrats to reopen the government don't lead to any progress. Hassett, who is the head of the National Economic Council, said that the administration and Republicans will negotiate their position to end the government shutdown but said he hopes Democrats come to a compromise soon. If not, the layoffs will start, he said. "I think that if the president decides that the negotiations are absolutely going nowhere, then there will start to be layoffs," Hassett said. "But I think that everybody's still hopeful that when we get a fresh start at the beginning of the week that we can get the Democrats to see that it's just common sense to avoid layoffs like that, to avoid the $15 billion a week that the Council of Economic Advisers says will harm GDP if [the shutdown continues]." October 4: Fox News: Biden-appointed judge slammed for light sentence to Kavanaugh's assassination plotter The federal judge who sentenced the defendant found guilty of attempting to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is being criticized by for the length of the sentence and concerns about the transgender perp, Nicholas Roske, who goes by the name of Sophie. Maryland U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, a Biden appointee, sentenced Roske to eight years in prison Friday for attempting to assassinate Kavanaugh in June 2022 in the weeks before the Supreme Court's landmark Dobbs decision. Department of Justice attorneys had asked for at least a thirty-year sentence. Justice Boardman said during a sentencing hearing that while Roske's actions were "reprehensible," she also considered a string of mitigating factors, including that Roske "spontaneously confessed to and cooperated with police." The former chief counsel for nominations at the Senate Judiciary Committee called the judge and the sentence "a national disgrace." "She only sentenced to 8 years, instead of 30, someone who attempted to murder Justice Kavanaugh and his family in their home. Make no mistake: Today's Democrats want conservatives killed." In another post one commenter asked if Boardman would have Roske sent to a women's prison. Broadman is the same judge who blocked DOGE access to the Department of Education personnel records and who blocked Trump's executive order on Birthright Citizenship which currently on the Supreme Court's docket. October 4: Breitbart News: DHS agents rammed by woman brandishing an assault rifle DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin revealed after DHS agents in Chicago had been rammed by cars and boxed in by many others and that being "unable to move their vehicles" the agents got out of the car and were faced with one of the drivers having a "semi-automatic weapon." McLaughlin said "law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots." Reportedly the woman had been "named" in a Customs and Border Protection "intelligence bulletin last week for doxing agents" and calling for people to "f*ck those mother f*ckers up." "Thankfully, no law enforcement officers were seriously injured in this attack," McLaughlin said. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled the actions against federal law enforcement "domestic terrorism and seditious insurrection." ABC7 News reported the Chicago Fire Department has revealed that the woman was reportedly "taken to a hospital by CFD crews for a gunshot wound." So, apparently the DHS agents hit their attacker. ABC7 said the "U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois" reported "two people have been taken into custody in connection" with the incident, though it was unclear if the allegedly armed woman was one of the individuals. October 3: The Daily Signal: Fetterman (D-PA) joins Republicans in stopping the government shutdown Although his party on Friday once again denied Republicans' the votes necessary to reopen the government, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has been slamming his fellow Democrats for their shutdown efforts. "We shouldn't be having this conversation. You shouldn't be shutting our government down," Fetterman said. "When the Republicans were doing it, we rightly criticized them, attacked them for doing that… Don't shut it down. It's fundamentally wrong," he said. When asked for his reaction to OMB's freezing of infrastructure funding in blue states, Fetterman once again put the blame on his Democrat colleagues. October 3: Reuters (story published on News Max): SCOTUS clears way for revocation of temporary legal protection for Venezuelan migrants The Supreme Court cleared the way on Friday for the Trump administration to revoke a temporary legal protection for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the United States, backing a key priority of the Republican president as he pursues a policy of mass deportations. The justices granted the administration's request to put on hold a judge's ruling that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lacked the authority to end the Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, granted to the migrants under Trump's predecessor while litigation proceeds. The Court previously sided with the administration in May to lift a temporary order that San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Edward Chen issued at an earlier stage of the case that had halted the TPS termination while the litigation played out in court. Chen issued a final ruling on September 5, finding that Noem's actions to terminate the program violated a federal law that governs the actions of federal agencies. Chen's ruling meant that more than 300,000 Venezuelan TPS holders would be able to remain in the country for now, even though Noem had determined that to be "contrary to the national interest," according to the administration. In another case, the Supreme Court on May 30 let the administration revoke a different type of temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguan migrants. [See related column] October 3: The Washington Examiner: Virginia's Attorney General race heats up The Virginia attorney general race between incumbent Republican Jason Miyares and Jay Jones, a left wing Democrat candidate, shows Jones only leads Miyares by 6 points, a statistically insignificant lead because of the margin of error. Several things might move this race further toward Miyares, beginning with Jones's questionable behavior regarding two recent revelations about his sense of entitlement and character. The first was the revelation that in 2022, Jones was busted for reckless driving by a state trooper for clocking an astounding 116 miles per hour in New Kent County. It gets worse. Jones, the son of two judges struck a deal to skirt Virginia's mandatory one-year jail sentence for reckless driving that allowed him to do 1,000 hours of community service and pay a measly $1,500 fine. But his "community service" gets even more interesting. In January 2024, his own political action committee, Meet our Moment, which recruits and trains minority Democrat candidates to run for Virginia offices, and the Virginia chapter of the NAACP both attested that Jones completed 500 hours of community service each. Then last Friday, Audrey Fahlberg of National Review reported Jones sent a Virginia lawmaker a text joking about shooting former state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, saying that if faced with the choice of murdering Gilbert or two dictators, he'd shoot Gilbert "every time." Heading into October, Miyares (R) was likely down closer to 3, not 6. It is unclear what impact Jones's (D) speeding ticket and, even more importantly, the dark messages of shooting the state House speaker to a former colleague in the legislature have had on voters. In light of the murder of Charlie Kirk, it's likely to be impactful. Beyond how flawed Jones is, what makes Miyares (R) so compelling is that, whether he wins or loses his reelection to his seat in November, he will still emerge as a formidable contender for Virginia governor in four years. Miyares, whose mother fled Cuba alone without resources as a teenager, did the improbable four years ago when he first ran for attorney general. He was the first candidate to defeat the incumbent attorney general in Virginia in well over 100 years. By contrast, Jones, a former Democrat lawmaker is the son of two prosecutors who became judges and attended prep school, while his opponent Miyares grew up in a house with a single mother and went to public school. October 2: The New York Post: Illegal School Superintend in Iowa lied and was subject of two sex discrimination lawsuits Reportedly the school district superintendent who was arrested by ICE in Iowa this past week lied about attending MIT and was the subject of two sex discrimination lawsuits. Snappy-dresser Ian Andre Roberts, 51, was fired by Des Moines Public Schools after it emerged, he was working illegally and had been avoiding a deportation order. Roberts spent over twenty years bouncing around the nation's education system, holding top posts from coast-to-coast, but also proved controversial. "He ruined our district for three years," a former colleague in the state told The Post. "He was very smooth, affable, but the overarching feeling you got from him was smoke and mirrors, mystique." He is also rumored to have been caught having sex with a female coworker on school property at his previous role as a superintendent in rural Pennsylvania, a post he held from 2020 to 2023. Former colleagues claimed Roberts was a sketchy figure and pathological liar. They said they felt he was hired because of his Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bona fides — and claimed once on the job he did little work. October 2: The Daily Caller: French seize "shadow ship" delivering Russia oil; arrest the Captain and First Officer The French military boarded a ship suspected of operating for Russia's "shadow fleet" and arrested the captain and first officer, authorities reported. Brest Prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger, whose office is in charge of the matter, said the two people apprehended identified themselves as the captain and first officer of the vessel. They did not give proof of the vessel's nationality or follow orders, and the length of their detention has extended, he said. The ship fell under European Union sanctions targeting Russia. The ship departed Primorsk, a Russian oil terminal, on Sept. 20, sailed along Denmark's coast and has held position off the western French port Saint-Nazaire since Sunday, according to data from Marine Traffic. October 2: The Gateway Pundit: Light shed on memo that exposes Democrat demands for almost $200 billion in public funds for illegal alien healthcare A newly released memorandum has blown the lid off Democrats' latest betrayal of the American people. Buried inside their continuing resolution (CR) is a demand to repeal President Trump's historic America First healthcare reforms, the very safeguards that protect U.S. citizens from footing the bill for illegal aliens' medical care. According to the memo, if Democrats succeed, taxpayers will be on the hook for nearly $200 billion in healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants and non-citizens over the next decade. The Democrat proposal would counter the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTCA), which Trump signed into law and which was designed to end taxpayer subsidies for illegal immigrant healthcare and redirect resources to the most vulnerable Americans. It: • Ended Medicaid & Medicare funding for most non-citizens. • Shut down the California loophole that allowed liberal states to siphon federal dollars for illegal alien healthcare. • Blocked emergency Medicaid expansions that reimbursed hospitals more for treating illegals than for caring for American children and seniors, and it • Repealed the Obamacare "special rule" that gave subsidies to immigrants earning below the poverty line while denying them to poor American citizens October 2: Fox News: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac's NY offices to shutter in response to AG James' 'corrupt' practices "We are shutting down the two New York offices for Fannie and Freddie as a result of Letitia James' corrupt and dangerous business practices in the state," a source close to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees government-sponsored enterprises, has said. A public announcement on the closures is set for later Thursday. "We'll still employ New York residents, and we'll still continue to do mortgage loans in New York, of course," the source continued. "But we are going to eliminate our physical presence. And to the extent that we have leases, we are going to be subleasing those." The FHFA is an independent federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The anticipated shuttering of the New York offices comes after FHFA Chief Bill Pulte sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department back in April over claims James falsified mortgage records to obtain more favorable loans. A Norfolk, Virginia, home James purchased in 2023 is at the heart of the investigation. James identified the home on mortgage documents and a Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac form as a property that would serve as her primary residence, according to the criminal referral Pulte sent the Department of Justice in April. James is legally required to live in New York as a statewide elected official in the Empire State. James could potentially lose her law license if the charges are found to be valid. October 1: News Max: The Dems have made their bed; now they are trying to figure out how to pull back the covers and get out of it Senate Democrats kept their promise to reject any Republican spending bill that didn't increase spending and providing healthcare benefits to illegals, choosing instead to force a government shutdown. Now they have to figure out how to get out of it. Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that if the Republicans work with them, "the shutdown could go away very quickly." But that won't be easy. Republican leaders — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, (R-SD) House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and President Donald Trump — have said that they won't negotiate or be "held hostage" by Democrats demanding concessions to reopen the government. The Senate GOP leadership has brought a "clean" 45-day extension to the floor each day and each time the Dems have kept it from being debated blocking cloture of their filibuster. An extended shutdown could be increasingly painful for Democrats. The Trump administration has threatened to lay off thousands of workers and target Democrat-leaning states. Wednesday, the White House announced it was putting a hold on subway and tunnel projects in Schumer's home state. "This Democrat shutdown is actually delaying progress on the issues that Democrats claim to be interested in," Thune said Wednesday. During the vote on Tuesday three Democrats voted with the Republicans (55-45) with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voting in opposition. Thune is holding repeated votes on the measure with the hope that eventually an additional five Democrats will feel the pressure and support the bill "when they realize that this is playing a losing hand." Past shutdowns show that it's hard to win major concessions by closing the government. Meanwhile Fox News reports that even though the President remains opposed to shutting down the government, a shutdown opens the door to additional cuts as the Administration continues to seek the elimination of waste, fraud, abuse, and the trimming of the federal work force's size. "We don't want [the government] to shut down… …Now, with that being said, we can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for [the Democrats] and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like," the President contended A shutdown does not hand a president new powers, but instead concentrates discretion to the White House and Office of Management and Budget over what the executive branch continues operating or ending. September 30: The Daily Caller: Secretary of War sets new standards for all members of the armed forces In remarks to high-ranking generals and admirals, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth set the standards for military service going forward. This includes requiring both men and women to meet the same standard in order to serve in combat. "If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is… It will also mean that weak men won't qualify — because we're not playing games. This is combat. This is life or death," the secretary said. He also mandated that all members of the Armed Forces – enlisted to four-star generals/admirals – comply with physical training standards and not be overweight. Specifically, he said, "It's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon. It's a bad look. It is bad and it's not who we are. Whether you are an airborne ranger or a chair-borne ranger, a brand new private or a four-star general, you need to meet your height and weight standards and pass your PT test," the Secretary proclaimed. September 30: The Daily Signal: 65% of Americans say "Don't shutdown our government" and blame Democrats? The White House is reprimanding Democrats for shutting down the government even though it's reportedly unpopular with the vast majority of Americans. The New York Times-Siena poll indicates 65% of Americans say there shouldn't be a shutdown even if the Democrat demand for increased healthcare spending (which includes spending for healthcare for illegals) are not met. The poll shows 43% of Democrats and 59% of Independents are of this opinion. "The overwhelming majority of Americans do not support a Democrat-led government shutdown," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said. And "Yet Democrats are still insistent on shutting down the government over their $1.5 trillion wish list of far-left demands, like paying for health care for illegal aliens." If the Senate doesn't pass a continuing resolution to fund the government by midnight Wednesday morning, the government will partially shut down, leading to federal employees not being paid, as well as interruptions in some government services. The Republicans have the votes to pass the House funding bill but come up seven votes short to cut off debate and consider the measure. Without seven Democrat Senators joining them, part of the Federal government will be shut down. September 29: The Epoch Times: Dems not willing to deal on funding; Federal Government shutdown looming Congressional leaders failed to reach an agreement on a stopgap spending resolution that would avert a government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) met with President Donald Trump this afternoon but remained deadlocked as Democrats continued to demand significant increases in spending on health care – including free health care for illegals -- in exchange for their votes. Vice President JD Vance said after the meeting, "I think we're headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing. I hope they change their mind. If you look at the original [position] they did with this negotiation, it was a $1.5 trillion spending package, basically saying the American people want to give massive amounts of money, hundreds of billions of dollars to illegal aliens for their health care, while Americans are struggling to pay their [own] health care bills. That was their initial foray into this negotiation" Vance said, and added, " We thought it was absurd." September 29: News Max: Ukraine hits Russian civilian power plants in reciprocal actions for what Russia has done for three winters now Ukraine's missile strike on a major thermal power plant in Belgorod, just 25 miles from the Ukrainian border, this weekend has plunged large parts of the Russian city into darkness, in what analysts say could represent a game-changing escalation in Kyiv's strategy. According to reports, the Belgorod Thermal Power Station supplies over one-third of the city's heating and electricity needs and was hit alongside with the nearby Luch substation. Belgorod, is a city of around 350,000 people and is a key logistical hub for Moscow's war effort. The attack left significant portions of the city without power and highlighted Ukraine's ability to target Russia's civilian infrastructure, mirroring Moscow's systematic campaign against Ukraine's own energy grid over the past three years. "Russia has made blackouts and terror a part of its war strategy. Now it is facing the same price," Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office said. Russia operates hundreds of these facilities which are the backbone of Russia's grid, accounting for more than half of the country's electricity production. By striking these plants, Ukraine threatens not only local power supplies but also the political stability that hinges on keeping Russian cities warm and lit as winter approaches. "Power outages in Russian cities are not just a military problem; they're a political one," explained Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert at University College London. "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin needs to maintain the perception of control and stability. "If ordinary Russians start facing rolling blackouts in major urban centers, the Kremlin's narrative of strength unravels." Until now, Ukraine has largely concentrated its strikes on Russia's oil refineries, choking Moscow's revenues and fuel supplies and forcing them to scale back production at more than a dozen facilities. If Ukraine is now moving toward systematically degrading Russia's power plants, it presents Putin with a major dilemma. Does he double down and risk public anger over blackouts, or divert resources from the front to protect infrastructure deep inside Russia? "Targeting civilian power in Russia is not [an] escalation — it's reciprocity," Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko said. "They tried to freeze us into submission. Now Russians will feel what they've inflicted on us." September 29: News Max: House and Senate leadership urge Democrat colleagues to stop stonewalling and to pass short term government funding bill Ahead of a meeting between lawmakers and President Trump, leadership of both the House and Senate Sunday sought to hold Democrats responsible for failure to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown and urged them to agree to a short-term bill, allowing them to work out their differences. Without passage of funding legislation, parts of the government will close on Wednesday, the first day of the U.S. government's 2026 fiscal year. The House has already passed a funding bill and the Republicans in the Senate are on board to do the same but the Democrats are holding up consideration of the measure by denying the chamber enough votes to pass cloture – at least 60 votes are required. The House bill before the Senate could continue spending at current levels while the Democrat leadership wants to increase spending – something President Trump contends would include funding medical and other services granting access to illegal immigrants. Trump has summoned congressional leaders from both parties to a White House for a sit down on Monday to seek a solution. September 28: Fox News: NYC DA Bragg drags his feet; Violent assailant walks free because DA's office misses filing deadline Savannah Craven Antao recounted a "violent" street encounter that she said left her with her "whole face cut open." "A lot of the time I'm met with violence and that led to me being brutally assaulted on the street back in April," Craven Antao said. "A difference of opinion is something that they're willing to not only call you names over, assault you over, but then now we see, kill you over." As a prolife person closely aligned with the now assassinated Charlie Kirk, she asked, "If somebody is willing to punch me in the face by just asking a question, why would the limit stop there? Why not kill somebody? Why not just completely try to silence them?" This incident is just one example of the hatred on the left and if left unchecked it will continue to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Manhattan's Democrat Alvin Bragg, who was in such a hurry to prosecute Donald Trump, let the ball drop on this incident, failing to file paperwork in a timely manner, thereby allowing the assailant to go free. September 28: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Shooting at Egale Pass casino takes life of beloved and retired Customs Agent Two people were killed and multiple others injured in a shooting at a casino in Eagle Pass just after midnight Sunday. The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is on the Texas/Mexico border, about 150 miles southwest of San Antonio. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, another en route to the hospital. At least three to four more victims were airlifted in critical condition to San Antonio hospitals after being struck by gunfire. The suspect, Keryan Jones, who fled the scene was later taken into custody with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. He has been identified as. Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez released a statement Sunday, identifying one of the victims as Marcus "Mark" Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. and the region. His passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of many." September 27: The Washington Times: Administration takes birthright citizenship question back to the Supreme Court The administration has asked the Supreme Court to approve his move to deny recognition of birthright citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants and temporary visitors, teeing up one of the biggest constitutional fights of the Trump presidency. The move brings the birthright case back to the justices just months after they heard an earlier iteration. That previous case focused on how lower court judges blocked President Trump, with universal injunctions that went beyond the parties that sued. This new appeal puts the automatic citizenship question squarely before the justices. Solicitor General D. John Sauer said the lower court rulings finding the president's plan violates the 14th Amendment reflect a "mistaken" view. "Those decisions confer, without lawful justification, the privilege of American citizenship on hundreds of thousands of unqualified people," Sauer told the justices in appealing two cases, which had yet to be docketed as of Friday night. September 27: The Gateway Pundit: Rapper Ice Cube's tour bus firebombed by Portland, OR radicals, mistaking it for a deportation bus Radical anarchists reportedly firebombed the tour bus of rapper Ice Cube, apparently confusing it for an ICE deportation vehicle. The fire occurred early Tuesday morning, September 23, 2025, shortly after Ice Cube's performance at the Moda Center on his "Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude Tour." Video footage showed the tour bus with its front passenger tire on fire and heavy smoke rising from the vehicle parked near Southwest Broadway and Oak Street, according to local affiliate KPTV. Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded quickly, extinguishing the flames and ventilating the smoke. The incident left the bus with a shattered driver's side window and visible scorch damage along its exterior. September 27: The Epoch Times: Trump authorizes troop deployment to quell "domestic terrorists" in Portland, Oregon Donald Trump said he has ordered troops to deploy to Portland, Oregon, in response to escalating clashes outside federal immigration facilities, vowing to use "full force" if necessary against what he called "domestic terrorists." "At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists," Trump said. "I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary." The announcement follows Trump's Sept. 22 executive order designating Antifa a domestic terrorist organization. In that directive, he described the group as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" seeking to overthrow the U.S. government and accused its supporters of staging armed standoffs with police, violent assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and organized riots. In July, Noem said that assaults against ICE officers were up exponentially, linking the surge to doxxing campaigns run by anarchist and Antifa-affiliated groups in Portland. September 26: The New York Post: Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools arrested, faces deportation The superintendent of Des Moines Iowa Public Schools was arrested after federal agents discovered he was in the country illegally with a deportation order — and in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a hunting knife, authorities said. Ian Andre Roberts, originally from Guyana, was taken into custody Friday during a targeted enforcement operation, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Des Moines. "ICE Des Moines today arrested Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien from Guyana in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a fixed blade hunting knife," the agency said. Agents said Roberts sped off in his vehicle after being approached by officers. His car was later discovered abandoned near a wooded area. The Iowa State Patrol assisted in locating him, and he was taken into ICE custody. "This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson. September 26: The Gateway Pundit: 274 plain clothes federal officers in the crowd at the Capitol on January 6th It appears that James Comey might have a familiar cellmate if he (Comey) is actually sent to prison for lying under oath to Congress and the American people. Former FBI Director Chris Wray lied and lectured House Republicans for accusing the FBI of planting informants/operatives/agents inside the crowd of Trump supporters on January 6, 2021. In a bold statement that directly contradicts multiple official sources, Wray testified before Congress in July 2023 that he "does not believe" undercover FBI agents were present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. Wray's statement came during a tense exchange with Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who specifically asked about the number of undercover agents in the Capitol. "I'm not sure there were undercover agents on scene," Wray responded to Biggs. "As I sit here right now, I do not believe there were undercover agents on." Biggs wrote on Twitter that "Wray will be held accountable for this lie." September 26: News Max: SCOTUS allows Trump Admin. to withhold $4 Billion in Congressionally approvedforeign aid spending The U.S. Supreme Court sided again with Donald Trump, allowing his administration to withhold about $4 billion in foreign aid authorized by Congress for the current fiscal year as the president pursues his "America First" agenda; blocking Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amir Ali's order that had directed the administration to promptly take steps to spend the aid at issue in the dispute. Ali's decision came in a lawsuit by aid groups challenging the administration's action. The Supreme Court made its decision 6-3 with the three liberal justices dissented. The unsigned order said the aid groups likely lacked the legal authority to bring their challenge. It also expressed concerns that ruling against Trump threatened to impair a president's power to conduct foreign affairs. The case raised questions involving the degree to which a president has the authority to rescind funds Congress has appropriated for programs that do not align with his policies. The administration said in court papers that the money it targeted is "contrary to U.S. foreign policy," reflecting Trump's effort to scale back U.S. assistance abroad as part of an "America First" agenda. Trump also has moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, the main U.S. foreign aid agency. The U.S. government's 2025 fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. The $4 billion in aid spending at issue in the case was intended by Congress for foreign aid, United Nations peacekeeping operations and democracy-promotion efforts overseas. September 26: Fox News: NATO allies with an Eastern Front with Russia encourage Trump to keep a U.S. military presence Eastern European leaders are urging President Trump to keep U.S. troops on NATO's eastern flank after a wave of Russian air and drone incursions, warning that Vladimir Putin is "pushing the limits" and will "believe only what he sees" from allied defenses. Ministers from Estonia, Lithuania and Romania said the alliance must harden its posture — moving from air policing to integrated air and missile defenses, sharpening rules of engagement and sustaining U.S. troop rotations — to prevent Russia from normalizing violations and eroding Article 5 credibility. They paired the military message with calls for tighter sanctions and an end to European energy dependence that funds the Kremlin's war machine. Their appeals land as Washington weighs a new national security strategy aimed at prioritizing homeland defense. Before the most recent incursions, U.S. officials had cautioned allies to prepare for a reduction of the American footprint, pressing Europe to take on a greater share of the burden. September 25: The Epoch Times: Is this a joke? White House wall of fame with 47 Presidents "honored!" Donald Trump created a Presidential Wall of Fame with a line of portraits hung outside the White House in the West Wing Colonnade that includes a picture of an autopen signing former President Joe Biden's signature. Margo Martin, communications adviser and special assistant to the president, posted a video of the display on Sept. 24 on X (Twitter). All 47 presidents are represented by black and white photographs with white borders and gold frames in a line that extends along the exterior West Wing wall. September 25: One America News Network: Federal Grand Jury indites former FBI Director James Comey on two counts; "No Bills" one count Former FBI Director James Comey has reportedly been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia. Comey was indicted on two counts: One for perjury by making false statements to Congress and the other for Obstruction of justice. The indictment charges Comey with making false statements to Congress regarding the FBI's handling of the Trump–Russia investigation. The case stems from Comey's September 30th, 2020, testimony before congressional committees. Federal prosecutors maintain that Comey made false claims about the origins and conduct of "Crossfire Hurricane," the FBI's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election — attempting to connect Russia to Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Newly appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan is said to have presented the case to a grand jury just days before the five-year statute of limitations was set to expire. Comey is now expected to appear in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, for an arraignment in the coming days. The Grand Jury rejected (No Billed) a third count brought against Comey. Under federal court rules, a charge is rejected if 12 or more members of the 16-member grand jury don't believe there's enough evidence to move forward on the case. MSN's spin on the indictment is that it's the beginning of retribution against Trump's opponents, however, Grand Juries that bring indictments are not typically tools of the administration in power and one would hope that a Grand Jury's decision to indict is based upon the facts presented in a case, not politics. September 25: News Max: Poland to shoot down Russian aircraft (including drones) that violate their airspace Poland will shoot down any Russian military aircraft that deliberately enters the country's airspace, as the nation's borders are "sacrosanct" and must be defended, Polish President Karol Nawrocki said. Nawrocki, who was sworn in last month, was asked, "Let me ask you point-blank: if a Russian jet enters now into Polish airspace and it's aware that it's in Polish airspace, it's been notified and it doesn't leave immediately, will you shoot it down?" His answer? "Yes, of course. If such a provocation happens, and if Russian drones pose a threat to Polish people, then for sure the Polish armed forces in contact with our allies, but also in my capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, we will be fighting such drones. We do not want our borders to be crossed." He stressed that Poland, backed by NATO and the US is prepared to respond to any Russian provocation "with the force of the Polish soldiers." "We have got more than 200,000 Polish soldiers, a strong army and strong allied support, also from the United States of America," he said. "We are a NATO member state, and we refuse to have Russian drones in our airspace." The Polish Air Force flies a mixture of USA-F-16s and Russian Mig29s. September 24: The Epoch Times: One dead, two injured as looney person seeks to kill people at a Dallas, TX, ICE facility One detainee is dead and two others critically injured after a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas on Sept. 24, according to authorities. The suspect also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooter opened fire from a nearby rooftop. No law enforcement officials were injured in the incident. Rounds found near the suspect, who was found dead when officials arrived, contained messages that were "anti-ICE in nature," FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas office Joe Rothrock said during the press conference. The attack was an act of "targeted violence," he contended. September 24: News Max: Dems want a Trillion in new spending in order to avoid a government shutdown Donald Trump Wednesday said he decided not to meet with Democratic leaders to discuss a funding deal to avoid a government shutdown because their "unserious and ridiculous demands" meant "no meeting ... could possibly be productive." Trump scrapped a planned meeting with Democrat leaders unless they agreed to some of the President's demands. In the end, Trump believed a meeting with them would not be productive. "They are threatening to shut down the Government of the United States unless they can have over $1 Trillion Dollars in new spending to continue free healthcare for Illegal Aliens, force Taxpayers to fund Transgender surgery for minors, have dead people on the Medicaid roles, allow Illegal Alien Criminals to steal Billions of Dollars in American Taxpayer Benefits, try to force our Country to again open our Borders to Criminals and to the World, allow men to play in women's sports, and essentially create Transgender operations for everybody," Trump said. Government funding is set to expire just after midnight Oct. 1, unless lawmakers agree to the bill passed by the house that would allow a seven-week continuing resolution. Republicans are seeking a "clean" CR, something Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) supported when his party was in the majority but which he now opposes. September 24: Fox News: FBI getting close to indicting former Director, James Comey, of lying to Congress The Justice Department is seeking to indict former FBI Director James Comey for perjury as the deadline to bring charges looms. The probe into Comey centers on whether he lied to Congress during his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Under federal law, prosecutors have five years to bring a charge, with the five-year mark occurring next Tuesday. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. "DOJ officials are close to deciding whether to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly lying to Congress in September 2020," a source said. "There is a grand jury underway looking at the matter in Virginia. A decision could come any day." The extent of the potential charges was unclear, as was which part of his testimony could be subjected to perjury charges. September 23: One America News Network: Oklahoma encouraging the establishment of TPUSA chapters in all the state's high schools Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announced a plan to establish Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters across all high schools in the Sooner State. According to Walters, high schoolers will have the option to form local chapters of the conservative club on their campuses, provided that at least three students from the same school complete a charter agreement. Once approved, the group will be officially recognized as a chapter. "From there, TPUSA will support chapters by helping them gain official recognition or registration from their school, connecting student leaders with a dedicated field representative to serve as a liaison between the school and TPUSA, assisting in securing a teacher sponsor, and providing sample constitutions and bylaws where required by school policy," Walters explained. "Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to love America, to speak boldly, and to never shy away from debate. Our kids must get involved and active. We will fight back against the liberal propaganda, pushed by the radical left, and the teachers' unions. Our fight starts now." As of September 2025, there are currently 18 TPUSA Club America chapters in high schools throughout the state. September 23: Fox News: Trump: If Russia violates NATO airspace, shoot them down President Trump called on NATO countries Tuesday to shoot down any Russian jets that violate their airspace. The statement came hours after Trump slammed the UN for not aiding his administration's peace push and for "creating new problems" for the U.S. and member nations. He also questioned the UN's purpose and offered "the hand of American leadership and friendship" to all countries in the body. "Not only is the U.N. not solving the problems it should. It, too often, is actually creating new problems for us to solve," Trump said. "The best example is the No. 1 political issue of our time: the crisis of uncontrolled migration. It is uncontrolled. Your countries are being ruined. The UN is supposed to stop invasions — not create them and not finance them," he said. Fox News reported further that Trump got chuckles shortly into his UN address. "I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working," he said. "I feel very happy to be up here with you nevertheless, and that way you speak more from the heart. I can only say that whoever's operating this teleprompter is in big trouble," he chided, drawing more laughter. Trump again drew laughs later on by recounting his mock dissatisfaction with its escalator breaking down while he and his wife were on it! "All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle. If the first lady wasn't in great shape she would've fallen. But she's in great shape, we're both in good shape. " he added, drawing more laughter. "These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter," he said! September 23: The Gateway Pundit: Investigation as to whether UN staffers intentionally shut down escalator The White House on Tuesday afternoon demanded an investigation amid reports UN staffers intentionally stopped the escalator as President Trump and First Lady Melania were stepping on in a major security breach. "If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said along with a report that UN staffers may turn off the escalators to make Trump walk up the stairs. The Times reported "To mark Trump's arrival, UN staff members have joked that they may turn off the escalators and elevators and simply tell him they ran out of money, so he has to walk up the stairs." Of course, a majority of the funding for the U.N. comes from the U.S., perhaps the U.S. portion should be reduced! September 22: The Daily Signal: SCOTUS to consider case that may decide if the deep state should exist On Monday the supreme Court (SCOTUS) announced it would take up a case that gets to the heart of why the deep state exists — it will revisit a precedent that defended the bureaucracy against the executive power vested in the president. In Trump v. Slaughter, the high court blocked a lower court order forcing the president to re-hire a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission after he fired her in March. Monday SCOTUS announced that it wasn't just allowing Trump to fire Slaughter until the case is resolved in court, but also that it would fully consider the case. The court's majority directed both parties to argue two central questions: "Whether the statutory removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission violate the separation of powers and, if so, whether Humphrey's Executor v. United States (1935), should be overruled"; and second, "Whether a federal court may prevent a person's removal from public office, either through relief at equity or at law." In Humphrey the court ruled that the Constitution allows Congress to enact laws limiting the power of the president to fire executive officials of an independent agency. President Roosevelt had fired William E. Humphrey, an FTC commissioner, over policy disagreements over economic regulation and the New Deal, even though the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 prohibited the president from firing a commissioner for any reason other than "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." The 1935 high court found that the FTC's constitutional defense was because it had executive, legislative, and judicial even though the Founders explicitly vested these functions in different branches of government to avoid tyranny. September 22: Breitbart News: Investors switch from fear to love of tariffs; The great tariff panic of 2025 is officially over In April, professional investors were convinced tariffs would bring down the global economy. Eight in ten money managers surveyed said that "trade war triggers global recession" and that was their single biggest market risk. By September, that fear has all but vanished with just 12% still saying a trade war as their top worry. Inflation and monetary policy took its place. This extraordinary reversal in investor psychology is one of the fastest shifts in sentiment on record. It reflects not only calmer headlines but also a recognition that Donald Trump's trade strategy has reorganized global commerce without triggering the destructive retaliatory tit-for-tat trade war Wall Street once dreaded. September 22: News Max: Trump to meet with Democrats about funding the government President Trump said he is willing to meet with top Democrats in Congress to discuss government funding amid a looming shutdown ahead of a September 30 funding deadline, a source familiar with the talks said Monday. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Saturday demanded a meeting with Trump to avoid a government shutdown when funding ends. Both said GOP leaders in Congress had repeatedly and publicly refused to engage in bipartisan negotiations to keep the government open. Instead of a clean continuing resolution (CR), the Democrats want to add additional spending for healthcare and a restoration of the funding cut from the Medicaid program for lower-income Americans. The House passed a clean CR and have recessed leaving the Senate with a take or leave it scenario. To date, the Senate has not been able to break a Democrat filibuster where 60 votes are needed to move the funding package forward. Congress has struggled to pass spending legislation in recent years amid rising partisan tensions, repeatedly raising the threat of a shutdown that would leave government workers unpaid and a wide range of services disrupted. The annual funding debate covers only about 25% of the federal government's $7 trillion budget. September 22: Fox News: High Court temporarily upholds Trump's right to fire FCC Commissioner The Supreme Court Monday backed President Trump's decision to fire a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, sending yet another signal that the high court intends to revisit a 90-year-old court precedent about executive firing power. The temporary decision to maintain Biden-appointed Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter's termination was issued 6-3 along ideological lines. Oral arguments in the case for scheduled for December. Trump fired Slaughter shortly after he took office. A lower court initially sided with Slaughter and reinstated her, Monday's decision came after the administration asked the high court on an emergency basis to temporarily pause Slaughter's reinstatement while it considers the merits of the case. The courts' decision to keep Slaughter's firing intact means she will remain sidelined from the FTC until after the high court hears arguments about the case in December. September 21: The Epoch Times: Prison Fortress may again become place for the worst of the worst The former maximum security prison rises like an ancient Acropolis atop the windswept rock of Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. President Donald Trump is considering reopening Alcatraz — a visible symbol of law and order — as a federal prison for the country's most dangerous criminals. "For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering," Trump wrote. "When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm." Trump has asked several government agencies to investigate whether it is possible and affordable to reopen the prison on Alcatraz Island. The current facility is 960,000 square feet, nearly the size of 17 football fields. September 21: News Max: Hundreds of Thousands turn out for Charlie Kirk's memorial service; Did the assassin awake a sleeping giant? Several of slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk's closest friends and colleagues honored his legacy during his memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Arizona Sunday which was attended by over 200,000 people. His friends urged the crowd to honor his memory by continuing to serve God. Christian apologist Frank Turek said that everyone should honor Jesus, Kirk, and his widow, Erika, so that every day "the devil shrieks 'oh no, they're awake again.'" Even as Turek recounted the loss, he pointed to faith as Kirk's foundation and legacy. "Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk. There are only two things in the afterlife: justice or grace. I want grace," he said. Several of the leaders of Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, also spoke as the memorial unfolded, encouraging those in attendance to carry on his legacy. Together, they painted a portrait of Kirk not only as a leader and strategist, but also as a man whose faith and personal kindness left a lasting imprint on those close to him. September 21: Fox News: Students stage walk-out over Oregon school staff member's celebration of the assassination of Charlie Kirk Oregon students staged a walk-out protest on Wednesday over a staff member who allegedly celebrated the news of Charlie Kirk's assassination. The controversy began after Thurston High School employee Bobby Nove, who worked in the theater department, reportedly shared the news of the Turning Point USA founder being shot and killed during a Utah campus event with a single word. "Good," he wrote. An image of the alleged post quickly circulated across social media, prompting outrage among parents and students at the Springfield area school, who demanded action from the school district. According to KEZI 9 News, parents and students quickly flooded the school administration with calls and emails, only to receive a vague condemnation of violence. September 21: Breitbart News: Texas A&M President resigns Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh has resigned amid fallout over a viral classroom video that resulted in a professor kicking a student out of class after an argument about gender identity. Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents announced that Welsh will step down from his role on September 19th. Welsh's resignation arrives at the heels of Texas A&M removing two officials after a student and professor were heard arguing about radical gender ideology in a viral video, which ended with the student getting kicked out of the classroom by the professor. State Representative Brian Harrison (R-District 10) said, "We did it! Texas A*M President is out! Another massive victory… against the Austin Swamp Rats!" September 20: Fox News: Why would Trump want the airbase back that Biden gave away in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan? On Saturday President Trump pressed forward on trying to get back Bagram Airbase the U.S. built in Afghanistan and Joe Biden gave away during his botched withdrawal that saw the death of 13 members of our armed forces. He initially revealed his administration is "trying" to get it back on Thursday while he was in the U.K. He indicated that they (the Taliban) "…need things from us." But Trump also noted, "One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons." September 20: The Washington Free Beacon: Israel's "Iron Beam" laser defense system to be deployed by December 2025 On Wednesday, Israel's defense ministry announced its "Iron Beam" laser air defense system will be operational by the end of this year. Iron Beam can destroy incoming rockets, mortars, drones, and manned aircraft, and it has already proved its worth in the campaigns against Hezbollah and Iran. Israel plans for it to complement Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow, which use missiles to destroy threats to the Israeli homeland. In 5 to 10 years, Rafael chairman Yuval Steinitz predicts, "nothing hostile will fly in the air — no aircraft, no drones, no cruise missiles, no shells, no bombs — because the laser will completely clear the air of anything detected, anything seen." In the past two decades, America's adversaries have learned how to make their own precision-guided munitions, often in the form of long-range missiles and, more recently, drones. They can, at relatively little expense, threaten everything not buried deep underground. The Iron Dome system swats down many of the shorter-range threats. David's Sling and Arrow handle bigger missiles. Vladimir Putin has bragged that his hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were "invincible" — Ukrainians proved him wrong with American-made Patriot missiles. With American and allied help, Israel has weathered three massive waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks since Oct. 7 with relatively little damage. The "Iron Beam" will supplement Israel's air defense posture. September 20: The Gateway Pundit: It's not IF China will invade Taiwan, but When Most analysts believe China will invade Taiwan bring the U.S. into another war. Professor of Government at Patrick Henry College and Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies, gave the following assessment, saying Xi Jinping's decision making on when hinges on thirteen factors. These are: (1) The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) level of military preparedness, (2) China's struggling economy, (3) Taiwan's identity drifting further from mainland China, (4) China's demographic decline, (5) The importance of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, (6) The growing importance of semiconductors to China amid technological isolation, (7) The expanding U.S. commitment to Taiwan, (8) The current lack of U.S.–Taiwan joint exercises and interoperability, (9) China's present advantage in ship-killer hypersonic weapons, (10) U.S. efforts to develop hypersonic weapons and defenses, (11) The poor state of U.S.–China relations, (12) Xi's perception of U.S. intentions as increasingly hostile, and (13) The 2024 victory of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. Of these, he suggests eleven indicate an invasion may be imminent, while two argue for a delay. Postponement would erode the advantages provided by the other eleven he contends. The two that argue for a delay are the PLA's military preparedness – which has gaps in training, logistics, and capabilities (i.e., the collision last month of two of its vessels) -- and China's struggling economy – a collapsing housing market, 21% in youth unemployment, deflation driven by its trade war with the U.S. which would worsen if it invaded Taiwan, a slowing of its exports, and its growing isolation as countries seek to "decouple" from a reliance on Chinese goods. September 19: The Epoch Times: Senate fails to pass government funding bill; not enough Democrats to help the GOP stop a filibuster Things are so bad in Washington that working together no longer seems possible. With less than two weeks before the government runs out of money, the Senate on Sept. 19 failed to get the needed 60 votes to advance a House-passed funding bill. In the past, Democrats have always been able to blame the GOP for failing to enact continuing resolutions but in this case, there is a bill and the Democrats are dragging their heels. The House is threatening to go on recess until after the funding deadline passes which would mean the Senate needs to pass the House bill or a shutdown occurs. Today's vote in the Senate was 44-48. The House-passed bill is a "clean" continuing resolution [maintaining current spending levels with nothing added except $88 million in security funding for members of Congress and Supreme Court justices.]. Before the Senate vote on the House measure, the chamber rejected a Democrat proposal (47-45) that would have increased Obama Care insurance subsidies, reversed Medicaid reforms enacted as part of the "Big Beautiful Bill," and limit the President's ability to "claw back" money (appropriated by Congress) which he deems wasteful or not in synch with his policy positions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), called the Democrat bill "a dirty CR laden down with partisan policies and appeals to the Democrats' leftist base." The $64,000 question is who is going to blink first? The House and the Senate GOP have a bill. If the Senate Democrats don't provide enough votes to allow debate, then it would seem abundantly clear that they will be responsible for any subsequent government shutdown. The Epoch Times also reported the arrest of New York state elected officials at the Jacob Javitts Federal Building in New York City. Federal agents arrested at least a dozen New York State elected officials inside a federal facility in Manhattan used to house illegal immigrants on Sept. 18. Dozens more individuals were arrested outside the building. "Another day, another sanctuary politician pulling a stunt in [an] attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering [Department of Homeland Security] personnel and detainees," Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Homeland Security Department, said. After refusing to obey law enforcement orders, eleven elected officials were detained after attempting to access an area on the 10th floor of the facility that was being used to temporarily house the illegal immigrants. Protesters outside the building were in front of an entrance used by vehicles transporting illegal immigrants to the facility. In all, seventy-seven people were detained. For some, this was their second arrest. September 19: News Max: Disney tried to find a way to lessen the reaction to Kimmell's comments about Kirk's assassination and finally just took him off the air Walt Disney representatives and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel raced to find the right words on Wednesday to calm a social media furor that erupted following criticism of his remarks about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a person familiar with the matter said Kimmel's comments in his monologue Monday had angered many, and the reaction reached a fever pitch on Wednesday, including death threats that raised concerns for the safety of Kimmel and his staff, the source said. The late-night host prepared to make a statement, but Kimmel and Disney representatives could not find language that they agreed would not further inflame the situation, the source said. As the show's 4:30 p.m. taping time approached, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-Chairman Dana Walden agreed that the best approach would be to take the show off the air and later find a way to bring Kimmel back, the source said. Walden informed Kimmel of the decision. Many in Hollywood decried the decision, saying the company was bowing to political pressure and that it was an assault on free speech. September 19: The Epoch Times: Three Russian Mig-31s violate NATO airspace for 12 minutes; Shows Russian willful aggression NATO fighter jets intercepted three Russian MiG-31 warplanes that crossed into Estonian airspace today, prompting the Baltic nation to request urgent alliance consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty over what Estonian officials said was a "brazen" and "totally unacceptable" incursion. Estonia's Foreign Ministry said the jets entered its airspace near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland without permission and remained there for 12 minutes. Their transponders were switched off, no flight plans were filed, and they were not in contact with air traffic controllers, officials said. "This is an unprecedented and brazen intrusion — clear proof of Russia's growing aggression," Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. "Such actions cannot be tolerated and must be met with swift political and economic pressure." Why not warn them, tell Russia that this is deemed an act of war, and then once warned then the next time shoot the suckers down? September 18: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS to hear Trump tariff case November 5th The Supreme Court has set Nov. 5 as the date for oral arguments in two consolidated legal challenges to President Trump's reciprocal tariffs, a ruling that could shape the limits of presidential powers on matters of trade. The high court had already agreed earlier this month to take up the issue, and the Sept. 17 order fixed the timetable for what could be one of the most consequential trade cases in decades. The eventual ruling could have sweeping economic consequences, reshaping U.S. trade flows and federal revenue. The United States reported a record $31 billion in monthly tariff revenue in August, under trade policies implemented by Trump. Besides generating revenue, the tariffs have given the administration leverage to extract economic concessions from trading partners. The center on whether Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law meant for national security crises. Lower courts struct down most of the duties, holding that the IEEPA doesn't give the president unilateral power to impose or adjust tariffs outside of emergencies. Judges ruled that tariff authority remains with Congress unless clearly delegated. The Trump administration has appealed the lower court decisions. September 18: The Gateway Pundit: Beef disease in Mexico impacting supply in the USA At the America's dinner table, staples like ground beef, steak, and ribs are being priced as luxuries and the U.S.-Mexico cattle crisis is to blame. Normally the U.S. imports about a million head of cattle from Mexico each year. These aren't finished animals ready for slaughter, but feeder cattle young stock that American ranchers fatten in feedlots before they become the steaks and burgers we put on the grill. In 2025, however, that supply has slowed to a trickle. The culprit? A deadly parasite known as the New World Screwworm, and its rapid spread through southern Mexico has forced the U.S. to impose bans and heavy restrictions on live cattle imports. As a result, ports of entry in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico that once handled thousands of cattle now sit idle. And for hardworking Americans, the outlook is grim: the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects beef prices will climb by 10% this year, with staples like ground beef and steak rising even higher. With fewer cattle entering the U.S. market, supply is tightening – and families are paying the price. The cattle crisis, however, is exposing a bigger problem: a food security emergency as our domestic cattle herd has shrunk to a 70-year low. But all is not lost. By working with Mexico to stamp out the screwworm outbreak at its source – and by fast-tracking safe, inspected cattle across the border – we can keep healthy animals from being needlessly stuck in limbo. September 18: Fox News: Northern Virginia school system overruled – Girls saying they are Boys aren't allowed in boys dressing rooms Two Virginia boys who were suspended after complaining about a transgender classmate in their locker room have won emergency relief in federal court. The Loudoun County Public Schools district had launched a Title IX sexual harassment investigation into two high-school-aged boys after they were videotaped by a biological female who identified as transgender inside the boys' locker room. The video caught them outwardly complaining to each other about the fact that there was a girl using their facilities. The school district ultimately found the pair responsible for sexual harassment, a mark that will be placed on their permanent records, and suspended them for 10 days. The boy's parents took when to federal court. Within days, the federal judge granted the parents and their boys emergency relief, blocking the district's disciplinary repercussions once again while the case moves forward. One of the boys and his family moved out of state, but the other still goes to school within the Loudoun County Public Schools system. The boy's suspension from school has been placed on hold until the lawsuit has been dealt with. September 17: The Gateway Pundit: Kash Patel takes on left-wing Dem from Georgia and decimates her argument In a hearing Wednesday Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA) claimed Patel's FBI has left America "less safe" by focusing on Trump's immigration priorities. FBI Director Kash Patel responded: "Simply put — what is it? • Are we failing? If we're failing, how are we arresting 23,000 violent felons — twice as many as this time last year? • Are we failing? Because if we're failing, how are we seizing 1,500 kilograms of meth, a 25% increase from last year? • Are we failing? Because we captured four Top Ten FBI Most Wanted fugitives from around the world in seven months. That's more than the entirety of the last administration. • Are we failing? Because we put 1,500 child predators in prison. • Are we failing? Because we dismantled 300 human trafficking networks. So, which is it? You don't like me, that's fine. But don't you dare disparage the men and women of the FBI who are producing record results in historic fashion to protect this country. They are kicking ass for America, and they're going to continue to do so." September 17: One American News Network: Jerry of Ben & Jerry's resigns over restrictions by parent company on advocating for "social justice" Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream has resigned from the company after 47 years — citing a loss of the brand's "independence" to advocate for social justice issues under its parent company, Unilever. In March last year, Unilever announced plans to spin off its ice cream business, which includes brands like Magnum and Ben & Jerry's, into a separate entity called The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC). The separation is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 — with a public listing planned in Amsterdam, London, and New York. The Ben & Jerry's founders have been outspoken with their left-wing political views. On the company's website, there is a page dedicated to "Issues We Care About," which lists racial justice first. The company has also boasted about how it "took a stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement." September 17: Fox News: Manchin: Which president gave him the cold shoulder? Former Sen. Joe Manchin(I-WVA) said he spoke more with President Trump in the first two years of Trump's term than with former President Barack Obama during Obama's eight years in office. In his new book, "Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense," released this week, Manchin outlined a cordial working relationship with Trump and a far chillier, less active back and forth with Obama. Manchin, who switched from the Democrat Party to become an Independent before retiring from the Senate last year, wrote that he considered Trump a fellow "outsider" when he arrived in Washington, D.C., for his first term and lauded him as the "most engaged president I ever worked with" since working with former President Clinton. "From the start, President Trump had an open line of communication with me," he wrote. He noted, "If you want to have influence with Donald Trump, you have to be the last person he talks to about a topic," and said he would jokingly ask that the president ensure he was the last person he called. "He'd laugh, and we'd talk it out," he said. September 17: The Epoch Times: FED cuts interest rates – quarter point – too little-too late? The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time this year following its two-day policy meeting. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to reduce the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points, setting the new target range at 4 percent to 4.25 percent. The federal funds rate is a central benchmark that influences borrowing costs across the U.S. economy, affecting everything from business loans to home mortgages. "Recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity moderated in the first half of the year. Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remains low. Inflation has moved up and remains somewhat elevated," the committee stated. September 17: News Max: Over 100 Texas teachers could lose their certification over posts about Kirk murder Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have announced that more than 100 educators are under investigation and could face suspension of their teaching certifications for social media posts related to the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The TEA said it is reviewing at least 180 complaints alleging that teachers posted comments online that celebrated Kirk's death or called for violence. If investigators determine those posts violate the state's educator code of ethics, the teachers could lose their certification and be barred from working in public schools. Abbott condemned the educators' actions as "abhorrent" and said Texas would not tolerate teachers who "use their platforms to incite violence." He directed the TEA to ensure swift investigations and disciplinary action. Abbott emphasized "teachers who glorify violence have no place in our schools." Several districts have already begun taking their own action. According to KTXS-TV, at least two teachers in the Wylie Independent School District resigned after their posts about Kirk drew public backlash. The station also reported that student teaching placements have been terminated in some cases. Klein Independent School District in Harris County reportedly fired a teacher over online comments about Kirk's death. Ector County Independent School District fired a part-time tutor and placed another employee on administrative leave. While no suspensions have yet been finalized, state officials stressed that educators found in violation could face permanent consequences. September 16: Fox News: Ohio Democrat candidate for AG in hot water over comments about Kirk murder A Democrat running to be the top law enforcement official in the state of Ohio is facing backlash for a series of social media posts disparaging Charlie Kirk in the days after he was assassinated. "F*** Charlie Kirk," Elliot Forhan, Ohio Democratic candidate for attorney general and former state representative, posted on Facebook on Monday, days after Kirk was gunned down while speaking to a large gathering of students at a Utah university. "Charlie Kirk was a champion of tyranny, not democracy," Forhan said, "We should not pretend otherwise." He "…was a champion of tyranny, not democracy. We should not pretend otherwise." Forhan's social media posts have prompted significant pushback, both on the internet and from Republicans in the state, with many calling on him to withdraw from the race. "No public servant should say that about any human being, much less somebody who was just assassinated," Ohio's current attorney general, Republican Dave Yost said. "He just proved himself to be a petulant and undisciplined child, ill-suited to public office." Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, said Forhan's posts are "probably demented publicity designed to get attention" and "score cheap political points." September 16: The Daily Caller: Omar could face serious consequences re: comments about Kirk Assassination Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) could face serious consequences over her inflammatory remarks about Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination Wednesday. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) unveiled a resolution Monday that would formally censure Omar and strip the far-left "Squad" member of her committee assignments over her comments on Kirk's slaying. Mace told reporters that she would file a privileged motion on Tuesday — meaning she will unilaterally force the House to vote on the measure as early as this week. "She is inciting violence against conservatives in the wake of Charlie Kirk's political assassination," Mace said. "She is dehumanizing conservatives all across the country, calling Charlie Kirk a terrorist." "I'm not going to be silent on this because enough is enough," Mace concluded. September 16: The Washington Times: House GOP to move on mostly clean Continuing Resolution to avert Government Shutdown Republicans Tuesday laid out their plan to keep the government open beyond Sept. 30 — a mostly "clean," short-term extension of current spending levels and policies, with a few exceptions like additional funds to provide security for public officials. The measure extends funding through November 21st.Democrats quickly announced opposition to the plan, saying it was crafted without their input. They argued it "does nothing to stop the looming healthcare crisis" resulting from a combination of GOP-enacted cuts to Medicaid and the looming year-end expiration of enhanced Obamacare subsidies. The lawmakers still have two weeks to avert a government shutdown, both parties are already pointing the blame at each other for the stalemate that may happen. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said, "They're [Democrats] grasping for straws as a party, and so some of them, apparently, believe that shutting down the government will be some sort of life raft for them so they can regain the support of the American people," he said. "I just think that is a fool's gambit." September 16: The Epoch Times: Murder suspect Robinson arraigned in Utah District Court James Robinson, 22, remained nearly motionless throughout his first court appearance Sept. 16 on capital murder and other charges six days after the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. He appeared from the Utah County Jail via video link before Judge Tony Graf. The judge then read all the charges against him, and also agreed to grant a protective order that the homicide victim's widow, Erika Kirk, had requested. The courtroom was empty except for the judge, news reporters, and court personnel during the 14-minute hearing. Deputy County Attorney Chad Grunander said he had just filed a notice that the death penalty is being sought. The sleeveless garment that Robinson was wearing resembled a "suicide vest," which jailers often use to prevent suspects from harming themselves. The judge told Robinson that he declared him indigent and would be appointing a lawyer to represent him. Graf also informed the defendant that anything he said during the hearing could be held against him, so Robinson could choose to remain silent and preserve his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. September 16: The Washington Free Beacon: Fani Willis permanently barred from Trump election interference case The Georgia supreme court declined to consider Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis's appeal of her removal from her 2020 racketeering and election interference case against Donald Trump in a move that permanently bars her from any future involvement in the matter. The 4-3 ruling from Georgia's Supreme Court confirms the appeals court decision which found that Willis could not continue to prosecute the case over the "significant appearance of impropriety" she created with her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, the man she hired to lead the case against Trump. Willis paid Wade more than $650,000 in taxpayer funds for his work on the case, earnings that he used to finance lavish vacations for the couple. Trump's attorney Steven Sadow said in a statement Tuesday. "Willis' misconduct during the investigation and prosecution of President Trump was egregious and she deserved nothing less than disqualification. This proper decision should bring an end to the wrongful political, lawfare persecutions of the president." The decision is just another one in a long list of legal efforts attempting to keep Trump from office and/or to slow his efforts to undo the damage brought by the Biden Administration. September 15: The Gateway Pundit: Robinson confesses he killed Kirk Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk, confessed in a Discord group chat to his friends shortly before turning himself in. The confession came two hours before he was surrendered to authorities. According to screenshots of the post, Robinson told the group of about 30 people, "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this. I'm surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments. thanks for all the good times and laughs." Before his confession, someone in the group posted about Kirk's shooting. Another user responded to the news, saying, "I just saw the video holy sh-t. Bro didn't deserve to go out like that." September 15: The Gateway Pundit: A Democrat-majority appeals court says Trump can't fire FED Governor A federal appeals court on Monday rejected President Trump's firing of embattled Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook who is facing multiple charges of mortgage fraud. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision said Cook can remain a Federal Reserve Governor, allowing her to vote during Tuesday's interest rate meeting at the Fed. The panel was composed of two Biden-appointed judges and one Trump-appointed judge. Trump is expected to immediately appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court which in previous decisions has upheld the president's authority to fire commissioners in independent federal agencies. Cook has filed a lawsuit against Trump, the FED's Board of Governors, and FED chair Jerome Powell after Trump sent her packing last month. The justification for Trump's actions is Cook's alleged commission of mortgage fraud -- not once but three times related to three separate properties – in an effort to obtain more favorable loan terms. September 15: News Max: Federal Government to focus on organized efforts to contribute to political violence White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on Monday called for an expansive federal response to what he described as organized networks contributing to political violence, invoking the death of conservative leader Charlie Kirk as the impetus for his remarks. The White House will use the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to "identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy" those networks, Miller said to Vice President JD Vance, who hosted Monday's episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show." Miller said the networks are engaged in coordinated harassment and intimidation. He pointed to tactics such as doxing, online targeting, and street demonstrations, saying these actions contribute to a climate of political hostility. He characterized the activity as a "domestic terror movement," but did not name specific organizations or provide evidence of formal coordination. He also suggested some networks operate as "cells" and described them as fostering an environment in which violence becomes likelier. Reportedly the President is also preparing to declare the far-left group Antifa a terrorist group. He is also looking at bringing RICO cases against violent protesters and their financial backers. Miller stopped short of outlining concrete policy steps or legal mechanisms for such a crackdown. While he cited the powers of DOJ and DHS, he did not detail what statutes or investigative tools might be. September 15: iHeartMedia/KTRH: New data reveals dismal news for progressive blue cities crime rates New data shows more bad crime numbers for progressive blue cities. Ted Jenkin is the president of Exit Stage Left Advisors, and did the research. "There's been a lot of discussion around crime and the National Guard hitting some of these big blue-led cities…", the results reveal that there is almost a 100% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents" he said. Retail theft is up 93% since 2019. "When you just look at retail alone, retailers lost $112 billion dollars just to theft" Jenkin said, adding it has hit everybody in these blue cities. "These are not just mom & pop operations that are getting hit, Target itself projected $500 million dollars in additional losses this year alone, due to organized retail crime." He pointed out that New York City is on pace to lose $4 billion in tourism dollars in 2025, and in once beautiful San Francisco, the commercial vacancy downtown is now almost 35%. And yet he points out, the left still blames Trump for trying to help stop it. September 15: The Daily Caller: Survey suggests Americans are buying mainstream media's narrative that Kirk's killer was a Republican The plurality of Americans surveyed in a YouGov poll bought into the false narrative that the alleged assassin of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is a Republican. Several notable figures rushed to claim the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was a conservative Christian, even though Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) and federal authorities confirmed that Robinson became "deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology." The poll found that 24% of all adults have bought into the idea that Robinson is not, in fact, liberal. By comparison, 21% of all adults believe Robinson was a Democrat, 15% said neither and 40% were unsure, according to the poll. September 15: Fox News: Kash Patel; investigators uncovered DNA linking Robinson to the UVU crime scene FBI Director Patel says investigators have found DNA evidence linking alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson to the scene of last week's shooting. Patel said the suspect's DNA was found on a screwdriver as well as a towel that was wrapped around the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. Robinson is currently under "special watch" with authorities in Utah. Police say he has not been cooperating during interviews. Meanwhile Fox News also reports Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to revoke the visas of foreigners living in the U.S. who have celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Rubio made the statement Monday. "We shouldn't be bringing [these] people into this country. We should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination of a political figure, we should not and if they're already here, we should be revoking their visa," Rubio said. "Why would we want to bring people into our country if they're going to engage in negative and destructive behavior? It makes no sense," he added September 14: News Max: Investigators aren't ready to discuss the motive behind Kirk's murder Gov. Spencer Cox (R-U) said Sunday that investigators are not ready to discuss the motive behind the assassination of Charlie Kirk. But he said the 22-year-old suspect had left-leaning political beliefs and disliked the conservative influencer. "Clearly a leftist ideology," Cox said, "That information comes from the people around him, his family members and friends." A Republican who's called on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the attack, the governor added: "I really don't have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I'd be saying that as well." The governor revealed the suspect's partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign Robinson was targeting Kirk for his anti-trans views. But authorities have not said whether it is relevant as they investigate Robinson's motive. "The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female," Cox said. "I can say that he [the roommate] … [and] had no idea that this was happening." September 14: The New York Post: Kirk investigation shifts to whether a trans-gender group had for knowledge of plot The feds have widened their investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk to probe whether pro-trans, online groups and others connected with Tyler Robinson knew in advance about the plan to kill the MAGA influencer. Law enforcement sources said that investigators are examining leftist groups both in Utah and online to figure out if they helped him with the shooting — or at least heard it was going to happen. The probe includes groups in online gaming community Steam, as well as a pro-trans organization called Armed Queers SLC, which took down their Instagram postings after Kirk was killed, a normally reliable source confirmed. September 14: News Max: Kirk's assassin clearly had leftist ideology Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) said Sunday that investigators are not ready to discuss the motive behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. But he said the 22-year-old suspect had left-leaning political beliefs and disliked the conservative influencer. Cox said Robinson is "not cooperating" and that friends paint a picture of someone radicalized in the dark corners of the internet. Cox stressed investigators are still trying to pin down a motive for the attack on the father of two and Trump confidant, who was killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University. The governor said more information may come out once the suspect, Tyler Robinson, appears in court Tuesday. The governor said the suspect's partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign Robinson was targeting Kirk for his anti-trans views. But authorities have not said whether it is relevant as they investigate Robinson's motive. "The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female," Cox said. "I can say that he has been incredibly cooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening." State records show Robinson is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections. His parents are registered Republicans. Robinson grew up around St. George, Utah and became a Mormon at a young age. He is currently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George. September 14: One America News Network: First incursions into Polish airspace, now Russian incursions into Romanian territory Romania condemned Moscow's "irresponsible actions" after announcing that a Russian drone flew into Romanian airspace, marking the second such incursion into a NATO nation. Saturday, Romanian fighter jets were monitoring "the air situation on the border with Ukraine, following Russian air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube," according to Romania's Defense Ministry. The Romanian jets "detected a drone in national airspace, which they tracked to approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Chilia Veche, where it disappeared from the radar," the ministry announced. "The drone did not fly over populated areas and did not pose an imminent danger to the safety of the population." Reportedly the Russian drone left Romanian airspace after 50 minutes without causing any damage or casualties, and "preliminary reports show the drone flew back to Ukraine." European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled the incident "yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state's sovereignty," following an incident on Wednesday in which Russian drones were shot down over Polish airspace. Meanwhile, Moscow attempted to downplay the Russian drones in Polish territory, explaining that they had gone off track after their navigation was jammed. September 13: The Gateway Pundit: NATO Announces "Eastern Sentry" to "Bolster Eastern Flank" While Germany Adding 100,000 Additional Troops to Meet NATO "Targets" Against "Russian Aggression" A "confidential paper" reportedly shows that Germany "needs to add 100,000 active troops" to its current ranks, estimated at around 62,000. The increase is attributed to a NATO target to bolster troops amidst "the growing threat of Russian aggression." Apparently, Army Chief Alfons Mais wrote to the Chief of the Defense Staff Carsten Breuer saying, "It is imperative for the army to become sufficiently ready for war by 2029 and provide the capabilities Germany pledged (to NATO) by 2035." Germany plans to add 45,000 troops by 2029 and then, again, add 45,000 more in 2035. Additionally, it will add 10,000 troops for territorial defense, according to reporting from another source. Notably, Germany has not yet even met its 2018 goal of 203,000 troops, falling about 20,000 troops short of that number. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced a new military exercise dubbed "Eastern Sentry," which aims to bolster the alliance's eastern flank. According to a statement from NATO it "will include Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Germany, and others" to address the "particular challenges associated with the use of drones." September 13: News Max: Trump; Don't bother dealing with Dems, just get the government funded Donald Trump said Republicans shouldn't "bother" dealing with Democrats to approve legislation funding the federal government. "We will get it through because the Republicans are sticking together for the first time in a long time," Trump said. Democrat congressional leaders are refusing to support spending bills that do not include their healthcare priorities. "We have to get Republican votes. That's all," Trump added. Budgetary legislation only requires 51 votes for passage and the Senate has a 53 vote GOP majority. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) believes Republicans and Trump will be held responsible if they don't negotiate a bipartisan deal. The GOP is considering a short-term stopgap spending measure to avoid a Sept. 30 shutdown and as Democrats face what most see as two tough choices if the parties can't negotiate a deal — vote with Republicans to keep the government open or let it close indefinitely with no clear exit plan. September 13: The New York Post: AG Letitia James slapped with illegal-fence ticket for NYC brownstone at center of mortgage fraud probe Embattled New York Attorney General Letitia James better "mend fences" — or pay up. She is set to appear before an administrative law judge Oct. 8, where she faces up to $500 in fines for having a 5-foot, 6-inch high fence in front of her multi-family home in the Clinton Hill Historic District. This is the same brownstone where she is facing a federal mortgage fraud investigation for claiming it had only four units when it actually has five; allegedly doing so in order to receive a more favorable mortgage rate. The city Department of Buildings (DOB) slapped James with the summons July 23 after fielding at least three anonymous complaints since April which claimed the black iron fence exceeded the 4-foot height limit. New Yorkers are "tired of double standards," and all public officials — including James — must follow the rules like any other New York City homeowner, said City Councilman Robert Holden. "If the DOB summons and mortgage questions are accurate, Attorney General Letitia James should bring the fence into compliance, pay any penalties, and be fully transparent, because no one is above the law," the moderate Queens Democrat added. James can avoid fines if she removes the fence or lowers it to a legal height, by Sept. 26. September 12: News Max: AP story; Federal Appeals Court; Trump can legally remove protections for 430,000 migrants A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Trump administration can end legal protections for 430,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest twist in a legal fight over Biden-era policies that created new and expanded pathways for people to live in the United States, generally for two years with work authorization. The Trump administration announced in March it was ending the humanitarian parole protections. "We recognize the risks of irreparable harm persuasively laid out in the district court's order: that parolees who lawfully arrived in this country were suddenly forced to choose between leaving in less than a month — a choice that potentially includes being separated from their families, communities, and lawful employment and returning to dangers in their home countries," the judges wrote. "But absent a strong showing of likelihood of success on the merits, the risk of such irreparable harms cannot, by itself, support a stay." A district court issued a stay in April halting the administration's decision, but the Supreme Court lifted the lower court order at the end of May with little explanation. The Trump administration had argued the appeals court should follow the Supreme Court and reverse the district court ruling. September 12: The Gateway Pundit: Administration looking into possible RICO charges against Soros and his son Donald Trump said today that his administration may be looking into RICO charges against George Soros because his funding and encouraging "real agitation" and "riots on the street." Trump had made similar comments back in August before Kirk was assassinated by a reported radical antifa-linked killer. Last month he called for far-left billionaire George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, to be investigated for funding and supporting violent far-left rioters. Soros's Open Society Foundations have reportedly funneled money to and bankrolled many dark money projects and radical left movements to destabilize conservative governments and place radical left globalists in power. He has also been accused of being the puppet master behind the lawfare against Trump, election interference, and chaos across the country. The leftist billionaire has reportedly funded countless instances of violent riots, including anti-Israel movements, Black Lives Matter, and other leftist projects. Soros-funded Texas Majority PAC (TMP) is also under investigation for illegally funding Texas Democrats who fled the state earlier this month to stop mid-term redistricting. September 12: News Max: Kirk assassination suspect lawyering up, saying nothing Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk Wednesday, has "lawyered up" and is not talking with investigators, according to a new report. A source familiar with the matter told said Robinson had initially been talking with law enforcement officials, but has now gone silent. It was not made clear what he said earlier. Robinson is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail on the order of state Judge Shawn Rice Howell. He is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Court documents say Robinson, who was taken into custody Thursday night, has no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions. Reportedly Utah has three days to formally charge Robinson, and that officials think Robinson acted alone. Meanwhile, President Trump said he believes the person convicted of killing Kirk should face the death penalty, which Utah allows for convictions of aggravated murder. Earlier President Trump said Kirk had been "an advocate of nonviolence. "That's the way I'd like to see people respond," he said. September 12: Fox News: Suspect in Kirk assassination identified; We've got him Tyler Robinson, 22, has been identified as the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus. "We got him on the evening of Sept. 11," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) announced in a Friday morning news briefing. Reportedly Robinson was turned in by his father who reached out to a family friend who, in turn, contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with the information that Robinson indicated the son had been involved in the incident. Investigators said surveillance video showed Robinson arriving at UVU in a gray Dodge Challenger on Sept. 10, shortly before the shooting. A family member later confirmed to authorities that Robinson owned a vehicle matching that description. "He is observed on video in a plain maroon T-shirt, light colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes," the Governor said. September 12: The New York Post: Ukraine launches massive drone attack on major Russian oil facility and two Russian oil tankers Ukraine set one of Russia's largest oil terminals ablaze and two tankers overnight Friday in its largest drone attack against the Kremlin in months. The Port of Primorsk, which has the ability to load about one million barrels of crude oil per day, was for the first time in its war forced to suspend loadings, two industry sources and Ukraine's military have said. There was no reported oil spillage, but two vessels were set ablaze, including one with the capacity to carry 700,000 barrels of oil. Operations at the northwestern port were suspended in the aftermath of the overnight attack. It is not clear if they have since resumed, though the fires had been extinguished. Meanwhile oil prices surged in the aftermath of the attack — with the US West Texas Intermediate crude gaining 56 cents per barrel. "Those attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have room to drag down Russian crude and refined product exports," Security Service of Ukraine analyst Giovanni Staunovo said, and it's the first time a Russian port has been forced to cease operations because of drone strikes. Russia's ability to continue its war effort against Ukraine is funded by oil sales, including sales to India and China. Interrupting their ability to keep this supply flowing could have a major impact on their efforts to acquire more Ukrainian land. Kyiv hopes that the move will force Russia to the negotiating table. The overnight Friday attack is the First on Russia's flagship terminal, Primorsk port, which has the capacity to load about 1 million barrels of oil per day, as well as 300,000 barrels of diesel. September 11: The Epoch Times: Alternate electors in Michigan feel vindicated Michigan Republicans who on Sept. 9 were cleared of fraud charges arising from the 2020 presidential election praised the judge who dismissed the case. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had accused them of fraud and forgery for setting up an alternate slate of electors in an alleged attempt to swing Michigan's Electoral College votes from Joe Biden to then-candidate Donald Trump after the highly contentious presidential race. Ingham County District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons ruled on Sept. 9 that the 15 defendants will not face trial on the charges against them. Simmons dismissed the eight charges of fraud and forgery filed against each defendant. Simmons said that the law requires the state to prove intent and that she did not believe there was "evidence sufficient to prove intent" of fraud. She said the evidence convinced her that the defendants truly believed they were following the law. She drew chuckles in the courtroom when she pointed out that the defendants held a press conference announcing their plan to be alternate electors. "I don't know of anybody doing a press conference after they've committed a fraud," Simmons said. On August 10, 2023, CNN ran the headline "What We Know About the Fake Electors Charged in Michigan." We gather that is another indication as to whether one can trust what they get from said "news" ourlet! September 11: The Daily Signal: FBI releases photo of possible Charlie Kirk assassin, asks public's help in identifying The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a photo of a new person of interest in the Charlie Kirk assassination, asking the public for help identifying him. FBI Salt Lake City posted on Twitter (X) Thursday, "We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University." Its post features images of a man in a dark sweatshirt and jeans, a baseball cap, and sunglasses. That post follows investigators' earlier statement that they had "good video footage" of a suspect that they weren't publicizing for now. Just hours prior, FBI special agent in charge of the investigation Robert Bohlsin announced the discovery of a bolt-action rifle investigators believe was used in the shooting. The rifle was found in a "wooded area where the shooter had fled." According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the rifle was found with a magazine containing three unspent rounds engraved with "expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology." Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the suspected shooter arrived at campus around 11:52 a.m., climbed to a roof from which he fired a single shot and then jumped off the building and fleeing the campus. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator and to date they have received over 7,000 tips. September 11: Fox News: Authorities retrieve firearm reportedly used in assassination of Kirk Authorities have recovered what they believe to be the firearm used to assassinate conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the FBI announced Thursday. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls made the announcement during a Thursday morning press conference. The weapon "is a high-powered bolt-action rifle. That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. So, the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected footwear, the impression of a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis," Bohls said. "We are not sure how far he has gone," Bohls added about the assassin. The shooter appeared to be "of college age." Mason said footage from the campus showed the shooter climbed to the roof of a building overlooking Kirk's event. He then jumped from the building and fled to a nearby neighborhood after the shooting. September 11: The Epoch Times: Federal Judge orders four federal agencies to stop banning illegals from federal programs A federal judge on Sept. 10 ordered four federal agencies to stop banning illegal immigrants from programs such as Head Start, which provides child care for poorer families. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump 45 appointee, said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor must halt, at least for now, efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the programs. The agencies said in July they were reinterpreting a federal law called the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which the administration contends prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining "federal public benefits." Under previous interpretations, people accessing certain programs that lawmakers intended only for Americans and legal immigrants did not need to provide proof of legal status, officials said. Twenty attorneys general sued, alleging the new interpretation wrongly applied to programs that fell outside the act. In a motion for a preliminary injunction, or a block while the case proceeds, they also contended the government failed to provide "fair notice" to states of the change. McElroy sided with the states, writing Wednesday that "while reasonable policymakers can debate the merits of restricting access to programs to lawful citizens — and it is surely not this Court's job to wade into that debate — the Agencies offer at best incomplete answers to serious questions." She found that it appears the Administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act in establishing the new policy. September 10: News Max: Russian drones enter Poland airspace, NATO allies respond At least 19 Russian military drones, some launched from Belarus, entered Polish airspace during a large-scale assault on Ukraine over the past two days, according to Polish and NATO officials. The incursion, described by Warsaw and some of its NATO allies as a deliberate act, has raised concerns about the potential escalation of the war into NATO territory. Polish and allied aircraft responded quickly. Several of the drones were intercepted by Polish F-16s, supported by Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes, and NATO aerial refueling units. At least eight drones were shot down. In response, Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which provides for urgent consultations among member states when a nation's territorial integrity or security is threatened. Noteworthy is that Article 4 consultations do not automatically trigger military action under Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. European leaders called for additional pressure on Moscow and stronger air defense systems across the continent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the episode sets an "extremely dangerous precedent" and urged NATO to take decisive action. In Washington, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) a member of the House Armed Services Committee, called the strike "an act of war" and urged the administration to impose new sanctions on Russia while expanding military support for Ukraine. September 10: The Gateway Pundit: Trump appeals injunction over firing of FED governor who may have committed mortgage fraud President Trump on Wednesday appealed a federal judge's injunction blocking his firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook amid mortgage fraud allegations. Lisa Cook filed a lawsuit against Trump, the FED Board of Governors, and FED Chairman Jerome Powell after Trump fired her last month. Lisa Cook apparently owns three properties, and she allegedly committed mortgage fraud on the purchase of all three of them. According to housing regulator Bill Pulte's first criminal referral, Cook committed mortgage fraud by lying on her mortgage application and falsifying bank statements when she designated her out-of-state Atlanta condo as her "primary residence" — just two weeks after taking a loan on her Michigan home, which she also claimed as her "primary residence." Late last month Pulte sent a second criminal referral on embattled Cook after she was allegedly caught lying about a third property. A Biden-appointed federal judge, Jia Cobb, has temporarily blocked Trump from firing Cook, but given recent decisions by the high court the actions taken by the lower court is likely to be overturned. Interestingly, Justice Cobb is a sorority sister of Cook, raising conflict of interest questions by some. September 10: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Naysayers beware; Wholesale prices dropped in August while the experts expected it them to increase So much for the mainstream media trying to convince you that the economy is bad, and that Donald Trump's tariffs are going to cause inflation. Wholesale prices dropped in August. Prices went down by 0.1% in August while they were expected to rise by 0.3%. The core PPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also was off 0.1% after being expected to climb 0.3% as well. Excluding food, energy and trade, the PPI posted a 0.3% gain and was up 2.8% from a year ago. The Federal Reserve meets next Tuesday and Wednesday, and is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time this year. September 9: News Max: SCOTUS to expedite hearing on presidential use of tariffs to achieve foreign policy objectives The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted an unusually quick hearing on whether President Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs under federal law. The justices will hear arguments in November, lightning fast by the typical standards for the nation's highest court. The small businesses and several blue states challenged the tariffs in court and agreed to the accelerated timetable. They say Trump illegally used emergency powers to set import taxes on goods from nearly every country in the world, nearly driving their businesses to bankruptcy. Lower courts have ruled against the Administration but left the tariffs in place until there is a final resolution. The administration asked the justices to intervene quickly, arguing the law gives him the power to regulate imports and the country would be on "the brink of economic catastrophe" if the president is barred from exercising unilateral tariff authority. In the recent past the SCOTUS has reluctant to check the executive power Trump has effectively wielded. The question at the heart of the issue is whether a president has the authority to impose tariffs, whether Congress has given him such authority, or whether the authority to impose tariffs (on individual nations, or to use them as part of a deal making process) resides only in the legislative branch. To date, fears of tariffs causing higher prices and slowing economic growth has not happened, in fact just the opposite, while deposits in the federal treasury continue to grow. Limiting the president's authority to impose tariffs could also impact foreign policy such as the ability to punish Russia for continuing the war with Ukraine. September 9: The Gateway Pundit: SCOTUS allows Trump to freeze $5 billion in foreign aid, for now Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts Tuesday temporarily allowed President Trump to freeze $5 billion in foreign aid. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday sided with a Biden-appointed judge and said Trump could not unilaterally decide not spend billions in foreign aid that Congress had appropriated. Trump immediately appealed the ruling. "President Trump has the executive authority to ensure that all foreign aid is accountable to taxpayers and aligns with the America First priorities people voted for," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. On Friday, a three-judge appellate panel ruled 2-1 against President Trump. Two of the justices were appointed by former presidents Obama and Biden. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts issued a brief order allowing Trump to freeze the billions in foreign aid while the high court decides the next steps. September 9: The New York Post: Over 60 shipping containers go into the drink in Long Beach harbor More than 60 containers toppled off a cargo ship that had just arrived from China at the Port of Long Beach Tuesday morning. They tumbled overboard on to a smaller boat alongside and into the water, causing the port to shut down operations while fire boats and tugs attempted to corral the containers. The containers fell off a vessel named the Mississippi shortly before 9 a.m., but no injuries have been reported, a spokesman from the Port of Longbeach said. The Coast Guard reported that about 67 containers were in the water. When empty, a container can weigh between two to four metric tons (2.2 to 4.4 tons) depending on its size. The Pier G container terminal, one of six at the port, temporarily stopped unloading and loading ships as authorities worked to secure the containers. September 9: Fox News: ICE initiative in Texas; Over 800 illegals (murders, child predators, gang members) arrested A massive immigration enforcement operation in southeast Texas netted over 800 illegal immigrants, including gang members, convicted murderers, child predators and foreign fugitives, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency said the arrests were a result of a week-long operation that ran from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23, focused on enhancing public safety in southeast Texas after the region was heavily impacted by former President Biden's open-border policies. In total, 822 illegal aliens were arrested, including five transnational gang members, seven child predators and three criminal aliens convicted of homicide-related offenses. The agency said that 330 of those arrested have previously been ordered removed from the U.S. and approximately 112 were previously deported and illegally reentered the U.S. at least once. "During the past four years, transnational gang members, foreign fugitives and other violent criminal aliens took advantage of the crisis at our southern border to illegally enter the country," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez. September 8: The Daily Signal: Senate GOP on verge of breaking seven months of Dems obstruction over Trump nominees Senate Republicans are on the verge of breaking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's stranglehold over the confirmation process, ending seven months of unprecedented obstruction that has sought to prevent President Trump from staffing his administration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to invoke the rarely-used "nuclear option" to reform Senate rules allowing for the simultaneous confirmation of lower-level executive branch nominees. The historic rules change could grant the more than 100 civilian nominees who have been blocked from their postings due to Democrats' persistent delay tactics a swift confirmation vote before the Senate is scheduled to go on recess on Sept. 19. Thune has warned since July that Republicans would move to reform the upper chamber rules to circumvent Democrats' nomination blockade if Schumer did not agree to speed up the confirmation process. The majority leader has worked to find consensus among his conference over the past several weeks in order to move forward. September 8: The New York Post: Is Sea Level Rise actually happening According to a recent study a much-predicted climate-change catastrophe turns out to be baseless: Worldwide sea levels are not rising any faster than a century ago. This doesn't mean climate change isn't happening, nor that particular locales don't face a rising-seas problem — but it does mean no apocalypse is coming unless the whole world takes drastic action to prevent it. For decades, complex climate-change models have indicated global sea levels to be rising at twice or more the historic level, but until now, no scientists had bothered checking that against actual observed reality. Dutch engineer Hessel Voortman and researcher Rob de Vos finally did the work; their peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, "A Global Perspective on Local Sea Level Changes," shows the models have gotten it completely wrong. They reviewed actual data (on an average of a century of observations) at 150,000 coastal locations across the planet to determine that sea-level rise this century will likely be about 6 inches, the same as last century. The models, which extrapolated from observations in the Antarctic only, plus a host of assumptions about how the oceans respond to rising global temperatures, suggested sea levels increasing by 1 foot to 3 feet by 2100. The Dutch researchers' "first-ever global study of sea level rise" refutes those claims — and raises the huge question of why no one else had bothered to test the predictions. As of 2020, they found, the worldwide rise is only around 1.5 millimeters per year — far less than the 3 mm to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 inches) a year routinely reported in scientific literature and the general news media. September 8: News Max: Appellate court; 19 states lack standing to challenge Trump's decision to fire approximately 25,000 probationary employees A federal appeals court ruled Monday that 19 mostly Democrat-led states lack standing to challenge President Trump's decision to fire nearly 25,000 probationary government workers. In a 2-1 ruling, the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals returned a preliminary injunction to a lower court with orders to dismiss. The ruling said the Trump administration does not need to rehire employees that live and work in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The order applies to dismissed employees in probationary status, meaning they are new to their jobs, typically having served less than a year. "We are required to answer a narrower question concerning the plaintiffs in this case: whether a group of states may invoke the jurisdiction of a federal district court to oversee the federal government's compliance with federal employment laws governing the termination of federal employees," the judges wrote. "The relief requested here is wholly out of proportion to the injury alleged… We must hold, as the Supreme Court's decisions plainly dictate, that these plaintiffs lacked standing to seek the relief that they did. We therefore vacate the judgment and remand with directions to the district court to dismiss the action." The ruling marked the Trump administration's latest court victory in its efforts to shrink the federal workforce. A federal judge in Baltimore had initially ordered 18 agencies to reinstate more than 24,000 probationary workers nationwide before narrowing the order to cover only those in the suing states. U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, a Reagan appointee, said while many people view the terminations as "harsh," others see them as warranted to trim the "bloat of the federal bureaucracy. "This clash of views must ultimately be resolved by the voters. September 8: Fox News: SCOTUS; ICE raids in California may continue The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to continue carrying out immigration raids in California after advocacy groups argued that federal authorities were stopping suspected illegal immigrants without a valid reason. The high court's 6-3 decision is temporary while the case proceeds in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. It came after a federal judge in July blocked Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting raids in Los Angeles County, finding the plaintiffs likely would succeed in their argument that the raids violated the Fourth Amendment. The Ninth Circuit upheld that order, leading the Trump administration to turn to the Supreme Court. September 7: The Gateway Pundit: President Trump puts Veezuelan cartels on notice President Trump on Sunday put the Venezuelan cartels on notice during remarks to reporters as he departed the White House en route to the US Open. Trump is reportedly considering striking cartels inside of Venezuela. Citing multiple anonymous sources briefed on the plans, CNN reported Friday that Trump has approved options for targeted strikes on Venezuelan soil, escalating the US's response after Venezuela flew fighter jets near a US warship as a 'show of force.' Last week Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets buzzed a US Warship in a "show of force" after the US military blew up a Tren de Aragua drug trafficking vessel. President Trump last Tuesday said of the strike against a Tren de Aragua drug trafficking boat from Venezuela, "while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States." September 7: The Daily Caller: Senate Republicans are on the verge of breaking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's stranglehold Senate Republicans are on the verge of breaking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's stranglehold over the confirmation process, ending seven months of unprecedented obstruction that has sought to prevent President Trump from staffing his administration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to invoke the rarely-used "nuclear option" to reform Senate rules allowing for the simultaneous confirmation of lower-level executive branch nominees as early as Monday, a senior Republican aide said. The historic rules change could grant the more than 100 civilian nominees who have been blocked from their postings due to Democrats' persistent delay tactics a swift confirmation vote before the Senate is scheduled to go on recess on Sept. 19. September 7: News Max: Trump ready to move to phase two on Russian sanctions Donald Trump said on Sunday he is ready to move to the second stage of sanctioning Russia, remarks suggesting that he is closer to ramping up sanctions against Moscow or its oil buyers in frustration over the war in Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly threatened Moscow with further sanctions but withheld them as he pursued talks. The latest comments suggest an increasingly aggressive posture, but Trump stopped short of saying he was committed to such a decision or what such a second phase might entail. Asked by a reporter at the White House if he is ready to move to the second stage of sanctions against Russia, Trump responded, "Yeah, I am." Trump has been frustrated at his inability to bring a halt to the fighting in Ukraine after he initially predicted he would be able to end the war swiftly when he took office in January. September 6: One American News Network: Vulnerable Georgia Senator takes credit for bill sponsor says he had nothing to do with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is under fire after taking a victory lap for allegedly spearheading veterans assistance legislation, which the bill's sole sponsor says the Georgia Democrat had no role in drafting or helping clear the upper chamber. Ossoff, the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in 2026, has taken credit for HR 1815, a law providing veterans with federal assistance for housing in recent weeks, including hosting a celebratory press conference in August with Georgia veterans. Republican Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden, the legislation's sole sponsor, has excoriated Ossoff for claiming to champion a bill he played no role in passing and accused the Georgia Democrat of using veterans as "political props" in pursuit of his reelection bid. September 6: Yahoo News: California law enforcement scrambles to provide protection to former VP Harris The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday discontinued its protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris after heavy criticism within its own ranks that officers were being diverted from crime suppression, sources told The LA Times. LAPD Metropolitan Division officers had been assisting the California Highway Patrol (CHiPs) in protecting Harris and were visible until Saturday morning outside her Brentwood home. Both California police agencies scrambled this week to protect Harris after the Administration ended Harris's Secret Service protection last week. Secret Service protection is routinely provided to past presidents but not to former Vice Presidents beyond six months after they leave office. President Biden had extended protection for Harris beyond the traditional six months. Many well-to-do political figures maintain private security and live in enclaves with high walls. September 6: The Gateway Pundit: Baltimore residents tell TV host they hope their city is next in Trump anti-crime efforts Residents of Baltimore told former CNN host Don Lemon during livestreamed man-on-the-street interviews that they fully approve of the federal crackdown in Washington, D.C., and hope their city will be next. The interviews, captured and posted in raw video footage, highlight the desperation in cities where skyrocketing violence has left everyday Americans fed up with failed liberal policies. Lemon set out to ask locals about Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to combat out-of-control violence and to his apparent surprise, the responses were overwhelmingly positive, with residents citing murders, drugs, and a lack of consequences for criminals as reasons they want federal intervention. [See Related Story] September 5: The Galveston County Daily News: Federal Troops quench crime in DC; but be careful what you choose The Trump administration has deployed federal forces in the District of Columbia and it's worked! The instances of crime have fallen dramatically. Now Trump is threatening to take similar actions in Chicago and other blue cities. Doing so in a "federal enclave" like D.C. is one thing; doing so in other cities could become problematic. In 2013, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) changed Senate rules allowing judicial nominations approval by a simple majority so President Obama's appointees couldn't be blocked. When Trump came into office, Reid's rule allowed Republicans to do same resulting in a conservative supreme court. Whatever authority we say a president [who we like] has, can be misused and become a disaster under a corrupt leader like Joe Biden. We need to draw a delicate balance to ensure freedoms are protected in the long run while rooting out graft, corruption and actions that endanger people's lives. We should not take actions that could be used as precedents against us. September 5: News Max: Congress still not doing their job; Government Shutdown looms Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) said if Congress fails to pass a budget by its deadline later this month, it will be because "Democrats want to shut down" the government. But wait a minute. If the Republicans in the House had been doing their job they would have finished action on all 12 appropriation bills before going on their annual August recess! As it is, if they pass them in September, it doesn't give the Senate enough time to seriously consider the measures! Carter, a member of the House Budget Committee, said Congress would pass a budget bill to avoid a government shutdown only if Democrats choose to support it — even though Republicans currently control both the House and Senate. The GOP-controlled House passed the last funding bill on September 4th. If the Democrats decide to hold up the process in the Senate it will be "Schumer's Shutdown," Carter contended. September 5: Fox News: Anonymous judges criticize SCOTUS overturning lower courts; NBC reports A group of anonymous -- that's interesting -- federal judges is criticizing the Supreme Court for overturning lower court rulings and siding with Donald Trump's administration with little to no explanation. NBC spoke with 12 federal judges who pointed to a trend of lower court decisions being overturned by emergency rulings from the high court. Not mentioned is whether the lower courts got it wrong or overreached their authority. A majority of the judges argued the SCOTUS should offer explanations for their actions when overturning lower courts, otherwise it could imply poor work on the part of lower court judges. One of the judges, appointed by President Barack Obama, conceded that several judges had been out of line with their rulings against the administration. "The whole 'Trump derangement syndrome' is a real issue. As a result, judges are mad at what Trump is doing or the manner he is going about things; they are sometimes forgetting to stay in their lane," that judge said. September 5: The New York Post: DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro charges two teens with murder for slaying of congressional intern Jalen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas Jr., both 17, were apprehended in Washington, DC and charged with killing Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, in a July 1 shootout about a mile northeast of the White House. The three gunmen allegedly unloaded 79 rounds from two rifles and a 9mm handgun at a "neighborhood crew" rival riding a bike, authorities said, but struck Tarpinian-Jachym and other bystanders. "Eric didn't deserve to be gunned down, and the system failed him — the system that felt that juveniles needed to be coddled," Pirro said. "They don't need to be protected. They need to be made accountable, and we need to be protected… This killing underscores why we need the authority to prosecute these younger kids, because they're not kids, they're criminals." Pirro said that the case was being prosecuted under DC law, rather than federal law, meaning the two suspects are not eligible for the death penalty. September 4: News Max: Appeals Court blocks lower court restrictions on Trump's deployment of National Guard in support of ICE law enforcement actions LA A U.S. appeals court on Thursday blocked a lower court ruling that restricted President Trump's use of troops to support federal law enforcement and immigration raids in Los Angeles, preserving the status quo while the Trump administration appeals. U.S. District Court Clinton-appointee Judge Charles Breyer ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration willfully violated a 19th century law that limits the use of the military for domestic enforcement, by employing troops to control crowds and bolster federal agents during immigration and drug raids in Los Angeles and its surrounding area. Breyer restricted troops from doing police work in California. The administration quickly appealed the ruling. Meanwhile News Max also reported the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a lower court's ruling that construction at the so called "Alligator Alcatraz" must cease allowing construction of the federal migrant detention center to resume. In a split decision, the 11th Circuit issued an opinion that President Trump's administration is likely to prevail in a legal battle with environmental groups who say the facility is endangering the Everglades and its wildlife. Two judges sided with the Trump administration, one judge dissented. The majority ruled that the project - which has been funded by the state of Florida - did not trigger the kind of environmental review needed for federally funded construction projects. Although both Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have said the federal government will pay for expanding the detention facility, there is no evidence that federal funds have been used for construction, the court ruled. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the ruling a "huge victory." September 3: Breitbart News: U.S. interdicts and seizes drug precursors headed for Mexico on Chinese vessels United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Janine Pirro announced the most significant federal seizure of drug precursor chemicals by federal law enforcement authorities in U.S. history Wednesday in Pasadena, Texas. The precursor chemicals, seized in two separate maritime interdictions, were headed from China to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. Pirro indicated the chemicals included 363,000 pounds of benzyl alcohol, which can be used to produce benzyl chloride, a DEA-list II chemical restricted in many countries because it can be used to produce amphetamine-type narcotics illegally. In addition to the vast quantity of benzyl alcohol seized during the operation, 334,000 pounds of N-methyl formamide, a chemical included on the DEA special surveillance list of laboratory supplies used in the manufacture of controlled substances, was also interdicted. Combined, the street value of the final product is approximately $569 million. September 3: The Daily Caller: Columbians – World's largest cocaine exporter – not happy about attack on drug runners boat The president of the leading cocaine producer in the world said Wednesday the U.S. strike on a Tren de Aragua drug trafficking vessel Tuesday was tantamount to "murder." Colombian President Gustavo Petro said, the pilots of the boat were likely "poor young people" and that the killing was unjust because the transporters weren't the "big narcos." Colombia is not only the world's largest exporter of cocaine, but also plays host to some of Latin America's most vicious cartels and militias. September 3: News Max: Space Force to leave Colorado, headed to Alabama; CO mail ballots to all voters tipped the scale for the relocation President Trump said Colorado's reliance on mail-in voting played a role in his decision to relocate U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama, reversing a Biden-era decision that reversed a Trump 45 decision years earlier. Trump 47's decision apparently reignited a political fight between the two states. The current headquarters is in Colorado Springs and will move to Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal in the coming years. "The problem I have with Colorado … [is that] they do mail-in voting [sending absentee ballots to every registered voter in the state]." Trump has long been concerned about mail-in voting, claiming that it fosters widespread fraud. Colorado is among eight states that automatically send ballots to all registered voters. Trump's administration has sought to roll back such systems. In March, he signed an executive order overhauling federal election procedure, including measures aimed at limiting mail-in ballots and addressing non-citizen voting. Trump initially selected Alabama in the final days of his first term, but in 2023, Joe Biden reversed course and opted to keep the command in Colorado. Colorado lawmakers vowed to fight the relocation, using a tried and true tactic [Lawfare] arguing that the command is more effectively run in Colorado Springs, where it has been based for decades. September 2: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Another day, another judicial ruling against the Trump agenda A federal judge appointed by Bill Clinton ruled that President Trump acted unlawfully when he federalized the National Guard and deployed a handful of Marines to address anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots and protests in California. Judge Charles Breyer's opinion followed remarks he made during a three-day trial last month when he questioned if presidents have any limits on when they can use the military for domestic purposes. Trump federalized about 4,000 National Guard members in June to support federal authorities in California as they carried out immigration raids, despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's vehement objections. The case could still have nationwide implications as Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deploy National Guard members in Washington, D.C. [which is a "Federal enclave:], and threaten to do so in other blue cities to address street crime. The Trump administration is likely to appeal Breyer's decision, which could result in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and then the Supreme Court weighing in on the administration's use of the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement agents. September 2: The Gateway Pundit: Appeals court excoriates lower court judge, sides with Trump on cancellation of environmental grants A federal appeals court on Tuesday delivered a blow to Obama-appointed Judge Tanya Chutkan and sided with the Trump Administration by axing billions of dollars in Biden-era climate grants. Earlier this year Judge Chutkan granted an injunction against the EPA and barred Lee Zeldin from clawing back the money that was being sheltered at Citibank for 8 different 'green' nonprofits. Zeldin had previously clawed back the $20 billion in grants under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and Citibank agreed to freezing the funds earmarked for the eight additional nonprofits. The $20 billion sitting at Citibank was ordered by Judge Chutkan to be unfrozen by Thursday and disbursed to the 8 nonprofits. On Tuesday, a three-judge panel sided with Trump's EPA in a 2-1 decision. "We conclude the district court abused its discretion in issuing the injunction. The grantees are not likely to succeed on the merits because their claims are essentially contractual, and therefore jurisdiction lies exclusively in the Court of Federal Claims. And while the district court had jurisdiction over the grantees' constitutional claim, that claim is meritless. Moreover, the equities strongly favor the government, which on behalf of the public must ensure the proper oversight and management of this multi-billion-dollar fund. Accordingly, we vacate the injunction," the majority opinion reads September 2: News Max: Administration to appeal tariff ruling to the SCOTUS as an emergency Donald Trump declared Tuesday there will be serious economic consequences if the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) does not hear his appeal on a federal appeals court ruling last week that declared many of his administration's tariffs to be illegal. "There's a pall over the country waiting for the Supreme Court," the president said. Stocks fell more than 1% Tuesday afternoon, partly due to a sharp rise in bond yields driven by concerns over the loss of tariff revenue. "More than 15 trillion dollars will be invested in the USA, a record. Much of this investment is because of Tariffs. If a Radical Left Court is allowed to terminate these tariffs, almost all of this investment, and much more, will be immediately cancelled! In many ways, we would become a Third World Nation, with no hope of greatness again. Time is of the essence," the President said. September 2: Fox News: Trump announces lethal take down of Venezuelan drug boat During a news conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump announced the U.S. military "shot out" a drug boat from Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. "Over the last few minutes, [we] literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat," Trump said during the news conference. "A lot of drugs in that boat. And you'll be seeing that, and you'll be reading about that. It just happened moments ago." It was a was a "lethal strike," Secretary of State Rubio added later. He added, the boat was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization. Defense officials described the hit as a "precision strike." Reportedly, eleven people were killed in the attack. September 1: News Max: Secretary of Treasury; confidence that SCOTUS will uphold President's authority to levy tariffs Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Monday expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will uphold President Trump's use of a 1977 emergency powers law to impose sweeping tariffs on most trading partners, but said the administration has a backup plan if it does not. Bessent said he was preparing a legal brief for the U.S. solicitor general, who will oversee the government's appeal to the Supreme Court, that will underscore the urgency of addressing decades of trade imbalances and stopping the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. A divided U.S. appeals court ruled Friday that most of Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal, undercutting his use of the levies as a key economic policy tool. The court allowed the tariffs to remain in place through Oct. 14 to give the Trump administration a chance to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. The court's decision doesn't affect all of Trump's tariffs just those based upon IEEPA (1977) which is an emergency authority. September 1: Fox News: DC Mayor cooperating with Trump deployment of troops in nations capital President Trump praised Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser for cooperating with his administration amid a deployment of National Guard troops to the city to help combat crime. "Wow! Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. has become very popular because she worked with me and my great people in bringing crime down to virtually nothing in D.C.," Trump said. "Her statements and actions were positive, instead of others like [Illinois Gov. J.B.] Pritzker, [Maryland Gov.] Wes Moore, [California Gov. Gavin] Newsom, and the mayor of Chicago, who spend all of their time trying to justify violent crime instead of working with us to completely eliminate it, which we have done in Washington, D.C., [which is] now a crime-free zone," he contended. September 1: Fox Business: Negotiations with Putin; ALL options are on the table Treasury Secretary Bessent said in an interview that "all options are on the table" as the Trump administration weighs sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin continued to bombard Ukraine despite recent talks about peace. Bessent said, "I think everything's on the table, President Putin, since the historic meeting in Anchorage, since the phone call, when the European leaders and President Zelensky were at the White House the following Monday, has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated he wanted to do. As a matter of fact, he has, in a despicable, despicable manner, increased the bombing campaign." Bessent added: "So I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we'll be examining those very closely this week." September 1: The Gateway Pundit: Grand Jury indicts Canadians voting in U.S. elections A Canadian citizen who has lived in the United States since the 1960s now faces federal charges for illegally registering and voting in multiple American elections, including the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential race. A federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted 69-year-old Denis Bouchard this week, revealing he allegedly certified false U.S. citizenship status to cast ballots in New Hanover and Pender County elections. According to the Department of Justice, Bouchard falsely claimed to be an American citizen on voter registration applications filed in 2022 and 2024. He is accused of voting in the 2022 congressional election and the 2024 presidential election despite never having obtained U.S. citizenship. Prosecutors say he had been participating in elections for nearly two decades, raising questions about how long his fraudulent activity went unnoticed by election officials. Currently, all one needs to do in order to vote is simply check a box on the application saying he/she is a U.S. citizen. Nobody every checks to verify same unless election officials stumble upon a discrepancy. Thus the need for proof of citizenship in order to register. September 1: One America News Network: Giuliani to get the highest civilian award Donald Trump has announced that Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Monday, Trump made the announcement the day after the former mayor was involved in a car accident after helping a victim of domestic violence. "As President of the United States of America, I am pleased to announce that Rudy Giuliani, the greatest Mayor in the history of NYC, and an equally great American Patriot, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Country's highest civilian honor…" said Trump. August 31: The Epoch Times: Rudy Giuliani injured in NH car accident Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was injured in a car accident in New Hampshire Aug. 30, a spokesperson confirmed. Giuliani spokesman Michael Ragusa said that the former mayor was involved in the accident after he was flagged down by a woman who "was the victim of a domestic violence incident." "Giuliani immediately rendered assistance and contacted 911," and "he remained on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety," Ragusa said. As he was traveling on the highway afterwards, Giuliani's vehicle was apparently rear-ended at a high rate of speed. Giuliani was taken to a nearby hospital's trauma center for treatment and was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra. August 31: Fox News: Biden judge stops reunification of immigrant children with their parents A Biden-appointed federal judge abruptly blocked the Trump administration from flying out hundreds of illegal alien children over Labor Day weekend after immigrant advocacy groups rushed to court, claiming Trump was carrying out a "mass deportation" in the dead of night. The emergency order by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan froze a pilot program the administration said would reunite nearly 700 kids with parents or guardians in Guatemala. Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign told the court, "These are not removals under the statute. These are repatriations. All of these children have parents or guardians in Guatemala who have requested their return." By the time the judge intervened, charter buses had already rolled up to planes in Harlingen and El Paso and, in some cases, children were seated on board awaiting departure. August 31: One America News Network: Trump to sign Executive Order requiring photo ID in order to vote and limiting absentee voting Donald Trump announced that he will sign an executive order requiring voters to present identification in all U.S. elections, while also largely eliminating mail-in voting. August 31: Breitbart News: Show down in the offing as Trumps pushes "blue" state/city to address its crime problem A showdown looms between President Trump and Illinois Democrats after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Saturday demanding the president stand down on his intent to send troops to take on crime and illegal immigration in the Windy City. Johnson signed the "Protecting Chicago" order, a multi-departmental directive that requires federal officers to follow city policies on policing and utilizes legal action to prevent "any attempts to systematically violate the rights of Chicagoans." The order takes direct aim at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, requiring all federal law enforcement officers to refrain from "wearing masks" during arrests and ordering them to identify themselves by agency and badge number. Of course, federal law enforcement personnel are not required to follow city police policies. The mayor believes that September 5, is the expected arrival date for federal law enforcement personnel in Chicago. The authority of federal law enforcement personnel to conduct operations to enforce federal law is, indeed, Constitutional. Whether protecting local citizens from criminals by sending in federal troops is a touchier issue. [See upcoming related story] August 30: News Max: Another Day, Another Lawfare Suit destined for SCOTUS – Trump Tariffs illegal? President Trump said Friday that he will once again put one of his policies in front of the Supreme Court in an effort to keep it intact. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Friday that Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to justify imposing sweeping import taxes on almost every country on earth. The ruling largely upheld a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York. But the 7-4 appeals court decision tossed out a part of that ruling striking down the tariffs immediately, allowing his administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump responded "All tariffs are still in effect" and contended, "a highly partisan appeals court incorrectly said that our tariffs should be removed." Continuing, he said, "If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous trade deficits and unfair tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers imposed by other countries, friend or foe, that undermine our manufacturers, farmers, and everyone else." The court of appeals decision will be appealed to the SCOTUS which, in the past, has chosen not to hamstring executive branch policies. August 30: The Daily Caller: Israeli Forces Kill Prime Minister Of Yemen's Houthi Government Israel reportedly killed the prime minister of Yemen's Houthi government and several cabinet ministers in a Thursday airstrike on Sanaa, delivering the first successful strike against senior officials in the Iran-aligned group's leadership. Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, confirmed Saturday that Prime Minister Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi died in the attack, along with the energy, foreign and information ministers. Al-Mashat did not clarify whether Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi survived the strike. Israel said Friday the airstrike targeted the Houthis' chief of staff, defense minister and other senior officials. Security sources described the targets as locations where numerous Houthi officials gathered to watch a recorded speech by leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. The Israeli military called the attack a "complex operation" enabled by intelligence-gathering and air superiority. August 30: The New York Post: Is the Islamic Republic on the edge of collapse? Reportedly the winds of change could soon blow on Iran. A report by the UK-based Henry Jackson Society said the Islamic Republic is facing collapse as the UN accuses Tehran of executing nearly 900 people already this year "as a tool of intimidation." If the Republic falls, "there is a danger that regime collapse could lead to a vacuum of governance that is accompanied by civil war," according to the findings. "This is an outcome that must be avoided at all costs for the Iranian people, and every step must therefore be made to ensure that any transition is quick and painless," the report contends. It goes on to say, the Ayatollah's regime is committed to "reconstituting its nuclear program and exporting terrorism both regionally and internationally makes it an ongoing danger to the West." August 30: News Max: Trump administration approves $825 million sale of arms to Ukraine The Trump administration has approved an $825 million arms sale to Ukraine that will include extended-range missiles and related equipment to boost its defensive capabilities as U.S. efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia appear stalled. The State Department announced Thursday it had notified Congress of the sale of extended-range attack munition missiles and navigation systems for Ukraine. The sale will cover 3,350 ERAM missiles, 3,350 GPS units, along with components, spare parts and other accessories, as well as training and technical support. It said Ukraine would use funding from NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway in addition to U.S. foreign military financing to pay for the equipment. August 29: Judicial Watch: Full military honors granted to USAF veteran killed at the Capitol on January 6th We are delighted that the U.S. Air Force has finally decided to provide full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran who was shot and killed inside the U.S. Capitol by then-Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd on January 6, 2021. Babbitt was the only official January 6homicide victim. The Biden administration had previously denied Babbitt and her family these honors in retaliation for her being at the U.S. Capitol that day. This new decision comes on the heels of a massive, nearly $5 million Trump administration settlement to her family for wrongful death and other claims against the U.S. Government. August 29: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Texas redistricting map clears legislature and signed by the Governor Despite heavy Democratic pushback and a weeks-long quorum break, the Texas Legislature did manage to redistrict the state's congressional map. The new map, dubbed "The One Big Beautiful Map," adds five Republican seats to Texas' congressional districts and, as of this morning, has officially been signed into law by the governor. In the video, Abbott goes on to thank Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and a number of other legislators who worked on the bill for their help pushing it through the House and Senate. [See Related Story] August 29: The Gateway Pundit: Appeals court rejects Trump's authority to impose tariffs The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Friday rejected President Trump's authority to impose sweeping tariffs in a 7-4 decision. "The Government appeals a decision of the Court of International Trade setting aside five Executive Orders that imposed tariffs of unlimited duration on nearly all goods from nearly every country in the world, holding that the tariffs were not authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Because we agree that IEEPA's grant of presidential authority to "regulate" imports does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders, we affirm," the Federal Appeals Court said. A court battle over President Trump's tariffs is playing out in a district court and the Court of International Trade and is expected to land in the lap of the Supreme Court. August 28: The Gateway Pundit: FED Governor admits to "clerical error" about primary residence Housing regulator Bill Pulte is considered a hero by some as he makes a criminal referral to the DOJ for an alleged case of mortgage fraud for one of the Governors of the Federal Reserve. The embattled Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has admitted to manufacturing documents and said a 'clerical error' is behind the mortgage fraud dispute. Meanwhile Ms. Cook has filed a lawsuit after President Trump fired her as Federal Reserve Governor – and the lawsuit was assigned to a Biden-appointed judge. Cook is suing President Trump, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell over her firing. August 28: Fox News: Report that Minnesota Governor Walz (D) disregarded plea for assistance from Catholic schools In a resurfaced April 14, 2023 letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the head of the Minnesota Catholic Conference expressed that Catholic and other nonpublic schools were in "urgent and critical need" of security improvements, saying, "Our schools are under attack." The plea went unheeded, and two years later, the concerns raised by Catholic leaders materialized when a gunman opened fire on students of a Minneapolis Catholic school while they were attending Mass, leaving two dead and 17 injured. "We are writing on behalf of our respective organizations regarding the urgent and critical need in Minnesota to make sure our schools are secure and safe considering the most recent, and continuing attacks, on our schools in this country and in our state," the letter said. August 28: The Daily Signal: Mass demonstrations in Europe over illegal immigration Europe in the news, primarily because of the Ukraine-Russian war and the trade wars or tariff disagreements with the United States "…but the more we see contemporary Europe, the more we have grounds for deep concern," Victor Davis Hanson of the Daily Signal reports. There are mass demonstrations in Britain against illegal immigration and crime that's not treated in the way it is with citizens. There's a perception that immigrants, many of them in Britain illegally, are not treated equally, meaning they're not treated severely as they should be, according to the law. There appears to be similar feelings in Germany and the Netherlands. August 27: News Max: Trump Administration moving to increase U.S. rare minerals emphasis in attempt to counter Chinese stronghold U.S. production of crucial components in electric vehicles, smartphones and fighter jets is set to expand rapidly in the coming years, as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to build up the critical mineral industry in the United States and to break the chokehold that China has on the global supply chain. The federal government is pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into American companies, has made an agreement with one firm to set a minimum price for some U.S.-produced critical minerals, and has launched an investigation into foreign-made supplies. "This is the Manhattan Project moment for rare earths," said Joshua Ballard, CEO of USA Rare Earth, which plans next year to start making the rare-earth magnets that appear in many products. The White House has made it a priority to revive the domestic critical minerals industry. August 27: The Gateway Pundit: Denmark apologizes to indigenous women of Greenland for decades of forced sterilizations These last days, the US territorial ambitions regarding the island of Greenland have resurfaced in the headlines, as the consequences of the brutal treatment by Denmark of the indigenous Inuit populations are also propelled back to the news. Denmark was forced to publicly apologize Tuesday to Greenlandic women victims of a decades-long 'involuntary birth control campaign' (a.k.a. 'forced sterilization'), as Copenhagen tries to repair frayed relations with the islanders and ward off US interest in taking control of it. "The birth control campaign came to light in 2022 when records showed that thousands of women and girls as young as 13 had been fitted with intrauterine devices without their knowledge or consent between 1966 and 1991, the year Greenland was given authority over its healthcare system. 'We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility. Therefore, on behalf of Denmark, I would like to say: Sorry', Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. The case is one of several that have emerged in recent years of allegations of misconduct by Danish authorities against the people of Greenland, now a semi-autonomous Danish territory." The Trump's administration has often mentioned the 'historic mistreatment' of Greenland's residents under Danish rule. August 27: Fox News: GOP lawmaker offers two California states alternative to Gov. Newsom's redistricting plan The top Republican in the California State Assembly will announce Wednesday a new bill to split California into two new states along a north-south line as a response to Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) mid-decennial redistricting effort. Assemblyman James Gallagher's plan would create a new state featuring its liberal coast and another uniting California's conservative inland counties. He is doing so as Newsom is attempting to further gerrymander California's Congressional districts in respond to Texas' redistricting. "The people of inland California have been overlooked for too long. It's time for a two-state solution," Gallagher said. His resolution responds to Sacramento's Democrat's attempt to permanently redraw California's congressional maps – an act he says would silence rural voices and rig the political system forever. With the overwhelming Democrat power in the state it is questionable whether Gallagher's proposal will get a fair hearing, let alone a vote. August 26: The Daily Signal: Trump fires FED board member for cause, she refuses to leave! On Monday, Trump ousted Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook for cause sending her a letter and posting a copy on line. "You are hereby removed from your position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, effective immediately," he wrote. "At a minimum, the conduct at issue exhibits the sort of gross negligence in financial transactions that calls into question your competence and trustworthiness as a financial regulator." Cook, joins the list of Letita James and Adam Schiff who Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has criminally referred to the Department of Justice for claiming two residences as her primary residence in order to obtain more favorable mortgage interest rates. "President Trump purported to fire me 'for cause' when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so," said Cook contends. Governors are confirmed by the Senate for 14-year terms. Cook, who was reappointed by Joe Biden in February 2024, would reach the end of her term in January 2038 if allowed to remain. August 26: News Max: Trump asks SCOTUS to turn around lower court decisions that halted sequester of foreign aid payments Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday to intervene in its efforts to withhold billions of dollars from foreign aid organizations and lift an injunction that is forcing it to keep making payments. The U.S. Department of Justice, in an emergency filing with the 6-3 conservative majority court, noted that a 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit earlier this month ruled the injunction should be overturned. Despite that ruling, the injunction issued by Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amir Ali remains in effect, after the full federal appeals court declined to put it on hold. Trump imposed a 90-day pause on all foreign aid on Jan. 20, the day that he was inaugurated for a second term in the White House. Two nonprofit groups that receive federal funding, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network, brought litigation opposing the defunding. The administration in its filing to the Supreme Court said the congressionally appropriated funds subject to the injunction comprise tens of billions of dollars, some $12 billion of which would need to be spent by the U.S. Department of State before Sept. 30, when they expire. The administration is saying that without SCOTUS intervention, it will be forced to keep making payments before the expiration date, "overriding the Executive Branch's foreign-policy judgments. August 26: Fox News: Milwaukee Judge loses on bid to dismiss charges of helping illegal avoid apprehension A U.S. District judge on Tuesday rejected Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan's request to dismiss allegations that she helped an undocumented immigrant evade federal authorities earlier this year. Dugan was arrested in April after allegedly helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were trying to serve him a warrant. Her attorneys argued she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts. They also said the federal government overstepped its authority by arresting and charging her. The defense team also claimed the charges violate the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment and the principle of separation of powers. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman , a Clinton appointee, ruled on the motion to dismiss the case saying, "Ultimately, as the Supreme Court has stated, 'the official seeking absolute immunity bears the burden of showing that such immunity is justified for the function in question,'" Adelman wrote, adding that Dugan has not done so here. "I cannot say as a matter of law that the defendant's alleged conduct falls within even this more limited version of immunity." August 25: The Epoch Times: U.S. miliary scrambles fighter jets for the third time in a week as Russian aircfaft fly toward Alaska U.S. fighter jets were scrambled for a third time in less than a week on Aug. 24 to intercept Russian military planes flying near Alaska, NORAD said. On the evening of Aug. 24, they confirmed they had detected and tracked a Russian IL-20 COOT surveillance aircraft that was operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, NORAD scrambled an E-3, two F-16s, and two KC-135 tankers to intercept and identify the Russian plane in the Alaskan zone. No other details were provided about where the encounter occurred. "The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace," NORAD stated. "This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat. [An identification zone starts] where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security." August 25: The Washington Examiner: Trump wants to sue U.S. Senate over its Blue Slip tradition President Trump threatened legal action over a Senate tradition Democrats have used to block certain judicial nominees, escalating a long-running dispute with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA). In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump derided the century-old practice of "blue slip" which allows senators to effectively block consideration of prosecutor or district court presidential nominees from their home state. Trump suggested it was "unconstitutional" and said the Justice Department would pursue legal action to end the tradition. August 25: The Gateway Pundit: Trump fires Biden-appointed FED governor President Trump on Monday evening fired Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook amid mortgage fraud allegations. "Pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution of the United States and the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, as amended, you are hereby removed from your position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, effective immediately," President Trump wrote in a letter to Lisa Cook. "I have determined that there is sufficient cause to remove you from your position," Trump added as he cited housing regulator Bill Pulte's criminal referral on Lisa Cook for mortgage fraud – specifically occupancy fraud. August 24: The Post Newspaper: Update on the Texas Election Law There are several things that will be different during upcoming election cycles, some won't happen until 2026 and perhaps as late as 2027. One of them is redistricting of Congressional districts, which was done this week and sent to the Governor for his approval. But there are possible Democrat lawsuits expected which could delay implementation of the new maps. There is also a bill that eliminates Early Voting and replaces it with one voting period that includes election day. Additionally, there is the move by the Texas GOP to close their primaries to only people registered as Republicans. Their positions may be in conflict with the Texas election code, meaning that this may, or may not, happen. August 24: Fox News: Christian High Schooler stands firm, School backs down on posting scripture verses A New York high school backed down after facing a legal threat and will now allow a Christian student to decorate her paid parking spot with Bible verses. Grand Island High, near Buffalo, has a tradition of allowing seniors to pay $50 to decorate their parking spaces with "positive artwork" meant to beautify the campus and promote school spirit, according to legal group First Liberty. Rising senior Sabrina Steffans submitted two designs featuring crosses and verses from John 14:6 and Jeremiah 29:11. Both were rejected by school officials, who only approved a third non-religious version. "I put in three drawings that I did, and the first drawing was a drawing of this mountain called Salvation Mountain," Steffans said. "And when I handed it in, they said… completely no to it because it had crosses, a Bible verse, and just a lot of religion that they said that wasn't allowed." After the school rejected her initial designs, Steffans sought legal help from religious liberty firm First Liberty. The group said it sent a demand letter arguing that the student had a constitutional right to religious expression. Days later, First Liberty announced the district had changed course and would allow Steffans' original design. August 24: The Washington Times: Trump tariffs bring in billions of dollars while inflation holds steady President Trump's tariffs are fattening federal coffers. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan group that has criticized the Trump administration and its predecessors for not doing more to address national deficits, reported that the monthly tariff revenue in July jumped to $25 billion, up from $7 billion a year ago. The budget hawks estimated that by the end of Trump's term, the tariffs pushed by his administration would bring in $1.3 trillion "before accounting for economic effects." "Importantly, our estimates are very rough and intended to reflect the general magnitude of the policies rather than precise scores, given the complexity of the tariffs and their impacts," the committee said in its analysis. "Estimates also exclude macroeconomic effects, which could reduce the net (real) deficit reduction from tariffs to the extent they lead to slower growth and higher inflation." August 23: News Max: Bolton reportedly sent highly sensitive classified documents to family members The FBI raid of former national security adviser John Bolton's home and office was reportedly due to a federal investigation for allegedly sending "highly sensitive" classified documents to his wife and daughter via a private email server while serving during the first Trump administration. The FBI raided Bolton's Bethesda, Maryland, home and his Washington, D.C., office Friday as part of a revived probe led by FBI Director Kash Patel. Sources say the raid comes as Federal investigators are determining whether Bolton, 76, sent classified information to his family while still in office prior to being dismissed in September 2019. While Bolton was a national security adviser, he was literally stealing classified information, utilizing his family as a cutout," one senior U.S. official contended. The probe was initiated in 2020 amid controversy over Bolton's tell-all memoir, and was subsequently shut down under the Biden administration. Trump told reporters Friday he was not informed in advance of the raids. At this point Bolton has not been arrested or charged with a crime. August 23: One America News Network: Pirro: You won't face felony charges if you carry a rifle or shot gun in DC United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has announced that federal prosecutors will no longer pursue felony charges for mere possession of rifles or shotguns in Washington, D.C. This change means that, except in certain cases, felony charges will no longer be implemented under a D.C. law that made it illegal to carry rifles or shotguns within its boundaries. The U.S. Attorney's Office will, however, continue to seek charges whenever a person is accused of committing a violent crime with a shotgun or rifle, or if the individual has a criminal record that prohibits them from possessing a firearm. The new policy also includes large-capacity magazines, but excludes handguns. Officials are also able to prosecute individuals in possession of unregistered rifles and shotguns in the district. August 23: Fox News: Rubio stops issuing visas to immigrant truck drivers in the wake of Florida accident; is praised for so doing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement this week of halting work visas for foreign commercial truck drivers drew praise from many in the wake of a deadly accident in Florida that killed three. "Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers," Rubio announced. "The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers." The move follows a deadly crash in Florida caused by an illegal immigrant who didn't speak English and wasn't able to read street signs. Still, he was issued a CDL license by the State of California. August 22: The Daily Caller: Supreme Court justices react to lower courts ignoring their rulings Justice Neil Gorsuch called out lower courts Thursday for a pattern of defying Supreme Court rulings. Allowing the Trump administration to move forward with cutting millions in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants marked the "third time in a matter of weeks" the Supreme Court had to reverse a lower court on an issue it had already addressed, Gorsuch wrote. "Lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Court's decisions, but they are never free to defy them," Gorsuch wrote in an opinion joined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In April, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with terminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-related teacher training grants. Yet a lower court in June allowed a lawsuit "involving materially identical grants" from the NIH to move forward, citing the dissenting justices while ignoring the majority ruling. The judge proceeded to block the administration's terminations of DEI and gender ideology-related NIH grants. "If nothing else, the promise of our legal system that like cases are treated alike means that a lower court ought not invoke the 'persuasive authority' of a dissent or a repudiated court of appeals decision to reach a different conclusion on an equivalent record," Gorsuch wrote. Gorsuch noted the district court's behavior in this case was not a "one-off," highlighting two other recent instances of lower court defiance. August 22: The Epoch Times: Obama-appointed judge stopping use of "Alligator Alcatraz" A federal judge on Aug. 21 ordered President Trump and the state of Florida to stop sending detainees to "Alligator Alcatraz," a detention center for illegal immigrants in the Everglades, and barred new construction there. U.S. Judge Kathleen Williams, a lower court judge in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida, sided with environmental groups who had brought suit against the facility, saying that it endangers the Everglades and its wildlife. Located 37 miles west of Miami, the detention center's name comes from the vast swaths of surrounding wetlands that encircle the facility, which are home to alligators, crocodiles, and pythons. The facility, which is being used to house illegal immigrants detained as part of the administration's mass deportation operation, costs around $450 million annually and can house about 5,000 detainees. Though the order doesn't entirely shutter the facility, it drastically dismisses its capabilities. In a court order, Williams said that authorities cannot "[bring] any additional persons onto the site who were not already being detained at the site at the time of this Order going into effect." August 22: The Daily Caller: U.S. to take 10% equity stake in Intel Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. will take a 10% equity stake in Intel under a deal the White House plans to announce later in the day, and signaled more such moves could be coming. A 10% slice would be worth roughly $10 billion at current prices and tracks with what Intel is slated to receive in CHIPS Act grants to build U.S. plants, according to officials. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly said the stake would be non-voting, limiting Washington's ability to direct the company's operations. "The United States paid nothing for these shares, and the shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars. This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL," the president wrote on Truth Social. "Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation." August 22: Fox News: Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement gives Europe access to energy, by-passing Iran and giving the U.S. a 99-year lease over this strategic energy corridor President Trump's new deal in the South Caucasus has ended a decades-long conflict and handed Washington a rare strategic foothold on Iran's northern border, experts say. The agreement, signed earlier this month between Armenia and Azerbaijan, grants the U.S. a 99-year lease over the Zangezur Corridor - a narrow strip of land that will serve as a critical trade and energy route to Europe, bypassing Tehran entirely. Iranian American journalist and dissident Banafsheh Zand said the move is "a wonderful gain for the U.S." that also delivers a "slap in the face" to the regime in Tehran. The corridor has long been at the center of a conflict, which displaced tens of thousands and fueled three decades of instability. Trump's intervention brought both sides to the table and created what observers say is a new trade and security lifeline linking the Caspian Basin to Europe. Known as the Trump Route for Peace & Prosperity (TRIPP), economically, the agreement secures Washington a direct role in overseeing the flow of Caspian hydrocarbons to Europe. The U.S. will manage rail and road infrastructure, telecom networks and energy pipelines running through the corridor, giving American companies a dominant position in regional transit for oil, gas and goods. By controlling this artery, the U.S. not only generates billions in future trade and investment but also locks Europe into alternative supply routes that reduce reliance on both Russia and Iran. For the allies, the corridor offers cheaper and safer access to Caspian energy. For Tehran, it represents lost revenue, lost leverage, and the end of its ability to act as a mandatory gatekeeper for east-west commerce. This is a big win for Europe, NATO, and the U.S. August 22: Breitbart News: DC crime plumets as Trump federalized the city's police department Crime in the nation's capital has seen a significant drop since President Trump federalized the city's police department 11 days ago. According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) data there have been substantial double-digit percentage drops in various crime categories. For example, carjacking has declined by 83% and motor vehicle thefts have dwindled by 37%. Homicide is also down 50%, with only two recorded since August 11 while all violent crime is down 40.2%. Trump said Friday he wishes Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) would ask for help in dealing with crime, and accused the district of misrepresenting crime statistics. August 22: The Gateway pundit: And yet another criminal referral of Democrat-appointed official for possible mortgage fraud Most recently, Housing Regulator Pulte criminally referred Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to the DOJ for mortgage fraud – specifically occupancy fraud. According to housing regulator Bill Pulte's criminal referral, Lisa Cook committed mortgage fraud by lying on her mortgage application and falsifying bank statements when she designated her out-of-state Atlanta condo as her "primary residence" — just two weeks after taking a loan on her Michigan home, which she also claimed as her "primary residence." By claiming "primary residence" on her out-of-state condo, Lisa Cook received more favorable loan terms and a lower interest. This appears to be a pattern with Letica James (D-NY) Attorney General and Adam Schiff (D-CA) having also been referred to DOJ for criminal violations. August 21: The Gateway Pundit: NY appeals court drops $515 Million against Trump in Civil suit. AG James' Not Happy In a huge blow to Letitia James and Biden's prosecutors, a New York Appeals Court threw out the massive civil fraud penalty against President Trump on Thursday. The decision came seven months after the Republican returned to the White House. A panel of five judges in New York's mid-level Appellate Division said the verdict, which stood to cost Trump more than $515 million, was "excessive." Trump had been ordered to pay $355 million plus penalties and interest ($515 million total). Observers noted that there were no injured parties and the lenders were happy with the deal, including the valuation of Trump collateral (his Mara-Logo complex). Distinguished attorney Jonathan Turley said Letitia James' effort to get a 'trophy win' just turned into a 'tremendous victory' for Trump. The appeals court's judgment was unanimous. The trial judge, whose daughter profited from the case, could even get one judge to side with his inappropriate judgment. The appeals court found little legal or factual basis for Trump's fine. The witnesses not only did not lose a dime, but they testified that they made money on the loans and wanted new loans with the Trump administration. James could not have succeeded if she had not had a judge willing to ignore reality and cook the books on the fines. She needed a partner in lawfare, Turley contended. Even for some anti-Trump commentators, the judgment was impossible to defend and some acknowledged that they had never seen any case like this one. Appeals court Judge David Friedman gave trial judge Engoron something to think about, He detailed how the underlying law "has never been used in the way it is being used in this case – namely, to attack successful, private, commercial transactions, negotiated at arm's length between highly sophisticated parties fully capable of monitoring and defending their own interests." August 21: The Washington Times: SCOTUS may address decades-old precedents At least four legal disputes in the Supreme Court's (SCOTUS) upcoming term are expected to open the door for the justices to overturn decades-old precedents. The disputes involve the president's authority to remove agency heads, prayer over a school loudspeaker, same-sex marriage and the Voting Rights Act. One dispute has been granted a court review and is scheduled for oral arguments in October; the others could be heard before spring. Court watchers say the justices will likely rule to restrict some of the precedents if they do not overturn them outright. Chief Justice Roberts has been reticent to overturn cases outright but it is possible, likely, that they might chip away at some of the precedents, professor Josh Blackman of the South Texas College of Law contends, pointing to its decision to move decisions over abortion rights back to the states. The justices have agreed to hear a dispute in Louisiana over its legislative map. Challengers say it was drawn unlawfully to create two majority-Black districts. The case could challenge a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was enacted to redress centuries of political exclusion and has pushed states to maximize minorities' voting power. August 21: One America News Network: DNI Gabbard to cut 40% of bloated office in the national intelligence staff over the weaponization of intelligence Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced that her agency, which she described as "bloated" and "rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and the politicized use of intelligence," will be reduced by over 40% — saving approximately $700 million annually. Gabbard emphasized that her agency has been "plagued by partisanship," and she now aims to refocus the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on its core mission of providing unbiased and timely intelligence to support national security objectives. She described the cuts as "long-overdue" and essential for eliminating offices that politicize intelligence — a concern Gabbard highlighted in her recent disclosure of the former Obama administration's purported weaponization of intelligence. The change will "enable ODNI to focus on fulfilling its critical role of serving as the central hub for intelligence integration, strategic guidance, and oversight over the Intelligence Community," she said. August 21: Fox News: The Lawfare continues as Obama-appointed judge finds Trump appointment of Acting U.S. attorney for NJ was unlawful A federal Obama-appointed judge Thursday found that Alina Habba was unlawfully serving in the role of acting U.S. attorney of New Jersey when Trump appointed her in an acting capacity. Judge Matthew Brann said Habba hadn't been the rightful temporary U.S. attorney for New Jersey since July 1, a ruling that follows two criminal defendants in New Jersey challenging her appointment in court. Habba, Trump's former personal defense lawyer, had been serving as interim U.S. attorney, but when her term expired last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi subsequently appointed her as "acting" rather than "interim" U.S. attorney, after members of the Democrat judiciary, at the urging of House Democrat Minority Leader, refused to extend her interim appointment. Brann is presiding over the matter after the chief judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers New Jersey and Pennsylvania, decided the case presented too much of a conflict for New Jersey's federal judges. August 20: The Daily Caller: Texas House passes redistricting The Texas House of Representatives Wednesday approved the state's redistricting maps after several hours of debate. In an 88-52 vote, Republican representatives in the state successfully pushed through the new redistricting maps, which are poised to add five additional U.S. House seats to the GOP despite pushback from Democrats. The Texas Tribune reported. Voting along party lines, the approval from the Texas House is the first step for Republicans to implement the new maps, as they still need to be approved by the Senate and signed by Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. August 20: The Gateway Pundit: Bed Bath and Beyond shuttering all locations in California; its not about politics, it's about reality Bed Bath and Beyond's Executive Chairman Marcus Lemonis announced Wednesday that the company is closing all retail stores in Governor Newsom's California. Lemonis added, "This isn't about politics – it's about reality. California's system makes it nearly impossible for businesses to succeed, and I won't put our company, our employees, or our customers in that position." Bed Bath and Beyond will continue to ship to customers but is cutting out the overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in the state. The result? Higher taxes, higher fees, higher wages that many businesses simply cannot sustain, and endless regulations that strangle growth. Even when the state announces a budget surplus, it's built on the backs of ordinary citizens who are paying too much and businesses who are squeezed until they break, the company said. August 19: One America News Network: Gabbard pulls 37 security clearances of former and current officials Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced this week that the security clearances of 37 current and former government officials had been pulled, citing their abuse of "public trust by politicizing and manipulating" information. An office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) memo, which was sent on Monday, announced that the 37 intel professionals — including a former top aide to Obama DNI James Clapper — had either politicized or weaponized intelligence, failed to safeguard classified info, or did not follow tradecraft standards. August 19: The Gateway Pundit: Special Prosecutor Ed Martin Calls on Letitia James to Resign as New York AG as His Mortgage Fraud Investigation Heats Up Special Prosecutor Ed Martin put New York Attorney General Letitia James on notice after her attorney, Abbe Lowell (who also served as Hunter Biden's attorney), publicly leaked a letter he wrote to Pam Bondi. US AG Bondi recently appointed DOJ official Ed Martin as special prosecutor to investigate Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and New York Attorney General Letitia James over allegations of mortgage fraud. Ed Martin called on Letitia James to resign as New York Attorney General. "At this time, Letitia James would best serve the "good of the state and nation" by resigning from office to address the issues in the referral," Ed Martin wrote in a letter to Abbe Lowell. He continued, "Her resignation from office would give the people of New York and America more peace than proceeding. I would take this as an act of good faith." August 19: The Epoch Times: Appeals Court Rules, New Mexico's 7-Day Cooling Off' Period for Gun Purchases is Unconstitutional New Mexico's seven-day waiting period after the purchase of a gun was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in a two-to-one decision August. 19th. The 2024 law requires a so-called "cooling off period" of seven days before a buyer can take a legally purchased firearm home. This is in addition to passing a background check and proving they can legally own a firearm under the law. Plaintiffs claimed the waiting period prevented them from taking their legally purchased firearms home, even though they had complied with all state and federal laws. In the majority opinion, Judge Timothy Tymkovich wrote that the lawful acquisition of firearms is an integral part of the right to keep and bear arms. Therefore, "cooling off" periods and other extraneous requirements infringe on that right. August 19: Fox News: U.S. Navy to patrol international waters around Venezuela At least three Aegis guided-missile destroyers are part of the mission, two U.S. officials said anonymously. Another official said the deployment involves around 4,000 Marines and soldiers "over the course of several months," backed by spy planes, warships and a submarine so that international waters and skies are covered. Tuesday's massive operation marks a dramatic escalation in Trump's push to block fentanyl and drug pipelines fueling America's overdose crisis. When asked about this latest military vessel dispatch, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday the president "has been very clear and consistent" about using "every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice." When asked about this latest military vessel dispatch, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday the president "has been very clear and consistent" about using "every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice." August 18: News Max: News Max settles suit with Dominion Voting Machines, citing the unhealthy judicial environment in Delaware Newsmax Media, Inc. announced today it has reached a settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems, concluding a defamation lawsuit that Dominion filed in Delaware Superior Court in 2021. The parties have mutually agreed to resolve the litigation for a total payment of $67 million. The settlement amount will be paid out in installments over three fiscal years which the company expects to fund through revenues. From the outset, Newsmax maintained its reporting was not defamatory and its coverage was consistent with accepted journalistic standards. "We stand by our coverage as fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism," the company said. Despite its confidence, Newsmax determined the Delaware court with Judge Eric Davis presiding would not provide a fair trial wherein the company could present standard libel defenses to a jury. New Max has left Delaware and moved its operation to Florida, highlighting the unhealthy business climate in Delaware. It is also encouraging other businesses to consider doing so as well. "Newsmax encourages every business incorporated in Delaware to reconsider and exit the state, as it did so to Florida. Businesses should re-domicile in jurisdictions that still believe in the rule of law and remain committed to protecting constitutional freedoms for all Americans," the news outlet said. August 18: Fox News: Zelenskyy; Good conversation with Trump about security arrangements for Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed security guarantees for his country with President Donald Trump saying they had a "good" conversation about the matter. "The first one is security guarantees. And we are very happy with President [Trump], that all the [European] leaders are here, and security in Ukraine depends on the United States" and European countries, he said. "We will speak more about security guarantees," Zelenskyy added. "This is very important that United States gives such [a] strong signal, and is ready for security guarantees." He didn't elaborate on what those security guarantees would entail. Trump said Europe would have to take most of the burden of securing Ukraine and that leaders would need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory. "We're going to help them, and we're going to make it very secure," he said. "We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact. That means the war zone, the war line center." August 18: The Gateway Pundit: MSNBC can't take the heat, renaming itself; putting lipstick on a pig The outlet known as MSNBC has decided that it will try to put some lipstick on a pig to rebrand. Unsurprisingly, social media users have some provocative thoughts. AP reported MSNBC will be changing its name later this year as part of its corporate divorce. Moreover, it will remove the peacock symbol. The network will soon be known as "My Source News Opinion World," or MS NOW. Reportedly NBC Universal ordered the name change. In November, NBC Universal spun off a number of cable networks including CNBC and MSNBC. On an interesting note, the rest of the outlets spun off will NOT be changing their names, only MSNBC.. August 17: News Max: Russia and Ukraine have things they want before agreeing to end the war Although President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin kept mum on what was discussed during their high-stakes meeting Friday in Alaska, details have emerged about what Russia and Ukraine are demanding for a peace deal. Reportedly, Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede occupied territory, abandon NATO membership, demilitarize (that's not going to happen they already have one of the best militaries in Europe), issue a resolution that recognizes the "root causes" of the war (not clear what that is), and change the regime in Kyiv. Meanwhile, apparently Ukraine is demanding a durable ceasefire before any talks on territory can commence, security guarantees (not membership in NATO but guarantees that NATO will defend them if Russia decides to invade again), that Russia pay for damages caused by the war, the return of children and prisoners of war, and that Trump maintain sanctions on Moscow. "There were many, many points that we agreed on," Trump said. "Most of them, I would say a couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there, but we've made some headway. So there's no deal until there's a deal." August 17: Fox News: Rubio shoots down rumor that Trump backs Russian demand for Donbas region Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on reports that President Trump supports Vladimir Putin's proposal for Russia to take full control of Ukraine's Donbas region, making clear that decisions on such territory will be left to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. "The president has said that, in terms of territories, these are things that Zelenskyy is going to have to decide on. These are things that the Ukrainian side is going to have to agree to," Rubio said. Rubio also clarified Trump's role in narrowing down the issues and brokering progress between Russia and Ukraine after years of war, while warning that the talks could collapse if the U.S. moves forward with additional sanctions on Moscow. August 17: The Gateway Pundit: HUD moves to English Only policy; Claims it will Save Taxpayer Dollars and Promote Assimilation In a significant move, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is rolling out an English-only initiative across all its services, aligning with President Trump's March 2025 executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. The move purportedly aims to streamline operations, cut wasteful spending on multilingual translations, and ensure the department speaks with "one voice and one language." Effective immediately, HUD will remove non-English content from its websites, buildings, and materials. All communications, correspondence, and published materials, both physical and digital, will be produced exclusively in English. The department will review, and likely terminate, contracts for translation services, a step that some HUD officials believe will save significant taxpayer dollars previously squandered on accommodating over 222 individual languages. HUD Deputy Secretary Andrew Hughes emphasized the unifying vision behind the policy in his memo, writing, "We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission of expanding housing that is affordable, helping those in need, caring for our most vulnerable Americans, and revitalizing rural, tribal, and urban communities." August 16: The Daily Caller: AG Bondi orders DC Metro Police to fully cooperate with ICE and immigration authorities Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday evening issued an additional order that directs the District of Columbia's police force to completely cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Under Bondi's directive, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is required to "fully and completely" cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration authorities, countering the city's long-standing sanctuary policies. The attorney general's Friday memo comes as Washington, D.C. Democrats have fiercely resisted the Trump administration's takeover of the city, including an earlier anti-sanctuary order by the attorney general. The AG's order is stronger than the previous one because instead of requiring DC to rescind a sanctuary policy it requires full cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Department of Justice spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said "We are not backing down. As required by law, DC's Police Chief 'shall provide' services [the President] may deem 'necessary & appropriate." August 16: One America News Network: Putin agrees with Trump, the invasion of Ukraine wouldn't have happened if Trump had been president Russia President Vladimir Putin has stated that he agrees with the argument that if President Donald Trump would have been president after 2020, the war in Ukraine would not have ever even begun. Following his meeting with Trump on Friday, Putin spoke with reporters, saying he would not have invaded Ukraine if former President Biden hadn't been in office after the 2020 election. Putin said, "I'd like to remind you that in 2022, during the last contact with the previous administration, I tried to convince my previous American colleague the situation should not be brought to the point of no return when it would come to hostilities. And I said it quite directly back then. That's a big mistake today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the president back then, there will be no war — and I'm quite sure that it would indeed be, so I can confirm that." August 16: News Max: Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders to meet following Alaskan Summit with Putin European leaders have been invited to attend talks between the Ukrainian and U.S. presidents in Washington on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said. The source said it was not fully clear which leaders would attend. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy first said he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday after a Russia-U.S. summit ended without an agreement to stop the fighting in Ukraine after 3½ years. The U.S. is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Saturday. "And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin. In a reversal only few hours after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said an overall peace agreement, and not a ceasefire, was the best way to end the war. That statement echoed Putin's view that Russia is not interested in a temporary truce, and instead is seeking a long-term settlement that takes Moscow's interests into account. August 16: The Gateway Pundit: Texas Dems arrested for Election Fraud violations Nine Democrat officials pleaded not guilty this week to felony election-fraud charges in one of the most significant ballot-harvesting cases in recent Texas history. The charges were brought by Attorney General Paxton after a two-year investigation that uncovered what prosecutors describe as an organized scheme to manipulate mail-in ballots in rural South Texas. Among those charged is Juan Manuel Medina, the former chairman of the Bexar County Democrat Party. Medina's attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that the prosecution is politically motivated, but prosecutors maintain that the evidence shows a systematic effort to undermine election integrity. Earlier this year, a Frio County grand jury indicted six officials, including a Judge, an Elections Administrator, several Pearsall City Council members, a Pearsall ISD Trustee, and an individual identified as a ballot harvester. Investigators claim the group illegally collected mail-in ballots, targeting elderly voters and those most reliant on mail-in voting. Texas law imposes up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine for compensated ballot collection, making the allegations against the defendants among the most serious election-related charges in recent memory. August 15: The New York Post: DOJ Special Attorney visits Leticia James "5 unit" home as part of mortgage fraud investigation Department of Justice Special Attorney Ed Martin was spotted in Brooklyn Friday inspecting Tish James' multi-family residential property that is at the center of a federal mortgage fraud investigation. Martin, conspicuous in a beige trench coat, visited the Clinton Hill brownstone a week after being appointed by AG Bondi to run parallel mortgage fraud probes into the New York attorney general and her fellow Democrat, Senator Adam Shiff (D-CA). Grand juries in Virginia and Maryland are currently weighing criminal indictments for James and Schiff respectively over allegations they falsified property records to secure favorable loan terms. James' Brooklyn property is classified as a five-unit dwelling, but James is alleged to have misrepresented the building on mortgage applications, building permits, and filings for government assistance as having only four units. The alleged misclassification allowed her to qualify for loans with better interest rates and lower down payments through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are only available for properties with four or fewer residential units. August 15: The Daily Signal: Jaw-Dropping Revelations on Russiagate and the Clinton Probe The Trump administration released this week newly declassified documents that appear to reveal political weaponization of intelligence regarding Russia-Gate and the Clinton Foundation probe. These documents shine new light on how the Intelligence Community handled the investigation into potential corruption regarding Bill and Hillary Clinton's family foundation. They also suggest Democrats intentionally leaked classified information to the media — a claim Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), vehemently contests — and that the Intelligence Community intentionally cut corners on its assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election in order to help Trump's campaign. "The leading figures in the Russia Hoax have spent years deceiving the American public by presenting their manufactured and politicized assessments as credible intelligence," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement Tuesday. August 14: The Gateway Pundit: DOJ lawyer charged with throwing a sandwich at federal law enforcement officer; immediately fired charged with felony by AG Bondi The man charged for throwing a Subway sandwich at a federal agent in DC worked for the DOJ as a lawyer and has been promptly fired. A man in a salmon-colored t-shirt was caught on video throwing a sandwich at a federal officer in DC earlier this week after President Trump deployed the National Guard to patrol the streets. Identified as 37-year-old Sean Charles Dunn, a DOJ trial attorney. "If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you. I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice — No Longer. Not only is he Fired, he has been charged with a felony. This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ. You will Not work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement," Attorney General Pam Bondi said. August 14: The Epoch Times: Federal Judge strikes religious exemption from ObamaCare On August 13th,U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone – born in Nigeria and appointed by President Obama -- vacated a rule that lets employers with religious objections to opt out of an Affordable Care Act requirement that states the employers' insurance should cover abortion and contraceptives. She said the rule, and a similar rule relating to moral objections, both of which were put into place in 2018 during the first Trump administration, were arbitrary and capricious, and in violation of federal law. Beetlestone reportedly analyzed the rationale for enacting the rules and concluded it did not support the rule. "The Rule is not arbitrary and capricious because it draws imprecise lines. It is arbitrary and capricious because the Agencies identified a problem (RFRA violations) and then proposed a solution that is not rationally connected to solving that problem (exempting organizations whose compliance with the Accommodation posed no potential conflict with RFRA to begin with)," she said. She ruled against the federal government and in favor of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which sued over the rules, and vacated them. It is likely her decision will be appealed. August 14: News Max: DC police chief orders metro police to cooperate with ICE According to NBC4 Washington, DC Metro (MPD) Police Chief Pamela Smith issued an executive order Thursday morning that orders cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The order, which is effective immediately, states that MPD officers may share "information about persons not in MPD custody," including during traffic stops, and provide "transportation for federal immigration agency employees and detained subjects." Smith's EO comes days after Donald Trump announced D.C. police would be put under federal control. Monday, Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in an executive order to declare a "crime emergency" allowing his administration to take over the city's police force and signed a directive for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to activate the National Guard. The President's actions are valid for 30 days. Congressional approval is required for any extension. Both Smith (and DC mayor Bowser ultimately) acknowledged extra boots on the ground (around 500) is a positive action. August 13: The Daily Caller: Two Chinese vessels collide in disputed area of the South China Sea A US Navy spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that American and Chinese naval vessels clashed [but didn't crash into each other!] near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, escalating tensions in the disputed waters. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) accused the USS Higgins (DDG-67), a guided missile destroyer, of encroaching on "its waters," while the Navy called the claim false and vowed to operate wherever international law allows. The U.S. warships were deployed for a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) following a Monday confrontation between Chinese vessels and the Philippine coast guard in the South China Sea. According to a post on Twitter ("X"), "While attempting to chase and corner a patrol boat with the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea Monday, a ship with the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG-3104) collided with a Type 052D Destroyer of the Chinese PLA Navy (DDG-164)." Meanwhile the United States Naval Institute published an in depth and interesting story on this incident by Captain Smith, a retired surface warfare officer who served mainly on US frigates and destroyers and who teaches at the US Naval War College in Newport, RI. The Chinese guided missile destroyer collided with a Chinese Coast Guard cutter in an attempt to blockade Scarborough Shoal within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. A video shows the collision between the two Chinese vessels that were chasing the Philippine Coast Guard ship, as they were attempting to use their water cannon against the Philippine ship. The incident raises the question of how far the Chinese are willing to go and risk lives in order to assert China's excessive and unwarranted sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. It also raises questions such as the seamanship experience of the Chinese crews; how the Chinese command and control their assets; and who was really in charge. Like depicted in The Hunt for Red October, Chinese skippers work side-by-side with political commissars to achieve both military and political objectives. So, who was calling the shots? Additionally, were the two ships – one navy the other coast guard – working under separate chains of command for this operation or was there a person in charge of the entire operation? How the Chinese Communist Party reacts to this episode may send a message of restraint and risk aversion. If it doesn't relieve the skippers then that might signal Beijing accepts incompetence and may increase risks of dangerous incidents like this in the future. The Chinese Coast Guard ship, a former Chinese navy corvette class destroyer, was reportedly not seaworthy following the collision with its bow crumpled like an aluminum can. This may point to poor design or quality of the Chinese shipbuilding industry. It could also signal deficiencies in damage control training in the Chinese sea services. If Chinese ships are made with such "thin skins" that they cannot withstand the exigencies of warships at sea, could this be another result of corruption within the Chinese military? Other navies of the world have been taking steps to build ships that could withstand such an incident, apparently the Chinese have not. August 13: The Washington Times: Trump's no-nonsense approach; meeting with Putin President Trump took an aggressive stance ahead of his high-stakes summit with Russian President Putin by threatening "very serious consequences" if Russia doesn't move toward ending its war in Ukraine. However, Putin has a long history of toying with peace deals. He has weathered waves of economic sanctions and tough talk from world leaders since the Ukraine conflict began in 2014 and Russia's all-out invasion in 2022. Trump didn't elaborate Wednesday on what punishments he had in mind for Russia if Putin doesn't budge at the summit. Trump views the meeting Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, as a crucial first step. Still, he said he needs to see a genuine commitment to peace from Putin before arranging a follow-up meeting to hash out a ceasefire deal. If the summit goes well, Trump said, a second meeting should begin "almost immediately" among himself, Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. August 12: The Gateway Pundit: Newly declassified documents reveal leaker of classified documents Newly declassified memo reveal James Comey's secret media mole Daniel Richman leaked classified information to The New York Times's Michael Schmidt to help push for a special counsel in May 2017. It was previously reported that James Comey penned nine memos stemming from his conversations with President Trump – and then leaked them through his Columbia University law professor 'friend' Daniel Richman. Comey told the Senate Intel Committee in a June 2017 testimony that he asked a 'friend' of his to leak contents from memos he kept regarding his conversation with President Trump to the New York Times. Comey admitted this after Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) asked him why he kept the memos. She then asked if he ever shared any of them outside the DOJ. August 12: The Daily Signal: Netanyahu Uses Severe Drought in Iran to Urge Its Citizens to 'Fight for Freedom' Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be calling on Iranians to rise up and overthrow the current totalitarian regime in Tehran. "I urge you to be bold and brave, to dare to dream," Netanyahu said in a video message posted on the social media platform X Tuesday. "Take risks for freedom, for your future, for you families. It's worth it. Take to the streets, demand justice, demand accountability, protest tyranny, build a better future for your families and for all Iranians." Netanyahu's appeal comes as Iram is experiencing a severe water crisis. Drought this summer, coupled with chronic water mismanagement, has left Iran on the brink of running out of water. August 12: Fox News: Mexico to hand over 26 top cartel leaders to the U.S. Mexico is handing over 26 top cartel leaders to the United States this week in a deal with the Trump administration. The cartel figures were scheduled to fly to the U.S. Tuesday. "Today is the latest example of the Trump administration's historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations," Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores -- under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to President Sheinbaum and the Mexican government for their collaboration in this matter." August 12: The Gateway Pundit: AUSA Jeanine Pirro said she will go after Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) only if there is enough evidence to move forward According to newly declassified FBI 302 interview reports, an unidentified Democrat whistleblower told the FBI that then-Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff approved leaking classified information to smear Trump. According to former US Attorney Brett Tolman, the US Attorney for Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, is the only one who can make a decision on a case like this. Pirro told Benny Johnson Tuesday that "when she has enough evidence to move forward, we will hear from her loud and clear." Pirro also told Johnson that she does not talk about her cases while she is investigating. August 11: News Max: Former Capitol Hill Police Chief blasts Pelosi (D-CA) over dishonesty on Jan. 6th deployment of National Guard Former Capitol Hill Police Chief Steven Sund on Monday blasted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over what he called her dishonesty about blocking approval of the deployment of the National Guard to quell the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. On "X" Sund took umbrage with her missive about President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington with her claim he "delayed deploying" the Guard on Jan. 6. Sund said, "Ma'am, it is long past time to be honest with the American people. On January 3rd, I requested National Guard assistance, but your Sergeant at Arms denied it. … I was prohibited from calling them in without specific approval. That same day, Carol Corbin at the Pentagon offered National Guard support, but I was forced to decline because I lacked the legal authority. On January 6th, while the Capitol was under attack and despite my repeated calls, your Sergeant at Arms again denied my urgent requests for over 70 agonizing minutes, 'running it up the chain' for your approval," Sund said. "When I needed assistance, it was denied. Yet when it suited you, you ordered fencing topped with concertina wire and surrounded the Capitol with thousands of armed National Guard troops," Sund concluded. August 11: Fox News: Dem whistleblower; Adam Schill (D-CA) approved leaking classified info According to newly released documents, a Democrat whistleblower told the FBI Adam Schiff approved leaking classified information in order to discredit President Trump. The documents, were recently handed over to Congress by FBI Director Kash Patel. The whistleblower reportedly worked for Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee for over ten years, and reported Schiff's alleged behavior in 2017. According to the report, the intelligence staffer called the leaking "treasonous" and "illegal," in addition to being unethical. He was most recently interviewed by the FBI in 2023. The staffer also said that he personally attended a meeting where Schiff greenlit the leak. "When working in this capacity, [redacted] called to an all-staff meeting by Schiff. In this meeting, Schiff stated the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States… Schiff stated the information would be used to indict President Trump. [The whistleblower] stated this would be illegal and, upon hearing his concerns, unnamed members of the meeting reassured that they would not be caught leaking classified information," the report added. August 11: The Epoch Times: Appeals court rejects OMB to withhold online publication of mandated database A federal appeals court has rejected an attempt by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to keep a congressionally mandated database offline. The court ordered that the database, which tracks how the government spends taxpayer dollars, be restored within days. In a unanimous Aug. 9 order by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied OMB's request for a stay pending appeal of a lower-court ruling that found the removal of the public apportionments database violated federal law. August 11: The Daily Caller: Turley; Trump's crackdown in DC can't be stopped George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Monday President Trump's crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C. couldn't be stopped due to the status of the nation's capital. Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to combat crime in the District of Columbia days after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine, known by the moniker "Big Balls," was severely injured when he intervened to prevent a carjacking. Turley said that because D.C. is a "federal enclave," Trump had the leeway to take control. DC essentially belongs under the jurisdiction of Congress, which gave D.C. self-rule, but that was not a complete surrender of authority. They have a right to take it back. He has a right to take control of the D.C. police during periods. If he wants to go longer than 30 days, he can do so. August 10: The NY Post: JD Vance: 'You are going to see a lot of people get indicted' over "Russiagate" VP Vance said in an interview Sunday that "a lot of people" are about to get indicted over the Obama administration's machinations on so-called "Russiagate." Without divulging specific names of who will get charged, Vance pointed to recent disclosures from Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard as ironclad evidence that there had been "an aggressive violation of the law" revolving around Russiagate. "I absolutely want to see indictments," Vance said. "Of course, you've got to have the law follow the facts here. You don't just indict people to indict people. You indict people because they broke the law," he went on. "If you look at what Tulsi and Kash Patel have revealed in the last couple of weeks, I don't know how anybody can look at that and say there was an aggressive violation of the law. I absolutely think they broke the law. And you're going to see a lot of people get indicted for that," he added. Last month, Gabbard began unveiling a tranche of documents about the Obama administration's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. August 10: Breitbart News: UK working on policy to deport foreign criminals British Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to pass legislation allowing for the immediate deportation of foreign criminals from the United Kingdom. Amid increasing anger over the ramifications of the mass migration agenda imposed on the country by both establishment parties, the left-wing Labor government said on Saturday that part of its "Plan for Change" will see migrant criminals deported and barred from return rather than allowing them to serve their sentences in Britain. The planned legislation would potentially mean foreign convicts could avoid jail time altogether if their country of origin refuses to enforce the sentence handed down by a UK court. While most foreign convicts would become immediately eligible for deportation — down from the current standard of having served at least half their sentence in a British jail, murderers, terrorists, and anyone else deemed to pose a national security threat would not be eligible for removal until they served their full term behind bars in the UK. August 9: The Gateway Pundit: Trump presides over Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement On August 8, 2025, President Donald Trump presided over a historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, marking the end of a 35-year conflict and securing significant strategic and economic benefits for the United States. The signing took place at the White House with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in attendance. The agreement establishes a permanent ceasefire, mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity, and the normalization of diplomatic relations. At its core is the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), a strategic transit corridor connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. The United States holds exclusive development rights to this corridor, potentially for decades. The deal also broadens U.S. cooperation with both countries in energy, trade, technology, and defense. It formally dissolves the long-ineffective OSCE Minsk Group, reducing Russian and European influence in the South Caucasus. U.S. officials estimate the new transit corridor will generate billions of dollars in additional annual trade for Americans, with nine potential U.S. operators already expressing interest and formal negotiations now underway. The agreement grants American companies exclusive development rights, opening the door to major infrastructure projects including rail lines, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic networks, ultimately creating a fully integrated connectivity system under U.S. control. August 9: The Daily Caller: Texas Democrat grilled on funding behind redistricting stunt Democrat Texas State Rep. John Bryant defended Democrats' use of funds to cover expenses of lawmakers fleeing the state in an interview Friday. Bryant, one of the over 50 Democratic Texas lawmakers fled the state in order to stop GOP efforts to redistrict the state. In an interview Daily Caller Senior Editor Amber Duke challenged Bryant to clarify the source of funding covering Democrats' expenses for leaving the state. Bryant asserted that the funds supporting the Democrats' efforts were raised properly. "We're simply trying to stop people Donald Trump from having a majority in the House of Representatives after the 2026 elections." It's been alleged Democratic lawmakers could be violating state bribery laws in supporting efforts to shut down Republicans' redistricting plan by allegedly taking funds from outside groups like three-time loser Beto Orourke and billionaire donor George Soros. August 9: News Max: Trump also using tariffs for national security purposes Donald Trump's use of reciprocal tariffs has reportedly been used to achieve national security objectives far outside the scope of their economic veneer. According to internal government documents State Department officials considered urging U.S. trading partners to oppose reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global container ships. A draft "action memo" advised Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the issue was raised during trade talks with maritime nations like Singapore as the administration sought "to inject this issue into the ongoing bilateral trade negotiations." Following those discussions, administration officials considered expanding trade talks with over a dozen countries, earlier this spring proposing that Israel end a Chinese firm's port control and urging South Korea to publically back U.S. troop deployment against China and North Korea, according to the documents. Wendy Cutler, who spent more than a quarter century in the office of the U.S. trade representative said, "This is the first time I've seen that type of request in a trade agreement. When you're sitting at the negotiating table, you're not talking about this stuff." August 9: The Epoch Times: Fed looking into taking over Harvard University's Federal Government funder patent The federal government is looking into Harvard University's patent rights, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said August 8th. The Department is initiating a "march-in" process under the Bayh-Dole Act, a federal patent policy allowing recipients of federal funds to retain patent rights over their inventions made with federal funding. The Act's "march-in" rights, however, give the federal government the authority to grant licenses of such patents to third parties under certain conditions where federally funded inventions are not being adequately developed or utilized for the public good. In a letter, Lutnick said Harvard has "failed to live up to its obligations to the American taxpayer and is in breach of the statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements tied to Harvard's federally funded research programs and intellectual property arising therefrom, including patents." Lutnick said that the federal government intends to license the effected patents to third parties. August 8: The Galveston County Daily News: Ridding the Government of Corruption (and perhaps some cockroaches) When you turn the light on in a garage the cockroaches run for the darkness where they can hide. They have a preference for the dark. When you walk into a dark room and turn on the light the darkness recedes and what's in the room is revealed. There's a lesson in this for us. A bright light is shining on some of the darkest deeds from the Obama Administration. Revelations from recently declassified documents are causing many of those involved to scurry for dark cover (like cockroaches?). Bona fide documents are showing the extent of the corruption in the Obama Administration and how it attempted to hamstring "Trump-45" from accomplishing many of the things he set out to do. But Trump's a fast learner and "Trump-47" has accomplished more in his first six months in office than any administration in our lifetime – even with his opponents trying to slow him down using willing members of the judiciary to do so. August 8: One America News Network: Trump authorizes military action cartels in Latin America President Donald Trump has authorized U.S. military action against certain Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This directive allows U.S. forces to target these groups both on land and at sea — escalating the United States' approach to combating drug trafficking. According to a report the authorization would give U.S. forces permission to engage a number of Latin American cartels, who traffic drugs like fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border. "The president is determined to not just dismantle – but completely destroy – [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro's Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western Hemisphere," a source close to the White House has said. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday the U.S. military will not be invading Mexican territory. "It has nothing to do with Mexican territory," she said. "It has to do with their country. It does not involve our territory." As of now, there is no public statement from President Trump confirming or addressing Sheinbaum's recent remarks that the U.S. military will not intervene in Mexico. August 8: Fox News: Trump and Putin expected to meet in Alaska in first meeting since Russian invasion of Ukraine under the Biden Administration President Trump and Russian President Putin will meet next Friday, August 15, for the first in-person meeting between leaders of the U.S. and Russia since Moscow launched its deadly 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The location of the meeting was a major point of interest after the summit was first floated following a call between Trump and Putin on Wednesday after White House envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow to meet with the Kremlin chief. Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and the UAE were all under consideration, with Putin originally favoring Hungary. The Kremlin chief shot down the idea of meeting in Italy due to Rome's perceived closeness with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. August 8: The Daily Caller: MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos Warns 'Letitia James Should Be Very Concerned' About DOJ Probe MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos warned Friday that New York Attorney General Letitia James should be worried about the Department of Justice's reported investigation into her for potentially violating President Trump's civil rights through her lawsuit against him. The acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York issued subpoenas pertaining to James' civil fraud case against Trump and his company, along with her case against the National Rifle Association (NRA). Cevallos suggested the government could find unrelated incriminating information on James during its investigation. The FBI and U.S. attorney for the northern district of New York has also reportedly opened a formal investigation into James over mortgage fraud allegations on May 8. [See details and a related story] August 7: The Daily Signal: Commerce Department to 'Immediately' Make Census 'Reflect the Number of Legal Residents' in US After President Trump called for a new census excluding illegal immigrants, the Department of Commerce said it will "immediately" change course to "reflect the number of legal residents in the United States." Trump ordered Commerce to start work on a new census in which illegal immigrants will not be counted. A Commerce spokesperson said it will follow the president's mandate. "The Census Bureau will immediately adopt modern technology tools for use in the census to better understand our robust census data. We will accurately analyze the data to reflect the number of legal residents in the United States." August 7: News Max: Lower courts stubbornly issue rulings that supersede SCOTUS According to judges, government officials, and legal experts, lower court judges are deliberately being stubborn when issuing rulings that appear to supersede the Supreme Court. The high court has responded to these rulings by using its emergency docket to say a previous decision should have been enough. Democrats have relied on the courts to try to stop President Trump from implementing his policies, and District Court judges have issued nationwide injunctions. "I think lower court judges are reading Supreme Court opinions very narrowly, almost in an act of resistance," South Texas College of Law professor Josh Blackman said. "It is very common for judges to call Trump out for defiance, but these courts need to look at their own actions." August 7: Fox News: Russia pushing the envelope days ahead of implementation of harsh new sanctions Days ahead of the U.S. preparing harsh new sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine, Russian President Putin, intentionally or just carelessly, testing the political will of NATO's collective defense guarantee, Article 5. In recent days, drones launched from the Russian-aligned state of Belarus have pierced Lithuanian airspace, drawing alarms from the region's political and military leaders; one as far as 100 kilometers (62 miles), loitered ominously and ultimately crashing inside a military training zone. Russian forces also struck a Ukrainian gas depot located mere yards from Romania's border half a mile away, a strike that triggered warnings and prompted Romanian F 16s to patrol the vicinity. Though these may seem like isolated incidents, observers point to a troubling pattern. Russian drones have drifted — or perhaps even been directed — into NATO airspace before, and NATO's response has been muted. August 6: The Post Newspaper: Training up the next generation; the Key to Freedom During the past Administration we experienced high inflation, utter disregard for the immigration laws, crack downs on free speech, jailing those who didn't toe the line, and the withholding and hiding from public view much of the truth of what was going on. In January things started to change and the horrors of what had been done started to come to light. We should fight and oppose the abuse of power and heretical practices. The American dream didn't come without adversity, rather it came because of it. Our ancestors learned deeply through bitter experiences and formal instruction. Ronald Reagan said we're just one generation away from losing our freedoms. Training up the next generation is a key to our continuing to have freedom. We should remember this and act accordingly. August 6: One America News Network: Trump threatens to federalize Washington, D.C. after DOGE employee was beaten during carjacking attempt Donald Trump threatened to federalize Washington, D.C., due to "out of control" crime after a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was bloodied in an attempted carjacking. Tuesday, former DOGE leader Elon Musk summarized the brutal beating in an X post. "A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC. A @Doge team member [alais "Big Balls"] saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. It is time to federalize DC," Musk wrote. In a social media post Donald Trump said "crime in Washington, DC, is totally out of control. Local 'youth' "and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 – years – old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent citizens, at the same time, knowing that they will be almost immediately released. They are not afraid of law-enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it's going to happen now! The law in DC must be changed to prosecute these 'minors' as adults, and lock them up for a long time starting at age 14," the President said. Continuing he said, "The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs. …. If DC does not get its act together and quickly, we will have no choice, but to take federal control of the city, and run the city how it should be run, and put criminals on notice they are not going to get away with it anymore. perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violet crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and federalize the city." August 6: Breitbart News: Judge Sides with Elon Musk and X, Strikes Down California Law Restricting Election Parody Videos In a win for free speech, a federal judge Tuesday struck down California's law on AI-generated election parody videos. The lawsuit was filed from Elon Musk, his X platform, the Babylon Bee, and video platform Rumble. Reportedly the ruling marks a significant victory for tech billionaire Elon Musk and his social media platform X, which challenged the California law alongside other plaintiffs, including satirical website The Babylon Bee and the conservative social media site Rumble. The decision by U.S. District Judge John Mendez – appointed by George W. Bush -- deals a setback to California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who signed the legislation last year, vowing to take action after Musk shared a humorous video of former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the election. The now-invalidated law would have prohibited online platforms from hosting AI-generated content related to an election in the period leading up to the vote. Its passage came amidst growing concerns about the rapid advancement and accessibility of artificial intelligence technologies, which allow everyday users to quickly create realistic images and videos, and the potential impact on the political process. However, opponents argued the restrictions could infringe upon freedom of expression. August 6: News Max: Tariffs against Russia's key trading partners still planned for Friday U.S. sanctions on Russia's key trading partners are still expected to go into effect Friday, even as a Wednesday meeting between Steve Witkoff, an envoy for President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin was hailed by Trump as "highly productive." "The secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented on Friday," a White House official said. Wednesday Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. No similar order has yet been signed for China, which also imports Russian oil. The new measure raises tariffs on some Indian goods to as high as 50% — among the steepest faced by any U.S. trading partner. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spoke to Trump following the Witkoff-Putin meeting, said, "It seems that Russia is now more inclined toward [a] ceasefire." "The pressure on Russia is working. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details. Neither us nor the United States," he said during his nightly video address to the nation. August 6: Fox News: Surprise DHS deployment bags 16 in Los Angeles Department of Homeland Security officials took 16 individuals into custody Wednesday morning during a surprise immigration raid at a Los Angeles Home Depot, territory federal authorities say is in the grip of the notorious MS-13 gang. The operation happened around 7 a.m. in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. As DHS officials burst onto the scene from the back of Penske trucks, migrants began scattering from the parking lot, according to video from the scene. DHS has said the violent MS-13 gang has a chokehold on the area, which is why the highly optic immigration raid was carried out at this location. August 5: The Washington Times: Whistleblower accuses intelligence officials of pressing analysts to support Trump-Russia hoax Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revealed how an intelligence officer and other analysts were pressured to say that Trump benefited from Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. "I was pressured to alter my views," the whistleblower, who was the deputy national intelligence officer for the National Intelligence Council, said in documents recently made public by Gabbard. The senior intelligence analyst said her supervisor pressed her to change her analysis in a 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that concluded "foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome." The intelligence official said her agreement on a different ICA conclusion was needed to get the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to sign off on a modified assessment. A new ICA, which came out in 2017 after Trump won the election, was based on the now-debunked dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele and paid for by the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. The bogus dossier linked Trump to the Kremlin, including salacious stories about him in Moscow. The whistleblower's supervisor wanted the ICA to make that connection. August 5: The Daily Caller: Former CIA spy; CIA Analysts Who Helped Cook Up Phony Russiagate Intel Still Thriving In Deep State Two analysts who helped former CIA Director John Brennan discredit President Trump -- through weak or phony intelligence on Russian election interference -- continue to cash paychecks from the agency, according to a former CIA operations officer. "At least two still do work there. That doesn't mean that all of the other people have left. Those are just the two that I'm aware of," former CIA Operations Officer Bryan Dean Wright said. One of former assessment's authors remains a CIA employee, while another and continues to do work for the agency as a contractor, Wright said. Others may retain their security clearances. August 5: Fox News: Federal Appeals Court allows Texas to continue requiring VUID number or last four of Social for absentee ballots Texas scored a victory Monday when a federal appeals court upheld a state law requiring voters using absentee ballots to include a state ID number [Voter Unique Identification Number (VUID)] or partial Social Security number. A three-judge panel reversed a district court's decision, saying unanimously that the law did not violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as some critics claimed, because it is material to confirm voter eligibility, as required under the statute. Judge James Ho started the unanimous opinion with the statement, "Mail-in ballots are not secure." The case involved Texas' voter ID law and included findings confirmed by the Fifth Circuit that "mail-in ballot fraud is a significant threat." August 4: The Epoch Times: Texas House votes to arrest members who are boycotting the special session The Texas House of Representatives voted 85–6 to arrest dozens of Democratic state lawmakers who weren't present when the House went into session on Monday afternoon. The vote comes in the midst of a fight over redistricting congressional district. Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows -- who obtained his office because of total Democrat support -- said on the floor he would immediately sign civil arrest warrants for the Democratic legislators who weren't there. Burrows said Monday on the Texas House floor that "in response to this dereliction of duty, and pursuant to the rules of the House, I am prepared to recognize a motion to place a call on the House and any other motions necessary to compel the return of absent members. Should such a motion prevail, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here," he said. "Come back and fulfill your duty, because this House will not sit quietly, while you obstruct the work of the people. The people of Texas are watching. And so is the nation. And if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences," he continued. Minutes later the motion passed to send out arrest warrants for the Democrats who had left Texas. August 4: Fox News: Report; Israel's likely to reoccupy Gaza after conflict Israel's Security Cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss next steps in the nearly two-year-old war with the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip, including the possibility of taking full control of the Palestinian enclave and operating militarily in areas they have refrained from entering until now. A local Israeli news source quoted a person from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that the "decision has been made… we are going to occupy the Gaza Strip." "Hamas will not release hostages without total surrender, if we do not operate now the hostages will die of starvation and Gaza will stay under Hamas' control," the source said. August 4: News Max: DOJ initiating a grand jury investigation into the origins of "Russia-Gate" Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a grand jury investigation following a criminal referral from DNI Tulsi Gabbard regarding the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. The move marks a significant escalation in the long-running controversy over how intelligence officials under the Obama administration handled claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Bondi, responding to what she called "clear cause for deep concern," instructed a federal prosecutor to begin presenting evidence to a grand jury. An indictment could follow, depending on the findings. While the Department of Justice has remained tight-lipped, a spokesperson confirmed that Bondi is taking Gabbard's referral "very seriously." The grand jury proceedings are expected to examine whether top officials conspired to mislead the public and misuse government intelligence to tie then-candidate Donald Trump to Russian actors — charges that Trump and his allies have long denied and labeled a political hit job. August 4: The Gateway Pundit: ICE gets over 75,000 applicants for 10,000 new job openings, in just one week In a new development Acting Director Todd Lyons confidently announced that "we have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up," referring to the agency's massive recruitment surge launched just one week prior. This seismic surge in interest aligns with ICE's newly launched "Defend the Homeland" recruitment blitz, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security on July 29, 2025. ICE is budgeting for 10,000 new agents, dangling $50,000 signing bonuses, student loan forgiveness, enhanced overtime pay, and upgraded retirement plans to attract recruits. "We're taking back our re-hired annuitants — people who left the job early because they weren't allowed to do the law enforcement mission," Todd Lyons said. "But we have so many people who are now interested in working with ICE because, under Secretary Nome's leadership, they're seeing that we have a viable law enforcement partner in the community. You're actually out making a difference. We're really ecstatic about seeing the increase in new recruits who are applying," he said. August 4: The Epoch Times: Trump repositions nuclear submarines in response to Russian statements The Russian government on Aug. 4 responded to President Trump's moving of two nuclear submarines closer to its territory in response to comments made by a former Russian president. Trump said August 1st that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved to "the appropriate regions" in response to what he called "highly provocative" statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Trump did not go into any details. The president was most likely responding to Medvedev's post on Telegram that noted Russia has a "dead hand" system that automatically activates nuclear weapons if the country's leadership were to fall. In its first public response to Trump's order, Moscow appeared to play down the significance and said Russia was not looking to get into a spat with the American president. August 3: Texas Scorecard: Gov. Abbott threatens to remove Democrats boycotting the special legislative session from office Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) is threatening to remove Texas House Democrats from office after they fled the state to block a congressional redistricting plan, accusing them of abandoning their constitutional duties and potentially committing felonies. Abbott made the statement hours after dozens of House Democrats fled to Illinois to break quorum over a congressional redistricting proposal. The governor said he will invoke a 2021 attorney general opinion to initiate removal proceedings against those who refuse to return by 3:00 p.m. Monday. The opinion allows a court to declare a legislative seat vacant if a lawmaker is found to have abandoned office by intentionally breaking quorum. "That amounts to an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office," said Abbott. "It's not optional. It's a duty." Abbott also warned that lawmakers soliciting or accepting financial help to avoid fines or facilitate their absence may be violating bribery laws. "I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons," he said. The Democrats took a similar action in 2021 over an election integrity measure. August 3: The New York Post: Worker becomes a hero? Saves eight during mass shooting A courageous greeter in the lobby at 345 Park Ave. saved eight lives by shoving people into a closet after they unwittingly stumbled into the scene of last week's mass shooting, The Post reports. Andre Morris, 39, insists he only did what "needed to be done" when crazed gunman opened fire just as a group of workers got off an elevator at the Midtown high-rise last Monday. He didn't think twice as he rushed the employees into a nearby closet where the group hunkered down in panicked silence — texting loved ones and bracing the door against the AR-15-wielding gunman outside. "I just did my job," Morris said, adding. "I'm not a hero. I am completely devastated by the tragic and senseless deaths." Morris has worked for building owner Rudin Management for ten years and as a lobby ambassador in the Park Avenue location for the past three. August 3: Breitbart News: Trump Admin cracking down on attackers of ICE agents As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal agents and officers attempt to enforce U.S. immigration law, they are increasingly coming under physical attack. Recent arrests related to the assaults may be a sign that the federal government has had enough of the rising trend of violent assaults on federal immigration agents. Friday, Gregory K. Bovino, the current Chief of the El Centro Border Patrol Sector, highlighted the service of an arrest warrant on a United States citizen accused of assaulting federal agents involved in enforcing immigration laws in Los Angeles. August 3: News Max: Jobs reports unreliable with years of adjustments being required White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett justified President Trump's decision to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner last week, saying Sunday the jobs data reporting out of the agency had become "very unreliable." "What we need is a fresh set of eyes over the BLS," Hassett said. "The president is right to call for new leadership," he said Sunday. "If the data aren't that good, then it's a real problem for the U.S. And right now the data are — have become very unreliable with these massive revisions over the last few years," he said. "There have been a bunch of patterns that could make people wonder. And I think the most important thing for people to know is that it's the president's highest priority that the data be trusted and that people get to the bottom of why these revisions are so unreliable," Hassett said, adding that Friday's revision from McEntarfer was the "biggest since 1968." August 2: The Gateway Pundit: Election scandal unfolds in South Texas without Legacy media coverage In South Texas, a grave scandal is unfolding — and almost no one in the national media is talking about it. Voters in Texas's 28th Congressional District (Laredo area) are being asked to trust the results of a race that involved an indicted congressman, hundreds of voter complaints, and a judge who blocked an election review before announcing his plan to run for the same seat. Eleven term Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) is under federal investigation. Allegedly he and his wife received over $600,000 from foreign entities between 2014 and 2021. These payments came from an Azerbaijani state-owned oil company and a major bank in Mexico. Court documents confirm that at least three of Cuellar's top aides are cooperating with federal prosecutors. Despite the seriousness of the case, Cuellar was allowed to remain on the ballot in 2024 without any significant media coverage or political pressure to step aside. The election was contested with more than 80 affidavits and hundreds of legal declarations from voters who claimed that Cuellar's challenger's name was missing from their ballots August 2: Fox News: Senate Dems try to force Trump to fund NIH and foreign aid in return for their allowing judicial nominee confirmations to go through; Bribery? After hours of negotiations agreements collapsed and Trump tells Schumer (D-NY) where he can go. In a lengthy post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of "demanding over One Billion Dollars in order to approve a small number of our highly qualified nominees. This demand," Trump contended, "is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted. It is political extortion, by any other name," Trump said. "[We] Do not accept the offer," he continued. "Go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great recess …!" Instead of finding a pathway to vote on as many as 60 of the president's nominees, all of which moved through committee with bipartisan support, lawmakers rapid-fire voted on seven before leaving Washington until September. August 2: The Washington Examiner: Senators head for home after confirming Jeanine Pirro top prosecutor for DC The Senate has confirmed Jeanine Pirro as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to fast-track the rest of the President 's nominees. On Saturday night, the upper chamber voted 50-45 to confirm Pirro as the top prosecutor in Washington, D.C., a role she was serving in an interim capacity as she awaited Senate confirmation. The vote marks an end to a whirlwind confirmation process for the former Fox New host and Westchester County, NC district attorney. It took two votes just to advance her nomination to the Senate floor after one was deemed invalid because Democrats staged a walkout over another Trump appointee. Her nomination was also held up as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his Democrat colleagues delayed claiming they deserved more scrutiny. August 2: The Epoch Times: Ukrainian agencies investigating corruption by member of Prime Minister Zelenskyy's party Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies said Saturday they had uncovered a large-scale bribery scheme involving the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment. This came just days after the agencies' independence was restored following mass protests over government efforts to curb their powers. Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies (NSBU & the SAPO) said the alleged plot involved a sitting lawmaker, current and former regional officials, National Guard personnel, and a company executive. Investigators alleged that those involved had refined a scheme over the past two years to systematically siphon off budget funds allocated by local authorities for defense needs, and to secure "unfair benefits in particularly large quantities." Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, identified the accused lawmaker as a member of Prime Minister Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party. The leader of the party said the member's membership in the parliamentary faction would be suspended while the investigation is underway, and that a disciplinary panel was weighing his expulsion. August 2: News Max: Senate goes home for vacation leaving Trump with discretion over sanctions against Putin/Russia Senators are leaving Washington, DC on their annual August recess, doing so without passing a significant sanctions bill against Russia, leaving President Trump fully responsible for deciding whether to impose severe economic penalties on Russian President Putin if he refuses to halt his war on Ukraine. Trump issued an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to stop military action or face tariffs targeting countries importing Russian oil. Highlighting this stance, Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports due to India's significant purchases of Russian energy. The proposed Senate bill would have authorized tariffs as high as 500%, marking a substantial escalation in economic pressure on Moscow. While several hawkish senators wanted a vote on sanctions before the monthlong recess, the decision to delay legislation leaves Trump with considerable discretion. "I think he's going to be very careful about what he does," said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), adding, "But I think he is clearly disappointed in Putin and I think he is now coming around to recognizing that many of us were right." Links to recent stories related to alleged corruption within the Obama Administration Story 1 Story 2 Story 3 Story 4 Story 5 Story 6 August 1: The Gateway Pundit: Office of Special Counsel launches investigation into possible Hatch Act violations by Jack Smith The Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Act. Smith was appointed as Special Counsel in 2022 by Joe Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Trump just one day after Trump announced his 2024 bid for the White House. Smith is the justice department lawyer who oversaw two criminal investigations into President Donald Trump during the Biden administration, one into Trump's handling of classified documents, the other as to whether his actions on Jan. 6th, 2021, were an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases were dismissed. "Jack Smith's actions were clearly driven to hurt President Trump's election, and Smith should be held fully accountable," said Senate Intelligence Committee chair Sen Tom Cotton (R-AR) said. Jack Smith indicted Trump on 37 federal counts in Miami in June 2023 for lawfully storing presidential records at his Mar-a-Lago estate which was protected by Secret Service agents. He charged Trump with 31 counts under the Espionage Act of willful retention of national defense information and 6 other process crimes stemming from his conversations with his lawyer. Last summer Judge Cannon dismissed the classified documents case based on unlawful appointment and funding of Smith as a special counsel. August 1: The Daily Caller: Left-Wing Activist Brian Netter Approved $2 Million Payout To Russiagate Orchestrators The Department of Justice (DOJ) official who approved a $2 million in settlements for disgraced Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page — whose anti-Trump texts became central to allegations of political bias in the bureau's 2016 Trump-Russia probe — is reportedly a left-wing activist, according to a Friday report. Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Center to Advance Security in America in 2024, it was revealed the DOJ's former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Federal Programs Branch, Brian Netter, was responsible for approving the settlement agreements. Netter, who served under Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland, has since been working as the Legal Director for Democracy Forward. The group is a "national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education, and regulatory engagement," according to the group's website. The website also claims that those "responsible for January 6th have returned to power." August 1: News Max: Another Biden-appointed judge blocks Trump deportations violent criminals A federal judge appointed Biden blocked the Trump administration Friday from rapidly deporting migrants who previously had been paroled into the U.S. due to violence and oppression in their home countries. Judge Jia Cobb ruled that DHS was trying to change the rules midgame for people who had been welcomed (by the previous administration) on a temporary basis. Cobb said the administration cannot dismiss migrants' pending proceedings in immigration court and immediately arrest them outside the courtroom with the intention of expedited removal. The judge estimated the number of migrants affected by her decision was "hundreds of thousands." However, GOP lawmakers and Trump's allies suggest the figure could be 1 million or more. August 1: The Gateway Pundit: Media can't cover recent revelations about government's role in a hit job on Trump without exposing that they were also involved Law professor Jonathan Turley talked this week about the latest revelations about the Deep State plot against Trump. While Turley touched on a number of points, he highlighted that the liberal media is largely ignoring or dismissing the story. He suggested that the media can't report on this story without admitting that they were essentially co-conspirators. "The important thing about this… is that it confirms things that we knew, and it gives us things that we did not know. We … knew in July 2016, Brennan briefed Obama to say that Hillary Clinton, was planning to create a Russian collusion, scandal for Trump to distract from her email scandal. He briefed the president on that, and then months later, he played a critical role in overruling CIA analysts and including the Steele dossier," Turley said. "We also know that the Clinton campaign lied to the media, denied they had funded the Steele dossier, and indeed hid that funding as legal expenses by Mark Elias, the general counsel at that time of the Clinton campaign," Turley contended. "All of this required an all-on-deck effort, the government, the campaign, the media. That's why when you see the reaction of the media today, it's clear that no matter what is produced, you can show a dozen heads in a duffel bag, and they're still not impressed. And the reason is that for most of the media, this is not coverage" he said. If the media covered this story It would be a confession that they actually participated in what may be the greatest political hit job in history, Turley contended. August 1: Fox News: CPB starts shuttering its doors and turning out the lights The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it will be shutting down operations after Congress pulled its funding as part of the Big Beautiful (reconciliation) Bill. CPB employees were informed most of their positions will conclude at the close of the fiscal year at the end of September. For decades, Republicans have threatened to end federal funding for public media, which had been allocated from the CPB to NPR and PBS both of which have demonstrated a leftwing bias and promoting far-left ideologies. July 31: News Max: Acting U.S. Attorney for NJ accuses Dems of politicizing her nomination Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, accused Senate Democrats of misusing a Senate tradition known as the "blue slip" to stall and politicize her nomination. Under senate "tradition" but not senate rules or law any member from the state involved can object to a person being nominated from their state and the confirmation process stops with no further action being taken. Suct was the case with Habba, both of her senators (both Democrats) blue slipped her nomination. She asked to meet with them numerous times but both blew off meeting with her. Habba believes the process is being weaponized and being used to stop Trump from making judicial and prosecutorial choices. Habba believes her senators' opposition to advancing her to a confirmation hearing appears to be political, not professional. "It should not matter what your politics are, because this is truly the evidence of political [interference]," she said. "We're seeing Cory Booker (D-NJ) get up and screaming at his party that we need to not bend a knee. The Department of Justice has nothing to do with politics," she continued. "What we have to do with is justice, is law and order. So, using a process like this, politicizing it, it's wrong." July 31: The Gateway Pundit: Hillary Clinton personally approved Trump-Russia hoax, documents show Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) Thursday released the newly declassified annex from former special counsel John Durham's report. "The Durham annex contains previously classified information exposing a reported Clinton campaign plan to falsely tie President Donald Trump to Russia," he said. Recall that it was just reported that FBI Director Kash Patel recently found the annex to the Durham report in a "burn bag" at the FBI. According to the new documents, Hillary Clinton personally approved the Trump-Russia hoax just a few days before FBI counter-intelligence agent Peter Strzok opened Crossfire Hurricane on July 31, 2016 to distract from her private server scandal. Hillary used a bogus dossier and conspired with foreigners and the FBI to spy on Trump's 2016 campaign and presidency. A July 27, 2016 email from a top official (Leonard Benardo) at George Soros's Open Society to Clinton campaign advisor Julie Smith reads: "HRC [Hillary Clinton] approved [campaign adviser] Julie's idea about Trump and Russian hackers hampering US elections. That should distract people from her own missing emails, especially if the affair goes to the Olympic level. The point is making the Russian play a US domestic issue." "In absence of direct evidence, Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect will supply the media, and GRU [Russia intel officers] will hopefully carry on to give more facts." On July 25, 2016, Leonard Benardo sent another email confirming the FBI was working with Hillary Clinton to demonize Putin and Trump. "The media analysis on the DNC hacking appears solid. This is an important story because it would be the first time (that we know of) that a state deliberately uses the infiltration and publication of data to interfere in the US election," he wrote. "Julie says it will be a long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump. Now it is good for a post-convention bounce. Later the FBI will put more oil into the fire," Leonard Benard wrote. A few days later, on July 31, 2016, Peter Strzok opened a counter-intel investigation into Trump's camp dubbed "Crossfire Hurricane" on suspicions (based on no evidence) that the Russians had infiltrated Trump's circle. July 31: The Daily Caller: John Brennan, James Clapper In damage control mode after Russiagate revelations Obama-era intelligence heads attempted to counter the Office of Director of National Intelligence's (ODNI) disclosures in an op-ed Wednesday regarding the original 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election. The Op-Ed piece in the NYT, written by former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper, still leaves several questions open regarding actions taken to finalize the IC. Brennan and Clapper hold to the findings of the original ICA that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and that Russian President Putin had a "clear preference" for Trump. DNI Gabbard recently declassified a 2020 Congressional probe which found "the judgment that Putin 'developed a clear preference for candidate Trump' and 'aspired to help his chances of victory' did not adhere to the tenets of the Intelligence Community Directive analytical standards." The former intelligence heads also pointed to the findings of an April 2020 Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report which stated, "the Committee heard consistently that analysts were under no politically motivated pressure to reach specific conclusions." However, a report on Thursday alleged that a senior intelligence official in Clapper's ODNI threatened an analyst with losing a promotion if he did not sign off on the 2017 ICA. Brennan and Clapper reiterated their claim that the Steele dossier was "not used as a source or taken into account for any of its analysis or conclusions," and only a "summary of the dossier was added as a separate annex only to the most highly classified version of the document." Brennan and Clapper admitted the dossier is "largely discredited. Obama's former officials said the "Russian influence operations might have shaped the views of Americans before they entered the voting booth, but we found no evidence that the Russians changed any actual votes," the op-ed stated. Brennan and Clapper asserted there was "no mention of 'collusion' between the Trump campaign and the Russians in the assessment." "The sole focus of the assessment was on Russia's actions, not on whom they might have been interacting with in the United States," they wrote. The piece doesn't address more recent allegations that raise questions regarding the intentions of those drafting the ICA. In a Thursday report by The Daily Caller allegedly an associate of then-DNI James Clapper threatened to withhold a promotion from a senior intelligence official (who turned whistleblower) over his refusal to endorse a key assessment on allegations of Russian interference (Russia Gate) in the 2016 election. The notes detail a 2017 conversation in which an Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) analyst was allegedly told needed to "outgrow" his refusal to sign off on assessments he hadn't personally verified as a condition for a promotion. "You need to trust me on this," an official told the analyst, according to notes obtained by The Federalist. According to the whistleblower's notes, the anonymous analyst responded by saying that he "would need to review any reporting myself in order to consider it." "There is reporting you are not allowed to see," the supervisor allegedly said regarding the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), adding, "if you saw it, you would agree." The whistleblower claimed the official said he needed his agreement on the judgments, "so that [Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)] will go along with them!" The whistleblower revealed how they were threatened by a supervisor to go along with the Obama-directed Russia hoax "intelligence" assessment, even though they knew it was not credible or accurate. The Whistleblower refused so to do. July 31: News Max: Sen. Marshal (R-KS); Canada is complicating efforts to secure trade deal with the US Sen. Roger Marshall chided Canada over its call in support of statehood for Palestine, saying Thursday their country is making efforts to secure a trade deal "really complicated." Canada on Wednesday announced it's planning to recognize the state of Palestine in September. Donald Trump responded early Thursday that Canada's stance "will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them." Canada's not being "very helpful" with Friday's deadline to secure a trade deal, Marshall contended. "Well, look, I think Americans are tired of the killing in Gaza, that Israel needs to end this war one way or another. We need to stop this famine," he said. However, "Canada is making this really complicated. They're hamstringing President Trump, and I would ask our friends in Canada, what type of statehood are they talking about? If you look at Palestinians' past, they've been a failed government. They paid no attention to water, to sewers, to schools, to the economics of their country. I've been over there, and it's a disaster right now. Instead, they focused on chaos, on terrorism," he added. "So, I don't think that's a viable solution right now. Again, I think President Trump, if anyone can solve this. … What Canada is doing there is not very helpful for the cause," Marshall concluded. July 31: The Gateway Pundit: President asked why he didn't impose tariffs during his first term In a press availability the President was asked why he didn't impose sweeping tariffs, which have already brought in over $100 billion in revenue since January, during his first term, as Democrats level court challenges against his authority to impose tariffs on foreign imports, and amid tomorrow's August 1 tariff deadline. Trump responded, "because in my first term, I was fighting lunatics like you who were trying to do things incorrectly and inappropriately to a president that was duly elected," a nod to the bogus media coverage of his first term and the Russia Collusion Hoax that Obama, Hillary Clinton, and intelligence community officials orchestrated. July 30: iHeartRadio/KTRH: Head for higher ground A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast early Wednesday, generating tsunami waves and prompting widespread alerts across the Pacific. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a warning for Hawaii, where urgent evacuations were underway. Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned residents to get away from the coastline and seek higher grounder saying "It is not a regular wave," he said. "It will actually kill you." Meanwhile it has been reported that Billionaire liberal Oprah Winfrey was allegedly so callous during the tsunami evacuation in Maui that she would not let evacuees use a road to escape to higher ground. Winfrey owns a $100 million estate on Maui with a road that connects the coastal area of Wailea to Kula. A Tsunami advisory has been issued for Alaska and the U.S. West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington. July 30: Fox News: FBI discovered burn bags with sensitive raw intelligence data from Durham investigation into so-called "Russia-Gate" The FBI has discovered thousands of sensitive documents related to the origins of the Trump-Russia probe buried in multiple "burn bags" in a secret room inside the bureau, sources have disclosed. Some of the documents include the underlying intelligence reviewed by former special counsel John Durham. A source familiar with the contents of the classified annex has indicated that even though they are not necessarily exactly clear in the moment what the intelligence collection meant, with the benefit of hindsight, it predicted the FBI's next move "with alarming specificity." "Ultimately, the release of the classified annex will lend more credibility to the assertion that there was a coordinated plan inside the U.S. government to help the Clinton campaign stir up controversy connecting Trump to Russia," the anonymous source said. July 30: Breitbart News: Economic growth blows through estimates; GDP hits 3% in 2025 second quarter Treasury Secretary Bessent, as the Commerce Department found economic growth (GDP) grew by 3% exceeding expectations from economic experts. Bessent said economic growth has long been coming as many have worried about the potential economic effects of Trump's tariff policies, which began on April 2. Recently Trump has announced major trade agreements with the European Union, the UK, and Japan just to mention a few. All have had a direct positive impact on U.S. trade. Still outstanding are agreements with China and India for which the clock is ticking. July 29: One America News Network: Union Pacific to reshape U.S. rail freight with $85 billion purchase of Norfolk Southern Union Pacific railroad said on Tuesday it would buy smaller rival Norfolk Southern in an $85 billion deal to create the first U.S. coast-to-coast freight rail operator and reshape the movement of goods from grains to autos across the country. If approved, the deal would be the largest buyout in the sector and combine Union Pacific's stronghold in the western two-thirds of the United States with Norfolk's 19,500-mile network that primarily spans 22 eastern states. UP purchased the Southern Pacific railroad back in 1996 giving it a major presence in the southwestern U.S. If approved the two railroads are expected to have a combined enterprise value of $250 billion. The deal will face lengthy regulatory scrutiny amid union concerns over potential rate increases, service disruptions and job losses. The deal reflects a shift in antitrust enforcement under President Trump's administration. Executive orders aimed at removing barriers to consolidation have opened the door to mergers that were previously considered unlikely. Even under an expedited process, the review could take from 19 to 22 months, according to a person involved in the discussions. July 29: News Max: James (D-NY) leading challenge in One Big Beautiful Bill that bars Medicaid funds from NGOs that offer abortion services New York's Attorney General Letitia James -- who has been accused of illegally claiming residency in Virginia in order to obtain more favorable mortgage rates -- is leading Democrat attorney generals in attempting to strike a provision of the One Big Beautiful (reconciliation) Bill that bars Medicaid dollars from going to nonprofit clinics that receive substantial Medicaid funds and also provide abortion services. She claims the provision is unconstitutional and is targeting Planned Parenthood. "Planned Parenthood's desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making." Katie Daniel, director of legal affairs and policy counsel for SBA Pro-Life America, said "Time after time they rely on unelected judges to bail them out of trouble, rather than fix deep systemic problems internally." Under longstanding federal law, Medicaid funds cannot be used to pay for abortions except in limited cases. But James claims the new provision crosses a legal line by punishing Planned Parenthood not for performing abortions, but for publicly supporting abortion rights. Her lawsuit seeks a court ruling declaring the new Medicaid restriction unconstitutional and blocking its implementation. The Administration has pointed out that there are numerous non-profit choices for receiving women's healthcare, choices that don't also offer abortion services, ergo, there's no negative impact upon low income women who seek such services. July 29: Politico: Emil Bove appointment confirmed by the Senate much to Senate Dems chagrin Emil Bove, President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney, has been confirmed to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals — the culmination of overcoming stalling efforts by Senate Democrats. The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Bove, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski(R-AK). Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said, "I support the nomination of Mr. Bove. He has a strong legal background and has served this country honorably. I believe he will be diligent, capable and a fair jurist." He accused Democrats of using "vicious rhetoric, unfair accusation and abuse directed at Mr. Bove," saying their tactics to thwart the nomination "crossed the line." July 29: Fox Business: Russian "Ghost Fleet" supplying oil to China in order to circumvent G7 sanctions Often unmarked and hidden from commercial tracking systems, a growing fleet of "ghost ships" is quietly delivering sanctioned Russian oil to Chinese ports — deepening the strain between Washington and Beijing. The nondescript oil tankers that makeup the "ghost ship" fleet are tasked with transporting Russian oil in defiance of G7 price caps and EU sanctions triggered by Moscow's unprovoked war in Ukraine. "Russia is able to avoid some of the worst parts of sanctions against its energy exports with its shadow fleet," Benjamin Jensen, director of the Futures Lab at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said. "Energy is the lifeblood of the Kremlin's economy, and that means it's that hard cash that they're earning through energy exports that they're able to then quickly turn into payments to new contracted [North Korean] soldiers and to produce more weapons," Jensen said. China's purchases of this oil is "actively supporting Russia in its war," he contended. July 28: Fox News: AG Bondi files misconduct complaint against Judge Boasberg for improper public comments about Trump to Chief Justice John Roberts The DOJ has filed an official complaint alleging misconduct by US District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg. The complaint says, "The Department of Justice respectfully submits this complaint alleging misconduct by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg for making improper public comments about President Donald J. Trump to the Chief Justice of the United States and other federal judges that have undermined the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary." Judge Boasberg is presiding over a high-profile case involving the deportation of several migrants to El Salvador and has talked about holding DOJ lawyers in contempt because of his assertion that his order to turn airborne planes around was not followed. The complaint details two occasions on which Judge Boasberg made such comments. March 11, 2025 when he "…attempted to improperly influence Chief Justice Roberts and roughly two dozen other federal judges by straying from the traditional topics to express his belief that the Trump Administration would 'disregard rulings of federal courts' and trigger 'a constitutional crisis.' Although his comments would be inappropriate even if they had some basis," the complaint continues, "they were even worse because Judge Boasberg had no basis… nor did Judge Boasberg identify any purported violations of court orders to justify his unprecedented predictions." "Within days of those statements, … although he [Boasberg] lacked authority to do so, he issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Government from removing violent Tren de Aragua terrorists, which the Supreme Court summarily vacated. Taken together, Judge Boasberg's words and deeds violate Canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, and, erode public confidence in judicial neutrality, and warrant a formal investigation," the complaint concluded. July 28: Washington Free Beacon: Baltimore crime down shortly after Soros prosecutor defeated – No coincidence Homicides and other types of violent crime are dropping precipitously in the crime-ridden city of Baltimore. It started shortly after voters fired their progressive Soros-backed prosecutor in 2022—and experts say that's no coincidence. Baltimore's homicide rate soared after state's attorney Marilyn Mosby took office in 2015 on a progressive platform of refusing to prosecute low-level crimes while aggressively charging police officers including those involved in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died from injuries sustained while in custody. Those officers were acquitted, but Mosby's policies still had a chilling effect on the Baltimore Police Department. Arrests plummeted under Mosby's watch as homicides jumped during her eight years as state's attorney. By July 2022, Baltimore voters had enough. Mosby lost her primary election to her Democratic challenger, Ivan Bates, who pledged to reverse her progressive non-prosecution policies and put in place harsher penalties for repeat violent offenses and illegal gun possession. By all appearances, it worked. July 28: The New York Post: Russia under economic pressure, Trump will use it against them in Ukraine Considering Russian President Vladimir Putin was only using the 50-day deadline as an excuse to unleash more destruction on Ukraine, but President Trump isn't buying it and shortened 50 days to just over a week to come to a cease fire in Ukraine. If Putin doesn't agree to peace, sanctions can deal as strong a blow against Russia. Despite the claims of Russia apologists, the war is bringing the country to its knees. Signs point to an economic catastrophe within 12-18 month. Even Russia's Minister for Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov recently warned that Russia faces recession. But the reality may be far worse. The real inflation rate is over 20% a year for basic staples like potatoes and up three to four times since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Government spending on defense is reportedly somewhere around 50%, crowding out education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Meanwhile Russia's tax revenues are falling mainly due to lower prices for Russian oil and natural gas, as well as the widespread destruction of key infrastructure such as refineries by Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, international sanctions have made everything from aircraft parts to computer chips much more costly and hard to find outside the black market. Without China's supply of massive quantities of dual-use technologies, both Russian industry and the Russian military would be paralyzed today. Additionally, the Russian invasion has reportedly cost 600,000 deaths in 2024 and deaths outnumber births 5 to 3. By 2030, the country is projected to face a labor shortage of 11 million people. July 27: News Max: Trump really likes Tic Tok but must move to US ownership in the states Donald Trump likes TikTok but the Chinese-owned short video app, used by some 170 million Americans, has to move to U.S. ownership, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said on Sunday. "The President really likes TikTok, and he said it over and over again, because, you know, it was a good way to communicate with young people," Lutnick said in an interview. "But let's face it, you can't have the Chinese have an app on 100 million American phones, that is just not okay. So, it's got to move to American ownership, it's got to move to American technology, American algorithms," he said. "I know the President is positive towards TikTok, if it can move into American hands." July 26: News Max: Obama officials may not be immune from federal charges related to Russia Hoax While presidential immunity may protect former President Obama, it won't shield Obama-era officials if they committed crimes in an effort to undermine Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and presidency, former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos said Saturday. Papadopoulos responded to the recent declassification of intelligence documents ordered by DNI Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard claimed the documents show senior Obama administration officials manufactured parts of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. "Look, what this recent declassified declassification really showcases is that there was never an investigation into President Trump," Papadopoulos said. "But what there actually was, was the overt effort to plant dirt on President Trump from the highest levels of the Obama administration, including President Obama himself." July 27: One America News Network: Things are falling into place, big trade agreement with the EU announce Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States reached a trade agreement with the European Union following a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. Trump stated that the deal includes a blanket 15% tariff for all EU goods entering the United States, as well as significant investment in U.S. energy. "We have the opening up of all of the European countries, which I think I could say were essentially closed. I mean, you weren't exactly taking our orders. You weren't exactly taking our agriculture," Trump said, speaking to von der Leyen. Trump went on to reveal that the EU also agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy, along with $600 billion in other U.S. investments. The deal came together just before the August 1st deadline set by President Trump, which would have raised the tariff rate to 30%. July 27: News Max: Mike Lee (R-UT) pushing Senate Majority Leader to cancel August Recess and get the judicial appointments done Donald Trump has been pressing Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), to keep the Senate in session through August recess in order to confirm his judicial appointments, ostensibly making Democrats' pay for their continued "delay and obstruction" of the president's agenda. There are 135 presidential appointments sitting stuck in Democrat-forced gridlock in the Senate, and Sen. Mike Lee has picked up the Trump torch in pressing Thune to cancel senators' vacation, saying the "delay and obstruction" allows former President Biden's "deep state running our federal agencies in Washington" outside of the president's bidding. Trump said on Twitter (X) "Republicans must play to win. Clear the 135. So badly needed!" Lee noted Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) are reportedly going to conduct periodic "pro forma sessions" where a skeleton crew gavels in action with scant representation once a week during recess to keep Trump from filling out his Cabinet and appointments via "recess appointments." Lee contends that if there is to be a recess, then no proforma sessions should be held so Trump can make recess appointments and get the job done. In Lee's words, "The Senate can't have it both ways." July 27: The Gateway Pundit: Escape from Alcatraz is possible, Gaines swam it while 31 weeks pregnant Riley Gaines (33) shot down social media naysayers who were critical of her Alcatraz swim earlier this month, which she did while 31 weeks pregnant. Alongside U.S. Navy SEALs and her husband, Gaines swam the 1.25 miles to shore from the notorious prison island — a feat she also achieved last year when she wasn't expecting. "Escaped Alcatraz at nearly 31 weeks pregnant. I'm basically just a human submarine for baby girl," Gaines wrote on the social media Friday. Gaines graduated from the University of Kentucky, where she was a 12-time All-American swimmer. In 2022, she entered the political arena after she was forced to compete with self-described transgender athlete William "Lia" Thomas. Gaines ultimately tied for fifth with Thomas at the NCAA women's swimming championships. "I think we should send a thank-you note to people like Will Thomas, I really do, signed and sealed by me," Gaines said in March. "I will sign the thank-you note, I will write it, because I believe he handed us the [2024] election." July 26: Fox News: Jonathan Turley; Key players in Russia-Gate hoax might want to lawyer-up "The release of declassified material has shed new light on the creation of the Russian collusion investigation and many of the names are crushingly familiar," well known attorney Jonathan Turley said. "Indeed, Congress is moving to 'round up the usual suspects' in light of the new revelations. It is the story of the real Russian conspiracy: how high-ranking officials in the Obama Administration seeded this false claim with the help of an eager, unquestioning press corps," he continued. Currently he said the media is doing a full-court press to kill the story. Yet, many of these key figures are retaining counsel in anticipation of the unfolding investigation. Many previously secured contracts with MSNBC or CNN, or book deals, where they doubled down on the false claims detailed in these new documents. For example: - Former CIA Director John Brennan: Turley claims he is "arguably the most at risk in the new disclosures, which appear to contradict his prior testimony before Congress." On May 23, 2017, Brennan testified that the Steele dossier "wasn't part of the corpus of intelligence information that we had. It was not in any way used as a basis for the Intelligence Community Assessment that was done." However, the new material shows that Brennan was the key figure insisting on the inclusion of the Steele dossier in an intelligence assessment, suggesting that the Russians did influence the election in favor of Trump and overruling two of the CIA's most senior Russia experts who claimed it didn't "meet even the most basic tradecraft standards." - Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: Clapper, DNI in the Obama Administration has already lawyered up. He was in the July 2016 briefing when Obama was told that Clinton was planning to create a Russian conspiracy narrative. In November 2016, he received the intelligence community's assessment that Russia was "probably not trying … to influence the election by using cyber means." He also received talking points from staff on Dec. 7, 2016, "Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome," and a subsequent report two days later with the same assessment that was scheduled to be used in the daily briefing of President Obama. Later Clapper, Brennan, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Loretta Lynch, Andrew McCabe and others, meet with President Obama where a new assessment was ordered that would detail the "tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election." Clapper was also one of the 50 former intelligence officials dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 presidential election as having the [hall]marks of "Russian disinformation." - Former FBI Director James Comey: Comey used this contrived intelligence to green-light the investigations that overwhelmed the first Trump term even though the FBI was aware the Steele dossier was an unreliable political hit job funded by the Clinton campaign. Additionally, the CIA informed the FBI that Trump associate Carter Page was a U.S. intelligence asset, not a Russian spy, something the FBI, violating existing protocols ignored and subsequently lied to a federal court in order to maintain its Russian investigation. Comey repeatedly testified to a lack of memory on key decisions made in the Russian investigation. However, documents show that it was Comey who pushed back on a planned statement by Clapper, that would state there had been no determination of the dossier's reliability. - Former Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe: McCabe was fired from the Justice Department after he lied to investigators. Career officials in the DOJ inspector general's office concurred with recommendations that he be fired. McCabe was accused of lying four times, twice under oath. He was reportedly responsible for blocking congressional investigators from interviewing the FBI analysts who supported Brennan. Congress alleged that at least 30 FBI employees associated with the dossier were walled off by McCabe. "The public is now learning about the real Russian conspiracy and its key players," Turley contends. "It was the most infamous -- and successful -- political hit job in history," he said. "The same media that pushed the false claims are now, again, imposing a news blackout as they did with the Hunter Biden laptop. The problem is that the truth, like water, tends to find a way out. That trickle just turned into a flood for the architects of the Russian collusion hoax," Turley concluded. July26: The Gateway Pundit: Humorous Meme; Trump pursues Obama President Trump is not letting a busy trip to Scotland stop him from dunking on the man who tried to discredit his historic 2016 election win by ordering the publication of the Russian Collusion Hoax. This morning, the President posted an epic meme on Truth Social to remind Obama that he wants to see him pay the price for his treasonous actions and that Vice-President JD Vance will be right alongside him while this happens. In the meme, Obama appears to be driving a White Bronco, like O.J. Simpson during his infamous police chase over 30 years ago. A smiling Trump follows right behind Obama. And take a look at the image Trump uses for Vance, who is driving alongside him. July 26: Fox News: FBI Deputy Director Bongino vows to reveal 'truth' FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted a lengthy message on his official X (Twitter) account in which he vowed to bring the American people "the truth" after saying that he had learned things that "shocked" him. "During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening," Bongino wrote. "What I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. I'll never be the same after learning what I've learned." It is unclear what exactly Bongino was referring to in his post but his concern was evident and visible. July 26: News Max: Obama & his officials behind attempts to undermine Trump 45's White House policies While presidential immunity may protect former President Barack Obama, it won't shield Obama-era officials if they committed crimes in an effort to undermine Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and presidency, former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos said Saturday. Papadopoulos was responding to the recent declassification of intelligence documents ordered by former Democrat and the current DNI, Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard claims the documents show senior Obama administration officials manufactured parts of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. "Look, what this recent declassified declassification really showcases is that there was never an investigation into President Trump," Papadopoulos contended. "But what there actually was, was the overt effort to plant dirt on President Trump from the highest levels of the Obama administration, including President Obama himself." July 26: The Washington Examiner: France Surrenders to Palestinian Terrorists France has decided that the best way to respond to Palestinians raping, murdering, and taking hostage over 1,200 Israeli civilians and promising to commit genocide against Jews is to reward them with their own terrorist state. Liberal French President Emmanuel Macron broadcast to the world that he is on the side of Palestinian terrorists, by announcing France would formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in two months. "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine," Macron said on social media. "I will make the solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September." July 25: The Daily Caller: Obama's team attempting to quietly stop Americans from hearing about ties to Russia-Gate President Obama's former aides reportedly hope to conceal rapidly unfolding revelations about the apparent conspiracy between Obama and his top intelligence chiefs to pin President Trump to Russia from the wider American public, according to an NBC report. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (DNI) has declassified documents in recent days revealing the spun or manufactured intelligence undergirding a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment — directed by Obama and executed by his top intelligence officials, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper — concluding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to secure a win for Trump. The ICA touched off years of Russiagate media frenzy, in part by elevating the outlandish claims in the Steele dossier, an opposition research file funded by rival Hillary Clinton. Anonymous sources tell NBC News that Obama's allies hope the American public never learns the details. "The battle now is to play this even to make sure that thoughts don't start to creep into more mainstream" audiences, a former Obama administration official reportedly said. July 25: News Max: DNI documents explode Russia-Gate claims; Bogus Documents released Friday by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard "completely explode" claims that Russia interfered "specifically to help President Trump" in the 2016 presidential election, reporter Matt Taibbi said Friday. "Now that we know what that conclusion rested on, among other things, that the key piece of evidence was a single fragment of a single comment made to the director of the CIA personally by a Russian defector in Virginia, and we don't know whether it's opinion or what the original source of it was. That's incredibly damning," Taibbi said. "And it's damning that [former President Obama's] own team tried to avoid including it," he added. The ODNI on Friday published a press release asserting that Gabbard "revealed overwhelming evidence" that Obama and his national security officials "manufactured and politicized intelligence" to launch a "yearslong coup against President Trump." July 25: Daily Caller: Florida Governor announces deportation flights from Alligator Alcatraz Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said Friday that deportation flights have officially begun from the state's immigration detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz." Speaking at a press conference from the remote site, DeSantis said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started using the facility to process and remove illegal immigrants. DeSantis urged other states to replicate Florida's model and emphasized the facility's role in accelerating deportations — not merely detaining migrants. "This was never intended to be something where people were just held and we just kind of twiddle our thumbs," the governor said. "The whole purpose is to make this be a place that can facilitate increased frequency and numbers of deportations of illegal aliens and that is the goal." He called the facility's location a "sensible spot," pointing to its private runway. "You don't have to drive them an hour to the airport, you only have to go a couple thousand feet and they can be on a plane and out of here," DeSantis said. July 24: The Gateway Pundit: Trump/Bondi out maneuver activist judges in New Jersey Former "interim" U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba resigned her position this week prior the appointment expiring on Friday evening. Subsequently, President Trump and AG Bondi outmaneuvered the activist judges -- who had decided to appoint someone of their liking instead of allowing Habba to continue – by appointing her as the "Acting" US Attorney for New Jersey. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) had called on federal district court judges, most of whom were appointed by Obama and Biden, to remove Alina Habba over her decision to indict Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for actions taken at an ICE facility. After Habba's resignation, AG Bondi appointed Habba First Assistant US Attorney which means she automatically becomes Acting US Attorney because of the vacancy. Trump had to withdraw Habba's nomination to be permeant U.S. Attorney for this to happen, but if he doesn't nominate someone else, the job will be hers – at least for the remainder of Trump's term in office. July 24: The Galveston County Daily News: Democrats need to stop fearmongering, Tell the Truth, and be Positive Congressional Democrats opposing "The Big Beautiful Bill" did everything they could to frighten the American public. Did they say anything positive about this, the budget reconciliation bill? Not a peep! There are some good things in this bill. It: - makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, - does away with taxes on tips and Social Security, - provides increased funding for ICE, - provides enough money to complete the border wall, and - it codifies many of Trump's Executive Orders. July 24: The Washington Examiner: SCOTUS could hear case allowing private citizens to sue under Voting Right Act The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Thursday paused a lower court ruling limiting the ability of private individuals to bring lawsuits over potential violations of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The case could be heard by the justices on the merits in the coming term. The justices stayed a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit regarding a challenge to North Dakota's state legislative maps from Native American groups. The ruling, which favored the state, said that private parties could not challenge state legislative maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court paused that ruling while the Native American groups filed a petition for the high court to take on the case. July 24: The Washington Times: Former Kentucky county clerk refuses to sign marriage license for gay couple, asks SCOTUS to overturn its earlier decision The Kentucky county clerk who refused to sign off on same-sex marriage licenses more than a decade ago has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn its decision legalizing same sex marriage. In a petition announced by Kim Davis' attorneys on Thursday, she asks the high court to analyze the "legal fiction of substantive due process" in a move to strike down the 2015 case where the justices said homosexuals have a right to marry. Substantive due process has been under attack by conservatives who say it let courts create certain rights not explicitly in the Constitution. The doctrine was used for decades to support Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that gave women a national right to abortion. The justices overturned that decision in 2022, sending the issue of abortion back to the states to regulate. It will take the agreement of four justices for the court to agree to hear the case. July 24: News Max: Trump signs recission bill to defund CPB/NPR/PBS and much of USAID's funding President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a bill to rescind close to $9 billion in federal funding previously approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid, after Trump's request to claw back the funds was approved by the House and the Senate this month. The bulk of the spending cuts is for foreign assistance programs. About $1.1 billion was destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding to NPR and PBS, though most of that money is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country. Some Republicans were uncomfortable with the cuts but supported them rather than cross Trump or his agenda. Democrats unanimously opposed the cuts but were powerless to stop them. July 24: The Gateway Pundit: Maxwell cooperating with DOJ on Epstein investigation With the Jeffrey Epstein trafficking ring back on the news, his imprisoned former accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell became what lawyer Alan Dershowitz called the 'Rosetta stone', the key to a previously undecipherable mystery. Today a top DOJ official travelled to Tallahassee, FL for a groundbreaking interview with the disgraced British socialite. According to Maxwell's attorney, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had a five-hour conversation with her and reportedly answered every question in 'a very productive day.' "Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability'," attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse. July 23: The Daily Caller: Dershowitz; Just 4 Words To Describe Alina Habba's Ouster By Obama-Biden Judges Noted attorney Alan Dershowitz said Tuesday on his podcast that the ouster of interim United States Attorney Alina Habba of the District of New Jersey by the district's judges was "as unconstitutional as anything." A panel of federal district judges in the District of New Jersey, most of whom were appointed by Presidents Obama and Biden, decided Monday to replace Habba once here interim appointment ran out on Friday, following a demand by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Dershowitz said Habba's removal and replacement by a selection made by the judges exceeded their powers. July 23: The Washington Times: Trump closes one of the largest trade deals with Japan President Trump[s "massive deal" with Japan gives the White House a strong head of steam as it nears a pivotal Aug. 1 deadline to reset trade relations with global partners. The White House said Wednesday the deal, which includes $550 billion in Japanese investment in the U.S., counters naysayers who said tariffs amounted to a clunky tool offering little leverage or wouldn't amount to much. "President Trump is finally putting a stop to our country getting ripped off," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "He made big promises to the American people on the campaign trail last year, and he has unquestionably delivered on those promises in record time." In some ways, the Japan deal is a watershed for Trump's trade agenda after a series of smaller deals with nations such as Indonesia, Britain and the Philippines. Serious tests remain, however. Deals with the European Union (German, France, and Italy) as well as China are yet to come to agreement. Chinese negotiators will meet with U.S. officials in Sweden next week to extend a pause on sky-high tariffs. July 23: Fox News: Columbia University settles civil rights lawsuit, paying $221 Million President Trump has secured a $221 million settlement with Columbia University to resolve multiple federal civil rights investigations. The deal includes $200 million over three years for alleged discriminatory practices and $21 million to settle claims of antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. The White House called it the largest antisemitism-related settlement in U.S. history; Columbia confirmed the dollar amounts. July 23: The Epoch Times: Supreme Court allows Trump to proceed with firing members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission The Supreme Court on July 23 allowed President Trump to fire three Biden appointees at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The new ruling in the case lifts a lower court order blocking the dismissals, allowing litigation over the firings to continue in the lower courts. The three Democrat-appointed liberal justices – Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson – all dissented making the outcome 6-3. In May, Trump removed three members of the commission: Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka Jr., all of whom had been appointed by Joe Biden. Meanwhile The Epoch Times also reported the Supreme Court issued an emergency order temporarily blocking a lower court ruling that prevents voters in seven states from suing over alleged discrimination under the federal Voting Rights Act. The lower court is the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued the new order in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe case. The order, known as an administrative stay, gives the nine justices more time to consider to case. July 23: Breitbart News: Gabbard; Obama CIA Director (Brennan) suppressed intel that Russia had compromising material on Hillary Clinton in 2016 Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Wednesday that a House Intelligence Committee report shows then-CIA Director John Brennan "intentionally suppressed intelligence" that Russian President Vladimir Putin had compromising material on then-Democrat Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and planned to release it after the 2016 election under the expectation she would win. Gabbard said Putin's aim was not to be preferential to one candidate or another but to undermine faith in the election process. "In fact, this report shows Putin held back… from leaking compromising material on Hillary Clinton prior to the election, instead planning to release it after the election to weaken what Moscow viewed as an inevitable Clinton presidency," she added. July 22: The Gateway Pundit: CBS settles lawsuit with Trump for editing 60 minutes interview with Harris to make her more appealing; $16 million payable to Trump "Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle," Trump said. "We also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars." Trump further took on "The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars," putting them on notice that they will not get away with lying to the American people any longer. It's okay to report what you want, but make it honest… Trump said he anticipated receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars. July 22: The Daily Caller: Judges decide to replace Trump's choice for top prosecutor; meanwhile, the Senate isn't moving on many of Trump's nominees A panel of federal judges decided Tuesday not to keep Trump pick Alina Habba as New Jersey's top prosecutor. The court appointed prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace to replace Habba as interim U.S. attorney when Habba's 120-day term expires. In a twist, the department moved quickly to fire Grace, leaving open the question of who would fill the role. Most of the judges in the District of New Jersey are Democrat appointees. Federal law allows district courts to select a U.S. attorney when an interim appointment expires. President Trump nominated Habba, who served as his attorney, to serve as interim U.S. attorney in March. He nominated her to serve in that position permanently on July 1. The nomination has yet to be heard or confirmed by the U.S. Senate. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on federal district court judges to remove Alina Habba over her decision to indict Rep. LaMonica McIver. "The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who must go. She must be rejected by the Federal District Court Judges who are considering whether to retain her," Hakeem Jeffries said last week. McIver is the Democrat House Member who forced her way into an ICE facility, assaulted law enforcement officers, and who was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury. [See July 24th Update on this story] July 22: Fox Business: Trump make historic trade deal with Japan A "massive" $550 billion trade deal has been reached with Japan, President Trump announced Tuesday adding that it will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. "We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits. This Deal will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs — There has never been anything like it." Trump said Japan will open its country to trade in things like cars, trucks, rice and other agricultural products, as well as pay reciprocal tariffs of 15% to the U.S., under the deal. The White House announced that under the deal Japan will buy 100 Boeing planes, boost rice purchases by 75%, buy $8 billion in agricultural and other products, and hike defense spending with U.S. firms to $17 billion annually, up from $14 billion. July 22: Breitbart News: GM's profits take a major hit as its CEO clings to the Electric Vehicle strategy General Motors (GM) has experienced a dive in profits, the news coming as its leadership continues touting electric vehicles (EV). Apparently GM "reported $1.89 billion in net income for the second quarter, a sharp $1.1 billion decline from $2.93 billion during the same period last year. That's a 35% drop from the previous quarter alone," a news outlet said, noting it happened amid "regulatory upheaval" and "tariff pressure." GM has been trying to win over President Trump's administration even though some of the company's initiatives that include trying to keep EV mandates and subsidies do not align with his agenda. GM CEO Mary Barra seemingly supported the Trump tariffs despite the automaker importing millions of foreign-made cars every few years. With Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" now law, consumer subsidies for EVs and changed corporate fuel economy targets appear to undercut the business strategy GM and Barra are following. July 22: iHeartMedia/KTRH Radio: WSJ reporters behind Epstein smear have deep ties to Russia Hoax In what shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, The Wall Street Journal reporters that wrote the hit piece on President Trump related to Epstein have deep ties to the Russia-Hoax. It turns out, the reporters used to work with the group that fabricated the infamous 'Steele Dossier'. "I knew just from my background in Washington, that Fusion GPS produced the Steele Dossier that contained all of that salacious material on Donald Trump" said Susan Crabtree, national political correspondent for Real Clear Politics, "It's just a cozy little world on the left, that most of the reporters are activists and they try to say that they are mainstream reporters." To make a long story short, the WSJ co-authors have ties with the publication Main Justice, which was founded by Mary Jacoby, who is the wife of Glenn Simpson. Simpson started Fusion GPS, the same shady group that Hilary Clinton and the DNC -paid- to fabricate the bogus Steele Dossier. Now they seem to be at it again with this Epstein smear piece. "The journalism in Washington today, they're still operating as they always have" Crabtree said, "Getting fed stories on a silver platter." It's just another part of the left's never ending plan, to get Donald Trump. July 21: The Gateway Pundit: Trump calls on Senate Majority Leader to cancel August recess in order to get his judicial nominees confirmed President Trump on Saturday evening called upon Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel August recess to get his judicial nominees confirmed. "Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed. We need them badly!!!," Trump said. On Sunday, Thune slammed the Democrats for obstructing Trump's judicial nominees. He said "[The Democrats] are making it extremely difficult to get any of the president's nominees through the process here – it's obstruct, it's delay – it's block. That's been the pattern and it's Trump Derangement Syndrome on full display here in the United States Senate." Monday, Thune told reporters that he's thinking about canceling the August recess. "We're thinking about it. We want to get as many nominees through the pipeline as we can," he said. "we're going to be looking at all the options in the next weeks to try and get as many of those across the finish line as we can," he said. July 21: News Max: Trump; No more federal funding for Harvard… activist judge; wait a minute President Trump has commented about the federal judge overseeing Harvard's attempt to restore billions of dollars in federal grants, and although he predicted the government will lose the case, he vowed to appeal and cut the Ivy League institution off from any further funds. Oral arguments began Monday in Boston for Harvard's lawsuit seeking to restore about $2.6 billion in research funding cut by the Trump administration, which is demanding the university abide by a number of conditions, such as addressing on-campus antisemitism and external oversight of hiring and admissions. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, another Obama-appointed judge, is also overseeing Harvard's lawsuit against the administration's block on foreign student visas, issuing a preliminary injunction last month against the administration's plan. There is a continuing pattern of activist judges attempting to overrule policies of the executive branch, overstepping their constitutional authority. Trump commented on Truth Social, "Harvard has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America. Much of this money comes from the U.S.A., all to the detriment of other Schools, Colleges, and Institutions, and we are not going to allow this unfair situation to happen any longer." July 21: Fox News: Federal Judge in Mass. puts hold on Congressional and Presidential actions to defund Planned Parenthood It seems pretty clear to many, Congress passed legislation defunding federal spending to Planned Parenthood and the President signed the measure. Now a federal judge in Massachusetts Monday temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from stripping some Medicaid funds from them. Here we go again, judicial activists going outside their constitutional limitations and overruling the legislative and executive branches. The Obama-appointed Judge, Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts said in her order partially granting a preliminary injunction that the bill unconstitutionally punishes Planned Parenthood member organizations that do not provide abortions. The injunction will risk "at most minimal harm — financial or otherwise" to the Trump administration while the lawsuit proceeds, Talwani wrote. The judge's order appears to apply to some but not all Planned Parenthood facilities. The nonprofit said in a statement that it viewed Talwani's order as a partial win and remained "hopeful" that the judge would take further judicial action down the line. DOJ attorneys have argued that blocking a measure that was passed by Congress and signed by the president was an extraordinary move and unjustified. The Trump administration is likely to appeal the order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. July 20: News Max: Cuomo, if I don't win the mayoral race I'll move to Florida; DeSantis, Don't! Former New York Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo joked that he "will move to Florida" if he fails to win the New York City mayoral race, and Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis replied, "Don't!" "Don't New York our Florida!" Florida's governor responded. Using Republican talking points about the dangers of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo soundly in a low turnout Democrat primary last month, Cuomo told a fundraiser. Cuomo's campaign immediately walked it back as hyperbole. "Gov. Cuomo would never give up on New York," Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said. "That said, the line underscored the stakes in the upcoming election and the risk of electing a dangerously inexperienced, hate-spewing 33-year-old socialist whose campaign consists of unrealistic bumper sticker slogans." July 20: Fox News: NPR whistleblower; defunding self-inflicted wound The NPR whistleblower that exposed the news outlet for liberal bias last year says its embrace of "fringe progressivism" was the reason for its defunding that became official this week. "It's a self-inflicted wound, a product of how NPR embraced a fringe progressivism that cost it any legitimate claim to stand as an impartial provider of news, much less one deserving of government support," Uri Berliner wrote Thursday. Berliner resigned from NPR last April after he was suspended for not getting approval to do work for other outlets. The bombshell piece lambasted his former employer's coverage of contentious topics like Russiagate, Hunter Biden's laptop, and the COVID lab leak theory. He said that his decision to leave was due in part to "absence of viewpoint diversity" at the outlet. Republicans in the Senate and House narrowly passed the rescissions package this week that yanked over $1 billion in federal broadcast funding for the fiscal year. "I witnessed that change firsthand in my 25 years at the network—and I tried to do something about it," he said. "I was a senior business editor at NPR when, a little more than a year ago," he published a column in another publication about how the network had lost touch with the country, and, like the legacy media everywhere, forfeited the trust of the public. July 19: Daily Caller: Dems who voted against the Big, Beautiful Bill now taking credit for some of its provisions. Go figure! Democratic lawmakers decried it as the "Big, Ugly Bill," but some members of the minority party are beginning to praise — and even take credit — for various provisions within President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act which they all voted against. Communities across the country stand to gain billions of dollars in federal funding from the president's sweeping tax relief and immigration law that Trump signed on July 4th. Several congressional Democrats are beginning to claim responsibility for provisions they deem beneficial to their constituents despite fiercely opposing the bill during its consideration. Though House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has argued that passage of Trump's budget bill will cost Republicans control of the lower chamber during the midterms, some members of his conference are quietly signaling that some provisions within the bill are popular with voters. "House Democrats voted against the largest tax cuts in generations, historic border security, and safer communities — then tried to take a victory lap because they've got nothing else to run on," National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Mike Marinella said. "That's like lighting a house on fire and taking credit when the fire department shows up." For example, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) praised new federal dollars for her Kansas City area district Wednesday to help finance the security costs of hosting six matches for the 2026 World Cup. July 19: Fox News: DNI Gabbard asserts President Obama's goal with the "Russia collusion" narrative was to subvert the will of Americans in 2016 election Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard asserted that former President Barack Obama's goal with the Russia collusion narrative was to "subvert the American people's will" in the 2016 presidential election while appearing on the Shawn Hannity's show. She declassified the report on the Obama administration's Russia hoax Friday, revealing "overwhelming evidence" that demonstrates how, after Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Obama and his national security team laid the groundwork for what would be the years-long Trump–Russia collusion probe. Gabbard laid out over 100 documents that she had declassified that "… spells out in great detail exactly what happens when you have some of the most powerful people in our country directly leading at the helm, President Obama and his senior-most national security cabinet, James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, and Susan Rice and others, essentially making a very intentional decision to create this manufactured, politicized piece of intelligence with the objective of subverting the will of the American people," Gabbard contended. July 19: The Gateway Pundit: Trump orders release of Epstein files, subject to court approval, in order to quell rhetoric from the left Trump announced the release of the Epstein grand jury fills "is "subject only to Court Approval," opining that "nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request [who continually move the goalposts once they get what they are requesting]." "It will always be more, more, more," the President said. I have asked the Justice Department to release all Grand Jury testimony with respect to Jeffrey Epstein, subject only to Court Approval. With that being said, and even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request." This comes after Trump, while still calling the Epstein case a "SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats," announced on Thursday that he had asked Attorney General Bondi to release the sealed grand jury transcripts. July 19: The Gateway Pundit: Washington State GOP seeks to require proof of Citizenship in order to vote The Chairman of the Washington state GOP and State Representative Jim Walsh's Election Integrity Citizens Initiative IL26-126: legislation relating to requiring verification of citizenship for voter registration, is out for petition signatures and could become law next year. To be certified, the petitions must contain the signatures of at least 308,911 voters and be submitted by January 2, 2026. Currently, in WA State, individuals can register simply by checking a box — no documentation is required. The new legislation closes that loophole and helps ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens are voting in our elections. Under new initiative, there are multiple ways individuals would be allowed to prove their citizenship to register to vote. It would: • Require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote (such as an enhanced driver's license or enhanced ID card, a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate); • Initiate a process to help clean up Washington's current voter rolls, removing individuals who cannot prove their citizenship; • Strengthen the accuracy and security of our voter rolls; • Protect the voices of legal voters from being diluted by ineligible ballots; • Help prevent voter fraud and restore trust in the process; and • Help reinforce the sacred responsibility of citizenship. [See Related YouTube Video] July 18: The Daily Signal: There's a new border czar in town, and he says he has "zero tolerance" for attacks on ICE officers. "This ridiculousness is over," Tom Homan said. "You put a hand on an ICE officer; you're going to prison. You impede an ICE officer, you're getting prosecuted," he said Friday in a press gaggle outside the White House. "If you knowingly conceal an illegal alien, you're going to jail. If you throw a stone at an ICE vehicle or an officer, those days are over. They're going to get out of the car, and they're going to arrest you. July 18: The Gateway Pundit: Recently declassified documents suggest Barrack Obama helped manufacture intelligence for the Russia-Collusion Hoax Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard has declassified a presidential briefing revealing Barack Obama knew the Trump-Russia collusion narrative was a hoax. Last week CIA Director John Ratcliffe announced that a new CIA report revealed former FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and DNI James Clapper worked together to purposely corrupt the Trump-Russia investigation in 2016 before Trump entered office. The three corrupt Obama officials even included the Steele Dossier in their quest to "screw Trump" knowing at the time that the Steele Dossier was complete rubbish. On Friday it was revealed that Barack Obama knew it was a hoax and he was involved in manufacturing and politicizing the intelligence to create the Trump-Russia collusion canard. "The IC is prepared to produce and assessment per the President's request…" the report read. "We assess that Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure," the newly released report said. Last week investigative reporter Paul Sperry said Barack Obama's fingerprints are all over Brennan's IC report. July 18: The Washington Times: Russia-North Korean alliance is a glimpse into a new world order The alliance between invasive Russia and ultra-militarist North Korea is spearheading a brutal new world order that a weakened West is unprepared for, a leading expert says. "North Korea is the only country able and willing to produce ammunition for Russia and is the only country which can essentially send their troops to the front line," said Andrei Lankov who was born in Russia, studied at Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung University in the Soviet days. "North Koreans proved good soldiers, and I think this is only the beginning: They are likely to be very good once they learn more about the technologies of modern war." As a result of the 2024 bilateral partnership between the two countries, reportedly North Korea has sent as many as 12 million artillery shells to Russia. Additionally, as many as 12,000-13,000 Korean troop have been deployed to the Ukrainian front. In terms of size North Korea fields the world's fourth-largest army after China, India, and the U.S. It has an estimated 1.28 million men under arms, North Korea is ahead of Russia, with 1.1 million. However, many of their force is believed to be low quality but with about 200,000 being crack troops. As a biproduct of Korea's sending troops to Russia is they are gaining combat experience, far superior to that of the West's troops. Despite heavy casualties, North Koreans fighting in Ukraine were assessed as fitter, more cohesive, more aggressive and better marksmen than Russian soldiers. July 18: Fox News: Rescission bill passes the House, on its way to President Congress is officially sending a package detailing $9 billion in spending cuts back to Donald Trump's desk for his signature, doing so minutes after midnight on Friday. The bill, called a "rescissions package," was approved by the House of Representatives in a late-night 216 to 213 vote after intense debate between Republicans and Democrats. Just two Republicans, Fitzpatrick (PA) and Truner (OH) voted against the measure. Friday was also the deadline for passing the legislation, otherwise the White House would be forced to re-obligate those funds. It's a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, (R-FL), but a mostly symbolic one – the spending cuts bill was largely seen by Trump allies as a test run of a fiscal claw-back process not used in more than two decades. "This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. $9 billion, I would say is a good start," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said during debate on the bill. When signed by Trump, it will block $8 billion in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the remainder of the fiscal year. July 17: The Daily Caller: What the left claims never happens, did in Texas – Non-citizens voting Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton initiated an investigation in June into potential noncitizens voting in one of the state's largest counties. Of course, Democrats and their legacy media henchmen swear this kind of thing never happens in the U.S. because there are laws against noncitizens voting in our elections. What started as a case referred by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, investigating 33 alleged noncitizens voting in the 2024 General Election, has now more than doubled the number of potential noncitizens and spans three election cycles. A press release announcing the investigation states the AG's office is looking into more than 100 possible noncitizens who cast over 200 ballots in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles. "Illegal aliens and foreign nationals must not be allowed to influence Texas elections by casting illegal ballots with impunity. I will no t allow it to continue," Paxton said. "Thanks to President Trump's decisive action to help states safeguard the ballot box, this investigation will help Texas hold noncitizens accountable for unlawfully voting in American elections. If you're a noncitizen who illegally cast a ballot, you will face the full force of the law." A former Chief Deputy Clerk for Elections in Galveston County testified before the State Affairs Committee of the Texas State Senate that there were such voters in Galveston County and that the way one of them was discovered was by accident. "We just stumbled across it," he said. "The illegal alien voted in five elections until he was called for jury duty and told the judge that he wasn't a citizen. Then at the next election the alien wanted to know why he wasn't registered," the Galveston election official reported. July 17: News Max: House to consider Senate recission bill that passed 51-48 The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to vote as soon as Thursday on President Trump's $9 billion funding cut to public media and to foreign aid, after the Senate approved the package. House Republicans were poised to vote in favor of the funding cut package, altered by the Senate this week to exclude cuts of about $400 million in funds for an HIV/AIDS prevention program. The vote is expected for Thursday evening. The final tally is expected to be close. House Republicans are feeling extra pressure now, as Trump's administration would be forced to spend the money if Congress does not approve the cuts by Friday. The Democrats are fighting hard to stop efforts to get rid of frivolous spending and funding of NPR. The $9 billion at stake amounts to roughly one-tenth of 1 percent of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. Republicans say the foreign aid funds previously went to programs they deem wasteful, and they say the $1 billion in public media funding supports radio stations and PBS television that are biased and skew to the left in programming. In the Senate vote, only two Republicans, Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) voted against the funding cut. July 16: The Federalist: Judge Boasberg shows his true colors/Bias in Judicial Conference and acts unprofessionally Federal judge James Boasberg told Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and some two dozen other judges that his D.C. colleagues were "concern[ed] that the [Trump] Administration would disregard rulings of federal courts leading to a constitutional crisis," a recent memorandum disclosed. This Judge and his fellow D.C. District Court judges would discuss how a named Defendant in numerous pending lawsuits might respond to an adverse ruling is shocking. Equally outrageous is those judges' clear disregard for the presumption of regularity — a presumption that requires a court to presume public officials properly discharged their official duties. During the week of March 11, 2025, members of the Judicial Conference met in Washington, D.C., for the first of its two regular meetings. The Judicial Conference consists of Chief Justice Roberts, who presides over the body, as well as the chief judge of each judicial circuit, the chief judge of the Court of International Trade, and one district judge from each regional circuit, making for a group of approximately thirty. While the Judicial Conference mainstay is considering "administrative and policy issues affecting the federal court system," and "mak[ing] recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch," a side conversation at the group's most recent meeting revealed a disturbing detail — the predisposition of supposedly unbiased judges against the Trump Administration. Of concern is that Trump is not merely the president: He is a Defendant in scores of lawsuits, including multiple cases before the D.C. District Court. As such, this conversation did not concern generic concerns of the judiciary, but specific discussions about a specific litigant currently before their court. This was highly unprofessional and questionable, to say the least. Boasberg's comments reveal he and his colleagues hold an anti-Trump bias, while, to this point in time, the Trump Administration has complied with every court order July 16: News Max: Dershowitz: There never was an Epstein client list There "never has been" a client list created by late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, one of Epstein's former lawyers. "Jeffrey Epstein never made a list or created a black book, or anything, of any people who may have had improper sex with any of the young women," Dershowitz said. "What did happen is the FBI interviewed people, and the courts' judges redacted the names of some of the people from the FBI files and from other material that was presented to the court." He added that he knows who the people are in the files, and said that even though their names are redacted, he could figure out who the people were from context clues. "None of them are current public officials or elected officials or current prominent people," said Dershowitz. "Some are dead, some are retired, but there are no smoking guns." July 16: Fox News: State Department reductions are okay to go; 3,000 with half already taking buyouts When senior State Department officials set out to trim the agency in the "biggest reorganization since the Cold War," they couldn't get a total headcount on employees — for months, they say. "It took us three months to get a list of the people that actually work in the building," one senior State Department official told reporters during a briefing on Monday, defending the job cuts that detractors have claimed will damage U.S. diplomacy. "They couldn't tell you how many people worked here," the official said. "It's sort of scary as a taxpayer and as a public servant to think that we don't even know how many employees we have. This is a national security agency, you know. Who are these people?" The reorganization will result in a department with about 3,000 fewer employees. Around half of those took a voluntary buyout, and the other half were given reduction in force (RIF) notices. The cuts are not impacting the country desks, those specifically focused on nations like Iran or China, and nobody will be fired from passport services or diplomatic security. Additionally, no cuts are being made at overseas embassies or foreign posts. July 16: One America News Network: Tariffs not seeming to impact inflation; wholesale prices remain steady June's Producer Price Index showed zero monthly change and a steady 2.3% yearly increase, signaling stable wholesale costs despite tariffs. Consumer prices rose slightly but core inflation stayed lower than expected for five months. Markets are calm, suggesting investors get Trump's tariffs are negotiation tools—not weakness—debunking the Left's "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) claim. Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell stays cautious on rate cuts despite Trump's pressure. July 16: News Max: Trump tariffs net $50billion in revenues for the Treasury Nearly $50 billion in extra customs revenues have been collected through President Trump's tariffs after only two trading partners, China and Canada, fought back. According to data published by the U.S. Treasury, revenues from customs duties reached $64 billion in the second quarter of this year, or $47 billion more than the same period last year. China has imposed the most significant tariffs on American imports, but overall income from customs duties only amounted to 1.9% higher in May 2025 than a year ago. Canada has not yet released second-quarter customs data, but still, duties imposed on American exports are only a fraction of the revenue figures recorded during the same time. Some of the United States' trading partners opted against retaliatory tariffs while continuing to negotiate with Trump. The European Union has now linked counter-tariffs to Trump's Aug. 1 deadline for talks, but has repeatedly decided against implementing the tariffs. July 15: The Post Newspaper: What happens when Freedom Reigns Why did our forefathers leave their homes and come to the new world to start over? What is American exceptionalism and what's its foundation? American exceptionalism's foundation is having that freedom. People still want to come to the USA because they repudiate the concept that others (i.e., government and/or politicians) should make decisions for them. They want to make their own decisions. To the extent that our freedoms are restricted or taken away, we see an adverse impact on our quest for exceptionalism. For example; forcing auto manufacturers to move toward only producing electric vehicles — vehicles the vast majority of people didn't want. Or banning the sale of gas stoves and water heaters and investing in solar power that only produced electricity when the sun is shining. American Exceptionalism is the freedom to make choices and the freedom get out from under government oppression. We are saying that everybody should have the opportunity to fail or to succeed. The outcome of personal choices is the responsibility of each individual, but government should not – except in limited circumstances such as national security – be able to bridle individual choices and decisions. July 15: One America News Network: Numerous NYC banking CEOs snub meeting with Dem. Mayoral nominee Mamdani Numerous banking CEOs and Wall Street titans, including JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, reportedly snubbed meetings with Democrat and socialist/communist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. More than 300 preeminent corporate, investment, and entrepreneurial firms were invited by the organizers, the nonprofit Partnership for NYC, giving Mamdani an opportunity to quell concerns over his socialistic/communistic policies. Mamdani, a Ugandan immigrant who calls himself a Democratic socialist, was reportedly snubbed by many leading CEOs. Also missing the meeting were representatives of Goldman Sachs, the Bank of America, and Citigroup. Mamdani has struggled to grow the support of major corporations due to his proposed policies of increasing taxes for companies, freezing rent for rent-controlled units, taxpayer-funded bus fares, taxpayer-funded childcare, and shutting down privately owned groceries stores in favor of having NYC take them over, and raising the corporate tax rate from 7.25% to 11.5%. As a result, many companies are considering leaving the city for states that provide a more business-friendly environment. July 15: The Gateway Pundit: Voter fraud uncovered in Michigan and Minnesota In October 2020, only one month before the general election, GBI Strategies, a Democrat-funded group, was caught by the Muskegon and Michigan State Police Departments submitting potentially thousands of false voter registration applications to the Muskegon Clerk's office. Reportedly GBI focused on "canvassing" in urban areas of the state. The Michigan State Police report identifies U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D) and then-presidential candidate Joe Biden as the two campaigns funding the fraudulent voter registration group's work in the key swing state. GBI was apparently paid over $2 million by various Democrat campaign committees including the Democrat Senatorian Campaign Committee. In Minnesota, the FBI investigated a similar voter registration fraud scam involving two individuals and an unnamed "voter registration" group that paid them for each registration they submitted. The voter fraud crimes took place between 2021 and 2022. Unlike Michigan, the perpetrators in this case were charged. Two Nevada residents have pleaded guilty to filling out hundreds of voter registration forms with false information and then submitting them to 10 Minnesota election offices during the 2022 election. Both were charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis with conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud in Minnesota. Reportedly both are intending to pled guilty to the charges. July 15: Fox News: Trump unloads on Adam Schiff (D-CA) for reportedly making fraudulent claims in order to obtain a favorable mortgage rate Donald Trump took on Sen. Adam Schiff Tuesday morning, amplifying the 2024 claims that Schiff committed mortgage fraud by lying about his primary residence for over a decade, claims which the senator denies. Trump claims Schiff obtained a mortgage for a residence in Maryland in 2009 but failed to designated it as a second home until 2020 (eleven years later) as part of a ruse to snag better rates and terms from the lending company, which has been in federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. The president said Fannie Mae's Financial Crimes Division had uncovered the alleged fraud. Schiff obtained the Maryland property in 2009 while he was a congressman and became a senator in January. Schiff called the accusations "baseless." July 14: The Gateway Pundit: SCOTUS 6-3 allows Trump Administration to proceed with dismantling the Dept. of Education The US Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump Administration to proceed with a plan to dismantle the Department of Education. In March, Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. "We've got to get the federal government out of education," Trump declared. "The Department of Education has become a bloated bureaucracy that's more interested in pushing its own agenda than in helping our kids learn. It's time to put the power back in the hands of parents, teachers, and local communities." In May, a Biden-appointed federal judge blocked the administration from proceeding with the dismantling. The Judge's injunction blocked the administration from laying off Department of Education workers. Monday, the high court in a 6-3 decision allowed Trump to proceed. July 14: News Max: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) making a criminal referral to DOJ against Fauci whose pardon was allegedly "auto-penned" Sen. Paul Monday said he would reissue his criminal referral to the Department of Justice for Dr. Anthony Fauci after his pardon was confirmed to be issued by a late-night autopen. "Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ!" Paul said after a report that former President Joe Biden said he authorized the use of his signature via autopen on granting widespread clemency and pardons at the end of his presidency because "we're talking about a whole lot of people." "Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable," Paul said. He accused Fauci in 2021 of lying to Congress about funding gain-of-function research for the COVID-19 virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and called on the feds to examine his testimony. Lying to Congress carries penalties of up to five years in prison and fines. July 14:Breitbart News: DHS accuses Rep Carbajal (D-CA) of setting mob on ICE law enforcement gent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are accusing Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) of setting a mob of left-wing rioters on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, which landed the agent in the emergency room. On July 10, ICE agents carried out a raid on a marijuana grow site in California arresting more than 360 illegal aliens and rescuing 14 migrant children. At the time, a mob of about 500 rioters tried to impede the operation. Among the crowd was Carbajal. DHS allege Carbajal made a target out of the ICE agent. "The actions by Representative Carbajal are downright un-American. He dares to claim that his actions were simply congressional oversight, but doxing ICE personnel and inciting a mob of rioters to attack law enforcement is not oversight — it's abominable," DHS's Tricia McLaughlin said. "It's no wonder that ICE agents are facing a 700% increase in assaults when radical members of Congress like Salud Carbajal … are openly encouraging and leading their supporters in assaulting law enforcement," she contended. July 13: One America News Network: Texas faces new "life-threatening" flash flood warnings in numerous counties, halting search and rescue efforts Heavy rains prompted new flash flood warnings for Central Texas, including already devastated parts of Kerr County, were issued on Sunday, pausing rescue teams who continue to search for the 170 individuals still missing from the July 4th floods. Numerous areas in Texas, including areas along the Guadalupe River were issued "life-threatening flash flood" warnings, just 9 days after flooding in the same region left at least 129 dead. Journalist Nick Sorter shared footage from the Lampasas River in Kempner, Texas, which reportedly rose "33 feet in just four hours." July 13: NewsMax: Kentucky Church shooting, trooper wounded, perp dead Multiple people were injured Sunday in a shooting at a Kentucky church after the suspect shot and wounded a state trooper, authorities said. After shooting the trooper, the suspect fled, ended up at Richmond Road Baptist Church in southwest Lexington, where there were multiple injuries. The suspect was killed. The trooper and others were being treated at a nearby hospital. The extent of the injuries was not immediately known. July 12: The New York Post: GAO; Secret Service failed in Butler, PA attempted assassination plot Senior-level Secret Service officials failed to share "classified threat information" related to Donald Trump with those assigned to protect him during the Pennsylvania campaign rally where he was nearly assassinated, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports. They found the classified intelligence had been presented to Secret Service officials a full 10 days before the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, PA, but the agency's "siloed practice for sharing" sensitive information resulted in few being aware of the threat against Trump's life. "[T]he Secret Service had no process to share classified threat information with partners when the information was not considered an imminent threat to life," the GAO report read. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the GAO report public this week. July 12: Breitbart News: ICE officer arrest nearly 1,400 criminal aliens in Houston Area Immigration and Enforcement Operations (ICE) officers arrested nearly 1,400 criminal aliens in the Houston area in June. Officials said these criminal aliens include 32 child predators, nine murderers, one illegal alien convicted of hijacking an airplane, and 16 cartel or gang members. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers assigned to the Houston Field Office arrested 1,361 criminal aliens during the period. These illegal aliens had been convicted of, or were charged with, criminal offenses after illegally entering the United States. Officials say that 32 of these criminal aliens were convicted of sex crimes against children, nine more were convicted for homicide-related offenses, and 16 were documented members of a transnational gang or drug cartel. One of the criminal aliens has a previous conviction for hijacking an airplane from Cuba to Key West, Florida, officials disclosed. July 12: The Gateway pundit: AG Bondi fires over twenty DOJ employees connected to J6 investigation Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly fired more than 20 Department of Justice employees who were involved in investigating the January 6 protest and the case regarding Donald Trump's handling of classified documents. Friday, at least 20 employees from Special Counsel Jack Smith's team were let go, including two prosecutors, seven support staff members, and U.S. Marshals. Axios reports the firings are part of a purge aimed at clearing DOJ of attorneys and support staff who took part in Smith's prosecution of Trump for Jan. 6 and possessing classified documents unlawfully. The new dismissals bring the total Smith-related firings to about 35. About 15 more could face termination. July 11: The Daily Caller: MAGA not buying AG Bondi explanation of Epstein documentation Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi addressed the missing minute in Jeffrey Epstein's jailhouse footage at a Trump Cabinet meeting Tuesday, sparking renewed scrutiny from MAGA. Bondi fielded several questions from a reporter regarding the memo's release, Epstein's possible ties to intelligence and missing footage from the jailhouse video. "Your memo released yesterday on Jeffrey Epstein left some lingering mysteries. One of the biggest ones is whether he ever worked for an American or foreign intelligence agency." "So, could you resolve whether or not he did? And also, could you say why there was a minute missing from the jailhouse tape?" a reporter asked. "The video was not conclusive, but the evidence prior to it was showing he committed suicide," Bondi said. "And there was a minute that was off the counter, and what we learned from the Bureau of Prisons is every night they redo that video, so every night the video is reset, and every night should have the same minute missing," she added. A DOJ memo reportedly indicates there was no "incriminating 'client list,'" and Epstein died by suicide. July 11: The Gateway Pundit: Obama-appointed judge blocks Big Beautiful Bill's defunding of Planned Parenthood (PP) On Friday evening, US District Judge Indira Talwani reaffirmed her order blocking President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill that barred Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. Talwani issued an amended TRO that the judge believes complies with current requirements. Trump's DOJ argued that the judge issued a TRO without notice. Talwani issued the TRO and set a preliminary injunction hearing for July 21. "This Temporary Restraining Order shall remain in effect for fourteen days, unless vacated, modified or extended by the court," the judge wrote. Planned Parenthood sued the Trump Administration over its funding cuts written into the newly-passed reconciliation bill. With that legislation becoming law, it is hard to understand the judge's, or Planned Parenthood for that matter, having a legal basis for stopping the elimination of federal funding for the abortion provider. PP contends that the reconciliation bill will restrict access to "high-quality affordable health care." However, the Administration contends that even without funding for PP there are other women's health care providers who can provide health services without offering abortions. July 11: One America News Network: ICE arrests 200 (10 unaccompanied minor children) on arijuana farm raid Federal immigration authorities conducted coordinated enforcement operations at two licensed cannabis cultivation sites in Southern California Thursday, discovering 10 minors and detaining "about 200 individuals" without papers who are suspected of being illegal aliens. Additionally, DHS stated that "ICE and CBP Law Enforcement" had to "dodge literal bullets from rioters" who were seemingly forewarned about the operation. "Federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites… During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo (California)," DHS reported. Footage circulating on social media recorded agents deploying non-lethal munitions to disperse angry crowds near the Glass House Farms facilities July 10: Fox News: SECDEF cuts red tape in U.S. drone production This week Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued new orders to fast-track drone production and deployment, allowing commanders to procure and test them independently and requiring drone combat simulations across every branch of the military. In a pair of memos Hegseth rescinded legacy policies that he believes restricted innovation. For the first time, commanders with the rank of colonel or captain can independently procure and test drones, including 3D-printed prototypes and commercial-off-the-shelf systems, as long as they meet national security criteria. They can also operate and train with drones immediately, bypassing traditional approval bottlenecks, and are even authorized to test non-lethal autonomous UAS in controlled environments. This effort is reportedly part of an aggressive push to outpace Russia and China in unmanned warfare. July 10: Fox News: WAPO CEO urges those staffers who disagree with the paper's new direction to leave Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis is urging staffers who don't "feel aligned" with the paper's new direction to take a buyout and leave. In a memo sent to staff Wednesday, Lewis touted the Post's "reinvention journey" it has taken in recent months, including its "reimagining" of its opinion pages that "champion American values" among other company initiatives. "The moment demands that we continue to rethink all aspects of our organization and business to maximize our impact," Lewis wrote in the memo. "If we want to reconnect with our audience and continue to defend democracy, more changes at The Post will be necessary. And to succeed, we need to be united as a team with a strong belief and passion in where we are heading." "I understand and respect, however, that our chosen path is not for everyone," he continued. "That's exactly why we introduced the voluntary separation program. As we continue in this new direction, I want to ask those who do not feel aligned with the company's plan to reflect on that." July 9: Breitbart News: Jewish Democrat lawmakers sound the alarm on Zohran Madani: "A Huge Problem" Jewish Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill are sounding the alarm on Democratic Socialist New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, pointing to his refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" or recognize Israel as a Jewish state, especially at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the United States. "To not be willing to condemn the term 'globalize the intifada,' it just demonstrates his callous disregard for antisemitism, terrorist activity," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said. "Anyone that I care about couldn't possibly distance themselves from him more," Wasserman Schultz, the first Jewish woman elected to represent Florida in Congress, added. "It's really terribly disturbing and potentially dangerous." In addition to failing to denounce the saying "globalize the intifada" or agreeing that Israel is a Jewish state, Mamdani has also supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement [both of which are against US antiboycott laws] and accused Israel of an apartheid after Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. "When you have a prominent candidate who is giving permission to use dangerous rhetoric that potentially incites violence and incites people and creates a permission structure to fan the flames of violence? That's just completely unacceptable," Wasserman Schultz said. July 9: One America News Network: USDA to ban China and other nations unfriendly to the U.S. from owning U.S. farmland U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins stated on Tuesday that Chinese nationals, along with other foreign adversaries, will no longer be allowed to purchase farmland in the United States — under the newly announced National Farm Security Action Plan. Rollins cited national security and food security threats for the reasoning behind the change. As a result, the USDA has already canceled seven agreements with foreign adversaries, removing a total of around 70 individuals affiliated with the contracts. The USDA is also in the process of removing 550 other foreign entities as well. Today we are taking this purpose and our American farmland back," Rollins stated. "American agriculture is not just about feeding our families but about protecting our nation and standing up to foreign adversaries who are buying our farmland, stealing our research and creating dangerous vulnerabilities in the very systems that sustain us." "The farm's produce is not just a commodity, it is a way of life that underpins America itself. And that's exactly why it is under threat from criminals, from political adversaries, and from hostile regimes that understand our way of life as a profound and existential threat to themselves," she contended. July 9: News Max: Biden's doctor refuses to answer Congressional questions about the President's term in office President Joe Biden's former White House physician refused on Wednesday to answer questions as part of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Biden's health while in office. Dr. Kevin O'Connor invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his attorney and lawmakers said. The committee subpoenaed O'Connor last month as part of a sweeping investigation into Biden's health and his mental fitness as president. Republican committee members claim some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of the White House autopen may be illegitimate if it's proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term. Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims "ridiculous and false." David Schertler, one of O'Connor's lawyers, said the doctor had "no choice" but to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of the autopen. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O'Connor's refusal to testify made it "clear there was a conspiracy." "The American people demand transparency, but Dr. O'Connor would rather conceal the truth," Comer said in a statement. July 8: The NY Post: FBI opens criminal investigation into potential wrongdoing by John Brennan and James Comey DOJ sources have said former CIA Director John Brennan under the Obama Administration and former FBI Director James Comey under the Obama Administration until he was fired by Donald Trump are facing potential criminal investigations for potential wrongdoing related to the Trump–Russia probe, including allegedly making false statements to Congress. CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly referred evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution. The sources said that the referral was received and said a criminal investigation into Brennan was opened and is underway. DOJ sources declined to provide further details. It is unclear, at this point, if the investigation spans beyond his alleged false statements to Congress. Regarding Comey, DOJ sources had indicated an investigation into the former director is underway, but could not share details of what specifically is being probed. The full scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey is unclear, but two sources described the FBI's view of the duo's interactions as a "conspiracy," which could open up a wide range of potential prosecutorial options. July 8: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS clears the way for reductions in force and restructuring of Federal agencies The Supreme Court on July 8 lifted a lower court order that prevented the Trump administration from carrying out job cuts en masse and restructuring federal agencies. The new ruling lifts Clinton-appointed U.S. District Judge Susan Illston's May 22 order that temporarily stopped large-scale layoffs known as reductions in force from moving forward while the litigation continues in the lower courts. The Supreme Court said in an unsigned order that the district court blocked the government's actions based on the lower court's view that President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14210 and a memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget were "unlawful." The EO ofFeb. 11, was created to implement the Workforce Optimization Initiative of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The order directed all agency heads to work with DOGE to reduce staffing and limit hiring. "Because the Government is likely to succeed on its argument that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful — and because the other factors bearing on whether to grant a stay are satisfied — we grant the application," the high court stated. July 7: The Washington Times: Always looking for someone to blame; Massive flash flood in central Texas White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt chided lawmakers and others who blamed resident Trump for the deadly floods in central Texas that claimed at least 91 lives. She said that the National Weather Service (NWS) "did its job despite unprecedented rainfall." "Unfortunately, in the wake of this once in a generation natural disaster, we have seen many falsehoods pushed by Democrats such as Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and some members of the media. Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning," Leavitt said during a White House press briefing. She said the NWS in Austin released forecasts and warnings between July 3 and 4 before the flash flood hit. "Any person who has deliberately lied about these facts surrounding this catastrophic event, you should be deeply ashamed," she contended. "The administration's focus will be on giving the victims in their communities the support they deserve during these recovery efforts in this tragic time." Senator Schumer, drawing as straws, has demanded that the Commerce Department's inspector general investigate vacancies at the NWS offices and whether staffing shortages contributed to the death toll. Unfortunately for Senator Schumer and other Democrats who need to find someone to blame, Tom Fahy, the Legislative Director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) confirmed that both the San Angelo and the Austin NWS offices were fully staffed and releasing flash flood advisories two days prior to the July 4th disaster. July 9: Fox News: LA Mayor tells ICE get out of town Federal agents, accompanied by members of the National Guard, conducted an immigration raid in Los Angeles Monday, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to heavily criticize the move, calling it "outrageous" and "un-American." The operation targeted an area near MacArthur Park, an area with a large immigrant population, in the city's Westlake neighborhood, which is heavily Hispanic and has a heavy MS-13 influence. U.S. Border Patrol agents were seen on horseback in the park along with other law enforcement agencies and military-looking vehicles were stationed in the area. Fox News Los Angeles reported no arrests were made. Bass, who has been a vocal opponent of immigration raids in the city, appeared at the scene and demanded to speak with ICE leadership. "They need to leave, and they need to leave right now. They need to leave because this is unacceptable!" Bass said at the scene. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino said he was the official on the phone with Bass, who demanded the raid be stopped. "I don't work for Karen Bass," Bovino said. "Better get used to us now, because this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles." July 7: The Daily Caller: Fired USAID employees teaming up to combat Trump agenda Fired officials of the shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department are teaming up in an effort to combat Trump as they worry about what they term the "future of democracy" under his leadership. The State Department moved to cut USAID, with the agency officially closing its doors July 1. Now former USAID and State officials are teaming up to find ways to undermine Trump, ganging up together to hold workshops on the topic of "noncooperation" to help build a community willing to engage in minor rebellious acts and perhaps eventually a national strike, former officials said. "Take it from those of us who worked in authoritarian countries: We've become one," a current federal official said. Of course, the fact that they were laid off might have something to do with how they view the situation; different from those who elected the current administration. July 7: The Gateway Pundit: How can a judge issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on a bill passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President? A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked a provision in the "Big Beautiful Bill" that barred Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. US District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, issued a TRO and set a preliminary injunction hearing for July 21. Planned Parenthood sued the Trump Administration over its funding cuts written into the newly-passed reconciliation bill. The House passed the Bill last week and President Trump signed in on July 4th at the White House. "Everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care. That's what we've been fighting for the last century — and we'll never stop," President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson said. Of course, the fact that the law now shuts off 80% of Planned Parenthood's funding (taxpayer's money) and that it was passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law may, in the long run, be a hurdle that it very hard to clear as the suit winds its way through the legal system. Johnson said this is an "unlawful attack." On what? There are other providers who serve women's health issues without providing abortions. The judge said the TRO will remain in effect for fourteen days, unless vacated, modified or extended by the court." It is likely the Trump Administration will bump the TRO up the appellate process and, according to many legal sources, it will win. July 6: NewsMax: Dems fighting against budget reconciliation bill engage in fearmongering Congressional Democrats, while fighting against Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill," once again engaged in the fearmongering that is making the American people lose faith in these detractors, former Gov. Chris Sununu R-NH) said Sunday. "It's a mistake that the Democrats repeat time and time again," he contended. 'If you vote for this bill, people will die … if you vote for Trump, democracy will end. If you don't support the Green New Deal, we're going to lose our coastlines.'" Such methods, Sununu said, can only be justified if there is evidence to back up the claims, but "nothing ever backs it up." And then, he added, "the American people lose complete faith in the Democrat Party. They lose complete faith in the arguments that they're trying to make." The Democrats, he contended, are "leaderless. All they have is, If you support Republicans, you're hurting America.'" "You're hurting yourselves, people, with all that kind of nonsense. So again, I don't know why they do it, [but] I hope they keep it up." And now that the bill has been signed into law, that will lead the way to more bills, Sununu said. "Even Trump is talking about a conservative immigration reform bill coming down the road. I think that's a great idea. I always tell conservatives, get the tough stuff done on our terms. Don't wait for the Democrats to be in power. So, this bill is really critical. I don't love everything that's in it," the former governor said. "I don't think everyone does, but that's OK. It lines up the legislative successes that this administration will need going into the 2026 election." July 6: The Daily Signal: Speaker Johnson reveals the Budget Reconciliation Bill is just one of three he expects to shepherd through the House While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed after a lengthy and tense period, there will be even more reconciliation bills to follow in the coming months, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said. "We have been planning a second reconciliation bill for the fall that would be attached to the next fiscal year, and then, potentially one in the spring," Johnson shared. "That's my plan: three reconciliation bills before this Congress is over" in 2026. He said is all in an effort to "deliver that American first agenda" which the people elected Congress to do. July 6: NewsMax: SEC-TREAS; US is close to numerous trade deals, expect announcements in the next week or so The United States is close to clinching several trade deals ahead of a July 9 deadline when higher tariffs kick in, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday, predicting several big announcements in coming days. Bessent said the Trump administration would also send out letters to 100 smaller countries with whom the U.S. doesn't have much trade, notifying them that they would face higher tariff rates first set on April 2 and then suspended until July 9. According to the Secretary, if some of our trading partners fail to move things along, then on August 1 our tariff schedule will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level. "I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly," Bessent said. The U.S. Treasury chief said the Trump administration was focused on 18 important trading partners that account for 95% of the U.S. trade deficit. But he said there had been "a lot of foot-dragging" among countries in getting closure on a trade deal. Trump has repeatedly said India is close to signing a deal and expressed hope that an agreement could be reached with the European Union, while casting doubt on a deal with Japan. July 6: The Gateway Pundit: Proof of Citizenship in order to vote in Federal elections The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a "Statement of Interest" in a Wyoming legal case that will have national repercussions. A "Statement of Interest" is an "amicus filings that are filed in federal and state trial courts across the country. Filing such briefs has become a key litigation strategy for federal civil rights enforcement." DOJ made the filing in a lawsuit defending Wyoming's legitimate interest securing its voting process from fraud by requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. A DOJ Press Release said, "Wyoming's documentary proof of citizenship law is a mechanism to enforce laws that prohibit non-citizen voting and ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots." "It is a crime for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and it is important that the American people have confidence in the integrity of our elections." said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. "Requiring documentary proof of citizenship is common sense and ensures that only citizens vote." The "Equality State Policy Center" is challenging the Wyoming Secretary of State, Chuck Gray, in his enforcement of State Law that requires proof of citizenship to vote. Similar legislation was introduced in the Tesas Senate but unfortunately was stopped by the Texas House Republican leadership. July 5: Fox News: Eight illegals deported on Independence Day DHS announced that eight criminal illegal aliens were deported to South Sudan on Independence Day, after what it called "weeks of delays by activist judges" that left ICE officers stranded and at risk. DHS said, "ICE deported these eight barbaric criminal illegal aliens who are so heinous even their own countries will not accept them." The deportation effort had been blocked by a series of lower court rulings, which the Supreme Court overturned July 3, granting the Trump administration's motion to enforce its third-country removal policy. July 5: The Daily Caller: Texas ICE agent shot in the neck, suspects in custody Texas police officer was shot in the neck late Thursday night during an apparent coordinated attack outside an ICE detention facility. Just before 11 p.m., officers from the Alvarado Police Department responded to reports of a suspicious person near the Prairieland ICE Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas. Upon arrival, officers encountered what appeared to be an armed individual, and when one officer attempted to engage, several suspects allegedly opened fire and struck the officer in the neck, police said. The officer was airlifted to a hospital in Fort Worth, treated, and later released. Law enforcement said multiple armed suspects were taken into custody after attempting to flee. A federal source told CBS News that eight people were arrested, with some reportedly wearing body armor. Officials are still investigating a motive. July 5: Breitbart News: It's Portland again as activist protestors and rioters take to the streets Protests in Portland, Oregon, on Friday opposing President Donald Trump and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency erupted in chaos, according to multiple reports. Several people involved in the protests reportedly organized a "caravan" that went from an ICE facility located in "South Portland to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington." KOIN reported that earlier in the day demonstrators involved in the "protests outside the Portland ICE facility" reportedly "clashed with federal officers." Antifa reportedly committed an arson attack at the ICE facility in Portland. July 4: The Gateway Pundit: Planned Parenthood defunded, but only for one year After 18 years of fighting, Congress finally tells Planned Parenthood: "Go fund yourselves." After nearly two decades of relentless pro-life activism, the day has finally come: Congress has stripped Planned Parenthood of nearly $500 million in federal funding, cutting approximately 80% of its taxpayer-backed budget. It's a thunderous victory for the pro-life movement and a devastating blow to America's largest abortion provider. Fueled by a conservative base that refuses to remain silent, Congress acted — and even though the measure only lasts one year for now, it sets a historic precedent. For the first time in decades, Planned Parenthood has suffered a defeat on Capitol Hill. Planned Parenthood is already mobilizing to recover. Reports on the ground indicate that they're doubling down on university campuses, targeting students with grotesque promotional tactics, like "two-for-one abortion coupons" during back-to-school fairs. With their federal funding slashed, they'll be even more aggressive in hunting for paying customers. July 4: Fox News: Budget Reconciliation signed by the President (Not auto-penned!) President Trump signed his $3.3 trillion "big, beautiful bill" on Friday, after the House passed the final version of the measure Thursday to ensure it arrived at the president's desk by his self-imposed July 4 deadline. The bill includes key provisions that would permanently establish individual and business tax breaks included in Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and incorporates new tax deductions to cut duties on tips and overtime pay. Before signing the bill, the president said the bill would "fuel massive economic growth" and "lift up the hard-working citizens who make this country run." Trump claimed the tax cutting provisions were the " largest tax cuts in the history of our country. … After these kicks in, our country is going to be a rocket ship economically. We've delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors. … It makes the child tax credit permanent for 40 million American families." Unfortunately, the measure also increases the debt limit by $5 trillion which many hardline conservatives found it hard to swallow. July 4: The Epoch Times: History repeats itself 1980s and today Between 1982-84 Toshiba Machines of Japan supplied machine tool software that required a license from the US Department of Commerce. The software was the key that allowed U.S. submarines to reduce the noise of their propellers, making this quieter than their advocacies. Toshiba-Kongsberg was fined only $14,000 for this violation, a violation that allowed the USSR to retool their own submarines, making them more difficult to detect and causing the U.S. to reportedly to spend $30 billion to help detect the presence of quieter Soviet submarines. [See YouTube Video of the case] Fast forward to today. A California-based chip designer, Alpha & Omega Semiconductor (AOS), has agreed to pay $4.25 million to settle a probe over its unlicensed exports to sanctioned Chinese company Huawei. In a June 27 order published on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) said that in 2019, AOS sent about 1,650 foreign-made power controllers, smart power stages, and related accessories from the United States to Huawei in 15 shipments, without securing export licenses. AOS is required to pay the fine within 30 days or the company will face interest and administrative charges and could lose its export privileges for one year (by being put on the BIS denied parties list). On May 16, 2019, the BIS added Huawei and 68 of its non-U.S. affiliates to the Entity List. Companies seeking to export to these entities were required to apply for licenses. BIS applied a license review policy of "presumption of denial," meaning license applications were denied by default. In violation of U.S. policy AOS shipped approximately 600 sample products between May 28 and June 7, 2019, in four batches to Huawei via an AOS affiliate in China, so Huawei could test whether the products met its needs. Wednesday, AOS said the company is pleased that the five-year-plus investigation ended "with only limited administrative export control charges." Once again, companies violating U.S. export controls appear to only be getting a slap on the wrist for not complying with U.S. law. July 4: Fox News: SECTREAS; Big Beautiful Bill will spark economic boom/prosperity The same issues that drove the Founders to declare independence from the Crown in 1776 drove 77 million Americans to the polls in 2024: heavy taxes, weak leadership, and an overreaching government numb to the needs of its citizens. President Trump won in a landslide victory by offering powerful solutions to each of these problems. He is the American people's declaration of independence from business as usual in Washington. The president seeks to serve "the forgotten men and women of America." And the One Big Beautiful Bill, which he signs into law today, is central to that mission. This historic legislation will make life more affordable for all Americans by unleashing parallel prosperity—the idea that Main Street and Wall Street can grow together. The One Big, Beautiful Bill represents the priorities of the new Republican Party, which includes millions of working-class Americans who once called themselves Democrats. This bill builds on the blue-collar renaissance started by President Trump. Since President Trump took office in January, blue-collar wages have increased 1.7%. This represents the largest increase in working-class wages to start a presidency in more than 50 years. For comparison, working-class wages decreased during the same period under every single president since Richard Nixon with only one exception—President Trump in his first term. July 3: The Washington Times: Bush-appointed Judge finds OMB didn't have the authority to pull webpage information about transgender issues Here we go again, a George W. Bush appointed federal judge has ruled that the White House budget office didn't have the power to order agencies to take down web pages that included information about transgender issues. Judge John Bates ruled Wednesday night that Trump never specifically gave OMB that power. Bates said OMB doesn't have independent powers in the law to do it either, so the agency's action "exceeded its statutory authority." "This case involves government officials acting first and thinking later," he wrote. His ruling erases OMB's guidance to agencies and also deletes actions taken by agencies that followed the OMB directives. Perhaps an easy fix is for the President to sign an executive order requiring the actions taken by OMB. Certainly the President has the authority as the head of the Executive Branch. July 3: The Daily Caller: SCOTUS to Biden-appointed Judge; You're out of order! The Supreme Court shot down a district court judge's bid to circumvent an order allowing the Trump administration to resume third-country deportations. Though the Court cleared the path June 23 for the administration to quickly deport illegal migrants to countries not specified in their removal orders, Biden-appointed District Court Judge Brian Murphy claimed hours later that one of his orders preventing the deportation of eight migrants to South Sudan remained in effect. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court agreed Thursday that Murphy violated its order, noting the "only authority" he cited was the dissent. "Our June 23 order stayed the April 18 preliminary injunction in full," the majority held. "The May 21 remedial order cannot now be used to enforce an injunction that our stay rendered unenforceable." The Trump administration previously urged the Supreme Court to clarify its order, accusing Murphy of "unprecedented defiance" of the high court's authority. Murphy's ruling was "a lawless act of defiance that, once again, disrupts sensitive diplomatic relations and slams the brakes on the Executive's lawful efforts to effectuate third-country removals," the administration wrote June 24. July 3: Breitbart News: The Budget Reconciliation Bill passes the House; is on its way to the White House for a July 4th Presidential signature President Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill is enroute to the White House, the culmination of months of work by the President and his team and the realization of scores of campaign promises. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act passed the House Thursday afternoon 218-214, with the only Republican no votes from Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY). Republicans successfully met Trump's Independence Day goal – belittled as unrealistic by the establishment media – clearing the path for a bill signing ceremony Friday that undoubtedly will be one for the ages. The bill, which codifies into law much of what Trump has done through executive action and unlocks much more that required Congressional approval, may be considered by history as Trump's crowning achievement. The legislation manages to include almost every campaign promise Trump made on his "Shermanesque march" through all seven swing states, delivering wins conservatives never could have dreamed of during the Barack Obama or George W. Bush administrations. The bill not only extends or makes permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts — including no taxes on tips, overtime, or social security – but delivers on Trump's signature issue of border security. July 3: Politico: Progress being made on passage of Budget Reconciliation Republicans' "Big, Beautiful Bill" is one vote away from Donald Trump's desk after clearing a key procedural hurdle that sets up a floor vote Thursday morning. Pulling an all-nighter two days after senators did the same, House Republicans were finally able to unite on the test vote around 3:30 a.m. Thursday — closing out a six-hour voting window that might have been extraordinary if the previous vote hadn't been held open nine hours for similar reasons. The discord inside the House GOP centered on Senate changes to the bill, which first passed the House in May. Senators piled on more tax cuts and made changes to safety-net programs, creating a two-front debate for House whips. In the end the rule (that sets up how a bill will be handled on the House floor) was adopted 219-213. This was favorable since the previous day there were about twenty House Republicans who questioned if they could vote for the measure. The breakthrough came after hours of meetings between GOP leadership and holdouts, exploring what executive actions or other promises could assuage hard-line fiscal hawks who were incensed about the Senate-passed bill's budget deficits. July 2: One America News Network: SECDEF hosts Argentinian Defense Minister United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Argentinian Defense Minister Luis Petri at the Pentagon on Wednesday. The Minister eagerly announced that Argentina and the U.S. will continue to build on their more than 200-year relationship. SECDEF announced Argentina's request to purchase a U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon and 8×8 Stryker armored vehicles. During the meeting, he also emphasized that China not only poses a threat to the U.S., but to Argentina as well. China could be a strategic or economic threat to Argentina in several key areas, depending on the lens through which the relationship is viewed. While China is a major investor and trade partner for Argentina, there are concerns surrounding how this dynamic could undermine Argentina's sovereignty, economic stability, or geopolitical alignment. The CCP has lent Argentina billions through loans, infrastructure projects, via the Belt and Road Initiative, and currency swaps with the People's Bank of China. Many warn that this could lead to "debt-trap diplomacy," where Argentina could face pressure to align its policies with Chinese interests to maintain access to credit or avoid default. July 2: The Washington Examiner: Legal wranglings continue in efforts to slow down the Trump agenda The Trump Administration is asking the SCOTUS for legal permission to fire three Democratic-appointed members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission after the move was blocked by a lower court. Biden-appointed District Court Judge Matthew Maddox previously ruled that Trump's termination of Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka Jr. was unlawful. He argued that the firings went against the provision that a president could only fire commissioners for neglect of duty or malfeasance. Solicitor General D. John Sauer is now taking the matter to the nation's highest court. This latest episode represents just another move by leftwing Democrat-appointed judges to slow down Trump's actions through raising legal barriers every step of the way. July 2: Fox News: Another day, another Democrat-appointed judge blocks Trump agenda in attempts to stop or slow the Trump train's advance A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Trump's executive order that sought to prevent migrants crossing the border from seeking asylum or applying for withholding of removal in the U.S., a major blow to Trump as he looks to further enforce his broad immigration crackdown. U.S. District Judge Randolph Daniel Moss, an Obama appointee, said Trump's Jan. 20 proclamation, which sought to block all migrants "engaged in the invasion across the southern border" from claiming asylum or seeking withholding of removal, exceeds his authority — siding with the ACLU, who brought the suit on behalf of several migrant's groups and 13 asylum-seekers earlier this year. The group urged the court in February to block Trump's proclamation from taking force, arguing that the action was "as unlawful as it is unprecedented." Moss said Wednesday that Trump "lacks the inherent constitutional authority" to supplant federal statutes governing removals. The case, yet again, is likely to be appealed to the SCOTUS. July 1: The Gateway Pundit: FBI blocked 2020 investigation into Chinese Mail-In Voting Scam to Protect Chris Wray Who Likely Lied to Congress On Tuesday Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released new information from declassified documents that reveal the FBI blocked an investigation into the allegations that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) manufactured thousands of fake driver's licenses and shipped them to the US in a scheme to help Joe Biden win the election by fraudulent mail-in votes. The FBI hid the investigation in order to protect dirty FBI Director Chris Wray who had lied to Congress about the election. According to Kash, the communist Chinese were involved in a plot to create thousands of fake mail-in ballots in 2020 using fake voter registrations. And to be clear, many of the mail in ballots were put into unmanned drop boxes where registrations and identifications were never verified. Patel said it should be clear that China was not creating fake ballots to assist Donald Trump. The Chi-Coms detested Trump for what he had done to their economy. Trump was the only US president in decades to take on the Chinese Communist Party. China was helping Old Joe Biden win the election. July 1: One America News Network: Former NYC resident [Trump] endorses Mayor Adams for reelection Donald Trump seemingly offered an endorsement of NYC Mayor Eric Adams' re-election bid on Tuesday, while simultaneously issuing a stark warning to Democratic socialist and mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani — threatening arrest should he obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. "I helped him out a little bit," Trump said, referencing the DOJ's move to dismiss Adams' federal corruption case. "He had a problem, and he was unfairly hurt over this question. That was a Biden indictment." Trump said, 'Don't feel bad. I got indicted five times!'" Meanwhile, Trump has also escalated his criticisms of Mamdani, warning that the 33-year-old communist/socialist mayoral candidate can face incarceration if he defies the ongoing illegal immigration enforcement [ICE] efforts. "We'll have to arrest" Mamdani, if that happens, Trump asserted. July 1: Fox News: The Department of Justice issued a memo directing US attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings" The Department of Justice issued a memo directing US attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings" as part of an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on crime. The memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate states that denaturalization cases against "individuals who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns" are one of the key priorities. "The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government's ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals gang members, or, indeed, any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport," Shumate wrote. "The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person's United States citizenship if an individual either 'illegally procured' naturalization or procured naturalization by 'concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation,'" he added in the June 11 directive. July 1: The Daily Caller: Another Biden Judge issues injunction to stop Trump firing of unneeded federal workers A Biden-appointed federal judge ruled on Tuesday that President Trump must put a stop to the mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose granted 19 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia a preliminary injunction, first sought in May, stating that the states had proved that "irreparable harm" had been caused by the cuts. The ruling applies to terminated employees in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Tobacco Products in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) among others. DeBose contended "The executive branch does not have the authority to order, organize, or implement wholesale changes to the structure and function of the agencies created by Congress." [See related story] July 1: NewsMax: Reconciliation bill squeaks by in the Senate, faces challenges in the House Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation bill (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) on a tie vote (50-50) with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. But the outcome is still in doubt. Reportedly more than 20 House Republicans are threatening to tank the measure. The Senate made changes to the bill, many in order to curry support from members like Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). It also increased the debt limit from the House's $4 trillion to $5 trillion. All the Republicans like making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and allocating funding for border security, defense, and domestic energy production, but "Our bill has been completely changed. ... It's a non-starter," Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) said. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) says he plans to amend the bill by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting the original House bill language. It's evident that some concessions will need to be made and if that happens it's doubtful it will reach the President's desk by the self-imposed deadline of July 4th because any changes to the bill will require it to go back to the Senate again.

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