Information on the "IKE DIKE" Coastal Barrier May 17: News Max: GOP infighting stalling the tax cutting budget bill House Republicans are scrambling to patch divisions within their ranks as disputes over taxes, Medicaid, and energy credits threaten to derail Donald Trump's expansive legislative agenda before Memorial Day. Dubbed as their "big beautiful bill," the sweeping legislation includes an extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, repealing certain overtime pay and tips taxes, stricter Medicaid work requirements, and rollbacks of climate-focused tax credits established by Democrats. However consensus remains elusive, primarily due to disagreements on the state and local tax deductions, Medicaid reform timelines, and green-energy subsidies. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) described negotiations as adjusting "metaphorical dials," meaning that increases in one area must be offset with cuts elsewhere to keep the bill deficit-neutral. "If you do more on SALT, you have to find more in savings," Johnson explained. May 17: The Epoch Times: US indicts Mexican National on Terrorism Charges; supplying arms to cartels The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted a Mexican national for allegedly providing material support to a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, the first indictment of its kind in the United States. Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 39, was accused of supplying grenades to the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's powerful transnational criminal organizations. Her two co-defendants, also Mexican nationals, also faced firearm trafficking charges, according to DOJ. "Supplying grenades to a designated terrorist organization — while trafficking firearms, narcotics, and human beings — is not just criminal; it's a direct assault on the security of the United States," acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Todd Lyons stated. The DOJ also released photos showing what appeared to be "man-made tunnel" used to smuggle illegal immigrants from Mexico into the United States, along with firearms and packages of meth and fentanyl, which are allegedly connected to the case. May 16: The Gateway Pundit: SCOTUS temporarily blocks Administration from deporting members of Venezuelan gangs, more time for due process needed In an unsigned order, the high court said the Trump DOJ did not give the Venezuelans enough time to challenge their removals. "Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster," the document said. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, Alito saying "I cannot join the decision of the Court. First and most important, we lack jurisdiction and therefore have no authority to issue any relief. Second, even if we had such authority, the applicants have not satisfied the requirements for the issuance of injunctive relief pending appellate review. Third, granting certiorari before any decision on the merits has been made by either the District Court or the Court of Appeals is unwarranted." In a concurring opinion, Justice Kavanaugh agreed with the high court's decision to temporarily block the Trump Administration from deporting Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act saying, "The injunction simply ensures that the Judiciary can decide whether these Venezuelan detainees may be lawfully removed under the Alien Enemies Act before they are in fact removed." The case will now go back down the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to decide how much notice detainees should be given prior to their removal. One observr noted the Biden Adminisration allowed these people to enter our nation without any due process and asked why they should be granted due process in order to be deported? Or was that the plan in the first place, so they could not be removed? May 16: News Max: Administration asks SCOTUS to overturn lower court decision blocking layoffs The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court on Friday to lift a temporary injunction on the mass layoffs of federal employees, the administration's latest effort to thwart district courts from blocking President Trump's agenda. The U.S. District Judge, a Clinton appointee, for the Northern District of California, ruled May 9, the administration's effort to reduce the federal workforce was illegal without congressional authorization. Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in his brief to the SCOTUS, "The district court lacked jurisdiction over this dispute related to federal personnel actions, and respondents lacked a cause of action to challenge White House direction and guidance about plans for future agency RIFs [reduction in forces]." He argued that the Federal Service Labor-Management [FSLM] Statute and the 1978 Civil Service Reform "preclude district court jurisdiction over plaintiffs' claims," saying "The FSLM Statute established a Federal Labor Relations Authority to resolve issues related to collective bargaining between federal employee unions and their employers, including 'issues relating to the granting of national consultation rights,' 'issues relating to determining compelling need for agency rules or regulations,' 'issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith,' and 'complaints of unfair labor practices,' " Sauer wrote. "In passing the statute, Congress specified that its provisions 'should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirement of an effective and efficient Government." Sauer noted the Supreme Court intervened last month in a similar case by blocking a preliminary injunction issued by another Clinton-appointed judge in the Northern District of California. Day 16: Fox News: Comey to meet with Secret Service after "86 47" social media posting Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to meet face to face with U.S. Secret Service officials in Washington, D.C. for an interview about his "86 47" post, two sources briefed on the meeting said. Comey is under investigation for an Instagram post showing seashells arranged on a beach to read "86 47." "Cool shell formation on my beach walk," he wrote in the since-deleted post. Some have interpreted the post to mean "86" – get rid of – "47" – Donald Trump, the 47th president. Some contend if he ran the FBI he should have know better! The U.S. Secret Service is leading the investigation at this point, but the FBI and Department of Justice could take a larger role if necessary. May 15: Breitbart News: SCOTUS no clear consensus on nationwide TROs or Trump's birthright citizenship issue The nine judges on the Supreme Court showed little consensus as they questioned lawyers about the costs and benefits of lower judges imposing nationwide restraining orders (TROs) on Donald Trump's polices, including his update of birth citizenship policies. The injunctions — which are often imposed by a single partisan judge, selected for his or her views — should be narrowed to cover just the plaintiffs in each case so that major issues can democratically "percolate" through the multiple courts, the public, and the agencies, U.S. solicitor general John Sauer contended. Some observers noted that as things now stand a single judge case put an executive branch policy on hold as opposed to appellate courts and the Supreme Court where at least a three judge panel considers the course of action (five out of nine in the case of the SCTUS). The Department of Justice did not ask the Supreme Court to decide the birth-citizenship issue because a "fast and furious" process would stymie the national debate, Sauer said. The courtroom debate on birthright citizenship is expected in 2026. The New York Times reported the justices "signaled that they may try to find a middle ground, perhaps by issuing guidance that would allow such temporary blocks only for some kinds of cases, or by requesting more briefing on the merits of the underlying executive order." Since January, more than 40 nationwide injunctions have been issued, mostly by Democrat-picked judges, on Trump's campaign promises, including many on his mandate to enforce the nation's immigration laws. The birthright citizenship reform, for example, has been blocked by three injunctions in three separate courts. Justice Thomas seems to agree with the White House, by noting that the United States had "survived" the absence of national junctions until the 1960s. Justice Kavanaugh raised the practical problem of differing jurisdictions by asking the government: "What do hospitals do with a newborn? What do states do with a newborn?" Those issues can be planned out and resolved if the issue is allowed to "percolate" through the judicial system without a nationwide injunction, Sauer responded. In another story, Breitbart News also reported: During an appearance on Thursday's broadcast of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Chuck Rosenberg said President Donald Trump's argument against birthright citizenship may ultimately prevail. Later on Thursday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a Trump executive order signed earlier this year denying birthright citizenship to children born to parents who are illegally in the United States. Rosenberg explained the long-standing precedent, adding that it was possible that it could change. Rosenberg said, "1898 — when the Supreme Court decided a case [United States v.] Wong Kim Ark, and in Wong Kim Ark, this gentleman was the child of a permanent resident, people of Chinese descent. And the Supreme Court said based on the reading of the 14th Amendment passed just 30 years earlier, 1868, he was subject to the jurisdiction of the United States by being born in this country to those parents. So, the 14th Amendment goes back to 1868. Supreme Court precedent goes back to 1898. And that's been our understanding ever since." "Could it change? It could change," the MSNBC guest added. "Might President Trump be proved right? He might be proved right. But it is absolutely distinctly the minority view." May 15: News Max: Trump examining development of an F-55 aircraft and upgrade of F-22 Raptor The United States is examining the possible development of a twin-engined warplane to be known as the F-55, as well as an upgrade to its Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor called the F-22 Super, Trump said Thursday. He was speaking at a meeting of business leaders including the heads of Boeing and GE Aerospace in Doha, a day after announcing a string of business deals including an order from Qatar for 160 Boeing commercial jets. Trump referred to the proposed F-55 as both an upgrade to the Lockheed Martin F-35 and a separate new development. He also highlighted the role of a new air dominance platform called the F-47, recently awarded to Boeing, and said the United States was simultaneously looking at upgrading the stealth fighter it is designed to replace, the F-22. May 15: Fox News: MA U.S. Attorney warns of arrests and prosecutions for anyone interfering with ICE operations The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts is threatening arrests for those who obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] operations, calling recent interference in her state "disturbing." The warning from U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah Foley, comes days after a tense video emerged of a crowd reacting to an ICE operation in Worcester. "The interference with ICE operations around Massachusetts has been disturbing, to say the least. This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks. It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified," Foley said in a statement. "I will not stand idly by if any public official, public safety officer, organization or private citizen acts in a manner that criminally obstructs or impedes ICE operations. The United States Attorney's Office, along with our federal partners, will investigate any violations of federal law and pursue charges that are warranted by such activity," she added. [Watch disturbing video] May 14: Gateway Pundit: Judge Hannah Dugan Moves to Dismiss Federal Criminal Case Against Her Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan moved to dismiss the case against her one day after a federal grand jury indicted her on two counts for obstructing an ICE arrest last month. On Tuesday a federal grand jury indicted Judge Hannah Dugan for helping an illegal alien evade ICE agents. Dugan is facing up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. Last month Dugan was arrested by the FBI for obstructing an ICE arrest. According to the FBI, Dugan obstructed an immigration arrest operation last month. Dugan became angry when she found out that ICE agents were waiting outside of her courtroom last week to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal alien involved in a domestic abuse case she was overseeing. She allegedly directed Flores-Ruiz to exit the courthouse through a private jury door to evade arrest. FBI Director Kash Patel said Judge Dugan "intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested at her courthouse." May 14: News Max: DOJ switching transgender grants to law enforcement The Department of Justice (DOJ) is diverting funds it formerly gave to organizations supporting transgender ideology - as well as DEI initiatives — and instead using the money for law enforcement. After DOJ announced it was cutting $811 million in grants, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked for details from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department's response reveals that the vast majority of grants the Justice Department has cut were those awarded to non-governmental entities, "not to states or local jurisdictions that directly serve our communities." A sample of terminated grants shows that DOJ had previously awarded grants explicitly tied to ideological causes misaligned with the priorities of the current administration. May 14: The Daily Caller: Putin won't attend peace talks backed by Trump Russian President Putin will not be attending peace talks in Turkey with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Thursday despite calling for direct negotiations between the warring countries. Trump, who is in Qatar, had hinted at possibly attending the meeting himself if Putin was present, but a Kremlin statement announced Wednesday that presidential aide Vladimir Medinksy would lead the Russian delegation. Putin called for a direct conversation between Russia and Ukraine on May 10. The following day Trump then requested that the Ukrainians attend the meeting saying that the Russian president was open to negotiating "a possible end to the bloodbath." May 14: The Epoch Times: Trump Strikes $244 Billion in Deals With Qatar, Including 'Historic' Boeing Jet Sale President Trump announced on May 14 more than $243.5 billion in economic deals between the United States and Qatar, including a $96 billion agreement for Boeing to sell up to 210 jets to Qatar Airways. The White House stated that the agreement with Qatar is projected to generate at least $1.2 trillion in economic exchange between both countries. The deal was signed amid Trump's four-day trip to the Middle East. The president was joined by Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the signing ceremony in Doha. May 13: News Max: Trump & Crown Prince sign $600 Billion economic deal President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) signed a $600 billion strategic economic partnership agreement in Riyadh Tuesday. The partnership includes agreements for energy, mining, and defense. The trip's focus is economic development, shared concerns about Iran's nuclear program, and the war in Gaza. The pomp began before Trump even landed. Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom's capital — an exceptionally rare sight. During the visit MbS greeted business titans with Trump by his side. It was a stark contrast to his awkward fist bump with then-President Biden's visit to the kingdom in 2022. At the time, Prince Mohammed's reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives — including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side. Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC+ nations have already helped their cause with Trump early in his second term by stepping up oil production. Trump sees cheap energy as a key component to lowering costs and stemming inflation for Americans. Trump has also made the case that lower oil prices will hasten an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The three countries on Trump's itinerary — Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are places where the Trump Organization, run by his two oldest sons, are developing major real estate projects. May 13: The Epoch Times: US inflation rate decreases under Trump leadership The U.S. annual inflation rate eased to its lowest level in more than four years, even as President Trump's tariffs started stretching throughout the U.S. economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual inflation rate declined to 2.3% in April, from 2.4% in March. This represented the third consecutive monthly slowdown and the lowest reading since February 2021. The inflation rate came in below economists' expectations of 2.4%. The most notable item to register a double-digit decline was eggs. In April, the price of eggs plummeted by 12.7%, although it is still up by more than 49% year over year. May 12: News Max: Trump considering attending Ukraine-Russia talks If it will be helpful President Trump said Monday he was "thinking" about flying to Turkey for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia but the Kremlin was silent about whether Vladimir Putin would attend. The meeting in Istanbul would be the first direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials since the early months of Moscow's invasion in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed he will join, saying earlier he wanted Trump to be there and was ready for "direct and substantive negotiations with Putin". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is ready to host and urged the warring sides on Monday to seize the "window of opportunity" to reach a peace settlement. Trump told reporters earlier he would attend talks if he "thought it would be helpful." "I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen," Trump told journalists at the White House prior to departing for a trip to the Middle East. [We have heard from normally reliable source that the Trump Administration is working on plans to bankrupt Russia if they decide to stonewall agreeing to a ceasefire.] May 12: CNN: Trump signs Executive Order giving drug companies 30 days to reduce prices Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Monday morning that promises to crack down on "unreasonable or discriminatory" practices by foreign countries that result in Americans paying far higher costs for prescription drugs. "Starting today, the United States will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries, which is what we were doing," Trump said before signing the executive order. Also, drugmakers must start offering US patients the lowest price paid for a drug in a peer country, known as the "Most Favored Nation" price, or face consequences, the president said. He directed the Department of Health and Human Services to come up with price targets within 30 days. "Big Pharma will either abide by this principle voluntarily or we will use the power of the federal government to ensure that we are paying the same price as other countries to accelerate these price restrictions and reductions," Trump said. It remains unclear the authority the president has to demand certain prices in the private sector. May 12: The Epoch Times: First in the Nation; 1,800 State Troopers certified to enforce federal immigration laws Florida officials announced that 1,800 state Highway Patrol troopers are the first in the nation to receive federal credentials under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agreement allowing them to arrest illegal immigrants on their own. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said the state's ongoing partnership with ICE included what is known as 287(g) agreements, where state and local law enforcement partner with ICE to help arrest and deport illegal immigrants. This partnership allows the Florida Highway Patrol to include immigration enforcement as part of their routine policing, such as traffic stops. DeSantis encouraged other states to support Trump's efforts to deport illegal immigrants, noting the success of Operation Tidal Wave. The recent joint federal-state operation arrested more than 1,100 illegal immigrants, some of whom were members of gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. May 12: The Daily Caller: Documents destroy media/supporter's claims deported alien was not a criminal Records show a deported illegal migrant whose family claimed he had no criminal history has previously been accused of several crimes, including carrying a loaded firearm near a school in February. New York police arrested 19-year-old Merwil Gutierrez Flores on Feb. 25 on three felonies and a misdemeanor a day before immigration authorities arrested him, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents. After being sent to prison in El Salvador, Gutierrez-Flores has been at the center of sympathetic media coverage publicizing his family's claims that "he's never been accused of a crime." "Merwil Alberto Gutierrez Flores was deported to CECOT because he is an associate of Tren de Aragua — a foreign terrorist organization — whose criminal record included an arrest for having a loaded firearm and ammunition feeding devices at a school," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said. "The Biden Administration released this dangerous criminal into our communities in 2023. President Trump and Secretary Noem are getting these criminals off our streets and out of country. May 12: The Washington Times: Trump's strong economy defies Wall Street's gloomy predictions Since Donald Trump's election, economists and media pundits have been awash in predictions of a recession, stock market crash and doom narratives. But after nearly five months in office, the economy continues to hum, defying the so-called experts. Less than a week after Mr. Trump's victory, Wall Street analysts howled that the new president would lead America into a recession. Then when Trump instituted tariffs the naysayers went wild. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, predicted disaster, saying a recession "will hit imminently and extend until next year." He predicted economic growth would drop by 2 percentage points and the jobless rate would soar to a painful 7.5%. Despite the morbid forecasts, all signs point to a surprisingly strong economy. Egg prices are coming down, gas prices have held steady and the number of jobs added in April exceeded the pace of growth for the previous three months. And when China decided sit down to negotiate tariffs the market bounced back strongly, proving that the "experts" don't always know what they are talking about! May 11: The Daily Caller: Trump steps up to protect the privacy of the Catholic confessional The Department of Justice (DOJ) has stepped up its defense of religious liberty under the Trump administration. In the past several months, the DOJ has filed statements of interest in land use cases for churches, helped launch a task force to "eliminate" anti-Christian bias and opened an investigation into an "anti-Catholic" law in Washington. The DOJ opened an investigation Monday into a Washington law that forces Catholic priests to disclose information received in the confessional related to child abuse or neglect. The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson on Friday, explicitly excludes "members of the clergy" from an exemption for reporting information obtained as a result of "a privileged communication." Bishop Thomas Daly of the Spokane Diocese said priests would remain "committed to keeping the seal of confession – even to the point of going to jail" after the law was signed. "Washington's new law forces priests to choose between violating their faith or breaking the law," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon wrote Monday on X. "That's unconstitutional." May 10: The Post Newspaper: Borders, Immigration, and Deportations We need immigrants who bring skills and a desire to work hard; industrious people who are invested in our nation and who add value -- people who legally enter our country and assimilate without destroying the culture or character of our nation. We cannot condone breaking the law (illegally crossing the border) and need to deport them while we also need to understand we can't physically deport every single illegal immigrant -- it's an impossible task. The steps we have outlined in the column just might move us in a positive direction while facing this reality. May 10: The Gateway Pundit: DHS leaves "on the table" the possible arrest of Congresswoman who bodyslamed (assaulted?) a female ICE agent in NJ A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman on Saturday said members of Congress bodyslammed a female ICE agent when they stormed the ICE facility in Newark, NJ on Friday. The Democrat representatives were allegedly fighting for the release of dangerous criminal aliens. Mayor Baraka was arrested and charged with federal trespass Friday; however, more arrests are imminent, the DHS has confirmed. "There will likely be more arrests coming. We have bodycam footage of some of these members of Congress assaulting our ICE enforcement officers, including bodyslamming a female ICE officer. We will be showing that to viewers very shortly," DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told CNN. "If you have that video, are you suggesting members of Congress will be arrested?" CNN asked the DHS. "That is definitely on the table," McLaughlin responded. May 10: Fox News: 10-hour discussions may pave the way for possible tariff agreement between the US and China During a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, between U.S. officials and a Communist Chinese delegation, "many things" were discussed and "much [was] agreed to," Trump said. The US delegation included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Reportedly no major breakthrough was announced in discussions that lasted over 10 hours and negotiations are scheduled to continue Sunday. The administration had announced a round of tariffs on April 2 and later imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods. After reducing reciprocal tariffs on other countries for 90 days to a baseline of 10%, China raised its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. While the president did not provide many specifics Saturday night, he described the agreement as "a total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner." In April Bessent said the tariffs could cost China up to 10 million jobs, making Chinese tariffs unsustainable. Reportedly twice that number of jobs have been impacted, driving the Chinese to the bargaining table. May 9: News Max: Trump Administration considering offering Greenland a Compact of Free Association The Trump administration is reportedly discussing a plan to pull Greenland into America's sphere of influence using a type of agreement that the U.S. has used to keep close ties with several Pacific Island nations. Under the plan being considered, the Trump administration would propose to Greenland's leaders that the island enter into a Compact of Free Association. Although the precise details of COFA agreements vary depending on the signatory, the U.S. government typically provides many essential services, from mail delivery to emergency management to military protection. In exchange, the U.S. military operates freely in COFA countries and trade with the U.S. is largely duty-free. A COFA agreement would stop short of Trump's initial ambition to make the island of 57,000 people a part of the U.S. It's not the only Greenland plan on the table, sources said, and it would face many practical hurdles. Some officials at the National Security Council and the National Energy Dominance Council, which Trump established, are involved in the talks, sources said. COFA agreements have previously been inked with independent countries, and Greenland would likely need to separate from Denmark for such a plan to proceed. Although polls show Greenlanders are interested in independence, surveys also show most do not want to be part of the U.S. May 9: Fox News: Dem. House members storm gates of ICE detention facility demanding an "oversight visit" New Jersey members of Congress stormed through the gates of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in New Jersey Friday, demanding they be allowed to conduct an "oversight visit." Reps. Menendez, Coleman and McIver, entered ICE's Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark and were held up inside the first checkpoint, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said. "These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk," DHS said. "Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility." The prison currently holds alleged killers, MS-13 gang members, child rapists, among other criminal offenders. The lawmakers were outside the facility with a group of protesters when the gates opened to allow an ICE bus in. The lawmakers then rushed through the gates and past security, DHS said. May 9: The Washington Times: White House announces the firing of Library of Congress librarian over DEI positions White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Carla Hayden has been fired as librarian of Congress because she promoted DEI and pushed "inappropriate books" for children. Of course, Democrats condemned the administration's actions because Hayden was the first Black woman to hold the post in the institution's 225-year history – a DEI position in itself. "We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people," Leavitt told reporters. "There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children," she said. "And we don't believe that she was serving the interests of the American taxpayer well. So, she has been removed from her position, and the President is well within his rights to do that." Hayden was appointed by Obama in 2016 to a 10-year appointment. May 8: The Daily Caller: Texas Judge indicted for election fraud scheme A Democratic judge and five other individuals were indicted over alleged election crimes after running a "vote harvesting scheme," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office announced Wednesday. Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho, an elected Democratic judge in Frio County, Texas, was charged with three counts of vote harvesting during her 2022 primary campaign. The county's trustee — the judge's sister — the election administrator, two Pearsall, Texas city council members, and an additional woman were also indicted. The charges stem from a multi-year investigation launched in 2022 after Camacho's opponent in the Democratic primary runoff, Mary Moore, filed a complaint, San Antonio-based ABC affiliate KSAT reported. Moore accused Camacho of hiring a longtime Democrat operative to gather mail ballots, complete applications, and even drive voters to polling locations. She allegedly paid them between $1,500 and $2,500. Camacho allegedly targeted elderly voters in a Pearsall, Texas subdivision. One of Camacho's partners in the scheme reportedly concealed ballots under her shirt and used multiple vehicles to avoid detection from investigators. May 8: Villanova Newsroom: Next Pope is an American On May 8, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected the 267th head of the Catholic Church and the Sovereign of the Vatican City State during the second day of the papal conclave held in the Sistine Chapel. He assumes the papacy under the name Pope Leo XIV. A Villanova University alumnus, Pope Leo XIV is the first Pope from the United States and the first Augustinian friar to be elected pontiff. "As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our university community and the global Church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason — between spirituality and wisdom," said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue. May 8: The Washington Examiner: Judge Jeanine gets the nod for acting DC prosecutor Donald Trump is appointed Fox News's Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. Earlier on Thursday, Trump conceded to reporters that his previous nomination for the post, Ed Martin, "wasn't getting the support from people that I thought" after opposition in the Senate. He's now appointing Pirro as his replacement. Pirro has been a longtime ally of Trump, dating back to her time as a prominent prosecutor in New York. She was an early supporter of his 2016 campaign. Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, she suggested there could have been election fraud involving voting machines and was later among the Fox News employees named in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit for broadcasting false claims about the company. May 8: Fox News: Grand Jury issues subpoenas in investigation of. NY AG James' alleged misdoings The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia sent out subpoenas related to accusations that James misrepresented a single-family home in Virginia as her primary residence to obtain more favorable loan terms. News of the federal probe follows a criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, who requested DOJ investigate James over that matter and another incident in which she allegedly misrepresented the number of livable units in a multifamily Brooklyn house to once again obtain better loan terms. May 7: Fox News: NY taxpayers could be on the hook for NY AG's legal fees Language in a new NY state budget bill could put New York taxpayers on the hook for state Attorney General Letitia James' legal fees in a fraud case being brought against her after it was uncovered that she filed real estate documents saying her primary residence is in Virginia while state law requires her to be a resident of New York in order to serve as the state's attorney general. Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) issued her proposed $254 billion budget last week, and the state legislature is set to begin voting on it. A section of the budget, highlighted by the GOP, includes language that would compel taxpayers to provide the money for a legal defense fund, that could theoretically cover the New York attorney general's legal costs pertaining to fraud allegations brought against her following the discovery by the Federal Housing Finance Agency of actions allegedly taken by James to get better loan terms on a property she was purchasing in Virginia. The language of the legislation would set aside $10 million for elected officials in the state to use for their legal defense when the case is in direct response to the official's exercise of their duties. Of course, it can be asked if James claiming Virginia as her primary residence was related to the official exercise of her duties. Meanwhile an editorial in the New York Post is calling upon the NY legislature to nix this section of the budget. May 7: News Max: Houthi ceasefire doesn't include attacks on Israel A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the U.S. does not include sparing Israel, the group said on Wednesday, suggesting its shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade and challenged world powers will not come to a complete halt. Donald Trump has announced the U.S. would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships. "The agreement does not include Israel in any way, shape or form," Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief Houthi negotiator said. "As long as they announced the cessation (of U.S. strikes) and they are actually committed to that, our position was self-defense so we will stop." The agreement does not rule out attacks on any other Israel-linked vessels or targets. May 7: The Washington Free Beacon: Radicals at Columbia University take over library forcing students studying for finals to evacuate A mob of Columbia University radicals stormed a campus library Wednesday afternoon, forcing out dozens of students studying for their final exams. Police were called after about four hours, resulting in roughly 80 arrests. Video footage shows around 100 masked individuals in dark clothing storming Butler Library around 3 p.m., pushing their way past a campus security guard at the building's entrance. Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) — the Ivy League institution's most anti-Semitic student group — took credit for the library takeover. Once inside, the agitators passed out pamphlets that endorsed Hamas's violence and chanted "There is only one solution, intifada revolution," and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." They also hung banners from bookshelves and littered the library with stickers that read "Release Mahmoud Khalil Now." May 6: Fox News: Columbia University loses $400 million in Federal grants because of antisemitism, announces the layoffs of 180 Columbia University said it will cut around 180 staff members Tuesday following the Trump administration's announcement in March that it canceled $400 million in federal grants over the Ivy League school's "failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment." But choices have consequences and acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman announced that nearly 180 of its colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination. "This represents about 20% of the individuals who are funded in some manner by the terminated grants. "In the coming weeks and months, we will need to continue to take actions that preserve our financial flexibility and allow us to invest in areas that drive us forward," she added. "This is a deeply challenging time across all higher education, and we are attempting to navigate through tremendous ambiguity with precision, which will be imperfect at times." May 6: One America News Network: AG Bondi announces biggest fentanyl bust in US history and capture of cartel leader U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced one of the biggest fentanyl busts in U.S. history resulting in the seizure of "11.5 kilos of fentanyl (over 25 pounds)," along with the arrest of a high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel leader. Over 3 million fentanyl pills were intercepted. Bondi said the operation was "the most significant victory in our nation's fight against fentanyl and drug trafficking to date." The drugs were reportedly being distributed in Albuquerque (NM), Phoenix (AZ), and in Utah. Sixteen people were arrested during the operation, six of whom were residing in the United States illegally, according to Bondi. The drug trafficking "ring leader" and high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member, Alberto Salazar Amaya, had been living in Salem, OR, while the drugs were being pushed through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. He has now been captured. May 6: The Times of Israel: Trump says Houthi's have agreed to cease firing on Red Sea traffic US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US would stop bombing Yemen's Houthis after the Iran-backed group had agreed to stop interrupting important shipping lanes in the Middle East. The announcement did not mention the ongoing Houthi attacks on Israel, and a spokesman for the Yemeni rebel group pledged that such strikes would continue. Israeli officials told Hebrew media outlets that Washington did not give Jerusalem advance notice of the announcement, and that Israel was surprised by it. After Trump made the announcement, Oman revealed that it had mediated the ceasefire deal under which neither side will target the other, including US vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. During a visit from the new Canadian Prime Minister, Trump made the announcement saying, "They said please don't bomb us any more and we're not going to attack your ships. And I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing of the Houthis effective immediately." May 5: Fox News: Lawsuit filed against Chief Justice John Roberts A lawsuit has been filed by the America First Legal Foundation [AFLF] against Roberts in his capacity as the official head of the U.S. Judicial Conference and Robert J. Conrad, who serves as the director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The complaint accuses both the Conference and the Administrative Office of performing certain regulatory actions that go beyond the scope of resolving cases or controversies, or administratively supporting those actions; actions which they argue go beyond the "core functions" of the judiciary. The suit also argues that as a result the records held by the Roberts-led Conference should therefore be subject to the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] requests. AFLF contends that both the Conference and Administrative Office in 2023 "accommodated" requests from Congress to investigate allegations of ethical improprieties by Justices Thomas and Alito, and subsequently to create or adopt an "ethics code" for justices on the high court. The plaintiffs [AFLF], led by attorney Will Scolinos, argue in their lawsuit that the Judicial Conference's duties are "executive functions," and functions they allege must be supervised by executive officers "who are appointed and accountable to other executive officers (i.e., the President)." They argue further that "Courts definitively do not create agencies to exercise functions beyond resolving cases or controversies or administratively supporting those functions." They contend this is sufficient to put the Administrative Office — as it is overseen by the Conference — under the executive branch as well. Scolinos argues that AFLF's proposed framework "preserves the separation of powers but also keeps the courts out of politics." U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, a Trump appointee, has been assigned to preside over the case. May 5: The Daily Caller: Chinese companies moving operations to Nevada and Texas in order to avoid tariffs A growing wave of Chinese manufacturers are packing up and moving to the United States under the weight of President Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods. The tariffs have made it too expensive for many Chinese firms to export goods to the United States, thereby forcing companies that once thrived on cheap labor in Asia to set up shop in places like Dallas, Houston, and Reno, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). For some, it's the only way to stay in business. "The United States accounts for nearly 95% of our orders. It's not a market we can afford to lose," Ryan Zhou, who runs a novelty gift business in eastern China said. Zhou is opening a new facility in Dallas next month as a result of a 90% tariff on Chinese shipments to the United States. Zhu Ning, a consultant who advises Chinese firms on overseas expansion, says he's handled more than 100 relocation inquiries in the last four months alone, a level of interest that was unheard of before Trump's tariffs kicked in. The bottom line; if they want to stay in business they had to act! May 5: News Max: Hegseth; shed 20% of your four-star generals and streamline your operations SECDEF Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration keeps pushing the services to streamline their top leadership positions. He also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions. He said the cuts will remove "redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership." Additionally, SECDEF directed the military to shed an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above. There are about 800 general officers in the military with only 44 being four-star flag officers. SECDEF contends the cuts will eliminate "unnecessary bureaucratic layers." May 4: The Epoch Times: Federal Appeals Court; lower court doesn't have the authority to force President to rehire workers A U.S. appeals court on Saturday blocked a lower court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to return 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work amid efforts to downsize the federal government. The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said a lower court judge lacked the jurisdiction to order the employees to return to work. Late last month, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued an order for the employees to be allowed to return to work and for the restoration of $15 million in grants for Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the media agencies, placed more than 1,000 employees on leave and told 600 contractors they would be terminated after the agency shut down broadcasts in March under a directive from President Trump. In their majority opinion the judges said, "of course, we recognize that the public has an interest in the Executive Branch's compliance with congressional mandates" but added that "the public has an interest in the Judicial Branch's respect for the jurisdictional boundaries laid down by Congress." May 4: The Washington Times: House Chair won't rule out taxl rate increases on the rich The chair of the House Ways and Means Committee on Sunday refused to rule out allowing tax rates to increase on wealthy Americans to help offset the costs of tax cuts for the working class and senior citizens in President Trump's reconciliation package. Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) said the GOP wants to shield all Americans from the tax increases that are set to kick in if the Trump tax cuts of 2017 expire, but he suggested there is some wiggle room, including "loopholes" for top earners. "Our focus is to provide tax relief for all Americans, but our priority is to deliver for working families, small businesses and farmers," he said. He also said the House GOP hasn't a problem with eliminating some tax "loopholes that the wealthy have benefited from" if that helps President Trump fulfill his campaign vow to stop taxing restaurant tips, overtime pay, or Social Security benefits. Democrats have sounded a false alarm saying the GOP wants "to end Medicaid as we know it.' Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) claimed, "They are going to hurt children, hurt families, hurt seniors, hurt people with disabilities, close hospitals, shut down nursing homes and people will die." Meanwhile the House Energy and Commerce Committee has been investigating possible Medicaid savings that do not impact individual beneficiaries, including potential cost savings from scaling back Obamacare expansion spending. Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, said "We can save over $1.5 trillion without touching a dime of the benefit funding. The question is, will we be susceptible to the fearmongering and the false rhetoric that you just heard from the democratic minority leader in the House?" May 4: News Max: Dershowitz; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson fails to consider historic precedents Harvard law professor and Constitutional scholar Alan Dershowitz said Friday that Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who this week condemned President Trump for his rhetoric made about judges who are blocking the administration's policies, failed to take historic precedent into her comments. "This is not new," he said. "Thomas Jefferson attacked judges appointed by John Adams much, much more ferociously. [Abraham] Lincoln attacked judges, indeed, suspended the writ of habeas corpus. Franklin Roosevelt intimidated judges, threatened that he would pack the court, and that resulted in the switch in time that saved nine." Jackson said the "attacks" are "attacks on our democracy, on our system of government," and said they "ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law." But Dershowitz reacted saying Jackson has "no credibility unless she puts her criticisms in historical context" and goes after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for his comments about the judiciary or after other judges. "Arguments between the judiciary and the executive are as old as our nation," Dershowitz said. Judges are not above the law, he continued. "The judge who sat on the disgraceful New York trial of Donald Trump for doing something that wasn't even illegal deserves condemnation," he said about the NY records case against Trump. "The judge in D.C., who didn't recuse himself, notwithstanding the fact that his daughter is deeply involved in deportation — these judges deserve to be criticized." The Trump convictions in New York will be appealed, even though a sentence wasn't handed down, and Dershowitz believes it will ultimately reach the Supreme Court. "He gave a sentence that was a nonsentence, but it's enough to end the case and allow him to appeal," he said of Judge Juan Merchan. "The court may say, 'Wait a minute. There was no sentence, so we have no jurisdiction.' "I don't think they're going to do that. I think they're going to handle the appeal. I think they're going to reverse the conviction. And if they don't reverse the conviction, a higher court will. This is the weakest case in my 60 years of practicing law that I have ever seen." May 3: The Gateway Pundit: Attorney files brief challenging incarceration ofTina Peters Tina Peters questioning Attorney Peter Ticktin filed an Amicus Curiae Brief in support of a Habeas Corpus Petition of for Tina Peters challenging her incarceration since February of this year. Peters has a broad-based appeal pending to the Colorado Court of Appeals but and also severe health concerns. Ticktin opposes the injustice of detaining Peters, violating her civil rights and constitutional rights pending the outcome of all appeals. Her "crime was to preserve a copy of the digital election records prior to the alteration of the software and database. She arranged a qualified expert to oversee the purported software upgrade mandated by the Secretary of State that would have erased election records," a violation of the law, Tickin said. He contends that nothing says that there was something wrong with the presidential election held on November 3, 2020, more than the prosecution of those who tried to ensure that the election was fair and accurate by using the criminal law to silence hiwstleblowers and by destroying evidence starting on around April 30, 2021. Tina Peters was prosecuted for exposing criminal misconduct of Colorado officials. The Colorado Attorney General is even guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as attempted destruction of evidence, Ticktin contended. May 3: The Washington Examiner: Recently Discovered: UC Berkeley bankrolled by Chinese Communist Party entities Newly obtained donor records revealed that hundreds of thousands of dollars have flowed from entities linked to the Chinese Communist government into the coffers of the University of California, Berkeley, one of the most prestigious and left-leaning public institutions in the nation. Records divulge that members of the CCP sanctioned Chinese research university, and Chinese state-owned enterprises have all routed donations to UC Berkeley. The Trump administration has launched an investigation into the university over its failure to disclose a $220 million research deal with a state-run institution with deep ties to the People's Liberation Army -- China's Tsinghua University. May 3: The Daily Caller: Trump pushes for a $1 trillion budget for the Pentagon President Donald Trump is seeking a 13% increase in defense spending for fiscal year 2026, pushing the Pentagon's budget over the $1 trillion mark for the first time in U.S. history. The so-called "skinny budget" outlines key priorities for the Trump administration, citing the need to "strengthen the safety, security, and sovereignty of the homeland; deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific; and revitalize America's defense industrial base." The proposed jump would raise the defense budget from the $893 billion level approved for FY2025 to $1.01 trillion. The increase includes the Golden Dome missile defense system, increased shipbuilding and munitions production and expanded deterrence efforts in the Pacific region. These areas also align with a $150 billion Republican-backed reconciliation package currently advancing in Congress. May 3: The Gateway Pundit: Left-wing AZ Gov. vetoes bill mandating working with ICE on detention requests One of the most left-wing governors in America has decided she wants her state to remain a haven for criminal aliens. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), who 'won' her election under questionable circumstances, yesterday vetoed a commonsense bill passed by the State Legislature that would have required her to help follow federal immigration laws. The bill would mandate the governor, attorney general, and every county, city, and town in Arizona enforce and cooperate with all immigration orders, actions, and programs from the federal government. In her veto message Hobbs said, "When I assumed the role of Governor, I pledged to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Arizona Constitution. I have worked productively with the federal government to secure our border, stopping fentanyl at our ports of entry through Task Force SAFE, disrupting cartel operations with Operation Desert Guardian, and working across all levels of government to keep communities safe with the Border Coordination Office. … but we should not force state officials to take marching orders from Washington, DC." Earlier Hobbs vetoed the ICE Act, which would have mandated state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal officials to facilitate deportations. The bill barred any town or city from declaring "Sanctuary" policies that would restrict or hinder ICE actions. The next question is whether the Trump Administration will take action against Hobbs. May 3: Fox News: Real ID; Good or Bad thing? While many public policy leaders believe implementation of Real ID requirements across the country will bolster national security, some more libertarian critics say the Bush-era protocol could come at a cost to individual liberty and bigger government, with one expert saying it essentially sets up a de facto national ID system and treats law-abiding Americans with suspicion. In 2005 Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) opposed the move, positing that it constituted a national ID card that had no limitations on what type of information could be stored on it, posing a significant threat to American civil liberties. After being signed into law, the implementation of Real. This year, however, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set a new deadline for obtaining one and requiring one in order to board domestic commercial airline flights and to access some federal facilities like courthouses or military bases. May 2: One America News Network: Trump offsets costs of helping Ukraine thorough minerals deal With the new mineral rights deal between Washington, D.C., and Kyiv, President Trump fulfilled his pledge to hold Ukraine financially accountable for the billions of dollars that has already been provided in military assistance. This now opens a new avenue for the U.S. to provide weaponry to the country without using any taxpayer funds. The deal was signed Wednesday and will establish a common investment fund to which both countries will contribute, including through the sale of mineral rights, oil, and gas licenses in Ukraine — with a 50/50 profit split. The agreement states that rather than contributing more money to the fund, the United States retains the right to receive credit toward its overall contribution — equal to the price of any military hardware, technology, or training. "If, after the effective date, the Government of the United States of America delivers new military assistance to the Government of Ukraine in any form — including the donation of weapons systems, ammunition, technology or training — the capital contribution of the U.S. Partner will be deemed to be increased by the assessed value of such military assistance," the mineral deal states. Additionally, the pact does not oblige the U.S. to sell any military aid to Kyiv, nor does it prohibit the U.S. from sending the remaining military aid authorized by Congress under former Joe Biden, which is anticipated to expire next month. The final agreement will be sent to the Verkhovna Rada parliament of Ukraine for ratification which is expected to take about a month. May 2: The Daily Caller: ICE nabs rapists, child traffickers, gang members in massive round up During the week marking President Trump's first 100 days in office, ICE agents carried out a series of high-profile arrests of migrants with criminal records. Starting the week of his 100-day mark, booking photos of illegal migrants with convictions or pending charges were displayed along the White House north lawn's perimeter. Throughout the week, ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) made major arrests across the country, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) releasing details and photos of five of their most significant cases. "Every single day I receive a report on my desk of the murderers, rapists, child abusers, and other sickos that our ICE enforcement agents are arresting around the country," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote. "Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up." May 2: News Max: White House budget asks for $163 billion in non-defense budget cuts Donald Trump's 2026 budget plan would slash non-defense domestic spending by $163 billion while increasing expenditures on national security, according to statements released by the White House on Friday. The budget showed a desire to crack down on diversity programs and initiatives to address climate change. But the administration has yet to release detailed tables on what it wants income taxes, tariffs or the budget deficit to be — a sign of the political and financial challenge confronting Trump when he's promising to cut taxes and repay the federal debt without doing major damage to economic growth. Budgets do not become law but serve as a touchstone for the upcoming fiscal year debates. Often considered a statement of values, this first budget since Trump's return to the White House carries the added weight of defining the Republican president's second-term pursuits, alongside his party in Congress. May 1: Fox News: How can President do his job if left-wing judges tie his hand behind his back During a special commencement address to students at the University of Alabama, President Donald Trump questioned how you can give due process to people who have illegally entered the United States, in a rebuke to judges who Trump said were "interfering" with his efforts to do his job as president. Trump's comments came the same day a federal judge permanently barred his efforts to use the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport illegal alien gang members. "As you've been reading, the courts are trying to stop me from doing the job that I was elected to do," he said. "They have to let us do the job that the voters want us to do. Judges are interfering, supposedly based on due process. But how can you give due process to people who came into our country illegally? They want to give them due process. I don't know." May 1: The Daily Caller: Which federal agency gave DOGE the most resistance "The small agency called the United States Institute of Peace is definitely the agency we had the most fight at. We actually went into the agency and found they had loaded guns inside of their headquarters," one unidentified DOGE member said. "I mean, any given company, any given organizational name is going to be kind of the opposite of the title," Musk said. Musk's team also said they uncovered troubling financial practices. "So it was, by far, the least peaceful agency that we've worked with, ironically. Additionally, we found that they were spending money on things like private jets, and they even had a $130,000 contract with a former member of the Taliban," a DOGE team member said. "So, it was a contractor. They received $130,000 for generic services. And, to Elon's point, there was not actually a clear description of what the contractor services were for." May 1: Breitbart News: 60 Minutes broadcast that edited VP Harris' interview, nominated for an Emmy Last fall's "60 Minutes" story on Kamala Harris was nominated for an Emmy Award for "outstanding edited interview;" of course it was! The "60 Minutes" story on Kamala Harris was edited to make Harris look good and was the subject of a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS for deceptive editing. The fallout over the "Harris interview" still hangs over CBS News. The news division claims to have done nothing wrong, but its parent company, Paramount Global, is reportedly negotiating a settlement with Trump. Meanwhile the editing of the interview is reportedly under investigation by the FCC. May 1: Washington Free Beacon: Newsom (D-CA) awards antiterrorism grand to mosque linked to 9/11 hijackers/Pro-Hamas Cleric Democrat California governor and possible presidential candidate Gavin Newsom recently awarded taxpayer funds under a state antiterrorism program to a San Diego mosque that has been linked to 9/11 hijackers and whose imam defended the Hamas attack on Israel. He awarded nearly $200,000 to the Islamic Center of San Diego in March as part of a program to help religious institutions and nonprofits beef up security to protect against potential terrorist attacks, state records show. The Islamic Center of San Diego, led by Imam Taha Hassane, has condoned anti-Israel violence over the years. Hassane, who joined the center in 2004, defended Hamas's slaughter of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, saying in a sermon weeks later that "resistance [against Israel] is justified." May 1: The Gateway Pundit: Trump signs Executive Order defunding taxpayer money to PBS and NPR In a stunning new development, President Trump has signed a sweeping executive order defunding National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the Democrats' taxpayer-funded leftist propaganda machines. The president previously called on Congress to defund the absurdly dishonest "news" organizations following a House Oversight DOGE subcommittee hearing, which exposed the stations' already well-known bias and radical content. This includes documentaries about transvestites and transitioning, a documentary about "Racist Trees," and so-called educational programming for young children, including toddlers, that featured a cross-dressing freak. [See Related Story] April 30: Fox News: Obama appointed judge releases anti-Israel student-leader of rioters at Columbia University On Wednesday U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford – who was appointed by Obama -- ordered the release of an anti-Israel agitator who helped organize riots and protests at Columbia University. Authorities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder, earlier this month in Vermont. According to the court filing, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia after the Oct. 7, 2023, which supported the actions taken by Hamas in the terror attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and which took numerous hostages. He founded the group with Mahmoud Khalil, another pro-Palestinian activist who was detained by federal immigration officials under the Trump administration earlier this year. April 30: The Daily Caller: Communist China's export economy imploding because of US tariff onslaught China's manufacturing engine is sputtering, with new data revealing the most severe hit to China's economy since the COVID shutdown. The country's economy slipped from growth to contraction after the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell below 50 in April. New export orders sank to their lowest level since December 2022 when China was still under a COVID lockdown. Major financial institutions including UBS and Goldman Sachs have slashed their growth forecasts for China. The numbers are the latest sign yet that Trump's trade crackdown may be starting to work. "It's definitely worse than expected. It shows tariffs started to bite," Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, contended. April 30: The Epoch Times: Ukraine signs mineral deal with the US as ceasefire negotiations continue The United States and Ukraine on April 30 signed a partnership agreement covering Ukraine's rare earth metals and other natural resources, according to both U.S. and Ukrainian officials. "This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. April 30: The Washington Examiner: Trump's 100 day mark, growing support among Hispanics For many Hispanic Americans, especially those living in southern border states, the Biden presidency was marked by growing despair and disorder. Border crossings surged to record highs, inflation eroded the value of every paycheck, and confidence in the economy fell. Basic institutions began to feel hollow. President Trump returned to office with a mandate — not just from conservatives, but from working- and middle-class voters across all backgrounds and ethnicities — to restore order and a sense of seriousness to federal governance. In his first 100 days, he has done just that. Whether you measure by executive action, economic indicators, or border enforcement, these first few months have been marked by clarity of purpose and swift execution. Securing the Border: Since January, illegal crossings have dropped by 95%, and the number of "gotaways" — migrants who evade capture entirely — has fallen by 99%. New executive orders have tightened asylum rules, prioritized the deportation of criminal aliens, and shut down Biden's failed CBP One app. The result: historic lows in daily apprehensions and a renewed sense of control. For Hispanic Americans this isn't a theoretical issue. A functional immigration system is essential to public safety, economic growth, and legal immigration itself. When the law is enforced consistently, it affirms the sacrifices of every immigrant who followed the rules. The Economy: For too long, inflation punished the very people who play by the rules — people with modest incomes, savings accounts, and fixed expenses. In just three months, gas prices have fallen 7%, prescription drug prices have declined more than 2% (the largest monthly drop ever recorded), and wholesale egg prices are down nearly 50%. At the same time, inflation has fallen two months in a row, something that didn't happen once during Biden's final year. Wages: Meanwhile, wages are finally outpacing costs. Real hourly earnings for working-class Americans are up, especially in manufacturing and service sectors. More than 345,000 jobs have been created since January — most in private industry, not government. That includes 27,000 construction jobs and 9,000 manufacturing jobs, reversing two years of losses under the previous administration. And the veteran unemployment rate has dropped as well, down to 3.8%. For many in the Hispanic community — particularly in industries such as construction, caregiving, and small business — these changes are already making a difference. More take-home pay means more savings, more investment in our families, and greater independence from the state. The administration has also launched the most sweeping deregulation effort in modern history. Federal agencies are now required to eliminate 10 rules for every new one they propose, an expansion of the "two-for-one" rule from Trump's first term. Already, this effort is unlocking growth across the economy, from energy and agriculture to transportation and manufacturing. April 29: News Max: US Postal Service assisting the Trump deportation process The investigative arm of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has reportedly been assisting the Trump administration with locating migrants living in the United States illegally. The Inspection Service is apparently helping federal authorities locate illegals using data from mail and packages. A senior Homeland Security official confirmed the Inspection Service's role, saying in a statement that USPIS collaboration is "a key part of ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to fulfill President Trump's promise to the American people to remove violent criminals from our streets, dismantle drug and human trafficking operations, and make America safe again." Reportedly of interest to federal immigration agents are photographs of envelopes and packages, known as "mail covers," Postal Service surveillance systems, and mail tracking information as well as credit card data and other financial information. The agency agreed to be a partner in the task force, saying "We want to play well in the sandbox." The Postal Inspection Service is a 1,700-strong agency that maintains the safety of the mail system. It features 1,250 inspectors and 450 police officers who provide security. April 28: Fox News: NY Attorney General now subject to state-level ethics complaint New York Attorney General Letitia James is the subject of a new state-level ethics complaint filed by a legal nonprofit America First Legal (AFL). The AFL complaint filed last week adds to the recent woes for James, who's also facing a criminal referral from the Trump administration related to accusations of mortgage fraud. "For a state prosecutor who has maligned the President of the United States for political gain, public accountability will serve as a cure to Letitia James' endless lawfare and abuse of power," AFL Vice President Dan Epstein said. The complaint was filed with the New York State Unified Court System's Committee on Professional Standards, the state-level entity that handles discipline matters for attorneys whose principal office is in the Albany region. The complaint requests that the attorney grievance committee open an investigation into James over accusations of mortgage fraud levied against her earlier this month by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). "If what FHFA Director William Pulte uncovered is true, then we have a sitting state Attorney General who made false certifications to the United States in return for federal benefits," Epstein said. According to AFL's complaint James' actions violate the NY State Bar Association's rules of professional conduct, those rules prohibit lawyers from engaging in "illegal conduct" that can adversely impact the lawyer's honesty and trustworthiness. It also bars conduct that may not be deemed "illegal," but that involves dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. If the allegations are found to be true, the Committee could potentially pull James authority to practice in NY state. [See Related Story] April 28: The Epoch Times: US tariff revenues reach record $15 billion in April As President Donald Trump's trade policies take effect, record tariff revenues have begun flowing into U.S. government coffers. The Treasury Department announced last week that revenues from "customs and certain excise taxes" reached an all-time high of $15.9 billion in April, up 105 percent from a year ago. Last month, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started to implement 13 tariff-related presidential actions. At a "Make America Wealthy Again" event April 2, Trump announced a 10% universal baseline tariff on most US trading partners and country-specific reciprocal levies. Days later, the President issued a 90-day pause, confirming nations subject to reciprocal tariff rates would see their rates lowered to 10%, allowing those countries to negotiate trade deals during the pause. The administration has confirmed trade negotiations are underway with dozens of nations. Economists have made a wide range of estimates on how much revenue the new tariffs will bring the US – from 2.1 to 6 trillion over the next ten years. April 28: The Gateway Pundit: NC Supreme Court race is now in Federal Court The hotly contested North Carolina Supreme Court race is now in federal court awaiting a ruling from a Trump-appointed judge. The North Carolina Supreme Court earlier this month ruled that most of 65,000 questionable ballots must count in the hotly contested judicial race. In a recount in this hotly contentious race Democrats pulled ahead two weeks after Election Day by 625 votes in an election with over 2.7 million votes cast. Republican Griffin was leading the race until all of a sudden, the Democrat overcame her opponent weeks after the election. In January, the North Carolina Supreme Court in a 5-1 vote blocked the state from certifying Democrat incumbent justice Allison Riggs as the winner of the race. Griffin, challenged the election. In a 2-1 decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals had previously ruled that approximately 65,000 ballots — cast by voters with incomplete registration information, missing photo identification, or submitted by individuals who have never lived in North Carolina — may be invalid under state and federal election law. A couple of weeks ago the state's high court ruled 4-2 that most of the challenged ballots must be counted. "Griffin urges Myers to reject requests from Riggs, the elections board, and other interested parties to throw out the cure process. His lawyers emphasized state courts' role in addressing a dispute for an election to a state office," the Carolina Coast Online reported. Even a small number of votes can potentially change the outcome. April 28: The Washington Examiner: Mexico to comply with treaty requirements providing Texas with water U.S. leaders announced a deal with Mexico to provide more water for Texas farmers after threats from President Trump. On Monday, Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins explained the deal with the Mexican government, ensuring the United States's southern neighbor would meet its obligations as part of the 1944 water treaty. The Department of Agriculture said Mexico committed to transferring water from international reservoirs and increasing the flow of six of the country's Rio Grande tributaries into the U.S. through the end of the current five-year water cycle, as stipulated under the treaty. April 27: The Washington Times: Illegal from Chile arrested for theft of DHS Secretary Noem's purse A Chilean illegal immigrant has been arrested in the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse last week at a downtown restaurant in the District, officials said Sunday. Metropolitan Police officers and Secret Service agents nabbed the suspect on Saturday, six days after he made off with Noem's license, passport and $3,000 in cash when he stole her designer handbag at Capital Burger. The New York Post, citing "law enforcement sources," identified the man as Mario Bustamante-Leiva, 49. The Secretary said Sunday that Bustamante-Leiva "is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years." April 27: News Max: Greenland and Demark want to strengthen ties Greenland and Denmark agreed on Sunday to strengthen their ties in response to U.S. President Trump's interest in taking control of the strategically located Arctic island, their leaders said after talks in Copenhagen. Greenland's new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen landed in the Danish capital on Saturday for a three-day visit, in a display of unity between the mineral-rich island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and Denmark. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have said only Greenlanders can decide the territory's future. However, they have found themselves treading a delicate line between firmly dismissing U.S. ambitions of annexing Greenland while also trying to maintain good ties with their traditional ally. The warmer relations between Nuuk and Copenhagen come after Greenland's previous prime minister in December blamed Denmark for a historical "genocide" in Greenland and in January stepped up a push for independence from Denmark. April 27: The NY Post: Florida Man risks allegator attack in order to save injured Bald Eagle An American hero risked his life swimming to the aid of America's national bird, facing a possible alligator in the process. Doug Hay told the local Tampa Bay Fox affiliate that on April 19, he heard a splash in the lake behind his Lakewood Ranch, Florida, home. He and his wife went to investigate the noise and saw a bald eagle in the center of the lake, with another bald eagle circling above. He believes the two eagles were fighting when one of them became seriously injured and ended up in the lake. Seeing the eagle in trouble, Hay jumped into the lake and started swimming toward it. He also knew a 7-foot alligator lived in the lake. Hay reached the eagle, which grabbed his arm with its talons and together they made it to shore. A video shows the eagle on the lakeshore and says he hoped it would fly off. After a while, when it became clear the eagle was injured, he notified a wildlife rescue. The Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida in Venice is caring for the eagle now, which is recovering from an "extensive" wound to the thoracic cavity. Hay also suffered some wounds to his arm from the eagle's talons, but he said he would do it again to save "the symbol of America." April 26: The Post Newspaper: New York Attorney General; "Nobody should be Above the Law" A wise man once said "When others falsely accuse you of something you haven't done, it's highly likely that they are doing what they're accusing you of! " Lititia James, New York's Attorney General spent years and millions of taxpayer dollars to charge Donald Trump with a misrepresentation of assets while filling for business loans in New York City. Earlier this month, the Federal Housing Finance Agency uncovered, alleged falsifications of real estate documents by NY Attorney General James in connection with not one, but two, property purchases. It appears James may have made false statements on her financial real estate disclosure documents in order to get a more favorable loan term -- Something she prosecuted Trump for. As James has said numerous times, is it true that "nobody is above the law?" April 26: Fox News: Nearly 800 illegals arrested in Florida in ICE "Title Wave" operation In a groundbreaking joint effort, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami and Florida law enforcement agencies arrested nearly 800 illegal immigrants during the first four days of Operation Tidal Wave, a massive, multi-agency immigration enforcement crackdown. Reportedly some of the ICE arrests included a convicted Colombian murderer, alleged MS-13 and 18th Street gang members and a Russian with an Interpol Red Notice for manslaughter. One was a Colombian illegal who entered the U.S. as a getaway, was convicted of homicide in his home country. Another was a Guatemalan illegal and alleged MS-13 gang member who has reentered the U.S. three times and was convicted of felony reentry. Still another was a Honduran illegal – a known or suspected terrorist member of the 18th Street gang and has allegedly reentered the U.S. illegally two times. And the list goes on…. April 26: News Max: Trump not happy with Putin over war in Ukraine President Donald Trump, Saturday, sharply criticized Russian President Putin for failing to come to the negotiating table to end the Russia-Ukraine war. "There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," Trump said. "It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?'" The unusually strong criticism of Putin comes after Trump's sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Vatican City ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. The White House described the meeting only as "very productive," and Zelenskyy contended it was a "good meeting." Trump also blasted a NYT report by Washington correspondent Peter Baker, who alleged Trump was playing into Putin's hands on the Ukraine. He slammed Baker for failing to criticize President Barack Obama, "who made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired." April 25: Fox News: FBI arrests Wisconsin judge for allegedly obstructing the arrest of an illegal alien The FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge Friday morning for allegedly hiding a previously deported illegal immigrant in her jury room in order to stop him from being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after evidence came to light that she had shielded the migrant from ICE agents, according to a criminal complaint. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest. Federal agents from ICE, FBI, CBP and DEA attempted to arrest the undocumented male – Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz – following his scheduled criminal court appearance before Dugan on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly beating up two people. Dugan demanded that the officers proceed to the chief judge's office and – after his hearing ended – escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a restricted jury door, bypassing the public area where agents were waiting in order to help him avoid arrest, per the complaint. April 25: KTSM-El Paso: Retired New Mexico judge and his wife arrested for harboring Venezuelan gang member A former New Mexico judge and his wife were arrested on Thursday, April 24, after federal law enforcement learned that their tenant, who is an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member, was arrested at the judge's home. Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, said. Cano and his wife were booked into the County Detention Center on a tampering with evidence charge with no bond. Both made their initial court appearance on Friday morning, in a Las Cruces court. Detention and preliminary hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, April 29. They will remain in custody pending their detention hearing. Cano at the behest of his wife last year. reportedly rented out his casita to Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who is an alleged Tren de Aragua member. April 25: News Max: Huge crowds pack the Vatican to say good bye to the Pope Some 250,000 people paid respects to Pope Francis during the three days his coffin led in St Peter's Basilica as public viewing ended and world leaders began gathering for his funeral. The crowds exceeded the estimated 195,000 who came to see Francis's predecessor Benedict XVI after his death in 2022. Throughout the day, vast crowds of people had packed the wide avenue leading to the basilica, pilgrims and tourists mingling with Italians enjoying a public holiday. President Donald Trump is among 50 heads of state and over a dozen royals expected to attend. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump touched down at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport late Friday, making his first foreign trip since returning to power. April 24: The Daily Caller: Washington state paves the way to allow non-citizens to vote The Washington State Legislature recently passed legislation that many warn will increase voting by non-citizens. Senate Bill 5077 requires the governor designate state agencies to automatically register individuals to vote when they access government services. Anyone signing up for public benefits or using a state agency in Washington will have their information automatically transmitted to the Secretary of State's office for voter registration. The bill mirrors the federal "motor voter" law, requires local Department of Motor Vehicle offices to automatically register people to vote in federal elections who apply for driver's licenses. It broadens that process to include state welfare agencies and offices performing naturalization ceremonies. Even individuals enrolling in health insurance through the state's exchange will now have their information automatically transmitted to the Secretary of State's (SOS) office to facilitate voter registration. Local residents and election integrity advocates are alarmed. April 24: The Gateway Pundit: Panama and the Canal are front and center in Trump's mind After decades of being a forgotten relic of U.S. history, Panama and its canal are front and center as Donald Trump defines a new era of America First involvement in the world. At his joint session of Congress on March 4, Trump said, "Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals. "The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it. But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure. "Thirty-eight thousand workers died building the Panama Canal. They died of malaria. They died of snake bites and mosquitoes. Not a nice place to work," Trump said. "It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely. We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back," he contended. April 24: Fox News: NY AG hires high-powered attorney, the same one who represented Hunter Biden The New York Attorney General's Office has hired high-powered attorney Abbe Lowell to defend Attorney General Letitia James against fraud accusations being levied against her. The office confirmed it hired Lowell, who has represented high-profile political figures, including Hunter Biden, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, former Sen. Bob Mendez and Bill Clinton. It is unclear whether taxpayer dollars are going towards James' defense, as the attorney general's office stopped answering questions once they were asked about how Lowell would be compensated. Lowell will represent James as a private citizen, not as part of Winston & Strawn LLP, where he is a partner. April 24: The Washington Examiner: Judge puts hold on proof of citizenship A federal judge on Thursday halted a key provision of President Trump's executive order aimed at tightening election security, siding with Democratic-aligned groups who argued the measure would unlawfully suppress voters. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from enforcing a new requirement for voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The ruling comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by the Democrat National Committee and several liberal voting rights organizations. April 23: Fox News: Gabbard refers two intel professionals to DOJ for criminal prosecution with another referral in the pipeline Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard referred two intelligence community professionals to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution Wednesday over alleged leaks of classified information. An ODNI official said that the intelligence community professionals allegedly leaked classified information to the Washington Post and the New York Times. A third criminal referral is "on its way" to the DOJ. The official told Fox News Digital said that intelligence community professionals should take the move "as a warning." "Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation's security at risk and must end," Gabbard contended. "Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." "Today, I referred two intelligence community leakers to the Department of Justice for criminal referral, with a third criminal referral on its way, which includes the recent illegal leak to the Washington Post," Gabbard said. "These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump's agenda." The Trump Administration is not putting up with leakers this time around. April 23: One America News Network: Department of Education to restart student debt repayment The Department of Education will officially resume collecting federal student loan debt after it was halted for over five years, a policy which began under the Biden administration. In a statement released earlier this week, the department said this move will impact more than five million borrowers, along with an additional four million individuals reported to be behind on their payments. Student loan collections were first paused in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to offer relief to active students and college graduates — a strategy which many have criticized. All borrowers in default can expect an email from the DOE's federal student aid office within the next two weeks, with wage garnishment notices by mid-summer — specifically for those in default. The new policy is expected to take effect no later than May 5th. April 22: The Gateway Pundit: Federal Judge orders Trump to rehire Voice of America staffers In the continuing lawfare efforts to slow down the Trump agenda a federal judge ordered the Administration to rehire Voice of America (VOA) and other affiliate news services staff. Trump had placed employees and contractors for government-funded Voice of America on leave last month. District Judge Royce Lamberth, granted a preliminary injunction against Kari Lake, the acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media saying Voice of America is funded by Congress and Trump's cuts to the agency are "a direct affront to the power of the legislative branch." The judge instructed the defendants to take all necessary steps to return the employees and their contractors to their outlets, so they can "provide news which is consistently reliable and authoritative, accurate, objective and comprehensive." Meanwhile on April 22: The Gateway Pundit also reported US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 91-year-old Clinton appointee, extended his block on Tren de Aragua deportations, blasting the DOJ lawyers during a hearing on Tuesday and accused them throwing people out of the US "because of their tattoos." Earlier this month he blocked the removal of two alleged Tren de Aragua gang members in New York. He extended the block on Tuesday but he did not issue a preliminary injunction. The judge's relief only applies to a dozen illegals being detained in some New York counties. April 22: News Max: 18 Nations offer trade deals as Trump pauses tariffs The White House said Tuesday it is progressing on a potential trade agreement with China, and that it has received 18 trade proposals from other countries and that a total of 100 nations seek to reach a deal with the U.S. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs against foreign imports, with the exception of China, giving other nations a chance to negotiate deals to avert the additional levies. On Monday, Vice President Vance reportedly said the U.S. and India agreed to a roadmap for a trade agreement, and the U.S. and Japan also reportedly are close to an interim trade deal. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she spoke earlier in the day with the administration's trade team. "There is a lot of progress being made," Leavitt said. "We now have 18 proposals on paper that have been brought to the trade team. Again, these are proposals on paper that countries have proposed to the Trump administration and to our government. "You have Secretary Bessent, Secretary Lutnick, Ambassador Greer, NEC Director Hassett and Peter Navarro, the entire trade team meeting with 34 countries this week alone. We are moving at Trump speed to ensure these deals are made on behalf of the American worker and the American people." April 21: The Washington Times: Pope Francis dies at 88 Pope Francis, the first Jesuit leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics and the first to come from the Southern Hemisphere, died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced. Francis entered Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and, at 38 days, became the longest hospitalization of his papacy. He emerged on Easter Sunday — his last public appearance, a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. His pontificate was marked by tremendous popularity among Catholics and non-Catholics alike, though not without controversy. Liberals were disappointed that he didn't move further and faster with reforms, while conservatives groaned under his overtures to make gay Catholics more welcome in the church while also restricting the use of the traditional Latin Mass, a rite his predecessor, the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, permitted more widely. April 21: Sky News: How is a new pope selected, the process When a pope dies the Catholic church enters a period called "empty seat" – as there is no pope sitting on the throne of St Peter. The late pope's ring and seal – which are used to dispatch papal documents – are broken to stop anyone else from using them. During this time a cardinal becomes interim chief of the church with limited powers. "Empty seat" generally lasts several weeks while the pope's body lies in state, his funeral is held and the cardinals prepare to gather for the conclave. The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel, the famous Vatican hall whose walls and ceilings are decorated with the works of Michelangelo. The meeting features cardinals from all over the world and lasts until a new pope is chosen. Only cardinals under the age of 80 (cardinal electors) are allowed to participate in the conclave and cast their vote for the new pope. Currently, of the 252 cardinals, there are 135 cardinal electors: 53 from Europe; 23 from Asia; 20 from North America; 18 from Africa; 17 from South America; and four from Oceania. Italy has 17, the USA 10, Brazil 7 and the UK has three. Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will not emerge from the Vatican until a new pope has been elected. They hold voting sessions in the Sistine Chapel and sleep in the Casa Santa Marta hotel inside the Vatican's grounds. While the conclave is ongoing, cardinals are not able to communicate with the outside world. No telephones, internet use or newspapers are allowed. Except for the first day, when only one ballot is held, the cardinals hold two daily balloting sessions until one candidate has a majority of two-thirds plus one. They are all sworn to secrecy about the voting. If the cardinals have not reached a majority, the cards and the tally sheets are placed in a stove and burned with an additive to produce black smoke, showing the outside world that a pope has not yet been chosen. When enough cardinals agree on a candidate for the next pope, that candidate is then asked if he accepts and by which name he wishes to be known. Then the ballots are burned as before, but with an additive to produce white smoke. April 21: The Daily Caller: Turley: Supreme Court Becoming Increasingly Frustrated with 'Half-Baked' Cases Challenging Trump Deportations George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Sunday that justices on the Supreme Court are showing signs of "frustration" with lower courts over deportation cases. The Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump administration's efforts to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) early Saturday morning, saying detainees needed to have a chance to challenge their deportations. Turley said the high court was being forced into an "increasingly improvisational" approach by the sheer number of emergency cases. "What Justice Alito is objecting to is that this is becoming increasingly improvisational," Turley said. "We rarely see this level of number of emergency cases going in front of the Supreme Court. And a lot of them are half-baked in the sense that they simply don't have the normal details, the record that you have. And the justices are expressing their frustration." Turley observed that United States District Judge Boasberg of the District of Columbia had particularly irritated some of the justices. "Previously, they expressed frustration for the district courts. You know, in the case of Judge Boasberg, they said, 'What is this doing in your court? This is a habeas case that belongs down south.' And I think that they are showing some of that frustration," Turley contended. April 20: Fox News: Blue States rally to get illegals driver's licenses before Trump cracks down on "Real IDs" Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow illegals to obtain driver's licenses. The deadline for obtaining a "Real ID" is May 7th. At that time, you must have this identification in order to travel at domestic airports. These IDs provide legal status of the holder making it easier to identify illegals in the country. It will also allow states to ensure non-citizens are not voting in our elections, DHS Secretary Noem contended. Those with a US passport or passport card would be allowed to fly in the absence of a "Real ID." April 20: News Max: Alito's Deportation Dissent: Court Rushed Trump Block The Supreme Court acted "literally in the middle of the night" and without sufficient explanation in blocking the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a sharp dissent that castigated the seven-member majority. Joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, Alito said there was "dubious factual support" for granting the request in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union. The majority did not provide a detailed explanation in the order early Saturday, as is typical, but the court previously said deportations could proceed only after those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given "a reasonable time" to contest their pending removals. "Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law," Alito said. The justices' brief order directed the administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center "until further order of this court." April 19: The Daily Caller: James calls mortgage fraud allegations baseless, but the facts seem to indicate that's not the case Attorney General Letitia James (D-NY) said Thursday that the allegations of fraud and misconduct she faces are "baseless" and an act of political retaliation, but official documents suggest otherwise. But FHFA which referred the case to DOJ for potential prosecution says it looks like James falsified real estate documents in connection with the purchase of properties in New York and Virginia. The documents indicate that James may have made misrepresentations on real estate paperwork in potential violation of the law. When asked to address the substance of the allegations, James declined and said that she will address the allegations in the appropriate venue and at the appropriate time. April 19: News Max: White House calls litigation to stop deportation of criminals and terrorist "meritless;" claims the temporary action by SCOTUS unprecedented The White House, speaking out after lawsuits poured in Saturday following the SCOTUS's ruling temporarily blocking efforts to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals being held in northern Texas under the 18th-century wartime law, called the litigation "meritless." "We are confident in the lawfulness of the Administration's actions and in ultimately prevailing against an onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of terrorist aliens than those of the American people," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The court put the deportations temporarily on hold in a 7-2 vote, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissenting. The court's ruling came even before lower courts had ruled on the merits of the case. Leavitt's statement was followed by the Department of Justice submitting a response, calling the Supreme Court ruling an "unprecedented injunction." An appeals court early Saturday called the ACLU's motion premature and said the group of immigrants being held in north Texas were not certified yet as a class. April 18: The Epoch Times: Department of State; Chinese satellites providing Houthis with targeting data on US interests in the Red Sea The State Department has dismissed communist China's self-proclaimed role as a "global peacemaker," saying that a Beijing-supported Chinese satellite company has directly supported the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group's attacks on U.S. interests. At a regular news briefing on April 17, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that Chang Guang Satellite Technology "is directly supporting" the Houthis and called such action "unacceptable." "China consistently attempts … to frame itself as a global peacemaker," she said. April 18: One America News Network: Enclave is being investigated by numerous state agencies, Abbott; there's no place in Texas for sharia law A new development project for a Muslim community in Texas, which advertises bringing "Islam to the forefront," has drawn heavy criticism from Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), who has since declared that "Sharia law is not allowed in Texas." The organization behind the project, the East Plano Islamic Center, has dubbed the project "EPIC City," and it plans to build on a 402-acre site. The development would include a "Mosque, a faith school, a community college, and multiple sports facilities" in Collin and Hunt counties. The project would also include the construction of 1,000 homes, parks, and other amenities — all meant for Muslim residents. Nonetheless, after the news of the development was released, Abbott vowed that the project will "never see the light of day," noting that the "EPIC compound in Collin Co. has serious legal issues." "A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas," the governor wrote. April 18: The New York Post: Federal Judges denies request for a TRO on deportations of illegal alien alleged gang members US District Judge James Boasberg denied an emergency request from lawyers for alleged Venezuelan gang members Thursday seeking to block "imminent deportations" under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing suspected Tren de Aragua gang members being detained in Texas, had asked Boasberg to issue a temporary restraining order requiring 30 days' notice from the Trump administration before any of their clients are deported under the 18th-century law after learning the removal notices had recently been issued to detainees. "I'm sympathetic to your conundrum, but I don't think I have the power to do anything about it," the Judge said during an emergency hearing in the District Court for Washington, D.C. but noted a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month, which lifted his pause on the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act, determined that if "detainees are confined in Texas … the venue is improper in the District of Columbia." April 17: The Galveston Daily News: School Choice and Taxpayer funding of Private Schools Back on January 13th and 20th 2014 we wrote columns as two of the Three Musketeers saying without an honest education, one that teaches the truth of history, no nation will survive. In the 1770's American colonists were literate (able to read, write, and cipher with great competence). When Thomas Payne published Common Sense, it became the most read writing in America, even more than the Bible. Without this intellectual competence the "American experiment" wouldn't have been possible. The significance of education has not changed, yet in comparing the current results, America ranks toward the bottom of the list of developed nations even though we continue to spend vast amounts of resources on educating our children. April 17: Fox News: SCOTUS poised to address the whether district judges can invoke nationwide injunctions The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the Trump administration's challenge to judges issuing nationwide injunctions, setting a date for a case that could have a major impact on the president's ability to carry out his agenda as well as on the entire country. This comes after three federal judges issued separate nationwide injunctions blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. On Thursday, the court consolidated the three cases into one and set oral arguments to examine the fundamental question of whether district judges can issue rulings that affect the entire country. The court will hear oral arguments for the case on May 15, which is about two weeks after the court normally stops hearing oral arguments ahead of its recess, which begins in July. April 17: The Daily Signal: Surge in small business loan applications undercuts narrative that tariffs will hurt the US economy As Democrats criticize tariffs as bad for business, the Trump administration's Small Business Administration announced an almost 75% surge in loans to small manufacturers. "Loan applications and approvals for small manufacturers are surging—a clear sign that American manufacturing is roaring back, fueled by pro-growth policies that put American workers and businesses first," SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. The number of SBA 7(a) loan approvals for small manufacturers has increased by 74% compared with the same period during the Biden administration, according to the SBA. April 16: News Max: IRS to revoke Harvard's tax exempt status According to CNN, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service is making plans to rescind the tax-exempt status of Harvard University. A final decision on rescinding the university's tax exemption is expected soon. The report comes a day after President Trump threatened to strip the university of its tax-exempt status and said Harvard should apologize after the school rejected what it called unlawful demands to overhaul academic programs or lose federal grants. April 16: Fox News: Law Enforcement release records showing "Maryland" deportee is member of MS-13, destroying Media narrative According to a Prince George's County, Maryland, Police Department interview sheet local police discovered Abrego Garcia during a murder investigation. Police found him loitering in a Home Depot parking lot with other known MS-13 gang members in possession of illicit drugs in 2019. Prince George's County Gang Unit MS-13 Intelligence Squad conducted an interview with Abrego Garcia and contacted a "past proven and reliable source" who identified him as an active member of MS-13 with the "Westerns" clique, with the rank of "Chequeo" and the moniker of "Chele." Additionally, publicly available court records filed against Abrego Garcia cast further doubt on the Democrats' narrative about his innocence. April 16: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: DOJ launches lawsuit against Maine over Title IX violations The State of Maine has been sued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) after failing to comply with President Trump's ban on transgender women competing in women's high school sports. According to the lawsuit, Maine is violating Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a press conference, "We tried to get Maine to comply. We don't like standing here and filing lawsuits; we want states to comply with us." This follows a months-long standoff over the issue between President Trump and Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills. The DOJ lawsuit claims that Mills' failure to exclude transgender women from women's sports disadvantages female athletes. It states in part, "The results are stark: girls are displaced from podiums, lose opportunities for advancement to regional and national competitions, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition." April 15: The Daily Caller: NYT fails to tell readers firebomber of PA Governor's mansion is self-proclaimed socialist The New York Times's coverage of the man police suspect caused a fire in Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro' failed to note he's a self-proclaimed socialist. He allegedly "deployed incendiary devices" at the governor's mansion while Shapiro and his family were at home and sleeping. He arraigned Monday and charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and burglary. While his Facebook profile also reportedly contains posts and comments lauding the Black Lives Matter movement and claiming that he's a "registered socialist," the NYT highlighted his posts of his criticizing former President Biden, ignoring ones recognizant of left-leaning politics. April 15: The Gateway Pundit: Assistant DHS Secretary schools ABC news on illegal alien recently deported to El Salvador Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tricia McLaughlin delivered an epic schooling of a far-left ABC News Tuesday after he tried to cover for the infamous illegal alien recently deported to El Salvador. The Trump administration recently sent Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who illegally entered America in 2011, back to his home country. The administration cited two court rulings that found that he was an MS-13 gang member. This made him a designated foreign terrorist and an El Salvadoran citizen who was in the United States illegally. The Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to 'facilitate"' his return, doing so after an Obama-appointed judge demanded the administration to not just "facilitate" but also "effectuate" the man's return. Meanwhile Garcia remains in El Salvador despite the SCOTUS ruling, however, because the country's president, Nayib Bukele, has ruled out shipping him back to America. April 15: Fox News: Sometimes people are guilty of doing what they accuse others of doing NY Attorney General Letitia James has been hit with shocking allegations by the Trump administration, accusing her of mortgage fraud. In documents obtained by Fox's Laura Ingraham," the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, accusing James of mortgage fraud Tuesday. The letter to AG Pam Bondi accuses that James falsified records to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms. It cites a property in Virginia that James allegedly claimed as her principal residence and a property in New York she claimed as a four-unit structure instead of five, which he said could mean she was able to get a different and more favorable loan. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley opined the irony of James getting accused of falsifying records is "perfectly crushing. This is a person who prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress, and among the charges that were brought in New York, in just the civil but the criminal case, was making false or misleading statements to financial institutions," Turley contended. "As for James, if we apply the Letitia James standard that she created, there'd be little question here. This seems pretty straightforward." He explained the Trump administration is saying this was not her principal residence because, as a New York elected official, she has to say her principal residence is in New York state. April 14: Fox News: PA firebomber, not a fan of Trump, professes hatred toward Shapiro The man who police say confessed to setting fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and his family was "not a fan of Trump" the President said Monday. The suspect, of Harrisburg, PA, is "currently receiving treatment" at a hospital for a "medical event not connected to this incident or his arrest," PA State Police said. While being interviewed by troopers, he "admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro." He told investigators "..he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he fo.und at his residence" before heading to the Governor's residence. April 14: NY Post: El Salvador Pres says he doesn't have ability to return deported illegal criminal gang member El Salvador President Nayib Bukele claimed Monday he has no ability to send a man from Maryland deported to his country back to the U.S. despite a US Supreme Court ruling directing the Trump administration to take "steps to facilitate" his return. "I hope you are not suggesting that I smuggle terrorists into the United States," Bukele told reporters. "Of course, I'm not going to do it. "The question is preposterous," Bukele added. "I don't have the power to return him to the United States." April 14: News Max: Trump freezes $2,2 billion in grants for Harvard The federal government says it's freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University, since the institution said Monday it won't comply with the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus. The demands, which are an update from an earlier letter, also call for a ban on face masks — which appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters. They also pressure the university to stop recognizing or funding "any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment." April 14: One American News Network: President of El Salvador; we won't send deported gang member back to the US Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, stated that he has no intention of sending Kilmar Armando Abrego García back to the United States, following his deportation back to his native country. Despite a previous Supreme Court decision stating that the Trump administration should take "steps to facilitate" the possible return of the purported MS-13 member living in Maryland, who was deported to the Central American country, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele asserted on Monday that he is powerless to send the man back to the United States. Additionally, Salvadoran officials, including the president, are not obligated to adhere to rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court. "I hope you are not suggesting that I smuggle terrorists into the United States," Bukele told reporters while sitting alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. "Of course, I'm not going to do it." April 13: Fox News: Now comes the real work, reducing spending and balancing the budget House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is no "big fan" of hiking the tax rate for America's wealthiest to 40%, an idea some are mulling over in order to offset some costs of their in-progress tax package. "We're the Republican Party, and we're for tax reduction for everyone, and that's a general principle that we always try to abide by," Johnson contended. Though there are many discussions, thoughts and theories on how to get all the GOP's goals accomplished, Johnson said he wouldn't "put any money on any of [those] yet." April 13: The Gateway Pundit: MS-13 - Judicial Action Friday, US District Judge of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, Paula Xinis scheduled a new hearing in the case of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the Supreme Court ruled the US must facilitate his return from El Salvador. SCOTUS Thursday ordered the US to facilitate the return of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The ruling was unanimous. President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would listen to the Supreme Court. "If the Supreme Court said, 'bring somebody back [from deportation],' I would do that. I respect the Supreme Court… I'm not talking about the lower court. I have great respect for the Supreme Court," Trump said of the Abrego Garcia case. April 12: The Washington Times: Trump exempts computers, phones and some electronics from tariffs Computers, smartphones, chips and other devices and components, including many from China, will be exempted from President reciprocal tariffs. The US Customs and Border Protection, , the agency tasked with collecting tariff revenue, announced late Friday that a swathe of electronics would not be hit by the president's tariff policy, a win for consumers and tech giants like Apple. The agency cited a Trump memo that ordered a list of electronics, including routers, semiconductors, memory cards and flat-screen TVs will avoid the duties. "All products that are properly classified in these listed provisions will be excluded from the reciprocal tariffs," the announcement read. April 12: Fox News: Trump orders US military to take control of federal lands on the US-Mexico border The U.S. military will take control of a strip of federal land that spans three states along the southern border in an effort to stem illegal immigration, a memorandum Friday by Donald Trump said. The memorandum, "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions," directs the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security "to provide for the use and jurisdiction by the Department of Defense over such Federal lands, including the Roosevelt Reservation and excluding Federal Indian Reservations, that are reasonably necessary to enable military activities." He wrote it could include "border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment." "Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats," Trump wrote in the memorandum. "The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past." April 11: The Epoch Times: Beijing will increase tariffs on US imports, how long can they hold out? Beijing announced on Friday it will increase tariffs on U.S. imports from 84 percent to 125 percent, in retaliation against the U.S. decision to hike duties on Chinese goods to a total of 145 percent. The new tariff rate will come into force on Saturday, China announced. The White House confirmed on April 10 that U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have risen to 145 percent, factoring in the earlier 20 percent tariffs imposed in connection with fentanyl trafficking. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had criticized China for increasing its tariffs on American goods to 84 percent, saying it would ultimately hurt China more. "I think it's unfortunate that the Chinese actually don't want to come and negotiate, because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system," Bessent said. April 11: News Max: Trump opens window for negotiations with Iran, but not without warnings Donald Trump is betting that a beleaguered Iran is so vulnerable following a tumultuous 18 months in the Middle East that it might finally be ready to abandon its nuclear program. The renewed push to solve one of the most delicate foreign policy issues facing the White House and the Mideast will begin in earnest Saturday when Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gather in Oman. Trump says he prefers a diplomatic solution, even as he warns that Iran will face "great danger" if talks don't go well. But Iran's nuclear advances since Trump scrapped an Obama-era agreement during his first term make finding a pathway to a deal difficult, and experts warn that the prospects of U.S. military action on Iranian nuclear facilities appear higher than they have been in years. April 11: Fox Business: President optimistic US and CCP can strike a deal President Trump is "optimistic" that the U.S. and China can strike a deal over tariffs, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. Her remarks came just hours after China increased its tariffs on U.S. imports to 125%, up from 84%, in Beijing's latest escalation of a trade war with the Trump administration. 'The president has made it very clear he's open to a deal with China," Leavitt said. "The president ... would be gracious if China intends to make a deal with the United States. If China continues to retaliate, it's not good for China. The United States of America is the strongest, best economy in the world, as evidenced by the more than 75 countries who have called the administration immediately to cut good deals," Leavitt said. April 11: Breitbart News: Federal Judge paused deportation of illegal In the latest act of immigration-related lawfare against the Trump administration, a federal judge blocked the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants with temporary protected status (TPS) after it was revoked. On March, the Trump administration removed the legal status of more than 500,000 migrants who entered the U.S. through a Biden parole program, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warning impacted migrants that they will have 30 days to self-deport before law enforcement authorities go searching for them. "DHS has determined that a 30-day wind-down period provides affected parties sufficient notice while also preserving DHS's ability to enforce the law promptly against those CHNV parolees lacking a lawful basis to remain in the United States," the notice reads. "Accordingly, DHS is opting not to increase the wind-down period to more than 30 days." April 11: The Epoch Times: Immigration judge rules Columbia University activist can be deported An immigration judge has ruled that Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is eligible for deportation. Immigration Judge Jamee Comans found that because of Khalil's involvement in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia in the waning days of the Biden administration, his continued presence in the United States raised "potentially serious foreign policy consequences." It's the latest development surrounding Secretary of State Marco Rubio's efforts to deport Khalil under the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952, which allows the secretary to make the determination that a noncitizen's continued presence in the United States poses a risk to the government's foreign policy aims. Comans said the government had adequately shown "clear and convincing evidence that he is removable." Khalil, a lawful permanent resident in the United States but not a citizen, was arrested on March 8 in his university apartment—the first of several arrests resulting from the Trump administration's policy of deporting students who took part in the protests and riots at major universities across the United States in 2024. April 10: The Daily Caller: Senate continues to vote down Biden climate change agenda Senate Republicans continued their campaign Thursday to roll back stringent energy regulations that were issued during the final months of President Joe Biden's term. The Senate voted 52-42 to repeal a Biden Department of Energy regulation banning some natural gas water heaters by 2029. The resolution now heads to President Donald Trump's desk for signature. No Republican Senators voted against the repeal. House Republicans, led by Republican Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer, voted to repeal the gas water heater ban in February. April 10: The Gateway Pundit: Cornyn has a primary election challenger, Ken Paxton The Senate race between incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton is already heating up. Two Texas House Republicans have already endorsed Paxton's 2026 Senate bid against Cornyn, just days after he formally announced his campaign. Among them is Rep. Lance Gooden, who said Paxton "will take a sledgehammer to the establishment, secure the border, and fight hard for President Trump's agenda." "Attorney General Paxton is the conservative champion we need in the U.S. Senate," Gooden wrote. April 10: The Epoch Times: House passes Trump/Senate budget resolution allowing Congress to move forward with the Trump-backed reconciliation package The House of Representatives advanced a resolution that will allow Congress to move forward with Donald Trump's sweeping legislative agenda. In a 216–214 vote, the lower chamber approved the Senate-passed budget blueprint, in spite of lingering concerns among some Republicans of the potential financial impact of the Senate's instructions. Trump pushed for passage of the package, praised the lower chamber's passage of the resolution. "Among many other things, it will be the Largest Tax and Regulation Cuts ever even contemplated," the president wrote. With the passage of the resolution by the lower chamber, both the House and Senate can now begin work on drafting the language—including policies, appropriations, and spending cuts—that will appear in the final package. Advancing the blueprint was required to begin the reconciliation process, which Republicans are using to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate that kills most other legislation on arrival. April 9: Fox News: House passes bill to rein in rouge judges issuing nationwide injunctions The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to limit federal district judges' ability to affect executive branch policies on a national scale. The No Rogue Rulings Act, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) passed the House and limits district courts' power to issue U.S.-wide injunctions, instead forcing them to focus their scope on the parties directly affected in most cases. All but one Republican lawmaker voted for the bill, which passed 219 to 213. No Democrats voted in favor. The Trump administration has faced more than 15 nationwide injunctions since the Republican commander-in-chief took office, targeting a wide range of Donald Trump's policies, from birthright citizenship reform to anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. April 9: The Gateway Pundit: SECDEF meets with Panamanian President; Aligns self with the US, promises to help curb migration, and to rid the canal from Chinese influence Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama yesterday, in the first visit by a top US official in decades – and the results so far appear to be quite satisfactory. Hegseth said 'Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence', and also that 'China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal'. In a US-Panama joint statement, it was announced several courses of action: Panama breaks with Communist China and aligns itself with the US; having abandoned Beijing's 'Silk Road and the Belt And Road Initiative', the Central-American country will restart military exercises with Washington; and will work to curb illegal migration though its territory to the US. Panama also announces to be joining forces with the US to secure the Canal from Chinese influence, containing Communist China and its proxies' growing influence in the region. April 9: Breitbart News: Stock market soars as Administration pauses tariffs on most nations for 90 days but not for China Wall Street surged Wednesday after a blowout 10-year Treasury auction helped calm fears of a financial crisis, delivering a sharp rebuke to doomsayers who predicted foreign investors would flee American assets in protest of Donald Trump's trade agenda, and President Trump announced a pause in tariff hikes on some countries. The Dow jumped 5.9%, the S&P 500 rose 7.3%, and the Nasdaq soared 8.9%, capping a dramatic rebound from a week of steep losses. The spark? A remarkably strong $39 billion auction of 10-year Treasury notes. April 8: One America News Network: Trump administration announces it will fine illegal immigrants who ignore deportation orders - $1,000 per day The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will fine migrants nearly $1,000 every day that they choose to stay in the United States past the date of their deportation order. A 1996 law allows DHS to impose a fine of $998 on migrants for every day they stay past the date of their removal order. Additionally, the administration says it will enforce the penalties retroactively, to cover up to five years, resulting in possible fines of up to $1 million against offenders. The almost 30-year law allows the government to seize the assets of migrants who refuse to leave the United States on their own accord — despite having an order of removal. DHS spokesperson explained illegals can inform the government of their intent to depart the country. "If they don't, they will face the consequences," spokesperson McLaughlin explained. The fines could affect up to 1.4 million illegal aliens who currently have active removal orders. The latest move by the administration was made in the hopes of encouraging voluntary departures of illegal aliens from the U.S. April 8: The Daily Caller: Some Dems are more supportive of Trump's tariffs than his GOP allies One of the biggest Congressional champions of Donald Trump's tariff policy hails from the Democratic Party. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) is emerging as one of the most ardent defenders of the administration's recent tariffs. While some Congressional Republicans are seeking to rein in Trump's tariff authority, Golden is urging Trump to not listen to detractors urging him to stop implementing tariffs on countries around the world. Golden's apparent support for the president's baseline and reciprocal tariffs comes as some Congressional Republicans are moving to undercut the president's authority to impose unilateral tariffs. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) co-introduced a bill to require Congressional approval of the president's unilateral tariffs Wednesday. The bill currently has at least six other GOP cosponsors, including the likely cast of characters [McConnell (KY), Moran (KS), Murkowski (AK), Collins (ME) and Tillis (NC)]. Trump has promised to veto the bill and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated he will not call the bill up for a floor vote. Meanwhile, The Epoch Times reports Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) defended President Trump's 104 percent total tariffs that will be imposed on Chinese imports at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. "Three out of five rows of beans go to China," Van Orden said. "We have to — we are in the process of changing the global trade markets, and our farmers will be made whole." When asked how long farmers can bear out the impacts, Van Orden said they "were made whole in 2018, and we're still in business." Trump has said the new tariffs are bringing in about $2 billion in revenue per day. As announced April 2nd, they started at 10% and are going as high as 50%. Reportedly 70 nations have already reach out to Trump's team in order to reach an equitable arrangement. Trump confirmed earlier statements made by administration officials that the United States is looking to make "highly tailored deals" with individual nations. April 8: News Max: Trump wants diverse views helps make better decisions White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have had a time of it over the past week. Both have openly shared biting comments. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing that the ongoing exchange should be considered nothing more than the administration being "transparent." While the comments have seemingly been aimed at each other's thoughts on tariffs and trade strategy employed by President Trump and the administration. In one of the latest darts, Musk termed Navarro a "moron." Leavitt waved it all off and said, "Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue." She said it isn't a big deal, noting, "Look, these are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs. And I think it also speaks to the president's willingness to hear from all sides that he has people at the highest levels of this government, in this White House, who have very diverse opinions on very diverse issues." April 8: One America News Network: Another win for Trump has the SCOTUS backs up his authority to fire government workers One of two lower court decisions blocking the Trump administration from terminating roughly 16,000 federal probationary employees was overturned by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. This SCOTUS only applies to one of the two cases (the second one hasn't reached the court yet). The court issued an emergency order that stayed a California federal jurist's order to rehire the employees across six government departments: Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The stay halts legal proceedings or the enforcement of a judgment — allowing for further review or action. So, for the time being, employees at those six agencies will continue to be on paid administrative leave. Liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor stated that they would have upheld the lower court's ruling. April 7: The Epoch Times: Zimbabwe suspends all tariffs on US imports The president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has suspended all tariffs on goods from the United States, a few days after the White House imposed an 18 percent rate on imports from the African country. Mnangagwa wrote on social media platform X: "The principle of reciprocal tariffs, as a tool for safeguarding domestic employment and industrial sectors, holds merit. However, the Republic of Zimbabwe maintains a policy of fostering amicable relations with all nations, and cultivating adversarial relationships with none. In the spirit of constructing a mutually beneficial and positive relationship with the United States of America, under the leadership of president Trump, I will direct the Zimbabwean government to implement a suspension of all tariffs levied on goods originating from the United States. This measure is intended to facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports destined for the United States." April 7: The Daily Signal: Small state takes action ensure only US citizens can vote Wyoming was among the first states to enact a citizenship verification law and to ban foreign funding of ballot measures during the 2025 session, along with other election reform bills. Governor Mark Gordon (R) and Secretary of State Chuck Gray—who oversees elections in the state — have been on the same page on most fronts regarding election integrity bills. The bill also institutes a 30-day residency requirement. House Bill 156 passed the Wyoming House 51-8 and passed the Senate 26-4. The legislation was Gray's first priority. "Only U.S. citizens and Wyoming residents should vote in our elections," Gray contended. He also supported efforts in Congress to enact the "SAVE Act" (short for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. April 7: Fox News: SCOTUS vacates lower court ruling barring deportation of Venezuelan nationals The Supreme Court on Monday granted Donald Trump's request to vacate a lower court's ruling barring the administration from using a 1798 wartime immigration law to immediately deport Venezuelan nationals – including alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang – from the U.S., marking a significant victory for the administration as it advances key immigration priorities. The ruling was 5-4. At issue was the Alien Enemies Act, or the immigration law passed by Congress in 1789 to immediately remove certain migrants from U.S. soil. Previously the law had been invoked only three times: during the War of 1812, during World War I, and most recently, World War II. In a related matter, The Gateway Pundit reports Chief Justice John Roberts indefinitely blocks lower court order for return of MS-13 gang member to the US. Roberts indefinitely blocked a court order requiring the return of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia by midnight tonight. Roberts granted the Trump Administration a stay on Judge Xinis' order pending resolution. April 6: The Washington Times: Trump urges House to adopt the Senate budget plan President Trump is upping the pressure on congressional Republicans to fall in line behind the Senate-passed budget plan that has the House's fiscal hawks fuming. Trump began putting his political weight behind the changes the Senate made to the budget blueprint before it passed the upper chamber early on Saturday morning. And he's expected to ramp up the pressure on House Republicans as they prepare to vote on it as soon as this week. Rep. Martin Stutzman (R-IN) said, "I'm not certain this legislation will fly in the House the way it is coming out of the Senate." It "has its merits," but more spending cuts are necessary to pass muster in the lower chamber, he contended. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) remarked that the Senate is not serious about slashing spending, and the $4 billion spending cut floor in their blueprint wasn't enough to "buy a sports team." The Republican leadership of both chambers have a goal of reaching at least $2 trillion in spending cuts. Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said "If you think President Trump's going to sign a deal that cuts $4 billion, that's a slap in his face." The Senate's strict reconciliation rules provide zero room for its committees to fall short of their targets, so Republicans opted for a low floor in order to provide maximum flexibility, Graham contended. April 6: The Daily Caller: Sounding the Alarm; Legal experts say District Court Judge Boasberg should have recused himself Legal experts have begun to raise questions about U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg handling of the deportation of gang members to El Salvador. In March this Obama-appointed judge issued a TRO on Trump's use of the wartime authorities to send suspected Tren de Aragua gangbangers to a mega-prison in El Salvador, prompting incredible pushback from the president himself. Some legal experts have argued Boasberg should recuse himself from the case entirely, while others say he appears to be "making policy from the bench." Boasberg's daughter, Katharine Boasberg, works for an organization whose founder openly celebrated her father's decision to halt the deportations. The Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges required them to disqualify themselves from cases 'in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned.'" "Given that his daughter works directly for an organization that supports illegal aliens, opposes deportation of aliens, and has voiced its support for Boasberg's action in this very case, the impartiality of his judgment is obviously open to be reasonably questioned," one legal scholar opined. After the judge unsuccessfully attempted to have three airborne deportation flight turned around in mid-flight, the Trump administration immediately ripped Boasberg for the decision. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "Tonight, a DC trial judge supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans. This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump's power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk." Trump followed with a social media post saying "If a President doesn't have the right to throw murderers, and other criminals, out of our Country because a Radical Left Lunatic Judge wants to assume the role of President, then our Country is in very big trouble!" While hesitant to declare whether Boasberg has any conflicts of interest in the deportation case, Matt O'Brien, a former immigration judge, questioned the immense scope of his ruling. "The real problem with Judge Boasberg's ruling isn't any kind of bias. Rather, it is that, in this particular case, he rendered a decision which appears to have been intended to effectuate a specific policy outcome," O'Brien, who now serves as Director of Investigations for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, said. "However, his job isn't to create policy – that duty belongs to the Executive Branch and Congress," he said. "Instead, Judge Boasberg was charged with applying the relevant law to the facts of the case. Rather than doing his job he engaged in judicial activism (making policy from the bench)." Others have voiced consternation over the level of authority a single district court judge is attempting to wield over an entire administrative branch of government. In response, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has introduced legislation that calls for limiting federal court orders to parties directly before the court. If passed and signed into law, such a move would essentially squash universal injunctions and rein in the scope of judicial activism. April 6: News Max: Over fifty nations have reached out to the US in an effort to strike a deal on tariffs More than 50 countries have reached out to the White House to begin trade talks, a top economic adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday. Trump jolted economies around the world after he announced broad tariffs on U.S. imports on Wednesday, triggering retaliatory levies from China and sparking fears of a globe trade war and recession. However top Trump officials portrayed the tariffs as a savvy repositioning of the U.S. in the global trade order and the economic disruptions as a short-term fallout. Amidst turmoil in the stock market, Peter Navarro, Trump's tariff guru, has insisted to investors that "you can't lose money unless you sell." "Right now, the smart strategy is not to panic, just stay in, because we are going to have the biggest boom in the stock market, we've ever seen under the Trump policies," Navarro contended. Meanwhile, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on Sunday offered zero tariffs as the basis for talks with the U.S., pledging to remove trade barriers rather than imposing reciprocal measures and saying Taiwanese companies will raise their U.S. investments. April 5: Breitbart News: After US attack; Trump; "Oops there won't be a Houthi attack" President Trump on Friday posted a video on his social media accounts of a U.S. military strike against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been targeting American ships in the Red Sea. "These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!" he posted. According to the White house, since 2023, the Houthis have shot at United States warships at least 174 times and commercial vessels at least 145 times in the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. After a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas broke down last month, the Houthis threatened to resume striking at ships traversing this important waterway. Trump then ordered the U.S. military to strike the Houthis until they stop firing missiles and drones at American ships. The campaign, called Operation Rough Rider, began on March 15. The U.S. military strikes have been conducted by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier (CVN 75), which is currently on station in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, show host Shawn Farash, a Trump supporter, joked, "A district court judge will likely order Trump to un-bomb the Houthis tomorrow." April 5: News Max: Moving to small nuclear plants to supply energy needs for Artificial Intelligence facilities The Trump administration's drive to revive American manufacturing and power a growing artificial intelligence industry is accelerating with a new nuclear energy project in Seadrift, Texas. Dow Chemical and nuclear engineering firm X-energy are partnering in Texas to prepare to switch from natural gas to nuclear power as the Trump administration pushes to expand the use of small modular reactors, or SMRs, to meet rising electricity demand and bolster the U.S. manufacturing base. If approved, Dow's 4,700 acre plant, which produces plastics and chemical products used in dozens of applications, will be the first U.S. facility of its kind powered by a grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor. "This project will demonstrate how the technology deployed at Seadrift, Texas, can be quickly and efficiently replicated to meet incredible power demand growth across America," said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. The SMR project is one of several initiatives supported by Trump to reindustrialize the country and provide clean, reliable energy for artificial intelligence data centers. Within days of taking office for his second term, the president took moves to speed the construction of new energy plants, including SMRs, which he has described as a priority for energy security and technological leadership. Unlike traditional nuclear plants, SMRs are smaller, cheaper to build, and can be constructed in modules. Their design allows for high reliability, reduced carbon emissions, and easier siting since they do not require proximity to large bodies of water. April 5: X [Formerly Twitter]: Judge trying to hold contempt charges over the head of Administration officials reportedly has a conflict of interest Laura Loomer, an investigative journalist reported, "A review of Tom Boasberg's (Judge Boasberg's brother) professional background reveals he was an associate at Covington & Burling. On February 25, 2025, President Trump signed a memorandum to suspend security clearances for Covington & Burling LLP employees involved in the weaponization of government, pending a review of their roles and responsibility in the weaponization of the judicial process. Adding to the controversy," Loomer continued, "the US State Department is currently promoting the Singapore American School, where Tom Boasberg now serves as superintendent, on its official website. This raises questions about the government's endorsement of an institution led by an individual with a history of employing undocumented immigrants." Continuing she said, "Colorado has seen a significant presence of the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang, with ICE actively searching for members who have reportedly taken over apartment complexes in the state while illegally possessing high-powered weapons." Judge Boasberg recently threatened to hold Trump officials in contempt comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to deport these gang members. April 4: The Gateway Pundit: Harbinger of what is to come? SCOTUS allows Trump Admin to terminate DEI teaching grants, Roberts joins the minority The US Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote on Friday sided with the Trump Administration and blocked a Massachusetts judge's order requiring it to reinstate $250 million in Department of Education DEI training to eight states. Chief Justice Roberts – who is not a fan of President Trump -- sided with the liberal justices and would have denied Trump's emergency application. The Department of Education argued the grants violated President Trump's executive order abolishing DEI policies. Last month Biden-appointed US District Judge Myong Joun issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and ordered the Administration to reinstate the grants. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals denied DOJ's request to stay the judge's TRO pending appeal. But a majority of the Supreme Court overruled the lower courts allowing the withholding of $250 million for programs that are not in alignment with current US Government policies. The outstanding question is whether this is a harbinger of what shall happen to the numerous efforts by left wing District Court Justices. Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused those bring cases against the Administration of "shopping" for justices who hold viewpoints similar to their own. April 4: Fox News: Senate facing an all nightery before Budget Reconciliation vote The U.S. Senate kicked off a marathon vote series on Friday night, which Republicans need to get through in order to approve their changes to the House's plan for President Trump's budget. "Very soon, the Senate is going to be voting on a budget resolution that essentially accomplishes five objectives – but at least four. And one is to prevent a $4 trillion tax increase on the American people at the end of the year, number one," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said in a Senate floor speech before voting kicked off. Second, it rebuilds our military by investing in our military readiness in a way that will enable us to deal with and deter the threats that America deals with in a very dangerous world. Third, It will restore US energy dominance. Fourth it will provide the resources needed to secure the border, ensuring the safety of American people. Thune said the final goal is to reduce spending. UPDATE April 5th: In the Early morning hours of Saturday, the Senate approved the bill. April 4: One America News Network: Labor Department to return over $1 billion of unused COVID funds to the Treasury Department As the Trump administration pushes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said this week that the agency will return more than $1 billion in unused COVID-era funds to U.S. taxpayers. In a news release it said it's taking "action" in order "to recover the remaining $2.9 billion," but that $1.4 billion of unspent COVID funding will soon be "returned to taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Treasury's General Fund." However, the statement didn't indicate when this "refund" will actually occur. A 2023 audit "found four states were allowed to access the funding [designed to extend unemployment insurance to workers during the COVID 19 pandemic] 'despite not meeting program requirements,' totaling over $100 million in spending," DOE disclosed. The program was discontinued in 2021 but apparently access to the funds did not. "There's no reason leftover COVID unemployment funds should still be collecting dust," DeRemer told Fox News. "I promised to look out for Americans' hard-earned tax dollars, and we are delivering at the Department of Labor." "Any money still sitting around for pandemic-era unemployment funds is a clear misuse of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars," Chavez-DeRemer said in the press release, noting that they are "rooting out waste to ensure American Workers always come First." April 4: The Gateway Pundit: Leavitt dares left wing judge to return gang members from El Salvador In a statement Friday evening, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dared a federal judge to order El Salvador to return to the U.S. a deported alleged MS-13 gang member, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was 'mistakenly' deported to El Salvador last month, despite a court order protecting him from being sent back to his home country, as part of Trump's mass deportation of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). At a hearing in Maryland, District Court Judge Paula Xinis – an Obama appointee – ordered the Trump Administration to return Garcia to the US by April 7th. The order has been appealed by DOJ to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Meanwhile Leavitt said in a statement, "We suggest the Judge contact President @nayibbukele because we are unaware of the judge having jurisdiction or authority over the country of El Salvador." On Friday Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin affirmed Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, "He's actually a member of MS-13 and was involved in human trafficking … It is a gang that rapes, maims, and kills Americans for sport. They should not be on U.S. soil." White House deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted, "Marxist judge now thinks she's president of El Salvador." Meanwhile El Salvador's actual President, Nayib Bukele, mocked Judge Xinis. [See Related Story] April 4: News Max: HUD moving to cut public housing funds for Sanctuary Areas The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is stepping up its efforts to implement President Trump's executive order on ending taxpayer subsidies for "sanctuary" policies. Reportedly, HUD Secretary Scott Turner is expected to send a letter to every public housing authority and grantee at the department's Office of Public and Indian Housing outlining the changes. "Recently, I directed HUD senior leadership to review our programs and institute mechanisms that can ensure that HUD programs are compliant with President Trump's Executive Order," Turner wrote said. "For example, going forward, grant agreements will include language that will require compliance with Executive Order 14218, and the Department will take steps to ensure that Federal resources are not used to support 'sanctuary' policies of State and local jurisdictions that actively prevent federal authorities from deporting illegal aliens. Senior HUD officials have indicated state and local governments will get a chance to comply with the new guidance and to retain access to public housing funds. "Federal public benefits cannot be used for illegal aliens," the aide said. Effective May 25, nonpermanent residents, including asylum-seekers, people with pending refugee status, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program recipients, will no longer be eligible for Federal Housing Administration Mortgages, Secretary Turner announced last month. April 4: The Epoch Times: Another day, another lawsuit against the Trump agenda A coalition of 16 states filed a federal lawsuit on April 4 against the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally obstructing and canceling National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding critical to public health and medical research. The case, which was of course filed in Massachusetts, complains the administration has unreasonably delayed reviews of NIH grant applications and abruptly terminated hundreds of previously awarded grants. The coalition argues the administration's actions violate federal law and constitutional limits on executive authority. Complainants are on the receiving end of millions of dollars of grant money which is drying up under the Trump/NIH action. At the core of the NIH action is compliance with Donald Trump's Executive Order that funding be halted that pays for programs that promote "gender ideology" and to withdraw support from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives the administration considers discriminatory. In response, NIH began advising staff to cancel grants involving DEI, transgender-related research, or projects with potential links to Chinese institutions. The states that are joining the suit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin (states that are lead by Democrats). April 3: The Gateway Pundit: SCOTUS Chief Justice Roberts is a close friend of author of lawfare against Trump Is the Supreme Court Compromised by Deep State Cronyism? Who knows? In a bombshell revelation that's sending shockwaves, it turns out Chief Justice John Roberts has been rubbing elbows with none other than Norm Eisen — the radical leftist operative who's spent years orchestrating lawfare campaigns against President Trump and his allies. According to a report from Revolver News, Roberts didn't just bump into Eisen at a D.C. cocktail party. These two are apparently such "good pals" that Roberts jetted off to the Czech Republic for a week-long sleepover at Eisen's lavish 150-room palace. It's straight from the mouth of Eisen himself — the very same man who practically wrote the Deep State's instruction manual on how to destabilize political opponents via color revolutions, lawfare, and weaponized legal warfare against President Trump. According to Eisen, Roberts is a longtime friend who joined him overseas to work "on American and European rule-of-law issues." April 3: One America News Network: Ford announces price slashing incentives hours after Trump's "Tariff Speech" Ford announced Thursday that it will offer widespread discounts on several vehicle models in an effort to keep car buyers engaged — just hours after President Trump's 25% tariff on auto imports took effect. The Detroit-based car manufacturer plans to lean on its healthy inventory to offer customers thousands of dollars off. This comes as its competitors will be increasing costs due to tariffs. The announcement comes after Trump issued a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars that took effect after midnight Thursday. Starting May 3rd, the tax will apply to imported car parts, which can add to costs for U.S. manufacturers. According to the Anderson Economic Group, the highest impacted foreign-made cars could increase by as high as a staggering $20,000, while the least affected models would cost an additional $2,500 to $5,000. April 3: The Daily Caller: Journalist files $10 million defamation lawsuit against Democrat lawmaker Journalist Matt Taibbi filed a $10 million libel lawsuit against Congresswoman. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) Thursday after she accused him of being a "serial sexual harasser." The comments were made during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing and later amplified on social media and on the Congresswoman's website. Taibbi's lawsuit says the congresswoman's claims are "demonstrably false and were made with actual malice." Taibbi said he filed the $10 million lawsuit in a New Jersey federal court. Taibbi's lawsuit states the Democratic lawmaker relied on "unverified, decades-old satirical content that had been widely discredited by prior legal action and public corrections — corrections of which she, as a public official with access to such information, was undoubtedly aware." "Defendant's decision to republish the statements on X and her website, outside her legislative duties, further demonstrates an intent to harm Plaintiff's reputation in his home state and beyond, rather than a good-faith engagement in legislative debate," the suit continues. April 3: News Max: Senate advances Trump tax cut initiative The Senate took a procedural step forward on President Trump's sweeping tax cut agenda on Thursday, overcoming concerns among some lawmakers that the plan does not include sufficient spending cuts. The Senate voted 52-48 to move forward with the framework to address Trump's proposals for tax cuts, border enforcement and increased military spending, which nonpartisan analysts warn could add $5.8 trillion to the federal government's debt over the next decade. Lawmakers hope to pass the resolution after up to 50 hours of floor debate, and send it on to the House of Representatives. Both chambers must approve the same budget resolution to unlock a key parliamentary tool that would allow Republicans to circumvent Senate Democrats and enact the Trump agenda later this year, which could take several months. Trump has assured congressional Republicans that he supports their desire to include deep spending cuts in the final bill. The Senate Budget Committee plan estimates the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts, as well as delivering on sweeping new promises to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security retirement payments, at $1.5 trillion over a decade. That is far below the $4.5 trillion cost estimated in a blueprint that passed the House in February. April 2: The Gateway Pundit: Several trading partners announce plans to reduce tariffs on US imports Several countries have announced plans to reduce or eliminate tariffs on U.S. imports in response to President Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" policy doctrine, set to take effect on April 2, 2025. This policy aims to match the tariffs that other nations impose on U.S. products. The White House released a detailed chart showing how badly many countries have been ripping off American workers, charging high tariffs on U.S. goods while benefiting from America's generosity in return. The White House fact sheet released today clarified that Canada is exempt from the reciprocal tariff announcement. April 2: Fox News: Sec. Bessent; Warning to the world on tariffs "Do Not Retaliate!" Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a three-word reply on Wednesday to countries looking to respond to the US's broad tariffs: "Do not retaliate." President Trump announced on what he proclaimed "Liberation Day" a 10% baseline tariff across the board and retaliatory tariffs on some of the country's closest allies, who he says are taking advantage of the U.S. Among some of the notable retaliatory tariffs are 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 24% on Japan and 32% on Taiwan. April 2: The Gateway Pundit: Handful of Republicans join Dems in effort to rescind tariffs on Canada A handful of Senate moderate Republicans joined Democrats to vote this evening on legislation rescinding tariffs on Canadian goods, a rebuke of President Trump's announcement of his reciprocal tariff doctrine.. The final vote was 51-48 with Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rand Paul (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voting for the measure. The measure, however, is a paper tiger since it highly unlikely the House of Representatives will ever consider it, and if they did, Trump would certainly veto it. April 2: Fox News: Former White House staffer reveals concerns over Joe Biden's health Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain has revealed former Joe Biden was "fatigued, befuddled and disengaged" before his debate with President Trump in June, according to a new book. "At his first meeting with Biden in [Camp David's] Aspen Lodge -- the president's cabin," author Chris Whipple wrote, Klain "was startled. He'd never seen him so exhausted and out of it. Biden was unaware of what was happening in his own campaign. Halfway through the session, the president excused himself and went off to sit by the pool," an excerpt discloses. Whipple's new book, titled "Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History," is set to be released this month. Klain, a close ally and major supporter of the former president, served as his chief of staff from 2021 until 2023 and helped Biden prepare for his June debate against Trump. "Klain feared the debate with Trump would be a nationally televised disaster," another excerpt said. April 1: The Gateway Pundit: The Administration reportedly know who is orchestrating the Tesla attacks and they're coming for them Justice is apparently coming for the radical leftists orchestrating the despicable attacks on Tesla behind the scenes with severe prison sentences on the table. Attacks on Tesla owners, cars, and dealerships have been happening across the country in recent weeks. During one incident, a disgruntled Musk and Trump hater accidentally set himself on fire while torching Tesla charging stations in South Carolina. Another attack involved an individual setting several Tesla vehicles ablaze two weeks ago in Las Vegas. Musk has called the attacks "wide-scale domestic terrorism" and said that innocent people were being hurt. Apparently, Musk and Attorney General Pam Bondi know who is working behind the scenes organizing the attacks on Tesla and that the Trump administration is "coming for them." Musk has said he hopes the Trump administration will pursue RICO charges against the organizers, charges that could send them away for a very long time. April 1: News Max: Congressman Jordan (R-OH) Congress has the will to rein in rogue federal judges Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that he believes Congress has the will to use its constitutional power to prevent what he considers judicial overreach used at the district court level to usurp President Trump's authority. Since Trump began his second term Jan. 20, lower court judges reportedly have issued 15 injunctions against his policies. One case involved a temporary injunction by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., against deporting illegal immigrants who are alleged members of the ruthless Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua doing so under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg ordered deportation flights headed to El Salvador to return to the U.S., but the Trump administration ignored that order, which was recently upheld by the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. "With the judges situation, we've got Darrell Issa's bill, which would say, 'For these district judges to issue an injunction, it only applies to the parties in the case in that jurisdiction, doesn't apply nationwide,'" Jordan said referring to the No Rogue Rulings Act, introduced by Issa (R-CA). The measure was reported by Jordan's committee to the full house last month. April 1: Fox News: Here we go again? With massive voter turnouts, Milwaukee poling places are running out of ballots The City of Milwaukee is running out of ballots due to "historic turnout" on Tuesday night, as Badger State residents stand in line at polling places to decide whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court will lean conservative or liberal. FOX 6 Milwaukee reporter Jason Calvi reported the developments on Tuesday night. At least seven polling sites have run out of ballots, per the Milwaukee Elections Commission. The sites are expecting more ballots soon, though the polls closed at 8 p.m. Milwaukee officials also noted that Wisconsin residents in line by 8 p.m. are still eligible to vote. "We are working diligently to replenish ballots," the Milwaukee Elections Commission wrote on Facebook. April 1: The Epoch Times: DOD to impose identical standards for all armed service members serving in combat; both men and women The Defense Department on Monday revealed that it would be imposing "sex-neutral" standards for military combat roles. SECDEF Pete Hegseth announced the changes to its physical fitness requirements in an effort to "fix" the standards that he said were "lowered" under President Obama's administration. "Different physical standards for men and women in the U.S. military have existed for a long time. But, there were also combat roles that were male-only," Hegseth said. "Then, under Obama, all combat roles were opened to men and women. But, different physical fitness standards for men and women remained." "Today at the Department of Defense—we fix this. All combat roles are open to men and women but they must all meet the same, high standard. No standards will be lowered AND all combat roles will only have sex-neutral standards. Common sense," Hegseth added. April 1: The Gateway Pundit: First German deployment of troops in Europe since WWII Ever since the days of the 'Iron Chancellor' [Otto Bismark] and especially after World War 2, German militarism has become a scary thought to many across Europe. Now, eighty years after the end of the Nazi nightmare, the Teutonic leaders are ready for their first international military adventure. Today Germany officially launched a permanent foreign troop deployment – a 5,000-strong armored brigade in Lithuania. March 30: The New York Post: Trump not happy with Putin's dragging his feet on ceasefire with Ukraine NBC News has reported that President Trump said he is "very angry" with Russian President Vladimir Putin — the first time he's directly criticized the Kremlin as he tries to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. He appeared to be fed up with Putin over the lull in the cease-fire talks after Moscow announced additional conditions before it would comply with the US-backed deal to limit attacks in the Black Sea and on energy facilities. March 30: The Gateway Pundit: To Trump; Pull Judge Boasberg's security clearance On Sunday President Trump hinted he might pull Judge James Boasberg's security clearance. "People are shocked by what is going on with the Court System. I was elected for many reasons, but a principal one was law and order, a big part of which is quickly removing a vast Criminal Network of individuals, who came into our Country through the … Joe Biden Open Borders Policy! These are dangerous and violent people, who kill, maim and, in many other ways, harm the people of our Country. The Voters want them out, and said so in record numbers. If it was up to District Judge Boasberg and other radical left[-wing] Judges, nobody would be removed, the President wouldn't be allowed to do his job, and people's lives would be devastated all throughout our Country." Shorty after this post on Truth Social Mike Davis, a former clerk for Justice Gorsuch posted: "Dear President Trump: Please revoke Judge Boasberg's security clearance. He has demonstrated he cannot be trusted with keeping secrets." Judge Boasberg's TRO was set to expire March 29th. He has extended it until April 12th. March 30: Fox News: Protests against Musk and Tesla are "astroturf" not "grassroots!" As protests unfolded outside of Tesla showrooms against owner Elon Musk's role in helping lead Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, questions are flying as to who is funding the well coordinate but purportedly "grassroots" demonstrations. "Who is funding and organizing all these paid protests?" Musk posted to X early Sunday morning, accompanied by a video clip of podcast host Joe Rogan discussing left-wing protests in recent days. The protests in the U.S., slated for Saturday, were promoted by actors, filmmakers, congressional legislators, academics and activists who led a "mass mobilizing call" last week to rally support, and described in the media as a "grassroots" effort to buck Musk and Trump, while working to tank Tesla's stock. While local #TeslaTakedown protests may appear spontaneous and community-driven, they are the product of well-funded, tightly coordinated campaigns led by national political organizations like "The Indivisible Project," "MoveOn.Org," and professional protest firms." A local news outlet, media personalities and critics have speculated that the recent anti-Tesla protests are embroiled in "astroturfing," which is defined by Merriam-Webster as a campaign "falsely made to appear to be grassroots." March 29: The Epoch Times: Judge issues TRO over the firing of VOA employees but stopped short of ordering a restart of programming A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantling Voice of America (VOA), the government-funded international news service whose 1,200 reporters and employees were placed on paid leave earlier this month. On Friday Judge, J. Paul Oetken of the Southern District of New York, issued a temporary restraining order in favor of VOA employees and their unions. The order prevents the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, from shutting down the broadcasting network and its associated radio programs. The judge did not require VOA to resume broadcasts, but made it clear that employees must not be terminated while the court determines whether the shutdown violates the Constitution or other federal administrative laws. March 29: The Gateway Pundit: Approximately 5,000 voter registrations challenged in Milwaukee as an important race approaches Nearly 5,000 voter registrations in the city of Milwaukee have been legally challenged for irregularities, potential fraud, and blatant violations of both state and federal law. The comprehensive legal filing, submitted by concerned citizens exposes what many have warned about for years: a broken election system ripe for abuse. The challenge, backed by the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and a long list of Wisconsin statutes, calls on the Milwaukee Election Commission (MEC) to investigate and take immediate action on 4,878 questionable voter records. Reportedly all of these individuals cast ballots in the November 5th, 2025 national election. The complaint is based upon various databases and tools that objectively verify the accuracy of mailing addresses. The findings are nothing short of alarming: • 2,926 registrations listed incorrect or missing apartment numbers, a violation of legal address requirements and a break in chain of custody. • 540 voters were flagged as "N" or Blank, indicating they no longer reside at the address on record. • 501 voters listed P.O. Boxes as physical addresses, a direct violation of Wisconsin voter law. • 377 had filed permanent change-of-address requests out of state, yet still managed to vote in Wisconsin. • 281 moved to a different county within Wisconsin before the legal voting cutoff date and still voted in their former county. And, • 217 left no forwarding address before October 24, 2024. March 29: The Gateway Pundit: Dem Arizona Secretary of State declares he will not cooperate with Federal efforts to secure elections and to prevent illegal aliens from voting Democrat Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has brazenly declared that he will not cooperate with federal government efforts to secure elections and prevent illegal aliens from voting. "I would tell them to go to hell," he said when asked whether he would hand over publicly available voter registration data to the Department of Government Efficiency and the Department of Homeland Security to verify the citizenship of voters. Earlier this week Trump signed an executive order mandating voter ID and documentary proof of citizenship be provided in order to vote in federal elections, auditing and improving the security of voting machines, and ordering the DOJ to enforce the law against states that count mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The order also prioritizes the enforcement of laws preventing foreign money from influencing elections and federally funded organizations from lobbying or supporting candidates. March 28: The Daily Caller: Kelly; Justice Roberts could be on thin ice over deportation case SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly predicted Friday that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts could be on the "thinnest of possible ice" depending on his ruling in the Trump administration's deportation case. Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday asked SCOTUS to block a lower court's order halting the deportation of migrant gang members residing within the U.S. Kelly called out Roberts as the possible conservative-leaning judge to vote against the Trump administration's request. "Roberts above all knows if he hands down a ruling telling the commander-in-chief that the nine men and women in black robes have the final say over what is perceived as a military threat unleashed on us by a foreign government, he's on the thinnest of possible ice," Kelly said. "He's so obsessed with the court. I just can't see him wanting to do it." On Wednesday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg's temporary halt on deportations after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua on March 15. Prior to the panel hearing, Boasberg and the DOJ went back and forth, with the judge requesting information on the migrants being deported. March 28: The Gateway Pundit: Appeals court sides with Trump; clears the way for the firing of members of the Labot and Workforce Protection Boards A federal appeals court has cleared the way for President Trump to fire members of the labor and workforce protection boards. Trump previously fired Cathy Harris, the Democrat chairwoman of the Merit Board, a Biden holdover – she was then rehired by an Obama judge. Trump also fired Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board – she was subsequently then rehired by another Obama judge. The Trump DOJ fought back and a federal appeals court agreed that Trump indeed has the authority to fire them without cause. The three judge panel on the DC Circuit Court: [a G.W. Bush, an Obama, and a Trump appointee] sided with the President Trump in a 2-1 vote and ordered the DOJ motions be granted. In his opinion, Judge Justin Walker said "Executive branch agencies do not disrupt that design when they are accountable to the President. "But consent of the governed is a sham if an administrative agency, by design, does not meaningfully answer for its policies to either of the elected branches." That's why the Supreme Court has said that Congress cannot restrict the President's removal authority over agencies that "wield substantial executive power," Judge Walker opined. "The people elected the president, not Harris or Wilcox, to execute the nation's laws," Walker said. "The forcible reinstatement of a presidentially removed principal officer disenfranchises voters by hampering the president's ability to govern during the four short years the people have assigned him the solemn duty of leading the executive branch," he contended. March 28: The NY Post: Columbia University interim president resigning after agreeing to implement a ban on mask wearing Columbia University's interim president is resigning from her position at the embattled Ivy League school, just days she told the Trump administration she would implement a mask ban to in order not to lose $400 million in federal funding — while privately promising faculty she would not put one in place. Katrina Armstrong's decision to step down came on the heels of her high-profile battle with the Trump administration over the prestigious New York school's $400 million in federal funding, sources said. March 28: The Daily Caller: Judges ruling against Trump appear to have numerous conflicts of interest A judge who blocked Donald Trump's attempt to expedite deportations of gang members once participated in a mock trial with former Vice-President Kamala Harris' husband — and he is not the only judge stonewalling Trump's orders that has a conflict of interest. Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court James Boasberg temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act, to arrest and deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. In 2022, Boasberg participated in a mock trial with Harris' husband. Trump posted a photo of Emhoff with Boasberg at the Shakespeare Theater Company's (STC) 2022 Mock Trial on Truth Social, suggesting it was a conflict of interest. Boasberg was appointed by former President Obama, and he has an extensive history of ruling against the Trump administration. He was the sentencing judge for FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who altered an email about former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in order to support a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) application to spy on Page during the 2016 presidential campaign. Clinesmith was one of the key players in the FBI's Operation Crossfire Hurricane, which investigated potential now debunked ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Prosecutors sought between three and six months in prison for Clinesmith, but Boasberg sentenced him to mere probation. Boasberg also approved the FBI's use of a warrantless surveillance tool when he presided over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) in 2021. March 27: Fox News: (Video) Johnathan Turley; Reach of District Court Judges to halt Executive Branch national security actions needs to be decided by SCOTUS There are "good faith" arguments on both sides and the Supreme Court needs to address whether district court judges have this authority and, if so, how far they can go, well known attorney and Constitutional scholar Johnathan Turley said. Allowing 654 district court judges to implement nationwide injunctions in an expanse of about two months is kind of like having six people in a car and each one of them applying the emergency brake, he contended. He believes that in the end the court will overturn the injunctions allowing Trump to proceed with the deportations. In the meantime, Trump's attempts to keep his campaign promises will be delayed. March 27: The Epoch Times: Security for Greenland comes into focus as VP Vance's visit nears Donald Trump has continued to speak of Greenland joining the United States, emphasizing the territory's vital security importance in competition with Russia and China, as well as its potential as a source of rare earths and other valuable minerals—resources that have largely not been exploited in a nation economically reliant on fishing and subsidies from Denmark. Trump has stressed his respect for Greenlandic self-determination in a recent joint address to Congress. News of Vance's trip met with anger from some Greenlandic politicians, who are still in the process of forming a parliament. The March 11 elections saw a center-to-center-right party that favors gradual independence, Demokraatit, come in first with about 30% of the vote. Naleraq, the party whose leader advocates rapid independence and has broached the idea of U.S. territorial status, finished in second with just below 25% of the vote. Other parties favoring independence, often along more gradual timelines, claimed most of the remainder. March 27: The Daily Caller: DCA crash victim families slam FAA after report of 1,500 near misses reported at Reagan National Family members of the victims of the January plane and helicopter crash at Reagan National Airport (DCA) voiced frustrations with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a preliminary report found that the airport had 1,500 near misses in the past three years. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)'s preliminary report was presented at Thursday's Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation hearing. Victims' families and their lawyers argued that the NTSB's findings suggested the deadly crash was preventable. Members of the aviation subcommittee pressed NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy about her agency's preliminary report on the incident. The report found more than 1,500 near misses at Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport (DCA), where the January crash took place, between 2021 and 2024, Homendy testified. March 27: The New York Post: Stefanik withdraws nomination for UN Ambassador to help maintain GOP majority in the House Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) framed President Trump's surprising move to withdraw her nomination for United Nations ambassador as a strategic decision necessary for the greater Republican good that she is "proud" to be a part of. "I am doing that as a leader to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results," Stefanik said. New York's 21st Congressional District rep said she's had "multiple conversations" with Trump about his decision and that she is "committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people." March 27: News Max: Trump calls upon Congress to stop funding NPR and Public Broadcasting Service President Trump called on Congress to stop giving taxpayer money to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, claiming these platforms (networks) are biased. He aloe quested Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr to open an investigation to determine if NPR or PBS violated federal law by airing commercials. The heads of the two media outlets on Wednesday faced intense questioning from Congress over the alleged liberal bias in their reporting and content. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said in the committee hearing "We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime." Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced legislation this month to end federal funding for NPR and PBS. About 1% of NPR is federally funded the outlet contends while about 16% of PBS comes from tax dollars, equating to about $500 million annually. A Pew Research survey shows that nearly twice as many Americans support the continued federal funding of public media outlets as oppose it. March 26: Fox News: Youngkin (R-VA) vetoes nearly 160 bills Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed nearly 160 bills from the Democrat-controlled legislature on Wednesday, 159 bills to be exact. Some of the bills would have prevented prayer in front of abortion clinics, required the commonwealth to implement a comprehensive "environmental justice" strategy and adjusted criminal bond policies. Because the state legislature's Democrat majority is far from being "veto proof" – each chamber having a two-seat difference – the bills are dead in the water. According to critics, ten of the bills were considered "soft on crime" legislation by critics, and about a dozen would have raised costs on Virginians. Youngkin also nixed a proposal to raise the state minimum wage to $13.50 per hour, and later to $15. In a statement, Youngkin highlighted legislation supported by some in the Trump administration — such as a bill to keep school lunches free of artificial dyes, which he signed and which mirrors an initiative from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. March 26: The Gateway Pundit: Trump to place 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles and parts President Trump on Wednesday adjusted tariffs on foreign-made cars to impose 25% tariffs on "imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary." This comes as the President's executive order, which will impose sweeping reciprocal tariffs on every country that charges the United States taxes or tariffs on imported goods, is scheduled to take effect on April 2. As a result of his actings Trump has already brought trillions of dollars in American manufacturing investments back to the United States from overseas as companies seek to avoid tariffs. South Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai announced a $20 billion investment in American manufacturing to build its first-ever steel mill in the U.S., which Trump said will produce "more than 2.7 million metric tons of steel per year" and create more than 1,400 steel jobs. The $5.8 billion will be invested in Louisiana alone to build the steel manufacturing. March 26: The Daily Signal: SCOTUS hears case testing the limits of federal agencies to make regulations and decisions The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case testing the limits of the nondelegation doctrine, an issue that is of the utmost importance in ensuring separation among the federal branches and the principle that one branch of government may not give away its power to another. Thus, Congress, vested by the Constitution with the "legislative powers," cannot give those powers to the executive branch. And yet it appears to do so routinely with broadly-written laws that invite bureaucrats to make the decisions and set the rules that will bind the public. This practice has enabled growth of the federal administrative state, which has become in many respects an autonomous non-elected policymaking body. In the case before the court Congress had granted the FCC the authority to raise an unspecified amount of money (taxes?) in order to use the funds to help provide phone service to rural areas of the country. The plaintiff argued that by empowering the FCC to raise unspecified sums, Congress unlawfully delegated its taxing power to an independent agency. March 25: The White House: President Trump signs E.O. requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote a federal ballot President Trump signed an Executive Order that strengthens voter citizenship verification and bans foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections. Federal election-related funds will be conditioned on states complying with the integrity measures set forth by Federal law, including the requirement that states use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship. Federal agencies are directed to share databases with state secretaries of state in order to assist them in determining the citizenship of individuals registering to vote. March 25: The Washington Times: Senate eyes $2 Trillion in spending cuts as it works on budget reconciliation Senate Republicans are "starting to coalesce" around a $2 trillion floor for spending cuts in a party-line budget reconciliation package, exceeding the instructions in House Republicans' budget blueprint for enacting President Trump's agenda, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said. "I think we're going to be more aggressive than the House," Daines said. "They were at $1.5 trillion. It looks like we're coming in closer to $2 trillion, probably where we want to have this land." Daines' comments came during an interview where he discussed his top goal for the package: permanently extending Trump's first-term tax cuts that provided relief to small business and individuals and will expire at year's end absent congressional action. March 25: Fox News: Former US AG blasts Federal Judges for usurping executive branch authority over national security Legal battles continue over President Trump's migrant deportation flights, particularly those involving Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador. Former Attorney General Bill Barr says the judges blocking these flights are overstepping their authority. "There's a pattern whereby these district court judges are trying to usurp the responsibility of the president in the national security area," Barr said. The president is absolutely right to be frustrated and concerned about the way the courts are handling this." Barr's comments follow U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's decision to halt the deportation of individuals alleged to be gang members, citing due process concerns. Boasberg also ordered the government to return planes carrying migrants who had already been deported. According to Barr, the ruling goes beyond the judge's authority and interferes with the president's constitutional powers. [See Related Discussion] March 25: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Ukraine and Russia agree to Black Sea ceasefire According to the White House, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea. Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have been under way in Saudi Arabia. Following the ceasefire agreement, the White House issued a statement saying, "The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea." According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, all parties have agreed to "eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea." March 24: The Epoch Times: Post Master General steps down Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced that his nearly five-year tenure as the 75th leader of the United States Postal Service would end March 24. The announcement comes 10 days after he agreed to work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the General Services Administration (GSA) on ways to make his department more efficient and six days before the first phase of service enhancements is expected to be implemented. The Postal Service reported a $9.5 billion net loss for fiscal year 2024, up from the $6.5 billion loss reported in 2023. "It has long been known that the Postal Service has a broken business model that was not financially sustainable without critically necessary and fundamental core change," DeJoy said March 13. "Fixing a broken organization that had experienced close to $100 billion in losses and was projected to lose another $200 billion, without a bankruptcy proceeding, is a daunting task." March 24: The Daily Caller: Administration asks SCOTUS to block an order to reinstate fired federal bureaucrats The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to block a lower court order forcing it to reinstate thousands of fired federal workers. The order to reinstate over 16,000 probationary employees, issued by Clinton-appointed U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup allows one judge to control "the Executive Branch's powers of personnel management on the flimsiest of grounds and the hastiest of timelines," the administration said. "That is no way to run a government," acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in the application to SCOTUS. "This Court should stop the ongoing assault on the constitutional structure before further damage is wrought." [See Related Discussion on the lack of Constitutional authority for courts to mandate executive branch personnel decisions] The government's petition says, "Emboldened by the lack of prompt appellate review (often occasioned by the use of the TRO mechanism), district courts have now issued dozens of orders without sufficient regard for limits on their own jurisdiction or to defects in plaintiffs' representations about the law and the underlying facts," the petition filed Monday continues. "Those orders have sown chaos as the Executive Branch scrambles to meet immediate compliance deadlines by sending huge sums of government money out the door, reinstating thousands of lawfully terminated workers, undoing steps to restructure Executive Branch agencies, and more. "Only this Court [SCOTUS] can end the interbranch power grab," the petition concludes. March 24: The Gateway Pundit: Administration invokes State Secrets Privilege The Trump DOJ said it is exercising the State Secrets Privilege and informed Judge James Boasberg it will no longer provide him with any information related to deportation flights. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, has been grilling DOJ lawyers about the Trump Administration's move to deport dangerous Venezuelan aliens under the Alien Enemies Act. Judge Boasberg said Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport criminal aliens is "incredibly troublesome and problematic" and threatened the Trump Admin with consequences if they violate his order in the future. By Monday evening, the DOJ had enough of Judge Boasberg's intrusive orders and invoked the State Secrets Privilege. [See Related Discussion on the lack of Constitutional authority by the judicial branch to interfere with executive branch's foreign policy and national security policies.] March 24: Fox News: AG Bondi gives fair warning; if you're committing fraudulent acts, we're coming for you U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a stern warning to those engaged in government fraud at the most recent Cabinet meeting. "A lot of waste and abuse, but there is a tremendous amount of fraud," Bondi began. "And, Elon, thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your team. You have uncovered so much fraud in our government." Bondi then revealed that an internal task force is involved with bringing those accused of fraud to justice. March 23: The Post Newspaper: Activists rush to court to stop Trump from keeping his promises to the voters; shows weakness in their positions Trump's opponents display their political weakness by rushing to the courts to resolve fights over federal spending and the firing of personnel. However, the Constitution establishes that the Congress as the branch best suited to respond to a president who has allegedly over-used his powers. The Congress can cut off funds, refuse to confirm officers, decline to pass legislation and ultimately impeach a president. Because Democrats have lost the national elections, they're having difficulty coping with the fact the Congress won't do their bidding any longer. Earlier this month the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled 5-4 not to overturn a lower court ruling that forced the Trump Administration to release approximately $2 billion of USAID funding. But this apparent win for those opposing what Trump is doing should see this for what it really is -- just a first procedural skirmish in what promises to be a larger constitutional battle; one which the SCOTUS will ultimately decide. The Supreme Court has little authority under the Constitution to interfere with Trump's control of the executive branch and foreign and national security policies and is likely to side with the administration in the long run. March 23: News Max: Trump aims to gain on Chinese shipbuilding lead Donald Trump vowed earlier this month to ramp up American shipbuilding, not only for our own military readiness and naval superiority, but also to combat the growing threat of China in shipping worldwide. Threat might be an understatement, because China has become dominant in global shipbuilding, experts say. "Revitalizing domestic shipbuilding is not only possible, but also a priority," Michael Wessel, a consultant with ties to the United Steelworkers union said. "We have existing yards that can do more today, and we have facilities that can be brought online," he contended. China's market share in global shipbuilding was less than 5% in 1999 and rose to 50% by 2023, a Congressional Research Service report found. American "deindustrializing" due to globalism pushed by former President Barack Obama's policies "poses risks both to our national security and our workforce," J.D. Vance has said. After churning out "three ships every two days" during World War II, Vance lamented, the U.S. is now producing only five ships a year. The White House has created a new office to support U.S. shipbuilding, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has proposed tariffs and fees on Chinese-made ships. Trump's critics doubt the success of this initiative like so many others, noting the taxing of the global supply chain. Despite the criticism by skeptics, Trump's push to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding is finding rare bipartisan support from Americans, with 72% saying the U.S. cannot remain dependent on China and other foreign producers to build ships, recent polls disclose. "This is one of those rare moments where there's a strong bipartisan thread here of wanting to move forward," AAM President Scott Paul said. "And there's pretty good support on Capitol Hill for being aggressive on shipbuilding as well." March 22: The Gateway Pundit: Congo's President offers Trump access to $24 Trillion in earth minerals in exchange for bring peace in his nation The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has reached out directly to President Trump with a historic proposal: help defeat a brutal rebel force terrorizing his nation, and in return, America will gain direct access to one of the world's richest untapped troves of critical minerals—worth an estimated $24 trillion. The Wall Street Journal reports Tshisekedi offered Trump exclusive mining opportunities through the newly launched U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, a Trump-led initiative aimed at reshaping global investment through pro-American partnerships. "Our partnership would provide the U.S. with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper and tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo," he said. The proposal comes just days after Trump launched a U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, a key piece of his "America First 2.0" economic policy to reclaim supply chains from foreign adversaries like China. Tshisekedi's plan offers the U.S. Fund exclusive mining opportunities, effectively locking China out of yet another crucial global resource hub. According to the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration the DRC has substantial untapped gold, cobalt, and high-grade copper reserves. The DRC was the fourth largest producer of industrial diamonds in 2022 and has globally significant lithium deposits. In exchange for this mineral windfall, Tshisekedi is asking peace through strength. Specifically, the Congolese president is requesting a formal U.S. security pact to help repel the violent M23 rebel group — backed by Rwandan President Kagame who is accused of routing both Congolese troops and U.N. peacekeepers in eastern Congo. Meanwhile, China remains deeply embedded in Congo's infrastructure and mineral operations, with little regard for labor conditions or Congolese sovereignty. Tshisekedi is signaling his preference for a transparent, fair, and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States as opposed to that of China. March 22: The Daily Caller: Trump may be able to put a stop to Iran-backed rebels terrorizing Red Sea shipping lanes President Trump has a prime opportunity to finally end the threat the Houthi rebels in Yemen pose to one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The U.S. conducted precision strikes on Iran-backed Houthi positions in Yemen Saturday, aiming to decapitate the group by targeting leadership and other key technical figures, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said Monday. Trump made a name for himself in dealing with terror groups in his routing of ISIS during his first term, and while the Houthis present a unique challenge compared to ISIS, experts say that Trump has the opportunity to re-establish order against another Middle Eastern insurgency. "During the Biden administration, they took defensive actions against the Houthis, but allowed them to continue operating. Trump has made it clear that will not continue. Reportedly it already looks to be a more holistic operation that's not just focused on defense, but on offense, and removing the threat in order to enable free unhindered access to the Red Sea, which is what the world's maritime industry needs. For nearly a decade, Houthi rebels have wreaked havoc on the Red Sea shipping route and its associated access to the Suez Canal. Many shipping companies have chosen to go around the tip of Africa in order to ensure the safety of their vessels and their cargo, reducing traffic through the canal by up to 90%. The longer trip is costing an additional $1 million in fuel costs and increases travel time by up to two weeks. The Houthis have reportedly attacked U.S. naval vessels 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023. March 22: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Federal Judge rages over Trump Administration deportations and rejections of his authority A federal judge questioned Trump administration lawyers Friday over the deportation of Venezuelan nationals despite a court order that blocked the move while aircraft -- with at least 261 violent migrants and gang members aboard -- were already in the air, outside U.S. airspace, and not within U.S. jurisdiction. During a motion hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg asked Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign why the Trump administration did not comply with an emergency court order that temporarily blocked its use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily halt any planned removals of Venezuelan migrants. Trump administration officials have been ordered by Judge Boasberg to explain why they did not comply with his order that said deportation flights had to return and whether or not they knowingly defied his ruling. A deadline has been set for Tuesday. President Trump said the dispute could reach the Supreme Court. [See discussion: Authority of the President on Foreign Policy matters] March 22: The Gateway Punit: Three-ship Communist Chinese task group sails around Australia conducting live-fire drills A Communist Chinese naval task group recently completed a first-of-its-kind journey around Australia — sending a clear message regarding the strategic presence of the Chinese navy. Designated Task Group 107 or "Operation Tasmanian Dragon" by the Australians, is appropriate given that China has begun to copy U.S. naming conventions for military operations. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task group consisted of a destroyer, a frigate, and a large replenishment ship. Experts say that the task group's conducting no-notice live fire exercises – which was discovered and reported by an airline pilot -- is bringing deliberate and dangerous behavior into a peaceful part of the world. Meanwhile China is saying their actions didn't violate any laws. China's foray is a wake-up call to the region. According to Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and former foreign service officer, the Chinese message to Australia and New Zealand is clear: "It is a demonstration of contempt and intimidation toward both countries. And a sign of what's in store for both of them." It appears that the arrival of the Chinese flotilla was a surprise to both nations. The atrophy in defense spending by New Zealand and Australia was starkly demonstrated by this event. March 21: Breitbart News: Trump administration revoking the legal status of over 500K Biden-era migrants According to CBS News the Trump administration is revoking the legal status of 532,000 migrants from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who entered the country through a program called CHNV, and will have their "work permits and deportation protections" terminated in April. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be "terminating the categorical parole programs for inadmissible aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members." A report House Judiciary Committee report in March showed that Joe Biden expanded the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, as well as the CHNV Parole Program. Through his expansion of the programs, millions of illegal aliens were allowed to enter the U.S. "with little to no vetting." March 21: The Washington Free Beacon: Administration yanks visa from anti-Israel protestor/activist The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Momodou Taal, a Cornell University graduate student who has called for the destruction of the United States, celebrated Hamas's October 7 attacks, claimed to take his "cue from the armed resistance in Palestine," and said "every single Zionist is a sick individual." Momodou Taal, a British and Gambian dual national, began studying at Cornell in 2022 on an F-1 student visa, which according to a State Department official he no longer holds. Taal's lawyers confirmed the administration asked him to surrender to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for deportation proceedings. Taal's lawyers asked a federal judge to block the deportation actions on an emergency basis, arguing that Taal was being targeted for deportation because of a lawsuit filed against President Trump's executive order calling for the revocation of visas given to foreign students who support terrorism. The lawsuit, which claims the threat of deportation had a "chilling" effect on his free speech was filed several days after the Trump administration started publicly revoking visas of foreign nationals linked to pro-Hamas activism. An underlying question is whether noncitizens have the same free speech rights as U.S. citizens. Reportedly a pro-Israeli group flagged Taal to the Trump administration long before he filed his lawsuit. Taal has repeatedly advocated for the destruction of the United States and for terrorism against Israel. While leading an anti-Israel campus demonstration last year, Taal called on his fellow student protesters to take their "cue from the armed resistance in Palestine." March 21: The New York Post: 6th generation fighter contract announced by Trump Administration President Trump and SECDEF Pete Hegseth announced Friday the US will begin producing the world's first sixth-generation fighter jet — whose name includes an homage to the commander in chief. It will be called the F-47 and will succeed the F-35, long heralded for its superior stealth capabilities. In its Navy variant, the F-35 was the first US fighter jet to be able to land vertically like a helicopter, allowing it to touch down on ships with limited runway room. Trump joked that he liked the name of the new jet, which shares the same number as Trump's second administration but denied having anything to do with its designation. "The generals picked a title," he said. Details about the new asset were limited to protect against foreign adversaries gleaning intelligence about it but Trump disclosed it will be able to fly with drones (plural). Trump didn't disclose how many would be ordered from Boeing or the cost per unit. March 21: One America News Network: After meeting with Trump UAE announces it will invest 1.4 Trillion in the U.S. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that they have decided to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States' economy over the next decade — following a meeting between a UAE official and President Trump. Reuters reported the announcement happened after UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed met with Trump in the Oval Office and after a dinner with JD Vance, several Cabinet members the heads of major UAE sovereign wealth funds and corporations. Some political analysts have claimed that following years of strengthened relations between the United Arab Emirates and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, the UAE has significantly heightened its confidence in the second Trump administration. The UAE's most recent investment in the U.S. will "substantially increase the UAE's existing investments in the U.S. economy" in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and American manufacturing — according to a U.S. official who spoke about the meeting. March 21: The Epoch Times: Columbia University blinks; amends policies on antisemitism Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong has announced that she has implemented the Department of Education's requirements for combatting campus anti-Semitism in order to receive federal funding. All nine conditions required by President Trump, the Department of Education, and the Department of Justice have been addressed, Armstrong said, including a student mask ban — unless for health or religious reasons — a revised admissions and recruitment process, and strict administrative oversight from a new senior vice provost who will monitor certain academic majors that, in the past, had provided anti-Semitic instruction. Additionally, the campus public safety staff is being increased to better handle disruptive situations. "We have worked hard to address the legitimate concerns raised both from within and without our Columbia community, including by our regulators, with respect to the discrimination, harassment and antisemitic acts our Jewish community has faced in the wake of October 7, 2023," her statement said. The Trump administration recently canceled $400 million in grants to Columbia, which was on track to get $5 billion in federal aid for the 2024-2025 academic year, following an investigation into alleged anti-Semitic disruptions and campus vandalism amid pro-Palestinian protests leading up to the resignation of the former university president. March 21: News Max: Judge and White House at odds, can a judge run U.S. foreign & national security? A federal judge examining the Trump administration's use of an 18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador vowed Friday to "get to the bottom" of whether the government defied his order to turn the planes around. Chief Judge James Boasberg is trying to determine if the administration ignored his turnaround order last weekend when at least two planeloads of immigrants were still in flight. "I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order, who ordered this and what the consequences will be," Boasberg said during a hearing for a lawsuit challenging the deportations. Outstanding is the question whether a federal judge has the authority to overrule the foreign policy of the United States, who constitution places such authority within the preview of the President. [See Related Discussion] Meanwhile, the Justice Department and top White House leaders are debating whether to invoke a "state secrets privilege" in response to the district judge's questions about the deportation flights. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a court filing that there are "ongoing Cabinet-level discussions" about Boasberg's demand for more information and whether disclosing the information would harm "state secrets." The Justice Department has said that the judge's oral directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it couldn't apply to flights that had already left U.S. airspace. March 20: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Trump signs an Executive Order; You're Fired! Promises made, promises kept continues, as Donald Trump kept his promise by signing an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Trump stressed that the goal is to have education authority returned to the individual states. "We're going to be returning education back to the states where it belongs" he said, "And this is a very popular thing to do, but much more importantly it's a common-sense thing to do and it's going to work." The executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start working with Congress to officially eliminate the department. March 20: News Max: Border Czar; about 40,000 deportations since Trump took office Border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday that the Trump administration has arrested about 40,000 people who were illegally residing within the United States, claiming that many of them were threats to public or national security. Homan, speaking at a roundtable in Florida hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, accused the previous administration of "rewriting statute" on immigration. "We're gonna enforce immigration law. Unlike the last administration … they told ICE agents, immigration officers, you cannot arrest an illegal alien for simply being here illegally. Here's the executive branch rewriting statute," Homan said. "They told ICE officers you can't enforce the law; unless they're convicted of a serious crime, you can't arrest them. Well, that garbage is over with!" he concluded. "If you're in a country illegally, you got a problem. Now we're going to prioritize public safety threats first, and that's what we're doing. But it's not OK to be in this country illegally. It's against the law. It's not OK to cross the border illegally," he went on. March 20: The Daily Caller: NY judges join hands in rejecting law that allows noncitizen voting Liberal judges on New York's highest court sided with conservatives Thursday to reject a law that would have given noncitizens the right to vote. The law, passed by the New York City Council in December 2021, would have enabled nearly 800,000 "lawful permanent residents" to vote in local elections. The New York Court of Appeals ruled 6-1 to strike it down. "[I]t is plain from the language and restrictions contained in Article II that 'citizen' is not meant as a floor, but as a condition of voter eligibility: the franchise extends only to citizens whose right to vote is established by proper proofs and who vote by ballot," Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote. March 19: The Galveston County Daily News: Lady Justice is Blindfolded for a Reason Activist judges are making a mockery of our justice system. In our view, the actions Justice Reyes should be enough to have her disbarred or at least removed from the bench. Lady justice has a blindfold for a reason. Justices like former Texas Judge John Ellisor, his character, and his fair treatment of all parties in the cases that came into his courtroom should be the norm. Those who show favoritism, disregard decorum in the courtroom, or that act like Reyes has should be weeded out of our justice system March 19: The Daily Caller: USIP bureaucrats barricade building access in failed attempt to block access by Trump-appointed leadership team Reportedly the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) launched a chaotic, short-lived rebellion against Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Monday, sabotaging their own building and communications infrastructure in a failed attempt to resist the administration's takeover. The standoff stemmed from Trump's Feb. 19 executive order demanding the downsizing of numerous federally-funded organizations, explicitly requiring USIP to reduce its operations and personnel to the minimum levels required by law. The administration determined the institute's leadership wasn't complying with this directive, leading Trump to replace its leader George Moose with senior USAID official Kenneth Jackson on Friday. USIP leadership orchestrated extensive internal sabotage before personnel arrived to implement Trump's mandated changes. The Washington Post and New York Times falsely reported the institute merely locked its doors while the truth is personnel effectively destroyed entry mechanisms and, according to Metro Police, barricaded themselves on the building's fifth floor. They also reportedly disabled telephone lines, internet connections and other IT infrastructure, forcing communication among staff through walkie-talkies. Evidence revealed an organized, premeditated resistance strategy as much as ten days before the President signed the executive order. Established by Congress in 1984, USIP requested $55,459,000 for its fiscal year 2025 budget to "promote global peace and security," its website says. The clash between the Administration and USIP uniquely exposed an example of bureaucratic defiance against presidential mandates. Meanwhile Fox News reports a federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration over the USIP's filed a lawsuit protecting itself from "ongoing destruction" by the new leadership team appointed by Trump. The USIP bureaucrats request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) claimed DOGE had committed "literal trespass and takeover by force…of the Institute's headquarters building on Constitution Avenue." The organization also accused the anti-waste initiative of "ongoing destruction of the Institute's physical and electronic property" – something police officials report was done by USIP employees not the newly installed leadership. Judge Beryl Howell denied the request for a TRO. "I think there is confusion in the complaint that make me uncomfortable," Howell said. She said further she was "particularly concerned about plaintiffs' likelihood of success." Two of the most important tests in granting a TRO are the likelihood of success and the merits of a lawsuit to show irreparable harm; both of which Howell suggested are "just a stretch here." USIP had brazenly refused to comply with Donald Trump's February executive order to pull back the "scope of federal bureaucracy," refusing to reduce its size to the statutory minimum listed in the EO. The administration subsequently fired 11 of its 14 board members last week, leaving only Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth and National Defense University President Garvin as directors. March 19: The Daily Caller: Department of Education granted over $100 million for DEI programs for children's social workers A report released Wednesday found the Department of Education under the Biden administration spent over $100 million on grants to universities meant to train K-12 social workers in critical race theory, social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The grants were issued under the guise of providing mental health to students through the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program, a report by Parents Defending Education (PDE) found. The funds were distributed to 26 universities that institute required courses teaching about oppression and white supremacy, radicalizing social workers who go on to work in K-12 schools. "School social workers did not use to spend years marinating in highly ideological courses about privilege, oppression, racial capitalism, and white supremacy, but today, this is common practice in public and private universities," Erika Sanzi, director of outreach for PDE, said. "While this is obviously disturbing, the fact that the U.S. Department of Education has been funding it since 2021 is a major red flag. How can a social worker help students become the best version of themselves if they see them as oppressors with unearned privilege?" The program at Georgia State University received an $8 million grant in 2023 requiring classes on "Diversity and Social Justice." According to the university's website, the class "focuses on understanding and applying multicultural concepts to practice, developing awareness of one's cultural identity, and exploring how diversity and justice issues impact generalist practice in the context of field education." The University of Alaska received $1.2 million for similar purposes. March 18: The Epoch Times: Putin agrees to ceasefire on energy targets in Ukraine Following a phone call with President Trump on March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited cease-fire, in which Russia and Ukraine would stop targeting each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days. Trump and Putin started the conversation at around 10 a.m. ET, with the discussion lasting nearly 90 minutes. "My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one," Trump said. "We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine." According to a Kremlin readout of the call, Trump proposed a deal whereby Russian and Ukrainian forces would mutually refrain from attacks on "energy infrastructure facilities." "Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order," the Kremlin added. March 18: Gateway Pundit: Judicial Coup? Judge moves to block Trump anti-trans policy for the military A far-left activist judge appointed by Joe Biden has blocked President Trump's effort to restore common sense and military readiness by prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Judge Ana Reyes's ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, many contend flies in the face of executive authority and national security priorities. Reyes granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's Executive Order 14183 and the policy established by Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth. The order, which stated that military service by transgender individuals is "inconsistent" with military readiness and unit cohesion, was challenged by a group of transgender service members. [See Related article on the judiciary verses the executive branches of government] March 18: The Washington Times: Trump calls for impeachment of judge who is trying to block deportations President Trump and fellow Republicans began discussing an impeachment effort Tuesday against a federal judge who is trying to thwart the executive branch's foreign policy and national security efforts to deport members of Venezuelan gangs. The flared tempers were the latest escalation in a case that has quickly become the centerpiece of the legal resistance to the President. His opponents accuse him of defying a judge's orders, and the White House says U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is threatening national security which falls under the constitutional mandate of the executive branch of government. Trump said, "We don't want vicious, violent and demented criminals, many of them deranged murderers, in our country." March 18: Fox Business: Musk brings Astronauts home after months in outer space NASA said it aimed for Crew-9 to make its return to Earth on Tuesday evening. The crew was "grinning ear to ear" upon their return. "It was clear we had a request from the current administration, and the results you saw are what we saw today with the landing of Crew-9." According to the U.S. space agency, the planned arrival gave "the space station crew members time to complete handover duties, while providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather conditions expected for later in the week." March 17: The Daily Caller: Dershowitz; We may never know if Biden's auto-penned pardons are valid A bill becomes law when a president signs it but the Constitution doesn't say that about pardons. It simply says a president has the "power" to grant pardons. So. the question that remains is this; Did Joe Biden say he was pardoning the January 6th committee members or even his son Hunter – or did someone else in the White House autopen his signature on a piece of paper granting same? If the latter, did that person do so at Joe Biden's direction or on his/her own accord? "The Constitution is very clear that if the president approves the bill "He shall sign it," Dershowitz said. "That seems to strongly suggest he has to pick up a pen." And there needs to be a document to sign Dershowitz contended. "He has to put pen on paper and sign" not autopen it. March 17: The Daily Wire: Trump contends Biden's last minute and auto-penned pardons are null and void Donald Trump announced during the early morning hours on Monday that he considers "void" pardons that President Joe Biden issued during his final days in office. "In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!" Trump said. "The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime," he contended. "…Those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted all evidence obtained during their two-year witch hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level," he continued. The president's post comes after the Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project blew the whistle on Biden using the "exact same autopen signature" on multiple pardons issued during his presidency. Some prominent documents, including Hunter Biden's pardon and Biden's announcement that he was dropping out of the presidential race, appear to be hand-signed, the watchdog found. However, several other controversial pardons, including those for Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, the January 6 Committee, and other Biden family members, were all signed with the same autopen signature, chief counsel for the Oversight Project Kyle Brosnan said. The concern is that perhaps Biden, in his state of mental decline, may not have actually known about the pardons or at least authorize them. March 17: Fox News: Enough fooling around; ceasefire is over because hostages are not being released The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over as Israeli fighter jets began striking the Gaza Strip after Hamas refused repeated hostage deal offers, officials said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began striking Hamas terrorist targets across Gaza "in order to achieve the war objectives set by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen," the office of Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a letter. "This decision comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all proposals presented by U.S. President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as the mediators," the letter states. March 17: The Gateway Pundit: Judge orders Trump to turn planes around; DOJ judge hasn't authority in international airspace An Obama-appointed judge who ordered the Trump Administration to turn around planes deporting Venezuelan gang members argued with DOJ lawyers about his "equitable powers" on Monday during a dramatic hearing. People don't understand what "equitable powers," that the judge is claiming, are and what, if they even exist, is the legal basis thereto. Judge James Boasberg, granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the Trump administration from deporting thousands of Venezuelan nationals (gang members) under the Alien Enemies Act. Two flights were airborne when the judge rendered his decision and both landed in El Salvador early Sunday morning with about 300 Venezuelan aliens/gang members. DOJ argued the judge has zero jurisdiction over international airspace. They also argued that the aliens were already removed when the judge's order came down. Later Monday, the Trump DOJ asked the appeals court to intervene. March 17: The Washington Times: Trump cloaks self in national security powers; courts told to butt out President Trump cloaked himself in his national security powers Monday as his attorneys told federal courts to butt out while he deports suspected gang members. Earlier Trump had declared Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization and was acting under his powers as commander in chief and the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 when he ousted the suspected gang members. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign asked a federal appeals court to step in and derail the judicial inquiry and take Judge James Boasberg off the case. He said Judge Boasberg was allowing terrorists to mount a class-action lawsuit without heeding national security. The fight goes to the heart of Trump's biggest claims of his second term, including that his national security powers are virtually unfettered, that the country has seen an "invasion" of illegal immigrants, and the result has been a border emergency and an influx of terrorists in the form of cartel and transnational gang activity. March 16: News Max: Trump orders strikes against Houthi-held areas of Yemen Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use "overwhelming lethal force" until the Iran-backed rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 31 people were killed, and Trump's national security adviser said Sunday that the strikes had successfully targeted "multiple" Houthi leaders. "Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom," Trump said. "No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World." He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country "fully accountable" for the actions of its proxy. March 16: The New York Post: 250+ illegal gang members arrive in El Salvadore where they will placed in notorious prison The US has flown more than 250 accused migrant gang members to El Salvador, where they were sent to a notorious mega-prison — in opposition to a federal judge's ruling against the Trump administration. The flights included 238 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, as well as least 21 members of MS-13, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, revealed Sunday morning. Upon landing in El Salvador, the accused men were met on the tarmac by dozens of armed commandos and immediately transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), according to a video posted by Bukele. US District Court Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from invoking the 18th century Alien Enemies Act after the deportees were already airborne and in international airspace. The Trump administration decided the ruling did not apply because the planes were "outside US airspace," Axios reported. [See Related Discussion] March 16: One America News Network: CNN poll; Dems approval rating falls to its lowest point in over twenty years According to a recent CNN poll, the Democrat Party's favorability ratings have fallen to a historic low. The party's overall favorability rating sits at a meager 29%, which is a record low within CNN polling that dates back to 1992. The new poll marks a 20-point plunge from its ratings at the start of Joe Biden's presidency in 2021. Among Democrats and "Democrat-leaning independents" just 63% view the party favorably, compared to 81% at the start of Biden's administration. The historic low favorability ratings is in contrast to the GOP's favorability ratings, which hovers at around a 79% favorability rating among Republicans, CNN reports March 16: News Max: White House considering possible purchase of Tik-Tok by Oracle Faced with an April 5 deadline, the White House is reportedly weighing a "high-level agreement" for Oracle to be the winner of the TikTok sweepstakes under a forced deal to decouple the application from its Chinese roots. Vice President JD Vance alluded to the potential sale agreement Friday as required by Congress amid national security concerns with China-based ownership of the popular social media app that requires forced technology transfer, giving the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' data. Sources are reporting that Oracle founder and Executive Chair Larry Ellison is the leading bidder of the agreement the White House is weighing, but the sources express concern that national security might remain compromised. Some believe the sale to Oracle might only provide a cursory fix to address Congressional concerns. Reportedly lawmakers are bringing in Oracle to talk about the security details this week. "If the Oracle deal moves forward, you still have this [algorithm] controlled by the Chinese," one source told Politico. "That means all you are doing is saying 'trust Oracle' to disseminate the data and guarantee there is no 'back door' to the data." March 15: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Trump signs executive order to rid US of Venezuelan gangs Looking for a way to speed up the process of deporting criminal immigrants and illegal alien gang members, President Trump on Saturday afternoon signed an Executive Order to utilize a US law that reaches back to the era of the American Revolution. The President signed an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which aims for swift detention and deportation of those in America who are migrants from hostile nations. Venezuela has been a hostile nation to the US, and Venezuelan gangs such as Tren de Aragua have been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, so President Trump says he intends to use the Presidential Order, apply it to Venezuelan gangs, and get them out of the country as soon as possible. March 14: The Gateway Pundit: Pardons not signed by Biden but by staff using his autopen; are they legal? The New York Post reports that the Oversight Project has revealed nearly every document Joe Biden signed used the same autopen. "Project" has gathered every document they could find with Biden's signature – all are exactly alike, having used the same autopen signature with one exception; his announcement that he was dropping out of the race to seek another term of office. Six criminals were pardoned by the Biden Administration using the autopen while he was on vacation in St. Croix, begging the question whether they are legal. The pardons for Dr. Fuci, General Milley, January 6th committee members and the flurry of pardons to the Biden family were also signed with the same autopen. March 14: YouTube: Musk's Falcon 9 rocket blasts off in preparation to retrieve two US astronauts from the space station Four astronauts are on their way to the International Space Station after lifting off from Florida on Friday – clearing the way for two other astronauts to return home after a longer-than-expected mission. At 7:03 p.m. EDT, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers launched to the station aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Also on board is Takuya Onishi, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Nearly eight minutes after the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully touched down upright at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. [Really cool – Watch the landing!] March 14: Fox News: Senate passes bill (54-46) to avoid government shutdown A government shutdown was averted just hours before the Friday 11:59 p.m. deadline after enough Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) helped Republicans defeat a filibuster. Senators voted 54-46 to pass the stopgap spending bill, which only needed 51 votes to be approved. Nearly all Republicans backed the measure, with only Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) opposing the measure. All the Democrats opposed it with the exception of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and I. Angus King (I-ME) who caucuses with the Democrats, also voting for passage. March 13: The Washington Times: Senate Dems blink, will allow CR funding bill to go through Thursday evening Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) backed off his shutdown threat and said he will vote to end a filibuster of the Republicans' spending bill, giving other Senate Democrats the green light to do the same. Schumer effectively caved to Republicans' wishes after failing to convince them that a one-month stopgap spending bill was preferable to their plan to extend current funding levels — with a handful of exceptions — through the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. In an attempt to place blame on President Trump and his allies in Congress Schumer said "It's a Hobson's choice, either proceed with the bill before us or risk … throwing America into the chaos of a shutdown," he contended. Schumer's decision came after days of private discussions with his caucus wrestling over whether to back the GOP bill, which passed the House on Tuesday with all but one Democrat voting in opposition. The Senate's initial procedural test vote on the bill will occur Friday morning, unless all 100 senators agree to speed things up. March 13: News Max: Trump petitions SCOTUS regarding Birthright citizenship The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect while legal fights play out. On Thursday, in emergency applications filed at the high court, the administration asked the justices to narrow court orders entered by district judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington that blocked the executive order Trump signed shortly after beginning his second term. The order currently is blocked nationwide. Three federal appeals courts have rejected the administration's pleas, including one in Massachusetts. The order would deny citizenship to those born after Feb. 19 whose parents are in the country illegally. It also forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children. Several states and individuals have sued over the executive order, which they say violates the Constitution's 14th Amendment promise of citizenship to anyone born inside the United States. The Justice Department argues that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings. Instead, the administration wants the justices to allow the Trump's plan to go into effect for everyone except the handful of people and group that sued, arguing that the states lack the legal right, or standing, to challenge the executive order. Five conservative justices, a majority of the court, have raised concerns in the past about nationwide, or universal, injunctions. But the court has never ruled on the matter. March 13: Fox News: MN state rep. introduces measure that would prohibit local jurisdictions from withholding information from, or working with, ICE Minnesota lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would prevent state and local government agencies from prohibiting their employees from sharing immigration data requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill also requires county attorneys to report any illegal immigrant arrested for a violent crime, even if they are not charged, and prohibits law enforcement from not cooperating with ICE. President Trump, who campaigned for an immigration crackdown, loosened restrictions on ICE, allowing broader enforcement. March 12: News Max: Senate Dems may kill bill to fund the U.S. government forcing a shutdown Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Wednesday the Republicans do not have enough votes to pass their continuing resolution to fund the federal government putting the threat of a partial government shutdown that much closer to a reality. Senate Republicans need a total of 60 votes in order to shutoff debate and consider the measure. They only have 53 seats and one GOP member says he won't support the CR. That means at least eight Democrats must support cutting off debate. On Tuesday, the House passed legislation favored by President Donald Trump to keep the government funded through September by a vote of 217-213. One Democrat voted with the Republicans, and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-TN) voted against the measure. The government will shut down by the end of day Friday if lawmakers do not pass legislation for Trump to sign. In the end, it's a game of chicken. Will the Democrats, who will certainly be blamed for a shutdown this time around blink or will they allow the shutdown to happen? Time will tell! March 12: The New York Post: Russia says no to ceasefire with Ukraine as Trump renews his threat to unload devastating financial sanctions if Russia refuses to come to the bargaining table The Russian government issued its strongest statement yet Wednesday against a provisional cease-fire agreed to by the U.S. and Ukraine a day earlier following marathon talks in Saudi Arabia. "Nobody is talking to us," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with pro-Kremlin US bloggers. "They keep saying, 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,' but they do everything about Russia without Russia." Lavrov also reiterated that Russia would not accept peacekeeping troops from any NATO country on Ukrainian territory "under any conditions," a direct rebuke to a proposal floated by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In Washington, President Trump reiterated his threat to sanction Moscow if it did not agree to parley about Ukraine, saying he could unload "devastating" financial sanctions in response to Russian noncompliance. March 12: The Gateway Pundit: Biden Judge Rules Trump Firing Member of Labor Board Unlawful, SCOTUS here we come The US Supreme Court must intervene. A radical Biden-appointed federal judge on Wednesday ruled President Trump does not have the authority to fire a member of the Federal Labor Relations Board. US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan said Trump's firing of Tsui Grundmann, a federal employee that handles labor disputes, was unlawful. President Trump fired Susan Tsui Grundmann from the federal labor relations board last month. Grundmann sued the Trump Administration and claimed her firing was a violation of federal law that says members of her agency can only be removed "for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." But earlier this year the SCOTUS ruled in another case that the President as head of the executive branch has the authority to remove employees. March 11: Federal News Network: Department of Education announces a reduction in force for approximately 50% of its workforce The Education Department is going through a mass layoff of its employees, as part of Reduction-in-Force (RIF) efforts happening across the federal government. The department announced this evening that it laid off nearly 50% of its workforce through a RIF. Impacted employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning March 21. According to the department, all impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, "as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service." The department says its workforce now stands at about 2,183 employees — down from 4,133 when President Donald Trump took office in January, just fifty days ago. The Education Department is closing its offices in the Washington, D.C. metro area at 6 p.m. tonight, and broadening those closures beyond the region on Wednesday. Many of the employees being let go have already had access to their government email accounts shutdown. March 11: News Max: Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire; US agrees to continue aid and intel support The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it would accept a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscow's agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday after talks in Saudi Arabia. The administration imposed the measures a week ago to push Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. SOS Marco Rubio said the U.S. would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin. "We're going to tell them this is what's on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it'll be up to them to say yes or no," Rubio said. "If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here." National security adviser Mike Waltz said the negotiators "got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end," including long-term security guarantees. March 11: The Daily Signal: ICE apprehends 646 illegals in massive sweep of Houston, TX Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 646 illegal migrants, 543 of which were foreign nationals charged or convicted of a criminal offense and living unlawfully in the United States the agency announced. The extensive operation — which was conducted in the Houston, Texas, — was the latest in the Trump administration's mission to arrest and deport criminal illegal migrants from the USA. "In recent years, some of the world's most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members, and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation's southern border to illegally enter the U.S.," ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford said in a prepared statement. "After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and reign terror on law-abiding residents." March 11: News Max: Trump doubles tariffs on Canada in retaliation for their raising tariffs on US products Earlier today President Donald Trump says that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States' northern neighbor. Trump says the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States. March 11: Fox News: Vance talking to GOP holdouts about Continuing Resolution Vice President JD Vance told House Republicans that putting a government funding bill up for a vote today was critical to President Trump keeping the lights on for his border security goals and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Two lawmakers present at the closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning said DOGE and the border were part of Vance's pitch to Republicans who were still undecided about the bill. One lawmaker said Vance also signaled that future federal spending cuts could be on the table at a later date, a similar pitch House Freedom Caucus leaders have been making to fellow fiscal conservatives. "Vance basically said this is what we need to keep DOGE and border operations going," the lawmaker said. "And we will have much more flexibility for DOGE cuts once we've had more time to identify and quantify them." Subsequently, the U.S. House passed bill along party lines by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate where seven Democrat votes will be needed in order to avoid a filibuster. This leaves Senate Democrats divided on the "stark" decision ahead. There are really only two options: One is vote for the CR or to vote to stop its consideration and result in a government shutdown. If they choose the later, they stand to be known as being responsible for a shutdown. March 10: The Epoch Times: Federal Judge blocks immediate deportation of a Palestinian student; Columbia University U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman of the Southern District of New York, an Obama-appointed justice, has temporarily blocked any effort by the Trump administration to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student and permanent resident who led pro-Palestinian encampment protests at Columbia University after the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorist group. Furman ordered that Khalil — who was arrested over the weekend — must not be deported until further legal proceedings have played out and the court potentially authorizes his removal from the United States. "To preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise," Furman wrote. March 10: The Washington Free Beacon: Harvard fires librarian for taking down fliers showing children murdered by Hamas Harvard University has fired an employee who was caught ripping down posters of the Bibas children, who were taken hostage by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and who were later murdered by the terrorist group. Jonathan Tuttle, formerly a cataloger of published materials at the university's Radcliffe Institute, was filmed removing the posters during a Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine rally on March 3. The posters featured the faces of nine-month-old Kfir Bibas and four-year-old Ariel Bibas, the youngest hostages Hamas took during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Bibas children and their mother, Shiri Bibas, were later killed in Hamas captivity. March 10: Breitbart News: Musk reveals the IP address of the denial of service attack on X were based in Ukraine Elon Musk claimed that IP addresses connected to a "massive cyberattack" on X, which caused significant outages throughout Monday, originated in Ukraine. In an interview with Fox Business' host Larry Kudlow, Musk admitted that they were still "not sure exactly what happened." "There was a cyberattack on X today, which shut it down and may have been foreign-sourced," Kudlow said. "It's a big story — you want to give us a moment on that?" We're not sure exactly what happened," Musk responded. "But there was a massive cyberattack to try to bring down the X system, with IP addresses originating in the area of Ukraine. March 10: One America News Network: Gabbard rescinds security clearances of numerous former Biden officials U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stripped security clearances and access to classified information briefings from officials affiliated with the Biden administration, including Antony Blinken, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, and Jake Sullivan — among others. U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stripped security clearances and access to classified information briefings from officials affiliated with the Biden administration, including Antony Blinken, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, and Jake Sullivan — among others. The revocations will also affect individuals like New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. They have both been accused of engaging in a politically-motivated legal measures against Trump in order to stop him from winning the most recent presidential election, among other goals — ultimately intending to bring him down. March 9: News Max: US Shipbuilders welcome Trump support as they are a shadow of what they used to be Shipbuilding has been in steady decline in the US since the end of the Cold War but some in the industry now hope for a revival of the sector, as was promised last week by President Donald Trump. The United States was once a world leader in both commercial and naval construction, but has fallen far behind its main rival China. Trump has now promised to reverse this, declaring in an address to Congress on Tuesday that he would "resurrect" the sector and create an Office of Shipbuilding in the White House. American shipbuilders say they are ready to seize the moment, but experts warn that even a concerted effort to respond to China's overwhelming dominance of the sector will take years -- and cost many billions of dollars. Cynthia Cook, who heads the defense-industrial group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said she is waiting to hear more definitive information but that "it is clear shipbuilding is an industrial weakness of the United States. You cannot immediately get more ships by throwing money at the problem." US ship production is down 85% from the 1950s, and the number of naval shipyards capable of building the largest vessels has fallen by 80%. [See Related story] March 9: The Gateway Pundit: Gunman outside the White House reportedly wanted to commit suicide by cop The suspect who was shot during an armed confrontation outside the White House has officially been identified. Fox News reported police sources have revealed the suspect is 27-year-old Andrew Dawson of Indiana. Secret Service agents also stated that he had a firearm and a knife when he was confronted by agents who were looking into an earlier incident. Indiana police noted that they informed D.C. authorities that Dawson was driving to the Washington, D.C. area and was "suicidal." Moreover, intelligence bulletins suggested that Dawson wanted to commit "suicide by cop." He allegedly did everything possible to ensure he got his wish. Dawson was transported to the hospital with injuries. There is still no word yet on his current condition. No Secret Service agents were harmed in the incident. March 9: Fox News: DOGE uncovers $312 million in loans to children during COVID-19 pandemic The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced a further wave of contract terminations late Saturday, noting that they also identified thousands of cases where more than $300 million in loans were granted to children. As DOGE continues its quest to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse it said it has identified Small Business Administration (SBA) granted nearly 5,600 loans for $312 million to borrowers whose only listed owner was 11 years old or younger at the time of the loan. The loans were issued in 2020 and 2021 under the Biden Administration – while the world struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic – and it is unclear what they were for or their purpose. "While it is possible to have business arrangements where this is legal, that is highly unlikely for these 5,593 loans, as they all also used an SSN with the incorrect name," the agency wrote. March 9: The Epoch Times: Chinese merchant vessels suspected of purposely cutting/damaging underseas cables Cargo vessels accused of sabotaging undersea fiber-optic cables are sheltering in China or else have disappeared from tracking services in recent weeks. Bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, a Chinese-owned and operated cargo ship, is alleged to have cut two vital communications cables in the Baltic Sea last November by dragging its anchor in a zigzag pattern for more than 100 miles. The Danish navy guarded the vessel for a time while an international team negotiated with China's communist leadership to board it as part of an investigation into potential sabotage. The investigation stopped when international jurisdiction questions were raised and the ship left the area, returning to China. March 8: The Epoch Times: Missouri judge finds CCP liable for $24 billion for hording COVID-19 protective equipment A Missouri judge has found China's communist leadership liable in a multi-billion dollar case over the regime's hoarding of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The judgement found that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was liable for $24 billion in damages to Missouri for exacerbating the pandemic by obstructing American access to medical supplies. "This is a landmark victory for Missouri and the United States in the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world," said Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in a statement. The State of Missouri brought the case against China, its communist leadership, and several subordinate departments and institutions including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where some intelligence leaders believe that the COVID-19 virus originated. March 8: The Gateway Pundit: Ag Department cancels $600,000 grant to study "menstrual cycles of transgender men" On Friday, Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is cancelling a $600,000 grant to study "menstrual cycles in transgender men." The reported grant recipient was the Southern University Agricultural & Mechanical College in Louisiana. March 8: The Washington Examiner: House unveils funding bill to keep the federal government operating for the rest of the fiscal year House Republicans unveiled their long-awaited, full-year spending deal on Saturday just days before government funding is set to expire on Friday, with the support of President Trump and, surprisingly, also support from hard-line conservatives. The 99-page CR provides for $892.5 billion in defense spending and around $708 billion in non-defense spending, both of which sit below the caps in fiscal year 2025. Defense spending is moderately increasing from 2024 levels by around $8 billion, while non-defense spending is decreasing by around $13 billion. The "clean" continuing resolution, which allows the government to mostly freeze current spending levels, will extend funding until Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2025. House GOP leaders see the CR as a temporary fix to keep government operations open after bipartisan congressional appropriators were unable to come to an agreement on a topline number for a bigger funding package. The bill also includes some anomalies requested by the White House, including one involving an additional $9.9 billion in funding for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a $20.2 billion rescission for the Internal Revenue Service. March 7: The Epoch Times: DHS to cancel collective bargaining for TSA The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Friday that it will end a union collective bargaining agreement for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to "enhance productivity and resiliency" at U.S. airports. DHS says the collective bargaining agreement is "being exploited by a select few poor performers, placing greater burden on TSOs at the expense of American travelers and taxpayers." The airport screening agency now "has more people doing full-time union work than we have performing screening functions at 86% of our airports," DHS said. "Of the 432 federalized airports, 374 airports have fewer than 200 TSA Officers to [perform] screening functions." "Thanks to Secretary [Kristi] Noem's action, TSO will no longer lose their hard-earned dollars to a union that does not represent them," a DHS spokesperson said. Friday's decision will enable American travelers to "have a more effective and modernized workforce across the nation's transportation networks," the statement said. "TSA is renewing its commitment to providing a quick and secure travel process for Americans." March 7: The Gateway Pundit: Bill to be introduced that would mandate federal ballots only be printed in English Freshman Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) announced on Thursday that next week, he will be introducing a bill to ban ballots that are not printed in the national language, English, for use in federal elections. "Any state that provides multiple languages on ballots will not receive any federal funding if there's federal candidates on it," Hamadeh said. "I also think it's an 80/20 issue," he added, suggesting that 80% of Americans likely agree that ballots need to be printed in one language and that we should have one national language. "One of the basic requirements of becoming a United States citizen that's been long-standing law is that you have to have proficiency and basic understanding of English." Earlier this week President Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. March 7: The Washington Examiner: Dems kneel for criminals but won't stand for a child cancer survivor Much has been made of the classless displays by congressional Democrats during President Trump's joint address. From Rep. Al Green's (D-TX) outburst to the performative political theatrics and hyperbolic hysteria, Democrats were widely criticized for their actions on Tuesday night. However, the most egregious display of their vitriolic hatred was when the majority of Democrats in attendance refused to stand, applaud, and cheer Devarjaye "D.J." Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor. The party of Black Lives Matter showed that the life of a 13-year-old pediatric cancer survivor didn't matter. This is a political party that will kneel for criminals but refuse to stand for a child with brain cancer. D.J. is a black teenager who survived a deadly disease. Six years ago, he was told he had five months to live. His life should matter, but the actions of Democrats showed that it didn't. It is truly indicative of the character, or lack thereof, of the modern Democratic Party. The group of elected officials who constantly espouse the importance of racial diversity and the plights of "black and brown people" and promoted Black Lives Matter couldn't even take time to show a child cancer survivor that his black life mattered. March 7: Fox News: Fired Inspector General comes to Trump's defense; says Presiding had the Authority A government watchdog fired by President Trump in January has filed a legal brief arguing that Trump is well within his executive powers to fire him and the 16 other U.S. inspectors general ousted just four days into his second term. Eric Soskin, the former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation, was appointed by Trump during his first presidential term. He was then fired just four days after Trump returned to the Oval Office, Jeff Beelaert, an attorney for Givens Pursley and a former Department of Justice official said in an interview. "Eric was one of the fired inspectors general, and disagreed with his former IG colleagues. He wanted to make that clear in filing a brief," Beelaert said. Trump moved shortly after his inauguration to purge the government watchdogs from across 17 government agencies, prompting intense backlash, criticism and questions over the legality of the personnel decisions. March 6: News Max: Zelenskyy; Ukraine and the US to hold peace talks next week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country will hold talks with the U.S. next week about ending the war against Russia. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay there to hold talks with U.S. officials. Meanwhile European Union leaders are holding emergency talks about ways to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump administration signaled that Europe must take care of its own security and that the US was suspending assistance to Ukraine. March 6: The Daily Caller: House Freedom Caucus Chair helps Trump avoid government shutdown Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), is whipping support for a government funding plan backed by President Trump that would avert a partial government shutdown set to occur after midnight on March 14. Trump and House GOP leadership have endorsed a six-month extension of government funding, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that would fund government operations at current levels through the remainder of the fiscal year. HFC members including Harris are getting behind the funding measure, citing Trump's argument that passage of the CR allows congressional Republicans to freeze government spending levels and prioritize passing his first-year legislative agenda. In the past, HFC have opposed CR efforts to fund the federal government. March 6: The Washington Examiner: Trump convenes cabinet; gives direcion on cost-cuttin measures President Trump convened his Cabinet on Thursday to lay out how his administration will be handling cost-cutting measures and staffing moving forward after mounting criticism over Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. "As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go," Trump said. "We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet.' The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level." Two administration officials said Trump told his agency leaders that Musk would be allowed to make recommendations about their departments but would not be issuing orders on staffing. March 6: The Gateway Pundit: Judge denies USAID contractors emergency TRO to block Trum's termination of their contracts On Thursday US District Judge Carl Nichols denied a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would have reinstated fired USAID contractors. Nichols said the contractors failed to prove they would face irreparable harm that would warrant immediate relief. He also said it is a contract dispute. His action allows a core part of the Trump administration's effort to dismantle the agency to move forward. March 6: The Epoch Times: Social Security announces over $7 billion in retroactive payments The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the payment of billions of dollars to more than a million Americans after two provisions that reduced or eliminated benefits for certain individuals were recently repealed. Last week, the agency said it will start paying retroactive payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Through March 4, "SSA has already paid 1,127,723 people more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments," the agency indicated. "The average retroactive payment so far is $6,710." The provisions "reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a non-covered pension)." March 5: The Washington Examiner: Trump's first State of the Union style address in second term On Tuesday President Trump gave the first State of the Union-style address of his second presidential term and the objective was clear: Remind the people why they voted for him on Nov. 5. Overall, he succeeded. Trump's speech gave an insight into the strategy of the president and his team: Leverage every issue that won him the election in order to run cover for the one issue that the vast majority of people care about the most: the economy. Trump even made D.J. Daniel, a 13-year-old boy who has been battling terminal brain cancer since 2018 and who dreams of a life in law enforcement, an agent in the United States Secret Service. As his father held D.J. aloft, there wasn't a dry eye in the house, at least among the Republicans in attendance. Meanwhile, the One Americia News Network, reported MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow have been called "sick and twisted" Trump's honoring the courage of Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel, making him an honorary member of the US Secret Service. Trump said he admired DJ's courage throughout his battle with brain cancer in one of the most touching moments of his speech Tuesday evening. DJ wore a Houston PD uniform in attendance and he showed off his new badge to the audience. According to a CNN instant poll, nearly seven in 10 respondents viewed Trump's speech as positive (44% said very positive and 25% said somewhat positive), while 31% offered that they had a negative reaction (15% somewhat negative and 16% very negative). There was a similar response in a snap survey conducted for CBS News on the speech, which lasted more than 90 minutes and was the longest address to a joint session of Congress or a State of the Union address in 60 years. March 5: The Washington Times: Dems antics at joint session of Congress highlights their dilemma   Democrats' dilemma has been on full display this week as they struggle with how to respond to Trump 2.0. As Trump addressed Congress and the nation from the House chamber Tuesday, some Democrats waved angry signs, others sat on their hands, some walked out and still others boycotted altogether. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) stood and waved his cane angrily until the sergeant-at-arms escorted him out of the chamber. Democrats refused to applaud even a cancer-stricken child Trump deputized as an honorary Secret Service agent or a teen who the president announced would be accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The next day, Democrats said they had no misgivings about their chilly reception to the everyday Americans Trump showcased, regardless of their tragic or uplifting stories. "There wasn't no bipartisan moments yesterday. We're looking at a fascist takeover," said Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA). There was so much anger from the Democrat side of the chamber that when Lee was asked about the 13-year-old brain cancer survivor he responded "What about the fascists?" (meaning Trump). Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) said an ovation for anyone during the speech would be like "standing with Donald Trump, and we just could not stand to do that." His guests snubbed by Democratic lawmakers included: • Jason Hartley, a teenager who dreamed of carrying on the family legacy of military service after his father, a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, was killed. Mr. Trump made his dream come true by announcing his acceptance to West Point. • Marc Fogel, who was taken prisoner by Russia in 2021 and released in a deal Mr. Trump made shortly after taking office. He was seated in the House chamber with his 95-year-old mother, Malphine Fogel, who last year personally pleaded with Mr. Trump to fight for her son's release. • Allyson and Lauren Philips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant gang member from Venezuela. The Laken Riley Act was the first bill Mr. Trump signed into law this year. It mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury. • Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the victim in a brutal killing near Houston. Two illegal immigrants from Venezuela are charged with capital murder in his death. Mr. Trump announced that a national wildlife refuge would be named after Jocelyn, who loved animals and was passionate about ensuring they had homes. Republican lawmakers were taken aback that the depths of Democrats' disdain for Mr. Trump when he extended to the young cancer survivor and heartbroken parents of slain children. "I think it's an embarrassment," said Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY). "Frankly, the Democratic leadership should be really embarrassed by what they allowed to occur by their members." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the Democrats' behavior — including the booing of the president, Mr. Green's ranting and the snubbing of everyday Americans — "completely disgraceful." March 5: The Gateway Pundit: House member calls for immediate defunding of USAID after SCOTUS ruling Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) is calling on Congress to take immediate action to defund the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following an outrageous Supreme Court ruling. In a jaw-dropping betrayal of American taxpayers and constitutional integrity, the Supreme Court said Trump must go forward with the radical wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive programs granted by the Biden Administration. This means the US must fork over $1.9 billion in borrowed funding to make these foreign aid payments. Massie's call could be taken as part of the budget reconciliation process. March 4: The Washington Examiner: Operations of Panama's key ports sold to US companies A Hong Kong-based conglomerate has agreed to sell its stake in a subsidiary that operates Pacific and Atlantic ports at each end of the Panama Canal to a United States-based firm as the Trump Administration ramps up pressure to rid the canal of Chinese influence. CK Hutchison Holdings, which holds 90% control of the Panama Ports Company, said it will sell its shares in the two ports to a consortium led by BlackRock, the world's largest and US-based asset management company. The $23 billion deal came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio's February visit to Panama, during which he told Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino that the Panama Canal must be rid of Chinese influence or Panama could face retaliation from the Trump administration. Rubio contended the Chinese influence violated the 1979 treaty agreement that stipulated the canal would remain neutral. In January, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) raised concerns that the ports "give China ready observation posts," thus giving China the opportunity to exploit or block passage through the canal. March 4: The Daily Caller: Trump Admin. may use FACE Act against protestors blocking worshipers from entering synagogues The Trump administration signaled that a law used to jail pro-life protesters may, instead, be used against those accused of harassing Jews at a California synagogue. DOJ filed a "statement of interest" on Friday supporting a lawsuit that alleges "a violent mob of anti-Israel activists" unlawfully blocked access to a synagogue in June 2024. The Justice Department said the behavior the lawsuit described "violates the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act," a law that protects places of worship. March 4: The Epoch Times: Zelenskyy calls his meeting with Trump/Vance " regrettable," appreciates all the US has done for Ukraine Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said that last week's clash with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House was "regrettable" and pledged to sign a minerals deal and hold peace talks. In his first statement since the Trump administration said it would pause military aid to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, he said that Ukraine does not want "an endless war" and that "nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians." "We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," the Ukrainian leader wrote in a statement, released on social media platform X. "And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this." March 3: News Max: Congress nowhere near deal to avert government shutdown this month With less than two weeks to go before a March 14 deadline, Republicans and Democrats in Congress appear to be nowhere close to a deal to avert a government shutdown that would throw Washington into deeper turmoil. The talks have been complicated by Trump, who has suspended foreign aid and fired tens of thousands of federal workers. Both sides say his actions are the biggest sticking point as they seek to reach a deal that would provide government funding beyond March 14, when it is due to expire. Democrats say they are trying to secure guarantees that would prevent Trump and his budget-slashing point person, billionaire Elon Musk, from firing more workers or canceling more government programs. In other words, Democrats want to force the Administration to spend money it has to borrow and to avoid Musk's cost cutting efforts and moves to end waste, fraud, and abuse. Republicans say Democrats efforts in this regard are a nonstarter. March 2: Fox News: DOD civilians told to complete the Musk/DOGE survey Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed DOD's civilian workforce to comply with Elon Musk's DOGE productivity email, listing five things they accomplished after initially telling them not to reply. Hegseth said in a video message explaining the shift, "Our civilian patriots who dedicate themselves to defending this nation working for the Department of Defense are critical to our national security," he said. "As we work to restore focus on DOD's core warfighting mission under President Trump's leadership, we recognize that we cannot accomplish that mission without the strong and important contributions of our civilian workforce." Musk responded on social media, "Much appreciated @SecDef Hegseth!" March 2: The Washington Examiner: Examiner says Dems have been mischaracterizing Trump's exchange with Zelenskyy On Sunday, Washington Examiner Editor-in-Chief Hugo Gurdon argued that Democrats have been mischaracterizing Friday's testy exchange in the Oval Office between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and President Trump in order to malign the U.S. president. Gurdon listed Democrats' reactions --- which have included Susan Rice, a former ambassador to the United Nations -- calling the meeting a "setup" and others referring to it as an "ambush." He called these a "mischaracterization" of what actually happened in the meeting and how it spiraled out of control. "It was, in fact, Vice President Vance was answering a reporter's question and backing up the U.S. diplomatic approach, and President Zelensky took the opportunity to interject and almost mock America's approach," he said. "And, you know, it went downhill from there. In fact, President Trump tried to, kind of, calm things down until he finally lost his temper when it seemed that Zelensky was saying, 'Look, you know, we just want another $100 billion no questions asked.'" While Trump and Vance "should take some blame" along with Zelensky for how the meeting transpired, it is still being mischaracterized by Democrats who are engaging in "cheap point-scoring" to simply attack Trump as being "on Russia's side, he contended. March 2: The Gateway Pundit: Carlson comments on Trump-Zelensky meeting On Friday, Tucker Carlson has issued a withering response to the disastrous Oval Office meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The commentator, who is known for his skepticism towards America's support for Ukraine in their war with Russia, pointed to the fact that the notorious war hawk Lindsey Graham criticized Zelensky's conduct in the wake of the meeting. "Most Americans witnessing what they saw today would not want Zelensky to be their business partner, including me, and I've been to Ukraine nine times since the war started," Graham said following the meeting. March 2: Fox News: Norway will continue to supply US Navy ships Norway made clear that it will continue supplying fuel for U.S. Navy ships after a private marine fuel supplier threatened to boycott the U.S. in response to deteriorating US-Ukrainian relations. "We have seen reports raising concerns about support for U.S. Navy vessels in Norway. This is not in line with the Norwegian government's policy," Norway's Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement Sunday. The statement comes after privately held Norwegian fuel supplier Haltbakk Bunkers took to social media Friday and threatened a boycott of the U.S. Navy in response to the Trump-Zelenskyy exchange in the Oval Office. March 2: The Epoch Times: Canda is open to talks about matching US tariffs on Communist China Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters in Vancouver on Feb. 28 that Canada is "open" to talks about matching U.S. tariffs on China. She noted Canada already has tariffs on some components coming from China, as well as on electric vehicles. "When it comes to the U.S. and their own concerns, we're able to have conversations," she said. "We are very open to have trade-related conversations, including when it comes to China." Trump recently announced a 10% levy on Communist Chinese goods going into the United States. That is on top of the 10% tariff on China imposed on Feb. 4, which was also in addition to previously imposed tariffs. The latest tariff will go into effect on March 4, the same day that 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico are scheduled to go into effect, according to Trump. March 2: The Washington Examiner: Zelenskyy says he's still ready to sign key minerals agreement with the US On Sunday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy suggested he's still ready to sign the key minerals deal between his country and the United States after the deal fell through last week. Speaking with British media Zelensky pointed to his previous commitment of signing the deal, which was left unsigned after he was asked to leave the White House following a fiery exchange with President Trump and Vice President Vance. "It is our policy to continue what happened in the past, we're constructive. If we agreed to sign the minerals deal, we're ready to sign it," the Ukrainian president said. Shortly after the tumultuous meeting on Friday in the Oval Office, Trump made clear that Zelensky should only come back to the negotiating table "when he is ready for Peace." March 2: News Max: National Security Advisor; Criticism of Trump for standing firm on Ukraine deal is "ridiculous" Criticism for President Donald Trump over standing firm against a defiant Volodymyr Zelenskyy is "ridiculous" and "hypocritical pearl-clutching," according to national security adviser Mike Waltz. "The No. 1 goal of the failed Ukraine mineral deal Zelenskyy balked at in the name of security guarantees was to get to Russian President Putin to end his war on Ukraine, and it was no "ambush," he contended. "The president is trying to end this war: He campaigned on it; he was elected on it; and that's going to take tough diplomacy," Waltz continued. He claims the Democrats who are critical had no problem dealing with "the murderous Iranian regime in an Iran deal that was horrific and used the Russians as intermediaries," he said. It takes two sides and the mediator in Trump to bring Putin's war in Ukraine to an end, but Zelenskyy's defiant posture in the Oval Office risked Putin never coming to the table, according to Waltz. "Well, you know, it wasn't clear to us that President Zelenskyy was ready to negotiate in good faith toward an end to this war," he concluded. March 1: One America News Network: NATO Secretary General tells Zelenskyy to make amends with Trump after continuous meeting NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a blunt warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his tense Oval Office exchange with President Trump, saying that the Ukrainian leader must make amends. During remarks the BBC Saturday he related a call he had with Zelensky the day before, telling Zelenskyy that he should give Trump is due credit for the support he gave Ukraine during his first administration. "I said: I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration. That is important going forward," he said to the Ukrainian president. On the call, Rutte went on to remind Zelensky that "we really have to respect what President Trump has done so far for Ukraine. Without the Javelins in 2022, when the full-scale attack started, Ukraine would have been nowhere," Rutte said during the BBC interview. "I told him we really have to give Trump credit for what he did then, what America did since then and also what America is still doing." March 1: Yahoo News: Trump signs Executive Order unleashing Forest Service to conduct better forest service management in an effort to reduce the number of fires like those in Southern California Donald Trump signed an executive order Saturday that looks to unleash forest management efforts following this year's devastating Los Angeles wildfires. USA Today reports the order takes steps for quicker federal permitting approvals of forestry projects under the Endangered Species Act so that clearing brush, timber removals and other projects aren't delayed by environmental and other regulatory reviews. In addition to expanding forest management, the White House said the goal is to lower costs of housing construction and lumber by increasing the domestic supply of timber to reduce U.S. reliance of timber imports from Canada, Brazil and Germany. March 1: The Washington Times: Judge; Government unions fail to demonstrate injury, denied standing in court case When the Trump administration announced its plan to offer a buyout to federal workers, major labor unions rushed to a judge to try to stop it. But U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. blocked the unions near the start of the case, ruling that the unions perhaps had a keen interest in the fate of their members but weren't actually injured on their own. In other words, they lacked legal "standing" to sue. To have standing, a party must show they are sufficiently injured to bring a lawsuit. President Trump already faces some 90 lawsuits challenging his aggressive agenda, and the first question each of those plaintiffs has to answer to the judge is why they should even be let in the courthouse door. Without standing the case is over. Standing requires plaintiffs to show that they face an actual "injury," that the person being sued is responsible for that injury and that the court has a viable remedy available. He said the reason the unions were found to lack standing in the buyout case is because the injury is too tenuous. The unions had argued they had to spend money to educate their members about the buyouts. But courts generally find that a party can't spend itself into having standing. February 28: The Epoch Times: Ukraine President asked to leave the White House after contentious meeting with Trump and Vance Ukrainian President Zelenskyy left the White House on Friday after his meeting with President Trump and Vice President Vance devolved into a heated argument. Trump has sought to negotiate a quick end to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. He has also positioned the deal for access to Ukraine's natural resources as a way to recoup some of the funds the United States has already contributed to Ukraine's war effort. The United States has been Kyiv's leading backer since Russian forces marched on Ukraine in 2022, and has allocated more than $174 billion in Ukraine-related expenses. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has been adamant that a deal for Ukraine's natural resources should include new U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump and Zelenskyy's conflicting visions became evident as they hashed them out in front of reporters while in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy refused to compromise and refused a cease-fire on the terms proposed by Trump. He contended Putin began the war, and a peace settlement should follow the principle that he who began the war should pay for the damages. Trump pointed out that Ukraine cannot win the war with Russia, especially if the US stops its support; calling for a middle ground. "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards," Trump said, saying further what he wants is "peace" and the stopping of the killing. February 28: News Max: Morris: Trump can stop a Chinese takeover of the organization of American State President Donald Trump can stop China from taking control of the influential Organization of American States (OAS) just by announcing he supports the pro-U.S. candidate, top political strategist Dick Morris said. "This organization was set up to embody the Monroe Doctrine that keeps foreign powers from colonizing Latin American countries, and there's a vacancy in the office of secretary general," he continued. On March 10th the OAS will meet to select its new secretary general. Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, the candidate close to the U.S. and foreign minister of Paraguay, is just a few votes away from winning, all he needs is the strong support of the US, Morris contends. There are currently eight undecided votes that will determine the final outcome. February 28: The Gateway Pundit: Georgia Senate launches investigation into Stacey Abrams'(D) reported illegal fundraising The Georgia Senate launched an investigation into Stacey Abrams and her nonprofit The New Georgia Project for illegal fundraising activity. "Abrams and the New Georgia Project, from which she is no longer affiliated, are being investigated by the same Senate panel that has been examining Fulton County DA Fani Willis' historic indictment of Donald Trump during the time he was out of the Oval Office," Atlanta News First reports. "The Senate committee will focus on alleged campaign finance violations and possibly the recent New Georgia Project firings allegedly tied to efforts to unionize the voting rights organization," the outlet said. Francys Johnson, the former head of Stacey Abrams' nonprofit, announced his resignation after the Abram's NGO was hit with a massive fine for committing campaign fundraising crimes. Twice-failed Democrat Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams created the nonprofit in 2013 to help get out the black vote. Abrams has repeatedly claimed, without providing any evidence that Georgia Republicans engage in black voter suppression. In January, Abrams' NGO was slapped with a $300,000 ethics fine for illegal campaign fundraising. February 27: The Washinton Free Beacon: Israel to resume the war in Gaza within the next six weeks Israeli decision-makers plan to resume the Gaza war in four to six weeks with overwhelming force, sending in tens of thousands of troops to conquer the entire strip in a single coordinated offensive against Hamas. Incoming military chief of staff Eyal Zamir has, at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Israel Katz, started developing the plan, according to several current and former Israeli officials with knowledge of high-level discussions. Under the plan, Israel will deploy more troops to Gaza than it has to this point in the war—over 50,000—before relocating Gaza's civilian population to humanitarian zones and waging a ruthless ground campaign against Palestinian terrorists across the rest of the strip. "It's going to be decisive," said Amir Avivi, a former Israeli brigadier general who has advised the Israeli government and military during the war. "Israel will use every tool it has to conquer Gaza and eradicate Hamas." February 27: One America News Network: Bondi accuses the FBI of withholding Epstein documents, demands to see them all The release of the full set of documents that was promised to be revealed to the public on Thursday by Attorney General Pam Bondi has been "delayed" due to the last-minute discovery that the FBI is allegedly hiding thousands of documents relating to the infamous Epstein files. Bondi claims that she was only given 200 pages relating to the Epstein files, when she had asked for all of the investigation files. The U.S. AG had expected to receive every single document pertaining to the late pedophile sex trafficker, especially his client list. Bondi first became suspicious after looking over the handed-over documents, noting that, after examining them, there was "nothing juicy" or of substance included in the papers — paraphrasing her comments. "By 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, February 28, the FBI will deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office, including all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients, regardless of how such information was obtained," Bondi said. February 27: The Gateway Pundit: Federal Judge: Trump can fire CIA DEI hires On Thursday a federal judge ruled against CIA employees who sued the Trump Administration to keep their jobs. Earlier this month, Judge Trenga, an appointee of George W. Bush, had temporarily blocked Trump's move to clean house in the intelligence community — specifically targeting agents involved in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives that have compromised national security in favor of leftist ideology. This ruling comes after a group of anonymous intelligence officers filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the CIA. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names ODNI, the CIA, and leadership — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe—as defendants. In the end, Judge Trenga ruled that Trump can fire the CIA DEI employees. February 26: The Washington Free Beacon: State Department discloses 15,000 in grants worth $60 Billion headed for elimination Donald Trump's State Department completed its review of U.S. foreign aid, identifying nearly 15,000 grants worth $60 billion for elimination, an internal memo indicates. The review pertained to foreign aid that flowed from both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The lion's share of the grants identified for elimination came from USAID, where Trump administration officials have moved to slash 5,800 grants valued at $54 billion. That's about a 92% reduction in USAID's multi-year grant spending. The "exhaustive review" reflects the monumental changes underway at USAID under Trump. In late January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a 90-day freeze on foreign aid aimed at allowing the administration to review programs for their consistency with "U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda." Under former Joe Biden, USAID funneled scores of grants to foreign nations aimed at advancing "environmental justice" and "LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development," and other left-wing priorities. February 26: The Epoch Times: Social Security to give retroactive payments to qualifying recipients Millions of Americans who receive Social Security benefits will get a lump-sum amount and see a spike in their monthly payments as part of a new law signed last month, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency "is immediately beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)," SSA said. These provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security. As these individuals' earnings were never covered under Social Security, they never paid Social Security taxes from their salaries during employment. Most of them worked for various levels of government. Since the law changes, those impacted are due to receive payments. February 26: The Washington Times: Zelenskyy coming to the US on Friday to discuss "Trump-Deal" Donald Trump said Wednesday that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will travel to Washington, DC on Friday to sign a bilateral economic development and mineral-sharing pact. Considerable uncertainty remains over the details and how the deal will affect Kyiv's 3-year-old war to stave off a Russian invasion. Trump has pressed for an economic pact to give U.S. interests a claim on Ukraine's critical mineral sector while he describes it in part as "payback" for the tens of billions of dollars in U.S. miliary and development aid provided to Ukraine since Rusia invaded in February 2022. Ukraine is seeking ironclad security guarantees from the U.S. in exchange for any economic deal. There are some reports that Kyiv was balking at some provisions of the accord, which would give U.S. mining interests access to hundreds of billions of dollars-worth of Ukraine's rare earth and strategic minerals, including some of Europe's largest deposits of lithium, uranium and other elements key to high-tech applications. Meanwhile Trump has opened direct talks with Russia on ways to end the war. February 26: The New York Post: SCOTUS stunned by change of arguments in discrimination case The nine Supreme Court justices were left stunned Wednesday when Ohio's solicitor general switched arguments in a reverse discrimination case — siding on a key point with the plaintiff, a woman who claims she was passed over at work in favor of gay and lesbian colleagues. The high court had convened to hear arguments about whether a straight person must show more evidence of discrimination than a gay person to bring forward a civil rights case. But T. Elliot Gaiser, arguing on behalf of the Buckeye State's Department of Youth Services, distanced himself from the lower court rulings he had been tasked with defending and agreed with plaintiff Marlean Ames' attorneys that heterosexual people should not face a higher burden — bewildering the justices. February 26: News Max: Trump Administration prepares for a massive Reduction in Force eliminating civil service positions Federal agencies must develop plans to eliminate employee positions, according to a memo distributed by President Trump 's administration that sets in motion what could become a sweeping realignment of American government. The memo expands the effort to downsize the federal workforce, which Trump has described as bloated and impediment to his agenda. His administration is turning its attention toward career officials with civil service protection. By March 13 agencies are to submit their plans for what is known as a reduction in force, which would lay off employees and eliminate the positions altogether. Some departments have already begun this process. The General Services Administration (GSA), which handles federal real estate, told employees on Monday that a reduction in force was underway and they would do "everything in our power to make your departure fair and dignified." February 26: The Daily Signal: Trump shakes up legacy media's hold on the White House briefing room On Tuesday White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that more reporters would have more access to the President, who is already one of the most accessible world leaders in recent history. But some of he elitist in the White House press corps are reacting with scorn, calling the move a threat to free speech. Of course it isn't such a threat, just the opposite, but it is breaking legacy media's once-mighty monopoly at the President's house and there's nothing they can do to salvage their role as gatekeepers of news and information. Instead, newly credentialed journalists from other media outlets will now have a chance compete with the old guard for access to the president as part of the press pool shake-up. Rather than outsource the rotation to the unaccountable White House Correspondents' Association, Trump's press team will handle the assignments. February 25: The Epoch Times: Social Security Admin. eliminates unnecessary and wasteful department The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that it is eliminating its Office of Transformation. The acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek said, "This redundant office was created under the previous administration and we are righting that wrong." According to the SSA website the Office of Transformation was responsible for providing "strategic guidance and oversight of enterprise-wide initiatives, addressing policies, business processes, and systems." Any idea what that means? February 25: The Galveston County Daily News: Musk is delivering on Trump's promises Several Presidential Administrations early in their terms talked about the necessity of more efficient government. In their rhetoric, taxpayers deserved value for their financial sacrifice. President Trump also promised efficiency, but unlike many of his predecessors, he is delivering.  Elon Musk, Trump's legally-selected agent who's not being paid for his services, has started to open the doors and shed light on how reckless and dangerous former federal spending has become. Musk and his team of auditors, labeled DOGE, are employing powerful AI driven software to uncover wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending and the results are not pretty. February 24: Fox News: Trump wants the XL Pipeling finished Donald Trump said on Monday he wants the Keystone XL pipeline, which was opposed for years by activists fighting against climate change, to be built. The pipeline was proposed in 2008 to bring oil from Canada's Western tar sands to U.S. refiners and was halted in 2021 by owner TC Energy Corp after Democrat Joe Biden revoked a key permit needed for a U.S. stretch of the project. "Our Country's doing really well, and today, I was just thinking, that the company building the Keystone XL Pipeline that was viciously jettisoned by the incompetent Biden Administration should come back to America, and get it built." February 24: The Daily Signal: Trump and Macron plan to "share the burden" of securing peace in Ukraine French President Emmanuel Macron agrees that Europe must join the United States in bearing the "cost and burden of securing the peace" between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said Monday. Macron and Trump met on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "Europe must take that central role in assuring the long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do," Trump said. Trump said the U.S. has contributed more aid to Ukraine than any other nation, adding that he hopes at some point to equalize that. "And while we give advanced amounts of military aid and money in the form of grants, much of Europe's contribution has been economic relief structured as loans for which they'll be repaid," Trump said. "Like the Europeans, I believe that taxpayers of the United States also presume to reboot the colossal amounts of money that we sent." Macron said he is "aware Europeans need to do more" to bear "the security burden your country has been carrying for so many years." February 24: Fox News: Trump and Musk endorse Ramaswamy in Ohio gubernatorial race Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Monday separately endorsed entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's gubernatorial race. Ramaswamy, who ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, announced his candidacy earlier on Monday to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in the 2026 election. Trump said noted he competed against Ramaswamy, that he knows him well, and that he is something special in his endorsement. February 24: News Max: Apple to establish facility in Texas, $500 Billion investment with 20,000 jobs across the US Apple said on Monday it plans to help bring online a quarter-million-square-foot factory in Texas by 2026 to build artificial intelligence servers and will add about 20,000 research and development jobs across the U.S. Apple said that it plans to spend $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. That figure includes everything from purchases from U.S. suppliers to U.S. filming of television shows and movies for its Apple TV+ service. The company declined to say how much of the figure it was already planning to spend with its existing U.S. supply base, which includes firms such as Corning, which makes glass for iPhones in Kentucky. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook announced the plan. The move comes after media reports that Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump last week. Many of Apple's products that are assembled in China could face 10% tariffs imposed by Trump earlier this month, though the iPhone maker previously secured some waivers from China tariffs during the first Trump administration. February 23: News Max: Musk; All federal workers should justify their work product Musk gives federal workers 48 hours to justify their jobs Elon Musk, the advisor to Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending. Musk -- the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor -- has led the effort to fire swaths of the government workforce. "All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote. According to a copy of the email federal workers were asked to submit "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week." Meanwhile, according to Newsweek, the newly sworn in FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly told the agency's staff to ignore the Musk request. "For now, please pause any responses," reads the Patel message sent Saturday to all FBI personnel, calling for employees to wait for a coordinated response from the bureau. February 23: The Gateway Pundit: American Bar Association votes to suspend DEI requirements for the Bar The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted during a meeting in San Antonio on Friday to end the requirement until August 31 while it reviews the policy. The change comes as President Trump has vowed to gut all government programs with DEI policies. Daniel Thies, chair-elect of the council and co-chair of its Strategic Review Committee, told the ABA Journal that the changes were due to Trump's executive orders. "The committee's view is that with the executive orders and the law being in flux, it would be an extreme hardship for law schools if our standards were to require them to do certain things that may cause them to take more litigation risks and potentially violate the law," Thies said. February 22: Fox News: Bondi We will "find illegal aliens" and deport them from IL, NY and other states Attorney General Pam Bondi said President Donald Trump's administration will "find illegal aliens" and "deport them in Illinois, New York and other states," in her latest warning to Democratic governors. "You better comply with federal law, or you will be next," Bondi said. Bondi explained that taking the Department of Justice back to its "prime major function" of "fighting violent crime" was initially her top priority. But she also mentioned that government waste and drug cartels were at the top of her list as well. February 21: The Daily Caller: Trump clashes with Maine Governor; Americans not likely to side with the Governor During a White House event on Friday, President Trump clashed with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills of Maine regarding the participation of biological men in women's sports. Fox News commentator Hugh Hewitt said the majority of Maine's residents are likely to oppose the governor's stance, predicting an 80-20 split against her position. "… and they're going to be upset if the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights concludes that Maine is in violation of Title IX, which I believe they will, and they're gonna lose a lot of money," Hewitt contended. This issue is not one that Democrats might want to define their party by," he said. "So, it's not an issue which Democrats want to define their party on, but [in] that exchange today, Donald Trump seized high ground, he's gonna stand on it, and it was a big win for the president," Hewitt concluded. February 21: Fox News: WH Deputy Chief of Staff schools reporters; gives them a civics lesson As posted on Twitter [X], Deputy White House Chief of staff, Stephen Miller, Thursday gave reporters in the White House briefing room a lesson in civics and democracy. He did so in response to questions about the appropriateness of Elon Musk's heading up efforts to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse of funding in the federal government. "A president is elected by the whole American people," he said. "He's the only official in the entire government that is elected by the entire nation, right? Judges are appointed. Members of Congress are elected at the district or state level. The Constitution, Article II has a clause known as the Vesting Clause. And it says the executive power shall be vested in a president, singular. The whole will of democracy is imbued into the elected president. That president then appoints staff to then impose that democratic will onto the government. The threat to democracy, indeed the existential threat to democracy, is the unelected bureaucracy of lifetime-tenured civil servants who believe they answer to no one, who believes [sic] they can do whatever they want without consequence, who believes they can set their own agenda no matter what Americans vote for," Miller contended. He then went on to single out bureaucrats in the FBI, Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency as examples. February 21: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: Senate moves forward passing Budget Reconciliation bill After working all night, the US Senate passed a budget bill early Friday morning by a vote of 52-48 with only Senator Paul (R-KY) not voting with his party. After hours of back-to-back voting on Democratic amendments, the bill to fund border security, energy and defense finally got its vote on the chamber floor. The move came despite House Republicans being expected to take the lead on passing a budget bill first. Fox news reported that the decision to move forward with the Senate's alternative budget plan, which is two-pronged as opposed to the House's effort to pass one large bill, was blessed by Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday. The Senate version will tackle some of President Trump's priorities, such as securing the southern border. February 21: Fox News: Trump announces he will stop all federal funding for Maine until they comply with EO prohibiting men from competing in women's sports President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will cut off federal funding to the state of Maine if it continues to defy his executive order preventing trans athletes (men claiming to be women) from competing in girls' and women's sports. "I heard men are still playing in Maine," Trump said to a gathering of Republican governors in Washington on Thursday. "I hate to tell you this, but we're not going to give them any federal money, they are still saying 'we want men to play in women's sports' and I cannot believe that they're doing that… So, we're not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up." The states of Maine, California, Minnesota and others run primarily by Democrats, have said they will not comply with Trump's executive order. February 21: The Gateway Pundit: DOJ files formal complaint against judge for egregious misconduct The Justice Department on Friday filed a formal complaint against a federal judge assigned to Trump's executive order on transgender troops for engaging in "egregious misconduct" toward its counsel. On Tuesday, Biden appointed Judge Ana Reyes signaled she would side with a group of transgender soldiers who sued to block President Trump's executive order on transgender troops. But it was her treatment of the DOJ attorneys in the case that caused the complaint to be filed. The Justice Department detailed Judge Reyes' shocking statements toward its attorneys in Tuesday's hearing. "During these hearings, Judge Reyes engaged in hostile and egregious misconduct that violates Canons 2A and 3A(3) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which requires judges to "act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary" and "be patient, dignified, respectful, and courteous to litigants," the DOJ complaint states. The Justice Department said during her lecture on the "30 different intersex examples," Reyes grilled one of its lawyers about his religious beliefs and then used him unwillingly as a "physical prop in her courtroom theatrics." The Justice Department also admonished the judge for the use of the inappropriate abbreviation "WTF" – "what the f*ck" – during the questioning of a DOJ lawyer on his religious beliefs. February 20: The Daily Caller: SECDEF Hegseth poised to can top general for pushing "wokeness" Secretary of Defense Hegseth is reportedly set to can a top general in the Air Force and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for his liberal policies, two U.S. officials have indicated. According to CNN, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown is reportedly on a list of suggested dismissals provided to congress. The move comes as Trump seeks to make good on his campaign promise to root out "wokeness" in the military. "…any general that was involved – general, admiral, whatever – that was involved in any of the DEI woke shit has got to go. Either you're in for warfighting, and that's it. That's the only litmus test we care about," Hegseth said in November 2024. February 20: The New York Post: US Attorney investigating Garcia (D-CA) and Schumer (D-NY) for reportedly using threatening language toward Musk, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh The US attorney's office in Washington DC has launched an investigation into alleged "threats against public officials" made by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA.) against Supreme Court justices and Elon Musk. Garcia, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2023, was accused by interim DC US Attorney Ed Martin of threatening DOGE chief Elon Musk during a CNN interview earlier this month. "When asked how Democrats can stop Elon Musk, you spoke clearly," Martin wrote to Garcia. What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy," Garcia had said. Schumer received a similar letter from Martin related to language he directed at Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on March 4, 2020. "I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions," the New York Democrat said during an abortion rights rally outside the Supreme Court. Martin argued that Schumer's remark was made "in a way that many found threatening." February 20: The Gateway Pundit: China's ticket toward global dominance (BRI) seems to be hitting some speed bumps Once seen as Beijing's ticket to global dominance, is now faltering under mounting debt, unfinished projects, and growing international skepticism. As countries like Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka have withdrawn or renegotiate their involvement, the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative's (BRI) failures expose its role in economic entrapment and geopolitical leverage rather than genuine development. Additionally, with a Trump White House China's economy is likely to face even greater strain, further limiting its ability to invest in the BRI and expand its global influence. A decade after its launch, BRI seems to be faltering. Once hailed as a transformative infrastructure project that would reshape global trade, the BRI has instead been marred by financial instability, unfinished projects, and accusations of debt-trap diplomacy. Countries that once embraced Beijing's ambitious promises are now stepping back, with Brazil being the latest major economy to reject formal participation, joining both India and Italy in distancing themselves from the initiative. As nations struggle with mounting debt and projects that fail to deliver meaningful economic benefits, the BRI's grand vision apparently is unraveling. February 19: The Epoch Times: Trump and Musk spend an hour in an open interview with Sean Hannity during prime time President Trump and Elon Musk discussed waste, fraud, abuse, and more in a joint interview with Sean Hannity that aired on Feb. 18. The world's wealthiest man and the president of the United States defended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), now facing leftwing political opposition and numerous lawsuits as it slashes government spending. During the interview Musk promised to recuse himself on issues where his companies may have a perceived conflict of interest. During the interview Musk discussed bringing home the two astronauts who have been stranded in space. The president said DOGE was pinpointing "billions—and it will be hundreds of billions—of dollars' worth of fraud." He predicted Musk would identify $1 trillion in what Hannity called "waste, fraud, abuse, corruption," adding that he believes that to be "a very small percentage" of that sort of suspect spending. Musk did not dispute the trillion-dollar figure. February19: News Max: Musk shows interest in refunding DOGE savings to taxpayers Elon Musk said he will "check with the president" about sending Americans rebates for federal money saved by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Azoria CEO and co-founder James Fishback suggested on Twitter [X] that President Donald Trump and Musk "should announce a 'DOGE Dividend' — a tax refund check sent to every taxpayer, funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE." Musk responded little more than two hours later by saying, "Will check with the President." February 18: The Gateway Pundit: Trump fires remaining Biden-appointed US Attorney President Trump fired all remaining Biden-appointed US Attorneys on Tuesday. "Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining "Biden Era" U.S. Attorneys. We must "clean house" Iimmediately, and restore confidence. America's Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – that begins today!" Some of the Biden-era US Attorneys resigned in a timely manner after Trump was sworn into office, but others have overstayed their welcome. President Trump fired approximately a dozen Biden-appointed US Attorneys last week. February 18: The Daily Caller: US Navy and Coast Guard rescue Iranian sailors in Arabian Gulf The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard rescued five Iranian and two Indian sailors from their distressed vessel Tuesday in the Arabian Gulf, authorities said. The seven sailors were aboard the M/V Shayesteh, an Iranian vessel, when it listed heavily to one side and forced the sailors to radio for help. Officers aboard the U.S. Navy ship USS Devastator and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Clarence Sutphin Jr. responded to the sailors' mayday call, rescued them and saw them safely aboard the Coast Guard ship. The sailors then received medical attention. The distressed vessel ultimately sank. February 18: Fox News: Judge declines to block DOGE employees from accessing government data A federal judge on Tuesday declined to block Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing government data or firing federal employees. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan declined to grant the plaintiffs' request to issue a temporary restraining order, citing what she said was their failure to demonstrate evidence of "irreparable harm" caused by DOGE's access. "Plaintiffs legitimately call into question what appears to be the unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not. The court "…cannot issue a TRO, especially one as wide-ranging as Plaintiffs request, without clear evidence of imminent, irreparable harm to these Plaintiffs. The current record does not meet that standard." [See Related Story – regarding the legitimacy of Musk's service as an advisor to the President] February 17: Fox News: DOGE uncovers $4.7 Trillion nearly untraceable payments The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) discovered an identification code linking U.S. Treasury payments to a budget line item, which accounts for nearly $4.7 trillion in payments which was oftentimes left blank. It's like the "For:" line on your personal checks, and filling it out has been optional, thereby making it difficult to determine what the funds were spent for. It was often left blank for $4.7 Trillion in payments, making traceability to determine what the funds were spent for almost impossible. As of Saturday, filling out this field is required in order to show where money is actually going. February 17: Fox 8 News-Cleveland: Delta airline flips upside down while landing in Toronto, none died in the incident The Delta Airlines plane that flipped over while landing in Toronto Monday flew out of Cleveland to Minneapolis-Saint Paul and then on to Toronto, Canada. Delta Airlines said the flight was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it experienced an "incident while landing" in Toronto, leaving at least 17 people injured, including a child, there were no fatalities. The cause of the incident remains under investigation but an audio recording of communications with the cockpit crew warned the pilots of a possible air flow bump in its path because of an aircraft in front of it. [Our take away? The next time the crew tells you to stow your tray table, put your seat in its full upright position and to make sure your seat belt is securely fastened…. Don't argue… Just Do It!] February 17: The Daily Caller: Trump's leadership is forcing European leadership to step up to the plate As global tensions simmer, veteran political analyst Brit Hume said Monday he believes President Trump has taken a commanding role shaping NATO's approach to defense spending and European security dynamics. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to deploy troops in Ukraine as part of a peace deal to ensure lasting security and deter future aggression from Russian President Putin. Hume said Trump is able to steer international discourse toward the U.S.'s demand for greater defense equity among NATO members. He said he sees a flurry of diplomatic activity, with French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly scheduling an urgent visit to Washington. "He's got something going here. He's got Macron going to rush to Washington to seek reassurance or something. This is going to make a lot of news in the next few weeks," Hume added. Hume noted that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince expressing a desire to mediate. One can hope that this is a sign that he might also be willing, when the dust settles over Gaza, to move forward with the hope for agreement with and normalization of relations with Israel. That would be quite a remarkable breakthrough if that were to happen," Hume suggested. February 16: The Post Newspaper: The RFK, Jr. nomination; follow the money Since the Inauguration of President Trump, some have described the Senate confirmation process a circus rather than government performing its constitutional duty. One floor vote even required the Vice-President to cast the deciding vote. Of the many hearings, one seems most troubling, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who has been nominated to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is not our kind of guy on many issues, but when it comes to encouraging healthy food production and allowing personal choice on health-related issues, we think he's got it right. On Thursday, February 13th, the Senate confirmed Robert Kennedy's nomination by a vote of 52 to 48, in a straight party-line vote with the only GOP defector being former Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). February 16: The Gateway Pundit: FTC tells employees to cut ties with the American Bar Association Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson has declared war against the American Bar Association (ABA). The new directive prohibits any FTC political appointees from engaging with or benefiting from the ABA in any capacity. "Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson announced a new policy that prohibits FTC political appointees from holding leadership roles in the ABA, participating in its events, or renewing their ABA memberships. Additionally, the FTC will no longer use its resources to support any employee's ABA membership or participation in its activities. This decisive action comes in the wake of the ABA's recent, highly politicized critique of President Donald Trump's administration, particularly its efforts to reform the corruption-riddled USAID. February 16: The Times of Israel: 2,000 pound bombs held up by Biden arrive in Israel after Trump takes office A shipment of some 1,800 heavy bombs from the United States that had been held up by the previous American (Biden) administration arrived in Israel overnight, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday. A ship carrying the MK-84 2,000-lb munitions docked at Ashdod Port and was unloaded onto dozens of trucks and taken to Israeli airbases, the ministry said. Defense Minister Israel Katz hailed the arrival of the bombs, saying in a statement: "The munitions shipment that arrived in Israel tonight, released by the Trump administration, represents a significant asset for the Air Force and the IDF and serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States." "I thank President Donald Trump and the US administration for their unwavering support of the State of Israel. We will continue working together to strengthen our security," Katz added. February 16: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: IRS expected to fire thousands of probationary workers The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly cutting thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season. The Trump administration has already instructed agencies to fire most probationary workers who have not secured civil service protections. Last month, President Trump announced federal employees would be fired if they did not return to in-person work by early February. 65,000 employees have already accepted a buyout offer, however, IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season are not eligible for the buyout until after the taxpayer filing deadline. January 27 was the official start date of the 2025 tax season. It's unclear how many IRS workers will be affected. Hundreds of thousands of people could potentially be impacted. The IRS is reportedly expecting to receive more than 140 million tax returns this year. February 15: The Epoch Times: Trump wants peace in Ukraine after Russian aggression The Trump administration is moving quickly to initiate a cease-fire and bring an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. After phone calls with both Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy both seem willing to come to the negotiating table to begin carving out an ultimate end to the conflict. "I just want to see people stop being killed," Trump said. But negotiations won't be easy and it could take weeks or even months to hammer out a deal. Economic benefits & Security: Trump has frequently criticized the amount of security assistance the United States has sent to Ukraine and suggested that the United States ought to receive economic benefits for its continued support. An initial framework, agreed to by the US and Ukraine, would allow US access to hundreds of billions of dollars of rare earth elements in Ukraine in exchange for continued security assistance. This is seen as a key foundation for any lasting peace as it will anchor U.S. business interests within Ukraine and continue the flow of American-made weapons to Kyiv. The US is looking for an alternative source of these minerals in order to wean themselves off of Communist China, the world's largest supplier of many of those metals. No NATO membership but European-nation defense arrangement; NATO membership is a non-starter for Russia. However, the idea of a new treaty alliance of primarily European nations to guarantee Ukraine's defense might be possible but without the involvementof the United States. Ukraine is likely to be deeply disappointed with the failure to become a NATO member while Russia's initially wanted a demilitarized Ukraine. Without some type of protection against future Russian aggression, there will not be a deal. Ukrainian borders – land: Finally, there is the central issue of land, which will likely prove the most difficult problem to solve. It is unlikely that – although it is the right thing to do – Ukraine will get back all the lands it had in 2014, which includes Crimea. The question is how much of the land grabbed by Russia in its invasion will be returned to Ukraine. It would be good to have it all back, but Russia is likely not to agree. At the same time, why should the aggressor (Russia) be rewarded for its actions? February 15: The Washington Times: Trump fires 20 Biden-appointed immigration judges The Trump Administration has canned 20 "midnight" immigration judges the Biden administration tried to shoehorn onto the courts in its final days in office. Thirteen judges hired in late December and early January were ousted Friday, a Justice Department source said. Seven assistant chief immigration judges were also axed. The housecleaning matches one the Biden administration did when it took office in 2021, clearing out many Trump picks from the immigration courts. Among the new firings, according to a department source, was Kerry Doyle. She had been a critic of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before she was appointed to be ICE's principal legal adviser. While at ICE, she shepherded through lenient policies toward illegal immigrants. The Biden administration then tried to burrow her into the regular civil service by converting her from a political appointee, the department source said. February 15: News Max: Zelensky calls for a European Army to deter future Russian aggression On Saturday Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for the creation of a European army, saying the continent could no longer be sure of protection from the United States and would only get respect from Washington with a strong military. In an impassioned speech to the annual Munich Security Conference of global policymakers, Zelenskiy said an address by U.S. Vice President JD Vance the previous day had made clear the relationship between Europe and the United States was changing. "Let's be honest - now we can't rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it," said Zelenskiy, speaking as the war triggered by Russia's invasion of his country will soon enter its fourth year. "Many, many leaders have talked about (a) Europe that needs its own military and army. An army of Europe. And I really believe the time has come, the armed forces of Europe must be created (and, of course, include Ukraine)." He warned European leaders that their countries could be next to face a Russian attack. "If this (Ukraine-Russia) war ends the wrong way, he (Putin) will have a surplus of battle-tested soldiers who know nothing but killing and looting," he said, citing intelligence reports indicating Russia will dispatch troops to close ally Belarus, another neighbor of Ukraine, this summer. European nations cooperate militarily primarily within NATO but governments have so far rejected various calls for the creation of a single European army over the years, arguing that defense is a matter of national sovereignty. February 15: The Epoch Times: DOJ asks Judge to dismiss federal charges against NYC Mayor Adams The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Feb. 14 formally asked a judge to dismiss federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Federal prosecutors said that the DOJ is requesting that the court dismissal of the charges but U.S. District Judge Dale Ho still must sign off on the request before it becomes effective. Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove said the timing of the charges, brought in late 2024, and statements made by prosecutors "have threatened the integrity of the proceedings, including by increasing prejudicial pretrial publicity." Continuing to prosecute Adams, Bove said, would restrict the mayor's ability to help the administration of President Donald Trump combat illegal immigration and crime in the city. Bove is a former lawyer of the president and worked at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York until 2021. February 14: The Daily Caller: Huckabee; Musk is doing what the people hired Trump to do Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) praised Elon Musk's efforts Friday for exposing government waste as "the greatest thing in my lifetime." Huckabee said he supported Musk and his efforts as he leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). "Donald Trump is keeping a promise. He said he was going to do it, and he did it, and he's doing it. And I love what's going on. Elon Musk and the group of young guys that I call the 'revenge of the nerds,' it's the greatest thing that's happened probably in my lifetime in relation to the federal government," he said. "I think if you get [outside] the beltway, people are dancing in the streets and celebrating. It's finally a moment where you've got government people who are looking into how the taxpayer's money is being spent. I think people are ecstatic about it," Huckabee contended. DOGE has dismantled the mismanaged USAID and is now setting its sights on reducing funding to both the Department of Education and the Department of Defense. DOGE is currently facing several legal battles initiated by public employee unions against the buyout programs and general efforts to cut the workforce (the "deep state"). Resistance to DOGE and Musk's role in the Trump administration mounted following Musk's announcement on Feb. 3 that he and Trump had decided to restructure USAID under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Despite revelations of government inefficiency, Democrat legislators have staged protests in Washington D.C. hurling insults at the president and others. However, despite Democrat objections, a Sunday CBS News poll says that 53% of Americans support Trump's administration thus far, with 70% saying that Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises. February 14: The Washington Free Beacon: Trump rolls back regulatory mandates on light bulbs and household appliances The Trump administration is halting a bevy of Biden-era energy efficiency regulations targeting light bulbs and household appliances—actions that officials said would help lower consumer costs and improve the quality of appliances. The actions are the latest example of Trump's rolling back Biden's climate agenda. Friday the Department of Energy said it would pause implementation of seven energy efficiency regulations finalized during the Biden administration. Those regulations targeted non-LED light bulbs, central air conditioners, clothes washers and dryers, walk-in coolers and freezers, gas-powered water heaters, commercial refrigeration equipment, and air compressors. "Today's announcement will foster consumer choice and lower prices — it's a win for all Americans," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. "The people, not the government, should be choosing the home appliances and products they want at prices they can afford." In one of its final actions, the Biden administration banned an entire category of gas-powered tankless water heaters, which critics said would force consumers to pay $450 more on average when buying a new water heater. February 13: The Epoch Times: USAID employees sue claiming Musk needs Senate confirmation Current and former employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claiming that Musk should have been first confirmed by the Senate. As a "special government employee" -- meaning that Musk is not beholden to the same kinds of rules as other federal workers – the White House counters Musk doesn't need senate confirmation. And the Senate doesn't have the authority to advise and consent to every person who advises a president. Early in his administration, President Donald Trump established DOGE to root out government fraud and waste. Since then, the department has helped to put a halt to numerous programs and departments, including USAID. Meanwhile, Musk is not being paid for his advice. Meanwhile in the February 13th lawsuit USAID workers wrote: "In his government role, Defendant Musk exercises an extraordinary amount of power. Indeed, the scope and reach of his executive authority appears unprecedented in U.S. history." Lawyers for the anonymous USAID workers who have brought the lawsuit are using a novel approach saying Musk should be confirmed by the Senate because he should be deemed an officer of the United States under the U.S. Constitution's appropriations clause. Deputy USAID head Pete Marocco has said in a court filing that "insubordination" at USAID made it impossible for the new administration to undertake a close review of aid programs without first pushing almost all of the agency staffers off the job and halting aid and development work. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made similar accusations last week saying USAID is "not functioning" as it should. As for Musk, he has been critical of the agency likening it to being a money laundering operation. February 13: NBC News: Senate confirms Kennedy 52-48 for Secretary of HHS The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the country's most powerful health care agency. Kennedy was confirmed as health and human services secretary on a mostly party-line vote of 52-48 with only Senator. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) breaking ranks on yet another of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, joining all Democrats in opposition. McConnell, who has often opposed Trump and his agenda, said Kennedy had a "record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions." [See Related Story] February 13: Fox News: Trump's legal team dials up pressure on CBS/Paramount Global Donald Trump's legal team continued to dial up the pressure on CBS and parent company Paramount Global Thursday with a massive discovery demand for 107 different forms of communications. Trump is seeking $20 billion in a lawsuit against CBS, alleging election interference over its handling of a "60 Minutes" interview. The president has accused CBS of aiding his Democrat rival Vice President Kamala Harris through deceptive editing one month before they faced off in the presidential election. February 12: The Epoch Times: DOGE finds $3.4 billion in savings so far with more to come A new list from the White House assesses the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE's) financial impact so far at more than $3.4 billion. The latest numbers as provided on February 11th include $59 million that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff sent to house illegal immigrants in New York City hotels. The White House has sought to claw back that money. The list also includes a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contracts and grants, many in the Department of Education, as well as moves against DEI-related directives and policies deemed as out of step with the new administration's priorities. On the first day of his new presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order against DEI in the federal government. The latest White House numbers supplement its data provided February 10th. That total also reached into the billions. Congressional Democrats and progressive groups are mounting litigation in attempts to stop DOGE's cost cutting measures. One lawsuit seeks to block DOGE investigators from the Treasury Department payment systems data where a federal judge initially went beyond the pale to even restrict the Secretary of the Treasury from accessing the data from his own agency. A subsequent decision restored SECTREAS' access to this data. Trump questioned the various decisions asking "How could a judge want to hold us back from finding all of this fraud and finding all of this incompetence?" February 12: News Max: Former CIA Official; Trump using language Hamas "understands!" It is "absolutely appropriate" for President Donald Trump to call for an end to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and to threaten that "all hell is going to break out" if all remaining hostages aren't released from Gaza by noon Saturday, former CIA official Marty Martin said. "All bets are off," Martin said. "You know what? That's what Hamas understands, [not this] dilly-dathering around, trying to negotiate and have intermediaries. No one's accountable, so he's making them accountable." Prime Minister Netanyahu backs Trump's call on the hostages, saying that fighting will resume against Hamas if it doesn't release the hostages by Saturday. Martin has said Joe Biden was "trying to hold" Netanyahu back, but with Trump, the Israel Defense Forces will "probably go in heavy." The remaining Hamas fighters in Gaza are "pretty much the remnants" of the terrorist group, he added. "Their core cadre is probably still intact but they can be demolished," he said. "Hamas has no place left in Gaza, period. I think if they don't release these hostages in one fell swoop, I believe that the IDF will go in and with the full support of the United States of America." February 12: The Epoch Times: OPM; use of federal worker's probationary period to consider for possible dismissal The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is telling agencies to continue to use the probationary period for federal workers after the Trump administration issued a directive last month for agency heads to review workers under probation for possible dismissal. "The Trump Administration is encouraging agencies to use the probationary period as it was intended: as a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment," an OPM official said Wednesday. The spokesperson also confirmed reports that it is instructing the heads of agencies that they do not have to terminate all government employees who are on probation but to instead focus on low-performing workers. New federal workers generally have to undergo a probationary period for about one year, but in some cases, for longer periods of time. During that time an agency manager can decide whether a person is the right person for the job, and if they aren't, the employer can terminate the worker's employment at any point in the probationary period. Such employees can be dismissed without triggering appeal rights to the Merit Systems Protection Board, a federal panel for mediating disputes between employees and agencies. February 11: The Gateway Pundit: EPA rushed to spend money before Biden left office An EPA advisor was exposed in a Project Veritas undercover video admitting that the agency rushed to allocate billions of taxpayer dollars to climate change initiatives just before President Donald Trump's inauguration. Brent Efron, a special advisor at the EPA and instrumental in implementing Biden's climate agenda, spoke to a Project Veritas operative about the rush to disburse funds two months before Trump's inauguration. "Now it's how to get the money out as fast as possible before they [Trump Administration] come in … It truly feels like we're on the Titanic or throwing gold bar off the top edge.," Efron said. Under the Biden administration's "Inflation Reduction Act," which Efron referred to as "Biden's climate law," over $100 billion was allocated for various environmental projects. February 11: Fox News: Mother of American arrested thanks Trump for getting him released The mother of Marc Fogel, an American who had been detained in Russia since 2021, is expressing relief and gratitude to Trump for securing his release Tuesday. "(Trump) promised me he would get him out, and he kept his promise," Malphine Fogel said. "I can't thank him enough." Malphine, met with Trump before his fateful rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last year, asking the then-presidential nominee to not forget her son's name. He assured her that he would bring her son home. Now, Malphine is celebrating that fulfilled promise. February 11: The Epoch Times: Budget Chairman Graham to move forward on reconciliation bills The Senate Republican Conference announced on Feb. 11 that it will draft legislation to fund $325 billion worth of government spending in support of border security and military expansion. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said his committee will begin drafting a budget resolution that authorizes two bills. "[We] will come up with a $150 billion plan to increase spending to make our military stronger and more lethal. We'll come up with a $175 billion plan to secure the border," Graham said. "The other committees will be instructed by the Budget Committee to find offsets," he added, signaling that other areas of government spending will face cuts to pay for the new spending. He did not provide details on what would be funded, although he mentioned a "border wall." Budget reconciliation is a process whereby Congress can pass fiscal policy bills without requiring the support of 60 senators, whose body has a cloture requirement of 60 votes to end debate, avert a filibuster, and pass a bill. The measures that Republicans seek to enact are unlikely to secure few, if any, Democrat votes. Provisions in a reconciliation bill can affect taxation, spending, and public borrowing only for a period of up to 10 years. No policy measures, such as reforms to immigration statutes, may be included. The process requires the Senate and House of Representatives to first concurrently pass a "budget resolution" that orders reconciliation, after which a bill may be drafted. The bill, then, must be passed by both chambers. February 10: The Epoch Times: FEMA thanks DOGE for discovering $59 million spent to house illegals in luxury hotels The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spent $59 million last week on continuing to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels in New York City, according to Elon Musk. "Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President's executive order," Musk said, February 10th. "That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals! Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said, "A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds. I want to thank the @DOGE team for making me aware of this. Effective yesterday these payments have all been suspended from FEMA. Personnel will be held accountable." Hamilton went on to say that Congress should have never asked FEMA to do that type of work in bills passed in 2023 and 2024 and it "stops now!" FEMA has been criticized for nearly a year over its disaster relief performance in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene and reports of political bias within its ranks. Trump signed an executive order on January 24 after visiting the recovery areas of North Carolina. In the order, he called for the creation of a council to review FEMA. February 10: Fox News: Trump issues deadline to Hamas, release all hostages by Saturday or "All Hell will Break Out" President Trump said if Hamas doesn't return all hostages by noon on Saturday, he will call for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to be canceled and "let all hell break out." He made the comments in the Oval Office Monday evening. When asked if he felt the ceasefire deal should be canceled, the president said that is "Israel's decision." But he stressed that Hamas needs to release "all of them—not in drips and drabs." "Saturday at 12pm and after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out. " A Hamas spokesperson said Monday the terrorist group will delay the next planned release of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. February 10: The Daily Caller: Feds ignore DC Death Trap for years despite dozens of near misses between planes and chopper Washington's Reagan National Airport has suffered countless near misses between aircrafts over the last few decades, many reported by pilots themselves, an issue the FAA has reportedly done little to solve. Just a few moments away from touching down at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Jan. 29, an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a military helicopter. There were no survivors. The most fatal crash in several decades has caused aviation experts and administration officials alike to parse through public information and determine how something so catastrophic happened. Was the helicopter too high? Did the airplane take the wrong approach? Did Air Traffic Control (ATC) give proper alerts? February 10: The Washington Times: Trump imposes 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all nations on Monday as part of an early-term blitz on trade. U.S. levies on the metals are not unusual but the sweep of the action is notable, going beyond nations considered rivals and impacting metals from places like Canada, Brazil and South Korea. "This is a big deal. This the beginning of making America rich again," Trump contended. "We were being pummeled by both friends and foe alike, our nation requires steel and aluminum to be made in America, not in foreign lands." February 10: The Epoch Times: DOJ directs federal prosecutors to drop charges against NYC Mayor Adams Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has directed federal prosecutors to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks. Bove stated in a two-page memo dated Feb. 10 that the decision to dismiss is based on the timing of the charges and recent public actions by the former U.S. attorney who initiated the case, Damian Williams, who resigned from the post in December and was replaced by Danielle Sassoon shortly after President Trump assumed office. Specifically, Bove wrote that these actions have jeopardized the fairness of the proceedings, particularly by generating prejudicial pretrial publicity that could influence witnesses and the jury pool. February 9: News Max: Trump; Trusts Musk, has nothing to gain President Trump says the Department of Government Efficiency simply is fulfilling a campaign promise to Americans. Trump said he ran on finding ways to reduce spending and streamlining the bureaucracy. "I don't know if it's kickbacks or what's going on," Trump Fox News' Bret Baier. "Look, I ran on this, and the people want me to find it. And I've had a great help with Elon Musk, who has been terrific." Musk and DOGE have come under fire from Democrats after it was reported the advisory group found much alleged partisan and wasteful spending. Trump said in response to a question about whether he trusted Musk, "He's not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it. He's so into it. But I told him to do that… to go check the Department of Education. He's going to find the same thing. Then I'm going to go, Go to the military. Let's check the military. We're going to find billions, hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud and abuse. You know, the people elected me on that." February 9: Fox Business: Surprise Poland is a European "tiger" at Germany's door Nothing seems to get in the way of Poland going from strength to strength despite being part of the sluggish EU. There are multiple reasons why and many facets, including the country's outstanding defense spending and its conservative Donald Trump-like approach to illicit immigration. Late last month, Poland's economy was estimated to have grown by 2.9% last year, according to the country's StatOffice. That performance trounces Europe's single currency area, also known as the eurozone, by more than threefold; it eked out a mere 0.7% over the same period. Poland's growth also overtook the U.S., which grew a "robust" 2.5% in the 12 months through December. "The last year or two has seen a boom, and it's getting publicity," says Mateusz Urban, a senior economist at Oxford Economics in Warsaw, Poland. "There really is a European tiger right at Germany's door." February 8: News Max: Allegations of a billion in public fraud each week Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team said personnel at the Treasury Department suspect roughly $1 billion a week of entitlement payments are "unequivocal and obvious fraud." Amid lawsuits and vocal protests over his efforts to unmask waste, fraud and abuse, Musk proceeded with President Trump's plan to weed out government inefficiency and wasteful spending. The billionaire tech mogul now claims to have uncovered several "extremely suspicious" activities at the U.S. Treasury. February 8: The Gateway Pundit: Obama appointed judge orders all data collected by DOGE to be destroyed in wake of disclosures of waste, fraud, and abuse The left-leaning judiciary continues to try to sabotage the Trump Administration's efforts to drain the swamp. CNN reported Saturday that a federal judge halted Elon Musk's government efficiency team from accessing a critical Treasury Department data. Obama appointed US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer cited a risk of "irreparable harm" but we are not sure whether it is harm to individuals or to federal government programs go amuck. The order temporarily stops access to a payment system that distributes Americans' tax returns, Social Security benefits, disability payments, and federal employees' salaries. Moreover, Engelmeyer ordered the destruction of any downloaded information from the payment system by anyone given access to it since Trump was inaugurated. Elon Musk exploded after hearing of the judge's decision. "This ruling is absolutely insane!" he wrote. "How on Earth are we supposed to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money without looking at how money is spent? That's literally impossible!" Musk contended. "Something super shady is going to protect scammers." But perhaps that is the point; some don't want the misuse of funds made public! February 8: Breitbart News: Trump won't step in to deport Prince Harry Trump has said that he will not personally step in to deport Britain's woke and wayward Prince Harry from the United States, remarking that he has "enough problems with his wife." Questions have long been raised about the Duke of Sussex's immigration status and whether he received special treatment from the previous administration, which fought in court to keep his visa application secret. The Heritage Foundation had alleged that Prince Harry may have lied on his immigration forms after his memoir Spare revealed that he had taken illegal drugs, including cocaine, mushrooms, and marijuana. Although previous drug use doesn't preclude the granted of a visa in the United States, lying on an application could result in separation and a ban from applying for citizenship. In response to a NY Post question, Trump said, "I don't want to do that, I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible." February 7: One America News Network: Trump Administration pulls Biden's security clearance On Friday that Joe Biden's security clearance and access to classified information has been revoked. "There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden's Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings," Trump said. "He set this precedent in 2021, when he instructed the Intelligence Community (IC) to stop the 45th President of the United States (Trump) from accessing details on National Security, a courtesy provided previously to former Presidents. The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from 'poor memory' and, even in his 'prime,' could not be trusted with sensitive information. I will always protect our National Security — so, Joe, you're fired." Trump posted on Truth Social. February 7: Fox News: Whistleblower USAID; Movement toward DEI resulted in other countries taking the United States less seriously The now-archived website for the virtually shut down United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has a page devoted to pushing DEI which a former employee whistleblower has said was part of a larger Biden Administration effort. Mark Moyar, a USAID whistleblower who worked in the department from 2018 to 2019, said, "…we saw this [the DEI movement at USAID] with very negative effects all over the place and you have people taking time off from their jobs to attend these indoctrination sessions and clearly pushing the message that people are divided into oppressor groups and victim groups and that there's this white rage and white extremism running all over the place." He went on to say that "far left theories" were given "legitimacy" and when DEI became a "central" focus at USAID it resulted in other countries taking the United States less seriously. "It's particularly disturbing that not only were they pushing within the organization, they were actually funding DEI events all over the world, you know, DEI comic books or DEI workshops and so I think this can only undermine our image abroad because most people outside of this country recognized DEI for the silliness that it is and the divisiveness that it causes," Moyar reported. February 7: The Gateway Pundit: Musk/DOGE uncover over $100 Billion in Medicare/Medicaid wasteful spending In a bombshell revelation that could shake the foundations of American healthcare, Elon Musk, leading the charge under President Trump's newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has uncovered what he describes as a staggering "$100B of taxpayer money" wasted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Left-leaning USA Today reports, Musk's team, along with two senior veterans from the agency, have been meticulously reviewing the CMS's payment and contracting systems, which are crucial for managing health insurance for approximately one in every four Americans. "CMS has two senior Agency veterans – one focused on policy and one focused on operations – who are leading the collaboration with DOGE, including ensuring appropriate access to CMS systems and technology," the agency said. The DOGE team was granted read-only access to the system February 7: The Epoch Times: More government works decide to take the buyout offer The number of workers who have decided to accept the buyout offer from the Trump administration has risen by about 25,000, according to a White House official, with some 65,000 government employees now having signed up for the offer. That was up from more than 20,000 on Feb. 4 and more than 40,000 on Thursday morning. The buyout offer is a deferred resignation that pays workers until Sept. 30. February 7: The Daily Wire: Trump; Forget paper straws, back to paper straws President Trump said on Friday that he would sign an executive order next week ending the federal government's "ridiculous" push for paper straws. Last year, the Biden administration announced that it would "phase out" single-use plastic utensils such as cutlery, cups, and straws across federal departments. The move was part of Joe Biden's "ambitious actions … to end plastic pollution," the New York Post reported. In a Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump said the U.S. government would again use plastic straws. In recent years, some restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops have begun using paper straws instead of plastic in the name of saving the environment. However, a 2023 Belgian study showed that out of plastic, paper, glass, and bamboo straws, paper straws contain the most "forever chemicals." February 6: Breitbart News: Panamanian President there is no agreement to let U.S. ships transit the canal for free The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, on Thursday morning refuted the "false" and "intolerable" claims made by the U.S. Department of State indicating that U.S. government vessels would be allowed to travel through the Panama Canal without paying fees. Panama is not the first country in the world, but neither is it the last," he said. "In my little book, bilateral relations between two friendly countries are not handled that way." Mulino's remarks come after the State Department announced on Wednesday that U.S. government ships would no longer face fees when transiting through the Panama Canal. The Canal's authority refuted the State Department's claims Wednesday evening, stating it has not made any adjustments to its tolls and other fees. "With absolute responsibility, the Panama Canal Authority, as it has indicated, is willing to establish a dialogue with the pertinent officials of the United States with respect to the transit of U.S. warships," they said in a statement. [Statistical Note: The reality is that the transit of U.S. Navy ships through the waterway is minimal and on average there are 38 per year. From 1998 to the close of fiscal year 2024 (26 years), of the 373,039 vessels that transited the canal, 994 (0.3%) correspond to transits by warships and submarines of the United States Navy. In 2023, the canal collected an average of $341,000 per vessel, compared to $215k in 2018, an increase of 59%. Based on the average price per ship, US Navy vessels should have paid annual tolls of $12.9 million. Truly what has been promised to the US Government at this time from the ACP in Panama is, the canal administration guaranteed expedited passage to ships of the United States Navy, and not for free, at least officially. Mouse over image to see the USS Iowa transiting the canal in 1992. ] February 6: One American News Network: Clinton appointed judge issues temporary restraining order on DOGE and Musk access to U.S. Treasury payment records The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was temporarily denied access to specific Treasury Department payment information by a federal judge on Thursday — after cries from the Democrat Party erupted this week. Additionally, according to Washington-based WUSA9-TV, the Justice Department reassured the judge on Wednesday that Elon Musk, the head of DOGE, does not have direct access to private data about millions of Americans that is stored in Treasury Department payment systems. Nevertheless, in a temporary restraining order, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly stated that Treasury personnel "will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained within the [Treasury] Bureau of Fiscal Service." Kollar-Kotelly serves as a senior federal judge in the District of Columbia's U.S. District Court and was appointed by President Bill Clinton (D) in 1997. Every year, the Treasury Department's systems manage around $6 trillion. Social Security, Medicare, federal employee salaries, grant payments, government contractor payments, and tax refunds are all distributed by it. Roughly 90% of federal payments are processed through that program. The order follows the Justice Department's Wednesday agreement in a proposed court order to grant read-only clearance to two "special government employees" within DOGE to examine the sensitive material. As part of a DOGE-led government-wide review of programs and systems, some government employee unions comprised of critics of Musk had filed a lawsuit over access to the material. February 6: The Epoch Times: Bondi; First day in office orders halt to funds for sanctuary cities U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Feb. 5 ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pause all funds to so-called sanctuary cities, or jurisdictions that work to protect illegal immigrants from arrest. "The Department of Justice will ensure that, consistent with law, 'sanctuary jurisdictions' do not receive access to Federal funds from the Department," Bondi said to all DOJ employees. "Consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, court orders, and terms, the Department of Justice shall pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed, terminate any agreements that are in violation of law or are the source of waste, fraud, or abuse, and initiate clawback or recoupment procedures, where appropriate." It's unclear how long the DOJ review will take. February 5: News Max: Trump's AG; Lawyers who refuse orders could be fired New Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive on her first day in office, that could allow Justice Department lawyers to be fired if they refuse to advance legal arguments on behalf of the administration. The memo states that "any Justice Department attorney who declines to sign a brief, refuses to advance good-faith arguments on behalf of the Trump administration, or otherwise delays or impedes the Justice Department's mission will be subject to discipline and potentially termination." Trump appointees have moved quickly to assert control over the Justice Department, firing or reassigning dozens of career lawyers, and aligning it with Trump's hardline immigration policies. Bondi also plans to launch an effort to review criminal and civil cases brought against Trump while he was out of office. The inquiry, known as the "Weaponization Working Group," will also examine the prosecution of Trump supporters who played a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and other Justice Department actions condemned by Republicans during Biden's administration. February 5: One America News Network: Trump signs bill prohibiting biological men from playing in women's sports On Wednesday afternoon, Trump fulfilled his campaign promise of keeping biological men out of women's sports. Prior to signing the order, Trump gave a speech to the crowd. "This doesn't have to be long. It's all about common sense," Trump said. "Women's sports will be only for women. The war on women's sports is over." He was joined on the stage by a plethora of female athletes of all ages and by Independent Women ambassadors Riley Gaines, Payton McNabb, Paula Scanlan, Sia Liilii, Lauren Miller, Kim Russell, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Linnea Saltz and Lily Mullens. Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) were in attendance. February 5: The Epoch Times: Congressional Dems try to gain access to Treasury building, rebuffed by the U.S. Secret Service Congressional Democrats tried to gain entry to the Treasury Building, saying they wanted to provide oversight after the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to the Treasury's federal payments system. Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Warren (D-MA), and other top Democrats spoke at a rally after the make-shift oversight squad attempted to gain access to the building's grounds. The Secret Service rebuffed their attempt. February 5: The Washington Free Beacon: NPR brings in massive amounts from private companies plus taxpayer funds Taxpayer-funded radio stations are barred from 'airing commercials or other promotional announcements on behalf of for-profit entities.' But, on Monday National Public Radio (NPR) ran a "sponsor message" promoting pharma giant Procter & Gamble's nerve-relief drug Nervive, "designed to reduce occasional nerve aches, weakness and discomfort." The message, which was effectively a commercial, is tied to one of hundreds of deals that are far more important to NPR than government funding. NPR brought in $100 million from corporate sponsors in 2023, compared to only $7 million in federal funding. The thinly disguised commercials such as the "sponsor message" from Procter & Gamble—aimed straight at NPR's rapidly aging audience with aching hands and feet—are now the focus of the new Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, who may have found the powerful news giant's Achilles' heel. Carr has now launched an investigation into whether the news nonprofit's "sponsor messages" have violated federal rules that prohibit taxpayer-funded radio stations from "airing commercials or other promotional announcements on behalf of for-profit entities." February 4: The Epoch Times: DC Midair collision; Conflicting altimeter readings found on two aircraft involved Investigators have found conflicting altimeter readings from the control tower data of the Black Hawk military helicopter and the passenger jet that collided over Washington on Jan. 29. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials told reporters on Feb. 1 that preliminary altimeter data don't match the events on the night of the deadly accident. Officials said the control tower recorded the Black Hawk helicopter flying at an altitude of 200 feet at the time of the collision, in line with its maximum allowed altitude for its flight path. However, data from the passenger jet's flight recorder show the collision occurred at an altitude of about 325 feet, plus or minus 25 feet. "That's what our job is, to figure that out," NTSB member J. Todd Inman said during an evening news conference on Feb. 1. Investigators hope to reconcile the altitude differences with data from the helicopter's black box, which is taking more time to retrieve because it became waterlogged after it plunged into the Potomac River. They also said they plan to refine the tower data, which can be less reliable. February 4: The Gateway Pundit: Former Florida AG confirmed to be US Attorney General The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Pam Bondi as the next US Attorney General. The Senate voted 52-46 to invoke cloture on Monday evening which allowed for up to 30 hours of debate. The Democrats gave back the remainder of their time allowing the Senate to vote on the confirmation Tuesday evening. Pam Bondi vowed to keep politics out of the DOJ if confirmed. "Politics has to be taken out of this system," she told Senators. "This department has been weaponized for years and years and years, and it has to stop." Democrats tried to stall at the last minute but it didn't work. February 4: Fox News: Trump; If you assassinate me, you will be obliterated, they're won't be anything left President Trump said on Tuesday if Iran carries out his assassination, advisers will ensure that country is "obliterated." While signing an executive order imposing maximum pressure on Tehran, the president said he left instructions if something were to happen to him. "That would be a terrible thing for them to do," Trump said. "If they did that, they would be obliterated. That would be the end. … There won't be anything left." He said Joe Biden "should have said that," but did not, due to a "lack of intelligence." The Justice Department confirmed in November it thwarted an Iranian plot to kill Trump in the weeks leading up to the presidential election. A criminal complaint filed in September noted an official in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps asked Farhad Shakeri, 51, of Iran, to "focus on surveilling, and, ultimately, assassinating" Trump. Shakeri had immigrated to the United States as a child and was deported about 17 years ago after serving 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction, according to the DOJ. February 3: The Daily Caller: Gabbard gets endorsement of Susan Collins (R-ME) virtually assuring confirmation Sen. Susan Collins from Maine announced Monday she will support President Trump's Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee, Tulsi Gabbard. "After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence," she said. Collins sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee which will consider the Gabbard nomination. "As one of the principal authors of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that established this coordinating position, I understand the critical role the DNI plays in the Intelligence community." Assuming all Democrats on the committee vote against her nomination, Gabbard will need every Republican vote. As of publication, Indiana Sen. Todd Young is the only Republican on the committee who has not committed to voting for her. February 3: Fox News: Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada in exchange for more border enforcement President Trump will pause additional tariffs on Canadian imports for 30 days after a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made some concessions to temporarily stave off the levies. Trump and Trudeau spoke via phone on Monday, hours before additional 25% tariffs were to take effect on Canadian goods coming into the United States. In a post on X, Trudeau said Canada will implement a $1.3 billion border plan and appoint a fentanyl czar. Additionally, Canada will reinforce its border with new helicopters, technology, personnel and enhanced coordination with American authorities. He added that nearly 10,000 personnel are and will be working on border protection. February 3: News Max: USAID Staffers told to stay out of DC HQ After Musk Said Trump Agreed to Close It Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development were instructed to stay out of the agency's Washington headquarters on Monday after billionaire Elon Musk announced President Donald Trump had agreed with him to shut down the agency. USAID staffers said they tracked 600 employees who reported being locked out of the agency's computer systems overnight. Those still in the system received emails in the agency system saying that "at the direction of Agency leadership" the headquarters building "will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3." February 3: The Epoch Times: Panamanian President; Panama will not renew its MOU with the Chinese regime Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said on Feb. 2 that his country will not renew its memorandum of understanding with the Chinese regime to be a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Speaking to reporters, Mulino said the agreement is due for renewal in two years and his government is looking into the possibility of terminating it earlier, according to local media reports. "We are going to study the possibility of whether it can be finished earlier or not," he said. "I think it is due for renewal in one or two years." The announcement was made following Mulino's meeting earlier in the day with US Secretary of State Rubio. February 2: The Epoch Times: Secretary of State Rubio arrives in Panama U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off his trip to Latin America, arriving in Panama on Feb. 1, with a focus on the Panama Canal and China's intrusion into the two ports that bracket the canal zone. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic from February 1–6 to advance President Trump's America First foreign policy," the U.S. Department of State said. Rubio is expected to discuss the United States' interest in the critical waterway connecting the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The president has suggested retaking control over the canal, citing the threat of Chinese hegemony in the region. February 2: News Max: Sean Duffy: FAA Systems 'Antiquated,' More Controllers Needed The United States has the "safest skies in the world," but the Federal Aviation Administration's systems are "antiquated" and need updates, and the nation is suffering a shortage of air traffic controllers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday. Still, Duffy said the skies above the United States are among the safest in the world, even with changes needed. The Notice to Air Mission, or NOTAM, which is the FAA's pilot warning system, suffered an outage Saturday night, less than a week after the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., that claimed 67 lives. "The backup system is not up and running as we try to get the primary system online," said Duffy. "It's an old, antiquated system. It has to be upgraded. That is in the works, and it's been in the works for years ... this is the second time in two years it's gone down." February 2: The Gateway Pundit: Sweden reviewing agreement with Cuba, may cut funding The Swedish Government's has taken the decision to review the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with the Cuban regime and may cut funding to Havana. The PDCA between the European Union (EU) and Cuba was signed in 2016 and aimed to normalize and strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two parties. Its main objectives were to promote dialogue on political issues, human rights, and economic development while enhancing cooperation in areas like trade, investment, sustainable development, and governance. However, Sweden insists that it is not a good idea to have European funds diverted to support a regime that tramples on human rights. February 2: The Washington Times: Bondi's nomination to become AG clears committee; on way to the Senate floor The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Pam Bondi's nomination to be attorney general in a 12-10 vote Wednesday. Despite stiff opposition from Democrats, Bondi is on a glide path to confirmation by the Senate. Her confirmation could go to a vote as early as next week. Democrats' chief beef with the former Florida attorney general is her loyalty to Trump. They fear Bondi will use the Justice Department to punish Trump's political enemies and turn a blind eye to illegal moves by the president. At her confirmation hearing, Bondi said that just the opposite was true. "The partisanship, the weaponization will be gone," she said. "America will have one tier of justice for all." For years conservatives have accused the Justice Department and FBI of politicized investigations against Trump and his allies. Trump has vowed to root out the partisan leadership at the DOJ and tapped Bondi to lead the charge. February 1: One America News Network: Paramount/CBS News agree to turn over transcripts of the Harris 60 Minutes interview to the FCC CBS has announced that it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, which was part of President Trump's ongoing feud with the network over how it handled a story of his defeated opponent. This comes after Trump sued CBS for $10 billion over the "60 Minutes" interview, saying it was deceptively edited to help make Harris look good. Meanwhile, multiple reports have indicated that CBS' parent company, Paramount, has been discussing with Trump's lawyers about a possible settlement. CBS said on Friday that it was called by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to turn over the transcripts and camera feeds of the interview for a parallel investigation by the commission. The show has since resisted releasing transcripts for the interview and all of its interviews, to help avoid being second-guessed on its editing process. The case has been closely watched by advocates for press freedom by journalists within CBS. February 1: News Max: Trump initiates tariffs on Communist China, Mexico and Canada On Saturday President Trump signed an executive order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and Communist China — fulfilling one of his post-campaign commitments to voters that also some contend carries the risk of sparking higher inflation and disrupting businesses across North America. Trump declared an economic emergency in order to place duties of 10% on all imports from Communist China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada — the United States' largest trading partners — except for a 10% rate on Canadian energy, including oil, natural gas, and electricity. The tariffs would go into effect on Tuesday, setting a possible showdown in North America that might potentially sabotage economic growth. The White House said Trump's order also includes a mechanism to escalate the rates if the countries retaliate against the U.S., as they have threatened. Both Canada and Mexico have plans, if needed, to impose their own tariffs in response. The Trump administration put the tariffs in place to force the three countries to stop the spread and manufacturing of fentanyl, in addition to pressuring Canada and Mexico to limit any illegal immigration into the United States. February 1: The Daily Mail: SECDEF Hegseth shows liberal legacy media outlets the door Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has kicked out liberal legacy media outlets from the Pentagon press offices to make room for other news organizations during his first week in office. The New York Times, NBC News, NPR and Politico have been giving their marching orders to evacuate their office spaces inside the Pentagon by Valentine's Day, a memo read. In their place will be three other outlets - the New York Post, One America News Network (OAN) and Breitbart News Network - and the progressive outlet, HuffPost, which will move in for one year. Hegseth's office implemented the rotating schedule for outlets to use the office space, which each rotation lasting one year. The move was announced on Friday. January 31: The NY Post: 2015 lawsuit over FAA hiring practices suggests the DC midair collision was likely to happen The Federal Aviation Administration is fighting a class-action lawsuit alleging it denied 1,000 would-be air traffic controllers jobs because of diversity hiring targets — as it was revealed that staffing levels were not "normal" during this week's deadly midair collision in the nations capital. The collision of an American Airline passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter claimed he lives of 67 passengers and crew in the country's deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter-century. Andrew Brigida, the lead plaintiff in the suit filed in 2015, suggested the federal aviation agency's obsession with diversity hiring and inclusion had only ensured that an accident was likely to happen. The FAA has faced scrutiny over its hiring policies after it was revealed that staffing levels were "not normal" at the time of this week's deadly midair collision in Washington, DC. The crux of the lawsuit is that the FAA, under the Obama administration, dropped a skill-based system for hiring controllers and replaced it with a "biographical assessment" in an alleged bid to boost the number of minority job applicants. Brigida, who is white, alleges he was discriminated against solely based on his race when his application was rejected, court papers state. January 31: The Gateway Pundit: Army; withholding ID of female pilot of helo involved with the DC midair collision The Army announced Friday that at the request of the female pilot's family, it is withholding the name of one of three Black Hawk helicopter crew members killed in the mid-air collision with a passenger plane over the Potomac River while the plane was on final approach Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. The Army said the name "will not be released at this time", leaving open the possibility of later public identification. All 60 passengers and 4 crew members on the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas were also killed in the crash. As of Friday afternoon, 41 sets of remains had been recovered with 28 of those identified. A spokesman for the Army's Unified Command Post for the crash told reporters Thursday the unnamed pilot was a female with 500 flying hours under her belt. January 31: NBC News: Assistant Director of FBI Washington Field Office to resign or be fired David Sundberg, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, was notified Thursday that he was going to lose his job and is preparing to leave the bureau, according to two senior law enforcement sources. This is the latest step in a cleansing of officials in headquarters and the field of individuals involved in the agency's use for politically motivated "lawfare." Sundberg is the highest-ranking field agent so far to be fired from the FBI in Trump's second term. Special agents from the Washington Field Office were heavily involved in former Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations of President Donald Trump, as well as the sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol that resulted in criminal charges against hundreds. News of Sundberg's firing comes as many as eight senior FBI executives have been told to either resign or be fired. Sundberg was in charge of nearly 1,600 employees at the Washington Field Office, leading FBI operations across Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, including high-profile cases involving terrorism and public corruption, like the Trump investigations. January 31: The Epoch Times: Trump warns BRICS economic bloc; if you attempt to replace the US you will face 100% tariffs in trying to access U.S. markets President Donald Trump on Thursday repeated a warning that he will impose 100 percent tariffs on members of the BRICS economic bloc (which includes Russia and Communist China) if they attempt to replace the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency. "The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is OVER," Trump said. "We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and (they) should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." The original BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, but the bloc has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia became a member earlier this month. January 30: News Max: Court rules restricting gun sales to those over 21 years old is unconstitutional A decades-old U.S. government ban on federally licensed firearms dealers selling handguns to adults under the age of 21 is unconstitutional, a U.S. appeals court held on Thursday, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings expanding gun rights. The ruling by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marked the first time a federal appeals court has held that the prohibition violated the right to keep and bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. The appeals court had previously upheld that same ban in 2012. But that was before a 6-3 majority decision by the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling in 2022 that established a new test for assessing modern firearms laws. January 30: Fox News: Thorny exchange between Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kash Patel, the Trump nominee for FBI Director Many on social media praised Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, after a thorny exchange with Sen. Amy Klobuchar during his confirmation hearing on Thursday. Referring to his statements about the January 6th hearings, Patel told the senator that "snippets" (sound bites) don't tell the true story and can be used as a "mischaracterization" of what he said. "I encourage you to read the rest of the interviews," he added. "This is why snippets of information are often misleading and detrimental to this committee's advice and consent." January 30: The Washington Times: FAA's diversity hiring practices were under scrutiny long before the air disaster in Washington Years before Wednesday's fatal collision in Washington, DC, between a military helicopter and a passenger jet approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, critics warned that the Obama and Biden administrations had jeopardized safety by prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion at the Federal Aviation Administration. Donald Trump faced criticism Thursday after suggesting that the FAA's DEI-focused hiring practices "could have" (that is might have) contributed to the crash. Some had warned that the FAA's focus on DEI diverted time and resources from air travel safety. It hobbled the agency as it grappled with air traffic controller shortages, antiquated monitoring equipment and an increase in near misses on crowded airport runways, they say. An unidentified source told The Associated Press on Thursday that the air traffic controller in charge of monitoring the airspace at the time of the fatal collision was performing the work of two people – the tower had only one controller on duty when normal staffing called for having two. Last year air safety concerns prompted eleven state attorneys general to write to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker to question the administration's hiring practices and priorities. Diversity goals at the FAA ramped up during the Obama administration, were largely dropped under Mr. Trump's first term and resumed under President Biden. January 30: The Daily Signal: Trump promises a thorough investigation into DC midair collision with findings made public At a press conference Donald Trump discussed the midair collision just outside of Washington, D.C. near National Airport, involved a regional jet operating as an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, and an Army UH-60 helicopter on a training flight that originated at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Trump called the event a "real tragedy" after holding a moment of silence for the victims of the crash. He promised a thorough investigation in the Federal Aviation Administration and within the military will take place and the public will know about the findings of that investigation. The president noted that during his first administration he increased the standards for FAA officials. Those standards were later lowered by the Biden Administration in order to increase the inclusion of applicants based upon race and gender. When Trump resumed the Presidency on January 20th of this year the standards were raised back up again. January 30: The Washington Free Beacon: CA Dems abruptly stop vote on Newsom plan to "Trump-Proof" the state, thereby avoiding public debate over funding the project California Democratic lawmakers suddenly canceled Thursday's vote on their high-profile $50 million plan to fight President Donald Trump with no clear timeline for moving forward. The delay came as Republicans threatened to force a public debate on an amendment that would prohibit funds from being used to protect illegal immigrants with felony convictions from being deported. The state assembly on Thursday morning was set to approve $50 million in taxpayer funds for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) to split evenly between the California Department of Justice and various nonprofits. The $25 million earmarked for the Department of Justice would bankroll lawsuits against Trump's policies, while the other $25 million would bankroll nonprofit legal services, including deportation defenses for illegal immigrants. Ahead of the scheduled floor debate, Republican assembly members planned to force their Democratic colleagues to vote on four proposed amendments. Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo planned to introduce an amendment that would have barred any legal aid money from funding the deportation defenses for illegal aliens with felony convictions. During an earlier committee hearing on the $50 million plan, assemblyman Bill Essayli (R) repeatedly pressed the Newsom administration officials and legislative staffers for guarantees that no taxpayer money would protect convicted felons. They couldn't give him those assurances. January 29: The Daily Caller: RFK, Jr.; Most Americans would prefer private healthcare over Obamacare or Medicaid Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired back at Democrats who were "chuckling" at his claim that most Americans prefer to be enrolled in private insurance during his Wednesday Senate confirmation hearing. Kennedy said that the nation needs to "improve" healthcare" for all Americans, particularly veterans, lower income and elderly individuals, and argued that the billions of dollars sent to Medicaid on a yearly basis has not succeeded in making citizens healthier. He argued that a majority of Americans do not approve of government-run health insurance such as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) or Medicaid. January 29: One America News Network: Trump demands federal workers show up to work or be fired President Trump provided a simple ultimatum for approximately two million federal workers who insist on working remotely, or those who argue that they will defy the order – either show up to work in person "or be terminated." "We're requiring them to show up to work or be terminated," Trump said Wednesday. "We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and therefore, our government will get smaller and more efficient," Trump contended. "And that's what we've been looking to do." Trump's comments follow a mass email sent out by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to federal workers. It offered to buy them out their government contracts if they do not wish to return to the office. January 29: Fox News: SECDEF Hegseth; Gitmo is the perfect place to hold migrants safely until they can be returned to their home country Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States will "humanely move" criminal migrants out of the country and work with other agencies to secure the southern border in his first interview since he was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate. Hegseth addressed President Trump's memorandum to the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD), calling on them to prepare a 30,000-person migrant facility at Gimo, a U.S. Naval base in Cuba. He said that Guantanamo Bay is a "perfect place" to hold criminal migrants "safely in the interim" as the process to repatriate them to their homelands plays out. Meanwhile News Max reported that President Trump, when signing his first bill during his second term – The Laken Riley Act -- said the U.S. will use a detention center at Guantanamo (GITMO) Bay, Cuba, to hold tens of thousands of people who can't be sent back to their home countries. He suggested that if the immigrants' country of origin wouldn't take them back, they's be sent to GITMO. Subsequently Trump signed a presidential memorandum and said he'd direct federal officials to get facilities ready to receive criminal immigrants in the US illegally. Border czar Tom Homan said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would run the facility. Still, details of the plan weren't immediately clear. January 28: The Galveston County Daily News: The U.S. has a major shipbuilding problem; additional shipyards are needed If you only count containerized shipping, the Houston/Galveston port is the sixth most active in the nation. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, if you look at ALL exports – including petrochemical exports – our port leads the nation in total exports. The ports of Houston/Galveston are one of the few that export more than we import, the leader of 43 U.S. ports that handle exports. But there's a problem! The U.S. has only 80 vessels in its merchant marine – down from 2,500 after World War II -- and by 2027 that number will be reduced to 55. Compare that to the 5,500 merchant vessels in Communist China's service. Additionally, we need mariners to run them. The U.S. has only 2% of the shipbuilding capability of the entire world; much of this is constructing vessels for the U.S. Navy. Most commercial shipbuilding now takes place in China, Japan, and South Korea. For national security reasons the U.S. drastically needs to increase its number of shipyards and its shipbuilding capabilities. The Houston-Galveston area would be a prime location for having a new shipyard but there are some major hurdles. January 28: The Daily Mail: Trump offers buyouts to up to two million government workers Up to two million federal workers will be offered buyouts if they don't want to return to the office as part of Donald Trump's government purge, confirmed on Tuesday. The Trump administration started sending emails to thousands of federal workers Tuesday evening offering them a chance to voluntarily vacate their government posts while remaining on the payroll for months. The emails were linked to an executive order demanding federal employees return to their physical offices. A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management said the employees who accept the terms were being offered the chance to go on administrative leave through Sept. 30 at full pay. January 28: One America News Network: Oklahoma Board of Education approves asking immigration status of students The Oklahoma Board of Education approved a proposal on Tuesday that requires all parents to declare their child's immigration status or citizenship when enrolling them in schools in the state. After a 6-0 vote, the proposal now heads to the state legislature — where lawmakers and the governor will have to approve it before it can officially take effect. According to Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the proposal will be used to acquire more data about illegal immigrant children's status. However, a CNN article posted on a January 28th reported that parents will have to declare their own immigration status or citizenship as well. Parents or legal guardians will have to provide a "U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, consular report of birth abroad, permanent resident card or other legal document," according to AP News. January 27: The Gateway Pundit: Trump to reinstate 8,000 members of the Armed Forces who were kicked out for not taking "the jab;" they will get back pay too Promised made, promises kept. President Trump will sign an executive order to reinstate thousands of troops kicked out of the military by Joe Biden for refusing the Covid vaccine. Trump vowed to reinstate the troops "unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the Covid vaccine mandate" during his inauguration speech last week. Approximately 8,000 troops were discharged because of Biden's Covid vaccine mandate. Some troops sued over the mandate and faced backlash. The troops will be reinstated with full back pay and benefits. January 27: News Max: DOJ sacks Jack Smith's prosecutor team; cannot be trusted More than a dozen officials who worked on Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith's prosecutions of President Trump reportedly have been given pink slips because Acting Attorney General James McHenry said they could not be trusted to "faithfully" implement the president's agenda. McHenry, who is running the DOJ until the Senate confirms Pam Bondi as attorney general, sent a letter to each employee notifying them of their termination. "Today, Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of a number of DOJ officials who played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump," an official told Fox News. "In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President's agenda." This action "is consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government," the official said. January 27: Breitbart News: Federal Agents come under fire from Mexican cartels Several Border Patrol agents conducting surveillance and enforcement activities in Texas came under fire from suspected Mexican drug cartel operatives early Monday afternoon. Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with the cartel members and sought cover as reinforcements were summoned. The agents did not sustain injuries during the initial exchange of gunfire. As of this posting, Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez has said the four alleged gunmen are still pinned down on an island in the Rio Grande. The men are being monitored by DPS drones while they have reportedly pointed rifles at the drones. January 26: Fox News: Trump's purge of Biden's DEI programs saves taxpayers $420 million in contracts Donald Trump's executive order terminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has already sidelined 395 government bureaucrats, a senior administration official have said. Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said Friday that approximately $420 million in current/impending contracts, mainly focused on DEI initiatives, had also been canceled. After he signed the order on the day of his inauguration, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) notified heads of agencies and departments that they must begin taking steps to close all DEI offices by the end of the day Wednesday, and place government workers in those offices on paid leave. It is not yet clear when or if they will be terminated. January 25: The Post Newspaper: The U.S. must deal with its looming debt issue Over the past century, elected officials have saddled Americans with an unconscionable level of debt, $35 trillion at the latest count. With the debt's interest spinning out of control, its reduction must be a major focus. Fixing this problem may require taking on "selected" additional debt in the short term while spending it wisely and reducing the overall debt in the long run. No more can we treat things as business as usual. Should we eliminate the debt ceiling for a period of time? Perhaps, if there are serious cuts to spending included with it. In the meantime, we need to address, and stop, the Congress' insatiable hunger for spending January 25: The Daily Mail: Trump in Vegas announces he may fire Biden's 88,000 IRS agents Trump has revealed what could be the fate of nearly 90,000 newly hired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) staff, suggesting he might 'move them to the border'. Hours after he was handed over the presidency, the Republican leader signed an executive order to stop the hiring of all federal civilian employees until 'his Administration can determine that it is in the national interest to do so'. Apart from the IRS, the decision is temporary for all other federal offices. He also froze funding for the "Inflation Reduction" Act commonly known as the bipartisan infrastructure law. His order has thrown the future of about 87,000 new IRS agents who had been hired for the 2022 Act into jeopardy. While speaking to about 2,000 people at a resort in Los Vegas Trump said he may move them to the border. He said, "… we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we move them to the border." He noted that Special Agents are allowed to carry weapons, suggesting they could be used at the border. January 25: The Epoch Times: Rubio: Chinese; Trump Administration will prioritize U.S. interests U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told his Chinese counterpart that the Trump administration will prioritize American interests in its relationship with communist China. He conveyed this message during a phone call on Jan. 24 with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking his first publicly known formal exchange with Wang as the top U.S. diplomat. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the secretary "stressed the United States' commitment to our allies in the region and serious concern over China's coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea." Wang reiterated the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a self-ruled island that the regime has not ruled out using force to bring under its control. January 25: Fox News: Justice Thomas swears in DHS Secretary Noem in his home South Dakota Gov. [Now former Governor] Kristi Noem was sworn in as Department of Homeland Security secretary by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home Saturday, following a scheduling hiccup earlier in the day. The ceremony, which was originally slated to take place in the Indian Treaty Room inside the Navy Department Wing of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., but was postponed. "It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security," she wrote. "It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home." January 25: News Max: Trump fires Inspector Generals in more than a dozen federal agencies President Trump's administration reportedly fired the independent inspectors general of more than a dozen major government agencies late on Friday. The agencies included the departments of defense, state, transportation, veterans affairs, housing and urban development, interior, and energy. The New York Times said the purge affected 17 agencies but spared the Department of Justice inspector general, Michael Horowitz. An inspector general is an independent position that conducts audits, investigations and looks into allegations of waste, fraud and abuse. They can be removed by the president or the agency head, depending on who nominated or appointed them. Most of those dismissed were appointees from Trump's first term. January 24: The Daily Signal: Vance breaks tie vote; Pete Hegseth nomination confirmed President Trump's defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was confirmed in a 51-50 vote with Vice President J.D. Vance braking a tie 50-50 vote in the Senate Friday, ending one of the most contentious confirmation battles of Trump's early administration. Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News anchor, is the epitome of Donald Trump's campaign to dethrone the establishment elites from their seats of power, as he does not come from a high-ranking position in the armed forces. Hegseth faced unproven allegations related to his relationships with alcohol and women. January 24: The Epoch Times: Trump vows to fix FEMA or get rid of it Donald Trump said he would be signing an executive order to start the process of fundamentally overhauling or "getting rid of" the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while touring areas in western North Carolina on Jan. 24 that were devastated by Hurricane Helene last year. He criticized the Biden administration's response to Hurricane Helene, a catastrophic Category 4 tropical cyclone that tore through the southeast in late September 2024, leaving tens of billions of dollars in destruction and killing more than 200 hundred people across several states. He called for immediate disaster relief for North Carolina without conditions for aid. He also suggested that FEMA may no longer be up to the task of providing funds to rebuild areas facing devastation. "I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump said. The president said he would might provide direct aid from the federal government to North Carolina so it could "come back bigger, better, stronger than ever before." He said the timeline for federal aid would be immediate so infrastructure rebuilding can commence. January 24: Fox News: Governor Maura Healey (D-MA) will support arresting criminal illegals The Democratic governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, signaled her support for arresting criminal illegal immigrants, saying she supports "the apprehension of criminals in our communities." According to local news outlet WCVB, she told reporters Thursday that she supports arresting criminals, regardless of whether they are undocumented or not. Meanwhile Fox News witnessed ICE in Boston making eight arrests this week -- including multiple MS-13 members, Interpol Red Notices, murder and rape suspects, and a volatile Haitian gang member with 18 convictions in recent years who shouted that he "ain't going back to Haiti." The arrests come as the Trump administration moves rapidly to fulfill its promise to launch a historic mass deportation operation, which it has said will focus primarily – but not exclusively – on public safety threats. January 23: Fox News: Trump to make public all information about the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations On Thursday President Trump signed an executive order to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Trump had promised to release the previously classified documents during his 2024 campaign after decades of speculation and conspiracy theories about the killings. "Everything will be revealed," Trump told reporters as he signed the order in the Oval Office of the White House. January 23: Breitbart News: White House pulls Former CIA chief John Brennan's security clearance – No longer needed Former CIA chief John Brennan was not happy about President Trump's decision to cancel his security clearance, claiming the only reason he maintained a clearance was to provide advice to the president. But apparently Trump isn't interested in Brennan's advice since he signed a letter falsely claiming Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation. Brennan served as Barack Obama's director of the CIA and played a role in the Russia hoax, along with reportedly dismissing intelligence that Russia wanted Hillary Clinton to win the U.S. presidential election in 2016. Recently, Brennan criticized Trump for preventing him from giving the president advice on national security. January 23: News Max: Trump to pull U.S. out of the World Health Administration The United States will leave the World Health Organization on Jan. 22, 2026, the United Nations said Thursday, after being formally notified of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of mishandling the pandemic and other international health crises. Trump announced the move on Monday, hours after he was sworn in for a second four-year term. The WHO said on Tuesday that it regretted the move from its top donor country. Trump must give a one-year notice of U.S. withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay Washington's dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress. January 23: Fox News: Border encounters drop sharply as Trump launches crackdown on illegal immigration Multiple Department of Homeland Security sources say the U.S. southern border has seen a sharp drop in illegal immigrant encounters in the first days of the Trump administration, compared to the final few days of the Biden administration,. The number of Border Patrol encounters at the southern border in the first three days of the Trump administration is reportedly 35% lower than the final three days of the Biden administration. The numbers do not include encounters at the northern border, or encounters at ports of entry by Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Field Operations. January 22: The Epoch Times: Trump sends additional 1,500 troops to the border President Trump ordered a new deployment of around 1,500 troops to the U.S. southern border on Jan. 22, as part of his ongoing effort to halt illegal border crossing and smuggling efforts. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday, "This is something President Trump campaigned on. The American people have been waiting for such a time as this for our Department of Defense to actually take homeland security seriously." Currently about 2,500 troops are on the southern border. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump repeatedly indicated he would pursue more expansive border security efforts, including increased troop deployments. January 22: The Gateway Pundit: Hegseth nomination sent to the full senate for a vote On Monday, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination to a full senate floor vote. Meanwhile, Danielle Hegseth, the nominee's former sister-in-law, lifelong Democrat, and who is represented by a powerful Democrat-linked law firm, submitted a last minute affidavit claiming Pete Hegseth had abused and mistreated his second wife. According to NBC News, Hegseth's former wife responded to the allegations via email, saying, "First and foremost, I have not and will not comment on my marriage to Pete Hegseth. I do not have representatives speaking on my behalf, nor have I ever asked anyone to share or speak about the details of my marriage on my behalf, whether it be a reporter, a committee member, a transition team member, etc." She further added, "I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have cc'd my lawyer." January 22: The Washington Examiner: Hegseth's attorney discredits former sister-in-law's allegations An attorney for SECDEF nominee Pete Hegseth sent a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) Wednesday, discrediting new allegations by Hegseth's former sister-in-law. The letter calls the allegations "deeply flawed and questionable" and urged the Senate to rely on court records when evaluating the new allegations. "There is no basis to credit this deeply flawed and questionable affidavit, which was submitted at the 11th hour in a clear and admitted partisan attempt to derail Mr. Hegseth's confirmation," attorney Timothy Parlatore wrote. "I would respectfully submit that you can rely upon the Minnesota Court records and the FBI's findings to reject this perjurious affidavit and move forward to confirm Mr. Hegseth as Secretary of Defense." Meanwhile Hegseth's former wife said she believes the information in the allegations are not accurate. January 22: The Epoch Times: Fetterman (D-PA) votes to move SECDEF nominee Pete Hegseth to Senate Floor Sen. John Fetterman voted on Jan. 21 with Republicans to advance the nomination of Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary (SECDEF), but said that he will not switch to the Republican Party. Fetterman was the only member of the Democratic Party to join Republicans in moving the nomination forward. Every other Democrat who voted, as well as the two independents in the Senate, voted against advancing the nomination. Fetterman's vote marks the latest instance in which Fetterman has taken a position that differs from many members of his party. January 22: The Gateway Pundit: Three Republican Senators may vote again st the Hegseth nomination The three usual RINO suspects will likely oppose Pete Hegseth's Secretary of Defense confirmation after an 11th hour affidavit with reportedly false allegations of spousal abuse against Hegseth was released. Republican Senators Mitch McConnell (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) may oppose Pete Hegseth nomination for SECDEF, forcing Vice President JD Vance to break the tie. January 21: Fox News: Coast Guard deploys resources to detect and deter illegal immigration The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday they are deploying personnel and equipment to various maritime borders in the United States, a day after President Trump dismissed the military branch's former leader. Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said coast guardsmen would work to detect and deter illegal migration in support of Trump's executive orders issued this week. "The U.S. Coast Guard is the world's premiere maritime law enforcement agency, vital to protecting America's maritime borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty," Lunday said. "Per the President's Executive Orders, I have directed my operational commanders to immediately surge assets—cutters, aircraft, boats and deployable specialized forces—to increase Coast Guard presence and focus…" January 21: USA Today: Trump announces $500 Billion Stargate AI project Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a private sector investment of up to $500 billion to build artificial intelligence infrastructure, aiming to outpace rival nations in the business-critical technology. No federal taxpayer dollars are involved and the first facility is expected to be located in Texas. Trump said the joint venture, called Stargate, will build data centers and create more than 100,000 jobs in the United States. ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Softbank and Oracle, along with other equity backers of Stargate, have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remaining investment expected over the next four years. January 21: Fox News: Biden issued more pardons 15 minutes before leaving office, who didn't he pardon? Joe Biden doled out a flurry of pardons during his final days in office, but he did not issue a pardon for Jack Smith or other figures connected to cases involving President Trump, who has frequently castigated those he feels have unjustly targeted him. He also did not pardon Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York Judge Juan Merchan and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. This may have been a blessing in disguise because it means these people can plead the fifth amendment before Congressional hearings. Those who have received pardons cannot, because accepting a pardon means they are admitting to guilt. January 20: News Max: President Trump outlines top priorities for Congress President Trump sent a two-page memo to congressional Republican lawmakers Monday morning, outlining his legislative priorities for his administration. The document summarizes many of the executive actions the 47th president plans to take in four categories: "Make America Safe Again" (including securing our borders), "Make America Affordable and Energy Dominant Again" (including empowering consumer choices in vehicles, showerheads, toilets, washing machines, lightbulbs and dishwashers), "Drain the Swamp" (including ending the weaponization of government against political rivals and the unconstitutional censorship by the federal government)" and "Bring Back American Values" (including establishing that there are only two genders, male and female, and protecting women from "radical gender ideology"). January 20: The Washington Free Beacon: Biden issues preemptive pardons to his family members as he goes out the door After four years of lawfare against President Trump and in the waning hours of his presidency, Joe Biden has issued preemptive pardons to his family members and political allies to protect them from the turnabout to which they were now exposed having failed to jail Trump or stop his return to the White House. The problem he may not have counted on is if they accept the pardons, and if any of them are subpoenaed by Congress to testify about their alleged activities, they can no longer plead 5th Amendment protections. The SCOTUS has made that clear that the acceptance of a pardon is an admission of guilt, Consequently, they would be required to answer Congressional questions. If they failed to answer questions honestly, lying to Congress would not be protected under the current pardons. So, either they would need to answer honestly, potentially exposing their activities to the public, or face jail time for lying to Congress under oath. Additionally, in an accompanying statement Biden said he was taking this action because even if individuals are innocent, protecting themselves could bankrupt them – something the Democrats tried to do to President Trump. January 20: The Gateway Pundit: SCOTUS: Acceptance of a pardon is an admission of guilt A Presidential Pardon does not take effect unless the suspect accepts it. According to a little known 1915 ruling from the Supreme Court, once accepted a pardon serves as an "imputation of guilt," or what's more commonly known as an admission thereof. Because accepting the pardon is "essential to its validity," some are calling upon the Biden family, Dr. Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, the members of the J6 Committee and everyone else Biden unsurprisingly pardoned on his way out the door declare their acceptance of the pardon publicly. Because, according to the Supreme Court, it would also serve as a declaration of guilt. January 19: The Washington Times: "Cautiously optimistic" the Hamas-Israel ceasefire will hold House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday there will be "hell to pay" if the Palestinian militant group Hamas violates any of the terms of its cease-fire deal with Israel. "You cannot allow Hamas, which of course, is a proxy of Iran, to be situated as they were, to have another October 7. We just can't — the Israelis can't live under those conditions," Johnson (R-LA) said, referring to the October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. "And everyone around the world needs to know, as President Trump has made clear, that we stand with Israel and there will be hell to pay if they violate these terms." He didn't specify what "hell to pay" would mean but promised they would find out if they played it fast and loose. The Speaker made it clear he and Trump are "hopeful" that the cease-fire deal will hold. He said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "cautiously optimistic" it will, noting they are a terrorist organization that isn't known for keeping their word. The first three Israeli hostages were released Sunday, all women: Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. January 19: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Tik Tok's going dark doesn't last even 24 hours TikTok's ban in the U.S. doesn't even last 24 hours. The Chinese-owned social media app announced Sunday that they are restoring service in the United States after a brief ban that started late Saturday night. "Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!" It appears President Trump promised to issue an executive order on Inauguration Day to extend TikTok's operations. It's unclear how long the extension will last. The app was ordered to be shut down after the Supreme Court upheld a ban law by a vote of 9-0 last week. The law bans the app until the Chinese divest ownership. January 19: The Gateway Pundit: Minnesota police officer found guilty of killing George Floyd released from prison A second former Minneapolis police officer has completed his sentence over the death of George Floyd and has been released from prison. Floyd died in police custody while on drugs and resisting arrest on May 25, 2020. His death caused massive, deadly riots across the nation. Former Officer J. Alexander Kueng, 31, was released from FCI Elkton in Ohio on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in October 2022. He was subsequently sentenced to three and a half years in prison. January 19: The Daily Mail: Fans slam NBC for failing to show the National Anthem during the Rams-Eagles game NBC Sports boldly opted against airing the national anthem before Sunday's NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and visiting Los Angeles Rams. The latest controversy falls just a day before President Trump's inauguration and marks another surprise decision over showing The Star-Spangled Banner this month. Earlier in January, ESPN caught fan blow back for not showing the anthem before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, which had been moved by a day after the New Year's Day terror attacks in the city killed 14 people. ESPN's leadership apologized taking ownership for the mistake and saying it would not be repeated. The Rams are playing Sunday's game amid scenes of devastation back in Los Angeles due to the wildfires around the city that have killed 27 and destroyed thousands of buildings and homes. NBC's actions appeared to have angered many fans. January 18: The Daily Caller: Government Debars Fauci's gain-of-function mastermind Peter Daszak The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally debarred Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a company which coordinated with Dr. Anthony Fauci's aides to receive funding for gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, according to documents released Friday by the House Oversight Committee. HHS debarred and cut funding to both Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit which researches pandemics. EcoHealth has also terminated Daszak's employment. "The suspension and proposed debarment actions were based on information that Dr. Daszak lacks the present responsibility to participate in United States Federal Government procurement and non-procurement programs," HHS wrote. The debarment, which is retroactive to a May 2024 suspension for both Daszak and EcoHealth, will last for a period of five years. January 18: The Epoch Times: Trump signals a possible 90 day reprieve for Tik Tok's ban in the U.S. President- Trump said Saturday that he will probably give TikTok a temporary reprieve from a looming ban over the social media platform's China ties, which would allow the platform to continue operating in the United States as his administration undertakes a careful review of the situation. "The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump said. "If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday." His remarks come after TikTok said late Friday it would be "forced to go dark" on Sunday — the day before Trump's inauguration — unless the Biden administration delivers a guarantee that it will not enforce a law requiring the company to divest or face a nationwide ban. TikTok's "go dark" warning was made after a U.S. Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling earlier on Friday that upheld a law banning the app in the United States unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform by Sunday. ByteDance has repeatedly insisted it will not sell. January 18: Fox News: Trump family returns to Washington ahead of inauguration President Trump returned to Washington Saturday evening, after boarding a special mission Air Force plane for his historic return after four years. Trump and wife Melania and their youngest son, Barron, embarked on their trip from West Palm Beach, Florida, to the nation's capital, waving to crowds before ascending the steps. He celebrated his return at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles west of Washington. In his address he gave a shoutout to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff a "great negotiator." Witkoff this past week helped negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that's scheduled to take effect on Sunday. The event included a fireworks display. January 17: The New York Post: Parent, Paramount Global, has internal talks about settling Trump-CBS News lawsuit Paramount Global executives have reportedly held internal talks about settling a lawsuit filed by President Trump over CBS News' editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. They are hoping to close its planned merger with Skydance Media in the coming months but has been sued by Trump for allegedly favorably editing the "60 Minutes" sit-down with Harris just before the election In recent months, it has become clear that Trump's dissatisfaction with CBS News is proving to be a major hurdle, and it will likely need to pony up concessions to win approval to go forward with the merger. January 17: One America News Network: Biden pardons/commutes sentences of an additional 2,500 offenders Joe Biden has issued individual pardons and commutations to nearly 2,490 drug offenders Friday. He announced he was commuting the sentences of 2,490 people convicted of drug offenses. Adding that they are "serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice." Meanwhile he has done nothing for the January 6h offenders, some of whom have been held in jail for long periods without a trial. And Biden has indicated there may be more pardons/commutations on the way prior to President Trump regaining office. January 17: Fox News: Has he completely lost it? Biden declares the ERA amendment is part of the Constitution Legal experts slammed Joe Biden's announcement declaring the 28th Amendment law as "cynical and irrelevant." On Friday Biden released a statement saying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) should be considered ratified and a new addition to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment, that failed to receive ratification by 75% of the states before it expired in 1979, would prohibit discrimination based on gender. Jonathan Truley, a noted legal and constitutional law expert said in response to Joe Biden's statements that he, Biden, "…seems intent on moving his administration from the odious to the absurd. This was an embarrassingly pandering moment to the most extreme elements in his party. It is a position based on a long-rejected and frankly ridiculous foundation." Meanwhile Andrew McCarthy, a Fox News contributor and former U.S. Attorney, said, "Biden's announcement is both cynical and irrelevant. If he believed what he is saying, he would've said it when his administration started, not when he is on his way out the door as a failed, one-term president. More importantly, the president has no constitutional role in the amendment process, so his view carries no weight." January 17: Judicial Watch: San Francisco settles lawsuit The City of San Francisco authorized a settlement agreement in a taxpayer lawsuit, agreeing to discontinue its discriminatory guaranteed-income program that favored transgender individuals with a preference for biological black and Latino men who identify as women. The agreement commits the city to pay $3,250 in attorney's fees and costs and not to create a new guaranteed income program with the same eligibility criteria. January 16: News Max: Israel attacks Gaza after Hamas accused of backtracking on ceasefire Israel carried out fresh air strikes on Gaza on Thursday and accused Hamas of backtracking on parts of a fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal before an expected vote by its Cabinet. The truce, announced by mediators Qatar and the United States on Wednesday, would take effect on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalized. But the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Hamas had "reneged on parts of the agreement reached ... in an effort to extort last-minute concessions." Reportedly the Israeli Cabinet "will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement." Netanyahu spoke with Presidents Joe Biden and Trump on Wednesday, the Israeli leader's office said, thanking them for their help securing the agreement but also cautioning that "final details" were still being worked on. January 15: The Daily Caller: Como slams Democrat senators for wasting time on Hegseth's former marriage NewsNation host Chris Cuomo criticized Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) on Tuesday for using his time during Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing to grill him over his past marriage. Kaine who was the losing Democrat candidate for Vice President in 2016, raised allegations of Hegseth's infidelity, alcoholism and abuse during his questioning rather than prioritizing other queries relevant to the role Hegseth will have as SecDef. Cuomo (D-NY) suggested Kaine's line of questioning was disgusting, condemning both the standard he was holding Hegseth to and the substantive issues he was ignoring. "Let me ask you:" Cuomo asked, "What questions would you have for a potential secretary of defense? 'What are you going to do about China, Russia, terror, Pentagon size, drones — or would your top concern be his marriage?" January 15: The Washington Times: Three suspects arrested for Arson of Los Angeles fires Los Angeles police said three people were charged with arson in separate incidents this week after they were caught lighting fires near where the massive, deadly blazes have torn through parts of Southern California. LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the suspects, who were not identified, were not responsible for starting the infernos in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton that have claimed at least 25 lives since they ignited last week. Authorities said one person was arrested Monday on Van Nuys Boulevard after the person was seen igniting a brush fire. At least five people total have been charged with arson since the wildfires broke out Jan. 7 in the Palisades. For example, an illegal immigrant from Mexico was tackled and held to the ground by wary citizens last week when he was observed with a blowtorch near where the Kenneth fire broke out. January 15: Breitbart News: The Trump Affect; President-elect announces Hamas-Israel ceasefire agreement 5 days before he takes office President-elect Donald Trump was the first to announce a ceasefire deal was reached in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday. Israeli officials soon confirmed an agreement was in place to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 atrocities. "We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!" Trump said just after noon EST. "With this deal in place," Trump said, "My National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven." Witkoff traveled to Doha, Qatar, along with representatives of the outgoing Biden administration over the weekend to work with mediators from Israel and Hamas on a deal. Sources familiar with the meetings credited Trump's influence with breaking a long deadlock and setting the stage for the "midnight breakthrough" on Sunday that made a deal possible. Earlier Trump had said to Hamas that "All Hell will breakout" if a hostage return agreement was not met before he takes office January 20th. January 14: The Daily Caller: Illegal with blowtorch arrested for starting fires in Los Angeles A blowtorch-wielding man subdued by Los Angeles residents in a viral online video is living in the United States unlawfully despite multiple arrests and an assault conviction, federal immigration authorities confirmed. Juan Manuel Sierra, a 33-year-old Mexican national, is an illegal migrant "gotaway" who carries an extensive rap sheet with local law enforcement, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson reported. Sierra is currently being held by Los Angeles police on suspicion of contributing to the wildfires that have devastated Southern California in the past several days. January 14: The Washington Examiner: Politics as usual as Dems try to tarnish Hegseth's reputation Pete Hegseth spent several hours in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, where Republicans largely praised his nomination, and Democrats questioned his fitness for the position of secretary of defense (SecDef). The former Fox News host promised to be a "change agent" for a department that he argued, like many Republicans have, has strayed from its mission of lethality and defending U.S. interests abroad. Republicans on the committee defended and praised his nomination and President Trump's plans to overhaul the Department of Defense, while Democrats grilled him over concerns that his past disqualifies him from the role. Despite the Democrats' attacks, they are largely powerless to stop his nomination and any of Trump's Cabinet selections. The Democrats need at least three Republicans to vote against any nomination to block the nominee from assuming the role. January 14: The Texas Scorecard: State Rep Burrows elected Texas House Speaker with support of Dems and 36 Republicans Just hours after the new legislative session kicked off in Austin, State Rep. Dustin Burrows was elected to serve as speaker of the House, a move that has already sparked controversy among Texas Republicans. Burrows (R-Lubbock) secured the gavel despite significant opposition from within his own party, ultimately relying on Democrat support to clinch the position. This is despite the fact that Republicans control 88 of the chamber's 150 seats. The election required two rounds of voting. In the first round, Burrows got 71 votes and the GOP Caucus candidate David Cook (R-Mansfield) garnered 56. In the second round Burrows emerge victorious with 85 votes, while Cook, secured 55. Nine members (all Democrats) were recorded as present but not voting. In total, 36 Republicans supported Burrows along with 49 Democrats. The Republicans voting for Burrows were; Jeff Barry (Pearland), Cecil Bell (Magnolia), Keith Bell (Forney), Greg Bonnen (Friendswood), Brad Buckley (Salado), Angie Button (Garland), Giovanni Capriglione (Southlake), Tom Craddick (Midland), Drew Darby (San Angelo), Jay Dean (Longview), Caroline Fairly (Amarillo), Gary Gates (Richmond), Stan Gerdes (Smithville), Charlie Geren (Fort Worth), Sam Harless (Spring), Cody Harris (Palestine), Cole Hefner (Mount Pleasant), Lacey Hull (Houston), Todd Hunter (Corpus Christi), Ken King (Canadian), Stan Kitzman (Brookshire), Stan Lambert (Abilene), Brooks Lambert (Odessa), Jeff Leach (Allen), Janie Lopez (San Benito), John McQueeney (Fort Worth), Will Metcalf (Montgonery), Morgan Meyer (Dallas), Angelia Orr (Itasca), Jared Patterson (Frisco), Dade Phelan (Beaumont), Carl Tepper (Lubbock), Gary VanDeaver (New Boston), Denise Villalobos (Corpus Christi), Terry Wilson (Georgetown) and of course Dustin Burrows himself. January 13: Fox News: President Trump's allies in House are clearing the runway for him to make good on his vow to acquire Greenland Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) is leading a bill to authorize Trump to enter negotiations with Denmark over purchasing Greenland, a territory located in North America but with longstanding cultural and geopolitical ties to Europe. The bill is reportedly titled the "Make Greenland Great Again Act. "Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people," Ogles said. January 13: The Gateway Pundit: Trump no-holds-barred press conference results in stern warning to Hamas In a no-holds barred press conference at Mar-a-Lago following the certification of his 2024 election victory, President Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. With his signature resolve, Trump made it clear that failure to comply by January 20, his Inauguration Day, would result in severe consequences for the region. "All hell will break out. If they're not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East. It will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out," Trump warned. He added, "I don't have to say anymore, but that's what it is. They should have given them back a long time ago. They should have never taken them. They should have never committed the attack of October 7. People forget that, but there was, and many people were killed." Following President Trump's ultimatum, Hamas officials announced on Monday they are prepared to make a ceasefire deal with Israel. January 13: The New York Post: Special Counsel Weiss slammed Joe Biden's criticism of his investigation Special counsel David Weiss, who successfully prosecuted first son Hunter Biden on tax fraud and gun charges, slammed President Biden's criticism of his investigation as "gratuitous and wrong" in a report on the years-long investigation released Monday. "Other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations," Weiss wrote in his report. I prosecuted the two cases against Mr. Biden because he broke the law," wrote Weiss attaching hundreds of pages of court filings. "A unanimous jury — who found Mr. Biden guilty of gun charges — and Mr. Biden himself — who pleaded guilty to tax offenses — agreed. As I have done for twenty years, I applied the Principles of Federal Prosecution and determined that prosecution was warranted." Joe Biden, 82, signed a sweeping pardon for his only surviving son on Dec. 1, arguing the cases against him had been motivated by "raw politics" and constituted a "miscarriage of justice." January 12: The Washington Examiner: Trump calls Fetterman "impressive" after meeting Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) did not emerge from his meeting with President-elect Trump with a promise that the Braddock Democrat would be named the "Pope of Greenland," but Trump said Fetterman did earn his admiration for his commonsense approach to governing. "It was a totally fascinating meeting," Trump said. The senator and his wife spent an hour with the President-elect at Mar-a-Lago. "He's a commonsense person, He's not liberal of conservative. He's just a commonsense person, which is beautiful," Trump said. January 12: Fox News: Vance: Trump Administration plans on pardons for January 6th protestors The focus on President Trump's vow to pardon Jan. 6 protesters is sharpening, with his return to the White House just eight days away. Vice President-elect JD Vance — who, like Trump, has been critical of a justice system allegedly weaponized against the protesters — laid out how their offenses might be weighed when considering the pardons. "If you protested peacefully on January 6th, and you've had Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you should be pardoned," Vance said on Sunday. "If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned, and there's a little bit of a gray area there, but we're very much committed to seeing the equal administration of law. And there are a lot of people, we think, in the wake of January the 6th who were prosecuted unfairly. We need to rectify that." Vance contended. January 12: News Max: Former NATO Commander; Greenland acquisition not a crazy idea President Trump has said the importance of Greenland to national and global security cannot be overstated and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis agreed. Skeptical Democrats, cynical pundits, and liberal media laughed off Trump's suggestions of making the country an official U.S. territory. "It's not a crazy idea," Stavridis told WABC 770 AM-N.Y. "We could do an awful lot in terms of business, investment, box out the Russians, box out the Chinese, and work very closely with Greenland." The former NATO commander called the large Arctic Island a "strategic goldmine for the United States." "It sits at the very top of the North Atlantic; it protects approaches to our own country," Stavridis said. "It's geographically very important. It's full of strategic minerals, rare earth, probably a lot of gold. It's got a lot of natural resources. "It doesn't have to become the 51st state, but it can certainly be an economic objective for us. I think that's how it plays out." For skeptics refusing to listen to Trump's logic, Stavridis reminded all to just listen to Greenland and its people. January 11: The Gateway Pundit: Are you serious? Purchasing Greenland? President Trump has been unduly mocked by Democrats and corporate media journalists regarding his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark. But he now has the Danes and Greenland's full attention. Trump for months has pushed for purchasing the world's largest island and is not ruling out possible military action. He argues that Greenland becoming part of America is absolutely necessary for national security. Trump is, of course, correct, this Arctic Island is rich in natural resources and holds immense geopolitical value due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle and the presence of U.S. military assets, including the Thule Air Base. Moreover, China and Russia are circling Greenland seeking to take advantage of the islands enormous potential. Buying Greenland would enable the U.S. to seize control of the Arctic and deal a heavy blow to the ambitions of their two biggest global adversaries. Meanwhile, Axios reports the Danes are sending private messages to Trump expressing willingness to discuss boosting security in Greenland or increasing the U.S. military presence on the island, two sources with knowledge of the issue said. Greenland (pop. 56,000) is largely autonomous, but Denmark maintains responsibility for defense. Trump has repeatedly declared that controlling Greenland — the world's largest island — is necessary for U.S. national security vis-a-vis Russia and China. His son Don Junior visited Greenland this week bearing MAGA hats. January 11: Fox News: Abbott to send help to California firefighters Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday announced he would be sending firefighters and firefighting resources to California to assist with the ongoing wildfires. Along with more than 135 firefighters, it will include emergency management and medical personnel, more than 45 fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles, and equipment. "Our hearts grieve with the entire Los Angeles community as they continue to respond to these destructive wildfires," Abbott said. January 10: Axios: SCOTUS likely to uphold ban on Tik Tok The Supreme Court seemed inclined Friday to uphold a law that would ban Tik Tok in the U.S. meaning one of the most popular social media apps in the country may disappear or at least not be able to get updates next week. The court heard oral arguments Friday over the new law that requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to either sell TikTok or shut it down in the U.S by Jan. 19. The law passed last year with broad bipartisan support and was signed by President Biden. January 10: The Washington Examiner: Michigan state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D) won't causus with her party Michigan state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D) who has criticized colleagues for being profoundly "disconnected" from voters, announced this week she would no longer be caucusing with her party. Whitsett cited her "close" relationship with Matt Hall, the incoming Republican leader in the state House, as her reason for exiting the caucus, saying she worried about being accused of leaking information to the GOP lawmaker. "I don't want anyone thinking that if, by happenstance, someone said something in the Dem caucus, and the speaker just happens to mention something similar to that — I don't want anyone thinking that I told him anything and vice versa," the rogue Democrat said. During a phone interview Friday, Whitsett spoke warmly of working with Republicans and President Trump to advance an agenda touching issues such as infant mortality, justice reform, and public safety — "just the numerous amount of things that could possibly go through that would be beneficial for bipartisan support." January 10: The Epoch Times: Trump to face sentencing before inauguration President Trump is expected to undergo sentencing in his business records case just 10 days before his inauguration, marking a milestone in the lengthy legal battles that he has, in all but this case, won as his opponents have used lawfare against him since he left office in 2021. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has already indicated he won't impose any term of prison or any other meaningful punishment. Nonetheless, Merchan is expected to use the hearing to enter a judgment of conviction and to take his final shot at Trump, offering a rebuke of how the incoming president has treated the third branch of government. January 10: News Max: Trump vows to appeal Manhattan conviction after sentencing President Trump took to social media shortly after being sentenced in his New York case Friday and said he will appeal and seek a dismissal of the entire case. He appeared remotely with his attorney and was formally sentenced by Democrat Judge Juan M. Merchan who declined to impose any punishment. January 9: The Gateway Pundit: Prince William takes on more responsibility for his father In the last few months, a growing number of reports have been coming out of the United Kingdom that Royal heir to the throne Prince William has begun 'flexing his royal muscles'. The Prince of Wales has reportedly ramped-up preparations for his upcoming rule, and even now is said to be 'seizing more power' from his ailing father, King Charles. "It's no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door," a palace insider said. "He's not willing to take any nonsense and the word is he's already on his way to being the toughest ruler the family has ever seen." January 9: One America News Network: Judge overturns Biden attempt to redefine Title IX, protecting women's sports and spaces After the Biden administration attempted to redefine sex in Title IX as "gender identity," a federal judge in Kentucky shot down the shift nationwide. The case of Cardona v. Tennessee was decided on Thursday by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, Northern Division. After concluding that the 1,500-page regulation was "fatally" polluted by legal flaws, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves struck it down. "Another massive win for TN and the country!" said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. "This morning, a federal court ruled in our favor and vacated the Biden admin's radical new Title IX rule nationwide. The court's order is [a] resounding victory for the protection of girls' privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically-accurate pronouns." January 9: The Times of Israel: US House votes to sanction ICC over arrest warrant for Israeli leadership Nearly all House Republicans, several Democrats back legislation punishing the ICC for going after Netanyahu and Gallant, but measure may face bumpier path through Senate. The US House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court to protest its decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel's campaign against the Hamas terror group in Gaza. Lawmakers voted 243 to 140 in favor of the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," which would urge sanctions on any ICC official or entities backing The Hague who advance "any effort to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies." The sanctions include blocking or revoking visas and prohibiting US property transactions. The legislation states that the US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute that created the ICC, which accordingly has no jurisdiction over their conduct. Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republicans voted against the measure. January 9: The Daily Wire: OK Senator blast Gabbard opponents; "She's not a Pete Buttigieg" Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) says he got to know Tulsi Gabbard at the gym when they both served in the House of Representatives. At the time, Mullin a Republican and Gabbard was a Democrat, but the respect they built for each other in the weightroom bridged the political divide. The pair have remained close friends ever since. Mullin is now a senator and Gabbard, who joined the Republican Party in October, is President Trump's pick to be the next director of national intelligence. "When you start looking at her background, she served four terms in the United States House of Representatives – I don't know if that's a bragging point, but we'll still talk about it – twenty-two years in the service, combat veteran, lieutenant colonel right now, and she's currently over the reserve unit in Oklahoma and Missouri. I don't know what [other] qualifications you need," Mullin said. "I mean, you're not Pete Buttigieg," Mullin said, referring to the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who was vaulted into heading the Department of Transportation during the Biden administration despite having absolutely no relevant past experience in a transportation-related role. January 8: The Washington Times: Trump meets with Senate Republicans to hammer out legislative agenda President Trump visited the Capitol on Wednesday meeting with Senate Republicans and discussing the party's legislative agenda. Republicans have been united on their broad goals — to secure the border, restore American energy dominance, cut taxes and rein in spending — but seem divided on the best strategy for passage given their narrow House and Senate majorities. The debate centers on whether to package all those priorities into a single bill, which would take several months to produce, or to quickly move some of the border and energy provisions first. Trump's preference is for "one big," but he also remained open to the two-bill approach as senators pitched him on it. Ted Cruz (R-TX) prefers the two-bill approach, securing two victories. Cruz said the reason to hold an extension and expansion of the 2017 Trump tax cuts for a second bill is not lack of support but the time it will take to put together such a bill and figure out the revenue offsets. "Every Republican wants to extend the tax cuts," he said. "There's not a single Republican that wants a $4 trillion tax increase." Senator Graham (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, will play a key role because Republicans will use the budget reconciliation process to advance their agenda thereby blocking the Democrat's use of a filibuster, passing the bill with all Republicans if need be. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) said Trump likes a horse race, so he suggested the president allow the Senate and House to pursue their different approaches and pick one later based on which chamber has gotten furthest in producing a work product. "When I suggested the horse race, he said, 'Well we'll see.' He was kind of open but not relinquishing his preference for the one [bill]," Hoeven said. January 8: SCOTUS Blog: Trump files petition with SCOTUS to put a hold Friday on sentencing in Manhattan case President Donald Trump came to the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, asking the justices to halt the criminal sentencing scheduled for Friday morning in his Manhattan case. The 40-page filing by Trump's intended nominee for Solicitor General, John Sauer, urged the court to put the proceedings on hold to allow an appeal of the case. "Forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests," the filing said. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles emergency appeals from New York, directed the prosecutors to respond to Trump's request by Thursday at 10 a.m. January 8: The Epoch Times: Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says he is considering running for Governor Former Rep. Matt Gaetz says he may launch a gubernatorial bid. "I am starting to think about running for governor," Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times in an interview. Gaetz, 42, stepped down from the House in 2024 after President Donald Trump selected him to be U.S. attorney general. With key senators opposing Gaetz's nomination, he decided to withdraw from consideration before Trump was inaugurated. Trump has since picked Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, to head the Department of Justice. Gaetz, at least for now, has accepted a position as a host for the cable network One America News. Now, he's floated launching a bid to become Florida's next governor, in what could be a competitive race to succeed term-limited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida governors can only hold two consecutive terms, making the position an open seat. January 7: The Gateway Pundit: NC Supreme Court blocks state from certifying Dem incumbent Justice as winner of election amid GOP challenges of "shady ballots" The North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday in a 5-1 vote blocked the state from certifying Democrat incumbent justice Allison Riggs as the winner of the race as her GOP opponent, Jefferson Griffin, challenges the election. North Carolina's Supreme Court race headed for a recount due to a close final tally as the Democrat pulled ahead two weeks after Election Day. Democrat incumbent Sarah Riggs closed the race pulling ahead by a mire 625 votes in an election with over 2,770,000 votes cast. The race went to a recount because of the close vote count. Republican Griffin was leading the race until all of a sudden Democrat Riggs overcame her opponent weeks after the election. Reportedly Griffin is challenging 60,000 ballots that he claims should not have been counted. The North Carolina Supreme Court granted Griffin's request and issued a temporary stay blocking the certification of the election. January 7: Fox News: 30,000 people threatened by Southern California wild fire; forced to flee for their lives A fire was burning out of control Tuesday in Pacific Palisades (Southern California), destroying homes and forcing residents to abandon their vehicles and flee amid a potentially "life-threatening and destructive fires driven by strong winds. Most of Pacific Palisades was under an evacuation order by this afternoon as residents fought traffic jams and heavy smoke trying to escape the nearby flames. The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. and was pushed by intense wind gusts that officials had warned could fuel any spark into a fast-moving and erratic wildfire. It had burned more than 770 acres in just the first five hours. [Editor's Note: My former 1970-1973 Washington, DC housemate is among those evacuating this blaze] January 7: The Washington Times: Trump looks beyond the current U.S. borders President Trump on Tuesday outlined an ambitious plan for U.S. expansion by working to get control of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and maybe working with conservative allies in Canada. In a news conference he refused to take any actions off the table regarding getting Greenland and the canal under the U.S. umbrella. He questioned left-leaning Denmark's legal claim to Greenland and there are indications some of the 50,000 residents of country – the largest island in the world – might favor being an independent territorial state under the U.S. Trump also criticized China's role in operating the Panama Canal and the late President Jimmy Carter's transferring the canal to Panama in 1979, saying it was given to Panama and not communist China. Meanwhile Donald Trump Jr. has made a non-official trip to Greenland. January 7: News Max: Senate "green lights" Trump nominations; hearings scheduled before Trump's swearing in The Hill reports that the Senate took the procedural step of approving committee assignments for the next two years, a move that also allows committee hearings to begin next week on President Trump's cabinet nominees. With Jan. 14 being the earliest that hearings can take place, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Pete Hegseth, Brooke Rollins, and former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin are among those scheduled to appear next week. Reportedly Hegseth's hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14; Rollins (Trump's pick for Agriculture secretary) will be Jan. 15 and Rubio's Jan. 15. Zeldin's hearing is expected to be held Jan. 15 or 16. The scheduling of the hearing for Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney general, has been delayed over paperwork issues with the Judiciary Committee, The Hill reports. January 6: Fox News: Justin Trudeau steps down as Canadian PM as his support tanks Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Monday that he intends to resign as party leader and prime minister after pressure from within his own Liberal Party increasingly grew amid heightened criticisms over his handling of the economy and threats levied by President Trump. He said he will resign once the party selects a new leader. "I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process," Trudeau told reporters. Trudeau, who led the nation for nearly a decade, has been grappling for months with significant drops in his approval ratings over mounting frustration relating to issues like the soaring cost of living and rising inflation. Though there was no official path for his party to boot him from the top job, the now nearly-former prime minister faced either the threat of a Parliamentary vote of no confidence, or a lengthy fight to hold on to his position until the October 2025 elections – either option was expected to see a crushing end to Trudeau's time in office. January 6: News Max: Trump's legal team seeks delay in sentencing while appeal in process President Trump's legal team asked a judge Monday to halt this week's sentencing in his New York case while they appeal a ruling upholding the verdict. Trump's lawyers said they plan to ask a state appeals court to reverse Judge Juan M. Merchan's decision last week, which set the case for sentencing on Friday. Trump's lawyers argued their appeal should trigger what's known as an automatic stay, or pause, in the proceedings. If that doesn't happen, they argued, Merchan should then grant a pause and prevent sentencing from happening on Friday as scheduled. The problem is the judge wants to allow Trump's opponents to call him the only convicted felony who is president of the United States. As reported earlier, there are those who believe the Democrat Governor of New York might pardon Trump after sentencing and before the case is appealed thereby foreclosing the Trump legal team from appealing the case. Meanwhile, there are numerous legal scholars from different sides of the political aisle who believe that if the case is appealed the convictions will certainly be overturned. The Democrat judge signaled he is not likely to sentence Trump, a Republican, to any punishment for his historic conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. January 5: The UK Telegraph: Ukraine presses further into Russian territory Ukraine has launched a surprise counter offensive inside Russia, forcing Vladimir Putin to dispatch one of his top generals to the front line. Russian military bloggers first reported the attacks by Ukrainian tanks and infantry shortly after dawn on Sunday. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials have confirmed the attacks, likely launched to strengthen Kyiv's position ahead of potential peace talks once Donald Trump takes office. Reportedly the Ukrainian attack have Russian forces scared and worried. Recent reports say that Russia' army has been decimated and is apparently relying upon North Korean soldiers to carry on a major part of the war effort. The reaction from the Kremlin suggested that it was taking the threat seriously. It dispatched one of its top generals to Kursk within hours of the attack to organize a response. Zelensky claims the Kremlin's losses in the region were mounting and on Saturday contended the Kremlin had lost an entire battalion of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region in the past two days. A battalion usually numbers about 500 soldiers. January 5: The Washington Examiner: Schumer; who is leading the Democrat Party? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declined to say Sunday who the new leader of the Democratic Party is following Vice President Harris's electoral loss to President Donald Trump. Schumer on NBC News's Meet the Press on Sunday for the show's first broadcast of 2025, where he denied that Democrats misled the public about Joe Biden's health but claimed that the party should have shown more "empathy" to voters regarding their economic concerns heading into the November election. The senator would not answer a question about whether he should be viewed as the party's de facto leader once Biden leaves office on January 20. "Look, I think we have a lot of great leaders in our party. Meanwhile Fox News reported about Schumer's being calling Biden's health Republican propaganda. Schumer said Sunday that they didn't mislead Americans about Biden's decline or ability to serve despite the president dropping out of the race after being faced with a February 2024 clip of him declaring the debate over Biden's health was "right-wing propaganda." Back then Schumer said, "His mental acuity is great. It's fine. It's as good as it's been over the years. All this right-wing propaganda that his mental acuity has declined is wrong." January 5: The Gateway Pundit: 40% of all murders in the US take place in cities with Soros-backed prosecutors According to a report from the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF), 40% of homicides in the US take place in districts with a Soros-funded prosecutors. As Pamela Geller states, Biden should have given him jail time instead of giving George Soros the Medal of Freedom. Geller cites an article by Paul Schnee, in which he states, "What's next? Is Biden going to posthumously award the Medal of Freedom to Benedict Arnold?" "The amount of serious damage Soros has done to America is incalculable. His lifetime of public mischief has been spent wearing the mask of compassion to undo our civilized order by subverting all of our institutions particularly academia and undermining law & order by financing D.A.s whose main interest is in protecting criminals at the expense of justice for their victims. The man is a traitor, but BLM and Antifa love him." January 4: The Washington Examiner: One or two bills to get Trump's agenda flowing President Trump is pushing for one reconciliation bill that will include his border, energy, and tax policy priorities, House Speaker Michael Johnson (R-LA) reportedly told Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Saturday. The move sets up a contentious vote as Trump attempts to move his ambitious agenda into one piece of legislation ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20, which is at odds with some in the House and Senate Republican leadership. In late December House and Senate Republicans endorsed a two-step approach to enact Trump's agenda early next Congress, ensuring a border security-focused reconciliation bill is prioritized in January 2025, followed by tax legislation that would extend the Trump administration tax cuts while "including necessary spending reforms and cuts." Reconciliation bills require only a simple majority vote and cannot be blocked by a 60% closure threshold (a filibuster). Senate leader Thune had suggested the GOP focus their first reconciliation resolution on border funding, energy production, and defense spending while leaving tax-related measures for a second piece of legislation later in the year. Trump is urging one package given the tight speaker's race, which saw Johnson secure reelection in the first round of votes on Friday, that could make maneuvering both bills more complicated on top of an already difficult situation in the House. Some in the House, including Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), who endorsed a single bill from the start, has long championed one single package. "It shows the best and quickest approach to deliver for President Trump is one beautiful, big package," Smith said in December. January 4: The Epoch Times: They lost all their cases except one; they want to call Trump the only convicted felon elected as President New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has rejected an attempt by President Trump to dismiss his business records case and ordered sentencing for Jan. 10. He had originally scheduled sentencing in the case for 2029, after Trump leaves office. However, moving the sentencing forward reportedly could hamper Trump's legal team from appealing the conviction because Manhattan DA Bragg then wants the Governor of New York to pardon Trump which would cut off the ability to appeal the conviction -- allowing Trump to be labeled a convicted felon. An important note is that legal experts from all spectrums believe an appeal would be successful because to actions taken by Merchan (such as saying Trump was guilty before the trail even started and having a daughter who has profited from the case). Merchan said in his order that he wasn't inclined to impose a prison term on the president-elect. Citing concerns about presidential immunity, he also said that "a sentence of unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow the Defendant to pursue his appellate options," while not addressing reports of the NY Governor pardoning the conviction. Meanwhile, there are reports that Merchan could be facing the possibility of being disbarred and even being indicted of violating Donald Trump's civil rights (a Federal criminal indictment) based upon his actions prior to and during the trial. January 3: News Max: New Senate Majority Leader not sure all GOP members will vote to confirm all of Trump's nominees New Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said there isn't "clarity" just yet if all of President Trump's Cabinet nominees will have the full support of all the Republican senators. He predicted that "a lot of them will get through, and we'll see about all of them." Thune was asked if he knew of Republican senators who might not vote to confirm Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and/or Kash Patel for FBI director to which he responded we don't have clarity at this point. Republicans have a 53-47 advantage plus a vote by JD Vance (if necessary) over Democrats, but there has been pushback from a handful of GOP senators over Hegseth, Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence. January 2: The Epoch Times: County Clerk being investigated; 200 ballots in Wisconsin not counted Almost 200 absentee ballots were left uncounted in Madison, Wisconsin, after the 2024 general election, causing state election officials to launch an investigation on Jan. 2 to determine whether the city clerk broke state law. The Wisconsin Elections Commission will investigate whether Madison City Clerk Maribeth Wetzel-Biehl flouted state laws or abused her discretion, after it voted unanimously to open a probe on Thursday. The commission is concerned that Wetzel-Biehl's office did not notify it of the problem until the end of December, which is nearly a month and a half after the election and several weeks after Commission Chair Ann Jacobs certified the state election results on Nov. 29. January 2: The Washingbton Times: Trump has long warned Biden of Islamist terrorism President-elect Donald Trump has long warned that the Biden Administration was not fortifying the country against Islamist terrorism on U.S. soil, and his supporters say New Year's Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas hammered home the point. Trump and his allies blamed the massacre of 14 pedestrians by an ISIS-inspired terrorist on Joe Biden's open border policies and weak leadership. They faulted the Biden Administration's focus on investigating White nationalism, religious organizations and activist parents who complain at school board meetings. "Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have open borders, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership," Trump posted on Truth Social. January 2: The Daily Citizen: Federal appeals court rules employers have a right to make personnel decisions based on religious principles A federal appeals court has upheld the right of religious employers to hire employees in accordance with the organization's faith and mission. On January 2, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of several groups challenging a New York law that prohibits "discrimination based on an employee's or a dependent's reproductive health decision making." Several organizations challenged the law which alleged the law violates their First Amendment rights. The law, which applies to churches, religious schools, faith-based pregnancy care centers, and religious nonprofits, requires them to "undermine their own beliefs about abortion, contraception, and sexual morality by forcing them to employ those who cannot effectively convey the groups' message because they refuse to abide by the organizations' statements of faith and core principles about such issues." Under the law a pro-life pregnancy resource center would be required to hire a pro-abortion advocate who has had multiple abortions. Churches who are deeply pro-life could be required to hire employees who are pro-abortion. And the list goes on. January 2: The Gateway Pundit: FBI continues to withhold info to House committee; Jan 6th pipe bomber A new report released by the Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight into the January 6 pipe bomber shows the FBI stopped looking for the suspect and covered up evidence. The FBI is now refusing to cooperate with Congressional investigators. In September, former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino said according to a whistleblower, after the pipe bombs were found at the RNC and DNC headquarters, "assets on the ground, including a whistleblower, was briefed about the pipe bombs the next day and show a picture of a guy in a hoodie." However, the law enforcement agents were told to stand down two days later. Bongino said "… two days later after the pipe bombs, … without explanation, they were told to stand down! No need to look for the guy anymore." This directly contradicts previous statements by FBI Director Christopher Wray. January 1, 2025: Breitbart News: Ukraine shuts off Russian gas that flows through them to Europe Despite nearly three years of war, Russian energy has continued to transit unimpeded through Ukrainian territory every day until now, with the taps being firmly closed on New Year's Day. Zero Russian gas is flowing to European customers through Ukrainian pipelines for the first time in decades today, confirmation there was to be no last-minute deal to keep the route open, sending energy prices spiking on Tuesday. The route has seen billions of cubic feet of gas delivered since the end of the Cold War, and a five-year contract between Moscow and Kyiv governing the transit of gas continued to be observed, remarkably, right to the last moment when it expired at midnight. But no new contract has been signed, and Ukraine, through its state media, has announced today they "ceased the transportation of Russian natural gas through its territory in the interests of national security". Its energy minister said: "We have blocked the transit of Russian gas, this is a historic event. Russia is losing markets, it will suffer financial losses".

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