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What’s happening right now is that Democrats, having been thrown out of power by American voters in a landslide victory for Trump, have decided they’re going to deploy a widely-used tactic from Trump’s first term to thwart the president’s agenda: use the federal judiciary. Under the false pretext that the lower federal courts are part of a “coequal branch of government” with the executive, they’re aiming to shut down Trump’s reform efforts with a fusillade of preliminary injunctions.
In recent days dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration by Democrat attorneys general and various left-wing groups. These groups have carefully selected their venues, ensuring the lawsuits come before rabidly anti-Trump activist judges. So far, the tactic seems to be working. As of this past weekend, eight different rulings from the federal bench have temporarily halted the president’s executive orders.
Federal judges in Democrat-majority districts have issued preliminary injunctions blocking Trump’s executive actions to end birthright citizenship, reform and downsize the United States Agency for International Development, and offer buyouts to federal bureaucrats. A federal judge this past weekend blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and all other political appointees in the Trump administration — including the Treasury secretary and his deputies — from accessing payment data at the Treasury Department.
One judge even issued a restraining order halting a Trump order that would have ensured federal inmates are housed according to biological sex, not transgender identity, and also would have prevented tax dollars from being used to pay for “gender transitions” for federal inmates. (Another judge, appointed by Obama, took the extraordinary step of ordering the administration to pay back every cent of federal funding that’s been paused or canceled — and threatened anyone who violates his order with criminal contempt.)
What all this lawfare amounts to is a kind of judicial coup against the sitting president. By doling out injunctions like they’re USAID grants for LGBTQ awareness programs in Mali, Democrats have been able to hamstring key aspects of Trump’s agenda — at least for the moment. It’s a simple enough tactic. All Democrats have to do is shop for a venue to find the most activist, rabidly anti-Trump federal judges in the country, file their lawsuits, and wait for the injunctions to come raining down.
By doing this, Democrats and their allies in the judiciary turn the Constitution on its head, and effectively govern negatively through injunction, making major reform of the federal bureaucracy impossible. In nearly every case so far, the federal judiciary is siding with the permanent bureaucracy in Washington, preventing the Trump administration from doing anything to reform it despite Trump having campaigned on precisely that promise.
The problem is, as my colleague Sean Davis noted recently on X, federal judges have no actual authority to do this. They can’t decide on their own who the president can talk to or what data he can access. They can’t bind the president at all. According to the U.S. Constitution they’re “inferior” courts and therefore don’t have any authority over the executive branch. Yes, the three branches of the federal government are coequal, but the only part of the federal judiciary that’s equal to the presidency is the Supreme Court, not all the federal district courts scattered across the country.
“John Roberts and SCOTUS have two options here: they can bring these inferior malcontents to heel, or they can get used to the President simply ignoring these inferior courts or Congress eliminating them entirely,” wrote Davis. “Congress created these inferior courts so the Supreme Court wouldn’t have to deal with every federal case by itself. But if these rogue inferior judges are going to routinely issue lawless decisions that the Supreme Court has to deal with anyway, Congress would be well within its rights to just eliminate them.”
The issue might come to a head before Congress gets around to eliminating the federal courts, though. If the Supreme Court steps in on just one of these cases where a federal judge has blocked a lawful executive order from Trump, it might not go well for Democrats. In the 2018 Supreme Court case Trump v. Hawaii, which reversed a lower court’s decision to uphold a nationwide injunction on Trump’s travel ban, Justice Clarence Thomas called into question the idea that a federal judge in Hawaii (or anywhere else) can simply issue an injunction against a presidential executive order and apply it to the entire country.
“District courts, including the one here, have begun imposing universal injunctions without considering their authority to grant such sweeping relief,” wrote Thomas. “These injunctions are beginning to take a toll on the federal court system — preventing legal questions from percolating through the federal courts, encouraging forum shopping, and making every case a national emergency for the courts and for the Executive Branch.”
He went on to say he is “skeptical that district courts have the authority to enter universal injunctions,” that such injunctions didn’t emerge until a century and a half after the Founding, and that they “appear to be inconsistent with longstanding limits on equitable relief and the power of Article III courts. If their popularity continues, this Court must address their legality.”
Only a few weeks into Trump’s second term, the popularity of injunctions is back with a vengeance, which means the Supreme Court might well step in to decide whether any federal district judge, anywhere in the country, can bind the actions of the White House by issuing nationwide injunctions.
It’s long past time to settle this. The American people overwhelmingly elected Trump precisely because they wanted to see his agenda for America enacted. Lower court federal judges, whom no one voted for, have no right to assert their will over and against the will of the American people. The sooner the Supreme Court takes this up and settles the obvious question, the sooner Democrat lawfare against Trump’s agenda will come to an end. Instead of relying on activist judges, Democrats might then have to figure out how to compete at the ballot box — something they are obviously loath to do.
John Daniel Davidson is a senior editor at The Federalist. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, The New York Post, and elsewhere. He is the author of Pagan America: the Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come. Follow him on Twitter, @johnddavidson.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday told President Donald Trump that his country would take in approximately 2,000 sick children from the war-torn Gaza Strip as Trump pushed his plan to take over the territory while permanently relocating Palestinians.
Speaking at the White House, Abdullah added that Egypt would present a proposal on how countries in the region could “work” with Trump on the plan, despite Arab nations and the Palestinians having rejected it outright.
“I think one of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children, cancer children who are in a very ill state, that is possible,” Abdullah said as Trump welcomed him and Crown Prince Hussein in the Oval Office.
Trump called it a “beautiful gesture” and said he didn’t know about it before the Jordanian monarch’s arrival at the White House.
Trump meanwhile backed down on a suggestion that he could withhold aid for Jordan and Egypt if they refused to take in more than two million Palestinians from Gaza.
“I think we’ll do something,” he said. “I don’t have to threaten that, I do believe we’re above that.”
Trump announced last week a proposal for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza, envisioning rebuilding the devastated territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” – but only after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, with no plan for them to return.
Jordan’s Abdullah was repeatedly pressed by reporters on whether he supported the plan, but said only that Egypt was producing a response and that Arab nations would then discuss it at talks in Riyadh.
“The president is looking at Egypt coming to present that plan … (then) we will be in Saudi Arabia to discuss how we should work with the president and with the United States,” Abdullah said.
“The point is, how do we make this work in a way that is good for everybody.”
The meeting came as the Gaza ceasefire appears increasingly fragile, after Trump warned on Monday that “all hell” would break out if Hamas fails to release all hostages by Saturday.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel would resume “intense fighting” in Gaza if Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists did not meet the deadline. Trump said he doubted that Hamas would abide by the ultimatum.
“I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline personally. I think they want to play a tough guy, but we’ll see how tough they are,” Trump said.
But he played down the risk of a longer threat to efforts to create a lasting peace between Israel and Hamas.
“It’s not going to take a long time when you know bullies,” he added, referring to Hamas.
The Jordanian king and crown prince earlier met Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, recently stepped into the limelight after reviewing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. With her leadership, the Department of Homeland Security has made remarkable progress, resolving 80% of the hurricane-related cases in just five days. Noem, who was sworn in on January 25th, has already demonstrated a proactive approach to disaster management.
Under Noem’s guidance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has swiftly addressed the needs of those affected in western North Carolina. This efficient response stands in stark contrast to the perceived inaction of previous administrations. Former South Dakota Governor Noem emphasized the collaboration with President Trump to ensure swift aid delivery.
President Trump’s involvement was crucial, as he secured over $54 million for families impacted by the hurricane. His efforts have registered 2,600 families who were previously without assistance, a testament to his commitment to those in need. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to prioritize forgotten communities.
In the past week, open cases have been reduced by almost 80%, a significant achievement for the administration. Trump has launched a major initiative connecting farmers with recovery assistance, addressing a critical sector often overlooked. Microfarmer Mark, a local resident, shared how FEMA programs have been a lifeline for him and his community.
The response from the Trump administration contrasts sharply with the perceived neglect by Democrats and left-leaning policymakers. Many in North Carolina felt abandoned until Trump’s decisive intervention. The swift action from the administration has brought hope and relief to affected families.
Via Nick Sorter and FOX News, it’s clear that Kristi Noem’s leadership has made a substantial impact. “HOLY CRAP: Kristi Noem has announced FEMA has resolved 80% of Western North Carolina cases in just FIVE DAYS,” reported Sorter. Such efficiency in disaster response has been hailed as incredible by many.
Families affected by Hurricane Helene have expressed immense gratitude for the rapid resolution of their cases. They had been left waiting for months, highlighting the difference effective leadership can make. Trump’s return to active involvement has been a game-changer for these victims. The administration’s efforts are a testament to the power of decisive action and conservative values. By focusing on efficiency and resolve, they have set a new standard for disaster response. The impact of their work is felt deeply by those who had been waiting for a helping hand.
The commitment to rebuilding and restoring communities is a cornerstone of the administration’s philosophy. Trump’s vision emphasizes not just recovery, but empowerment for those affected. The initiative to connect farmers with aid exemplifies this approach.
Kristi Noem’s actions reflect a dedication to strong, proactive governance. Her leadership has been instrumental in bringing aid and hope to those in need. The administration’s achievements are a source of inspiration and a model for future disaster response efforts.
The collaboration between Noem and Trump showcases an effective partnership focused on results. Their combined efforts have delivered tangible benefits to those affected by Hurricane Helene. This success story underscores the importance of decisive leadership in times of crisis.
The response to Hurricane Helene has been a clear demonstration of conservative principles in action. By prioritizing swift, effective aid, the administration has shown its commitment to helping those in need. The impact on North Carolina is a testament to their success.
Noem’s swift action and the administration’s focus have set a new precedent for disaster management. Their approach is characterized by a clear, results-driven strategy. The people of North Carolina have seen firsthand the benefits of this leadership.
The gratitude expressed by Helene victims is a powerful reminder of the importance of timely intervention. The administration’s efforts have brought relief and hope to those who had been left in uncertainty. The conservative approach to disaster response has proven effective and impactful.
Clearly, Dr. Steve Caudle of Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga is not the “turn-the-other-cheek” type of minister. Caudle called upon his flock to choose violence in responding to the policy changes in progress in Washington with the new Administration. It is a further escalation of the rage rhetoric from Democratic politicians and pundits.
In a sermon live streamed to YouTube on Sunday, Caudle denounced Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for threatening to “steal” Americans’ information and money, and said that a violent “conflict” will be coming:
“In this nation, I’m worried that we are on the verge of bloodshed. This is an attempt to take us back to a day that we do not want to go, and we will not go. Therefore, there will be conflict. I pray that the peace of God will win out and overcome the madness that is attempting to take over this nation.”
“And I will say to you, beloved: no one likes violence, but sometimes violence is necessary. When Elon Musk forces his way into the United States Treasury, and threatens to steal your personal information and your social security check, there is a possibility of violence. Sometimes the devil will act so ugly, that there is no other choice but to get violent and fight!”
Invoking Matthew 11:12, he added:
“… Why not talk this way? Because Jesus did… Jesus said in this key verse… ‘The kingdom of Heaven suffers — what — violence. And the who — the violent — take it by force. The kingdom of God is a warzone, it is a battlefield. You did know this, right?”
There is a normalization of such violent rhetoric with mainstream figures. The result can be a sense of license for some willing to turn to violent forms of expression, particularly when given the patina of moral justification.
As I have previously written, rage rhetoric has long been a part of our political process. However, when religious figures rationalize violent action, we cross a dangerous Rubicon in the use of such rhetoric.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – The left (Democrats) are going apoplectic over DOGE finding waste, fraud, and abuse. Why? Many feel it’s because the exposed Dems see their reign of power through corruption coming to an end.
Thanks to Media Hysteria, 19-Year-Old Elon Musk DOGE Staffer ‘Big Balls’ Lands New Role at State Department
By Jim Hoft – The Gateway Pundit – Feb 11, 2025
The fake news media’s obsession with “Big Balls” has inadvertently elevated Edward Coristine, the 19-year-old behind the moniker, to a new position at the U.S. State Department. Last Thursday, CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” dedicated an entire segment to what they deemed a critical issue: Edward Coristine’s online nickname. While government waste and inefficiency run rampant, CNN and Wired chose to zoom in on Coristine’s adolescent alias rather than more substantive matters affecting Americans. “This is a 19-year-old high school graduate who has used the unfortunate nickname, uh, ‘Big Balls’ online,” Drummond revealed. READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
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Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., and President Donald Trump bow their heads in prayer as Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump last week announced a new task force dedicated to eradicating anti-Christian bias in the federal government. Trump noted that the federal government under President Joe Biden“engaged in an egregious pattern of targeting peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses.” The new president pledged not to “tolerate this abuse of government” and announced what he called the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.
On cue, the Left condemned the new task force, ignoring the many instances of anti-Christian bias Trump cited in a fact sheet.
The Guardian’s Joseph Gedeon condemned the move as an effort to “boost Christian nationalism.” USA Today columnist Chris Brennan said the task force aimed to increase division. The secularist group Americans United for Separation of Church and State insisted that the task force “will misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination.” These responses only serve to underscore the reason such a task force is necessary in the first place.
Trump cited numerous examples of anti-Christian bias, which these critics largely ignored. He noted that pro-life Christians received multiyear prison sentences for peacefully protesting at abortion centers, while the Biden Justice Department largely ignored hundreds of attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life pregnancy resource centers. He noted the notorious FBI Richmond, Virginia, memo that suggested traditional Catholics represented a domestic terrorism threat. He also cited the Health and Human Services Department’s move to force transgender orthodoxy in foster care.
Finally, the president noted that the Biden administration declared Easter Sunday“Transgender Day of Visibility.”
These actions may seem irrelevant to secularists who balk at the idea of saying “Merry Christmas,” but they represent a federal government demonizing Christians while at the same time favoring their ideological opponents.
Yes, Anti-Christian Bias Is Real
Critics often dismiss the idea of anti-Christian bias. After all, about 63% of Americans self-identify as Christian, according to the Pew Research Center. How could the government be biased against the majority of Americans?
Such criticisms obscure the real phenomenon. Most Americans may identify as Christian, but far fewer actually attend church, read the Bible regularly, and follow what Scripture teaches even when it is unpopular. Until quite recently, the Left’s approach to social issues has been in the driver’s seat in the culture—and in many mainline Protestant and even some Catholic churches.
“Although Christianity is the largest religion in the United States, a small, but growing, body of work indicates that in certain social areas Christians face real discrimination,” sociology professors George Yancey and David Williamson write in their book “So Many Christians, So Few Lions: Is There Christianophobia in the United States?”
The professors found that “Christian fundamentalists experience more relative animosity than most other social groups.” Their research finds that many Americans are biased against conservative Christianity or “fundamentalism,” and those who have high levels of social power trend toward Christianophobia.
“Anti-fundamentalists are more likely to be white, well-educated, and wealthy,” but the factor that most connected to Christianity in their study is politics. “Nearly half of the anti-fundamentalists in our sample were political progressives.”
The top determining factor for anti-Christian bias in their study is support for same-sex marriage.
“Even among those who do not particularly like sexual minorities, people are more likely to support LGBT rights if they do not like conservative Christians,” Yancey, one of the sociologists, explained in a separate article. “In other words, my data seem to indicate that there are people who support sexual minorities’ rights because they dislike—or even hate—conservative Christians.”
This study does not prove or even suggest that most Americans who support LGBTQ causes harbor animus toward Christians, but it helps illustrate the real nature of anti-Christian bias: It’s a hatred of conservative Christians who believe what the Bible says about homosexual activity and biological sex, not a hatred of everyone who claims to follow Jesus.
This study also helps explain the hatred some transgender activists harbor against Christian schools and churches. A female who identified as male targeted a Christian school in Nashville for a mass shooting in 2023. Another transgender activist in Illinois, this time a male who identified as female, threatened to rape the daughters of Christians in girls restrooms.
It seems likely the transgender movement has hypercharged anti-Christian bias, and that’s exactly what the Biden record suggests.
The True Biden Record
Many of those who claim the Biden administration didn’t target Christians focus on Biden’s self-identification as a Roman Catholic and the fact that Biden regularly attends Mass. Yet Biden and the bureaucrats in his administration firmly supported abortion and gender ideology. Their policies alienated and even demonized conservative Christians who disagree with their positions on those issues.
As the book explains, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted more than 50 pro-life protesters who attempted to dissuade women from having their unborn babies killed in the womb. Meanwhile, the division largely ignored the vandalism and violent attacks against 96 pro-life pregnancy resource centers and pro-life groups in the wake of the leak of the Supreme Court’s June 2022 opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
The law DOJ used to prosecute the pro-lifers, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, is supposed to apply equally to abortion facilities and pro-life pregnancy help centers. This egregious double standard echoed the mentality of pro-abortion groups that helped staff the Biden administration.
Yet the FBI’s notorious memo about “radical traditional Catholics” revealed an even worse bias against conservative Christians. The FBI’s Richmond office wrote a memo suggesting connections between racially motivated violent extremists and “radical traditional Catholics.” While the FBI’s national office rescinded the memo as soon as a whistleblower published it, the memo had cited the Southern Poverty Law Center, a far-left activist group that compares mainstream conservative Christians to the Ku Klux Klan.
As I recount in my first book, “Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center,” the SPLC gained its reputation by suing KKK groups into bankruptcy, but when it ran out of grand dragons to slay, it started identifying conservative groups as “hateful,” placing them on a “hate map” alongside Klan chapters. The SPLC has condemned conservative Christian groups such as the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom as “anti-LGBTQ hate groups,” but last year it even applied the label to a group of homosexuals who reject transgender orthodoxy—Gays Against Groomers.
A former employee called this a “highly profitable scam,” and the “hate map” inspired a terrorist attack in 2012. The SPLC is currently facing a powerful defamation lawsuit regarding the map.
Yet when Biden entered office, federal agencies asked the SPLC for advice on combating the “domestic terrorism threat.” As “The Woketopus” recounts, the SPLC had close ties with the Biden administration, with leaders and staff going to the White House at least 18 times and Biden nominating an SPLC lawyer to a top federal judgeship.
When the SPLC listed the Ruth Institute as an “anti-LGBTQ hate group,” it presented as evidence a quote from the institute’s founder. That quote came directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, suggesting that if the SPLC were to be consistent, it would have to brand the entire Catholic Church a “hate group.”
The fact that Biden’s administration welcomed a far-left group that compares Christians to the Klan because of their conservative views arguably speaks the most clearly to the anti-Christian bias in the past administration.
Yet Trump also mentioned a few other examples. He noted a Biden administration rule requiring that potential foster parents embrace transgender orthodoxy in order to provide a home for kids in the foster system. The rule determined that if potential foster parents refused to “affirm” a child’s stated transgender identity, that constitutes child abuse. This logic denies conservative Christians the ability to care for the less fortunate just because they disagree with gender ideology.
Finally, Trump mentioned the celebration of “Transgender Day of Visibility” on Easter Sunday. Biden had commemorated the transgender day in previous years, but he made no effort to separate it from Easter in 2024 when the transgender event overlapped with Easter (the date of which varies based on a lunar calendar). The Biden administration dedicated far more fanfare to the transgender celebration, making Christians feel like second-class citizens in their own country.
The Human Rights Campaign, a prominent LGBTQ activist group that has pushed corporations to adopt its rhetoric through its “Corporate Equality Index,” released a “Blueprint for Positive Change” as a roadmap for Biden policy in 2020. The Biden administration carried out at least 75% of its recommendations, according to my analysis.
Anti-Christian Bias Is Still A Problem
Biden is no longer president, of course, but that doesn’t mean the animus against conservative Christians will suddenly disappear from the federal government. Many of the elite institutions that push transgender orthodoxy remain very active in civil society. The SPLC and Human Rights Campaign—two of the groups I describe as arms of the “Woketopus”—have pledged to sue the Trump administration to block its policies opposing gender ideology.
Despite the SPLC’s many scandals, The Washington Post and USA Today cited SPLC as an authority when countering Trump’s attacks on the “diversity, equity, and inclusion” movement. While Trump opposes DEI because it encourages Americans to judge one another based on their skin color, rather than on merit, the Post quoted SPLC President Margaret Huang in calling the DEI attacks “a new twist on an old, racist and misogynistic idea—that women, black and brown people, and other marginalized groups are inherently less capable.”
Similarly, The New York Times editorial board savaged what it called Trump’s “Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans.” The editors condemned Trump’s declaration that the U.S. will reject gender ideology and embrace the truth that there are only two biological sexes.
While Americans oppose men competing in women’s sports and experimental transgender medical procedures for minors, the editors condemned Trump’s efforts to follow the public on these issues. Even though more than half of the men who identify as women in Wisconsin’s women’s prisons have been convicted of at least one sexual assault, the editors lamented Trump’s rule that “transgender women in custody … be housed with men.”
If these outlets portray transgender activists as victims, who are the villains? That’s easy: It’s those mean conservative Christians who refuse to kowtow to gender ideology.
Below is my column in The Hill on Musk-mania gripping Washington. Democrats are using Musk to double down on rage rhetoric and rallying supporters to “fight in the street” in a declared “war.” It is a familiar pattern for many of us.
Here is the column:
Across the Internet, politicians and pundits are in a monstrous mood. The same people who spent the last year declaring the imminent death of democracy if Donald Trump were elected are now insisting that the real threat is the “monster” he has unleashed upon the federal bureaucracy. It is the thing of legend, a Beltway monster that you told your children about around campfires late at night: An outsider who comes to town and lays waste to government waste, firing thousands and slashing budgets. Part Frankenstein, part Bigfoot, that creature never had a name, but would be beholden to no one and uninterested in the status quo. The monster now has a name, and it is Elon Musk.
Democratic politicians are now claiming that reducing government is equivalent to destroying government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) yelled dramatically to an outdoor crowd this week that Musk’s government efficiency efforts are “taking away everything we have.”
For decades, both Democratic and Republican presidents have run on reducing government and making it more efficient. But everyone knew that such campaign pledges would be quickly discarded after each election. What is so terrifying this time is that Musk means it. We know that because he has done it before.
When Musk bought Twitter with the promise of dismantling its censorship system and culture, he started by firing virtually everyone. Critics immediately declared that he was a fool and did not understand how to run a social media company. Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich said that Musk’s firings meant the death of Twitter and triumphantly declared, “You break it, you own it.”
It did not exactly work out that way. Musk fired as much as 90 percent of his staff and the company survived. Liberals only grew more determined, seeking even to boycott his other companies and bar Space X from needed national security missions. As liberal media and pundits raged, Musk stayed firm and survived. Now Amazon has increased advertising on X, which is now the sixth most popular social media site. It has reportedly hit 500 million subscribers and a reported 40-plus percent profit margin. It is set to make billions with a greatly reduced overhead due to the firings.
Musk’s model has been watched — and to some degree replicated — by other companies. The only way to change a culture is sometimes to change the people. Take the U.S. Agency for International Development, where Musk led an effort to freeze operations at the agency and move it to within the State Department. Notably, they are not shutting down the agency, and Trump has said that he wants to continue foreign aid needed for core missions like clean water and disease prevention, for example.
There are good-faith reasons to be concerned that vital programs must not be abruptly ended. However, the complaint is that USAID is the ultimate example of a bloated agency with a high percentage of funding going to administrative costs over field operations.
The State Department reportedly plans to reduce the USAID workforce from over 10,000 to less than 300. It is vintage Musk. It is easier to take the trauma upfront and then rehire the employees needed to fulfill the mission with a leaner workforce.
That process is easier if you can get people to leave voluntarily. Part of it is performative like Musk showing up at Twitter with a sink — to let reality “sink in” for the thousands of employees.
It appears to be working. Many employees are taking an offer to leave with a generous severance package. The idea is simple: If you throw a badger into a crowded car, people will get out. Musk is that badger.
As for Musk being a democracy-devouring Frankenstein, the rhetoric is again outstripping reality. The fact is that liberals rarely hunt monsters, they create their own monsters.
The making of “Muskenstein” can be found in the cancel campaign launched against him as soon as he pledged to restore free speech on Twitter. An unprecedented alliance of government, corporations, media, and academia were arrayed against him.
This same alliance has worked countless times to get corporations and CEOs to comply with its demands for censorship. But Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, was unbowed. Liberals correctly saw Musk’s defiance as an existential threat. For years, they had exercised virtual total control of social media, legacy media, and academia. Opposing views were denounced as dangerous disinformation.
The key to their system was that you maintain orthodoxy by coercing people into silence. During the COVID pandemic, scientists who challenged the enforced view of masks, COVID-19 origins, and other issues were banned or fired. Others remained silent as they watched colleagues exiled for expressing their opinions.
Musk had to be destroyed, or others might start to believe that they could also defy the groupthink.
The problem is that intolerance for opposing views creates thousands of renegades and outsiders. I was one of them. I was once associated with liberal academia, which frankly worked to my advantage in favorable media and academic opportunities.
I then began to question the growing orthodoxy in academia over the loss of free speech and viewpoint diversity, including the purging of faculties of conservative and libertarian voices. I was quickly targeted for it. But that campaign gave me an even greater understanding of the dangers of the anti-free speech movement from outside the system.
On a much higher level, Musk seems to have felt the same liberating aspects of being declared persona non grata. They turned Musk into the very monster they feared.
They are now doing the same thing with Mark Zuckerberg. After the head of Meta announced that he was going to end the robust censorship system on Facebook and other sites (as well as downsizing staff), the left went after him with the same unhinged hatred.
Like Musk, Zuckerberg had been celebrated as an industry icon, but is now condemned as a grotesque abomination. Politicians such as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) — who once threatened Zuckerberg not to restore free speech values like Musk — are now set against him. There is talk of boycotts as many liberals retreat into the safe space of BlueSky, a site that essentially protects liberals from opposing views.
BlueSky’s appeal is that it stays close to shore, where the waters are safe and shallow. The problem for many on the left is that more and more people want to venture beyond those navigational buoys. Like Musk, they want to consider new horizons and possibilities.
In Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Hector Barbossa warns Captain Jack Sparrow, “You’re off the edge of the map, mate! Here there be monsters!” For liberals, we are now off the map where creatures of mythological shapes dwell.
They found them exactly where they thought they would be. After all, they created them. They have made monsters of everyone who challenges the confines of their known world.
Harvard has long been accused of fostering an anti-free speech environment and quelching viewpoint diversity. That was the subject of my recent debate with Law Professor Randall Kennedy at Harvard. A new report confirms many of the objections raised in that debate, including a chilling environment where only a third of Harvard’s most recent graduating class expressed comfort in discussing controversial subjects.
Some 89 percent of the graduating class responded to the survey. The study of the Classroom Social Compact Committee, co-chaired by Economics professor David I. Laibson ’88 and History professor Maya R. Jasanoff ’96, found that, with an overwhelmingly liberal faculty and student body, even liberal Harvard students still found a chilling environment for free expression at the school. And it is getting worse. The results show a 13 percent decrease from the Class of 2023.
This year, Harvard found itself in a familiar spot on the annual ranking of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE): dead last among 251 universities and colleges.
What is most striking is the fact that Harvard has created this hostile environment while maintaining an overwhelmingly liberal student body and faculty. Only 9 percent of the class identified as conservative or very conservative. Yet even liberals feel stifled at Harvard. Only 41 percent of liberal students reported being comfortable discussing controversial topics, and only 25 percent of moderates and 17 percent of conservatives felt comfortable in doing so.
During the Harvard debate, I raised the gradual reduction of conservatives and libertarians in the student body and the faculty. The Harvard Crimson has documented how the school’s departments have virtually eliminated Republicans. In one study of multiple departments last year, they found that more than 75 percent of the faculty self-identified as “liberal” or “very liberal.” Only 5 percent identified as “conservative,” and only 0.4% as “very conservative.”
According to Gallup, the U.S. population is roughly equally divided among conservatives (36%), moderates (35%), and liberals (26%). So Harvard has three times the number of liberals as the nation at large, and less than three percent identify as “conservative” rather than 35 percent nationally.
Among law school faculty who donated more than $200 to a political party, 91 percent of the Harvard faculty gave to Democrats. While Professor Kennedy dismissed the notion that Harvard should look more like America, the problem is that it does not even look like Massachusetts. Even as one of the most liberal states in the country, roughly one-third of the voters still identify as Republican. The student body shows the same bias of selection. Harvard Crimson previously found that only 7 percent of incoming students identified as conservative. The latest survey shows that level at 9 percent.
Some faculty members are wringing their hands over this continued hostile environment. However, the faculty as a whole is unwilling to restore free speech and intellectual diversity by adding conservative and libertarian faculty members and sponsoring events that reflect a broad array of viewpoints.
Given my respect for Professor Kennedy, I was surprised that he dismissed the sharp rise in students saying that they did not feel comfortable speaking in classes. Referring to them as “conservative snowflakes,” he insisted that they had to have the courage of their convictions.
This ignores the fact that they depend upon professors for recommendations, and challenging the school’s orthodoxy can threaten their standing. Moreover, a recent survey shows that even liberal students feel chilled in the environment created by Harvard faculty and administrators.
There was a hopeful aspect, however, to the debate. Before the debate, the large audience voted heavily in favor of Harvard’s position. However, after the debate, they overwhelmingly voted against Harvard’s position on free speech. It is an example of how exposure to opposing views can change the bias or assumptions in higher education.
There is little likelihood that Harvard or higher education will change. It is like the old joke about how many psychiatrists it takes to change a light bulb. The answer is just one but the bulb really has to want to change.
At the end of the day, there is no real indication that Harvard faculty want any of this to change. They will continue to report the results of surveys and express deep angst and confusion over the results. What they will not do is meaningfully change their course in the hiring of faculty, admission of students, and sponsoring of debates.
A.F.Branco Cartoon – Walz endorses his own staffer for DFL chair as he ramps up possible reelection campaign. Richard Carlbom’s bid to replace Ken Martin comes as Gov. Walz prepares a potential run for a third term as governor.
Walz endorses his own staffer for DFL chair as he ramps up possible reelection campaign
By Hank Long – Alpha News.org – Feb 6, 2025
Just a few hours after longtime DFL Party Chair Ken Martin was elected on Saturday to lead the Democratic National Committee, the competition to replace him back in Minnesota began without delay. Richard Carlbom, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Tim Walz, launched his campaign website for DFL Party Chair that afternoon, and received an endorsement from his boss before nightfall. “Richard has the organizing, coalition building, fundraising and messaging experience needed to lead the Minnesota DFL Party,” Walz said in a statement. “I ask my fellow Democrats to support his bid to be our next Chair of the MN DFL.” READ MORE
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Chuck Schumer may be under investigation for his threats against SCOTUS. It was he who said Trump better be careful because the Deep State has six ways to Sunday of getting back at you. Well, Trump is back, and what goes around…
DOJ Opens Investigation into Chuck Schumer For Threatening Supreme Court Justices
By Been Kew – The Gateway Pundit – Feb 1, 2025
The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Chuck Schumer for threatening Supreme Court justices. According to The Washington Post, interim D.C. U.S. attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. is looking to scrutinize Democratic leaders and former Justice Department officials. Among them is the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in connection with comments regarding Trump’s Supreme Court justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. During a pro-abortion rally back in 2020, Schumer said that the two justices would “pay the price” for overturning Roe vs Wade, a decision that they eventually handed down two years later.
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
•USAID Funnels Millions to Pro-Abortion Groups •President Trump Will Create New White House Faith Office • Pam Bondi Asked to Investigate Mistreatment of Pro-Life Americans •Latin American Court Confirms There’s No Right to Abortions •Scroll Down for More Pro-Life News
President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing a task force to end the anti-Christian weaponization of government. “The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ which was absolutely terrible,” Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning.
🚨 President Trump announces that he will be signing an Executive Order to make Attorney General Pam Bondi the head of a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. pic.twitter.com/IaxhAGuDBZ
The “Task Force to End the War on Christians” will be composed of members of Trump’s cabinet and key government agencies. It will identify and eliminate anti-Christian policies, practices, and conduct, The Daily Signal has learned. Newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi will lead the task force to promote religious freedom.
Trump said the task force is a response to four years of religious discrimination from the Biden-Harris administration. The Biden Department of Justice convicted 23 peaceful pro-lifers for praying at abortion clinics and encouraging women to choose life. About half of those pro-lifers, many of whom were elderly, served time in jail. Trump pardoned those pro-lifers who were convicted under the Freedom of Access for Clinic Entrances Act on his fourth day in office.
On the day of the March of Life, Calvin Zastrow, 64, is reunited with his wife and children after being released from a Nashville prison.
A year ago, he was convicted for violating the FACE Act after praying at an abortion clinic and urging women to choose life. pic.twitter.com/XcOdK7daLU
— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell (@TheElizMitchell) January 24, 2025
Though the DOJ was highly vigilant against pro-lifers, it charged hardly anyone over the hundreds of attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.
Christians were discriminated against by the foster care system due to their beliefs on gender. The Biden Health and Human Services Department issued a federal rule announced September 2023 directing states to ensure foster children who identify as LGBTQ are placed in “affirming” homes. Religious groups immediately warned the foster care rule would discriminate against faith-based providers.
The FBI’s Richmond office wrote an internal memo in 2023, calling traditional Catholics “Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists” and outlining “new mitigation opportunities.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray said employees involved with the memo were “admonished,” but not removed.
Trump’s new task force will remedy gaps in laws and enforcement that have contributed to anti-Christian conduct. This includes addressing any failures to fully enforce the law against hostility, vandalism, and violence against Christians.
“In addition, the task force will work to fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society,” Trump said at the prayer breakfast, “and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”
Input will be gathered from various stake holders, including faith-based organizations and those targeted by anti-Christian conduct over the past four years. The task force will propose ideas for additional presidential or legislative actions to rectify past wrongs and protect Americans’ religious liberties. It will submit an annual report on its findings and accomplishments.
Trump also named a White House Faith Office led by his spiritual adviser Paula White.
Trump Don’t Play: Tariffs and the Little Trains That Couldn’t
Eva Vlaardingerbroek of The Netherlands summed up the Trump Effect in a single tweet:
“Trump is making America great again a little too fast. He hasn’t even been back in office for a month, and every single day he does something even more badass than the day before. It’s so cool, and as a European, it’s getting painful knowing we don’t have a single leader like him.”
Painful, indeed. While European leaders struggle to remember what a spine looks like, Trump is over here flexing economic muscle with the precision of a Mr. Universe. And the Left? They’re scrambling like roaches when the kitchen light flips on. The desperation is so real that the bot farms have gone global. Tony Seruga tweeted:
“We just blocked over 5,000 botfarm accounts. Interesting they all pivoted from their passion for Ukraine to Canada at the exact same moment. Most originated from Chinese Communist Party PLA efforts using Canadian, US, and UK IP addresses.”
Translation: The globalists are running out of fake outrages, so they’re swapping Ukraine flags for Canadian tears. And for good reason—Trump just put Canada and Mexico on notice, and their economies flinched like a Chihuahua in a room full of exploding firecrackers.
When Trump Speaks, Markets Listen
If you thought Trump’s tariff threats were just political theater, tell that to the foreign exchange markets.
The Canadian dollar nosedived to its lowest level since 2003 after Trump’s tariff announcement.
The Mexican peso crashed to its weakest point since 2020.
It’s almost poetic. Canada is wailing about a 25% tariff while quietly accepting a 20% carbon tax hike on April 1st of last year. You can’t make this stuff up. Trudeau taxes his own citizens into submission, but when Trump asks them to pay their fair share, it’s suddenly a national crisis.
As for America? I think we can handle saying goodbye to maple syrup, and “Canadian bacon”.
Canada’s Free Ride Is Over
For decades, Canada has played the wide-eyed innocent neighbor while quietly stacking tariffs on American goods like a compulsive hoarder. Here’s a quick reality check on how “fair trade” has worked so far. These are some of the historical tariffs from Canada on the U.S.
Milk: 270%
Cheese: 245%
Butter: 298%
Chicken: 238%
Bovine/Meat: 26.5%
Steel: 25%
Aluminum: 45%
TVs: 45%
HVAC Systems: 45%
Meanwhile, the U.S. provides Canada’s military defense while they spend next to nothing on their own protection. Talk about the ultimate free ride.
Now, the hard math:
77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
84% of Mexico’s exports go to the U.S.
Mexico exports to U.S. as a percentage of GDP: 35%
Canada exports to U.S. as a percentage of GDP: 22%
U.S. exports to Canada as a percentage of GDP: 1.5%
U.S. exports to Mexico as a percentage of GDP: 1.2%
Canada GDP $2.14 trillion
US GDP $27.36 Trillion
If Canada were a U.S. state, it would rank fourth in GDP.
When Reality Hits Like a Trump Tariff
The pain is already setting in. Two of Canada’s fastest-growing food companies—Mid-Day Squares and Flourish Pancakes—are making a run for it, eyeing U.S. expansion instead of sticking around to suffer Trudeau’s economic mismanagement. Mid-Day Squares, which initially planned to expand in Montreal, is now considering Ohio, Wisconsin, or Missouri. Why? In the words of co-founder Jake Karls:
“We need the U.S. as a business. It’s critical.”
No Borders, No Trade Deals
Trump’s tariffs aren’t just about trade; they’re about national security. Fentanyl is now the #1 killer of Americans aged 18-45—with its ingredients sourced from China and funneled through Mexico and Canada. Neither country is doing enough to stop it. Trump’s message? Either help stop the flow of poison, or pay the price.
The Bottom Line
Trump isn’t here to play “international feelings counselor.” He’s here to win—and for the first time in a long time, America isn’t rolling over to appease weaker economies.
Canada and Mexico can huff and puff all they want, but the numbers don’t lie. They need us far more than we need them. And with Trump at the helm, the days of America getting played are officially over.
Brace yourself, globalists. The tariff hammer has dropped.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Liberals are going apoplectic over DOGE looking into USAID. Come to find out, they have been funding the New York Times and Politico, as well as propaganda outfits around the world pushing Marxist views.
WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Delivers a Brutal Reminder to Democrats Melting Down Over USAID Shutting Down – Also Cites Four More Insane Examples of USAID Waste (VIDEO)
The change from Karine Jean-Pierre to Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary is one of the most significant upgrades in American political history. On Wednesday, Leavitt again proved why she was a great choice to communicate President Trump’s agenda to the American people. As TGP’s Jordan Conradson reported, Leavitt spoke to the press this afternoon at 1 P.M., just hours before Trump signed his No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order, and met with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. During Wednesday’s briefing, Leavitt addressed topics such as Trump’s imminent shutdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), border security, his successful tariff threat against Canada and Mexico, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit on Tuesday. READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
•USAID Spent $607 Million Promoting Abortion Worldwide •Senate Confirms Pam Bondi as Attorney General • AG Pam Bondi Launches Invesitgation of Lawfare Against Pro-Life Conservatives •TArmy Faces Lawsuit After Calling Pro-Life Organizations “Terrorist Groups”
Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana is known for his sharp wit, particularly when addressing current political debates. Recently, during an appearance on Hannity, Kennedy did not hold back as he tackled the latest uproar from leftists concerning the USAID’s budget assessment. According to Kennedy, “It’s USAID today, it’s gonna be Department of Education tomorrow.” By pointing this out, Kennedy forewarned that if a review of USAID’s spending has caused such an uproar, a similar examination of the Department of Education’s financials could meet with even larger resistance from Democrats.
Senator Kennedy’s remarks were direct and unequivocal. He remarked, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs.” This metaphor underscores the necessity of closely evaluating federal expenditures to identify wasteful spending. President Trump, during his campaign, emphasized the need to scrutinize every cent in the federal budget. Now, Elon Musk’s involvement seeks to uncover inefficiencies within government agencies. Kennedy noted, “That’s what Mr. Musk is doing,” and highlighted the Democratic backlash: “Many of my Democratic colleagues and some of the tofu-eating Wookerati at the USAID are screaming like they’re part of a prison riot because they don’t want us reviewing the spending.” He insists that this is simply a call for transparency, concluding with a dismissive “call somebody who cares” directed at those objecting to the scrutiny.
Kennedy further elaborated that under the current administration, the primary focus seemed to be, “Who needs to pay more in taxes?” He states, “Well, that’s not the question that the Republicans and President Trump are going to ask. Our question is, what the hell happened to the money?” This rhetoric supports the Republican view that fiscal responsibility should not just be about increasing tax revenue but ensuring existing funds are used judiciously.
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: “The USAID are screaming like they're part of a prison riot because they don't want us reviewing the spending. But that's all @elonmusk is doing. And he's finding some pretty interesting stuff … Just what the President said he was going to appoint Musk to do.” pic.twitter.com/etfGizrxEI
President Trump’s commitment to delivering on his campaign promises shines brightly through these actions. The directive to audit these federal departments aligns with his vision of holding government accountable. Senator Kennedy’s backing of Trump and trust in Musk’s role is apparent; they anchor their approach in financial scrutiny and a demand for accountability. Such transparency of government spending serves not only Republican interests but those of prudent governance for the broader public.
President Donald Trump has done it again. While the political elite squabble over the same tired talking points, Trump has dropped a geopolitical bombshell that could reshape the Middle East—and no, it’s not just another round of diplomatic niceties. We’re talking about a masterstroke that might actually work. Imagine that: real leadership, not the limp-wristed handwringing we’ve grown accustomed to from the D.C. establishment.
A Vision Beyond the Rubble
Trump’s plan to take over the Gaza Strip, level the destruction, and rebuild it as a beacon of economic prosperity is nothing short of revolutionary. Forget the endless cycles of ceasefires and re-escalations; Trump is thinking bigger, bolder, and with the kind of clarity that only he seems capable of. He’s not just offering another Band-Aid solution. This is about transformation—turning a war-torn region into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
For decades, Gaza has been a symbol of despair, a playground for terror organizations, and a tragic headline generator. Trump’s proposal flips the script. Instead of perpetuating the misery, he’s envisioning a future where Gaza becomes a hub of economic growth, job creation, and stability. And honestly, it’s about time someone did.
The Details: Level, Rebuild, Prosper
Here’s the brilliance: Trump proposes the U.S. take long-term ownership of Gaza, dismantling unexploded bombs and dangerous debris, then leveling the area to start fresh. No more patchwork repairs. No more rebuilding just to see it destroyed again. This is a clean slate, a blank canvas to create something extraordinary.
Economic development will be at the heart of this transformation. Thousands of jobs, modern housing, and infrastructure that doesn’t double as a target for the next rocket attack. Trump isn’t just talking about peace through strength; he’s talking about peace through prosperity.
Netanyahu: A Partner in Vision
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was right there, nodding in agreement, praising Trump’s “outside-the-box” thinking. Let’s face it: Netanyahu knows a thing or two about Middle Eastern politics, and if he’s on board, it’s worth paying attention.
Netanyahu’s goal is clear: make sure Gaza never threatens Israel again. Trump’s plan doesn’t just align with that goal; it supercharges it. By removing the environment that breeds extremism—poverty, hopelessness, and perpetual conflict—Trump’s strategy addresses the root causes, not just the symptoms.
The Naysayers and Their Predictable Outrage
Of course, the usual suspects are up in arms. Saudi Arabia, France, China, and a chorus of left-wing critics are crying foul. “International law!” they wail. “Destabilization!” they warn. Please. These are the same geniuses who have been wringing their hands while the Middle East burned for decades.
Saudi Arabia insists they won’t normalize ties with Israel without a Palestinian state. Sure. But when Gaza transforms into a booming economic success story, let’s see how long they hold that line. Money talks louder than outdated rhetoric.
Hamas, predictably, called Trump’s plan “ridiculous and absurd.” Coming from a group that specializes in launching rockets at civilians, that’s almost a compliment. If Hamas hates it, it’s probably a good idea.
A New Middle East?
Here’s the thing: Trump’s plan isn’t just about Gaza. It’s a blueprint for a new Middle East. By replacing chaos with commerce, terror with trade, and despair with development, this strategy could trigger a domino effect across the region.
Imagine a Middle East where economic cooperation replaces ideological warfare. Where young people aspire to careers in tech, business, and innovation instead of martyrdom. That’s the world Trump is envisioning—and it’s one worth fighting for.
Final Thoughts
Trump’s Gaza plan is bold, ambitious, and exactly the kind of disruptive thinking the world needs. While his critics cling to their outdated playbooks, Trump is rewriting the rules. This isn’t just diplomacy; it’s leadership with vision.
Love him or hate him, Trump has once again proven that he’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. And who knows? This time, he might just change the world.
Below is my column on Fox.com on the bizarre controversy surrounding New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his suggestion that he was housing an illegal migrant in his home. It is a new version of Murphy’s Law on how virtue signaling can turn into a virtual nightmare for Democrats over immigration.
Here is the column:
For years, engineers have cited Murphy’s Law that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” The law is attributed to aerospace engineer Edward A. Murphy Jr. from the 1940s. However, this week, the law seems re-written by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who is under fire after suggesting that he may be sheltering an undocumented woman above his garage.
Murphy was being interviewed by the liberal group Blue Wave New Jersey and thrilled his Democratic base by indicating that he had given sanctuary to an undocumented person in his home. It was a curious moment when, after promising sanctuary, Murphy not only appeared to out his guest but then taunted ICE to come and try to take her. After seemingly staking out the immigrant like a sacrificial goat in a lion hunt, Murphy’s virtue signaling summoned the authorities. And now, the Iceman Cometh.
Trump’s border czar Tom Homan vowed to “look into” the Governor’s house guest.
The interview illustrated how some strive to prove their progressive bona fides at the cost of those they claim to be protecting. It is akin to the good people of Martha’s Vineyard singing to undocumented persons just before shipping them off to a distant military base.
Of course, Murphy appeared to struggle with calling her an undocumented migrant, let alone an illegal alien. Instead. she was described by the governor as a person “whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to.”
Murphy explained how
“Tammy and I were talking about – I don’t want to get into too much detail, but there is someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to. And we said, you know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage.”
You could almost hear the cooing from the crowd. Murphy then added the taunt to the tell: “And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.” Of course, the most important “details” for the woman are her status and location.
The most important detail for Murphy was to suggest that he and Tammy have a real live undocumented person housed above their cars. Not a poster or pamphlet on undocumented entry, but a real undocumented person. Of course, what can be lost in such moments is not just the person’s identity but her humanity. She did not seem like a real person at all . . . more like some prop or novelty item to brag about. What was so striking about the interview is that ICE is not generally rounding up undocumented persons. Rather they have focused on aliens who have committed criminal acts. While Murphy and others have issued chest-pounding declarations to defy the federal government, the public is overwhelmingly in support of the effort. Murphy previously declared that he would “fight to the death” against Trump’s agenda.
A recent poll by The New York Times and Ipsos found that an astronomical 88 percent of citizens supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.”
Within days of the Trump Administration coming into office, thousands of such targets were located and arrested. For other immigrants, there is still a comfort in numbers. With millions allowed into the country under President Biden, most are keeping a low profile in the knowledge that they are not the priority for ICE.
However, when a governor openly taunts the government and advocates the use of private homes as sanctuaries, he forces the hand of the government. It is even more problematic if this is the governor’s public residence or under the protection of state officers. Murphy may be using such state resources to violate federal law.
It was not clear what the status of Murphy’s guest was. The governor’s breathless account of his own courageous stand suggested that she would be subject to deportation, if discovered.
Under Section 1324 of Title 8 of the United States Code, it is unlawful when anyone “conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation.”
That is when Murphy’s law kicked in with a vengeance. After his boast about “hav[ing] her live at our house above our garage,”a close associate later suggested that it was all a type of liberal projection. It is now claimed that he never actually made the offer to the person, but “mentioned to someone else that they could move in if they want, so I think that’s where some of the misunderstanding was.” The source also added that “The person wasn’t undocumented. The person was a legal resident of the United States of America.”
Ok, let’s get this straight. Murphy did an interview with a liberal group on how he agreed to “have her live at our house above our garage” but could not share any other details to be safe. Nevertheless, Murphy warned about the reception if “the feds com[e] in to try to get her.” Yet, his associate is now claiming that there is no harbored illegal to get. Not only was she never in the garage, but she is perfectly legal and is not subject to deportation. It was like Murphy bragging that he has Chris Christie living above his garage. It is hardly the stuff of Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
The bizarre controversy, however, has greater importance in what Murphy was struggling to convey. He and other governors are pledging to bar any cooperation with the federal government in the deportation of unlawful immigrants. The latest example was Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who pledged to continue to defy federal enforcement even at the loss of substantial state aid. As with Murphy’s faux resident refugee, the declarations in states from Illinois to New Jersey to Massachusetts will force the hand of the federal government. While the federal government cannot “commandeer” state officials in the enforcement of federal law, it also does not have to subsidize those officials in frustrating enforcement efforts. The Trump Administration is expected to move to block funds for sanctuary states and cities. So, in addition to billions being spent on housing and benefits, these states will lose billions in federal aid.
What is most striking is that it never mattered if the Murphy claim was true or not. For many, it was another “I am Spartacus Moment” from a New Jersey Democratic politician that fell comically flat. Gov. Murphy’s law should be a cautionary tale for all of his Democratic colleagues in state houses. Virtue signaling can summon costs not just for themselves but for their states.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Canada’s leadership talked a big game when threatening the U.S. against Trump’s tariffs but soon capitulated, realizing they had much more to lose.
WATCH: President Trump Speaks to Reporters Upon Return to Washington DC – Addresses Canada, Mexico, China Tariffs and Says European Union Tariffs “Will Definitely Happen”
By Jordan Conradson – The Gateway Pundit – Feb 2, 2025
The president addressed a wide range of issues from the busy news weekend and took questions from reporters. As The Gateway Pundit reported, President Trump imposed his long-awaited 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% tariffs on China on Saturday. This was met with pushback from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced he would impose his own tariffs on the United States, which many in Canada think is a big mistake. In the fallout from the tariffs, the Canadian dollar’s value has reached a record low not seen since 2003, and Mexico’s peso has also dropped 2%… READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
•Trump Withdraws U.S. From Pro-Abortion UN Human Rights Council •Senate Committee Approves Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Nomination • Pope Francis Condemns the “Murderous Practice of Abortion” •Texas Abortions Drop to 0, Potentially Saving Thousands of Babies Per Month •Scroll Down for More Pro-Life News
In a recent press briefing outside the White House, Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, disclosed what she described as “wasteful spending” by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Her revelations have sparked significant controversy and debate. Leavitt took the opportunity to respond to critics who have opposed Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump’s efforts to reform a government agency they consider “one of the most corrupt in America.”USAID, often accused by some as being a front for CIA operations, has been under scrutiny due to the funding of several unconventional projects.
Standing before reporters, Leavitt displayed a sheet of paper outlining four expenditures by the agency. “Here’s the reason why Elon Musk and others have been taking a look,” Leavitt explained, emphasizing the importance of transparency in government spending. She went on to list the projects, which included
“$1.5M to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplaces,”
“$70k for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland,”
“$47k for a transgender opera in Colombia,”
and “$32k for a transgender comic book in Peru.”
With visible frustration, Leavitt remarked, “I don’t know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don’t want my dollars going toward this cr*p, and the American people don’t either.” She clarified that Musk’s intervention, as mandated by Trump, aims to eliminate what they perceive as misuse of taxpayer money. This scrutiny has extended beyond financial oversight, as two USAID officials were reportedly placed on leave after attempting to block Musk’s team from accessing classified information. Consequently, both the official X social media account, with its 1 million followers, and the agency’s website, vanished from the public eye.
Adding to the agency’s turmoil, The Daily Mail reported that USAID employees were shocked to discover that their headquarters had been abruptly closed. Over 600 employees received unexpected emails instructing them to remain home, leading to confusion and frustration among the staff. This lockout reflects the heightened measures being taken to reform the agency’s operations and spending practices.
$2.5 million to promote DEI in Serbia $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland $47,000 for a transgender opera in Columbia and; $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru
These developments underscore the ongoing debate about the role and accountability of USAID in administering foreign aid. As this situation unfolds, it raises significant questions about financial transparency and the priorities dictating foreign aid allocations.
Alex Soros, son of philanthropist George Soros, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of his father by President Joe Biden in the White House on Jan. 4, 2025. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
By pausing foreign funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, President Donald Trump has dealt a major blow to the ecosystem of nonprofits that promote woke ideology against America’s interests.
It is no accident that USAID’s funding has dovetailed with the grantmaking of leftist billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations—and the foreign funding pause will undermine his efforts.
Trump placed a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance on his first day in office. This weekend, agents of the Department of Government Efficiency entered the USAID facility and the USAID website shut down. On Sunday, Trump named Secretary of State Marco Rubio acting head of the agency. The administration placed about 600 USAID staff on leave Sunday night, and it will place 1,400 more on leave Tuesday, Politico reported. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment to confirm or deny this report.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the “insane priorities” that USAID has funded, mentioning “$1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplaces, $70,000 for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland, $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia, $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru.”
“I don’t know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don’t want my dollars going towards this crap,” Leavitt added.
Leavitt’s remarks echo the White House’s policy against funding woke projects. As the now-rescinded memo from the Office of Management and Budget put it, the administration aims to stop funding “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.” (While the administration rescinded that memo, the White House clarified that its overarching goals remain unchanged.)
.@PressSec lays out the INSANE priorities of USAID over the years:
"$1.5M to advance DEI in Serbia's workplaces… $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru. I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap…" pic.twitter.com/tYuegqsrUD
Yet this “crap” is exactly what the Left’s most notorious donor—George Soros—intends to fund. Soros, a Hungarian American billionaire who has funded nearly every leftist cause, established the Open Society Institute, which later became the Open Society Foundations. Open Society Foundations has worked with USAID to fund these kinds of programs.
“Biden’s USAID and George Soros’s Open Society Institute frequently partnered by co-funding joint programs that promoted radical social agendas throughout the developing world,” Max Primorac, former acting chief operating officer at USAID, told The Daily Signal in an interview Tuesday. Pimorac served at USAID from February 2018 to January 2021.
Former USAID Administrator Samantha Power met with Open Society Foundations at least twice and with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at least five times between 2021 and 2023, Fox News Digital reported. She also met with the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, left-leaning nonprofits that operate in similar orbits as Open Society. Foundations in the Open Society umbrella have worked with USAID for decades. In 2001, the Soros foundations network listed USAID among its “donor partners,” alongside other government aid agencies in countries such as Britain, Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.
2 USAID Supreme Court Cases
The Open Society Foundations’ connections with USAID run so deep, an Open Society nonprofit actually sued USAID not once but twice—and both cases reached the Supreme Court.
The story traces back to 2003, when Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act. The law provided federal funds to private groups to combat AIDS and other diseases across the world, but it came with one condition. Congress and Bush wanted to restrict funding to groups that pledge to oppose prostitution. Specifically, the law required “a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking.”
AIDS agencies preferred to remain neutral on prostitution to avoid alienating prostitutes who would spread the sexually transmitted disease. Alliance for Open Society International sued, and the case reached the Supreme Court. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the anti-prostitution pledge, ruling that it violated the First Amendment.
“By demanding that funding recipients adopt—as their own—the Government’s view on an issue of public concern, the condition by its very nature affects ‘protected conduct outside the scope of the federally funded program,’” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.
Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented, warning that to strike down the requirement as unconstitutional would significantly hamstring the federal government’s ability to fund anything.
“The First Amendment does not mandate a viewpoint neutral government. Government must choose between rival ideas and adopt some as its own: competition over cartels, solar energy over coal, weapon development over disarmament, and so forth,” Scalia wrote. “This Policy Requirement is nothing more than a means of selecting suitable agents to implement the Government’s chosen strategy to eradicate HIV/AIDS. That is perfectly permissible under the Constitution.”
Yet the Alliance for Open Society International sued again, this time arguing that requiring Open Society’s foreign affiliates to take an anti-prostitution pledge violates the First Amendment. This time, Open Society had gone too far. In USAID v. Alliance for Open Society International (2020), the Supreme Court ruled that foreign nonprofits affiliated with U.S. nonprofits do not have First Amendment rights under the Constitution.
The fact that USAID did so much work with the Open Society network that Alliance for Open Society sued not once but twice reveals the extent to which George Soros’ network has been working with USAID. The Open Society Foundations did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.
Alex Soros, the son of George Soros, took over at Open Society Foundations in 2022. Soros also accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Joe Biden on behalf of his father in January. The foundation has bankrolled groups that advocate for critical race theory (the notion that America is systemically racist against black people), gender ideology, climate alarmism, and a preference for technocratic government.
Under Biden, it worked like this:
The Open Society Foundations bankrolls a leftist group, say the Center for American Progress.
That group then feeds staff into the federal government—more than sixty officials in CAP’s case.
Working with those staff and via guidance documents, the group pushes the administration to take extreme stances on climate, immigration, gender ideology, and more.
My book highlights how these woke activist groups influenced policy on education, labor, energy, LGBTQ issues, the weaponization of law enforcement against conservatives, immigration, Israel, and elections.
None of these groups have disappeared since Biden left office. In fact, many of the woke activists who went from a nonprofit into the administration have since returned to woke nonprofits, creating a sort of government in exile. Others are planning to stay in the administration and oppose Trump’s agenda from within. A recent poll found that 64% of the D.C.-based federal bureaucrats who voted for Kamala Harris in the last election said they will refuse to follow a lawful Trump order if they consider it bad policy.
By temporarily closing USAID and restructuring it long term, Trump is undermining one of Open Society Foundations’ key partners in pushing its woke agenda. Let’s hope the restructure lasts.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Minneapolis Mayor Frey is throwing a big baby fit and refusing to cooperate with Trump’s Immigration enforcement, as are many other Democrat mayors and Governors across the country.
Minneapolis mayor says city won’t cooperate with immigration enforcement
By Anthony Gockowski – AlphaNews.org – Jan 29, 2025
Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said during a press conference Tuesday that his city will not cooperate with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. “I want to speak directly to people who are undocumented. We love you. We care about you. In the city of Minneapolis, we will stand up for you and we will do anything in our power to help. Because you’re not an alien in our city; you’re a neighbor,” Frey said. He then explained that the city’s “separation ordinance” states clearly that Minneapolis officials, including police officers, “will not be gathering information showing who is and who is not documented.” READ MORE
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Trump ordered the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security to “abolish every DEI office within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security with regard to the USCG, respectively, including any vestiges of DEI offices, such as sub-offices, programs, elements, or initiatives.
President Trump Signs Two Executive Orders Banning DEI and Transgender Indoctrination in Military
Jordan Conradson – The Gateway Pundit – 01/28/2025
President Trump has signed executive orders to root leftist ideology out of the military and prioritize lethality. The President signed four executive orders last night, including “Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate,” which reinstates all members of the military who were fired for refusing the COVID vaccine and entitles them to “receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or compensation.” Additionally, Trump signed the “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” executive order and the “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” executive orders, which direct every element of the U.S. military to “operate free from any preference based on race or sex” and root out gender insanity and made up pronoun usage, respectively. READ MORE
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Illegal aliens protest being deported by waving Mexican flags in America and shutting down traffic in LA. Is their allegiance to Mexico or the U.S.?
Lawlessness – Anti-ICE Protestors Block Major Portions of Los Angeles Freeway (VIDEO)
It is no surprise when the border was open for four years under Joe Biden that people in support of those policies would react this way once President Trump actually started enforcing border security and deportation. Trump’s immigration raids have already arrested and removed some of the most vicious illegal alien criminals living in the US. President Trump’s DOJ has directed all 93 US Attorneys Offices to prosecute state or local officials who obstruct immigration raids. In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, has instructed federal prosecutors across the country to investigate and potentially prosecute any local officials who obstruct efforts to block Trump’s immigration enforcement raids and deportation operations. READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
•Musk Confirms Trump Admin Shutting Down Pro-Abortion USAID •Kathy Hochul Protects Abortionist Who Illegally Sold Abortion Pills • Trump Dumps Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel for Military Members •Pro-Life Advocate Paul Vaughn Thanks Trump for Pardon •Scroll Down for More Pro-Life News
•Trump Reverses Biden Policy Funding Military Abortion Travel •Abortionist Indicted for Illegally Mailing Abortion Pills to Pro-Life State • Senator Wants Rubio to Reverse Biden Abortion Policy •Planned Parenthood Opens Its Largest Abortion Facility Ever •Scroll Down for More Pro-Life News
The United States will “hopefully” start moving migrants to a detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within 30 days, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing House border czar Tom Homan.
The facility was first announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
“Hopefully within 30 days we’ll start moving people there,” Homan told the newspaper.
Homan said he planned to travel to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in the coming weeks to oversee the fast-tracked construction of the facility. Although Trump said the facility would hold as many as 30,000 migrants, Homan said they would probably start with a small number, according to The Washington Post.
The U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay already houses a migrant facility – separate from the high-security U.S. prison for foreign terrorism suspects – that has been used on occasion for decades, including to hold Haitians and Cubans picked up at sea.
The National Transportation Safety Board says it has recovered a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport late Wednesday. Details are emerging about the 67 people presumed dead following the crash.
Report of lack of ATCs at DCA comes amid lawsuit FAA trying to fill jobs based on race
A general view of the control tower at Reagan National Airport, Friday, January 31, 2025. Flights have resumed since the tragic crash on Wednesday night were an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
A New York Times report saying the air control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has been understaffed for years came amid a lawsuit claiming the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discriminated against air traffic controller applicants based on their race.
The Times report said the tower at the airport was nearly a third below targeted staff levels, with 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023, citing the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, an annual report to Congress that contains target and actual staffing levels.
The targets set by the F.A.A. and the controllers union call for 30.
The lawsuit represents nearly 1,000 individuals who went to school to become air traffic controllers . They passed the normal test to obtain the position right before the Obama administration said the class was too white and threw out the tests with the applicants, the suit alleges.
Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who serves as co-counsel for Mountain States Legal Foundation, based in Colorado, is leading efforts for a lawsuit.
“When you travel and have a delay, it’s because there aren’t enough of these people,” Laxalt told the Wall Street Journal last year. “When you see these near incidents in air traffic control, it’s because there aren’t enough people. There are only 14,000 air traffic controllers. A thousand were scrapped a decade ago, and the bottom line is they’ve never made up losing all of this pipeline.”
Fox News Digital Greg Wehner contributed to this update.
American Airlines CEO thanks Trump for response to collision
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Friday thanked President Donald Trump for his leadership on aviation safety and his response to the deadly midair collision.
“We are all hurting as we continue to grieve the loss of our passengers and team members,” Isom said in a statement. “I thank President Trump for his leadership on aviation safety. I applaud him, Secretary Duffy and the Administration for taking quick and decisive action today to restrict helicopter activity around DCA.”
“In the days ahead, we will work tirelessly with the Administration and leaders in Congress to make our aviation system even safer, including by increasing investments in infrastructure, technology and personnel,” he added.
NTSB investigators examine the so-called, black box recovered from the American Airlines plane that crashed with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, D.C. Thursday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Fox News/Pool)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the black box from the Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed midair with an American Airlines passenger plane near Washington D.C. on Wednesday night.
During a press conference Friday night, NTSB member J. Todd Inman confirmed that the box, which is located in the cockpit, is intact.
There is no exterior damage, “indicating it is not compromised,” Inman said.
Authorities also provided more details about the two black boxes recovered Thursday from the passenger plane, noting they have a “high level of confidence” information will be retrievable.
The flag data recorder was in “good condition” and crews are working on a download in the “near future,” Inman said.
The voice recorder was opened and water intrusion was identified, but Inman said the NTSB “deal[s] with this all the time.”
It was soaked in ionized water, then put in a vacuum oven to remove moisture. Crews are checking electric connections to attempt a download, and have “a high level of confidence.”
Multiple air safety lapses contributed to deadly DC crash
A deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night revealed a number of safety lapses officials are now scrambling to address.
The Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was allegedly flying too high and on the wrong path, when it crashed into an American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
Air traffic controllers were allegedly understaffed and are now accused of not being “proactive enough” in preventing the crash by directing the plane and helicopter to fly away from each other. Instead, the controller requested the helicopter avoid the plane.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order calling for an immediate assessment of aviation safety.
FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around DCA airspace following deadly crash
A person walks by the deaptures board at Reagan National Airport, Friday, January 31, 2025. Flights have resumed since the tragic crash on Wednesday night were an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
The Federal Aviation Administration will restrict helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airport, effective Friday.
The decision was made with the support of President Donald Trump and in consultation with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to a post on X from Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy.
“Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Duffy wrote.
The change is part of the DOT’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding airspace and upholding the highest standards of air travel safety, according to the post.
“We will continue to support [President Trump]’s directive to achieve uncompromised aviation safety,” according to Duffy. “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.”
The restricted area includes:
– Memorial Bridge to South Capitol Street Bridge, excluding the Tidal Basin
Fog settled above Washington D.C. as crews continue recovery efforts amid cold conditions in the Potomac River on Friday.
“In my view, it may slow it down, slightly, but we are all the units out here,” Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said Friday about the weather conditions.
“The people working work year-round in all conditions . We’re going to be careful,” he added. “We’re going to make sure we don’t hurt anybody else, but the weather we’ve seen so far is weather we can work in. And if that were to change, that would affect it. But we haven’t seen that.”
A cold front is expected to move through Friday evening with possible rain, which could see temperatures in the Potomac River dip. Current water temperatures are hovering above freezing.
Crews will have to remove the fuselage from the water in order to recover the rest of the remains, authorities said Friday.
“I believe for us to recover the rest of the remains that we are going to need to get the fuselage out of the water,” Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly told reporters. “A lot of our operations, not all of them, but a lot of our operations today are focused on the helicopter.”
So far, authorities have recovered 41 sets of remains and have identified 28 of those victims, officials said.
“Going forward with our recovery operations, search teams will continue to work the site, will do side to side sonar scanning, searching the shoreline and aerial aberrations — our dive teams are working in targeted areas,” Donnelly said.
Family of third soldier killed requesting Army not release name
The family of the third solider killed in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is requesting their identity not be publicly released, the Army said Friday.
The Army has named the other soldiers killed in the collision. They were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia.
Eaves’ remains have not been recovered. He served in the Navy from August 2007 to September 2017 before transitioning to a Black Hawk pilot for the Army in September 2017.
O’Hara began serving as Black Hawk helicopter mechanic in July 2014.
American Airlines announces retirement of flight number 5342
An American Airlines airplane lands near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, D.C., Friday. (Reuters/Jeenah Moon)
The flight number of the flight involved in the deadly collision with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday will be retired, American Airlines announced today.
“Service between Wichita, Kansas (ICT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA) is currently scheduled to operate tonight as AA5677,” the airline told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Flight AA5342 will not be used for any future American Airlines flights.”
Airlines typically retire a flight’s number following serious incidents.
Connecticut youth soccer coach who died in crash had a profound impact on children’s lives
A Connecticut youth soccer coach who is presumed dead following the Washington, D.C., plane crash is being hailed for enriching the lives of children in his community.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Casey Crafton of Salem was a “a dedicated father, husband, and community member.”
“Coach Casey was a valued volunteer with Montville Youth Soccer who helped to enrich the lives of all those that he came in contact with,” the Montville Youth Soccer Club said in a post on Facebook. “Our deepest condolences go out to his family during this tragic time.”
Crafton leaves behind his wife Rachel and three sons, Greyson, Easton and Knox, according to the Norwich Bulletin newspaper.
Footage taken from a dashcam captured the moment the American Airlines passenger jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.
The video was recorded from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C.
During the video, a fireball could be seen lighting up the night sky after the two aircraft collided.
All 67 onboard both aircraft are presumed dead and bodies are still being recovered Friday from the Potomac River.
A source who captured the video, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Storyful they hope it “helps with the investigation” and that they are “traumatized” after witnessing the tragic event.
Ohio college student presumed dead following DC plane crash
Cedarville University announced the death of 20-year-old Grace Maxwell. (Cedarville University)
Cedarville University student Grace Maxwell has been identified as one of the 60 passengers onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport earlier this week.
The university located outside of Columbus, Ohio, told 10TV WBNS that Maxwell was a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.
“Grace was a quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering,” an advisor at the school, Tim Norman, told the station.
Cedarville University President Thomas White said Friday that “We grieve, and we’re sad, and we don’t know why a young, bright, shining star was taken from us way too soon,” according to the Dayton Daily News.
“But we know there’s a God that will make all things new. So we grieve, but not as ones without hope,” he added.
The newspaper reported that Maxwell was traveling back to the school after attending her grandfather’s funeral in Wichita, Kan.
‘Ice skating sisters’ among victims of DC plane crash
Everly and Alydia Livingston were killed in a plane crash between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 29. (Instagram/@ice_skating_sisters)
Everly and Alydia Livingston, figure skaters who were known as the “ice skating sisters” on social media, have been identified as being among the 67 presumed dead in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport.
Videos and photos show the two sisters skating together and doing their own routines at various competitions.
Donna Livingston and Peter Livingston, their parents, died in the Wednesday crash as well.
“I knew Donna in college. She was a wonderful, positive, and sweet person,” the Livingstons’ friend, Scott Molony, wrote in a Facebook post. “I watched her life and family grow and evolve through social media, including the two beautiful, talented daughters she shared with her husband. They were clearly proud, loving, supportive parents, devoted to their daughters’ love of ice skating.”
Fox News’ Stepheny Price, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Alexandra Koch and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
White House says Trump ‘believes that it is still indeed safe’ to fly on commercial planes
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, on Friday, Jan. 31, in Washington. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that President Donald Trump “believes that it is still indeed safe and Americans should feel safe travelling our skies.”
“We certainly have seen the deterioration of federal hiring standards at the FAA and the president wants to increase those standards,” she added. “He wants pilots in this country who have the great responsibility of flying American citizens by the tens of millions every single day to be chosen for that position based on their merit and their skills, so the administration will continue to prioritize this.”
White House says it is continuing to mourn victims ‘during this unimaginable time’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that “Everyone in this White House continues to mourn the victims and keep their friends and families in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time.
“The president was briefed on Wednesday evening following the crash, again on Thursday morning, and he has continued to receive updates as recovery efforts continue on the ground,” she continued. “The president, as you know, took time to address the nation yesterday afternoon to deliver accountability. President Trump swiftly signed a memorandum directing an immediate assessment of the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the federal government is maintaining the highest personnel and policy aviation safety standards.”
“The memorandum directs the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA administrator to immediately review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made during the prior four years, and to take all necessary corrective actions to achieve uncompromised aviation safety,” according to Leavitt.
“The review will include a comprehensive assessment and reversal of any deterioration in hiring standards in aviation safety standards and protocols during the previous administration,” she also said.
Local resident describes floating debris he found in the Potomac River following crash
Law enforcement conducts a search on Thursday, Jan. 30 near Reagan National Airport following the airplane crash. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
A riverkeeper who routinely patrols the Potomac River reportedly found multiple items belonging to the American Airlines plane after it crashed Wednesday night, including pages from a flight manual, a woman’s sweater and what appeared to be the cushion from a pilot’s seat.
Dean Naujoks of the environmental group Potomac Riverkeeper told the Associated Press that he discovered the items near the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge – about two miles away from the crash site – and that they have been handed over to the FBI. He reportedly got permission to take his boat to the scene and found the items in shallow coves.
“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said. “I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”
Naujoks also said he recovered a piece of the interior wall from the passenger cabin that had surrounded a window.
U.S. military helicopter crashes like the one that took down a commercial American Airlines flight over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night are very rare, but there has been an uptick in these incidents in recent years, according to military statistics and an aviation expert.
A total of 64 people, including passengers and flight crew members, were aboard AA Flight 5342 from Wichita to Reagan National Airport (DCA). Three soldiers were conducting a training operation on the Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk that came from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
“It’s concerning, certainly, the number of incidents that there have been,” Timothy Loranger, an aviation attorney at Wisner Baum and a Marine Corps veteran, told Fox News Digital. “But if you compare it to the thousands and thousands of hours of flights that occur without any incident … that’s all very good.”
The collision has sparked questions about how such a devastating accident could happen in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the country and the world. The last significant fatal commercial crash happened in 2009, when a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing 49 people.
“Is there something that we can point to? Training? Is the budget of the military sufficient to make sure that pilots and the crew have enough training and experience in order to fly those aircraft?” Loranger said. “Those are the kinds of questions that have to be asked. If it’s a problem with the aircraft itself, a mechanical issue, what is that? Is it a design issue? Is it a manufacturing issue? Is it a maintenance issue?”
Military helicopter crashes, while uncommon, have been occurring more frequently over the last year, according to Army data.
More details emerge about victims in DC plane crash
Photos of victims following the collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter (Getty Images)
Family and friends of those who lost their lives in the deadly American Airlines and Army helicopter collision are sharing tributes online as they wait for more answers about how this tragedy happened.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed on X Thursday night one of the Army pilots who died in the wreck was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, a Brooksville native.
Tim Lilley identified his son, 28-year-old Sam Lilley, as first officer on American Airlines flight 5342.
A flight attendant on board the flight has been identified as Ian Epstein.
Fox News Digital has learned the identity of another victim on board flight 5342, a mother of two young children, Wendy Shaffer.
“I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but I fear this is the truth. Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through,” Wendy’s husband, Nate Shaffer, shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.
“We need to make sure that if these airports are struggling with air traffic controllers, they bring it to our attention, and we can try to encourage more younger people to get into that field,” Nehls said.
“I have to say when you look at our aviation record, our safety record over the past 15 years — in 2009 obviously we had the Colgan Air crash that killed 47 people – but we haven’t had a major incident in the United States in the past 15 years,” he added, noting that there are 45,000 flights daily in the U.S.
“Overall, I believe our record, our safety record is the gold standard. But when we have an issue like this, it needs to be addressed and I believe the NTSB will conduct a very thorough investigation and they will come up with some recommendations to make sure that we can mitigate risk and something like this never takes place again,” Nehls also said.
The Federal Aviation Administration reportedly is restricting helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., following the deadly midair collision earlier this week.
An FAA official told Reuters that the agency is prohibiting most helicopters from parts of two routes near the airport, only allowing first responders into the area.
The routes are believed to be the same ones the Army Black Hawk helicopter was traveling along Wednesday night when it collided with the American Airlines passenger jet.
The FAA also said to lawmakers that the restrictions will remain in place indefinitely as it conducts an investigation, according to Reuters.
“Our union fully supports this action by the FAA,” the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said. “Operations should change, at the very least until we learn more about what led to the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in 24 years. 67 souls were lost not even 48 hours ago — we should not operate as if nothing happened.”
Rain, blustery winds in DC to challenge recovery efforts after deadly midair collision
Emergency vehicles and recovery operations are seen near the mouth of the Anacostia River at the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Friday, Jan. 31. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)
Rain, fog and gusty winds in the Washington, D.C. area Friday could complicate efforts to recover victims and debris from the Potomac River following the deadly midair collision that claimed 67 lives, according to FOX Weather.
The FOX Forecast Center is saying light rain or drizzle is expected through this morning before steadier rains move in this afternoon.
Blustery conditions then will persist through the evening, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour.
High temperatures will reach the low to mid 50s before dropping to the 30s by tomorrow night.
What to know about the mistakes made leading up to the fatal collision
Plane wreckage is seen Thursday in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
Reviews of the moments leading up to Wednesday’s fatal midair crash involving an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet have revealed several failures and mistakes.
In normal operating conditions, air traffic control for helicopters and planes at Reagan National Airport is handled by two operators. However, on Wednesday, the duties were combined, leaving just one person to handle both duties, The New York Times reported.
The outlet, citing a source who was not authorized to speak publicly, noted that there is usually only one air traffic controller after 9:30 PM, but a supervisor let one leave early. The midair collision that left 67 dead occurred just before 9:00 PM local time.
However, a person familiar with the matter explained to Fox News Digital that the positions get combined regularly if air controllers have to step away from the console for breaks, or if they are involved in a shift change. Controllers may also have to step away when air traffic is slow, the person explained, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.
Multiple reports also indicate that the Black Hawk helicopter may have been flying higher than it was supposed to, putting it outside its approved flight path. The Times reported that the Black Hawk deviated from the approved low-altitude flight path that would have let it avoid the passenger airliner. A senior Army official told the outlet that the Black Hawk pilots had flown the route before and were aware of the altitude restrictions.
Black Hawk was training to evacuate government VIPs in emergency, Hegseth says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed to Fox News on Friday more details about the training flight that the Army Black Hawk helicopter was taking earlier this week when it collided with an American Airlines passenger jet.
“Without getting anything into anything that’s classified, there are many things that happen in and around the Capitol that ensure in a contingency, in an emergency, our government is able to continue to operate,” Hegseth said. “And what happened in this particular instance was one of those types of flights.
“I mentioned it at the press conference yesterday, a continuity of government. There are other aspects to what is done there and you need to train as you fight. You need to rehearse in ways that would reflect a real-world scenario,” Hegseth added.
More than 40 bodies recovered from Potomac River, officials say
In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Thursday, Jan. 30. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
More than 40 bodies have now been recovered from the Potomac River following this week’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
DC Fire and EMS told Fox News that 41 bodies in total have been retrieved from the crash site.
Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived Wednesday from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.
A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.
“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, told the AP.
Fox News’ Ashley Cozzolino and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former FAA official reacts to reports about ‘not normal’ staffing levels at Reagan National Airport
Former Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Scott Brenner told “America’s Newsroom” Friday that he believes the air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport had the “adequate resources there to do the job” when the midair collision happened earlier this week.
Brenner spoke following a report citing the FAA saying that the number of staff members working at the air control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.” The Associated Press obtained a report which showed one air traffic controller was working two positions at the time of the crash.
“Controller staffing is a problem. Congress, FAA have been working on this for years. But controllers are bright folks, if they are getting into a situation where they are getting overwhelmed, they will start to slow traffic,” Brenner said.
“From my understanding, you had in the tower at the time of the crash, you had three controllers, you had a supervisor and you had a supervisor in training. They had adequate resources there to do the job,” he continued. “The decision by the supervisor to split the duties of one of the controllers – because normally you have one controller just focused on helicopters and they usually cut that off around 9:30 at night because traffic starts to die down. But everything that I have seen so far and heard, the controllers did what they are supposed to do.”
Where the NTSB investigation is heading this morning
A timeline of events leading up to Wednesday’s fatal midair collision near Reagan National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area. (Fox News)
National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman told FOX Business on Friday that “the most important thing right now is to obtain and preserve any perishable evidence so that whenever we come off scene, we can start the analyzation of it.
“Today will be yet another day of the teams going out there. Yesterday, we had our organizational meetings. They’re doing another one this morning. They’re out in the field. They’re collecting data. They’ve started interviews,” he said. “We have hundreds of people in this investigation.”
“Everything that’s there should be good for 30 days, but we want to make sure we get everything preserved immediately,” Inman also said.
A total of 67 people are presumed dead following the midair collision Wednesday night between the American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
For more information on this heartbreaking event in the Potomac River, you can refer to the past live updates from Fox News Digital from Wednesday and Thursday.
FOX Business’ Grady Trimble contributed to this report.
NTSB member says ‘we know’ where Black Hawk helicopter’s black boxes are
National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday, Jan. 30, in Arlington, Va. (AP/Stephanie Scarbrough)
National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman told FOX Business on Friday that the agency knows where the black boxes are from the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the deadly midair collision.
“We know where they’re at right now. We’ve got to get the rest of the victims out,” he said, noting that the boxes haven’t been removed yet as officials are working to retrieve bodies from the Potomac River.
Inman added that families of victims that are arriving in Washington, D.C. are “shellshocked.”
“We have a duty to try to provide as much information to them as long as they need it. Right now, of course, their biggest concern is their family members and the identification of those bodies,” Inman said. “The medical examiner from D.C. was there last night with this. He outlined the process. We believe notifications may start in the next day or so. And so they’ll start working on taking their family members home.”
FOX Business’ Grady Trimble contributed to this report.
Trump asserts Black Hawk was ‘flying too high, by a lot’
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Thursday following the deadly midair collision. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump said Friday that the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the American Airlines passenger jet near Reagan National Airport “was flying too high, by a lot.”
“It was far above the 200-foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
NTSB member Todd Inman, when asked by FOX Business this morning about whether the helicopter’s altitude played a role in the crash, said “Right now, we’ve not ruled anything in or out.”
“But I would be very careful to anyone who’s listening to this to rely upon off the shelf software, speculation they’re seeing online. Our job is to get the absolute facts as we get these [black] boxes in and get them analyzed and we look at more granular data, will be able to give a much better picture on that,” he said.
FOX Business’ Grady Trimble contributed to this report.
Military helicopter flights forced at least two planes to abort landings at Reagan National Airport in the week before a deadly collision presumably killed 67 people on Wednesday, according to a report.
On Tuesday night, just one day before the collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, a different plane alerted the air traffic control tower that it had to abort its landing to avoid collision with a helicopter, the Washington Post reported.
Yet another plane arriving at DCA from Charlotte scrubbed its landing on Jan. 23, again because of a helicopter.
“They had to circle back around because there was a helicopter in the flight path,” said RIchard Hart, a passenger on the Jan. 23 flight who spoke to the Washington Post. “At the time I found it odd. … Now I find it disturbingly tragic.”
The two close calls came within a week of Wednesday’s horrifying collision, in which an inbound commercial flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River. A total of 64 people, including four crew members, were aboard passenger American Airlines Flight 5342, and three soldiers were on the Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk that came from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. All are presumed dead.
Howard University professor among victims in midair collision
Kiah Duggins was known for her bright smile and zest for life. (Howard University)
A Howard University professor and former Miss Kansas contestant known for her bright smile and zest for life was among the victims in Wednesday’s midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport.
Kiah Duggins, 30, was named as a victim in the disaster by Howard University President Ben Vinson III, who called for privacy and respect for her family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.
In a statement, the university said Duggins was set to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University School of Law this fall.
“As a civil rights lawyer, she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C.,” the statement reads. “Plans to honor her legacy will be shared in coming days.”
Duggins was also a civil rights attorney with the non-profit Civil Rights Corps, based in Washington D.C.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told “FOX & Friends” on Friday that “the environment around which we choose pilots or air traffic controllers, as the president pointed out correctly yesterday, better be the highest possible standard.”
“I don’t care what background they come from, what their race is, what their gender is, if they are rich or if they are poor, I just need them to be good at their job because I need my flight to land safely,” Hegseth said.
“The same thing applies to the Defense Department, to our military. I don’t care about your background, your gender or your skin color, I want the best,” he added.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told “FOX & Friends” on Friday that the black boxes onboard the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the American Airlines passenger jet near Reagan National Airport have not yet been recovered.
“In this particular case, they were qualifying on a night flight which included night vision goggles – now we don’t know is whether the goggles were engaged or up,” he said.
“You have a lot of ambient light, a lot of things happening around Reagan [airport], there could be depth perception problems – again that is speculation, our investigation will tell us more,” Hegseth added.
“We are looking at altitude… someone was at the wrong altitude. The investigation will help us understand that – was the Black Hawk too high? Was it on course? Right now we don’t quite know,” Hegseth also said.
NTSB member says it will take ‘several days’ to extract information from black boxes
Wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport on Thursday. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
NTSB member Todd Inman told ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ on Friday that “it will take several days” to extract data from the black boxes of the American Airlines passenger jet involved in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision.
“The data recorder itself has thousands of data points and they all have to be synchronized against a lot of other things that happened in the plane,” he said. “The voice recorders actually have to be what is called ‘auditioned’ among a number of people so that there is complete agreement to how the transcript will come out.”
“We also look for ancillary noises, maybe a boom or thud or crack or something in the cockpit – those things are going on concurrently along with the fact that we have several hundred people in the field looking at every other aspect of this investigation,” Inman also said.
All 67 people onboard the American Airlines passenger jet and the Army Black Hawk helicopter are presumed dead following Wednesday’s collision.
Inman said a preliminary NTSB report is expected to be out in 30 days, but it will take “a year if not more for us to come to a final probable cause.”
Former Black Hawk pilot Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., told ‘Fox & Friends First’ on Friday that “one thing I am interested in looking at is should we outfit our military aircraft with the collision avoidance system that the civilian airliners have.”
“Those systems only work if the two aircraft can talk to one another through their transponders. If one has it and one doesn’t, oftentimes that won’t alert the other pilot that there could be a midair collision,” he said.
Barrett spoke as reports are emerging that the Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s crash was possibly flying higher than approved and outside of its flight path when it collided with the American Airlines passenger jet.
The aircraft was supposed to be flying lower and in a different location while in the airspace around Reagan National Airport, the New York Times reported, citing four people briefed on the matter.
“Would it have prevented this accident? That is a question that remains open right now, but these are all things that we need to gather more facts around,” Barrett added.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
A Kansas pastor who helped families as they arrived at the airport in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday night searching for news about their loved ones told ‘Fox & Friends First’ Friday that everybody there was in “stunned silence.”
“When we all started watching the news, we were all just stunned,” Chapel Hill United Methodist Church Rev. Ben Staley said. “As I was watching the news I realized that this is Wichita, this is us. These are our neighbors.”
Staley, who said he was “drawn by their need of hope,” described how he prayed with a father whose daughter was onboard the American Airlines plane that crashed near Washington, D.C.
“You could imagine, everybody there at the airport just waited in stunned silence,” he added.
American Airlines flights from Wichita to DCA to resume Friday
The control tower at Reagan National Airport is seen Thursday following the nearby crash. (Getty Images)
American Airline flights from Wichita to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. are scheduled to resume Friday, two days after a deadly midair collision near the airport.
Fox News’ Mark Meredith reports there have been dozens of cancellations but with minimal delays.
Weather forecasts in the area were showing a 100% chance of rain with wind gusts as high as 25 mph.
Meanwhile, there were reports of debris floating to areas along the Potomac River, the site of Wednesday evening’s deadly collision. Local governments have been urging residents not to touch or remove any of the found items.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says first day on job was ‘not what I expected’
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks Thursday during a news conference at the White House. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said late Thursday that Wednesday’s deadly midair collision was “not what I expected” on his first day on the job.
“This is not what I expected my first day on the job to be, but I do believe that God puts us exactly where we’re supposed to be,” Duffy said, pledging to the families of the victims “get to the bottom of what happened and be 100% transparent about the results of the investigation.”
Duffy, who is expected to visit the FAA command center and recovery hangar today, promised to “fix” the agency.
I will continue to keep the families and the public up-to-date with what we are doing in this situation and every other situation that falls under [the Department of Transportation],” Duffy said.
NTSB investigators evaluate the recorders at agency labs. (NTSB)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered critical evidence that could piece together the final moments before Wednesday’s deadly midair collision.
In a statement to Fox News, the agency said the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from American Airlines flight 5342 has been found by NTSB investigators.
“The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation,” an NTSB spokesperson said.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
With the election of Donald Trump, the federal government and both local and educational authorities are on a collision course over immigration policies. Many states and cities have reaffirmed that they will oppose any deportation efforts, including another recent chest-pounding interview by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It is likely that the federal government will squeeze federal funding for sanctuary states and cities, though such efforts can trigger “commandeering” and other legal challenges. Universities may be in a more precarious position, but some like the Los Rios Community College District in California are doubling down on plans to oppose any federal enforcement efforts.
Various university and college presidents have reaffirmed their support for undocumented students and staff, including most recently Fordham University President Tania Tetlow. However, the Los Rios Community College District seems to have laid out a more concrete plan to oppose federal enforcement, a plan that was referenced in a January 28 email. The district covers American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, and Sacramento City College.
The email states that “[t]here have been reports all over the country of increased immigration raids in association with Executive Orders tied to immigration enforcement.” It seeks to address the “[f]ear … widespread throughout the undocumented and ally communities about their safety and the safety of their families and loved ones.”
Just after Trump’s election, Los Rios published a “Compact in Support of Undocumented and DACA Students and Employees,” including the possible concealment of immigration status.
Here are the eight commitments:
Los Rios will do everything in its power to fight for the rights of our immigrant and undocumented students and employees and will always do everything possible to uphold the values of our institutions.
Los Rios stands with state and local leaders who have pledged to do everything possible to defend the rights and protections of immigrant and undocumented Californians.
Los Rios commits to advocating for a permanent legislative solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and a pathway to citizenship for our immigrant communities.
Los Rios will immediately provide additional resources to our Undocumented Resource Centers.
The Los Rios Police reaffirms its commitment to not participate in immigration-related activities, including arresting and/or detaining students, consistent with organizational values and state law.
Los Rios will protect students’ rights and confidentiality and will not share the immigration status of students or employees.
Los Rios, its colleges, and partners will do a full review of internal policies and regulations to ensure that we are doing everything possible to protect the rights of students and employees.
The Los Rios Colleges Foundation will create Dream Center Funds with resources for each college, administered by the Undocumented Resource Center on each campus. The Foundation will encourage other community members, employees, and private and corporate funders to give support to undocumented students to help remove critical barriers to their success, such as paying for DACA renewal fees, legal fees, purchasing laptops, and additional resources.
Number 6 is particularly interesting in promising an active role to conceal or withhold immigration status information.
We have been down this road before. Schools previously fought this battle over efforts to bar military recruiters. While I have been a vocal supporter of gay rights on many fronts, I was one of those who opposed the litigation that my law school joined. At the time, I stated that it was not only a clear loser on the law but also represented a type of hypocrisy: We insist that we cannot allow discrimination, but if money is at stake, we will allow it.
In Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc., 547 U.S. 47 (2006), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the federal government, under the Solomon Amendment, could constitutionally withhold funding from universities if they barred military recruiters from interviewing students. The Solomon Amendment denied federal funding to an institution of higher education that “has a policy or practice … that either prohibits, or in effect prevents” the military “from gaining access to campuses, or access to students … on campuses, for purposes of military recruiting in a manner that is at least equal in quality and scope to the access to campuses and to students that is provided to any other employer.” 10 U. S. C. A. §983(b) (Supp. 2005).
It is easier to limit funds for universities, but it can still raise constitutional problems from free speech to associational rights.
In Rumsfeld v. FAIR, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that such laws could run afoul of the unconstitutional conditions doctrine “if Congress could not directly require universities to provide military recruiters equal access to their students.” He then added:
“This case does not require us to determine when a condition placed on university funding goes beyond the ‘reasonable’ choice offered in Grove City and becomes an unconstitutional condition. It is clear that a funding condition cannot be unconstitutional if it could be constitutionally imposed directly. See Speiser v. Randall, 357 U. S. 513, 526 (1958). Because the First Amendment would not prevent Congress from directly imposing the Solomon Amendment’s access requirement, the statute does not place an unconstitutional condition on the receipt of federal funds.
The Solomon Amendment neither limits what law schools may say nor requires them to say anything. Law schools remain free under the statute to express whatever views they may have on the military’s congressionally mandated employment policy, all the while retaining eligibility for federal funds. See Tr. of Oral Arg. 25 (Solicitor General acknowledging that law schools “could put signs on the bulletin board next to the door, they could engage in speech, they could help organize student protests”). As a general matter, the Solomon Amendment regulates conduct, not speech. It affects what law schools must do—afford equal access to military recruiters—not what they may or may not say.”
The coming challenges could raise the question left open in Rumsfeld v. FAIR. However, the question is whether universities, particularly state institutions, want to go down this road of confrontation rather than cooperation.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently highlighted significant issues with improper payments made by federal agencies, with billions of dollars mishandled in the latest fiscal year. These payments, according to the watchdog, are those that “should not have been made or were made in an incorrect amount.” This includes duplicate payments, payments to ineligible recipients, and money spent on goods or services not received.
As of January 23, the GAO has reported that since fiscal year 2003, executive branch agencies have disclosed improper payments totaling approximately $2.8 trillion. For fiscal year 2024 alone, these payments amounted to $161.5 billion. This sum could theoretically purchase over 380,000 homes across the U.S., based on median home sales price data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
While the 2024 figure is substantial, it is notably lower than the $236 billion reported in fiscal year 2023. Since 2019, annual improper payments have consistently exceeded $150 billion. Under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA), agencies are required to identify risks associated with improper payments, take corrective measures, and report these payments within their programs.
The GAO’s report revealed non-compliance with PIIA criteria among 10 agencies under the Chief Financial Officers Act for fiscal year 2022. These include the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Small Business Administration.
Of these, nine agencies were found non-compliant for one or more programs or activities for two consecutive years—2021 and 2022. The Department of Homeland Security was the only exception. For agencies failing to comply for two years in a row, they must submit proposals to become compliant with the PIIA.
These compliance proposals are to be sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is expected to provide guidance as part of the fiscal year 2026 President’s Budget development. GAO has recommended that the director of OMB ensure agencies not in compliance with PIIA clearly state in their financial statements their plans to achieve compliance.
Before the finalization of the GAO report, a draft was reviewed by OMB, which agreed with the recommendations but did not provide any additional comments. The attention to financial accountability comes amid broader governmental efforts to enhance efficiency and productivity.
In line with these goals, President Donald Trump, on his first day in office, signed an executive order launching the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. This effort aims to modernize federal technology and software, enhancing governmental efficiency. The U.S. Digital Service has been rebranded as the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS).
The executive order includes the establishment of a temporary U.S. DOGE Service Organization to spearhead the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. This organization is tasked with coordinating with the USDS and advising agency heads on implementing the DOGE agenda.
Despite its intentions, the DOGE initiative has faced resistance, with four lawsuits filed against it on January 20 in Washington. Plaintiffs include the American Public Health Association, the American Federation of Teachers, Minority Veterans of America, and the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
The Center for Biological Diversity, the National Security Counselors, and consumer watchdog group Public Citizen have also filed suits. Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed concerns that DOGE could undermine federal protections for the environment and wildlife.
Amid the controversy, Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), a founding member of the DOGE Caucus, introduced a bill to promote governmental efficiency. He emphasized the need to reduce waste and prioritize streamlined regulations, saying, “The American people gave Washington a mandate in November—waste less, save more.”
The senator’s initiative aims to address the public’s demand for reduced government waste, emphasizing the importance of the DOGE mission. Lankford’s proposed legislation is seen as a commitment to fulfilling this voter mandate and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used judiciously.
This push for efficiency aligns with broader calls for accountability in government spending, especially in light of the staggering figures reported by the GAO. It underscores a commitment to ensuring that financial resources are managed responsibly and effectively.
The ongoing challenges and initiatives reflect a broader conversation about governance and accountability, with a clear focus on reducing inefficiencies and promoting transparency. As these efforts unfold, the commitment to improving government operations remains a priority.
In the face of opposition, the drive to modernize and enhance governmental functions continues to be a central theme. The DOGE initiative and related legislative efforts highlight a proactive approach to addressing long-standing inefficiencies within federal operations.
The ongoing dialogue around these issues illustrates a dedication to refining government processes, aiming for a future where taxpayer funds are allocated with precision and care. As the conversation progresses, the focus remains on achieving tangible improvements in governmental efficiency.
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A.F. Branco Cartoon – The new Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is on stage and fired. Gringe is gone, and the intellectual adults are back in the room dishing out the hard cold truth, destroying the left’s propaganda media to their face.
MUST SEE: Karoline Leavitt DESTROYS Clueless Leftist Journalist who Doesn’t Know What a Criminal is, Shuts Down Nasty Reporters Asking The Same Questions Over and Over
By Jordan Conradson – The Gateway Pundit – Jan 28, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made her career debut in the White House press room Tuesday, and she killed it. At one point during the briefing, Leavitt shut down two different reporters who pressed her back-to-back on the Trump Administration’s deportation of illegal aliens who had not been convicted of a crime inside of our borders despite crossing the border illegally. It was reminiscent of Kayleigh McEnany–maybe even better. As the Gateway Pundit reported, several conservative news outlets were represented in the room today, including The Gateway Pundit, One America News Network, Real America’s Voice, and Breitbart. Leavitt announced in her opening statement that “the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media that’s in this room.”… READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: American business magnate and TV personality Donald Trump visits “FOX and Friends” at FOX Studios on August 29, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Over the weekend, a tragic incident unfolded in Indiana where a J6 protester, previously pardoned by President Trump, was fatally shot by a police officer. FOX 32 Chicago reported at 4:15 p.m. local time on Sunday that 42-year-old Matthew W. Huttle from Hobart, Indiana, was stopped by a deputy sheriff from Jasper County during a traffic stop near the Pulaski County line. Authorities alleged that the officer attempted to make an arrest, but Huttle resisted the process. This resistance led to a confrontation, resulting in the deputy discharging his firearm and fatally injuring Huttle.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement explaining the event: “An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect.” This tragic event involves immense grief for the family and friends of Huttle, and underlines the crucial need for transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies.
Huttle’s involvement in the January 6 protests led to his persecution by what many see as a biased judicial process, orchestrated under the Biden administration. Labeling these protesters as political prisoners, Huttle was detained in Boise, Idaho, on November 28, 2022, for his participation in the protest. His actions on that day included recording his entry into the Capitol’s Senate Wing and moving through several hallways, which led to federal authorities charging him with several misdemeanor offenses.
The unfolding narrative, as reported by the Northwest Indiana Times, mentioned Huttle was sentenced to half a year in federal prison. However, he was released on July 17. Just last week, Huttle was among the J6 protesters granted a pardon by President Trump, underscoring the commitment of Trump to stand against what many believe to be a corrupt and politically motivated judiciary.
Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson addressed the unfortunate incident by requesting a thorough investigation from the Indiana State Police to ensure full transparency. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, which aligns with their established protocol in such circumstances. “Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased as any loss of life is traumatic to those that were close to Mr. Huttle,” he stated, promising to release the officer’s identity pending approval from the State Police Detectives.
Adding to the complexities of the situation, Richard “Bigo” Barnett, another J6 protester from Arkansas who was sentenced to a lengthy prison term for reportedly minor offenses, expressed his concerns and suspicions about the incident.
I want to know every damn detail. Right now I would be pretty touchy if someone tried to arrest me and put me through hell again and they better have a valid reason. I live in a right to carry state. Indiana is also a right to carry state. 2A https://t.co/BZbpYmbHYH
Barnett stated: “I want to know every d*mn detail,” highlighting the fear and anxiety among J6 protesters about being targeted again. Barnett emphasized the importance of justified law enforcement interactions, noting his own states and Indiana’s right to carry laws, advocating for Second Amendment rights and questioning the motives behind such arrests.
An immigrant from El Salvador, seven months pregnant, she said, stands next to a U.S. Border Patrol truck after turning herself into border agents on Dec. 7, 2015, near Rio Grande City, Texas. (John Moore via Getty Images)
That order prohibits federal agencies from issuing or accepting citizenship documents for children born in the U.S. when neither parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of the child’s birth.
Critics paint it as flagrantly unconstitutional, including a misinformed federal judge in Seattle who issued a temporary injunction against it last week. But the new policy fits squarely within the text and original meaning of the 14th Amendment.
For the first century following the 14th Amendment’s ratification, few legal scholars would have batted an eye at a directive like Trump’s. If anything, they’d have been more confused as to why the federal government started issuing passports to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens, tourists, and “temporary sojourners” in the first place.
Contrary to popular belief, the law doesn’t say that all people born in the U.S. are citizens. It says that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” are citizens. That second, critical, conditional phrase is conveniently ignored or misinterpreted by advocates of “universal” birthright citizenship.
This was intended to constitutionalize the protections of the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which provided that “all persons born in the United States, and not subject to any foreign power” would be considered citizens.
The change in language didn’t reflect a desire on Congress’ part to abrogate the statutory definition or adopt universal birthright citizenship. In fact, the Civil Rights Act remained valid law for another 70 years, with courts and legal scholars alike assuming that it was perfectly consistent with the citizenship clause.
That’s because the sponsors of the 14th Amendment made it clear that “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. means owing your political allegiance to the U.S., and not to another country. Children born to aliens are citizens of their parents’ native land, and thus owe their allegiance to, and are subject to the jurisdiction of, that native land.
Legislative history shows that Congress intended the 14th Amendment to eliminate permanent race-based barriers to citizenship—not to bestow citizenship on everyone born within the geographical confines of the United States. Congress didn’t intend birthright citizenship to apply to the U.S.-born children of those who owed only a limited allegiance to the United States.
Even modern proponents of “universal birthright citizenship” admit that the children born on U.S. soil to diplomats or tribally affiliated Native Americans don’t obtain birthright citizenship. In fact, they and their children were only made citizens through the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924—legislation that wouldn’t have been necessary if the 14th Amendment adopted common law rules of universal birthright citizenship.
While critics of Trump’s order claim that universal birthright citizenship is “the settled law of the land,” the Supreme Court has never definitively addressed this issue. The first time the nation’s highest court opined on the meaning of the citizenship clause—in the famous Slaughter-House cases of 1872—it stated that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excluded “children of ministers, consuls, and citizens or subjects of foreign States born within the United States.” The court confirmed this understanding in 1884 in Elk v. Wilkins, denying birthright citizenship to an American Indian because he “owed immediate allegiance to” his tribe and not the United States.
Most legal arguments for universal birthright citizenship ignore these early cases and point to the 1898 decision U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark. However, that decision simply held that U.S.-born children of lawful permanent residents are U.S. citizens.
Further, that decision concerned the constitutionality of acts that created a class of lawful permanent residents who, just like black people under Dred Scott, were perpetually excluded from citizenship based solely on their race—exactly the situation the 14th Amendment was designed to prevent.
Our nation’s current immigration and nationality laws no longer create this type of permanent race-based barrier to citizenship. Today, the federal statute defining citizenship (8 U.S.C. § 1401) simply repeats the language of the 14th Amendment, including the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” That language retains the same meaning today as it had when it was drafted and ratified. It doesn’t evolve to mean something else just because previous administrations erroneously interpreted it more expansively.
As a result, the president has the authority to direct federal agencies to act in accordance with the original meaning of the 14th Amendment, and to issue government documents and benefits only to those individuals who are truly subject to United States jurisdiction.
Far from being an attempt to rewrite the Constitution or “end birthright citizenship,”Trump’s order is a much-needed and long-overdue course correction, reversing a decades-long policy that was never constitutionally mandated in the first place.
New fires have broken out in the San Diego area of California, and these blazes feel symbolic of what’s happening to the Democratic Party.
We already witnessed the aftermath of fires in Los Angeles, which exposed the core nature of Leftism: incompetence. And what does incompetence cost? California homeowners are still on the hook for their mortgages, trapped in a cruel twist of irony—many of them uninsured due to, yes, the incompetence of California’s leaders.
Before outrage takes hold, consider this: they still own the land. Typically, the land is the most valuable part of a property, at least monetarily speaking. But no amount of land value can replace the memories those people lost in the flames. Who needs memories, though, when you can bask in the glow of virtue-signaling? And speaking of glowing embers of mismanagement, let’s turn to the issue of illegal immigration.
The landscape of illegal immigration has shifted dramatically, and the message from President Trump is unmistakable: America’s borders are no longer open for exploitation.
This shift carries lessons not only for those attempting to break U.S. immigration laws but also for the Leftists who have spent years undermining border security. Having cheated Trump out of his rightful second term, Democrats now face the consequences: a Trump unrestrained, with a clear mandate and the wind at his back.
Democrats pushed too far, allowing an invasion that has devastated communities across the country. Even stalwart Democrats like New York City Mayor Eric Adams have been forced to confront the consequences. Adams’ admission—that he was told to “be a good Democrat” and allow illegals to overrun New York—reveals the cynicism of the Left’s policies. His pushback nearly cost him his political career in what appeared to be a coordinated coup. Meanwhile, Trump stands ready to act decisively, knowing that the American people, fed up with the chaos, are now firmly behind him.
Trump’s Plan: Swift and Purposeful Action
When it comes to illegal immigration, Trump doesn’t make threats—he makes plans. His administration has already taken decisive steps to tackle the crisis head-on:
Military Deployment to the Border: Skeptics once mocked Trump for suggesting the military would be involved in border security. Now, 10,000 troops, including 500 Marines, are being deployed to reinforce the southern border. This is no symbolic gesture; it’s a national emergency, and Trump has declared it as such. As one official put it, “Don’t be surprised if you see Marines being dropped off by helicopters.”
Deportation on Demand: The policy is simple: “Deported Same Day.” The Biden administration spent billions facilitating illegal immigration. In stark contrast, Trump is redirecting those resources to expedite deportations. U.S. Transportation Command is preparing military aircraft to assist in migrant deportation flights, underscoring the seriousness of the effort.
Investigating Obstruction: The Trump Justice Department is launching investigations into state and local officials obstructing deportations and preparing to challenge sanctuary laws in court. For Trump, lawlessness—whether at the border or in sanctuary cities—is not an option. Any official standing in the way of lawful deportation orders will face scrutiny and accountability.
Rebranding Border Policy: Under Trump’s leadership, illegal entry has been rebranded. Those who attempt to cross the border illegally can expect to be sent home immediately. Trump Airlines, as the joke goes, is now offering one-way tickets back to reality.
Exposing Leftist Hypocrisy
One of the most startling revelations in Trump’s crackdown is the Biden administration’s use of taxpayer dollars to fly illegals into the country. This brazen misuse of resources has been exposed and halted. Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has fired its entire advisory committee, citing the need to refocus on protecting American interests.
Lessons for the Left
The humanitarian argument for open borders has worn thin. While some illegals genuinely seek to escape poverty and violence, the same issues plague America’s minority communities, particularly Black neighborhoods. As Trump understands, we don’t need to go to other countries looking for problems to solve when we have enough of our own.
The Left’s policies have disproportionately harmed the very people they claim to champion. Minority communities have borne the brunt of unchecked illegal immigration, facing increased competition for jobs, strained public services, and rising crime. The message is clear: America’s resources must first be directed to solving its own problems.
The Bigger Picture
Trump’s return to power represents more than just a change in immigration policy; it’s a reckoning. The Democrats’ attempt to undermine Trump has backfired spectacularly, leaving them exposed as architects of chaos. Trump’s decisive actions on immigration signal a return to order, accountability, and national sovereignty.
For those willing to break U.S. laws to enter the country, the lesson is simple: America will no longer tolerate lawlessness. For the Left, the lesson cuts deeper. By pushing their radical agenda to the breaking point, they’ve unleashed the Wrath of Trump—a leader determined to restore America’s greatness by any means necessary.
The student union of Leeds University has suspended a third-year philosophy and theology student, Connie Shaw, for what were declared “gender critical” views. Shaw’s transgression was to discuss her concerns over transgender ideology. We have previously seen student governments or bodies engage in such anti-free speech activities. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the school administration to maintain free-speech protections on campuses.
Shaw wrote an article, “Gender Madness at the University of Leeds,” questioning the university’s “gender expression fund.” She also interviewed Irish comedian Graham Linehan, an outspoken critic of transgender policies.
She promptly received a “notice of suspension” after she allegedly brought the radio station into “disrepute” because of her “social media activity,” according to The Telegraph.
We have previously discussed how free speech is in a free fall in the United Kingdom. This latest case seems to build on prior moves against “toxic ideologies.”
While most of us find Brock’s views repellent and hateful, they were confined to his head and his room. Yet, Judge Peter Lodder QC dismissed free speech or free thought concerns with a truly Orwellian statement: “I do not sentence you for your political views, but the extremity of those views informs the assessment of dangerousness.”
Lodder lambasted Brock for holding Nazi and other hateful values:
“[i]t is clear that you are a right-wing extremist, your enthusiasm for this repulsive and toxic ideology is demonstrated by the graphic and racist iconography which you have studied and appeared to share with others…”
Even though Lodder agreed that the defendant was older, had limited mobility, and “there was no evidence of disseminating to others,” he still sent him to prison for holding extremist views.
After the sentencing Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), warned others that he was going to prison because he “showed a clear right-wing ideology with the evidence seized from his possessions during the investigation….We are committed to tackling all forms of toxic ideology which has the potential to threaten public safety and security.”
“Toxic ideology” also appears to be the target of Ireland’s proposed Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) law. It covers the possession of material deemed hateful. The law is a free speech nightmare. The law makes it a crime to possess “harmful material” as well as “condoning, denying or grossly trivialising genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace.” The law expressly states the intent to combat “forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law.”
Clearly, Shaw did not confine her views to herself. She wanted to engage and challenge others. She wanted to test her ideas against those who believe strongly in transgender values. Instead of an exchange of differing viewpoints, she received a suspension from further expression by the student group.
The fact that students took the action in Leeds should not change the significance for the free speech community. Universities often allow students to carry out anti-free speech agendas in the name of student self-governance. However, students come to our institutions to learn in an environment of free speech and self-exploration. Administrators cannot simply shrug and walk away as students seek to silence dissenting or opposing viewpoints.
The British government has created a culture of speech criminalization and censorship. This culture infects every aspect of life, from government to the media to academia. It even distorts the view of a group of students engaged in journalism who seek to punish the expression of opposing views. Rather than view this as a great opportunity for a passionate debate, the students prefer to silence or suspend one side in a growing debate around the world. In the ultimate doublespeak, they are enforcing a strict rule of intolerance in the name of tolerance.
I understand that the students have strong views opposing those of Shaw. Those are counter views that should be given the same opportunity of expression. Let’s have the debate rather than focusing on how to silence one side.
Democrats and other Leftists should be ashamed of how they treated Melania Trump during President Trump’s first term. If anyone else besides The Donald has a reason to be vindictive, it’s Melania.
Despite her impeccable credentials and undeniable accomplishments, she was repeatedly overlooked and disrespected by the media establishment. Only a few years earlier, the world pretended to celebrate Michelle Obama. They marveled at the fact that she breathed.
Michelle Obama wore some of the most atrocious fashions, yet Leftists acted as if she were the star of New York Fashion Week. From her sleeveless dresses to her infamous floral boots, the media fawned over her with an almost embarrassing eagerness to elevate her as a fashion icon. I remember when she exited an airplane during a vacation with her daughters, and she wore clothes that made her look like she just changed the oil in the family car. The media gushed. In reality, Michelle Obama was far less glamorous.
Next came Jill Biden: the woman who insisted on being called “Dr. Jill.” This honorary title was given for a Doctor of Education degree that could have been earned by an eighth-grade honor student. Despite this lack of true academic rigor, Jill Biden demanded deference. As for her fashion sense, she hardly set any trends. By the end of Joe Biden’s term, the press had dropped the “doctor” title entirely and chided her for playing president while Joe Biden was incapacitated.
Melania Trump: The Overlooked Icon
In stark contrast, Melania Trump, a former international supermodel with a resume that most women would envy, was treated like an afterthought. It is worth noting that Melania speaks five languages fluently, a testament to her intelligence and adaptability. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen and established herself as a successful entrepreneur long before her husband entered the political arena.
Yet during her time in the White House, Melania was conspicuously absent from magazine covers. Michelle Obama graced the cover of Vogue three times, and Jill Biden appeared on the cover of Vogue in 2021. Melania? Not once during Trump’s presidency. Her only Vogue cover came in 2005 after her marriage to Donald Trump, where she was portrayed in her wedding gown. This glaring omission speaks volumes about the media’s bias. (Newsweek)
Media’s Political Bias
The disparity in coverage is not limited to magazine covers, however. Media outlets gushed over Michelle Obama’s Garden initiatives and praised Jill Biden’s classroom visits. Meanwhile, Melania’s impactful “Be Best” initiative, which focused on combating cyberbullying and opioid abuse, was mocked and dismissed. Leftists barely concealed their disdain, overlooking the real substance of her advocacy.
Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, has been criticized for her overt favoritism. An article in The New York Post challenged Wintour to feature Republican figures like Usha Vance, exposing a pattern of ideological bias in the magazine’s coverage. (NY Post)
Melania’s Fashion and Style
Melania’s fashion choices were nothing short of iconic. Her ensembles reflected sophistication and elegance, rivaling those of Jacqueline Kennedy. Her outfit at President Trump’s second inauguration was a prime example. Wearing a tailored coat and a wide-brimmed hat, she exuded confidence and strength. It was reminiscent of Guy Fawkes, with a touch of Doc Holliday’s bravado. Her presence declared, “I’m your Huckleberry” to the Leftists who had spited her.
Even MSNBC had to acknowledge her aura, stating: “It’s really clear that she has a confidence that we didn’t necessarily see the first time around. She understands not only what’s at stake for this administration, but what’s at stake for her.”
A New Chapter for Melania Trump
As the world anticipates President Trump’s return to the White House, Melania is poised to take on an even more prominent role. This second term offers her an opportunity to cement her legacy, not just as a First Lady but as a cultural icon and advocate for meaningful causes. She now understands the stakes and the opportunities, and she is ready to rise to the occasion.
She is a brilliant woman whose husband commands the world stage. Imagine how powerful she can be, having been the right hand of the “person” who defeated the biggest political establishment on the planet. And let’s not forget that she provided half the DNA for a young man who is a genius and child prodigy. Barron Trump’s intellectual potential is yet another testament to her influence and upbringing.
Melania’s potential to bolster the Trump legacy is immense. She could leverage her platform to expand the “Be Best” initiative, perhaps focusing on education reform or global women’s empowerment. As someone who has navigated the complexities of international politics and American media, she could inspire a new generation of women to embrace grace, strength, and independence.
The possibilities are endless: writing a memoir that details her journey from Slovenia to the White House, creating a global foundation to support underserved communities, or even curating a fashion line that reflects her impeccable taste. Melania Trump’s story is far from over, and the world is watching to see how she will continue to shine in her own right.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – The Deep State is feeling the heat from the Mother Of All Presidencies (MOAP). Trump is resending the security clearances of many for lying about the Hunter Laptop and the Russia collusion hoax and is weeding out others who have leftist political motives.
Deep Stater John Brennan Upset About Losing His Security Clearance, Claims He Only Used it to Advise Government (VIDEO)
By Mike Lachance – The Gateway Pundit – Jan 23, 2025
Former CIA chief John Brennan is among the many ‘spies who lied’ that had their security clearances revoked by Trump this week. Brennan ran to MSNBC to complain, because what else is he going to do? He used his appearance in an attempt to rewrite history, claiming that his security clearance was only ever used to advise the government on certain affairs. He also completely misrepresents the famous letter about Hunter Biden’s laptop. “The only reason why I still had a security clearance, as I have for the past number of years since I left government service, was for the benefit of the government, so that if the CIA or another government agency wanted to call me in to discuss the classified matter, they could do that,” Brennan said. READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
•Here’s 9 Pro-Life Actions President Trump Took During His First Week •California Drops Prosecution Against Sandra Merritt • Planned Parenthood Condemns Trump Pardons of Pro-Life Americans •NBC Refuses to Cover March for Life Despite 100,000 Participants •Scroll Down for More Pro-Life News
EXCLUSIVE: The Justice Department is firing more than a dozen key officials who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team prosecuting President Donald Trump, after Acting Attorney General James McHenry said they could not be trusted in “faithfully implementing the president’s agenda,” Fox News Digital has learned.
McHenry has transmitted a letter to each official notifying them of their termination, a Justice Department official exclusively told Fox News Digital.
It is unclear how many officials received that letter. The names of the individuals were not immediately released.
Donald Trump and Jack Smith (Getty Images)
“Today, Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of a number of DOJ officials who played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump,” a DOJ official told Fox News Digital. “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 told Fox News Digital.
The move comes after the Justice Department reassigned more than a dozen officials in the first week of the Trump administration to a Sanctuary City task force and other measures.
It also comes after Trump vowed to end the weaponization of the federal government.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith, a former Justice Department official, as special counsel in November 2022. Smith, a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief to the DOJ’s public integrity section, led the investigation into Trump’s retention of classified documents after leaving the White House and whether the former president obstructed the federal government’s investigation into the matter.
Smith was also tasked with overseeing the investigation into whether Trump or other officials and entities interfered with the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election, including the certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.
Smith charged Trump in both cases, but Trump pleaded not guilty.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan created the subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government during the previous Congress. (Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press)
The classified records case was dismissed in July 2024 by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.
Smith charged Trump in the U.S. District Court for Washington D.C. in his 2020 election case, but after Trump was elected president, Smith sought to dismiss the case. Judge Tanya Chutkan granted that request.
Both cases were dismissed.
Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
Below is my column in The Hill on the furious response of some judges in Washington over the Trump pardons. One judge, however, may have ventured too far in effectively banishing commuted defendants from Washington, D.C. without his prior approval.
Here is the column:
Even though President Trump had made it a campaign pledge to pardon those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, the roughly 1,500 pardons Trump issued on his first day produced familiar reactions from politicians and pundits.
In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner pledged to pursue those pardoned or commuted with new charges on the state level — eclipsing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in repackaging federal crimes as state offenses. Others cited the pardons as evidence of an even greater plot or purpose. On MSNBC, former NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund head Sherrilyn Ifill declared that the pardons were all part of a plan to build an army of “brownshirts.”
Not to be outdone, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) warned that Trump was issuing pardons to create a “reserve army of political foot soldiers to act on behalf of MAGA and Donald Trump.”
Such hyperbole, particularly the Nazi references, is now commonplace. Indeed, the left jumped the shark on the Nazi-mania and death-of-democracy mantra months ago. This week, however, some of the most strident comments seem to be coming from the federal bench itself. Indeed, some judges used dismissal hearings to launch into what seemed at points like cable-ready commentary. Take District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee who had previously presided over Trump’s election interference case.
Chutkan had been criticized for failing to recuse herself from that case after she made highly controversial statements about Trump from the bench. In a sentencing hearing of a Jan. 6 rioter in 2022, Chutkan said that the rioters “were there in fealty, in loyalty, to one man — not to the Constitution.” She added then, “[i]t’s a blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day.” That “one person” was still under investigation at the time and, when Trump was charged, Chutkan refused to let the case go. She then pursued Trump with a vigor second only to Special Counsel Jack Smith.
In the latest hearing, Chutkan again decided to use the bench to amplify her own views of the pardons and Jan. 6. She proclaimed that the pardons could not change the “tragic truth” and “cannot whitewash the blood, feces and terror that the mob left in its wake. And it cannot repair the jagged breach in America’s sacred tradition of peacefully transitioning power.”
In fairness, judges often express the gravity of offenses at sentencing, and most of us certainly share the strong revulsion over what occurred on Jan. 6. However, these cases are being dismissed after an election whose winner explicitly pledged to close the prosecutions through executive clemency.
The defendant in her courtroom was there to have a required dismissal entered in his case, not to hear Judge Chutkan speaking truth to power. In this case, she is the power. It is the power to rule dispassionately on the specific case before her. It is not the power to hold court on the merits of presidential decisions.
Down the hall, Chutkan’s colleague Judge Beryl Howell, also an Obama appointee, lashed out at Trump’s actions, writing,“[T]his Court cannot let stand the revisionist myth relayed in this presidential pronouncement.”
Yet, all of that paled in comparison to what their colleague U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, also an Obama appointee, did with his Jan. 6 cases. He ordered J6 defendants to seek prior approval before going to Capitol Hill or even coming within any of the 69 square miles of the nation’s Capital. Thus, Mehta practically banished Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and seven other defendants. It does not appear that the Trump Justice Department requested such restrictions, but Mehta was able to impose them because those defendants had received commutations rather than pardons. A commutation does not require the dismissal of a case, and courts are generally allowed to set conditions for released defendants.
However, these are new conditions imposed after presidential commutations. More importantly, they could affect the exercise of First Amendment rights from free speech to free association to the right to petition the government. For example, Rhodes and others would have to disclose intended meetings with members of Congress or participation in political events. Rhodes previously asked to speak to the House committee that investigated the riot, but the Democrat-controlled committee refused to allow it. (A Yale law graduate, Rhodes insisted that the hearing be conducted in public, the very condition Hunter Biden made with the support of some of these same members.)
What if Rhodes now wants to meet privately with members to supply his testimony? He would need Mehta to approve it and potentially make such plans public.
In my book, “The Indispensable Right,” I discuss the J6 cases and serious concerns over what a top Justice Department official called the “shock and awe” campaign to make an example of the defendants by throwing the book at them.
Nevertheless, even though I opposed the seditious conspiracy charges on legal grounds, I did not support the pardoning of violent offenders who attacked police officers.
The court system plays a key role in either tamping down or fueling rage in society. The book details how “rage rhetoric” often became state rage during periods of crackdowns on free speech. Over the last two centuries, some judges used their courtrooms to lash out at political opponents, anarchists, unionists or communists.
I was particularly concerned in these cases with sentences that seemed visceral, even gratuitous, in denying free speech rights. In Washington, judges-imposed limits on what political views defendants could read or share. For example, Judge Reggie B. Walton, a Bush appointee who had previously called Trump a “charlatan,” had before him a typical Jan. 6 case — that of Daniel Goodwyn, 35, of Corinth, Texas. Goodwyn pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2023, to one misdemeanor count of entering and remaining in a restricted building. It is a minor offense that generated little jail time.
However, Walton faulted Goodwyn for appearing on Fox News and spreading “disinformation,” and so he ordered the government to monitor what he was viewing and discussing. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rebuked Walton for that surveillance order, but he doubled down. On remand, the Biden Justice Department insisted that Goodwyn was unrepentant and still viewing “extremist media.”
Walton, therefore, determined that the risk was too great in Goodwyn spreading “false narratives” when we are “on the heels of another election.”
Now, his colleague is similarly ordering that those freed under Trump’s commutations will disclose and seek approval to go to the Capitol to speak with members or other citizens.
Many of us have long viewed the Jan. 6 riot as a desecration of our constitutional process. Few people want to defend Rhodes or either the Oath Keepers or the Proud Boys. However, the First Amendment was not written to protect popular speech or popular individuals.
The Mehta order should not push President Trump toward converting these commutations into pardons. It should also not prevent us from questioning the court’s authority to regulate the exercise of First Amendment rights.
On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to review a potentially blockbuster religion clause case in Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond. However, there is a catch. While the lawyers representing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School may need every vote they can get in this heavily contested area; they may have to prevail without Justice Amy Coney Barrett who recused herself for an unstated reason.
The case could bring clarity to an area long mired in 5-4 decisions. The question presented is “whether a state violates the First Amendment’s free exercise clause by excluding privately run religious schools from the state’s charter-school program solely because the schools are religious.”
The basis for the recusal is a mystery. Barrett was on the faculty at Notre Dame University and has close ties to the institution. Notre Dame Law Professor Nicole Garnett has been involved in the case and the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic is on the brief for St. Isidore.
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is a Roman Catholic institution focused on digital learning.
The lower court ruled that such funding of a religious school is unconstitutional. Before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, prevailed in arguing that the charter school board violated state law, the Oklahoma Constitution, and the U.S. Constitution. He insisted that the board should not have chartered the school because “St. Isidore’s educational philosophy is to establish and operate the school as a Catholic school.” He also opposed review by the Supreme Court, warning that the school intends to “serve the evangelizing mission of the church.”
The case could produce one of the most consequential decisions on the separation of Church and State in decades. Given her past interest and writing in the area, it would be ironic for Barrett to miss this ruling.
It is reminiscent of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s recusal in the Harvard affirmative action case due to her close ties to that institution. However, for Jackson, it was immaterial since she was allowed to vote in the sister case involving the University of North Carolina.
Every modern president seems to promise transparency during their campaigns, but few ever seem to get around to it. Once in power, the value of being opaque becomes evident. We will have to wait to see if President Donald Trump will fulfill his pledges, but so far this is proving the cellophane administration. Putting aside his constant press gaggles and conferences, the Administration has ordered wholesale disclosures of long-withheld files from everything from the JFK investigation to, most recently, the CIA COVID origins report. That report is particularly stinging for both the Biden Administration and its media allies, which treated the lab theory as a fringe, conspiratorial, or even racist theory.
Newly-confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe released the report, which details how it views the lab theory as the most likely explanation for the virus. Expressing “low confidence,” the agency did not reject the theory over the natural origins theory, which was treated as sacrosanct by the media and favored by figures like Anthony Fauci. (Other recent reports have contradicted the equally orthodox view on the closing of schools, showing no material benefit in terms of slowing the transmission of COVID).
The BBC reported that “the CIA on Saturday offered a new assessment on the origin of the Covid outbreak, saying the coronavirus is ‘more likely’ to have leaked from a Chinese lab than to have come from animals. But the intelligence agency cautioned it had ‘low confidence’ in this determination.”
The low confidence finding shows that the agency found the evidence fragmented and fluid. However, the point is that the natural origins theory and the lab theory were both viable theories. Neither was disproven or rejected. Other agencies like the FBI seemed to have a higher confidence in the lab theory over the natural origins’ theory.
Even a low-confidence finding shows the height of hypocrisy in Washington where politicians and pundits savaged any scientist who even suggested the possibility that the virus was man-made and likely originated in the Wuhan lab near the site of the outbreak.
This follows a recent disclosure in the Wall Street Journal of a report on how the Biden administration may have suppressed dissenting views supporting the lab theory on the origin of the COVID-19 virus. Not only were the FBI and its top experts excluded from a critical briefing of President Biden, but government scientists were reportedly warned that they were “off the reservation” in supporting the lab theory.
As previously discussed, many journalists used the rejection of the lab theory to paint Trump as a bigot. By the time Biden became president, not only were certain government officials heavily invested in the zoonotic or natural origin theory, but so were many in the media.
Reporters used opposition to the lab theory as another opportunity to pound their chests and signal their virtue.
MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace mocked Trump and others for spreading one of his favorite “conspiracy theories.” MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt insisted that “we know it’s been debunked that this virus was manmade or modified.”
MSNBC’s Joy Reid also called the lab leak theory “debunked bunkum,” while CNN reporter Drew Griffin criticized spreading the “widely debunked” theory. CNN host Fareed Zakaria told viewers that “the far right has now found its own virus conspiracy theory” in the lab leak.
NBC News’s Janis Mackey Frayer described it as the “heart of conspiracy theories.”
The Washington Post was particularly dogmatic. When Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark) raised the theory, he was chastised for “repeat[ing] a fringe theory suggesting that the ongoing spread of a coronavirus is connected to research in the disease-ravaged epicenter of Wuhan, China.”
Likewise, after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mentioned the lab theory, Post Fact Checker Glenn Kessler mocked him: “I fear @tedcruz missed the scientific animation in the video that shows how it is virtually impossible for this virus jump from the lab. Or the many interviews with actual scientists. We deal in facts, and viewers can judge for themselves.”
As these efforts failed and more information emerged supporting the lab theory, many media figures just looked at their shoes and shrugged. Others became more ardent. In 2021, New York Times science and health reporter Apoorva Mandavilli was still calling on reporters not to mention the “racist” lab theory.
In Kessler’s case, he wrote that the lab theory was “suddenly credible” as if it had sprung from the head of Zeus rather than having been supported for years by scientists, many of whom had been canceled and banned.
As these figures were attacking reports, Biden officials were sitting on these reports. Figures like Fauci did nothing to support those academics being canceled or censored for raising the theory.
The very figures claiming to battle “disinformation” were suppressing opposing views that have now been vindicated as credible. It was not only the lab theory. In my recent book, I discuss how signatories of the Great Barrington Declaration were fired or disciplined by their schools or associations for questioning COVID-19 policies.
The suppression of the lab theory proves the ultimate fallacy of censorship. Throughout history, censorship has never succeeded. It has never stopped a single idea or a movement. It has a perfect failure rate. Ideas, like water, have a way of finding their way out in time.
Yet, as the last few years have shown, it does succeed in imposing costs on those with dissenting views. For years, figures like Bhattacharya (who was recently awarded the prestigious Intellectual Freedom Award by the American Academy of Sciences and Letters) were hounded and marginalized.
Others opposed Bhattacharya’s right to offer his scientific views, even under oath. For example, in one hearing, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) expressed disgust that Bhattacharya was even allowed to testify as “a purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation.”
One of the saddest aspects of this story is that many of these figures in government, academia and the media were not necessarily trying to shield China. Some were motivated by their investment in the narrative while others were drawn by the political and personal benefits that came from joining the mob against a minority of scientists.
The CIA report obviously does not resolve this debate, but it shows that there is a legitimate debate despite the overwhelming message of the media and the attacks on scientists. Of course, the same media and political figures responsible for this culture of intimidation have simply moved on. The value of an alliance with the media is that such embarrassing contradictions are not reported. At most, these figures shrug and turn to the next subject for groupthink and mob action.
NB: This column was changed shortly after publication to add the link to the meaning of “low confidence” in the CIA report and to repeat that the issue is not which theory is correct, but that neither theory was found dispositive or invalid. Other media links were added as background.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – A group of thugs sent by Democrat Rep. Leigh Finke today attempted to obstruct House Republicans from conducting a scheduled Public Safety hearing,” Rep. Walter Hudson said.
‘Group of thugs’: Left-wing protesters attempt to shut down House committee meeting
Protesters crashed a Minnesota House committee meeting on Tuesday, following a demonstration they held outside protesting what they called a “power grab” by Minnesota Republicans.
“Quite enough of that bullshit, we’re done with this,” a protester, identified as Amber Muhm with the Aliveness Project, stood up and yelled into a bullhorn during a House Public Safety Committee meeting. The protesters were gaveled down and called out of order. “No, this is an illegitimate committee,” Muhm said. “You don’t have a quorum in the House. You know this is bullshit.” House staff then cut the audio of the stream and the rest of the tirade was not able to be heard from the official video feed. The rant went on for over 20 minutes. READ MORE
A.F. Branco Cartoon – Democrats were the party of slavery and today are the party of a new type of labor oppression toward illegal immigrants, but not to pick our cotton but to pick our fruit and clean our toilets for subpar wages.
Archbishop Vigano Exposes Globalist Elite’s Hypocrisy: How Religious and Civil Leaders Profit from Illegal Immigration and the LGBTQ+ Agenda
When the servants of the globalist elite placed at the top of the institutions – both civil and religious – talk about welcoming illegal immigrants, they do not tell you that they make huge profits from the management of immigrants. When they talk about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, they do not tell you that they have a conflict of interest since they themselves are involved. When they talk about going green, they do not tell you about their non-disinterested investments in the alternative energy sector. This betrayal of their institutional role is what unites them: they earn money and increase their social power to the extent that they support the globalist agenda. READ MORE
A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets, including NewsMax, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes, Dinesh D’Souza, James Woods, Chris Salcedo, Sarah Palin, Larry Elder, Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, and President Trump.
Senators are looking for excuses over reasons to refuse President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard — a combat veteran who previously served as a Democrat congresswoman from Hawaii and now faces character assassination.
Gabbard, who is meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday afternoon, committed two crimes that now threaten to derail her confirmation: leaving the Democrat party and campaigning against the interventionist impulses of the deep state war machine.
After Democrats fought to delay her way forward, Semafor reported Wednesday that Gabbard’s nomination was “on shaky ground” within the GOP. According to the outlet, Republicans are “particularly hesitant” about previous statements from Gabbard “that some have read as too warm toward Vladimir Putin and former Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad.” The piece goes on to note that Gabbard met with Assad in 2017 and highlights her criticism of “some intelligence-gathering tools” — such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) used to execute the Russia hoax.
One anonymous GOP Senator told Semafor that “[t]here are very serious concerns by enough members to put her nomination in jeopardy.” Another anonymous GOP senator told the outlet that Gabbard still “has a lot of questions to answer.”
Apparently, both senators have some research to do. If meeting with Assad is disqualifying, then why did the Senate confirm 94 to 3 to confirm Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013? Kerry met with the Syrian president while serving as a senator from Massachusetts in 2006. Were either of the anonymous senators who are now apparently critical of Gabbard’s meeting in office 12 years ago? Did they vote to confirm Kerry as the nation’s chief diplomat? If they were previously in the House, did either complain when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Assad over President George W. Bush’s objections a year later?
Or is Gabbard’s meeting now suddenly a problem because, under President Trump, engaging with overseas adversaries is an effective strategy to keep the peace, and neocons in Congress are allergic to world peace?
Lest lawmakers truly believe Gabbard is a champion for the since-dismantled Assad regime, any honest examination of her past comments suggests otherwise. In 2019, Gabbard was asked in an NBC interview whether she believed the ex-Syrian dictator was a “good person.”
“No, I don’t,” she said.
But the story in Politico on Gabbard’s comments at the time focused on her refusal to explicitly condemn Assad as a “U.S. adversary.”
“My point is that whether it is Syria or any of these other countries, we need to look at how their interests are counter to or aligned with ours,” she said.
How radical that a member of Congress might offer a sobering analysis of the realities in the Middle East. When Assad’s regime finally did fall in December, the rebel coalition to take over was essentially run by ISIS and al-Qaida, two groups whose interests generally run counter to the nation they repeatedly want to bomb. Acknowledging there are no good guys in a fight doesn’t make someone an ally to one or the other.
Gabbard predicted what would ultimately happen in Syria during an interview with CNN nearly a decade ago. She noted how the Syrians she met with during her 2017 visit acknowledged that “[t]here [were] no moderate rebels” attempting to overthrow Assad.
“The Syrian people recognize, and they know that if President Assad is overthrown, then Al-Qaida or a group like Al-Qaida … will take charge of all of Syria,” she said.
If anything, Americans should feel safer with a director of national intelligence who can accurately foresee what might happen in global affairs.
Semafor cited “two people close to the White House” reportedly “still behind” Gabbard. According to the outlet, one of these sources said the “concerns” about Gabbard are “not people trying to put a knife in Tulsi,” but that “there’s a problem, and nobody can figure it out.”
What these anonymous senators and other opposition are obviously trying to figure out is how to sink Gabbard’s nomination before her scheduled hearing on Jan. 30.
Gabbard, a nearly two-decade veteran, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, and a long-time critic of America’s forever wars is no rookie competing against deep state smear campaigns. Last year, the former Democrat congresswoman was the subject of surveillance under a counterterrorism program within the U.S. Federal Air Marshals Service (FAMS). Gabbard came under surveillance just “one day after she criticized the Biden Administration” on Fox News, according to a letter from the whistleblower watchdog group Empower Oversight.
Now the victim of deep state abuses may be given the keys to oversee the deep state in what would be the worst nightmare for Gabbard’s neocon opponents.
Tristan Justice is a national correspondent for The Federalist and the co-author of “Fat and Unhappy: How ‘Body Positivity’ Is Killing Us (and How to Save Yourself).” He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at Tristan@thefederalist.com. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here. Buy “Fat and Unhappy” here.
Democrat Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono was the only lawmaker on the Senate’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee to oppose the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, former GOP congressman from Georgia Doug Collins.
Amid the slew of confirmation hearings that have taken place, Hirono has been unafraid to poke and prod about nominees’ sex lives, and at one point she accused Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, of being willing to shoot at lawful protesters.
“Would you carry out such an order [to shoot protesters] from President Trump?” Hirono asked Hegseth during his hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, citing reports that the president asked former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to shoot protesters in the leg during the 2020 riots in Washington, D.C., that ensued after the death of George Floyd.
Sen. Mazie Hirono and defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
Hegseth tried to offer a response to Hirono’s question, but the senator would not let him get a word in and instead answered the question for him, “You will shoot protesters in the leg,” she asserted to Hegseth. “Moving on.”
Hirono also has been unafraid to ask each of Trump’s nominees she questioned throughout their confirmation hearings, including Collins, about unfounded allegations of sexual assault.
“As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees, I ask the following two questions,” Hirono posited during the hearing for Trump’s interior secretary nominee, Doug Burgum. “First is, since you became a legal adult have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature? Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?”
Sen. Mazie Hirono and interior secretary nominee former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (Getty Images)
For Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, Hirono asked the same questions about unfounded sexual allegations. She similarly answered her own questions as she did with Hegseth. Bondi, however, clapped back with criticism of her own during the senator’s questioning, noting that Hirono refused to meet with her privately to discuss her concerns ahead of the public hearing.
Trump AG pick Pam Bondi, right, went back and forth with Sen. Mazie Hirono in her confirmation hearing. (Getty Images)
“Sen. Hirono, I wish you had met with me. Had you met with me, we could have discussed many things and gotten to the meat [of your questions],” Bondi told Hirono as she was lobbing questions at the nominee. “You were the only one who refused to meet with me.”
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American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the frontlines of Ame
American Family Association
American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the frontlines of Ame
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American Family Association
American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the frontlines of Ame
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American Family Association
American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the frontlines of Ame
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