Members phkrause Posted February 12 Author Members Posted February 12 Bondi clashes with Democrats as she struggles to turn the page on Epstein files furor Attorney General Pam Bondi launched into a wide-ranging, passionate defense of President Donald Trump, repeatedly shouting at Democrats during a combative hearing in which she postured herself as the Republican’s chief protector and tried to turn the page from persistent criticism of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Pentagon-FAA dispute over lasers to thwart cartel drones led to airspace closure, AP sources say WATCH: US representatives says FAA left them uninformed on El Paso closure Gabbard ends intelligence reform task force after less than a year of work Homeland Security officials voice concerns about looming shutdown US will send troops to Nigeria to train the military to fight extremism Surge of 130,000 US hires last month is a stark contrast to the weak hiring of 2025 CBO: Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade Immigrant rights groups seek to dismiss a Republican lawsuit to exclude noncitizens from US census U.S. citizens and legal residents sue over aggressive immigration raid at Idaho horse racing track US Energy Secretary Chris Wright visits Venezuela to assess oil industry overhaul Close Maduro ally pardoned by Biden once again a target of US criminal investigation The father of a US-based Hong Kong activist is convicted under national security law Lt. Gov. Delgado ends campaign for New York governor Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 12 Author Members Posted February 12 🎥 Axios video: VandeHei on Epstein Image: Axios Republicans are getting a look at the unredacted Epstein files — and some are horrified by what they're seeing, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei says in a "Behind the Curtain" video: "Once you see it, you can't unsee it. And for the first time, they're seeing something, and they're saying something — even if it's deeply offensive to some folks inside the White House, who'd rather move on from the Epstein controversy." What's next: As Republican lawmakers see more of the unredacted files, VandeHei says, "the more that they're going to come out publicly saying, 'You know what? I can't take this anymore. I want all of these files released.'" Watch the video. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 12 Author Members Posted February 12 See No Evil (Al Drago / Bloomberg / Getty) View in browser “I have nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Senate committee yesterday. Perhaps that’s true—but given his recent history, don’t bet on it. During a podcast interview this past fall, Lutnick talked about an unsettling encounter he and his wife had with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who used to be his next-door neighbor, in 2005. After Epstein offered them a house tour and showed them his infamous massage table, Lutnick recalled, he was creeped out and left. “My wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again,” he said. “So I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy.” Only that wasn’t true at all. Documents in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department show repeated, if more cordial than chummy, conversation between the two men, as well as some shared business dealings. That’s okay, you might think—they never hung out socially again. Right? He seemed to confirm that, recently telling The New York Times, “I spent zero time with him.” Well, about that: Yesterday, testifying before Congress, Lutnick reiterated, “I barely had anything to do with that person.” Then he admitted to having visited Epstein’s private island in 2012. “I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation,” Lutnick said. “My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple; they were there as well, with their children. And we had lunch on the island. That is true. For an hour. And we left with all of my children, with my nannies, with my wife.” Lutnick seems understandably eager to show that he was not involved in sexual misconduct, and as Senator Chris Van Hollen noted, there is no evidence that he was. But he has no answer for his misleading statements about his dealings with Epstein, and his previous lies make it harder to believe him now. So much for having nothing to hide. The Trump administration has always been tied to the Epstein scandal—the president himself was once a close friend of Epstein’s—but these new details drag his allies still further into the spotlight. Even before his testimony, Lutnick was facing calls to resign from Democrats as well as from renegade Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The secretary, whose penchant for putting his foot in his mouth was already well established, seems to have held on to his job this long only because he is personally friendly with Donald Trump and because the president refuses to give his political adversaries satisfaction by firing anyone. (This stands in contrast to many other organizations and institutions that have been eager to create distance from Epstein by separating themselves from individuals who were connected to him.) But Lutnick isn’t the only top Trump aide to come up in the new tranche of documents. Navy Secretary John Phelan, a reported billionaire Trump donor who was appointed despite lacking any military or naval experience, was listed as a passenger on flights between London and New York on Epstein’s private plane in 2006. (The flights took place before Epstein was first indicted later that year; Phelan has not been accused of any wrongdoing and has not commented on the revelations.) One reason the Epstein files have created such a stir is that they have revealed the elaborate social and financial ties among so many people in positions of power. It’s not that most or even many of the big names who appear in them were pedophiles or sexual predators, but rather that their dealings with him demonstrate that there’s a wealthy, powerful, globe-trotting club, and the rest of us ain’t in it. Lutnick inadvertently reinforced this image with his mentions of his “nannies,” plural. These glaring markers of privilege are what Senator Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, was talking about this past weekend when he called the Trump administration “a government of, by, and for the ultrarich. It is the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class ruling our country.” The defense that people connected to Epstein—from the billionaire financier Lutnick to the leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky and his wife—have offered is that they didn’t grasp Epstein’s abuses when they socialized with him and were appalled once they did. One problem is that this is sometimes demonstrably false: Lutnick visited the island four years after Epstein’s conviction for sex crimes, and emails show Chomsky offering Epstein public-relations advice after accusations became public. Another problem is that many of them should have known. You don’t have to take my word for it. Take Trump’s. In 2019, he declared his surprise at the Epstein allegations: “No, I had no idea. I had no idea.” But the Palm Beach police chief at the time recalled that Trump commended him in July 2006, when charges first became public. “Thank goodness you’re stopping him; everyone has known he’s been doing this,” Trump said, as reported by Julie K. Brown of the Miami Herald. (Trump may have had his suspicions for some time. In 2002, he told New York that Epstein is “a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”) The Epstein revelations are starting to sink in for members of Congress. “Well, initially, my reaction to all this was, ‘I don’t care. I don’t know what the big deal is.’ But now I see what the big deal is, and it was worth investigating,” Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, told NewsNation. (One reason Lummis may be willing to say so is that she is retiring, which insulates her from Trump’s wrath.) These revelations about Trump’s close allies could affect the GOP’s electoral chances if enough voters become aware of them, but at the same time that members of the Trump administration are popping up in the newly released files, coverage in conservative media outlets has dropped significantly, CNN’s Aaron Blake reports. The result is that Democratic voters, who already dislike and distrust the president, are hearing a great deal about Epstein, but Republican ones, who might be swayed, are not. When MAGA pundits such as Dan Bongino talked about a media cover-up of the Epstein scandal, they were onto something—they were just wrong about the media outlets in question. Related: The president’s most annoying buddy America will be reading the Epstein files for decades. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 🌡️ Greenhouse gas surprise Data: Rhodium Group. (2030 emissions target set in 2021, during the Biden administration.) Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios President Trump is trying to pull the rug out from under federal climate regulation. But the U.S. economy may no longer be standing on it, Axios Future of Energy co-author Amy Harder writes. Why it matters: The energy transition is well underway and is unlikely to be reversed. ⚡ Driving the day: The EPA today is expected to overturn the 2009 "endangerment finding," which determined that greenhouse gases threaten public health and set the foundation for federal regulation of climate pollution. At 1:30 p.m. ET, Trump makes the historic announcement in the Roosevelt Room with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Between the lines: The repeal is legally and symbolically seismic. But its real-world impact may be more muted: It would likely slow emissions cuts — but not reverse them, according to modeling by the Rhodium Group, a New York-based research firm. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 MAGA Names Call for Bondi to Resign After Wild Congressional Meltdown The attorney general went crazy in front of lawmakers as Jeffrey Epstein’s stunned survivors watched on. A flurry of conservative names turned on Pam Bondi after her wild meltdown in front of Congress. On Wednesday, the attorney general was hauled before lawmakers on Capitol Hill to face a grilling for her botched handling of the Epstein files. What followed was a farce, with the 60-year-old lashing out at her Democratic foes with prepared insults at every turn, preferring to talk about President Donald Trump’s claimed economic successes instead of about Epstein’s crimes. Bondi twisted in her seat, pointing and yelling at Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee, accusing them of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and refusing to answer questions as Epstein’s shocked victims watched from the public gallery. The bizarre spectacle prompted condemnation across the board. A visibly stunned Republican Rep. Thomas Massie told reporters after the shouting match: “She didn’t answer anything. She came here ready to talk about the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq, which seems kind of crazy to me.” He was not the only conservative to call out Bondi’s sorry performance, as many rushed to demand her resignation or impeachment. Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of murdering two people during a protest against police violence when he was just 17, wrote: “Pam Bondi needs to resign. Harmeet Dhillon for AG!” Conservative radio host Erick Erickson said Bondi should quit or be fired. Referring to a clip of the AG ranting about stocks instead of answering a question, he wrote on X: “When the Attorney General of the United States is asked why she has prosecuted no one related to Jeffrey Epstein and this is her answer, she should be fired or resign.“But neither will happen, which is another reason the Democrats are going to have a good election year.” Tim Pool, a prominent pro-Donald Trump commentator and podcaster, also broke from Bondi. During an episode of Timcast, posted to YouTube, he declared: “Man, we are a nation of adult children.” He added, “I think Pam Bondi has done a...I give her more credit than people do. I was about to say that I think she’s done a decent job, but I can’t. It’s just...I can’t say it.” “I think they’ve miserably handled the Epstein files. I don’t think we’re serviced as the American people by this kind of yelling,” Pool explained. He also offered a “shout out” to congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the architects of the Epstein Transparency Act, “for getting the job done.” Nick Fuentes, the far-right podcaster, demanded she be impeached even before the meltdown. “Pam Bondi needs to be impeached. You lied about the existence of the files. You lied about unindicted collaborators and accomplices,” he said on his Feb. 9 Rumble show, America First. The white supremacist, considered to be much further to the right than President Donald Trump but who has dined with him, added that the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, must go, too. “There are people that you acknowledge exist who are likely incriminated in the files that you said did not exist. You lied in the furtherance of a cover-up. Pam Bondi has to be impeached. Kash Patel has to be impeached,” he said. He explored the topic in a show after the congressional tantrum. “Pam Bondi FOLDS In Senate Hearing,” said the title of the show. Mary Trump, the estranged niece of the president, said Bondi will remain in her post for a grim reason. “Pam Bondi won’t resign, and she won’t be fired. She’s doing exactly what her boss hired her to do,” she wrote on X. The DOJ has been contacted for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-figures-call-for-pam-bondi-to-resign-after-wild-congress-meltdown-on-jeffrey-epstein/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Laughing ICE Goons Seize Dad Who Fled Ukraine War at Walmart Dmytro Kulyk is facing deportation as refugees become the Trump administration’s latest target. A Ukrainian dad escaped Vladimir Putin’s drone and missile attacks back home only to be grabbed by a band of ICE stooges in a Walmart parking lot in Minneapolis. “I hoped I would find peace in America. I’ve done everything the government required, I don’t understand why I am behind bars,” Dmytro Kulyk told the Daily Beast from the Kandiyohi County Jail in Willmar, Minnesota. The 39-year-old father was getting a pickup order at a Walmart in Maple Grove when he found himself surrounded by immigration agents last month. He’d been working as a delivery driver to make ends meet, while also supporting his family by doing roofing work. Kulyk legally entered the U.S. in late 2023 along with his wife, 38, and daughter, who’s now 5. The family was sponsored by U.S. citizens as part of the Uniting 4 Ukraine program, a humanitarian program set up in April 2022 to allow Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war to live and work in the U.S. on “parole.” Once the initial two-year parole period expires, entrants can file for re-parole to remain in the country longer. That’s exactly what Kulyk says he did. His wife and daughter’s applications were approved. But his remained pending. He said he was putting groceries in his car on Jan. 1 when he was approached by three ICE agents. “I explained to the ICE officers that the war was killing people, that my wife had a disability, that it was violence, terrorism which we had escaped from but one of them began to laugh,” Kulyk told The Daily Beast. “I asked why he was laughing and I was told that he was pro-Russian, wanted Russia to win the war.” He can’t understand why he’s been treated like a criminal. He did everything by the book, he says–paying taxes and filing his immigration paperwork on time, working multiple jobs to take care of his family. He had no criminal record to speak of. His immigration attorney, Julia Bikbova, suggested his re-parole application may have intentionally been stalled to provide immigration authorities with a pretext to deport him. “Our government, our Homeland Security, promised Ukrainians to protect them during the war. There are approximately 280,000 Ukrainians on U4U, Uniting for Ukraine program in the United States, including the Kulyk family,” she told the Daily Beast. “My client did everything the government required him to do: on June 5 he applied for the re-parole and his wife paid $2,040 of fees for her and child’s granted applications. His wife and daughter have recently received their re-paroles but he has not, his application is pending. “ICE detained him as ‘illegal’ and began deportation proceedings: This is a sick way of forcing a man with a clean criminal record to become unlawful in the U.S. by delaying the review of his application, which the very same authority had requested to file.” Kulyk is now terrified he’ll be sent to the frontlines to fight Vladimir Putin’s troops if he is deported back home. He and his family endured relentless Russian attacks before finally deciding to flee their home in the Odesa region in 2023. When they saw ruins on their own street in Chornomorsk, they called their friends in Texas and asked for help, leading to their enrollment in the U4U program thanks to having U.S. citizens as sponsors. Kulyk now can’t stop worrying about his wife, Oksana, and daughter, Elina. “I am worried they can drag my wife and kid out of our home,” he told The Daily Beast, adding that he wanted to appeal directly to American authorities to make them understand he’d done nothing wrong. “Please hear me: I came to America to escape the war, to pray in church and work hard. But now my heartbroken and sick wife has lost over 10 pounds since ICE arrested me on January 1. She’s been panicking, and my little daughter has been crying without me every night – this is unjust,” he said. Oksana says she’s been too “terrified and lost” to leave home while her husband is locked up, afraid that immigration agents might return for the rest of the family. “I am too scared to drive my 5-year-old daughter to school in my husband’s car. I’m terrified ICE will detain me and our daughter will end up alone,” she told The Daily Beast. “This is just as scary as the war in Ukraine, except now we don’t have Dmytro with us. Our daughter Elina cries herself to sleep with her cat plushie. She says the toy is daddy.” Most Ukrainian refugees are women and children but some men have also left the country for various reasons. Kulyk was granted a permit to leave in order to care for a family member with a medical condition. But Kulyk is not the only Ukrainian refugee to be swept up in the Trump administration’s controversial immigration crackdown. Nearly 1,000 miles away, in Philadelphia, Zhanna was poring over messages in a group chat of 349 other refugees called “Ukrainians in Detention.” She joined the group last month, when her friends Andrii and Yaroslav ended up in detention. Although Bartosh has legal Temporary Protected Status, she stopped going to the office and now works from home. “ICE rounds up men who buy tools or work in construction, so every day I call my husband, a construction worker, to check if he is OK. Even when the war started in Ukraine and we had to escape abroad, the same morning I wasn’t as stressed as I am now,” she told the Daily Beast. “In our chat I read that all arrestees are men, that at least five of them have signed up for self-deportation… but where is there to go now? Europe is also deporting Ukrainians. Our TPS is good until October but we want to understand, are we really legal in the United States, or is it time to pack up our suitcases again?” Immigration attorneys count about 300 cases of detained Ukrainians across the United States and up to 150 refugees deported to Ukraine, Bikbova said. “Most of the arrested Ukrainians are men, the majority of them have a clean criminal record but as we see in Kulyk’s case, they are equated to people who jumped the border, broke the law,” attorney Bikbova told the Daily Beast. “Behind every deported man, there are crying women and children, left without support. For some mysterious reason, we see male Ukrainian refugees being arrested and put on airplanes. If he gets deported, my client Kulyk will most certainly go to the front.” Trump’s administration has also been deporting Russian asylum seekers. According to a report by Current Times, more than 50,000 Russians have fled the war and political repression to the U.S. since February 2022. Journalist Ilya Azar has been covering the deportations for Novaya Gazeta. “They send out 40-60 people on each plane. There have been five airplanes,” Azar told the Daily Beast on Tuesday. The deportation planes transit to Russia through Egypt, and Russian security services meet the deported citizens. Azar’s report noted that “all men received draft notices” upon their arrival in December. https://www.thedailybeast.com/laughing-ice-goons-seize-dad-who-fled-ukraine-war-at-walmart/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 MAGA-Coded Anchor’s Show Producer Rips CBS in Fiery Farewell The “CBS Evening News” producer said news stories were no longer judged on their “journalistic merit.” A CBS Evening News producer has complained that journalists are being forced to “self-censor or avoid challenging narratives” under the network’s new Trump-friendly management.The attack came in a fiery farewell note to colleagues from producer Alicia Hastey explaining her decision to take a buyout and leave the program. The letter was shared on X by New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin. Hastey does not mention by name either Bari Weiss, the MAGA-curious TV novice now running CBS News, or Tony Dokoupil, the much-criticized Evening News host Weiss installed. Hastey does namecheck and quote the late Walter Cronkite, the legendary CBS News anchor with whom the lightweight Dokoupil has been unfavorably compared. “I am proud of the work that’s been done in my time here,” Hastey wrote before sharing some of her proudest moments as a producer, including “spotlight[ing] numerous communities buoyed by love, kindness and care for humanity.” “But, there has been a sweeping new vision prioritizing a break from traditional broadcast norms to embrace what has been described as ‘heterodox’ journalism,” she continued. “The truth is that commitment to those people and the stories they have to tell is increasingly becoming impossible. Stories may instead be evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations,” Hastey wrote, adding that this created “a dynamic that pressures producers and reporters to self-censor or avoid challenging narratives that might trigger backlash or unfavorable headlines.” Hastey made a point to note that the problems faced by the newsroom since Weiss was appointed last year by billionare Trump ally David Ellison, do not detract from the talent of the reporters who remain at the network and continue to produce “thoughtful and important work, even under difficult circumstances.” “That is precisely what makes this moment so heartbreaking: the very excellence we seek to sustain is hindered by fear and uncertainty.” She continued her farewell letter by turning to Cronkite. Dokoupil raised eyebrows in January when he claimed that he would be “more accountable” than the CBS legend. Hastey does not seem convinced. She quoted Cronkite as saying: “If that is what makes us liberals, so be it, just as long as in reporting the news we adhere to the first ideals of good journalism - that news reports must be fair, accurate and unbiased.” “Cronkite’s idea is one of the best I’ve encountered,” Hastey wrote. “He understood that labels are inevitable, but standards are what matter. What defines journalism is not what critics call it, but whether it remains faithful to those principles.” “I’ve always taken comfort in the belief that if we hold fast to those first ideals, trust follows. But those ideals cannot stand on their own. They require vigilance. They require courage.” The Daily Beast has contacted Hastey and CBS News for comment. Hastey joined the network in 2021 after previously working at NBC News for seven years. She worked alongside correspondents like Janet Shamlian, Major Garrett, and James Brown, all of whom she mentioned in her farewell letter. She joins at least 10 of her colleagues who took buyouts this week, at least six of whom worked as producers for the network’s flagship evening news program. “It’s a lot of people,” one CBS insider told the New York Post. “Seems like people are jumping ship,” said another. The exodus comes just weeks after former morning show co-host Dokoupil took over as evening news anchor, resulting in the network receiving some of its lowest ratings in 26 years. Since Dokoupil’s Jan.5 debut, CBS Evening News has brought in an average of 4.3 million viewers per night, 560,000 of whom are between 25 and 54 years old, resulting in its lowest-rated January since at least 2000. In addition, overall ratings are down 20 percent since this time last year when Norah O’Donnell hosted the show. Weiss has faced significant pushback from employees since joining the network and attempting to steer it in a more conservative direction. After Weiss shelved a 60 Minutes special on the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador in December, claiming that it needed further comment from the White House, CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi condemned the move, describing it as political. “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices,” Alfonsi, 53, wrote to her colleagues. “It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision; it is a political one.” “If the standard for airing a story becomes ‘the government must agree to be interviewed,’ then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast. We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-coded-anchors-show-producer-rips-cbs-in-fiery-farewell/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 How Nasty Woman Pam Bondi Just Lost Her Audience of One Guess who doesn’t like an ugly, insulting, shouting performance in Congress—unless it comes from a man? Pam Bondi did what embattled attorneys generally do when under siege at Wednesday’s Oversight Committee hearing. She went on offense. She snapped at Thomas Massie. She sparred with Pramila Jayapal. She insulted Jamie Raskin. She defended her handling of the Epstein files with visible irritation and sharp elbows. And in doing so, she may have taken a far more existential risk than any policy misstep: she forgot the audience.Because these hearings, like so much political theater now, are staged for an audience of one: the great and powerful Donald Trump. So while Bondi thought she was playing the role of loyal defender, her sneering responses and burn book takedowns turned her into something else: the Angry Woman. And that is not something her boss would order from Central Casting.Bondi heads the Department of Justice under enormous pressure after her botched and chaotic release of the Epstein files. Victims’ advocates have complained about insensitivity. Lawmakers—Democrat and Republican—have complained about opacity. And Trumpworld whispers that loyalty is necessary but not sufficient. Competence, or at least the appearance of control, matters, too. In this White House, survival is a performance review conducted in real time, with the remote control in Trump’s hand. Yet Trump has made something else equally clear over the years: he does not like “angry women.” He branded Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” and repeatedly painted her as shrill and enraged. His preference has always skewed toward the ornamental: Melania Trump, serene and sphinx-like; Ivanka Trump, polished and now conspicuously silent in his second administration. Recently, he belittled Kaitlin Collins for not smiling, making it seem like a personal affront to him that a “young woman” could be in his presence and not be thrilled. Trump prefers women who smile. Women who glide. Women who understand that in Trump’s court, volume control is permitted, but only if it belongs to him. Bondi is not ornamental. She is a former Florida attorney general, a seasoned prosecutor, and one of Trump’s personal lawyers during various impeachment and legal battles. Trump himself once boasted that his legal team might not be “the top lawyers,” but they were “the hottest lawyers.” He hired Alina Habba to lead his defense in the E. Jean Carroll case. Habba didn’t need LinkedIn to get the job. She was spotted lounging poolside in a bikini at Bedminster. In Trump’s world, competence is helpful; telegenic loyalty is essential. In that ecosystem, fury is a dangerous currency. Rage from a man reads as strength. What worked for the puce-faced, fleck-spitting Brett Kavanaugh, whose volcanic Senate testimony was recast by allies as righteous indignation, may not translate when the outburst comes from a lady lawyer. Kavanaugh’s anger was canonized. Bondi’s could come across as mental instability. And instability is fatal. That’s Trump’s lane. The optics of today’s performance were complicated. By attacking Massie and Jayapal rather than centering empathy for Epstein’s victims, Bondi risked appearing defensive rather than resolute. An attorney general under fire for mishandling sensitive documents does not gain altitude by trading barbs and shouting about the stock market. She gains it by projecting calm authority. Especially when the case involves sexual exploitation and abuse — an arena in which tone matters and the temperature should be measured in compassion, not decibels. Trump likes dominance. He likes control. He likes television moments in which he is the axis and others orbit smoothly around him. What he does not enjoy is watching subordinates seize the emotional spotlight or, worse, look as though they might combust on live television. If this were an episode of The Apprentice, Bondi’s flare-up would be used as a moment of high drama, a loss of composure. Trump might appreciate the theatrical ruthlessness (always good for ratings) while also sensing an unexpected plot twist. Much like Shonda Rhimes, known for killing off the audience’s favorite character when they least expect it, he has never hesitated to turn on once-favored aides. “You’re fired” has always been more about mood than merit. It’s possible that Bondi’s ugly performance could be her last. And if it is, it’s her own fault. The fix was obvious. If only she had smiled more. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-nasty-woman-pam-bondi-just-lost-her-audience-of-one/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Border czar says Minnesota immigration crackdown is over, after angry protests and 2 fatal shootings MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Trump administration is ending a massive immigration crackdown that swept across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and other Minnesota communities, border czar Tom Homan said Thursday, concluding an operation that led to thousands of arrests, angry mass protests and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-metro-surge-ice-523d18d5d75c81cbf9f24c602f1884ff? Trump’s EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned US fight against climate change WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressive move by the Republican president to roll back climate regulations. https://apnews.com/article/trump-climate-change-epa-clean-air-act-c149d5ea6ec71c862e6c4b578adf92cd? 🎣 On the hook. An overwhelming share of the costs incurred by the Trump administration’s tariff regime has fallen on U.S. firms and consumers, not foreign exporters, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The average tariff rate on U.S.-imported goods rose from 2.6 percent to 13 percent in 2025, thanks to April’s “Liberation Day,” and until August, a whopping 94 percent of tariff hikes were paid for by U.S. companies and consumers, not foreign ones. The rate sank to a low of 86 percent in November. Meanwhile, U.S. import prices for goods subject to Trump’s tariffs grew by 11 percent more than those not. A staggering 60 percent of Americans say they disapprove of Trump’s tariff regime, with 39 percent who strongly disapprove, according to Pew Research. Those who disapprove include 28 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents polled. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Trump Leaps to Bondi’s Defense With Wild Epstein Tirade It appears at least one person enjoyed Pam Bondi’s unhinged rant. President Donald Trump has leapt to Pam Bondi’s defense amid MAGA calls for the embattled attorney general to resign following her astonishing meltdown during a Congressional hearing on the Epstein files. In a 242-word tirade on Truth Social, the president declared Bondi’s bombastic performance on Wednesday as “fantastic” under what he said was “intense fire from the “Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics”. “Nobody cared about Epstein when he was alive, they only cared about him when they thought he could create Political Harm to a very popular President who has brought our Country back from the brink of extinction, and very quickly, at that!” added Trump, who is referred to in the files more than a million times. “In fact, this attempt by the Democrats to take away attention from tremendous Republican SUCCESS is backfiring badly.” The comments came after Trump’s handpicked chief lawmaker was hauled before the House Judiciary Committee to examine her department’s botched handling of the files, which included identifying Epstein’s victims while keeping the names of co-conspirators hidden. However, instead of answering questions directly, Bondi spent much of the hearing yelling incredulously at lawmakers, sulking in her seat with arms folded, or sucking up to the president as Epstein’s stunned victims watched in the public gallery. She also came under fire after lawmakers spotted her using flashcards filled with talking points, and flipping through a binder that appeared to show her department was tracking Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s search history on Epstein and his networks. “The Dow is over 50,000 right now!” Bondi screamed bizarrely at one point under questioning from House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin. “The S&P at almost 7,000, and the Nasdaq smashing records. That’s what we should be talking about!” Bondi’s performance was immediately pilloried from both sides of politics, with a number of conservatives even calling for her to stand down. “When the Attorney General of the United States is asked why she has prosecuted no one related to Jeffrey Epstein and this is her answer, she should be fired or resign,” said conservative radio host Erik Erikson. “I don’t think we’re serviced as the American people by this kind of yelling,” pro-Trump commentator and podcaster Tim Pool, noting that “we are a nation of adult children.” And Republican Thomas Massie, whose efforts forced the administration to release the files, told reporters: “She didn’t answer anything. She came here ready to talk about the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq, which seems kind of crazy to me.” But Trump, however, hit back at Massie in his post, claiming he “made a total fool of himself... fighting aimlessly against a hopeless agenda of Hate and Stupidity.” “AG Pam Bondi, under intense fire from the Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics, was fantastic at yesterday’s Hearing on the never ending saga of Jeffrey Epstein, where the one thing that has been proven conclusively, much to their chagrin, was that President Donald J. Trump has been 100% exonerated of their ridiculous Russia, Russia, Russia type charges,” he said. “Actually, it is the SLIMEBALL Democrats, many of them big Donors and Politicians, that have been proven GUILTY!” The hearing took place weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3.5 million heavily redacted new files relating to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking networks. But this was only about half of the six million documents the department reviewed, prompting renewed fears of a cover-up. Trump, who has consistently claimed the files were a “hoax,” was initially featured about 5,300 times in the heavily redacted trove. But after lawmakers were allowed to view un-redacted versions of the documents this week, the president’s name appeared more than a million times, suggesting there is much more the public does not know. “I mean, there’s tons of redacted stuff,” Raskin told Axios in an interview. “And [Trump’s] name, I think I put his name, and it appears more than a million times. So it’s all over the place.” Bondi, meanwhile, has come under fire from MAGA world ever since she claimed in February last year that the Epstein files were “sitting on my desk”—only to send out a memo in July declaring that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted” and “we did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.” She also enraged right-wing influencers after inviting them to a White House photo-op where they received binders of documents containing information that was essentially already in the public domain. But her antics this week have put her under renewed scrutiny from both sides of the aisle, as well as survivors who have long been demanding accountability for Epstein’s crimes. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-leaps-to-bondis-defense-with-wild-epstein-tirade/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Dem Makes Shock Claim About Identity of Woman in Horrifying Andrew Photos Ted Lieu grilled Attorney General Pam Bondi about the images released as part of the Epstein files. The woman photographed being straddled by disgraced former Prince Andrew was a sex trafficking victim, a Democratic congressman has claimed. California Rep. Ted Lieu made the explosive allegation about King Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, during Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Trump administration’s botched release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Lieu showed Bondi two damning photos of Andrew on top of an unidentified woman, which were released by the DOJ in a batch of Epstein files last month, during the hearing. Lieu suggested that because the woman’s identity was protected, she must have been a victim of the late financier’s sex trafficking operation. The Epstein Transparency Act allowed the administration to redact any information from the files that could identify a sex abuse victim before making them public. “We are looking at a sex trafficking victim,” Lieu said. “Under the federal Victims of Trafficking Protection Act, not only is Jeffrey Epstein guilty, but anyone who patronizes Epstein’s sex operation is also guilty of a crime. “That’s why I find it absolutely despicable that you sought to protect Epstein’s clients like former Prince Andrew.” Lieu then noted that the DOJ and FBI declared in July 2025 that no one else would be charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes—a statement that triggered monumental bipartisan backlash—meaning the agencies had effectively “closed the case” on Epstein’s alleged abusers.“These two photos staring you in the face are evidence of a crime and more than enough evidence to predicate an investigation against former Prince Andrew,” Lieu said. “So I ask you, Attorney General Pam Bondi, why did you shut down this investigation last July, and why have you not prosecuted former Prince Andrew?” In response, Bondi reverted to a familiar tactic she used throughout Wednesday’s hearing of avoiding the question while launching attacks, many of which were prepped in a “burn book.” “I don’t believe you asked Merrick Garland these questions when he was attorney general,” Bondi said. Lieu interrupted Bondi to also criticize Garland, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, saying he “dropped the ball” in investigating Epstein. “As did Attorney General Bill Barr, as did Alex Acosta, a whole string of failures,” Lieu said. “But you are in charge. You have the power to change things, to hold these men accountable, and you’re doing the opposite. You’re protecting them.” Andrew, who remained friends with Epstein for years after he was first exposed as a child sex offender, has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the disgraced financier. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent victims, alleged she was abused by Andrew when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein. Andrew denied the claims but reached a legal settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum in 2022. Police and prosecutors in the U.K. have also held talks about investigating Andrew over claims he shared confidential government material with Epstein. Andrew no longer has a media spokesperson. The Daily Beast contacted a media professional who previously worked for him, who is understood to still be in contact with the former prince. https://www.thedailybeast.com/dem-makes-shock-claim-about-identity-of-woman-in-horrifying-andrew-photos/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Trump Suffers Humiliating Blow as Voters Declare Him Worse Than Biden “Sleepy Joe” is starting to look really competent right about now. Americans think Joe Biden did a better job in the White House than Donald Trump has so far, according to new polls. A trio of surverys suggest that Trump’s popularity is plummeting ahead of the midterms in November. The latest finds that 46 percent think Biden did a better job, compared with 40 percent who think the opposite. The new YouGov/Economist collection follows a Rasmussen Reports poll a few days earlier and a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll a couple of days before that. All are likely to be uncomfortable reading for the president. Harvard’s ran from Jan. 28–29 and found that 51 percent of registered voters thought Trump was doing a worse job. Rasmussen’s, which ran from Feb. 2–4, returned results from probable voters showing that 48 percent said Biden did a better job, while 40 percent said Trump did. “President Trump was overwhelmingly elected by nearly 80 million Americans to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast. “The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.” Rasmussen is loved by the Trump administration, which amplifies its findings when its findings suit it. Trump, 79, has been known to use their numbers to brag, and so is likely to have taken little joy from the organization’s latest headline. “Worse Than Biden? 58 percent Don’t See Trump’s ‘Golden Age,’” it read. Trump has also been polling poorly among key groups that his allies would have previously regarded as safe bets. On Tuesday, CNN data guru Harry Enten even suggested that Trump’s fortress of non-college voters was beginning to crumble. “If you know anything about Donald Trump, you know that he built his two presidential victories on winning voters [who are] without a college degree,” he said. “Well, Donald Trump’s base with non-college voters is absolutely collapsing.” Meanwhile, the new YouGov/Economist poll showed a 51-point swing against Trump among 18–29 year-olds since he returned to office. Voters are recognizing the change of mood, too, it found. Ahead of the midterms, 43 percent of respondents said they expected a Democratic victory in November, compared to just 27 percent who said they predicted a Republican victory. He’s also been flayed on the big issues. The new poll found that 57 percent disapproved of his economic policies, while only 34 percent approved, despite Trump repeatedly claiming that the economy is in rude health. On his flagship policy area of immigration, just 40 percent approved, compared to 53 percent who think this administration is not doing a good job. Another 64 percent disapprove of his renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center. In all, it found that 62 percent of respondents thought the country was “off on the wrong track.” The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-suffers-humiliating-blow-as-voters-declare-him-worse-than-biden/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Realtors Raise Alarm Over ‘New Housing Crisis’ Under Trump The median cost for a house sold last month represents the highest January price on record. President Donald Trump’s second administration is witnessing increasing signs of strain on the housing market, with realtors sounding the alarm over slowed sales nationwide amid the highest January prices on record. The National Association of Realtors reports that high property values, limited listings, and shakier economic sentiment resulted in an 8.4 percent decline in sales in December. Compared with the same month last year, sales were down 4.4 percent overall, marking the weakest level since late 2023 and the sharpest monthly pullback since early 2022. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is calling it “a new housing crisis.” Buyers are “struggling,” he said, adding that “the movement is not happening. Americans are stuck.” The latest figures reflect deals finalized after late-year contract signings, a period when mortgage costs hovered before easing slightly. The 30-year fixed rate now stands near 6.1 percent, with declines recorded in every region, and the South and West posting the largest drops. https://www.thedailybeast.com/us-realtors-sound-alarm-over-new-housing-crisis-under-trump-as-sales-drop-and-prices-soar/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 13 Author Members Posted February 13 Trump’s EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned US fight against climate change The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressive move by the president to roll back climate regulations. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Key Democrat accuses the Justice Department of ‘spying’ on lawmakers reviewing Epstein files Judge blocks Pentagon from punishing Sen. Mark Kelly for call to resist unlawful orders RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding 2 US Navy ships collide in the Caribbean, leaving 2 sailors with minor injuries Trump is gathering Latin American leaders in Florida in March, ahead of his trip to China Judge blocks Trump administration from moving former death row inmates to ‘Supermax’ prison Top US prosecutor appointed to New York Albany office by judges is immediately ousted Puerto Rico governor signs law to recognize fetus as human being as critics warn of consequences Nebraska to hand over sensitive voter data to the Justice Department after court loss Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the BBC is set to go to trial in 2027, US judge says Melania Trump says she doesn’t eat ‘much sweets’ as she celebrates Valentine’s Day with children Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Quiet Quitting View in browser After the administration announced the expansion of its law-enforcement surge in Minnesota early this year, calling it the “largest DHS operation ever,” Donald Trump laid out a series of stinging critiques of the state, which he said had an “incompetent governor,” a huge welfare-fraud problem, high crime, and a corrupt voting system. “What a beautiful place, but it’s being destroyed,” he said. Today, the White House “border czar” Tom Homan announced the effective end to the mission, promising a “significant drawdown” over the coming week. “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said. The announcement should be treated skeptically. When Trump ousted the Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino last month, the administration softened its tone but maintained a large and heavy-handed presence in Minneapolis. But Trump has good reasons to back down: The operation has been a political and moral disaster. Officers shot and killed two American citizens, and public opinion has turned against it. The mission can hardly be said to have succeeded on Trump’s terms, either. Tim Walz remains governor, though he is not running for reelection. The state has refused to hand over voter rolls that the Justice Department tried to grab as a condition of a pullout. Minneapolis has seen a significant drop in crime in recent years, but the surge has arguably done more harm than good on that front: As Senator Amy Klobuchar noted last month, two of the city’s three January homicides were committed by federal agents. Meanwhile, the federal prosecutor who oversaw the welfare-fraud investigation resigned in protest of Trump-administration decisions (and is now representing a journalist whom the administration charged with dubious crimes). Trump’s initial argument about the situation in Minnesota was that it was so dire, it required uniquely forceful action. Yet he’s now ready to pull back without achieving any of the goals he laid out. For another president, sending the agents home could be an acknowledgment of rethinking that calculus or reckoning with mistakes made. But that’s not how Trump has framed the decision. “We’re pulling out because we’ve done a great job there,” Trump told NBC News last week, going on to insult Minnesota’s governor and Minneapolis’s mayor. This fits into a pattern of his second term. The president announces a big push; it fails to achieve its goals and is roundly rejected by the people he claims it will benefit; he gives up in a huff. Trump’s mantra is You can’t fire me—I quit! When Trump began deploying the National Guard to liberal cities such as Chicago and Portland in Democratic-led states around the country, he insisted that it was necessary to fight crime—even though crime was already dropping sharply, and National Guard troops aren’t trained in law enforcement and have limits on what they can do. (The president also said that he wanted to use cities as “training grounds for our military.”) Because state leaders opposed the deployments, Trump had to federalize the National Guard, but the states challenged that in court. In December, the Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the president’s ability to nationalize the National Guard in Illinois, which used the same rationale he’d employed elsewhere. A spokesperson promised that the administration would “continue working day in and day out to safeguard the American public,” but apparently Trump decided that didn’t require the National Guard after all. Rather than pursue other possible legal avenues, the White House quietly dropped the matter, pulling all federalized troops from cities. This isn’t just about armed federal agents in the streets, though. As I wrote earlier this month, Trump insisted that he had big plans for the Kennedy Center, the capital’s premier performing-arts hall, when he embarked on an unprecedented takeover, removing much of the center’s board, pushing out its leaders, and slapping his own name on it. But now, with those efforts producing a barren schedule and empty chairs, Trump appears to just be giving up. He has announced that the Kennedy Center will close for two years starting in July, and he’s been vague about what will happen during the closure. These examples capture the haphazard and capricious nature of Trump’s presidency. On the one hand, he has insisted in each case that the circumstances are so urgent or dangerous that they require unprecedented action and assertions of federal power. Yet once he encounters pushback, he decides that the problems are not so serious that they require sustained commitment or a real attempt to defend them. Instead, he just walks away. Trump is no more steadfast in foreign affairs. During the run-up to the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement, Trump portrayed himself as a diplomat par excellence, the man who had ended six—no, seven—no, eight wars. But his frustrations with the difficulty of actually doing diplomacy kept showing through. In spring of last year and then again in the summer, Trump engaged in perfunctory work to broker negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, but as soon as they foundered on Russian intractability, he threw up his hands and said he wouldn’t bother. Now he seems to have abandoned his quest to be seen as a peacemaker altogether. After kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last month, he began demanding control of Greenland. “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump ranted to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. For understandable reasons, that approach was not popular with anyone: not with Denmark, of which Greenland is a part; not with Greenlanders; not with European allies; and not with the American people, who remain unconvinced of the need for annexation. So Trump did what came naturally—he gave up, accepted what was effectively already the status quo, and said that it was what he’d wanted all along. Related: It wasn’t Democrats who persuaded Trump to change course. Trump made a bad bet on the Kennedy Center. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler to resign after emails show close ties to Jeffrey Epstein NEW YORK (AP) — Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at storied investment bank Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, announced her resignation Thursday, after emails between her and Jeffrey Epstein showed a close relationship where she described him as an “older brother” and downplayed his sex crimes. https://apnews.com/article/kathy-ruemmler-resigns-goldman-sachs-epstein-3ba7b9e87cc8e38f563f91917630e484? Trump says change in power in Iran ‘would be the best thing that could happen’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that a change in power in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen” as the U.S. administration weighs whether to take military action against Tehran. https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-aircraft-carrier-military-8db3fab10476949acda8b973be416204? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 🥊 Resistance rising Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Getty Images Little by little, week after week, a subtle but significant shift is unfolding in American politics: Institutions and even a small but growing number of Republicans are standing up to President Trump, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Why it matters: This is hardly COVID, where everyone seemed to resist everything — or even a return to Normal Times, when CEOs and Republicans said something when they saw something alarming. But the law of political gravity is starting to apply to Trump. Simply put, the more unpopular his policies and tactics, the easier it is for even scared Republicans to speak up and institutions to hold their ground. To be clear, the number of House and Senate Republicans willing to cross Trump publicly remains tiny. But everywhere else, resistance is growing. Look how 2026 has started for Trump, and the new pushback he faces, as synthesized by Axios' Zachary Basu: ⚖️ Retribution: A federal grand jury unanimously rejected the Justice Department's attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a video they made urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. It's at least the fifth time that charges against Trump's adversaries or protesters have been turned away by a grand jury. A federal judge also shut down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to punish Navy veteran Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over his role in the video. 🚨 ICE raids: Trump's border czar Tom Homan announced an end to the 10-week ICE surge in Minneapolis yesterday. The president acknowledged his mass deportation campaign could use a "softer touch." 🪖 National Guard: Trump withdrew federalized National Guard troops from L.A., Chicago and Portland after repeated legal defeats and opposition from local leaders, dealing a blow to his efforts to crack down on crime in Democratic-run cities. 📦 Tariffs: Six House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a resolution rescinding Trump's tariffs on Canada. The vote became possible only after a smaller group of Republicans staged a floor rebellion against GOP leadership. 🗂️ Epstein files: Trump's push to shut down MAGA's Jeffrey Epstein obsession backfired spectacularly. The Justice Department is still grappling with backlash, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) voicing rare criticism over revelations that DOJ tracked what lawmakers searched while reviewing the unredacted files. 📽️ Racism: A chorus of Republicans, led by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), condemned Trump's reposting of a video that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The White House initially defended the decision to post the video, but removed it from Trump's account, blaming a staffer. Later, the president said he "didn't make a mistake." 🇩🇰 Greenland: Trump dominated Davos last month with his threats to seize Greenland by any means necessary — only to retreat amid market turmoil, European fury, warnings from congressional Republicans, and a vague "deal" promising the U.S. greater access to the Arctic territory. 🏦 Fed: The DOJ's criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell has drawn deep skepticism from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who has vowed to block confirmation of Powell's successor, Kevin Warsh, unless the probe is dropped. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios in response to a query about this column: "President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party and anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves." "Under President Trump's leadership, Republicans will remain united together against the radical Democrats, who will destroy our country once again, if given the chance, with wide-open borders, noncitizens voting in elections, and horrible economic policy." The bottom line: Trump remains the dominant force in American politics. But the automatic deference that defined his first year is eroding. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Trump boasts of over $1.5B in political funds. How he chooses to spend it could rock the midterms Trump’s stockpile — which dwarfs any amounts raised by his predecessors in their second terms — is not easy to precisely calculate. But what is not in question is that it represents a mountain of cash that could reshape Republican politics for years to come — if he chooses. People close to Trump say the main benefit of all that cash is unmatched influence heading into November. Read more. What to know: They insist Trump is eager to help Republicans so his political agenda isn’t stymied, like when Democratic victories derailed his first-term agenda after 2018’s midterms. His stockpile has helped the GOP build a sizable cash advantage over Democrats ahead of November, at least so far. Trump on Wednesday vowed political consequences for Republicans opposing his tariff policies, and could spend big to hurt them in GOP primaries. Still, the extent to which Trump will open his pocketbook in congressional races remains to be seen. Much of Trump’s political cash comes from the MAGA Inc. super PAC, which raised $100-plus million in the last six months of 2025 and entered this year with more than $300 million. The Republican National Committee reported raising $172 million last year. There’s also a constellation of pro-Trump nonprofits. “Because there are virtually no restrictions on what super PAC money can be used for, it essentially can be operated as a slush fund at the disposal of whoever controls it,” said Daniel Weiner, a former Federal Election Commission attorney and current director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says, as Iran tensions high As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how? Scientific studies calculate climate change as health danger, while Trump calls it a ‘scam’ A look at false claims made by the Trump administration as it revokes a key scientific finding Judge temporarily blocks Trump officials from rescinding health grants to some Democratic-led states Judge says US must help bring back some of the Venezuelans deported to notorious prison 2 Mexican Navy ships laden with humanitarian aid dock in Cuba as US blockade sparks energy crisis Trump immigration officials shown video of Alex Pretti’s death in tense Senate hearing A judge orders DHS to give Minnesota detainees swift access to lawyers before transfers Affordable housing residents near Portland ICE building to ask judge to limit feds’ use of tear gas Judge dismisses California deportation case for Mexican father of 3 US Marines DEA supervisor arrested as US shutters Dominican Republic office during visa-fraud probe Arizona GOP candidate drops out of primary, narrowing field to two Analilia Mejia, progressive ally of Bernie Sanders, wins special New Jersey House primary GOP senator says he’s open to compromise on Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve Indian unions and farmers stage a nationwide strike over interim trade deal with US Palestinian protester, detained for nearly a year, says ‘inhumane’ jail conditions prompted seizure Virginia Supreme Court rules US Marine’s adoption of an Afghan war orphan will stand Judge reads death threats during hearing on Trump decision to end legal protections for Haitians Trump nominates a hospitality executive to lead the National Park Service Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Wannabe President ICE Barbie’s Fake ‘Cabinet’ Meetings Exposed Kristi Noem is said to have “annoyed” Donald Trump with her White House ambitions. Kristi Noem riled up White House officials by referring to meetings she led at the Department of Homeland Security as “cabinet meetings,” according to a report.Noem, dubbed “Ice Barbie” for her love of cosplaying in uniform roles, seemed to be playing presidential dress-up by referring to internal DHS meetings with subagency heads by the same name as high-level gatherings between the commander-in-chief and top Cabinet officials.Donald Trump’s aides viewed Noem’s labeling of her DHS get-togethers as meetings of her “cabinet” as a troubling sign that the homeland security secretary was more focused on her own presidential ambitions than on advancing the administration’s message, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Trump was also reportedly “annoyed” after Noem set aside $200 million from the department’s budget to fund an ad campaign—in which she herself starred—warning immigrants in the country illegally to “leave now.” The president asked White House staff where Noem had secured the funding for the ads, with insiders telling the Journal they believed the campaign was another signal she was laying the groundwork for a future presidential run. A DHS spokesperson defended Noem, saying it was appropriate to call the gatherings “DHS component cabinet meetings” and that the $200 million ad campaign was coordinated with the White House and has been “tremendously successful.” Noem was once considered a frontrunner to be Trump’s 2024 running mate. However, the former South Dakota governor destroyed her chances of becoming vice president after she wrote about shooting her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, in her book No Going Back. The detail about the fake Cabinet meetings was one of several explosive revelations in the Journal’s report about Noem and the “constant chaos” at DHS. The outlet also reported that Noem and top Trump ally Cory Lewandowski—with whom she has long been rumored to be having an affair—have been traveling together on a luxury 737 MAX jet typically reserved for “high-profile deportations,“ complete with a private cabin in back. Trump and several senior advisers are said to be “uncomfortable” with the pair’s relationship, with the alleged affair described by insiders as the “worst-kept secret in D.C.” Noem and Lewandowski, both of whom are married, have denied the allegations. In February 2025, The Daily Beast’s The Swamp newsletter reported that Lewandowski was spotted taking out the trash at Noem’s Washington, D.C., home. Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, is also frequently spotted at the military base home usually reserved for the top Coast Guard official, which Noem moved into last year. The Journal also described a ridiculous incident in which Lewandowski tried to have a Coast Guard pilot fired after a blanket Noem was traveling with was left behind on a plane. Noem has to disembark from a plane due to a maintenance issue. After boarding another plane to continue her journey, she discovered her blanket had not been moved to the second plane. Lewandowski then fired the pilot and said he would have to take a commercial flight home upon arrival. The pilot was later reinstated after the pair were unable to find another pilot to fly them back. The Daily Beast has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/wannabe-president-ice-barbie-kristi-noems-fake-cabinet-meetings-exposed/? ps:This is definitely one of the best of the best?? Obviously not!!!!! I guess another one for under the bus????? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 War Hero Skewers Pentagon Pete Over His Failed Revenge Plot Mark Kelly, who retired from the military in 2011, calmly eviscerated Pete Hegseth for his failure to gag him. Sen. Mark Kelly has ripped into Pete Hegseth after a judge blocked the Pentagon chief’s attempts to censure and demote him.Hegseth and President Trump said the retired combat veteran and decorated war hero was guilty of “sedition” when he and five other lawmakers urged service members not to follow unlawful orders.But District Judge Richard Leon, who was appointed by President George W Bush in 2001, blocked Hegseth’s efforts—setting off a war of words on X. “This will be immediately appealed. Sedition is sedition, ‘Captain.’” Hegseth wrote on Thursday, sharing a New York Post piece about his embarrassing loss. Kelly, who retired from the military in 2011 after serving as both a combat pilot and astronaut, calmly eviscerated Hegseth, using the judge’s opinion that quashed the efforts of the head of the so-called ‘War Department.’ Kelly shared a grab of the conclusion from District Judge Richard Leon, which said, in part: “Rather than trying to shrink the First Amendment liberties of retired servicemembers, Secretary Hegseth and his fellow Defendants might reflect and be grateful for the wisdom and expertise that retired servicemembers have brought to public discussions and debate on military matters in our Nation over the past 250 years.” Kelly followed up with a video message calling out Hegseth, the former Fox News host whom Donald Trump hand-picked to defend the U.S. despite a contentious history including sexual misconduct allegations (which he denies), scrutiny over nonprofit finances, and past allegations of boozing on the job.“Today’s ruling was a victory for free speech, but don’t expect Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth to give up. We have to keep standing up to this Administration when they undermine Americans’ rights,” Kelly wrote alongside the video, in which he vowed to keep fighting for freedom of speech without bowing to “intimidation.” “Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth tried to silence me, and in doing so threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of retired veterans,” he said in the clip. He said the fight “isn’t over,” because “Donald Trump has never been the type of person to admit when he’s wrong.” In his decision, which was peppered with an unusual amount of exclamation points, Judge Leon said that Hegseth’s defense was spurious as it relied on a “doctrine that military servicemembers enjoy less vigorous First Amendment protections.” “Unfortunately for Secretary Hegseth, no court has ever extended those principles to retired servicemembers, much less a retired servicemember serving in Congress and exercising oversight responsibility over the military. This Court will not be the first to do so!” he wrote. Leon also blasted the Trump administration’s argument that military decisions are exempt from judicial review. “This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees,” he wrote. The group of lawmakers who participated in the video last November included Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, along with Sens. Kelly and Elissa Slotkin. “You can refuse illegal orders,” they said in the video, referring to pressure from the Trump administration put on military and intelligence personnel. https://www.thedailybeast.com/war-hero-skewers-pentagon-pete-over-his-failed-revenge-plot/? ps:Lets not get to happy! These guys will come after you no matter how innocent you are!! If they consider you an enemie you'll be in the crosshair forever!!!!! Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Trump Offers Absurd New Excuse for Vile Obamas Video The president doubled down on the racist video a day after touting his friendships with Black celebrities. Donald Trump has offered up a bizarre new excuse for posting a racist video depicting the Obamas as apes, claiming it was justified because the clip had already gone viral.The president also admitted that none of his staffers had been disciplined over the matter, despite the White House initially blaming an unnamed aide for “erroneously” pushing out the vile video on social media. “That was a video on, as you know, on voter fraud,” Trump, 79, told reporters when asked about it in the White House on Thursday. “It was a fairly long video, and they had a little piece and it had to do with the Lion King. It’s doing very well, uh, it’s been shown all over the place, long before that was posted. “But that was a very strong - and I’m sure you saw it - a very strong piece on voter fraud, and the piece we were talking about was all over the place, many times I believe, for years.” The video was posted last week during a wild overnight spree from Trump’s Truth Social account that involved no fewer than 66 posts between 10:36 p.m. and 12:25 a.m. But the extent to which it had been distributed “all over the place” for years is not clear. The video mostly pushed false claims about the 2020 U.S. election being stolen due to manipulated voting machines. However, at the very end, it suddenly shows former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed on the bodies of chimpanzees, set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The image of the Obamas using an old racist trope sparked a furious backlash - including from Republicans who demanded that it be taken down immediately. “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” said Trump ally Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate. “The president should remove it.” “This is totally unacceptable,” wrote fellow Republican Roger Wicker. “The president should take it down and apologize.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially sought to justify the actions of her boss, telling the media: “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.” However, a few hours after Leavitt’s defense, the Truth Social post was gone, with the White House blaming a staffer for it. The only two people known to have access to Trump’s Truth Social accounts are White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino and former One America News personality Natalie Harp. Asked Thursday if Trump had disciplined or fired the staffer, he simply replied: “No I haven’t.” The president’s latest bizarre excuse comes merely a day after he embarked on a posting spree touting his friendship with Black celebrities. Among them was convicted felon Diddy, accused child molester Michael Jackson and ear-biting boxer Mike Tyson. “How quickly people forget. So Sad! President DJT,” Trump wrote alongside a video of him kissing Black babies and posing with high-profile Black people. Next Wednesday, the White House also plans to host a reception in honor of Black History Month, with the Republican National Committee hosting a “Black Americans for Trump” trailblazer reception following the event. Trump insists he’s done “more for Black Americans than anybody with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.” But the president has had a history of incendiary rhetoric over the years. For instance, he has singled out Black athletes who knelt during the national anthem to protest systemic racism, pushed “birther” conspiracy theories about Barack Obama, and last year shared digitally altered images and videos of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a fake mustache and a sombrero—imagery Jeffries publicly described as racist. The Obamas did not respond to the vile video, opting to ignore it last week and instead push out posts celebrating the U.S. Olympic team. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-offers-absurd-new-excuse-for-vile-obamas-video/? ps:How vile is this man????? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Trump Is Threatening to Block the Michigan-Canada Bridge. He Used to Cheer It. It’s taken more than 2,000 days of construction, $6.4 billion Canadian dollars and seemingly endless studies and permits to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-michigan-canada-gordie-howe-bridge-reversal? Immigrant surge helped boost GOP states’ population, and they may gain US House seats as a result The millions of immigrants who have crossed the border with Mexico since 2020 could change the balance of political power in Congress — but in a way likely to boost Republican states that emphasize border security, at the expense of more welcoming Democratic states. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/13/repub/immigrant-surge-helped-boost-gop-states-population-and-they-may-gain-us-house-seats-as-a-result/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission ousted in dispute over antisemitism The chairman of the federal Religious Liberty Commission ousted a member after a hearing that featured tense exchanges on the definition of antisemitism. The ousted member, Carrie Prejean Boller, had defended prominent commentator Candace Owens, who routinely shares antisemitic conspiracy theories. Read more. Why this matters: Prejean Boller’s removal came amid a wider, increasingly contentious debate over whether the right should give a platform to commentators espousing antisemitic views. Prejean Boller challenged the chairman’s authority to remove her, saying only President Donald Trump has that power. In a post on the social media site X, she said the chairman’s actions “reflect a Zionist political agenda.” The hearing took place as the commission, created by Trump last year, is the subject of a new federal lawsuit from progressive religious groups. The suit argues the panel fails to represent diverse views and religions and consists almost entirely of conservative Christian members. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Critics say Trump’s religion agenda will benefit conservative Christians the most After prayer breakfast, Trump creates task force to root out ‘anti-Christian bias’ Why conservative American evangelicals are among Israel’s strongest supporters Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 TACO Trump Plots Humiliating Retreat as His Approval Rating Plummets The president is reportedly planning to scale back some of the sweeping tariffs he imposed last summer. Donald Trump is quietly gearing up to roll back some of the tariffs he promised would make the country “rich as hell” as his approval rating plummets amid an affordability crisis. The president slapped tariffs of up to 50 percent on steel and aluminum imports last summer, boasting that the move would provide a “big jolt” to U.S. industry. But in a humiliating retreat, and keeping true to the nickname he has earned for his chaotic approach to trade policy—“TACO,” short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—Trump now plans to scale back some of these tariffs as cost-of-living pressures drag down his approval ratings, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing three people familiar with the matter. The Trump administration is preparing to “exempt some items, halt the expansion of the lists and instead launch more targeted national security probes into specific goods,” the report said. Sources said trade officials believed Trump’s tariffs were hurting the public by driving up the price of everyday staples, from pie tins to the cans that hold their food and drinks. A White House official told the Daily Beast that Trump “will never compromise on reinvigorating the domestic manufacturing that is critical to our national and economic security, especially steel and aluminum production.” “The Trump administration is accordingly implementing a nimble and nuanced tariffs agenda to most effectively reshore steel, aluminum, and other key manufacturing back to the United States – American steel production overtaking Japan’s for the first time since 1999 is proof of this agenda’s growing success,” the official said. “Unless officially announced by the Administration, however, any reporting about changes to our current tariff regime is baseless speculation.” Trump, in his second term in the White House, has used his levies as negotiating tools, announcing steep and sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries only to later reverse course and delay or revise them. “I always say ‘tariffs’ is the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary,” he told a rally just after his inauguration last year. “Tariffs are going to make us rich as hell.” A year after predicting a tariffs windfall, the president’s climbdown seems to come less in response to the affordability crisis affecting Americans than in response to how it might derail Republican hopes in the November midterm elections. Lowering grocery prices was a central promise of Trump’s 2024 campaign, and the issue remains key as rising household costs shape voter sentiment. The president has spent months attempting to convince voters that his economic agenda is delivering results, even as many Americans struggle with high prices, and as household debt has reached an all-time high. He has repeatedly dismissed affordability concerns as a “hoax,” frustrating many of his own voters. Trump last week boasted that he’s “very proud” of the economy and claimed to have “fixed” the affordability crisis. However, a survey released this month by the Pew Research Center found that 66 percent of Americans were “very concerned” about the price of food and consumer goods. More than half of respondents, or 52 percent, said Trump’s economic policies had left the country worse off. Meanwhile, a trio of polls published this week found that Americans think Joe Biden did a better job in the White House than Trump has so far. https://www.thedailybeast.com/taco-trump-plotting-humiliating-retreat-as-his-approval-rating-plummets/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 15 Author Members Posted February 15 Bondi’s DOJ Forced to Drop Charges as ICE Barbie’s Shooting Story Crumbles Kristi Noem had accused Julio Sosa-Celis, who was shot by an ICE agent in January, of “attempted murder.” A Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent in January never attacked the agent as the Department of Homeland Security claimed, according to an explosive new court filing from the Department of Justice. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem originally claimed that ulio Sosa-Celis was shot during a Jan. 14 incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after he and another defendant, Alfredo Aljorna, “ambushed and attacked” the unnamed agent with snow shovels and broom handles. “What we saw last night in Minnesota was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement,” Noem, dubbed “ICE Barbie” for her fondness of dressing up like an ICE agent, said in a Jan. 15 statement. “Fearing for his life, the officer filed a defensive shot.” In a one-page motion seeking to have the charges dismissed, however, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen wrote that “newly discovered evidence in this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations” made by federal officials in both the charging document and their courtroom testimony. The motion didn’t specify what new evidence had come to light. It asked that the felony assault charges filed against both men be dismissed with prejudice, meaning they can’t be resubmitted. A lawyer for the two men told The New York Times in a statement that his clients were “overjoyed” by the request. “They are so happy justice is being served by the government’s request to dismiss all charges with prejudice,” Brian D. Clark said. “The identity of the ICE agent should be made public and he should be charged for his crime.” The DHS spokesman said the officers had been found to have made “untruthful statements.” “Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation,” Todd Lyons said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution.” According to the Times, it’s still not clear what exactly happened during the Jan. 14 shooting, which came just a week after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good. The shootings sparked widespread protests in Minneapolis that only intensified after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Minnesotan Alex Pretti on Jan. 24. Almost as soon as Sosa-Celis and Aljorna were arrested, inconsistencies emerged in the government’s story, the Times reported. Originally officials said that ICE agents driving an unmarked vehicle attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Aljorna, who crashed his car and ran toward an apartment complex. In their telling, an immigration agent chased him down and tried to arrest him, but Aljorna began to violently resist, and two other men ran out of the apartment building and attacked the agent. Afterward, the attackers escaped into the apartment building before later being arrested, of ials said. The next day, though, government officials said Sosa-Celis was the driver, not Aljorna, and only two defendants were charged despite the agent’s claims that he’d been assaulted by three people. In court, representatives for Aljorna and Sosa-Celis denied assaulting the agent. Their lawyers acknowledged they’d been holding a broom and shovel when the agent approached them, but they said they ran into the apartment and he fired at them, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg. Neither video evidence nor testimony from three witnesses supported the agent’s version of events. It was just the latest instance of the Department of Homeland Security providing false accounts of agent shootings. Administration officials called Good and Pretti “domestic terrorists” and accused them of trying to kill federal agents, despite video evidence to the contrary. Prosecutors also dropped charges against a woman shot by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago, Marimar Martinez, who was similarly accused of assault and falsely branded a “domestic terrorist.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondis-doj-forced-to-drop-charges-as-ice-barbie-kristi-noems-shooting-story-crumbles/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
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