Members phkrause Posted May 7 Author Members Posted May 7 Republicans Make Jaw-Dropping $1B Demand for Trump’s Ballroom The president has insisted his vanity project would be funded by wealthy donors. Senate Republicans are seeking $1 billion of taxpayer money to help fund “security adjustments and upgrades” linked to Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. The proposal was outlined in a reconciliation package focusing on federal law enforcement and border security spending, which was released by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Monday. The legislation also allows for part of the $1 billion package to be used for security upgrades for the East Wing Modernization Project—also known as Trump’s ballroom project—including “above-ground and below-ground security features.” The push arrives as Trump and MAGA figures have desperately demanded that the ballroom be allowed to go ahead in the wake of the assassination attempt against the president at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25. The package does include the caveat that none of the requested funds may be used for “non-security elements of the East Wing Modernization Project.” The proposal outlining how to allocate funds to the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security (DHS) through 2029 includes more than $30.7 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and nearly $3.5 billion for Customs and Border Protection, including funding for training and hiring staff. Trump has suggested that the 90,000-square-foot room—which the East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for—is necessary, as it would provide greater security. The 79-year-old has insisted that the project, previously estimated to cost $400 million, will be funded by private donors. The White House also indicated in a July 2025 statement that the Secret Service would provide any “necessary security enhancements and modifications” needed for the ballroom to be used by the president for state dinners, galas, and other glitzy events. A federal judge had ordered that construction of the ballroom be halted unless it receives approval from Congress, as requested in a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Last month, a U.S. appeals court allowed construction to resume on the ballroom pending the conclusion of the legal challenge. Trump has bemoaned that the lawsuit forced him to reveal his plans to build a large military base underneath his White House ballroom. “The military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in late March while holding up large placards detailing how the completed ballroom might look. “The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under the military, including from drones, and including from any other thing.” In a statement while releasing the reconciliation bill, Grassley said, “Republicans won’t allow our country to be dragged backward by Democrats’ radical, anti-law enforcement agenda. “The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking action to help provide certainty for federal law enforcement and safer streets for American families. We will work to ensure this critical funding gets signed into law without unnecessary delay.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-make-jaw-dropping-1b-demand-for-donald-trumps-ballroom/? ps:What was that? Mexico will pay for the wall!!!!! When he knew that wasn't going to happen! Same here!! 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 May 7 Author Members Posted May 7 Trump, 79, Now Says He Could Serve Another Two Terms The president said he could stay another eight or nine years before touting his ability to identify a squirrel. President Donald Trump joked about staying in office well past the end of his second term on Monday, an idea he’s regularly toyed with. It was part of his lengthy ramble at the White House small business summit, where the president, 79, ping-ponged from topic to topic as he repeatedly went off script. The president has suggested on multiple occasions that he could serve a third term in defiance of the U.S. Constitution since he returned to office less than a year and a half ago. “When I get out of office in, let’s say, eight or nine years from now, I’ll be able to use it, I’ll be able to use it myself,” Trump said during his remarks about tax deductions. If Trump were to stay in office another nine years, he would be 88 when finally leaving office. As he took his latest dig at the Constitution, his supporters in the room laughed and cheered. Trump has sent mixed signals and suggested on numerous occasions that he could run again in 2028 for a fourth time. While some of the president’s supporters have argued Trump is simply joking, the president last year claimed in an interview with NBC News that he was not. He has since gone back and forth on the idea, indicating in another interview that he would be a two-term president before continuing to bring up the idea. Critics have raised concerns about his repeated indications that he was considering how he could serve beyond two terms in office. The president’s off-script ramblings at the summit on Monday did not end with him floating the idea of staying in office for another eight years. He also ranted about his ballroom, touted his background in pool building with a lengthy spiel about redoing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in “American flag blue,” and bragged about his cognitive abilities. “In my opinion, anybody running for president or vice president should take a cognitive test,” Trump declared. “And no president has ever taken one except me. I’ve taken three of them, and I’ve aced each one.” The president’s comments came after he also went on a tirade about taking a cognitive test just last week, where he bragged about being able to identify a bear. This week, his example included a squirrel. “They are hard. There are many people in this room that I know are smart, they’re not going to ace them,” Trump rambled. “You know the first question is very easy, and they always show the first question. It’s you have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a—what’s another good?— a squirrel, okay. ‘Which is the squirrel?’” Trump went on to say that while the first questions are easy, they get tougher by the middle. The president claims he takes a cognitive test whenever he hears criticism of his mental acuity. “Then they said, ‘he’s a total moron. This guy’s so stupid,’ and so whenever I hear that one, I say, ‘let’s take the cognitive test.’” At another point, Trump vented about the coverage of the war in Iran, insisting that the negative polling is “fake.” He claimed he called it a “mini war” and warned that with the wrong president, the U.S. could be in World War III. At another point, he called the Iran war a “little detour” that’s working out “very nicely” and was going “very well.” But when the president was not firing off about a series of random issues on Monday, he appeared to be struggling to even stay awake on his feet. As Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler spoke briefly, the president stood by, with his eyes fluttering closed as he stood by her side. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-now-says-he-could-serve-another-two-terms/? 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 May 7 Author Members Posted May 7 Trump’s drugmaker deals may save economy $529B over 10 years, White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — White House economists estimate that President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to drop some of their U.S. prescription drug prices to what they charge in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years. https://apnews.com/article/trump-prescription-drug-prices-3ff64b481fe42e6c54378710e07ef27a? US says ceasefire with Iran is holding despite attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the UAE U.S. military leaders said a ceasefire remains in effect a day after Iran was blamed for new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the United Arab Emirates. The key American ally later said it came under Iranian drone and missile attack again on Tuesday. Still, the fragile truce reached nearly a month ago appeared to be holding as U.S. forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the strait, a vital waterway for global energy. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump's drugmaker deals may save economy $529B over 10 years, White House says Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to the Vatican this week Tennessee Republicans will consider redrawing US House district covering majority-Black Memphis GOP bill would fund $1B in White House security upgrades for Trump's ballroom FAA employee in New Hampshire accused of sending email threatening to kill Trump The Presidential Physical Fitness Award is back as Trump revives annual fitness test in US schools 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Trump Reignites Pope Battle With Bonkers New Comments The president isn’t done raging at the Catholic leader. President Donald Trump kicked off his clash with Pope Leo XIV just days before a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S.-born Catholic leader. Trump, 79, has repeatedly taken aim at the 70-year-old since launching strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, infuriated at Leo’s calls for peace and an end to the conflict. Pope Leo has not shied away from hitting back in his own way, bemoaning the fact that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants” without naming any particular figure. Incensed by the Catholic leader’s repeated calls for peace, Trump lashed out during a Monday interview with Hugh Hewitt on the Salem News Channel. Hewitt, discussing jailed Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump’s visit to China later this month, criticized the pope for not highlighting Lai’s plight. Lai was jailed for 20 years over claims that he colluded with foreign forces and conspired to commit sedition. “I wish Pope Leo would talk about Jimmy Lai,” Hewitt said, adding, “You’ve talked about Jimmy Lai with the chairman [Chinese President Xi Jinping], will you be bringing him up again?” After Trump said he would bring up Lai in discussions with Xi, Hewitt exclaimed once more that he wished the pope would talk about him. “Well, the pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good,” Trump replied. “I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics, and a lot of people, but I guess if it’s up to the pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” The pope has previously declined to comment on Lai’s case, instead saying, “We must pray for peace, work for peace and reduce hatred. Hatred is constantly increasing in the world. We must seek to promote dialogue and find solutions.” The pope’s comments on Lai’s case are similar to his repeated calls for peace in the Middle East; a reminder to simultaneously pray for peace while also working to achieve it. “Dear brothers and sisters, there are certainly binding responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations. To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned, and deadly actions are decided,” the pope told some 10,000 Catholics gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica last month. Despite Trump’s assertion that Pope Leo supports Iran’s nuclear program, the pope has in fact specifically called for a world “free from the nuclear threat.” In a video message posted on March 5, Leo said, “Today we lift up our prayer for peace in the world, asking that nations renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.” “Lord, enlighten the leaders of the nations, so they may have the courage to abandon projects of death, halt the arms race, and place the lives of the most vulnerable at the center,” he continued. “May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity.” Trump’s comments come just days before Rubio is set to meet with the pontiff in Rome in an attempt to improve relations between the Trump administration and the Vatican. In one of his most notorious pope-related meltdowns, the president branded Leo as being “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy” before taking credit for his success. “Leo should be thankful,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, arguing that “he wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.” Trump quickly followed his 334-word rant with an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ, a move that offended many Christians in his party. In June 2025, one week before Trump bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, the pope made an appeal to “responsibility and reason” amid growing tensions in the Middle East. “The commitment to creating a safer world, free from the nuclear threat, should be pursued through respectful encounter and sincere dialogue, to build a lasting peace, based on justice, fraternity and the common good,” he said in an address. “No-one should ever threaten the existence of another.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-reignites-battle-with-pope-with-bonkers-new-comments/? ps:What a pathetic president!!!!! 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Toxic Discovery Made at Trump’s White House Dump Site Soil has tested positive for lead, chromium, and other toxic metals. The Trump administration dumped “a cocktail” of toxic waste on a public golf course, and damning tests reveal that the soil is poisoned. The earth at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, where the administration deposited truckloads of debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing, has tested positive for lead, chromium, and other toxic metals, according to data released by the National Park Service. The dump site sits near the Jefferson Memorial, where generations of Washingtonians have played golf at rates as low as $42 for 18 holes on weekdays. The Interior Department insists the soil is safe. “The soil was tested multiple times by multiple parties, and this project passed all standards set by law,” said spokeswoman Katie Martin. “This thorough process was followed to ensure the transfer was safe for the public.” Scientists are less reassured, telling The New York Times that the contamination could be potentially dangerous. “There’s no safe level of exposure to lead; it’s one of the most toxic elements we know of,” said Joseph Allen, a professor of exposure assessment science at Harvard. “One of the risks you have to think about with lead is that it doesn’t just stay outside in soil. We track it on our shoes. So, depending on where the soil was placed, golfers and other people could track it indoors.” While none of the 30 initial soil samples exceeded EPA safe levels for lead at industrial and commercial sites, some surpassed the more stringent thresholds set by California regulators. Several also exceeded normal background levels of chromium. Asbestos was not detected, though two samples were inadvertently never tested for it, and a third sample’s container broke in transit to the laboratory. The D.C. Preservation League, which is suing over the dumping and fighting the broader takeover of the golf course, called the findings damning. “We knew that the demolition of the East Wing and the changes to East Potomac were legally toxic; now we know they’re environmentally toxic as well,” said Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, which is representing the group. In a legal filing, lawyers for the preservationist group wrote that the administration had “dumped a cocktail of contaminants—and despite indications of the refuse’s contents, they continued dumping it.” The administration began dumping in October without public notice and, in December, moved to terminate a 50-year lease held by the nonprofit National Links Trust to manage the course. A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to halt construction and tree removal, but clearly warned the government. “I do not want a situation where something has happened, and then I’m being told by the government or by a foundation or by a bulldozing company that it’s too late to do anything about it,” said Judge Ana Reyes of the Federal District Court in Washington. Trump plans to transform the 105-year-old public course into a championship venue—a move that would also eliminate its existing mini-golf course and a surrounding roadway popular with cyclists and runners. Results from a second batch of 14 soil samples collected in late April are not yet available. The White House and the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, were contacted for comment. An Interior spokesperson said that “Trump is fulfilling his commitment to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful.” “DOI and NPS are committed to continuing the relationships we have built with the local golf communities to ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class for people living in and visiting the greatest capital city in the world,” the statement went on. https://www.thedailybeast.com/toxic-discovery-made-at-trumps-white-house-dump-site/? 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 1 page to end the war Stocks futures surged and oil prices fell in response to this exclusive reporting by Axios Middle East expert Barak Ravid: The White House believes it's close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, according to two U.S. officials and two other sources briefed on the issue. The U.S. expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours. Nothing has been agreed yet, but the sources said this was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began. Among other provisions, the deal would have Iran commit to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, the U.S. lift sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds, and both sides end restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Many of the terms would be contingent on a final agreement, leaving open the possibility of renewed war or an extended limbo in which the hot war has stopped but nothing is truly resolved. 🥊 Reality check: The White House believes the Iranian leadership is divided, and it may be hard to forge a consensus across factions. Some U.S. officials remain skeptical that even an initial deal will be reached. But the two U.S. officials said President Trump's decision to back off his newly announced operation in the Strait of Hormuz and avoid a collapse of the fragile ceasefire was based on progress in the talks. 📝 Behind the scenes: The one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding is being negotiated between Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and several Iranian officials, both directly and through mediators. More details. 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Trump advisers step up their calls on China to help open Strait of Hormuz ahead of Beijing summit This comes ahead of the highly anticipated summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week. Read more. Why this matters: On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Chinese officials to use Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China to urge Tehran to release its chokehold on the critical waterway. After meeting with Araghchi on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China was “deeply distressed” over the war. He also said a “comprehensive ceasefire” was needed. The Chinese comments could inject new energy into stalled efforts to push for an agreement between the U.S. and Iran that would end the war. They followed an earlier statement by Trump that he was pausing his short-lived U.S. effort to guide stranded vessels to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz in hopes that a deal could be finalized. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ More on the China-Iran meeting The rapid embrace of AI in China, its biggest testing ground, may shape how AI is used globally 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Trump Hurls Top Goons Under the Bus With Humiliating U-Turn The erratic president backtracked on his latest great idea without telling his hype men. Donald Trump announced an embarrassing U-turn on plans to help vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz just as some of his top Cabinet officials were busy hyping the effort to end the Iran war. The 79-year-old president said Tuesday that his so-called “Project Freedom” would be paused for a “short period of time” as negotiations to end the Middle East conflict continue. Trump shelved the plan just a day after it was rolled out, after being warned that guiding ships through the narrow passageway risked escalating the deeply unpopular war on Iran at a time when a fragile ceasefire is in place, Bloomberg reported. The reversal came shortly after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly touted the plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes. During Tuesday press conferences, both Hegseth and Rubio suggested “Project Freedom” would be the next crucial phase in ending the war. The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed the conflict is on the verge of ending, but cannot declare victory while the strait remains largely closed by Tehran. Hegseth described the U.S.-led effort to shepherd commercial vessels through the waterway as a “powerful red, white, and blue dome over the strait,” enforced by warplanes, helicopters, and drones. “Two U.S. commercial ships, along with American destroyers, have already safely transited the Strait, showing the lane is clear. We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the Strait. They do not,” Hegseth said. He also claimed “hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up” to leave the strait under the operation before Trump abruptly announced he would be putting the plans on hold. “We maintain the upper hand, and Project Freedom only strengthens that hand,” Hegseth added. Elsewhere on Tuesday, Rubio—temporarily taking on duties as White House press secretary while Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave—also pitched the plan as the next crucial step to ending the war after the initial military operation to stop Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon had apparently been achieved.“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” Rubio told reporters. “We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal.” Rubio suggested Project Freedom would be smaller in scale than the original military operation launched on Feb. 28. He described the now-shelved plan as defensive in nature and said the U.S. would not attack Iran “unless we’re shot at.” Iran has claimed it fired on U.S. Navy vessels attempting to escort ships through the strait, a claim denied by U.S. Central Command. Trump said U.S. helicopters destroyed six Iranian small boats in response, which Tehran also rejected. Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer for the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the world’s largest shipping trade group, warned the plan could inflame tensions further. “The threat of ships being attacked has increased, and the situation seems to be on an escalatory path,” Larsen said. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-hurls-top-goons-pete-hegseth-and-marco-rubio-under-the-bus-with-humiliating-u-turn/? 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Pope Fires Back With Blistering Truth After Trump Meltdown The pontiff made his thoughts clear after Trump reignited his battle with the Catholic leader. Pope Leo XIV has publicly responded after President Donald Trump made baseless claims that the Chicago-born pontiff supports Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The president doubled down on his attacks on the pope on Monday, claiming that the pope believes that Iran should have nuclear weapons. “Well, the pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good,” Trump told Salem News Channel’s Hugh Hewitt, when asked why Leo has not spoken about jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai. “I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics, and a lot of people, but I guess if it’s up to the pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump continued. Without responding to Trump’s comments directly, Leo said: “I have already spoken from the first moment ‘Peace be with you.’ The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If anyone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. “The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that,” he added. While he pope did not name Trump, his comments were a clear rebuke of the president, issued just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the Vatican. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.Rubio will travel to Rome on Wednesday and is set to meet with the pope on Thursday morning. “Secretary Rubio will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement to Reuters. Trump, 79, has repeatedly claimed that the pope supports Iran’s nuclear weapons program, pointing to the pontiff’s calls for peace as proof. Leo has specifically called for a world “free from the nuclear threat” and encouraged world leaders to take the “path of dialogue and diplomacy.” “It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned, and deadly actions are decided,” Leo told Catholics gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 12. “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social rant the next day where he also took credit for the pope’s success. Rubio used Tuesday’s press briefing, where he was filling in for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, to defend Trump’s remarks about the pope. “The president recently said that the pope is endangering a lot of Catholics as a result of his rhetoric around the Iran war,” a CNN reporter began asking, before Rubio cut in. “Well, I don’t think that’s an accurate description of what he said,” Rubio replied. “I think what the president basically said is that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others, for that matter.” He went on to accuse Iran of “holding the whole world hostage” with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that neither he nor the president can “understand why anyone would think that it’s a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon.” “What do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon? They would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon. That’s what they would do,” Rubio told reporters. https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-fires-back-with-blistering-truth-after-trump-meltdown/? 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 May 8 Author Members Posted May 8 Bitter GOP Split Erupts After Trump-Backed Candidates Sweep Elections Republican incumbents count the cost after defying the president. An Indiana state senator who was among a slew of incumbent Republicans defeated by Donald Trump-backed challengers in primary contests has blasted the president’s influence on the races. State Sen. Travis Holdman lost to Blake Fiechter in the 19th District GOP primary by more than 20 percentage points on Tuesday. He was one of five Indiana Republican legislators ousted by Trump-endorsed challengers on Tuesday after opposing the president’s aggressive redistricting plans in the state ahead of November’s midterms. Holdman—who also faced a $1.3 million attack-ad blitz from PACs affiliated with Indiana Sen. Jim Banks and Gov. Mike Braun—condemned Trump’s intervention in the race that ended his nearly 20-year tenure.“I have one message for people: Revenge and retribution is not a Christian value,” Holdman told the IndyStar. “That’s what this was all about. I’m not bitter about it. It’s just a fact.” Holdman also warned that the results would usher in a more aggressive style of campaigning in the Hoosier State. “I did what my constituents asked me to do and it cost me my job. But that’s OK,” he told the Associated Press. “Welcome to D.C. politics in Indiana because this means that’s what’s coming.” Tuesday’s primary races were seen as a major test for Trump and an indication of how much influence the 79-year-old president still has over the Republican Party. The GOP is expected to suffer significant losses in November’s midterms, in part due to backlash against Trump as his approval ratings drop to levels last seen even after the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. Other Republican incumbents who opposed Trump’s push to redraw Indiana’s House maps also lost their races. While Republicans in the state’s lower chamber passed a proposed map that could have delivered a 9–0 GOP House advantage in November, the effort was blocked in the state Senate after 21 Republicans joined 10 Democrats to vote it down. Elsewhere in Tuesday’s results, State Sen. James Buck lost to Tracey Powell in the 21st District, while Dan Dernulc was defeated by Trevor De Vries in District 1. In the 11th District, incumbent Linda Rogers was defeated by Brian Schmutzler, and State Rep. Greg Walker lost the District 41 GOP primary to Michelle Davis. Similar redistricting efforts aimed at boosting GOP prospects in November’s races are also in place in red states such as Texas and Florida. In a statement, Banks celebrated the sweeping victories by Trump-endorsed candidates. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Banks said. “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/bitter-gop-split-after-donald-trump-backed-candidates-sweep-indiana-elections/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 US fires on Iranian oil tanker as Trump pressures Tehran for deal to end war The U.S. military said Wednesday that it fired on an Iranian oil tanker as President Donald Trump sought to pressure Tehran into reaching a deal to end the war. An American fighter jet shot out the rudder of the tanker in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to breach the U.S. military’s blockade of Iran’s ports, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ France moves nuclear-powered carrier toward Hormuz in potential mission Gas price shock deepens a divide as low-income drivers cut back — but pay more ps:So Iran needs to make a deal for a war that this genius started????? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Dems Plot Revenge After Trump’s ‘Outrageous $1 Billion Betrayal’ Democrats are raging about plans to inject even more funds into Donald Trump’s vanity project. Senate Democrats are reportedly keen to force Republicans to vote on plans to inject a further $1 billion into President Donald Trump’s massively over-budget White House ballroom project. On Monday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, slipped the proposal to direct $1 billion to the Secret Service for “security adjustments and upgrades,” including at the White House for Trump’s ballroom project, into a broader reconciliation package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through fiscal 2029. The move sparked uproar from Democrats, including Democrat Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, who slammed it as “an outrageous betrayal of hardworking families who want lower costs, not a golden ballroom.”Trump previously said the project would be privately funded.“Republicans are ignoring middle-class needs and funneling money into Trump’s ballroom while throwing billions at two lawless agencies,” Democrat Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, said of the proposal, Axios reported on Wednesday. DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer tore into the Trump administration, criticizing the timing of the proposal as Americans struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. “While working families are struggling to afford even higher prices on everything from gas to groceries to healthcare, Donald Trump and Republicans are selling out everyday Americans to pay for Trump’s vanity projects,” Witmer said in a statement. “Trump and Republicans claimed there was no money for healthcare or food assistance—but now they want to force Americans to cough up $1 billion for Trump’s ballroom after footing the bill for Trump’s war with Iran and his tax cuts for billionaires. It’s Trump first, Americans last,” she added. The proposal comes as the president and his allies have intensified calls for the construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom to proceed, following the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25. A federal judge had halted the project on March 31, ruling that the 79-year-old president lacked the authority to tear down the East Wing and build the costly ballroom. However, a U.S. appeals court last month permitted construction to resume pending the outcome of the legal challenge brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In a statement to the Daily Beast, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Democrats “are opposed to anything that celebrates the greatness of our Country because they are America Last losers.” “President Trump is making the White House beautiful and giving it the glory it deserves at no cost to the taxpayer – something everyone should celebrate,” Ingle added. “Only people with a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome would find a problem with that.” The Daily Beast revealed in December that the president’s ballroom project would be located on the second level of a newly constructed two-story building. It is expected to be connected to the president’s primary residence. Trump’s round of aggressive renovations began when he returned to the White House for a second term last year. He has also gilded the Oval Office with rococo mirrors, gold medallions, and eagle figurines, erected oversized flagpoles on the grounds, and announced plans to build a triumphal arch across from the Lincoln Memorial—a so-called “Arc de Trump.” The ballroom is expected to be completed in late 2028, coinciding with the end of his term in office. https://www.thedailybeast.com/dems-plot-revenge-after-trumps-outrageous-1-billion-betrayal/? ps:You think you've heard, seen it all and than he gets even more pathetic!!!!! 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 FBI Now Targeting Reporter Behind Damning Keystone Kash Story One source says the agents involved “know they are not supposed to do this.” Kash Patel’s FBI has reportedly opened a criminal leak investigation involving a reporter who published an embarrassing account of his alleged excessive drinking. Two sources told MS Now on Wednesday that the agency opened an investigation into reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick after she published her piece “The FBI Director Is MIA,” in The Atlantic last month. The unnamed sources cited in the report said the investigation was being handled by agents in Huntsville, Alabama, who form part of an insider threats unit. “They know they are not supposed to do this,” one source told the outlet. “But if they don’t go forward, they could lose their jobs. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” FBI Assistant Director Ben Williamson told the Daily Beast that MS Now’s account is “completely false.” “No such investigation like this exists and the reporter you mention is not being investigated at all. Every time there’s a publication of false claims by anonymous sources that gets called out, the media plays the victim via investigations that do not exist,” Williamson said. Patel, 46, has been scrambling to counter the damning report that he’s slammed as “hit piece lies,” filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit days after it was published. The article cited more than two dozen anonymous sources and described Patel as having a drinking problem so severe it could “threaten national security.” The Daily Beast has not independently corroborated the anecdotes reported in The Atlantic’s article. The award-winning magazine, however, has doubled down. “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” a spokesperson said last month. The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, told the Daily Beast of the reported investigation: “If confirmed to be true, this would represent an outrageous attack on the free press and the First Amendment itself. We will defend The Atlantic and its staff vigorously; we will not be intimidated by illegitimate investigations or other acts of politically motivated retaliation; we will continue to cover the FBI professionally, fairly, and thoroughly; and we will continue to practice journalism in the public interest.” This wouldn’t be the first time the embattled FBI director has been accused of using his powerful agency as a tool for revenge. Last month, it was reported that Patel had directed agents to investigate a New York Times reporter after she revealed that he had used bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, with government security and transportation. The report stated that Wilkins, 27, has a full-time protective detail from a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. Those agents, who are pulled from FBI field offices across the country, are tasked with shuttling the aspiring country star to gigs and daily errands like hair appointments. The probe into reporter Elizabeth Williamson prompted concerns among FBI officials, who saw no legal basis to proceed with the investigation based on her reporting. Attempted intimidation of the press has become a hallmark of the Trump era. Patel’s attorney in his defamation case against The Atlantic, Jason Greaves of the Binnall Law Group, was paid more than $4.5 million in legal fees by Trump PACs from 2022 to 2024. The firm also represented Trump, 79, following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Still, Patel’s string of controversies has reportedly made him not-so-popular in the White House, with rumors swirling of his imminent firing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a statement defending Patel last month, however, telling The Atlantic that “crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high-profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/fbi-now-targeting-reporter-behind-damning-keystone-kash-story/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump Pick’s Embarrassing Posts Blasting ‘Petty’ President Emerge Dr. Nicole Saphier’s furious deleting spree may not save her prospects as the president’s latest pick for the nation’s top doctor. President Donald Trump’s pick for the nation’s next top doctor has been caught deleting posts in which she was critical of the president and his health policies. Dr. Nicole Saphier, whom Trump has tipped to be his surgeon general, appears to have been particularly unimpressed by the president’s deeply personal and highly public spat with Elon Musk last year, according to an archived version of a now-deleted June 2025 post, first reported by CNN. She described the men’s online exchange as “petty, loud & obnoxious,” and said it was “like watching two billionaires throw sand in a sandbox,” or “grown adults acting like toddlers in a tiara fight.” Saphier was reportedly also highly critical of Trump’s messaging on the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, which the president has advised against based on highly contested claims about a purported link between the medication and autism in children. “As a mom of 3 kids, I don’t love a man telling me to ‘tough it out’ when it comes to pregnancy,” she wrote. “Words matter. Facts matter too.” She later followed up with a further post on the topic. “This isn’t the first or second time he has said this,” Saphier said. “Obviously something was said to POTUS behind closed doors and the public deserves transparency on the data presented to substantiate these statements.” On other occasions she has taken the administration to task for failing to curb measles outbreaks in several states, warning in a post just two months before her nomination was announced that it “seems like they may not want to admit the U.S. measles elimination status is is [sic] gone until after midterm elections.” Saphier also seems to have joined a growing chorus of voices questioning both Trump’s mental and physical health since he assumed office for the second time last year. “Lots of people questioning POTUS MRI,” she wrote of widespread speculation last October as to what exactly it was for which the president had undergone the procedure. “I have questions too.” Saphier represents Trump’s third pick for surgeon general during his second term. The White House withdrew its prior nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News personality, in May 2025 after she was accused of misrepresenting her medical credentials. Her withdrawal came the day before she was due to appear before a Senate committee and followed a public campaign against her by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who took aim at Nesheiwat’s previous support for the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Casey Means, a controversial wellness influencer and figurehead of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, similarly saw her hopes of office crash and burn in April of this year after her nomination languished in the Senate for two months following a bruising February confirmation hearing. Senators from both parties grilled the Stanford-educated Means, who did not finish her surgical residency and does not hold an active medical license, over her thin clinical experience and her equivocal answers on vaccines. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment on this story. https://www.thedailybeast.com/president-donald-trumps-surgeon-general-pick-dr-nicole-saphiers-embarrassing-posts-surface/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump Issues Deranged Threat After Offering Complete Surrender The “President of Peace” is back on war footing. Donald Trump has threatened to resume bombing Iran if the Islamic Republic doesn’t agree to his surrender deal to end the war. “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” the president posted on Truth Social early Wednesday morning. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he added. It comes after a report suggested Trump was considering lifting sanctions against Iran and unfreezing billions of dollars in assets in exchange for peace and the Strait of Hormuz being fully reopened. Administration insiders told Axios that Trump’s team believes they’re getting close to reaching a deal with the Islamic Republic, including “a moratorium on nuclear enrichment” in return for the U.S. lifting sanctions and unfreezing the assets. But the outlet notes that “many of the terms laid out in the memo would be contingent on a final agreement being reached,” leaving open “the possibility of renewed war” or even “an extended limbo in which the hot war has stopped but nothing is truly resolved.” Trump’s Truth Social threats also follow his announcement on Tuesday evening that he was pausing “Project Freedom,” a U.S. naval mission launched to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway each year, which Iran has effectively blockaded since Trump launched the hostilities on February 28. The pause came at the request of Pakistan, which has been mediating between Washington and Tehran since the April 8 ceasefire that halted “Operation Epic Fury,” the Pentagon’s name for the broader campaign against Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Tuesday that Epic Fury was “over” and that the United States had achieved its objectives. The White House notified Congress last week that hostilities had been “terminated,” narrowly sidestepping an otherwise mandatory House vote on whether to continue the conflict past the 60-day mark. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment on this story. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-issues-deranged-threat-after-offering-complete-surrender/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 A Dangerous New Attack on Press Freedom View in browser The Trump administration’s war against freedom of the press has reached a startling new low. According to a report this morning from MS NOW, the FBI has opened a criminal investigation focusing on my Atlantic colleague Sarah Fitzpatrick, related to an article she published last month about Director Kash Patel. Drawing on some two dozen sources, Fitzpatrick reported that people inside the administration and the bureau are deeply concerned about what they described as Patel’s unexplained absences and excessive drinking. Patel filed a lawsuit against Fitzpatrick and The Atlantic following the story’s publication, alleging defamation and demanding $250 million. The Atlantic says that it stands by Fitzpatrick’s reporting, and legal commentators from across the political spectrum have concluded that the case is weak and likely to fail. Editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg responded to the MS NOW report with this statement: “If confirmed to be true, this would represent an outrageous attack on the free press and the First Amendment itself. We will defend The Atlantic and its staff vigorously; we will not be intimidated by illegitimate investigations or other acts of politically motivated retaliation; we will continue to cover the FBI professionally, fairly, and thoroughly; and we will continue to practice journalism in the public interest.” Filing a flimsy civil lawsuit as a private citizen is Patel’s right, though it is also plainly an inappropriate attempt to smother unflattering reporting. But if Patel’s bureau has launched a criminal investigation into a reporter, employing the power of the federal government, that would be a significant escalation. An FBI spokesperson denied that a probe exists, telling MS NOW, “This is completely false. No such investigation like this exists and the reporter you mention is not being investigated at all.” But MS NOW reports that some of the FBI agents assigned to the case are upset. “They know they are not supposed to do this,” a source told the network. “But if they don’t go forward, they could lose their jobs. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” It would be notable if the Trump administration is launching a criminal probe focusing on a member of the press. Previously, the administration has frequently threatened the free press in other ways. President Trump himself has demonstrated either ignorance of or disregard for the First Amendment, saying that negative coverage of him is “really illegal.” He has filed many of his own lawsuits against news organizations; last month, a judge dismissed a suit against The Wall Street Journal for (accurately) reporting on a card that Trump sent the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein featuring a doodle of a naked woman. Trump has attempted to banish outlets from the White House for refusing to use his new name for the Gulf of Mexico, and his Federal Communications Commission has repeatedly threatened news outlets with loss of broadcast licenses and other sanctions. The existence of a criminal probe would be notable for other reasons as well. First, the investigation is reportedly being run out of the FBI’s insider-threats unit. That’s exactly what it sounds like: a team charged with monitoring actions by federal employees or contractors who have access to sensitive information and might reveal it, harming national security. Fitzpatrick is obviously not an insider. Second, neither Patel nor anyone else has publicly alleged any violation of the law on Fitzpatrick’s part in any other venue. Nor does his lawsuit or any public statement allege that Fitzpatrick reported classified information. Reporters do sometimes publish classified information when it is in the public interest, and although every government hates this, they have generally responded by attempting to find and prosecute leakers, not reporters—although the government has sometimes tried to compel reporters to testify about sources. Earlier this year, FBI agents seized devices from a Washington Post reporter who obtained leaks, but she was never reported to be a subject of investigation herself. This situation lacks even a pretense of national-security threat. If the report is true, Patel appears to have launched a criminal investigation into a reporter simply because he was embarrassed by her reporting. Even for an administration with an awful record on press freedom, and a bureau with a history of unsavory actions by directors, this is a dangerous step. The lack of any apparent or even alleged wrongdoing, as well as Patel’s precarious hold on a position for which he was never qualified, mean that any investigation may never result in charges. But the Trump administration has shown its awareness that an investigation itself can be an effective way to intimidate critics or even neutral reporters. Targets are forced to spend time on the matter and pay for legal representation, even in clearly frivolous situations. Goldberg has made clear that The Atlantic will not be intimidated, but as I have written previously, those with less ability to defend themselves may make different calculations as a result of government pressure. Unfortunately for Patel, the investigation is also likely to pique the interests of reporters and encourage more leaks from those inside the bureau who remain devoted to rule of law. Those two groups today far outpace the director in embodying the FBI motto “Fidelity, bravery, integrity.” Related stories: The FBI director is MIA. The FBI is reportedly investigating a leak to an Atlantic writer. 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 🐼 Iran deal countdown The White House wants a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran by the time President Trump wraps up his trip to China next Friday, officials tell Axios' Barak Ravid. If no deal is in hand by then, the president could again order military action. Why it matters: The White House is waiting for Iran's response to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set up a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, as Barak scooped. President Trump said yesterday the U.S. and Iran have had "good talks over the last 24 hours" and expressed confidence a deal is possible in coming days. U.S. officials said they expect a response from Tehran in the next 24-48 hours. "We are not far, but there is no deal yet," one U.S. official said. Other U.S. officials are skeptical a deal will come together. 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump messaging about next steps in Iran creates confusion The Trump administration’s approach to the Iran war has pinballed from declarations that a tenuous ceasefire was holding and military operations were over to new threats to bomb the Islamic Republic. Read more. Why this matters: The Trump administration’s shifting and often contradictory messaging throughout the Iran war has produced ever more confusion this week as the president and his aides presented a dizzying narrative over the U.S. strategy to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and wrap up the war that drastically changed over the course of mere hours. Tuesday started with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explaining how the U.S. military was protecting stranded ships so they could traverse the Strait of Hormuz. He insisted it was a defensive operation and the truce was still in place even though Iran had launched missiles and drones at U.S. forces, which sank Tehran’s small attack boats. That afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that the military operation was “concluded” and that the U.S. achieved its objectives. But in almost the same breath, he said President Donald Trump was still seeking a “path of peace” that required Iran to agree to a deal to reopen the vital oil shipping corridor. By Tuesday evening, Trump announced that the effort to protect ships was paused to see if an agreement could be reached. Then on Wednesday morning, he again warned that bombing would resume if Tehran didn’t agree to U.S. terms. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Iran reviewing US proposal as Trump pressures Tehran for agreement on deal to end war Justice Department can keep 2020 election ballots seized from Georgia’s Fulton County, judge rules Southern Republicans press ahead with election-year redistricting of US House despite protests WATCH: Tennessee troopers kick out protesters from legislative hearings on redistricting Chief Justice John Roberts says Supreme Court is not political Trump, hoping for an eventual Supreme Court victory, seeks to halt $83M payment in sexual abuse case Southern Poverty Law Center attorneys make first court appearance in fraud case Trump wants to paint the Eisenhower office building white. Today, a key federal agency considers it WATCH: Trump hosts UFC fighters 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump’s Weird Self-Soothing Sessions With Ballroom Plans Exposed The president is more obsessed with his $400 million dream than any crisis affecting the country. Donald Trump has become so obsessed with his $400 million White House ballroom that he likes to unwind in the evening by listening to updates on the project, according to a report. The 79-year-old president is reportedly so desperate for the ballroom to be finished that a division president from D.C.-based construction firm Clark Construction works out of a trailer on the White House grounds as a sort of on-call site manager, according to The Washington Post. Even though the U.S. is currently in the midst of a deeply unpopular war in Iran, Trump reportedly loves bringing the construction executive into the Oval Office in the evenings to go over project details for more than an hour at a time as a way to relax. “His version of a bourbon is construction,” a person familiar with the bizarre routine told the Post. The details about Trump’s relaxation sessions were part of a broader report on how the president has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and energy to his 90,000-square-foot ballroom project, even amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. An undeterred Trump remains fixated on the vanity project even as polls suggest Americans—already struggling through a cost-of-living crisis—do not approve of the ballroom. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 56 percent of Americans oppose Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House to make way for his $400 million ballroom, compared to just 28 percent who support the project. Even though Trump and his administration are facing hundreds of lawsuits, the one filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation seeking to halt construction of the ballroom until it receives congressional approval is reportedly the only case in which Trump has personally intervened. Last month, the Justice Department filed an unprecedented legal brief that appeared to argue the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner proved the ballroom was necessary—using language that resembled one of the president’s Truth Social rants. “The National Trust for Historic Preservation” is a beautiful name, but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words “in the United States” to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not,” the Trump-esque filing read. The legal documents even used phrases favored by the president, including accusing the group behind the lawsuit of suffering from “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” On Wednesday, Trump posted a Truth Social tirade defending the eye-watering $400 million price tag for the ballroom, even though the original estimate was reportedly $200 million. “The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep-rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations,” Trump wrote. Later that night, Trump held a reception in the White House for the organization that manages donations for the ballroom. Trump’s frequent hosting of glitzy events attended by wealthy donors who fund the project has long raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and pay-to-play schemes. The president has insisted private donors will cover the ballroom’s cost. However, Senate Republicans are also seeking a mammoth $1 billion taxpayer-funded reconciliation package to provide “above-ground and below-ground” security for the project. In a Tuesday blog post, Dan Pfeiffer, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, argued that Trump’s obsession with the ballroom could become a political gift for Democrats heading into the midterms. “This is a layup for Democrats, because we don’t even have to work that hard to highlight the ballroom,” Pfeiffer wrote. “Trump can’t shut up about it.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-bonkers-unwind-sessions-with-pet-project-leak/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump Aides’ Secret Panic Over Self-Inflicted Disaster Revealed The president’s team is getting multiple warnings about looming backlash to rising costs. Donald Trump’s inner circle is privately panicking that the oil crisis stemming from the president’s war in Iran could be a catastrophe for Republicans in the midterms, according to a report. The president’s aides are becoming increasingly worried that the GOP will suffer major losses in November’s elections unless the war ends soon and oil, gas, and jet fuel prices fall sharply, The Wall Street Journal reported. The global oil crisis resulting from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz—which has sent gas prices soaring in the U.S. and around the world—could become even more painful for Americans in the coming months, as airlines fear high jet-fuel prices could force ticket hikes or even mass cancellations during the busy summer travel season. Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican who is now president and CEO of industry group Airlines for America, said he has met with numerous Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to warn them about the looming political disaster for the GOP. “They get it … and I think that’s why they’re trying to get through the war as fast as they can,” Sununu told the Journal. However, Sununu also warned that even if the war in Iran ends soon and the Strait of Hormuz reopens, it could still take several months for oil and gas prices to return to pre-war levels. “You’re looking at elevated ticket prices through the summer and fall because it takes a while for the prices to go down,” Sununu told the Journal. In the weeks after the war broke out, the price of a U.S. domestic round-trip economy ticket rose 21 percent to $570, compared to March 2025, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. The war was also the nail in the coffin for Spirit Airlines. The budget carrier had been hoping to secure a rescue deal after filing for a second bankruptcy, but the sharp rise in jet fuel costs amid the conflict pushed it over the edge. The GOP is already widely predicted to suffer heavy losses in November’s midterms, in part because of backlash to Trump’s second term. The deeply unpopular war in Iran and rising fuel costs have only exacerbated voter frustration for tens of millions of Americans already struggling through a cost-of-living crisis. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the war in Iran, which has dragged on for more than two months, could end any day now. On Tuesday, Axios reported that the White House had put forward a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding to Tehran in an attempt to negotiate an end to the conflict. However, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign policy and national security committee, said the reported memo was “more of an American wish list than a reality.” Trump’s attempt to ease the Strait of Hormuz crisis by launching an operation to guide ships through the narrow passageway was paused just one day after it was put in place. In a statement to the Journal, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers insisted that the president and his energy team “anticipated these short-term disruptions to the global energy markets from Operation Epic Fury and had a plan prepared to mitigate these disruptions.” Rogers added that the administration is working with airline industry representatives to “address their concerns, explore potential actions, and inform the president’s policy decisions.” The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for further comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-aides-secret-panic-over-self-inflicted-disaster-revealed/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Desperate Trump Rolls Out Inaccurate Chart to Defend His War The 79-year-old’s math did not add up. President Donald Trump urged his followers to “study” a chart comparing the duration of his war on Iran to that of other conflicts involving the U.S. But Trump’s chart failed basic math by miscalculating the true length of the conflict with Iran. The 79-year-old went on another Truth Social posting spree on Wednesday night, including sharing clips from his favorite network Fox News praising him and slamming former President Barack Obama. Trump also posted a chart, featuring his 45:47 presidential logo, titled “Length of Wars.” He wrote, “Wow. Study this Chart!” However, anyone actually studying the chart will see that what Trump calls his “Iran Excursion” is now in its ninth week, not sixth, as the chart states. The U.S. and Israel first launched military strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. There is still no clear end to the conflict, with an increasingly desperate Trump telling PBS on Wednesday morning he was optimistic about making an agreement with Iran, but also prepared to resume the conflict if talks collapse. “I think it’s got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them,” he said. “Very simple.” Trump’s other war timelines were also questionable. The war in Afghanistan, the longest in U.S. history, ran from 2001 to 2021. U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years in total. That is around 1,035 weeks, almost double the 543 weeks on Trump’s chart. Trump’s timeline of the Iraq war, at 457 weeks, along with the Korean War, at 161 weeks, is accurate. The Vietnam War, which lasted almost 20 years, took more than 1,000 weeks. Trump’s chart lists 439. Trump’s chart has World War II listed at 196 weeks, although the entire war lasted over 300 weeks, between 1939 and 1945. U.S. involvement, which started after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, lasted roughly 193 weeks. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for clarification on Trump’s figures. Prior to his command to “study” his war chart, Trump spent this week attempting to educate anyone who would listen about his war in person. He raged about the threat of nuclear weapons to a group of children who were at the White House on Tuesday. While they were there for the signing of a proclamation on youth sports and fitness, the president went off-script to complain about war. “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon. You might be too young for this,” Trump said, looking to the children, before continuing. “They probably know,” Trump said. “They probably know better than most people, but you can’t let a bunch of lunatics have a nuclear weapon, or the world would be in trouble. The world would be in trouble.” He returned to the topic again, saying in front of the young audience, “Remember, we sent that beautiful B2 bomber in, and we blew up their nuclear potential. It was obliterated, for those that are not aware.” Meanwhile, motivation for Trump’s decision to pause his U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz came as a result of pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to a NBC News report on Wednesday. Trump blindsided key Gulf allies by announcing his “Project Freedom” in the first place, the report said, citing two officials. Saudi Arabia informed the U.S. that it would not allow the U.S. military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh, the officials said. The U.S. would also be unable to fly through Saudi airspace to support efforts to open the Strait. After a call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to address the issue, the president abruptly halted “Project Freedom” to restore critical U.S. military access to the airspace, according to the officials. https://www.thedailybeast.com/desperate-trump-rolls-out-inaccurate-chart-to-defend-his-war/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 How ‘Senile’ Trump Is a Danger to Our Country: Congressman Trump is becoming an increasing threat to U.S. troops, national security, and the economy, Seth Moulton says. Donald Trump’s frequent boasts about his performance on acuity tests are concerning, one Democratic lawmaker says, because “you only take cognitive tests if your doctors are concerned about your cognitive abilities.” Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, appearing on The Daily Beast Podcast, said the 79-year-old president seems to be “more senile” now than he was during his first term. “I’m no doctor. I’m no psychologist. I’m no child psychologist, which might be more appropriate for the president,“ Moulton told host Joanna Coles. ”But he definitely seems to be getting worse. He really seems to be getting worse. He seems to be getting more senile. I mean, you don’t talk about cognitive tests a lot if you’re not taking cognitive tests, and you only take cognitive tests if your doctors are concerned about your cognitive abilities.” “Everyone declines, whether we like it or not, at that age... I think it’s just that much more dangerous,” Moulton explained. “Most people can see that Donald Trump is dangerous—that he’s dangerous for our troops, for our country, for our economy, for our national security. I mean, there’s a long list. But he definitely seems more dangerous now than he was even in his first term.” Trump, in a Truth Social post just last week, reiterated his claim that he had “aced” cognitive tests, which are designed to screen for mild cognitive impairment rather than measure IQ, as he has sometimes suggested. The White House insists that Trump is energetic and capable, both physically and mentally, of doing his job, despite the sleep-deprived president having been seen struggling to stay awake at important meetings lately. Trump is “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast earlier Wednesday. Moulton then argued why Trump, whose capabilities show no signs of improving, has already done so much damage to U.S. foreign policy through his war against Iran, which is well into its third month. “This is the saddest thing because there actually at least was a lot of pro-American, pro-Western sentiment in Iran, and that’s what we saw with these brave, courageous protesters coming out in the face of machine guns to protest the regime,” Moulton, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, explained. “But after they were all machine gunned down despite promises from Donald Trump to save them... instead of actually coming in to rescue the protesters, tens of thousands of them were killed by the regime,” he said. “And that all just further empowers the Iranian regime... I think that the regime change they’ve achieved by taking out the Ayatollah and putting in his son has actually made the government even more hardline.” Not only did Trump turn pro-American Iranians against the U.S., but he compounded the damage by bombing Iran with Israel, Moulton said. “That’s going to make it harder to get a nuclear deal, harder to see any sort of revolutionary change that would actually overthrow the Islamic Republic and bring Iran back to a normal relationship with the rest of the world,” he said. “And obviously now they have the additional leverage of controlling the Strait of Hormuz on top of all that.” The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Beast’s request for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-senile-trump-is-a-danger-to-our-country-seth-moulton/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Trump Backs Vapes After Susie Wiles’ Tobacco Pals Visit White House Big tobacco has a big backer in the White House. Lobbyists for Susie Wiles’ old tobacco client were regular visitors to the White House in the run-up to President Trump’s shock push to back vapes, though it was a different company that benefited from the FDA announcement. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Trump scolded Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary for not moving fast enough to approve flavored vapes. The Daily Beast can now reveal that Trump’s change of heart on the issue came after the tobacco firm Swisher International lobbied the Executive Office of the President in each of the last four quarters, either directly or through a firm where Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ daughter works. Lobbying reports have to be filed quarterly. Swisher itself does not produce vape products, and sister company E-Alternative Solutions has not received approval in this week’s announcement. Wiles was previously registered as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, which lobbied the government on behalf of SI Group Client Services, an associated branch of Swisher. Wiles represented the tobacco firm in 2019, 2021, and 2022 and is name-checked in filings at least once in each of those years. She later lobbied Congress with Mercury Public Affairs, which also acted on behalf of SI Group in 2023 and 2024, Public Citizen previously reported. In the Swisher filings where she’s named, the most common lobbying issues were “Monitor FDA issues regarding flavoring in tobacco products” and “FDA regulations.” Swisher is the sister company of vape firm E-Alternative Solutions, with which it reportedly expanded its partnership in 2021, and plugs on its own website. Since Wiles, 68, began working at the White House, Continental Strategy has lobbied consistently on behalf of Swisher. Katie Wiles was reportedly promoted by Continental the day after her mom was appointed White House chief of staff. She is a partner in the firm but not a registered lobbyist. Continental represented the tobacco firm, known for its Swisher Sweets cigars, in the second, third, and fourth quarters last year, reporting a total of $225,000 in income. Each filing acknowledged lobbying the Executive Office of the President, as well as other government bodies, on the issue of “tobacco regulation.” Meanwhile, in quarters two and four, Swisher lobbied various government branches directly, including the Executive Office of the President, at a cost of $330,000 each time, and in quarter one of 2026 at a cost of $410,000. In 2025, Swisher lobbied on “Issues related to tobacco products including cigars and modern oral tobacco products; issues related to FDA and the Center for Tobacco Products reforms,” as well as “issues relating to tariff.” The Center for Tobacco Products is part of the FDA. The FDA announced on Tuesday that it had given the thumbs-up to vape firm Glas to manufacture menthol, mango, and blueberry flavors. A White House source familiar with the matter specified, “Swisher has not lobbied the WH regarding flavor bans impacting this portfolio of products.” White House communication director Steven Cheung told the Daily Beast that Wiles retains the full support of the president. “The Chief of Staff operates with the highest ethical standards and with the singular focus of advancing the President’s America First agenda to deliver for the American people,” he said. “Susie Wiles has the complete trust of President Trump and everyone in the Administration because she executes that mission flawlessly with discipline and professionalism every single day. The fake Daily Beast story is nothing more than a desperate attempt to manufacture a conspiracy around one of the most respected and effective leaders in White House history.” The Journal reported that Trump’s advisers told him Makary had blocked his ambition to get those flavors approved, citing sources who said he and Trump, 79, had discussed them directly. Makary had reportedly pushed against the flavors because he was concerned about their appeal to children and possible public health risks. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to the Beast: “President Trump consistently pledged to expand access to vapes in light of an abundance of evidence finding that these products are beneficial for Americans trying to quit smoking. The only guiding factor behind the Trump administration’s health policymaking is Gold Standard Science.” During his first term, Trump raised the age for purchasing all tobacco products from 18 to 21 and introduced the first restrictions on e-cigarette flavors, largely outlawing fruit and mint varieties. By the time his 2024 election campaign rolled around, he had changed his tune. “I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019, and it greatly helped people get off smoking,” he wrote on Truth Social in September of that year. “I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the ‘kids.’ Kamala [Harris] and Joe [Biden] want everything banned, killing small businesses all over the Country. I’ll save Vaping again!” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-backs-vapes-after-susie-wiles-tobacco-pals-visit-white-house/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Conservative SCOTUS Justice Begs Furious Critics to Stop Being Mean “There’s a lot of hostility,” the George W. Bush appointee moaned. Chief Justice John Roberts has begged furious SCOTUS critics to back off. Roberts, fresh from riling voters by helping to gut the Civil Rights Act, made his plea at the Third Circuit Bench and Bar Conference in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Pushing back at the suggestion that he and his colleagues are “purely political actors,” he said, “We’re not simply part of the political process, and there’s a reason for that, and I’m not sure people grasp that as much as is appropriate.”Roberts, who was nominated to the Supreme Court by George W. Bush in 2005, pointed out that a line is crossed when critics’ attacks become personal. “There is a point where it changes from criticism of the opinion to criticism of the judge, and it can lead to some very serious problems. As soon as you personalize, it can become problematic.” “There’s a lot of hostility that’s publicized about judicial decisions and which judge wrote those decisions,” he said. “I think we have to be a little more careful and make sure people, to the extent you can, are more careful about that.” The chief justice added, “I think considered criticism is a very good thing. You hope it’s intelligent criticism, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a free country, and I certainly don’t object to it, and I don’t think my colleagues do either.” The court faced a storm of criticism earlier this month when the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 along partisan lines to blow apart the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law that has restricted racial gerrymandering and racial discrimination in voting for 60 years. Conservatives on the court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, which had been redrawn following lower courts’ findings that the state’s original post-2020 census map likely diluted Black voting power.Roberts didn’t specifically address that issue, but the Voting Rights Act decision caused considerable ire. “Republicans have concluded that they need to cheat to win, and the Supreme Court conservatives have decided to aid and abet their scheme. Democrats are going to fight back with every tool available,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Politico after the decision. The SCOTUS doesn’t always appease Trump. In February, six justices, including Roberts, handed the president one of the biggest setbacks of his second term by striking down his administration’s global tariffs. This earned a stern rebuke from Trump. “They’re just being fools and lapdogs for the Rhinos [Republicans in Name Only] and the radical left Democrats,” he said, using a disparaging term for Republicans deemed not sufficiently loyal to GOP interests. He made it personal, too. “It’s an embarrassment to their families, to one another,” Trump said after he was asked if he regretted appointing Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. https://www.thedailybeast.com/conservative-scotus-justice-john-roberts-begs-furious-critics-to-stop-being-mean/? 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 May 10 Author Members Posted May 10 Manic Trump, 79, Fires Off Utterly Unhinged Attack in 7AM Rage Post The president escalated his insults to a whole new weird level. Donald Trump has posted a deranged AI-generated image attacking some of his biggest Democratic foes. In an early-morning Truth Social post, the 79-year-old president shared a mock-up image of Joe Biden asleep in the Oval Office, with a manic-looking Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama surrounding him as an official document is signed on the former president’s behalf. For good measure, the unhinged mocked-up image also shows Biden’s son, Hunter, appearing to snort cocaine off the Resolute desk. “A highly accurate depiction of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration. Tremendous damage done but, WE’RE BACK!!!” Trump wrote in the 7 a.m. post. Trump, who has a habit of sharing ridiculous AI-slop, covered numerous past grievances in his latest deranged post. The 79-year-old has frequently suggested that his 82-year-old predecessor was in such cognitive decline that Biden’s aides signed off on executive actions on his behalf using an autopen—a mechanical device that replicates a person’s signature. Trump pushed the unsubstantiated claim that Biden didn’t personally sign off on the sweeping pardons he issued just before leaving office in January 2025, including one for his son. Hunter Biden has long been the target of attacks from MAGA due to his business dealings and history of drug addiction. Trump even suggested that a bag of cocaine found in a vestibule of the White House in July 2023 belonged to Hunter, despite no Biden family members being present at the White House that day. The deranged AI-generated image also showed a bucket full of melted ice cream next to “Sleepy Joe” Biden, an apparent reference to the former president’s love of the dairy product. The irony of Trump, who frequently nods off in public and at White House events, trying to attack Biden for sleeping in the Oval Office appears to be lost on the 79-year-old president. Trump quickly moved on and posted an image on Truth Social showing the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average just minutes later. Trump has previously caused outrage with AI-generated images of himself dressed as the pope, depicting himself as Jesus Christ, as well as a bizarre image of him and several Cabinet officials topless and lounging in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Daily Beast has contacted representatives for the Bidens, Obama, and Clinton for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/manic-trump-79-fires-off-utterly-unhinged-attack-in-7am-rage-post/? 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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