Members phkrause Posted July 10, 2025 Author Members Posted July 10, 2025 White House Aide Had to Block a Furious Laura Loomer From Meeting Trump The incident occurred after the far-right activist apparently convinced the president to fire multiple National Security Council staff. A White House aide had to intervene to stop far-right activist Laura Loomer from speaking to Donald Trump during the president’s visit to the Kennedy Center last month to watch a performance of Les Misérables. Loomer was climbing a flight of stairs to the VIP section where Trump and wife Melania were set to watch the show, but she was stopped at the top. Loomer, the aide, and a Kennedy Center employee then argued for several minutes before a “furious” Loomer gave up and retreated, The New York Times reported. The incident came just two months after Loomer met with Trump in the Oval Office, where she presented research on multiple National Security Council figures, including Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong, claiming they might not be loyal to the president and other potential red flags. Trump then turned to his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, and demanded, “I want all of them fired,” the Times reported. Trump went on to fire six National Security Council staffers, including General Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, and his deputy, Wendy Noble. Wong, Waltz’s right-hand man, ultimately survived the purge sparked by Loomer. The Kennedy Center incident was detailed in a lengthy profile on Loomer, charting her rise from fringe conspiracy theorist and self-described “proud Islamophobe” to an influential figure with the ear of the president. In addition to the six national security employees, Trump also withdrew his nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, who is Waltz’s sister-in-law, for surgeon general after Loomer described her as “not ideologically aligned” with the president on social media. Trump has downplayed how much sway Loomer’s input had in these decisions. Loomer herself told the paper she’s not even sure how many “scalps” she’s managed to claim with her interventions. “I don’t even know,” she said. “I really enjoy and take great pleasure in humiliating people who suck at their job.” It hasn’t all been smooth sailing lately for the provocateur, who has more than 1.7 million followers on X. In May, Trump personally called Loomer from Air Force One while traveling to Saudi Arabia to give her a dressing-down after she spoke out against the president accepting a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar, sources told the Times. “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits,” Loomer wrote on X. The day after the call from Trump, Loomer posted a lengthy apology on social media admitting she could have “probably just had a private conversation about the plane instead.” Loomer and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-aide-had-to-block-a-furious-laura-loomer-from-meeting-trump/? ps:Again I ask who is trumps advisor?????????????????????? 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 July 10, 2025 Author Members Posted July 10, 2025 Rubio and Trump Envoy Spectacularly Screwed Up Deal to Free American Prisoners Two diplomatic teams wound up working at cross-purposes in planned prisoner swap. Efforts to free a number of Americans being held in Venezuelan prisons reportedly ended in failure after the Trump administration sent in two separate teams to secure their release. According to a report in The New York Times, Secretary of State Marco Rubio worked hard to negotiate a deal with the government of Nicolás Maduro to exchange the detained U.S. citizens for roughly 250 Venezuelans who’d been sent to El Salvador as part of President Donald Trump’s nationwide deportation drive. Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy to Venezuela, Richard Grenell, held separate talks with exactly the same officials to return those same prisoners, but in exchange for allowing U.S. oil company Chevron to continue its operations in the country after its license expired at the end of May, the Times reported. Neither deal happened—leaving both sets of prisoners still in their cells, and Venezuelan officials bewildered as to who exactly among the two teams of U.S. diplomats was supposed to have been negotiating on Trump’s behalf. Grenell flat-out denied to the newspaper he had engaged in separate talks with Maduro’s authoritarian government. A source with knowledge of those negotiations apparently said Grenell had held them because he didn’t believe Trump would be willing to release migrants he’s accused, in many cases without proof, of being violent gang members. Before making his proposal to the Venezuelan administration, the newspaper further reports Grenell in fact called Trump to discuss it with him. He came away from that conversation under the impression he had the president’s backing, even though sources say Trump had still not given final approval. As the Trump administration’s envoy to Venezuela, the diplomat was apparently surprised to hear Rubio’s department had been involved in negotiating with Maduro’s officials. Since the deal, or deals, fell through, however, the secretary of state has reportedly taken charge of future talks with the Venezuelan government. “There is no fraction or division,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the NYT in a statement. “The president has one team, and everyone knows he is the ultimate decision maker.” The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House, the State Department, Richard Grenell, and the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, which was involved in the first set of negotiations, for comment on this story. https://www.thedailybeast.com/marcio-rubio-and-donald-trump-envoy-spectacularly-screw-up-deal-to-free-us-prisoners-in-venezuela/? 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 July 10, 2025 Author Members Posted July 10, 2025 Fox News Guest Torches Trump Administration’s ‘Biggest Fumble’ Yet Patrick Bet-David said the administration’s attempts to deflect were exacerbating the problem. MAGA podcaster Patrick Bet-David blasted the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as its worst error so far in a damning Fox News segment. News broke this week that the Justice Department and the FBI had formally concluded there was no evidence the convicted sex offender kept a “client list,” blackmailed his associates, or was murdered in his prison cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking in 2019. The declaration, in a two-page memo, left many members of the MAGA faithful reeling, after Donald Trump’s team had spent months teasing the release of troves of new information in the case. “Epstein” quickly became the No. 1 trending hashtag on the social media platform X, with more than 2 million posts on the topic, Bet-David said Tuesday during an interview with Fox News. “There is a reason why people are asking about this,” said Bet-David, who hosted Trump on his PDB podcast during the 2024 election campaign and said he had voted for him three times. “This is by far the biggest fumble of the administration they’ve had thus far.” Bet-David told Fox News’s Jesse Watters the issue was “very important” to about 20 percent of Trump’s voters and that the administration’s handling of it had been a “big letdown.” During his campaign, Trump said he had “no problem” releasing the FBI’s investigation files. He appointed Kash Patel, an Epstein truther who claimed the disgraced financier had been murdered, to lead the FBI, and Attorney General Pam Bondi seemed to suggest in February that law enforcement had a client list. During a Cabinet meeting this week, the president angrily interjected when a reporter asked Bondi about the latest findings. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” Trump asked. “This guy’s been talked about for years.” According to Bet-David, that type of dismissal was missing the point. The more Trump and his officials argue that Epstein is old news or that other stories are more important, the more attention they draw to the issue, he argued. “People are going to ask, ‘Why are they so nervous about this? What do you know that the rest of us don’t know?’’’ he said. Administration officials need to gather on a call and get their stories straight, he added. https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-podcaster-torches-trump-administrations-biggest-fumble/? ps:This is what the maga cult thinks is the biggest fumble of this presidency????? Wow, just wow!!! 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 July 10, 2025 Author Members Posted July 10, 2025 Trump Humiliates Little Marco With Petty Power Play “I said, ‘Marco, I have the right to do it,’” Trump boasted after commandeering an item from Rubio’s office. President Donald Trump has gone on a back-slapping victory lap after stealing a clock from his secretary of state, Marco Rubio. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the president found time between issues such as Gaza and global tariffs to boast about his proposed redesign of the Cabinet Room in the White House. This mainly involves splashing gold leaf around the place to make it look like his Florida residence, Mar-A-Lago. Even still, Trump proudly pointed out the tweaks he had already made, drawing attention to the portraits of past presidents that he retrieved from the vault to hang in the room. “I picked it all myself. I’m very proud of it,” he said. One moment in particular stood out, as the commander-in-chief revealed that he pulled rank on Rubio to relieve him of a “beautiful” grandfather clock that was stationed in his State Department office. “So as president, you have the power—if I go into the State Department, or Department of Commerce or Treasury—if I see anything that I like, I’m allowed to take it. Can you believe this?" Trump said, prompting laughs from everyone in the room. Trump then earnestly launched into a story about how he forced Rubio— who, in a jab about his height, he dubbed ’Little Marco’ during the 2016 presidential campaign—to give up the ornamental timepiece. “I’m in Marco’s office [and] I see this gorgeous clock, grandfather clock,” a grinning Trump explained, with Rubio awkwardly smiling to his right. “I had to read him the rule and regulation,” Trump joked as he delivered the first of two sturdy slaps to Rubio’s back. “I said, ‘Marco, I love this clock. Look at it. It’s beautiful.’” “He said, ‘What clock?’” Trump said, adding that he tried to cajole Rubio into voluntarily giving up the timepiece. “I tried to talk him into it first, and it sort of worked,” the president added, suggesting that he needed to apply more pressure to push the deal over the line. He said he received pushback from Rubio before he was forced to pull rank. “I said, ‘Marco, I have the right to do it,’” Trump told the Cabinet Room as he slapped Rubio’s back for a second time. Hard. “That’s his contribution to the Cabinet Room,” Trump concluded. “But, by the way, it’s an incredible clock.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-humiliates-little-marco-with-petty-power-play/? 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 July 10, 2025 Author Members Posted July 10, 2025 DOJ Leaks Trump Enemies Probe to Quell MAGA Epstein Fury The news broke as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces a heated MAGA backlash over her handling of Epstein’s case. The FBI has reportedly launched a criminal probe into two Obama appointees–including the agency’s own former director–over their involvement in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The probe, which Justice Department sources leaked to Fox News Digital, is targeting Former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brenna over false statements they allegedly made to Congress. News of the investigation came as the Trump administration scrambles to quell a furious backlash over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, with prominent MAGA figures calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi to be fired. The Brennan probe was opened after CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred evidence against him to FBI Director Kash Patel, according to Fox News. The sources also told Fox that the Comey investigation was underway, though no details were provided. The FBI declined to comment. The Daily Beast has also reached out to the CIA and the Justice Department. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the investigation in an interview on Jesse Watters Primetime. “I’m glad to hear it, because both of these disgraceful individuals turned against our Constitution and our country, and I’m sure they did, in fact, lie to Congress,” she said. “It’s up to the Department of Justice to investigate that and to prosecute them if they did.” “What we have seen is corruption at the highest levels against President Trump,” she claimed. “He prevailed, and the truth must come out… That’s what the president believes in and I’m glad to see the Department of Justice is opening up this investigation.” Former President Barack Obama appointed Comey as FBI director and Brennan as CIA director in 2013. Both former officials have earned the ire of Trump for their involvement in the Russia interference probes. Last week, a CIA review found flaws in a U.S. intelligence assessment indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to influence the 2016 presidential election between Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. However, the CIA said the review “does not dispute the quality and credibility” of the highly classified report that the authors of the assessment used to arrive at their conclusion. The report about the probe into Comey and Brennan came amid intense pressure on the Trump administration about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. A published Justice Department memo found no evidence to support claims that the convicted sex offender was murdered or kept a “client list.” MAGA conspiracy theorists have long rejected the official explanation of Epstein’s 2019 suicide in a federal prison while awaiting trial. Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, had openly questioned the official narrative before joining the FBI, while Bondi claimed in February that Epstein’s client list—which her DOJ now says does not exist—was sitting on her desk “right now to review.” “In February, I did an interview on Fox that is getting a lot of attention because I was asked a question about the client list,” Bondi said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. “And my response was, ‘It is sitting on my desk to be reviewed,’ meaning the files, along with the JFK, MLK files as well. That is what I meant by that.” President Trump also angrily reacted to questions about Epstein at the meeting. “Are you still talking about Jeffery Epstein?” Trump asked in response to one reporter’s question. “This guy’s been talked about for years.” “We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy, this creep?” Trump said, referring to the deadly floods in Texas. “That is unbelievable.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/fbi-targets-its-own-in-new-criminal-probe/? ps:If it weren't for Comey Clinton just might've won!! But that's my opinion!! Also both Comey and Brennan are Republicans who served the people first which is what they swore an oath to do!! Not to serve trump!!!!!!!!!! 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 ⚡️ Scoop: Secret meetings on Gaza ceasefire Senior U.S., Israeli and Qatari officials held secret talks at the White House yesterday that focused on the key remaining sticking point for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, sources with direct knowledge tell Axios' Barak Ravid. President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice in the last 48 hours as he presses both Israel and Hamas to finalize a deal. ? "There are still some gaps remaining, but we are in a positive trajectory at the moment," one source said. A major sticking point: The position to which the Israeli military would withdraw during a ceasefire. Go deeper. Trump administration resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has resumed sending some weapons to Ukraine, a week after the Pentagon had directed that some deliveries be paused, U.S. officials said Wednesday. https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-shipments-trump-a1a39c136bce749debe36646f69b5196? 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 ‘Sledgehammer’ to science: Job cuts, Trump budget plans spark hurricane fears As Florida heads toward the peak of hurricane season, concerns are mounting that staffing shortages and proposed funding cuts from the Trump administration could degrade the accuracy of storm forecasts. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/09/trump-budget-cuts-threaten-accuracy-of-hurricane-forecasts-scientists-warn/? 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 Trump's MAGA trust crisis Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle and Bloomberg via Getty Images Top MAGA influencers warn the Trump administration is bleeding trust over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, and that the president is drifting out of step with the movement he built, Axios' Tal Axelrod and Zachary Basu write. Why it matters: The MAGA base was blindsided by the Justice Department's conclusion that the notorious sex trafficker died by suicide in 2019 and had no "client list." Days after the initial shock, Trump's insistence on moving on is fueling a deeper sense of betrayal. ? Reality check: For all the outrage, there's no indication that MAGA will defect from Trump himself in serious numbers. Loyalty to the president remains the movement's defining feature. ? Zoom in: The chorus of MAGA outrage has only intensified since the Justice Department and FBI released a memo on Sunday finding no evidence that Epstein was murdered, had a "client list" or had blackmailed powerful figures. Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk and Steve Bannon — influential Trump allies who have feuded with the president at times — are among those who have accused the administration of a cover-up. MAGA's most loyal foot soldiers are struggling to explain how top Trump officials could close the Epstein case after promising — for years — that it would expose shadowy global elites. "Trump is massively misreading his base on this one. It could cost him the midterms," MAGA influencer Liz Wheeler posted Tuesday after the president lashed out at the questions about Epstein, who had been charged with sex trafficking underage girls at the time of his death. "The Epstein situation is sending massive ripples through the base. Trust is being lost," one MAGA media figure told Axios. "Mostly the people around him, but somewhat Trump." Via X The big picture: No one — not even Trump — is immune from MAGA frustrations over Epstein. But Attorney General Pam Bondi has become the top target for loyalists demanding that heads roll. MAGA figures describe feeling "gaslit" by Bondi, who lacked deep ties to the movement before joining Trump's administration and promised maximum transparency about the Epstein case. That included the eventual release of a "list of clients" that she claimed was sitting on her desk — a move widely seen as an attempt to curry favor with the base. "Don't sit there and tell me there's nothing when you told me there was something. That's the issue for the AG," podcaster Jack Posobiec said on Steve Bannon's "War Room" yesterday. "Put out everything you have." 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 ? Trump's Brazil barrage Via Truth Social President Trump launched a multi-front trade assault on Brazil yesterday, threatening it with massive new tariffs and demanding the end of criminal charges against his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, Axios' Ben Berkowitz and Courtenay Brown write. Why it matters: Trump's tariff letter to Brazil is far more aggressive, with a much higher levy, than any other trade missive he's sent this week. It prompted Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to push back on what he called "interference" in the nation's affairs. ? Zoom in: Trump's letter threatens $42 billion in annual U.S. imports, everything from steel to coffee, and the potential collapse of a trading relationship with one of the few countries where the U.S. runs a trade surplus. ? P.S. President Trump said last night that a 50% tariff on copper imports — announced on Tuesday — will start Aug. 1. ps:Senseless!!!!! 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 ? Shoe sticker shock Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios If there's one theme from the first wave of President Trump's tariff warning letters, it's this: You may pay a lot more for your next few pairs of shoes, Axios' Ben Berkowitz and Madison Mills write. Why it matters: Almost every shoe sold in the U.S. is imported, and the vast majority of those imports come from places like China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh. Those countries now face tariffs of anywhere from 20% to 40% — not quite as bad as feared in April, but still enough to potentially impact the market. ? By the numbers: The Yale Budget Lab estimates that the new tariffs, as imposed, would raise some categories of shoe prices as much as 37% in the short term. Keep reading. ps:More Senselessness!!!!!!!!!! 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 ?️ Trump cuts rattle election officials Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios Most local election officials say they need more funding and help from state governments to offset the Trump administration's cuts to the country's top cybersecurity agency, Axios' Sam Sabin writes from a new Brennan Center poll. Why it matters: Preparations for the midterm elections are already underway, and without proper funding, local officials could lack the tools needed to fend off a growing list of physical and digital threats to elections. By the numbers: Most of the 858 election officials surveyed said they're either very or somewhat concerned about federal cuts to election security programs. 61% also said they're specifically concerned about cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's election security offerings. Keep reading. 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 Trump administration resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause The Trump administration has resumed sending some weapons to Ukraine, a week after the Pentagon directed some deliveries to be paused, U.S. officials said Wednesday. President Donald Trump has sidestepped questions about who ordered the pause in exchanges with reporters this week. Read more. Why this matters: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the pause on some shipments last week to allow the Pentagon to assess its weapons stockpiles in a move that caught the White House by surprise. A White House official speaking Wednesday on the condition of anonymity said there was never a “pause” in shipments, but a review to ensure U.S. military support aligns with its defense strategy. The official said the Pentagon never announced a pause. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump says he hasn't 'thought about' who approved the pause of weapons to Ukraine Italy opens Ukraine rebuilding conference as doubts of US defense help remain The EU presidency says Europe must rearm within 5 years. It’s unclear how that could be done ps:This problem should've been taken care of long ago! Like during the first trump administration when trump held up the weapons that were allocated for Ukraine!! Than maybe putin wouldn't have invaded Ukraine in the first place!!! But here we are still allowing Russia to keep killing Ukrainians, while this so-called leader of the free world sits on his rear end and keeps saying "We'll see what happens!!!!!" 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 Senate confirms new FAA administrator at a time of rising concern about air safety The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Bryan Bedford to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, putting him in charge of the agency at a precarious time for the airline industry after recent accidents, including the January collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. Read more. Why this matters: Bedford was confirmed on a near party-line vote, 53-43. Republicans and industry leaders lauded Trump’s choice of Bedford, citing his experience as CEO of regional airline Republic Airways since 1999. Democrats and flight safety advocates opposed his nomination, citing Bedford’s lack of commitment to the 1,500-hour training requirement for pilots that was put in place by Congress after a 2009 New York plane crash. Bedford declined during his confirmation hearing to commit to upholding the 1,500-hour training rule, saying only that he would not “have anything that will reduce safety.” Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, made famous for safely landing a plane in the Hudson River, also opposed Trump’s pick, posting on social media that “with the nomination of Bryan Bedford to be FAA Administrator, my life’s work could be undone.” RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts Senate committee advances Susan Monarez to be Trump’s CDC director Trump taps transportation secretary as interim NASA administrator Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the US illegally Trump calls Democrats’ efforts to unmask ICE agents ‘deranged’ Appeals court overturns right-wing influencer’s conviction for spreading 2016 election falsehoods Trump administration sues California over transgender athlete policies Trump tariffs goods from Brazil at 50%, citing ‘witch hunt’ trial against Bolsonaro Trump adds 50% tariff on copper imports The Trump administration predicted 90 trade deals in 90 days. So far there have been 2 Trump promises West African leaders a pivot to trade as the region reels from sweeping aid cuts US issues sanctions against UN investigator probing abuses in Gaza Biden’s former doctor refuses to answer questions in House Republican probe FACT FOCUS: Trump misrepresents facts about wind power during Cabinet meeting Former Wisconsin clerk who failed to count ballots broke laws, the state’s elections commission says New lawsuit seeks to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps before 2026 midterms North Carolina governor vetoes another set of bills, including one on guns in private schools Utah judge schedules execution by firing squad for a man with dementia GOP congressman won’t run for governor in Pennsylvania, despite Trump’s promise to support him Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur pledges a $100M investment in Trump’s meme coin 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 NASA President Trump announced on Wednesday that he has named Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the interim NASA administrator. “Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling our Country’s Transportation Affairs, including creating a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control systems, while at the same time rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them efficient, and beautiful, again. He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time,” Trump wrote on his social media site. NASA administrators are typically selected from a pool of scientists, engineers, academics or public servants. Duffy is a former congressman and former co-host of the Fox Business show, “The Bottom Line.” 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 July 11, 2025 Author Members Posted July 11, 2025 Weather experts say accuracy of storm forecasts will suffer under budget cuts Forecast accuracy for major storms and hurricanes have improved dramatically in recent years, but this capacity is being seriously compromised by proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Trump administration, a group of weather experts said Wednesday. https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/07/09/weather-experts-say-accuracy-of-storm-forecasts-will-suffer-under-budget-cuts/? Trump’s Big Beautiful Gift to Anduril Anduril Industries is a major beneficiary of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes a section that essentially grants the weapons firm a monopoly on new surveillance towers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection across the southern and northern borders. https://theintercept.com/2025/07/09/trump-big-beautiful-bill-anduril/? Trump Administration Expels Eight Men to War-Torn “Third Country” South Sudan The Trump administration succeeded in its quest to deport the eight men it imprisoned on a U.S. military base in Djibouti to violence-plagued South Sudan on Saturday, expanding its globe-spanning effort to banish immigrants to so-called third countries. https://theintercept.com/2025/07/07/third-country-deportation-south-sudan-trump/? Trump says Canada’s role in US fentanyl crisis justifies 35% tariffs on Canadian goods President Donald Trump posted a letter to social media Thursday evening announcing Canadian goods will be subject to a 35% tariff rate starting Aug. 1, an aggressive increase to the 25% tariff first announced by Trump in February. https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-10-2025? 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ☠️ Poisoning the White House. The Trump administration just tapped a longtime pesticide lobbyist for a top EPA role regulating pesticides, according to Sludge. Before his new gig, Kyle Kunkler worked for years at the lobbying groups American Soybean Association and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, where he advocated for policies promoting commercial pesticides like glyphosate, chemical fertilizers, and farmers’ access to genetically engineered crops. So much for promises to make America healthy again by curbing environmental toxins. Asylum is a right. A federal judge ruled on July 2 that the Trump administration cannot deny entry to people crossing the southern border to apply for asylum, a rule that Trump signed on his first day in office. The judge’s 128-page ruling concluded that neither the Constitution nor federal immigration laws empower the president to defy Congress’s 1980 law establishing a right for people to flee persecution. More chemical fires coming soon. The Trump administration announced plans to shutter the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigations Board, the nation’s chemical accident watchdog. It’s Trump’s latest gift to the chemical industry. This spring, Trump’s EPA moved to roll back Biden-era chemical safety regulations and took down a webpage informing the public about dangerous chemical plants after industry lobbyists demanded they do so. The chemical lobby plays both sides. In corporate media reports, chemical industry groups offered tepid words of the support for the Chemical Safety Board, with the sector’s largest lobbying group, the American Chemistry Council, telling Bloomberg Law that the agency has “served as a valuable resource for industry stakeholders.” But the industry has spent years pushing to strip away guardrails designed to prevent chemical accidents — and it donated generously to Trump’s campaign and inauguration. The American Chemistry Council spent a record $22 million lobbying federal lawmakers last year. Both the council and the chemical industry’s other main lobbying group, the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, did not respond to inquiries from The Lever about their position on the board’s fate. About that mushroom cloud... The Chemical Safety Board recently uncovered what it called “disturbing” details of negligence at a chemical facility that engulfed an Atlanta suburb in a black mushroom cloud for several days last year. According to the agency, the facility was storing twice the amount of the water-reactive chemicals that caused the fire than the company originally reported, and inspectors had documented sprinkler-system failures at the facility for years. A faulty sprinkler ultimately caused the fire, which residents worry will lead to long-term health issues. This investigation is one of many that could be shelved if the Chemical Safety Board is shuttered. A second try. Trump tried to ax the Chemical Safety Board under his first administration, too, but faced opposition from Congress. At the time, his administration cited complaints from industry for his rationale; in budget documents, officials wrote that the Safety Board too often focused on “the need for greater regulation of industry,” which “frustrated” the chemical lobby. Then, as now, lobbying groups issued mealy-mouthed statements about the value of the Chemical Safety Board’s investigations, but didn’t fully disavow the Trump administration’s claims it was acting in the industry’s interests. These efforts may have laid the groundwork for Trump’s new attempt to kill the board — and bring more chemical fires to our neighborhoods. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 New Hampshire judge decides to pause Trump’s birthright citizenship order A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a ruling Thursday prohibiting President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship from taking effect anywhere in the U.S. The judge’s decision puts the birthright citizenship issue on a fast track to return to the Supreme Court. Read More. Many Liberians take offense after Trump praises their leader's English U.S. President Donald Trump’s praise of the “beautiful” English of Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai drew confusion Thursday in the English-speaking African country and umbrage over what many considered condescending remarks. Read More. Freed from ICE detention, Mahmoud Khalil files $20 million claim against Trump administration Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose role in campus protests against Israel led to his detention for over three months in immigration jail, is now seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration. The government has accused him of leading protests aligned with Hamas, but has not provided any evidence of a link to the terror group. Read More. UN says if US funding for HIV programs is not replaced, millions more will die by 2029 Years of American-led investment into AIDS programs has reduced the number of people killed by the disease to the lowest levels seen in more than three decades. A new UNAIDS report says if U.S. funding is not replaced it could lead to more than 4 million AIDS-related deaths and 6 million more HIV infections by 2029. Read More. What we know about new US tax deductions for tips and overtime pay Millions of U.S. workers who earn tips and overtime pay may be eligible for a federal tax break when they file their 2025 income taxes next year. But which workers will qualify for the new deductions is among the details the government has to work out. Read More. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ⚖️ New legal fight over citizenship Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios A federal judge in New Hampshire today blocked the Trump administration from implementing its plan to end birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court, just weeks ago, ruled that lower courts cannot issue sweeping injunctions blocking that policy nationwide. But it expressly left open the door to class-action suits challenging federal policies — another way to potentially block their application to a large group of people. ⚡️ The ACLU and other advocates quickly filed a class-action suit on behalf of children born after Trump signed his executive order on birthright citizenship, seeking to block him from revoking those children's American citizenship. Judge Joseph Laplante today signed off on that group of people as an acceptable class, and ordered an injunction against the enforcement of the citizenship policy. Go deeper. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ‘Sledgehammer’ to science: Job cuts, Trump budget plans spark hurricane fears As Florida heads toward the peak of hurricane season, concerns are mounting that staffing shortages and proposed funding cuts from the Trump administration could degrade the accuracy of storm forecasts. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/09/trump-budget-cuts-threaten-accuracy-of-hurricane-forecasts-scientists-warn/? Trump's migrant tightrope Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos via Getty Images Under pressure from worried farmers and hotel owners, the Trump administration is launching a program to streamline issuing visas for temporary, migrant workers to try to make sure fruits get picked, meat is packed and lodgings are cleaned, Axios' Marc Caputo writes. Why it matters: President Trump's immigration crackdown has put his administration between a MAGA rock and a special-interest hard place. Farmers who rely on noncitizen workers — who make up as much as 40% of the agricultural labor market — are howling that Trump's mass deportation program is damaging the labor market, and could therefore threaten the food supply. But Trump's MAGA base wants to ratchet up deportations, saying the administration shouldn't allow employers to incentivize illegal immigration by granting "amnesty" to certain noncitizen workers. ? Zoom in: Trying to balance those competing interests, the Labor Department has created the Office of Immigration Policy. It's designed to be a red-tape-cutting, one-stop shop to help employers get faster approval for temporary worker visas for noncitizen labor. The new office won't help those who are in the country illegally to stay or get work visas — that's barred by current immigration law, officials said. New visa recipients would have to have their paperwork completed in their home country before legally migrating to the U.S. "This is not amnesty. It's not amnesty lite," a senior administration official told Axios. "No one who is illegally here is being given a pathway to citizenship or residency." Between the lines: Trump has pushed the strongest, toughest and meanest immigration policies of any modern president. But his recent suggestions of leniency to farmers and key industries that have hired unauthorized workers have left MAGA hardliners suspicious. Mark Krikorian, a vocal immigration restrictionist, said: "Any time someone says, 'This isn't an amnesty because ...' then it's an amnesty. If an illegal alien gets to stay, that's an amnesty." ? Zoom out: Because the agricultural industry has had so much unauthorized labor, it could take years to have a fully authorized workforce, even with the new Office of Immigration Policy's program. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ? Ukraine weapon workaround President Trump is planning to sell weapons to NATO allies with the understanding that they will then provide them to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios' Marc Caputo, Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler. Why it matters: This is a major policy shift from Trump as he grows increasingly disillusioned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump had long rejected the idea of new arms packages for Ukraine in part to avoid becoming personally embroiled in the conflict. ? The intrigue: Two administration officials denied the plans meant Trump would be directly arming Ukraine. One source said the sales could include offensive weaponry, not just air defense support. ? Between the lines: Trump continued to allow some arms shipments to Ukraine that were authorized under President Biden, but had not approved any new packages since taking office. ps:Why a work around????? Just give them what they need and this war will end!!!!! 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ?? Trump goes maximalist on ... Canada Via Truth Social President Trump has gone maximalist again on tariffs. Just like the last time, it appears the only thing that could stop him is a market meltdown, Axios' Madison Mills and Ben Berkowitz write. Why it matters: Stocks seem very, very disinclined to stop the historic rally they've been on for the last three months. Every few hours this week, Trump has thrown down another trade gauntlet. He's told roughly two dozen countries via letter that he'll impose tariffs on Aug. 1. He announced last night that includes a 35% levy on Canada, a country from which the U.S. imports $412 billion in goods. ? Our thought bubble: The surprise announcement about Canada is a tactic straight from Trump's trade playbook. He goes from 0 to 100 with a massive threat on a tight deadline, to try to back the other side down. And it works! But it could also deeply disturb markets, particularly if the calendar gets closer to Aug. 1 without a deal. ? The intrigue: His view on the reaction — and what really matters — is incredibly clear. "I think the tariffs have been very well-received. The stock market hit a new high today," Trump told NBC News' "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker in a phone call yesterday. Keep reading. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ⚡ EPA wades into "weather modification" debate The Trump administration is working carefully to stamp out conspiracy theories about "weather modification," wading into a viral, recurring debate that reignited in the wake of Texas' deadly flooding, Axios' Zachary Basu and Dan Primack write. Why it matters: Some Trump allies have amplified baseless claims that cloud-seeding or geoengineering caused the disaster, complicating the government's efforts to reassert scientific facts without alienating the MAGA base. Geoengineering involves large-scale attempts to counteract the effects of climate change, such as reflecting sunlight or enhancing rainfall. The industry has attracted significant investment in recent years. But there's no evidence that human technology played any role in the Texas floods. ? The intrigue: EPA administrator Lee Zeldin released a set of online resources that claim to cover "everything the agency knows about the latest science, research and other information regarding contrails and geoengineering." The materials directly debunk common myths, including the idea that aircraft contrails are secretly dispersing chemicals ("chemtrails") and that the government is manipulating weather events. But they do so in a way that echoes the language of skeptics — emphasizing transparency and public concern, rather than outright dismissal. Keep reading. ? Trump calls for flood alarms: The president will spend three hours in Kerrville, Texas, this afternoon with First Lady Melania Trump, including a roundtable with first responders and local officials. He told NBC News "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker in a phone interview yesterday: "After having seen this horrible event, I would imagine you'd put alarms up in some form, where alarms would go up if they see any large amounts of water or whatever it is ... But the local officials were hit by this just like everybody else." Keep reading. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 ? Global war on "witch hunts" Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios President Trump's criminal trials are behind him, but he's now crying "witch hunt" on behalf of ideological allies overseas, Axios' Dave Lawler writes. Why it matters: Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil — set to go into effect Aug. 1 — in part because of the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his efforts to overturn his loss in 2022, charges that mirror those Trump himself faced. That's an extraordinary intervention in a friendly country's political and judicial processes, with tens of billions in trade at stake. It's also not the first time Trump has weighed in on judicial proceedings against right-wing politicians overseas. ? Zoom in: Last month, he decried the "INSANITY" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having to juggle standing trial for alleged corruption with handling conflicts with Iran and Hamas. Trump's Truth Social post about Netanyahu's trial included an implicit threat: "The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this." Tariffs In an escalation of his trade war, President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened a 35% tariff on goods imported from Canada. Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs for America’s northern neighbor occurred just days after the president sent nearly two dozen letters to world leaders detailing the rates their goods would be tariffed at as of August 1 — if they don’t make a deal with the US. Trading partners who did not receive letters and have yet to reach a deal with the Trump administration would be charged a blanket tariff rate. Although the US currently imposes a 10% tariff on nearly all foreign goods coming into the country, Trump said he might double that. 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 Trump Hits GOP With Frantic New Threat in Truth Social Post Not everyone appears to be falling in line. Donald Trump has angrily threatened to end the careers of Republicans foolhardy enough to oppose his cuts to PBS and NPR. The president‘s threat Thursday night on Truth Social came as the Senate approaches a deadline of July 18 to approve $9.4 billion in DOGE-inspired cuts included in a package of spending cuts, which the House approved in June. Not only is the congressionally established Corporation for Public Broadcasting targeted, but so are USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace, which are effectively shuttered. “It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together,” Trump demanded, referring to MSNBC. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.” But not everyone in the Senate appears to have fallen in line. South Dakota’s Mike Rounds has said he’s wary of cuts to public broadcasting services in rural areas. “There’s a specific group of Native American tribes that have a public radio system set up, and really the vast majority of the funding for it comes from one source, and that’s within the rescission package,” Rounds told reporters, CBS reported. “What we’re trying to do is to work with [the Office of Management and Budget] to find a path forward where the funding for those radio stations would be left alone.” Montana Sen. Steve Daines, Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski voiced similar concerns, with Murkowski calling public broadcasting a “lifeline.” As for other proposed cuts in the package, Maine Sen. Susan Collins has objected to the targeting of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). “I do not support the rescission for PEPFAR and global health programs,” Collins told reporters last month, per The Hill. Rounds, Daines, Capito and Collins are all up for reelection next year, while Murkowski’s term expires in 2028. Murkowski did not receive Trump’s endorsement in 2022—nor did she need it, since she would go on to win a fourth term. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-hits-gop-with-frantic-new-threat-in-truth-social-post/? ps:Is he that insecure??????????????? 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 July 12, 2025 Author Members Posted July 12, 2025 Podcast Bro Andrew Schulz Turns on Trump: ‘I Voted For None of This’ The podcaster blasted Donald Trump in a new episode. Podcaster Andrew Schulz gave Donald Trump street cred in the world of chronically online young men, but he’s been having second thoughts. On a Thursday episode of his Flagrant podcast, the comedian torched the president for “doing the exact opposite” of his campaign promises. “There’ll be people that they’ll DM me like, ‘You see what your boy’s doing? You voted for this.’ I’m like, ‘I voted for none of this,’” he said. “He’s doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars—he’s funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget—he’s increasing it.”Schulz voted for Trump last year even after laughing in his face during a 90-minute podcast that has racked up nearly 10 million views. Schulz erupted in a fit of giggles after the then-Republican candidate called himself “basically a truthful person.”The podcaster, who commands an audience composed chiefly of young men, predicted that Trump would win by a landslide after their interview. He was gleeful after a listener declared that “Flagrant is gonna get Trump elected.” But the recent controversies that have roiled the administration, from its aggressive deportation blitz to the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s megabill, have forced Schulz to rethink his support. “I already expect politicians to not do most of the s-–t they say,” he said. “I don’t want to be too cynical, but now I’m getting to the point where it’s like, ‘Can they do anything?’” Schulz speculated that part of Trump’s appeal was his divergence from the status quo. “When you feel like the status quo will do nothing and change nothing, you have way more of a longer leash for the outsiders’ ideas than you do the status quo’s ideas,” he said. “And I think that was the idea with Trump, who’s like, ‘Maybe he will stop these wars.’ No. ‘Maybe we will see what’s up with this Epstein s–t.’ No.” One of Schulz’s own guests warned him that this would happen. In an April sit-down, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg schooled Schulz and his co-hosts for believing in Trump’s promises. “Most of the stuff he said he was actually going to do, he didn’t actually do,” Buttigieg said. For more, listen to Andrew Schulz on The Last Laugh podcast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/podcast-bro-andrew-schulz-turns-on-trump-i-voted-for-none-of-this/? 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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