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Category: News
April 18, 2025
News
War

NATO Country Sends Troops to Ukraine, Russia Declares Them Legitimate Targets.

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❓What Happened: Unarmed soldiers will be sent to Ukraine by Denmark for drone warfare training, aiming to learn from Ukraine’s combat experience. Russia has cautioned that these personnel could be considered legitimate military targets.

👥 Who’s Involved: The primary figures include Maj. Gen. Peter Boysen, Denmark’s commander in chief, Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s defense minister, and Vladimir Barbin, Russia’s ambassador to Denmark. Ukrainian and Danish military forces are involved in the training initiative.

📍 Where & When: The training will occur in Western Ukraine, expected to start potentially this summer.

💬 Key Quote: Maj. Gen. Peter Boysen claims, “They are not going there to actively participate in the war.”

⚠️ Impact: The initiative could escalate tensions, as Russia views the presence of NATO troops as a provocation and a sign of deeper involvement in the conflict.

IN FULL:

A member of the NATO military alliance is set to send troops to Ukraine, claiming that they are there to observe drone warfare. Russia, however, has stated that the soldiers could become legitimate targets of their armed forces. Denmark announced plans to dispatch military personnel to Ukraine this week.

Maj Gen. Peter Boysen stated that these unarmed troops will conduct their training in Western Ukraine. Although not on the front lines, the area is within reach of Russia’s missile capabilities. “They are not going there to actively participate in the war,” Boysen claimed.

Russia has reacted by branding the Danish move provocative. Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin reiterated that all military personnel and equipment locations could be viewed as legitimate targets, intensifying security concerns for the Danish troops involved.

The training initiative followed an invitation from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s commander in chief, and will focus on rapid advances in uncrewed systems and tactics, which have been evident throughout the ongoing conflict with Russia.

According to Maj. Gen. Boysen, the insights gained from Ukrainian operations can significantly enhance Denmark’s military capabilities.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen previously emphasized the importance of rapid response and adaptation from these lessons for Western armed forces. Denmark has also been forward in supplying weapons systems to Ukraine, including fighter jets and its entire artillery stock.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had already threatened the West and NATO with World War III for helping Ukraine use missiles to strike deep inside Russia before the reelection of Donald J. Trump. The Russian leader has also warned against NATO sending troops to Ukraine, arguing it could spark a larger conflict.

Image by Enno Lenze.

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April 17, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare

Trump Administration Requests Emergency Relief to Counter Boasberg’s Contempt Threat.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration requested a federal appeals court to review a lower court order regarding March 15 deportation flights, following potential contempt findings.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, Trump administration officials, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

📍 Where & When: The appeal was made on Wednesday, court actions relate to deportation flights halted on March 15.

💬 Key Quote: U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has stated, “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order.”

⚠️ Impact: The administration has been directed to submit declarations by April 23, or face potential prosecution. The issue is part of broader disputes about immigration in U.S. federal courts.

IN FULL:

On Wednesday, the Trump administration sought an appellate court’s review of a recent decision by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who threatened to hold administration officials in contempt over the handling of deportation flights that occurred on March 15.

Earlier in the day, Judge Boasberg indicated there was probable cause to believe that administration officials had not adhered to a court directive requiring the return of deportation flights carrying illegal aliens to El Salvador. In his ruling, Boasberg warned of possible criminal contempt charges if the administration did not provide additional declarations by April 23.

The Trump administration filed its appeal with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals shortly following Boasberg’s pronouncement. The administration’s legal team did not present new evidence in the brief appeal, as the case’s details had been thoroughly examined by both the district and appellate courts. Previously, the appellate court maintained Boasberg’s temporary restraining order with a 2-1 decision. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, blocked by Boasberg, could proceed, contingent on the provision of due process and opportunities for individuals to seek habeas relief.

Judge Boasberg expressed the court’s view that the government’s actions on the day he ordered flights turned around amounted to “willful disregard” for his emergency order. The Trump administration contends that Boasberg’s order unlawfully hindered the Executive’s ability to remove individuals considered threats.

Attempts to bring criminal contempt proceedings against administration officials could hit a roadblock if President Trump uses his pardon powers to dismiss them, setting up a constitutional impasse between the executive and the judiciary.

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April 17, 2025
Immigration
News

Dem Senator Accused of Logan Act Violation After Attempt to Free Deportee in El Salvador.

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❓What Happened: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to support the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported illegal alien held in an El Salvadoran prison. The trip has led to accusations of Van Hollen violating the Logan Act.

👥 Who’s Involved: Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, White House communications director Steven Cheung, Roger Stone, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍 Where & When: El Salvador, April 15.

💬 Key Quote: Roger Stone argued on X, “Pursuing your own individual foreign policy is a violation of the Logan Act. The FBI should arrest this senator the instant he returns to the country.”

⚠️ Impact: The trip stirred significant political debate in the U.S., with accusations of foreign policy interference and renewed scrutiny of the Logan Act, its historical application, and its modern-day relevance.

IN FULL:

Senator Chris Van Hollen’s recent trip to El Salvador has sparked controversy in Washington, as the Maryland Democrat lobbied for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13-linked illegal alien and national of El Salvador. Van Hollen’s efforts have resulted in accusations of violating the Logan Act, a U.S. law from 1799 aimed at preventing unauthorized foreign negotiations.

Garcia previously resided in Maryland with his family. Prior to his deportation, courts ruled the authorities had provided “sufficient” evidence he was linked to MS-13. Democrats have attempted to claim Garcia is an innocent Maryland father of three, while neglecting his illegal alien status and dubious past, which includes domestic violence allegations.

Republican figures, including White House communications director Steven Cheung and border czar Tom Homan, criticized Van Hollen’s actions. Cheung questioned the senator’s intentions, while Homan described the trip as inappropriate.

Political consultant Roger Stone suggested that Van Hollen’s actions warranted prosecution under the Logan Act. This law, established under President John Adams, seeks to maintain U.S. government cohesion in foreign affairs by prohibiting unauthorized negotiations. Historically, the Logan Act has seen minimal enforcement, with only two prosecutions in over 200 years, neither resulting in a conviction.

While in El Salvador, Senator Van Hollen was unable to meet with Abrego Garcia, with the Salvadoran government declining to arrange a visit or even a phone call.

Image: AFGE.

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April 17, 2025
Crime
News

WSU Instructor Arrested for Assault on Pro-Trump Student.

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❓What Happened: An instructor at Washington State University (WSU) was arrested for allegedly assaulting a student for wearing a pro-Trump hat.

👥 Who’s Involved: The instructor, Patrick Mahoney, and the student, Jay Sani. A second individual, Gerald Hoff, was also mentioned in connection with the incident.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred at Washington State University.

💬 Key Quote: “You know, you’re fucking wearing that hat, you wanted someone to fucking look at it, right?” Mahoney reportedly stated during the incident.

⚠️ Impact: Mahoney was arrested, and there are potential academic and legal consequences for those involved.

IN FULL:

A Washington State University (WSU) instructor was taken into custody on allegations of assaulting a student for wearing a pro-Trump hat. Patrick Mahoney, who serves as both an instructor and a PhD student in the School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs at WSU, is at the center of these recent allegations.

The confrontation reportedly involved Jay Sani, an engineering student at WSU, who was wearing a “Take America Back” cap. The arrest report indicates that Mahoney allegedly grabbed the hat from Sani and tossed it onto the street. After this initial altercation, according to police reports, Mahoney, assisted by another individual, Gerald Hoff, allegedly took Sani to the ground.

“You know, you’re fucking wearing that hat, you wanted someone to fucking look at it, right?” Mahoney allegedly said.

The report further details that once on the ground, Mahoney reportedly slammed Sani’s head into the ground. As a result of the incident, Mahoney and Hoff have both been arrested on charges related to the assault. WSU has suspended Mahoney, and he has been removed from all classes he was scheduled to teach.

Physical attacks on supporters of President Donald J. Trump by deranged leftists were commonly seen during the America First leader’s first term, often directed against people wearing Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats. Mahoney is accused of being an open communist, being pictured wearing a Soviet-style hammer and sickle lapel pin.

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April 17, 2025
Lawfare
Politics

Letitia James Faces Potential Jail Time Amid Fraud Allegations.

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❓What Happened: New York Attorney General Letitia James, a key figure in Democratic Party lawfare efforts against President Donald J. Trump, could face jail time stemming from allegations she engaged in multiple instances of mortgage fraud and falsification of records. The allegations were made in a criminal referral submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte.

👥 Who’s Involved: The claims involve Letitia James, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Bill Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

📍 Where & When: The alleged fraud involved properties in New York and Virginia in 2023, and the criminal referral was sent to the DOJ earlier this week.

💬 Key Quote: Kyle Welch, a George Washington University School of Business professor specializing in financial fraud, remarked on the allegations’ potential legal consequences, saying they “could carry jail time” and lead to disbarment.

⚠️ Impact: If charges are brought against James, the New York Attorney General could face a prosecution based on paperwork errors and falsified records similar to the one that she brought against President Donald J. Trump last year.

IN FULL:

New York Attorney General Letitia James faces allegations of mortgage fraud, sparking the potential for federal prosecution. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), alleged in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that James falsified a mortgage application in 2023 by stating her primary residence was in Norfolk, Virginia, despite her official position requiring her to reside in New York.

James, a Democrat who took office as attorney general in 2019, is accused of indicating on a 2023 mortgage document that a Norfolk property was her primary residence. The single-family home, built in 1947, was acquired for $240,000, with James securing a $219,780 mortgage. Pulte also highlighted discrepancies in James’ ownership of a Brooklyn property, where she allegedly misstated the number of housing units in 2021. Furthermore, he raised concerns about a property purchased with her father listed as a spouse in previous transactions.

Kyle Welch, a financial fraud specialist and professor at George Washington University’s School of Business, noted in a recent interview the gravity of the allegations, suggesting a conviction could “carry jail time” and result in James’s disbarment as an attorney.

The New York Democratic Attorney General had sought similar legal actions against President Donald J. Trump in 2024 as part of a broader partisan lawfare effort to derail the America First leader’s presidential campaign. Last year, she sued Trump, leading to a civil judgment ordering him to pay $454 million for alleged business records fraud.

“Letitia James built her ‘nobody is above the law’ brand by prosecuting Trump for inflating his financial condition—statements that came with disclaimers, involved banks that said they weren’t harmed, and still resulted in a half-billion-dollar fraud conviction,” Welch said before continuing: “Was Trump’s case a 100 percent political prosecution? Yes. Now, James is under scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting her own finances to get a mortgage. No disclaimers. No ambiguity.”

“James and her defenders can’t seem to see the carbon-copy nature of these cases. And unfortunately, New York Democrats and the DNC helped normalize this tit-for-tat legal targeting under the banner of ‘accountability.’ Well, the shoe’s on the other foot now,” the business professor added.

Image: Maryland GovPics.

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April 17, 2025
Media

Brendan Carr Warns Comcast Against Biased Reporting on Deported MS-13 Gang Member.

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❓What Happened:  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is accusing the multinational mass media corporation Comcast—which owns NBC News, CNBC, and MSNBC among other media properties—of “news distortion” regarding coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant and MS-13 gang member deported by the Trump administration.

👥 Who’s Involved: Brendan Carr, Comcast, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung.

📍 Where & When: The FCC Chairman leveled the accusation in a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Wednesday after MSNBC refused to provide live coverage of a White House press briefing featuring angel mom Patty Morin.

💬 Key Quote: “Comcast outlets spent days misleading the American public—implying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law-abiding U.S. citizen, just a regular ‘Maryland man,'” Carr wrote, adding: “Comcast knows that federal law requires its licensed operations to serve the public interest. News distortion doesn’t cut it.”

⚠️ Impact: The accusations have rekindled tensions over media responsibility, prompted criticism from former Trump officials, and have implications for Comcast’s future operations, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and potential mergers.

IN FULL:

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr accused Comcast of misleading the public through its coverage concerning the deportation of the illegal immigrant and MS-13 gang member, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The corporate media has attempted to present Abrego Garcia in a sympathetic light, labeling him a “Maryland father”  and “Maryland resident,” while ignoring the El Salvadoran national’s dubious history and affiliation with MS-13.

“Comcast outlets spent days misleading the American public—implying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law-abiding U.S. citizen, just a regular ‘Maryland man.’ When the truth comes out, they ignore it,” Carr wrote on X (formerly Twitter) late Wednesday. He continued: “Comcast knows that federal law requires its licensed operations to serve the public interest. News distortion doesn’t cut it.”

“Abrego Garcia came to America illegally from El Salvador, was validated as a member of the violent MS-13 gang—a transnational criminal organization—and was denied bond by an immigration court for failure to show he would not pose a danger to others,” the FCC Chairman stated, adding: “Why does Comcast ignore these facts of obvious public interest?”

Carr’s comments were in response to a post by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung that noted MSNBC and CNN declined to carry a White House press conference where angel mom Patty Morin spoke on the horrific details of her daughter Rachel Morin’s rape and murder at the hands of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant and fugitive from El Salvador. The corporate media have repeatedly attempted to downplay reports of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, a fact emphasized by Vice President J.D. Vance last October during an exchange with ABC journalist Martha Raddatz.

Notably, the FCC website states that, while its authority over allegations of news distortion is relatively narrow, the regulatory agency can investigate a media network if there is “evidence showing that the broadcast news report was deliberately intended to mislead viewers or listeners.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 17, 2025
Religion

Judge Rules Catholic Employers Are Not Required to Cover Abortions.

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❓What Happened: A federal judge in North Dakota ruled that over 9,000 Catholic employers are exempt from federal regulations concerning abortion and fertility treatment accommodations for workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Catholic Benefits Association, the Bismarck Diocese, and the U.S. District Court were involved in the case against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

📍 Where & When: This ruling was issued in North Dakota on April 17, 2025, following a lawsuit filed last year.

💬 Key Quote: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age,” wrote U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor in his previous ruling.

⚠️ Impact: The decision permanently blocks enforcement of certain EEOC regulations, impacting more than 164,000 employees working under Catholic employers who are members of the association.

IN FULL:

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor has concluded that over 9,000 Catholic employers are not required to comply with federal rules protecting employees seeking abortion and fertility treatment accommodations. This ruling came after the Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese challenged regulations set forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), arguing these rules infringed upon their religious liberties.

The lawsuit, initiated last year, contended that the EEOC’s guidelines, derived from the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (effective since 2023), imposed obligations contrary to Catholic teachings. The Act mandates that employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy or childbirth-related requests. In 2024, the EEOC issued rules and harassment guidance meant to enforce this law, which included considerations for gender identity under sex-based discrimination.

Judge Traynor’s judgment was based on his determination that the regulations conflicted with federal laws protecting religious freedoms. He emphasized that the lawsuit’s core facts and evidence had not shifted since his earlier provisional block on the rule.

The Catholic Benefits Association, representing thousands of Catholic employers, claims the EEOC’s directives would force its members to go against their faith by accommodating abortions and fertility treatments and by compelling the use of pronouns, all incongruent with Catholic doctrine. They additionally expressed concerns over being restrained from articulating Catholic teachings on sexual matters.

Image by SHYCITYNikon.

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April 17, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Documents Reveal 2021 Protective Order Filed by Wife Against MS-13 Gang Member Deported to El Salvador.

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❓What Happened: Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the 29-year-old illegal immigrant and adjudicated MS-13 gang member deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration—was the subject of a 2021 protective order filed in Maryland by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, due to multiple alleged incidents of domestic violence. A federal judge is attempting to force the White House to retrieve Garcia from El Salvador’s CECOT prison, as are Democratic Party lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the government of El Salvador, and U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis.

📍 Where & When: Kilmar Abrego Garcia was detained in Maryland, with his deportation occurring on March 15. The protective order was filed in May 2021 in Prince George’s County District Court.

💬 Key Quote: “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he [has] left me,” Jennifer Vasquez alleged in the 2021 protective order filing, adding: “In November 2020, he hit me with his work boot. In August 2020, he hit me in the eye leaving a purple eye.”

⚠️ Impact: This case has prompted significant legal challenges against Garcia’s deportation, with a federal judge ordering the Trump administration to facilitate the El Salvadoran illegal immigrant’s return to the United States. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, traveled to El Salvador earlier this week in an attempt to retrieve the MS-13 gang member from the country’s CECOT prison facility.

IN FULL:

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant and member of the violent MS-13 criminal gang, was the subject of a 2021 protective order filed in Maryland by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, alleging that he beat her on several occasions. In March, the Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia, 29, alongside other illegal immigrants, invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The deportation orders were predicated on transnational gang links, a charge denied by Abrego Garcia’s family and legal counsel.

While Congressional Democrats and the corporate media have attempted to portray Abrego Garcia as a loving father and “Maryland man,” court documents reveal the illegal immigrant has a history of domestic abuse accusations, allegedly beating his wife on several occasions. The revelations came as Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) traveled to El Salvador seeking the illegal immigrant’s return.

“At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he [has] left me,” Jennifer Vasquez alleged in the 2021 protective order filing, adding: “In November 2020, he hit me with his work boot. In August 2020, he hit me in the eye leaving a purple eye.”

Despite the past accusations of domestic abuse, Vasquez now says she stands by her husband. “We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,” she wrote in a statement issued in response to news of the protective order. “Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect,” she claimed, adding: “That is not a justification for ICE’s action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation.”

In early April, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States, an action that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele says he will not allow. “How can I return him to the United States? Like, if I smuggle him into the United States, or what do I do? Of course, I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said earlier this week.

While opponents of President Donald J. Trump’s mass deportation of violent, criminal illegal immigrants from the United States have tried to claim that Abrego Garcia is not an actual member of MS-13, state and federal law enforcement agencies confirmed his affiliation in 2019. Both the Prince George’s County Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documented evidence of Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13, noting that the clothing he wore when detained during a 2019 murder investigation was associated with the gang.

Additionally, a confidential informant tied to MS-13 identified the El Salvadoran national as an active member of the gang’s “Westerns” group, holding the rank of “Chequeo,” and using the name “Chele.” Two federal immigration judges accepted the state and federal law enforcement findings, ruling that there was “sufficient” evidence.

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April 17, 2025
News
Politics

DNC Vice Chair David Hogg Launches Multi-Million Dollar Campaign Against His Own Party Members.

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❓What Happened: David Hogg plans to allocate $20 million to challenge insufficiently woke incumbent Democrats through primary elections.

👥 Who’s Involved: David Hogg, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, through Leaders We Deserve, a grassroots organization, is involved.

📍 Where & When: Hogg, who became Vice Chair in February, discussed his strategy in a newspaper interview published on April 15.

💬 Key Quote: “This is going to anger a lot of people.” — David Hogg.

⚠️ Impact: Hogg’s initiative could massively divide Democratic National Committee leadership and affect party strategies.

IN FULL:

Anti-gun rights activist David Hogg, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is set to direct $20 million into primary campaigns against current Democratic incumbents. By leveraging the organization Leaders We Deserve, which focuses on electing young progressives, Hogg aims to promote a far-left progressive agenda.

His strategy introduces potential tension within the Democratic Party’s leadership, particularly as it deviates from the traditional focus of opposing Republican candidates.

Hogg, appointed Vice Chair in February, acknowledged that pursuing these primary challenges might lead to significant personal and professional pushback. “This is going to anger a lot of people,” he said, anticipating efforts to undermine him.

The initiative challenges the Democratic Party’s usual practices, which generally emphasize securing victories over Republican opponents rather than engaging in infighting. During a recent private meeting, the Democratic National Committee reiterated the importance of neutrality among its officials, emphasizing their need for impartiality. Hogg was the only one not to sign this “neutrality policy.”

DNC Chair Ken Martin addressed the situation, underscoring the party’s supposed principle that primary voters should choose nominees without interference from national party influences.

Hogg’s approach has been criticized by several quarters. Steve Schale, a long-time Democratic campaign strategist, emphasized that the party should focus on regaining lost ground in key battleground areas, noting a troubling trend in 703 out of 767 counties over recent presidential election cycles. Matt Bennett from Third Way also expressed concerns about Hogg’s ability to transition from activism to his current official role, describing his actions as problematic.

The move comes as the Democrats still lack clear leadership since the election of President Donald J. Trump. A poll released in March showed the Democrats plummeting to historic lows, falling 20 percentage points since Trump’s victory in November.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

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April 17, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump’s Immigration Policies Are Normalizing Life on the Border for Residents.

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❓What Happened: Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, which had been closed and fortified with concertina wire and armed guards for over a year, has reopened.

👥 Who’s Involved: Local residents like Dora Flores, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, former President Joe Biden, and Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr.

📍 Where & When: Eagle Pass, Texas, reopened in recent days after closures and heightened security started in January 2024.

💬 Key Quote: Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. stated, “We’re happy the park has returned to the city.”

⚠️ Impact: The reopening represents a shift in the politics surrounding immigration enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border and a decrease in the perceived urgency of security measures.

IN FULL:

Residents of Eagle Pass, Texas, experienced a return to normalcy as the once-closed Shelby Park reopened, shedding the concertina wire and armed presence that kept it inaccessible for more than a year. The move comes after President Donald J. Trump’s border policies have significantly reduced illegal crossings in the area.

The reopening followed Texas Governor Greg Abbott‘s withdrawal of significant security measures, citing a decrease in migrant crossings at the border. In January 2024, Abbott had deployed forces to the area as a demonstration against former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. However, with crossings reaching a record low, the focus has shifted, and the enhanced security presence has been significantly reduced.

Local residents like Dora Flores, 73, approached the park on a warm Monday morning, noting the changes. “Is the park really open?” she asked, expressing relief that the area no longer resembled a high-security facility. The park, equipped with sports fields and a boat ramp into the Rio Grande, is once again available for public use. Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. commented on the developments, stating, “We’re happy the park has returned to the city.”

President Trump’s strict border policies have massively reduced the number of illegal crossings. These include sending U.S. military personnel to aid in border security. The chief of San Diego’s Border Patrol said having troops on the border was a “force multiplier” last month.

March saw a record-low number of illegal border crossings, a massive 97 percent decline compared to March 2022. President Trump’s mass deportation initiative under Border Czar Tom Homan has also been credited for dissuading illegal crossing attempts.

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