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Category: Politics
March 27, 2025
Politics

BREAKING: Trump Pulls Elise Stefanik U.N. Nomination.

IN BRIEF:

âť“What Happened: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has had her candidacy for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations pulled due to concerns over maintaining the Republican majority in the House.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elise Stefanik, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), President Donald J. Trump, and former Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Mike Waltz (R-FL).

đź“Ť Where & When: Discussions have taken place recently; an announcement by President Trump arrived Thursday afternoon.

đź’¬ Key Quote: “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled!” – President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: Stefanik’s withdrawal prevents a special election in her district, preserving the Republican Party’s slim majority in the House.

IN FULL:

Representative Elise Stefanik‘s (R-NY) nomination for the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is being withdrawn by President Donald J. Trump, citing concerns that a vacancy in her Congressional seat could jeopardize the Republican House majority and the White House’s agenda.

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” President Trump wrote Thursday afternoon in a post on Truth Social. He added: “I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat.”

Stefanik has held her congressional seat since 2015, representing New York’s 21st district. If she had proceeded with the nomination and been confirmed, a special election would have ensued in her district, potentially complicating her party’s position in the House. The Republican Party currently holds a slight edge over Democrats, with a 218-213 majority.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was aware of the conversations involving Stefanik’s withdrawal, as every Republican vote is currently considered critical as Congress undertakes the budget reconciliation process. With four vacancies in the House, two due to the recent deaths of Democratic representatives Sylvester Turner and Raul Grijalva, the situation remains volatile. Additionally, former House members Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Mike Waltz (R-FL) vacated their seats, with the latter assuming a role in President Donald J. Trump’s administration, contributing to the issue.

President Trump nominated Stefanik for the ambassador role just days after he won the 2024 presidential election, and she expressed her enthusiasm and honor for the appointment in a statement last November. “I am truly honored to earn President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,” Stefank said at the time, adding: “During my conversation with President Trump, I shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate.”

Image by Gage Skidmore. 

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IN BRIEF:

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March 26, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Media
Politics

NPR CEO Finally Admits Ignoring Hunter Biden Laptop Story was a Mistake.

The head of NPR has admitted that the publicly funded broadcaster failed to adequately cover the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020. Kathrene Maher testified before Congress on March 26, saying, “I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner.”

While Maher was not the CEO of NPR at the time the Hunter Biden laptop story broke, having only come into the role in 2024, she told the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, “We made a mistake.”

In 2020, NPR public editor Kelly McBride publicly claimed that the outlet did not cover the story in detail because it has “many, many red flags,” including possible Russian ties. These claims were later debunked, with many outlets finally recognizing the validity of the laptop long after the 2020 election.

The National Pulse reported extensively on the Hunter Biden “laptop from hell,” becoming one of the first outlets in the world to report on various details of its contents.

NPR is facing possible cuts as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), associated with tech billionaire Elon Musk, examines the media outlet’s public funding and liberal bias.

WATCH:


Image by Alyson Hurt.

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The head of NPR has admitted that the publicly funded broadcaster failed to adequately cover the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020. Kathrene Maher testified before Congress on March 26, saying, "I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner." show more
March 25, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
Religion

Texas Govt Investigating Alleged Pro-Sharia ‘Muslim City’ Project.

The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has announced that multiple state agencies are investigating a project to create a “Muslim city” in the state, with some fearing that Sharia law may be applied within the settlement. The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) is behind the project, dubbed “EPIC City,” which plans to create a new city in Collin and Hunt Counties.

Governor Abbott stated on social media platform X that the project has “serious legal issues,” announcing: “A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas.”

The project was initially announced in February, with the organizers arguing that while the settlement will be Muslim, it will be integrated. Governor Abbott reacted to the project by stating, “To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are ‘no go zones’ which this project seems to imply.”

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, warned that such areas would emerge in the U.S. and Europe as early as 2017. Muslim-majority cities and towns already exist in some parts of the United States, such as Hamtramck, Michigan. Hamtramck’s mayor infamously declared there would be “no peace” with Israel just days after the October 2023 massacres by Hamas in Israel.

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The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has announced that multiple state agencies are investigating a project to create a "Muslim city" in the state, with some fearing that Sharia law may be applied within the settlement. The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) is behind the project, dubbed "EPIC City," which plans to create a new city in Collin and Hunt Counties. show more
March 25, 2025
William Upton
Health
Politics

New CDC Nominee Is a Career Govt Scientist Backed by Biden COVID Advisor.

Dr. Susan Monarez has been tapped as the new nominee to serve as the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the abrupt withdrawal of Dr. Dave Weldon’s nomination earlier this month. While Weldon—a former Republican Congressman from Florida and medical doctor—was seen as a skeptic of the public health establishment and the pharmaceutical industry’s influence over government, the decision to replace him with Dr. Monarez raises concerns that serious reform of the CDC is being abandoned.

Currently the acting director of the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez does represent a slight departure from traditional director nominees in that she is not a medical doctor. Instead, the federal government scientist holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology.

Additionally, Monarez—who joined the federal government in 2006—has not worked in traditional public health policy roles. Instead, the government scientist has primarily worked with the National Security Council, the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Before moving to the CDC, Dr. Monarez was the deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), where she oversaw research into artificial intelligence (AI) and health technology.

A SWAMPY CHOICE.

Monarez’s resume objectively suggests she is an unusually ‘swampy’ choice to be elevated to a position that will require spearheading significant policy reform. Her potential ties to entrenched intelligence community and technology interests could draw scrutiny from lawmakers during her Senate confirmation hearing. Additionally, her nomination has received concerning praise from public health officials tied to the former Biden government’s COVID-19 response, notably from Dr. Tom Inglesby of Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Inglesby, who directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, advised the Biden government on its COVID-19 response and consulted with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD). After Monarez’s nomination as CDC Director was announced yesterday, Inglesby praised the choice, calling Monarez “a very good scientist and a very capable person.” He added: “She’s very committed to public health and good government. Politics is not her thing… I think she will be a strong leader for the CDC.”

Ultimately, Dr. Monarez’s nomination likely resulted from her being a safe choice following Senate Republican resistance to the Weldon nomination over his views on potential links between vaccines and autism. In a statement on the withdrawal, Weldon said he believed opposition from Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) likely sunk his nomination.

Image via CDC.

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Dr. Susan Monarez has been tapped as the new nominee to serve as the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the abrupt withdrawal of Dr. Dave Weldon's nomination earlier this month. While Weldon—a former Republican Congressman from Florida and medical doctor—was seen as a skeptic of the public health establishment and the pharmaceutical industry's influence over government, the decision to replace him with Dr. Monarez raises concerns that serious reform of the CDC is being abandoned. show more
March 25, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Trump’s FCC Warns Corporate Media and Telecoms to Drop DEI or Else.

Media and telecommunication companies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology will face increased scrutiny from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with the agency potentially moving to block license transfers and acquisitions in accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s executive order barring DEI policies across the federal government. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says the agency will no longer approve merger and acquisition proposals from companies that promote “invidious” DEI policies that result in unfair discrimination.

“Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” Chairman Carr said in a recent media interview. “We can only, under the statute, move forward and approve a transaction if we find that doing so serves the public interest.”

“If there’s businesses out there that are still promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination, I really don’t see a path forward where the FCC could reach the conclusion that approving the transaction is going to be in the public interest,” Carr added.

The new FCC regulatory position could impact several major pending media and telecommunications deals unless the companies involved drop their DEI policies and programs. Notably, the FCC is currently reviewing a merger between Paramount Global—the parent company of CBS News—and Skydance, a media production and finance company. Carr’s agency is also examining Verizon’s $20 billion deal to acquire Frontier Communications and T-Mobile’s $4.4 billion acquisition of U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations.

Already, Chairman Carr has warned Verizon that continuing its DEI policies violates Trump administration policies and could jeopardize its deal to purchase Frontier.

Meanwhile, telecommunications giant AT&T announced it had begun the process of ending its DEI programs last month.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Media and telecommunication companies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology will face increased scrutiny from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with the agency potentially moving to block license transfers and acquisitions in accordance with President Donald J. Trump's executive order barring DEI policies across the federal government. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says the agency will no longer approve merger and acquisition proposals from companies that promote "invidious" DEI policies that result in unfair discrimination. show more
March 24, 2025
William Upton
Politics

This Governor Just Returned Nearly $1 Billion in Taxpayer Dollars to U.S. Treasury to Boost DOGE Efforts.

Nearly $1 billion in American taxpayer dollars is being returned to the United States Treasury by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), due to the ideological policy requirements imposed by the former Biden government on using the federal funds. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gov. DeSantis revealed that Florida’s state government had struggled to find a method to return the funds until DeSantis consulted with Elon Musk, who serves as an administration special advisor overseeing President Donald J. Trump‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn’t even figure out how to accept it,” Gov. DeSantis wrote, adding: “Today, I met with [Elon Musk] and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the same day. Other states should follow Florida in supporting DOGE’s efforts!”

In a letter informing the Treasury Department of the return of the federal funds, the Florida Goveror’s office wrote: “At the direction of Governor DeSantis and following his meeting with Elon Musk today, the State of Florida is formally returning $878,112,000 in taxpayer dollars to the federal government as part of DOGE’s efforts.” Notably, the federal funds being returned pertain to monies allocated to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), including $320,386,861 in funding for the former Biden government’s Carbon Reduction program.

Additionally, $557,725,139 in federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for refugee resettlement services is being returned to the Treasury. In the letter, Gov. DeSantis requests confirmation from the Treasury Department that the funds already disbursed have been returned and received. Meanwhile, the Florida Governor also requests that any future disbursements be withheld.

READ:

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Nearly $1 billion in American taxpayer dollars is being returned to the United States Treasury by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), due to the ideological policy requirements imposed by the former Biden government on using the federal funds. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gov. DeSantis revealed that Florida's state government had struggled to find a method to return the funds until DeSantis consulted with Elon Musk, who serves as an administration special advisor overseeing President Donald J. Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). show more
March 24, 2025
Politics

Lawyer Claims Rescinded Trump Order Would Have ‘Destroyed’ Firm.

The chairman of the powerful Paul, Weiss law firm says the firm would have been “destroyed” had President Donald J. Trump not rescinded his executive order barring its lawyers from access to federal officials and business. The presidential directive had targeted Paul, Weiss due to lawfare activities against, for instance, individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol protests, and its association with lawyer Mark Pomerantz, who investigated Trump’s so-called hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

“The executive order could easily have destroyed our firm. It brought the full weight of the government down on our firm, our people, and our clients,” Paul, Weiss chairman Brad Karp wrote in a letter to staff, noting the firm had faced “an existential crisis.” However, he insists the Trump administration “is not dictating what matters we take on, approving our matters, or anything like that.”

While Karp insisted the firm considered filing a lawsuit against Trump over the executive order, he argued that such an action would not have solved the overall problem faced by the law firm. “[I]t became clear that, even if we were successful in initially enjoining the executive order in litigation, it would not solve the fundamental problem, which was that clients perceived our firm as being persona non grata with the administration,” Karp added.

The order was rescinded after Paul, Weiss agreed to “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of Pomerantz, cease any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) style hiring practices, and carry out tens of millions of dollars in pro bono work, among other concessions.

The executive order was not isolated to Paul, Weiss; other firms like Perkins Coie also encountered similar decrees and criticism from Trump related to their diversity policies and ties to the Russia hoax.

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The chairman of the powerful Paul, Weiss law firm says the firm would have been "destroyed" had President Donald J. Trump not rescinded his executive order barring its lawyers from access to federal officials and business. The presidential directive had targeted Paul, Weiss due to lawfare activities against, for instance, individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol protests, and its association with lawyer Mark Pomerantz, who investigated Trump's so-called hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. show more
March 24, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Radio Free Europe Is Suing America Over Funding Cuts.

The United States federal government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasting agency is suing President Donald J. Trump over an executive order mandating cuts to the organization’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Over a week ago, President Trump signed an executive order targeting numerous federal agencies for staffing cuts, including USAGM and subagencies such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America (VoA), and Radio Free Asia.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is the first of the USAGM agencies to sue the Trump White House over the force reduction order. Filed last week, the lawsuit alleges President Trump and his administration have violated the Constitution and federal law by withholding funding allocated by Congress. Along with President Trump, USAGM senior advisor Kari Lake is named in the lawsuit.

“We’re living off of our savings right now,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty president Stephen Capus said in a recent media interview. He added: “And we are in a position where we’re going to have to take some pretty drastic actions in the not-too-distant future.”

At the heart of the lawsuit is the question of presidential impoundments—where the executive branch either withholds or does not fully allocate funding appropriated by Congress. While Congress over 50 years ago legislatively moved to restrict the president’s power to withhold funding explicitly appropriated by the legislative branch, the question of impoundments remains an open one. The Supreme Court has avoided definitely settling the matter, though the judicial body has ruled that presidents cannot unreasonably withhold Congressionally appropriated funding.

Image by Petr Kadlec.

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The United States federal government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasting agency is suing President Donald J. Trump over an executive order mandating cuts to the organization's parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Over a week ago, President Trump signed an executive order targeting numerous federal agencies for staffing cuts, including USAGM and subagencies such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America (VoA), and Radio Free Asia. show more
March 21, 2025
Politics

This Federal Agency Will Slash Its Workforce by 43% in Executive Branch Downsizing.

President Donald J. Trump’s push to reduce federal government waste, fraud, and abuse will see the Small Business Administration (SBA) reduce its workforce by over 40 percent. The impending cuts, which aim to save more than $435 million annually, will impact roughly 6,500 bureaucrats.

“The strategic reorganization will begin a turnaround for the agency by restoring the efficiency of the first Trump Administration, as well as its focus on promoting small businesses,” the SBA said in a statement, adding: “Core services to the public, including the agency’s loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, will not be impacted.”

Kelly Loeffler assumed leadership as the SBA’s administrator following her Senate confirmation in February. In a video message shared on social media, she emphasized the need for “rightsizing” due to inefficiencies stemming from the agency’s expansion during the pandemic.

“Since the pandemic, the SBA has doubled its workforce, expanding in size, scope, and spending with miserable results,” SBA Administrator Loeffler said. “That’s why change is coming to the SBA… This agency is done wasting millions of tax dollars to fund a progressive pandemic-era bureaucracy.”

“We will not allow fiscal mismanagement to threaten our loan programs or criminals to get away with fraud. But we will evaluate every program and expenditure, and we will rightsize the agency to transform the SBA into a high-efficiency engine for America’s entrepreneurs and taxpayers,” she added.

President Trump recently announced a shift in responsibilities, assigning the SBA to manage federal student loan programs. This decision follows an order to downsize the Department of Education, which has traditionally overseen these programs.

WATCH:

Image via Flickr.

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President Donald J. Trump's push to reduce federal government waste, fraud, and abuse will see the Small Business Administration (SBA) reduce its workforce by over 40 percent. The impending cuts, which aim to save more than $435 million annually, will impact roughly 6,500 bureaucrats. show more
March 21, 2025
Immigration
Politics
World

UFC Legend Conor McGregor Enters Race for Irish Presidency.

Conor McGregor, the renowned UFC fighter and former multi-division champion, has declared his intention to run for the presidency of Ireland. Announcing his candidacy on social media platforms X and Instagram, McGregor focused his campaign message on his opposition to the European Union’s Migration Pact.

Recent meetings between McGregor, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and tech billionaire Elon Musk seem to have galvanized McGregor’s political ambition. The 36-year-old contender criticized Ireland’s commitment to the pact, pledging to hold a referendum should he be elected. “It is the people of Ireland’s choice,” McGregor emphasized in his campaign statement.

During his visit to Washington, D.C., on March 17, McGregor expressed discontent with current Irish policies, slamming Ireland’s migration policies and saying the country is being “overrun” by illegal aliens.

However, the role McGregor seeks is largely ceremonial, with limited powers compared to executive presidencies like that in the U.S. The Irish president’s duties include endorsing legislation passed by Parliament—with no obvious veto power—and serving as a symbolic figurehead.

Moreover, the Irish political establishment tightly controls who is allowed to run for the presidency, with McGregor unable to enter the race unless a minimum number of national legislators or local governments agree to nominate him.

McGregor has been a firm opponent of mass migration on social media and has been targetted by the Irish government over allegations of hate speech, with police launching an investigation against him in 2023. McGregor had stated, “Ireland, we are at war,” following a mass stabbing of children in Dublin that year.

Image by Andrius Petrucenia.

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Conor McGregor, the renowned UFC fighter and former multi-division champion, has declared his intention to run for the presidency of Ireland. Announcing his candidacy on social media platforms X and Instagram, McGregor focused his campaign message on his opposition to the European Union's Migration Pact. show more