Iran Triples Military Budget, Signals End to Negotiations

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Iran’s decision to triple its military budget in the 2025 fiscal plan does not necessarily indicate war preparations, an Iranian National Security Committee member in Parliament revealed on Wednesday.

In a press interview, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani noted that the significant increase in defense spending means “negotiations are no longer an option.” When asked whether the 200% rise suggested military escalation, he responded, “It cannot be said with certainty, but in any case, this significant increase means that we are not negotiating.”

His remarks come amid heightened tensions following recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who suggested that Israel could launch a strike on Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear program.

Iran’s military leadership has also issued warnings today. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force (IRGC-AF), Amir Ali Hajizadeh, hinted at the possible execution of a military operation called “True Promise 3,” saying, “If Iran’s nuclear facilities are attacked, the region will be engulfed in uncontrollable flames.”

The budget proposal for 2025 includes plans to export 1.75 million barrels of oil per day, with 420,000 barrels—approximately 24%—allocated directly to the armed forces. According to Iran International, this portion is valued at around €11 billion, up from €4 billion in the 2024 budget. (Read more from “Iran Triples Military Budget, Signals End to Negotiations” HERE)

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Trump’s Leaders at Federal Agencies Rebuff Musk Demand That Workers Justify Their Week or Be Fired

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The directive that all federal employees share what work they accomplished last week or be fired is running into resistance, including from President Trump’s choices to lead federal departments.

Leaders at the Pentagon, the State Department, the Office of National Intelligence and the FBI told their workers Sunday to ignore the edict that originated with Elon Musk, Mr. Trump’s efficiency czar, and a federal workers union immediately vowed to sue.

Leading the refusal was FBI Director Kash Patel, who directed bureau staff to ignore a request.

“FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Mr. Patel, who has orders from Mr. Trump to clean house, said in a message to employees. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any response.”

Mr. Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, issued the justify-your-job ultimatum Saturday, soon after the president encouraged him to be more “aggressive” in his cost-cutting efforts. (Read more from “Trump’s Leaders at Federal Agencies Rebuff Musk Demand That Workers Justify Their Week or Be Fired” HERE)

Trump Announces Commentator Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director: ‘Congratulations!’

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Conservative commentator and ex-Secret Service agent Dan Bongino has been named deputy director of the FBI, President Trump announced Sunday night.

“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel,” the president posted on Truth Social.

Bongino, 50, is a former NYPD officer and worked as a special agent for the Secret Service before pivoting careers, Trump said.

He previously hosted the Fox News show “Unfiltered” on Saturday nights before he parted ways with the network in 2023.

Bongino currently hosts the popular podcast “The Dan Bongino Show,” which Trump said he would end in order to get back into law enforcement. (Read more from “Trump Announces Commentator Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director: ‘Congratulations!’” HERE)

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No, Choosing Family Over Career Isn’t ‘Settling For Less’

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Megyn Kelly made a pronouncement on X this week: “Ladies, it is possible to make your own money, have your own career, pay for your own swanky nyc apartment (etc), AND find a man who loves you, wants to have & raise kids w/you & wants to be w/you and only you. The only thing stopping you? Your decision to settle for less.”

Kelly is clearly referring to herself here, implying: I did it, so you can too. It goes to show how remarkably out of touch women in the media are, no matter what their politics may be. As one X commenter named “Wandering Warrior” noted, “Normally, Megyn, I absolutely love everything you do. But I’m going to have to fundamentally disagree with you on this. You’re a 1%. Doug knows it as well. Acknowledge this and tell the majority of women that the ability to do what you’ve done is extremely RARE.”

The last thing American women need is more life advice from the media elite. Far too many variables exist to make a blanket statement about love and career like, “Don’t settle.” Women have been saddled with some version of this narrative for decades, and the inflated expectations they consequently adopted landed them right where they are today: chronically unhappy, frustrated, and disappointed.

Newsflash, but most women don’t want Megyn Kelly’s life, and those who do need to know the trade-offs involved. The average woman in America who wants both a career and a family needs advice that actually works and acknowledges the biological differences between women and men that make their choices unique.

The details of a woman’s life matter in these discussions. For example, technically I have a career. I make my own money. I also have a man who loves me, wanted kids with me, and wants to be with me and only me. (We’re empty nesters now.) (Read more from “No, Choosing Family Over Career Isn’t ‘Settling For Less’” HERE) (Read more from “No, Choosing Family Over Career Isn’t ‘Settling For Less’” HERE)

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Bombshell Yale Study Proves COVID Vax Causes Extreme Physiological Changes

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By Daily Mail. Thousands of Americans have reported [COVID vaccine injury] stories. After [publication of the Yale University study this week], DailyMail.com spoke to dozens of Americans, including those in healthcare, law, and the military, who said they felt a sense of validation after years of being dismissed as crazy.

. . . Yale researchers found patients with previously unknown ‘post-vaccination syndrome’ show distinct biological changes.

The most common symptoms appear to be brain fog, dizziness, tinnitus and exercise intolerance, a feeling of exhaustion after limited exercise.

In patients with the syndrome, the vaccine also appears to awaken a dormant virus known as Epstein–Barr and interfere with people’s immune systems in complicated ways still being studied.

Meanwhile, people with the post-vaccination condition had high levels of coronavirus proteins in their blood, years after taking the shot, which could leave their bodies in a permanent state of inflammation, causing a host of other problems. (Read more from “Bombshell Yale Study Proves COVID Vax Causes Extreme Physiological Changes” HERE)

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Montana Lawmakers Reject Proposed Ban on mRNA Vaccines

By Micah Drew. The Montana House of Representatives on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly against House Bill 371, a measure that would have banned mRNA vaccines — used primarily in COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots — and made it a misdemeanor to administer the shots.

Introduced by Greg Kmetz, R-Miles City, the contentious bill revealed deep-held beliefs by some lawmakers about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine technology that became common during the global coronavirus pandemic.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has approved mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and boosters from Moderna and Pfizer. The FDA has also approved a Moderna mRNA vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus.

Kmetz said he became politically active during the pandemic, starting when then-Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, ordered non-essential businesses to temporarily close down. He said his wife lost her job in the healthcare field for not getting vaccinated, and a friend’s grandson was hospitalized for one of the rare side effects attributed to the COVID-19 vaccines.

“If an individual is told a product will prevent them from getting sick, and yet the actual outcome of taking the product does not result in that effect, then the product is a scam,” Kmetz said. “Another thing that really bothers me is all vaccine manufacturers are 100% free from all liability … We are talking about a real bad product, and people have absolutely no recourse for damage.” (Read more from “Montana Lawmakers Reject Proposed Ban on mRNA Vaccines” HERE)

Ukraine Could Be Offered Automatic NATO Membership if Russia Welches on Peace Deal: Report

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Ukraine’s future membership of the NATO alliance may play the role of both carrot and stick to encourage more civilized behavior from Russia in future, a report claims.

Unfortunately for Ukraine itself, which makes a great deal of wanting to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to guarantee itself against future Russian aggression, it now seems all but impossible as war peace talks begin. While Russia is obviously against the idea, the United States is also reluctant under President Trump, just as it was under President Biden.

Even European states, who are generally the most enthusiastic backers of Kyiv and who say they support membership one day have proven very reluctant to agree to it immediately. Several European states have argued that Ukraine isn’t ready to be a member of organisations like NATO or the European Union and that, in any case, it would be foolhardy to induct a new member that is already at war and partially occupied by a foreign power.

But that NATO question has a place in negotiations nevertheless, says broadcaster NBC, which cites unnamed U.S. talks “officials” who state it can be used as a security guarantee for Ukraine by limiting Russia’s appetite for further adventurism. As reported, under the alleged plan Ukraine would not be given NATO membership now, but a mechanism would be created that would instantly award that status on Kyiv if Russia violated the future Donald Trump-negotiated Ukraine peace deal. (Read more from “Ukraine Could Be Offered Automatic NATO Membership if Russia Welches on Peace Deal: Report” HERE)

Grimes Publicly Pleads With Elon Musk to Respond to Their Child’s ‘Medical Crisis’

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In a series of deleted posts on X, pop singer Grimes accused Elon Musk of ignoring her messages regarding a serious medical situation involving one of their children.

The New York Post reports that in a shocking public plea, singer Grimes took to her ex-partner Elon Musk’s own social media platform X with a plea for him to respond to her texts, calls, and emails about a “medical crisis” that one of their three children is currently facing. Grimes, whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher, claimed in multiple posts that Musk has been ignoring all of her communication attempts, forcing her to resort to a public outcry.

“Plz respond about our child’s medical crisis,” Grimes wrote in her since-deleted posts. “I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention.” She emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “If you don’t want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can so that we can move forward on solving this.”

Grimes did not specify which of her and Musk’s children was in distress. When a commenter suggested that going public might not help the situation, she underscored the severity of the issue, saying their child could “suffer life long impairment” if Musk does not respond promptly. “I’m not giving any details but he won’t respond to texts call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn’t respond asap, so I need him to f–king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that’s where we are at,” she explained. (Read more from “Grimes Publicly Pleads With Elon Musk to Respond to Their Child’s ‘Medical Crisis’” HERE)

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Trump DOE Opens Investigation After Maine Gov Defies Prez on Trans Athletes — Putting $250M in School Funds at Risk

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The Trump administration launched an investigation Friday that could result in Maine schools losing $250 million in annual federal funding, The Post has learned — hours after a fiery clash between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and President Trump over transgender athletic policies.

“You better comply! Because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding,” Trump told Mills during an afternoon White House governor’s summit — as she vowed instead to see him in court.

Shortly after, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights dispatched letters to Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and the superintendent of a local school district announcing a formal inquiry into how a transgender pole-vault champion was awarded a state championship earlier this week.

The investigation will review whether state and local policies are in compliance with Title IX federal protections for female athletes, which under an executive order signed by Trump Feb. 5 bars the participation of trans women in girls sports.

“Dear Commissioner Makin: The United States Department of Education’s (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) writes to inform you that it is initiating a directed investigation of the Maine Department of Education,” says the letter from Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

(Read more from “Trump DOE Opens Investigation After Maine Gov Defies Prez on Trans Athletes — Putting $250M in School Funds at Risk” HERE)

The Pentagon Purges Are About to Begin

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The Pentagon is preparing to trim the fat. Liberals have been perennial whiners about the Defense Department’s budget—watch them complain about the thousands of layoffs that are being planned right now. The Pentagon purge is about to begin, with at least 5,000 layoffs (via WaPo):

The Pentagon said Friday it will fire about 5,400 civilian employees beginning next week in an “initial” purge to its workforce, as President Donald Trump’s hastily issued orders to shake up the Defense Department faced new scrutiny and officials scrambled to understand how such actions could affect national security.

The announcement followed a day of uncertainty, as administration officials paused a plan to begin firings now while evaluating requests to retain thousands of other employees deemed essential. A senior Pentagon official, Darin Selnick, said in a statement late Friday that the Trump administration intends to cull its workforce by between 5 and 8 percent. With more than 900,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department, tens of thousands of people could be forced out eventually.

Echoing a pronouncement made earlier by Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, Selnick said in his statement that “it is simply not in the public interest to retain individuals whose contributions are not mission-critical.”

[…]

The cuts will come after Trump administration officials, coordinating with billionaire Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, have slashed thousands of employees elsewhere in the government as part of the president’s broad effort to dismantle the federal bureaucracy.

The Defense Department’s civilian worker purge is beginning with probationary employees, those who have one to three years of experience or who recently were promoted, according to officials familiar with the matter, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. That pool of people numbers between 50,000 and 55,000, officials said.

After deliberations over the last day, the Pentagon has settled on firing about 10 percent of the probational employees, a defense official familiar with the effort said. A hiring freeze is expected to take hold next week, and administration officials plan to spend two to three months analyzing who else could be ousted, the official said.

(Read more from “The Pentagon Purges Are About to Begin” HERE)

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Viral Buzz: Here Are the ‘Miracle Drugs’ Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson Are Raving About

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Mel Gibson recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast and, as you might imagine, he set the internet on fire. The two dove into a deep conversation about cancer and a so-called “miracle drug” that could be a game-changer, and the world was hooked.

That chat was interesting because Mel didn’t just discuss theories—he got personal. The Braveheart star revealed that several of his close friends had been battling stage 4 cancer. But the story took an interesting turn when Mel said that his friends experienced incredible results thanks to a combination of ivermectin and an obscure drug called fenbendazole, a medication typically used to treat parasitic infections like roundworms and threadworms.

Then came Mel’s bombshell—he told Joe Rogan that his friends who took these medications are now cancer-free.

We actually covered this story when it first broke:

But it was Mel’s story about his friends with cancer that truly changed everything. Three of his friends, all diagnosed with stage 4 cancer—a death sentence—took a combination of Ivermectin and Fenbendazole. Now? They’re cancer-free.

That’s right. From stage 4—a death sentence—to completely gone.

(Read more from “Viral Buzz: Here Are the ‘Miracle Drugs’ Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson Are Raving About” HERE)