‘I’d Be Careful What You Read’: 7 Times Trump Officials Turned Tables on Dem Lawmakers Trying to Corner Them

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Members of President Donald Trump’s administration have pushed back at Democrats’ attempts to ask them harsh questions during hearings.

While Democrat lawmakers have attempted to stump Trump’s cabinet members, they have repeatedly turned tables on their preferred narratives by providing facts that are often not reported on by Democrats or the corporate media. Members of the administration, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gave congressional members reality checks on issues ranging from the riots in Los Angeles, California, or the deportation of alleged MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

During a House Appropriations Committee hearing on June 10, Democrat Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum criticized Trump’s “premature and escalatory” decision to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines in light of the Los Angeles, California, riots that broke out over Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) arrests. The congresswoman attempted to contrast Trump’s handling to Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s response to the 2020 riots; Hegseth reminded her of the chaos that took place in Minnesota under Walz’s leadership at the time.

“Well congresswoman, thank you for the question. You are right, we are both originally from Minnesota and that’s why I recall 2020 quite well, when Governor Walz abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground,” Hegseth said. “And [he] also allowed five days of chaos to occur inside the streets of Minneapolis. The police precinct, ma’am, was abandoned and burned to the ground and because of that, the National Guard, was eventually, far too late, mobilized.”

(Read more from “‘I’d Be Careful What You Read’: 7 Times Trump Officials Turned Tables on Dem Lawmakers Trying to Corner Them” HERE)

Photo credit: DoD via Flickr

Critics Slam Kamala Harris for Gloomy July 4 Post — With Photo That Crops Out Biden

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Critics piled on former Vice President Kamala Harris for issuing a gloomy statement on the Fourth of July — while sharing a picture of last year’s festivities that cropped out her onetime running-mate Joe Biden.

“This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris posted Friday on X.

“But I love our country — and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.”

Photo credit: Kamala Harris, /X via New York Post

X users were quick to point out that the image Harris promoted — which showed her and first gentleman Doug Emhoff enjoying an Independence Day fireworks display in July 2024 — was conveniently framed to exclude Biden and first lady Jill.

“Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,” noted Link Lauren, a former senior adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, publishing another shot from the White House balcony that shows the first couple just feet away. (Read more from “Critics Slam Kamala Harris for Gloomy July 4 Post — With Photo That Crops Out Biden” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

More Than 100,000 Undocumented Patients Sought Care After Texas Hospitals Were Required to Ask Immigration Status

/0 Comments/in , /by

More than 100,000 undocumented people sought medical care in Texas in the first four months that hospitals were required to ask every patient their immigration status — but that represents a small fraction of all patients during that timeframe.

In August 2024, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order directing hospitals to start collecting data “regarding patients who are not lawfully present in the United States” beginning Nov. 1, 2024, including the number of patients and the cost of care provided to those patients.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) previously released the first set of data in March — showing more than 30,000 undocumented people sought medical care in November.

An updated data release Wednesday shows that figure grew to 108,581 by the end of February, about 2.3% of all patients. More than 4 million patients said they were either a U.S. citizen or in the country lawfully, 84.8% of the statewide total. . .

Hospitals in Texas are required to ask each patient their immigration status, but patients are not required to answer. In the first four months of data collection, almost 617,000 patients — 12.9% — declined to answer the question. (Read more from “More Than 100,000 Undocumented Patients Sought Care After Texas Hospitals Were Required to Ask Immigration Status” HERE)

At Least 24 People Dead From Texas Flooding, 23 Children Missing From All-Girls Camp

/0 Comments/in , /by

By Just The News. At least 24 people have died and more than 20 children from an all-girls camp are missing after the heavy flooding that has occurred jn the state’s south-central region overnight into Friday.

Parents have been posting photos of their missing daughters on social media in the hopes of finding them as soon as possible.

As of Saturday morning, there are at least 23 girls who were attending a camp have not been found after the flooding, according to the Associated Press. (Read more from “At Least 24 People Dead From Texas Flooding, 23 Children Missing From All-Girls Camp” HERE)

___________________________________________________

Two Girls at Texas Christian Camp Found Dead as Dozens Remain Missing

By New York Post. At least two of the missing Camp Mystic girls were found dead during Friday’s overnight search and rescue in Texas, according to family and local reports.

Renee Smajstrla, 8, and Janie Hunt, 9, were among as many as 25 campers who were washed away in the deadly Guadalupe River flash floods.

“Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach. Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” her uncle wrote on Facebook along with a picture of the young girl beaming.

“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville.”

Janie was also discovered dead, according to Corpus Christi Crónica. (Read more from “Two Girls at Texas Christian Camp Found Dead as Dozens Remain Missing” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Russia Bombards Ukraine in Extensive Missile and Drone Attack Hours After Trump-Putin Phone Call

/0 Comments/in , /by

Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities on Friday in the largest missile and drone attack so far in the war, just hours after Vladimir Putin’s phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian authorities reported little damage except for some residential buildings in five neighborhoods, the New York Times reported from Kyiv.

Russia has increased its missile and drone attacks on besieged Ukraine in recent months as a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire between the two countries remains elusive. The attack this week will likely set a new record for the largest missile and drone strikes, per Ukrainian officials.

Putin has escalated pressure on Ukraine as President Trump has attempted to facilitate peace negotiations between the two countries. These talks have made little progress. Though Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in March, Russia refused to consider the framework.

After the phone call between the Americana and Russian presidents just before the attack, Trump lamented that he “didn’t make any progress with him at all.” (Read more from “Russia Bombards Ukraine in Extensive Missile and Drone Attack Hours After Trump-Putin Phone Call” HERE)

White House, Pentagon Won’t Say Why Admiral Who Allowed Drag Shows On Navy Ship Was Nominated For Promotion

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Trump recently recommended Rear Admiral Michael “Buzz” Donnelly, who is known for allowing drag shows on his ship when he was a captain, for promotion to command of the Navy’s 7th fleet.

“Adm[iral] Donnelly wasn’t in drag himself, but any military leader will tell you he is responsible for everything that happens under his command,” tweeted William Thibeau, director of the American Military Project at the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life.

During his campaign, Trump promised to remove woke elements from the U.S. military and return the armed forces to their former glory. He even punctuated this campaign message with a video that spliced clips of Full Metal Jacket (the military under Trump) with clips of Admiral Rachel Levine and Navy drag queen “Harpy Daniels” (the military under Biden).

“Harpy Daniels,” whose real name is Joshua Kelly, is an active-duty sailor and drag performer who claims to be nonbinary. He was made the Navy’s digital ambassador in 2022. In 2017 and 2018, Kelly performed drag onboard the USS Ronald Reagan in Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department events. Donnelly captained the ship at the time.

Now Donnelly is up for promotion, nominated by President Trump. (Read more from “White House, Pentagon Won’t Say Why Admiral Who Allowed Drag Shows On Navy Ship Was Nominated For Promotion” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Independence Day Sounds So Much Better Than ‘Fourth Of July’

/0 Comments/in , /by

As of Friday this week the United States is 249 years young. Do it the honor of marking our country’s birthday as “Independence Day,” rather than the far more common and clunky “Fourth of July.”

I’m not sure when I started caring to explicitly and exclusively refer to the holiday by it’s official name, but it’s something I’ve grown militant about. Not in a sanctimonious way, like a person who wants to flex his superior patriotism or knowledge on proper titles. But there are two reasons for it.

First, I’m a writer (a real one, not the fake Charles Blow kind). I pay attention to the way phrases sound and flow, always self-editing to make expressions concise and breezy. That’s both in print and speech. “Independence Day” includes one long word, but it sounds nice and is easy to say. “Fourth of July” by contrast is three short ones that when said aloud together are the audible equivalent of watching John Fetterman lurching forward in strap-on heels. It’s a plodding phrase with each syllable landing on the eardrum with a dull thud. I hate it. Further, Independence Day connotes a date of significance, with its own distinguished name. “Fourth of July” is simply the number of a day belonging to a summer month. It’s a phrase that also exhibits a lot of lip action, first biting the lower one to say “fourth” and then pursing them both for “July.” Ugly! The month itself isn’t even a pleasant one to say and I’m shocked it hasn’t yet been deemed as anti-Semitic by Jonah Goldberg. (Read more from “Independence Day Sounds So Much Better Than ‘Fourth Of July’” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Actress Cynthia Nixon Slammed by Pro-Choice Fans for Wearing ‘Make Abortion Great Again’ Hat: ‘You Need Help,’ ‘Nothing Great About Abortions’

/0 Comments/in , /by

Pro-abortion fans of Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon told the actress she took things a little too far — as celebrity elites tend to do — when she posted a photo of herself to Instagram wearing a red “Make Abortion Great Again” hat. “None of my friends who had an Abortion thought it was Great,” one fan wrote.

On Thursday Nixon posted a photo of herself lounging on a boat, clad in the disturbing cap, alongside a fearmongering Instagram caption: “In addition to kicking 17 million Americans off their healthcare, Trump’s big ugly bill will strip critical funding to [Planned Parenthood] for non-abortion-related medical care.” . . .

Nixon’s pro-abortion fans, however, took to the comment section to express their dismay over the message on her hat, informing the actress that her attire is “a bit much.”

“I would never wear that hat and I am pro-choice,” the top-liked comment read.

“I’m pro choice,” another fan wrote, adding, “None of my friends who had an Abortion thought it was Great.” (Read more from “Actress Cynthia Nixon Slammed by Pro-choice Fans for Wearing ‘Make Abortion Great Again’ Hat: ‘You Need Help,’ ‘Nothing Great About Abortions’” HERE)

Photo. credit: Flickr

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Opens Door for Second Amendment Lawsuits to Remove Registration Requirement for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Firearms, AOW’s

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Now that the House has approved the One Big Beautiful Bill that zeroes out taxes on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any other weapons”, we can expect those fees to disappear come January 1. Though the legislation ultimately didn’t contain a provision removing the registration requirements for restricted NFA firearms, a coalition of Second Amendment organizations has announced their intent to file a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act in court.

The statement, from the Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, National Rifle Association, and the American Suppressor Association, was released shortly after the House approved the OBBB on a 218-214 a day before President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline.

When President Trump signs the One Big Beautiful Bill – which will eliminate the excise tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs — he will have delivered the biggest blow to the National Firearms Act since its passage nearly a century ago. We thank President Trump for his leadership and every member of Congress who fought for law-abiding gun owners throughout the reconciliation process.

By eliminating the excise tax on these NFA items, the OBBB will not only lift the heavy burden of an unconstitutional tax from the backs of hardworking Americans, it will also serve as a critical step towards our ultimate goal of dismantling the NFA once and for all. But there is much work yet to be done.

While we will continue to fight for the total legislative elimination of the NFA, our organizations are proud to stand together in a new strategic lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the NFA in Federal Court.

While the president is expected to sign the OBBB tomorrow, the language that zeroes out the taxes on most NFA items won’t take effect until January 1, which has some industry officials concerned about a large slowdown in business in the coming months while customers wait for the cost of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns to come down by a couple hundred bucks. (Read more from “Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Opens Door for Second Amendment Lawsuits to Remove Registration Requirement for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Firearms, AOW’s” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Man Arrested for Carrying ‘Ghost Gun’ to Capitol Hill

/0 Comments/in , /by

Charges have been filed against a Maryland man who tried to bring a “ghost gun” into an office of the House of Representatives last Tuesday.

Thirty-five year old Jason White allegedly attempted to bring the gun into the Cannon House Office Building on June 24, just after 8:30 am. White had placed his bag through a metal detector at the building’s security checkpoint when the firearm was detected, according to police. White told police that he had forgotten the gun was in his bag, according to CBS.

“There was no serial number present anywhere on the firearm,” according to an affidavit shared with CBS News. All guns manufactured in the United States or imported into the states are required to have serial numbers that are typically on the back of the firearm’s frame. (Read more from “Man Arrested for Carrying ‘Ghost Gun’ to Capitol Hill” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr