Former CDC Director: Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium ‘Very Important’

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The former director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Robert Redfield, said Wednesday that he is in complete support of the decision by President Trump to put a moratorium on funding of gain-of-function research, calling it “very important.”

Trump signed an executive order on Monday in order to stop these experiments by cutting off funding to countries where they occur.

“I did an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal back in 2021, really calling on our government to put a moratorium on it,” Redfield told Newsmax. “There’s really no scientific advantage for doing this type of research and there’s a real downside in terms of creating pathogens that may cause problems that we don’t have countermeasures [for], like the COVID-19 virus, which I do believe was a direct consequence of gain-of-function research.”

The position that supporters of gain-of-function research take, that scientists need to “create these dangerous viruses to know how to develop countermeasures to them,” is “a mistake,” Redfield added.

“I argue that we have enough scientific capacity that if and when we’re challenged with a new pathogen, that we can apply the tools of science to address that pathogen and develop countermeasures,” he continued. “We don’t have to create the pathogen to figure out how to defend against the pathogen.” (Read more from “Former CDC Director: Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium ‘Very Important’” HERE)

The Statue Of The Random Black Woman In Times Square Is Leftist Cultural Warfare

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The cultural parasites of the left have struck again. This time, they have erected a bronze statue of a 12-foot-tall anonymous overweight black woman in New York City’s Times Square, where it will stand for the next month.

Matt Walsh asked on X whether it was a particular person “or just a statue of a random black woman for no apparent reason?”

It is indeed a random black woman, and the randomness is for a very specific reason. Having torn down beautiful statues of American heroes and icons, the left is now erecting intentionally ugly statues designed to attack the very idea of greatness and undermine the notion that exceptional people should be memorialized and honored in public. And they’re doing it for the ultimate purpose of seizing and wielding cultural and political power.

But don’t just take my word for it. The statue, we’re told, “disrupts preconceived ideas of what defines a triumphant figure and challenges who should be rendered immortal through monumentalization.”

These people do not come to build but to destroy, and what they erect in the place of what they have destroyed isn’t just boring and narcissistic, it’s also cultural propaganda that insists on a neo-Marxist paradigm pitting the supposedly marginalized and oppressed against the oppressors. And we all know who the oppressors are. (Read more from “The Statue Of The Random Black Woman In Times Square Is Leftist Cultural Warfare” HERE)

Trump Says He’s Naming Fox News Host, Former Judge Jeanine Pirro as Top Federal Prosecutor in D.C.

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President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital after abandoning his first pick for the job.

Pirro, who joined Fox News in 2006, co-hosts the network’s show “The Five” on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York’s Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the county’s elected district attorney.

Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nation’s largest U.S. Attorney’s office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position earlier on Thursday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was naming Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., but didn’t indicate whether he would nominate her for the Senate-confirmed position on a more permanent basis.

“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself,” Trump wrote.

Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Read more from “Trump Says He’s Naming Fox News Host, Former Judge Jeanine Pirro as Top Federal Prosecutor in D.C.” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Trump Just Issued a Brutal Ultimatum to Putin – The Clock Is Ticking

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President Donald Trump on Thursday gave an update on negotiations regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia, putting Moscow on notice that it will face consequences if it does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire deal.

Trump appears to be taking a tougher stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been rather uncooperative when it comes to ironing out a peace deal.

“The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The president further threatened, “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.”

Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also. As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

(Read more from “Trump Just Issued a Brutal Ultimatum to Putin – The Clock Is Ticking” HERE)

New York Budget Proposal Could Allow Letitia James to Use Taxpayer Funds for Personal Legal Fees in Trump Admin Probe

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Democrats’ proposed state operations budget could enable New York Attorney General Letitia James to use taxpayer funds for personal legal expenses resulting from a possible Trump administration investigation.

If passed, the state operations budget would create a $10 million fund to reimburse employees for the cost of retaining “private counsel” in response to legal actions initiated by the federal government after Jan. 1, 2025 in connection with their state employment, according to the bill text. In April, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) referred James to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a potential probe related to allegations of mortgage fraud involving a Virginia residence first reported by White Collar Fraud.

The FBI opened a formal investigation into the matter on Thursday, according to the Times Union.

The fund included in the proposed budget can also be used for issues “unrelated” to their employment but “reasonably likely to have been commenced” due to their work.

To determine whether a legal action against the attorney general is related to her employment, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can consider factors like whether the attorney general has “previously initiated or otherwise participated in or supported a criminal or civil investigation or prosecution of the United States government or a United States government official,” according to the budget’s text. (Read more from “New York Budget Proposal Could Allow Letitia James to Use Taxpayer Funds for Personal Legal Fees in Trump Admin Probe” HERE)

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago Becomes First American Pope

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Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was chosen by the College of Cardinals to be the new pope of the Catholic Church, making him the first American pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history. The Chicago native chose the papal name Leo XIV. White smoke appeared above the Sistine Chapel at approximately 6:08 p.m. Rome time, followed by the chiming of the Vatican’s bells, which confirmed for the faithful that a new successor to the See of St. Peter the Apostle was indeed chosen.

Here is an English translation of the full transcript of Pope Leo XIV’s first address:

Peace be with all of you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock.

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth.

Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed peace and a disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak, but always courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome!

The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning. Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail!

We are all in the hands of God.

Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we move forward. We are disciples of Christ.

Christ precedes us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to allows it to be reached by God and by His love.

Help us, too, and help each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with meetings, uniting us all to be one people, always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis! I also want to thank all my brother cardinals who have chosen me to be Peter’s Successor, and to walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always seeking to work as men and women who are faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: “with you I am a Christian and for you I am a bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with its open arms, all, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.

And if you allow me a word, a greeting to all and especially to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people accompanied their bishop, shared their faith and gave so, so much to continue being a Church that is faithful to Jesus Christ.

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a Church of the Synod, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close, especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love. So, I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world and let us also ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.

[Began the recitation of the Hail Mary in Latin.]

(Read more from “Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago Becomes First American Pope” HERE)

Report: Biden Pentagon Hid Costs, Injuries Of Failed Gaza Pier

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Former President Joe Biden’s Pentagon deployed a floating pier off the coast of Gaza for “humanitarian aid” last year. According to a new report, the pier was more of a failure than his administration would publicly admit.

The floating port to aid Hamas-controlled Gaza was estimated to cost $320 million, as The Federalist previously reported, but was fraught with issues from the start. High winds and rough seas soon tore the pier apart — costing $22 million. As for the aid that successfully made it to shore, only some reached its intended destination, as looters ransacked and stole many of the delivery trucks.

Army Sgt. Quandarius Stanley died in October 2024 “after being critically injured” earlier during the mission, dubbed Operation Neptune Solace. The Department of Defense inspector general released a report on May 2, revealing that 62 U.S. personnel were injured over the course of the operation.

After several redacted lines, the report admitted the operation damaged 27 watercraft and pieces of equipment — which required “repair and maintenance” costs of “approximately $31 million.” It pointed to various weaknesses in the military’s “joint logistics over‑the‑shore” (JLOTS) operations.

“[T]he Army and Navy did not meet Service-level standards for equipment and unit readiness, nor did they organize, train, and equip their forces to meet common joint standards,” the report reads. “Insufficient manning, training, and materiel readiness at the Military Service level, coupled with the lack of integration and the interoperability … reduced the DoD’s effectiveness by repeatedly encountering known challenges and inefficiencies in JLOTS operations and exercises, including Operation Neptune Solace in Gaza.”

(Read more from “Report: Biden Pentagon Hid Costs, Injuries Of Failed Gaza Pier” HERE)

Poll Shows Media Narrative Of Trump Voter Regret Is Total Bunk

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A new poll shows 92 percent of Trump voters are happy with their choice despite the legacy-media narrative that they regret it.

A poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 92 percent of Trump voters are pleased with their vote, while 95 percent of voters who chose Vice President Kamala Harris are similarly satisfied. Eighty-five percent of voters who voted for independent candidates are also satisfied with their choice.

The poll was conducted between Feb. 28 and March 20 across all 50 states among more than 5,000 adults. The poll has a 1.69-point margin of error.

The findings are similar to those from a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll released on April 14. That poll found only 2 percent of Trump voters said they regretted their vote. The New York Times surveyed a focus group of the 13 independent voters who voted for Trump, and none regretted casting a ballot for the current president.

But surely the polls can’t be right, because the propaganda press has reliably informed Americans that voters were souring on Trump.

“Trump’s Agenda May Lead to Buyer’s Remorse Among His Voters,” Ed Kilgore wrote for Intelligencer. Kilgore said Hispanics would regret voting for Trump because of mass deportations, while Americans writ large would regret voting for Trump because of DOGE’s cuts to the bureaucratic state. (Read more from “Poll Shows Media Narrative Of Trump Voter Regret Is Total Bunk” HERE)

As Attacks on Christians Rise in Israel, Netanyahu’s Snub of Francis Is a Dangerous Step

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At a session of the Israeli Knesset’s Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee on Monday (May 5), Aida Touma-Sliman, a Christian legislator from northern Israel, sounded the alarm about a disturbing pattern of harassment of Christians in the country. During Holy Week, many Christians from the West Bank were denied entry into Jerusalem, and on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter, Israeli police prevented worshippers from reaching churches.

The disruptions were a continuation of a sharp increase in attacks against Christians documented in a March 2025 report by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue that showed rising incidents of violence: clergy spat on, church property vandalized, crosses desecrated and pilgrims harassed. In many cases, police were slow to respond — if they responded at all.

“If this country respects all religions,” Touma-Sliman said, “what is happening against Christian clergy should have caused a huge uproar and upended the country.”

Touma-Sliman also condemned the Israeli government’s glaring failure to recognize the death of Pope Francis. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a lower-level aide to Francis’ funeral, along with the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, while the leaders of some 130 other nations attended. The excuse given — that the funeral fell on the Jewish Sabbath — rang hollow, especially in light of the Israeli ambassador’s presence at the service.

The Israeli government sent only a bland, formal message of condolences on the day of Francis’ death, and even a perfunctory tweet from the Foreign Ministry was quickly deleted under pressure from far-right coalition members. (Read more from “As Attacks on Christians Rise in Israel, Netanyahu’s Snub of Francis Is a Dangerous Step” HERE)

Cardinal Tarnished by Secret Chinese Pact Emerges as Front-Runner for Pope

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An Italian cardinal once tainted by a secret deal with China over the appointment of Catholic bishops has emerged as the favorite to be elected pope.

Pietro Parolin, 70, is a seasoned diplomat who served under Pope Francis as secretary of state – effectively the prime minister of the Vatican City State.

The odds of him being elected as the successor to the late pope when 133 cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday at the start of the conclave are now at 9/4, according to British bookmaker William Hill. . .

Catholics in China are split into two camps – those who are members of an underground church that is loyal to Rome and the pope, and those who belong to a state-sanctioned church that refuses to accept the authority of the pontiff.

Under the deal, struck in 2018 and since renewed several times, Chinese officials were given some input into bishops who are appointed by the Vatican. Critics said the agreement sold out those Catholics who are loyal to Rome and represented a capitulation to Beijing. (Read more from “Cardinal Tarnished by Secret Chinese Pact Emerges as Front-Runner for Pope” HERE)