Trump Fires NSA Chief

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[T]he head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command has been fired. Gen. Timothy Haugh assumed the dual role not long ago, but he’s gone, and his top deputy has been reassigned (via WaPo):

The director of the powerful wiretapping and cyber espionage service, the National Security Agency, was fired Thursday, according to two current and one former U.S. officials.

Gen. Timothy Haugh, who also heads U.S. Cyber Command, was let go along with his civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, according to the officials.

Noble was reassigned to a job within the Pentagon’s Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. The NSA is part of the department.

(Read more from “Trump Fires NSA Chief” HERE)

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Will the Liberal Media Cover This Horrific Crime Story?

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A high school football star was stabbed in the heart allegedly by another Texas teen at a track meet Wednesday morning.

17-year-old Karmelo Sincere Anthony is accused of killing Austin Metcalf, 17, around 10 a.m. at the sporting event, a track-and-field championship involving several Dallas-area schools in Frisco, Texas.

Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School, was in the stands when he was fatally stabbed following an altercation over a seat.

Anthony, a student from Frisco’s neighboring Centennial High School, allegedly attacked Metcalf after he was told that he was sitting in the wrong spot. Witnesses say Anthony drew a knife and stabbed Metcalf, leaving him to die in his twin brother’s arms.

Hunter Metcalf, who was born a few minutes after Austin, recounted watching in horror as his brother bled out. (Read more from “Will the Liberal Media Cover This Horrific Crime Story?” HERE)

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Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports

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President Donald Trump eliminated trade exemptions with China and Hong Kong this week to combat illicit substance imports.

As part of his sweeping executive orders instituting tariffs on various nations this week, the president eliminated exemptions to address deceptive shipping practices from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong. Recognizing China’s role in the ongoing U.S. opioid crisis, the president suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less.

Under “duty-free de minimis,” shipments could enter the United States free of import duties or taxes so long as they were valued at $800 or less. The Trump administration charged that the PRC exploited this exemption by breaking large shipments into smaller pieces for the purpose of concealing illicit substances. (Read more from “Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports” HERE)

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China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs

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The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Thursday demanded President Donald Trump immediately rescind the tariffs he announced on Wednesday, threatening unspecified “countermeasures” if he does not comply.

The Chinese ministry issued a statement accusing the United States of “unilateralism” and “protectionism.”

“The so-called reciprocal tariffs have violated international trade rules and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, and are a typical act of unilateral bullying,” the statement said.

“China firmly opposes the move and will take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry threatened.

At a brief press conference on Thursday, the ministry said China would respond to the tariffs by intensifying trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. The ministry added that “communications” with the Trump administration would continue. (Read more from “China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs HERE)

Trump’s New Plan: No Free Trade Without Free Speech… UK Freaks Out

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Trump’s new plan is to put economic pressure on [our] so-called allies and force them to respect real human rights, starting with free speech.

Under Trump’s free trade, countries like the UK wouldn’t get to enjoy the perks of trading with the US while trampling all over people’s basic civil liberties. . .

And apparently, the idea that the UK would have to meet bare minimum standards for free speech for their own citizens was enough to send shockwaves through the Good Morning Britain staff.

And it’s not just GMB having a meltdown—former Supreme Court justices are losing it too:

President Trump isn’t just using tariffs and trade to Make America Great Again—he’s using them to make the world free again. By tying economic deals to basic human rights like free speech, he’s giving people everywhere a real shot at freedom and prosperity. And he’s not doing it alone. He’s surrounded himself with a powerhouse team of smart, tough, and dedicated men and women who are all-in on protecting free thought, true democracy, and the values the West was built on. (Read more from “Trump’s New Plan: No Free Trade Without Free Speech… UK Freaks Out” HERE)

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Next-Gen Nuclear Reactors Poised for Surge in U.S. Power Grid

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A manufacturing plant in Texas plans to power its production with an advanced nuclear reactor instead of natural gas, advancing the Trump administration’s push to unleash commercial nuclear power in the U.S.

When completed, the nation’s first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor will power a 4,700-acre facility that produces plastics and other materials used in dozens of products.

Dow Chemical and the nuclear energy engineering firm X-energy submitted a construction permit this week to the federal government for a small modular reactor, or SMR, at Dow’s Seadrift, Texas, manufacturing site. The reactor will replace an aging natural gas plant and eliminate nearly all greenhouse gas emissions.

The permit is the first step in an anticipated resurgence in nuclear power. Mr. Trump initiated the nuclear power comeback during his first administration, and nuclear power is now set to skyrocket as the president seeks to rebuild the U.S. manufacturing base and establish the nation as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

X-energy CEO J. Clay Snell said the Dow project “will demonstrate how the technology deployed at Seadrift, Texas, can be quickly and efficiently replicated to meet incredible power demand growth across America.” (Read more from “Next-Gen Nuclear Reactors Poised for Surge in U.S. Power Grid” HERE)

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DOGE Discovers Outlandish Contract to Maintain VA’s Website

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a month for website changes before canceling the contract and having an internal staffer take over, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

While combing through loads and loads of data, DOGE discovered a previous contract by the VA for its website maintenance.

“Good work by @DeptVetAffairs,” DOGE said in a post on X on Wednesday. “VA was previously paying ~$380,000/month for minor website modifications. That contract has not been renewed, and the same work is now being executed by 1 internal VA software engineer spending ~10 hours/week.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the VA for comment about the former contract.

VA Secretary Doug Collins has defended DOGE cuts at the VA as part of the new administration’s efforts to reform the department and better serve veterans. (Read more from “DOGE Discovers Outlandish Contract to Maintain VA’s Website” HERE)

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Republicans Win Special House Elections, Expanding Slim Majority

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Republican candidates won both special House elections in Florida on Tuesday night, expanding the party’s slim majority in the lower chamber.

According to The New York Times, Republican Jimmy Patronis is projected to defeat Democrat Gay Valimont in the Sunshine State’s 1st Congressional District. Located in the Florida Panhandle, the district’s residents overwhelmingly supported President Donald Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

The seat was left open following the resignation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who stepped down after being nominated by Trump to serve as attorney general. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his nomination to the position after facing resistance from several GOP senators reportedly opposed to his confirmation.

The GOP is also projected to win the race for the House seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who resigned to serve as Trump’s national security advisor. With more than 95 percent of votes tabulated as of publication, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine is projected to defeat Democrat Josh Weil in the battle for Florida’s 6th Congressional District.

Fine’s seemingly lackluster candidacy and Weil’s significant fundraising advantage prompted reported concerns within conservative circles ahead of Tuesday’s race that the election in CD-6 could be closer than originally anticipated. (Read more from “Republicans Win Special House Elections, Expanding Slim Majority” HERE)

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Trump Treasury Secretary Has a Message for Countries Hit With Reciprocal Tariffs

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a three-word reply on Wednesday to countries looking to respond to the United States’ broad tariffs: “Do not retaliate.”

President Donald Trump announced on his self-proclaimed “Liberation Day” a 10% baseline tariff across the board and retaliatory tariffs on some of the country’s closest allies, who he says are taking advantage of the U.S.

Among some of the notable tariffs are 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 24% on Japan and 32% on Taiwan.

The tariffs on China increased to 54% due to an existing 20% tariff.

“My advice to every country right now is do not retaliate. Sit back, take it in, let’s see how it goes. Because if you retaliate, there will be escalation,” Bessent said Wednesday in an interview on “Special Report” shortly after the announcement. “If you don’t retaliate, this is the high-water mark.”

Notably absent on the list of countries subject to tariffs were Mexico, Canada, Russia and Belarus. (Read more from “Trump Treasury Secretary Has a Message for Countries Hit With Reciprocal Tariffs” HERE)

Another Leak: Mike Waltz’s Staff Set Up at Least 20 Signal Chat Groups

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. . .President Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s staffers set up at least 20 other Signal chat groups to discuss Ukraine, China, Russia and more.

At least four people added to the Signal groups anonymously told Politico about the chats.

Politico reported:

National security adviser Mike Waltz’s team regularly set up chats on Signal to coordinate official work on issues including Ukraine, China, Gaza, Middle East policy, Africa and Europe, according to four people who have been personally added to Signal chats.

Two of the people said they were in or have direct knowledge of at least 20 such chats. All four said they saw instances of sensitive information being discussed.

Mike Waltz is already under fire for adding The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat group with high-ranking Trump Administration officials discussing the successful attack on Houthi terrorists in Yemen. (Read more from “Another Leak: Mike Waltz’s Staff Set Up at Least 20 Signal Chat Groups” HERE)