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Top Trump Adviser Reveals Administration’s ‘Red Line’ Ahead of Iran Talks

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Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was adamant Friday that the Trump administration will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, describing the provocative action as a “red line” — but said that the US would still be open to compromise ahead of talks with the adversary.

“I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff told the Wall Street Journal, explaining what he plans on telling Iranian officials on Saturday in Oman.

“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries,” the special envoy added, suggesting there are some accommodations the Trump administration might be willing to provide the theocratic regime in order to get it to scrap possible nuclear ambitions.

“Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability,” Witkoff asserted. (Read more from “Top Trump Adviser Reveals Administration’s ‘Red Line’ Ahead of Iran Talks” HERE)

Pete Hegseth Says Panama Accepted Agreement on Warship Canal Passage After China Accused the U.S. of ‘Blackmail’

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the nation of Panama agreed to allow warship passage through the canal after Chinese officials accused the U.S. of trying to use blackmail to further its interests.

Hegseth said that the two nations had signed a memorandum of understanding to allow U.S. warships to pass through the canal without paying a toll. The agreement for security cooperation also includes auxiliary vessels.

When asked about the accusation, Hegseth fired back at China.

“I don’t know anything about blackmail,” he responded, “but I do know about strength, peace through strength, and deterrence.”

On Wednesday a Chinese official had more fiery rhetoric against the U.S. as a trade war escalated between President Donald Trump and the communist-governed nation.

“Everyone knows who wants to control the Panama Canal,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian to reporters. “The U.S. side should take a look in the mirror to see who really threatens the sovereignty, security, and development of other countries.” (Read more from “Pete Hegseth Says Panama Accepted Agreement on Warship Canal Passage After China Accused the U.S. of ‘Blackmail’” HERE)

Why Comparing Trump’s Tariffs To The Smoot-Hawley Act Is Dishonest

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Trump’s tariffs are not designed to encourage Americans to borrow money and maximize their consumption. Nor are they designed to encourage participation in speculative stock market or real estate bubbles. America’s free trade policies encouraged such excesses after the end of the Cold War, and we can’t stand a repeat of the folly. While his critics wrongly invoke the Smoot-Hawley tariff failures of 1930, Trump’s emerging tariff policies, particularly if combined with the appropriate monetary policy, will have much better results and Make America Great Again.

As Trump’s tariffs are implemented, they will generate revenue for the federal government and encourage investment in atrophied as well as cutting-edge sectors of the American economy. In addition, they will increase the quantity and quality of jobs available for Americans as a whole, will persuade (and are already persuading) our trading partners to adopt fairer and less predatory trading regimes, will arrest a possible slide into recession, and will get our economy moving toward our long-term growth potential of 3 percent (or more) GDP growth per year.

President Trump says “tariff” is one of his favorite words, and historical evidence indicates tariffs work. They worked for the Chinese this century, they worked for the Japanese after World War II, and they worked for the U.S. and Germany in the late 19th century. Back then, American and German growth rates and economic vibrancy radically outstripped the growth rates and economic vibrancy of a free-trading Britain, which, after abandoning its early 19th-century tariffs, adopted the free trade nostrums of David Ricardo and slipped into decline.

One of the few instances when tariffs failed was during the Smoot-Hawley tariff episode at the beginning of the Great Depression. But there are special circumstances surrounding the imposition of the Smoot-Hawley tariffs that the free-traders hesitate to mention. When the United States raised the Smoot-Hawley tariffs, the U.S. was the world’s greatest creditor, and by raising the tariffs, we prevented others from selling us things so they could make money and pay us back. When they didn’t pay us back, it collapsed the global financial system and helped usher in the Great Depression.

Obviously, today the circumstances are reversed. The United States is now the world’s largest debtor. If we can’t pay back our debts, the global financial system will collapse, which would be disastrous for the entire world. (Read more from “Why Comparing Trump’s Tariffs To The Smoot-Hawley Act Is Dishonest” HERE)

Federal Judge Orders White House to Lift Ban on AP

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A federal judge on Tuesday ruled it was unconstitutional for the White House to bar the Associated Press from Oval Office events.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said the move violated the First Amendment.

“The Government offers no other plausible explanation for its treatment of the AP. The Constitution forbids viewpoint discrimination, even in a nonpublic forum like the Oval Office,” wrote McFadden, a Trump appointee.

“Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists—be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere—it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints,” he continued. “The Constitution requires no less.”

(Read more from “Federal Judge Orders White House to Lift Ban on AP” HERE)

Dramatic Selloff Of U.S. Bonds Hits, Investors Worried About U.S. Economy

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On Wednesday, in an apparent response to the latest tariff increase by President Donald Trump on China to 104%, the yield – or interest rate – on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose again, possibly spurring a cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

“The exodus from longer-dated US Treasuries accelerated, fueling the biggest selloff since 2020 in what are supposed to be the world’s safest assets,” Yahoo Finance reported. U.S. Bonds are backed by the government, and the U.S. economy has been the strongest in the world for decades, so investors think the government will not default on them, making them a safe proposition. But they become less valuable as inflation rises, and some investors have been voicing concern that inflation may well result if President Trump’s tariffs are too harsh and are left in place.

On Monday, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned of inflationary pressure, saying, “Whatever you think of the legitimate reasons for the newly announced tariffs — and, of course, there are some — or the long-term effect, good or bad, there are likely to be important short-term effects. We are likely to see inflationary outcomes, not only on imported goods but on domestic prices, as input costs rise and demand increases for domestic products. Whether or not the menu of tariffs causes a recession remains in question, but it will slow down growth.”

“This is a fire sale of Treasuries,” Calvin Yeoh of Blue Edge Advisors said. “I haven’t seen moves or volatility of this size since the chaos of the pandemic.” (Read more from “Dramatic Selloff Of U.S. Bonds Hits, Investors Worried About U.S. Economy” HERE)

Tariffic: 50 Countries Already Coming to the Table; India, Taiwan Bend Knee

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Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the Trump administration’s tariffs are already making countries negotiate.

Rollins said, “I think it’s really important to realize that last Wednesday was when the president announced this new american order, the new american economic plan. We’re now two days in, right? You’ve got two days of data.”

She added, “This whole concept is about rebuilding an American economy around American goods, around American industry. We do already live under a tariff regime in this country, but it’s the tariff regime of China, of Mexico, of Brazil, of Australia, of countries that Mexico won’t take our corn, Australia won’t take our beef. The country of Honduras takes more pork than the entire European Union does, American pork, I should say. So, from our farming and ranching perspective, which is what I’m focused on, but happy to talk about anything that it has to, it is time for a change. That’s what this president evoked last Wednesday.” (Read more from “Tariffic: 50 Countries Already Coming to the Table; India, Taiwan Bend Knee” HERE)

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White House Will Decide Which Reporters Get Briefing Room Seats: Report

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In a major break from established tradition, the White House will now decide which reporters get the coveted seats in the briefing room, not the White House Correspondents’ Association, Axios reported Sunday.

A senior White House official told Axios that the communications staff have formalized a plan for “fundamental restructuring of the briefing room, based on metrics more reflective of how media is consumed today.” The White House’s new layout will include reporters from digital outlets, print outlets, TV, and more. The digital group includes “new media” outlets, according to Axios, like The Daily Wire, Axios itself, Semafor, and influencers.

“The goal isn’t merely favorable coverage,” the White House official told Axios. “It’s truly an honest look at consumption [of the outlets’ coverage]. Influencers are important but it’s tough because they aren’t [equipped to provide] consistent coverage. So the ability to cover the White House is part of the metrics.”

The legacy outlets who have enjoyed, until now, prominent visibility and easy access to the White House press secretary, should expect less prominence, Axios reported.

“We want to balance disruption with responsibility,” the official told the publication. (Read more from “White House Will Decide Which Reporters Get Briefing Room Seats: Report” HERE)

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White House Correspondents’ Association Cancels Comedian’s Performance After Making Anti-Trump Remarks

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The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) canceled a comedian’s performance scheduled for their annual dinner after she made controversial anti-Trump remarks. The decision comes amid growing scrutiny over the event’s tone and political bias, especially as the dinner has often served as a platform for comedians to target conservative figures.

WHCA President Eugene Daniels emailed members to announce that comedian Amber Ruffin’s performance would be canceled after a unanimous board decision. He hinted at the annual dinner’s attempt to rebrand the event to focus on journalism rather than political satire.

“At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists,” Daniels said. “For the past couple of weeks, I have been planning a re-envisioning of our dinner tradition for this year. As the date nears, I will share more details of the plans in place to honor journalistic excellence and a robust, independent media covering the most powerful office in the world.”

The decision follows concerns White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich raised regarding comedian Ruffin’s history of criticizing Trump. In February, Ruffin remarked that “nobody wants” Trump at the upcoming April 26 dinner, and just last week, she told the Daily Beast that she intended to portray the Trump administration as a “bunch of murderers.” Despite these inflammatory statements, Ruffin disclosed that the WHCA had previously asked her to tone down her material for the event. (Read more from “White House Correspondents’ Association Cancels Comedian’s Performance After Making Anti-Trump Remarks” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Video Caught Democrat Openly Speaking About Strategies to Protest Trump’s Policies

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A newly surfaced video captures Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and other prominent Democrats in an unguarded moment, discussing their plans to protest President Donald Trump. The footage, which has sparked controversy, shows Dingell and her colleagues candidly strategizing about disrupting Trump’s appearances, revealing a level of animosity that many voters might find unsettling.

A video from a meeting at the Washtenaw County Democratic Party caught liberal politicians speaking candidly about ways they can protest Trump and his policies. The “Democratic Responses to Trump’s Attacks & Lessons Learned from 2024 MI House Races” meeting was intended to rally Democrats and coordinate efforts to counteract the Trump administration’s policies. However, Dingell openly spoke about tactics the party can use to oppose Trump and “every one of those damn conservative[s].”

“We need to make sure it’s in every one of those damn conservative, wherever they’re communicating, and we have to be the voices that are smart, targeted and effective, and fighting back. And the way we do it. We litigate. We legislate,” Dingell said. “We only need three votes, three Republican votes. I don’t know that we can ever get the person that’s closest to us, but he is chair of Ed and Labor, but we need to be targeting someone that may want to run for governor.” (Read more from “Video Caught Democrat Openly Speaking About Strategies to Protest Trump’s Policies” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Education Department Funded ‘Remixing Textbooks’ To Advance Pseudo-Science And Gender Theory

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It’s no secret that the Biden administration did everything it could to use the Department of Education to advance its left-wing worldview, but with the agency’s (hopefully) impending dissolution, it’s worth reviewing the exact flavor of evil it’s been involved with sowing.

Open the Books has released a snapshot of a forthcoming, more exhaustive report on waste, fraud, and abuse from the Department of Education. The millions spent on indoctrinating children show that the department has not just been a place where bureaucrats dictate education to states from an ivory tower or collude with teachers unions to the detriment of American students and families, but more malevolently, it’s been a money laundering scheme for Democrats to fund far-left social theories to fundamentally destroy American family and civil life.

“Everyone understands that essential protections for all students must be preserved somewhere in the federal purview,” Open the Books CEO John Hart told The Federalist. “Once we get past that conversation, it hardly takes five minutes to find examples of tax dollars spent to inject progressive dogma into the classroom. It’s not limited to universities; we find it at public secondary schools as well. It’s a misuse of public funds intended to have lasting impact on a generation of students.” . . .

From 2021 through 2024, the Department of Education awarded $1.3 million to fund a project at Framingham State University called “Remixing Textbooks Through an Equity-Focused Lens” (ROTEL).

The project covered a wide swathe of pseudo-science and indoctrination, and ultimately published the information in open-source textbooks. (Read more from “Education Department Funded ‘Remixing Textbooks’ To Advance Pseudo-Science And Gender Theory” HERE)

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