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  32. <title>The No-Nonsense Guide to Tariffs: What Are They, Who Pays Them, Who Makes Them</title>
  33. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-no-nonsense-guide-to-tariffs-what-are-they-who-pays-them-who-makes-them/</link>
  35. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christopher Casey]]></dc:creator>
  36. <pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:33:02 +0000</pubDate>
  37. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  38. <category><![CDATA[tariff]]></category>
  39. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235281</guid>
  40.  
  41. <description><![CDATA[<p>A tariff is a tax levied on imported goods and services. Historically, tariffs were a major source of revenue for</p>
  42. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-no-nonsense-guide-to-tariffs-what-are-they-who-pays-them-who-makes-them/">The No-Nonsense Guide to Tariffs: What Are They, Who Pays Them, Who Makes Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  43. ]]></description>
  44. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A tariff is a tax levied on imported goods and services. Historically, tariffs were a major source of revenue for many countries and were often the primary source of federal revenue through the late-nineteenth century. Today, other taxes account for most government revenue in developed countries. Tariffs are now typically used selectively to protect certain domestic industries, advance foreign policy goals, or as negotiating leverage in trade negotiations.</p>
  45.  
  46.  
  47.  
  48. <p>The U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to set import tariffs, a power that Congress has partially delegated to the President. The United States is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a party to a number of trade agreements, which include specific tariff-related commitments. Congress and the President thus create U.S. tariff policy within the context of a rules-based global trading system.</p>
  49.  
  50.  
  51.  
  52. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rules-based-global-trading-system">Rules-Based Global Trading System</h2>
  53.  
  54.  
  55.  
  56. <p>The rules-based global trading system was established following World War II. It began as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was later integrated into a larger set of agreements establishing the WTO. This system aimed to reduce trade barriers and prevent trade wars by establishing rules for the use of tariffs. Among this system’s core rules with regard to tariffs are:</p>
  57.  
  58.  
  59.  
  60. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  61. <li><strong>Nondiscrimination.</strong> Under the most-favored nation (MFN) rule, a country must extend any trade concession, such as a reduced tariff rate, granted to one member to all other WTO members. There are exceptions, such as preferential rates for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), special treatment for developing countries, and remedies for addressing certain unfair trading practices.</li>
  62.  
  63.  
  64.  
  65. <li><strong>Binding Commitments.</strong> Through multilateral negotiations, countries bind themselves to ceilings on tariff rates for specific imports. That ceiling is called the bound rate, which can be higher than actual applied rates.</li>
  66.  
  67.  
  68.  
  69. <li><strong>Transparency</strong>. The WTO requires members to publish and report their tariff rates. </li>
  70.  
  71.  
  72.  
  73. <li><strong>Safety Valves.</strong> The WTO agreements permit members to raise tariffs to address unfair trade practices and to allow domestic industries to adjust to sudden surges in imports in some circumstances.</li>
  74. </ul>
  75.  
  76.  
  77.  
  78. <p>Following the establishment of the GATT in 1947 and the WTO in 1995, global tariff rates declined, spurring trade and opening markets for U.S. exports (Figure 1). Since the establishment of the WTO, the value of exports of U.S. goods have increased more than 160% adjusted for Inflation.</p>
  79.  
  80.  
  81.  
  82. <p><strong>Figure 1. Weighted Average Applied Tariff Rates</strong></p>
  83.  
  84.  
  85.  
  86. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full caption_belowImage credit_onImage"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="569" height="344" src="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=569,height=344,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-04-at-10.23.43 AM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1235284" srcset="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=569,height=344,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-04-at-10.23.43 AM.png 569w, https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=428,height=259,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-04-at-10.23.43 AM.png 428w" sizes="(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: World Bank. Notes: Weighted average of applied tariff rates (expressed as percentages) globally and among the five largest economies by GDP. Gaps indicate missing data. 2021 is the most recent year with fully comparable data.<span class="credit"></span></figcaption></figure>
  87.  
  88.  
  89.  
  90. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-u-s-tariff-policy">U.S. Tariff Policy</h2>
  91.  
  92.  
  93.  
  94. <p><strong>Who Makes U.S. Tariff Policy?</strong></p>
  95.  
  96.  
  97.  
  98. <p>The Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect duties and to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Because tariffs are no longer a major element of domestic tax policy, they have instead become an instrument of U.S. foreign policy and trade promotion. As such, Congress often works with the President to set tariff policy by authorizing the President to negotiate trade agreements and to adjust tariffs in certain circumstances.</p>
  99.  
  100.  
  101.  
  102. <p><strong>Presidential Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).</strong> Prior to the 1930s, Congress usually set tariff rates legislatively. As U.S. and global tariff rates increased during the Great Depression, U.S. exports decreased. Congress responded by authorizing the President to negotiate reciprocal trade agreements and proclaim tariff reductions up to a pre-set boundary. Hence, such agreements could enter into force without further congressional action. However, by the late</p>
  103.  
  104.  
  105.  
  106. <p>1960s, nontariff barriers to trade (such as discriminatory technical standards) became a greater focus of trade negotiations. As a result, it became difficult to predict the substance of the negotiations and authorize changes to existing U.S. laws by proclamation before the negotiations took place. Congress addressed this challenge in 1974 by establishing expedited procedures to enact implementing legislation for trade agreements addressing nontariff barriers. Under these procedures, currently known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), Congress establishes U.S. trade negotiating objectives as well as consultation and notification requirements. If the President satisfies these objectives and requirements, implementing legislation for an agreement may receive expedited treatment including an “up or down vote” without amendment. The most recent TPA, the Bipartisan Comprehensive Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, expired in the summer of 2021.</p>
  107.  
  108.  
  109.  
  110. <p><strong>Presidential Discretionary Authority over Tariff Rates. </strong>In dozens of statutes, Congress has authorized the President to adjust tariff rates in response to specific trade-related concerns related to U.S. foreign policy and national security interests, or that require an administrative finding by a U.S. agency. For example, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 empowers the President to adjust tariffs on imports that threaten to impair U.S. national security. Section 5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act and Section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act empower the President in a time of war or national emergency to regulate imports. Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 empowers the President to raise tariff rates temporarily when the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determines that a sudden import surge has caused or threatened serious injury to a U.S. industry. Congress has also empowered U.S. agencies to impose duties to offset certain injurious trade practices.</p>
  111.  
  112.  
  113.  
  114. <p><strong>How Is U.S. Tariff Policy Administered?</strong></p>
  115.  
  116.  
  117.  
  118. <p>The Secretary of the Treasury is charged with establishing regulations on the collection of tariffs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) administers those regulations at U.S. ports of entry.</p>
  119.  
  120.  
  121.  
  122. <p>When a good enters a U.S. port of entry, merchandise is classified and tariffs are assessed using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), a compendium of tariff rates based on a globally standardized nomenclature. Today, importers self-classify and declare the value or quantity of their goods. CBP reviews the paperwork, performs occasional audits, and then collects any applicable tariffs or penalties as well as any administrative fees. Finally, CBP deposits any revenue from tariffs or other penalties into the General Fund of the United States.</p>
  123.  
  124.  
  125.  
  126. <p><strong>What Has U.S. Tariff Policy Been?</strong></p>
  127.  
  128.  
  129.  
  130. <p>Over the past 70 years, tariffs have never accounted for much more than 2% of total federal revenue. In FY2024, for example, CBP collected $77 billion in tariffs, accounting for approximately 1.57% of total federal revenue. Instead, the United States has generally used its tariff policy to encourage global trade liberalization and pursue broader foreign policy goals.</p>
  131.  
  132.  
  133.  
  134. <p>Since 1934, the United States has reduced or eliminated many tariffs as part of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. By supporting the creation of the GATT and the WTO, the United States Congress sought to reduce tariff rates globally within a rules-based trading system. Roughly 70% of all products enter the United States duty free.</p>
  135.  
  136.  
  137.  
  138. <p>U.S. reductions in tariff rates have not always inspired others to follow. During the most recent (Doha) round of WTO trade negotiations, the United States unsuccessfully attempted to convince advanced emerging economies, such as China, India, and Brazil, to commit to lower their bound tariff rates, which they declined to do. This dispute was arguably one of the reasons that the Doha round of negotiations was unable to produce an agreement.</p>
  139.  
  140.  
  141.  
  142. <p>Low U.S. tariff rates have also served as an instrument to achieve other foreign policy goals. For example, to encourage global economic development, Congress created the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which authorizes the President to give unilateral duty-free treatment to some products from some developing countries. The United States has also pursued FTAs as part of broader foreign policy and security goals.</p>
  143.  
  144.  
  145.  
  146. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-issues-for-congress">Issues for Congress</h2>
  147.  
  148.  
  149.  
  150. <p>For more than 80 years, Congress has delegated extensive tariff-setting authority to the President, who was more insulated from domestic protectionist pressures than individual Members of Congress. This delegation led to an overall decline in global tariff rates. However, it has meant that the U.S. pursuit of a low-tariff, rules-based global trading system has been the product of executive discretion. While Congress has set negotiating goals, it has relied on Presidential leadership to achieve those goals.</p>
  151.  
  152.  
  153.  
  154. <p>The first Trump Administration was openly critical of lowtariff policies and made extensive use of authorities delegated to the President to increase tariffs on certain goods. As a result, duties paid on U.S. imports doubled from FY2015 to FY2020 from approximately $37 billion to $74 billion. The Biden Administration maintained many of those policies with CBP collecting $77 billion in FY2024. Some Members have supported the increased use of tariffs; however, others have expressed concern about the economic impact of increasing tariffs. Some Members and committees have also expressed concerns about the President raising tariffs without congressional approval.</p>
  155.  
  156.  
  157.  
  158. <p><em>Christopher A. Casey, Analyst in International Trade and Finance</em>, <em><a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11030">Congressional Research Service</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-no-nonsense-guide-to-tariffs-what-are-they-who-pays-them-who-makes-them/">The No-Nonsense Guide to Tariffs: What Are They, Who Pays Them, Who Makes Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  159. ]]></content:encoded>
  163. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:32:15 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  164. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  165. </item>
  166. <item>
  167. <title>Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Efficiency Squad Is Already Shutting Down Federal Contractor Payments</title>
  168. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musks-doge-efficiency-squad-is-already-shutting-down-federal-contractor-payments/</link>
  170. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  171. <pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:47:59 +0000</pubDate>
  172. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  173. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  174. <category><![CDATA[USAID]]></category>
  175. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235277</guid>
  176.  
  177. <description><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk, known for his ventures in technology and space, has now ventured into government efficiency by heading President Trump&#8217;s</p>
  178. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musks-doge-efficiency-squad-is-already-shutting-down-federal-contractor-payments/">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Efficiency Squad Is Already Shutting Down Federal Contractor Payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  179. ]]></description>
  180. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk, known for his ventures in technology and space, has now ventured into government efficiency by heading President Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (<a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/category/doge/">DOGE</a>) team.</p>
  181.  
  182.  
  183.  
  184. <p>So far, he&#8217;s passing with flying colors. How do we know? Because Democrats and the media are furious that he&#8217;s being allowed to root out government corruption.</p>
  185.  
  186.  
  187.  
  188. <p>According to a recent <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/musk-says-doge-is-halting-treasury-payments-to-us-contractors/ar-AA1yibZc?cvid=F4F2D2EDBDDB4C86811356B91A03015C&amp;ocid=bingnewsverp&amp;apiversion=v2&amp;noservercache=1&amp;domshim=1&amp;renderwebcomponents=1&amp;wcseo=1&amp;batchservertelemetry=1&amp;noservertelemetry=1#:~:text=(Bloomberg)%20%2D%2D%20Elon%20Musk%20said,at%20the%20US%20Treasury%20Department.">Bloomberg report</a>, Musk and his team are actively halting payments to certain U.S. federal contractors as they sort through the waste.</p>
  189.  
  190.  
  191.  
  192. <p>“The corruption and waste is being rooted out in real-time,” Musk posted on X, adding that DOGE officials were “rapidly shutting down” payments, specifically in reference to USAID.</p>
  193.  
  194.  
  195.  
  196. <p>USAID has erroneously been presented as an organization that provides aid, but in reality, it stands for the U.S. Agency for International Development. And it&#8217;s being outed as a Democrat slush fund, in addition to <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/04/03/cuban-twitter-and-other-times-usaid-pretended-to-be-an-intelligence-agency/">its traditional role as a CIA cutout</a> for fomenting revolution abroad.</p>
  197.  
  198.  
  199.  
  200. <p>Musk is trying to end that.</p>
  201.  
  202.  
  203.  
  204. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The corruption and waste is being rooted out in real-time</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1885965480948613600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  205.  
  206.  
  207.  
  208. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-doge-is-trying-to-take-down-usaid">DOGE Is Trying To Take Down USAID</h2>
  209.  
  210.  
  211.  
  212. <p>DOGE first began cleaning house at USAID late last week, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio eventually taking over the role of acting director.</p>
  213.  
  214.  
  215.  
  216. <p>Since then, billions of dollars in grants have been frozen as the Trump administration attempts to make sense of the seemingly never-ending funding of left-wing pet projects by USAID.</p>
  217.  
  218.  
  219.  
  220. <p>White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday laid out very specific examples of waste generated from the agency. And it&#8217;s no wonder Democrats are furious that Musk and his DOGE army are trying to put a stop to it.</p>
  221.  
  222.  
  223.  
  224. <p>&#8220;1.5 million dollars to advance DEI in Serbia&#8217;s workplaces. $70,000 for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland. $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia. $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru,&#8221; Leavitt revealed.</p>
  225.  
  226.  
  227.  
  228. <p>Transgender operas. That&#8217;s where your tax money goes. </p>
  229.  
  230.  
  231.  
  232. <p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don&#8217;t want my dollars going towards this crap, and I know the American people don&#8217;t either, and that&#8217;s exactly what Elon Musk has been tasked by President Trump to do,&#8221; Leavitt added.</p>
  233.  
  234.  
  235.  
  236. <p>&#8220;To get the fraud, waste, and abuse out of our federal government.&#8221;</p>
  237.  
  238.  
  239.  
  240. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Need more evidence USAID was a big money laundering scheme? Listen to <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> list a few places they spent your $.<br><br>$1.5M for DEI in Serbia<br>$70K for a DEI musical in Ireland<br>$47K for a trans opera in Colombia<br>$32K for a trans book in Peru<br><br>There are thousands of these examples. <a href="https://t.co/xyRYZs8Cgx">pic.twitter.com/xyRYZs8Cgx</a></p>&mdash; Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1886518111861662207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  241.  
  242.  
  243.  
  244. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: ‘DOGE Will Stop It’</a></strong></p>
  245.  
  246.  
  247.  
  248. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-must-die">It Must Die</h2>
  249.  
  250.  
  251.  
  252. <p>Elon Musk has been crystal clear on what must happen to USAID. He and the DOGE team are setting about dismantling the agency.</p>
  253.  
  254.  
  255.  
  256. <p>“USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die,” Musk unequivocally declared in a post on X.</p>
  257.  
  258.  
  259.  
  260. <p>The White House issued a statement of support for Musk&#8217;s efforts, noting that USAID&#8217;s waste, corruption, and abuse run deep.</p>
  261.  
  262.  
  263.  
  264. <p>&#8220;For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorized/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/">statement reads</a>.</p>
  265.  
  266.  
  267.  
  268. <p>&#8220;Under President Trump, the waste, fraud, and abuse ENDS NOW.&#8221;</p>
  269.  
  270.  
  271.  
  272. <p>Trump is the man to greenlight it. Musk is the man to do it.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musks-doge-efficiency-squad-is-already-shutting-down-federal-contractor-payments/">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Efficiency Squad Is Already Shutting Down Federal Contractor Payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  273. ]]></content:encoded>
  277. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:48:02 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  278. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  279. </item>
  280. <item>
  281. <title>James Carville Torches &#8216;7th String Quarterback&#8217; Kamala Harris With Brutal Super Bowl Metaphor: &#8216;Actually Complete a Sentence&#8217;</title>
  282. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/james-carville-torches-kamala-harris-with-brutal-super-bowl-metaphor/</link>
  284. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  285. <pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
  286. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  287. <category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category>
  288. <category><![CDATA[DNC]]></category>
  289. <category><![CDATA[James Carville]]></category>
  290. <category><![CDATA[Kamala Harris]]></category>
  291. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235263</guid>
  292.  
  293. <description><![CDATA[<p>Democratic strategist James Carville absolutely obliterated former Vice President Kamala Harris using a football metaphor to illuminate her staggering collapse</p>
  294. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/james-carville-torches-kamala-harris-with-brutal-super-bowl-metaphor/">James Carville Torches &#8216;7th String Quarterback&#8217; Kamala Harris With Brutal Super Bowl Metaphor: &#8216;Actually Complete a Sentence&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  295. ]]></description>
  296. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Democratic strategist James Carville absolutely obliterated former Vice President Kamala Harris using a football metaphor to illuminate her staggering collapse in the 2024 presidential election.</p>
  297.  
  298.  
  299.  
  300. <p>Carville made the comments during a Friday evening interview with PBS anchor Margaret Hoover.</p>
  301.  
  302.  
  303.  
  304. <p>“If we were playing the Superbowl, we started our seventh-string quarterback. That’s what happened. Okay. You can’t — you can’t address a problem unless you’re honest about a problem,&#8221; a furious Carville said. &#8220;And none of this was inevitable.&#8221;</p>
  305.  
  306.  
  307.  
  308. <p>The former top aide to President Bill Clinton suggested putting Harris at the top of a ticket prevented people from seeing <em>competent</em> Democrats.</p>
  309.  
  310.  
  311.  
  312. <p>&#8220;The staggering talent that exists in today’s Democratic Party and people would have seen that, they’d go, ‘I didn’t know they had people like that, that can actually complete a sentence, that actually know how to frame a message, that actually have a sense of accomplishment of doing something,&#8221; Carville claimed.</p>
  313.  
  314.  
  315.  
  316. <p>Brutal, and yet every word true.</p>
  317.  
  318.  
  319.  
  320. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dem strategist James Carville nukes Kamala Harris, saying running her was like putting in &quot;our seventh string quarterback,&quot; and you wouldn&#39;t know it with her, but Democrats actually &quot;had people like that, that can actually complete a sentence.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xt7IW1O4zQ">pic.twitter.com/xt7IW1O4zQ</a></p>&mdash; Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rusty_Weiss/status/1886361139623108938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  321.  
  322.  
  323.  
  324. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-james-carville-blasts-kamala-harris-with-super-bowl-barb">James Carville Blasts Kamala Harris With Super Bowl Barb</h2>
  325.  
  326.  
  327.  
  328. <p>Look, we warned you it was pretty brutal. James Carville isn&#8217;t holding anything back in this clip. And the Super Bowl analogy could make even the thickest Democrat voter understand that Kamala Harris was a bad idea.</p>
  329.  
  330.  
  331.  
  332. <p>He continued, noting she added very little to the coalition of Democrat voters, if she didn&#8217;t actually detract from it.</p>
  333.  
  334.  
  335.  
  336. <p>&#8220;It would have excited people (picking somebody else) and we would have had people from the middle of the country and people on the coast, it would’ve been diverse, it would’ve been — and then when you do that, that’s how people get involved in politics,&#8221; he railed.</p>
  337.  
  338.  
  339.  
  340. <p>&#8220;We have not had an inspirational presidential candidate since 2012. That’s a problem.”</p>
  341.  
  342.  
  343.  
  344. <p>A couple of things here. One, there is currently no &#8216;staggering talent&#8217; in the Democrat Party. Their only option at the time was Harris because that&#8217;s the only person people could identify. The only other recognizable Democrat on the national stage would have been Michelle Obama, or someone like AOC.</p>
  345.  
  346.  
  347.  
  348. <p>They picked Tim Walz to back her up. Meaning he was their second most popular choice.</p>
  349.  
  350.  
  351.  
  352. <p>Tim. Walz.</p>
  353.  
  354.  
  355.  
  356. <p>Two, Carville as per usual, is full of it. He was so thoroughly convinced that Harris was going to win leading up to the election that he wrote a column for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/opinion/kamala-harris-win-election.html">New York Times</a>&nbsp;titled &#8220;Three Reasons I’m Certain Kamala Harris Will Win.&#8221;</p>
  357.  
  358.  
  359.  
  360. <p>The alternative is that he wasn&#8217;t being truthful. Pick one.</p>
  361.  
  362.  
  363.  
  364. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/democrat-strategist-james-carville-warns-young-voters-are-leaving-democrats-in-droves/">Democrat Strategist James Carville Warns Young Voters Are Leaving Democrats In ‘Droves’</a></strong></p>
  365.  
  366.  
  367.  
  368. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripped-her-campaign">Ripped Her Campaign</h2>
  369.  
  370.  
  371.  
  372. <p>This isn&#8217;t the first time James Carville took pointed shots at the Kamala Harris campaign. In the weeks after the devastating election loss, he lived up to every part of his &#8220;Ragin’ Cajun&#8221; nickname in a video critiquing young progressive staffers working the Harris campaign.</p>
  373.  
  374.  
  375.  
  376. <p>He particularly took aim at progressive staffers who threw a temper tantrum when it was suggested the former Veep <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9292db59-8291-4507-8d86-f8d4788da467">appear on</a> Joe Rogan&#8217;s podcast to make her seem more relatable.</p>
  377.  
  378.  
  379.  
  380. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dem strategist James Carville absolutely obliterates Kamala&#39;s progressive staffers who kept Harris from doing the <a href="https://twitter.com/joerogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joerogan</a> interview: I would tell them, &quot;Not only am I not interested in your f**king opinion, I’m not even gonna call you by your name.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You’re 23 years old. I… <a href="https://t.co/r3NpDVKyDq">pic.twitter.com/r3NpDVKyDq</a></p>&mdash; Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rusty_Weiss/status/1861364050816348604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  381.  
  382.  
  383.  
  384. <p>“The vice president was thinking about going on Joe Rogan’s show, and a lot of the younger progressive staffers pitched a hissy fit. Supposedly, the campaign said that that wasn’t a determinative factor, but they did,&#8221; Carville insisted.</p>
  385.  
  386.  
  387.  
  388. <p>&#8220;When you put a campaign together and you hire young people to do work, let me tell you exactly what you tell these people — what I would tell ’em,” he continued. “Not only am I not interested in your [&#8230;] opinion, I’m not even gonna call you by your name.&#8221;</p>
  389.  
  390.  
  391.  
  392. <p>&#8220;You’re 23 years old. I don’t really give a s**t what you think.”</p>
  393.  
  394.  
  395.  
  396. <p>Impressive, but then when you think about it, it&#8217;s pretty clear the new Dem party doesn&#8217;t really give a rip what Carville thinks, either.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/james-carville-torches-kamala-harris-with-brutal-super-bowl-metaphor/">James Carville Torches &#8216;7th String Quarterback&#8217; Kamala Harris With Brutal Super Bowl Metaphor: &#8216;Actually Complete a Sentence&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  397. ]]></content:encoded>
  401. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:00:20 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  402. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  403. </item>
  404. <item>
  405. <title>Here&#8217;s What Propaganda Looks Like</title>
  406. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/heres-what-propaganda-looks-like/</link>
  408. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  409. <pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:27:15 +0000</pubDate>
  410. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  411. <category><![CDATA[new yorker magazine]]></category>
  412. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235265</guid>
  413.  
  414. <description><![CDATA[<p>I avoid misusing the word “propaganda” because it’s thrown around too lightly. Fox News isn’t propaganda, neither is MSNBC. You</p>
  415. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/heres-what-propaganda-looks-like/">Here&#8217;s What Propaganda Looks Like</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  416. ]]></description>
  417. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I avoid misusing the word “propaganda” because it’s thrown around too lightly.</p>
  418.  
  419.  
  420.  
  421. <p>Fox News isn’t propaganda, neither is MSNBC. You can call them partisan outlets, but they generally stick to reality. Yes, they cherry-pick stories and spin headlines to suit their audiences but they rarely fabricate events wholesale.</p>
  422.  
  423.  
  424.  
  425. <p>Propaganda deliberately manipulates. It uses emotional triggers, half-truths, and outright lies to shape opinion. And there’s no better example of it than the latest cover of&nbsp;<em>New York Magazine</em>.</p>
  426.  
  427.  
  428.  
  429. <p>Their hit piece on young Trump supporters revealed more about the magazine than its targets, and it’s not a good look.</p>
  430.  
  431.  
  432.  
  433. <p>Their story &#8220;The Cruel Kids&#8217; Table&#8221; painted these twenty-somethings as privileged white monsters gleefully celebrating America&#8217;s downfall. But the real monster here was the magazine&#8217;s deliberate manipulation of reality to fit their narrative.</p>
  434.  
  435.  
  436.  
  437.  
  438.  
  439. <p>Let&#8217;s start with their cover photo. The magazine surgically cropped out every black person at the party, then wrote about how &#8220;the entire room is white.&#8221; Funny how that works.</p>
  440.  
  441.  
  442.  
  443. <p>Another trick was the complete erasure of CJ Pearson, a black conservative who inconveniently co-hosted the event. They also ignored black celebrities, including a rapper who’d been recognized for his philanthropy by President Trump, as well as an undefeated boxing phenom from Baltimore.</p>
  444.  
  445.  
  446.  
  447. <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  448. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨🚨This is insane. <br><br>I hosted this event and <a href="https://twitter.com/NYMag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYMag</a> intentionally left me out of their story because it would have undermined their narrative that MAGA is some racist cult. They also didn’t include the fact that <a href="https://twitter.com/WakaFlocka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WakaFlocka</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Gervontaa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gervontaa</a> were also there. <br><br>You don’t hate the… <a href="https://t.co/MRv2C2GZSE">https://t.co/MRv2C2GZSE</a></p>&mdash; CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) <a href="https://twitter.com/thecjpearson/status/1883992066784416231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  449. </div></figure>
  450.  
  451.  
  452.  
  453. <p>Imagine being so committed to your &#8220;MAGA is racist&#8221; narrative that you intentionally ignore black people. Hmm, treating someone poorly because of their skin color … I wonder if there’s a word for that.</p>
  454.  
  455.  
  456.  
  457. <p>Of course, the magazine decided on the story angle before the party even started. Their manipulation follows a tired pattern of determining the crime, then weaponing “journalism.” You want racists? Take any gathering, crop out the diversity, focus on the whitest faces you can find, and voilà – instant racism story.</p>
  458.  
  459.  
  460.  
  461. <p>It’s not journalism. It&#8217;s propaganda dressed up in designer clothes.</p>
  462.  
  463.  
  464.  
  465. <p><em>Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works.&nbsp;<a href="https://kenlacorte.substack.com/p/heres-what-propaganda-looks-like"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Follow Ken on Substack</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/heres-what-propaganda-looks-like/">Here&#8217;s What Propaganda Looks Like</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  466. ]]></content:encoded>
  470. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:20:35 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  471. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  472. </item>
  473. <item>
  474. <title>AOC Ripped After Blaming President Trump, Elon Musk For Airplane Disaster</title>
  475. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-gets-dunked-on-after-trying-to-blame-president-trump-elon-musk/</link>
  477. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  478. <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:12:47 +0000</pubDate>
  479. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  480. <category><![CDATA[AOC]]></category>
  481. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  482. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  483. <category><![CDATA[FAA]]></category>
  484. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235250</guid>
  485.  
  486. <description><![CDATA[<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) can be accused of many things. The rigorous application of intelligence is not among those things.</p>
  487. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-gets-dunked-on-after-trying-to-blame-president-trump-elon-musk/">AOC Ripped After Blaming President Trump, Elon Musk For Airplane Disaster</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  488. ]]></description>
  489. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) can be accused of many things. The rigorous application of intelligence is not among those things.</p>
  490.  
  491.  
  492.  
  493. <p>AOC claimed in a post on X that President Trump&#8217;s transition was more responsible for problems in the air traffic industry and even suggested his federal employee buyout &#8211; which has yet to be implemented &#8211; was a contributing factor in Wednesday night’s crash between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in the skies above Washington, D.C.</p>
  494.  
  495.  
  496.  
  497. <p>She even cast blame on her muse, Elon Musk.</p>
  498.  
  499.  
  500.  
  501. <p>Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s comments were a response to a press conference held Thursday morning in which Trump suggested DEI practice over the last few decades led to conditions that contributed to the deadly crash.</p>
  502.  
  503.  
  504.  
  505. <p>&#8220;I represent LaGuardia Airport as well as workers for JFK. Trump gutted the Aviation Safety Committee last week,&#8221; the congresswoman angrily countered. </p>
  506.  
  507.  
  508.  
  509. <p>&#8220;Air traffic controllers &#8211; already understaffed &#8211; got Trump’s &#8216;buyout&#8217; this week with a 1-week ultimatum to decide. It’s not DEI &#8211; it’s him. And Elon too.&#8221;</p>
  510.  
  511.  
  512.  
  513. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I represent LaGuardia Airport as well as workers for JFK.<br><br>Trump gutted the Aviation Safety committee last week.<br><br>Air traffic controllers &#8211; already understaffed &#8211; got Trump’s “buyout” this week with a 1 week ultimatum to decide.<br><br>It’s not DEI &#8211; it’s him. And Elon too. <a href="https://t.co/nd8T9JMRfy">https://t.co/nd8T9JMRfy</a></p>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1885048064462716946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  514.  
  515.  
  516.  
  517. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aoc-isn-t-smart-enough-to-cast-blame-for-the-plane-crash">AOC Isn&#8217;t Smart Enough To Cast Blame For The Plane Crash</h2>
  518.  
  519.  
  520.  
  521. <p>Isn&#8217;t that something? AOC just admitted that the buyout hasn&#8217;t even been implemented in a post, while simultaneously claiming <em>it&#8217;s the reason</em> for the crash. </p>
  522.  
  523.  
  524.  
  525. <p>The desperation in the midst of relentless Trump wins is really getting to them.</p>
  526.  
  527.  
  528.  
  529. <p>X viewers were quick to hammer the perpetually befuddled lawmaker over the comments.</p>
  530.  
  531.  
  532.  
  533. <p>&#8220;The buyout was for government employees who work at home,&#8221; one woman helpfully <a href="https://x.com/LABeachGal1/status/1885103107711131858">pointed out</a>. &#8220;Air traffic controllers don’t work at home.&#8221;</p>
  534.  
  535.  
  536.  
  537. <p>Maybe in AOC&#8217;s mind, air traffic controllers can direct planes while telecommuting.</p>
  538.  
  539.  
  540.  
  541. <p>Political commentator Rogan O&#8217;Handley <a href="https://x.com/DC_Draino/status/1885147913195556993">asked</a>, &#8220;Why are you spreading disinformation?&#8221;</p>
  542.  
  543.  
  544.  
  545. <p>Popular X personality Catturd simply posted a GIF of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz asking, &#8220;What would you do with a brain if you had one?&#8221;</p>
  546.  
  547.  
  548.  
  549. <p>Perish the thought.</p>
  550.  
  551.  
  552.  
  553. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/NmAJPsKcMi">pic.twitter.com/NmAJPsKcMi</a></p>&mdash; Catturd ™ (@catturd2) <a href="https://twitter.com/catturd2/status/1885114378787152365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  554.  
  555.  
  556.  
  557. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/faa-sources-show-secretary-buttigiegs-focus-on-dei-has-made-the-skies-unsafe/">FAA Sources Show Secretary Buttigieg’s Focus On DEI Has Made the Skies Unsafe</a></strong></p>
  558.  
  559.  
  560.  
  561. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-problems-with-the-faa">Problems With The FAA</h2>
  562.  
  563.  
  564.  
  565. <p>Most of the responses to AOC&#8217;s asinine post about the plane crash, however, focused on the many problems befalling the FAA before Trump arrived.</p>
  566.  
  567.  
  568.  
  569. <p>Several responses showed screenshots of the FAA&#8217;s diversity push that occurred prior to him taking office. Trump addressed that during a press conference on Thursday.</p>
  570.  
  571.  
  572.  
  573. <p>&#8220;The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency&#8217;s website,&#8221; Trump said.</p>
  574.  
  575.  
  576.  
  577. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey clown, you want to explain your circus party? Why did democrats want to hire intellectually disabled and psychologically impaired people to work in the FAA?! Explain yourself democRat! <a href="https://t.co/atgZWm2uP6">pic.twitter.com/atgZWm2uP6</a></p>&mdash; LynyrdsMom (@Lynyrds_Mom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynyrds_Mom/status/1885153265781739755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  578.  
  579.  
  580.  
  581. <p>Others were quick to point out that former President Joe Biden nominated a man based solely on his skin color to head the FAA in 2022. Phillip Washington had zero experience for the position, as evidenced by this exchange with Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC).</p>
  582.  
  583.  
  584.  
  585. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Phil Washington, Biden&#39;s Nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, goes 0-for-7 on an Aviation policy quiz by Sen. Ted Budd. WATCH: <a href="https://t.co/lFA7LqunJo">pic.twitter.com/lFA7LqunJo</a></p>&mdash; Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1631678469284458496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  586.  
  587.  
  588.  
  589. <p>DEI practices in action right there. Fortunately, Washington would eventually withdraw his name from consideration.</p>
  590.  
  591.  
  592.  
  593. <p>As even Snopes points out, the FAA has been actively recruiting people with &#8220;intellectual disabilities&#8221; <a href="https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/01/15/faa-dei-initiatives/">for over a decade</a>. Excuse me, but, why?</p>
  594.  
  595.  
  596.  
  597. <p>Meanwhile, FAA workers for years have been turned away based solely on their race as former Presidents Barack Obama and Biden focused more on <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/1/editorial-faa-turned-away-qualified-air-traffic-co/">diversity goals</a> than competence.</p>
  598.  
  599.  
  600.  
  601. <p>It all comes full circle.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-gets-dunked-on-after-trying-to-blame-president-trump-elon-musk/">AOC Ripped After Blaming President Trump, Elon Musk For Airplane Disaster</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  602. ]]></content:encoded>
  606. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:12:50 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  607. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  608. </item>
  609. <item>
  610. <title>Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice</title>
  611. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-signs-executive-order-promoting-school-choice/</link>
  613. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Clarey - Chalkboard News]]></dc:creator>
  614. <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:05:38 +0000</pubDate>
  615. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  616. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  617. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235252</guid>
  618.  
  619. <description><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct the federal government to promote school choice for families nationwide. The</p>
  620. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-signs-executive-order-promoting-school-choice/">Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  621. ]]></description>
  622. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct the federal government to promote school choice for families nationwide.</p>
  623.  
  624.  
  625.  
  626. <p>The order cited the most recent test score data showing that the nation’s students have not recovered from pandemic-era school closures as a reason for promoting schooling options for families.&nbsp;</p>
  627.  
  628.  
  629.  
  630. <p>“When our public education system fails such a large segment of society, it hinders our national competitiveness and devastates families and communities,” the executive order reads. “For this reason, more than a dozen states have enacted universal K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families – rather than the government – to choose the best educational setting for their children.”</p>
  631.  
  632.  
  633.  
  634. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trumps-executive-orders-are-key-to-doges-success/">Trump’s Executive Orders Are Key to DOGE’s Success</a></strong></p>
  635.  
  636.  
  637.  
  638. <p>“These States have highlighted the most promising avenue for education reform: educational choice for families and competition for residentially assigned, government-run public schools,” the order continues. “The growing body of rigorous research demonstrates that well-designed education-freedom programs improve student achievement and cause nearby public schools to improve their performance.”</p>
  639.  
  640.  
  641.  
  642. <p>Critics of school choice measures took aim at the research cited by Trump’s executive order. On X, formerly Twitter, researcher Josh Cowen said, “Facts can’t be EO’d into existence.”</p>
  643.  
  644.  
  645.  
  646. <p>“Probably should go without saying, but the school voucher evidence referenced in the Trump voucher EO relies on ancient, largely industry-backed, and exaggerations of scant positive results,” Cowen wrote Thursday on the social media platform.&nbsp;</p>
  647.  
  648.  
  649.  
  650. <p>The White House’s order follows the Department of Education&#8217;s announcement Sunday that it is celebrating National School Choice Week.&nbsp;</p>
  651.  
  652.  
  653.  
  654. <p>“It is the policy of my Administration to support parents in choosing and directing the upbringing and education of their children,” Trump’s executive order reads.</p>
  655.  
  656.  
  657.  
  658. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/this-trump-is-different-he-understands-the-machine/">This Trump is Different. He Understands the Machine.</a></strong></p>
  659.  
  660.  
  661.  
  662. <p>The executive order requires the secretary of Education to tell states how to use federal funds to support school initiatives and make education freedom a priority in awarding federal grants. It also requires other agencies to review or guidance on expanding school choice programs.&nbsp;</p>
  663.  
  664.  
  665.  
  666. <p><em>• This story first published at Chalkboard News which, like The Center Square, is published by the Franklin News Foundation</em></p>
  667.  
  668.  
  669.  
  670. <p>Syndicated <a href="https://www.chalkboardnews.com/issues/funding-spending/article_01e90baa-df2f-11ef-93ab-ff4184c16037.html">from Chalkboard News</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-signs-executive-order-promoting-school-choice/">Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  671. ]]></content:encoded>
  675. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:05:42 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  676. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  677. </item>
  678. <item>
  679. <title>JD Vance Torches Hypocrite Reporter Who Said Removing Mark Milley Portrait from Pentagon &#8220;Is What Dictators Do&#8221;</title>
  680. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/jd-vance-torches-new-yorker-reporter/</link>
  682. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  683. <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:05:20 +0000</pubDate>
  684. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  685. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  686. <category><![CDATA[Mark Milley]]></category>
  687. <category><![CDATA[Pete Hegseth]]></category>
  688. <category><![CDATA[Statues]]></category>
  689. <category><![CDATA[Susan Glasser]]></category>
  690. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235242</guid>
  691.  
  692. <description><![CDATA[<p>Vice President JD Vance took a shot at a reporter who claimed that the Trump administration&#8217;s removal of a portrait</p>
  693. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/jd-vance-torches-new-yorker-reporter/">JD Vance Torches Hypocrite Reporter Who Said Removing Mark Milley Portrait from Pentagon &#8220;Is What Dictators Do&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  694. ]]></description>
  695. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Vice President <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/jd-vance/">JD Vance</a> took a shot at a reporter who claimed that the Trump administration&#8217;s removal of a portrait of retired Gen. Mark Milley from the Pentagon hallway is akin to what dictators do.</p>
  696.  
  697.  
  698.  
  699. <p>Milley, the retired Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who on several occasions&nbsp;<a href="https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2024/11/30/breaking-trump-nominates-maga-favorite-kash-patel-as-fbi-director-n2182149"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">subverted orders</a>&nbsp;from his Commander-in-Chief, had his portrait removed from the Pentagon within two hours of President Donald Trump&#8217;s inauguration.</p>
  700.  
  701.  
  702.  
  703. <p>It had been revealed just 10 days prior to its removal.</p>
  704.  
  705.  
  706.  
  707. <p>Earlier this week, newly minted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Milley&#8217;s security clearance and detail were being stripped while officials consider issuing a demotion for the general in retirement. </p>
  708.  
  709.  
  710.  
  711. <p>On top of that, a second portrait of Milley was being removed.</p>
  712.  
  713.  
  714.  
  715. <p>This was deeply disturbing to one reporter who said as much, but ignored her own history.</p>
  716.  
  717.  
  718.  
  719. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scoop: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ‘immediately pulling’ retired Gen. Mark Milley&#39;s personal security detail and security clearance; panel to consider demotion in retirement.<br><br>A second portrait of Milley to be removed from the Pentagon, Trump administration officials say.</p>&mdash; Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1884363143964680300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  720.  
  721.  
  722.  
  723. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reporter-very-upset-about-milley-s-portrait-being-ripped-off-the-wall">Reporter Very Upset About Milley&#8217;s Portrait Being Ripped Off The Wall</h2>
  724.  
  725.  
  726.  
  727. <p>First of all, why does Mark Milley have so many portraits in the first place? Let&#8217;s hope Hegseth alters the Pentagon culture of handing out participation awards for every little act.</p>
  728.  
  729.  
  730.  
  731. <p>Second, New Yorker reporter Susan Glasser was beside herself over the portraits being removed, advising people to look back at history to see what kind of &#8220;regimes&#8221; do this type of thing &#8211; as in, removing homages to public figures.</p>
  732.  
  733.  
  734.  
  735. <p>Can you figure out where this is going?</p>
  736.  
  737.  
  738.  
  739. <p>&#8220;The pulling down of portraits and forced erasing the past is a reminder—check your 20th century history about what kind of regimes do this stuff,&#8221; she wrote on X.</p>
  740.  
  741.  
  742.  
  743. <p>Essentially &#8211; &#8216;You know who else ripped down portraits of generals? &#8230; Hitler!&#8217;</p>
  744.  
  745.  
  746.  
  747. <p>The only problem is, the left has been doing this for years, with the statues of actual American heroes.</p>
  748.  
  749.  
  750.  
  751. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The pulling down of portraits and forced erasing the past is a reminder—check your 20th century history about what kind of regimes do this stuff… <a href="https://t.co/NDRlXPkwlj">https://t.co/NDRlXPkwlj</a></p>&mdash; Susan Glasser (@sbg1) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbg1/status/1884370802235355205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  752.  
  753.  
  754.  
  755. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-hammers-fing-idiot-general-mark-milley/">Trump Hammers ‘F***ing Idiot’ General Mark Milley</a></strong></p>
  756.  
  757.  
  758.  
  759. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reporter-gets-slapped-back-to-reality">Reporter Gets Slapped Back To Reality</h2>
  760.  
  761.  
  762.  
  763. <p>Social media users were quick to point out that those trying to erase the past were liberals and their cohorts in the media. Glasser, who is urging people to do their research, apparently forgot that between 2016 and 2024, they were heavily encouraging Democrats to remove statues of historical figures, including those of the founding fathers.</p>
  764.  
  765.  
  766.  
  767. <p>And they happily complied with <em>that </em>erasure of history. Glasser was one of them.</p>
  768.  
  769.  
  770.  
  771. <p>The Federalist&#8217;s co-founder, Sean Davis, pointed out that the New Yorker reporter was herself demanding this kind of action for other figures.</p>
  772.  
  773.  
  774.  
  775. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This you? <a href="https://t.co/LDBdOpMFKl">pic.twitter.com/LDBdOpMFKl</a></p>&mdash; Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1884607852607598644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  776.  
  777.  
  778.  
  779. <p>Aside from followers on X slapping her back to reality, JD Vance also took a jab at Glasser.</p>
  780.  
  781.  
  782.  
  783. <p>&#8220;Imagine having lived through the last 10 years&#8211;the desecration of Washington, Jefferson, Lee, Roosevelt, and even Lincoln&#8211;and then drawing the line at…Mark Milley,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/1884752039864902093">he replied</a>.</p>
  784.  
  785.  
  786.  
  787. <p>He added this incredible assessment: &#8220;You can pull down a statue of the father of the nation, but don&#8217;t you dare touch the portrait of the guy who couldn&#8217;t win wars,&#8221; he mocked.</p>
  788.  
  789.  
  790.  
  791. <p>They spent entire summers either voting to remove statues or having their street thugs pull them down in blatant acts of vandalism, but taking down a vanity painting of a former general who no longer works at the Pentagon is just a bridge too far.</p>
  792.  
  793.  
  794.  
  795. <p>The real dictators are gone now. That&#8217;s why Glasser is upset.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/jd-vance-torches-new-yorker-reporter/">JD Vance Torches Hypocrite Reporter Who Said Removing Mark Milley Portrait from Pentagon &#8220;Is What Dictators Do&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  796. ]]></content:encoded>
  800. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:05:23 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  801. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  802. </item>
  803. <item>
  804. <title>Trump’s Executive Orders Are Key to DOGE’s Success</title>
  805. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trumps-executive-orders-are-key-to-doges-success/</link>
  807. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryan Silverstein]]></dc:creator>
  808. <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:54:36 +0000</pubDate>
  809. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  810. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  811. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  812. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235246</guid>
  813.  
  814. <description><![CDATA[<p>President Trump has just been sworn in, but his administration has already taken steps to promote a robust and efficient</p>
  815. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trumps-executive-orders-are-key-to-doges-success/">Trump’s Executive Orders Are Key to DOGE’s Success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  816. ]]></description>
  817. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Trump has just been sworn in, but his administration has already taken steps to promote a robust and efficient administrative state. By implementing four executive orders aimed at expanding the scope of Schedule F and reforming the federal hiring system, Trump can expediently implement the Department of Government Efficiency’s rulemaking and budget recommendations.</p>
  818.  
  819.  
  820.  
  821. <p>The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a temporary advisory committee tasked with implementing Trump’s “<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/">18-month DOGE agenda</a>” of maximizing efficiency and productivity in the federal government. Because DOGE cannot execute its efficiency agenda, the president is responsible for implementing DOGE’s recommendations. DOGE will likely recommend numerous administrative rule changes and budget cuts to reduce the federal bureaucracy’s size, which means that Trump needs bureaucrats who will faithfully implement the recommendations and leeway to fire those who try to stall the department’s progress or who DOGE’s report finds are wasteful. President Trump set himself up to enforce DOGE’s recommendations by enacting four executive orders.</p>
  822.  
  823.  
  824.  
  825. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/this-trump-is-different-he-understands-the-machine/">This Trump is Different. He Understands the Machine.</a></strong></p>
  826.  
  827.  
  828.  
  829. <p>The first executive order is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/">hiring freeze</a>&nbsp;on executive branch employees until the Office of Management and Budget develops a plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce. This is sound policy as the administration needs to determine what positions benefit the American people and which positions are wasteful, inefficient, and needlessly cost taxpayers money.</p>
  830.  
  831.  
  832.  
  833. <p>Furthermore, the administration needs to implement a new hiring process for federal bureaucrats. Former President Biden’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives fostered a federal bureaucracy devoted to serving woke ideology instead of the public. Trump issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reforming-the-federal-hiring-process-and-restoring-merit-to-government-service/">order</a>&nbsp;implementing reforms for the hiring process that prioritize hiring highly skilled individuals who are “committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.”</p>
  834.  
  835.  
  836.  
  837. <p>This executive order also ends DEI hiring and is intended to lower hiring times across the executive branch. These two executive orders overhaul the hiring process for civil servants, which should result in skilled bureaucrats who will faithfully execute DOGE’s recommendations. In turn, this order will make the federal bureaucracy more efficient and responsive for the American people.</p>
  838.  
  839.  
  840.  
  841. <p>Trump doesn’t just need competent bureaucrats to enact DOGE’s recommendations – he also needs leeway to remove inefficient employees and career civil servants who may work to slow down the implementation of DOGE. Beyond federal employee hiring, he enacted two executive orders enhancing his removal power over the civil service.</p>
  842.  
  843.  
  844.  
  845. <p>First, Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-to-policy-influencing-positions-within-the-federal-workforce/">order</a>&nbsp;resuscitating and expanding the scope of Schedule F. In his first administration, Schedule F was a job classification that removed civil service protections from policy-making positions within the executive department and allowed for streamlined hiring and firing of those positions. Biden never implemented Schedule F, instead repealing Trump’s executive order that implemented the Schedule. Trump revived Schedule F on his first day, so it should be fully implemented by the time DOGE releases initial recommendations.</p>
  846.  
  847.  
  848.  
  849. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-expertly-turns-reporters/">New Sheriff In Town: Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Starts Out With a Bang, Putting Hostile Media In Their Place</a></strong></p>
  850.  
  851.  
  852.  
  853. <p>Moreover, Trump expanded Schedule F’s scope to include all “policy/career” positions, allowing DOGE to fully examine the civil service. The order also requires all bureaucrats to implement the administration’s policies faithfully, deeming it a fireable offense if they refuse.</p>
  854.  
  855.  
  856.  
  857. <p>In addition to this order, Trump signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-for-career-senior-executives/">second order</a>&nbsp;eliminating removal protections for Career Senior Executive Service (SES) officials and requiring them to adopt performance plans. SES officials oversee vast bureaucracies in 75 federal agencies responsible for making rules that impact millions of Americans. Previously, they were not subject to at-will removal from the president and could only be fired with cause. The president’s executive order removes these protections and subjects SES officials to the same removal requirements lesser bureaucrats are subject to – increasing presidential control over the civil service.</p>
  858.  
  859.  
  860.  
  861. <p>These changes are a lawful exercise of executive power and will allow quick implementation of DOGE’s recommendations. The U.S. Constitution solely vests the president with&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C1-1/ALDE_00013790/">the executive power</a>&nbsp;– meaning all bureaucrats subject to these executive orders exercise power at the president’s behest. Further, the Supreme Court approved this level of executive control in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/272us52">Myers v. U.S</a>. and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/295us602">Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S</a>., where they held that purely executive officers are subject to presidential removal without good cause. Therefore, courts will likely uphold Schedule F’s revival, increasing executive power over removal.</p>
  862.  
  863.  
  864.  
  865. <p>Schedule F and SES reform will allow Trump to enact DOGE’s policies in two ways. First, his orders allow him to fire bureaucrats which DOGE and department heads deem wasteful or inefficient. Second, these reforms empower Trump and his surrogates to remove civil servants from top to bottom who are intentionally stalling DOGE’s implementation.</p>
  866.  
  867.  
  868.  
  869. <p>These executive orders are essential to DOGE’s success. Enacting these orders will create a proficient, highly skilled, merit-based civil service that efficiently implements DOGE’s recommendations. The result will be a civil service that effectively serves the American people.</p>
  870.  
  871.  
  872.  
  873. <p><em>Ryan Silverstein is a J.D. candidate at Villanova University and a fellow with Villanova’s McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy. His work has previously appeared in the New York Daily News, Post &amp; Courier, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.</em></p>
  874.  
  875.  
  876.  
  877. <p>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/01/28/trumps_executive_orders_key_to_doge_success_152260.html">from The Center Square</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trumps-executive-orders-are-key-to-doges-success/">Trump’s Executive Orders Are Key to DOGE’s Success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  878. ]]></content:encoded>
  882. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:54:40 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  883. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  884. </item>
  885. <item>
  886. <title>This Trump is Different. He Understands the Machine.</title>
  887. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/this-trump-is-different-he-understands-the-machine/</link>
  889. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  890. <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:23:21 +0000</pubDate>
  891. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  892. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  893. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235244</guid>
  894.  
  895. <description><![CDATA[<p>In just 9 days, Donald Trump has shown he truly understands the machinery of government power. Example #1: Colombia. When</p>
  896. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/this-trump-is-different-he-understands-the-machine/">This Trump is Different. He Understands the Machine.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  897. ]]></description>
  898. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In just 9 days, Donald Trump has shown he truly understands the machinery of government power. Example #1: Colombia.</p>
  899.  
  900.  
  901.  
  902. <p>When socialist Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned away two U.S. military aircraft returning some of his country’s criminals, he likely expected the usual Trump response – angry social media posts and generic threats. Instead, he got a masterclass in United States power.</p>
  903.  
  904.  
  905.  
  906. <p>The retaliation came fast and precise. A 25% tariff on Colombian imports, doubling within days. Visa sanctions targeting government elites, their families, and allies. Customs inspections grinding Colombian exports to a standstill. And banking restrictions poised to cripple their economy. It was a full-spectrum assault.</p>
  907.  
  908.  
  909.  
  910. <p>The result? Colombia caved within hours. The Colombian president even volunteered his personal plane to bring back his citizens.</p>
  911.  
  912.  
  913.  
  914. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-expertly-turns-reporters/">New Sheriff In Town: Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Starts Out With a Bang, Putting Hostile Media In Their Place</a></strong></p>
  915.  
  916.  
  917.  
  918. <p>This wasn&#8217;t a temper tantrum. Trump laid out specific, immediate deterrents that were sure to end in Colombian capitulation. He didn’t just demand compliance; he made disobedience untenable.<br><br>Trump didn&#8217;t just send a message to Colombia. He put the world on notice that harboring criminals rejected by the U.S. comes with swift and severe consequences. No more pleading or diplomatic niceties; cross the line and face economic ruination.</p>
  919.  
  920.  
  921.  
  922. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goodbye-dei">Goodbye DEI</h2>
  923.  
  924.  
  925.  
  926. <p>The same surgical approach marked Trump’s executive orders, especially his recent assault on DEI programs. Gone were the vague culture war slogans or proclamations about “wokeness.” Instead, his administration delivered a bureaucratic kill shot—a systematic dismantling of policies that have shaped federal institutions for decades.</p>
  927.  
  928.  
  929.  
  930. <p>Trump’s new order doesn’t simply halt DEI programs. It anticipates and neutralizes attempts to rebrand them under different names. It weaponizes the False Claims Act to punish contractors sneaking DEI practices into government contracts. It orders the DOJ to hunt down and punish the “most egregious” offenders across corporations, universities, and nonprofits, with multi-billion-dollar targets in their crosshairs.</p>
  931.  
  932.  
  933.  
  934. <p>The Department of Justice must identify &#8220;the most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners&#8221; across multiple sectors and propose specific enforcement actions. They&#8217;re required to target up to nine major institutions violating federal law – including corporations, massive non-profits, and universities with billion-dollar endowments.</p>
  935.  
  936.  
  937.  
  938. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/va-ends-dei-programs-redirects-14-1-million-in-spending/">VA Ends DEI programs, Redirects $14.1 Million in Spending</a></strong></p>
  939.  
  940.  
  941.  
  942. <p>The impact was immediate. Federal websites scrubbed DEI language within days. Agencies that once defied Trump’s initiatives in 2017 seemed eerily compliant this time. Bureaucrats have clearly learned that this isn’t symbolic posturing—it’s a purge.</p>
  943.  
  944.  
  945.  
  946. <p>The contrast with his first term is striking. Back then, Trump governed like a CEO issuing memos, leaving bureaucratic resistance to undercut him at every turn. Now, his team knows the machinery of government inside out—how to dismantle entrenched programs, exploit legal frameworks, and pressure institutions to enforce their agenda. They’re well positioned to defeat the bureaucratic resistance.</p>
  947.  
  948.  
  949.  
  950. <p>The Colombia incident shows this isn&#8217;t a fluke. When Trump threatened &#8220;immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters,&#8221; his team had already identified exactly who would be hit and how. When he called for &#8220;IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions,&#8221; the mechanisms were already in place.</p>
  951.  
  952.  
  953.  
  954. <p>His opponents still think they&#8217;re up against the improvisational chaos of 2017. They&#8217;re wrong. Trump 2.0 isn&#8217;t just angry – he’ll effectively achieve much of his agenda, albeit it stymied somewhat by the judiciary.</p>
  955.  
  956.  
  957.  
  958. <p>Trump&#8217;s first term was marked by dramatic gestures that often fizzled in the face of bureaucratic resistance. This time, his message to both allies and opponents is clear: the Trump administration won&#8217;t waste time learning on the job.</p>
  959.  
  960.  
  961.  
  962. <p>What&#8217;s especially telling? The silence from career bureaucrats who typically resist such changes. They see the detailed planning, the anticipation of their usual countermoves, the strategic use of existing laws. They recognize they&#8217;re dealing with someone who&#8217;s learned their game &#8211; and intends to win it.</p>
  963.  
  964.  
  965.  
  966. <p>Whether you celebrate or fear this development, one thing&#8217;s clear: We&#8217;re witnessing the emergence of a far more sophisticated operation than anything we saw in Trump 1.0.</p>
  967.  
  968.  
  969.  
  970. <p>The question isn’t whether his opponents will ever recover, but how much he’ll reshape the system before they realize the rules have changed.</p>
  971.  
  972.  
  973.  
  974. <p><em>Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. <a href="https://kenlacorte.substack.com/p/this-trump-is-different-he-understands"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Follow Ken on Substack</a></em><a href="https://substack.com/@kenlacorte"></a></p>
  975.  
  976.  
  977.  
  978. <p><a href="https://substack.com/@kenlacorte"></a></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/this-trump-is-different-he-understands-the-machine/">This Trump is Different. He Understands the Machine.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  979. ]]></content:encoded>
  983. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:23:24 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  984. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  985. </item>
  986. <item>
  987. <title>New Sheriff In Town: Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Starts Out With a Bang, Putting Hostile Media In Their Place</title>
  988. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-expertly-turns-reporters/</link>
  990. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  991. <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:08:06 +0000</pubDate>
  992. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  993. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  994. <category><![CDATA[Karoline Leavitt]]></category>
  995. <category><![CDATA[White House]]></category>
  996. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235228</guid>
  997.  
  998. <description><![CDATA[<p>Donald Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, held her debut press conference with reporters on Tuesday. It was a</p>
  999. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-expertly-turns-reporters/">New Sheriff In Town: Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Starts Out With a Bang, Putting Hostile Media In Their Place</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1000. ]]></description>
  1001. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Donald Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, held her debut press conference with reporters on Tuesday. It was a breath of fresh air following four years of binders, circling back, outrageous falsehoods, and general incompetence.</p>
  1002.  
  1003.  
  1004.  
  1005. <p>Leavitt may not have needed the binder, but she was well-prepared all the same. As evidenced <a href="https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-briefing-karoline-leavitt-january-28-2025/">by an exchange</a> with an Associated Press reporter who wanted to know how the media could be certain she wouldn&#8217;t lie to them. Which is a pretty gutsy assertion coming from a member of the dying legacy media.</p>
  1006.  
  1007.  
  1008.  
  1009. <p>&#8220;A question that we&#8217;ve asked your predecessors of both parties in this job, when you&#8217;re up here in this briefing room, speaking to the American public, do you view yourself and your role as speaking on &#8212; advocating on behalf of the president or providing the unvarnished truth that is, not to lie, not to obfuscate to the American people,&#8221; the reporter queried.</p>
  1010.  
  1011.  
  1012.  
  1013. <p>&#8220;I commit to telling the truth from this podium every single day I commit to speaking on behalf of the president of the United States. That is my job,&#8221; Leavitt replied.</p>
  1014.  
  1015.  
  1016.  
  1017. <p>&#8220;And I will say it&#8217;s very easy to speak truth from this podium when you have a president who is implementing policies that are wildly popular with the American people.&#8221;</p>
  1018.  
  1019.  
  1020.  
  1021. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karoline-leavitt-turns-question-about-lies-back-on-reporter">Karoline Leavitt Turns Question About Lies Back On Reporter</h2>
  1022.  
  1023.  
  1024.  
  1025. <p>Things got even better when press secretary Karoline Leavitt flipped the question entirely back on the room of reporters, which, incidentally, was packed. Presumably, because the media has to pretend to be doing their jobs again now that Trump is in the White House.</p>
  1026.  
  1027.  
  1028.  
  1029. <p>Vacation is over, kids.</p>
  1030.  
  1031.  
  1032.  
  1033. <p>Leavitt proceeds to explain that part of giving the truth to the American people is correcting the lies of the previous administration.</p>
  1034.  
  1035.  
  1036.  
  1037. <p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s exactly what this administration is doing. It&#8217;s correcting the lies and the wrongs of the past four years &#8212; many of the lies that have been told to your faces in this very briefing room,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I will not do that.&#8221;</p>
  1038.  
  1039.  
  1040.  
  1041. <p>Then came the death blow to legacy media.</p>
  1042.  
  1043.  
  1044.  
  1045. <p>&#8220;But since you brought up truth, I would like to point out while I vow to provide the truth from this podium, we ask that all of you in this room hold yourselves to that same standard,&#8221; Leavitt fired back.</p>
  1046.  
  1047.  
  1048.  
  1049. <p>&#8220;We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family. And we will not accept that,&#8221; she insisted. &#8220;We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House.&#8221;</p>
  1050.  
  1051.  
  1052.  
  1053. <p>&#8220;So, yes, I will hold myself to the truth and I expect everyone in this room to do the same.&#8221;</p>
  1054.  
  1055.  
  1056.  
  1057. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">AP Reporter: How can we be assured you’re not gonna lie?<br><br>Press Secretary: Actually it’s the MSM like you who have been lying for years<br><br>BOOM <a href="https://t.co/ulCPeFk9iu">pic.twitter.com/ulCPeFk9iu</a></p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1884310920501084598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  1058.  
  1059.  
  1060.  
  1061. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a></strong></p>
  1062.  
  1063.  
  1064.  
  1065. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-the-only-shot-at-the-press">Not The Only Shot At The Press</h2>
  1066.  
  1067.  
  1068.  
  1069. <p>Holding reporters accountable wasn&#8217;t the only bad news for mainstream media to come out of Karoline Leavitt&#8217;s first briefing. She also acknowledged how &#8220;new media&#8221; is leaving old media in the dust.</p>
  1070.  
  1071.  
  1072.  
  1073. <p>&#8220;We&#8217;re also opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room,&#8221; she declared.</p>
  1074.  
  1075.  
  1076.  
  1077. <p>&#8220;Starting today, this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary&#8217;s staff, will be called the New Media Seat.&#8221;</p>
  1078.  
  1079.  
  1080.  
  1081. <p>Old media is being phased out. Leavitt hinted at such actions earlier this month when she <a href="https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/01/01/incoming-trump-presssec-has-some-bad-news-for-mainstream-media-journalists-hoping-to-get-access-n2183810">explained press credentials</a> to the president&#8217;s Briefing Room would be handed out to podcasters and social media influencers.</p>
  1082.  
  1083.  
  1084.  
  1085. <p>&#8220;If this election proved anything, it proved that the American people are no longer listening to the mainstream bias, anti-Trump legacy media,&#8221; Leavitt explained.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-expertly-turns-reporters/">New Sheriff In Town: Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Starts Out With a Bang, Putting Hostile Media In Their Place</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1086. ]]></content:encoded>
  1090. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:08:10 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1091. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1092. </item>
  1093. <item>
  1094. <title>Trump Admin Comes Clean About Drones Over New Jersey</title>
  1095. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-admin-comes-clean-about-drones-over-new-jersey/</link>
  1097. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Roderick-Fitch - The Center Square]]></dc:creator>
  1098. <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:36:29 +0000</pubDate>
  1099. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  1100. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1101. <category><![CDATA[Karoline Leavitt]]></category>
  1102. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235230</guid>
  1103.  
  1104. <description><![CDATA[<p>Following months of speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding mysterious drone sightings up and down the East Coast, the White House</p>
  1105. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-admin-comes-clean-about-drones-over-new-jersey/">Trump Admin Comes Clean About Drones Over New Jersey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1106. ]]></description>
  1107. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Following months of speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding mysterious drone sightings up and down the East Coast, the White House confirms they flew with federal government authorization.</p>
  1108.  
  1109.  
  1110.  
  1111. <p>Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, addressed the sightings during a press briefing on Tuesday, confirming that drones flown around the eastern seaboard late last year, specifically New Jersey, had been “authorized to be flown by the FAA.”</p>
  1112.  
  1113.  
  1114.  
  1115. <p>The press secretary quashed concerns that the sightings were attributed to foreign adversaries. “This was not the enemy,” she said.</p>
  1116.  
  1117.  
  1118.  
  1119. <p>“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” said Leavitt. “Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones.”</p>
  1120.  
  1121.  
  1122.  
  1123. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: ‘DOGE Will Stop It’</a></strong></p>
  1124.  
  1125.  
  1126.  
  1127. <p>Instead, the new press secretary pointed fingers at individuals for the increase in sightings, chalking them up to “curiosity.”</p>
  1128.  
  1129.  
  1130.  
  1131. <p>The White House comments appear to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3d054918-bc9f-11ef-90d3-b7e9c91886d9.html"><strong>echo statements</strong></a>&nbsp;made by the Pentagon on Dec. 17, attributing a majority of the sightings were either recreational or authorized by the government. At the time, the Pentagon said that over 1 million drones were registered with the FAA and are used legally for commercial, recreation and government purposes.</p>
  1132.  
  1133.  
  1134.  
  1135. <p>At the time, the Pentagon reported that the FBI had received over 5,000 tips regarding the sightings.</p>
  1136.  
  1137.  
  1138.  
  1139. <p>The statement said, “Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones. We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.”</p>
  1140.  
  1141.  
  1142.  
  1143. <p>During the height of the sightings, President Donald Trump questioned why the government wasn’t forthcoming regarding the sightings, vowing transparency when he returned to the Oval Office. In addition to the Pentagon statement a month ago, on Tuesday he made good on the promise.</p>
  1144.  
  1145.  
  1146.  
  1147. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_jersey/article_951e37ca-ddc6-11ef-877f-2f9912a1fd45.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-admin-comes-clean-about-drones-over-new-jersey/">Trump Admin Comes Clean About Drones Over New Jersey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1148. ]]></content:encoded>
  1152. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:36:34 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1153. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1154. </item>
  1155. <item>
  1156. <title>Al Sharpton Organizes a &#8216;Buy-cott&#8217; To Support Costco&#8217;s Commitment To DEI &#8211; And It Immediately Backfired</title>
  1157. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/al-sharpton-organizes-a-buy-cott-to-support-costcos-commitment-to-dei/</link>
  1159. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  1160. <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:58:15 +0000</pubDate>
  1161. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1162. <category><![CDATA[Al Sharpton]]></category>
  1163. <category><![CDATA[Costco]]></category>
  1164. <category><![CDATA[DEI]]></category>
  1165. <category><![CDATA[MSNBC]]></category>
  1166. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235220</guid>
  1167.  
  1168. <description><![CDATA[<p>Al Sharpton organized a &#8220;buy-cott&#8221; at a Costco store in Harlem, New York, to show support for the company&#8217;s continued</p>
  1169. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/al-sharpton-organizes-a-buy-cott-to-support-costcos-commitment-to-dei/">Al Sharpton Organizes a &#8216;Buy-cott&#8217; To Support Costco&#8217;s Commitment To DEI &#8211; And It Immediately Backfired</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1170. ]]></description>
  1171. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Al Sharpton organized a &#8220;buy-cott&#8221; at a Costco store in Harlem, New York, to show support for the company&#8217;s continued commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.</p>
  1172.  
  1173.  
  1174.  
  1175. <p>While the vast majority of retail companies have backed away from their corrosive DEI initiatives, no longer held hostage to the left as conservatives scored striking victories in the November elections, Costco has remained stubbornly dug in.</p>
  1176.  
  1177.  
  1178.  
  1179. <p>Costco&#8217;s leadership has defended its DEI policies as integral to its business model and ethics, insisting that diversity enhances employee satisfaction, creativity, and the shopping experience. <em>Why</em> that is the case is, of course, never explained.</p>
  1180.  
  1181.  
  1182.  
  1183. <p>The company&#8217;s stance has placed Costco at the center of a cultural and political debate, with some conservative figures advocating for boycotts. Sharpton, though, countered that by organizing a supportive &#8220;buycott.&#8221;</p>
  1184.  
  1185.  
  1186.  
  1187. <p>But it didn&#8217;t go exactly as planned.</p>
  1188.  
  1189.  
  1190.  
  1191. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leading over 100 members of National Action Network to the Costco in East Harlem yesterday for a buy-in to show our support for their strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). <br><br>At a time when DEI is under attack from President Trump and others in the private… <a href="https://t.co/CGxKVNPHyc">pic.twitter.com/CGxKVNPHyc</a></p>&mdash; Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRevAl/status/1883601358906957947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  1192.  
  1193.  
  1194.  
  1195. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-al-sharpton-supporting-costco">Al Sharpton Supporting Costco</h2>
  1196.  
  1197.  
  1198.  
  1199. <p>Al Sharpton, along with approximately 100 members of his National Action Network, walked through a Harlem store branch, purchasing items and handing out $25 gift vouchers to participants to stimulate spending at Costco.</p>
  1200.  
  1201.  
  1202.  
  1203. <p>Social media users were less than amused seeing the noted tax cheat handing out free money to customers in an attempt to generate fake support for the store.</p>
  1204.  
  1205.  
  1206.  
  1207. <p>Several <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14327865/costco-al-sharpton-dei-stunt-slammed.html">commentators </a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14327865/costco-al-sharpton-dei-stunt-slammed.html"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">called</a>&nbsp;Sharpton&#8217;s involvement</span> potentially detrimental to Costco&#8217;s reputation, dubbing it the &#8220;kiss of death.&#8221;</p>
  1208.  
  1209.  
  1210.  
  1211. <p>Others suggested Al Sharpton&#8217;s alignment with Costco would lead to even more emphatic boycotts from people who see DEI for what it is. One company experienced a similar conservative backlash recently, you may recall.</p>
  1212.  
  1213.  
  1214.  
  1215. <p>&#8220;I wonder how much they love Al Sharpton now that they’re getting Bud-Lighted,&#8221; one X user wrote. &#8220;I’m cancelling my memberships auto renewal this week and won’t be shopping there again.&#8221;</p>
  1216.  
  1217.  
  1218.  
  1219. <p>Bud Light is still trying to recover from their foray into placating the liberals.</p>
  1220.  
  1221.  
  1222.  
  1223. <p>&#8220;If Al Sharpton shows up, you’re most definitely on the wrong side of history,&#8221; another wrote.</p>
  1224.  
  1225.  
  1226.  
  1227. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/civil-rights-attorney-leo-terrell-pummels-al-sharpton-for-calling-trump-indictment-spiritual-payback-hes-a-professional-shakedown-artist/">Civil Rights Attorney Leo Terrell Pummels Al Sharpton for Calling Trump Indictment ‘Spiritual’ Payback: He’s a Professional Shakedown Artist!</a></strong></p>
  1228.  
  1229.  
  1230.  
  1231. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wrong-side-of-history">Wrong Side Of History</h2>
  1232.  
  1233.  
  1234.  
  1235. <p>That last comment is searingly true. Al Sharpton, like this stance with Costco, is often on the wrong side of history. Some of it intentionally to stir up racial strife in America.</p>
  1236.  
  1237.  
  1238.  
  1239. <p>His entire career began when he raised his profile by completely fabricating a race crime, backing Tawana Brawley in falsely accusing four white men, including a state trooper and Steven Pagones, an Assistant District Attorney in Dutchess County, New York, of rape.</p>
  1240.  
  1241.  
  1242.  
  1243. <p>To be clear, there is no gray area here – Sharpton pushed the entire story, which was made up,&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20020811233652/http://www.cnn.com/US/9807/13/brawley.verdict.02/" rel="noreferrer noopener"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">destroying the lives</a>&nbsp;of those accused.</p>
  1244.  
  1245.  
  1246.  
  1247. <p>Pagones successfully sued the fake reverend for defamation.</p>
  1248.  
  1249.  
  1250.  
  1251. <p>Also included in Sharpton’s rap sheet:</p>
  1252.  
  1253.  
  1254.  
  1255. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  1256. <li>Inciting a three-day riot in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Heights_riot"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Crown Heights</a>&nbsp;that resulted in the death of an innocent Hasidic Jewish student visiting from Australia.</li>
  1257.  
  1258.  
  1259.  
  1260. <li>Started a protest at&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Sharpton#Freddie.27s_Fashion_Mart"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Freddie’s Fashion Mart</a>&nbsp;that led one protester to&nbsp;attack&nbsp;the store,&nbsp;shoot several customers, and start a fire that killed seven employees.</li>
  1261. </ul>
  1262.  
  1263.  
  1264.  
  1265. <p>Oh, and not to mention, Sharpton was <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/26/media/al-sharptons-acceptance-of-kamala-harris-campaigns-500k-donation-a-bridge-too-far-for-msnbc-colleagues/">given a $500k donation</a> from Kamala Harris&#8217;s campaign in exchange for a cushy interview promoting her candidacy for president, something the folks over at MSNBC have never addressed. Something that is a clear, actionable scandal for the network.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/al-sharpton-organizes-a-buy-cott-to-support-costcos-commitment-to-dei/">Al Sharpton Organizes a &#8216;Buy-cott&#8217; To Support Costco&#8217;s Commitment To DEI &#8211; And It Immediately Backfired</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1266. ]]></content:encoded>
  1270. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:58:19 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1271. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1272. </item>
  1273. <item>
  1274. <title>VA Ends DEI programs, Redirects $14.1 Million in Spending</title>
  1275. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/va-ends-dei-programs-redirects-14-1-million-in-spending/</link>
  1277. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  1278. <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:17:45 +0000</pubDate>
  1279. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  1280. <category><![CDATA[DEI]]></category>
  1281. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1282. <category><![CDATA[VA]]></category>
  1283. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235222</guid>
  1284.  
  1285. <description><![CDATA[<p>The Department of Veterans Affairs is eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across federal agencies, redirecting at least $8 million</p>
  1286. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/va-ends-dei-programs-redirects-14-1-million-in-spending/">VA Ends DEI programs, Redirects $14.1 Million in Spending</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1287. ]]></description>
  1288. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Department of Veterans Affairs is eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across federal agencies, redirecting at least $8 million in spending in response to President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order eliminating DEI programs across the federal government.</p>
  1289.  
  1290.  
  1291.  
  1292. <p>The VA placed 60 employees who were working on DEI initiatives on paid administration leave. According to the VA, these employees collectively earned $8 million annually, averaging $136,000 per employee and exceeding $220,000 for at least one employee.</p>
  1293.  
  1294.  
  1295.  
  1296. <p>The VA said it is reviewing all administrative spending to identify other areas for cost savings and noted that it has identified several contracts for DEI training, materials, and consulting services that, when combined total $6.1 million.</p>
  1297.  
  1298.  
  1299.  
  1300. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: ‘DOGE Will Stop It’</a></strong></p>
  1301.  
  1302.  
  1303.  
  1304. <p>The decision to end the programs is in line with Trump&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)"><strong>executive order</strong></a>&nbsp;issued last week, which directs federal agencies to cut initiatives deemed unnecessary or not directly tied to &#8220;core missions,&#8221; which the administration has argued are an insufficient use of taxpayer dollars.</p>
  1305.  
  1306.  
  1307.  
  1308. <p>&#8220;Under President Trump, VA is laser-focused on providing the best possible care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. We are proud to have abandoned the divisive DEI policies of the past and pivot back to VA&#8217;s core mission,&#8221; VA Director of Media Affairs Morgan Ackley said&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-ends-dei-stops-millions-in-spending-on-dei/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)"><strong>in a statement.</strong></a></p>
  1309.  
  1310.  
  1311.  
  1312. <p>&#8220;We look forward to reallocating the millions of dollars the department was spending on DEI programs and personnel to better serve the men and women who have bravely served our nation,&#8221;&nbsp;continued Ackley.</p>
  1313.  
  1314.  
  1315.  
  1316. <p>The VA is also removing various DEI-related media from its digital properties.</p>
  1317.  
  1318.  
  1319.  
  1320. <p>The VA stated that it would reallocate those resources &#8220;to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve.&#8221;</p>
  1321.  
  1322.  
  1323.  
  1324. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/republicans-introduce-bill-to-exclude-illegal-immigrants-from-medicaid/">Republicans Introduce Bill to Exclude Illegal Immigrants from Medicaid</a></strong></p>
  1325.  
  1326.  
  1327.  
  1328. <p>The new executive order has sparked a larger debate over the role of DEI in federal agencies and the impact or implications of scaling back the programs.&nbsp;</p>
  1329.  
  1330.  
  1331.  
  1332. <p>Although the executive order ended DEI programs throughout the federal government, some private sector businesses are following suit. Target&nbsp;<a href="https://corporate.target.com/press/fact-sheet/2025/01/belonging-bullseye-strategy"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)"><strong>announced</strong></a>&nbsp;its end of DEI initiatives, while&nbsp;<a href="https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000320193/d5ac8341-3708-4b1d-89f5-6a0dcec45aa0.pdf"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)"><strong>Apple said it</strong></a>&nbsp;recommends that shareholders vote against ending the initiatives at an upcoming meeting on Feb. 25, 2025.</p>
  1333.  
  1334.  
  1335.  
  1336. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_56daaf74-dce6-11ef-8e3d-57217e72ca3d.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/va-ends-dei-programs-redirects-14-1-million-in-spending/">VA Ends DEI programs, Redirects $14.1 Million in Spending</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1337. ]]></content:encoded>
  1341. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:17:48 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1342. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1343. </item>
  1344. <item>
  1345. <title>Opinion: We Need More Lawmakers Like Colton Moore</title>
  1346. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/opinion-we-need-more-lawmakers-like-colton-moore/</link>
  1348. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chadwick Dolgos]]></dc:creator>
  1349. <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:43:45 +0000</pubDate>
  1350. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1351. <category><![CDATA[Colton Moore]]></category>
  1352. <category><![CDATA[fani willis]]></category>
  1353. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235216</guid>
  1354.  
  1355. <description><![CDATA[<p>In today’s political landscape, where expediency often overshadows principles, Georgia State Senator Colton Moore is a rare breed of lawmaker</p>
  1356. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/opinion-we-need-more-lawmakers-like-colton-moore/">Opinion: We Need More Lawmakers Like Colton Moore</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1357. ]]></description>
  1358. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In today’s political landscape, where expediency often overshadows principles, Georgia State Senator Colton Moore is a rare breed of lawmaker who prioritizes &#8220;We The People&#8221; over his own political career. His time in office has been characterized not just by his commitment to fighting for freedom and exposing corruption, but by his rare courage to challenge entrenched powers, even when it means standing alone against his own party.</p>
  1359.  
  1360.  
  1361.  
  1362. <p>The actions of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 other conservatives, have raised alarms about the potential politicization of legal authority. Many see this as a dangerous maneuver, using the justice system as a weapon against political opponents. While Americans across the country were demanding answers, Sen. Moore took up their cause and chose to speak out. He called for an immediate investigation into Willis’s misuse of prosecutorial power, advocating that no American, regardless of their political leanings, should ever be targeted by a weaponized justice system.</p>
  1363.  
  1364.  
  1365.  
  1366. <p>Sen. Moore’s outspoken defense of President Trump is more than a political statement; it’s a stand against setting a dangerous legal precedent where anyone’s freedom could be compromised by political bias. This commonsense stance led to his expulsion from the Georgia Senate Republican Caucus, as his peers attempted to silence his dissent. Yet, his removal from the “RINO Caucus” only further charged the fight to hold Willis and everybody involved in the weaponization of her office accountable.</p>
  1367.  
  1368.  
  1369.  
  1370. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/watch-georgia-republican-senator-shoved-to-the-floor-arrested-after-trying-to-attend-brian-kemps-state-of-the-state-address/">WATCH: Georgia Republican Senator Shoved To The Floor, Arrested After Trying To Attend Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address</a></strong></p>
  1371.  
  1372.  
  1373.  
  1374. <p>Sen. Moore’s drive for transparency and accountability was also displayed during a memorial for the late House Speaker David Ralston. While the expected protocol was to ignore the former Speaker’s political past, Moore chose this moment to speak out about corruption, placing honesty and integrity above traditional decorum. His subsequent ban from the House for these remarks only proves that he is one of the few politicians who will expose the truth, regardless of the personal or political cost.</p>
  1375.  
  1376.  
  1377.  
  1378. <p>An unconstitutional ban from the House didn’t stop Sen. Moore from doing the job he was elected to do. Earlier this month, Moore was placed in handcuffs and taken to the Fulton County jail for attempting to attend Governor Brian Kemp&#8217;s State of the State address. His arrest for trying to fulfill his constitutional duties to his constituents sends a chilling message about the current state of our country. Charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, Moore&#8217;s treatment was not just an overreach but a symbol of how far those in power will go to silence dissent.</p>
  1379.  
  1380.  
  1381.  
  1382. <p>To some, Sen. Moore might seem like a disruptor, but these criticisms either intentionally or unintentionally ignore the larger picture. Moore offers something profoundly different than what we expect from the established status quo: a proven America-First fighter devoted not to personal gain or party dominance but to the core principles of liberty and justice.</p>
  1383.  
  1384.  
  1385.  
  1386. <p>I stand with Colton Moore because he has proven time and time again that he stands with us. His actions reflect a person who deeply understands the Constitution and the protective barriers it erects against governmental overreach.</p>
  1387.  
  1388.  
  1389.  
  1390. <p>He doesn’t just occupy an office; he fights for We The People.</p>
  1391.  
  1392.  
  1393.  
  1394. <p><em>Chadwick Dolgos, founder of The Washington Wick, works as a political communications expert at Mobilize the Message. Follow Chadwick on X @thechadwickpaul.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/opinion-we-need-more-lawmakers-like-colton-moore/">Opinion: We Need More Lawmakers Like Colton Moore</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1395. ]]></content:encoded>
  1399. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:43:50 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1400. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1401. </item>
  1402. <item>
  1403. <title>Colombia Backs Down After Trump Tariff Threat</title>
  1404. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/colombia-backs-down-after-trump-tariff-threat/</link>
  1406. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  1407. <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:23:49 +0000</pubDate>
  1408. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  1409. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1410. <category><![CDATA[gustavo petro]]></category>
  1411. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235211</guid>
  1412.  
  1413. <description><![CDATA[<p>After President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and other punitive measures, Columbia backed down and agreed to accept its citizens who</p>
  1414. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/colombia-backs-down-after-trump-tariff-threat/">Colombia Backs Down After Trump Tariff Threat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1415. ]]></description>
  1416. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and other punitive measures, Columbia backed down and agreed to accept its citizens who illegally immigrated to the U.S.&nbsp;</p>
  1417.  
  1418.  
  1419.  
  1420. <p>Trump on Sunday said the U.S. would impose tariffs on Colombia after the South American nation refused to allow a plane carrying illegal immigrants from the U.S. to land.</p>
  1421.  
  1422.  
  1423.  
  1424. <p>But soon after the threat, Colombian President Gustavo Petro conceded and agreed to allow deportation planes from the U.S. to land in the South American country.</p>
  1425.  
  1426.  
  1427.  
  1428. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: ‘DOGE Will Stop It’</a></strong></p>
  1429.  
  1430.  
  1431.  
  1432. <p>&#8220;Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement,&#8221; a statement from the White House said. &#8220;The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.&#8221;</p>
  1433.  
  1434.  
  1435.  
  1436. <p>Trump had said the U.S. would immediately impose 25% tariffs on all Colombian goods, but would increase that to 50% in a week, presumably if the country didn&#8217;t change its position.</p>
  1437.  
  1438.  
  1439.  
  1440. <p>Trump and his new border czar, Tom Homan, vowed to round up foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally and deport them back to their home countries, with violent criminals the priority.</p>
  1441.  
  1442.  
  1443.  
  1444. <p>Trump also has threatened to use tariffs as a negotiating tactic against foreign nations that don&#8217;t cooperate with the U.S.</p>
  1445.  
  1446.  
  1447.  
  1448. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_f236e6aa-dcb3-11ef-8f00-ff28cc2ca280.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/colombia-backs-down-after-trump-tariff-threat/">Colombia Backs Down After Trump Tariff Threat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1449. ]]></content:encoded>
  1453. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:23:53 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1454. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1455. </item>
  1456. <item>
  1457. <title>Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: &#8216;DOGE Will Stop It&#8217;</title>
  1458. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/</link>
  1460. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  1461. <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:13:26 +0000</pubDate>
  1462. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  1463. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  1464. <category><![CDATA[illegal immgiration]]></category>
  1465. <category><![CDATA[Mario Nawfal]]></category>
  1466. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235208</guid>
  1467.  
  1468. <description><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk vowed to reverse the Biden administration&#8217;s practice of utilizing NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations) to facilitate mass immigration, saying that</p>
  1469. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: &#8216;DOGE Will Stop It&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1470. ]]></description>
  1471. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk vowed to reverse the Biden administration&#8217;s practice of utilizing NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations) to <a href="https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/list-approved-ngos-and-csos">facilitate mass immigration</a>, saying that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is prepared to end the practice.</p>
  1472.  
  1473.  
  1474.  
  1475. <p>Musk was responding to an X post over the weekend by entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, which claimed the practice under Biden made NGOs the &#8220;middlemen&#8221; of illegal immigration, often without adequate oversight. </p>
  1476.  
  1477.  
  1478.  
  1479. <p>&#8220;Turns out nonprofits weren’t just helping migrants—they were funding the crisis!&#8221; he wrote, later adding, &#8220;Sanctuary cities were hit hardest, with taxpayers footing the bill.&#8221;</p>
  1480.  
  1481.  
  1482.  
  1483. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musk-vows-doge-will-stop-ngos-from-funding-illegal-immigration">Musk Vows DOGE Will Stop NGOs From Funding Illegal Immigration</h2>
  1484.  
  1485.  
  1486.  
  1487. <p>Nawfal explained to his followers that the new administration was poised to put a stop to the practice of NGOs being used to fund illegal immigration.</p>
  1488.  
  1489.  
  1490.  
  1491. <p>&#8220;Under Biden, NGOs became the middlemen of illegal immigration,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Trump’s ICE is now digging into the mess he left behind.&#8221;</p>
  1492.  
  1493.  
  1494.  
  1495. <p>It would seem like a common sense way to slow down the invasion at the southern and northern borders. Not to mention, it is a blatant mismanagement and misuse of funds by these organizations. Those two issues crossing each other means DOGE is poised to step in and make a difference.</p>
  1496.  
  1497.  
  1498.  
  1499. <p>Musk chimed in to confirm that the Biden administration <em>had</em> abused the practice, which, in turn, was meant to help Democrats hold onto power.</p>
  1500.  
  1501.  
  1502.  
  1503. <p>&#8220;They sure did and still are,&#8221; said Musk. &#8220;DOGE will stop it.&#8221;</p>
  1504.  
  1505.  
  1506.  
  1507. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They sure did and still are. <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> will stop it. <a href="https://t.co/wQnDvPFo22">https://t.co/wQnDvPFo22</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1883411251692539978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  1508.  
  1509.  
  1510.  
  1511. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/">DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</a></strong></p>
  1512.  
  1513.  
  1514.  
  1515. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stopping-illegal-immigrants-in-their-tracks">Stopping Illegal Immigrants In Their Tracks</h2>
  1516.  
  1517.  
  1518.  
  1519. <p>The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">aims to streamline government operations</a>, reduce waste, and enhance the effectiveness of public services by promoting audits, implementing technology, and adopting private sector efficiencies.</p>
  1520.  
  1521.  
  1522.  
  1523. <p>Musk&#8217;s role is to lead this initiative, focusing on implementing a &#8220;revolution&#8221; in government efficiency by leveraging his experience in cutting costs and reducing workforce. We&#8217;ve seen him do this at X to great effect, along with his other companies.</p>
  1524.  
  1525.  
  1526.  
  1527.  
  1528.  
  1529. <p>Cutting this practice of using NGOs to help facilitate immigration will help kill two birds with one stone.</p>
  1530.  
  1531.  
  1532.  
  1533. <p>President Trump recently empowered DHS to expel migrants who were admitted under Biden&#8217;s programs, reversing policies that allowed for these entries. This includes shutting down systems like the <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/psaki-admits-biden-administration-is-handing-out-smartphones-to-illegal-immigrants/">CBP One app</a> used for scheduling asylum appointments.</p>
  1534.  
  1535.  
  1536.  
  1537. <p>The American people voted for significant reforms when it comes to immigration and government waste. DOGE, with Musk&#8217;s guidance, is poised to deliver on both in this case.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/elon-musk-says-doge-will-cut-off-ngo-funding-used-to-facilitate-mass-immigration-doge-will-stop-it/">Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Cut Off NGO Funding Used to Facilitate Mass Immigration: &#8216;DOGE Will Stop It&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1538. ]]></content:encoded>
  1542. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:13:30 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1543. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1544. </item>
  1545. <item>
  1546. <title>Lawsuits from Unions, Others Stack Up Against Trump&#8217;s Newly Created Cost-Cutting DOGE</title>
  1547. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/lawsuits-from-unions-others-stack-up-against-trumps-newly-created-cost-cutting-doge/</link>
  1549. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  1550. <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:32:11 +0000</pubDate>
  1551. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  1552. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  1553. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235204</guid>
  1554.  
  1555. <description><![CDATA[<p>On his first day in office, President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency and ordered federal agencies to</p>
  1556. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/lawsuits-from-unions-others-stack-up-against-trumps-newly-created-cost-cutting-doge/">Lawsuits from Unions, Others Stack Up Against Trump&#8217;s Newly Created Cost-Cutting DOGE</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1557. ]]></description>
  1558. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On his first day in office, President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency and ordered federal agencies to create teams to work with DOGE leader Elon Musk, one of the richest men in the world.</p>
  1559.  
  1560.  
  1561.  
  1562. <p>&#8220;That’s a big one,&#8221; Trump said when he signed the order.</p>
  1563.  
  1564.  
  1565.  
  1566. <p>Trump said Musk would get an office for about 20 staffers.</p>
  1567.  
  1568.  
  1569.  
  1570. <p>Trump&#8217;s order came the same day as multiple groups filed at least three lawsuits over DOGE.</p>
  1571.  
  1572.  
  1573.  
  1574. <p>The language in the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">executive order</a></strong>&nbsp;renames the United States Digital Service to the United States DOGE Service. It will be in the Executive Office of the President. The DOGE administrator will report to Trump&#8217;s chief of staff.&nbsp;</p>
  1575.  
  1576.  
  1577.  
  1578. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</a></strong></p>
  1579.  
  1580.  
  1581.  
  1582. <p>Trump&#8217;s order also requires each federal agency head to create a DOGE Team of at least four employees within 30 days.</p>
  1583.  
  1584.  
  1585.  
  1586. <p>&#8220;Each DOGE Team will typically include one DOGE Team Lead, one engineer, one human resources specialist, and one attorney,&#8221; according to the order. &#8220;Agency Heads shall ensure that DOGE Team Leads coordinate their work with USDS and advise their respective Agency Heads on implementing the President&#8217;s DOGE Agenda.&#8221;</p>
  1587.  
  1588.  
  1589.  
  1590. <p>Trump&#8217;s executive order says DOGE will modernize &#8220;federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.&#8221; That description departs from the goals Trump initially gave the group. After winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump said the new group would pave the way for his administration to &#8220;dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulation, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies.&#8221;</p>
  1591.  
  1592.  
  1593.  
  1594. <p>Trump further said DOGE would be the &#8220;&#8216;The Manhattan Project&#8217; of our time.&#8221; The Manhattan Project was a top-secret government program during&nbsp;World War II in which the U.S. rushed to create the world&#8217;s first atomic weapons before Nazi Germany.</p>
  1595.  
  1596.  
  1597.  
  1598. <p>Trump initially named Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy as co-leaders of DOGE. But Musk will have to go it alone as Ramaswamy plans to leave reportedly to launch a campaign for governor in Ohio.</p>
  1599.  
  1600.  
  1601.  
  1602. <p>&#8220;It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE,&#8221;&nbsp;Ramaswamy said.&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m confident that Elon &amp; team will succeed in streamlining government.&#8221;</p>
  1603.  
  1604.  
  1605.  
  1606. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/">DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</a></strong></p>
  1607.  
  1608.  
  1609.  
  1610. <p>Musk initially suggested DOGE could cut $2 trillion in federal spending. More recently, Musk said the group will aim for $2 trillion and likely come up with half that amount.</p>
  1611.  
  1612.  
  1613.  
  1614. <p>Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, who has been called the Paul Revere of fiscal responsibility, said DOGE will face significant challenges.</p>
  1615.  
  1616.  
  1617.  
  1618. <p>&#8220;The federal government&#8217;s financial position is worse than advertised,&#8221; Walker said. &#8220;The debt subject to the debt limit is $36.2 trillion and total liabilities and unfunded social insurance obligations exceed $125 trillion! It&#8217;s time for action to create a better future.&#8221;</p>
  1619.  
  1620.  
  1621.  
  1622. <p>DOGE aims to present a plan to Trump by July 4, 2026. Trump said &#8220;a smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy will be the perfect gift to America&#8221; on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.</p>
  1623.  
  1624.  
  1625.  
  1626. <p>DOGE already faces multiple legal obstacles. Public Citizen and the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, filed&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_dfda78ae-d75a-11ef-9ae3-ffde0c579388.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">suit</a></strong>&nbsp;Monday alleging DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act because &#8220;members do not have a fair balance of viewpoints, meetings are held in secret and without public notice, and records and work product are not available to the public.&#8221;</p>
  1627.  
  1628.  
  1629.  
  1630. <p>The American Public Health Association, the American Federation of Teachers, Minority Veterans of America, VoteVets Action Fund, Center for Auto Safety, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a federal lawsuit challenging the secret operation filed a similar suit.</p>
  1631.  
  1632.  
  1633.  
  1634. <p>Another group, the Center for Biological Diversity, sued the Trump administration Monday to get public records related to DOGE.</p>
  1635.  
  1636.  
  1637.  
  1638. <p>In response to the lawsuit, Musk wrote on X: &#8220;Can someone start a lawsuit counter? How long until we hit triple digits? 🤣🤣&#8221;</p>
  1639.  
  1640.  
  1641.  
  1642. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_ed102b42-d80c-11ef-85d7-4f6ff7eb754f.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/lawsuits-from-unions-others-stack-up-against-trumps-newly-created-cost-cutting-doge/">Lawsuits from Unions, Others Stack Up Against Trump&#8217;s Newly Created Cost-Cutting DOGE</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1643. ]]></content:encoded>
  1647. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:32:15 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1648. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1649. </item>
  1650. <item>
  1651. <title>Republicans Introduce Bill to Exclude Illegal Immigrants from Medicaid</title>
  1652. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/republicans-introduce-bill-to-exclude-illegal-immigrants-from-medicaid/</link>
  1654. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kenneth Schrupp - The Center Square]]></dc:creator>
  1655. <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 15:50:16 +0000</pubDate>
  1656. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  1657. <category><![CDATA[Kevin Kiley]]></category>
  1658. <category><![CDATA[medicare]]></category>
  1659. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235202</guid>
  1660.  
  1661. <description><![CDATA[<p>Congressman Kevin Kiley, R-California, has introduced a bill that would prevent states such as California from allowing illegal immigrants to</p>
  1662. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/republicans-introduce-bill-to-exclude-illegal-immigrants-from-medicaid/">Republicans Introduce Bill to Exclude Illegal Immigrants from Medicaid</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1663. ]]></description>
  1664. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Congressman Kevin Kiley, R-California, has introduced a bill that would prevent states such as California from allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in Medicaid. Kiley estimates this would save California $6.5 billion per year; in January 2024, the state expanded Medicaid enrollment to include all illegal immigrants.</p>
  1665.  
  1666.  
  1667.  
  1668. <p>“This common sense legislation ensures that taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits are preserved for those who lawfully qualify, prioritizing the needs of American citizens and legal residents while promoting fairness and fiscal responsibility,”&nbsp;Kiley&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://x.com/RepKiley/status/1881768422150676931">said</a></strong>&nbsp;in a statement on the bill.&nbsp;</p>
  1669.  
  1670.  
  1671.  
  1672. <p>Kiley also noted that many Americans enrolled in Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded public healthcare system for low-income individuals, are already struggling to find doctors.</p>
  1673.  
  1674.  
  1675.  
  1676. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-sending-the-military-to-southern-border/">Trump Sending the Military to Southern Border</a></strong></p>
  1677.  
  1678.  
  1679.  
  1680. <p>“California is spending $6.5 billion each year providing free health care to everyone here illegally,”&nbsp;Kiley&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://x.com/KevinKileyCA/status/1882196020999979323">said</a></strong>&nbsp;Kiley X. “Meanwhile, many of our own citizens can&#8217;t even get in to see a doctor.”</p>
  1681.  
  1682.  
  1683.  
  1684. <p>California, which has sanctuary state laws limiting state and local law enforcement agencies from actively assisting&nbsp;federal immigration officials, is currently in a&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_6bc830cc-d2ce-11ef-bc9d-8b703597cd30.html">special session</a></strong>&nbsp;called by Gov. Gavin Newsom to “Trump-proof” the state, chiefly by providing $25 million for state and local lawsuits against the Trump administration, and another $25 million for legal aid, largely for deportation defense.&nbsp;</p>
  1685.  
  1686.  
  1687.  
  1688.  
  1689.  
  1690. <p>California is home to approximately 2.7 million illegal immigrants, and <strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_0ca7b960-d81d-11ef-a503-1f4cca2d907a.html">filed</a></strong>&nbsp;a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants. A preliminary injunction against the order is now in effect until the matter can be fully adjudicated in court.</p>
  1691.  
  1692.  
  1693.  
  1694. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_b9ed4640-d9cf-11ef-b8ba-6f71fdba92cf.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/republicans-introduce-bill-to-exclude-illegal-immigrants-from-medicaid/">Republicans Introduce Bill to Exclude Illegal Immigrants from Medicaid</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1695. ]]></content:encoded>
  1699. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:32:12 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1700. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1701. </item>
  1702. <item>
  1703. <title>Politico Reporters Admit Editors Buried Hunter Biden&#8217;s Laptop, Other Critical Biden Coverage</title>
  1704. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/brave-politico-reporters-admit-they-were-told-to-sweep-hunter-biden-laptop/</link>
  1706. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  1707. <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:21:31 +0000</pubDate>
  1708. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1709. <category><![CDATA[Hunter Biden]]></category>
  1710. <category><![CDATA[Marc Caputo]]></category>
  1711. <category><![CDATA[Politico]]></category>
  1712. <category><![CDATA[Tara Palmeri]]></category>
  1713. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235197</guid>
  1714.  
  1715. <description><![CDATA[<p>A pair of former reporters for Politico have come forward to reveal that the outlet instructed them to bury the</p>
  1716. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/brave-politico-reporters-admit-they-were-told-to-sweep-hunter-biden-laptop/">Politico Reporters Admit Editors Buried Hunter Biden&#8217;s Laptop, Other Critical Biden Coverage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1717. ]]></description>
  1718. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A pair of former reporters for Politico have come forward to reveal that the outlet instructed them to bury the Hunter Biden laptop story prior to the 2020 presidential election.</p>
  1719.  
  1720.  
  1721.  
  1722. <p>Remember all that talk about the &#8220;free press&#8221; and how Trump was &#8220;too mean&#8221; to the journalists? Yeah. </p>
  1723.  
  1724.  
  1725.  
  1726. <p>To be fair, most of the rest of the media at the time did the same thing, so it&#8217;s not just a Politico problem. But now we have confirmation from the reporters themselves.</p>
  1727.  
  1728.  
  1729.  
  1730. <p>Marc Caputo, now of Axios, and Tara Palmeri, who reports for Puck these days, said editors would not only bristle at any reporting seen as negatively impacting the Biden family but would <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/news/dont-write-about-the-laptop-dont-talk-about-the-laptop-ace-reporters-claim-politico-killed-negative-biden-stories/">flat-out kill</a> such stories.</p>
  1731.  
  1732.  
  1733.  
  1734. <p>The two began a conversation on the podcast &#8220;Somebody’s Gotta Win&#8221; by reminiscing how Politico went on the offense to sway the election, famously publishing a letter signed by 51 prominent intelligence community officials indicating the laptop story “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”</p>
  1735.  
  1736.  
  1737.  
  1738. <p>That, obviously, turned out to be blatant propaganda.</p>
  1739.  
  1740.  
  1741.  
  1742. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-politico-instructed-reporters-not-to-cover-hunter-biden-laptop-story">Politico Instructed Reporters Not To Cover Hunter Biden Laptop Story</h2>
  1743.  
  1744.  
  1745.  
  1746. <p>It was at this point that Caputo bagged his own former employer.</p>
  1747.  
  1748.  
  1749.  
  1750. <p>&#8220;I mean, Politico, my former employer and I knew at the time, didn’t do itself any favors,” he said. “I was covering Biden at the time, and I remember coming to my editor and saying, ‘Hey, we need to write about the Hunter Biden laptop.’&#8221;</p>
  1751.  
  1752.  
  1753.  
  1754. <p>&#8220;And I was told this came from on high at Politico: &#8216;Don’t write about the laptop, don’t talk about the laptop, don’t tweet about the laptop.'&#8221;</p>
  1755.  
  1756.  
  1757.  
  1758. <p>Caputo said the letter from the 51 spies who lied was about it in terms of what Politico reported regarding the Hunter Biden story.</p>
  1759.  
  1760.  
  1761.  
  1762. <p>Palmeri went on to say she had the report on Hunter and his gun issue ready but wasn&#8217;t sure how to get it through editors when the media was supposedly engaged in a &#8220;honeymoon period&#8221; with the new President.</p>
  1763.  
  1764.  
  1765.  
  1766. <p>Caputo further stated he had a story on the former First Son&#8217;s tax issues as well, but that story was &#8220;killed.&#8221;</p>
  1767.  
  1768.  
  1769.  
  1770. <p>“That story was killed by the editors, and they gave no explanation for that either,” he said. “So that general experience, you know, obviously the public doesn’t know about those things.&#8221;</p>
  1771.  
  1772.  
  1773.  
  1774. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a></strong></p>
  1775.  
  1776.  
  1777.  
  1778. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-for-sympathy">Looking For Sympathy</h2>
  1779.  
  1780.  
  1781.  
  1782. <p>It&#8217;s funny to hear these two reporters, who kept Politico&#8217;s journalistic malpractice under wraps for four years &#8211; four years! &#8211; complain that the public doesn&#8217;t understand their struggles.</p>
  1783.  
  1784.  
  1785.  
  1786. <p>“We just get called, like, ‘the terrible mainstream media.’ It’s like you don’t understand the process there,” Palmeri whined.</p>
  1787.  
  1788.  
  1789.  
  1790. <p>“Well, you also don’t understand the dumb decisions of cowardly editors that are made above us,”&nbsp;Caputo added.</p>
  1791.  
  1792.  
  1793.  
  1794. <p>An editor killed legitimate stories. If any of these journos had a shred of dignity, they would have outed the censors at the time for trying to suppress information before the election. This is precisely why people consider them &#8220;the terrible mainstream media.&#8221;</p>
  1795.  
  1796.  
  1797.  
  1798. <p>It took four years to find a spine.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/brave-politico-reporters-admit-they-were-told-to-sweep-hunter-biden-laptop/">Politico Reporters Admit Editors Buried Hunter Biden&#8217;s Laptop, Other Critical Biden Coverage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1799. ]]></content:encoded>
  1803. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:21:33 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1804. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1805. </item>
  1806. <item>
  1807. <title>Will Trump Prosecute Joe Biden? President Reminds Hannity, &#8220;He Didn&#8217;t Give Himself a Pardon&#8221;</title>
  1808. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/will-trump-prosecute-joe-biden-president-reminds-hannity-he-didnt-give-himself-a-pardon/</link>
  1810. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  1811. <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 15:55:30 +0000</pubDate>
  1812. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1813. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1814. <category><![CDATA[Hunter Biden]]></category>
  1815. <category><![CDATA[Joe Biden]]></category>
  1816. <category><![CDATA[Pardon]]></category>
  1817. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235189</guid>
  1818.  
  1819. <description><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to suggest his predecessor, Joe Biden, may have left himself vulnerable to investigation or</p>
  1820. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/will-trump-prosecute-joe-biden-president-reminds-hannity-he-didnt-give-himself-a-pardon/">Will Trump Prosecute Joe Biden? President Reminds Hannity, &#8220;He Didn&#8217;t Give Himself a Pardon&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1821. ]]></description>
  1822. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to suggest his predecessor, <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/joe-biden/">Joe Biden</a>, may have left himself vulnerable to investigation or prosecution based on his actions.</p>
  1823.  
  1824.  
  1825.  
  1826. <p>Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump railed against a slew of pre-emptive pardons issued by Biden in his waning days at the White House.</p>
  1827.  
  1828.  
  1829.  
  1830. <p>Those pardons ranged from committee members on the January 6th protest panel, to COVID response orchestrator Dr. Anthony Fauci, and even to Gen. Mark Milley, who promised to tell a hostile foreign nation if Trump were going to launch an attack.</p>
  1831.  
  1832.  
  1833.  
  1834. <p>In the actual final minutes of his presidency, Biden pardoned his brother and other family members involved in questionable business practices with his son Hunter, who had already been pardoned.</p>
  1835.  
  1836.  
  1837.  
  1838. <p>Trump slammed Pardonpalooza. He initially remarked that he had the option to pardon himself and family members before he left office the first time, but chose not to because, &#8220;We didn’t do anything wrong.&#8221;</p>
  1839.  
  1840.  
  1841.  
  1842. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-points-out-the-one-person-joe-biden-didn-t-pardon">Points Out The One Person Joe Biden Didn&#8217;t Pardon</h2>
  1843.  
  1844.  
  1845.  
  1846. <p>President Trump went on to point out the suffering people close to him had to endure as Biden, during his roundly despised presidency, weaponized the federal government against his political opponents.</p>
  1847.  
  1848.  
  1849.  
  1850. <p>“And we had people that suffered, they’re incredible patriots. We had people that suffered. You had [Steve] <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/steve-bannon/">Bannon</a> put in jail. You had <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/peter-navarro/">Peter Navarro</a> put in jail,&#8221; he lamented.</p>
  1851.  
  1852.  
  1853.  
  1854. <p>“You had people that suffered and and far worse than that, they’ve lost their fortunes. They’ve lost their nest egg, paying it to lawyers.”</p>
  1855.  
  1856.  
  1857.  
  1858. <p>And here&#8217;s where things get really spicy. Trump points out the one man Biden didn&#8217;t pardon and probably should have.</p>
  1859.  
  1860.  
  1861.  
  1862. <p>“This guy is running around giving everyone pardons,” he told Hannity. “The funny thing, maybe the sad thing, is he didn’t give himself a pardon.”</p>
  1863.  
  1864.  
  1865.  
  1866. <p>“And if you look at it, it all had to do with him,” Trump mused.</p>
  1867.  
  1868.  
  1869.  
  1870. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/leAvbdeChec?si=J74kcS-Q0PMpfrik" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  1871.  
  1872.  
  1873.  
  1874. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-white-house-in-discussions-to-issue-preemptive-pardons-for-adam-schiff-liz-cheney-and-dr-fauci/">Biden White House In Discussions To Issue Preemptive Pardons For Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney, And Dr. Fauci</a></strong></p>
  1875.  
  1876.  
  1877.  
  1878. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-would-he-do-it">Would He Do It?</h2>
  1879.  
  1880.  
  1881.  
  1882. <p>Honestly, it makes sense that Joe Biden didn&#8217;t pardon himself. Why? Because as <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/biden-white-house-age-function-diminished-3906a839">recent revelations from the mainstream media</a> point out, we&#8217;re not entirely sure old Joe was even in charge.</p>
  1883.  
  1884.  
  1885.  
  1886. <p>To be frank, I think this is just another example of President Trump keeping all of his options open, leaving the opposition to wonder where he might go. You know &#8211; What a visionary leader does.</p>
  1887.  
  1888.  
  1889.  
  1890. <p>Trump, though, has already expressed repeatedly that prosecuting one&#8217;s political opposition is bad for the country. And at this stage, Joe Biden has no idea where he is. Would it really be worth it?</p>
  1891.  
  1892.  
  1893.  
  1894. <p id="isPasted">“I could have gone after Hillary. I could have gotten Hillary Clinton very easily,&#8221; Trump has previously stated, referencing the &#8216;lock her up&#8217; chants that arose during his 2016 campaign.</p>
  1895.  
  1896.  
  1897.  
  1898. <p>“I could have had her put in jail. And I decided I didn’t want to do that. I thought it would look terrible. You had the wife of the president of the United States going to jail,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I thought it would be very bad if we did that.&#8221;</p>
  1899.  
  1900.  
  1901.  
  1902. <p>Perhaps his views have changed after nearly having his life destroyed by Biden. But if he truly believes it would be bad for the country, then it&#8217;s likely Trump won&#8217;t do it. His concern is always the well-being of our nation.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/will-trump-prosecute-joe-biden-president-reminds-hannity-he-didnt-give-himself-a-pardon/">Will Trump Prosecute Joe Biden? President Reminds Hannity, &#8220;He Didn&#8217;t Give Himself a Pardon&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1903. ]]></content:encoded>
  1907. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:55:34 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1908. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1909. </item>
  1910. <item>
  1911. <title>Trump to Putin: Let&#8217;s Make a Deal and End This &#8216;Ridiculous War&#8217;</title>
  1912. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-putin-lets-make-a-deal-and-end-this-ridiculous-war/</link>
  1914. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  1915. <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:18:22 +0000</pubDate>
  1916. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  1917. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1918. <category><![CDATA[Vladimir Putin]]></category>
  1919. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235187</guid>
  1920.  
  1921. <description><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump released a statement with a message to Russia on Wednesday. In the statement, Trump threatened tariffs, more</p>
  1922. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-putin-lets-make-a-deal-and-end-this-ridiculous-war/">Trump to Putin: Let&#8217;s Make a Deal and End This &#8216;Ridiculous War&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1923. ]]></description>
  1924. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump released a statement with a message to Russia on Wednesday.</p>
  1925.  
  1926.  
  1927.  
  1928. <p>In the statement, Trump threatened tariffs, more sanctions and taxes on Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not end his war against Ukraine, saying it will &#8220;only get get worse&#8221; and that Putin should end &#8220;this ridiculous war.&#8221;</p>
  1929.  
  1930.  
  1931.  
  1932. <p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not looking to hurt Russia,&#8221; Trump said in a statement. &#8220;I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin &#8211; and this despite the Radical Left&#8217;s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process.&#8221;</p>
  1933.  
  1934.  
  1935.  
  1936. <p>Trump went on to call on Russia to end the war, which began in February of 2022 when Russian troops surged across Ukraine&#8217;s eastern border. The bloody conflict has lasted longer than many experts expected, and the U.S. has sent more than $65 billion to Ukraine.</p>
  1937.  
  1938.  
  1939.  
  1940. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-sending-the-military-to-southern-border/">Trump Sending the Military to Southern Border</a></strong></p>
  1941.  
  1942.  
  1943.  
  1944. <p>That funding has become increasingly controversial, with growing Republican opposition making the ongoing funding for Ukraine increasingly less likely.</p>
  1945.  
  1946.  
  1947.  
  1948. <p>&#8220;All of that being said, I&#8217;m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT&#8217;S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don&#8217;t make a &#8216;deal,&#8217; and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries. Let&#8217;s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way &#8211; and the easy way is always better. It&#8217;s time to &#8220;MAKE A DEAL.&#8221; NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!</p>
  1949.  
  1950.  
  1951.  
  1952. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_2e2244f0-d8f1-11ef-a5f0-538edd0e48c8.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-putin-lets-make-a-deal-and-end-this-ridiculous-war/">Trump to Putin: Let&#8217;s Make a Deal and End This &#8216;Ridiculous War&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1953. ]]></content:encoded>
  1957. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:18:26 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  1958. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  1959. </item>
  1960. <item>
  1961. <title>Trump Sending the Military to Southern Border</title>
  1962. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-sending-the-military-to-southern-border/</link>
  1964. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  1965. <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
  1966. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1967. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  1968. <category><![CDATA[Tom Homan]]></category>
  1969. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235184</guid>
  1970.  
  1971. <description><![CDATA[<p>In the latest episode of &#8220;Promises Made, Promises Kept&#8221;, President Trump is moving very quickly to secure the southern border.</p>
  1972. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-sending-the-military-to-southern-border/">Trump Sending the Military to Southern Border</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  1973. ]]></description>
  1974. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the latest episode of &#8220;Promises Made, Promises Kept&#8221;, President Trump is moving very quickly to secure the southern border. </p>
  1975.  
  1976.  
  1977.  
  1978. <p>Pentagon officials <a href="https://apnews.com/article/troops-border-deploy-active-duty-09324578d2b89db5c44e0ba08f42df47">told the AP</a> that at least 1,500 active duty troops are set to deploy right away. </p>
  1979.  
  1980.  
  1981.  
  1982. <p>These troops will be the first active duty soldiers to be deployed to protect the American homeland in many moons. </p>
  1983.  
  1984.  
  1985.  
  1986. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/">Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</a></strong></p>
  1987.  
  1988.  
  1989.  
  1990. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trump-rolling">Trump Rolling</h2>
  1991.  
  1992.  
  1993.  
  1994. <p>Using the military to carry out its primary duty seems like a novel idea in our times. Nevertheless, it&#8217;s something people have been calling for, and President Trump has ordered his cabinet to decide if the Insurrection Act of 1807 should be invoked to deal with the border and the tens of millions of illegal immigrants already in the country.</p>
  1995.  
  1996.  
  1997.  
  1998. <p>The announcement comes after President Trump signed a whole series of Executive Orders on his first day in office aimed at protecting the border and upholding immigration law.</p>
  1999.  
  2000.  
  2001.  
  2002. <p><a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Among them</a> are a redefinition of so-called &#8220;birthright citizenship&#8221; so that the children of illegal immigrants do not automatically become citizens. </p>
  2003.  
  2004.  
  2005.  
  2006. <p>Further, he ended &#8220;Catch and release&#8221;, and yesterday <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/promise-kept-trump-declares-invasion-at-southwest-border-suspends-entry/">declared an invasion</a> at the border &#8211; leading to today&#8217;s announcement.</p>
  2007.  
  2008.  
  2009.  
  2010. <p>He even designated the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.</p>
  2011.  
  2012.  
  2013.  
  2014. <p>The Pentagon is also getting help from Texas, who has been forced to largely fight alone for the last four years.</p>
  2015.  
  2016.  
  2017.  
  2018. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  2019. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This morning, service members deployed to El Paso, Texas constructed a triple-strand concertina barrier near the border to secure the area from illegal crossings. <a href="https://t.co/X6JUkr9iQV">pic.twitter.com/X6JUkr9iQV</a></p>&mdash; Texas Military Dept. (@TXMilitary) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXMilitary/status/1607109299213303808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2022</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  2020. </div></figure>
  2021.  
  2022.  
  2023.  
  2024. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a></strong></p>
  2025.  
  2026.  
  2027.  
  2028. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next">What Comes Next?</h2>
  2029.  
  2030.  
  2031.  
  2032. <p>The nation awaits Trump&#8217;s next moves &#8211; which could entail the promised &#8220;mass deportations&#8221;. </p>
  2033.  
  2034.  
  2035.  
  2036. <p>Border czar Tom Homan also responded to blue cities and states that want to protect illegal aliens, leaving no doubt that he is a very serious man: &#8220;Sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don&#8217;t want — more agents in the communities, more people arrested, more collaterals arrested. So that&#8217;s a game they want to play? Game on.&#8221;</p>
  2037.  
  2038.  
  2039.  
  2040. <p>It seems almost surreal, to have an administration acting on behalf of the American people instead of insulting us and treating our nation like the proverbial &#8220;Take One&#8221; candy dish at Halloween. </p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-sending-the-military-to-southern-border/">Trump Sending the Military to Southern Border</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2041. ]]></content:encoded>
  2045. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:30:25 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2046. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2047. </item>
  2048. <item>
  2049. <title>CNN Found Liable For Defaming Navy Veteran</title>
  2050. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cnn-found-liable-for-defaming-navy-veteran/</link>
  2052. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  2053. <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 17:45:01 +0000</pubDate>
  2054. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2055. <category><![CDATA[cnn]]></category>
  2056. <category><![CDATA[Jake Tapper]]></category>
  2057. <category><![CDATA[Zachary Young]]></category>
  2058. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235163</guid>
  2059.  
  2060. <description><![CDATA[<p>A Florida jury found CNN liable for defamation in a case involving U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. The case stems</p>
  2061. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cnn-found-liable-for-defaming-navy-veteran/">CNN Found Liable For Defaming Navy Veteran</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2062. ]]></description>
  2063. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Florida jury found CNN liable for defamation in a case involving U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. The case stems from a 2021 report that wrongly suggested he profited illegally from evacuating people from Afghanistan, something the Biden administration failed to address appropriately before their botched withdrawal.</p>
  2064.  
  2065.  
  2066.  
  2067. <p>After determining that CNN&#8217;s reporting had defamed him, the jury awarded Young $5 million in compensatory damages.</p>
  2068.  
  2069.  
  2070.  
  2071. <p>Young had argued that the network &#8220;destroyed his reputation and business&#8221; by branding him an &#8220;illegal profiteer&#8221; who exploited &#8220;desperate Afghans.&#8221; </p>
  2072.  
  2073.  
  2074.  
  2075. <p>Those claims surfaced during a November 11, 2021, report by Alex Marquardt that first aired on CNN’s <em>The Lead with Jake Tapper</em>.</p>
  2076.  
  2077.  
  2078.  
  2079. <p>In a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/jury-finds-that-cnn-committed-defamation-against-navy-veteran-awards-punitive-damages">Fox News</a>, CNN said they will learn some lessons after defaming the veteran, but they remain proud of their alleged journalists.</p>
  2080.  
  2081.  
  2082.  
  2083. <p>&#8220;We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case,&#8221; they said in a statement.</p>
  2084.  
  2085.  
  2086.  
  2087. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cnn-argues-that-they-broke-in-defamation-case">CNN Argues That They Broke In Defamation Case</h2>
  2088.  
  2089.  
  2090.  
  2091. <p>CNN hasn&#8217;t engaged in fair-minded reporting in decades. This defamation trial was more proof of that. They saw a man trying to aid people left behind by President Biden, realized that, by extension, this was a black eye on the administration, and decided they had to bury him.</p>
  2092.  
  2093.  
  2094.  
  2095. <p>Alleged &#8220;journalists&#8221; are an activist arm of the Democrat Party, and nothing more.</p>
  2096.  
  2097.  
  2098.  
  2099. <p>Providing some level of amusement, however, was that after awarding Young $5 million in damages, the jury was set to level the network with punitive damages, which would be significant. And CNN begged for leniency, citing their own financial ruin over the past few years.</p>
  2100.  
  2101.  
  2102.  
  2103. <p>Court documents showed that the network&#8217;s revenue tanked roughly $400 million in three years.</p>
  2104.  
  2105.  
  2106.  
  2107. <p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ve made a decision that CNN&#8217;s liable. But that doesn&#8217;t mean that there isn&#8217;t a reasonable path forward,&#8221; CNN&#8217;s lawyer argued to the jury. &#8220;Over the next few hours &#8230; you&#8217;re going to hear about CNN&#8217;s net worth. And you&#8217;re going to see  that the net worth of the company is in subtle decline.&#8221;</p>
  2108.  
  2109.  
  2110.  
  2111. <p>$400 million isn&#8217;t exactly subtle.</p>
  2112.  
  2113.  
  2114.  
  2115. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CNN&#39;s lawyer argues against the network being hit with punitive damages (after it was found liable for defaming Navy veteran Zachary Young) by saying it&#39;d harm the company financially and hinder its ability to report on major breaking news events like wildfires and crises around… <a href="https://t.co/TjEEb8ZN8D">pic.twitter.com/TjEEb8ZN8D</a></p>&mdash; Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1880309604581576956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2116.  
  2117.  
  2118.  
  2119. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cnns-jake-tapper-accuses-republican-leaders-of-violating-basic-decency/">CNN’s Jake Tapper Accuses Republican Leaders Of Violating ‘Basic Decency’</a></strong></p>
  2120.  
  2121.  
  2122.  
  2123. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-won-t-be-able-to-deliver-the-news">Won&#8217;t Be Able To Deliver The News</h2>
  2124.  
  2125.  
  2126.  
  2127. <p>Further making it amusing is the fact that CNN, having just been found liable for defamation, felt that any excessive punishment would be unjust because it would hinder their ability to deliver further biased news coverage.</p>
  2128.  
  2129.  
  2130.  
  2131. <p>&#8220;When natural disasters break out, CNN is there, and that’s hurricanes, that’s wildfires, that’s earthquakes. When conflicts erupt, like some of the ones we’ve heard in this case, CNN’s there,&#8221; the lawyer argued. &#8220;And providing all that content, that really important content, is expensive.&#8221;</p>
  2132.  
  2133.  
  2134.  
  2135. <p>A conflict erupted in Afghanistan. CNN was there. And they were found liable for defamation of a hero. That&#8217;s the kind of coverage they want to continue.</p>
  2136.  
  2137.  
  2138.  
  2139. <p>Before the jury could decide on punitive damages, CNN and Young reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount. </p>
  2140.  
  2141.  
  2142.  
  2143. <p>The settlement was quickly announced after an expert witness suggested $150 million was a reasonable punishment for the network. Making it likely that the penalty was somewhere in that ballpark.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cnn-found-liable-for-defaming-navy-veteran/">CNN Found Liable For Defaming Navy Veteran</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2144. ]]></content:encoded>
  2148. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:45:05 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2149. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2150. </item>
  2151. <item>
  2152. <title>AOC Goes On Wide-Eyed Lunatic Rant Over Elon Musk&#8217;s Alleged &#8216;Nazi Salute,&#8217; Then People Found Video of Her Doing the Same Thing</title>
  2153. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-goes-on-wide-eyed-lunatic-rant-over-elon-musks/</link>
  2155. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  2156. <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:03:27 +0000</pubDate>
  2157. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2158. <category><![CDATA[AOC]]></category>
  2159. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  2160. <category><![CDATA[hitler]]></category>
  2161. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235178</guid>
  2162.  
  2163. <description><![CDATA[<p>Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) took the bait by running with a media-driven smear of Elon Musk in her now-common</p>
  2164. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-goes-on-wide-eyed-lunatic-rant-over-elon-musks/">AOC Goes On Wide-Eyed Lunatic Rant Over Elon Musk&#8217;s Alleged &#8216;Nazi Salute,&#8217; Then People Found Video of Her Doing the Same Thing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2165. ]]></description>
  2166. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) took the bait by running with a media-driven smear of Elon Musk in her now-common unhinged style.</p>
  2167.  
  2168.  
  2169.  
  2170. <p>For those who are unaware, Musk gave a speech at President Trump&#8217;s inauguration in which he spoke about giving his heart to the people, then gestured by placing a hand on his chest and motioning out to the crowd.</p>
  2171.  
  2172.  
  2173.  
  2174. <p>Naturally, the media decided this was a Nazi salute, because that is all they see anywhere they look. Admittedly, it does look a little strange, but then again Elon is a strange guy. PBS, which needs to be defunded post haste, kicked off the hoax, and other outlets like CNN ran with it.</p>
  2175.  
  2176.  
  2177.  
  2178. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Billionaire Elon Musk gave what appeared to be a fascist salute Monday while making a speech at the post-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena.<br><br>“Some elections are important, some are not. But this one, this one really mattered and I just… <a href="https://t.co/K8Fo0sdozL">pic.twitter.com/K8Fo0sdozL</a></p>&mdash; PBS News (@NewsHour) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1881445540031857115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2179.  
  2180.  
  2181.  
  2182. <p>Now, there&#8217;s only a handful of lawmakers in this country dumb enough to fall for it, and AOC, of course, fits in that mold. She dutifully went on a social media rant against Musk.</p>
  2183.  
  2184.  
  2185.  
  2186. <p>&#8220;You&#8217;re gonna do a &#8216;Sieg heil!'&#8221; she said, knowing full well she had no idea what that phrase meant until somebody in the media explained it to her with tiny words and a picture book.</p>
  2187.  
  2188.  
  2189.  
  2190. <p>&#8220;You&#8217;re gonna do a &#8216;Heil, Hitler&#8217; or their rebrand, a Roman salute, from behind the presidential seal of the United States of America,&#8221; the flummoxed TikTok star added. (Obviously, Rome existed a thousand years before Hitler was even born.)</p>
  2191.  
  2192.  
  2193.  
  2194. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This video made me 100% convinced she’ll never be the Democratic candidate for president, or even a senator from New York. <a href="https://t.co/OKIqHRTw9h">pic.twitter.com/OKIqHRTw9h</a></p>&mdash; Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardHanania/status/1881901741056332119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2195.  
  2196.  
  2197.  
  2198. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aoc-slams-elon-musk-over-fascist-salute">AOC Slams Elon Musk Over Fascist Salute</h2>
  2199.  
  2200.  
  2201.  
  2202. <p>Watching the video, it&#8217;s hard to believe somebody lets that person go out in public. It&#8217;s even more alarming that somebody decided that person should be a lawmaker.</p>
  2203.  
  2204.  
  2205.  
  2206. <p>Not only that, there are some people in the Democrat Party that look at that hot mess and think, &#8216;She just might be our savior in 2028.&#8217;</p>
  2207.  
  2208.  
  2209.  
  2210. <p>AOC&#8217;s rant against Elon Musk continued on X.</p>
  2211.  
  2212.  
  2213.  
  2214. <p>“This is the United States of America. And I don’t care what Elon Musk is doing behind a presidential seal. In this country, we hate Nazis,” she said. “Kind of like a foundational, defining thing.”</p>
  2215.  
  2216.  
  2217.  
  2218. <p>“Two of probably the most foundational, defining things about American history is that we beat the Confederates and we beat the Nazis,” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “And I don’t know what side people may be on today, but I still am not rocking with anyone sympathetic to Nazis. And I will do that until I am six feet in the ground.”</p>
  2219.  
  2220.  
  2221.  
  2222. <p>A more criminal indictment of the nation&#8217;s history departments you&#8217;re unlikely to find anywhere.</p>
  2223.  
  2224.  
  2225.  
  2226. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-but-wait-what-s-this">But Wait, What&#8217;s This?</h2>
  2227.  
  2228.  
  2229.  
  2230. <p>It&#8217;s kind of funny that the American people resoundingly told Democrats in this past election, &#8216;Hey, we&#8217;re kind of tired of you lying about every person who disagrees with you as being a Nazi.&#8217;</p>
  2231.  
  2232.  
  2233.  
  2234. <p>And the first thing they do after President Trump&#8217;s inauguration is try a Hitler hoax. They really, truly will never learn.</p>
  2235.  
  2236.  
  2237.  
  2238. <p>Meanwhile, on social media, people had a field day pointing out that if you wanted to, freezing any moment in time, you could make anyone appear as if they&#8217;ve given a &#8216;fascist salute.&#8217; (Hey Sandy, just as an aside, Google &#8220;Bellamy Salute&#8221; and give us an update on American history!)</p>
  2239.  
  2240.  
  2241.  
  2242. <p>AOC certainly looks like she&#8217;s doing something fascist-y here, doesn&#8217;t she?</p>
  2243.  
  2244.  
  2245.  
  2246. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.<br><br>Any comment <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a>? <a href="https://t.co/gsgUGt8c4g">https://t.co/gsgUGt8c4g</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vs6npp8euj">pic.twitter.com/Vs6npp8euj</a></p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1881800472081891815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2247.  
  2248.  
  2249.  
  2250. <p>Or former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.</p>
  2251.  
  2252.  
  2253.  
  2254. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Holy shlit. Is everyone who voted for Harris-Walz a Nazi supporter??? <a href="https://t.co/fCCsP6rRcA">pic.twitter.com/fCCsP6rRcA</a></p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1881955757438160947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2255.  
  2256.  
  2257.  
  2258. <p>Or Taylor Swift.</p>
  2259.  
  2260.  
  2261.  
  2262. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Irony 101<br><br>So now we finally find out that Taylor Swift is a Nazi also!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/etJotKkhPZ">pic.twitter.com/etJotKkhPZ</a></p>&mdash; Jim Hawk (@JimHawk67327371) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimHawk67327371/status/1881898744725283193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2263.  
  2264.  
  2265.  
  2266. <p>Or just about anybody. </p>
  2267.  
  2268.  
  2269.  
  2270. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisMurphyCT</a>: OMG, did you see that Hitler salute? We must not tolerate this. <a href="https://t.co/KiXCNSJjbm">pic.twitter.com/KiXCNSJjbm</a></p>&mdash; Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rusty_Weiss/status/1881786864157479250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2271.  
  2272.  
  2273.  
  2274. <p>Really &#8211; anybody &#8211; even American school children.</p>
  2275.  
  2276.  
  2277.  
  2278. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  2279. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In America, the Roman Salute was the Bellamy Salute. It was named after Francis Bellamy, the writer of the Pledge of Allegiance. <a href="https://t.co/p0s6pcArcc">pic.twitter.com/p0s6pcArcc</a></p>&mdash; Antarctic Prime, PhD ☦️ 🇺🇸 🇦🇶 (@Kaleb_Atlanta) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kaleb_Atlanta/status/1882088333372686408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  2280. </div></figure><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/aoc-goes-on-wide-eyed-lunatic-rant-over-elon-musks/">AOC Goes On Wide-Eyed Lunatic Rant Over Elon Musk&#8217;s Alleged &#8216;Nazi Salute,&#8217; Then People Found Video of Her Doing the Same Thing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2281. ]]></content:encoded>
  2285. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:03:29 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2286. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2287. </item>
  2288. <item>
  2289. <title>Promise Kept: Trump Declares Invasion at Southwest Border, Suspends Entry</title>
  2290. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/promise-kept-trump-declares-invasion-at-southwest-border-suspends-entry/</link>
  2292. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  2293. <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:10:24 +0000</pubDate>
  2294. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  2295. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  2296. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235180</guid>
  2297.  
  2298. <description><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump has declared an invasion at the U.S. southern border and issued directives to suspend physical entry and</p>
  2299. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/promise-kept-trump-declares-invasion-at-southwest-border-suspends-entry/">Promise Kept: Trump Declares Invasion at Southwest Border, Suspends Entry</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2300. ]]></description>
  2301. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump has declared an invasion at the U.S. southern border and issued directives to suspend physical entry and repel the invasion.</p>
  2302.  
  2303.  
  2304.  
  2305. <p>Trump is the first president in modern history to declare an invasion at a U.S. border.</p>
  2306.  
  2307.  
  2308.  
  2309. <p>The proclamation signed late Monday comes after 55 Texas counties were the first and only ones to declare an invasion, changing the national conversation, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_81d86a18-e246-11ee-a151-1fe36912b28a.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">exclusively reported</a></strong>.</p>
  2310.  
  2311.  
  2312.  
  2313. <p>They did so after Arizona’s former attorney general was the only state attorney general to issue a&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_a34557a8-bfc6-11ee-9ad3-db900a9568a6.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">formal opinion</a></strong>&nbsp;defining invasion, justifying Arizona’s right to self-defense under Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the US Constitution.</p>
  2314.  
  2315.  
  2316.  
  2317. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/">Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</a></strong></p>
  2318.  
  2319.  
  2320.  
  2321. <p>Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, was the only governor in modern history to declare an invasion before a state legislature, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/south_dakota/article_e276bda4-e523-11ee-a4cb-fbf3d3c83282.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">reported</a></strong>.</p>
  2322.  
  2323.  
  2324.  
  2325. <p>After millions of illegal border crossers poured into Texas and Republican governors supported its border security efforts, Gov. Greg Abbott&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_9b88b88c-bb9f-11ee-a83c-77d7008524ee.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">said</a></strong>&nbsp;President Joe Biden had broken the federal government’s compact with the states, referring to the U.S. Constitution’s “Guarantee Clause.” The clause, Article IV, Section 4, states that the federal government “shall protect each state against invasion.” Instead, the Biden administration sued Texas attempting to block its efforts.</p>
  2326.  
  2327.  
  2328.  
  2329. <p>Republican governors maintained that states have a constitutional right to protect their borders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_21cc6cca-bc4c-11ee-ad45-235f5e82ffe5.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">said</a></strong>, “If the constitution was originally understood to mean that a state could not protect itself against an invasion, that the federal government could force a state to allow an invasion, the constitution would have never been ratified in the first place. Texas would have never joined the union when it did.”</p>
  2330.  
  2331.  
  2332.  
  2333. <p>Trump agrees.</p>
  2334.  
  2335.  
  2336.  
  2337. <p>In his Jan. 20, 2025,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/guaranteeing-the-states-protection-against-invasion/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">proclamation</a></strong>, “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion,” he states: “In joining the Union, the States agreed to surrender much of their sovereignty and join the Union in exchange for the Federal Government’s promise in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, to ‘protect each of [the States] against Invasion.’</p>
  2338.  
  2339.  
  2340.  
  2341. <p>“I have determined that the current state of the southern border reveals that the Federal Government has failed in fulfilling this obligation to the States and hereby declare that an invasion is ongoing at the southern border, which requires the Federal Government to take measures to fulfill its obligation to the States.”</p>
  2342.  
  2343.  
  2344.  
  2345. <p>The proclamation states that “An essential feature of any sovereign nation is the existence of territorial boundaries and the inherent authority to decide who and what may cross those boundaries.” The U.S. Supreme Court has “described this power as a ‘fundamental act of sovereignty,’ which ‘stems not alone from legislative power but is inherent in the executive power to control the foreign affairs of the nation.’”</p>
  2346.  
  2347.  
  2348.  
  2349. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/">DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</a></strong></p>
  2350.  
  2351.  
  2352.  
  2353. <p>The proclamation cites examples of how the Biden administration violated the Immigration National Act (INA) allowing “unauthorized entry of innumerable illegal aliens into the United States” who weren’t vetted or screened for public health threats. Millions of illegal border crossers were transported into communities nationwide where they “potentially pose significant threats to health, safety, and national security.”</p>
  2354.  
  2355.  
  2356.  
  2357. <p>While the INA authorizes the president to suspend entry into the U.S. when determining “the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States,” the proclamation says the president has the constitutional authority to do so to protect U.S. sovereignty, “particularly in times of emergency … such as when there is an ongoing invasion into the States.”</p>
  2358.  
  2359.  
  2360.  
  2361. <p>The president’s “inherent powers” to control the U.S. borders, including executive branch authority to control foreign affairs, includes “the ability to prevent the physical entry of aliens involved in an invasion into the United States, and to rapidly repatriate them to an alternative location. Only through such measures can the President guarantee the right of each State to be protected against invasion.”</p>
  2362.  
  2363.  
  2364.  
  2365. <p>The proclamation states: “By the power vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I have determined that the current situation at the southern border qualifies as an invasion under Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States. Accordingly, I am issuing this Proclamation based on my express and inherent powers in Article II of the Constitution of the United States, and in faithful execution of the immigration laws passed by the Congress, and suspending the physical entry of aliens involved in an invasion into the United States across the southern border until I determine that the invasion has concluded.”</p>
  2366.  
  2367.  
  2368.  
  2369. <p>The order suspends entry into the U.S. as of Jan. 20, stating, “aliens engaged in the invasion across the southern border is detrimental to the interests of the United States.”</p>
  2370.  
  2371.  
  2372.  
  2373. <p>It points to federal law not being followed requiring health screenings, criminal and other background checks as reasons to remove “aliens invading the United States” and “restrict their access to provisions of the INA that would permit their continued presence in the United States.”</p>
  2374.  
  2375.  
  2376.  
  2377. <p>It states that Trump’s actions are authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution, including “control over foreign affairs, and to effectuate the guarantee of protection against invasion required by Article IV, Section 4.”</p>
  2378.  
  2379.  
  2380.  
  2381. <p>It directs the secretary of Homeland Security, secretary of State and attorney general “to take appropriate actions” to implement proclamation objectives, including “all appropriate action to repel, repatriate, or remove any alien engaged in the invasion across the southern border of the United States on or after the date of this order … until I issue a finding that the invasion at the southern border has ceased.”</p>
  2382.  
  2383.  
  2384.  
  2385. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_86c8ac3c-d835-11ef-bdae-372bed52042d.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/promise-kept-trump-declares-invasion-at-southwest-border-suspends-entry/">Promise Kept: Trump Declares Invasion at Southwest Border, Suspends Entry</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2386. ]]></content:encoded>
  2390. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:10:27 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2391. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2392. </item>
  2393. <item>
  2394. <title>DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</title>
  2395. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/</link>
  2397. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  2398. <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:18:33 +0000</pubDate>
  2399. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  2400. <category><![CDATA[DEI]]></category>
  2401. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  2402. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  2403. <category><![CDATA[executive order]]></category>
  2404. <category><![CDATA[OPM]]></category>
  2405. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235173</guid>
  2406.  
  2407. <description><![CDATA[<p>DOGE &#8211; President Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency &#8211; is off to a red-hot start. The pseudo-department (it&#8217;s not a</p>
  2408. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/">DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2409. ]]></description>
  2410. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>DOGE &#8211; President Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency &#8211; is off to a red-hot start. </p>
  2411.  
  2412.  
  2413.  
  2414. <p>The pseudo-department (it&#8217;s not a real government agency&#8230; yet) led by Elon Musk has several goals in its mission: Cut government spending, reduce red tape and bureaucracy, and abolish unhelpful or even detrimental programs. </p>
  2415.  
  2416.  
  2417.  
  2418. <p>Case in point: the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). </p>
  2419.  
  2420.  
  2421.  
  2422. <p>First it was there. Now, it&#8217;s gone. </p>
  2423.  
  2424.  
  2425.  
  2426. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  2427. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Progress <a href="https://t.co/iNAgAtPPCV">pic.twitter.com/iNAgAtPPCV</a></p>&mdash; Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE/status/1881498466897272915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  2428. </div></figure>
  2429.  
  2430.  
  2431.  
  2432. <p>Unfortunately the site is still active, but that&#8217;s because the feds have 60 days to get Trump&#8217;s order done.</p>
  2433.  
  2434.  
  2435.  
  2436. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a></strong></p>
  2437.  
  2438.  
  2439.  
  2440. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elon-starts-slashing">Elon Starts Slashing</h2>
  2441.  
  2442.  
  2443.  
  2444. <p>The OPM is the agency that handles human resources, payroll, and the like for the over two million federal employees.</p>
  2445.  
  2446.  
  2447.  
  2448. <p>What is the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council at the OPM? I&#8217;m glad you asked. </p>
  2449.  
  2450.  
  2451.  
  2452. <p><a href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/chief-diversity-officers-executive-council/">They describe their mission</a> as &#8220;the principal interagency forum to implement and sustain a national strategy for DEIA across the Federal government and position the Federal government as a model for the DEIA.&#8221;</p>
  2453.  
  2454.  
  2455.  
  2456. <p>What does that mean? First, the DEI acronym was expanded to include &#8220;accessibility.&#8221; As in, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. </p>
  2457.  
  2458.  
  2459.  
  2460. <p>As for what they do, here&#8217;s the official description: &#8220;The Council will advise agencies and their senior leaders on promising practices in DEIA and promote those practices as important to agency strategic plans, missions, and operations; coordinate activities of its member agencies on government-wide policy implementation and partnerships; assist with setting clear strategies, benchmarks, and metrics for DEIA standards of excellence and accountability across the Federal government; and promote an inclusive workplace culture for all Federal employees.&#8221;</p>
  2461.  
  2462.  
  2463.  
  2464. <p>In short, like most if not all DEI programs, this one was meant to increase the number of &#8220;minority&#8221; groups in the OPM. In the thinking of the left, increasing the number of minority individuals and decreasing the number of majority &#8211; in our case here in America, white &#8211; individuals is considered a <em>de facto</em> public good. Why that&#8217;s the case is never clearly explained, but one gets the sense that it would be rather impolitic, even by the left&#8217;s standards, to clearly explain their reasoning. </p>
  2465.  
  2466.  
  2467.  
  2468. <p>Regardless, we won&#8217;t have to worry about it for at least four years. Because like <em>all</em> other federal agency DEI programs, it&#8217;s gone. </p>
  2469.  
  2470.  
  2471.  
  2472. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/">Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</a></strong></p>
  2473.  
  2474.  
  2475.  
  2476. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trump-cuts-dei">Trump Cuts DEI </h2>
  2477.  
  2478.  
  2479.  
  2480. <p>As part of his marathon run at fixing as much of Biden&#8217;s mistakes as possible on the first day, President Trump rescinded Executive Order 13985. </p>
  2481.  
  2482.  
  2483.  
  2484. <p><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/">President Trump&#8217;s order</a>, Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing, ends &#8220;illegal and immoral&#8221; discrimination programs like DEI. The Budget Director, OPM Director, and Attorney General are ordered to end the programs and all related &#8220;activities&#8221; in the federal government within 60 days. </p>
  2485.  
  2486.  
  2487.  
  2488. <p>As part of this effort, the Budget Director is collecting a record of all such programs that existed under the Biden administration, which should make for very interesting reading. </p>
  2489.  
  2490.  
  2491.  
  2492. <p>DOGE chief Musk has long railed against such programs, something President Trump agrees with. </p>
  2493.  
  2494.  
  2495.  
  2496. <p>It&#8217;s just Day Two folks. We&#8217;re off and running.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-claims-first-scalp-in-efforts-to-cut-government-and-bureaucracy/">DOGE Claims First Scalp In Efforts To Cut Government and Bureaucracy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2497. ]]></content:encoded>
  2501. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:18:36 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2502. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2503. </item>
  2504. <item>
  2505. <title>Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</title>
  2506. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/</link>
  2508. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  2509. <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:09:20 +0000</pubDate>
  2510. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2511. <category><![CDATA[Barron Trump]]></category>
  2512. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  2513. <category><![CDATA[Gen Z]]></category>
  2514. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235171</guid>
  2515.  
  2516. <description><![CDATA[<p>The demographic most excited about President-elect Donald J. Trump is Generation Z, according to a CBS News poll released Sunday.</p>
  2517. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/">Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2518. ]]></description>
  2519. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The demographic most excited about President-elect Donald J. Trump is Generation Z, according to a CBS News poll released Sunday.</p>
  2520.  
  2521.  
  2522.  
  2523. <p>At least 67 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 says they are optimistic about the next four years, the poll found.</p>
  2524.  
  2525.  
  2526.  
  2527. <p><strong>From CBS News:</strong></p>
  2528.  
  2529.  
  2530.  
  2531. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
  2532. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
  2533. <p>Trump made gains over 2020 with younger voters, and today, young Americans are more likely to voice optimism about him than are older Americans. (They’re also just generally more likely to voice optimism whenever asked to look ahead.) Trump did better with men and made gains with women, and today both are optimistic, men especially so.</p>
  2534.  
  2535.  
  2536.  
  2537. <p>Today, almost a quarter of the voters who backed Kamala Harris are optimistic now about the next four years with Trump, reflecting perhaps some willingness for them to reevaluate him once he takes office, something we often see with a losing candidate’s supporters, at least early on.&nbsp;</p>
  2538. </blockquote>
  2539. </blockquote>
  2540.  
  2541.  
  2542.  
  2543. <p>“I have kids in that age range. They all voted for Trump,” one mom wrote on social media. “They know that the possibility of the nation falling off a cliff hinges on his presidency succeeding or failing. My family is excited for the changes coming with the new Trump Administration!</p>
  2544.  
  2545.  
  2546.  
  2547. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a></strong></p>
  2548.  
  2549.  
  2550.  
  2551. <p>Bo Loudon, a close friend of Barron Trump, explained in November when there is such an appeal to the Make America Great Again movement.</p>
  2552.  
  2553.  
  2554.  
  2555. <p>“Gen-Z showed up for President-Elect Trump because he shows up for us,” the 18-year-old said on Fox News. “We’re tired of seeing him be kicked around and bullied for wanting to save America. We didn’t want Kamala, who thought we were ‘stupid.’ GEN-Z LOVES DONALD TRUMP!”</p>
  2556.  
  2557.  
  2558.  
  2559. <p>Another mom weighed in: “My Gen Z daughter said they would be the ones to save America.”</p>
  2560.  
  2561.  
  2562.  
  2563. <p>Brilyn Hollyhand, the 18-year-old chair of the RNC’s Youth Advisory, had been predicting for the past year that Trump would score a huge victory among his peers.</p>
  2564.  
  2565.  
  2566.  
  2567. <p>“The party of ‘joy’ has called my generation deplorables, fascists, Nazis, and now garbage,” Hollyhand said late last year, referring to Democrats. “They’re truly a party of hate and division.”</p>
  2568.  
  2569.  
  2570.  
  2571. <p>And he predicted that the Republican party could also see big gains as a result of Trump’s work.</p>
  2572.  
  2573.  
  2574.  
  2575. <p>“We’re entering an era where the Republican party is the party of Gen Z for three simple reasons: we listen to their concerns – we address their concerns – and we’re not shoving woke propaganda down their throats,” he said.</p>
  2576.  
  2577.  
  2578.  
  2579. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.toddstarnes.com/values/shocker-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">from ToddStarnes.com</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-effect-gen-z-most-optimistic-about-trump-presidency/">Trump Effect: Gen-Z Most Optimistic About Trump Presidency</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2580. ]]></content:encoded>
  2584. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:09:24 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2585. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2586. </item>
  2587. <item>
  2588. <title>Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</title>
  2589. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/</link>
  2591. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  2592. <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:09:44 +0000</pubDate>
  2593. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2594. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  2595. <category><![CDATA[executive orders]]></category>
  2596. <category><![CDATA[Inauguration]]></category>
  2597. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235168</guid>
  2598.  
  2599. <description><![CDATA[<p>On his first day back in office, Donald Trump signed a significant number of executive actions, including 42 executive orders,</p>
  2600. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2601. ]]></description>
  2602. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On his first day back in office, Donald Trump signed a significant number of executive actions, including 42 executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations, and took 115 personnel actions. </p>
  2603.  
  2604.  
  2605.  
  2606. <p>He also engaged in over 200 executive actions, marking a historic level of activity for an inaugural day. </p>
  2607.  
  2608.  
  2609.  
  2610. <p>Key actions included rescinding 78 Biden-era executive orders, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, and ending federal remote work arrangements. </p>
  2611.  
  2612.  
  2613.  
  2614. <p>Trump also held a 60-minute press Q&amp;A and delivered three historic speeches to outline his immediate priorities. And he did it all while attending three inaugural balls and engaging with countless supporters.</p>
  2615.  
  2616.  
  2617.  
  2618. <p>His predecessor was barely seen on any given day for more than 20 minutes and frequently called a &#8220;lid&#8221; by mid-afternoon.</p>
  2619.  
  2620.  
  2621.  
  2622. <p>Nevertheless, President Trump took some very important actions. Here are some of top actions on his first day in office.</p>
  2623.  
  2624.  
  2625.  
  2626. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨BY THE NUMBERS: President Trump’s HISTORIC first day: <br><br>-42 Executive Orders/Memoranda/Proclamations<br>-115 personnel actions <br>-More than 200 executive actions<br>-60 minutes of press Q&amp;A <br>-3 historic speeches… with more to come at tonight’s balls!</p>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1881536835392057815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2627.  
  2628.  
  2629.  
  2630. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trump-s-major-executive-orders">Trump&#8217;s Major Executive Orders</h2>
  2631.  
  2632.  
  2633.  
  2634. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pardons-the-j6-hostages">Pardons The J6 &#8216;Hostages&#8217;</h3>
  2635.  
  2636.  
  2637.  
  2638. <p>One of the most significant executive orders issued by President Trump involved mass pardons for approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol protest. The move fulfilled a long-standing promise to his supporters. </p>
  2639.  
  2640.  
  2641.  
  2642. <p>The pardons included commuting the sentences of 14 high-profile individuals, such as Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders, directing their immediate release from prison.</p>
  2643.  
  2644.  
  2645.  
  2646. <p>&#8220;So, this is a big one. We hope they come out [of prison] tonight, frankly,&#8221; he said, signing the order. &#8220;They&#8217;re expecting it.&#8221;</p>
  2647.  
  2648.  
  2649.  
  2650. <p>Word trickled out on social media that those releases were, in fact, happening already.</p>
  2651.  
  2652.  
  2653.  
  2654. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FULL PARDONS FOR 1,500 J6 DEFENDANTS <br><br>6 commutations <a href="https://t.co/mqMuoMXLcj">pic.twitter.com/mqMuoMXLcj</a></p>&mdash; Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1881504427015799118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2655.  
  2656.  
  2657.  
  2658. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revokes-security-clearance-for-intel-officials-who-lied-about-hunter-biden-laptop">Revokes Security Clearance For Intel Officials Who Lied About Hunter Biden Laptop</h3>
  2659.  
  2660.  
  2661.  
  2662. <p>Trump revoked the security clearances of <a href="https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/01/20/trump-rips-security-clearances-from-the-51-spies-who-lied-then-he-hit-them-with-another-bombshell-n2184613">51 former intelligence officials</a> who had signed a letter suggesting that Hunter Biden&#8217;s laptop was part of a Russian disinformation campaign before the 2020 election. </p>
  2663.  
  2664.  
  2665.  
  2666. <p>This act was part of a broader executive order aimed at addressing misinformation spread by these officials. </p>
  2667.  
  2668.  
  2669.  
  2670. <p>Additionally, Trump authorized further investigations into their actions, signaling a commitment to accountability for misleading the public.</p>
  2671.  
  2672.  
  2673.  
  2674. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump Rips Security Clearances From the 51 Spies Who Lied, Then He Hit Them With Another Bombshell<a href="https://t.co/EWvUqqNQw8">https://t.co/EWvUqqNQw8</a></p>&mdash; RedState (@RedState) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedState/status/1881549783539597617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2675.  
  2676.  
  2677.  
  2678. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redefines-birthright-citizenship">Redefines &#8216;Birthright Citizenship&#8217;</h3>
  2679.  
  2680.  
  2681.  
  2682. <p>President Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents without legal immigration status in the U.S. </p>
  2683.  
  2684.  
  2685.  
  2686. <p>The order reinterprets the 14th Amendment&#8217;s jurisdiction clause, stating that children of illegal immigrants would not automatically become U.S. citizens. </p>
  2687.  
  2688.  
  2689.  
  2690. <p>This decision is anticipated to face immediate legal challenges, with experts questioning its constitutional validity. Regardless, Trump&#8217;s administration signaled readiness for a legal fight, asserting that there are good grounds for the policy change.</p>
  2691.  
  2692.  
  2693.  
  2694. <p>The move is part of a broader set of immigration-related executive actions to tighten border control and redefine U.S. citizenship policies. Which we see more of below &#8230;</p>
  2695.  
  2696.  
  2697.  
  2698. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donald Trump just signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.<br><br>This is one of the most important issues he can pick a fight on. It will be challenged immediately, and we need to stand with him every step of the way in this fight. <a href="https://t.co/cnAafJcgVC">pic.twitter.com/cnAafJcgVC</a></p>&mdash; Christian Heiens 🏛 (@ChristianHeiens) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristianHeiens/status/1881508843911319591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2699.  
  2700.  
  2701.  
  2702. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-considering-executive-order-to-end-birthright-citizenship/">Trump Considering Executive Order To End Birthright Citizenship</a></strong></p>
  2703.  
  2704.  
  2705.  
  2706. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multiple-orders-to-secure-the-border">Multiple Orders To Secure The Border</h3>
  2707.  
  2708.  
  2709.  
  2710. <p>Trump took immediate action to address illegal immigration at the southern border by signing several executive orders. </p>
  2711.  
  2712.  
  2713.  
  2714. <p>He declared a national emergency at the border, allowing for the use of military assets to assist in securing it. Trump also designated international criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which broadens the legal tools available to combat their operations. </p>
  2715.  
  2716.  
  2717.  
  2718. <p>Another significant order ended &#8220;catch and release&#8221; policies, focusing instead on resuming border wall construction and detaining migrants. The executive actions also aimed at protecting states from the impacts of illegal immigration, with a specific focus on southern border states like Texas. </p>
  2719.  
  2720.  
  2721.  
  2722. <p>The orders included deploying U.S. military personnel to ensure border security and repel foreign invasions. A proclamation was made to halt the illegal influx, with an emphasis on the sovereignty of the United States being under attack.</p>
  2723.  
  2724.  
  2725.  
  2726. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 President Trump signs an Executive Order designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations <a href="https://t.co/TZhPywQIbq">pic.twitter.com/TZhPywQIbq</a></p>&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1881505324236169243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2727.  
  2728.  
  2729.  
  2730. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-tiktok-problem">Addressing The TikTok Problem</h3>
  2731.  
  2732.  
  2733.  
  2734. <p>President Donald Trump signed an executive order to temporarily halt the ban on TikTok, which had gone dark in the U.S. due to a Supreme Court ruling. </p>
  2735.  
  2736.  
  2737.  
  2738. <p>The order provides a 75-day pause on the enforcement of the ban, aiming to negotiate a solution that addresses national security concerns while keeping the platform operational. </p>
  2739.  
  2740.  
  2741.  
  2742. <p>Trump&#8217;s decision comes after discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with hopes to balance trade, security, and the app&#8217;s future.</p>
  2743.  
  2744.  
  2745.  
  2746. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 President Trump signs an Executive Order to keep TikTok alive so that a deal can be reached <a href="https://t.co/oPqrvSjaes">pic.twitter.com/oPqrvSjaes</a></p>&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1881510893932138503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2747.  
  2748.  
  2749.  
  2750. <p>Trump, on his very first day in office, kept several campaign promises by signing executive orders on immigration, security clearances, and border control, demonstrating his commitment to immediate action on his key issues. </p>
  2751.  
  2752.  
  2753.  
  2754. <p>He said what he was going to do. He&#8217;s doing it.</p>
  2755.  
  2756.  
  2757.  
  2758. <p>Moving forward, we can expect the President to continue this trend with further policy implementation, focusing on deregulation, economic revitalization, and reinforcing his &#8220;America First&#8221; agenda.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/president-trump-unleashes-a-flurry-of-promised-executive-orders/">Promises Made, Promises Kept: Most Important Executive Orders Signed By Trump on Day One</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2759. ]]></content:encoded>
  2763. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:09:45 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2764. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2765. </item>
  2766. <item>
  2767. <title>A Familiar Face Returns: Trump’s Inauguration Ushers in a New Chapter</title>
  2768. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/a-familiar-face-returns-trumps-inauguration-ushers-in-a-new-chapter/</link>
  2770. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ken LaCorte]]></dc:creator>
  2771. <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:18:56 +0000</pubDate>
  2772. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  2773. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  2774. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235166</guid>
  2775.  
  2776. <description><![CDATA[<p>As Donald Trump becomes president again at noon today, he comes armed with an agenda ready to go. His team</p>
  2777. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/a-familiar-face-returns-trumps-inauguration-ushers-in-a-new-chapter/">A Familiar Face Returns: Trump’s Inauguration Ushers in a New Chapter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2778. ]]></description>
  2779. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As Donald Trump becomes president again at noon today, he comes armed with an agenda ready to go.</p>
  2780.  
  2781.  
  2782.  
  2783. <p>His team has prepared what may be the most aggressive Day One agenda in American history – some 200 executive orders designed to reshape the federal government.</p>
  2784.  
  2785.  
  2786.  
  2787. <p>“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office,” Trump said at his rally yesterday. “You’re going to have a lot of fun watching television tomorrow.”</p>
  2788.  
  2789.  
  2790.  
  2791. <p>From TikTok to the Mideast, Trump has, in essence, been our president for at least the past month, as the Biden administration continued to simply fade away.</p>
  2792.  
  2793.  
  2794.  
  2795. <p>This isn&#8217;t the chaotic Trump of 2017. The scope reflects a fundamental change in Trump&#8217;s approach to power. His first administration learned the machinery of Washington through trial and error. This time, he&#8217;s assembled a team of DC veterans who not only support his agenda but understand how the federal bureaucracy operates, and how to make it work.</p>
  2796.  
  2797.  
  2798.  
  2799. <p>Here&#8217;s a sampling of what&#8217;s coming:</p>
  2800.  
  2801.  
  2802.  
  2803. <p><strong>Border Security &amp; Immigration</strong></p>
  2804.  
  2805.  
  2806.  
  2807. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  2808. <li>Declare national emergency at southern border</li>
  2809.  
  2810.  
  2811.  
  2812. <li>Direct the military to work with DHS</li>
  2813.  
  2814.  
  2815.  
  2816. <li>Reinstate &#8220;Remain in Mexico&#8221;</li>
  2817.  
  2818.  
  2819.  
  2820. <li>End &#8220;Catch and Release&#8221;</li>
  2821.  
  2822.  
  2823.  
  2824. <li>Designate cartels as terrorist organizations\</li>
  2825. </ul>
  2826.  
  2827.  
  2828.  
  2829. <p><strong>Explore More: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive/">What Are The Odds Trump Will Survive?</a></strong></p>
  2830.  
  2831.  
  2832.  
  2833. <p><strong>Federal Workforce Reform</strong></p>
  2834.  
  2835.  
  2836.  
  2837. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  2838. <li>Terminate all federal DEI programs</li>
  2839.  
  2840.  
  2841.  
  2842. <li>Remove non-compliant federal workers and end remote work policies</li>
  2843.  
  2844.  
  2845.  
  2846. <li>Suspend security clearances for the 51 officials who mislead about Hunter Biden&#8217;s laptop</li>
  2847.  
  2848.  
  2849.  
  2850. <li>Establish a new Dept. of Government Efficiency hiring freeze</li>
  2851. </ul>
  2852.  
  2853.  
  2854.  
  2855. <p><strong>Energy &amp; Environment</strong></p>
  2856.  
  2857.  
  2858.  
  2859. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  2860. <li>Open Alaskan energy production</li>
  2861.  
  2862.  
  2863.  
  2864. <li>Terminate Biden-era rules promoting electric vehicles</li>
  2865.  
  2866.  
  2867.  
  2868. <li>Withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord</li>
  2869.  
  2870.  
  2871.  
  2872. <li>Abolish the Green New Deal</li>
  2873.  
  2874.  
  2875.  
  2876. <li>Pause offshore wind leases</li>
  2877. </ul>
  2878.  
  2879.  
  2880.  
  2881. <p><strong>Social Policy</strong></p>
  2882.  
  2883.  
  2884.  
  2885. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  2886. <li>Establish biological sex definitions</li>
  2887.  
  2888.  
  2889.  
  2890. <li>Rename historical places</li>
  2891.  
  2892.  
  2893.  
  2894. <li>Grant clemency to at least some convicted of Jan. 6 offenses</li>
  2895.  
  2896.  
  2897.  
  2898. <li>Enable TikTok to remain operational</li>
  2899. </ul>
  2900.  
  2901.  
  2902.  
  2903. <p>This agenda represents more than policy changes. It&#8217;s a blueprint for transforming how the federal government operates. Trump&#8217;s team has spent three years analyzing their first term&#8217;s successes and failures. They&#8217;ve identified pressure points in the bureaucracy and designed specific actions to address them.</p>
  2904.  
  2905.  
  2906.  
  2907. <p>The difference between 2017 and 2024 is stark. Then, Trump was a disruptor learning to govern. Now, he&#8217;s assembled a team that understands both his vision and the mechanics of federal power. They&#8217;re not coming to just drain the swamp – they&#8217;re coming to rebuild it in their image.</p>
  2908.  
  2909.  
  2910.  
  2911. <p>For Trump supporters, this signals the arrival of an administration ready to deliver from day one. For his opponents, it&#8217;s their worst nightmare: Trump with a plan.</p>
  2912.  
  2913.  
  2914.  
  2915. <p>Today marks the beginning of the most concentrated use of executive power in recent American history. By noon, we&#8217;ll see exactly what that means.</p>
  2916.  
  2917.  
  2918.  
  2919. <p><strong>Read Next: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-just-gifted-special-edition-presidential-inauguration-coke-bottle-design/">Coca-Cola CEO Gifts Notorious Diet Coke Fan Donald Trump With a Special Edition Presidential Inauguration Coke Bottle Design</a></strong></p>
  2920.  
  2921.  
  2922.  
  2923. <p><em>Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. <a href="https://kenlacorte.substack.com/p/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Follow Ken on Substack</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/a-familiar-face-returns-trumps-inauguration-ushers-in-a-new-chapter/">A Familiar Face Returns: Trump’s Inauguration Ushers in a New Chapter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2924. ]]></content:encoded>
  2928. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:19:21 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  2929. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  2930. </item>
  2931. <item>
  2932. <title>WATCH: Georgia Republican Senator Shoved To The Floor, Arrested After Trying To Attend Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address</title>
  2933. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/watch-georgia-republican-senator-shoved-to-the-floor-arrested-after-trying-to-attend-brian-kemps-state-of-the-state-address/</link>
  2935. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  2936. <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
  2937. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2938. <category><![CDATA[Brian Kemp]]></category>
  2939. <category><![CDATA[Colton Moore]]></category>
  2940. <category><![CDATA[Georgia]]></category>
  2941. <category><![CDATA[Jon Burns]]></category>
  2942. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235151</guid>
  2943.  
  2944. <description><![CDATA[<p>A truly wild scene erupted Thursday at the Georgia Capitol when State Senator Colton Moore was arrested after attempting to</p>
  2945. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/watch-georgia-republican-senator-shoved-to-the-floor-arrested-after-trying-to-attend-brian-kemps-state-of-the-state-address/">WATCH: Georgia Republican Senator Shoved To The Floor, Arrested After Trying To Attend Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  2946. ]]></description>
  2947. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A truly wild scene erupted Thursday at the Georgia Capitol when State Senator Colton Moore was arrested after attempting to enter the House chamber.</p>
  2948.  
  2949.  
  2950.  
  2951. <p>All of it was <a href="https://ampamerica.com/watch-georgia-state-sen-colton-moore-assaulted-arrested-after-defying-house-ban/">captured on video</a> and quickly went viral on social media.</p>
  2952.  
  2953.  
  2954.  
  2955. <p>Moore, who was previously banned from the chamber for daring to allege corruption from former House Speaker David Ralston, was trying to attend Governor Brian Kemp&#8217;s State of the State address.</p>
  2956.  
  2957.  
  2958.  
  2959. <p>Ralston was replaced by Republican House Speaker Jon Burns, who then ordered Moore be banned unless he issued a formal apology to Ralston’s family and supporters.</p>
  2960.  
  2961.  
  2962.  
  2963. <p>It&#8217;s unclear how that ban has any legal basis. Or basis in reality, for that matter. Barring a senator from the chamber in which they are meant to do the work of the people is not how representative bodies work.</p>
  2964.  
  2965.  
  2966.  
  2967. <p>And Moore was set to challenge the order.</p>
  2968.  
  2969.  
  2970.  
  2971. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-colton-moore-forcibly-removed">Colton Moore Forcibly Removed</h2>
  2972.  
  2973.  
  2974.  
  2975. <p>Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican, tried to defy the ban, leading to a physical altercation where he was pushed to the ground by House staff and Georgia State Patrol. </p>
  2976.  
  2977.  
  2978.  
  2979. <p>Moore attempted to argue that House rules could not supersede the constitutional obligation of a joint session. He&#8217;s right, morally if not ethically.</p>
  2980.  
  2981.  
  2982.  
  2983. <p>As a result of the confrontation, Moore was charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, a misdemeanor, and was taken into custody.</p>
  2984.  
  2985.  
  2986.  
  2987. <p>Watch the wild incident unfold below &#8230;</p>
  2988.  
  2989.  
  2990.  
  2991. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/0RaI1uRQ2n">pic.twitter.com/0RaI1uRQ2n</a></p>&mdash; Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1879922869171589603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  2992.  
  2993.  
  2994.  
  2995. <p>It&#8217;s clear that one man in the video pushed Moore to the floor. At which point they contend that things had gone too far. Colton agrees.</p>
  2996.  
  2997.  
  2998.  
  2999. <p>&#8220;It has gone too far,&#8221; said Moore. &#8220;I have an obligation to be in that room. I represent 200,000 people in northwest Georgia who duly elected me to be here today.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>
  3000.  
  3001.  
  3002.  
  3003. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/social-media-posts-show-fulton-county-da-fani-willis-questioning-2020-election/">Social Media Posts Show Fulton County DA Fani Willis Questioning 2020 Election</a></strong></p>
  3004.  
  3005.  
  3006.  
  3007. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-embarrassing-for-georgia">Embarrassing For Georgia</h2>
  3008.  
  3009.  
  3010.  
  3011. <p>It is beyond embarrassing for the state of Georgia to see lawmakers scuffling in the hallways because one tried to ban their colleague after they offended one of their cronies. Burns should be ragingly embarrassed.</p>
  3012.  
  3013.  
  3014.  
  3015. <p>Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) seemingly agreed, condemning the arrest.</p>
  3016.  
  3017.  
  3018.  
  3019. <p>&#8220;All elected 56 senators and 180 representatives deserve the opportunity to fulfill their responsibility to attend joint sessions of the General Assembly,&#8221; Jones told the <a href="https://x.com/bluestein/status/1879943260518731798">Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>.</p>
  3020.  
  3021.  
  3022.  
  3023. <p>He continued: &#8220;There is real work to be done this session and the focus should be on delivering for the people of Georgia instead of personal grievances and egos.&#8221;</p>
  3024.  
  3025.  
  3026.  
  3027. <p>Burns has defended the action, <a href="https://x.com/bluestein/status/1880000724681306586">stating</a>, &#8220;the integrity and decorum of this House are non-negotiable-period.”</p>
  3028.  
  3029.  
  3030.  
  3031. <p>But Burns and the Georgia Republicans might have something else unsettling their britches. Colton Moore is the individual who initiated the inquiry into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis following her legal actions against former President Donald Trump. </p>
  3032.  
  3033.  
  3034.  
  3035. <p>Moore was hit with an <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/colton-moore-arrested-georgia-senator/85-1a36ba5d-c6a0-4e3d-a70a-4346e05bde04">indefinite suspension</a> from the Georgia Senate Republican Caucus due to his advocacy for this investigation. The caucus criticized Moore, asserting that his campaign misled both the public in Georgia and nationwide, escalating tensions and hostility while also endangering the safety of his fellow caucus members and their families.</p>
  3036.  
  3037.  
  3038.  
  3039. <p>Moore had branded Republicans who opposed the investigation as &#8220;RINOs&#8221; (Republicans In Name Only), and he rallied his supporters to push for Willis&#8217;s investigation.</p>
  3040.  
  3041.  
  3042.  
  3043. <p>It turns out he was right. Willis was pursuing illegal, malicious prosecution. And the RINOs didn&#8217;t want to step in to do anything about it.</p>
  3044.  
  3045.  
  3046.  
  3047. <p>Ironically, Burns should be banned from the chamber until he issues an apology to Moore.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/watch-georgia-republican-senator-shoved-to-the-floor-arrested-after-trying-to-attend-brian-kemps-state-of-the-state-address/">WATCH: Georgia Republican Senator Shoved To The Floor, Arrested After Trying To Attend Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3048. ]]></content:encoded>
  3052. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:01:01 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3053. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3054. </item>
  3055. <item>
  3056. <title>Gen-Z Congressional Staffers Demand Shorter Work Hours</title>
  3057. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/gen-z-congressional-staffers-demand-shorter-work-hours/</link>
  3059. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  3060. <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:21:48 +0000</pubDate>
  3061. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3062. <category><![CDATA[Capitol Hill]]></category>
  3063. <category><![CDATA[congressional staff]]></category>
  3064. <category><![CDATA[Labor]]></category>
  3065. <category><![CDATA[work hours]]></category>
  3066. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235153</guid>
  3067.  
  3068. <description><![CDATA[<p>The 20-somethings who answer the phones on Capitol Hill are having a tough time with their work-life balance. The Congressional</p>
  3069. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/gen-z-congressional-staffers-demand-shorter-work-hours/">Gen-Z Congressional Staffers Demand Shorter Work Hours</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3070. ]]></description>
  3071. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The 20-somethings who answer the phones on Capitol Hill are having a tough time with their work-life balance.</p>
  3072.  
  3073.  
  3074.  
  3075. <p>The Congressional Progressive Staff Association is calling on lawmakers to drop their 40-hour work week. Instead, they said they would be much happier working 32-hours a week — without any reduction in pay.</p>
  3076.  
  3077.  
  3078.  
  3079. <p>“We do not want a 32-hour workweek to just be another special benefit for Congressional staff,” the group said in its letter. “We hope that by adopting this policy, Members of Congress can help to advance the discussion around a more sustainable workweek as a national priority and model how it can work for private and public employers across the country and the world.”</p>
  3080.  
  3081.  
  3082.  
  3083. <p>It’s always something with this generation. Their mandatory mental health days are driving the rest of us slap crazy.</p>
  3084.  
  3085.  
  3086.  
  3087. <p>“The CPSA has no expectations for a sweeping policy change on the Hill; they just want a few members to experiment with a shortened workweek in their offices or committees. “We’re urging members to give it a shot, to pilot it for a six-month period,” CPSA spokesman Michael Suchecki&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://rollcall.com/2025/01/16/32-hour-week-could-work-for-congress-staff-say/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">told RollCall.com.</a></strong>&nbsp;“If it doesn’t work 100 percent, bring it back to the way it was.”</p>
  3088.  
  3089.  
  3090.  
  3091. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-considering-commuting-sentence-of-trump-tax-leaker-biggest-data-theft-in-american-history/">Biden Considering Commuting Sentence of Trump Tax Leaker – Biggest Data Theft in American History</a></strong></p>
  3092.  
  3093.  
  3094.  
  3095. <p>The salaries for Capitol Hill staffers ranges from more than $57,000 for a staff assistant to $187,000 for a chief of staff, according to the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44323"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Congressional Research Service.</a></strong>&nbsp;They also get healthcare, dental and vision. And they get discounted gym memberships and a stipend for those who use public transportation.</p>
  3096.  
  3097.  
  3098.  
  3099. <p>The 40-hour work week was made popular by Henry Ford in the 1920’s. But an 8-hour work day became the law of the land in 1938 when FDR signed the Fair Labor Standards Act.</p>
  3100.  
  3101.  
  3102.  
  3103. <p>Prior to that many Americans worked up to 60 hours a week – six days a week. It was something this nation once took pride in – the red-blooded American work ethic.</p>
  3104.  
  3105.  
  3106.  
  3107. <p>Sadly, we’ve raised at least two generations of Americans that don’t appreciate the value of a hard day’s work. There’s just not too many sweat-stained t-shirts in this new crop of young people. And many of them found gainful employment in Congress.</p>
  3108.  
  3109.  
  3110.  
  3111. <p>The demands of the Gen-Z staffers have generated bipartisan mockery on Capitol Hill.</p>
  3112.  
  3113.  
  3114.  
  3115. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-nonprofit-slapped-with-record-fine-for-campaign-finance-violations/">Stacey Abrams’ Nonprofit Slapped With Record Fine For Campaign Finance Violations</a></strong></p>
  3116.  
  3117.  
  3118.  
  3119. <p>“Why not be bold and ask for a 0-hour workweek? I wonder how blue-collar Americans would feel about white-collar workers demanding a 32-hour workweek,” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) wrote on X.</p>
  3120.  
  3121.  
  3122.  
  3123. <p>Of course, there’s a simple solution to the perpetually-entitled Gen-Z staffers tethered to their smartphones. Just convert all congressional staffing positions to part time status – that way they’ll get a 20-hour work week. Or, we could just hire some H1B visa kids.</p>
  3124.  
  3125.  
  3126.  
  3127. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.toddstarnes.com/values/gen-z-congressional-staffers-demand-shorter-work-hours/">from ToddStarnes.com</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/gen-z-congressional-staffers-demand-shorter-work-hours/">Gen-Z Congressional Staffers Demand Shorter Work Hours</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3128. ]]></content:encoded>
  3132. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:21:52 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3133. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3134. </item>
  3135. <item>
  3136. <title>Stacey Abrams&#8217; Nonprofit Slapped With Record Fine For Campaign Finance Violations</title>
  3137. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-nonprofit-slapped-with-record-fine-for-campaign-finance-violations/</link>
  3139. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  3140. <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:33:45 +0000</pubDate>
  3141. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3142. <category><![CDATA[Campaign Violations]]></category>
  3143. <category><![CDATA[Georgia]]></category>
  3144. <category><![CDATA[stacey abrams]]></category>
  3145. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235143</guid>
  3146.  
  3147. <description><![CDATA[<p>When she&#8217;s not railing against voter integrity efforts or denying the results of her own gubernatorial elections, Georgia&#8217;s Stacey Abrams</p>
  3148. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-nonprofit-slapped-with-record-fine-for-campaign-finance-violations/">Stacey Abrams&#8217; Nonprofit Slapped With Record Fine For Campaign Finance Violations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3149. ]]></description>
  3150. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When she&#8217;s not railing against voter integrity efforts or denying the results of her own gubernatorial elections, Georgia&#8217;s Stacey Abrams is apparently heading up non-profits with an extensive rap sheet of violating campaign finance laws.</p>
  3151.  
  3152.  
  3153.  
  3154. <p>The New Georgia Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Stacey Abrams in 2013, has agreed to pay <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna187885">a record fine</a> of $300,000 for violating their state&#8217;s campaign finance laws. </p>
  3155.  
  3156.  
  3157.  
  3158. <p>The Georgia Ethics Commission imposed the fine after discovering that the organization and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund failed to disclose campaign contributions and expenditures during the 2018 Georgia governor&#8217;s race, where Abrams was the Democratic candidate.</p>
  3159.  
  3160.  
  3161.  
  3162. <p>The organizations were accused of not properly reporting their financial activities in support of Abrams&#8217; campaign, leading to the unanimous decision by the commission to levy the penalty.</p>
  3163.  
  3164.  
  3165.  
  3166. <p>&#8220;These expenditures included, but were not limited to, canvassing activities, literature expressly advocating for the election of candidates, social media engagement, and operating field offices with paid staff where those electioneering activities were organized,&#8221; the commission&#8217;s consent order reads.</p>
  3167.  
  3168.  
  3169.  
  3170. <p>In other words, her non-profit was spending money on her political campaign. </p>
  3171.  
  3172.  
  3173.  
  3174. <p>Executive director David Emadi described the fine as &#8220;significant&#8221; but &#8220;also appropriate given the scope.&#8221;</p>
  3175.  
  3176.  
  3177.  
  3178. <p>The group admitted to 16 campaign finance violations in all.</p>
  3179.  
  3180.  
  3181.  
  3182. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The New Georgia Project, a voter registration nonprofit founded by Stacey Abrams and previously led by GA Dem Senator Raphael Warnock, has admitted to violating the law by secretly raising and spending millions to campaign for Abrams and others. <a href="https://t.co/xtLx1mwFa4">pic.twitter.com/xtLx1mwFa4</a></p>&mdash; AG (@AGHamilton29) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGHamilton29/status/1879870215724609658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  3183.  
  3184.  
  3185.  
  3186. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stacey-abrams-non-profit-troubles">Stacey Abrams Non-Profit Troubles</h2>
  3187.  
  3188.  
  3189.  
  3190. <p>The commission revealed that Stacey Abrams&#8217; non-profit had been slapped with the most significant fine ever doled out by the group. </p>
  3191.  
  3192.  
  3193.  
  3194. <p>According to the signed consent order, the groups neglected to report $4.2 million in contributions in the 2018 election cycle and an additional $3.2 million in expenditures to support Abrams&#8217; gubernatorial campaign and promote candidates for various state offices during the primary and general elections.</p>
  3195.  
  3196.  
  3197.  
  3198. <p>So they spent $7.4 million and were only fined $300,000.</p>
  3199.  
  3200.  
  3201.  
  3202. <p>Imagine that. At least it was all for a good cause since Abrams won that election for Georgia governor &#8230; in her own mind.</p>
  3203.  
  3204.  
  3205.  
  3206. <p>Abrams has been portrayed as a darling of the Democrat Party despite having lost her bid to become Governor of the Peach State twice.</p>
  3207.  
  3208.  
  3209.  
  3210. <p>She very famously and publicly refused to concede defeat in 2018 despite receiving nearly 55,000 fewer votes. In 2019, Abrams told supporters at a luncheon in&nbsp;<a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-says-shes-not-delusional-then-claims-she-actually-won-governors-race/" rel="noreferrer noopener"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Houston</a>&nbsp;that she wasn’t “delusional” mere moments after declaring “we won” the Georgia gubernatorial race.</p>
  3211.  
  3212.  
  3213.  
  3214. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of our favorite moments from .<a href="https://twitter.com/staceyabrams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@staceyabrams</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Houston?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Houston</a> for .<a href="https://twitter.com/AnniesListTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnniesListTX</a> while speaking about keeping up the fight: &quot;usually candidates feel like they have to concede if they want to run for office again to show that they&#39;re a good sport. I am not a good sport.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SHOstTIWMA">pic.twitter.com/SHOstTIWMA</a></p>&mdash; Texas Signal (@TexasSignal) <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasSignal/status/1124387997770768384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  3215.  
  3216.  
  3217.  
  3218. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-brother-in-law-arrested-for-human-trafficking-accused-of-strangling-a-minor/">Stacey Abrams’ Brother-in-Law Arrested For Human Trafficking, Accused Of Strangling A Minor</a></strong></p>
  3219.  
  3220.  
  3221.  
  3222. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distancing-herself">Distancing Herself</h2>
  3223.  
  3224.  
  3225.  
  3226. <p>The campaign finance issues came to light through a complaint filed in 2019 before Raphael Warnock, who led the New Georgia Project at the time, was elected as a U.S. Senator. </p>
  3227.  
  3228.  
  3229.  
  3230. <p>During his tenure, Warnock stated that his role did not include oversight of compliance decisions.</p>
  3231.  
  3232.  
  3233.  
  3234. <p>Funny, Stacey Abrams didn&#8217;t want to be associated with the non-profit she <em>founded </em>either, issuing a statement through a spokesperson to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/politics/nonprofit-stacey-abrams.html">New York Times</a>.</p>
  3235.  
  3236.  
  3237.  
  3238. <p>“Stacey hasn’t been involved in the organization’s work since she departed in 2017,&#8221; the spokesperson said.</p>
  3239.  
  3240.  
  3241.  
  3242. <p>Or rather, she hasn&#8217;t been involved since becoming a two-term Governor of Georgia.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/stacey-abrams-nonprofit-slapped-with-record-fine-for-campaign-finance-violations/">Stacey Abrams&#8217; Nonprofit Slapped With Record Fine For Campaign Finance Violations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3243. ]]></content:encoded>
  3247. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:33:47 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3248. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3249. </item>
  3250. <item>
  3251. <title>Homeless People Cause Most L.A. Fires</title>
  3252. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/homeless-people-cause-most-l-a-fires/</link>
  3254. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  3255. <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:35:51 +0000</pubDate>
  3256. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3257. <category><![CDATA[Homeless]]></category>
  3258. <category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category>
  3259. <category><![CDATA[palisades fire]]></category>
  3260. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235147</guid>
  3261.  
  3262. <description><![CDATA[<p>Yesterday, I read a shocking headline in Newsweek: But by the time I read the first sentence, my shock turned</p>
  3263. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/homeless-people-cause-most-l-a-fires/">Homeless People Cause Most L.A. Fires</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3264. ]]></description>
  3265. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yesterday, I read a shocking headline in Newsweek:</p>
  3266.  
  3267.  
  3268.  
  3269. <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae695ca6-23ae-4012-a69c-9e2f677e2334_1514x669.png" alt=""/></figure>
  3270.  
  3271.  
  3272.  
  3273. <p>But by the time I read the first sentence, my shock turned to skepticism. The article mentioned Tucker Carlson – a name that seems to short-circuit journalists&#8217; brains.</p>
  3274.  
  3275.  
  3276.  
  3277. <p>After a radical investigation technique – actually watching Tucker&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdvqSncd4FY">show</a>&nbsp;– I immediately realized that Newsweek&#8217;s quoted words &#8220;Started by Satanic Meth Heads&#8221; were complete fiction. No one said it except the headline writer.</p>
  3278.  
  3279.  
  3280.  
  3281. <p>While the article wasn&#8217;t quite as dishonest as its headline, it existed solely to paint Tucker and journalist Michael Shellenberger as nutters. The reality? They discussed an uncomfortable truth the liberal press keeps buried: homeless people, especially those on meth, start an astronomical number of fires.</p>
  3282.  
  3283.  
  3284.  
  3285. <p>The numbers are staggering. According to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/la-homeless-encampment-fires-electrical-supply-wires/3408775/">NBC report</a>&nbsp;last year which dug into fire department statistics, there were 13,909 homeless fires in Los Angeles in 2023. That’s 38 fires every day.</p>
  3286.  
  3287.  
  3288.  
  3289. <p>In Los Angeles, 54% of all fires are&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.ph/HmA9x">associated with</a>&nbsp;the homeless.</p>
  3290.  
  3291.  
  3292.  
  3293. <p>Since 2017, fires linked to homelessness have caused $185 million in damage, representing 22% of all fire damage in the city. And those are just the ones they can confirm.</p>
  3294.  
  3295.  
  3296.  
  3297. <p>Most start by accident. Picture people battling mental illness and drug addiction, living outdoors, stealing electricity, and cooking or warming themselves with whatever burns. Then factor in makeshift meth labs, which have a nasty habit of exploding.</p>
  3298.  
  3299.  
  3300.  
  3301. <p>But meth adds another twisted dimension: it can make you want to burn down. A large number experience psychosis, which can lead to paranoid and delusional behavior, and one of those behaviors is arson. Studies show meth users are 900% more likely to commit violent crimes compared to non-users.</p>
  3302.  
  3303.  
  3304.  
  3305. <p>I’m not saying that’s what caused the recent fires. Neither did Tucker Carlson or Michael Shellenberger, despite Newsweek’s misreporting it as the latest “conspiracy theory.”</p>
  3306.  
  3307.  
  3308.  
  3309. <p>Shellenberger did use the word &#8220;satanic&#8221;, however. Given L.A.&#8217;s willful tolerance to this hellish situation, that description is quite fitting.</p>
  3310.  
  3311.  
  3312.  
  3313. <p><em>Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. <a href="https://kenlacorte.substack.com/p/homeless-people-cause-most-la-fires"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Follow Ken on Substack</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/homeless-people-cause-most-l-a-fires/">Homeless People Cause Most L.A. Fires</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3314. ]]></content:encoded>
  3318. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:35:54 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3319. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3320. </item>
  3321. <item>
  3322. <title>Biden Considering Commuting Sentence of Trump Tax Leaker &#8211; Biggest Data Theft in American History</title>
  3323. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-considering-commuting-sentence-of-trump-tax-leaker-biggest-data-theft-in-american-history/</link>
  3325. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Sperry]]></dc:creator>
  3326. <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:21:14 +0000</pubDate>
  3327. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3328. <category><![CDATA[Charles Edward Littlejohn]]></category>
  3329. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  3330. <category><![CDATA[Joe Biden]]></category>
  3331. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235145</guid>
  3332.  
  3333. <description><![CDATA[<p>The Biden administration is formally considering commuting the sentence of the convicted felon who&#160;stole and leaked&#160;incoming President Trump&#8217;s tax records</p>
  3334. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-considering-commuting-sentence-of-trump-tax-leaker-biggest-data-theft-in-american-history/">Biden Considering Commuting Sentence of Trump Tax Leaker &#8211; Biggest Data Theft in American History</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3335. ]]></description>
  3336. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Biden administration is formally considering commuting the sentence of the convicted felon who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2023/10/18/leaker_of_trump_taxes_worked_for_biden_beltway_donor_that_just_won_a_big_new_irs_contract_986770.html">stole and leaked</a>&nbsp;incoming President Trump&#8217;s tax records along with those of thousands of other taxpayers, in the biggest tax data heist in U.S. history.</p>
  3337.  
  3338.  
  3339.  
  3340. <p>A search of the Justice Department&#8217;s pardon database reveals Charles Edward Littlejohn &#8212; who just began his five-year sentence in May &#8212; has been assigned a clemency case number. It says a petition for &#8220;commutation of sentence&#8221; was recently sought and is &#8220;pending.&#8221;</p>
  3341.  
  3342.  
  3343.  
  3344. <p>A number of liberal watchdog groups, including Revolving Door Project and Patriotic Millionaires, have been&nbsp;<a href="https://freecharleslittlejohn.com/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">lobbying</a>&nbsp;President Biden to free Littlejohn from prison because they believe his leaks provided a &#8220;public service.&#8221; They argue he is a &#8220;selfless defender of tax fairness&#8221; for exposing how Trump and other wealthy Americans, including billionaires Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, Michael Bloomberg, and Jeff Bezos, take advantage of tax breaks to reduce their tax bills. Littlejohn leaked the sensitive IRS data to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/27/us/donald-trump-taxes.html?action=click&amp;module=Spotlight&amp;pgtype=Homepage">New York Times</a>&nbsp;and the liberal news site&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/the-secret-irs-files">ProPublica</a>, which published them in a series of articles before and after the 2020 election.</p>
  3345.  
  3346.  
  3347.  
  3348. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-dhs-warn-of-further-terrorist-attacks/">FBI, DHS Warn of Further Terrorist Attacks</a></strong></p>
  3349.  
  3350.  
  3351.  
  3352. <p>Biden would have to make the decision before he leaves office on Jan. 20. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. The pending clemency comes as Biden has issued a record number of controversial pardons and commutations, including ones for his son, Hunter Biden, for tax evasion and firearms violations.</p>
  3353.  
  3354.  
  3355.  
  3356. <p>National Legal and Policy Center counsel Paul Kamenar doubts Biden will grant the request, &#8220;especially since he already pardoned Hunter on tax charges. This would further undermine his support of the rule of law.&#8221; He added that it would also overrule the sentencing meted out by a Democratic judge he appointed.</p>
  3357.  
  3358.  
  3359.  
  3360. <p>&#8220;DOJ already let him [Littlejohn]&nbsp;off with a slap on the wrist by allowing him to plead guilty to just a single felony count for reportedly leaking thousands of Americans&#8217; tax returns, &#8221; said former Senate Judiciary Committee chief investigative counsel Jason Foster, who co-founded Empower Oversight, a Washington watchdog group. &#8220;If President Biden commuted his sentence, it&#8217;d be like letting him off the hook all over again.&#8221;</p>
  3361.  
  3362.  
  3363.  
  3364. <p>Calls to release Littlejohn were led by University of Michigan tax professor Reuven Avi-Yonah. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Littlejohn-Letter.pdf"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">letter</a>&nbsp;to the president last month, petitioners argued the leaker should be offered leniency because he disclosed &#8220;highly relevant information to the voting public.&#8221; Though they acknowledged the privacy concerns of such a breach, they said it nonetheless was important to expose &#8220;how little tax&#8221; the &#8220;super-rich&#8221; pay.</p>
  3365.  
  3366.  
  3367.  
  3368. <p>&#8220;Going after Mr. Littlejohn creates the perception that the system protects the interests of the super-rich taxpayers whose returns he&nbsp;leaked,&#8221; they rationalized in their four-page&nbsp;<a href="https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Littlejohn-Letter.pdf"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">letter</a>&nbsp;to Biden. They added that his five-year sentence was &#8220;particularly harsh.&#8221;</p>
  3369.  
  3370.  
  3371.  
  3372. <p>Disclosing tax returns is a crime, and after Littlejohn pleaded guilty to a felony, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment under the law by Democratic judge Ana Reyes, who was appointed to the federal bench by Biden.</p>
  3373.  
  3374.  
  3375.  
  3376. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/crazy-like-a-fox-trumps-greenland-pitch-makes-perfect-sense/">Crazy Like a Fox: Trump’s Greenland Pitch Makes Perfect Sense</a></strong></p>
  3377.  
  3378.  
  3379.  
  3380. <p>Federal records show Avi-Yonah, who has called Littlejohn a &#8220;public hero,&#8221; is a Democrat who has donated to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He has advocated for soaking the rich to keep &#8220;inequality in check.&#8221; Littlejohn has also given to Democrats and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2023/10/18/leaker_of_trump_taxes_worked_for_biden_beltway_donor_that_just_won_a_big_new_irs_contract_986770.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">raised</a>&nbsp;in an affluent Democrat household.</p>
  3381.  
  3382.  
  3383.  
  3384. <p>The 39-year-old Littlejohn, who goes by &#8220;Chaz,&#8221; pilfered the trove of private tax returns while working for the IRS as a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, a Washington consulting firm with deep ties to Democrats. RealClearInvestigations was the first to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2023/10/18/leaker_of_trump_taxes_worked_for_biden_beltway_donor_that_just_won_a_big_new_irs_contract_986770.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">report</a>&nbsp;his connection to Booz Allen, which last summer received a lucrative new contract from the IRS in spite of the massive breach.</p>
  3385.  
  3386.  
  3387.  
  3388. <p>The IRS recently sent letters to the thousands of victims of Littlejohn&#8217;s theft, noting the breach of their confidential tax files was unacceptable but that the full scope of what he disclosed is still unknown. The IRS has already settled one lawsuit filed by billionaire Kenneth Griffin. Other victims are suing Booz Allen for its failure to monitor Littlejohn while he worked at the IRS.</p>
  3389.  
  3390.  
  3391.  
  3392. <p>Supporters of Littlejohn, most of whom are anti-Trump voters, have set up a GoFundMe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/charles-littlejohns-legal-defense-fund"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">page</a>&nbsp;that has raised nearly $60,000 to help pay for his legal defense.</p>
  3393.  
  3394.  
  3395.  
  3396. <p>Littlejohn is incarcerated at the federal prison in Marion, Ill. He is pursuing an appeal that could lower his sentence.</p>
  3397.  
  3398.  
  3399.  
  3400. <p>Paul Sperry is an investigative reporter for <em>RealClearInvestigations</em>. He is also a longtime media fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Sperry was previously the Washington bureau chief for <em>Investor’s Business Daily</em>, and his work has appeared in the <em>New York Post</em>, <em>Wall Street Journal</em>,<em> New York Times</em>, and <em>Houston Chronicle</em>, among other major publications.</p>
  3401.  
  3402.  
  3403.  
  3404. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/01/14/clemency_pending_for_leaker_of_trumps_and_others_taxes_1084442.html">from RealClearWire</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-considering-commuting-sentence-of-trump-tax-leaker-biggest-data-theft-in-american-history/">Biden Considering Commuting Sentence of Trump Tax Leaker &#8211; Biggest Data Theft in American History</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3405. ]]></content:encoded>
  3409. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:21:18 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3410. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3411. </item>
  3412. <item>
  3413. <title>Coca-Cola CEO Gifts Notorious Diet Coke Fan Donald Trump With a Special Edition Presidential Inauguration Coke Bottle Design</title>
  3414. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-just-gifted-special-edition-presidential-inauguration-coke-bottle-design/</link>
  3416. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  3417. <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:07:44 +0000</pubDate>
  3418. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3419. <category><![CDATA[Coke]]></category>
  3420. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  3421. <category><![CDATA[Inauguration]]></category>
  3422. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235137</guid>
  3423.  
  3424. <description><![CDATA[<p>My, how things have come full circle these days. Coca-Cola, who condemned Donald Trump after the protests at the Capitol</p>
  3425. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-just-gifted-special-edition-presidential-inauguration-coke-bottle-design/">Coca-Cola CEO Gifts Notorious Diet Coke Fan Donald Trump With a Special Edition Presidential Inauguration Coke Bottle Design</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3426. ]]></description>
  3427. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My, how things have come full circle these days. Coca-Cola, who condemned <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/donald-trump/">Donald Trump</a> after the protests at the Capitol in 2021, just gifted the President-elect with his very own inauguration bottle design.</p>
  3428.  
  3429.  
  3430.  
  3431. <p>Trump, of course, is notorious for his <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/258262904091058176?lang=en">love-hate relationship with Diet Coke</a>. </p>
  3432.  
  3433.  
  3434.  
  3435. <p>&#8220;Tonight, President Trump received the first-ever Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle from the Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Company, James Quincey,&#8221; Trump deputy communications director Margo Martin posted on X <a href="https://x.com/margomartin/status/1879330618225676448">Tuesday</a>.</p>
  3436.  
  3437.  
  3438.  
  3439. <p>Quincey even posed with Trump as the two beamed over the bottle design.</p>
  3440.  
  3441.  
  3442.  
  3443. <p>The label shows an image of the White House, which will become Trump&#8217;s residence once again on January 20th, 2025. It bears that date along with the words &#8220;The Inauguration of the President of the United States&#8221; and &#8220;Donald J. Trump.&#8221;</p>
  3444.  
  3445.  
  3446.  
  3447. <p>It is extraordinary how some major companies are finding the courage once again to acknowledge the office of the presidency, even as it is Trump who sits as it&#8217;s occupant.</p>
  3448.  
  3449.  
  3450.  
  3451. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trump-loves-coke">Trump Loves Coke</h2>
  3452.  
  3453.  
  3454.  
  3455. <p>Donald Trump has shown an affinity for soft drinks over the years. Especially Coke products.</p>
  3456.  
  3457.  
  3458.  
  3459. <p>He famously installed a special button in the&nbsp;White House&nbsp;during his first term as president so he could have the beverage promptly delivered to him.&nbsp;</p>
  3460.  
  3461.  
  3462.  
  3463. <p>President Biden had the button removed upon taking office.</p>
  3464.  
  3465.  
  3466.  
  3467. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Biden has removed the Diet Coke button. When <a href="https://twitter.com/ShippersUnbound?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShippersUnbound</a> and I interviewed Donald Trump in 2019, we became fascinated by what the little red button did. Eventually Trump pressed it, and a butler swiftly brought in a Diet Coke on a silver platter. It&#39;s gone now. <a href="https://t.co/rFzhPaHYjk">pic.twitter.com/rFzhPaHYjk</a></p>&mdash; Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) <a href="https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1352284365854806017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  3468.  
  3469.  
  3470.  
  3471. <p>UFC CEO Dana White has marveled over the fact that Trump never seems to drink water but always has a bottle or glass of Coke at the ready.</p>
  3472.  
  3473.  
  3474.  
  3475. <p>&#8220;He’ll sit at the fights with me all night. All night, you’re talking like six hours. So, I’ll ask him, &#8216;Do you want a water? No, no, no,&#8221; White said in an interview with <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/health-news/dana-white-on-trump-s-bizarre-diet-i-ve-never-seen-him-drink-water/ar-AA1tTKhz?apiversion=v2&amp;noservercache=1&amp;domshim=1&amp;renderwebcomponents=1&amp;wcseo=1&amp;batchservertelemetry=1&amp;noservertelemetry=1">Tucker Carlson</a>. &#8220;And somebody will bring him over a Coke, and he’ll drink Coke.&#8221;</p>
  3476.  
  3477.  
  3478.  
  3479. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cnn-msnbc-trump-diet-coke-nyc-terror/">CNN, MSNBC Cover Trump’s Diet Coke Habits While NYC Terror Story Was Developing</a></strong></p>
  3480.  
  3481.  
  3482.  
  3483. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hasn-t-always-been-a-rosy-relationship">Hasn&#8217;t Always Been A Rosy Relationship</h2>
  3484.  
  3485.  
  3486.  
  3487. <p>Things haven&#8217;t always been kosher between President-elect Trump and Coke. The company condemned Trump and his supporters after the January 6th protests.</p>
  3488.  
  3489.  
  3490.  
  3491. <p>They issued a statement saying the mostly peaceful protests were &#8220;an offense to the ideals of American democracy.&#8221;</p>
  3492.  
  3493.  
  3494.  
  3495. <p>In 2021, Trump called for a boycott of Coke products as the company attacked Georgia’s election integrity laws at the time.</p>
  3496.  
  3497.  
  3498.  
  3499. <p>“For years the Radical Left Democrats have played dirty by boycotting products when anything from that company is done or stated in any way that offends them. Now they are going big time with the WOKE CANCEL CULTURE and our sacred elections,&#8221; he said.</p>
  3500.  
  3501.  
  3502.  
  3503. <p>He specifically named several companies, including Coca-Cola.</p>
  3504.  
  3505.  
  3506.  
  3507. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on the GA boycotts:<br><br>“Boycott Major League Baseball, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, ViacomCBS, Citigroup, Cisco, UPS, and Merck. Don’t go back to their products until they relent. We can play the game better than them.”<br><br>FULL STATEMENT: <a href="https://t.co/4IAoRJkEND">pic.twitter.com/4IAoRJkEND</a></p>&mdash; Natalie Harp (@NatalieJHarp) <a href="https://twitter.com/NatalieJHarp/status/1378486586124333060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  3508.  
  3509.  
  3510.  
  3511. <p>Once again, though, all appears to be well between the two. Winning can do that &#8211; and don&#8217;t think for a second that winning the popular vote isn&#8217;t a very important factor here.</p>
  3512.  
  3513.  
  3514.  
  3515. <p>Trump’s inauguration weekend is set to be a spectacle with a star-studded lineup of performers.</p>
  3516.  
  3517.  
  3518.  
  3519. <p>Headlining the event is <a href="https://www.themix.net/celebrity/celebrity-news/village-people-set-to-perform-iconic-y-m-c-a-at-trump-inauguration-events/">the famous band Village People</a>, who have become a symbol in MAGA culture due to their song “Y.M.C.A.”.</p>
  3520.  
  3521.  
  3522.  
  3523. <p>Joining them is Kid Rock, a known supporter of Trump, country singer Jason Aldean, whose song “Try That in a Small Town” resonated with Trump’s voter base,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themix.net/celebrity/celebrity-news/carrie-underwood-to-headline-president-donald-trumps-inauguration/">and Carrie Underwood</a>, who is scheduled to sing “America the Beautiful” at the inauguration ceremony.</p>
  3524.  
  3525.  
  3526.  
  3527. <p>Also appearing at the inauguration? The <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-have-garbage-truck-he-used-on-campaign-trail-in-inaugural-parade/">garbage truck</a> Trump used on the campaign trail.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-just-gifted-special-edition-presidential-inauguration-coke-bottle-design/">Coca-Cola CEO Gifts Notorious Diet Coke Fan Donald Trump With a Special Edition Presidential Inauguration Coke Bottle Design</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3528. ]]></content:encoded>
  3532. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:07:46 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3533. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3534. </item>
  3535. <item>
  3536. <title>FBI, DHS Warn of Further Terrorist Attacks</title>
  3537. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-dhs-warn-of-further-terrorist-attacks/</link>
  3539. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  3540. <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:20:45 +0000</pubDate>
  3541. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  3542. <category><![CDATA[DHS]]></category>
  3543. <category><![CDATA[FBI]]></category>
  3544. <category><![CDATA[Ted Cruz]]></category>
  3545. <category><![CDATA[terrorism]]></category>
  3546. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235139</guid>
  3547.  
  3548. <description><![CDATA[<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security are warning that a copycat terrorist attack could occur</p>
  3549. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-dhs-warn-of-further-terrorist-attacks/">FBI, DHS Warn of Further Terrorist Attacks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3550. ]]></description>
  3551. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security are warning that a copycat terrorist attack could occur similar to the New Year’s Day New Orleans attack.</p>
  3552.  
  3553.  
  3554.  
  3555. <p>The public service announcement urges Americans to remain vigilant and for those living overseas who encounter kidnapping or hostage situations to call a toll-free number or fill out an online form.</p>
  3556.  
  3557.  
  3558.  
  3559. <p>“The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers,” the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250113"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">PSA states</a></strong>. “Previous attackers inspired by foreign terrorist organizations who have conducted vehicle attacks in the United States and abroad have used rented, stolen, and personally owned vehicles, which are easy to acquire. Some have used additional weapons, such as firearms and knives, to attack individuals after the vehicle has stopped.</p>
  3560.  
  3561.  
  3562.  
  3563. <p>“Additionally, attackers may attempt to conceal and pre-position improvised explosive devices to supplement a vehicle attack. Targets have included pedestrians, law enforcement or military members, and crowded public venues, including festivals and commercial centers, which generally are accessible from roadways.”</p>
  3564.  
  3565.  
  3566.  
  3567. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/petitions-demanding-la-mayor-karen-bass-resignation-over-fire-debacle-pick-up-steam/">Petitions Demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass’ Resignation Over Fire Debacle Pick Up Steam</a></strong></p>
  3568.  
  3569.  
  3570.  
  3571. <p>The PSA urges members of the public to “remain vigilant” about terrorist attacks, report suspicious activity to&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">local FBI field offices</a></strong>&nbsp;and call 911 to report emergencies.</p>
  3572.  
  3573.  
  3574.  
  3575. <p>For U.S. citizens living overseas, the PSA encourages them to report “missing persons or individuals taken as hostages” by calling the Department of State&#8217;s Overseas Citizens Services toll-free hotline at (888) 407-4747 or complete a&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Crisis Intake Form</a></strong>.</p>
  3576.  
  3577.  
  3578.  
  3579. <p>Both agencies were unsuccessful in negotiating the return of American hostages held by Hamas. Hostages who are still alive remain in captivity since Oct. 7, 2023. The Biden administration&#8217;s toll-free hotline, and online form did not help them, critics argue.</p>
  3580.  
  3581.  
  3582.  
  3583. <p>President-elect Donald Trump has warned Hamas to release all hostages before he’s sworn into office next week or “there will be hell to pay.”</p>
  3584.  
  3585.  
  3586.  
  3587. <p>Islamic terrorist incidents significantly increased under the Biden administration and the greatest number on the U.S. terrorist watch list were apprehended trying to illegally enter the country, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_632eee88-b24e-11ef-80bb-eb3ae81db912.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">reported</a></strong>.</p>
  3588.  
  3589.  
  3590.  
  3591. <p>Terrorist incidents increased nationwide, including an Iranian man in Massachusetts&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3da8fd68-be68-11ef-bca5-4359cdf03041.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">linked to murders</a></strong>&nbsp;of U.S. service members and an&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_91d17d66-a2d9-11ef-8761-2bb05f34459b.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">ISIS-linked Houston man</a></strong>&nbsp;allegedly planning a 9/11 style terrorist attack, among others.</p>
  3592.  
  3593.  
  3594.  
  3595. <p>Last year, FBI Director Christopher Wray&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/issues/public-safety/article_8530a844-e014-11ee-92db-7b19be1217c8.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">warned</a></strong>&nbsp;about an ISIS smuggling ring illegally crossing the border and of increased security risks posed by China and Iran. Prior to the election, hundreds of members of ISIS were confirmed to have illegally entered the U.S., with officials saying vetting wasn’t occurring.</p>
  3596.  
  3597.  
  3598.  
  3599. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/crazy-like-a-fox-trumps-greenland-pitch-makes-perfect-sense/">Crazy Like a Fox: Trump’s Greenland Pitch Makes Perfect Sense</a></strong></p>
  3600.  
  3601.  
  3602.  
  3603. <p>Congressional Republicans demanded answers about terrorist threats, including the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, which published a report citing more than 50 jihadist cases in 29 states under the Biden administration, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://skip%20to%20main%20content%20home%20issues%20states%20national%20polls%20podcasts%20about%20report%20more%20than%2050%20jihadist%20cases%20in%2029%20states%20show%20'persistent%20terror%20threat'%20by%20bethany%20blankley%20%7C%20the%20center%20square%20contributor%20oct%206,%202024%20facebook%20twitter%20email%20tcs%20terror%20threat%20jihadist%20networks%20in%20u.s.%20u.s.%20house%20committee%20on%20homeland%20security%20(the%20center%20square)%20%E2%80%93%20a%20new%20report%20published%20by%20the%20u.s.%20house%20committee%20on%20homeland%20security%20states%20that%20%E2%80%9Cforeign%20jihadist%20networks%20and%20homegrown%20violent%20extremists%E2%80%9D%20represent%20a%20%E2%80%9Cpersistent%20terror%20threat%20to%20america.%E2%80%9D%20it%20identifies%20more%20than%2050%20cases%20in%2029%20u.s.%20states%20between%20april%202021%20and%20september%202024,%20including%20dozens%20of%20attempts%20to%20provide%20material%20support%20to%20islamic%20designated%20foreign%20terrorist%20organizations%20(ftos),%20isis,%20hezbollah%20and%20al%20qaeda,%20with%20individuals%20receiving%20military%20type%20training%20from%20isis%20and%20hezbollah,%20and%20committing%20fraud.%20the%20states%20where%20jihadist%20cases%20were%20identified%20include%20alabama,%20california,%20connecticut,%20florida,%20idaho,%20illinois,%20indiana,%20kansas,%20kentucky,%20maine,%20michigan,%20minnesota,%20nevada,%20new%20jersey,%20new%20york,%20ohio,%20pennsylvania,%20south%20carolina,%20tennessee,%20texas,%20virginia,%20and%20washington.%20the%20committee%20notes%20that%20increased%20threats%20to%20americans%20heightened%20after%20an%20isis-k-orchestrated%20terrorist%20attack%20in%20afghanistan%20on%20aug.%2030,%202021,%20that%20killed%2013%20u.s.%20service%20members.%20terrorism%20threats%20also%20escalated%20after%20the%20oct.%207,%202023,%20hamas%20terrorist%20attack%20against%20israel,%20which%20killed%20an%20estimated%201,200%20with%20200%20hostages%20taken.%20%E2%80%9Cfrom%20the%20biden-harris%20administration%E2%80%99s%20chaotic%20afghanistan%20withdrawal%20and%20the%20spillover%20effects%20of%20the%20october%207%20hamas%20terrorist%20attacks%20against%20our%20ally%20israel%20to%20the%20vulnerabilities%20caused%20by%20our%20wide-open%20borders,%20the%20united%20states%20is%20facing%20a%20dynamic%20and%20worsening%20terror%20threat%20landscape,%E2%80%9D%20committee%20chairman%20mark%20green,%20r-tenn.,%20said.%20%E2%80%9Cforeign%20jihadist%20networks%20like%20isis%20and%20hizballah,%20as%20well%20as%20homegrown%20violent%20extremists%20ideologically%20motivated%20by%20these%20terrorist%20groups,%20present%20security%20threats%20to%20the%20homeland.%20the%20department%20of%20homeland%20security%E2%80%99s%20mission%20is%20to%20protect%20the%20american%20people%20from%20every%20threat%20at%20our%20doorstep.%20the%20system%20is%20blinking%20red%20yet%20again,%20as%20even%20the%20head%20of%20the%20fbi%20has%20noted.%20despite%20heightened%20threats%20from%20terrorists,%20the%20biden-harris%20administration%20continues%20to%20demonstrate%20weak%20leadership%20on%20the%20world%20stage%20and%20fails%20to%20admit%20its%20policy%20failures%20that%20brought%20us%20here.%20we%20must%20change%20course%20and%20take%20the%20necessary%20actions%20to%20protect%20the%20homeland.%E2%80%9D%20the%20report%20lists%20examples%20of%20convictions%20of%20foreign%20nationals%20and%20american%20citizens,%20nearly%20all%20muslim%20men,%20in%2029%20states.%20of%20the%20dozens%20cited,%20some%20include%20a%20turkish%20man%20in%20kentucky%20convicted%20of%20providing%20material%20support%20and%20receiving%20military-type%20training%20from%20isis;%20two%20jordanian%20illegal%20border%20crossers%20attempted%20to%20breach%20marine%20base%20quantico;%20a%20british%20muslim%20held%20hostage%20jewish%20parishioners%20in%20a%20colleyville,%20texas,%20synagogue;%20a%20pakistani%20man%20with%20ties%20to%20iran%20charged%20in%20new%20york%20with%20attempting%20to%20commit%20an%20act%20of%20terrorism%20and%20murder-for-hire%20to%20assassinate%20american%20politicians;%20a%20moroccan%20man%20in%20minnesota%20sentenced%20to%20prison%20for%20joining%20and%20fighting%20with%20isis%20in%20syria,%20receiving%20military%20training%20from%20isis%20and%20providing%20assistance%20to%20isis;%20a%20muslim%20man%20in%20florida%20sentenced%20to%20prison%20for%20supporting%20an%20fto;%20a%20pakistani%20man%20in%20minnesota%20sentenced%20to%20prison%20for%20multiple%20offenses%20including%20planning%20to%20conduct%20%E2%80%9Clone%20wolf%E2%80%9D%20terrorist%20attacks%20in%20the%20u.s.;%20two%20brothers%20in%20indiana%20sentenced%20to%20prison%20for%20providing%20material%20support%20to%20a%20terrorist%20organization,%20including%20manufacturing%20and%20selling%20weapons;%20a%20kosovo%20man%20in%20brooklyn,%20new%20york,%20sentenced%20to%20life%20in%20prison%20for%20providing%20material%20support%20to%20isis%20and%20serving%20as%20a%20high-ranking%20member%20of%20isis;%20an%20uzbekistan%20national%20sentenced%20to%20centuries%20in%20prison%20for%20carrying%20out%20a%20terrorist%20attack%20in%20the%20name%20of%20isis%20in%20lower%20manhattan%20in%20october%202017,%20killing%20eight;%20a%20muslim%20man%20in%20pittsburgh%20sentenced%20to%20prison%20for%20attempting%20to%20provide%20material%20support%20to%20isis%20and%20planning%20to%20bomb%20a%20church%20in%20the%20name%20of%20isis;%20among%20others.%20the%20report%20also%20highlights%20actions%20taken%20by%20the%20departments%20of%20justice%20and%20treasury%20against%20individuals%20and%20groups%20connected%20to%20islamic%20terrorist%20organizations.%20it%20was%20released%2023%20years%20after%2019%20al%20qaeda%20men%20hijacked%20four%20airplanes%20to%20commit%20the%20largest%20terrorist%20attack%20in%20u.s.%20history,%20killing%20nearly%203,000%20people.%20it%20was%20also%20released%20after%20the%20u.s.%20department%20of%20homeland%20security%20issued%20its%20threat%20report%20for%202025,%20warning%20of%20terrorism%20threats%20surrounding%20the%20november%20election%20and%20the%20israel-hamas%20war.%20prior%20to%20that,%20an%20international%20rescue%20organization%20issued%20an%20alert%20to%20jews%20and%20americans%20to%20remain%20vigilant%20in%20light%20of%20heightened%20terrorist%20threats%20leading%20up%20to%20the%20one%20year%20anniversary%20of%20the%20oct.%207%20terrorist%20attack%20and%20jewish%20holidays.%20in%202002,%20congress%20passed%20the%20homeland%20security%20act,%20creating%20the%20u.s.%20department%20of%20homeland%20security%20to%20consolidate%20multiple%20federal%20agencies%20with%20one%20goal%20to%20defend%20americans%20from%20terrorist%20and%20national%20security%20threats.%20twenty-three%20years%20later,%20dhs%20has%20serious%20deficiencies,%20and%20its%20policies%20are%20potentially%20creating%20national%20security%20risks,%20according%20to%20multiple%20reports%20published%20by%20the%20office%20of%20inspector%20general.%20in%20the%20most%20recent%20report%20released,%20the%20oig%20said%20current%20u.s.%20customs%20and%20border%20protection%20and%20immigration%20and%20customs%20enforcement%20practices%20%E2%80%9Ccannot%20ensure%20they%20are%20keeping%20high-risk%20noncitizens%20without%20identification%20from%20entering%20the%20country.%E2%80%9D%20likewise,%20the%20transportation%20security%20administration%20%E2%80%9Ccannot%20ensure%20its%20vetting%20and%20screening%20procedures%20prevent%20high-risk%20noncitizens%20who%20may%20pose%20a%20threat%20to%20the%20flying%20public%20from%20boarding%20domestic%20flights.%20%E2%80%9Ccbp%20and%20ice%20have%20policies%20and%20procedures%20for%20screening%20noncitizens,%20but%20neither%20component%20knows%20how%20many%20noncitizens%20without%20identification%20documents%20are%20released%20into%20the%20country.%E2%80%9D%20download%20pdf%20tcs%20terror%20threats%20facebook%20twitter%20email%20print%20copy%20article%20link%20save%20recommended%20for%20you%20texas%20congressman%20files%20bill%20to%20relocate%20cbp%20headquarters%20to%20texas%20republicans%20introduce%20constitutional%20amendment%20to%20impose%20term%20limits%20days%20before%20trump%20takes%20office,%20mayorkas%20issues%20sweeping%20immigration%20orders%20supreme%20court%20to%20decide%20fate%20of%20porn%20bans%20this%20month%20two%20federal%20judges%20rule%20for%20small%20businesses,%20halt%20corporate%20transparency%20act%20see%20all%20%3E%20podcast%20podcast%20a%20weekly%20feature%20of%20the%20top%20stories%20from%20the%20center%20square.%20national%20cruz%20reintroduces%20legislation%20to%20designate%20yemeni%20houthis%20as%20terrorists%20cruz%20reintroduces%20legislation%20to%20designate%20yemeni%20houthis%20as%20terrorists%20+2%20north%20carolina%E2%80%99s%20foxx%20will%20lead%20u.s.%20house%20rules%20committee%20north%20carolina%E2%80%99s%20foxx%20will%20lead%20u.s.%20house%20rules%20committee%20nationwide%20inauguration%20day%20protests%20and%20demonstration's%20expected%20nationwide%20inauguration%20day%20protests%20and%20demonstration's%20expected%20desantis%20won't%20rob%20the%20house%20to%20fill%20the%20senate%20desantis%20won't%20rob%20the%20house%20to%20fill%20the%20senate%20the%20center%20square%20about%20about%20the%20center%20square%20editorial%20staff%20code%20of%20ethics%20mission%20statement%20impact%20statement%20get%20in%20touch%20advertising%20contact%20job%20postings%20resources%20corrections%20&amp;%20clarifications%20faqs%20republishing%20guidelines%20rss%20feeds%20subscribe%20see%20all%20newsletters%20%3E%3E%20%C2%A9%20copyright%202023%20franklin%20news%20foundation,%2020%20n.%20clark%20st.,%20suite%20/#3300,%20Chicago,%20IL%2060602%20|%20Privacy%20Policy"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">reported</a></strong>.</p>
  3604.  
  3605.  
  3606.  
  3607. <p>“Foreign jihadist networks and homegrown violent extremists” represent a “persistent terror threat to America,” it said, citing the Biden administration’s “chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and the spillover effects of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against our ally Israel to the vulnerabilities caused by our wide-open borders.”</p>
  3608.  
  3609.  
  3610.  
  3611. <p>U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called for greater northern border security due Hamas members entering from Canada and sounded the alarm as Jewish Americans, he and others were targeted by pro-Hamas rioters, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_fd9187ac-75d0-11ef-88d7-1b4c064c6593.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">reported</a></strong>.</p>
  3612.  
  3613.  
  3614.  
  3615. <p>Last year, within a few months, three assassination attempts were foiled against Trump, including by an Iran-linked Pakistani and Iranian assassination plot.</p>
  3616.  
  3617.  
  3618.  
  3619. <p>In September, Cruz warned, “We are living on borrowed time”&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_eedd2b5a-7d0d-11ef-afe0-cf096dc77596.html&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1736884105484371&amp;usg=AOvVaw3VDmRDvOi36ZElKvEnInlx"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">in an interview</a></strong>&nbsp;with The Center Square. At the time, he said the U.S. “was at a greater risk for a major terrorist attack than we have been at any point since Sept. 11, 2001” because of Biden administration policies.</p>
  3620.  
  3621.  
  3622.  
  3623. <p>Cruz demanded answers on the “incredible lapses in vetting and screening illegal aliens at airports,” adding, “it is only a matter of time before another major terrorist attack is likely to occur.”</p>
  3624.  
  3625.  
  3626.  
  3627. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-have-garbage-truck-he-used-on-campaign-trail-in-inaugural-parade/">The Troll-In-Chief Does It Again: Trump Bringing Green Bay Garbage Truck To Inaugural Parade In D.C.</a></strong></p>
  3628.  
  3629.  
  3630.  
  3631. <p>As Cruz’s demands for increased security went unanswered, DHS, the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dhs.gov/prevention&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1736884132868728&amp;usg=AOvVaw3_736yc4PtAGzMbKMPn9BR"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">published resources</a></strong>&nbsp;“to help mitigate potential risks from a variety of threat actors.”</p>
  3632.  
  3633.  
  3634.  
  3635. <p>Months after Cruz’s warning, and two weeks after the New Orleans attack, the agencies issued the PSA, stating, “Due to the highly personal nature of radicalization to violence and mobilization to violence, it can be difficult to assess specific characteristics indicating the intent of US-based violent extremists to conduct violence.”</p>
  3636.  
  3637.  
  3638.  
  3639. <p>Federal agencies also published a U.S. Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators resource to help the public identify “all ideologically motivated, US-based violent extremists,” and a “Bystander Awareness eLearning” resource to understand “Targeted Violence Prevention.”</p>
  3640.  
  3641.  
  3642.  
  3643. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_90bec8a0-d2a6-11ef-90ef-8fc3eb56e6c1.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-dhs-warn-of-further-terrorist-attacks/">FBI, DHS Warn of Further Terrorist Attacks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3644. ]]></content:encoded>
  3648. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:20:48 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3649. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3650. </item>
  3651. <item>
  3652. <title>23andMe Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</title>
  3653. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/23andme-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/</link>
  3655. <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Conrad]]></dc:creator>
  3656. <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:03:54 +0000</pubDate>
  3657. <category><![CDATA[Class Action Lawsuits]]></category>
  3658. <category><![CDATA[23andme]]></category>
  3659. <category><![CDATA[class action]]></category>
  3660. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235134</guid>
  3661.  
  3662. <description><![CDATA[<p>The genetic testing company 23andMe and similar organizations have been providing customers with information about their genetic backgrounds for many</p>
  3663. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/23andme-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/">23andMe Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3664. ]]></description>
  3665. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The genetic testing company 23andMe and similar organizations have been providing customers with information about their genetic backgrounds for many years now. Clearly, it takes a good bit of trust to send your genetic material to a corporation. </p>
  3666.  
  3667.  
  3668.  
  3669. <p>Unforuntately, for some customers, that trust was broken. In 2023, the company 23andMe experienced a data security incident that exposed personal information for up to six million customers. This extremely sensitive personal information included health, genetic, and ethnic information.</p>
  3670.  
  3671.  
  3672.  
  3673. <p>Some of this information reportedly ended up on the dark web.</p>
  3674.  
  3675.  
  3676.  
  3677. <p>If you are one of the customers affected, you may be eligible to receive a rather sizable settlement.</p>
  3678.  
  3679.  
  3680.  
  3681. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-class-action-lawsuit-settlement"><strong>23andMe Class Action Lawsuit </strong>Settlement</h2>
  3682.  
  3683.  
  3684.  
  3685. <p>23andMe has agreed to a settlement of $30 million to end a class action lawsuit over the data breach.</p>
  3686.  
  3687.  
  3688.  
  3689. <p>Affected customers may be eligible for up to $10,000. (<a href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/data-breach/30m-23andme-settlement-resolves-data-breach-multidistrict-litigation/">Additional benefits</a> are added for residents of Alaska, California, Oregon, and Illinois.)</p>
  3690.  
  3691.  
  3692.  
  3693. <p>The settlement still needs to be fully approved before claims can be made &#8211; the plaintiffs are being represented by Gayle M. Blatt of Casey Gerry Shenk Francavilla Blatt &amp; Penfield LLP, Cari Campen Laufenberg of Keller Rohrback LLP, and Norman E. Siegel of Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP.</p>
  3694.  
  3695.  
  3696.  
  3697. <p><strong>Please check back here for a link when it becomes available.</strong></p>
  3698.  
  3699.  
  3700.  
  3701. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-class-action-lawsuits-work">How Do Class Action Lawsuits Work?</h2>
  3702.  
  3703.  
  3704.  
  3705. <p>Class action law has evolved over the last few decades. But there are specific rules binding class actions, known as Rule 23 in the federal rules for civil procedures. The Legal Information Institute lays out what the court must find in order to approve a class action:</p>
  3706.  
  3707.  
  3708.  
  3709. <ol class="wp-block-list">
  3710. <li>The number of class members renders it impracticable to join them in the action</li>
  3711.  
  3712.  
  3713.  
  3714. <li>The class members’ claims share common questions of law or fact</li>
  3715.  
  3716.  
  3717.  
  3718. <li>The claims or defenses of the proposed class representatives are typical of those for the rest of the class, and</li>
  3719.  
  3720.  
  3721.  
  3722. <li>The proposed class representatives will adequately protect the interests of the entire class.</li>
  3723. </ol>
  3724.  
  3725.  
  3726.  
  3727. <p>In short, multiple plaintiffs must all have sufficiently similar claims of damage, such that a ruling would largely have the same affect on all class members. The question is then before the court: have all these plaintiffs indeed suffered similar harm from the defendant?</p>
  3728.  
  3729.  
  3730.  
  3731. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take"><strong>How Long Do Class Action Lawsuits Take</strong></h2>
  3732.  
  3733.  
  3734.  
  3735. <p>Again, the answer is: it depends on the case.</p>
  3736.  
  3737.  
  3738.  
  3739. <p>In some cases, the answer is 10 minutes! Defendants can try to end the case before it even begins by settling with the plaintiffs – typically this means payments. According to Top Class Actions,&nbsp;<a href="https://topclassactions.com/faqs/how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">settlements can typically</a>&nbsp;take up to nine months or a year.</p>
  3740.  
  3741.  
  3742.  
  3743. <p>However, if class actions go to trial, the timeline becomes years long – typically two or three years, according to the Cochran Firm.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/23andme-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/">23andMe Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3744. ]]></content:encoded>
  3748. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:03:58 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3749. <tpd:primaryCategory>Class Action Lawsuits</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3750. </item>
  3751. <item>
  3752. <title>The Troll-In-Chief Does It Again: Trump Bringing Green Bay Garbage Truck To Inaugural Parade In D.C.</title>
  3753. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-have-garbage-truck-he-used-on-campaign-trail-in-inaugural-parade/</link>
  3755. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  3756. <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:48:06 +0000</pubDate>
  3757. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3758. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  3759. <category><![CDATA[Garbage Truck]]></category>
  3760. <category><![CDATA[Inauguration]]></category>
  3761. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235127</guid>
  3762.  
  3763. <description><![CDATA[<p>Say what you will about President-elect Donald Trump, but his trolling skills are off the charts. He is, for all</p>
  3764. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-have-garbage-truck-he-used-on-campaign-trail-in-inaugural-parade/">The Troll-In-Chief Does It Again: Trump Bringing Green Bay Garbage Truck To Inaugural Parade In D.C.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3765. ]]></description>
  3766. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Say what you will about President-elect Donald <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/tag/donald-trump/">Trump</a>, but his trolling skills are off the charts. He is, for all intents and purposes, the funniest person in America.</p>
  3767.  
  3768.  
  3769.  
  3770. <p>The proof? The garbage truck he used in Green Bay, Wisconsin, that became famous at the end of the 2024 presidential campaign, will appear in his inaugural parade.</p>
  3771.  
  3772.  
  3773.  
  3774. <p>A truck from the company Loadmaster, a firm based in Michigan, will be one of 39 entries in the parade that runs down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, according to <a href="https://www.themidwesterner.news/2025/01/exclusive-garbage-truck-from-michigan-company-that-drove-trump-viral-campaign-moment-to-appear-in-inaugural-parade/">the Midwesterner</a>.</p>
  3775.  
  3776.  
  3777.  
  3778. <p>The information comes via a source on the inaugural committee.</p>
  3779.  
  3780.  
  3781.  
  3782. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recreating-the-viral-trump-garbage-truck-moment">Recreating The Viral Trump Garbage Truck Moment</h2>
  3783.  
  3784.  
  3785.  
  3786. <p>The garbage truck, of course, gained notoriety after Trump was photographed sitting in it on the tarmac at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport as he prepared to speak at a campaign rally.</p>
  3787.  
  3788.  
  3789.  
  3790. <p>Aside from his work day at McDonald&#8217;s, this was the most viral moment of his presidential campaign and, combined with Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre, may have sealed the deal in Wisconsin.</p>
  3791.  
  3792.  
  3793.  
  3794. <p>Trump took the level of trolling to a nuclear weapons-grade level when, after President Biden declared his supporters to be &#8220;garbage,&#8221; he threw&nbsp;on an orange vest&nbsp;and hitched a ride in a garbage truck on the way to his next campaign stop.</p>
  3795.  
  3796.  
  3797.  
  3798. <p>Even better, Trump then proceeded to give his entire campaign speech while wearing the orange vest. Proving once again he was a man of the people.</p>
  3799.  
  3800.  
  3801.  
  3802. <p>Andrew Brisson, the vice president of Loadmaster, provided the truck to the October Trump rally and was actually in the driver’s seat. Brisson recalled the hilarious moment to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wfla.com/news/national/how-trumps-viral-garbage-truck-came-to-be/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">WFRV</a>.</p>
  3803.  
  3804.  
  3805.  
  3806. <p>&#8220;Started up the truck, blew the air horn, and then Trump looked over at me and said, can you take me for a ride in this thing,&#8221; he recalled. &#8220;I released the parking brake, put it in drive and started driving forward.&#8221;</p>
  3807.  
  3808.  
  3809.  
  3810. <p>&#8220;Like Trump said, we just got a few feet, and the Secret Service just glaring at me, waving their hands, telling us to knock it off.&#8221;</p>
  3811.  
  3812.  
  3813.  
  3814. <p>&#8220;How do you like my garbage truck?&#8221; Trump asked reporters at the time.</p>
  3815.  
  3816.  
  3817.  
  3818. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump has completely derailed my evening. I have spent 90 minutes laughing at this man’s genius. <br><br>Again, hate em if ya want, but our 45th president just showed up in a garbage truck and is now speaking at his rally in an orange garbage man vest. I can’t even. ❤️🤣🗑️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MAGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/FN1oFORjyJ">pic.twitter.com/FN1oFORjyJ</a></p>&mdash; Lindsay In South Carolina (@LindsayJPitcher) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindsayJPitcher/status/1851771941524509055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  3819.  
  3820.  
  3821.  
  3822. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-sees-baby-chicken-costume-halloween-pretends-bite/">Biden Sees Baby In A Chicken Costume, So Of Course He Pretends To Bite Him</a></strong></p>
  3823.  
  3824.  
  3825.  
  3826. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-won-t-be-all-garbage">Won&#8217;t Be All Garbage</h2>
  3827.  
  3828.  
  3829.  
  3830. <p>Trump&#8217;s inauguration won&#8217;t be exclusively about trolling his adversaries with garbage trucks. In fact, the entertainment he has lined up will be anything <em>but </em>garbage.</p>
  3831.  
  3832.  
  3833.  
  3834. <p>Trump&#8217;s inauguration weekend is set to be a spectacle with a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/13/trump-village-people-inaugural-kid-rock">star-studded lineup</a> of performers. </p>
  3835.  
  3836.  
  3837.  
  3838. <p>Headlining the event are the Village People, who have become a symbol in MAGA culture due to their song &#8220;YMCA.&#8221; The song inspired the &#8220;Trump Dance&#8221; which has been sweeping the nation of late. They will perform at a &#8220;Victory Rally&#8221; at Capital One Arena in D.C. </p>
  3839.  
  3840.  
  3841.  
  3842. <p>Joining them is Kid Rock, a known supporter of Trump, who previously performed at the Republican National Convention. </p>
  3843.  
  3844.  
  3845.  
  3846. <p>Other notable acts include country singer Jason Aldean, whose song &#8220;Try That in a Small Town&#8221; resonated with Trump&#8217;s voter base, <a href="https://www.themix.net/celebrity/celebrity-news/carrie-underwood-to-headline-president-donald-trumps-inauguration/">and Carrie Underwood</a>, who is scheduled to sing &#8220;America the Beautiful&#8221; at the inauguration ceremony.</p>
  3847.  
  3848.  
  3849.  
  3850. <p>Remember when the entertainment world remained in the shadows because it was too risky to align yourself with Trump? Those days appear to be over.</p>
  3851.  
  3852.  
  3853.  
  3854. <p>We&#8217;re all doing the Trump Dance, now.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/trump-to-have-garbage-truck-he-used-on-campaign-trail-in-inaugural-parade/">The Troll-In-Chief Does It Again: Trump Bringing Green Bay Garbage Truck To Inaugural Parade In D.C.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3855. ]]></content:encoded>
  3859. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:48:07 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3860. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3861. </item>
  3862. <item>
  3863. <title>Crazy Like a Fox: Trump’s Greenland Pitch Makes Perfect Sense</title>
  3864. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/crazy-like-a-fox-trumps-greenland-pitch-makes-perfect-sense/</link>
  3866. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Miele]]></dc:creator>
  3867. <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:24:16 +0000</pubDate>
  3868. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  3869. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  3870. <category><![CDATA[greenland]]></category>
  3871. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235130</guid>
  3872.  
  3873. <description><![CDATA[<p>It was back in August 2019, just about the time Democrats were wasting everyone’s time with the first fake impeachment</p>
  3874. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/crazy-like-a-fox-trumps-greenland-pitch-makes-perfect-sense/">Crazy Like a Fox: Trump’s Greenland Pitch Makes Perfect Sense</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3875. ]]></description>
  3876. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was back in August 2019, just about the time Democrats were wasting everyone’s time with the first fake impeachment scandal, when Donald Trump originally introduced the idea of buying Greenland from Denmark.</p>
  3877.  
  3878.  
  3879.  
  3880. <p>At the time, the notion was dismissed by the pointy-headed arbiters of right and wrong known as the mainstream media, who concluded that Trump must see his presidency as an extended season of “The Apprentice.” In this episode, the modern-day land baron outsmarts the Scandihoovian rubes who didn’t know the “green” in Greenland was cold hard cash.</p>
  3881.  
  3882.  
  3883.  
  3884. <p>Like almost every other preconception of Trump in his first term, that take was nonsensical. There was considerable historical and geo-political justification for Trump’s proposal to rescue Greenland from European colonialism, and perhaps if his enemies had not sprung the Ukraine phone call impeachment hoax shortly after the Greenland gambit was proposed, it might have become a major accomplishment of Trump’s first term.</p>
  3885.  
  3886.  
  3887.  
  3888. <p>I wrote about the original proposal on Aug. 26, 2019, for RealClearPolitics in an article that declared&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/08/26/trumps_no_safe_bet_hes_a_leader_141089.html">“Trump’s No Safe Bet; He’s a Leader.”</a>&nbsp;The premise was that unlike the feckless, washed-out, safety-in-numbers politicians who lead by following polls, Trump used common sense and intuition to find solutions to problems no one else even liked to think about. Building a wall to keep out illegal immigrants might seem like an obvious idea now, but before Trump, no one would have dared to say it.</p>
  3889.  
  3890.  
  3891.  
  3892. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/petitions-demanding-la-mayor-karen-bass-resignation-over-fire-debacle-pick-up-steam/">Petitions Demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass’ Resignation Over Fire Debacle Pick Up Steam</a></strong></p>
  3893.  
  3894.  
  3895.  
  3896. <p>The same is true of his wish to reclaim Greenland as North American territory. Few if any of Trump’s contemporaries had considered the idea, but it was not without precedent. Lincoln’s Secretary of State William Seward had sought to purchase Greenland for the United States in 1867, the same year he famously acquired Alaska from Russia.</p>
  3897.  
  3898.  
  3899.  
  3900. <p>These days, it may seem jarring to talk about buying large chunks of real estate for the purpose of national aggrandizement, but it wasn’t always so. In addition to Seward’s purchase of Alaska, the United States also can be grateful for Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase, which nearly doubled the size of the country, as well as for the largely free acquisition of Florida from Spain. Land deals are not just in Trump’s blood; they are part of our national heritage.</p>
  3901.  
  3902.  
  3903.  
  3904. <p>They can also be vital to national security. Certainly everyone can agree we were infinitely better off during the era of the Soviet Union because Alaska was no longer in the hands of the Russian oligarchs. And President-elect Trump alluded to a similar benefit on&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113698764270730405">Truth Social</a>when he appointed his ambassador to Denmark in December:</p>
  3905.  
  3906.  
  3907.  
  3908. <p>“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”</p>
  3909.  
  3910.  
  3911.  
  3912. <p>Trump elaborated on that sentiment last week during his impromptu&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcripts/donald-trump-news-conference-on-economic-development-1-07-24">press conference</a>&nbsp;at Mar-a-Lago.</p>
  3913.  
  3914.  
  3915.  
  3916. <p>“We need Greenland for national security purposes. … People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. That’s for the free world. I’m talking about protecting the free world. You don’t even need binoculars. You look outside, you have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We’re not letting that happen. We’re not letting it happen.”</p>
  3917.  
  3918.  
  3919.  
  3920. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive/">What Are The Odds Trump Will Survive?</a></strong></p>
  3921.  
  3922.  
  3923.  
  3924. <p>So again, we have the Russian threat, but this time added on top of the perhaps even greater Chinese threat. As I pointed out five years ago, China has its own eyes on Greenland, not just for the strategic importance but because it is a repository of rare earth minerals and other resources:</p>
  3925.  
  3926.  
  3927.  
  3928. <p>“President Trump was well aware that the Chinese had already expressed their own interest in Greenland, offering to fund millions of dollars of infrastructure improvements on the island as part of the plan for global economic domination known as the ‘Belt and Road Initiative.’”</p>
  3929.  
  3930.  
  3931.  
  3932. <p>Fortunately, pressure on Denmark largely thwarted China’s Greenland ambitions, but meanwhile Trump’s appetite for American expansionism was whetted.</p>
  3933.  
  3934.  
  3935.  
  3936. <p>It is perhaps significant that the play for Greenland has been paired with Trump’s threat to take back the Panama Canal, which was turned over to the nation of Panama by Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. The canal zone, after all, has proven to be a lucrative foothold for China in the New World, and provides a chilling warning of what might happen if someone of Trump’s stature did not step forward to hold the communist state out of Greenland.</p>
  3937.  
  3938.  
  3939.  
  3940. <p>And one thing is certain. No one is laughing at Trump this time around for his pitch to Denmark. Far-fetched? Maybe, but no one dares to underestimate Trump any longer. His willpower is a force of nature, and if he says he wants Greenland, don’t count him out.</p>
  3941.  
  3942.  
  3943.  
  3944. <p>Trump has already become the dominant force on the world stage weeks before he takes office. His attendance at the reopening of Notre Dame caused ripples throughout Europe. Mexico and Canada were put on notice that there was no more free ride once Trump took office, as he threatened them both with tariffs. Trump’s jest about making Canada the 51st state deserves a lot of the credit for (Governor?) Justin Trudeau’s resignation as prime minister. And that’s just the beginning.</p>
  3945.  
  3946.  
  3947.  
  3948. <p>You don’t have to take my word for it. Time magazine ran a little-heralded essay by Ray Dalio that examined&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7177760/trump-administration-changing-world-order/">“How a Second Trump Administration Will Change the Domestic and World Order.”</a>&nbsp;Dalio, one of the world’s most powerful hedge-fund managers, is no friend of Trump. Before the election, he lamented that Trump led a&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-investor-ray-dalio-refuses-121654274.html">“strong, unethical, almost fascist Republican Party.”</a></p>
  3949.  
  3950.  
  3951.  
  3952. <p>But after the fact he was forced to acknowledge that Trump’s election would lead to “a giant renovation of government and the domestic order aimed at making it run more efficiently” and that China would be “widely considered the United States’ single greatest threat.”</p>
  3953.  
  3954.  
  3955.  
  3956. <p>Although Dalio is nostalgic for the post-war international order, he recognizes that under the new rules, “The U.S. and China will be competing for allies, with China generally believed to be in a much better position to win over nonaligned countries because China is more important economically and does a better job exerting its soft power.”</p>
  3957.  
  3958.  
  3959.  
  3960. <p>Unless you are a secret admirer of Xi Jinping, that assessment makes the best case for why Donald Trump is the right person for the job of restoring American dominance. No one does a better job of exerting “soft power” than the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president. He has already changed the conversation just with a social media post and a press conference. So what happens when he gets in office?</p>
  3961.  
  3962.  
  3963.  
  3964. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/report-idaho-state-representative-reveals-she-sparked-movement-which-ignited-boise-state-womens-volleyball-boycott/">REPORT: Idaho State Representative Reveals She Sparked Movement Which Ignited Boise State Women’s Volleyball Boycott</a></strong></p>
  3965.  
  3966.  
  3967.  
  3968. <p>I’m not the only one taking Trump seriously. So are both Republicans and Democrats.</p>
  3969.  
  3970.  
  3971.  
  3972. <p><a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/01/07/fetterman_buying_greenland_is_a_responsible_conversation.html">Sen. John Fetterman</a>, the Pennsylvania Democrat, for instance, said, “I do think it’s a responsible conversation if they [Denmark] were open to [the United States] acquiring it, you know, whether just buying it outright. If anyone thinks that’s bonkers, it’s like, well, remember the Louisiana Purchase.”</p>
  3973.  
  3974.  
  3975.  
  3976. <p>And MAGA superstar Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, accompanied Donald Trump Jr. to Nuuk, Greenland, last week to test the waters for Making Greenland America Again.</p>
  3977.  
  3978.  
  3979.  
  3980. <p>“What we learned is a couple of things,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZmtF5Akf3E">he told his huge YouTube audience</a>. “Number one, the people of Greenland are awesome. They’re tough people, they have tough winters. They’ve been through a lot and they feel forgotten, but they are the most lovely people. Number two, they feel as if they’re mistreated right now by the Danish government, that the Danish government is not treating them the way they’d like to be treated, and they want to be wealthy again.”</p>
  3981.  
  3982.  
  3983.  
  3984. <p>In just one week, the real work begins after Trump is sworn in. There’s no guarantee that he will accomplish his goal of buying Greenland, but with his salesmanship, one thing&nbsp;<em>is</em>&nbsp;certain – it’s more likely that Greenland will become the 51st state than that Canada will.</p>
  3985.  
  3986.  
  3987.  
  3988. <p><em>Frank Miele, the retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Media-Matrix-Everything-Heartland-Diary/dp/1732963339">“The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake”</a> is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him at <a href="https://heartlanddiaryusa.com/">HeartlandDiaryUSA.com</a> or follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.</em></p>
  3989.  
  3990.  
  3991.  
  3992. <p>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/01/13/crazy_like_a_fox_trumps_greenland_pitch_152186.html">from RealClearWire</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/crazy-like-a-fox-trumps-greenland-pitch-makes-perfect-sense/">Crazy Like a Fox: Trump’s Greenland Pitch Makes Perfect Sense</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  3993. ]]></content:encoded>
  3997. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:24:23 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  3998. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  3999. </item>
  4000. <item>
  4001. <title>Petitions Demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass&#8217; Resignation Over Fire Debacle Pick Up Steam</title>
  4002. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/petitions-demanding-la-mayor-karen-bass-resignation-over-fire-debacle-pick-up-steam/</link>
  4004. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  4005. <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:18:49 +0000</pubDate>
  4006. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4007. <category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
  4008. <category><![CDATA[Gavin Newsom]]></category>
  4009. <category><![CDATA[Karen Bass]]></category>
  4010. <category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Wildfires]]></category>
  4011. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235120</guid>
  4012.  
  4013. <description><![CDATA[<p>A pair of petitions calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to resign over their</p>
  4014. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/petitions-demanding-la-mayor-karen-bass-resignation-over-fire-debacle-pick-up-steam/">Petitions Demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass&#8217; Resignation Over Fire Debacle Pick Up Steam</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4015. ]]></description>
  4016. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A pair of petitions calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to resign over their handling of the Palisades Fire disasters are starting to pick up steam.</p>
  4017.  
  4018.  
  4019.  
  4020. <p>While outlets like <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/01/12/gavin-newsom-recall-petition-flat-karen-bass-picking-up-steam/">TMZ</a> report that the Newsom petition is trailing far behind the Bass effort, there is some vital context to take into consideration. The Bass petition had a three-day head start by its creator. And it is far more detailed in its demands.</p>
  4021.  
  4022.  
  4023.  
  4024. <p>The <a href="https://www.change.org/p/recall-gavin-newsom-enough-is-enough-reclaim-california">Newsom petition</a>, initiated by real estate investor Grant Cardone, points out a bevy of issues with the governor, including his environmental record and &#8220;fringe agenda.&#8221;</p>
  4025.  
  4026.  
  4027.  
  4028. <p>It has just over 33,000 signatures thus far and demands Newsom&#8217;s &#8220;immediate resignation.&#8221;</p>
  4029.  
  4030.  
  4031.  
  4032. <p>Cardone has been on social media soliciting followers <a href="https://therealdeal.com/la/2025/01/10/grant-cardone-pursues-class-action-against-newsom-over-fires/">to join him</a> &#8220;in a class action suit against the state and county for neglect &amp; incompetence.&#8221;</p>
  4033.  
  4034.  
  4035.  
  4036. <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEtTS1EPZbs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEtTS1EPZbs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEtTS1EPZbs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">A post shared by Grant Cardone (@grantcardone)</a></p></div></blockquote>
  4037. <script defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
  4038.  
  4039.  
  4040.  
  4041. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gavin-newsom-and-karen-bass-hit-with-petitions-over-mismanagement-of-wildfires">Gavin Newsom And Karen Bass Hit With Petitions Over Mismanagement Of Wildfires</h2>
  4042.  
  4043.  
  4044.  
  4045. <p>While the Gavin Newsom petition is still trying to gain traction, the one for <a href="https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-immediate-resignation-of-mayor-karen-bass">LA Mayor Karen Bass</a> has been exploding. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The effort, shared on X by Elon Musk and conservative actor&nbsp;<a href="https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/01/11/james-woods-shares-miracle-update-on-his-la-home-after-liberals-celebrated-it-burning-down-n2184216"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">James Woods</a>, now has&nbsp;</span>over 118,000 signatures.</p>
  4046.  
  4047.  
  4048.  
  4049. <p>&#8220;We, the undersigned residents of Los Angeles and concerned citizens, urgently call for the immediate recall of Mayor Karen Bass due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles,&#8221; the petition reads.</p>
  4050.  
  4051.  
  4052.  
  4053. <p>Bass, who is in her first term as mayor, was <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/">initially ripped</a> by critics for being absent during the crisis and then returning from a trip to Ghana using a military plane. Why the mayor of an American city was visiting Ghana for the African nation&#8217;s presidential inauguration is anyone&#8217;s guess, though she campaigned on a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/12/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-promised-before-being-elected-to-not-go-abroad-then-was-caught-in-ghana-when-fires-erupted/">promise not to go abroad</a> during her mayoralty. </p>
  4054.  
  4055.  
  4056.  
  4057. <p>She then failed to comfort suffering residents when she held a bizarre press conference after refusing to speak to reporters about her initial absence and the city’s lack of preparedness.</p>
  4058.  
  4059.  
  4060.  
  4061. <p>The Karen Bass petition demands a &#8220;full, transparent investigation into the failures in disaster preparedness, response, and resource allocation that left our city vulnerable.&#8221;</p>
  4062.  
  4063.  
  4064.  
  4065. <p>&#8220;The people of Los Angeles deserve a leader who is present, accountable, and actively working to protect and serve our community,&#8221; it concludes. &#8220;Mayor Bass&#8217;s actions—or lack thereof—have shown she is unfit for the office she holds.&#8221;</p>
  4066.  
  4067.  
  4068.  
  4069. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LA Mayor Karen Bass refuses to answer and freezes when a reporter asks her if she regrets cutting the Fire Department’s budget by nearly $20 million and being in Africa during a devastating wildfire <a href="https://t.co/BlLUri98zR">pic.twitter.com/BlLUri98zR</a></p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1877125522620076074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4070.  
  4071.  
  4072.  
  4073. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/">LA Mayor Karen Bass Goes Full Biden During Wildfire Press Conference As Old Tweet Shows Her Mocking Ted Cruz For ‘Fleeing’ During A Crisis</a></strong></p>
  4074.  
  4075.  
  4076.  
  4077. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-they-are-the-ones-most-responsible">They Are The Ones Most Responsible</h2>
  4078.  
  4079.  
  4080.  
  4081. <p>As the petitions suggest, Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass are the individuals most responsible for the Palisades wildfires raging out of control.</p>
  4082.  
  4083.  
  4084.  
  4085. <p>Bass certainly bears some responsibility for the city&#8217;s recent tragedy, having cut the fire department&#8217;s budget by more than $17 million last year to redirect funds toward supporting the homeless population.</p>
  4086.  
  4087.  
  4088.  
  4089. <p>A <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14271021/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-fires-department-budget-cuts.html?ns_mchannel=rss&amp;ns_campaign=1490&amp;ito=social-twitter_mailonline">leaked memo</a>, which has come under scrutiny, indicates that the mayor initially proposed budget cuts to the LAFD that were nearly four times larger, aiming to reduce funding by an <em><strong>extra </strong></em>$49 million just one week prior to the onset of the wildfires.</p>
  4090.  
  4091.  
  4092.  
  4093. <p>President-elect Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/01/08/trump-levels-gavin-newsom-over-disastrous-palisades-wildfire-he-is-to-blame-for-this-n2184100"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">repeatedly advised</a>&nbsp;the Democrat governor to clear out forest floors in an attempt to limit wildfires throughout his first term. He didn&#8217;t heed the warnings.</p>
  4094.  
  4095.  
  4096.  
  4097. <p>Additionally, Governor Newsom signed a 2024-2025 fiscal year budget that reduced funding for wildfire and forest resilience programs <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/gavin-newsom-cut-100m-fire-prevention-budget-before-california-fires-2012980">by $101 million</a>.</p>
  4098.  
  4099.  
  4100.  
  4101. <p>In a sane world, both of these pols would have already resigned in disgrace.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/petitions-demanding-la-mayor-karen-bass-resignation-over-fire-debacle-pick-up-steam/">Petitions Demanding LA Mayor Karen Bass&#8217; Resignation Over Fire Debacle Pick Up Steam</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4102. ]]></content:encoded>
  4106. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:18:52 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4107. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4108. </item>
  4109. <item>
  4110. <title>What Are The Odds Trump Will Survive?</title>
  4111. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive/</link>
  4113. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  4114. <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:13:26 +0000</pubDate>
  4115. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4116. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  4117. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235122</guid>
  4118.  
  4119. <description><![CDATA[<p>Fact: 18% of US presidents have died while in office. And if 78-year-old Donald Trump serves a full second term,</p>
  4120. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive/">What Are The Odds Trump Will Survive?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4121. ]]></description>
  4122. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Fact: 18% of US presidents have died while in office.</p>
  4123.  
  4124.  
  4125.  
  4126. <p>And if 78-year-old Donald Trump serves a full second term, he&#8217;ll be the oldest president in history. Yes, even older than Joe Biden.</p>
  4127.  
  4128.  
  4129.  
  4130. <p>So what are his chances of surviving that full second term? Let’s take a look at everything from his overall health to the fact that people keep trying to kill him and try to determine Trump’s chances of serving out his term.</p>
  4131.  
  4132.  
  4133.  
  4134. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cold-numbers"><strong>The Cold Numbers</strong></h2>
  4135.  
  4136.  
  4137.  
  4138. <p>The government creates actuarial tables to try and figure out how likely people are to die. The Centers for Disease Control does it to figure out how to help people live longer, and the Social Security Administration does it because they need to send old people checks for the rest of their lives.</p>
  4139.  
  4140.  
  4141.  
  4142. <p>First, the obvious. Trump looks pretty good for his age. Anyone who’s seen his sweet dance moves knows he has energy and strength. But he’s not a young man, and he’ll start the presidency about 6 months older than Joe Biden was when he was sworn in.</p>
  4143.  
  4144.  
  4145.  
  4146. <p>A 78-year-old male has an average life expectancy of nine more years. Over the next four years, Trump has a 5 – 7% chance of dying in any single year. He essentially has a 75.3% chance of surviving all of those four years according to Social Security Administration data. For Trump, that means a one-in-four chance of not completing a second term. However, he’s already outlived the average American male life expectancy of 76.1 years.</p>
  4147.  
  4148.  
  4149.  
  4150. <p>Trump has several factors working in his favor. He&#8217;s a lifelong teetotaler and doesn’t smoke. We know smoking is a huge factor in dying early. As for drinking, some studies say a glass of wine a day can help your health. But lots of people, including Trump’s own brother, have died from factors related to alcoholism. For most people, drinking doesn’t make them healthier.</p>
  4151.  
  4152.  
  4153.  
  4154. <p>His doctors consistently report good cardiac health, with normal blood pressure and cholesterol. Trump&#8217;s former physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein, once claimed that Trump would be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency and that his lab results were astonishingly excellent. But remember, the seriousness of FDR’s polio, along with ailments suffered by several other prominent politicians, was hidden from the American people. So I’m not sure how much stock we put in his doctor reports.</p>
  4155.  
  4156.  
  4157.  
  4158. <p>His parents lived long lives &#8211; his mother was 88, and his father was 93 when they died, although Fred Trump, Sr. did have dementia in his later years.</p>
  4159.  
  4160.  
  4161.  
  4162. <p>But Trump’s weight and diet raise some red flags. He&#8217;s famously fond of fast food and red meat, though his exact weight remains a mystery. His arrest records in New York and Georgia show different numbers and no one – except probably Trump himself – knows for certain.</p>
  4163.  
  4164.  
  4165.  
  4166. <p>The presidency also comes with extraordinary life-preserving perks. The White House Medical Unit is on-hand to provide 24/7 care, Air Force One includes a flying hospital, and the Secret Service is there to protect the president at all times. Trump is also less likely to fall off a ladder changing a lightbulb, or to suffer other common accidents.</p>
  4167.  
  4168.  
  4169.  
  4170. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</a></strong></p>
  4171.  
  4172.  
  4173.  
  4174. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-threat-of-assassination"><strong>The Threat of Assassination</strong></h2>
  4175.  
  4176.  
  4177.  
  4178. <p>But one of the biggest threats to any sitting president is the threat of being shot. Four presidents (9% of those who served) were assassinated while in office, and we know of at least five serious attempts on Trump’s life.</p>
  4179.  
  4180.  
  4181.  
  4182. <ul class="wp-block-list">
  4183. <li><strong>Las Vegas: </strong>Michael Steven Sandford, a 20-year-old British man, tried to grab a police officer’s gun at a rally in 2016 in order to kill Trump. He was diagnosed with a mental illness and deported back to England.</li>
  4184.  
  4185.  
  4186.  
  4187. <li><strong>Mandan, North Dakota: </strong>Gregory Lee Leingang hijacked a forklift in 2017. His plan was to flip Trump’s presidential vehicle upside down, but he was caught when the forklift got stuck. Unsurprisingly, he was mentally ill as well.</li>
  4188.  
  4189.  
  4190.  
  4191. <li><strong>Butler, Pennsylvania: </strong>Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump at a rally and killed a man in the audience who was shielding his family. It was found there was gross Secret Service incompetence which led to the director’s resignation.</li>
  4192.  
  4193.  
  4194.  
  4195. <li><strong>West Palm Beach, Florida: </strong>Ryan Routh was caught lying in wait at Trump’s golf course, aiming to assassinate Trump as he came to the next hole.</li>
  4196.  
  4197.  
  4198.  
  4199. <li><strong>Washington, DC: </strong>In November of 2024, the Justice Department uncovered an Iranian plot to kill Trump in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian General Soleimani.</li>
  4200. </ul>
  4201.  
  4202.  
  4203.  
  4204. <p>That&#8217;s a lot of attempts on one guy&#8217;s life. In a typical year, the Secret Service deals with about 1500 death threats, and during Trump&#8217;s first term, those threats rose.</p>
  4205.  
  4206.  
  4207.  
  4208. <p>And he can’t stay in the basement while he’s governing. The president needs to be out in public, attending events and making speeches in front of crowds. The chance of someone crazy or evil causing him harm isn’t zero.</p>
  4209.  
  4210.  
  4211.  
  4212. <p>So will he survive a full second term? Probably. Most of these statistics are generalizations, and his survival rate for any of them is still on the high side.</p>
  4213.  
  4214.  
  4215.  
  4216. <p>I looked more closely at these stats, and the dangers and perks of being president, in my latest video. Check it out to see the real threats President Trump will face over the next four years. I found the research I did on this topic eye-opening.</p>
  4217.  
  4218.  
  4219.  
  4220. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  4221. <div class="iframe-container"><iframe title="Trump&#039;s Death Risk Is Higher Than You Think" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zvbyU4gcumg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  4222. </div></figure>
  4223.  
  4224.  
  4225.  
  4226. <p><em>Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. <a href="https://kenlacorte.substack.com/p/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">Follow Ken on Substack</a></em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/what-are-the-odds-trump-will-survive/">What Are The Odds Trump Will Survive?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4227. ]]></content:encoded>
  4231. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 09:13:29 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4232. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4233. </item>
  4234. <item>
  4235. <title>Senator John Fetterman Is Ironing His Nicest Hoodie And Heading to Mar-a-Lago To Meet With Trump</title>
  4236. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/senator-john-fetterman-is-ironing-his-nicest-hoodie-and-heading-to-mar-a-lago-to-meet-with-trump/</link>
  4238. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  4239. <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:25:19 +0000</pubDate>
  4240. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4241. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  4242. <category><![CDATA[John Fetterman]]></category>
  4243. <category><![CDATA[Mar-a-Lago]]></category>
  4244. <category><![CDATA[Pennsylvania]]></category>
  4245. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235115</guid>
  4246.  
  4247. <description><![CDATA[<p>Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) continued his improbable run as the lone Democrat in the chamber with common sense, announcing that</p>
  4248. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/senator-john-fetterman-is-ironing-his-nicest-hoodie-and-heading-to-mar-a-lago-to-meet-with-trump/">Senator John Fetterman Is Ironing His Nicest Hoodie And Heading to Mar-a-Lago To Meet With Trump</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4249. ]]></description>
  4250. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) continued his improbable run as the lone Democrat in the chamber with common sense, announcing that he&#8217;s accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump to meet at Mar-a-Lago.</p>
  4251.  
  4252.  
  4253.  
  4254. <p>Fetterman&#8217;s rationale for the meeting is straightforward; he views it as a reasonable conversation with the soon-to-be president. And, as he <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-fetterman-meet/2025/01/09/id/1194488/">points out</a>, his constituency doesn&#8217;t consist exclusively of Democrats.</p>
  4255.  
  4256.  
  4257.  
  4258. <p>&#8220;That is the plan. Yes, we are going to have a conversation,&#8221; Fetterman told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fetterman-trump-mar-a-lago/">CBS News</a>.</p>
  4259.  
  4260.  
  4261.  
  4262. <p>&#8220;I think that one, he&#8217;s the president, or he will be officially,&#8221; Fetterman added. &#8220;And I think it&#8217;s pretty reasonable that if the president would like to have a conversation — or invite someone to have a conversation — to have it.&#8221;</p>
  4263.  
  4264.  
  4265.  
  4266. <p>The Democrat senator concluded, &#8220;And no one is my gatekeeper.&#8221;</p>
  4267.  
  4268.  
  4269.  
  4270. <p>That&#8217;s quite refreshing to hear from a Democrat.</p>
  4271.  
  4272.  
  4273.  
  4274. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-john-fetterman-going-to-see-trump">John Fetterman Going To See Trump</h2>
  4275.  
  4276.  
  4277.  
  4278. <p>This move by Sen. John Fetterman has potentially set him on a collision course with his Democratic colleagues, who might see this as a betrayal or at least a significant deviation from party lines.</p>
  4279.  
  4280.  
  4281.  
  4282. <p>While some of his colleagues plan to skip Trump&#8217;s inauguration, Fetterman will break bread with the man.</p>
  4283.  
  4284.  
  4285.  
  4286. <p>The Pennsylvania Democrat&#8217;s actions reflect his history of not conforming to typical political expectations, which was evident even during his campaign, where he was known for his unique approach to politics.</p>
  4287.  
  4288.  
  4289.  
  4290. <p>Some other evidence that Fetterman has seen the light on <em>some </em>matters? He <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/john-fettermans-painful-debate-performance-was-so-horrific-even-liberals-are-shocked/">called out</a> his own party just over a year ago, warning against their insistence that Americans who are concerned about the border crisis are motivated by racism.</p>
  4291.  
  4292.  
  4293.  
  4294. <p>“I hope Democrats can understand that it isn’t xenophobic to be concerned about the border. It’s a reasonable conversation, and Democrats should engage,” he said.</p>
  4295.  
  4296.  
  4297.  
  4298. <p>Fetterman recently&nbsp;co-sponsored&nbsp;the Senate&#8217;s Laken Riley Act over Senate Democrat objections. Now, he&#8217;s keeping an open mind and meeting with Biden&#8217;s successor.</p>
  4299.  
  4300.  
  4301.  
  4302.  
  4303.  
  4304. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/democrats-john-fetterman-eric-adams-and-katie-hobbs-all-take-turns-knocking-biden-for-his-illegal-immigration-failure/">Democrats John Fetterman, Eric Adams, And Katie Hobbs All Take Turns Knocking Biden For His Illegal Immigration Failure</a></strong></p>
  4305.  
  4306.  
  4307.  
  4308. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guess-what-appointment-he-wants">Guess What Appointment He Wants?</h2>
  4309.  
  4310.  
  4311.  
  4312. <p>Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also made headlines with his latest remarks about visiting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Even beyond the visit, which is itself upsetting to his colleagues, Fetterman revealed that he would be seeking an appointment from the President-elect.</p>
  4313.  
  4314.  
  4315.  
  4316. <p>&#8220;I demand that I need to be made Pope of Greenland,&#8221; he joked.</p>
  4317.  
  4318.  
  4319.  
  4320. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeKhalilTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeKhalilTV</a> was able to catch up with <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnFetterman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnFetterman</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewsNation</a> confirmed he is going to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Trump. <br><br>​Fetterman joked he wants to be appointed the “Pope of Greenland”. <a href="https://t.co/3XJkg0Hpjv">https://t.co/3XJkg0Hpjv</a> <a href="https://t.co/MPSSgwZxId">pic.twitter.com/MPSSgwZxId</a></p>&mdash; Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellieMeyerNews/status/1877451104595706229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4321.  
  4322.  
  4323.  
  4324. <p>It&#8217;s amazing how far he&#8217;s come. From &#8220;Hi &#8230; Good night everybody!&#8221; to &#8216;I demand to be made Pope.&#8217;</p>
  4325.  
  4326.  
  4327.  
  4328. <p>Does the Pope get to throw on a hoodie over his cassock? Is there a zucchetto on the planet that would fit Fetterman&#8217;s ample dome?</p>
  4329.  
  4330.  
  4331.  
  4332. <p>The memes resulting from the Senator&#8217;s comments circulating on social media were extraordinary.</p>
  4333.  
  4334.  
  4335.  
  4336. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fetterman joked in an interview to a dumb reporter question that he wanted to be Pope of Greenland. The internet’s response: <a href="https://t.co/Kxf1csVi5T">pic.twitter.com/Kxf1csVi5T</a></p>&mdash; Rod Thomson (@Rod_Thomson) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rod_Thomson/status/1877481224236642326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4337.  
  4338.  
  4339.  
  4340. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fetterman says he wants to be the Pope of Greenland! 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/vayoGulm2d">pic.twitter.com/vayoGulm2d</a></p>&mdash; Rob (@LBIRob1971) <a href="https://twitter.com/LBIRob1971/status/1877521966199939320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/senator-john-fetterman-is-ironing-his-nicest-hoodie-and-heading-to-mar-a-lago-to-meet-with-trump/">Senator John Fetterman Is Ironing His Nicest Hoodie And Heading to Mar-a-Lago To Meet With Trump</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4341. ]]></content:encoded>
  4345. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 11:33:57 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4346. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4347. </item>
  4348. <item>
  4349. <title>REPORT: Idaho State Representative Reveals She Sparked Movement Which Ignited Boise State Women&#8217;s Volleyball Boycott</title>
  4350. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/report-idaho-state-representative-reveals-she-sparked-movement-which-ignited-boise-state-womens-volleyball-boycott/</link>
  4352. <dc:creator><![CDATA[John Hanson]]></dc:creator>
  4353. <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:59:01 +0000</pubDate>
  4354. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4355. <category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
  4356. <category><![CDATA[Riley gaines]]></category>
  4357. <category><![CDATA[sports]]></category>
  4358. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235107</guid>
  4359.  
  4360. <description><![CDATA[<p>The Boise State women’s volleyball team made headlines this weekend by forfeiting their game against San Jose State University (SJSU)</p>
  4361. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/report-idaho-state-representative-reveals-she-sparked-movement-which-ignited-boise-state-womens-volleyball-boycott/">REPORT: Idaho State Representative Reveals She Sparked Movement Which Ignited Boise State Women&#8217;s Volleyball Boycott</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4362. ]]></description>
  4363. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Boise State women’s volleyball team made headlines this weekend by forfeiting their game against San Jose State University (SJSU) amid ongoing controversy surrounding a transgender athlete on the Spartans’ roster.</p>
  4364.  
  4365.  
  4366.  
  4367. <p>This decision marks the second time this month a team has opted out of playing against SJSU, signaling a growing unease in collegiate sports over fairness, safety, and inclusivity. Boise State’s official statement, <a href="https://www.outkick.com/sports/boise-state-womens-volleyball-opts-no-contest-rather-than-playing-against-sjsu-trans-volleyball-player">released to OutKick</a> less than 24 hours before the match, provided no detailed explanation but confirmed the game would be recorded as a forfeit under Mountain West Conference policy.</p>
  4368.  
  4369.  
  4370.  
  4371. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  4372. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rep. Barbara Ehardt reveals she was the one behind the conversation that started the Boise State Women&#39;s Volleyball boycott of playing against the biological male player on the San Jose State team that started the whole movement. <br><br>Coach E is a hero! <a href="https://twitter.com/barbara_ehardt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@barbara_ehardt</a>… <a href="https://t.co/F2dyFiQrHY">pic.twitter.com/F2dyFiQrHY</a></p>&mdash; Matt Edwards (@TrueMattEdwards) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueMattEdwards/status/1877457568236274149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  4373. </div></figure>
  4374.  
  4375.  
  4376.  
  4377. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</a></strong></p>
  4378.  
  4379.  
  4380.  
  4381. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-title-ix-and-the-growing-backlash"><strong>Title IX and the Growing Backlash</strong></h2>
  4382.  
  4383.  
  4384.  
  4385. <p>The controversy surrounding SJSU’s roster goes beyond mere competition. Blaire Fleming, a transgender athlete on SJSU’s volleyball team, has become a lightning rod for debate over NCAA policies. Fleming’s presence on the court has prompted a Title IX lawsuit filed by teammates and female athletes from other sports, including outspoken advocate Riley Gaines. The lawsuit argues that policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports undermine fairness and safety, citing Fleming’s powerful spikes and their potential physical danger to opponents.</p>
  4386.  
  4387.  
  4388.  
  4389. <p>In her <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/boise-state-womens-volleyball-forfeits-upcoming-game-against-sjsu-amid-controversy-surrounding-trans-player">statement to Fox News</a>, Gaines commended Boise State’s decision, stating, “Some principles transcend winning on the court… It’s encouraging to witness institutions prioritizing fairness and athlete safety over forced inclusion.” Gaines’ sentiments echo the broader concerns of female athletes who feel sidelined by policies they claim compromise the integrity of women’s sports.</p>
  4390.  
  4391.  
  4392.  
  4393. <p>Adding to the growing movement, Rep. Barbara Ehardt revealed that she initiated the conversation that led to Boise State’s boycott. Her leadership has been credited with galvanizing institutions and individuals to stand up for women’s sports and question NCAA policies.</p>
  4394.  
  4395.  
  4396.  
  4397. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  4398. <div class="iframe-container"><iframe loading="lazy" title="BREAKING: Rep. Ehardt reveals she was the one who started the conversation on BSU Volleyball boycott" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ze31A43o_3s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  4399. </div></figure>
  4400.  
  4401.  
  4402.  
  4403. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/ozempic-class-action-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-join-the-ongoing-case/">Ozempic Class Action: What You Need to Know and How to Join the Ongoing Case</a></strong></p>
  4404.  
  4405.  
  4406.  
  4407. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collegiate-sports-at-a-crossroads"><strong>Collegiate Sports at a Crossroads</strong></h2>
  4408.  
  4409.  
  4410.  
  4411. <p>This forfeit underscores a deeper issue facing collegiate athletics: how to balance inclusivity with fairness and safety. The NCAA’s response reaffirmed its commitment to Title IX and fair competition but sidestepped addressing the specific safety concerns raised by athletes like Brooke Slusser.</p>
  4412.  
  4413.  
  4414.  
  4415. <p>Boise State is not alone in its stance. Earlier this month, Southern Utah University also chose not to play against SJSU during a tournament.</p>
  4416.  
  4417.  
  4418.  
  4419. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  4420. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Say it louder: Men should NEVER change in a woman&#39;s locker room.<br><br>Women&#39;s sports = women&#39;s sports<br><br>Great interview <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueMattEdwards?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrueMattEdwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/ylfrjpJoNI">https://t.co/ylfrjpJoNI</a></p>&mdash; Remso W. Martinez (@HeyRemso) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeyRemso/status/1877581177688609118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  4421. </div></figure>
  4422.  
  4423.  
  4424.  
  4425. <p>The repeated forfeitures highlight growing dissatisfaction with NCAA guidelines and a potential tipping point for women’s sports.</p>
  4426.  
  4427.  
  4428.  
  4429. <p>As these debates intensify, one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding SJSU’s undefeated season isn’t just about volleyball—it’s about the future of competitive sports, fairness, and the values institutions choose to uphold.</p>
  4430.  
  4431.  
  4432.  
  4433. <p><strong>NEXT: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/">LA Mayor Karen Bass Goes Full Biden During Wildfire Press Conference As Old Tweet Shows Her Mocking Ted Cruz For ‘Fleeing’ During A Crisis</a></strong></p>
  4434.  
  4435.  
  4436.  
  4437. <p></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/report-idaho-state-representative-reveals-she-sparked-movement-which-ignited-boise-state-womens-volleyball-boycott/">REPORT: Idaho State Representative Reveals She Sparked Movement Which Ignited Boise State Women&#8217;s Volleyball Boycott</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4438. ]]></content:encoded>
  4442. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:59:03 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4443. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4444. </item>
  4445. <item>
  4446. <title>&#8216;Conservative&#8217; Amy Coney Barrett Sides With Liberals As Supreme Court Denies Trump&#8217;s Request to Block Friday Sentencing</title>
  4447. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/conservative-amy-coney-barrett-sides-with-liberals-as-supreme-court-denies-trumps-request-to-block-friday-sentencing/</link>
  4449. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  4450. <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:57:27 +0000</pubDate>
  4451. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  4452. <category><![CDATA[Amy Coney Barrett]]></category>
  4453. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  4454. <category><![CDATA[scotus]]></category>
  4455. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235110</guid>
  4456.  
  4457. <description><![CDATA[<p>The U.S. Supreme Court late Thursday blocked President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s last-ditch attempt to stave off his criminal sentencing, which is</p>
  4458. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/conservative-amy-coney-barrett-sides-with-liberals-as-supreme-court-denies-trumps-request-to-block-friday-sentencing/">&#8216;Conservative&#8217; Amy Coney Barrett Sides With Liberals As Supreme Court Denies Trump&#8217;s Request to Block Friday Sentencing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4459. ]]></description>
  4460. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The U.S. Supreme Court late Thursday blocked President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s last-ditch attempt to stave off his criminal sentencing, which is set for Friday in New York, 10 days before his inauguration.</p>
  4461.  
  4462.  
  4463.  
  4464. <p>The nation&#8217;s highest court, in a 5-4 decision, declined Trump’s request to halt his criminal sentencing. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with the court&#8217;s three liberals – Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – to deny the request.</p>
  4465.  
  4466.  
  4467.  
  4468. <p>The majority said Trump&#8217;s problems with sentencing were &#8220;relatively insubstantial.&#8221;</p>
  4469.  
  4470.  
  4471.  
  4472. <p>&#8220;First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trump’s state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal,&#8221; the court wrote in a single-page order. &#8220;Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of &#8216;unconditional discharge&#8217; after a brief virtual hearing.&#8221;</p>
  4473.  
  4474.  
  4475.  
  4476. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-is-still-hiding-details-of-russiagate-newly-released-document-shows/">FBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows</a></strong></p>
  4477.  
  4478.  
  4479.  
  4480. <p>The decision clears to the way for Trump to be sentenced in New York on Friday morning.&nbsp;</p>
  4481.  
  4482.  
  4483.  
  4484. <p>Trump turned to the U.S. Supreme Court after Judge Juan Merchan denied his request for a stay in the case pending an appeal.&nbsp;</p>
  4485.  
  4486.  
  4487.  
  4488. <p>In May 2024, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records for disguising hush money payments to an adult film actress as legal costs ahead of the 2016 election.</p>
  4489.  
  4490.  
  4491.  
  4492. <p>Under New York state law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison. However, Trump won&#8217;t be locked up.&nbsp;</p>
  4493.  
  4494.  
  4495.  
  4496. <p>Merchan wrote last week that Trump wouldn&#8217;t face jail or prison time. Merchan&#8217;s ruling said &#8220;the court&#8217;s inclination is to not impose any sentence of incarceration&#8221; since voters elected Trump anyway.</p>
  4497.  
  4498.  
  4499.  
  4500. <p>Trump has repeatedly said his political opponents coordinated the criminal cases against him.</p>
  4501.  
  4502.  
  4503.  
  4504. <p>Federal prosecutors previously moved to end two criminal cases against Trump – the election interference case in Washington D.C. and the classified documents case in Florida.</p>
  4505.  
  4506.  
  4507.  
  4508. <p><em>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_2a62e830-ceea-11ef-811b-73aca0a316b8.html">from The Center Square</a>.</em></p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/conservative-amy-coney-barrett-sides-with-liberals-as-supreme-court-denies-trumps-request-to-block-friday-sentencing/">&#8216;Conservative&#8217; Amy Coney Barrett Sides With Liberals As Supreme Court Denies Trump&#8217;s Request to Block Friday Sentencing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4509. ]]></content:encoded>
  4513. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 08:57:31 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4514. <tpd:primaryCategory>Politics</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4515. </item>
  4516. <item>
  4517. <title>LA Mayor Karen Bass Goes Full Biden During Wildfire Press Conference As Old Tweet Shows Her Mocking Ted Cruz For &#8216;Fleeing&#8217; During A Crisis</title>
  4518. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/</link>
  4520. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  4521. <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:44:46 +0000</pubDate>
  4522. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4523. <category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
  4524. <category><![CDATA[Karen Bass]]></category>
  4525. <category><![CDATA[Palisades Wildfires]]></category>
  4526. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235103</guid>
  4527.  
  4528. <description><![CDATA[<p>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced significant criticism and embarrassment following her handling of a press conference discussing the wildfires</p>
  4529. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/">LA Mayor Karen Bass Goes Full Biden During Wildfire Press Conference As Old Tweet Shows Her Mocking Ted Cruz For &#8216;Fleeing&#8217; During A Crisis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4530. ]]></description>
  4531. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced significant criticism and embarrassment following her handling of a press conference discussing the wildfires currently engulfing her city.</p>
  4532.  
  4533.  
  4534.  
  4535. <p>Bass, who is in her first term as mayor, was initially ripped by critics for being absent during the crisis and then returning from a trip to Ghana using a military plane. </p>
  4536.  
  4537.  
  4538.  
  4539. <p>At the press conference, however, the wheels fell off. A woman once considered a vice presidential candidate for Joe Biden was exposed as an incompetent charlatan.</p>
  4540.  
  4541.  
  4542.  
  4543. <p>Bass struggled with reading from a prepared script, mispronounced words like &#8220;heroism,&#8221; and awkwardly handled providing a website link by spelling out the letters &#8220;U R L&#8221; instead of giving the actual web address.</p>
  4544.  
  4545.  
  4546.  
  4547. <p>“Right now, if you need help &#8211; emergency information, resources, and shelter is available. All of this can be found at U R L,” she confidently declared.</p>
  4548.  
  4549.  
  4550.  
  4551. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LA’s mayor Karen Bass can barely read her prepared statement, can’t even pronounce the word heroism correctly. Just awful, horribly embarrassing for LA: <a href="https://t.co/DM2REbuItG">pic.twitter.com/DM2REbuItG</a></p>&mdash; Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1877168691730653634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4552.  
  4553.  
  4554.  
  4555. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karen-bass-is-an-embarrassment">Karen Bass Is An Embarrassment</h2>
  4556.  
  4557.  
  4558.  
  4559. <p>For those of our readers who live or have family members in the area, <a href="https://emergency.lacity.gov/updates">here is the website</a> you need to go to that Karen Bass wholly flubbed.</p>
  4560.  
  4561.  
  4562.  
  4563. <p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Politico once described <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/24/karen-bass-biden-vp-380583"  target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">this woman</a></span> as a rising &#8220;sleeper pick&#8221; to be Biden&#8217;s pick over Kamala Harris. Instead, she ended up being mayor of Los Angeles.</p>
  4564.  
  4565.  
  4566.  
  4567. <p>She&#8217;s directly responsible in part for the tragedy befalling the city. Last year, Bass <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/los-angeles-mayor-slashed-fire-budget-prioritized-homeless">slashed the fire</a> department&#8217;s budget and prioritized funding for the city&#8217;s homeless population.</p>
  4568.  
  4569.  
  4570.  
  4571. <p>The homeless budget in 2023 exceeded $1.3 billion. The LAFD’s budget was reduced by over $17 million.</p>
  4572.  
  4573.  
  4574.  
  4575. <p>Prior to this disastrous press conference, Bass took what ultimately proved to be the better tactic &#8211; refusing to answer questions from reporters about her absence when the disaster first began and the city&#8217;s lack of preparedness.</p>
  4576.  
  4577.  
  4578.  
  4579. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LA Mayor Karen Bass refuses to answer and freezes when a reporter asks her if she regrets cutting the Fire Department’s budget by nearly $20 million and being in Africa during a devastating wildfire <a href="https://t.co/BlLUri98zR">pic.twitter.com/BlLUri98zR</a></p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1877125522620076074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4580.  
  4581.  
  4582.  
  4583. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/kamala-harris-says-ca-wildfires-caused-by-climate-change-theyve-been-happening-for-centuries/">Kamala Harris Says CA Wildfires Caused By Climate Change – They’ve Been Happening For Centuries</a></strong></p>
  4584.  
  4585.  
  4586.  
  4587. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-tweet-resurfaces">Old Tweet Resurfaces</h2>
  4588.  
  4589.  
  4590.  
  4591. <p>In addition to all of this, Karen Bass was humiliated when an old post on X resurfaced showing her criticizing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for not being in town during a crisis.</p>
  4592.  
  4593.  
  4594.  
  4595. <p>&#8220;Ted Cruz fleeing Texas in the middle of a deadly crisis is part of a larger pattern of the GOP abandoning folks in crisis,&#8221; Bass wrote at the time.</p>
  4596.  
  4597.  
  4598.  
  4599. <p>&#8220;We need to build a movement to kick them all out.&#8221;</p>
  4600.  
  4601.  
  4602.  
  4603. <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium_large is-resized caption_belowImage credit_onImage"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1320" height="900" src="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=768,height=524,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1235104" style="width:467px;height:auto" srcset="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1320,height=900,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg 1320w, https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=924,height=630,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg 924w, https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=805,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg 1180w, https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=428,height=292,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg 428w, https://thepoliticalinsider.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=768,height=524,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Image-from-iOS.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px" /><figcaption class='wp-element-caption'><span class="credit"></span></figcaption></figure>
  4604.  
  4605.  
  4606.  
  4607. <p>Cruz, who had gone on vacation with his daughters to Cancun during a major ice storm, was not a state or local official at the time. The optics weren&#8217;t great, but he had no direct role in responding to the situation.</p>
  4608.  
  4609.  
  4610.  
  4611. <p>Karen Bass is the mayor of Los Angeles. Nobody is more directly responsible for aiding the community during this tragedy.</p>
  4612.  
  4613.  
  4614.  
  4615. <p>Her resignation should already be signed, sealed, and delivered.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/la-mayor-karen-bass-goes-full-biden-during-wildfire-press-conference-as-old-tweet-shows-her-mocking-ted-cruz-for-fleeing-during-a-crisis/">LA Mayor Karen Bass Goes Full Biden During Wildfire Press Conference As Old Tweet Shows Her Mocking Ted Cruz For &#8216;Fleeing&#8217; During A Crisis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4616. ]]></content:encoded>
  4620. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:44:48 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4621. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4622. </item>
  4623. <item>
  4624. <title>Ozempic Class Action: What You Need to Know and How to Join the Ongoing Case</title>
  4625. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/ozempic-class-action-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-join-the-ongoing-case/</link>
  4627. <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Conrad]]></dc:creator>
  4628. <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:58:07 +0000</pubDate>
  4629. <category><![CDATA[Class Action Lawsuits]]></category>
  4630. <category><![CDATA[class action]]></category>
  4631. <category><![CDATA[ozempic]]></category>
  4632. <category><![CDATA[wegovy]]></category>
  4633. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235100</guid>
  4634.  
  4635. <description><![CDATA[<p>As readers are probably aware, Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs have exploded in popularity in recent years. While some have</p>
  4636. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/ozempic-class-action-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-join-the-ongoing-case/">Ozempic Class Action: What You Need to Know and How to Join the Ongoing Case</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4637. ]]></description>
  4638. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As readers are probably aware, Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs have exploded in popularity in recent years. While some have been concerned about possible long-term effects, many Americans have forged ahead on their weight-loss journeys. </p>
  4639.  
  4640.  
  4641.  
  4642. <p>Unforuntately, some of those users have experienced serious side effects, which has led to a class action lawsuit against the company.</p>
  4643.  
  4644.  
  4645.  
  4646. <p>If you are one of these users, you may be eligible to join the class action.</p>
  4647.  
  4648.  
  4649.  
  4650. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-join-the-class-action-lawsuit-against-ozempic"><strong>How To Join The Class Action Lawsuit Against </strong>Ozempic</h2>
  4651.  
  4652.  
  4653.  
  4654. <p>To be eligible to join the class action lawsuit, you must be under 75 and experienced serious health issues such as gastroparesis, stomach paralysis or gastric obstruction while using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus. </p>
  4655.  
  4656.  
  4657.  
  4658. <p>Further, those side effects need to have led to a hospital visit for confirmation.</p>
  4659.  
  4660.  
  4661.  
  4662. <p>Other side effects users have experienced include vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and more.</p>
  4663.  
  4664.  
  4665.  
  4666. <p><strong><a href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/investigations/ozempic-side-effects-lawsuit-investigation/#join-investigation-form"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">If you think you qualify, fill out this form to potentially join the suit.</a></strong></p>
  4667.  
  4668.  
  4669.  
  4670. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-class-action-lawsuits-work">How Do Class Action Lawsuits Work?</h2>
  4671.  
  4672.  
  4673.  
  4674. <p>Class action law has evolved over the last few decades. But there are specific rules binding class actions, known as Rule 23 in the federal rules for civil procedures. The Legal Information Institute lays out what the court must find in order to approve a class action:</p>
  4675.  
  4676.  
  4677.  
  4678. <ol class="wp-block-list">
  4679. <li>The number of class members renders it impracticable to join them in the action</li>
  4680.  
  4681.  
  4682.  
  4683. <li>The class members’ claims share common questions of law or fact</li>
  4684.  
  4685.  
  4686.  
  4687. <li>The claims or defenses of the proposed class representatives are typical of those for the rest of the class, and</li>
  4688.  
  4689.  
  4690.  
  4691. <li>The proposed class representatives will adequately protect the interests of the entire class.</li>
  4692. </ol>
  4693.  
  4694.  
  4695.  
  4696. <p>In short, multiple plaintiffs must all have sufficiently similar claims of damage, such that a ruling would largely have the same affect on all class members. The question is then before the court: have all these plaintiffs indeed suffered similar harm from the defendant?</p>
  4697.  
  4698.  
  4699.  
  4700. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take"><strong>How Long Do Class Action Lawsuits Take</strong></h2>
  4701.  
  4702.  
  4703.  
  4704. <p>Again, the answer is: it depends on the case.</p>
  4705.  
  4706.  
  4707.  
  4708. <p>In some cases, the answer is 10 minutes! Defendants can try to end the case before it even begins by settling with the plaintiffs – typically this means payments. According to Top Class Actions,&nbsp;<a href="https://topclassactions.com/faqs/how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">settlements can typically</a>&nbsp;take up to nine months or a year.</p>
  4709.  
  4710.  
  4711.  
  4712. <p>However, if class actions go to trial, the timeline becomes years long – typically two or three years, according to the Cochran Firm.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/ozempic-class-action-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-join-the-ongoing-case/">Ozempic Class Action: What You Need to Know and How to Join the Ongoing Case</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4713. ]]></content:encoded>
  4717. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:58:09 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4718. <tpd:primaryCategory>Class Action Lawsuits</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4719. </item>
  4720. <item>
  4721. <title>What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</title>
  4722. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/</link>
  4724. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rusty Weiss]]></dc:creator>
  4725. <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
  4726. <category><![CDATA[DOGE]]></category>
  4727. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  4728. <category><![CDATA[elon musk]]></category>
  4729. <category><![CDATA[Vivek Ramaswamy]]></category>
  4730. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235096</guid>
  4731.  
  4732. <description><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy are set to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency</p>
  4733. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4734. ]]></description>
  4735. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy are set to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/category/opinion/">Donald Trump</a>.</p>
  4736.  
  4737.  
  4738.  
  4739. <p>Many people, however, are still unsure of the department&#8217;s role. Or how they&#8217;ll set about their stated goals.</p>
  4740.  
  4741.  
  4742.  
  4743. <p>If you&#8217;re curious, let&#8217;s dive into what can be expected.</p>
  4744.  
  4745.  
  4746.  
  4747. <p>The Department of Government Efficiency is a proposed presidential advisory commission aimed at restructuring the federal government to increase efficiency and reduce wasteful spending. Donald Trump, in his first term, was a huge advocate of slashing red tape and unchaining businesses and people from waste and over-regulation. Spending, however, was not addressed. </p>
  4748.  
  4749.  
  4750.  
  4751. <p>So in a sense, there will be both continuation and change in the next administration. And DOGE will be spearheading the operation.</p>
  4752.  
  4753.  
  4754.  
  4755. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-let-the-doge-out">Who Let The DOGE Out?</h2>
  4756.  
  4757.  
  4758.  
  4759. <p>The primary goal of DOGE is to identify and eliminate unnecessary government spending, thereby recommending cuts to wasteful federal programs.</p>
  4760.  
  4761.  
  4762.  
  4763. <p>Cutting waste and getting government out of lives and businesses is of tantamount importance.</p>
  4764.  
  4765.  
  4766.  
  4767. <p>This initiative was conceptualized in discussions between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, where Musk suggested the idea of a department dedicated to government efficiency. Trump, in preparation for his potential second term, announced this project, with Musk and Ramaswamy leading it.</p>
  4768.  
  4769.  
  4770.  
  4771. <p>“We need to do it,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-government-efficiency-commission-e831ed5dc2f6a56999e1a70bb0a4eaeb"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">said in a speech</a>&nbsp;to the Economic Club of New York in September. “Can’t go on the way we are now.”</p>
  4772.  
  4773.  
  4774.  
  4775. <p>Musk and Ramaswamy will lead the effort. Imagine that. Three great business minds just go in, scythes swinging, cutting out all the dead weight, red tape, and general waste across multiple departments and agencies.&nbsp;</p>
  4776.  
  4777.  
  4778.  
  4779. <p>It&#8217;s what America desperately needs right now. And Musk indicated a willingness to enact such reforms at no cost to the American taxpayer.</p>
  4780.  
  4781.  
  4782.  
  4783. <p>“I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1831672345108357610"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">wrote on X</a>. “No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.”</p>
  4784.  
  4785.  
  4786.  
  4787. <p>In a&nbsp;conversation aired on X, Trump marveled over Musk&#8217;s ability to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-x-twitter-livestream-83d6d07fc0ffef4151c96fc56aeec9ee"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">streamline operations</a>&nbsp;and slash waste and spending.</p>
  4788.  
  4789.  
  4790.  
  4791. <p>“You’re&nbsp;the greatest cutter,” Trump told the billionaire philanthropist. “I need an Elon Musk — I need somebody that has a lot of strength and courage and smarts. I want to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states.”</p>
  4792.  
  4793.  
  4794.  
  4795. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises. <br><br>No pay, no title, no recognition is needed. <a href="https://t.co/5PSNtjBQn7">https://t.co/5PSNtjBQn7</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1831672345108357610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
  4796.  
  4797.  
  4798.  
  4799. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/new-dawn-elon-musk-trump-derail-1500-page-funding-bill-gop-tried-to-pass-before-47-takes-office/">Elon Musk, Trump Derail 1,500+ Page Funding Bill GOP Tried to Pass Before 47 Takes Office</a></strong></p>
  4800.  
  4801.  
  4802.  
  4803.  
  4804.  
  4805. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examples-of-wasteful-spending">Examples Of Wasteful Spending</h2>
  4806.  
  4807.  
  4808.  
  4809. <p>What types of government waste and what specific agencies could face massive cuts as DOGE gets ready to set up shop? As you saw above, Trump has his sights set on the Education Department.</p>
  4810.  
  4811.  
  4812.  
  4813. <p>Musk himself has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-calls-abolishing-consumer-finance-watchdog-targeted-by-republicans-2024-11-27/">proposed eliminating</a> the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is a U.S. government agency that is ostensibly meant to &#8220;protect consumers.&#8221; Cutting this agency would decrease government spending on regulatory enforcement.</p>
  4814.  
  4815.  
  4816.  
  4817. <p>&#8220;Delete CFPB. There are too many duplicative regulatory agencies,&#8221; Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1861644897490751865">wrote on X</a>.</p>
  4818.  
  4819.  
  4820.  
  4821. <p>Similarly, the Trump transition team&nbsp;and officials from DOGE have inquired about&nbsp;abolishing the FDIC&nbsp;or possibly restructuring it&nbsp;with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve.</p>
  4822.  
  4823.  
  4824.  
  4825. <p>As for specifics, Casey Harper at The Center Square provides a <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/doge-examples-of-federal-spending-that-could-be-on-the-chopping-block/">detailed list of items</a> that should be on the DOGE chopping block, including <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_b8924d4a-e0a1-11ee-bcb5-6b4d7ed61289.html"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">millions</a>&nbsp;to train school teachers in DEI, <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Festivus-2023.pdf"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">millions</a>&nbsp;to study COVID “misinformation,&#8221; and <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_93dd9c00-8daa-11ef-b88b-f36db7bf8daf.html">hundreds of millions</a> of FEMA dollars for illegal aliens.</p>
  4826.  
  4827.  
  4828.  
  4829. <p>We haven&#8217;t even mentioned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly doling out <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3267269/biden-administration-spent-millions-dollars-creating-transgender-animal-for-studies/">$10 million</a> for &#8220;transgender animal experiments.&#8221;</p>
  4830.  
  4831.  
  4832.  
  4833. <p>DOGE will also focus on redundancies in the federal government, of which there are countless examples.</p>
  4834.  
  4835.  
  4836.  
  4837. <p>They will aim to cut wasteful expenditures by abolishing these redundant agencies and downsizing the federal workforce. This involves identifying and eliminating government agencies or programs that have overlapping responsibilities or have become obsolete, thereby streamlining operations and reducing costs.</p>
  4838.  
  4839.  
  4840.  
  4841. <p>Trump administration officials are hopeful that the Department of Government Efficiency will succeed in identifying and eliminating billions in unnecessary government spending, leading to a leaner, more efficient federal system. </p>
  4842.  
  4843.  
  4844.  
  4845. <p>With visionary leaders like Musk and Rmaswamy at the helm, DOGE has the potential to revolutionize how government operates, ensuring taxpayer money is used wisely and effectively.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/department-of-government-efficiency-doge-what-are-they-going-to-do/">What Exactly Is The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) And What Are They Going To Do?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4846. ]]></content:encoded>
  4850. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:27:27 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4851. <tpd:primaryCategory>DOGE</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4852. </item>
  4853. <item>
  4854. <title>FBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows</title>
  4855. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-is-still-hiding-details-of-russiagate-newly-released-document-shows/</link>
  4857. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Mate]]></dc:creator>
  4858. <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:56:51 +0000</pubDate>
  4859. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  4860. <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
  4861. <category><![CDATA[FBI]]></category>
  4862. <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category>
  4863. <category><![CDATA[russiagate]]></category>
  4864. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235092</guid>
  4865.  
  4866. <description><![CDATA[<p>As Donald Trump re-enters the White House on a pledge to end national security state overreach, the Federal Bureau of</p>
  4867. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-is-still-hiding-details-of-russiagate-newly-released-document-shows/">FBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4868. ]]></description>
  4869. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As Donald Trump re-enters the White House on a pledge to end national security state overreach, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is still hiding critical details on the Russia conspiracy investigation that engulfed his first term.</p>
  4870.  
  4871.  
  4872.  
  4873. <p>In response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government.&nbsp;</p>
  4874.  
  4875.  
  4876.  
  4877. <p>The Electronic Communication, dated May 16, 2017, claimed to have an “articulable factual basis” to suspect that Trump “wittingly or unwittingly” was illegally acting on behalf of Russia, and accordingly posing “threats to the national security of the United States.” The FBI’s “goal,” it added, was “to determine if President Trump is or was directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation.” It additionally sought to uncover whether Trump and unnamed “others” obstructed “any associated FBI investigation” – a reference to Crossfire Hurricane, the initial FBI inquiry into the Trump campaign’s suspected cooperation with an alleged Russian interference plot in the 2016 election.&nbsp;</p>
  4878.  
  4879.  
  4880.  
  4881. <p>While Crossfire Hurricane, which was formally opened on July 31, 2016, had by that point focused on members of Trump’s orbit, the May 2017 probe was specifically targeted at the president himself during his fourth month in office. The investigation of Trump was undertaken at the behest of then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, one week after Trump had fired his former boss and mentor, James B. Comey.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  4882.  
  4883.  
  4884.  
  4885. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/biden-releases-11-terrorists-from-guantanamo-bay/">Biden Continues Burning Down The Country On His Way Out, Releases 11 Terrorists From Guantanamo Bay</a></strong></p>
  4886.  
  4887.  
  4888.  
  4889. <p>According to the declassified document, McCabe’s decision was approved by FBI Assistant Director Bill Priestap, who had also signed off on the opening of Crossfire Hurricane; and Jim Baker, the FBI general counsel. Baker was a longtime friend of Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and a key figure in the dissemination of Clinton-funded disinformation to the FBI that falsely tied Trump to Russia. In his FBI role, Baker personally circulated the conspiracy theory,&nbsp;<a href="https://mate.substack.com/p/with-clinton-lawyer-charged-the-russiagate">manufactured by “researchers” working with the Clinton campaign</a>, that the Trump campaign and Russia were communicating via a secret server. After leaving the FBI, Baker served as deputy general counsel at Twitter, where he backed &nbsp;the company’s censorship of reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop, based on yet another conspiracy theory that the laptop files were Russian disinformation.</p>
  4890.  
  4891.  
  4892.  
  4893. <p>As with Crossfire Hurricane, the May 2017 case was opened as a Foreign Agents Registration Act investigation, and also deemed a “Sensitive Investigative Matter” to reflect Trump’s status as the nation’s top public official. The FBI document indicates that it was launched as a full investigation, which would have granted investigators targeting Trump with sweeping surveillance powers.&nbsp;</p>
  4894.  
  4895.  
  4896.  
  4897. <p>While the declassified document records the FBI’s theory that then-President Trump might be involved in illegal – and potentially treasonous – behavior, the “articulable factual basis” for this suspicion is redacted. Only a few paragraphs of the six-page document have not been withheld.</p>
  4898.  
  4899.  
  4900.  
  4901. <p>Along with Crossfire Hurricane, the May 2017 counterintelligence probe was folded into the Special Counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller, who was appointed just one day after the FBI&nbsp;began portraying Trump internally as a possible Russian agent or conspirator. Mueller’s&nbsp;final report “did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”</p>
  4902.  
  4903.  
  4904.  
  4905. <p>Asked about his reasoning for opening the probe and related matters, McCabe, who now works as an on-air commentator at CNN, did not respond to RCI’s emailed questions by the time of publication.</p>
  4906.  
  4907.  
  4908.  
  4909. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-elon-effect-facebook-announces-end-to-fact-checking-and-restoration-of-free-expression/">The Elon Effect: Facebook Announces End to ‘Fact-Checking’ and Restoration of ‘Free Expression’</a></strong></p>
  4910.  
  4911.  
  4912.  
  4913. <p>Details about the FBI’s motivation can be gleaned, however, from other public disclosures.&nbsp;</p>
  4914.  
  4915.  
  4916.  
  4917. <p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/us/politics/fbi-trump-russia-inquiry.html">January 2019 account in the New York Times</a>, which first revealed the FBI’s decision to investigate Trump, the Steele dossier – a collection of conspiracy theories funded by Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton – was among the “factors” that “fueled the F.B.I.’s concerns.”</p>
  4918.  
  4919.  
  4920.  
  4921. <p>Just two days before McCabe opened the May 2017 probe, the FBI, via Justice Department official Bruce Ohr, renewed contact with dossier author Christopher Steele despite having terminated him as a source back in November 2016. As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2019/03/02/mccabe_of_fbi_re-engaged_with_fired_dossier_author_after_comey_firing.html">RCI’s Paul Sperry has previously reported</a>, this sudden outreach to Steele right before the opening of a new Trump-Russia conspiracy investigation indicated that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2020/07/24/meet_steele_dossiers_primary_subsource_fabulist_russian_at_us_think_tank_whose_boozy_past_the_fbi_ignored_124601.html">FBI was seeking to re-engage</a>&nbsp;the Clinton-funded British operative&nbsp;to help it build a case against the president for espionage and obstruction of justice.&nbsp;At&nbsp;the time, the FBI was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2022/12/20/how_the_fbi_copied_parts_of_the_debunked_steele_dossier_directly_into_its_spy_requests_870182.html">still relying</a>&nbsp;on Steele’s fabrications for its surveillance warrants against Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page. The following month, the FBI filed the last of its four FISA court warrants based on Steele’s material. The Justice Department has since invalidated two of those warrants on the grounds that they were based on “material misstatements.”</p>
  4922.  
  4923.  
  4924.  
  4925. <p>The FBI re-enlisted Steele despite possessing information that thoroughly discredited him. Five months before it newly sought Steele’s help to investigate the sitting president, the FBI interviewed Igor Danchenko, whom Steele had used as his dossier’s key&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2020/07/24/meet_steele_dossiers_primary_subsource_fabulist_russian_at_us_think_tank_whose_boozy_past_the_fbi_ignored_124601.html">“sub-source.”</a>&nbsp;In that January 2017 meeting,&nbsp;Danchenko told FBI agents that corroboration for the dossier&#8217;s claims was “zero”; that he had “no idea” where claims sourced to him came from; and that the Russia-Trump rumors he passed along to Steele came from alcohol-fueled “word of mouth and&nbsp;hearsay.” The FBI had also been unable to corroborate any of Steele’s incendiary claims.&nbsp;</p>
  4926.  
  4927.  
  4928.  
  4929. <p>A previously disclosed document also shows that former CIA Director John Brennan – who insistently advanced the Trump/Russia conspiracy theory – informed then-president Barack Obama in July 2016 that the Clinton campaign was planning to tie Trump to Russia in order to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/allegation-hillary-clinton-orchestrated-collusion-hoax-to-distract-from-her-emails-according-to-russian-intel/">distract attention</a>&nbsp;from the controversy over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state. By that point, the Clinton campaign was already paying for the fabricated reports produced by Steele, who made contact with the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2022/01/20/the_tension_over_truth_and_consequences_gripping_the_fbis_trump-russia_reckoning_812321.html">as early as July 5</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  4930.  
  4931.  
  4932.  
  4933. <p>Although the newly declassified document attempts to suggest that the FBI had actionable intelligence to suspect Trump&nbsp;of being a Russian agent, McCabe’s subsequent comments indicate that there was no such evidence on offer. Instead, McCabe has said his counterintelligence probe of Trump was primarily motivated by the president’s firing of Comey. In a February 2019 interview with CBS News, McCabe explained his thinking as follows:&nbsp;“[T]he idea is, if the president committed obstruction of justice, fired the director of the of the FBI to negatively impact or to shut down our investigation of Russia’s malign activity and possibly in support of his campaign, as a counter intelligence investigator you have to ask yourself, ‘Why would a president of the United States do that?’ So all those same sorts of facts cause us to wonder is there an inappropriate relationship, a connection between this president and our most fearsome enemy, the government of Russia.”</p>
  4934.  
  4935.  
  4936.  
  4937. <p>McCabe therefore had no evidence that Trump had a “connection” to Russia, and in fact could only “wonder” if there was one. Yet because Trump had fired Comey, whose FBI was already investigating Trump’s campaign for Russia ties and relying on the Clinton-funded Steele dossier in the process, McCabe decided that he had grounds to order an espionage investigation of the commander in chief.</p>
  4938.  
  4939.  
  4940.  
  4941. <p>With the official predicate for that May 2017 investigation still redacted by the FBI, McCabe’s public statements offer the only insider window into why it was opened. In all of the investigations related to alleged Russian interference to date, the Justice Department has pointedly avoided the question.</p>
  4942.  
  4943.  
  4944.  
  4945. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/msnbc-finally-admits-bidens-damning-record-on-the-border-trump-is-not-wrong/">MSNBC Finally Admits Biden’s Damning Record On The Border: Trump ‘Is Not Wrong’</a></strong></p>
  4946.  
  4947.  
  4948.  
  4949. <p>Despite inheriting McCabe’s probe – and debunking claims of a Trump-Russia conspiracy related to the 2016 election – Special Counsel Mueller made no mention of the Trump as Russian agent theory in his final report of March 2019. Without informing the public, the FBI closed down the Trump counterintelligence investigation the following month. The case’s closing Electronic Communication, which has previously been declassified in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.washtimes.com/media/misc/2021/01/30/FBI_closing_Trump_2.pdf">redacted form</a>, states that the McCabe probe “was transferred to FBI personnel assisting” the Mueller team, and entailed the use of “a variety of investigative techniques.”&nbsp;</p>
  4950.  
  4951.  
  4952.  
  4953. <p>An inquiry led by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz of the FBI’s conduct during Crossfire Hurricane also ignored McCabe’s decision to investigate Trump as an agent of Russia. And in a footnote in his final report of May 2023, John Durham – the Special Counsel appointed to launch a sweeping review of the Russia investigation – claimed that McCabe’s May 2017 probe was outside of his purview.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  4954.  
  4955.  
  4956.  
  4957. <p>By contrast, when it comes to Crossfire Hurricane, Durham’s report concluded that the FBI did not have a legitimate basis to launch that investigation, repeatedly ignored exculpatory evidence, and buried warnings that Clinton’s campaign was trying to frame Trump as a Russian conspirator.&nbsp;</p>
  4958.  
  4959.  
  4960.  
  4961. <p>While the original Trump-Russia investigation has been discredited, the public remains in the dark about why the FBI launched a follow-up counterintelligence probe that targeted Trump while he was newly in the White House – and what ends it took to pursue it.&nbsp;</p>
  4962.  
  4963.  
  4964.  
  4965. <p>With Trump set to be inaugurated this month after vowing to clean up the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, the FBI will have a fresh opportunity to break its longstanding secrecy on the decision to investigate the sitting, and newly returning, president&nbsp;as an agent of Russia.&nbsp;</p>
  4966.  
  4967.  
  4968.  
  4969. <p><em>Aaron Maté has provided extensive coverage of corruption within federal intelligence agencies as a contributor to RealClearInvestigations. He is also a contributor to The Nation, and his work has appeared in Democracy Now!, Vice, Al Jazeera, Toronto Star, The Intercept, and Le Monde Diplomatique. Maté is the host of the news show Pushback with Aaron Maté.</em></p>
  4970.  
  4971.  
  4972.  
  4973. <p>Syndicated with permission <a href="https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/01/06/fbi_is_still_hiding_details_of_russiagate_newly_released_document_shows_1082631.html">from RealClearWire</a>.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/fbi-is-still-hiding-details-of-russiagate-newly-released-document-shows/">FBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4974. ]]></content:encoded>
  4978. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:56:53 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  4979. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  4980. </item>
  4981. <item>
  4982. <title>Apple Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</title>
  4983. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/apple-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/</link>
  4985. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  4986. <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:39:05 +0000</pubDate>
  4987. <category><![CDATA[Class Action Lawsuits]]></category>
  4988. <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  4989. <category><![CDATA[class action]]></category>
  4990. <category><![CDATA[siri]]></category>
  4991. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235091</guid>
  4992.  
  4993. <description><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever had the uncomfortable feeling that someone was listening in on you? If you own an Apple iPhone</p>
  4994. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/apple-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/">Apple Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  4995. ]]></description>
  4996. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever had the uncomfortable feeling that someone was listening in on you? </p>
  4997.  
  4998.  
  4999.  
  5000. <p>If you own an Apple iPhone or Apple Watch, you may not have been imagining things.</p>
  5001.  
  5002.  
  5003.  
  5004. <p>Apple recently agreed to pay <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2025/01/06/apple-siri-eavesdropping-payout-heres-whos-eligible-and-how-to-claim/">$95 million in damages</a> to settle a class action lawsuit over the matter &#8211; at issue is the personal assistant program &#8220;Siri&#8221; eavesdropping on users without their knowledge or consent.</p>
  5005.  
  5006.  
  5007.  
  5008. <p>If you are an Apple user, you may be eligible for damages.</p>
  5009.  
  5010.  
  5011.  
  5012. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apple-class-action-lawsuit"><strong>Apple Class Action Lawsuit</strong></h2>
  5013.  
  5014.  
  5015.  
  5016. <p>Specifically, Apple has been accused of sharing conversations picked up by Siri with advertisers. What&#8217;s more, is that Apple was using human employees to listen to some of these private recordings. </p>
  5017.  
  5018.  
  5019.  
  5020. <p>This class action suit stretches back &#8211; if you owned a device that uses Siri after September 17, 2014, you could be eligible for damages.</p>
  5021.  
  5022.  
  5023.  
  5024. <p>Eligible users could receive $20 for each Siri-enabled device, up to five devices &#8211; that&#8217;s a total payout of $100. </p>
  5025.  
  5026.  
  5027.  
  5028. <p>The claim form is not yet completed, but reports indicate that it will be in the next 45 days. <strong>Please check back here for a link.</strong></p>
  5029.  
  5030.  
  5031.  
  5032. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-class-action-lawsuits-work">How Do Class Action Lawsuits Work?</h2>
  5033.  
  5034.  
  5035.  
  5036. <p>Class action law has evolved over the last few decades. But there are specific rules binding class actions, known as Rule 23 in the federal rules for civil procedures. The Legal Information Institute lays out what the court must find in order to approve a class action:</p>
  5037.  
  5038.  
  5039.  
  5040. <ol class="wp-block-list">
  5041. <li>The number of class members renders it impracticable to join them in the action</li>
  5042.  
  5043.  
  5044.  
  5045. <li>The class members’ claims share common questions of law or fact</li>
  5046.  
  5047.  
  5048.  
  5049. <li>The claims or defenses of the proposed class representatives are typical of those for the rest of the class, and</li>
  5050.  
  5051.  
  5052.  
  5053. <li>The proposed class representatives will adequately protect the interests of the entire class.</li>
  5054. </ol>
  5055.  
  5056.  
  5057.  
  5058. <p>In short, multiple plaintiffs must all have sufficiently similar claims of damage, such that a ruling would largely have the same affect on all class members. The question is then before the court: have all these plaintiffs indeed suffered similar harm from the defendant?</p>
  5059.  
  5060.  
  5061.  
  5062. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take"><strong>How Long Do Class Action Lawsuits Take</strong></h2>
  5063.  
  5064.  
  5065.  
  5066. <p>Again, the answer is: it depends on the case.</p>
  5067.  
  5068.  
  5069.  
  5070. <p>In some cases, the answer is 10 minutes! Defendants can try to end the case before it even begins by settling with the plaintiffs – typically this means payments. According to Top Class Actions,&nbsp;<a href="https://topclassactions.com/faqs/how-long-do-class-action-lawsuits-take/"  rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" aria-label="(opens in a new tab)">settlements can typically</a>&nbsp;take up to nine months or a year.</p>
  5071.  
  5072.  
  5073.  
  5074. <p>However, if class actions go to trial, the timeline becomes years long – typically two or three years, according to the Cochran Firm.</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/apple-class-action-settlement-what-you-need-to-know-to-claim-your-award/">Apple Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know To Claim Your Award</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  5075. ]]></content:encoded>
  5079. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:39:07 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  5080. <tpd:primaryCategory>Class Action Lawsuits</tpd:primaryCategory>
  5081. </item>
  5082. <item>
  5083. <title>The Elon Effect: Facebook Announces End to &#8216;Fact-Checking&#8217; and Restoration of &#8216;Free Expression&#8217;</title>
  5084. <link>https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-elon-effect-facebook-announces-end-to-fact-checking-and-restoration-of-free-expression/</link>
  5086. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Derek Ellerman]]></dc:creator>
  5087. <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:49:47 +0000</pubDate>
  5088. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  5089. <category><![CDATA[censorship]]></category>
  5090. <category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
  5091. <category><![CDATA[mark zuckerberg]]></category>
  5092. <category><![CDATA[Meta]]></category>
  5093. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://thepoliticalinsider.com/?p=1235089</guid>
  5094.  
  5095. <description><![CDATA[<p>Courage can be contagious. Sometimes it just takes one brave soul to stand up &#8211; a lá Spartacus &#8211; to</p>
  5096. <p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-elon-effect-facebook-announces-end-to-fact-checking-and-restoration-of-free-expression/">The Elon Effect: Facebook Announces End to &#8216;Fact-Checking&#8217; and Restoration of &#8216;Free Expression&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  5097. ]]></description>
  5098. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Courage can be contagious. Sometimes it just takes one brave soul to stand up &#8211; a lá Spartacus &#8211; to cause a domino effect. </p>
  5099.  
  5100.  
  5101.  
  5102. <p>That may be what we&#8217;re looking at here, as Meta/Facebook <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/meta-ends-fact-checking-program-zuckerberg-vows-restore-free-expression-facebook-instagram">announces an end</a> to their notorious &#8220;fact-checking&#8221; program.</p>
  5103.  
  5104.  
  5105.  
  5106. <p>CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself delivered the good news, saying, &#8220;We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms. More specifically, we’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with Community Notes similar to X, starting in the U.S.&#8221; </p>
  5107.  
  5108.  
  5109.  
  5110. <p>Call it the Elon Effect, or maybe even the cooler &#8216;X Effect.&#8217; </p>
  5111.  
  5112.  
  5113.  
  5114. <p>Whatever you call it, also call it good news &#8211; because independent outlets like The Political Insider have been severely harmed by the &#8220;fact-checkers&#8221; and partisan actors who control what you&#8217;re allowed to see on social media platforms. </p>
  5115.  
  5116.  
  5117.  
  5118. <p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/msnbc-finally-admits-bidens-damning-record-on-the-border-trump-is-not-wrong/">MSNBC Finally Admits Biden’s Damning Record On The Border: Trump ‘Is Not Wrong’</a></strong></p>
  5119.  
  5120.  
  5121.  
  5122. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meta-officer-joins-fox-to-share-the-good-news">Meta Officer Joins Fox To Share the Good News</h2>
  5123.  
  5124.  
  5125.  
  5126. <p>Joel Kaplan, Meta&#8217;s chief global affairs officer, even went on Fox News of all places to make the announcement. (Which makes sense &#8211; Facebook&#8217;s demographic skews a little older, and more conservative; precisely the people who have been so long abused by the censorship regimes of the last few years.)</p>
  5127.  
  5128.  
  5129.  
  5130. <p>Specifically, Kaplan addressed the elephant in the room: &#8220;We went to independent, third-party fact-checkers. It has become clear there is too much political bias in what they choose to fact-check because, basically, they get to fact-check whatever they see on the platform.&#8221; </p>
  5131.  
  5132.  
  5133.  
  5134. <p>Let me tell you folks &#8211; you simply wouldn&#8217;t <em>believe</em> the things The Political Insider has been &#8220;fact-checked&#8221; on, or the dire consequences those attacks have on the ability of small, independent publishers to be seen. Several years ago, The Political Insider would regularly draw millions of readers per month from Facebook. Now, that number is a tiny fraction of what it was. </p>
  5135.  
  5136.  
  5137.  
  5138. <p>For independent outlets like The Political Insider &#8211; outlets that aren&#8217;t backed by billionaires like others in conservative media &#8211; revenue comes largely from page views. Cut off the page views, cut off the revenue, kill the source.  </p>
  5139.  
  5140.  
  5141.  
  5142. <p>(Speaking of, if I may be so bold: <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/subscribe-to-the-political-pulse/"><strong>If you sign up for the newsletter</strong></a>, <em>no</em> social media platform can prevent you from getting the news!)</p>
  5143.  
  5144.  
  5145.  
  5146. <p>Kaplan continued: &#8220;Instead of going to some so-called expert, it instead relies on the community and the people on the platform to provide their own commentary to something that they’ve read. We think that’s a much better approach rather than relying on so-called experts who bring their own biases into the program.&#8221;</p>
  5147.  
  5148.  
  5149.  
  5150. <p>Watch Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s entire announcement here:</p>
  5151.  
  5152.  
  5153.  
  5154. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  5155. <div class="iframe-container"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is the full video from Mark Zuckerberg announcing the end of censorship and misinformation policies. <br><br>I highly recommend you watch all of it as tonally it is one of the biggest indications of &quot;elections have consequences&quot; I have ever seen <a href="https://t.co/aYpkxrTqWe">pic.twitter.com/aYpkxrTqWe</a></p>&mdash; Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) <a href="https://twitter.com/esaagar/status/1876612227807236310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
  5156. </div></figure>
  5157.  
  5158.  
  5159.  
  5160. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remember-when-the-internet-was-free">Remember When the Internet Was Free?</h2>
  5161.  
  5162.  
  5163.  
  5164. <p>I gotta say folks, they at least <em>seem</em> sincere. Kaplan even acknowledged that the hottest of hot-button issues would be fair game again, saying that the previous rules were &#8220;too restrictive and not allowing enough discourse around sensitive topics like immigration, trans issues and gender.&#8221;</p>
  5165.  
  5166.  
  5167.  
  5168. <p>For some of us, those who grew up as teens in the 90&#8217;s when the internet was becoming ubiquitous, we remember a completely different internet. Search engines actually showed you what you were looking for, not what they wanted you to see. There was no such thing as getting throttled for saying things people didn&#8217;t like. </p>
  5169.  
  5170.  
  5171.  
  5172. <p>There were certainly no organizations filled with former <a href="https://mises.org/power-market/newsguard-scam">CIA officials and other spooks</a> trying to control the narrative. </p>
  5173.  
  5174.  
  5175.  
  5176. <p>It remains to be seen how free Facebook will become. But I gotta say &#8211; doesn&#8217;t it feel nice to at least know we&#8217;re moving in the right direction again?</p><p>The post <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com/the-elon-effect-facebook-announces-end-to-fact-checking-and-restoration-of-free-expression/">The Elon Effect: Facebook Announces End to &#8216;Fact-Checking&#8217; and Restoration of &#8216;Free Expression&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thepoliticalinsider.com">The Political Insider</a>.</p>
  5177. ]]></content:encoded>
  5181. <tpd:postLastUpdated>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:49:49 +0000</tpd:postLastUpdated>
  5182. <tpd:primaryCategory>Opinion</tpd:primaryCategory>
  5183. </item>
  5184. </channel>
  5185. </rss>
  5186.  

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