Tag: donald trump

Elizabeth Warren’s Hubris Allowed Trump To Defund the CFPB

Since at least the days of the ancient Greeks, humans have known that one way to write a compelling story is by including a bit of hamartia—a tragic flaw.

Sometimes that is a physical shortcoming—Achilles had that famously vulnerable heel—but it is often more interesting if the flaw is a more innate thing tied to a character’s understanding of themselves. Hubris, or excessive pride, is the famous one. After all, it wasn’t really Achilles’ unprotected heel that took him down, but his false belief that his mother had made him invulnerable.

You might say the exact same thing about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It could be headed into a sort of coma later this year because of a fatal flaw embedded by its own parents: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) and former President Barack Obama.

Unlike every other department and agency within the federal government, the CFPB is not funded via congressional appropriations. Instead, its funding flows directly from the Federal Reserve. Each year, the White House submits a budget to the Federal Reserve, and the central bank hands over the necessary amount—$729.4 million last year, in case you were wondering.

For a long time after the CFPB was created in 2010, there were serious questions about the constitutionality of that structure. That finally got resolved last year, when the Supreme Court ruled that Congress was within its powers to hand off the purse strings. So, funding the CFPB via the Federal Reserve is not unconstitutional—it’s just unorthodox and foolish.

Here’s where the hubris enters the story. When Warren and Obama created the CFPB, they designed that unorthodox funding structure specifically to prevent a future Republican-led Congress from trying to defund the bureau. Remember, this was in the age when Republicans were running around the country telling voters they intended to repeal Obamacare too. By isolating the CFPB from Congress’ budgetary powers, Warren was trying to make it invulnerable to attack.

Instead, she simply gave it a fatal flaw.

Keep reading

Is Trump Getting Ready To Cut Ukraine—and Europe—Loose?

President Donald Trump started peace negotiations over Ukraine with dramatic flair. Although he had been expected to send his envoy Keith Kellogg to present a peace plan at the Munich Security Conference this week, Trump instead had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, announcing on Wednesday morning that they “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.” Along with the peace talks, the two countries announced a surprise prisoner exchange. And Trump snubbed Kellogg, leaving him out of the announced negotiating team.

European governments panicked at the notion that they would be left out of any final deal. “Peace can only be achieved together. And that means with Ukraine, and with the Europeans,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters. “There will be no just and lasting peace in Ukraine without the participation of Europeans,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said to France’s cabinet. Leaders across Europe made similar statements.

The talks about Ukraine are about more than Ukraine, and everybody on both sides of the Atlantic knows it. The new Trump administration seems eager to draw back from America’s post-World War II role as Europe’s military protector. In a speech on Wednesday, a few hours before Trump’s announcement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called on the other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to pick up the tab for defending Ukraine and Europe.

“Our transatlantic alliance has endured for decades. And we fully expect that it will be sustained for generations to come. But this won’t just happen. It will require our European allies to step into the arena and take ownership of conventional security on the continent,” Hegseth said. “The United States remains committed to the NATO alliance and to the defense partnership with Europe. Full stop. But the United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship that encourages dependency. Rather, our relationship will prioritize empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security.”

Of course, Trump talked about having European countries pay a bigger share of defense in his first term, too. He also built up U.S. forces close to Russia’s borders, and sent the first lethal military aid to Ukraine, mocking former President Barack Obama for giving Ukrainian troops only “pillows and sheets.”

The stakes, however, are different now. During Trump’s first term, the conflict was a war between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia rebels. Since then, Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to the most intense combat in Europe since World War II—and burning through U.S. resources. The threat of a direct U.S.-Russian war has loomed in the background. 

Keep reading

EU/NATO Freak Out Over Trump Position On Ukraine – Zelenskiy Says Trump ‘Not Nice’

Since Ukrainian “President” Volodymyr Zelenskiy is not a legitimately elected leader at this point, we find these statements humorous.

Zelensky: The question of the elections is not at issue at the moment, it’s really not very nice that Trump called Putin first. I did not discuss joining NATO with Trump, but I know that Washington does not want us to be a member of the alliance.

We will not accept any deal between Moscow and Washington without Kyiv.

Hegseth: There is no betrayal of Ukraine. The world and the U.S. are investing in peace—through negotiations. Russian aggression was a wake-up call for NATO that it must be stronger.

Keep reading

Trump Considering Using Defense Budget to Boost Deportations

The Trump administration is reportedly considering using the defense budget to boost deportations.

The administration is said to be unhappy with the current pace of deportations and believes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement budget may be a limiting factor.

Citing three unnamed sources, NBC News reports, “The Trump administration is considering tapping into Defense Department funding to hire contractors, a move that would vastly expand the scale and scope of immigrant arrests and deportations in the U.S., according to three sources familiar with the matter.”

The report continues:

The defense contracts would allow civilian-run companies to quickly and rapidly expand temporary detention facilities, such as those that house migrants in tents, as well as to staff those facilities and provide transportation between arrest locations and detention areas.

Such a move could also increase the number of airplanes available used to deport immigrants, as well as staff for the flights, the sources said.

Border czar Tom Homan has already tapped agents from the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and others to help support Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in making immigrant arrests.

But the pace of arrests and deportations has failed to meet Homan’s expectations, and President Donald Trump’s.

According to a Washington Post report, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have also been demoted due to the pace of deportations under their leadership.

“ICE staff were informed in an email Tuesday that Russell Hott and Peter Berg, the top two officials in the enforcement division of ICE, have been reassigned, according to the three people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal memo,” the report states.

Homan also expressed frustration with the pace of deportations.

Keep reading

Trump – Putin Breakthrough?

The most interesting part of this to me is the breadth of issues discussed. That’s what Putin wants—a broad ranging agreement, maybe literally global in scope. The title line is a bit misleading—both leaders extended mutual invites although, as you’ll see at the end, Putin’s invite was perhaps the more concrete. That’s good, especially if Trump can do this—it changes the Overton window in the US. Or so it seems to me. I think the American people will welcome a Trump visit to Moscow.

Putin Invites Trump To Visit Moscow In ‘Highly Productive’ Call, Ready For Peace

US President Trump and Russian President Putin held a nearly hour-and-a-half call this morning which the US president described as “lengthy and highly productive.”

Trump said on Truth Social that both leaders had extended invitations of “visiting each other’s nations,” while, the US leader said he would be calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “right now” to inform him about the call.

President Trump took to his Truth Social account to explain what was discussed (emphasis ours):

I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects. We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!

That’s a pretty comprehensive list, although arms control is left off. But notice that #2 is “the Middle East.” Could it be that Trump’s crazy rhetoric has been a ploy to draw Russia into negotiations more quickly that Russia was perhaps inclined to do? Possible, although the blowback in the region could be lasting.

Keep reading

Turncoat Mike Pence Attacks President Trump Again – This Time as Trump Works to Bring Peace to Ukraine

The last time we heard from Turncoat Mike Pence he was urging Republican Senators to block Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Senate confirmation.

Before that, Pence said he was “literally praying” that Trump would not pardon the innocent January 6 political prisoners.

Now, Pence is spouting off trashing President Trump for working to bring peace to Ukraine.

Who’s paying this guy?

President Trump held calls with Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky on Wednesday. Trump is expected to hold meetings with Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia. And there is talk that Trump was invited to Russia for talks.

Mike Pence sees this is bad news. On Tuesday Pence tweeted this out.

Keep reading

Trump asked to shut down NYC ‘injection sites’ where drug addicts consume with impunity

The Trump administration is being urged to shut down two controversial city-approved “safe” injection sites — where drug addicts can use illegal drugs like meth, heroin and cocaine under supervision.

Republican US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is asking Trump to step in to close the government-sponsored centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights, saying they violate federal law.

“These sites not only enable but also perpetuate illegal drug use,” Malliotakis wrote in a Feb. 11 letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.

The Staten Island congresswoman cited a Third Circuit of Appeals ruling in Philadelphia that concluded it was a federal crime to “open a supervised injection site or ‘consumption room’ for illegal drug use.”

Keep reading

BOOM! Pam Bondi Announces Charges Against Kathy Hochul and Letitia James

On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi made headlines during her inaugural press briefing, where she delivered a powerful message to New York Democrats protecting illegal immigrants by announcing that charges have been filed against Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder.

Bondi made it clear that the Department of Justice is taking aggressive action to enforce immigration laws and hold states accountable.

“This is a new DOJ, and we are taking steps to protect Americans, American citizens, and angel moms like the mom standing right behind me,” Bondi said. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today.”

Bondi pointed to legal action already taken against Illinois, saying, “As you know, we sued Illinois, and New York didn’t listen. So now you’re next.” She warned that the consequences of the state’s policies have been devastating.

“Millions of illegal aliens with violent records have flooded into our communities, bringing violence and deadly drugs with them,” Bondi stated.

She then introduced Tammy Nobles, an angel mom whose daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was murdered by an MS-13 gang member in 2022.

“Tammy is an angel mom. Her beautiful daughter Kayla, Kayla Hamilton, was murdered by an MS-13 member in 2022,” Bondi said. “Kayla had just turned 20 years old—just turned 20 years old—and she was raped and murdered by someone who should not have been in our country. Yet he was released, flown to Maryland, where he committed this violent murder.”

Bondi urged Americans to listen to Nobles’ story. “I just want you to hear from… I want you to hear from Tammy. Tammy represents not only herself and her family, but all of the great angel moms around this country who have suffered because of what the Biden administration did. And it is over.”

Her remarks made it clear that the DOJ is taking a hard stance against states that defy federal immigration law, vowing accountability and action.

After Nobles spoke, Bondi warned states intent on protecting illegals that they will suffer the consequences. “If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable,” she said. “We did it to Illinois. Strike one. Strike two is New York. And if you are a state not complying with federal law, you’re next.”

Keep reading

Trump: ‘There’s Nothing to Buy … We Will Have Gaza’

President Donald Trump made liberal heads explode on February 4 when he announced that the United States was going to take over the Gaza Strip. Trump made the remarks in a joint press conference with Isreali Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu. AI images of Trump Hotels among the rubble immediately began circulating. Reaction of conservatives was mixed — do we really want Gaza?

On Tuesday, during a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, Trump put to rest any fears that the United States was going to buy Gaza … it was going to take it outright. 

All of the usual liberal accounts posted the video, so you know they think this clip makes Trump look bad. 

Keep reading

A New Administration, Same Old Support for FISA

American politicians love to tell the citizenry exactly what they are going to do for them. They claim they will install programs for the poor, increase domestic security, strengthen our international image, and fight tirelessly for their constituencies’ rights. But are these even things people want from their elected leaders?

Democrats and Republicans are typically somewhat on the fence about this question in that they like government intervention and force so long as they are used to further their partisan political ambitions. When it comes to libertarian voters, on the other hand, the answer is likely no. Rather, what most libertarians want is the one thing that a politician will never promise: that they will do absolutely nothing and leave everyone alone!

Even if libertarians are technically in the statistical minority, they have noticed a worrying trend and are using the amplifying power of social media to make it a national debate. More specifically, the internet has now made it almost impossible for the enemies of liberty to hide, and this has led to a growing Massie/Paul-led public referendum against our politicians’ unsavory relationship with warrantless spying. Ideally, this referendum will transcend libertarian circles and will grow so large that it infiltrates the ranks of the Democrats and, more importantly, the Republicans.

To give some context, The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), which is generally associated with the global War on Terror, was actually around decades before 9/11, even though very few people knew about it. This ambiguity existed, in part, because communications technology before the internet was not nearly as sophisticated or intrusive as it is now. However, after this act became supercharged with the adoption of the Patriot Act in 2001 and then the addition of Section 702 in 2008, its days in the dark were over, and unfortunately, so were our days of assumed privacy.

Even though the internet is waking up to the heinous unconstitutionality of these pieces of legislation, the politicians, on the other hand, don’t seem to be listening, a problem that, ironically, is more prevalent among the self-proclaimed “freedom-loving” MAGA Republicans than it is among the “uni party deep-state” Democrats.

Keep reading