There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. JOHN 3:3
The miracle of the new birth was foreshadowed in the Old Testament record: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” There was at least a hint of miracle within the human breast—not the reasoning of yourself into a position, but something happening that could not be explained! Coming into the New Testament, there is no longer any hinting or suggesting about the miracle of the new birth—it is boldly and openly declared. Our Saviour said that if we come to Him and are not born again, we cannot enter the kingdom of God—that we must be born from above. Paul told the Corinthians: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” You couldn’t make it any stronger than that! Something happens in a man’s nature that no man can explain! Just the moment that a man’s experience in Christ can be broken down and explained by the psychologists, we have a church member on our hands—and not a Christian! For that which must happen in the new birth can never be explained by psychology or psychiatry. The professional can only stand off respectfully and say, “Behold the works of the Lord.” He can never explain it! And in that great and terrible day to come, many will be shocked when they find that they depended upon a mental assent to Christianity instead of upon the miracle of the new birth!
Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2015). Evenings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings (p. 55). Moody Publishers.
Sit down, my soul, this evening, and ponder over this blessed distinction which the apostle makes between the lawless conduct of those, who, from a mere conviction of the truth in the head, but who never felt the influence of it in their heart, hold the truth in unrighteousness; and those who, while conscious of being under the law to Christ, are not without law to God. To thee, my soul, who hast been brought under the condemnation of God’s holy law, and hast been enabled, through sovereign grace, to take refuge in the person, blood, and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; to thee, justification by faith, so far from relaxing thine obedience to the law of God, has proved the best of all motives to the practice of it. Thou knowest thyself to be bought with a price; and therefore, as the Lord’s property, both by his purchase, and thy voluntary surrender, it is thy desire above all things “to glorify God in thy body and in thy spirit, which are his.” It is thy glory, thy delight, thy joy, that thy God and Father hath accepted a righteousness for thee in Jesus, thy surety; and to him, and him only, the Lord hath respect for thy acceptation. But while thou art taught, and thy heart delights in the soul-reviving truth, that thou art never to seek justification by the deeds of the law, thy heart delights also, that thou art “not without law to God, but under the law to Christ.” For though the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sin and death, yet while through the law thou art dead to the law, the blessedness of it is, that thou mightst live unto Christ. And it is by the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelling in thee, that the deeds of the body are mortified, and the soul lives. Sweet consideration, my soul, to cherish, and ever to keep in view. Thou art not working for life, but from life. Not seeking to be justified by the deeds of the law, but from Christ’s justification; daily showing forth that thou art not “without law to God, but under the law to Christ.”
Hawker, R. (1845). The Poor Man’s Evening Portion (A New Edition, pp. 57–58). Thomas Wardle.
We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the Author of the Scriptures is he who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them, we should constantly ask his teaching, and his guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first—“I wept much.” The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore, if, for your own and others’ profiting, you desire to be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.
Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. Passmore & Alabaster.
AND Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, 5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver. His revenues are his due, yet they are not levied as a tax, but given spontaneously by willing minds. Every Israelite should be a giver, for he is a receiver. 20 ¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. They went off at once to fetch their offering; promptness is a sign of willingness. 21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. (Some there were who loved their gold better than their God, but the majority were free hearted, and gave not of constraint but joyfully.) 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. This is a good example. If Christian women would cast their ornaments into God’s treasury, and if godly men would present their superfluity of gold, there would be enough and to spare. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. (The gifts varied in value but not in acceptance; where they were willingly given they were graciously accepted.) 24. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25, 26 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. (Work is as good as material. The women worked with their best skill. When the needle is used for the Lord it ought to be the best needlework in the world.) 27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. (Shall we allow those who were under the law to outstrip us who are under the gospel? Nay, rather let us far exceed them in gifts unto the Lord our God.) Paul gives admirable directions for contributing to the cause of God in
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6–8
6 This I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Both in temporals and spirituals men will find that this rule holds good. Those who stint the Lord stint themselves. Little give, little have. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (Notice the many “alls” here, may we have them all, and then abound in giving.)
1 CORINTHIANS 14:2
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (This is the true Christian custom to lay by the Lord’s portion weekly and then give from the Lord’s purse to the various works which need our help. From the oldest to the youngest let us all be cheerful givers.)
The mite my willing hands can give,
At Jesus’ feet I lay;
Grace shall the humble gift receive,
And heaven at last repay.
Ne’er shall thy service stand in need
While substance, Lord, is mine;
To give to thee is bliss indeed,
For all I have is thine.
Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 104). Baker Book House.
Leviticus 13 — I came across a sermon transcript, “Why is this in the Bible?” from First Presbyterian, Jackson, Mississippi. In summary:
The ceremonial ritual uncleanness of this passage ultimately points to … what? The problem of sin. And thus moral uncleanness and cleanness is being illustrated in ritual or ceremonial cleanness or uncleanness. And you remember what the psalmist says in Psalm 24:3: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully …”
What is that passage talking about? It’s talking about our own state of sanctification and the enjoyment of the presence of God, and that principle from Psalm 27 is illustrated in the ceremonial code. Those who are covered in sin, who are contaminated by the fall, cannot enjoy unhindered fellowship with God.
Mark 6:3 — “… the son of Mary …” – Jesus was in His own country (Nazareth), teaching in His synagogue, and the neighbors still implied that He was illegitimate, not the son of Joseph.
Mark 6:26 — Herod was sorry he ‘had’ to execute John the Baptist, similar to Pilate’s ‘sorrow’ over ‘having’ to execute Jesus (Matthew 27:24).
Psalm 39:5 — ”Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Think on this.”
Proverbs 10:10 — Haven’t heard the word ‘prating’ before? Vocabulary.com not only gives you a definition, but shows you usage examples in current literature.
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And the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. (Deuteronomy 15:18)
An Israelitish master was to give his bondservant liberty in due time, and when he left his service he was to start him in life with a liberal portion, This was to be done heartily and cheerfully, and then the Lord promised to bless the generous act. The spirit of this precept, and, indeed, the whole law of Christ, binds us to treat people well. We ought to remember how the Lord has dealt with us, and that this renders it absolutely needful that we should deal graciously with others, It becomes those to be generous who are the children of a gracious God. How can we expect our great Master to bless us in our business if we oppress those who serve us?
What a benediction is here set before the liberal mind! To be blessed in all that we do is to be blessed indeed. The Lord will send us this partly in prosperity, partly in content of mind, and partly in a sense of His favor, which is the best of all blessings. He can make us feel that we are under His special care and are surrounded by His peculiar love. This makes this earthly life a joyous prelude to the life to come. God’s blessing is more than a fortune. It maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith.
Over the past few years, I occasionally find God’s Crime Scene ranked as the #1 Best Seller on Amazon’s list of “Evangelism” books. I will admit it is exciting and humbling, but it’s also surprising. It is, after all, an apologetics book that utilizes scientific and philosophical evidence to make the case for God’s existence (from the perspective of a homicide detective), so I am delighted to see it doing well in many categories. But evangelism? I really didn’t anticipate people would see it as an attractive alternative to the many other titles more traditionally written as evangelism books. But the success of God’s Crime Scene may simply be a reflection of a new and important reality: In this day and age, evangelism is spelled A-P-O-L-O-G-E-T-I-C-S.
Dr. Richard Land, the president of Southern Evangelical Seminary has been saying this for some time now. When interviewed about his opening speech as the seminary’s fourth president, Lamb recalled, “I said in my inaugural address, that we were going to be involved in doing ‘apologetic evangelism’; that I was increasingly convinced, and have been even more so during the time that I’ve been here, that the way we’re going to spell evangelism, the way we’re going to spell missions, the way we’re going to spell discipleship in the twenty-first century is going to be APOLOGETICS.” I think Land is absolutely correct. We often hear it said “No one is argued into the Kingdom,” and while this statement may be true in many ways, my own experience converting to Christianity has convinced me of the truth of Dr. Land’s thoughtful insight.
I was a committed skeptic and atheist until the age of thirty-five. I was also a detective and a thoughtful evidentialist. The vast majority of my co-workers were non-Christians, but I did know a few committed believers who worked as detectives at my agency. When I poked fun at their beliefs and challenged them to give me just a few reasons why I should trust the New Testament or believe in the supernatural, they were woefully inept and unable to make an evidential case for what they believed. Every failure on their part only strengthened my atheistic resolve. How could intelligent investigators be so committed to evidence when making a case against a suspect, yet see no need for evidence when making the most important decisions about their worldview? I thought Christianity was the surest form of blind faith.
If any one of these well-meaning believers had been knowledgeable enough to share the evidence supporting their beliefs, I would have been more than willing to hear what they had to say. An evidential approach would have qualified them in my eyes and given them the platform necessary to reach someone like me. If these believers had been doing what Land calls, “apologetic evangelism” I bet I would have become a Christian many years earlier. Instead, I began my own investigation after becoming interested in the proverbial wisdom of Jesus (even as I rejected His claims to Deity). This journey eventually caused me to examine my own naturalistic presuppositions, an investigation I’ve now chronicled in God’s Crime Scene.
I learned a simple principle from working alongside seasoned homicide detectives: one way to determine if a death scene is a crime scene is simply to ask: “Can I explain all the evidence ‘inside the room’ by staying ‘inside the room’?” Imagine, for example, we’re examining a room in which a victim has suffered a gunshot injury and is lying next to a handgun. Imagine the doors are locked from the inside, all the DNA and fingerprints in the room belong to the victim, the gun is registered to the victim and there are no signs of an outside intruder. In this scenario, suicide or accidental death is a very reasonable inference. If, however, there were fingerprints or DNA from an unknown suspect, the gun did not belong to the victim, and there were bloody footprints leading outside the room, we would have to consider the more reasonable inference of murder. When the evidence in the room cannot be explained by staying inside the room and is better explained by a cause outside the room, there’s a good chance a murderer is on the loose. Intruders turn death scenes into crime scenes.
I applied this “inside the room” or “outside the room” approach when I decided to examine the evidence for God’s existence. I spent months looking at the science and philosophy. Once again I asked the simple question: “Could the evidence ‘inside the room’ of the natural universe be explained by staying ‘inside the room’?” After examining eight separate pieces of evidence, I realized my naturalistic explanations from “inside the room” were simply insufficient. I ultimately became a Christian theist on the basis of the evidence I describe in God’s Crime Scene and the confidence I developed in the reliability of the New Testament documents (as I describe in Cold-Case Christianity). I think this process took so long because I honestly didn’t know a Christian who could help walk me through the evidence. There were no “apologetic evangelists” in my circle of friends.
Our culture is increasingly skeptical of God’s existence and far less likely to embrace unsubstantiated claims. Now, more than ever before, evangelism ought to be spelled: A-P-O-L-O-G-E-T-I-C-S. Share on X
“Jesus had a tendency of storming in and out of people’s live, making implicit or explicit demands and, in general, making people feel mighty uncomfortable…This is Jesus the consuming fire, the raging storm, who seems bent on destroying everything in His path, who either shocks people into stupification (Mark 6:51) or frightens them (Mark 16:8) so that they run for their lives. This divinity we had thought was under lock and key and confined to the Old Testament. But to find Him roaming the pages of the Testament of love and forgiveness-well! And yet there He swirls, a tornado touching down, lifting homes and businesses off their foundations, having only bits and pieces of the former life strewn on His path.”1
14 And King Herod heard about it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” 15 But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”
17 For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so; 20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he had been protecting him. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; and yet he [a]used to enjoy listening to him. 21 An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and [b]his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and [c]his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body, and laid it in a tomb.
In the Vice-Grip of Sin – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon
▶️Pastor Patrick Hines has recently had a brand new book published, called, “Earth’s Foundational History – Part 1: Genesis Chapters 1 Through 5.” (Paperback – May 4, 2023) https://cutt.ly/16RCeZ0
These two books are also available on Amazon. All proceeds go directly to Pastor Hines:
▶️Am I Right With God?: The Gospel, Justification, Saving Faith, Repentance, Assurance, & The New Birth https://cutt.ly/S6RCbuM
▶️Redrawing the Battle Lines: 23 Sermons on Critical Issues Facing the Church https://cutt.ly/m6RCTi0
We subscribe to the Westminster Standards as our doctrinal statement. It consists of the following documents:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Larger Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
We also believe that Christian Worship is to be regulated and defined by God’s Word, the Bible.
Our worship services are designed to please and honor the Triune God of the Bible. We place Scripture reading and the preaching of the word of God at the center of worship along with Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are God’s gifts to His church and ought to always be at the center of Christian worship. We are a congregation that loves to sing God’s praises, recite His Word back to Him, and actively engage in hearing and learning from God’s Word.
We embrace and promote a comprehensive Christian world and life view.
There is no area of life which is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is to God and His law which all people, including governments and civil rulers, will answer. The Word of God embraces and informs the way we view marriage, the family, children, education, politics, worship, law, government, war, the church, missions, evangelism, and worship. In the world today there is a battle of opposing worldviews. There are basically only two positions: God’s Word and man’s ideas. We stand positively for Biblical truth and negatively against man’s ideas which are opposed to Biblical truth.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind.
Because all men fall short of obeying God’s law, all men everywhere are in need of divine grace and salvation from God. This salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for sinners, was buried, rose again, and is alive today seated at God the Father’s right hand.
Bodies of Bibas Family and Oded Lifshitz Returned to Israel In a somber transfer on Thursday, Israel received the bodies of four hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza. The returned remains include Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, as well as 85-year-old Oded Lifshitz. The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer, delivering the coffins to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents in the Gaza Strip. The Geneva-based organization received the bodies from the Hamas terrorist group following a staged propaganda event.
Netanyahu vows to annihilate Hamas – ‘Lord of vengeance appear’ Prime Minister Netanyahu invoked a Bible verse, calling upon the ‘Lord of vengeance’ and vowing to prevent another tragedy like October 7 while promising to bring the remaining hostages home. (watch)
JD Vance at CPAC: ‘Unborn life is sacred in the eyes of God’ Asked a direct question about the Trump administration’s commitment to the pro-life position, Vance encouraged those in attendance to defend the unborn, saying life in the womb is “sacred in the eyes of God and it should be sacred in the eyes of man, too.”
Hungary threatens to block EU’s new sanctions Hungary’s foreign minister wants to stop the EU’s planned new sanctions against the Russians – including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – in order not to “complicate” the negotiations between Moscow and Washington. “It is obvious that Europe’s war-mongering politicians … are trying to make peace-building difficult, said Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó
Did Obama officials force Pope Benedict’s resignation? Open letter calls for Trump investigation Specifically, the authors asked whether the U.S. Government was involved in the sequence of events that resulted in the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 11, 2013 and the Conclave that elected Pope Francis on March 13, 2013.[1] This open letter was widely circulated throughout the world, but no action was taken during the first Trump administration. Consequently, the questions that were raised remain unanswered. Did U.S. government operatives have contact with the “Cardinal Danneels Mafia”?
Senior Iranian commander says Tehran is prepared for war with Israel Brigadier-General Amir Ali Hajizadeh claimed on Tuesday that Tehran is prepared for any potential war with Israel and other adversaries, Iranian state media Mehr News reported. Hajizadeh who heads the IRGC’s Aerospace Forces, boasted that Iran’s missile attacks on Israel in 2024 were the largest in military history.
While Gaza Grabs Headlines, Hezbollah Plots Israel’s Destruction Let’s cut through the diplomatic niceties and face facts: Hezbollah’s goal isn’t negotiable. It isn’t flexible. It isn’t subject to compromise. Their objective, plain and simple, is Israel’s destruction. Period. And they’ve proven time and again that they’ll pursue this goal regardless of the cost to themselves or the Lebanese people they live among.
Azerbaijan may become a crucial player in Israeli-American vision for Middle East Following a meeting this week between Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, officials described the “game-changing” partnership between the Muslim nation, Israel, and the United States.
‘A terrorist financier lives here’: LA Jewish activists protest outside estate of former Qatari PM ‘Qatar pretends to be a mediator, the ‘honest broker’ of the Middle East,’ Dozens of Jewish-American activists gathered outside the Los Angeles estate of former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani on Sunday in protest against Doha’s support for Hamas. “Bin Jassim brought Hamas to Doha and funded them with $30 million monthly in Gaza,”
Knesset votes to bar October 7th deniers from entering Israel Under new law passed by the Knesset, Holocaust deniers, deniers of the Hamas massacres on October 7, 2023, and anyone who supports the prosecution of Israeli soldiers will be barred from entering Israel.
Steve Witkoff optimistic: We’re making progress and hopefully it leads to good results US Special Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff acknowledged on Thursday that progressing to the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal is proving to be a tougher challenge, but added that he remains optimistic that a resolution can be reached. Speaking at a Saudi investment summit, Witkoff described the second phase as “more difficult, but ultimately, if we work hard there’s a real chance for success.
Multiple buses explode across central Israel in suspected mass bombing attempt Several buses exploded in various locations across central Israel on Thursday evening in what Israeli security forces suspect to be a planned mass terror bombing attempt by Hamas-affiliated terrorists in the West Bank. At least three bombs exploded buses in the area of Bat Yam, Israel Police said.
Gazans can emigrate, but preventing Palestinian resurgence in Gaza is ‘top priority’ – Sa’ar Addressing US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s Palestinian population, Sa’ar did not explicitly endorse the plan but acknowledged its potential feasibility. “If someone wants to emigrate and another country is willing to accept them, that is a legitimate, moral solution,” he told Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov. However, he stressed that Israel’s main priority remains preventing the reemergence of a terrorist Palestinian faction in Gaza.
Preparing for quantum computing threat, Israel ramps up encryption efforts the National Digital Agency has instructed all government bodies to begin preparing for this emerging risk. The guidelines require each government body to map its computing and communication infrastructure, identify data that could be exposed, and assess the potential damage if compromised. The threat is even more pressing because attackers can already collect encrypted data to decrypt it later when quantum capabilities become available.
‘Profiting From Ending Life’: Baptists Launch Campaign Urging Congress to Defund Planned Parenthood The Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm has launched a campaign asking Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. “For too long, taxpayer dollars, $700 million last year alone, have been given to this organization that profits from ending life. It is outrageous that promises that have been made for years now have never been turned into real results,”
Defense Department prepares for mass civilian firings within days The Defense Department is preparing for mass firings of civilian employees, according to several current employees and internal communications, bringing the Trump administration’s federal-workforce-reduction efforts to the government’s largest agency. The dismissals are expected to begin on Friday or even earlier, according to multiple employees informed of the plans.
Pentagon proposes $50 billion in annual cuts and identifies priorities to expand The Pentagon has proposed cutting 8% of its budget in each of the next five years — amounting to some $50 billion each year — but prioritized 17 areas from drones and submarines to military assistance for the southern border as well as increased funding for the U.S. command that focuses on China. Salesses went on to say the Defense Department will be “ending radical and wasteful government DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and preferencing.” Those cuts will likely include thousands of personnel from the Pentagon
Emergency escape port planned in Santorini, schools remain closed as intense earthquake swarm continues in Greece Schools in Santorini, Ios, Anafi, and Amorgos will remain closed at least until February 21, 2025, as the Greek government prepares for another meeting to assess seismic risks in the Aegean Sea near Santorini. Over 1 300 earthquakes were recorded with a magnitude above 3.0 in the sea area near Anydros since the beginning of the month, with the strongest reaching M5.3. The government also announced plans to build an emergency escape port in Santorini in addition to the new port under development.
Strongest winter storm of the season brings record snowfall across Virginia The strongest winter storm of the season dropped record snowfall across Virginia, with some areas experiencing the heaviest snowfall in decades. Virginia Beach recorded a rare, record-breaking snowfall of over 25 cm (10 inches) from Wednesday to Thursday, February 19–20, 2025.
Virginia Beach sees heaviest snow since 1989 Virginia Beach experienced the heaviest snowfall since 1989 as the strongest storm of the season swept through Virginia on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, dropping rare and heavy snow across the region.
A Woman In Wisconsin Witnessed A Post-Apocalyptic Future In Which Burning Embers Were “Falling Down Like Rain” All Around Her All over the globe, men and women of God have been having dreams and visions in which they are given glimpses of our future. Often, the things that they are shown are apocalyptic in nature. Of course that is perfectly consistent with what the Bible says. Throughout the Scriptures, we are told that the days just before the return of Jesus will be unlike anything that humanity has ever experienced before. If we really are living in the end times, it won’t be too long before humanity witnesses a tremendous amount of death and destruction. Needless to say, such a message is not popular with the vast majority of the population.
Israel Suspends All Public Transport After Three Buses Explode In Quick Succession On Thursday night Israel’s Transportation Authority halted all public transport including the operation of all buses, trains, and light rails, following an attempted terror attack in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon. Three empty buses exploded had exploded in quick succession in parking lots in these areas, and police believe the detonations were actually intended to happen in the morning, when the buses are usually packed.
Kennedy Center Cancels Gay Men’s Chorus Show Meant To Kick Off Pride Month The casualties of the Trump administration’s war on government-sponsored, taxpayer-subsidized wokeism are piling up. In the latest development, a gay men’s chorus performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been yanked off the schedule.
Department Of Health And Human Services Updates Definitions Of Female, Male The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Feb. 19 issued new guidance updating its official definitions of terms such as sex, female, and male as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to restore “the concept of biological truth” in the federal government.
USAID isn’t only a “radical-left Marxist PsyOp,” it was also running covert operations for the CIA The original mission of USAID was to provide support to developing countries in their efforts to acquire knowledge and resources essential to development. However, over time, the agency’s mission became corrupted and it was used as a tool for domestic political agendas and foreign covert operations by the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”).
Plans backed by key health figures in the Trump Administration could suspend covid injections for all age groups in the US Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withhold federal funding from schools and universities that require students to be vaccinated against covid. The Trump Administration has also terminated the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC’s”) “Wild to Mild” flu vaccination campaign, which aimed to encourage high-risk groups to get vaccinated.
‘The heart of the entire nation is torn,’ Netanyahu says ahead of release of dead captives “…The slain hostages expected to be returned for burial are Shiri Bibas (32 when taken) and her young sons, Ariel (4 when he was taken) and Kfir (9 months old when he was taken), as well as Oded Lifshitz (83 when taken), the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed after officially informing the families. They were kidnapped and dragged into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.”
This Is Why The Bitter Feud Between President Trump And “President Z” Has Just Brought Us Even Closer To Nuclear War All of a sudden, sending European ground troops into Ukraine has become a very hot topic. In fact, the British are openly discussing the possibility of doing this quite soon. Of course the Russians have already warned that if the British send ground troops into Ukraine, military targets inside the UK will become legitimate targets. Needless to say, the moment the Russians start conducting military strikes inside the UK, the U.S. would be forced to intervene and we would be right on the brink of nuclear war. The British must not do this.
Connecticut, Nebraska, Utah Push Social Media Digital ID Laws Efforts to regulate social media for minors are gaining momentum across multiple states, but these measures could have far-reaching consequences beyond child safety. Connecticut’s proposed House Bill 6857, along with similar legislation in Nebraska and Utah, seeks to curb algorithmic recommendations, impose time restrictions, and introduce stricter age verification requirements.
Open Letter to Kim Leadbeater: Hitler stopped his euthanasia program because it was morally indefensible …I have a suspicion that you think your Euthanasia Bill is a “good” thing. I rather hope you do think this and that your motives in sponsoring it are honorable. I know the Bill is really called the ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’ but I’m afraid your title is laughably misleading and quite inaccurate. If your Bill becomes law, it will not be long before the service you are promoting will be available to the anxious, the depressed, the disabled, the unemployed and the poor. It will be available to the young and to the old. And it will be available to those who are far from the end of their lives.
“Men of energy of character must have enemies; because there are two sides to every question, and taking one with decision, and acting on it with effect, those who take the other will of course be hostile in proportion as they feel that effect.” —Thomas Jefferson (1817)
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Vile Hamas dogs celebrate dead babies: The awfulness coming out of Gaza concerning the treatment of a young mother and her two baby boys by the murdering dogs of Hamas has become unspeakable. First, we saw with our own eyes the crowds of Hamas militants and their twisted supporters celebrating and shouting “Victory!” in Arabic over the caskets of four deceased Israeli citizens, including (ostensibly) Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two sons, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir. First, we were told by the terrorists that these innocents died in an Israeli airstrike, but now we learn through the Israel Defense Forces that the terrorists murdered the two baby boys in cold blood, by hand, and then tried to cover it up. Furthermore, the body supposedly belonging to Shiri is not hers but that of an unidentified victim. Some cultures are demonstrably inferior, and we shouldn’t be afraid to say so.
McConnell won’t run for reelection in 2026: It came as welcome news yesterday to reform-minded Republicans when, on the day of his 83rd birthday, longtime former GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he won’t seek reelection in 2026. Hallelujah. Even just a month into Donald Trump’s 2.0 term, McConnell has proven his willingness to stand athwart the people’s mandate by opposing Trump at critical moments, even voting to the left of the party’s two most conspicuous Senate RINOs, Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. McConnell has antagonized the good people of solidly red Kentucky, which went for Trump by nearly 31 points over Kamala Harris. Still, there’s potential trouble on the horizon if Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a centrist Democrat, decides to vie for McConnell’s vacant seat. Beshear says he has no interest in running for the Senate, but politicians have been known to change their minds.
A breathless nation awaits Pothole Pete’s “huge” decision: Having skedaddled from deep-red Indiana and relocated to deep-purple Michigan, former small-town mayor and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg has a decision to make: Should he try to carpetbag his way to a U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Michigan Democrat Gary Peters, or should he instead seek the Donkey Party’s nomination for president in 2028? An AP puff piece puts it this way: “Some believe the Democratic Party’s next savior is living here, huddled with family, in the relative obscurity of a small city on the shores of Lake Michigan. Pete Buttigieg has yet to decide if that’s a responsibility he wants.” That the despondent Democrats might actually turn their lonely eyes toward the accomplishment-free Buttigieg shows just how bereft of talent is that sorry party’s bench.
Stephen Miller schools the White House press corps: Rarely in the history of White House press briefings have a man and a moment come together as splendidly as they did yesterday when one of Donald Trump’s great communicators, senior adviser Stephen Miller, delivered an Article II civics lesson to the assembled media. Miller chastised their failure to report on Joe Biden’s mental incompetence, then shifted to their inability to understand how our constitutional system works. He explained the American president’s Article II powers under the Constitution’s Vesting Clause, whereby “the executive power shall be vested in a president, singular,” who then “appoints staff to then impose that democratic will onto the government.” He added, “The existential threat to democracy is the unelected bureaucracy of lifetime-tenured civil servants who believe they answer to no one, who [believe] they can set their own agenda no matter what Americans vote for.” Boom.
Judge declines to stop Trump’s fed worker firings: U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper on Thursday rejected demands from labor unions led by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) that the court stop Donald Trump’s firing of recent federal worker hires. In his decision, Cooper noted that the unions currently lacked standing and must first go through the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) before bringing their case. In short, Cooper directed the unions to follow the established process. The Trump administration has targeted federal workers who have been on the job less than two years due in part to their probationary status, making firing them easier.
Cartels given terrorist designation: Eight Central and South American cartels were officially designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) by the Trump administration on Wednesday. The list includes Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and El Salvador’s MS-13. The six other cartels are based in Mexico. Furthermore, these cartels were formally designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). Both the FTO and SDGT designations expand the Trump administration’s ability to crack down on these criminal organizations, including laying the groundwork for using armed drones to target and kill cartel leaders and destroy illicit cartel sites. Due to Trump’s aggressive border enforcement, Border Czar Tom Homan anticipates increasing violence from cartels, observing, “We’re taking money out of their pocket.”
Christians martyred in Congo: A horrific story much of the mainstream media has ignored comes out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where 70 Christians were brutally murdered by members of the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has ties to the Islamic State. According to Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, a persecution watchdog, “This recent massacre … is not an isolated incident but part of a grim tapestry of violence that has claimed over 6 million lives in the DRC over two decades of on-and-off war.” He noted, “The vast majority of the DRC’s residents are Christian, so this is a religious genocide carried out by radical Islamic terrorists.”
WaPo’s big science lie: The Washington Post recently made a fool of itself with an article objecting to Donald Trump’s executive order officially recognizing only “two sexes.” The Post asserted that according to “experts and a significant body of academic research, the definitions [Trump] used are oversimplified and inaccurate.” The article quotes a few “experts” who reject the binary designation of human biological sex because of the existence of sexual-based birth defects or nonfunctioning sex organs, which supposedly debunk the science. Meanwhile, what’s really behind this nonsensical embrace of ideology against scientific reality is a radical agenda that has long attacked natural human sexuality. The Rainbow Mafia’s impact has been sizable, as a recent Gallup poll found that 9.3% of American adults now identify as LGBTQ. That’s a massive jump from 2012, when 3.5% of adults identified as members of the gender cult.
Headlines
Senate border budget triumphs after all-night session while Trump-backed House bill lags (Fox News)
DHS to remove legal status of half a million immigrants (Newsweek)
Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from Maine over defiance of trans athlete order (National Review)
PepsiCo announces end to DEI policies (Daily Wire)
Three buses explode near Tel Aviv in suspected strategically planned terror attack (Times of Israel)
Humor: 10 things Kash Patel’s FBI will be investigating first (Babylon Bee)
All you need to know about Kash Patel is that he was confirmed as the newest director of the FBI by a Senate vote of 51-49 — and that after Democrats dragged their heels for weeks — while his predecessors enjoyed nearly unanimous support. Why, it’s almost like he’s a Swamp drainer rather than a card-carrying member.
Think I’m exaggerating? Check out the confirmation votes of every previous FBI director:
Christopher Wray (2017): 92-5 James Comey (2013): 93-1 Robert Mueller (2001): 98-0 William Sessions (1987): 90-0 Clarence Kelley (1973): 96-0
William Webster (1978) and Louis Freeh (1993) were confirmed with no roll call vote at all. Freeh went on to lead the FBI through Waco and Ruby Ridge. And that’s to say nothing of J. Edgar Hoover, the original deep state politicizer of the FBI. He was the bureau’s first director and did not need Senate confirmation, though he held his post for nearly half a century.
But Kash Patel is the problem!
Give me a break.
Patel served in multiple national security roles during Donald Trump’s first administration. Though he did not rise through the FBI ranks, he played a key role in uncovering the deep state coup attempt via the Russia collusion hoax. Our Douglas Andrews analyzed his nomination back in December, and I’ll quote a critical chunk of it:
Patel is not only highly competent, as his public service career to date suggests; he’s also a disruptor and a reformer. And if any agency under the American sun is in desperate need of reform, it’s the Trump-hating, two-tiered-justice-distributing FBI. Indeed, former agents have called for the dismantling of the bureau.
This, after all, is the same FBI that in recent years concocted and carried out the Russia collusion hoax; that lied on a FISA warrant application so it could spy on Donald Trump and his entire campaign team; that entrapped a bunch of “pro-Trump” rabble in a phony kidnapping plot against Michigan’s Democrat governor less than a month before the 2020 election; that sat on Hunter Biden’s laptop for nearly a year before the 2020 election; that colluded with Facebook and pre-Musk Twitter to censor the New York Post’s laptop bombshell two weeks before the election; that helped push the Gang of 51’s “Russian disinformation” letter even though it had already authenticated the laptop; that targeted parents who attended school board meetings because they were concerned about CRT and other hard-left ideologies being taught in their children’s schools; that targeted “radical-traditionalist Catholics” in their churches; that repeatedly targeted peaceful pro-life activists; that unlawfully seized the cellphone of a Trump-allied congressman and retired brigadier general; that gave two Republican senators a phony “defensive briefing” about Russian disinformation when they were investigating Hunter Biden’s business dealings with Ukraine and other countries; that placed numerous agents provocateur at the January 6 protest-turned-riot and continues to stonewall Congress about it; that conducted an armed raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and rifled through the first lady’s underwear drawer because of a documents dispute with the National Archives; that intentionally screened out conservatives and Trump supporters in its hiring practices; and that cracked down on pro-Trump agents and patriotic whistleblowers within the bureau.
In short, if the FBI is to survive as any semblance of a legitimate law enforcement agency, changes must be made. The thousands of good and competent agents and employees deserve no less. “I’ve overwhelmingly said multiple times that 98% of the FBI is courageous, apolitical warriors of justice,” Patel told the senators considering his nomination. Those warriors certainly must be angered by all the political shenanigans of a relative few bad apples.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said, “Change is coming to the seventh floor of the J. Edgar Hoover Building, and that is a good thing.” Yes, it is.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel said, “There will be no politicization at the FBI.” That would be the biggest change of all for a bureau that has nearly always been politicized. “The erosion of trust is evident,” he wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed one day ahead of confirmation hearings. “Only 40% of Americans hold a favorable view of the FBI.”
After his confirmation yesterday, he posted on X, “The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice. The politicalization of our justice system has eroded public trust — but that ends today.” He added, “My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops — and rebuild trust in the FBI.”
In other words, he understands the problem.
It’s no wonder Democrats can’t stand him. “I cannot imagine a worse choice,” huffed Senator Dick Durbin. “Patel will be a political and national security disaster,” he added. “What is at stake is the future of the FBI.” Good.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who famously lied about serving in Vietnam, warned Republicans, “This vote will haunt anyone who votes for him. They will rue the day they did it.”
“This is someone we cannot trust,” added Senator Adam Schiff, who practically wrote the book on being someone we cannot trust. His lies about the Russia collusion hoax and Trump’s impeachments are too numerous to count.
I’d say the opposition of those particular Democrats serves as a ringing endorsement. The same goes for the only Republicans to oppose him — drumroll, please — Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.
I’ll conclude with Patel’s own conclusion: “Mission First. America Always. Let’s get to work.”
Douglas Andrews: What the Elbridge Colby Fight Means — The behind-the-scenes battle over a secondary defense pick reveals the difference between Trump’s national defense philosophy and his predecessors’.
‘Shame on You’ — Megyn Kelly has branded Tom Hanks a “snob” for his participation in a controversial SNL skit.
How Activists Hijacked Our Institutions — Bari and Matti talk about the toll of the Hamas war, why returning the hostages is so fundamentally important to the future of Israel, and the rise of anti-Jewish hate.
Pete Hegseth’s Military — Americans are going to get a better “bang for their buck” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, argues Victor Davis Hanson.
PopCon #84: USAID Is NOT About Aid — Elon Musk has released his DOGE analysis program into the ledgers of federal agencies, and his findings are every bit as shocking as one might expect.
SHORT CUTS
Swampthink
“Of course there’s some wasteful spending, but you don’t use a meat axe and cut everything.” —Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer
Projection
“This is about the government telling the public and press what words to use and retaliating if they do not follow government orders.” —the Associated Press in reference to the White House restricting AP access
Fearmongering
“I want to tell you about Trump’s agenda for our kids: shut down the Dept of Education; micromanage teachers from the White House; sell off our schools to the billionaires.” —Senator Chris Murphy
Shot/Chaser I
“Is it [DEI] making people sit through a training that looks like something out of Portlandia? Which I have also experienced. It is how Trump Republicans are made if that comes to your workplace.” —former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
“Mayor Pete is the same man who called highways racist and proposed 1 billion dollars be spent on ‘racial equity in roads’. Nothing about his perspective changed except he’s running for Senate in a swing state.” —Meghan McCain
Shot/Chaser II
“Trump says there are ‘two sexes.’ Experts and science say it’s not binary.” —Washington Post headline
“If a scientist says to you, ‘I have a degree in botany; there is no such thing as trees,’ the proper response is to doubt the scientist and not doubt whether trees exist.” —Frank J. Fleming
Straight From the Horses Mouth
“We’re really proud that we’ve eliminated the required college degree in more than 90% of our jobs. It’s plain and simple: Equity is the motive.” —Delta Air Lines Chief DEI Officer Keyra Johnson
Friendly Fire
“We got to talk to people like real human beings. We’ve sanitized different language so significantly that, you know, people don’t feel like we’re talking to them.” —Kentucky Democrat Governor Andy Beshear
Belly Laugh of the Day
“Trump claimed the sky is blue — not so fast, experts say.” —Kyle Mann
For the Record
“Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is gonna stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet?” —JD Vance
Upright
“We’ve got to persuade our fellow citizens that unborn life is worthy of protecting. It is sacred in the eyes of God, and it should be sacred in the eyes of man too.” —JD Vance
And Last…
“Mitch McConnell just announced he’s leaving the Senate at the end of his term. Democrats are asking for privacy during this difficult time.” —Jimmy Failla
A stunning development in Israel: one of the four bodies returned by Hamas is not that of Shiri Bibas, the mother of two murdered young sons, and Israel’s president calls it “a shocking and horrific violation of the ceasefire agreement;” a planned terrorist attack fails- in what many believe was a miracle, bombs go off on three Israeli public buses while they’re empty; Chris Mitchell talks about the reaction in Israel to the missing body of Shiri Bibas, if Israel will go back to war with Hamas is the hostage agreement is broken, the Israeli response to the bus bombs, and what could have happened if the bombs had gone off during rush hour; the debate in Washington DC over cutting- or increasing- defense spending; college students coming to Christ across the country, including at Ohio State – and sports reporter Will Dawson discusses how the national championship football team helped spread the Gospel there; and a look at the new film, “The Unbreakable Boy,” inspired by a father’s true story about finding strength when his long-awaited son is born with a debilitating diagnosis.
John Haller is back with us to talk about the incredible changes in the Middle East. Transforming Gaza is something that, if it had been done before all the tunnels and terror, might have prevented tremendous pain and suffering in the Middle East, in Israel in particular. So many issues rise to the top like cream when one talks about complete transformation in a complex region, and yet with Trump in office and an agenda that will not be slowed, we might even entertain the idea that he could be the one to do it. How could it be accomplished with the infrastructure issues and humanitarian issues? Will citizens be relocated? How long would it take, and what is the price tag? Is this plan intertwined with restarting the Abraham Accords? What nations would be involved? So many questions, and proposals are flying around like mosquitoes in July. John is uniquely gifted to sort it all out, the good, bad and ugly. What a time to be alive.
Welcome to Lionel Nation—the home of bold ideas, fearless truth and deep analysis of the world’s most pressing topics. Lionel, a veteran legal analyst, cultural commentator and inveterate flâneur, takes you on a journey through politics, life, nature, science, philosophy and culture like no one else can. With a sharp wit and unmatched insight, Lionel cuts through media noise, exposing the lies of the powerful, questioning the status quo and challenging conventional wisdom at every turn. Whether discussing the deep state, scientific breakthroughs, cultural shifts or the meaning of life, Lionel brings you thought-provoking perspectives with passion, intelligence and humor.
Welcome to Lionel Nation—the home of bold ideas, fearless truth and deep analysis of the world’s most pressing topics. Lionel, a veteran legal analyst, cultural commentator and inveterate flâneur, takes you on a journey through politics, life, nature, science, philosophy and culture like no one else can. With a sharp wit and unmatched insight, Lionel cuts through media noise, exposing the lies of the powerful, questioning the status quo and challenging conventional wisdom at every turn. Whether discussing the deep state, scientific breakthroughs, cultural shifts or the meaning of life, Lionel brings you thought-provoking perspectives with passion, intelligence and humor.
Hamas terrorists brutally murdered Israeli brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas with their bare hands, Israel declared Friday — despite the terrorist group long-claiming the youngsters were killed in a targeted airstrike carried out by the Jewish state.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem signed a memo this week deputizing up to 600 State Department officials as immigration officers, as part of a government-wide push to ramp up deportations and secure the border.
Noem signed an order that deputized up to 600 special agents in the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service to help with the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants.
“Under President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security will use every tool and resource available to secure our border and get criminal illegal aliens out of our country,” Noem said in a statement. “The safety of American citizens comes first.”
The move is the latest effort by the department to expand the number of officials involved in immigration enforcement, amid a push by the Trump administration to aggressively increase the arrests and deportation of illegal immigrants.
DHS has deputized IRS employees, law enforcement components of the Justice Department and law enforcement officials with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
“It is DHS’s understanding that the Department of Treasury has qualified law enforcement personnel available to assist with immigration enforcement, especially in light of recent increases to the Internal Revenue Service’s work force and budget,” Noem said last week.
Fox News Digital reported last week that interior arrests have skyrocketed compared to the same period in 2024, while numbers of crossings of illegal immigrants at the border have continued to trend downward. According to Department of Homeland Security data, there were 11,791 interior ICE arrests from Jan. 20 to Feb. 8, compared to 4,969 during the same period in 2024. That is a 137% increase.
The administration has said it is trying to target the “worst of the worst,” focusing on criminal illegal immigrants and gang members but has also stressed that it is not ruling anyone out of contention.
Meanwhile, the administration has secured additional cooperation at the border from Mexico and Canada, as well as agreements from Venezuela and Colombia to take back their nationals.
DHS has also moved to shut down Biden-era parole programs and the use of Temporary Protected Status to allow migrants to avoid deportation. The administration is also tapping into the resources of the Pentagon by deploying the military to the border and is also using Guantanamo Bay to house illegal immigrants.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha discusses his reaction to the White House blasting critics of Elon Musk, George Clooney calling out the press for hiding Biden’s mental decline and Pete Buttigieg criticizing DEI messaging. #FoxNews
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