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
That wasn’t even all of the craziness in the interview, but you get the idea.
This left many people wondering what the point was behind all of this. Why would Hunter Biden do such a crazy sit-down with a journalist? What’s the endgame?
Here are five possible reasons behind the interview:
1. Hunter is planning to run for office.
It’s entirely possible that Hunter Biden is planning to run for some type of political office. What does he have left to capitalize on other than his last name? He wouldn’t win a presidential run, but what about a state level office in Delaware? He might actually have a shot at such a goal.
2. Hunter is putting himself out there to make Democrats pay him to go away.
This is entirely possible. No one is lining up to buy Hunter Biden’s paintings now that his family has no more influence to sell. Democrats do not want to see him doing these types of interviews because it reminds everyone of Joe Biden, who they would rather forget at this point. This might be Hunter’s way of making the party cough up some cash just to keep him out of the spotlight.
3. Hunter wants a job in media.
Was this Hunter Biden’s way of showing the producers at MSNBC that he can be as completely crazy as the rest of their on-air hosts? Does he want to be a highly paid contributor at CNN? It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
4. Hunter wants his own reality TV show.
This would make perfect sense. Can’t you imagine a format where a camera just follows Hunter Biden around the country to various seedy locations where he gets wasted and does crazy things with D-list celebrities, consuming crazy amounts of drugs and alcohol along the way? People might actually tune in to watch that show.
5. Hunter Biden is just crazy.
This is the most likely reason. It’s absolutely possible that there was no endgame at all and that Hunter just did this crazy interview because his mind has been fried by years of drug abuse.
Whatever the reason, odds are that Hunter will not be giving a primetime speech at the next Democrat National Convention. The man is a loose cannon and seems utterly off balance.
Hunter Biden is facing a lawsuit from the law firm that represented him in multiple federal legal matters, including his recent felony gun trial in Delaware, as reported by The New York Post.
The firm, Winston & Strawn LLP, alleges that President Biden’s son owes them “substantially in excess of $50,000” in unpaid legal fees and interest, according to court documents filed Monday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Apr 1, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on on April 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. In addition to the traditional egg roll and egg hunt, First Lady Jill Biden continues last year’s theme of “EGGucation” with educational activities and special performances on the South Lawn.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY
“This is a breach of contract action against Mr. Biden for unpaid legal fees,” the lawsuit states. The firm claims that despite multiple attempts to collect the outstanding balance, Hunter Biden has failed to pay the remaining amount due.
According to the filing, Hunter Biden, 55, retained the firm in December 2022 to represent him in “several complex matters,” including a criminal case in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
The firm’s services also extended to assisting Biden with congressional oversight issues, coordination with other legal teams and advisors, and guidance during the Department of Justice’s investigations.
The complaint includes a copy of the engagement letter signed by Hunter Biden on December 23, 2022. In it, the scope of work was outlined, including legal support involving both federal prosecution and congressional scrutiny.
The lawsuit specifies that while “a portion of those fees have been paid,” the remaining balance exceeds $50,000, factoring in unpaid invoices and interest accrued.
“Despite repeated requests for payment, Mr. Biden has failed to pay the amounts he owes,” the complaint reads. “This action is brought to enforce [Winston & Strawn’s] contract rights against Mr. Biden through judgment for the amount due, and lien on all Mr. Biden’s assets.”
Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; First Lady Jill Biden greets her son, Hunter Biden, as President Joe Biden’s family joins him on stage after his speech during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
The filing notes that Hunter’s lead attorney at the time, Abbe Lowell, was billing at an hourly rate of $1,510. Other attorneys and staff working on Biden’s legal matters were charging between $230 and $1,945 per hour.
Lowell has since departed from Winston & Strawn and did not respond to a request for comment.
The firm said that legal services were actively provided from March 2023 through October 2024, and that Hunter Biden never raised objections to any of the invoices issued.
“As of April 30, 2025, the outstanding amount due, when factoring in invoiced amounts and interest, is substantially in excess of $50,000,” the firm stated.
An initial hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 19.
The lawsuit follows revelations during the congressional impeachment inquiry into former President Joe Biden that Hunter’s close associate, Kevin Morris—nicknamed his “sugar brother”—had been covering various legal costs on his behalf.
In May 2024, just weeks before Hunter’s felony gun trial began, Morris reportedly told associates he was “completely tapped out” due to mounting expenses.
Hunter Biden was later convicted on three felony counts in the Delaware gun case and pleaded guilty in a separate California tax evasion case. He was pardoned by his father in December 2024, shortly before former President Joe Biden left office.
Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; President Joe Biden embraces his son Hunter Biden as he is joined on stage after his speech by First Lady Jill Biden and other family members during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY
Winston & Strawn has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.
Bishop Bud, at the Prayer Service at the start of Inauguration Day, was asking President Trump to protect gay, lesbian, and transgender children, illegal immigrants, and people who pick our crops and clean our offices at the service at the Nation Cathedral of the Episcopalian Church of the USA. This Bishop (a woman who does not know her place) is an extreme activist and WOKE socialist, and the Trump and Vance Families were subjected to all this as they sat in that Cathedral. She was preaching directly at Trump’s position. What an evil ambassador for Satan that woman is.
I have never seen such selective cherry-picked sections of the Bible and then grossly misapplied. This was Satan delivering a sermon.
“And together in a free society, it is the solid rock, as Jesus said in this case, upon which to build a nation.” A total misquote. She continued to misquote the Bible, showing she is devoid of any biblical comprehension. My question is, “Who arranged that this service was to be held where it was, and who arranged this woman to do it?”
She then went on at length to speak about UNITY that respects our differences and to hold multiple perspectives and life experiences as valid. This is the old inclusion garbage over again where you hold to every distorted anti-biblical position in the name of conformity and unity. This Bishop claimed we must embrace all these “deviant positions” (my words) so that we can genuinely care for one another.
This woman is Satan’s voice in the Anglican/Episcopalian church, and it shows how far the so-called Christian testimony has sunk in our day. Biblical acceptance by God’s true saints rejects all this wicked false teaching in the churches. I will end this section here, but it is covered in this link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ5OXf2kqdw. What is good here in this video are the comments, and they are worth reading.
PRE-EMPTIVE PARDONS
President Biden was signing these apparently when Trump gave a speech right at the very, very end of his term so he would not face questioning. He has pardoned all his family members and Cheney and Milley and other criminals who would have faced prosecution but now will not. A President can pardon someone convicted, but a pre-emptive pardon has never been issued in the US history of Presidents. The person is pardoned before the criminal charge is made.
It all goes to show how guilty these people are, or else they would not need pardons. Biden and Harris are just so criminally corrupt that I am surprised God did not step in to condemn them while in office. Harris spent her 4 years touring the USA for one purpose only – to institute the murder of the unborn up to the day of birth. She worships Molech. Biden is a practicing criminal, in my mind, as I look at all that has emerged. Both are anti-Israel. That we know, and they rest with the curse of God on them. Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse. In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
What is wrong with the United States in its high offices of governance and the judiciary? It is all so corrupted. I can write as an outsider because I am not American, and I know some dismiss me because of that fact. That is sad, for I am still a child of God.
It is about time that many in the USA come to realize that is not THE WORLD, and much exists outside the USA and is just as legitimate and valid. We sit back and wonder how some of your rules and institutions exist. None of us can understand how a President can bypass law and justice and pardon whoever he wishes. It flies in the face of decency and fairness.
In pardoning others, Biden has condemned himself. Not only he and Hunter are criminally involved in crooked deals, but when one pardons criminals, then he will bear their guilt as well.
Issuing pre-emptive pardons even before a trial of any sort is like Satan issuing a pre-emptive pardon for Judas Iscariot and Haman of Persia and for Herod the Great so that they never go before the great white throne. Why not include General Titus, who murdered about a million Jews in AD 70? Man’s justice is not God’s justice.
TRUMP’S SPEECH
How refreshing that was to hear what is absolute common sense. His speech will raise eyebrows all over, of course, because we have gone so far down the path of sin and stupidity, but 100 years ago, his speech would have been accepted as normal.
I only hope that the USA can implement what is proposed. In Australia, we are so far down the road of socialism and anti-Semitism and hatred for our nation, with all politicians not willing to upset the apple cart, that we will not see this refreshing start again that Trump is proposing. Godlessness rules Australia today, as in the UK and all of Europe.
I am so glad Trump confirmed just two genders – Matthew 19:4 He answered and said, “Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female.” God has given us science and scientific principles that run the universe. One of those is DNA. A male has Y-DNA, and a female has mtDNA (mitochondrial). It is as simple as that. No argument. One or the other.
Satan is the promoter of confusion, and those in his camp who are far off from God will push for every distortion possible. We have a deeply confused world. All that WOKE stuff of the last two decades has radicals calling the shots, and in some nations, politicians are scared of them such as we have in my nation. I am glad to see some in the USA are being forceful for what is right and speaking out. I know this is because the United States has a stronger Christian base than Australia and Europe. We have very little. 1% may be born again.
ENTRENCHMENT
Entrenchment is the problem we are going to face in the coming days. We battle against godlessness and wickedness in high places, but it is so firmly entrenched that we wonder how the chains can be broken. Personally, I do not think these chains will be broken. Trump might be able to paint them white, but they are still chains. King Josiah was so godly, but the people remained wicked. And when we read Jeremiah, we see how nothing from Josiah or Jeremiah made any difference to Judah.
I have said a few times now that Trump is the last chance the USA has to return to God and the Rapture is so close. Trump’s agenda is urgent with so much to do. Clearly, the line between what is right and wrong will be evident, so if men and women do not repent, then the time for that is almost ended, and judgment awaits. No other option exists.
In very recent days, Congress voted on the Bill to stop transgender men from participating in women’s sports and breaking all the women’s sporting records. This is another devilish evil and distortion. We are speaking about entrenchment here. The result of the vote was this:
Supporting the Bill to abolish transgender men participating in women’s sports – Republicans 216 for and 0 against. 2 Democrats supported the Bill.
Opposing the Bill (that is, to allow transgender participation in women’s sports) – 206 Democrats. You can see how evil the Democrats are. The heart of the Democrats is black, for it resides in hell. That is not to say Republicans are angels! Far from it.
I think those of us who reside outside the USA are better informed than the general person in the US. I believe that is because we have more open News outlets and a more informed public, even though US pride may not like me saying that. I only hope Trump might be able to change your News Outlets because they are awful. CNN, MSNBC, ABC and all the rest. Our ABC in Australia, 100% taxpayer funded, is Marxist and disgraceful, but no political Party will change it. The Labor Party loves it, as do the Communist Greens, and the Liberal Party is too scared to change it.
People in the USA, stand up for your rights! I am glad to see you have more freedom than we have. Cherish it. Christians, get the message out and do it quickly because the time is short. I am so glad to see Trump will stop the rise of Islam and cut off these gangs and traitorous acts against your own people. The Australian Government (Labor Party) is importing all these Palestinians into the nation, and they are protesting and rioting here just like in France and the UK. The Labor Party has given about 100 million dollars to the Palestinian Authority, and that was channeled into Hamas weapons.
It will be very difficult to break entrenched practices in any of our nations. There are destructive people in the world like Newsom and Albanese and Starmer and Marcon, Putin and Xi. Only God can break entrenchment, but I think the time of spiritual prosperity for the West has gone. We are in the days of reprobation. This is my idea. You might think differently. I won’t mind.
In spite of the elation at Trump’s success, it must be remembered that around half the nation voted Democrat and hold to the ideals of the left. This is similar in a number of the world’s nations.
I watched some of the hearings that were going on for Trump’s selections for office, especially the disgraceful way Pam Bondi was treated. What I saw was a deep nastiness, a wickedness that permeated from the Democrat questioning, hate and attitude, especially from people like Senators Adam Schiff and Hirono from Hawaii.
Every decent person wants Trump to succeed, but remember this verse – Luke 11:17 “but He knew their thoughts, and said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a house divided against itself falls.’” Failure will come for all man’s kingdoms sooner or later. We look forward to the Millennial Kingdom over which the Lord rules from Jerusalem. Do you know that could be as little as 7 years away?
RETURNING TO BIDEN
In Trump’s inauguration speech, he laid to rest the 4 failed years of Biden and Harris, and they sat only a few meters from him and had to listen to all of the reviews. Their failure was declared in public, and it served them right. They must have been squirming. Franklin Graham’s prayer did the same thing.
The USA has had some bad Presidents through history, but Biden would be the worst. He takes the cake. In every category you examine, Biden has been a failure and, in my opinion, even traitorous. But look at Security, Gender, Abortion, Defense, Lying (even about not pardoning his son), Vindictive (lawsuits against Trump), and hatred for Israel shared with Cackling Harris.
I watched a very good video by Ted Cruz that outlined the ways Biden’s policies were meant to undermine Israel. He was working for Israel’s ruin. Harris refused to meet with Netanyahu when he visited the USA. Marco Rubio filled in more on Israel’s lack of support from the USA. Ted Cruz did not hold back, and I like that about him. Trump, it is said, by moderate commentators, will be the best President ever for the support of Israel.
There are some good people Trump has put into office. I am really impressed with Pam Bondi. I do not know if any of these appointees are Christians. I have not been able to check that.
I hope this makes some sense. I am recovering from a major sinus and septum operation 2 days ago and not thinking clearly and bleeding as I do this, but I wanted to get this away while it is still topical. I hope it is logical.
Trump Goes All-In on Executive Orders Douglas Andrews His more than 200 executive actions will yield quick and much-needed results, but only legislation will bring permanence to his policies.
A New Sheriff at the Border Michael Swartz Donald Trump enters office with a crisis to solve, but he has a plan.
Trump Challenges Birthright Citizenship Thomas Gallatin His executive order to end the practice of granting citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens will likely rise all the way to the Supreme Court.
Now, the Hard Part Jack DeVine Watching the most extraordinary political upheaval in my lifetime — and perhaps in American history — unfold in real time.
Trump Tackles Censorship Brian Mark Weber Another executive order deals with how government interfaces with Big Tech.
CNN Loses Defamation Suit Thomas Gallatin A U.S. Navy veteran who was smeared by the Leftmedia outlet as profiting from desperate Afghans sets the record straight.
Trump Vows to Rescue TikTok Douglas Andrews In the wake of a resounding 9-0 Supreme Court decision, Donald Trump threw the Chinese spyware app a lifeline.
Non Compos Mentis “Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. … In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, wadara, and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.” —Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde Useful Idiot “I just voted against the Laken Riley Act. This bill won’t accomplish its goals. I’m disappointed in its passage as it stands, and I’m deeply concerned about how it will be implemented.” —Senator Dick Durbin Dumb & Dumber “How Labeling Cartels ‘Terrorists’ Could Hurt the U.S. Economy.” —The New York Times “Undocumented Women Ask: Will My Unborn Child Be a Citizen?” —The New York Times “We are on the eve of an authoritarian administration. This is what 21st-century fascism is starting to look like.” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “The failed war on drugs has ruined lives, broken up families and decimated communities. Everyday Americans have been aggressively prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for nonviolent offenses. Thank you President Biden for commuting thousands of these sentences.” —House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Circling the Wagons “I was not offended by Biden pardoning his family. … We know that this administration is a vengeful one. … I think we need to show Joe Biden some grace.” —”The View” co-host Sunny Hostin Non Sequitur “So on the question of the dealing of Elon Musk, I had a lot of things to comment in the past because he was discussing a lot about Europe. And just to repeat what I already said, we have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany. Everyone can say what he wants even if he is a billionaire. And what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme-right positions.” —German Chancellor Olaf Scholz not understanding free speech The BIG Lie “The United States is in a stronger, more secure position [than four years ago].” —National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
The Biden Crime Family is real and Joe Biden proved that when he preemptively pardoned members of his family who participated in his influence-peddling scheme.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republican lawmakers are going to investigate Joe Biden’s family pardons.
After pardoning his son Hunter, Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to five members of his family: Sister Valerie Biden, her husband John Owens, brother Jim Biden, brother Frank Biden, sister-in-law Sara Biden.
Johnson said GOP lawmakers are going to look into the pardons.
“They call it the Biden crime family, if they weren’t the crime family why do they need pardons? We will be looking at it as well.”
WATCH:
SPEAKER JOHNSON SAYS THEY WILL LOOK INTO BIDEN PARDONING FAMILY
“They call it the Biden crime family, if they weren’t the crime family why do they need pardons? We will be looking at it as well.”
Joe Biden made millions of dollars selling his public office to the highest bidder.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer previously identified the NINE Bidens who were implicated in the corruption.
“Bank records show the Biden family, their associates, and their companies received over $10 million from foreign nationals and their companies,” Comer said.
“Joe Biden’s son. Joe Biden’s brother. Joe Biden’s brother’s wife. Hunter Biden’s girlfriend/Beau Biden’s widow, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife. Hunter Biden’s current wife. And 3 children of the president’s son and the president’s brother. So we’re talking about grandchildren – a grandchild. That’s odd. Most people that work hard every day a grandchild doesn’t get a wire from a foreign national,” Comer said.
“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” —Thomas Jefferson (1809)
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Birthright EO blocked: As expected, a federal judge temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s executive order denying American citizenship to children born in the U.S. to illegal aliens. Calling Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional,” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour scoffed, “Where were the lawyers when this decision was being made? … I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar would state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order.” While Coughenour may see this as unconstitutional, it is far from clear that it is. To the contrary, the notion that the progeny of those who blatantly broke our nation’s laws would be rewarded with citizenship was not the original intent of the 14th Amendment. From a policy standpoint, granting birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens has only exacerbated the problem of illegal immigration. Far from this being an open and shut case, as the judge presumes, this issue will likely wind its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
An upstanding Obama-supporting noncitizen gently rebukes Trump: The beleaguered Democrat Party got a full-throated endorsement yesterday, but it was — how shall we say this? — not exactly the kind of endorsement upon which one rebuilds a badly tarnished brand. “I’m not going back to Haiti!” shouted a newly detained illegal immigrant from Haiti, who ICE says is a gang member with 17 criminal convictions in recent years. He wasn’t done, though: “F*** Trump! You feel me? Yo, Biden forever, bro! Thank Obama, for everything he did for me, bro!” Trump will likely be undeterred. This guy was just one of many miscreants who’ve already been rounded up. In other illegal immigration news, officials in Pima County, Arizona, announced that they’re shutting down two migrant shelters due to the sudden, er, dearth of customers. Asked on Fox News about the pace of Trump’s deportation initiative, newly sworn-in Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, who this week introduced a bill that cracks down on phony asylum claims, said, “I think we’re going to get to probably a goal of around a million people by the end of this year.”
Trump gives gun, drug agents deportation power (WSJ)
Is the Trump love getting ridiculous? It’s perhaps not surprising that Republicans are tripping over themselves to win the favor of Donald Trump, such is his juggernautishness. But are things getting out of hand? Consider freshman Congressman Addison McDowell, who this week introduced a bill to rename DC’s Dulles International Airport the Donald J. Trump International Airport. (Congressman Guy Reschenthaler beat McDowell to the punch, having introduced an identical measure last April.) Meanwhile, Tennessee’s Andy Ogles proposed a constitutional amendment stating that presidents can serve three terms as long as the first two aren’t sequential. This, of course, has zero chance of winning two-thirds of both houses and three-fourths of the states. On the other hand, no less a historian than Newt Gingrich offered this observation last night: “I think, clearly, President Trump now is moving to be one of the most consequential presidents in American history. I think, frankly, just below Washington and Lincoln, but certainly he’ll end up in the same league with Jefferson, Jackson, and Roosevelt.” So perhaps trading “Dulles” for “Trump” isn’t as ridiculous as all that.
Bishop who lectured Trump launches media tour (Fox News)
Trump taps Brent Bozell to lead U.S. Agency for Global Media (The Hill)
Kamala calls Clinton to cope: The only two women in American history to run for the U.S. presidency atop one of the two major political party tickets — and both having lost to the same man, Donald Trump — have been commiserating since the election. After Kamala Harris was thumped by Trump, she reached out to Hillary Clinton seeking advice on how to handle moving forward. While Clinton has not sought political office since her ignominious defeat, Harris is rumored to be considering a run for the California governorship in 2026 or possibly another run at the White House in 2028. But she also is said to be weighing whether she should just hang up her political career entirely. She is, after all, not very good at this.
Humor: 10 things found by Trump’s team when cleaning out the White House (Babylon Bee)
Woke ATF plays Whac-a-Mole with DEI: Donald Trump’s denunciation of the Left’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion virus has sent shockwaves through the DC bureaucracy, which is itself thoroughly infected. Responding to Trump’s executive order ending DEI, the editors at National Review write, “It is no mere public relations statement but a long and carefully drafted order that, if upheld and properly executed, will eliminate the blight of racially preferential treatment in the federal government.” Apparently, though, the woke folks at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have other ideas. As The Daily Caller reports, “The ATF changed Chief Diversity Officer Lisa Boykin’s official title to simply ‘senior executive’ under the office of the director as late as Thursday, according to archives of the agency’s official leadership page.” Obviously, DEI won’t die easily. One wonders what these underlings within the executive branch don’t understand about executive orders or about this one’s particular language: “Individual dignity, hard work, and excellence are fundamental to American greatness.”
Netanyahu defends Musk against “Nazi salute” smear: It seems the only thing that’s been able to blunt Donald Trump’s unequivocally spectacular inauguration week has been a case of friendly fire — that of Elon Musk’s wildly exuberant and oddly Nazi-like salute during one of Monday’s inauguration events. Many of those who’ve watched Musk’s occasionally eccentric behavior over the years immediately sensed that he was baiting the Left. After all, he has a weapons-grade troll game. But even if he was, it was a needless distraction from all of Trump’s momentum. Musk is no Nazi, of course. As he put it, he’s now been accused of being both a Nazi and a Zionist. In any case, he posted a note of contrition, and yesterday, he received support from a deeply credible source. “Elon is a great friend of Israel,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state.”
Satire: Liberals briefly pause chanting “Death to Israel” to call Elon Musk a Nazi (Babylon Bee)
Humor: 12 horrifying Nazi symbols from Trump’s inauguration (Babylon Bee)
Trump accuses Russia of stealing hypersonic missile plans: Donald Trump is ramping up the pressure on Vladimir Putin, accusing Russia of stealing U.S. hypersonic missile plans. During his recent interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Trump claimed in reference to supersonic missiles, “Russia stole the design; they got it from us.” He added that “some bad person gave them the design” back during the Obama administration while asserting that the U.S. will soon have super hypersonic missiles, “which is even a step better.” Trump made a similar claim early on the campaign trail in 2023, saying Russia stole “super-duper missile” plans, a charge the Kremlin denied at the time, saying, “We have our own missile, an excellent one.” Trump is clearly setting up a strategy of deterrence with Putin in the early stages of working to end Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
Trump strips Mike Pompeo’s security detail (Newsweek)
Labor Department fires former Harris aide: A former Joe Biden White House official and member of Kamala Harris’s transition team who attempted to “burrow” herself into the Labor Department’s non-political workforce following the election has been fired. “Elizabeth Peña was terminated,” stated an unnamed individual familiar with the situation. “The Administration is actively working to ensure no other political operatives from the Biden-Harris administration were secretly burrowed into the government.” Peña, who has a long record promoting leftist policies, was part of an effort by the Biden administration to plant operatives deep into the Washington bureaucracy with a clear political agenda. Furthermore, she specifically worked within the Biden administration to recruit and position political operatives across the government. Following the election, it appears that Biden’s Labor Department created this three-year “term” position — with a $153,354 annual salary — specifically for Peña. The Daily Wire “found that hers was the only position of its type to use a ‘term’ rather than permanent status.” However, a permanent position for that job existed, which just happened to be eliminated the same month. The Trump administration is working to locate and root out similarly embedded political operatives.
Trump tells Davos elite to invest in U.S. or face tariffs (Newsweek)
Trump orders release of JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination records (AP)
Donald Trump may have moderated on the abortion issue during the presidential campaign after the electoral pushback Republicans endured after Roe v. Wade was overturned, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with the pro-life movement. He showed as much by pardoning 23 pro-lifers unjustly targeted by Joe Biden’s Two-Tiered Justice Department.
Yesterday, I criticized Trump’s pardons of the violent J6ers because he failed to distinguish them from the nonviolent grandmothers who were unjustly prosecuted for wandering the halls of Congress. The pro-life pardons, like those for nonviolent protesters, are praiseworthy.
In fact, it’s largely for the same reason. Biden’s Justice Department weaponized the law against certain conservatives for political reasons. For January 6, that meant indicting as many people as possible to bolster the Insurrection™ narrative. As for pro-lifers, the DOJ targeted them to inspire the rabidly pro-abortion ranks of those voting for the “good Catholic” Biden.
Biden used the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act to intimidate and punish protesters for doing heinous things like … singing hymns and praying outside abortion clinics or talking to women looking to enter those clinics. In the case of Mark Houck, who was eventually acquitted, the DOJ targeted him for pushing another man who threatened his young son outside an abortion clinic.
Some of these pardoned protesters did indeed briefly block access to a facility infamous for performing late-term abortions, but they’ve got nothing on the typical left-wing hooligan screaming obscenities or holding vulgar signs in public places, much less the BLM rioters burning and looting in American cities and facing no punishment whatsoever. The pro-lifers’ real “crime” is that they oppose abortion, the Left’s foremost sacrament.
Evidence of this politicization can be found in the fact that the DOJ didn’t bother to prosecute pro-abortion fanatics who vandalized pro-life clinics or churches or threatened people for not supporting the “right” to kill an unborn child.
Here’s how The Washington Post framed the pardons on X: “President Donald Trump granted pardons Thursday to 23 people who were convicted of blocking access to reproductive health clinics, fulfilling another campaign promise to reward political supporters who have run afoul of the law.”
I suppose that’s one way to put it, but the law in question is an arguably unconstitutional abomination, most often used to silence the free speech rights of pro-life activists.
Democrats passed and Bill Clinton signed the FACE Act in 1994, and their objective has become even more evident in the years since. According to The Daily Wire, “The FACE Act was supposed to protect both churches and clinics, but the law has almost exclusively been used to prosecute pro-lifers. Data obtained by [Texas Republican Congressman Chip] Roy shows that 97% of FACE Act cases brought by the Justice Department have been against pro-life Americans.”
Roy and Senator Mike Lee introduced legislation to repeal the FACE Act this week.
Trump’s pardon language focused on free speech, saying the pardons are for 23 “peaceful pro-life protesters who were prosecuted by the Biden administration for exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The Thomas More Society represented the individuals involved. Peter Breen, executive vice president of the firm, said, “Today is a new day for the pardoned pro-life advocates who have suffered FBI raids, federal prosecutions, and severe punishment for peacefully and courageously witnessing for life. We thank President Trump for keeping his promise to these pro-life mothers, fathers, grandparents, pastors, and priests.”
In related news in Congress, Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to prevent passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. It does just what it says — provides legal protection for an infant born alive after an unsuccessful abortion attempt. It happens far more often than anyone on the Left cares to admit. The House passed it yesterday, 220-210, with one “present” vote. Democrats have so far blocked it in the Senate, though Republicans will likely keep trying.
The irony is that such legislation wouldn’t be necessary if the U.S. weren’t among the seven nations in the world that allow late-term abortion. Most nations in Europe allow abortion only in the first trimester — before viability outside the womb.
Finally, the 52nd annual March for Life is being held today, and Vice President JD Vance will speak publicly for the first time since taking office.
Douglas Andrews: Davos: DJT Tells It Like It Is — During his address to attendees at the World Economic Forum, Donald Trump left no doubt that the United States is back in business.
Brian Mark Weber: Trump Tackles Censorship — Another executive order deals with how government interfaces with Big Tech.
The Left’s Post-Election Come-to-Jesus Moment — Victor Davis Hanson discusses the significant media and public opinion shifts following the November 5 presidential election through the inauguration.
DEI Must DIE — Are toys racist? David Johnson had never thought about it when he landed his dream job at a major toy company. Then he encountered DEI, and everything changed.
Why the Green Agenda Really Failed — Alex Epstein and Jordan B. Peterson discuss the net-zero agenda, why it should have failed to begin with, and why it’s failing only now.
“We really have to stop that war. That war is horrible. And I’m not talking … economics, I’m not talking about natural resources. I’m just talking about — there’s so many young people being killed in this war.” —Donald Trump during a lengthy Q&A session after his World Economic Forum address
“I think the thing you’ll see about Ukraine is that far more people have died than is being reported. … When you look at a city that has become a demolition site, where big buildings have been collapsed by missiles. … and they say, ‘One person was slightly injured’ … that’s not true.” —Donald Trump
Political Futures
“Through his actions of eliminating governmental corruption, reinstating in-person employment and withdrawing from international organizations and agreements, Trump is showing that he has evolved into a seasoned veteran. Agree with him or not, he now knows exactly what he can do, and he’s ready to take action.” —Armstrong Williams
“For half a century, America has had Republican administrations filled with people terrified to fulfill their electoral mandates. That pattern has ended.” —Charlie Kirk
Belly Laugh of the Day
“Donald Trump has shown he is unfit for political office by fulfilling his promises and doing exactly what he said he would do.” —Babylon Bee satirist Kyle Mann
Upright
“If we are to resurrect the American Republic, we must secure our God-given Natural Right to be citizens, not subjects, which is the premise of the Second Amendment. And it is great that we have President Trump, but our fight is at the state, and municipal level, especially major urban centers.” —Allen West
“Under the Trump administration there will be no better place on earth to create jobs, build factories, or grow a company than right here in the good old USA.” —Donald Trump
“Some things matter more than victory and some of those things include the integrity of sport and in this case objective reality.” —Riley Gaines on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
Good Riddance
“An illegal alien with 17 criminal convictions really hates President Trump for sending him back to Haiti. He’s grateful to Biden for letting him come here. I’m glad we’re deporting him.” —JD Vance
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
“I can find no evidence that Bishop Budde has preached sermons asking for mercy for the victims of criminal illegal aliens. Where is her mercy for American workers of all races whose wages are undercut by illegal aliens?” —Gary Bauer
“Has Trump already taken more questions this week than Biden did in 4 years? He’s gotta be getting close.” —Tim Young
Re: The Left
“Democrats purport to be obsessed with threats to ‘democracy,’ but they tend to go into full obstruction mode when democracy actually threatens to break out.” —John Hinderaker
“My Democratic colleagues and many members of the media will start calling us, particularly the president, crazy. They said the same thing about Noah, and then the rains came — and all the fact-checkers drowned.” —Senator John Kennedy
“The left should be advised to have a nice hot cup of STHU (shut the heck up) commenting on J6 pardons and commutations after Biden’s dubious pardons of his crime syndicate family and preemptive pardons…not to mention the countless violent criminals.” —Allen West
“Trump is racist for not having more blacks at his inauguration. But blacks who appeared at his inauguration are sellouts. Trump can’t win.” —Larry Elder
And Last
“The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi.” —Elon Musk
President Trump delivered a massive win on Thursday when he announced pardons for 23 pro-life activists who were prosecuted by the Biden Administration. Trump’s executive action was a major win for the pro-life movement and relief for those incarcerated.
According to Smash The FACE, these are some of the people who were pardoned:
Lauren Handy: 57 months…………….FCI Tallahassee – Release Date 08/16/2027(Pardoned)
Jonathan Darnel: 34 months……….FCI Thomson – Release Date 02/11/2026 (Pardoned)
Joan Bell: 27 months…………………….FDC Philadelphia – Release Date 06/30/2025 (Pardoned)
Will Goodman: 27 months……………FCI Danbury Prison – Release Date 07/04/2025(Pardoned)
Herb Geraghty: 27 months……………FDC Philadelphia – Release Date 07/24/2025 (Pardoned)
Jean Marshall: 24 months……………..Released to halfway house
Heather Idoni: 24 months……………..Livingston County Jail – Sentencing early 2025 (Pardoned)
John Hinshaw: 21 months……………..FMC Devens – Release Date 02/24/2025 (Pardoned)
Paulette Harlow: …………………………….Still in Home Detention (Pardoned)
Calvin Zastrow: 6 months………………FCI Thomson – Release Date 04/08/2025 (Pardoned)
Bevelyn Williams: 41 months…………FCI Aliceville – Release Date Unknown (Pardoned)
Steve LeFamine: 2 months…………….. FCI WILLIAMSBURG – Released 11/14/2024
Conclusion
There were a number of pro-life abolitionist who refused to vote for Trump for not being sufficiently pro-life but Trump’s pardon of the movement’s activists justified the Trump pro-life vote.
MALIBU, CA — Hunter Biden looked visibly troubled this week as sales for his paintings plummeted by approximately 100%.
“You said these were masterpieces!” cried a forlorn Hunter Biden to his handler. “How come all of a sudden no one wants my colored glass blocks that I put in a little spiral? I worked so hard on this.”
Art director Stefan Wilminstein, who reportedly discovered how much attention Biden’s work was getting among foreign leaders, says that Biden’s career is likely finished. “Zero sales in the last week. We used to get billions of dollars from art lovers all over Ukraine and China. Now, nothing. I just don’t understand it.”
According to sources, Biden has fallen into a deep depression and begun lamenting his life as a tortured artist. “Oh, I am slain!” Biden said during a particular soliloquy. “Shall I only find fame in death like the great ones of old? Oh! But the colors! I put colors on the canvas and yet the world is color blind! My life is over!”
All future exhibitions of Biden’s work have been canceled. The Georges Bergès Gallery, which previously presented his work, was unable to comment on the art’s sudden depreciation because the gallery’s director was on vacation in Ukraine, a place he calls “the Hawaii of the east.”
At publishing time, Hunter Biden had announced that he was going to give up cocaine until he sold another piece of his art.
Meet John Larson, a paraplegic firefighter who is breaking barriers with the LAFD.
Biden looking as confused as ever waves from his plane.
Only willful ignorance denies the redundancy of historical principles. As I have previously observed, “History is unerring, redundant and unforgiving.” Delusional politicians always think they are immune to this principle. They think history does not apply to them because they are ignorant of history.
Events of the Biden/Harris Administration that were urged and supported by the Democrat Party provide an illustration of ruinous political overreach. This was prompted by a delusional philosophy and ruled by iron-fisted arrogance.
This exposure reveals the Democrat Party’s soul—it is calloused to the welfare of the citizen, brazenly criminal in its lawfare, and consumed with selfishness as its Party leaders recline in splendor, feasting on only the best and, issuing mandates for the citizens’ depravation of life while the ruling “Ds” are exempt from these absurdities.
This flagrant criminality of the Democrat Party is fully exposed in the last days of the Biden/Harris administration. THOUSANDS have received pardons and commutations for the most egregious anti-social behavior. This exposes all “Ds”! The electorate now sees the real Democrat Party’s philosophy. It is a philosophy that is anti-social, anti-Law, anti-public. It is a philosophy consumed with selfish personalities determined to rule or “burn it all down.”
Mark Penn, associated with Clinton’s Administration, observed, “With these pardons, Joe Biden has put Democrats and the media in an impossible position. This will be thrown in their faces for years to come.” This is truth.
The legacy of the Democrat Party is now anchored in civilization’s chronicles. If you are a member of the Democrat Party, this is who you are for future generations to read!
The Democrat Party now sits in the company of Atilla and his inhumanities, with King Leopold II and his horrors in the Congo, with other miscreants of history (Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, etc.).
Let the electorate accept this fact about the “Ds” and remember their egregious behavior in the 2026 elections!
History is repeating itself with the pardons/commutations of Biden’s last 30 minutes in office.
Many illustrations can be provided but let me suggest an essay by Graham Land, “8 Convicted Nazi War Criminals Who Got Off Easy.” The article focuses attention on the way evil perpetrators were not held accountable.
There were war crimes and crimes against humanity including slave labor, medical malfeasance, racial cleansing, military figures, executions, hostage taking, imprisonment, torture, deployment of mobile death squads and corrupt government ministers. These were responsible for wholesale enslavement, plunder, and murder. The Nazi war criminals were convicted of monstrous acts, yet some served only a few years before their sentences were commuted or they received pardons for economic or political reasons.
History’s chronicles have not been kind to the “easy” treatment of heinous criminals. These were allowed to go unpunished and their crimes shrugged off.
History’s chronicles now adds to man’s arrogance the “Ds” shocking pardons/commutations that were flagrantly exercised in the last minutes of the Biden/Harris administration.
Will the electorate of our Republic forget this scandalous behavior in future election cycles? Will the nation hold the Democrat Party accountable for its elitism? America, do you approve of the “Ds” living above the law that they penalize you for breaking?
History redundantly records the unraveling of great Empires when the Rule of Law is ignored by the ruling Elite. Victimized by the Elite’s arrogance, the nation’s civility, security, and strength are compromised.
The arrogance of the Elite deludes them into thinking they are in total charge; that they are in an unassailable position. Their arrogance blinds them to their precarious position.
Among the many illustrations of arrogant politicians/bureaucrats is one from the Persian Empire (The Bible, the Book of Esther). This historic anecdote should strike fear in the hearts of all POLS IF they have any sensitivity remaining in their soul.
An entrenched bureaucrat was evilly ambitious, selfishly conniving, and diabolically biased. His name was “Haman.” He was politically connected. His position gave him unlimited command and control to pursue his agenda. His hatred drove him to genocide. So smug was he that he had high gallows built for his political enemy. His scheme was activated. The government was manipulated. His scheme seemed perfect. But, in one of the most amazing historical ironies, Haman was hung on his own gallows for all to see! (Esther 7:10) The political intrigue, evil maneuvering, and manipulation destroyed the one who had put all into motion.
The current political maneuverings by the D’s via the Biden/Harris last minute pardons and commutations, remind me of Hayman’s Gallows. These have been focused only on pursuing their arrogance and lawfare. Their evil obfuscations are documented. Their insidious arrogance is exposed. They built gallows to hang high all who opposed them. Now, history’s narrative will hang them high on the gallows they constructed for their political enemies. The evil has not abated as it continues seeking to disrupt the overwhelming electorate’s decision in November.
Do not think this exposure is only a momentary blip. Penn’s words will haunt the Democrat Party, “With these pardons, Joe Biden has put Democrats and the media in an impossible position. This will be thrown in their faces for years to come.”
The payday for evil politicking will continue. I am reminded of this fable: There was a farmer whose neighbor was an atheist. The atheist said, “Tell you what. You plant your crops and work your field 6 days a week, taking Sundays off to worship God. I’ll work my field 7 days a week and in the fall we’ll see who has the biggest crop.” When October came and the crops were gathered in, the atheist dropped by to see the results. Sure enough, his harvest was larger than the Christian’s. “What do you say now?” he sneered. The Christian replied, “God doesn’t settle all His accounts in October.”
History validates that all accounts are not instantly settled. Those who perpetrated evil will be long remembered. The national uproar regarding the malfeasance of Biden’s pardons/commutations will linger. Every “D” is identified with this duplicity!
What about those receiving Biden’s pardons? At least four points beg attention.
First, as Grant Stinchfield observes, one accepting a pardon admits guilt of that for which the pardon forgives. Thus, all pardoned by Biden ARE guilty. They admit guilt to what. They declare their guilt for what.
Second, exactly WHAT crimes are pardoned? Is this a total absolution for every crime?
Third, what recourse can appeal to justice’s vindication? Do pardons eliminate civil suits as a means of serving justice? What civil actions can be taken against those pleading guilty, so justice is served?
Fourth, a most intriguing query asks, to what degree does mental acuity factor in these pardons. Does one have to “be of sound mind” for the pardon to be effective? Can one be demented and give a pardon? Addressing this point is an article from Real Clear Politics: The Moment Speaker Mike Johnson Knew Biden Wasn’t “In Charge” Anymore. Speaker Johnson, “It occurred to me…He genuinely did not know what he had signed. I walked out of that meeting with fear and loathing because I thought, We’re in serious trouble. Who is running the country? I don’t know who put the paper in front of him, but he didn’t know.” If Biden was not “in sound mind” to know what he was signing, how valid is anything he signed?
Do not forget that history is “unerring, redundant and unforgiving.” Politicians fail to accept this truth. They leave behind a historic legacy that brings shame and inescapable judgment. The Democrats, Republicans, Deep State Bureaucrats, and all who profit from unethical and immoral politics will face Haman’s Gallows. In the end they will be exposed as Fools. The electorate must never forget this fact! Putting Haman’s Gallows into perspective is this wisdom, “The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, but is terror to the evildoers” (The Bible, Proverbs 21:15).
Just hours before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, Joe Biden gave sweeping pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Army General Mark Milley, and members of the Democrat-run January 6 committee. These pardons offer convincing evindence that these individuals engaged in wrongdoing, and their acceptance of these pardons are evidence that they admit that they are guilty.
This article from The Federalist is by Beth Brelje, and she has a very direct headline: “Mentally Incompetent Biden Confirms Guilt Of J6 Committee, Fauci, Milley With Last-Minute Pardons”.
It says:
To be pardoned for a crime, there must be a crime. None of the people on this list have been charged for the awful ways they harmed people in their official capacities.
[…]As The Federalist’s Tristan Justice recently reported, during the hearings, “Cheney started coordinating with ex-White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson using the encrypted Signal app to circumvent Hutchinson’s attorney, Stefan Passantino. Hutchinson suddenly went from a benign fact-witness without much to offer Jan. 6 investigators to the committee’s breakout star, offering outlandish testimony about then-President Trump attempting to violently hijack a vehicle from his Secret Service detail so he could personally riot at the Capitol.”
So which is it? Award-winning behavior, or a crime? She tampered with a witness and tainted the facts presented to the American people.
Sounds like a crime, and with this preemptive pardon, Biden proves he thinks so too — a crime vulnerable to investigation that would lead to charges. It could be no other reason.
What about Milley? What crime did he commit?
Milley was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the top dog during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, which saw 13 soldiers die, hundreds of Americans stranded, and millions of dollars’ worth of military equipment abandoned.
Heads did not roll. Instead, the White House characterized the withdrawal as a success.
Under Milley’s leadership, the military went woke, embracing LGBTQ issues and placed racial equity above military readiness. Federalist writer Jordan Boyd reported in 2021 how, the day before the withdrawal, Milley was in a Senate a hearing explaining that he wanted to understand “white rage.”
The book, “Peril,” claimed that after Jan. 6, Milley called his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Li Zuocheng, and allegedly told him the “American government is stable” and promised the U.S. would not attack and that the Chinese would be warned first.
With the last-minute pardon, Biden finally admits the withdrawal was a crime. But he robs the U.S. of the justice that comes from accountability. It is not surprising; Biden is good at bad exits, a BBC report said.
Another article from The Federalist, by Jordan Boyd, goes into the details on why Fauci needs a pardon:
The evidence overwhelming indicates Fauci played a large role in funding the Wuhan lab where the deadly virus originated and also worked overtime to subvert information about the viral leak that killed millions of people worldwide.
Biden’s pardon for Facui notably extends back to Jan. 1, 2014. It was around that same time that NIAID’s parent agency, the National Institutes of Health, claimed it ceased funding for the gain-of-function research (GOF) “involving influenza, SARS, and MERS viruses.” GOF involves extracting viruses from the wild and engineering them to infect humans to study potential therapeutics. Just three years later, GOF was eligible for taxpayer funding again.
Fauci not only supported GOF research of coronaviruses like Covid-19, but he also devoted taxpayer funding to it — specifically in the form of a $600,000 five-year annual grant through the EcoHealth Alliance for work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Then he lied about the research’s existence to Congress.
As early as February 2020, Fauci knew the signs of Covid-19’s creation and origin pointed to the Wuhan lab. He also knew from a 2020 Federalist article that masking was ineffective, flip-flopped on the importance of in-person schooling, nuked the herd immunity strategies in favor of deadly lockdowns, and pushed for a forced jab proven not to prevent infection.
Instead of informing Americans of these facts, Fauci colluded with federal government players like the CIA, the Department of State, and the Biden White House to downplay the truth about the virus. He also turned a blind eye when corporate media and Big Tech censors used their power in the public square to defame and deplatform those who dissented from the regime’s Covid response.
Fauci opted for ineffective and even harmful Covid-19 policies that made him and his agency millions. Shortly before the pandemic he became the highest-paid federal employee.
Biden’s pardon of Fauci may look like an obstacle to the justice he deserves, but it’s actually a gift in the form of an admission.
For one, Biden’s pardon does not protect Fauci from a reckoning in the form of state prosecutions. Nor does it prevent Congress from compelling Fauci to explain in detail his role in one of the biggest scandals in U.S. history.
Sen. Rand Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, already vowed on Monday to continue Congress’s pursuit to “pierce the veil of deception.”
“If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal,” he wrote on X.
What should we make of these pardons? These pardons make me think about the evangelicals for Biden, like David French and Russell Moore. These two clowns present themselves to others as pious and moral Christians. And they claim to care about morality. But now we know that they don’t care about morality at all. Or the rule of law. They just care about saying whatever they have to say to get the approval of secular left elites.
Trump withdraws US from Paris climate agreement, expand drilling President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, undermining global efforts to limit warming. This action aligns with his 2017 decision and counters the recent Biden administration’s pledge to significantly reduce US emissions by 2035. Trump also notified the UN of his intent to exit the pact.
Trump promises to reinstate military members who objected to COVID shots ‘with full back pay President Donald Trump announced he “will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the COVID vaccine.” “With full back pay,” Trump said to applause during his inauguration speech. The promise echoes that of Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Defense.
BREAKING: Former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards dies of brain cancer at 67 Former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards died Monday of brain cancer at age 67, leaving behind the largest abortion chain in the nation. “Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives.” Richards headed Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018 and remained active in pro-abortion activism afterward.
Trump Transition Team Suggests Relocating Gazans to Indonesia Amid reports of the ongoing US-brokered negotiations between Israel and Hamas, there are reports of a plan to relocate Gazans to facilitate humanitarian efforts. While these rumors have yet to be confirmed, some possible host nations are being suggested.
MK Boaz Bismuth: The war will continue, the Americans know that perfectly well “Who likes to see bloody terrorists coming out of jail? You would like to see them rot in jail for the rest of their lives. This is how it should be. Yet, when I took the decision to approve the deal, it’s because that I know, believe me, I know, that the war is not over. That we have objectives. One of the objectives, of course, is the release of the hostages, which is urgent,” he added. “It’s urgent. Yet, yet, the war will continue. Our American friends know that perfectly well.
Trump pardons over 1,000 January 6 rioters US President Donald Trump on Monday issued pardons to over 1,000 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, while also commuting the sentences of leaders from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
Trump cancels sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank US President Donald Trump on Monday rescinded sanctions imposed by the former Biden administration on … Israeli settler groups and individuals for allegedly committing violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the new White House website said.
Franklin Graham Leads Prayer At Trump Inauguration: ‘America Can Never Be Great Again If We Turn Our Backs On God’ Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, acknowledged during his prayer at today’s inauguration of President Donald Trump that God alone saved Trump’s life during an assassination attempt and “raised him up with strength and power.”Franklin led the crowd in praise and thanksgiving to God before asking Him to protect and guide Trump, who moments later was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Franklin said in his prayer. “
No Matter What Abortion Activists Shout… It Is Not Her Body, And It Is Not Her Choice Biologically, the baby’s body is not the mother’s body! Also, about half the time, the baby is a boy, with male-specific genetics and developing body parts. Does the mother suddenly have a Y chromosome? If the baby is part of the mother’s body, that’s the logical outcome!
Despite Biden Pardon, Fauci Still Faces Legal Perils. Here They Are. Biden’s pardon of Dr. Anthony Fauci may protect the former National Institutes of Health official from immediate criminal prosecution, but some critics say he is not completely out of legal jeopardy and that public sentiment might still condemn the man who became known during the COVID-19 pandemic as “Mr. Science.” Fauci perjured himself on several occasions during the pandemic – especially regarding his agency’s links to the lab in Wuhan, China, “These pardons will not stop Department of Justice investigations,” said one adviser to the Trump transition team,
Asylum Seekers Caught With 30,000 High-Caliber Rifle Rounds In Arizona President Donald Trump’s imminent executive orders addressing the illegal alien invasion, border crisis, and cartel violence could not come soon enough, as a new report out of Arizona says a multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of several asylum seekers and a US citizen in possession of 30,000 rounds of ammunition.
Where Russia, Ukraine and Trump Stand as Possible Peace Talks Loom While the Kremlin signals readiness for talks, it will demand concessions from Ukraine widely seen as unattainable — fueling speculation that Russia seeks to prolong the conflict, which shifted in its favor in 2024. Meanwhile, with Ukraine losing ground on the battlefield, Kyiv faces mounting pressure from allies to show flexibility in its conditions for peace. Whether Trump will de-escalate the conflict or merely deepen divisions remains to be seen.
Trump Admin Shuts Down App Used by Migrants Minutes after President Donald Trump was sworn into office Monday, administration officials shut down a mobile app that migrants had used to make appointments at the southern border. The Customs and Border Protection app was created by the Biden administration in early 2023 and gave legal entry to nearly 1 million migrants with online appointments. As of Monday afternoon, all appointments were canceled.
Strong M6.4 earthquake hits southern Taiwan A strong and shallow earthquake registered by Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) as M6.4 hit Chiayi County in southern Taiwan at 16:17 UTC on January 20, 2025 (00:17 LT, January 21). The agency is reporting a depth of 9.7 km (6 miles). The USGS is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), EMSC M6.0 at a depth of 6 km (3.7 miles).
First ever Extreme Cold Warning issued for Metro Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta issued its first-ever Extreme Cold Warning on Monday, January 20, 2025, as dangerously cold conditions swept across the region, marking a historic moment for the National Weather Service’s alert system.
Highest snowfall totals in decades expected as extreme cold grips Louisiana and Mississippi, U.S. A powerful winter storm is set to impact Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, bringing heavy snowfall, dangerously low temperatures, and hazardous travel conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans office has indicated that snowfall on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, could be the highest recorded in the area in decades.
Extreme Cold Warning issued for Northern Wisconsin An Extreme Cold Warning has been issued for Northern Wisconsin on January 19, 2025, with wind chills expected to plummet to -40 °C (-40 °F) on January 20. The Extreme Cold Warning will extend across all of Wisconsin from the night of January 20 into the morning of January 21.
Rare winter storm to impact Gulf Coast with heavy snow and disruptive ice A rare winter storm is forecasted to bring heavy snow and disruptive ice accumulations as it moves from Texas eastward across the Gulf Coast states this week. The storm is expected to cause significant travel disruptions and potential power outages due to ice accumulation. Residents in the affected areas are advised to prepare for severe winter weather conditions.
Urgent warning for Southern California for powerful winds, extremely critical fire weather Southern California’s wildfire risk is reaching critical levels on Monday, January 20, 2025, with forecasters cautioning that dry vegetation and powerful winds could create the perfect conditions for fast-spreading, unpredictable fires. Potential impacts from this event include downed trees and power outages, very rapid and erratic fire spread, dangerous driving conditions and travel delays, especially for high-profile vehicles, and hazardous sea conditions with potential breaking waves for Avalon Harbor. If you live in affected region and haven’t prepared already, now is the time to act.
Extreme Cold, Snow Places Texas Power Grid & Permian On Alert Texas’ top electricity regulator issued a “Weather Watch” from Monday morning through Thursday, citing “extreme cold weather” and the potential for snow, which could send electrical demand soaring across the state.
U.S. Launches ‘One Health’ Plan Prompting Concerns About Global Power Play The U.S. last week introduced a national framework for One Health to help the country prepare for “the next potential threat” to public health — but critics argue the plan will expand government surveillance and crisis-driven health policies.
Iran unveils video of underground naval base ahead of Trump’s inauguration The Iranian ayatollah regime released footage on Saturday that it claims shows a covert Iranian subterranean naval base. The released images were reportedly taken in a secret location around 500 meters below the ground close to the Persian Gulf.
Crimes against humanity have been committed worldwide, particularly in the Five Eyes countries The top of UK institutions are completely rotten, Andrew Bridgen said on a Resistance GB podcast last week. The best investment for globalists, he said, is in the civil service, because “they’re just there,” appointed, not elected, and for as long as they choose to be – a permanent bureaucracy.
If You Are Over 50 Your Government Wants You Dead The British government has a policy of ignoring the needs of the elderly, with doctors and nurses instructed to withhold treatment and let old people die to save hospital beds and cut costs. The cut-off age for resuscitation is often 55 or 50, with anyone over 60 considered old and a burden on society. Elderly patients are frequently left in pain, in soiled bed clothes, and denied food and water, with many cases of neglect, abuse and unfair treatment reported in hospitals and care homes.
Christian tech company acquires AI Chatbot formally known as Bible Chat A Christian tech company in Colorado has acquired an AI chatbot previously branded as Bible Chat. The company says it aims to develop the tool further as a customized artificial intelligence assistant tailored for churches and ministries.
China Reports Cracks in 5 Dams in Tibet After Earthquake Cracks have been detected on five hydropower dams out of 14 in Tibet that have been inspected by Chinese authorities since a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the area on Jan. 7, killing at least 126 people.
I saw two interesting articles over at The Federalist, listing out 12 corrupt actions that Joe Biden committed, and 7 reasons why Biden was one of our worse presidents. I read through these, and the first thing I though of was all of the “Christians” who cheered him on in his presidency: people like David French, Russell Moore, etc. How could “Christian” leaders support such an immoral man?
The Biden administration has been busy its last few weeks in office repatriating terrorists and other bad actors imprisoned at Gitmo back to foreign countries throughout the world. The decision appears to be an attempt to fulfill Biden’s pledge to close the high-security detention facility by the end of his presidency.
Unsurprisingly, relocating Gitmo detainees to foreign countries has produced horrendous consequences. According to the New York Post, “Twenty-three years after the 9/11 attacks on NYC, new US intelligence documents reveal 234 ‘rehabbed’ former Gitmo detainees have returned to terrorism and killing Americans — an alarming 32% recidivism rate. Most of them have not been recaptured and are still at large.”
Pardoning Hunter Biden to protect himself:
For Americans who have followed the Biden family’s corruption, it came as no surprise when Sleepy Joe doled out a blanket pardon for his son Hunter last month. Rather than only wiping Hunter’s slate clean of his tax and gun charges, Biden’s pardon covered all “offenses against the United States which [Hunter] has committed or may have committed or taken part in” dating back to January 2014.
The move marked a clear attempt by the outgoing president to protect his son (and himself) from criminal investigation into the Biden family’s foreign business dealings.
Raising the price of oil and gas:
The Biden administration’s war on American energy is nothing new. But his latest action to stymie incoming President Donald Trump’s plans to unleash the country’s oil and gas industries takes on a whole new level of despicable.
As The Federalist’s Tristan Justice reported, Biden issued an executive order earlier this month “banning new oil and gas projects across 625 million acres of ocean across the East and West Coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Bering Sea.” While Trump has vowed to undo the “ridiculous” edict, the law weaponized by the outgoing administration to shut down the planned projects will seemingly make such an action much more difficult.
Bailing out people who refuse to pay back the money they borrowed for useless university degrees – with your children’s money:
After being denied by the U.S. Supreme Court twice, Biden is spending his final days in office attempting to circumvent the nation’s high court by unilaterally bailing out student loan borrowers. The administration announced Monday it used taxpayer money to “cancel” the debts of more than 150,000 individuals who chose to take on such loans.
In the second article, we hear about 7 reasons why Biden was one of our worse presidents.
Runaway inflation, caused by blocking energy production, and runaway government spending:
According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 when Biden took office is now worth just $82.88. Relatedly, Americans’ credit card debt has risen 51 percent under Biden (through last September), to $1.166 trillion, the highest tally on record.
What’s more, the federal government racked up more deficit spending during just the first half of Biden’s presidency than it did during the four years of World War II — even after adjusting for inflation (see “Chart”). With such massive quantities of borrowed money sloshing around in the economy, inflation predictably ensued, with everyday Americans paying higher prices for items ranging from groceries… to Big Macs, to airline tickets, to cars, to homes. Speaking of homes, 30-year mortgage interest rates rose from 2.8 percent to 7.0 percent on Biden’s watch.
Supporting racial divisiveness and misogyny:
On his very first day in office, Biden issued an executive order on “equity.” Asserting that America is a land of “unbearable … systemic racism” — a claim unsupported by the evidence — Biden launched “an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda.” This radical agenda informed Biden’s entire presidency — from his refusal to enforce federal immigration laws (which are said to disadvantage non-citizen “people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality”), to his rejection of the colorblind ideal in favor of race-consciousness and favoritism, to his insistence that boys and men should be allowed to play girls’ and women’s sports and use ladies’ locker rooms, and that anyone who says otherwise is a “bigot” whose views should be suppressed by the federal government and/or its social media allies. This radical leftist social agenda, which defies both basic notions of equal treatment for all and basic recognition of biological truths, became a hallmark of Biden’s presidency.
Lawlessness and abuse of power:
The federal courts routinely had to rebuke Biden for issuing kingly mandates that usurped legislative power. Examples include his vaccine/mask decree at the expense of private workers; his transportation edict requiring Americans to wear masks on planes, trains, and buses; his proclamation that federal employees had to get one of the experimental Covid vaccines or else be fired; and his ploy, via executive fiat, to transfer some $400 billion in student-loan debt from borrowers to taxpayers as a whole. (After being rebuked by the Supreme Court in the latter instance, Biden declared that “that didn’t stop me,” as he went around the verdict and transferred much of that student loan debt anyway.) Each of these monarchical decrees was struck down by the federal courts on the grounds that Biden exceeded his lawful authority.
Not content merely with usurping legislative power, Biden also took it upon himself to try to rewrite the Constitution. On literally the last official federal workday of his presidency (the Friday before Inauguration Day), Biden — in opposition to a recent statement from Colleen Shogan, his own appointee as the Archivist of the United States — declared that the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed amendment whose ratification window expired more than 40 years ago, somehow is now “the law of the land” and “has become part of our Constitution” — per his decree.
Since evangelicals for Biden – people like Russell Moore, David French, the ERLC, etc. – supported these actions and policies, you really have to wonder whether “Christian” leaders are capable of understanding morality. Did they just get compromised by their desperate desire to get the approval of non-Christians?
“The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world.” —George Washington (1789)
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Crooked Joe pardons Fauci, Milley, J6 inquisitors: In a final act of shameless sleaze, Joe Biden this morning granted preemptive pardons to lying Anthony Fauci, treasonous former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, and the entire corrupt January 6 Committee, including witness tampering former Republican Liz Cheney. “I believe in the rule of law,” said Biden’s handlers in a prepared statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good [sic] conscience do nothing.” Biden lauded these “dedicated, selfless public servants” while lamenting that they’ve faced “ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully [sic] discharging their duties.” What we have here is a whitewash and a calculated effort to shield wrongdoers and prevent justice from being served. After all, why pardon those who’ve done nothing wrong? Here, we might take a trip down memory lane — back to a moment just over four years ago when CNN’s Jake Tapper asked then-President-elect Joe Biden about a rumor that Donald Trump might issue some preemptive pardons before leaving office: “You’re not going to see, uh, um, in our administration, that kind of approach to pardons.” If only he’d added, I give you my word as a Biden.
Biden shreds the Constitution: On Friday, Joe “Defender of Democracy” Biden proclaimed that he had enshrined the long-dead Equal Rights Amendment into the Constitution. “We, as a nation, must affirm and protect women’s full equality once and for all,” Biden stated. It is an ironic announcement given the fact that his administration aggressively eroded the protection of women in pushing the transgenderism agenda. Far more importantly, Biden’s action flies in the face of the Constitution itself, as the date Congress set for the ratification of this wannabe 28th Amendment has long since expired. Back when Congress first passed the ERA, as with all constitutional amendments, it required the approval of two-thirds of states. While 38 states eventually approved the ERA, the last three came between 2017 and 2020, which occurred decades after the ratification deadline. On top of that, six states have since withdrawn their approval. As Senator Chuck Grassley pointedly observed, “The Equal Rights Amendment was rejected by the states during the binding period in which it was considered. The will of the American people can’t be overridden by wishful thinking on a piece of paper.” So, while Biden may claim the ERA is the “law of the land,” it’s not.
Humor: Biden confirms that before declaring new amendment, he talked to respected constitutional scholars Beavis and Butt-Head (Babylon Bee)
Our non compos mentis Big Guy: It was an alarming moment for House Speaker Mike Johnson, and a revealing one regarding those who for years lied to the American people about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline. “He looks at me stunned,” recalled Johnson, “and he said, ‘I didn’t do that.’” Johnson was referring to a meeting he had with Biden last year, during which he asked the president why he’d halted liquid natural gas exports to Europe, thereby strengthening Russia’s hand as the continent’s primary energy supplier. Johnson continued: “And I said, ‘Mr President, yes, you did. It was an executive order like three weeks ago.’ And he goes, ‘No, I didn’t do that.’ … He was not lying to me. He genuinely did not know what he had signed. And I walked out of that meeting with fear and loathing, because I thought, ‘We’re in serious trouble. Who is running the country?’” Donald Trump takes office today, and our long national nightmare is thus over. But where’s the accountability for all those Democrats and members of the mainstream media who deeply disserved the American people by propping up a dangerously enfeebled president?
NYT reporters now say Biden’s inner circle protected him: Now they tell us. In an act akin to shutting the stable door after all the horses have bolted, four of the New York Times’s leading scribes are now reporting that Joe Biden’s inner circle knew about his emotional and cognitive decline, and they took steps to conceal it from the rest of us. As the Times shamelessly reports: “They rearranged meetings to make sure Mr. Biden was in a better mood. … At times, they delayed sharing information with him, including negative polling data, as they debated the best way to frame it. They surrounded him with aides when he walked from the White House to the waiting presidential helicopter on the South Lawn so that news cameras could not capture his awkward bearing.” This prolonged deception was, of course, a deep and dangerous disservice to the nation, but how plausible is it that the Times’s Katie Rogers, Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman, and Carl Hulse were all a bunch of Sergeant Shultzes? That they knew nothing, NOTHING, about Biden’s cognitive decline, even though we in our humble shop were sounding the alarm about it more than four years ago?
What next in Ohio? On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine named Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance. DeWine’s decision deflects a move by Donald Trump’s DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy, who had made known his interest in the seat. DeWine is known to be more of an establishment Republican. In announcing his choice, DeWine said, “Serious times demand serious people,” noting that his decision “took a while” since he “interviewed a large number of people.” Meanwhile, Ramaswamy’s camp responded to the news by stating, “Vivek’s base plan remains the same: To get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly.” Ramaswamy is eyeing the Ohio governor’s mansion in 2026.
Trump to slap Gang of 51 election-interfering stooges: “SPIES WHO LIE,” blares the New York Post’s cover page from March 19, 2022. Festooning the text are the mugshots — if only! — of 20 of the 51 “intelligence” “experts” who tripped over themselves in the days just before the 2020 election to protect Joe Biden from the Post’s bombshell report about the Biden Crime Family and its influence-peddling operation in Ukraine and elsewhere. Among the 51 letter-signing miscreants were former Obama senior stooges John Brennan and James Clapper, and they warned the American people that Hunter Biden’s laptop wasn’t what it seemed; that it was actually an act of Russian disinformation. It was a shameful, election-rigging lie — one that likely changed the outcome of the 2020 election. The good news, though, is that Donald Trump plans to revoke the clearances of these 51 liars as part of the slew of executive orders he’ll be signing later today.
First round of Israeli hostages returned: Following the recently negotiated ceasefire with Israel, Hamas released three Israeli women it had taken hostage during its terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. The women — 23, 28, and 31 years of age — had been held captive for 471 days, and it’s hard to fathom the horrors they were subjected to by Hamas. There were celebrations in Tel Aviv and New York’s Central Park in response to the hostages coming home. These first three women are just the start, as Hamas still holds 97 hostages, some of whom died in captivity. The first phase of the deal is for Hamas to release 33 hostages while Israel will hand over roughly 1,000 jailed Palestinian terrorists. The remaining 64 hostages that Hamas holds will be addressed in subsequent negotiations.
More rainbows coming despite opposition to trans agenda: Democrats are proving they still have not learned their lesson from Donald Trump’s resounding election victory. Once again, they are bowing to the Rainbow Mafia and doubling down on pushing the deviant LGBTQ agenda. A group of Democrats is resurrecting the Stonewall Democrats with the goal of pushing “transgender” rights. Apparently, they see this as a winning agenda. The problem is a recent New York Times/Ipsos Survey found that, irrespective of political party affiliation, 79% of Americans believe biological males should not be allowed to compete in female sports. This number includes 67% of Democrats. In fact, just 18% of Americans believe transgender-identifying athletes should be permitted to compete in female sports. The survey also found 77% of Americans agreed that the push for transgender accommodations in society had gone far enough or too far. Only 21% said it had not gone far enough. This should be a wake-up call for Democrat politicians to abandon the rainbow, but we’re not holding our breath.
Headlines
Thousands hold anti-Trump rally in Washington before inauguration (BBC)
Trump to begin large-scale deportations Tuesday (WSJ)
A “revolution of common sense” is coming. That’s what Donald Trump is expected to say in his second Inaugural Address today. The ceremony begins at noon, albeit in the Capitol Rotunda instead of outside on the stairs because of bitter cold. Trump hasn’t even taken office yet and he’s already solved global warming.
The downside to the change is that though two of our Pop Culture Contrarian podcasters, Andrew Culper and Sterling Henry, are in DC today to celebrate the festivities and distribute a little promotional material, they won’t make it into the Rotunda. There were 250,000 ticketed guests for the outside inauguration, but the Rotunda fits roughly 600 people.
The last time the Inauguration was held in the Rotunda was Ronald Reagan’s second one in 1985, so maybe that’s a good omen.
Speaking of Reagan, upon taking the oath a second time, Trump will be older than the Gipper was when he left office. He will even surpass Joe Biden’s record as the oldest president to take office, though no one thinks of Trump as being anywhere near as feeble and nigh incapacitated as Biden. Trump is as energetic and dynamic as a man half his age.
JD Vance will be sworn in as the next vice president. Just 40 years old, he will be the third-youngest man to serve in that post, and he’ll be the first one with a beard since Charles Fairbanks in 1909. Let’s hear it for bearded men!
Trump is the first president to be inaugurated to non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland won back the White House and began a second term in 1893. Unlike Cleveland, Trump did so after being indicted four times (and bogusly convicted once) by Democrat wagers of lawfare and surviving two assassination attempts during the campaign.
His return to office marks arguably the greatest political comeback in American history. The protests that marked his first inauguration are virtually nonexistent, and even the Republican divisions have almost totally healed. Instead, the Democrats are deeply divided and leaderless.
In a preview of Trump’s speech obtained by The Wall Street Journal, he is expected to say this:
I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.
As the Journal notes, that’s quite a bit more optimistic than Trump’s first address in 2017.
That doesn’t mean Trump is unaware of the serious problems besetting our nation. Far from it — he highlighted each of them and rode voters’ deep dissatisfaction with the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris regime to a comfortable victory in November. He also has a lot of plans for rectifying things. With typical bravado in his rally Sunday, he promised to “act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country.”
He is expected to issue more than 200 executive orders today, many of which are aimed directly at undoing the damage done by an outgoing president few people will miss. As Douglas Andrews put it this morning, those orders cover “everything from declaring a national border emergency to declaring war on the drug cartels to terminating the electric vehicle mandate to abolishing the Green New Deal to withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords to unleashing Alaskan energy to ordering federal workers back to their offices to establishing a biological definition of sex to ending DEI programs across the federal government.”
Trump is also expected to quickly pardon many of the more than 1,500 people charged for actions on January 6, 2021. Given that Biden just issued pardons for the entire J6 Committee (along with Anthony Fauci and Mark Milley) so as to avoid what he warned would be Trump’s “revenge,” Trump should feel free to pardon anyone and everyone who was not involved in any violence on January 6. Perhaps we might even be able to just move on as a nation.
In short, we are hopeful that today marks a new beginning after the dark failures and intentional damage of the last four years. As I said when Trump took office the first time, it’s the end of an error. You might also call it Morning in America.
Douglas Andrews: Trump Vows to Rescue TikTok — In the wake of a resounding 9-0 Supreme Court decision, Donald Trump threw the Chinese spyware app a lifeline.
Thomas Gallatin: CNN Loses Defamation Suit — A U.S. Navy veteran who was smeared by the Leftmedia outlet as profiting from desperate Afghans sets the record straight.
Roger Helle: Warrior to Warrior — In many countries where I’ve had the privilege to share my story, those who have so little were very open to the Gospel.
Days of National Recognition: Martin Luther King Jr. — “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Days of National Recognition: Robert E. Lee — Marking the birth of a good, honorable, and important man.
Trump Is Already Cleaning Up Biden’s Mess — Although Donald Trump has not yet been sworn in as the 47th president, companies and countries around the world are already preparing for his return.
‘One Hour Twenty-Eight Minutes’ — Rep. Clay Higgins blasts Joe Biden’s outgoing Social Security commissioner for failing to meet even the basic communication needs of America’s elderly citizens.
Who’s to Blame for the LA Fire Disaster — Michael Shellenberger unpacks the true story of the LA fire disaster and what it reveals about California’s leadership crisis.
Celebrities and Politicians Embarrass Themselves After Wildfires — Maureen Callahan discusses Mandy Moore lashing out over GoFundMe critics, Harry and Meghan’s self-promotional wildfire tour, and politicians in California continuing to embarrass themselves.
“The failed war on drugs has ruined lives, broken up families and decimated communities. Everyday Americans have been aggressively prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for nonviolent offenses. Thank you President Biden for commuting thousands of these sentences.” —House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
“We are on the eve of an authoritarian administration. This is what 21st-century fascism is starting to look like.” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The BIG Lie
“The United States is in a stronger, more secure position [than four years ago].” —National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
Disconcerting
“He looks at me stunned … and he said, ‘I didn’t do that.’ And I said, ‘Mr President, yes, you did. It was an executive order like three weeks ago.’ And he goes, ‘No, I didn’t do that.’ … He was not lying to me. He genuinely did not know what he had signed. And I walked out of that meeting with fear and loathing, because I thought, ‘We’re in serious trouble. Who is running the country?’” —House Speaker Mike Johnson after a meeting with Joe Biden, during which he asked him why he’d halted LNG exports to Europe
For the Record
“Joe Biden, his leftist cronies, their liberal judges, and their billionaires are doing everything they can to redefine free speech as speech they agree with and to redefine speech they don’t like as hate speech or misinformation.” —Gary Bauer
“The ‘democracy’ the left wants is a ‘democracy’ in which only one view — theirs — is heard day after day, month after month, year after year. Their willingness to use federal law enforcement as a tool to attack free speech should send a chill down the spine of every patriotic American.” —Gary Bauer
“Shunned eight years ago by his presidential predecessors, by Wall Street and by incumbent leaders in just about every establishment institution, Trump will be inaugurated this time with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg on the podium. Leaders of the past, meet the wave of the future.” —Michael Barone
And Last
“Joe Biden’s upcoming biography must be a scratch and sniff book.” —Mark Alexander
President Trump has now weighed in on Joe Biden’s final act as ‘president’ and his response is as explosive as expected.
As Jim Hoft reported earlier this morning, Joe Biden pardoned Tony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and the entire J6 Select Committee of liars in his final act as president.
Biden explained his reasoning for the disgraceful pardons in the following statement:
Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.
Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.
In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.
I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee. The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.
To add insult to injury, the pardons issued by Biden also include Ashli Babbitt’s killer Michael Byrd, who shot the unarmed American patriot in cold blood during the J6 protest. As TGP’s Brian Lupo previously noted, video evidence captured Byrd shooting an unarmed Babbitt without warning as she attempted to climb through a narrow window near a barricaded entryway to the Speaker of the House’s office area in the U.S. Capitol.
Just a short time ago Trump texted NBC’s Kristen Welker his reaction to the disgraceful pardons and it was absolute fire.
“It is disgraceful”, Trump wrote to her. “Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!”
During his final hours in office, and with President-elect Donald Trump set to be inaugurated as his successor today, President Biden has issued preemptive pardons for some controversial figures who have dominated headlines in recent years.
Though none of them have been convicted of crimes, Biden announced he’s pardoning Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and everyone involved in the January 6 congressional investigation, which would include outspoken Trump critics like ousted Rep. Liz Cheney.
Biden says he took the extraordinary step to prevent the Trump administration from prosecuting those people because he’s concerned they’ll be targeted with “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances,” Biden said.
Fauci was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 40 years. Some officials like Sen. Rand Paul have fiercely questioned Fauci under oath to determine if he played a significant role in creating the coronavirus that led to the global pandemic.
After Biden’s unprecedented pardons were announced this morning, legal scholar Jonathan Turley posted on X, “…In the case of Fauci, some members such as Sen. Paul have suggested that he lied under oath repeatedly about his knowledge of gain-to-function work at the Wuhan lab. If called again, he would have to repeat or disavow the earlier testimony.”
Turley further explained, “…In reality, these pardons will not absolutely protect these individuals from being subpoenaed to give new testimony on prior claims. Lying in such interviews or hearings would constitute new criminal acts…”
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Seeking to defend his reputation, Fauci quickly released a statement saying he appreciates Biden’s pardon, but he contends he has committed no crime and doesn’t think anyone has grounds to prosecute him.
Biden’s decision to grant clemency to people who haven’t even been investigated is the broadest and most unprecedented use of presidential pardon powers in U.S. history. The decision opens the door for future presidents to do the same thing, or possibly to expand presidential pardons even further.
It’s unclear if the legality of such preemptive pardons could be challenged in court.
Back in December, President Biden also caused controversy by broadly pardoning his son Hunter Biden. That pardon went beyond Hunter’s gun and tax charges, covering any offenses he committed or may have committed over a ten-year period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.
Republican Congressman James Comer, who chaired one of the House probes into possible Biden family crimes, said in a statement, “The charges Hunter faced were just the tip of the iceberg… President Biden and his family continue to do everything they can to avoid accountability.”
Meanwhile, President Biden has now broken the record for most individual pardons and commutations ever issued by a U.S. president. He also announced on Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
Joe Biden pardoned Tony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and the entire J6 Select Committee of liars in his final act as president.
They were all faithful servants to the Democrat machine. Now comes their reward.
Fauci’s policies destroyed millions of lives, bankrupted thousands of businesses, and unnecessarily killed millions around the world.
Liz Cheney, who is currently under investigation by the US House of Representatives, knowingly lied about January 6 and President Trump’s actions that day.
General Milley was one of the architects of the worst American foreign policy blunder in history. His response to his own ineptness was to focus on the woke military agenda. Milley also was making promises with China to warn them about any possible US attack. What a traitor.
Biden just pardoned these individuals – now we know they were all criminals.
In December, Politico dropped an explosive report that Biden’s handlers were strongly considering issuing preemptive several current and former government officials who they believe will be in the incoming Trump administration’s crosshairs.
The outlet notes that the Regime has become even more panicked since Trump announced he was picking MAGA hero Kash Patel to drain the Deep State swamp and ensure those who persecuted Trump do not escape punishment.
The figures include Senator-elect Adam “Pencilneck” Schiff (D-CA), lying warmonger Liz Cheney, and COVID fraudster Anthony Fauci.
Today Biden pardoned Fauci, Milley, and liar Liz Cheney as a final act of defiance against the American people.
Read the statement below:
Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.
Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.
In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.
General Milley served our nation for more than 40 years, serving in multiple command and leadership posts and deploying to some of the most dangerous parts of the world to protect and defend democracy. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he guided our Armed Forces through complex global security threats and strengthened our existing alliances while forging new ones.
For more than half a century, Dr. Fauci served our country. He saved countless lives by managing the government’s response to pressing health crises, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the Ebola and Zika viruses. During his tenure as my Chief Medical Advisor, he helped the country tackle a once-in-a-century pandemic. The United States is safer and healthier because of him.
On January 6, 2021, American democracy was tested when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a fair and free election by force and violence. In light of the significance of that day, Congress established the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to investigate and report upon the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection. The Select Committee fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth. Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions.
I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong-and in fact have done the right thing-and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.
That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee. The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.
The U.S. Constitution gives presidents the power to grant pardons and commutations for federal crimes. This unique, unchecked power was meant to be used sparingly, as a last resort to correct injustices in the system. Pardons shouldn’t be gifts for friends, donors, and relatives who happen to be lawbreakers. It’s intended to right wrongs, not cause new ones.
Not all presidents have misused the pardon power, but some have. How you see it often depends upon your politics. To paraphrase an old saw: One man’s shady pardon is another man’s pursuit of justice.
President Gerald Ford’s pardon of predecessor Richard Nixon was roundly criticized at the time, and may have cost Ford the 1976 election. Nixon had picked Ford to be vice president, which led to Ford’s accession to the presidency when Nixon resigned.
President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders – keeping a promise he made during his campaign. He wanted to move the nation beyond a grim moment in history, similar to what Ford did with Nixon’s pardon.
Shortly before he left office, President George H.W. Bush pardoned Reagan administration officials who had been involved in the Iran-Contra scandal, including former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Bush’s connection to these officials, as vice president in the same administration, raised eyebrows. Was he just trying to protect colleagues, or worse, himself? But because the pardons came after the 1992 election, which Bush lost, it never became a campaign issue.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton commuted sentences for 16 members of FALN, a Puerto Rican paramilitary group that set off 120 bombing attacks in the United States. Clinton’s action was supported by archbishops in New York and Puerto Rico – but condemned by the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. attorney’s office and a big majority of Congress. Some critics saw it as a political gambit to boost Hillary Clinton’s Senate candidacy in New York, a state with a large Puerto Rican population.
On his last day as president, Clinton pardoned dozens of federal offenders, including billionaire fugitive Marc Rich, whose wife contributed big money to the Clinton Library and Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and Susan McDougal, who refused to testify about the president’s role in the Whitewater scandal. He also pardoned two convicted felons who paid $400,000 to Hillary Clinton’s brother, attorney Hugh Rodman, to represent them. His half-brother, Roger Clinton, and two former Democratic congressmen were also on the clemency list.
President Donald Trump’s use of the pardon power to keep allies out of prison has been unusually barefaced. His first pardon went to a prominent supporter, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. Later, he pardoned his former national security advisor, retired General Michael Flynn, and his own daughter’s father-in-law, Charles Kushner.
Trump additionally granted clemency to a slew of former political advisers and supporters, including Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, and longtime counselor Roger Stone. Democrats in Congress questioned whether Stone’s pardon was a reward for protecting Trump; Sen. Mitt Romney called it an act of “unprecedented, historic corruption.”
In the 2024 campaign, Trump said that during a second term he’d likely pardon some of those involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The most recent clemency controversy was President Joe Biden’s “full and unconditional pardon” of his son Hunter Biden, which covered a 10-year period of possible federal offenses. He had previously said he wouldn’t do it. Biden also commuted sentences for 37 of 40 convicts on death row in federal prisons, which was largely a policy statement against capital punishment.
There isn’t much that can be done about dubious pardons – it’s a constitutional grant of power. But two things may help clean up the process.
First, make pardons a bigger campaign issue. The news media should start asking presidential candidates about their clemency policies – and get them on record. Will they pardon friends and relatives? Political supporters? Witnesses in legal matters? It’s amazing how rarely these questions are asked.
Second, change the Constitution to prevent pardons and commutations during the last 100 days of each four-year presidential term. This means no clemency after mid-October of election years.
During Thanksgiving, presidents usually grant pardons to turkeys – for laughs, of course. But when the turkeys are well-connected criminals, it’s not so funny.
Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst and pollster. He’s the author of “Running for Office” and publishes a national newsletter on public opinion, LunchtimePolitics.com.
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
Politics
Cabinet confirmation hearings begin today: A number of Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees begin their confirmation hearings this week, headlined today by Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for secretary of defense. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has made it clear that Democrats will look to make this process for certain nominees as difficult as possible. High on their list of targets is Hegseth, who has been hit with allegations of sexual assault and problems with excessive drinking. If the Democrats successfully block Hegseth’s confirmation, it will put wind in their sails for thwarting other nominees to whom they have expressed objections, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (secretary of health) and Tulsi Gabbard (director of national intelligence). However, should Hegseth, who at one point looked to have been dead in the water only to bounce back, win confirmation, it will likely pave the way for Trump’s other nominees. Expect the verbal fireworks to fly.
Federal employees vow to resist Trump: That a recent poll suggests 42% of federal government managers intend to work against the Trump administration isn’t a surprise. The surprise is that more of them didn’t admit to being part of The Resistance. However, this number points to the difficulties Donald Trump encountered in getting his first-term agenda enacted. The Beltway is overwhelmingly staffed with Democrats, and their partisanship tends to show up during Republican administrations. As The Daily Signal’s Tyler O’Neil reports, “RMG Research conducted three surveys in mid-December to study three different segments of the population. The polling firm focused on what it calls the Elite 1% who have postgraduate degrees, earn more than $150,000 annually, and live in densely populated areas; Main Street Americans who meet none of these three criteria and who represent between 70% and 75% of the U.S. population; and Federal Government Managers — federal employees who live in the National Capitol Region around Washington and earn at least $75,000 annually.” For every unelected bureaucrat like Eric Ciaramella and Alexander Vindman, there are no doubt thousands more in the woodwork. Let’s hope the second Trump administration has plans to exterminate these cockroaches — figuratively, of course.
Harris snubs Vance: It’s hard to blame Kamala Harris for not being a happy camper. Given her election loss, remaining cordial and helpful goes against even the most sanguine person’s instincts. Moreover, despite her penchant for cackling, Harris does not have an upbeat reputation. Yet that is what’s expected of our elected officials. Therefore, when Harris declines to invite Vice President-elect JD Vance to the veep’s residence ahead of Inauguration Day, it speaks more to her character than Vance’s. The extension of an invitation to the vice-presidential residence at the Naval Observatory has been a long-standing tradition. However, when Vance’s wife, Usha, contacted Harris via intermediaries over concerns about childproofing the house for her young children, she was rebuffed. Meanwhile, folks close to Harris claim that former Vice President Mike Pence similarly did not extend an invitation to her back in 2020, but Pence’s aides dispute that claim. Harris’s people also claim she has been busy dealing with the Los Angeles fires. Doing what, exactly?
No half-staff flags in Texas for Trump inauguration: Much ado has been made in the Leftmedia about the American flags at Donald Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago estate flying at full-staff now that former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and burial have concluded. Now, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared that flags in the Lone Star State will be at full-staff for Trump’s inauguration on January 20. “Today,” Abbott said, “I ordered flags raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and state buildings for President Trump’s inauguration. While we honor President Carter’s service, we also celebrate an incoming President and our bright future.” This seems like the right call. And it seems like a call that Democrats would appreciate were the tables turned. After all, there’s something less than egalitarian about flying a flag at half-staff for 30 days because of the death of a man who happened to win a national election. Moreover, for example, 24 nameless souls have perished in the LA wildfires, and no flags anywhere will fly at half-staff for them for even a minute. Dare we say that Jimmy Carter himself, humble Christian that he was, would no doubt agree with us.
Biden announces student debt giveaway for 150,000 borrowers (The Hill)
Humor: Jill Biden prepares for final week as president (Babylon Bee)
Security
Hamas bargains with Biden on hostages: As our strikingly irrelevant president prepares to shuffle off the stage, his handlers are still working to secure a piece of his legacy: the release of the remaining hostages held by the barbarians of Hamas since October 7, 2023. A deal appears to be at hand, which makes sense because the beleaguered Islamist group now seems ill-equipped to test incoming President Donald Trump’s demand that the hostages be released by his January 20 inauguration date, lest there be “all hell to pay.” This morning, Hamas and Israel are reportedly close to a Gaza ceasefire-hostage agreement, with negotiations continuing in Qatar. According to the report, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase, with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being concurrently released from Israeli jails. The human cost has been excruciating, especially for the families and friends of the captives. As Fox News reports, “There are believed to be 96 hostages still held by Hamas … only 50 of whom are still assessed to be alive, including three Americans. It is unclear when the deceased hostages would be returned to their families.”
Jake Sullivan’s Afghanistan revisionism: Years from now, historians will likely mark Joe Biden’s disastrous surrender and retreat in Afghanistan, just seven months into his term, as the beginning of the end of his presidency. And rightly so. Still, Biden’s handlers are working feverishly to put their elbows on the scale of history, as National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did Sunday. “Appearing on CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ host Jake Tapper asked Sullivan if he feels ‘personally responsible for the failures in the withdrawal’ from Afghanistan,” Just the News reports. “Sullivan dodged the question, saying ‘I think the entire team, the entire national security team has responsibility for everything in our national security, and that includes me as the national security adviser.’” Donald Trump, of course, also wanted to withdraw from Afghanistan — but not on a date certain, September 11, 2021, as Joe Biden did, and from a position of strength rather than weakness. Not surprisingly, Tapper failed to ask Sullivan about abandoning Bagram Air Base or leaving behind billions of dollars in U.S. military equipment for the benefit of the Taliban, much less the 13 Americans killed during the retreat. To do so would’ve required an act of journalism.
U.S. Air Force to implement stricter dress and appearance standards (Washington Examiner)
Aurora officials to shut down apartment complex taken over by illegal immigrant gang (Free Beacon)
University of Michigan ends partnership with Communist Chinese university (Daily Wire)
Leftmedia
WaPo is dying in darkness: The Washington Post may face an existential crisis as its readership numbers crater in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory. However, the Post’s slide in subscription numbers has been ongoing throughout Joe Biden’s time in office. Last year alone, the Post lost $100 million. It’s not only subscribers who are ditching the paper but its own talent as well. Indeed, following the decision of the paper’s owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos, to nix an endorsement of Kamala Harris, the Post saw some 250,000 subscriptions canceled. Furthermore, digital numbers have been tanking as well. The Post had 54 million visits to its homepage in November, which is down from 114 million visits in November 2020. In other words, the paper is shrinking. Bezos knows it, and he blamed the paper for narrowing its audience. “Increasingly, we talk only to a certain elite,” he wrote in an op-ed explaining his decision to nix a Harris endorsement. It seems Bezos knows that for The Washington Post to survive, it will have to appeal to a broader audience. That’s easier said than done.
Prince Harry blasts Meta: Once again, a British royal reminds America why our Founding Fathers declared independence from England. We don’t have kings, and Prince Harry is Exhibit A for why. In a lengthy statement published Monday, Harry bemoaned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to eliminate the brigade of biased “fact-checkers” from his social media platforms. Harry said the decision to roll back “hate speech” restrictions “should deeply concern us all.” He added, “It doesn’t matter whether your views are left, right, or somewhere in between — the latest news from Meta about changes to their policies directly undermines free speech. Contrary to the company’s talking points, allowing more abuse and normalizing hate speech serves to silence speech and expression, not foster it.” Only someone with the instincts of an authoritarian could assert such a contradictory notion. America’s defense of free speech comes from the exact opposite rationale. The real danger to free speech is suppression of speech, not more speech. Harry hides behind dubious concerns regarding “hate speech” not because he’s concerned about the truth but because he’s invested in promoting his own leftist social and political narratives without resistance. Maybe it’s time for him to go back home.
Misc.
Biden names Navy aircraft carriers after Clinton, Bush (The Hill)
LA’s Karen Bass told NYT in 2021 that she wouldn’t travel internationally as mayor (Fox News)
Palisades fire likely caused by humans in hiking area popular with teens (NY Post) | Authorities warn of more high winds (Daily Wire)
Policy: Prescribed burns are the only way for California to avoid another catastrophic fire (The Federalist)
Joe Biden and his radical leftist cohort have thoroughly politicized the Two-Tiered Justice Department. That’s not news, of course, but the release of two separate special counsel reports yesterday couldn’t have illustrated that point any better.
The first came from Special Counsel David Weiss regarding the prosecution of First Son Hunter Biden. However, the one getting all the attention from the Leftmedia was former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s midnight report, which attempted, with one last gasp across 137 pages, to convict Donald Trump of election interference in the court of public opinion.
The report began, “To the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.”
Oh, sorry. Those were Captain Ahab’s final words in Herman Melville’s classic, Moby Dick.
Surely, though, you can understand my feigned confusion given that Democrat hacks like Smith, Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, and several enabling judges have pursued Trump with the same mad obsession that drove Ahab to chase that white whale. Just like Ahab, they failed. Trump was reelected in the only verdict that mattered — the one in which the American people sentenced Trump to four more years in the White House.
“I was guided by the Principles of Federal Prosecution,” Smith insisted in his cover letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. “With respect to both Mr. Trump’s unprecedented efforts to unlawfully retain power after losing the 2020 election and his unlawful retention of classified documents after leaving office, the Principles compelled prosecution. Indeed, Mr. Trump’s cases represented ones ‘in which the offense [was] the most flagrant, the public harm the greatest, and the proof the most certain.’”
Smith blames the American people for thwarting him: “But for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.”
As with the other legal cases brought against Trump, the real reason Smith’s two were brought isn’t the “proof” of crimes but because his last name is Trump. I’m not going to relitigate all that here other than to say that the Democrats’ strategy was to target Trump with multiple lawfare cases to ensure he was the Republican nominee and then defeat him in the general election. They succeeded in the former and failed miserably in the latter.
Despite his supposed high-minded dedication to the law, the unconstitutional Smith was a hack dedicated to this strategy. He calls such assertions “laughable,” but for evidence, I submit his October non-surprise, a version of his report on Trump’s objections to the 2020 election, which he released just before the 2024 election to smear him.
By contrast, Democrats went to great lengths to suppress information regarding the crimes of Hunter Biden — because those crimes often implicated Joe Biden. When they could no longer suppress the news, they sought to offer the younger Biden a sweetheart deal that, fortunately, blew up. Hunter was eventually convicted of gun crimes and was set to face trial for tax evasion before dear old dad broke his promise not to pardon him.
Special Counsel David Weiss was a former U.S. attorney from Delaware who was tasked with investigating Hunter Biden in the hope that he’d actually help make it all go away. After the plea deal blew up, Weiss became dogged in his pursuit, and he now resents the Bidens for undermining his credibility. “Mr. [Hunter] Biden and his counsel have continuously accused me of vindictively and selectively prosecuting him,” Weiss wrote in his report. “And in the press release accompanying his son’s pardon, President Biden echoed these claims, stating that he believed Mr. Biden was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.’ These baseless accusations have no merit and repeating them threatens the integrity of the justice system as a whole.”
In fact, Weiss continued, “Eight different Article III judges appointed by six different presidents — including Mr. Biden’s father — considered and rejected Mr. Biden’s claims that these prosecutions only came because of political pressure from Congressional Republicans.”
Weiss said the bottom line was that Hunter made millions of dollars “by using his last name and connections,” and he then “consciously and willfully chose not to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over a four-year period.” Regardless, the president pardoned his son for any and all crimes over an oddly specific period of 10 years and 11 months.
On the surface, these two special counsel reports might seem roughly the same. Two presidents (and a presidential son) were accused of crimes and convicted in at least one case each. Politics dominated the considerations of all the cases, including the two special counsels. Both special counsel appointments and the cases they brought ended with a bitter political whimper instead of anyone really facing accountability or justice.
To a certain extent, that’s a fair viewing. However, there are some glaring differences.
Biden was the one at the helm while subordinates wielded the immense power of the Justice Department to crush his most hated political opponent. It was the culmination of eight long years of deranged efforts to nail Trump to the wall for [details to be filled in later]. From Hillary Clinton’s fabrication of the Russia collusion hoax to Democrats’ impeachment of the president for pointing out that Ukraine ought to look into the Bidens to the January 6 overreaction of heavy-handed application of “justice,” Democrats have spared nothing in their Ahabian quest to spear the great orange whale.
It’s also true that Trump did some things wrong, perhaps even illegal things. Yet most of them were in response to Democrat attacks or election rigging. It doesn’t excuse him, but as the “fact-checkers” say, it needs context.
By contrast, Hunter began selling the family name while Joe was Barack Obama’s vice president. No one was out to get Joe Biden back then. The family just knew his influence could be worth a lot of money. No Republican convinced Hunter Biden to do drugs, solicit hookers, or illegally purchase a firearm, much less to evade taxes on ill-gotten money. Yet the Biden Justice Department tried to spare him punishment. Joe Biden himself eventually made that a reality, not least to save himself.
The other difference is that Trump has another four years to clean things up and go in a better direction.
Douglas Andrews: Wray Takes a Final Friendly — After dodging his final call to testify before Congress, FBI Director Chris Wray found time to sit for an easy interview with “60 Minutes.”
Jack Devine: The Politics of Success — As with a California wildfire, job one is always fixing the problem, not finding culprits.
Editor’s Note: Each week we receive hundreds of comments and correspondences — and we read every one of them. Click here for a few thought-provoking comments about specific articles. The views expressed therein don’t necessarily reflect those of The Patriot Post.
Biden Claims He Made the World Safer — A raging war in Ukraine and a smoldering Middle East did not stop the outgoing president from touting his foreign policy successes in a State Department farewell speech.
California’s ‘Leaders’ Put DEI First — Los Angeles is burning, and it’s not just a natural disaster — it’s a catastrophic failure of leadership.
Fix Elections First — Florida, the nation’s third-most-populous state, was able to get a complete and accurate count of its 23 million residents within 90 minutes of the polls closing. It took California weeks.
They’re Lying About Hate Crimes — Wilfred Reilly is an American political scientist. He observes the problem of lies about “hate crimes.”
“Let’s get something in mind about the border. When I became president, the numbers came way down.” —Joe Biden
“The strategic call President Biden made, looking back three years, history has judged well and will continue to judge well.” —National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan regarding Biden’s surrender and retreat from Afghanistan
Lipstick on a Pig
“The Palestinian people deserve peace and the right to determine their own futures.” —Joe Biden
Delusions of Grandeur
“When I started to suggest, ‘Well, maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California’ … [Trump] immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore.” —Canadian “Governor” Justin Trudeau
Gaslighting
“I take great offense at pointing fingers. … It’s too soon to be saying it’s Gavin’s fault. It’s nobody’s fault.” —”The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg regarding the California wildfires
Political Futures
“When a politician says ‘don’t politicize’ a significant event like the fires that have swept Los Angeles County, it’s a good bet they are attempting to divert attention and shield themselves from the consequences of their inaction.” —Cal Thomas
“When Donald Trump is sworn in next week, America will have a president for the first time in four years. The Biden era hasn’t been a presidency but an interregnum, with seemingly no one in charge in Washington.” —Daniel McCarthy
“In the middle of a presidential contest, [Juan Merchan] forced Trump to sit in a courtroom day after day after day. Joe Biden publicly joked about the fact that his opponent was tied up somewhere else and not on the campaign trail.” —Gary Bauer
“The difference between [Javier] Milei and many other nationalists on the world stage is that he’s not using his position to transfer state power from left to right. Rather, he’s diminishing the power of the state and cutting off the source of its control over citizens.” —David Harsanyi
Upright
“I think it doesn’t make sense to punish a person or company for finally coming around. We may choke on the words, but praising somebody for seeing the light is a lot more effective than attacking them for being too late.” —David Strom
And Last
“Remember this essential truth: When particular branding doesn’t lead to a public embrace of left-wing policies, leftists change the branding, not the policies.” —Nate Jackson
During his term in office, President Biden was the subject of a lengthy congressional investigation run by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability. The head of that committee, Representative James Comer, recently shared all that he learned about the First Family in an upcoming book.
From The New York Post. Joe Biden was “central in his family’s moneymaking scheme,” according to the year-long congressional investigation led by Rep. James Comer, who claims he found nearly $30 million funneled into the first family’s accounts.
In his new book, Comer (R-Ky.) details how Biden’s son Hunter and brother Jim peddled the “Biden Brand” to foreign governments and entrepreneurs in order to rake in cash.
The book also details the many suspicious roadblocks Comer’s Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability hit along the way. …
Comer, the committee’s chairman, likened DC journalists to “public relations flacks and ad-men for the Democratic Party.”
He accuses bureaucrats at the IRS and FBI, among others, of “slow-walking investigations” and leaking “false narratives” of his findings to the media.
Comer requested more than 200 documents from the administration during the first two years of Biden’s presidency, and “did not receive a single response,” he writes.
When he tried to access the Biden family’s banking records at the beginning of his probe, he was reduced to begging the Department of the Treasury to hand them over.
Initial research showed there were dozens of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by at least six banks that dealt with first son Hunter’s transactions. …
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delayed Comer’s request to view the SARs for two months, he claims in the book. …
[Comer and his staff] found 170 SARs regarding Hunter Biden — 20 more than previously known from the six different banks — as well as previously unknown accounts and 20 shell companies, all controlled by Hunter. …
An analysis of the Biden banking records, along with testimony from Hunter business associates before the committee, showed millions coming in from Chinese, Ukrainian, Romanian and Kazakh sources, according to Comer’s book.
Jim and Hunter were supposedly being paid by foreign companies to find them business leads and customers. However, there were no products sold or investment advice being dispensed, Comer said, adding that the shell companies were simply taking in cash for access.
From May 2014 to April 2019, Hunter was paid in excess of $5 million by Burisma Energy Company in Ukraine for “occupying a fanciful board position,” Comer writes, adding that Hunter knew almost nothing about the energy sector and his primary worth was his proximity to the “Biden Brand.” …
Hunter Biden’s lack of expertise in the energy sector did not prevent him from demanding cash from Chinese Energy Company Ltd (CEFC), an energy and finance company. …
The Bidens began working with the conglomerate when Joe Biden was vice president, according to Comer’s book.
Comer was able to trace the bounty shared by the Biden family resulting from a July 30, 2017, WhatsApp call from Hunter Biden to CEFC associate Raymond Zhao. In that call, he demanded a $10 million payment, claiming that his father was sitting next to him.
As shown in The Post’s graphic, on August 8, Northern International Capital, a company affiliated with CEFC, sent $5 million to Hudson West III, a joint venture set up by Hunter and Gongwen Dong, another CEFC associate.
That same day, Hudson West III sent $400,000 to Owasco PC, a company controlled by Hunter Biden.
Six days after that, on August 14, Owasco sent $150,000 to Lion Hall Group, which was controlled by Jim Biden and his wife, Sara Biden.
On August 28, Sara withdrew $50,000 in cash from Lion Hall Group, and deposited the cash in a joint account that she has with her husband, Jim Biden. On September 3, Sara wrote a check to Joe for $40,000 with “loan repayment” in the memo field.
Although Comer said he knew he had a “smoking gun” when he found the check, which he claims showed money laundering, most of the mainstream press was unimpressed …
Despite the difficulties of investigating the assets of the first family, Comer and his team of researchers were determined to reveal what he calls “the biggest corruption scandal of my lifetime.”
His work has led to “a historic lack of confidence in our nation’s federal law enforcement agencies” and likely led to the routing of the Democrats at the November polls, he writes.
In the end, Comer credits his investigation with giving American voters “an opportunity to decide for themselves … what the appropriate form of accountability could be for Joe Biden and his allies.”
What do you think of Comer’s findings? Share your thoughts and prayers below.
Behind Trump’s Expansionist Rhetoric Thomas Gallatin The president-elect recently proposed acquiring the Panama Canal, Greenland, and even Canada, and he has good reasons for doing so.
Joe Biden’s Low Energy Plan Michael Swartz No, we don’t mean he’s out of energy, though he is. He aims to reduce our standard of living.
Biden’s Last-Minute Awards Extravaganza Mark Alexander Joe Biden sandwiched in a few Medal of Honor recipients amid his big three-day political trophy giveaway.
The Biggest Biden/Harris Lie Mark Alexander Our nation deserves a full accounting of Biden’s mental incapacitation while president, and who has really been in charge.
Hot Air “I have spent a lot of time in Los Angeles. It is an extraordinary, beautiful place. Watching L.A. burn is extremely painful. … We need climate action NOW.” —Senator Bernie Sanders “People are literally fleeing. Kids have lost their schools. Communities have lost their churches. Families have lost their homes. Some have even lost their lives. And the President-Elect’s response is to politicize it.” —California Governor Gavin Newsom Tone-Deaf “The good news is, I’m a great-grandfather as of today … so I’ll remember this day.” —Joe Biden during a Los Angeles wildfire briefing “The Sugar Bowl is back on. Kickoff is going to take off very shortly. If I don’t get this damned thing done we’re going to be in real trouble.” —Joe Biden joking about getting his NOLA terrorism update done Non Compos Mentis “I don’t know. Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?” —Joe Biden on whether he’d be able to complete a second term “I meant what I said when I was asked whether I was going to pardon my son. But then I found out two factors. Number one, that he had paid all his taxes. He paid them late. He was fighting a drug problem. And he beat it. He’s been square and sober for almost six years now. This was back in ’80, I mean excuse me, in 2000 and… What year was it? Anyway, long time ago.” —Joe Biden The BIG Lies “There are no election deniers on our side of the aisle.” —House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries (“The more we learn about 2016 election the more ILLEGITIMATE it becomes. America deserves to know whether we have a FAKE President in the Oval Office.” —Hakeem Jeffries, February 2018) “The simple fact is: This country has suffered more deadly terrorism at the hands of American-born citizens who are veterans of the United States military than people who have crossed into this country at the southern border. It is very clear from the evidence that if you want to worry about terrorism in this country, the United States Army is a much bigger problem than the southern border.” —MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell “As you know, [Donald Trump] called out to these people to continue their violence, my husband being a victim of all of that.” —Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Misinformation “On this day, four years ago, police officers were brutally assaulted while bravely defending the United States Capitol. They were punched, tackled, tased, and attacked with chemical agents that burned their eyes and skin. Today, I am thinking of the officers who still bear the scars of that day as well as the loved ones of the five officers who lost their lives in the line of duty as a result of what happened to them on January 6, 2021.” —Attorney General Merrick Garland (Fact-check: ZERO police officers died in the line of duty that day.) Demagogues “Trump pardoning the insurrectionists who attacked our Capitol four years ago would be a betrayal of the American people. Many of the rioters were convicted of assaulting police and other serious crimes — including by Trump-appointed judges. They must be held accountable.” —Senator Elizabeth Warren “To those who used violence and intimidation to threaten our government, to hurt our government, and particularly to those who threatened police officers — pardoning them would set a terrible example for the future in America and for the world that it was okay, that it was forgivable to do this.” —Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (Trump does not intend to pardon “those who used violence” or “those who threatened police.” As for Biden’s latest pardons of Hunter Biden, as well as a record list of 65 other pardons and 1,634 clemencies and commutations, many for the most violent offenders — that is a “terrible example for the future in America.”) Braying Jenny “You don’t move on, because January 6th was an atrocity. It was one of the worst moments in American history. And when you think about the worst moments in American history, like World War II … the Holocaust, chattel slavery — we need to never forget.” —”The View” co-host Sunny Hostin Lack of Self-Awareness Award “Women are known to be more, shall we say, ethical than men.” —Nancy Pelosi Dumb & Dumber “Meta Says Fact-Checkers Were the Problem. Fact-Checkers Rule That False.” —The New York Times “Mark Zuckerberg says ending fact-checks will curb censorship. Fact-checkers say he’s wrong.” —CBS News “The changes announced by Meta today are very much a MAGA makeover.” —CNN’s Brian Stelter Gaslighting “We did a lot of good things but … we really didn’t show [enough] empathy and concern … to average working families who didn’t realize how much we had done and how much we care for them.” —Chuck Schumer Delusions of Grandeur “[Joe Biden’s] a patriot. He’s a great guy. And when he stepped down, he did it on his own. … We should all salute him.” —Chuck Schumer World’s Smallest Violin “It’s not worth defending [Joe Biden] though because at every turn the last year-and-a-half, he has taken the path of the most indulgent turn for himself rather than the good of the Party.” —Politico’s Jonathan Martin Belly Laugh of the Week “Biden and some of his aides still believe he should have stayed in the race, despite the rocky debate performance and low poll numbers that prompted Democrats to pressure him to drop out. Biden and these aides have told people in recent days that he could have defeated Trump.” —The Washington Post
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