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Historic Small Modular Reactor Deal Sparks U.S. Nuclear Surge

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The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and ENTRA1 Energy have signed a landmark agreement to develop a 6-gigawatt nuclear portfolio, the largest deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in American history. The deal, signed on September 2, will see six SMR plants built using NuScale Power technology across TVA’s seven-state service region.

ENTRA1 Energy will develop, own, and operate the SMR power plants, selling electricity to TVA under future power purchase agreements. Each plant will utilize NuScale’s advanced reactor modules, which are designed for scalability, safety, and affordability. When completed, the six-plant project could supply power to as many as 4.5 million homes or 60 new data centers—critical infrastructure for the growing demands of AI, semiconductors, and hyperscale computing.

SMRs, significantly smaller and more flexible than traditional nuclear reactors, offer several advantages, including factory-built components, lower upfront capital costs, and enhanced safety features. NuScale remains the only company with a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-approved SMR design in the U.S. Its 50-MWe US600 module has full design certification, and its upgraded 77-MWe US460 module received Standard Design Approval in May 2025.

The TVA-ENTRA1 collaboration will focus on site selection, project planning, and regulatory coordination. TVA ratepayers are expected to be shielded from construction risk through ENTRA1’s development role, while TVA gains long-term pricing stability through power purchase agreements. This strategy contrasts with the now-canceled NuScale Carbon Free Power Project in Utah, which failed due to cost overruns and low participation.

TVA is expected to leverage its existing early site permit for Clinch River, Tennessee, as it evaluates locations for the six SMR sites. The agreement reinforces TVA’s position as a national leader in nuclear innovation, having launched its New Nuclear Program in 2022 to accelerate development of next-generation reactors.

The deal also aligns with a broader movement among tech companies investing in nuclear power to meet rising energy demands. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle are among those pursuing nuclear partnerships to secure reliable, carbon-free energy for data centers and high-performance computing.

TVA President and CEO Don Moul emphasized the strategic importance of the project, stating, “TVA is leading the nation in pursuing new nuclear technologies… This agreement with ENTRA1 Energy highlights the vital role public-private partnerships play in advancing next-generation nuclear technologies that are essential to providing energy security – reliable, abundant American energy – and creating jobs and investment across the nation.”

Farage Warns Congress, UK Turning Into ‘North Korea’ on Speech

Nigel Farage (AP Photo/(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage delivered a stark warning to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to confront growing censorship laws in Britain that he claims threaten free expression across the Western world. Speaking before the House Judiciary Committee, Farage compared the United Kingdom to “North Korea” and called on the United States to pressure its ally to uphold shared values of liberty and free speech.

Farage’s testimony highlighted multiple cases of British censorship, including the arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan over social media posts critical of transgender ideology. Farage noted that Linehan was met by armed police at Heathrow Airport months after posting tweets while in the United States, calling the incident a harbinger of unchecked government overreach. “This could happen to any American man or woman that goes to Heathrow,” Farage warned.

Another case raised involved Lucy Connolly, a grieving mother sentenced to over two years in prison for a deleted tweet made in the aftermath of a mass stabbing in Southport. Farage described her punishment as political and unjust, stating that she had been barred from traveling to testify in person due to restrictions placed upon her by the UK government.

Farage cautioned lawmakers that laws like the UK’s Online Safety Act and the European Union’s Digital Services Act are not isolated threats but will inevitably impact American citizens and businesses. He stressed that these foreign censorship regimes pressure American tech companies to enforce restrictive speech policies globally, creating a chilling effect even on U.S.-protected First Amendment rights.

Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) echoed Farage’s concerns, condemning European censorship laws as a direct threat to American values and business. Jordan warned that American tech firms, fearing multimillion-dollar fines, may begin applying UK and EU speech standards across all platforms, effectively bypassing the U.S. Constitution. He also accused Europe of using censorship enforcement as a backdoor strategy to financially punish American companies and support failed domestic tech initiatives.

Farage praised Vice President JD Vance for his earlier remarks in Munich, calling out the internal threats to liberty in Europe. He urged the U.S. government to take action to defend free speech not only at home but across the Atlantic, noting that the erosion of liberty in one Western nation threatens the whole democratic order.

Democrats on the committee downplayed Farage’s concerns, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) labeling him “far-right” and “fringe.” However, Farage remains the leader of Reform UK, currently polling as the most popular political party in Britain, following his leadership during the successful Brexit campaign.

Tariff Revenue Reaches New High

trump tariffs
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that tariff revenues exceeded $31 billion in August, a new high.

“Now that August is in the books, tariff revenues topped over $31 billion in the month: a new record high,” Bessent wrote on X. “As collection continues to grow, the Trump Administration is fixing the financial shambles it inherited.”

As of August 29, the U.S. generated $183.56 billion in the fiscal year.

Last week, Bessent said during a White House Cabinet meeting that revenue brought in from tariffs could exceed $500 billion annually. In July, the U.S. collected nearly $21 billion more in duties than it did in the same month last year. 

The tariff data comes as the Congressional Budget Office revised its deficit projection and is now estimating that Trump-era tariffs could reduce the federal deficit by $4 trillion over ten years. This is up from the previous estimate of $3 trillion.

A U.S. appeals court recently ruled that many of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, although the court allowed the levies to remain as the case proceeds in a lower court.

“The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax,” the court wrote, noting that it appears “unlikely that Congress intended, in enacting [International Emergency Economic Powers Act], to depart from its past practice and grant the President unlimited authority to impose tariffs.”

DOJ Sues Illinois Over In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

DOJ
Department of Justice seal (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, filed a civil complaint Tuesday challenging Illinois laws that offer in-state tuition and scholarships to illegal aliens. The DOJ argues these benefits violate federal law and the Constitution by discriminating against U.S. citizens who are denied similar treatment.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the complaint targets Governor J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Attorney General, and the boards of trustees for state universities. It seeks to block the enforcement of state laws that provide tuition breaks and financial aid to all aliens residing in Illinois—regardless of legal status—while denying the same benefits to out-of-state U.S. citizens.

Attorney General Bondi emphasized the conflict with federal law, stating, “Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens.” She noted this action is part of a broader campaign to prevent U.S. students from being treated like second-class citizens and to uphold the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.

The DOJ complaint aligns with two executive orders signed by President Trump. The first, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” requires federal agencies to block taxpayer-funded benefits from going to unqualified aliens. The second, “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens,” directs officials to counter state laws that favor illegal aliens over American citizens, including in higher education.

Illinois law mandates that public universities provide in-state tuition to illegal aliens who maintain state residency. The DOJ argues this policy undermines federal immigration laws and gives unlawful advantage to non-citizens at the expense of American taxpayers and students. The lawsuit marks an escalation in the ongoing clash between the Trump administration and Illinois leadership over border policy and state sovereignty.

The case could set a national precedent, especially as other left-leaning states implement similar tuition policies for illegal aliens. The DOJ’s position is clear: federal law must not be undermined by state legislation that grants taxpayer-funded benefits to those unlawfully present in the country.

Trump’s Alabama Football Joke Scores During Speech

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President Trump took a light-hearted jab at Alabama football while announcing the relocation of the U.S. Space Command headquarters. During remarks thanking Sen. Tommy Tuberville for his role in the relocation process, the president referenced the recent college football upset in which Florida State defeated Alabama, calling it a rare moment for the former Auburn coach.

“Tommy Tuberville, who’s a great coach. And I won’t say anything about what happened with Alabama football this weekend. But you’re not used to that, right?” Trump said, drawing laughter from the crowd. He then added, “Auburn won, that’s right. So, you’re happy,” referencing Auburn’s 38-24 victory over Baylor.

The comment came shortly after Florida State’s stunning win over Alabama, which shocked the college football world. Florida State, coming off a 2-10 season, managed to upset one of the top programs in the nation, generating widespread headlines. The loss was described as one of the biggest storylines of the weekend.

Sen. Tuberville, who served as Auburn’s head football coach from 1999 to 2008, appeared to take the comment in stride. Trump’s reference tied together his appreciation for Tuberville’s efforts on national defense with a nod to college football rivalries that remain strong in Alabama politics.

The relocation of the Space Command headquarters has been a politically charged issue in recent years, with multiple states vying for the economic and strategic benefits it brings. Trump’s administration had previously supported moving the headquarters out of Colorado, and Tuberville has been an outspoken advocate for bringing it to Alabama.

Uranium Power Play Launches Mining Boom in South Dakota

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The country’s latest uranium-mining project, approved for accelerated permitting, is underway in South Dakota.

The project, organized by Dallas-based enCore Energy Group and located in Custer, is the first in South Dakota covered by FAST-41.

“The Permitting Council is excited to welcome the Dewey-Burdock ISR Uranium Project to FAST-41 coverage,” Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech said in late August. “This project is now the 9th mining project to receive FAST-41 coverage since President Trump took office, ensuring we are working towards a stronger domestic supply chain of critical mineral resources. The Permitting Council is delivering on the President’s Executive Order on domestic mining, and we look forward to working with enCore Energy Corp to get this project to the permitting finish line.”

“Dewey Burdock plays an important role in supporting the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain with domestically produced uranium for many years into the future,” enCore Energy Executive Chairman William M. Sheriff stated. “As the first critical mineral extraction project selected within the State of South Dakota we also look to working with the state government, tribal governments and local communities as we focus on building a stronger domestic supply of clean and affordable energy and providing economic stimulus to southwest South Dakota.”

President Donald Trump’s March order directing an increase in American mineral production noted that the United States “was once the world’s largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing Federal regulation has eroded our Nation’s mineral production.”

That same month, Trump activated the Defense Production Act to fast-track U.S. production of critical minerals like rare earths, uranium, copper, potash, and gold. By April, a second order titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” allowed for accelerated mineral extraction from offshore U.S. seabeds.

AI Job Loss Shocker: 4,000 Salesforce Workers Replaced

AI, Artificial Intelligence (Just_Super/Getty via Canva Pro)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the workforce in America’s tech sector. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff confirmed the company has slashed its support staff from 9,000 to 5,000, attributing the 4,000-job reduction directly to AI replacing human roles.

Benioff revealed the shift during an appearance on The Logan Bartlett Show, citing AI agents as the primary driver behind the cuts. These agents—developed by Salesforce—handle a range of tasks including customer support, marketing, and site management without constant human input. The company claims fewer support cases and higher efficiency have made hiring new support engineers unnecessary.

This downsizing reflects a growing trend in Silicon Valley. Major tech companies continue cutting human jobs while expanding AI infrastructure. Benioff said AI now handles up to 50% of Salesforce’s workload. In June, he praised AI for significantly reducing overhead and increasing productivity, though he insisted humans are still needed to supervise AI operations.

The impact extends far beyond Salesforce. A Stanford study found AI has hit younger professionals the hardest, especially in fields like software development, customer service, translation, and reception. Employment among software developers aged 22 to 25 has dropped nearly 20% since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Meanwhile, job numbers for older developers have held steady or grown.

Stanford economist Erik Brynjolfsson said the decline among young workers can’t be fully explained by macroeconomic forces like interest rates or COVID-related disruptions. The data shows a clear pattern: AI is disproportionately replacing entry-level roles, traditionally seen as stepping stones into corporate careers.

Other industry leaders have echoed Benioff’s view. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently acknowledged that AI will reduce the company’s headcount as automation tools increase productivity. In San Francisco and other tech hubs, anxiety continues to grow among professionals in once-secure fields like coding and writing.

Despite the job losses, research from McKinsey & Co. shows that most companies using generative AI have yet to see major gains in profits. AI tools are still limited in many workplaces, often used only for basic tasks like chatbot functions. Salesforce appears to be among the exceptions. Benioff said the company had over 100 million leads over the years that went unanswered due to staffing shortages. With AI now in place, sales teams can respond faster and more broadly, overseen by supervisors coordinating human-AI collaboration.

Historic or Hypocritical? Collier County’s Ten Commandments Vote Sparks Culture Clash

Ten Commandments (Image via Canva)

Collier County, Florida, commissioners voted 4–1 last week to include the Ten Commandments in public displays of historic documents in county buildings. The measure has provoked heated debate over religious influence in government settings, highlighting fault lines between moral heritage and church-state separation.

On August 26, 2025, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to incorporate the Ten Commandments into historical exhibits, alongside documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. These displays are planned for select county buildings. Commissioner Burt Saunders was the lone dissenting vote, stating that while he supports the values in the Ten Commandments, he believes the move is divisive and outside the appropriate role of county government.

Commissioner Chris Hall of District 2 sponsored the measure after a conversation with an 87-year-old school board member inspired him to promote what he sees as the moral foundations of American law. Hall clarified the intent was not religious, saying, “This proposal has nothing to do with religion. Zero. Zilch. Nada.” He emphasized that including the Ten Commandments in a broader historical context aligns with constitutional guidelines.

Public comments reflected a divided community. Thirty-nine residents spoke during the meeting, most opposing the plan. Critics argued the display could be seen as a government endorsement of a specific religion, violating the concept of church-state separation. Rev. Sharon Harris-Euing of the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida argued the move was inappropriate and warned against placing Christianity in a preferred position within government spaces. Commissioner Saunders read a letter from a concerned resident who feared the display could undermine religious neutrality.

Supporters defended the decision as an affirmation of the nation’s historical and moral roots. Jerry Rutherford, a local advocate of the measure, argued the Ten Commandments offer enduring civic values. County Attorney Jeffrey Klatzkow confirmed that such displays are legally defensible when part of a broader historical exhibit, not a standalone religious statement. Final design plans and display locations will be determined in coordination with the county attorney and local officials in the coming weeks.

Court Blocks Trump’s Crackdown on Violent Venezuelan Gang

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A federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump illegally invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan illegal immigrants believed to be involved in the Tren de Aragua gang.

In a 2-1 decision, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from using the wartime law to remove the suspended TdA members from the United States.

“A country’s encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,” the court wrote. “There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces. It is an action that would have been possible when the AEA was written, and the AEA would not have covered it. The AEA does not apply today either.”

“We declare, as did the Supreme Court, that our injunction solely applies to the use of the war-related federal statute and does not impede use of any other statutory authority for removing foreign terrorists,” the decision stated.

“We accept the finding that drug-trafficking is being used as a weapon, but we hold it is not within even an updated meaning of invasion or predatory incursion,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick.

In May, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against the attempt to expedite deportations of Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The Court determined that providing detainees with only 24 hours’ notice and insufficient information to challenge their removal violated constitutional due process rights.

President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March, writing in a proclamation that the organization is “perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.”

“Evidence irrefutably demonstrates that TdA has invaded the United States and continues to invade, attempt to invade, and threaten to invade the country; perpetrated irregular warfare within the country; and used drug trafficking as a weapon against our citizens,” the proclamation read.

House Oversight Drops 33,000 Epstein Documents—But Most Already Public

State of Florida; Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

The House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, following a subpoena issued by Chairman James Comer. The files include court transcripts, investigative footage, flight logs, and materials surrounding Epstein’s death in custody.

The DOJ turned over 33,295 pages in compliance with the subpoena, redacting victim identities and removing child sexual abuse material. Among the released documents are Palm Beach police interviews dating back to 2005, search footage from Epstein’s properties, flight logs from his private jet, and timelines covering Epstein’s final hours before his 2019 jailhouse death. Video from his cell block and interview transcripts with Ghislaine Maxwell were also included.

Democrats criticized the release, claiming that nearly all of the documents were already available to the public. Rep. Robert Garcia argued that 97 percent of the materials had been disclosed previously, calling the move more political than substantive.

Still, Republicans on the committee defended the release as a step toward transparency. Comer said the document dump was necessary to ensure public trust and expose how Epstein operated for years despite multiple law enforcement investigations. The DOJ has not ruled out releasing additional records.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan effort is underway to force broader disclosure. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have filed a discharge petition seeking a House vote on legislation requiring the DOJ to release all Epstein-related documents, excluding information that would reveal victim identities. If successful, the measure would force full public access to the case files.

The release underscores both the enduring public demand for answers and the sharp partisan divide over how much new information, if any, has truly been revealed. Epstein’s ties to powerful figures worldwide continue to fuel calls for greater accountability.

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