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No English, No Funding: Trump’s DOT Slams Blue States

truck
Sander Yigin/Unsplash

The U.S. Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has issued a direct warning to California, Washington, and New Mexico: enforce federal English-language standards for commercial drivers or lose critical highway funding. The move, backed by President Trump’s executive order, signals a sharp shift toward law-and-order enforcement of long-ignored safety protocols.

The warning comes after a tragic crash in Florida on August 12 involving a commercial driver, Harjinder Singh, who reportedly made an illegal U-turn, killing three people. Singh, a foreign national, was later found to have limited English proficiency, raising questions about how he was cleared to operate a commercial vehicle on U.S. roads.

Duffy emphasized, “States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow… As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger.”

Federal law has long required commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, communicate with officials, and navigate safely. However, investigations revealed that California, Washington, and New Mexico repeatedly failed to enforce these rules. According to a recent DOT audit, these states allowed noncompliant drivers to stay on the road without consequences, violating federal safety regulations.

In response, Secretary Duffy announced the states have 30 days to comply or face the loss of millions in federal funds. California stands to lose $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million—all tied to the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, which supports commercial vehicle inspections and safety enforcement.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier echoed his support for the Trump Administration’s stance and the action of the DOT, saying, “You have this tragic accident at the hands of an illegal alien who should not have ever had this trucker’s license to begin with. You’ve got blue states that apparently are engaging in systematic abuse of the program, not only allowing illegal aliens to get these permits but enabling them to do so when they do not even speak English.”

President Trump previously signed an executive order in April mandating the enforcement of English proficiency requirements—rules that were downplayed during previous administrations. The policy aims to restore accountability and protect American lives on the road by ensuring that every commercial driver operating in the U.S. can understand traffic laws, emergency instructions, and safety protocols.

The DOT’s warning is clear: states that put political correctness or lax enforcement ahead of public safety will be held accountable. The administration emphasized that proper communication is a basic necessity for highway safety, and failing to uphold this standard places lives at risk.

Woke No More? Cracker Barrel Quietly Pulls LGBTQ+ Agenda

Pride
Image via Canva

Cracker Barrel has quietly removed its controversial Pride page from its website following sustained criticism from conservative customers and leaders. The shift comes as the company appears to be rolling back progressive initiatives and returning to its roots as a traditional, family-oriented brand.

The now-deleted Pride page promoted Cracker Barrel’s LGBTQ+ Alliance and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) programs. It highlighted internal efforts to celebrate LGBTQ+ employees and events during “Pride Month.” Visitors are now redirected to a broader “Culture and Belonging” section, which reframes the company’s corporate messaging with a more neutral tone.

The move follows a series of reversals at Cracker Barrel, including restoring its classic Uncle Herschel logo after facing backlash for abandoning it in favor of a more modern, sanitized version. President Trump, among others, criticized the company’s embrace of what many called “woke” policies, accusing it of alienating its core customer base—faith-based, conservative, family-focused Americans.

In a statement to Fox Business, Cracker Barrel cited routine updates and strategic alignment for the website change. The company stated it was “phasing out” some business resource groups to focus more on community issues like hunger relief and disaster recovery.

Breitbart’s John Nolte, who previously accused Cracker Barrel of “grooming” through its LGBTQ promotions, celebrated the removal as a major victory. Nolte emphasized that conservatives must continue to exert cultural pressure on companies that adopt agendas conflicting with traditional family values.

Cracker Barrel’s strategic retreat from DEI-heavy branding reflects a broader trend of corporations facing pushback for social activism. As more brands reconsider their positions, Cracker Barrel’s move could mark a shift in how major companies engage with cultural issues going forward.

No Nutrition, No Money: RFK Jr.’s Ultimatum to Med Schools

RFK Jr
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Secretary RFK Jr. has issued a nationwide mandate requiring all accredited medical schools to submit detailed nutrition education plans by September 10. The initiative aims to correct what he described as a “critical failure” in the training of American physicians, where nutrition is often neglected despite being foundational to health outcomes.

“Medical schools talk about nutrition but fail to teach it… We demand immediate, measurable reforms to embed nutrition education across every stage of medical training, hold institutions accountable for progress, and equip every future physician with the tools to prevent disease — not just treat it,” Kennedy stated.

Currently, fewer than 25% of U.S. medical schools require clinical nutrition coursework, and only 14% of residency programs include structured nutrition training. Kennedy’s push marks the first time in federal history that funding for medical education may be tied directly to dietary instruction standards.

As part of the MAHA initiative, Kennedy has pledged to realign U.S. health policy toward disease prevention through lifestyle changes, clean food, and environmental reforms. The strategy challenges the entrenched pharmaceutical-first model and has drawn criticism from mainstream public health officials, who say the rapid changes could upend decades of clinical education norms.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has voiced support for the directive, stating that medical schools must “align training with current science and the real needs of patients.” Schools that fail to comply face the loss of federal research grants, residency funding, and other financial streams critical to their operation.

Kennedy’s allies argue that diet-related diseases—including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity—are largely preventable but remain the leading causes of mortality and healthcare spending. Critics warn that threatening funding sets a dangerous precedent and could undermine academic autonomy.

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has not yet issued a formal response but is expected to challenge the timeline and funding threats. However, several smaller medical programs have already announced plans to overhaul their curricula in anticipation of the federal requirement.

Noem: It’s Time to End FEMA as We Know It

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta-Pool/Getty Images)

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing back against criticism over her plan to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), calling for a return to state-led disaster response. Noem insists the agency has become bloated and inefficient, proposing a bold restructuring that places governors at the center of emergency relief.

Secretary Kristi Noem defended her proposal to transform FEMA during recent public remarks, stating the agency is riddled with bureaucracy and high costs. Noem shared with Fox, “I am not surprised that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform; including many who worked under the Biden Administration to turn FEMA into the bureaucratic nightmare it is today… I refuse to accept that FEMA red tape should stand between an American citizen suffering and the aid they desperately need.”

Noem, who now co-chairs the FEMA Review Council alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aims to scale back federal dominance in disaster response. The council is tasked with recommending reforms to streamline operations and improve efficiency across federal emergency programs.

According to Noem, the current FEMA structure is “extremely expensive” and disconnected from the communities it’s intended to serve. She proposed a model where “every disaster should be locally executed,” leaving federal agencies in a support role rather than controlling operations. Her vision aligns with President Trump’s longstanding stance on empowering states and reducing federal intervention.

President Trump echoed his support, saying, “It’s extremely expensive and, again, when you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind, in a state, that’s what you have governors for. They’re supposed to fix those problems, and it’s much more local and they’ll develop a system, and it will be a great system.”

Critics from within FEMA and former agency officials have pushed back against the idea, arguing that the plan threatens decades of structural improvements made since Hurricane Katrina.

Noem dismissed these voices as career bureaucrats defending a failed status quo. She emphasized that states, not Washington, are best equipped to respond to local emergencies swiftly and effectively.

The FEMA Review Council is currently evaluating key areas including the length of time disaster declarations remain open, the speed of aid deployment, and the timeline for filing claims. These assessments are intended to guide the transition toward a more responsive and localized system, should the reforms move forward.

Minnesota Funds Trans Refuge, Ignores Faith Schools

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) rejected appeals from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the representative body for the state’s six Catholic dioceses, for inclusion in the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program, despite a $17.6 billion budget surplus. He approved similar security grants for public schools but denied this modest request for nonpublic institutions.

These requests were made in both 2022 and 2023. In a letter to Walz, the Minnesota Catholic Conference wrote, “There are approximately 72,000 students enrolled in Independent, Catholic, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim nonpublic schools in our state.” The letter highlighted that excluding them constituted a discriminatory act against their students.

In response to rising concerns about school safety, particularly after the March 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, carried out by a transgender attacker, the organization petitioned Walz to extend security aid to nonpublic schools. The request sought inclusion in the Safe Schools Program, which currently provides emergency response training, security upgrades, and mental health services only to public entities.

Minnesota Catholic Conference went on to add, “The legislation supported by our collective organizations provides state aid to school districts, intermediate school districts, charter schools and nonpublic schools for this program. Unfortunately, this program currently does not cover nonpublic schools, charter schools, and intermediate school districts, and it is a levy-only program for school districts.”

The Conference urged Walz to convene a special legislative session to pass a bill that would provide security grants of $44 per student, regardless of school affiliation. Though the proposal had bipartisan support, including from members of Walz’s own party, he chose not to call a special session.

Meanwhile, Walz authorized state funding for a “trans refuge,” aimed at protecting individuals seeking gender-affirming medical care, underscoring a perceived divergence between his priorities and those of religious schools seeking protection.

In light of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Walz is facing additional heat for his decision to fund transgender support resources and not schools with faith affiliations.

Deadliest Kyiv Strike Since Trump‑Putin Summit Rocks Capital

(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

A devastating Russian missile and drone assault struck the heart of Kyiv in the early hours of August 28, 2025, killing at least 21 civilians, including four children, and injuring 48 others.

The attack, which officials called one of the deadliest since the Trump-Putin summit, targeted residential neighborhoods, a major shopping mall, and diplomatic facilities, including EU and British Council offices. Ukrainian authorities reported that more than 600 projectiles, both drones and missiles, were launched, with over 560 drones intercepted and most ballistic missiles neutralized by air defense systems. Despite these efforts, widespread destruction swept through central Kyiv.

Over 100 structures sustained damage or were destroyed, including homes, shops, and international diplomatic buildings. Footage from the scene showed burning vehicles, collapsed buildings, and emergency workers pulling civilians from the rubble. Kyiv’s mayor confirmed that several residential high-rises suffered direct hits, while Ukraine’s national police began recovery and identification operations immediately after the strikes ended.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a deliberate massacre and appealed for immediate international action. He took to X, saying, “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.”

The timing of the assault—coinciding with scheduled peace discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. diplomats in New York—further complicated diplomatic efforts and revealed Russia’s unwillingness to de-escalate the conflict.

European Union leaders swiftly responded, calling the strikes a war crime. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell summoned the Russian ambassador and warned of a new round of sanctions. The United Kingdom also condemned the bombing of its cultural facility in Kyiv, calling it an attack on European values and international law.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed that it targeted military-industrial infrastructure within Kyiv, a statement rejected by Ukrainian and Western officials as disinformation. According to multiple independent sources, no significant military assets were located in the areas hit, with casualties overwhelmingly among the civilian population.

President Trump has previously stated that peace through strength remains the only reliable path to resolution and has emphasized that America’s global leadership must prioritize moral clarity and defense of innocent life.

Alligator Alcatraz to Be Dismantled

alligator
Nellie Adamyan/Unsplash

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued an order to move forward with the dismantling of Alligator Alcatraz.

“The Court found Plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their NEPA claim because the project was adversely impacting the environment and was controlled in large part by the federal government, and Defendants had done no environmental analysis at all before building and commencing operations of the facility,” Williams wrote, discussing matters from her 82-page ruling from last week. “The Court described substantial evidence provided by Plaintiffs of several kinds of ongoing and likely future irreparable harm from the project, including to the surrounding wetlands, endangered species, and those who live, recreate, research in, and work to preserve the area.”

Williams added that federal government defendants “rehash the same general arguments about the importance of immigration enforcement they presented during the Preliminary Injunction Hearing.”

“As Defendants provide no new evidence or argument about the particular dangerousness of the detainee population at the [Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport] site or the need for a detention facility in this particular location, the Court will not repeat the shortcomings of Defendants’ claims here,” court documents read.

Williams’ previous ruling prohibited “State and Federal Defendants and their officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any person who is in active concert or participation with them” from working on the site or bringing additional persons into the facility.

The Department of Homeland Security told CBS News that the facility’s dismantling is “another attempt to prevent the President from fulfilling the American people’s mandate to remove the worst of the worst.”

“DHS is complying with this order and moving detainees to other facilities. We will continue to fight tooth-and-nail to remove the worst of the worst from American streets,” DHS said.

Air Force Provides Military Funeral Honors to Jan 6 Protester

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January 6, 2021 Protest (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

The U.S. Air Force has agreed to provide military funeral honors for January 6 protester Ashli Babbitt. The decision reverses a 2021 Biden-era decision that denied the request.

A letter from Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier, released on Aug. 27 by Judicial Watch, read, “I understand that the family’s initial request was denied by Air Force leadership in a letter dated February 9, 2021. However, after reviewing the circumstances of Ashli’s death, and considering the information that has come forward since then, I am persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect.”

Lohmeier then invited the family to visit the Pentagon, where he could offer his condolences.

In 2021, Biden-era Air Force Lieutenant General Brian Kelly denied funeral honors for Babbitt “due to the circumstances preceding her death.”

“As a result, I have determined that military funeral honors would bring discredit upon the Air Force,” Kelly wrote.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement that Babbitt’s family is “grateful to President Trump, Secretary Hegseth and Under Secretary Lohmeier for reversing the Biden Defense Department’s cruel decision to deny Ashli funeral honors as a distinguished veteran of the Air Force.”

“Judicial Watch’s team spent years investigating, litigating, and exposing the truth about Ashli’s homicide,” he said. “Judicial Watch is proud to have done its part in bringing her family a measure of justice and accountability for Ashli’s outrageous killing. And our battle for justice will continue.”

In May, the Trump administration agreed to pay nearly $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s family.

Fired Federal Reserve Governor Sues Trump

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has sued President Donald Trump after he moved to fire her.

According to the lawsuit, Cook claimed her removal is “unprecedented and illegal.”

“President Trump’s conception of ’cause’ has no limiting principle,” the lawsuit says. “It would allow him to remove any Federal Reserve Board member with whom he disagrees about policy based on chalked-up allegations.”

Trump’s effort to remove Cook “would subvert the Federal Reserve Act … which explicitly requires a showing of ’cause’ for a Governor’s removal, which an unsubstantiated allegation about private mortgage applications submitted by Governor Cook prior to her Senate confirmation is not,” the filing adds.

The filing further notes that Cook is the “first Black woman to sit on the Federal Reserve’s Board in its 111-year history.”

The lawsuit comes as President Trump fired Cook over mortgage fraud allegations. Citing the Federal Reserve Act, Trump wrote in a letter addressed to Cook, “You are hereby removed from your position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, effective immediately.”

“The American people must be able to have full confidence in the honesty of the members entrusted with setting policy and overseeing the Federal Reserve. In light of your deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter, they cannot and I do not have such confidence in your integrity,” Trump’s letter read, concluding, “I have determined that faithfully executing the law requires your immediate removal from office.”

Cook asserted that she will not resign from her position, but will instead “continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022.”

EPA Reaches Milestone in Mexican Sewage Crisis

San Diego Mexico Border
Photo by Max Böhme, Unsplash

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Commissioner Chad McIntosh announced that the 10 million-gallon-per-day expansion project to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis has been completed.

Through the expansion, the plant’s treatment capacity increased from 25 million gallons per day to 35 million gallons per day, a 40% increase.

The EPA will continue to work towards its priorities on the issue, including securing Mexico’s financial commitments through 2027, accelerating project timelines, and establishing preventative measures in additional projects.

“The Trump Administration committed to delivering an urgent and permanent 100% solution to the millions of people afflicted by this crisis, and that’s exactly what they’re going to get,”  Zeldin said. “Just four months after I personally surveyed the environmental devastation in San Diego, seeing the polluted waterways, closed beaches, and smelling the foul air, we’ve delivered this critical expansion years ahead of schedule. Protecting human health and the environment is our first priority at EPA, and no American should have to worry if the air they breathe or the beaches they visit are safe.” 

Vista Mayor John Franklin celebrated that the crisis was addressed in “just 100 days” after “decades of delay and broken promises.”

In July, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to “expedite the timelines of critical infrastructure projects in the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Minute No. 328 (‘Minute 328’),” the EPA explained at the time. Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage have crossed the border, closing beaches, sickening residents, and disrupting Navy SEAL training at Coronado’s Naval Amphibious Base.

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