Republican Moves to Codify DOGE

June 5, 2025

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has introduced a bill to codify policies supporting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The legislation would require compliance with President Donald Trump’s March executive order protecting against fraud, waste, and abuse.

“The Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act helps secure America’s bank account against fraud, waste, and abuse,” a handout on the bill says. “It requires all payments out of the U.S. Treasury Department (which handles 95% of federal government payments) to have: 1) a brief description of the purpose of the payment, 2) the appropriations account from which the payment is to be drawn, 3) the payment to be reported on USAspending.gov, and 4) an annual update on all information related to ongoing payments.”

“Requiring government to answer basic questions before spending tax dollars will save billions over the next decade,” Ernst said in a statement to The New York Post. “Enacting safeguards to spending has been one of the Trump administration’s and DOGE’s greatest triumphs, and I am determined to codify it and make it permanent.”

Federal agencies have been mailing cash to hundreds of thousands of Americans in recent years.

I’m working with @DOGE to end the madness.

Money does not grow on trees! https://t.co/QggYxREVRX
— Joni Ernst (@joniernst) May 3, 2025

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, at least $162 billion in improper payments were made. The estimate comes from reporting across 68 federal programs in 16 agencies.

“Federal agencies need to tackle the massive problem of improper payments to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States said in a statement. “This issue needs heightened attention and additional actions by federal departments and agencies as well as strong Congressional oversight.”

Biden Asserts He ‘Made the Decisions’ Amid Autopen Investigation

June 5, 2025

Former President Joe Biden asserted he “made the decisions” for pardons, executive orders, and other presidential actions amid an investigation into the former administration’s use of autopen signatures.

“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden said in a statement. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

“This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,” he added.

The statement follows President Donald Trump issuing a memorandum calling for a review of Biden’s autopen.

“In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority,” the memo says. “This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden’s signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.”

Trump’s memorandum then directed the Counsel to the President, alongside the Attorney General, to investigate whether “certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden’s mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the President.”

The investigation will assess the autopen’s purpose, any activities intended to shield the public from information, and agreements between Biden’s aides.

$2B Grant Sparks Outrage Over Abrams-Linked Climate Group

June 5, 2025

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

The $2 billion grant awarded to Power Forward Communities, a nonprofit linked to Stacey Abrams, has ignited controversy over federal spending and political favoritism. Critics question the Biden administration’s decision to fund a newly formed organization with minimal financial history, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.

Power Forward Communities, established in October 2023, reported only $100 in revenue before receiving the substantial grant in April 2024. The funding, part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, aimed to support climate initiatives in low-income communities. However, the organization’s rapid ascent to managing billions has drawn scrutiny.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized the grant, stating, “It’s extremely concerning that an organization that reported just $100 in revenue in 2023 was chosen to receive $2 billion.” He further questioned the organization’s preparedness, noting they were required to complete a budget development training within 90 days of receiving the funds.

Stacey Abrams’ involvement with Power Forward Communities stems from her role as senior counsel at Rewiring America, a key partner in the coalition. While Abrams did not directly receive funds, her association with the group has fueled allegations of political favoritism. Zeldin remarked, “If you care about clean air, land, and water… then why aren’t you spending a dollar actually remediating that issue instead of paying off your friend?”

The grant’s allocation process has also come under fire. The funds were placed in Citibank accounts, limiting federal oversight. Zeldin expressed concern over this arrangement, emphasizing the need for transparency in handling taxpayer money. “I made a commitment to members of Congress and to the American people to be a good steward of tax dollars and I’ve wasted no time in keeping my word,” Zeldin said.

In response to the controversy, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) accused Republicans of targeting Abrams due to her political aspirations, suggesting the scrutiny aims to “keep a strong black woman down.” However, critics argue that the issue centers on fiscal responsibility and proper vetting of grant recipients, regardless of political affiliations.

‘Jihad for Allah’s Sake’: Boulder Terrorist’s Chilling Declaration Before Attack

June 5, 2025

In a disturbing escalation of domestic terrorism, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, carried out a terror attack on peaceful Jewish demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to the assault, Soliman recorded a video proclaiming that “jihad for Allah’s sake” held greater importance to him than his own family.

Soliman, who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2022 and overstayed, targeted a rally advocating for the release of Israeli hostages. He hurled Molotov cocktails into the crowd, injuring at least 12 individuals. In the video obtained by the Middle East Media Research Institute, Soliman stated, “I say to my mother, my wife, my children, my brothers, my people: I attest before Allah and before you that Allah, his messenger, and jihad for Allah’s sake are more beloved to me than you and the whole world are.”

During the attack, witnesses reported Soliman shouting “Free Palestine” and expressing a desire to kill “Zionist people.” Upon arrest, he told investigators he “would do it again.” Authorities discovered at least 14 additional incendiary devices at the scene.

Soliman faces federal hate crime charges and multiple state charges, including 16 counts of attempted murder. If convicted, he could face a sentence exceeding 600 years.

The attack has intensified concerns over rising anti-Semitic violence in the U.S., particularly following Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks and subsequent anti-Israel demonstrations nationwide.

In a related development, federal immigration authorities detained Soliman’s wife and five children, who had also entered the U.S. on tourist visas in 2022. They face “expedited removal,” although a federal judge has temporarily barred their deportation pending further hearings.

The Boulder Jewish community remains shaken. Rabbi Marc Soloway of Congregation Bonai Shalom noted the trauma inflicted, stating, “Left-wing radicals have become a significant threat to Jewish communities in the U.S., replacing the historical danger posed by white supremacists.”

Soliman’s own words underscore the gravity of the threat: “Allah is greater than the Zionists, Allah is greater than America and its weapons… Do not forget: Allah Akbar.” When questioned by police after the attack, Soliman said he “wanted them [the peaceful demonstrators] all to die” and that he “had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again.”

Boeing Signs DOJ Agreement in Plane Crash Case

June 5, 2025

Boeing has signed a deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ) allowing it to avoid criminal prosecution for two 737 MAX crashes. The $1.1 billion deal includes the company’s admission that it sought to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The agreement, signed on May 29 and revealed in a June 4 filing, states that Boeing will “pay victim compensation to the heirs, relatives, and/or legal beneficiaries of the crash victims of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in the amount of $444.5 million.” Boeing will further pay $487.2 million in fines and invest $455 million in company “compliance, quality, and safety programs.”

Half of the fine has already been paid, the agreement notes.

Boeing must also engage with an Independent Compliance Consultant and conduct an internal review of its policies and procedures.

In 2021, Boeing was charged with conspiracy to defraud the FAA. The DOJ argued at the time that the company engaged in deceitful behavior regarding an aircraft part affecting the flight control system. Airplane manuals subsequently failed to include information about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

“The tragic crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct by employees of one of the world’s leading commercial airplane manufacturers,” then-Acting Assistant Attorney General David P. Burns of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said at the time. “Boeing’s employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA concerning the operation of its 737 Max airplane and engaging in an effort to cover up their deception.”

Former Hostages Warn: No Deal with Iran

June 5, 2025

Iran Ebrahim Raisi — (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Several Americans who endured the 1979 Iran hostage crisis have expressed strong opposition to any potential agreements between the United States and Iran. These former hostages, including Clair Cortland Barnes and William Gallegos, caution against trusting the Iranian regime, citing past experiences of deceit and mistreatment.

Clair Cortland Barnes, now 80, who spent 444 days in captivity, stated, “I don’t think they’re honorable.” He continued telling the Washington Free Beacon that any agreement would only be “a paper deal,” highlighting the regime’s history of breaking promises.

William Gallegos, a former Marine Corps guard during the crisis, expressed ambivalence about potential negotiations. He remarked, “Even though President Trump is a great negotiator, you know Iran; even if they make a deal, whatever happens once Iran gets what they want? Then they screw everybody else over, and then it’s done, and then it starts all over again.”

Kevin Hermening, another former hostage, stressed the importance of strength and clear principles in any dealings with Iran. He stated, “It’s a hard no for me on uranium for enrichment, for weapons purposes,” reflecting concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the potential for misuse of enriched uranium.

While some former hostages, like Kathryn L. Koob and Barry Rosen, hope for successful negotiations, they remain skeptical. Rosen emphasized his desire to avoid further conflict, saying, “I don’t want to see a war break out—another war break out—in the Middle East.”

The Iranian regime’s history of violating agreements and mistreating hostages has left deep scars. As Barnes concluded, “I think that whatever deal you make with them, they’re going to break as soon as they can.”

Columbia Accreditation at Risk as Trump Administration Cites Civil Rights Violations

June 5, 2025

hamas students — Pro-Palestine protesters (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Trump administration has formally notified Columbia University’s accreditor that the institution is “in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the Commission.” This action follows findings that Columbia “acted with deliberate indifference towards discriminatory harassment against Jewish students,” placing the university’s accreditation—and access to federal financial aid—at risk.

On May 22, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services concluded that Columbia violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by failing to protect Jewish students from harassment. This determination led the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to alert the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Columbia’s accrediting body, emphasizing that accredited institutions must comply with all applicable government laws and regulations.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “Columbia’s deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students is not only immoral, but also unlawful.” She underscored the responsibility of accreditors as gatekeepers of federal student aid, asserting that they must ensure member institutions abide by their standards.

The potential loss of accreditation would render Columbia ineligible for federal financial aid programs, including student loans and Pell Grants. Such a development could significantly impact the university’s operations and reputation.

This move is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump to address perceived left-wing overreach on college campuses. On April 23, Trump signed an executive order facilitating changes in university accreditors and promoting the recognition of new accrediting bodies, aiming to reform the accreditation process.

Despite previous actions, including freezing over $430 million in federal funding and advocating for new disciplinary measures, incidents of antisemitism have persisted at Columbia. Notably, a recent event involved protesters storming a campus library, resulting in injuries to security personnel and the distribution of materials endorsing violence.

Columbia University has acknowledged the concerns raised and stated that it is addressing them directly with the Middle States Commission. The university has pledged to implement reforms, including banning face coverings during protests and enhancing disciplinary processes.

As Secretary McMahon emphasized, “Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants.” The administration’s actions signal a commitment to ensuring that educational institutions uphold civil rights standards and protect all students from discrimination.

WWII Bombs Discovered in Cologne Prompt Largest Evacuation Since War

June 5, 2025

Nazi Germany — (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The discovery of three unexploded WWII bombs in Cologne, Germany, forced the evacuation of over 20,000 residents on June 4, 2025, marking the city’s largest such operation since the end of the war. The ordnance, identified as two 20-hundredweight and one 10-hundredweight American aerial bombs with impact fuses, was unearthed during construction in the Deutz district.

Authorities established a 3,280-foot evacuation zone encompassing critical infrastructure, including Eduardus Hospital, schools, retirement homes, and the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station. Traffic routes and Rhine River shipping lanes were temporarily suspended to ensure public safety.

The evacuation affected approximately 20,500 people, including residents, workers, and hotel guests. Public transportation and cultural venues were shut down, and weddings at city hall were relocated.

Bomb disposal experts from Düsseldorf’s explosive ordnance disposal team successfully defused the bombs by 7:19 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported during the operation.

Cologne, heavily bombed during WWII, continues to manage remnants of the conflict. Between 1,500 and 2,000 unexploded bombs are found annually in North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by wartime munitions.

Trump’s Travel Ban Targets Dangerous Foreign Actors

June 5, 2025

hamas — Taliban supporter in Kabul, Afghanistan (Photo by Nava Jamshidi/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order implementing a travel ban targeting dangerous foreign actors from 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The ban, effective June 9, 2025, restricts entry into the United States for nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, the order imposes partial restrictions on travelers from seven other countries, including Cuba and Venezuela.

The administration’s decision follows a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, involving an Egyptian national who was in the U.S. illegally. Although Egypt is not among the countries listed in the ban, the incident underscored the need for stringent vetting processes.

The executive order, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” aims to enhance screening and vetting measures for all foreign nationals seeking entry into the United States. It directs federal agencies to identify deficiencies in information-sharing and to implement necessary updates to existing procedures to ensure national security and public safety.

Critics argue that the travel ban disproportionately targets Muslim-majority and African nations, raising concerns about discrimination and potential legal challenges. However, the administration maintains that the measures are necessary to protect Americans from foreign threats.

The travel ban is reminiscent of the 2017 restrictions implemented during Trump’s first term, which faced legal scrutiny but were ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

In a statement, President Trump emphasized the importance of national security, stating, “We will do whatever it takes to keep our country safe.”

Schumer Rebrands GOP ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ as ‘We’re All Going to Die Act’—Critics Laugh It Off

June 5, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mockingly renamed the Republican-led “One Big Beautiful Bill” the “We’re All Going to Die Act,” citing claims it would strip health care from 14 million people, cut food aid for 11 million, and funnel tax cuts to billionaires—all allegedly on the backs of families. He held up a poster during the speech, labeling it “UNHINGED,” and drew immediate backlash from conservatives who dismissed his warnings as repeated scare tactics that fall flat .

Critics on social media poked fun at Schumer’s dramatics, citing past over-the-top rhetoric tied to issues like net neutrality and climate policy. One user quipped, “I’m already dead from Net Neutrality, climate change, sequestration, and building a wall,” while another wrote, “I was murdered by the repeal of Net Neutrality”.

Commentators argue that Schumer’s doom-saying undermines the credibility of genuine policy concerns and fails to resonate with a public desensitized to hyperbole .

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