‘We’ll Put It Up’: Trump Secures Return of Border Wall Materials Biden Sold Off

August 14, 2025

The-United-States-Mexico-International-Southern-Border-Wall-between-Sunland-Park-New-Mexico-and-Puerto-Anapra-Chihuahua-Mexico-grandriverGetty-via-Canva-Pro — The United States Mexico International (Southern) Border Wall between Sunland Park New Mexico and Puerto Anapra, Chihuahua Mexico (grandriver/Getty via Canva Pro)

President Trump announced that his administration is retrieving border wall materials the Biden administration sold at steeply discounted prices. Legal action and a settlement with the auction company involved will return the steel components to be installed along the southern border.

Speaking at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, President Trump accused President Biden of selling border wall parts “for pennies on the dollar,” citing prices as low as three or four cents on the dollar. Trump said, “We are taking that wall back… We’ll put it up.” He noted the administration is paying only a small amount to reclaim the materials, which had been left unused after Biden halted wall construction in early 2021.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is leading the legal effort, filing suit against the company that handled the sale. According to Trump, Bondi reached a settlement allowing the wall sections to be returned. The surplus auction firm GovPlanet, which facilitated the sales, agreed to expedite the materials’ return through existing contract arrangements, selling them back at cost to U.S. taxpayers.

The move follows a December court injunction secured by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The ruling blocked the Biden administration from auctioning off additional wall components before Trump took office, citing possible violations of prior court orders tied to border wall funding. Trump praised the decision as a “major, crucial win for America.”

The reclaimed materials are expected to be installed in high-traffic illegal entry zones, reinforcing Trump’s pledge to restore and expand the southern border wall. The administration views the recovery as both a fiscal and security measure—avoiding waste of taxpayer-funded assets while advancing its goal of securing the border.

‘Hedge Funds Would Be Jealous’: Bessent Slams Congressional Stock Profits

August 14, 2025

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is calling for an end to individual stock trading by members of Congress, citing “eye-popping” profits that would make Wall Street hedge funds envious. His remarks have intensified demands for legislative action to restore public trust in elected officials. Recent proposals, including a Senate bill by Sen. Josh Hawley, aim to crack down on lawmakers profiting from privileged information.

Bessent issued the warning during an interview on Bloomberg Surveillance, stating that members of Congress are making gains that no average investor could legally replicate. “If any ordinary American traded like this, the SEC would be at their door,” he said. Bessent promised to work with Congress to ban lawmakers from trading individual securities while in office.

Some of the most significant gains reportedly came from high-profile lawmakers like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Ron Wyden. According to Bessent, the returns achieved by congressional members were so significant that “every hedge fund would be jealous.” One senator executed more than 1,300 trades in just two years, raising serious questions about access to non-public information.

Sen. Josh Hawley’s proposed legislation, which cleared a Senate committee in July by a narrow 8-7 margin, would ban stock trading by members of Congress and their spouses. It also includes new restrictions for the president and vice president, who would face delayed divestment rules. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also signaled openness to a ban, though some members of Congress have pushed back, citing stagnant salaries since 2009 as a reason they should be allowed to manage their own investments.

Despite the ethical concerns, public interest in congressional trading remains high. Financial firms have developed ETFs that mimic trades made by lawmakers, based on the observation that congressional trades frequently outperform the market. These trends underscore growing concerns about corruption, conflicts of interest, and the need for accountability in public service.

Lawmakers’ access to legislative schedules, regulatory updates, and industry briefings offers them an advantage not available to ordinary investors. Bessent’s comments reflect increasing frustration with this systemic imbalance and growing bipartisan support to limit it.

Dangerous Recall: DermaRite Soaps Could Cause Life-Threatening Sepsis

August 14, 2025

DermaRite Industries has issued a widespread recall of hand soaps and antiseptics contaminated with the antibiotic-resistant bacterium Burkholderia cepacia. The recall follows concerns that immunocompromised individuals could face life-threatening sepsis from these products.

DermaRite admitted that the contaminated products—including DermaKleen, KleenFoam, DermaSarra, and PeriGiene—may cause only mild infection in healthy users but pose serious dangers to individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease. The bacteria’s resistance to treatment makes this a serious public health risk.

Products with expiration dates ranging from mid-2025 through early 2027 were distributed across the United States and Puerto Rico. Although no adverse events have been reported to date, DermaRite and the FDA are acting out of caution. Consumers and distributors have been urged to destroy any affected products immediately.

Critically, this recall underscores failures in manufacturing quality control and regulatory oversight. The presence of such a dangerous microbe in products designed to promote cleanliness raises immediate questions about production safety. The absence of reported injuries offers no assurance—this should serve as a wake-up call for stronger safeguards in everyday health products.

Ninth Circuit Reconsiders Satanic Temple’s Attack on Idaho’s Abortion Ban

August 14, 2025

A federal appeals court has directed a lower court to reexamine whether The Satanic Temple (TST) has legal standing to challenge Idaho’s strict abortion ban. This development could allow the group another chance to press its provocative constitutional claims.

The case, The Satanic Temple v. Labrador, asserts that Idaho’s law violates several constitutional protections—claiming the abortion ban constitutes a taking of the “economic value of a woman’s uterus” under the Fifth Amendment, amounts to a form of slavery under the Thirteenth Amendment, and discriminates under the Fourteenth Amendment by exempting survivors of rape and incest. TST positions abortion as a religious practice central to its doctrine of bodily autonomy.

A panel of the Ninth Circuit found that TST lacks both associational and organizational standing. The group has no clinic, staff, or patients in Idaho and failed to identify any specific Idaho member harmed by the law. Its statistical projections—estimating that 27 members in Idaho might become “involuntarily pregnant” annually—were deemed too speculative to meet Article III requirements.

Despite affirming the dismissal, the court sent the case back to the district court to decide whether the dismissal should be without prejudice, allowing TST to refine its claims and potentially refile.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador hailed the ruling as a defense of Idaho’s pro-life values, stating: “The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals correctly found that the plaintiff lacked standing to challenge Idaho’s laws protecting mothers and preserve the sanctity of life.”

Ex-Chief of Staff Blasts Bolton’s ‘Trump Derangement’

August 14, 2025

Trump Daddy — (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

Former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney accused John Bolton of hating President Trump, characterizing Bolton’s behavior as motivated by “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and questioning whether it makes him “a traitor, a miscreant or just an idiot.” The remarks strike at the heart of Bolton’s credibility among conservative circles.

Mulvaney told Bill O’Reilly that Bolton “would say anything to make President Trump look bad” and argued such behavior reflects a deeper aversion to Trump personally—not a matter of policy disagreement. The blunt critique underscores Bolton’s reputation as a persistent critic, even within GOP ranks.

Bolton’s recent criticism centers on Trump’s upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bolton warned that Trump’s approach lacks firm commitments, particularly regarding continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine—raising alarms among those worried America is ceding leverage.

Mulvaney’s comments reflect a broader disapproval within Trump’s inner circle of Bolton’s relentless critiques. Despite his prior service and expertise, Bolton has been increasingly viewed as undermining rather than supporting the president—even by fellow conservatives. His shift from national security advisor to repeated critic has cost him credibility among key GOP figures.

Israel Neutralizes Terrorists Impersonating Aid Workers

August 14, 2025

Gaza residents trapped — Photo by CHUTTERSNAP, Unsplash

Israel launched an airstrike in Gaza that eliminated armed militants masquerading as humanitarian aid workers, a move that critics warn endangers genuine relief efforts.

A report details that Israeli forces targeted a vehicle bearing a forged World Central Kitchen (WCK) emblem driven by five armed terrorists. The group wore yellow vests and cynically appropriated humanitarian branding to evade detection. The IDF confirmed with WCK that the vehicle and those involved had no affiliation with the charity.

The IDF’s strike followed video documentation showing the imperiled deception in progress. Officials underscored that this deliberate misuse of humanitarian symbols endangers real aid workers by undermining public trust in genuine relief operations.

This incident illustrates Hamas’s willingness to exploit humanitarian norms for tactical advantage. Critics argue such tactics are not only treacherous but also escalate risks to legitimate aid distributions and noncombatants.

Israel’s response reflects a necessary defense of humanitarian integrity, but it also underscores the increasingly complex challenges of warfare in densely populated and media-sensitive conflicts. Long-term consequences may include greater suspicion toward aid neutrality and increased challenges for relief agencies operating in contested zones.

Baylor Sues Boston U Over ‘BU’ Logo Infringement

August 14, 2025

Baylor University has filed a federal lawsuit against Boston University, alleging that BU’s use of an interlocking “BU” logo is “essentially identical” to Baylor’s long‑standing trademarked design, causing confusion and diluting its brand.

Baylor’s complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Waco, Texas, cites trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin. The interlocking “BU” has served as Baylor’s visual identity since at least 1912 and was federally registered in 1988. Baylor claims decades of widespread use have built significant public goodwill around that logo.

The lawsuit traces the dispute back to 1987 when Baylor applied to register the design and Boston University opposed. In 1988, a coexistence agreement was reached, allowing both institutions to use the “BU” initials—but in distinct styles. Boston typically used side-by-side lettering, which Baylor did not contest.

According to Baylor, the conflict resumed in 2018 when BU began selling hats with an interlocking version of the logo through its campus store. Despite Baylor’s objections in 2021, Boston expanded use of the contested mark, now seen on merchandise and used by club sports programs. Baylor argues that the usage likely misleads consumers and allows Boston to unfairly benefit from its brand equity.

Baylor’s filing demands the court permanently bar Boston University from using any confusingly similar interlocking “BU” mark. The university also seeks destruction of infringing materials and recovery of litigation costs.

Both universities declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

Illinois Lt. Governor Pushes Debunked ‘Murdered’ Narrative for Michael Brown

August 14, 2025

BLM — Black Lives Matter sign (Kelly Lacy/Pexels via Canva Pro)

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton tweeted that Michael Brown was “murdered,” ratcheting up political polarization and perpetuating a narrative long discredited by law enforcement findings.

Lieutenant Governor Stratton’s post claimed Michael Brown “graduated from high school 8 days before he was murdered,” honoring his memory in a way that dismisses key facts about the 2014 incident.

Federal investigations, including a DOJ probe, concluded that the evidence did not support civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson. The reports found no proof that Brown raised his hands in surrender or called out “Don’t shoot.” Instead, overwhelming forensic and eyewitness evidence indicated Brown assaulted the officer and attempted to seize his service weapon.

By rebranding the case as a “murder,” Stratton perpetuates a misleading narrative that ignores the factual findings of federal authorities. Her message echoes the “Hands up, don’t shoot” myth that has repeatedly been debunked over the past decade.

Nature Pushes to Replace DEI with Decolonized Indigenous Science

August 14, 2025

A new Nature editorial urges replacing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in science with “decolonization” that elevates Indigenous knowledge systems to equal status with Western science. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from those warning it could erode scientific standards.

The editorial claims DEI is superficial and fails to address the “colonial foundations” of research. It calls for reshaping science around place-based Indigenous epistemologies, treating them as equally valid as empirical, reproducible methods. Supporters say this would correct historic marginalization. Critics counter that replacing the scientific method with ideology risks politicizing research and undermining objectivity.

The push mirrors global academic trends, including recent debates in New Zealand over giving Māori traditional knowledge equal weight in science education. Opponents there argued such moves blur the line between cultural traditions and scientific fact.

The Nature stance signals a growing willingness in elite institutions to challenge the universality of the scientific method itself—an approach some see as less about inclusion and more about rewriting the rules of science to fit activist agendas.

Adelphi SJP Faces One-Year Probation for Campus Hostility

August 14, 2025

protest — Protest (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Adelphi University placed its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter on one-year disciplinary probation after finding that the group’s social media posts created a hostile environment for Jewish students. The decision follows an investigation initiated by Israeli-American Professor Tuval Foguel, represented by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

Adelphi’s investigation determined that the SJP chapter’s online posts praised the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Other posts called for “long live the intifada” and claimed that “Israel is a terror state” whose supporters are “Zionist terrorists.”

Administrators concluded these statements were “severe or pervasive” enough to intimidate or discourage Jewish students from participating fully in campus life.

The one-year probation began on August 7, 2025, and will remain in effect until August 7, 2026. During this time, the university may restrict the chapter’s events, closely monitor communications, and require members to participate in educational programming.

SJP leaders must meet with officials by mid-September to review appropriate social media use and the risks of harassment. Failure to comply with the probation terms could result in the loss of official campus recognition.

The probation order leaves little room for appeal. Only procedural errors, the emergence of new evidence, or proof of bias could lead to reconsideration.

The Brandeis Center praised Adelphi’s action as a significant step in protecting Jewish students from targeted hostility. Professor Foguel called the decision “an important step in the right direction” and said it could serve as a model for other universities confronting similar conduct.

This action reflects a broader national trend of universities sanctioning SJP chapters for speech and conduct that cross into harassment, with other schools such as George Washington University taking similar measures.