pgnewser

Blurb:

On Monday, the Supreme Court added two significant immigration cases to its docket. The cases are styled Noem v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, and both involve the issue of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The first comes out of the Southern District of New York and involves TPS for Syrians; the second comes from the D.C. District and involves Haitians.

Some background:

Congress enacted the Temporary Protected Status program in 1990. The program gives the Department of Homeland Security the power to designate a country’s citizens as eligible to remain in the U.S. and work if they cannot return to their own country because of a natural disaster, armed conflict, or other “extraordinary and temporary” conditions there.

Blurb:

It can’t be said often enough: States around the country have granted tens of thousands of commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs) to illegal aliens who can’t read English, don’t understand road signs, don’t know the rules of the road, and whose prior driving records are unknown.

And American drivers are dying as a result.

During the month of February, for example, illegal aliens caused two fatal crashes in Indiana. The first killed four Amish men — Henry Eicher, 50, Menno Eicher, 25, Paul Eicher, 19, and Simon Girod, 23 — after Bekzhan Beishekeev, an illegal from Kyrgyzstan, swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic, hitting their van head-on. Beishekeev came to the United States using the CBP One app developed by the Biden administration to help illegal immigrants enter the United States more easily. He was released into the country in 2023, and soon thereafter, Beishekeev got a CDL in Pennsylvania.

The second crash happened later in the month when illegal alien Singh Sukhdeep allegedly ran a red light in his big rig, causing a crash that killed 64-year-old Terry Schultz. Sukhdeep entered the United States as a minor, and the Flores settlement has continued to shape how minors are processed and released. The first Trump administration tried to change that framework in 2019, but federal courts blocked key portions of that effort and the agreement remained in effect.

Blurb:

On Tuesday, California agreed to a settlement with the Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and other plaintiffs, and will pay over $1.3 million to cover the plaintiffs’ attorney fees.

The settlement arose from a lawsuit that was filed against California’s Marketing Firearms to Minors Law, which crossed into First Amendment territory by banning firearm advertisements.

Breitbart News quoted Ninth Circuit Judge Kenneth Lee’s September 2023 majority opinion against the law, where he wrote “…that [the Marketing Firearms to Minors Law] does not directly and materially advance California’s substantial interests in reducing gun violence and the unlawful use of firearms by minors. There was no evidence in the record that a minor in California has ever unlawfully bought a gun, let alone because of an ad.”

RELATED VIDEO — Walters: Gavin Newsom Proves Democrats Have Been Captured by Their Most Radical Elements:

Lee added, “California cannot straitjacket the First Amendment by, on the one hand, allowing minors to possess and use firearms and then, on the other hand, banning truthful advertisements about that lawful use of firearms.”

Blurb:

A sharp clash has erupted after a senior counterterrorism official stepped down and issued a resignation letter criticizing U.S. involvement in Iran, prompting a forceful rebuke from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

McConnell Condemns Kent’s Resignation Letter

Mitch McConnell blasted the resignation of Joe Kent, arguing the contents of Kent’s letter crossed a serious line.

In a post on X, McConnell declared:

“Joe Kent testified before the Senate one year ago that Iran and its terror proxies threatened U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East.

“He said it would be an honor to return to the fight against terrorism, and he pledged to lead with integrity and accountability.

Blurb:

Some airports saw nearly 40% of TSA officers call out sick, an absentee rate significantly higher than normal levels, which typically hover around 2%.

Houston’s Hobby International Airport reported the highest callout rate at 40.8%, another major hit after 55% of workers called out over the weekend.

New Orleans and Atlanta saw 35.8% and 34.6% of workers call out sick, respectively. Other major hubs also saw elevated absences, including 30.1% at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and 29.1% at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Blurb:

CNN hasn’t exactly had a banner month. It started with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spanking CNN’s Kaitlin Collins about the dignified transfer of our brave service members who died in Operation Epic Fury, and only went downhill from there.

Just a few days later, the network repeatedly shared the false news that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was the target of homemade IEDs that were thrown into a crowd of anti-Islam protesters near Gracie Mansion. They started by portraying the alleged bombers, Ibrahim Kayumi and Emir Balat, as “two Pennsylvania teenagers” who “crossed into New York City … for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather.” The post went on to say the pair’s lives “would drastically change” after they were “arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest.” CNN later deleted that post, claiming it “failed to reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching the editorial standards” of the network. That post implied Mamdani was the target of the attacks, too.

Blurb:

The Iranian government remains “intact but largely degraded,” National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard told Congress on Wednesday, as Israel continued to hunt down the Islamic Republic’s leadership with an overnight airstrike that killed the nation’s spy chief.

The death of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, announced Wednesday by Israel, was the third high-level assassination in roughly 24 hours in a series of strikes that have hollowed out Tehran’s leadership ranks.

Israel ordered strikes Tuesday that killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Additional senior Iranian figures could be targeted, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday. “Israel’s policy is clear and unequivocal: No one in Iran has immunity — everyone is a target,” Katz said.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, issued a rare statement Wednesday addressing Larijani’s assassination.

“Undoubtedly, the assassination of such a person shows the extent of his importance and the hatred of the enemies of Islam towards him,” he wrote, according to the Associated Press. “All blood has its price that the criminal murderers of the martyrs must pay soon.”

Blurb:

For decades, the abortion industry has lied to America.

They’ve told us that abortion is healthcare, that abortion is about women’s rights, that the unborn are not human, and that abortion drugs are perfectly safe.

But consider the stories survivors of this deadly drug shared last week during a press conference on Capitol Hill hosted by Senator Josh Hawley:

“I was [in a] medically induced coma for a month… Eventually, the damage was so extensive that doctors had no choice but to perform a partial hysterectomy… I was scared and pressured by my boyfriend to end my child’s life. In that process, I almost lost my life as well.” -Shanyce Thomas

“As someone who’s been deceived by big abortion, I’m here to say that young people like me, young, scared moms and dads, deserve the truth. And the truth is, the abortion pill is not simple, and the abortion pill is not safe.” – Rebekah Hagan

Blurb:

 

Late last year, my colleague Elizabeth Stauffer reported that “ultra-conservative” candidate José Antonio Kast had won a landslide victory in Chile’s presidential election.

And by “ultra-conservative,” what is really meant is running for office by promising to take actions that normal people want and need. Kast, a Roman Catholic and lawyer, had a campaign centered on restoring order, cracking down on crime and illegal immigration, and revitalizing Chile’s market-oriented economic model through spending cuts and pro-business reforms.

How is Kast doing at this point? Less than a week after his inauguration, construction of a border wall between Chile and Peru began.

Less than a week after his inauguration, Chile’s arch-conservative president on Monday began overseeing preparations to build a border barrier — part of his flagship campaign promise to block immigrants from crossing illegally.

From Chile’s northern frontier area of Chacalluta, where legions of immigrants have slipped across the Peruvian border into one of the region’s most prosperous nations, Kast vowed to implement what he calls his “Border Shield” plan. Among other steps, it involves the construction of a physical barrier at the nation’s northern border made up of ditches and fences and patrolled by drones and the military forces.

…Kast assured the public that “for all of Chile, this is a milestone.”

“We have taken clear and concrete decisions to close our border to illegal immigration, drug trafficking and organized crime,” he said. “We want to implement this without any delay.”

Blurb:

Key Takeaways

  • Michigan proposes new firearm bills that may change where lawful gun owners can carry, including bars and places of worship.
  • The legislation aims to eliminate the concealed pistol license requirement, moving towards constitutional carry.
  • House Bill 5653 plans to repeal several existing location-based restrictions on concealed carry, altering the legal framework significantly.
  • Certain restrictions remain in school zones, but the bills clarify exemptions for licensed individuals.
  • These changes reflect a broader effort to simplify firearm laws and reinforce the Second Amendment as a civil right.

Blurb:

President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday night that the U.S. was completely unaware of Israeli strikes on a large gas field jointly owned by Iran and Qatar.

In less than a month, Operation Epic Fury has roiled the global energy market, driving gas prices to their highest levels since 2023 and pushing liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices up more than 50% worldwide. Trump has repeatedly stated his wish to “hold off” on striking infrastructure because “it would take years to rebuild.”

Evidently, according to Trump, Israel has not followed suit.

Blurb:

The Trump administration is probing thirteen states that allegedly force insurance providers to cover abortion.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters Wednesday notifying states with abortion coverage mandates of the investigation and requesting information about how their policies are being implemented, according to an HHS official.

“We are concerned about this because it means that thousands of people and employers, including religious employers, churches, but also employers who may be private citizens, but who object to abortion and would prefer that their health plans not cover it, are also coerced into purchasing a plan that covers abortion are not free in the marketplace to purchase abortion-free coverage,” the official said.

Blurb:

With AI becoming increasingly present in everyday life, the race to build AI infrastructure is only speeding up. At the center of that race is the rapid creation of data centers, with new ones opening on a nearly weekly basis in America. But as more data centers begin to integrate AI infrastructure, the amount of electricity required to operate them is growing at an alarming rate. Data centers are now expected to account for roughly 40 percent of US power demand growth in 2026, and the gap between what we need and what we can build is widening fast.

On today’s episode of Explain to Shane, I am joined by Lynne Kiesling, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she leads the Electricity Technology, Regulation, and Market Design Working Group. Kiesling also directs the Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics at the Northwestern University Center on Law, Business, and Economics, and is a member of the US Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee. I am also joined by Steve DelBianco, president and CEO of NetChoice and a seasoned expert on internet governance. Their combined expertise on this issue can help us understand how we can power the AI revolution.

Blurb:

The US president has warned of an attack on the South Pars area if Iran targets Qatar in response to Israeli strikes

The US will “massively blow up” the South Pars gas field – the world’s largest – if Iran continues to strike Qatari energy facilities, President Donald Trump has warned.

Israel launched strikes on Wednesday on Iran’s facilities in the South Pars gas field in the Gulf, which it shares with Qatar. The South Pars spans almost 10,000 sq km and hosts an estimated 1,800 trillion cubic feet of gas. In response, Iran attacked a Qatari LNG facility and has threatened counterstrikes on key energy infrastructure across the Gulf region.

Blurb:

Democrats’ refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security has exceeded any hypothesis of good faith. It is an unpatriotic attack on America’s frontline of defense during a time of war and potential Iranian sleeper cells, and an inexcusable burden on the department’s employees.

Last week, all Senate Democrats, except John Fetterman, again voted to block funding for DHS.

Financed in part by malign foreign powers who seek to defeat the United States, radical left activists have co-opted the Democratic Party. Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois, head of the supposedly centrist New Democrat Coalition, typifies the illogic. “My concern about DHS is their absolute disregard of the Constitution and American citizens’ civil rights,” he said, adding, “So until we see officers who abuse citizens’ civil rights held to full account, until we restore full congressional oversight, I’m not giving another penny to ICE and CBP.”

Blurb:

The Pentagon is reportedly seeking over $200 billion from the US Congress to fund President Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran. If approved, the war funds will boost the US military campaign that began on February 28 and ramp up the production of weapons used during the conflict, according to a report by The Washington Post.

It’s been nearly three weeks since the US, along with Israel, began airstrikes against Iran to dismantle what the US military calls the “Iranian regime’s security apparatus.” So far, American forces have struck more than 7,800 targets and made over 8,000 combat flights and damaged or destroyed more than 120 Iranian vessels, according to U.S. Central Command.

Blurb:

Despite heavy opposition from Democrats, the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 narrowly passed the House of Representatives Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Ohio GOP Rep. Dave Taylor, passed 231-186, with all 186 nays coming from the Democratic Party, according to Fox News.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to more stringently target fraud.

Effectively, the bill would amend that act to specifically define fraud as a deportable offense.

Blurb:

President Donald Trump stated that there would be “NO MORE ATTACKS” by Israel after Israel was reported to have launched strikes on Iran’s South Pars Gas Field.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the United States “knew nothing about this particular attack,” and added that Qatar “was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it.” Trump explained that because “Iran did not know” Qatar was not involved in the attack, Iran “unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.”

Blurb:

 

House Democrats say Attorney General Pam Bondi is attempting to evade a congressional subpoena to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffery Epstein case.

Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Wednesday evening walked out of a closed door briefing with Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, saying the nation’s lead prosecutor declined to commit to cooperating with a subpoena issued by the panel’s Republican chair earlier this week.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, told reporters his members had only been informed about the planned Oversight briefing with Bondi and Blanche the day before. He accused the Trump administration officials of trying to stage “some kind of fake hearing” to avoid Bondi testifying under oath.

“This has been completely set up in a way that’s been irresponsible. And quite frankly, we believe a way for the Attorney General to get out of her answering questions under oath and to the public,” Garcia said.

Blurb:

Costa Rica on Wednesday closed its embassy in Havana and told Cuba’s communist government to pull its diplomats from San José.

“We have to clean out communists from the hemisphere,” Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves declared after the diplomatic rupture.

The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. responded to the closure by alleging in a social media post that Costa Rica made the move “under pressure from the United States.”

Blurb:

Joe Kent, former director of President Donald Trump’s National Counterterrorism Center, said Wednesday that information on Iran originating from Israeli officials and amplified through U.S. media and policy circles played a central role in shaping the president’s decision to carry out military action.

Kent, speaking on the Tucker Carlson Show following his resignation on Tuesday, argued that there was no U.S. intelligence showing Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States and suggested U.S. action was influenced by “an ecosystem of information” tied to Israeli interests and bogus intelligence.

Blurb:

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel lashed out after U.S. President Donald Trump said he could do “whatever he wants” with the Caribbean island and that Washington could take “imminent action” against it.

Díaz-Canel said on X that the Trump administration “publicly threatens” Cuba’s government almost daily with overthrowing it, and any act of aggression “will clash with an impregnable resistance.”

The comments came after new threats by Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Cuba’s socialist economic model needs to “change dramatically.” The same day, another Latin American country denounced Díaz-Canel’s government and said it would close its embassy.