01b People Advance

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Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the permitting process for “critical mineral” mining is set to be more “transparent” as the greenlit projects will have a public review process.

The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced this adjustment on Friday to bring “increased transparency, accountability, and predictability” to the review process. This comes after the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) selected its “first wave” of “critical mineral” projects in accordance with Trump’s March 20 executive order on expanding “American mineral production.”

“This is just the beginning — many more projects are expected to be added to the list on a rolling basis over the next few weeks,” the announcement reads. NEDC flagged 10 initial projects in this “first wave” of domestic mining operations, outlined in the announcement.

“This is the first use of the Permitting Council’s transparency authority, and we look forward to showcasing the many benefits the Federal Permitting Dashboard can bring to critical infrastructure projects as part of President Trump’s Executive Order on increasing American mineral production,” Manisha Patel, Acting Executive Director at the Permitting Council, said in the statement.

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A new survey from the Yale Youth Poll has revealed a stunning generational divide in American politics — and a particularly brutal blow for former Vice President Kamala Harris among the youngest male voters.

According to the poll, conducted in early April and released this week, 18–21 year-old men now hold a net positive favorability toward President Donald Trump (+7), while Harris has plummeted to a staggering negative favorability of -48. That’s a 55-point gap between the two political figures, a number almost unheard of in modern polling.

The poll, conducted by an undergraduate-led research project at Yale University, surveyed 4,100 registered voters, including an oversample of 2,025 voters aged 18–29. It measured attitudes on a wide range of issues from immigration to free speech, and included various message tests to assess how voters respond to different political framings.

But the most striking revelation came in the breakdown by age. While voters aged 22–29 favored Democrats by 6.4 points on the generic congressional ballot, those aged 18–21 went the other direction — backing Republicans by a double-digit margin of 11.7 points. That represents a significant generational rift within Gen Z itself.

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Justice Samuel Alito has choice words for his high bench colleagues who released a blanket opinion “literally in the middle of the night” on Saturday, ordering the Trump administration to halt the deportation of Venezuelans suspected of being Tren De Aragua gang members from custody in the Northern District of Texas.

In his dissent joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, Alito argued the court “hastily and prematurely granted unprecedented emergency relief” to an expanded number of suspected criminal aliens in a “legally questionable” manner — especially because “it is not clear that the Court had jurisdiction.”

Contrary to his fellow justices’ assumption of authority, Alito noted even the Fifth Circuit “held that it lacked jurisdiction” because it was unsure whether a District Court’s failure to rule on the alleged gang members’ request for a temporary restraining order “before the expiration of a truncated counsel-imposed deadline” counted as a denial. Alito clarified later in the dissent that the counsel for the Venezuelans “insisted on a ruling within 45 minutes on Good Friday afternoon” and proceeded with an appeal when that demand was not met.

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Two years after Gallup said that more Americans identified as Republicans than Democrats for the first time in over three decades, the trend has expanded as the GOP has won over more support from Hispanic and black voters.

The one-point edge Gallup discovered in January 2023 has grown to five points in a new Napolitan News survey of 9,300 registered voters.

In that survey shared with Secrets, 46% said that they considered themselves Republicans or leaned Republican, while 41% considered themselves Democrats or leaned Democrat.

In the Gallup survey of 10,000 adults, 45% identified as Republicans and 44% as Democrats.

Napolitan pollster Scott Rasmussen said that while the numbers appear to favor Republicans and even President Donald Trump, voters can be fickle and sometimes change their partisan identification.

“While it’s hard for people in the political world to accept, party ID is fluid. During a campaign season, people who think of themselves as independent tend to align with a party — or at least lean toward a party. That’s why the number of Republicans goes up with a Trump victory,” he said.

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Trump has been pushing to turn every federal agency into an effective tool for catching and deporting illegal immigrants. And wouldn’t you know it, acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause couldn’t handle doing the right thing and resigned.

And guess who’s likely to take her place? Gary Shapley, the IRS whistleblower who blew the lid off the Hunter Biden tax probe. He testified under oath that he faced retaliation simply for doing his job and cooperating with congressional investigators looking into the shady business dealings of the president’s son. Now, according to the Associated Press, Shapley is expected to be promoted to acting commissioner of the IRS.

Shapley and fellow IRS investigator Joseph Ziegler were sidelined from the Hunter Biden probe in December 2022 after raising serious concerns with their superiors. According to their testimony, the Justice Department under then-U.S. Attorney David Weiss repeatedly “slow-walked investigative steps” and stalled enforcement actions in the critical months leading up to the 2020 election.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi escalated the Trump administration’s war with Maine on Wednesday, announcing a lawsuit over the state’s decision to continue allowing boys to compete in girls sports.

Bondi said during a press conference flanked by young female athletes, including activist Riley Gaines, that the legal action was a result of the state defying President Donald Trump’s executive order that interpreted Title IX to prevent transgender athletes from competing in sports exclusive to their opposite sex. The Biden administration had reinterpreted it to include transgender identity in Title IX’s protections.

“They must not be reading the same Title IX we’re reading,” Bondi said.

The complaint alleges that the Maine Department of Education is “openly and defiantly flouting federal anti-discrimination law.”

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“Based on media reports, Ms. Letitia James has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms.”

The Trump administration hit New York Attorney General Letitia James with a criminal referral for alleged mortgage fraud on Tuesday, according to a report from the New York Post.

The outlet reported that Federal Housing FHFA Director William Pulte sent the referral to Attorney General Pam Bondi as well as the Department of Justice, and accused James of having “falsified records” to get a home loan in Virginia while she was still serving as the New York state AG. The alleged false documents said that James’ home in Virginia was her “principal residence.” When a home is labeled as ones “principal residence,” loans will sometimes have more favorable terms.

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President Donald Trump received mixed reviews from the public regarding his handling of economic matters, according to a new poll.

A CBS survey polled voters last week after Trump imposed sweeping global tariffs and then negotiated “fairer” trade deals with foreign countries to carry out his “America First” agenda. As a result, the stock market had a volatile week, losing $6 trillion at one point. It has since recuperated partially, though market anxieties remain.

The survey highlighted conflicting feedback from the public. When asked about the impact of Trump’s tariffs, some voters said they raised prices in the short term but could pay off with a healthier economy in the future. However, 65% of voters said they would make the economy worse in the short term. That number fell to 42% when voters were asked about the long-term implications of the tariffs. Only 8% said the tariffs would make the economy better in the short term, compared to 34% who believe Trump’s trade policies would help the economy in the long term.

Hegseth Secures ‘First and Free’ Passage for U.S. Ships in Panama Canal– www.breitbart.com
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PANAMA CITY, Panama — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had one mission on his trip to Panama — to secure a deal to get “first and free” passage for U.S. ships in the Panama Canal, a critical waterway for the United States’ economy and military that was at risk of falling under China’s control.

As the secretary and his team flew the down from Washington on Monday evening to meet with Panama’s leaders, such a deal with Panama was far from certain.

While the U.S. had built the canal in the early 1900s and maintained it for decades before handing it over to Panama, China had in recent years poured money into projects and infrastructure attached to it. As a passageway between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans that handles more than 40 percent of U.S. maritime trade, if China were able to close the canal, it would be a catastrophe for the U.S.

President Donald Trump, early on in his administration, made retaking the canal from Chinese influence a top priority. In December, even before he took office for the second time, he posted about it on Truth Social:


 

Trump Weighs Plan To Shutter Controversial Law Enforcement Agency– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly weighing a proposal that would merge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to a report from Reuters, the department outlined the plan in a March 25 memo. In addition to a potential merger, the administration is also reportedly considering the closure of several field offices that handle antitrust, environmental and civil cases.

The administration believes that a merger of the ATF and the DEA would “achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction and regulatory efforts,” the memo outlines. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche instructed department heads and relevant officials mentioned in the memo to provide feedback about the proposed restricting by April 2.

Blanche added that proposed cuts and mergers were previously submitted to the Office of Personnel Management and the White House Office of Management and Budget.

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Sunday night marked another explosive chapter in President Trump’s ongoing battle with the dishonest corporate media, as he fired off a pair of Truth Social posts eviscerating the long-disgraced CBS program “60 Minutes” for airing not one—but two—blatantly false hit pieces against him.

This is not the first time “60 Minutes” was accused of running deliberately false reports in order to take down President Trump.

It can be recalled that ’60 Minutes’ cut Kamala’s nonsensical answer to a question and replaced it with a completely separate sentence she said earlier in the interview. This was fraud and election interference.

ELECTION INTERFERENCE! Fake News ’60 Minutes’ Caught Editing Kamala’s Nonsensical Answer with Previous Soundbite to Make Her Sound Coherent and Normal – VIDEO RELEASED

In recent news, CBS is now considering settling a $10 billion lawsuit brought by Trump over its deceptively edited ’60 Minutes’ interview with Kamala Harris prior to the 2024 election.

Sources inside CBS, as reported by CNN, revealed that discussions of a potential settlement have “sparked outrage” in the newsroom.

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The Trump DOJ opposed requests in alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s motion for additional relief.

On Friday, US District Judge of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, Paula Xinis set a new hearing in the case of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the Supreme Court ruled the US must facilitate his return from El Salvador.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, photo via Murray Osorio PLLC immigration law firm.

The US Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the US to facilitate the return of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

The ruling was unanimous. There was no dissent.

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The State Department will cooperate with a government-wide task force to collect information “involving anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration.”

The Trump administration has directed State Department employees to report incidents of alleged “anti-Christian bias” among their colleagues, as part of a broader initiative to support Christian employees across the federal government.

According to an internal cable obtained by Politico, the State Department will cooperate with a government-wide task force to collect information “involving anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration” and will document examples of anti-Christian bias via anonymous employee reports.

The cable was sent to embassies worldwide under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name. A department-wide notice was also sent out detailing the instructions.

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… Right now, the deportation of Abrego Garcia, an illegal alien with reported MS-13 ties who was deported to El Salvador is the latest duel between Trump and the lefty legal community. They want Trump to return this man. The liberal media reported that the Supreme Court ordered Trump to do so, but that’s not what the ruling said. It was nuanced, with key passages dedicated to how district courts overreached in this matter:

The intended scope of the term “effectuate” in the District Court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the District Court’s authority. The District Court should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.

So, on that matter, Trump’s team took a blowtorch to this case. The Federalist’s Margot Cleveland broke down the new filings, responding to a motion for additional relief from Garcia’s wife [emphasis mine]:

Trump Administration begins noting that Court invited the Motion Garcia filed for “additional relief,” and that the relief sought seeks to micromanage diplomatic relations…It does.

Trump Administration argues the relief would violate SCOTUS directive to respect Article II authority.

Trump Administration then walks Judge through what SCOTUS actually ordered which was NOT an affirmance as she and Garcia continue to inaccurately claim. Here, Trump Administration stressed points I made earlier concerning what SCOTUS said

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President Donald Trump will mark Holy Week with a series of events aimed at honoring Easter “with the observance it deserves,” a move the White House is framing as a contrast to the Biden administration’s controversial decision to proclaim Easter Sunday 2024 as Transgender Day of Visibility.

The White House Faith Office, newly established under Trump’s administration, has organized what it calls an “extraordinary” weeklong celebration leading up to Easter Sunday.

“The newly created White House Faith Office is grateful to share that President Trump will honor and celebrate Holy Week and Easter with the observance it deserves,” Jennifer Korn, faith director of the White House Faith Office, told Fox News Digital.

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Another win for election integrity is unfolding in Arizona, where state officials are partnering with DHS to verify voter rolls. Make no mistake about it —this is exactly the kind of action we need to protect our elections from fraud and abuse.

As many as 50,000 non-citizens are expected to be removed from Arizona’s voter rolls following a successful lawsuit by America First Legal (AFL) against all 15 Arizona counties.

“This settlement is a great result for all Arizonans,” (AFL) senior counsel James Rogers told Fox News Digital.

As a result of the lawsuit, the 15 counties have now begun working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship status of all registered voters in the state who failed to provide proof of citizenship.

While a 2013 Supreme Court ruling prohibits states from imposing voter registration requirements beyond the federal requirement that registrants must check a box affirming their U.S. citizenship, Arizona residents are still required to provide proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections.

The Arizona law also requires that county recorders perform a monthly list maintenance to confirm the U.S. citizenship of so-called “federal-only voters,” a list of nearly 50,000 individuals who failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship and were not allowed to vote in state or local elections.

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President Donald Trump‘s immigration crackdown on foreign students in the United States is expected to have a chilling effect on enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities this fall, according to higher education analysts.

School experts worry foreign enrollment at U.S. schools could take a nose dive as the Trump administration continues its immigration enforcement initiative that has targeted students who support the terrorist organization, Hamas, and federal immigration officers raid dorm rooms in search of student visa recipients who refuse to leave despite their status being revoked.

Dr. William Brustein, special assistant to the president for global affairs and a distinguished history professor at West Virginia University, said arrests and visa revocations in recent weeks will hurt America’s ability to attract international students to institutions.

“I am fairly confident that the Trump’s administration’s crackdown on student visa recipients who it alleges engaged in pro-Hamas protests in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre of Israelis will indeed have a chilling effect on foreign student enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities this fall,” Brustein wrote in an email.

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As the state of Maine continues to defy federal civil rights law and allow men to compete in women’s sports, an initial investigation by the Education Department has been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for “further enforcement action.”

The Justice Department taking over the investigation is an escalation in the fight between the federal government, which is trying to force Maine to comply with Title IX civil rights law to protect women and girls in sports, and Democrat Gov. Janet Mills, who wants to continue the practice.

“The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance with Title IX, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a press release. “The Maine Department of Education will now have to defend its discriminatory practices before a Department administrative law judge and in a federal court against the Justice Department. Governor Mills would have done well to adhere to the wisdom embedded in the old idiom — be careful what you wish for. Now she will see the Trump Administration in court.”

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Legal Insurrection readers may remember my recent post on Neela Rajendra.

Rajendra once held the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer role at NASA’s famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is steeped in the DEI movement, having co-founded the Science of Diversity & Inclusion Initiative (SODI) and advised various organizations on DEI strategies.

The organization retained Rajendra after rebranding her position in an apparent effort to evade President Donald Trump’s executive orders regarding the ending of DEI. She managed to cling to her job, even after 900 others at JPL were terminated.

Less than a week after this evasion came to light courtesy of the Washington Free Beacon, NASA jettisoned Rajendra.

NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory has parted ways with its top diversity officer, Neela Rajendra, after the Washington Free Beacon reported that the lab had changed her title in an effort to keep her.

“Neela Rajendra is no longer working at [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory],” lab director Laurie Leshin said in an all-staff email on Thursday. “We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she made to our organization. We wish her the very best.”

Leshin added that the newly formed Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success—intended to replace the DEI team Rajendra had led—would be moved to the Office of Human Resources.

Border Encounters of Unaccompanied Children Fall to Record Low– www.dailysignal.com
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The number of migrant children arriving alone at the southern border reached an all-time low in March.

Border Patrol encountered 631 unaccompanied alien children at the southwest border last month, down 97% from the record high of 18,716 under the administration of then-President Joe Biden in March 2021, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official.

“March was the lowest number of unaccompanied children arriving at our southern border in recorded history,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told The Daily Signal.

President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem “are stopping the exploitation and trafficking of children,” McLaughlin said. “Thanks to strong leadership, we now have the most secure border in American history.”