02 U.S. Politics

Blurb:

JERUSALEM: The investigative group Bellingcat says a newly released video “appears to contradict” United States President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for an explosion at an Iranian school that killed over 165 people at the start of the war raging in the Mideast.

It comes as mounting evidence points to US culpability for the Feb 28 strike, which hit a school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base in Minab, Iran, in the country’s southern Hormozgan Province.

Experts interviewed by The Associated Press, citing satellite image analysis, say the school was likely struck amid a quick succession of bombs dropped on the compound.

The video shared by Bellingcat is a three-second clip of a video taken the day the school was struck and circulated Sunday by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency.

 

Blurb:

If President Donald Trump is looking for a senator who embodies the spirit and action of “Republican in Name Only,” he couldn’t find no better man than milquetoast Texas Sen. John Cornyn.

The four-term RINO locked in a contentious GOP primary run-off battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton boasts a storied Senate career of genuflecting at the altar of the Swamp. Cornyn has been begging for Trump’s platinum endorsement more shamelessly than he’s prostituted himself for establishment cash.

And it’s looking like he might get the president’s seal of approval, if you can believe the Trump-hating Atlantic and other Pravda Press publications.

“President Trump’s political advisers expect him to endorse Senator John Cornyn in Texas’s May 26 Republican-primary runoff election following the incumbent’s better-than-expected finish against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the first round of voting [Tuesday] three people briefed on the deliberations told us,” The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker write.

Blurb:

While Senate Majority Leader John Thune hems and haws about getting the SAVE America Act to President Trump’s desk, his home state just showed him up by passing its own version of it.

The South Dakota House of Representatives passed SB 175 on Wednesday. Much like the SAVE America Act, the SB 175 seeks to require documentary proof-of-citizenship for residents registering to vote. The House approved the measure in a veto-proof 64-3 vote after it successfully cleared the Senate (28-6) last month.

Sponsored by South Dakota Freedom Caucus Vice Chair and GOP Sen. John Carley, the bill now heads to Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden’s desk to be signed into law.

Blurb:

Conservatives: Michael Cooper, Todd Doherty, Tamara Jansen and Andrew Lawton.

Liberals: Hon Helena Jaczek, Annie Koutrakis, James Maloney, Marcus Powlowski and Kristina Tesser Derksen.

Bloc Québécois: Luc Thériault (BQ).

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond, Hon. Yonah Martin, Hon. Rosemary Moodie, Hon. Pamela Wallin, Hon Kristopher David Wells.
The committee should not derail Private Members Bill C-218, which like it’s predecessor in the last parliament (Bill C-314) would prevent euthanasia (MAiD) for mental illness alone. Bill C-218 has gained significant traction within the governing Liberal Party. This committee may move the debate into the committee rather than parliament.Get the latest pro-life news and information on X (Twitter).

Blurb:

The UK has decided to spend resources on policing kids aged 13-17 on whether they are posting politically incorrect material online. Throughout this campaign, they hope to instill fear in the younger generation that what you retweet or like might get you convicted under the Terrorism Act.

According to Action Counters Terrorism:

Terrorist-related offending can include:
displaying the signs, symbols and slogans of terrorist groups
creating extremist content that celebrates terrorists or terrorist groups
sharing extremist content that celebrates terrorists or terrorist groups
encouraging other people to commit terrorist crimes
threatening acts of violence for terrorist causes online.

Blurb:

 

Defending Education has launched a protest tracker of K-12 student walkouts, Blaze News has learned. The national grassroots organization released the tracker amid a surge of student protests against immigration enforcement efforts.

Defending Education estimated that the number of school protests has significantly increased since 2022. The organization gathered this information from social media posts, news articles, and press releases.

‘By allowing these protests, school leaders are increasing the chance of harm befalling students and decreasing much-needed instructional time in the classroom.’

Blurb:

For the second time in less than a month, Oregon Democrats have blocked consideration of a bill that would have guaranteed basic medical care to infants delivered alive after botched abortions.

“Pro-abortion lawmakers in the Oregon Senate voted against bringing a bill to the Senate floor Thursday that would require Oregon medical professionals to provide the same standards of care to babies born alive during failed abortions as newborns delivered under usual circumstances,” noted Oregon Right to Life’s Communication Director Ashley Sadler. 

All 18 Senate Democrats voted against SB 1554, the “Born Alive Infants Protection Act,” while all 12 Republicans voted in favor. 

Blurb:

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales has exited his reelection runoff after an affair scandal with a former aide embroiled his campaign.

Gonzales released a short statement announcing his decision to withdraw without acknowledging the affair with a former staffer, who later committed suicide.

“At 18, I swore an oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. During my 20 years in the military and three terms in Congress, I have fought for that cause with absolute dedication to the country that I love,” he said.

Blurb:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would consider dropping his senatorial bid if Congress would lift the filibuster in order to pass the SAVE America Act.

Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn are headed to a runoff in May after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote during Tuesday’s primary.

The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of citizenship to register and voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections. The legislation is overwhelmingly popular, with polling showing roughly 80 percent of Americans — including a large number of Democrats — support voter ID and citizenship requirements.

Blurb:

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s clash with GOP senators this week was the final straw for President Donald Trump, though insiders say her fate had been sealed long before Tuesday’s hearing.

Two days after that hearing, Trump announced via social media that Noem would be replaced at DHS by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), effective March 31. In the same statement, Trump announced that Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, would become the new special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere that’s expected to be formally announced on Saturday in Doral, Florida.

Blurb:

 

Republicans on Capitol Hill are preparing to confront a staggering price tag for the war in the Middle East after closed-door briefings this week detailed the rapid consumption of expensive munitions and the lack of any firm deadline for the end of the military campaign.

Asked how much the Iran offensive would cost, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) didn’t sugarcoat it.

“A lot,” he replied.

Blurb:

Top US officials, including the Defense Secretary have said that sending US troops into Iran could not be ruled out. But given public opinion in the US, such a move would come with political consequences for Donald Trump and the Republicans, especially with the midterm elections approaching in November. However, there are reports that the White House is looking to enlist and even arm separatist groups in the region to accomplish having “boots on the ground.”
from www.france24.com

Blurb:

Democrats are looking ahead to the next battle after losing a fight in Congress this week to rein in President Donald Trump’s war against Iran: Making sure he doesn’t have the money to wage it.

Democrats are vowing to wield their Senate filibuster power against more spending to fund the president’s war efforts after both chambers this week failed to curb Trump’s military campaign through war powers resolutions, and the administration weighs an emergency funding request.

“Good luck,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), a leadership member, told the Washington Examiner. “What Democrat is going to vote to fund an illegal war that is turning into a bigger ham-handed disaster every minute?”

Blurb:

Happy Friday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends. Uzubuk felt that his joyful approach to his slaughterhouse days were what made him the haikuist that he’d become.

Many, many thanks to Chris for filling in for me on very short notice. My sister and niece blew into town unannounced from Michigan to surprise me and were only here for 36 hours. Chris kindly offered to free up some time for me to spend with them.

We’ve talked about it before, but it’s worth repeating — President Trump and his administration work at a furious pace compared to previous administrations. The president’s work ethic infuses the entire administration, which enables everyone to keep a lot of balls in the air. That’s a very good thing given how many messes were inherited from the Biden administration and the general state of the world today.

Blurb:

Degrees with median earnings below high school graduates could be cut

An Indiana bill that would cut funding for “low-earning degrees” is now headed to Governor Mike Braun’s desk and, if signed, would take effect on July 1.

An undergraduate degree is classified as having low earnings outcomes if, four years after graduation, the median earnings of its graduates do not exceed the median wages of certain high school-educated workers, Higher Ed Dive reported.

Blurb:

Austin, Texas — Rachel Reyes’ son, 23-year-old American citizen Ruben Ray Martinez, was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent nearly one year ago. But she said she’s still trying to understand why.

Reyes said she has not received any videos, evidence or official reports related to her son’s killing in March 2025. While Martinez’ death was reported at the time, ICE’s involvement was not publicly disclosed until last month, nearly 11 months later.

“I just want to know what happened, why they feel it was justified, and I honestly don’t believe that. I’m not a mother in denial. I’m just a mother in doubt, because I know my son and I know he’s not a threat,” Reyes told CBS News during her first TV interview since her son’s death.

Blurb:

Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) was accused of breaking the hand of Marine veteran and anti-war activist Brian McGinnis.

During a break in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, McGinnis put his hand through a hole in the wall to prevent Capitol Police from removing him from the room.

A video recorded by another anti-war activist showed Sheehy getting in on the melee by grabbing McGinnis and attempting to force him through the doorway.

“His hand! His hand! Oh!” one onlooker shouted.

Blurb:

Republican politicians and conservative leaders are turning up the pressure on Senate GOP leadership to pass the SAVE America Act to strengthen election integrity.

President Donald Trump posted Thursday on Truth Social, imploring senators to move quickly on the measure.

“The Republicans MUST DO, with PASSION, and at the expense of everything else, THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” Trump wrote. “And not the watered down version. This is a Country Defining fight for the Soul of our Nation!”

Blurb:

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States has no plans to admit a new wave of Middle Eastern refugees as the conflict with Iran unfolds.

President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social video early Saturday that the U.S. military launched Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel’s Operation Lion’s Roar. During a press briefing about the Iran attack, a reporter asked whether the Trump administration had safeguards in place to prevent a surge of refugees entering the United States.

“I‘m wondering if there‘s any safeguards put in place to make sure that the American people aren‘t having to have another wave of refugees?” one reporter asked.

Blurb:

Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s fiery bid for a U.S. Senate seat was an exercise in self-immolation, according to a new report citing comments from various black Democrats.

The report from Politico said the shaky underpinnings of Crockett’s campaign were evident long before she lost the Democratic primary to state Rep. James Talarico.

The report also noted that Crockett’s defeat exposed fault lines within the Democratic Party shaped by the culture of identity politics.

Blurb:

President Donald Trump said oil production is “beginning to flow” from Venezuela as Washington and Caracas work together to restore energy output following the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, describing cooperation between the two countries as productive.

“Delcy Rodríguez, who is the President of Venezuela, is doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well,” Trump wrote.

Blurb:

53 Democrats just voted against reaffirming that the Islamic Republic of Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism — something State Departments of both parties have declared since 1984.

They’re sick.

Blurb:

Texans and MAGA voters’ first instinct if President Donald Trump follows through with his reported endorsement of Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas primary will be anger. The real object of their ire, however, is not Trump but Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has spent more time campaigning to save another GOP establishment pawn from losing his upper chamber seat than he has saving the country from the clutches of the radical left.

It should not be difficult for a Republican trifecta to pass popular legislation enshrining the GOP’s election integrity agenda — or any other useful conservative policy — in law. Doing so would not only insulate Republicans from some of the shenanigans that have plagued elections all across the country, but it would also prove to Americans that members of the red party have earned reelection come November.