As Joe Biden's tenure in the White House fades further into the rear-view mirror, more information is emerging about the lengths to which his administration went to curtail the freedoms most Americans hold dear.
As Fox News reports, Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as Director of National Intelligence, recently declassified the details of a Biden-era scheme to battle against domestic terrorism that critics say would have facilitated government spying on American citizens.
The declassification of information about the program came as a result of a push by conservative advocacy group America First Legal (AFL) after it learned, via litigation against the Department of Homeland Security, of the existence of the “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism.”
This Biden-era plan was borne out of that administration's assertion that the greatest threat to Americans was “right wing domestic terrorism” initiated by supporters of Donald Trump.
AFL sought declassification of the Biden plan due to its concerns about weaponization of power “by censoring disfavored speech on the Internet by labeling such speech 'misinformation,' 'disinformation,' 'hate speech,' 'domestic terrorism.'”
In the wake of the Jan. 6 unrest at the U.S. Capitol, the Biden administration “directed the U.S. Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice, and Central Intelligence Agency to 'obtain from foreign partners foreign intelligence and information related to U.S.-based violent extremism,'” as AFL noted.
“In other words, the Biden administration planned to outsource surveillance of Americans to foreign governments,” AFL explained.
In response to AFL's effort, Gabbard took to X to announce the declassification of documents pertaining to Biden's plan.
“As promised, I have declassified the Biden Administration's Strategic Implementation Plan for Countering Domestic Terrorism,” Gabbard wrote.
Gabbard also declared, “Under President Trump's leadership, @ODNIgov will bring transparency and accountability to end the weaponization of our intelligence community.”
Notably, Gabbard's declassification shed light on the Biden program that even spurred criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union, which opined that its provisions were reflective of “the government's ever-expanding authority to surveil and monitor American communities....”
The program, the ACLU warned, encompassed “law enforcement guidance that permits profiling on the basis of race, religion, or national origin; and the use of abusive tools such as the watchlisting system against people for constitutionally protected speech and association.”
As AFL explained, “The Biden Administration weaponized the entire intelligence apparatus -- the NSC, ODNI, CIA, FBI, DOJ, and the State Department -- to target, censor, and silence the very people it was responsible for protecting.”
Andrew Block, AFL's senior counsel opined, “The declassified plan is further proof of what we have known all along, which is that the Biden Administration used the full weight of the government to target American citizens. AFL applauds Director Gabbard for her leadership in declassifying this document,” adding that doing so will, "bring accountability to those responsible and help restore integrity and faith in the system,” and that is something millions believe is long overdue.
President Donald Trump is making good on promises made to voters in the last election that he would unleash American energy after four years of stagnation under former President Joe Biden.
Trump has signed multiple executive orders taking a sledgehammer to burdensome regulations on the coal industry created by the previous administration, which waged a "war on coal" in the name of the climate change agenda.
An executive order signed earlier this month exempted several coal plants from Biden-era regulations while slashing regulations to allow the industry to surge and lower the price of energy, which was squeezing Americans' already strained budgets.
Amy Cooke, the director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Center, told The Daily Caller that, "When utility bills are skyrocketing or blackouts are happening in winter, people are going to want reliable power back. The beauty of coal is that it allows for affordable, reliable power, which is absolutely crucial to economic prosperity, and in particular, innovation."
The previous administration didn't care about the economic impact of shutting down coal power and as a result millions of Americans suffered. However, those days are over, and under Trump, the coal industry is set to flourish.
Under Trump's new orders, over 70 coal power plants are no longer required to meet extreme air quality regulations created by the Biden administration.
A statement from the EPA explained that the new order would "bolster coal-fired electricity generation, ensuring that our nation’s grid is reliable, that electricity is affordable for the American people, and that EPA is helping to promote our nation’s energy security."
While critics pointed out that coal doesn't provide a majority of energy, Cooke was quick to point out that, because of extreme demand, Americans need maximum supply, especially from cheaper and more stable sources like coal.
Cooke stated, "We can lead the world in innovation,” Cook told the DCNF, referencing developments in natural gas and nuclear power as beneficial. “But you have to have coal. It has to be part of the mix. It’s insane that we would shut down any base load power right now, when the demand for power is so high."
The increasing demand for energy has not been matched with an increasing supply, heightening the possibility of rolling blackouts, a situation that is unthinkable for Americans who only experience rolling blackouts in third-world countries.
The Biden administration could have moved to increase American energy supply, but due to harmful leftist ideology, the Biden administration instead went to war with American energy.
For many states, Trump's cessation of hostilities against the coal industry is a much-needed relief. The coal industry provides thousands of stable and well-paying jobs to average Americans.
Furthermore, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated, "The American people need more energy, and the Department of Energy is helping to meet this demand by unleashing supply of affordable, reliable, secure energy sources – including coal."
Lowering the cost of energy will have a domino effect on the economy, spurring economic growth as Americans have more discretionary spending power.
While there is a lot of work to be done to undo the damage caused by Joe Biden, the Trump administration is wasting no time in unleashing the American energy industry and empowering regular Americans.
A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's administration from deporting illegal immigrants outside of their country of origin, Breitbart reported. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy imposed a due process standard.
The judge ruled Friday that the federal government could not send deportees to a third country outside their "order of removal without first allowing them to raise concerns about their safety." A deportation order would typically include the migrants' homeland or another destination of their choosing.
Murphy said that the administration is attempting to send deportees to nations "where they may be immediately tortured and killed, without providing that person any opportunity to tell the deporting authorities that they face grave danger or death because of such a deportation." The judge cited a supposed myriad of precedents in his written memorandum.
NEW: A federal judge in Massachusetts grants a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from deporting people to third countries without telling them where they're going and allowing them to raise fears of persecution or torture.
The opening lays out the stakes. pic.twitter.com/lXNs9XtBVt
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) April 18, 2025
The Trump administration has been aggressive on border security, having campaigned on the issue during the 2024 presidential election. One of the ways he has sought to do that is by deporting criminal illegal aliens under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
The Supreme Court backed Trump earlier this month by overturning a U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's block. However, The New York Times described the decision as "narrow and focused on the proper venue for the cases," rather than granting blanket permission.
Notably, the individuals being deported in these cases are members of gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Still, Murphy slammed the administration for "removing aliens to third countries without notice and an opportunity to be heard on fear-based claims — in other words, without due process."
The judge has further restricted the administration's power to remove these dangerous criminals in Friday's decision. "The irreparable harm factor likewise weighs in Plaintiffs’ favor," Murphy pointed out about the challenged deportation.
"Here, the threatened harm is clear and simple: persecution, torture, and death. It is hard to imagine harm more irreparable," Murphy claimed.
Because the Democrats will oppose Trump on anything and everything, they have gone all in on defending criminal illegal aliens. This has made for strange bedfellows as Democratic lawmakers fall all over themselves for an alleged MS-13 gang member, Abrego Garcia.
Initial reports said that Garcia was deported by mistake, and Democrats ran with that, according to Fox News. Oregon Democratic Rep. Maxine Dexter was only the latest to appeal for his release from El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center on Friday.
"This is not just one family’s nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head-on. Our constitutional rights are on the line," she claimed.
The only problem is that the White House confirmed Garcia was indeed a member of the gang, with tattooed fingers and a record of violence to prove it. He was accused of domestic violence against his wife and human trafficking.
The lengths the left will go to defend illegal immigrants is shocking. Trump's administration will keep fighting even as the Democrats and their cronies on the court attempt to thwart the president and the will of the people.
A call for the impeachment of President Donald Trump has been issued by a Democratic House member, spotlighting the contentious handling of a Supreme Court ruling related to an El Salvadoran deportation case.
The controversy revolves around the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose removal to El Salvador was deemed an "administrative error" amid conflicting claims about his alleged criminal affiliations, Breitbart reported.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered that Garcia should be released following his erroneous deportation to El Salvador. The deportation occurred under an initiative by the Trump administration, which targeted alleged Venezuelan gang members. Despite the court's directive, the Trump administration has opted not to retrieve Garcia immediately, underscoring its position of presidential discretion in foreign affairs.
Garcia's situation became a focal point after a U.S. District Judge found probable cause to hold the administration in criminal contempt. The deportation was a breach of a prior 2019 immigration judge's ruling that Garcia could not be sent to El Salvador due to potential persecution.
Amidst these legal battles, Garcia's lawyers have insisted that his deportation was a mistake. They argued that Garcia had not engaged in criminal activities and had adhered to immigration protocols. However, conflicting assertions have arisen from various sides regarding his alleged gang affiliations.
The White House has maintained that Garcia was significantly involved with MS-13, a gang labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by President Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Garcia played a leadership role in MS-13 and was involved in human trafficking activities.
Justice Department representatives countered judicial critiques by stating that judges do not hold control over the president’s authority in foreign policy. Congressman Shri Thanedar has been vocal, expressing that Trump has not adhered to a lawful Supreme Court ruling, openly supporting a move towards impeachment.
Sheriff Jeff Gahler of Harford County, Maryland, underscored the Trump administration's stance by claiming Garcia is a "1000%" confirmed MS-13 member and identified domestic abuser. This assertion adds to the complex backdrop of security and legal debates surrounding Garcia's deportation.
While these allegations complicate the narrative, Garcia’s legal advocates continue pressing for his rights under immigration law, emphasizing the lack of evidence for his criminal involvement. The controversy underscores broader debates about immigration policies and executive power.
As the debate intensifies, the Justice Department has highlighted the significance of presidential prerogatives in international engagements, deflecting criticisms over the deportation's execution. This ongoing legal and political turmoil has captured national attention, drawing scrutiny to the administration’s actions.
The Democratic legislator's impeachment call places additional pressure on Trump and could amplify Congressional debates. The outcome may set important precedents for how immigration rulings are managed under executive discretion in the future.
With the Supreme Court’s role spotlighted in the unfolding events, discussions regarding its enforcement power continue. The court's inability to compel immediate action emphasizes challenges in balancing judicial rulings with the executive's diplomatic considerations.
As the story evolves, Congress and the public are closely watching potential steps from both the executive and judicial branches. The implications of this case extend beyond one individual, potentially shaping future immigration and foreign policy discourse.
Ultimately, this case could propel wider dialogue on congressional oversight and the legal complexities inherent in executing Supreme Court decisions. As parties involved navigate these turbulent waters, the nation awaits clarity and resolution on the contentious matter.
What would have otherwise been a cheerful and celebratory swearing-in ceremony for Dr. Mehmet Oz at the Oval Office turned into a scary medical situation for one of his young granddaughters.
According to the Daily Mail, Dr. Oz, who was appointed by Trump as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), was set to be sworn in at the Oval Office earlier this week until his granddaughter, Philomena, 11, passed out.
The moment came just after Dr. Oz had a question-and-answer session with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Reports indicated that after Trump answered a question about nuclear weapons, Dr. Oz's daughter began yelling, "Philo fainted, Philo fainted. Dad, go!"
Several people, including Dr. Oz, rushed over to where the medical episode took place, while others hurried the press out of the room. One White House aide shouted, "Everybody out!"
Multiple videos and pictures from the moment it happened and the resulting chaos were posted across social media.
🔁 UPDATE: The White House confirms a minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. She has since recovered and is okay, according to officials. pic.twitter.com/xiK5h5J9xC
— Next News Network 🇺🇲 (@NextNewsNetwork) April 18, 2025
"UPDATE: The White House confirms a minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. She has since recovered and is okay, according to officials," Next News Network reported at the time.
It was later reported that the young girl had recovered from the incident and was doing well after being checked out.
"A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office,” the White House said in a statement to PEOPLE. “We are happy to say she is okay."
Users across social media reacted to the situation and Trump's response, with many praising the president for directing attention to what was happening in the room.
"Trump stops everything when someone falls out in his audience, even if that audience has 25,000 people," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "Notice how Trump never runs away. He runs to the roar. Whatever is happening, he'll move to help."
Thankfully, all is well and the young girl will be fine.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Joe Biden, after decades as a politician on some fairly good salaries in Washington, and after his family took in tens of millions of dollars in what appeared to be an influence peddling scheme during his time in office, now is a former president, and is trying to make a bit of income from giving speeches, like so many out-of-office politicos.
He's signed with an agency and outlined his demands: $300,000 per speech, plus a jet if travel is involved, plus expenses for a full staff to accompany him.
But, it seems, no one is buying.
A comment at the Gateway Pundit delivered a devastating assessment of Biden: "Apparently, there isn't much of a market for angry, yelling, incoherent babbling speeches from former presidents who have difficulty forming sentences."
It was the New York Post that revealed, "It's not just Biden family artwork that's struggling to sell these days. Former President Joe Biden's attempt to bill $300,000 per speaking appearance is finding few takers, The Post has learned — as some of his own former aides say it's time for the 82-year-old to leave the spotlight for good after reminiscing about 'colored kids' Tuesday in his first public address since leaving office."
Biden has established a reputation for telling wild and untrue stories during his days campaigning and in office.
His speeches typically feature long periods of mumbling, interspersed with sudden bouts of shouting and screaming.
"I'M NOT KIDDING" is a popular insert on just about any topic.
Biden has been known to call on dead people while speaking, and often insults listeners, once calling someone a "dog-faced pony soldier."
The Post reported that a source familiar with Biden's "faltering speaking career" confirmed the $300,000 price tag.
Biden has been represented since February by the Creative Artists Agency, and delivered his "first public speech since leaving office Tuesday, stumbling when he referred to 'colored kids,'" the report said.
He had spoken earlier, but nobody covered it.
The Post's source said, "CAA is having trouble booking gigs, which isn't surprising."
The report cited Biden's "history of peddling glaring inaccuracies before his political career came to a crashing end when he delivered incoherent debate remarks that prompted a Democratic mutiny."
The CAA declined to comment to the Post on the topic.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
An instructor at Washington State University who was captured on security video beating up a student who was wearing a MAGA hat is learning the cost of his political violence: His job.
The professor, Patrick Mahoney, "has been fired from his post," according to the Daily Mail.
The video showed Mahoney, "along with student Gerald Hoff, ripped Jay Sani's hat from him while outside of a bar near the Pullman campus on February 28."
The video confirms Sani, who is Indian-American, was pushed to the ground by the two men and punched repeatedly. He was left with scrapes and bruises and reported the assault to police.
The university later confirmed that Mahoney was "relieved of all teaching responsibilities."
"Washington State University is aware of an off-campus incident that occurred last February involving a WSU staff member and a graduate student. After an investigation conducted by the City of Pullman's police department, and in accordance with WSU policies, the staff member's employment has been terminated. The second individual involved was a graduate student serving as a teaching assistant. He was not a Washington State University professor. This person has been relieved of all teaching responsibilities."
The report said the video was first obtained by Turning Point USA Frontlines reporter Jonathan Choe, and it confirmed that policy bodycam footage confirmed the offenders "admitted to the assault."
Mahoney, to the police, tried to blame the victim.
The two attackers have also been arrested and charged with assault.
A Facebook post said, "A fight ensued, which resulted in Jay Sani being thrown onto the concrete. This caused Jay Sani to bleed and suffer further injuries. One or more of them then proceeded to kick Jay Sani while he collapsed on the concrete."
The report noted that Mahoney "has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including advocating for the Pullman City Council to sign a Gaza ceasefire resolution."
President Donald Trump's administration is considering closing as many as 30 consulates and embassies worldwide, the Kenya Times reported. This would impact Europe and Asia, but more than half of the closures could affect Africa.
The State Department is looking to cut 50% of its yearly budget and hopes to slash foreign aid by nearly 75%. The closings of foreign outposts would go a long way toward getting that plan in action.
On the chopping block are European embassies in countries like Luxembourg and Malta, as well as consulates across Asia and Europe. However, as shown in a map from CNN shared to X, formerly Twitter, Africa would have the most embassies cut, while Europe would see several of its consulates disappear.
Trump Admin to close down nearly 30 embassies and consulates.
CNN Map here pic.twitter.com/zgSNLR3YNU
— Rashid Abdi (@RAbdiAnalyst) April 16, 2025
Running embassies and consulates is expensive and may have arguably small benefits in certain nations. Still, the left is breathlessly warning about the dire consequences of this cost-cutting measure.
For instance, State Department internal documents indicate that the diplomatic arrangements in Iraq and Somalia could impact the ongoing counterterrorism activities from there. However, the initiative wouldn't eliminate the U.S. presence but tighten up the coverage.
Some consulates and embassies are redundant when there is a nearby outpost that can easily cover for both areas. The purpose of these entities is to help American citizens with issues while in the countries where the outposts are located.
They can process visas or provide other help to American citizens, but they are also tasked with diplomacy. This is especially important in adversarial nations like China, where information gathering helps officials in Washington, D.C. make policy decisions from afar.
Despite all the handwringing, it appears that the closures will be strategic and not leave territories completely uncovered. The State Department documents recommend "resizing" of some missions using the plan already undertaken in Canada and Japan "as a model large mission by consolidating consulate support into a specialized unit," where possible.
According to Fox News, the embassy and consulate closures are part of a larger cost-saving plan. However, lawmakers like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, warned that these cuts "would leave our country alone and exposed and allow China and Russia to fill the vacuum made vacant by this administration."
However, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, these fears are overblown. "Throughout the history of the United States, everyone has a budget plan and everyone has ideas for budgets," she explained.
"And every president has a budget plan and sends it to Congress. And then Congress either accepts it or they have their own ideas, which happens more often than not," Bruce said.
"There is no final plan, final budget," Bruce added. There are many checks and balances in place for these sorts of moves, but that doesn't stop the left from pouncing at the first hint of cuts anywhere.
It's crucial for the U.S. to have an international presence, but there are certainly ways to streamline it. Trump has been working hard to cut the waste out of government spending, and that's what he was elected to do, whichever way he sees most fit to do so.
A top National Institutes of Health food scientist has abruptly retired from the agency over disagreements about his research, the UK Daily Mail reported. Dr. Kevin Hall believes it was because outcomes "did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives" under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Washington, D.C. is reeling as Hall is a nutrition and metabolism scientist who was conducting studies on the impact of ultraprocessed food on obesity. He claimed in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that he was retiring because he received pushback on his research results.
Kennedy has been an outspoken critic of the food industry. He has postulated that the use of addictive additives that turn food into unrecognizable products that are hyperpalatable is causing significant health problems as America grows sicker and fatter.
However, Hall said his research study on ultraprocessed foods disputed the claims that these products are as addictive to consumers as drugs. Critics believe Hall's study was flawed, but the doctor disputes this claim, saying it's a matter of "censorship."
Hall pinned the post to his X account and laid out his case against the NIH. "After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health," he began his lengthy post.
"My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology. Lately, I’ve focused on unravelling the reasons why diets high in ultra-processed food are linked to epidemic proportions of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity," Hall went on.
"Our research leads the world on this topic. Given recent bipartisan goals to prevent diet-related chronic diseases, and new agency leadership professing to prioritize scientific investigation of ultra-processed foods, I had hoped to expand our research program with ambitious plans to more rapidly and efficiently determine how our food is likely making Americans chronically sick," the doctor claimed.
"Unfortunately, recent events have made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science," Hall wrote. He went on to say that there was "censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction," Hall claimed.
After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health. My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology. Lately, I’ve focused on… pic.twitter.com/JSybxCujDH
— Kevin Hall (@KevinH_PhD) April 16, 2025
Hall conducted a 2019 study that found people ate more when the foods were engineered to be highly palatable. He launched a 28-day study and found that when the additives that made the food more enjoyable were removed, consumption decreased.
In 2024, Hall was set to share his findings, but he claims he has been censored. Scientists throughout the U.S. are studying whether it's the processing, chemical additives, or overconsumption of fat, salt, and sugar that are to blame for poor health outcomes.
A Boston Children's Hospital researcher and endocrinologist believes that Hall's original study was simply too short to be useful. It's easy to get people to modify their behavior for short periods, but it's common knowledge among scientists that long-term change is more challenging.
Dr David Ludwig said Hall's study was "fundamentally flawed by its short duration" and thus unable to provide adequate information. "If they were persistent, we would have the answer to obesity," said Ludwig, who believes that consumption of junk carbohydrates is the "prime dietary culprit" and that worrying about the processing itself is "distracting."
While scientists squabble over these distinctions, Americans experience poor health outcomes that have increased rapidly. There is too much money in the ultraprocessed food industry for quick change, but continued study could eventually break the spell of Big Food.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump has openly promoted his plan to fire thousands, even tens of thousands of federal workers, to cut waste, fraud, and corruption from the government.
He's already accomplished a lot of that, shutting down some entire bureaucracies with plans for more.
But now he's going full throttle, with an announcement that the administration is moving ahead with a new rule, previously known as "Schedule F," that will make it a lot easier to remove federal employees it believes "are undercutting President Trump's agenda."
A report from Axios noted the plan apparently will limit "civil service protections" for about 50,000, or 2% of the federal workforce.
The report explained, "The Office of Personnel Management's new rule — dubbed 'Schedule Policy/Career' — will allow many career civil servants to be classified as 'at will' employees, making them easier to remove. Trump aides argue they need greater flexibility to fire civil servants who are underperforming, engaging in misconduct, or undermining Trump's policy plans."
While many, many federal employees are supposedly performing "nonpartisan" jobs, many of those have, in fact, made their posts partisan by pursuing their own political agendas while being paid by taxpayers.
Those would be known these days as the "Deep State," which in fact has weaponized large parts of the federal bureaucracy against Trump.
The report said it was toward the end of his first term that Trump, by executive order, established a Schedule F category, but Joe Biden immediately killed the plan.
The report noted that a White House official confirmed that even unelected career bureaucrats need to be accountable for the agenda chosen by voters.
It was earlier this month that some agencies started picking which positions should fall under the new definition, the report said.
Leftists have claimed the cuts already being made by the Department of Government Efficiency are threatening operations of key programs such as Social Security, but Trump actually has ordered that program recipients be provided benefits as usual.
"Trump's plans to implement the rule have drawn aggressive pushback from labor groups," the report said, citing the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who have sued to restore protections for their dues-paying members.