This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

First Lady Melania Trump joined a roundtable on Capitol Hill Monday that focused on the "Take It Down" act, the first bill of its kind to protect victims of deepfake revenge porn.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., co-sponsored the plan.

However, Rep. Ro Khanna was the only Democrat present at the discussion.

"I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue," Trump said. "Surely as adults, we can prioritize America's children ahead of partisan politics."

The first lady did not mince words in her brief speech. She spoke plainly of the villainous dangers artificial intelligence poses to young people.

"In today's AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information escalates."

The panel highlighted the story of Elliston Berry, 15, who suffered a horrific ordeal when her school peers created deep fake pornography using her likeness and circulated it online.

The social media company where the video was circulated – which featured Elliston's face atop an adult image – did not take swift action.

Cruz talked about the lasting harm for those who suffer such trauma.

He said teenagers, "are enduring senseless psychological harm knowing that these fake images exist and they're still out there, and in many cases, there is no recourse."

The first lady's push for the bill is part of the return of her BE BEST initiative, seeking to better the social, emotional, and mental health of young people across the country. She urged, "By advancing this bill, Congress can take an important step towards ensuring accountability and fostering responsible online behavior."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Conservatives can no longer afford to play by outdated rules while the left fights to win at all costs. In this powerful discussion, Elizabeth Farah of WND speaks with Will Chamberlain, senior counsel at the Article 3 Project, about the urgent need for "wartime conservatism" – a strategy that rejects passive bipartisanship and demands bold action to secure victories.

Chamberlain exposes the myth of an independent DOJ, stressing that the president has full authority over it, and details how his organization is confirming conservative judges, pushing back against leftist lawfare, and holding the judiciary accountable.

Elizabeth underscores the high stakes, questioning why Republicans hesitate to wield power effectively while Democrats relentlessly push their agenda.

They highlight immigration, Big Tech censorship, and election integrity as the real battlegrounds – issues that determine who holds power long-term. With urgency, they call on conservatives to stop fearing Democratic retaliation, eliminate weak norms like the filibuster, and take decisive legal and political action.

Drawing from his recent trip to Israel, Chamberlain points to its bold nationalist policies as a model for fighting back. The message is clear: if conservatives don't act now, they risk permanent political marginalization.

WATCH:

Here are the links to watch The Elizabeth Farah Show on other platforms:

Elizabeth Farah on X
WND on X
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WND on YouTube
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This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A video posted online by Dr. Maalouf, a social media commenter who routinely posts details about the Muslim influence in the United Kingdom, shows a woman scolding a Muslim man.

It's because he says he is fasting and he, therefore, objects to being able to smell the lunch she has chosen to eat.

"Excuse me. I can smell that. Do you mind eating that somewhere else?" he tells her.

"I'm fasting."

She explains, "That's not my concern."

He continues his rant of entitlement, repeating over and over that he's fasting and she needs to abide by his preferences.

She's blunt, telling him, "I'm eating my lunch." "Yeah, but I can smell it," he responds.

"So what. It's food. Of course you're going to smell it."

On of Dr. Maalouf's previous statements points out that Islam "has massacred over 669 million non-Muslims since 622AD."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The Iranian people's struggle for freedom and democracy has captured the attention of global public opinion and resonated with the conscience of individuals across various continents. The introduction of Resolution No. 166 in the U.S. Congress stands as a testament to this growing international awareness. Signed by over 150 members from both the Republican and Democratic parties, this resolution reaffirms the legitimacy of the Iranian people's demand for the establishment of a democratic and secular republic.

Historical and political context of the resolution

Resolution 166 was adopted at a time when the ruling religious dictatorship in Iran is facing an unprecedented crisis. Iranian society is on the brink of eruption, and after 46 years of oppressive rule, the regime has never been this fragile or vulnerable – particularly following the collapse of Syria's dictatorship and the loss of its "strategic depth" in the region.

The clerical regime is besieged on multiple fronts:

• By a defiant and enraged society demanding change;
• By organized resistance units and courageous youth determined to stand up against tyranny;
• By a collapsing economy and rampant institutional corruption that have eroded the government's foundations.

In a desperate bid to maintain its grip on power, the regime has escalated executions and repression. In the past year alone, 1,000 people were executed. On Feb. 26, "Bloody Wednesday," another 20 individuals were put to death. Reports indicate that in the first two months of 2025, an additional 100 executions have taken place.

A force on the ground: The key to change

While maximum pressure against this regime helps the Iranian people in their fight to liberate Iran and the region from a brutal fundamentalist dictatorship, it is not enough to bring about its overthrow. For real change to occur, an organized resistance movement and a force on the ground are essential.

The resistance movement inside Iran, consisting of resistance units operating nationwide, is actively confronting the regime. These units, working under the leadership of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, or NCRI, carry out bold actions against the misogynistic dictatorship, challenging its oppressive rule.

The pivotal role of women in the democratic resistance

The U.S. House's Resolution 166 specifically underscores the central role of Iranian women and girls in the struggle against the religious dictatorship. A section of the resolution states:

"Iranian women and girls have been the primary targets of repression by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and, as such, have become key elements of the resistance against this misogynistic regime. They have chanted slogans against the government and for freedom, including 'Woman, Resistance, Freedom.'"

Support for Maryam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan

America's Declaration of Independence asserts that when any form of government violates fundamental freedoms, the people have the right to alter or overthrow it and establish a new government. In the same way, the Iranian people have the inherent right to replace their oppressive regime with a democratic system. Recognizing the role of the Iranian resistance in this process is essential.

Resolution 166's explicit endorsement of Maryam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan is a key highlight. This plan presents a comprehensive vision for Iran's future after the fall of the religious dictatorship. It upholds universal human rights values, advocating for:

• Separation of religion and state
• Gender equality
• Abolition of the death penalty
• A non-nuclear Iran

These principles align with the longstanding demands of the Iranian people. Over 4,000 parliamentarians worldwide, including 243 members of the U.S. Congress, 33 legislative bodies, 130 former world leaders and 80 Nobel laureates have endorsed this plan – a testament to its global credibility.

A roadmap for real change

Far more than just a political declaration, this plan serves as a practical roadmap for Iran's democratic transition. By emphasizing this framework, Resolution 166 calls on the international community to take a more active role in supporting the process of regime change by the Iranian people themselves.

Unlike military interventions or foreign-imposed solutions, this approach prioritizes empowering the Iranian people themselves and strengthening domestic resistance movements. As a result, Resolution 166 carries significant moral and political legitimacy, reinforcing the call for a free, democratic and secular Iran.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy publicly has accused President Donald Trump's "special government employee" Elon Musk, charged with running fraud, waste and corruption down and removing it from government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, of doing "heil Hitler" salutes at a Trump rally.

Murphy is among countless Democrats and other leftist ideologues who have slammed Trump and his associates with such imagery for years already.

But that apparently wasn't working well enough for him, and now he's accusing the president of being an arm of the Kremlin.

In a recent interview, Murphy claimed:

It is absolutely shameful what is happening right now. The White House has become an arm of the Kremlin. Every single day you hear from the national security adviser, from the president of the United States, from his entire national security team, Kremlin talking points."

He was referencing attempts by Trump and his administration to develop a plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

"For the last week, the White House has been pretending as if Ukraine started this war. That's essentially saying that Poland invaded Germany at the beginning of World War II. There are still facts in this world and the fact is this Vladimir Putin is a brutal dictator. Russia started this war, and the entire pretext for that meeting yesterday was an attempt to rewrite history in order to sign a deal with Putin that hands Putin Ukraine," Murphy said.

And he said, "That is disastrous for U.S. national security. That means that China will be on the march. Putin may not stop. America may be at war with a nuclear power. And for what? For what? It appears as if America is trying to align itself with dictators that Donald Trump wants us to have our closest relationships with despots all around the world because that makes it easier for him to transition America into a kleptocratic oligarchy where Elon Musk and Donald Trump rule and steal from the American people."

A report at RedState noted the senator's "late-stage" Trump Derangement Syndrome was getting worse.

The report noted Murphy's appearance on CNN to share "his delusional thoughts with equally-TDS-riddled host Dana Bash."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Democrat lawmakers in a state legislature have turned into thought police, issuing a formal censure against a Republican representative who expressed her opinion regarding allowing men to participate in women's sports events.

The report on what happened to Rep. Laurel D. Libby, a Republican in Maine's House of Representatives, has been documented by the Washington Stand.

The action, a formal censure and ban on letting her speak because of what the Democrats wildly claimed was a lack of "good moral character," is supposed to be in place until she "apologizes."

The fight is one that's going on across the country, as leftists promoting what Joe Biden held as one of his standards for his presidency, a promotion of the LGBT lifestyle choice, continue to fight for their ideology in the wake of President Donald Trump's announcement that the government now recognizes two sexes, male and female.

The vote for Libby's punishment was 75-70 along party lines.

Democrats claimed, 'The House finds the conduct of Representative Laurel D. Libby to be reprehensible and in direct violation of our code of ethics."

Libby's opinions enraged Democrats when she wrote on social media about a male who won the state's girl's class B championship in pole vault.

Her comments included that one year earlier, "John tied for 5th place in boys pole vault. Tonight, 'Katie' won 1st place in the girls' Maine State Class B Championship."

Libby told the Washington Watch program that she was silenced for speaking up for girls who were "displaced from the top of the podium by a biological male."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A major American grocery chain, Kroger, has had a customer arrested for protesting a terror symbol it allowed an employee to wear while on the job.

The report comes from the RAIR Foundation, which documented the concerns expressed by Jewish journalist Sloan Rachmuth over the threat she perceived at a Kroger subsidiary Harris Tweeter store in North Carolina, and how the corporation responded by claiming her decision to post her concerns on social media turned into a crime.

A video of Rachmuth being told by police that something she said upset someone else, so she was being arrested.

Amy Mek, of the RAIR Foundation, explained Rachmuth was "politically targeted, humiliated, and silenced for daring to object to a U.S. grocery store employee wearing an Islamic terror symbol – exposing a shocking case of corporate complicity, police overreach, and state-enforced antisemitism."

Mek reported the situation developed in Holly Springs, N.C., where Rachmuth was arrested at her home in front of her terrified children.

"Her alleged crime? According to Rachmuth, she objected to a supermarket employee at Harris Teeter wearing the controversial keffiyeh, a political symbol widely associated with Hamas and its ambitions to destroy Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. Rachmuth, an outspoken advocate against antisemitism and a contributor to national media outlets on Middle Eastern affairs, explained to RAIR Foundation in an exclusive interview that she was handcuffed, marched through her neighborhood, and charged with cyberstalking, posting about the troubling incident online," the report said.

The arrest, she said, was based on "an unverified accusation," suggesting "law enforcement's complicity," the report said.

Rachmuth first had notified the store manager of the violation of the company's corporate attire policy, then corporate headquarters.

"Indeed, Harris Teeter allowed an employee to wear a threatening symbol of Islamic and Palestinian terrorism, visibly wrapping it around her head while working with customers," Mek reported.

When Rachmuth asked the employee, identified in the report as Amira M. Fattah, about the symbol, Fattah charged, "It's for a Free Palestine," confirming "she wore the keffiyeh as a political statement rather than for religious reasons."

Rachmuth's concerns to the store manager, Sheronna Irick, prompted a scolding to, "Like it or leave."

She then contacted the store chain's headquarters and posted documentation of the encounter on X.

Then workers at the store called police.

"According to arrest records and law enforcement, store manager Sheronna Irick played a pivotal role in facilitating this retaliation," the report said.

It was Holly Springs police officers Elliott Warren, Benjamin Marino, and Edgar Hernandez who then pounded on Rachmuth's door and arrested her.

Marino told her, "Something you did made her uncomfortable, all right?"

A report at the foundation said, "The charge against Rachmuth—cyberstalking—had no legal precedent or justification. The accusation alleged that she used her phone to take a photo with the intent to embarrass someone—an assertion unsupported by any state or federal law and one that raises serious First Amendment concerns."

The charges were dropped a day later by Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, a Democrat.

The report warned, "The case raises serious questions about lawfare and the use of activist law enforcement to target political dissenters."

A WND call to Kroger headquarters resulted in a statement that no response to questions about the situation was allowed.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries is economist Ian Fletcher's latest published work with co-author Marc Fasteau, vice-chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). This new book follows up on Ian Fletcher's excellent 2011 book Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace it and Why.

Industrial policy is defined in the book as "the deliberate governmental support of industries," such as the management of exchange rates, research and development (R&D) tax breaks, tariffs, export controls, and government-funded technological research.

Authors Ian Fletcher and Marc Fasteau rightly claim that "the free market can't do everything" but also that America does not need and should not seek government authority over all industrial policies. However, we do need a "coherent set of policies " that includes crucial items like "expansion of domestic programs designed to support manufacturing, especially to support the creation and commercialization of innovation."

That said, here is my summation of the pertinent points of this 800-plus-page book:

From the start, the original 13 colonies were not laissez-faire in dealing with foreign trade and the domestic economy, despite the thinking of free trade advocates saying so to justify their unalterable thinking. One of the first legislative acts of Congress in 1789 was a tariff on imports.

Not long after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, America's industrial policy saw the U.S. economy growing by serving primarily its own market. As steel magnate Andrew Carnegie said in 1890, "Even if every part of the United States were blockaded today, and remained so for ten years, the people of the United States would suffer only some inconveniences."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

PALM BEACH, Florida – U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is now revealing what he calls "riduclous" requests by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky before the fiery exchange Friday with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Appearing on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel, Lutnick said: "Forty-five minutes before the meltdown, the fact was Zelensky never stopped asking for, you know, 'I will give no concessions, they've got to leave my land, I want reparations of $300 billion, and I want the United States to give me security guarantees,' while they're at war with Russia.

"And that's why the president called it World War III. You're gambling with World War III.

"We're not gonna give you security guarantees while you're at war with Russia. It's just ridiculous. His requests were ridiculous. They were not reasonable. The president let it go for a while.

"Our president is there to make peace, as he said, end the death. And Zelensky was not there to make peace.

"He was there to strike some make-believe bargain that he had in his mind. And eventually that just ran its course, and Donald Trump said I can't take this nonsense anymore, and made it crystal clear he's the peacemaker, and if Zelensky's not interested in peace, then he should go home and think about it."

Lutnick noted it was extremely disappointing, as ceremonial signing desks and an elaborate lunch had been prepared with the expectation of a rare earth mineral deal being signed, but Zelensky blew the deal.

"This was designed to be beautiful, but instead we had lunch by ourselves," he added.

Later in the program, former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, who is now CEO of Trump Media, told Bartiromo he expects Zelensky or a representative of Ukraine to come back and sign a deal with America.

"Either him or somebody else," Nunes said, "but they're going to have to end the war and they're gonna have to build economic ties with the West."

On another issue, Lutnick previewed the tariffs Trump is expected to slap on Mexico and Canada this Tuesday as both countries have been complicit in moving Chinese-made fentanyl into the U.S.

"The fentanyl continues to come into this country and continues to murder our people," the Commerce secretary explained. "And the ingredients are made in China they're sent to Mexico and Canada and then they come and attack our country and that's got to end.

"There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they are, we're gonna leave that for the president and his team to negotiate. … But China's got to stop making these ingredients.

"Remember, in 2019, the Chinese told President Trump at that time that they would put the death penalty on anybody who made fentanyl. And today, they're giving the maximum subsidy they possibly can to the people making those ingredients.

"So the Chinese need to stop this murder of Americans and Donald Trump is the only president who protects the American people."