This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term, he's been trying to clean up the federal government, secure the border, cut expenses and spending, get rid of fraud, waste and even criminal activities.
For this, beneficiaries of that spending have sued, over and over. And over and over federal judges have declared they have the authority to determine the nation's international policy, its border security, its funding and such.
Not surprisingly, such reach has resulted in criticism from Trump and his administration, including calls for impeachment for judges such as the one who demanded that deportation flights be turned around in the air so that illegal aliens could be returned to the U.S..
Now one member of the Supreme Court is complaining about the increasingly hostile rhetoric by using her own hostile rhetoric.
Justice Ketanji Jackson said at a conference in Puerto Rico, on criticisms of the judiciary, "The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law."
A report from Politico pointed out she didn't mention Trump by name, but instead addressed the "elephant in the room," which the report said was "a clear reference to the belligerent language — and calls for impeachment — that Trump and some of his advisers have lobbed at federal judges who rule against his agenda."
She said, to judges, "I urge you to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service."
The comments could reappear for her later, too, as the Supreme Court is expected to rule, eventually, on a number of the controversies that right now are at the lower levels of the federal court system.
Some already have been presented to the Supreme Court for review, but decisions have not been announced.
If Jackson has described the arguments on one side of any question as "intimidating," her impartiality could be questioned.
The Trump administration, including the president and his appointees, repeatedly have criticized lower court judges for overreach when they presume to make decisions normally under the power of the Executive branch, on topics including firing workers, deportation actions, saving federal money and eliminating wasteful contracts.
Trump has, in fact, called U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, a radical lunatic and called for his impeachment after interfered in the president's campaign to deport illegal aliens. Another judge ordered the government hand out an unnecessary $2 billion.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said impeachment isn't the "appropriate response" to disagreements.
Jackson, at her speech, insisted on calling out what she claimed are "the relentless attacks and disregard and disparagement that judges around the country and perhaps many of you are facing on a daily basis. It seems as though every time I read the news or turn on the television these days, I see the affronts."
Jackson, appointed by Joe Biden, was the nominee who infamously said during her confirmation hearing that she could not define "woman."
And she likened the judges opposing Trump as like those judges who made decisions during the Civil Rights Movement and during Watergate.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
'A reminder of how easily bureaucratic power can spiral out of control and jeopardize the livelihoods of honest agricultural producers'
The administration of President Donald Trump has killed a Joe Biden plan that involved persecuting a multi-generation South Dakota ranching family with huge legal fees and even threats of jail.
"No family farmer or rancher should have to go through what the Maude family did," explained Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman and president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "The targeted prosecution of the Maude family was way out of line for the U.S. Forest Service, and this was a clear example of government overreach that had direct, catastrophic impacts for a hardworking fifth-generation ranching family."
It was under Biden's administration that a dispute arose over a fenceline on land the family had ranched for more than a century.
Family members actively were involved in discussions to do an assessment of the problem, if there was one, and reach a resolution.
But then the U.S. Forest Service dispatched armed federal agents to serve each Maude family member with a federal summons for theft, even though the management of the boundary line and parcel in question hadn't been changed since the early 1900s.
The result was that Charles and Heather Maude each was facing claims of "theft of federal property" and threatened with 10 years in jail and fines up to $250,000, according to a NewsDakota report.
"Charles and Heather Maude are public lands ranchers who for decades held a federal grazing permit and were permittees in good standing," said Public Lands Council President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury, who also holds a federal grazing permit.
"As permittees, we are required to work collaboratively with the government, but when federal agencies view ranchers as the enemy, it threatens the trust that every single rancher has in their federal partners. The public outcry we saw on behalf of the Maudes goes to show that public lands ranchers everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief that the USDA under Secretary Rollins is no longer trying to slap handcuffs on hardworking farmers and ranchers."
It was Trump's U.S. secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who now has confirmed that the charges are dropped and the case over.
That announcement said, "We have taken bold action to put farmers first by dropping criminal charges against the Maude Family of South Dakota. The political prosecution regime of the Biden administration is no more. We are ending government regulation through prosecution."
"This case was an unfortunate example of the imbalance of power between family ranchers and a formidable federal government. Put simply, the Maude family was expected to bear the burden of an inefficient and unfair Forest Service process, and their story had a chilling effect on ranchers' trust in federal land management agencies they interact with daily," said Kaitlynn Glover, executive director of the PLC.
"Both the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council are pleased that our months-long campaign to find a good solution for Charles, Heather, and their kids has finally become a reality."
A report from HPJ said the family runs a small cattle and hog operation, and the dispute involved a few acres of federal land.
The Maudes were alerted by the United States Forest Service that fencing on their property blocked access to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, the report said, and "in good faith agreed to a survey of the property lines. After the survey was completed, the Maudes lives were turned upside down by the Biden administration where a simple civil dispute turned into what Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rolllins said was an unnecessary criminal prosecution."
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the Department of Justice needs to spend its resources and efforts on prosecuting criminals and getting drugs off the streets, the report explained.
Sid Miller, the agriculture commissioner in Texas, said, "The U.S. Department of Justice's choice to dismiss the criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude is a long-awaited action that highlights the damage caused by the Biden administration's harmful federal overreach. This marks a significant triumph for land rights, the diligent families that sustain this nation, and basic common sense. The Maudes, as fifth-generation ranchers, have responsibly managed their land for many years under the supervision of the very agency that sought to portray them as criminals.
"This was never a criminal matter; it was a land use disagreement that should have been resolved through dialogue and respect, rather than threats of prison and financial ruin. What occurred in South Dakota serves as a chilling reminder of how easily bureaucratic power can spiral out of control and jeopardize the livelihoods of honest agricultural producers.
"I am thankful that under the Trump administration, the rights of rural Americans are finally being honored, and sensibility has returned to our national government," he said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
3 corporations facing punishments totaling some $8 million
Businesses across the United States have, at times, hired illegal aliens.
Such employment is more common in some job markets, such as vegetable and fruit gardening, construction, and the like.
But it's still not supposed to happen, and three businesses in the Denver area are learning that with a hard lesson.
A report from Denver Channel 7 explains the hiring of workers who do not have permission to take American jobs hurts "law-abiding employers."
The report explained officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed plans to impose $8 million in fines against CCS Denver, PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems and Green Management Denver.
The plans follow audits that found what ICE has categorized as "widespread employment eligibility violations."
ICE said a fine of $6.1 million is being proposed for CCS Denver for "a 100% substantive violation rate."
The company's record allegedly included hiring at least 87 illegal aliens.
The fine for PBS Commercial Cleaning is to be $1.6 million for a 74% violation rate and hiring "at least 12 unauthorized workers."
The fine planned for Green Management Denver is $270,000 for employing 44 undocumented immigrant workers.
In a statement, Steve Cagen, special agent in charge, explained, "The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage. These penalties reinforce our commitment to uphold the law and promote a culture of compliance."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Joe Biden's legacy may end up including a lot of different things: his leftist promotions of abortion for all and transgenderism for children likely will be there.
Also, possibly there will be his record as a president who continued in office even though his mental powers were obviously declining, to the point that a special counsel gave him a pass on a potential criminal case involving secret government documents because of his lack of mental powers.
But also will be his decision to open America's borders, allowing in millions of illegal aliens, including criminals and even terrorists.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained, "We are in the process of carrying out the largest deportation campaign in American history. After four years of being vilified by the Biden-Harris administration, our heroic ICE officers can finally do their jobs."
And Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Tom Homan pointed out that Joe Biden was the first president in the nation's history "who came into office and unsecured a border on purpose."
He noted he'd worked for six presidents.
"Every president I ever worked for took border security seriously because you can't have national security if you don't have strong border security."
He said even Barack Obama and Bill Clinton acknowledged the need for border security.
"Joe Biden was the first president in the history of this nation who came into office and unsecured a border on purpose," he said.
Homan noted that under President Donald Trump, the number of illegal aliens found at the border have dropped from 15,000 a day, during Biden's tenure, to 178.
"When 96% less people are coming [across the border], how many women aren't being sexually assaulted by the cartels? How many children aren't dying making that journey? How many women and children aren't being sex-trafficked into this country? How many known and suspected terrorists aren't making it into this nation? How many pounds of fentanyl isn't getting into this country to kill young Americans?"
A report from Fox News said, "Recent high-profile deportations have seen migrants deported to an El-Salvador mega prison after the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime immigration law, to deport Venezuelan gang members. That move has since been held up in court with the Trump administration opting to deport 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua to El Salvador from Guantánamo Bay on Sunday night via Title 8."
The Trump administration also on Monday posted pictures of illegals who have been arrested, with a list of charges against them, on the White House lawn.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A top adviser to President Donald Trump says federal judges trying to stop the America First agenda are now "completely out of control" and are "basically usurping the power of the president."
The remarks by Kari Lake, U.S. Agency for Global Media senior adviser and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, came on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel.
"The president has Article II powers to run the executive branch of this government, and we're seeing a whole handful of judges trying to stop that and really subvert the will of the people," Lake said.
"The beautiful thing about President Trump is he wants to come in and bring this government under control."
Lake added that she doesn't think the obstructions will work in the end.
"I believe that eventually, these cases will move higher up and President Trump will be victorious, but unfortunately, it's the delay that's preventing the work from being done."
"I wish we could just skip right over and get to the Supreme Court and get this taken care of. Because in many of these cases, you've got Soros-linked attorneys who are just trying to make some money and delay the president's agenda.
"And you've got judges who, in many cases, may be compromised. We're seeing some of this around the country. Why are they doing this? And so, I think it will eventually get to the Supreme Court.
"My concern, and I believe the concern of the American people, is the delay and the time that is ticking away, keeping President Trump, keeping people like me that he has brought in and hired to do our job, and it's very concerning that judges are behaving this way. I would rather follow the Constitution than a judge who's got an agenda."
When asked about a Wisconsin judge arrested this week for allegedly trying to thwart federal immigration officials by helping an illegal alien avoid capture, Lake responded, "If you break the law, you end up being charged. If you break the law, you end up in handcuffs, and it appears that this judge broke the law."
"We're making sure that the law is applied here. Doesn't matter if you're a judge or if you're a regular, everyday person. And so I think if she broke the law, if what is said about what happened, what transpired in that courthouse, is true, then she deserves to be, frankly, in handcuffs. … She will get her due process, and we will figure out what happened."
"It's appalling that a judge would try to harbor or protect an illegal immigrant," Lake added. "The victim that he allegedly abused was right there in the courtroom, and she's trying to protect the abuser and the illegal immigrant."
Lake concluded: "It's unbelievable what's happening in this country right now, and this is just an attempt, in my opinion, to stop President Trump and his America First agenda that the people overwhelmingly voted for. Thankfully, the president has brought in some really good fighters to D.C., people who don't want to become permanent creatures. I'm just as happy to DOGE myself out of a job, and go on and help President Trump in another way. But he's brought in people who want to get the job done. And these judges are trying to stop its from getting the job done."
"In the end we will prevail. It's gonna take a little bit of time, and it's unfortunate these judges don't care more about America and the will of the American people."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
It's not observed until the autumn, but President Donald Trump is wasting no time gearing up for Columbus Day, the commemoration of explorer Christopher Columbus landing ashore in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492.
"I'm bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes," Trump said Sunday on Truth Social.
"The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much.
"They tore down his Statues, and put up nothing but 'WOKE,' or even worse, nothing at all!
"Well, you'll be happy to know, Christopher is going to make a major comeback.
"I am hereby reinstating Columbus Day under the same rules, dates, and locations as it has had for all of the many decades before!"
Columbus has been the subject of numerous controversies in recent years, with some of his statues removed and even one Detroit teacher wearing a sweatshirt to work on Columbus Day 2019, which read "COLUMBUS WAS A MURDERER" in order to, she claims, "spark discussion."
According to WXYZ, fifth-grade teacher Emma Howland-Bolton said she wanted to "have a conversation" with her Clipper Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy students regarding "different perspectives."
However, a Clipper administrator told her she would have to change her shirt, and she was informed the statement was "her opinion." Howland-Bolton countered that it "is a fact."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Already, a former judge in New Mexico and his wife have been arrested for housing an alleged member of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua terror organization, and a Wisconsin judge has been charged for helping an illegal alien escape from federal agents who arrived at the courthouse during his hearing to take him into custody.
That's probably not the end of actions against activist judges who use their judicial powers to thwart the president's border security agenda, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi
"No one's above the laws in this country," she said. "And if you are destroying evidence, if you're obstructing justice, when you have victims sitting in a courtroom of domestic violence and you're escorting a criminal defendant out a back door, it will not be tolerated, and it is a crime in the United States of America. Doesn't matter who you are, you're going to be prosecuted."
The latest arrest was of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who was taken into custody by the FBI for allegedly hiding a previously deported illegal immigrant in her jury room in order to stop him from being arrested by ICE.
Fox News reported Dugan was charged with obstruction.
In an interview on "American Reports," Bondi explained how the Trump administration will handle judges who obstruct and block federal efforts to secure the border and remove illegal aliens.
"We are going to prosecute you, and we are prosecuting you. I found out about this the day it happened," she said.
"We could not believe, actually, that a judge really did that. We looked into the facts in great depth… You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime."
Dugan is accused of protecting illegal alien Eduardo Flores-Ruiz after his criminal court hearing before Dugan just days ago.
"Dugan demanded that the (federal) officers proceed to the chief judge's office and – after his hearing ended – escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a restricted jury door, bypassing the public area where agents were waiting in order to help him avoid arrest, per the complaint," the report said.
Bondi pointed out that Flores-Ruiz fled on foot, creating a threat to the public.
"We're sending a very strong message today," she said. "If you are harboring a fugitive, we don't care who you are. If you're helping hide one, if you are giving a TDA member guns, anyone who is illegally in this country, we will come after you and we will prosecute you. We will find you."
The earlier arrests were of ex-New Mexico Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano.
They allegedly harbored a suspected Tren de Aragua terror group member, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Leftist judges appointed by extremists in American politics like Joe Biden and Barack Obama have been part of a strategic warfare against President Donald Trump, according to a new analysis by the Federalist.
And the failure of the Supreme Court to rein in their actions means the credibility of the Supreme Court itself is collapsing.
Recent polling, in fact, showed more than half of Americans have an unfavorable view of the court.
The analysis explained: "Throughout Wednesday and Thursday alone, judges across multiple venues handed down decrees barring numerous executive actions taken by the president since returning to office. From DEI to election policy, these cases are but a few of the more than 170 lawsuits Democrats and left-wing political actors have filed to sabotage Trump and the 77 million Americans who voted for him."
This is the lawfare that the high court "seems to have no interest in stopping it," it said. "The nation's highest court has had ample opportunities to halt these lower court judges' destructive antics but has repeatedly declined to do so."
One missed opportunity was the March ruling in which the court, 5-4, refused to shut down a ruling from a Biden judge who demanded that the government hand out $2 billion in cash through USAID to various outsiders. The Trump administration had shut down those operations and canceled funding programs for their obvious bias and corruption.
Justice Samuel Alito pointed out the politics involved: "Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars? The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise."
That decision, the analysis confirmed, "all but gave the green light to activist judges across the country to take similar actions on leftist-backed lawsuits filed in their respective jurisdictions."
Why would the court move in that direction? The analysis explained, "SCOTUS's inclination to tolerate judicial tyranny among the lower courts is perhaps unsurprising, however, given that a majority of the justices have indicated their own infatuation with overstepping the constitutional limits erected by America's founding document."
That resulted in a decision, "in the dead of night on Easter weekend, without explanation," when seven of the justices "essentially usurped the executive branch's authority over immigration by blocking Trump's deportation of Venezuelan gang members."
The result, the analysis pointed out, is that "the high court's antics are doing more damage to its reputation than leftists' smear campaigns ever could."
"By refusing to rein in the lower courts' lawlessness, the justices have authorized a judicial coup that is stymying the will of the 77 million Americans who voted for Trump."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The U.S. Department of Justice has just escalated its battle against members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan terrorist organization that has moved into America and "destroyed American families with brutal violence … [and] human trafficking."
Explained U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on the filing of organized crime charges against 27 gang members, "As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities. Today's indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA's infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country."
Matthew Podolsky, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, filed the cases against 27 individuals, and said, "Today, we have filed charges against 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing young women trafficked from Venezuela into commercial sex work, robbing and extorting small businesses, and selling 'tusi,' a pink powdery drug that has become their calling card. Today's Indictments make clear that this office will work tirelessly to keep the law-abiding residents of New York City safe, and hold accountable those who bring violence to our streets."
The charges were listed in two superseding indictments that named the individuals, and alleged "racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses."
"Of the 27 defendants, 21 are in federal custody, including 16 who were already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody and five who were arrested last night and today in operations in New York and other jurisdictions," the federal announcement said.
Border czar Tom Homan said: "Every member of TdA should be on the run because the Trump administration is committed to removing every single member of TdA and MS-13 from this country."
Todd M. Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said, "We are at the forefront of efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua from operating in our cities and around the world."
"Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the NYPD has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City. For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is. This isn't just street crime—it's organized racketeering, and this gang has shown zero regard for the safety of New Yorkers. As alleged in the indictment, these defendants wreaked havoc in our communities, trafficking women for sexual exploitation, flooding our streets with drugs, and committing violent crimes with illegal guns," explained NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
The charges allege TdA is a "criminal organization" and works to build its own power through "acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren."
Also cited are activities including smuggling individuals, "including young women from Venezuela, into Peru and the U.S." for "sex trafficking."
Part of the gang's operations include terrorizing victims and potential victims, defending its members caught committing crimes and concealing criminal activities.
The DOJ announcement included a long list of names and an even longer list of aliases.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization," the announcement said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., had a busy Easter weekend, with at least two men offended by the congresswoman's stand against the LGBT agenda confronting her in public.
The first was Saturday as Mace shopped for some face wash in a makeup store. A man "wearing daisy dukes," the lawmaker reported, confronted her, calling her a "nasty b*tch."
Two days later, Mace spoke at a University of South Carolina Turning Point USA event and was approached by a man in a dress who had been offended by her use of the word "babe."
According to the Gateway Pundit, 20-year-old student Harley Hicks, who uses she/they pronouns, approached the stage and demanded an apology from Mace.
"Does your husband call you 'babe'?" Hicks asked Mace.
Mace responded by pointing out that she was not married. Hicks then became angrier and demanded an apology from the congresswoman.
"Even better. So I would like for you to apologize because it is derogatory," he retorted. "And second of all …"
At that moment, Mace interrupted Hicks and asked her interrogator:
"Is tranny derogatory?"
Upon hearing this, Hicks' voice suddenly changed and became deeply masculine.
"Well, yeah! Of course it f**king is!" he bellowed. Oops.
"This guy in a dress wanted me to apologize for using the word 'babe.' Told him no. That I didn't care if he was offended," Mace said on X.
"And then I dropped the word tr*ns, fast. Look what happened next."