EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senators Unveil Bill To Bring Hammer Down On Supreme Court Leakers
'They must be held accountable'
FEMA fires 3 more supervisors tied to home-skipping scandal impacting Trump supporters
The Federal Emergency Management Agency fired three more supervisors tied to a political bias scandal involving workers who were instructed not to offer disaster relief assistance to some Florida homeowners.
Cameron Hamilton, FEMA's acting administrator, wrote in a letter dated March 4 that the agency conducted an "exhaustive investigation" after it was revealed that disaster relief workers were told to bypass the homes of those who support President Donald Trump. The directive was given to some staffers responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
'Political affiliation should never be a consideration in the rendering of assistance.'
Marn'i Washington, a former FEMA hurricane relief supervisor, was previously terminated after she admitted to instructing workers to skip homes with pro-Trump signs. However, she claimed she was a "scapegoat" and that the practice was "not isolated" to her instruction.
Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell rejected Washington's claims, insisting that the incident was isolated.
Hamilton explained that three additional supervisors had recently been terminated because they failed to "meet our standards of conduct," according to the letter obtained by the New York Post.
"It is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA," he wrote.
"Further, in accordance with my commitment, and that of President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, to ensure that Americans receive impartial assistance from FEMA, I have directed a comprehensive additional training for FEMA staff to reinforce that political affiliation should never be a consideration in the rendering of assistance," Hamilton continued.
He noted that the investigation did not find any evidence of "a systemic problem, nor that it was directed by agency or field leadership."
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) stated that she would not allow FEMA "to be weaponized by the left to target Trump supporters."
"We are making certain that FEMA is treating all Americans the same, that they are here to help all Americans," she said in a video posted on X. "I wrote a letter and called out these FEMA workers that were not stopping at what they perceived to be Trump-supporting homes. I'm happy to let you know they have been fired."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) expressed his confidence that the Trump administration would "root out egregious examples of political bias like this at FEMA."
"After back-to-back hurricanes devastated Florida and left many in our area with nothing, it's incomprehensible that FEMA relief workers were skipping over those in need," Buchanan said. "FEMA has the responsibility to serve every American equally, regardless of their politics."
Buchanan noted that FEMA reportedly skipped over at least 20 homes between October through November.
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Senators Urge Colleagues, Trump To Disregard Far-Left American Bar Association
'Unfortunately, the ABA has shown itself to be an ideologically captured, leftist institution,' the letter charges.Sen. Mike Lee introduces resolution to safeguard Panama Canal from China's growing influence
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a resolution on Tuesday celebrating America's achievement in creating the Panama Canal and calling for measures to safeguard it from China's growing influence in the region.
Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) co-sponsored the resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
'It would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.'
Lee noted the canal's "vital importance" to the United States, particularly regarding trade, national security, and geopolitics.
The resolution explained that the U.S. government "funded, pioneered, and built" the Panama Canal from 1904 to 1914, adding that it cost $375 million and 10,000 lives.
Former President Jimmy Carter turned over control of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1977.
"The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, signed at Washington September 7, 1977, otherwise known as the 'Neutrality Treaty,' reserved the right of the United States to use armed force to defend the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal," Lee's resolution read.
However, despite the Neutrality Treaty, China's influence in the Panama Canal has grown substantially over roughly the past decade, "pos[ing] a high risk of intelligence-gathering and surveillance."
The U.S. is allowed to regain control of the canal if the neutrality agreement is violated.
"Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate," the resolution continued, "recognizes the ingenuity and labor of Americans that made the Panama Canal possible for future generations, with special regard for those Americans who lost their lives in pursuit of the Panama Canal project"; "expresses that the Panama Canal is vital to United States regional security, hemispheric hegemony, and economic interests"; "assesses that a pattern of Chinese-backed investment in port infrastructure and canal operations in Panama constitutes a violation of the Neutrality Treaty"; and "urges the Trump administration to ensure that the canal remains neutral and to take all appropriate measures to enforce the Neutrality Treaty."
Lee wrote in a post on X, "The Panama Canal is a great American achievement, and President Trump is right to re-assert the Monroe Doctrine and American dominance of our hemisphere's vital waterways."
Over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino "to make clear that the United States cannot, and will not, allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue with its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area."
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, "Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty."
Following Rubio's visit, Mulino declared that Panama would leave the Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese global infrastructure project.
The State Department claims the initiative "preys on other countries via unsustainable and corrupt lending while ignoring global labor and environmental standards."
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Biden’s fiscal failures loom over treasury nominee’s path
Thursday’s confirmation hearing for treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent carries immense importance, given the fragile state of America’s fiscal foundation. You would expect senators to focus on treasury-related questions. However, instead of addressing the consequences of Janet Yellen financing U.S. debt at the short end of the yield curve or the challenge of refinancing nearly $7 trillion in the coming months, senators chose to grandstand and indulge in self-serving rhetoric.
Bessent opened his statement by highlighting his “only in America” story of achieving the American dream and his determination to preserve it for future generations. He also emphasized the need to secure supply chains, shift from wasteful government spending to productive investments that grow the economy, and maintain tax cuts to prevent massive tax hikes on Americans.
Responding to one senator’s question, Bessent said he often relies on the principle 'no data, no opinion.'
One of the most encouraging aspects of the hearing was Bessent’s repeated focus on Main Street and small businesses. He acknowledged Wall Street’s strong performance in recent years and emphasized the need for a Main Street and small business-led recovery to drive growth and economic strength.
Bessent also recognized the excessive concentration in the U.S. banking system. He noted that regulations implemented after the Great Recession have burdened smaller community banks, hindering their formation and operations. These policies have also increased systemic risk by consolidating assets among larger financial institutions. His acknowledgment of the need for policies that prioritize Main Street over Wall Street is both refreshing and essential.
In response to a question from Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) about central bank digital currencies — a digital version of the U.S. dollar that could be controlled and programmed by the Federal Reserve and the government — Bessent expressed opposition. He sees no need for the United States to adopt a CBDC, a stance that likely reassures many Americans concerned about potential threats to individual freedoms.
Oddly, much of the discussion, particularly from the Democratic senators, was centered around tax policy versus spending, with the senators refusing to acknowledge their starring role in the overspending, that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased government revenue, or that collections are not a deficit driver — spending is.
We have a tough road ahead. The Biden administration has left the United States with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 120% and a deficit at 6%-7% of GDP — levels typically seen during wartime, not in a period of “economic expansion.” Combined with a strong dollar, substantial foreign asset holdings, and other factors, returning to a sustainable and prosperous economic path will require careful execution.
Bessent brings extensive experience across Wall Street, central bank advisory roles, and other economic arenas, equipping him with the qualifications and temperament needed to navigate this uncertain terrain. Responding to one senator’s question, Bessent said he often relies on the principle “no data, no opinion.”
Bessent’s confirmation should proceed smoothly, but the real test lies ahead as he takes on the daunting task of stabilizing America’s financial foundation.
'Preserve and retain all records': Trump issues dire warning to former FBI DEI staff
Even before he takes office on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump appears to be keeping a campaign promise to take on the deep state, calling out alleged corruption at the now-shuttered DEI office at the FBI.
On Thursday, the FBI confirmed to Fox News that its DEI office had closed sometime last month. "In recent weeks, the FBI took steps to close the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), effective by December 2024," the agency told the outlet in a statement.
Just hours after Fox News reported the closure, Trump took to social media to accuse the FBI of wrongdoing in connection with the former DEI office.
"We demand that the FBI preserve and retain all records, documents, and information on the now closing DEI Office — Never should have been opened and, if it was, should have closed long ago," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Why is it that they’re closing one day before the Inauguration of a new Administration? The reason is, CORRUPTION!"
Trump did not elaborate on the kind of corruption he believes occurred in the DEI division.
The FBI DEI office actually opened in 2012 under President Barack Obama, pledging to provide "guidance and implement programs that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace that allows all employees to succeed and advance."
Fox News reported that as of Thursday, the webpage for the FBI DEI office remained active. While an internet search did yield a "Diversity & Inclusion" page at the FBI website, clicking on the link took Blaze News to the FBI homepage. An archived version of the webpage from December 19, 2024, is still accessible.
'The FBI should be focused on catching criminals, not winning participation trophies.'
Democrats' poor showing in the 2024 election suggested that Americans have rejected many leftist narratives, including those regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Then, the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day further highlighted the danger of federal agents focusing on identity politics instead of hunting down bad guys.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a scathing letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray earlier this month, suggesting that his agency's "radical" fixation on DEI led to the New Orleans massacre.
"Americans now feel increasingly unsafe because of incidents like the January 1 terror attack, and the FBI’s prioritization of diversity over competence shows that their concerns are well founded," she wrote.
According to Blackburn, "the law enforcement and intelligence capabilities of the FBI are degrading because the FBI is no longer hiring ‘the best and the brightest’ candidates." Instead, the agency "has settled for lower quality candidates to satisfy DEI mandates."
"The FBI should be focused on catching criminals, not winning participation trophies."
Trump has tapped Kash Patel, who promised to take a wrecking ball to the deep state, to lead the FBI, now that Wray is stepping down. In early December, rumors swirled that members of the FBI DEI office would quit should Patel be confirmed.
"Promise?" Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) joked in response.
Some House Republicans have already voiced support for Patel's anti-deep-state mission. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) told Politico that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which he chairs, "will assist" those efforts "in any way possible."
"[Patel] and I are fixing to meet because with respect to him, they need to hold some people accountable for a cover-up," Comer said.
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GOP senators seek to close border fingerprinting loophole that leaves migrant children vulnerable to trafficking
Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley from Iowa and Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee introduced legislation on Tuesday that would close a loophole that leaves some migrant children vulnerable to trafficking at the border.
Current Department of Homeland Security regulations prevent Customs and Border Protection agents from collecting biometric data on children under 14 years old.
'We are witnessing a devastating humanitarian crisis, and children are the primary victims.'
"As the regulations currently exempt certain aliens from the collection of biometrics, including those under 14 and over 79, as well as individuals in certain visa classes, CBP does not use fingerprints to confirm the traveler's identity in these cases," the DHS stated.
The regulation came under fire after it was revealed that the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services lost track of 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children. The HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement is tasked with placing unaccompanied minors with sponsors in the United States.
However, a February 2023 New York Times report, based on testimony provided by HHS whistleblower Tara Rodas, revealed that the federal government "lost immediate contact" with tens of thousands of children. The scandal ignited concerns that the children had been placed with potential child traffickers and criminals.
With biometric data not collected, some have argued that it will make it more difficult to find and identify the lost children.
On Tuesday, Grassley and Blackburn introduced the Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants Is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act, also referred to as PRINTS.
If passed, the legislation would authorize CBP to fingerprint foreign nationals under 14 years old. The U.S. attorney general would be prevented from waiving these requirements.
The bill also requires the DHS to submit additional reporting, including disclosing the number of apprehended child traffickers who deceptively claimed to be related to an accompanying child, also referred to as "recycling," and providing an annual log to Congress detailing the number of fingerprinted children.
Furthermore, the proposed bill would make "child recycling" a crime. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported in 2019 that it identified 900 children who were victims of the scheme.
Additional co-sponsors of the bill include Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, Steve Daines from Montana, Joni Ernst from Iowa, John Hoeven from North Dakota, Cindy Hyde-Smith from Mississippi, Tim Sheehy from Montana, and Mike Rounds from South Dakota.
Grassley stated, "Over the last four years, child exploitation at our nation's southern border has exploded. This humanitarian crisis is a direct result of the Biden administration's open border policies."
"The PRINTS Act would empower law enforcement to identify victims of child trafficking and stamp out this horrific abuse. Congress must act quickly to protect vulnerable children and begin to undo the damage of the Biden administration," he said.
"Under President Biden's open border policies, we are witnessing a devastating humanitarian crisis, and children are the primary victims," Blackburn stated. "Abusing and using a child again and again is one of the most heinous acts imaginable, and yet it happens every day along the southern border. Empowering border patrol agents to fingerprint noncitizens under the age of 14 would give them the tools they need to identify victims of child recycling and stop this abuse in its tracks. Given that the Biden administration carelessly lost track of 85,000 migrant children, passing this legislation could not be more critical."
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Memo to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Sterilizing children is not ‘loving’
It seems that in addition to being a U.S. senator, Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn is also a prophet. The conservative from the Volunteer State asked Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson to define the word “woman” during her confirmation hearing in 2022, but the judge who was celebrated as the first black woman to be nominated to the nation’s highest court said she couldn’t define her sex because she is not a biologist.
Skip ahead two years, and Justice Jackson is hearing arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a case that will determine whether states can prohibit “gender-affirming care” for minors, the progressive euphemism for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical procedures for children who “identify” as the opposite sex. At one point, Jackson drew a comparison between Tennessee banning medical treatments that can sterilize children to the ban on interracial marriage that was eventually overturned in Loving v. Virginia.
The color line determined the society our ancestors endured. The gender binary will determine the society our descendants inherit.
Tennessee’s solicitor general had to inform the justice that giving “testosterone to a boy with a deficiency is not the same treatment as giving it to a girl who has psychological distress with her body.” He correctly noted that the former helps a boy develop according to his sex while the latter renders a girl infertile.
The entire exchange should be the stake in the heart of superficial identity politics. Joe Biden appointed Jackson to the Supreme Court because he pledged to make history by putting a black woman on the bench. His black supporters — especially women — celebrated her nomination at the time. To them, her appointment was another milestone in America’s quest to become a more inclusive and tolerant nation.
W.E.B. DuBois famously said that the problem of the 20th century was “the problem of the color line.” To the people who think in superficial identity categories, putting a black woman on the highest court in the land was another step in destroying that barrier. But the fight of the 21st century will be preserving the sex binary, and only a racial idolater would consider legalizing child sterilization progress if a black woman casts the deciding vote.
The color line determined the society our ancestors endured. The gender binary will determine the society our descendants inherit.
The future will be painful for the children failed by parents, doctors, journalists, activists, and politicians who refuse to tell them the truth about who they are. The Biden administration and its progressive allies believe that counseling gender-confused children to accept their bodies as they were created is “conversion therapy” but puberty-blocking drugs, mastectomies, and hysterectomies constitute “gender-affirming care.” Denying basic biology is now required to be in good standing on the left, which is precisely why Ketanji Brown Jackson’s refusal to define “woman” during her hearing was so telling.
Unfortunately, the politics of racial allegiance blinded even the black Christians who otherwise hold to biblical sexual ethics. One pastor in Chicago whose church was formerly part of the Southern Baptist Convention said Justice Brown Jackson’s confirmation was a moment to be “celebrated” and a “gift of grace.” But I’m not sure how any preacher can attribute God’s goodness to a judge who refuses to affirm Genesis 1:27 or gives legal support to child sterilizations done in the name of civil rights.
In a sane world, the Tennessee case would result in a unanimous decision with a short summary clearly stating that men cannot become women (or vice versa), therefore, any hormonal and surgical treatments done under the guise of “transitioning” a person promises a medical outcome that can never be achieved.
Every man who has ever purchased an engagement ring knows that calling a cubic zirconia a diamond — regardless of its cut, clarity, or color — doesn’t change it into one. Composition and presentation are not the same thing.
This same principle applies to sex. A cross-dressing male doesn’t switch sexes by taking pills and putting on makeup. The reason why is quite simple: Women are born, not worn. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson needs to know that mutilating and sterilizing children in the name of civil rights is not loving.
Musk, Ramaswamy meet with lawmakers to discuss the DOGE's plans to cut government waste
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy headed to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with lawmakers about President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Department of Government Efficiency.
While walking through the Capitol with one of his children, 4-year-old X, perched on his shoulders, Musk told reporters, "I think we should be spending the public's money wisely."
'A serious mandate from the American people.'
Musk has stated that he aims to eliminate at least $2 trillion in wasteful government spending.
On Thursday morning, Musk took a brief meeting with incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) ahead of a bicameral meeting hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
Musk and Ramaswamy are slated to speak to Republican lawmakers during the event, which Johnson described as a "brainstorming session" intended to gain a clearer understanding of the DOGE's plans.
Johnson stated that he intends to discuss "major reform ideas" to "achieve regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings." He said he hopes to revive "the principle of limited government."
Musk previously stated that he plans to cut the total number of government agencies from 428 to 99. During an interview with Fox News, Johnson was asked whether he believes the DOGE will be able to accomplish that mission.
"We certainly hope so," Johnson responded. "We have the ingredients; we have the conditions right now to actually be able to make really dramatic change."
Ramaswamy replied to Johnson's comments, stating, "The time for action is now."
In addition to its goal to reduce three-letter agency bureaucracy, the DOGE also appears to be setting its sights on ending lenient remote work policies for federal employees. Billions in taxpayer funds have been squandered to maintain and power buildings that are either partially empty or entirely vacant.
In a Thursday post on X, Musk stated, "If you exclude security guards & maintenance personnel, the number of government workers who show up in person and do 40 hours of work a week is closer to 1%!"
"Almost no one," Musk remarked.
Johnson replied, "Unbelievable. This is EXACTLY why we need the Department of Government Efficiency."
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) declared her intent to introduce legislation that aligns with the waste reduction objectives of the DOGE.
"My DOGE Act will freeze federal hiring, begin the process to relocate agencies out of the D.C. swamp, and establish a merit-based salary system for the federal workforce," Blackburn said.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), who is slated to chair a DOGE subcommittee, said she anticipates there will be "some friction" in implementing the department's cost-cutting measures.
"But I honestly think that there's been a serious mandate from the American people, and I think that will give, hopefully our side of the aisle, tremendous courage to do the right thing," she stated.
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