Trump’s spending war begins, but the swamp won’t go quietly



The Department of Government Efficiency launched aggressive efforts to rein in federal bureaucracy. But limited-government conservatives should not assume fiscal responsibility is within reach.

The reality of America’s financial situation remains dire. In fiscal 2024, the federal government spent $6.8 trillion but collected only $4.9 trillion in taxes. That left a deficit of $1.9 trillion, pushing the national debt to $35.5 trillion by year’s end.

How did our constitutional republic end up in this mess?

To balance the budget, the DOGE must eliminate nearly $2 trillion in annual spending. Until then, the national debt will continue to rise.

So far, the Trump administration’s crackdown on waste, fraud, and abuse has saved about $100 billion. But that’s a fraction of what’s needed, and the challenge ahead remains enormous.

The executive orders and DOGE actions are weak by nature and not built to last. Without legislative backing, they can be reversed by the next administration. Meanwhile, entrenched bureaucrats will resist implementation, requiring strict enforcement from the administration.

Legal challenges are already moving through the courts, and civil service regulations will be used to slow progress. The left-leaning media, still reeling from Trump’s early moves, is preparing for a full-scale counteroffensive of disinformation and manufactured outrage. As temperatures rise across the country, expect the media’s rhetoric to heat up, fueling protests that will likely lead to violence and destruction.

When that happens, Republican legislators will waver, as they always do. As spending battles unfold — through continuing resolutions, omnibus bills, debt-ceiling fights, or an elusive budget proposal — uniparty politicians will band together to protect the bureaucratic status quo.

They will do so for three reasons. First, many are entrenched in the system and benefit from it — they’re swamp-dwellers. Second, Republicans hold only a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress, and those facing re-election in battleground districts will avoid controversial legislation. Third, Democrats could retake the House or Senate in the midterms, eliminating any appetite for shrinking the federal bureaucracy.

Even if lawmakers find the will to act, another major obstacle remains: entitlement spending. Congress has already approved massive and popular programs like Social Security and Medicare. As more Baby Boomers retire, these programs will automatically cost more. Social Security has been paying out more than it collects in taxes since 2010, depleting its trust fund. Worse, the federal government borrowed $1.7 trillion from that trust fund to cover other expenses. This means the DOGE must not only cut $2 trillion annually to balance the budget but also figure out how to repay that $1.7 trillion while continuing to fund retiree benefits.

A larger crisis looms. The federal government spent $900 billion on interest payments in fiscal year 2024, making it the second-largest budget item after Social Security. As the national debt grows and interest rates rise, interest payments will soon surpass Social Security costs. With a $40 trillion debt and 5% interest rates, annual interest payments could hit $2 trillion — another financial mountain for the DOGE to climb.

How did our constitutional republic end up in this mess?

The problem lies in the legislative branch’s unchecked ability to expand the bureaucracy and increase spending. The only real restraint is the willingness of voters to hold lawmakers accountable at the ballot box. But that never happens. Power shifts between parties, yet the federal government keeps growing, no matter who is in charge.

At some point, the American people must summon the political will to amend the Constitution and impose limits on the legislature. Potential safeguards include capping government spending (for example, limiting current-year spending to 10% of the prior year’s GDP), imposing term limits to reduce the influence of lobbyists, requiring single-issue bills to prevent pork-barrel spending, granting the president a line-item veto, and mandating a balanced budget.

America’s founders miscalculated. They never envisioned that a nation that fought a revolution against government overreach would allow another oppressive system to take its place. They could not have imagined that a country built by rugged individualists — who produced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution — would become a society captivated by collectivist ideologies.

The DOGE’s initial efforts are a promising start, but they are not enough. The fight for fiscal sanity will span multiple administrations and possibly generations. Limited-government conservatives must prepare for a long battle. The DOGE is just the first step on a much longer journey.

Mark Levin finds the PERFECT quote to capture the swamp



The left, crying about democracy being at stake, is doing whatever it can to thwart Donald Trump’s agenda by attacking Elon Musk and the DOGE.

Liberals may say that what Trump is doing is unconstitutional, but Mark Levin knows the truth: Donald Trump “has a right to run the executive branch,” including matters of employees and spending, however he sees fit.

“He doesn't have an obligation to give a rubber stamp to what the prior administration did with discretionary spending; he doesn't have an obligation to keep every single employee that he inherits when he comes into office,” he says.

Regardless, the swamp is employing lower courts to wage lawfare against President Trump in an effort to tangle his MAGA agenda up in lawsuits, thereby stopping, or at least slowing, the mandate.

However, “The courts don't have the power to run the executive branch,” says Levin, calling the notion “a clear violation of separation of powers.”

So if these “unelected judges, who are all lawyers,” can’t constitutionally stop the president from fulfilling his fundamental duties, what’s this all about?

Well, what it really comes down to is survival. The swamp is not going down without a fight.

Donald Trump ran on the promise to shrink the size of government and to root out bureaucratic corruption. While the people cheer (this is what they’ve long wanted), Democrats spiral into panic, Levin explains.

“This fraudulent spending, these missing monies, the corruption, the grift — this is what they've created,” he says.

Nothing captures the Democrats better, he says, than the following quote from French economist Frédéric Bastiat: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.”

Levin then explains how the deep-state politicians and bureaucrats have made plunder their way of life. They’ve created a legal system for it via radically left-wing activist judges and a moral code that glorifies it via the government-subsidized media.

So the swamp may cry that “democracy is at stake,” but in truth, the only thing that’s at stake is the swamp’s way of life.

To hear more of Levin’s analysis, watch the clip above.

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Mitch McConnell’s birthday present to America: Bowing out of the Senate



Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is 83 years old, and he has finally decided – after 18 years — that he will not be running for re-election in 2026.

"Seven times my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate. Every day in between, I have been humbled by the trust they place in me to do their business, right here," he said in a speech on the Senate floor. "Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime."

"I will not seek this honor for an eighth time," he continued. "My current term in the Senate will be my last."


His colleagues rose to their feet in a standing ovation, and Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” is having a hard time hiding her excitement as well.

“Donald Trump said he was eliminating DEI from all government agencies, so there will be no more turtle inclusion in the Senate,” Gonzales jokes.

“He was seven times elected longest-serving Senate party leader in United States history,” she continues. “He decided, you know, to celebrate his birthday, he would announce to the world that he would not be running for re-election. Which, honestly, was more of a present for us.”

“Lectern Guy” Adam Johnson isn’t convinced.

“Did he announce this himself? Or was this one of his staffers on Twitter. Does he know he’s retiring?” Johnson jokes.

“That’s a good question, because maybe it was like the Joe Biden coup where it wasn’t him that endorsed Kamala, it was like a random 20-year-old staffer who was in charge of his Twitter account,” Gonzales says, adding, “I like that theory.”

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Leftist Wisconsin Senator Confuses ‘Coup’ With Will Of The People

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Kash Patel is the leader the FBI needs



“It’s not OK for the government to break the law,” Kash Patel explained. As President Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel’s words to me carry significant weight. His career proves his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, accountability, and, above all, the American people.

We were talking on a Friday evening in July 2018, just as we wrapped up a long week in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. At the time, I was the special assistant to the president for counterterrorism and transnational threats on the National Security Council. Patel was my deputy. We had worked together closely since his hiring by National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Patel represents the American dream. Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.

We were deep in the Russiagate investigation, and new evidence had just emerged from the Justice Department inspector general. The findings confirmed severe FBI misconduct in handling the “election interference” probe. At the center of uncovering this scandal stood Patel.

More than anyone, Patel sought the truth. He remained committed to his work, driven not by politics or ambition but by integrity and good faith. As senior counsel for the House Intelligence Committee, he led one of the most consequential investigations in modern political history. He never sought self-promotion, career advancement, or approval from Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy.

That kind of dedication is rare in Washington, D.C. Many enter public service only to advance their own ambitions, putting political gains above the facts and the fair application of the law. Patel, however, remains focused on preserving the rule of law and holding power centers accountable.

Ironically, this mission makes him a threat to the political establishment — including within the FBI.

His commitment to restoring the FBI’s true purpose makes his nomination more important than ever. On that evening in July 2018, his words were not complex, but they were powerful. They embodied everything he stood for.

A skeptic becomes an advocate

I admit I was skeptical of Patel when we first met. Our paths crossed when he took over oversight of international counterterrorism organizations at the NSC. As a former Army Green Beret and mid-level government bureaucrat on loan from the Department of Defense, I prided myself on being aggressively apolitical.

Before working with him, I had only seen Patel through the lens of internet coverage, which painted him as a divisive partisan figure. The media labeled him a “right-wing operative,” accusing him of trying to “punish” the FBI with the infamous “Nunes Memo.”

But those claims were false.

Patel represents the American dream. His sharp legal acumen and relentless work ethic propelled him to nearly every corner of the legal landscape. That tenacity quickly earned him the trust of President Trump, his closest advisers, and even career national security officials.

Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.

Leadership under pressure

During the Trump administration, we had an opportunity to dismantle al-Qaeda’s remaining leadership, an achievement once thought impossible. I made it my top priority. However, my efforts faced resistance from Pentagon and CIA leadership. Their reluctance — whether due to bureaucracy or outright hostility — stood in the way.

I knew the only way to get the job done required direct presidential intervention, something beyond my reach. Patel stepped in without hesitation. “I got it,” he said. “I’ll talk to the president.”

That was Patel’s strength — he knew how to cut through bureaucracy and drive real action. We became close confidants. When I needed a deputy, I knew Patel was the right person to step up.

He was a leader — professional, polite, and decent to everyone around him. But he never sacrificed his core beliefs or love for the country just to maintain the status quo. He complemented my often haphazard approach with sharp discernment, cutting through complex situations to offer clear, concise guidance.

Though his detractors labeled him a “heartless, sycophantic fundamentalist,” Patel proved to be the exact opposite. He understood government intricacies and navigated them with empathy, a sharp mind, and total professionalism.

And let’s be clear — our work was not political. Patel and I were part of a 20-person team, all career civil servants or military officers from both parties. The exception was Patel. Yet his effectiveness and integrity earned him the respect of those around him.

A defining moment: The Philip Walton rescue

Patel’s leadership extended beyond policy and intelligence work. One of the greatest displays of moral courage I ever witnessed was his commitment to rescuing Philip Walton.

On October 26, 2020, militants kidnapped Walton from his farm in Niger, intending to sell him to a regional terrorist group. The captors made a fatal mistake by staying in the same location for three nights in a row. Intelligence reports confirmed their whereabouts, but time was running out.

Patel was with President Trump at a hostage rescue operations unit when the intelligence came in. He understood the kidnappers’ strategy, recalling the 2016 case of American missionary Jeffrey Woodke, who was kidnapped in Niger and sold to an al-Qaeda faction. Woodke remained in captivity for years before French commandos finally rescued him.

Patel knew immediate action was necessary. If the kidnappers moved, Walton could disappear into a terror network, possibly forever. Patel briefed the president, who immediately ordered military forces to act.

U.S. Navy SEALs, supported by Air Force special operations teams, launched one of the most complex hostage rescue missions in history. Patel and I monitored the operation from the White House Situation Room.

This was not his first time leading in high-pressure situations. Just months earlier, we had advised President Trump during the operation to eliminate ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Yet unlike that mission, where top officials — including Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel — actively participated, they sent lower-level staffers this time. Pentagon officials Mark Esper and General Mark Milley resisted Patel’s request to conduct the briefing at the Pentagon, despite the logistical advantages.

Nevertheless, the operation succeeded. Walton was rescued, and three of his four captors were killed.

The mission underscored Patel’s moral clarity and operational expertise. When America needed action, he delivered. Meanwhile, career bureaucrats in Washington prioritized politics over results.

The right choice for the FBI

A few days later, on Nov. 9, 2020, President Trump fired Esper, and I stepped in as acting secretary of defense. I accepted the role only because Patel agreed to serve as my chief of staff. Together, we executed Trump’s directives, winding down the War on Terror, bringing troops home from unnecessary conflicts, and ensuring that service members and their families had a voice.

In December 2020, Patel and I visited the Navy SEALs who rescued Philip Walton. As we stood among those heroes, I was reminded why America remains the ultimate meritocracy. Patel, the son of immigrants, rose through the ranks by studying, working hard, and making difficult decisions. He demonstrated that integrity and courage still have a place in public service.

Now, as Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel represents exactly what the American people need. The rank-and-file agents of the FBI deserve leadership that empowers them to carry out their mission — protecting the country, not serving political interests.

Patel will demand the highest standards of conduct while treating FBI agents with respect and dignity. He will enforce the Constitution without bias, something the agency desperately needs.

America needs a strong, principled FBI director. Kash Patel is the right man for the job.

GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin Decries Social Media For Giving Americans Insight Into Congress’s Backdoor Dealmaking

The Sooner State Republican decried how social media has hampered lawmakers' ability to negotiate on legislation behind closed doors.

Megyn Kelly asks Pete Hegseth if he’s being 'Kavanaughed,' and his response proves how much we need him



It’s no coincidence that every time Donald Trump taps another person for his administration, a list of allegations against that person soon follows.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s DOD nominee, is currently battling a storm of smears ranging from old sexual assault allegations that were deemed false to an alleged drinking problem corroborated by 10 anonymous witnesses.

Conservative talk show host Megyn Kelly recently sat down with Hegseth to discuss the smears brought against him since his nomination.

Dave Rubin plays a clip of their conversation.


“Do you think you’re being Kavanaughed right now?” Kelly asked.

“I had a member not 45 minutes ago look me in the eye in private, just he and I, and say, ‘That's what they're trying to do to you. ... That's their playbook. Get ready for more, and they're going to make it up, just like they have so far — all anonymous, all innuendo, all rumor, nothing sourced, no verification, and they're just going to keep doing it because you're a threat to them,”’ Hegseth recounted.

He told Kelly that he knows that this is all true. He is being Kavanaughed because he’s “a threat to [the swamp’s] system.”

However, he plans to do exactly what Brett Kavanaugh did — fight back.

“Kavanaugh stood up, and he fought, and he won,” said Hegseth. “What you’re seeing right now with me is the art of the smear.”

Dave respects Hegseth’s determination to fight the system that’s attempting to destroy him.

“If we've learned anything in the last decade, it’s don't give into the lies,” he says, pointing to Jordan Peterson’s advice — “Don’t apologize unless you’ve done something wrong.”

“There is no evidence that Pete Hegseth has done anything wrong,” he says.

“You can just see it so clearly — he gets it! That's the beautiful thing that has shifted in culture. So many of us get it” and have determined that “we will not partake in the lie anymore. We will not let you take out good people,” says Dave.

To hear more of his commentary and see the footage of Kelly and Hegseth’s conversation, watch the clip above.

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