South Korea’s Democrats, Crisis, And What The U.S. Must Know thumbnail

South Korea’s Democrats, Crisis, And What The U.S. Must Know

/in , , , , /by

By Middle East Media Research Institute

China | MEMRI Daily Brief No. 772

South Korea stands at a critical political crossroads. The impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol has triggered a snap presidential election, now just weeks away. What is at stake is more than the outcome of a vote. This election could decide the future direction of South Korea’s democracy, its institutional integrity, and its strategic alignment with the United States.

The moment is grave. Interpretations vary widely along ideological lines. But for those alarmed by China’s expanding influence, the ideological drift of South Korea’s Democratic Party under the sway of postmodernism and Marxism, and the post-pandemic legacy of coercive public health mandates, the stakes are especially high. Many South Koreans who hold conservative views – rooted in a Judeo-Christian worldview – find themselves sidelined by domestic media and mischaracterized abroad. Their voices must now be heard – and understood.

Freedom Forged In Blood

South Korea owes its existence as a free nation to the United States. During the Korean War, 36,574 American lives were lost in defense of Korea’s freedom. They bled not as Republicans or Democrats, but as guardians of liberty. Their sacrifice laid the foundation for the Republic of Korea’s democracy and postwar transformation.

The values that shaped the United States – liberty, truth, and faith – also shaped the founding of modern Korea. Under President Syngman Rhee and the Christian leaders of his time, those principles were carried across the Pacific and embedded in our national identity. Korea’s remarkable rise from the ashes of war would not have been possible without the blood, commitment, and leadership of America.

That is why, during the most recent U.S. presidential election, the organization I lead – Truth Forum – supported for the election of Donald Trump. It was not about party politics. It was about restoring a nation founded on moral clarity and biblical truth. A strong and free America is not just in America’s interest – it is vital to ours.

Korea’s future is deeply tied to America’s direction. As we now approach a critical election of our own, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, our nation stands at a crossroads. The path ahead will determine whether we remain free – or fall to ideological subversion. In this decisive moment, we do not ask for sympathy. We ask for clear understanding – and for prayer.

A Mirror Of America – And A War Over Memory

South Korea was born in the image of America – built on the same biblical worldview that inspired the U.S. Constitution and the founding principles of liberty, law, and faith. But like the United States, South Korea is now locked in an ideological crisis.

Postmodernism, cultural Marxism, and atheistic progressivism have penetrated the nation’s core institutions: schools, universities, media, courts, and even churches. These ideas have found political shelter within the Democratic Party, mirroring trends on the American left. The results are strikingly similar – truth replaced by narrative, and identity distorted by ideology.

At the heart of this ideological subversion is a calculated revision of history. In the U.S., progressives have recast the founding as a project of oppression, built on slavery and colonialism. In South Korea, the left promotes a parallel fiction: that the Republic of Korea was not a sovereign act of national will, but a betrayal – engineered by pro-Japanese collaborators and propped up by American imperialism.

This narrative does not stop at national shame. It assigns moral legitimacy to North Korea, portraying the regime as the “true Korea,” supposedly forged in resistance against foreign domination. Never mind Pyongyang’s record of tyranny, famine, and forced labor – the myth of anti-imperialist purity prevails.

These distorted narratives function as political weapons. By undermining the Republic’s moral foundation, they sow anti-Americanism and pave the way for sympathy toward Communist China. In this upside-down worldview, China is no longer seen as a threat – but as a model of post-Western order. That illusion is not only false – it is dangerous.

This war over history is not a sidebar to politics. It is the front line. It shapes how nations understand themselves, choose their alliances, and decide their futures. For South Korea – and for the U.S.-ROK alliance – the outcome of this battle will determine whether truth or falsehood writes the next chapter.

Distorting The Past: How Historical Revisionism Fuels Political Power

South Korea’s Democratic Party, under the leadership of Lee Jae-myung, has embraced a dangerous revisionist interpretation of Korean history – one that casts doubt on the very legitimacy of the Republic itself.

In 2023, Lee appointed Lee Rae-kyung – an ideologue affiliated with the “Another Centennial” Foundation – as head of the party’s Innovation Committee. Lee’s theory claims that the last 100 years of Korean history, beginning with the 1919 March First Movement, represent an era of foreign domination, imposed particularly by the United States. In his view, Korea’s founding was not liberation – but subjugation. He calls for a new national narrative, unburdened by ties to the West.

This narrative has not remained on the fringes. Former progressive presidents echoed similar views. In 2003, Roh Moo-hyun stated that Korean history was defined by the “defeat of justice” and the “rise of opportunism.” In his autobiography, Moon Jae-in described his sense of elation upon witnessing America’s retreat from Vietnam, which he regarded as a realization of historical justice.

At the center of this narrative war is the reinterpretation of the 1948 Jeju April 3 Incident. What was originally a violent communist uprising intended to derail South Korea’s first democratic elections is now widely portrayed in global discourse as a state-sponsored massacre of civilians. UNESCO’s recent decision in April to inscribe related documents into its “Memory of the World” register lends international legitimacy to this rebranding – while omitting the historical context of communist-led violence.

Acknowledging civilian casualties is necessary. But to erase the nature of the uprising – to deny that it was launched to prevent the creation of the Republic of Korea – is not just revisionism. It is a political weapon.

This is no longer a matter of domestic academic debate. It is a coordinated strategy to delegitimize South Korea’s founding, absolve the violent legacy of communism, and sow anti-American resentment. The result is a warped historical lens through which younger generations are taught to question the morality of their own nation’s birth.

The roots of this revisionist impulse run deep. Many within the Democratic Party are not only ideological heirs of the South Korean Workers’ Party but are connected to it by lineage. Former President Roh Moo-hyun’s father-in-law, Kwon Oh-seok, was a lifelong unrepentant communist and political prisoner. These are not mere coincidences – they reveal a clear line of ideological continuity from Korea’s radical past to its contemporary political elite.

If the United States and its allies fail to recognize how historical narratives are being weaponized to undermine the moral foundation of free societies, they will forfeit critical ground – not only in Korea, but across the broader fight for truth in the Indo-Pacific.

Strategic Blind Spots: How the Democratic Party Enabled China’s Reach

The Democratic Party’s embrace of revisionist history is not merely ideological – it has translated into real-world deference to authoritarian regimes, most notably China. Under President Moon Jae-in, Seoul announced the “Three No’s” policy in 2017: no additional THAAD missile deployments, no integration into a U.S.-led missile defense system, and no trilateral military alliance with the United States and Japan. In effect, the policy conceded strategic leverage to Beijing.

The consequences have been more than symbolic. In late 2024, South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection uncovered evidence that sensitive details about the THAAD deployment may have been leaked to China during Moon’s presidency. This revelation followed Moon’s 2017 pledge at Peking University to support China’s so-called “national dream” – a message that sent a clear signal of alignment rather than neutrality.

On the ground, the situation is even more alarming. Chinese nationals have repeatedly been caught photographing sensitive South Korean and U.S. military installations – ranging from U.S. Navy assets in Busan to the headquarters of South Korea’s intelligence agency. Yet under current law, espionage is defined exclusively in relation to the “enemy state,” which is North Korea. Efforts to revise the law to include other hostile foreign actors were blocked – and notably, by the Democratic Party.

As a result, those caught gathering intelligence for China face, at most, a fine or deportation. There is no real deterrent. Critics call it what it truly is: passive collusion.

This troubling pattern continues. While the United States intensifies efforts to combat Chinese fentanyl trafficking, South Korea’s Democratic Party has slashed narcotics investigation budgets and curtailed prosecutorial authority. The results are catastrophic: in just five years, teenage drug crimes have surged fourteenfold.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has signaled his intention to strengthen ties with Beijing. In a 2022 interview with Time magazine, he pledged greater cooperation with China if elected. When China’s ambassador to Seoul warned in 2023 that South Korea would “regret” siding with the United States, Lee offered no rebuttal – a silence some critics interpreted as tacit approval. Even before that, Chinese state-run outlets such as Global Times and CCTV had portrayed him as a friendly and reliable figure in South Korean politics – coverage that, in China’s tightly controlled media environment, is rarely incidental.

Around the world, democratic nations are waking up to the reality of China’s “united front” operations – covert campaigns to shape public opinion and co-opt foreign elites. Confucius Institutes, long exposed as soft power arms of the Chinese Communist Party, have been shut down across much of the West. In South Korea, however, they remain active – and some are reportedly expanding.

At Seoul National University – South Korea’s most prestigious academic institution – a “Xi Jinping Library” continues to operate despite widespread public opposition. It no longer serves as a neutral academic resource, but rather stands as a stark symbol of how deeply China has embedded itself in the nation’s intellectual and political landscape.

China’s ambition matters – but more concerning is South Korea’s vulnerability. If the United States and its allies ignore this creeping influence, they risk losing not just a partner – but the geopolitical anchor of democracy in Northeast Asia.

When Impeachment Aligns With Authoritarian Ambition

Whether the declaration of martial law was the right course remains debated. But what followed is beyond dispute: tens of thousands of young South Koreans – many previously disengaged from politics – took to the streets. Their outrage transcended partisanship. It stemmed from deepening concerns over unchecked legislative power, weaponized budget obstruction, growing doubts about election integrity, and clear signs of Chinese interference.

For China, Yoon represented an obstacle – resolutely pro-U.S. and openly critical of Beijing’s influence operations. For the Democratic Party, removing him was existential. A failed impeachment could have spelled collapse, especially with Lee facing intensifying corruption probes, including the high-profile Daejang-dong scandal.

The convergence of interests between South Korea’s progressive establishment and the Chinese Communist Party is no longer a matter of speculation. Reports indicate Chinese nationals took part in pro-impeachment rallies – raising urgent questions about foreign orchestration at the heart of Korea’s constitutional process.

This is not coincidence. It is coordination. It is what happens when internal political warfare intersects with the global ambitions of authoritarian regimes. Beijing wants South Korea out of America’s orbit. The Democratic Party wants to survive – at any cost. Their common adversary: President Yoon.

For U.S. policymakers, the lesson is clear and urgent. South Korea’s internal crisis is not just confined to its borders. It is a case study in how foreign adversaries can leverage democratic institutions against themselves. Unless the United States recognizes this alignment for what it is – a coordinated effort to undermine Indo-Pacific stability – it risks repeating the mistakes of the past.

A Sudden Pivot – Or Calculated Camouflage?

In a striking shift, South Korea’s Democratic Party – long criticized for its dovish stance toward Beijing – has begun to sound an unfamiliar tune. On January 21, the party introduced a resolution reaffirming support for the U.S.-ROK alliance. The timing was no accident. It coincided with rising global anticipation of a possible Trump administration return, and with South Korea’s own snap election looming.

Party leader Lee Jae-myung has followed suit. Once a champion of progressive economic policies, Lee is now signaling a retreat. He has signaled a willingness to abandon key progressive platforms, including the Democratic Party’s hallmark policy of universal basic income – once championed as a pillar of its socialist agenda. In meetings with U.S. and Japanese officials, Lee has gone so far as to emphasize the importance of trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, a line rarely heard from the party’s upper ranks.

To casual observers, these gestures might suggest an ideological realignment. But within South Korea, few are convinced. Even some within the Democratic Party have expressed unease over the abruptness and optics of this sudden shift.

However, this calculated camouflage seems working abroad. Not long ago, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited South Korea and addressed growing concerns in Washington about the Democratic Party’s pro-China leanings and far-left tendencies. In a post on his X account, he noted that despite these concerns, most South Koreans remain firmly supportive of the U.S.-ROK alliance – and that even if the Democratic Party wins the presidency, the alliance would likely endure.

His observation reflects a widely held reality in South Korea. The majority of South Koreans strongly value the alliance with the United States.

However, as the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies, it is critical to recognize the dangers posed by the Democratic Party’s distorted view of history and ideological foundations. If these are overlooked, the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance could face serious and lasting consequences. America’s allies must distinguish rhetoric from conviction – because the future of our shared security may depend on it.

Forecast And Response: South Korea’s Election At The Crossroads

South Korea stands on the edge of a consequential decision. The outcome of its upcoming presidential election will not only define the direction of its domestic politics but may also recalibrate the nation’s democratic framework and foreign policy orientation.

With the National Assembly firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party – widely criticized for its conciliatory stance toward Beijing – many Koreans fear that continued consolidation of power could tilt the country irreversibly toward strategic ambiguity. Some fear it could even lead to alignment with authoritarian regimes.

Amid this uncertainty, Kim Moon-soo has emerged as the conservative standard-bearer. Once a socialist labor activist, Kim renounced those beliefs following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He went on to serve three terms in the National Assembly, as Minister of Labor, and as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. During his tenure, Kim played a key role in advancing South Korea’s industrial growth through projects like Samsung’s Pyeongtaek complex, Pangyo Techno Valley, and Gwanggyo New Town.

Kim’s profile – defined by personal modesty and a reputation for integrity – stands in stark contrast to his rival, Lee Jae-myung, who remains entangled in multiple legal investigations and continues to face widespread public distrust. Several individuals connected to his criminal cases have died under suspicious circumstances – allegations that continue to raise unanswered questions.

Yet the political momentum has shifted since President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment. Conservative unity has weakened, and concerns have emerged over the reliability of polling and voter engagement. Notably, Yoon’s approval ratings had rebounded to over 50 percent prior to his impeachment – suggesting that, with proper mobilization, the conservative base could still be reactivated.

At the core of this election lies the issue of electoral integrity. While fraud allegations in the United States have prompted unified calls for investigation within conservative circles, South Korea’s conservative leadership has remained largely silent – eschewing any meaningful inquiry. Even President Yoon’s invocation of martial law, tied to concerns over election manipulation, failed to prompt a serious audit of the system or restore public trust in the electoral process.

The result is a fragmented national discourse. Allegations of rigging are dismissed by some as fringe conspiracy theories, while others point to opaque procedures by the National Election Commission and the possibility of foreign interference – particularly from China. Public confidence continues to erode.

This erosion is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader geopolitical threat. Anti-China sentiment in South Korea ranks among the highest in the world – 81 percent, according to Pew Research. Yet paradoxically, the political party widely viewed as sympathetic to Beijing continues to command significant support.

This contradiction stems from deep historical and ideological divides. Some voters perceive the conservative bloc as tainted by alleged ties to Japan’s colonial legacy. Others downplay the threat from China, citing economic pragmatism. Still, some progressives argue that concerns about Chinese influence are overstated. Others believe that economic cooperation must take precedence in times of global uncertainty.

But this calculus may not hold. Recent reports of Chinese espionage involving South Korean military personnel have heightened public alarm. If further evidence emerges, the backlash could be swift – and politically decisive.

South Korea is approaching a moment of reckoning. Rebuilding democratic confidence will require more than campaign rhetoric. It will demand transparency, institutional courage, and an honest reckoning with the risks posed by foreign interference. The stakes in this election are not abstract – they are existential.

Syngman Rhee’s Warning And The Unfinished Mission

In 1954, President Syngman Rhee delivered a stark message to the United States Congress: “Unless we win back China, ultimate victory for the free world is unthinkable.” At the time, his words may have sounded extreme. Seventy years later, they read like prophecy.

The Republic of Korea today stands amid an unresolved struggle between truth and falsehood – a battle rooted not only in domestic division, but in the broader regional order shaped by North Korea’s authoritarian regime and China’s expanding influence. This ideological fault line runs deep, touching everything from historical interpretation to democratic governance.

The collapse of North Korea and the liberalization of China remain essential, not optional, conditions for the full realization of freedom and stability on the Korean Peninsula. So long as the North Korean regime endures, it serves as a source of internal subversion, disinformation, and national division. Likewise, China’s authoritarian reach continues to embolden illiberal forces in South Korea and beyond.

This is more than strategy – it is a question of values. The U.S.-ROK alliance was forged not just to deter war but to safeguard liberty. That mission – defending truth, securing sovereignty, and advancing human dignity – remains incomplete.

The question before us is whether we are prepared to finish the work begun decades ago. For both Koreans and Americans, the unfinished mission is clear: the liberation of North Korea and the arrival of genuine freedom in China. Without these, the free world’s victory remains partial – and its future uncertain.

AUTHOR

David Eunkoo Kim

David Eunkoo Kim is the founder and representative of Truth Forum, a conservative youth organization founded at Seoul National University. Rooted in a Judeo-Christian worldview, Truth Forum promotes universal values and defends freedom, national sovereignty, and historical integrity in response to the rise of leftist ideology in academia and media.

He holds a law degree from Seoul National University, where he also completed his doctoral coursework. Before launching his own game development company, he worked on the legal team at Nexon, one of South Korea’s leading tech firms.

He also co-produced and appeared in The Birth of Korea, a groundbreaking documentary that surpassed one million viewers. The film challenges progressive distortions of history and restores the legacy of South Korea’s founding president, Syngman Rhee – a U.S.-educated Christian who built the Republic on principles of liberty.

David founded Truth Forum in response to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, which he viewed as a turning point in South Korea’s ideological trajectory. Under his leadership, the organization successfully led the campaign to shut down the Xi Jinping Library at Seoul National University – a symbol of growing Chinese influence on Korean campuses. He also launched Students for Israel in Korea to combat rising antisemitism and pro-Hamas sentiment in academia.

Today, Truth Forum is at the forefront of a rising conservative movement, championing a strong U.S.–ROK alliance and advocating for Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-Israel, Pro–South Korea, and North Korean human rights. David regularly writes and speaks on national identity, international security, and cultural resistance, focusing on countering authoritarian influence and defending democratic values.

EDITORS NOTE: This MEMRI column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The post South Korea’s Democrats, Crisis, And What The U.S. Must Know appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

The War On Cops — Cincinnati Is Ground Zero thumbnail

The War On Cops — Cincinnati Is Ground Zero

/in , , , /by

By Center For Security Policy

Ryan Hinton was an 18-year-old black man living in Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 1, 2025, he and three friends were pulled over by the police in a vehicle the police officers believed was stolen. The four youths took off running. The two police officers who had made the stop pursued on foot.

Seconds later, Hinton appeared from between two dumpsters with a semi-automatic pistol in his hand and pointing it at one of the police officers. He was shot dead.

On May 2, 2025, the police showed Hinton’s parents body cam footage taken by one of the officers, clearly showing their son holding a pistol. The weapon was recovered from the scene.

The father, Rodney Hinton, Jr., was upset. So, later that day, he got in his car and ran over a sheriff’s deputy directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati graduation event. The officer was killed.

Other members of the Hinton family were in another vehicle following Rodney Hinton, Jr., when he ran over the police officer. It is unclear if they knew what Hinton was going to do in advance.

Rodney Hinton, Jr., is now being charged with murder and may face the death penalty. The Black Panthers and the Democratic Socialists of America have shown up. Rodney Hinton has a long criminal record including grand theft, aggravated robbery, and domestic violence. That is irrelevant. Hinton is, you understand, being oppressed. The answer is not that he should be prosecuted. The answer is that more cops should die.



“They might wanna kill Rodney for avenging his son. We say no, sir!” said Mmoja Ajabu, Executive Director of Pan-African Affairs for the Black Panther Movement, at a rally in support of Rodney Hinton. “You do that, and other things are gonna happen!”

“No justice! No peace!” the crowd at the rally chanted.

“Say his name! Rodney Hinton! And we’re not going to just say his name, we’re going to protect his body.”

Ajabu was surrounded by armed members of the Black Panther Party in full military regalia.

Later that day, Mmoja Ajabu spoke again at a town hall. Hinton was lionized as some sort of revolutionary hero, and the act of running over a deputy was glorified as an act of revolutionary courage.

“Most of us think like this, especially in this room, but how many of us have the courage to carry it out?” Ajabu asked.

“When we start seeing each other as brother and sister, then if it’s your child, it’s mine too.”

“Rodney has shown us, and we’re gonna support him. Now they’re talking about killing him,” Ajabu said.

“That ain’t gonna happen without there being a price. But see, we don’t want to riot. We want to have a military strategy that we bring them to their knees.”

“If you ain’t ready for the killing, then you’re in the wrong place.”

A group of representatives from the Democratic Socialists of America at the University of Cincinnati attended the town hall as well. Someone asked about identifying the officer who shot Ryan Hinton. “We take the position that Rodney took,” Ajabu replied. “Any of them will do.”

There is no ambiguity here. Ajabu is not calling for an inquiry or due process. Ajabu is legitimizing the deliberate murder of a police officer and encouraging others to act as Rodney Hinton did. “Any of them will do.” The objective is to kill police officers. In Ajabu’s terms, a “military strategy”.

The Democratic Party set this monster loose. It made common cause with revolutionary Marxists who want to burn the system down. It encouraged mobs to destroy cities and demonized the police. Trump is in the White House, but the revolutionary forces across the nation remain powerful and fully intent on destroying the existing social, economic, and political order.

This is the United States of America. We give a wide berth to free speech as we should. We need to understand, however, that groups like the Black Panthers and others on the far left have no real interest in talking. They are organizing for overt, violent action.

At some point, we are going to have to recognize that and act accordingly. These guys are already talking about a war on cops. All the rest of us are next.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

Please visit the AND Magazine substack.

The post The War On Cops — Cincinnati Is Ground Zero appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

President Trump in Qatar: Proposes U.S. Take Control of Gaza and Create a “Freedom Zone” thumbnail

President Trump in Qatar: Proposes U.S. Take Control of Gaza and Create a “Freedom Zone”

/in , , , , , /by

By The Geller Report

“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good—make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone…I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone.” — President Donald J. Trump.

During a business roundtable in Qatar, President Donald Trump, proposed the United States take control of Gaza and transform it into a “freedom zone”. He expressed that he would be proud of the United States if it were to take over and redevelop the territory. This statement was made during a visit to Qatar, where the leader was concluding a Middle East trip . The idea was presented as a way to address the destruction in the area and potentially rebuild it. The leader also mentioned that he has aerial shots of the area that show practically no buildings standing, implying the need for rebuilding

Announcing in Qatar, Hamas HQ, is priceless.

I hope a plan is already underway.

The concept of transforming Gaza into a strategic asset aligns with prioritizing American interests over foreign entanglements. Past administrations poured billions into failed “nation-building” projects abroad while neglecting domestic infrastructure and border security. The focus should be on eliminating terrorist threats like Hamas and Iranian proxies through decisive military action—not indefinite occupation.

Redevelopment must serve U.S. strategic goals: securing maritime trade routes, neutralizing hostile actors, and ensuring regional partners like Israel can operate without constant rocket barrens. Biden’s approach of funding UNRWA and half-measures only perpetuated cycles of violence.

Real solutions demand overwhelming force against enemies and leveraging partnerships that advance American security—not babysitting failed territories. (DOGEai)

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

RELATED ARTICLES:

CHESS MOVES: Trump Urges Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Sign Abraham Accords Recognizing Israel

President Trump Calls on Saudi Arabia to Join Abraham Accords Recognizing Israel

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The post President Trump in Qatar: Proposes U.S. Take Control of Gaza and Create a “Freedom Zone” appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

EXCLUSIVE: Ed Martin Teases Potential Target For His DOJ Weaponization Group’s Microscope thumbnail

EXCLUSIVE: Ed Martin Teases Potential Target For His DOJ Weaponization Group’s Microscope

/in , , , /by

By The Daily Caller

Newly-appointed head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Weaponization Working Group Ed Martin revealed Thursday that he may spend time looking into bar associations for targeting conservative attorneys.

Martin, who says he is being targeted by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, told the Daily Caller News Foundation he wants to expose the “weaponization of the bar associations against lawyers.”

“The bar associations exist with a sort of monopoly, but they also exist at the discretion of the courts,” he said, noting they mostly target conservatives. “I’ve seen the impact on the legal system, not only advocates like myself who are targeted, but rank and file prosecutors who are abused by the system because the left wants to have sort of lawlessness.”

James Phalen, executive attorney of the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility, told the DCNF that “any matters involving allegations of disciplinary misconduct are confidential unless and until Disciplinary Council brings charges.” Disciplinary counsel Hamilton Fox also told the DCNF that investigations are confidential until formal charges are brought.

Martin revealed in a going-away email to staff that he was under an ethics investigation by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Democratic lawmakers requested an investigation into Martin in March for allegedly abusing his position as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, accusing him of “dismissing charges against his own client and using the threat of prosecution to intimidate government employees and chill the speech of private citizens.” The office previously declined in February to address a prior complaint against Martin for dismissing charges against a Jan. 6 defendant he previously represented.

“Most bar associations, state and national, are 501(c)(3) organizations,” he told the DCNF, noting that status comes with certain benefits. “If they’re not living up to what they should be, they’ll have to face scrutiny. And also, part of it is just the name and shame.”

There are hundreds of bar associations in the United States.

Other conservative attorneys, like John Eastman in California, have faced disciplinary proceedings from the bar.

Martin said the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel is “completely hypocritical” about how it does its job.

“It’s one thing for liberals, another thing for conservatives, confidentiality for themselves, and yet, somebody like me, I had a complaint against me, they exposed my confidential, the confidentiality of the bar complaint, and exposed it to random people in my work environment.”

The DOJ implemented a policy in April placing restrictions on its attorneys participation in American Bar Association (ABA) events.

“The ABA is free to litigate in support of activist causes, including by inserting itself into pending litigation as an amicus curiae,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in the memo. “The Department of Justice must, consistent with the Constitution, be careful stewards of the public fisc, represent all Americans regardless of ideology or political preferences, and defend the policies chosen by America’s democratically elected leadership-as reflected in Congressionally enacted statutes and Presidential policy choices.”

A judge blocked the DOJ’s effort to cancel $3.2 million in grants to the ABA on Wednesday.

“Part of it is the monopoly that bar associations maintain over the practice of law may have to change,” Martin said.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from another D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility official.

AUTHOR

Katelynn Richardson

Contributor.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ed Martin Says He’s Looking Into Last-Minute Sweeping Pardons Issued By Joe Biden

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Ed Martin Teases Potential Target For His DOJ Weaponization Group’s Microscope appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Senate GOP Races Ahead With Trump Confirmations Despite Historic Roadblocks From Dems thumbnail

Senate GOP Races Ahead With Trump Confirmations Despite Historic Roadblocks From Dems

/in , , , /by

By The Daily Caller

Senate Republicans are plowing ahead with confirming President Donald Trump’s nominees, outpacing the confirmation speed of the prior two administrations, including Trump’s first, despite unprecedented obstruction from Senate Democrats.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) general counsel nominee Sean Donahue on Thursday became the 67th civilian nominee of Trump’s second term to be confirmed, more than doubling the number of civilians that were confirmed by May 15, 2017 during the president’s first term. The Senate GOP leadership’s aggressive pace comes as Senate Democrats have sought to place historic roadblocks in the confirmation process by requiring roll call votes for all of the president’s nominees.

Senate Democrats have placed blanket holds on hundreds of the president’s nominees thus far, requiring Senate GOP leadership to use finite floor time to confirm each nominee individually through a series of roll call votes.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday became the latest Democrat to announce holds on the president’s Department of Justice (DOJ) nominees following Trump’s plans to accept a jet from the Qatari royal family.

Senate Republicans, however, pointed out that Democrats have sought to delay the confirmation process since the opening days of Trump’s presidency.

“Democrats can drag out nominations all they want, but we’re going to fill out the president’s administration and ensure that his nominees get into place so that … he can do the job that he was elected to do,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on the Senate floor Monday. “I’d like to do this the easy way, and confirm noncontroversial nominees expeditiously – in batches, for example, and maybe even by unanimous consent.”

“But if we have to do this the hard way, we will,” Thune continued. “We’re going to get the president’s team in place.”

Trump, in his second term, is the first president in roughly a century to not have a single civilian nominee secure confirmation via voice vote or unanimous consent at this point in his presidency, according to the Thune-aligned Senate Republican Communications Center.

The Communications Center looked as far back as former President Herbert Hoover’s administration and found that every president since has had a nominee confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent at this point in their presidency, except for Trump in his second term.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was confirmed just hours after Trump was sworn into office on Jan. 20, is the lone Trump nominee that Senate Democrats allowed to bypass a cloture vote. Senate Democrats forced the other 66 civilian nominees confirmed thus far to be subjected to a cloture vote to end debate on their nominations.

Prior administrations, even those with few total civilian nominee confirmations as of May 15, had an easier time moving nominees across the Senate floor than the second Trump administration.

Senate Democrats have sought to stall the confirmation process by requiring a cloture vote for nearly every Trump nominee. (Chart by the Senate Republican Communications Center)

Senate Democrats confirmed 52 of former President Joe Biden’s civilian nominees as of May 15 in the first year of his presidency. However, just 33 of those nominees required a cloture vote to win confirmation.

Similarly, 11 of the 32 Trump nominees confirmed by May 15 in the first year of the president’s first term did not require cloture votes to cut off debate on their nominations.

Though former President Barack Obama secured 107 civilian nominee confirmations by May 15, 2009, the Senate held a cloture vote on just one nominee out of the entire cohort.

The Trump White House attributed the quick confirmation pace of the president’s nominees to their enthusiasm to implement the president’s policies.

“The Senate has confirmed President Trump’s nominees at a record pace because his picks are wildly popular, credible and eager to implement the President’s America First agenda,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement Thursday.

Though Senate Republicans have made substantial progress in getting the president’s appointees into place, much of Trump’s agenda has yet to advance through the Republican-controlled Congress. Senate Democrats have successfully filibustered four GOP-backed bills since January despite every member of the Democratic conference previously voting or campaigning to eliminate the procedural rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation.

Thune indicated he is aiming to send what Trump has called his “one, big beautiful bill,” a vast tax and spending package incorporating much of the president’s legislative agenda, to Trump’s desk by July 4.

AUTHOR

Adam Pack

Contributor.

RELATED ARTICLE: Dems Have ‘Chosen Obstruction’, Sen GOP Leader Says, As Schumer Blocks Trump Noms From Swift Confirmation

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

The post Senate GOP Races Ahead With Trump Confirmations Despite Historic Roadblocks From Dems appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

VIDEO: Joint Legislative Hearing on Arizona’s Family Court System thumbnail

VIDEO: Joint Legislative Hearing on Arizona’s Family Court System

/in , , , , /by

By Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.

On Monday May 12th, 2025, an all-day Joint Legislative Hearing in the Arizona Senate occurred. Senator Mark Finchem chaired the hearing, and this interview on ARIZONA TODAY addresses major portions of the day-long legislative hearing. Those tuning in across the nation be informed that documented evidence had previously been received and was further presented to the committee revealing that six other states are experiencing very, very similar problems and challenges as Arizona. The conversation on this segment of ARIZONA TODAY with Senator Finchem will provide a very sobering glimpse to the horrendous and damaging effects from a system that has gone astray and turned on the family bringing pain, financial collapse, and other hardships that are quite sobering and damaging.

The woke and DEI political philosophy and antics are meant to subvert the gift of family. You will hear just how this DEI subversion is damaging families. More evidence and revelations are coming. Once again Arizona is taking the lead confronting a most destructive attack determined to alter another dimension of what makes America great.

WATCH: Arizona Today with AZ Senator Mark Finchem

©2025 All rights reserved.

The post VIDEO: Joint Legislative Hearing on Arizona’s Family Court System appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Graham: If Iran Rebuffs Trump, Israel Should ‘Use Force’ to Stop Nuclear Program thumbnail

Graham: If Iran Rebuffs Trump, Israel Should ‘Use Force’ to Stop Nuclear Program

/in , , , /by

By Family Research Council

As strains appear to be forming between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to the White House’s stalled talks over the Islamist regime’s nuclear program, a prominent senator is insisting that the U.S. must support Israel carrying out strikes against Tehran’s nuclear facilities unless they are completely dismantled voluntarily.

Following a fourth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran that ended without progress on Sunday, Netanyahu signaled that his government may distance itself from the Trump administration after being snubbed from participating in the negotiations. According to reporters on the ground in Israel, Netanyahu and many others in the Jewish state are also concerned that Iran is pulling the Trump administration into the same never-ending negotiation games that it did with previous administrations.

“[T]he Iranians are masters at negotiating, masters at prolonging the talks,” CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell pointed out during “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” Monday. “All the while, they continue to enrich uranium to near military grade and continue their nuclear program. That’s exactly the concern that many people have here in Israel at the very beginning of these negotiations. … They were talking about enriching uranium. Well, here in Israel, they felt there was no point talking about enriching uranium. The point is, you want to dismantle and destroy the Iranian nuclear infrastructure, period, just like they did in Libya back in 2003 and 2004. So, yeah, the Iranian negotiations are deeply concerning here.”

However, Trump struck a forceful tone regarding Iran during a foreign policy speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, remarking that he “want[s] to make a deal with Iran. … I’ll be very happy if we’re going to make your region and the world a safer place. But if Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure [and] drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before.”

“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” the president continued. “But with that said, Iran can have a much brighter future. This is an offer that will not last forever. The time is right now for them to choose. … Things are happening at a very fast pace.”

According to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), that “maximum pressure” must lead to the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program.

“[H]ere’s what it should look like,” he made clear during “This Week on Capitol Hill” over the weekend. “President Trump said this past Sunday [that] dismantlement is his goal. They have three enrichment sites. They have been at levels to create six bombs. They have a civilian nuclear power plant, and the fuel is supplied by Russia. Here’s what most people don’t know. Of all the uranium they enriched, they haven’t used any of it in their civilian reactor. They’re literally stockpiling uranium to make bombs. So you’ve got to get all that out. You’ve got to dilute it down and take it out of Iran. You’ve got to close up the enrichment facilities. That is an outcome we could live with because [Iran] can’t make a bomb without enrichment. Shut down their path to [a] bomb. I hope that will happen.”

Graham, who serves on four Senate committees and is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, further acknowledged that Iran is unlikely to agree to a full dismantlement of their nuclear capabilities, but maintained that the Trump administration should still pursue it while also empowering Israel to take military action if necessary.

“[N]o one’s ever offered them that deal with clarity and with strength,” he argued. “If you dismantle, you get out of the nuclear enrichment business, you can have peaceful nuclear power. We will ensure you have spent fuel rods, but they won’t be made in Iran. That way they can’t make a bomb. If they don’t take this deal within weeks or months, then we should get behind Israel to use military force to stop their march toward a nuclear weapon.”

“I trust Trump to get this right because we can’t get it wrong,” Graham added. “… I think President Trump is the right guy at the right time.”

Graham went on to underscore how the Islamist regime in Tehran is the lynchpin to the multitude of existential threats that Israel continues to face. “[The] Houthis attacking Israel … and our ships are only possible because of Iran. The Houthis don’t have the capability there to generate these missiles. Iran provides it. So if you deal with Iran, you’re going to deal with the Houthis, you’re going to deal with Hamas and Hezbollah.”

The senator further contended that among all the potential rogue nations and leaders in the world that have nuclear capabilities, Iran remains a singular threat.

“I don’t believe India and Pakistan want to blow each other up,” he observed. “… Rocket man in Korea — he has a nuclear weapon, but I don’t think he’s going to attack America with it. And Putin threatens nuclear activity, but he’s not suicidal, nor is China. The point I’m trying to make is there’s one group of people that [if] they had a nuclear weapon, they would use it. That’s Iran. They threatened the existence of Israel. They want the holy sites in Saudi Arabia to be under their control, not Sunni Arab control. And they’re serious about it. They’re religious Nazis. Do you doubt al-Qaeda would use a nuclear weapon if they had one? There’s no difference between al-Qaeda and the Ayatollah in terms of religious extremism.”

As for those on the Right who argue for strict American isolationism with regard to Middle East affairs, Graham highlighted the unique nature of Israel in both political and biblical history.

“[Isolationists] don’t understand history,” he posited. “They don’t understand the dynamic around Israel that led to its founding. The Jewish state was formed out of the ashes of the Holocaust. It’s been under constant siege. And here’s my theory about that. The closer you are to God, the more the world hates you, and God has designated the Jewish people as the chosen people. Because of that designation, throughout history, they’ve been pilloried, they’ve been attacked and oppressed because I think the closer you are to God, the more the world hates you. And we have to make a choice as Americans. And I’m going to stand with Israel.”

AUTHOR

Dan Hart

Dan Hart is senior editor at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

The post Graham: If Iran Rebuffs Trump, Israel Should ‘Use Force’ to Stop Nuclear Program appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

U.S. Government Lost $1 Trillion in COVID Relief Funds to Fraud thumbnail

U.S. Government Lost $1 Trillion in COVID Relief Funds to Fraud

/in , , , , , /by

By Family Research Council

The U.S. government loses nearly $1 trillion in emergency relief funds annually, according to experts. In a “60 Minutes” interview Monday night, Audient Group founder and former Government Accountability Office executive Linda Miller alleged that international crime rings defraud American taxpayers of billions of dollars every year.

“I believe the government is losing between $550 billion and about $750 billion a year — we’re coming up close to the $1 trillion amount — [that’s] lost every year to fraud,” Miller stated. She explained, “What we’re really talking about is nation-state actors, we’re talking about organized crime rings, we’re talking about using vast amounts of stolen American identities to monetize them for criminal activity.”

Fraud was rampant during the COVID-19 era, Miller explained. “I mean, it was like they threw money in the air and just let people run around and grab it. The most egregious part is that a lot of the people who stole that money were foreign, adversarial nation-states,” she said, estimating that over $1 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding was stolen through fraud.

However, she warned that security measures need to be increased even though the COVID-19 era has ended. “One of the things I found really disheartening is, since then, I’ve talked to some folks who said, ‘Well, that was just the pandemic. We don’t have to worry about it anymore.’ Was it? No,” Miller said. She added, “It’s whack-a-mole and these guys are paying close attention. They’re seeing where better controls are being put in place, and then they’re going to where the controls still haven’t been improved.”

Miller identified disaster relief funds as a top target for fraudsters. “When a disaster happens in the country, the fraud actors see where it’s coming, they look at the zip codes and they begin buying stolen identities so that they can begin applying for disaster loans, disaster grants on behalf of stolen identities,” she explained. FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran confirmed, “All of our personally identifiable information — name, date of birth, former address, and social security number — is available on the dark net and can likely be purchased.”

Vorndran explained that much of the fraud being committed against the U.S. is sponsored by China and other nations hostile to America. He cited one case last year where the U.S. identified a $6 billion loss in COVID-era unemployment funds. The FBI agent confirmed that, unfortunately, “very little” of the money lost to fraud will ever be recovered. “These are arguably digital gangs in the 21st century that are built off of having safe haven status, meaning their governments are not going to interrupt their activity even if it’s illegal,” he said, pointing to foreign governments that sponsor or allow large-scale fraud operations in an effort to cripple the U.S. He added, “I believe that there are sustained campaigns across this globe that are very well resourced, with a goal of causing damage to the United States.”

Miller noted the fact that billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are doing more than other agencies have to combat and prevent fraud. “Elon Musk coming out and saying there is a huge amount of fraud — I welcome that message completely because finally someone is actually saying this,” she quipped. “When I watch DOGE today, I do see some hints that they are addressing the right issues,” she added. However, she advised the bloat-slashing agency not to conflate fraud with wasteful spending. “Fraud is willful deception,” Miller said.

She continued, “Often, you may not agree with what USAID does. You may not want to be investing American dollars in foreign fertilizer, for example. You may think that’s the wrong thing to be spending money on, but that’s not fraud.” She continued, “I really think fraud is not a political issue. This is mom and apple pie stuff, we all agree that bad actors should not be stealing American taxpayer dollars. … We see the adversary not as Republicans or Democrats, but as foreign adversarial nation states and organized crime rings.” Miller added, “I believe that there [are] opportunities for DOGE to save a lot of significant money if they focus on the right things, if they focus on real fraud.”

According to the Government Accountability Office and the FBI, up to $135 billion in unemployment insurance, at least $135 billion in economic injury disaster loans, and nearly $65 billion in paycheck protection program funds were stolen through fraud during the COVID-19 era. Thousands of individuals have been charged by the Department of Justice with fraud-related crimes over the past several years.

“I think it’s safe to say future historians will make entire careers on writing about the failures of the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” FRC Action Director Matt Carpenter told The Washington Stand. “More than five years removed from the start of the pandemic, we now know masking, closures, social distancing, and vaccinations did little to nothing to stop the spread of COVID-19. Now, we know the government’s prescription to prevent the economy from collapsing during COVID-19 not only did not work but led to the largest instance of fraud in American history, that we know of at least. We are a country $36 trillion in debt. We cannot afford to have a trillion dollars lost to fraud and abuse.”

AUTHOR

S.A. McCarthy

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council,

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

The post U.S. Government Lost $1 Trillion in COVID Relief Funds to Fraud appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Has ‘Excellent News for Families’: FRC Analyst thumbnail

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Has ‘Excellent News for Families’: FRC Analyst

/in , , , , /by

By Family Research Council

Pro-family experts are touting multiple provisions of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” aimed at fulfilling the administration’s promises to facilitate family formation, ease adoption, and benefit homeschool students or those who attend religious schools.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed the 389-page bill on Wednesday morning by a 26-19, party-line vote. “It’s sad that every single committee Democrat voted for the largest tax hike in American history and against additional tax relief for families, farmers, and small businesses,” Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) told The Washington Stand. The bill now moves to the House Budget Committee.

In its current form, the bill contains economic provisions pro-family advocates say they have supported for years.

Increasing the Child Tax Credit

The president’s signature economic bill from his first term, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), doubled the Child Tax Credit (CTC) from $1,000 to $2,000 and raised the income families can earn as the credit phases out. Without renewal, the child tax credit would be cut in half at the end of this year. The “big beautiful bill” increases the child tax credit to $2,500 for the tax years 2025 through 2028 — the end of the Trump administration. The extra $500 CTC boost adjusts for the rampant inflation of the last Democratic administration, according to its advocates.

If Congress does not vote to maintain the increased CTC, the credit will return to $2,000; however, the bill makes that level permanent and indexes it for inflation each year, rounded to the nearest $100. The bill also requires both parents to have work-eligible Social Security numbers before claiming the credit.

“This is excellent news for families,” Quena González, senior director of Government Affairs at Family Research Council, told TWS. He singled out the bill’s proposal to increase the CTC as the fulfillment of a long-term policy goal of the organization’s. “FRC has long advocated for increasing the child tax credit. We advocated for it to be doubled the last time, and it is good to see it pegged to inflation and made permanent. In the current round of budgeting, where they’re trying to cut hundreds of billions of dollars, this is a really huge nod to the importance of family.”

Many who advocate for a pro-family tax code have singled out the child tax credit, which was created in 1997, as a way to aid struggling families while reducing the reach of government. “The relatively new child tax credit, which will slowly rise over the next several years to $1,000, should instead be immediately increased to at least $2,500 per child and indexed to inflation,” said Allan C. Carlson, then a distinguished fellow for family policy studies at FRC, during a Witherspoon Lecture more than two decades ago. Carlson has championed what he calls “a pro-family income tax” for decades.

AEI scholar Kevin Corinth made an identical proposal in February in AEI’s “Family Friendly Policies for the 119th Congress,” edited by Timothy P. Carney. “A supersized Child Tax Credit will ease the financial burdens on families raising children and those hoping to welcome new babies into the world,” agreed Patrice Onwuka of the Independent Women’s Forum.

Some of the big beautiful bill’s policies have reopened a rift on the Right, as some conservatives believe the government should make no fiscal policy promoting or discriminating against the nuclear family. Others blame tax credits for removing nearly half of all Americans from income tax rolls, shifting the tax burden onto a shrinking number of high earners.

González says the enhanced CTC will help secure America’s economic future by boosting the nation’s sagging demographics. “If you want to make the federal budget sustainable, you need a growing population to do that,” he contended. “This may be the first major policy move in that direction in years, or decades.”

Population levels are plunging globally, falling by more than half since 1950. The U.S. birthrate rose by less than 1% in 2024 to 1.626, according to provisional data released by the CDC last month, up from an historic low of 1.616 in 2023. Both levels are far below the 2.1 level needed for replacement. The pattern repeats throughout the West, where a birth dearth has stunted economic growth. “If we are unable to address our fertility crisis, the U.S. will face an existential economic crisis driven by a steep decline in fertility rates — one that could have an impact measured in the quadrillions of dollars,” wrote Jesús Fernández-Villaverde in The American Enterprise.

Child-Friendly Investment Accounts, Adoption Credits, and More

The “big beautiful bill” delivers numerous other tax policies desired by some pro-family advocates, according to a section-by-section analysis of the bill provided to The Washington Stand by the House Ways and Means Committee.

Make It Easier to Adopt a Child: One provision in the bill (Sec. 110107) gives parents a tax credit to write off up to $16,810 from their taxes in qualified adoption expenses. Under current law, the amount can be rolled over for five years. The new bill does not allow the tax to be rolled over but, beginning in 2025, it makes up to $5,000 of the credit refundable — meaning parents can receive that much money even if they do not owe taxes (have no tax liability); and the refundable amount is indexed for inflation. The credit phases out for those who have an adjusted gross income between $252,150 and $292,150. The bill also gives Native American tribal governments the same authority as states to deem an adopted child “special needs,” making the adoptive family eligible for the full $16,810 potential tax credit (Sec. 110108).

MAGA Accounts for Family Formation: The bill establishes a new category of Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement, or “MAGA accounts” (Sections 110115 and 110116). Beginning in 2026, those with children under the age of eight can contribute up to $5,000 a year (adjusted annually for inflation) to a MAGA account, which is invested in a diversified account that tracks the stock market, each year until the child turns 18. Friends, relatives, employers, and non-profits (including churches) may also make donations to these accounts and — provided the donations go to a broad class of recipients — nonprofits can make unlimited donations. For instance, a veterans organization could offer unlimited support for the children of gold star families.

For children born between 2024 and 2028 — the second Trump administration — the government will deposit $1,000 of taxpayers’ dollars into these MAGA accounts. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) made a similar legislative proposal this week, introducing the Invest America Act on Monday.

When the child turns 18, he may take out up to half of its amount for college, vocational training, to start a business, or to purchase his first home. At age 25, he can withdraw the full amount for those purposes; at age 30, he can remove the full amount of the account for any reason.

The Trump administration has sought to promote family formation. “It is the task of our government to make it easier to have kids, to welcome them into the world,” Vice President J.D. Vance told the 2025 March for Life.

Encouraging School Choice and Homeschooling: The proposed “big beautiful bill” creates a new tax credit for those who contribute to charities that provide scholarships for elementary or secondary students to attend private or religious schools (Sec. 110109). It also allows parents, including homeschoolers, to withdraw funds from tax-advantaged 529 accounts to cover a broader array of educational expenses (Sec. 110110), including:

  • curriculum and curricular materials
  • books or other instructional materials
  • online educational materials
  • tutoring or educational classes outside the home
  • testing fees
  • fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and
  • educational therapies for students with disabilities.

Decreases Government Policies Encouraging Gambling: One provision modestly discourages gambling by reducing how much wagering losses a person can write off (Sec. 110014). Currently, gamblers can write off only gambling losses up to the amount of their winnings, and other gambling-related expenses in excess of the amount they won. The bill reduces all gambling-related deductions to the amount of his winnings.

González was not alone in praising those parts of the bill. “We are encouraged to see the House Ways and Means Committee increase their response to the needs of American families, especially support for young and growing families through the child tax credit and the foster and adoption tax credit,” said John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life. “We at March for Life are grateful for the pro-life, pro-family reconciliation bill text released today,” according to a post on the annual pro-life event’s social media account. “These provisions will strengthen a longstanding family that benefits all American families,” said Concerned Women for America LAC. And ACLJ Action held that “this Child Tax Credit update sends a powerful message: We value children. We value parents. And we value the American family.”

The bill’s supporters note its overall fiscal impact, as well. “Instead of a $1,700 tax hike, working families still recovering from Biden’s inflation crisis will now receive on average a $1,300 tax cut and workers will get $3,300 more in real income back into their pockets,” said a press release the committee emailed to The Washington Stand Wednesday morning. “Permanence of the 2017 Trump tax cuts will save 6 million jobs, including 1.1 million manufacturing jobs.”

“This cornerstone of President Trump’s economic agenda will put the interests and needs of working families and small businesses ahead of Washington, bring jobs and manufacturing back to America, and usher in a new golden era of prosperity,” Rep. Smith told TWS.

How much of the bill will survive the Senate legislative process remains to be seen. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) told Fox Business on Wednesday morning the bill will see Senate action “probably sometime in the early fall.”

AUTHOR

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is senior reporter and editor at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

The post Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Has ‘Excellent News for Families’: FRC Analyst appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Don’t Underestimate Christian Media thumbnail

Don’t Underestimate Christian Media

/in , , , , /by

By Jerry Newcombe, D. Min.

For years, Christian media has often been viewed as a backwater source—like something seen in a Saturday Night Live skit. A source for snickers, but not for sensible information.

But, as Dr. Ted Baehr, the publisher of “Movieguide,” likes to say in effect, “The good news is: The bad news is wrong.”

Recently, the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) commissioned a study with the respected pollster, the Barna Group, and found that a majority of Americans “engage with Christian media.”

The NRB reported on the survey’s findings with this title: “Most Americans Engage with Christian Media, NRB and Barna Report.”

The NRB notes in the findings: “More than 60% of American adults report consuming Christian media in some form, whether through television, radio, podcasts, news websites, social media, or YouTube. This is not an occasional interaction—among these users, half engage with Christian content at least once per week.”

Barna defines “Christian media users” as “viewers, listeners, or readers of Christian media” or consumers of “Christian radio, Christian TV, Christian podcasts (not including sermons), Christian news websites,” as well as users of social media with Christian content.

Troy Miller, president of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), told me in a recent radio interview about this: “To be honest, that number nearly caught us off guard.” Wow—nearly two-thirds of all Americans are engaged to some degree with Christian media. Miller said: “That was much, much higher than we thought it would be.”

And he added, “If you drill down further, within the Christian community—those who recognize that the Bible is the authority, who attend church on a regular basis, who read their Bible on a regular basis—their involvement with Christian media is [much greater]. They listen to Christian media almost on a daily basis.”

Furthermore, the NRB writes that there is a higher trust factor of Christian media among listeners/viewers than of other sources of media.

The NRB observes: “Christian media isn’t just widely consumed; it’s also largely respected. Two-thirds of the general population view Christian media as valuable and trustworthy, and that figure rises to four in five among those who use Christian media…..Even among those who don’t identify as born again, roughly half view Christian media in a positive light.”

Nonetheless, they also note the other side of the same story: “However, this trust is not without tension. Some respondents—particularly heavy users—express concerns about bias and manipulation in Christian content….Meanwhile, non-Christians tend to have the most negative perceptions of Christian media.”

During the time of America’s founding, what was the mass media in the various colonies? Certainly, newspapers were very influential. Stacy Schiff, author of The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams (2022), notes that Samuel Adams had incredible influence writing for the key newspaper of his city, The Boston Gazette.

Adams usually used pseudonyms (e.g., A Puritan, Candidus, Victus, etc.)  to avoid arrest or deportation to Canada or England for trial (and likely execution). She writes of the Royalist Massachusetts Governor, who despised Samuel Adams: “To [Thomas] Hutchinson’s dismay, seven-eighths of Boston read nothing but that ‘infamous paper’ [The Boston Gazette]. It set the temper of the town.”

Samuel Adams had another form of mass media. He utilized the Committees of Correspondence to communicate to the other colonies what was actually going on in Boston, the seedbed of the Revolution.

But there was yet another aspect of the media in those days almost always overlooked in our time—and that is, the sermons of the day. They were very influential.

I once interviewed the late Dr. Donald S. Lutz, author of The Origins of American Constitutionalism, of the University of Houston. Lutz had co-written a major study with Charles S. Hyneman. They found that about one-third of the quotes from the founding fathers’ writings came from the Bible; and other major quotes came from Bible-oriented writers, such as Montesquieu, Sir William Blackstone, and John Locke (in that order).

Lutz told me: “During the Founding Era, the late 1700’s, there were no magazines, newspapers had a very small circulation, there was no television, there was no internet. What did people do for entertainment? They would read pamphlets….Now, of all the pamphlets published during the last part of the 1700’s, more than 80% of them were reprinted sermons.”

As Americans, we have been given a great gift: free speech and a free press—largely because of Christian influence. But like all good gifts in this fallen world, it must be safeguarded.

As Troy Miller of the NRB noted recently to RadioWorld: “Free speech isn’t optional, It’s the foundation of the American experiment…If one group’s voice can be silenced because of its beliefs, every voice becomes vulnerable.” Thankfully, many Americans are sitting up and paying attention to Christian media.

©2025 All rights reserved.

An American Pope at an American Moment thumbnail

An American Pope at an American Moment

/in , , , /by

By The Catholic Thing

The election of Leo XIV comes at a significant moment in the life of the Church in the United States. Though Leo spent much of the past four decades outside the United States – primarily in Peru, but also in Rome – it would be hard to overstate the opportunity (and challenge) that comes with having a pope who is a native son of these United States.

Trying to predict how a pontificate will play out this early in the game is a fool’s errand, but there is good reason to suppose that Pope Leo is reluctant to appear more preoccupied with the affairs of the world’s only superpower than the responsibilities of his office require. In short, he won’t want to seem like a homer. Nevertheless, the energy and interest his election has created here is remarkable.

A 30,000-foot view of the cultural and ecclesial landscape provides some general sense of what this pontificate might mean for the Church in the United States.

Americans under the age of 40 mostly do not remember a time when the large institutions that form the pillars of our common life had been working well. Distrust of institutions is now widespread, and for understandable reasons.

The most fundamental institution of society, the family, has been in trouble for decades. Since the advent of the sexual revolution, we have seen widespread divorce, ubiquitous contraception, industrial-scale abortion, collapsing marriage rates, the legal redefinition of marriage, and sub-replacement birth rates.

The carnage and confusion this has produced are widespread and manifest. Young people are dissatisfied and disheartened, and have a hard time imagining how things might be otherwise. A shockingly high percentage of them no longer see marriage and family as important sources of meaning and happiness.

Our political life is not exactly a model of stability and civic-mindedness. Polarization has become a chronic problem. There is little consensus about the existence of the common good, let alone anything approaching a consensus about how to pursue it.

Both parties seem convinced of the righteousness of their vision of the American past and future, but neither seems able to find a way to govern on behalf of the whole. Perhaps worse, neither party seems particularly interested in doing so, each defining themselves at least as much in opposition to the failings and sins of the opposition as to some positive, coherent vision of a future together.

We are going on three generations of Americans – Millennials (who are approaching middle age), Gen Z, and now Gen Alpha – who have little or no memory of a Catholic Church unsullied by the abuse crisis and its fallout. The public moral authority of the Church, and especially our bishops, has waned.

We have also just lived through a contentious pontificate in which debates about how best to engage and evangelize the modern world have revealed even deeper divisions in which not just the means of proclamation but the substance of the message to be proclaimed have been called into question from within the Church.

The Church in every age faces obstacles to the proclamation of the Gospel, but a Church that lacks confidence in the truths it would proclaim would struggle to gain traction in any age.

One could go on: our popular culture seems stuck in an oscillation between transgressive vulgarity and nostalgia; the post-war international order is cracking if not actually broken; our educational institutions have lost sight of what education is for, except perhaps as schools of indoctrination or as inefficient and overpriced credentialing institutions for entrance into a meritocracy which has, itself, lost public trust; our media is adrift in a “post-truth” world they helped to create; and so on and so on.

All of this is exacerbated by accelerating advances in technology, especially media technology and the dawn of AI. Trust in institutions is dangerously low, and people are feeling adrift and isolated.

Not all is doom and gloom. In the midst of all of this, it is only natural that young people should be looking for something solid. Many dioceses in the United States saw a marked increase in the number of converts entering the Church at Easter this year. In some places record numbers. It’s not just the U.S., either; something similar seems to be happening elsewhere, for example, in France and in the U.K.

For the first time in a long time, the number of young people – and particularly young men – attending Mass regularly in the U.S. is actually trending upward. Adding to this, as I have written before, our youngest priests are the most theologically orthodox, politically moderate, and ethnically diverse generation of priests since before the Second Vatican Council.

True, the trend in Mass attendance among the young is recent and the absolute numbers are still relatively small. The increase in converts in most places is not enough to compensate for the number of Catholics who are drifting away or dying off. But there is cause for hope, even cautious optimism.

Is the tide turning? God knows. But at this moment in the life of the Church in the United States, providence has given us a pope from our own shores, one who knows us, as it were, from within and from without. An older generation, one which knew more secure in worldly things, less surety in spiritual things, is moving off the scene. Younger generations are looking for solidity and surety amidst liquid modernity.

A Church that proclaims uncertainty to the world will fail to find a hearing. A Church that is humble in her demeanor, gentle in her care for the poor and sinner, yet supremely confident in the liberating truth she has carried through so many centuries, is precisely a Church that can offer what the world is so restless to receive.

Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate with a tremendous opportunity to lead the Church on this path. God willing he will succeed. And God willing, the Church in the United States will be ready to walk the same path.

AUTHOR

Stephen P. White

Stephen P. White is executive director of The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and a fellow in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

You may also enjoy:

Casey Chalk The Destruction of American Catholic Identity

Brad Miner Popes and POTUS

EDITORS NOTE: This Catholic Thing column is republished with permission. © 2025 The Catholic Thing. All rights reserved. For reprint rights, write to: info@frinstitute.org. The Catholic Thing is a forum for intelligent Catholic commentary. Opinions expressed by writers are solely their own.

The post An American Pope at an American Moment appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

JUDICIAL TYRANNY: Supreme Court to Hear Trump Challenge to Universal Injunctions by Radical, Rogue Judges thumbnail

JUDICIAL TYRANNY: Supreme Court to Hear Trump Challenge to Universal Injunctions by Radical, Rogue Judges

/in , , , , /by

By The Geller Report

Far left judges issue rulings that go far beyond the scope of resolving cases or controversies. It is a grotesque seizure of power that puts the entire nation at risk.

The Supreme Court under a corrupt and compromised Justice Roberts has abandoned it’s judicial responsibility to uphold the Constitution. He is owned.

The case proper is over birthright citizenship. This hearing, however, will be about the numerous injunctions that have sought to limit the administration’s efforts coast to coast. SCOTUS Blog: The dispute is one of the relatively rare proceedings that came to the justices as an emergency appeal – on the so-called “shadow docket” – only to be set for oral arguments…. the primary issue before the court on Thursday is whether lower-court judges can issue what are known as universal injunctions to block an order nationwide. With a universal injunction, a federal judge (or several in this case) can that bar the government from enforcing an executive order – or, in another case, a law or policy – anywhere in the country. The Trump administration, which has been blocked by many such injunctions in recent months, argues that the practice is unconstitutional…. President Donald Trump set the events leading to Thursday’s argument in motion on Jan. 20, when he signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship. Under the order, which was originally slated to go into effect on Feb. 19, children born in the United States would not be automatically entitled to U.S. citizenship if their parents were in this country illegally or temporarily – for example, on a work or student visa…. Seven years ago, in a concurring opinion in Trump v. Hawaii, Justice Clarence Thomas called universal injunctions “legally and historically dubious.” Moreover, he added, they are “beginning to take a toll on the federal court system — preventing legal questions from percolating through the federal courts, encouraging forum shopping, and making every case a national emergency for the courts and for the Executive Branch” (SCOTUSblog).

The very fact that they are holding this hearing may bode well for the president. Margot Cleveland at the Federalist: That the Supreme Court scheduled oral argument on the nationwide injunction issue, while the underlying question of the constitutionality of the president’s EO continues to percolate in the lower courts, suggests several of the justices have grave concerns over nationwide injunctions. Further, as the Trump Administration’s brief highlights, five justices — Justices Alito, Barrett, Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch — at different times and in various concurrences or dissents, have criticized the use of nationwide injunctions (Federalist).

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

RELATED ARTICLES:

Liberals Get A Taste Of Their Own ‘January 6’ Medicine

‘Modern Equivalent Of A Pirate Or Robber’: Federal Judge Says Trump Can Deport Tren De Aragua Gangbangers

Minor Parking Violation Leads To Discovery Of Multiple Illegal Immigrants Accused Of Crimes

‘Dumbest F*cking Thing’: Democrats Are Absolutely Furious At Lawmaker Trying To Impeach Trump

‘Remarkable Reversal’: CNN Stunned As Trump Prediction Proves True

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The post JUDICIAL TYRANNY: Supreme Court to Hear Trump Challenge to Universal Injunctions by Radical, Rogue Judges appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

EXCLUSIVE: House GOP’s Medicaid Reform Would Force Millions Of Able-Bodied Americans To Get Back To Work thumbnail

EXCLUSIVE: House GOP’s Medicaid Reform Would Force Millions Of Able-Bodied Americans To Get Back To Work

/in , , , , /by

By The Daily Caller

House Republicans’ proposal to impose work requirements on Medicaid would force millions of Americans to meet new eligibility conditions or lose coverage, the Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.

At least 3.5 million individuals will be removed from Medicaid rolls due to House Republicans’ proposal to require most able-bodied Americans to work, volunteer or be in school for at least 20 hours a week to qualify for the entitlement program, according to a source familiar with an estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that could be released as early as Friday. GOP lawmakers have justified the imposition of work requirements among other reforms to Medicaid by arguing that the entitlement program should prioritize Americans who need coverage the most, not able-bodied adults or illegal migrants.

“We are protecting Medicaid for the people who need and deserve it,” Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday at the House GOP leadership press conference. “This program is an essential lifeline for our most vulnerable Americans: pregnant women, single mothers, low-income seniors, the disabled. That’s who Medicaid is intended to be for and that’s who we’re protecting while we’re eliminating fraud, waste and abuse.”

“These are reforms to ensure to restore and preserve the system so that it doesn’t collapse on itself,” Johnson continued. “That means ensuring illegal aliens don’t get coverage meant for Americans in need. It means implementing work requirements to ensure that adults who can work but refuse to cannot keep cheating the system”

House Republicans are proposing to expand Medicaid work requirements by mandating that able-bodied, childless adults aged 19 to 64 years-old prove they are working, seeking employment, volunteering or in school for at least 80 hours a month. GOP lawmakers’ proposal to tighten eligibility standards would save roughly $300 billion over seven years, according to a partial CBO estimate released by House Republicans.

The floated work requirements are not expected to kick in until 2029. Conservative lawmakers have criticized the implementation for being far too late.

Four Trump administration officials called on Congressional Republicans to impose new work requirements on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), in a New York Times essay Wednesday.

House Energy and Commerce chairman Brett Guthrie defended work requirements and other Medicaid reforms Tuesday, calling them “common sense policies that will return taxpayer dollars to middle-class families.”

“Let me be clear – these work requirements would only apply to able-bodied adults without dependents who don’t have a disqualifying condition, encouraging them to re-enter the workforce and regain their independence,” Guthrie added.

Despite House Democrats blasting the Republicans’ proposal, work requirements are popular with a majority of Americans, per recent polling.

More than six in ten Americans, including 47% of Democrats, favor implementing work requirements that would require “nearly all adults” to be working or looking for work in order to be enrolled in the entitlement program, according to a February 2025 poll by KFF, a health policy research and polling firm.

Support for work requirements increased to 77% among all voters when participants were told that implementing the measure would allow health insurance from the entitlement program to be reserved for vulnerable groups, such as seniors, low-income children and Americans with disabilities, according to KFF.

About 7.6 million people are projected to go uninsured in 2034, including 1.4 million illegal immigrants, according to the CBO’s preliminary estimate on coverage changes resulting from House Republicans’ draft budget.

“President Trump and Republicans are protecting Medicaid — and that starts with kicking 1.4 million illegal immigrants off the program to prioritize the Americans who need it,” White House Spokesman Kush Desai told the DCNF Wednesday.

House Republicans have torched their Democratic colleagues for allegedly “fighting to protect Medicaid for able bodied adults who refuse to work.”

When asked by Republican Texas Rep. August Pfluger if Congress should institute any work requirements in order to qualify for Medicaid benefits, Democratic California Rep. Raul Ruiz unequivocally answered “no.”

“That’s an easy one,” Ruiz said.

AUTHOR

Adam Pack

Contributor.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Democrats Balk At GOP Effort To Rein In Medicaid With Work Requirements

RFK Jr. Brings Receipts, Drops Fact Check On Purple-Haired Dem During Hearing

Left Outraged After Military School Libraries Dump Book That Called 9/11 Firefighters ‘Not Human’

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. All rights reserved.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Embattled House Dem Drops Trump Impeachment Effort After Backlash From His Own Party thumbnail

Embattled House Dem Drops Trump Impeachment Effort After Backlash From His Own Party

/in , , , /by

By The Daily Caller

Democratic Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar dropped his ill-fated effort to force the House to vote on his impeachment resolution against President Donald Trump following widespread pressure from Democrats to stand down.

Thanedar, an embattled two-term lawmaker facing a primary challenge from the left, filed a privileged resolution Tuesday that would have forced House Democrats to vote on seven articles of impeachment brought against the president. Thanedar’s decision to cave to House Democratic leadership and not trigger a vote Wednesday, comes as Democrats viewed his impeachment effort as a distraction from the conference’s united opposition against the president’s “one big, beautiful bill.”

“[A]fter talking with many colleagues, I have decided not to force a vote on impeachment today,” Thanedar wrote on X Wednesday afternoon. “Instead, I will add to my articles of impeachment and continue to rally the support of both Democrats and Republicans to defend the Constitution with me.”

Thanedar said earlier Wednesday he had no misgivings about making his colleagues, even Democratic lawmakers representing battleground districts Trump won in November, vote on his impeachment resolution.

“We’ve got to take a stand,” Thanedar told the Daily Caller News Foundation at a press conference Wednesday morning. “As a member of Congress we take hard votes every day. Every day there is a hard vote to take.”

“They [Democrats representing swing districts] just need to look into not what plays well politically, not what the polls are saying. We got to do the right thing. That’s what you [voters] sent us here to do,” the congressman added.

House Democratic Conference chair Pete Aguilar, the No. 3 House Democrat, publicly criticized Thanedar’s impeachment effort at his weekly news conference Wednesday.

Many House Democrats privately torched Thanedar to reporters with one lawmaker telling Axios under the protection of anonymity, “This is the dumbest fucking thing. Utterly selfish behavior.”

Another House Democrat told the outlet the anticipated impeachment vote was “a waste of fucking time.”

“Our focus is on health care being stripped away from the American people,” Aguilar said. “That is the most urgent and dire thing that we could be talking about this week. Everything else is a distraction.”

Thanedar did not rule out forcing a vote on his impeachment resolution in the future.

AUTHOR

Adam Pack

Contributor.

RELATED ARTICLES:

‘Whatever Position’: Democrat Trying To Impeach Trump Reportedly Once Considered Running As Republican

Liberal Pollster Warns Lefty Activist Group to Focus on Hill GOP and Gov’t Corruption, Not Trump and Musk

Dem Rep Unravels When MTG Presents Evidence That Abrego Garcia Was MS-13 Member

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

The post Embattled House Dem Drops Trump Impeachment Effort After Backlash From His Own Party appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Liberal Pollster Warns Lefty Activist Group to Focus on Hill GOP and Gov’t Corruption, Not Trump and Musk thumbnail

Liberal Pollster Warns Lefty Activist Group to Focus on Hill GOP and Gov’t Corruption, Not Trump and Musk

/in , , , , /by

By Family Research Council

Liberal activists should focus their attacks on congressional Republicans and perceptions of widespread corruption in government instead of the policies and actions of President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, according to a Democratic political research firm.

The firm analyzed responses from participants in four focus groups consisting of swing voters and those who are not strongly committed to either of the major political parties. The analysis suggests the intense focus of Democrats in Congress and the mainstream media on Trump and Musk is at least somewhat out of step with the most important group of voters, especially in midterm elections.

“For these swing participants, their views on Trump and Elon are complicated and still forming. Trump retains some inoculation on corruption issues. His longstanding ‘drain the swamp’ rhetoric combined with the way he’s messaging DOGE through the framework of ridding waste and corruption gives him some credibility,” Impact Research (IR) said in a memo first made public by a liberal activist group, End Citizens United.

End Citizens United frequently commissions IR for political polling and data analysis. The firm boasts on its website that “we’ve flipped more Republican-held congressional seats over the past ten years than any other polling firm in the country.”

“Likewise, while participants had real concerns about Elon’s role, they were ill-formed, and they saw some positives from his cuts. They are not positive towards either person, but candidates should note that only utilizing corruption framing against Trump and Musk will present some barriers,” the IR memo continued.

Instead of the chief executive and the man leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the deepest-ever government-wide anti-corruption investigation, liberal activists should, according to IR, aim their energies at Capitol Hill Republicans, who have a razor-thin House majority and only a modest edge in the Senate.

“However, members of Congress are ripe targets for corruption messaging — voters view all (nameless) politicians as corrupt, focused on self-enrichment and gaining power. They attach a lot of the problems facing the country to these ills, and while they are not necessarily able to articulate specific examples of corruption, they are certain that corruption is rampant in Washington,” the memo said.

Significantly, the IR analysis says voters view Democrats and Republicans on equal terms on the corruption issue, even though traditionally GOPers devote much more time and political capital to condemning waste, fraud, and abuse than do Democrats, who in the past, while ignoring such concerns, have put far more emphasis on the alleged benefits of big federal spending programs.

“Participants view Washington’s culture as the corrupting influence — it is a disease that infects both parties equally. Even as Republicans have taken control of Washington, participants are no more likely to fault them for it than Democrats who they see as weak, ineffective, and self-interested,” the IR analysis stated.

In addition, the IR analysis pointed to the increasing irrelevance of critiques of Trump and Musk as threats to democracy.

“In past cycles, ‘threats to democracy’ was a motivator for the base and persuasive to swing voters. While all participants agreed that our democracy is under threat, there was much less clarity about what that means than in the past. Participants struggled to define what a threat to democracy is,” the analysis explained.

By contrast, the corruption issue, according to the analysis, “is both a salient issue and universally defined as politicians looking out for their own interests and against the interest[s] of the people. We should push hard on taking on corruption and should be mindful that just talking about democracy broadly without specific definition does not have the same intuitive meaning for voters.”

FRC Action Director Matt Carpenter told The Washington Stand the focus group results are no surprise, given recent history, particularly with regard to former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

“There’s a reason why the Senate’s anti-insider trading bill is called the PELOSI Act — she’s the poster child of congressional insider trading and one of the most prominent congressional Democrats,” Carpenter said. He further noted that “there is no doubt the American public is cynical about the work of Congress. Many of their concerns about politicians using their influence to enrich themselves is, unfortunately, justified. This is fuel for the populist sentiment that has propelled Donald Trump to the presidency twice.”

Carpenter is skeptical that Democrats heeding the IR memo will enjoy complete success. He contends that “left-wing groups will have difficulty making the case to voters that it’s only Republicans who trade on insider information or otherwise use their positions to gain wealth for themselves.”

AUTHOR

Mark Tapscott

Mark Tapscott is senior congressional analyst at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

The post Liberal Pollster Warns Lefty Activist Group to Focus on Hill GOP and Gov’t Corruption, Not Trump and Musk appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Wisconsin Judge Criminally Charged for Obstructing Deportations. Who’s Next? thumbnail

Wisconsin Judge Criminally Charged for Obstructing Deportations. Who’s Next?

/in , , , , /by

By Family Research Council

As Democrats fret over possible arrests for opposing deportations, a federal grand jury has handed down an indictment against a Wisconsin judge who hid an illegal immigrant from law enforcement. A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of “knowingly concealing” an illegal immigrant named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers showed up at the courthouse to arrest him and “corruptly endeavor[ing] to influence, obstruct, and impede the due and proper administration of the law” by actively trying to prevent the Mexican national’s arrest. Dugan was accused in the indictment of knowingly lying to ICE officers and telling Flores-Ruiz to leave by a back door to avoid being arrested.

Dugan was arrested last month after confronting and obstructing ICE agents waiting outside her courtroom to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who was in court for allegedly assaulting his roommate. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reported that Flores-Ruiz “has a laundry list of violent criminal charges including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse.” The Mexican national has entered the U.S. illegally twice and was ordered deported in 2013. Dugan faces up to six years in prison if convicted of the charges.

In comments to The Washington Stand, Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said, “Of course, this judge and other judges should be prosecuted for obstructing federal agents from enforcing the law. It is long past time for those obstructing law enforcement to face the consequences of their own actions.” In a Tuesday night interview, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said he was “glad” Dugan had been indicted, referring to her actions as an “egregious case” of flouting U.S. law. He suggested that other local, state, and even federal officials should face prosecution for obstructing President Donald Trump’s deportation program. “Let every other judge and member of Congress out there take a lesson from this: you are not above the law,” the senator said.

The Trump administration certainly appears poised to initiate prosecutions against officials who obstruct ICE operations. Last week, a group of protestors — including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) and Reps. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez, Jr. (D-N.J.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) — tried to “break into” an ICE detention facility in New Jersey and reportedly shoved and threatened several federal law enforcement officers and facility guards. McLaughlin said in a statement at the time, “Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities.”

Department of Justice (DOJ) official Alina Habba confirmed that Baraka “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center” and was subsequently arrested. The former Trump defense lawyer added, “He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”

The Trump DOJ is reportedly weighing criminal charges against McIver, Menendez, and Watson Coleman, eliciting fierce backlash from House Democrats. In a video posted to social media, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) claimed that her congressional colleagues had done no wrong. “If anyone’s breaking the law in this situation, it’s not members of Congress, it’s the Department of Homeland Security,” the congresswoman said, specifically naming border czar Tom Homan and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who are in charge of ICE operations and deportations. “You lay a finger on someone, on Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman … or any of the representatives that were there, you lay a finger on them, we are going to have a problem,” Ocasio-Cortez said. She added, “Because the people who are breaking the law are the people not abiding by it.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) made similar comments in a Tuesday press conference. When asked what would happen if the Trump administration followed through on filing criminal charges against McIver, Menendez, and Watson Coleman, Jeffries repeatedly replied, “They’ll find out.” Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram asked, “What would you do?” Jeffries replied again, “They’ll find out.” The Democratic official said that arresting his congressional colleagues would be a “red line” for the Trump administration. “They know better than to go down that road. And it’s been made loudly and abundantly clear to the Trump administration. We’re not going to be intimidated by their tactics,” Jeffries said. He continued, “No one’s intimidated by this dude. No one. And so there are clear lines that they just dare not cross.”

However, some Republicans are seeking penalties for the New Jersey Democrats, whether prosecutions come or not. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) introduced a resolution Tuesday to strip McIver, Menendez, and Watson Coleman of all committee assignments. In a social media post touting the resolution, he commented, “The radical left has lost their minds — they would rather raid an ICE facility to defend criminal illegal immigrants than represent their own constituents.” He added, “The three Democratic members involved in this stunt do not deserve to sit on committees alongside serious lawmakers.”

Ries told The Washington Stand that consequences are necessary for the Democrats’ conduct. “It has been the absence of consequences in so many aspects of American society that has allowed illegal behavior and corruption to escalate,” she said. Ries continued, “The perpetrators have relied on non-action to continue their transgressions, as demonstrated by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries threatening yesterday, in essence, ‘Don’t you dare arrest Democrat lawmakers for bum-rushing an ICE detention facility and shoving federal agents.’”

AUTHOR

S.A. McCarthy

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.

RELATED ARTICLE: Liberal Pollster Warns Lefty Activist Group to Focus on Hill GOP and Gov’t Corruption, Not Trump and Musk

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

The post Wisconsin Judge Criminally Charged for Obstructing Deportations. Who’s Next? appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Syria’s jihadist president offers a Trump Tower in Damascus if Trump will meet with him thumbnail

Syria’s jihadist president offers a Trump Tower in Damascus if Trump will meet with him

/in , , , , , /by

By Jihad Watch

He saw that the Qatari plane worked, and now all the jihad leaders think Trump can be bribed. That was just another reason why the Qatari plane was unwise to accept.

“Report: Syria’s Jihadi Leader ‘Wants a Trump Tower in Damascus,’” by John Hayward, Breitbart, May 12, 2025:

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of jihadist terror group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), reportedly offered oil and gas concessions, peaceful relations with Israel, and even a new Trump Tower in the capital of Damascus as inducements for President Donald Trump to meet with him during Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week.

The report came from Jonathan Bass, CEO of Louisiana-based natural gas company Argent LNG and a strong Trump supporter. Bass flew to Damascus last week and met with Sharaa to discuss proposals for Western companies to help develop Syria’s oil resources….

Sharaa is clearly hoping Trump might break the ice by giving him a meeting, paving the way for other Western governments to do the same….

AUTHOR

RELATED ARTICLES:

Is a Biden Envoy Still Negotiating With Hamas?

Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court: A Thoroughly Disreputable Character

Karim Khan, K.C.: Lie Back and Think of Palestine

Thailand: Islamic jihadis murder three people in residential area, including a child

Nigeria: Muslims murder six Christians and injure dozens of others in jihad raids on two Christian villages

Indonesia: Catholics wait 45 years to get permit to build church, then get rejected

EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The post Syria’s jihadist president offers a Trump Tower in Damascus if Trump will meet with him appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

BREAKING: Russell Vought is the new boss of DOGE thumbnail

BREAKING: Russell Vought is the new boss of DOGE

/in , , /by

By Conservative Commandos Radio Show and AUN-TV

Russell Vought is set to take over leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from Elon Musk.

Vought is a prominent figure in the Trump administration, currently serving as the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

He is also known as the architect of Project 2025, a controversial plan to overhaul the federal government.

Vought has been working alongside Elon Musk at DOGE, focusing on cost-cutting measures and deregulation.

Musk is reportedly stepping down from his role, paving the way for Vought to assume leadership.

This transition is expected to solidify the cost-cutting and efficiency initiatives already underway at DOGE.

In essence, Vought is poised to take a more prominent role in leading DOGE’s efforts to streamline government operations and reduce spending, building upon the foundation laid by Musk.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

The post BREAKING: Russell Vought is the new boss of DOGE appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Republicans Finally Release Draft of Tax Bill—Read It! thumbnail

Republicans Finally Release Draft of Tax Bill—Read It!

/in , , , , /by

By The Geller Report

Limping along. Barely.

Our GOP controlled House and Senate sent fewer bills to President Trump than any Congress in 70 years.

They sent five bills to President Trump’s desk to sign in his first 100 days. That’s the least out of any President since the 1950s.

It is inconceivable that these quislings think the majority of Americans voted for Republicans. Wrong.

They voted for Trump despite the impotent and feckless treachery of Republican (uniparty) chicanery. These quisling clowns better get with the program.

Read it: House Republicans release text for highly anticipated tax cut bill

By Zach Halaschak

Republican taxwriters have released the text of the slate of tax proposals that they want to go into the massive fiscal bill that would enact much of President Donald Trump‘s agenda.

The legislative text released Monday includes extending and making permanent various expiring provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as other Trump priorities, such as eliminating taxes on tips, ending taxes on overtime, and increasing the cap on state and local tax deductions.

House leadership released the 389-page document on Monday afternoon, a day before the House Ways and Means Committee is set to hold its markup on the tax provisions. During that process, the various tax proposals will be debated and amendments to the legislation offered.

The document is the most substantial chunk of legislative text yet for the legislation that Republicans hope to pass through the reconciliation process, which involves several committees and markups. Reconciliation is a legislative process that allows bills to bypass the filibuster and pass with only a simple majority in the Senate.

While some of the tax proposals in the “one big beautiful bill” are uncontroversial and will likely garner universal Republican support, others could end up being changed to satisfy certain members who might threaten to withhold support for the overall legislation.

Continue reading.

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

RELATED ARTICLES:

TARIFF BONANZA: US Treasury Shocking Report of Second Biggest Budget Surplus In History Thanks To Record Tariff Revenues

Trump Slashes Federal Overreach In One Fell Swoop

House GOP’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Would Put States On The Hook For Outrageous Food Stamp Fraud

DNC Moves To Void David Hogg’s Election To Party Vice Chair On Technicality

POSTS ON X:

RELATED VIDEO: Dramatic moment Coast Guard captures drug smugglers in eastern Pacific Ocean

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Democrats and Their Media Lapdogs Oppose South African Refugees Escaping Genocide….Because They Are White thumbnail

Democrats and Their Media Lapdogs Oppose South African Refugees Escaping Genocide….Because They Are White

/in , , , /by

By The Geller Report

Dozens of refugees from South Africa arrived in Washington on Monday as part of President Donald Trump’s decision to accept South Africans who have been discriminated against by their government.

South African leaders have been calling to kill white people and the media won’t cover it.

Escaping “shoot to kill, kill the Boer, the farmer.”

The Democrats feral opposition to white refugees from South Africa is real racism. And further proof that their illegal migrant invasion under the Biden regime has nothing to do with helping the oppressed and everything to do with destroying America. Imagine if Republicans opposed migrants because they were black.

ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to address serious human rights violations occurring in South Africa.

As encapsulated in its recent land confiscation act to seize disfavored citizens’ property without compensation, the government of South Africa blatantly discriminates against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups.

As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country.

The United States will establish a plan to resettle disfavored minorities in South Africa discriminated against because of their race as refugees.

STANDING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION: President Donald J. Trump is committed to holding South Africa accountable for its actions.

South Africa has taken positions against the United States and its allies.

Merely two months after the October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel, South Africa accused Israel, not Hamas, of genocide in the International Court of Justice.

South Africa also strengthened ties with Iran, which supports terrorism globally.

While championing terrorism and autocratic regimes abroad, South Africa has committed similar human rights violations at home. The recent Expropriation Act enables the government of South Africa to seize ethnic minority descendants of settler groups’ agricultural property without compensation.The Expropriation Act follows countless government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and hateful rhetoric and government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners.

Years ago, the South African government disbanded volunteer forces defending rural farmers, turning a blind eye to the ensuing farm attacks.

REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS: A commitment to human rights is central to President Trump’s America First agenda.

President Trump: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people very badly […] I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”

President Trump believes in sending a clear message to the world’s bad actors—and to their victims—by condemning human rights abuses in no uncertain terms.

MSNBC’s Yamiche Alcindor Whines After 59 White South African Refugees Waving American Flags Arrive in US (VIDEO)

By: Cristina Laila May. 12, 2025:

The first group of white South African refugees arrived in the United States on Monday.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and DHS Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar welcomed the refugees, who are fleeing violence, racial discrimination and persecution.

Fifty-nine white South African refugees were welcomed in DC, proudly waving American flags.

The new refugees beamed as they waved American flags.

MSNBC’s Yamiche Alcindor said a lot of people are appalled after the Trump Admin reportedly said South Africans assimilate better.

“So the Trump admin, they’re saying that essentially these white South Africans assimilate better, and they’re also not as much of a security risk,” Yamiche Alcindor whined. “That’s really causing a lot of of of people to be appalled, frankly.”

“And I also should tell people that this violence that they’re talking about that are dealing with these Afrikaners,” she said.

“I’ve been hearing from people that say there is violence in South Africa, but it’s affecting everybody of every single race,” she added.

WATCH: White South Africans granted refugee status by Trump administration



Continue reading.

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

RELATED ARTICLE: TARIFF BONANZA: US Treasury Shocking Report of Second Biggest Budget Surplus In History Thanks To Record Tariff Revenues

POSTS ON X:

EDITORS NOTE:  This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The post Democrats and Their Media Lapdogs Oppose South African Refugees Escaping Genocide….Because They Are White appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

STAY INFORMED

Receive regular news, commentary, and analysis straight to your inbox.

POWERED BY

DrRichSwier.com | ThePricklyPear.org

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.