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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

House Republicans Pass Trump’s Budget Resolution

PJ Media: The House floor was the scene of some drama tonight—what else is new?—as Republicans launched a last-minute push to drag a few GOP holdouts over the finish line to pass the budget resolution… The party-line vote was 217-213 in favor, with three House members abstaining. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the lone Republican holdout. He had indicated earlier in the day that he would vote no. “If the Republican plan passes, under the rosiest assumptions, which aren’t even true, we’re going to add $328 billion to the deficit this year, we’re going to add $295 billion to the deficit the year after that, $242 billion to the deficit after that,” Massie said. “Why would I vote for that” (PJ Media)? Mario Nawfal: House Republicans passed Trump’s budget bill, setting the stage for tax cuts, strict immigration laws, defense spending, and energy expansion. The $2 trillion in cuts divided the GOP—moderates fear Medicaid slashes, while hardliners want deeper spending cuts. Now, the bill heads to the Senate (X).

Karoline Leavitt Defends Trump’s Appointment of Dan Bongino as Deputy Director of the FBI

Daily Caller: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt berated the media for downplaying FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s career in law enforcement during Tuesday’s press briefing. The media has amped up Bongino’s role as a conservative podcaster after President Donald Trump tapped him to serve in his new role on Sunday night. During the briefing, Leavitt pointed to Bongino’s lengthy experience as a law enforcement officer and U.S. Secret Service agent, and labeled the media’s coverage of the new deputy director as “despicable” (Daily Caller). Collin Rugg: Karoline Leavitt responds to nervousness around Dan Bongino’s nomination, says Washington bureaucrats should be nervous for what’s coming. “He is a former Secret Service agent who put his life on the line to protect this country.” “We often see that when outsiders are appointed to such coveted positions, a lot of people in this city get very, very nervous.” “And they should be…” (X).

Trump Looks to Reinstate Keystone XL Pipeline Project to Begin Energy Independence

Post Millennial: President Donald Trump has called for the company that was building the Keystone XL Pipeline to return to the United States and “get it built — NOW!” The project was stopped by the Biden administration on his first day in office, costing thousands of workers in Canada and the US their jobs (Post Millennial). Donald Trump: Our Country’s doing really well, and today, I was just thinking, that the company building the Keystone XL Pipeline that was viciously jettisoned by the incompetent Biden Administration should come back to America, and get it built — NOW! I know they were treated very badly by Sleepy Joe Biden, but the Trump Administration is very different — Easy approvals, almost immediate start (Truth)! Gunther Eagleman: This is how you start energy independence! It will also bring back THOUSANDS of jobs. Thank you Trump (X)!

Trump Inspires UK to Invest More in Defense Spending

Fox News: The United Kingdom took steps on Tuesday to ramp up its defense spending ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Donald Trump this week. Starmer said that in the face of continued Russian aggression against Ukraine and, by extension, Europe, the UK will increase its defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic value, up from the 2.3% it currently spends – an increase that amounts to £13.4 billion, or nearly $17 billion more each year on defense. In addition, Starmer said the UK will continue to increase its defense spending goal to reach 3% of its GDP during the next Parliament, which, barring any snap election, will begin after 2029…Some took issue with how the prime minister found the funds to support his spending increases, as it will mean cutting overseas support for development aid from 0.5% of the UK’s gross domestic product to 0.3% over the next two years (Fox News). Visgrad 24: Most military experts claim that the UK needs at least 3.5% to 4% to regain its capabilities (X).

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: "We are going to give the power back to the people"

Blaze Media: The White House will choose which news outlets are included in the press pool from now on. Many saw the decision as a response to a lawsuit from the Associated Press after the outlet was banned from the White House over its refusal to follow an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. On Monday, a judge denied an emergency motion to reinstate access for the AP but set a hearing to fully consider the issue in a month (Blaze Media). Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: A group of DC-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the President of the United States. Not anymore. Today, I was proud to announce that we are giving the power back to the people. Moving forward, the ‘White House Press Pool,’ will be determined by the White House Press Team. Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join – but we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility (X).

New California Bill Seeks to Protect Criminals Over Citizens Exercising Self-Defense

Of course it would be California. Townhall: California lawmakers have proposed a bill that would make it harder for residents to legally defend themselves. If this bill passes, those who find themselves in dangerous situations might face prosecution if they use deadly force to stop a threat. As is typical for anti-gun laws, this bill would protect criminals more than the people they victimize. Assembly Bill 1333 seeks to amend Section 197 of the California Penal Code, which outlines when one can commit homicide in self-defense. It would narrow the circumstances under which one can use deadly force to defend one’s life or property. For starters, the bill would eliminate the legal justification for homicide when one uses deadly force to protect their homes or property. Previously, a Californian could use lethal force against intruders who violently entered their homes. Under this measure, the state’s “castle doctrine” would be significantly limited… The bill introduces a duty to retreat for individuals confronted by violent assailants. Essentially, if a court determines an individual used deadly force when they could have fled, they could be prosecuted under this law. This would place law-abiding people in the position to determine whether they want to risk their lives by trying to flee, or possibly facing prosecution if they stand their ground (Townhall).

Upon Further Investigation, Congress Reports IRS Contractor Leaked Private Information of Over 400,000 Taxpayers

Politico: The IRS told House Republicans this month that a former contractor leaked the private data of more than 400,000 taxpayers, nearly six times higher than originally thought. Doug O’Donnell, the acting IRS commissioner, told House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) that the agency had informed 405,427 taxpayers that the contractor, Charles Littlejohn, had leaked information from their tax returns or other agency forms. The agency had said last year that it was telling around 70,000 businesses and individuals that Littlejohn had leaked their data. Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison last year for the disclosures, which included returns for both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who’s currently leading a government downsizing effort (Politico). National Review: Littlejohn entered a guilty plea with the Biden Justice Department to one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information in October 2023. He received the maximum sentence for his crimes and is currently serving time in a Florida prison… Littlejohn was lionized by progressive critics of billionaires for paying too little in taxes compared to their overall wealth. Critics accused Littlejohn of abusing the IRS’s mandate and undermining public confidence in the privacy of tax filings (National Review).

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Firing Multiple Minority Hosts: "That feels indefensible"

She implies her own network executives are racist. Fox News: Rachel Maddow offered a stunning rebuke to MSNBC over its decision to pull her colleague Joy Reid from its programming and how it is treating staffers who potentially face layoffs… Maddow went on to call it “unnerving” for the network to cancel the shows of “two non-White hosts” in its weekday programming… (Fox News). Steve Guest: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in the wake of Joy Reid’s show being cancelled: “I think it is a bad mistake…” She then accuses MSNBC bosses of being racist: It’s “unnerving” to see the network’s decision to cancel shows hosted by nonwhite anchors: “That feels indefensible” (X). Robby Starbuck: If you were management, would you allow an employee to imply that you’re a racist (X)?

Democrat Donors Dry Up—Losing Confidence in Party

Hill: Democrats are anxious to rebuild their party on the heels of President Trump’s victory in November. But they have a major problem as they try to refashion their brand: The money isn’t there. Democratic donors — from bundlers to small dollar donors — say they are still angry about the election results and uninspired by anything their side has put forward since then (Hill). Townhall: There is also major burnout among donors who don’t have confidence in the party anymore, according to Steve Schale, a Democrat strategist who ran a pro-Biden super PAC during the election. “Frankly, a lot of donors I’ve talked to don’t think their voice mattered in 2024, so I’ve been doing more listening than talking,” Schale said (Townhall).

10.

Trump Surprises First White House Tour Group of the Year

Fox News: President Donald Trump surprised guests at the first White House tour of the year Tuesday, drawing a “USA!” chant after thanking them for visiting. “I want to thank you very much for coming. The tour is so great… the First Lady worked very hard in making it perfect and I think you are going to really love it,” Trump was heard telling the group in a video shared by the White House. “And I heard you were here and I said ‘let’s stop by and say hello’” (Fox News). MAGA Voice: President Trump stuns America by showing up to the First White House tour in years. Shoutout to First Lady Melania Trump for opening it back up (X).

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