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Thursday, March 13, 2025

Senator Chuck Schumer Promises to Not Support CR Bill, Partially Shut Down the Government

New York Post: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that most Democrats in the upper chamber will not support a House Republican-passed bill to fund the federal government through the end of September, all but ensuring a partial shutdown beginning at 11:59 p.m. Friday (New York Post). Hugh Hewitt: If the Senate Dems shutter most of the government by voting down the CR, they will empower President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Russ Vought to pare the federal government workforce to its genuinely essential size, most of which will be at DOD, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, DOJ. The entitlement checks will still go out but everything else will stop. The employees won’t get paid. And I suspect this time those who are recalled to work eventually won’t get back pay (X).

Inflation Rate Down to 2.8 Percent in February

CNBC: Prices for goods and services moved up less than expected in February, providing some relief as consumers and businesses worry about the looming impact tariffs might have on inflation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. The consumer price index, a wide-ranging measure of costs across the U.S. economy, ticked up a seasonally adjusted 0.2% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 2.8% (CNBC). Townhall: Wow, inflation is cooling and these numbers are better than we expected (Townhall).

Canada, EU Increase Tariffs on U.S.

Associated Press: Major trade partners swiftly hit back at President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, imposing stiff new taxes on U.S products from textiles and water heaters to beef and bourbon. Canada, the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S., said Wednesday it will place 25% reciprocal tariffs on steel products and also raise taxes on a host of items: tools, computers and servers, display monitors, sports equipment, and cast-iron products (Associated Press). George: President Trump just said he will impose additional tariffs on the EU to respond to their retaliatory tariffs. Reporter: “Will you respond to their retaliation?” Trump: “Of course, I’m going to respond… the EU was set up in order to take advantage of the United States” (X).

Voters Believe Their Democrat Representatives Are More Focused on Helping Other People Than Them

Politico: The Democratic Party’s brand is in rough shape in the congressional battlegrounds. Nearly two months into the second Donald Trump administration, a majority of voters in battleground House districts still believe Democrats in Congress are “more focused on helping other people than people like me,” according to an internal poll conducted by the Democratic group Navigator Research. Among independents, just 27 percent believe Democrats are focused on helping them, compared with 55 percent who said they’re focused on others (Politico). HotAir: Democrats have put all their (very expensive) eggs in one basket: Trump hatred. But it turns out that Trump hatred is not a desirable brand to market. Everybody knows what they think about Trump, and have for a long time… The problem? Nobody likes them. Nobody trusts them. And their main strategy over the past few years has been to insult the intelligence, and in the case of center-right voters, the morality of voters. The gaslighting, ridiculous policies, and pure propaganda have turned off everybody but the Bluest of the Blue. Their strategy has boiled down to hating Trump and embracing mental illness (HotAir).

Trump Administration More Than Doubles ICE Daily Arrest Rate

Newsweek: President Donald Trump oversaw a surge in ICE arrests during the first 50 days of his second term in office—more than doubling the daily rate under President Joe Biden’s administration—newly released figures show. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made 32,809 migrant arrests between January 20 and March 10, officials said at a news conference on Wednesday. By comparison, ICE arrested and detained about 255 people each day last year under Biden (Newsweek). Washinton Times: The Biden administration’s immigration legacy is facing intense scrutiny as new allegations suggest officials “cooked the books” on enforcement data, while final tallies reveal an unprecedented 8.3 million new illegal immigrants entered during the administration’s term… Total population nearly 19 million nationwide. Represents 5.5% of total U.S. population. Increased 42% during Biden administration (Washington Times).

Brazil Tears Down Eight Miles of Protected Amazon Rainforest to Construct Road in Preparation for Climate Summit

BBC: A new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest is being built for the COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belém. It aims to ease traffic to the city, which will host more than 50,000 people – including world leaders – at the conference in November. The state government touts the highway’s “sustainable” credentials, but some locals and conservationists are outraged at the environmental impact. The Amazon plays a vital role in absorbing carbon for the world and providing biodiversity, and many say this deforestation contradicts the very purpose of a climate summit… The state government of Pará had touted the idea of this highway, known as Avenida Liberdade, as early as 2012, but it had repeatedly been shelved because of environmental concerns (BBC). Daily Signal: The Brazilian government and the state government of Pará are promoting the summit as historic for the environmental good it will do. The U.N. climate convention has 198 parties, and is the “parent treaty” of the 2015 Paris agreement. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the international climate agreement to reduce carbon emissions (Daily Signal).

EPA Announces 31 “Historic Actions” to Unleash American Energy

Just the News: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday that the agency will take 31 “historic actions” to roll back the Biden administration’s climate agenda in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order to “Unleash American Energy.” Zeldin said the actions will lower costs for things like purchasing a car, heating homes and operating businesses. Among the regulations Zeldin said the EPA would reconsider are the “illegal” Clean Power Plan 2.0., the endangerment finding, the electric vehicle mandate, and rules regarding particulate matter (Just the News). Lee Zeldin: EPA is initiating 31 historic actions to Power the Great American Comeback in the greatest day of deregulation in American history (X)!

Immense Backlash on California Assemblyman’s Attempt to Limit Self-Defense Actions in Golden State

HotAir: Three weeks ago, Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) slipped a few proposals into a bill for changes to the CA penal code. Specifically to Section 197, which defines what circumstances constitute certain crimes like ‘homicide… In Zbur’s new version, not much would any longer, including defending your home or property as was once permitted… He also took some poetic license to add an entirely new section to the code of his own, which now puts the onus on Californians with new requirements in the face of criminal and/or violent attack – they have a duty to retreat rather than defend themselves. If they must protect themselves, they are permitted by the state to use ‘only the force necessary to defend’ against whatever the threat is. As you can imagine, the state will be the authority to determine if the force used met or exceeded the threat threshold… Assemblyman Zbur was discommoded by the immediate uproar over his stealth editing and sought to calm fears that his proposed changes were never, EVER meant to ‘limit a victim’s’ right to self-defense (HotAir). Denise Aguilar: Tara and I have spoken with legislators at the Capitol on bill AB1333 and the backlash and pressure is working. The author Rick Zbur is backpedaling the bill so it’s imperative you continue to call and oppose (X). Host Michael Oxford: If someone breaks into your home at night, and it’s pitch black, taking the time to find out if they’re armed or not could cost you your life. AB1333 is a deadly threat to the lives of California citizens (X).

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire Will Not Run for Re-Election in 2026

Townhall: Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced Wednesday she will not seek re-election in 2026, explaining in a video statement that “it’s just time…” Senate Republicans welcomed the news. “Another one!” commented NRSC Chairman Tim Scott. “Shaheen’s retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership. New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans—and will do so again in 2026” (Townhall)! Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: Today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026. There are urgent challenges ahead, both here at home and around the world. And while I’m not seeking re-election – believe me – I am not retiring (X).

10.

HHS Secretary Kennedy Meets With Food Industry Titans to Rid Everyday Foods Toxins

Townhall: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with food industry executives on Monday in Washington, D.C., to discuss his Make American Healthy Again agenda. Kennedy met with the Consumer Brands Association and leaders from Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Tyson Foods, Kellogg’s, Smuckers, and PepsiCo to discuss “advancing food safety and radical transparency to protect the health of all Americans, especially our children. We will strengthen consumer trust by getting toxins out of our food.” Kennedy focused on removing artificial dyes from the food supply, calling it an “urgent priority” (Townhall). Secretary Kennedy: We will strengthen consumer trust by getting toxins out of our food. Let’s Make America Healthy Again (X).

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