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Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Trump Orders U.S. Flags Be Flown at Half-Staff to Honor Pope Francis

Just the News: President Donald Trump on Monday ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff to honor Pope Francis who died at age 88. Trump wrote in a proclamation that the order applies to all public grounds and military posts. The order is a “mark of respect for the memory,” of Pope Francis, Trump said. Pope Francis died Monday after Holy Week (Just the News). Hill: Francis died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after a long series of health complications stemming from a chronic lung disease. The president marked the pope’s death in a social media statement Monday: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him” (Hill).

After Death of Pope: Catholic Church at a Crossroads

Ed Morrissey: The cardinals will begin preparing the next conclave, which should take place in the next couple of weeks; the first order of business will be the funeral for Pope Francis. Until then, the Vatican will be run by administrators until the conclave elects the next pope. The interregnum is called Sede Vacante, the Vacant Seat, and the Vatican has two millennia of experience at these transitions. The real question facing the cardinals will be whether to continue on Francis’ pastoral-reform path, or to tack back to the John Paul II/Benedict XVI focus on doctrinal discipline. Francis appointed about half of the current College of Cardinals, which will be an interesting factor to watch during the conclave. So too will be the increasing influence of African bishops, where martyrdom is real and literal at the moment, and where more conservative bishops and cardinals are emerging. In the meantime, I hope you will join me in prayer for Pope Francis, the Holy See, its administrators, and the cardinals who will chart the course for the Catholic Church. Requiescat in pace, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest (HotAir).

Rep. James Clyburn Blames Media for Not Pushing Democrat Message Hard Enough

Isn’t the media supposed to be unbiased? Townhall: It’s always somebody else’s fault. As the Democratic Party continues to experience record low approval ratings, across multiple polls, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) is blaming the media for not promoting the party enough. Last Friday, Clyburn was speaking with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, during which he was inevitably asked about his party’s poor numbers. As it turns out, Clyburn actually thinks his party has a “good message” (Townhall). Western Lensman: Clyburn: Democrats have a great message. The reason they’re having problems is because the media isn’t leftwing enough (X).

Democrats Took Large Gamble on Illegal Immigration; Rest of Country Disagrees With Them

Townhall: Lefty data scientist David Shor warned his party for years that they shouldn’t double down on immigration. The policy advantage wasn’t there, and it’s led to a mayhem as Democrats have imported every class of illegal alien under Joe Biden. The Left has turned a once unpopular opinion—mass deportations—into an action item most Americans want undertaken now. It’s why there are no mass protests this Trump initiative: no one wants these illegal aliens around anymore. They want them shipped back. Liberal pundits haven’t made things better with their tortured pivot regarding civil and criminal offense. They don’t get it: if you come here illegally, you’re going back. And when you’re explaining, you’re losing. CNN’s Harry Enten’s latest data drop showed liberals went down the wrong path on immigration, as 56 percent want all illegals gone (Townhall). TV News: New CNN Poll: Most Americans SUPPORT deporting ALL illegal immigrants. “A big part of the reason why Americans are increasingly saying the country is on the right track when it comes to immigration policy” (X). Western Lensman: CNN panel aghast to learn that even their own polling shows Donald Trump’s approval rating on immigration is positive. Turns out, Democrats fighting harder for illegals than American citizens isn’t working (X).

More Democrats Travel to El Salvador to Meet With Criminal

Katie Pavlich: A number of House Democrats landed in El Salvador Monday in an effort to bring MS-13 gang member, wife beater, alleged human trafficker and illegal alien Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States. “Today, U.S. Representatives Robert Garcia, Maxwell Frost, Yassamin Ansari, and Maxine Dexter arrived in El Salvador to pressure the Trump Administration to abide by a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man with protected legal status who was unlawfully deported by the Trump Administration. Mr. Abrego Garcia is currently detained in El Salvador despite having no criminal conviction in the United States,” a press release put out by the members states. Garcias is not a “Maryland man” and does not have protected status. In 2019, he told local police he entered the country illegally (Townhall). Homeland Security: Four more U.S. lawmakers just landed in El Salvador to meet and shake hands with a terrorist. All four of them voted against the Laken Riley Act. Why are these politicians putting terrorists illegally in our country over American victims (X)?

Chevron Resumes Oil Production in Gulf of America

Katie Pavlich: Energy giant Chevron, in partnership with TotalEnergies, are wasting no time taking advantage of President Donald Trump’s promotion of the oil and gas industry less than 100 days into the new administration. “TotalEnergies announces the start of production from the deepwater Ballymore field offshore U.S., in which the Company has a 40% interest alongside operator Chevron (60%),” TotalEnergies released Monday. Production will take place in the Gulf of America (Townhall). Chevron: Estimated potentially recoverable resources at Ballymore are 150 million barrels of oil equivalent gross over the life of the project (Chevron).

Tim Walz’s Daughter Claims Trump Would Deport Jesus

Daily Wire: The 24-year-old daughter of Minnesota Democrat governor and failed vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz released a TikTok video in which she claimed that if Jesus Christ lived in the United States, the Trump administration would deport him and claim he was part of a deadly gang. Walz appeared to be making a reference to 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal alien who was deported to El Salvador and is suspected of being a member of the violent MS-13 gang. Democrats have sought for Garcia to be sent back to the United States, claiming that he has been denied due process (Daily Wire). Collin Rugg: Tim Walz’s daughter appears to compare alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Jesus, says Trump would have deported Jesus for being a gang member. I see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (X).

California Looks Into Taxing Residents Per-Mile Driven

This is truly reprehensible. This will cause many more people to flee the state. CBS8: California is considering implementing a per-mile “road charge” for all drivers across the state to fund highway maintenance, as revenue from the gas tax continues to decline. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently completed a pilot program to study this potential new fee system, which could replace the current gas tax. The proposed road charge comes as California faces a projected $5 billion drop in fuel tax revenue over the next decade, largely due to the increasing adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. Currently, about 80 percent of the state’s road repairs are funded through the 59-cent per gallon gas tax, the highest in the nation… The pilot program tested various approaches, including a flat fee of 2.8 cents per mile and an individualized fee based on a vehicle’s fuel economy. Different methods of reporting mileage to the state were also explored, such as odometer readings and special plug-in devices to measure miles traveled (CBS8). CA Representative Carl DeMaio: MILEAGE TAX! CA politicians want to tax you for every mile you drive. Check out my interview with CBS where I expose this price-gouging scam and how we’re fighting to block it (X).

Protesters at Columbia Chain Themselves to Gates Making Anti-Israel Demands

HotAir: Earlier this month a group of Jewish students chained themselves to the gates of Columbia University to make demands related to Mahmoud Khalil’s case. After a few hours, campus security cut the chains and removed the protesters. This was presented as a sign of the school’s new, tougher approach to civil disobedience. Today, another group is chaining themselves to the gates and once again demanding that Mahmoud Khalil be set free (HotAir). Reporter Meghnad Bose: The protesting students and alums demand: “1. Free Mahmoud and Mohsen. 2. Disclose Columbia’s investments into companies operating with and in Israel. 3. Make Columbia a “sanctuary campus.” 4. Open Columbia’s gates.” Around a dozen chained to the gates (X).

10.

Harvard University Sues Trump Over Funding Freeze

Just the News: Harvard University on Monday sued the Trump administration over its efforts to pull $2.2 billion in federal funding, after the school said it would not comply with the administration’s demands over its handling of antisemitism. The move comes after President Donald Trump recommended the Internal Revenue Service rescind the school’s tax-exempt status last week, over the school’s refusal to comply. The demands included merit-based hiring, reforming programs with a history of antisemitism and getting rid of “diversity, equity and inclusion” policies. Harvard President Alan Garber accused the federal government of attempting to exert “unprecedented and improper control” over the Ivy League school, and said the freeze impacts programs unrelated to antisemitism, including the school’s research on cancer, the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and reducing the risks of diseases like Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s (Just the News).

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