Your First Look at Today's Top Stories

Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Trump Signs “HALT Fentanyl Act”

Finally: Movement to address fentanyl crisis. The full name of the bill: Halt All Lethal Trafficking Fentanyl Act. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has been a champion for the legislation: “What our bill says is that even if you take fentanyl and change it just a little bit, if it addicts, if it kills, if it looks like it, tastes like it, smells like it, it’s still fentanyl. And you will be prosecuted,” Cassidy said…. In 2023, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths—74,702 of which were attributed to fentanyl, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NOLA). Trump: “Today, we strike a righteous blow to the drug dealers, narcotic traffickers, & criminal cartels… and we take a historic step toward justice for every family touched by the fentanyl scourge” (White House). From the bill itself: This bill permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act (Congress).

President Trump Should Shut Down Open-Air Drug Markets

Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute argues against the fatalism so evident in our failing cities: President Trump could change the political calculus in lawless enclaves like the Tenderloin, Skid Row in Los Angeles, and Kensington in Philadelphia, which have become magnets for crime and chaos. As the nation debates his immigration policies, the president should focus federal law enforcement on shutting down America’s open-air drug markets. In addition to solving the immediate problem, taking this step would highlight the gang activity associated with illegal immigration and concentrate public attention on the scandal of blue-city governance…. Over the longer term, shutting down the open-air drug markets could demonstrate a proof of concept for cities and states that have, in recent years, given up on enforcing the law. If a focused group of federal agents can clean up the streets, why can’t San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Philadelphia devote a small percentage of their billion-dollar budgets to stopping the chaos and restoring—and maintaining—order? For years, these cities have claimed that homelessness, crime, and addiction are intractable. They present their fatalism as a concession to reality. The real reason they have failed to solve these problems is not practical, however, but ideological: they have adopted policies designed to cede territory to criminals, in the name of “social justice” (City Journal).

Pleading the Fifth: Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff Refuses to Comment on Former President’s Cognitive State

He was reportedly part of the “politburo” presidency. Ed Morrissey: The second member of the Biden White House called to testify before the House Oversight Committee has refused to answer questions. Last week, physician Kevin O’Connor invoked his Fifth Amendment right to protect against self-incrimination when asked about Joe Biden’s cognitive status while in office. Today, Jill Biden’s chief of staff Anthony Bernal followed suit, pleading the Fifth rather than answering any questions… The only reasons to worry about self-incrimination would be either perjury liability or being fingered as one of the conspirators behind a cover-up. Bernal probably has reason to worry about both, according to the Alex Thompson/Jake Tapper book “Original Sin.” Their sources claim that Bernal was part of a cabal that made the actual decisions in the Biden regency, which sources called the ‘politburo’ (Hot Air). James Comer (R-KY)—Chair of the House Oversight Committee—indicated that they may well call on former First Lady Jill Biden: “Every option’s on the table,” Mr. Comer says. “Hopefully we can give everybody an opportunity to answer simple questions and we’ll go from there. We’ll decide as a committee what steps to take next…. I think the possibility is very good that we’ll be asking members of the family to come in,” he says (New York Sun).

Court of Appeals: States Can, In Fact, Regulate Abortion Pill

The 4^th Circuit Court in Virginia ruled in favor of West Virginia’s right to enforce their “Unborn Child Protection Act”—against efforts to federalize prescription approval the lethal drug. Quoting West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey: “Big win out of the 4th Circuit today,” said Gov. Morrisey. “I defended this law as Attorney General and am proud to see a victory in this case. West Virginia can continue to enforce our pro-life laws and lead the nation in our efforts to protect life. We will always be a pro-life state!” “The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rightly refused GenBioPro’s invitation to federalize the issue of abortion,” said ADF Senior Counsel Erin Hawley, vice president of the ADF Center for Life and Regulatory Practice. “We’re pleased the 4th Circuit agreed that the 2007 amendments to the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act do not forbid the states from setting minimum safety standards for high-risk drugs or enacting legislation that protects life” (ADF). From the decision: We take no position on the wisdom or folly of West Virginia’s abortion law. As Dobbs makes clear, that judgment belongs with the people and their elected representatives. One can of course agree or disagree with the Dobbs decision… We do not suggest that the FDAAA lacks any preemptive effect. States are certainly not free to dilute federal safety standards where they have been clearly established. Nor do we deny that Congress may preempt state abortion laws if it chooses to do so and acts pursuant to its enumerated powers. We simply hold that it must express that intention with the clarity befitting such a significant alteration to our system of dual sovereignty. Because the FDAAA does not do so, we decline to overturn the West Virginia law (USCourts). Life News: According to Reuters, the decision marks the first time a federal appeals court has ruled that states may restrict access to the drug. The ruling could have broader implications for state-level regulation of abortion drugs. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 28 states currently have some form of restriction on their use. Mifepristone, now used in more than half of abortions nationwide, has faced renewed scrutiny after several of its longstanding safety restrictions were loosened under the Biden administration. Earlier this month, CatholicVote and more than 100 other pro-life organizations sent a joint letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging them to restore the previous safety requirements on mifepristone (Life News).

Zohran Mamdani Visits DC

The Marxist nominee running under the banner of the Democrats for mayor of New York City was with his ideological allies Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, seeking support from more “mainstream” Democrats. News Nation: During his visit to Washington, Mamdani met face-to-face with several top progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. and Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y. The meetings appeared to go well, with lawmakers praising his authenticity and focus on economic justice. Similar to Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders has consistently praised Mamdani’s campaign, calling his willingness to challenge powerful interests essential for New York City. “The fact he is prepared to take on the big money interest is (also) important,” Sanders said…. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump emphasized the critiques many Republicans have with Mamdani’s progressive ideologies. “In New York, we have a communist running — he may get elected too, but he’ll destroy the city,” Trump said (News Nation). New York Post reports on his fundraising success: Out-of-state donors are flocking to Big Apple mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani’s campaign — cutting more than $350,000 in checks to the socialist since his stunning Democratic primary win, public filings show. The lefty lawmaker — who heads into the November general election as the frontrunner — netted $351,423 from 5,292 donors with no ties to New York City between June 25 and July 11, according to the latest campaign finance figures. Veteran political consultant Lis Smith said fellow far-left Dems “want to be part of this magic,” even if they don’t have a dog in the mayoral race. “No one thought a Democratic socialist would win the New York City mayoral primary,” Smith told The Post. “It’s a big victory for the left. He’s a shot in the arm for the left flank for the Democratic Party.” Mamdani’s trouncing of Cuomo marked the biggest national victory for lefties since Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her first election in an upset over entrenched Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in 2018, Smith said (New York Post).

New Poll in Mayor’s Race: Mamdani at 26 percent, Cuomo at 23 percent, Sliwa at 22

Harris X: A new poll from HarrisX finds the New York City mayoral race shaping up to be a tight and competitive contest, with Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani statistically tied with former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in a four-way race. While Mamdani leads Mayor Eric Adams in a head-to-head race, the poll shows Cuomo defeating the Democratic nominee by a wide 15-point margin in a one-on-one contest. The survey of 585 registered New York City voters was conducted online between July 7–8, with key findings including: In a four-way race, Mamdani (26 percent) is tied with Cuomo (23 percent) and Sliwa (22 percent), all within the margin of error. Adams is at 13 percent and 15 percent of voters are undecided. In a three-way race without Adams, Cuomo (31 percent) is statistically tied with Mamdani (29 percent) and Sliwa (28 percent). In a three-way race without Cuomo, Mamdani leads by 10 points, winning 35 percent to Sliwa’s 25 percent and Adams’ 19 percent. In head-to-head matchups, Mamdani topples Adams 43 percent to 36 percent, but trails Cuomo 35 percent to 50 percent, a 15-point advantage for Cuomo. The results show that Mamdani benefits most if Cuomo is not in the race, gaining a 10-point lead in that scenario. Conversely, Cuomo gains ground if Adams is not in the race and wins outright in a head-to-head matchup with Mamdani. “These numbers show a volatile race still taking shape,” said Dritan Nesho, CEO of HarrisX. “While the progressive base is fueling Mamdani’s rise, Cuomo’s broad name recognition and moderate appeal make him a formidable general election challenger” (HarrisX).

Vice President Vance on Mamdani and the Far Left: “They are arsonists”

The radical views of the Democrat’s nominee for mayor of our nation’s largest city has—understandably—stirred thinking about what is going on with the American left. J. D. Vance, from an address to the Claremont Institute: Why is a mayoral candidate in our nation’s biggest city whining about banning Bibi Netanyahu from visiting and threatening to arrest him if he tries? Or attacking Narendra Modi as a “war criminal”? Why is he talking about “globalizing the intifada”? What the hell does that even mean in Manhattan? … I was once comforted by these contradictions. How could privileged whites march around decrying white privilege? How could progressives pretend to love Muslims despite their cultural views on gender and sexuality? But the answer is obvious, isn’t it? The radicals of the far Left don’t need a unifying ideology of what they’re for, because they know very well what they’re against…This is the animating principle of the American far Left…. They are arsonists, and they will make common cause with anyone else willing to light the match. It’s why Mamdani himself is such an appealing instrument to the Left. He captures so many of the movement’s apparent contradictions in a single human being: a guy who describes the Palestinian cause as “central” to his identity, yet holds views—abortion-on-demand and using taxpayer money to fund transgender surgeries for minors, for example—that would be incomprehensible on the streets of Gaza. This politics doesn’t make sense as a positive political program. But it’s very effective at tearing down the things the Left hates (American Mind).

A New Warning to Iran: Stiff Sanctions if No Deal by End of August

Axios reports: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. agreed in a phone call on Monday to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, according to three sources with knowledge of the call. If no deal is reached by that deadline, the three European powers plan to trigger the “snapback” mechanism that automatically reimposes all UN Security Council sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 Iran deal…. Since the end of the war between Israel and Iran, the Trump administration has been trying to resume negotiations on a new nuclear deal (Axios). Ed Morrissey: Will Tehran take this deadline more seriously than the mullahs did with the last one? Our Magic 8 Ball says: Most likely. The smoking ruins of Natanz and Isfahan, not to mention the destruction at Fordow, have to have made some impression on Ali Khamenei and his much-reduced band of incompetents. Donald Trump has not finished with Iran and its nuclear-weapons program yet. Operation Midnight Hammer set those efforts back by several years and billions of dollars, but the Iranian regime claims it will proceed with renewed efforts anyway. Trump will give them 45 days to change their mind, Axios reports, and this time he’s not alone In fact, Trump may not even be in the lead in this new ultimatum… This regime may very well be on its last legs already. Any push may topple it — and if the EU decides to shut down trade with Iran as well as the US, the Iranian regime has to know what will come as a result. Now that the EU is intervening, though, the regime probably hopes that they can pull the wool over European eyes again long enough to restart the nuclear-weapons program without retaliation. Or have our European partners finally learned a lesson about the nature of Khamenei and the radical cult he leads? (Hot Air).

Senate Committee to Hold Hearings on Emil Bove, Trump’s Nominee to Serve on 3rd Circuit

He’s slated to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Democrats have been doing all they can to stop him. Roll Call: President Donald Trump’s former defense attorney Emil Bove appears to be on a glide path to approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, his first formal hurdle in a bid to become a circuit court judge. Republicans on the committee have raised no major objections with Bove’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, moving forward amid accusations that Bove participated in an effort intended to undermine court rulings against the administration over deportation efforts…. Prior to the start of the president’s term, Bove was defense counsel for Trump in multiple criminal cases, including the New York state prosecution in which Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts tied to falsified business records for hush money payments in his 2016 presidential campaign. Since starting at the DOJ, Bove participated in the firings of prosecutors who worked on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and personally intervened in the effort to drop a federal corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams (Roll Call). Robert Luther III: The fixation in this storm of controversy is the fact that Bove previously worked as the president’s personal attorney, representing him in the numerous criminal prosecutions that he faced during his time out of office. Here, yet again, we find ourselves in the bizarre universe of double standards that apply only to Trump. Before Bove, when was a private lawyer’s representation of the president of the United States ever held against the lawyer when he sought a promotion in government? Both the left and the right are wrong, but the debate is merely academic because Bove will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate (Washington Examiner).

10.

What Key Virtue Provides the Integrating Thread of Western Civilization?

Honor. That’s the argument of Spanish journalist Itxu Díaz: Honor is out of fashion. What’s in vogue is blandness, fame, power, and, to some extent, the idea of mercy. Good manners, appearances, tolerance, and equality are trendy. Honor is not. Cynicism, hypocrisy, sentimental reasoning, irrational and naive pacifist banners and slogans, and sympathy for “the oppressed” are in style. But honor frightens the spineless men and women of our time…. Western history—what we are—is a tapestry of heroism, daring, adherence to codes of honor, built on a tradition passed down through generations. Western man embraced human rights, freedom, and equality before the law because his Judeo-Christian heritage emphasizes that he is made in the image and likeness of God, giving absolute value to his life. Love for our neighbors, responsibility, and impartial justice are other hallmarks of our moral identities. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, history is purposeful, lending special value to memory and hope, and offering a reason to make sacrifices for what we believe in—even if we know or suspect that the benefits of those sacrifices will be reaped by future generations but not by us. These elements of Western morality aren’t arbitrary; they’re the fruit of a collective heritage, the triumphs and efforts of our ancestors, and the forces that have fostered prosperous states and civilized societies where we can live in freedom. It may be true that honor is now deeply unfashionable in classrooms, among the youth, at work, or even in personal relationships. If the West wants to revive the moral splendor it once had, if it wants to retain the values and pleasures of its own civilization, and mount an effective defense against the barbarism of the savage Islamists, the totalitarian Chinese, and the cynical Russians, it must start by embracing the ideal of honor again—with respect, with memory, and with courage. Once again, Israel is serving as a light unto the nations. We in the West must open our eyes before it is too late (Tablet).

SUBSCRIPTION INFO: This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It is only sent to people who signed up from one of the Salem Media Group network of websites. We respect and value your time and privacy.
Unsubscribe from The Daybreak Insider
6400 N. Belt Line Rd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063
Copyright © 2025 Salem Media Group and its Content Providers. All rights reserved.