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Monday, August 4, 2025

A First in Over 50 Years: Nation May Have Negative Net Migration in 2025

With the numbers down from 2.8 million in 2024. Rapid Response: “We may be dealing with NEGATIVE NET MIGRATION to the United States in 2025. That would be the first time there is negative net migration in this country in at least 50 years — we’re talking about down from 2.8 million in 2024.” PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT! (Rapid Response). Ward Clark of Red State: What a difference a president makes! Only a year ago, befuddled old Joe Biden was whining about his inability to do anything about our wide-open borders without some mysterious, undefined action by Congress; but then, Joe Biden also suffered from an inability to navigate his way out of the president’s private Oval Office toilet without a map, a compass, and Secret Service assistance. Enter Donald Trump, and all that changed overnight. Now, in 2025, the United States may well be on track to see the first year of negative net migration in half a century. CNN’s Harry Enten has the numbers…. This is, as someone once famously said, a big freaking deal. The southern border is effectively closed. ICE is rounding up the worst of the worst, rotating them through the Alligator Alcatraz and other out-processing stations, and sending them back to where they belong. That’s what President Trump campaigned on throughout the 2024 election season, and now he’s delivering…. President Trump’s policies are delivering. It works. And it will keep on working. So, let’s keep it up. This is what we voted for (Red State). The numbers for July are impressive as well: Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that for the third time this year, it has once again set record lows for nationwide encounters and lowest single day apprehensions. Preliminary data from July 2025 confirms that illegal crossings have collapsed to all-time lows. Apprehensions along the Southwest border for the entire month of July were lower than the daily average under the Biden administration. This is also the third consecutive month with zero USBP releases into the interior. Preliminary Records Set in July: Lowest Nationwide Encounters Ever: 24,630—down 2.4% from June and nearly 90% lower than the monthly average under the last administration (DHS).

Texas Democrats Flee the State in Effort to Stave Off Vote Over New House Map

A redrawn map could plausibly allow the GOP to pick up five seats in the midterms. Democrats are crying foul—but it is, plain and simple, hardball politics. They’d do the same themselves if the tables were turned. Just the News: Texas Democrats are leaving the state and heading to Chicago to try to block the state House from voting Monday on a new congressional map. Texas Democratic leaders are scheduled to hold a news conference with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker after their arrival in the state. The new map could lead to Republicans gaining up to 5 additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections. The Associated Press reported that leaving the state as a way to stop the vote puts Democrats at risk of fines and other penalties (Just the News). The GOP response? Wall Street Journal: Texas Republicans vowed to take action if the House is unable to meet as scheduled Monday afternoon. “If a quorum is not present then…all options will be on the table,” state House Speaker Dustin Burrows posted. If they are in Texas, House members can be arrested by state police and forced to participate in the legislative session. They also could face the possibility of fines. “The future of our nation is at stake,” Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson posted on X. “We must send more Republicans to Congress to ensure that President Trump’s America First Agenda is fully enacted” (Wall Street Journal). Larry Sabato sums up gerrymandering efforts: The Texas re-gerrymander is, understandably, infuriating Democrats, and Democratic leaders have been making noise about trying to compensate for losses in Texas by trying to gerrymander in states where they control the state government. California stands out, as Gov. Gavin Newsom—who is clearly trying to bolster his national standing as he is termed out of office in 2026 and eying a 2028 presidential bid—has suggested the possibility of trying to enact a Democratic gerrymander in his state. As we’ll discuss below, this is much more challenging than the Republican plan in Texas. Meanwhile, Republicans could get redistricting-related gains elsewhere: Ohio is the likeliest, but perhaps they could eye other states. Democrats, on the other hand, do not really have obvious gerrymandering options, as the states they control are more likely to have redistricting commissions or other restrictions on gerrymandering. Or, in states where they have gerrymandered, they may already be effectively tapped out (Center for Politics).

Trump Frustrated Over Stalled Nominations

The president was pushing for the Senate to delay their August recess. His frustration with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was pointed: Senator Cryin’ Chuck Schumer is demanding over One Billion Dollars in order to approve a small number of our highly qualified nominees, who should right now be helping to run our Country. This demand is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted. It is political extortion, by any other name. Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL! Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! (Truth). Politico: Senate Republicans left Washington for the summer without a deal to quickly confirm dozens of nominees — but they are vowing to come back this fall and change the rules to clear the partisan logjam. Majority Leader John Thune locked in the plan shortly after meeting with GOP senators Saturday night. It effectively pulled the plug on the confirmations standoff for now, with lawmakers saying that President Donald Trump privately told them to abandon negotiations with Democrats and head home. “The president is fed up,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who has been in close touch with Trump (Politico).

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Shutting Down

From their announcement: “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.” CPB informed its employees today that the majority of staff positions will conclude with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations. This team will focus on compliance, final distributions, and resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system. “Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.” CPB’s Board of Directors and management are working closely to address the legal, financial, and operational requirements of the closure. CPB will provide regular updates and guidance to stations and producers navigating the profound challenges ahead (CPB). What about NPR and PBS? Today responds: According to NPR, the organization receives only around 1% of its operating budget from the federal government. The remaining budget comes from a variety of other sources, including corporate sponsorship, programming fees, donations and more. However, member stations of NPR receive a large portion of operating revenue from CPB, with stations in poor and rural areas relying on grants from CPB. PBS, which is watched by 58% of all television households nationwide per year, receives approximately 15% of revenue from federal funding. The broadcaster receives additional funding through donations to the PBS Endowment Fund. Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR said in a statement, “The ripple effects of this closure will be felt across every public media organization and, more importantly, in every community across the country that relies on public broadcasting” (Today). MSNBC is responding in a predictable manner. Journalism professor Jason Johnson: The big concern that I have is that one day if we are able to remove this regime, and it is a regime, they don’t certainly act in any sort of constitutional or presidential way that any of our lifetimes have ever been before. The amount of money and investment and fights it’ll take to bring back these kinds of things: NPR, USAID, you know, various jobs have been destroyed by DOGE, will take a massive effort. And I don’t know if the current opposition party has the backbone to replace that which has been destroyed by this current regime (Newsbusters).

Videos of Starving Hostages in Gaza Causes Stir Anger in Israel

Anger at the inhumanity to the Israeli hostages and anger over the difficulty in getting the remaining hostages released. Times of Israel: Hamas on Friday released a propaganda video of Evyatar David, which was approved by the family a day later. The video showed David, severely pale and emaciated, digging what he says he fears will be his own grave…. The family of hostage Rom Braslavski said on Sunday that it was allowing the publication of part of a propaganda video released by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group last week showing him emaciated and begging for freedom. In the clip, Braslavski, in tears, says he is “suffering with pain that doesn’t look good,” and that he is unable to stand or walk. “I don’t have any more food or water. Before they would give me a little bit, today there is nothing,” he said, adding that he ate “three crumbs of falafel” that day, and a day earlier, “barely a plate of rice” (Times of Israel).

A Libel Suit Against New York Times Over Gaza Photo?

That’s what billionaire Bill Ackman is pressing for. He says it’s an “open and shut” case. New York Sun: “The @nytimes has caused enormous harm and this is apparently the best they can do to correct their malfeasance,” billionaire businessman Bill Ackman wrote on X this week, referring to the correction the Times added to its original article. Mr. Ackman continued by advising Israel to “bring libel suits against the @nytimes and other publications,” which he described as “open and shut cases.” Within Israel, political commentator Yaakov Bardugo, stated on Wednesday that “The State of Israel must sue the New York Times for $10 billion over that fake starvation image that reached tens of millions of viewers.” He argued that Israel should also hold accountable any journalist or editor who was involved in publishing the image. “This is how you engineer public perception,” he added (New York Sun). The Free Press points out how the “mistakes” of the New York Times always go one direction: There is a growing hunger problem in Gaza. Americans and Israelis should be aware of this fact. There are important questions to answer about aid delivery, and what Israel, the UN, and other organizations can do to minimize the suffering. It’s those high stakes that make the sloppy journalism that’s become so common in this conflict so inexcusable—especially when the mistakes are always going in one direction. We’ve seen this play out since the beginning of the war, particularly at the Times. The paper misreports something, the story flies around the world, and a few days later there’s a correction or editors’ note that few will ever see…. The Times should treat its readers better than this. But after 21 months of its reporters taking its cues from Hamas’s public relations operations, we should not expect that they will anytime soon (Free Press). Melanie Phillips: Releasing these terrible images of starved Jews, who look like inmates of the Nazi death camps, was designed to throw the Holocaust into the Jews’ faces by saying “Look, here it is again but now the world doesn’t care and is blaming you instead for being the Nazis”. It was a triumphant taunt that Israel was powerless to prevent the second Holocaust that Hamas never stops announcing it is planning (Phillips).

Hamas Rejects Deal; Netanyahu Pushing for Definitive Military Victory

Israel Hayom: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet on Tuesday to decide the next phase of the war in Gaza, as Hamas continues to reject all proposed agreements, including those involving the full return of hostages and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip in exchange for ending the war. The terrorist organization’s adamant refusal to accept any proposal that would jeopardize its survival as an armed entity in the Gaza Strip is pushing Israel’s political leadership toward decisions it has so far avoided, decisions that could lead to a confrontation with the military echelon. Sources close to the matter told Israel Hayom that a rift has emerged between Israel’s political and military leadership over how to proceed. While IDF officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, support encircling Hamas controlled areas until the terrorist organization surrenders, hardline ministers such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are calling for a full-scale reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, even in areas where hostages are believed to be held (Israel Hayom).

Switzerland in Shock Over 39 Percent Tariff—One of the Highest in the World; A “Disastrous” Call With Trump

Financial Times: A blame game has erupted in Switzerland after the US announced an unexpected 39 per cent tariff rate on the Alpine country on its national day. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter is accused of grossly miscalculating the trade deal she thought she was able to secure with the Trump administration. Other critics are rounding on the country’s vast pharmaceutical industry for having sparked the ire of the US president. “It’s knives out,” a former Swiss diplomat said. Late on Thursday, Keller-Sutter held a “disastrous” phone call with Donald Trump, according to multiple people familiar with the situation…. The Swiss media roundly criticised Keller-Sutter, with SonntagsZeitung calling the failed talks her “biggest fiasco” and tabloid Blick going as far as saying this was Switzerland’s greatest defeat since 1515, when it lost a battle against the French…. The Swiss stock market, which was closed on Friday, is bracing itself for losses when trading resumes on Monday. Novartis, Roche and consumer goods group Nestlé, as well as luxury watch companies Richemont and Swatch are all listed on the Swiss exchange. (Financial Times).

Trump Fires Head of Bureau of Labor Statistics

Trump’s response to the latest jobs numbers from BLS on Friday: I was just informed that our Country’s “Jobs Numbers” are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory. This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000. These were Records — No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified (Truth). Then, on Sunday: President Trump on Sunday defended his decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following a weak jobs report, a move that has sparked broad pushback. Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform asserted that fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer “had the biggest miscalculations in over 50 years,” portraying Friday’s dismal jobs numbers as the latest example. The president alleged the labor official “did the same thing just before the Presidential Election, when she lifted the numbers for jobs to an all time high. I then won the Election, anyway, and she readjusted the numbers downward, calling it a mistake, of almost one million jobs. A SCAM!” “She did it again, with another massive ‘correction,’ and got FIRED!” Trump added (The Hill).

10.

The American Left Remains Infatuated With Socialism; A Sure Path to Poverty

Democrats in New York and Minneapolis have nominated socialists as their candidate for mayor. Minnesota Congressman and House Majority Whip Warns: Let me be clear: Fatah and Mamdani’s radical policies will destroy our country. New York and Minneapolis: Choose SANITY on your ballots! (Emmer). John Hinderaker: Socialism has done more damage than anything else in human history. The Black Death is probably in second place. And yet, you can always find a few people who want to try it again. Why is that? Mostly, I think, because socialism offers to fulfill the dream of power over others. Socialism is a rigid, two-class system: you have an all-powerful elite at the top, and everyone else essentially in servitude. If you think you will be part of the elite, what’s not to like? (Powerline). Michael A. Arouet (quoted by Hinderaker): Venezuela used to be wealthier than Poland. Poland introduced capitalism & free market principles, Venezuela followed socialism. Capitalism makes people wealthier, socialism always ends in bitter poverty and misery (Arouet). In New York, the latest polling has Mamdani polling higher than all other candidates combined: The combined level of support for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams, conservative activist and talk show host Curtis Sliwa, and former federal prosecutor Jim Walden and undecided likely voters totaled 49%. Cuomo came in second place, receiving 22% support, while Sliwa received 13% support. Adams garnered 7% support, and Walden received 1%. Voters under the “others/I don’t know” designation totaled 6% support. Mamdani’s support never dips below 50% in the poll and only increases in a thinner field of candidates. For example, in a hypothetical four-way race without Cuomo, Mamdani’s support rose to 55%. In a four-way race without Adams, Mamdani’s support rose to 51% (Fox 5).

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