Gas Prices Hit 5-Year Low on Labor Day Weekend

The national average was $3.15 per gallon. California remains the big loser in this contest with the highest gas prices in the nation at $4.45 per gallon (EIA). Sarah Arnold at Townhall: This Labor Day, Americans are seeing real economic relief where it counts—at the gas pump. With the national average projected at $3.15 per gallon … the lowest holiday weekend fuel prices since 2020, or since the start of the presidency of former President Joe Biden. Thanks to President Donald Trump, who reversed course on failed green policies and put American energy back in the driver’s seat, Americans will finally feel relief at the pump…. After inheriting soaring gas prices and crushing regulations from the Biden administration, Trump made good on his campaign promise to restore energy independence. By dismantling Biden’s so-called “green new scam,” Trump reopened pipelines, cut red tape, and unleashed domestic production—policies that are now showing up in Americans’ wallets. In contrast to the $3.77 per gallon Americans were paying under Biden in 2023, this summer’s prices have dropped steadily under Trump’s leadership. Even in 2024, prices were higher at $3.29. The difference now? A pro-energy White House (Townhall).

Trump to Issue Executive Order Mandating Voter ID

And slashing mail-in voting. Scott McClallen for Townhall: President Trump says that he will issue an executive order to require voter ID to vote and minimize mail-in voting, he posted on Truth Social. “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!! President DJT.” In March, Trump signed an executive order that required voters to show proof of citizenship. In June, a federal judge struck part of that order…. On Aug. 19, Trump said that he would lead a movement to eliminate mail-in ballots, voting machines, and more. Many states pivoted mail-in voting since 2020. More than a million people in Michigan voted by mail in the 2024 election. “We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting,” Trump posted. “All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections” (Townhall).

Spike in Violence in Chicago Over Labor Day Weekend

The spike comes as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker battles with Trump over Chicago. Matt Margolis of PJ Media: Trump recently called Chicago “a mess” with an “incompetent mayor—grossly incompetent— and we’ll straighten that one out probably next.” In response, Pritzker, told Trump not to come to Chicago, and warned that sending National Guard troops would bring an “unprecedented and difficult time” and vowed, “We will see the Trump administration in court. The state of Illinois is ready to stand against this military deployment with every peaceful tool we have.” How stupid does he look now? According to ABC7 in Chicago on Sunday, over the Labor Day weekend, Chicago experienced a surge in gun violence, with at least 35 individuals shot, five fatally, according to the Chicago Police Department. The incidents spanned various neighborhoods, including South Shore, East Garfield Park, Altgeld Gardens, Englewood, Bronzeville, Humboldt Park, and Heart of Chicago (PJ Media).

Schwarzeneggar Squares Off Against Newsom in California’s Redistricting Fight

Schwarzeneggar has long fought against gerrymandering. Today, Governor Newsom’s effort in California upends the progress he had made in the Golden State. The Hill: Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is stepping back into the political arena as a crusader against partisan redistricting. Urging Californians to “terminate gerrymandering,” the former governor and Hollywood icon has joined the likes of former GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), investor Charlie Munger and state GOP legislators in pushing back on the plan, which could net five Democratic House seats by temporarily bypassing the state’s independent redistricting commission (The Hill). Politico: Seemingly every Republican in California is jumping into the fight. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is leading the fundraising effort and hype machine against Newsom’s campaign, as POLITICO reported Thursday. Alongside former state Republican Party chair Jessica Millan Patterson and operative Tom Ross, McCarthy said he’s planning to raise more than $100 million for the opposition campaign. That will be in addition to a reported $30 million pledge from Charles Munger Jr., a champion for the state’s independent redistricting commission (Politico Pro).

Sen. Kennedy on Newsom: “He’s put the funk into dysfunction”

The Louisiana Senator was responding to many of Newsom’s distorted attacks on his red states—including Louisiana, presumably as it’s home to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson: In a recent interview with left-wing YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, for instance, Newsom said, “I think [President Trump] should start with Shreveport, Louisiana, and Speaker Johnson’s district, that has six-plus times the per capita murder rate of Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco. What about the carnage, Mr. President, in Shreveport? Why aren’t you protecting the folks there?” As usual, however, Newsom – and his handlers – were way off the mark….”I’ve watched Governor Newsom for years and to quote one of my favorite columnists, he’s put the funk into dysfunction. Every year that he’s been governor, crime and violence has gotten worse in California. Why? Because Governor Newsom is a member of the socialist wing of his party. Because Governor Newsom has refused to get up off his ice cold, lazy butt and do something about it” (Red State).

New York Times Looks to Whitewash Mamdani, Claiming He’s Not a Socialist

It’s maddening to watch, but should not be a surprise as we’ve watched America’s paper of record. David Strom: The New York Times is engaged in whitewashing Zohran Mamdani’s record as a radical socialist. Presumably, this is because President Trump has been attacking him as a communist, and if there is anything that smells like catnip to a liberal journalist, it is the opportunity to contradict what President Trump says. Mamdani has been calling himself a socialist for as long as he has been a public figure. And not just a “Democratic Socialist,” the current buzzword used to claim that Real Socialism™ has never been tried, but as a “Feminist Socialist” and other varieties. He regularly quotes Marx, talks about “seizing the means of production” and eliminating private property, and is a member of both the New York City and national Democratic Socialists of America. But Mamdani and his supporters are now dancing around and claiming that you should pay no attention to anything Mamdani or his supporters have ever said; stay focused on his platform, because as we all know, politicians are bound contractually to do only what is in their platforms, and always accomplish what they say they will (Hot Air).

US to Revoke Visas and Deny Entry of Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN Meeting

The meeting of the U.N.’s General Assembly begin on Tuesday, September 9 (UN). From the State Department: In accordance with U.S. law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.  The Trump Administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace. Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.  The PA must also end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns, including appeals to the ICC and ICJ, and efforts to secure the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.  Both steps materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages, and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks (State). Senator Tom Cotton: The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization pay terrorists to kill civilians, including Americans in Israel. The terrorists who run this pay-for-slay scheme have no business setting foot in the United States (Cotton).

Latest Polling: 74 Percent of Americans Support Israel Over Hamas

Yes: It’s still disturbing that that 26 percent of Americans support Hamas—a terror group that has, over the years, “normalized” suicide bombings, focused on civilians as their target and advocated for rape as a tool of warfare. The poll comes from Harvard Harris. Even among Democrats, 67 percent support Israel. Among Republicans, support for Israel is at 82 percent. Among Democrats, the energy, the activism and the youth vote is pretty clearly with Hamas. But, broadly speaking, proponents for the unique relationship of the U.S. with the sole Jewish-majority state is remains pretty clear—at least as it comes to a response to polling (Harvard Harris).  

HUD Director Scott Turner to Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants in Section 8 Housing

From Housing and Urban Development Director Scott Turner: “No longer will illegal aliens be able to leave citizenship boxes blank or take advantage of HUD-funded housing, riding the coattails of hardworking American citizens.” – @SecretaryTurner (Turner). Fox News reports: The Trump administration has ordered a nationwide review of public housing in an effort to root out residents who are in the country illegally, according to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. Turner wrote that each public housing authority has 30 days to conduct an audit to ensure that the existing orders are enforced. The department is asking for information about the public housing units and verifiable citizenship or “eligible immigration status.” …. The move received praise from Republicans but skepticism from others who said it could strain resources. “Anyone in this country illegally should be deported, not given publicly funded housing!” Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, posted to X (Fox News).

A Victory for Speech, A Defeat for Newsom: Court Finds Two California Laws Unconstitutional

It’s also a victory for humor in American political discourse as one of victors is the lawsuits is satire site The Babylon Bee, who was represented by Alliance Defending Freedom: A federal district court ruled Friday that two California laws that censor online political speech are unconstitutional…. The two laws challenged in the lawsuits are AB 2839, which targets and punishes speakers for engaging in certain political commentary, including posting satirical memes and parodies of politicians, and AB 2655, which requires large online platforms to act as the government’s censor and remove certain political commentary from their sites. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California found both laws to be unconstitutional. “Making fun of politicians and criticizing the government is a core First Amendment right. That includes using new technology to create parody campaign ads or satirical memes,” said ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, who argued before the court…. “Our job is hard enough when our jokes keep coming true, as if they were prophecies,” said The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon. “But it becomes significantly more difficult when self-serving politicians abuse their power to try to control public discourse and clamp down on comedy. We’re pleased the court recognized the First Amendment secures our right to tell jokes, even ones the government doesn’t like” (ADF).