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My son has narrated the last book I wrote. Please consider listening to it and encouraging others to do so too. (Click on Book Cover) World & Nation US says two American merchant ships pass through Strait of Hormuz  Two American-flagged merchant ships made it through the Strait of Hormuz, the US military announced Monday, the first indication that the Trump administration was restoring the flow of shipping traffic in the crucial waterway. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the vessels were “safely headed on their journey” and called the successful transit “a first step” in “restor[ing] transit for commercial shipping.” “US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom,” the Tampa, Fla.-based command added on X, using President Trump’s name for the initiative he announced Sunday evening. In order to help the estimated 2,000 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf by Iran’s attacks and threats, Trump ordered the US military to begin escorting neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning. US Military Rejects Claims That Iran Struck US Navy Vessel  The U.S. military is rejecting claims that Iran struck a U.S. Navy vessel. The denial on Monday came as the U.S. remains active in the area near the Persian Gulf, offering to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and dislodge Iran's blockade on vessels that don't receive its authorization. Iranian news agencies — including the semiofficial agency Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency — claimed that Iran had struck a U.S. Navy vessel southeast of the strait of Hormuz, accusing it of "violating maritime security and navigation norms."
Iran: Two Missiles Hit US Warship Trying to Enter Strait of Hormuz  Iran's navy prevented "American-Zionist" warships entering the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, state TV reported, while the Fars news agency said two missiles had hit a U.S. warship near Jask Island after it ignored Iranian warnings. Reuters could not independently verify the reports, and there was no immediate response from the United States. A senior U.S. official denied that a U.S. ship was hit by Iranian missiles, Axios reported.
UAE responding to 'missile threat' amid conflict with Iran  The United Arab Emirates says its air defenses are responding to a missile threat on Monday. The country's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced the attack in a post on social media. "Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates," the statement read. The UAE's defense ministry says it intercepted three missiles launched from Iran, Reuters reported. MV Hondius cruise ship at center of suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak refused permission to dock  The luxury MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of a deadly suspected hantavirus outbreak has been refused permission to dock in the West African island nation of Cape Verde, officials said Monday. Roughly 150 people are currently trapped on the Dutch cruise liner off the African coast after three passengers died and others became seriously sick with symptoms. The ship, which was on a weekslong polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, had requested help from local health authorities on Sunday following the latest death. Trump demands Hakeem Jeffries ‘impeachment’ after top House Dem trashes Supreme Court  President Trump suggested Sunday that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries should be punished after the Brooklyn Democrat rebuked the Supreme Court over its ruling last week striking down Louisiana’s congressional map and weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. “Hakeem Jeffries, a Low IQ individual, said our Supreme Court is ‘illegitimate,'” Trump chided on Truth Social. “After saying such a thing, isn’t he subject to Impeachment? I got impeached for A PERFECT PHONE CALL. “Where are you Republicans? Why not get it started? They’ll be doing this to me!” Members of Congress are not subject to impeachment, a process that is reserved for presidents, judges, and high-ranking officials of the judicial and executive branches of government. UFO expert warns mystery craft are outmaneuvering US military in restricted airspace Jeremy Corbell says the instantaneous motion is 'baffling' the intelligence community  Investigative journalist Jeremy Corbell said on "The Sunday Briefing" that unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) are capable of outmaneuvering the U.S. military, calling the issue a national security concern as Congress pushes for the Pentagon to declassify 46 videos of unexplained events. The "WEAPONIZED" podcast host and subject of the upcoming film "Sleeping Dog" said the videos would serve as important data points in the ongoing investigation into UAPs, and that the American people deserve to see them. Jeremy Corbell speaking at AlienCon panel in Pasadena, California Jeremy Corbell attends the "The UFO Reality: What Do We Know? What Might We Find Out?" panel at AlienCon in Pasadena, Calif., on March 4, 2023. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for A+E Networks) "It's another data set of footage the American public can look at," he said. "There are machines, there are craft of unknown origin that fly with impunity in our restricted airspace, and our government has been assessing this as a national threat for decades. The jig is up. People now know UAP are real." Rashida Tlaib's new 'Unhoused Bill of Rights' would protect homeless camping Resolution would also require $168B in defense spending be redirected to end homelessness and grant rights to internet access and panhandling  Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., introduced legislation last week that would significantly expand rights for the homeless and overhaul how the government treats Americans living on the streets by siphoning billions from defense spending. The "Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights" calls for government-led intervention to end homelessness over the next three years and introduces more than a dozen protections for homeless people. If passed, Tlaib's legislation would include freedom of movement for homeless people in public spaces, affordable housing, "livable" wages, universal healthcare and panhandling. GOP sen secures historic sheriff backing, including one Dem flip and 'clean sweep' Independent support Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, who endorsed Brown last cycle, is now backing Husted  Sen. Jon Husted has secured a record-breaking 75 endorsements from Ohio’s 88 county sheriffs, marking the largest show of support from law enforcement in the state’s history, including a "clean sweep" of Independent sheriffs and a show of support from across party lines. "They’ve seen at the national level people like Sherrod Brown denying the border crisis, when millions of people poured across our border who were unvetted," Husted told Fox News Digital. "That included people who were bringing drugs and human trafficking." He explained his belief that the immigration and crime policies put in place under the Biden administration made law enforcement hesitant to support Brown, Husted’s Democratic opponent in November who is aiming to return to the Senate after being ousted in 2024 after 18 years in the chamber. Klobuchar vows fraud crackdown, audit of MN gov’t as GOP blasts Walz ties Republican Lisa Demuth says Klobuchar 'wants to triple down on the Walz Era' of fraud and rising taxes  Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on Sunday unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul the Minnesota state government, pledging a "top-to-bottom audit" of state agencies to root out fraud, waste and abuse as she campaigns for governor — while drawing a clear contrast with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, whose administration has been mired in controversy over fraud scandals in state-run programs. "On day one, I will begin a top-to-bottom audit of our state government," Klobuchar said at a news conference in St. Paul on Sunday. "That audit will look at state agencies to identify waste, fraud and abuse." Klobuchar said her proposal is aimed at transforming state government into one that is "innovative, effective and accountable," as fraud and oversight failures have emerged as a central issue in Minnesota politics. Spanberger won't rule out taxes on gym memberships, streaming services: 'Should be discussed' 'Every idea, as long as it's reasonable, should be discussed,' the governor said during a recent interview  Panelists Michael LaRosa and Kaylee McGhee White dissect the Democratic Party’s growing alignment with far-left candidates on ‘America Reports.’ Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger left the door open to imposing taxes on services like gym memberships, digital subscriptions and dog grooming when asked about the possibility during a recent interview. "I think every idea, as long as it’s reasonable and makes some amount of sense, should be discussed," Spanberger told a local ABC affiliate. "I think there are worthy conversations to be had about what revenue generation looks like into the future as our economy changes in so many ways." Seattle's socialist mayor slammed for dismissive wave to tax-weary residents Washington Post editorial board calls socialist mayor 'arrogant' for dismissive attitude toward tax-weary residents and business leaders  The Washington Post editorial board on Friday lambasted Seattle’s socialist Mayor Katie Wilson for dismissive comments regarding the city’s exodus of wealthy residents and growing taxpayer frustration over soaring rates. "Nine days after winning Seattle’s November mayoral election, Katie Wilson joined Starbucks baristas on a picket line and pledged to boycott the coffee conglomerate until their union got its way. The socialist will need to wait a while longer for her caffeine fix," the board wrote in a scathing piece titled "Seattle’s mayor waves goodbye to prosperity." The editorial highlighted the shifting business landscape, noting recent Starbucks store closures and the coffee giant’s announcement of a major expansion in Nashville, Tennessee—a move that will shift 2,000 jobs away from the Pacific Northwest. The board specifically pointed to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s, D., new "millionaire’s tax," which imposes a 9.9% rate on annual incomes exceeding $1 million. Trump Rips CNN's Van Jones Over Criminal Justice Reform  Donald Trump on Monday slammed CNN commentator Van Jones, accusing him of hypocrisy for attacking him despite his role in advancing criminal justice reform. Trump used Truth Social to recount what he described as a pivotal moment during his first term when Jones and a group of African American leaders sought his help to pass long-stalled reform legislation. "When a devastated (he was crying like a baby!) Van Jones of CNN came to me with a group of African American leaders, he had 'DEAD' in getting Criminal Justice Reform approved in Congress," Trump wrote, adding that the effort had failed for years before his involvement. Trump argued that the legislation, the bipartisan First Step Act signed into law in 2018, faced steep opposition and lacked the conservative support needed to pass.
Iran blockade ‘going global’ is a warning signal to China and Russia Trump calls the blockade 'unbelievably effective' as Marines fast-rope onto ships and seize Iranian oil tankers By Rebecca Grant
On Tuesday, U.S. Marines from USS Tripoli once again fast-roped from their MH-60 Seahawk helicopters onto the deck of a suspicious container ship named Blue Star III heading for Iran. That makes a total of 39 vessels turned back, boarded or seized since April 13. "The blockade has been unbelievably effective," President Donald Trump said on Sunday. Economic pressure is the main point of the blockade, but it has military impact far beyond the Strait of Hormuz. "We seized their sanctioned ships, and we will seize more," U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth briefed at the Pentagon on Friday, April 24. "Our blockade is growing and going global," Hegseth added. "Going global" is sending shockwaves through China. China imports at least 70% of its oil. Of that, 90% moves by sea. Iran alone supplied 14% of China’s imports last year, with Russia adding another 18%. Most of that oil was moved by shadow fleet tankers. Miranda Devine: Dems seek a blue-collar MAGA man to win back Trump voters — but need to look in the mirror By Miranda Devine
Democrats have a Nazi problem. They’ve spent the last 10 years accusing Donald Trump of being the second coming of Hitler and melting down when Elon Musk or anyone else perceived as close to Trump made a hand gesture that they pretended was a Nazi salute. It was all just a hilarious troll that fooled their more gullible acolytes. Now that Maine Gov. Janet Mills has pulled out of her Senate campaign, citing money problems, Democratic grandees are lining up to campaign for their anointed candidate, the ersatz Joe Six-Pack Graham Platner, who has an actual Nazi tattoo on his chest — or did for 18 years until he disguised it to campaign. |
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