In a move described as “exceedingly rare,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of four colonels, two Black and two female, to the rank of one-star general. This decision comes despite objections from Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, who highlighted the officers’ “decadeslong records of exemplary service.” The New York Times reported that military officials are questioning whether Hegseth acted with animus, citing an alleged exchange where his chief of staff suggested President Trump would not want to appear publicly with a Black female officer. These actions and concerns have drawn sharp criticism from members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic Women’s Caucus, who have called the decision “outrageous and wrong” and part of a strategy to undermine minority and female leadership.
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Canadian tourism to border towns like Lewiston, New York, has plummeted due to Donald Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats, compounded by fears of border detentions. Local businesses, from bakeries to antique shops, report significant drops in revenue as Canadians, angered by U.S. policies and rhetoric, avoid cross-border spending. In response, tourism agencies are shifting their focus to domestic American markets, while local officials hope sports tourism might offer a more resilient alternative to political strain. This decline threatens the economic stability of these communities, which heavily rely on Canadian visitors for their tax base and vital services.
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Since his return to office, President Donald Trump’s golf excursions have incurred at least $101.2 million in taxpayer-funded travel and security expenses. This figure represents two-thirds of his first-term golf spending and projects a total of $300 million by the end of his second term. These costs are driven by frequent visits to his owned properties, particularly Mar-a-Lago, where extensive security measures like Coast Guard ships and armed law enforcement vessels are deployed. The White House has recently begun categorizing these outings as “executive time,” while watchdog groups criticize the spending amidst economic hardship for Americans.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced significant criticism for intervening in a standard military promotion process, removing four officers from a list slated for elevation to one-star general. This action, which deviates from established norms, has ignited concerns regarding potential bias, particularly as the removed officers included two women and two Black men. Military leaders reportedly pushed back internally, asserting the candidates’ qualifications and the importance of an impartial system insulated from outside influence, while former military officials like retired Space Force Col. Bree Fram have decried the move as an “outrageous abuse of power” that politicizes promotions. The Pentagon spokesperson, however, dismissed the report as “fake news,” but the lack of a clear rationale for the removals continues to fuel debate over the integrity of military advancement.
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Americans are increasingly taking early hardship withdrawals from their retirement accounts, with Vanguard reporting a rise from 4.8% to 6% of clients in 2024. While these withdrawals incur penalties and taxes, and reduce future growth potential, Vanguard suggests the increase may not be entirely concerning. This trend could be influenced by easier access to hardship distributions since 2019 and the rise of automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans, particularly for lower-income workers. Despite the potential drawbacks, these withdrawals can serve as a financial safety net for those facing unexpected stress, especially when coupled with overall rising account balances.
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Appearing on The Benny Show, Vice President JD Vance suggested that alleged extraterrestrial beings may in fact be demons, framing his skepticism through a religious lens. He expressed a desire to investigate classified information during his time in office, stating his obsession with the subject. This viewpoint contrasts with recent public and political interest in UFOs, including former President Obama’s comments and President Trump’s pledge to declassify relevant files, which Vance indicated were underway during the Trump administration.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing G7 leaders, indicated that the U.S. may not achieve freedom of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even as a war objective, due to Iran’s potential to establish a tolling system. This suggests Iran would emerge significantly empowered, capable of asserting sovereignty over the crucial waterway. Rubio stated that the world, with U.S. participation, must plan to confront this illegal and unacceptable situation, highlighting that other nations have a substantial stake in ensuring international waterways are not controlled by any single state. The U.S. appears to have conceded that Iran will be strengthened post-war, shifting the burden of addressing tolling to European and Asian allies.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson has dealt a significant blow to efforts to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown by refusing to bring a bipartisan Senate deal to the House floor. Johnson’s opposition stems from the Senate bill’s failure to fund all DHS operations, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead, he proposed an eight-week continuing resolution, a plan that has been met with strong rejection from Democrats and a nearly unanimous “zero percent chance” of passage in the Senate. Within his own conference, numerous House Republicans have voiced serious concerns about Johnson’s strategy, questioning its viability and warning that the party may ultimately bear the blame for the ongoing shutdown.
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The Handala Hack Team, a cyber group formally attributed to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, has announced a $50 million reward for the elimination of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This announcement follows the group’s claim of breaching FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email account, demonstrating their operational reach. The formal attribution of Handala to Iranian state intelligence elevates these threats beyond rogue hacktivist rhetoric, positioning them as a state-adjacent concern requiring a formal response from security agencies. Handala has a documented history of issuing bounties, using these declarations as both psychological pressure and a signal of operational intent.
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The president has playfully renamed the Strait of Hormuz the “Strait of Trump,” referring to the vital oil-shipping route as a key choke point in the ongoing conflict. This moniker highlights the strait’s significance, as Iran’s continued ability to potentially disrupt its passage, which normally ferries 20 million barrels of oil daily, has significantly impacted global energy supply and prices. The president’s remarks, made at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami, were met with laughter and were framed as intentional, not accidental.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
JD Vance Believes Aliens Are Demons
Appearing on The Benny Show, Vice President JD Vance suggested that alleged extraterrestrial beings may in fact be demons, framing his skepticism through a religious lens. He expressed a desire to investigate classified information during his time in office, stating his obsession with the subject. This viewpoint contrasts with recent public and political interest in UFOs, including former President Obama’s comments and President Trump’s pledge to declassify relevant files, which Vance indicated were underway during the Trump administration.
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