Traders made substantial bets on falling oil prices just minutes before President Trump announced postponed strikes on Iran, a move that subsequently caused oil prices to drop. These unusually large trades, totaling approximately $580 million, occurred in the minutes leading up to Trump’s statement on Truth Social. The timing of these transactions has raised questions about potential insider information, although White House officials deny any such misconduct. Iran’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, dismissed the idea of negotiations, suggesting the announcement was aimed at lowering energy prices.
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As incoming Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin faces confirmation, resurfaced comments reveal his endorsement of physical discipline for his children. In a video from October 2023, Mullin, a father of six and former MMA fighter, spoke to a group aiming to elect “Godly people” to local office. He recounted spanking his children and threatening his daughter’s boyfriend, stating, “If I ever see you kiss her in front of me, I’m dragging your face across the asphalt.” Mullin also shared anecdotes about physically disciplining his daughters, noting they would forgive him shortly after, and described his son’s self-punishing reactions to discipline.
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President Trump has characterized news coverage of the Iran war as “criminal” and “unpatriotic,” and the FCC chairman has threatened broadcast licenses. In response, it is urged that readers support journalism that provides accountability for those in power by becoming a HuffPost member.
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President Donald Trump has reportedly blocked a proposed plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security and pay Transportation Security Administration agents. The plan, suggested by Republican Senators John Kennedy and Ted Cruz, would have funded DHS while excluding ICE, with a subsequent reconciliation bill to address ICE funding. This approach aimed to bypass Democratic opposition by utilizing a simple majority vote for the ICE bill. President Trump has indicated a preference for a deal that includes the “SAVE AMERICA ACT,” a bill focused on election reform, and has expressed strong opposition to any deal with Democrats that does not align with his priorities.
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A plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and ensure TSA workers received pay by the end of the week was reportedly rejected by President Trump. Senators John Kennedy and Ted Cruz proposed a two-step approach: accepting Democrats’ offer to reopen the rest of DHS while separately passing ICE funding through reconciliation, bypassing Democratic votes. Trump, however, allegedly instructed them to make “No deals with the Democrats,” despite the operational disruptions, including significant TSA worker absences and airport delays, continuing. This revelation comes after previous reports of similar proposals being shot down by the President, who also linked any DHS deal to the passage of his proof-of-citizenship voting bill, the SAVE Act.
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In recent statements, President Donald Trump indicated a potential US willingness to share control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. He also suggested that significant regime change in Iran has already occurred, citing the elimination of numerous Iranian officials. These remarks followed direct talks between US envoys and top Iranian leadership, reportedly mediated by Pakistan, with a source identifying Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf as a key participant. Trump expressed optimism about these negotiations, noting major points of agreement and describing the Iranian leadership as “very reasonable” and “very stable,” while also reaffirming a commitment to zero uranium enrichment for Iran.
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Senator Markwayne Mullin has been confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by a 54-45 vote, with some Democrats crossing party lines to support his nomination. Mullin takes over a department facing significant turmoil, including lapsed funding and ongoing debates over immigration enforcement tactics. He has pledged to stabilize the agency and has walked back past comments, stating a commitment to warrant requirements for home entry. His confirmation marks a shift from the previous secretary’s tenure, which was marked by accusations of excessive force and due process bypass.
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As part of an effort to reassert Christopher Columbus’s historical standing, President Donald Trump has overseen the installation of a 13-foot, one-ton statue of the explorer on White House grounds. This replica, constructed from salvaged pieces of a monument previously toppled by protesters, bears an inscription detailing its destruction and subsequent restoration. The White House has publicly lauded Columbus as a “hero” and a “foundational hero of the US,” with President Trump asserting his belief that Columbus was “the original American hero.” This action highlights the ongoing debate surrounding Columbus’s legacy, which includes his role in colonization and the subjugation of Indigenous peoples, a perspective acknowledged by President Joe Biden who noted the “devastation” his voyages ushered in.
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President Donald Trump recently voted by mail ballot in a special election in Palm Beach County, Florida. This action comes as he has been publicly pressuring senators to limit mail-in voting. Voter records confirm Trump, registered at his Mar-a-Lago estate, cast his ballot by mail for the state legislature seat contested by Democrat Emily Gregory and Republican Jon Maples.
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Public records show that Donald Trump cast a mail ballot in an upcoming Florida special election, despite publicly denouncing mail-in voting as fraudulent. This marks a repeat of his actions in 2020, when he also voted by mail while criticizing the practice. While Trump advocates for universal mail-in voting to be disallowed due to fraud concerns, his proposed SAVE America Act would not end mail-in voting but would instead complicate the process by requiring photo identification with ballots.
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John Q. Hosedrinker