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    Trump Designates Iran-Backed Groups In Iraq Terrorist Organizations

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

    In a decisive move to confront Iran’s destabilizing influence in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department on Wednesday officially designated four Iran-backed Iraqi militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The groups—Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali—have long served as armed proxies for Tehran, attacking U.S. and coalition forces and threatening American diplomats.

    All four groups were previously sanctioned by the Treasury Department as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) in 2023, but the new designations escalate U.S. pressure by invoking additional legal penalties, travel bans, and asset freezes.

    “Iran-aligned militia groups have conducted attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting U.S. and Coalition forces, typically using front names or proxy groups to obfuscate their involvement,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in the announcement.

    Iran’s Proxy War Network: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq

    According to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), these four militias form the backbone of a Tehran-controlled umbrella organization known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI). The IRI surged in prominence after Hamas launched its deadly October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

    Since then, the IRI has claimed or been linked to hundreds of rocket, drone, and IED attacks on U.S. and allied forces in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. U.S. officials say the network was responsible for the January 2024 drone attack in Jordan that killed three American service members, marking one of the deadliest assaults on U.S. troops in years.

    “The Trump administration broke the taboo during term one when it proved it could name, shame, and punish Iran-backed militias in Iraq without the country devolving into civil war,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the FDD’s Iran program. “Now in term two the administration is upping the ante continuing a campaign of designations against the agents of influence and terror of Iran in Iraq.”

    Popular Mobilization Forces: A Trojan Horse for Tehran

    The four newly designated groups are also part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—a nominally state-run coalition originally created to fight ISIS, but which has been heavily infiltrated and directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    “Tehran relies on these militias to literally have a state within a state in Iraq,” Ben Taleblu warned. “Sandwiching these and other Iran-backed terror groups between Treasury Department [Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons] SDN listings and State Department [Foreign Terrorist Organizations] FTO listings, as the Trump administration previously did with their patron, the IRGC, in term one is the right approach.”

    Trump’s Proven Record on Targeting Terror Groups

    This new wave of designations continues the Trump administration’s aggressive posture against Iran and its terror proxies. In 2019, the administration made history by designating the IRGC itself as a Foreign Terrorist Organization—the first time the U.S. had ever used the FTO label on part of another nation’s military.

    That same year, U.S. forces conducted a precision strike in Baghdad killing Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of the PMF and leader of the Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, another group long designated as an FTO.

    Other Iran-backed entities targeted by the Trump administration included:

    • Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) — designated in 2020 for killing U.S. and coalition troops.
    • Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN) — sanctioned in 2019 for its role in attacks on American forces.
    • Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) — designated in 2009, but further sanctioned and struck by U.S. airpower under Trump following deadly rocket attacks.

    These actions sent a clear message that attacks on Americans would carry severe consequences—a doctrine many national security analysts argue helped restore deterrence in the region.

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    Here’s Why James Comer Quit Appearing On ‘Fox & Friends’

      By
      admin
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      Looking east towards 6th Avenue along north (48th Street) side of Fox News building on a snowy afternoon. [Photo Credit: Jim.henderson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons]

      The chairman of the House Oversight Committee is done listening to one Fox News co-host’s skepticism towards the ongoing investigation into allegations of impeachable conduct by President Joe Biden.

      Despite receiving praise from Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade, Kentucky Rep. James Comer (R) has stopped appearing on “Fox & Friends” due to Steve Doocy’s constant criticism that Republicans haven’t presented more than circumstantial evidence that Hunter Biden criminally involved his father in his business dealings.

      With the House expected to vote on an impeachment inquiry into President Biden as early as today, Comer told Newsmax’s Eric Bolling that he “quit going on ‘Fox & Friends’ because of Doocy.” Comer added that he had a theory about why Doocy has “been very critical of the investigation.”

      “But I don’t think the average viewer of Fox News agrees with Doocy one bit,” he continued.

      Mediaite reports:

      During an interview with Comer about his House investigation into President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Bolling said, “Forget the Democrats like Dan Goldman who say there’s no evidence. My concern is when the media, especially the conservative media, starts siding with the Bidens. Listen to Steve Doocy over at Fox saying you don’t have evidence.”

      Bolling then played a clip of Doocy saying, “The Republicans at this point don’t have– they have a lot of ledgers and spreadsheets, but they have not connected the dots. They’ve connected the dots, the Department of Justice did on Hunter, but they have not shown where Joe Biden, you know, did anything illegally.”

      Comer responded, “Well I think we’ve done a pretty good job connecting the dots. We’ve traced two checks from influence peddling schemes going directly into Joe Biden’s pocket.”

      When Bolling asked Comer why Doocy had criticized his efforts, the Kentucky Republican went on a tear.

      “He’s had that position from the very beginning. I’ve quit going on ‘Fox & Friends’ because of Doocy, you know? I mean, he’s the one guy on Fox that’s been very critical of the investigation. I have my theory why, and we’ll talk about that at a later point, but at the end of the day, he’s entitled to his opinion, but I don’t think the average viewer of Fox News agrees with Doocy one bit.”

      “Even 40% of the Democrats are concerned that Joe Biden has violated the law with his family’s shady business. The American people expect somebody to investigate the president of the United States for public corruption, and thank God the Oversight Committee is,” Comer said, ending his rebuttal.

      This article was republished with permission from American Liberty News.

      Vance, DHS Appear To Back Deportation of Popular ‘Menswear Guy’

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0

      His days are numbered…

      Vice President Vance and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday appeared to back the deportation of the popular X user known as the “Menswear Guy.”

      In a lengthy post on the social platform Sunday, X user @dieworkwear, also known as “Derek Guy” said he had a history of “being an undocumented immigrant.” 

      “Since I came here without legal documentation, I eventually fell into the category of being an undocumented immigrant. Yet, I’ve been in the United States since I was a baby. My identity and roots are very much based in this country, no different from anyone else,” he said in the post.

      Earlier Monday, a user on X said “the menswear guy just openly admitted on here that he’s here illegally,” to which another user responded, “JD Vance I know you’re reading this and you have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.”

      Vance responded to the post with a GIF of actor Jack Nicholson nodding.

      The DHS account also responded to the first user’s post about Guy’s immigration status, replying with a GIF featuring a character from the “Spy Kids” movie series who is wearing glasses that have a series of lenses on one side that flip out and become smaller as they extend.

      Guy is known for snarkily noting what he sees as mistakes in how people dress on X and often targets right-wing figures. In response to Vance’s post, he posted two photos of the vice president, one in which Vance is wearing a white button-up shirt and another in which he’s wearing a suit.

      Homeland Security Announces ‘Midway Blitz’ ICE Operation in Chicago

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      3

      The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched its latest immigration crackdown on Monday, targeting Chicago.

      “DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck caused by criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol in Illinois,” DHS wrote on the social platform X.

      “This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” DHS added, referring to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D).

      Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents already have been deployed to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and also rolled out operations in Boston over the weekend as part of President Trump’s sweeping anti-illegal immigration agenda, prompting protests across the country this summer.

      The latest effort marks an anticipated ramp-up of the initiatives.

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      Mexico Agrees To Extradite 26 Cartel Leaders To US

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      2
      The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      Mexico reached a deal with the United States to hand over 26 top cartel leaders.

      The cartel figures were scheduled to fly to the U.S. on Tuesday.

      “Today is the latest example of the Trump administration’s historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations,” Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News. “These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to President Sheinbaum and the Mexican government for their collaboration in this matter.”

      Abigael González Valencia, a leader of the “Los Cuinis,” cartel, which is aligned with the notorious Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) and Roberto Salazar, who is accused of participating in the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy, are among those being handed over to the U.S. 

      Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office and Security Ministry confirmed the men were being handed over, saying the deal was made after the U.S. Justice Department said it wouldn’t seek the death penalty.

      President Donald Trump has also reportedly secretly authorized U.S. military force against cartels in Latin America designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations, which would allow U.S. forces to engage with them.

      The move, reported by the New York Times, would give U.S. forces permission to engage the cartels, which traffic drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border,

      “The president is determined to not just dismantle – but completely destroy – [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro’s Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western Hemisphere,” a source close to the White House said, the New York Post reported. 

      The anti-cartel effort is being coordinated among several departments, including the Department of Defense, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Treasury, the source added.

      “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations,” deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement to Fox News.

      It also comes ahead of 25% tariffs on Mexican goods coming into the U.S. imposed by Trump. 

      Mexico also extradited 29 cartel leaders in February, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who prosecutors say was behind the torture and murder of a DEA agent in 1985. 

      “The previous Administration allowed these criminals to run free and commit crimes all over the world. The Trump Administration is declaring these thugs as terrorists, because that is what they are, and demanding justice for the American people,” the White House said at the time. 

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      Obama Presidential Center Breaks Silence Over Controversial Building Plan

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        1
        The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

        The Obama Presidential Center is responding publicly after years of criticism over its controversial design and rising costs, with a senior Obama Foundation official now attempting to justify the project to skeptics.

        Construction on the center began in 2021, but many Chicago residents have remained openly critical of the 225-foot-tall structure rising on the city’s South Side. The gray, largely windowless tower will house President Barack Obama’s presidential library and museum, departing sharply from the traditional design of most presidential libraries.

        Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson said the building’s appearance — including its lack of windows — was intentional.

        “There are not a lot of windows on the building, but that’s intentional, because sunlight is just not a friend to the artwork and the artifacts that are going inside of the building,” Patterson told CBS News during a tour of the site.

        Patterson also defended the building’s symbolism, which critics have widely questioned.

        “The shape of the building was actually meant to mimic four hands coming together to show the importance of our collective action,” she said.

        Despite those explanations, the project has faced sustained backlash from local residents, architects, and fiscal watchdogs. Critics argue the design clashes with Chicago’s architectural heritage and resembles brutalist government structures. Some locals, quoted by the New York Post, have nicknamed the building “The Obamalisk,” a jab at its stark, monolithic appearance.

        The controversy has gone beyond aesthetics. In 2018, a lawsuit accused the City of Chicago of illegally transferring public parkland to the Obama Foundation, raising concerns about favoritism and misuse of public assets. That legal challenge was not resolved until 2022, fueling broader concerns about transparency and governance.

        Protests have also occurred at the construction site, with residents objecting to both the project’s footprint and its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Patterson acknowledged that community resistance forced at least one major design change — the relocation of a parking garage.

        “If the parking garage was here, it could possibly block sunlight coming to their area, their gardens,” Patterson said.

        She noted that the foundation ultimately decided to place the garage underground.

        Fiscal concerns remain a major point of contention. When announced in 2017, the Obama Presidential Center was projected to cost $500 million. As of 2025, that figure has ballooned to approximately $850 million — an increase critics say reflects a pattern of cost overruns associated with Obama-era initiatives. While the foundation insists private donations are covering expenses, skeptics question whether additional public infrastructure and security costs will ultimately fall on taxpayers.

        The center is currently scheduled to open in June 2026.

        The criticism surrounding the Obama library stands in contrast to proposals discussed by President Donald Trump regarding his own future presidential library. Trump has floated plans to locate his library in Florida, potentially near Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing accessibility, private funding, and minimal disruption to public land. Supporters argue such an approach reflects Trump’s broader philosophy of limiting government entanglement and avoiding taxpayer burden.

        As debates over presidential legacies increasingly play out through massive construction projects, the Obama Presidential Center has become a flashpoint

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        Conservative Activist Uses Pepper Spray During Confrontation At DC’s Union Station

          By
          Madeleine Jackson
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          0
          Arrest image via Pixabay

          A tense confrontation at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station went viral this week after conservative activist Cam Higby pepper-sprayed a woman who was caught on video lunging at him and striking him with his MAGA hat. Higby says the incident proves why his “Fearless Tour,” inspired by the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, is needed now more than ever — to confront political hostility head-on while encouraging open and peaceful debate.

          Higby and his team had stopped at Union Station on Wednesday after hosting a debate event at the University of Maryland. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he said they were quietly sitting and talking with nearby protesters when a woman approached and became combative.

          “At some point, she dropped to her knees, intentionally … and she started yelling at us and started touching us,” Higby recalled. “I told her to back up and stop touching me, and she lunged at me and attacked me.”

          Video footage shows the woman shoving Higby back in his chair, seizing his MAGA hat, and hitting him with it before falling into a bush — at which point Higby deployed pepper spray to stop the attack.

          Higby noted he couldn’t tell if the woman was armed because she kept her hands in her pockets for much of the encounter. After being sprayed, she was seen being helped by fellow protesters, who poured water on her eyes and called the police.

          While officers initially appeared unlikely to make an arrest, the situation escalated when U.S. Park Police arrived. According to Higby, the woman turned aggressive again, resisted arrest, and even assaulted officers.

          “At this point now, she’s struggling with federal police, and then they tried to arrest her,” Higby said. “Her dad is yelling at us, ‘why did you spray my daughter,’ as she’s actively fighting with federal police. In my head, I’m thinking, this is why she got sprayed. It took four federal police officers to hold her down, and finally they loaded her into the back of the police car.”

          Police reports listed Higby and his colleague as victims, and the woman is expected to face federal charges.

          Growing Concerns About Violence Toward Conservatives

          The confrontation highlights a troubling trend: the increasing threat of political violence, particularly against conservatives. In recent years, Republican candidates, activists, and everyday voters have reported intimidation and harassment, from attacks on campaign volunteers to threats at events and rallies. Several high-profile incidents — including assaults on GOP canvassers and confrontations on college campuses — have raised alarm about whether conservatives can safely express their views in public. Free speech advocates warn that political polarization, combined with media narratives that vilify right-of-center voices, may be fueling hostility and emboldening bad actors.

          Despite criticism that his style provokes confrontation, Higby emphasized that his team’s approach is about debate, not violence. His group often sets up discussion tables on college campuses with signs such as “The left is violent! Let’s Debate!” — but he pointed out that at Union Station, there was no signage, and the only identifying factor was their MAGA hats.

          “We want people fired up. We want people to be excited to talk about political issues, but what we don’t invite people to do is touch us, and that’s the problem,” Higby said. “I think most of my takes are pretty reasonable. That’s your problem, not my problem — if you have such low impulse control that you can’t stop yourself from using physical violence.”

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          5 Republican State Legislators Switch Endorsements

            By
            Madeleine Jackson
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            1
            Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

            Five Florida legislators flipped their endorsements from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to former President Donald Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. 

            The five who flipped from DeSantis to Trump include State Reps. Jessica Baker, Webster Barnaby, Alina Garcia, Kevin Steele, and State Sen. Debbie Mayfield.

            “As instability grows around the world and economic uncertainty takes root here at home, folks across my district tell me constantly they want to see President Donald Trump back in the White House and Gov. Ron DeSantis back on the job here in Florida, finishing the work he promised to do less than a year ago,” Baker said in a statement to The Messenger, the news outlet that first reported the endorsements. 

            DeSantis’s team said his detractors didn’t mean much in the race and touted his endorsements in Iowa. 

            “Ron DeSantis is dominating the field — including the former president — in supportive state legislative endorsements from across the country,” spokesman Bryan Griffin told The Messenger. “In Iowa, DeSantis holds a historic count of 41 state legislative endorsements, which far surpasses Trump … And, in Florida, DeSantis has nearly 100 state legislators endorsing his run for president. That, too, is a number that significantly outpaces Trump.”

            The seven endorsements follow another DeSantis defector, State Rep. Randy Fine, who endorsed Trump two weeks ago. 

            Trump also has the support of the majority of Florida’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, and Anna Paulina Luna. Fourteen of Florida’s Republican congress members have endorsed the former president, while one has endorsed DeSantis, according to The Messenger. 

            Biden Campaign Discreetly Meets With Top Haley Supporters After Trump Endorsement

              By
              admin
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              4
              The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

              On Wednesday night, just hours after the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations declared her support for Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.

              The Daily Beast has the latest on the underreported pilgrimage and what it means for both sides:

              In the previously unreported meeting, a Biden campaign representative listened to the concerns of top Haley supporters from various states as part of Bidenworld’s ongoing outreach to win over Haley voters.

              “The fact they actually sent someone last night to speak to a small group … I think that’s a good signal that they’re aware there are huge numbers of Haley voters out there,” Robert Schwartz, founder of the Haley Voters For Biden PAC, told The Daily Beast. Schwartz said the meeting was highly encouraging, and likened it to other listening sessions the Biden campaign has done with the pro-Palestinian uncommitted vote.

              The Biden campaign did not immediately return a request for comment on the meeting.

              Ever since the GOP primary wrapped up, the Biden team has identified Haley voters as a key persuasion target with a unique set of key issues, particularly around Trump’s attacks on democracy and the general notion of restoring decency to the office. The Biden campaign has continued trying to refine their definition of a persuadable Haley voter over the past few months, focusing on paid media, Haley’s margins in key battleground precincts from the primary, and simply listening to their concerns.

              Haley’s shift towards Trump comes after her strong opposition to him during her own presidential bid.

              When Haley suspended her presidential campaign over two months ago, she did not endorse Trump. The decision to withhold support appeared to be a strategic move to establish her as a principled opponent within the party, hoping to attract the 20% of Republicans who backed her and others dissatisfied with Trump. Notably, Haley stated in yesterday’s remarks that although she intends to vote for Trump, he must do more to court her supporters. (RELATED: Trump Denies Considering Nikki Haley For Vice President)

              Wednesday’s announcement sparked considerable speculation. Some observers hypothesized that she hopes to secure a significant role in a future Trump administration. Another possibility is that Haley is laying the groundwork for a future White House bid. Refusing to support Trump would alienate the vast majority of the GOP base, making it difficult for her to gain traction in a future primary campaign – especially if he loses.

              Despite Trump securing the necessary delegates to be the Republican nominee, many Never Trump voters have continued casting their ballots for Haley. (RELATED: Haley’s Pennsylvania Primary Showing Could Spell Trouble For Trump)

              Polls indicate that while some Never Trump voters remain resolute in their opposition, many are willing to support Trump in November, driven by more pragmatic considerations, such as the economy or judicial nominees.

              The extent to which they rally behind the former president could make all the difference in the election’s outcome. Voter apathy remains a concern for both sides in closely contested states.

              Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

              Incensed Mika Brzezinski Slams Trump – Says He Endangers Women’s Lives

              By
              Patrick Houck
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              5
              US Department of Labor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

              MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski delivered a strong rebuke against former President Donald Trump during Thursday’s broadcast, accusing him of endangering women’s health and expressing frustration with those who question recent reports critical of Trump.

              Brzezinski argued that Trump’s actions have serious implications for women, specifically regarding reproductive health. “He is putting our reproductive health at risk, and some women have already died because of this,” Brzezinski stated, emphasizing the potential dangers she believes his policies pose. “I’m talking about us women. He’s killing us. He is making us afraid to have babies.”

              Her comments also extended to those who question the veracity of recent reporting, including a so-called “October surprise” from The Atlantic that criticize Trump. “These headlines and very good reporting, by the way, shouldn’t be questioned by idiots about what Trump has said about Hitler. That’s incredibly important to know,” she added.

              Of course, Brzezinski did not mention that Trump was the first U.S. president to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. On Dec. 6, 2017, he announced this recognition, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy. Previous presidents had avoided this move, keeping the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to placate Palestinian opposition.

              Critics argue that Brzezinski’s diatribe implies Democrats are losing and that their only option now is to scare the public into voting for Kamala Harris.

              READ NEXT: Trump Assassination Attempt 911 Calls Released

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