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Trump Lifts Jones Act Shipping Rule To Lower Oil Costs Amid Iran War

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump has issued a 60-day waiver of the century-old Jones Act, allowing foreign ships to transport oil and other resources between U.S. ports, a White House official told FOX Business on Wednesday.

The Jones Act requires that cargo shipped between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned vessels crewed primarily by U.S. citizens. The temporary waiver suspends those requirements to ease short-term supply disruptions.

“President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is another step to mitigate disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement posted on X. “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow more freely to U.S. ports.”

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the move as a short-term fix tied to ongoing military operations, saying it would help “vital resources…flow freely” during the disruption.

But the backlash was immediate.

Shipping industry groups warn the waiver could sideline U.S. workers under the guise of emergency policy. And despite the political urgency, they say consumers shouldn’t expect relief at the pump — the estimated impact on gas prices is basically negligible.

At the same time, frustration is building inside the administration over allies who are largely staying out of efforts to secure the Strait.

Trump made that frustration public, floating the idea that maybe those countries should handle the problem themselves.

“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ (sic) That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!” Trump wrote.

Trump Juror Dismissed After Prior Criminal Record Comes To Light

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    Arrest image via Pixabay

    The path to finding an impartial jury in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York has faced a number of setbacks throughout the week.

    On Thursday, two jurors were dismissed after being sworn in on Tuesday, including one who had previously been arrested for tearing down Right-leaning political posters.

    Judge Juan Merchan excused juror #4 after a prosecutor from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said the man had been arrested for ripping down “political posters that were on the Right,” Fox News reported. Juror #4’s dismissal came just after another juror — juror #2 — was excused by Merchan following her admission that she could no longer be impartial.

    “I definitely have concerns. I don’t think I can be fair,” she said, adding that “outside influence” would “interfere” with her judgment.

    The dismissals of jurors #4 and #2 brought the total of those seated down to five, but shortly after they were let go, more jurors were sworn in, bringing the total to 12, according to the New York Post.

    Five more jurors must be selected as alternates before the trial can move forward. Thursday marks the third day of the hush-money trial, which is the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president. Jury selection will continue on Friday and with hopes that opening statements will kick off at the beginning of next week.

    Dozens of prospective jurors were dismissed on Monday after they said it would be difficult for them to remain impartial throughout the trial.

    Trump is being charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to make alleged hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

    Democrat Nightmare Kari Lake is a Triple Threat

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      Kari Lake speaking with supporters at a "Stand for Freedom" rally at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. [Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons]

      ANALYSIS – The polls are showing a national GOP rally which again points to a potential ‘Red Tsunami’ in November. 

      This means that the GOP will almost certainly be retaking control of the House, and may even narrowly win back the Senate, effectively making Joe Biden even more of a ‘lame duck’ than he already is.

      But as encouraging and critical as this is, what is frightening Democrats the most may be the governor’s race in Arizona.

      And they should be afraid. Very afraid.

      There, ‘ultra MAGA’ Kari Lake is neck-and-neck in the polls for Governor against Democrat Katie Hobbs.

      Many experts have concluded that almost all pollsters undercount conservative Republican voters, often because they have simply ‘opted out’ of the process until the election.

      So, when the polls show races are close, this likely means the Republicans are ahead.

      And this means Kari Lake, a smooth and charismatic former local TV news host, and novice politician backed strongly by Donald Trump, could very well win the state’s gubernatorial race.

      As Dems see it, this means that the 53-year-old Lake, who left journalism and the media in 2021, and has questioned the 2020 election results, could ‘threaten Arizona’s 2024 election processes.’

      They also see her as a potential Trump vice presidential candidate or even a post-Trump presidential candidate.

      As Axios reports, key Democrat strategists are clearly panicked by Lake:

      David Plouffe, the architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, told Axios that Lake looks like a “plausible presidential candidate.”

      David Axelrod, another key former Obama adviser, offered this assessment of Lake’s 20+ years in Arizona local TV before her entrance last year into politics: “If you get a candidate who has the performance skills of a major-market local TV anchor and the philosophy and thinking of Steve Bannon, that’s a potent and dangerous combination. … Look at Italy.”

      …Former senior Hillary Clinton adviser Karen Finney said Lake represents “a more polished version” of MAGA.

      Meanwhile, Lake isn’t just a MAGA candidate, she has been embraced by the GOP establishment, with all the powerful benefits that this brings. 

      Axios notes that:

      • Doug Ducey, Arizona’s outgoing GOP governor and chair of the Republican Governors Association, opposed Lake in her primary. But now, he’s backing her with great energy.
      • Lake has also charmed Arizona GOP donors, including members of the state’s political establishment…
      • In private meetings and on calls with donors, RGA officials have made clear they are prepared to spend aggressively to get Lake across the finish line. “Voters have a clear choice and we’re confident they’ll make Kari Lake their next governor…”

      Bottom line:If Lake wins the governorship of Arizona, expect her to be the next big rising MAGA star. She may also be Trump’s 2024 VP, and/or even a top contender for 2028 GOP presidential candidate.

      “Ultra MAGA” Kari Lake may be the GOP woman to watch in November. 

      Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

      GOP Watches Closely As MTG’s Former District Shows Signs Of Trouble

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      A razor-thin House majority raises the stakes…

      Republicans are reportedly growing uneasy in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, where a chaotic special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has created an unexpected opening for Democrats in what has long been considered safe GOP territory.

      The anxiety comes as Republicans hold the U.S. House by just one vote, following the swearing-in of Democrat Christian Menefee earlier this week after his special election win in Texas. With margins this tight, even unlikely threats are being taken seriously. (RELATED: Another House Republican Exits As Loudermilk Declines Reelection Bid)

      A Chaotic Special Election With No Primary

      The March 10 special election features 21 candidates — including 16 Republicans, three Democrats, an independent, and a Libertarian — with no party primary to narrow the field. Because no candidate is expected to secure a majority, the race is widely expected to advance to an April 7 runoff between the top two finishers.

      Why Republicans Are Worried

      With GOP voters splintered among so many candidates, party activists fear Democrats could consolidate their vote and slip into a runoff slot — or, in a nightmare scenario, win outright.

      That would be a political shock in a district Donald Trump carried by a wide margin and where Greene previously won about 63% of the vote. (RELATED: Utah Republicans Sue To Block New House Districts)

      Democrats Rally Around a Single Candidate

      Democrats are coalescing behind retired Army Brig. Gen. Shawn Harris, who has mounted a visible campaign complete with a staffed local headquarters and an experienced political operation. His messaging has focused on affordability and health care costs, aimed at peeling off moderates and independents.

      Trump Moves to Stabilize the Race

      The contest shifted Wednesday night when President Donald Trump issued a “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Republican Clay Fuller, a move widely viewed as an effort to consolidate MAGA voters and narrow the GOP field.

      “Clay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

      A Safe Seat — But Not a Comfortable One

      Republican strategists say Trump’s endorsement should help restore order, but some privately warn that the unusual election format, combined with voter fatigue and GOP infighting, has made the race more fragile than expected.

      Most observers still view a Democratic upset as unlikely — but even a forced runoff would drain resources and attention as a challenging midterm cycle heats up.

      MTG’s Eyes Next Steps

      While Greene has framed her resignation from Congress as a rejection of Washington politics, speculation has continued to swirl within conservative circles that she may be positioning herself for a future national run. Allies and critics alike have noted that her recent media appearances, broader ideological critiques, and willingness to challenge Trump directly resemble the early stages of a potential presidential or third-party campaign.

      Greene has not formally announced any plans to run for president, but she has also declined to rule it out — fueling rumors that her break with Trump may be less about stepping away from politics and more about redefining the post-Trump conservative movement on her own terms.

      According to a November report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trump’s footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the “real MAGA” faction — the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 — and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values. (RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run)

      One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOP’s base remains loyal to Trump’s populist agenda.

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      Leonard Leo Pledges $1 Billion To Combat ‘Liberal Dominance’ In Corporate America, Media

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      Image via Pixabay free images

      Leonard Leo, a billionaire activist often credited as the architect of the conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court, has announced a $1 billion investment aimed at countering what he calls “liberal dominance” in corporate America, the media and entertainment sectors.

      In a rare interview with the Financial Times, Leo detailed his plans through his nonprofit group, the Marble Freedom Trust, which will focus its resources on the private sector. “We need to crush liberal dominance where it’s most insidious,” Leo said, explaining that the initiative will build talent and capital pipelines in industries where he believes left-wing extremism is most pervasive.

      Leo also emphasized targeting companies and financial institutions that he claims are influenced by “woke” ideology. “Expect us to increase support for organizations that call out companies and financial institutions that bend to the woke mind virus spread by regulators and NGOs,” he said, vowing that these entities would face consequences for prioritizing “extreme left-wing ideology” over consumers:

      Leo has spent more than two decades at the influential Federalist Society, guiding conservative judges into the federal courts and the Supreme Court itself. In 2018, conservative justice Clarence Thomas joked that Leo was the third most important person in the world.

      Leo’s efforts culminated under Trump’s presidency, when three Federalist Society-backed judges were appointed to give conservatives on the Supreme Court a 6-3 supermajority, and profound influence over US law. The court has since then ruled to overturn the right to an abortion, among other long-sought rightwing causes.

      In 2020, after Trump lost the election, Leo stepped back from running the daily operations of the Federalist Society, while remaining its co-chair.

      The following year, Leo founded Marble, with a $1.6bn donation from electronic device manufacturing mogul Barre Seid, to be a counterweight to what he said was “dark money” of the left. He spent about $600mn in its first three years, according to public financial disclosures.

      During the interview, Leo identified several potential targets for his campaign, including banks, China-friendly corporations and companies that have institutionalized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) frameworks, as well as those adhering to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing principles.

      He added that his goal is to find “very leveraged, impactful ways of reintroducing limited constitutional government and a civil society premised on freedom, personal responsibility and the virtues of Western civilization.”

      Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

      Pope Leo Sends Bold Response After Trump Ramps Up Attacks Against The Pontiff

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        President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

        Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday against criticism from President Donald Trump, framing his remarks on peace as rooted in religious teaching rather than politics.

        Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria, the pope dismissed the notion that his message should be interpreted as a political challenge to the White House.

        “I have no fear of the Trump administration,” the pope said.

        “The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he added.

        The exchange follows a sharp escalation from Trump, who on Sunday used his Truth Social platform to attack the pope’s positions on global security, crime, and diplomacy. In a lengthy post, Trump accused Leo of undermining strong foreign policy and aligning with left-wing priorities.

        “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote.

        “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church,” he continued.

        Trump later expanded on those criticisms while speaking to reporters on the tarmac after arriving on Air Force One, suggesting the pope’s rhetoric was dangerously out of step with global threats.

        “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “We don’t want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I don’t like it.”

        “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” he added. “He’s a man that doesn’t think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world.”

        Trump also made the claim that his presidency played a role in Leo’s rise, pointing to the pope’s American background.

        “I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA,” Trump wrote. “He gets it, and Leo doesn’t.”

        “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump said.

        Responding Monday, Leo declined to engage directly in a political back-and-forth but made clear he viewed Trump’s criticisms as a misunderstanding of the church’s mission.

        “The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said, speaking in English. “I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”

        He also took a subtle swipe at Trump’s preferred platform, adding, “it’s ironic, the name of the site itself; say no more,” while insisting, “I will not enter into debate.”

        The pope emphasized that his comments on war, nuclear risk, and international cooperation are grounded in longstanding church teaching, not support for any government or adversary.

        “To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo said. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”

        “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems,” he added.

        Framing his position as a moral imperative rather than a geopolitical stance, Leo pointed to the human cost of ongoing conflicts.

        “Too many people are suffering in the world today,” he said. “Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”

        Leo also rejected Trump’s suggestion that his comments were aligned with Iran or any specific government.

        “Leo claimed he was speaking for the church and not himself or Iran.”

        The clash highlights a broader divide between the Vatican’s emphasis on diplomacy and moral authority and Trump’s more confrontational approach to foreign policy and domestic security—a divide now playing out publicly between two of the world’s most prominent figures.

        Vice President Vance downplayed concerns about President Trump’s ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV late Monday.

        Vance, who is promoting his upcoming book about his conversion to Catholicism, dismissed the backlash over the exchange in an interview with Fox News.

        “I don’t think that it’s particularly newsworthy, but I certainly think that in some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what’s going on in the Catholic Church and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” he said.

        GOP Lawmaker Proposes Renaming Greenland ‘Red, White, and Blueland’

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          Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to rename Greenland this week to Red, White and Blueland.

          The legislation, called the “Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025,” directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to oversee the implementation of the name change and to ensure official documentation and maps refer to Greenland by its updated name.

          The legislation also authorizes Trump to enter into negotiations with Denmark “to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland.”

          “America is back and will soon be bigger than ever with the addition of Red, White, and Blueland,” Carter said in a statement Tuesday, after introducing the legislation.

          “President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal,” he added.

          Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a semi-autonomous country that is currently under Denmark’s control. He has argued that the U.S. taking over the Arctic island is necessary for national security purposes.

          Greenland and Denmark have emphatically resisted Trump’s push to acquire the country.

          “We don’t want to be Danes,” Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede previously said on Fox News. “We don’t even want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlanders.”

          Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also insisted Greenland is not for sale and that it is up to Greenland to make its decision about its independence. 

          Trump Awards Medal of Honor to Fallen Army Ranger During Personal Phone Call

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          President Donald Trump personally called the family of Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis to inform them that their son would be awarded the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration.

          The emotional phone call, captured on video, shows Ollis’ father, Robert, answering the call on speakerphone, visibly stunned as the president delivers the news.

          “We’re very nervous,” Robert Ollis says at the start of the call.

          “You should be, because your son is going to get the highest honor that you can have,” President Trump replied. “There is no higher honor than the Congressional Medal of Honor.”

          Robert’s disbelief quickly turned to joy, his mouth hanging open before breaking into a wide smile as the weight of the moment set in.

          “He’s looking down at you right now,” Trump told the family. “He’s saying, ‘Well, my mom and dad are handling this pretty well.’”

          “Thank you so much, Mr. President. You have no idea the happiness we have,” Robert responded.

          Ollis’ mother, Linda, expressed gratitude not only for the recognition, but for the years-long effort it took to make it happen.

          “Thank you for facilitating this! This is so wonderful,” she said, explaining that the family had advocated for years, reaching out to countless officials and organizations to ensure their son’s heroism was properly recognized.

          President Trump acknowledged that persistence, noting that grassroots advocacy—often led by families and veterans—is essential to ensuring acts of valor are not forgotten.

          “Otherwise, how are we going to know, right?” Trump said. “People don’t know. So I think that’s fantastic.”

          The decision comes after sustained advocacy from veterans’ groups, elected officials, and the Staten Island community, all of whom argued that Ollis’ actions clearly met the standard for the Medal of Honor.

          Staff Sgt. Ollis, a U.S. Army Ranger from Staten Island, was killed in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013. During a suicide bombing, the 24-year-old soldier threw himself over a Polish army officer, sacrificing his life to save that of an allied serviceman—an act emblematic of the selflessness and courage that define America’s warriors.

          The Medal of Honor is awarded for acts that go far beyond the call of duty, recognizing “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,” according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. While criteria have evolved, the standard has always reflected extraordinary courage. The current guidelines were formalized during the Vietnam War in 1963.

          As the call continued, President Trump reflected candidly on the magnitude of Ollis’ sacrifice.

          “I read what your son did, and it’s—I wouldn’t do it, Linda,” Trump said.

          “I’m not brave enough either,” Linda replied softly.

          “Neither am I,” Robert added. “Even though I’m a Vietnam vet, I still wouldn’t have done it.”

          Trump urged the family to come together and celebrate their son’s legacy, telling them that Michael Ollis would be proud of them.

          Near the end of the call, a woman could be heard excitedly shouting in the background: “Yes, we’re going to the White House, we love you, we’re praying for you every day. Yes, let’s do this MAGA.”

          Robert identified the woman as his daughter, gently signaling for her to calm down.

          “Hey Robert, bring them all down,” Trump said, inviting the family to the White House before ending the call.

          Watch the heartwarming moment below:

          Vance Responds To Trump Cabinet Speculation

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            On Friday, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance revealed Donald Trump would more than likely appoint a Democrat to his Cabinet if he’s elected to the White House this November.

            “We actually got a lot of great Democratic support, we just got RFK [Jr.], of course, Tulsi Gabbard, who endorsed the president in just the last couple of days,” Vance said Friday during an interview on “Fox and Friends,” referring to recent endorsements from Kennedy and Gabbard, the former House member from Hawaii who left the Democratic Party in 2022. 

            Vance’s comments came shortly after Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, said during her first sit-down interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Thursday that she would look to appoint a Republican to a Cabinet position if she wins the election.

            “I think it’s important to have people at the table — when some of the most important decisions are being made — that have different views, different experiences,” Harris said, while not naming a specific individual. “And I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who was a Republican.”

            Vance, who Trump tapped to be his running mate in mid-July, argued Trump appeals to a variety of voters, even if they do not agree on all of his policy proposals.

            “If you look at the Trump movement in 2024, it’s actually the common sense big tent movement in American politics,” Vance said. “We don’t agree on everything. Of course, not everybody who votes for Donald Trump is going to agree with every policy issue, but we agree on the basics.”  

            “We agree that American energy prices should be lower. We agree that we should be making more of our own stuff in the United States of America,” he continued. “We agree that we should close down the border and stop the flow of illegal drugs and trafficking into our country. It’s just the basic common sense stuff.” 

            Trump ‘Seriously Considering’ Diddy Pardon: Report

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            The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

            President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a pardon of Sean “Diddy” Combs after he was found guilty of prostitution charges earlier this month.

            A jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. More importantly, he was found not guilty of the most serious charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking. Due to the fact that he likely avoided a lengthy prison sentence, the verdict was considered a major win for the defense.

            Now, Combs’ team reportedly wants the president to do away with those lesser charges, as well. According to a Tuesday report from Deadline, sources from within the administration said Trump has given serious thought to pardoning the music mogul.

            The report continued:

            Nearly two months after Trump publicly entertained the notion of a Diddy pardon in an Oval Office gaggle, a comprehensive get out of jail card for Combs is being “seriously considered,” an administration source tells Deadline.

            Additionally, as several associates of the much-accused and currently incarcerated “All About the Benjamins” performer have been pitching the White House, other insiders confirm the topic has leveled up from “just another Trump weave to an actionable event” since Combs was found partially guilty in the his NYC sex-trafficking trial earlier this month. Of course, as a number of parties attest, this being the roller coaster of Trumpworld, any decision on a Combs pardon is in flux until POTUS actually puts his signature on paper.

            As the report stated, the idea of Trump pardoning Combs is not a new one. Back in May, fellow music executive Suge Knight predicted that the president would lend Combs a hand in the event that he was convicted.