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    Federal Judge Orders Limited DOGE Access To Treasury Payment System

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    10
    UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    On Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from obtaining access to certain Treasury Department payment records.

    Treasury officials “will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained within the [Treasury] Bureau of Fiscal Service,” Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote in a temporary restraining order.

    That program handles an estimated 90% of federal payments. 

    The order comes after the Justice Department on Wednesday agreed in a proposed court order to limit access to the sensitive records to only two “special government employees” within DOGE, who will have read-only permission. Kollar-Kotelly approved the motion in a brief order Thursday.

    Several government employee unions brought suit over who could access the material as part of a government-wide evaluation of programs and systems, led by DOGE. 

    dcd-afra-v-bessentDownload

    The lawsuit claimed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent allowed improper access to Elon Musk’s team, potentially exposing personal financial information to unauthorized individuals. 

    Under the order, only Musk ally Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group, and Marko Elez – an engineer and former Musk company employee — will continue to have access to Treasury’s Fiscal Service, but they will not be allowed to make any changes to the program. 

    Democrat Presidential Challenger Signals He Would Accept Trump Cabinet Bid

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) signaled Thursday that he’d be willing to serve under President-elect Trump when he returns to the White House.

    “If there is a job that could help the country and that my skillset would be useful for. Anybody should consider that,” Phillips told NewsNation’s “On Balance.” 

    “And if we come to a point where no Democrat will want to serve in a Republican administration, and conversely, we are limiting 50 percent of the universe of potential appointees and that’s what I am trying to overcome,” he added. 

    Phillips, mounted a long shot bid against President Biden before dropping out in March.

    The Minnesota Democrat consistently warned his party about not having a competitive primary process and urged both parties to try to better understand the needs of the American people. 

    Phillips said last week that Trump has “become a significant historical figure in American politics” and that he built a movement “that, frankly, snuck up on most Democrats.” 

    “I am not a big fan of the President himself, but I understand the MAGA movement,” Phillips said Thursday. “I understand why people are angry. I understand why this federal government needs to be reformed. But then do it with people with competency and integrity to do it.” 

    Trump has announced a a number of candidates for his Cabinet and other administration posts since being declared the winner of the presidential race, including picking two ex-Democrats, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be his director of national intelligence and head the Department of Health and Human Services

    SCOTUS Responds To Mark Meadows’ Bid To Move Election Subversion Case To Federal Court

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    5
    Duncan Lock, Dflock, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    In a significant setback for former Trump administration Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, the Supreme Court has denied his request to transfer his election subversion case from Georgia state court to federal court. Tuesday’s ruling means Meadows will face charges in Fulton County, where the case was brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Since presidential pardons apply only to federal offenses, Meadows is now ineligible for a potential pardon, should one ever be considered.

    As The Hill reports:

    Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) charged Meadows, President-elect Trump and more than a dozen others over accusations they unlawfully attempted to overturn President Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia.

    Refusing to hear Meadows’s bid to move courts marks a win for Willis, who has attempted to keep the defendants together for a singular trial in state court.

    Trump’s election as president Tuesday has complicated that goal, however. His attorneys are expected to argue the Constitution prohibits Trump’s charges from moving forward while he is in the White House.

    It remains unclear how any pause would impact the Trump allies charged alongside him. The trial proceedings already are on indefinite pause amid an appeal by some defendants seeking to remove Willis over her once-romantic relationship with a top prosecutor on the case who has since stepped aside.

    What Does This Mean for Meadows?

    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    With this decision, Meadows has exhausted his options for moving the case to federal court. The implications are significant:

    -Ineligibility for Presidential Pardon: Since his case remains in state court, a federal pardon would not apply.

    – Advertisement –

    -Focus on State Jurisdiction: The case will proceed under Georgia’s judicial system, potentially influencing how other co-defendants approach their defense strategies.

    What’s Next in the Georgia Election Case?

    Meadows isn’t alone in seeking relief from the legal proceedings. Other co-defendants, also charged with alleged election interference, are challenging District Attorney Willis’ authority in the case. A critical hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5 in the Georgia Court of Appeals, where arguments will be heard regarding the removal of Willis as the lead prosecutor.

    Trump’s victory will likely put the Georgia election interference case against him on hold, at least until he leaves office. However, attorneys for his co-defendants told Law360 that this is unlikely to apply to their clients.

    Key Points to Watch:

    -Outcome of Dec. 5 Hearing: If Willis is removed, it could reshape the prosecutorial strategy and impact case proceedings for Meadows and others.

    -Potential Legal Precedents: The rulings in this case could set important precedents for how state-level cases involving federal officials are handled in the future.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

    Supreme Court Greenlights Trump NIH Cuts Targeting DEI, COVID Research

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    0

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with nearly $800 million in cuts to National Institutes of Health grants.

    The decision allows the administration to withhold funds that had been frozen by a lower court — grants largely tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as studies focused on minority health, LGBTQ+ issues, vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19, and similar public health topics.

    A federal trial court in Massachusetts had previously ruled in June that many of the cuts were “arbitrary and discriminatory,” ordering the temporary restoration of those grants.

    But the Supreme Court, acting through its emergency — or so-called “shadow” — docket, overrode that ruling in a narrow 5–4 decision.

    Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal bloc in dissent. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a sharply worded dissent of her own, criticizing the court’s reliance on the emergency process and the brevity of the majority’s explanation.

    As SCOTUSBlog reports, the court — also by a 5–4 margin — left in place another part of the lower court’s ruling affecting internal NIH guidance documents outlining the agency’s policy priorities:

    Justice Amy Coney Barrett provided the key vote on each issue. She joined Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh in voting to allow NIH to terminate the grants, but she joined Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson in voting to leave the lower court’s ruling on the guidance documents in place.

    Jackson had sharp words for her colleagues, describing the ruling as “Calvinball jurisprudence” – a reference to the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon – “with a twist. Calvinball has only one rule: There are no fixed rules. We seem to have two: that one, and this Administration always wins.”

    NIH ended hundreds of grants it linked to DEI-related studies in response to a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump after his inauguration in January. The first order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” instructed the director of the Office of Management and Budget, assisted by the attorney general and the director of the Office of Personnel Management, to work to end “discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI” programs in the federal government. It was followed by two other executive orders, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”

    Two separate groups of plaintiffs went to federal court in Massachusetts to challenge the termination of the grants. One group is made up of 16 states whose public universities receive funding from NIH, while the other consists of the American Public Health Association, individual researchers, a union, and a reproductive health advocacy group. They contended that the termination of the grants violated both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act, the federal law governing administrative agencies.

    The administration argues the research in question lacks scientific rigor and was driven more by ideology than merit. Officials also say the cuts are consistent with their broader push to eliminate DEI-related spending across federal agencies.

    Democrat-led states and advocacy groups claim the funding loss could have “incalculable” consequences for underserved communities.

    This case fits a broader pattern: The court has recently upheld rollbacks on DEI-based spending in areas like teacher training. Critics say the use of the emergency docket limits public transparency and bypasses full hearings. Supporters say it’s a legitimate tool to keep activist courts in check.

    Legal challenges are still moving through the lower courts.

    In the meantime, universities, NIH personnel, and left-leaning advocacy groups are mobilizing in protest, warning of long-term damage to public health research and institutional equity efforts.

    READ NEXT: Police Swarm Former Trump Ally’s Mansion

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    Congress Votes To Make Trump Gulf Of America Name Change Permanent

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    By Executive Office of the President of the United States - https://x.com/POTUS/status/1888706337699238047/photo/1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159501092

    The House of Representatives voted to make President Donald Trump’s name change for the Gulf of America permanent on Friday morning. 

    The legislation was led by staunch Trump ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

    “This is such an important thing to do for the American people. The American people deserve pride in their country, and they deserve pride in the waters that we own, that we protect with our military and our Coast Guard and all of the businesses that prosper along these waters,” Greene said during debate on the bill.

    Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, panned the legislation as a waste of time.

    “Republicans think this juvenile legislation is the best use of this House’s time. This is the only work we’re doing today, folks,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said in his rebuttal to Greene.

    Earlier this week, Fox News Digital was told that several GOP lawmakers privately expressed frustration at what they saw as a largely symbolic bill taking up their time instead of more meaningful legislation to move Trump’s agenda along.

    “I’ve heard criticisms from all corners of the conference. Conservatives to pragmatic ones,” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “It seems sophomoric. The United States is bigger and better than this.”

    One conservative GOP lawmaker vented to Fox News Digital, “125 other [executive orders], this is the one we pick.”

    Greene hit back at the detractors, however, in response to Fox News Digital’s report.

    “Some of my Republican colleagues don’t want to vote for my Gulf of America Act, which is one of President Trump’s favorite executive orders. They say they would rather vote on ‘more serious EOs.’ Boys are you ready to vote to criminalize sex changes on kids?? Because I have that bill on that EO too,” she wrote on X.

    Canada Threatens To Retaliate Against U.S. If Trump Admin. Imposes Sweeping Tariff

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6

    The premier of a critical region in Canada is threatening to cut off energy and critical oil exports to the U.S. if President-elect Donald Trump implements a tariff on all Canadian products. 

    Trump recently threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports in an effort to stop the flow of illegal immigration and drugs coming into the U.S.

    Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, said that he would consider retaliatory measures against the U.S. if the incoming president acted on his promise.

    “We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy – going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin,” Ford, who represents a region known for its crude oil production, told reporters. 

    The premier added that other officials in the country are reportedly identifying ways they can hurt U.S. exports if Trump enacts a tariff.

    “Some premiers proactively identified products that their provinces produce and export to the United States and which the U.S. relies on, and which should be considered as part of the Canadian response. This included some critical minerals and metals,” Ford said.

    “Canadians get hurt, but I can assure you one thing: the Americans are going to feel the pain as well, and isn’t that unfortunate?” Ford said.

    Trump has responded to the threats, saying “that’s okay if he does that.”

    “The United States is subsidizing Canada, and we shouldn’t have to do that,” Trump told CNBC at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. “And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t have to subsidize a country.”

    However, a Canadian political science professor noted Ford might not be able to unilaterally cut off the province’s energy supply to the U.S.

    “I do not believe Ontario could unilaterally stop electricity exports to the U.S. without Ottawa’s approval. Similarly, Michigan cannot unilaterally stop the flow of western Canadian natural gas to eastern Canada without Washington’s approval,” University of Toronto political science Professor Nelson Wiseman told Now Toronto in response to Ford’s retaliatory threat.

    Report: Trump Considering Cabinet Member To Replace Powell At The Federal Reserve

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    By Federalreserve - https://www.flickr.com/photos/federalreserve/54004811346/, Public Domain,

    President Trump is reportedly mulling implementing some major leadership changes at the Federal Reserve.

    Reports indicate President Trump is considering a member of his Cabinet to succeed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

    Powell has less than a year remaining in his term as Fed chair, which is due to expire in May 2026. President Donald Trump, who nominated Powell to the role in 2017, has signaled he won’t nominate the chair for another term and recently gave Powell the derisive nickname of “Mr. Too Late” amid his efforts to lobby the Fed to cut interest rates.

    Trump has suggested he could name Powell’s successor in the near future, well in advance of the end of Powell’s term as chair, and has reportedly developed a short list of contenders in mind.

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is one of the leading contenders for the role of Fed chair, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter, though the outlet noted the administration hasn’t started formal interviews.

    Bloomberg reported that former Fed official Kevin Warsh, who Trump considered for the treasury secretary role before opting to nominate Bessent, is also on the short list for the Fed chair role.

    Bessent testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday and was asked about reports linking him to the Fed chair role and whether he would rather have that role or remain as the Treasury secretary.

    The secretary said that his current role is “the best job” in the nation’s capital and that while he is “happy to do what President Trump wants me to do,” he “would like to stay in my seat through 2029” to advance the administration’s agenda until the end of the president’s term.

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    Sneak Peek: Trump’s Executive Orders Planned For Day One

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    It’s going to be a busy day!

    President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are scheduled to be sworn in shortly before noon and then will hit the ground running.

    Trump is planning to enact nearly 200 wide-ranging executive actions after his inauguration on Monday.

    Among the actions Trump is set to take are declaring a national emergency at the southern border to mobilize the military – and fast-track construction of his border wall – ending birthright citizenship, pausing refugee resettlement programs and designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

    A senior administration official, authorized to discuss the plans in an exclusive briefing with Fox News Digital, described the effort as a “massive, record-setting” and “unmatched first wave” of policy directives that will cover immigration, energy, and government reform that rolls back Biden-era policies.

    The official told Fox News Digital that the theme of the push was “promises made, promises kept” going on to describe the effort as “a historic series of executive orders and actions that will fundamentally reform the American government.”

    Here’s a look at just 31 of those executive actions Trump plans to take significant enough to be mentioned in the brief:

    1. End “Catch and Release” – Trump will put an end to the release of undocumented immigrants into the U.S. while they await court hearings.

    2. Pause all offshore wind leases – Trump will halt offshore wind energy projects.

    3. Terminate the electric vehicle mandate – Trump plans to scrap federal mandates requiring automakers to shift production toward electric vehicles.

    4. Abolish the Green New Deal – The administration will repeal policies associated with the Green New Deal, aiming to remove restrictions on traditional energy industries.

    5. Withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord – Trump will take immediate steps to pull the U.S. out of the international climate agreement.

    6. Declare a national border emergency – Trump will take executive action to declare the situation at the southern border a national emergency.

    7. Direct military support to secure the southern border – The Department of Homeland Security and the military will collaborate to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

    8. Establish a national priority to eliminate all criminal cartels – The administration will make fighting cartel activity on U.S. soil a key aim.

    9. Close the border to all illegal aliens via proclamation – A presidential proclamation will effectively shut the border to illegal crossings.

    10. Create homeland security task forces – Task forces made up of FBI, ICE, and CEA officers will be established to combat criminal cartels.

    11. Designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations – This designation will “unlock new authorities” to combat cartels, according to the administration.

    12. Reinstate “Remain in Mexico” – The Trump administration will bring back the policy requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed.

    13. Construct new border wall sections – Trump will direct the military to expand the border wall infrastructure.

    14. Grant emergency authorities to suspend illegal entry – Apprehended individuals will be “swiftly returned to their countries of origin.”

    15. “Fully unleash” Alaskan energy – Trump’s energy plan will tap into Alaska’s natural resources to boost national security.

    16. Terminate Biden-era energy policies – The administration aims to repeal policies that have “constrained U.S. energy supply.”

    17. Reform the federal workforce – Trump will reestablish presidential control over career federal employees.

    18. Strengthen presidential control over senior officials – New executive orders will clarify the president’s authority over high-ranking federal employees.

    19. Implement a new merit-based hiring review – Federal hiring will be restructured to prioritize merit over other factors.

    20. Return federal workers to in-person work – Remote work policies established during the pandemic will be rolled back.

    21. End federal government “weaponization” – Trump aims to stop what he calls the “abusive behavior” of federal agencies.

    22. Restore freedom of speech – Executive action will be taken to “end federal censorship.”

    23. Suspend security clearances of officials involved in Hunter Biden laptop controversy – The security clearances of 51 officials who “lied” about the laptop will be revoked.

    24. Establish biological sex definitions – The administration will issue an order defining biological sex in federal policies.

    25. Rename the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” – Trump will sign an order changing the name of the large body of water bordering the southern U.S.

    26. End all DEI programs in federal government – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs will be eliminated across federal agencies.

    27. Establish a hiring freeze in the new Department of Government Efficiency – Trump will pause new hires to reduce government spending.

    28. Gain control over foreign aid and NGO funding – The administration will take steps to control how foreign aid is distributed.

    29. Remove federal actions that increase costs for families – Agencies will be directed to eliminate regulations that drive up costs for consumers.

    30. Extend the TikTok transition period – A new order will delay the enforcement of a law banning the app to allow negotiations.

    31. Shield companies from liability over TikTok compliance – Businesses that kept TikTok operational before Trump’s order will face no penalties.

    Musk Shoots Down Report Claiming Retreat From America Party Plans

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    1
    President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Elon Musk is quietly backing away from his “America Party” effort — the political project he unveiled in July after souring on the Trump administration over its “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation.

    But Musk isn’t having it.

    “Nothing @WSJ says should ever be thought of as true,” he posted bluntly on X, slamming the Journal’s reporting and casting doubt on their unnamed sources.

    Crypto outlet Binance Square has more on Musk’s candid remarks:

    This is the clearest confirmation yet that Musk remains committed to his political initiative and is actively pushing for the formation of the America Party—despite growing media speculation and political opposition.

    The original WSJ story, which claimed Musk was “quietly stepping down” from the Republican project, was widely circulated in financial and political circles. The story, citing unnamed sources, alleged internal concerns and strategic recalculations at Tesla, SpaceX, and Musk’s advisory group.

    But Musk quickly denied the X report, accusing the Wall Street Journal of fabricating the story. His response sparked a strong reaction online, particularly from America Party supporters and holders of the community-run America Party Token (AP).

    Musk’s public denial of the WSJ report suggests that the America Party launch is not only still on track, but imminent.

    The Journal claims Musk is cooling on the America Party idea, refocusing on his businesses, and wary of upsetting top Republicans — including Vice President JD Vance. One source said Musk might even support Vance in a 2028 presidential run.

    To back that up, it points to Musk canceling strategy sessions with third-party political consultants, ghosting political figures like Andrew Yang and Mark Cuban, and not engaging with groups such as the Libertarian Party, which had shown interest in joining forces.

    On paper, it does look like a pause — or at least a pivot. But Musk’s direct denial raises the question: Is he regrouping, or just playing his cards closer to the chest?

    Either way, if he is rethinking the America Party, it’s not something he’s ready to admit.

    READ NEXT: Top Cabinet Official Announces Major Intelligence Overhaul

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    Judge Responds To J6 Rioter’s Request To Attend Trump Inauguration

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    7
    Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    A U.S. District Judge denied a Jan. 6 rioter’s request to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration later this month.

    Russell Taylor, who is on probation after pleading guilty to obstructing an official proceeding, petitioned the court for permission to travel outside of the Central District of California to attend the ceremony after being invited by lawmakers.

    Judge Royce Lamberth denied the request in a Friday court order, reflecting on the event that took place after the 2020 presidential election.

    “Mr. Taylor brought a knife and plate carrier vest to the Capitol and carried a backpack containing a hatchet and stun baton,” Lamberth noted in the order. 

    “During the Riots, Mr. Taylor pushed past police barricades, encouraged fellow rioters to push against a police line where officers were being visibly assaulted, joined the push himself, and repeatedly threatened the police protecting the Upper West Terrace that it was their ‘[l]ast chance’ to ‘stand down’ and abandon their position,” the judge wrote.

    Although Taylor did not injure any on duty officers, Lamberth said the effort to incite a riot warranted concerns for his attendance at high-profile future political events

    “While he did not personally assault law enforcement officers, he did threaten them and encourage other rioters who were actively assaulting them,” Lamberth stated. “He also contributed meaningfully to the sheer danger of the day’s events by arriving armed and armored.”

    “And although Mr. Taylor’s rhetoric on the day of the Capitol Riots is interspersed with pro-America motifs and allusions, his unlawful conduct and his later espousal of ‘insurrection’ belie any patriotic motives he may have professed that day,” he added.

    Taylor’s attorney, Dyke E. Hush, praised Taylor’s compliance with probation orders and court cooperation that led to the conviction of the Three Percenters militia as proof of his changed behavior. 

    “While this ruling is disappointing, as my client is a huge supporter of president-elect Trump, he does understand the court denial of his request,” Hush told NBC News.

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