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Trump Repeats 51st State Comments As Tariffs Hit Canada

By
Madeleine Jackson
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4
The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He’s not backing down…

On Monday, President Trump reiterated his desire to see Canada become part of the United States as he prepared to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.

“What I’d like to see — Canada become our 51st state,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked what concessions Canada could offer to stave off tariffs.

Despite Canada being one of the United States’ top trade partners Trump asserted the U.S. did not need Canada’s lumber or automobile production.

The president suggested it’s unlikely the U.S. will annex Canada, partly because neither side would be willing to put up with the economic pain that would be required for that to happen.

“We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different. As a state it’s much different. And there are no tariffs,” Trump said. “So I’d love to see that. Some people say that would be a longshot. If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100 percent certain that they’d become a state. But a lot of people don’t like to play the game. Because they don’t have a threshold of pain.”

Trump spoke Monday morning with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the two were expected to speak again later in the day. The U.S. is set to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports starting at midnight, with the exception of energy products, which will be tariffed at 10 percent.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday night that Canada would impose 25 percent tariffs on more than $100 billion in U.S. goods. Trudeau’s likely successor, Pierre Poilievre, called Trump’s tariffs “unjust and unjustified” and called for a “dollar-for-dollar” response.

Trump Pauses Tariffs For One Month After Talks With Mexico

By
Patrick Houck
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1
Trump at the border wall via Wikimedia Commons

Mexico‘s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has announced a temporary suspension of tariffs for one month following a productive conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The move comes as part of a broader effort to address critical security and economic concerns between the neighboring countries.

As part of the agreement, Mexico will deploy 10,000 troops to bolster security along the U.S.-Mexico border. In return, the U.S. has pledged to ramp up efforts to curb firearm trafficking into Mexico, a persistent issue fueling cartel violence.

CNBC repots:

Sheinbaum also said in a tweet, that after speaking with Trump, Mexico “will immediately reinforce” its northern border with the U.S. with 10,000 National Guard soldiers “to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl.”

“We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements,” Sheinbaum wrote in the tweet, according to a translation from Spanish.

“The United States is committed to working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico,” she wrote.

The announcement underscores the ongoing collaboration between Mexico and the U.S. on border security and trade, particularly as both nations navigate shifting political landscapes.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Report: USAID Closes HQ To Staffers Monday As Musk Says Trump Supports Shutting Agency Down

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

A significant development…

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staffers said that they tracked over 600 workers who reported getting locked out of the USAID computer systems overnight, according to the Associated Press. People who remained in the system got emails stating that “at the direction of Agency leadership” the headquarters facility “will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3.”

Elon Musk, who is spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort, had said during an X spaces conversation that President Donald Trump agreed that the USAID should be shut down.

Musk indicated that the shut-down process is underway. 

He said that unlike an apple contaminated by a worm, the agency is “a bowl of worms.”

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Senior FBI Official Attempts To Skirt Agency-wide Purge

By
Madeleine Jackson
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9

A top New York FBI official is not ready to call it quits.

James E. Dennehy, vowed to “dig in” and stand his ground as the agency reels from a wave of removals targeting officials involved in the investigation of the January 6th attack.

On Friday, the Trump administration served some senior FBI officials with an ultimatum: either resign or be fired. (RELATED: Trump Hits Senior FBI Officials In Unexpected Ultimatum)

The shake-up has already led to the removal of at least nine high-ranking FBI officials since the start of the Trump administration, creating what Dennehy described as “fear and angst within the F.B.I. ranks.” Adding to that tension is a controversial questionnaire requiring agents to disclose their roles in investigating and prosecuting January 6th rioters.

In the fiery email to his staff obtained by The New York Times, Dennehy acknowledged the turmoil and indicated he had no intention of standing down.

“Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy,” he wrote.

Dennehy compared the current situation to his experience as a Marine when he was required to dig a foxhole for safety.

“It sucked,” he wrote. “But it worked.”

He went on to praise the two top acting officials at the F.B.I., acting director Brian Driscoll and acting deputy director Robert C. Kissane, as “warriors” for “fighting” on behalf of the staff.

Amid reported anxiety within the agency, Kissane attempted to reassure employees, writing in an email: “We do not view anyone’s identification on the list as an indicator of any misconduct… We are still working with D.O.J. to better understand the purpose for which the list is being sought.”

Governor Blocks Pardoned J6ers From State Jobs

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    11
    Tyler Merbler, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said he would block pardoned Capitol insurrectionists from serving in local government positions, citing a state law ordinance, according to a Thursday letter obtained by The Hill.

    “The State’s Personnel Code, administered by the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and by you as its Director, requires the rejection of candidates for State employment who have engaged in infamous or disgraceful conduct (20 ILCS 415/8b.4),” Pritzker wrote to Raven A. DeVaughn, director of the state’s CMS.

    “To protect the integrity of our workforce and safety of our State, I hereby direct CMS to apply the State Personnel Code and consider any participation in the January 6 insurrection as infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to the mission of the State.”

    Earlier in the directive, Pritzker outlined the actions of Jan. 6 rioters who stormed the Capitol four years ago.

    “These rioters were accused or convicted of a combination of felonies and misdemeanors, including but not limited to: violence against law enforcement officers, threats against Members of Congress, destruction of federal property, and many other crimes. These crimes attacks threatened public safety as Members of Congress, staff, and other workers who were forced to hide from the violence for hours,” he detailed.

    “I am committed to building a State workforce that upholds our shared values and delivers results for the people of Illinois. Our State workforce must reflect the values of Illinois and demonstrate honesty, integrity, and loyalty to serving the taxpayers,” he added.

    “No one who attempts to overthrow a government should serve in government,” he concluded.

    President Trump signed an executive order after his inauguration granting pardons to more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot. He also announced several commutations for those who committed violent acts during the event. (RELATED: Trump Pardons Capitol Riot Participants)

    The president has defended his decision to free the rioters. 

    “These people have already served years in prison, and they’ve served them viciously. It’s a disgusting prison. It’s horrible. It’s been inhumane,” Trump told reporters, claiming the American public sided with his choice.

    CBS Parent Company In Talks To Settle Trump’s Lawsuit: Report

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      1

      CBS parent company Paramount has entered discussions with President Donald Trump to settle a $10 billion lawsuit brought by the president

      Trump sued after CBS  aired an edited interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who at the time was Trump’s opponent in the presidential race.

      The Times reported that Shari Redstone, who is Paramount’s controlling shareholder, stands to make billions on a pending sale of the company to Skydance:

      Settlement discussions between representatives of Paramount and Mr. Trump are now underway, according to three people with knowledge of the talks. There is no assurance, though, that they will result in a deal, and it is unclear what the terms of any such deal might include.

      Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, strongly supports the effort to settle, according to two people with knowledge of her thinking. Ms. Redstone stands to clear billions of dollars on the sale of Paramount, the media empire founded by her father Sumner Redstone, in a deal with Skydance, an entertainment company backed by the billionaire Larry Ellison and run by his son David.

      A settlement would be an extraordinary concession by a major U.S. media company to a sitting president, especially in a case in which there is no evidence that the network got facts wrong or damaged the plaintiff’s reputation.

      The heart of Trump’s lawsuit centers on a question directed at Harris about the Middle East from Bill Whitaker. A preview of her response aired during Face the Nation was different from the response viewers of 60 Minutes saw. Trump’s lawyers argued CBS made Harris look better in primetime by airing a crisper response.

      “CBS News said that Ms. Harris had given one lengthy answer to Mr. Whitaker’s question, and that the network followed standard journalistic practice by airing a different portion of her answer in prime-time because of time constraints,” the Times said.

      Florida Republican Introduces Bill To Add Trump To Mount Rushmore

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        11
        By Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, curid=53439616

        Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced a bill Tuesday seeking to add President Trump’s face to the Mount Rushmore monument. 

        “His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument,” Luna wrote in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.

        “Let’s get carving!”

        The Interior Department would be in charge of undertaking Trump’s addition to the South Dakota landmark if approved by Congress.

        “Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nation’s freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacy—a legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term,” Luna shared in a separate statement. 

        “He will be forever remembered among the great like Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.”

        Luna is not the first person to float the idea. Fox News contributors this week suggested adding Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, which is set for 2026.

        “If you did, like, the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trump’s face, it would be epic,” Kayleigh McEnany, Trump’s former press secretary, said this week on Fox News Channel’s “Outnumbered.”

        Chuck Todd Departs NBC News After Long Journalism Career

        By
        Patrick Houck
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        2
        WASHINGTON - Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson appears on MSNBC’s Morning Joe discussing the massive security efforts for the inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2017. The show features interviews with top newsmakers and politicians and in-depth analysis of the day's biggest stories. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.

        Veteran journalist Chuck Todd has officially left NBC News, marking the end of a career spanning decades in political reporting and television analysis.

        The longtime political journalist and television host is best known for his tenure as the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press—the longest-running TV show in history—from 2014 to 2023.

        Todd started in political journalism as the editor-in-chief of The Hotline, a daily political briefing by the National Journal. His deep knowledge of political data and elections earned him recognition in Washington.

        He joined NBC News in 2007 as the network’s political director, where he became a frequent on-air analyst.

        In 2008, Todd became the NBC News Chief White House Correspondent, covering the Obama administration.

        Todd replaced David Gregory as the moderator of Meet the Press in 2014. Under his tenure, the show continued to be a major platform for political discussions, though he received criticism for being overly accommodating to certain guests.

        In June 2023, Todd announced he would step down, and Kristen Welker took over in September. He remained with NBC as the network’s chief political analyst.

        Though Todd is leaving NBC News, the New York Post reports that he’s taking his podcast, Chuck Toddcast, with him:

        “There’s never a perfect time to leave a place that’s been a professional home for so long, but I’m pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality,’ Todd told NBC News staffers in a memo Friday.

        Todd confirmed his departure on Friday. When The Post sought comment from Todd via his NBC work email, the automatic message read: “Friday, January 31st was my final day at NBC.”

        According to the memo, Todd told colleagues that he intends to take his podcast with him.

        The “Chuck Toddcast” is “coming with me,” according to Todd, who urged colleagues to “stay tuned for an announcement about its new home soon.”

        Todd has had several public confrontations with President Donald Trump. Throughout Trump’s political career, Todd has been critical of Trump’s actions and policies, leading to tensions between the two.

        In 2017, during an interview on Meet the Press, Todd challenged White House counselor Kellyanne Conway over the administration’s claim of “alternative facts” regarding the inauguration crowd size.

        Trump has also targeted Todd personally, referring to him with nicknames such as “Sleepy Eyes” and publicly criticizing his journalistic integrity.

        This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

        Trump Hits Senior FBI Officials In Unexpected Ultimatum

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        5

        Senior FBI officials were delivered a brutal ultimatum…

        According to Fox News, the Trump administration informed some senior FBI officials to either resign or be fired.

        The exact number has not been disclosed, but the ultimatum was allegedly given to senior employees promoted under former director, Christopher A. Wray.

        President Donald Trump’s administration took these steps as his nominee to lead the bureau, Kash Patel, said he would not begin his tenure with retribution or focus on past transgressions. 

        “I have no interest, no desire and will not, if confirmed, go backwards. There will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken,” Patel said at the Senate Judiciary Committee.

        According to reporting from The New York Times, an email to colleagues from one of the senior agents outlined that he had learned he would be dismissed “from the rolls of the F.B.I.” as soon as Monday morning.

        “I was given no rationale for this decision, which, as you might imagine, has come as a shock,” he wrote.

        During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Patel said he is unaware of any plans of retribution by the Trump administration.

        “Are you aware of any plans or discussions to punish in any way, including termination, FBI agents or personnel associated with Trump investigations?” asked Democratic Sen. Cory Booker.

        “I am not aware of that, senator,” Patel replied.

        Although Patel has been nominated, a director has not been officially confirmed to take charge, so the news of the ultimatum was alarming for those involved.

        Until the vote comes to a close, Brian Driscoll remains the bureau’s acting director.

        DOJ Moves To Toss Charges Against Former Republican Lawmaker

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
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        1
        Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

        The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday moved to toss out charges against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), who resigned from Congress in 2022.

        The request to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the same charges can’t be brought again, comes as President Trump’s Justice Department has moved to end criminal prosecutions of his political allies, including those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and Trump’s co-defendants in his federal classified documents case.

        On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated the end of the DOJ’s “witch hunt” against Fortenberry and claimed he was the victim of a weaponized justice system.

        “The charges were totally baseless,” Trump said. “That Scam is now over, so Jeff and his family can go back to having a great life together, and be a part of our Country’s future as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years!”

        A jury in Los Angeles previously convicted him in 2022 following a federal investigation, but a federal appeals court overturned the case in late 2023. (RELATED: Appeals Court Overturns Ex-Congressman’s Conviction For Lying To FBI)

        The charges centered on statements Fortenberry gave to authorities as they investigated the $30,200 donation to the former congressman’s campaign at a 2016 fundraising event in California from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian businessperson.

        Federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions in support of any candidate for a federal elected office in the U.S.

        That conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2023, after it determined Fortenberry should have faced trial in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., instead.

        Federal prosecutors brought the case again in Washington in May, and Fortenberry was awaiting a new trial when Trump won the presidential race.

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