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Report: Trump Reinstates ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Against Iran

By
Madeleine Jackson
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2
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump unveiled an executive order reinstating a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran on Tuesday, coinciding with a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. 

Trump voiced that he was “torn” on signing the order and admitted he was “unhappy to do it,” noting that the executive order was very tough on Iran. 

“Hopefully, we’re not going to have to use it very much,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. 

The order instructs the Treasury Department to execute “maximum economic pressure” upon Iran through a series of sanctions aimed at sinking Iran’s oil exports. 

His first administration also adopted a “maximum pressure” initiative against Tehran, issuing greater sanctions and harsher enforcement for violations. 

Fox News reported that strict sanctions were reimposed upon Iran after Trump withdrew from the Iran deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in May 2018. The 2015 agreement brokered under the Obama administration had lifted sanctions on Iran, in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear program. 

Meanwhile, Trump signaled in January some optimism about securing a nuclear deal with Iran, when asked if he backed Israel striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. 

“Iran hopefully will make a deal. I mean, they don’t make a deal, I guess that’s OK, too,” Trump said. 

“We’ll have to see. I’m going to be meeting with various people over the next couple of days,” Trump told reporters on Jan. 24. “We’ll see, but hopefully that could be worked out without having to worry about it.”

President Donald Trump also promised that Iran would face “total obliteration” if Iran tried to assassinate him on Tuesday — even if it succeeded.

“How close do you think Iran is to developing nuclear weapons?” asked Fox News’ Peter Doocy.

“I think they’re close, I think they’re close. They’re too close. But again, you can go back four years, I would have said they would have had it during this intervening period. But they’re pretty close, Peter,” answered Trump.

Doocy then followed up by noting that Iran and its proxies have threatened to “retaliate against you and your team by killing you guys for taking out [Qasem] Soleimani.”

“Well, they haven’t done that, and that would be a terrible thing for them to do. Not because of me, if they did that, they would be obliterated,” mused Trump. “That would be the end of-, I’ve left instructions: If they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left. And they shouldn’t be able to do it.”

“And [former President Joe] Biden should have said that, but he never did. I don’t know why– lack of intelligence, perhaps, but he never said it,” continued the president. “If that happens to a leader or close to a leader, frankly, if you had other people involved also, you would call for total obliteration of a state that did it — that would include Iran. So I’m saying this and it’s a very powerful document, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it.”

FBI Agents Sue DOJ To Block Release Of Officials’ Names In Trump Investigations

By
Patrick Houck
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6

Nine anonymous FBI officials who worked on investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the classified documents case at Mar-a-Lago have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from compiling a list of officials involved in these high-profile cases, arguing that such a move could lead to retaliation and security risks.

Agents Warn of National Security Concerns

The plaintiffs claim the DOJ’s actions amount to an “unlawful” and “retaliatory” purge, raising alarms about potential misuse of the information.

“Should this information fall into the wrong hands, the national security of the United States would be severely compromised,” the lawsuit states.

Beyond job security, the agents fear broader professional consequences, alleging they could face demotions, lost promotions or blocked career opportunities as a result of their past investigative work.

The New York Times has additional details:

The lawsuits came in response to a demand by Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, that the F.B.I. compile and turn over a list of everyone who worked on those cases. That group, the lawsuits estimated, could number as many as 6,000 agents.

The lawsuits said that the agents believed the administration intended to reveal their identities, exposing the agents and their families to profound danger. They seek court orders prohibiting the executive branch from releasing the names.

The Trump administration has not said it intends to release the identities of the law enforcement officials, but its demand for names of people who worked on the cases has stoked the belief that it may move to fire them en masse. At the Justice Department, prosecutors who have worked on cases involving President Trump or the Jan. 6 rioters have been dismissed. The lawsuits on Tuesday appear to be putting down a marker that could expand into a challenge to any mass firings if they happen.

“It is clear that the threatened disclosure is a prelude to an unlawful purge of the F.B.I. driven solely by the Trump administration’s vengeful and political motivations,” Chris Mattei, a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association, said in a statement. “Releasing the names of these agents would ignite a firestorm of harassment towards them and their families, and it must be stopped immediately.”

DOJ Under Scrutiny

The lawsuit marks a significant legal challenge to the administration’s handling of federal law enforcement personnel, particularly those involved in the cases against President Trump. Critics warn that the creation of such a list could pave the way for politically motivated employment retaliation, a concern that has gained traction, especially on the left, amid ongoing debates over government oversight and accountability.

A key element of the case is a DOJ questionnaire, which the plaintiffs say was distributed to thousands of FBI officials, asking them to disclose their involvement in Jan. 6 and Trump-related investigations. The lawsuit argues this effort could set a dangerous precedent for targeting law enforcement officials based on past casework.

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

Report: Trump Drafting Executive Order To Dismantle Dept. Of Education

By
Madeleine Jackson
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5

Top Trump officials are reportedly circulating a draft executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education.

The draft order would be a step toward fulfilling a key campaign promise President Donald Trump made to return education policy back to the states. The order would not direct the dismantling of the department, but request a plan to do so from the Education secretary, according to ABC News.

The order would also call on Congress to pass legislation striking the department from federal statute. Trump may sign the order soon, according to ABC News, however, no set date has been determined.

The order, if signed, would likely be carried out by Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Education, Linda McMahon. Some officials in the Trump administration are pushing for the president to hold off signing the order until after McMahon’s confirmation, according to The Wall Street Journal, presumably to avoid hindering her nomination in the Senate.

McMahon’s nomination is currently paused in the Senate as lawmakers wait to receive ethics paperwork. Her nomination hearing has not been scheduled.

The Department of Government Efficiency, the government cost-cutting crusade led by Elon Musk, has begun to look at ways of trimming the Department of Education through executive action, according to The Washington Post.

Trump could order cuts to certain areas of the Department of Education and roll back or stop some controversial actions the department took under former President Joe Biden, such as mass forgiveness of student loans. Deconstructing the department would take an act of Congress, however.

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

Trump Strikes Deal Narrowly Averting Trade War With Canada

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    By Presidencia de la República del Ecuador - REUNIÓN CON JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIMER MINISTRO DE CANADÁ, 05 DE MARZO DE 2024., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146895555

    President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to terms on a deal to delay Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian imports into the United States on Monday afternoon.

    After a phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will immediately enhance “coordination” with the U.S. and send 10,000 troops to the U.S./Canada border.

    Canada’s change in policy comes after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on China, until the countries did more to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs through U.S. borders. In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada and Mexico retaliated with 25% tariffs on American goods. Trudeau said that after his call with Trump, the “tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

    “I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” wrote Trudeau on X. “In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”

    “Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,” he added.

    The agreement was reached just hours after Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed on a similar arrangement earlier in the day.

    Trump confirmed the details of Trudeau’s announcement, writing in a post on Truth Social:

    “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country,” he began. “Canada will implement their $1.3 Billion Border plan, and as per Prime Minister Trudeau, will be, ‘reinforcing the Border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are, and will be, working on protecting the Border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the Border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.’”

    “As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!” he added.

    Earlier on Monday, Trump reiterated to reporters in the Oval Office that he would like to see Canada become “a state.”

    “We give them protection, military protection. We don’t need them to build our cars. I’d rather see Detroit or South Carolina or Tennessee, any one of our states build the cars. They could do it very easily,” Trump said. “We don’t need [Canada] for the cars. We don’t need them for lumber. We don’t need them for anything. We don’t need them for energy. We have more energy than they do.”

    “Why are we willing to lose between a hundred billion and two hundred billion dollars a year?” Trump asked. “We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different.”

    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
    -
    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
      -
      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.

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