Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) defended President Donald Trump&#8217;s decision to begin the process of shutting down the Department of Education, arguing that it has not shown tangible results to justify its existence.
Paul made the remarks during a Sunday interview on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; with Margaret Brennan when asked about whether low-income schools would continue to receive federal subsidies if the Department is closed.
&#8220;I think the bigger question is, if we&#8217;re sending all this money to Kentucky and all the other states, why are our scores abysmal?&#8221; Paul asked. &#8220;Why do two-thirds of the kids not read at proficiency? Why do two-thirds of the kids or more not have math proficiency?&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s been an utter failure,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I&#8217;d leave it back to the states. It has always been a position, a very mainstream Republican position, to have control of the schools by the states, send the money back to the states, or, better yet, never take it from the states.&#8221;
He said that states are much better equipped at knowing how to spend money on the education needs in their states than the federal government.
&#8220;When I talk to teachers, they chafe at the national mandates on testing, they think are not appropriate for their kids,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They think they waste too much time teaching to national testing. The teachers would like more autonomy, and I think the teachers deserve more autonomy.&#8221;
Paul said that he would rather have &#8220;a guarantee that my kids can read and write and do math&#8221; than worry about any guarantees from the federal government that it will continue pumping billions of dollars in education funding.
&#8220;The number of dollars has gone up exponentially and our scores have gone the other way,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So dollars are not proportional to educational success. What I want is success. And I have talked a lot about this. I think there are innovations we can do where there&#8217;s more learning via some of the best teachers and we pay them more. I would like to have an NBA or NFL of teachers, the most extraordinary teachers, teach the entire country, if not the entire world.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After President Trump&#8217;s cuts to the U.S. Education Department, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says he&#8217;d like to see &#8220;an NBA or NFL of teachers,&#8221; with &#8220;the most extraordinary teachers&#8221; reaching &#8220;the entire country&#8221; or &#8220;the entire world&#8221; virtually.
&#8220;What we need to do is have the best… <a href="https://t.co/bgreJj8NS6">pic.twitter.com/bgreJj8NS6</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1903854414512721968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul Defends Trump Ending Education Dept: I Want ‘NFL Of Teachers,’ ‘Most Extraordinary Teachers’

Department of Education

Donald Trump

Education

Politics

Rand Paul

Trump Administration

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump&#8217;s pick to lead the Department of Labor, told lawmakers on Wednesday that if confirmed she would respect state right-to-work laws after previously backing a bill that would have repealed laws allowing workers to opt out of labor unions. 
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, told lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions multiple times that she would not oppose right-to-work states. This is a reversal from her time in Congress, when she backed the PRO Act, legislation that would have overturned state laws allowing a worker to not be forced to join a union or pay union dues to be employed. 
During the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer indicated to both Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that she would not challenge right-to-work laws. 
When asked by Cassidy whether she still supported the PRO Act, Chavez-DeRemer responded by saying that she recognized she was “no longer a lawmaker,” and would work to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda. 
“I respect the right of the right-to-work states, and I have said that. That bill was imperfect, I understand that, and I am no longer a lawmaker,” she said. 
Later, she more explicitly said she would support the laws of right-to-work states during a back-and-forth with Paul, who had previously said he would not back her nomination. 
“The right to work is a fundamental tenant of labor laws where states have a right to choose if they want to be a right to work state,” she told Paul. “I fully, fairly, and support states who want to protect their right to work. I have said that to every senator I have visited with.” 
“So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would’ve overturned state right-to-work laws?” Paul asked.  
“Yeah,” she responded. 
“That’s a yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied, and Paul said that he had “no more questions.” 
When asked after the hearing about whether he would potentially change his vote on her confirmation, Paul said that he would be reexamining her answers. 
“I’m going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion at this last moment is sincere,” he said. 
Chavez-DeRemer was also asked during the hearing about her previous work at Planned Parenthood when she was in her 20s. 
“I am supportive of the president’s agenda. I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress and I will continue to support the America First agenda, which we know includes life,” she said when asked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) whether she was pro-abortion or pro-life.
“Good answer,” he replied. 
Chavez-DeRemer has a “B” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which notes she did vote to oppose some pro-life measures in Congress, saying that she “publicly opposed passage of bills that would permanently stop taxpayer funding of abortion across the federal government.”
Her confirmation appears to be on track as most of the Republicans on the committee and a few of the Democrats appeared likely to vote to advance her nomination. 
A number of unions, including the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, have also announced support for her nomination.

Chavez-DeRemer Labor Hearing in Washington

Trump Labor Nominee Says She Will Respect State Right-To-Work Laws

Cabinet

Labor Unions

Like his father <a href="https://money.cnn.com/2011/06/24/news/economy/ron_paul_gold_audit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">before him</a>, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is pushing for an audit of the gold reserves at the United States bullion depository at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He proposed that the Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been scrutinizing various aspects of the federal bureaucracy, help in the endeavor.
Over the weekend, the X account for ZeroHedge <a href="https://x.com/zerohedge/status/1890856057368347006" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> technology executive Elon Musk, who is overseeing the DOGE effort, &#8220;take a look inside Fort Knox just to make sure the 4,580 tons of US gold is there.&#8221; Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1890869046096060559" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a>, asking, &#8220;Surely it&#8217;s reviewed at least every year?&#8221; Paul then replied to Musk, <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1891125412442370355" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, &#8220;Nope. Let&#8217;s do it.&#8221;
According to the United States Mint <a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/tours-and-locations/fort-knox?srsltid=AfmBOoowzZJPVc66duhbOfyS-nWWxEEoSDbvvowtvGmm6CvHzeKP_dby#accordion-d08d17b2a7-item-17dfee3991" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, Fort Knox has 147.3 million ounces of gold holdings. It says roughly half of the Treasury&#8217;s &#8220;stored gold (as well as valuables of other federal agencies)&#8221; is kept there. The website also notes the gold is held as an asset of the United States at a book value of $42.22 per ounce and only &#8220;very small quantities&#8221; have been removed for purity testing &#8220;during regularly scheduled audits. Except for these samples, no gold has been transferred to or from the Depository for many years.&#8221;
Fort Knox broke from its &#8220;strict no visitors policy&#8221; in 1974 to allow journalists and a congressional delegation into its vaults to view the gold reserves, the U.S. Mint noted, adding the Treasury Secretary &#8220;allows the visit when rumors persist that all the gold had been removed from the vaults&#8221; and previously, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only person other than authorized personnel to access the vaults.
During an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmAi0c69biA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> on Fox News over the weekend, Paul talked about how he has tried to gain access to the Fort Knox gold vaults for a decade and missed his opportunity in 2017 when the bullion depository opened for a second time for then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, and congressional representatives.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been trying to go down and see the gold and make sure it&#8217;s all there for about 10 years. During the first Trump administration I got permission. You have to get permission all the way up to the Secretary of Treasury. And then the Secretary of Treasury said, &#8216;Well, I want to go down there, too.&#8217; And then he said, &#8216;I want to go down there when the eclipse is coming through Kentucky, too, so I can see the eclipse and the gold at the same time,'&#8221; Paul explained.
&#8220;But they came when I wasn&#8217;t there,&#8221; Paul continued with a chuckle. &#8220;So I tried for 10 years. I set up the appointment and then because they wanted to see the eclipse, they changed the appointment. I didn&#8217;t get to go down but the secretary of Treasury and the senior senator from Kentucky did go down and attest that they believe they saw the gold down there.&#8221;
Asked by &#8220;Fox and Friends&#8221; co-host Lawrence Jones what he thinks is the problem, Paul replied: &#8220;I think some of them may not think it needs to be audited all the time, but I think the more sunlight, the better. More transparency, the better. And also it brings attention to the fact that gold still has value and implicitly — not explicitly, but implicitly — gold still gives value to the dollar. That&#8217;s why we don&#8217;t get rid of it. You know we&#8217;ve got it. The IMF has it. The World Bank has it. Most of the central banks around the world have gold. And it&#8217;s an implicit trust that the dollar still has some backing.&#8221;

Rand Paul Suggests DOGE Help Audit Fort Knox Gold Reserves

Congress

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk

Gold

Kentucky

U.S.

U.S. Senate

On Monday, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) released the latest edition of his annual <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/barbie-fraud-meth-monkeys-rand-pauls-annual-festivus-report-shows-900-billion-in-government-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Festivus Report,&#8221;</a> pitching it this year as being not just a precursor for the incoming <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-government-efficiency-doge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)</a>, but also a useful guide for anyone looking to cut down on federal spending.
The <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/FESTIVUS-REPORT-2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 report</a> highlights more than $1 trillion of &#8220;government waste,&#8221; including a Florida man stealing $8 million in COVID-19 relief funds and using the money to buy an island and more, &#8220;ice-skating drag queens,&#8221; a $12 million Las Vegas pickleball complex, $4,840,082 on Ukrainian influencers, $32,596.12 for breakdancing, and the U.S. Navy being &#8220;set to waste almost $90 billion on ineffective Navy vessels.&#8221;
The report lists $288,563 spent to &#8220;ensure&#8221; bird-watching groups have safe spaces aka &#8220;Affinity Groups.&#8221; The State Department also allocated $330,000 to fund censorship of non-liberal and conservative media, and $419,470 spent to &#8220;determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats.&#8221; The Department of Energy is deploying $15.5 billion to &#8220;push Americans toward electric vehicles they don&#8217;t want,&#8221; and much more.
&#8220;Last Festivus, we bemoaned the national debt nearing $34 trillion,&#8221; Paul wrote. &#8220;In just a year, Washington’s career politicians and bureaucrats have managed to push it beyond $36 trillion — unsurprisingly, with hardly a second thought.&#8221;
Paul blamed &#8220;everybody&#8221; for the nation&#8217;s &#8220;crushing national debt,&#8221; but acknowledged that help in battling government waste is on the way in the form of DOGE, which is set to be led by Tech executive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon </a>Musk and biotech entrepreneur <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vivek-ramaswamy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vivek Ramaswamy</a> under President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s second administration.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-26963">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
&#8220;No matter how much money the government has wasted, politicians keep demanding even more,&#8221; Paul wrote. &#8220;As always, taking the path to fiscal responsibility is often a lonely journey, but I’ve been fighting government waste like DOGE before DOGE was cool. And I will continue my fight against government waste this holiday season.&#8221;
In a thread posted to X, Paul <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1871214884458742219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> some of his &#8220;favorites&#8221; from the report, tagging Musk, Ramaswamy, and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-doge-could-cut-1200-coffee-cups-covid-clawbacks-and-3-cent-pennies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chair of the Senate DOGE Caucus</a>.
After making a quip about Ernst&#8217;s voting record on spending bills, Paul <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1871222534852743173" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>, &#8220;One thing that people should know, I tell jokes here, in case you weren’t here for other years. I welcome [Ernst] to [DOGE], along with anyone else old or new to the massive problems our spending and debt are causing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here are some of my favorites from this report, soon to become yours, <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ElonMusk</a>&#8216;s, <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VivekGRamaswamy</a>&#8216;s, AND <a href="https://twitter.com/joniernst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JONIERNST</a>&#8216;s. Ok, maybe not hers. I don&#8217;t know who she thinks she&#8217;s kidding. She&#8217;s voted for every spending bill since she got here…
Read more here:… <a href="https://t.co/zvzXEFdTwM">pic.twitter.com/zvzXEFdTwM</a>
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1871214884458742219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Senator Rand Paul

‘DOGE Before DOGE Was Cool’: Rand Paul Unveils Annual ‘Festivus Report’ Showing $1T In Govt Waste

Vivek Ramaswamy

President-elect Donald Trump incoming <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-homan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border czar</a> said during an interview this week that he is absolutely willing to have far-Left Denver Mayor Mike Johnston thrown in jail after Johnston said that he would obstruct federal immigration officials from carrying out deportations in the city.
Johnston <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/denver-mayor-warns-trump-of-tiananmen-square-moment-if-he-rounds-up-illegal-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in an interview with a local publication that he would deploy the Denver Police Department &#8220;at the county line to keep them out.&#8221;
He went even further, threatening to turn the situation into a &#8220;Tiananmen Square moment.&#8221;
Homan said during an interview with Fox News&#8217; Sean Hannity that impeding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from removing illegal aliens was &#8220;absolutely breaking the law.&#8221;
&#8220;But, look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: He’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail,&#8221; Homan added.
Homan&#8217;s remarks come after Johnston was asked during a separate interview with local media if he was willing to go to jail to stop deportations from happening.
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&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m not afraid of that,&#8221; Johnston said. &#8220;And I&#8217;m also not seeking that.&#8221;
Homan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dont-cross-that-line-trump-border-czar-warns-mayors-against-harboring-illegal-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that it is federal felony under Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324 to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities.
&#8220;President Trump has been clear, we want to concentrate on public safety threats and national security threats,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I find it hard to believe that any [government official] would say they don’t want public safety threats removed from their neighborhoods.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Border Czar Tom Homan on Denver Mayor Johnson&#8217;s threats to block deportations:
&#8220;I&#8217;m willing to put him in jail&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/cX393ay2LM">pic.twitter.com/cX393ay2LM</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1861249634233929797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who sits on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rand-paul-denver-mayor-will-likely-be-removed-from-office-if-he-obstructs-ice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CBS News on Sunday that Johnston would be removed from office if he resisted federal immigration authorities.
“The mayor of Denver, if he’s going to resist federal law, which there’s a longstanding history of the supremacy of federal law, if he’s going to resist that, it will go all the way to the Supreme Court,” he said. “And I would suspect that he would be removed from office.”
“I don’t know whether or not there’d be a criminal prosecution for someone resisting federal law, but he will lose,” he continued. “And people need to realize that what he is offering is a form of insurrection, where the states resist the federal government.”
“The mayor of Denver is on the wrong side of history, and, really, I think, will face legal ramifications if he doesn’t obey the federal law,” he added.

Tom Homan

Tom Homan On Denver’s Mayor Resisting ICE: ‘I’m Willing To Put Him In Jail’

Colorado

Denver

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) said on Sunday that the mayor of Denver will be removed from office if he obstructs federal immigration officials from being able to carry out deportations in his city.
Paul&#8217;s comments come after far-Left mayor Mike Johnston <a href="https://denvergazette.com/news/trump-mass-deportation-denver-police-force/article_e643430c-a9c8-11ef-96d2-f7c3053aa81c.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he would deploy the Denver Police Department &#8220;at the county line&#8221; to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents out.
Johnston said that it would turn into a &#8220;Tiananmen Square moment&#8221; and that he was &#8220;not afraid&#8221; of being arrested.
Paul, who sits on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, told CBS News that Johnston will be removed from office if he tries to obstruct ICE from operating inside Denver.
&#8220;The mayor of Denver, if he&#8217;s going to resist federal law, which there&#8217;s a longstanding history of the supremacy of federal law, if he&#8217;s going to resist that, it will go all the way to the Supreme Court,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And I would suspect that he would be removed from office.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know whether or not there&#8217;d be a criminal prosecution for someone resisting federal law, but he will lose,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;And people need to realize that what he is offering is a form of insurrection, where the states resist the federal government.&#8221;
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&#8220;The mayor of Denver is on the wrong side of history, and, really, I think, will face legal ramifications if he doesn&#8217;t obey the federal law,&#8221; he added.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says that the mayor of Denver will be removed from office if he resists federal law enforcement officials who are deporting illegal aliens: &#8220;It&#8217;s a form of insurrection&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/P9e4fVxVxu">pic.twitter.com/P9e4fVxVxu</a>
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1860774341140521121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></blockquote>

Top Health Officials Testify Before Senate Hearing

Rand Paul: Denver Mayor Will Likely Be ‘Removed From Office’ If He Obstructs ICE

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) demanded Tuesday that top Biden administration officials determine whether guidance from a FEMA employee for relief workers in Florida to skip homes with Trump signs was an isolated incident.
Paul, citing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting</a> from The Daily Wire, <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024.11.12_Letter-to-FEMA-from-Ranking-Member-Paul.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to preserve all documents related to guidance instructing relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” FEMA has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since fired</a> Marn’i Washington, the employee who issued the guidance, saying they believe it was an “isolated incident.”
“I write to request information regarding recent reports that a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official instructed federal employees deployed to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton to withhold disaster assistance from homeowners displaying political signs in support of President-elect Donald Trump,” Paul wrote in a letter.
“These allegations of discrimination by FEMA employees based on the political beliefs of disaster victims raise serious questions about FEMA’s ability to impartially administer disaster relief to Americans,” the Kentucky Republican added.
On Tuesday, Washington <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Roland Martin</a> that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Paul, the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said that the Biden administration needed to preserve all records related to the incident, including when officials first became aware of the guidance.
A whistleblower complaint was filed with DHS on October 27, FEMA only removed Washington from her role on November 8, after The Daily Wire report.
“While I commend you for your swift action to terminate the employee, this does not appear to be an isolated incident. It is alleged that FEMA workers received similar instructions when responding to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina,” Paul wrote. “This politically motivated discrimination is unacceptable and must be investigated to ensure that FEMA administers disaster relief funds appropriated by Congress fairly and transparently.”
He also asked them to provide a list of any other examples of “political discrimination” FEMA may have records of or been alerted to. Paul requests the officials to respond to his letter by November 26. A flurry of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fema-chief-to-face-two-house-grillings-in-one-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-to-investigate-fema-after-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state</a> investigations was launched after The Daily Wire reported on the Trump sign guidance last week.

Secret Service Budget Concerns Delay Homeland Spending Bill

Senator Questions Whether FEMA Guidance To Skip Trump Homes Was ‘Isolated Incident’

Alejandro Mayorkas

Department of Homeland Security

Discrimination

FEMA

Florida

Senator Rand Paul&#8217;s wife Kelley Paul torched CNN host Kasie Hunt after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-anchor-cuts-off-trump-spox-as-debate-preview-goes-off-the-rails" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testy exchange</a> led Hunt to cut off the microphone on Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
It all began with what was supposed to be a preview of Thursday evening&#8217;s scheduled debate between former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden, but Hunt abruptly ended the interview when Leavitt referred to CNN as a &#8220;hostile environment&#8221; for Trump and noted previous &#8220;biased coverage&#8221; of the former president by both of the network&#8217;s chosen debate moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
&#8220;.@kasie celebrated actual violence against Rand Paul on air. She described his assault and injuries as her &#8216;favorite story.&#8217; Now she hysterically calls legitimate criticism of Jake Tapper &#8216;an attack,'&#8221; Kelley Paul posted in response.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/kasie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kasie</a> celebrated actual violence against Rand Paul on air. She described his assault and injuries as her “favorite story.” Now she hysterically calls legitimate criticism of Jake Tapper “an attack.” <a href="https://t.co/EOjTBRpbfO">https://t.co/EOjTBRpbfO</a>
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/KelleyAshbyPaul/status/1805240041460859039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A short time later, someone posted the video of Hunt talking about neighbor Rene Boucher&#8217;s 2017 attack on Senator Paul, during which he sustained six broken ribs and bruises to his lungs – and she could clearly be heard calling it her &#8220;favorite story.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here is the video: <a href="https://t.co/7ZC9v8hIW1">pic.twitter.com/7ZC9v8hIW1</a>
— Conservatism Prevents Tyranny (@SaveLibertyUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaveLibertyUS/status/1805259700633469178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;New details today on the incident that left Senator Rand Paul with six broken ribs — this might be one of my favorite stories,&#8221; Hunt began before frantically backpedaling: &#8220;Although, of course, we don&#8217;t – ah — want to — clearly, Senator Paul is still struggling.&#8221;
Hunt, who was working for MSNBC at the time, issued an apology a short time later: &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing funny about 6 broken ribs — my apologies to @RandPauI for suggesting on air earlier today there was. Hope your recovery is on the right track, senator, looking forward to seeing you in the hallways soon.&#8221;
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There&#8217;s nothing funny about 6 broken ribs &#8212; my apologies to <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPauI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RandPauI</a> for suggesting on air earlier today there was. Hope your recovery is on the right track, senator, looking forward to seeing you in the hallways soon.
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) <a href="https://twitter.com/kasie/status/932757177693024256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Paul had brought up Hunt&#8217;s comments once earlier as well, in the aftermath of the attack on then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s husband in 2022: &#8220;I was caring for Rand as he struggled to breathe in terrible pain as you called his attack and injuries &#8216;one of my favorite stories&#8217; on air. Yet you still have a job,&#8221; she said at the time.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I do too, <a href="https://twitter.com/kasie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kasie</a>. I was caring for Rand as he struggled to breathe in terrible pain as you called his attack and injuries “one of my favorite stories” on air. Yet you still have a job. <a href="https://t.co/t6KOlIQIAQ">https://t.co/t6KOlIQIAQ</a>
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/KelleyAshbyPaul/status/1586716798300442627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Senator Rand Paul Talks With SiriusXM’s Olivier Knox And Julie Mason During A Town Hall Event In New York

Rand Paul’s Wife Torches Kasie Hunt For Complaint About Trump Spox ‘Attacking’ CNN Hosts

Rand Paul's Wife Torches Kasie Hunt For Complaint About Trump Spox 'Attacking' CNN Hosts

Dana Bash

Debate

Jake Tapper

Violence

The Department of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/health-and-human-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health and Human Services</a> (HHS) under the Biden administration has chosen to defund EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit group that has been heavily scrutinized for its collaboration with a lab in Wuhan, China, on bat coronavirus experiments following the start of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID</a> pandemic that killed millions of people around the world.
An official with HHS <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tab-1-EHA-SUSP4D-Notice_5.15.2024_signed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent an email</a> to Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, conveying the decision to suspend the group and proposed debarment from federal government procurement and non-procurement programs for a period that usually is up to three years — but could be longer — effective as of May 14.
&#8220;HHS believes there is adequate evidence in the record for this debarment cause and that immediate action is necessary to protect the public interest,&#8221; the notification said.
The GOP-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which released the letter and an HHS action referral <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tab-2-EHA-SUSP4D-ARM_05.15.2024_signed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memo</a>, announced that the agency cited evidence from its May 1 interim <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024.05.01-SSCP-Report_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">staff report</a> looking at evidence surrounding EcoHealth Alliance&#8217;s research activities just before Daszak <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/hearing-wrap-up-ecohealth-alliance-should-be-criminally-investigated-formally-debarred/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave testimony</a> for the investigation.
&#8220;EcoHealth &amp; Dr. Daszak facilitated gain-of-function research in China without proper oversight &amp; willingly violated multiple requirements of NIH [the National Institutes of Health] grants. They should never again receive a single penny from the U.S. taxpayer,&#8221; the panel <a href="https://twitter.com/COVIDSelect/status/1790762370823847999" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
Daszak <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/1037517/peter-daszak-denies-ecohealth-violated-nih-rules-and-defends-work-with-wuhan-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long denied</a> that EcoHealth violated NIH rules, and former government officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, pushed back on claims that the U.S. agency funded gain-of-function research &#8212; in which viruses are manipulated to become more dangerous. The Trump administration <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/29/847948272/why-the-u-s-government-stopped-funding-a-research-project-on-bats-and-coronaviru" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulled funding</a> for EcoHealth, but NIH <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01566-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reinstated</a> a grant — with restrictions — last year.
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&#8220;EcoHealth Alliance is disappointed by HHS&#8217; decision today and we will be contesting the proposed debarment,&#8221; an EcoHealth Alliance spokesperson told The Daily Wire in an email. &#8220;We disagree strongly with the decision and will present evidence to refute each of these allegations and to show that NIH&#8217;s continued support of EcoHealth Alliance is in the public interest.&#8221;
More than <a href="https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths?n=o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 million people</a> diagnosed with COVID-19 have died worldwide. The origin of the pandemic became a topic of fierce debate, with two leading theories being there was a natural emergence or a lab leak. Beijing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/14/world/asia/china-covid-wuhan-lab-leak.html">denied being to blame</a>, but <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/classified-docs-credibly-suggest-covid-originated-wuhan-lab-leak-covered-up-ccp-house-rep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Department records suggest</a> COVID emerged from a &#8220;lab-related accident&#8221; and the Chinese Communist Party tried to cover it up.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trying-to-cover-your-a-rand-paul-charges-fauci-with-attempting-to-change-definition-of-gain-of-function-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">driven an inquiry</a> in the upper chamber into Fauci and the pandemic&#8217;s origins, <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1790803637691671018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the HHS decision by posting to X, &#8220;Finally, the Biden Admin. agrees to ban Peter Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance, who financed the gain-of-function research in Wuhan, from getting any more taxpayer $.&#8221;
Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) said his panel will continue to investigate EcoHealth and the origins of COVID-19, including efforts to secure outstanding documents from Daszak and his team to answer questions from congressional investigators.
&#8220;We will hold EcoHealth accountable for any waste, fraud, and abuse and are committed to uncovering any illegal activity, including lying to Congress, NIH, or the Inspector General,&#8221; Wenstrup <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/breaking-hhs-suspends-funding-and-proposes-formal-debarment-of-ecohealth-alliance-cites-evidence-from-covid-select-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added in a statement</a>.

Dr. Peter Daszak Of EcoHealth Alliance Testifies To House Select Subcommittee On The Coronavirus Pandemic

HHS Moves To Defund EcoHealth Alliance, Says Action Needed ‘To Protect The Public Interest’

HHS Moves To Defund EcoHealth Alliance, Says Action Needed 'To Protect The Public Interest'

COVID

U.S. House of Representatives

The Senate passed a two-year extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows federal agents to obtain the online communications of foreign nationals without a warrant, late Friday night in a 60-34 vote. 
The debate on the renewal of Section 702 pitted those who said it was essential to national security against those who were worried about the potential for Americans to be surveilled. Senators who <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00148.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor included 30 Republicans, 28 Democrats, and two independents, while 16 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and 1 independent voted against. 
The measure was supported by both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
&#8220;The stakes of such an outcome are grave,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-fisa-surveillance-renewal-avoiding-lapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;The authorities in question today have, quite literally, been the only defense against would-be national security disasters.”
Schumer said passage was necessary for American national security. “It wasn’t easy, people had many different views, but we all know one thing: letting FISA expire would have been dangerous. It’s an important part of our national security to stop acts of terror, drug trafficking, and violent extremism,” he <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-renews-fisa-section-702-spying-privacy-rcna148394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
On the other side, lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that there should be a warrant requirement if the communications of Americans are caught up in the surveillance of a foreign national. 
Previous reports have indicated that the FBI has inappropriately used FISA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-misused-surveillance-tool-over-278000-times-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 278,000 times</a> to collect information about American citizens, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-inappropriately-used-spy-powers-on-u-s-senator-court-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said that</a> the FBI searched for information on an unidentified U.S. senator using Section 702 powers. 
“Yet again the Senate was asked to consider the question: can liberty be exchanged for security? And sadly the majority of Senators said yes it can,” Paul <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1781536215793025043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after his amendments failed. “Final FISA reauthorization passed once again.”
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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said there were not enough protections in place for American citizens. 
“The Department of Justice’s abuses of FISA to spy on American citizens and their communications are unacceptable and contrary to the intent of the protections enshrined in our Fourth Amendment,” he <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-votes-against-fisa-reauthorization-legislation-after-fourth-amendment-protections-rejected#:~:text=U.S.%20Senator%20Kevin%20Cramer%20(R,obtain%20a%20warrant%20from%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure can’t be taken for granted.”
Earlier this week, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> its reauthorization of FISA after a similar warrant amendment stalled 212-212. Lawmakers eventually voted 259 to 128 to advance the legislation. 
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation as his administration has pushed lawmakers to renew Section 702.

Capitol Hill Prepares Ahead Of Full House Vote On Impeachment Articles This Week

Senate Sends FISA Reauthorization Bill To Biden’s Desk After Late Night Vote

Chuck Schumer

Civil Rights

FISA

Joe Biden

Mitch McConnell

National Security

Senate

There is &#8220;one question&#8221; that should be taken into consideration after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-launches-cruise-missiles-ballistic-missiles-at-israel-reports?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran&#8217;s drone and missile attack on Israel</a> this weekend, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) said on Sunday.
Paul, one of the more dovish members of Congress, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6350921769112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> about rising tensions between Israel and Iran with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures.&#8221; He noted the United States helped fend off the attack.
&#8220;I think we&#8217;re very fortunate that it was ineffective and that Israel&#8217;s and U.S. defenses were able to stop 97% of this,&#8221; Paul said. &#8220;But I think one question that&#8217;s not being asked enough this morning. Everybody&#8217;s asking, &#8216;What is the next step to escalation?&#8217; There&#8217;s another question: What [is] the possibility that we could de-escalate the situation?&#8221;
Paul emphasized &#8220;every action has a reaction.&#8221; He harkened back to Iran-backed Hamas launching an attack on Israel in October, killing an estimated 1,200 people, and Israel allegedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/major-escalation-alleged-israeli-airstrike-kills-top-iranian-general-in-syria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killing Iranian generals</a> with a strike in Syria.
&#8220;I think people ought to take a breath, wait a little bit. In medicine, we&#8217;re taught to check your own pulse before you check the patient&#8217;s pulse,&#8221; said the ophthalmologist-turned-lawmaker. &#8220;You need calm down and think with a clear head before we move forward.&#8221;
While President Joe Biden has declared <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1779289588890010044" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;ironclad&#8221; support</a> for Israel&#8217;s security, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-to-netanyahu-u-s-will-not-back-counterstrike-against-iran-report?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would not support a counterattack against Iran as the White House is concerned that escalating military action between the two nations could have significant consequences for the region.
Lawmakers are making plans for this week to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-says-house-will-try-again-with-israel-aid-following-iran-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consider legislation</a> that would provide support to Israel, leaving Paul to encourage leadership — particularly House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — to practice restraint in allocating more funds to foreign causes.
&#8220;I haven&#8217;t supported foreign aid really in my tenure in the Senate, but I did support foreign aid that was paid for to Israel not too long ago. This was passed in the House, and then every Democrat in the Senate voted against foreign aid that was paid for, Paul said, referring to a bill that would have provided $14.3 billion in emergency aid to Israel while also slashing the same amount of funds meant for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
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&#8220;What I would say to Speaker Johnson is, hold your ground, show some cojones, show some intestinal fortitude, for goodness&#8217; sakes. You have already passed aid to Israel,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Tell Chuck Schumer, when he&#8217;s ready to take it up, &#8216;Take it up and it&#8217;s going to be paid for.&#8217; It&#8217;s a great precedent, if Speaker Johnson will stick by his guns. I have a feeling that we&#8217;re going to see capitulation.&#8221;
Paul added, &#8220;There&#8217;s already talk of a new one that&#8217;s unpaid for. Why in the world would Republicans negotiate with themselves? Tell Chuck Schumer, bring it up. It&#8217;s been sitting in the Senate for two months now. If they want more aid to Israel, bring it up, but we&#8217;re going to have to cut somewhere else to pay for it.&#8221;

Sen. Rand Paul

Rand Paul Raises ‘One Question That’s Not Being Asked Enough’ After Iran Attacks Israel

Rand Paul Raises 'One Question That's Not Being Asked Enough' After Iran Attacks Israel

Iran

Israel

Mike Johnson

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)

GOP Hardliners Knock $1.2 Trillion ‘Swamp’ Spending Plan To Avert Shutdown

GOP Hardliners Knock $1.2 Trillion 'Swamp' Spending Plan To Avert Shutdown

Chip Roy

Government Shutdown

Spending Bill

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