A high-ranking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official confirmed that the hotline between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and the Pentagon became inoperable during the Biden administration in March 2022.
On January 29, American Airlines Flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members on board, collided in midair near the airport with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that had three people on board. Multiple American figure skaters and coaches returning from a training camp were on the flight. There were no survivors.
An internal preliminary report from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/federal-aviation-administration-faa">FAA</a> said that staffing at the tower was &#8220;not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/29/us/plane-crash-washington-dc">according to The New York Times</a>. The newspaper said the controller who was dealing with helicopters around the airport was also instructing airplanes that were landing and departing, tasks which are typically assigned to multiple people.
On Wednesday, Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/5/faa-reauthorization-one-year-later-aviation-safety-air-traffic-and-next-generation-technology_2">questioned</a> Franklin McIntosh, the FAA Deputy COO of air traffic control, about proper procedures.
“On April 25 for the first time since the January 28 mid-air collision, the army resumed flying in the national capital region,” Cruz noted. “Less than a week later, air traffic control had to command two commercial aircraft on final approach to abort their landing at DCA due to an Army Blackhawk on an apparent training mission at the Pentagon, having wandered far too close to the commercial aircraft flightpath.”
“Shortly thereafter, and just 10 days after having resumed limited flight in the national capital region, the army aviation brigade, suspended operations in the DC area,” he continued. “I’ve been told that prior to the army aviation brigade’s decision to suspend operations on May 5, the FAA was preparing to suspend the letter of agreement between the army and the FAA that gives the army the ability to operate the DC air space without having to first ask for FAA clearance for each flight. Was the FAA prepared to suspend the letter of agreement, and if so, what was concerning enough to justify such a decision?”
“We were extremely troubled by the incident that occurred, especially in light of DCA and the events that led up to the accident,” McIntosh admitted. “We were ready to deploy any option available that we could use or that we felt was necessary to bring safety measures and better behaviors from the DOD in this instance. &#8230; We were ready to do any option available to include what you just spoke to, which was removing the ability to fly.”
“Just to be clear, does that mean the FAA did actually draft an order suspending the army’s ability to fly in the DC area?” Cruz asked.
“I’m not 100% aware if we drafted an order, but we did have a discussion if that was an option that we wanted to pursue,” McIntosh replied. “I do know that the DOD came back and suspended operations on their own based on that event so we’re still working with DOD to improve that process.”
“Is it true that the hotline, the direct line between the Pentagon air traffic control and the DCA tower, has been inoperable since March 2022?” Cruz asked. When McIntosh confirmed that the hotline indeed had been inoperable, Cruz continued, ‘Who maintains that hotline?”
“I believe the DOD maintains that hotline but I think the next question would be why were we not aware of it and insist upon it being fixed? “ McIntosh replied. “We take safety responsibilities extremely seriously in the FAA and those were the questions we were asking and we were not aware, but we became aware after that event and now that we became aware of that event we are were insisting upon that line to be fixed before we resume any operations out of the Pentagon.
“While army flights were ongoing, if the hotline was not operational, how did controllers communicate?” Cruz wanted to know.
“We still have landline abilities; we can make phone calls from the helipad to the operation where the supervisor or the controller in charge can answer so we’re aware of the activity and if there was a departure clearance needed, we’d be able to relay it via that mechanism,” McIntosh answered.
“Is it also true that the air traffic control positions for local traffic and helicopters were combined early just as they were on the day of the mid-air collision?” Cruz pressed.
“Yes sir, it was,” McIntosh confirmed.
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this article.

US-AVIATION-ACCIDENT

Hotline Between Reagan National Airport, DOD Became Inoperable During Biden Admin

Air and Space

Department of Defense

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Politics

Reagan national Airport

Ted Cruz

In the wake of the release of American-Israeli Edan Alexander by the terrorist group Hamas, which still holds dozens of hostages abducted in their October 7, 2023, massacre of over 1,200 Israelis, some prominent GOP leaders were undeterred in urging that the terrorist group be eliminated.
Hamas released Alexander, apparently to curry favor with the U.S., as Israel has blocked aid into Gaza, where Hamas has routinely seized supplies intended for civilians and reportedly <a href="https://www.jns.org/hamas-steals-food-from-its-citizens-yet-israel-gets-blamed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resold them on the black market</a>.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) responded to the freeing of Alexander by writing, “Hamas terrorists brutally tortured Edan Alexander and held him hostage for 19 months. Thanks to @POTUS ’s strength and leadership, Edan on his way home. We’re glad he’s heading home but this should have never happened. We demand justice for all of those still held hostage and we stand with Israel in the fight to eliminate Hamas.”
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Hamas terrorists brutally tortured Edan Alexander and held him hostage for 19 months. Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’s strength and leadership, Edan on his way home.
We’re glad he’s heading home but this should have never happened. 
We demand justice for all of those still held hostage and… <a href="https://t.co/J7yvbuX2rf">https://t.co/J7yvbuX2rf</a>
&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1922016356729258349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), a veteran who served in the war in Iraq as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division and led a 41-man air assault, echoed, “After more than 580 days in captivity Edan Alexander is free from Hamas terrorists. I commend President Trump for his tireless efforts to free the hostages. And we should encourage Israel to keep up the pressure to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home.”
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After more than 580 days in captivity Edan Alexander is free from Hamas terrorists. I commend President Trump for his tireless efforts to free the hostages. And we should encourage Israel to keep up the pressure to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home.
&mdash; Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/1922002968200585425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) maintained a vigilant eye on Iran, for whom Hamas acts as a murderous proxy, writing, “While negotiating with Iran, the goal must be full dismantlement of their nuclear program. The Biden administration allowed them to build out their nuclear program for four years while keeping the cameras off. If they are allowed to keep any part of the program, they will be able to cheat — and the Ayatollah has cheated on every deal he&#8217;s ever signed.”
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While negotiating with Iran, the goal must be full dismantlement of their nuclear program. 
The Biden administration allowed them to build out their nuclear program for four years while keeping the cameras off. If they are allowed to keep any part of the program, they will be… <a href="https://t.co/XkLtZ1VTZT">pic.twitter.com/XkLtZ1VTZT</a>
&mdash; Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1921954233982542124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And to dispel rumors that President Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are undergoing a frostiness in their relationship, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee chimed in, “Excellent meeting w/     ⁦ @IsraeliPM. Cooperative efforts with ⁦@POTUS ⁩&amp; ⁦@IsraeliPM ⁩resulted in Edan Alexander release. Witkoff, &amp; Huckabee meet ahead of hostage release. Forget rumors. We’re all on same page.”
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Excellent meeting w/ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraeliPM</a>⁩. Cooperative efforts with ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>⁩ &amp; ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraeliPM</a>⁩ resulted in Edan Alexander release. Witkoff, &amp; Huckabee meet ahead of hostage release. Forget rumors. We’re all on same page. <a href="https://t.co/UrKsxtUWSS">https://t.co/UrKsxtUWSS</a>
&mdash; Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/1921946025247318251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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MixCollage-12-May-2025-06-19-PM-5287

Top GOP Members Of Congress Undeterred After Hostage Release: ‘Eliminate Hamas’

Global Politics

Hamas

Israel

Mike Huckabee

Mike Johnson

Tom Cotton

World

Senator Ted Cruz praised Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for promising to restore a historic painting of Jesus comforting sailors adrift at sea back to a place of prominence in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after the Biden administration moved it to a basement.
Cruz thanked Duffy on Friday for his commitment to moving the 81-year-old painting, “Christ On The Water,” back to its original location at the academy. In a letter to Duffy obtained by The Daily Wire, Cruz said that restoring the painting, which depicts Jesus appearing to sailors lost at sea during World War II, was an imperative step to protect America’s religious heritage. 
“Your public acknowledgment of the painting’s spiritual and historical significance was a powerful moment of moral clarity and leadership—one that resonated not only with the midshipmen in attendance, but with countless Americans who care deeply about preserving our nation’s religious and military heritage,” Cruz wrote. 
Last month, Duffy was met with a round of applause at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, after he called for the painting to be moved out of the basement. The Transportation Department&#8217;s Maritime Administration operates the academy, and gives direction over its policies and management. 
&#8220;Can we bring Jesus up from the basement?&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s not put Jesus in the basement! Let&#8217;s get Him out! Let&#8217;s bring Him up!&#8221;
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Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy erupted in applause when <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDuffy</a> demanded a painting of Jesus saving merchant mariners be restored.
The Biden admin put a curtain over the painting before putting it in a flood-prone basement.
&#8220;Let&#8217;s bring Him up!&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qQvLKXKE5r">pic.twitter.com/qQvLKXKE5r</a>
— Jon Brown (@JonBrownDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonBrownDC/status/1909780255633506322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Christ On the Water&#8221; was completed in 1944 by artist Hunter Wood, who trained at the Merchant Marine Academy and was in the Coast Guard. In 1947 the painting was installed at the Merchant Marine Academy’s Wiley Hall Elliot See Room where it was displayed until 2023 when the Biden administration moved it because of a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.  
<div id="attachment_918985" style="width: 797px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-918985" class="size-full wp-image-918985" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.18.22-AM.png" alt="" width="787" height="605" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.18.22-AM.png 787w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.18.22-AM-300x231.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.18.22-AM-749x576.png 749w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.18.22-AM-768x590.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px" />&#8220;Christ on the Water&#8221;/ US Merchant Marine Academy.</div>
“Your statement—&#8217;Can we bring Jesus up from the basement?’—was more than rhetorical. I trust it will be seen as an imperative,” Cruz wrote. “Thank you for your principled leadership, for defending our nation’s religious heritage, and for working to ensure that this government-commissioned memorial is returned to its rightful place.”
Cruz said the removal of the painting had no legal basis and was an example of the academy being &#8220;hostile to religion.&#8221;
“Its sudden concealment in 2023—done hastily in response to a single baseless complaint—did a great disservice to the Academy’s heritage and to the memory of those the painting was meant to honor. To this day, no legal rationale has been provided, and the painting is reportedly out of public view in a flood-prone basement,” Cruz said. 
In January 2023, the academy covered the painting with a sheet to avoid the perception that it was &#8220;endorsing&#8221; Christianity, following complaints about the painting.
&#8220;Our priority is to ensure the Academy is a welcoming environment for all and that it respects all religions without endorsing one over any others,&#8221; the academy said at the time. &#8220;In light of this, the Academy has chosen to cover the painting with curtains and will also install a plaque describing its history. The curtains will remain closed when official Academy meetings and events are conducted.&#8221;
Later, the academy decided to discontinue the use of the Elliot See Room for official business and moved the painting to a downstairs chapel area.
Cruz previously wrote to Academy Superintendent Joanna Nunan to argue that displaying the painting did not violate the Constitution, as Military Religious Freedom Foundation President Mikey Weinstein has argued. 
Weinstein has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKmyF-KUpTY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised</a> to start “World War Eight” if the painting is moved back to its previous location, warning the Trump administration to “Eff around and find out.” Weinstein called Duffy a “piece of s***” and said the midshipmen who cheered Duffy were “cowards” who “made a mockery” of their oath to the Constitution.
Last week, Duffy <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/1919917774681317457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1919917774681317457%7Ctwgr%5E20725f8371ab5afe20016015fa273d316e88f5ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithwire.com%2F2025%2F05%2F08%2Fbring-jesus-up-sean-duffy-hangs-portrait-of-jesus-in-office-calls-for-original-to-be-rehung-after-being-sidelined-during-biden-admin%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">placed</a> a replica of the painting behind his desk at the Department of Transportation. 
“While we work on getting the piece out of the academy’s basement and back in a place of prominence, I figured there was no better place to hang a copy than right here @USDOT,” he wrote.

MixCollage-12-May-2025-10-35-AM-7052

Ted Cruz Backs Trump Official’s Attempt To ‘Bring Jesus Up From The Basement’ — Literally

Biden Administration

Christianity

Jesus Christ

Sean Duffy

President Donald Trump said on Friday that a tax increase on the highest income earners in the country would be &#8220;OK&#8221; with him, but warned that the move could be politically damaging to Republicans.
Trump made the comment after Punchbowl News <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1920525154024558934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Thursday that the president was pushing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to include tax increases on the rich in Trump&#8217;s &#8220;big, beautiful bill.&#8221; According to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5290814-trump-tax-hike-wealthy-gop-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>, which cited three sources, the White House would allow Trump&#8217;s marginal income tax cut to expire for the wealthiest Americans while keeping tax breaks for lower income brackets.
&#8220;The problem with even a &#8216;TINY&#8217; tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, “Read my lips,” the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114477701321152097" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Truth Social.
&#8220;NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but I’m OK if they do!!!&#8221; he added.
Trump&#8217;s reference to former President George H.W. Bush goes back to when Bush compromised with Congressional Democrats to increase several existing taxes after famously promising on the campaign trail, &#8220;Read my lips: no new taxes.&#8221; In the 1992 election cycle, Bill Clinton <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/22/us/1992-campaign-democrats-clinton-says-bush-untrustworthy-jobs-taxes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed</a> Bush over the quote, saying he broke an election promise. Clinton went on to defeat Bush in the 1992 election, as independent candidate Ross Perot garnered 18.9% of the vote.
Trump&#8217;s pitch to raise taxes on the wealthy would reportedly only apply to those making more than $2.5 million a year for single filers or $5 million for joint filers. That would be substantially higher than the top tax bracket for 2024, which applied to incomes above $609,351 for single filers and $731,201 for joint filers. The tax increase on the wealthiest Americans would revert from the current 37% rate to the 39.6% rate that was in effect before Trump&#8217;s 2017 tax cuts, according to Punchbowl News.
Conservatives and Congressional Republicans, including some of Trump&#8217;s closest allies, have blasted the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy.
&#8220;That would be a tax on every small business, every job creator. And you know what? That’s what Kamala Harris campaigned on,&#8221; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/johnkartch/status/1920484997850402906" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a Thursday appearance on CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk Box.&#8221; &#8220;And I gotta say, the folks in the administration, they&#8217;ve decided to call themselves populists, but just being a Democrat and wanting higher taxes and more regulation, that&#8217;s not populist. That&#8217;s embracing the failed ideas of Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden.&#8221;
Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, <a href="https://x.com/GroverNorquist/status/1920246547310416325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> on Wednesday, &#8220;President Trump ran on making all the tax rates reductions permanent. Kamala Harris ran on letting the top income tax rates reductions passed by Trump to spring back to the higher pre-Trump/Obama tax rate. All tax rate increases damage economic growth and kill jobs by disincentivizing work and investment.&#8221;
Trump media allies like Fox Business commentator Larry Kudlow and Fox News host Sean Hannity also slammed the idea in April. Kudlow <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6371372375112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it was &#8220;among the top three dumbest things I’ve ever heard,&#8221; while Hannity <a href="https://x.com/johnkartch/status/1912294066458702132" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>, &#8220;It seems to go against everything Donald Trump has ever believed in.&#8221;

Donald Trump

Trump Takes Shock Stance On Taxing Rich, Warns GOP Against Adopting It

Economy

Executive

Republicans

Sean Hannity

Taxes

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Artificial intelligence industry leaders who have openly stated a willingness to work on the emerging technology with China will testify to Congress on Thursday, likely facing a panel of U.S. senators urging them to instead pivot away from the global adversary.
At the Senate <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/5/winning-the-ai-race-strengthening-u-s-capabilities-in-computing-and-innovation_2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> put together by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), &#8220;Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,&#8221; China is almost certainly going to be a central topic of discussion. When Cruz announced the hearing, he emphasized the competitive stakes in this global tech competition: &#8220;The way to beat China in the AI race is to outrace them in innovation, not saddle AI developers with European-style regulations.&#8221;
Cruz and his Senate colleagues will have the opportunity to grill industry leaders who are open to working with China, including: Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft Corporation; Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI; and Lisa Su, CEO of semiconductor company AMD.
</div>
For decades, Microsoft has <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/about-microsofts-presence-in-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintained</a> a &#8220;presence&#8221; in China, where co-founder Bill Gates once <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2000/05/23/yes-more-trade-with-china/80438c20-4fdb-4895-99a6-61776068a636/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> there was an opportunity to tap into a &#8220;deep pool of intellectual talent.&#8221; Even after considering the risks of working on powerful technologies in China, the company kept it as a research hub.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/technology/microsoft-china-ai-lab.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last year that, as tensions &#8220;mounted&#8221; between the United States and China &#8220;over which nations will lead the world&#8217;s technological future,&#8221; Smith and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella &#8220;debated&#8221; what to do with an AI lab in Beijing that &#8220;became one of the most important &#8230; in the world.&#8221;
Citing people familiar with the situation, the news outlet noted &#8220;the hypothetical risks are that China could hack or otherwise infiltrate the lab, or that its researchers could leave Microsoft to join Chinese companies that work closely with the government.”
According to the report, there were discussions about shutting down the lab or relocating it. However, four sources told The New York Times that Microsoft’s leadership supported continuing operations in China. Labs in Beijing as well as Shanghai remain <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/lab/microsoft-research-asia/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> on the official website for Microsoft Research Asia, as well as locations in Canada and Japan.
&#8220;We are as committed as ever to the lab and the world-class research of this team,” Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Research, said in a statement reported by the newspaper. &#8220;There has been no discussion or advocacy to close Microsoft Research Asia, and we look forward to continuing our research agenda.&#8221;
In another statement, Smith contended, &#8220;The lesson of history is that countries succeed when they learn from the world,&#8221; adding, &#8220;Guardrails and controls are critical, while engagement remains vital.&#8221;
</div>
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OpenAI’s Altman has expressed willingness to collaborate with China on AI development.
In an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEb-5gRdpBE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Sky News earlier this year, Altman said he would &#8220;like to work with China.&#8221; Asked if he believed the U.S. government would let him, Altman added, &#8220;Do I know that for sure? No. Should we try as hard as we can? Absolutely, yes. And I think that’s really important.&#8221;
Su, of AMD, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/amd-ceo-lisa-su-china-chips.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> to CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk on the Street&#8221; on Wednesday about U.S. restrictions on exports of advanced AI technology to China. She emphasized that &#8220;probably the most important thing is that the U.S. leads in AI today&#8221; while contending that China is an &#8220;important&#8221; market.
&#8220;There should be a balance between export controls for national security as well as ensuring that we get the widest possible adoption of our technology because that&#8217;s a good thing for U.S. jobs and the U.S. economy,&#8221; Su said.
Cruz has long been an enemy of China, which even <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/13/ted-cruz-china-sanctions/">sanctioned</a> him in 2020 over actions he took in the Senate against it. He said earlier this year that he has consistently urged President Donald Trump to keep the pressure on China.
&#8220;Everything we can do to de-link our economy from China&#8217;s economy is good for American national security and economic security,&#8221; Cruz said.
The Trump administration has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-trump-energy-sec-to-visit-tn-nuclear-facility-take-part-in-ai-summit">called</a> the race for building super computing technology to power artificial intelligence this era&#8217;s Manhattan Project.
</div>
</div>

Sam Altman

AI Industry’s Ties To China Likely To Come Under Congressional Scrutiny

Artificial Intelligence

China

Technology

U.S.

On Monday, the GOP-led House overwhelmingly passed a bill championed by First Lady Melania Trump to protect victims of non-consensual intimate imagery, including <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-leads-colleagues-in-unveiling-landmark-bill-to-protect-victims-of-deepfake-revenge-porn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revenge porn</a> using AI-generated deepfakes.
The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>, called the &#8220;Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act,&#8221; <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> the support of 207 Republicans and 202 Democrats.
Once signed into law, the legislation would prohibit the non-consensual online publication of intimate visual depictions, including digital forgeries, imposing fines, imprisonment, and mandatory restitution for violations, particularly when intended to harm adults or exploit minors. The bill also requires online platforms hosting user-generated content to remove such depictions within 48 hours of a removal request, with the Federal Trade Commission enforcing compliance.
The Senate <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/index.php/2025/2/cruz-klobuchar-bill-to-protect-teenagers-from-deepfake-revenge-porn-unanimously-passes-the-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimously</a> passed the bill, authored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in February. In the weeks that followed, Melania Trump encouraged the House to pass the bill during a roundtable discussion with Cruz, other lawmakers, survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery, and online safety advocates, according to the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/readout-from-first-lady-melania-trumps-roundtable-discussion-on-online-protection-and-the-take-it-down-act/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a>. During her remarks, the first lady <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yr6AvaDnXo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> about protecting young people, especially girls, from &#8220;malicious online content&#8221; such as deepfakes.
&#8220;This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape,” she said. &#8220;Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.&#8221;
Having passed both chambers, the bill now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
&#8220;Today, the House took a critical step to combat the growing online publication of real and deepfake nonconsensual intimate images with the passage of the Take It Down Act. I want to thank First Lady Melania Trump for championing this important legislation that empowers and provides protections to victims of online sexual exploitation,&#8221; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement. “It also criminalizes the publication of nonconsensual intimate images and mandates their removal from online platforms once reported. The First Lady’s leadership has been instrumental in the bill’s passage, and we look forward to seeing this signed into law.&#8221;
Melania Trump also released a statement, mentioning her &#8220;Be Best&#8221; initiative.
&#8220;Today’s bipartisan passage of the Take It Down Act is a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of our children,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I am thankful to the Members of Congress — both in the House and Senate — who voted to protect the well-being of our youth. Through this critical legislation and our continued focus with ‘Be Best,’ we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.&#8221;
Just two members, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Eric Burlison (R-MO), voted against it.
Before the House vote, Massie <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1916984817767579966" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X screenshots of a Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/08/take-it-down-act-deepfakes-ncii-flaws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> that highlighted how critics said the deepfake bill is &#8220;flawed.&#8221; The Kentucky Republican said: &#8220;Tonight we’re voting on the &#8216;TAKE IT DOWN Act,&#8217; a bill that would impose federal criminal and civil penalties for publishing unauthorized intimate pictures generated with AI. I’m voting NO because I feel this is a slippery slope, ripe for abuse, with unintended consequences.&#8221;

First Lady Melania Trump

House Passes Melania-Backed Bill To Fight Deepfake Revenge Porn

Congress

Deepfake

Melania Trump

Online porn

Pornography

U.S. House of Representatives

A bipartisan group of senators — led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) — is discussing the most important issue of our time. The time.
They want to &#8220;lock the clock&#8221; and forever be done with the ridiculous, primitive practice of changing our clocks twice a year. And they&#8217;re discussing if the best way to do that is to make Daylight Saving Time, our current clock position, permanent.
This is the clear best way to go, and they seem to have won over President Donald Trump. After arguing for keeping Standard Time perfect just a few months ago, the president is now <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114319659315817918" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urging</a> Congress to &#8220;push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day.&#8221;
&#8220;The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day. Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!! DJT&#8221; he wrote on Truth Social.
On Thursday, Cruz focused his opening remarks on addressing the time change and examining how Congress can &#8220;end this outdated and harmful practice.&#8221; Later in the hearing, Cruz said that, among his Senate colleagues, there is general agreement on ending the time change by adopting DST. Others, however, want to stick to Standard Time permanently. These misguided individuals prefer daylight early in the mornings, and want to deprive normal people of sunshine later in the evenings when people are actually awake.
The defenders of Standard Time include so-called health experts who argue that Standard Time is more aligned with our Circadian rhythm and helps our sleep cycle. Another argument for Standard Time truthers, and probably a more convincing one, is that DST forces children to go to the bus stop in the dark while Standard Time provides some daylight for the early morning treks to school. But even this argument doesn&#8217;t stand up to much scrutiny, and could be easily solved with a slight bump to school start times.
Adopting DST is easy to defend. More sunlight in the evenings is far more valuable than daylight in the mornings. The evening is when most people get a chance to be outside, while mornings are usually spent inside getting ready for work and school.
DST is pro-family, pro-community, and pro-worker. The extended period of sunlight in the evening provides precious time for hardworking men and women to get chores done around the house, or enjoy time with the kids in the great outdoors after clocking out. More sunshine in the evening also allows youth sports teams more time for practices and games, and boosts foot traffic in entertainment districts before darkness takes over.
DST is also a big boost for golf courses, which get a huge chunk of their business from late afternoon and evening tee times. President Trump, a big golfer himself, surely understands that.
Cruz acknowledged in his remarks on Thursday, “There are very real and complicated issues and countervailing arguments on both sides.&#8221;
&#8220;There is widespread agreement on locking the clock … but the reason we’re holding these hearings is because these are real arguments and they have real impacts on people,&#8221; he said.
Hopefully, the truth that Daylight Saving is better for America will be made clear in these hearings. As of now, reason appears to be on the verge of victory.

Before the time change

Will Our Leaders Finally Make Daylight Saving Permanent? We Can Only Hope.

Elon Musk said during an interview this week that the United States will win the race for artificial intelligence in the near term, but that long-term success over China will come down to which nation has the stronger manufacturing base.
Musk made the remarks during an interview on Sen. Ted Cruz&#8217;s (R-TX) &#8220;Verdict&#8221; podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson when asked about how the technology will change people&#8217;s lives.
&#8220;In 10 years, probably AI could do anything better than a human can cognitively, probably almost, I think, in 10 years, based on the current rate of improvement, AI will be smarter than the smartest human,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There will also be a massive number of robots, so humanoid robots.&#8221;
He claimed that there would be &#8220;tens of billions of robots&#8221; in existence by then that will &#8220;make you anything or provide any service you want for basically next to nothing.&#8221;
Cruz then asked Musk how the United States could win the war for AI dominance against China, saying that he wanted to make sure that if robots turned out to be killing machines in the future that he preferred they be American killer robots instead of Chinese killer robots.
“Well, next few years, I think America is likely to win, then it will be a function of who controls the AI chip fabrication, the factories that make the AI chips, who controls them, if more of them are controlled by China, then China will win,&#8221; Musk said.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What will life look like 10 years from now? <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ElonMusk</a> gives his thoughts to where we are headed with AI. 
Download and listen to the latest episode of Verdict here! <a href="https://t.co/WGlGPSDJgZ">https://t.co/WGlGPSDJgZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/pQJPXCsACX">pic.twitter.com/pQJPXCsACX</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1901711131120742516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Elon Musk Meets with Senate Republicans

Elon Musk Reveals Key For U.S. To Win AI Race Vs. China

Communist China

Elon Musk

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ripped the Democrat Party this week for their outpouring of support for pro-Hamas activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested by federal authorities this week and is awaiting deportation.
Cruz made the remarks on his &#8220;Verdict&#8221; podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson while talking about the legality of the Trump administration&#8217;s move to kick Khalil out of the country.
&#8220;Let me be clear, under U.S. law, American citizens are protected by the First Amendment, foreigners are not,&#8221; Cruz said. &#8220;A visa to come to this country as a student, that is a permissive decision, and you do not have a right if you are a guest to this country to actively undermine America. Let me be clear to anyone: if you hate America, if you want to undermine America, do not come to this country.&#8221;
Cruz said that he believes there will be more pro-Hamas protesters arrested and deported.
&#8220;And what I&#8217;ve said from the beginning, if you are threatening other students, if you are attacking America, if you are embracing terrorists and you&#8217;re a foreign student, you should be expelled and you should be deported,&#8221; he said.
He then trained his fire on the Democrat Party, saying that those in the political system who align themselves with pro-Hamas protesters are Democrats.
&#8220;They are the party of Hamas,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They are the party of the radicals. If you actually side with Israel, if you side with Jewish students, if you side with America, if you don&#8217;t like Hamas terrorists that want to kill us, well, it is amazing, the divide we have, and this is a simple, clear divide.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
American citizens are protected by the First Amendment.
Mahmoud Khalil is not a citizen. He is a guest in this country, and he has no right to actively undermine America or spread hate and violence here.
The Trump administration rightly arrested Mahmoud and is planning to… <a href="https://t.co/l3rXPL9WS4">pic.twitter.com/l3rXPL9WS4</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1899917355255537688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Judiciary Committee 11/14

Ted Cruz Blasts Democrats For Supporting Pro-Hamas Activist Mahmoud Khalil

Democratic Party

Terrorism

Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, on fire after President Donald Trump&#8217;s address to Congress on Tuesday night, lambasted the Democrats for their refusal to stand and applaud, with one exception.
&#8220;Tonight was incredible. This is the fifth State of the Union address I’ve seen Trump give; it was by far his best,&#8221; Cruz told Fox News&#8217;s Sean Hannity. &#8220;We’re just over a month into it, and he had a litany of victories that we’ve already won, one after the other after the other. I thought he was joyful. I thought he was forward-looking. I thought he had the promise of America front and center.&#8221;
Then, Cruz segued to the Democrats and their hostile response: &#8220;And I gotta say the contrast — I have never seen such a disgraceful display as the Democrats put on. I’ve been to 13 State of the Union addresses altogether since I’ve been in the Senate; I’ve been to every one; I’ve never missed one.&#8221;
&#8220;It started from the moment he walked in and was introduced, the President of the United States,&#8221; he elaborated. &#8220;Not a single Democrat stood, not a single Democrat applauded. Not one. I’ve never seen that happen.&#8221;
&#8220;Every time Joe Biden walked into that chamber and they introduced him as president of the United States, I stood my butt up and I clapped,&#8221; he recalled. &#8220;Every time Barack Obama walked in, I stood up and clapped. Even when I couldn’t stand their policies, even when I was horrified at what they were doing, I respect the office of President of the United States and I respect the American people.&#8221;
&#8220;The contempt those Democrats had; they wouldn’t stand, as you noted, for the mom of Jocelyn Nungaray,&#8221; he said, referring to the 12-year-old girl allegedly murdered by illegal immigrants. &#8220;They wouldn’t stand for Laken Riley‘s family; they wouldn’t stand for the 13-year-old kid who survived brain cancer; they didn’t stand for the young man whose father was a slain police officer who Trump admitted to West Point in the middle of the speech. They wouldn’t stand for him. Even the Joint Chiefs applauded the kid going to West Point.&#8221;
&#8220;There was one thing the entire night they applauded for: that we sent hundreds of billions of dollars to Ukraine. And they all stood and cheered that we sent money to Ukraine, but they will not applaud for America,&#8221; he concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Democrats wouldn&#39;t clap for the families of Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, the 13-year-old boy with brain cancer, or the kid of a fallen police officer. 
In all 13 State of the Unions I&#39;ve attended, I have never seen such a disgraceful display from the Democrats. <a href="https://t.co/jZlDGQYYZX">pic.twitter.com/jZlDGQYYZX</a>
&mdash; Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1897153153617027347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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First Lady Melania Trump Joins Roundtable Discussion On “Take It Down Act”

‘I Have Never Seen Such A Disgraceful Display’: Cruz Rips Dems Hostile Reaction To Trump’s Speech

Democrats

State of the Union

First Lady Melania Trump appeared on Capitol Hill on Monday and called out Democrats for not taking on the serious issue of youth online safety with the passage of the “Take it Down Act.”
Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1896643926146105364">first lady</a> said during her first solo public appearance that she was there “with a common goal, to protect our youth from online harm,” calling on Congress to pass the act from Cruz that would “criminalize the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII),&#8221; including AI-generated &#8221;deepfake pornography,” per a Cruz office <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2024/6/sen-cruz-leads-colleagues-in-unveiling-landmark-bill-to-protect-victims-of-deepfake-revenge-porn">release</a>.
“Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people,” Melania said during a panel discussion with victims of NCII. “I hope today’s roundtable builds awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual intimate imagery and eventually the approval of the ‘Take it Down Act’ in Congress.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First Lady <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a> on &#8216;Take it Down Act&#8217;: &#8220;I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely as adults we can prioritize America&#8217;s children ahead of partisan politics.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/0j9MIRv3cu">pic.twitter.com/0j9MIRv3cu</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1896643926146105364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;In today&#8217;s AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information escalates,” she added. “We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.&#8221;
“I was heartened to learn that Sen. Cruz and Sen. Klobuchar [D-MN] unified to prioritize this fundamental matter,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
The first lady then called on Congress to “prioritize the passage of the ‘Take it Down Act’ bill,” calling it essential to deal with the “growing concerns of online safety.”
Ahead of Monday’s roundtable, Cruz posted on <a href="https://x.com/SenTedCruz/status/1896639815766168017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>, “I am looking forward to a robust discussion with @FLOTUS.”
“My bill, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, passed unanimously in the Senate with a 100-0 vote,” he added. “This crucial legislation will protect ALL Americans, especially teenagers and young women. We need to get this done!&#8221;
The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support in February, but has yet to pass the House, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/02/politics/melania-trump-public-remarks-deepfake/index.html">CNN</a> noted.
During President Donald Trump’s first term, Melania introduced her “Be Best” initiative, which dealt with making the online platform safer for young people. At Monday’s event, the <a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS/status/1896628735136379010">first lady</a> noted that the “Take it Down Act” supports her “Be Best” platform by providing “important legislation to safeguard our youth.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trumps-plans-as-first-lady-second-time-around-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melania Trump’s Plans As First Lady Second Time Around: Report</a>

Melania Trump 3-3

Melania Chides Democrats For Skipping Meeting On Revenge Porn Bill

Capitol Hill

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ripped Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday over the way that he acted during his Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
Cruz&#8217;s remarks on his &#8220;Verdict&#8221; podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson come after the meeting ended with Trump canceling his joint press conference with Zelensky and the mineral deal they were supposed to sign. Trump went as fas as to kick Zelensky out of the White House.
The senator said that he thought Zelensky showed up to the Oval Office believing that he needed to &#8220;battle&#8221; Trump.
&#8220;And without exaggeration, I believe this will go down as the most disastrous Oval Office meeting in the history of our nation,&#8221; Cruz said.
Cruz later predicted that he believes the meeting could &#8220;easily end President Zelensky’s tenure.&#8221;
&#8220;Zelensky is going to deeply regret doing so,&#8221; Cruz said. &#8220;And what&#8217;s amazing is he keeps doubling down. I think there&#8217;s a very good possibility, as I said, that Zelensky does not politically survive this, and within days that he&#8217;s out of office.&#8221;
He went as far as to say that he believes Zelensky hurt his own country and world peace with his performance.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Zelenskyy Crashes &amp; Burns | Verdict Ep.213" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4yvPIQyhhsU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The White House told The Daily Wire on Friday that the situation that unfolded in the Oval Office was definitely not preplanned.
“Absolutely not an ambush or pre-planned,” a senior White House official shared. “We expected a great day, econ deal signing, and demonstration to the world that we are partners” with Ukraine “and leading a movement to peace.”
Zelensky came in with “the same nonsense” that the White House had “been dealing with” since Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent went to Kiev, the official added. That official described Zelensky’s behavior as “intransigence” and “a complete missed opportunity” for Ukraine.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-not-an-ambush-oval-office-brawl-with-zelensky-was-not-pre-planned-wh-officials-say">‘Absolutely Not An Ambush’: Oval Office Brawl With Zelensky Was Not Pre-Planned, WH Officials Say</a>

Cruz Rips Zelensky Over ‘Most Disastrous Oval Office Meeting’ In History

JD Vance

Ukraine-Russia War

Volodymyr Zelensky

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