Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) fired a warning shot at Democrats amid <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/key-senator-backs-trump-on-nixing-summer-recess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calls</a> for the upper chamber to cancel its August recess and confirm more of President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominees.
In remarks on the Senate floor, Thune explained how the Senate has confirmed 107 civilian nominees over the past six months — nearly doubling the pace seen during Trump&#8217;s first term. This is happening in spite of Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-republicans-erupt-over-dem-stalling-of-trump-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeding</a> the process by forcing procedural votes in which many of them end up supporting the nominees in significant numbers, he added.
Thune described what he called a &#8220;historic level of obstruction&#8221; being waged by the minority party, noting how Trump is the only president on record not to have a single civilian nominee confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent at this point in his term. By comparison, the leader pointed out, former President Joe Biden had 44 civilian nominees confirmed by voice vote at this point in his first and only term.
&#8220;Democrats haven&#8217;t offered a shred of courtesy to President Trump, to the voters who elected him, or the people who have stepped up to serve our country in his administration,&#8221; Thune said. Yet ultimately, &#8220;the ball is in [the] Democrats&#8217; court,&#8221; he asserted.
&#8220;They can continue to drag out the process on even the most uncontroversial nominees, and we can spend a lot more hours with each other in the Senate chamber,&#8221; Thune said. &#8220;Or they can rein in their reflexive anti-Trump sentiment and allow some of his rank-and-file nominees to proceed by unanimous consent or voice vote — just as Republicans did when the roles were reversed. And I’d remind my colleagues about the dangerous and ugly precedent that they’re setting here. But the choice is theirs &#8230; whether it&#8217;s the slow way or the fast way, we&#8217;re getting President Trump&#8217;s nominees confirmed.
Earlier this month, after Congress passed the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; and a $9 billion rescissions package, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-to-cancel-long-weekends-and-get-his-people-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> Thune to keep the Senate busy cementing his second-term priorities.
&#8220;Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114882283904953607" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;We need them badly!!! DJT.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Thune: Democrats’ Historic Obstruction Sets Dangerous and Ugly Precedent" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5Fq24NrX4I?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>

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks

Thune Warns Dems Are Setting ‘Dangerous And Ugly Precedent’ With Trump’s Nominees

Congress

John Thune

Politics

Presidential nomination

U.S.

U.S. Senate

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) voiced support for President Donald Trump&#8217;s call for the upper chamber to cancel its August recess and confirm more of his nominees.
The Iowa Republican, whose panel has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-benchmark-of-excellence-senate-confirms-first-judge-of-trumps-second-term" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advancing</a> Trump&#8217;s picks for U.S. attorney and judge positions, shared his stance on Sunday. He alluded to how Democrats have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-republicans-erupt-over-dem-stalling-of-trump-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeding</a> the process with such moves as forcing procedural votes.
&#8220;If Pres Trump asks us to not take [an August recess, I&#8217;m with] him. Democrats [have] been slow walking nominations,&#8221; Grassley said in a <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGrassley/status/1949630801978495084">post</a> on X written with a lot of short-hand. &#8220;We [have] to make up for their wasted time Trump needs his administration in place.&#8221;
Earlier this month, after Congress passed the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; and a $9 billion rescissions package, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-to-cancel-long-weekends-and-get-his-people-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to keep the Senate busy cementing his second-term priorities.
&#8220;Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114882283904953607" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;We need them badly!!! DJT.&#8221;
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) proposed a benchmark for lawmakers to reach before going into a recess or, as an alternative, an off-period without <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-how-recess-appointments-work-and-how-they-could-help-trump-fill-his-cabinet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro forma sessions</a> that prevent the president from making appointments in their absence.
&#8220;The Senate shouldn’t recess before clearing the 135-nominee confirmation backlog,&#8221; Lee <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1948955024136307064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;If the Senate recesses anyway, it should *actually* recess—NO PRO FORMA SESSIONS, as their only purpose is to prevent Trump from making recess appointments.&#8221; He added: &#8220;The Senate can’t have it both ways.&#8221;
Trump seemed to like the proposal.
&#8220;Very Important,&#8221; the president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114920864979561533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social, along with a screenshot of Lee&#8217;s post. &#8220;Republicans must play to win. Clear the 135. So badly needed!&#8221;
The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5412770-senate-gop-trump-recess/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last week that Thune, who is also overseeing efforts to pass appropriations bills ahead of a potential government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-warns-schumer-may-cave-to-far-left-push-for-govt-shutdown-in-coming-weeks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shutdown</a> in September, was open to the idea of nixing the August recess.
&#8220;We’re thinking about it. We want to get as many [nominations] through the pipeline as we can,&#8221; he said, according to the news outlet.
The Senate has already <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-confirms-last-of-trump-2-0-cabinet-secretaries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> Trump&#8217;s Cabinet secretaries and other nominees over the past six months.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) <a href="https://x.com/SenMullin/status/1949868977976463795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> on Monday how 107 of Trump&#8217;s nominees have been confirmed so far in 2025 compared to the 55 picks confirmed half a year into his first term in 2017.
&#8220;After confirming the President&#8217;s entire cabinet at record pace, [the Senate GOP] is working [with the White House] to prioritize all remaining confirmations,&#8221; Mullin said on X. &#8220;Like I&#8217;ve said, I&#8217;m in it. Let&#8217;s get it done.&#8221;
The GOP-led House has already begun its August recess.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-a-vacation-house-leaders-unveil-rival-game-plans-for-most-important-work-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a press conference last week that August is &#8220;arguably the most important work month on our calendar&#8221; because House Republicans would return to their districts to meet voters and promote the &#8220;One, Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has knocked the House GOP over leaving for what he calls the <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1949165466078924822" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Epstein recess&#8221;</a> in a supposed bid to dodge the latest controversy rocking Washington, D.C.

Senator Chuck Grassley

Key Senator Backs Trump On Nixing Summer Recess

Chuck Grassley

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump made endorsements for two critical Senate seats on Thursday in high-profile races that are expected to draw a lot of attention. 
In a Truth Social post, Trump told his followers to support Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. While Whatley hasn’t officially announced a campaign, it is widely expected that he will jump into the race in the coming days. 
“Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide! But I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate. He is STRONG on the Border, stopping Crime, supporting our Military/Veterans, cutting Taxes, and saving our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump posted. 
“I need him in Washington, and I need him representing YOU!” Trump added. “So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The North Carolina seat became open after GOP Senator Thom Tillis announced he would not seek re-election after he opposed Trump’s signature spending package and the president threatened to support a primary challenger. Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and a Fox News host, had been floated as a potential candidate for the seat, but she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lara-trump-steps-aside-clearing-path-for-rnc-chairmans-senate-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Thursday that she would not launch a campaign. 
On the Democratic side, former Governor Roy Cooper is expected to launch a campaign on Monday, aiming to flip the seat. 
Trump also endorsed former Florida Republican Party chair and state Senator Joe Gruter to head up the RNC if Whatley runs for U.S. Senate. 
Former Congressman Mike Rogers also earned Trump’s backing in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race. Rogers narrowly lost a previous Senate election in 2024 to Elise Slotkin, but is running again after Democrat Sen. Gary Peters announced his upcoming retirement. Trump praised Rogers as an “America First Patriot.”
“From the U.S. Army to Congress, Mike has served our Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Senate,” Trump said on Truth Social. “As your next Senator, Mike will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE by keeping the price of Gasoline, Oil, and all forms of Energy VERY LOW (CHEAP!), Help Secure our now VERY Secure (Record Setting!) Southern Border, Support our Incredible Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), who had been considering a Senate run, announced Thursday that he would not enter the race. Huizenga, who reportedly spoke to Trump last week, did receive the president’s endorsement for his congressional seat. He is up for re-election in November 2026.

US-POLITICS-TECHNOLOGY-AI

Trump Endorses Two ‘America First’ Candidates In Battle For Senate Control

Elections

Michael Whatley

Michigan

North Carolina

Republican National Committee (RNC)

Thom Tillis

Mike Waltz is one step closer to becoming President Donald Trump&#8217;s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations thanks to the help of a Senate Democrat.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 12-10 on Thursday to favorably report Waltz&#8217;s nomination to the full chamber. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the panel, joined with all but one Republican in voting &#8220;yes.&#8221; Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and the rest of the Democrats voted against Waltz.
In a <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1948413228628742521" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Shaheen said she disagrees with Waltz on some issues, &#8220;including his use of unclassified systems to coordinate sensitive documents.&#8221; However, the New Hampshire Democrat added that she views Waltz as representing a &#8220;moderating force with a distinguished record of military service and an extensive background in national security policymaking,&#8221; and she suggested the United States is &#8220;better off&#8221; with him as opposed to potential &#8220;alternatives.&#8221;
Shaheen also declared that she intends to hold Waltz &#8220;accountable&#8221; in the months and years ahead, and noted that she welcomes the Trump administration&#8217;s &#8220;commitment&#8221; to distribute $75 million of &#8220;lifesaving&#8221; foreign assistance.
Waltz, a former Florida congressman and Green Beret veteran, was ousted from his role as Trump&#8217;s national security adviser after he took responsibility for the &#8220;Signalgate&#8221; controversy earlier this year. Trump then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/curveball-amid-rumors-that-mike-waltz-was-fired-trump-gives-him-another-top-admin-post" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picked</a> Waltz to become his envoy to the United Nations after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulling</a> Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as his nominee for the role. Stefanik is now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elise-stefanik-reportedly-set-to-challenge-hochul-for-new-york-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to run for governor of New York against the Democrat incumbent, Kathy Hochul.
During Waltz&#8217;s confirmation hearing, Paul confronted the nominee on the issue of war powers. Paul was the sole Republican to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-rebuffs-dem-bid-to-limit-trumps-iran-war-powers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a> with the majority of Democrats in June for a failed measure that sought to stop Trump from launching further attacks on Iran with the consent of Congress.
&#8220;I guess it just worries me that you come more from the Liz Cheney wing of the party than the Donald Trump wing of the party,&#8221; Paul <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1945157737844777039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, to which Waltz contended in his reply: &#8220;I am squarely with the president &#8230; in terms of the limits on hard power.&#8221;
Paul <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/24/congress/waltz-nomination-overcomes-rand-paul-hurdle-00474459" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> told colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he was willing to vote in favor of Waltz, but without a favorable recommendation.

Miek Waltz

Trump’s UN Nominee Mike Waltz Clears Hurdle With Dem Assist

Jeanne Shaheen

Mike Waltz

Rand Paul

United Nations

While visiting a Middle Eastern nation, I met with a highly placed Muslim official. He leaned toward me and said, “Doctor Youssef, can you tell me why the Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed as a terrorist organization in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt — but is allowed to flourish in America?”
I said, “I can think of no answer except foolishness and ignorance.”
This man saw the Muslim Brotherhood as not only a threat to Western civilization, but to the stability of his own Muslim nation. He couldn’t understand why the United States permitted such a threat within its own borders. It’s time to change that — and you can help.
Here are six little-known facts about the Muslim Brotherhood you need to know:
<h3>1. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mission Is World Domination</h3>
The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist organization founded in 1928 by Egyptian schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna. Frustrated over the decline of Islam in Egypt in those days, he decided it was time to erase all non-Islamic influence from that country.
<div id="attachment_951585" style="width: 920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-951585" class="size-large wp-image-951585" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-469146782-910x576.jpg" alt="Picture from the 1950s shows Egyptian Gamal Abdel Nasser (R, 2nd row) and next to him his right hand man Abdel Hakim Amer, pray in Cairo with unidentified leaders of the Moslem Brotherhood. Nasser turned against the Brotherhood two years after the 1952 free officers revolution, sending scores of them to prison after accusing them of standing behind the failed attempt against his life. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)" width="910" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-469146782-910x576.jpg 910w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-469146782-300x190.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-469146782-768x486.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-469146782.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px" />AFP via Getty Images</div>
Al-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Ismailia, a city near the Suez Canal. He began with seven men — himself and six Suez Canal Company workers. He taught them that the key requirement of the Quran and Sharia law is the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate — a world government led by a Muslim ruler.
From this small beginning, the Muslim Brotherhood grew to an estimated two million members by the late 1940s. Today, the Muslim Brotherhood is an international organization with chapters throughout the Muslim world, Europe, and across the United States.
The logo of the Muslim Brotherhood depicts two crossed swords and the command (in Arabic script) Wa-aiidu, “Get ready!” from Quran 8:60, a call to prepare for jihad (armed struggle) against the unbelievers.
<div id="attachment_951587" style="width: 867px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-951587" class="size-large wp-image-951587" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-542362580-857x576.jpg" alt="Emblem of the fundamentalist Islamic movement founded in 1928, Society of the Muslim Brothers, on display during a press conference in their Cairo office. (Photo by Maher Attar/Sygma via Getty Images)" width="857" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-542362580-857x576.jpg 857w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-542362580-300x202.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-542362580-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-542362580.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 857px) 100vw, 857px" />Maher Attar/Sygma via Getty Images</div>
In 2001, the Muslim Brotherhood’s London publication, Risalat al-Ikhwan (“Epistles of the Brethren of Purity”) featured the slogan “Our Mission: World Domination.” After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the editors removed this slogan from the publication — but world domination is still the mission of the Muslim Brotherhood.
In 2004, the former Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Muhammad Mahdi Othman Akef, declared, “I have complete faith that Islam will invade Europe and America, because Islam has logic and a mission.”
<h3>2. The Muslim Brotherhood’s History is Drenched in Blood</h3>
In 1939, Hassan al-Banna and the Brotherhood’s inner circle created a military wing called the Secret Apparatus. During World War II, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt worked hand-in-hand with the Nazis. The Brotherhood organized mass demonstrations against the Jewish community in Palestine and helped distribute Arabic-language versions of anti-Jewish writings, including Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
After the War, the Brotherhood’s Secret Apparatus carried out assassinations and terrorism against Jews, Christians, and Egyptian politicians. In December 1948, the Brotherhood assassinated Egyptian Prime Minister Mahmud Fahmi Nokrashi. In response, the Egyptian government ambushed and killed Hassan al-Banna in Cairo in February 1949.
In 1952, the Muslim Brotherhood supported a military coup that overthrew the Egyptian monarchy — but were disappointed when the military junta refused to share power with the Brotherhood. In October 1954, the Brotherhood attempted to assassinate Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser, head of the ruling military junta — but Nasser survived the attempt. As a result, he became more powerful than ever — and many Brotherhood members were executed or imprisoned. Others fled to neighboring countries, especially Qatar.
<h3>3. The Muslim Brotherhood Pretends to Want Peace</h3>
Since the 1970s, the Muslim Brotherhood has been aggressively whitewashing its image. By doing charitable work, the Brotherhood pretends to be a humanitarian agency. The charitable work, however, is camouflage for the Brotherhood’s real mission — undermining Western society, promoting Sharia law, and pursuing global domination.
Though the Brotherhood claims to be a peaceful, democratic organization, it has spawned and inspired many brutal terrorist groups, including Hamas, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Egyptian Islamic Jihad. According to the BBC, Al Jazeera — the TV network headquartered in Qatar — serves as an Arabic-language megaphone for the Muslim Brotherhood’s propaganda.
Few Westerners understand the Brotherhood’s willingness to patiently, persistently follow its dream of conquest over a span of generations. Its strategy starts with molding public opinion and influencing government policies — but it doesn’t stop there. The Brotherhood will use any tactic, including subversion and violence, to dismantle Western societies.
<h3>4. The Muslim Brotherhood Should Be Designated a Terrorist Organization</h3>
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has spent over a decade pushing to label the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization. He introduced four previous bills that would have formalized this designation, but critics blocked each bill. The Brotherhood’s powerful allies have argued that, since not every Brotherhood branch is violent, it would be wrong to condemn the whole organization.
On July 16, Senator Cruz announced a new bill, the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act. He was joined by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.). Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) have introduced companion legislation in the House.
<div id="attachment_951593" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-951593" class="size-large wp-image-951593" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2224518539-865x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 10: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) rides in an elevator outside of the Senate Chambers in the U.S. Capitol on July 10, 2025, in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate has begun working to complete the business week ahead of returning home for a weekend recess. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2224518539-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2224518539-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2224518539-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2224518539.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images</div>
<h3>5. The Muslim Brotherhood Hides Its Links to Hamas</h3>
Few Americans have heard of the Brotherhood’s close ties to Hamas. Senator Cruz wants to change that. He said, “The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, and it provides support to Muslim Brotherhood branches that are terrorist organizations. One of those branches is Hamas, which on October 7 committed the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, which included the murder and kidnapping of at least 53 Americans.”
Cruz added that the Brotherhood “poses an acute threat to American national security interests. American allies in the Middle East and Europe have already labeled the Brotherhood a terrorist organization, and the United States should do the same.”
Senator Cruz’s legislation would not only expose the Brotherhood’s true nature, but would disrupt its financial networks. It would also help counter the spread of anti-Western and Islamist propaganda.
<h3>6. The Muslim Brotherhood Has Many Powerful Allies</h3>
Senator Cruz’s bill will face well-financed opposition. We can expect Qatari-backed think tanks, journalists, university centers, and PR firms to flood the media with claims that the Muslim Brotherhood is a “moderate” and “peaceful” organization. They will call supporters of the bill “Islamophobes.”
For this legislation to succeed, its sponsors need our support. I urge you to tell your friends about the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act. Post a link to this page on your social media. Write to your representatives in Congress and the Senate, and ask them to support the bill. Talk to friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Support organizations that back the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, such as FDD Action (<a href="https://www.fddaction.org/">https://www.fddaction.org/</a>).
We can all do our part in making America stronger and safer. Start spreading the word today.
* * *
Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D., born in Egypt, is senior pastor of Church of The Apostles in Atlanta and founder of the radio broadcast “Leading The Way,” reaching 190 countries. With degrees from Moore College, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Emory University, he’s authored over 50 books, including “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496431502/?bestFormat=true&amp;k=the%20third%20jihad%20by%20michael%20youssef&amp;ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_16&amp;crid=385NJPDUXR79B&amp;sprefix=the%20third%20jihad%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Third Jihad</a>.” He’s appeared on Fox News, CBN, and in The Wall Street Journal. His new book, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Final-Call-Revelation-Ultimate/dp/1496486374/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_w=GjEWG&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&amp;pf_rd_p=0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&amp;pf_rd_r=133-8344803-2786917&amp;pd_rd_wg=m8gZy&amp;pd_rd_r=251a523a-31f1-47f0-9867-3168baa1d786&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">God’s Final Call: How the Book of Revelation Pulls Back the Veil on Current Events and Our Ultimate Future</a>” (Tyndale, March 2025), recently released.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Gaza protest in Jordan

Six Reasons The Muslim Brotherhood Must Be Banned In America

Egypt

Islamic Jihad

Muslim Brotherhood

Opinion

Ted Cruz

Terrorists

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of the president, has opted against running for retiring Sen. Thom Tillis’s North Carolina seat, clearing the way for Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley&#8217;s candidacy.
Whatley is expected to announce his bid to replace Tillis within the next 10 days, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/24/whatley-senate-north-carolina-trump-00473419">Politico</a>. Trump, who served as co-chair with Whatley over the RNC last year, is expected to back Whatley and keep her weekend show on Fox News.
&#8220;After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,&#8221; Trump posted to X on Thursday morning. &#8220;While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.&#8221;
Tillis announced his intention to leave the U.S. Senate after voting against the One Big, Beautiful Bill, putting him at odds with President Donald Trump.
Before heading the RNC, Whatley led the Republican Party in North Carolina and is thought to have a solid understanding of the state’s electorate, as well as relationships with key power brokers and donors.
The president is expected to name his pick to replace Whatley at the RNC around the time the current RNC chief announces his bid for the Senate.
Whatley will likely face ​​former two-term North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who top Democrats have recruited to run for Tillis’s seat. Cooper is expected to announce his bid for the U.S. Senate next week, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/us/politics/michael-whatley-north-carolina-senate.html">The New York Times</a>.
Whatley earned the approval of the president during the 2020 election, when Whatley mobilized an army of poll watchers to keep tabs on election processes in North Carolina. The president won the state by slim margins in 2020 and 2024.
The president endorsed Whatley to head the RNC and replace former chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, who had fallen out of favor with the president amid questions over her record of success leading the Republican Party. RNC members approved Whatley as the party’s head in early 2024.
Lara Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lara-trump-stepping-down-from-co-chair-role-at-rnc">stepped down</a> from the RNC in December amid speculation that she wanted to replace former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who joined the president’s cabinet as Secretary of State. Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis later tapped his former state attorney general, Sen. Ashley Moody, to fill the seat.

Lara Trump, Michael Whatley

Lara Trump Steps Aside, Clearing Path For RNC Chairman’s Senate Bid

Lara Trump Bows Out Of Senate Run, Clearing Way For RNC Chairman

Lara Trump

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) slammed The Daily Beast on Wednesday after the outlet published a report suggesting he may have suffered a health scare during a TV interview.
During a <a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1947763318594159082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conversation</a> with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow on Tuesday, Kennedy paused mid-sentence after he said, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Jesus loves him, but everybody else thinks — everybody else &#8230;&#8221; Kennedy then remained silent on camera for a few moments before the show cut away from the senator, and Kudlow suggested there might have been technical issues.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
things are going great on Larry Kudlow&#8217;s show <a href="https://t.co/synJiuE38z">pic.twitter.com/synJiuE38z</a>
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1947763318594159082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
An ensuing <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250723010513/https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-senator-john-kennedy-73-freezes-during-fox-news-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, written by an intern for The Daily Beast, said that Kennedy froze in what appeared to be a health scare. The story emphasized the fact that Kennedy is 73 years old and compared what happened on Wednesday to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) struggling to speak during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">couple of high-profile instances</a> in 2023. It also noted that Kennedy&#8217;s office had been contacted for comment, but did not immediately respond.
Other news outlets and some accounts on social media also shared the clip of Kennedy and perpetuated the notion that the Louisiana Republican might not be okay.
Pressed for comment, Kennedy told The Daily Wire in a statement, &#8220;The Daily Beast is wrong. Yesterday, during my interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, there was a malfunction in my earpiece. I heard a loud screeching noise with a lot of static. It sounded like a 747 taking off. The same thing happened with Rand Paul, who was interviewed before me. I stopped talking until the interference cleared up, and thought we were off the air. Once I could hear Kudlow, I started talking again. All you have to do to get the facts is call Kudlow’s producer, which The Daily Beast intern clearly didn’t do.&#8221;
Kennedy later did another interview on &#8220;Kudlow,&#8221; addressing what transpired the day before.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sen. John Kennedy clarifies what happened when he appeared to freeze on Larry Kudlow’s show:
“I was just yapping away and all of a sudden my earpiece blew up—this one. It sounded like a 747 was taking off.”
<a href="https://t.co/eDGWMcsVk0">pic.twitter.com/eDGWMcsVk0</a>
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1948114176414568764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In exchange, Kudlow said, &#8220;I want to clear the air about yesterday and the interrupted interview. A lot of lefty medias are saying things they shouldn&#8217;t say. As I understand it, what happened was your &#8230; wire broke down and you had a lot of noise in your ear and you had to stop talking because you couldn&#8217;t get anything through. Now if there&#8217;s something different there, you tell us, but I think that&#8217;s all that happened. A lot of people are making conclusions about your health that they have no business making.&#8221;
Kennedy replied, &#8220;I was just yapping away and all of a sudden my earpiece blew up. &#8230; It sounded like a 747 was taking off. My ears are still ringing. Anyway, I assumed we were off the air, I just stopped talking and I didn&#8217;t start talking again until I could hear you. And, I don&#8217;t know, some of the rags up here have — they&#8217;ve got all kinds of stories that I had a Brian freeze live on TV, or stroke, or caught an STD live on television or something. I don&#8217;t know. I know this will come as a shock to you, Larry, but not everybody in Washington likes me. And so when they &#8230; see an opportunity to start a rumor, they do. And that&#8217;s what happened. But anyway, I&#8217;m okay. I&#8217;m back here today. I&#8217;m full of piss and vinegar and I&#8217;ll be glad to answer your questions.&#8221;
The Daily Beast has since <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-senator-john-kennedy-73-freezes-during-fox-news-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated</a> its report to remove text suggesting that Kennedy had a health scare, but did keep the mention of McConnell as well as a line about how health problems have impacted the Republicans and Democrats over the past year. It also included a comment from Kennedy&#8217;s spokesperson asserting that the senator did not have a &#8220;health episode&#8221; but rather experienced a &#8220;broadcast audio issue on Fox Business&#8217;s part.&#8221;

Sen. John Kennedy

GOP Senator Rips Daily Beast Over Report Suggesting On-Air Health Scare

John Kennedy

Media

Media Bias

The Daily Beast

Fresh off the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-house-delivers-trumps-9b-cut-to-global-aid-and-public-broadcasting-gets-final-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passage</a> of a $9 billion rescissions package and other legislative victories during the first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/six-months-in-trump-celebrates-revival-of-hottest-country-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six months</a> of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says Republicans are &#8220;anxiously&#8221; waiting to see whether Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Democrats will eschew bipartisanship and push the government toward a shutdown at the beginning of October.
During an interview on Fox News, Thune spoke to &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures&#8221; host Maria Bartiromo about the dozen 2026 fiscal year appropriations bills which lawmakers on Capitol Hill are putting together ahead of a September 30 deadline.
&#8220;We have got a couple, three or four of them now reported out of the Appropriations Committee. We&#8217;re going to try and get one up on the floor next week. And I hope we will find that the Democrats want to work with us,&#8221; Thune said. &#8220;They haven&#8217;t demonstrated much of a willingness on anything so far. I mean, they are making it extremely difficult to get any of the president&#8217;s nominees through the process here. It&#8217;s obstruct, it&#8217;s delay, it&#8217;s block. That&#8217;s been the pattern. And it&#8217;s Trump Derangement Syndrome on full display here in the United States Senate.&#8221;
Schumer <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-republicans-ruthless-rescissions-package-that-would-undermine-bipartisanship-and-gut-critical-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> earlier this month that Democrats would not be willing to cooperate if the GOP-led House and Senate chose to claw back $9 billion in funds allocated to foreign aid and public broadcasting for programs that Republicans deemed to be wasteful and idealogical driven.
&#8220;If Republicans cave to Donald Trump and gut these investments agreed to by both parties, that would be an affront — a huge affront — to the bipartisan appropriations process,&#8221; Schumer said on the Senate floor. &#8220;It is absurd to expect Democrats to play along with funding the government if Republicans are just going to renege on a bipartisan agreement by concocting rescissions packages behind closed doors that can pass with only their votes, not the customary 60 votes required in the appropriation process.&#8221;
Both the rescissions package and the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; which contained many of Trump&#8217;s spending and tax cut priorities, passed through Congress via processes that allowed the Senate to bypass the filibuster. However, other measures to come may not be able to avoid the hurdle.
When Bartiromo asked Thune if he believes Schumer would like to see a government shutdown in the coming weeks, the majority leader did not dismiss the idea.
&#8220;I think he probably thinks that it&#8217;s beneficial to their political base, the far left of the Democrat Party, and you see it on — you can kind of see what&#8217;s happening up there in New York politics,&#8221; Thune replied, alluding to socialist Zohran Mamdani winning the primary in the race for New York City major.
&#8220;This is a party struggling for an identity. This is a party that&#8217;s completely out of step with the mainstream of this country. And I think, frankly, although it&#8217;s not going to be in their interest in the long term to do it, we&#8217;re going to be waiting to see anxiously what Chuck Schumer and other leaders on the Democrat side decide to do,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Because, ultimately, keeping the government funded is good for the country, and hopefully we will have bipartisan cooperation to do that. But if their recent track record is any indication, they&#8217;re under a tremendous amount of pressure from that far left wing of the Democrat Party to shut the government down.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Thune Joins Maria Bartiromo on Fox News" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vfzEMNJQu0E?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>

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

Thune Warns Schumer May Cave To Far Left, Push For Govt Shutdown In Coming Weeks

Chuck Schumer

Government Shutdown

Spending Bill

President Donald Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on Saturday, asking him to push ahead and confirm his &#8220;incredible nominees&#8221; even if that meant cancelling a few long weekends or the scheduled August recess.
Trump made the request via his Truth Social platform, boasting about the accomplishments already made by his administration and the Republican-led Congress and encouraging Thune to keep the momentum going.
&#8220;Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed. We need them badly!!! DJT,&#8221; he posted.
The president&#8217;s request came just one day after his Director of National Intelligence <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-admin-suppressed-intel-showing-russia-didnt-impact-2016-election-tulsi-reveals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tulsi Gabbard</a> revealed efforts  made by former President Obama&#8217;s administration to suppress intelligence showing that Russia had not impacted the 2016 presidential election.
Trump&#8217;s Rapid Response Team also shared video of Gabbard discussing her recent findings on Fox News&#8217; &#8220;The Big Weekend Show,&#8221; where she explained, &#8220;We had, in President Obama and his leadership team, people who did not want to accept the will of the American people in electing Donald Trump in 2016 — and therefore cooked up this treasonous conspiracy to … effectively launch a years-long coup against the sitting President of the United States.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNIGabbard</a>: “We had, in President Obama and his leadership team, people who did not want to accept the will of the American people in electing Donald Trump in 2016 — and therefore cooked up this treasonous conspiracy to… effectively launch a years-long coup against the sitting… <a href="https://t.co/nFYB5ie7N9">pic.twitter.com/nFYB5ie7N9</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1946637492633129253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gabbard first revealed the information in a Friday thread on X, saying in part, &#8220;On Dec 8, 2016, IC officials prepared an assessment for the President’s Daily Brief, finding that Russia ‘did not impact recent U.S. election results’ by conducting cyber attacks on infrastructure. Before it could reach the President, it was abruptly pulled ‘based on new guidance.’ This key intelligence assessment was never published.&#8221;
&#8220;Criminal activity also failed to reach the scale and sophistication necessary to change election outcomes,” the brief stated.
According to Gabbard&#8217;s findings, the FBI had requested at the time that the brief&#8217;s publication be delayed until concerns could be addressed — and then-Director James Comey oversaw the bureau&#8217;s drafting of a formal &#8220;dissent.&#8221;

Trump Calls On Senate To Cancel ‘Long Weekends’ And Get His People Confirmed

Trump Calls On Senate To Cancel 'Long Weekends' And Get His People Confirmed

The GOP-led Senate narrowly passed a $9 billion rescissions package early on Thursday morning that seeks to eliminate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dei-insect-powder-and-trans-resilience-trump-unveils-woke-spending-cuts-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;waste, fraud, and abuse&#8221;</a> identified by the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
Senators voted <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00411.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">51-48</a> in favor of the measure, which aims to claw back funds allocated to foreign aid projects and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a funding source for NPR and PBS programs that many Republicans deem wasteful and ideologically driven. Now the rescissions package heads back to the House, which has only until Friday to pass it.
&#8220;This isn&#8217;t just about saving money. It&#8217;s about taking back control,&#8221; Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), who spearheaded the effort to pass the package, <a href="https://x.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1945556733230772231" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;It&#8217;s time to remind the NGOs, the foreign lobbyists and their friends in the media that America is not a tax farm for global leftism. We&#8217;re a sovereign nation — and it&#8217;s time to start acting like one again.&#8221;
Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) broke ranks and voted against the package along with Democrats and independents. They raised <a href="https://x.com/bresreports/status/1945297767649435793" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concerns</a> about how defunding public broadcasting could <a href="https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/1945637668479479894" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diminish</a> helpful services to Americans and lamented the lack of clarity on the Trump administration&#8217;s plan to implement the cuts.
&#8220;The rescissions package has a big problem – nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,&#8221; Collins said in a <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1945292034920607994" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Tuesday evening. She added later, &#8220;To carry out our Constitutional responsibility, we should know exactly what programs are affected and the consequences of rescissions.&#8221;
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who had <a href="https://x.com/bresreports/status/1945297767649435793" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined</a> Murkowski and Collins in voting against advancing the rescissions package on Tuesday, ultimately supported it. Passage came after the Senate worked through a lengthy &#8220;vote-a-rama&#8221; that included a flurry of amendments, mostly from Democrats.
The sole lawmaker to miss the final vote series was Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). Her office <a href="https://x.com/SenTinaSmith/status/1945597468357329093" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Democrat would be staying overnight at George Washington University Hospital after she began to feel unwell at the Capitol.
Next, the rescissions package heads back to the House, which had already <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-doge-cuts-targeting-foreign-aid-npr-and-pbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a $9.4 billion measure in mid-June. The lower chamber must vote again on the package after the Senate Republicans opted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-republicans-drop-aids-relief-cuts-from-rescissions-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pull</a> $400 million in cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.
The White House <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5402273-white-house-accepts-pepfar-exemption/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> gave its blessing to remove the part of the package that defunded PEPFAR, as some members had voiced dismay with that part of the proposal.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, Congress was given 45 days to act on the Trump administration&#8217;s rescissions request in early June, and it requires only a simple majority in the House and Senate, meaning the filibuster threshold can be ignored.
Both chambers of Congress must pass a single version of the package by Friday, the deadline.
The Office of Management and Budget <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dei-insect-powder-and-trans-resilience-trump-unveils-woke-spending-cuts-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that its rescissions wishlist included getting rid of $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which Trump singled out in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/ending-taxpayer-subsidization-of-biased-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executive order</a> seeking to defund NPR and PBS amid claims they were biased, as well as money for various foreign aid programs such as “net zero cities” in Mexico, Iraqi “Sesame Street,” and global LGBTQ+ initiatives.
While sources on Capitol Hill and the White House have said they expect more requests to implement so-called DOGE cuts to follow, that is assuming the first package manages to pass through Congress.
Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-warns-republican-senators-defund-npr-and-pbs-or-lose-my-endorsement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> GOP lawmakers that there will be political consequences for opposing the effort.
“It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions [sic] Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN &amp; MSDNC put together,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social last week. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-

‘Taking Back Control’: Senate Votes To Claw Back $9B From Foreign Aid, Public Broadcasting

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

U.S. House of Representatives

Senate Republicans are removing $400 million in proposed funding cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program from a rescissions package ahead of a deadline at the end of this week.
The decision was announced after GOP senators met on Tuesday with White House Director Russell Vought regarding the measure designed to codify spending reductions in line with recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1945193756086378516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters there was &#8220;a lot of interest among our members in doing something on the PEPFAR issue,&#8221; resulting in a &#8220;small modification&#8221; that leaves the rescissions package, which seeks to slash funds for programs Republicans deem to be wasteful and ideologically driven, at roughly $9 billion.
The GOP-led House narrowly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-doge-cuts-targeting-foreign-aid-npr-and-pbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the rescissions package in June following a request by the Trump administration. It sought to claw back $9.4 billion in &#8220;reckless spending,&#8221; as House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) told The Daily Wire, by targeting foreign aid projects and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funds to NPR and PBS.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, lawmakers in Congress were given 45 days to act on the request, and it requires only a simple majority in the House and Senate — meaning the filibuster threshold can be ignored. The deadline is Friday, meaning the Senate and the House must both pass the revised measure in the next couple of days.
House Republicans had been urging the Senate not to make any changes, but they could end up approving the slimmer version, particularly after the White House <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5402273-white-house-accepts-pepfar-exemption/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> gave the Senate its blessing to remove the PEPFAR section.
Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) responded in particular to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who said she wanted to strike the PEPFAR cuts from the rescissions package, contending the program was a success in saving millions of lives.
&#8220;All of that spending” is a far cry from PEPFAR’s original mission, to combat &#8220;the AIDS epidemic in Africa when it first started,&#8221; Harris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-urge-senate-colleagues-to-pass-rescissions-package-with-sense-of-urgency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Daily Wire.
In addition, a senior Trump administration official told The Daily Wire on Tuesday that &#8220;limited&#8221; program cuts to PEPFAR took aim at &#8220;LGBTQ education and capacity building — not core life-saving care.&#8221;
Democrat senators and the independents who caucus with them are likely to vote in unison against passing the measure, leaving Republicans and their <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slim</a> majority unable to afford more than a couple GOP defectors. Vice President JD Vance might be needed for a tie-breaker.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) <a href="https://x.com/SenatorRounds/status/1945145431916233064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Monday that he came around on the rescissions package after the Trump administration helped find money that could be reallocated to continue grants for tribal broadcast services that offer &#8220;potentially lifesaving emergency alerts&#8221; in his state.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune

Senate Republicans Drop ‘AIDS Relief’ Cuts From Rescissions Package

AIDS

Foreign Funding

National Public Radio (NPR)

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

In a decisive victory for President Donald Trump, the GOP-led Senate confirmed on Monday the first judicial nominee of his second term.
Whitney Hermandorfer, of Tennessee, prevailed in her bid to become a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit by a 46-42 <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00384.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a> along party lines. She is poised to replace Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, an <a href="https://www.congress.gov/nomination/119th-congress/150/3#:~:text=Description-,Whitney%20D.,vice%20Jane%20Branstetter%20Stranch%2C%20retiring." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Obama pick</a>. A dozen members of the upper chamber did not vote.
The confirmation of Hermandorfer to join the Cincinnati-based bench that hears appeals from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee is &#8220;a boon to the federal judiciary,&#8221; Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said in a statement.
&#8220;As the Director of the Strategic Litigation Unit in Tennessee, she’s led major cases on civil rights and the separation of powers and is widely praised for her legal mind, impeccable qualifications, collegial nature and constitutionalist philosophy,&#8221; Grassley added. &#8220;I was proud to lead Ms. Hermandorfer’s nomination through the Senate Judiciary Committee and am confident she will be an excellent federal judge.&#8221;
When Trump nominated Hermandorfer earlier this year, the White House <a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/white-house-press-release-president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-candidate-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that she was the director of the Strategic Litigation Unit in the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General, had previously served as an associate at Williams &amp; Connolly, LLP in Washington, D.C., and boasted experience working as a law clerk to Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett of the Supreme Court, now-Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh when he was a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The White House also noted that Hermandorfer earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Princeton University, where she was co-captain of the women’s varsity basketball team, earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, where she graduated summa cum laude and first in her class, and was editor-in-chief of the George Washington University Law Review.
&#8220;I am pleased to announce the nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer to serve as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@Hua341/posts/114455316115570433" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on Truth Social in May. &#8220;Whitney has been serving the Great People of Tennessee, in the Attorney General’s Office, where she has strongly litigated in Court to protect Citizens from Federal Government Overreach. A former Co-Captain of the Princeton University Women’s Basketball Team, Whitney is a staunch defender of Girls’ and Women’s Sports. She has a long history of working for Judges and Justices who respect the RULE OF LAW, and protect our Constitution, including Justice Samuel Alito and two fine Supreme Court Justices I appointed in my First Term. Whitney is a Fighter who will inspire confidence in our Legal System. Thank you Whitney!&#8221;
Democrats warned that Hermandorfer was too green and might give into politics.
&#8220;Senate Republicans just confirmed their first judicial nominee of Trump 2.0,&#8221; Senate Judiciary ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL) <a href="https://x.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1944882255635026248" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;Whitney Hermandorfer is inexperienced and partisan – with a record that repeatedly put Donald Trump ahead of the law. This is the playbook we must watch for, call out, and vote down.&#8221;
When Hermandorfer testified during her confirmation hearing last month, she contended that judges should adhere to boundaries established under the Constitution. That came as Republicans had been pushing for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/impeachathon-ensnares-growing-number-of-get-trump-judges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeachment</a> of some members of the federal judiciary who were ruling against some of Trump&#8217;s actions in a way they believed had waded into activism.
&#8220;It is an extraordinary power, the Article III power, to decide cases &#8230; With that power, again, comes great responsibility and humility to understand the proper role of a judge is to interpret the law and not make the law or bend the law to whatever policy preferences the judge might have individually,&#8221; Hermandorfer <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1930290647715455172" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Hermandorfer later advanced out of the Judiciary Committee by a 12-10 <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/judiciary-committee-advances-judicial-nominations-for-sixth-circuit-and-missouri-district-courts-us-attorney-nominations-for-idaho-and-pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a>. Other Trump nominees for judgeships were also reported favorably to the full Senate and could be confirmed in the days and weeks to come. If Trump&#8217;s second term is like his first, he still has more than a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/13/how-trump-compares-with-other-recent-presidents-in-appointing-federal-judges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">couple hundred</a> judicial appointments to go.
&#8220;Tennessee native — Judge Whitney Hermandorfer — is the first judicial nominee confirmed by the Senate in [Trump&#8217;s] second term,&#8221; Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) <a href="https://x.com/SenatorHagerty/status/1944889075892093034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X after the final vote on Monday. &#8220;She will set a benchmark of excellence for future judicial nominees — President Trump could not have made a better choice. Congratulations, Judge Hermandorfer!&#8221;
Grassley&#8217;s team <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/senate-builds-on-record-setting-confirmation-pace-with-first-judicial-confirmation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that during the first six months of Trumps&#8217; second term, the Senate has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-gop-breaks-through-dem-obstruction-on-trump-2-0-civilian-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> 21 members of Trump&#8217;s Cabinet, &#8220;putting his team in place faster than the last three incoming administrations.&#8221; It also pointed out that the upper chamber has so far confirmed 89 of his civilian nominees, &#8220;outpacing the first Trump administration,&#8221; and confirmed 12 ambassador nominees, &#8220;which is more than the incoming Biden, first Trump and George W. Bush administrations.&#8221;

Whitney Hermandorfer

‘A Benchmark Of Excellence’: Senate Confirms First Judge Of Trump’s Second Term

Bill Hagerty

Courts

Dick Durbin

Tennessee

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