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In our news wrap Monday, a judge seemed receptive to Harvard's arguments that the Trump administration illegally cut $2.6 billion in funding to the school, a second suspect has been arrested in the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer in New York and the FAA said it's investigating a close-call over North Dakota involving a military aircraft and a passenger jet. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
On this Monday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid returns to his host chair at WABC's Manhattan studios after a week away in Europe. He covers the latest crime investigation by the NYPD involving a Customs and Border Protection officer who was shot, before he transitions into a heated mayoral race discussion featuring Curtis Sliwa and his political journey. Sid also dives into national politics, discussing the looming prison sentence of former Congressman and now convicted felon George Santos, the health of President Trump and the rising use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, In-N-Out Burger moving from California to Tennessee, among the usual personal anecdotes and in-depth political analysis throughout. Curtis Sliwa, John Chell, Kaz Daughtry, Charles Gasparino, John Catsimatidis, George Santos & Dr. Marc Siegel join Sid on this Monday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve Gruber talks with InVest USA CEO Michael Letts about the $25 billion in funding the Coast Guard received from the “Big Beautiful Bill,” aimed at securing the southern border, while also highlighting his organization's mission to protect police officers with bulletproof vests and advocate for broader support of America's first responders.
On Thursday, federal immigration authorities said they arrested 319 people suspected of being in the country illegally in raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection at two licensed cannabis farms in California. Law enforcement officers also found 10 children in the country illegally during the raids and arrested four United States citizens for allegedly assaulting or resisting officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Separately, a farmworker reportedly died after falling off the roof of a greenhouse at one of the farms. The immigration sweeps are believed to be the second-largest single-state ICE worksite operation in history. Ad-free podcasts are here!Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today's “Have a nice day” story here.Take the survey: What do you think of the Trump administration's recent immigration actions? Let us know!Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Hunter Casperson, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We begin on a positive note by welcoming a “doer,” citizen extraordinaire, Jon Merryman, who couldn't stand the trash, especially old tires, being dumped in his neighborhood. So, he took it upon himself to clean it up and has now expanded his efforts across the country. Then co-president of Public Citizen, Robert Weissman, joins us to explain how spending in the recent bill passed by the Republican controlled Congress prioritizes the Pentagon and deportation enforcement at the expense of the social safety net, essentially trading life for death.Jon Merryman was a software designer at Lockheed Martin, who after retiring found his true calling, cleaning up trash in every county in America.When I first started looking at the environment next to my place of work, one of the things I did uncover was tires. And they were definitely there from the '20s, the '30s, and the '40s, they've been there for decades. And then just after a while, the soil and the erosion just covers them up. And you just discover them, and you realize this has been going on forever.Jon MerrymanNature is innocent. It really doesn't deserve what we've given it. And I feel like someone's got to step up to undo what we've done.Jon MerrymanRobert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. As the Co-President of Public Citizen, he has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations, and the wealthy have over our democracy.The best estimates are that the loss of insurance and measures in this bill will cost 40,000 lives every year. Not once. Every year.Robert Weissman co-president of Public Citizen on the Budget BillPeople understand there's a rigged system. They understand that generally. They understand that with healthcare. But if you (the Democrats) don't name the health insurance companies as an enemy, as a barrier towards moving forward. You don't say United Health; you don't go after a Big Pharma, which is probably the most despised health sector in the economy, people don't think you're serious. And partially it's because you're not.Robert WeissmanNews 7/11/251. This week, the Financial Times published a stunning story showing the Tony Blair Institute – founded by the former New Labour British Prime Minister and Iraq War accomplice Tony Blair – “participated” in a project to “reimagine Gaza as a thriving trading hub.” This project would include a “Trump Riviera” and an “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone”. To accomplish this, the investors would pay half a million Palestinians to leave Gaza to open the enclave up for development – and that is just the tip of the harebrained iceberg. This scheme would also involve creating “artificial islands off the coast akin to those in Dubai, blockchain-based trade initiatives…and low-tax ‘special economic zones'.” The development of this plot is somewhat shadowy. The FT story names a, “group of Israeli businessmen…including tech investor Liran Tancman and venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg,” who helped establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in February 2025. GHF has been accused of using supposed aid distribution sites as “death traps,” per France 24. Boston Consulting Group, also named in the FT story, strongly disavowed the project, as did the Tony Blair Institute.2. In more positive news related to Gaza, the National Education Association – the largest labor union in the United States – voted this week to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL, once an important group safeguarding the civil rights and wellbeing of American Jews, has completely abandoned its historic mission and has instead devoted its considerable resources to trying to crush the anti-Zionist movement. The NEA passed a resolution stating that the NEA “will not use, endorse, or publicize materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or statistics,” because, “Despite its reputation as a civil rights organization, the ADL is not the social justice educational partner it claims to be.” Labor Notes writes that the ADL “has been a ubiquitous presence in U.S. schools for forty years, pushing curriculum, direct programming, and teacher training into K-12 schools and increasingly into universities.” One NEA delegate, Stephen Siegel, said from the assembly floor, “Allowing the ADL to determine what constitutes antisemitism would be like allowing the fossil fuel industry to determine what constitutes climate change.”3. Another major labor story from this week concerns sanitation workers in Philadelphia. According to the Delaware News Journal, AFSCME District Council 33 has reached a deal with the city to raise wages for their 9,000 workers by 9% over three years. The union went on strike July 1st, resulting in, “massive piles of trash piling up on city streets and around trash drop-off sites designated by the city,” and “changes to the city's annual Fourth of July concert with headliner LL Cool J and city native Jazmine Sullivan both dropping out,” in solidarity with the striking workers, per WHYY. The deal reached is a major compromise for the union, which was seeking a 32% total pay increase, but they held off on an extended trash pickup strike equivalent to 1986 strike, which went on for three weeks and left 45,000 tons of rotting garbage in the streets, per ABC.4. Yet another labor story brings us to New York City. ABC7 reports the United Federation of Teachers has endorsed Democratic Socialist – and Democratic Party nominee – Zohran Mamdani for mayor. This report notes “UFT is the city's second largest union…[with] 200,000 members.” Announcing the endorsement, UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated, “This is a real crisis and it's a moment for our city, and our city is starting to speak out very loudly…The voters are saying the same thing, 'enough is enough.' The income gap disparity is above…that which we saw during the Gilded Age." All eyes now turn to District Council 37, which ABC7 notes “endorsed Council speaker Adrienne Adams in the primary and has yet to endorse in the general election.”5. The margin of Mamdani's victory, meanwhile, continues to grow as the Board of Elections updates its ranked choice voting tallies. According to the conservative New York Post, Zohran has “won more votes than any other mayoral candidate in New York City primary election history.” Mamdani can now boast having won over 565,000 votes after 102,000 votes were transferred from other candidates. Not only that, “Mamdani's totals are expected to grow as…a small percent of ballots are still being counted.”6. Meanwhile, scandal-ridden incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has yet another scandal on his hands. The New York Daily News reports, “Four high-ranking former NYPD chiefs are suing Mayor Adams, claiming they were forced to retire from the department after complaining that his ‘unqualified' friends were being placed in prestigious police positions, sometimes after allegedly bribing their way into the jobs.” Former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who was already forced to resign in disgrace amidst a federal corruption investigation, features prominently in this new lawsuit. Among other things, Caban is alleged to have been “selling promotions” to cops for up to $15,000. Adams is running for reelection as an independent, but trails Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo.7. Turning to the federal government, as the U.S. disinvests in science and technology, a new report published in the Financial Times finds that, “Almost three-quarters of all solar and wind power projects being built globally are in China.” According to the data, gathered by Global Energy Monitor, “China is building 510 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind projects… [out of] 689GW under construction globally.” As this report notes, one gigawatt can potentially supply electricity for about one million homes. This report goes on to say that, “China is expected to add at least 246.5GW of solar and 97.7GW of wind this year,” on top of the “1.5 terawatts of solar and wind power capacity up and running as of the end of March.” In the first quarter of 2025, solar and wind accounted for 22.5% of China's total electricity consumption; in 2023, solar and wind accounted for around 14% of electricity consumption in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.8. Developments this week put two key rules promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission under former Chair Lina Khan in jeopardy. First and worse, NPR reports the Republican-controlled FTC is abandoning a rule which would have banned non-compete clauses in employment contracts. These anti-worker provisions “trap workers and depress wages,” according to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, who has introduced legislation to ban them by statute. Perhaps more irritatingly however, Reuters reports the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has blocked the so-called “click to cancel” rule just days before it was set to take effect. This rule would have, “required retailers, gyms and other businesses to provide cancellation methods for subscriptions, auto-renewals and free trials that convert to paid memberships that are ‘at least as easy to use' as the sign up process.” A coalition of corporate interests sued to block the rule, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a trade group representing major cable and internet providers such as Charter Communications, Comcast and Cox Communications along with media companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Lina Khan decried “Firms…making people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription, trapping Americans in needless bureaucracy and wasting their time & money.”9. In another betrayal of consumers, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to break promises and speak out of both sides of his mouth. A new report in NPR documents RFK Jr. speaking at a conference in April, where he “spoke about the health effects of exposure to harmful chemicals in our food, air and water…[and] cited recent research on microplastics from researchers in Oregon, finding these tiny particles had shown up in 99% of the seafood they sampled.” Yet Susanne Brander, the author of the study, had gotten word just an hour earlier that “a federal grant she'd relied on to fund her research for years…was being terminated.” Brander is quoted saying "It feels like they are promoting the field while ripping out the foundation." Ripping out the foundation of this research is felt acutely, as “regulators are weakening safeguards that limit pollution and other toxic chemicals.” So Mr. Secretary, which is more important – stopping the proliferation of microplastics or slashing funding for the very scientists studying the issue?10. Finally, in Los Angeles masked federal troops are marauding through the streets on horseback, sowing terror through immigrant communities, per the New York Times. President Trump mobilized approximately 4,000 National Guard members – putting them under federal control – alongside 700 Marines in response to protests against immigration raids in June. As the Times notes, “It has been more than three weeks since the last major demonstration in downtown Los Angeles,” but the federal forces have not been demobilized. While some have dismissed the shows of force as nothing more than stunts designed to fire up the president's base, Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief in Southern California told Fox News “[LA] Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon.” As LA Mayor Karen Bass put it, “What I saw…looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation…It's the way a city looks before a coup.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Federal agents descended on a park in the middle of Los Angeles midday Monday, showing up on horseback, in armored tanks, and carrying rifles. While it's still not at all clear if the agents made any arrests, a regional Customs and Border Protection chief told a local FOX News reporter, “Better get used to us now, because this is gonna be normal very soon.” He may not be wrong. President Donald Trump's new spending and tax law explodes the budget for immigration and border enforcement, setting aside around $170 billion extra dollars for Trump's mass deportation agenda. Around $75 billion of that money is earmarked specifically for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla joins us to talk about ICE's aggressive tactics, how immigrants in California are feeling right now, and what Democrats — and all of us — can do to respond.And in headlines: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent Wednesday waltzing around Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers, Trump sent out threatening tariffs letters to more countries, and the CEO of the platform formerly known as Twitter coincidentally quit just a day after Elon Musk's AI chatbot went full antisemite.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, says the US should be worried about the amount of terrorist sleeper cells that have been allowed into the country due to border policies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A bold new program tries to make medicines at the point of care How much is too much when it comes to cost overruns on government contracts? We take a look at a lesser known Customs and Border Protection program that secures supply chainsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customs and Border Protection's Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism or CT-PAT program recently opened it's seventh office in Laredo, Texas. The program was started in 2001 to ensure safety in international supply chains. To find out what that means, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with the program's acting director, Peter Touhy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
President Trump publicly released tariff letters to around a dozen countries—including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia—warning they'll face import taxes of at least 25% starting August 1 unless they finalize new trade deals. Meanwhile, a California National Guard deployment to an empty park in LA drew backlash as a political stunt, while Customs and Border Protection issued a call for advanced surveillance tech to analyze seized digital devices. Cybersecurity experts raised alarms over Scattered Spider, a hacker group targeting U.S. infrastructure using phishing and impersonation tactics. The DOJ and FBI released a memo denying any Epstein “client list” or foul play in his prison death—despite past contradictions—including new (but suspect) footage. Physician groups are suing HHS Secretary RFK Jr. over new federal COVID vaccine recommendations, and the Trump administration says a U.S.-friendly version of TikTok is on track to launch September 5 as part of a deal to avoid a full ban. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: Here Are Trump's New Tariff Threats AP News: Troops and federal agents briefly descend on LA's MacArthur Park in largely immigrant neighborhood Wired: CBP Wants New Tech to Search for Hidden Data on Seized Phones Wired: A Group of Young Cybercriminals Poses the ‘Most Imminent Threat' of Cyberattacks Right Now Axios: Exclusive: DOJ, FBI conclude Epstein had no "client list," died by suicide Axios: Docs sue RFK Jr. over COVID vax policy changes The Verge: TikTok's ‘ban' problem could end soon with a new app and a sale Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ICE agents raid MacArthur Park, drawing criticism from Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom, but one U.S. Customs and Border Protection official says they'll be back. Plus. Monday marks the six-month anniversary of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, and not everyone is happy with the pace of the recovery process. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Texas Flash Flood Tragedy Sparks Grief and Political Blame Game At least 80 people are dead and 40 more are missing after catastrophic July 4th flooding in Texas Hill Country. Among the victims are 10 girls from a Christian summer camp and the camp's heroic owner, Richard Eastland. Despite early and extensive weather warnings, some Democrats blame Trump's NOAA budget cuts for the disaster. Bryan calls these claims factually wrong and morally reprehensible. Trump's Economy Faces Tariff Deadlines and Debt Market Concerns “Liberation Day” tariffs are set to kick in this Wednesday unless trade deals are finalized. While countries like India and the EU ask for exemptions, agriculture remains a sticking point. Meanwhile, the Trump economy shows strength in jobs and wages, but rising debt levels have bond markets on edge. Economist advice: keep personal debt low. Gaza Truce in the Works as Hamas Control Collapses President Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu are expected to finalize a ceasefire. A Hamas fighter admits the group has lost command, paychecks have stopped, and Israeli drones now dominate the skies. With clans taking over and Hamas in shambles, Bryan asks what a truce really means when there's no one left to enforce it. Iran Sends Saboteurs Through U.S. Border, Issues Death Warrants Iran's clerics issue fatwas calling for the assassinations of Trump and Netanyahu. U.S. intel warns that 35 Iranian operatives are being smuggled in via Mexican cartels. Customs and Border Protection confirms a terror alert is in effect, centered on southern California. China's Xi Might Be Ill or Facing a Coup China's foreign minister admits Beijing wants the Ukraine war to drag on, shocking European diplomats. At home, Xi Jinping is missing public events, sidelining generals, and delegating power. Analysts suspect serious illness or a power struggle is underway, as Xi's diplomatic blunders pile up. Mexican Protesters Demand Americans Leave Demonstrators in Mexico City call U.S. “digital nomads” an invasion, blaming them for high rents and cultural erosion. Signs read “Americans go home.” Mexico's government defends foreigners, but the protests reflect deepening resentment. UK Opera House Goes Dark When Wind Stops Blowing A British opera house that relies solely on wind power suffers six blackouts during a performance, eventually canceling the show. The story underscores the limits of unreliable green energy, leading Bryan to suggest they rebrand as a House of Blues. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32
In this special Fourth of July episode, we're talking about The Big Beautiful Bill—yes, it passed, and yes, it's time to get on board. While I normally support smaller, single-issue legislation (so we can actually see what's in these bills), there's still a lot to be excited about here. From major investments in border security to a strong push toward deporting illegal immigrants, this bill takes some long-overdue steps in the right direction.Sure, there are parts that could've been better—and no surprise, Elon Musk isn't thrilled because it didn't personally benefit him as much as he hoped—but overall, I agree with the majority of what's in it.Tune in as we break down the good and the bad inside The Big Beautiful Bill—and what it means for the future of our country.Happy Fourth of July, and let's keep America strong.
Donald Trump had one of the best Junes of any modern president. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded the lowest number of illegal aliens crossing the southern border, ever. His tariff policies did not collapse the economy. In fact, the stock market is nearing record highs. Iran's nuclear program was severely weakened without 30,000 people having to die in another endless war. However, for every victory, there is another impending challenge President Trump will have to grapple with argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:” “Bottom line: Donald Trump's going to have to decide, when countries come to him and say, "We'll run a deficit with you, we will have symmetrical tariffs," or, "We'll have no tariffs," is he going to take that or not? If Iran violates the ceasefire—and to what degree that would be true I don't know, but if we see trucks going into these enrichment sites or we find evidence of a new one, he's going to have to act and deal with a fallout. And then, of course, on the border, it's not going to be a problem of new illegal aliens. It's not going to be a problem of the 12 million that Joe Biden let in. But there will be some people that he'll have to decide, and I think it would be wise for them to have to pay a fine, get a green card, continue working, stay off social services, stay crime-free, and become a valuable green card holder.”
As Customs and Border Protection warns of an unprecedented sleeper cell threat, revelations mount about the Biden administration releasing unvetted Iranian nationals—some potentially on the terror watch list—into the U.S. In this explosive broadcast, Tara and JD Vance lay out how Democrats are actively shielding those tied to terror networks, while simultaneously reviving Barack Obama's controversial Global Engagement Center to silence dissent and censor conservative speech under the guise of “national security.” Tara draws a bold through-line from Obama's regime-change bombing of Libya, to Chuck Schumer's outrage over Trump's precision strike on Iran, and the broader Democrat-Iran alliance. With figures like the Ayatollah enjoying full access to platforms like X, while Trump and critics of trans ideology face digital exile, Tara paints a chilling picture of selective censorship and foreign favoritism. Meanwhile, cultural tides shift as free speech wins major ground—highlighted by Olympic champion Simone Biles deleting her X account after a public reversal in a debate with Riley Gaines. From cultural collapse to national betrayal, Tara argues the left has lost control of the narrative—and is turning to censorship as its last hope. This episode isn't just commentary—it's a wake-up call: Democrats aren't preparing to fight Iran. They're preparing to protect it.
In these back-to-back firebrand segments, Tara delivers a blistering indictment of the Democrat Party's deep entanglements with Iran and China, warning of an existential national security crisis. From Iranian enriched uranium mysteriously disappearing before U.S. strikes—potentially with help from China—to revelations that Customs and Border Protection released hundreds of unvetted Iranian nationals into the U.S., Tara connects the dots between weak border policy, terror sleeper cells, and foreign influence. Prime Minister Netanyahu's warnings, Trump's bold military actions, and JD Vance's takedown of Iran's failing war capabilities set the global stage, while back home, Democrats are more concerned with censoring free speech and shielding terrorists' "privacy rights" than defending American lives. Tara also highlights Obama's Global Engagement Center and calls out the reactivation of censorship networks designed to silence conservatives. The message is clear: Trump is cleaning up a geopolitical disaster built brick-by-brick by Democrats and their global allies—and the fight for America's sovereignty is only beginning.
In today's powerful collection of broadcasts, Tara Servatius exposes what she calls the greatest national security threat America has ever faced—and it's not just from abroad. These segments tie together an urgent narrative of how the Democrat Party, through open border policies, censorship operations, and dangerous foreign alliances, has empowered America's enemies from the inside out. From Prime Minister Netanyahu's warning that Iran is rushing to build nuclear weapons, to the disturbing revelation that enriched uranium may have been smuggled out with Chinese help, Tara breaks down the growing Iran-China proxy axis. Trump's targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites are cast as necessary countermeasures—but are met with outrage by Democrats, not our enemies. Why? Tara argues it's because the Democrats have become Iran's political allies. Meanwhile, at home, Customs and Border Protection confirms hundreds of unvetted Iranian nationals have been released into the U.S. under Biden's watch. Some are even on the terror watch list—yet protected under “privacy concerns.” Tara connects this to rising fears of sleeper cells and the increasing likelihood of domestic terror attacks. Adding fuel to the fire, the Obama-era Global Engagement Center—a censorship weapon targeting conservative voices—is reinstated by a liberal judge. All while Democrats march in the streets alongside Iranian-backed protest groups, wave rainbow flags and kefiyehs, and call for the impeachment of Trump—for finally confronting the real enemy. Today's show is a relentless wake-up call: The enemies aren't just crossing our borders—they're already inside the gates.
In a dramatic shift from just one year ago, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported zero illegal immigrants released into the U.S. during May 2025. This marks a 93% decrease in illegal border crossings compared to May 2024, when more than 62,000 were released under the previous administration.Acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores credited the Trump administration's enforcement-first policies for the historic drop, calling it the "fastest improvement in border security of all time." Drug seizures also spiked, with 718 pounds of fentanyl and sharp increases in heroin and cocaine confiscations.Are we witnessing a turning point in U.S. border policy?
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If Then | News on technology, Silicon Valley, politics, and tech policy
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ARC, the data broker owned by the country's major airlines, has been selling domestic flight data in the US to Customs and Border Protection. But in the contract, they told CBP not to reveal where the data was from… why? Guest: Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we start with Joseph's article about the U.S's major airlines selling customers' flight information to Customs and Border Protection and then telling the agency to not reveal where the data came from. After the break, Emanuel tells us how AI scraping bots are breaking open libraries, archives, and museums. In the subscribers-only section, Jason explains the casual surveillance relationship between ICE and local cops, according to emails he got. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Auc7NPD2ig4 Our New FOIA Forum! 6/18, 1PM ET Airlines Don't Want You to Know They Sold Your Flight Data to DHS AI Scraping Bots Are Breaking Open Libraries, Archives, and Museums Emails Reveal the Casual Surveillance Alliance Between ICE and Local Police Subscribe at 404media.co for bonus content Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Choosing an attitude of victimhood, especially seeing everything through the lens of race, leaves a person as, or more, poisoned than one who is a nasty racist bigot. A Bexar County-Court-At-Law judge is claiming that the only reason another Democrat is planning to run against her in next year's Democratic Primary, is due to her being black. It's as nasty to impute racism into someone else with no evidence for such as it is to be racist.And then there is this other bit showing today's Texas Democratic Party is a friend and promoter of perversion and communism: Texas Democrats Elect Socialist, “Pan-sexual” Vice-Chairman for Finance.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Threats at the Texas Capitol on Saturday are said, by Governor Abbott, to have come from an armed man who was on Capitol grounds. KXAN reports on who sources say is the now arrested man.Lubbock County budget talks show the same old thing: County Judge Curtis Parrish wants more raises for himself and other officials than do commissioners and, Sheriff Rowe wants tons more money and personnel. However, something missed is this: Why doesn't UMC pick up the tab for the deputies? It has massive cash reserves and huge earnings. (Congrats to the AJ for actually having a meaningful news story – it happens rarely these days.)Election integrity stories that blend together: Key Election Security Efforts Met Resistance in the Texas House Attorney General Ken Paxton Opens Investigations into 33 Noncitizens for Illegally Voting in the 2024 Election MyPillow's Mike Lindell found liable for defamation, ordered to pay $2.3 million FBI gives Congress intel on alleged Chinese plot to create fake mail-in ballots in 2020 – “…in fact, another agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, had intercepted nearly 20,000 fake licenses around the time the intelligence came in a possible corroboration of the report, officials said.” Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
Thursday, June 12th, 2025Today, Trump's new lawyers argue at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to move his 34 felony count appeal to federal court; Trump's DoJ calls Governor Newsom's lawsuit a crass political stunt and irony immediately died; Customs and Border Protection confirms it's flying Predator drones over Los Angeles; a new Quinnipiac poll shows Trump's approval is sliding considerably across all issues; Trump and Kegseth screened military audience members for loyalty and weight prior to his speech at Fort Liberty (i refuse to call it Fort Bragg); Representative LaMonica McIver has been wrongfully indicted by a grand jury; a Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty on a sex crimes charge on Wednesday; they've resorted to paying people to attend Trump's stupid birthday parade; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Thank You, IQBARText DAILYBEANS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Thank You, PacagenFor an extra 25% off your order and a special gift, head to Pacagen.com/DAILYBEANS.MSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueMarines Unleashed In LA! Trump's Authoritarian Crackdown Intensifies with Allison GillCheck out Dana's social media campaign highlighting LGBTQ+ heroes every day during Pride Month - Dana Goldberg (@dgcomedy.bsky.social)Guest: Los Angeles Mayor Karen BassMayor Bass on what's happening on the ground in Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass - LACity.govGuest: Adam KlasfeldAll Rise NewsAll Rise News - Bluesky, @klasfeldreports.com - BlueSky, @KlasfeldReports - TwitterTrump's criminal appeal: All Rise News special coverage | All Rise NewsStoriesBragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance | Military.comCBP Confirms It Is Flying Predator Drones Above Los Angeles To Support ICE | 404 MediaRep. LaMonica McIver indicted on federal charges over clash with law enforcement at ICE facility in New Jersey | NBC NewsHarvey Weinstein convicted of sex crime amid contentious jury deliberations | ReutersGood Trouble: FBI — Seeking Information on Assault on a Federal Officers in The Los Angeles AreaProton Mail: free email account with privacy and encryptionFind Upcoming Demonstrations And ActionsSat June 14 10am – 12pm PDT AG is hosting NO KINGS Waterfront Park, San DiegoDonation link - secure.actblue.com/donate/fuelthemovement250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and Celebration50501 MovementJune 14th Nationwide Demonstrations - NoKings.orgIndivisible.orgFederal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewrote , Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote,Dana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyCheck out other MSW Media podcastsShows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 podSubscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on SubstackThe BreakdownFrom The Good NewsNoKings.orgNo Kings Action GuidelinesThe American Anthropological Association877-447-4487 (GI Rights Hotline) - Courage to ResistDaily Beans Fundraiser - Whistleblower AidCALL ME IZZY - On BroadwayReminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Federal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.Share your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good Trouble Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewrote , Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote,Dana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts
The Trump Administration’s efforts to deport more unauthorized immigrants have led to protests in major cities across the United States. Evidence of stepped-up immigration enforcement can also be seen at the U.S.-Canada border. But it’s not always drawing protests or media attention. A family of six at the Blaine border crossing was detained earlier this year. The family, originally from southwestern Africa, was held by Customs and Border Protection in a windowless cell, with a toilet, for more than three weeks – with no news stories and few people aware of their situation. The ACLU is now involved in the case. Guest: Troy Brynelson, reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting Related Links: ‘Like a jail cell’: Family of six detained at Washington state border facility for more than three weeks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Thursday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Trump's Call with XI Trump’s recent call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Buck breaks down the administration’s efforts to renegotiate trade terms, particularly around rare earth materials, and praises Trump’s strategic clarity and leadership—drawing a sharp contrast with the previous Biden administration’s perceived indecisiveness and lack of coherent China policy. Buck also explores the evolving dynamic between President Trump and Elon Musk, noting some recent friction but expressing hope that their shared goals will keep the relationship productive. He uses this moment to underscore the importance of unity among influential figures who support American innovation and economic strength. CBP Senior Advisor, Ron Vitiello Immigration and border security. Ron Vitiello, Senior Advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Vitello details the dramatic improvements at the southern border under Trump’s leadership, including a 90%+ drop in illegal crossings, increased prosecutions, and the deployment of 10,000 troops. He credits this success to strong leadership, clear policy enforcement, and international cooperation with Mexico and Canada. Vitiello also updates listeners on the status of the border wall, revealing that over 100 miles have been constructed using remaining funds from Trump’s first term, with plans for 700 additional miles underway. He emphasizes how the administration’s use of tariffs has pressured neighboring countries to step up their border enforcement, contributing to a significant reduction in fentanyl trafficking and cartel activity. Buck passionately defends ICE and Border Patrol agents, pushing back against political attacks and media narratives that undermine their work. He highlights the dangerous conditions these agents face and the critical role they play in protecting American communities from cartel violence and illegal immigration. Identity Politics Obsession Buck critiques a controversial ruling by a Biden-appointed federal judge in Colorado, who blocked the deportation of the family of a convicted terrorist. He warns of the dangers of judicial overreach and the erosion of executive authority, especially when lower court judges act as de facto policymakers. A major segment of the hour focuses on the unraveling credibility of former Biden administration allies. Buck calls out CNN’s Jake Tapper for attempting to rebrand himself after years of defending the Biden presidency, accusing him of opportunism. He also dissects the political pivot of former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who recently announced her departure from the Democratic Party. Buck argues that her appointment was driven by DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) priorities rather than qualifications, and he critiques the media’s double standards in covering her tenure. A landmark Supreme Court decision that reaffirms the illegality of reverse discrimination. Buck explains how the unanimous ruling, authored by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, confirms that all Americans—regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation—are equally protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. He frames this as a major blow to DEI policies and a win for merit-based hiring. Bad Blood between Musk and Trump? Buck addresses a growing rift between President Trump and Elon Musk. He analyzes their recent public spat over government spending and policy disagreements, while emphasizing Trump’s history of reconciliation and strategic alliances. Buck suggests that despite current tensions, the relationship may recover, as both figures remain central to the MAGA movement. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Day in Legal History: Henderson v. United States DecidedOn June 5, 1950, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Henderson v. United States, 339 U.S. 816 (1950), a significant civil rights ruling concerning racial segregation in interstate transportation. Elmer W. Henderson, an African American passenger, had been denied equal dining services on a train operated by the Southern Railway Company under a policy that enforced segregation. Although a dining car had a partition supposedly to accommodate Black passengers, in practice Henderson was often unable to access equivalent service due to timing and seat availability.The case reached the Supreme Court after the Interstate Commerce Commission failed to provide meaningful relief. In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Fred Vinson, the Court held that the railway's practices violated the Interstate Commerce Act, particularly its provision requiring carriers to provide equal treatment and avoid undue prejudice. Importantly, the Court based its reasoning not on constitutional grounds (such as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment), but on statutory interpretation, finding that the carrier's conduct constituted an unjust and unreasonable discrimination.This ruling marked an early and important step toward dismantling legally sanctioned segregation in public accommodations, prefiguring later landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Although not framed as a constitutional equal protection case, Henderson nonetheless contributed to the legal groundwork of the civil rights movement and challenged the legitimacy of the “separate but equal” doctrine in practical terms.SAP, Europe's largest software company, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision that revived an antitrust lawsuit brought by its competitor, Teradata. The case centers on allegations that SAP unlawfully tied its business-planning applications to a required purchase of its own database software, which competes with Teradata's products. SAP argues that such software integration benefits consumers and constitutes healthy competition, not anti-competitive conduct.The lawsuit was initially filed by California-based Teradata in 2018 after the companies ended a joint venture. SAP had prevailed in the lower court, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision in December, stating a jury should decide the case. SAP's petition criticizes the appellate court's reliance on a version of the “per se rule,” under which the conduct is presumed illegal without a detailed analysis. Instead, SAP advocates for applying the more nuanced “rule of reason” standard, which considers both competitive harms and justifications.SAP also claims the ruling conflicts with how a different federal appeals court treated a similar antitrust issue in the historic Microsoft case. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to hear the case.This case hinges on the concept of “tying,” where a company conditions the sale of one product on the purchase of another, potentially stifling competition. It's significant because whether courts apply a strict “per se” rule or the more flexible “rule of reason” can dramatically affect the outcome in such antitrust disputes.Tech giant SAP asks US Supreme Court to reconsider rival's antitrust win | ReutersA federal judge in Washington, D.C., has dismissed a lawsuit filed by three Democratic Party committees accusing President Donald Trump of trying to undermine the independence of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee failed to demonstrate any “concrete and imminent injury” necessary to sustain a legal challenge.The lawsuit, filed in February 2025, contested an executive order issued by Trump that aimed to increase White House control over independent federal agencies, including the FEC. The order stated that the legal views of the president and the attorney general would be “controlling” for federal employees and prohibited them from expressing opposing positions. Democrats claimed this language threatened the FEC's independence and could deter campaign planning.Judge Ali, however, noted that administration lawyers had assured the court that the executive order would not be used to interfere with the FEC's decision-making. He also found the plaintiffs' concerns too speculative, emphasizing that the Supreme Court requires a demonstrated change in the relationship with the agency in question, which the plaintiffs had not shown.The judge's decision hinged on the plaintiffs' lack of standing, a fundamental requirement in federal court. To proceed with a lawsuit, plaintiffs must show a specific, actual, or imminent injury caused by the defendant. In this case, speculative harm and vague concerns about agency behavior were insufficient. This principle helps prevent courts from weighing in on political disputes where no direct harm can be proven.Trump defeats Democrats' lawsuit over election commission independenceThe Trump administration is pursuing a new $25 million contract to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct DNA testing on families facing deportation. The goal, according to ICE, is to verify family relationships—but critics warn the program could lead to unnecessary family separations, especially in cases involving non-biological caregivers like godparents. Civil rights advocates also raise concerns that the DNA data could be misused for unrelated criminal investigations and stored indefinitely.The contract was initially awarded in May to SNA International, a firm specializing in forensic identification. However, Bode Cellmark Forensics filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, arguing the contract wasn't competitively bid. ICE subsequently issued a stop-work order on the contract pending resolution of the protest, with a decision expected by September 2.This is not ICE's first attempt at rapid DNA testing. A similar program began in 2019 during Trump's first term to detect alleged “fraudulent” parent-child relationships, often targeting migrant families. Though handed over to Customs and Border Protection in 2021, the Biden administration ended it in 2023. Reports since then have highlighted issues with consent, with some migrants mistaking DNA swabs for COVID-19 tests or feeling coerced into participation under threat of legal consequences.Privacy advocates argue that such widespread collection of genetic data lacks transparency and oversight. The Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology recently sued the Department of Homeland Security for failing to provide records on how DNA samples from migrants are collected and stored.The revived DNA testing raises key legal questions about informed consent and the scope of data use by federal agencies. When individuals are unaware of what they're consenting to—or coerced into it—the practice may violate federal standards for ethical data collection, especially under the Privacy Act and due process protections.ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
Asian shares were off to a tepid start at the open Tuesday after a rebound in big tech drove US stocks higher. Bonds fell as the dollar hit its lowest since 2023. Wall Street kept a close eye on the latest twists in the trade war, with the US extending the exclusion of Section 301 tariffs on some Chinese goods until Aug. 31, according to a notice issued by the US Customs and Border Protection. Trump and Xi Jinping will "likely" speak this week, according to the White House. We talk markets with Adam Coons, Chief Investment Officer at Winthrop Capital Management. Plus - South Koreans head to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president to lead the nation after an attempt to impose martial law at the end of last year triggered its worst constitutional crisis in decades. Opposition Democratic Party nominee Lee Jae-myung was the frontrunner ahead of conservative ruling People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo in final polls conducted last week. A third contender, Lee Jun-seok, a former PPP leader now running for the Reform Party, was splitting the conservative vote. The winner will face the challenges of trying to unite a deeply fractured country and restore growth to a shrinking economy that is among the most vulnerable in the world to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. For more, we hear from M. Jae Moon, Professor of Public Policy and Management at Yonsei University. He speaks with Bloomberg's Shery Ahn in Seoul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is implementing an AI chatbot called “chatCBP” for its workforce, following in the footsteps of similar federal government creations like DHSChat and StateChat. “CBP's chatCBP is an AI-powered chatbot designed to improve efficiency and access to information for CBP personnel while meeting CBP's security standards,” a CBP spokesperson told FedScoop in an emailed statement. The tool uses a large language model and gives workers responses and guidance in a conversational format “quickly and securely.” According to the spokesperson: “chatCBP offers features like document summarization, compilation, information extraction, and multi-file analysis, reducing the time spent searching for and interpreting documents.” News of the chatbot comes after other agencies within the federal government have launched their own internal chatbots in an attempt to more securely provide the type of generative AI assistance made popular by ChatGPT. That includes the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, CBP's parent agency. DHSChat, for its part, was announced last year and is similarly aimed at aiding workers with routine tasks. But, per the spokesperson, chatCBP is different in that it's designed to meet unique operational needs that the subagency has, such as requiring more control over LLM development, monitoring, data management and security. Four senators asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reestablish the Cyber Safety Review Board, citing the need to investigate a landmark breach of telecommunications networks by Chinese hackers known as Salt Typhoon. In a letter last Thursday, the senators also said the board has conducted important oversight of other incidents before DHS removed its members in January, such as its report on a breach of Microsoft by other Chinese hackers. Democratic Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote in the letter: “The CSRB played a vital role in U.S. national security carrying out post-incident reviews and providing information and making recommendations to improve public and private sector cyber security. Therefore, we urge you to swiftly reconstitute the Board with qualified leaders to shape our nation's cyber response.” Warner is the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence panel, and the four members sit on either the Intelligence Committee or the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. DHS purged all members from its advisory boards and committees in January. While the later disbanding of other boards has drawn some concern, the removal of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency-led Cyber Safety Review Board's members has drawn the most negative reaction from the cybersecurity community. It halted a Salt Typhoon investigation that had only just begun.
Send us a textWelcome to you heard it here last where we talk about news, you've already heard.Well it's finally happened. I don't want to talk about it. I said you can't make me talk about it. But I guess when I started down this podcast road it kinda became my job to talk about it. So here we go.Tariffs.https://www.enworld.org/threads/do-tariffs-apply-to-rpg-books-maybe-maybe-not.712908/EN World posted an article titled Do Tariffs apply to RPG Books? Maybe, Maybe Not.The article discusses an official exemption list which declares that "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter in single sheets, whether or not folded" and "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, other than in single sheets" are exempt from Tariffs.This of course made people excited.But then the other shoe dropped.US Customs and Border Protection, in November 1989 said“In our opinion, heading 9504 provides the more specific description of the merchandise in issue. The modules enhance fantasy game play; they were not designed for passive reading.”There are additions to this statement that basically define that rulebooks used for TTRPGs are not books, but games and therefore subject to Tariffs.The rulings are 35 years old and have everyone confused. Many companies are looking for clarification and hoping that their may be more rulings on what is subject to Tariffs, specifically the 145% Tariffs regarding China.To make this even more confusing I give you the landmark decision on June 28, 2024, In which the Supreme Court overruled the 40-year-old precedent of Chevron deference, which required courts to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes.In laymans terms the Supreme Court said that only the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government can make Federal Law. And only the President can issue and executive order. Laws cannot be made by agencies within the federal government.In other words, the ultimate decision regarding TTRPG tariffs doesn't lie with the US Customs, but with the President and the United States Congress.The article ends with an excellent statement and what I believe is the key to all of this. “Whatever the tariffs, what is necessary for trade is stability.”It's kinda hard to plan for the future when the future changes everyday.And now for something completely different (I hope I don't get sued for that)https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2025/05/rpg-travellers-new-campaign-the-singularity-evokes-sci-fi-grandeur-on-kickstarter-now.htmlhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jtas3/traveller-rpg-the-singularity-campaign?ref=discovery&term=Traveller&total_hits=85815&category_id=34Traveller, the Sci-Fi roleplaying game currently published by Mongoose Publishing has just launched a Kickstarter for their new massive campaign “singularity”. It's been a minute since we have had one of these huge, multibook campaigns for Traveller and this one looks to be pretty cool. The RPG will take you to the Throneworld of the 3rd Emperium, let you peruse the archives of Reference, chart the Sylean Main. And, put charted space in your wake.I only hope it's organized better then Pirates of Drinax.
Mary Lou Steward, the mayor of Blaine, Washington, expressed concern over the recent outbound inspections by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Canada-U.S. border, calling them uncommon. She said officials told her there's reason to believe more fentanyl is entering the U.S. from Canada than data suggests, prompting the added inspections. Guest: Mary Lou Steward - Mayor of Blaine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Moms for America Podcast was honored to attend the White House celebration of President Trump's first 100 days in office. In this episode, Moms for America Vice President and podcast host Debbie Kraulidis spoke with Ron Vitiello, a Senior Advisor serving with US Customs and Border Protection. Debbie also sat down with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly to talk about the energy and transparency of Trump 2.0. Like, subscribe, and share!
The Trump administration is quietly closing the window for public comment. Plus it will take more than a new policy to get certified s bombs. Those stories are much more ahead during this hour of the federal drive, but first, the Trump administration is backing a plan to increase Homeland Security spending by $67 billion over the next decade. That includes 6.2 billion to ramp up hiring at Customs and Border Protection. But the Congressional Budget Office projects considerable uncertainty about CBP ability to actually meet those hiring targets, federal news networks. Justin Doubleday is here with the latest.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is a preview of The Weekender edition of the Muckrake Podcast. Please go to our Patreon to gain access to the regular Weekender episodes on Fridays. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman begin the show talking about Hasan Piker, a popular streamer who was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers upon his return to the US from out of the country. This was a chilling revelation especially in light of the administration trying to eradicate birthright citizenship, which the Supreme Court heard arguments about yesterday. The Democrats continue to fall into disarray as they look to potentially oust David Hogg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customs and Border Protection is looking to expand its use of facial recognition. In a new request for information, CBP says it's seeking solutions for capturing facial images of occupants in vehicles. The technology would be used at ports of entry to compare biometrics in CBP's Traveler Verification Service. CBP and other Homeland Security agencies have been expanding their use of facial recognition to expedite traveler screening in recent years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In 8 AM hour, Larry O’Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: WMAL GUEST: RON VITIELLO (Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent, Former Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement & Currently Senior Advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection) on Dems breaking into an ICE facility. SNL’s Guns Sketch 2024: Nicolas Cage Quashes Hope for ‘National Treasure 3’: ‘To Find Treasure, Don’t Look at Disney’ 2025: Nicolas Cage Shares Optimistic Update on Long-Delayed Return to His Globe-Trotting Action Adventure Franchise Julie’s Mother’s Day Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow podcasts on Apple, Audible and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: wmal.com/oconnor-company Episode: Monday, May 12, 2025 / 8 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Department of Government Efficiency has arrived at the Office of Biometric Identity Management, a quiet but powerful component of the Department of Homeland Security that handles a critical database of fingerprint, facial, and iris data used throughout the federal government. Three people, including one person within DHS and two more familiar with the matter, confirmed that DOGE now has a presence at the agency. Two of those sources added that DOGE seems to have restarted conversations about the future of the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) program, which DHS has long hoped would replace the agency's current biometrics database — the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT), one of the world's largest known systems of that kind. OBIM was created more than a decade ago to manage the biometric information used to make border security decisions. As a relatively small office, OBIM provides assistance to DHS and federal agencies, including the State Department. OBIM also sometimes exchanges biometrics with other countries. OBIM's biometric database stores hundreds of millions of biometric data points. A DHS website notes that a single query of the system “can retrieve data for an individual tied to a Department of State visa application, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection log of an entry into the United States, and an immigration status change logged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.” The Trump administration has launched an effort to overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulation with a focus on delivering a quicker, more efficient and less burdensome procurement process for federal agencies. To provide details on the progress of the so-called “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul,” the General Services Administration — one of the federal government's lead procurement agencies and a member of the FAR Council — launched a new website Tuesday for the initiative. Federal acquisition stakeholders can expect to find a streamlined version of the FAR, buying guides — the first of which will be focused on software-as-a-service — and opportunities to share their feedback about acquisition policy on the new website, according to a release from GSA. The Trump administration's overhaul of the FAR was spurred by an executive order in April that called on the Office of Federal Procurement Policy in the Office of Management and Budget to lead the effort with FAR Council members GSA, NASA and the Defense Department. Within 180 days of that order, the group is expected to “amend the FAR to ensure that it contains only provisions that are required by statute or that are otherwise necessary to support simplicity and usability, strengthen the efficacy of the procurement system, or protect economic or national security interests.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.
President Trump has passed with flying colors when it comes to cracking down at the Southern border — with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting that illegal crossings had dropped to a decades-long low in February, only a month after the Trump administration returned to the White House. On the other hand, the President has received backlash from both sides of the aisle on his trade & tariff plans, as many Americans remain nervous that these strategies could lead to high prices and supply shortages. So, are Americans giving President Trump a passing grade overall? This week, Trey is joined by host of The Hugh Hewitt Show and FOX News Contributor Hugh Hewitt to break down the numbers, the messaging, and the path forward for the Trump administration. Hugh also shares the one book that changed his life forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Steve, Todd, and Aaron had the immense privilege of visiting the White House as part of President Trump's First 100 Days commemoration. Steve interviewed Ronald Vitiello, Customs and Border Protection senior adviser, about the state of the border and what's next in the fight to restore the nation's sovereignty. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, joined Steve to discuss why a multitrillion-dollar government agency had nobody actually at work. Then, White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr joined the program to discuss the multifaceted, flood-the-zone strategy of the communications team and what they're working on next. Finally, Steve and the crew found Superman wandering around; Dean Cain joined the program to talk about why he's in D.C., the state of American storytelling, and his hopes for the upcoming James Gunn "Superman" adaptation.. RELIEF FACTOR: VISIT https://www.relieffactor.com/ OR CALL 800-4-RELIEF KEKSI: https://www.keksi.com/ use promo code DEACE15 BACKYARD BUTCHERS: https://www.backyardbutchers.com/pages/deace JASE MEDICAL: https://jasemedical.com/ and enter code “DEACE” at checkout for a discount on your order BIRCH GOLD: Text STEVE to 989898 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textFairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz knows that we are at the moment of truth for standing up to Donald Trump's onslaught against non-United States citizens, lawyers and law firms, and higher education. If not, we will face the discomfort of younger generations in the future asking what we did to raise our voices to all this injustice flying from all directions in this period in American government. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is among the groups at the forefront of challenging such a state of affairs, with FIRE having a wide range of the political spectrum among its staff and supporters. Do not let people marginalize your voice by endeavoring to paint you as a lunatic leftie, when such opposition is much more broadbased than that (and our guest Bachir Atallah voted for Donald Trump). Jon Katz deeply thanks lawyer and naturalized United States citizen Bachir Atallah -- who with his wife Jessica Fakhri suffered around a five hours-long detention including being held in cold cells, by Customs and Border Protection officials on their April 13, 2025 drive back from a weekend in Quebec, as Bachir reports -- and his attorney and sister Celine Atallah for addressing the ordeal of Bachir and Jessica, and their current pursuit of justice to put a stop to such mistreatment. Bachir's (nicknamed Basho) story has been covered widely in the news media, and here we go in full depth devoting this entire one hour Beat the Prosecution episode to the story of Bachir and Jessica. Nothing beats hearing Bachir's story through his own words, including his recounting repeatedly being subjected to secondary screening while traveling internationally. If United States citizens are not safe from the mistreatment that Bachir describes, who is? In Beirut at the time of this April 22, 2025 interview, Bachir expresses his real concern about how he will be treated upon his return to the Logan Airport in Boston. Newsweek reports that "CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham told Newsweek [Bachir Atallah's] accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized..." That conclusory denial comes from someone who was not present while the events unfolded, and an exhaustive Google search and search of the CBP and DHS websites does not reveal any further government statements nor explanations on the matter. The name of this podcast is Beat the Prosecution. A vital part of doing so is to maintain checks and balances among the branches of government, and certainly not to accept the Trump administration's running roughshod over the rights of non-United States citizens (and, here, the rights of U.S. citizen Bachir Atallah), lawyers and law firms, and higher education. This episode is also available in full here on YouTube.This podcast with Fairfax, Virginia criminal / DUI lawyer Jon Katz is playable on all devices at podcast.BeatTheProsecution.com. For more information, visit https://KatzJustice.com or contact us at info@KatzJustice.com, 703-383-1100 (calling), or 571-406-7268 (text). If you like what you hear on our Beat the Prosecution podcast, please take a moment to post a review at our Apple podcasts page (with stars only, or else also with a comment) at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beat-the-prosecution/id1721413675
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, the U.S.-China tariff war is taking another alarming turn, as China stops shipments of essential rare earth metals and magnets, imperiling U.S. industries reliant on Beijing's minerals monopoly. Later in the show—we turn to the southern border, where according to new data from US Customs and Border Protection, illegal migrant crossings have plummeted to a record low under the Trump administration. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Kikoff: Tax season is the perfect time to take control of your financial future. Get your first month FREE at https://getkikoff.com/mike TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kaitlin Collins left the White House with some lumps to the noggin yesterday. As President Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele held a press conference, Collins asked about deported gang member Abrego Garcia. Well, Pam Bondi, Marco Rubio and President Bukele all teed-off on Collins and her reporting. The "Maryland man" is actually a citizen of El Salvador and was ordered to be deported in 2019. On today's show we are going to take a look at our national borders and what a difference a president can make. Ron Vitiello is the senior advisor to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection with the Department of Homeland Security. Mark Hall is the Deputy U.S. Border Czar, working directly with Tom Homan. With decades of experience in border protection and law enforcement, both men point to our robust laws concerning immigration. Our immigration laws and procedures are fair and work when they are enforced. Now that President Trump is enforcing our laws, what was 7,000 crossing per day under Biden has plummeted to below 300 under President Trump. Ron and Mark fill us in on cartel activity, stopping deadly fentanyl precursors from China and how Mexico and Canada have stepped up to do their part. With exceptional leadership from the likes of Pam Bondi, Tom Homan and Kristi Noem, we might already have the most secure border in U.S. history. Featuring: Ron Vitiello Senior Advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Former Chief of Border Patrol & Acting ICE Director Mark Hall Deputy US Border Czar | Trump Administration Distinguished Veteran U.S. Customs and Border Protection It's Tuesday, which means there is NEW, FREE content in my newsletter: https://www.seanspicer.com/p/bill-maher-changes-his-tune-on-trump Today's show is brought to you by these great sponsors: Beam For a limited time got 40% of Beam's Dream Powder. Dream Powder with Reishi, Magnesium, L-Theanine, Apigenin and Melatonin to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. Just head to https://shopbeam.com/SPICER for 40% off. Wired 2 Fish Coffee Do you want to drink coffee from the finest coffee beans in the world? Wired 2 Fish sources directly from Mexico and Guatemala to bring you the freshest arabica coffee beans in the world. Wired 2 Fish cares so much about the earth that they give back 25% of their net profits to faith-based organizations and clean water initiatives. If you're a coffee lover and want to support a great company doing great work head to https://www.wired2fishcoffee.com/ use code: WECARE for 15% off your first order. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Flexport was a breakout success—reimagining global trade with tech at its core. But when the freight market cooled and efficiency overtook service, things started to unravel. Founder Ryan Petersen stepped aside, handing the CEO role to former Amazon exec Dave Clark. Months later, he was back at the helm.In this episode, Ryan explains what went wrong, how he's rebuilding Flexport—cutting $300M in costs, restoring customer focus—and why promoting from within beats chasing outside stars. He also weighs in on Trump's proposed tariffs and what they could mean for the future of global trade.Chapters: 00:00 Trailer00:31 Introduction02:07 Meeting smart people, seeing the world03:40 Eroded margins09:52 Charismatic and overconfident15:32 Not an overnight decision20:08 The founder has returned23:10 Redoing the hiring26:38 No substitute for passion31:00 Working for and with my brother37:28 Working with forwarders42:14 Being a founder can be lonely47:49 Life's work54:06 The right person for the job1:00:55 19 countries1:04:57 Blowing people up1:07:24 Work and being a good dad1:08:34 Not doing it for money and loving money1:17:52 Import and export tariffs1:22:57 De minimis1:25:54 Panama and the Suez Canal1:36:50 Going public1:42:24 Who Flexport is Hiring 1:42:42 What "grit" means to Ryan1:43:06 OutroMentioned in this episode: Founders Fund, Amazon, Toyota Motor Corporation, Slack, Brex, Pedro Franceschi, Henrique Dubugras, United States Customs and Border Protection, ImportGenius, Michael Kanko, Y Combinator, Paul Graham, Intel Corporation, Shopify, Geely Holding (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.), The Volvo Group, Intuit TurboTax, David Petersen, BuildZoom, TechCrunch, Google, Figma, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter, Panama Canal Authority, United States Navy, Coinbase, Uber, AirbnbLinks:Connect with RyanXLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
Customs and Border Protection's Office of Information Technology says it's reviewing the loss of three physical servers, a public records request shows. According to a document produced by CBP's Cybersecurity Directorate, about 200 government devices have been stolen or gone missing in recent years. Of these devices, 140 were cell phones, and just under 40 were laptops. No items were reported to be lost abroad, according to the document. That federal employees would have lost phones and tablets isn't surprising. FedScoop has reported on lost electronics at the U.S. Agency for International Development and NASA, and agencies often review inventories of employee devices. Still, the loss of government-furnished equipment can raise concerns about the security of sensitive data. Some federal employees have even been caught stealing government IT equipment in order to sell it. The loss of three servers is somewhat unusual. The agency did not answer a series of questions about the lost servers, including what data they might have held or whether the losses were ever reported to law enforcement. In response to FedScoop questions, an agency spokesperson said, “CBP is currently reviewing this issue.” The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must brief Congress on proposed deep cuts to agency personnel, a top Democrat said in a letter to its acting director. California Rep. Eric Swalwell, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, wrote in the letter to acting Director Bridget Bean on Thursday that CISA is obligated to notify Congress of its plans. CISA reportedly plans to cut agency staff by nearly 40%, or 1,300 people. Swallwell wrote in his letter that “upending an agency that plays such an important role in defending the homeland while keeping Congress in the dark is wholly unacceptable,” adding that CISA hasn't provided the subcommittee any justification for the cuts or explained how it will execute its congressionally mandated mission with a fraction of the workforce and resources. CISA had already cut 130 probationary staffers, a move blocked in court before being overturned in an appeal. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.
At least five international students at UC San Diego face an uncertain future after their F-1 visas were unexpectedly revoked. We're learning that two San Diego based US Customs and Border Protection officers are facing federal charges for allegedly taking bribes to let vehicles with undocumented migrants into the US. Carlsbad police had to rescue a seas lion from a bike lane on Carlsbad Boulevard. What You Need To Know To Start Your Sunday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been denying people entry into the country after searching their phones. Gaby Del Valle from The Verge details what travelers should know about their rights. Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer for The Cut, joins to discuss her reporting on a woman who was criminally charged after suffering a miscarriage. The Washington Post’s Patrick Marley tells us what to watch in today’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Plus, the worst quarter for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes in years, the bodies of three U.S. soldiers were recovered in Lithuania, and how April Fools’ pranks can backfire. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended and deported valid visa and green-card holders over the past few months. Newsweek reports that among them was a doctor from Brown University’s medical school. Business Insider says the administration’s hardline immigration policy and trade war are scaring away tourists. Trump invoked a wartime law to deport hundreds of migrants allegedly affiliated with a Venezuelan gang over the weekend. NBC News reports that a judge blocked the law's use, but not before the deportations had already taken place. The Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn explains how the congressional spending bill could have broad impacts on Washington, D.C. Plus, deadly weather claimed the lives of dozens of people across the country, the U.S. carried out airstrikes against Houthi rebels, and the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament brackets are set. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.