Podcasts about southwest border

Kristofor Healey is a veteran law enforcement officer who spent more than 15 years in federal law enforcement directing large-scale, multi-defendant fraud investigations and high-risk public corruption investigations domestically and overseas.   As a Special Agent, Healey spent 10 years on the Southwest Border, served on various federal task forces, testified in criminal proceedings as a Subject Matter Expert on tele-fraud and money laundering, represented the U.S. Government on overseas missions to more than a dozen countries, and was a featured speaker at law enforcement and industry conferences and training academies.  Healey's criminal investigative work has been honored by the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and numerous federal agencies. His cases have been featured in national media profiles and his work investigating India-based tele-fraud networks targeting American citizens was the subject of the Podcast Academy Award nominated serial podcast Chameleon: Scam Likely chronicling his team's identification, arrest, and extradition of the originator of the IRS impersonation scam.  Healey is a keynote speaker with the Team Never Quit Speakers Bureau, the author of two books - In Valor: 365 Stoic Meditations for First Responders and Indispensable: A Tactical Plan for the Modern Man - and he shares Stoic lessons, leadership tips and mindset tips, via his Podcast, YouTube and Substack channels. He is available for law enforcement training courses on Stoic mindset, resilience, and wellness upon request.  You can find Kristofor at the following:    Website: www.kristoforhealey.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_healey/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristofor-healey LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/krhealey Substack: kristoforhealey.substack.com Speaking Availability: https://teamneverquit.com/speakers/kristofor-healey/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stoicresponder   --------------------- *Get your free guide: https://scott-31f04.gr8.com/ **101 Health Tips For Police Officers": https://amzn.to/3LUbCzE ***FAMILY FIRST: https://amzn.to/47xzO5u ------------------------   Disclaimer: The creator is not responsible for errors, omissions, or results from using this information. The views or opinions belong solely to the Creator. Information by the Creator is for Educational Purposes Certain Content herein is subject to the Doctrine of “Fair Use”   As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

On today's Borderland, Vince dives deeper into the current situation at the Southern Border by talking to two bordertown sheriffs. Both men previously appeared on an episode centered on Operation Lone Star (which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSE2M78_MHU ), but today's episode features previously unreleased portions of these conversations. Thaddeus Cleveland is the Sheriff for Terrell County, Texas. Prior to being elected, Sheriff Cleveland spent just over 26 years in the U.S. Border Patrol. He served as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Advisor to U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) in support of the Department of Defense's (DoD) assistance to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Humanitarian Crisis at the Southwest Border with Mexico. He also served six months alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, Texas as the Border Patrol Staff Officer at the Texas Homeland Security Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) as the single point of contact between the BSOC, U.S. Border Patrol Sectors and U.S. Border Patrol in Washington, D.C. Leon Wilmot is the Sheriff of Yuma County, Arizona. He has worked in law enforcement since 1985. Some of his professional accomplishments as Chief Deputy include the restructuring of the Southwest Border Alliance drug task force to the newly formed Yuma County Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Wilmot was also instrumental in overseeing the restructuring of the Yuma County Sheriff's Posse and is currently working on a Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement between Imperial County California and Yuma County. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, January 10th, 2024. Samaritan Ministries January 2024 Tired of someone else telling you where to go when you have a medical need? Are you ready to take control of your health care? Then it’s time to take a look at Samaritan Ministries. It’s Biblical, affordable health care sharing, with no restrictive networks. Here’s how it works. When a medical need arises, you choose the health care provider that’s right for you and have a say in the treatment you receive. Send your medical bills to Samaritan Ministries, and they’ll notify fellow members to pray for you and send money directly to you to help you pay those bills. Join 80,000 Christian households across the nation who have already taken control of their health care. Go to samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-tells-border-patrol-agents-illegal-immigrants-released-into-us-sources Mayorkas tells Border Patrol agents that ‘above 85%’ of illegal immigrants released into US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday admitted to Border Patrol agents that the current rate of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border is "above 85%," sources told Fox News. Mayorkas made the remarks when meeting privately with agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to three Border Patrol sources who were in the room and heard the remarks themselves. The conversation happened during the muster for agents in the busy border area. Fox is told Mayorkas was asked directly about comments he made on "Special Report" last week when he was asked by anchor Bret Baier about reporting that over 70% of migrants are released into the U.S. each day. "It would not surprise me at all. I know the data," Mayorkas said. "And I will tell you that when individuals are released, they are released into immigration enforcement proceedings. They are on alternatives to detention. And we have returned or removed a record number of individuals. We are enforcing the laws that Congress has passed. " Fox is told that on Monday agents pushed him on those remarks, saying that the number is even higher than 70%, and then Mayorkas acknowledged a release rate of "above 85%." Mayorkas had also said last week on "Special Report" that "well more than a million" migrants are released into the U.S. annually, and argued repeatedly that it is up to Congress to provide more funding and immigration reform to fix what he has called a "broken" system. He said that the agency is limited in detention capacity by funding provided by Congress. "When somebody enters the country, we place them in immigration enforcement proceedings pursuant to immigration law, and if their claim for relief, their claim to remain in the United States succeeds, then by law they are able to stay here," he said. The remarks come just two days before the House Homeland Security Committee holds its first impeachment hearing, featuring multiple state attorneys general who will testify about the impact the crisis has had on their states. The hearing on Wednesday marks the first impeachment hearing after a year of investigations and reports by the House Homeland Security Committee which looked at the handling of the nearly three-year migrant crisis. Republicans have blamed the historic migrant crisis, which saw 302,000 migrant encounters last month alone on Biden-era policies, including the releases of migrants into the interior -- dubbed "catch-and-release." They have pointed to the broad use of parole, as well as narrowed ICE enforcement and the stopping of wall construction. The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. It has claimed it is expanding "lawful migration pathways" and increasing consequences for illegal entry, but can only do so much with a "broken" system. Mayorkas and other DHS officials have said that it has removed or returned more than 470,000 people since May, which is more than in the entirety of FY 2019. At a press availability later on Monday, Mayorkas highlighted the removals and returns, saying it is more than in any other five-month period in the last 10 years. "In fact, the majority of all Southwest Border migrant encounters throughout this Administration have been removed, returned, or expelled – the majority of them," he said. "We are doing everything we can, within a broken system, to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration." The White House has also requested $14 billion in border funding from Congress as part of its emergency supplemental spending proposal, but that is being held up as Republicans demand significantly more restrictions on the release of migrants into the interior. Mayorkas said last week that it was that broken system, not administration policy, which was the magnet drawing migrants to the border. Separately, the administration last week announced a lawsuit against the state of Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The lawsuit claims that the law is unconstitutional and interferes with the federal government's authority on immigration matters. https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/01/09/listen-hot-mic-catches-journos-joking-about-trump-being-assassinated-like-jfk-take-a-convertible/ Hot Mic Catches Journos Joking About Trump Being Assassinated Microphones caught journalists waiting for Donald Trump to arrive at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington D.C. joking about the president being assassinated on Tuesday. Trump is attending the D.C. Court of Appeals to hear the opening oral arguments in his appeal against Jack Smith’s efforts to prosecute him over January 6th, and journalists gathered outside the courthouse in substantial numbers ahead of his arrival. Two of them could be heard in live feeds joking about having a “good shot” at the America First leader when he arrived, particularly if he showed up driving a convertible like the one the late President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot in the head in 1963: https://twitter.com/i/status/1744738203616399859 - Play Video If you couldn’t hear what they said: First Journalist: You know what the worst part is? Even if he has his window open and he’s hanging out of it, he will be on the other side of the street. Second Journalist: I mean, if he’s driving, we’ve got a good shot! First Journalist: Yeah, if he’s driving with the front window open? Second Journalist: Yeah, or if it’s a convertible? First Journalist: Yeah. I wasn’t thinking about that. First Journalist: Like JFK? Second Journalist: (laughs) Trump’s hearing is being overseen by a panel of two Joe Biden-appointed judges and one George H. W. Bush-appointed judge. His lawyers argue the Smith prosecution amounts to double jeopardy, as Trump was already tried and acquitted over January 6th by the U.S. Senate, and that Smith is also violating the principle of presidential immunity for official acts. https://www.dailyfetched.com/man-finds-iphone-that-fell-out-alaska-air-1282-perfectly-intact/ Man Discovers iPhone That Fell Out of Alaska Air 1282: ‘Perfectly Intact’ A Portland man recovered a cell phone, which is believed to be owned by a passenger of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 after it was sucked out of the plane when the door plug blew open. Writing on X, the man, Sean Bates, posted a photo of the phone: “Found an iPhone on the side of the road,” he wrote. “Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282.” Bates found the phone when he was out walking before posting it on social media, which also showed what appeared to be an Alaska Airlines baggage flight receipt. The image showed the baggage receipt for the traveler and a piece of a charger still stuck into the phone’s charging port. Bates claimed the phone was “perfectly” intact with “no scratches on it.” In a TikTok video, Bates said he was walking in Portland on Sunday after the National Transportation Safety Bureau asked him to report any debris or plane parts. The door for the plane was also recovered after another Portland resident named Bob found the plug in his yard, “Thank you, Bob,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. Bates found one of the two cell phones that were recovered. Last week, Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after its passenger window blew open. The Boeing 737 Max was heading to Ontario, California w, when a large window busted open, causing severe depressurization. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement: “Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.” “My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.” Video footage showed the plane in the air with the window open as oxygen masks angled over passengers’ seats. https://www.dailyfetched.com/rebel-news-reporter-arrested-by-trudeaus-police-for-asking-a-question/ Rebel News Reporter Arrested by Trudeau’s Police for Asking a Question David Menzies, the reporter for Canada’s conservative Rebel News Network, was arrested on Monday for asking Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland a question. A police officer reportedly accused Menzies of assault despite the reporter not making any physical contact with Freeland. The video of the incident, posted by Rebel News chief Ezra Levant, showed Enzies asking Freeland about Canada’s refusal to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) as a terrorist organization. The video shows Menzies keeping pace with the Deputy Prime Minister as he walks down the street when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stands in his way and begins claiming Menzies “assaulted” him. Menzies does not appear to notice the RCMP officer because his attention is on Freeland. The officer then appears to set a “pick,” basketball-style, as a pretext for accusing Menzies of assaulting him. However, there is no evidence that Menzies intended to do so. “You’re under arrest for assault,” said the officer. The officer moved Menzies towards a vehicle, identifying himself as police and saying he was under arrest for assault. Menzies said the officer was the person who blocked his way. “I was just scrumming Chrystia Freeland,” he said. The officer acknowledged Menzies was being arrested for assaulting a police officer. In response, he accused him of assaulting him three years ago. Another RCMP officer said Menzies was being arrested because of his actions. This is because he was almost pushing people over. “That was a little bit aggressive for what was happening,” said the officer before the arrest occurred. True North managing editor Andrew Lawton said Menzies was later released. “Have confirmed that Menzies was released without charges,” said Lawton. And before we go, it’s time for my favorite topic, sports! CFP National Championship: Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies | Full Game Highlights Play 17:11-17:33

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, January 10th, 2024. Samaritan Ministries January 2024 Tired of someone else telling you where to go when you have a medical need? Are you ready to take control of your health care? Then it’s time to take a look at Samaritan Ministries. It’s Biblical, affordable health care sharing, with no restrictive networks. Here’s how it works. When a medical need arises, you choose the health care provider that’s right for you and have a say in the treatment you receive. Send your medical bills to Samaritan Ministries, and they’ll notify fellow members to pray for you and send money directly to you to help you pay those bills. Join 80,000 Christian households across the nation who have already taken control of their health care. Go to samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-tells-border-patrol-agents-illegal-immigrants-released-into-us-sources Mayorkas tells Border Patrol agents that ‘above 85%’ of illegal immigrants released into US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday admitted to Border Patrol agents that the current rate of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border is "above 85%," sources told Fox News. Mayorkas made the remarks when meeting privately with agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to three Border Patrol sources who were in the room and heard the remarks themselves. The conversation happened during the muster for agents in the busy border area. Fox is told Mayorkas was asked directly about comments he made on "Special Report" last week when he was asked by anchor Bret Baier about reporting that over 70% of migrants are released into the U.S. each day. "It would not surprise me at all. I know the data," Mayorkas said. "And I will tell you that when individuals are released, they are released into immigration enforcement proceedings. They are on alternatives to detention. And we have returned or removed a record number of individuals. We are enforcing the laws that Congress has passed. " Fox is told that on Monday agents pushed him on those remarks, saying that the number is even higher than 70%, and then Mayorkas acknowledged a release rate of "above 85%." Mayorkas had also said last week on "Special Report" that "well more than a million" migrants are released into the U.S. annually, and argued repeatedly that it is up to Congress to provide more funding and immigration reform to fix what he has called a "broken" system. He said that the agency is limited in detention capacity by funding provided by Congress. "When somebody enters the country, we place them in immigration enforcement proceedings pursuant to immigration law, and if their claim for relief, their claim to remain in the United States succeeds, then by law they are able to stay here," he said. The remarks come just two days before the House Homeland Security Committee holds its first impeachment hearing, featuring multiple state attorneys general who will testify about the impact the crisis has had on their states. The hearing on Wednesday marks the first impeachment hearing after a year of investigations and reports by the House Homeland Security Committee which looked at the handling of the nearly three-year migrant crisis. Republicans have blamed the historic migrant crisis, which saw 302,000 migrant encounters last month alone on Biden-era policies, including the releases of migrants into the interior -- dubbed "catch-and-release." They have pointed to the broad use of parole, as well as narrowed ICE enforcement and the stopping of wall construction. The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. It has claimed it is expanding "lawful migration pathways" and increasing consequences for illegal entry, but can only do so much with a "broken" system. Mayorkas and other DHS officials have said that it has removed or returned more than 470,000 people since May, which is more than in the entirety of FY 2019. At a press availability later on Monday, Mayorkas highlighted the removals and returns, saying it is more than in any other five-month period in the last 10 years. "In fact, the majority of all Southwest Border migrant encounters throughout this Administration have been removed, returned, or expelled – the majority of them," he said. "We are doing everything we can, within a broken system, to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration." The White House has also requested $14 billion in border funding from Congress as part of its emergency supplemental spending proposal, but that is being held up as Republicans demand significantly more restrictions on the release of migrants into the interior. Mayorkas said last week that it was that broken system, not administration policy, which was the magnet drawing migrants to the border. Separately, the administration last week announced a lawsuit against the state of Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The lawsuit claims that the law is unconstitutional and interferes with the federal government's authority on immigration matters. https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/01/09/listen-hot-mic-catches-journos-joking-about-trump-being-assassinated-like-jfk-take-a-convertible/ Hot Mic Catches Journos Joking About Trump Being Assassinated Microphones caught journalists waiting for Donald Trump to arrive at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington D.C. joking about the president being assassinated on Tuesday. Trump is attending the D.C. Court of Appeals to hear the opening oral arguments in his appeal against Jack Smith’s efforts to prosecute him over January 6th, and journalists gathered outside the courthouse in substantial numbers ahead of his arrival. Two of them could be heard in live feeds joking about having a “good shot” at the America First leader when he arrived, particularly if he showed up driving a convertible like the one the late President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot in the head in 1963: https://twitter.com/i/status/1744738203616399859 - Play Video If you couldn’t hear what they said: First Journalist: You know what the worst part is? Even if he has his window open and he’s hanging out of it, he will be on the other side of the street. Second Journalist: I mean, if he’s driving, we’ve got a good shot! First Journalist: Yeah, if he’s driving with the front window open? Second Journalist: Yeah, or if it’s a convertible? First Journalist: Yeah. I wasn’t thinking about that. First Journalist: Like JFK? Second Journalist: (laughs) Trump’s hearing is being overseen by a panel of two Joe Biden-appointed judges and one George H. W. Bush-appointed judge. His lawyers argue the Smith prosecution amounts to double jeopardy, as Trump was already tried and acquitted over January 6th by the U.S. Senate, and that Smith is also violating the principle of presidential immunity for official acts. https://www.dailyfetched.com/man-finds-iphone-that-fell-out-alaska-air-1282-perfectly-intact/ Man Discovers iPhone That Fell Out of Alaska Air 1282: ‘Perfectly Intact’ A Portland man recovered a cell phone, which is believed to be owned by a passenger of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 after it was sucked out of the plane when the door plug blew open. Writing on X, the man, Sean Bates, posted a photo of the phone: “Found an iPhone on the side of the road,” he wrote. “Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282.” Bates found the phone when he was out walking before posting it on social media, which also showed what appeared to be an Alaska Airlines baggage flight receipt. The image showed the baggage receipt for the traveler and a piece of a charger still stuck into the phone’s charging port. Bates claimed the phone was “perfectly” intact with “no scratches on it.” In a TikTok video, Bates said he was walking in Portland on Sunday after the National Transportation Safety Bureau asked him to report any debris or plane parts. The door for the plane was also recovered after another Portland resident named Bob found the plug in his yard, “Thank you, Bob,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. Bates found one of the two cell phones that were recovered. Last week, Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after its passenger window blew open. The Boeing 737 Max was heading to Ontario, California w, when a large window busted open, causing severe depressurization. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement: “Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.” “My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.” Video footage showed the plane in the air with the window open as oxygen masks angled over passengers’ seats. https://www.dailyfetched.com/rebel-news-reporter-arrested-by-trudeaus-police-for-asking-a-question/ Rebel News Reporter Arrested by Trudeau’s Police for Asking a Question David Menzies, the reporter for Canada’s conservative Rebel News Network, was arrested on Monday for asking Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland a question. A police officer reportedly accused Menzies of assault despite the reporter not making any physical contact with Freeland. The video of the incident, posted by Rebel News chief Ezra Levant, showed Enzies asking Freeland about Canada’s refusal to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) as a terrorist organization. The video shows Menzies keeping pace with the Deputy Prime Minister as he walks down the street when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stands in his way and begins claiming Menzies “assaulted” him. Menzies does not appear to notice the RCMP officer because his attention is on Freeland. The officer then appears to set a “pick,” basketball-style, as a pretext for accusing Menzies of assaulting him. However, there is no evidence that Menzies intended to do so. “You’re under arrest for assault,” said the officer. The officer moved Menzies towards a vehicle, identifying himself as police and saying he was under arrest for assault. Menzies said the officer was the person who blocked his way. “I was just scrumming Chrystia Freeland,” he said. The officer acknowledged Menzies was being arrested for assaulting a police officer. In response, he accused him of assaulting him three years ago. Another RCMP officer said Menzies was being arrested because of his actions. This is because he was almost pushing people over. “That was a little bit aggressive for what was happening,” said the officer before the arrest occurred. True North managing editor Andrew Lawton said Menzies was later released. “Have confirmed that Menzies was released without charges,” said Lawton. And before we go, it’s time for my favorite topic, sports! CFP National Championship: Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies | Full Game Highlights Play 17:11-17:33

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, January 10th, 2024. Samaritan Ministries January 2024 Tired of someone else telling you where to go when you have a medical need? Are you ready to take control of your health care? Then it’s time to take a look at Samaritan Ministries. It’s Biblical, affordable health care sharing, with no restrictive networks. Here’s how it works. When a medical need arises, you choose the health care provider that’s right for you and have a say in the treatment you receive. Send your medical bills to Samaritan Ministries, and they’ll notify fellow members to pray for you and send money directly to you to help you pay those bills. Join 80,000 Christian households across the nation who have already taken control of their health care. Go to samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-tells-border-patrol-agents-illegal-immigrants-released-into-us-sources Mayorkas tells Border Patrol agents that ‘above 85%’ of illegal immigrants released into US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday admitted to Border Patrol agents that the current rate of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border is "above 85%," sources told Fox News. Mayorkas made the remarks when meeting privately with agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to three Border Patrol sources who were in the room and heard the remarks themselves. The conversation happened during the muster for agents in the busy border area. Fox is told Mayorkas was asked directly about comments he made on "Special Report" last week when he was asked by anchor Bret Baier about reporting that over 70% of migrants are released into the U.S. each day. "It would not surprise me at all. I know the data," Mayorkas said. "And I will tell you that when individuals are released, they are released into immigration enforcement proceedings. They are on alternatives to detention. And we have returned or removed a record number of individuals. We are enforcing the laws that Congress has passed. " Fox is told that on Monday agents pushed him on those remarks, saying that the number is even higher than 70%, and then Mayorkas acknowledged a release rate of "above 85%." Mayorkas had also said last week on "Special Report" that "well more than a million" migrants are released into the U.S. annually, and argued repeatedly that it is up to Congress to provide more funding and immigration reform to fix what he has called a "broken" system. He said that the agency is limited in detention capacity by funding provided by Congress. "When somebody enters the country, we place them in immigration enforcement proceedings pursuant to immigration law, and if their claim for relief, their claim to remain in the United States succeeds, then by law they are able to stay here," he said. The remarks come just two days before the House Homeland Security Committee holds its first impeachment hearing, featuring multiple state attorneys general who will testify about the impact the crisis has had on their states. The hearing on Wednesday marks the first impeachment hearing after a year of investigations and reports by the House Homeland Security Committee which looked at the handling of the nearly three-year migrant crisis. Republicans have blamed the historic migrant crisis, which saw 302,000 migrant encounters last month alone on Biden-era policies, including the releases of migrants into the interior -- dubbed "catch-and-release." They have pointed to the broad use of parole, as well as narrowed ICE enforcement and the stopping of wall construction. The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. It has claimed it is expanding "lawful migration pathways" and increasing consequences for illegal entry, but can only do so much with a "broken" system. Mayorkas and other DHS officials have said that it has removed or returned more than 470,000 people since May, which is more than in the entirety of FY 2019. At a press availability later on Monday, Mayorkas highlighted the removals and returns, saying it is more than in any other five-month period in the last 10 years. "In fact, the majority of all Southwest Border migrant encounters throughout this Administration have been removed, returned, or expelled – the majority of them," he said. "We are doing everything we can, within a broken system, to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration." The White House has also requested $14 billion in border funding from Congress as part of its emergency supplemental spending proposal, but that is being held up as Republicans demand significantly more restrictions on the release of migrants into the interior. Mayorkas said last week that it was that broken system, not administration policy, which was the magnet drawing migrants to the border. Separately, the administration last week announced a lawsuit against the state of Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The lawsuit claims that the law is unconstitutional and interferes with the federal government's authority on immigration matters. https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/01/09/listen-hot-mic-catches-journos-joking-about-trump-being-assassinated-like-jfk-take-a-convertible/ Hot Mic Catches Journos Joking About Trump Being Assassinated Microphones caught journalists waiting for Donald Trump to arrive at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington D.C. joking about the president being assassinated on Tuesday. Trump is attending the D.C. Court of Appeals to hear the opening oral arguments in his appeal against Jack Smith’s efforts to prosecute him over January 6th, and journalists gathered outside the courthouse in substantial numbers ahead of his arrival. Two of them could be heard in live feeds joking about having a “good shot” at the America First leader when he arrived, particularly if he showed up driving a convertible like the one the late President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot in the head in 1963: https://twitter.com/i/status/1744738203616399859 - Play Video If you couldn’t hear what they said: First Journalist: You know what the worst part is? Even if he has his window open and he’s hanging out of it, he will be on the other side of the street. Second Journalist: I mean, if he’s driving, we’ve got a good shot! First Journalist: Yeah, if he’s driving with the front window open? Second Journalist: Yeah, or if it’s a convertible? First Journalist: Yeah. I wasn’t thinking about that. First Journalist: Like JFK? Second Journalist: (laughs) Trump’s hearing is being overseen by a panel of two Joe Biden-appointed judges and one George H. W. Bush-appointed judge. His lawyers argue the Smith prosecution amounts to double jeopardy, as Trump was already tried and acquitted over January 6th by the U.S. Senate, and that Smith is also violating the principle of presidential immunity for official acts. https://www.dailyfetched.com/man-finds-iphone-that-fell-out-alaska-air-1282-perfectly-intact/ Man Discovers iPhone That Fell Out of Alaska Air 1282: ‘Perfectly Intact’ A Portland man recovered a cell phone, which is believed to be owned by a passenger of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 after it was sucked out of the plane when the door plug blew open. Writing on X, the man, Sean Bates, posted a photo of the phone: “Found an iPhone on the side of the road,” he wrote. “Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282.” Bates found the phone when he was out walking before posting it on social media, which also showed what appeared to be an Alaska Airlines baggage flight receipt. The image showed the baggage receipt for the traveler and a piece of a charger still stuck into the phone’s charging port. Bates claimed the phone was “perfectly” intact with “no scratches on it.” In a TikTok video, Bates said he was walking in Portland on Sunday after the National Transportation Safety Bureau asked him to report any debris or plane parts. The door for the plane was also recovered after another Portland resident named Bob found the plug in his yard, “Thank you, Bob,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. Bates found one of the two cell phones that were recovered. Last week, Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after its passenger window blew open. The Boeing 737 Max was heading to Ontario, California w, when a large window busted open, causing severe depressurization. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement: “Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.” “My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.” Video footage showed the plane in the air with the window open as oxygen masks angled over passengers’ seats. https://www.dailyfetched.com/rebel-news-reporter-arrested-by-trudeaus-police-for-asking-a-question/ Rebel News Reporter Arrested by Trudeau’s Police for Asking a Question David Menzies, the reporter for Canada’s conservative Rebel News Network, was arrested on Monday for asking Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland a question. A police officer reportedly accused Menzies of assault despite the reporter not making any physical contact with Freeland. The video of the incident, posted by Rebel News chief Ezra Levant, showed Enzies asking Freeland about Canada’s refusal to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) as a terrorist organization. The video shows Menzies keeping pace with the Deputy Prime Minister as he walks down the street when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stands in his way and begins claiming Menzies “assaulted” him. Menzies does not appear to notice the RCMP officer because his attention is on Freeland. The officer then appears to set a “pick,” basketball-style, as a pretext for accusing Menzies of assaulting him. However, there is no evidence that Menzies intended to do so. “You’re under arrest for assault,” said the officer. The officer moved Menzies towards a vehicle, identifying himself as police and saying he was under arrest for assault. Menzies said the officer was the person who blocked his way. “I was just scrumming Chrystia Freeland,” he said. The officer acknowledged Menzies was being arrested for assaulting a police officer. In response, he accused him of assaulting him three years ago. Another RCMP officer said Menzies was being arrested because of his actions. This is because he was almost pushing people over. “That was a little bit aggressive for what was happening,” said the officer before the arrest occurred. True North managing editor Andrew Lawton said Menzies was later released. “Have confirmed that Menzies was released without charges,” said Lawton. And before we go, it’s time for my favorite topic, sports! CFP National Championship: Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies | Full Game Highlights Play 17:11-17:33

Ok all you “Ten-ers,”  Laurie and Michelle are bringing you a topic that EVERYONE is talking about— the growing issues with border control, illegal immigration and the overwhelming impacts from the influx of undocumented migrants. Immigration issues have been stated as the number one issue in America, and who better to chop it up with the ladies in Studio 50 than someone who has planted herself on the frontlines for the past year.  Cue in Southwest NewsNation correspondent Ali Bradley.Ali has been working in television news since 2010 and was primarily an anchor until she went independent as a journalist in 2021. For the last year, Ali could be found covering the U.S. Southern Border, working alongside her carefully cultivated sources to bring light to the issues impacting so many right now.Ali's desire to get answers to her questions led her to walk with a caravan of nearly 6,000 people for two weeks in southern Mexico. Ali has also covered the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, homelessness in Seattle, and the Afghanistan evacuation and Operation Allies.  We're adding to and weighing in on the conversation we all are having.  Let's go!Get Ready To Be Inspired, Educated, Empowered and Entertained! For more information visit us @shesa10times5. https://instagram.com/shesa10times5

Hello, and welcome to episode 89 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I'm Chris Kirkbride. It's yet another busy week of financial crime news, so I'm just going to get on with it. As usual, I have linked the main stories flagged in the podcast in the description. These are: AUSTRAC, Top tips for completing your 2023 compliance report.Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Court Enters Order Against Binance and Former CEO, Zhao, Concluding CFTC Enforcement Action.Council of Europe, New ISBN Publication - Means To Counter Education Fraud - Etined Volume 7.Council of Europe, Means To Counter Education Fraud: Legislation, practices and instruments: Volume 7.Council of the European Union, Anti-money laundering: Council and Parliament agree on procedure to select seat for new authority.Department of Justice, Former Special Agent In Charge Of The New York FBI Counterintelligence Division Sentenced To 50 Months In Prison For Conspiring To Violate U.S. Sanctions On Russia.Department of Justice, Metro-Atlanta man pleads guilty to money laundering of COVID-19 unemployment funds.Department of Justice, Dallas County individuals indicted in investment fraud and money laundering scheme.Department of Justice, United Kingdom Citizen Extradited to Face Charges in $99 Million Wine Fraud.Department of Justice, Seven Individuals Indicted on Fraud and Money Laundering Charges Relating to International Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly.Department of Justice, Justice Department Announces Crackdown on Networks That Steal Money from Consumer Accounts and Use Fraudulent “Microtransactions” to Hide the Activity from Banks.Department of Justice, Manvel resident charged for creating fake businesses to obtain COVID-19 funds.Department of Justice, Man Charged for $2M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme.Department of the Treasury, Remarks by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson at Bank Roundtable in Mumbai, India.European Commission, EU adopts 12th package of sanctions against Russia for its continued illegal war against Ukraine.European Council, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 12th package of economic and individual sanctions.Europol, IOCTA – Online Fraud Schemes: A Web of Deceit.Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Beneficial Ownership Information Access and Safeguards.Insolvency Service, Couple sentenced for abusing Covid loan then dissolving their company.Insolvency Service, Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023.Interpol, USD 300 million seized and 3,500 suspects arrested in international financial crime operation.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice (Iran).Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice (Russia).Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Who is subject to financial sanctions in the UK?Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, General Licences.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, OFSI Publishes Details of Frozen Asset Reporting for Financial Year 2022-23.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Russian Oil Services ban.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice (Russia).Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Updates to Correspondent Banking Restrictions (blog post).Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, UK Financial Sanctions: General guidance for financial sanctions under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Russia Guidance: Guidance for the financial and investment restrictions in Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, OFSI enforcement and monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions: Guidance.Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, General Licence – Continuation of Business of Evraz plc's North American Subsidiaries (INT/2022/1710676).Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury Sanctions Human Smuggling and Drug Trafficking Organization Operating on Southwest Border.Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury Tightens the Price Cap with New Sanctions and Updated Guidance.Payment Systems Regulator, PSR continues to take bold action on APP fraud as it publishes final reimbursement details ahead of 2024 implementation.Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Charges Former CEO of Medical Device Startup Stimwave with $41 Million Fraud.UK Judgments, Ames v Rex (Serious Fraud Office) [2023] EWCA Crim 1463.UK Judgments, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Limited v Dechert LLP, David Neil Gerrard, and The Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2023] EWHC 3280.UK legislation, Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No 5) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1367).UK legislation, The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1364).United Nations, ‘Illegal betting is the number one factor fuelling corruption in sports', UN conference hears.Wilmer Hale, Congress Enacts the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act Targeting Foreign Officials' Conduct. 

Illegal Aliens Processed ‘Virtually' at Southwest Border as Invasion Continues… Human Trafficking Jumps 21 Percent in Fort Worth Data… New Poll Shows Trump Expanding His Lead with Texas GOP Voters… […]

Congressman Jack Bergman is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district since 2017. 1.)  The oversight task force - reevaluation of the legality of the Biden Administration's withholding of congressionally appropriated funds for southwest border wall 2.)  appropriations for Michigan

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, October 25th, 2023. Page50 ad read concepts: Page50 is a distinctly Christian marketing company striving to help Christian-owned businesses grow and succeed in our digital age. They don’t want to just make a paycheck, they want to change the world, and that means building it alongside you. The mission is bigger than just Sunday. Page50 wants to help Christians recapture the work week, economic and political influence, and the public square. Page50 doesn’t work with just anybody, but if you’re a believer they want to work with you. Visit pagefifty.com (ya gotta spell it out) and see what they can do for you. That’s pagefifty.com. https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/24/tom-emmer-wins-gop-nomination-speaker/ Tom Emmer Wins GOP Nomination For Speaker Of The House On Secret Ballot House Majority Whip Tom Emmer won the nomination for Speaker of the House on Tuesday after five rounds of votes. Republicans were voting by secret ballot until they were able to get to a candidate who received a simple majority of the conference votes. After each round of votes, the member who received the lowest numbers was eliminated. Candidates running had the option to drop out before each round of votes if they felt that they did not have enough support. 109 votes were needed to win. Before the first round, there were seven GOP Republicans running for Speaker. Reps Tom Emmer, Mike Johnson, Byron Donald’s, Kevin Hern, Austin Scott, Jack Bergman and Pete Sessions. Sessions received the lowest amount of votes during the first round of votes and dropped out. Bergman dropped out after the second round of votes, as he received the least amount of votes. After the third round, Scott received the least amount of votes and dropped out of the race. After the fourth vote, Hern dropped out of the race after receiving the least amount of votes. Donalds then voluntarily dropped out of the race. Emmer secured the majority of votes during the fifth vote. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan was voted out of the race for speaker of the House on Friday after failing to receive the necessary votes on three separate ballots. Jordan lost in a secret ballot vote 86-112. https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/nearly-1-million-residents-left-california-2022-fueled-cost-living Nearly 1 million residents left California in 2022 fueled by cost of living The exodus from California accelerated in 2022, with 817,000 residents leaving the state in 2022 for an annual net loss of over three hundred thousand residents to other states, according to new U.S. Census data. Should outmigration continue, California could lose more than the five, already projected, congressional seats it’s expected to shed after the 2030 census. During the COVID-19 pandemic and switch to remote work, California lost population for the first time in its existence as a state, leading to the loss of a single congressional seat in 2021 during the nation’s reapportionment of census-based distribution of the nation’s 435 congressional representatives. With a smaller congressional delegation, the state would have less power to shape federal spending. While California Governor Gavin Newsom has not addressed the new numbers directly, when challenged by Fox News host Sean Hannity on California’s population decline in a June 2023 interview, he said, “.3% [population loss] during COVID. My gosh.” Just before the interview, Newsom’s Department of Finance estimated the state’s population had declined by 138,443 during 2022, making for a .36% population loss in a single year. Also using Department of Finance Data, the Public Policy Institute of California estimated a decline of 211,000 residents in 2022. Meanwhile, the latest Census data cited above, once accounting for a sharp rebound in immigration and decrease in deaths that offset the increase in outward immigration, estimates a population decrease of 113,000 for 2022. While the reason for the differences is not clear — the finance department notes that the discrepancy between its numbers and the Census reporting is due to different time frames being measured — the general trend of data demonstrating the state’s general population decline is consistent. According to PPIC polling, 45% of Californians are considering leaving the state due to the high cost of housing. Will Swaim, founder of the California Policy Center, acknowledges that housing is a major factor but that other costs, the lack of opportunity, and even the poor state of public education are leaving many Californians, especially parents, looking to move elsewhere. “There’s no question that housing costs are huge, but that really ignores the myriad other ways that California has simply destroyed business opportunity, especially for the working class,” said Swaim to The Center Square. “It is a very expensive state to live in and the poorer you are the more that housing cost number hurts. But how about gasoline? Every week people are putting almost double what our fellow Americans in other states are putting in their cars.” Those leaving the state are disproportionately younger and lower income. For many families, buying property and raising children in the state is no longer a viable option. “We are losing younger folks, and I think we will see people continuing to migrate where housing costs are lower,” Manuel Pastor, a professor of sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, said in an interview with the Associated Press. “There are good jobs in California, but housing is incredibly expensive. It hurts young families, and it hurts immigrant families.” Swaim, who raised his children in California, noted that his now-adult children are left looking elsewhere for alternatives. Sharing his children’s thoughts, he said, “We don’t want our children to be educated in California's public schools, but we want them to be educated in private schools that we can’t afford.” The majority of students in California public schools do not meet the state’s moderate standards for math, science, and English. When combining all sources of funding, California public schools spend approximately $27,000 per student. The Education Data Initiative estimates the average K-12 private school tuition in California is $16,337. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2023/10/23/us-border-agents-warned-to-look-out-for-hamas-fighters-n2630232 CBP Agents Receive New Warning in Light of Israel-Hamas Conflict Authorities along the U.S.-Mexico border are being warned by the San Diego Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to keep an eye out for "foreign fighters" connected to the terrorist groups waging war against Israel for the last two-plus weeks, another sign that the border crisis has wide-ranging national security implications. First reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation's Jennie Taer, the "Situational Awareness" bulletin sent Friday is titled "Foreign Fighters of Israel-Hamas Conflict May Potentially be Encountered at Southwest Border" and is marked "unclassified/law enforcement sensitive." The bulletin explains: San Diego Field Office Intelligence Unit (SDFO-FITU) assesses that individuals inspired by, or reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt to travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via transit across the Southwest border. Foreign fighters motivated by ideology or mercenary soldiers of fortune may attempt to travel to or from the US to or from countries in the Middle East through Mexico. Among the items border agents are advised to watch for are military patches for Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah terrorist organizations — all funded by the regime in Iran. Other possible indicators are military age males, military gear including weapons, camouflage, and the previously mentioned terror group patches, single travelers, and those with undetermined return plans or associations to Israel, the Palestinian territories or regional affiliations. Agents are also given "questions of interest" to ask potential suspects with ties to the terrorist organizations to probe whether individuals have any "association with military or security services or government civilian agencies?" or "personal or familial association with Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) or any other similar groups?" It's unsurprising that there's growing fear that terror-linked individuals may be seeking to take advantage of the border crisis after a record-setting number of apprehensions and "gotaways" have been recorded on the Biden administration's watch, including an alarming number of individuals whose names matched with people listed in U.S. terror watch lists. https://www.foxnews.com/world/iceland-pm-goes-strike-womens-equal-pay-gender-based-violence Iceland PM goes on strike over women's equal pay, gender-based violence The prime minister of Iceland went on strike Tuesday in protest of gender discrimination. Prime Minister Katrin yaker-stoder joined women across the country in a national demonstration against pay discrimination and gendered violence. "We have not yet reached our goals of full gender equality and we are still tackling the gender-based wage gap, which is unacceptable in 2023," Jakobsdóttir told news outlet mbl.is. The nationwide protest, referred to as a "women's strike," is the first full day of widespread female absence from the workforce since 1975. "I will not work this day, as I expect all the women [in cabinet] will do as well," Jakobsdóttir said. The original protest aimed to emphasize the importance of women in the workforce and urge an end to disparate wages between female and male workers. Women in Iceland earn approximately 10% less on average compared to their male counterparts, according to the World Economic Forum. As Icelandic women's rights movements have made greater headway in their campaigns, the scope and meaning of the protests have expanded to include other issues. "We are still tackling gender-based violence, which has been a priority for my government to tackle," yakob-stoder said. Iceland consistently ranks among the most gender-equal countries in the world in terms of education, employment and health care. Jakobsdóttir's cabinet maintains an equal number of men and women and Iceland's national parliament hovers just under 50% female. Past Icelandic women's strikes have sparked similar protests in other European countries. https://thepostmillennial.com/coca-cola-quietly-deletes-mentions-of-hamas-supporting-blm-from-company-website?utm_campaign=64487 Coca-Cola quietly deletes mentions of BLM from company website Coca-Cola has been a financial sponsor of Black Lives Matter for years, however, references to its support of the organization appeared to have vanished from its website in light of recent posts shared by the group siding with Hamas. BLM Chicago and an organizer from Los Angeles are among those associated with the purported civil rights group to have publicly voiced support for the Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist group following its latest wave of violence. On Friday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) revealed that he had caught the beverage giant "red-handed," posting two screenshots of its website, one of which included references to BLM, and an updated version that does not. Coca-Cola had originally stated on its website that Sprite, which it owns, had donated $500,000 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network to "support the group's voting education efforts and their February 2021 Black Future Month program." "We're in this for the long haul," brand lead Aaliyah Shafiq noted. "Lasting change will not happen overnight, so we're committed to continuing to amplofy the voices and efforts of our community, to listen and learn, and to actively help create a better shared future for America." In the updated version of their website, Shafiq's quote is still there, however, the entire sentence highlighting the $500,000 contribution has been deleted. "Editing your website is not enough," Cruz said. "Americans DEMAND an apology." The posts in question were shared in the days following Hamas' brutal massacre of civilians in Israel. BLM Chicago featured an image of a paraglider with a Palestinian flag attached to his parachute. "That is all that it is!" was the caption. Before long, users utilized X's Community Notes feature to point out important context. "The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas used armed gun men on Paragliders to enter a rave in Israel to kill over 260 innocent people partying," the note read, adding that, "previous to this incident, Palestinians were not know[n] for paragliding." It was later deleted, though the group did remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinians over Israel. "For every corporate donor who sent millions to BLM—including Amazon, Apple, BlackRock & Bank of America—do you regret supporting such an antisemitic organization?" Cruz asked on his podcast Wednesday, according to Fox News. The organizer from Los Angeles, Dr. Melina Abdullah, said in her post that "we must stand unwaveringly on the side of the oppressed," adding, "when a people have been subject to decades of unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense."

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, October 25th, 2023. Page50 ad read concepts: Page50 is a distinctly Christian marketing company striving to help Christian-owned businesses grow and succeed in our digital age. They don’t want to just make a paycheck, they want to change the world, and that means building it alongside you. The mission is bigger than just Sunday. Page50 wants to help Christians recapture the work week, economic and political influence, and the public square. Page50 doesn’t work with just anybody, but if you’re a believer they want to work with you. Visit pagefifty.com (ya gotta spell it out) and see what they can do for you. That’s pagefifty.com. https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/24/tom-emmer-wins-gop-nomination-speaker/ Tom Emmer Wins GOP Nomination For Speaker Of The House On Secret Ballot House Majority Whip Tom Emmer won the nomination for Speaker of the House on Tuesday after five rounds of votes. Republicans were voting by secret ballot until they were able to get to a candidate who received a simple majority of the conference votes. After each round of votes, the member who received the lowest numbers was eliminated. Candidates running had the option to drop out before each round of votes if they felt that they did not have enough support. 109 votes were needed to win. Before the first round, there were seven GOP Republicans running for Speaker. Reps Tom Emmer, Mike Johnson, Byron Donald’s, Kevin Hern, Austin Scott, Jack Bergman and Pete Sessions. Sessions received the lowest amount of votes during the first round of votes and dropped out. Bergman dropped out after the second round of votes, as he received the least amount of votes. After the third round, Scott received the least amount of votes and dropped out of the race. After the fourth vote, Hern dropped out of the race after receiving the least amount of votes. Donalds then voluntarily dropped out of the race. Emmer secured the majority of votes during the fifth vote. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan was voted out of the race for speaker of the House on Friday after failing to receive the necessary votes on three separate ballots. Jordan lost in a secret ballot vote 86-112. https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/nearly-1-million-residents-left-california-2022-fueled-cost-living Nearly 1 million residents left California in 2022 fueled by cost of living The exodus from California accelerated in 2022, with 817,000 residents leaving the state in 2022 for an annual net loss of over three hundred thousand residents to other states, according to new U.S. Census data. Should outmigration continue, California could lose more than the five, already projected, congressional seats it’s expected to shed after the 2030 census. During the COVID-19 pandemic and switch to remote work, California lost population for the first time in its existence as a state, leading to the loss of a single congressional seat in 2021 during the nation’s reapportionment of census-based distribution of the nation’s 435 congressional representatives. With a smaller congressional delegation, the state would have less power to shape federal spending. While California Governor Gavin Newsom has not addressed the new numbers directly, when challenged by Fox News host Sean Hannity on California’s population decline in a June 2023 interview, he said, “.3% [population loss] during COVID. My gosh.” Just before the interview, Newsom’s Department of Finance estimated the state’s population had declined by 138,443 during 2022, making for a .36% population loss in a single year. Also using Department of Finance Data, the Public Policy Institute of California estimated a decline of 211,000 residents in 2022. Meanwhile, the latest Census data cited above, once accounting for a sharp rebound in immigration and decrease in deaths that offset the increase in outward immigration, estimates a population decrease of 113,000 for 2022. While the reason for the differences is not clear — the finance department notes that the discrepancy between its numbers and the Census reporting is due to different time frames being measured — the general trend of data demonstrating the state’s general population decline is consistent. According to PPIC polling, 45% of Californians are considering leaving the state due to the high cost of housing. Will Swaim, founder of the California Policy Center, acknowledges that housing is a major factor but that other costs, the lack of opportunity, and even the poor state of public education are leaving many Californians, especially parents, looking to move elsewhere. “There’s no question that housing costs are huge, but that really ignores the myriad other ways that California has simply destroyed business opportunity, especially for the working class,” said Swaim to The Center Square. “It is a very expensive state to live in and the poorer you are the more that housing cost number hurts. But how about gasoline? Every week people are putting almost double what our fellow Americans in other states are putting in their cars.” Those leaving the state are disproportionately younger and lower income. For many families, buying property and raising children in the state is no longer a viable option. “We are losing younger folks, and I think we will see people continuing to migrate where housing costs are lower,” Manuel Pastor, a professor of sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, said in an interview with the Associated Press. “There are good jobs in California, but housing is incredibly expensive. It hurts young families, and it hurts immigrant families.” Swaim, who raised his children in California, noted that his now-adult children are left looking elsewhere for alternatives. Sharing his children’s thoughts, he said, “We don’t want our children to be educated in California's public schools, but we want them to be educated in private schools that we can’t afford.” The majority of students in California public schools do not meet the state’s moderate standards for math, science, and English. When combining all sources of funding, California public schools spend approximately $27,000 per student. The Education Data Initiative estimates the average K-12 private school tuition in California is $16,337. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2023/10/23/us-border-agents-warned-to-look-out-for-hamas-fighters-n2630232 CBP Agents Receive New Warning in Light of Israel-Hamas Conflict Authorities along the U.S.-Mexico border are being warned by the San Diego Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to keep an eye out for "foreign fighters" connected to the terrorist groups waging war against Israel for the last two-plus weeks, another sign that the border crisis has wide-ranging national security implications. First reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation's Jennie Taer, the "Situational Awareness" bulletin sent Friday is titled "Foreign Fighters of Israel-Hamas Conflict May Potentially be Encountered at Southwest Border" and is marked "unclassified/law enforcement sensitive." The bulletin explains: San Diego Field Office Intelligence Unit (SDFO-FITU) assesses that individuals inspired by, or reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt to travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via transit across the Southwest border. Foreign fighters motivated by ideology or mercenary soldiers of fortune may attempt to travel to or from the US to or from countries in the Middle East through Mexico. Among the items border agents are advised to watch for are military patches for Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah terrorist organizations — all funded by the regime in Iran. Other possible indicators are military age males, military gear including weapons, camouflage, and the previously mentioned terror group patches, single travelers, and those with undetermined return plans or associations to Israel, the Palestinian territories or regional affiliations. Agents are also given "questions of interest" to ask potential suspects with ties to the terrorist organizations to probe whether individuals have any "association with military or security services or government civilian agencies?" or "personal or familial association with Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) or any other similar groups?" It's unsurprising that there's growing fear that terror-linked individuals may be seeking to take advantage of the border crisis after a record-setting number of apprehensions and "gotaways" have been recorded on the Biden administration's watch, including an alarming number of individuals whose names matched with people listed in U.S. terror watch lists. https://www.foxnews.com/world/iceland-pm-goes-strike-womens-equal-pay-gender-based-violence Iceland PM goes on strike over women's equal pay, gender-based violence The prime minister of Iceland went on strike Tuesday in protest of gender discrimination. Prime Minister Katrin yaker-stoder joined women across the country in a national demonstration against pay discrimination and gendered violence. "We have not yet reached our goals of full gender equality and we are still tackling the gender-based wage gap, which is unacceptable in 2023," Jakobsdóttir told news outlet mbl.is. The nationwide protest, referred to as a "women's strike," is the first full day of widespread female absence from the workforce since 1975. "I will not work this day, as I expect all the women [in cabinet] will do as well," Jakobsdóttir said. The original protest aimed to emphasize the importance of women in the workforce and urge an end to disparate wages between female and male workers. Women in Iceland earn approximately 10% less on average compared to their male counterparts, according to the World Economic Forum. As Icelandic women's rights movements have made greater headway in their campaigns, the scope and meaning of the protests have expanded to include other issues. "We are still tackling gender-based violence, which has been a priority for my government to tackle," yakob-stoder said. Iceland consistently ranks among the most gender-equal countries in the world in terms of education, employment and health care. Jakobsdóttir's cabinet maintains an equal number of men and women and Iceland's national parliament hovers just under 50% female. Past Icelandic women's strikes have sparked similar protests in other European countries. https://thepostmillennial.com/coca-cola-quietly-deletes-mentions-of-hamas-supporting-blm-from-company-website?utm_campaign=64487 Coca-Cola quietly deletes mentions of BLM from company website Coca-Cola has been a financial sponsor of Black Lives Matter for years, however, references to its support of the organization appeared to have vanished from its website in light of recent posts shared by the group siding with Hamas. BLM Chicago and an organizer from Los Angeles are among those associated with the purported civil rights group to have publicly voiced support for the Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist group following its latest wave of violence. On Friday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) revealed that he had caught the beverage giant "red-handed," posting two screenshots of its website, one of which included references to BLM, and an updated version that does not. Coca-Cola had originally stated on its website that Sprite, which it owns, had donated $500,000 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network to "support the group's voting education efforts and their February 2021 Black Future Month program." "We're in this for the long haul," brand lead Aaliyah Shafiq noted. "Lasting change will not happen overnight, so we're committed to continuing to amplofy the voices and efforts of our community, to listen and learn, and to actively help create a better shared future for America." In the updated version of their website, Shafiq's quote is still there, however, the entire sentence highlighting the $500,000 contribution has been deleted. "Editing your website is not enough," Cruz said. "Americans DEMAND an apology." The posts in question were shared in the days following Hamas' brutal massacre of civilians in Israel. BLM Chicago featured an image of a paraglider with a Palestinian flag attached to his parachute. "That is all that it is!" was the caption. Before long, users utilized X's Community Notes feature to point out important context. "The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas used armed gun men on Paragliders to enter a rave in Israel to kill over 260 innocent people partying," the note read, adding that, "previous to this incident, Palestinians were not know[n] for paragliding." It was later deleted, though the group did remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinians over Israel. "For every corporate donor who sent millions to BLM—including Amazon, Apple, BlackRock & Bank of America—do you regret supporting such an antisemitic organization?" Cruz asked on his podcast Wednesday, according to Fox News. The organizer from Los Angeles, Dr. Melina Abdullah, said in her post that "we must stand unwaveringly on the side of the oppressed," adding, "when a people have been subject to decades of unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense."

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: The immoral and unethical behavior of the Texas House's Paxton impeachment team, led by Rep. Murr-stache, continues. Now they've doxxed the Ken Paxton by releasing unredacted documents from the case. And, wait until you hear why they feel they need to post their unsworn, hearsay documents for the public to see!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.Eight Republicans, none Texans, joined with U.S. House Democrats to oust Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. My opinion is that this was a bad move and one of ego-exercising more than protecting conservative interests.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo was carjacked in crime-ridden D.C. last night.Texas sales tax collection up over September of last year but overall it shows a slowing of the economy.Bee County Attorney's Office charges four in election fraud scheme including former a Democrat county commissioner.And I review a stack of border news including: “Two Million Migrants Apprehended at Southwest Border for 2nd Straight Year.”Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

This week’s podcast is a rebroadcast of the September 14 House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing entitled, “Terrorist Entry Through the Southwest Border.” The hearing examined, “the national security implications of the Department of Homeland Security’s open-borders agenda, including how the Biden Administration’s policies have led to record-high encounters of aliens on […]

This week's podcast is a rebroadcast of the September 14 House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing entitled, “Terrorist Entry Through the Southwest Border.” The hearing examined, “the national security implications of the Department of Homeland Security's open-borders agenda, including how the Biden Administration's policies have led to record-high encounters of aliens on the Terrorist Watchlist as well as the mass release of unvetted aliens into U.S. communities.”Todd Bensman, the Center's Senior National Security Fellow, gave testimony first. In it, he explains how the current immigration crisis at the southwest border has elevated and exacerbated the homeland security threat of terrorist border infiltration to discomfiting levels.Two other witnesses used their first hand experience in law enforcement in their testimony: Charles Marino, Former Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Rodney Scott, Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security, Texas Public Policy Foundation.Mark Krikorian, the Center's executive director and host of Parsing Immigration Policy, moderates this rebroadcast of the Center's panel.In his closing commentary, Krikorian discusses a new report by Todd Bensman entitled, “New Records: Biden DHS Has Approved Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants for Secretive Foreign Flights Directly into U.S. Airports.” This report uses DHS data, gained through the Freedom of Information Act, on the controversial new rechanneling program, which uses the CBP One app to allow migrants to take commercial passenger flights from foreign countries straight to their American cities of choice.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestTodd Bensman is a Senior National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedHearing Video and Written TestimonyNew Records: Biden DHS Has Approved Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants for Secretive Foreign Flights Directly into U.S. AirportsFollowFollow Parsing Immigration Policy on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts.Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Idaho state Senator Phil Hart discusses his recent trips to the southwest border and how things are different from trips he made years ago. ★ Support this podcast ★

Today - For 27 years, he wore the uniform of the Sierra Vista Police Department. Now, former Chief Adam Thrasher is reflecting back on those years, revealing the memories that left the most indelible imprints on him and looking towards a new chapter of his life.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Given the long-running and intense illegal immigration drama on the U.S-Mexico border, you might expect low morale for employees of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Now the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General has documented it. For details, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with Acting Deputy IG for Audits, Kristen Bernard and from Audit Manager David Lu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often talk about policing in urban areas on the show – from mid-sized cities to large metropolitan areas and all related issues confronting law officers. But in this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with the sheriff of a large department in Arizona, located at the southernmost tip of the U.S. at the intersection border with New Mexico on the Mexico border, where deputies patrol in extremely rural areas.  Sheriff Mark Dannels, a 38-year veteran of law enforcement, has served as the 26th Cochise County Sheriff since November 2012. Discussion points in this episode include staffing, funding, border-related crime and drug interdiction. About our sponsor This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren't sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you're protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 9th, 2023. If you don’t teach your kids the Lord’s songs, the world will teach them its songs. The brand-new Hi-Contrast Hymn Book is designed to help you teach your children the most beloved songs of the Christian faith. Its captivating illustrations will create special moments of truth, goodness, and beauty in your home every day. To get a copy for your family, go to www.hicontrasthymnbooks.com/FLF. That’s www. “H” “I” contrasthymnbooks.com/FLF. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/07/americas/mexico-matamoros-us-citizens-kidnapping-tuesday/index.html 2 Americans kidnapped in Mexico found dead and 2 found alive, officials say Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed gunmen in the Mexico border city of Matamoros on Friday were found dead and two were found alive on Tuesday, US and Mexican officials said. Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown were found dead, a US official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN. Their bodies will be examined by Mexican authorities prior to their remains being turned over to the US government, the official said. Latavia Washington McGee, a mother of six, and Eric Williams survived the ordeal, according to the official. They were taken to a Texas hospital for treatment and observation. A Mexican government official said Washington McGee was found uninjured. Williams was shot twice in one leg and once in the other, his wife, Michele Williams, told CNN Tuesday. One person has been detained in connection to the incident, the governor said, but officials would not confirm whether the person is related to a criminal organization. The victims were found in a “wooden house” in Matamoros and had been transferred to various places over the days “in order to create confusion and avoid rescue efforts,” Villarreal said. The discovery of the Americans’ whereabouts comes days after the four were abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity. The tight-knit group of friends traveled from South Carolina to Mexico so Washington McGee could undergo a medical procedure across the border Friday, but they never made it to the appointment, two family members told CNN. The group crossed into Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas, at about 9:18 a.m. Friday, Villareal said, but they got lost while trying to locate the medical clinic, according to Washington McGee’s close friend, who did not want to be identified. They reached out to the doctor’s office for directions on Friday but were struggling to communicate with the office because they had a poor cellphone signal. After crossing the border, they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen, “placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men,” according to the FBI. Investigators believe the Americans were targeted by a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers, the US official said. The US citizens have no concerning criminal history that has been identified by investigators, the official said. An innocent Mexican bystander was also killed in the encounter, US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said. The woman was hit by a stray bullet almost a block and a half from where the Americans were taken, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said on Tuesday. Their abduction highlights the ongoing violence that has plagued some Mexican cities during the long-running Mexican drug war as well as the growing business of “medical tourism.” Matamoros has a population of more than 500,000 people and is located just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. The US State Department has issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for US citizens thinking of going to Tamaulipas, citing crime and kidnapping. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-steven-crowder-moves-his-show-to-rumble-signs-massive-contract?utm_campaign=64487 Steven Crowder moves his show to Rumble, signs new contract Steven Crowder has joined Rumble, making the announcement on Russell Brand's Stay Free. Crowder, who recently made waves in the conservative and free speech media space after leaving The Blaze, entertaining an offer from The Daily Wire, then very publicly rejecting it, will be launching his Mug Club on Rumble on March 20. Crowder said that in addition to his own content, the Mug Club will be adding more talent and programming. Brand asked Crowder why he decided to come to Rumble, where Brand has moved as well. Crowder, describing himself as "a basic bitch pumpkin spice conservative," said his preference for Rumble was due to the fact that Rumble has never coming and "tried to dictate content." Crowder also said he wants to be on a platform where he can "speak truth," as opposed to being censored by YouTube. In a Twitter clip, Crowder showed himself signing the contract at Rumble's offices. "Betting on ourselves, and Rumble is a hedge on those bets," Crowder said. https://twitter.com/i/status/1633290721863032834 - Play Video Donald Trump Jr. recently launched his exclusive podcast on Rumble, a free-speech alternative to YouTube that went public in late 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-rules-bidens-border-policies-unlawful-speedbump-illegal-migrants Federal judge rules Biden's border policies unlawful, just a 'speedbump' for illegal migrants A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday struck down the Biden administration’s use of parole to mass release migrants into the U.S. interior, finding the practice unlawful and accusing the administration of turning the border into a "meaningless line in the sand." Judge T. Kent Wetherell ruled in response to a lawsuit from the state of Florida, which alleged the administration’s mass release of tens of thousands of migrants via humanitarian parole into Alternatives to Detention — known as "Parole + ATD" — is unlawful. In a scathing opinion Wednesday, Wetherell stated the Biden administration had "effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speedbump for aliens flooding into the country." Additionally, Wetherell ruled that the policies implemented by the Biden administration, including catch and release, had contributed to the degradation of the border as a means to keep illegal migrants out. "Today’s ruling affirms what we have known all along, President Biden is responsible for the border crisis and his unlawful immigration policies make this country less safe. A federal judge is NOW ordering Biden to follow the law, and his administration should immediately begin securing the border to protect the American people," Republican Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement following the ruling. The administration had been increasingly using parole — which the statute says is supposed to be used on a "case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit" — to release migrants quickly into the interior to reduce overcrowding at the border as it deals with historic migrant numbers at the border. Florida contended that the government is violating statutory mandates that migrants be detained. The administration had argued that there is no "non-detention policy" and that it is using its prosecutorial discretion. "There is nothing inherently inhumane or cruel about detaining aliens pending completion of their immigration proceedings," he said. The judge also sided with the Sunshine State in its argument that it had standing to challenge the policy as more than 100,000 migrants have been released into the state, and it has borne significant costs in providing public services to them. The Biden administration ended family detention of migrants in 2021, although it is reportedly considering reintroducing the practice when Title 42 ends in May. Title 42, which allows for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the southern border due to COVID-19, will end in May with the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The administration, facing more than 1.7 million migrant encounters in FY 2021 and over 2.3 million in FY 2022, had looked for ways to more quickly release migrants into the U.S. interior, as it also ended Trump-era policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols, which kept migrants in Mexico for their immigration hearings. The administration typically released migrants with Notices to Appear that set a court date. However, the process takes much longer than the Parole + ATD, which tells migrants to check in with ICE when they get to their destination. The migrants are also enrolled into some form of ATD surveillance, typically a check-in app on an electronic device, or in some cases an ankle bracelet. The ruling stays the order for seven days to allow for an appeal, but could potentially have massive implications if there is a surge in migrants when Title 42 ends — as administration officials have previously predicted. The administration is also facing a looming lawsuit from GOP states over its humanitarian parole that flies in up to 30,000 migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba each month. Those states have said the program breaches the statutory limits on the use of parole. Meanwhile, it could soon face a challenge over its recently announced asylum rule. That rule, which would automatically make migrants ineligible for asylum if they have entered the U.S. illegally and have also failed to claim asylum in a previous country through which they passed, has sparked outrage from immigration activists, some of whom have threatened to take legal action if the rule is finalized. https://dailycaller.com/2023/03/07/matt-hancock-deploy-covid-variant-leaked-messages-uk/ Former UK Health Secretary Asks When To ‘Deploy The New Variant,’ Messages Show Former United Kingdom Health Minister Matt Hancock asked when to “deploy” a new COVID-19 variant in December 2020, leaked personal messages reportedly show. The Whatsapp conversation, leaked to The Telegraph by anti-lockdown journalist Isabel Oakeshott, shows an exchange between Hancock and an aide back in December 2020 in which the ex-Health Secretary discusses plans to deploy the announcement for the new variant, the BBC reported. “We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain,” Hancock reportedly says, to which the adviser responds, “Yep, that’s what will get proper behaviour change.” “When do we deploy the new variant,” the minister then asks the aide, according to the outlet. Hancock announced the new variant in a parliament session the following day, after the messages were exchanged, according to the BBC. In April of 2022, Hancock announced he was working on a book, titled “Pandemic Diaries,” that would detail his experience as health minster during the COVID-19 outbreak. Oakeshott assisted with the book, which was published in December 2022, according to the BBC. “There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. All the materials for the book have already been made available to the Inquiry, which is the right, and only, place for everything to be considered properly and the right lessons to be learned. As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda,” Hancock said in a statement responding to the leaked messages, the BBC reported. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced criticism for breaking lockdown restrictions. Johnson and his wife, as well as current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all received a fine for attending a birthday party back in June 2020, the BBC reported. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://bonginoreport.com/capitol-hill/karine-jean-pierre-responds-to-tucker-carlson-claims-jan-6-worst-thing-to-happen-to-america-since-civil-war Karine Jean-Pierre Responds to Tucker Carlson, Claims Jan 6 the Worst Thing to Happen to America Since Civil War It’s concerning to think that the left may actually believe their own hyperbole. Addressing Tucker Carlson’s new segments on the mostly peaceful January 6th protest, which is based on over 40,000 hours of footage he obtained via Kevin McCarthy, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre made it clear that she “disagrees” with his reporting, before presenting January 6th as the worst thing to happen to America since the Civil War. https://rumble.com/v2c8i4a-kjp-claim s-january-6-worst-attack-on-democracy-since-civil-war.html - Play Video

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 9th, 2023. If you don’t teach your kids the Lord’s songs, the world will teach them its songs. The brand-new Hi-Contrast Hymn Book is designed to help you teach your children the most beloved songs of the Christian faith. Its captivating illustrations will create special moments of truth, goodness, and beauty in your home every day. To get a copy for your family, go to www.hicontrasthymnbooks.com/FLF. That’s www. “H” “I” contrasthymnbooks.com/FLF. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/07/americas/mexico-matamoros-us-citizens-kidnapping-tuesday/index.html 2 Americans kidnapped in Mexico found dead and 2 found alive, officials say Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed gunmen in the Mexico border city of Matamoros on Friday were found dead and two were found alive on Tuesday, US and Mexican officials said. Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown were found dead, a US official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN. Their bodies will be examined by Mexican authorities prior to their remains being turned over to the US government, the official said. Latavia Washington McGee, a mother of six, and Eric Williams survived the ordeal, according to the official. They were taken to a Texas hospital for treatment and observation. A Mexican government official said Washington McGee was found uninjured. Williams was shot twice in one leg and once in the other, his wife, Michele Williams, told CNN Tuesday. One person has been detained in connection to the incident, the governor said, but officials would not confirm whether the person is related to a criminal organization. The victims were found in a “wooden house” in Matamoros and had been transferred to various places over the days “in order to create confusion and avoid rescue efforts,” Villarreal said. The discovery of the Americans’ whereabouts comes days after the four were abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity. The tight-knit group of friends traveled from South Carolina to Mexico so Washington McGee could undergo a medical procedure across the border Friday, but they never made it to the appointment, two family members told CNN. The group crossed into Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas, at about 9:18 a.m. Friday, Villareal said, but they got lost while trying to locate the medical clinic, according to Washington McGee’s close friend, who did not want to be identified. They reached out to the doctor’s office for directions on Friday but were struggling to communicate with the office because they had a poor cellphone signal. After crossing the border, they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen, “placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men,” according to the FBI. Investigators believe the Americans were targeted by a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers, the US official said. The US citizens have no concerning criminal history that has been identified by investigators, the official said. An innocent Mexican bystander was also killed in the encounter, US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said. The woman was hit by a stray bullet almost a block and a half from where the Americans were taken, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said on Tuesday. Their abduction highlights the ongoing violence that has plagued some Mexican cities during the long-running Mexican drug war as well as the growing business of “medical tourism.” Matamoros has a population of more than 500,000 people and is located just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. The US State Department has issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for US citizens thinking of going to Tamaulipas, citing crime and kidnapping. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-steven-crowder-moves-his-show-to-rumble-signs-massive-contract?utm_campaign=64487 Steven Crowder moves his show to Rumble, signs new contract Steven Crowder has joined Rumble, making the announcement on Russell Brand's Stay Free. Crowder, who recently made waves in the conservative and free speech media space after leaving The Blaze, entertaining an offer from The Daily Wire, then very publicly rejecting it, will be launching his Mug Club on Rumble on March 20. Crowder said that in addition to his own content, the Mug Club will be adding more talent and programming. Brand asked Crowder why he decided to come to Rumble, where Brand has moved as well. Crowder, describing himself as "a basic bitch pumpkin spice conservative," said his preference for Rumble was due to the fact that Rumble has never coming and "tried to dictate content." Crowder also said he wants to be on a platform where he can "speak truth," as opposed to being censored by YouTube. In a Twitter clip, Crowder showed himself signing the contract at Rumble's offices. "Betting on ourselves, and Rumble is a hedge on those bets," Crowder said. https://twitter.com/i/status/1633290721863032834 - Play Video Donald Trump Jr. recently launched his exclusive podcast on Rumble, a free-speech alternative to YouTube that went public in late 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-rules-bidens-border-policies-unlawful-speedbump-illegal-migrants Federal judge rules Biden's border policies unlawful, just a 'speedbump' for illegal migrants A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday struck down the Biden administration’s use of parole to mass release migrants into the U.S. interior, finding the practice unlawful and accusing the administration of turning the border into a "meaningless line in the sand." Judge T. Kent Wetherell ruled in response to a lawsuit from the state of Florida, which alleged the administration’s mass release of tens of thousands of migrants via humanitarian parole into Alternatives to Detention — known as "Parole + ATD" — is unlawful. In a scathing opinion Wednesday, Wetherell stated the Biden administration had "effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speedbump for aliens flooding into the country." Additionally, Wetherell ruled that the policies implemented by the Biden administration, including catch and release, had contributed to the degradation of the border as a means to keep illegal migrants out. "Today’s ruling affirms what we have known all along, President Biden is responsible for the border crisis and his unlawful immigration policies make this country less safe. A federal judge is NOW ordering Biden to follow the law, and his administration should immediately begin securing the border to protect the American people," Republican Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement following the ruling. The administration had been increasingly using parole — which the statute says is supposed to be used on a "case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit" — to release migrants quickly into the interior to reduce overcrowding at the border as it deals with historic migrant numbers at the border. Florida contended that the government is violating statutory mandates that migrants be detained. The administration had argued that there is no "non-detention policy" and that it is using its prosecutorial discretion. "There is nothing inherently inhumane or cruel about detaining aliens pending completion of their immigration proceedings," he said. The judge also sided with the Sunshine State in its argument that it had standing to challenge the policy as more than 100,000 migrants have been released into the state, and it has borne significant costs in providing public services to them. The Biden administration ended family detention of migrants in 2021, although it is reportedly considering reintroducing the practice when Title 42 ends in May. Title 42, which allows for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the southern border due to COVID-19, will end in May with the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The administration, facing more than 1.7 million migrant encounters in FY 2021 and over 2.3 million in FY 2022, had looked for ways to more quickly release migrants into the U.S. interior, as it also ended Trump-era policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols, which kept migrants in Mexico for their immigration hearings. The administration typically released migrants with Notices to Appear that set a court date. However, the process takes much longer than the Parole + ATD, which tells migrants to check in with ICE when they get to their destination. The migrants are also enrolled into some form of ATD surveillance, typically a check-in app on an electronic device, or in some cases an ankle bracelet. The ruling stays the order for seven days to allow for an appeal, but could potentially have massive implications if there is a surge in migrants when Title 42 ends — as administration officials have previously predicted. The administration is also facing a looming lawsuit from GOP states over its humanitarian parole that flies in up to 30,000 migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba each month. Those states have said the program breaches the statutory limits on the use of parole. Meanwhile, it could soon face a challenge over its recently announced asylum rule. That rule, which would automatically make migrants ineligible for asylum if they have entered the U.S. illegally and have also failed to claim asylum in a previous country through which they passed, has sparked outrage from immigration activists, some of whom have threatened to take legal action if the rule is finalized. https://dailycaller.com/2023/03/07/matt-hancock-deploy-covid-variant-leaked-messages-uk/ Former UK Health Secretary Asks When To ‘Deploy The New Variant,’ Messages Show Former United Kingdom Health Minister Matt Hancock asked when to “deploy” a new COVID-19 variant in December 2020, leaked personal messages reportedly show. The Whatsapp conversation, leaked to The Telegraph by anti-lockdown journalist Isabel Oakeshott, shows an exchange between Hancock and an aide back in December 2020 in which the ex-Health Secretary discusses plans to deploy the announcement for the new variant, the BBC reported. “We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain,” Hancock reportedly says, to which the adviser responds, “Yep, that’s what will get proper behaviour change.” “When do we deploy the new variant,” the minister then asks the aide, according to the outlet. Hancock announced the new variant in a parliament session the following day, after the messages were exchanged, according to the BBC. In April of 2022, Hancock announced he was working on a book, titled “Pandemic Diaries,” that would detail his experience as health minster during the COVID-19 outbreak. Oakeshott assisted with the book, which was published in December 2022, according to the BBC. “There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. All the materials for the book have already been made available to the Inquiry, which is the right, and only, place for everything to be considered properly and the right lessons to be learned. As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda,” Hancock said in a statement responding to the leaked messages, the BBC reported. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced criticism for breaking lockdown restrictions. Johnson and his wife, as well as current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all received a fine for attending a birthday party back in June 2020, the BBC reported. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://bonginoreport.com/capitol-hill/karine-jean-pierre-responds-to-tucker-carlson-claims-jan-6-worst-thing-to-happen-to-america-since-civil-war Karine Jean-Pierre Responds to Tucker Carlson, Claims Jan 6 the Worst Thing to Happen to America Since Civil War It’s concerning to think that the left may actually believe their own hyperbole. Addressing Tucker Carlson’s new segments on the mostly peaceful January 6th protest, which is based on over 40,000 hours of footage he obtained via Kevin McCarthy, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre made it clear that she “disagrees” with his reporting, before presenting January 6th as the worst thing to happen to America since the Civil War. https://rumble.com/v2c8i4a-kjp-claim s-january-6-worst-attack-on-democracy-since-civil-war.html - Play Video

TODAY - Eggs are being confiscated across the Southwest border of the United States faster than you can fry them. It's even happening in rural Cochise County.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we approached Christmas, unprecedented numbers of immigrants were making their way toward the southwest border of the U.S. for the anticipation of the lifting of Title 42. Yuma county declared a state of emergency, not only for health reasons, but also regarding the vast number of illegal immigrants using the key word, -asylum,- to gain entrance. --The numbers are off the charts and the courts have stopped the lifting of Title 42, but for how long-- Will the turnstile into the U.S. continue to operate unhindered as we enter the new year----Back on Crosstalk to discuss this critical issue was Mark Krikorian. Mark is a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues serving as the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. They are an independent, non-partisan research organization examining and critiquing the impact of immigration on the United States. He's testified numerous times before Congress and has published articles in many outlets.--How would Mark describe President Biden's border plan-- The Biden administration doesn't see the masses coming across as a problem. They believe these individuals have a right to cross. In fact, he indicated that Biden's plan is to spend money to move immigrants even faster into the U.S. His administration sees immigrants backing up into border communities, sleeping on the streets in cities like El Paso, burdening them and other towns. So for them, the solution is to move immigrants out of those towns and into the interior of the country.--The president should be doing everything necessary to stop all illegal border crossings because that's what the law says, but his administration is simply ignoring it.

As we approached Christmas, unprecedented numbers of immigrants were making their way toward the southwest border of the U.S. for the anticipation of the lifting of Title 42. Yuma county declared a state of emergency, not only for health reasons, but also regarding the vast number of illegal immigrants using the key word, -asylum,- to gain entrance. --The numbers are off the charts and the courts have stopped the lifting of Title 42, but for how long- Will the turnstile into the U.S. continue to operate unhindered as we enter the new year---Back on Crosstalk to discuss this critical issue was Mark Krikorian. Mark is a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues serving as the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. They are an independent, non-partisan research organization examining and critiquing the impact of immigration on the United States. He's testified numerous times before Congress and has published articles in many outlets.--How would Mark describe President Biden's border plan- The Biden administration doesn't see the masses coming across as a problem. They believe these individuals have a right to cross. In fact, he indicated that Biden's plan is to spend money to move immigrants even faster into the U.S. His administration sees immigrants backing up into border communities, sleeping on the streets in cities like El Paso, burdening them and other towns. So for them, the solution is to move immigrants out of those towns and into the interior of the country.--The president should be doing everything necessary to stop all illegal border crossings because that's what the law says, but his administration is simply ignoring it.

As we approached Christmas, unprecedented numbers of immigrants were making their way toward the southwest border of the U.S. for the anticipation of the lifting of Title 42. Yuma county declared a state of emergency, not only for health reasons, but also regarding the vast number of illegal immigrants using the key word, -asylum,- to gain entrance. --The numbers are off the charts and the courts have stopped the lifting of Title 42, but for how long-- Will the turnstile into the U.S. continue to operate unhindered as we enter the new year----Back on Crosstalk to discuss this critical issue was Mark Krikorian. Mark is a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues serving as the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. They are an independent, non-partisan research organization examining and critiquing the impact of immigration on the United States. He's testified numerous times before Congress and has published articles in many outlets.--How would Mark describe President Biden's border plan-- The Biden administration doesn't see the masses coming across as a problem. They believe these individuals have a right to cross. In fact, he indicated that Biden's plan is to spend money to move immigrants even faster into the U.S. His administration sees immigrants backing up into border communities, sleeping on the streets in cities like El Paso, burdening them and other towns. So for them, the solution is to move immigrants out of those towns and into the interior of the country.--The president should be doing everything necessary to stop all illegal border crossings because that's what the law says, but his administration is simply ignoring it.

As we approached Christmas, unprecedented numbers of immigrants were making their way toward the southwest border of the U.S. for the anticipation of the lifting of Title 42. Yuma county declared a state of emergency, not only for health reasons, but also regarding the vast number of illegal immigrants using the key word, -asylum,- to gain entrance. --The numbers are off the charts and the courts have stopped the lifting of Title 42, but for how long- Will the turnstile into the U.S. continue to operate unhindered as we enter the new year---Back on Crosstalk to discuss this critical issue was Mark Krikorian. Mark is a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues serving as the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. They are an independent, non-partisan research organization examining and critiquing the impact of immigration on the United States. He's testified numerous times before Congress and has published articles in many outlets.--How would Mark describe President Biden's border plan- The Biden administration doesn't see the masses coming across as a problem. They believe these individuals have a right to cross. In fact, he indicated that Biden's plan is to spend money to move immigrants even faster into the U.S. His administration sees immigrants backing up into border communities, sleeping on the streets in cities like El Paso, burdening them and other towns. So for them, the solution is to move immigrants out of those towns and into the interior of the country.--The president should be doing everything necessary to stop all illegal border crossings because that's what the law says, but his administration is simply ignoring it.

Kristofor Healey is a former award-winning Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security who has more than 15 years of experience in federal law enforcement as a Top-Secret clearance holder directing large-scale, multi-defendant fraud investigations and high-risk tactical operations, domestically and overseas. As a Special Agent, Healey spent 10 years on the Southwest Border, served on various federal task forces, testified in criminal proceedings as a Subject Matter Expert on tele-fraud, represented the U.S. Government on overseas missions, and was a featured speaker at law enforcement and industry conferences and training academies. Healey is the owner of several businesses in the coaching, training, and security consulting arenas, and is the host of The Indispensable Man Podcast where several times per week he shares leadership and mindset tips, tools of the trade and conversations with inspirational guests that can give you the skills you need to win the day and live your life with valor To connect with Kristofor: Indispensable Book Podcast In this episode you'll learn: 1.  Adoption and the challenges Kristopher encountered during the process. 2.  Thoughts on the US Southwest border from the perspective of someone who used to work there and under 4 different administrations. 3.  Becoming Indispensable. To connect with Kyle: Instagram LinkedIn Bucket-List Guys Trips

The Steak for Breakfast Podcast is closing out a busy news week with a huge Friday edition of the show. We have got 3 big News Blocks that cover a massive amount breaking news coming out of the Beltway and two America First Interviews with quite possibly the biggest candidates running for the U.S. House and Senate in the 2022 midterm elections.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief, Alejandro Mayorkas was up on Capitol Hill this week, being grilled for the crisis on the Southwest Border. We will hear the best audio clips from the committee including TX House Rep. Chip Roy and FL Rep. Matt Gaetz and give full analysis from the hearings.   Former Collegiate Heisman Trophy winner from UGA, NFL great, small business owner, mental health advocate and great friend of Donald Trump, Herschel Walker joined us on the podcast for the first time today. The current Republican U.S. Senatorial candidate from Georgia has opened up a massive lead in the primary and a decisive lead in the general election race against incumbent radical Democrat, Raphael Warnock. Hershel gives us an update from the campaign trial and tackles several of the biggest issues currently affecting the nation.   The Biden Administration announced earlier this week that they were rolling out the Disinformation Governance Board, as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As we inch closer to literally living through the movie 1984 (and the Ministry oF Truth), we discuss the huge red flags that this board poses, it's radical, progress chief, in addition to the best highlights coming out of the Beltway.   U.S. House candidate running in WA-3 and great friend of Steak for Breakfast, Joe Kent was back for his fifth time on the show today. Joe gives us an update from the campaign trail before breaking down some of the biggest items from the current news cycle. Russia and Ukraine, the Southern Border, Ministry of Truth and U.S. House Leadership after the midterm election are some of the items we're breaking down with the America First House candidate.   We wrap the show with a New Mash segment that features highlights from inside the Beltway this week, including Tony Blinken testifying before committee, a rundown of Nancy Pelosi's disconnection with the America voters and Joe Biden vapor locks talking about Russian Kleptocracy.   Subscribe to the show, rate it and leave a review before you download, listen, like follow and SHARE Steak for Breakfast content!   Steak for Breakfast:   website: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout • Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak • Via the Phone: 800-658-8045 •   Herschel Walker • (GA Senate candidate )   Website: https://www.teamherschel.com   Twitter: @HerschelWalker   Joe Kent  (WA-3 House candidate) •   Website: https://joekentforcongress.com/   Twitter: @joekent16jan19 

We're kicking off the week with a YUGE Tuesday edition of the Steak for Breakfast Podcast. We're loaded with four great guests today, and are bringing you all the information you need to get caught up after a busy news weekend.   President Trump held a Save America Rally over the weekend in Conroe, Texas. We've got cover-to-cover analysis of the President's speech including several new campaign points.   The next Governor of Arizona, Ms. Kari Lake made her return to the show with a big campaign update. We got an inside look into her speech at the AZ Trump Rally, talked some new policies she's recently released regarding the Southern Border and the homeless crisis in Arizona. And Kari discloses the real deal about her RINO primary challenger.   We touch on the ongoing crisis along the Southwest Border and give some commentary on recently leaked audios of Secretary Mayorkas and Patrol Chief Ortiz.   Former Missouri Governor and Navy Seal, Eric Greitens joins us next on the show. Since announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in the Show Me State, Eric has picked up steam with his broad and proven platform that embodies America First. We go hard on the Border, National Defense and the Federal vaccine mandates.   The race for the Secretary of State in Arizona is a huge prize come the midterm elections. And we've got an exclusive interview with the Trump endorsed, Mark Finchem that you don't want to miss. We dive into election integrity and the border crisis as part of our largest breakdowns.   Jason “Storm” Nelson may have just announced his campaign to run for a House seat in TX-17 but his service to the nation goes a lot further back than that. The former marine and recently retired Army soldier sits down with us for an in-depth look into what compelled his run, his newly announced  campaign, and his America First Platform.   We wrap with a news montage that takes a look at Truckapalooza, currently happening in Ottawa, Canada and some pandemic roundup featuring more hypocrisy from CA Governor Gavin Newsom and friends.     Subscribe to the show, rate it and leave a review before you download, listen, like follow and SHARE Steak for Breakfast content!     Steak for Breakfast:   website: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   Instagram:  https://instagram.com/steakforpodcastbreakfast?utm_medium=copy_link   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout • Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak • Via the Phone: 800-658-8045 •   Adam Laxalt • (Nevada Senate) •   Website: https://www.adamlaxalt.com   Twitter: @AdamLaxalt   Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlaxalt?utm_medium=copy_link   Kari Lake (AZ Gubernatorial Race) •   Website: https://www.karilake.com/   Twitter: @KariLake   Instagram: https://instagram.com/karilake?utm_medium=copy_link     Eric Greitens (MO-Senate)•   Website: https://www.ericgreitens.com/   Twitter: @EricGeitens   Instagram: https://instagram.com/ericgreitens?utm_medium=copy_link   Mark Finchem (AZ-Sec. Of State)   Website: https://votefinchem.com/   Instagram: https://instagram.com/realmarkfinchem?utm_medium=copy_link   Twitter: @RealMarkFinchem   Jason “Storm” Nelson (TX-17)   Website: https://www.jasonnelsonforcongress.com/   Twitter: @Storm4Congress

The Steak for Breakfast Podcast is kicking off the week with one of our largest shows to date! We're back after the weekend with an America First, Tuesday edition of the show that you're not going to want to miss.   Today on the show we did our first in what we hope will be a series of America First Roundtables for our listenership and audience. Joe Kent (WA-3) and Mike Collins (GA-10) joined to break down and give analysis on every major issue inflicting the country heading into the midterm season. We began with the Build Back Better plan and discussed items ranging from: the pandemic narrative, the Southwest Border, the global supply chain crisis, national defense, the weaponization of our federal agencies, who's going to be the Speaker of the House next year and then a closing statement from each candidate. It was amazing to see these two men; from opposite ends of the country be in unison with their America First agenda and their championing of Trump-era policies.   The host of “Thrive Time Show” and the man behind the “Rewaken America Tour” Mr. Clay Clark joins us next on the podcast. Clay is back to give us an update on the huge success that the tour has been, and some of the challenges that go with putting such a massive America First event on all across the country. We then get some “Steaksclusive” insight into the infighting that has been plaguing the Patriot community especially regarding the Michael Flynn and Lin Wood narrative. Clay gives us an exclusive, never before heard take on the situation and what it's been like working with all parties involved. He then talks about how amazing it's been having Eric Trump join the tour before leaving us with a humbling story about Mike Lindell.   We then jump into the news after a weekend that was filled with lockstep messaging from the legacy media, late night talk shows and the office of the Press Secretary all making excuses for the lack of successes and (non) winning from the Biden administration.   We're tracking resignations and that means examining closing statement from Brian Williams and a Christopher Wallace as the “distractions of the week segments” focuses in on the imminent Julian Assange extradition back the the U.S.   We close out the show touching on the pandemic again, the men behind Facebooks fact-checking army and the now blatant reemergence of Hillary Clinton  back into the political field of prospectus 2024 Presidential candidates as the massive Red Wave looms for the Democratic Party.   Subscribe to the show, rate it and leave a review before you download, listen, like follow and SHARE our content!     Steak for Breakfast:   website: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   Instagram: steakforpodcastbreakfast   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout • Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak • Via the Phone: 800-658-8045 •   Joe Kent  • (WA-3)   Website: https://joekentforcongress.com/   Twitter: @joekent16jan19     Mike Collins (GA-10) •   Website: https://mikecollinsga.com   Twitter: @MikeCollinsGA   Clay Clark  •  “Thrive Time Show”• “Reawaken America Tour” •   Website: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com   Tour Website: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/reawaken-america-tour/   Twitter: @TheClayClark

Steak for Breakfast is back with a fresh, Friday edition of the podcast in what was one of our biggest and most memorable episodes to date. We kick off the show by jumping right back into the news and circling back on the Senatorial hearing for DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Senators: Cruz, Hawley and Kennedy all weigh in on the disaster on the border, the vetting process (or lack thereof) for refugees and vaccine mandates.   We then welcome in our first guest, director, producer and former Trump administration State Department official, Amanda Milius. Amanda is going to go down as one of our favorite guests; as we touched on her time in the Trump State department, her amazing Russiagate documentary, “Plot Against the President, and some real deep digs on all the happenings in the D.C. swamp. We really had an awesome time connecting with Amanda and look forward to bringing her on Steak for Break again soon to have a discussion on all things relating to the Southwest Border.   Next up into the studio is the former top Trump advisor, the Director of Trade and industrial policy and renowned author Dr. Peter Navarro. Dr. Navarro was one of three people to serve alongside President Trump's side from the 2015 campaign trail to the last day of the of the first Trump administration. He took us through the years in the White House and while doing so, accented his points with excerpts from his latest book, “In Trump Time: Inside America's Plague Year.”   We discussed his time and service, working inside the Oval Office, and changing the culture in D.C. to better align with President Trump's America First agenda. Dr.Navarro was known for going toe-to-toe with China in regards to trade and then with Dr. Fauci while combating the China Virus. We got into the consequences of the 2020 Presidential Election and how life has changed living under an illegitimate regime. It was awesome to gain some real, inside perspective from one of the hardest working men in politics.   Rone, Noah and Antoinette wrap up this episode touching on the Mike Lindell interview of Donald Trump from earlier in the week, and the marathon, eight hour speech Kevin McCarthy gave inside the halls of Congress Monday night in an attempt to slow the floor vote for the Build Back (crappier) Better bill.   Subscribe to the show, rate it and leave a review before you download, listen, like follow and SHARE our content!   Steak for Breakfast:   website: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   Instagram: steakforpodcastbreakfast   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast     Amanda Milius •   Twitter: @AmandaMilius   Instagram: https://instagram.com/amanda_milius?utm_medium=copy_link   “The Plot Against the President” Documentary:  (Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.a6baa764-9ad5-171d-7dd4-638a6a81029a?ref_=imdbref_tt_wo_pvt_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wo_pvt_aiv-20 (Rokfin) https://rokfin.com/post/45247/The-Plot-Against-The-President     Dr. Peter Navarro•   Instagram: https://instagram.com/realpnavarro?utm_medium=copy_link   Twitter: @RealPNavarro   GETTR (the twitter killer): https://gettr.com/user/realpnavarro   “In Trump Time” new book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737478501/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_XFYSD943NA8G428MZX19?utm_source=Peter+Navarro+TW&utm_medium=Site&utm_campaign=Pre-Order

Joe Biden slammed Border Patrol for doing their jobs, and has banned the use of horses in Del Rio, Texas at the U.S. Southwest border. Plus, he continues to assault America's wealthy and is even targeting trillionaires...something that doesn't exist....anywhere. Kamala Harris' appearance on The View took a hit when two hosted were escorted off the set because of testing positive for COVID. Both had been vaccinated. Help Drew's Translator Shafi Get Assimilated in America! https://givesendgo.com/shafi LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos every day. **Donate directly to Drew and the show and be mentioned as a producer**: https://www.drewberquist.com/support/ Partner Links: Visit our friends at https://www.thinbluelinetv.com/ to get great news commentary and content on our nation's law enforcement community. Show Sponsors and Fan Discounts: My Pillow - Get the best night's sleep of your life and save! Use Promo Code DREW to save up to 66% off your purchase at https://MyPillow.com Mammoth Nation Become a member and save at https://mammothnation.com/ UFM Underwear Visit https://ufmunderwear.com/ and Use Promo Code DREW to receive $6 off! Red Beach Nation Whether you live at the beach, are traveling to one or just want to imagine yourself there…Red Beach's comfy patriotic apparel is sure to lift your spirits. Use promo code DREW and save 10% at https://RedBeachNation.com

Chief Jason Owens interviews Chief of Law Enforcement Operations Manuel Padilla Jr. Manuel Padilla Jr. is the Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Directorate at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, DC. He is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day law enforcement operations at Border Patrol sectors throughout the United States. He serves as a principal advisor to the Chief of the Border Patrol on enforcement operations and administrative requirements for the successful accomplishment of the Border Patrol mission. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Padilla was presidentially appointed Director of Joint Task Force – West (JTF-W) of DHS' Southern Border and Approaches Campaign Plan in October 2018. As the Director, Chief Padilla oversaw the coordination and facilitation of integrated and prioritized cross-component operations along the U.S. Southwest Border to leverage DHS, interagency and partner nation capabilities for increasing border security and to dismantle illicit networks. Chief Padilla's guidance led to the development of international engagement strategies to assist DHS foreign country teams and international mission partners; as well as establishment of a bi-national initiative with the Government of Mexico to jointly identify high profile suspected criminals and as a public outreach program to enlist the public's help on both sides of the border to provide information on suspected criminals. Before his appointment, Chief Padilla served as Chief of the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector and Commander of the JTF-W South Texas Corridor (STC). As Sector Chief, Director Padilla had operational and administrative oversight of major programs, accounting for the majority of illegal alien apprehensions and marijuana seized along the Southwest Border. As Commander of JTF-W STC, he championed national priorities in South Texas for the focused development of personnel, technology and infrastructure. Chief Padilla has held a number of key leadership positions including Chief Patrol Agent and Deputy Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector where he led more than 4,500 Border Patrol employees responsible for securing 262 miles along the United States and Mexican border. During his tenure, immigration apprehensions in Fiscal 2014 declined to 87,000 in the Sector – the first time in 21 years fewer than 100,000 aliens were apprehended. Chief Padilla also led a bi-national targeted law-enforcement effort with the Government of Mexico military, police, and investigative agencies, and served as the Chief Patrol Agent of the New Orleans Sector and Associate Chief at Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Chief Padilla entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on Aug. 11, 1986, and his first assignment was at the Sierra Blanca Station in Texas. In 1990, he became a member of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, eventually providing instruction on tactical procedures to host country police forces in Bolivia, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Chief Padilla is a graduate of the CBP SES Candidate Development Program. Prior to joining the Border Patrol, he served in the United States Army for two years.

On this episode, we dissect concerns at the southwest United States border, where health and governmental officials find themselves managing an extraordinarily complex situation, handling an increase in migration activity during a global pandemic. Pritesh Gandhi, MD, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Erica Pan, MD, State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases at the California Department of Public Health, share how community-based partnerships are vital to managing an issue with both public health and national security implications. Our speakers discuss how leaders at all levels of government ultimately lean on partners at the local level to carry out their missions and what that looks like at the border right now. Guests: Erica Pan, MD, MPH, FAAP, California State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases at the California Department of Public Health Pritesh Gandhi, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Resources: Official California COVID-19 Dashboard Department of Homeland Security Profile: Pritesh Gandhi

It's Friday and that means it's time for our end of the week edition of Steak for Breakfast. We're joined this week by a triad of guests; we get things rolling with combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient and PA-8 Congressional candidate, Teddy Daniels. We then head down to examine the crisis on the Southwest Border with Daily Caller journalist and frontline reporter, Jorge Ventura. We're then joined by James, one of the hosts from the: We the People Radio Podcast to break down the week that was. Starting off by taking a look at the disaster that has become of the situation in Afghanistan as the Talibros have seized absolute power of the country. We then jump to the current state of the BidAn administration, including some pretty damning poll numbers to say the least. We bring it on home with our Stop the Steal segment, and cast a larger spotlight on what's really going down in the Keystone State. Subscribe to the show; Listen, Like, Follow, Rate and comment before you SHARE our content!    Steak for Breakfast:    website: www.steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   Instagram: steakforpodcastbreakfast    linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast     Teddy Daniels   Congressional Website : teddydanielspa.com   Twitter: @DanielsCongress     Jorge Ventura    Instagram: jorgeventuratv   Twitter: @VenturaReport   YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCIRxxxpp_HnhBG0FwFQeKaQ   Website: www.dailycaller.com 

Preston: hi everyone and welcome to another edition of FAIR's understanding immigration podcast I'm Preston Huennekens FAIR's government relations manager and today I'm joined by Matthew Tragesser our press secretary in today's episode we'll be discussing FAIR's recent rally at the southwest border which attracted law enforcement and immigration reform activists from across the country but before we do that we're going to dive into Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to El Paso with the secretary of homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas so Matthew the Harris trip came almost as a bit of a surprise or at least it surprised me Harris has said for weeks now that the border is not her problem during her visit to Guatemala and Mexico she specifically tried to clarify that she was tasked only with addressing the root causes of migration and said a number of things indicating that she did not want to go to the border or didn't feel like she needed to go to the border and if that is the case then why did she go why did she go to El Paso? Matthew:  yeah that's a really great question Preston this was a very strange trip to say the least not only did it take Vice President Harris approximately three months or 93 days to visit the border in any capacity she chose the wrong sector she traveled to the El Paso sector rather than the Rio Grande valley sector which we all know is the epicenter of the Biden border crisis instead she was 800 miles away where apprehensions there so far this year are approximately 113,000 which is two and a half times less than what is currently being seen in the Rio Grande valley sector about 270,000 apprehensions so far and we were just there in the Rio Grande valley sector near McAllen near mission Texas just a couple months ago we saw with our own eyes hundreds of unaccompanied minors and family units cross the Rio Grande river constant flows and it really was the epicenter of this crisis so yeah she completely avoided it and then even when she went to El Paso in the sector she didn't really accomplish much she met with NGO groups open borders advocacy groups and didn't really meet with border patrol personnel as much as she could have and when she did me with the border patrol personnel she spoke to agents about streamlining processing for migrants okay so that's basically saying how can we find a way to get as many illegal aliens into the country as possible and then allow for their immediate release so yeah and then also let's not forget she didn't visit the Fort Bliss detention facility a tent like facility in the El Paso sector where more than 2,000 migrant teams remain in deplorable conditions so it doesn't really make sense what was the purpose going on this trip why now honestly maybe it was a dig at President Trump and Texas Governor Abbott I mean they were going just a couple days later to believe it or not the Rio Grande valley where everyone should be going right now and maybe it was to steal some thunder or steal a spotlight from that trip but yeah it was just again just like Guatemala and Mexico really not a good trip to say the least and it made her look bad another trip that was flopped. Preston:  yeah and I think it really we need to emphasize that again the Rio Grande valley is number one in border apprehensions they've had two and a half times as many apprehensions as El Paso and I think also as well it was interesting that President Biden's press secretary said that they were that Harris was going to El Paso because it was it was the place where the former president put in some of his immigration policies that we felt were so problematic so in another way it almost seems yeah like you said that she was going there just to emphasize that President Trump did things before on immigration that they dislike and again it just it reminds me so much of what the Biden administration's policy on immigration has been which is just to reflexively do the opposite of what President Trump did even when the things President Trump did were successful. Matthew: yeah and let's also note that it took her 93 days Vice President Harris approximately three months to make it down to any portion of the border which is completely unacceptable not only for someone who's a vice president of the United States but who's been kind of assigned this border czar type of role which by the way it has the most vague loose definition possible I mean it's constantly evolving as you mentioned first was it to address the root causes of migration to the country or is it now dealing with southern border security and the apprehensions I don't know it seems like it's just a very vague and not really well thought out role. Preston: yeah and that's actually a great segue into another question that I wanted to ask you and we'll kind of wrap this up on Harris's visit but while she was down there she was accompanied obviously by secretary Mayorkas and he said something very interesting in regards to their being there he said and I'm quoting now I'm grateful to the vice president for leading the effort to tackle the root causes of irregular migration we know what happens at the border is directly connected to the work of addressing the root causes of migration poverty corruption violence and a climate crisis so it's interesting that the Biden administration through Alejandro Mayorkas continues denying that their actions have anything to do with the current crisis we obviously recognize that push factors in these countries exist I don't think anyone's denying that we certainly aren't but they act like dismantling successful safe third country agreements gutting the migrant protection protocols had nothing to do with the record-setting surge that we're seeing at the border and that's to say nothing of Joe Biden who campaigned for two years on the promise that he was gonna amnesty every illegal alien in the country I mean they're almost putting on the blinders entirely when it comes to the pull factors that the U.S. is giving out right now and they're relying so much on the push factors which again exists but it's not it cannot explain what's going on right now entirely. Matthew: right and this was just a totally outrageous claim by Mayorkas I mean it's not surprising he's been saying this kind of stuff for months now basically gaslighting the American public misleading them but it's definitely this surge that we're seeing again 180,000 apprehensions last month the largest total for a month for 21 years we're on pace practically to hit 2 million apprehensions this fiscal year I mean historic numbers but again this is directly attributed to the Biden administration's messaging and policies that basically eviscerate our southern border security eviscerate interior immigration enforcement again you look at the ICE arrests and deportation numbers just recently lowest monthly deportations on record last month it said that each ICE agent is currently averaging one arrest every two months I mean that's unacceptable given that we have more than 14 million illegal aliens in our country probably a lot more now and so yeah when there is no southern border security again with no wall construction the halt of the MPP program not fully utilizing Title 42 and then you take away interior enforcement you're not arresting people you're not deporting people I mean that basically says yeah if you come here illegally that's not a problem so this is not a usual seasonal increase or what we see every year this is completely mayhem and nothing that the country's ever seen before. Preston:  right and unlike I think prior administrations that tried to at least put in policies in place to stop it the Biden administration has done nothing of that kind but with that in mind I do now want to pivot to an event that took place on Friday June 25th FAIR held a border rally attended by hundreds of citizen activists sheriffs from around the country victims of illegal alien crime and other supporters who were there to call for the Biden administration to take some necessary measures to end the crisis that were that we're seeing right now this occurred right at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and Matthew you were down there at this event for most of the at the border for most of the week and attended the rally just tell us about what you saw down there and what those listening at home missed out if they haven't seen our content on this already. Matthew:  yeah so this was a really just awesome event to say the least you had several hundred concerned Americans activists state legislators from Arizona former DHS officials really just a wide range of backgrounds who have been concerned about the Biden border crisis and kind of where it's headed so the rally was kind of the first type of rally that occurred directly on the southern border wall I mean it was on the background there we have to thank John Ladd and his ranch for allowing us to sit up there and it also marked kind of this start of this grassroots movement that people aren't just going to sit back and see what they're seeing what's going on with again the record number of illegal alien apprehensions the criminal gang proliferation drugs coming to the country no one wants to sit back and just do nothing and so this is a great opportunity for people to voice their concerns learn more about what's going on with the Biden border crisis how we can stop it and I think was a tremendous success for it being kind of the first event like this that FAIR sponsored and hosted. Preston: yeah and I think it's very important to highlight the grassroots aspect of this is to we've been seeing this in polling where every month more and more people are saying that even though they may give President Biden high marks on other aspects of his presidency the border and immigration is a weak spot for him and his numbers are tanking in that regard and I think now you're seeing a number of just average citizens everyday people who are looking at this and saying we cannot let this continue that this is this is obviously wrong and they're calling I think on the Biden administration to do something about it and not to just continue gaslighting them like Mayorkas and Harris have been doing and telling them no it's not a crisis it's not a big deal it's under control people aren't stupid they have eyes they have ears they hear and see what is happening and so yeah I think it's huge to emphasize the grassroots aspect of the rally and people from across the country coming in to share that view. Matthew: no absolutely and it was also really impressive to see them not only come to this kind of remote portion of southeast Arizona it was a multiple hour rally in the blazing heat over 100 degrees and it wasn't just people from the Tucson area or Phoenix area I mean they're coming from all around the country and so now that this is kind of like the framework for future events I'm sure that our organization can do but also other organizations and really get people involved because at the end of the day we need the American public to vote people in and out to voice your concern to be part of this movement we can really pressure other organizations and members of congress to make changes with immigration policy but also it's very important to get the American public voters and concerned citizens involved as well. Preston: absolutely and at the rally I know that many of the speakers listed a number of things that the Biden administration could do to actually end this crisis and their recommendations I think mirror a lot of what FAIR has been saying in the past few months this includes I think number one the removal of Mayorkas as the DHS secretary in addition to the completion of the border wall where funding already exists for it from previous bills that have been passed the reinstatement of the migrant protection protocols and I think just the end of catch and release this was reinstated by the Biden administration as soon as they took over it's something that President Trump put an end to and so I wanted to kind of ask you this thought experiment let's assume that the Biden administration chooses to do one of these things they decide they're going to do something about it but they're not going to do everything which of these do you think would have the biggest impact in reducing the number of illegal aliens who come to the border many of them seeking asylum many of them with claims that don't really have merit what of these suggestions do you think would have the biggest impact on what we're seeing right now at the border? Matthew:  so I would say definitely the migrant protection protocols otherwise known as the Remain in Mexico policy I've we've talked about this program in previous episodes written a couple op-eds on it but it's just give a refresher here this program was implemented by the Trump administration in 2019 to essentially require asylum seekers applying for asylum in the U.S. to wait in northern Mexico until their court hearing date and what was happening was people who would apply for asylum in the U.S. they'd get their court hearing date but it might have been six months nine months a year down the road they'd be told hey come back to your court hearing date many of these migrants don't show up because they know that they have a weak case and then they disappear and there's no way to really track them so this was to avoid that and it worked I mean tens of thousands of people were sent to northern Mexico into the court hearing date under the Trump administration and not only reduced asylum fraud because people who had meritless asylum claims saw this program and thought hey we're not going to come up to the U.S.-Mexico border and apply for asylum anymore I don't want to win northern Mexico I'm not really being persecuted by my government based on my race religion nationality political opinion or membership to a particular social group so it helped reduce asylum fraud it deterred migrants who were coming here unlawfully as well and again it just kind of restored integrity in our asylum system again we have such a big backlog that it shouldn't be taking months if not years to get these addressed and they are right now because a lot of people who are using the U.S. political asylum for other purposes like trying to find a better job or better wages or fleeing an abusive partner and yeah those are not fortunate situations but they don't qualify for you as political asylum at all so I thought that program was one of the strongest immigration policies programs put in place by the administration I mean it was quickly wiped out as soon as President Biden entered the oval office but I will say not only is this program it's shown to be very effective and useful but you don't need congress to be involved with this to get implemented I mean this was done through an executive order so you can this can be done rather quickly to get it reinstated so that's a big plus about the MPP is that these other items may not have. Preston:  yeah I agree with you on that on that point because so much of the issue right now is people seeking asylum with claims that don't really end up holding up in court in immigration court and so this is why building the wall is important certainly it's certainly important to stop drug smuggling to stop human trafficking to force people to the ports of entry where they can actually be screened but in terms of stopping the numbers of people coming through I think changing the asylum laws is so much more that would have such a bigger effect than simply building a wall because we could build the wall 10 miles high 10 miles deep and 50 feet thick but if people can still come in claim asylum and wait with a work permit in the United States for two to three years that doesn't change that doesn't really change the issue at all so I think changing the way that we handle asylum right now is so important and I will say yes the migrant protection protocols were great because the Trump administration was able to quickly implement them but again unfortunately anything at the administrative level can be quickly overturned by their successor and I think that's one of the issues not only that President Trump has run into now that he's out of office but also President Obama many of his initiatives were overturned by President Trump and I think as long as congress continues to just kind of ignore the problem and to refuse to deal with what's going on at our border we're going to keep having these kind of see-saw effect of administrative actions taken at that level. Matthew:  right I will say that is it likely that they'll implement any of these suggestions no we both know that but something has to change I mean these apprehension numbers are not going down anytime soon and now it's not even just a Central America Mexico large migration issue I mean people are coming from all around the world more than 160 countries reported in the last few months so the word is out and so some policy change is going to be needed will they listen to FAIR or other advocates calling for immigration reform border security reform we'll see but it's unlikely they're headed down a completely different path. Preston:  yeah I agree with you on that point and I think that is probably as good a point as any to end today's episode on we want to thank everybody for tuning in as a reminder these podcasts are available on most platforms including spotify and apple podcasts you can learn more about fair and our mission by visiting our website fairus.org or by visiting our social media channels on twitter and facebook we will continue releasing new episodes every other Monday and if you enjoyed the podcast then we ask that you please subscribe to Understanding Immigration if you haven't already we hope you enjoyed today's episode of Understanding Immigration presented by FAIR

USBP Deputy Chief Matthew Roggow is our guest. We discuss the massive influx of undocumented migrants on the Southwest Border, immigration policy, and the increase of search and rescue missions.Stats: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters-by-component Get on the email list at hearmeoutalpine.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hearmeoutalpine.substack.com

The Border Crisis continues as new data is released from Customs and Border Patrol showing massive immigration in numbers in May. Kamala gets testy with Univision while Governor Abbott responds by moving forward with a border wall. The Church Photo Op Hoax against Donald Trump is destroyed by a new Office of Inspector General report that finds no wrongdoing and Trump celebrates exoneration. Florida passes Critical Race Theory rule prohibiting viewpoint indoctrination in classrooms and we hear from a mother who fled communist China.​And more! Join criminal defense lawyer Robert F. Gruler in a discussion on the latest legal, criminal and political news, including:​​

Rachel Sutherland from FOX News Radio joined "Fort Wayne's Morning News" to discuss recent reports that crossings of the United States / Mexico border are quickly approaching levels that have not been seen in almost 20 years.

“Welcome to the White Privilege Presidency.” Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on his latest column, “Roberta Jacobson: Mangling Spanglish on the Southwest border.” Charlie says that Biden is “living proof that no matter how dumb you are or how wrong you have always been or how many things you have screwed up, if you are just White enough and willing to wait around long enough accomplishing nothing, the kingship will eventually be yours.”

DHS Secretary Mayorkas sent an email to staff stating “Today I activated the Volunteer Force to support Customs and Border Protection as they face a surge in migration along the Southwest Border,” ……… GET MORE INFO BELOW: If you would you like to pray to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior... Click this link: https://thinkaboutit.news/want-jesus-christ-now/ WEBSITES: (ALL LINKS ARE ON THE WEBSITES - INCLUDING "VIDEO LINKS" TAB ON NAVIGATION) https://thinkaboutit.news https://www.thinkaboutit.online WANT SOMETHING YOU HAND OUT TO HELP INFORM PEOPLE? https://www.thinkaboutit.online/pandemic-mask-handout/ OFFICIAL DONOR LINK BELOW (SORRY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROCESS CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS) https://donorbox.org/think-about-it-support OFFICIAL THINK ABOUT IT STORE: https://teespring.com/stores/think-about-it-2 VISUALLY IMPAIRED CAN LISTEN TO SHOW AUDIO: Apple Podcast On iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-about-it/id1532129901 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1RBPX5mV259Yjb1NT2DC2s Anchor Podcast: https://anchor.fm/thinkaboutitpodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thinkaboutitpodcast/message

Greg Amundson has spent nearly twenty years in Military and Law Enforcement service to include details as a Special Weapons and Tactics Team Operator (SWAT) and Sniper in Santa Cruz County, a Captain in the United States Army, a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border and an Agent on the highly effective Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) Team. A former owner of the nation's first CrossFit gym, Greg has traveled around the world teaching functional fitness and self-mastery principles for over nineteen years. Greg is the founder of the CrossFit Goal Setting Trainer Course and the CrossFit Law Enforcement Application Course. Greg is a Krav Maga Black Belt, Reserve Peace Officer, and Law Enforcement Chaplain in Santa Cruz. and is a five-time #1 bestselling author, and co-founder of Eagle Rise Publishing, which has produced numerous bestselling books. →IN THIS EPISODE... Greg shares his life journey and lessons learned throughout the way.  Greg explains his faith first philosophy, how he got into CrossFit, and various stories that shaped his life including how 

A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Western Theological Seminary in San Jose, Greg Amundson has spent nearly twenty years in Military and Law Enforcement service to include details as a Special Weapons and Tactics Team Operator (SWAT) and Sniper in Santa Cruz County, a Captain in the United States Army, a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border and an Agent on the highly effective Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) Team. In addition to his extensive government work, Greg is recognized as a thought leader in the field of integrated wellness practices, and is a prolific author and speaker whose message has positively influenced the lives of thousands of spiritual seekers. A former owner of the nations first CrossFit gym, Greg has traveled around the world teaching functional fitness and self-mastery principles for over nineteen years. Greg is the founder of the CrossFit Goal Setting Trainer Course and the CrossFit Law Enforcement Application Course. Greg is a Krav Maga Black Belt, Reserve Peace Officer, and Law Enforcement Chaplain in Santa Cruz. Greg holds a Masters Degree from Western Theological Seminary and is a a five-time #1 bestselling author, and co-founder of Eagle Rise Publishing, which has produced numerous bestselling books. Connect with Greg at www.GregoryAmundson.com.

Greg Amundson is the the original Firebreather in the CrossFit community. Greg is also graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Western Theological Seminary in San Jose, Greg Amundson has spent nearly twenty years in Military and Law Enforcement service to include details as a Special Weapons and Tactics Team Operator (SWAT) and Sniper in Santa Cruz County, a Captain in the United States Army, a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border and an Agent on the highly effective Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) Team. In this episode, Greg gives the best advice we've ever heard when it comes to rep shavers at the box. Order his new book - STRENGTH TO LOVE: 12 Bible Lessons for Church Inside the Gym --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jason-ackerman/support

Episode 6 (“Do as I say...”) Show NotesOFAC Humanitarian Aid Fact Sheethttps://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/covid19_factsheet_20200416.pdfSwiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement Press Release (US Treasury)https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm919Humanitarian Trade with Iran Guidance (October 2019)https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/iran_humanitarian_20191025.pdfHumanitarian Aid for Venezuela Guidancehttps://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/20190805_vz_humanitarian_guidance.pdfGovernment Accountability Report on “Derisking along the Southwest Border”https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-263FinCEN 2014 statement on banking services for Money Service Businesses (MSBs)https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/statementMultiagency statement on risk-focused Bank Secrecy Act/AML Supervisionhttps://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2019/pr19065a.pdfOFAC Sudan Program and Darfur Sanctions Guidancehttps://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/sudan_guidance_20200811.pdf

Journalist, author, and broadcaster Peter Laufer, the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, speaks with us about the Portland protests, President Trump’s efforts to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, and why we need more opportunities for listening and conversation across political divides.

Valeria interviews Greg Amundson, the author of VICTORY: A Practical Guide to Forging Eternal Fitness. He shares practical strategies for achieving VICTORY in every area of your life and the Keys to better living, optimal performance, and a stronger mind, body and Spirit. Greg offers people of all faiths powerful strategies and practical guidelines for bringing health, happiness, fitness, and purpose into their lives and the lives of others. Renowned for his ability to merge fitness and faith, Greg offers a proven methodology for establishing life-affirming beliefs, understanding Divine wisdom, tapping into the power of prayer, integrating physical fitness with spiritual practice, and optimizing the power of mental and physical nutrition. Greg combines his profound CrossFit and Law Enforcement experience with his unique understanding of spirituality and Scripture to provide an integrated training program that will educate and inspire you to achieve VICTORY in every area of your life. Greg Amundson is the founder of Satvana Yoga, Krav Maga Santa Cruz and CrossFit Amundson, all located in Santa Cruz, CA. Greg brings an electric combination of passion, credibility and real-world experience to his lectures on Yoga, CrossFit, Warrior Spirit and God's Love. Greg's late father, Dr. Raymond Amundson, was a Doctor of Chiropractic, Pastor, Bodybuilder, Naval Officer, Deep Sea Diver, Champion Swimmer and world renowned Energetic Healer. His mother, Julianne, was a lifelong Teacher, Minister and Peace Corps Volunteer, who gained recognition for her volunteer work in Jordan, which took her life in 2011. From a very young age, Greg was indoctrinated into the culture of healing practices, leadership, spirituality and ministry. Greg has been teaching CrossFit and Krav Maga for over eighteen years, and has instructed, lectured, lead seminars and conducted workshops, for an estimated (and conservative) ten-thousand hours. Greg has been referred to by his peers as a “Shihan” and “Sensi” (meaning Master Teacher) and “Coach”. On August 26, 2018, after nearly 20 years of training in Krav Maga, Greg was awarded his Krav Maga Black Belt after four grueling days of testing at Krav Maga Worldwide Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. Greg learned the fundamentals of Asana, Pranayma, and meditation, from his father Raymond, who taught his patients these skills to assist in spinal health and spiritual alignment. Greg was the first CrossFit Coach to advocate for a spiritual practice within CrossFit, and devised a specific warm-up involving prayer, Yoga, Chi Gong, Tai Chi, and breathing exercises to ensure safety and capacity in CrossFit workouts. Greg served in both State and Federal Law Enforcement for over sixteen years in numerous capacities to include SWAT with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office and as a Special Agent (SA) with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border. Greg was the DEA Liaison to the highly regarded Border Enforcement Security Task-Force (BEST) Team. Greg also served as a US Army Military Police Captain and TAC Officer (Teach – Access – Counsel) where he instructed combatives, Yoga, CrossFit and leadership at the United States Army Officer Candidate School at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. Greg currently serves as a Reserve Peace Officer and Law Enforcement Chaplain in Santa Cruz, CA, with the Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol.   To learn more about Greg Amundson please visit his website: https://gregoryamundson.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast   ** Bio intro and outro one by Heidi Lynn Peters. 

Michael and Matt Reeder sit down with Professor Tom Borchert to chat about his research on Thailand, Buddhism, and the education of buddhist monks. Tom's first book, "Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border," was published in 2017 and is available from the University of Hawai’i Press.

Today's show : Army veteran, physician, scientist, world traveler, poverty reduction expert and creator & host of the Democrises podcast, Rob Cohen calls in, Doctor, Award-Winning speaker, Veteran, Technology Expert, Best Selling Author & Commissioner Of Parks & Recreation For Maricopa County,Bob Branch calls in, Popular Talk Show Host, Entrepreneur, Political Activist & Freedom Fighter, Will Johnson calls in, Economist, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, Writer for Townhall, NewsMax, Lifezette & a professor of finance at Stockton University in New Jersey, Dr. Michael Busler Ph.D calls in, Leader Of Blacks 4 Trump calls in, Legislative Affairs For President Ronald Reagan, International Security Expert, Islamic Historian, Political Activist & Best Selling Author, Valerie Greenfeld calls in, Activist, Political Strategist & Lobbyist, Josh Hlavaty calls in, President Trump speaks at the SOTU, President Trump: ‘We've Got to Get Out of These Endless Wars', President Trump Ready to Run in 2020: ‘I Love Doing It', President Trump to Withdraw from Nuclear Treaty with Russia, Trump Economy:Blue-Collar Wages Rise Faster than White-Collar, San Francisco Eatery Bans MAGA Hat-Wearing Customers, America Created 304,000 Jobs in January-Smashing Estimates, Liam Neeson Drama, Senate Democrats Block Bill to Protect Babies Surviving Abortion, Congressional Research Service says President can build border wall without congress, Democrats beg Ralph ?Coonman? Northam to resign, Ralph ?Coonman? Northam refuses to resign, Chicago Police: Jussie Smollett Refuses to Share Phone Records, Lawyers for Catholic Student Nick Sandmann Prepare to Sue Media & Celebrities for Libel, Pentagon Orders 3,750 More Troops to Southwest Border, Tom Brady's 6th Super Bowl Win, Clinton, Comey & Holder targeted by GOP bill for lying to Congress & Gavin McInnes Sues SPLC

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local temples, village schools, and transnational connections in his new book Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border(University Of Hawaii Press, 2017). He carefully draws out the social and political constraints in which Dai Buddhists must navigate, including both Chinese government policies on religion and how Buddhists interact with their co-religionists regionally and abroad. Educating Monks offers comparative multisited ethnography of Theravāda Buddhism in the post-Mao period. In our conversation we discussed how the monastic community is organized, curricular education, the monk’s career, the Chinese Buddhist Association, transnational interactions and training, how Buddhism is governed in the modern Chinese state, and how the category “religion” is deployed in China. Kristian Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of Interpreting Islam in China: Pilgrimage, Scripture, and Language in the Han Kitab (Oxford University Press, 2017). He is currently working on a monograph entitled The Cinematic Lives of Muslims, and is the editor of the forthcoming volumes Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology (ILEX Foundation) and New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge). You can find out more about his work on his website, follow him on Twitter @BabaKristian, or email him at kpeterse@odu.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local temples, village schools, and transnational connections in his new book Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border(University Of Hawaii Press, 2017). He carefully draws out the social and political constraints in which Dai Buddhists must navigate, including both Chinese government policies on religion and how Buddhists interact with their co-religionists regionally and abroad. Educating Monks offers comparative multisited ethnography of Theravāda Buddhism in the post-Mao period. In our conversation we discussed how the monastic community is organized, curricular education, the monk’s career, the Chinese Buddhist Association, transnational interactions and training, how Buddhism is governed in the modern Chinese state, and how the category “religion” is deployed in China. Kristian Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of Interpreting Islam in China: Pilgrimage, Scripture, and Language in the Han Kitab (Oxford University Press, 2017). He is currently working on a monograph entitled The Cinematic Lives of Muslims, and is the editor of the forthcoming volumes Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology (ILEX Foundation) and New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge). You can find out more about his work on his website, follow him on Twitter @BabaKristian, or email him at kpeterse@odu.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local temples, village schools, and transnational connections in his new book Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border(University Of Hawaii Press, 2017). He carefully draws out the social and political constraints in which Dai Buddhists must navigate, including both Chinese government policies on religion and how Buddhists interact with their co-religionists regionally and abroad. Educating Monks offers comparative multisited ethnography of Theravāda Buddhism in the post-Mao period. In our conversation we discussed how the monastic community is organized, curricular education, the monk’s career, the Chinese Buddhist Association, transnational interactions and training, how Buddhism is governed in the modern Chinese state, and how the category “religion” is deployed in China. Kristian Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of Interpreting Islam in China: Pilgrimage, Scripture, and Language in the Han Kitab (Oxford University Press, 2017). He is currently working on a monograph entitled The Cinematic Lives of Muslims, and is the editor of the forthcoming volumes Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology (ILEX Foundation) and New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge). You can find out more about his work on his website, follow him on Twitter @BabaKristian, or email him at kpeterse@odu.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local... Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local temples, village schools, and transnational connections in his new book Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border(University Of Hawaii Press, 2017). He carefully draws out the social and political constraints in which Dai Buddhists must navigate, including both Chinese government policies on religion and how Buddhists interact with their co-religionists regionally and abroad. Educating Monks offers comparative multisited ethnography of Theravāda Buddhism in the post-Mao period. In our conversation we discussed how the monastic community is organized, curricular education, the monk’s career, the Chinese Buddhist Association, transnational interactions and training, how Buddhism is governed in the modern Chinese state, and how the category “religion” is deployed in China. Kristian Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of Interpreting Islam in China: Pilgrimage, Scripture, and Language in the Han Kitab (Oxford University Press, 2017). He is currently working on a monograph entitled The Cinematic Lives of Muslims, and is the editor of the forthcoming volumes Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology (ILEX Foundation) and New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge). You can find out more about his work on his website, follow him on Twitter @BabaKristian, or email him at kpeterse@odu.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a Buddhist monk? This is the motivating question for Thomas Borchert, Professor of Religion at the University of Vermont, as he explores the social and educational formation of Buddhists from Southwest China. Borchert introduces his readers to the Dai ethnic minority community through vivid accounts of their local temples, village schools, and transnational connections in his new book Educating Monks: Minority Buddhism on China’s Southwest Border(University Of Hawaii Press, 2017). He carefully draws out the social and political constraints in which Dai Buddhists must navigate, including both Chinese government policies on religion and how Buddhists interact with their co-religionists regionally and abroad. Educating Monks offers comparative multisited ethnography of Theravāda Buddhism in the post-Mao period. In our conversation we discussed how the monastic community is organized, curricular education, the monk’s career, the Chinese Buddhist Association, transnational interactions and training, how Buddhism is governed in the modern Chinese state, and how the category “religion” is deployed in China. Kristian Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of Interpreting Islam in China: Pilgrimage, Scripture, and Language in the Han Kitab (Oxford University Press, 2017). He is currently working on a monograph entitled The Cinematic Lives of Muslims, and is the editor of the forthcoming volumes Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology (ILEX Foundation) and New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge). You can find out more about his work on his website, follow him on Twitter @BabaKristian, or email him at kpeterse@odu.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an experimental follow-up episode, listen along with Jen and Joe to the highlights of a Senate hearing examining the progress that has been made towards caring for the immigrant children who have been either taken from their immigrant parents or who arrived in the U.S. alone. Please Support Congressional Dish - Quick Links Click here to contribute a lump sum or set up a monthly contribution via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North Number 4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD177: Immigrant Family Separations CD176: Target Venezuela: Regime Change in Progress Additional Reading Article: Tom Carper's 40-year record of defending banks is being challenged by Kerri Harris in a Democratic primary by David Dayen, The Intercept, August 22, 2018. Report: More than 500 children are still separated. Here's what comes next. by Amrit Cheng, ACLU, August 21, 2018. Staff Report: Oversight of the care of unaccompanied alien children by Rob Portman and Tom Carper, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, August 15, 2018. Article: 'I want to die': Was a 5-year-old drugged after being separated from his dad at the border? by Michael E. Miller, The Washington Post, August 9, 2018. Report: Trump administration must stop giving psychotropic drugs to migrant children without consent, judge rules by Samantha Schmidt, The Washington Post, July 31, 2018. Report: Grassley, Feinstein seek investigation into alleged abuse at immigrant detention facilities, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, July 30, 2018. Article: Investigation sought into sexual abuse allegations at Texas immigrant detention center by Dianne Solis and James Barragan, Dallas News, June 25, 2018. Report: Police reports tell of sexual abuse, harassment at Arizona facilities for migrant children by Agnel Philip, AZCentral, July 25, 2018. Article: Sexual assault inside ICE detention: 2 survivors tell their stories by Emily Kassie, The New York Times, July 17, 2018. Article: Young immigrants detained in Virginia center allege abuse by Michael Biesecker, Jake Pearson, and Garance Burke, USA Today, June 21, 2018. Article: Alliance for prosperity plan: Hope for curbing Northern Triangle emigration? by Kausha Luna, Center for Immigration Studies, June 21, 2017. Article: US coaxes Mexico into Trump plan to overhaul Central America, CNBC, May 4, 2017. Article: The alliance for prosperity will intensify the Central American refugee crisis by Dawn Paley, The Nation, December 21, 2016. Report: CBP appointes two new officers to senior leadership by Alex Murtha, Homeland Preparedeness News, September 23, 2016. Article: The Alliance for Prosperity Plan: A failed effort for stemming migration by Laura Iesue, COHA, August 1, 2016. Resources Court Settlement Agreement: Jenny Lisette Flores v. Janet Reno, August 15, 2018. Organization Overview: IADB.org Regional Plan: Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle: A Road Map White House Fact Sheet: Support for the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle, March 3, 2015. Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee, August 16, 2018. Hearing: Oversight of Efforts to Protect Unaccompanied Alien Children from Human Trafficking and Abuse, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, August 16, 2018. Witnesses: Richard Hudson: Acting Chief of Law Enforcement Operations, US Border Patrol, US Department of Homeland Security Robert Guadian: Acting Deputy Assistant Diretor for Field Operations West, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Dept of Homeland Security Commander Jonathan D. White: U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Federal Health Coordinating Official for the 2018 Reunification Effort, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services James McHenry: Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, US Dept of Justice Hearing: Prescription Drug Supply and Cost, Senate Finance Committee, C-SPAN, June 26, 2018. Witness: Alex Azar - Health and Human Services Secretary Sound Clips: 27:50 Senator Ron Wyden (OR): How many kids who were in your custody because of the zero-tolerance policy have been reunified with a parent or a relative? Alex Azar: So, I believe we have had a high of over 2,300 children that were separated from their parents as a result of the enforcement policy. We now have 2,047. Hearing: Stopping the Daily Border Caravan: Time to Build a Policy Wall, Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, May 22, 2018. Witnesses: Ronald Vitiello - Acting Depury Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection Lee Francis Cissna - Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Thomas Homan - Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Sound Clips: 41:33 Thomas Homan: They’re separating families for two reasons. Number one, they can’t prove the relationship—and we’ve had many cases where children had been trafficked by people that weren’t their parents, and we’re concerned about the child. The other issues are when they’re prosecuted, then they’re separated. 37:40 Representative Filemon Vela (TX): So, with this new policy in place, at the point that you’re in a situation where you decide to separate the families, where do the minors go? Vitiello: The decision is to prosecute 100%. If that happens to be a family member, then HHS would then take care of the minor as an unaccompanied child. 39:58 Thomas Homan: As far as the question on HHS, under the Homeland Security Act 2002, we’re required, both the Border Patrol and ICE, to release unaccompanied children to HHS within 72 hours. So, we simply—once they identify within that 72 hours a bed someplace in the country, our job is to get that child to that bed. Then HHS, their responsibility is to reunite that child sometime with a parent and make sure that child gets released to a sponsor that’s being vetted. Speech: Sessions Says 'Zero Tolerance' for Illegal Border Crossings, CBS SF BayArea, May 7, 2018. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Today we are here to send a message to the world: we are not going to let this country be overwhelmed. People are not going to caravan or otherwise stampede our border. We need legality and integrity in the system. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security is now referring 100 percent of illegal Southwest Border crossings to the Department of Justice for prosecution. And the Department of Justice will take up those cases. I have put in place a “zero tolerance” policy for illegal entry on our Southwest border. If you cross this border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you. It’s that simple. Hearing: Oversight of HHS and DHS Efforts to Protect Unaccompanied Alien Children from Human Trafficking and Abuse, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, C-SPAN, April 26, 2018. Witnesses: James McCament - Deputy Under Secretary of the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the Dept. of Homeland Security Steven Wagner - Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration for Children and Facilities at the Dept. of Health and Human Services Kathryn Larin - Director for Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office Sound Clips: 45:05 Kathryn Larin: In 2015, we reported that the interagency process to refer unaccompanied children from DHS to ORR shelters was inefficient and vulnerable to error. We recommended that DHS and HHS develop a joint collaborative process for the referral and placement of unaccompanied children. In response, the agencies recently developed a memorandum of agreement that provides a framework for coordinating responsibilities. However, it is still under review and has not yet been implemented. 1:51:28 Sen. Portman: Mr. Wagner, give me a timeframe. Wagner: Sir, we have to incorporate the new MOA in the draft JCO. Honestly, we are months away, but I promise to work diligently to bring it to a conclusion. 1:57:15 Senator Rob Portman (OH): Okay, we learned this morning that about half, maybe up to 58%, of these kids who are being placed with sponsors don’t show up at the immigration hearings. I mean, they just aren’t showing up. So when a sponsor signs the sponsorship agreement, my understanding is they commit to getting these children to their court proceedings. Is that accurate, Mr. Wagner? Steven Wagner: That is accurate. And in addition, they go through the orientation on responsibilities of custodians. Sen. Portman: So, when a child does not show up, HHS has an agreement with the sponsor that has been violated, and HHS, my understanding, is not even notified if the child fails to show up to the proceedings. Is that accurate? Wagner: That is accurate, Senator. Sen. Portman: So you have an agreement with the sponsor. They have to provide this agreement with you, HHS. The child doesn’t show up, and you’re not even notified. So I would ask you, how could you possibly enforce the commitment that you have, the agreement that you have, with the sponsor if you don’t have that information? Wagner: I think you’re right. We have no mechanism for enforcing the agreement if they fail to show up for the hearing. Community Suggestions See more Community Suggestions HERE. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)  

How has Donald Trump capitalized on the politics of the border during his election and presidency? In this podcast, Melissa Milewski and Sam Solomon, lecturers at the University of Sussex, interview the founders of the Southwest Political Report, Dr. Irene Sanchez and Matt Sedillo, to discuss Trump and the Southwest. They discuss why Trump focused on immigration and the border during the 2016 election and how Trump's use of the Southwest fits into how local and national politicians have used it in the past. Sanchez and Sedillo also discuss the history and context behind Trump's Southwest policies, including the recently ended policy of separating families at the border.

A new policy change by the Trump administration on May 7th has resulted in thousands of children being separated from their want-to-be-immigrant parents who crossed the U.S. southern border in the wrong location. In this episode, hear from officials in every branch of government involved to learn why this is happening, why it's proving to be so difficult to return the children to their parents, and what we can do to help this situation. Please Support Congressional Dish - Quick Links Click here to contribute a lump sum or set up a monthly contribution via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North Number 4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Letter to Representative/Senators Jen's letter that she sent to her members of Congress. You are welcome to use this as you wish!  Additional Reading Report: Trump administration: Migrant families can be detained for more than 20 days by Tanya Ballard Brown, NPR, June 29, 2018. Article: Federal judge enjoins separation of migrant children, orders family reunification by Devlin Barrett, Mike DeBonis, Nick Miroff and Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Washington Post, June 27, 2018. Article: Trump aims to dismantle protections for immigrant kids and radically expand the family detention system by Ryan Devereaux, The Intercept, June 26, 2018. Article: With prosecutions of parents suspended the status quo returns at the border, The Washington Post, June 25, 2018. Article: Separated immigrant children are all over the U.S. now, far from parents who don't know where they are by Maria Sacchetti, Kevin Sieff and Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, June 24, 2018. Article: U.S. officials separated him from his child then he was deported to El Salvador, The Washington Post, June 23, 2018. Article: Yes, Obama separated families at the border, too by Franco Ordonez and Anita Kumar, McClatchy, Jue 21, 2018. Report: Governor orders probe of abuse claims by immigrant children by Michael Bisecker, Jake Pearson and Garance Burke, AP News, June 21, 2018. Report: Migrant children at the border - the facts by Graham Kates, CBS News, June 20, 2018. Report: The facilities that are housing children separated from their parents by Andy Uhler and David Brancaccio, Marketplace, June 20, 2018. Article: How private contractors enable Trump's cruelties at the border by David Dayen, The Nation, June 20, 2018. Article: Separating migrant families is barbaric. It's also what the U.S. has been doing to people of color for hundreds of years. by Shaun King, The Intercept, June 20, 2018. Report: Trump's executive order on family separation: What it does and doesn't do by Richard Gonzales, NPR, June 20, 2018. Report: U.S. announces its withdrawal from U.N. Human Rights Council by Colin Dwyer, NPR, June 19, 2018. Article: Detainees in Oregon say they followed asylum process and were arrested by Conrad Wilson, OPB, June 19, 2018. Report: Fact-checking family separation by Amrit Cheng, ACLU, June 19, 2018. Article: The U.S. has taken more than 3,700 children from their parents - and has no plan for returning them by Ryan Devereaux, The Intercept, June 19, 2018. Article: Exclusive: US officials lost track of nearly 6,000 unaccompanied migrant kids by Franco Ordonez and Anita Kumar, McClatchy, June 19, 2018. Article: The government has no plan for reuniting the immigrant families it is tearing apart by Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, June 18, 2018. Report: U.N. rights chief tells U.S. to stop taking migrant children from parents by Nick Cumming-Bruce, The New York Times, June 18, 2018. Article: Taking migrant children from parents is illegal, U.N. tells U.S. by Nick Cumming-Bruce, The New York Times, June 5, 2018. Article: Parents, children ensnared in 'zero-tolerance' border prosecutions by Curt Prendergast and Perla Trevizo, Arizona Daily Star, May 28, 2018. Statement: By HHS Deputy Secretary on unaccompanied alien children program, HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, HHS, May 28, 2018. Report: Trump administration using contractors accused of abuse to detain undocumented children by TYT Investigates, TYT Network, May 28, 2018. Testimony: Ronald D. Vitiello on Stopping the daily border caravan: Time to build a policy wall, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, May 22, 2018. Report: ICE has already missed two detention reporting deadlines set by Congress in March, National Immigrant Justice Center, May 17, 2018. Article: As Gaza death toll rises, Israeli tactics face scrutiny by Josef Federman, The Seattle Times, May 15, 2018. News Report: Attorney General Sessions delivers remarks discussing the immigration enforcement actions of the Trump administration, Department of Justice, May 7, 2018. Statement: Steven Wagner of Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 26, 2018. Article: Hundreds of immigrant children have been taken from parents at U.S. border by Caitlin Dickerson, The New York Times, April 20, 2018. Article: Trump's first year has been the private prison industry's best by Lauren-Brooke "L.B" Eisen, Brennan Center for Justice, January 15, 2018. Article: Private-prison giant, resurgent in Trump era, gathers at president's resort by Amy Brittain and Drew Harwell, The Washington Post, October 25, 2017. Report: Trump administration warns that U.S. may pull out of U.N. Human Rights Council by Merrit Kennedy, NPR, June 6, 2017. Article: Private prisons were thriving even before Trump was elected by Alice Speri, The Intercept, November 28, 2016. Article: Mexican migrant kids swiftly sent back by Sandra Dibble, San Diego Union Tribune, July 12, 2014. Article: Immigrant surge rooted in law to curb child trafficking by Carl Hulse, The New York Times, July 7, 2014. Resources Agency Details: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services GovTrack: H.R. 4760: Securing America's Future Act of 2018 GovTrack: H.R. 7311 (110th): William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 Human Rights First: The Flores Settlement Publication: Betraying Family Values: How Immigration Policy at the United States Border is Separating Families Snopes.com: Did the U.S. government lose track of 1,475 migrant children? U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Organizational Chart U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Southwest Border Migration FY2018 Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Prescription Drug Supply and Cost, Senate Finance Committee, C-SPAN, June 26, 2018. Witness: - Alex Azar - Health and Human Services Secretary 27:50 Senator Ron Wyden (OR): How many kids who were in your custody because of the zero-tolerance policy have been reunified with a parent or a relative? Alex Azar: So, I believe we have had a high of over 2,300 children that were separated from their parents as a result of the enforcement policy. We now have 2,047. Sen. Wyden: How many have been reunified? Azar: So, they would be unified with either parents or other relatives under our policy, so, of course if the parent remains in detention, unfortunately under rules that are set by Congress and the courts, they can’t be reunified while they’re in detention. Sen. Wyden: So is the answer zero? I mean, you have— Azar: No, no. No, we’ve had hundreds of children who had been separated who are now with—for instance, if there was a parent— Sen. Wyden: I want an— Azar: —parent who’s here in the country, they’d be with that parent. Sen. Wyden: I want to know about the children in your department’s custody. Azar: Yeah. Sen. Wyden: How many of them have been reunified? Azar: Well, that’s exactly what I’m saying. They had been placed with a parent or other relative who’s— Sen. Wyden: How many? Azar: —here in the United States. Sen. Wyden: How many? Azar: Several hundred. Sen. Wyden: Of the 2— Azar: Of the 2,300-plus that— Sen. Wyden: Okay. Azar: —came into our care. Sen. Wyden: How many— Azar: Probably of 2,047. 49:20 Senator Ben Nelson (FL): So, what is the plan to reunite 2,300 children? Alex Azar: Absolutely. So, the first thing we need to do is, for any of the parents, we have to confirm parentage. So that’s part of the process. With any child in our care, we have to ensure—there are traffickers; there are smugglers; there’re, frankly, just some bad people occasionally—we have to ensure that the parentage is confirmed. We have to vet those parents to ensure there’s no criminality or violent history on them. That’s part of the regular process for any placement with an individual. At that point, they’ll be ready to be reconnected to their parents. This is where our very broken immigration laws come into play. We’re not allowed to have a child be with the parent who is in custody of the Department of Homeland Security for more than 20 days, and so until we can get Congress to change that law to—the forcible separation there of the family units—we’ll hold them or place them with another family relative in the United States. But we are working to get all these kids ready to be placed back with their parents, get that all cleared up, as soon as—if Congress passes a change or if those parents complete their immigration proceedings, we can then reunify. 1:11:52 Alex Azar: If Congress doesn’t change the 20-day limit on family unification, then it depends on—the process for any individual parent going through their immigration proceedings, as long as they’re in detention, they can’t be together for more than 20 days—absurdly, but it is the case. 2:03:31 Senator Ron Wyden (OR): You told me a little bit ago that the Department has 2,047 kids in its custody, so— Alex Azar: That are separated. We’ve got about 12,000 unaccompanied minors in our program. Hearing: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, C-SPAN, June 19, 2018. Witnesses: Lee Francis Cissna - Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security   17:17 Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA): Citizenship should not be for sale like a commodity on the stock exchange. There are millions—in fact, 4 million—of individuals who are waiting in line to immigrate lawfully to the United States. They have paid their required fees, they are in line, they wait patiently for a day that a visa becomes available, so they can be reunited with their families here in this country. However, because they don’t have a half a million dollars to buy their way in, they will continue to wait, some as long as 24 years. Yet, under the EB-5 system, the wealthy can cut to the front of the line. 49:45 Lee Francis Cissna: I did not play any role in deciding whether there was going to be a zero-tolerance initiative. What I recommended was, since there is one, what we need to do is decide which cases to refer in fulfillment of the zero-tolerance initiative directed by the attorney general, and I suggested that—I and the other officials who were involved in these discussions suggested that we refer all cases. Senator Dick Durbin: All cases. Cissna: Yes. Anybody who violates 8 U.S.C. 1325(a) will be prosecuted. Sen. Durbin: Which is—simply presenting themselves illegally at the border, without legal authorization at our border. Is that what you’re saying? Cissna: Between ports of entry, yes. Sen. Durbin: And you’re not just limiting this to those who may have committed some other crime, involved in some activity dangerous to the United States, but merely presenting themselves at these places is enough for you to believe this administration should treat them as criminals and remove their children. Cissna: I believe anyone crossing the border illegally who is apprehended doing so, whether they’re presenting themselves or not presenting themselves or trying to evade capture, if they are apprehended, they’re violating the law and should be prosecuted. Sen. Durbin: But if a person came to this border, seeking asylum— Cissna: Mm-hmm. Sen. Durbin: —is that person per se a criminal? Cissna: If they cross illegally, yes. Sen. Durbin: The premise was they presented themselves. Cissna: If they present themselves at the port of entry, no. 57:58 Senator Mazie Hirono (HI): So there are two ways that 1325 violations can proceed: either as a civil matter, which is what was happening with the Obama administration, that did not require separating children from their parents; or you can go the criminal route, and this administration have chosen the criminal route. Isn’t that correct? Lee Francis Cissna: Well, I would have to defer to DOJ on the appropriate interpretation of 1325, but as I read it, it looks like a misdemeanor to me, and, therefore, would be a criminal— Sen. Hirono: Well, I’m reading the statute right here, and it says that it can be considered as a civil penalty’s provision; under civil, not criminal. That’s what the plain meaning of that section says to me that I’m reading right now. So, this administration has chosen to follow the criminal route, and that is the excuse, or that is the rationale, being given for why children have to be separated at the border. Now, you did not have to go that route, and in fact, from your testimony, you sound really proud that this administration has a zero-tolerance policy that is resulting in children being separated from their parents. Am I reading you wrong? You think that this is a perfectly—humane route to go to implement Section 1325? Cissna: It’s the law. I’m proud of it, yeah. Sen. Hirono: No, the law, this law allows for a civil process, and you are attributing _____(01:27). Cissna: I’m not sure that interpretation is correct, and I would, again, defer to DOJ for the final answer. 1:10:30 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: So, asylum seekers. They’re often refugees, correct? Lee Francis Cissna: Asylum seekers fall into the same definition of refugee at 101(a) (42), yeah. Sen. Whitehouse: Yep. And they often have very little in the way of resources, they’re often frightened, correct? Cissna: Yes. Sen. Whitehouse: Very few have legal degrees or are familiar with the United States’ immigration law, correct? Cissna: Yes. Sen. Whitehouse: And so if you’re a lost and frightened refugee and you see the U.S. border and you think, ah, this is my chance to get across to safety—which has long been something that our country’s been associated with—there could be a perfectly innocent reason for crossing the border in that location. And in that circumstance, would it not be perfectly reasonable for immigration officials who intercept them to say, “Ah, you seem to be a legitimate asylum seeker; you’re just in the wrong place. We’ll take you to the port of entry, and you can join the other asylum seekers at the port of entry”? But to arrest them and separate them from their children is a different choice, correct? Cissna: Well, I think if the person is already at that point where they’re apprehended and making their asylum case known, they’ve already crossed into the country illegally. If they’ve already crossed the border and made their asylum claim, they’ve already violated the law. They violated 1325. They’re here illegally. Sen. Whitehouse: Because they crossed in the wrong place. Cissna: Correct. Sen. Whitehouse: And they may not know that it’s illegal to cross in the wrong place, correct? They may simply be coming here because they’re poor and frightened and seeking safety, and for a long time, that’s what the United States has been a symbol of, has it not? Cissna: I cannot get into the minds of the people that are crossing the border illegally, but it seems to be— Sen. Whitehouse: But it is a clear possibility that there could be an innocent explanation for crossing the border as an asylum seeker at a place other than an established port of entry. Cissna: There might be. *Sen. Whitehouse: Okay. There you go. Cissna: Maybe. 1:36:13 Senator Chuck Grassley (IA): Do you think the administration would support repeal of Flores? Lee Francis Cissna: That is indeed one of the things that Secretary Nielsen spoke about yesterday, repeal Flores, but also you need to give ICE enough funds to be able to hold the family units once you’ve repealed Flores. Briefing: White House Daily Briefing, Immigration Official on Border Security and Migrant Family Separation, C-SPAN, June 18, 2018. Hearing: Central American Immigrants and Border Security, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, C-SPAN, May 22, 2018. Witnesses: Ronald Vitiello - Acting Deputy Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection Lee Francis Cissna - Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Thomas Homan - Acting Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement   15:10 Ronald Vitiello: In accordance with the Department of Justice zero-tolerance policy, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen has directed CBP to refer all illegal border crossers for criminal prosecution. CBP will enforce immigration laws set forth by Congress. No classes or categories of aliens are exempt from enforcement. 15:48 Ronald Vitiello: The effort and hours used to detain, process, care for, hold UACs and family units distracts our law-enforcement-officer deployments, shrinks our capability to control the border, and make the arrest of smugglers and drug traffickers and criminals much more difficult. 37:40 Ronald Vitiello: Between the ports, we’re now referring anybody that crosses the border illegally—so, Border Patrol’s referring 100% of the people that cross the border illegally—to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. At the ports, that’s not an illegal act if they come under the same conditions, but the verification of family relationships is essentially the same in both instances. Representative Filemon Vela (TX): So, with this new policy in place, at the point that you’re in a situation where you decide to separate the families, where do the minors go? Vitiello: The decision is to prosecute 100%. If that happens to be a family member, then HHS would then take care of the minor as an unaccompanied child. 39:58 Thomas Homan: As far as the detention capacity, we’re well aware of that. We’re working with U.S. marshals and DOJ on identifying available detention space. I got my staff working on that, along with the department and DOJ, so I think it’ll be addressed. We want to make sure we don’t get back to catch and release, so we’re identifying available beds throughout the country that we can use. As far as the question on HHS, under the Homeland Security Act 2002, we’re required, both the Border Patrol and ICE, to release unaccompanied children to HHS within 72 hours. So, we simply—once they identify within that 72 hours a bed someplace in the country, our job is to get that child to that bed. Then HHS, their responsibility is to reunite that child sometime with a parent and make sure that child gets released to a sponsor that’s being vetted. 41:33 Thomas Homan: If they show up at a port of entry made through asylum claims, they won’t be prosecuted, and they won’t be separated. The department has no policy just to separate families for a deterrence issue. I mean, they’re separating families for two reasons. Number one, they can’t prove the relationship—and we’ve had many cases where children had been trafficked by people that weren’t their parents, and we’re concerned about the child. The other issues are when they’re prosecuted, then they’re separated. 1:39:44 Representative Martha McSally (AZ): To summarize, some of those loopholes that we have been working together with you to close, the first is to raise the standard of the initial asylum interview that happens at the border, which is so low that nearly everybody can make it through. The second is to hold individuals as long as it takes for them to have due process in order to process their claim. The third is to make it inadmissible in our country if you are a serious criminal or gang or a gang member or a terrorist, which I cannot believe isn’t a part of the law, but we actually have to change that law. The fourth is to have a swift removal of you if you are denied in your claim. The fifth is to terminate your asylum, if you were to get it, if you return back to your country without any material change in the conditions there. Clearly, if you’re afraid for your life but you go back to visit, then something’s not right there, so your asylum should be considered for termination. The sixth is that there could be an expeditious return of unaccompanied minors to non-contiguous countries so that we can swiftly return them just like we can to Mexico. And the last is to increase the penalties for false asylum claims in order to deter and hold people accountable if they file for those. Is that a good summary of many of the loopholes we’re talking about today? Ronald Vitiello: Agree. Yes. Rep. McSally: Thank you. These all are in our bill, the Secure America’s Future Act. These are common-sense reforms that will keep our country safe and keep our communities safe, and I just want to encourage—don’t have any members left here—all members on both sides of the aisle, look at our bill, read our bill, study our bill. Hearing: Stopping the Daily Border Caravan: Time to Build a Policy Wall, Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, Homeland Security Committee, May 22, 2018. Hearing: Homeland Security and Immigration, C-SPAN, May 15, 2018. Witness: Kirstjen Nielsen - Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security   14:00 Kirstjen Nielsen: If you try to enter our country without authorization, you’ve broken the law. The attorney general has declared that we will have zero tolerance for all illegal border crossings, and I stand by that. Anyone crossing the border illegally or filing a fraudulent asylum claim will be detained, referred for criminal prosecution, and removed from the United States, as appropriate. 36:45 Senator John Hoeven (ND): You know, when you do detain, apprehend, unaccompanied children coming across the border, as well as others, what are you doing to try to address the adjudication process, which is such a bottleneck in terms of trying to address this issue? You know, I know you’re short there. What can you do and what are you doing to try to adjudicate these individuals? Kirstjen Nielsen: So, as I continue to find out every day, our immigration process is very complex, as you well know, and involves many, many departments. What we’ve tried to do is look at it from an end-to-end approach. So in the example you just gave, there’s actually about three or four different processes that those groups would undertake. So in some cases we need additional immigration judges—DOJ’s working on that. In some cases we need additional processes and agreements with other parts of the interagency family—we’ve done that, for example, with HHS to make sure that we’re appropriately taking care of UACs in their custody. And then there’s other parts who, depending on if they’re referred for prosecution, we hand them over to the marshals—we want to make sure that that’s a process that works. And then in some cases we use alternates to detention. As you know, rather than detaining them, we will have check-ins; in some cases, ankle bracelets; but other ways to make sure that we have them detained while they’re awaiting their removal proceedings. Sen. Hoeven: Is that working? Nielsen: It does work. It does work. It’s a good combination. We do it on a case-by-case basis. There’s lots of criteria that we look at to determine when that’s appropriate and when that’s not appropriate. But, again, I think it’s some of the opening remarks perhaps the chairman made, if you look at UACs, 66% of those who receive final orders, receive the final orders purely because they never showed up for court. And we find that we’re only able to remove 3.5% of those who should be removed, who a judge has said has a final. So, if we can track them, it’s a much more efficient process while we wait for the final adjudication. 55:58 Senator Kamala Harris (CA): I also asked that I be provided with what training and procedures are being given to CBP officers as it relates to how they are instructed to carry out family separation. I’ve not received that information. Do you have that today? Kirstjen Nielsen: No. You have not asked me for it, so I do not have it, but— Sen. Harris: No, I asked you for it. Nielsen: —I’m happy to give it to you. Sen. Harris: Okay. So, again, by the end of next week, please. Nielsen: Can you explain a little more what you’re looking for? Sen. Harris: Sure. So, your agency will be separating children from their parents, and I would assume— Nielsen: No. What we’ll be doing is prosecuting parents who’ve broken the law, just as we do every day in the United States of America. Sen. Harris: I can appreciate that, but if that parent has a four-year-old child, what do you plan on doing with that child? Nielsen: The child, under law, goes to HHS for care and custody. Sen. Harris: They will be separated from their parent. Answer my question. Nielsen: Just like we do in the United States every day. Sen. Harris: So, they will be separated from their parent. And my question, then, is, when you are separating children from their parents, do you have a protocol in place about how that should be done? And are you training the people who will actually remove a child from their parent on how to do that in the least-traumatic way? I would hope you do train on how to do that. And so the question is, and the request has been, to give us the information about how you are training and what the protocols are for separating a child from their parent. Nielsen: I’m happy to provide you with the training information. Sen. Harris: Thank you. 57:25 Senator Kamala Harris (CA): And what steps are being taken, if you can tell me, to ensure that once separated, parent and child, that there will be an opportunity to at least sustain communication between the parent and their child? Kirstjen Nielsen: The children are at HHS, but I’m happy to work with HHS to get you an answer for that. 1:57:50 Senator Kamala Harris (CA): Regarding detention conditions. Secretary, are you aware that multiple federal oversight bodies, such as the OIG and the GAO, have documented medical negligence of immigrants in the detention system, in particular that ICE has reported 170 deaths in their custody since 2003? Are you familiar with that? Kirstjen Nielsen: No, ma’am. Sen. Harris: Are you aware that they also found that pregnant women in particular receive insufficient medical attention while in custody, resulting in dehydration and even miscarriages? Nielsen: I do not believe that is a current assessment of our detention facilities. Sen. Harris: Okay. Can you please submit to this committee a current assessment? Nielsen: Yeah, I’m happy to. Sen. Harris: On that point? Nielsen: So, we provide neonatal care. We do pregnancy screening from ages 15 to 56. We provide outside specialists should you seek it. We do not detain any women past their third trimester. Once they enter their third trimester, we provide them separate housing. So, yes, we’re happy to detail all of the things we do to take good care of them. Sen. Harris: And did you submit that to the OIG in response to their findings? Nielsen: We have been in—yes, of course—working in conjunction with the OIG. I’m not sure exactly what the date is of the OIG report that you’re referencing, but I will look into it after this. Sen. Harris: Okay. And then also, between fiscal year ’12 and March of 2018, it’s our understanding—before I go on—the OIG report is from December of this past year, 2017. So it’s very recent. Five months ago? Also between FY ’12 and March 2018, ICE received, according to these reports, 1,448 allegations of sexual abuse in detention facilities, and only a small percent of these claims have been investigated by DHS, OIG. Are you familiar with that? Nielsen: I’m not familiar with that number, no. News Report: Raw Video: Sessions Says 'Zero Tolerance' for Illegal Border Crossings, CBS Local San Francisco, May 7, 2018. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Today we are here to send a message to the world: we are not going to let this country be overwhelmed. People are not going to caravan or otherwise stampede our border. We need legality and integrity in the system. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security is now referring 100 percent of illegal Southwest Border crossings to the Department of Justice for prosecution. And the Department of Justice will take up those cases. I have put in place a “zero tolerance” policy for illegal entry on our Southwest border. If you cross this border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you. It’s that simple. Attorney General Jeff Sessions - In order to carry out these important new enforcement policies, I have sent 35 prosecutors to the Southwest and moved 18 immigration judges to the border. These are supervisory judges that don’t have existing caseloads and will be able to function full time on moving these cases. That will be about a 50 percent increase in the number of immigration judges who will be handling the asylum claims." Hearing: Oversight of HHS and DHS Efforts to Protect Unaccompanied Alien Children from Human Trafficking and Abuse, U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, April 26, 2018. Witnesses:  James McCament - Deputy Under Secretary of the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the Dept. of Homeland Security Steven Wagner - Acting Assistant Secratary for Administration for Children and Facilities at the Dept. of Health and Human Services Kathryn Larin - Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office   15:47 Senator Rob Portman (OH): In 2015, I learned the story of eight unaccompanied minors from Guatemala who crossed our southern border. A ring of human traffickers had lured them to the United States. They’d actually gone to Guatemala and told their parents that they would provide them education in America and to pay for the children’s smuggling debt. The parents actually gave the traffickers the deeds to their homes. And the traffickers retained those until the children could work off that debt, because they weren’t interested in giving them education, it turned out; they were interested in trafficking them. When the children crossed our border, their status, as defined by federal immigration law, was that of an unaccompanied alien child, or a UAC, so you hear the term UAC used today. The Department of Homeland Security picked them up, and following protocol, transferred them to Department of Health and Human Services. HHS was then supposed to place these children with sponsors who would keep them safe until they could go through the appropriate immigration legal proceedings. That’s practice. That didn’t happen. What did happen is that HHS released these children back into the custody of those human traffickers without vetting them. Let me repeat. HHS actually placed these children back in the hands the traffickers. The traffickers then took them to an egg farm in Marion, Ohio, where these children lived in squalid conditions and were forced to work 12 hours a day, six, seven days a week, for more than a year. The traffickers threatened the children and their families with physical harm and even death if the children didn’t perform these long hours. This subcommittee investigated. We found HHS didn’t do background checks on the sponsors. HHS didn’t respond to red flags that should have alerted them to problems with the sponsors. For example, HHS missed that a group of sponsors were collecting multiple UACs, not just one child but multiple children. HHS didn’t do anything when a social worker provided help for one of those children, or tried to at least, and the sponsor turned the social worker away. During the investigation, we held a hearing in January 2016—so this goes back a couple years—where HHS committed to do better, understanding that this was a major problem. 2016, of course that was during the Obama administration, so this has gone on through two administrations now. HHS committed to clarifying the Department of Homeland Security and HHS responsibilities for protecting these children. HHS and DHS entered into a three-page memorandum of agreement, which said that the agencies recognized they should ensure that these unaccompanied alien children weren’t abused or trafficked. The agreement said the agencies would enter into a detailed joint concept of operations—so an agreement that’d actually lay out their responsibilities—that would spell out what the agencies would do to fix the problems. HHS and DHS gave themselves a deadline of February 2017 to have this joint concept of operations pulled together. That seemed like plenty of time to do it, but it wasn’t done, and that was over a year ago, February 2017. It’s now April 2018. We don’t have that joint concept of operations—so-called JCO—and despite repeated questions from Senator Carper and from me as well as our staffs over the past year, we don’t have any answers about why we don’t have the joint concept of operations. In fact, at a recent meeting a DHS official asked our investigators why we even cared about a JCO, why. And let me be clear: we care about the JCO because we care that we have a plan in place to protect these kids when they are in government custody. We care because the Government Accountability Office has said that DHS has sent children to the wrong facility because of miscommunications with HHS, and because of other concerns. We care because the agencies themselves thought it was important enough to set a deadline for the JCO but then blew past that date. We care because these kids, regardless of immigration status, deserve to be properly treated, not abused or trafficked. We learned at 4 p.m. yesterday that 13 days ago there was an additional memorandum of agreement reached between the two agencies. We requested and finally received a copy of that new agreement at midnight last night. It’s not the JCO that we’ve been waiting for, but it is a more general statement of how information will be shared between the two agencies. Frankly, we had assumed this information was already being shared and maybe it was, and it’s positive that we have this additional memorandum—that’s great. It’s nice that this hearing motivated that to happen, but it’s not the JCO we’ve all been waiting for. 45:05 Kathryn Larin: In 2015, we reported that the interagency process to refer unaccompanied children from DHS to ORR shelters was inefficient and vulnerable to error. We recommended that DHS and HHS develop a joint collaborative process for the referral and placement of unaccompanied children. In response, the agencies recently developed a memorandum of agreement that provides a framework for coordinating responsibilities. However, it is still under review and has not yet been implemented. 1:27:34 Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND): It’s HHS. This is not a new problem. We’ve been at this a long time. Where are these kids, why don’t we know where they are, and how come after months of investigation by this committee we don’t seem to be getting any better answers, Mr. Wagner? Steven Wagner: The answer to your question depends on what sort of timeframe you’re talking about. If you’re talking about the 30 days after release to a sponsor that we have determined to be qualified to provide for the care and safety and wellbeing of the kid, I think in the vast majority, I think we’re getting pretty close to 100% of those cases we know where they are. When you’re talking about as time goes on, things change. Yes, kids run away. No, we do not have a capacity for tracking down runaway UACs who leave their sponsors. Sen. Heitkamp: What do you think would happen in the IV-E program—the IV-E program is a federally sponsored funding for foster care that the states access to pay for foster-care kids. That’s IV-E. In order to get that money, you have to be a responsible state and know. What would happen, do you think, with IV-E dollars in a state that said, you know, we know where they are. We turned them over to a foster parent. We didn’t do any—I mean, as we know, not a lot of home visits, not a lot of followup. And if they ran away, we don’t know. What do you think you guys would do with the IV-E program in a state that had that kind of response? Wagner: Senator, you’re constructing an additional legal responsibility, which, in our view, does not currently exist with the UAC program. Our legal responsibility is to place these children in suitable households. In the IV-E program— Sen. Heitkamp: And then forget about. Wagner: —it would be a crisis. And there is—every state has a child-protective service agency to deal with those situations. We don’t have that apparatus. Sen. Heitkamp: And so if they—and you have no intention of creating that apparatus. You have no intention of having a database—I do need to understand where you think your lines of jurisdiction are. So you have no intention of ever trying to solve the problem of, here we gave the kid to the guy who said he was her uncle. We gave them to the uncle, and we found that was okay. And now we told the state maybe, or we didn’t tell the state, and good luck to that 15-year-old who went to her uncle. Wagner: I don’t agree with your characterization of the decision-making process. However, you know, this is an expensive program. Our duty is to execute the will of Congress and the president, which we will do faithfully. Sen. Heitkamp: Well, I think our duty is— Wagner: If you tell us you want us to track down— Sen. Heitkamp: I think our duty is a little more humanitarian than that, but can you tell me that in every case you notify the state agency that you have placed a minor in the custody of a suitable sponsor? Wagner: No, Senator. Sen. Heitkamp: Yeah. Wagner: It’s not our procedure to place state— Sen. Heitkamp: But you’re telling me that the backdrop—you’re telling me that the backdrop, the protection for that kid now falls on the state, even though you don’t even give the state the courtesy of telling them where they are. 1:51:28 Senator Rob Portman (OH): Let me back up for a second if I could and talk about what I said at the outset which is this hearing is an opportunity for us to try to get more accountability in the system and to tighten up the loose ends, and we’ve heard so many today, the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. And, of course, the focus has been on this joint concept of operations. Because of that, we’ve been working on this with you all for 26 months, over two years. And, again, you promised in your own memorandum of agreement that you would have that completed over a year ago, and still, as of today, it’s not completed. I appreciate that Mr. Wagner said that—and true, at midnight last night we received this additional memorandum of agreement, and I do think information sharing is a good thing, but what we’re looking for is what I thought you were looking for, which is an understanding of how this is actually going to operate and who’s accountable. Because we don’t know who’s responsible and accountable and what the plans are, it’s impossible for us to do our oversight and for us in the end of the day to be sure that this system is working properly for the kids but also for immigration system. So I would ask you today, it’s been 14 months since you promised it, do you have it with you today? Yes or no. Mr. McCament? James McCament: I do not have it with me, ______(01:11). Sen. Portman: Mr. Wagner. Steven Wagner: No, sir. Sen. Portman: Okay. What’s your commitment to getting this done now? So we’re 26 months into it. We’ve over a year past your previous commitment. What’s your commitment you’re going to make to us today as to when this joint concept of operations agreement will be completed? Mr. McCament. McCament: Mr. Chairman, when—being apprised and learning about the significant amount of time, we will be ready as partnership with HHS. As soon as we look at, receive the draft back, we’ll work as expeditiously as possible. I know that that is not to the extent of a time line, but I will tell you that we are ready, and we want to partner actively. You are correct that the MOA is part of that commitment—it is not all. The JCO memorializes our procedures that we already do, but it does not have them collated in one place. Work as expeditiously as possible _____(02:07). Sen. Portman: You make it sound so simple, and you’re also pointing the finger at your colleague here, which has been our problem. McCament: _____(02:15) Sen. Portman: Mr. Wagner, give me a timeframe. Wagner: Sir, we have to incorporate the new MOA in the draft JCO. Honestly, we are months away, but I promise to work diligently to bring it to a conclusion. 1:57:15 Senator Rob Portman (OH): Okay, we learned this morning that about half, maybe up to 58%, of these kids who are being placed with sponsors don’t show up at the immigration hearings. I mean, they just aren’t showing up. So when a sponsor signs the sponsorship agreement, my understanding is they commit to getting these children to their court proceedings. Is that accurate, Mr. Wagner? Steven Wagner: That is accurate. And in addition, they go through the orientation on responsibilities of custodians. Sen. Portman: So, when a child does not show up, HHS has an agreement with the sponsor that has been violated, and HHS, my understanding, is not even notified if the child fails to show up to the proceedings. Is that accurate? Wagner: That is accurate, Senator. Sen. Portman: So you have an agreement with the sponsor. They have to provide this agreement with you, HHS. The child doesn’t show up, and you’re not even notified. So I would ask you, how could you possibly enforce the commitment that you have, the agreement that you have, with the sponsor if you don’t have that information? Wagner: I think you’re right. We have no mechanism for enforcing the agreement if they fail to show up for the hearing. Hearing: Immigration Court System, Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security, C-SPAN, April 18, 2018. Hearing: Strengthening and Reforming America's Immigration Court System, Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, April 18, 2018. Witnesses: James McHenry - Director of the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review   2:42 Senator John Cornyn (TX): Earlier administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have struggled with how to reduce the case backlogs in the immigration courts. And, unfortunately, Congress has never provided the full extent of immigration judges and support staff truly needed to eliminate the backlogs. As a result, backlogs continue to grow, from 129,000 cases in fiscal 1998 to a staggering 684,000 as of February 2018. 3:27 Senator John Cornyn (TX): Aliens in removal proceedings sometimes wait for years before they ever appear before an immigration judge. For example, as of February 2018 courts in Colorado have the longest time for cases sitting on their docket more than 1,000 days—almost three years. In my home state of Texas, the current wait is 884 days—almost two and a half years. 7:06 Senator Dick Durbin (IL): The Fifth Amendment to the Bill of Rights contains the Constitution’s due-process clause. Let me quote it. “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” This language about due process actually dates its lineage to the Magna Carta. Please note: the due-process clause extends these critical protections to a “person,” not to a citizen. And the Supreme Court has consistently held that its protection—due-process protection—extends to all persons in the United States. The Court said expressly in Plyler v. Doe, “Aliens, even aliens whose presence in this country is unlawful, have long been recognized as ‘persons’ guaranteed due process of law by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.” 9:23 Senator Dick Durbin (IL): Today, 334 immigration judges face 680,000 pending cases. This backlog has grown by 145,000 cases just since President Trump was sworn into office. 28:45 James McHenry: A typical immigration court proceeding has two stages, or two parts. The first is the determination of removability. The Department of Homeland Security brings charges and allegations that an alien has violated the immigration laws. The judge—the immigration judge—first has to determine whether that charge is sustained, and that will be based on the factual allegations that are brought, so the judge will make determinations on that. If there is a finding that the alien is removable, then the case proceeds to a second phase. If the judge finds the alien is not removable, then the case is terminated. At the second phase, the immigration judge gives the alien an opportunity to apply for any protection or relief from removal that he or she may be eligible for under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This will involve the setting of a separate hearing at which the respondent may present evidence, they may present witnesses, they have the right to cross-examine witnesses brought by the department, and they will bring up whatever factual bases there is for their claim of relief or protection. At the end of that hearing, the immigration judge will assess the evidence, will asses the testimony, will look at the law, and will render a decision. The judge may either grant the application, in which case the respondent will get to remain in the United States. The judge may deny the application but give the respondent an opportunity to voluntarily depart at their own expense and sometimes after paying a bond, or the immigration judge may order the alien removed. 41:50 Senator Mike Lee (UT): I believe you recently testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee that it would take about 700 immigration judges in order to be able to address the backlog and address the current case load. Is that correct? James McHenry: Yeah, last fall the president proposed adding additional immigration judges, up to a number of 700. If we can get 700 on board, especially with our performance measures, we could complete over 450,000 cases a year. That would eviscerate the backlog. Sen. Lee: So, 700 would do it. McHenry: Based on the current numbers, it would certainly go a very long way toward eliminating it, yes. Sen. Lee: How many do you have right now? McHenry: We have 334 on board. Currently, we’re authorized, based on the recent omnibus spending bill, for up to 484. Even getting to that number would allow us to begin completing more cases than new receipts that we have in. Sen. Lee: How long does that normally take? My understanding is that between 2011 and 2016 it was taking about two years to hire a typical immigration judge. Is that still the case? McHenry: No. We have reduced that average. The attorney general issued a new hiring process memo to streamline the process last April. In using that process, we’ve put out five advertisements since the end of June for up to 84 positions in total. The first of those advertisements closed at the end of June last year. We expect to bring on the first judges from that advertisement in May, which will be right at approximately 10 months, and we anticipate bringing on the rest of them in July, which will be right at one year. And we think we can get to a stage where we are bringing on judges in eight months, 10 months, 12 months—a year at the most. Community Suggestions See more Community Suggestions HERE. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)  

Seth and JJ talk about human smuggling as a business operation and explain how human smuggling is different from human trafficking. Who are the people involved in the business of human smuggling? How do people pay for smuggling and how much does it cost? How are people vulnerable in the smuggling process? Seth shares of few of his precarious experiences while transiting to Cambodia. JJ talks about snakeheads in China, including the infamous Sister Ping. Sources: Tinti, Peter and Tuesday Reitano. Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Savior. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017. The Cost Of Crossing, Planet Money United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Snakehead empress who made millions trafficking in misery, The Guardian A Smuggler of Immigrants Dies in Prison, but Is Praised in Chinatown, The New York Times Supporting the Snakeheads: Human Smuggling from China and the 1996 Amendment to the U.S. Statutory Definition of Refugee, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology China Is Among Worst Human Trafficking Offenders, State Dept. Says, The New York Times How can migrants afford huge smuggling fees? Three answers, Open Borders Prices Charged by Human Smugglers, HavocScope Human smuggling fees, Open Borders An Analysis of Migrant Smuggling Costs along the Southwest Border, US Department of Homeland Security Smugglers up prices for crossing border, Mexico News Daily Border Crossing Costs, Mexican Migration Project The Conservative Case for Immigration Tariffs, Competitive Enterprise Institute Photo: Ggia on Wikipedia

In this fired up episode we focus on the balance of body, mind and spirit. Our guest is Greg Amundson. This man is a warrior in a multitude of ways. He is a founding athlete of CrossFit and served in the Army and in law enforcement to include SWAT and as a Special Agent (SA) with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the Southwest Border. Greg is also the CEO of Satvana Yoga, Krav Maga Santa Cruz and CrossFit Amundson. Greg was personally mentored in the methodology of CrossFit by the Founder of CrossFit, “Coach” Greg Glassman and is an expert in Krav Maga. He has been teaching CrossFit and Krav Maga for nearly two decades. Greg has been featured in numerous magazine articles including Competitor Magazine, Mens Health, WOD Talk Magazine, Outside Magazine, Inside The Box Magazine, Santa Cruz Good Times, and Police Magazine. Greg is the Fitness Expert for Calibre Press Law Enforcement Magazine and his contributions to CrossFit and the Law Enforcement community have been chronicled in the bestselling books Inside The Box and Learning To Breathe Fire. Greg is the author of four books, Your Wife is NOT Your Sister, God In Me, Firebreather Fitness and United States Army National Guard: Tips For Success. Greg is also a minister, highly respected lecturer and educator on such topics as Universal Law, Leadership, Warrior Spirit, and Gods Love. Our conversation with Greg goes deep into the heart of what it takes to achieve harmony of the body, mind and spirit. Greg uncovers key elements that separate the man from the warrior. We go into the mindset which is required to live a warrior life, the physical aspects of forging your body and the essence of building your spirit. Join us in this energetic episode and apply what you learn to your own life. Get Your FREE Manual 8-Steps to Living a Warrior Lifestyle at: https://www.manofwar.live/guide/ Greg Amundson Websites: https://gregoryamundson.com https://crossfitamundson.com Buy Greg's Books: https://gregoryamundson.com/about-greg-amundson/books/ Greg Amundson Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greg-amundson-show/id1217050100 Social Media: @gregoryamundson Join our Brotherhood! PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.manofwar.live/mow/011 Visit Man of War at: https://www.manofwar.live Visit Warriorbreed-Online Warrior Development Training Program http://www.warriorbreed.co Social Media: @manofwarpodcast @warriorbreedmovement