Author name: Drew Berquist

Big Government

Trump, Musk, and DOGE Score a Big Win in Federal Appeals Court

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A federal appeals court ruled Friday in favor of the Trump administration, extending a stay that allows the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue its operations at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The decision was made following a ruling from a federal judge in Maryland last week, which found that efforts to halt USAID functions were likely unconstitutional and ordered the reinstatement of the agency’s operations.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are pictured speaking at the ‘Make America Great Again Victory Rally’ at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, issued a temporary stay, blocking the judge’s order that had prohibited DOGE from working with USAID.

The court’s action also prevented biopharmaceutical executive Jeremy Levin from leading the agency. Friday’s decision extended that stay until the appeal is fully resolved.

The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by a group of 26 current and former USAID employees or contractors, who allege that the Trump administration unlawfully canceled government contracts, placed USAID personnel on administrative leave, and took actions that dismantled the agency.

The plaintiffs argue that these actions violated the U.S. Constitution’s appointments clause, claiming that Elon Musk served as DOGE administrator without proper appointment.

Additionally, they contend that the dismantling of USAID infringed upon Congress’ responsibilities, as detailed in court documents.

In response to the claims, the Trump administration denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Musk served as a senior advisor to the president and that the actions taken at USAID were carried out under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who served as the agency’s acting administrator.

Rubio designated Peter Marocco as the deputy administrator, and in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order, USAID created an internal DOGE team led by Levin, according to court documents.

The administration argued that the actions taken by USAID were within the discretion of the agency and the president’s authority to direct foreign policy.

Furthermore, it maintained that the actions were legal and did not violate the Constitution.

Despite the administration’s defense, the district court granted the employees and contractors’ request for a preliminary injunction.

The injunction blocked DOGE from operating at USAID, as the court found that the Trump administration was “likely” in violation of the Constitution, with the pause deemed to be in the public interest.

The court later clarified that Levin, who had led the USAID DOGE team prior to the injunction, could no longer serve as the chief operating officer at USAID, and denied the administration’s request for modifications to the ruling.

The Trump administration appealed the district court’s preliminary injunction and the denial of its motion for clarification or modification.

It also filed an emergency motion seeking to stay the injunction pending the appeal.

The appeals court’s ruling on Friday was a significant victory for the Trump administration.

Judges Arthur Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. and Paul V. Niemeyer stated that Musk and DOGE had made a “strong showing” that they were likely to succeed on the merits of the appeal.

The judges also determined that the administration would face “irreparable injury” if the stay was not granted, and that the public interest was served by extending the stay.

Friday’s decision marked the third win for the Trump administration at the federal appeals court level.

As the case continues to develop, the legal battle over the future of DOGE at USAID and its potential impact on the agency’s operations remains ongoing.

Visit Drew Berquist.com for more articles like this.

Democrats

Walz Thinks Democrats Lost Because They Weren’t Woke Enough. Seriously.

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took his left-wing wish list to Texas this week, blaming the Democratic Party’s 2024 implosion on a lack of “boldness” when it comes to divisive policies like DEI and open-border immigration, as reported by Fox News.

During a town hall appearance in Rosenberg with failed Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke, Walz railed against Republicans and even admitted Democrats let the Right define “woke.”

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks during a campaign rally on Oct. 14, 2024, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis.

Apparently, his solution is to embrace it harder.

“I’m just going to note this sh*t show of a [Signal] text chain that was going on could have used a little diversity, equity, inclusion in the people who were there.”

Walz didn’t stop there. He blamed Democrats for backing off their far-left policies when confronted by public backlash.

“We got ourselves in this mess because we weren’t bold enough to stand up and say ‘you damn right we’re proud of these policies.’ We’re going to put them in, and we’re going to execute them.”

So just to be clear—his party lost, and his takeaway is that they weren’t radical enough? Got it.

He then accused Republicans of fearmongering, saying, “They’re going to use fear, and they’re going to do whatever they can,” while urging the Democrat base to organize.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to a crowd during a campaign rally at Trevor G. Browne High School in Phoenix on Oct. 26, 2024.

He even dragged veterans into the DEI conversation, claiming, “One of the groups that has benefited greatly by us understanding that diversity, equity and inclusion and having policies around that, were veterans themselves for hiring.”

Not done yet, Walz doubled down on his belief that Minnesota’s “very existence depends on diversity, equity and inclusion,” because 70% of the state’s future workforce “will come from communities of color.”

That’s quite a stretch considering most Americans just want a functioning border and a government that doesn’t obsess over skin color and gender pronouns.

And in classic liberal form, Walz couldn’t resist lobbing more verbal grenades at Trump supporters, referring to them as people whose “a**” he could kick—something he had said earlier on a podcast with California Governor Gavin Newsom. President Trump had a response for that.

“Well, he’s a loser. Yeah. No, I think so. He lost an election,” President Trump fired back. “He played a part. You know, usually a vice president doesn’t play a part… I think Tim played a part. I think he was so bad that he hurt her. But she hurt herself. And Joe hurt them both.”

From where conservatives sit, Walz’s comments only confirm what we already know—Democrats aren’t learning from their failures. They’re doubling down, and they’re proud of it. And apparently, they’re taking advice from the guy who couldn’t even beat Ted Cruz.

Visit Drew Berquist.com for more articles like this.

Big Government, Democrats

Obama USAID Scandal Exposed: Taxpayer Money Used for “Rent-a-Riots”

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In a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, former State Department official Mike Benz detailed a covert operation by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the Obama administration, which involved the creation of a secret Twitter-like social media platform designed to incite political unrest in Cuba.

“This was a scandal during Obama, the Obama USAID era,” Benz said.

“Now, we were running a number of rogue USAID operations in Cuba at the time.”

The operation, known as ZunZuneo, was modeled after Twitter and launched between 2009 and 2014 to target Cuban citizens with initially non-political content like sports, music, and hurricane updates. According to Benz, the aim was to build a user base large enough to later introduce political messages designed to create civil unrest and ultimately spark a “Cuban Spring.”

“This was a Twitter knockoff,” Benz said.

“Zunzini, oh, is the Cuban slang word for hummingbird. So just it means it’s bird. It was the Twitter bird, the whole thing. But the whole trick about it was, you have to make it look like it’s coming from the Cubans, if you’re going to do this operation.”

Benz explained that USAID funneled money for the project through concealed channels.

“They took funds, millions of dollars, of funds that were concealed as humanitarian funds designated for Pakistan,” he said.

“Now, I don’t know if Joe or the audience, if you’ve looked at a map lately, but Pakistan is not exactly a next-door neighbor of Cuba.”

The project was executed by Creative Associates International (CAI), a U.S. government contractor.

According to Benz, CAI set up a complex network of front companies and used Cayman Islands bank accounts to conceal the source of funding.

“They said that these were humanitarian funds for Pakistan, and then they ran that to their contractor, CAI, to quote, set up a Byzantine system of front companies using Cayman Islands bank accounts and recruiting unsuspecting business executives who would not be told of the company’s ties to the U.S. government,” Benz said.

The operation reached around 60,000 subscribers in Cuba. Benz described how the initial content served as a smokescreen for building a surveillance and political targeting network.

“The initiative appears to also have had a surveillance dimension, allowing a, quote, vast database of Cuban zunzinio subscribers, including gender, age and receptiveness and political tendencies, to be built,” he said.

“The data would then be used for micro targeting efforts towards anti and pro-government users in Cuba.”

Benz emphasized that the political content was introduced after enough users had joined, stating, “Once they hit a critical mass, they would create rental riots and they would use this the same way they used it in Egypt and Tunisia to topple those governments under the Obama administration. They would organize smart mobs, rental riots.”

Internal documents revealed by Benz indicated that the program’s end goal was to spark a political movement and challenge the Cuban government’s power structure.

“Documents show the U.S. government plan to build a subscriber base through non-controversial news content… Later, when the network reached a critical mass… operators would introduce political content aimed at inspiring Cubans to organize, quote, smart mobs… that might trigger a Cuban spring, or, as one USAID document put it, quote, renegotiate the balance of power between state and society.”

Benz also addressed the implications of running such operations through USAID rather than the CIA.

“This is classic CIA work,” he said.

“You’re using Cayman Islands bank accounts. You’re marking it for Pakistan… If this gets busted, this is why we task the CIA to do this—plausible deniability… because there’s diplomatic blowback if U.S. fingerprints are revealed.”

While Benz clarified he is not defending the Cuban regime, he stated, “I’m simply showing the American people where your tax dollars are going and how these things are structured in order to systematically fool you and to fool Congress and to fool the White House.”

No current U.S. official has commented on Benz’s claims, but his revelations have reignited scrutiny of USAID’s role in foreign influence operations and the use of civilian agencies for covert activity traditionally conducted by intelligence services.

Please visit DrewBerquist.com for more stories like this.

Immigration

CNN Panel Makes Excuses Over Poll Showing Overwhelming Support for Mass Deportations

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A CNN panel on Friday downplayed the findings of a Fox News poll released on Thursday, which revealed that 63% of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants. The poll, which surveyed public opinion on immigration and deportation, reflects significant backing for President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, a key promise of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations, should he be reelected, has also garnered majority support, according to a Scripps News/Ipsos poll published in September 2024.

However, on CNN’s Inside Politics with Dana Bash, White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López and journalist Peter Hamby suggested that the level of support for deportations may not be as strong as the Fox News poll indicates. Their comments came after a segment on immigration correspondent Priscilla Alvarez’s report about the family members of individuals deported on planes to El Salvador on Saturday.

Barrón-López, during her appearance, pointed out that Trump’s administration has consistently framed deportations as targeting criminals. She questioned the public’s true stance on deportation, particularly when it comes to individuals who may not have a criminal history.

“I think that obviously the president has kind of blanketed the airwaves with saying that all of these people deported are criminals,” Barrón-López said.

“And given the fact that we reporters like Priscilla or I, we have very limited information as to who exactly has been deported, the government has not handed over names. I know CBS got a hold of a list of names, but that hasn’t been provided to those who are asking for who was actually deported.”

Barrón-López continued, highlighting the distinction between people who enter the country illegally and those who overstay their visas.

She emphasized that overstaying a visa isn’t considered a criminal act, contrasting it with the Trump administration’s focus on deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds.

“There is a difference between someone who came into the country illegally versus someone who overstayed their visa. That’s not a crime versus someone who has no criminal record, no criminal history,” Barrón-López stated.

She also discussed the deportation of Venezuelan nationals, noting that family members and lawyers of some deported individuals claim that their clients had no criminal records and were in the middle of immigration proceedings. Some of these individuals, she said, were sent to El Salvador, but their families and lawyers have struggled to contact them since the deportations. In response, CNN anchor Dana Bash acknowledged Barrón-López’s points, suggesting that the Trump administration’s lack of transparency on the issue complicates the public’s understanding of the deportation process.

“I was thinking just that. A lot of political fights are academic and opaque to a lot of the American public,” Hamby added.

“And if you look back on Donald Trump’s first term, the moments when he really saw big public backlash were moments that were accompanied by images, videos, stories of people, child separation being a good example, January 6th being a good example. You see the videos.”

On the same day as the CNN segment, the Trump administration used the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed on Sunday that his country received 238 members of TdA and 23 members of the MS-13 gang.

The Fox News poll, which gauged public opinion on deporting illegal immigrants, asked participants whether they “favor” or “oppose” deporting individuals in the country illegally. Barrón-López raised concerns about how such questions are framed in polls, suggesting that the inclusion of certain categories—such as those who overstayed visas or were in the process of claiming asylum—could influence the results.

“So sometimes I think it’s also the way we ask those questions in polls,” Barrón-López said.

“Are we framing it as they are illegal immigrants, or are we, you know, splitting it up and saying some of these people overstay visas? That’s not illegal. Some were in the process of claiming asylum. Are Americans opposed to all those different types of immigrants that have been living in this country, in some cases, for decades?”

Bash echoed Barrón-López’s point, questioning whether Americans would support deporting families who have been living in the U.S. for long periods.

“When you start to split hairs on immigration, the vast majority of Americans want criminals deported, but those numbers shrink when it gets into do you support separating families who have been here?” Hamby concluded, noting that support for deporting long-term residents is generally lower than for deporting more recent arrivals.

The discussion on CNN highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policies, with different sides questioning both the legal and moral implications of mass deportation efforts as the Trump administration continues its tough stance on immigration enforcement.

Visit DrewBerquist.com for more articles like this.

National Affairs

Planned Parenthood Retreats, Shutting Down Major NYC Abortion Hub

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Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) is shutting down its massive abortion operation in Manhattan, putting an end to a decades-long slaughterhouse in the heart of New York City, as reported by The Gateway Pundit. The organization announced that its $39 million SoHo property on Bleecker Street is being sold, marking yet another blow to the abortion industry in the Empire State.

Last year, The Gateway Pundit reported a significant decline in Planned Parenthood’s footprint across New York, with multiple facilities shutting down due to dwindling funds and political setbacks. Now, the abortion giant admits it can no longer sustain operations at its high-profile Manhattan location, citing “compounding financial and political challenges.”

Feb 21, 2025; National Harbor, MD, USA; Defund Planned Parenthood messages at a booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

PPGNY previously announced that clinics in Goshen, Amsterdam, Cobleskill, and Staten Island would be shutting their doors. Initially, it claimed that some services at the Manhattan center—such as late-term abortions—would only be temporarily paused.

But now, the entire facility is being permanently closed, dealing a significant blow to the left’s radical abortion agenda in deep-blue New York. In a press release, PPGNY lamented its struggles, blaming “social and political obstacles” along with systemic financial issues.

Anti-abortion protesters hold up a large banner across the street from the Jacksonville Planned Parenthood clinic May 1, 2024 ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris holding an event in Jacksonville, FL to campaign and fight against Florida’s 6-week abortion ban which went into effect today. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

The organization whined about inadequate Medicaid reimbursements and a lack of private insurance coverage for their so-called “high-quality sexual and reproductive health services.”

“Like many health care providers, PPGNY is fighting to overcome social and political obstacles and structural challenges within the country’s health system. Thanks to the generosity of donors, PPGNY proudly cares for patients no matter their insurance status or ability to pay.”

Despite claiming that donor money keeps its operations afloat, PPGNY admitted it has no choice but to close its doors, revealing the growing financial strain on the abortion industry. Wendy Stark, President and CEO of PPGNY, acknowledged that the funds from selling the building will be redirected to “systemically underserved communities” elsewhere in the state. For years, the Bleecker Street location has been the site of major pro-life protests.

Activists, including Fr. Fidelis Moscinski from Red Rose Rescue, have tirelessly stood against the blood money fueling Planned Parenthood’s operations. Fr. Moscinski, alongside fellow pro-life advocates Fr. Nix and Will Goodman, was recently found guilty of trespassing after a peaceful 2019 protest in New Jersey.

The group had entered an abortion clinic’s waiting area, offering red roses to expectant mothers as a symbol of life and hope. A judge sentenced them to 18 months of probation, with the condition that any future arrests in New Jersey would result in jail time. Both Fr. Moscinski and Goodman had previously been jailed by Biden’s DOJ for their pro-life activism.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump wasted no time in correcting this injustice, issuing pardons for them and other federal pro-life prisoners just days after returning to the White House.

With the closure of this major Manhattan abortion hub, the pro-life movement can count this as a hard-fought victory.

While Planned Parenthood scrambles to salvage its operations, it’s clear that public sentiment and political momentum are shifting against the abortion industry.

Visit DrewBerquist.com for more articles like this.

Illegal Immigration

Karoline Leavitt Delivers Good News on Trump’s Deportation Flights

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During Wednesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the Trump administration will continue its large-scale deportation efforts, including the removal of illegal alien gang members to Central and South America.

The announcement came in response to a question from Katie, who was seated in the New Media Seat at the briefing. She asked whether additional flights carrying Venezuelan gang members—now designated as foreign terrorists—would be departing for El Salvador or other destinations in light of a recent court ruling.

Her question referenced U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who over the weekend ordered the administration to return flights carrying alleged Tren de Aragua gang members to Venezuela. Leavitt responded decisively, stating that Americans “can absolutely expect to see the continuation of the mass deportation campaign that has been successfully led by this president, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and also our Secretary of State Marco Rubio.”

She also criticized the role of federal judges in attempting to block the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“Since you brought up the judges, I would like to point out that the judges in this country are acting erroneously. We have judges who are acting as partisan activists from the bench. They are trying to dictate policy from the President of the United States. They are trying to clearly slow-walk this administration’s agenda, and it’s unacceptable,” Leavitt said.

She further emphasized the administration’s position on judicial interference:

“As the President said last night, we will continue to comply with these court orders. We will continue to fight these battles in courts, but it’s incredibly apparent that there is a concerted effort by the far left to judge shop, to pick judges who are clearly acting as partisan activists from the bench in an attempt to derail this president’s agenda. We will not allow that to happen, and not only are they usurping the will of the president and the chief executive of our country, but they are undermining the will of the American public, tens of millions of Americans who duly elected this President to implement the policies that are coming out of this White House.”

On Wednesday, Judge Boasberg granted the administration an additional day to turn over details regarding the deportation flights. The Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) has responded by citing “state secrets” in defense of withholding that information. This legal battle is not the only controversy surrounding Boasberg’s ruling.

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has officially filed articles of impeachment against Judge Boasberg, following a call from President Donald Trump on Truth Social urging Republicans to take action. Gill had previewed his intent to pursue impeachment earlier in the week.

In addition to Gill’s efforts, other House Republicans have joined the push for judicial accountability. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) have filed articles of impeachment against other federal judges whom they accuse of judicial activism against the Trump administration.

Thanks to President Trump’s policies, illegal immigration into the United States has been drastically reduced. Despite claims from left-wing media and political opponents, new legislation was not required to secure the border—just a new president. With the administration continuing its mass deportation efforts and Congress moving to hold activist judges accountable, the fight over immigration enforcement remains a central issue in Washington.

Visit DrewBerquist.com for more stories like this.

Democrats

Adam Kinzinger’s Tough Guy Act Falls Flat as Trump Calls J6 Committee Pardons “Void”

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Former congressman Adam Kinzinger posted a video to social media on Monday in response to President Donald Trump’s remarks about the January 6th Committee. Trump had suggested that any preemptive pardons issued by President Joe Biden to members of the committee were non-binding if executed via autopen.

Kinzinger, who served on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th protest, filmed his response from inside his car and posted the video to X.

“So I just saw that Trump is, like, threatening the January 6 committee again,” Kinzinger said.

“Listen. This dude knows. He knows that this is, like, the thing that embarrasses him. He won’t admit it embarrasses him, because he’s trying to, like, pretend like he didn’t do anything.”

Kinzinger went on to say that Trump is “obsessed” with him and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney.

“He’s more obsessed with, like, me and Liz Cheney than his freaking golf score,” he added. “Hey, Trump. Bring it on, dude.”

After posting the video, Kinzinger appeared on CNN to further comment on Trump’s remarks. Speaking with host Jake Tapper, Kinzinger again challenged Trump to follow through on his statements.

“So, my reaction to him is like, you know what? Then bring it! Like, stop talking about it! Stop being all verbose. Stop pretending like you’re tough,” Kinzinger said.

“Bring the charges then if you really want to do it because we will crush you in court.”

Kinzinger’s response came after Trump had hinted in a previous interview that members of the J6 Committee could face legal scrutiny for their actions.

“Those people committed a major crime,” Trump said during an interview with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker prior to his inauguration. “Honestly, they should go to jail.”

Trump has long argued that the January 6 Committee pushed a politically motivated narrative about the protests at the Capitol.

His latest remarks suggest that his administration may investigate the committee’s actions.

Kinzinger, who gained national attention for his emotional testimony during committee hearings, has since transitioned into media.

After leaving Congress, he was hired as a political commentator for CNN and began selling autographed copies of the January 6th select committee’s final report for $100.

While Kinzinger continues to publicly challenge Trump, the former congressman’s role in the J6 Committee remains under scrutiny.

With Trump back in the White House, questions remain about whether the committee’s members could face legal action.

Visit DrewBerquist.com for more stories like this.


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