Author name: Red Voice Media

Democrats

David Hogg Crumbles When ABC Host Confronts Him on MS-13 Cover

/

DNC Vice Chair David Hogg and former Trump White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus engaged in a sharp exchange Sunday during a segment on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, centering on the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and growing tensions within the Democratic Party.

The discussion turned combative after Priebus criticized Hogg’s pledge to spend $20 million to primary incumbent Democrats.

“It’s $20 million out of the DNC’s pocket,” Priebus said.

“You can’t be on the board of the fishing and forest company and on Greenpeace at the same time.”

He added that if he were in charge of the DNC, Hogg would be “removed from the party.”

Hogg’s spending plan has drawn criticism within Democratic ranks, with one veteran Democratic strategist reportedly calling him a “contemptible little twerp.”

Priebus, who served as RNC chairman from 2011 to 2017 before joining President Donald Trump’s administration, expanded his criticism beyond Hogg.

He described the Democratic Party as fractured and lacking direction.

“The Democrats are a complete mess. They have no movement… They have no message… They have no leader,” Priebus said.

“It doesn’t get any worse than that. You’re defending Harvard, you’re traveling to El Salvador to defend MS-13 gang members.”

The comment referenced a recent trip by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who traveled to El Salvador on Friday to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Garcia, an illegal alien who had been living in Maryland, was deported and imprisoned in El Salvador’s high-security CECOT facility, a prison known for housing violent gang members.

The deportation occurred despite a U.S. court order that had halted his removal.

Democrats, including Van Hollen, have condemned Garcia’s deportation, arguing it violated legal protections and resulted in his imprisonment without due process.

Van Hollen stated he went to advocate for Garcia’s release, but Salvadoran authorities informed him upon arrival that Garcia had already been transferred to another facility.

The Trump administration has previously stated that Garcia is affiliated with the violent MS-13 gang.

Supporting that assertion, officials cited records indicating that Garcia’s wife once accused him of domestic violence—though no criminal charges were filed.

Hogg interrupted Priebus during the exchange and challenged the administration’s claims regarding Garcia’s ties to MS-13.

“This was not an MS-13 gang member, and you damn well know that,” Hogg said.

“The administration admitted this was wrong. In America, we have due process. We are a land of law and order, and this administration is repeatedly showing time and time again they do not care about what the Supreme Court says. They do not care about the rule of law, and you cannot defend sending people to another country where they don’t have rights.”

Priebus pushed back, pointing to public polling and intelligence assessments.

“Every intel community agency said Garcia was MS-13,” he stated, adding that a majority of Americans support deportation of individuals who are in the country illegally.

The segment underscored widening divisions not just between Republicans and Democrats, but within the Democratic Party itself, as figures like Hogg pursue more aggressive challenges to long-time incumbents.

It also brought renewed attention to the administration’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly regarding suspected gang members and individuals deported despite pending legal orders.

Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador follows ongoing scrutiny from Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups over the Trump administration’s renewed emphasis on mass deportations and stricter immigration enforcement.

No further comment has been released from the DNC regarding Hogg’s spending campaign or Priebus’ suggestion that he should be removed from party leadership.

Please visit RVM News for more stories like this.

Democrats

Dems Confronted On the Street, Refuse to Answer About Noncitizens Voting

/

Several House Democrats declined to explain their opposition to a bill aimed at preventing non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections, according to footage obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The legislation, titled the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, would require states to obtain proof of citizenship before registering individuals to vote and to remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls.

Despite widespread public concern about election integrity, only four Democrats broke with their party to vote in favor of the bill alongside House Republicans.

Meanwhile, several other Democratic members of Congress either declined to answer questions or insisted that non-citizen voting is not a real issue.

During interactions recorded by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida was asked, “Congresswoman, why do you want non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections?”

She did not respond.

The individual continued, “Why do you not want to keep American elections safe and secure?” The congresswoman offered no reply.

Other Democrats questioned included Reps. Mark Takano (CA), Jasmine Crockett (TX), Greg Casar (TX), Eric Sorensen (IL), Tom Suozzi (NY), Seth Moulton (MA), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL), and Lateefah Simon (CA). Rep. Suozzi stated that claims about non-citizen voting are a “myth,” referencing tech executive Elon Musk.

“That’s actually a myth that, what’s his name, Elon Musk was on a show where he was talking about non-citizens voting in New York. It’s just not true,” Suozzi said.

Some Democrats did state they oppose non-citizen voting. Cherfilus-McCormick, Casar, and Jared Moskowitz (FL) said they did not support allowing non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections.

Contrary to claims that the issue is overblown or nonexistent, several recent cases suggest that non-citizens have appeared on voter rolls and, in some cases, voted in elections.

In 2023, officials in Alabama, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio reported a combined total of approximately 17,000 non-citizens discovered on state voter rolls.

These states took steps to remove those individuals ahead of the 2024 general election.

In Arizona, America First Legal filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County, alleging that 35,000 registered voters had not provided proof of citizenship.

The suit resulted in all 15 Arizona counties conducting reviews, ultimately removing nearly 50,000 registrants who had failed to verify citizenship status, according to Fox News.

Oregon’s automatic voter registration system also led to the addition of non-citizens.

The Oregon DMV reported that 118 non-citizens were placed on voter rolls; at least 13 voted.

In a separate issue, the DMV mistakenly sent the names of 1,619 individuals to the state’s Elections Division, of which 17 are known to have voted.

There have also been federal cases involving non-citizens who cast ballots.

Two illegal immigrants, Angelica Maria Francisco of Guatemala and Carlos Abreu of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and voting in federal elections.

In Michigan, a Chinese national allegedly registered and voted in the 2024 election, according to statements from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor.

The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against states like Virginia and Alabama in attempts to halt voter list cleanups.

The four Democrats who voted in favor of the SAVE Act were Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Jared Golden (ME), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), and Ed Case (HI).

In response to Democrats’ lack of explanation, the NRCC issued a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, criticizing their refusal to support basic voter safeguards.

“Democrats continue denying reality to explain their pathetic votes against requiring proof of citizenship to vote,” said NRCC spokesperson Ben Petersen.

“The American people deserve better than these Democrats who treat our sacred ballot box like an open border.”

Please visit RVM News for more stories like this.

Illegal Immigration

Border Czar Tom Homan Flattens CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Live TV

/

Image Credit:© Thomas Bender / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tom Homan, the border czar under President Donald Trump, appeared on CNN Thursday night and strongly refuted claims made by host Kaitlan Collins regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a known MS-13 gang member, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The tense exchange followed renewed media criticism after Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador despite past court rulings and legal challenges.

WASHINGTON D.C., USA – FEBRUARY 4, 2025: Kaitlan Collins speaks ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump news conference in the East Room of the White House.

Abrego Garcia illegally entered the United States in 2011. According to the Trump administration, two separate court rulings confirmed his membership in the violent transnational MS-13 gang.

Those rulings formed the basis for his classification as both an illegal alien and a designated foreign terrorist, prompting his removal from the United States.

In 2019, an immigration judge allowed Abrego Garcia to remain in Maryland due to safety concerns if returned to El Salvador.

However, since then, conditions in El Salvador have shifted significantly, and President Nayib Bukele has launched a nationwide crackdown on gang violence, leading to the near-eradication of MS-13 in the country.

Despite the immigration judge’s 2019 ruling, the Trump administration proceeded with deportation, citing updated security assessments and Abrego Garcia’s designation as a terrorist.

X Screenshot – The White House

A subsequent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court directed the administration to “facilitate” his return to the U.S., following pressure from lower courts, including an Obama-appointed judge who urged federal authorities to not only facilitate but “effectuate” the return.

El Salvador, however, has refused to comply. President Bukele has publicly stated that he will not allow Abrego Garcia to return to the United States, and the gang member remains in Salvadoran custody.

During the CNN interview, Collins relied on the 2019 immigration ruling to criticize the administration’s actions. She asked Homan:

“What would you say to those who worry that the stance of this administration is that if someone is deported by accident, they have no responsibility once they’re in the custody of a foreign government?”

Homan responded:

“He’s in the custody of El Salvador; he’s an El Salvadoran national… The El Salvadoran president has made it clear he’s not going to release him.”

He also reiterated that the Department of Justice is handling the ongoing legal battle, and that future developments will be decided by the courts.

Collins pressed further, citing the 2019 ruling as evidence that Abrego Garcia’s deportation was improper.

“Even though it was an immigration judge that said the one place he can’t go is El Salvador, he could have been deported literally anywhere else…”

Homan quickly responded:

“We keep going back and back… That was years ago, the country was different. That gang no longer exists in El Salvador.”

The interview ended with no resolution but highlighted the ongoing conflict between the judiciary, the executive branch, and international partners over immigration enforcement involving foreign nationals tied to terrorism and organized crime.

Please visit RVM News for more articles like this.

Democrats, Economics

Janet Yellen Calls Trump’s American Manufacturing Comeback a “Pipe Dream,” Not Worth Pursuing

/

Image Credit: © Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen downplayed the feasibility of reviving American manufacturing during a recent interview, calling the idea a “pipe dream” and questioning whether it should even be a “desirable goal.”

As Breitbart reported, the remarks come at a time when major tech companies are investing heavily in U.S.-based production, challenging her position.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during the McCain Institute’s 2024 Sedona Forum at Enchantment Resort on May 3, 2024 in Sedona.

Yellen, who led the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 and later served as President Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary from 2021 to 2025, made the comments Monday during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

She criticized the impact of former President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy, suggesting it created uncertainty for businesses and households.

“Things have been just chaotic,” Yellen said. “The reciprocal tariffs put on and paused … This is really creating an environment in which households and businesses feel paralyzed by the uncertainty about what’s going to happen — it makes planning almost impossible.”

When asked about the future of domestic production, Yellen dismissed the idea of bringing back American manufacturing, saying:

“Perhaps it’s to bring back American manufacturing, but I really think that’s a pipe dream, and not something that is likely to be accomplished. And we could even raise questions about whether or not, in a broad-based way, that’s a desirable goal.”

Her remarks sparked swift backlash from conservatives, including Kentucky businessman Nate Morris, a potential Republican Senate candidate.

“The very same leftwing elites who are responsible for gutting our manufacturing base, screwing over our workers and building up the Chinese Communist Party,” Morris wrote on X, “are upset because President Trump is committed to putting America First and ending their globalist agenda.”

Yellen had previously criticized Trump’s economic strategy during an interview last week on CNN, where she described the Trump-era tariffs as “the worst self-inflicted policy wound I’ve ever seen in my career inflicted on our economy.”

“The Trump tariff plans are doing immense damage to our economy,” she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper during her first televised interview since President Trump returned to office.

Despite her remarks, American investment in domestic manufacturing continues to surge.

On the same day as Yellen’s comments, tech giant Nvidia revealed plans to expand its AI operations within the U.S. The company announced it will build AI supercomputers in Texas and invest up to $500 billion into American AI production infrastructure.

“The engines of the world’s AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time,” said Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang.

“Adding American manufacturing helps us better meet the incredible and growing demand for AI chips and supercomputers, strengthens our supply chain and boosts our resiliency.”

The contrast between Yellen’s skepticism and Nvidia’s multibillion-dollar commitment highlights an ongoing divide over the future of U.S. industrial policy under the renewed America First agenda.

Watch the full interview:

Please visit RVM News for more articles like this.

Govt Corruption

Karoline Leavitt Roasts Reporters: “One of the Greatest Cover-Ups and Political Scandals”

/

Image Credit: Joshua Sukoff – Shutterstock.com

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday addressed the contrast in transparency between the Trump and Biden administrations, particularly regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive condition during his time in office.

Jan 28th 2025 First White House Press Briefing By Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

Leavitt also took aim at members of the media for their role in what she described as a coordinated effort to downplay Biden’s mental decline. During a White House press briefing, Leavitt fielded a question about President Donald Trump’s upcoming annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

She assured reporters that the White House would release updates from the physician once the examination was completed. The exchange took a turn when a reporter brought up the issue of transparency in relation to the previous administration.

That prompted Leavitt to criticize both the Biden administration and members of the press for failing to address the issue of Biden’s declining mental acuity while he was in office.

“I can tell you there was certainly a lack of transparency from the former president, from the entire former administration, and frankly, a lot of people in this room when it came to the health and the competence of the former President of the United States, Joe Biden,” Leavitt said.

She went on to characterize the collective effort to obscure Biden’s cognitive condition as “one of the greatest cover-ups, and frankly, political scandals this nation has ever seen.”

Leavitt also commented on recent revelations published in books written by journalists who previously downplayed or ignored signs of Biden’s cognitive issues.

“It’s been unraveled in some recent books that are being written by journalists who engaged in that cover-up and scandal, which is quite ironic,” she noted.

Though she did not name specific individuals, the remarks appeared to reference reporters who once dismissed concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness.

Some, like CNN’s Jake Tapper, had previously suggested that criticism of Biden’s verbal gaffes or memory lapses was merely an attack on his stutter.

In recent weeks, Leavitt has also raised the issue of potential transparency surrounding Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with Biden.

When asked earlier this week whether the Trump administration would consider releasing audio recordings of that interview, Leavitt responded, “I don’t have an update on that, but I can certainly check. I think the American people would be quite interested to hear that tape, but I’ll double-check on the release of it.”

Leavitt has become known for challenging members of the press to pursue accountability with equal rigor across administrations.

In a previous exchange with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, Leavitt questioned whether Biden had knowingly used an autopen to sign official documents, including pardons.

“Was he aware of his signature being used on every single pardon?” she asked.

When Collins countered by asking for evidence, Leavitt replied, “You’re a reporter; you should find out.”

At Friday’s briefing, Leavitt emphasized that President Trump remains active and engaged, noting that reporters who have covered him “know from covering [Trump], it’s hard to keep up with him.”

She added, “He is a machine working around the clock every single day, and the physician, after today’s physical, will provide an update on the report in the effort of transparency.”

Leavitt’s remarks come as new information continues to emerge from inside the Biden administration.

One recent book revealed that Kamala Harris’s team reportedly maintained a “death-pool roster” of federal judges who could take emergency action if Biden were to die in office.

The report has added fuel to ongoing concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding Biden’s health during his presidency.

As questions of competency and openness dominate the headlines, Leavitt’s call for equal scrutiny across political lines signals a continued push from the Trump administration for accountability—not just from political opponents, but from the press corps covering them.

Visit RVM News for more stories like this.

Illegal Immigration

Trump’s Self-Deport Plan Gains Steam as DHS Hits 5,000+ Removals, Deadline in Talks for Rest

/

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration is preparing to implement a strict self-deportation deadline for illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States.

During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said immigrants who leave voluntarily within a forthcoming 60-day window may have the opportunity to return legally in the future. Those who fail to comply, however, will be barred from applying for legal reentry, as Fox News reported.

2020 National Convention WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 27: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures after delivering his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn.

“We’re going to work with people, so that if they go out in a nice way, and go back to their country, we’re going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally,” Trump said after hearing remarks from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“So it gives you real incentive, otherwise they’ll never come back — they’ll never be allowed once a certain period of time goes by, which is probably going to be 60 days.”

The plan is part of a broader voluntary removal initiative underway by the Trump administration, which is encouraging illegal immigrants to self-deport through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app.

According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data, more than 5,000 individuals have chosen to self-deport in the past month alone.

“It’s a very big self-deport operation that we’re starting,” Secretary Noem stated during the meeting.

She explained that under current law, including the Alien Registration Act and the President’s Executive Orders, undocumented immigrants who fail to register their status with the federal government could face criminal charges, fines up to $1,000 per day, and permanent bans on reentry.

Noem also noted that DHS is working to ensure that deported individuals receive some form of support upon returning to their countries of origin.

Jul 15, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Gov. Kristi Noem (SD) during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

She pointed to ongoing programs in Mexico, El Salvador, and Colombia that offer food and housing assistance to deportees.

“[We are] making sure that these folks have the opportunity to go home, so that they can get the chance to come back to America is important.”

The administration has not yet finalized the exact date the 60-day clock will begin, but the measure is expected to roll out in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to restore law and order at the southern border and ensure compliance with immigration laws.

Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment, but no response was received before publication.

Visit RVM News for more articles like this.

Illegal Immigration

Two Reasons Leavitt Says U.S. Criminals Could Be Deported to El Salvador Hellhole Prison

/

Image Credit: Jimwatson – Shutterstock.com

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed this week that American citizens could be deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador under specific conditions, following a proposal floated by President Donald Trump, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The idea centers around the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador, a facility known for its extreme security and harsh conditions.

kittirat roekburi – Shutterstock.com

Often referred to as a “black hole of human rights,” the prison has gained international attention for its treatment of violent criminals. The proposal, according to Leavitt, is not yet a formal policy and remains under legal review.

“It is an idea he has simply floated,” Leavitt told reporters during a press briefing. She emphasized that if implemented, the deportation policy would target two specific groups: individuals with “heinous and violent” convictions and “violent repeat offenders.”

“These would be heinous, violent criminals. These are violent repeat offenders.”

The concept was inspired by a February offer from El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who stated his country would be willing to accept convicted criminals, including U.S. citizens, into the massive prison facility in exchange for a fee.

“We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison… in exchange for a fee,” Bukele wrote in a post on X.

President Trump praised the proposal during remarks on Air Force One. “I love it,” he said. “If he would take them, I’d be honored to give them. I don’t know what the law says on that, but I can’t imagine the law would say anything different. If they can house these horrible criminals for a lot less money than it costs us, I’m all for it.”

The facility, built to house gang members and violent offenders, currently holds several hundred alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, who were previously deported by Trump using the Alien Enemies Act.

That law, invoked only three times in U.S. history, allowed the administration to remove individuals deemed national security threats.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld Trump’s authority to deport the Venezuelan nationals, though concerns remain. The court ruled that deportees are entitled to legal notice and an opportunity to challenge their removal—rights some did not receive.

Kristi Noem: “I toured the CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center.
President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW.
If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison.”

Disputes have also surfaced over whether all of the deportees met the threshold for removal.

Inside the prison, inmates are locked in crowded cells for 23.5 hours per day, only allowed 30 minutes of movement while chained in a hallway.

Cells are designed to hold up to 100 detainees, outfitted with 80 metal bunks, two toilets, and two sinks—without mattresses. Inmates are not allowed phone access, receive no visitors, and never go outdoors.

Each unit includes a separate, windowless cell for inmates deemed disruptive.

Leavitt reiterated that the president’s team is reviewing the legal feasibility of the move.

“The president has said if there is a legal pathway. He’s not sure. We’re not sure if there is. It’s an idea that he has simply floated.”

Liberal critics have strongly opposed the concept. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote:

“The implication of the Government’s position is that not only noncitizens but also United States citizens could be taken off the streets, forced onto planes, and confined to foreign prisons with no opportunity for redress if judicial review is denied unlawfully before removal. History is no stranger to such lawless regimes, but this Nation’s system of laws is designed to prevent, not enable, their rise.”

Visit RVM News for more stories like this.

Economics

Trump Smacks Down Bloomberg Reporter’s “Stupid” Anti-Tariff Question in Midflight

/

President Donald Trump responded forcefully to a question from a Bloomberg reporter on Sunday regarding the potential economic impact of his administration’s tariff policies.

The exchange occurred during a press availability aboard Air Force One, just days after the rollout of sweeping reciprocal tariffs referred to by the administration as “Liberation Day.”

Annmarie Hordern of Bloomberg asked President Trump whether there was a point at which he would reconsider his tariff strategy if it caused continued market declines.

“I think your question is so stupid,” Trump said.

“I mean it, I think it’s a— Uh, I don’t want anything to go down. But sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”

Trump went on to defend the tariffs as a necessary step to protect American workers and businesses, placing blame on prior administrations for trade policies that, in his view, contributed to the erosion of U.S. manufacturing and economic strength.

“We have been treated so badly by other countries because we had stupid leadership that allowed this to happen,” Trump said.

“They took our businesses, they took our money, they took our jobs. They moved it to Mexico. They moved it to Canada. They moved a lot of it to China and it’s not sustainable. We’re not gonna do it.”

Trump credited his tariff policies with generating new revenue for the United States and attracting global attention.

“Now we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country on a monthly basis. It’s pouring. It’s already started because I put tariffs on,” Trump said. “And eventually it’s gonna straighten out, and our country will be solid and strong again.”

The administration’s recent tariff actions have triggered a broad response worldwide.

More than 50 countries have signaled interest in negotiations to avoid new U.S. tariffs, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

“We already have 50 — five-zero — countries that have come to the table over the last few days, over the last weeks, that are willing and desperate to talk to us,” Rollins told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday morning.

“We are the economic engine of the world, and it’s finally time that someone, President Trump, stood up for America.”

Rollins addressed concerns raised by critics who argue that the tariffs could damage the stock market or increase prices for consumers.

She said such concerns are politically motivated and do not reflect the broader benefits of the policy shift.

“This is about putting America first,” Rollins said, pointing to trade imbalances and longstanding barriers faced by U.S. exporters.

She cited examples such as Mexico’s past refusal to buy American corn and Australia’s restrictions on U.S. beef imports.

Rollins also emphasized that the administration’s broader strategy includes not only tariffs but also deregulation, tax cuts, and policies aimed at achieving energy independence.

She described the approach as a comprehensive economic reset modeled on principles of national self-reliance and security.

When asked if the tariffs are intended to be permanent, Rollins said they are part of a longer-term national strategy to reshore jobs and restore industrial strength.

The administration’s tariff actions follow years of trade deficits and complaints from U.S. industries and labor groups about unfair practices by foreign competitors.

Trump’s latest round of tariffs applies reciprocal surcharges on a wide range of imports from countries that impose barriers on American goods.

Further negotiations are expected in the coming weeks as other nations seek exemptions or new trade agreements.

For now, the administration remains firm in its position, asserting that the measures are necessary to reestablish economic fairness and protect U.S. sovereignty in global trade.

Please visit RVM News for more stories like this.

crime

New Death Penalty Law in Idaho Sends Brutal Warning to Pedophiles

/

Image Credit: Everett Collection – Shutterstock.com

Convicted child rapists in Idaho can now face execution by firing squad, following the passage of a new law signed by Governor Brad Little on April 1, 2025, as reported by The Blaze.

The law, known as House Bill 380, makes child rape a capital offense in the state. The bill passed the Idaho House unanimously, though five senators—three Democrats and two Republicans — voted against it in the Senate. It comes just weeks after Idaho made the firing squad the state’s primary method of execution.

Robert Hoetink – Shutterstock.com

Gov. Little stated at the time of the bill’s ratification:

“Just like capital murder destroys lives, aggravated sexual abuse of a young child devastates victims and families for generations. The sexual abuse of children is sickening and evil, and perpetrators convicted of these crimes deserve the ultimate punishment.”

Sponsored by Republican state Reps. Bruce Skaug and Josh Tanner, the bill creates mandatory minimum sentences and increases penalties for sex crimes against children.

Under the new law, adults convicted of molesting a minor between ages 13 and 16 can face a minimum of 25 years in prison and up to life, provided at least two aggravating factors are present.

These aggravating factors include kidnapping the victim, inflicting great bodily harm, engaging in human trafficking, being a registered sex offender, being in a position of trust or custodial authority, use of coercion, or choking the victim during the offense.

In more severe cases, adults convicted of aggravated lewd conduct involving a child 12 or under may now be sentenced to either life in prison or death, again based on two or more aggravating factors.

In these cases, additional aggravating factors include any form of penile penetration or repeat offenses involving the same child. Rep. Skaug spoke to the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee stating:

“Idaho currently has some of the most lenient statutes for child molestation and child rape in the nation. This legislation establishes a strong deterrent, making it clear Idaho will not tolerate these offenses.”

Idaho previously limited the death penalty to first-degree murder cases involving aggravating factors. With this expansion, Idaho joins Florida and Tennessee in allowing the death penalty for child rape.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis implemented a similar law in 2023 saying:

“We really believe that part of a just society is to have appropriate punishment. And so, if you commit a crime that is really, really heinous, you should have the ultimate punishment.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , joined by Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Polk Sheriff Grady Judd , speaks on his plan to stop illegal immigration during a press conference at the Sheriff’s Operation Center Wednesday January 15, 2025 in Winter Haven Fl. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Tennessee passed its version in 2024. Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that permits capital punishment or life without parole for those convicted of raping children under age 13. For victims aged 8 or younger, the law requires either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

Alabama may soon follow. In February 2025, the Alabama House voted 86-5 in favor of legislation that would make the rape of a child under 12 a capital crime.

Some Democrats have opposed such measures. In Idaho, Sens. Alison Rabe, Ron Taylor, and Melissa Wintrow voted against HB 380, along with Republican Sens. Phil Hart and Daniel Foreman.

The Idaho Capital Sun noted that lawmakers expect legal challenges ahead, citing a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision where the majority ruled the death penalty unconstitutional for child rape when the victim was not killed.

Despite that, Gov. Little said Idaho will continue pushing for strict enforcement.

“I commend my partners in the Legislature for strengthening Idaho’s already powerful ‘tough on crime’ reputation among the state.”

Visit RVM News for more stories like this.

Big Government

Trump Admin Reshapes Health Policy—FDA Leadership Faces Reckoning

/

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other key public health agencies are undergoing major leadership and structural changes following recent moves by the Trump administration and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The shake-up includes mass layoffs, agency leadership resignations, and public disputes over federal drug approval policies and vaccine regulation.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies on Jan. 29, 2025, at his Senate hearing on his nomination to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Earlier this week, HHS confirmed a reduction of 20,000 positions, accounting for approximately 24% of its workforce. As part of the restructuring, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly placed five agency chiefs on administrative leave Monday.

Among those affected are leaders from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

These divisions have come under scrutiny for past research funding decisions, including grants related to Chinese labs and controversial gender research.

New NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who was sworn in on Tuesday, informed staff in an internal email that the reorganization would require changes to the agency’s approach in areas such as communications, legislative affairs, procurement, and human resources.

He emphasized priorities like scientific transparency and academic freedom. NIH’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Amanda Fine, directed media outlets to file Freedom of Information Act requests to access the email, calling it an “official record.”

Nature reported that some of the NIH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff were offered reassignment to the Indian Health Service.

NOTUS also confirmed that CDC officials had received similar transfer offers, particularly relocating away from the agency’s main office in Atlanta.

At the FDA, significant changes have drawn attention from the pharmaceutical industry.

Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, who served in the Obama and Biden administrations and later worked in a strategic role for Google’s parent company Alphabet, wrote on LinkedIn that the agency “as we’ve known it is finished.”

He warned that a loss of experienced leadership could affect drug development and public safety.

Califf’s departure follows that of other top officials. Peter Marks, Director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), resigned last week.

Politico and the Associated Press reported that Marks was given the option to resign or be dismissed by Secretary Kennedy, with the approval of newly installed FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

Marks’ March 28 resignation letter, addressed to acting Commissioner Sara Brenner, cited concerns about misinformation but did not mention the ultimatum.

Makary, whose swearing-in date was not specified in the FDA’s April 1 press release, has already made staffing changes.

On Wednesday, Danish-American vaccine safety researcher Tracy Beth Hoeg confirmed she was hired as a special assistant to Makary. Hoeg has publicly criticized federal COVID-19 research and vaccine policies, including the U.S. childhood immunization schedule.

Marks’ departure coincided with a sharp decline in the stock prices of several biotech firms. Companies like Moderna, Beam Therapeutics, and Sarepta Therapeutics saw significant single-day losses, according to the Wall Street Journal.

These companies are heavily invested in mRNA and gene therapy technologies, areas that Marks previously supported.

University of California San Francisco epidemiologist Vinay Prasad criticized Marks’ leadership, citing repeated approval of COVID-19 boosters for infants without randomized clinical trial data.

Registered Nurse Jaya Rawla prepares a Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at the Fuller Middle School vaccination clinic for Framingham school staff and teachers, March 18, 2021.

Stanford professor George Tidmarsh echoed those concerns, accusing Marks of prioritizing pharmaceutical industry interests over patient safety.

Both cited controversial FDA decisions, including the approval of aducanumab, an Alzheimer’s drug that has since been withdrawn. Critics argue it was authorized without adequate evidence and based on disputed scientific theories.

Bhattacharya raised similar concerns about NIH’s approach to Alzheimer’s research during his Senate confirmation hearing.

The broader restructuring of public health agencies comes amid increased scrutiny of federal science policy, pharmaceutical regulation, and administrative spending.

The administration has also moved to reduce indirect-cost payments on federal research grants, a policy that critics say disproportionately benefits institutional administrators over researchers.

The White House has not yet provided an official timeline for the full implementation of the staffing changes. Additional reassignments, restructuring, and appointments are expected in the coming weeks.

Visit RVM News for more articles like this.


Subscribe Form

© 2025 WokeSpy All Rights Reserved

Scroll to Top