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Rep. Mast Torches Dems Over Shutdown: ‘We Need Five Democrat Senators to Pull Their Heads Out of Their Asses’
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Rep. Mast Torches Dems Over Shutdown: ‘We Need Five Democrat Senators to Pull Their Heads Out of Their Asses’

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Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., delivered a sharp rebuke of Democratic leadership Wednesday over stalled negotiations to end the ongoing government shutdown, accusing Senate and House Democrats of prioritizing foreign aid projects over the safety and pay of American personnel serving overseas, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Mast, a decorated Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, condemned what he called misplaced budget priorities from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Mast said Democrats were “pouring taxpayer dollars into feminism programs in Africa” while federal workers and diplomats face dangerous conditions abroad without pay.

“To say they’re going to prioritize funding feminism in Africa over the food stamps of their own people — they’re not that stupid, but apparently, Hakeem Jeffries is, and that’s a real problem for all of us here.”

Mast detailed a phone call he had earlier that day with a U.S. ambassador stationed overseas, who described increasingly dire circumstances for embassy personnel affected by the shutdown.

According to Mast, embassy staff are struggling to maintain basic operations due to the lack of available funds.

“I was on the phone with an ambassador this morning — I’m not going to say where — but we have requests for people to leave embassies abroad because of very real threats that are going on,” Mast said.

“The people in that embassy are right now trying to figure out if they have cash funding to get fuel for vehicles or to have diesel to put in their generators, because they don’t have reliable electricity in the places that they’re in.”

Mast said the consequences of congressional gridlock are being felt both abroad and at home, with many federal employees facing personal and financial hardships.

“While they’re also worrying about their paycheck not coming in — can their family back home buy groceries, pay their bill for student loans, pay for the fuel to get their kids to school, or the tuition at their children’s school — they’re also worrying about whether they can even get out of the country.”

Mast ended his remarks by calling for cooperation from across the aisle, emphasizing that the nation’s priorities must be refocused on domestic and national security concerns.

“We need five Democrat senators to pull their heads out of their asses and go work for the United States of America.”

The Florida Republican has been among the most vocal critics of the ongoing spending stalemate, arguing that foreign aid and partisan pet projects are being prioritized over American livelihoods and safety.

CNN’s Jake Tapper Predicts Gen Z Will Be ‘A Lot More Conservative’
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CNN’s Jake Tapper Predicts Gen Z Will Be ‘A Lot More Conservative’

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CNN anchor Jake Tapper said this week that Generation Z is likely to become “a lot more conservative” than prior generations, suggesting that the shift is a backlash to progressive politics “forced down their throats” in schools, as reported by The New York Post.

Tapper, host of The Lead with Jake Tapper, made the remarks on Wednesday during The Reason Interview podcast with Nick Gillespie, editor at large for Reason magazine. The CNN host said his observation comes from what he’s seen among his own children and their peers.

“I think Gen Z is gonna be a lot more conservative,” Tapper said.

“Just my experience knowing Gen Z kids — my kids and their friends and whatever — I sense much more skepticism, and I think it is a reaction to Gen Xers and millennials forcing on them progressive views in school.”

Tapper, who has two teenage children, said younger Americans are becoming disillusioned with political movements championed by progressives in recent years.

“I also think that it is a reaction to the failures of progressive movements to achieve what they wanted to achieve, whether it’s [Sen.] Bernie Sanders, whether it’s Black Lives Matter, whether it’s MeToo.”

“I think it’s COVID, I think it’s a lot of progressive politics being forced down their throats in school.”

Tapper, who has faced criticism from Democrats over his book detailing former President Joe Biden’s mental decline, has frequently been at odds with the left despite his network’s historically liberal leanings.

During the interview, he also noted that while former President Donald Trump did not win the youth vote outright, he performed far better among younger voters than prior Republican candidates.

“But then, Trump did not win young voters, as he constantly said he did,” Tapper said.

“But he did do better with them than other previous Republicans.”

The 2024 presidential election showed that younger voters are increasingly divided, with Generation Z supporting then-Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump by only four points — a sharp decline from Biden’s 25-point advantage with the same age group in 2020, according to data from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

Polling continues to highlight significant gender differences in political alignment among Gen Z. A survey from NBC News and SurveyMonkey in April found that 45% of Gen Z men approved of Trump’s presidency, compared to just 24% of young women.

The poll also showed that 52% of young women identified as Democrats, the highest percentage among any age or gender group, while only one-third of Gen Z men identified with the Democratic Party.

Tapper’s remarks add to a growing acknowledgment — even among media figures on the left — that the Democratic Party is struggling to connect with younger male voters, many of whom have grown skeptical of modern progressive movements and classroom politics.

Gov. Kathy Hochul Declares State of Emergency Over SNAP Freeze as Shutdown Drags On
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Gov. Kathy Hochul Declares State of Emergency Over SNAP Freeze as Shutdown Drags On

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide “food emergency” on Thursday as federal officials warned that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be exhausted this weekend due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, as reported by The New York Post.

Speaking from a food pantry in Harlem, Hochul said her administration would not “be passive observers” while families face disruptions in access to food assistance. “We’re not going to be passive observers to this,” Hochul said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul tours the Homes for Heroes housing development in Tappan July 10, 2024.

To offset the anticipated shortfall, Hochul announced an additional $65 million in state emergency food relief funds to sustain benefits after the federal freeze takes effect on Saturday.

That amount comes on top of $30 million the governor announced earlier in the week, bringing the total state commitment to $95 million.

The governor said New York typically receives and distributes about $650 million each month in federal SNAP funds, which provide food assistance to more than 2.8 million residents across the state.

The funds are administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in partnership with local social services agencies.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned earlier this week that without new appropriations, SNAP funding nationwide will lapse beginning November 1.

II.studio – Shutterstock.com

While the agency holds an estimated $5 billion in contingency reserves, officials said the money is “not legally available” for state use absent congressional approval of a funding measure.

The shutdown, now in its fifth week, has left millions of Americans uncertain about when critical government programs — including food benefits, housing assistance, and federal paychecks — will resume.

In New York, officials estimate that roughly one in seven households relies on SNAP to help cover monthly grocery costs.

Hochul said the state’s emergency action would be temporary and designed to bridge the gap until federal lawmakers reach an agreement to restore funding.

Danville – June 2, 2023: SNAP and EBT Accepted here sign. SNAP and Food Stamps provide nutrition benefits to supplement disadvantaged families.The governor also urged Washington lawmakers to act swiftly to end the shutdown, which has already begun to affect several federally funded programs across the state.

Hochul’s declaration comes amid mounting pressure from local officials and advocacy organizations who say food pantries have seen a sharp increase in demand as the shutdown continues.

According to Feeding New York State, an umbrella organization representing food banks statewide, some facilities have reported a 20% surge in visitors over the past two weeks.

Washington Post Editorial Urges Democrats to End Shutdown, Stop Holding Government ‘Hostage’
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Washington Post Editorial Urges Democrats to End Shutdown, Stop Holding Government ‘Hostage’

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The Washington Post editorial board called on Senate Democrats on Wednesday to end the month-long government shutdown, criticizing party leaders for “holding the government hostage” in an effort to secure an extension of costly Obamacare subsidies, as reported by Fox News.

The paper’s editorial urged lawmakers to pass a clean funding bill to restore federal operations and prevent disruptions to key public programs.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, at The Ben West Palm in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on February 20, 2023.

“The right answer is to reopen the government with a clean funding bill, ideally for a full year, to get food stamps flowing and federal workers back in the office, and then have a debate about ACA subsidies,” the editorial stated.

“Democrats openly acknowledge that they refuse to do this because it would mean giving up their leverage. If they persist, it could mean families start to go hungry.”

The criticism follows warnings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — will run out by November 1 if appropriations are not approved.

While the agency maintains an emergency contingency fund of roughly $5 billion, the USDA said those funds are not “legally available” for use without congressional action.

The Post noted that one reason the shutdown has lasted nearly a month is that “most Americans have felt no discernible impact on their daily life,” but cautioned that circumstances are beginning to change.

“This pain point, combined with three other dynamics, should help hasten an end to the shutdown as early as next week by making Democrats blink,” the editorial board wrote.

In addition to the potential expiration of SNAP benefits, the Post cited other developments that could pressure Democrats to reopen the government — including the start of open enrollment for health insurance plans this weekend.

Danville – June 2, 2023: SNAP and EBT Accepted here sign. SNAP and Food Stamps provide nutrition benefits to supplement disadvantaged families.

“Many people will experience sticker shock when they see how much their premiums are about to go up,” the editorial said. “Democrats will be able to claim they got their point across about the need to rescue Obamacare by extending subsidies that are set to expire.”

The Post also suggested that Democrats may use expected victories in next week’s off-year elections in states like New Jersey and Virginia — and the New York City mayoral race — to portray the outcome as a political win that allows them to end the standoff without losing face.

“Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are both New Yorkers who fear the Mamdani wing of the party,” the Post wrote.

“Schumer has allowed the shutdown to drag on because he’s worried about fending off a primary challenger in 2028, and he’s still smarting from blowback he got from angry liberals after he agreed to fund the government this spring.”

The editorial further highlighted frustration from federal workers and their unions, noting that the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) — which represents more than 800,000 federal workers — has called for an immediate end to the shutdown.

“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said Monday.

“Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”

Concluding its piece, the Post urged lawmakers to keep the government open and separate policy disputes from budget negotiations.

“It is wrong that Democrats have held the government hostage for a month in hopes of extending costly Obamacare subsidies, just as it was for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to shut down the government in 2013 for 16 days in a bid to defund the Affordable Care Act altogether,” the editorial stated.

Whistleblower: ‘Entire Republican Apparatus’ Targeted by Jack Smith with 197 Subpoenas
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Whistleblower: ‘Entire Republican Apparatus’ Targeted by Jack Smith with 197 Subpoenas

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced Wednesday that former Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team issued nearly 200 subpoenas as part of a wide-reaching federal investigation that he said targeted “the entire Republican apparatus.”

Speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Grassley detailed new disclosures showing that the Department of Justice and the FBI used their authority to investigate Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and multiple conservative organizations through an operation known as “Arctic Frost.”

According to internal DOJ and FBI documents first released earlier this year, the probe was launched in April 2022 and focused on Trump’s post-2020 election activities, including the alternate elector efforts in several battleground states.

As part of the investigation, agents reportedly seized government-issued cell phones belonging to both Trump and Pence and conducted numerous interviews across the country.

Grassley said the newly obtained materials indicate that the operation extended far beyond those directly connected to the Trump campaign, reaching into conservative networks, donors, and affiliated organizations.

“I’ve obtained through legally protected whistleblower disclosures,” Grassley said, “197 subpoenas were issued by Jack Smith and his team. These subpoenas were issued to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions.”

Grassley said the subpoenas sought information and communications relating to more than 430 individuals and organizations, all tied in some way to Republican or conservative activity.

The list reportedly includes entities such as Turning Point USA and the Republican Attorneys General Association.

Grassley identified former FBI agent Walter Giardina as one of the main points of contact named in many of the subpoenas.

“One subpoena to Apple sought records related to Trump and the ‘January 6th Prison Choir,’” Grassley said, referring to a group of inmates who were detained for their involvement in the Capitol breach.

“Some subpoenas to individuals and businesses sought statistical data and analysis relating to donors and fundraising efforts,” Grassley continued.

“Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was a fishing expedition.”

Grassley said the scale of the operation demonstrates that the special counsel’s team used investigative tools beyond what was justified by the stated purpose of the inquiry.

“If this had happened to Democrats, they’d be as rightly outraged as we are outraged,” Grassley said.

According to Grassley, the records show that the Department of Justice used taxpayer funding to execute the operation under the Biden-Harris administration, targeting political opponents under the pretext of an ongoing criminal investigation.

“Operation Arctic Frost” was one of several federal efforts that have drawn scrutiny from Republican lawmakers over concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement.

In response to Grassley’s remarks, President Trump issued a statement on Wednesday calling for investigations into the officials involved in “Operation Arctic Frost” and related cases.

“Former FBI Agent Walter Giardina is a DIRTY COP! He should be, along with Deranged Jack Smith, the sinister team of Lisa Monaco and Andrew Weissmann, Liddle’ Jay Bratt, Norm Eisen and his FAKE Charity, CREW, Christopher Wray, Merrick Garland, Thomas Windom, who dreamt up the corrupt J-6 Witch Hunt, should be investigated, immediately,” Trump said.

“They are a disgrace to our Nation,” Trump added.

“Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The Justice Department has not publicly commented on Grassley’s disclosures. Congressional aides said the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to request additional documents from the DOJ and FBI to determine whether political considerations influenced the scope of “Operation Arctic Frost.”

Grassley’s findings come amid a broader congressional review of past and ongoing Justice Department investigations involving political figures and campaigns.

Lawmakers are expected to question senior DOJ and FBI officials about the program’s authorization and oversight in upcoming hearings.

Chicago Dem Candidate Indicted Over Attack on ICE Agent at Broadview Facility
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Chicago Dem Candidate Indicted Over Attack on ICE Agent at Broadview Facility

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Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging six individuals, including congressional candidate and former Media Matters activist Kat Abughazaleh, Cook County Board candidate Catherine “Cat” Sharp, and Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbitt, for their alleged involvement in a violent confrontation outside a federal immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois.

The indictment, filed in the Northern District of Illinois and unsealed Wednesday, accuses the defendants of conspiring to obstruct a federal officer assigned to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Prosecutors allege that the six “prevented by force, intimidation, and threat” an ICE agent from performing his lawful duties during the September 26 protest at the Broadview Processing Center.

According to court documents, the group surrounded a federal vehicle entering the facility, struck the hood and windows, and damaged its exterior by scratching the word “PIG” into the side.

The indictment states that protesters broke the vehicle’s mirrors and windshield wipers while blocking the agent’s path, forcing him to move “at an extremely slow rate of speed” to avoid hitting individuals in the crowd.

The Broadview ICE facility, located just outside Chicago, is used for processing illegal aliens detained in the region.

The site has been a recurring location for weekly demonstrations organized by anti-ICE activists.

Authorities said the September 26 protest escalated when agitators blocked entry and refused to disperse, prompting federal officers to deploy pepper balls and tear gas to clear the area.

Along with Abughazaleh, Sharp, and Rabbitt, three others — identified as Andre Martin, Brian Straw, and Joselyn Walsh — were charged under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Sections 111(a)(1), 372, and 2, covering assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers and conspiracy to interfere with federal law enforcement operations.

Each count carries potential prison time if convicted.

Following the unsealing of the indictment, Abughazaleh released a video on X acknowledging the charges.

“I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice. This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win,” she said.

In a longer video statement, Abughazaleh identified herself as a candidate running in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District and characterized the prosecution as politically motivated.

“This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt to silence dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment,” she said.

“This case is a major push by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish anyone who speaks out against them.”

Abughazaleh went on to allege that protesters have been “hit, dragged, thrown, shot with pepper balls, and tear gassed” by federal officers during immigration enforcement demonstrations.

“The Trump administration wants you to be afraid of speaking out against it and its anti-democratic power grabs,” she said, vowing to fight the charges and continue her campaign.

Prosecutors, however, maintain that the defendants’ actions went beyond constitutionally protected speech.

The indictment describes a coordinated effort to physically obstruct and intimidate a federal officer and damage government property during the course of official duties.

ICE officials confirmed that the September 26 incident caused significant disruption to enforcement operations at the facility and resulted in property damage to multiple government vehicles. No officers were seriously injured.

All six defendants were arraigned this week and released on bond pending trial.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on ongoing litigation but confirmed that additional evidence, including video recordings from the scene, will be introduced as part of the case.

Federal officials have reiterated that while peaceful protest is protected, violence, intimidation, and obstruction of federal agents constitute criminal conduct.

The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Democrats Panic as Karine Jean-Pierre’s Book Tour Goes Off the Rails
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Democrats Panic as Karine Jean-Pierre’s Book Tour Goes Off the Rails

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Several Democratic officials and former Biden White House staffers are expressing frustration over former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s ongoing book tour, according to a report published Wednesday by Politico.

Jean-Pierre, who served as press secretary during former President Joe Biden’s administration, is promoting her new memoir, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.

The book details her time in the administration and her decision to leave the Democratic Party.

However, her recent media appearances have drawn criticism from within Democratic circles, with some allies privately questioning her ability to effectively communicate her own message.

According to Politico, multiple former Biden aides have exchanged messages expressing concern over what they described as a lack of clarity in Jean-Pierre’s interviews.

“A car crash is fascinating to watch,” one anonymous Democratic communications strategist told the outlet.

“She was the top communicator for the president of the United States and she can’t get through basic interviews.”

The same strategist compared Jean-Pierre’s interview with The New Yorker on Monday to “watching Mike Tyson fight a baby,” describing her responses as unprepared and disjointed.

Jeremy Edwards, a former White House spokesperson under Biden, publicly echoed those concerns, writing on X that Jean-Pierre’s New Yorker interview was “objectively bad.”

Another former colleague, speaking anonymously to Politico, said, “It’s like watching a toddler jump into the deep end of the pool,” while a separate ex-White House official added that Jean-Pierre “doesn’t seem to have any idea what she’s arguing” in her memoir.

The book tour comes at a time when Democratic leaders are attempting to refine their message ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Some Democrats cited in the report expressed concern that Jean-Pierre’s focus on divisions within the party could distract from broader campaign goals.

“It’s a sad commentary on where things are,” one former Biden-Harris administration official told Politico.

“The premise of the book doesn’t really make any sense, it’s sort of illogical. Being back out there and regurgitating those three weeks: it’s just unhelpful right now and we need to be focusing on the things Democrats need to be doing to fight back against Trump.”

The same source criticized the language used in Jean-Pierre’s recent interviews, describing it as “very identity focused” and out of step with the communication approach Democrats hope to use moving forward.

“It’s bringing us back in time and we need to be going forward and focused on communications that we know will work in this era,” the official said.

Not all Democrats were critical, however.

Jennifer Palmieri, who served as White House communications director under former President Barack Obama, defended Jean-Pierre’s perspective.

“The truth is that Karine has always been an independent voice throughout her career in politics, so I don’t find her views all that surprising,” Palmieri said.

“But in the end I think people who hear about the book will consider it to represent one woman’s view and it won’t have any impact on the party one way or another.”

Jean-Pierre’s memoir also revisits internal tensions from the final months of the Biden-Harris administration, including debates over Kamala Harris’s role in the 2024 election.

In the book, Jean-Pierre writes that calls for an open Democratic primary following Biden’s withdrawal from the race were “an insult” to Harris.

Outside of Democratic circles, Jean-Pierre’s public remarks have drawn commentary from media figures.

SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly criticized her for frequently emphasizing her identity as “black and queer,” while former CNN anchor Jim Acosta questioned her about Biden’s age and fitness for office during an Oct. 22 appearance on The Jim Acosta Show.

The controversy comes as the Democratic Party faces increasing pressure to consolidate messaging and voter outreach ahead of the next election cycle.

Party strategists have warned that internal divisions and inconsistent messaging could hinder efforts to compete with Republican candidates in key congressional and gubernatorial races.

Sen. Thune Had Enough, Goes Ballistic on Dems 13 Votes to Keep Government Shutdown
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Sen. Thune Had Enough, Goes Ballistic on Dems 13 Votes to Keep Government Shutdown

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) delivered a forceful speech Wednesday on the Senate floor, criticizing Democrats for continuing to block government funding measures as the current shutdown nears the longest in U.S. history.

The shutdown, now in its 29th day, is approaching the 35-day record set in 2019.

Thune accused Senate Democrats of refusing to pass clean temporary funding bills — known as continuing resolutions (CRs) — despite repeated opportunities to do so.

According to Thune, Republicans have brought 13 clean funding measures to the floor since the shutdown began, each one rejected by Senate Democrats.

The impasse has left multiple federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), without funding.

“People should be getting paid in this country. And we’ve tried to do that 13 times. And you voted no 13 times,” Thune said.

“This isn’t a political game. These are real people’s lives that we’re talking about. And you all have just figured out, 29 days in, that, oh, there might be some consequences.”

Thune added that while federal agencies have managed to operate temporarily on reserve funds, those resources are nearly depleted.

“There are people who are running out of money,” he said.

“Yeah, we’re 29 days in. And they’ve done their best to make sure that a lot of these programs are funded. But at some point, the government runs out of money. Thirteen times, people over here voted to fund SNAP. Thirteen times, they voted to fund WIC.”

The South Dakota senator criticized Democrats for holding out in pursuit of broader policy goals unrelated to government operations.

Republican leaders say Democrats have conditioned their votes on the inclusion of provisions extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are set to expire under the terms of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022.

The deadlock has also impacted other federal benefits programs and pay for certain federal employees, prompting growing frustration in both parties.

In the evenly divided Senate, Republicans need at least eight Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and advance a funding bill.

So far, only three Democratic senators have joined Republicans in voting to reopen the government.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has voted against the proposed CRs, citing concerns about spending levels, but Thune said the broader obstacle remains Democratic opposition.

“What Democrats are doing here,” Thune said, “they’re making plans to keep the shutdown going.”

The senator also pointed to what he described as a double standard in the Democrats’ approach to government shutdowns.

He noted that leading Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — have previously condemned Republicans for using funding debates as leverage in policy negotiations.

In September 2023, when several conservative lawmakers threatened to block a CR, Schumer accused Republicans of “recklessly marching our nation to the brink of a shutdown.”

He said then, “If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most.”

Weeks later, during a December 13 speech, Schumer argued that Congress should “pass a clean CR to keep the government open,” rejecting Republican efforts to attach policy riders.

Thune said those same arguments now apply to Democrats, who have rejected clean funding bills to push unrelated provisions.

“We have tried again and again to keep this government open,” Thune said.

“It is Democrats who are standing in the way.”

As the shutdown continues into its fifth week, congressional leaders from both parties are facing increased pressure to reach an agreement.

SNAP and other nutrition programs are expected to run out of funds within days if no action is taken.

The Senate is expected to hold another procedural vote on a funding resolution before the weekend.

The White House has not issued a formal statement on the Senate impasse.

Treasury officials have warned that extended inaction could delay payments to federal contractors and furloughed employees if no resolution is reached in the coming days.

Federal Appeals Court Halts Judge’s Wild Ruling Against Border Patrol Chief
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Federal Appeals Court Halts Judge’s Wild Ruling Against Border Patrol Chief

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A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked an order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that required Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to meet with her in person every weekday evening to discuss enforcement activities in Chicago.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted an administrative stay Wednesday following an emergency request from the Department of Justice, which argued that Judge Ellis’s order “far exceeds the recognized bounds of discovery” and interferes with the lawful duties of federal immigration enforcement officials.

The dispute stems from a case involving the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz, a joint federal and local operation conducted in Chicago.

The court action followed allegations that Border Patrol and other federal agents used tear gas and crowd control measures against protesters, journalists, and clergy in violation of a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Ellis earlier this year.

During a hearing on Tuesday, Ellis expressed frustration with what she described as repeated violations of her order and directed Commander Bovino to appear before her in person each weekday to “go over the events of the day” until a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for November 5.

Attorneys for the Department of Justice immediately sought emergency relief, calling the requirement “extraordinary” and asserting that it interfered with Bovino’s ability to perform his duties.

In filings to the Seventh Circuit, government lawyers wrote that the order “significantly interferes with Commander Bovino’s function, which is ensuring the Nation’s immigration laws are properly enforced.”

The Justice Department also argued that Ellis’s directive was “untethered to the plaintiffs’ underlying claims” and “goes beyond reasonable necessity to ensure compliance” with existing court orders.

The appeal requested an immediate stay while the department prepares a broader challenge to the ruling.

The Seventh Circuit granted the DOJ’s request, pausing enforcement of Ellis’s order until further review.

The stay temporarily relieves Bovino of the requirement to meet daily with the judge, though the case remains active.

The original temporary restraining order, issued earlier this year, limited the use of tear gas and other riot control measures during immigration-related enforcement actions involving public gatherings or demonstrations.

The plaintiffs—comprised of activist and media groups—accused federal agents of violating that order during recent enforcement operations in Chicago, prompting Judge Ellis to expand court oversight.

Court filings indicate that Ellis’s order requiring daily meetings was intended to ensure transparency and accountability in ongoing enforcement actions.

However, federal attorneys contended that the directive created an operational burden on DHS leadership and effectively placed day-to-day immigration enforcement under direct judicial supervision.

The appeals court’s administrative stay will remain in place while a three-judge panel considers the Justice Department’s full motion to vacate the order.

Legal experts say the panel could determine whether the lower court exceeded its authority in imposing direct oversight on a federal law enforcement official.

The preliminary injunction hearing remains scheduled for November 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Seventh Circuit has not yet indicated when it will issue a final ruling on the stay request.

Neither the Department of Justice nor representatives for Judge Ellis commented publicly on the appeals court’s decision.

The Department of Homeland Security has not provided additional details regarding the ongoing enforcement operation or the scope of the court’s restrictions.

The case highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement agencies and judicial oversight of crowd control and protest-related actions, particularly in major urban areas where DHS operations intersect with local law enforcement and activist groups.

DOJ Sues Eight States Over Dirty Voter Rolls as Harmeet Dhillon Cracks Down
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DOJ Sues Eight States Over Dirty Voter Rolls as Harmeet Dhillon Cracks Down

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Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced this week that the Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against multiple states for failing to comply with federal requests to review their voter rolls, part of an effort to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens are registered to vote.

“We’ve been asking states to produce the data of their voter rolls, to be able to make sure that they only have citizens on the rolls and that they don’t have duplicates and have people voting in multiple jurisdictions,” Dhillon told Just The News.

“So we’ve had to file eight lawsuits throughout the United States to enforce our data requests, which is something that they have to comply with under the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act of 1960.”

The lawsuits were filed against California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, and Maine.

According to Dhillon, these states have not complied with requirements under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), both of which require states to maintain accurate and up-to-date voter registration lists.

The Department of Justice is seeking access to full voter registration data, including names, dates of birth, addresses, state driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers, to determine whether voter rolls include duplicate registrations or noncitizens.

Dhillon said the goal is to ensure election integrity by confirming that all individuals on state voter rolls are legally eligible to vote.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized the need for accurate voter rolls and stronger election oversight since widespread concerns over the 2020 election.

Dhillon said her division is now prioritizing voter roll enforcement as a key step in restoring public confidence in election systems.

“This is an important task and tool that has really been neglected,” Dhillon said.

“In fact, when we started to bring these cases, some of the legacy lawyers in the Civil Rights Division told us that they were unfamiliar with how to do these cases. They’ve never been done in the Civil Rights Division before. So we were proud to bring back these statutes and enforce them.”

The move marks the first time in decades that the Civil Rights Division has taken this kind of direct enforcement action under the statutes.

Dhillon said her team is working to ensure compliance across all 50 states ahead of major elections next year.

In addition to the lawsuits, Dhillon said the Justice Department will also be deploying federal attorneys to monitor upcoming elections in several jurisdictions at the request of candidates.

Federal poll watchers will be present in areas of California, where a redistricting measure is on the ballot, and in Passaic County, New Jersey, where voters will choose assembly members and a governor in a statewide election on November 4.

Dhillon said the Department’s decision to send monitors has faced pushback from some Democratic state officials.

“This has met with some resistance by some state officials,” she said.

“[California] Governor Newsom has gone nutso on criticizing this, but I don’t recall ever hearing him object, or prior Democrat governors objecting when the Democrat Department of Justice sent election monitors to these jurisdictions.”

“And so turnabout is fair play,” she added.

“We’re just responding to requests from folks. I don’t know why anybody should be concerned about federal monitors when this is something that’s been done in many elections in the past.”

State officials in several of the targeted jurisdictions have raised objections to the Justice Department’s demands, arguing that federal requests for voter registration information may violate state privacy laws.

Officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania have signaled that they intend to challenge the lawsuits in court.

The Department of Justice maintains that the information sought is within its legal authority under the NVRA and the Civil Rights Act.

The law, passed in 1960, requires that states make voter registration records available for federal review to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Dhillon said the effort is part of a broader initiative under President Trump’s administration to strengthen election oversight, enforce voter integrity laws, and ensure equal protection under federal election statutes.

“We’re using every lawful tool available to make sure the system works as intended,” Dhillon said.


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