WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🚫 Trump administration to block funding for international DEI. The Mexico City policy — implemented by all GOP presidents since Reagan and reversed by all Democrats — bans funding for international abortions. Now, the Trump administration wants to add to that list groups that fund transgender and DEI programs.
🇮🇱 Democrat candidates are moving away from AIPAC. Candidates, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have shifted away from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which has been accused by the Left and some parts of the Right of “buying off” members of Congress to be pro-Israel.
⚖️ Birthright citizenship might soon be before the Supreme Court. The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to take up two cases on whether President Trump’s executive order banning birthright citizenship is constitutional. The order is currently blocked by lower courts.
🚔 The media’s “Maryland man” just got one step closer to deportation. Alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia sought to reopen his immigration case by claiming asylum after having been brought back from El Salvador. However, a judge denied his request, stating that he had waited too long to ask for it.
INSIDER RADAR
Kash Patel on FBI presence at the Jan. 6 riot
Insiders behind the paywall: Kash Patel, Rand Paul, and Scott Bessent.
THE MAIN STORY
Government shutdown lets Trump slash and burn
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
The government’s funding ran out this week after Democrats refused to pass a clean continuing resolution.
The federal workforce is overwhelmingly comprised of Democrats; these permanent workers can outlast any president…
Exclusive analysis and uncensored facts behind the paywall: What Democrats demanded to end the shutdown, the executive’s role, what Russ Vought is slashing, and what Trump is planning to cut — and how that will remake the government.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Should Trump use the shutdown to slash the federal government?
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame the government shutdown
Mentioned behind the paywall: The Atlantic, Axios, Newsmax, and The Daily Signal.
_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 How should the Trump admin. handle the shutdown?
POLLS RESULTS FROM WEDNESDAY
Do you approve of Pete Hegseth’s job performance?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ✅ Approve (1,456)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ❌ Disapprove (59)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤷♂️ Somewhere in the middle (78)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (26)
✅ Approve: “The focus on the fundamentals of being an effective fighting force was needed and long overdue.” — Pede
❌ Disapprove: “He shows no respect to military leaders, and I would bet they have no respect for him either. There should be mutual respect at that level, and I just don't see or hear it.” — Anonymous
🤷♂️ Somewhere in the middle: “Too early to give a good or bad performance grade.” — SP
_POP QUIZ_
The Trump admin. asked the Supreme Court to take up cases on which policy?
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ariel David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
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