Stories credited to Dr. Rich Swier, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.

Stories from Dr. Rich Swier
Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)

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Month	Stories	All outlets
April 2026	8	4,297
May 2026	0	none collected
June 2026	0	none collected
July 2026	0	none collected
August 2026	0	1 (collection gap)
September 2026	0	598

Who they cover

Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 8 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 9 story–official pairs, from 8 stories.

Republican56% · 5 pairs
Democrat44% · 4 pairs

Most covered

Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 8 stories.

Article tone

ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not Dr. Rich Swier’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 8 stories.

Good Look: 3 (38%)
Mixed: 2 (25%)
Informational: 0 (0%)
Bad Look: 3 (38%)

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Articles served from drrichswier.com

Democrats’ Virginia Gerrymander: Deception, Disenfranchisement!

Virginia voters head to the polls on April 21 to decide the future of fair elections in the Commonwealth. On the surface, the Democratic-backed constitutional amendment sounds reasonable: it claims to “restore fairness” to congressional map-drawing. In reality, it is one of the most brazen partisan power grabs in modern American politics — a deliberate attempt to rig the system, silence nearly half the electorate, and shred the independent redistricting process voters approved just six years ago. The scheme is straightforward in its cynicism. Virginia’s current congressional map, drawn by the independent bipartisan commission created in 2020, produces a 6-5 Democratic-Republican split that roughly mirrors the state’s evenly divided electorate. Democrats now want to scrap that map and replace it with one that would deliver a grotesque 10-1 Democratic Party advantage. Four Republican seats would be effectively erased. This isn’t “fairness.” It’s the elimination of competitive districts in a state where Republicans and independents routinely cast close to half the votes. The dishonesty begins with the ballot language itself. The question carefully avoids any mention of the actual map voters are being asked to endorse. It is a textbook push poll, written to elicit a predetermined “Yes” without revealing the radical anti-democratic outcome. Early voting is already underway, yet local registrars were instructed not to post pictures of the proposed map. Virginia Democrats, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who once falsely cultivated a moderate image and explicitly said that gerrymandering was damaging to our democracy, now champion the effort, pretending that they are protecting democracy. What makes this especially galling is the hypocrisy. For years, national Democrats and their media allies have portrayed Republicans as the uniquely evil practitioners of gerrymandering. They lecture the country that only the GOP draws “outrageous” maps. Yet the very states they control tell a different story — one of systematic, decades-long exclusion of Republican voters. Consider the Northeast alone. Massachusetts is home to roughly 35% Republican voters, yet it sends zero Republicans to Congress. Connecticut’s electorate is 42% Republican, with zero seats. Maine (46% Republican), New Hampshire (46%), Rhode Island (42%), and Vermont (32%) all deliver the same result: zero Republican representation. Hawaii (38 % Republican) and Delaware (42% Republican) follow the identical pattern. These are not flukes of geography or turnout. They are the predictable outcomes of aggressive Democratic map-drawing that packs Republican voters into as few districts as possible or spreads them so thinly they cannot win anywhere. The same story repeats in other states. California, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, New York, and Illinois have all used sophisticated gerrymandering techniques to maximize Democratic seats far beyond what raw vote totals would justify. Independent analysts consistently rank several of these maps among the most partisan in the nation. Yet when Democrats propose turning Virginia — a genuine swing state — into a 10-1 farce, they suddenly rediscover the language of “fairness.” The mask slipped completely when prominent Democrats stopped pretending. Rep. Donald Beyer admitted the plan “seems unfair in Virginia” but defended it anyway because it serves the national Democratic goal “to stop Donald Trump.” State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Dist.18, the plan’s chief architect, was even more direct. Responding to a fellow Democrat who called the scheme “extremely anti-democratic,” she declared that anyone opposing it “doesn’t share our values as Democrats. In other words, the issue was never fairness. It was grabbing political power. This episode reveals something deeper and more troubling about today’s progressive politics: a willingness to abandon democratic norms the moment they become inconvenient. The 2020 redistricting reform passed with overwhelming bipartisan support precisely because Virginians were tired of politicians choosing their voters instead of the other way around. Democrats now propose suspending that reform for the 2026 midterms, ramming through their gerrymander, and then — they solemnly promise — restoring the independent commission afterward. The idea that newly elected Democrats would voluntarily vote themselves out of safe congressional seats is laughable on its face. Power seized through procedural chicanery is almost never relinquished. And since Abigail Spanberger lied to Virginians about her not supporting a gerrymandering ploy, we should not believe their claims that this gerrymandering plan is only temporary. A recent Roanoke College poll shows Virginians are not fooled: 62% want to keep the bipartisan commission process. That public skepticism is heartening, but it must translate into action. The left’s enthusiastic support for this Virginia scheme, despite its obvious hypocrisy and despite the mountain of evidence that one-party Democratic monopolies already exist across much of the country, exposes their true priorities. Principles are flexible; power is not. Moral lectures about democracy are reserved exclusively for Republicans. When Democrats hold the map-drawing pen, different rules apply. Virginia has long prided itself on political maturity and competitive districts that force candidates to appeal beyond their base. Competitive elections produce better policy and more accountable government. Handing one party a 10-1 lock disenfranchises roughly half the state’s voters, rendering their ballots structurally meaningless in congressional races. It turns representative democracy into a managed and fake democracy — the very outcome the 2020 reform was designed to prevent. On April 21, Virginians have a chance to send a clear message that transcends party labels. Reject the lies. Reject the power grab. Reject the cynical attempt to turn Virginia into just another one-party fiefdom. Vote no on the redistricting amendment and preserve the independent process that puts voters — not politicians — in charge. The integrity of our elections and the principle of equal representation are worth defending. Virginia’s voters have always risen to that challenge. This April 21 should be no different. ©2026 Conservative Commandos Radio Show and AUN-TV. All rights reserved. The post Democrats’ Virginia Gerrymander: Deception, Disenfranchisement! appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 21, 20268 votes

House Democrats Release Articles of Impeachment Against War Secretary Pete Hegseth Put Forward By Muslim Rep. Yassamin Ansari

House Democrats Release Articles of Impeachment Against War Secretary Pete Hegseth House: The formal Articles of Impeachment were put forward by Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D). The six articles close with the charge that Hegseth: Acted in a manner contrary to the public trust as Secretary of Defense; shaken public confidence in the integrity and ability of the Department of Defense. Powerline: John Hinderracker at Powerline: This one is too stupid to warrant comment. I think everyone understands that impeachment is now a purely political act. Far from being guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, Secretary Hegseth has offended Democrats by disagreeing with them on policy and by scoring one brilliant success after another, thus making them look bad. This impeachment effort isn’t going anywhere, but its filing is a reminder that if the Democrats take the House in November, as they almost certainly will, they will impeach President Trump and, probably, most members of his cabinet. They are that far gone in hate. House Democrats file articles of impeachment against Hegseth By Kaia Hubbard, CBS, April 15, 2026: Washington — House Democrats unveiled articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, making serious allegations about his handling of the war in Iran and his leadership more broadly. The resolution, led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, lists six impeachment articles: Unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of U.S. service members; Violations of the law of armed conflict and targeting of civilians; Negligence and reckless handling of sensitive military information; Obstruction of congressional oversight; Abuse of power and politicization of the armed forces; Conduct bringing disrepute upon the U.S. and its armed forces. The impeachment push almost certainly won’t go anywhere in the House this year, since Republicans have a narrow majority. But its Democratic sponsors could renew their efforts if the party takes control of the chamber following the midterm elections. The seven-page impeachment resolution claims Hegseth engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors, the constitutional basis for impeachment. It says he has “demonstrated a willful disregard for the Constitution, abused the powers of his office, and acted in a manner grossly incompatible with the rule of law.” The resolution also accuses Hegseth of failing to prevent the use of military force “in a manner inconsistent with the law of armed conflict,” pointing to civilian casualties, including the Feb. 28 bombing of a girls’ school in Iran that killed 168 people. A preliminary U.S. assessment suggested that the United States was “likely” responsible for the attack but did not intentionally target the school and may have hit it in error. The impeachment resolution argues that Hegseth has engaged in conduct “that raises serious concerns of violations of the Geneva Conventions,” along with other binding U.S. obligations, citing his comments about giving “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.” The impeachment articles cite Hegseth’s sharing of details about U.S. military operations in Yemen in a private Signal group chat last year, saying he has “demonstrated gross negligence in the handling of sensitive and classified military information.” The resolution claims he has engaged in efforts to obstruct constitutional oversight by withholding information on the Venezuela and Iran operations. And it claims he has “shaken public confidence in the integrity and ability of the Department of Defense” in part by undermining the U.S. commitment to NATO. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said the impeachment effort represents “just another Democrat trying to make headlines as the Department of War decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the Presidents’ objectives in Iran.” “Secretary Hegseth will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength,” Wilson said in a statement. “This is just another charade in an attempt to distract the American people from the major successes we have had here at the Department of War.” The resolution is co-sponsored by a number of Democrats, including Reps. Sarah McBride of Delaware, Lauren Underwood of Illinois, Al Green of Texas, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Nikema Williams of Georgia, Dina Titus of Nevada, Dave Min of California, Shri Thanedar of Michigan, Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, Mike Quigley of Illinois and Brittany Pettersen of Colorado. Ansari teased the plan last week amid President Trump’s increasing threats to target Iranian infrastructure if a deal was not reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Ansari, the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress, said in a post on X that the “rhetoric has crossed every line,” claiming “Hegseth is complicit.” “I’ve called for the 25th Amendment and am introducing Articles of Impeachment against Hegseth,” Ansari added. Impeachment is the first step in the process of removing executive and judicial branch officials from office. The House is responsible for approving impeachment articles, which are akin to charges in an indictment. The Senate is tasked with holding a trial to determine whether the accused is guilty and should be removed from office. Only two Cabinet officials have ever been impeached: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. Belknap was ultimately acquitted. In Mayorkas’ case, the Senate’s Democratic majority dispensed with the charges shortly after the trial began. AUTHOR Pamela Geller EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. The post House Democrats Release Articles of Impeachment Against War Secretary Pete Hegseth Put Forward By Muslim Rep. Yassamin Ansari appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 18, 202613 votes

House Democrats Release Articles of Impeachment Against War Secretary Pete Hegseth Put Forward By Muslim Rep. Yassamin Ansari

Apr 18, 202619 votes

DHS Head Mullin Weighs Shutting Down International Airports in ‘Sanctuary’ Cities

The new Homeland Security chief is considering taking action to bring “sanctuary” jurisdictions into line with federal law. In his first interview since taking over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested the possibility of revoking customs privileges at international airports in cities and states that refuse to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing federal immigration law. He asked, “If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?” “If they’re a sanctuary city, and they’re receiving international flights, and we’re asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they’re not going to enforce immigration policy — maybe we need to have a really hard look at that,” Mullin mused in the Monday night Fox News interview. “I’m going to be forced to make hard decisions. Who’s willing to work with us and partner with us?” he added, noting that he would not overstep the authorities established for DHS by Congress but would do what was in his power to break “sanctuary” jurisdictions. “I believe sanctuary cities [are] not lawful. I don’t think they’re able to do that. And so, we’re going to take a hard look at this.” Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts, Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Illinois, Denver International Airport in Colorado, Los Angeles International Airport in California, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania, and Portland International Airport in Oregon would all likely be impacted if Mullin revokes customs privileges for “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Without Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and facilities, an airport cannot legally process international arrivals, effectively prohibiting scheduled international flights from landing at the effected airports and rendering those airports domestic-only landing zones. Mullin’s suggestion would not only financially cripple the airports themselves, especially larger hubs like Boston Logan International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport but would also severely impact the “sanctuary” cities themselves. In 2024, international tourists spent approximately $3.75 billion in the Greater Boston area, supporting nearly 100,000 jobs in Massachusetts, including nearly seven percent of the workforce in the City of Boston alone, and generating over $2 billion in state and local taxes. International tourism is even more vital to New York City, where tourists spent over $55 billion in 2025, generating $84.7 billion in total economic impact, supporting nearly 10% of the city’s workforce, and generating $7.5 billion in tax revenue. International tourism in Los Angeles generated over $40 billion in local business sales, supporting nearly 600,000 jobs and creating over $12 billion in taxes. Each of these cities, as well as the state governments of Massachusetts, New York, and California, would suffer economically if DHS were to revoke customs privileges. Asked if “sanctuary” jurisdiction international airports are really at risk of losing customs privileges, Mullin replied, “Well, I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point.” He added, “Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Patrol. Well, who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane?” Appearing on “Washington Watch” Monday night, Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.) also emphasized the role that congressional Democrats have played in the ongoing shutdown of core DHS components. “The Democrats want to stop all immigration enforcement. That’s what this boils down to, truly,” Knott said. He noted that Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a funding bill to appropriate funds for the entirety of DHS, but Senate Democrats rejected the measure. “The Senate has said, ‘We want to hollow out the ICE funding and the Border Patrol funding, otherwise we’re not going to play ball here.’ And so, they have essentially held the entire department hostage in an effort to halt immigration enforcement.” AUTHOR S.A. McCarthy S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand. EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2026 Family Research Council. The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC. The post DHS Head Mullin Weighs Shutting Down International Airports in ‘Sanctuary’ Cities appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 14, 202617 votes

Garbage for Others to Pick Up

There is a conflict between the elites and the people. Often, it’s a subtle conflict, but it is real nonetheless. A couple of weeks ago, when the Senate voted to approve one of their own, Markwayne Mullin (R) Oklahoma, some commentators, such as Jimmy Kimmel, sneered that before he had become a senator, he had worked as a plumber. Good heavens. What is this country coming to? I mentioned that to my wife, and she said, “Isn’t that a more noble profession than being a bartender?” She was referencing the media’s darling AOC, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) New York. But the reality is: The great thing about America is that “we the people” can achieve greatness, given hard work and the right breaks. My dad grew up as a poor farm boy, who became the first one in his family to go to college. And he worked his way up into management at two major Chicago newspapers.Is this a great country or what? Meanwhile, the obvious snobbery and lack of respect for others was on display last month at the Oscars. Although this is last month’s news, I still think it’s worth commenting on. On March 16, the U.S. Sun reported, “GUESTS who were in attendance at the Oscars last night, have been slammed for littering all over the swanky Dolby Theater. Photos of the famous theater after the event show popcorn, bottles and boxes all over the floor after attendees failed to throw their litter in a bin.” One response to this event was: “Rich people leaving their dirt for poor people as always.” Another noted that the cleanup crew deserved an Oscar. Why be surprised about self-serving behavior? Hollywood is “a self-serving business,” says Carrie Underwood of “American Idol,” as noted in MOVIEGUIDE. She adds, “Faith is the thing that can keep you grounded.” This incident reminds me of the line from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic book, The Great Gatsby, about a selfish and powerful couple in the story—Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Wrote Fitzgerald: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” It also reminds me of the line, “All are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This comes from the anti-Communist parable, Animal Farm, by the former “fellow traveler” George Orwell. The snobs versus the hoi polloi. I remember when Trump surprisingly won the first time, and he delivered his First Inaugural Address, in which he mentioned his professed concern for the little guy. Said the president on that day: “January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” The greatness of this country did not just happen. In large measure, the American story can be traced back to those hearty men and women who rediscovered the Bible in the late 1500s and early 1600s and applied it to every aspect of their lives. There was an egalitarian rule the Pilgrims followed. Their goal was to send their congregation, the Pilgrims, in groups at a time to America. Of course, the first who came over were those on the Mayflower. Their long-time pastor, John Robinson, died in 1625 before he too could come. Meanwhile, back in 1620, Rev. Robinson wrote a letter for them to read when they came here. Wrote Robinson to his flock in America: “Lastly, whereas you are to become a body politic, using amongst yourselves civil government, and are not furnished with any persons of special eminence above the rest, to be chosen by you into office of government.” The Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate at 250 this year, reminds us that “all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator” with inalienable rights. This view is derived from the Bible’s teaching that teaches human beings are made in the image of God. We just recently celebrated Good Friday and Easter, based on the Christian view that God loved us so much that Jesus, who was fully human and fully divine, died to take away the penalty and power of sins for those who believe. Then He sealed the deal when He rose from the dead. And it was He introduced the famous words to the world the Golden Rule, the model of human relations: Treat others as you would have them treat you. What happened in that fancy California theater last month is a metaphor of the bad policies of the left run amok. They just make messes for others to clean up. ©2026 Jerry Newcombe, D. Min. All rights reserved. The post Garbage for Others to Pick Up appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 14, 202615 votes

GOP Announces a Historic Investment to Save the Senate Majority

The Senate Leadership Fund, a conservative super PAC, announced it is investing $342 million across eight different 2026 Senate races. The massive advertisement buy, announced Monday, is the largest investment SLF has ever made in an election cycle, and it represents a different approach. “[The] Senate Leadership Fund is better positioned than ever to execute an aggressive offensive strategy to protect and expand the Republican Senate majority,” SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham said in a press release. The GOP-aligned super PAC is taking on more swing states than ever before by targeting Democrat-held seats in Michigan, Georgia, and New Hampshire. SLF will spend $45 million in Michigan, supporting former Rep. Mike Rogers; $44 million in Georgia; and $17 million in New Hampshire, supporting former Sen. John E. Sununu, who is seeking to reclaim his seat last held in 2009. This is the most money SLF has ever invested in Michigan and Georgia, and the most invested in New Hampshire since 2016. “SLF’s historic investment will help elect strong Republican senators across key battleground states and ensure that Chuck Schumer and his party remain in the minority,” Latcham continued. The group is investing differently than normal. Rather than putting all focus on cable, broadcast, and radio ads, SLF is spending heavily on streaming platforms. Early reservations for ad space are almost 70% larger than the 2024 digital ads investment. However, the super PAC will also be producing cable ads and using data, direct mail, and get-out-the-vote efforts. “Beginning in the summer and running through Election Day, SLF’s advertising will expose the extraordinary obstruction and failures of the Democratic Party,” the group said in a news release. The two largest investments by the group aim to hold Republican seats in North Carolina and Ohio. SLF pledged $71 million to support former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who is running for retiring Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat, and a whopping $79 million in Ohio to keep Sen. Jon Husted’s seat. The Senate Leadership Fund also has invested $15 million in Alaska, $29 million in Iowa, and $42 million in Maine. AUTHOR Virginia Grace McKinnon Virginia Grace McKinnon is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Virginia Grace. Virginia on X: @virginiagmck. RELATED POSTS: 4 Senate Race Predictions Shift in Political Forecast Madness on the Hill: Lawmakers Share March Madness Brackets Dire Straits for Midterms? Gas Price Surge Troubles Senators California’s Most Degenerate Lawmaker Listens Stone-Faced As Man Describes Horrors Of Minor Trans Procedures EXCLUSIVE: JD Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force Uncovers $6 Billion In Suspected Fraudulent Government Contracts EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Signal column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. The Daily Signal depends on the support of readers like you. Donate now The post GOP Announces a Historic Investment to Save the Senate Majority appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 14, 202618 votes

Senator Fetterman, a Voice Crying in the Democrat Wilderness

There are lots of Democrats in Congress: several hundred of them, in fact. Many of them are to be deplored. A few — Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib come swimmingly to mind — are fifth columnists in America’s war of self-defense against the global jihad. And then there is Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, a remarkable man who, when it comes to Israel, in the Democratic Party is at times a vox clamantis in deserto. At other times his voice is that of someone who demonstrates his absolute mental freedom to speak forthrightly in support of the Jewish state, which has made him a lonely man in his party, someone who, as Brahms’ motto (borrowed from his friend Joseph Joachim) puts it, is “frei aber einsam” — “free but lonely.” He’s a curious fellow, often seen wearing his shorts and pullovers, a 6’8” apparition as he lopes along through the Senate Office Building. He wears shorts. He goes sockless. He wears hoodies. But he makes more sense on one matter than any of his colleagues wearing Ermenegildo Zegna suits and Canali ties. John Fetterman has consistently upheld the right of Israel to defend itself, using whatever means the IDF deems appropriate, and has vocally supported the embattled Jewish state more than any other senator from either party. On the walls just outside his office, he has posted photographs of the Israeli hostages. He has spoken out about the Trump administration’s willingness to negotiate with the masters of deception in Tehran over their nuclear program; he doesn’t think negotiations will do more than allow Tehran to stall for time, as it continues to race forward with its enrichment of uranium to a level of 60% purity, one step below weapons-grade. He thinks Trump’s negotiator Steve Witkoff should be called home, and supports the American military’s efforts against the Islamic Republic. More on Senator Fetterman can be found here: “Fetterman: ‘Insane’ for Democrats to view Israel negatively,” by Sarah Davis, The Hill, April 10, 2026: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a fierce advocate for Israel, on Thursday slammed the increasing Democratic criticism of the country over its joint operations with the U.S. against Iran. The lawmaker cited a Pew Research survey released this week, which found that 80 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have a negative view of Israel. “That’s insane. You know, that’s our special ally,” the Democratic senator told Fox News’s Jesse Watters on Thursday evening. “That’s the only place in the region that has the kind of values in the kinds of way that we live and what we want here,” he continued. “As a Democrat, how is that possible that 8 out of 10 view Israel as a negative thing as Democrats?”… “I think more Democrats should listen to me and say be on the right side of history and holding Iran accountable, and if you have to pick a side, pick our side, pick civilization, pick Israel,” Fetterman said. And he affirmed his support for the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, calling the effort “necessary.”… Senator Fetterman is famed for wearing his hoodies, shorts, and sneakers even when at work, but to make up for it, he has the best-dressed mind of any Democrat in Congress. AUTHOR Hugh Fitzgerald RELATED ARTICLES: ‘Islam’s Tragedy: A new masterwork by Robert Spencer’ Muslim Migrant Murders French Girl in Italy Germany: Almost half of Muslims under 40 prefer Sharia over constitution, hold antisemitic prejudices EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is repbulished with permission. ©All rights reserved. The post Senator Fetterman, a Voice Crying in the Democrat Wilderness appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 14, 202619 votes

U.S. Blockade of Iran Will Be Major Military Endeavor, Experts Say

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) — A U.S. naval blockade of Iran is a major, open-ended military endeavor that could trigger fresh retaliation from Tehran and put tremendous strain on an already fragile ceasefire, experts say. President Donald Trump, in a social media post after no deal emerged from peace talks this weekend in Islamabad, said the U.S. Navy “will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.” The U.S. military’s Central Command later said the blockade will only apply to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It will take effect on Monday at 10 a.m. in Washington (1400 GMT), CENTCOM said. Trump also said U.S. forces would interdict vessels that have paid tolls to Iran, even if those ships are now in international waters. “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The ultimate goal, Trump said, would be to pressure Iran to end its effective closure of the strait, a choke point for about 20% of the world’s oil, to all but the countries that secure safe passage from Tehran. If Trump’s strategy succeeds, he would eliminate Iran’s greatest point of leverage in negotiations with the United States and clear the strait again for global trade, potentially lowering oil prices. But a blockade, experts say, is an act of war that requires an open-ended commitment of a significant number of warships. “Trump wants a quick fix. The reality is, this mission is difficult to execute alone and likely unsustainable over the medium to long-term,” said Dana Stroul, a former senior Pentagon official during the Biden administration now at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Iranian Retaliation The U.S. military has not offered basic details yet about the blockade, including how many U.S. warships will enforce it, whether warplanes will be used and whether any Gulf allies will assist in the effort. Central Command declined to respond to requests for comment. With enough warships, the U.S. Navy could set up a blockade that intimidates many commercial tankers from trying to power through with Iranian oil, experts say. But would the United States be prepared to board and seize — or even damage or sink — ships that try to break the blockade? What if they carry oil for China, a major power, or U.S. partners such as India or South Korea? And what would Iran do? Retired Admiral Gary Roughead, a former chief of U.S. naval operations, cautioned that Iran could fire on ships in the Gulf or attack infrastructure of the Gulf states that host U.S. forces. “I honestly believe that if we begin to do it, that Iran will have some kind of a reaction,” Roughead said. Iran’s threats to shipping have caused global oil prices to skyrocket about 50% since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28. Trump said on Sunday that the price of oil and gasoline may remain high in the United States through November’s U.S. midterm elections, which could see Trump’s Republicans lose control of the U.S. Congress if there is a public backlash. The war has already been unpopular. Gas Price Problem Frustrated by Iran’s refusal to end the war on his terms, Trump on Sunday also floated the possibility of a resumption of U.S. strikes inside Iran, citing missile factories as one possibility. U.S. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, questioned the strategy, noting Iran could send speedboats to mine the strait or put bombs against tankers. “How is that going to ever bring down gas prices?” Warner asked on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Thousands of U.S. military strikes have severely weakened Iran’s military. But analysts say Tehran has emerged from the conflict as a vexing problem for Washington, with a more hardline leadership and a buried stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Trump threatened on Sunday that “any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded with a statement warning that military vessels approaching the strait will be considered a ceasefire breach and dealt with harshly and decisively, underlining the risk of a dangerous escalation. Stroul said the crisis will require a long-term, international effort to resolve. “Over the long run, this will need to be resolved through diplomacy and international political will,” she said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sergio Non and Deepa Babington) Reuters Report EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2026 Family Research Council. The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC. The post U.S. Blockade of Iran Will Be Major Military Endeavor, Experts Say appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 13, 202620 votes

Trump’s War on the Deep State Is Paying Off

The days of peak DOGE may be over, but Trump’s quiet transformation of the federal bureaucracy continues. The Trump administration shrank the federal workforce to its smallest number since the launch of LBJ’s Great Society. This incredible stat, little remarked upon by the media, was dredged up by X user Christian Heiens. “Since Trump took office, over 352,000 Federal employees have been fired, resigned, or retired and were not replaced,” Heiens wrote on X. “The Federal workforce is smaller today than at any point since 1966.” Pew Research also noted this considerable decline in the federal workforce in March. “A total of 348,219 people quit, retired, were laid off or otherwise left federal employment last year – an 80.8% increase from 2024,” Pew wrote. “At the same time, 116,912 people started working for the federal government – a 55.6% decrease from the year before.” Pew noted that the biggest cuts hit the Department of Education and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, celebrated this all-around good news. A quick look at the numbers provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the figures to be correct. Since President Donald Trump retook office, his administration has done more to reduce the federal workforce than pretty much any president ever. That includes Trump 1.0. The only larger drop-off in government personnel occurred at the end of World War II, for obvious reasons. Of course, FDR and Harry Truman were in no way small-government presidents. It was the New Deal in the 1930s that mushroomed the size of the federal government beyond anything the Founders could have imagined. The Great Society in the 1960s grew the government even more and arguably created the far more pernicious federal leviathan that we have today. One could argue this administration marks the first serious curtailment of that governmental transformation. Even the limited-government-minded President Ronald Reagan failed to seriously reduce the size of the federal government despite some considerable tactical victories. This is much more significant. Early on in Trump’s return to the White House I called this Trump’s “Dark New Deal.” His administration isn’t just reducing the federal workforce—a gargantuan task given the level of civil service protections and inertia in its favor—he’s specifically targeting the most noxious parts of the bureaucratic perma-state. My wife Inez Stepman, a policy analyst for the Independent Women’s Forum, correctly noted this fact. This is a historic counterrevolution against the deep state. It’s happening because the administration is fundamentally changing how the bureaucracy functions. Don Devine, Reagan’s “terrible swift sword of the civil service,” explained some of what’s going on in Law & Liberty. Devine wrote in September that Trump is not just “cutting the size of government by firing good civil servants” as the media suggests. Instead, the administration appears to be “fundamentally reforming the federal bureaucracy with the legal support essential to change how government is actually administered.” The changes came as a result of a few Supreme Court decisions, including the reinstatement of the Professional and Administrative Examination test in August, which allows the federal government to bring an element of “merit” back to civil service hiring. Several agencies, including the Department of Justice, are already reviving merit-based hiring. It was blocked by courts since 1981 because they ruled that it caused black and Hispanic applicants to be hired at lower rates. DEI has been in our federal hiring practices for some time. This change is happening while Trump is clearing out the Left’s patronage networks within the federal government, whereby federal bureaucrats shovel money at various left-wing nongovernmental organizations and favorable programs often right under the noses of Republican presidents. There’s a reason Trump’s return to office was met with panic in Washington. While this is perhaps bad for the economy in the nation’s capital, it’s a good thing for the future of limited government and an even better thing for the American people. It’s not often that you can say that our president does anything quietly, but this rarely remarked upon revolution could pay dividends not just today, but in the decades ahead. While the next Democrat administration will undoubtedly try to return things to how they were, this administration is laying down structural changes that will be hard to immediately undo. When you combine that with the Supreme Court’s abandonment of the so-called Chevron doctrine, in which courts deferred to federal agencies, you can see through squinted eyes something that actually resembles republican governance. That’s worth celebrating. AUTHOR Jarrett Stepman Jarrett Stepman is a columnist for The Daily Signal. He is also the author of “The War on History: The Conspiracy to Rewrite America’s Past.” Send an email to Jarrett. Jarrett on X: @JarrettStepman. RELATED POSTS: Trump Disinvites Nation From Board of Peace American Optimism on Financial Security Is Increasing Under Trump, Poll Finds Roy Pushes Terrorist Designation for Mexican Drug Cartels EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Signal column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. The Daily Signal depends on the support of readers like you. Donate now The post Trump’s War on the Deep State Is Paying Off appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 11, 202620 votes

Dear Mr. Thune

Happy Passover and Happy Easter YOU CAVED, PUNTED AND HANDED THEM A TEMPLATE. WE SAW IT. OWN IT!! I finally sat down to relax after spending the day cooking my favorite Passover treats. I had a chance to think about days that passed. I recalled the history of Passover. Too many things today. I thought about where we are as a nation and the similarities of yesterday and today. I reflected on how many things have changed and yet they have remained the same. The people are still divided. Emotions still override facts. Those that hate and are jealous can think of nothing to do other than to hate. If you are not willing to follow their illogical policies, you are the outcast. They shout, but do they know why? When you ask why, they yell Trump, MAGA, JEWS. There is no substance or logic behind their talking points. Then there are those that love unconditionally. But, in order to gain that love, you must agree unconditionally with everything they say. How is that possible? Then there are those that feel that they have the money and power to manipulate everyone into a chaotic situation. You know, stir the pot, sit back and watch the show. How fun is it playing god with people’s lives? Sadly, I don’t think anything changes unless we change what’s going on in our own family, community, schools and educational system. When students are taught to hate, they hate. I just got my NYST teacher’s magazine. In New York State, they are now teaching the students to be activists. Where are the parents in all this? As long as the establishment controls education and keeps us divided, they will win and we will lose. Students can’t read, write or do simple math but they will go out and stand on a street corner and shout. Did you listen to SCOTUS on Birthright Citizenship? With all the hatred floating around, I fear we will lose and the privilege of being an American citizen will no longer exist. The headlines say it all … SCOTUS seems likely to side against Trump. Correction: they will side against America and the American people. The Senate is worse. The hatred of Americans is so obvious by the actions of Thune, the McConnell communist clone. I was just about to write Thune a letter, telling him what I thought about his inability to stand up for America when a listener sent me the letter written by Data Republican. It is the best letter I have ever seen and she describes the situation perfectly. So Is America worth saving? If you think so, copy and paste this letter and put your name on it as a co-signer. Add whatever you want. Email it to Senator John Thune. Share this letter and ask others to do the same. We the people can only make a difference if we act. Thank you Data Republican… Hello Senator Thune, At 3 AM on Friday, March 27th, in a near-empty chamber, you passed a bill by voice vote that excludes all funding for ICE and CBP. Let me repeat that: voice vote. No roll call. No record of who was there. No accountability. Just you, Barrasso, and a handful of senators shuffling paper in the dead of night while America slept. You could have demanded a recorded vote. You chose not to. You could have held the line for five more days until the House returned. You chose not to. You could have used the same procedural tools Democrats have used against you for 40 days. You chose not to. Instead, you gave Chuck Schumer exactly what he asked for … DHS funding minus immigration enforcement … and called it a win. Then you walked to the cameras and blamed the Democrats. Let’s be precise about what you did: You caved to a demand Democrats made on Day 1 of this shutdown. Forty-one days of supposed hardball negotiation and you settled for their opening offer. You handed them a template. The next time Democrats want to defund any agency — ICE, CBP, or anything else — they now know: just shut down DHS and wait. John Thune will fold at 3 AM. You punted to reconciliation. “Good possibility,” you said. Not “we will.” Not “guaranteed.” Just maybe. Meanwhile, ICE operates on fumes from last year’s bill with no certainty of future funding. The precedent you set: You have argued for months that the filibuster is sacrosanct. That the 60-vote threshold protects minority rights. That we cannot bend Senate rules for policy wins. But at 3 AM on Friday, you bent every norm that actually mattered: Voice vote to avoid accountability Empty chamber to avoid debate Midnight deal to avoid scrutiny Immediate recess to avoid questions You’ll bend the rules to avoid a fight. You just won’t bend them to win one. What you’ve actually accomplished: Democrats demanded ICE restrictions. They got ICE defunded. Not reformed. Not restrained. Defunded. And you’re out here tweeting about how Democrats are the “Defund the Police” party while you just voted to defund border enforcement at 3 in the morning. The question you should answer: Why did this deal have to happen at 3 AM? Why couldn’t it happen at 3 PM, with cameras rolling and every senator on record? You know why. Because you didn’t want your voters to see what surrender looks like. Here’s my message: We saw it anyway. Stop hiding behind “Democrat obstruction.” You’re the Majority Leader. You set the schedule. You control the floor. You chose this outcome. Own it. Cindy looked up Thune’s donors. He is bought and paid for by these donors, 2024. He also received donations from Commonsense Conservative Values Pac. Who does Thune owe allegiance too? Certainly not the American people. American Israel Public affairs AIPAC $122,100 Sanford Health $955,552 Capital Group $67,600 Brownstein Hyatt $52,460 Delta airlines $52,210 Blackstone $52,000 NorPac $46,811 Goldman Sachs $45,004 National Assn of Realtors $43.000 He has roughly $1.85M in retirement funds, $1/2M in home equity, and $3M attributable to government work. Wife Kimberley is IRA funded by her work for Sanford Health Plan, 2nd largest insurer in SD. More information at www.opensecrets.org ©2026 Karen Schoen. All rights reserved. The post Dear Mr. Thune appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.

Apr 4, 202620 votes

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Trump’s War on the Deep State Is Paying Off

Dear Mr. Thune