Politics/Religion Consolidated Megathread Extravaganza

[Brent]

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican widely expected to make another bid for the White House in 2028, was reportedly caught on tape tarring Vice President JD Vance with the same brush he uses on Tucker Carlson and criticizing President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Unlike politicos keen to fault Vance for his enduring friendship with Carlson, Cruz has avoided publicly broadening his critique of the podcaster to the vice president. Behind closed doors, however, Cruz has apparently exercised no such restraint.

In secret recordings provided to Axios by an unnamed Republican source, which were apparently taken during a pair of private meetings with donors last year, Cruz allegedly characterized the vice president as a non-interventionist puppet of Carlson.

"Tucker created JD," Cruz reportedly says in the recordings. "JD is Tucker's protégé, and they are one and the same."

[DKG]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed all state agencies on Tuesday to "immediately freeze" new H-1B visa petitions, citing "recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program" and the "federal government's ongoing review of that program to ensure American jobs are going to American workers."

[Herman]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) told two federal judges on Tuesday that files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will be released in the "near term," according to court papers filed in New York.

In the filing, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton told the judges that they would not be able to provide an exact date due to an "ongoing process" as well as "quality control" measures to redact the names of victims before the files are released to the public.

[DKG]

The Minnesota-based federal judge who declined to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon and several of the radicals accused of storming into Cities Church on Jan. 18 demanded on Tuesday that acting ICE Director Todd Lyons "appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court."

Despite U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz's portrayal in the liberal media as a conservative-minded and "mild-mannered George W. Bush appointee," it appears that Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's characterization of Schiltz as "just another activist judge" is more apt.

Bill Melugin of Fox News revealed this week that Schiltz is linked to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, a liberal activist outfit that provides free legal representation to illegal aliens, low-income migrants, and so-called refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.

The ILCM routinely criticizes the men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accusing them of occupation, racism, "Islamophobi[a]," and engaging in "execution-style murders."

[DKG]

The Somali government admitted fault after it was accused of destroying a United States-funded warehouse and seizing 76 metric tons of food aid intended for Somali nationals.

In early January, the State Department halted "all ongoing" aid to Somalia, citing concerning reports that its government had destroyed a World Food Programme warehouse and seized donor-funded food.

"Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps," the State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance wrote.

Somalia previously denied the allegations, asserting that the expansion work at the Mogadishu port, where the U.S.-funded warehouse is located, did not impact the food aid. The government further insisted that the aid was "under the custody and control of the World Food Programme, including assistance provided by the United States."

[Lokmar]

The Somali government admitted fault after it was accused of destroying a United States-funded warehouse and seizing 76 metric tons of food aid intended for Somali nationals.

In early January, the State Department halted "all ongoing" aid to Somalia, citing concerning reports that its government had destroyed a World Food Programme warehouse and seized donor-funded food.

"Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps," the State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance wrote.

Somalia previously denied the allegations, asserting that the expansion work at the Mogadishu port, where the U.S.-funded warehouse is located, did not impact the food aid. The government further insisted that the aid was "under the custody and control of the World Food Programme, including assistance provided by the United States."

Fuck them starvin marvin niggeRs in the asshole with satans red hot dik! That way, they wont need to eat at all!

[Herman]

 Zohran Mamdani, revealed plans to increase taxes on "the richest New Yorkers" less than one month into his term, blaming former Mayor Eric Adams for a budget shortfall.

On Thursday, Mamdani held a press conference to detail the "Adams Budget Crisis," claiming that the former mayor "misled and misinformed" New Yorkers about the "true state" of the city's finances.

"I will be blunt: New York City is facing a serious fiscal crisis. There is a massive fiscal deficit in our city's budget to the tune of at least $12 billion. We did not arrive at this place by accident. This crisis has a name and a chief architect," Mamdani said.

"This is the Adams Budget Crisis."

"The time has come to tax the richest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations," he declared.

Mamdani stated that he could "build a stronger city for everyone" if New York's top 1% earners paid an additional 2% in income taxes, while claiming that the increase was not significant enough to drive wealthy individuals to leave the state.

Adams mocked Mamdani in a third post on X, writing, "When you promise 'free' everything on Sunday, boldly declare that millionaires and billionaires shouldn't exist on Monday, and by Tuesday you're scrambling to fund your giveaways with the very people you wanted gone just yesterday."

[DKG]

Democrats on Jan. 29 reached a deal with Republicans to fund the government ahead of a partial shutdown deadline on Jan. 30.

President Donald Trump announced the deal in a post on Truth Social, saying, "I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay."

The resulting deal will temporarily extend funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as lawmakers continue to negotiate reforms to the department's handling of immigration enforcement.

Trump wrote, "Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before)."

[Herman]

[DKG]

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is confident that the House will end the partial government shutdown that was initiated on Jan. 31 after Congress failed to approve a measure to keep the government funded.

"I'm confident that we'll do it at least by [Feb. 3]," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Feb. 1. "We have a logistical challenge of getting everyone in town."
Johnson appeared to have been referring to transportation problems related to recent winter storms that left areas without power or canceled thousands of flights late last month.

[DKG]

Democratic Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson on Thursday announced several measures to prepare for a potential increase in federal immigration enforcement activities in the city.

Wilson declared that she is directing the Seattle Police Department to investigate, verify, and document immigration enforcement activity with "in-car and body-worn video." Local police will also be required to verify federal agents' official identification and "secure scenes of potentially unlawful acts to gather evidence for transmittal to prosecutors."

The SPD will share this information for other city departments and "trusted" local organizations "to ensure everyone has the latest and most accurate information."

Additionally, Wilson plans to issue an executive order prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city-owned or controlled property for their law enforcement activities. The mayor has called on other local government bodies to take similar action against ICE.

Residents are encouraged to post signs on their properties indicating that federal agents may not enter without a warrant.

Wilson has also announced that the city will invest $4 million in taxpayer funds to support organizations providing community services and legal defense assistance to illegal migrants.

The Seattle Police Officers Guild president, Mike Solan, pushed back on Wilson's directive, stating that the union would not force its members to comply, calling the mayor's announcement "toothless virtue signaling rhetoric."

"The concept of pitting two armed law enforcement agencies against each other is ludicrous, and will not happen," Solan said. "I will not allow SPOG members to be used as political pawns."

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told MyNorthwest that Wilson's actions were "legally illiterate."

"Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II, and the Supremacy Clause," the spokesperson stated. "While this Seattle sanctuary politician continues to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto the streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Seattle safe again."

"How does this serve the people of Seattle? The biggest losers are the people she was elected to serve," the spokesperson added.

[Herman]

Chuck Schumer says democRATs are ready to defeat a Republican bill intended to fortify election security against fraudulent voting.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act passed the House of Representatives in July and awaits approval from the Senate before heading to the president's desk, but Democrats hope to derail its trip.

If passed, the SAVE Act would require "proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office."

[DKG]

President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 2 a new strategic private sector critical minerals stockpile.

"Project Vault" is being seeded with $1.67 billion in private capital and a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and it is meant to insulate U.S. industries from market disruptions such as the seismic critical minerals rule change Beijing previewed in 2025.

The Pentagon already has a critical minerals stockpile, kept in six locations across the country, to be used in the event of a national emergency. However, Beijing announced a major rule change in 2025 that would subject all sales of critical minerals mined or processed in China—which could be up to 90 percent of global supply—to review and approval from Chinese authorities.

That would upend the status quo by severely restricting or disrupting the supply chain, and Beijing's announcement accelerated global efforts to find alternative sources. When Chinese authorities implemented a much smaller-scale version of a critical minerals licensing regime earlier in 2025, it caused supply disruptions, and within weeks, some auto part manufacturers were forced to shut down entire production lines.

After a U.S.–China meeting in October 2025, Beijing agreed to pause its new licensing regime for one year, during which, Trump said, the United States will have found other reliable sources.

"We don't want to ever go through what we went through a year ago," Trump said at a press briefing at the Oval Office.

Project Vault is meant to be a key component of that derisking strategy, and it has buy-in from some of the biggest U.S. companies. Participants already include General Motors, Boeing, Corning, Stellantis, and Google.

The venture will allow participating companies continued access to their requested critical minerals at set prices in exchange for paying a stockpile maintenance fee, making an up-front payment on their purchases, and agreeing to continue to buy those materials in future years.

[Lokmar]

Chuck Schumer says democRATs are ready to defeat a Republican bill intended to fortify election security against fraudulent voting.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act passed the House of Representatives in July and awaits approval from the Senate before heading to the president's desk, but Democrats hope to derail its trip.

If passed, the SAVE Act would require "proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office."

Of course he/they are. They stole the fukin 2020 election and they want to steal more elections.