Conservative Blogger
Friday, July 24, 2026
Trump Imposes New Tariffs as Stopgap Levies Expire
President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a defeat at the Supreme Court. The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor. The new tariffs will take effect just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Trump had turned to those temporary levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February. Now he's tapping more durable tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to engage in "unjustifiable," "unreasonable" or "discriminatory" trade practices. Trump used Section 301 to impose big tariffs on China in his first term, and they survived court challenges. More Section 301 tariffs are likely coming: The U.S. Trade Representative's office has launched a probe into whether 16 countries — accounting for 70% of U.S. imports — have overproduced goods, pushing down prices and putting U.S. companies at a disadvantage in global markets. The administration has yet to complete that investigation. Trump, who argues that high tariffs will revive American manufacturing, last year overturned decades of U.S. policy that favored lower tariffs and ever-freer trade. Invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), he imposed double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country on Earth, saying America's longstanding trade deficit amounted to a national emergency. But the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA did not authorize tariffs. The decision forced the administration to pay refunds to importers that had paid the tariffs. In response, Trump announced 10% worldwide tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. But he can only use Section 122 levies for 150 days; time runs out on them Friday. The administration initially proposed the forced labor tariffs last month. Since then, some countries have tightened forced labor enforcement and qualified for lower tariffs, said a senior administration official who spoke under condition of anonymity. For example, the official said, the tariff on imports from India initially was set at 12.5% but now will be 10%. Some products — including oil and gas and fertilizer — are exempted from the new tariffs announced Thursday. Also being spared are products that qualify for duty-free status under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the North American trade pact Trump negotiated in his first term. Tariffs are paid by companies in the United States that import foreign products. The importers usually try to pass along the cost by charging consumers higher prices. Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living. So the administration is taking a risk in rolling out new tariffs ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Human rights watchers say that it's reasonable to be skeptical of the motivation behind the tariffs. But they say the levies could make an impact on the problem of forced labor. Forced labor is defined by the International Labor Organization Forced Labor Convention of 1930 as "all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself (or herself) voluntarily." According to the latest statistics from the ILO, which is a U.N. agency focused on human and labor rights, about 27.6 million people were in forced labor worldwide on any given day in 2021. "We've gone on record for years now advocating for import bans, not as a magic bullet, it's not a silver bullet, but as a potentially effective tool in combating forced labor across the globe," said Martina Vandenberg, founder and president of The Human Trafficking Legal Center. "It's possible to be extremely critical of tariffs, as we are, and to be very concerned about blanket tariffs used as bludgeons against countries," she said. "And yet I think it's undeniable that there is a significant response in terms of the adoption of import bans." However, Vandenberg and her organization urged in testimony that the tariffs be implemented in a phased approach to give countries time to implement a ban or a plan for enforcement. "Our concern is that the import bans will be thin slips of paper with no enforcement," she said. "Countries need time to build import ban mechanisms that are meaningful and enforceable." Kenya Davis, partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, said The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a U.S. federal law passed in 2021 that prohibits the importation of goods made wholly or in part in China's Xinjiang region or by designated entities is the most significant legislation related to forced labor that the U.S. has passed before the tariffs. "The level of effectiveness is certainly up for debate, but it certainly has drawn attention to the issue of labor trafficking and forced labor," she said. "And so, if nothing else, these import bans will serve that function of bringing greater awareness to forced labor." But without a "comprehensive approach," that provides transparency about what the investigations consisted of, and programs that provide countries aid in enforcing bans, "I'm very cautious in my enthusiasm about the (tariffs)," she said. Isabelle Glimcher, senior research scientist for global labor at the NYU Stern Center for Human Rights, said one flaw in the tariffs is that they focus on levying the tax on countries based on goods they import — not goods they make domestically. But she said the impending tariffs threat has spurred several countries — such as India — to amend their foreign trade policies to include a forced labor import ban. European Union forced labor regulations due to go into effect later next year are also contributing, she said. "Not all of these things are necessarily or wholly attributable to the Section 301 investigations, but does seem like countries are responding and starting to take all of this seriously," she said. |
Rubio Demolishes Iran, the Media, and the ICC All in One Briefing
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On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Manila at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference. He answered a variety of questions from the media, including on our actions against Iran. He referenced a "threat' from Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi. "You know, I saw Araghchi, their foreign minister, say their policy is an 'eye for an eye'?" Rubio opined. "The president's policy is a head for an eye. I mean, honestly, that's what it's gonna be," he asserted. "They will pay a very heavy price. They're already paying a very heavy price," Rubio said. "Their industrial base has been decimated... they're suffering billions of dollars in damage, and their economy is a disaster." Exactly. They want to continue to play these games while firing on us and our allies; they will find out we can take out all their leaders and cut off the head of the snake. Another reporter asked about "prominent Republicans" who wanted him to take over negotiations with Iran and attack Vice-President JD Vance. When he asked who, the reporter said "Sen.Sheehy (R-MT) and the Wall Street Journal."
Rubio wasn't falling for that division pitch. He laid that reporter out, saying the WSJ isn't Republican, it's a "newspaper," and calling the reporter a "troublemaker." He said he, Vance, and all the others all had their roles to play. But it was President Donald Trump who was calling the policy shots, and their jobs were to "deliver on his directives." That's the right answer. Rubio additionally nuked the media when they asked about whether Russia was helping Iran. Rubio also called out what the International Criminal Court question over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is really all about — the attempt to dictate to the U.S. and make us fall in line with their globalist agenda. READ MORE: UN Ambassador Bursts Mamdani's Bubble Over His Wish to Arrest Israeli PM Netanyahu in NYC Trump/Rubio Strategy: End the ICC's Insidious Assault on US Constitution Rubio didn't mince words, terming them "lunatics and crazies in the ICC." That's how you have to deal with all of them — Iran, the media, and the ICC — from strength. |
Boom: Elon Delivers Mic Drop Moment Against the Media During Fiery Interview
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Elon Musk has shown that he's not afraid to call out the left on some of their horrible policies. One of the things he has been most concerned about is standing against radical ideologies and preserving the constitutional principles we have in the West. During an interview with The Economist's editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Beddoes tried to paint him as "far right," because of his criticism of how the government has approached things like immigration in the United Kingdom. Musk shot that characterization down, saying it was normal to want secure borders, safe cities, and sensible spending.
Beddoes tried to attack Elon Musk over that, saying, "You don't even live there!" She asked if he understood how some people "loathe you." Musk acknowledged it might be true that some people loathe him. "Maybe some people do loathe me, and that's probably true. I don't care," he replied. Elon didn't let it go, going even further, dropping her and the media in response.
Now that's a mic drop right there, for sure. I'm willing to bet that Beddoes has not faced such a blunt (but true) assessment of the media to her face like that before. I doubt she was expecting that. She should reflect on why it's true that so many people hate the media, but I wouldn't bet that she would. DOGE Is Officially Done, on Schedule — But the Victories and the Chainsaw Memories Remain Much of the alleged "news media" has long since given up what was supposed to be their job of reporting the facts to the people, in favor of pushing agenda "journalism." The media has earned all the loathing they get, and we're all in with Elon on despising the liberal media. Meanwhile, Musk is probably one of the most accomplished men in the world who has brought so much to it, with his work on SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He put everything on the line for freer speech by buying X, then getting targeted by the Left for doing so. That's one of the reasons many have great admiration for him. Elon has brought incredible things to the world. The liberal media, not so much. |
John Thune Delivered a Speech on the Senate Floor Yesterday...and Got Cooked Over It
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Even when he’s angry, he fails: Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is getting hammered by President Trump and base Republicans for being completely incompetent at his job. Every move he makes is a disaster. Senate Republicans have become a circus, an impediment to the Trump agenda as they crash into walls at every turn. Trump’s patience with Thune is running out, as he’s proven incapable of doing the big things. Speaker Mike Johnson also has troublemakers on his side and is working with slim majorities. He’s been able to pass numerous appropriations bills, a ban on congressional stock trading, NDAA reauthorization, and a spending bill that averts a shutdown on September 30, and has the Save America Act enrolled in it. Thune says that’s a problem. So, he’s working with the Democrats on a separate stopgap bill, but if nothing comes of this, he’ll push for reconciliation—dude, we’ve seen this movie before. That’s why the DHS funding fight lasted 75 days. They can manipulate you easily, John, because you’re weak. The South Dakota Republican got annoyed today, saying that maybe White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt could work the phones and rally the votes. She can’t do a worse job than you, man. I don’t care what this speech was about; the replies were hilarious. Sir, no one cares about this speech or what you learned from your trip back to South Dakota. Thune is a Bush-era Republican unfit for these times. Get ready for legislative chaos, failure, misery, and maybe a shutdown that will make Democrats smile. Man, did he get cooked:
Also, who said this? Was this operative’s name ‘John Thune’? |
Trump Had a Meeting With His Top Operatives, and It Wasn't a Moment Too Soon
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For now, it’s an outlier poll, but one was bound to appear: Emerson shows the Democrats with a double-digit lead in the generic poll. Democrats flipped the House in 2018, even though the polls showed a D+7-9 margin. That margin must stay below five points for the GOP to have a real shot. Still, as of now, the GOP is in a position where it could potentially hold the House majority. Regardless, things are tight. A slight tweak in the political landscape could tilt the balance, and the president knows the stakes. It’s why he had a meeting with his top operatives, and it was not a moment too soon (via Axios): 
There’s also a lot of Democratic bloodsports happening within their own ranks. Progressive factions are demanding accountability at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for interfering in primaries, there’s ongoing drama in Maine, and the socialist insurgency isn’t helping, especially as Democrats are practically broke at worst and unable to devote enough resources to defend quality Democrats against DSA challengers. If Trump can finish this Iran business quickly, get gas prices to drop, and slightly improve his numbers, it’ll bode well. The other issue that could derail things is the looming spending fight: you know Democrats want a shutdown, and at the moment, the Senate’s slow walking, dithering, and abject incompetence could make that reality. |
Obama Center subcontractor ceases operations over $4M in unpaid work
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| People watch the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama
Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026, in Chicago,
Illinois. Weeks after the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, a subcontractor has ceased operations and laid off 25 union workers. The Barack Obama Presidential Center, funded entirely through $850 million of private donations, officially opened to the public on June 19th. The owner of Adamson Plumbing Contractors in Chicago, one of the subcontractors for the presidential center, revealed that the financial repercussions forced the company to scrap half a dozen other construction jobs, which left Adamson on the brink of collapse. The owner, Mike Owen, told Fox News that the decision to shut down operations was the only option to avoid bankruptcy.
Before the center had opened, Owen alleged that the massive project had left his company with $3.9 million in losses. Adamson Contractors had previously filed a $1.72 million mechanic’s lien against the property, which threw the payment disagreement into a full-blown legal battle. Owen’s firm is one of several subcontractors — including multiple minority-owned businesses — that reported severe financial strain, cost overruns and unpaid invoice disputes tied to the center’s construction, according to the Washington Times. Owen spent months negotiating with Lakeside Alliance over losses tied to delays, rework, labor overruns and changing project demands before going public when the negotiations reached a standstill. |
Senate Blocks War Powers Motion, Keeps Trump in Charge
This week the Senate refused to advance a War Powers resolution aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to pull U.S. forces out of hostilities with Iran. The procedural motion failed narrowly, 47–49, after a day of political theater that included a House vote earlier that passed a nonbinding measure 214–208. The short version: Congress held another symbolic roll call, but Washington’s real question remains who will protect American troops and stop Iran’s aggression.
What happened on the floor
Senator Chris Van Hollen led the push to discharge the Senate war‑powers resolution to the floor, but the motion fell short. Senator Susan Collins crossed the aisle to back the effort while Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to oppose it. Several Republicans who have flirted with similar measures in the past were absent, and the vote was decided on a procedural tack rather than on a clear policy choice. The headline number is clear: 47 senators voted to advance the resolution, 49 opposed.
Why this vote matters — and why it mostly didn’t
Technically, these measures use the War Powers Resolution to press the executive branch. Practically, the House’s vote was nonbinding and the Senate motion failed, so nothing changed on the battlefield. The White House has warned it would veto any real curtailment, and a veto override was never realistic. Still, repeated votes like this matter politically: Democrats hope to score headlines and force uncomfortable votes for some Republicans, while the president keeps the authority to act against a regime that has targeted U.S. forces and allies.
Republicans should quit the theater and pick a side
Here’s the conservative take: Congress should provide real oversight, clear strategy, and support for the mission — not grandstanding votes that do nothing but let politicians tweet about courage. If lawmakers worry about mission creep or troop safety, they should write a clear authorization or demand a coherent endgame. If they believe Iran must be confronted, they should back the commander‑in‑chief and the men and women in uniform. Absences and half‑hearted gestures don’t protect troops; clear policy and funding do.
Conclusion
The Senate’s failure to advance the war‑powers motion preserved President Trump’s authority for now, but it won’t be the last chapter. Expect more symbolic measures, more media previews, and more votes that make little practical difference. Voters should demand that their senators stop staging performances and start producing results: either rein in the mission with a real plan, or support the strategy that defends American lives and interests. The choice should be simple — and voters will remember who chose politics over protection.
Greg Kelly Calls Out Media for Sensationalism Over Substance
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Watching Greg Kelly’s show on Newsmax, you get a blunt reminder that the left-leaning media elite has a warped sense of priorities. Kelly pushed back hard on the idea that viral spectacles — like salacious dance clips at Pride events — are treated as breaking national news while solemn remembrance of the Holocaust is reduced to a footnote. That contrast isn’t mere provocation; it’s a symptom of a media class more interested in clicks and culture-war theater than truth or decency. Conservative Americans know what matters: honoring victims, teaching history, and protecting our children’s innocence — not celebrating public displays that mainstream outlets serve up as entertainment. The cultural establishment has trained itself to normalize ever-more explicit public behavior and then act surprised when traditional values push back. This isn’t about attacking people for who they are, it’s about defending a civil society where tragedies like the Holocaust are treated with the gravity they deserve, not squeezed off the front page for a risqué viral moment. Our newsrooms are supposed to be gatekeepers of seriousness, not participants in the decline of public taste. When anchors and editors prioritize sensationalism over substance, they abandon their duty to inform and instead peddle a diet of outrage that fractures communities and cheapens real suffering. That rot has to be called out by honest journalists and by viewers who still care about American decency. We must also be uncompromising in preserving Holocaust memory and educating the next generation about the consequences of totalitarian evil. If the media won’t lead, parents, teachers, and civic institutions must — insist on curriculum, museum funding, and solemn public observances so the lessons of history are not drowned out by the latest trending clip. In researching this piece I reviewed Newsmax’s Greg Kelly programming and public episode listings; Kelly’s show is a clear platform for these critiques, though the exact YouTube clip title provided in the prompt was not located in public listings during my search. Newsmax and Greg Kelly continue to run commentary segments that challenge mainstream media narratives, and viewers seeking the original segment should find his program through Newsmax’s channels and podcast feeds. America needs media that will lift up truth, honor victims, and defend common-sense standards instead of chasing clicks with salacious spectacle. Patriots should demand accountability, support independent conservative outlets that still tell the whole story, and never let the memory of our worst atrocities be traded for a viral moment. |
Thursday, July 23, 2026
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