Conservative Blogger
Thursday, July 16, 2026
US Launches New Iran Strikes as Trump Threatens Wider Attacks
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The United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday to curb its ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump warned he could widen attacks unless the Islamic republic returned to talks. U.S. Central Command said the strikes began at about 3 p.m. ET and targeted Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting the vital waterway. The U.S. military also said one of its aircraft fired on and disabled an empty oil tanker that was trying to break the naval blockade of Iran's ports. Central Command said the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was stopped after the aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," it said on X. Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, Rask, and Chabahar. Earlier reports also cited blasts around southern sites including Qeshm and Bandar Imam Khomeini, while state media later said fresh US strikes hit Bushehr, home to Iran's only civilian nuclear plant. Nearly a month after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Middle East war, the two foes have resumed fighting across the region. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, where attacks against civilian targets were intercepted, while Jordan's armed forces said they had downed three missiles from the Islamic republic. In Iraq, Kurdish forces said the U.S.-led coalition downed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of the northern Kurdistan region, where AFP journalists heard explosions and saw smoke near the U.S. consulate. No casualties were reported. "Next week it gets really bad for them," Trump told Fox News, threatening to hit power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table. Despite renewed hostilities, mediated talks between the two sides have not formally ended. But Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that "a memorandum of understanding only has meaning when its clauses are valid and being implemented." "If Iran is not to derive any benefit from the memorandum of understanding, we have no reason to adhere," he said in a statement. - Hormuz flashpoint - At the heart of the renewed fighting is the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway crucial to global oil and gas flows. Iran blockaded Hormuz after the war erupted with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, using the waterway for leverage against its foes for months. The strait was briefly reopened after the U.S.-Iran deal last month, before Tehran vowed last week it would be closed again "until the U.S. ends its aggression". Traffic through the waterway remained low, with maritime tracker Kpler reporting only 21 transits on Tuesday. Oil prices ticked higher after the latest escalation, with investors weighing the risk that renewed fighting could further disrupt one of the world's most important energy routes. The United States has also reimposed a blockade of Iran's ports, now enforced by the strike on the Belma. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the renewed U.S. blockade "has, in a way, dismantled the Islamabad memorandum," referring to the interim deal reached last month. Anxieties ran high in Iran. Khadijeh, 31, an artisan from Qasr-e Shirin in the southeast, said: "The little children are so frightened by the sound of explosions that they don't sleep until morning. "If, God forbid, the war becomes more intense, then perhaps it will take several generations before we can get back on our feet." Fears similarly abounded in Gulf countries hit repeatedly by Iranian strikes. "Every day, I wake up wondering whether the situation will de-escalate or worsen," said Mustafa Mohamed, a 39-year-old Sudanese accountant living in Kuwait. - Wider fallout - Since the war began, Iran has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz and opened fire on ships taking routes it says are unauthorized. "The retaliatory operations of the fighters will continue," the Guards said. A Norwegian tanker was hit by an explosion caused by an unidentified device off the Omani coast early Tuesday, the crisis response company MTI Network said. Kuwait said one of its naval vessels was struck during an Iranian missile and drone barrage, wounding four crew members. Trump meanwhile said he was scrapping a planned 20-percent levy on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz that he announced Monday, replacing the fee with trade deals with Gulf allies. Since last week, renewed U.S. attacks have killed at least 30 people in Iran, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said. Separately, the military said seven of its personnel were killed in Wednesday's strikes on the southeast. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has so far not rejoined the war, warned Iranian leaders that Israel would strike heavily if attacked. |
Adam Schiff Tries to Embarrass AG Nominee Todd Blanche, but It Wasn't a Fair Fight
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Earlier Wednesday, we reported on Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche's Senate confirmation hearing and the “extraordinarily obnoxious” questions lobbed at him by the insufferable Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and other Democrats. But it wouldn’t be a true clown show without one of the hardest to stomach lawmakers in the entire metro D.C. area, Adam Schiff. The truth-challenged California senator went toe-to-toe with Blanche, who has been acting director since April following Pam Bondi’s departure, but he probably wished he hadn’t. There are few things more satisfying than watching “Mr. Russia Collusion” get intellectually savaged by someone he’s trying to browbeat. According to Blanche, he might want to have his facts right when he pulls one of these stunts. The section we'll be discussing starts at the 2:28 mark: There’s a bit of back-and-forth, but Schiff apparently thinks Blanche should basically recuse himself from every case. He’s also upset that Volume Two of former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report, which concerns the classified documents investigation, was never released after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon blocked its release multiple times. Schiff accused Blanche of ethical lapses, but Blanche was having none of it:
The problem with Schiff’s argument? Blanche was not acting AG when the DOJ decided not to issue the report, and neither was he in the job when Cannon made her final ruling. Oops.
Speaking of ethical lapses, Smith’s tenure as special counsel has come under increasing scrutiny amid allegations of wrongdoing, including failing to follow classified documents security protocols himself and spying on lawmakers, so his report would hardly be worth the paper it’s printed on anyway. MORE: Fresh Humiliation for Jack Smith As Judge Kills Final Classified Docs Report Of course, Schiff is gonna Schiff, so he attacked Blanche personally:
The two went back and forth about the firing of disloyal prosecutors (why would the Trump administration keep people on who are actively undermining his agenda?), his pardoning of numerous J6 participants, and more, but it was Schiff, while trying to embarrass Blanche, who once again embarrassed himself. There’s a strong competition going on in Congress these days, but Adam “Shifty Schiff” will always be at or near the top of the list of the worst and most deceitful lawmakers. |
Jim Jordan Drops the Hammer on Larry Krasner’s Sanctuary City Stonewalling
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House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-04) subpoenaed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday after the left-wing, Soros-backed prosecutor failed to turn over records concerning his office’s immigration policies. The subpoena orders Krasner to produce the requested documents by July 29. Jordan said the committee first sought the records on May 4 and has not received a single responsive document in more than two months. The committee is investigating whether Krasner’s office has declined to prosecute or reduced charges and sentencing recommendations for noncitizens to help them avoid deportation or other immigration consequences. Jordan’s initial letter sought records dating back to January 2018, including communications with Immigration and Customs Enforcement; policies governing the prosecution and bond treatment of noncitizens; cases reviewed by the office’s Immigration Counsel; and communications with the Philadelphia Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office. Read More: Jim Jordan Zeroes in on Philly's Woke DA Krasner, Accuses Him of Bending Justice for Illegal Aliens Soros-Backed Philly DA Larry Krasner's Death Penalty Problem Just Blew Up Again The May letter cited a district attorney’s office policy encouraging prosecutors to consider “alternative plea offers or sentencing recommendations” when a conviction could carry immigration consequences. It also pointed to language from Krasner’s office stating that “low-level and nonviolent crimes should not lead to deportation or necessarily risk one’s immigration status.” Krasner was originally given until May 18 to produce the records. According to Jordan’s subpoena letter, Krasner responded that the committee’s request appeared “baseless” and lacked an accurate legal or factual foundation. Krasner also said his office was working to retain counsel and that a lawyer would respond. Jordan said that response never came. Instead, on July 7, Krasner sent another letter, one that made ad hominem attacks on committee members and attempted to impose conditions on his cooperation. Jordan wrote:
The committee announced the subpoena Wednesday evening, accusing Krasner of ignoring its requests for months and using prosecutorial discretion to protect illegal aliens from immigration consequences. Krasner has argued that decisions involving charging, pleas, and sentencing belong to state and local officials rather than Congress. In a previous response to Jordan and Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05), he attacked both lawmakers for what he called "legal errors" and accused them of adhering to "election denialism" and "climate change denialism," while noting, pointedly, that neither had passed the bar. Jordan rejected Krasner’s jurisdictional argument, citing the House Judiciary Committee’s authority over immigration policy, criminal law enforcement, and judicial proceedings. The subpoena letter also cited Supreme Court decisions recognizing Congress’s broad investigative authority when lawmakers are considering potential legislation. Jordan said local prosecution policies become a federal concern when they are designed to interfere with immigration enforcement. The committee wrote:
Jordan also raised the possibility that preferential treatment based on citizenship or immigration status could violate federal civil rights laws. The letter cited a Justice Department investigation into similar charging and plea-bargaining policies in Fairfax County, Virginia. Krasner responded Wednesday by calling the subpoena "yet another step in authoritarian efforts to do dirt in the dark" and to pressure state prosecutors.
The dispute comes as Philadelphia officials have expanded efforts to restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. City lawmakers approved a package of “ICE Out” measures in April, although a federal judge later blocked the city from preventing ICE agents from concealing their identities during enforcement operations. Jordan said the requested records could inform legislation targeting sanctuary jurisdictions. The committee previously advanced the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026 and is considering changes to immigration law that would allow federal officials to consider admissions of guilt, rather than convictions alone, when determining deportability and eligibility for immigration benefits. Krasner now has until July 29 to produce the documents the committee first requested in May. Whether he complies, or continues to stonewall, will determine whether the standoff escalates further. |
Leftist Women Are an Abomination
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A 43-year-old Trump-hating American woman named Jamey Carney
decided to move to Ireland to escape the Bad Orange Man’s reign of terror, shack up with her Palestinian asylum seeker boyfriend, and… well, that misadventure ended about as well as a sentence that begins “I thought the pitbull looked cute, so I petted it…” or “But I thought I could fly…” Spoiler Alert: Her Muslim dreamboat got mad at the uppity infidel and bludgeoned her to death.
Who could’ve seen that coming except anybody with eyes? It’s kind of amazing how Darwinism results in a self-cleaning gene pool. No, I would prefer that she had not been murdered by the semi-human, Third World savage she decided was a viable alternative to a nice, normal Western male, but my bandwidth of caring is necessarily limited. One can only genuinely care a finite amount; pretending to care endlessly and without limits is just moral posturing, of which there is far too much. That’s why one must carefully curate what he chooses to care about. Neither you nor I can possibly care about all the wrongs in the world, and we should not take some of that precious caring that would otherwise be devoted to someone who is not the architect of her own miserable fate and squander it on someone who is. The point here is not the bad judgment of one dumb liberal woman from America. The point is the bad judgment of an enormous number of dumb liberal women from all over the West. These self-righteous crones are a pestilence, a plague upon Western society, a group of doggedly ignorant feminist/chauvinists playing out their personal psychodramas on the world stage whose antics, if unchecked, will inevitably lead to the fall of civilization. Too extreme? Look around you at what’s going on. These creatures range from the ridiculous blue-haired faildaughters with gender studies degrees and a career in baristaing, to the gray-maned boomer women reeking of patchouli and sexual dissatisfaction at your local No Kings rally, to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor who decided she needed to shut down Europe’s greatest economic power’s entire energy industry even as she was importing most of the Third World with utterly predictable rapey consequences. Just look at this lunatic who stands a significant chance of being a Senate nominee for a major political party. The patriarchy built a civilization; the mediocre matriarchy wants to tear it down out of guilt, boredom, and sexual frustration. If you’re looking for policy that’s not just bad but civilization-shakingly bad, there’s a better-than-even chance there’ll be women-identifying women behind it. Orwell called it in "1984": “It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies and nosers-out of unorthodoxy.” If it’s a bad idea, chances are there’s a chick behind it. And that includes empowering the trans nonsense—do you think for a minute that dudes with the whole sausage shelf swinging would ever be allowed in women’s locker rooms if there weren’t significant numbers of high-status women demanding it? Do you imagine that the majority of men would refuse a majority of women who were demanding we exclude these perverts? Hell no—the guys would look at the women as if they were crazy, asking, “Wait, there are dudes doing what?” and out would come the torches n’ pitchforks. But, in fact, it’s women who demand that these creeps be allowed to invade women’s intimate spaces and women who demand that these mutants dominate women’s sports. Not all women, but enough high-status and influential ones to make it happen. Remember, the only thing these broken women hate more than men is unbroken women. This is the cue for critics to whine and complain because I’m talking about the specific and particular failures of women. Remember, we must pretend that every specific group, except straight white dudes who believe in Jesus and normal genders, each provides its own wonderful and unique attributes to the beautiful tapestry that is diversity. And yet, while we’re required to pretend that each group has uniquely compelling good points, even where the evidence demonstrates to the contrary, we’re also required to pretend that none of them has uniquely compelling negative points. Well, when women screw up, they often screw up in a uniquely female way. And, at the risk of being called a sexist oppressor even harder than usual—because they’re always going to call you a sexist oppressor—that’s the truth, and it’s irrelevant that some feminist doxie cries when she hears it. Now, of course, men also screw up in their own uniquely compelling male ways. Take what just happened in Maine. We have both Herr Oystergruppenführer, a guy who appears almost as a parody of toxic masculinity, as well as the up-talking femboy socialist consultant who thought that this was just the guy to take on that fascist demon Susan Collins. Maybe he thought that a red flag was a good thing; after all, he was a communist. But the subject at hand is women and how women screw up, and women do screw up even if saying so ticks off the girlbosses. At the individual level, we see how Platneresque convicts on death row are often inundated with mash notes from women on the outside. When they finally get led over to Old Sparky, you always read about how the wife they married while in prison sobbed to the reporter about how their three-named monster hubby was really a wonderful and gentle soul, totally oblivious to the four people he chopped up with an axe after robbing them for $12. The unfortunate Jamey Carney is akin to these nitwits. She was living in New York and the mother of a 13-year-old daughter, but then Trump came along, and she was so mad at him that she decided to move to the Emerald Isle. At a Palestinian protest, of course, she met Ahmad Al-Saqar, a 28-year-old dude also living in Ireland—on the dole, naturally—and they fell in love. Well, she fell in love. He beat her brains out around July 7-8. Gee, how could this fairytale romance have gone so wrong? Writ larger, she was one of those ridiculous ladies who stand there with a sign that says, “Refugees Welcome,” demanding that even more perverted Third World peasants flood her country. Like gays for Palestine, it’s a societal suicide pact that they somehow think they’re exempt from. The numbers are undeniable. The majority of rapes in Europe are linked to migrants, even though they make up less than 10 percent of the population in many countries. But does that stop liberal women? No, it probably encourages them. Oh, I don’t think they want to be raped and beaten to death personally, but I think that they believe, at some level, that members of their own society deserve that fate. They believe their societies are evil, which naturally makes them the heroines in the young adult novel that is their lives, and they’re trying to atone for it by this ritual humiliation and sacrifice. You see this all the time, with ridiculous lefty women demanding that we defund the police and close prisons while female judges sentence violent psychopaths to probation. They cast it as mercy and grace, but it’s not. They’re seeking to punish the rest of us for the sins they have adjudicated us guilty of committing as a society. In other words, they know full well the damage they’re doing. It’s intentional. It’s penance. Some, like Carney, have convinced themselves that their advocacy for the destruction of their own society will give them a free pass. They simply don’t understand that the foreigners they adore as the avengers of all the myriad wrongs they attribute to their own society hold them, correctly, in utter contempt. Ahmad Al-Saqar always despised the late Ms. Carney for her weakness and stupidity, just like these savages always despise their Western cheerleaders for their weakness and stupidity. When she annoyed him, he murdered her because that’s what happens in his garbage culture. Ms. Carney could not conceive of that because she grew up in a civilized culture, one created, ordered, and defended by the kind of strong American males she holds in such contempt. It’s only in such a society that she and the other liberal wine women so despise that her brand of ideological frivolity cannot merely survive, but flourish. Yet, as soon as they encounter the barbarians outside the gate that she and her friends want to cast open to the invaders, they are suddenly outside the protection they have known all their lives. They can act the fool while people they hate watch over them and protect them, but once they put themselves in a position where the men of the West can’t protect them anymore, they are subject to all the consequences of their choices. And that’s why Jamey Carney is dead. It’s sad for her, but it’s infinitely sadder for our society as a whole. Again, we have only a finite amount of sincere caring allocated to us. At some point, people need to learn not to put their hands on the stove. Yet they’re happy to risk being burned as long as the rest of us go up in flames. For that reason, we should devote the same amount of sincere caring to her and her ilk as they devote to us. |
Oh, the GOP Just Got Some Very Good News About the 2026 Midterms...
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The good news is that the Democratic Party isn’t gaining momentum as we reach the dog days of summer. The bad news is that we still have a long way to go until Election Day. A new phase of the conflict with Iran has begun, prices could rise, and the issue of affordability might once again hurt President Trump and the Republican Party’s numbers. Even before this latest generic poll was released, the president needed to boost his favorable ratings, and gas prices had to come down. There’s no alternative here: the price must come down. Full stop. But we digress. RealClearPolitics’ election analyst Sean Trende posted something yesterday that probably irritated liberals. He believes soft Republicans are returning, but right now, we’re in a place where it’s not unlikely that Republicans win the House:
Don’t pop champagne or get too excited, but it’s worth watching. In North Carolina, a Democratic firm, Public Policy Polling, found that former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, once very popular, is leading Republican and former RNC chair Michael Whatley by only four points. Even PPP admits the GOP has a chance to win here—Whatley needs to boost his name recognition, which he’s trying to do by completing a 100-county tour of the state. A GOP win here would almost end Democrats’ long-shot hopes for the Senate. The House was more likely to flip, but even that remains uncertain. The Democrats lack a clear message beyond ‘we hate Trump,’ and they have no solid agenda. Their brand is weak, and their polling numbers are poor. Their leaders are unpopular, and now they’re dealing with a socialist insurgency that further complicates messaging efforts, while possibly draining resources needed to defend candidates seen as more electable and incumbents. Oh, and the Democrats are almost broke. |
5-Hour Grilling: Blanche confronts Democrat attacks and GOP skepticism in bid to lead DOJ
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced an intense, five-hour grilling before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as he sought confirmation to permanently lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). The anticipated hearing arrived at a tumultuous moment, with Blanche navigating criticism from Democrats over his loyalty to President Donald Trump and skeptical questioning from Republican senators whose support is critical to his confirmation. Given the current makeup of the committee, Blanche cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the panel to advance his nomination, analysts say. Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s defense attorney before being tapped as Deputy Attorney General and subsequently taking over as the department’s acting head, began the session by describing his leadership as a necessary course correction. Opening the hearing, he reflected on his path to the witness table and sought to reassure lawmakers of his commitment to the agency.
He went on to emphasize that the DOJ is actively working to rebuild its reputation, stating, “In recent years, we watched [how] the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public’s faith in justice. We are fixing that.” However, Democrats on the committee repeatedly challenged him, painting Blanche’s actions as those of a personal lawyer rather than an independent chief law enforcement officer. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) confronted the nominee over structural shifts and personnel changes within the agency as well.
The most contentious line of questioning centered on the creation and subsequent withdrawal of the Trump administration’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which was initially designed to compensate those, regardless of political leaning or ideology, who have been wronged by the previous Biden administration. This emerged from a settlement over the president’s stolen tax returns. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) pressed the nominee closely on the matter.
Additionally, Cornyn focused heavily on the availability of mail-order abortion pills, applying pressure on the nominee over the DOJ’s litigation strategy.
While Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another crucial Republican vote, suggested he was inclined to support Blanche, he also demanded assurances that the fund could not be resurrected. Blanche responded, “Absolutely.” Tillis continued to pressure Blanche on Republican concerns regarding the administration’s policies, though he later turned the tables on his Democrat colleagues, accusing them of absolute hypocrisy. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) actively defended the nominee while focusing heavily on GOP priorities, specifically election security and the Trump administration’s legal settlements. Lee also raised concerns regarding voter registration, highlighting that many states have refused to hand over unredacted voter rolls to the DOJ, and that courts have repeatedly sided with them, which he argued makes it virtually impossible to enforce laws prohibiting noncitizen voting in federal elections. He then pressed Blanche on whether the stalled, Trump-backed SAVE America Act would provide the DOJ with the clear authority needed to protect election security — a point on which Blanche fully agreed.
Later in the hearing, following a tense exchange between Blanche and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lee notably stepped in to read a supportive letter into the record from the Newark Police Superior Officers Association, which praised the nominee’s commitment to the rule of law and due process.
At one point, the hearing forced Blanche to defend his past private representation of the president. Facing judgment over a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who criticized Blanche’s involvement and referred the matter to the New York Bar Association, Blanche heavily pushed back.
When asked by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) whether Trump had ever ordered him to break the law, Blanche answered flatly, “Absolutely not”.
The DOJ’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files also drew scrutiny, particularly regarding some redaction mistakes that left a few victims’ personal details exposed. While refusing a performative request from Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to personally meet with the survivors, Blanche took responsibility for the administrative errors.
The hearing concluded after roughly five hours.
What Comes Next Wednesday’s hearing was just the initial Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. For Blanche to be officially confirmed, he must first clear two major hurdles. Committee Vote: The Senate Judiciary Committee must vote on whether to recommend his nomination to the full Senate. Due to the committee’s tight numbers, he cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the panel without risking a tie that could stall his nomination. Day two of the proceedings continues on Thursday, and it will feature testimony from an outside panel of witnesses. Once the hearings conclude, the committee will typically hold a business meeting in the coming weeks to formally debate and vote on whether to send his nomination to the Senate floor. Full Senate Vote: If the committee approves him, his nomination will head to the floor of the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. |
Mike Rogers Pledges Made-in-Michigan Jobs, Slams El-Sayed and Stevens
Mike Rogers is not hiding his playbook. In a recent interview on the John Solomon Reports podcast, the Trump‑endorsed former congressman laid out a blunt, job‑first message for Michigan voters and aimed a steady stream of criticism at both Democratic primary candidates — Abdul El‑Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens. If you like plain talk about jobs, tariffs, and protecting American workers, Rogers wants you to know he’s the steady hand in this race.
Rogers’ pitch: jobs, tariffs, and a made‑in‑Michigan promise
Rogers made his priorities simple: lower energy costs, defend Michigan auto jobs, fight unfair Chinese competition, rebuild the defense industrial base, and bring skilled trades back to high schools. He praised the “Trump plan” and tariffs as tools that are already helping the auto industry — a line that will play well with autoworkers who remember when our factories mattered most. That message is classic conservative economics: protect American jobs first and stop policies that ship our future overseas.
Policy, not platitudes — a plan for workers
He didn’t just throw out slogans. Rogers talked about real plug‑ins for Michigan’s economy — targeted tariffs that make trade fair and aggressive steps to revive manufacturing. He also stressed career training in high schools so students don’t graduate into a job market that has been hollowed out. Voters who want practical steps to protect autoworkers and defense jobs will hear a clear contrast between that and the Democrats’ abstract promises.
Democrats on deck: socialism scares and candidate squabbles
Rogers used the interview to warn about Abdul El‑Sayed’s ties to the left flank of the party. He pointed to endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez and criticized El‑Sayed’s past comments and associations — suggesting voters should be skeptical of someone who, in Rogers’ words, can “weave a pretty good story about why socialism is good for you.” He also raised questions about El‑Sayed’s responses to violent incidents and media allies with extremist remarks — red flags he expects to use in the general election if El‑Sayed wins the primary.
Haley Stevens: establishment pick, vulnerable on jobs
On the other side, Rogers mocked the idea that Stevens is the moderate safe choice. He accused her of backing California EV mandates and being wrapped up in social issues that he says hurt Michigan’s auto base. Democrats have poured tens of millions into the race to prop her up, and Senator Gary Peters has officially endorsed her as the “ready on day one” alternative. That may comfort party leaders, but Rogers argues Michigan voters want results, not Washington hand‑wringing. With the primary approaching, Republicans smell opportunity — and Rogers is running like he means to take it.
The real story here is simple: this race will be fought over jobs and who shows they will put Michigan workers first. If Rogers keeps his message sharp and keeps reminding voters that trade policy, energy costs, and skills training matter more than political theater, he will make this seat a top flip target in November. Michigan voters will decide which vision — made‑in‑Michigan prosperity or more national experiments — best fits their future. That’s the choice, and Rogers is betting voters will pick work over words.
DHS Pulls ICE Off Traffic Stops as Trump Demands They Keep Going
The Department of Homeland Security has quietly told Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop most vehicle stops nationwide after two ICE officers fatally shot drivers in separate encounters — one in the Houston area and one in Biddeford, Maine. The pause, circulated to field supervisors in an internal memo or email, is being billed as temporary and narrowly tailored, but it already looks like a blunt instrument: it halts a basic enforcement tool while investigations and protests unfold. For communities that want borders enforced and for agents who need clear rules, this is a mess dressed up as caution.
What the DHS pause actually does
The guidance reportedly suspends most vehicle stops except for cases targeting serious criminals, with planned training and reviews during the break. Acting ICE Director David Venturella and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin are said to be involved in the review. President Donald Trump publicly pushed back, urging ICE not to give up traffic stops and arguing the tactic is vital. So the message from Washington is mixed: “stand down” on one hand and “don’t stop” on the other. That kind of confusion is exactly what puts officers and the public at risk.
Leadership and politics are driving operations
When politics runs the show
Let’s not pretend this is only about training. ICE has been under intense political pressure for months, with fights over DHS funding and ongoing attacks on tactics used to arrest illegal immigrants. Tom Homan, the administration’s “border czar,” calls the pause temporary. But when leadership keeps changing, and when senior officials fall back to headlines instead of solid policy, the field feels the tremors. Agents are told to act aggressively one week and have their hands tied the next — morale and effectiveness suffer.
Unanswered questions and local outrage
The two victims are identified as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine. Local protests, calls for independent probes, and at least one homicide ruling by a medical examiner have followed. Yet crucial facts remain unclear: were the drivers armed, how did the stops play out, and were officers properly identified? The Office of Inspector General and local authorities are being asked to look into both cases. Those investigations matter, and they should be swift, transparent, and fair — not used as cover for a nationwide policy retreat.
A smarter way forward for enforcement and accountability
Public safety and accountability are not mutually exclusive. Federal leaders should demand clear, written policies about when vehicle stops are appropriate, invest in quick, targeted training, and equip officers with the tools to identify threats without resorting to half-measures that invite criminals to slip away. If mistakes were made, hold people accountable. But don’t throw away a necessary enforcement tool because Washington panics. Communities need ICE to be both effective and professional — and that starts with steady leadership, not headline-driven orders that please no one and endanger everyone.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
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