Rep. Ralph Norman to Newsmax: House GOP Frustrated With John Thune

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Newsmax on Thursday that he is among a group of House Republicans refusing to vote on any Senate legislation until the upper chamber begins the process of a "walking filibuster" aimed at advancing the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early," Norman said several GOP lawmakers have signed a letter making clear they will block Senate bills unless Senate Majority Leader John Thune,

 

 R-S.D., and other GOP leaders push for the procedural change.

"We need two things," Norman said. "We need to go ahead and do this because we need to have the walking filibuster and need to make them take the floor and speak for as long as it takes."

The SAVE Act — formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — is backed by many Republicans who argue it is necessary to protect election integrity by ensuring only U.S. citizens participate in federal elections.

The measure reinforces existing law that prohibits noncitizens from voting while adding stronger verification requirements.

Norman said forcing a talking filibuster would require Democrats to publicly defend their opposition.

"This is to save the integrity of the ballot box of how we vote, which is constitutional," he said. "I've signed a letter along with others. We're not voting on any Senate bill until they start the process of the filibuster."

Under a traditional "walking" or "talking" filibuster, senators opposing legislation must remain on the Senate floor and continuously debate to delay a vote, rather than using modern procedural rules that allow the minority party to block measures without extended floor speeches.

Norman also expressed frustration with Senate leadership, saying some House Republicans believe the chamber should move faster to force the issue.

 "A number of us are getting very frustrated with John Thune, who has done a good job," Norman said. "But now it's time to throw caution to the wind, do away with the filibuster and or at least do the talking filibuster."

Norman also criticized Democrats over the ongoing funding standoff involving the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that withholding support during a time of international tension threatens national security.

"They're holding the whole country hostage to this," Norman said. "You've got TSA workers in airports working without pay. They have families and bills to pay."

He accused Democrat leaders of prioritizing political battles over border enforcement and immigration policies.

"They are a Marxist socialist party that don't want America to succeed, nor do they want America safe," Norman said.

Republicans have increasingly pushed the SAVE Act as part of a broader effort to tighten election security ahead of future national elections.

The bill has become a key priority for conservatives who argue voter ID and citizenship verification are widely supported by Americans.

Norman said Democrats opposing such measures should ultimately be held accountable by voters.

"They need to be held accountable at the ballot box," he said. "That's where the American people can make their voices heard."

Why Can't Leftist Outlets Figure Out That It Goes Very Badly for Them When They Cross Karoline Leavitt?

Another day, another hit job on Trump and his team by a liberal, TDS-riddled mainstream media outlet… and another day when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stomps all over them by pointing out how dishonest they are.

The press has at one point or another predicted the imminent firing of virtually every member of the president’s Cabinet, from War Secretary Pete Hegseth to Health and Human Services boss RFK Jr. to Attorney General Pam Bondi. 

True, Trump did show Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem the door on March 5, but she’s still got a gig in the administration as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.

This time, it’s Politico coming out with a hot take: two of Trump’s Cabinet members are “flummoxed” by their jobs, and the implication is that Trump is seething with them.

President Donald Trump once pledged his incoming “energy dominance” team would bring about a golden age of American prosperity and global peace.

Now, 15 months later, the Trump administration’s self-described “Tiger Team” led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright appears flummoxed by the surge in global oil prices in the wake of the U.S. attack on Iran and is scrambling to head off a bout of energy-driven inflation.

Politico doesn't supply a lot to back up their assertions, instead relying on the whispers of supposed White House insiders and opinions from disgruntled people who are not in the administration. 

Neither Wright nor Burgum has seemed at all flummoxed in the slightest at recent events and hearings, with both regularly appearing publicly to tout the success of the administration’s policies.

---

FLUMMOXED? REALLY? Burgum Takes Newsom to the Cleaners on CA's Gas Prices, Then the Oil and Gas Assoc. Finishes Him Off

Energy Secretary Chris Wright Has Good News for People Concerned About Gas and Oil Prices

---

Leavitt readied her stance in the batter’s box, took measure of the pitcher, saw a low-hanging curveball coming in… and smashed the heck out of it.

Leavitt’s tweet continued, and she didn’t mince words, saying Politico provides “garbage”:

 I was literally just on Air Force One with President Trump watching Secretary Wright on television, and the President was saying he couldn’t be happier with both Doug and Chris.

There is nobody more qualified to lead in this critical moment, and to implement President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda.

Politico continues to prove they are garbage gossip trash fueled by cowardly anonymous sources.

Game, set, and match, TKO, the fat lady has sung, whatever fits. I don’t need to add commentary to her post because she said all that needs to be said.

The mainstream/corrupt/corporate/insert-your-term-here media got so used to being able to spin and lie and gaslight at will during the Obama years, the Biden nightmare, and even Trump’s first term. With the growing influence of conservative outlets like RedState, the freeing of Twitter (now X) by Elon Musk, and Trump team officials like Leavitt, who don’t just stand there and take it, leftie journos are having a hard time getting consistently called out on their BS (just ask the serial fabulists at CNN).

The 28-year-old Leavitt continues to impress, and D.C. journos might want to start thinking twice before making up stuff and printing it — or they'll soon be facing her wrath.

Axe-Wielding Psycho Picks the Wrong FL Brothers to Mess With, Will Think Twice About Actions Next Time

I’m sorry — not sorry — that I like to see the good guys win.

I live in a blue state where criminals are coddled and let right back onto the streets minutes after committing violent crimes. When I go to a movie, I am not interested in some Hollywood slop about the nuances of criminals and murderers — I want to see the hero take them out and crush Evil.

Leftists would almost certainly call me simple-minded, but a quick look at decades of box office receipts shows that I am hardly alone.

Sometimes it's satisfying to see thugs get what’s coming to them, the consequences they’ve earned through their brutality and utter disregard for innocent people. The story of Daniel Penny, the hero who took out a psychotic assailant on a New York City subway, profoundly moved me because instead of being lauded by Empire State officials, he was prosecuted by yet another George Soros-financed soft-on-crime prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Amazingly, it was too far a reach for even a NY jury, and Penny was rightfully acquitted.

---

MORE: JUSTICE SERVED: Daniel Penny Jurors Reach Their Verdict

TRAGEDY: Daniel Penny Case Shows the Utter Failure of Progressivism (VIP)

---

Luckily, Bragg has no jurisdiction in Ocala, Florida, because he’d probably bring charges against these bad boys who took down a psychopathic, axe-wielding, presumably drug-addled assailant at a car wash they were working at Sunday night:

 An ax-wielding Florida man allegedly stormed toward two teen brothers closing an Ocala car wash Sunday night before being quickly overpowered by the older brother, an 18-year-old MMA-trained military recruit.

Video released by the Marion County Sheriff's Office allegedly showed the suspect, later identified as Bryce Thayer, 36, approaching car wash workers Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old brother as they were closing for the night.

Officials said when Thayer was told to leave the property, he became "irate" and approached the brothers "in a threatening manner" while wielding an ax.

He was told to get lost:

"I was locking up all the doors, and I heard some screaming, someone yelling something," Pino told FOX 35 Orlando. "He's obviously not in the right state of mind. … He walks up to the tunnel, and that's when I tell him, ‘You have to leave, man. You got to leave.’"

He really should have listened.

The tweet continues:

Florida deputies said the man lunged at Bryce Thayer, 36, to disarm him and brought him to the ground while a second victim removed an axe from his grip

Thayer faces charges of drug paraphernalia possession and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill

He is being held on a $65,000 bond

The brave young military recruit and trained fighter explained his reaction:

"Once he lowered, that's when I shot the take-down, and I got on top of him and I controlled the situation," said Pino, who is trained in mixed martial arts (MMA). "Once I realized he wasn't letting go, that's when I threw a couple elbows until he was incapacitated. … I got him to his back, put him in a body triangle, held a rear naked choke on him and waited until the cops got there."

Ah, so satisfying. When did it become unfashionable to appreciate justice in this country?

Times are a-changin', though, and more and more voters are rejecting the “We must have sympathy for the killers, rapists, and murderers in our midst" ethos of the modern progressive.

“Do the crime, do the time” was a perfectly good motto — and I would add, do the crime, pay like this guy did. The crime rate would go down real quick.

Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.

 

Trump’s Texas Deal Dilemma

If Fredocon dreamboat David French is supporting that creepy Democrat blasphemer James Talarico, that’s all you need to know if you’re a Texan – and I am aspiring to someday be an officially certified licensed Texan once I ditch this decaying feudal nightmare that is California. You’ve got to vote for whoever has the (R) after his name. And that’s not easy. The two guys in the runoffs are flawed, and their suboptimization is either entirely or largely their own fault. It’s not fair to us as Republicans, either in Texas or in the USA as a whole. Nor is it fair to Donald Trump, the guy we elected as the leader of our movement, who is now in a tough position. He doesn’t want a runoff that spends a ton of money that could be better used winning an open seat. He also doesn’t want the two Republicans to kneecap one another and give Temu Buttigieg a chance to win in November.

Frankly, neither of these guys should be running. They should’ve taken the hit and accepted the consequences of their actions, or lack of actions, and let somebody without the baggage of a Gulf emir’s third wife on a month-long shopping trip to Paris take a shot. But no, these guys both think they’re the only ones who can do this job. It has to be them because reasons and whatever. Instead of self-sacrifice, it’s potentially sacrificing a seat, which means potentially sacrificing our country. Great work all around, guys.

We’ve got to vote for whichever one wins the primary, no matter what happens. But let’s not fool ourselves. Incumbent John Cornyn is a disaster, one of those brain-dead stiffs who thinks it’s 2002 and finds us uppity voters annoying – we cramp his style, which consists of clinking glasses with his pals while savoring the unearned respect and sycophantic tongue-bathing he gets as one of 100 of his fellow (mostly) mediocrities. The only reason he can’t sell out us conservatives is that he doesn’t actually believe in conservatism; you’re not selling out if you’re acting consistently with your total lack of any coherent paradigm of political belief.

What’s so bad about him? Well, he’s the same kind of deep Red State Republican we always seem to get, a Republican who’s neither deep nor truly red. Let’s review some of his greatest hits, which are all misses. This guy worked with the Democrats on a gun control bill. Now, you’re probably asking yourself what would possess any Republican to work with Democrats on a gun control bill. Was he hanging with a shaman and slurping ayahuasca? Did he suffer some sort of brain injury? Was it a literal possession – is Pazuzu at work? Regardless, this is the kind of guy who thinks that was a good idea.

Oh, and he also thinks amnesty is a good idea – he recently told Politico that he looks forward to helping pass comprehensive immigration reform. He’ll tell you that’s not amnesty. Of course, it’s amnesty. It’s always amnesty. And of course, he wants amnesty, because he’s that kind of Chamber of Commerce Republican. He’s also the kind of Republican who explained how George Floyd was a nice guy and how the wench who lied about Brett Kavanaugh seemed credible. He has the same soft gooey center as Jiminy Lankford, Thom Tillis, and all the other fuddocons who really, really hate Trump because Trump makes them do things. They loathe DJT as much as they fear him. Of course, if Crusty John gets reelected for his last term – he’s like 172 years old – he’ll be able to let his freak flag truly fly and undermine the President as only a lame duck can.

But, on the other hand, he will vote to organize under the Republicans and usually vote our way. That’s vital. That’s everything. And that’s as opposed to fake Christian Alfred E. Swaggert, who will support whoever knifes Chuck Schumer to be the majority leader job and will never bore our way ever. The comparison to this Talarico guy, who was probably voted “Most Likely To Have An Indictable Browser History,” is the only time Cornyn looks like a good choice.

And then there’s Kenny Paxton, the current attorney general. Between the two, I’d much rather have him in the Senate; the issue is the “getting in” part. He’s always going to vote our way. He’s always going to support what we support. He’s just got a problem. It’s his zipper. It works too well. Look, some people can get away with being a charming rogue, like Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, but it’s not like Kenny was out there tapping the talent at the Playboy mansion. His personal life is seedy and gross, and the good people of Texas don’t appreciate it. There were charges of corruption against him, at least some of which are absolute baloney. I strongly opposed the unsuccessful campaign to impeach him because that was obviously not based on anything he had actually done as far as misconduct, but because he actually stood for something politically.

Gulp down this hard-to-swallow pill: he’s damaged goods. That doesn’t make me happy to say so, but it’s true. He is a suboptimal candidate, and that is largely of his own doing. The problem is not that we will have yet another GOP senator who is no paragon of virtue. It is that we might not have a GOP senator at all. He gives Talarico a better chance to win, especially when Unitarian Elmer Gantry of the First Church of Perversions and Abortion is spouting his fake Jesus jive. David French – who’s always there to tell you what a good Christian he is and what bad ones you and those you support are because we know from scripture that the guys who talk about how devout they are are always the heroes – eats up Talarico’s act with both hands. Paxton‘s presence on the ballot will further confuse the issue for well-meaning faithful folk who vote. They might just choose to sit it out, while every atheist SSRI wine woman in Austin is going to be marking their ballot in, for them, what is the closest they will ever have to partaking in a religious ritual.

 It’s always an uphill battle for a Democrat in Texas because Texans generally have common sense. It’s a harder climb for them if facing Cornyn, who tries to come off as a normiecon, a relatively inoffensive timeserver whom Republicans who aren’t really paying attention can easily vote for. Those who know Texas believe that Kenny Paxton shaves down the hill and makes it easier for the Democrats to climb. And the Democrats want to climb it. They yearn to turn the Lone Star State blue like a Bulwark staffer’s wife yearns for the glistening torso of Pedro the Pool Boy.

Now, our choice is easy. We need to support whoever wins the runoff in May. If it’s Cornyn, vote for him. If it’s Paxton, vote for him. But President Trump, who has to look at the big picture, has a much harder choice. He feels he needs to endorse soon to short-circuit an expensive and destructive runoff. He says he expects the guy not getting the nod to drop out. The candidates don’t like that; they both want the gig. And some Texans are mad – they want to decide, though Trump can’t make them do anything, and they seem to have their own ideas about how this will go.

Paxton says he’ll get out if the Senate passes the SAVE Act (I would also demand that Trump be able to make recess appointments). Cornyn insists he supports the SAVE Act, but, oh well, he can’t do anything about it, so sorry. So, he’s basically admitting he has no heat in the Senate, and that he is functionally useless other than just showing up and being GOP. Kind of sums up his legacy.

But Trump likes the idea of a deal; he’s a deal guy. Is there a deal to be had?

Yeah, if Trump pushes it. John Thune and the establishment definitely want their pal Cornyn to win; Paxton will be a huge pain in their collective tush by not being weak and soft. Trump was reported to be leaning toward Cornyn due to massive lobbying by these guys and their media allies. However, Trump felt the pushback and got irritated at the idea that it was a done deal. Still, the deal is obvious: Trump gets the SAVE Act and recess, and they get Cornynholio. No SAVE Act and no recess, and it’s Pax your bags, Johnboy.

Trump is a dealmaker. That’s his thing. But if he picks Cornyn (which is not insane, just agonizing) and gets nothing for it, he’ll look like he got rolled by the goobers on Capitol Hill. Imagine being outplayed by the empty-suited likes of them! No, he needs the SAVE Act PASSED, not promised. He needs the recess commenced, not a deal where these wimps will gladly pay him Tuesday for a hamburger today. Oh, and he needs to drag John Cornyn out in front of the cameras to personally promise on his honor, cross his heart, hope to die, that he will never, ever, ever support another gun control bill or any kind of “immigration reform.” Texans still believe in honor; Trump will have no other power restraining this tool except to make crossing Trump an abdication of Cornyn’s personal honor. That still means something, if only as a way to make Cornyn afraid he’ll be held in contempt by his Lone Star peers if he bald-faced lies.

The Texas Senate race is suboptimal, but either guy is likely to win the general – it’s just more likely and less expensive with the incumbent. But if Trump is going to do this, he needs to do a deal – and it needs to not be one that wrecks his reputation as a master negotiator forever.

The Negotiations to Reopen the Department of Homeland Security Are NOT Going Well

Only a party that would nominate a man who was half-brain-dead would think this is good politics. Democrats think keeping the Department of Homeland Security closed while we’re under threat from terrorist reprisals is fine. We’ve had multiple terror-related incidents, some of which have cost lives, but they don’t care. 

We’re dealing with an unhinged mob of traitors and invaders—that’s the Democratic Party. This partial shutdown of DHS won’t stop the ICE raids, which are funded through 2029. It will hurt us, as we’re open to attack, and TSA agents, who are once again the Democrats’ punching bag (via NOTUS): 

With Transportation Security Administration shortages leading to longer lines at airports across the country, Democrats and Republicans are no closer to a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. 

It’s unclear whether Democrats even plan to continue trading offers with the White House. 

Negotiations have been at a standstill since the White House sent Democrats what it called a “serious counter offer” on Feb. 26. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the agency’s secretary, Kristi Noem, would be replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin didn’t lead to a deal. Ongoing effects from the shutdown haven’t either. 

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said Wednesday that talks between the Senate and the White House don’t seem to be progressing at all. 

“[Senate Majority Leader John] Thune keeps passing it off to the White House,” Durbin told NOTUS. “I assume he understands that unless the president approves it, it’s not going forward. And I don’t think there is an exchange of dialogue between Democrats and the White House going on.” 

When asked if Democrats will respond to the White House’s most recent offer, Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, did not say. 

“We have been telling the [White House] what our needs are and are waiting to hear from them,” Murray told reporters Wednesday. 

[…] 

Both sides are frustrated by the lack of movement. Thune and Murray sparred on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon after the Democratic senator moved to fund the agencies under DHS, with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Britt also proposed a continuing resolution to extend current DHS funding levels. 

“Look, this bill needs to move together and law enforcement is an important function of the federal government,” Thune told reporters Wednesday. “The question that should be posed to Democrats is, if they’re so interested in reforms, why do they want us to do something like that, which does nothing to reform ICE?” 

Democrats are asking that any bill to fund DHS include certain reforms to ICE and CBP, including requirements for judicial warrants, limits on officers wearing masks and an end to roving patrols. Their demands came after federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota. 

Judicial warrants in these circumstances are not practical, even The Washington Post’s editorial board admitted that, but the attitude the Left has here is atrocious. They want a terror attack; it would be another thing to hit Trump on, though it wouldn’t work. 

You can’t work with a party that thinks DHS isn’t critical to defending American soil. 

 

FBI issues Iranian ‘surprise’ attack warning for California

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly alerted police departments in California that in the coming days, Iran could retaliate by launching drones toward the Golden State.

This follows the United States’ late February strikes on Iran, in collaboration with Israel.

On Wednesday, the FBI distributed a bulletin to California law enforcement agencies detailing a potential retaliatory threat. The information states that Iran “aspired” to launch a “surprise” attack using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. West Coast.

 “Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert said.

 

“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” the FBI update continued.

The warning, however, provided no details on how the drone-capable ships would approach the United States undetected or launch drones from offshore. Additionally, the alert flagged an unverified tip that Mexican cartel leadership approved using explosive drones along the U.S.- Mexico border targeting American law enforcement and military personal.

Nonetheless, law enforcement sources in both Los Angeles and San Francisco have described the alert as “cautionary” rather than “imminent.” As of now, there is no corroborated intelligence regarding a specific timing, method, or confirmed vessel in position to carry out such an attack.

 

Such an attack on U.S. soil would mark a dramatic and historic escalation, and would undoubtedly prompt a significant retaliatory response from the United States. Both the White House and the FBI declined to comment on the alert.

 

Mayor Mamdani's Gracie Mansion Dinner Sparks Outrage Amid Terror Fears

New Yorkers woke this week to a stunning display of misplaced priorities from Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he publicly welcomed Mahmoud Khalil into Gracie Mansion on March 10, 2026, posting a celebratory photo that set off a firestorm of criticism. Instead of using the mayor’s bully pulpit to comfort the city’s protectors, he chose to spotlight a controversial activist already accused of sympathizing with terrorism.

 Just three days earlier, on March 7, 2026, two improvised devices were ignited during violent clashes outside the mayoral residence in what law enforcement has described as ISIS-inspired activity, and six people were arrested in the melee. The homemade jars packed with screws and a hobby fuse could have killed or maimed innocent New Yorkers, and the FBI’s joint terrorism task force is involved in the probe.

Brave NYPD officers leapt into harm’s way to stop the threat and apprehend suspects, yet instead of being celebrated at the people’s house they were effectively sidelined while Mamdani hosted a man many conservatives say should be under scrutiny. Retired law enforcement leaders and unions have publicly called the mayor’s decision tone-deaf and insulting to the men and women who put their lives on the line for this city.

Muslims Elect NYC Muslim Mayor, what a slap in the face of Americans.👉

 This isn’t just optics; it’s reality. Mamdani moved into Gracie Mansion only weeks ago and then chose to frame a dinner with Khalil as an act of honor on March 10, 2026, even as critics pointed to Khalil’s past protests and the Trump administration’s designation of him as a supporter of Hamas. For a city still reeling from a narrowly averted bombing outside its mayor’s home, that was the wrong signal at the worst possible time.

The mayor did stand with police at a March 9, 2026 press conference to praise officers who responded, but words after the fact won’t erase a pattern of mixed messages that have already eroded trust between City Hall and the cops. If Mamdani truly wants to rebuild credibility he should put those officers in the spotlight — not stage dinners that celebrate controversial figures while our finest recover from yet another close call.

Hardworking Americans deserve leaders who prioritize safety and honor courage. It’s time for Mayor Mamdani to stop grandstanding and start leading: publicly recognize the NYPD’s bravery, support thorough investigations, and make clear where his loyalties lie — with the safety of New Yorkers, not with activists whose sympathies endanger our city.

 

Trump Champions Jobs Over Elites in Ohio and Kentucky Tour

President Trump hit Ohio and Kentucky this week reminding hardworking Americans that manufacturing and real wages matter more than elite pundits admit, pressing a simple message: jobs first, Washington last. His stops at factories and plants put the spotlight back on policies that actually build prosperity and protect American industry, even as global events push prices higher. Voters tired of inflation and closed supply chains deserve a leader who shows up where the work gets done and fights for tangible results.

 While campaigning, Mr. Trump didn’t shy away from calling out Republicans who undermine conservative priorities, including a public spat with Rep. Thomas Massie and an endorsement of Massie’s challenger ahead of the May primary. This is the kind of accountability many within the party have been too timid to deliver; loyalty to voters and conservative principles should matter more than Washington comfort. If Republicans want to win in November, they must stop rewarding performative dissent and start delivering for the people who put them in office.

Security around the president remains a serious matter after a man smashed a van into a temporary barrier outside the White House and prompted a bomb squad response this week. Enough with the hand-wringing and excuses: Americans expect a zero-tolerance approach to breaches near the seat of our government, and leadership must ensure the Secret Service has the resources and clear rules to do its job. This incident is another reminder that law and order aren’t optional campaign slogans but necessities for national stability.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s relocation to military housing amid rising threats is a sobering signal of how dangerous partisan rage and criminal networks have become for public servants and their families. It’s shameful that officials dedicated to enforcing the law must be shifted into military quarters because mobs and cartels feel emboldened, and it underlines the need for tougher enforcement and real consequences for those who threaten our institutions. Conservatives should demand that protecting officials be a bipartisan priority, not a political cudgel.

Meanwhile, Manhattan’s elite Spence School was rocked by posters alleging an affair between staff members, a scandal that underscores how insulated, high-cost institutions often operate under a cloud of secrecy while preaching moral superiority. Parents who pay exorbitant tuition deserve transparency and accountability from institutions that claim to form the next generation of leaders, not whisper campaigns and cover-ups. This is emblematic of a broader rot among coastal elites who want to lecture the country while shielding their own.

Hardworking Americans are watching these stories and drawing the obvious conclusion: we need an America that values work, defends its leaders and families, and holds elites to the same standards as everyone else. That means backing leaders who deliver economic results, restoring respect for law enforcement, and demanding accountability from institutions that have grown comfortable and complacent. Stand with common-sense policies that protect our communities and preserve the freedoms that made this nation great.

CartoonDems

 

US Destroys Iranian Mine-Laying Vessels Near Hormuz as Trump Warns Against Oil Blockade

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday to remove any naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. forces struck Iranian mine-laying vessels near the critical waterway, underscoring how control of the narrow passage has become a central flashpoint in the escalating conflict and a major concern for global oil markets.

 Trump said U.S. forces had already destroyed Iranian vessels capable of laying mines in the area, part of an effort to keep the shipping lane open.

"I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine-laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!" Trump wrote Tuesday afternoon on Truth Social.

The U.S. military later said American forces had destroyed a total of 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The strikes came as the Trump administration warned Iran that any attempt to block oil shipments through the strategic channel would bring an overwhelming military response.

"If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump wrote in another Truth Social post.

Pentagon officials said the strikes on Iranian vessels were part of broader operations aimed at preventing Tehran from mining the waterway and ensuring commercial shipping can eventually resume through the strait.

U.S. Navy forces and regional partners are closely monitoring maritime activity around the channel and preparing for potential mine-clearing operations if Iran attempts to seed explosives along the route, according to U.S. defense officials familiar with the planning.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had earlier vowed to choke off oil exports from the region if U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran continue.

"We will not allow one liter of oil to be exported from the region," a Revolutionary Guards spokesperson said Tuesday, according to Iranian state media.

The intensifying rhetoric and military activity have pushed the Strait of Hormuz to the center of the war's strategic stakes. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman connects the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes and carries about one-fifth of the world's daily oil supply.

Energy exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar all pass through the strait, meaning even a partial disruption could ripple through global energy markets.

The war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has already effectively halted tanker movement through the waterway for more than a week, forcing some producers to slow or stop pumping as storage facilities fill. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally moves through the strait, making it the most critical chokepoint in global energy markets.

Despite the threat to shipping, the U.S. Navy earlier told commercial shipping industry officials it did not currently have assets positioned to escort tankers through the strait, citing safety concerns and the risks posed by possible naval mines and ongoing military operations, Reuters reported.

Pentagon officials have said the United States retains the capability to deploy naval escorts or multinational convoy operations if necessary to reopen the waterway, though no such escort mission has yet been formally announced.

Trump has said the United States could begin escorting commercial vessels if necessary to keep the waterway open, but such escorts had not yet begun.

Naval mines are widely viewed as one of Iran's most effective asymmetric weapons in a confrontation with the United States. Even a limited mining effort could halt tanker traffic and require a major multinational effort to locate and clear explosives before shipping could resume.

The uncertainty surrounding the waterway has produced dramatic swings in global energy markets.

Brent crude futures surged as much as 29% on Monday to their highest levels since 2022 as traders feared a prolonged disruption in oil flows. Prices fell more than 10% on Tuesday after Trump expressed confidence the war could end quickly and signaled the United States may take steps to ease supply shortages.

After speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said Washington could waive some oil-related sanctions on certain countries to help stabilize global supply. Officials have also discussed releasing oil from strategic reserves or adjusting U.S. export policies if the conflict tightens energy markets further.

Trump said Monday that U.S. strikes had already inflicted serious damage to Iran's military and predicted the war could end well before the initial four-week timeframe he outlined after hostilities began.

At the same time, Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appeared to signal continued resistance after assuming power Monday following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was unlikely to resume negotiations with the United States, telling PBS that talks had collapsed after Washington launched strikes despite what he described as progress in earlier discussions.

The confrontation has already caused heavy damage inside Iran, where U.S. and Israeli air and missile strikes have targeted military installations and energy facilities.

With U.S. forces destroying Iranian mine-laying vessels and Tehran threatening to choke off oil exports, the security of the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central fronts in the conflict.

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.