Thursday, April 2, 2026

April 2, 20-26

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Trump Says Core Objectives of Iran War are Nearing Completion . . . President Donald Trump declared in a primetime address that Operation Epic Fury is closing in on its objectives, vowing Iran could be sent "back to the stone ages" within weeks. He outlined plans to cripple Tehran's navy, air force, and missile systems while blocking any nuclear path and choking off terror support. The aggressive timeline underscores a high-risk escalation with sweeping military aims and global stakes. Breitbart

Trump laid out his war goals in the clearest terms yet, an apparent effort to combat the narrative that he hasn't thought this through. Still, he's making the error of providing a timeline, which is likely an attempt to calm oil markets—and the MAGA base.

From his remarks:

"As I stated in my announcement of Operation Epic Fury, our objectives are very simple and clear," he said. "We are systematically dismantling the regime's ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders," Trump said.

"That means eliminating Iran's navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their air force and their missile program at levels never seen before, and annihilating their defense industrial base. We've done all of it. Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone, their missiles are just about used up or beaten. Taken together, these actions will cripple Iran military, crush their ability to support terrorist proxies, and deny them the ability to build a nuclear bomb. Our armed forces have been extraordinary. There's never been anything like it militarily."

Five key takeaways from Trump's Iran address

Trump Claims Gold Star Families Told Him to 'Finish the Job' in Iran

Politics

Justices appear skeptical on reversing birthright citizenship . . . Some conservative-leaning justices had hard questions for Solicitor General John Sauer on Wednesday when he argued to reverse nearly 130 years of precedent on birthright citizenship. The case involves Trump's executive order instructing agencies not to recognize citizenship for U.S.-born children without at least one parent who is an American citizen. Notably, three Trump-appointed justices asked tough questions of Sauer. Justice Amy Coney Barrett seemed the most skeptical, calling the government's argument "puzzling" and potentially "messy" to apply. Daily Signal

Trump Attends SCOTUS Argument, Prompts Tirade by Angry House Democrat

Déjà vu: Hunter Biden whistleblower documentary ads 'suppressed' by Big Tech, lawyers suggest . . . Backers of a documentary on IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler say their effort is running into familiar digital roadblocks, alleging Facebook, X, and Google are suppressing ads funding the project. Tristan Leavitt of Empower Oversight warned GOP leaders the film, centered on claims the Hunter Biden probe was slow-walked, is being quietly throttled. The dispute revives sharp concerns over Big Tech's power to shape which politically sensitive stories gain traction. Just the News

Trump eyes Bondi ouster amid Epstein file frustrations . . . President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing whether to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi, citing growing frustration with her Justice Department leadership and handling of the Epstein files. Sources say he has floated EPA chief Lee Zeldin as a possible replacement, though no final call has been made. Bondi allies push back, pointing to recent public appearances with Trump, but the internal churn signals tension at the top of the administration. New York Times

Johnson backs down in DHS standoff, drops immigration funding fight . . . House Speaker Mike Johnson reversed course in a high-stakes DHS funding clash, abandoning a House-backed stopgap with immigration enforcement money in favor of a bipartisan Senate deal brokered with John Thune that omits it. The shift, coming just days after Johnson's tougher stance, drew immediate fire and claims of a cave-in. Washington Examiner

California chaos: $180 billion fraud cloud shadows Newsom era . . . A City Journal report claims California's $300 billion budget has been riddled with at least $180 billion in suspected fraud during Governor Gavin Newsom's tenure, pointing to systemic breakdowns in oversight. From pandemic-era unemployment payouts to alleged "ghost" healthcare providers and misused homelessness funds, the state is portrayed as a soft target for crime rings. Daily Wire

Carville vows that Democrats will go after Trump's 'stupid jacka-- kids and their spouses' after midterms

Virginia Democrats sweat early voting returns on redistricting referendum . . . Virginia's Democratic-backed redistricting referendum is faltering as early voting shows Republican districts outpacing Democratic turnout, despite the party spending tens of millions to push the measure. Panic is spreading, with officials urging Gov. Abigail Spanberger to rally voters, while Republicans claim a real shot at blocking the proposal that could have handed four GOP-held House seats to Democrats. Washington Times

The gerrymander would leave Virginia with a single Republican House seat. Compared to 10 for Democrats.

Culture

Leftist Crowd Melts Down After Librarian Fired For Pushing Trans Agenda On Kids . . . A Tennessee library board in Rutherford County fired director Luanne James after she defied an order to move transgender-themed children's books to the adult section, igniting a raucous showdown in Murfreesboro. Activists flooded the meeting with shouting as the board held firm, arguing the material should require parental involvement. James claimed a First Amendment violation, but the board voted 8-3 to remove her. Daily Wire

Books included "The Gender Wheel," "Who Are You? The Kids Guide to Gender Identity," and "When Aidan Became A Brother" — a picture book about a gender-confused girl who started identifying as a boy.

Mamdani's NYC parks department pushes DEI as $33M cuts strain workforce . . . As the New York City Parks Department grapples with a $33 million budget cut and staffing shortages, internal records show it is directing supervisors to act as "antiracist" enforcers focused on policing microaggressions and sparking race-centered discussions. Training from its diversity office emphasizes spotting subtle slights tied to identity, even as operational pressures mount, raising questions about priorities inside an agency already stretched thin. Washington Free Beacon

Why Catholicism is drawing in Gen Z men . . . Attendance at St. Joe's Sunday wine social has jumped from 60 to 200 as young adults seek connection, tradition, and beauty in a world dominated by career and consumption. Father Endorf cites a search for purpose beyond materialism, while attendees praise the church as a real-life "third space" and a place for genuine relationships. Some even link the surge to conservative activist Charlie Kirk's recent death and his interest in Catholicism. Washington Post

National Security

China revives South China Sea island push, constructing a massive new base . . . After nearly a decade-long pause, China has resumed island construction in the South China Sea, turning Antelope Reef into a potential military stronghold with new runways, missile sites, and surveillance outposts. Analysts warn the buildup strengthens Beijing's regional grip and civilian infrastructure claims, while the U.S. backs nations like the Philippines in resisting Chinese expansion. The move tightens China's control over waters critical to any Taiwan conflict. Wall Street Journal

Money

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez push pause on data centers to 'save humanity' . . . Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled a bill to halt all data center construction, citing threats from AI, job losses, privacy breaches, and environmental damage. The legislation demands a moratorium "until strong national safeguards are in place," giving Congress time to weigh risks to workers and democracy. Washington Times

Why do I think they are making sense when they never make sense?

America's white-collar bloodbath deepens as AI becomes top reason for layoffs in March . . . America's layoff wave is taking a sharper edge as artificial intelligence emerges as a leading trigger, tied to a quarter of March's 60,620 job cuts. Giants like Amazon, Dell, Oracle, and Meta are trimming workers while funneling billions into AI and data centers, signaling a stark tradeoff. The fallout is spreading beyond tech, with transportation layoffs exploding to record levels. Daily Mail

You should also know

LIFTOFF: Successful Artemis II Launch Sends Astronauts Into Deep Space . . . NASA blasted four astronauts into deep space aboard Artemis II, marking the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in over 50 years. The Orion spacecraft lifted off from Kennedy Space Center and will spend 10 days looping around the moon, pushing farther from Earth than any humans before. Touted as a cornerstone for lunar bases and Mars ambitions, the mission revives big-budget space exploration with high stakes and renewed scrutiny. Daily Signal

Guilty Pleasures

Who's your daddy? U.K. court stumped by identical twins in paternity showdown . . . A U.K. court ruled it's impossible to determine which of two identical twins fathered an 8-year-old child after the mother had sex with both just days apart. The twin listed on the birth certificate acted as the legal father until the breakup sparked a legal battle, with the other twin seeking recognition. Judges concluded science cannot untangle the genetic deadlock, leaving paternity—and legal responsibility—ambiguous. Fox News

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