• Trump signs executive order dictating the price of prescription drugs: President Donald Trump announced Sunday an executive order signed this morning that he says will reduce the price of prescription drugs “almost immediately.” Trump argues that Americans pay far too much for prescriptions, sometimes “five to ten times more” for the same drug sold in other economically developed countries. The EO will introduce a “most favored nations” policy, which locks the price of prescriptions in the U.S. to the lowest negotiated price anywhere in the world. This amounts to price controls — something Republican administrations are usually against. Trump claims that the U.S. is being suckered by paying the cost of research and development for these drugs for other countries. A Rand Corporation report says Americans pay 2.7-4.2 times more for the exact same drugs compared to other nations.

• Trump to accept a new Air Force One from Qatar; Boeing losses continue: On Sunday, Donald Trump was poised to accept a “gift” from Qatar — a $400 million 747-8 jumbo jet. If the gift becomes reality, the plane will be refurbished by L3Harris defense contractors to serve as Air Force One. The gifted jet would be directed to the Department of Defense, not Trump directly, but it may be regifted to Trump’s presidential library after he leaves office. Qatari officials say the matter is still being discussed. Boeing won a contract to build the next generation of Air Force One back in 2018. At one point, the jet was expected to be delivered in 2024, but new reports say it won’t be ready until 2029. Both Trump and Joe Biden have considered canceling Boeing’s contract due to underperformance by the American giant.

• Dems storm ICE facility: Last we checked, elected leaders were supposed to represent the interests of those who elected them. Furthermore, upholding and promoting law and order is the primary job of those who have been elected. Thus, when a bunch of congressional Democrats, along with the Democrat mayor of Newark, New Jersey, were arrested after storming an ICE detention facility over the weekend, their excuse that they were just “doing their jobs” is ridiculous. As DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained, “A civilian, if they try to break into a detention facility, they will be physically restrained. Members of Congress also have to follow the law.” And there’s the rub — when it comes to illegal immigration, Democrats have long decided to ignore enforcement of our immigration laws. Now that they are once again being enforced, they are calling foul, but with absolutely no legal grounds.

• Bye Felix “Felicia”: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made it clear that, under his leadership, the DOD will no longer play along with “transgenderism.” The Pentagon on Thursday issued a directive to immediately begin moving 1,000 openly identified transgender service members out of the military. “No more trans @DoD,” Hegseth posted to X. The Supreme Court upheld the right of the DOD to ban transgenderism in the military, at least for now. Service members were given 30 days to self-identify as trans, with a deadline of June 6; reservists and National Guard members have until July 7. Applicants with a diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” will not be enlisted any longer. A December 9 report noted that there are 4,240 known troops with gender dysphoria.

• David Souter dies: Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter “died peacefully” in his home Thursday at 85. Souter retired from the Court in 2009, allowing President Barack Obama to replace him with Sonia Sotomayor. Despite Souter being a 1990 appointee of President H.W. Bush, his retirement and replacement by the left-wing Sotomayor did not change the Court’s ideological makeup. Souter was probably the last of the “stealth” candidates for the Supreme Court, chosen due to their lack of partisan rulings in lower offices. To say the least, Republicans were disappointed with Souter’s record on the Supreme Court, and even the most liberal Republican appointees since have been far to Souter’s right.

• American hostage freed: The last remaining living American hostage held by Hamas will soon be coming home. On Sunday, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family.” Trump praised the efforts of mediators in Qatar and Egypt who helped negotiate Alexander’s liberation, adding, “Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!” Alexander is an Israeli soldier with dual American citizenship. His release is seen as progress toward a ceasefire agreement.

• Zelensky/Putin rendezvous? In apparent response to European leaders threatening “massive” new sanctions against Russia if it failed to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks between the warring nations in Istanbul, Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly responded via a post on X, stating, “I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.” Donald Trump endorsed Putin’s offer, stating on Truth Social, “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.” This development could be a promising step toward seeing this war end.

• India/Pakistan ceasefire: Following four tense days between the nuclear powers of India and Pakistan, in which many feared the conflict could escalate into a full-blown war, the two sides have agreed to a ceasefire, thanks to efforts by U.S. officials. Specifically, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with leaders from both nations after the Trump administration had initially taken more of a hands-off approach. As Donald Trump explained on Saturday, “It was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much.” Credit for deescalating this situation lies with both Rubio and Trump, and it further demonstrates why a lack of strong U.S. leadership that existed during the Biden administration allowed for situations like the Ukraine war to ignite in the first place.

Headlines

• Stephen Miller: “Habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion” (Hot Air)

• DHS defends ICE detainment of Georgia college student who violated traffic laws (Fox News)

• Hegseth orders end to race consideration in admissions at military service academies (Military.com)

• Trump admin fires top U.S. copyright official days after terminating Librarian of Congress (Fox News)

• Trump executive order to turn LA into housing center for up to 6,000 homeless veterans (Washington Examiner)

• Department of Education launches Title IX investigation into Western Carolina University (Ed.gov)

• NOAA will cease updating its “billion-dollar disaster” tally that researcher says is flawed (Just the News)

• 71% of Democrats want Elon Musk to be thrown in prison (Not the Bee)

• Former Los Angeles County sheriff unleashes on Dems after switching parties (Fox News)

• Planned Parenthood is now the second-largest provider of so-called “gender-affirming hormones” (Daily Wire)

• Humor: Hero Bernie Sanders buys another house to make sure the rich people don’t get all of them (Babylon Bee)

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