The Patriot Post® · Tuesday Executive News Summary
- Jimmy Kimmel (sort of) returns tonight: The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, announced yesterday that Jimmy Kimmel will be returning to his eponymous late-night show this evening. Kimmel’s show was suspended last week after he falsely claimed that Charlie Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA guy. What followed was outrage from many on the Left, erroneously claiming that Kimmel was a victim of free speech suppression, highlighting “threatening” comments from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In reality, it appears that Disney made its decision after broadcasting groups Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcasting announced that they would not air Kimmel’s show due to his incendiary comments. However, with public pressure mounting, Disney reversed course. The problem is that Sinclair, which owns nearly 40 ABC affiliates, is still refusing to air Kimmel’s show until he apologizes to Kirk’s family and donates to Turning Point USA. So is Nexstar, which owns 32 stations. (Updated)
Tylenol linked to autism? On Sunday, during Donald Trump’s address to the massive crowd gathered for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, he said, “I think we’ve found an answer to autism — autism. How about that?” On Monday, Trump, flanked by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, said, “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it.” He added, “ Fight like hell not to take it.” Why? Well, according to Kennedy, recent studies have linked pregnant women’s Tylenol use to autism. Kennedy noted that one in 31 children in the U.S. is affected by autism, which is five times higher than when the CDC first began surveying for the condition back in 1992. Despite Kennedy’s warning, scientists have been quick to point out that these studies have not actually identified a causal link between Tylenol and autism.
Homan bribery allegation or entrapment? White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt flatly denied allegations that Border Czar Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 payment from undercover FBI agents. The story originated from reporting by MSNBC alleging that Homan was offered the payment before the election in exchange for help securing government contracts after Trump took office. Leavitt explained that Homan never accepted the money and that the offer itself was an example of the weaponized Justice Department under Joe Biden. Others have pointed out that this was a field investigation in Texas, not a sting operation ordered by Washington. It’s difficult to see what charges could be leveled against Homan. Even if he had taken the money, a conspiracy requires two individuals who intend to commit a crime, and bribery requires a quid pro quo arrangement that did not occur.
The president can fire an executive branch employee: Donald Trump got another win from the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday after the justices overturned a lower court’s injunction against his firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. The lower court had ordered Slaughter reinstated while her challenge to Trump’s firing of her proceeded through the courts. In overturning the lower court, the justices have not ruled on the merits of Trump’s argument that, as the head of the executive branch, he has the authority to fire individuals from so-called independent executive branch agencies. However, the justices’ action here indicates their interest in weighing in on the question of the constitutionality of independent executive branch agencies. As for Slaughter, she will now remain fired until her lawsuit is resolved.
Pentagon media crackdown: The right to a free press was enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution because the pressures and incentives on a government are so strongly directed toward controlling information. That’s why a recent change at the Pentagon is raising eyebrows. Journalists covering the Pentagon will be asked to sign a pledge not to publish even unclassified information that has not been authorized for release, or else risk losing access to the Pentagon. Leaks and unauthorized disclosures have already caused issues for Pete Hegseth’s Department of War in Trump’s second term (ahem — Signal), so the desire to stop leaks is understandable. Still, when constitutional law scholar Jonathan Turley says an action poses a threat to core free press protections, it pays to listen.
Secret Service disables massive hidden telecom network in NY: “The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” said Secret Service Director Sean Curran of the massive telecom network the Secret Service seized in New York in recent weeks. Law enforcement announced this morning that more than 300 SIM servers, comprising over 100,000 SIM cards, were discovered in abandoned apartment buildings at five sites. The operation was capable of sending over 30 million texts per minute, which could be used to disable communication networks in the Big Apple through distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. The timing of this announcement is significant, as 150 world leaders are arriving in the NYC area for the UN General Assembly this week. This operation involved substantial resources, which limits the possible suspects to geopolitical foes, with China at the top of the list.
DHS won’t comply with CA mask ban: On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Secret Police Act into law. The law was intentionally aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who often wear masks to protect their identity when conducting raid operations. The law would clearly put ICE agents and their families at risk from criminals. On Monday, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called California’s law “unconstitutional.” In a posting on X, DHS observed a “1,000% increase in assaults” on ICE agents and called Newsom’s law “a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt.” DHS will not comply with the masking ban, with acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli stating, “The State of California has no jurisdiction over the federal government. If Newsom wants to regulate our agents, he must go through Congress.”
Congress says Russian kidnapping schemes in Ukraine amount to state-sponsored terrorism: Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are co-sponsoring a bill that would add Russia to the short list of state sponsors of terrorism over its kidnapping of Ukrainian children. Currently, only Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea bear that label. The reports from Ukrainian leaders say 19,546 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and taken to more than 210 facilities in Russia, half of which are controlled by the government. The “Ukraine 5 AM” coalition says the number of kidnapped children is much higher, between 260,000 and 700,000. At 39 of the Russian facilities, older children are believed to undergo military training to join the Russian war machine in Ukraine. This bill represents an attempt to force the hand of President Trump, who has been slow to use harsh measures against Russia as he pursues a peace settlement.
Headlines
TPUSA announces star-studded lineup of campus speaking dates after Charlie Kirk’s murder (NY Post)
Woman in “Make America Kind Again” shirt decapitates Trump effigy (Not the Bee)
Russia and Iran set to sign new nuclear deal (Newsweek)
Greta removed from leadership of flotilla protesting Israel (Not the Bee)
Humor: AOC loses debate against cardboard cutout of Charlie Kirk (Babylon Bee)
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