The Patriot Post® · Wednesday Executive News Summary
Trump at Davos: The World Economic Forum kicked off Monday in Davos, Switzerland, where prominent world leaders convene to discuss economic, political, and social issues. President Donald Trump has ruffled many European leaders’ feathers in recent days over his remarks about acquiring Greenland and tariff threats if they don’t play ball. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that a trade deal was reached in July and that Trump should honor it. Trump is also planning a signing ceremony at Davos for the Gaza Board of Peace, which Fox News described as “a new oversight body tied to the next phase of the Gaza peace plan.” Many countries have been invited to join the board, but some have concerns about accepting due to the substantial financial commitment required. French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to join; Trump threatened tariffs, but said, “He doesn’t have to join.”
SCOTUS hears Fed firing case: The Supreme Court is hearing arguments today on the issue of President Trump’s attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Trump argues that he fired Cook for cause last summer after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte referred the governor for possible mortgage fraud. The Federal Reserve Act simply states that governors may be removed “for cause” without defining the term or establishing a pathway for governors to challenge a removal. Cook argues that the intent of the Federal Reserve Act was to establish an independent central bank, and allowing the president to fire members without review would destroy that independence. The issue the Supreme Court will need to decide on is whether to overturn an earlier ruling that paused Cook’s firing or leave it in place as arguments continue.
House to vote to hold Clintons in contempt: Following Bill and Hillary Clinton’s rejection of the House Oversight and Government Reform panel’s subpoenas to appear for a closed-door deposition regarding the former president’s relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Committee Chairman James Comer announced a vote on a contempt resolution. The Clintons had offered to meet off the record with just Comer and the panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, in New York, an offer Comer called “ridiculous.” “The Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment,” he noted. “The absence of an official transcript is an indefensible demand that is insulting to the American people who demand answers about Epstein’s crimes.” The panel will hold the contempt vote today, which, if passed, will then head to the House floor for a vote.
Minnesota AG defends lawlessness: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appeared on Don Lemon’s podcast following Lemon’s involvement with anti-ICE agitators’ intrusion and disruption of worship at Cities Church. With the real possibility of charges related to violations of both the FACE Act and Ku Klux Klan Act being raised against Lemon and the agitators, Ellison, the state’s top prosecutor, dismissed such concerns. “I think that if you want to protest the behavior of a particular religious leader, then people are allowed to do that,” he asserted. “How they are stretching either of these laws to apply to people who protested in a church over the behavior or the perceived behavior of a religious leader is beyond me, but they don’t mind stretching these days.” Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the DOJ subpoenaed Ellison, as well as Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Maryland’s Democrat gerrymander: The Maryland governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission advanced a new congressional districting map to the General Assembly and the governor on Tuesday. Opponents include Maryland state Senate President Bill Ferguson, who argues that this proposal does not reflect the will of Marylanders and is objectively unconstitutional, despite the fact that it would favor his party, the Democrats, even more heavily. Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks argues the map was passed in a transparent process based on the feedback of ordinary citizens. Naturally, Republicans in a state where one in three voters broke for President Trump are unhappy with a map that will likely reduce the ratio of Democrat to Republican House representatives from 7:1 to 8:0.
Trump orders a crackdown on institutional investors buying single-family homes: President Trump’s new executive order gives Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 60 days to develop rules to prevent large institutional investors from buying single-family homes. The executive order correctly points out that young families “cannot effectively compete” with Wall Street. Trump may be exceeding the executive’s powers with this order unless Congress passes the ban as well, but Democrats have long favored such a policy. Investors such as Blackstone are thought to own as much as 2-3% of the overall housing market, with much higher proportions in the South, where their efforts have been more targeted. Some fiscal conservatives argue that the failure to build new housing in meaningful ways in the 21st century is the real issue that needs addressing, and that investors are actually a mitigating factor for the poor housing market.
7,000 foreign gangsters caught: On the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s second term, DHS noted the president’s successes in dealing with the illegal immigration crisis. Among the thousands of illegal aliens who have been detained and deported are 7,000 illegal gang members. These are “the worst of the worst,” noted DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Many of these were let in by Joe Biden and should have never been in this country. These vicious criminals murdered, assaulted, robbed, and terrorized innocent Americans for sport. But under President Trump’s and Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s leadership, ICE is turbocharged to arrest even more gang members and make America safe again.” Many of these illegals are members of infamous violent gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Getting criminals like these off the streets and out of our country should be celebrated; the nation’s immigration enforcement is to be commended.
Trump: Here are some mugshots of illegals: In a press conference yesterday, President Trump attempted to set the record straight about the ongoing ICE deportation enforcement actions in places like Minnesota. Holding a stack of mugshots, Trump showed the press corps the images of one vicious criminal after another who had been apprehended just in Minnesota. The list included convicted murderers, strong-arm rapists, and perverts who pimped out girls under the age of 13. Trump asked, “Do you really want to live with these people?” Perhaps a Minnesota-deployed ICE agent put it best earlier this week: “We’re here to arrest a child sex offender. … That’s who you guys are protecting. Insane.”
Vances announce fourth child: Children are a blessing. On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, announced some exciting news: “We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy. Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July.” The Vance family will grow to four children. In an era when nations are facing a falling birthrate crisis, what better message to send than our leaders having big families?
Headlines
President says he “won’t use force” to acquire Greenland (NY Post)
As many as 25 nations have signed onto Trump’s “Board of Peace” (CBS News)
Four ways Trump has dismantled the deep state since inauguration (Daily Signal)
China “super embassy” greenlighted in London despite national security concerns (CBS News)
Humor: JD Vance shares ultrasound of 4th child (Babylon Bee)
The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.