• Dems refuse to negotiate on DHS: The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown on Saturday after lawmakers failed to reach a funding compromise. Democrats have made several demands, including barring ICE agents from wearing masks to protect their identities from nefarious actors. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer disingenuously labeled his party’s demands as “common sense” while smearing ICE as “a rogue force … almost trained … to be nasty and mean and cruel.” Republican Senator Katie Britt countered that Americans voted for “securing our border and making sure that we actually do interior enforcement.” She also blasted Democrats for shutting down DHS, saying, “They are putting illegal immigrants in front of American citizens.” Border Czar Tom Homan also observed, “When it comes to masks, I don’t know of another law enforcement agency in the country that has an 8,000% increase in threats.”

• Federal agents suspended for lying: Something about a Minnesota traffic stop that turned into a violent struggle and left one illegal immigrant with a gunshot wound isn’t adding up. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said, “Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements.” In light of those unidentified untruthful statements, the two agents involved have been suspended while they are investigated. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that the investigation may result in the firing of these two agents. Details regarding what lies were told are still to come. In the meantime, Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor has successfully had charges against the two illegal immigrants who were believed to have assaulted immigration officers dismissed with prejudice. When ICE agents lie or do shoddy work, it makes it harder, not easier, for illegal immigrants to be deported.

• Virginia gerrymandering ballot approved by state high court: Democrats in Virginia got a win from the state Supreme Court after it greenlighted their ballot measure to gerrymander a new redistricting map. The court said the referendum, scheduled for April 21, will proceed, allowing Virginia voters to weigh in on the Democrats’ power-grab plan. Democrats have drawn a redistricting map that would likely swing four seats their way, leaving Republicans with just one of the state’s 11 congressional seats. However, the court did not rule on the merits of the Republican challenge to the legality of the Democrats’ redistricting gambit, which could upend the Dems’ whole effort. Democrats have framed their gerrymandering effort as ensuring fairness, ignoring the fact that roughly half of Virginians vote Republican.

• Meritocracy in piloting: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is concerned about the state of piloting in the U.S. A new Operations Specification will require airlines to certify that pilots are selected based on aptitude and experience, rather than other criteria such as representation or equity. Much of the new guidance and program cuts from Duffy seem aimed at his disastrous predecessor, DEI hire Pete Buttigieg. While Buttigieg touted spending more than $80 billion on DEI initiatives, Duffy is focused on keeping Americans safe when they fly. “The safety of passengers is our number one priority,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Someone’s race, sex, or creed has nothing to do with their ability to fly and land aircraft safely.”

• DOJ sues Harvard: Harvard is again in hot water with the Department of Justice, as the university has still not produced the documents regarding its admissions data requested on September 8 and 12. The DOJ agreed to extensions for the October 10 and 17 deadlines, but Harvard has still failed to comply. Therefore, the DOJ has filed a lawsuit alleging that administrators are withholding information necessary for the DOJ to determine whether racial discrimination exists in the admissions process. Because Harvard receives not only government funding but also DOJ funding, the feds retain the right to investigate and verify that Harvard is not violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. “At every turn, Harvard has thwarted the Department’s efforts to investigate potential discrimination,” accuses the lawsuit. “It has slow-walked the pace of production and refused to provide pertinent documents relating to applicant-level admissions decisions.”

• Bill Maher is clueless about science: HBO host Bill Maher has been called “one of the sane ones” on the Left due largely to his opposition to woke nonsense and willingness to call out his own side. Unfortunately, Maher has his blind spots. Over the weekend, he took issue with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s correct suggestion that CO₂ is not a pollutant and that “when we breathe we emit CO₂.” Maher suggested that Burgum sit in a closed garage with the car running to see whether carbon is a problem. Of course, the gas at issue in a closed garage is carbon monoxide, not carbon dioxide. The bigger issue with Maher’s worldview is that all life is carbon-based; carbon exchange is essential to both animal and plant life. Any worldview that makes carbon the enemy is making life itself the enemy.

• U.S. captures another sanctioned tanker: Another oil tanker in Venezuela’s “shadow fleet” has been intercepted. Some 16 tankers are believed to have fled Venezuela after the fall of Nicolás Maduro; since then, seven have been intercepted. Overnight on Saturday, the Veronica III was intercepted and boarded in the Indian Ocean after being pursued from the Caribbean. Another ship, the Aquila II, was also intercepted. Both ships were falsely flying Panamanian flags and had spent much of the last year “running dark” with their tracking transponders disabled. The Department of War informed any other tankers in the shadow fleet, “Distance does not protect you. … International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.”

• Russian opposition leader likely killed with frog poison: In February 2024, Alexei Navalny died suddenly in a Siberian prison, a day after the 47-year-old appeared to be in good health. The longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and leader of an opposition party was imprisoned because he was a threat to Putin’s power. Unsurprisingly, Russia declared Navalny died of natural causes. However, a report from five European countries rejects that claim, noting that a toxin from the poison dart frog was found in his system. No such frogs exist naturally in Russia. The report concluded. “There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body.” Navalny had survived a previous poisoning attempt, presumably done by Putin’s men, which only adds credibility to the conclusion that he was poisoned. Navalny’s widow responded, “I was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now there is proof.”

Headlines

• Department of Education opens investigation into alleged sexual assault by “trans” wrestler (OutKick)

• Trump pardons five former NFL stars for wide-ranging crimes (Fox Sports)

• Puerto Rico now recognizes babies as human beings from the moment of conception (Not the Bee)

• Switzerland will vote on a population cap (Morning Brew)

The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.