The Patriot Post® · Wednesday Executive News Summary
Trump awards two MOH during SOTU: For the first time in the history of a president’s State of the Union Address, Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to two American heroes. Trump honored 100-year-old Korean War veteran Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams for valor in combat. In 1952, Williams shot down four Soviet MiG fighter jets off the Korean coast during a half-hour-long dogfight. His actions weren’t publicly recognized for decades because his mission was secret. Trump also awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover for extraordinary heroism. Slover, a Chinook helicopter pilot, was wounded during the mission to extract Nicolás Maduro from his Venezuelan compound. “Despite the fact that the use of his legs was vital to successful helicopter flight,” Trump noted, “to deliver the many commandos who would capture and detain Maduro was the only thing Eric was thinking about.”
SOTU honorees: Last night, President Trump honored various Patriots for their contributions to their country. Team USA’s Men’s Hockey team was greeted with raucous shouts of “USA” and applause from Republicans and Democrats alike. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck was singled out for the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his fantastic goalkeeping. In a more somber moment, the family of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was ambushed and killed outside the White House last November, received a Purple Heart, as did Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolf, who survived the ambush and appeared with his mother. For his heroism following the devastating flood of a Texas summer camp last July, Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Ruskan was awarded the Legion of Merit as he stood next to the first of dozens of girls he saved.
Senate Dems block DHS funding again, blame GOP: For the second time this month, Senate Democrats voted to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that the shutdown of the agency, which has been ongoing now for 12 days, continues. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans and the White House, saying, “So far they have not budged on the key issues, like masks, like warrants, like oversight from state authorities.” In truth, it’s the Democrats who have refused to bend on their demands — demands that include the banning of masks for ICE officers and the requirement to obtain judicial warrants to enter homes of suspected illegal aliens. As Senate Majority Leader John Thune observed, “There’s room for compromise here, but only if both sides give room. Democrats aren’t doing that.”
Trump administration may require banks to collect citizenship info: In an effort to continue making it more difficult for illegal aliens to remain in the U.S., the federal government is considering a new policy requiring banks to collect citizenship information. The possible executive order is still under discussion, and its scope has yet to be decided. One document that could be used to prove citizenship status would be a passport, which around half of Americans do not have. Currently, it is not unlawful for illegal aliens to open bank accounts, and this EO may not change that. Whether banks would merely be required to note the lack of citizenship documentation or to actively close accounts without them is an open question.
Republicans will introduce bill banning illegals from becoming armed police: Today, a group of Republican lawmakers is introducing legislation dubbed the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act. The aim of the bill is to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining a firearm via a loophole in federal law — law enforcement. “Illegal aliens have no Second Amendment rights,” Sen. Tedd Budd explained. “It is irresponsible for police departments to arm illegal aliens who have blatantly ignored our immigration laws with firearms and ammunition, let alone on the taxpayers’ dime.” House cosponsor Mary Miller observed, “Law enforcement authority must be reserved for those who respect and uphold our laws, not those who are in violation of them.” While the law would not stop state and local police departments from hiring illegal aliens, it would prevent them from being armed.
Idaho anti-ICE attack: Sarah Elizabeth George of Boise, Idaho, has been arrested for an attempted arson attack. Last week, George stole an ambulance, loaded it with filled gas cans, and crashed into a building that was leasing space to the Department of Homeland Security. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, she fled on foot and was prevented from igniting the gas she had been pouring onto the lobby floor. There is not yet an official motive for her terror attack, but a quick look at her social media sheds some light on her state of mind. The FBI affidavit shows a look at her Facebook page, which features a rainbow flag with all the trimmings and a video about authoritarian misinformation. She also shared a post of the White House burning, with the message that anything that can be destroyed by the “truth” should be destroyed.
The collective warmth of a NYC snowball attack: “Kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers” — that’s what the socialist Muslim mayor of New York City saw. On Monday, uniformed officers were targeted and pelted relentlessly by snow and ice as they performed their duties. Now, a friendly snowball fight with snow flying in all directions is about as good and clean as fun can get. But when a small group is a persistent target of a howling, chanting mob lined up on either side of them, or is hounding their footsteps, it becomes a different thing entirely. That’s what police in Mamdani’s New York faced. To them, the “warmth of collectivism” probably felt rather frigid. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the behavior was criminal and that detectives are investigating.
San Fran grifting: Californians have paid billions in taxes to tackle the state’s growing homelessness crisis. But despite all that spending, the problem has only gotten worse. One reason comes courtesy of a fraud scandal involving a homeless nonprofit in San Francisco. Former United Council of Human Services CEO Gwendolyn Westbrook has been accused of pocketing over $1 million in public funding. The nonprofit received tens of millions in taxpayer funding over two decades. According to San Francisco city attorney David Chiu, “Westbrook enriched herself and misappropriated millions of dollars in public funding meant to benefit the community.” A 2022 audit of the nonprofit found that, despite receiving nearly $28 million in public funding from the city, it failed to place homeless individuals in appropriate housing, quoted inaccurate rent prices, and ignored required hiring rules.
Panama spikes canal deal with China: In light of renewed American interest in the Panama Canal, Panama gave the Chinese quite the bad day on Monday. The Panamanian Supreme Court decided that the 1997 law that gave the Chinese “Panama Ports Company” concessions to run the ports of Cristobal and Balboa on either side of the canal was unconstitutional. The court also declared the 25-year extension signed in 2021 unconstitutional. The government of Panama immediately moved to “occupy” both operations and take control of the equipment to keep canal operations running smoothly while compensation for the Chinese is determined. The future status of those ports and companies that will maintain and operate them is still in the air, but it seems clear that the Chinese will play no part.
Headlines
U.S. Attorney’s Office drops effort to indict six Democrat lawmakers who posted video on illegal orders (CBS News)
EU postpones vote on U.S. trade deal after Trump’s latest tariff threat (CNBC)
Newsom press team blasts reporter over dyslexia question (Just the News)
Girl attacked in middle school locker room for allegedly supporting Trump, ICE (PM)
Washington State stabbing rampage leaves four dead (Fox News)
The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.