The Patriot Post® · Friday Executive News Summary
GOP blocks ICE funding over Trump’s slush fund
The Republicans’ $72 billion reconciliation package to fund ICE was put on ice Thursday after many lawmakers objected to the inclusion of a $1.776 billion for a new DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund. The fund would be designated for those claiming to have been targeted by the government, such as those prosecuted for the J6 Capitol riot. Democrats called it a blatantly corrupt slush fund for President Donald Trump’s supporters, but even Republican lawmakers remained skeptical of the fund after a meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who sought to assuage their concerns. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate would revisit the reconciliation package after the break on June 1, while observing this was “something that was supposed to be very narrow, targeted, focused, clean, straightforward, and it got a little bit more complicated this week.”
Feeding Our Future fraudster Aimee Bock sentenced
Aimee Bock, the founder of the fraudulent Minnesota food program Feeding Our Future, which bilked $250 million from taxpayer funds, was sentenced to 41 years in prison following her guilty verdict on Tuesday. She and her co-defendant, Salim Said, led the scam, with a number of others within Minnesota’s Somali community. Bock has stated that she would “struggle to believe” that Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar, who promoted the welfare program and who mysteriously reported a massive downward swing in her net worth, had no knowledge of the scheme.
Trump reverses course, now sending 5k troops to Poland
On Thursday, President Trump announced an apparent about-face. “Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump wrote. Earlier this week, Trump told NATO countries that the U.S. would withdraw thousands of troops from Europe, specifically Germany. The decision was likely in response to a number of NATO allies’ refusal to support the U.S. operation against Iran. However, Poland has been a strong supporter of the U.S., which raised objections Stateside to any cuts to troop deployments there.
2025 crime plunged
Yet more evidence is in that actively combating crime actually results in less crime. A preliminary report from the FBI found that in 2025, the violent crime rate across the nation fell by nearly 10%. “The 2025 crime data in this report shows the single largest decrease in violent crime and murder since 1937 – as well as huge decreases across the board in terms of aggravated assault, rape, and robbery,” FBI Director Kash Patel noted. “Over the last 14 months, we made major transformations at the FBI, and these results show those changes are working.” There is still a big crime problem, yet the trend is positive, indicating that crime is declining.
Public charge of illegals eroding
President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, telling banks to tighten their fence around American taxpayer interests and resources and to be more proactive in scrutinizing illegal immigrants. According to the EO, titled “Restoring Integrity to America’s Financial System,” federal regulators and the Treasury must “issue guidance strengthening banks’ customer due diligence, identify red flags/suspicious activity linked to undocumented immigrants (such as Individual Taxpayer Identification Number misuse, payroll tax evasion, or off-the-books wages), and manage credit risks from extending loans or services to non-work-authorized individuals who may face deportation or wage loss.” This move could bring an increase in self-deportations, as it will limit illegal immigrants’ access to loans and other banking services. The Trump administration is not requiring banks to check citizenship status, but rather to be more judicious in extending loans to those without work authorization.
Colbert is out
After 11 years and 1,800 episodes too many, Stephen Colbert’s show finally ended last night. “I didn’t think my show would end like this, but still grateful,” Colbert told “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart. Several of Colbert’s fellow late-night hosts joined him on his last show, lamenting his leaving and saying they would miss him, though the rest of us won’t. Paul McCartney was his final guest, following a string of celebrities throughout the week, like Billy Crystal, David Letterman, and Steven Spielberg. Trump wasted no time getting his two cents in, posting on Truth Social, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
Harvard quashes effortless A grades
Inflation is everywhere, including in education. Grade inflation is a problem across the entire education system, but, worse still, it seems, in the Ivy League. So much so that Harvard faculty voted this week to put a cap on the number of A’s a student can receive. Ten years ago at Harvard, only a third of grades were A’s, while during the 2024-25 school year that figure reached two-thirds. The reasons for the rise, the dean of undergraduate education at Harvard reported, are many. For example, students take easier courses to ensure an A so as not to harm their GPA, and teachers want to get good reviews that help them get promoted. Capping A’s won’t solve the problem of a lack of integrity and honesty in the education system. If 85% of students are receiving A’s, the education system is prioritizing equality over excellence.
Art commission approves Trump’s DC Arch design
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has given initial approval to President Trump’s desired Triumphal Arch, though with a few design modifications. These changes would eliminate any underground tunnels and nix any lions guarding the base. The current plan calls for a 250-foot-high arch positioned on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge opposite the Lincoln Memorial. The design includes a 60-foot statue of a winged Lady Liberty atop the arch, flanked by two eagles. The words “One Nation Under God” and “With Liberty and Justice for All” would be inscribed in gold on the arch. The arch would also include a public observation deck at the top. A lawsuit has been filed against the project, arguing that the Trump administration has unlawfully bypassed Congress in seeking its construction.
Headlines
U.S. arrests sister of powerful Cuban official over alleged ties to communist regime (Fox News)
ICE hasn’t effectively monitored 2.4M migrant parolees (NewsNation)
Costco suit highlights gaps in $166B tariff refund process (Center Square)
Riley Gaines blasts Sports Emmys for nominating podcast “hit piece” (Washington Times)
The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.