Yesterday was the worst day of the year for many Americans — TAX DAY. But as you are slamming your fist on the table, keep in mind that the taxes you filed are based on the old Obama code with higher tax rates. Be certain to remind your friends and family members about this fact if they complain that the Trump tax cut didn’t make any difference for them.

Next year, your tax situation will likely be significantly better thanks to President Trump’s historic tax cuts and tax reform.

If you don’t have a complicated return, you should try estimating your 2018 taxes based on the Trump tax cuts. There were big changes for individuals and families, including lower tax rates, doubling of the standard deduction and doubling of the per-child tax credit. Small business owners can qualify for a 20% deduction on their income.

President Trump has an opinion piece in USA Today explaining the benefits of his tax cut plan. In addition to lower taxes on businesses and families, the president notes that the legislation repealed Obamacare’s onerous individual mandate, resulted in lower utility bills for many Americans and spurred companies to give bonuses and pay raises to their workers.

Don’t forget, my friends, that not a single Democrat in Congress voted for President Trump’s tax cuts. Along with open borders, sanctuary cities and abortion-on-demand, the other plank of Nancy Pelosi’s platform is to repeal the Trump tax cuts if she becomes speaker next year.

Here’s something else to keep in mind when you hear liberals demanding higher taxes: We already have a very progressive tax code. According to The Wall Street Journal, “households in the top 20% will have income of about $150,000 or more… But they will pay about 87% of income taxes” collected by the federal government.

Think about that — 20% of the country provides nearly 90% of the nation’s income tax revenue. As Ronald Reagan was fond of saying, “The problem is not that the people are taxed too little, the problem is that the government spends too much.”

There is a lot of blame in both parties for Washington’s spending addiction. But last week’s vote on a balanced budget amendment suggests only one party is somewhat serious about restraining spending.

On Trial in Turkey

Pastor Andrew Brunson has worked as a Christian missionary in Turkey for more than 20 years. But he has been held in a Turkish jail since his arrest in 2016.  The Turkish government is accusing Pastor Brunson of participating in a failed coup and for supporting opponents of the Turkish government, including the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Pastor Brunson’s trial finally began Monday. Ambassador Sam Brownback, President Trump’s envoy for international religious freedom, is in Turkey for the trial, as is Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Pastor Brunson told the court:

I’ve never done something against Turkey. I love Turkey. I’ve been praying for Turkey for 25 years. I want truth to come out. I do not accept the charges mentioned in the indictment. I was never involved in any illegal activities.

Brunson is a victim of religious persecution and he is being used as a pawn by the Turkish government. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rules Turkey like a sultan of old and has moved his nation away from the West and toward Islamism. Erdogan wants Gulen expelled from the U.S. to stand trial for treason in Turkey. 

While all of us face challenges of varying degrees every day, we must remember the individuals who have been caught up in the anti-Christian juggernaut that is sweeping the Muslim world.

Please keep Pastor Brunson in your prayers. And remember our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who suffered so much under the barbarism of the Islamic State.

Comey’s Criticism

There was a lot more to the ABC News interview with fired FBI Director James Comey than what aired Sunday night. The entire interview lasted five hours, meaning four hours of questions and answers were left on the cutting room floor.

Not surprisingly, ABC chose not to air Comey’s criticism of Barack Obama. Here’s what Comey said about Obama’s repeated remarks clearing Hillary Clinton of mishandling classified information:

We had the problem that President Obama had twice publicly basically said, “There’s no ‘there’ there." In an interview with — on Fox, an interview on "60 Minutes,” I think. Both times he said that… He’s a very smart man and a lawyer. And so it surprised me. He shouldn’t have done it. It was inappropriate.

On that point, Comey is right. Interestingly, however, Comey’s over-the-top attacks on President Trump are not earning him any points with the Left. 

Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch disputed Comey’s claims that he had concerns with her handling of the Clinton investigation. In a statement, Lynch wrote:

Throughout his time as director we spoke regularly… If he had any concerns regarding the email investigation, classified or not, he had ample opportunities to raise them with me both privately and in meetings. He never did.

John Podesta, Hillary’s campaign chairman, called Comey “an idiot.” Hillary’s former press secretary Nick Merrill accused Comey of damaging the reputations of the FBI and Department of Justice. Clinton loyalist Lanny Davis slammed Comey as a liar. 

It seems James Comey has accomplished what no one else could: He temporarily united the country. Both pro-Trump America and pro-Hillary America are expressing their disgust with his self-serving spin.

About That Judge…

As you may know, Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was in court Monday asking a federal judge to return materials seized from his home and office in an extraordinary FBI raid. She refused to do so.

But she should have refused to hear the entire case. It turns out that the judge handling this case, which has enormous implications for the president, is a die-hard liberal.

Judge Kimba Wood officiated George Soros’ wedding. Worse, she was nominated by Bill Clinton to be attorney general of the United States … after being personally vetted by Hillary!

Connections that close to the Clintons and the progressive political world seem like an obvious conflict of interest to me.