President Trump promised that only American citizens would choose American leaders. Federal investigators are now reaching into local voter files to back it up. A new report says Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its Homeland Security Investigations arm obtained individual voter files in Webb County, Texas this spring and in Forsyth County, North Carolina last November. The requests came as part of probes into alleged noncitizen voting. This is what election integrity looks like when it stops being a slogan and starts running through federal enforcement machinery. Mark Meadows pointed to the same enforcement turn after the DHS directive surfaced: The Washington Examiner published Carter Schroppe’s report on June 13, 2026, with an update early the next morning. According to the report, the Webb County request began with an HSI criminal analyst seeking voter information including dates and methods of registration and which elections a person voted in. Webb County Election Administrator Jose Castillo told the outlet it was the first time he had received such a request, and he directed HSI toward public-records requests going forward. Castillo also said he had seen two instances of an illegal immigrant voting out of more than 150,000 voters across four years. The report attributes the underlying emails to Democracy Forward records requests shared with Axios. The federal posture firmed up just days earlier. On June 9, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced that General Counsel James Percival directed ICE to enforce stricter penalties, including deportation, for aliens who illegally vote in American elections. Here is how the Department of Homeland Security laid it out: The Immigration and Nationality Act directs the removal of aliens who illegally vote in American elections. WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after DHS General Counsel James Percival directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce stricter penalties, including deportation, for aliens who illegally vote in American elections. In a letter to ICE leadership, DHS points out that the Immigration and Nationality Act directs the removal of aliens who illegally vote or make a false claim to U.S. citizenship, which often go hand-in-hand. These provisions even allow for the removal of aliens legally in the U.S. if they illegally participate in our elections. A criminal conviction is not required to invoke these provisions. “The importance of free, fair, and honest elections is without question. Echoing the words of President Trump, ‘the right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election,'” said DHS General Counsel James Percival. “Illegal voting by aliens dilutes the votes of American citizens and undermines our democracy. It must have consequences.” That last line carries weight. The removal authority does not wait on a courtroom verdict. The policy also landed in the middle of a larger public fight over whether the law should be enforced at all: None of this is freelancing. It traces back to a clear policy backbone. On March 31, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order on citizenship verification and integrity in federal elections. Here is the core of what The White House ordered: Section 1. Purpose and Policy. The right to vote in Federal elections is reserved exclusively for citizens of the United States under the Constitution and Federal law. Federal statutes explicitly prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote or voting in Federal elections and impose criminal penalties for violations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains records that, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program under 42 U.S.C. 1320b-7, can assist in verifying identity and Federal election voter eligibility. The Federal Government has an unavoidable duty under Article II of the Constitution of the United States to enforce Federal law, which includes preventing violations of Federal criminal law and maintaining public confidence in election outcomes. To enhance election integrity via the United States Mail, additional measures are necessary. Secure ballot envelope identifiers provide a reliable, auditable mechanism to enforce Federal law without unduly burdening or infringing on the rights of eligible voters. Unique ballot envelope identifiers, such as bar codes, enable confirmation that only citizens receive and cast ballots, reducing the risk of fraud and protecting the integrity of Federal elections. The order also directs DHS, USCIS, the Justice Department, and the Postal Service to act on citizenship lists, ballot-mail safeguards, investigations, and prosecutions. That is the chain. Executive order at the top, DHS legal directive in the middle, and federal investigators now requesting actual local voter records on the ground. The honest caveat belongs here. The voter-file requests establish an investigative trail rather than a statewide tally, and Castillo’s own count was small. The principle still stands regardless of headcount. Even a handful of illegal votes cancels out the lawful votes of citizens, and the law gives the government a duty to look. For years Americans were told that worrying about noncitizen voting was paranoia and that the federal government had no business checking. President Trump’s team is checking.

President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum aimed squarely at protecting the computer systems that keep American warfighters and intelligence officers in the fight. The work is the hard infrastructure of national security. The order targets what the government calls National Security Systems, the most sensitive computer systems in the country. These are the systems that process classified information and support military and intelligence missions. The point is simple. Defend them against the cyber threats of 2026 and beyond. The White House laid out the structure in its official fact sheet: PROTECTING CRITICAL MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE MISSIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to bolster the cybersecurity of America’s National Security Systems (NSS) and modernize NSS governance to meet the cyber challenges of 2026 and beyond. NSS encompasses the US’s most sensitive computer systems – those that process classified information or support military and intelligence missions. The Memorandum establishes a clear structure, authorities, roles, and responsibilities for the governance of NSS and accountability to NSS cybersecurity requirements for its owners and operators. The Memorandum reestablishes the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and modernizes it for the first time in over 35 years to establish baseline cybersecurity requirements for all NSS and enhance accountability and coordination across agencies to implement necessary cyber defenses across all NSS. The CNSS will oversee the cybersecurity of NSS across the US Government and issue binding security directives to all NSS owners and operators. Read that middle line again. The Committee on National Security Systems is being modernized for the first time in more than 35 years. That matters because the old cyber threat picture is gone. America is now dealing with sophisticated adversaries that probe government, military, intelligence, and critical systems every day. NSPM-12 also empowers the Director of the National Security Agency as the National Manager for National Security Systems and the cryptologic authority over those systems. In plain terms, the memo puts clear accountability in place so there are no weak links hiding between agencies. The governing text of NSPM-12 says President Trump is replacing old assumptions with direct accountability: As President, it is my priority to ensure that the United States can conduct key military and intelligence missions in contested cyber environments and that our personnel have access to the modern, secure technology they need to accomplish these missions. The Department of War (DOW), Intelligence Community (IC), and Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) Agencies own or operate this technology as National Security Systems (NSS). It shall be the policy of the United States Government that these systems be defended to the greatest extent practicable and that executive department and agency (agency) heads be accountable for this defense through government-wide oversight mechanisms. This memorandum shall: (i) enhance national cyber defense governance and accountability and re-establish and designate clear governance roles and scope of authorities for the CNSS; (ii) re-establish and empower a National Manager for NSS to identify emerging threats, advise the CNSS, issue emergency directives, provide authoritative minimum requirements for cryptology and cryptographic systems, and, through the CNSS, direct technical solutions for separation of classification levels (whether between systems or on the same system); Contested cyber environments. That is the world American operators live in now. The memo rescinds National Security Directive 42 from 1990 and National Security Memorandum 8 from 2022, clearing out old frameworks and replacing them with one built for current threats. The move also follows President Trump’s June 2 artificial intelligence and cybersecurity order, where the White House had already told agencies to prioritize cyber defense of National Security Systems: Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies, and components. As these capabilities evolve, my Administration will continue to work closely with industry to ensure that the best and most secure technology is deployed rapidly to confront any and all threats to our country. We will continue to lead an America First cybersecurity effort that enhances both our national security and our global AI dominance. Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Committee on National Security Systems shall prioritize the cyber defense of National Security Systems, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6)(A), by taking appropriate and expeditious action consistent with the purpose of this order. So NSPM-12 is not a random one-off. It is follow-through. The White House put the stakes in human terms, saying secure systems help the men and women on the frontlines complete their missions and return home safely. That is peace through strength applied where it actually counts. No press conference theatrics here. Just the unglamorous work of locking down the systems that keep America’s edge sharp and its people protected. What are your thoughts? TAP HERE TO ADD YOUR VOTE

A humanoid robot walked onto a test range outside Las Vegas, and the clip is the kind of thing that makes people stop scrolling. Foundation Robotics posted the video on June 5, showing its Phantom MK1 in a demonstration that moves the conversation well past factory floors and warehouse pallets. We took Phantom MK1 to Vegas and then this happened… #lasvegas #humanoidrobot pic.twitter.com/3EamvfZCv3 — Foundation Robotics (@foundation_robo) June 5, 2026 The matching YouTube Short is titled “Robot Fires a Mortar.” Foundation’s description adds that the company has made another video for people concerned about the implications of robots using weapons. The point here is bigger than one shocking range video. The world built cheap drones first. Now the next layer of military robotics is moving toward machines that can carry, move, breach, detect, and potentially fire like a human-sized warfighter. In its original write-up, ZeroHedge laid out why the Phantom clip is getting attention: It is not just one-way attack drones operating on AI-enabled kill chains that human soldiers have to worry about on the modern battlefield. We have been laying out this story and were among the first to point out that humanoid robots are not only entering factory floors and warehouses, but are also moving toward the battlefield. San Francisco-based robotics company Foundation Future Industries is developing a “dual-use” humanoid robot called the “Phantom MK1,” designed for heavy manufacturing, logistics, and the military. The defense angle for the Phantom MK1 is quite simple: replace the human soldier with the robot for close-quarters battle (CQB) operations, including breaching and room-clearing support. Beyond CQB, a never-before-seen video now shows the Phantom MK1 operating a mobile light mortar system during a live-fire training exercise in Las Vegas, Nevada. To better understand the Foundation’s position, we reached out for comment. The company responded with the following statement: The US military has backed Foundation in over $73M on grants and contracts to develop their robot to this point. Although many of the use cases they’ve worked on have been logistics-focused, the ultimate goal has always been kinetic use cases. Although drones and UGVs have been promising new robots on the Ukrainian battlefield, humanoids are the only robot being built that promises to interact with the entire fleet and arsenal of human weapons and vehicles. Launching mortars and soon breaching doors have become near-term proofs of humanoids moving from logistics to kinetic engagements. That last sentence is the key. It means the mortar clip is being framed as a proof point, not a goofy tech demo. There is still a technical caveat. One robotics-focused account argued that active ordnance would require extremely reliable grip control, and raised doubt about whether the Vegas clip used live rounds. Little chance they are using live ordnance here. Dropping an active mortar requires zero-fail grip intuition. https://t.co/M4gnDAQi0Q — Humanoids daily (@humanoidsdaily) June 5, 2026 That caution is fair, and it does not make the clip irrelevant. The military value is not whether this one viral round was active. The value is that a humanoid platform is being trained around human weapons, human terrain, and human-style combat tasks. Foundation’s own public specs show why Phantom is being pitched as more than a lab curiosity. The Foundation Phantom page gives these details: Phantom is our first production humanoid robot, embodying decades of research and innovation in humanoid robotics. Designed for strength and fluid motion, Phantom eliminates the “robotic” feel, enabling seamless integration into human environments. HEIGHT 5′-11″ (1.8m) WEIGHT 176 lbs (80kg) PAYLOAD CAPACITY 88.2lbs (40kg) DEGREES OF FREEDOM 29º SPEED 1.7 m/s Phantom’s proprietary cycloid actuators set a new benchmark for power, precision, and efficiency. These compact and quiet actuators deliver the performance of hydraulics with the efficiency of electric motors, enabling robust operation in any setting. High Torque Density delivers 160 Nm of torque in a compact electric actuator, outperforming typical systems without added mass or complexity. Modular, Rugged Architecture integrates easily into diverse robotic systems while maintaining reliability in dynamic, rugged settings. High-Strength Performance built to handle heavy industrial loads and harsh conditions in manufacturing and defense environments. That is the offense side of the new machine battlefield. The defense side is moving just as fast, and it is already pointed at American infrastructure. The same month this robot clip started circulating, ZeroHedge also highlighted a JPMorgan analyst call with Axon about drones, counter-drone systems, and the race to protect U.S. data centers from kamikaze-style drone swarms. Axon, the company most Americans know for body cameras and TASERs, is now talking about airspace security, drone-as-first-responder programs, and counter-drone systems. On its own site, Axon described the shift this way: The United States has entered a new era of airspace accountability. Two executive orders issued in June 2025 call on the private sector to take decisive steps to detect, monitor and respond to unauthorized drone activity. Axon is uniquely positioned to help enterprise organizations take ownership of airspace security through our connected drone and counter-drone technology solutions. The first executive order directs the FAA to restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure and tasks the Department of Homeland Security with issuing guidance to help private facility owners deploy drone detection systems. It also reinforces the role of law enforcement in securing large-scale events and facilities. Industries affected: utilities, ports, data centers, airports, telecom, stadiums and logistics hubs This longer-term directive promotes U.S.-manufactured drone technology and calls for expanded public-private investment in counter-UAS systems. It emphasizes the need for scalable, interoperable solutions across sectors. Industries affected: critical infrastructure operators, major venues, enterprise campuses and public-private partnerships Axon’s suite of interoperable technologies empowers organizations to detect, respond to and manage drone incursions in a coordinated manner. Dedrone is the global leader in smart airspace security. Trusted by hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers worldwide, Dedrone’s AI-powered solution helps organizations counter the growing drone threat. Put the two pieces together and the picture gets sharper. On one side, humanoid robots are being trained to do the dangerous ground work first. On the other, drones are forcing data centers, stadiums, prisons, airports, and logistics hubs to think like air-defense targets. The battlefield is not staying overseas, and the tools are not staying theoretical. The hard question is how much of the trigger stays with a human, and how much gets handed to software as the speed of conflict keeps climbing. For now, the proof points are arriving faster than the answers. A short clip from a Vegas range may end up looking like one of those early warning moments people should have taken more seriously. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

President Trump’s name is coming off the Kennedy Center facade after a fast court fight ended with crews on scaffolding in Washington, D.C. Fox News reported that workers began removing the signage Friday after an appeals court refused to block a judge’s ruling ordering the name down. President Trump's name is being removed from the Kennedy Center after a federal appeals court denied the board's request for an administrative stay. Crowds gathered outside as workers erected scaffolding to begin removing the signage. pic.twitter.com/HEcAjCL7yd — Fox News (@FoxNews) June 13, 2026 The sign used the longer Trump-Kennedy Center wording, pairing President Trump’s name with President John F Kennedy’s on the facade. The Kennedy Center board approved the addition in December, saying it recognized Trump for helping save the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction. The immediate fight was about timing. The board wanted appellate review before the name was removed from the building. A day earlier, Fox News reported that the board warned the court about practical damage if the name came down before the appeal was heard. The board argued it could face unrecoverable costs if the signage had to be removed and later reinstalled. It also warned that a forced name change could hurt fundraising and confuse the public if the center prevailed later. That is the part that gets lost in the anti-Trump celebration. The board was fighting over leverage, money, repairs, and the future identity of the building, far beyond the letters on the wall. Fox News described the scene outside the building as the removal began: What are your thoughts? TAP HERE TO ADD YOUR VOTE Workers erected scaffolding around the Washington, D.C., landmark Friday and began removing the Trump name from the signage. The board sought both a stay pending appeal and an immediate administrative stay, arguing the name should remain until the appeal could play out. That request failed at two levels. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper declined to pause enforcement, and a three-judge D.C. Circuit panel denied the emergency motion. Cooper’s ruling also hit the board’s renovation plans, which had been tied to a larger restoration fight at the Kennedy Center. Fox previously reported that Kennedy Center leadership pointed to $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress for the building. Courthouse News quoted the judge’s bottom line from the ruling: Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it. The appeal is still part of the larger legal fight, but the immediate issue was the deadline and whether the letters could stay in place while that fight continued. The board’s December vote also shows why this landed as a political flashpoint. The official explanation tied the name directly to Trump’s role in keeping the institution alive, not to a random branding exercise. Now the physical sign is gone, at least for the moment. The fight over who gets to define the Kennedy Center’s future is still very much alive. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested early Saturday morning in Houston, Texas, and charged with a misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a weapon. According to Harris County court records, the 11-time NBA All-Star was taken into custody after a handgun was allegedly observed in the front seat of his vehicle. “The gun was not holstered and was in plain view, per the records,” ESPN stated. “Texas allows constitutional carry, yet James Harden was arrested because his legally owned firearm wasn’t in a holster in his vehicle. The government has no business micromanaging how a law-abiding citizen secures their own gun,” Gun Owners of America commented. Texas allows constitutional carry, yet James Harden was arrested because his legally owned firearm wasn’t in a holster in his vehicle. The government has no business micromanaging how a law-abiding citizen secures their own gun. https://t.co/lPsI7C44HK — Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) June 13, 2026 ESPN shared further: Harden was booked at 4:57 a.m. and later released after paying a $100 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 22, according to the clerk’s office website. Harden is listed as a Houston resident in court documents. “The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional information,” the Cavaliers said in a statement. “We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.” According to the conditions of his bond, Harden has been ordered not to possess any weapons or consume alcohol or drugs and must submit to random urine tests. The former NBA MVP and three-time scoring champion joined the Cavaliers after stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks, the eventual 2026 NBA champions, in the Eastern Conference finals. “NBA star James Harden was arrested in Houston early this morning for an unholstered firearm in his car. No violence. No threats. No actual crime. Just an unholstered firearm,” Black Guns Matter commented. “This is a blatant misuse of taxpayer resources and a clear violation of the Second Amendment,” it added. NBA star James Harden was arrested in Houston early this morning for an unholstered firearm in his car. No violence. No threats. No actual crime. Just an unholstered firearm. This is a blatant misuse of taxpayer resources and a clear violation of the Second Amendment. https://t.co/05Yno3WvRp — Black Guns Matter (@blkgunsmattr) June 13, 2026 TMZ noted: The issue unfolded in Houston, where Harden remains one of the most recognizable athletes in the city’s history thanks to his nine-year run with the Rockets. Even after changing teams, “The Beard” has maintained strong ties to H-Town. Of course, Harden’s been playing in the NBA since 2009 — joining OKC as a 3rd overall draft pick.