Advocating for an election reform measure that passed the House this week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said elections are a basic infrastructure responsibility for her department.  “It’s a fact that non citizens have been voting in our elections,” Noem said Firday during a press conference in Phoenix. “They’ve been registered, and they have voted from state to state.” She called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which cleared the House this week. Short for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, the proposal requires proof of citizenship to register to vote and mandates nationwide voter ID.  Democrats and opponents of the SAVE America Act say voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements would impose an unnecessary burden on voters.  Noem referenced an example of an illegal alien from who was registered to vote in Maryland and was employed as a school superintendent in Iowa. She cited another illegal alien who not only voted, but was also elected mayor of a Kansas town.  Noem was flanked by placards showing 84% support for voter ID, and support for the SAVE America Act.  Noem rebutted what she called “conspiracy theories” from opponents of the bill that it would lead to vast disenfranchisement of women, minorities, and U.S. military service members. “Each of the arguments that have been out laid out to criticize this bill are baseless speculation from the radical left, because they want illegal aliens to vote in our elections,” Noem said. “They want to disenfranchise American citizens by telling them that their votes don’t matter. There’s only one reason that anyone would oppose this bill and that’s because they would want to cheat. They want illegal people and aliens in this country to be able to vote for them, and to rob the United States citizens of their vote.” Arizona also requires proof of citizenship to vote in state elections, but cannot do so in federal elections because of national rules laid out under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, better known as the “Motor Voter” law.  “As it stands, current guidelines for the National Voter Registration Act effectively stops states from going forward and checking citizenship during registration,” Noem said. “The SAVE America Act will fix this. It would make sure that we close those loopholes and that we ensure, in American elections, only Americans vote.” Arizona has been a hub for illegal immigration, and concerns about election integrity because it has been a battleground state. The state voted twice for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2024, and once for Joe Biden in 2020.  Noem said some Arizona residents have voter registration addresses at mobile homes, and boats on lakes in different states.  “Your state has been an absolute disaster on elections. Your leaders have failed you dramatically, by not having systems that work by disenfranchising Americans who wanted to vote, they had to stand in lines for hours because machines failed, or software failed,” Noem said.  The post ‘Want to Cheat’: Noem Rips ‘Conspiracy Theories’ Against SAVE America Act appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Across generations, the American Dream has been sustained by one simple idea: Hard work and smart decisions can lead to a better life. That belief shaped my own family’s story, and it’s what drives my work today. My parents came legally to America from Nigeria, believing this country would give them and their future children a chance to accomplish more than they ever could dream. They were right. My father, who became a college professor, saved every penny he could and used it to change the lives of me and my sisters. When he passed away, he left us a modest sum of money that helped me and my wife and purchase our first house together and form the foundation of our adult lives. That act of foresight changed everything for me. It showed me that real, lasting wealth is not only about income, but about intentional planning. Now, with three young children of my own, I think often about how to give them the same chance to thrive. For millions of parents across America, Trump Accounts are a powerful new tool. These tax-advantaged savings accounts, from the Working Families Tax Cuts initiative, help working and middle-class families save, invest, and build generational wealth for kids. Let’s clear up some confusion: Kids under 18 with a Social Security number qualify for family contributions up to $5,000/year, growing tax-free until 18. The $1,000 government boost is only for babies born between 2025 and 2028 via IRS Form 4547. Older kids still get core benefits. We’re signing up our son (born last year, eligible for both) and our two daughters, who also qualify. Under recent Treasury and IRS guidance, eligible Americans can open a Trump Account if they earn income under certain thresholds and file tax returns consistent with working-family deductions. Contributions to these accounts can be invested in a broad-based index of American equities, giving everyday Americans a way to participate in the long-term success of the U.S. economy. What makes these accounts especially meaningful is that the interest earned or investment gains grow tax-free if withdrawals follow the program’s qualified-use rules. Families can contribute up to specified yearly limits, and employers are encouraged to match or supplement those contributions as part of an employee benefit package. In short, it’s a simple, effective way to turn hard-earned wages into lasting wealth–something traditionally available only to those with specialized financial tools or expensive advisors. State financial officers have an important role to play in ensuring families know about this opportunity. Leaders like Mississippi Treasurer David McRae have already stepped forward to help spread the word. As a father of three, McRae understands that financial literacy isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about self-determination. He recently called Trump Accounts “a chance for parents to invest in their children’s future with purpose and pride.” I couldn’t agree more. The State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF), which I lead, is proud to join that effort by encouraging our treasurers, auditors, and other financial officers to partner with employers, community leaders, and schools to promote these accounts as financial literacy tools. We are also leading by example, as we plan to make Trump Accounts an SFOF employee benefit complete with matching contributions. But the greatest impact will come when families themselves take the first step. Opening a Trump Account doesn’t require great wealth or financial expertise. It only requires an intentional effort. Parents can set aside what they can each month and watch that investment grow alongside their children. It’s a simple act of preparation that says, “I believe in your future,” while teaching personal finance in the most practical way possible. For my wife and me, it means setting up accounts for each of our three children and contributing regularly, just as my father once invested in my future. We want our children to enter adulthood with the confidence that comes from financial stability, not the anxiety of debt or the uncertainty of starting from zero. Like so many American parents, we’re building not just a financial account, but a legacy. Very few presidents have been able to influence wealth building for everyday Americans in such a direct, material way. Policies come and go, but tools that empower families to save and invest can outlast any administration. Trump Accounts have the potential to be one of President Trump’s most enduring legacies because they give American families a real shot to change the financial future of their children. The promise of this country has always been that each generation can reach higher than the last. With Trump Accounts, that promise has a tangible form, one savings plan at a time. The opportunity is here. It’s time to make the most of it. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post From My Father’s Gift to My Children’s Future appeared first on The Daily Signal.

President Donald Trump told soldiers at Ft. Bragg he is updating their equipment and facilities to ensure the American military is “the best trained, the best equipped, the most disciplined, and the most elite fighting force the world has ever seen.” Trump spoke in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, alongside first lady Melania Trump, to honor U.S. special forces for their roles in the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. “What we did recently in Venezuela, nobody ever saw anything like that happened,” Trump said. The president announced a variety of efforts to improve the efficacy of the military. He said he would order construction of an initial fleet of 10 new battleships to strengthen naval capability. The ships will be “100 times more powerful than the ships that we got to see in the 1940s,” according to Trump. Trump said he is asking for $1 billion to improve on-base housing and related facilities at Fort Bragg and in the surrounding area. “We’re also going to spend billions of dollars on improving here and around the area and make it great because the people in this area have been so incredible,” Trump said. Trump announced the purchase of 30 new Abrams tanks, 48 new Black Hawk Chinook and King Stallion helicopters, and 86 armored multi-purpose fighting vehicles. “It’s all of the things that you’ve been wanting to get, all brand new and only,” he said. “We’re going to be reviving our strength. We’re going to be doing many other things that nobody thought was even possible. We’re actually using that strength to defend the core, vital interest of the United States.” Trump echoed that the administration is investing $1 trillion in the armed forces, with an increase to $1.5 trillion planned for next year. The Trump administration is also implementing an across-the-board pay raise for all service members in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Trump said he rebuilt the military to be the “strongest military on the face of the earth.” “We rebuilt. We really did. We rebuilt it in my first time. We had a great first term. We had the best economy in history. But this is blowing it away,” he said. “We had a great economy the first time, we did everything, but we really created a tremendous military.” Trump touted increased military recruitment numbers since his election. “They couldn’t get people to join, and as soon as we won the election, an election took place on Nov. 5,” he said. “Now we have waiting lists for every branch of the military, waiting lists for people to get in. In other words, your jobs are wanted by everybody.” The post How President Trump Plans to Bolster Military Operations appeared first on The Daily Signal.

REUTERS–The Virginia Supreme Court said on Friday it would allow a Democratic-backed redistricting effort to head to a voter referendum in April. The decision potentially paves the way for the party to flip as many as four Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives this fall. A state judge last month blocked the Democrats’ redistricting effort, ruling that lawmakers had used an invalid process to advance it. In agreeing to hear Democrats’ appeal of that ruling on Friday, the high court also said an April 21 special election could move ahead in the meantime. While the court could still rule against the redistricting plan in the future, the decision to let the referendum proceed was a victory for Democrats, who have proposed a new House map that would give them the advantage in 10 of the state’s 11 districts. Currently, Democrats control six seats. The battle in Virginia is part of a broader nationwide redistricting war that was triggered last summer, when President Donald Trump successfully urged his fellow Republicans in Texas to approve a new map targeting five Democratic seats. Since then, both Democratic and Republican states have advanced new maps, with neither party emerging as a clear winner just yet. Redistricting typically occurs only at the start of each decade after the U.S. Census is completed. Democrats have to flip only three Republican-held seats in November’s midterm elections to win a House majority. Virginia’s constitution gives an independent commission the authority to draw congressional lines, forcing Democratic lawmakers to undertake a multi-step process to approve a constitutional amendment and seek voter approval before they can install a new map. The post Virginia High Court Clears Way for Congressional Redistricting Vote, Boosting Democrats appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A bill from Republican Ohio state Reps. Josh Williams and Gary Click looks to continue Ohio Republicans’ fight against transgender ideology. The legislation introduced this week, titled the Affirming Families First Act, “is about protecting families from government overreach and ensuring parents are not punished for raising their children consistent with biological reality.” Williams told The Daily Signal. “No parent should lose custody, face state intervention, or be deemed unfit simply for affirming a child’s sex,” the Ohio lawmaker added. ? BREAKING: I just introduced legislation in the Ohio House to BAN state agencies from taking action against parents who refuse to allow their children to change their gender.While states like California are turning themselves into "refuges" for children with gender dysphoria,… pic.twitter.com/H7uPd3vgDJ— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) February 11, 2026 What’s in the Bill? The two Ohio Republicans argue this bill is necessary to protect parental rights. A press release from Click’s office explains that the bill “prohibits a parent’s affirmation of a child’s biological sex from constituting the basis to restrict access to the child, deny the child’s return, limit decision-making authority over the child’s physical or mental health care or withhold information about the child.” The bill also prohibits “investigating a report of abuse or child neglect if the sole basis for the report is the parent’s or guardian’s affirmation of the child’s biological sex.” The Heritage Foundation’s Laura Hanford was present for the bill’s introduction. She also co-authored a report titled “States Must Refuse to Define ‘Abuse’ as Raising a Child According to His or Her Sex.” “For decades, ideologues have worked behind the scenes to weaponize Child Protective Services in the states,” Hanford warned in her report. This “includes accusing parents of ‘abuse’ if they fail to affirm their child’s discordant ‘gender identity.'” Hanford explained how the government has attempted to weaponize gender identity in an interview with The Daily Signal. “There is no scientific evidence or marker for ‘gender identity,’ yet parents from coast to coast have lost their children for refusing to adopt this belief system that a child can be born in the wrong body,” Hanford said. “Incredibly, in the upside-down universe of gender ideology, it is ‘abuse’ not to sterilize, castrate, or use wrong-sex pronouns for one’s child.” “Parents can suddenly find themselves facing a hostile phalanx of ideologues in courts, schools and child welfare systems, who have spent minutes with their child but are suddenly the ‘safe adults’ while parents who have spent a lifetime loving and caring for their children are deemed ‘abusers,'” Hanford continued. Williams and Click have offered what Hanford terms “a critically important bill” that “is the most comprehensive in the country on this issue,” and “sets a new national standard for protecting children and families from the ideological weaponization of child protective systems.” The Center for Christian Virtue Policy Director David Mahan was also present for the bill’s introduction and spoke about a need to counteract measures in Cuyahoga County. “Parents who want to raise their child consistent with biological truth should not fear being stripped of custody or otherwise punished for doing so. Yet due to insane local therapy bans in 15 cities and one of Ohio’s largest counties, parents in need of healthcare for their child’s gender confusion have to risk all of the above,” he told The Daily Signal. A Need for This Bill, Even in a Red State Though Ohio is a red state, transgender ideology has still found its way into the government. From March 2018-August 2024, the county’s Division of Children and Family Services had a database tracking children and their sexual orientation, transgender identity, and pronouns, according to The Daily Caller News Foundation. Government officials in Cuyahoga County questioned a 5-year-old about their sexual orientation— then tracked whether the parents supported it.A… 5… year… oldThis is insanity! And my bill will put a stop to it. pic.twitter.com/cmF5nXwqWT— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) February 12, 2026 The program used spreadsheets to see if parents were “rejecting” or “accepting” of their child’s gender identity, according to documents obtained by the DCNF. Williams spoke against the state’s involvement while promoting the role of parents. “This bill reinforces a core principle: fit parents—not government agencies—have the primary right to direct the care, counseling, and upbringing of their children,” Williams told The Daily Signal. “Responding to gender confusion with counseling, faith-based guidance, watchful waiting, or a decision not to socially transition a child does not constitute abuse or neglect. The state should not substitute its judgment for that of loving parents navigating complex and sensitive issues.” The DCNF noted that the Biden-Harris administration praised Cuyahoga County, which influenced a rule, and was to be used as a model. A press release for the Health & Human Services Department framed the rule as about “protections” for children and giving them “the opportunity to thrive.” A Hopeful Trend Click told The Daily Signal that there’s still work to do, though he’s undeterred. “Recent discoveries of attempts to undermine parents in Cuyahoga County reveal that we can never let our guard down. Despite the overwhelming victory we won with the SAFE Act and Save Women Sports, bureaucrats still want to classify parents as dangerous for not buying boys dresses or binders for girls,” Click shared. “I’m not having it. I will fight tooth and nail to protect the sovereignty of parents in raising their children without woke ideology being pressed on them by the government,” Click added. The post Ohio Bill Would Protect Parents for Refusing to Go Along With Transgender Ideology appeared first on The Daily Signal.