The Irish government, which has openly displayed its hatred for Israel in recent years, took another step targeting the Jewish state, becoming the first country in Europe to introduce legislation forbidding imports from the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria. Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister and former Prime Minister Simon Harris introduced a bill titled the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. It was passed by the Irish government and now must be approved by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, the Jerusalem Post reported. “The situation in Palestine remains a matter of deep public concern,” Harris declared. “I have made it consistently clear that this Government will use all levers at its disposal to address the horrifying situation on the ground and to contribute to long-term efforts to achieve a sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution.” “Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza,” Harris told reporters, urging other countries to echo Ireland’s actions as he said, “every country must pull every lever at its disposal.” Former Justice and Equality Minister and Defense Minister Alan Shatter ripped Harris on X, writing, “Only Simon Harris and our current government could be so foolish as to create the acronym PIGS to reference a new law that targets & boycotts Jewish-produced goods. … The gov has now proudly published its own farcical version of the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB), the first time since the defeat of Nazi Germany that any European gov has promoted a law to specifically boycott Jewish produced goods & criminalise those who import them.” “Only Simon Harris & our current gov cld be so foolish as to create the acronym PIGS to reference a new law that targets & boycotts Jewish produced goods.” Explainer.The gov has now proudly published its own farcical version of the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB), the first… https://t.co/dMw7T4tlZX — Alan Shatter (@Alan__Shatter) June 25, 2025   Last December, Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, announced Israel would close its embassy in Ireland, citing Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.” “The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards. Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” Sa’ar said. “Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel.” Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris reacted, “This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law.” This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law. https://t.co/rDga5GpT3u — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) December 15, 2024 Despite Harris’ protestations that Ireland’s government is not anti-Israel, the evidence suggests otherwise. In February 2024, then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar denounced a possible Israeli operation into the Hamas stronghold in Rafah, saying it would be a “gross violation of international law on top of all the other violations of international law which Israel is responsible for.” He continued by ripping Israel for not bowing to the wishes of outsiders, saying, “It’s very, very clear to me though, that Israel is not listening to any country in the world, I don’t even think they’re listening to the Americans anymore. They have become blinded by rage.” In May 2024, only days after Harris declared, “I abhor the actions of the Netanyahu government regarding what is happening in the Middle East,” Ireland officially recognized a “Palestinian state.” Harris stated, “The government recognizes Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah. We had wanted to recognize Palestine at the end of a peace process. However, we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive.” On November 7, the Irish parliament passed a non-binding motion attacking Israel, stating, “genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza.” Ireland joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Looking into the past, in 1996, Ireland finally permitted an Israeli embassy in its country; it was the last country in the European Union to open an Israeli embassy in its own country. As far back as 1945, within days of Adolf Hitler’s suicide on April 30, 1945, Ireland’s Taoiseach Éamon de Valera called on Eduard Hempel, the Nazi minister to Ireland, to “express his condolences.” He said, “I certainly was not going to add to his [Hempel’s] humiliation in the hour of defeat.”

Pro-life organization Live Action is planning hundreds of demonstrations to support defunding abortion provider Planned Parenthood. The demonstrations, called “Defund Day,” will take place at more than 200 Planned Parenthood locations across the country on June 28. The organization aims to unite pro-life Americans in “[demanding] Congress defund the abortion and trans-sex hormone giant Planned Parenthood and expose the organization’s ongoing abuse: abortion, child sterilization, and sexual indoctrination in schools,” a press release said. Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action, will lead the flagship demonstration at the Planned Parenthood facility in Anaheim, California. “While Live Action has led many demonstrations outside Planned Parenthood’s killing centers, this is the first time we have mobilized a nationwide response on this scale,” Rose told The Daily Wire. “Because of the urgency of the vote and the stakes for innocent lives, we knew we had to activate every pro-life and pro-family American.” Live Action has planned rallies all across the U.S., including the Planned Parenthood in Washington, D.C. The D.C. event will feature David Bereit, founder of 40 Days for Life. “A Defund Day demonstration is occurring in every state with a Planned Parenthood location,” the press release said. JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free “Leaders in the pro-life movement, Live Action ambassadors, volunteers, students, parents, and everyday citizens are stepping up to say enough,” Rose said. “And tomorrow, the nation will not be able to look away.” The “Big Beautiful Bill” currently defunds the abortion provider. Pro-life activists want to make sure the provision stays in the Senate version of the bill. Rose said this is the pro-life movement’s best opportunity to defund the abortion giant. “If passed, it would allow for swift, decisive action to halt the flow of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood,” Rose said. “Without this federal funding, Planned Parenthood’s deadly operations will be dramatically crippled. This is the closest we have ever been. And if we show up and speak out, we can finally pull the plug on the abortion industry’s federal cash flow.” Rose said Planned Parenthood currently receives about $800 million a year in taxpayer funds. The money finances 400,000 abortions a year, in addition to pushing sex education in schools and promoting “so-called gender-affirming care, pushing irreversible hormones and surgeries that sterilize and mutilate.” “This is not just about politics,” Rose said. “It is about stopping the greatest human rights abuse of our time. We will not stop until every child is protected and Planned Parenthood is defunded for good.”

'Small-penis weakling'

The subject of the rapid growth of AI technology, its associated data centers, and how they will source the electricity required to meet their massive power needs has been one of hottest topics of discussion in the energy space for a year now. While many, like me, have commented at length about the logistics and […]

According to the Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business, small business optimism reached 105.1 in December. For those following the index, this is a six-year high and the second consecutive month to topple the index’s 51-year average of 98. But why has small business confidence jumped, and what does it […]

Every year on the Fourth of July, families and friends across the United States flock to lakes, rivers, and coastal waterways to celebrate the nation’s independence. They bring with them American flags, fireworks, food, and a strong desire to enjoy the water. But amid the celebration lies a sobering fact: July 4th is consistently the […]

'Most prominent public-facing defenders'

'Rule of law is not a given'

There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in Washington, D.C., this week about the One Big Beautiful Bill, as the Senate goes through the “Byrd Bath” to scrub the reconciliation bill for compliance with the rules. But what is the Byrd Rule, what’s a “Byrd Bath,” and why does all this jargon matter for Americans hoping to see President Trump enact his commonsense agenda? The “Byrd Bath” is a special process by which the Senate parliamentarian reviews provisions in a budget reconciliation bill to determine whether they comply with the Byrd Rule. The Byrd Rule, named after former Sen. Robert Byrd, sets strict guidelines. Its purpose is to prevent non-budgetary (“extraneous”) items from bypassing the Senate filibuster through reconciliation. The rule defines six categories of provisions that are considered “extraneous” and thus ineligible for reconciliation: It does not produce a change in outlays or revenues; It produces a deficit increase when the instructed committee is not in compliance with its instructions; It is outside the jurisdiction of the committee that submitted the title or provision for inclusion in the reconciliation measure; It produces a change in outlays or revenues that is “merely incidental” to the non-budgetary components of the provision; It would increase the deficit for a fiscal year beyond the “budget window” covered by the reconciliation measure—in this case, 10 years; and It makes changes to Social Security. During the “Byrd Bath,” the Senate parliamentarian sits down with Republicans and Democrats to review the proposed legislative text and determine whether each provision complies with those six rules. After both sides make their arguments, she provides her opinion. Sometimes her opinion is based on strict precedent; other times, there is no precedent, and the advice is subjective. It’s important to understand that this is a multi-step process. Proponents can always improve their arguments and rewrite legislative language to earn a favorable opinion from the parliamentarian. Opponents can return with new objections as well. The Swamp refers to these opinions as “rulings,” but the parliamentarian is just a staffer. She can advise, but she cannot rule. It is the presiding officer of the Senate who rules—and ultimately, the senators themselves decide whether the Byrd Rule has been violated. There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in Washington, D.C., this week about the One Big Beautiful Bill, as the Senate goes through the “Byrd Bath” to scrub the reconciliation bill for compliance with the rules.But what is the Byrd Rule, what’s a “Byrd Bath,” and why does all this…— Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) June 27, 2025 That understanding not only aligns with our Founders’ vision of a government in which elected representatives exercise the authority delegated to them by We the People, but it also ensures that those with election certificates do not subordinate their responsibilities to unelected bureaucrats. Senate Republicans cannot solely blame an unelected staffer in a backroom for failing to deliver on the president’s commonsense agenda—nor should we. As conservatives, we should not call for tossing out the rule book entirely. What we need is transparency and accountability from Senate leadership. We need to know that Senate Republicans are doing everything possible to make this bill as Big and Beautiful as it can be for the American people. That means bringing in the best minds and making the best arguments. Senate leadership needs to step up and improve their game. And if the current parliamentarian flatly rejects credible defenses of critical reforms, it would be a disservice to the American people if Senate Republicans did not take matters into their own hands and empower a new parliamentarian—one who will faithfully interpret the Senate rules. Such a move would not be unprecedented. In 2001, during reconciliation, Senate Republicans did exactly that. When the parliamentarian wasn’t doing the job to members’ satisfaction, leadership made a change. Taking matters into their own hands also means looking in the mirror and embracing the Senate’s authority to determine its own rules and proceedings—in which the presiding officer of the Senate rules and the full Senate decides the outcome of this bill—not an unelected staffer. Our Founders purposely built a system of government in which each branch would vigorously assert itself. President Trump understands this. Since noon on Jan. 20, he has exercised his constitutional authority accordingly. It’s time for Senate Republicans to step up, work in the interests of the American people, and get the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line. The post Senate Republicans Need to Step Up and Deliver on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Hitting the Wall? Both Putin and Xi Snub BRICS Summit