The U.S. Department of Education announced its Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will resume collections on federal student loans in default. Collections will begin on May 5th. “The Department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020. Resuming collections protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers willingly undertook to finance their postsecondary education,” the Department of Education stated. “This initiative will be paired with a comprehensive communications and outreach campaign to ensure borrowers understand how to return to repayment or get out of default,” it continued. Some 5 million Americans with defaulted student loan payments will have their loans sent for collections on May 5, the Department of Education announced on Monday. https://t.co/ZGS9URJR4R — ABC News (@ABC) April 22, 2025 “American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear. Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers. Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment—both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” she added. ABC News reports: Next month, for the first time since student loan payments were paused due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Education Department will collect the debts from borrowers who had defaulted — which means they hadn’t paid their debts for around nine months or 270 days — before the pandemic. The announcement comes as scores of Federal Student Aid (FSA) employees have been terminated at the Department of Education as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to shutter the agency, which creates uncertainty for borrowers and the future of the student loan system, according to former Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. “The concern is that the department is, you know, cutting the people who would help borrowers make this transition,” Kvaal told ABC News. “Borrowers who are trying to get help by getting into an affordable repayment plan or by applying for loan forgiveness, if they’re eligible, you know, just don’t have the same resources that they did before the department staff was cut in half.” The pause — started in 2020 in Trump’s first administration — for all 43 million student loan borrowers was implemented due to the economic hardship and disruption caused by COVID. This will be the first time in five years the repayments have begun. Education Department to begin garnishing wages on defaulted student loan borrowers https://t.co/rDr7i6OUXg — POLITICO (@politico) April 21, 2025 From POLITICO: The Treasury Offset Program, which collects debts by intercepting payments such as tax refunds and Social Security benefits, will administer the collections. Following a required 30 day notice to borrowers, wage garnishment will start later this summer, a senior Education Department official said Monday on a call with reporters. No federal student loan has been referred to collections since March 2020 when the Education Department paused federal student loan payments and collections during the Covid-19 pandemic. About 5.6 million borrowers were in default at the end of 2024. Most federal student loan borrowers will go into default if they do not make a payment in more than 270 days. Only 4 out of 10 borrowers are current on their student loans, Education Department officials said Monday. Thirty five percent of borrowers are 60 days delinquent and about 4 million borrowers are 91 to 180 days delinquent. Defaulted borrowers can lose eligibility to receive additional federal student aid and experience legal consequences.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering an incentive program to increase the birth rate in the United States, including a $5,000 “baby bonus” for every new mom. According to the New York Post, White House officials are strategizing ways to reverse the country’s declining birth and marriage rates. The White House is soliciting ideas to persuade women to get married and have more children in order to raise the birthrate. Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/nyHPiMl1Y5 — AF Post (@AFpost) April 22, 2025 From the New York Post: Policy experts and advocates for growing the birth rate have been meeting with White House aides to come up with plans to convince more women to have babies, four people who have been part of the meetings told the New York Times. One plan would give a $5,000 incentive to new moms, while another would see that 30% of all Fulbright scholarships be given to applicants who are married or have children. Another option being considered would have the government fund programs to educate women on their menstrual cycles so they can know when they are ovulating and able to conceive, according to the report. Birth rates in the US have long been slipping, hitting a new low in 2023 with just under 3.6 million babies born that year — making the typical American family with 2.5 children a thing of the past. In 2023, American families had just under two children on average. The total number of babies born was also about 76,000 less than 2022 and the lowest one-year tally since 1979. While the pandemic brought a slight uptick in 2021 to 2022, the trend seems to be headed downward once again. Additionally, the ages of women giving birth have started to shift as of late, with the birth rate among teens and younger women dropping while more and more women in their 30s and 40s are having babies. White House officials have not yet indicated what plans, if any, they are looking to push forward. “The Trump administration has been mulling ways to get more Americans married and having kids — including a $5,000 ‘baby bonus’ for every new mom after delivery, according to a report. White House officials have recently been brainstorming plans to tackle the declining birth and… pic.twitter.com/grjeEf3pkI — Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) April 22, 2025 Trump administration officials have been meeting with activists and conservative groups to discuss ways to spur a baby boom, including offering $5,000 “baby bonuses” to new parents. https://t.co/JVcJeG1Btt — VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) April 21, 2025 Per Newsweek: The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there were only 54.5 births for every 1,000 females aged 15 to 44 in 2023, which was the lowest figure on record and 3 percent down from the 2022 birth rate. The declining birth rate has sparked political discourse with Vice President JD Vance saying on January 24, that he wanted “more babies” being born in the U.S. Trump administration officials have not indicated if they would support the ideas although advocates are confident that the U.S. president wants to see a “baby boom,” his officials attending events with their children being a strong indication of this, the NYT reported. In February, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a father of nine, reportedly signed a memo instructing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to give precedence to “communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.” Simone Collins along with her husband, Malcolm Collins, sent the White House draft executive orders, including one that would bestow a “National Medal of Motherhood” to mothers with six or more children. She noted that Trump officials, such as Vance, are often pictured at events with their children which sent out a strong message.

According to The Defender, Massachusetts lawmakers are considering legislation to remove religious exemptions to school vaccine mandates. Other bills proposed in the state legislature would allow minors to consent to “preventative care,” including vaccines. “If lawmakers pass all three proposed bills, children whose families object to school-mandated vaccinations based on sincerely held religious beliefs will be barred from attending public and private K-12 schools, and minors will be able to consent to ‘preventative care,’ including vaccines, without parental knowledge or consent,” Children’s Health Defense wrote. Massachusetts Proposes Laws to Remove Religious Exemptions, Parental Consent for Vaccines If lawmakers pass all three proposed bills, children whose families object to school-mandated vaccinations based on sincerely held religious beliefs will be barred from attending public… pic.twitter.com/Lkhzcp9b2f — Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) April 22, 2025 The Defender reports: Massachusetts’ lawmakers are also considering An Act Promoting Community Immunity, a bill that would undermine religious exemptions for school-based vaccine mandates and remove parental consent for vaccines in some cases. According to Health Rights MA, the community immunity bill would: Allow minors to consent to preventative care, including vaccination, without parental consent or knowledge. Allow private daycares, schools and colleges to refuse religious exemptions and impose additional vaccines like the COVID-19 shots, which are not required by the Department of Public Health (DPH). Subject the religious and medical exemptions to state approval. Grant DPH expansive authority to change immunization and exemption requirements. Require doctors to sign religious exemptions. Allow DPH to publicly label programs with immunization rates below a state-defined threshold as “Elevated Risk” and exclude healthy, unvaccinated children, even in the absence of an outbreak or emergency. Candice Edwards, executive director of Health Action Massachusetts, told The Defender that the state’s Joint Committee on Public Health will soon announce a hearing date for the two bills. “Massachusetts has introduced legislation to remove religious exemptions and to allow minors to consent to pokes. I know this is not what so many want to hear but if you live in a state that disrespects parental rights, it might be time to consider moving to one that values them,” Health Freedom Defense Fund President Leslie Manookian said. Massachusetts has introduced legislation to remove religious exemptions and to allow minors to consent to pokes.I know this is not what so many want to hear but if you live in a state that disrespects parental rights, it might be time to consider moving to one that values them. — Leslie Manookian (@LeslieManookian) April 22, 2025 NEWS: Massachusetts Proposes Laws to Remove Religious Exemptions, Parental Consent for Vaccines Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to remove religious exemptions to school vaccine mandates and two bills that would allow minors to consent to “preventative care,”… pic.twitter.com/rM361DnWFx — Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) April 22, 2025 Per WGBH: Pro-vaccine advocates are trying to build support for a bill that would get rid of religious exemptions for routine childhood vaccine requirements in Massachusetts’ schools. Lawmakers held a legislative briefing at the State House on Tuesday about two bills that would remove the non-medical exemption from vaccine requirements as well as improve data collection on immunization rates in Massachusetts. “Especially with the measles outbreak in Texas, and the national environment being a bit more hostile to vaccines, we feel like this is the time for Massachusetts to kind of protect itself and take a stand and pass this really strong legislation,” said Katie Blair, director of Massachusetts Families for Vaccines. Blair says the grassroots, volunteer-led network advocates for public health and science-based policy related to vaccines. Rep. Andy Vargas, a Democrat from Haverhill, first filed the bill in 2019 when a constituent with an immunocompromised child expressed fear of sending their child to school knowing that parents can exempt their child from vaccinations for non-medical reasons. Currently, children in kindergarten through 12th grade are required to be immunized or vaccinated against several diseases , including polio and the measles. But parents can opt their children out of vaccinations for either medical or religious reasons. According to Massachusetts Families for Vaccines, “religious” exemptions in the state have risen by 500% since the 1980s, despite people’s religious affiliations going down. “This is one concrete thing that we can do here in the commonwealth to ensure that we prevent preventable diseases,” Vargas said. He told GBH News that, in previous sessions, the legislation did not make it out for a vote in time.

The U.S. military has received the authority to temporarily detain and search illegal immigrants in parts of New Mexico. “USNORTHCOM service members have been delegated the authority and directed to conduct installation security support operations in the New Mexico National Defense Area,” U.S. Northern Command stated. News: USNORTHCOM service members have been delegated the authority and directed to conduct installation security support operations in the New Mexico National Defense Area. LINK: https://t.co/3n1TuXpwmr pic.twitter.com/1WUIUOZ9z5 — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) April 21, 2025 “Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) service members have been conducting enhanced detection and monitoring since late March, 2025, which includes mobile ground-based support to detect, track, and monitor movements of suspected illegal activity using military tactical vehicles or foot patrols within zones assigned by Customs and Border Protection,” U.S. Northern Command wrote in a press release. Military authorized to detain undocumented immigrants in New Mexico https://t.co/4aPSUgotGd — The Hill (@thehill) April 22, 2025 Fox News reports: The move allows the U.S. military to serve in a more active law enforcement role than in years past. Military personnel have typically been prevented from participating in civilian law enforcement activities such as search, seizure, or arrest. As part of their new duties, the service members can search and temporarily detain trespassers on the NMNDA, as well as provide medical care and implement crowd control measures, until appropriate law enforcement can take them into custody. Task force members can also assist with the installation of temporary barriers, signage, and fencing upon request. The U.S. military has been granted authority to detain and search undocumented migrants in New Mexico’s National Defense Area, expanding its role in domestic law enforcement under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.https://t.co/T3ybiO8N7G — Mark Bowron (@MarkBowron420) April 22, 2025 US military stationed at the border in New Mexico National Defense Area can detain illegal migrants https://t.co/VxIn1boNfx — Fox News (@FoxNews) April 21, 2025 From The Hill: “Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners,” Northcom Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said in a statement. He added that Joint Task Force-Southern Border, the military task force charged with supporting border security, “will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing, and fixed surveillance site operations.” The new authorization comes after President Trump on April 11 directed the control of the Roosevelt Reservation area in New Mexico be transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Defense Department for a period of three years to support Border Patrol. The transfer, which made the strip of land part of an Army installation, effectively allows the administration to bypass a federal law that prohibits American troops from carrying out domestic law enforcement on U.S. soil. The move is a significant shift in the military’s role at the border, with troops over the last several administrations only supporting law enforcement agencies and not meant to come into contact with individuals crossing the border. Guillot last month told lawmakers that the 6,500 service members at the southern border were supporting Customs and Border Protection and “are not currently doing any detentions.” But that is expected to change with Trump’s new authorization, with plans to increase the area within which troops can detain and search migrants.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering removing the COVID-19 jab from the CDC’s recommended childhood immunization schedule, POLITICO reports. The outlet said the directive would be the “most significant move yet to shake up the nation’s vaccination practices.” Exclusive: RFK Jr. may pull the Covid-19 shot recommendation for kids, the Health secretary's biggest move yet to shake up the nation’s vaccination practices. https://t.co/Lw5CW9FWGH — POLITICO (@politico) April 22, 2025 From POLITICO: Eliminating the vaccine from the CDC schedule would not bar kids from receiving it. But the change would represent an extraordinary intervention by Kennedy to override the agency’s scientific decision-making and reverse a recommendation backed by the CDC and a slate of independent advisers just three years ago. The removal would also likely influence vaccination procedures across the nation. Pediatricians rely on the CDC schedule to determine which vaccines they should give children and when to administer them, in order to protect against a range of common infectious diseases. The schedule is also closely watched by insurers in deciding which vaccines to cover, as well as states and localities that determine which vaccines schools require for students — though no states currently mandate the Covid shot. The specifics of the removal are still under discussion and could change, said the two people, who were granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations. News: RFK Jr. is weighing pulling the Covid vaccine from the CDC's list of recommended immunizations for children, per two ppl familiar. RFK and allies see it as a justified move. But if finalized, it would represent an extraordinary intervention in CDC scientific decisionmaking — Adam Cancryn (@adamcancryn) April 22, 2025 “No final decision has been made,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said, according to POLITICO. From Politico:“HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is weighing pulling the Covid-19 vaccine from the government’s list of recommended immunizations for children, two people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO.The directive under consideration would remove the… pic.twitter.com/YBAm5AbkPV — Dr. Kat Lindley (@KLVeritas) April 22, 2025 Per CNN: The US Centers and Disease Control and Prevention is considering recommending annual Covid-19 shots to those who are older or who have compromised immune function, rather than the current blanket recommendation for everyone 6 months of age and older. The change would more closely align the US with guidance given in other countries. Unlike countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, the US alone recommends an annual Covid-19 vaccine for healthy younger adults and children. The World Health Organization also doesn’t routinely recommend annual Covid-19 vaccines for healthy adults under 65 or healthy children. On Tuesday, a panel of independent experts that advises the CDC on its vaccine recommendations, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, weighed the pros and cons of moving the US away from a blanket recommendation that most people get an updated Covid-19 shot every year and toward a more nuanced, risk-based recommendation. Members of the Covid-19 vaccine work group said they began studying the policy change in November. Under a risk-based recommendation, the CDC would continue to recommend two doses of Covid-19 vaccines each year for older adults — those over 65 — and to anyone with weakened immune function.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed President Trump will visit the Middle East in May. Trump intends to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East from May 13 through May 16 as he seeks to solidify planned investments from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar https://t.co/feErSutTX8 — Bloomberg (@business) April 22, 2025 From POLITICO: Leavitt announced during a White House press briefing that he’ll visit the Middle Eastern nations from May 13 to May 16. The three-country tour will be Trump’s second foreign trip since returning to office. The president announced plans on Monday to travel to Italy later this week for Pope Francis’ funeral. Leavitt said the trip is intended to help “strengthen ties” with the Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have provided diplomatic support to the Trump administration in recent months, including assisting with ceasefire negotiations for the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. “He will have many bilateral meetings and talks and we look forward to the trip,” Leavitt said. The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on a trip starting on May 13.White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has announced dates for Trump’s trip to the Middle East.“He will travel to Saudi… pic.twitter.com/J2EpXxysxZ — Qatar Tribune (@Qatar_Tribune) April 22, 2025 Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE in May https://t.co/tejqsUQ52O — POLITICO (@politico) April 22, 2025 Per Spectrum News: The confirmation of Trump’s Middle East tour comes hours after the president said in a Truth Social post that he spoke on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc.” Trump said in his Truth Social post. “The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue.” Netanyahu — who was the first foreign leader to visit the White House after Trump’s return to office — met with the U.S. president in the Oval Office for a second time earlier this month, this time in the wake of Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement. The Israeli leader sought to cut a deal to lower the 17% tariff – which has since been paused — that Trump placed on imports from his country. The call comes as little progress appears to have been made in efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages and end the war in Gaza, more than a month after the latest ceasefire lapsed. Qatar in particular has played a key role in such negotiations. Addressing the Israeli public, Netanyahu over the weekend said Israel has “no choice” but to continue to fight in Gaza “until victory.”

Despite President Trump warning that he’s not willing to rush to war with Iran just yet, Israel seems poised to make a move on Iran anyway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly made it known through media contacts that Israel is pushing forward with plans to strike Iran. The intended target, according to those reports, would be Iran’s nuclear facilities, and the attack plans allegedly would go forward without the United States. The fact that this report came from the New York Times has many dubious about the validity of Israel’s willingness to go it alone. But less than two weeks ago President Trump said point blank that the U.S. is having ‘direct talks’ with Iran, and would be hoping to negotiate a deal to potentially avoid war — remarks he made with Netanyahu sitting right next to him, nervously fidgeting the entire time. Check out that clip, and notice how nervous Netanyahu is when President Trump states his intentions for the cameras: I understand many are hesitant to believe the NYTs, but Trump already said all this himself 10 days ago when Netanyahu came to visit. WATCH! Trump said “doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious”. Trump already told us he doesn’t want war with Iran, and doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/zaORz2aF64 — Clandestine (@WarClandestine) April 17, 2025 As the post by @WarClandestine on X points out, and which I suspect is accurate, Netanyahu’s obvious nervousness in that clip is because President Trump knows what Israel’s intentions are. He already knows, from extensive discussions with Netanyahu, that Israel plans on attacking Iran — even if it means going it alone with more limited strikes than would be possible with U.S. military cooperation. Here’s the text from that post: I understand many are hesitant to believe the NYTs, but Trump already said all this himself 10 days ago when Netanyahu came to visit. WATCH! Trump said “doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious”. Trump already told us he doesn’t want war with Iran, and doesn’t want to be involved with any Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump wants to make a deal. Trump wants diplomacy, not war. This explains why Netanyahu was so nervous when Trump brought up Iran, because Trump rejected his plan to use the US MIL to wipe out Iran. Netanyahu was fidgeting for a reason. He was nervous because Trump knows what he is up to, and Trump is not buying it. Trump’s comments from 10 days ago coincide with the NYTs reporting on the situation. Trump and his advisors do NOT want war with Iran, they want diplomacy. Let me just say that personally I don’t think we get out of this situation without striking Iran. At some point I believe it will take a joint US/Israeli operation to wipe out the western missile fields and nuclear facilities of Iran in order to put a cap back on the jug of chaos that the Biden Administration allowed to fester. From a Biblical standpoint, I also tend to believe that the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy involving the God/Magog invasion of the land of Israel CAN’T HAPPEN until the situation changes somewhat on the ground in Israel. My personal stance is that Psalm 83 and other scriptures denote prophetic events that haven’t happened yet — including a military victory over Israel’s immediate neighbors, the destruction of Damascus by the direct attack of the IDF, and the destruction of Elam which overlays Iran’s western missile fields. Which would then set up the later Gog/Magog scenario from a more distant outer ring of Israel’s enemies, once Israel is truly a land of “unwalled” villages living with no fear of their immediate neighbors (as the “surprise attack” prophecy found in Ezekiel 38-39 stipulates). Here’s a great explanation of that view from one of my favorite Bible teachers, Chuck Missler, who passed away a few years ago: And here’s an even more detailed explanation of that view, differentiating between the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 scenarios, from Bill Salus (who Chuck Missler quotes and credits in the earlier video): I sincerely believe that Bill Salus NAILS this issue, and that almost all mainstream theologies on this issue fail to take into account these UNFULFILLED PROPHECIES, which we’re now seeing take shape right before our eyes. And which will ultimately set the stage for the much more widely talked about Gog/Magog attack from Ezekiel chapters 38-39. That said, I don’t think Israel has the military might at the moment to take on Iran — and those nations which would likely come to Iran’s assistance if it did so alone — without U.S. help. So while I believe President Trump is right in attempting to avoid a larger war if at all possible while sticking by his remarks that Iran can not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon… my expectation is that at some point it will become obvious that war will be the only method of stopping that eventuality. Time will tell if I’m right. Meanwhile, it appears from those earlier mentioned reports that Israel is likely to go it alone, despite President Trump’s push to exhaust a possible negotiation first, as reported by Reuters: Israel has not ruled out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months despite President Donald Trump telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. was for now unwilling to support such a move, according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter. Israeli officials have vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and Netanyahu has insisted that any negotiation with Iran must lead to the complete dismantling of its nuclear program. U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set for a second round of preliminary nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Trump told Netanyahu in a White House meeting earlier this month that Washington wanted to prioritize diplomatic talks with Tehran and that he was unwilling to support a strike on the country’s nuclear facilities in the short term. But Israeli officials now believe that their military could instead launch a limited strike on Iran that would require less U.S. support. Such an attack would be significantly smaller than those Israel initially proposed. It is unclear if or when Israel would move forward with such a strike, especially with talks on a nuclear deal getting started. Such a move would likely alienate Trump and could risk broader U.S. support for Israel. Parts of the plans were previously presented last year to the Biden administration, two former senior Biden administration officials told Reuters. Almost all required significant U.S. support via direct military intervention or intelligence sharing. Israel has also requested that Washington help Israel defend itself should Iran retaliate. When questioned about that report, President Trump pushed back against the assertion that he had ‘waved off’ an Israeli attack on Iran. He chose to specify that his ‘first option’ would be to negotiate in order to keep Iran from attaining a nuclear weapon, and that the ‘second option’ would be bad; but he in essence indicated that the ‘second option’ — war to stop Iran from getting nukes — was indeed an option. Check out this clip of the President responding to that report: As both the reporting from Reuters, and President Trump himself mentioned while speaking next to Netanyahu from the Oval Office, high-level negotiations with Iran are already happening in Rome. Iran and the US move to expert-level talks over Tehran’s nuclear program after negotiations in Rome https://t.co/r1sT8fRNZF — The Hill (@thehill) April 20, 2025 The big question is not whether Israel might take on Iran’s nuclear sites with a ‘limited strike’ of their own; the Israelis have a long proven track record of daring surprise exploits on the battlefield operating solo. The big question is whether or not Netanyahu will risk the ire of President Trump by attacking Iran while the U.S. is openly negotiating a peaceful settlement with the Iranians over the issue. That’s no small thing. President Trump has already proven his willingness to break the mold of both the left and the right when dealing with Israel, which generally has meant either DEMONIZING or DEIFYING the Israeli government. President Trump, on the other hand, approaches the Israeli leadership just like he does everyone else — with the expectation that they deal with him forthrightly, in good faith, and with a promise of hell to pay if they try to pull the wool over his eyes or act duplicitously with him. Which is why the reports of Israel’s willingness to potentially attack Iran while the U.S. is in direct talks with Tehran… is so explosive. (Pun, unfortunately, very much intended.) And it does not sound like President Trump’s diplomatic overtures towards Iran are simply a matter of going through the motions to say that they did for political reasons. That’s not how President Trump works, anyway. His diplomatic efforts towards Iran seem legitimately designed to bring about a true solution to the threat of a nuclear Iran while avoiding war, according to a report in Newsweek: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has highlighted Iran’s willingness to secure a deal at nuclear negotiations with the U.S., with the two sides having agreed to hold technical talks with experts in Oman on April 23, followed by a meeting of senior negotiators. Both the U.S. and Iran have reported progress after two rounds of indirect nuclear talks, amid entrenched distrust and heightened military rhetoric. U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to see Iran “thrive”—provided it forgoes nuclear weapons, which the Islamic Republic has consistently denied seeking. The talks aim to curb Tehran’s nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Iranian officials say there should not be restrictions on uranium enrichment but rather rigorous guarantees that it would not seek nuclear weapons—unless attacked. Israel, which is already believed to have nuclear weapons, has also pressured the United States to ensure that rival Iran does not get them. Israel, like the United States, has said it could attack Iran’s nuclear program to stop it acquiring them. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, on April 15: “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.” As you would expect, the divide between those who would rather launch large scale attacks on Iran, and those preferring to avoid pushing the ongoing WWIII scenario even farther into the kinetic zone, is even more palpable with these events. Here’s Ben Shapiro (who I agree with on SO MANY issues, but not all) completely exasperated by the fact that President Trump isn’t writing the same blank checks constantly handed out by those who have come before him: “That is NOT what he (Trump) told me on this show” Ben Shapiro seethes over Trump calling off airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. pic.twitter.com/4FO7ggQdtK — Texan AF (@Americultist) April 17, 2025 But what is really going on behind the scenes at the Trump White House on this issue? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that even in this current term, even with his first term and the last four years as a learning curve… President Trump is still contending with that age-old contention between those pushing for war as a first option, and those who want to at least attempt to avoid war with diplomacy to begin with. Here’s a great interview with Clayton Morris of Redacted and retired Col. Douglas Macgregor talking about this continued push (EVEN NOW!) from within the Trump Administration to push the President to war prematurely: A few weeks ago, we told you about anti-war Trump cabinet insiders fighting to STOP a war w/Iran But they’re up against the neocons & Israel, which is pushing hard for U.S. backup to take Iran down. @DougAMacgregor joins us. pic.twitter.com/M15u7JXV7t — Redacted (@TheRedactedInc) April 22, 2025 As MacGregor pointed out at the start of that interview, President Trump is still contending with those who would push him to walk right into a trap that leads directly to full-scale WWIII… without attempting to negotiate a deal! Make no mistake — a nuclear armed Iran scares the heck out of me! But so does going to war when the possibility of avoiding it hasn’t been fully explored. Once again, I’m amazed at President Trump’s resiliency and ability to keep his moorings even when the pressures to move off that firm foundation must be reaching a fevered pitch. And I’m not going to say that Israel SHOULDN’T strike Iran. Were I sitting in Netanyahu’s shoes… I might very well deem it necessary to strike that proven adversary at a time that doesn’t align with that stipulated by an American President. But I’m certainly glad we do have an American President who neither writes blank checks, nor telegraphs an indistinct message. If Israel attacks Iran without U.S. support, it won’t be under any assumption of manipulating the U.S. into a war we haven’t agreed to have. I suspect, if Netanyahu does pull that trigger, it will likely be in a way that does in fact include U.S. collaboration with very limited — but necessary — U.S. intel, targeting abilities, and protection in case of an Iranian response. But if the Israeli Prime Minister decides to truly go it alone while we are knee-deep in negotiations with the Iranians, that would completely destroy any possibility of future diplomatic solutions to this problem. The Iranians would never trust President Trump again as a negotiator. Hopefully, the Israeli leadership understands just what that would do to Israeli/American relations. Stabbing your BIGGEST DEFENDER in the back is certainly not a good plan when you’re up against a nation on the verge of attaining nukes. Let’s hope Netanyahu doesn’t make that mistake, and is instead far more willing to give President Trump a chance to make a deal than he is willing to take on Tehran alone.

The FDA just told food companies todays: ditch the fake colors! Instead of a full ban, they’re rolling out a national timeline to swap synthetics for natural dyes. It’s a softer version of RFK Jr.’s campaign promise to clean up our food supply. I suspect it won’t be voluntary for long. If Europe has banned all these food dye chemicals, why should they be in our food? Kennedy’s FDA officially announced a ban on petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply. They have been linked to cancer & neurodevelopment issues in children. Even if you disagree, these dyes are everywhere. Food will be different by 2026pic.twitter.com/PIBVXhUPV6 — Being Libertarian (@beinlibertarian) April 22, 2025 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a series of new measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply—a significant milestone in the administration’s broader initiative to Make… pic.twitter.com/eFenYDBRly — U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 22, 2025 CBS News reports: The Food and Drug Administration is asking the food industry to stop using synthetic food dyes, in a bid to fulfill one of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goals to swap them out with natural alternatives in the U.S. food supply. FDA’s move stops short of the outright ban that had been floated for in Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” platform from the campaign trail. Instead, it relies on what the Department of Health and Human Services said was a “national standard and timeline for the industry” to voluntarily make the switch. “Let’s start in a friendly way and see if we can do this without any statutory or regulatory changes. But we are exploring every tool in the toolbox to make sure this gets done very quickly,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told reporters at an event to announce the plan. Makary said he had had “wonderful meetings with the food industry” and claimed that they are eager to remove artificial dyes from the food supply. “They want to do it. So why go down a complicated road with Congress when they want to do this,” Makary said. The food industry denied that there was a safety concern with artificial dyes, citing past reviews by the FDA and other international authorities, and said that their use is “essential for consistency, visual appeal, and consumer trust in food products.” “Requiring reformulation by the end of 2026 ignores scientific evidence and underestimates the complexity of food production. The process is neither simple nor immediate, and the resulting supply disruptions will limit access to familiar, affordable grocery items,” the International Association of Color Manufacturers said in a statement after the announcement. HHS says the FDA will be “working with industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic food dyes” and will also be accelerating the review and approval of some new natural color additives. Ending the use of artificial dyes has long been a goal of Kennedy’s agenda, over concerns that these colors are inflating the consumption of unhealthy foods and raising the risk of potentially worrying behavioral changes in children, among other risks. As a side bonus, this move will probably win over some Democrats that aren’t extreme liberals but are health conscious. These sort of stories get their attention. #BREAKING: The FDA has officially announced they will be BANNING artificial dyes in the food supply by the end of 2026 This includes Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3 “This administration is NOT interested in doing the same old things as we watch our… pic.twitter.com/BePbEKE3Wd — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 22, 2025 Soon we’ll have treats that you can simply enjoy and you won’t have to worry about. Until then, choose organic options. Today is an AMAZING day! The FDA has announced they will be removing various petroleum-based food dyes from foods and beverages in America by the end of 2026. They include Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3. Not sure how much people really know about these… pic.twitter.com/0hDtSMLm2p — Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) April 22, 2025

The Vatican released the first images of Pope Francis since his passing. He was shown in a wooden coffin, dressed in red robes with a rosary in hand and the papal mitre on his head. Cardinals gathered at the Santa Marta chapel for prayers and the formal Confirmation of Death. A solemn moment marking the end of an era. Here’s a few questions that arise: There is bruising on his face, and it’s not consistent with cause of death? No fall reported? Whats the deal with the guard next to him? And why would they let him look so terrible and not even apply some basic makeup? Photos of the Pope go public… Notice the The bruise on Pope Francis’ face…? According to medical experts, he died of a cerebral stroke, and “Experts” say the most likely cause is antemortem trauma, such as a fall. There are however no official Vatican reports that mention a… pic.twitter.com/Ofemw2Y1Y3 — MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) April 22, 2025 How did Pope Francis get such bruises on his face in just one day after meeting JD Vance? pic.twitter.com/DergxScTn2 — TJAConspiracy (@TJAConspiracy) April 22, 2025 Amir Tsarfati: “The Vatican released these photos of late Pope Francis.” pic.twitter.com/GdepfMO8Nh — SweetPeaBelle (@SweetPeaBell326) April 22, 2025 As for the guard: CBS News reports: Pope Francis’ funeral has been scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern) on Saturday in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced Tuesday, following a meeting of the College of Cardinals at the Catholic Church’s city-state headquarters in the heart of Rome. The coffin carrying the pope, who died Monday morning after suffering a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, will be brought in a procession Wednesday morning, accompanied by cardinals, to the basilica from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died. The pope’s body was placed in his coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence on Monday. On Tuesday, the Vatican released the first photos and video of Francis since his death, showing him in the wooden coffin wearing a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary intertwined in his hands. The images showed cardinals and other church officials performing what the Vatican said was the formal Confirmation of the Pope’s Death and praying over his body. CBS News correspondent Seth Doane said the intimate service at the Santa Marta hotel gave senior clergy and Vatican insiders a private chance to pay their respects to Francis. The Vatican’s ornately attired Swiss Guards were, as ever, standing at attention by the pope’s side. Church officials also shared some details about the pope’s final hours, describing “a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm.” The interim administrator of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish-American who will play a major role in the funeral and subsequent events in the coming weeks, will preside over the procession and the ritual transfer of the pope’s body to St. Peter’s Basilica. The pontiff will lie in state ahead of his funeral at the basilica from Wednesday morning, the Vatican said. The funeral Mass will be celebrated three days later by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. The papal funeral is broken down into three separate phases, or “stations.” They are the preparation of the body, the viewing of the body, and then the burial.

Pope Francis has died, and now all eyes are on the Sistine Chapel. Eligible cardinals are heading to Rome to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church. Twelve contenders are reportedly in the running. Some are reformers, some are traditionalists. The smoke may be white soon.. After Pope Francis’ death:1⃣ Body lies in state2⃣ 9 days of mourning (novemdiales)3⃣ Funeral in St. Peter’s4⃣ Papal ring destroyed5⃣ Conclave in Sistine Chapel6⃣ White smoke = New pope elected#PopeFrancis #Vatican pic.twitter.com/EtAGP7Vfl1 — Glenn Rivera (@deanaure_rivier) April 21, 2025 THREAD: Pope Francis has died at 88. In 15–20 days, the conclave will elect his successor. Here are the top 12 contenders. Who do you want to see sitting on the throne of St. Peter? pic.twitter.com/tzRKVSl6NZ — Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) April 21, 2025 ABC News reports: The question looming on many minds around the world following the death of Pope Francis on Monday is who will become the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The selection process will begin when all cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to participate are summoned to Rome to prepare for the secret conclave inside the Sistine Chapel to choose the next pontiff. Pietro Parolin Parolin, who “looks very much on paper like he should be the obvious continuity candidate,” has been the secretary of state since August 2013 and is a “vastly experienced Vatican diplomat,” Petterden said. Luis Tagle A candidate similar in “charisma and emphasis on pastoral mission” to Francis is Tagle, who was appointed by Pope Benedict as the archbishop of Manila in 2011, Pattenden said. European moderates: Matteo Zuppi, Jean-Marc Aveline, Mario Grech Pope Francis progressives: Marc Ouelett, Willem Eijk The only two that Traina said resemble Francis’ approach. Top contenders for the next Pope include Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, a respected conservative theologian, and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State known for his diplomatic expertise. pic.twitter.com/2jKXls8DgB — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 21, 2025   Speaking of churches and cathedrals and the Vatican… As we are finding that almost everything we’ve been taught is a lie….do you think these massive buildings were built solely for the church? Cathedrals were built for worship services? Or did they have an original use and was converted later? What do you know about free energy? This church isn’t just the heart of Catholicism… St. Peter’s Basilica is an architectural masterpiece. Let’s check out the mathematics, geometry, and acoustics that make this church truly extraordinary… pic.twitter.com/b976AYxsan — Classical Aegis (@ClassicalAegis) August 25, 2024 A schuman resonator and the Carthres Cathedral.The Cathedral built in early 1200.Schuman resonance not found until late 1800 (from: Lost World of Tartaria on fb) pic.twitter.com/mft1fpozZb — The Aureus Press (@Trad_West_Art) April 12, 2020 Because ‘St Patricks Cathedral’ Melbourne was built in a few decades by unskilled labour from a pool of around 50,000 people in the mid 1800s with horse and cart. Modern power tools and builders can’t do this but unskilled labour could. Ok, got it.#hiddenhistory #Tartaria pic.twitter.com/pHshPExv1Y — Green Fairy (@Tinkerb65712648) August 26, 2023 Cathedral = CATHODE-RAL QUESTION: In the very near past, were Cathedrals (and other ‘Ancient’ Architecture) utilized as Massive CATHODES (-) that produced ELectromagnetic energy to amplify harmonic and healing frequencies? Were these Structures used to HARNESS the AETHER? pic.twitter.com/FFhCQzxrfW — Hiddeπ Amur∆Ka: Thr?ce (G)REatEST ॐ (@AmurakaHidden) September 10, 2023 A repurposed world. Which is also why you would create carved stone rose windows only to clumsily cover half of them with wooden vault frames even though other parts of the cathedral have perfectly engineered stone vaults. Almost like we inherited the building and religiously repurposed it? pic.twitter.com/B8XvvcGU8J — Green Fairy (@Tinkerb65712648) August 26, 2023