While taking questions from reporters on Thursday, President Donald Trump blindsided Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with a jab referencing the 1941 surprise attack initiated by the Empire of Japan on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The question, from one of the reporters in the Oval Office, was about the current joint operation in Iran undertaken by the United States and Israel — specifically, why President Trump had not spoken with allies in Europe or Japan prior to initiating an attack against the Iranian regime. WATCH: Q: “Why didn’t you tell U.S. allies…about the war before attacking Iran?” President Trump: “We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” pic.twitter.com/esV9iyvMiV — CSPAN (@cspan) March 19, 2026 “Japan and U.S. are very good friends,” the reporter began. “But one question: why didn’t you tell U.S. Allies in Europe and Asia, like Japan, about the war before attacking Iran? So we are very confused about — we, Japanese citizens —” “Well, one thing, you don’t want to signal too much,” Trump replied, arguing that it was unwise to give away too much of the planning before taking military action. “You know, when we go in, we went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor? Okay? Right?” Prime Minister Takaichi appeared to be slightly uncomfortable as several around the room began to laugh. “He’s asking me — no, you believe in surprise I think much more so than us,” Trump continued, pivoting back to Iran. “But we had to surprise them and we did. And because of that surprise, we knocked out — the first two days, we probably knocked out 50% of what we — and much more than we anticipated.” “So if I go and tell everybody about it, it’s no longer a surprise, right?” the president concluded.

President Donald Trump has tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to serve as his next Secretary of Homeland Security, but the question remains: can he salvage the agency’s reputation and its mass deportation effort? Leading up to the firing of outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the department faced backlash for its handling of immigration sweeps across major cities. In Minneapolis, it all came to a head after the fatal shootings of anti-ICE activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. At the time, Noem tagged Good and Pretti as domestic terrorists, drawing backlash from both sides of the aisle for getting ahead of federal probes. In an attempt to clean up the situation, Trump sent his border czar, Tom Homan, into the Twin Cities to change the course of immigration raids and to quell chaos in the streets. In doing so, Trump replaced Noem ally Gregory Bovino, of Border Patrol, who was known for his aggressive tactics of carrying out roving patrols. Homan changed all that, putting the focus on nabbing the worst criminals first. Asked how Noem and Mullin differ, Homan says Mullin “doesn’t know the immigration game very well,” but is relying on “people with 30, 40 years of experience to guide him,” adding: “That’s the way it should be.” pic.twitter.com/x7QQkHDEH2 — Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) March 18, 2026 On Wednesday, Fox News host Martha MacCallum asked Homan how Mullin would differ from Noem as secretary. The former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director said that while Mullin “doesn’t know the immigration game very well,” he’s relying on “people with 30, 40 years of experience to guide him,” adding: “That’s the way it should be.” Mullin faced a grilling from the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, where he was asked about how he would  “reform” ICE. The Oklahoma lawmaker admitted that there’s a need for “a better approach,” adding, “I would love to see ICE become a transport more than the frontline.” “If we can get back into just simply working with law enforcement, we’re going to them and we’re picking up these criminals from their jail. One, we’re gonna reimburse them for having the person there and that partnership is vitally important,” he said. During a recent hearing, Noem defended DHS’ use of “administrative immigration warrants,” which aren’t signed by a judge, to enter homes. She said they’ve only been used to enter homes in 28 instances. Mullin suggested that would change. “We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we’re pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house,” Mullin said during Wednesday’s hearing. When it comes to sanctuary cities, Mullin indicated that his approach would involve holding discussions with their leaders to find common ground. When Trump sent Homan into Minneapolis, he changed Noem’s approach to pressuring sanctuary cities from the vantage point of television appearances and instead sat down with local sheriffs brokering deals that promoted better cooperation with ICE. Homan’s actions led to a drawdown of thousands of Homeland Security agents deployed to Minneapolis. “If they’re not willing to enforce federal law and work with us, then where’s the taxpayer dollars going to?” Mullin said. “And ideally, I would like to go in there and talk to the mayors. I’d like to go in there and talk to the sheriffs, talk to the police chiefs, say what is your concerns, how can we get past this? Because the president has made it very clear, he wants to protect the streets for every American. He wants to restore law and order to every city. I don’t think that should be controversial,” he said. “So maybe we sit down and we just work it out,” Mullin said, adding, “If we have to do something different, then we will, but that’s where I’m going to start at.” Asked if he would withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities and states, Mullin signaled it “would be a last option,” adding that “at the end of the day, taxpayer dollars have to be used for the right purposes and if people are refusing to enforce the nation’s laws, then I think it’s really hard to justify why we’re sending them taxpayer dollars.” “That is not going to be my first or second or even third approach, but that would be my last resort,” Mullin said. Noem’s firing came after she blamed Trump for questionable $200 million TV ad contracts that promoted deportations and border security. Hours before ousting Noem, Trump told Reuters that he had no knowledge of the expensive contracts. Noem testified during a heated Congressional hearing that the contracts “went out to a competitive bid and career officials at the department chose who would do those advertising commercials.” The contracts were awarded using “other than full and open competition” to a company formed days before, according to records recently obtained by The Daily Wire. That company then subcontracted the work to an organization headed by the husband of Noem’s former spokeswoman. It now appears that Mullin wants to salvage the reputation of the department in the wake of Noem’s missteps. “I hope that I’m not on the news six months from now every day,” Mullin said during Wednesday’s hearing. “I hope DHS is just able to be laser focused on doing their job and it isn’t controversial about taking care of the homeland. I hope people have confidence in our agency again and I’m going to work every day to restore that,” Mullin said. Mullin’s nomination passed a committee vote Thursday and is headed to the Senate floor.

Americans facing religious discrimination in the workplace have a new federal resource after the Department of Labor on Thursday launched its Center for Faith.  The new website directs users to resources for addressing workplace discrimination based on religion, including guidance on filing complaints and information on support programs.  “250 years ago, our nation was founded on the fundamental idea of liberty for all, including the right to religious freedom,” Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer told The Daily Wire. “The Trump administration is committed to upholding this core principle.” “That’s why the Labor Department’s Center for Faith launched a new website, which provides clear assistance for anyone who has faced religious discrimination in the workplace,” she added. The launch follows an executive order from President Donald Trump establishing a White House Office of Faith and directing federal agencies to expand resources for religious Americans.  One of the tools included on the site is an interactive map outlining state-level and federal options for individuals who believe they have experienced religious discrimination. The map also provides instructions on how to file complaints.  The website also lays out how religious groups can apply for Department of Labor grants and partner with the agency on initiatives addressing poverty, substance use recovery, and community revitalization.  “This guidance reflects the Administration’s commitment to protecting religious liberty, promoting economic opportunities, and fostering partnerships that build upon the documented successes of faith groups in serving Americans in need,” the website says.  Last year, the Labor Department welcomed back faith-based organizations to the federal grant process after President Joe Biden sidelined them in favor of DEI-focused groups.  The website also includes guidance for smaller faith-based organizations on structuring retirement plans.  “As you work to select and offer a retirement plan for your employees, you may face certain decision points that secular employers do not,” the website says. “You may also find that while there are many strong service providers who help small employers in this process, there are fewer who have experience specifically helping faith-based employers.”

Washington’s DHS shutdown is turning America’s airports into a pressure point—because TSA officers are being ordered to work without pay while partisan demands stall a fix. Unpaid TSA Workforce Pushes Airport Screening Toward a Breaking Point TSA checkpoint delays are intensifying because the partial DHS shutdown has required roughly 50,000 TSA officers to keep working without pay since the funding lapse in mid-February. Internal figures reported by national outlets show unscheduled absences doubling to around 6% nationally, with a peak near 9% on Feb. 23. As missed paychecks hit in mid-March, airports began consolidating checkpoints and managing PreCheck lane access differently by location. This week's TSA chaos will look like 'child's play' if the shutdown isn't solved soon, Transportation Secretary says https://t.co/q1BTMOcu6e — Jazz Drummer (@jazzdrummer420) March 19, 2026 Specific airport snapshots show how quickly a staffing issue becomes a public disruption. Data cited in reporting included Houston’s Hobby Airport recording callout rates above 50% on certain days in early March, an eye-popping figure that forces managers into triage: fewer open lanes, longer waits, and more stressed passengers. Airlines and airport operators have described the situation as solvable if Washington ends the shutdown, but day-to-day operations are increasingly dependent on who shows up. Quits and Absences Add to a Longer-Term Hiring Problem The workforce problem is not just today’s callouts; it is the pipeline behind them. Reporting indicates more than 300 TSA separations since Feb. 14, with one tally listing 305 separations by March 9. Replacing a screening workforce is not instant: training and onboarding can take months, and experienced officers are not easily substituted during peak travel. Former TSA leadership has warned that repeated shutdowns normalize unpaid work and drive “permanent” losses. The current shutdown also lands on top of recent history, which matters for retention. Past shutdowns saw absences climb toward 10%, producing long lines and operational strain, and more recent disruptions reportedly contributed to significant attrition in 2025. When shutdowns become recurring, the job looks less like stable public service and more like a political bargaining chip. For travelers, that translates into uncertain wait times and last-minute changes right as spring break crowds arrive. JUST IN: Major disruption at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this morning Several TSA checkpoints (including A-West, C, and F) are temporarily closed due to staffing issues from the ongoing partial gov shutdown. Lines shifting—arrive early! pic.twitter.com/j0zYpyBLPG — Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) March 19, 2026 The Political Stalemate Centers on ICE Oversight Demands The shutdown’s roots are political: Democrats have pushed to tie DHS funding to changes in immigration enforcement oversight following backlash to federal enforcement actions, while the Trump White House has argued those demands would weaken enforcement. Public reporting describes a package of reforms debated in Congress, including warrants for certain actions, body cameras, visible identification, and limits on operations at sensitive sites. Negotiations have been described as sluggish, with competing narratives over who blocked narrower funding fixes. What’s Verified—and What’s Still Unclear Multiple sources align on the core facts: the shutdown began after DHS funding lapsed Feb. 14–15; TSA officers have been required to work without pay; absences rose nationally with spikes at specific airports; and separations exceeded 300 as the shutdown continued into mid-March. Some details vary by publication date, including the exact day-count of the shutdown and whether separations are reported as “305” through March 9 or “more than 300” as the situation continued. Passenger writes :IAH (George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston) PreCheck disaster: 3-4 hrs early and STILL missed my flight. Look at this crowd…. lines everywhere…. Root cause: Partial government shutdown tanking TSA staffing right when spring break hits peak. Is… pic.twitter.com/0ZmfERLXd7 — Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) March 18, 2026 For Americans who value basic competence and limited government drama, the constitutional frustration is simple: Congress controls the purse, but families and travelers pay the price when politics turns essential functions into leverage. The practical takeaway is equally straightforward. Until funding is restored, airport lines can change quickly—especially during peak travel windows—because staffing swings are now being driven by unpaid work, burnout, and attrition that cannot be reversed overnight. Sources: TSA absences double during shutdown as 300 quit, airport security lines grow TSA shutdown careers Government shutdown: TSA, Democrats, Congress, Trump Democrats’ reckless DHS shutdown hits Americans hard as 100,000 workers go without pay

'crippling medical debt'

'With Democrats like that, who needs Republicans?'

From school board meetings to social media feeds, from pediatrician offices to grocery store aisles, Americans are increasingly asking: “What is MAHA?” The health-focused movement has sparked conversations across the political spectrum, with parents, educators, and policymakers alike grappling with its implications for children’s health and the future of American food and medicine policy. An […]

'We're tired of it and there's got to be something done'

'Support the generous social programs that we want to have'

'This defendant built his path to citizenship on false statements.'