The result was as predictable as rain on a cloudy day. The American people, fed up with Iranian policy towards the United States, had headed to their voting booths and defiantly pulled the presidential ballot lever for a decided Outsider. And the Outsider won. But this election was not in 2016 or 2024. It was 1980. And, of course, that Outsider candidate was Ronald Reagan, not Donald Trump. Famously, when the then President-elect Reagan paid his first visit to Washington after winning the 1980 election, Democrat Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, the epitome of the career Washington politician, told the former two-term governor of California that “a governor plays in the minor leagues. You’re in the big leagues now.” The message was crystal clear. Reagan had not spent decades in elected office like O’Neill. Much less had he spent, like O’Neill at that point, almost three decades holding office in Washington. Which was on top of another 16 years as a member of the Massachusetts state legislature. No, Reagan was seen and treated as an Outsider by both O’Neill and the larger Washington Establishment because he had not only never set foot in a Washington job, he had — oh the horror! — spent a career working in the private sector. Worse still, Reagan’s private sector career was as — gasp! — an actor! Not to mention that his elective office was as-ewwwww! — a governor — as opposed to being part of the Washington crowd. Sacramento was decidedly not Washington! And tellingly, the Iranians holding Americans hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were well aware of Reagan’s Outsider, hardliner reputation. This history is worth recalling because, yet again, Americans have elected a decided Outsider to the White House. Deliberately. That would be, of course, President Donald Trump. Trump was, famously, a businessman’s businessman in his career. His claim to fame was building a global real estate empire, then writing about how he did it — and massaging that into a hot television show called The Apprentice.  A show where he was cast in the role of judging the business astuteness of various contestants. And when the contestants did not measure up to his strict standards, he immortalized his words of dismissal: “You’re fired!” All of this returns to mind as now-President Trump deals with the hot-button unfolding of war in the Middle East, on top of what has proved to be his sure-footed handling of the economy. In the latter case, he is making his success into what he has justifiably called a “Golden Age.” The Middle East is, as has been true for most American presidents, a tougher nut to crack. Way back there in November of 1979 — a full 46 years ago — America’s relationship with Iran went off the tracks in the Jimmy Carter era when 66 Americans, a combination of U.S. diplomats and civilian personnel, were taken hostage in the US Embassy in Tehran. (RELATED: Write That Damned Book — Now!) The hostage situation dragged on for over a year, steadfastly resisting Carter’s efforts to end it by either diplomatic negotiation or even military action. In the latter case, Carter’s attempt at a military rescue literally had the U.S. military helicopters crashing and burning in the Iranian desert. And here is where the ending of the hostage crisis surely has the attention of another Outsider President — Donald Trump. Reagan’s hardline reputation was so firmly fixed in the mind of the Iranians that literally the moment Reagan’s hand came off the Bible at his January swearing-in, the hostages were quickly released. (RELATED: Trump and Reagan: Two Hostage Crises, Two Inaugurations) Yes, there was a later hostage problem — with newer hostages traded for dollars that were then delivered to Nicaragua’s “Contra” anti-Communist rebels — the so-called “Iran-Contra scandal.” But the fact remained, there was considerable wariness from America’s adversaries around the globe when it came to dealing with Reagan. It was a central reason that Reagan, allied with the similarly hardline British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Polish, anti-Communist Pope John Paul II, collectively ended the Cold War. Today, Israel is pounding away at Iran’s mullahs, but the shadow of the Outsider American President looms over all. He is demanding that Iran not build a nuclear program. As with Reagan, America’s Iranian adversary is being exceptionally careful in dealing with Trump. And that is precisely because the Iranians know that Trump, the Outsider American President, is unafraid to go where a typical Washington career politician would not. Whether they actually build a bomb or not. So for sure, they should be careful — and they know it. Stay tuned. READ MORE from Jeffrey Lord: Flag Day, and President Trump’s Birthday Arrives: The Left Recoils Is It Time to Dox Hakeem Jeffries’s Security? No, Elon, Americans Elected Trump — Not You The post Trump: The Success of the Outsider President appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Have you ever heard of anything referred to as the “fourth branch of government”? It’s a term that can be used to mean any entity that has influence over government beyond the three branches described in the Constitution. To some, it’s the media. To others, it’s interest groups. Today, I’m referring to it as the bureaucracy and administrative state that now plagues our government. So, what exactly is this fourth branch? Where do they get their power? What role do they play, and who holds them accountable? As of March 2022, there were millions of federal workers in 15 departments, 66 agencies, 42 boards, commissions, and committees, 11 quasi-official agencies, and nine executive offices. One study found that back in 2007, while Congress enacted 138 laws, federal agencies finalized 2,926 rules, including 61 major regulations. (RELATED: The Trump Administration Sets Its Sights on the Parallel Government) The Fourth Branch’s Power Source Many agencies get their power from Congress. For example, out of a law to “protect clean air,” power is given to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to figure out how to make that happen. The one law might then result in hundreds of regulations. Until very recently, courts would even defer to the agencies’ interpretations of the regulations. This practice, known as the “Chevron deference,” was recently overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2024. (RELATED: Biden EPA’s ‘Gold Bars Off the Titanic’ Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg) Other agencies get their power from the executive branch. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is part of the executive branch, with duties to prepare the federal budget and oversee agency performance. So, whether from legislative or executive authority, it turns out that agency personnel frequently do the heavy lifting of governing. The saying is that “personnel IS policy.” Some would even argue that key civil servants are necessary in order to maintain continuity in government and keep things functioning, no matter what party is in power. But is today’s sprawling bureaucracy what the Founders wanted? It’s hard to imagine that the Founders had anything like our administrative state in mind when, in 1790, the federal government had just 1,000 nonmilitary workers. Little did the Founders know that some 200 years later that the U.S. government would go on to employ nearly 2.3 million nonmilitary workers, most of whom work under the executive branch’s sprawling network of agencies and departments. Moreover, this doesn’t account for congressional staff, employees of the government’s numerous intelligence agencies, or presidential appointees. There’s plenty of blame to go around for the rise of the administrative state. It has been exacerbated as Congress has decided to relieve the judiciary of most regulatory cases and move those cases to administrative courts tied to individual agencies. Others decry the expansion of presidential power over the agencies, the courts’ and Congress’s unwillingness to check that power. How Do We Rein It In? So, how do we get things under control? That’s the million-dollar question, and it’s one that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other officials will need to answer as more Americans wake up to the realities of America’s so-called “fourth branch of government.” A few suggestions that have been discussed in recent years include: Strengthen congressional oversight Increase transparency and public participation Reform agencies to speed up the regulatory process Add more judicial checks and limits Enhance the accountability of the executive branch Propose legislative reforms that would codify limits to funding and staffing It’s important that, in these times between nationwide elections, we make an effort to more thoroughly understand these issues so that we can choose wisely at the polling booth. The challenge — and answer — may come in finding a balance between many of these options and in holding all elected officials accountable to do their jobs and vigilantly maintain the system of checks and balances that our Founders so carefully put in place. READ MORE: As Trump’s Federal Layoffs Continue, Critics Miss This Crucial Point. The Trump Administration Sets Its Sights on the Parallel Government Federal Bureaucrats Launch Resistance Website Debbie Wuthnow is the president of iVoterGuide, a division of AFA Action, and a member of the Board of Directors of AFA Action. The post Understanding America’s Fourth Branch and Its Unseen Power appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

by Michael Snyder, End Of The American Dream: Just within the past few hours there have been monumental developments regarding the war in the Middle East.  As you will see below, there are signs that President Trump has made some sort of really big decision.  Events are moving so rapidly now.  In fact, I had […]

by Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project: Proponents of genetically engineered crops and seeds promised that the technology would reduce pesticide use. However, a new study confirms that industrial agriculture’s use of genetic engineering technologies has caused pesticide use to soar. (GM Watch) Genetically modified (GM) crops have increased agriculture’s dependence on pesticides rather than reducing […]

President Trump announced that the digging and placement of two flag poles he is personally gifting to the White House will take place Wednesday morning. The White House broke ground on the project last week. “It is my Great Honor to announce that I will be putting up two beautiful Flag Poles on both sides of the White House, North and South Lawns. It is a GIFT from me of something which was always missing from this magnificent place,” Trump said. “The digging and placement of the poles will begin at 7:30 A.M. EST, tomorrow morning. Flags will be raised at approximately 11 A.M. EST. These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality. Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!” he added. From the Associated Press: The White House broke ground Monday on construction projects ordered by President Donald Trump to pave over the grass in the Rose Garden and install flagpoles on the north and south lawns. The projects are part of a series of personal touches that Trump, a real estate developer turned politician, has added or is adding to the Executive Mansion and its grounds since he opened his second term in January. The projects also include new artwork of himself on walls and gold-toned flourishes in the Oval Office. He also wants to add a ballroom. Reporters on Monday noticed that work had begun in the Rose Garden, just off the Oval Office on the south grounds, when they were taken out to the South Lawn to wait for Trump to return on the Marine One helicopter from an overnight at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. JUST IN: President Trump has announced two big, beautiful American flag poles will be installed at the White House tomorrow morning And he’s PERSONALLY paying for them. Trump’s been intimately involved with the planning, personally going out and surveying the site and… pic.twitter.com/M2t92DwKlr — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 18, 2025 “We’re putting up a beautiful, almost 100 foot tall American flag. On this side and another one on the other side,” Trump previously said. “They’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years,” he continued. “Paid for by Trump,” he added. WATCH: BREAKING: President Trump is putting up two huge American flags at the White House — and he’s paying for them himself. "They've needed flagpoles for 200 years… paid for by Trump." pic.twitter.com/ARJQwGuWkI — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 23, 2025 Read more from our previous reporting: BREAKING: President Trump Installing MASSIVE New American Flag Poles At White House!

A former Coast Guard lieutenant has been formally arrested and charged after threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump.