'Will not tie the hands'

'Immutable biological classification as either male or female'

Want to start your own seedling indoors? It's easy, you'll have your own little windowsill garden in no time! Start them indoors, and take them outside or to your greenhouse when ready. Especially in winter, I try to find ways to continue to enjoy gardening. I like to start seeds so that I have tomatoes and other vegetables ready to go when there is no longer a risk of frost. For many years, I purchased little seed starter pots, but that became quite expensive. This project allows you to recycle newspaper to make biodegradable seed pots that are ready to plant. If you need smaller pots, you can reduce the size of the newspaper page. If you need  sturdier pots, you just double the thickness of the paper. This is also a great project for kids. It is really just a simple origami project. Seed Sprouting Indoors Germinating the seed is a crucial part of the growing process. It’s the process by which a plant grows from a seed; to come into existence and develop into a big strong plant! Babies come from eggs, plants come from seeds. There are plenty of ways to sprout the seed, germinate the seed, or start the seed – whatever method you want to call it. Anyone homesteader can start their seeds. You can even start seeds indoors or outdoors! Seeds remain dormant until germinated. This sums up why you have to plant your seeds in order for them to grow! So how do you germinate the seed? Provide soil (see ideas listed below!) Water it Allow it to breathe Keep it temperate Shed some light (unless otherwise stated) Detailed growing instructions can be found here. Best DIY Methods to Germinate Seeds; Start the Seed Sprouting Process! Remember, the trick is to have a nice simple place for the seeds to begin, once they are ready, you can add them to a larger garden. Click here to see 32 Seed Sprouting Ideas

Starmer Steps in It Again: Southport Murderer Was Most Assuredly On Their Radar

The liberal ladies of ABC’s The View were on the struggle bus during Tuesday’s show, venting their frustrations at President Trump’s inauguration and uncorking a whole lot of hate, even getting into a circular firing squad with each other and former President Biden. Fake Republican Ana Navarro compared the black singers who performed at events for Trump to “trained seal[s],” while faux conservative Alyssa Farah Griffin decried Biden for not giving her a preemptive pardon. Of course, it was staunchly racist Sunny Hostin who was the one who wanted to play the race traitor card against the black artists who performed at Trump inaugural balls and other events. “[T]here are these black performers, you mentioned that they were entertainers at the inauguration…Snoop Dogg, Nelly, a couple of others,” she noted as she cued up a clip of Keith Boykin on defamatory CNN saying: “You dishonor [black] people when you go and perform for this man; this man who has done nothing but dishonor black people.” Noting “It was more than the two of them,” Navarro lashed out at the black performers (particularly Snoop Dogg) and equated them with trained animals: Listen, I think it was -- it was them and it was so many other people. The thing that really I think was spotlighting Snoop is because of the things that Snoop Dogg said ten days before the inaugural in 2017. And so, look, if you opposed and stood up against Trump in 2017, but you were there now, if you spoke up against trump January 7th, 2021 but you were there now applauding him like a trained seal, Donald Trump has not changed. You’ve changed. Farah Griffin disagreed with Navarro on attacking the performers personally, although she didn’t call out the racist attack herself.     “I don't come for the artists. It’s the same way I felt Carrie Underwood. I think that people see it as part of American tradition to be part of this. They can issue statements if they want to clarify what their views are on Trump,” she said. “I mean, if Barack Obama can show up for him, why shouldn't Snoop Dogg?” The two butted heads earlier in show over Biden’s preemptive pardons for his family and select individuals. Farah Griffin suggested that her “most charitable interpretation” equated things to “the Titanic is sinking; I've got a life raft for my family but anyone else who challenged Trump you better swim or you're drowning.” She also warned that it gave Trump a green light to tell his family to go commit crimes. “Look, can I just say comparing Biden's pardons to Trump's is like comparing apples to Volkswagens,” Navarro proclaimed making more excuses for the abuse of presidential power: It does not seem similar to me because Joe Biden’s family and the people he pardoned and the January 6 committee have not actually committed crimes. He is trying to prevent them from spending the rest of their lives fighting the government which is no easy feat. Farah Griffin made it clear that her animosity on pardons came from a personal place since Biden didn’t extend one to her. “[H]e didn't do anything to protect people who testified against Donald Trump unless they happened to be wrapped up with the police officers…” she said. “Well, Biden hung some of us out to dry who did speak out on January 6th and he didn’t help them.” Further on the pardons, Hostin proclaimed that she “was not offended by Biden pardoning his family” because Trump. “We already had a Trump presidency, we know this administration is a vengeful one, we know that this is a vengeful man. And if I can protect me and mine, I would do that. And so, I think we need to show Joe Biden some grace,” she demanded. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: ABC’s The View January 21, 2025 11:20:14 a.m. Eastern (…) ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: I was floored that Joe Biden pardoned his whole family and let me tell you why. He's either – the most charitable interpretation is the Titanic is sinking, I've got a life raft for my family but anyone else who challenged Trump you better swim or you're drowning. That’s my most charitable interpretation. And finally, he didn't do anything to protect people who testified against Donald Trump unless they happened to be wrapped up with the police officers and it sets a very dangerous precedent. Now, Donald Trump can advise staff and his family to do anything unlawful and then just issue a blanket pardon. I think I was disgraceful and it’s going to harm his legacy? [Crosstalk] ANA NAVARRO: Look, can I just say comparing Biden's pardons to Trump's is like comparing apples to Volkswagens. [Applause] FARAH GRIFFIN: It seems really similar to Jared Kushner’s father NAVARROR: It does not seem similar to me because Joe Biden’s family and the people he pardoned and the January 6 committee have not actually committed crimes. He is trying to prevent them from spending the rest of their lives fighting the government which is no easy feat. I also think that no Republican, and nobody, I mean nobody who stood up on January 6th and January 7th and condemned what happened which was an act of treason, it was an insurrection, I don't care what you call it or how you want to whitewash it. Nobody who stood up and condemned that and is today silent after those pardons should be able to look at themselves in the mirror because we will have no morals! You absolutely have no spine! FARAH GRIFFIN: Well, Biden hung some of us out to dry who did speak out on January 6th and he didn’t help them. JOY BEHAR: We'll talk more after we come back and after this short commercial. (…) 11:27:09 a.m. Eastern SUNNY HOSTIN: Yeah, I just wanted to put a quick button on it. Because I was not offended by Biden pardoning his family because I think just like Maya Angelou said, when someone tells you or shows you who they are, believe them the first time. We already had a Trump presidency, we know this administration is a vengeful one, we know that this is a vengeful man. And if I can protect me and mine, I would do that. And so, I think we need to show Joe Biden some grace. But the other thing that I wanted to talk about that a lot of people are talking about is that there are these black performers, you mentioned that they were entertainers at the inauguration. There were black performers that are -- they were performing for – [Crosstalk] HOSTIN: Snoop Dogg, Nelly, a couple of others. And I saw Keith Boykin, a fend of mine say something I thought was really important and I wanted to play that clip. [Cuts to video] KEITH BOYKIN (via CNN): Look at Donald Trump, the man, who refused to rent to black people in the 1970s, who tried to lead a lynch mob against five black and brown kids in the 1980s in the Central Park case, who refused to allow black casino workers to have a prominent place in his casinos in Atlantic City in the 1990s, who spent five-and-half years lying about Barrack Obama’s birth certificate in the 2000s, who came into office and attacked black people like Colin Kaepernick, who attacked Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shae Moss for simply doing their jobs as Fulton County election works. You dishonor those people when you go and perform for this man; this man who has done nothing but dishonor black people. [Cuts back to live] [Applause] HOSTIN: So, you know, to me, even though I didn't watch any of the balls or anything, I think what Keith said is so important for us to remember that this is who Donald Trump is. BEHAR: So, you're saying those two guys should not be normalizing him? [Crosstalk] NAVARRO: No. It was more than the two of them. HOSITN: It was more than the two of them. NAVARRO: Listen, I think it was -- it was them and it was so many other people. The thing that really I think was spotlighting Snoop is because of the things that Snoop Dogg said ten days before the inaugural in 2017. And so, look, if you opposed and stood up against Trump in 2017, but you were there now, if you spoke up against trump January 7th, 2021 but you were there now applauding him like a trained seal, Donald Trump has not changed. You’ve changed. [Applause] FARAH GRIFFIN: I oddly agreed with Ilhan Omar on this. I think it’s the first time I ever agreed with her. I don't come for the artists. It’s the same way I felt Carrie Underwood. I think that people see it as part of American tradition to be part of this. They can issue statements if they want to clarify what their views are on Trump. I don't like coming for the artists. I think if you feel like people need to be boycotting Donald Trump, which I disagree with, I'd go to the politicians. I mean, if Barack Obama can show up for him, why shouldn't Snoop Dogg? [Crosstalk] (…)

In addition to their hostile interview of Secretary of State Marco Rubio about January 6 and two surprising segments about First Lady Melania Trump’s fashion at the inauguration and the evening balls, CBS Mornings made January 6 and President Trump’s pardons the most important takeaway of this new day in America plus a side of illegal immigrant sob stories. It began with co-host Nate Burleson tossing to correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who has made January 6 his life’s work and source of worth (and maybe the only reason why he got this job at CBS after years at the local NBC affiliate). Take that into consideration as you watch this video in which he concedes it’s all gone poof with the stroke of a pen: Watch this lead-off report from 'CBS Mornings' and consider the fact that correspondent Scott MacFarlane's life work -- obsessing over every nook and cranny of January 6 -- is now over with President Trump's pardons and commutations pic.twitter.com/ADr3X4QBY5 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 21, 2025 After Burleson told him “[s]ome of this seemed to take even the President’s allies by surprise,” MacFarlane said that was “because the pardoned include those who committed violent acts on January 6, including those who gassed, clubbed, and maimed police officers and those who stole and destroyed property here at the Capitol.” He continued to seethe in this reluctant trip aboard the struggle bus and found not only foul-mouthed former cop Michael Fanone (a liberal icon from that day) and a defendant who eagerly accepted the Justice Department throwing the book at her (click “expand”): MACFARLANE: Supporters of January 6 inmates celebrated outside a DC jail — PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So this is January 6th — MACFARLANE: — after President Trump signed broad pardons and commutations for the defendants who attacked the Capitol and sought to overturn the 2020 election — CROWD: USA! USA! USA! SCOTT MACFARLANE: — and ordered federal penitentiaries to release hundreds of defendants still in prison by Tuesday, contrary to what Trump’s own vice president thought was possible. JD VANCE [on Fox News Sunday, 01/12/25]: If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned. MACFARLANE: Trump championed his decision at a rally before signing the order referring to January 6 rioters as “hostages” even while standing beside the families of Israeli hostages. TRUMP: We’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people — a lot of people. MACFARLANE: When pressed in the Oval Office about why he pardoned the 600-plus defendants charged with assaulting police, Trump made baseless claims the FBI was involved in instigating the attack. TRUMP: There were outside agitators involved, and obviously the FBI was involved. MACFARLANE: Far-right group leaders, Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys, and Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and plotting the attack are among those receiving clemency. MICHAEL FANONE: Donald Trump has determined that those individuals should not face any accountability solely because they committed those acts on his behalf. MACFARLANE: Michael Fanone, a former DC police officer was attacked at the Capitol. FANONE: I can assure you that these individuals will go on to commit acts of violence, maybe even commit acts of violence against me or members of my family. The American people own this decision. MACFARLANE: Pam Hemphill, an Idaho grandmother, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for her participation on January 6th. PAM HEMPHILL: I already had decided I will not take a pardon from Trump. That would give the wrong message. I’m not going to rewrite their story for them. That day, we were guilty. I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and so are they. MacFarlane then concluded with a hint of resignation: “The largest criminal prosecution in U.S. history is abruptly over with the stroke of a magic marker. Not only will the jails be emptied of January 6 defendants, but all pending prosecutions have been ordered to be closed, effective immediately.” The focus shifted next to other Trump day one moves. Chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes started by emphasizing ones prone to enrage the left: “Among the many executive actions Trump took yesterday, he pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords again, froze hiring at the Internal Revenue Service, and he took a step toward denying birthright citizenship, even though it is authorized in the Constitution.” She did get to ones about TikTok and the border plus nods to Trump’s “impromptu press conference in the Oval Office” as he signed executives, his inaugural address that was “focused on the future,” and a second speech in the Capitol Visitor’s Center she fretted as having “returned to some familiar themes.” Border correspondent Omar Villafranca came next and went to the eye-rolling trope of tugging at one’s heartstrings and featured one illegal immigrant who falsely claimed Trump believes “all immigrants is [sic] the enemy” (click “expand”):     VILLAFRANCA: A series of executive orders signed by President Trump Monday, designed to crack down on immigration had an immediate impact as the new administration shuttered an app used by asylum seekers to book appointments with immigration officials and canceled all outstanding bookings, including the one for Margulies Denoko (sp?) from Colombia who waited months for this day. “I don’t know what my life will be from here,” she said. About 30,000 migrants were waiting to enter through the app. Sources tell CBS News, Trump is also planning to ramp up operations to arrest unauthorized immigrants across major US cities this week, as he pledges to oversee the largest deportation effort in US history. Chicago is now bracing for raids to detain and deport. YESSENIA RAMIREZ: The new President tell us very clear, everybody is the enemy. All the immigrants is the enemy. VILLAFRANCA: Yessenia Ramirez has lived and worked in the U.S. while undocumented for 20 years. She spoke about the fear spreading in her community. RAMIREZ: You don’t see it, but you feel it. You have the panic attacks. You cannot sleep. VILLAFRANCA: Less than 24 hours into his second term, Trump also signed orders to keep asylum seekers in Mexico while awaiting immigration hearings, labeled drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and promised to send troops to the southern border. Last month, Border Patrol encountered around 96,000 foreign nationals at the southern border, down from more than 300,000 in 2023. The Texas National Guard is already stationed here on the Texas-Mexico border, and has been since 2021.  This went into the last inauguration segment of the first half-hour. Longtime CBS News personality John Dickerson brought his smug pomposity to bear, starting with this rank hypocrisy: IRONY ALERT: Pompous incoming @CBSEveningNews co-anchor John Dickerson complained on @CBSMornings that Donald Trump is the one who made January 6 the focal point of Inauguration Day and implies he has no respect for the Constitution. For him to complain January 6 “was more on… pic.twitter.com/lODtqlCmu6 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 21, 2025 After seconds earlier saying Trump is the person responsible for all the talk about January 6, CBS’s John Dickerson reiterates Trump broke his “oath” of office “in his effort to overturn the 2020 election” and yet was allowed by voters to return with “an extraordinary husbanding… pic.twitter.com/bWTnVDg1ek — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 21, 2025 In his third answer, he expressed skepticism that he’d be able to achieve on campaign promises, wondering if he’d “make progress on the things that people elected him for who were not in his core base” and expressing concern he’s “testing the boundaries” of presidential power “by blowing right through them.” The second hour featured a panel discussion with CBS News contributors Joel Payne from the Obama team and Terry Sullivan from Rubio’s 2016 presidential camp. They first went to Sullivan with — what else — January 6 (click “expand”): DOKOUPIL: Terry, let’s start with you, because we had Marco Rubio on the show earlier and we asked him about January 6, the pardons for 1,500 people who participated in that riot at the Capitol. He did not want to get into it. He said he’s focused on international matters, not domestic matters. Never mind what he had to say about January 6th back when it happened. But I think January 6th is one of those topics where popular support for the pardons is actually not there for the president’s actions, and I wonder, what does it say to you as a Republican to see him take it up so quickly and so controversially? SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, Marco is always better answering questions than I am, as he would like to point out to me in the past. The — look, here’s what it says, is that that America knew exactly what it was getting when it voted for Donald Trump, and he did things he said he was going to do, which I think is a juxtaposition to what Joe Biden did, which he said for years that he wasn’t going to pardon his son Hunter, over and over again, and he did it and so, I know those, those two things are different, but President Trump went out there and said exactly what he was going to do, and that’s what he did yesterday. DOKOUPIL: And Terry, do you expect members of Congress, you know, Secretary of State Rubio said, look, I’m not a senator anymore. I don’t have to get into this. But everyone else there who is still in office is going to be asked. Do you think they’re going to comment on it or they’re going to back away? SULLIVAN: You know, I think some will. I think most won’t. Look, folks want to look forward and talk about real policy initiatives, the agenda, the things that President Trump signed yesterday that legislatively, I think those are the things they want to focus on. To co-host Gayle King’s credit, she at least asked Payne about now-former President Biden pardoning five additional family members (besides son Hunter) minutes before his presidency ended and if that move left Democrats without “a leg to stand on” in criticizing pardons. To see the relevant CBS transcript from January 21 (including the full segment with Payne and Sullivan), click here.

We must pray for President Donald Trump as he begins his second presidency.Christians should pray for Trump not only because we are instructed to pray for our authorities but because praying for Trump is wise (Proverbs 21:1; Proverbs 28:2; Romans 13:1; Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). Praying for Trump is wise because he is responsible for leading our nation, and his leadership — whether good or bad — directly impacts us all.The apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.Praying for our leaders is good for us and for them. But how exactly should we pray for Trump?Here are some prompts:Pray that God blesses and protects him, his family, and his staff.Pray that God blesses and guides Trump's decision-making.Pray that Trump and his entire administration do not rely on their own wisdom, but depend on God's.Pray that Trump first and foremost seeks God's will.We should pray that Trump, as the 47th president, is humble, grace-filled, a peacemaker, full of mercy, obedient to God, impartial and just, full of integrity, and courageous.Pray that Trump is a faithful instrument that accomplishes God's will.Pray for the salvation of those in Trump's administration.A prayer for President TrumpO gracious heavenly Father, ruler of all, King of the universe,Please pour out Your blessing on President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, their families, and the Trump administration. Guide and direct their leadership, granting them wisdom to lead our nation with humility, peace, grace, mercy, justice, and obedience to You. We pray that Trump, Vance, and everyone in the government do not rely on their own wisdom but depend on Yours. Grant them, O Father, Your wisdom.O merciful Father, we pray that You will guide their paths and that under President Trump and Vice President Vance, our nation will flourish and its people — Your people — will flourish. We pray for peace in our nation and that all citizens would respect the authorities that You have established for a time such as this.And O gracious Father, we pray that You would initiate a revival in this land, that under President Trump and Vice President Vance, Your church may do its holy work in peace and safety and that your announcement of good news — that through Jesus' death and resurrection, salvation is available to all souls — falls on fertile soil and Your harvest is bountiful.We pray, O supreme ruler, that Your will is done in America and on earth as it is in heaven.Now to you, O gracious Father, Whom we trust are able to accomplish more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to the power of Your Spirit that is at work within us, be glory in our nation, Your church, and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.A prayer from the Book of Common PrayerO Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Chicago Police Department has vowed that it will absolutely not cooperate or assist in President Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation of illegal immigrants. During his inauguration speech on Monday, Trump declared that he would tackle the immigration crisis head-on. 'To all who are being made to feel unsafe and reduced by a takeover of the federal government, by those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the good people of Illinois, we will not stand idly by.'"First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border," Trump proclaimed. "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.""We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy," he continued. "I will end the practice of catch and release."Trump pledged to send U.S. troops to the southern border to "repel the disastrous invasion of our country."Trump also threatened to designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and is attempting to terminate birthright citizenship.Also on Inauguration Day, Trump signed the "Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion" proclamation that will crack down on illegal immigration. "The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, shall take all appropriate action to repel, repatriate, or remove any alien engaged in the invasion across the southern border of the United States on or after the date of this order," the proclamation states. Trump administration allegedly eyes Chicago for illegal immigration operation The Trump administration had allegedly prepared plans to carry out an illegal immigration raid starting on Tuesday in Chicago — a self-professed sanctuary city. However, the apparent operation for Chicago was leaked to the Wall Street Journal, which published a report on Friday. Four people familiar with the operation told the WSJ that the Trump administration had planned a "large-scale immigration raid in Chicago."Following the leak, President Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, said the administration "hasn’t made a decision yet" about the raid.“We’re looking at this leak and will make a decision based on this leak,” Homan told the Washington Post on Saturday. “It’s unfortunate because anyone leaking law enforcement operations puts officers at greater risk.”Homan stressed, “Chicago’s not off the table, but we’re reconsidering when and how we do it because there was a leak."Homan noted that the administration is not focusing on one area, but the operations would extend throughout the country."We’ll be arresting people across the country, uninhibited by any prior administration guidelines. Why Chicago was mentioned specifically, I don’t know," said Homan — a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Homan said the operations are a "nationwide thing," and they have a "targeted enforcement plan."Chicago Police Department vows not to cooperate with federal immigration authoritiesThe Chicago Police Department vowed not to assist in any actions with any federal immigration authorities with "enforcement action solely based on immigration status." The CPD stated that it can't assist in any illegal immigration arrests because the city's municipal code and the Welcoming City Ordinance forbid them to do so.The Chicago Police Department released a statement to WGN-TV that reads: "To be clear, the Chicago Police Department will not assist or intervene in civil immigration enforcement in accordance with the City of Chicago Municipal Code. As always, we will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of the citizenship status of those involved."The Welcoming City Ordinance states: "The City Council finds that the cooperation of all persons, both documented citizens and those without documentation status, is essential to achieve the City's goals of protecting life and property, preventing crime, and resolving problems."The ordinance adds, "No agent or agency shall request information about or otherwise investigate or assist in the investigation of the citizenship or immigration status of any person unless such inquiry or investigation is required by Illinois State Statute, federal regulation, or court decision."The Welcoming City Ordinance also says that no local and state law enforcement will "arrest, detain or continue to detain a person solely on the belief that the person is not present legally in the United States, or that the person has committed a civil immigration violation."There were calls by local activists to add an amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance that would allow Chicago law enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration agencies if an undocumented migrant is arrested or convicted of certain serious crimes.However, the Chicago City Council overwhelmingly voted 39-11 last week to reject the amendment for federal agencies to assist local authorities in matters of illegal aliens. Alderman Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward) said the amendment to the ordinance could spark concerns regarding "constitutional challenges in terms of due process, racial profiling, and so [on]."Local governments are 'educating' illegal immigrants on how to deal with ICEMeanwhile, local entities are organizing to sabotage any illegal immigrant round-up by the Trump administration. WBBM-TV reported that the city of Evanston — a suburb of Chicago — held a workshop on Monday night that provided illegal immigrants with "the tools to fight back amid a cloud of uncertainty."On Tuesday morning, the members of the council for the Chicago neighborhood of Little Village were handing out flyers and "educating immigrants about their rights should they be stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.""One of the main things is letting them know not to sign anything, not to say anything, not to answer questions, and stay quiet," Little Village Community Council President Baltazar Enriquez stated. "The flyer that we're giving out, it has phone numbers for the consulate — the Mexican consulate, the Honduran consulate, the Guatemalan consulate, and attorneys that are willing to help them out for free."Chicago mayor, Illinois governor pledge to protect illegal aliens Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson — a Democrat — has been an outspoken critic of Trump and promised to fight against the president's crackdown on illegal immigration.The progressive mayor said, "I'm going to protect you, whether you're undocumented, whether you are seeking asylum, or whether you're seeking a good paying job, we're going to fight and stand up for working people. That's what Chicago is known for. We're going to continue to do that regardless of who's in the White House."Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker — a Democrat — has also declared that he will protect illegal immigrants from Trump's potential mass deportations. Pritzker said on Monday morning, “As a new administration takes office less than two hours from now, across America our most vulnerable communities are about to contend with new uncertainty about their future. But here in Illinois, let there be no doubt: We will not go back. ... To all who are being made to feel unsafe and reduced by a takeover of the federal government, by those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the good people of Illinois, we will not stand idly by.""Ripping those families apart, not acceptable to Americans," Pritzker continued. "And we’re going to stand up for them in the state of Illinois and do everything that we can to protect them. They’re good for our state. They’re good for our economy. They’re paying taxes. These are law-abiding people who are stabilizing communities often."Chicago has spent $574.5 million on illegal immigrants, according to Fox News. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

As of yesterday, Donald Trump is officially the 47th president of the United States, and his first day was nothing short of historic. “Donald Trump has come a long, long way. As he said in an emotional moment in his speech, he kind of wasn’t supposed to be here. It’s amazing that he is. It’s by the grace of God that he is. He’s survived lawfare, he’s survived the insanity of 2020, he survived. We, as a country, have survived,” Blaze News senior politics editor Christoper Bedford tells Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.” And now that Trump has survived, he’s wasted no time taking a wrecking ball to Biden’s disastrous agenda. The first executive order Trump signed upon his arrival in the Oval Office was a full pardon for around 1,500 January 6 defendants. He also signed an executive action withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement, as well as a withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Trump’s withdrawal from the WHO cites the “organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic” and the “onerous” costs associated with being a part of the organization. He also signed an order ending the weaponization of the federal government against political adversaries and has launched a sweeping crackdown on immigration — and his voters couldn’t be more pleased with the moves. “Americans are very much in support of mass deportation. Right now in America, the majority of people understand what has happened in the last few years, and they want mass deportation,” Peterson comments, noting it won’t be without pushback from the media. “Legacy media is going to show images and videos of all these people,” he continues. “‘Oh my gosh, they’re getting rid of them,’ and whatever. We all know that’s going to happen.” Want more from 'Blaze News Tonight'?To enjoy more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission announced the end of all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the FCC. Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump issued an executive order against DEI practices in government on Monday, and a day later, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued a statement announcing the end of DEI at the FCC.'President Trump's leadership on this will deliver great results for the American people.' "Promoting invidious forms of discrimination runs contrary to the Communications Act and deprives Americans of their rights to fair and equal treatment under the law. It also represents a wasteful expenditure of taxpayer resources," read a statement from Carr Tuesday. "Nonetheless, the FCC joined other private and public sector institutions in promoting discriminatory DEI policies during the Biden Administration." Specifically, Carr said he was erasing DEI as a priority in the commission's strategic plan after the Biden administration had placed the policies as the second highest priority in the plan. He said he would end the DEI Advisory Group at the FCC and end any mention of DEI in the commission's budget. DEI will also be excised from performance reports at the FCC as well as from economic plans. "President Trump's leadership on this will deliver great results for the American people as agencies act pursuant to his executive order," Carr said. DEI policies and advocates got a boost from businesses and corporations after the Black Lives Matter rioting over the death of George Floyd in 2020. Since then, criticism from the right has caused many companies to reduce or cut out DEI programs altogether or risk boycotts and other controversy. Trump has made rooting out DEI policies from American society a central focus of his administration. "I will ... end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life," Trump said Monday. "We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!