On Tuesday‚ House Republicans demanded the State Department offer an explanation for the “trend” of U.S. embassy closures and staff evacuations during the past few years of the Biden administration. Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting a briefing on how the United States can meet its foreign policy objectives with a “diminished diplomatic presence” in “high-threat” countries. The chairman noted the State Department has been “forced to reduce or suspend operations at several posts across the globe since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021‚ including in Burma‚ Afghanistan‚ Belarus‚ Russia‚ Sudan‚ and Niger.” 🚨BREAKING🚨@RepJamesComer is investigating the Biden Administration’s series of embassy closures and partial evacuations around the world. Since President Biden took office‚ the State Department has been forced to reduce or suspend operations at several posts across the… pic.twitter.com/rWuC8pH6ow — Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) March 26‚ 2024 Comer also listed Haiti‚ where an elite Marine team was deployed to protect the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Port-au-Prince after the military evacuated non-essential personnel as the country descended into chaos. “Now‚ the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince‚ Haiti recently began evacuating some personnel and enhancing security given deteriorating conditions and gang violence close to the compound‚” he said. “These closures and service reductions are leading to a diminished U.S. diplomatic presence abroad‚” Comer said. “Closures and reduced service status have serious implications for U.S. citizens residing in those countries‚ as well as foreign nationals who must travel elsewhere to access consular services.” Comer said his committee is “also concerned about the repeated necessity of withdrawing U.S. personnel‚ and whether deteriorating conditions in those countries are the result‚ even in part‚ of failed U.S. foreign policy.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The chairman said his panel is requesting a briefing from the State Department “on this trend” by April 2. “Briefers should specifically be prepared to identify and discuss all embassies or consulate posts experiencing closures or reduced services‚ other high-threat posts not currently in closure or reduced status‚ actions being taken to secure embassy personnel and assets at these high-threat posts‚ contingency plans to respond in emergency situations‚ an assessment of why this trend has occurred‚ and an assessment of whether this trend will continue‚” Comer said. “Briefers should also be prepared to discuss the impact of closures or reduced service status on national security‚ the administration and oversight of U.S. foreign assistance‚ and the Department’s ongoing ability to effectuate U.S. interests abroad‚” he added. The Daily Wire reached out to the State Department seeking comment.

A middle school boy is suing his Wisconsin school district for allegedly barring him from using the girls’ bathroom. The unnamed seventh grader‚ known as Jane Doe in court documents‚ filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court. The 13-year-old is accusing the Elkhorn Area School District southwest of Milwaukee of violating Title IX‚ which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in schools‚ as well as the Fourteenth Amendment. The boy says that he told a teacher he identified as transgender and wanted to use female pronouns back in the fall of 2022 when he was in sixth grade. He claims he had experienced gender dysphoria since third grade. The teacher brought his parents in to establish a “gender support plan‚” but the guidance counselor did not offer to let the boy use the girls’ bathroom or locker room‚ according to the lawsuit. The boy was told he could use the faculty bathrooms‚ however‚ the suit says. “These restrooms‚ which were located further away from her classes than the nearest girls’ restrooms‚ caused Jane to miss class time and to experience distress at being treated differently from other girls at school‚” said the child’s attorney‚ Joseph Wardenski‚ head of a New York-based civil rights law firm. The boy sometimes stayed home from school or drank less water while at school to avoid needing to use the bathroom‚ the suit claims. The suit also claims the boy received “unwanted attention by classmates and teachers‚ stigma‚ heightened anxiety and distress‚ bullying and harassment by peers‚ and social and academic withdrawal” due to using the faculty restrooms. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The boy sometimes used the girls’ bathrooms to “avoid the distress and humiliation” of using the faculty bathroom‚ causing teachers and administrators to reprimand him‚ according to the suit. Superintendent Jason Tadlock said Monday that he was not able to comment immediately because he had not yet reviewed it with an attorney. “That being said‚ we always strive to meet all our student’s needs‚ and I am saddened to learn that one of our students and/or parents feel that we are not meeting their needs to their satisfaction‚” Tadlock told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It is not clear how the federal court will rule in this case as the federal courts have so far been divided on policies that bar trans-identifying students from using the bathrooms of the opposite sex. Some federal courts have ruled that policies allowing such bathroom use violate Title IX‚ while others have ruled that policies prohibiting such bathroom use is a violation.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed 30 gun control bills on Tuesday afternoon‚ using his perch as a Republican governor to restrain Democrats from taking the state in a leftward direction despite the party having taken full control of the legislature in November. “I swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of Virginia‚ and that absolutely includes protecting the right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms‚” Youngkin said in a statement. In the batch of 30 bills blocked on Tuesday‚ the governor explained his reasoning for each. He blocked a bill that would criminalize gun possession at public colleges‚ saying that the Democrats failed to consider “Virginia’s diverse geographic‚ cultural‚ and societal norms across different regions‚” and that individual colleges can already prohibit guns if they want to. Another bill‚ prohibiting home-based firearms dealers near schools‚ appeared to be targeted at one specific individual‚ and is therefore constitutional‚ he said. For decades‚ Virginia’s legislature was largely controlled by Republicans‚ but in recent years‚ population growth in Northern Virginia led to become essentially a blue state. Democrats gained full control of the legislature in 2019‚ and aggressively pushed a slew of far-left actions. Voters rebelled and elected Youngkin in a surprise victory in 2021‚ along with returning the House of Delegates to Republicans. Dem. Sen. Louise Lucas‚ then the leader of the Senate‚ frequently gloated that the Senate was a “brick wall” that would prevent Youngkin from getting his way. Democrats took the House and retained the Senate in November‚ but now the tables have turned‚ with Youngkin serving as a brick wall against the legislature. He is currently blocking the Democrats’ proposed budget‚ which would raise taxes‚ and seeking a compromise. Tuesday’s vetoes show that in order to get bills passed‚ they will have to work with Youngkin and moderate their positions. Among the other bills vetoed include one that would have blocked widely-used gun safety courses from being used for concealed carry permits‚ having people take them instead from the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services. House Bill 799 would have required fingerprints to be submitted to obtain a concealed carry permit‚ which would be kept by the FBI. Youngkin said in 2012‚ members of both parties agreed this was superfluous given existing background checks‚ and that “concealed carry permit holders are known for being law-abiding citizens in the Commonwealth.” House Bill 318 could have issued civil penalties to firearm companies‚ even though “the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) already provides a framework for addressing civil actions against firearms industry entities concerning negligent entrustment and defects‚” Youngkin explained. He also said that the “Department of Justice has consistently defended the PLCAA.” “The DOJ has argued against attempts by states to implement regulatory schemes as a loophole to the PLCAA‚ deeming them unconstitutional and lacking merit‚” he said. The veto “prevents baseless litigation that could financially devastate a lawful industry with exorbitant legal fees. Other lawful industries‚ such as vaccine producers‚ have similar protections‚” he wrote. Youngkin also blocked an attempt to reduce concealed-carry permit reciprocity with other states‚ a waiting period to purchase guns. He said an attempt to punish people who left their gun in the car and had it stolen focused on criminalizing legal gun owners instead of the criminals who stole it‚ and that “the Commonwealth should prioritize prosecution and severe punishment for individuals who commit crimes.” Another bill would have criminalized possessing a firearm within 100 feet of voting locations‚ which in combination with Democrats’ months-long voting using myriad ballot boxes “would necessitate individuals to navigate around various locations permanently‚ regardless of their purpose in the area.” Another would use a government entity “to study the social‚ physical‚ emotional‚ and economic health effects of gun violence‚” which Youngkin said “would expand the use of studies based on political beliefs.” Other bills were unconstitutional‚ duplicative‚ vague‚ or had been overturned by courts when employed in other states‚ he said‚ including an age limit of 21 for purchasing guns. The flurry of dozens of anti-gun bills by Democrats may not be designed to actually reduce violence‚ as Democrat prosecutors in the commonwealth have increasingly let violent criminals go. A Virginia man arrested for 12 counts of rape this week was able to allegedly commit those offenses in part because far-left Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano had dropped more than a dozen charges for felonies and serious misdemeanors against the man since 2020‚ WJLA reported. Virginia governors are limited to a single term‚ and the next governor will be elected next year.

A New York judge has placed a gag order on former President Donald Trump restricting his ability to speak out about witnesses‚ prosecutors‚ and jurors involved in the criminal case brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The case accuses the former president of falsifying business records related to payments made before the 2016 election by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels. Trump has pled not guilty to the 34 counts brought by Bragg’s office and denied claims that he ever had a relationship with Daniels. Judge Juan Merchan‚ who scheduled the trial to begin on April 15‚ said on Tuesday that Trump would be restricted from making statements on those testifying against him‚ like Cohen‚ who is testifying for Bragg. Trump is also restricted from speaking out about prosecutors and jurors‚ according to the gag order. Merchan said that previous statements Trump made about individuals involved in the case “were threatening‚ inflammatory‚ denigrating‚” and “a sufficient risk to the administration of justice.” “The consequences of those statements included not only fear on the part of the individual targeted‚ but also the assignment of increased security resources to investigate threats and protect the individuals and family members thereof‚” the judge said. “Such inflammatory extrajudicial statements undoubtedly risk impending the orderly administration of this Court‚” Merchan added. “Given that the eve of trial is upon us‚ it is without question that the immanency of the risk of harm is now paramount.” Trump had previously tried to have the trial delayed‚ but Merchan‚ a donor to President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign‚ rejected his arguments on Monday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Before the gag order was issued‚ Trump said in a Truth Social post that Bragg’s case against him was pushed by the Biden administration and New York Attorney General Letitia James. “D.A. Bragg fought everyone about trying this ‘no crime’ case‚ but Crooked Joe Biden’s ‘Thugs’ pushed him to go forward‚ and pushed him hard‚” Trump said. “They wanted him to go after ME‚ Crooked’s Political Opponent. He just didn’t want to do it. They ended up sending Matthew Colangelo‚ Merrick Garland’s ‘right hand‚’ after a stop at the Corrupt and Racist New York State A.G. Letecia ‘Peekaboo’ James’ Office‚ to directly oversee the D.A.‚ perhaps to make sure that Bragg followed their illegal orders and commands. He eventually agreed to do the ‘case’ that he never wanted to do.” Bragg’s case‚ which has been widely viewed as the weakest case against the former president‚ was the first in a slew of criminal charges against Trump and made Trump the first ex-president to be charged with a crime.

Legendary comedian Carol Burnett joked that there’s really only one thing she would want for her 91st birthday‚ and that’s Hollywood star Bradley Cooper. During the 90-year-old comedian/actress’ appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark‚” Burnett quipped that the one thing she hasn’t done yet before she turns 91 in April is getting to spend time with the 49-year old actor. It came after host Kelly Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos noted that during a podcast last year‚ Burnett said the one thing she hadn’t done yet before she turned 90 was “George Clooney.” Burnett confirmed that she never heard from Clooney‚ adding‚ “but now I’m thinking about Bradley Cooper.” Carol Burnett wants to ‘do’ 1 thing before her 91st birthday — Bradley Cooper https://t.co/WERkKjEGsa pic.twitter.com/qXcjR8SLxA — New York Post (@nypost) March 26‚ 2024 Ripa replied‚ “Everyone knows that this is the official morning show of Bradley Cooper. He loves the show. Brad? Give Carol a call. And you know which phone to use.” Burnett‚ not missing a beat said‚ “I love it‚” and joked that there would be one person who will probably not be okay with her having a relationship with the “A Star is Born” actor‚ and that’s her husband‚ drummer Brian Miller. “I don’t think it’ll work with my husband‚” the “Palm Royale” star quipped about them having a relationship. “The Carol Burnett Show” star and the Hollywood Bowl orchestra drummer tied the knot in 2001. Clooney is also married after making his relationship official to Amal Clooney in 2014. The two share two kids. And Cooper‚ while not married‚ is currently paired up with super model Gigi Hadid and shares a daughter with his ex model‚ Irina Shayk. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In April 2023‚ Burnett spoke to Page Six about turning 90 and admitted she feels like she’s “11!” Last year‚ she was celebrated in the NBC TV special “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love” for her decades of work in Hollywood.  Ahead of the special airing‚ Burnett spoke to Fox News about the upcoming two-hour special. “What I love about it was the fact that it wasn’t a roast‚ and it wasn’t a birthday party with a cake and balloons and stuff‚” Burnett told the outlet. “It was a two-hour variety show‚” she added. “We had a 19-piece orchestra and I had so many friends who were there. And the live entertainment‚ my gosh. … It was really exciting. It was just a party – everybody had a good time.” Related: Legendary Comedian Carol Burnett Says Her Show Could Never Happen Today‚ Misses Classic Comedy Sketch Entertainment

Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) is the target of a newly revealed investigation run by the House Ethics Committee. The panel said on Tuesday that Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) and ranking member Susan Wild (D-PA) “jointly decided to extend the matter” regarding Nehls after it was transmitted to the committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on December 11. A reason for the inquiry was not given‚ but Nehls released a statement that said the investigation was focused on campaign finance. “I look forward to assisting the House Committee on Ethics inquiry into my campaign’s finances‚” he said. “My campaign has complied with every Federal Election Commission (FEC) law‚ and my books are open.” Nehls confirms it's about his campaign finances pic.twitter.com/vNz2XKZzd9 — Matthew Choi (@matthewichoi) March 26‚ 2024 The House Ethics Committee said “that the mere fact of a referral or an extension‚ and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter‚ does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred‚ or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.” It added that the panel will announce “its course of action in this matter” on or before Friday‚ May 10‚ 2024. Nehls is a former sheriff who represents the 22nd Congressional District of Texas‚ which includes parts of Fort Bend‚ Brazoria‚ Harris‚ Wharton‚ and Matagorda counties. Voters first elected Nehls to office in the 2020 election. In 2022‚ he accused the Capitol Police of “illegally” snooping through his office‚ a claim that was rejected by the force’s chief Thomas Manger. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Nehls made waves last year when he announced that he would be nominating former President Donald Trump for Speaker of the House after Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was booted from the role. “President Trump‚ the greatest president of my lifetime‚ has a proven record of putting America first and will make the House great again‚” Nehls said. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has since become speaker and Trump is in the middle of running another campaign for the presidency. Nehls wore one of Trump’s “never surrender” shirts during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address this month. Rep. Troy Nehls‚ R-Texas‚ sporting a Trump t-shirt and a patriotic bowtie pic.twitter.com/qSUoUNtA8F — Riley Beggin (@rbeggin) March 8‚ 2024 Nehls ran uncontested and won the GOP primary this month to represent his Texas district for another two years. Marquette Greene-Scott won the Democratic Party’s nomination. Other activity by the House Ethics Committee in recent months includes an investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)‚ leading the congressman to accuse the panel of “trying to weaponize their process against me.” Lawmakers voted to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) in early December following a scathing ethics report.

The New York City Council is asking New York’s highest court to reverse a pair of rulings in a move that could ultimately allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. The controversial law would allow 800‚000 non-citizens with green cards to vote. “Today’s filing to appeal the Second Department’s recent decision seeks a determination from the state’s highest court that the law is consistent with the State Constitution‚ Election Law‚ and the Municipal Home Rule Law‚” said City Council spokesperson Rendy Desamours. “Empowering New Yorkers to participate in our local democratic process can only strengthen New York City by increasing civic engagement‚” he said. The election law has been winding its way through the court system since it was passed by the City Council back in 2021 and signed into law by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio (D). Last month‚ the law was struck down as unconstitutional by an appeals court. The appeals court’s decision upheld a lower court’s ruling in 2022 that was appealed by Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council. Adams‚ a Democrat‚ said at the beginning of 2022 that he had initially had some concerns about the bill‚ but that he was reassured after speaking with colleagues. “I believe allowing the legislation to be enacted is by far the best choice‚ and look forward to bringing millions more into the democratic process‚” Adams said at the time. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The appeals court judge wrote in his ruling last month that if non-citizens could vote‚ they could also potentially run for mayor. Assemblyman Michael Tannousis‚ a Republican representing Staten Island‚ was one of the plaintiffs in that case. “During a time where nearly 200‚000 migrants have flooded our city and streets‚ disrupting the public and attacking our police officers‚ my colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to protect our voting laws which were created for citizens of the United States‚” Tannousis said last month. Illegal migrants would not be able to vote under the bill‚ but they remain a major concern for the city. More than 183‚000 migrants have shown up in New York City since the spring of 2022‚ straining the city’s shelter space and causing budget cuts. The City Council argues‚ however‚ that non-citizens in the U.S. legally‚ such as those with green cards‚ should be allowed to vote since they pay taxes. “In plain English‚ the New York state constitution says only citizens have a right to vote in these elections‚” said Staten Island President Vito Fossella‚ who filed the legal challenge to the law along with other lawmakers. “The city council has no authority to do what they did‚” Fossella said‚ adding that‚ “We are not surprised.”

Voters say that immigration is the single biggest issue facing the country‚ with President Joe Biden facing his lowest approval rating over his handling of immigration‚ a new poll has found. The new Harvard Harris poll in conjunction with the Center for American Political Studies found that immigration is not only the top issue facing the country‚ but that Biden has the lowest approval rating on his handling of immigration compared to other issues. When asked what the most important issues facing the country are‚ 36% of respondents said that immigration is the biggest issue‚ while 33% said inflation and price increases are the top issues facing the United States. Economy and jobs came in third with 23%‚ while crime and drugs was fourth place at 18%. Immigration and inflation switched spots when respondents were asked which issues affected them the most on a personal level. A full 38% of respondents said that inflation is the most important issue to them on a personal level‚ with immigration coming in second at 21%. While inflation is still 17 points higher than immigration among respondents who were asked about the personal importance of these issues‚ inflation dropped by 3 points since last month‚ with immigration rising by 4 points. Respondents were also asked whether or not they approved of Biden’s handling of various issues‚ with the Democrat incumbent president receiving the lowest rating for his handling of immigration for the fourth month in a row. Just 36% of respondents said that they approve of Biden’s handling of immigration. Biden enjoyed his greatest approval ratings on his reaction to coronavirus at 52% and stimulating jobs at 50%‚ with less than 50% of respondents approving of his handling of all other issues‚ including violence and crime‚ the Israeli-Hamas conflict‚ and the economy. A majority of respondents‚ 55%‚ said that they approved of former President Donald Trump’s job as president‚ while just 45% of respondents say they approve of the job that Biden is doing as president overall. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP A slim majority of respondents said that they would vote for Trump over Biden if the election was held today‚ with 51% saying they would vote for Trump and 49% opting for the Democrat incumbent. The abysmal polling numbers that Biden faces on immigration come as the United States faces an unprecedented crisis on our southern border‚ with officials recording about 9 million nationwide encounters and 1.7 million estimated gotaways since President Joe Biden took office. The figure poses a sharp contrast with the 415‚000 total reported gotaways for 2018‚ 2019‚ and 2020 under the Trump administration. This is the moment when TX National Guard became overrun by migrants rioting to get across the border here in El Paso today We were there and saw it all happen. Absolute chaos here. pic.twitter.com/VN6Kf663ie — Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) March 21‚ 2024 The poll was conducted online on March 20th and 21st among over 2‚100 registered voters‚ with results weighted by demographic group to represent the proportions of the United States population.

Jelly Roll is a Grammy-nominated‚ platinum-selling country artist today‚ but he believes he would be in prison—or worse—if it weren’t for his daughter‚ Bailee Ann. The 39-year-old‚ whose real name is Jason DeFord‚ has never shied away from sharing details about his troubled youth. Jason spent the majority of his formative years in jail‚ with his first arrest at 14. The crimes gradually became more serious. And at 16‚ he faced a possible 20-year sentence for aggravated robbery. “I never want to overlook the fact that it was a heinous crime‚” he told Billboard in 2023. “This is a grown man looking back at a 16-year-old kid that made the worst decision that he could have made in life and people could have got hurt. And‚ by the grace of God‚ thankfully‚ nobody did.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bailee Ann (@baileeannnnn) Fortunately‚ a judge only sentenced Jelly Roll to just over a year behind bars and seven years of probation. But despite the close call‚ he continued to go in and out of jail. At 18‚ he had his first arrest as an adult. At 23‚ he was in jail for drug dealing when he learned that he had become a father‚ which was a defining moment that began his path to stardom. “I’ve never had nothing in life that urged me in the moment to know that I had to do something different‚” he told the publication. “I have to figure this out right now.” Jelly Roll Lived An “Exremely Selfish Life” Until He Became A Father Shortly after‚ Jelly Roll moved from the violent offenders’ unit to the education unit where he started working towards his GED. He passed the test on his first try and was finally released in time to meet Bailee Ann on her second birthday. In his documentary‚ Jelly Roll: Save Me‚ Jason admitted that had it not been for Bailee Ann‚ he probably wouldn’t be a musician and would “be dead for sure‚ or in prison doing life.” “My daughter saved my life‚” he said‚ “and she doesn’t even know it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bailee Ann (@baileeannnnn) “On more than one occasion‚ my daughter was a divine intervention in my life‚” he continued. “I think I lived an extremely selfish life until that moment. I think it was the first time in my whole life that I thought about putting somebody in front of me. In that moment‚ I made a promise with her that I had to be there for her. It’s almost like something clicked right then.” Today‚ the singer has custody of his daughter. She lives with him and his wife‚ Bunnie‚ and his son‚ Noah‚ in Nashville‚ TN. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Jelly Roll’s Daughter “Saved” His Life And “She Doesn’t Even Know It” appeared first on InspireMore.

Later transferred $200‚000 of those funds to Joe Biden