News Senate Votes 51-46 — Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer’s Plan Backfired
News Senate Votes 51-46 — Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer’s Plan Backfired
Senate Confirms Rodney Scott To Lead Customs And Border Protection
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Rodney Scott as head of Customs and Border Protection.
Scott formerly served as Border Patrol Chief and currently commands the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) biggest enforcement department, which has approximately 65,000 workers.
CBP consists of two divisions: the Border Patrol, which is in charge of protecting the nation’s borders between ports of entry, and the Office of Field Operations (OFO), which is in charge of security at ports of entry.
Scott was confirmed on a 51-46 party-line vote, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed.
Scott was forced out of his post as Border Patrol Chief during the Biden administration after opposing politically motivated changes at CBP. In April 2021, Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller informed Scott that the agency would use the phrase “undocumented immigrant” instead of the legally accurate “illegal alien.”
At the time, Chief Scott sent an internal memorandum to Miller arguing that, “The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is and must remain an apolitical federal law enforcement agency…Despite every attempt by USBP leadership to ensure that all official messaging remained consistent with law, fact, and evidence, there is no doubt that the reputation of the USBP has suffered because of the many outside voices. Mandating the use of terms which are inconsistent with law has the potential to further erode public trust in our government institutions.”
Scott will retire as Chief of the Border Patrol in August 2021.
After leaving the Border Patrol, Commissioner Scott remained a major advocate on the need to protect our borders, repeatedly calling for a return to Trump-era practices. In the autumn of 2021, he will begin working as a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Scott spoke in front of Congress on many occasions and made countless media appearances advocating for tougher immigration enforcement.
Along with Safe Third Country agreements and the Remain in Mexico program, which requires asylum applicants to wait in Mexico for court proceedings, Scott backed border wall building, which remains a top objective in a second Trump administration.
Commissioner Scott sounded a positive note following the Senate vote. In a statement, Scott said: “I’m honored that the United States Senate has confirmed me, and I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Noem for their trust and unwavering leadership. I started my career on the front lines, and now I am ready to lead my CBP family with integrity and a clear mission to defend our sovereignty, enforce the law, and put America first.”
President Donald Trump likewise praised Scott when announcing his nomination.
“Rodney served nearly three decades in the Border Patrol, building vast experience and knowledge in Law Enforcement and Border Security. Rodney served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, where he implemented Remain-in-Mexico, Title 42, Safe Third Agreements, and achieved record low levels of illegal immigration,” Trump said.
Scott’s confirmation comes at a critical time for CBP.
As the country struggles to recover from four years of open-borders policy, the agency plays a crucial role in fulfilling President Trump’s promise to restore order at the border.
In the next weeks and months, FAIR hopes to collaborate closely with the Trump administration and CBP to undo the damage caused by the Biden administration’s practices.
Recently, the Supreme Court approved the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court injunction that had blocked deportations of individuals to third countries without prior notice.
The decision marks a near-term victory for the administration as it aims to implement its immigration crackdown swiftly.
The Court ruled 6-3 in favor of staying the injunction, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.
The case involved a group of migrants contesting their deportations to third countries—nations other than their countries of origin.
US Retirees Just Got a Huge Surprise from President Trump
U.S. retirees may see federal tax savings of up to $450 in 2026 under a recent tax law signed by President Donald Trump, according to IRS guidance and tax policy analyses. The legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, includes a temporary deduction for taxpayers age 65 and older that is designed to reduce taxable income and lower the tax burden on Social Security benefits.
Under the provision, individuals 65 or older can claim an additional $6,000 deduction on their federal tax return. Married couples in which both spouses qualify can claim up to $12,000. Eligibility is phased out at higher income levels.
For single filers, the deduction begins to phase out above a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $75,000 and ends at $175,000. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out starts at a MAGI of $150,000 and ends at $250,000, the report detailed.
Tax analysts say the deduction could significantly reduce the amount of Social Security income subject to taxation for many older Americans.
In an example cited by tax policy groups, a retired couple earning about $48,000 annually could see their federal tax liability fall by $450 under the new rules.
Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the measure means “no tax on Social Security for our great seniors,” but tax experts note that Social Security benefits are not entirely exempt under current law.
The senior deduction is slated to remain available through the 2028 tax year, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in March that President Trump informed him that he wants to eliminate income tax for anyone making less than $150,000 annually.
“I’m in the car with him, and I said we’re going to balance the budget,’” the secretary said on the “All In” podcast last week, Just The News reported.
“And I said, ‘But I have one favor to ask you: If we can balance the budget for you, will you agree to waive all income tax for every person who makes less than $150k a year in the United States of America?’ Which, by the way, is about 85% of Americans,” Lutnick continued.
“And the reason you want to work for Donald Trump is he looks at me, he goes, ‘Sure,’” he said. “You realize, the President of the United States said, ‘If you balance the budget, sure.’ And he’s not lying; he’s not kidding. He’s like, ‘Yeah.’”
The United States did not have an income tax until 1913 after the ratification of the 16th Amendment, funding the government mainly via tariffs. Trump has said he would like to get back to a tariff-based funding system.
“America is going to be very rich again, and it’s going to happen very quickly.” The president said during his campaign to Republicans gathered at his Florida resort. “It’s time for the United States to return to the system that made us richer and more powerful than ever before.”
In January, in a speech promoting his tariffs, he said, “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing and taxing foreign nations to enrich our citizens.”
The Republican-controlled House voted in March to block Congress from quickly challenging tariffs imposed by presidents on reports that those imposed by Trump have unsettled financial markets.
The 216-214 vote, primarily along party lines, delays lawmakers’ ability to force a vote to revoke Trump’s tariffs and immigration actions for the rest of the year.
Trump has stated that the tariffs are intended to address unbalanced trade relations, repatriate jobs, and stem the flow of illegal narcotics from abroad, Reuters noted.
The House’s vote effectively halted an effort to challenge his tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico—a challenge sponsored by Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington that was scheduled for later that month.
President Donald Trump Turns the Tables on Fani Willis, Seeks Millions After Her RICO Lawfare Case Fell Apart
ATLANTA, GA — In a stunning reversal of fortune that has rocked the legal world, President Donald Trump has officially turned the tables on Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
After enduring years of what his team calls "politically motivated lawfare," Trump is now seeking nearly $6.3 million in damages and legal fees from Willis and Fulton County following the humiliating dismissal of her RICO case against him.
The move comes after the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that Willis engaged in "improper conduct" due to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a scandal that created a "significant appearance of impropriety."
THE LAW IS CLEAR: WILLIS MUST PAY
On Wednesday, Trump's lead attorney, Steve Sadow, filed a blistering motion arguing that Georgia law explicitly mandates reimbursement when a prosecutor is disqualified for misconduct and the case is dismissed.
"Fani Willis brought this politically motivated, ill-fated case. She got disqualified; she lost. And the law says, now her office has to pay for her conduct," Sadow declared.
The motion, which spans three pages and includes approximately 200 pages of attachments, details the exorbitant costs Trump was forced to incur to defend himself against charges that have now been tossed out.
Citing the specific statute, the filing argues: "Each of the necessary elements have been met: DA Willis was disqualified based upon improper conduct, the criminal case was dismissed... This dismissal paves the way for the award of reasonable attorney fees."
"APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY"
The collapse of Willis's case is a direct result of her own actions. The court found that allowing Willis and her lover, Nathan Wade, to prosecute the former President created an untenable conflict of interest.
While Willis attempted to save face by appealing the disqualification, she ultimately lost in court, cementing the dismissal. Sadow noted that while he feels for the taxpayers of Fulton County who will foot the bill, the blame lies squarely with the DA.
"Unfortunately, for them as well, they made the choice for Fani Willis," Sadow said. "She attempted to leverage her prosecution to advance her career, and now the bill has come due."
DEFIANT TILL THE END
Despite the legal smackdown, Willis remains defiant. In testimony before a Georgia Senate panel last month, she aggressively defended her conduct, telling senators, "I know you are somewhat offended that I had the audacity to prosecute these folks... But this wasn’t special to me. This was another day of business."
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However, to President Trump and his legal team, it was anything but business as usual. It was a targeted attempt to interfere with the 2024 election that has now backfired in spectacular fashion.
As co-defendants also prepare to file for reimbursement, the total cost of Willis's failed crusade could skyrocket well beyond $6.3 million. The message from the Trump camp is simple: You came for the King, you missed, and now you have to pay up.
