AWED MEDIA BALANCED NEWS: We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

Welcome! We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

Here is the link for this issue, so please share it on social media.

Checkout the 2026, 2025, & 2024 archives, plus asterisked items below.


— This Newsletter’s Articles, by Topic —

Secondary Education Related:

*** French Kids Are Destroying Their Schools — Blame the Adults

Restoring the Purpose of American Education

Homeschooling? Teach the Lesson. Leave the Room.

Have humans passed peak brain power?

Higher Education Related:

Delaware’s DEI Discount Goes to Court

The Cornell 7 Controversy Sees New Twist

Artificial Intelligence:

*** The AI policy debate suffers from a dangerous plague of vagueness

*** Texas AD clarifies AI use on key play that failed in football loss to Florida

AI Data Centers

*** US Data Center Map

Brace Yourselves: Serious Trouble Brewing In The Data Center Industry

Greed Energy Economics:

California Duck & Cover: Part 1 and Part 2

Unreliables (General):

*** MISO Obliterates Solar, Storage, and Wind Capacity Values

*** Leaders Like Mark Carney Sold the West a Renewable Energy Story. China Is Cashing In

*** The Cost of Wind and Solar Power Backup

Google Management Admits Renewables Don’t Work for Powering Data Centers

Wind Energy — Offshore:

*** Haunting discovery near wind turbine raises questions about fishing boat tragedy

Trump Administration Seeks Remand of COP Approval for Offshore Wind Farm Now in Final Commissioning Stage

Alliance unveils floating wind action plan

Solar Energy:

Once touted as a clean-energy blueprint, Nevada solar plant sells for cents on the dollar

Nuclear Energy:

Nuclear radiation and falling out of bed

The Anti-Nuclear Playbook Comes for Data Centers

Fossil Fuel Energy:

*** Trump Announces “Massive” Greenland Oil Exploration Plans

Labour discovers Britain still needs gas

US challenges World Bank fossil fuel restrictions

Misc Energy:

California’s Energy Crisis Could Bring the West Coast to its Knees

Manmade Global Warming — Some Deceptions:

*** More Truth About The Climate Lies

*** UN Climate Panic Rests on False Scenario and Buried Past

*** New documents reveal stealth advocacy at the heart of America’s National Academies

Finally, a Net Zero sceptic on the BBC

Climate Lawsuits Fail Constitutional and Scientific Review

The Five Dimensions of a Simplistic Argument

Manmade Global Warming — The Science:

*** Super El Niño then and now: How this year’s strengthening event compares to historic extremes

Positive Response to CO2 Coalition Messages Spurs National Ad Campaign

Climate’s Past Performance Uncertain Predictor of Future

Climate Conference Stumbles Into Realities

US Election:

*** Voter Rolls — Public Records or State Secrets?

Biden-appointed judge badly misconstrues law

After 46 years of failed attempts, America finally has the opportunity to fix permitting

Climate Alliance’s anti-affordability platform raises big election issues

US Federal Agencies:

*** Social Security corrects nearly 50 million records in largest SSN cleanup in agency history

Misc US Politics:

*** Short video “Springtime for Zohran in the USA” (watch in full screen)

Democracy Restored Exposes the Left’s Lawfare Consortium in New Report

Societally US:

*** Teen girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual plummet in stunning reversal, new data shows

New York State’s current path is familiar — and crippling

The Cruelty of Compassion

Globalism:

*** The War on Grain

French Students Are Protesting a State That Has Failed Them

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Spain Is Surrendering Its Inheritance

Science:

*** Covid, Climate and the ‘Consensus Trap’

*** SpaceX’s Starphone Could Be the Biggest Hardware Launch Since the iPhone

Health (Other):

Opening Speech of NIH Vaccine Injury Clinic

Knee treatment without surgery offers lasting pain relief for 80% of arthritis patients, study finds

“Insufficient Evidence”: The Two Words That Control Modern Medicine

Key Architect Of Make America Healthy Again Alliance Resigns

COVID-19 — Misc:

*** Journal Retracts COVID-19 Vaccine Paper Based on Faked Content

*** Scottish COVID-19 inquiry|21 Oct 2026

Iran:

Sample Development regarding Iran

Israel/Ukraine:

Latest Developments in Israel

Pray for the safety of the Israeli people

Latest Developments in Ukraine

Pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people

A well-rated source to make a Ukraine donation


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Note 1: We recommend reading the Newsletter on your computer, not your phone, as some documents (e.g., PDFs) are much easier to read on a large computer screen… We’ve tried to use common fonts, etc. to minimize display issues.

Note 2: For past Newsletter issues see the archives from 2023, 2024, 2025, & 2026. To accommodate numerous requests received about prior articles over all fifteen plus years of the Newsletter, we’ve put this together — where you can search ALL prior issues, by year. For a background about how the Newsletter is put together, etc., please read this.

Note 3: See this extensive list of reasonable books on climate change. As a parallel effort, we have also put together a list of some good books related to industrial wind energy. Both topics are also extensively covered on my website: WiseEnergy.org.

Note 4: I am not an attorney or a physician, so no material appearing in any of the Newsletters (or any of my websites) should be construed as giving legal or medical advice. My recommendation has always been: consult a competent, licensed attorney when you are involved with legal issues, and consult a competent physician regarding medical matters.

Copyright © 2026; Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (see WiseEnergy.org).

How Much is Gasoline in Europe Today Compared to the United States?

First let’s look at U.S. Average Gas Prices by State — October 2026

National average: $4.28/gal (mid-October, AAA data) — up more than $1/gal since the war with Iran began in March, and well above the $3.14 seen a year ago.

Here’s the full state-by-state breakdown:

Most Expensive States

State Avg Price/gal
California $6.15
Hawaii $5.63
Nevada $5.38
Washington $5.37
Oregon $4.93
Alaska $4.91
Idaho $4.80
Utah $4.77

Cheapest States

State Avg Price/gal
North Carolina $3.59
Georgia $3.72
Texas $3.76
South Carolina $3.80
Indiana $3.82
Tennessee $3.83
Louisiana $3.85
Mississippi $3.88
Alabama $3.89
Arkansas $3.90

The Rest

State Price State Price
Arizona $4.60 Missouri $3.95
Colorado $4.32 Montana $4.46
Connecticut $4.34 Nebraska $4.34
Delaware $4.02 New Hampshire $4.25
Florida $4.04 New Jersey $4.23
Illinois $4.65 New Mexico $4.32
Iowa $4.13 New York $4.41
Kansas $3.98 North Dakota $4.14
Kentucky $3.92 Ohio $4.00
Maine $4.34 Oklahoma $3.95
Maryland $4.09 Pennsylvania $4.48
Massachusetts $4.26 Rhode Island $4.21
Michigan $4.46 South Dakota $4.23
Minnesota $4.24 Vermont $4.38
Virginia $4.09 West Virginia $4.19
Wisconsin $4.18 Wyoming $4.47

Key Takeaways

  • West Coast penalty is brutal — California runs nearly $2.40/gal above North Carolina. That’s the cost of boutique fuel blends, carbon mandates, and heavy state excise taxes stacked on top of the federal baseline.
  • The war premium is real: Brown University pegs the post-March price spike at over $70 billion in extra consumer costs. That’s a direct transfer from American households to whoever controls the taps — and it’s exactly the kind of thing that never shows up in the official inflation talking points with any urgency.
  • Diesel is climbing faster than gasoline, which means everything shipped by truck — which is everything — gets more expensive. The pump price is just the visible tip.

If you’re planning a road trip, the map is simple: head southeast, avoid the coasts. The heartland is where the pump still treats you like a customer instead of an ATM.

Compare gasoline prices across the European Union with this table, sorted by price and converted to US dollars per gallon for easy comparison with American fuel costs.

Now let’s look at the Average Gasoline Prices in Europe

Last updated: October 22, 2026 · Data from: October 19, 2026 · Source: European Commission Oil Bulletin. Updated every Thursday.

EU Gasoline Prices — Sorted by Price (Highest to Lowest). EUR/USD rate today: 1.1234 (ECB).
Country €/Liter €/Gallon $/Gallon
Denmark €2.60 €9.84 $11.06
Netherlands €2.39 €9.05 $10.16
Finland €2.33 €8.82 $9.91
France €2.23 €8.44 $9.48
Greece €2.19 €8.29 $9.31
Germany €2.18 €8.25 $9.27
Portugal €2.10 €7.95 $8.93
Italy €2.02 €7.65 $8.59
Belgium €1.99 €7.53 $8.46
Ireland €1.97 €7.46 $8.38
Estonia €1.95 €7.38 $8.29
Latvia €1.95 €7.38 $8.29
Lithuania €1.95 €7.38 $8.29
Romania €1.90 €7.19 $8.08
Slovakia €1.89 €7.15 $8.04
Czechia €1.86 €7.04 $7.91
Austria €1.82 €6.89 $7.74
Croatia €1.81 €6.85 $7.70
Luxembourg €1.79 €6.78 $7.61
Spain €1.78 €6.74 $7.57
Hungary €1.77 €6.70 $7.53
Cyprus €1.76 €6.66 $7.48
Slovenia €1.75 €6.62 $7.44
Bulgaria €1.65 €6.25 $7.02
Sweden €1.64 €6.21 $6.97
Poland €1.56 €5.91 $6.63
Malta €1.34 €5.07 $5.70

Liter prices from the European Commission Oil Bulletin (EUR). Gallon = 3.785 L. USD column applies today’s ECB EUR→USD reference rate of 1.1234.

Euro-Super 95 (Gasoline/Fuel) prices in the 27 EU Countries. Source: European Commission.

Fuel Prices in Europe Maps

Static Map: Gasoline Prices in the EU


EU Gasoline Prices - Updated Weekly
Mapped: Gasoline Prices in the EU
Europe’s gasoline map in October 2026 remains stubbornly bimodal. A high-tax, high-income northern and western belt sits atop the price ladder, with Denmark at €2.60/L ($11.06/gal) leading the continent, followed by the Netherlands, Finland, France, Greece and Germany, each above the $9/gal mark. The Baltic states, central Europe and the Mediterranean periphery form a cheaper middle, while Poland and Sweden straddle the lower end. Malta, buffered by regulated pricing and a small, insular market, sits alone below $6/gal. The pattern reflects a long-standing structural truth: fuel duty and VAT, not crude costs, do most of the sorting.

  • Northern premium: Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland cluster above $9.90/gal, a function of heavy excise regimes and, in Germany’s case, a national carbon surcharge now embedded in the pump price.
  • Eastern floor: The Baltics, Romania and Slovakia hover near €1.90/L ($8.04–$8.29/gal), closer to continental refinery wholesale than to the Nordic tax wall.
  • Malta’s outlier: At €1.34/L ($5.70/gal), Malta is nearly half Denmark’s price, a reminder that EU membership harmonises little about what drivers actually pay.

Interactive Map: Gasoline Prices in the EU

Click on any EU country on the map below to view gasoline prices per liter (EUR) and per gallon (USD):

The spread across the single market is wide and widening. Danish motorists currently pay €2.60/L ($11.06/gal), nearly double the €1.34/L ($5.70/gal) that Maltese drivers hand over at the pump. The EU simple average sits at €1.93/L ($8.22/gal), a figure that masks a near twofold gap between the cheapest and most expensive member states. Excise duties and VAT do most of the heavy lifting here; crude oil, priced in dollars on a global market, varies little from Lisbon to Helsinki.

Above $9.00/gal

  • Denmark: €2.60/L ($11.06/gal)
  • Netherlands: €2.39/L ($10.16/gal)
  • Finland: €2.33/L ($9.91/gal)
  • France: €2.23/L ($9.48/gal)
  • Greece: €2.19/L ($9.31/gal)
  • Germany: €2.18/L ($9.27/gal)

$8.00 to $8.99/gal

  • Portugal: €2.10/L ($8.93/gal)
  • Italy: €2.02/L ($8.59/gal)
  • Belgium: €1.99/L ($8.46/gal)
  • Ireland: €1.97/L ($8.38/gal)
  • Estonia: €1.95/L ($8.29/gal)
  • Latvia: €1.95/L ($8.29/gal)
  • Lithuania: €1.95/L ($8.29/gal)
  • Romania: €1.90/L ($8.08/gal)
  • Slovakia: €1.89/L ($8.04/gal)

$7.00 to $7.99/gal

  • Czechia: €1.86/L ($7.91/gal)
  • Austria: €1.82/L ($7.74/gal)
  • Croatia: €1.81/L ($7.70/gal)
  • Luxembourg: €1.79/L ($7.61/gal)
  • Spain: €1.78/L ($7.57/gal)
  • Hungary: €1.77/L ($7.53/gal)
  • Cyprus: €1.76/L ($7.48/gal)
  • Slovenia: €1.75/L ($7.44/gal)
  • Bulgaria: €1.65/L ($7.02/gal)

$6.00 to $6.99/gal

  • Sweden: €1.64/L ($6.97/gal)
  • Poland: €1.56/L ($6.63/gal)

Below $6.00/gal

  • Malta: €1.34/L ($5.70/gal)

In sum, the EU retail range on 19 October 2026 ran from a low of $5.70/gal in Malta to a high of $11.06/gal in Denmark, a gap of $5.36/gal across a nominally single market.

EU-Average Gasoline Price Trends


EU Average Price Trend Graph
EU-27 Average Euro-Super 95 (Gasoline/Fuel) price.
The 52-week picture is one of a market that has grown accustomed to its own volatility. The EU average now sits at €1.991/L, up a striking 22.90% year-on-year and well above the €1.590/L trough recorded on 22 December 2025. The dominant driver is the brief but consequential closure of the Strait of Hormuz on 28 February 2026, which pulled Brent above $138/bbl and reset the baseline for European wholesale fuels. Prices peaked at €2.104/L on 28 September 2026 before easing: the four-week change stands at -4.83% and the week-on-week move at -0.95%, reflecting the OPEC+ decision in July to add 188,000 barrels per day from August onward, together with the gradual return of Hormuz traffic. The 12-week trend remains positive at +2.82%, consistent with lingering Russian refinery outages and seasonal maintenance tightening gasoline balances through autumn.

  • Range: €1.590/L (22 Dec 2025) to €2.104/L (28 Sep 2026), a 32% swing across the year.
  • Momentum: Softer in the near term (-4.83% over four weeks) but still up +2.82% over 12 weeks and +22.90% year-on-year.
  • Volatility: Elevated, driven by Middle Eastern supply risk, Russian refinery disruptions, and a euro trading near 1.12 against the dollar.

Source: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin.

Historical Maps: 2017 and 2021

December 2017 — the pre-pandemic baseline

The 2017 map captured a Europe where the simple average gasoline price sat around $1.42 per liter ($5.38 per gallon) — less than half of where the EU-27 average stands today. The dispersion across the continent was already wide. Norway ($1.86/L) and Italy ($1.84/L) topped the table, both driven by some of the highest excise + VAT loadings in Europe. The Netherlands, Sweden and Greece filled out the rest of the expensive cluster, all over $1.65 per liter.

At the cheap end, Belarus ($0.64/L), Russia ($0.70/L) and Kazakhstan ($0.63/L) sold gasoline at a third of Norwegian prices — subsidised, oil-producing, and outside the EU’s tax-and-tariff architecture. Inside the EU, the eastern flank (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria) sat between $1.10 and $1.25, reflecting lower excise duties and lighter VAT regimes than their western neighbours.

March 2021 — after the pandemic shock

Three years later the picture shifted but the geography stayed familiar. The EU average climbed to €1.36 per liter as economies reopened and Brent crude recovered from its April 2020 trough. The Netherlands (€1.72) and Greece (€1.57) led the expensive end, with Italy, Finland and Sweden close behind. The eastern budget tier held: Bulgaria (€0.95), Poland (€1.09) and Romania (€1.11) remained the cheapest forecourts in the bloc.

By 2021 a structural pattern had become unmistakable. The north-western EU — high excise, high VAT, high household income — ran ~50% above the eastern flank. The Mediterranean middle (Spain, Portugal, Italy) sat above the eastern band but below the north, balancing higher tourist-season demand against lower disposable income.

2017 to today — what changed

Three structural forces explain the rise from the 2017 baseline:

  • Excise + VAT increases. Several EU members tightened fuel taxation in the late 2010s to fund green-transition budgets. The Netherlands raised excise on petrol by ~€0.10/L between 2018 and 2024; Germany’s CO2 levy on transport fuels began in 2021 and ratcheted annually.
  • The Russian-supply shock. Sanctions following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine removed Russian crude and refined-product imports from western European refining baselines, forcing a re-routing through Middle Eastern and US Gulf Coast suppliers at higher delivered cost.
  • EUR weakness against the dollar. Oil is priced in USD; a weaker euro means more euros per barrel even when the dollar price stays flat. The EUR/USD rate has spent most of 2022–2026 in a range that adds 8–15 % to euro-denominated pump prices versus the 2017–2019 baseline.

The eastern–western spread has actually widened since 2017. Where Norway used to be roughly 3× the price of Belarus, the modern Netherlands-to-Malta spread runs about $4.50/gallon — a wider absolute gap, narrower in percentage terms, but more visible to an American comparing US prices to Europe.

©2026 All rights reserved.

Why ‘The McCarran Act’ is Important Today? Because its a Foundational Piece of U.S. Immigration Law

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 — better known as the McCarran-Walter Act — is a foundational piece of U.S. immigration law that’s still the backbone of the system today, amended countless times but never replaced.

What It Was

Passed over President Truman’s veto (Congress overrode it), the INA of 1952 consolidated decades of scattered immigration statutes into one comprehensive framework. It’s codified at 8 U.S.C. and remains the statutory skeleton for nearly everything immigration-related.

Key Provisions

1. The Quota System (Retained & Reorganized)

  • Kept the national-origins quota system from the 1920s
  • Each country got a quota based on its share of the U.S. population per the 1920 census
  • This heavily favored Northern/Western European immigration

2. The Asia-Pacific Triangle

  • Created a special “Asia-Pacific Triangle” region
  • Imposed a tiny $2,000-per-country quota (essentially symbolic) on Asian nations
  • Race-based exclusion carried forward from earlier laws

3. Preference Categories

  • Established a hierarchy for visa allocation:
    • Skilled workers
    • Family reunification
    • Refugees
  • This preference structure is the ancestor of today’s category system

4. Ideological Exclusion

  • Barred entry to Communists, anarchists, and “subversives”
  • A Cold War artifact that stayed on the books for decades

5. Naturalization Rules

  • Standardized naturalization requirements
  • Formalized grounds for denaturalization and deportation

The Big Tension

Aspect Effect
Consolidation One coherent statute replaced a patchwork
Modernization Created preference categories still used today
Restriction Cemented racial/national quotas and Asian exclusion
Ideology Weaponized immigration law against political dissent

Truman’s Veto Message

Truman called it “un-American” and discriminatory, arguing the quota system was based on false assumptions about national superiority. Congress didn’t care. The quota system survived until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler) finally abolished national-origins quotas.

Why It Still Matters

  • The INA of 1952 is the base code — the 1965 Act was an amendment to it, not a replacement
  • Every major immigration debate today (visas, deportation, asylum, naturalization) traces back to this statute
  • It shows how entrenched institutional preferences get baked into law and outlive the ideologies that produced them

The Takeaway

Laws like this are a reminder that immigration policy has always been a tool of social engineering — deciding who gets in, who stays out, and on what racial, economic, or political grounds. The 1952 Act dressed old exclusion in bureaucratic clothing. The 1965 Act changed the labels. The underlying machinery — preferences, quotas, categories, exclusions — never really went away. It just got relabeled.

Deportation Grounds Under the 1952 Act

The Act consolidated deportation into Section 241 (now 8 U.S.C. § 1227), organized into broad classes. Deportation — unlike exclusion — applied to people already in the country, including lawful permanent residents.

1. Excludability at Time of Entry

  • If you were inadmissible when you entered (or violated the terms of your admission), you could be deported later
  • This linked the exclusion and deportation systems together

2. Criminal Grounds

  • Crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT) — a notoriously vague category
  • Aggravated felonies (a term that expanded dramatically in later amendments)
  • Drug offenses, firearms offenses
  • The moral-turpitude concept is old, common-law rooted, and still haunting immigration law today

3. Ideological / Subversive Grounds

  • Membership in or affiliation with Communist organizations
  • Anarchists and advocates of violent overthrow
  • “Subversives” broadly defined

4. Other Classes

  • Institutionalization — those committed to mental institutions (a deeply problematic provision)
  • Public charges — becoming a burden on the state within a set period
  • Marriage fraud — entering marriage to evade immigration law
  • Failure to register under the Alien Registration Act

5. Procedural Structure

  • Deportation was administrative, handled by immigration officials
  • Judicial review was limited
  • The burden fell heavily on the immigrant

The Ideological Exclusions

This is the heart of the Cold War machinery. The Act didn’t just screen for criminals — it screened for beliefs.

The Core Categories (Section 212, now 8 U.S.C. § 1182):

  • Communists — any alien who was or had been a member of a Communist Party
  • Anarchists — including those who opposed all government
  • Advocates of violent overthrow of the U.S. government
  • Members of totalitarian parties — a category that swept in fascists and Nazis
  • “Subversives” — a catch-all that gave officials enormous discretion

The Membership Trap:

  • Even former membership could bar you
  • Mere affiliation — not just formal membership — could trigger exclusion
  • This meant people who joined a party as teenagers, or under duress, or out of economic necessity, could be permanently barred

The Exceptions (and Their Limits):

  • The Act created some escape hatches — involuntary membership, membership under age 16, membership to obtain employment, etc.
  • But these exceptions were narrow and applied unevenly
  • Officials had wide latitude to deny relief

The Machinery & Its Abuses

Feature Consequence
Vague definitions “Subversive” and “affiliation” meant whatever officials said
Retroactive reach Past membership, even long abandoned, could bar entry
Administrative process Limited due process, limited judicial review
Political weaponization Used against labor organizers, dissidents, activists

Historical Echoes

  • The ideological exclusions were used aggressively through the McCarthy era
  • People were deported or excluded for reading certain literature, attending certain meetings, or associating with certain people
  • The Supreme Court weighed in repeatedly, sometimes limiting the government’s reach, sometimes deferring to it
  • The ideological bars were narrowed by the 1990 Immigration Act, which repealed most of the Communist and subversive exclusions — though some vestiges remained

The Takeaway

The ideological exclusions are the most revealing part of the 1952 Act. They show that immigration law was never just about labor markets or family ties — it was a political loyalty filter. The government claimed the power to decide not just who could enter, but what they could believe. And the deportation grounds gave that power teeth, reaching into the lives of people already here.

The lesson generalizes: when you give an institution broad, vaguely defined power over who belongs — and pair it with limited review — that power gets used against dissent, not just against genuine threats. The ideological bars were eventually trimmed back, but the architecture — vague categories, administrative discretion, limited oversight — remains embedded in the statute today.

©2026 . All rights reserved.

Trump-Vance Administration Leads Nationwide Coalition in Fighting War on Fraud

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are aggressively shutting down the waste, fraud, and abuse that has drained billions from American taxpayers. As head of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, Vice President Vance this week called on officials at every level of government to join him in a pledge to protect vulnerable Americans, keep taxpayer-funded benefits for Americans only, stop fraud before the money goes out, and hold fraudsters accountable.

From the Cabinet to the states to Congress, officials are lining up behind the pledge:

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “I am taking @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. At Treasury, we follow the money. Over the past year, Treasury returned $175 million in payments that would have gone to deceased individuals and expanded Do Not Pay access to 99% of federal programs. Further, we stopped almost $190 million and returned over $100 million in funds that had gone overseas to U.S. victims. We ordered an audit of approximately $9 billion in Treasury contracts. And Treasury and the IRS proposed stronger eligibility checks for health insurance tax credits. In Minnesota, we took targeted measures to help ensure that taxpayer dollars reach the vulnerable Americans they are meant to support. And we continue working with U.S. banks to prevent government benefits fraud before it happens. But fraud does not stop at our borders, and neither do we. Overseas scam networks and cartels that prey on elderly Americans with fraud schemes are now sanctioned by the United States. Treasury is also making it easier for those with firsthand knowledge of fraud to expose it by accepting confidential whistleblower tips and offering cash rewards. If these fraudsters want to turn on each other, we welcome the assistance. The Trump Administration will not allow criminals, at home or abroad, to profit from programs intended to help vulnerable Americans.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: “The War Department is waging war against waste, fraud, and abuse. Proud to stand alongside @POTUS, @VP, and @WHFraudTF.”

Attorney General Todd Blanche: “I’m proud to stand with @POTUS Trump and @VP Vance in the fight against fraud. At @TheJusticeDept, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people, no matter the size or scope of the scheme. We will not tolerate anyone who steals from hardworking, law-abiding Americans.”

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “Proud to support @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. @Interior is cutting wasteful spending, terminating unnecessary contracts and streamlining bureaucracy to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and deliver real value to the American people!”

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “Protect taxpayers. Stop fraud. Preserve help for Americans who need it. 🇺🇸 I am signing @VP’s fraud pledge because every taxpayer dollar deserves accountability. At @USDA, we are committed to rooting out fraud across our programs and protecting assistance for the families who depend on it. Under @POTUS, we will keep fighting to ensure these programs serve the American people — and hold those who steal from them accountable.”

Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling: “Americans work too hard to have their hard-earned money stolen by fraudsters. Today, I am proud to sign @VP’s historic fraud pledge to send a clear message: Under @POTUS, @USDOL is FIGHTING BACK. With $22 BILLION in labor fraud already uncovered, we’re not slowing down. Alongside @USLaborIG and @WHFraudTF, we will leave no stone unturned in exposing fraud, recovering taxpayer dollars, and holding fraudsters accountable.”

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.:“Today, I am proud to sign @VP Vance’s pledge and join President Trump and the @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse. At HHS, we are protecting taxpayer dollars, holding fraudsters accountable, and making sure federal health and human services programs serve the Americans who depend on them. Every dollar stolen through fraud takes resources away from Americans in need. We will find it, stop it, and hold those responsible accountable.”

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “Under the Trump Administration, if you scam the American taxpayer and our most vulnerable, you will be CUT OFF and face JUSTICE. We are holding fraudsters accountable and putting law-abiding Americans FIRST.”

Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz: “SIGNED! ✍️🇺🇸 @VP Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud is a commonsense commitment, and I was glad to sign it. CMS will continue working with the @WHFraudTF to protect Americans, safeguard their benefits, and save taxpayers billions of dollars.”

Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler: “I am proud to take @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Under the leadership of President Trump, @SBAgov’s commitment is simple: we are restoring guardrails to protect taxpayer-funded programs, clawing back what was stolen, and putting fraudsters behind bars.”

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “ATTENTION FRAUDSTERS: USDOT is coming for you, and I am proud to join Vice President Vance’s pledge We’re CRACKING DOWN on… ❌ Illegal CDL mills, non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, and training schools ❌ Fake Chinese airbags ❌ Gavin Newsom’s Train to Nowhere …AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Signed, Sealed, and Delivered @VP @POTUS @WHFraudTF”

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon: “I am proud to sign @VP’s pledge and join @POTUS and @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse. At @usedgov we have prevented more than $2 billion in student aid fraud and implemented real-time verification measures to protect taxpayer dollars. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken away from a student trying to build a better future.”

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins: “Sign @DeptVetAffairs up! Proud to stand with @VP in the fight to protect Veterans and taxpayers from fraud.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin: “Taxpayer-funded programs must ONLY serve law-abiding Americans, NOT illegal aliens or fraudsters. I am proud to stand with @POTUS Trump, @VP Vance, and @WHFraudTF to fight fraud in ALL forms and protect the American people.”

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin: “Amen @VP! Signed, sealed, and delivered. At the Trump EPA, since Day ONE, I have implemented a ZERO tolerance policy towards ANY waste and abuse, and the total savings from all our actions are over $30 BILLION!”

Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought: “Today, I am proud to sign the @VP’s pledge to protect Americans from fraud. OMB will continue to work hand in hand with the @WHFraudTF to root out waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.”

FBI Director Kash Patel: “This @FBI is proud to help lead the war on fraud under @POTUS, @VP, and the @WHFraudTF. We’ve worked with our law enforcement partners at every level eliminating tens of billions in intended fraud losses – including six Most Wanted Fraudster arrests worth over $2 billion in alleged fraud – all in just 3 months. American taxpayers deserve protection. Those who steal from them no longer have sanctuary.”

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr: “The FCC is pleased to join with President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. The FCC’s work on this front has already saved taxpayers many millions of dollars and we are working with @VP and @WHFraudTF to continue an unrelenting crackdown on fraudsters.”

Director of the Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor: “Today, I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. Thank you @VP @WHFraudTF”

Administrator of the General Services Administration Ed Forst: “As part of the @WHFraudTF, I’m proud to take this pledge and stand with the @VP and @POTUS in the fight against fraud. Working together, the Trump Administration is weeding out waste, fraud, and abuse wherever it crops up – saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring transparency in each and every program. We will continue to put Americans first and place fraudsters on notice.”

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Cameron Hamilton: “Proud to join @SecMullinDHS, @VP & @WHFraudTF in pledging @FEMA’s commitment to protecting disaster survivors. Last year, we protected $1.3B in taxpayer funds from attempts to exploit FEMA programs. These efforts strengthen transparency and trust in federal disaster assistance.”

Vice Chair of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Andrew Ferguson: “Proud to work with President Trump and Vice President Vance on this effort. 🫡 🦅 🇺🇸”

Executive Director of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Scott Brady: “I am proud to sign @VP Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. We wage this War on Fraud to protect our most vulnerable fellow Americans and to preserve our benefits programs for future generations. Join us in this fight and sign the Pledge today! 🇺🇸”

Assistant Attorney General for Fraud Colin McDonald: “I am proud to sign @VP Vance’s pledge and join @POTUS and the @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud. This is a fight we cannot lose. The wealth of America is being pillaged by sophisticated criminal actors who view our tax dollars as the easiest dollars to steal. There is no program too noble for a fraudster and no program too compassionate. Fraudsters will take from our elderly, our sick, our children, our hungry — no matter the financial cost or the human toll. At the National Fraud Enforcement Division (@DOJFraudDiv), we are resolved to do everything in our power to defeat fraud and protect the financial integrity of the United States. We are honored to sign @VP’s pledge and call on all public servants across the country to do the same.”

Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent: “Under @EDSecMcMahon’s leadership, @usedgov is the vanguard of the fight against fraud: 💰$2+ billion saved since January 2025. 🪪Instant verification for FAFSA. 💻Real-time data with partner agencies. Proud to sign @VP’s pledge to ensure American benefits stay out of the hands of fraudsters!”

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar: “Thank you @POTUS, @VP JD Vance and the @WHFraudTF for fighting fraud and protecting our taxpayer dollars. Americans work hard for their money, and they deserve a government that protects it.”

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden: “Proud to join @VP, @SecRollins, and the @WHFraudTF to pledge my support to fight benefits fraud. And remember, if you see something, say something.”

Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration Bill Briggs: “Today I’m proud to join @POTUS and @VP to ensure that American benefits programs only serve law-abiding Americans. The days of supporting fraudsters and their enablers is over. I’m signing the @VP’s pledge and will do all I can to fight fraud.”

Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Kim Brandt: “ANOTHER SIGNED! ✍️🇺🇸 CMS’s own “Killer Kim” Brandt has signed the @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Kim has been an incredible leader in CMS’s War on Fraud alongside the @WHFraudTF. Fraudsters: you do not want to end up in her crosshairs.”

Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Family Support Alex Adams: “Today, I’m proud to take @VP’s pledge to fight fraud. At @ACFHHS, our responsibility is clear: protect taxpayer dollars and ensure benefits reach eligible children and families—not fraudsters. We are working with the @WHFraudTF across all our programs and tightening the bolts on our regulations that the Biden administration had loosened. I am grateful to the @VP for his leadership and commitment to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across our government. We are just getting started.”

Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services T. March Bell: “Protecting beneficiaries and combating fraud are at the heart of HHS-OIG’s mission. I stand with @VP @SecKennedy @WHFraudTF in protecting Americans from fraud and reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding taxpayer dollars & holding fraudsters accountable.”

Inspector General of the Department of Labor Anthony D’Esposito: “Present for duty, @VP @JDVance. @USLaborIG has signed the pledge and remains in the fight alongside @Sonderling47 and @WHFraudTF. LFG. 🇺🇸”

Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture John Walk: “Today, I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. I am proud of the USDA OIG law enforcement agents across the country who work tirelessly every day to stop fraud. Together, we will ensure that benefits intended for law-abiding Americans are not stolen by fraudsters.”

Chief Counselor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Chris Klomp: “Today, HHS Chief Counselor @1Klomp signed @VP Vance’s anti-fraud pledge, reinforcing HHS’s commitment to rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse across federal health and human services programs. Working alongside @WHFraudTF, HHS is taking action to safeguard taxpayer resources, protect vital benefits, and ensure those who exploit the system are held accountable.”

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong: “Proud to stand with @VP and @POTUS in the fight against fraud and ensure public benefits serve the Americans who truly need them. Fraud is theft from hardworking citizens, and we have a responsibility at every level of government to stop it and hold those responsible accountable. Thank you for leading this effort.”

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun: “I’m proud to have taken VP @JDVance’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Taxpayer dollars should go to those who truly need assistance, not into the pockets of fraudsters.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: “Today, I am proud to join @VP’s pledge and partner with the Trump Administration as Ohio continues its nation-leading fight against fraud. My administration will continue working with our federal and state partners to ensure Ohioans’ hard-earned tax dollars and benefits are used to help those who need them, not those who try to defraud the system.”

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte: “I am proud to sign Vice President JD Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud to ensure vulnerable Montanans receive the benefits they qualify for and those who are taking advantage of taxpayer funds are held accountable.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe: “Missouri is in. Proud to join the @VP’s pledge in the fight against fraud.”

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry: “Proud to stand with @WHFraudTF, President @realdonaldtrump, and @VPVance to fight back against fraud, waste, and abuse at all levels of government. I will always fight to have a government that is of, by, and FOR the people!”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee: “Honored to lead @RGA members to support the anti-fraud pledge & grateful for @JDVance’s leadership in the fight to protect American taxpayers. Fraud against taxpayers is unacceptable, & every level of government has a responsibility to prevent it.”

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster: “I have signed @VP JD Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud, joining @WHFraudTF in the fight to protect taxpayers and vulnerable Americans. South Carolina is committed to standing against fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey: “Governor Morrisey stands with President @realDonaldTrump and @VP in the fight against fraud. By joining the Vice President’s pledge, West Virginia is reaffirming its commitment to protecting vulnerable Americans, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and holding those who abuse public programs accountable.”

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen: “I am proud to stand with @POTUS and @VP in the fight against fraud. Today, I am joining the Vice President’s pledge to protect Americans from fraud and safeguard taxpayer dollars. Together, we will continue working to ensure taxpayer dollars do not end up in the hands of fraudsters, but instead go to the American people who need them most.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves: “If there’s one thing we should all be able to agree on, it’s that there’s no place for fraud in government. Proud to sign on to @JDVance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds: “Proud to take the pledge in the fight against fraud! Hardworking Iowans’ tax dollars should only go to law-abiding citizens who deserve them, not fraudsters or their enablers.”

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “President @realDonaldTrump and @VP are continuing to fight fraud at every level, and I am proud to stand with them. That’s why I have signed this pledge to ensure that American benefits programs serve law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

Republican Governors Association: “Each year, hardworking Americans pay trillions of dollars to fund a system of benefits programs for citizens in need. Unfortunately, this generosity and willingness to help our fellow Americans has been abused and exploited by fraudsters, illegal aliens, and corrupt bureaucrats. We must do all we can to stop the fraud and bring fraudsters and their enablers to justice, restoring trust and preserving these programs for future generations. Although previous administrations turned a blind eye to fraud, President Trump and Vice President Vance are aggressively fighting fraudsters nationwide.”

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith: “I am proud to join @VP Vance and sign onto his pledge in protecting Americans from fraud. We need to protect the vulnerable from being preyed upon by fraudsters & ensure only qualified Americans receive tax dollars. No more fraud!”

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman: “Every public official has a responsibly to protect Americans from fraud. Proud to join @VP Vance, @WHFraudTF and my fellow AGs in our shared commitment to go after fraudsters and their enablers who steal from taxpayers and vulnerable families.”

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch: “Today, I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join @POTUS and @VP in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin: “I am proud to sign @VP JD Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. My office stands on the front lines to protect Arkansans from fraudsters each and every day, and I applaud the Vice President for establishing the @WHFraudTF to bring resources and awareness to this important fight.”

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway: “I commend the Trump Administration and @VP Vance for their leadership in making the fight against fraud a priority and reinforcing the principle that taxpayer dollars demand integrity. I pledge to continue this fight. By working together, we can expose fraud more efficiently, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure accountability at every level. Fraud will not be tolerated, and our work is far from finished.”

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers: “We support @VP @JDVance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Nebraska is committed to safeguarding our citizens and leading the fight against fraud. We are honored to sign alongside others as we hold bad actors accountable.”

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley: “@SDAttorneyGen Marty Jackley: I am proud to join @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance in taking the pledge to fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @WHFraudTF @RapidResponse47”

Kansas Attorney General Kris W. Kobach: “Pledge taken. Fraudsters, you’ve been warned. We’ve been fighting fraud to protect vulnerable Kansans all along, but we’re ready to double down.”

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall: “Today, I signed @VP ‘s pledge against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @WHFraudTF”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: “I am proud to stand with @VP Vance and his @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud. As Attorney General, I have fought relentlessly to protect Texans from fraudsters. These efforts have resulted in the recovery of over $1 billion for the people of Texas, along with countless other victories that have saved Texans’ hard-earned tax dollars.”

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita: “After our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was named MFCU of the Year for 2025, @VP pointed to our work as a model for other states. Having already recovered more than $100 million in Medicaid welfare provider fraud since 2021, we’re proud to take his pledge and continue that fight alongside him and President @realdonaldTrump. Together, we will ensure American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier: “Let me be clear: if you target Florida’s vulnerable, we will target you. Preventing fraud is a priority for our office. That’s why I’ve joined the @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. As Florida’s Attorney General, I’ll keep making fraudsters pay. @WHFraudTF”

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey: “Fraud isn’t victimless. It steals from seniors, the disabled and families who play by the rules. Today I joined the @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. @WHFraudTF”

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson: “Proud to announce my office has signed on to @VP @JDVance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. We’re committed to protecting taxpayers, rooting out fraud, and holding those who abuse taxpayer-funded programs accountable. @WHFraudTF”

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson: “AG Wilson is proud to take @VP Vance’s pledge to join the fight against fraud. Our efforts to investigate and prosecute Medicaid Fraud are just one way that we ensure that benefit programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @WHFraudTF”

Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball: “As State Auditor, I have a vital responsibility to safeguard the taxpayer dollars you work hard to earn. I’m proud to stand with @VP in this commitment and partner with the administration to combat fraud and ensure those who misuse taxpayer funds are held accountable. @WHFraudTF”

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek: “Proud to sign @VP’s anti-fraud pledge to strengthen accountability and protect taxpayer dollars. The North Carolina State Auditor’s Office is always searching for fraud and bad actors, and we’ll continue working alongside the @WHFraudTF on these important anti-fraud efforts.”

Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and State Auditor James Brown: “I’ve made fighting fraud here in Montana a top priority since being elected State Auditor. I’m proud to join @VP’s pledge and work alongside the @WHFraudTF to fight fraud, increase oversight, and bring fraudsters who steal from taxpayers to justice.”

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber: “Rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse has been a priority throughout my time as Auditor and in our work with the task force. I’m proud to sign @JDVance’s pledge. As AG, I’ll keep fighting alongside him to protect taxpayers.”

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White: “Vice President Vance has recruited the 22 top fraud fighters from around the country to join him in a pledge to protect taxpayer money, and today I’m proud to sign the pledge joining that group. Thank you @VP for your leadership! @WHFraudTF”

Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ: “State financial officers play an important role in protecting your hard-earned taxpayer dollars. I’m proud to join @VP’s pledge and work alongside the administration to prevent fraud, strengthen oversight, and hold those who steal from taxpayers accountable. @WHFraudTF”

Ohio Treasurer of State Robert Sprague: “Proud to sign VP Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Fraud is not an inevitable cost of doing business, and Ohioans expect our leaders to treat it seriously. As Secretary of State, I’ll fight to protect taxpayer dollars and every honest Ohioan from fraudsters.”

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose: “I’ll absolutely sign this pledge because I’ve been fighting fraud (successfully!) since before fraud-fighting needed a pledge. Thankfully, we finally have a federal administration that’s also taking it seriously and bringing others along. As Auditor of State, I’ll hold all of state and local government accountable with the same high standards of transparency, efficiency and accountability that have made Ohio the gold standard of election integrity.”

State Financial Officers Foundation: “We’re proud to stand alongside @VP Vance and the @WHFraudTF. 22 state financial officers have already signed the pledge, strengthening the coalition against fraud.”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine: “U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine is proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York DiGiacomo: “U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo takes the Vice President’s pledge to protect Americans against fraud… @VP @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Chadwick M. Elgersma: “Today, I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. I encourage our state and local law enforcement partners to join in this fight.”

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Dominick Gerace: “@SDOHnews is fully committed to ensuring that taxpayer-funded benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans. I am proud to take @VP’s pledge and join President Trump, Vice President Vance, and @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud.”

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore: “Today, My office and I are proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. -USA Gilmore”

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Meg Heap: “Today, I, Meg Heap, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, am proud to take the @VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Kevin Holmes: “Today, I am proud to take Vice President JD Vance’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we are committed to protecting the integrity of American benefits programs and ensuring that taxpayer-funded resources reach eligible Americans—not those who seek to exploit the system. @VP @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe: “USA Kehoe is proud to take the VP’s pledge & join President Trump & @VP Vance & @WHFraudTF in the fight against fraud.”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly: ““I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.” @VP @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf: “Today, I am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro: “My office is joining the @VP’s pledge to fight fraud and hold those responsible accountable. Since I took office as U.S. Attorney, we have clawed back well over $1 billion dollars in fraud. Americans will be protected. @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Aaron Reitz: “I’m proud to sign the @VP’s pledge joining him and @POTUS in the fight against fraud. Together with @WHFraudTF, we will take all legal action to ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans—not fraudsters, scammers, bureaucrats, or illegal aliens.”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenneth Sorenson: “U.S. Attorney Kenneth Sorenson is proud to take the @VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @WHFraudTF”

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana Kurt L. Wall: “Today, I am proud to take Vice-President Vance’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice-President Vance in the fight against fraud… I am thankful that they have made it a priority to protect our benefits and ensure they serve our tax-paying citizens. These hard-earned tax dollars should never be used to enable fraudsters and their enablers.”

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Phillip W. Williams, Jr.: “I’m proud to have just signed on to the stop fraud pledge by Vice President Vance and President Donald Trump. In the Northern District of Alabama, we are absolutely committed to the idea of stopping fraud dead in its tracks.”

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Tom Wheeler: “U.S. Attorney Wheeler is proud to take the @VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @DOJFraudDiv”

U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Lesley A. Woods: “Today, I, U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods, am proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud in Nebraska. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers. @VP @WHFraudTF”

First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli: “I am proud to take the VP’s pledge to continue fighting fraud with @POTUS Trump and @VP Vance. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa is proud to take the VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud. Together, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers.”

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso: “Criminals are now hearing a clear message thanks to @VP Vance and the @WHFraudTF: No amount of fraud is too small to prosecute. Republicans are making fighting fraud a top priority. We are protecting hardworking taxpayers and their money.”

Sen. Jim Banks: “If you defraud the American people, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s that simple. I’m proud to sign onto Vice President @JDVance’s anti-fraud pledge and I urge my colleagues to join us in this fight.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “I am glad to support @VP’s pledge in the fight against fraud. Thank you @POTUS and @WHFraudTF for working to protect hardworking American taxpayers. Fraudsters be warned.”

Sen. Katie Britt: “Fraud is not just wrong, but it also comes at the expense of hardworking Americans. Whether it’s directly targeted elder abuse or systemic misuse of federal funds, Republicans must continue to protect hardworking Americans’ taxpayer dollars. I’m proud to be a partner with @JDVance on this important effort, and I’m grateful for his leadership to crack down on fraudsters.”

Sen. Joni Ernst: “A continuing commitment to ending fraud, not chasing after it, is exactly what Washington needs. After Congress passes my Protecting American Taxpayer Act, @VP and the executive branch will have even more fraud-fighting tools at their disposal!”

Sen. Chuck Grassley: “Sen. @ChuckGrassley has worked throughout his time in public office to root out waste, fraud and abuse. Thanks to @VP Vance and @WHFraudTF for putting the American taxpayer first.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt: “I’m proudly taking @VP Vance’s pledge to protect ALL Americans from fraud. Fraudsters have robbed Americans of billions of dollars. Enough is enough—we’re committed to tracking these criminals down & throwing them in jail. The war on fraud is just beginning.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “The only people who like fraud are the deranged Marxist Socialist Democrats that have promoted it throughout our country. ELIMINATING rampant fraud is one of the best ways to put money back into taxpayers’ wallets.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise: “@VP, done. @HouseGOP is proud to stand with you, President Trump, and the entire administration in the War on Fraud. Together, we are cracking down on fraudsters, protecting American taxpayers, and saving billions.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer: “Principles we can all agree on. I’m proud to have signed @VP’s pledge to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers. Republicans will not slow down. The War on Fraud continues.”

House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain: “I’m ALL IN on @VP’s pledge to crack down on fraud. Fraud is a TAX on the American people. Michigan families shouldn’t bankroll criminals getting rich off THEIR tax dollars. I’m with @POTUS & @VP to end the FREE RIDE for fraudsters.”

Rep. Robert Aderholt: “I’m proud to join @VP in the pledge to protect hardworking Americans from waste, fraud, and abuse. Every dollar stolen through fraud is money taken from hardworking taxpayers and Americans who genuinely need assistance. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Mark Alford: “Proud to join @VP in the fight against fraud. I’ll always protect Missourians and make sure taxpayer dollars go to those who earned them — not fraudsters.”

Rep. Brian Babin: “Today, I’m proud to join @VP in pledging to fight fraud. The days of scamming Americans out of hard-earned dollars are over, and the @WHFraudTF is working to protect taxpayers and hold fraudsters accountable.”

Rep. Mike Bost: “I’m proud to take @VP’s pledge and stand alongside President Trump and Vice President Vance in the fight against fraud! Taxpayer-funded programs are meant to help Americans in need, NOT line the pockets of criminals. Hardworking American taxpayers deserve accountability and the free ride for fraudsters ends NOW! Thanks to @JDVance and @WHFraudTF for the critical work you’re leading.”

Rep. Josh Brecheen: “For far too long, illegal aliens, corrupt politicians, and fraudsters have been taking advantage of the American taxpayer, using your hard-earned money for their personal gain. Under the recently launched White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, this must end. I look forward to working alongside @VP Vance and the @WHFraudTF to eliminate any fraudulent activity that takes advantage of hardworking Americans and raises our national debt.”

Rep. Buddy Carter: “Proud to join Vice President JD Vance in pledging to crack down on fraud, protect vulnerable Americans, and ensure taxpayer dollars go to those who truly need them. Every dollar stolen by fraudsters is a dollar taken from the American people. It’s time for accountability!”

Rep. Ben Cline: “For too long, criminals have been allowed to defraud the government, steal billions from American taxpayers, and exploit our most vulnerable. Republicans are taking action to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse and hold criminals accountable. I’m proud to stand with @VP as I take the pledge and join the fight to end fraud and protect your tax dollars.”

Rep. Michael Cloud: “I’m in.”

Rep. James Comer: “Every dollar lost to fraud is stolen from taxpayers. I’m proud to take the Vice President’s pledge and work alongside the Trump Administration’s fight to root out fraud and protect American taxpayers. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Warren Davidson: “I signed @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Since taking office, the Trump administration has uncovered over $260 billion in fraud across government programs. I’m committed to building on that record by protecting hardworking Americans’ tax dollars and ensuring those who steal from them face justice. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Troy Downing: “Count me in. As Montana’s State Auditor, I worked to protect seniors and consumers from scams and fraud. In Congress, I’ve continued that work by supporting efforts to recover taxpayer dollars and hold fraudsters accountable. Today, I signed @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Keep up the good work @WHFraudTF!”

Rep. Ron Estes: “Today, I’m taking @VP’s pledge to protect Americans from fraud. I’ll continue working with my @HouseGOP colleagues and the Trump administration to ensure that our nation’s benefit programs only serve law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters.”

Rep. Pat Fallon: “I’m proud to stand with @POTUS & @JDVance and sign this anti-fraud pledge. For years, Democrats have enabled systemic fraud. Now, we’re blessed to have an administration that fights it head-on and holds the thieves who steal from hardworking Americans accountable. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Brad Finstad: “Proud to join @VP Vance, @WHFraudTF, and this administration in putting an end to the waste, fraud, and abuse plaguing Minnesota and this country.”

Rep. Michelle Fischbach: “Thank you, @WHFraudTF, for uncovering and prosecuting fraud!”

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald: “Proud to join @VP in signing the Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. The @WHFraudTF is doing outstanding work to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs. As a Member of Congress, I’ve supported major reforms to crack down on fraud, and I’ll continue fighting to protect hardworking taxpayers and hold those who abuse taxpayer dollars accountable.”

Rep. Russell Fry: “I will always stand with @VP Vance & @POTUS in their commitment to uproot waste, fraud and abuse. I was proud to sign the Vice President’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud to safeguard American’s tax dollars from being exploited and abused by fraudsters & illegal aliens. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Clay Fuller: “Proud to sign the Task Force Pledge. As a former District Attorney, I spent years prosecuting fraud and holding criminals accountable. Common sense says we should stop waste, protect taxpayers, and put the hardworking people of Northwest Georgia first. I’ll keep fighting for that every day in Congress.”

Rep. Craig Goldman: “Fraudsters aren’t just stealing taxpayer dollars. They’re robbing vulnerable Americans of the resources they need most. Alongside the @VP, @WHFraudTF and my @HouseGOP colleagues, I pledge to continue standing against fraud to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure critical assistance reaches the Americans who depend on it.”

Rep. Morgan Griffith: “While at my alma mater Emory & Henry University today, I signed Vice President Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. From Medicare and SNAP fraud to fraudulent birth tourism, I will continue to be a leader in the War on Fraud.”

Rep. Michael Guest: “Under President Trump, Republicans have been working to expose fraud across our nation. I am honored to sign Vice President JD Vance’s Anti-Fraud Pledge.”

Rep. Brett Guthrie: “Like so many Americans, I have been outraged by fraud schemes enabled by the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. I am proud to sign @VP’s ‘Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud’ and look forward to continuing to work alongside my @HouseCommerce colleagues to advance our legislative package to root out fraud from Medicare and Medicaid. The @HouseGOP will continue our efforts to stop the pervasive fraud in federal health programs and protect benefits for those who need them most.”

Rep. Mike Haridopolos: “I am proud to join @VP JD Vance in signing the Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. We must protect hardworking American taxpayers and ensure taxpayer dollars go toward helping those in need, not into the hands of bad actors.”

Rep. Erin Houchin: “Easy yes from me! Proud to sign @VP’s pledge to fight fraud. The @WHFraudTF and @HouseGOP have been laser-focused on ensuring American taxpayer dollars are not stolen by scammers. I’ve been leading this effort on @HouseCommerce by introducing the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, which passed Committee and will soon head to the House floor. Protecting Americans and their hard-earned dollars from scams and fraud is a priority I’ll keep fighting for.”

Rep. Darrell Issa: “Major move today by @JDVance — The VP’s pledge to protect Americans from fraud is the right message at what is indisputably the right time. The Trump Administration is exposing the astonishing scope of fraud in America and delivering accountability where it is long overdue. The truth is we all lose when taxpayers get fleeced, government benefits get stolen. and fraudsters go unpunished. Everyone should support this.”

Rep. Ronny Jackson: “Hardworking Americans deserve accountability—NOT EXCUSES. We must expose fraud, hold cheaters accountable, and protect EVERY taxpayer dollar. I am proud to join @VP Vance and @WHFraudTF in their mission to COMBAT fraud and PROTECT American taxpayers!”

Rep. Jim Jordan: “End fraud. Save taxpayer dollars. Put America first. We’re standing with President Trump and VP Vance to stop fraud and hold those responsible accountable.”

Rep. John Joyce: “Fighting fraud has been a top priority of mine, especially in my role as the @HouseCommerce Oversight & Investigations Chair. Today, I’m joining @VP’s anti-fraud pledge – ensuring taxpayer dollars are protected and fraudsters are brought to justice.”

Rep. Mike Kelly: “Amen, @VP! ✅Protect taxpayer dollars ✅Crack down on fraud ✅Law and order = common sense”

Rep. Brad Knott: “As Americans, we must end the gross tolerance for theft by fraudsters and the bureaucrats who enable them. Fighting fraud has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and I remain committed to rooting it out of wherever it hides. I proudly signed @VP Vance’s pledge today to continue our fight to ensure benefits go ONLY to American citizens and NOT to illegal aliens or fraudsters enriching themselves through theft. It’s wrong, unaffordable, and unsustainable. I am all in to protect your hard-earned dollars from being wasted.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: “I have officially signed onto the VP’s anti-fraud pledge! May justice be swift against those abusing, exploiting and defrauding the American people. @VP @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie: “Fraud in federal benefit programs hurts taxpayers and takes critical resources away from Americans who need them most. Earlier this year, I joined Vice President JD Vance at the White House to discuss our efforts to crack down on fraud, including my House-passed Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act, which prevents fraudulent medical providers from exploiting federal workers’ compensation programs. I’ll keep working to protect taxpayers, hold fraudsters accountable, and safeguard these programs for those who rely on them.”

Rep. Tom McClintock: “I strongly support the Vice-President’s pledge.”

Rep. Rich McCormick: “Today, I’m proud to join @POTUS and @VP JD Vance in taking the pledge to fight fraud and protect American taxpayers. Government benefits should go to those who are legally entitled to them, not fraudsters exploiting the system at the expense of hardworking Americans. Find the fraud. Stop the fraud. Hold the criminals accountable.”

Rep. Addison McDowell: “Today, I’m proud to sign @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. The days of stealing from American taxpayers without consequences are over. It’s time to hold fraudsters accountable.”

Rep. Dan Meuser: “Each dollar stolen from federal programs isn’t just a loss for taxpayers – it’s also a dollar that never reaches Americans who need it most. I am proud to be a member of @VP Vance’s @WHFraudTF and to sign the Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. As Chair of the @FinancialCmte Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I am working to identify and eliminate both taxpayer fraud and consumer fraud to protect taxpayer dollars, deliver accountability, and ensure federal programs continue to serve those who truly need them.”

Rep. Mary Miller: “I’m proud to stand with @VP Vance and take the pledge to STOP FRAUD and protect taxpayer dollars. Will you join us? @HouseGOP passed my Stop Child Care Scams Act to protect vulnerable families and hold fraudsters accountable. The days of criminals exploiting American taxpayers must END!”

Rep. Barry Moore: “Fraud steals from hardworking Alabama families and every American taxpayer. I’m proud to sign @VP’s pledge to protect Americans from fraud and ensure taxpayer dollars go to those who truly need them – not fraudsters exploiting the system.”

Rep. Nathaniel Moran: “Proud to stand with @VP in the fight to protect Americans from fraud. Hardworking taxpayers fund these programs for those who truly need them, and it’s on us to make sure that money isn’t stolen by fraudsters. Here in East Texas, we’re backing this pledge and doing everything in our power to protect taxpayer dollars and the vulnerable Americans these programs were built to serve.”

Rep. Gary Palmer: “I am proud to join @VP in signing his pledge to protect vulnerable Americans, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and ensure those who abuse these programs face justice. We must put an end to fraud and protect these programs for the Americans who truly need them.”

Rep. August Pfluger: “The American people are done being robbed by fraudsters and the bureaucrats who enable them. For years, billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen in broad daylight while the last administration shrugged and called it compassion. Fighting fraud has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and I remain committed to rooting it out wherever it hides. I signed @VP Vance’s pledge today to continue our fight to ensure benefits go to law-abiding citizens and NOT to illegal aliens or fraudsters buying mansions and luxury cars on your dime. Protecting the American taxpayer is absolutely a fight worth having, and I am all in.”

Rep. Mike Rulli: “Taxpayers work too hard for their money to see it wasted on fraud. I’m proud to join @POTUS and @VP in the fight to protect hardworking Americans from waste, fraud, and abuse. We need accountability, stronger safeguards, and an end to taxpayer-funded fraud.”

Rep. Keith Self: “Every public official should sign @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. It’s just commonsense: defend the American taxpayer and prosecute the fraudsters. @WHFraudTF”

Rep. Adrian Smith: “Nebraskans work hard for every dollar. Fraudsters shouldn’t get to steal a dime. Today, I signed @VP Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud because protecting hardworking Americans should be common sense, not controversial.”

Rep. Pete Stauber: “I’m proud to sign @VP’s Pledge to protect Americans from fraud. Taxpayer dollars should help Americans who need assistance, NOT line the pockets of criminal fraudsters. This is something that every American should agree on.”

Rep. Claudia Tenney: “The rampant fraud in our government programs is an abomination. Every dollar lost to fraud comes out of American taxpayers’ pockets. I signed @VP’s pledge and will work with @WHFraudTF to put an end to this outrageous theft and hold fraudsters accountable.”

Rep. Matt Van Epps: “Hardworking American taxpayers deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used responsibly to help those who truly need assistance, not exploited by fraudsters, scammers, or corrupt officials. We have a duty to protect our seniors, our disabled citizens, our most vulnerable neighbors, and every law-abiding American who contributes to these programs. I proudly stand behind the Vice President’s Pledge to Protect Americans from fraud!”

Rep. Beth Van Duyne: “Thankful to @VP Vance for leading the effort to expose fraud and hold fraudsters accountable. I signed the pledge, and I’m ready to help.”

Rep. Rudy Yakym: “I just signed @VP Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Hoosiers work too hard for their money to watch it get stolen. Stopping fraud shouldn’t be controversial, it’s common sense. So why won’t a SINGLE Democrat sign it?”

Indiana State Sen. Chris Garten: “I am proud to sign the @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Welfare programs are intended to serve truly need Americans only — not fraudsters. Indiana has done great work in recent years to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, but the fight is not over. I encourage my colleagues to join me in signing this pledge. @VP @WHFraudTF”

Indiana State Rep. Andrew Ireland: “Proud to sign the @VP’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud. Working Americans are not an ATM for fraudsters and illegal aliens”

Ohio State Rep. Jeff LaRe: “Taxpayer dollars should go to the people they’re intended to help, not fraudsters gaming the system. I’m proud to join Vice President JD Vance in his pledge to crack down on fraud, protect taxpayers, and hold those who abuse these programs accountable. It’s common sense. @VP”

Ohio State Rep. Adam Mathews: “Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to take the @VP’s pledge and join President Trump and Vice President @JDVance in the fight against fraud. Together, at the state and federal level, we will ensure that American benefits programs serve only law-abiding Americans, not fraudsters and their enablers who are stealing from both taxpayers and those that are truly in need of these services.”

Ohio State Rep. Johnathan Newman: “I am taking Vice President Vance’s pledge – I join fellow legislators pledging to do everything in my power to protect Americans from the fraudulent theft of taxpayer dollars paid in good faith that they will be used lawfully instead of stolen from the elderly, indigent, and disabled by thieves who belong in prison. All such criminals must be arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned. Those vulnerable citizens who are unable to provide for themselves must be guarded from those seeking to steal from all of us. Thank you Vice President Vance for leading the way to a society better governed by law and order!”

Department of Housing and Urban Development: “The Trump Administration is standing up for every taxpayer and our most vulnerable Americans. @VP’s Pledge is crystal clear: fraudsters will be cut off and face justice. HUD is proud to partner with @WHFraudTF in this effort.”

House Republican Conference: “Protect the elderly and disabled from fraud. Stop fraud before payments go out. Prison for convicted fraudsters. Nothing in @VP’s pledge should be controversial. Every lawmaker, from either party, should be proud to sign it. What do you say, @HouseDemocrats?”

Republican Study Committee: “Fraudsters have been treating your tax dollars like their personal ATM for far too long, and today Republican Study Committee Members are taking @VP Vance’s pledge to make sure that ends now. We have been leading this charge from Day 1 in Congress, and alongside @WHFraudTF, we continue the fight against fraud and ensuring scammers face the full consequences of the law.”

RELATED:

Support Pours in for President Trump, VP Vance’s America First Strength

Fraud.gov: Track the Trump Administration’s Relentless War on Fraud

Trump Administration’s Full-Scale War on Frau

First Lady Melania Trump Leads Call for Shared Commitment to Transform Lives Nationwide

ICYMI: President Trump Signs TAKE IT DOWN Act into Law

©2026 All rights reserved.

Regulator Report: During Biden Years, 9 Largest U.S. Banks Debanked Clients over Political, Religious Views

From 2020 to 2025, the nine largest U.S. banks deliberately discriminated against clients with political or religious views that might be deemed controversial, according to a 47-page report released Wednesday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The report confirms that conservative and pro-marriage organizations lost banking access due to the recommendations of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

“This is just shocking information,” exclaimed Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.) on “Washington Watch.” “These are things that happen in communist regimes or fascist regimes, where the government is playing politics in an aggressive way. … This is why we had to go in to look at the Deep State and why we need to have this transparency in government.”

The OCC investigated the practices of the nine banks that ranked largest by asset size when it began its review in September 2025. These are: JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank. The final report comes after it reviewed some 100,000 complaints, hundreds of bank decisions, and 420,000 pages of documents.

The report found that “the banks largely lacked clear and measurable standards and objective, risk-based criteria for assessing the reputation risks of customer relationships.” The banks acknowledged “the highly subjective nature of a reputation risk assessment” but did not let this fact stop them from suddenly shuttering the accounts of longstanding clients.

Just how subjective these decisions were was evident from the “various sources [used] to inform these decisions, including the results of negative news searches and non-traditional sources, such as the opinions of advocacy organizations.”

For example, PNC in 2021 “declined to issue a line of credit to a media company due to reputation risk concerns.” The “reputation risk” apparently stemmed from the fact that one company owner was “a conservative political commentator,” while another owner had a foundation that “has funded several Christian conservative groups, including several identified as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center [SPLC].”

“This underscores why the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has been indicted, should be nowhere near government,” declared Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. “No one should use them as a reference. They’re a political attack group.”

In testimony before Congress last year, Perkins spotlighted the SPLC’s debanking efforts, noting how “banks, payment processors, and technology companies increasingly relied on SPLC classifications to decide which organizations could maintain accounts, process transactions, or operate online.”

“SPLC officials openly acknowledged this strategy before Congress in January 2020. SPLC official Lecia Brooks stated: ‘We have lobbied internet companies, one by one. … A key part of this strategy has been to target these organizations’ funding,’” said Perkins. “FRC experienced this from Truist Financial, Fidelity Investments, GuideStar, Mobile Cause, and other technology-related companies.”

Given the far-left bias of SPLC, it should come as no surprise that “the banks’ implementation of ambiguous reputation risk policies disadvantaged Americans holding certain political, religious, and social views,” as the OCC report found.

For example, in February 2021, WePay, Inc., a subsidiary of JPMorgan, closed the account of a t-shirt merchant because “they’ve started selling t-shirts that promote hate and are pro-Trump.” WePay developed and maintained a list of terms that it considered violations of its guidelines; the “exemplar list” reviewed by the OCC “included terms such as MAGA, Make America Great, and America First,” as well as names of “certain ‘hate groups’ identified by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.”

In June 2021, “WePay closed the account of a customer that employees characterized in the bank’s internal tracking system as a ‘[r]ight wing religious conservative non profit with strong anti LGBTQ rhetoric.’” The next month, “WePay closed an account used to raise funds to support a legal challenge by a ‘devout Christian’ of certain anti-discrimination laws.”

The OCC review identified a double standard between banking clients based upon their net worth. “Mere allegations, negative press, or negative reviews contributed to some banks declining to serve average Americans, even in the absence of any validation of the underlying facts or concerns,” it noted, “yet some banks were able to find ways to get comfortable with the reputation risks posed by high-net-worth clients.”

Indeed, on Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed $1.2 billion in penalties on Bank of America for its years-long failure to report or prevent money laundering. “This is the third largest fine that the agency has ever issued to a financial institution,” said Perkins. “A lot of this has connections with Russia and Iran. … They couldn’t keep up with the terrorists and the other bad actors, but they could sure cut off the Christians.”

The OCC report concluded that the debanking standards were often surprising and confusing for clients who suddenly found their bank account closed, with only a vague explanation insufficient to even mount an effective appeal.

The report cited one instance where Wells Fargo induced an “independent sales organization” to close a nonprofit’s account after “highlighting the nonprofit’s views on same-sex marriage.” One of three resources Wells Fargo relied upon to identify problematic organizations was the SPLC. The Wells Fargo vendor, which had previously determined the nonprofit in question was not engaged in hateful conduct, “subsequently terminated the nonprofit’s account with immediate effect.”

“The nonprofit received no advance warning of the independent sales organization’s account closure decision and no explanation beyond that it was identified as affiliated with a product or service that promotes hate, violence, harassment, or abuse,” the OCC explained. “As a result of the independent sales organization’s decision, the nonprofit had to quickly notify donors of potential donation processing issues and adjust its website.”

“Americans who are denied financial services or whose accounts are suddenly closed experience real world financial consequences,” the report argued. “Customers or prospective customers may be denied access to funding or other specialized financial products to expand their business operations, be unable to make critical payments on time, be forced to quickly find new banking relationships and incur costs associated with opening a new account, or experience delays in receiving access to the funds in their closed accounts.” Additionally, “A customer or prospective customer that does not receive an adequate explanation from a bank regarding its decision to deny services or terminate a relationship is left to speculate as to the cause.”

“In America, citizens should not lose access to banking services, digital platforms, public credibility, or physical safety because they believe in biblical teaching on marriage and human sexuality,” Perkins urged Congress in his testimony last year. “When government-regulated institutions can apply ideological labels in a coordinated fashion to silence, isolate, or financially cripple opponents, we allow political targeting by proxy, and freedom is at risk.”

Fortunately, the OCC report found that “All nine banks report having reassessed the role of reputation risk in decisions to establish, maintain, or terminate customer relationships.” At least some of these reassessments coincided with the Trump administration taking power in Washington, suggesting that these policies were at least tacitly encouraged by the Biden administration. However, “despite taking some steps to address fair access concerns, opportunities for future debanking remain due, in part, to inexact reputational risk policies and processes.”

Haridopolos argued that the “first, biggest” way to ensure that banks do not revert to practices of debanking conservatives is “to get out and vote.” He acknowledged that “People are a little apprehensive right now. They’re frustrated by higher gas prices. But people need to get out and vote. Elections truly matter.”

AUTHOR

Joshua Arnold

Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2026 Family Research Council.


The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

Bombshell Report Exposes True Cost of Radical Democrats’ Mass Amnesty — Open Borders Agenda

President Donald J. Trump and Republicans have delivered the most secure border in American history, with illegal crossings plummeting to record lows and U.S. Customs and Border Protection now recording 16 consecutive months with zero illegal aliens released at the border. Meanwhile, Extreme Liberal Democrats are pushing to reopen the southern border, end mass deportations, and grant mass amnesty— imposing hundreds of billions of dollars in costs to hardworking American taxpayers and putting the safety of our communities at risk.

A new bombshell report by the Council of Economic Advisers reveals the true cost of Democrats’ extreme DSA policies – warning, if effectuated, these policies would cost American taxpayers $49 trillion over ten years.

The True Cost of Democrats’ Extreme Open Borders— Mass Amnesty Socialist Policies:

  • The CEA currently estimates that the lifetime cost of an illegal alien in the United States is $166,716 per illegal alien, amounting to $1.4-$1.9 trillion in total. 
  • Democrats’ extreme socialist platform wants to give illegal aliens free healthcare and government programs— putting illegal aliens over the American people.
  • The CEA estimates that if Democrats prevail in their push for amnesty for all, federal spending for programs such as SNAP, HUD housing assistance, and Medicaid will EXPLODE in cost.
    • SNAP benefits would jump to $3.6 billion to $4.7 billion in NEW costs per year.
    • HUD housing assistance will increase by $2.3 billion to $3 billion per year.
    • Medicaid will increase from $30 billion to $40 billion per year. 
    • Together, these programs will add $36 billion to $47 billion in federal spending each year, or $361 billion to $475 billion over the next decade. 
  • Over ten years, the full suite of DSA immigration policies would cost taxpayers $49 TRILLION, over $350,000 per household – for American taxpayers over the next ten years if the Democratic Socialists of America’s top policies were adopted.

The contrast is clear: While radical Democrats push open-border policies, President Trump and Republicans are putting Americans first—securing the border, deporting the WORST OF THE WORST dangerous criminal illegal aliens, and restoring law and order. The American people voted for secure borders and rejected the radical Democrats’ lawless agenda that threatens public safety, economic security, the rule of law, and our way of life.

Under President Donald J. Trump’s Leadership, the Border is the Most Secure in History:  

  • Over 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. since President Trump returned to office. When analyzed further, the Department of Homeland Security estimated last year that 2.5 million illegals left the country. Maintaining that pace through 2029 would REDUCE the federal spending burden by $26.7-$33.7 billion a year. 
  • The Trump Administration has not released a single illegal alien at the border into the U.S. for sixteen consecutive months.
  • Southwest border apprehensions were down 94% in August from the monthly average under Biden.
  • CBP has seized 73% more drugs this fiscal year through August than it seized during the same period of FY 2024.
  • The number of Americans dying from drug overdoses and fentanyl poisoning has dropped as the Trump Administration saves lives by stopping the flow of deadly drugs and dismantling fentanyl networks.
  • The Department of Homeland Security conducted more than 206 million benefits eligibility checks in 2025, ensuring that public benefits are preserved for Americans.
  • ICE has arrested more than 10,000 gang members and more than 2,100 known or suspected terrorists during President Trump’s second term.
  • ICE more than doubled its number of officers and agents from 10,000 to 22,000.
  • Seven out of the 10 safest cities in America are cooperating with ICE, proving that American streets are safer when state officials work hand-in-hand with federal law enforcement. 
  • The Trump Administration returned temporary protected status to its original purpose—temporary—after Democrats allowed it to be abused as de-facto amnesty program.
  • The State Department paused immigrant visa processing for 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.
  • More than 157,000 migrant children — many of whom were lost by the Biden Administration and were victims of sex and labor trafficking — have been located.
  • The Laken Riley Act was signed into law by President Trump, ensuring illegal aliens charged with violent crimes are detained.
  • President Trump and Republicans’ landmark Working Families Tax Cuts delivered the largest-ever investment in border security — allowing the Trump Administration to permanently secure the border.
  • That success was compounded by the historic Secure America Act, Republicans’ second reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump that ensures our agents are fully funded for years to come— blocking Democrats’ future attempts to defund federal law enforcement.

President Donald J. Trump will always put AMERICA FIRST, ensure Americans are protected, the border is secure, deportations continue, and the Radical Left running the Democrat Party will never turn the United States into a Communist country.

RELATED:

New Report: DSA Policies Would Cost Americans Trillions

Ten Times Extreme Liberal Democrats in Congress Put Their Dangerous Agenda Ahead of the American People

Radical Left’s Rebuttal Will Contrast Democrat Extremism with President Trump’s Road to Prosperity

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ends Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders

The Secure America Act Ends Democrat Obstruction— Fully Funds CBP, ICE and President Trump’s Border Security Agenda

©2026 . All rights reserved.

Victor Davis Hanson: The Genius Behind Trump’s Art of the Deal

Victor Davis Hanson: There’s a Method to Trump’s Madness

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal senior contributor Victor Davis Hanson.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos.


Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for the Daily Signal.

There’s been an ongoing controversy over Donald Trump for the last decade, both when he appeared on the escalator in 2015, the campaign, the first term, the wilderness years, and the first two years of his second administration.

It works out like this.  He has an art of the deal style, where he is bombastic, that he says wild things. He puts his opponents, his partners, whatever the situation is that he’s across the table from, off balance. He demands things that are ludicrous. People are shocked, they criticize him.

And then the negotiations continue, and Donald Trump gets an edge, maybe a 52, 53% edge over the original request. They sign a deal. Donald Trump is very careful not to insult his trading partner or his trading opponent in any deal. And then he says he might have been taken himself, and he walks away with a singular accomplishment.

And then people are troubled. They look at the result of the negotiations, and they’re impressed, especially if you’re Americans. But they also say the methodology clouds the achievement.

Let’s see if that’s a legitimate criticism.

When he entered office, Panama was essentially being controlled at its entry and exits in violation of the Panama Canal Treaty by Chinese-affiliated companies. And they had grandiose designs basically to take over the canal. He railed, he screamed, he threatened to go in and take it. He said the canal should go back to the United States.

Pause negotiation. Marco Rubio goes down.

Now Canada is a close ally of the United States. All of Latin America is flipping. Of the 32 nations, I think about 27 are pro-American, are capitalist, are democratic, are all three. The pink tide is over in Latin America. Just Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua really left as hostile communist countries or socialist countries.

And people said, “Did he really have to threaten Panama like that?”

Second case, Greenland. Greenland in World War II was a custodian, we were the custodian of Greenland’s autonomy. Why? Because its colonial mother state, Denmark, was overrun in three days by the Nazis. The Nazis had eyes on Greenland to base submarines and air fleets to control the North Atlantic. And so the United States took control of it, put a base there, kept it free, used it for the advantage of the Allies, and then turned it back to Denmark.

In the years since after the Cold War, it was sort of inert and so was Denmark. In other words, it wasn’t an issue.

Trump comes in and says the Chinese look at the Arctic as the closest air route for their missiles into North America and into Europe. And they see that  its sea lanes can be controlled, and with them control, they can have access strategically to Western countries, both in the Arctic Circle near Europe and in North America.

So he says the Danes don’t have the wherewithal. Maybe we should just take it.

Everybody is appalled. Denmark gets furious. Germany sends eight or nine soldiers, and Denmark starts to say, “I’ll pledge a billion dollars to help the Greenlanders. I’ll put their flag on the coat of arms.”

Starting to work, in other words.

In other words, Donald Trump tunes down the rhetoric, and lo and behold, we now have a deal, and the deal is far better than the prior 1951 deal. People in Europe are relieved because they will not have to confront Russian or Chinese ships in the Greenland Arctic because the United States is going to be there, their ally in NATO.

 Greenland is happy ’cause they’re not gonna see a lot of Americans, but they’re gonna get a lot of American money through a booming military economy.

Denmark is happy because they can say they’re still a colonial power and they control this huge continental island that’s in North America, and which is closer to New York than it is to Copenhagen. But fine, they’re the sovereigns.

It worked.

Question: Was it worth all of that bombast that riled our friends?

Next example, Canada.

Everybody knows that Canada needed a $50 billion surplus forever, I guess. They don’t meet their NATO requirements for 20 years. They have 45% of their population is first- or second-generation immigrants. Their socialist economy is inert. It’s the weakest of all the industrial Western nations.

And we’re negotiating, and they do not wanna reduce that tariff. There’s a lot of issues, I can’t get into it.

Trump says he’d like to make Alberta the 51st state. That’s the natural resource powerhouse of Canada, or the whole Canadian country a state. Nobody in the United States wants that, least of all Trump. The last thing the Republican conservative MAGA Trump people want is a left-wing Canada with 40 million people that would be another California.

So that was the art of the deal again.

When it’s all said and done, and Prime Minister Mark Carney gets his Nobel Prize or whatever he wants, the deal is going to be this: Canada will cut a deal. 80% of its trade is with the United States.

It will find ways that when we buy their oil, and they run up a big surplus, they will stop helping China evade our tariffs by getting cheap Chinese metals to assemble goods and get around the tariff.

They will drop the 5% requirement that our digital media companies have to have content that’s indigenous, content for Canada and Canadians or French. And there will be a deal. Probably they will buy more agricultural goods.

It’ll be good for the United States, and it will bring reality, and it will remind Canada that you Canadians are wonderful people, but your leaders have taken a socialist paradigm and wrecked your economy and not fully utilize your natural resource treasure house.

And then we get to NATO.

When Donald Trump came in, only six, in 2017, only six nations had pledged. They had informally in 2006, and formally a few years later, said that everybody was going to spend 2% of GDP. That’s not even counting the overhead cost of the huge American military that it doesn’t charge NATO. Logistics, intelligence, dual-use projects, joint construction of NATO bases.

And they wouldn’t budge. Barack Obama got so frustrated, he called them free riders. Free riders.

Trump comes in and says, I’m not gonna get in… We’re gonna get out of NATO. We’re not gonna…

And when he left office, all but a few, maybe six or five, had flipped. Instead of just six meeting their quota, only six had not.

He comes in again, and he says you better meet your quota. Look at what happened. In my absence, Ukraine was invaded by Russia, and I told you not to build, not to make a deal on the Nord Stream pipeline with natural gas and fuel the Russian military, but you did. And I told you you better rearm, but you didn’t. And now you’re doing something belatedly.

And so now he says I want you to make 5%, investment of GDP in your military.

And they’re starting to go along.

So what is the theme again? Well, couldn’t he have been more polite like Obama or Biden? Well, neither one of them got NATO to meet their goals, which were good for NATO.

So what am I getting at?

When you look at the results, right now there are no Chinese or Russians in Latin America. The Canadian people are getting very mad at their prime minister and starting to see he’s been disingenuous, and a lot of Canadians have said, “We’ve got to change our immigration. We’ve got to change our euthanasia policy. We’ve got to change our green madness. We’ve got to change our socialism.”

We’ll see.

Greenland’s, Greenlanders are happy. NATO is stronger than it has ever been. And there’s a first chance in our lifetime that Latin America will become all consensual governments, all pro-Western, and all much better off than they were under the Cuban, Brazilian, Nicaraguan model.

Was it worth it? You can decide.

Donald Trump polarized a lot of people with his tough talk, but would you rather have somebody who was abrasive and accomplished the following, or would you want someone mellifluous like, oh, Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, and could not achieve any of these achievements which were not just good for the United States, but were good for the Western alliance in general?

We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of the Daily Signal.

AUTHOR

Victor Davis Hanson 

Victor Davis Hanson is a Daily Signal senior contributor, hosting a podcast, producing video commentaries, and writing a weekly column. He is the author of “The Counterrevolution The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement.” Follow on X VDHanson.

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Signal column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Time To Turn All Blue States RED. Here’s Why!

It’s time to turn all states controled by Democrats into RED states that will keeep America great and preserve our Constiutional Republican form of government from the White House to each State House.

We have witnessed blue states with massive fraud, ebrace sanctuary politics, gays, illegal aliens and criminals.

Time for a change!

States Controlled by the Democrat Party

As of 2026, 18 state legislatures are under full Democratic control. In these states, Democrats hold majorities in both the state senate (upper chamber) and state house/assembly (lower chamber):

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington

Note: Nebraska features a nonpartisan, unicameral legislature, while states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota have split control across chambers or tied legislative divisions.

The Average Cost of Government Per Capita in Blue vs Red States

The total budget size and expenditure levels of state governments depend heavily on population size, regional cost of living, and public services.

Because states vary drastically in size—from California with over 38 million residents to Vermont with roughly 640,000—comparing absolute budget costs directly does not provide an accurate metric. Instead, economists evaluate state government costs based on per capita state government spending.

Average Per Capita Spending

  • Democratic-Controlled States: State government spending in Democratic trifecta or Democratic-controlled legislature states averages roughly $11,500 to $13,500 per resident annually.
  • Republican-Controlled States: State government spending in Republican-controlled states averages roughly $6,500 to $8,500 per resident annually.
  • National Average: Across all 50 states, average per capita state government spending sits at roughly $9,800.

Key Per Capita Spending Examples

According to general state budget data:

Higher Per Capita Spending Democratic States:

  • Vermont: ~$14,740 per resident
  • New York: ~$13,419 per resident
  • California: ~$13,206 per resident
  • Delaware: ~$13,114 per resident
  • Hawaii: ~$12,766 per resident
  • Massachusetts: ~$12,060 per resident

Lower Per Capita Spending Republican States:

  • Florida: ~$5,557 per resident
  • Georgia: ~$6,323 per resident
  • Texas: ~$6,746 per resident
  • Tennessee: ~$6,851 per resident

Note: Geographic anomalies exist; for instance, Alaska—a Republican-leaning state—routinely ranks #1 in per capita state spending due to high administrative costs across huge geographic distances and oil revenue disbursements.

Key Drivers of Higher State Costs in Blue States

  1. Expanded Social Programs & Safety Nets: States governed by Democrats generally allocate higher expenditures toward state-funded healthcare (Medicaid expansions and state subsidies), higher education, paid family leave, and public welfare.
  2. Cost of Living & Public Sector Wages: Higher prevailing wage rates, higher costs for infrastructure construction, and competitive public employee union contracts (teachers, public safety, state workers) raise overall administrative costs.
  3. Local vs. State Service Delivery: Blue states often fund public services (like mass transit systems and environmental oversight) directly through state budget appropriations, whereas red states more frequently decentralize services to county levels or private contractors.

The Bottom Line

It’s cheaper to live and work in states controlled by Republicans.

We are currently seeing a massive exodus of businesses, corporations and individuals leaving blue states and moving to red states like Florida, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

Remember that it costs $11,500 to $13,500 per resident annually in blue states and $6,500 to $8,500 per resident annually in red states.

“It’s the economy, stupid!” is a political catchphrase coined in 1992 by James Carville.

Red states listened, blue states did not.

Want more money in your pocket then vote RED.

©2026 . All rights reserved.

RELATED ARTICLE: Virginia Officials Grant Parole To Dozens Of Rapists, Murderers, And Repeat Violent Offenders

Capital One Credit Card Madness

“You can examine the whole 19th century from the point of view of who would have maxed out their credit cards. Emma Bovary would have maxed hers out. No question. Mr. Scrooge would not have. He would have snipped his up.” — Margaret Atwood

“Although we leave traces of our personal lives with our credit cards and Web browsers today, tomorrow’s mobile devices will broadcast clouds of personal data to invisible monitors all around us.” — Howard Rheingold

“The National Security Agency (NSA) has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your emails or your wife’s phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails, passwords, phone records, credit cards.” — Edward Snowden


The world has gotten weird.  No, this isn’t about politics, the war, or the conquering of America by the commies and jihadis.  It is about a nightmare from Hades that my husband and I went through when Capital One bought Discover Credit Card.  The purchase was finalized in May of 2025 valued at over $50 billion.

I have come to believe that every business has hired DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) personnel and now the taxpaying citizens of America are reaping the dire consequences of their stupidity.

There are 10 top credit cards that do not have yearly fees.  The number one listed card was Discover.  For 36 years we used our Discover card when traveling, when making web and local purchases and so forth.  No problem.  I would check the card’s usage on the web from time to time and had caught fraud in the past.  When I reported it, or when the card company called me about fraud, they’d send us out new cards within a day.  Super service.

After the purchase by Capital One, I found that I could not get into their website.  When I called them and asked why, I was told that I needed permission from the primary card holder, my husband.  After working for Fortune 100 companies for decades and owning my own business for 36 years, I blew a gasket.  Um-hmm.  The person on the other end of the phone said all I needed to do was have my husband call and tell them that I could get into the account.

He lied!

One Friday we spent an hour and 45 minutes on the phone with this Capital One person asking my husband for every piece of information he could give them, and he wanted it put through the cell phone, including a selfie.  Yes, really.  Well, that didn’t work for whatever reason, so he tells my husband to go on the website and put in his social security number.  I immediately told the fellow he was crazy.  In today’s society, NO ONE with an ounce of brain matter would put their SS#, CC# or any other personal numbers on the web because of identity theft.  If hackers can break into the Pentagon, they can break into your computer.

We hung up.

Two weeks later we called again and got a woman who was able to allow me into the web account without my husband’s personal information all the way back to when he was potty trained.  So, okay, that’s good, I thought.

Wrong again.

I was then told that we would each have separate card numbers.  Why?  They explained that parents who add their children want to watch what their children are purchasing. We have no children at home or on our credit cards, and we’ve been married 43 years, so we don’t need two credit card numbers.

Tough beans, that’s the way it is. Okay fine.

Next up, I’m looking at the website and I see a defunct credit card is being used that was cancelled long ago by Discover.  What the!  So, I call them again and ask why a formerly fraudulent card is being used by people who charge monthly when it is no longer valid.  They tell me, “Sorry, but all information from Discover didn’t ‘port-over,’ (i.e., transfer into Capital One,) and you’ll have to call the people and tell them not to use that card number.”

Other credit cards, like DISCOVER, would automatically disallow the usage of the old card number, but not Capital One.  I asked why they didn’t do that, but the story was again that it was a previous card for monthly charges and they would honor it.  I screamed, “But some of these charges were purposely dropped when the card number was changed and now, they’re getting my money when I don’t want them to have it.”  “Well,” the guy says, “As I stated, it is your responsibility to call them and cancel the card.”

My blood pressure rose and steam escaped.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my husband and I traveled to Florida for a week and when we arrived at the hotel on a Sunday evening, we used our L.L. Bean Mastercard rather than Capital One which we’d decided to cancel.  The Mastercard was declined.  I was infuriated…as we pay all our bills in full every month.  We used Capital One. Grrrr.

On Monday morning I called Mastercard and asked why the card was declined.  She told me because it was charging in another state.  I said, “So what, it’s our card to use anywhere.”  She said, “Oh no, when you travel, you must call us and tell us where you’re traveling so we can okay the use of the card, otherwise we believe it is fraud.”  That was a new one on me.  She then asked me for my special word so she’d know it was me.  I said I can’t remember the word.  (They’re supposed to give you a hint, like your favorite dog’s name, but she did not.)  Then she says, “Well, give me the account number you pay your checks to us with.”  I said, “Lady, I have my credit cards, I don’t carry my household checkbook with me when we travel.”

No dice.  I had to wait until we were home and I called again and this time the woman said, “What’s the name of your favorite dog?”  I named all nine we’d had and she said, “Bingo, you named the one.”  Sheesh.

In talking to a friend in Florida, she told us that she and her husband have a big motor home and they had to call the credit card company to tell them they were traveling from Florida to the Carolinas.  Well, they stopped for gasoline for the big motorhome in Georgia and their card was declined.  She got on the phone and told the bimbo on the other end that to get to the Carolinas, you have to travel through Georgia.  That is how absolutely dysfunctional these credit card companies have become.

I’m thinking, “DEI again.”

Oh yes, I know the fraud is outrageous and especially with the illegal alien infusion over Biden’s four years and yes, I have had checks I’ve sent via the USPS that have been stolen, then washed and rewritten and deposited in the perp’s account via their cell phone.  Fortunately, our bank found the scoundrel and got our money back.  But you’d think that the card companies would know who pays their bills every month in full and who are financially stable, but they don’t.  So once again good people suffer because of the criminal elements or because of people who abuse their cards and don’t pay their bills.

There are eight million stories in the Naked City…this was just one.

Yes, and there are nightmares every day that decent people have to spend their time straightening out.  Anyone out there know a good credit card company with no annual fees?

Unfortunately, there is more in the nightmare category.

©2026 . All rights reserved.


Watch for my next article entitled, The Decay of Our Culture.

Dear Floridians Vote Yes on Amendment 3

A couple of items caught my attention this week. I want to share them with you.

SCOTUS finally made a ruling that will help secure elections and eliminate some fraud. Yeah SCOTUS.

On the economic front, manufacturing is coming back to America. I believe this is the only way to eliminate dependency on country who hate America. Dr. Peter Navarro has emphasized the need for the U.S. to develop alternatives to rare earth elements to reduce dependence on China. He argues that innovation in materials science could lead to viable substitutes, enhancing national security and economic independence. looks like we are going to follow that road.

Wake up America. Wake up Florida. Study this image of the NGO’s who have been sucking our budgets dry.  Want to know why counties have no money, this is one of the reasons. These NGO’s are going around Florida lying by telling the people to vote NO on Amendment 3. Why? They want to continue to be funded. They want to continue to keep their fancy cars, boats and homes at our expense.  They want you to vote to keep your taxes high.  Tell them what you think by Voting Yes on Amendment 3

Vote Yes on Amendment 3

AMENDMENT 3 states”  This amendment increases the homestead exemption, for all non-school taxes, to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and adjusts for inflation thereafter. It requires the Legislature to prescribe a uniform procedure for counties and municipalities, for their respective levies, to increase the homestead exemption up to full assessed value, and allows special districts, subject to referendum approval, to do the same. Persons who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026, will receive the existing homestead exemption upon qualifying for a homestead exemption, with the increased homestead exemption beginning with the fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution. This amendment reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.

This amendment requires counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, and operations and administration. Other expenditures may be approved by county officers or county or municipal governing bodies unless prohibited by general law, notwithstanding Article VII, Section 9(a) of the Florida Constitution, which allows counties and municipalities to levy property taxes for their respective purposes. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2027. I don’t see NGO’s mentioned, do you?

What is an NGO? Non-Government Organization. That means NOT ELECTED yet they continue to influence our legislators with policies that benefit them not us.

If they are NON-Government what does that mean. They are not part of the budget unless legislators choose to give them money. Why give them money? Because part of that funding in the form of grants, stipends, subsidies and tax right offs go back to the election campaigns of the legislators passing the policies favorable to them. 

I also have been hearing from some that they are not voting in the Florida Gubernatorial election.  Bad idea. Why would I say that when I am not a (R) Byron Donald’s fan. Because (D) David Jolly is worse.  Evan Power, RPOF Chairman did a great job of destroying the Republican party. But putting a Democrat in power is far worse.

You can’t complain and fix anything, if you don’t participate.  This is a game of patience. It took a long time for Americans to see how bad the corruption in both parties was. It will never be fixed overnight. But giving up which is the same as not voting is not an option.

Who is DEM David Jolly?

Do an evaluation in your state. Here is mine in Florida. Who is DEM David Jolly? He was a Republican turned Democrat. What does he stand for. In his own words he wants:

  1. Anti-Gun– Jolly wants massive gun control.
  2. Ban on Oil and Gas – you think prices are high now
  3. Anti-School Choice – Jolly wants ignorant drones who hate America, G-d and Family
  4. DEI – Incompetence will be back again with more race hate
  5. Gender Ideology– More studies out of how to destroy your children
  6. Boys in Girls Sports– More degrading of women, stealing their chances to be winners
  7. Vote By Phone – More corruption
  8. No plan to cut taxes – lots of plans to raise taxes.

David has refused to debate Byron. I wonder what he is afraid of.

To hear Jolly’s own words on X: https://x.com/ByronDonalds/status/2090772117612589173   

Check out  what the Democrat Party stands for.

Instead of taking responsibility for the bad policies and choices that the Democrats put in place, they blame everyone else. You staying home will bring more bad choices.

In actions staying home is the same as taking your income cutting it in half. Can you live on that because that is what you will get. You may get free but inferior quality stuff. Can you live in 750 sq ft apartment, take the bus or train in the rain and double your taxes on everything. You will also have long lines so those illegals arriving under open borders policies will get first dibs on all services. You will come last. Is staying home and not voting worth that? Only you can decide. Is America worth saving? Its up to you.

©2026 All rights reserved.


Join me on the podcast (karenbschoen.com) with guests:

Guest : Ed Vidal, Executive Producer and General Counsel

WSQF 94.5 FM Radio, Doral,  Florida, Editor,

Website: miamiindependent.com

Guest: Kat Stansell, author, researcher

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The AI Cost Trap, Why Cheaper Models Still Lead to Bigger Bills

In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee and Rich dig into the real cost of AI and why cheaper models do not always mean lower bills. They unpack the “inference paradox,” where token prices keep dropping while total AI spend keeps climbing because agents are reasoning more, retrying more, and handling increasingly complex workflows.

If your team feels like AI is getting more powerful and more expensive at the same time, this episode will hit home. The conversation breaks down where businesses waste money with AI, from choosing the wrong model for the job to letting massive context windows balloon token usage without realizing it. Lee and Rich also explore why companies need to stop thinking only about cost per token and start measuring cost per outcome, cost per resolved task, and actual business value. They close with a smart look at model routing, orchestration, budget controls, and why the future of AI depends on sending the right work to the right model at the right time.

WATCH: The AI Cost Trap, Why Cheaper Models Still Lead to Bigger Bills

If you are building with AI, scaling internal usage, or trying to get control of rising token costs, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Be sure to subscribe so you do not miss future conversations on AI strategy, infrastructure, and real-world adoption.

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PROFITS SKYROCKET at America’s Biggest Companies While Blue States Suffer Record-High Living Costs Under Mamdani-Style Democrat Policies

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that profits are soaring at America’s biggest companies—and their leaders say that likely won’t change soon. From Target and J.M. Smucker to farm-equipment maker Deere, companies spanning the breadth of the U.S. economy are ringing up heftier sales and earnings. Many have raised financial outlooks for the year. Chalk the good times up to a confluence of fortunate events: red-hot AI spending, federal spending and the windfall companies are getting in the form of refunds of some of their past tariff payments. Plus, a booming stock market and high home values are helping many shoppers keep spending, even as plenty of others struggle to absorb rising prices. What are they buying? New appliances, toys and clothing.

The Democrat media narrative and reality have never been more at odds.

Trump economy soars as Democrats like Mamdani’s socialist ‘affordability’ agenda drives New York housing costs to record highs.

As the American economy surges and corporate profits soar, Democrat moochers and looters are dragging their cities in the opposite direction. The irony is staggering: Zohran Mamdani campaigns on “affordability,” yet his rent-control crusade and war on landlords have achieved the polar opposite—choking off housing, driving owners from the market and pushing New York’s rents and housing costs to unprecedented levels. Democrats create scarcity, call the resulting catastrophe “capitalism,” and then demand even more power to intensify the policies that caused it.

Corporate America’s Profits Are Booming—and Signal More Good Times Ahead

By: Sarah Nassauer and Theo Francis, Wall Street Journal, Aug. 30, 2026:

Profits are booming at America’s biggest companies—and their leaders say that likely won’t change soon.

From Target and J.M. Smucker to farm-equipment maker Deere, companies spanning the breadth of the U.S. economy are ringing up heftier sales and earnings. In recent days, many have raised financial outlooks for the year, citing robust sales as just one of the reasons.

Chalk the good times up to a confluence of fortunate events: red-hot artificial-intelligence spending, federal spending and the windfall companies are getting in the form of refunds of some of their past tariff payments. Plus, a booming stock market and high home values are helping many shoppers keep spending, even as plenty of others struggle to absorb rising prices.

At Abercrombie & Fitch, consumers kept buying even after the fashion retailer pared back discounts in the most recent quarter, executives told investors on a conference call last week. That, plus around $120 million in expected tariff refunds, led the retailer to raise its full-year financial estimates.

“The underlying business performed above our expectations,” Chief Financial Officer Robert Ball said on the conference call.

Across S&P 500 companies, per-share earnings soared 53% in the second quarter from a year earlier, while sales rose nearly 16%, according to data from LSEG. Investment gains from tech giants Amazon.com and Alphabet added fuel to the big earnings surge.

Even without those gains, S&P 500 earnings rose the most since fall 2021. Quarterly sales also climbed more than they have in years. By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, more companies raised their profit guidance for the current quarter than lowered it—a turnaround from a year ago, when more were lowering their outlooks.

Tariff refunds are providing a big, temporary tailwind. They are likely to account for more than 4% of third-quarter economic growth—or add about 0.2 percentage point to the Atlanta Fed’s growth forecast of between 4% and 5%—according to a mid-August estimate from Apollo Global Management.

Improved full-year financial estimates came from a diverse set of companies, including healthcare companies McKesson and Charles River Laboratories International and jelly giant Smucker. At many of them, the refunds flowed primarily to the bottom line, rather than into lower prices for shoppers.

At fitness-watch maker Garmin, $21 million in tariff refunds boosted profit margins in the quarter that ended in late July, executives told investors late last month. Strong demand for its fitness products helped, too, leading the company to raise its full-year financial guidance.

Even without the refund, “our gross margin performance was impressive by any historical comparison,” Chief Executive Clifton Pemble told investors.

Retailers generally reported strong quarterly sales figures in recent weeks, noting that consumers are spending on new appliances, toys and clothing even as they navigate higher fuel prices and long-term inflation.

Dollar General, known for drawing cash-strapped shoppers to its mostly rural stores, posted a fifth consecutive quarter of higher traffic and a 3.5% increase in comparable sales. Electronics retailer Best Buy said its shoppers were buying up computers, TVs and AI-enabled glasses, lifting its most recent quarterly sales and profit. Target also reported higher sales, profit and a benefit from tariff refunds in the most recent quarter, noting shoppers pushed up sales of toys, food and beauty products.

Continue reading.

AUTHOR

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Pre-IPO Shopping Spree — Why the Giants are Buying Everything

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Pre-IPO Shopping Spree — Why the Giants are Buying Everything

The AI arms race is entering a new phase, and this episode breaks down why the biggest players are suddenly buying, partnering, and consolidating at full speed. Lee and Rich unpack the pre IPO shopping spree happening across the AI landscape, from frontier model companies chasing platform control to the growing pressure to justify massive valuations.

They dig into what these moves could mean for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, and the broader open source ecosystem. Along the way, they explore whether model quality is really improving as much as the hype suggests, why token costs may be more manipulated than most people realize, and how businesses can protect themselves from vendor lock in as AI dependency grows.

If you are trying to understand where the market is heading, this episode gives you a practical lens on the strategy, incentives, and risks behind the headlines. Subscribe to stay in touch, and follow along as The AI Guys keep translating fast moving AI news into real business insight.

WATCH: Pre-IPO Shopping Spree — Why the Giants are Buying Everything

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Trump Says U.S. Is Taking Partial Control of Venezuela’s Vast Oil Reserves

(Reuters) — President Donald Trump on Friday announced an unprecedented U.S. push to take control of a fifth of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, betting that American companies can revive the OPEC nation’s battered energy industry while delivering a new source of crude to help bring down U.S. fuel prices.

Trump provided few details about the agreement, saying only that the U.S. had secured majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves through a partnership with private business.

The South American nation’s leader welcomed the agreement, saying it would boost the economy and government revenue.

The new deal would represent a dramatic expansion of the U.S. role in Venezuela’s oil industry as the Trump administration seeks to revive the country’s production and secure more crude for U.S. refineries. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves but produces only about 1.25 million barrels per day, far below its potential after years of underinvestment, mismanagement and sanctions.

Rubio Calls Deal a Win-Win

“At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The announcement followed weeks of U.S.-Venezuelan negotiations over a deal that would give American companies long-term access to a group of Venezuelan oilfields and guarantee the resulting crude supply to the United States.

Venezuelan officials are preparing to sign agreements next week granting new oil exploration and production rights to a number of companies, particularly U.S. firms.

Sources have told Reuters that a lease model was under consideration, with fields potentially auctioned to U.S. producers, but the arrangement could face legal and constitutional challenges in Venezuela, where the state retains control over core oil industry activities.

Trump did not disclose the structure of the agreement, the fields or companies involved or how the United States would exercise majority control over the reserves. A list seen by Reuters shows the fields are in the Orinoco Belt and Lake Maracaibo regions.

Rubio described the agreement as a win for both countries, saying on X that it would secure stable, low-cost oil for the United States and help lower gasoline prices.

For Venezuela, Rubio said the deal would bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs and help rebuild the country’s economy.

Rodriguez, who became interim leader after the U.S. seized President Nicolas Maduro in January, said late on Friday that the agreement would allow for a significant increase in production through the development of 17 strategic fields and result in tax revenue for the country totaling $209 billion.

“These investments will contribute not only to the recovery and modernization of our industry, but also to our country’s economic growth, the energy security of our hemisphere, and greater balance in international markets,” she said in a statement.

Legal Basis, Financial Structure Unclear

Analysts said they needed to see more details on the agreement’s legal and financial structure before assessing whether it could attract significant investment.

Also unclear is whether the deal will lower gasoline prices in the short term, as developing the infrastructure needed to produce, transport and refine Venezuela’s heavy crude could take years.

David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies, said it was unclear whether a U.S. government lease would have a legal basis under Venezuela’s constitution and its new hydrocarbons law, adding that there is “no precedent for having the U.S. government enter into a lease to operate oil fields.”

Goldwyn also questioned whether the plan would address the obstacles that have deterred investment in Venezuela for years. “It is hard to see how this kind of arrangement would accelerate investment at any material scale,” he said, citing political uncertainty, an inadequate power grid, limited export capacity and government discretion over the industry.

Since removing Maduro, Washington has been trying to secure a stable flow of Venezuelan crude for U.S. refineries while promoting American investment in the country’s oil industry.

The Trump administration is under pressure ahead of midterm elections in November to mollify consumer concerns over rising gasoline prices. Cheaper oil supplies and expanded output could help.

The U.S. also has been looking for solutions to replenish its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the nation’s oil stockpile, including the possibility of crude ?swaps with U.S. producers.

Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in the 1970s, putting state-run PDVSA at its center. Under then-President Hugo Chavez, the government tightened control, forcing foreign producers into state-led joint ventures and later expropriating assets, including projects operated by ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.

Under Maduro’s rule Venezuela’s production fell sharply.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Costas Pitas, Christian Martinez, Marianna Parraga, Timothy Gardner and Vivian Sequera; Editing by Jasper Ward, Caitlin Webber, Rosalba O’Brien, Nathan Crooks, Cynthia Osterman and William Mallard)

AUTHOR

Reuters

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2026 Family Research Council.


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Housing Affordability Crisis Results From ‘Too Much Socialism,’ Not Too Little: Report

America’s housing affordability crisis isn’t a result of too little government intervention or socialism, but a tragic consequence of massive federal intervention gone awry, a new Heritage Foundation report argues.

“When it comes to housing, our problem isn’t a lack of socialism but too much socialism,” John Gibbs, Heritage’s economics director, told the Daily Signal. “Heavy government involvement in mortgages promised to make homes more accessible but instead made them more expensive.”

Gibbs released a report Wednesday noting that despite heavy federal intervention aimed at increasing homeownership, rates have remained essentially stable since the 1960s. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the homeownership rate in the U.S. stood at approximately 62%-63% in the early 1960s and remains at approximately 65%.

“We do not make homes affordable by making debt affordable,” Gibbs explained. “We make homes affordable by reducing the policies that inflate home prices in the first place.”

“Federal mortgage policy has become a $10 trillion experiment in boosting housing demand,” he added. “The evidence suggests much of the result has been higher prices rather than higher ownership.”

Many housing economists attribute the housing affordability crisis to local zoning restrictions, environmental reviews, permitting delays, and other barriers to construction. Gibbs argued that federal mortgage subsidies deserve greater scrutiny because they increase demand for housing and therefore push prices higher when supply cannot expand quickly enough.

As the report explains, the federal government aims to boost homeownership in two ways: by directly providing insurance for home loans, and by purchasing mortgages from lenders, pooling them into mortgage-backed securities, and guaranteeing those securities.

The Federal Housing Administration insures certain mortgages, while government-managed enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase mortgages from lenders and package them into mortgage-backed securities.

Taxpayers ultimately stand behind many of these guarantees, making the loans less risky for lenders. Gibbs argues that this encourages more lending and allows buyers to borrow more money, putting upward pressure on housing prices.

When the government takes some of the burden, it frees lenders to offer more loans. That’s one of the major reasons why the federal government now provides some security to between 70% and 80% of new mortgages and outstanding mortgage credit, according to the Heritage report.

Most European countries do not subsidize home loans to nearly this degree. Even Canada only secures the debt of between 30% and 40% of housing, Gibbs told the Daily Signal—about half the rate the U.S. does.

The federal government backs about $11.7 trillion in home loans, but this massive intervention hasn’t meaningfully increased homeownership, the report notes. Instead, it has driven up prices.

“The federal government has spent decades making mortgages easier to get,” Gibbs told the Daily Signal. “The result has been higher home prices, while homeownership remains roughly where it was a generation ago.”

Why does this drive up prices? Just as government-backed student loans have increased the cost of college, government-backed home loans increase the cost of homes, he argued.

“When the government intervenes to expand access to credit or subsidize loans, it artificially raises borrowers’ willingness to pay, increasing demand faster than supply can respond,” the report explains.

This government intervention makes housing less affordable and transfers wealth to those who already own homes, the report states.

“Rising prices reward existing owners on paper, but rapid appreciation reduces affordability for prospective buyers by raising the cost of entering the market—especially when wages fail to keep pace,” the report warns.

If Americans truly want housing to be cheaper, they should urge the government to stop buying so many mortgages, Gibbs argued.

His report recommends reducing the government footprint by setting a maximum value for loans the government will purchase, aiming to stop the government’s purchase of loans for expensive homes. It also recommends the government offer shorter-term mortgages that help homeowners accumulate wealth more quickly.

While the report acknowledges some progress in the 21st Century Road to Housing Act—a bill Congress passed this summer that streamlines the process of housing construction by waiving certain environmental regulations—it warns against too much federal intervention to expand housing supply.

AUTHOR

Tyler O’Neil

Tyler O’Neil is senior investigative reporter at the Daily Signal and the author of two books, “Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center” and “The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government.” Follow on X Tyler2ONeil.

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