2025 Political Thread

[TVILLE96]

"A former FBI agent who was aggressively targeted for challenging Biden's weaponized federal campaign against J6ers spoke out on Donald Trump’s J6 pardons in exclusive comments to PJ Media.

Steve Friend is an FBI whistleblower and now a podcaster who lost his job and found himself the target of outrageous federal persecution after he respectfully challenged his superiors on the unconstitutional, illegal and biased campaign against Jan. 6 protestors. He and fellow whistleblowers who call themselves “The Suspendables” saw up close and personal just how terrible the corruption in the FBI was, and now Friend is praising Trump for pardoning or commuting the sentences of nearly all Jan. 6 prisoners.

Friend told me, “Blanket pardons are the correct decision. Regardless of the fact pattern for any particular J6 case, the federal government made a deliberate decision to depart from its obligation to follow due process. When that happens, the justice system in a free country has no alternative but to consider cases irrevocably tainted and every defendant must go free.”

The FBI whistleblowers have been fully vindicated after four years of federal corruption and lies. Friend added, “I cautioned my FBI superiors about this reality in 2022. They refused to heed my concerns and weaponized the security clearance process to retaliate against me for making whistleblower disclosures to Congress. I'm grateful that President Trump saw fit to attempt to right the wrongs the FBI committed against J6ers.”

Friend and other whistleblowers including Kyle Seraphin hope to receive reinstatement, back pay, and the ability to clean house in a major way at the FBI/DOJ."

The bold was my addition, not in the original story.

Exclusive: FBI Whistleblower Who Exposed J6 Weaponization Speaks Out on Pardons

pjmedia.com

I've been hoping there were plenty of people on the inside taking names. Now we can clean house and get rid of these bad players.

 

[bjdeming]

Can't win a bass tournament with a motor stuck on "troll." What else ya got?

 

[Geno]

The old boy may be mostly mentally gone, but that mean and petty streak that drives the need for revenge (often mistaken/unwarranted/unnecessary) that has been a defining feature of Biden’s career is not.

For all that I am sickened and disgusted at the unprecedented flood (where are all the ‘our norms’ types on this?) of pardons, I noted a pattern that has made me smile. His family is covered, of course. A somewhat breathtaking (if unsurprising) list of people are covered. As for the overwhelming crowd in which they were semi-hidden is concerned, I must confess I wonder if money transfers were involved.

But, what makes me smile is noticing who isn’t covered. Notice no one named Vindman of any gender is on there (and boy was Mrs. V ticked about that!). I don’t recall seeing the name Ciaramella on there either. Nor was the name Pelosi (or any of her well placed family). There appear to be a number of Obama’s people not on the list. A number of DNC people are not on the list. Certain members of Congress besides Nancy were not on the list.

Funny thing is that all of the names not on the list were involved in removing one Joe Biden from the race (or were supporters of them) and ending his career in a rather ignominious fashion. Joe has long been known for paying back even the smallest of perceived slights rather overwhelmingly. How much of this is Joe (I suspect more than many might think, as this is not thought but reflex honed over a lifetime) and how much is Jill really doesn’t matter. He's settled accounts and arranged to make life interesting for certain individuals and organizations including his Party.

Somehow, I don’t think the pardons, or lack thereof, is all he’s done. He slipped a knife into Harris campaign rather expertly more than once; he also saddled Obama and the DNC with Harris when that wasn’t the plan. Given all this, anyone want to bet he’s left a few more surprises around? It really would be in keeping with past actions.

 

[Geno]

This seems useful. Nonprofit spending watchdog tool. Follow the money, track nonprofits and taxpayer dollars.

With all the NGOs that handed out phones, paid rent, handed out prepaid visas worth 25k a pop and guided the illegal immigrants to apply for food stamps, welfare and medicaid under the last administration. All taxpayer funded and it most likely came with kickbacks to those awarding the contracts.

Link to Tool

 

[Geno]

The ignore feature.

 

[Geno]

Abolish the ATF and any and all regulations that it has produced. "Shall not be infringed" is very clear and simple enough for even a politician to understand.

FPC Challenges Federal Ban on Interstate Gun Sales

The Firearms Policy Coalition is challenging the federal ban on handgun sales to out-of-state buyers. There’s no good reason for someone to be prohibited from buying a handgun in another state after…

www.shootingnewsweekly.com

 

[Evan]

This seems useful. Nonprofit spending watchdog tool. Follow the money, track nonprofits and taxpayer dollars.

With all the NGOs that handed out phones, paid rent, handed out prepaid visas worth 25k a pop and guided the illegal immigrants to apply for food stamps, welfare and medicaid under the last administration. All taxpayer funded and it most likely came with kickbacks to those awarding the contracts.

Link to Tool

Illegal immigrants cannot and do not obtain cash welfare, food stamps, or Medicaid.

Hospitals can and do receive cash reimbursements under Medicaid for emergency treatment of illegal immigrants, as well as non-citizen visitors, and lawfully present immigrants who are subject to the 5 year bar. This is only for bonafide emergency medical situations and is not actual Medicaid.

Illegal immigrants can also qualify for WIC, if pregnant, or they have children under age 5 (if they meet the general income requirements). That has nothing to do with the Biden administration as each state decides whether or not to allow illegal immigrants to have access to federally-funded WIC. All 50 states have chosen to provide said access for a very long time. I'm pro-life so I, personally, believe the WIC program should be available to anyone who qualifies income wise irrespective of immigration status. Those who disagree should be talking to their state legislators and questioning why they allow WIC for illegal immigrants.

Whatever the Biden admin's awful policy decisions, particularly in regards to their atrocious handling of illegal immigration, they cannot override federal law. The idea that illegal immigrants receive Medicaid/welfare/food stamps is a long-standing falsehood that many people incorrectly believe. Thankfully, the Congress has never been foolish enough to make illegal immigrants eligible for those federal benefits.

 

[Evan]

Abolish the ATF and any and all regulations that it has produced. "Shall not be infringed" is very clear and simple enough for even a politician to understand.

FPC Challenges Federal Ban on Interstate Gun Sales

The Firearms Policy Coalition is challenging the federal ban on handgun sales to out-of-state buyers. There’s no good reason for someone to be prohibited from buying a handgun in another state after…

www.shootingnewsweekly.com

The ATF is essentially rotten to its core. I agree that it should be disbanded. However, we should have *some* regulation of explosives, destructive devices, and some things related to firearms. Suppressors should be 100% legal. As should SBRs and other short-barreled firearms. The current tax stamp process should go away. You should be able to purchase a suppressor or SBR much like you purchase any other firearm.

FOPA should be repealed to allow the production and purchase of modern fully automatic weapons. However, I do think something similar (referring to cost, fingerprints, background check, etc) to the current process for a can or SBR should be implemented for automatic weapons. I do not think unfettered and uncontrollable access to fully automatic weapons would be beneficial to our society. Thankfully, SCOTUS has long agreed that *some* regulation of items like machine guns is proper and constitutionally sound.

Finally, I agree the current FFL process for purchasing a handgun out-of-state is absurd. A lot of things regarding FFLs needs to change. Shutting down the ATF and creating a new agency from scratch with a full re-write of firearm laws would be excellent. But, it's not going to happen anytime soon. For now, I would be happy to see the Hearing Protection Act or something similar pass both Houses and be signed into law. Likewise for allowing normal access to SBRs. Ultimately, the arbitrary regulatory authority of the ATF needs to be reigned in at the very least.

 

[Geno]

5 Catholic Ministries Helping Migrants at the Border - Catholic Extension Society

For 114 years Catholic Extension Society has partnered with dioceses and parishes, religious sisters and priests, and various faith-based nonprofits that offer direct pastoral and charitable care to immigrant families on the southern border. In the last ten years, we have funded more than $20...

www.catholicextension.org

Read their first page and tell me they haven't provided 20.8 million dollars in the last ten years to asylum seekers exactly as they claim to have in plain english.

That's only one of several hundred NGOs that provide the same assistance to illegal immigrants. The vast majority of their funding comes from federal government grants. Those are taxpayer dollars being wasted. If they want to provide assistance with their own money, then I'll have no issues with them.

 

[Geno]

From: https://refugeewelcome.org/wp-conte...or-Eligible-CubanHaitian-Entrants-07.2024.pdf

So.........the benefits listed above do include, immediate resettlement assistance, TANF, Cash assistance, health insurance through medicaid, food stamps, SSI, preferred communities program and employment services.

This is provided (was, thank mother nature) to 30 THOUSAND Haitians per month for 12 of the last 16 years, another 30 THOUSAND Cubans per month, another 30 THOUSAND Guatemalans per month and another 30 THOUSAND Venezuelans per month. You do the math their on those things you claim aren't provided when in reality they are and then think of the economic impact of the housing that's taken off the market and the MASSIVE INFLUX OF FUNDS to these small towns.

 

[Geno]

5 organizations providing legal and social support for Haitian immigrants

Find legal and social support for Haitian immigrants after the parole program ends, with these key organizations across the U.S.

haitiantimes.com

From the Haitian Times.

"Here are five key nonprofits offering vital assistance to Haitian immigrants across the U.S.

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA)​

• Geographic Reach: National, with a primary focus on border states like California, Texas, and New York.
• Who They Serve: HBA provides legal and humanitarian assistance to Haitian immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, particularly those at the U.S.-Mexico border. They also focus on people in ICE detention centers and vulnerable immigrants in transit.
• Services: The Haitian Bridge Alliance offers immigration legal services, including help with asylum applications, deportation defense, and temporary protected status (TPS) applications. They also provide language support, healthcare access, and advocate for policy changes that benefit Haitian migrants.
• Website: Haitian Bridge Alliance

Life of Hope (LOH)​

• Geographic Reach: Primarily based in Brooklyn, New York, but serves the Haitian immigrant community across the city and surrounding areas.
• Who They Serve: Life of Hope focuses on Haitian immigrants, particularly those in the New York City area, offering critical support to newly arrived immigrants, undocumented individuals, and families.
• Services: LOH provides immigration legal aid, including assistance with adjustment of status, naturalization, and deportation defense. Additionally, they offer education programs, youth development initiatives, and social services such as healthcare access and job training for Haitian immigrants.
• Website: Life of Hope

Catholic Charities​

• Geographic Reach: National, with offices in various U.S. cities including Miami, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
• Who They Serve: Catholic Charities serves immigrants and refugees of all nationalities, with a dedicated focus on the Haitian community in cities with large Haitian populations. They provide services to vulnerable immigrants, including the undocumented, asylum seekers, and those impacted by deportation orders.
• Services: Catholic Charities offers immigration legal services, including asylum applications, family reunification, TPS renewals, and deportation defense. They also provide social services such as housing assistance, mental health support, and educational programs.
• Website: Catholic Charities

Legal Aid Society​

• Geographic Reach: Primarily based in New York City, with services extending to immigrants across the state.
• Who They Serve: The Legal Aid Society serves low-income immigrants, including Haitian immigrants, offering free legal services for those facing deportation or in need of asylum. They also work with immigrants navigating complex immigration procedures such as family reunification.
• Services: They offer pro bono legal services including deportation defense, asylum applications, and TPS applications. Additionally, the Legal Aid Society provides housing and employment legal assistance to immigrants.
• Website: Legal Aid Society

Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP)​

• Geographic Reach: Based in Queens, New York, serving the Haitian community throughout the city and in nearby areas.
• Who They Serve: HAUP serves the Haitian-American community, providing social, legal, and educational services to immigrants and refugees. Their focus is on assisting Haitians at risk of deportation or those seeking citizenship.
• Services: HAUP offers legal aid for immigration-related issues such as adjustment of status, family petitions, and naturalization. They also provide ESL classes, job training, and healthcare access to help Haitian immigrants integrate into U.S. society.
• Website: Haitian Americans United for Progress"

 

[Geno]

Biden administration to grant temporary legal status to 300,000 Haitian immigrants

The Homeland Security Department says more than 300,000 Haitians already in the United States will be eligible for a major expansion of temporary legal status because conditions in the Caribbean nation are unsafe for return.

www.wusf.org

"The Biden administration announced Friday it is granting special immigration benefits to Haitians that allows hundreds of thousands to remain in the country until early 2026.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in a statement from Washington, said “Temporary Protected Status” for Haitians already in the United States would be extended 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026. And extended to up to 309,000 Haitians who were in the country on or before June 3."

Poof - legal status granted to illegals with the stroke of a pen. Three hundred and nine thousand this time (only one of many). No vetting, no background checks, no nothing. They're instantly eligible for all benefits.

 

[Geno]

The sad part is - this ^^ took me about ten minutes and I can do this all day and not even scratch the surface. The even more sad thing is these illegals were flown in by our own government and dumped into various small towns all over the country along with massive injections of seemingly unlimited funds. Our own government did this to us on purpose. These are not wetbacks that hiked forty zillion miles and waded the Rio Grande. Those people are at least looking for work and a better life. These are the worst the world has to offer dumped on us by the worst government the country has seen in my lifetime. And that includes Carter so you have to be absolutely awful to earn that distinction from me.

 

[Geno]

This is great.

 

[KoD]

Oh no not again....

 

[Evan]

View attachment 33333

From: https://refugeewelcome.org/wp-conte...or-Eligible-CubanHaitian-Entrants-07.2024.pdf

So.........the benefits listed above do include, immediate resettlement assistance, TANF, Cash assistance, health insurance through medicaid, food stamps, SSI, preferred communities program and employment services.

This is provided (was, thank mother nature) to 30 THOUSAND Haitians per month for 12 of the last 16 years, another 30 THOUSAND Cubans per month, another 30 THOUSAND Guatemalans per month and another 30 THOUSAND Venezuelans per month. You do the math their on those things you claim aren't provided when in reality they are and then think of the economic impact of the housing that's taken off the market and the MASSIVE INFLUX OF FUNDS to these small towns.

None of what you mentioned was provided to illegal immigrants. You seem not to understand what TPS is. That's fine. Your ignorance is on display for all to see.

I dunno about you, but I wouldn't come into a forum as a new member and start ranting and raving about things I'm ignorant about. It makes people think you're either extremely foolish or a hopeless partisan. In other words -- you're not interested in a good faith discussion. You've confused this site for Facebook.

 

[KoD]

My thoughts exactly... I enjoy some political discourse but this is just as bad as discussing things with an ultra liberal. Hopelessly partisan or intentionally disingenuous. Can't take this seriously.

 

[Evan]

The sad part is - this ^^ took me about ten minutes and I can do this all day and not even scratch the surface. The even more sad thing is these illegals were flown in by our own government and dumped into various small towns all over the country along with massive injections of seemingly unlimited funds. Our own government did this to us on purpose. These are not wetbacks that hiked forty zillion miles and waded the Rio Grande. Those people are at least looking for work and a better life. These are the worst the world has to offer dumped on us by the worst government the country has seen in my lifetime. And that includes Carter so you have to be absolutely awful to earn that distinction from me.

Geno,

Are you a native English speaker? Because you don't sound like it. You seem confused and believe that anyone you do not like is an illegal immigrant. The people you refer to had Temporary Protected Status. They're not illegal aliens.

Please, feel free to debate me on immigration law and the associated statutes. It won't end well for you. Let's pretend it's a form of DEI for someone who's wholly ignorant of 8 U.S.C. § 1254a.

I'll give you until tomorrow to post a single legal ruling confirmed by an appellate court that states immigrants with TPS are considered illegal immigrants.

 

[Evan]

Just so we're clear -- TPS was established by Congress in 1990 as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. It was signed into law by a Republican President. 3 Democratic Senators and 4 Republican Senators voted against it. In the House, exactly 10 more Republicans than Democrats voted against it.

It sounds like your beef is with the Republican President who signed it into law.

See, that's the entire issue -- you're clearly not aware of any of this. If you post another Facebook wall post then you'll just be admitting you are here to troll.

If you want to have a good faith discussion then let's talk about how the Biden administration overused TPS. But, to claim the immigrants who were awarded TPS are illegal, or somehow did something wrong, exposes a fundamental lack of knowledge of how we got here.

I strongly disagree with the overly broad TPS designations the Biden admin used. That's an entirely fair policy issue to discuss. But, you're not even in the appropriate arena for this game, man. Nor do you seem to be aware that the current President had a House and Senate majority during his last term that could've reformed or discontinued TPS.

Why didn't President Trump and the Republican Party reform or discontinue TPS back in Trump's first term?

 

[Evan]

View attachment 33333

From: https://refugeewelcome.org/wp-conte...or-Eligible-CubanHaitian-Entrants-07.2024.pdf

So.........the benefits listed above do include, immediate resettlement assistance, TANF, Cash assistance, health insurance through medicaid, food stamps, SSI, preferred communities program and employment services.

This is provided (was, thank mother nature) to 30 THOUSAND Haitians per month for 12 of the last 16 years, another 30 THOUSAND Cubans per month, another 30 THOUSAND Guatemalans per month and another 30 THOUSAND Venezuelans per month. You do the math their on those things you claim aren't provided when in reality they are and then think of the economic impact of the housing that's taken off the market and the MASSIVE INFLUX OF FUNDS to these small towns.

None of the groups you mentioned were illegally present if they were covered by TPS or CHNV. Both TPS and CHNV are explicitly allowed under the INA. Disagree with the law and its implementation all you want. I certainly have serious issues with it. But, that doesn't do anything to help your argument. You claimed illegal immigrants were receiving the aforementioned benefits. False. None of the individuals you referenced were illegal immigrants. They all had legal status.

By the way, until 2017, Cubans had a special immigration policy under the Cuban Adjustment Act that allowed them to immigrate legally. I'll let you guess which Republican President ended that program. It was none other than Barack Obama.

I fundamentally disagree with the Biden administration's CHNV program, and overly broad usage of TPS. That they were allowed to do these things rests with the GOP Congress, and President Donald Trump, who had every ability to easily restrict or eliminate these options during his first time. He and the GOP chose not to. Just like how the 2013 Gang of Eight attempt at CIR was blown up in the GOP controlled House. Why? Because of uninformed and ignorant voters brainwashed by bad actors and political partisans.

My friend, I've previously sat in the Russell building, talking to GOP Senators asking them to restrict refundable tax credits for illegal immigrants, and they refused to do so. Please don't pretend like you know what you're talking about.

I've been a member of this forum for a couple of decades now. I'm well known for wanting to massively reform our immigration system. Part of the reason there's never been political will to do so is because of people like you who simply have virtually zero understanding of how the current system functions. You just want to toss out partisan talking points.

Illegal immigration, and abuse of legal immigrant pathways, is a multi-decedal problem. It all could've been fixed many many years ago. You didn't want it to be fixed.