Salon.com
Officials powerless to stop 8 new data centers that could transform small Texas county
At least 248 data centers are planned to be built in Texas — nearly half in unincorporated areas
Left
The Hill News
USDA confirms second screwworm fly found in Texas
Center
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed a second case of a flesh-eating screwworm parasite in Texas on Friday, as it races to contain and eradicate the outbreak before it severely impacts the cattle population. A New World screwworm was detected in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County after testing a “number of suspected cases,” according…
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New York Post
Mitchell Robinson’s ‘phenomenal’ last-second defense met the moment for Knicks in Game 2
This is why there was so much attention around Mitchell Robinson and his injury. It's because of the impact he has on Knicks.
Right
NewsNation
Second screwworm case near Texas border confirmed
New World screwworm was detected again in Texas as officials monitor nearby livestock.
Center
BBC News
Canada bans Texas cattle over flesh-eating screwworm outbreak in US
The ban came as a second infected calf was identified in Texas, and the US state declaring a state of disaster over the outbreak.
Center
Raw Story
Todd Blanche won't be confirmed — and that's not the worst of it: ex-GOP operative
A former GOP operative predicted that Todd Blanche should expect a double blow to his career on the horizon. "I'm going to make a prediction," Steve Schmidt said during an interview with former CNN anchor Jim Acosta. "Todd Blanche will not be confirmed as Attorney General, and I'll even lean into it more."Blanche faced another uncomfortable hearing earlier this week. However, Schmidt said that Blanche's actions as acting AG will hurt his chances of winning the permanent role. Trump said this week that he'll nominate Blanche for the AG role. However, Schmidt noted that Blanche still has to go through another confirmation vote, but doubted Blanche's chances."There's a much greater likelihood of Todd Blanche being disbarred," Schmidt said. "He's going to be disbarred not this year, but soon enough."Schmidt said that Blanche's defense of Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund "has to be addressed in law." He described the move as "unbelievable."Last week, a New York bar complaint was filed against Blanche by the Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog group, after a judge flagged vindictive prosecution in the case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The complaint called for an investigation into Blanche.
Far Left
WorldNetDaily
I am not setting dates for the Second Coming, BUT …
'It's clear that things are different today, more than at any other time in my life'
Far Right
Raw Story
Shock as Trump's spy chief found to lack any security clearance
President Donald Trump's pick to lead the entire U.S. intelligence community has never held a security clearance of any kind before being handed the job, CNN reported Thursday — and the vetting process wasn't even initiated until days after the announcement.Bill Pulte, a wealthy housing finance official and grandson of the founder of homebuilding giant PulteGroup, was tapped Tuesday by Trump to serve as acting director of national intelligence, replacing outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard. He has no background in intelligence, espionage, or national security.Three sources told CNN there is "no evidence that Pulte previously maintained even the lowest form of security clearance" before being named to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies — including the CIA and NSA. He had also never been vetted for potential security vulnerabilities, a standard requirement for senior intelligence roles. One source said flatly, "None," when asked whether Pulte had gone through any prior vetting."The director of national intelligence has access to all of our most classified intelligence," Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN. There is no evidence that Pulte "would respect those classifications," Warner added.The criticism is bipartisan. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters, "We don't need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there." Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said Pulte has "no path in the Senate."Trump himself appeared to confirm that election conspiracy theories drove the pick, telling reporters Thursday: "He may find out some things about the rigged elections."When asked about Pulte's qualifications, Trump said, "I wasn't greatly experienced in national security." He added, "he's not going to be permanent."The law creating the DNI position in 2004 requires that nominees have "extensive national security expertise."
Far Left
Axios
Senate advances ICE funding through Trump's second term
Senate Republicans advanced ICE and Border Patrol funding through the end of President Trump's second term, after beating back multiple amendments targeting his priorities during an 18-hour "vote-a-rama."Why it matters: The party-line vote had been deeply in doubt over the past weeks, as senators revolted against the "anti-weaponization fund" and spending requests for the president's White House renovations. The final vote was 52-47, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voting "no" and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) not voting. The "vote-a-rama" allowed senators to offer unlimited amendments, forcing GOP leadership to repeatedly defeat amendments that targeted the two Trump provisions.Zoom in: In the vote's opening act — a series of Democratic amendments designed to force uncomfortable votes for Republicans — Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) relied on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to help defeat a Democratic proposal targeting the "anti-weaponization fund."Cassidy's vote allowed a pair of politically vulnerable Republicans — Sens. Jon Husted (Ohio) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) — to side with Democrats without jeopardizing the amendment's defeat.For both senators, it marked one of their first meaningful breaks with a president whose political standing appears to be sliding.The vote failed, 49-50. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is also vulnerable but was expected to vote with Democrats, joined Husted and Sullivan in voting for the amendment.Between the lines: On Trump's ballroom, the universe of Republicans willing to buck their party expanded, with seven GOP senators voting with Democrats to bar any funds for it. But the threshold for that vote was at 60, leading it to fail.Collins, Husted and Sullivan again voted with the Democrats.But so did Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Murkowski and Cassidy. Moran is up for reelection in 2028.Zoom out: The vote-a-rama comes as Senate Republicans grapple with deteriorating polling and a series of Trump decisions that have led some GOP senators to question his political judgment.Many Republicans are privately skeptical of Trump's choice of FHFA Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.Trump sought to ease concerns by saying Thursday that Pulte would not be his permanent nominee — a move aimed in part at preventing the nomination from complicating the reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA.But enough Republicans joined Democrats in voting to block a procedural vote on FISA renewal that the vote failed shortly after reconciliation advanced early Friday morning.
Center Left