Mike’s Blog Round-up

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration moved Tuesday to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The moves follow an executive order Trump signed on his first day ordering a sweeping dismantling of the federal government’s diversity and inclusion programs that could touch on everything from anti-bias training to funding for minority farmers and homeowners.

"Four years ago he left Washington in disgrace, but looking at the reception he has received today, he's returned a conquering hero." It's a satire of legacy media, folks. Trump 2.0 promises a new world order, a world you probably wouldn't want to live in though. Open thread below read more

Michael Steele is really pissed off at how meek and mild the Democrats are at the nominee hearings, and boy, can I relate! This is exactly why I keep yelling about calling your congress persons at (202) 224-3121. The change has to come from the grassroots on up. "They think we’re playing the 1980s, Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill-kinda kumbaya moment.

The first 24 hours of Donald Trump’s second term reflected what his supporters hoped for and his detractors feared: a willingness to follow through on some of his most radical and divisive ideas. That much was clear Monday night, when Trump made good on his pledge to exonerate the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan.

WASHINGTON — Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit Tuesday from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News host was abusive to his second wife, to the point where she feared for her safety. Hegseth denies the allegations. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, was formerly married to the nominee’s brother, and in an affidavit obtained by the Associated Press, she said she believes that Pete Hegseth is “unfit” to run the Defense Department based on what she witnessed and heard.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he had pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs. Ulbricht had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after a high-profile prosecution that highlighted the role of the internet in illegal markets. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media website, that he had spoken to Ulbricht’s mother on his first full day in office. “It was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” he wrote.