June 24, 2026

00x Final Filter

A California sheriff seized ballots, testing the limits of local power over elections– www.dailykos.com

pgnewser April 16, 2026 0

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Over the past few weeks, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — who is also a Republican candidate for governor of California — has taken the unusual step of seizing ballots from a recent election, launching his own recount, and opening a criminal investigation into how the election was run.

“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported,” Bianco said during a press conference after he and his deputies seized the ballots last month.

The premise of Bianco’s investigation is sharply disputed. Bianco has pointed to the claims of a conservative citizens’ activist group that says it found an apparent discrepancy of tens of thousands of ballots — a figure election officials and independent experts say stems from a misreading of preliminary vote data, not an actual gap between ballots cast and ballots counted.

Canada Gives Liberals BIG Majority Win

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Canada’s coalition government is effectively over after two special elections have secured a simple majority for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party. The possibility of gaining a simple majority happened after five members of opposition parties defected to join the liberals.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney secures majority government with special election wins– japantoday.com
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a majority government with special election wins Monday night, allowing his Liberals to pass legislation without the support of opposition parties.

Voters cast ballots for three vacant seats of the 343 districts represented in Parliament. In Toronto, Liberal candidate Danielle Martin won the election for the district of University Rosedale and Liberal Doly Begum won the district of Scarborough Southwest. The result for a Quebec district was expected later.

The Liberal Party could stay in power until 2029 after Monday’s results.

Drop the Contempt, Boasberg

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Progressive Judge James Boasberg received an excoriating review from 2 of the 3 D.C. District Court panelists who ruled to end contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials.

The ruling declared, “The district court proposes to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy. These proceedings are a clear abuse of discretion, as the district court’s order said nothing about transferring custody of the plaintiffs and therefore lacks the clarity to support criminal contempt based on the transfer of custody.”

Court Torches Boasberg For Targeting Trump Immigration Officials – The Federalist

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EXCERPT:

D.C. District Chief Judge James Boasberg suffered a humiliating legal defeat on Tuesday in his efforts to stymie President Trump’s deportation of illegal aliens from the United States.

In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the Obama appointee’s attempted criminal contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials involved in last year’s deportation of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador. More specifically, the panel granted the government’s request for a writ of mandamus, “a rare and extraordinary order from a higher court directing a lower court or government official to stop exceeding their authority,” as described by the Washington Examiner.

The D.C. Circuit panel had temporarily halted Boasberg’s criminal contempt proceedings against the administration back in December. As noted by Judge Neomi Rao in her Tuesday opinion, however, Boasberg nonetheless plowed ahead by “expand[ing]” his inquiry “to extract more information from government counsel about exactly what happened” throughout the aforementioned deportations.

Those actions, Rao summarized, amount to a “clear abuse of discretion” by Boasberg.

Vacate the J6 Convictions, DOJ Declares

pgnewser April 15, 2026 1

The Department of Justice (DOJ) officially filed motions to have the convictions of numerous J6 protestors vacated. The request simply stated, “The United States respectfully requests that the Court vacate the defendants’ convictions and remand to the district court so that the government may move to dismiss the indictment with prejudice under Rule 48(a).”

BREAKING: Trump’s DOJ moves to vacate Jan 6 seditious conspiracy convictions for members of Proud Boys, Oath Keepers – The Post Millennial

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President Trump has long maintained that the charges brought forward by former President Biden’s DOJ were disproportionate, the consequence of witch hunts and lawfare.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed motions to vacate federal convictions against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers stemming from the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

The motions were filed on Tuesday, just days before an appeals court was set to hear some of the defendants’ requests to reverse their seditious conspiracy convictions. President Donald Trump commuted these individuals’ lengthy prison sentences last year, but they did not obtain pardons.

The first court filing applies to the following individuals, who are members of the right-wing group, the Proud Boys: Ethan Nordean, 36, of Washington; Joseph Biggs, 42, of Florida; Zachary Rehl, 38, of Pennsylvania; and Dominic Pezzola, 49, of New York. Each of them was convicted in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on seditious conspiracy charges and several other felonies, including obstruction of an official proceeding, according to court documents.

Nordean was sentenced to 18 years in prison, Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison, Rehl was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Pezzola was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Proud Boys are known for street fighting members of Antifa, a designated terrorist organization.

“The United States respectfully requests that the Court vacate the defendants’ convictions and remand to the district court so that the government may move to dismiss the indictment with prejudice under Rule 48(a),” the motion states.

Progressive Flagship College Shuts Down

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Massachusetts’ Hampshire College is shutting its doors after the end of the fall 2026 semester. The college is a leading progressive college which has consistently led the nation in enacting progressive policies.

The President, Jenn Chrisler, stated, “The College no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities. We want to assure you that Hampshire’s board made its decision only after exploring every possible alternative.”

Hampshire College — one of the most progressive in the nation – thecollegefix.com

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One of the most progressive colleges in the nation, Hampshire College, announced Tuesday it will shut down permanently, as it is out of cash and out of options.

“The College no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities,” President Jenn Chrisler stated in an announcement, adding the Board of Trustees voted to permanently close the college following the fall 2026 semester.

“We want to assure you that Hampshire’s board made its decision only after exploring every possible alternative,” Chrisler wrote.

The private Massachusetts liberal arts college — which openly touts its embrace of progressive concepts — had grappled with low enrollment and big budget deficits for several years.

But the budget woes never stopped campus leaders from funding programs advancing LGBTQ and DEI concepts amid laying off employees and slashing departments, as The College Fix previously reported.

Hampshire College made headlines years ago when it took down the U.S. flag to promote multiculturalism. More recently it offered Florida students wanting to flee the state’s conservatism a streamlined enrollment process.

As The College Fix previously reported:

Despite the longterm budget woes, campus leaders have continued to emphasize left-leaning programs and curricula over more traditional studies.

“Since the rocky year of 2019, Hampshire has undergone a major curriculum transformation, replacing traditional majors and departments with curricula focused on addressing pressing global issues such as climate change and racism,” Higher Ed Dive reported in July.

In recent months, Hampshire College has also touted its efforts to study and promote topics such as Drag and Environmental Justice, Disrupting and Dismantling White Supremacy, and Inclusive Weightlifting.

“Hampshire College made a big deal about offering spots to all of the left-wing New College of Florida students who wanted to leave after we eliminated their DEI and gender studies programs. Now Hampshire College is shutting down—go woke, go broke,” conservative activist Christopher Rufo posted on X in response to the news.

Trump sends ‘thousands more US troops to Middle East’ to pressure Iran for deal– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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Donald Trump is raising the pressure on Iran ahead of possible new talks by sending thousands more troops to the Middle East.

The US president has said that a second round of talks with Iran could happen “over the next two days” with negotiations held again in Islamabad as diplomats worked through back channels to arrange them.

And the prospect of talks come as the US Central Command says no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours, while six merchant vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around and re-enter Iranian waters.

More than 10,000 further troops could also be soon arriving in the region including about 6,000 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and several warships escorting it, said officials, reported the Washington Post.

And about 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month.

Israel, Lebanon Agree To Direct Negotiations After “Productive” Talks: US– www.ndtv.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold direct negotiations after “productive discussions” between the two sides in Washington, the United States said on Tuesday.

“The participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

“All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue,” he said.

The announcement came after Israeli and Lebanese envoys held more than two hours of talks mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“The United States congratulated the two countries on this historic milestone and expressed its support for further talks, and for the government of Lebanon’s plans to restore the monopoly of force and to end Iran’s overbearing influence,” Pigott said.

And it “affirmed that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached between the two governments, brokered by the United States, and not through any separate track,” he added.

Appeals Court Shuts Down Activist Judge Boasberg’s Anti-Trump Criminal Contempt Case– slaynews.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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A federal appeals court has halted a controversial attempt by a Democrat-aligned district judge to pursue criminal contempt proceedings against several Trump administration officials, delivering a sharp rebuke to the lower court’s actions.

In a brief, unsigned order issued April 14, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg.

The appeals court ordered the activist judge to terminate the contempt investigation he launched.

The dispute stems from the Trump administration’s deportation of illegal immigrants, identified as suspected gang members, to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

New Defense Deal Could Tighten US Control Over Another Critical Seaway– dailycaller.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his Indonesian counterpart announced a defense deal Monday in Virginia that could strengthen U.S. control in a seaway critical for China.

Hegseth and Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin agreed to strengthen an existing agreement between the two countries to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP), according to a War Department (DOW) press release. The MDCP lays the groundwork for greater military cooperation, modernization of defenses and more training, a joint statement read. The Strait of Malacca, a key waterway between the Indian and Pacific Oceans running between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and Malaysia and Singapore, could see a strengthened U.S. presence as a result.

“The two leaders committed to expanding the scope and complexity of bilateral and multilateral exercises … to strengthen collective capabilities and promote Peace through Strength,” the press release read.

The Strait of Malacca is oil tankers’ shortest route from the Middle East to East Asia by sea. Approximately 23.2 million barrels of oil passed through daily during the first half of 20

Massachusetts Democrats Advance Sweeping Digital ID Plan– slaynews.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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Democrat lawmakers have passed a sweeping new bill in Massachusetts that would force social media users to prove their age, raising serious concerns about privacy, surveillance, and government overreach in the name of “protecting children.”

The legislation passed the state House by a 129–25 vote and would ban children under 14 from social media entirely, and require parental consent for teens aged 14 and 15.

Most significantly, however, the bill mandates that platforms implement age verification systems for all users.

If signed into law, the measure will take effect on October 1.

Trump threatens to ‘punish’ UK by pulling troops out of NATO over Iran support– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

NATO, a 32-member alliance, was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack, and now focusses protecting ally counties by promising that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all

The Trump administration is considering a plan to remove US troops from some NATO ally countries (file image)(Image: Getty)

US President Donald Trump and his administration are considering a plan to remove US troops from NATO ally countries considered to be unhelpful in the US conflict with Iran.

It is understood that the troops would be stationed in countries that have been more supportive of the US military campaign.

The US and Israel have carried out joint strikes on several Iranian sites since February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting countries across the Middle East, plunging the region into conflict.

Trump on Tuesday, April 7, announced a two-week ceasefire, which appears to be on the brink as Israel continues to strike Lebanon, while Kuwait and the UAE have faced missile and drone attacks on Wednesday.

Republicans must reject Big Tech land grabs or start losing elections– www.theblaze.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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Republicans are continuing their uninterrupted streak of woefully underperforming in elections. However, in the first of its kind referendum on Big Tech data centers, voters are showing that a party that embraces land sovereignty over Big Tech dystopian land grabs will win the day.

Sadly, Republicans have chosen to be on the losing side of the issue.

The public is being asked to shoulder a burden to facilitate a supposed technology whose benefits are very unclear and dubious.

In a first of its kind local referendum, voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, voted by a margin of 2-1 for a referendum that will require all future data center projects in the area to be approved by a vote of the city’s residents.

The referendum was sparked in the wake of Oracle and OpenAI’s Stargate facility setting up shop in the area. The proposed 1.3 gigawatt facility will consume the power equivalent of over one million households.

Nigerian airstrike leaves 200 feared dead in Yobe, councillor and residents say– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

Civilians have been caught in the crossfire and killed in military air strikes aimed at militants, though the authorities sometimes dispute hitting civilians.

Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

A UN security memo seen by AFP, stated that “4 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets launched airstrikes that mistakenly killed at least 56 people and injured 14 others at the Jilli market… on April 11.”

“This occurred during a military operation targeting Boko Haram fighters who visited the market to conduct terrorism activities,” it said.

Amnesty International earlier said on X that there were “more than 100 dead” and 35 people seriously wounded.

Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur, meanwhile, said: “The total casualties, dead and injured, are around 200.”

Pam Bondi still on the hook for Epstein testimony, Oversight panel says– www.politico.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

House Republicans indicated Wednesday they will continue to seek sworn testimony from Pam Bondi on the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, even after her ousting as attorney general.

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Bondi for an April 14 deposition, but that date was never confirmed by Bondi, and the panel said in a statement that it will continue to seek a date for her testimony.

“The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” a spokeswoman for Oversight Republicans said in a statement. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”

Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena to Bondi last month after five Republican lawmakers on the panel joined with Democrats to compel her testimony. The campaign to force Bondi to sit for questioning was championed by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who brought the motion during a hearing.

Multiple House Members Potentially Face Expulsion This Week– wltreport.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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Up to four Congress members may be expelled this week, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) predicts.

Benny Johnson listed the representatives who may face expulsion votes:

1. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL): indicted for funneling millions in federal disaster funds into her campaign

2. Eric Swalwell (D-CA): multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations

3. Cory Mills (R-FL): allegations including sexual misconduct, domestic violence, campaign finance violations

4. Tony Gonzales (R-TX): sexual misconduct allegations, including an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide.

US says Iranian trade through Strait of Hormuz fully halted — RT World News– www.rt.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

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The American military says the blockade of the vital shipping route has been “fully implemented”

American warships have effectively blocked Iranian trade through the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said.

“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as US forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East,” CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Cooper added.

Judge postpones termination of temporary protected status for Ethiopians in U.S.– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser April 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Wednesday postponed the termination of temporary protected status for Ethiopians living in the U.S., finding the Trump administration unlawfully attempted to end it. 

In the order, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy said the Trump administration terminated the designation “without regard for the process delineated by Congress.”

Under the Biden administration, thousands of Ethiopian immigrants in the country were granted the status beginning in 2022. The designation allows immigrants to temporarily live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation because of armed conflict, environmental disasters or other humanitarian emergencies in their home country. The status was extended in 2024.

The Department of Homeland Security announced in December that Ethiopia “no longer met the conditions” for the TPS designation and the protections would terminate on Feb. 13.