From Acting to Permanent: Trump Picks His Next Attorney General 

Bob Hoge / RedState

 

After President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, the speculation over who would replace her began in earnest. Would it be Trump’s former personal lawyer and confidante, Alina Habba? Or maybe the president’s hard-charging Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller? Some thought it might be Matt Whitaker, who was acting AG from 2018 to 2019 in Trump’s first administration after Jeff Sessions resigned at the president’s request.

 

On Wednesday evening, the president put all the speculation to rest: he’s picked the man already serving in the role, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. 

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted the above video where Trump revealed the news and said he will start the formal process immediately:

Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, posted a video Wednesday night of Trump announcing Blanche’s nomination as he spoke in the Rose Garden. Read more, see Xs and videos here.

US secures Israel-Lebanon ceasefire as House votes to curb Trump war powers

The U.S. secured a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon as the House voted to curb President Trump’s war powers, setting up a major foreign policy and congressional showdown over the scope of presidential authority.

Eric Mack / FOX News  

Trump administration is hopeful for progress toward ending the wider U.S.-Israeli war with Iran after securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tehran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with Washington and has suggested it could intervene directly in support of Hezbollah if Israel continues or escalates attacks there.

"We could go another 2 or 3 weeks and just wipe everybody out: I'd rather not do that, very easy to do," Trump said at an Oval Office news conference Wednesday.

"They want to do it. But if we can get something done in writing which will accomplish the same thing without killing everybody, I'd like to do that. Most of my people, I think, would like to do that – some people wouldn't, but most of them would."

That remark came before House lawmakers voted 215-208 to withdraw troops from using military force against Iran absent congressional authorization. Read more, and see video here.

Iran’s new toll entity claims 300 ships have signed up for safe passage through Strait of Hormuz

Ronny Reyes / NEW YORK POST  

At least 300 non-Iranian ships have applied for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with Tehran’s new authority seeking to create a permanent toll system along the vital passageway.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) said the majority of the ships applying were oil tankers, with at least 77% of the applicants looking to exit the Persian Gulf to reach Asia, particularly China and India, two of the Middle East’s largest fuel buyers.

The PGSA, which is under US sanctions, noted that the permits would not be given to “hostile countries,” a term it has used to describe America and Israel, along with their allies. 

“In accordance with the declared policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the PGSA does not have the authority to issue permits for the passage of ships from hostile countries, and in conditions of restrictions arising from war, it prioritizes the passage of ships associated with aligned governments,” the agency added. Read more, and see photos here. 

Vandals sabotage Trump’s Freedom 250 event on National Mall — contaminating underground water with fuel: spokeswoman 

Anthony Blair / NEW YORK POST 

Vandals sabotaged generators at President Trump’s Freedom 250 event, according to a spokeswoman — and fuel leached into underground water tanks, contaminating them.

A generator fuel line set up for temporary lights for a May 17 event was cut, causing fuel to seep into underground cisterns that collect rainwater under the Washington, DC, landmark, Freedom 250 spokeswoman Rachel Reisner told NBC News.

“Following the Freedom 250 team’s installation of temporary lighting on the National Mall, our equipment has been repeatedly targeted by vandals. The recent fuel leak was the direct result of that tampering,” she said.

“Upon discovering damage to a generator fuel line, Freedom 250 and our vendors mobilized within minutes, coordinated an immediate cleanup response, and fully remediated the site in close partnership with the National Park Service,” Reisner went on.

“We take our responsibility as stewards of the National Mall seriously and are working closely with the appropriate law enforcement authorities regarding these acts of vandalism.” Read more, see photos, and video here. 

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast 

Here's the podcast of last nights LIVE radio broadcast where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed  'Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok'; 'The Forensic Flagging of a Dead Horse'; the latest on Iran; Europe's nuclear umbrella; and Mamdani's pick for NYC sheriff. Listen to it on https://rspradio1.podbean.com or on our RSP website at https://rspradio1.com/?page_id=39 

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.   

...And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.” Read entire article here.

Trump reportedly tears into Netanyahu over Hezbollah strikes: ‘What the f–k are you doing?"

Caitlin Doornbos and Victor Nava / NEW YORK POST

President Trump reportedly tore into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, demanding the leader resist strikes on Hezbollah in an expletive-laden phone call.

The tense call came after Iran threatened to withdraw from negotiations with the US after Israel ordered strikes on terrorists in southern Beirut — with Axios reporting the president at one point asking, “What the f–k are you doing?”

“You’re f–king crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” a US official told Axios, summarizing Trump’s comments.

Another source described Trump as sounding “pissed,” and claimed the president “steamrolled” the Israeli prime minister on the call. 

“Bibi said, ‘OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of,'” the second official said.