Nation anticipates Trump’s self-described ‘really big news’ tonight; Vance defends handling of Iran talks, accuses Israel-linked influence campaign of trying to derail deal; Rubio orchestrates summit on resurgence of political terrorism; AG nominee promises action on abortion pills, enforcement of Comstock Act; Homan points to Dems’ rhetoric as source of violence against ICE; Joe Biden has [auto]penned new memoir; Smoke from Canada’s wildfires darken US skies; Cardinal Burke: ‘Synodality has to be stopped’; Prominent priest offers counsel on how to ‘root out’ sin; Catholics celebrate a Feast that traces back to Elijah and the holy mountain where the prophet confronted Baal; and more —
Trump teases ‘really big news’ ahead of Thursday night address
President Donald Trump plans to have “really big news” when he addresses the nation Thursday night. However, the purpose of his upcoming speech remains ambiguous. While the president did not give a specific reason when asked by reporters, he did offer clues as to what he may be talking about.
What we know: Trump announced the primetime address on Monday in a brief social media post. In it, he stated the speech would start at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, but offered no other details. The president later told reporters, “It’s going to be a very big announcement.”
What we don’t know: Beyond Trump’s near-silence about what he intends to say, the White House has also been mum on the intended topic. The president may go beyond any central theme, though, and weigh in on multiple issues. In addition to his statement about a major announcement, he added, “We’ll be discussing other things, too.”
Read more at Fox5
Mitch McConnell looking forward to Trump’s address
See @Shub_Semaj
‘Go to hell … I represent Americans first’: Vance blasts Israeli influence campaign ‘attacking me obsessively’
Vance defends his handling of Iran talks, accusing an Israel-linked influence campaign of trying to derail the deal …
Vice President JD Vance sat down with podcast host Joe Rogan in a July 15 interview that covered topics ranging from Iran nuclear negotiations to the Epstein files. Here are the highlights of the conversation. …
Vance pushed back against months of criticism over his handling of talks to end the Iran war, saying there’s “this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal.”
He pointed to a Time magazine article he said a friend had sent him.
“It’s worth reading because it lists a bunch of people who have quite literally been paid by a former Trump campaign person who was himself paid by certain elements within the Israeli government,” Vance said. “And those people are attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that’s set for the country.”
“There’s just so much bulls**t out there when what I’m actually trying to do is accomplish what the President of the United States told me to accomplish, which is a settlement of this that accomplishes our objectives: Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon, and we have the free flow of oil and gas,” Vance said.
He was careful to draw a distinction between mere criticism of the deal on the one hand and improper interference with the administration on the other.
Read more at Zeale
JD getting some grief for ‘whining’
Watch @knesix
State Department taking action against far-left political terrorism
On July 16, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host governments for the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism. The event will focus on this renewed threat to our societies and encourage stronger joint action to reinforce frontline defenses and close the gaps the terrorist actors continue to exploit.
Read @StateDept
Secretary Rubio speaking at Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism
Watch @EricLDaugh; full remarks here
Conservative Catholic Journal reacts to Rubio’s action against political terrorism
Read @thepathistruth
Homan points to Dems’ rhetoric as source of violence against ICE
Watch @RapidResponse47
Trump Announces Fast-Track Commercial Driver’s Licenses for Vets
Watch @SecDuffy; watch @townhallcom
Joe Biden’s written a new book
Read @FDRLST
AG Nominee Blanche: Trump’s DOJ Believes Biden’s Lax Abortion Pill Rules Are Wrong
Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche told U.S. senators during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the Trump administration’s Department of Justice believes the Biden administration’s radically relaxed rules for obtaining abortion pills “were wrong.”
In his exchange with Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, Blanche explained that the DOJ is “not defending what Biden did, and will not,” when it stripped the safety regulations from mifepristone following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jacksondecision.
“We want to get to a good result consistent with President Trump’s administrative directive and priorities,” Blanche claimed.
Blanche repeatedly refused to discuss the DOJ’s “litigation strategy” in the ongoing landmark Louisiana v. FDA case because “it’s not appropriate.” Instead, the nominee pledged the DOJ and the Trump administration as a whole to “protect the life of the unborn and work with states and obviously [Hawley] to make sure that we do that in the best way.”
Read more at The Federalist; see also @KristanHawkins
Federal court allows Michigan pro-life orgs to hire, insure employees according to beliefs
Michigan district court also denies bid by state to dismiss lawsuit brought by two pro-life missions represented by ADF attorneys
A federal district court issued an opinion [Right to Life of Michigan v. Nessel] Friday that blocks a Michigan law that forces pro-life organizations to recruit and hire people who oppose their fundamental mission, as well as carry insurance benefits that include coverage for abortion. The court also denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit from the state. Alliance Defending Freedom represents two pro-life organizations in their legal challenge to the state law, which are now safe to operate according to their beliefs as the case proceeds.
Michigan amended its employment law to re-define “sex” discrimination to include “the termination of a pregnancy.” With the injunction, Right to Life of Michigan and Pregnancy Resource Center can recruit and hire employees who share these organizations’ pro-life views and who agree to refrain from engaging in conduct contrary to those views without the threat of severe penalties. These organizations will also not have to risk enforcement actions by Michigan for declining to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans. This allows the organizations to continue to advocate for their pro-life views and to serve women and families in need consistent with their beliefs.
“The government can’t force pro-life organizations to sabotage their own beliefs by requiring them to employ staff who endorse abortion—a decision that harms women and ends innocent lives,” said ADF Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart, who argued before the court on behalf of the pro-life groups. “The First Amendment protects the right of these organizations to hire employees who can carry out and share the message of hope and joy associated with the gift of life. For these pro-life groups, the messenger matters. The court made the right decision by protecting their constitutional freedom to hire employees who share their views in word and deed so that they can express messages consistent with their beliefs.”
Read more at Alliance Defending Freedom
Latest on the Save Europe Act that calls for remigration, border controls
Watch @Newsforce
Christian preacher in UK arrested for causing anxiety to some people
Watch @JohnCleese
West Virginia legislator announces amendment to the State Department funding bill conditioning US aid to Nigeria on protecting Christians (July 15)
Watch @RepRileyMoore
Cardinal Burke: ‘Synodality Has to Be Stopped’
The US cardinal questions its theological basis, criticizes controlled ‘synodal’ procedures at the latest consistory, and urges a serious study of its impact on the Church.
Cardinal Raymond Burke has raised serious concerns about the use of “synodality” in a recent consistory of cardinals, warning that the current methodology risks undermining open debate within the Sacred College and obscuring critical issues facing the Church.
Speaking to The College of Cardinals Report on June 28, following the June 26–27 consistory convened by Pope Leo, Cardinal Burke welcomed the renewed gathering of cardinals, something he noted had not occurred for many years under Pope Francis, and described the opportunity for greater fraternal exchange as a “very great fruit.”
But he also expressed concern that the structure of the meeting limited meaningful discussion as it had adopted a format modeled on “synodal” processes, with cardinals divided into small groups and guided by preset questions.
He argued that this approach prevented in-depth engagement and reduced feedback to consensus-based summaries, potentially excluding dissenting but important viewpoints from reaching the Pope.
“The reports are only reports of what every cardinal agreed upon,” Cardinal Burke said, adding that perspectives not shared by a majority may be omitted despite their significance.
Read more at The College of Cardinals Report
Raging wildfires spread through Canada; smoke to hit US Midwest, East Coast this week
Over 800 wildfires are burning through forests in Canada, creating heavy smoke that could potentially affect millions of Americans this week.
Some of the largest blazes are in west-central Ontario province. Those fires are burning through thick forests, releasing significant amounts of smoke.
Ontario has been experiencing a heat wave, with record-breaking temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, according to forecasts.
There are also at least a dozen wildfires burning in northern Minnesota near the Canadian border.
The wind will begin directing that very heavy smoke into the U.S. Tuesday night, creating dangerous air quality for millions across the upper Midwest and Northeast Wednesday.
Read more at ABC News; read also ‘Detroit faces toxic smoke from Ontario wildfires on top of heat’ at Planet Detroit
Prominent priest gives lesson on how to ‘root out’ sin
Watch @NasareanO
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
See @father_rmv
July 16: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Watch at Catholic Saints & Feasts
