«This morning, we are announcing that the Government of Canada is designating seven transnational criminal
The post Canada Fulfills Its Promise to the US Seven Cartels and Gangs Designated as Terrorist Entities appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Screenshot: OANN / X
In a recent interview with Rep. Matt Gaetz on One America News Network (OANN), Chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) cast serious doubts regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s forthcoming release of the Jeffrey Epstein client list.
It can be recalled that last month, Bondi appeared on Fox News, claiming she’s “actively reviewing” the Epstein documents alongside other long-suppressed files on JFK and MLK.
But for Luna and millions of frustrated conservatives, talk is cheap—and action is overdue.
The Florida firebrand took to X to confront Bondi, posting: “AG Pam Bondi, We saw over the weekend you are reviewing all files from JFK to Epstein! We are ALL anticipating their release! When will they be declassified and available to the public?”
.@AGPamBondi We saw over the weekend you are reviewing all files from JFK to Epstein! We are ALL anticipating their release! When will they be declassified and available to the public?
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 24, 2025
She didn’t stop there, doubling down in a follow-up post: “On Feb 11 & Feb 19, House Oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK, etc. The DOJ has not responded. Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG. AG Pam Bondi, what is the status of the documents? These documents were ordered to be declassified.”
On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.
The DOJ has not responded.
Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG.@AGPamBondi what is the status of the…
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 25, 2025
A select group of conservative commentators, including attorney Mike Cernovich (who previously sued for Epstein documents), attorney Rogan O’Handley (DC Draino), Jack Posobiec, and others, received a binder of phase 1 of the Epstein documents.
This sparked frustration from Rep. Luna, the chairwoman overseeing the declassification of the files, as a select group of conservative influencers obtained copies before her committee.
She also confronted Bondi over the disappointing release of the initial batch of Jeffrey Epstein files.
“I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein’s phonebook,” said Luna.
“THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!”
I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein’s phonebook.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment.
GET US THE…
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 27, 2025
During an interview with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on OANN on Monday, Luna announced that she is not confident about the Epstein client list release.
Gaetz asked her point-blank:
“Are you confident, as you sit here now, that there will be an Epstein client list that the American people will see?”
Luna’s response?
“I’m not confident on the Epstein client list because I haven’t had the briefing yet from the Department of Justice. I’ll know more tomorrow on that. But based on what I’m hearing from the attorney general, she keeps saying that she is going to release something, so I’m going to take her at her word for that. Now, whether that something is a full list, we have asked for the full list. We have asked for all the documentation. We are pushing for maximum transparency. But again, we do not hold declassification authority. That is up to the attorney general.”
Video via OANN:
The post Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Tells Matt Gaetz She’s ‘NOT CONFIDENT’ About AG Pam Bondi’s Release of the Epstein Client List appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Seth Rich
The corrupt FBI has once again refused to release crucial records related to the 2016 murder of Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffer Seth Rich.
Attorney Ty Clevenger, who has been battling for years to obtain these documents, reported that the FBI is stonewalling yet again, refusing to comply with his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Rich was murdered in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2016, shortly before WikiLeaks released the infamous Clinton emails.
On Monday, Clevenger took to X to reveal that the FBI will not be releasing Seth Rich-related records as expected on March 10th. Instead, the corrupt bureau plans to provide only a Vaughn index—a limited document listing withheld files and the reasons for their concealment.
Seth Rich
In February 2024, Clevenger demanded that the FBI hand over the Seth Rich documents they continue to conceal from the public.
The FBI’s refusal follows a pattern of obfuscation. For years, the agency denied even possessing Seth Rich’s laptop—until Clevenger’s legal efforts forced the FBI to admit they had it all along. Yet, the agency still refuses to disclose any metadata from Seth Rich’s electronic devices.
Even more damning, Clevenger has already uncovered proof that the FBI improperly withheld pages from the CrowdStrike report related to the alleged 2016 DNC hack—an event that conveniently became a political weapon against President Donald Trump.
The fact that the FBI continues to suppress these documents suggests there is more to the story than they are willing to admit.
Here is Ty Clevenger’s full statement from X on Monday.
Attorney Ty Clevenger: The DOJ told me this afternoon that we will not be getting any Seth Rich records on March 10. The FBI only intends to produce a “Vaughn index,” which gives a brief description of what they are withholding and why.
That means that the feds are not even willing to produce the metadata from Seth’s electronic devices. I’m not thrilled about this, but we’re playing the long game.
In the same case, I can already prove that the FBI improperly withheld pages from the CrowdStrike reports about the 2016 DNC “hack” that was published by Wikileaks so this probably won’t play well with the court.
More importantly, Kash Patel and AG Pam Bondi will learn about this, and I suspect some heads will roll. That’s long overdue, because the FOIA office at FBI is systemically corrupt. The bureaucrats can run, but they can’t hide.
2/4 …the metadata from Seth’s electronic devices. I’m not thrilled about this, but we’re playing the long game. In the same case, I can already prove that the @FBI improperly withheld pages from the @CrowdStrike reports about the 2016 @DNC “hack” that was published by…
— Ty Clevenger (@Ty_Clevenger) March 3, 2025
3/4 …so this probably won’t play well with the court. More importantly, @Kash_Patel and @AGPamBondi will learn about this, and I suspect some heads will roll. That’s long overdue, because the FOIA office at @FBI is systemically corrupt. The bureaucrats can run, but they can’t…
— Ty Clevenger (@Ty_Clevenger) March 3, 2025
The post “Kash Patel and Pam Bondi Will Learn About This… I Suspect Heads Will Roll” — Attorney Ty Clevenger Responds After FBI Refuses to Release Seth Rich Records on March 10 appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Screenshot: Fox News’ Hannity
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed in a bombshell interview with Sean Hannity on Monday that Kash Patel’s FBI has finally received a truckload of previously withheld Jeffrey Epstein documents from the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Last Thursday’s so-called “Epstein Files: Phase One” was a colossal disappointment — heavily redacted pages handed over to a select group of MAGA influencers.
Bondi had hyped the release on Fox News with Jesse Watters the night before, promising “flight logs, names, and a lot of information” about Epstein’s depraved criminal network.
Conservatives braced for a bombshell that would finally unmask the elite swamp creatures tied to the notorious pedophile. Instead, they got a dud.
Appearing on Life, Liberty & Levin with Mark Levin, Bondi dropped the hammer: she’d been misled.
“I was assured 120 pages was all there was,” she told Levin. “I kept saying, ‘There has to be more.’ Kash Patel asked the same thing and got the same line. Then a whistleblower tipped me off—SDNY was sitting on thousands of pages.”
The FBI initially handed over only a few hundred pages, far less than expected. However, a whistleblower alerted Bondi that the bulk of the Epstein files were actually sitting in SDNY. Bondi set a firm deadline: Friday at 8 a.m. for all remaining documents to be turned over.
In an explosive interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Bondi revealed that the FBI has now received a truckload of Epstein-related documents from the SDNY.
Bondi also revealed that she has assigned FBI Director Kash Patel to lead a thorough investigation into why these critical documents were withheld.
Sean Hannity:
Let me start with the Epstein case because there was an expectation that this was going to be bigger. You had the same expectation.
Pam Bondi:
We all did. And the FBI handed over a couple hundred pages of documents. But, you know, Sean, I gave them a deadline of Friday at 8 a.m. to get us everything.
A source had told me where the documents were being kept—Southern District of New York. Shock! So we got them all—hopefully all of them—Friday at 8 a.m. Thousands of pages of documents.
I have the FBI going through them, and Kash is also… Now that we have Kash here, it’s a game changer, of course. Director Patel is going to get us a detailed report as to why the FBI withheld all of those documents.
Sean Hannity:
I want to be clear because I think people got frustrated. They were expecting more. You were expecting more, and then less than 24 hours before the release, you got a whistleblower that confirmed there were way more documents that they were supposed to turn over. And then you found out just before that?
Pam Bondi:
Well, sure. And you’re looking at these documents going, “These aren’t all the Epstein files.” You know, there were flight logs. There were names, victims’ names. And we’re going, “Where’s the rest of the stuff?” And that’s what the FBI had turned over to us.
Then a source said, “Whoa, all this evidence is sitting in the Southern District of New York.” So based on that, I gave them the deadline—Friday at 8 a.m. A truckload of evidence arrived. It’s now in the possession of the FBI.
Kash is going to get me—and himself, really—a detailed report as to why all these documents and evidence had been withheld.
And, you know, we’re going to go through it as fast as we can, but also very cautiously to protect all the victims of Epstein, because there are a lot of victims.
Bondi also made it clear that victims’ identities and grand jury information would be protected, but the public has every right to see who was involved in Epstein’s sickening network.
Sean Hannity:
Well, you had identified in phase one over 200—254, okay? Now, is that the only thing that would be redacted? Will everything else be made public once you get it in your possession?
Pam Bondi:
Yeah. The FBI obviously hasn’t had time to look at the thousands of pages of documents they just received Friday. But Kash has a team going through them. It’s always about protecting the victims. But you know what? We believe in transparency, and America has the right to know.
The Biden administration sat on these documents. No one did anything with them. And why were they sitting in the Southern District of New York? I want a full report on that. You know, sadly, these people don’t believe in transparency. But I think, more unfortunately, a lot of them don’t believe in honesty.
And it’s a new day.
Sean Hannity:
It’s a new administration, and everything’s going to come out to the public. The public has a right to know. Americans have a right to know.
Sean Hannity:
And that goes the same with the JFK files?
Pam Bondi:
JFK files, Martin Luther King—yep, absolutely.
Sean Hannity:
Some people might not understand the need to redact certain information. In the case of a victim, that should be pretty obvious. But what are the other things that might need to be redacted?
Pam Bondi:
Of course—national security. Some grand jury information, which is always going to be confidential. But we’ll see. Let’s go through them as fast as we can and get them out to the American people. The American people have a right to know—not only about this, but also about Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and all these cases that the Biden administration has just sat on for years.
It’s not just sad. It’s infuriating that these people thought they could sit on this information. But they can’t. It’s a new day, and we believe in transparency. It’s going to come out.
And when we redact things, Sean, we’re not just going to pull pages out like they used to do. If something’s redacted, you’ll know the line, and you’ll know why it’s redacted—like a victim’s name or identifying information.
WATCH:
Meanwhile, James Dennehy, the head of the FBI’s New York office, threw in the towel just days after his office was revealed to have been hiding thousands of Epstein documents.
“Late Friday, I was informed that I needed to put my retirement papers in today, which I just did,” Dennehy wrote in an email obtained by NBC. “I was not given a reason for this decision.”
Two sources confirmed to NBC that Dennehy was given the choice between getting fired or resigning. He chose the latter.
Read more:
The post Pam Bondi Announces She Received a ‘TRUCKLOAD’ of Epstein Documents from SDNY After Being Misled by FBI appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Ryan Samsel, a persecuted J6er who spent several years in prison, much of it in solitairy, is in need of surgeries resulting from abuses suffered at the hands of Bureau of Prison officers. His insurance has denied full coverage of these surgeries. If you would like to read about Samsel’s story and donate, click here.
The Gateway Pundit had obtained, exclusively, a recording of the first-known interview of James “Ray” Epps after the protest at the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
The Gateway Pundit’s Alicia Powe has previously reported on some of the discoveries from this recording in a three-part series on The Gateway Pundit (part 1, part 2 and part 3).
The interview was conducted at the office of John Blischak, Epps’ attorney, on March 3, 2021 by Agents Alexander Simms and Rob Kalinowski (sp?). It was a voluntary interview that followed his January 8th phone call to the FBI regarding his placement on the “Most Wanted” list at #16.
“We Need More People”
The first major discrepancy in Epps’ testimony is something The Gateway Pundit published exclusively after receiving a statement from Ryan Samsel’s co-defendant, James Grant once he was clear of the Department of Justice’s wrath.
Epps, during his interview with the FBI, said that he told Samsel, “That’s not why we’re here…don’t be doing that.” Grant, and Samsel (following the J6 pardons), confirmed that Epps said “We need more people.” In fact, it is evident on the YouTube video from that day.
Ironically, according to the New York Times, Ryan Samsel told the FBI in January 2021 that when Epps whispered in his ear shortly before pushing the barricades, “his entire words were ‘Relax, the cops are just doing their job.‘”
The New York Times wrote that they obtained a recording of this interview, however, they did not publish the recording and when asked to review it, they did not respond.
Samsel did acknowledge that he had an informal interview with the FBI on January 30th, 2021, in which they provided him with coffee and a fresh can of Copenhagen Mint, his chew of choice.
During that interview, according to Samsel, the FBI was trying to convince him to confess that Epps was the “voice of reason.” When Samsel asked what charges he was facing, the agents responded that it was up to him, but he could possibly face conspiracy to murder an officer.
He then immediately requested an attorney, at which time things began to turn. The Copenhagen-gifting FBI agents became more typical of what we are accustomed to regarding treatment of J6ers.
I have received a never-before-published recording of James Ray Epps March 3, 2021 interview with the FBI.
This is the first known interview conducted by authorities and took place just over two months after the events on that day. This is the ‘freshest’ those events should be in… pic.twitter.com/5YKN50E6Q9
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
Officer Caroline Edwards
Moments after Epps had whispered in Samsel’s ear, the crowd around Epps pushed the bike rack barricades back and forth and caused US Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards to fall backwards towards the steps and hit her head.
According to Epps’ interview, he had attempted to help Edwards up off the ground before being a policeman “came over with a club” causing him to “back off.”
According to video evidence, that is not at all the case. In fact, Epps can be seen in the frame looking directly at Edwards after she’d been pushed to the ground. The camera pans to Edwards and then pans back to where Epps was standing. Poof. Gone.
Samsel, however, rushed to help Edwards and is seen lifting her up off the ground before other officers came to take Edwards away.
Epps isn’t seen in that footage anywhere near Edwards after he had whispered in Samsel’s ear and the barricade was pushed back.
The next questionable statement made to the FBI involves Officer Caroline Edwards, who was knocked back when the bike racks were pushed.
Epps stated that he tried to help her but was threatened by another officer with a night stick. Epps even said that he spoke to the officer… pic.twitter.com/fmF35i0PVW
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
The Second (Technically, Third) Breach
In the next inaccurate statement Epps made to the FBI, he claimed that after leaving the barricade where he whispered to Samsel, he approached the Capitol steps and another police barricade.
In the interview, Epps claimed that, “As looking at the Capitol, I was on the right side of that,” referring to the scaffold tower. Epps claimed that “that section fell last because of me. Because I tried to keep them from doing it.”
Again, this is not a factual statement. In fact, footage obtained from M5News of a ‘birds-eye view’ of the crowd, Epps can be seen on the left side of the scaffolding. Also contrary to Epps’ statement, the side he was on was actually breached first. And right next to where he was seen standing in the footage.
The right side where Epps claimed to be was far less populated at the time, but ultimately got through following the left-side breach.
Epps said that he was to the right of the scaffolding as you look at the Capitol and that his side fell last because of him.
In fact, Epps was on the left as you face the Capitol and his side fell first. In fact, the breach was right next to him.
Again. pic.twitter.com/ZIgCSvCtU1
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
These are three very significant misstatements from Epps during his testimony that paint a picture of him primarily de-escalating in three unique situations when, in reality, his actions were more like provocations.
Telling Samsel “we need more people,” disappearing when Officer Edwards was on the ground, and then conveniently being within feet of the breach at the scaffold tower all call into question his actions on that day.
And this doesn’t begin to take into account Epps telling a crowd on the night of January 5th that he “can’t say it because [he] might get arrested” but that “we need to go into the Capitol!” Or yelling to the crowd leaving the Ellipse rally that “the Capitol is that way” and “that’s where our problems lie.”
Epps counsel, John Blischak, is also on the FBI’s interview recording implying that he had been to “a bar or two” with Agent Simms the previous night. Simms denied the engagement immediately. Blischak then asks if he’s still recording and states, “well, I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Blischak is an Arizona-based attorney and former FBI agent (in the 1970s and early 1980s) who boasts on his firms website that his “biggest asset is his relation with prosecutors and law enforcement in ways other lawyers cannot because of his background.”
WOAH…
Ray Epps’ attorney, John Blischak, a former FBI agent in the late 70s and early 80s, said he met with the Special Agent questioning Epps “at a bar or two,” which Agent Simms quickly denies while on the record.
Blischak then says “oh, you’re still recording??”… pic.twitter.com/iGXrPiykeR
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
Thread:
I have received a never-before-published recording of James Ray Epps March 3, 2021 interview the FBI.
This is the first known interview conducted by authorities and took place just over two months after the events on that day. This is the ‘freshest’ those events should be in… pic.twitter.com/5YKN50E6Q9
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
The Gateway Pundit author Alicia Powe released Ray Epps’s interview with the FBI back in April 2024.
The post Several Statements in Ray Epps First In-Person FBI Recording From March 2021 Calls Into Question Several Key Issues From Epps’ Testimony appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Maxine Waters HUD headquarters
Top Democrat attack dog Maxine Waters, 86, rallied outside the Housing and Urban Development headquarters on Monday to protest DOGE cuts.
HUD is planning on laying off 50% of its workforce after DOGE identified $260 million in wasteful contracts.
“Rep. Maxine Waters was joined by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and others to try to deliver a letter demanding answers from HUD Secretary Scott Turner. The lawmakers were met by security and Turner’s Chief of Staff who told them he was “too busy” to receive their letter, according to Waters,” WUSA 9 reported.
Democrat lawmakers such as Maxine Waters are furious that DOGE saves taxpayers money by cutting wasteful contracts.
Maxine Waters attacked Elon Musk on Monday evening again: “Elon Musk’s 13 children sleep good at night. What happens to the other children in America?”
WATCH:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters among the 13 lawmakers who spoke tonight at the rally organized by the National Low Income Housing Coalition:
“Elon Musk’s 13 children sleep good at night. What happens to the other children in America?”@wusa9 pic.twitter.com/SidkNn8vRO
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) March 4, 2025
Maxine Waters tried to storm the HUD building after attacking Elon Musk during a rally speech.
Security initially stopped Maxine Waters from entering the HUD building.
WATCH:
Tonight, Democrat Congresswoman @RepMaxineWaters attempted to storm the HUD building headquarters in Washington, D.C.
I guess it’s only an “insurrection” when Trump supporters protest inside buildings in our nation’s Capitol.@USAEdMartin
@LoomerUnleashed @TheCharlesDowns https://t.co/yUadZQgL1f pic.twitter.com/0MZ5bUWfmz
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 4, 2025
However, Rep. Waters eventually entered the building to deliver a letter to HUD Secretary Turner.
WATCH:
Happening right now:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters walking into HUD to deliver a letter to Secretary Scott Turner demanding answers to housing cuts to federal programs and mass layoffs at the department. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/IjsuNHBsOe
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) March 3, 2025
A HUD spox responded to Maxine Waters with FIRE!
This is exactly what we voted for.
Per Fox News reporter Chad Pergram:
HUD spox on Dem CA Rep Waters protesting DOGE cuts at HUR today: The Department appreciates the Congresswoman’s interest in DOGE. While she has questions for the Department about how it is efficiently and effectively using taxpayer dollars, the Department also has questions for her, including:
•Is it true that members of her family profited from her position as an elected official? This was reported by the LA Times.
•Does she agree with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics that she is one of the “most corrupt” Members of Congress? Does she think she deserved to win the award four times?
•Would she be open to leading by example and allowing DOGE to ensure that she is using taxpayer dollars responsibly to serve Californians? If not, what does she have to hide?
•Did she enjoy the 47-minute video of President Trump’s accomplishments playing in the lobby?
The post WATCH: Top Democrat Attack Dog Maxine Waters Tries to Storm HUD Building to Protest DOGE Cuts – HUD Spox Responds with FIRE appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Trump’s approval rating on the issue of Ukraine and Russia is much higher than Joe Biden’s was. Of course, you would never know this by all the supposedly smart talking heads on cable news and Democrats who have been in meltdown mode for days over the Zelensky meeting at the White House on Friday.
CNN’s data analyst Harry Enten has broken down the numbers and the result is going to make the Democrats go even crazier.
It’s almost like the people constantly losing their minds over Trump exist in an alternate reality, completely removed from the American people.
From Penn Live:
Trump’s polling vs. Biden on Russia-Ukraine stuns CNN data guru: ‘Holy cow!’
President Donald Trump’s shout down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week created quite the debate.
Some felt it was shameful and a terrible look for the United States. Some felt it was long overdue. What does the polling say? Well, CNN data guru Harry Enten broke it down on Monday, and he sounded a bit surprised to begin with.
“Do Americans like the way that Trump is handling his job compared to how they felt about Joe Biden,” he said while showing a graph highlighting the net approval rating of each president when it came to the handling of the Russia-Ukraine situation. “You look at Joe Biden back in 2024, he was 22 points underwater, holy cow? You look at Donald Trump, it’s just a different planet entirely. The gulf between these two is wider than the Gulf of America or Mexico depending on which side of the aisle you stand on. (Trump) is at plus-2.
“So, look at this particular point, Americans are giving Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt,” Enten continued. “He’s doing considerably better than Joe Biden was doing on the handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On this simple question, I think Americans are saying, ‘OK, Donald Trump is doing alright on this.’”
Watch the video:
A little bit of a reality check for some:
-Trump’s net approval on Russia/Ukraine (+2) is far more positive than Biden’s was by the end (-22).
-The share (31% to 50%) who want a compromise in the war is way up
-The share who say Russia is an enemy is way down (64% to 34%). pic.twitter.com/z6k0x6A1yn
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) March 3, 2025
The amazing thing is that even though this is from CNN, you will still see political talking heads on CNN denying that this is reality and criticizing Trump on the Ukraine issue. They just don’t seem to care what the voters actually think.
The post CNN Data Analyst – Trump’s Approval Rating on Ukraine/Russia is Far Higher Than Biden’s: ‘A Different Planet Entirely’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Credit: Sean Duffy/Facebook
The I-40 in North Carolina was heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene, which was a huge problem as it’s a major road.
The Biden administration ignored many of the problems in North Carolina after the storm, leaving people sleeping in tents in winter. Who can ever forget FEMA under Biden, avoiding homes that had Trump signs in front of them?
When it came to the I-40, Biden’s transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said it would take months, maybe even years to fix it.
WCNC reported in October:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says it could take billions of dollars and months or even years to fully repair a stretch of Interstate 40 in western North Carolina that collapsed during Hurricane Helene.
Buttigieg was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper and NCDOT Transport Secretary Joey Hopkins for a tour of I-40 in western North Carolina near the Tennessee state line. A section of eastbound I-40 fell into the Pigeon River during Helene’s torrential rain. Meanwhile, crews are working on a temporary solution to stabilize the westbound lanes so traffic can flow to and from Asheville. A separate section of I-40 in east Tennessee also collapsed during the storm, causing officials to close 40 miles of the road from exit 432 in Tennessee to exit 20 in North Carolina.
Sean Duffy was sworn in as Trump’s transportation secretary just a few weeks ago and the I-40 is already open again.
#BREAKING: The I-40 highway in #WNC which crumbled into the river during Hurricane Helene and has been closed for 5 months…
…has officially reopened!
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy allowed rock to be pulled from the river to rebuild 3X faster and cheaper. pic.twitter.com/sGm9PIwgc2
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) March 1, 2025
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the reopening of Interstate 40 on Saturday morning.
I-40 was destroyed by Hurricane Helene five months ago. Flash flooding along the Pigeon River damaged large sections of the eastbound lanes near the Tennessee line…
“This marks a significant step toward reconnecting North Carolina with Tennessee, and it comes as a relief to travelers and businesses alike. Drivers are urged to to stay alert and drive safely as much of this area remains and active work zone,” NCDOT said.
It’s amazing what can accomplish when you have competent people doing the job and a commitment to getting the work done.
The post Thanks to Sean Duffy, the Hurricane Damaged I-40 in North Carolina is Already Open Again – Pete Buttigieg Claimed it Would Take ‘Months or Even Years’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Democrats are in the political wilderness and don’t seem to understand how they found themselves there. In response, they recently held a retreat to try to figure out how to appeal to voters again, especially working class voters.
It’s amazing that they needed a retreat for this with consultants and lists of recommendations, but they get a few points for effort, right?
FOX News reports:
Democrats’ ‘comeback retreat’ suggests party to ’embrace patriotism’ to win back working-class voters
Democrats were told to “embrace patriotism” and “get out of elite circles” last month during a retreat focused on how to regain the working-class vote.
Documents first obtained by Politico detailed a “Comeback Retreat” held by the center-left political group Third Way last month that sought “to deliberate on why Democrats are struggling with working-class voters around cultural issues, the nature of the economic trust gap with this critical group and ideas for how to address both problems.”
The documents, later obtained by Fox News Digital, summarized key takeaways from the retreat on why Democrats have a “cultural disconnect” with the working class and why Democrats are “not trusted” when it comes to the economy.
Most takeaways focused on Democrats’ “faculty lounge” problem of being seen as too judgmental and beholden to their far-left members.
Here are ten of the recommendations that came out of the meeting, via Hot Air:
1. Overemphasis on Identity Politics Many working-class voters feel Democrats prioritize niche identity-based groups with overbroad, unifying messages, making them feel excluded rather than included.
2. The “Faculty Lounge” Problem Democrats are often viewed as judgmental, out-of-touch, and dismissive of those without elite education or progressive views. This makes the party seem disconnected from everyday people.
3. Failure to Prioritize Economic Concerns While voters struggle with jobs, wages, and inflation, Democrats are seen as more focused on cultural and social issues than on economic progress and opportunity.
4. Weak Messaging & Communication The party’s language is often vague, politically correct, or overly intellectual, making it hard for working class voters to connect with Democratic policies.
5. Fear of Dissent Within the Party Democrats are perceived as intolerant of internal debate, where questioning progressive orthodoxy results in backlash rather than open discussion. Candidates and operatives need to feel more comfortable just saying NO to activist groups and unpalatable far-left ideas.
6. Attachment to Unpopular Institutions Democrats are seen as defending elite institutions (academia, media, government bureaucracy) while being critical of institutions working-class people value (churches, small businesses, police).
7. Allowing the Far Left to Define the Party Activist groups and progressive staffers push unpopular cultural positions, making it seem like Democrats are more extreme than they actually are. Operatives and campaigns must remember that activist groups exist to promote their single issue and raise money around it, not to make Democrats electable.
8. Reactionary Rather Than Proactive Democrats often let Republicans set the terms of cultural debates (e.g., crime, immigration) instead of clearly defining their own positions in a way that resonates with voters.
9. Overreliance on Buzzwords & Political Correctness Terms like “pregnant people” and “Latinx” alienate working-class voters who see them as out of touch with real-world terms and vocabulary.
10. Lack of a Positive National Identity Message Democrats focus too much on America’s flaws (racism, sexism, inequality) without acknowledging the country’s progress and potential, making them seem pessimistic and unpatriotic.
How exactly are the Democrats going to put any of this into practice? Their base voters reject almost every concept on the list.
And why should anyone trust Democrats if they try to follow this list, knowing that they’re only doing it to fool people into voting for them?
The post Democrats Hold Retreat to Figure Out How to Win Back Voters – Recommendations Include Rejecting Almost Everything They Stand For appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Doug Ford / NBC News
The premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, has threatened the U.S. over Donald Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on Canadian exports.
After initially putting a hold on his planned tariffs against Canada and Mexico, Trump confirmed this week that he would move forward with plans to 25 percent tariffs on both countries until both countries agreed to his demands surrounding border security.
In an interview on NBC News, Ford said he had never met a single American who supported the idea of tariffs, despite the fact that the majority of Americans voted for Donald Trump.
Ford ranted:
We are the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. We buy over 3,600 products from 35 states. I talked to the Governor of Kentucky and Mitch McConnell. Don’t touch our bourbon. I’m going after absolutely everything.
And I don’t want to. We keep the lights on for 1.5 million homes in manufacturing in New York, in Michigan, and in Minnesota.
If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going down to the U.S. And I’m telling you, we will do it.
Ford then went on to say that Americans, particularly those in red states, would feel immense pain as his retaliatory measures.
He continued:
This is the last thing we want to do. It’s one person that’s coming to attack us economically.
Your closest friend, your treasured ally, that will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in every situation you’ve faced, and he’s attacking the person, his number one customer.
There’s no country in the world that buys more products off the U.S. than we do.
We’re the number one trading customer to 28 states, and a lot of them are red states. They’re going to feel the pain like they’ve never felt before.
We’re going to feel the pain, but I’ll tell you, Canadians are resilient, we’re strong, we’re proud, and we’re going to fight back like they’ve never seen before.
Watch the clip below:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that he is willing to enter a “trade war” with America, warns US citizens will “feel the pain like they’ve never felt before.”pic.twitter.com/EhEqy1dCGo
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) March 3, 2025
Back in January, Ford responded to Donald Trump describing Canada as the “51st state” by offering to buy Alaska and Minnesota from the U.S.
“You know something, to the president I’ll make him a counteroffer,” he added.”How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?”
The post Ontario’s Premier Threatens to Cut Off Electricity to U.S. — Says Republicans Will ‘Feel Pain Like They’ve Never Felt Before’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.