After 76 Days, House Votes to End Government Shutdown; DHS Now Funded

Perhaps no one is as pleased as Markwayne Mullin, our nation’s new DHS Secretary, who was sworn in on March 24^th to lead a department without a fully-funded budget. Mullin on Thursday afternoon: After 76 days, the longest government shutdown in history is over. @DHSgov is back open, @ICEgov and @CBP will be funded through reconciliation (with NO Democrat votes) so liberals can’t play games with federal law enforcement funding. To be clear, this Democrat shutdown NEVER should have happened (Mullin). The DHS secretary Mentioned funding ICE and CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) through reconciliation. A first hurdle was passed on that as well on Thursday: House Republicans just cleared a key first hurdle to move ICE and Border Patrol funding forward without Democratic votes. The chamber passed a budget framework 215-211 along party lines, setting up the reconciliation process for a later bill that aims to provide about $70 billion for the agencies (Fox News). Bob Hoge at RedState: Although these maneuvers won’t solve everything immediately, they would stave off a looming issue: the White House had warned that the government would not be able to pay hundreds of thousands of federal employees beginning in May as funds were drying up due to the partial shutdown (RedState).

Virginia Supreme Court Refuses to Certify Results of Election on Referendum

That means: For the immediate, the current map with the current congressional district lines remains operative as the case continues in court. But what does it signal more broadly? Josh Hammer turned to Ken Cucinelli—formerly the Attorney General in the Commonwealth. Cucinelli: In the normal course of things, you would expect the Virginia Supreme Court to stay that injunction and just let the election officials do their job and so forth. Well, on Tuesday, the day after hearing oral argument, they denied the stay request from Democrat Attorney General J. Jones. That is very unusual and I and others—I think I’ve kind of broken the ice on this for people—believe that that tea leaf suggests that the Supreme Court of Virginia itself intends to rule against the referendum and so they don’t see a reason to lift the injunction on the certification process and they probably already have the votes and they’re just writing the opinion. That’s my view of it. And by the way, back in February when they held the case, they actually made a statement that said something like, “We believe there are very serious issues at stake in this case,” etc., sending a signal that was sort of a kind of a look. And for non-lawyers, it is unusual for the court to say anything (Hammer).

In Wake of Supreme Court Decision, Louisiana Looks to Bypass Primaries

That is: Cancelling the currently scheduled primary to give the state legislature opportunity to redraw congressional maps that are not drawn on the basis of race. Washington Post: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates Wednesday that he plans to suspend next month’s primary elections so state lawmakers can pass a new congressional map first, according to two people with knowledge of the calls. The move follows a Supreme Court decision earlier in the day that found Louisiana had unlawfully discriminated by race when it created a second majority-Black congressional district under legal pressure. A new Louisiana map would position Republicans to gain one or two seats in the midterms as they fight to hold their narrow majority in the House (Washington Post). If they skip a primary, they’ll likely have a jungle election in November. In races that don’t have a candidate that exceed 50 percent, there would be a runoff in December. Josh Gerstein of Politico: Voters who challenged Louisiana’s latest maps & scored victory Wednesday ask #SCOTUS to immediately return case to lower court so maps can be redrawn for this cycle (Gerstein).

Could More States Suspend Primaries in Order to Draw More Constitutionally-Legitimate Congressional Maps?

It could happen. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Thursday: All states that have unconstitutional maps should look at that very carefully, and I think they should do it before the midterms,” he said (Raju). Ed Morrissey at Hot Air: That’s easier said than done. As Johnson says, Louisiana has no choice after the Supreme Court decision. Its congressional elections are predicated on a map that no longer has legal standing. The legislature has to come back and authorize a new map, even if only to restore the map previous to the one tossed by the court. To hold primaries on the basis of a map already held to be unconstitutional would create a legal nightmare that could result in the state having no initial representation in the next Congress. As for other states, the argument is less compelling, outside of the political implications. Southern states have racial-gerrymandered districts because that had been the only way for redistricting maps to pass muster under the old interpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. And not just southern states either; most states drew districts in that manner rather than run afoul of activist federal judges, but it’s more prevalent in the states where the VRA imposed a higher level of scrutiny. Eventually, states will have to redistrict in compliance with yesterday’s Louisiana v Callais decision, and all of that will get unwound. Today may not be that day, though. Yesterday’s decision applied only to Louisiana in terms of immediate action required (Hot Air).

Maine Gov. Janet Mills Suspends Campaign for Senate, Making Nazi-Tattooed Graham Platner the Likely Democratic Nominee

This will be interesting. The veteran Senator from Maine is Rep. Susan Collins (R). She is, no question, the most moderate in the GOP Senate caucus. She’s also a famously formidable campaigner who should not be counted out—however the polls may look as the election nears. Matt Margolis at PJ Media: The Maine Senate race just got a lot more interesting — and a lot more embarrassing for the Democratic Party. Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate, citing a lack of financial resources after falling further and further behind political newcomer Graham Platner in both polls and fundraising. Her exit leaves Democrats in an uncomfortable spot: their presumptive nominee is a self-described communist with a Nazi tattoo and a taste for racism and misogyny. Mills had been the establishment’s golden ticket. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recruited her personally, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee lined up behind her as the best shot to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in one of the most-watched Senate races of the year…. Platner has amassed a record so toxic that Republicans are practically giddy. The RNC wasted no time. “In November Susan Collins, a proven leader with an indisputable record of delivering for Maine, will face a Nazi sympathizing self-proclaimed communist with a record of hate-mongering and dishonesty,” RNC spokesperson Kristen Cianci said. “It’s safe to say we are confident going into Election Day” (PJ Media).

The World’s Energy Order Has Been Remade in Front of Us

Most immediately, the cause is the exit of UAE from OPEC. But the UAE’s move only advances dynamics that had already been moving in a given direction. Wall Street Journal: A fractured OPEC. A blockaded Persian Gulf. A U.S. emboldened by its world-leading fossil-fuel output. The Iran war is scrambling the longstanding foundations of the oil market, ushering in a more fragmented and potentially more volatile energy world. The free flow of petroleum across oceans is out. Resource nationalism is in…. The U.A.E.’s departure from the group took out “one of the few shock absorbers [the market] had left,” Rystad Energy analysts said. “If other producers begin prioritizing market share over quota discipline, OPEC’s ability to manage orderly markets through coordinated supply adjustments may increasingly be called into question,” Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, told clients (Wall Street Journal). The U.S. is now the world’s leading oil producer, with nearly 23 percent of the world total. Second is Saudi Arabia at just under 11 percent. Stephen Moore: For decades OPEC could swing global prices and rattle economies by turning production on and off. The shale revolution changed that. U.S. energy dominance turned volatility into competition, not control. The era of cartel-driven global energy shocks is fading FAST! (Moore).

Trump Receives Briefing From Military Commanders on Military Options for Next Phase in Iran

The thinking is that limited military action coupled with the “Economic Fury” strangling the regime may be enough to push force the regime to capitulate. Barak Ravid at Axios: President Trump is slated to receive a briefing on new plans for potential military action in Iran on Thursday from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, two sources with knowledge tell Axios. The briefing signals that Trump is seriously considering resuming major combat operations either to try to break the logjam in negotiations or to deliver a final blow before ending the war. CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iran — likely including infrastructure targets — in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock, three sources with knowledge said. The hope would be that Iran would then return to the negotiating table showing more flexibility on the nuclear issue. Another plan expected to be shared with Trump is focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping. Such an operation could include ground forces, one source said. Another option that has been discussed in the past and might come up in the briefing is a special forces operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (Axios).

Trump Nominates Dr. Nicole Saphier to Serve at Surgeon General

This after the president’s previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means, could not garner sufficient support for Senate approval. Dr. Means was an ally of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and was seen as a bold advocate for his MAHA conviction set. But: Saphier is an advocate of the president’s agenda as well, authoring the 2020 volume “Make America Healthy Again” (Amazon). RFK, Jr. is supportive: Dr. Nicole Saphier is a long-time warrior for the MAHA movement. She has worked closely with patients facing breast cancer and understands the importance of early detection and prevention. That experience is essential as we take on the chronic disease epidemic and put prevention at the center of our health system. I look forward to partnering with her as our next Surgeon General (Kennedy). Saphier is Director of Breast Imaging at MSK Monmouth (MSKCC). Her personal story is quite inspirational. She became pregnant in high school at age 17. She kept her child. Her story: (Fox News).

Report: Biden Administration Used Governmental Power to Target Traditional Christians

The report comes from the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. The 200-page document chronicles and summarizes many of the abuses readers who were paying attention during the Biden presidency will already be acquainted with. Tony Perkins of FRC (Family Research Council): The new Anti-Christian Bias Task Force report is a wake-up call. The Task Force has produced one of the most, if not the most, substantive works of this administration. The report lays bare what is at the heart of the Left’s disdain for religious freedom—it is a clash of “worldviews” primarily over abortion, gender ideology, and sexual orientation (Perkins). The Washington Times turned to Kelly Shackelford of First Liberty: “The Biden administration’s record of hostility toward Christian Americans is despicable and should serve as a warning,” Kelly Shackelford, First Liberty’s CEO and chief counsel, said in a statement. “We can never let this happen again” (Washington Times). The report: (Justice).

‘Conservative media is getting a big shakeup’ as Larry O’Connor Joins Salem—With Over 140 Nationwide Affiliates

Larry will retain his very successful show on WMAL in Washington, D.C.—taking that same 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET time slot, expanding its reach to an audience across the country. The news comes in the wake of the departure of Chris Stigall who stepped away to run for Congress, looking to represent the people of Missouri’s 6^th district (Inside Radio). Larry is deepening an already fruitful partnership with Salem. Washington Reporter: Conservative media is getting a big shakeup, with Salem Media announcing that Washington, D.C. mainstay Larry O’Connor is taking over its 6-9am time slot every morning starting May 4, the Washington Reporter can exclusively confirm. Under the new landmark deal, O’Connor’s show will air across the Salem Radio Network and the Salem News Channel, increasing O’Connor’s visibility, and bringing another conservative heavy-hitter even further into the Salem fold. “I love it when a plan comes together, Townhall Media’s publisher, Jonathan Garthwaite, said of the news. “From his desk at Townhall, plus radio, TV, and podcast studios, Larry is a unique triple threat of news, influence, and personality” (Washington Reporter). Amy Curtis at Townhall: Phil Boyce, Senior Vice President of Content at Salem Media, said of the announcement, “Larry is the go-to media voice for the people shaping policy in our nation’s capital. He’s built a show insiders rely on and an audience that cares deeply about the direction of the country. We’re proud to expand that success across our national lineup, leading the conversation every morning across America” (Townhall). His expanded show launches this Monday, May 4.