NewzIntel.com

Category: Donald Trump

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Demands Answers from DOJ on Efforts to Denaturalize U.S. Citizens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    SEATTLE, WA — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is leading dozens of Members of Congress in demanding answers from Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice (DOJ) over an internal memo prioritizing the denaturalization of U.S. citizens.

    “It appears this Administration plans to weaponize denaturalization cases to further smear innocent people and go after its perceived enemies,” wrote the Members. “The Trump Administration’s denaturalization efforts are a threat to the safety of every single American, including the roughly 24.5 million naturalized citizens as well as natural-born citizens alike. If the Administration is attacking citizens for speaking out against them, no one in this country is safe from harassment and arrest.”

    Denaturalization, or the revocation of citizenship, has a dangerous history in this country. While it was used for good following World War II to remove former Nazis who lied about their crimes, it was weaponized in the McCarthy era when roughly 22,000 denaturalization cases were filed for political purposes. During that time, the Supreme Court intervened in the Afroyim v. Rusk case, ruling that denaturalization was only acceptable in cases of citizenship being gained through fraudulent means or if the individual posed a legitimate threat to national security.

    However, the DOJ seems to be pursuing denaturalization outside of those guidelines, even saying in their memo, “these categories do not limit the Civil Division from pursuing any particular case…the Civil Division retains the discretion to pursue cases outside of these categories as it determines appropriate.”

    President Trump has threatened baseless denaturalization against Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York, as well as Rosie O’Donnell, an American-born comedian and actress. 

    The letter is also signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Greg Casar (TX-35), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-9), Darren Soto (FL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

    The full text of the letter can be read here.

    Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sherrill Statement on the Widespread Famine in Gaza and the Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    Washington, D.C. — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today issued the following statement urging President Trump and the Israeli government to take immediate action to ensure that aid reaches innocent civilians in Gaza:

    “I am deeply concerned by the famine and perilous security situation in Gaza. In February 2024, I went to the Rafah Crossing in Egypt and saw the backlog of aid trucks being kept out of Gaza. I took my concerns about keeping aid from reaching civilians directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden. Restricting life saving aid from reaching civilians was as dangerous then as it is today. Failure to take immediate action now will lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, and the perpetuation of the war. 

    “I was encouraged to see the announcement earlier this week that increased humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter Gaza, but it is not enough. The previous system of distributing aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was ineffective and directly led to the deaths of civilians at aid sites within days of beginning the operation. It needlessly endangered civilian lives. I immediately called on President Trump to work with the Israeli government and humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza to develop a safer method of delivery aid, but no action was taken. 

    “It is unacceptable that Hamas walked away from the last round of ceasefire negotiations and rejected the proposal agreed to by Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. I again urge both parties to return to the negotiating table immediately to reach a ceasefire and bring the hostages home. But that alone will not lead to the end of this conflict. For that to happen, the human suffering must end.

    “It is past time that President Trump stands up for American values and works with the Israeli government to ensure that aid reaches the innocent civilians who desperately need it. Limiting the delivery of aid has only allowed Hamas and criminal gangs to exploit the situation. Ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is vital to maintaining America’s values, weakening Hamas’s support, and permanently ending the conflict.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: President Trump Ends Unfair “De Minimis” Tariff Exemption, A Major Victory in Securing the Homeland

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    President Trump’s Executive Order empowers DHS to continue cracking down on smuggling and unfair trade practices

    WASHINGTON – President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending duty-free de minimis tariff exemptions for low-value shipments from all countries. His order empowers Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to close this loophole which was used to avoid tariffs and smuggle deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl into the United States.

    “For decades, bad actors have taken advantage of America’s de minimis process by smuggling in deadly narcotics, harmful products, and other contraband in hidden products,” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This loophole led to the death of thousands of Americans, fueled the opioid crisis, and harmed U.S. consumers. This decision to end de minimis will save American lives, increase revenue, and protect the American consumer and entrepreneur.”

    Under the de minimis treatment, imported goods that are valued at or under $800 were exempt from tariff duties. Countries exploited this system to flood the American market with cheap goods that undercut American manufacturers and cost American jobs. This exemption also allowed drug cartels and other criminal organizations to smuggle drugs and other contraband into our country.

    Over the past decade the volume of de minimis shipments to the United States exploded, growing from 134 million shipments in 2015 to over 1.36 billion shipments in 2024. De minimis shipments accounted for 90% of all cargo seizures in FY 24. These shipments often broke the law with 98% of narcotics seized from cargo falling under the de minimis exemption, as well as 97% of counterfeit items seized.

    Now, thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order, this loophole is closed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is empowered to enforce tariffs on these goods and can continue to protect the homeland from the smuggling of deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl and counterfeit goods. This will save American lives, protect American jobs, and restore billions in lost revenue.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Schumer, Shaheen, & Wyden Announce Intent to Challenge Trump’s Tariffs on Brazil

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced their intent to file privileged legislation to challenge President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods from Brazil in response to steps Brazil is taking to hold friend of Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro accountable for attempting a coup. The additional tariffs announced by Trump will put the total Trump tariffs on Brazilian exports at 50 percent, raising costs for Americans on basic household goods.

    In an executive order issued yesterday, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose the tariffs. Any one senator can challenge the use of IEEPA with a privileged resolution, such as the one the lawmakers will file. That means the Senate will be required to vote on the legislation.

    “President Trump has no interest in lowering costs for the American people. If he did, he would not be imposing tariffs and starting senseless trade wars,” said the senators. “We’re particularly concerned about these tariffs on Brazil—which are being put into place to get the Brazilian Supreme Court to stop its prosecution of Trump’s longtime friend Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president who is facing criminal charges for inciting a violent coup. This is certainly not what tariffs are intended to be used for, and they will raise prices for Americans. That’s why we’ll be introducing legislation to challenge these reckless tariffs against Brazil.”

    Americans import more than $40 billion annually from Brazil, including nearly $2 billion’s worth of coffee. Trade between the U.S. and Brazil supports nearly 130,000 jobs in the U.S., and the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with Brazil. A trade war with Brazil would make life more expensive for Americans, harm both the American and Brazilian economies, and drive Brazil closer to China.

    Last week, Kaine and Shaheen led their colleagues in sending a letter to Trump urging him to end his threats of tariffs on Brazil.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Judges question whether Trump tariffs are authorized by emergency powers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. appeals court judges sharply questioned on Thursday whether President Donald Trump’s tariffs were justified by the president’s emergency powers, after a lower court said he exceeded his authority with sweeping levies on imported goods.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., is considering the legality of “reciprocal” tariffs that Trump imposed on a broad range of U.S. trading partners in April, as well as tariffs imposed in February against China, Canada and Mexico.

    In hearing arguments in two cases brought by five small U.S. businesses and 12 Democratic-led U.S. states, judges pressed government lawyer Brett Shumate to explain how the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, gave Trump the power to impose tariffs.

    Trump is the first president to use IEEPA to impose tariffs.

    The judges frequently interrupted Shumate, peppering him with a flurry of challenges to his arguments.

    “IEEPA doesn’t even say tariffs, doesn’t even mention them,” one of the judges said.

    Shumate said that the law allows for “extraordinary” authority in an emergency, including the ability to stop imports completely. He said IEEPA authorizes tariffs because it allows a president to “regulate” imports in a crisis.

    The states and businesses challenging the tariffs argued that they are not permissible under IEEPA and that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress, and not the president, authority over tariffs and other taxes.

    Neal Katyal, a lawyer for the businesses, said the government’s argument that the word “regulate” includes the power to tax would be a vast expansion of presidential power, Katyal said.

    The arguments – one day before Trump plans to increase tariff rates on imported goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners – mark the first test before a U.S. appeals court of the scope of his tariff authority. The president has made tariffs a central instrument of his foreign policy, wielding them aggressively in his second term as leverage in trade negotiations and to push back against what he has called unfair practices.

    Trump has said the April tariffs were a response to persistent U.S. trade imbalances and declining U.S. manufacturing power.

    He said the tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico were appropriate because those countries were not doing enough to stop illegal fentanyl from crossing U.S. borders. The countries have denied that claim.

    Shumate cited a 1975 appeals court decision that authorized President Richard Nixon’s across-the board surcharge of 10% on imported merchandise to slow inflation. But that decision added that the president did not have authority to impose “whatever tariff rates he deems desirable.”

    Shumate also said that courts cannot review a president’s actions under IEEPA or impose additional limits that are not included in the law. Several judges said that the argument would essentially allow one law, IEEPA, to overwrite all other U.S. laws related to tariffs and imports.

    Katyal said the Trump administration’s argument ignored the more limited nature of Nixon’s tariffs and changes to the law since the 1970s.

    “No trade law in 200 years has been interpreted to give the president this power,” Katyal said.

    The case is being heard by a panel of all of the court’s active judges, eight appointed by Democratic presidents and three appointed by former Republican presidents. The timing of the court’s decision is uncertain, and the losing side will likely appeal quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

    Tariffs are starting to build into a significant revenue source for the federal government, with customs duties in June quadrupling to about $27 billion, a record, and through June have topped $100 billion for the current fiscal year. That income could be crucial to offset lost revenue from Trump’s tax bill passed into law earlier this month.

    But economists say the duties threaten to raise prices for U.S. consumers and reduce corporate profits. Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff threats have roiled financial markets and disrupted U.S. companies’ ability to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

    On May 28, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade sided with the Democratic states and small businesses that challenged Trump. It said that the IEEPA did not authorize tariffs related to longstanding trade deficits.

    The Federal Circuit has allowed the tariffs to remain in place while it considers the administration’s appeal.

    The case will have no impact on tariffs levied under more traditional legal authority, such as duties on steel and aluminum imports.

    The president recently announced trade deals that set tariff rates on goods from the European Union and Japan, following smaller trade agreements with Britain, Indonesia and Vietnam. Trump’s Department of Justice has argued that limiting the president’s tariff authority could undermine ongoing trade negotiations, while other Trump officials have said that negotiations have continued with little change after the initial setback in court.

    Trump has set an August 1 date for higher tariffs on countries that don’t negotiate new trade deals.

    There are at least seven other lawsuits challenging Trump’s invocation of IEEPA, including cases brought by other small businesses and California.

    A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled against Trump in one of those cases, and no judge has yet backed Trump’s claim of unlimited emergency tariff authority.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: “Trump nailed the biggest trade deal in American history and proved everyone wrong – again!”

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump’s trade deal with the European Union has been hailed as among the most consequential trade deals in history — securing massive investments, finally addressing the lopsided trade deficit, securing new market access, and more.

    It’s just the latest example of just how wrong President Trump’s critics have been — a fact highlighted by the New York Post’s Miranda Devine in a new op-ed:

    “When President Trump nailed the biggest deal in history on Sunday with the European Union on trade, you could almost hear the sound of egg splattering all over the faces of experts across the Atlantic.

    Economists, Democrats and Never-Trumpers have confidently predicted economic doom and gloom, ever since the self-proclaimed Tariff Man declared April 2 as ‘Liberation Day,’ fulfilling his long-held personal theory that tariffs are key to economic wealth.

    Trade war! Recession! Stagflation! Skyrocketing inflation! Stock market crash!

    You name it, they predicted Trump’s tariffs would sink the economy.

    Trump was defying economic orthodoxy, so he just had to be wrong.

    But it’s turned out that the lofty group-thinkers were wrong, not that most of them will admit it.”

    Click here to read the full article.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Nathaniel Moran Joins NewsNation to Discuss Israel, Trade with Europe and China

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    In case you missed it, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) joined NewsNation’s Morning in America to weigh in on key national and international issues, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza, trade negotiations with the EU and China.

    Congressman Moran, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, offered the following remarks:

    On the Gaza humanitarian crisis and Israel’s responsibility:

    “I’m glad to see more is being done to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But let’s not forget that the cause of this crisis is Hamas. Hamas is the aggressor and a terrorist organization. It could end this overnight by laying down its arms and choosing peace—but it won’t.”

    On President Trump’s Trade Talks with the EU:

    “President Trump is being very effective. He’s shown power and prowess on the world stage. Because he’s engaged, so many countries are coming to the table. We’re getting closer and closer to finalizing deals that prioritize fair and reciprocal trade.”

    On Treasury-Led Talks with China:

    “I’m glad to see the U.S. Treasury engaging China directly. But we must remember: China sees us as an adversary. Any agreement must include strong enforcement mechanisms—because they will try to circumvent the rules and cheat to their advantage.”

    Watch the full interview HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: European gloom over the Trump deal is misplaced. It’s probably the best the EU could have achieved

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow

    The trade deal between the US and the European Union, squeezed in days before the re-introduction of Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs, is reflective of the new politics of global trade. Faced with the threat of 30% baseline tariffs from Washington, as well as additional levies on specific sectors, the EU has secured a partial reprieve of a flat 15% tariff on all goods.

    Was this the best the bloc could have achieved? In the time available, it may well have been. The 15% rate is higher than the UK secured earlier this year, but it’s significantly below the level applied to China and Mexico, and on par with Japan.

    The EU has also managed a “zero-for-zero” tariffs deal on some hi-tech goods, notably semiconductors vital for products like phones and laptops. This is something the UK did not push for or secure in its own framework agreed with the US president.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on British metals and cars, but how important is this trade deal? Experts react

    What’s more, EU leaders have argued that agreeing to the deal has security benefits in protecting dwindling US support for European defence. The urgency of Europe’s security concerns in Ukraine made these talks different from trade negotiations in the first Trump administration, when Europe could afford to be more aggressive.

    The biggest winners in this deal are Europe’s carmakers. The US has collapsed various sector-specific duties on goods like aircraft, cars and automotive parts into the 15% ceiling. This effectively reduces tariffs on EU-made cars (from 27.5%).

    American automakers, meanwhile, rely heavily on parts from Mexico and China – still subject to higher tariffs at the time of writing. This makes EU vehicles more competitive for US consumers than “American” cars that rely on overseas parts.

    Most importantly however, like the UK deal before it, the new EU agreement is a statement of understanding between the White House and the European Commission, rather than a formal treaty. A treaty would be subject to parliamentary ratification on both sides.

    But the semi-formal nature of this agreement allows both Trump and European leaders to portray the deal as a “win” by playing fast and loose with what’s actually in it.

    For example, the Trump administration will celebrate an EU commitment to buy US$250 billion (£189 billion) in US energy imports annually. Yet the concession holds no legal weight in the EU. The European Commission, which negotiated with Trump, does not buy any energy nor does it manage the power grid inside its 27 member states.

    The commission can encourage, but cannot compel, those states to buy American. (Indeed, it might want to do so anyway, since it helps it to pivot away from Russian gas). But ultimately, member states and businesses decide where their energy supply comes from, and they are not direct parties to the deal. Only a formal treaty ratified by the European parliament would compel them.

    No guarantees from Trump

    The informal nature of this agreement also allows EU member states to protest against what they see as capitulation to Trump’s demands without real consequence. After all, there is not yet a treaty text they would be required to vote on or implement.

    The Trump administration similarly imposed its sweeping tariff threats in early spring without a vote from Congress, and has been making ad hoc changes to the rates in the same way.

    On the one hand, this means European countries may not ultimately be required to implement some of the deal’s less savoury elements such as the energy purchases or lowering the bloc’s own tariffs on US goods.

    On the other hand, this means the Trump administration – notorious for abrupt changes of turn – can also renege at any time. In reality, there is little the EU can do about this. The question of leverage looms large. Trump’s longstanding antipathy towards the EU – seeing it less as an ally and more as a rival – meant that Brussels was never negotiating from a position of strength.

    The fact that the EU avoided the worst-case scenario, protected key sectors and secured other sector-specific advantages suggests a deal shaped not by triumph, but by containment of Trump. Since the deal was announced, the picture emerging from many European leaders has been one of gloom. True, the EU didn’t win – but it survived. And that, for now, is probably enough.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Maha Rafi Atal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. European gloom over the Trump deal is misplaced. It’s probably the best the EU could have achieved – https://theconversation.com/european-gloom-over-the-trump-deal-is-misplaced-its-probably-the-best-the-eu-could-have-achieved-262369

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Will the latest diplomatic moves to end the war in Gaza work?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor, The Conversation

    This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

    It feels as if things are moving at completely different speeds in Gaza and in the outside world. From the embattled Gaza Strip the narrative is depressingly familiar. Dozens more Palestinian civilians have been killed in the past 24 hours as they try to get hold of scarce supplies of food.

    Aid agencies report that despite air drops of supplies and “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting, the amount of food getting through to the starving people of Gaza remains pitifully insufficient.

    Two more children are reported to have died of starvation, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 159, according to Palestinian sources quoted by al-Jazeera.

    US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Jerusalem for more talks as the US president Donald Trump posted his latest bout of social media diplomacy on his TruthSocial site, a message which appears pretty faithful to the Netanyahu government’s position: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”

    Both sides continue to reject the other side’s demands, bringing ceasefire negotiations to an effective standstill.

    In the outside world, meanwhile, events seem to be gathering pace. A “high-level conference” at the United Nations in New York brought together representatives of 17 states, the European Union and the Arab League, resulting in “a comprehensive and actionable framework for the implementation of the two-state solution and the achievement of peace and security for all”.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    What first catches the eye about this proposal, which was signed by Saudi Arabia,
    Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, is that it links a peace deal with the disarming and disbanding of Hamas. It also condemns the militant group’s savage attack on southern Israel on October 23 2023, which was the catalyst for the latest and arguably most grievous chapter of this eight-decade conflict. It’s the first time the Arab League has taken either of these positions.

    The New York declaration, as it has been dubbed, envisages the complete withdrawal of Israeli security forces from Gaza and an end to the displacement of Palestinians. Government will be the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and a conference to be scheduled in Egypt will design a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, much of which has been destroyed in the 20-month assault by the Israel Defense Forces.

    It is, writes Scott Lucas, a “bold initiative” which, “in theory could end the Israeli mass killing in Gaza, remove Hamas from power and begin the implementation of a process for a state of Palestine. The question is whether it has any chance of success.”

    Lucas, an expert in US and Middle East politics at the Clinton Institute of University College Dublin, is not particularly sanguine about the short-term prospects for a ceasefire and the alleviation of the desperate conditions for the people of Gaza. But what it represents more than anything else, is “yet another marker of Israel’s increasing isolation”.

    He points to recent announcements that France, the UK (subject to conditions) and Canada will recognise the state of Palestine at the UN general assembly in September. The prospect of normalisation between Israel and Arab states, at the top of the agenda a few short years ago, is now very unlikely. And in the US, which remains Israel’s staunchest ally, a Gallup poll recently found that public opinion is turning against Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.



    Read more:
    New peace plan increases pressure on Israel and US as momentum grows for Palestinian statehood

    But how important are the declarations by France, the UK and Canada of intent to potentially recognise Palestinian statehood, asks Malak Benslama-Dabdoub. As expert in international law at Royal Holloway University of London, who has focused on the question of Palestinian statelessness, Benslama-Dabdoub thinks that the French and British pledges bear closer examination.

    The French declaration was made on July 24 on Twitter by the president, Emmanuel Macron. Macron envisages a “demilitarised” state, something Benslama-Dabdoub sees as a serious problem, as it effectively denies the fundamental right of states to self-determination and would rob a future Palestinian state of the necessary right to self-defence.

    The declaration by the UK prime minister that Britain may also recognise Palestinian statehood in September is framed as a threat rather than a pledge. Unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows the UN to recommence humanitarian efforts and engages in a long-term sustainable peace process, the UK will go ahead with recognising Palestine at the UN.

    You have to consider that the UK government’s statement said that the position has always been that “Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people”. So to frame this as a threat rather than a demand is arguably to deny that “inalienable right”.



    Read more:
    UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean

    Paul Rogers also sees serious problems with the pledges to recognise Palestinian statehood. Demands for Hamas to disarm and play no further role in Palestinian government he sees as a non-starter as is the thought of a demilitarised Palestine. “Neither plan has the slightest chance of getting off the ground.”

    Rogers, who has researched and written on the Middle East for more than 30 years, also thinks that without the full backing of the US there is very little chance that a peace plan could succeed.

    Rogers finds it hard to believe that Washington will change tack on the Palestinian question, “unless the US president somehow gets the idea that his own reputation is being damaged”. There’s always a chance of this. News from the Gaza Strip is relentlessly horrifying and the aforementioned polls suggest many voters are reassessing their views of the conflict. But Trump is heavily indebted for his re-election to the far-right Christian Zionist movement, who wield a great deal of power with the White House.

    The other thing that might influence the conflict is if enough of the IDF’s top brass recognise the futility of waging what has always been an unwinnable conflict. This, writes Rogers, is whispered about in Israel’s military circles and one eminent retired general, Itzhak Brik, has come out and said: “Hamas has defeated us.”

    These, writes Rogers, are currently the only routes to an end to the conflict.



    Read more:
    UK and France pledges won’t stop Netanyahu bombing Gaza – but Donald Trump or Israel’s military could

    Inside Trumpian diplomacy

    We mentioned earlier that the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has also pledged to recognise the state of Palestine in September. This was immediately greeted by Trump with the threat that he does so it will derail a trade deal with the US. Whether this will cut any ice with Carney, who had to make concessions to get the trade deal done in the first place, remains to be seen.

    But there’s a broader point here, writes Stefan Wolff. As Wolff reports, this week the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda got together in Washington to sign a ceasefire deal, brokered by the US. Trump also claims to have successfully ended a conflict between India and Pakistan at the end of May and hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia earlier this month.

    Meanwhile his efforts to secure peace deals, or even a lasting ceasefire, in Gaza or Ukraine have been unsuccessful.

    Wolff considers why some countries respond to Trump’s diplomatic efforts while others don’t. There are a number of reasons, principally the US president’s ability to apply leverage through trade deals or sanctions and the differing complexity of the conflicts.

    He also points to the depleted resources of the US state department, Trump’s use of personal envoys with little foreign affairs experience and the US president’s insistence on making all the important decisions himself. He concludes: “The White House simply may not have the bandwidth for the level of engagement that would be necessary to get to a deal in Ukraine and the Middle East.”



    Read more:
    Why Donald Trump has stopped some conflicts but is failing with Ukraine and Gaza

    One US government department whose resources haven’t been depleted under Donald Trump is the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as Ice. Part of the Department of Homeland Security, Ice has been responsible for identifying and detaining non-citizens and undocumented migrants.

    Their agents carry guns, wear masks and typically operate in plain clothes, although they often wear military kit. The agency received massive funding via Trump’s One Bzig Beautiful Bill Act earlier this month, which will allow the agency to recruit hundreds, if not thousands, of new agents. The number of arrests is increasing steadily, as is the disquiet their operations are prompting in many American cities, where opposition protests are also growing.

    Dafydd Townley, an expert in US politics at the University of Portsmouth, explains how Ice operates and where it sits in Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of illegal migrants from the US.



    Read more:
    Masked and armed agents are arresting people on US streets as aggressive immigration enforcement ramps up

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Will the latest diplomatic moves to end the war in Gaza work? – https://theconversation.com/will-the-latest-diplomatic-moves-to-end-the-war-in-gaza-work-262380

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • Trump wants deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by August 8, US tells UN

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by August 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.

    “Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace,” senior U.S. diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.

    Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia “10 days from today” if Moscow showed no progress toward ending its war in Ukraine.

    Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year that yielded exchanges of prisoners and bodies, but no breakthrough to defuse the more than three-year conflict.

    “We intend to continue the negotiations in Istanbul,” Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council, but he added: “Despite the meetings in Istanbul, in the West, the war party did not go away … We continue hearing voices of those who think that diplomacy is just a way of criticizing Russia and exerting pressure on it.”

    Ukraine’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia must be confronted with “unity, resolve and action.”

    “We seek a comprehensive, just and lasting peace grounded in the principles of the U.N. Charter and nothing less. We repeat – a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is essential. It is the first step to halting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” she told the council.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Convenes Section 8 & 9 Townhall to Discuss Trump Administration’s Threats to Affordable Housing

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Goldman Joined by Representatives from NYCHA, NYC Housing Preservation and Development, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal  

     

    View a Recording of the Event Here 

    New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) hosted a Section 8 & 9 townhall at Grand St. Settlement to discuss how the Trump administration’s policies are affecting Section 8 and 9 housing in New York and help inform tenants on how city and state housing agencies may be impacted. The Congressman was joined by representatives from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), New York City Housing Preservation and Development, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal. 

    “Programs like Section 8 and 9 are a vital lifeline for over one million New York residents who are already struggling to make ends meet, and as the Trump administration slashes funding and fires critical staff, I was proud to bring local officials together and give tenants a platform to ask questions and get answers,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “With New York City set to remain in this administration’s cross-hairs, I will continue working at all levels of government to protect Section 8 and 9 tenants and ensure every single one has the safe, dignified, and affordable housing that they deserve.”  

    Since taking office, the Trump Administration has proposed sweeping changes to federal housing programs like Section 8 and Section 9 that would devastate low-income households. While they have not yet succeeded in enacting the most extreme policies, they’ve already caused serious harm, most notably by gutting HUD’s workforce by 30%. The administration’s budget proposals have called for drastic cuts to rental assistance, a two-year cap on support for able-bodied adults, and expanded work requirements that would jeopardize housing for thousands of working families, caregivers, and students. These changes, if implemented, would lead to mass evictions, overwhelming paperwork burdens, and a significant increase in homelessness—particularly in high-cost areas like New York City. Fortunately, Congress has so far rejected many of these proposals, but the threat remains real and ongoing. 

    In March, Goldman led 13 of his New York Delegation colleagues in sending a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner demanding that he reverse the Trump Administration’s decision to drastically reduce staffing at regional HUD field offices. The Administration’s “fork in the road” scheme and their potentially illegal firing of probationary workers had already left HUD field offices short-staffed and vulnerable. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • US appeals court scrutinizes Trump’s use of tariffs as trade deadline looms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. appeals court judges sharply questioned on Thursday whether President Donald Trump’s tariffs were justified by the president’s emergency powers, as lawyers for states and businesses challenging the measures argued he exceeded his authority.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., is considering the legality of “reciprocal” tariffs that Trump imposed on a broad range of U.S. trading partners in April, as well as tariffs imposed in February against China, Canada and Mexico.

    In hearing arguments in two cases brought by five small U.S. businesses and 12 Democratic-led U.S. states, judges pressed government lawyer Brett Shumate to explain how the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, gave Trump the power to impose tariffs.

    Shumate said that the law allows the president to have “extraordinary” authority in an emergency, including the ability to stop imports completely. He said IEEPA authorizes tariffs because it allows a president to “regulate” imports in a crisis.

    The judges seemed dubious of this sweeping argument.

    “IEEPA doesn’t even say tariffs, doesn’t even mention them,” Judge Jimmie Reyna said.

    The arguments – one day before Trump plans to increase tariff rates on imported goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners – mark the first test before a U.S. appeals court of the scope of his tariff authority. The president has made tariffs a central instrument of his foreign policy, wielding them aggressively in his second term as leverage in trade negotiations and to push back against what he has called unfair practices.

    The court adjourned after about an hour-and-a-half of oral arguments. The judges did not say when they would rule, and the losing side will almost certainly appeal quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Trump, the first president to use IEEPA to impose tariffs, has said the April tariffs were a response to persistent U.S. trade imbalances and declining U.S. manufacturing power.

    He said the tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico were appropriate because those countries were not doing enough to stop illegal fentanyl from crossing U.S. borders, a claim the countries have denied.

    The states and businesses challenging the tariffs argued that they are not permissible under IEEPA and that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress, and not the president, authority over tariffs and other taxes.

    “No trade law in 200 years has been interpreted to give the president this power,” Neal Katyal, a lawyer for the businesses, said.

    Judge Kimberly Moore challenged Benjamin Gutman, representing the state of Oregon, on his argument that the U.S. trade deficit is not an “unusual and extraordinary” threat that would trigger IEEPA’s emergency powers, noting that Trump said the trade deficit contributed to compromised military readiness.

    “That bothers me – I’m a little concerned about compromised military readiness,” Moore said. “How about you?”

    The case is being heard by a panel of all of the court’s active judges, eight appointed by Democratic presidents and three appointed by former Republican presidents.

    TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

    Tariffs are starting to build into a significant revenue source for the federal government, with customs duties in June quadrupling to about $27 billion, a record, and through June have topped $100 billion for the current fiscal year. That income could be crucial to offset lost revenue from Trump’s tax bill passed into law earlier this month.

    But economists say the duties threaten to raise prices for U.S. consumers and reduce corporate profits. Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff threats have roiled financial markets and disrupted U.S. companies’ ability to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

    On May 28, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade said IEEPA did not authorize tariffs related to longstanding trade deficits.

    The Federal Circuit has allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the litigation continues.

    The case will have no impact on tariffs levied under more traditional legal authority, such as duties on steel and aluminum imports.

    Trump’s Department of Justice has argued that limiting the president’s tariff authority could undermine ongoing trade negotiations, while other Trump officials have said that negotiations have continued with little change after the initial setback in court.

    The president recently announced trade deals that set tariff rates on goods from the European Union and Japan, following smaller trade agreements with Britain, Indonesia and Vietnam.

    Trump has set an August 1 date for higher tariffs on countries that don’t negotiate new trade deals.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that Trump would pause new tariffs set to go into effect on the U.S.’s southern neighbor and a 90-day period to work on a trade deal.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces Actions to Get Americans the Best Prices in the World for Prescription Drugs

    Source: US Whitehouse

    REDUCING DRUG PRICES FOR AMERICANS AND TAXPAYERS: Today, President Donald J. Trump sent letters to leading pharmaceutical manufacturers outlining the steps they must take to bring down the prices of prescription drugs in the United States to match the lowest price offered in other developed nations (known as the most-favored-nation, or MFN, price). The steps include:

    • Calling on manufacturers to provide MFN prices to every single Medicaid patient.
    • Requiring manufacturers to stipulate that they will not offer other developed nations better prices for new drugs than prices offered in the United States.
    • Providing manufacturers with an avenue to cut out middlemen and sell medicines directly to patients, provided they do so at a price no higher than the best price available in developed nations.
    • Using trade policy to support manufacturers in raising prices internationally provided that increased revenues abroad are reinvested directly into lowering prices for American patients and taxpayers.

    The letters inform manufacturers that if they “refuse to step up,” the federal government “will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.”

    Letters were sent to AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Genentech, Gilead, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

    ENDING GLOBAL FREELOADING ON AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION:  President Trump is taking decisive action to rebalance a system that allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to offer low prices to other wealthy nations while charging Americans significantly higher prices. 

    • According to recent data, the prices Americans pay for brand-name drugs are more than three times the price other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations pay, even after accounting for discounts manufacturers provide in the U.S.
    • The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population, yet roughly 75% of global pharmaceutical profits come from American taxpayers.
    • Drug manufacturers benefit from generous research subsidies and enormous healthcare spending by the U.S. Government. Instead of passing that benefit through to American consumers, drug manufacturers then discount their products abroad to gain access to foreign markets and subsidize those discounts through high prices charged in America. Americans are subsidizing drug-manufacturer profits and foreign health systems, both in development and once the drugs are sold.

    ONCE AGAIN DELIVERING ON PROMISES TO PUT AMERICAN PATIENTS FIRST: Today’s letters are an important step in President Trump’s work to get Americans the best deal in the world on prescription drugs.

    • On May 12, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled: “Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients” directing the Administration to take numerous actions to bring American drug prices in line with those paid by similar nations.
    • Following the Order, the Administration engaged pharmaceutical manufacturers in discussions to achieve MFN pricing in the United States. Today’s letters indicate that industry proposals have fallen short, and from this point forward, President Trump will only accept from drug manufacturers a commitment that provides American families immediate relief from vastly inflated drug prices and an end to the freeriding by European and other developed nations on American innovations.
    • President Trump has been relentless in his effort to address the unfair and outrageous prices Americans pay for prescription drugs:
      • President Trump: “In case after case, our citizens pay massively higher prices than other nations pay for the same exact pill, from the same factory, effectively subsidizing socialism aboard [abroad] with skyrocketing prices at home. So we would spend tremendous amounts of money in order to provide inexpensive drugs to another country. And when I say the price is different, you can see some examples where the price is beyond anything — four times, five times different.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: The White House Announces White House Ballroom Construction to Begin

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Washington, D.C. — For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.
     
    The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.
     
    In recent weeks, President Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning. 
     
    President Trump has chosen McCrery Architects as lead architect, which is well-known for their classical architectural design and based in our nation’s capital. CEO Jim McCrery said: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”
     
    The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM. 
     
    The project will begin in September 2025, and it is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term. 
     
    President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications. 
     
    The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical. The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits. The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and has been renovated and changed many times, with a second story added in 1942. 
     
    The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the following: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.” 
     
    The White House will continue to provide the American public with updates on this project at whitehouse.gov/visit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz Condemns Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

    Palm Desert, CA – Today Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) issued the following statement:

    “The extreme hunger and starvation unfolding in Gaza is a dire humanitarian emergency. Reports of Palestinians—including children—dying from hunger and malnutrition are heartbreaking and unacceptable. This is a man-made crisis, and urgent action is needed. Time is of the essence. Every day that food, water, and life-saving medical care are blocked from reaching civilians, more lives will be lost, especially children.

    “That’s why I sent letters to President Trump and Secretary Rubio demanding that they increase humanitarian resources to Gaza, and urge Israel and Hamas to end the war, and release all hostages. 

    “They must guarantee safe and unfettered access for international humanitarian organizations and the United Nations that abide by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence to provide food, clean water, sanitation, and urgent medical care. 

    “We need immediate, coordinated action. Lives are on the line. We need this now.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Ends Unfair “De Minimis” Tariff Exemption, A Major Victory in Securing the Homeland

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: President Trump Ends Unfair “De Minimis” Tariff Exemption, A Major Victory in Securing the Homeland

    President Trump’s Executive Order empowers DHS to continue cracking down on smuggling and unfair trade practices
    WASHINGTON – President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending duty-free de minimis tariff exemptions for low-value shipments from all countries
    His order empowers Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to close this loophole which was used to avoid tariffs and smuggle deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl into the United States

    “For decades, bad actors have taken advantage of America’s de minimis process by smuggling in deadly narcotics, harmful products, and other contraband in hidden products,” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
    “This loophole led to the death of thousands of Americans, fueled the opioid crisis, and harmed US
    consumers
    This decision to end de minimis will save American lives, increase revenue, and protect the American consumer and entrepreneur”
    Under the de minimis treatment, imported goods that are valued at or under $800 were exempt from tariff duties
    Countries exploited this system to flood the American market with cheap goods that undercut American manufacturers and cost American jobs
    This exemption also allowed drug cartels and other criminal organizations to smuggle drugs and other contraband into our country

    Over the past decade the volume of de minimis shipments to the United States exploded, growing from 134 million shipments in 2015 to over 1
    36 billion shipments in 2024
    De minimis shipments accounted for 90% of all cargo seizures in FY 24
    These shipments often broke the law with 98% of narcotics seized from cargo falling under the de minimis exemption, as well as 97% of counterfeit items seized

    Now, thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order, this loophole is closed
    US Customs and Border Protection is empowered to enforce tariffs on these goods and can continue to protect the homeland from the smuggling of deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl and counterfeit goods
    This will save American lives, protect American jobs, and restore billions in lost revenue

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nearly all National Guard soldiers in Los Angeles are demobilizing, Governor Newsom demands those remaining be released

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 31, 2025

    What you need to know: With nearly all National Guard soldiers demobilizing, Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on the President to allow the 300 remaining National Guard soldiers to go home now. 

    Los Angeles, California – Nearly two months after the unlawful federalization of units of the California National Guard, and deployment of almost 5,000 soldiers in the Los Angeles area, all but 300 National Guard members are able to go home. So far, 4,700 soldiers have begun demobilizing. The President should allow the remaining soldiers to go back to their families, communities, and civilian professions as doctors, law enforcement and teachers.

    President Trump is realizing that his political theater backfired. This militarization was always unnecessary and deeply unpopular. The President must do the right thing to end this illegal militarization now because the economic and societal impacts are dire. The women and men of our military deserve more than to be used as props in the federal government’s propaganda machine.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Although it is unclear whether the National Guard has received formalized orders to begin additional demobilizations, an estimated 300 guardsmembers will continue to be stationed at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos without a clear mission, direction, or a timeline for returning to their communities. California urges Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theatrical deployment and send all remaining guardsmembers home immediately.

    Earlier this month, 2,000 federalized National Guard members and 700 Marines were called off their mission in Los Angeles. However, nearly 2,000 soldiers remained at Los Alamitos. 

    Economic impact of this political theater 

    After the federal government deployed the military unlawfully and began ramping up immigration raids statewide, the number of people reporting to work in the private sector in California decreased by 3.1% — a downturn only recently matched by the period when people stayed home from work during the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Governor Newsom recently met with local restaurant owners in the City of Bell and faith leaders in Downey to discuss the economic impact these indiscriminate immigration actions have had on their small business.

    Trump’s actions have a ripple effect – the state’s economy is likely to contract later this year due to fallout from global tariffs and immigration raids in Los Angeles and other cities that have rattled key sectors, including construction, hospitality, and agriculture, according to a UCLA Anderson forecast. 

    Mass arrests, detentions and deportations in California could slash $275 billion from the state’s economy and eliminate $23 billion in annual tax revenue. The loss of immigrant workers, undocumented and those losing lawful status under the Trump administration, would delay projects (including rebuilding Los Angeles after the wildfires), reduce food supply, and drive up costs. Undocumented immigrants contributed $8.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2022 — a number that would rise to $10.3 billion if these taxpayers could apply to work lawfully.

    Drugs arriving at the border, fewer soldiers to stop them

    Typically, under the Governor’s command, nearly 450 servicemembers are deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. CalGuard’s servicemembers dedicated to the state’s Counterdrug Task Force have been reassigned by President Trump to militarize Los Angeles. The consequences are dire – CalGuard’s efforts help ensure the public safety of communities statewide.

    Police off the streets, teachers out of classrooms

    Of the 4,000 National Guard members sent to Los Angeles under Trump’s order, their servicemembers have been pulled from essential civilian duties such as medical and first responders, service workers, building trades contractors, law enforcement personnel, corrections officers, civil service and government workers, technology specialists, educators and teachers, and agriculture workers.

    End the power grab now

    Community leaders, public officials, veterans and others agree – the federal government’s actions in California not only have a chilling effect on the state’s society and economy, but also continue to undermine the valuable contributions from members of the military while in and out of uniform. 

    Republican and Democratic former governors agree—Trump’s federalization violates the critical balance between state and federal government. Recently, a bipartisan group of 25 former governors filed a brief in support of Newsom v. Trump, urging the court to enforce state sovereignty and block the unprecedented federalization of the National Guard. 

    Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of Trump’s illegal takeover of the CalGuard. Several veterans and veteran rights’ groups came together to decry Trump’s militarization of California.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Advocacy Groups Tell Congress to Pass the DOGE in Spending Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—The Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, introduced by DOGE Caucus co-chairs Reps. Aaron Bean (FL-04), Blake Moore (UT-01), and Pete Sessions (TX-17), is a landmark bill to crack down on financial fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. With over $160 billion in improper payments at stake, advocacy groups are rallying behind the measure—urging swift action in the House to pass this commonsense reform and restore accountability across the federal government.

    Here’s what they are saying about the DOGE in Spending Act:

    America First Policy Institute President & Chief Executive Officer Greg Sindelar: “The Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act is an extremely critical step towards codifying the policies in President Trump’s Executive Order. Before DOGE, taxpayer dollars have been the subject of waste and abuse. This legislation is as commonsense as it is bipartisan as it brings much-needed accountability by mandating that each agency undergoing review by the Treasury Department will have to report key financial information, thus ensuring fiscal responsibility and ending improper payments.”

    The LIBRE Initiative President Daniel Garza: “It’s crucial that we respect taxpayers’ dollars and help drive down the costs that have led to billions in mismanagement and led to record inflation under the previous administration. Congress and the President must know where taxpayer funds are going to make coherent budgets and to execute the laws properly.” 

    Americans for Prosperity Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy Kurt Couchman: “Congress and the President need to know where taxpayer funds go to make coherent budgets and to execute the laws properly. The DOGE in Spending Act would shine more light on federal spending so Congress can continue what’s working and change what isn’t.” 

    Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz: “The Delivering on Government Efficiency in Spending Act will require the Treasury Department to make all federal payments public and searchable. The increased spending transparency will help identify and eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. There should not be any objections from members of Congress to this commonsense legislation.” 

    Foundation for Government Accountability President and CEO Tarren Bragdon: “Under President Trump’s leadership, the DOGE effort has uncovered an unprecedented level of waste, fraud, and abuse. But there’s one big problem with DOGE’s work: Most of its work can be undone by a future president with the stroke of a pen. To make President Trump’s DOGE reforms permanent, Congress must act. If passed, the DOGE in Spending Act would help prevent future fraudulent and improper payments by providing the Treasury Department with the information needed to end improper payments, stop fraudsters, and protect American taxpayers. At the end of the day, the DOGE in Spending Act is just common sense.” 

    Open the Books CEO John Hart: “Open the Books has previously reported massive instances of wasted money that could have been avoided had federal agencies been in communication with the Do Not Pay system at Treasury. This legislation would mark a major step in curing that, too. The Delivering on Government Efficiency in Spending Act will improve transparency for taxpayers and accountability across federal agencies; it’s a no-brainer for passage.”

    Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker: “Heritage Action strongly supports The Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act to implement fiscal accountability within the federal government. Each year the government loses billions in hard-earned taxpayer dollars to fraud. This DOGE-inspired legislation codifies the Trump executive order to ensure U.S. dollars are not improperly spent or lost, that waste is reduced, and we can accurately track federal spending. Heritage Action applauds Republican lawmakers for pushing this Act, and urges Congress to quickly codify this commonsense legislation.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Partisan Attempts to Gerrymander Texas, Warner and Kaine Join Colleagues to Restore the Voting Rights Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined all of their Senate Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation to update and reinforce safeguards in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have been eroded in recent years by federal court rulings. The legislation would strengthen our democracy by re-establishing preclearance for jurisdictions with a pattern of voting rights violations, protecting minority communities subject to discriminatory voting practices and defending election workers from threats and intimidation. It is named in honor of voting rights champion and former Congressman John Lewis.

    This legislation is especially relevant in Texas where, following historic disapproval of congressional Republicans’ megabill, Texas state lawmakers are attempting to redistrict before the 2026 elections to pick up additional Republican House seats. The move comes in direct response to President Trump’s fears that voters may flip the House in the 2026 midterms.

    “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and we have a moral obligation to ensure that every American can make their voice heard at the ballot box,” said Sens. Warner and Kaine. “In the years since the Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, we’ve seen a wave of state-level efforts, like the one underway in Texas, designed to disenfranchise voters and rig the rules for partisan gain. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a critical step toward protecting access to the ballot while honoring the legacy of a civil rights hero who dedicated his life to the fight for full participation in our democracy.”

    In the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Shelby County decision in 2013 – which gutted the federal government’s ability under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent discriminatory changes to voting laws and procedures – states across the country have unleashed a torrent of voter suppression schemes that have systematically disenfranchised tens of thousands of American voters. The Supreme Court’s decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) delivered yet another blow to the Voting Rights Act, by making it significantly harder for plaintiffs to win lawsuits under the landmark law against discriminatory voting laws or procedures.

    The John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act is supported by 178 organizations. Text of the legislation is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Mark Up of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks as the committee meets to consider the draft fiscal year 2026 Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations acts.

    Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “As I have said, these are not the bills I would have written on my own—but they nevertheless represent serious bipartisan work to make some truly critical investments in families and our country’s future.

    “From defense funding that supports our military and keeps our country safe to funding for health care, child care, schools, seniors, medical research, public health, workforce training and safety—and many other programs that keep our communities strong.

    “The priorities laid out in both of these bills are fundamental to our nation’s security and Americans’ livelihoods and health.

    “So I’m glad this Committee was able to deliver and reach a bipartisan compromise to write these bills that deliver essential funds to help people, solve problems, and reject many of the absolutely devastating cuts and much of the chaos that President Trump was pushing for.

    “It remains clear as ever to me that we cannot afford to go down the path Trump and Russ Vought want to push us down. Their vision is one where this Committee becomes less bipartisan and less powerful. Where the president and the OMB director call the shots and some Republicans in Congress spend their time cutting what they are told to cut, even at the expense of their own constituents. Where instead of securing new investments for folks back home through bipartisan agreements, lawmakers have to plead their case to this administration to unlock funds we have already delivered or secure special exceptions for spending cuts. Where biomedical research and education funding gets held up for no reason at all. Where we gut investments in working families while letting Trump’s corruption run rampant.

    “That’s what Trump and Vought want.

    “We can—and we must—reject it.

    “Because, there is no comparison between having a bipartisan process, that gives our constituents a say in how their tax dollars are spent. Or another slush fund CR that forfeits our power and lets Trump rob some states, and pick winners and losers regardless of what our communities actually need or the law says.

    “The bills we are voting on today really show how big of a difference there is here. Anyone who has doubts about that, can just look at the LHHS bill.

    “It rejects Trump’s cuts that would have devastated our work to fight substance use disorders, HIV, and pandemics, eliminate women’s health investments like Title X funding and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program and essentially saw the CDC cut in half.

    “It rejects backward proposals from Trump that would hurt our students and workers—like eliminating preschool grants, or slashing PELL, gutting public school funding, or ending Job Corps and AmeriCorps.

    “It rejects efforts to gut agencies that protect the rights of patients, students, and workers.

    “And, I’m especially pleased to note it rejects Trump’s 40% cut to lifesaving medical research—and increases the NIH budget by $400 million so we continue to make progress against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and so much more.

    “To the scientists wondering if there will even be an NIH by the end of this administration: this committee’s resounding message is ‘yes.’

    “Congress has your back—we’re not going to give up the fight against cancer, Alzheimer’s, or rare diseases.

    “We support you and we need you to stay here and keep this research going.

    “But I want to be clear—at the end of the day, this isn’t about rejecting Trump, it is about investing in our families.

    “Investing in our schools, in medical research, in workforce training, and community health.

    “In fact, this bill even increases funding for crucial programs with new investments to allow the Social Security Administration to actually help people and undo some of the damage that Trump and DOGE have recklessly caused and increased investments in child care—something I will never stop fighting to make more progress on.

    “Now, one thing this bill does not do, unfortunately, is fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

    “As everyone knows, Republicans rescinded bipartisan funding we provided for CPB in the first ever partisan rescissions package.

    “It is a shameful reality—and now communities across the country will suffer the consequences as over 1,500 stations lose critical funding.

    “I really hope Republicans will join us to restore this funding down the line—and I want you to know I am going to keep pushing to do that. 

    “Before I close, I want to say: I am clear-eyed: the investments we make in these bills today are really only half of the equation.

    “Because the fact of the matter is we have an administration right now that is intent on ignoring Congress, breaking the law, and doing everything it can without any transparency to dismantle programs and agencies that help families.

    “There is no magic bullet that will change that unfortunate reality.

    “Our bills reject devastating cuts—and reject many of this administration’s absurd proposals—like dismantling the Department of Education, like destroying HHS, and more.

    “But I still want to see us to do much more when it comes to demanding accountability, demanding transparency, and demanding the administration actually follow our laws.

    “We all know President Trump cannot dismantle the Department of Education or ship education programs to other agencies. Authorizing laws prevent that. Appropriations laws prevent that. Yet, that has not stopped him from shipping CTE and adult education programs to DOL in violation of our laws.

    “And Secretary McMahon says she wants to do the same for Title I and IDEA. 

    “So I am very glad our LHHS bill takes new steps to ensure she cannot do that, and Title I and IDEA programs students depend on do not get dismantled or moved out of ED.

    “But I’d like this bill to also do the same for every other education program that states administer, to prevent states from having to deal with the chaos of these dismantling efforts, and I’m disappointed there was not bipartisan support to do that. Still, I am going to keep making the case for more accountability and transparency.

    “We need more members across the aisle to not only reject the cuts but to speak up and speak out against what this administration is already doing to defy our laws and hurt the people we represent.

    “Because, as we speak now, Trump and Vought are holding up billions of dollars we have secured on a bipartisan basis. They are on course to impound billions of taxpayer dollars while agencies fail to meet basic requirements of law.

    “Right now, they are illegally hiding apportionments data that would let us know whether funds we passed are being spent as intended and help us strengthen the bills we are in the middle of writing on. It is absurd we have to mark up bills—while being kept in the dark.  And just this week, we learned Russ Vought—through a footnote—paused $15 billion in NIH funding.

    “One footnote, from an unelected bureaucrat—overruling Congress and even NIH, to block $15 billion in funding for things like cancer research.

    “That is not transparency. It is not what Congress intended. And it is not acceptable. 

    “We need our Republican colleagues to join us in insisting that all blocked funding gets out—not just the programs most important to them.

    “So, in sum: these are critical, solid bills we are considering today that deliver vital funds for families and reject many devastating proposals.

    “And of course I would have liked to do even more, and I will not stop discussing how we make that happen with my colleagues, I will be voting yes to advance both of these bills today.

    “And I am glad we are on track to continue making progress on bipartisan bills that reject devastating cuts and invest in our communities and in our global strength.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Migrant Crossings at the Darien Gap Continue to Plummet, Crossings Are Down 99.98%

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    In May, only 13 crossings were recorded—June dropped further to just 10

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced migrant crossings at the Darien Gap have dropped 99.98% for the months of May and June 2025 compared to a peak under the Biden Administration in August 2023.  

    Under the Biden Administration, crossings in a single month exceeded 82,000. In May 2025, there were only 13 crossings and the number fell again in June 2025 to just 10. This is a massive decline in illegal migration through one of the key channels normally utilized by would-be illegal aliens to invade our country.  

    “The dangerous Darien Gap trek is notorious for exposing migrants, including children and the most vulnerable, to sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “In Panama’s Darien Gap, migrants are now turning BACK before they even reach our border— only 10 migrants crossed in June. This is more than a 99.98% drop from the Biden high when 82,000 illegal aliens crossed in a single month. The world is hearing our message that America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, we have the most secure border in American history.” 

    With the most secure border in American history, DHS is focused on deporting those who break our nation’s laws. If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. Illegal aliens who use the CBP Home App to self-deport also receive cost-free travel and a $1,000 exit bonus, paid after their return is confirmed through the app. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Presses for Release of Epstein Files

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – This week, President Trump’s former personal defense attorney and current high-ranking DOJ lawyer Todd Blanche was dispatched to conduct a private jailhouse interview with Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who President Trump knew personally. Ms. Maxwell is serving a 20 year federal sentence for her role in the sex trafficking of young women and girls, and President Trump has refused to rule out a presidential pardon for her. During the 2020 campaign, Trump said that he “wishes her well.”

    In an effort to restore public trust and ensure the American public knows what information is in the Epstein files, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is teaming up with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and several colleagues on legislation to direct the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to publicly release all files relating to the investigation of dead sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. There would be common-sense protections against disclosure of information that would compromise the privacy and safety of victims and witnesses. However, information could not be withheld to protect someone’s reputation or for political sensitivities—on both sides of the aisle.

    The Epstein Files Transparency Act would provide full transparency for the American people, accountability for individuals involved with Epstein, and justice for all victims harmed. The bill mandates that within 30 days of its enactment, the U.S. Attorney General must release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein case held by the Department of Justice, including files from the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

    “The rich and powerful cannot use their influence, money, and connections to cover up the abuse of our most vulnerable,” said Senator Merkley. “We have a government of ‘We the People,’ not ‘We the Powerful.’ To restore the public’s trust, the American people deserve the truth about Jeffrey Epstein and those connected to him.”

    “Like his promise to lower prices, President Trump wants to renege on his pledge to release the Epstein files. Once again, he’s failed to deliver. The American people deserve answers, the victims deserve justice, and it’s past time for Congressional Republicans to hold the Executive branch accountable,” said Senator Reed. “Instead of lifting a finger to release the Epstein files, President Trump is doing everything he can to prevent them from coming out. The American people deserve truth and accountability. The records should be transparently released and there should be zero tolerance for abuse of power and sex trafficking of innocent underage victims.”

    The Senate bill compliments the bipartisan House bill (H.Res.581) introduced by Congressmen Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

    Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suspended all House business until September rather than endure a vote on the Massie-Khanna resolution calling for transparent disclosure of the Epstein files.

    In addition to Merkley and Reed, the Epstein Files Transparency Act is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

    Sponsors of the bill are working to ensure the Senate considers it in a timely manner and before the Senate Republicans adjourn the chamber for its August district work period.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newly Declassified Appendix to Durham Report Sheds Additional Light on Clinton Campaign Plan to Falsely Tie Trump to Russia and FBI’s Failure to Investigate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today is making public the formerly Classified Appendix (“Durham annex”) to John Durham’s 2023 Special Counsel report. The Unclassified Report and the Classified Appendix form the entirety of Durham’s Special Counsel Report.

    The Durham annex contains previously classified information exposing a reported Clinton campaign plan to falsely tie President Donald Trump to Russia.

    The annex also goes into further detail on matters discussed in the Unclassified Report, specifically:

    • The FBI’s failure – under the leadership of then-Director James Comey – to investigate intelligence that the Clinton campaign may have created the Russia collusion hoax. Meanwhile the Comey-led FBI used the Steele Dossier – a Clinton campaign creation – to obtain FISA warrants on Carter Page.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Intelligence Community elements declassified the Durham annex at Grassley’s request. In requesting its declassification, which included declassification of information by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Agency (NSA), Grassley argued that “the overriding public interest demands the release of this information, and doing so would benefit public transparency and accountability.”

    “Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton’s political gain, which was ultimately done through the Steele Dossier and other means. These intelligence reports and related records, whether true or false, were buried for years. History will show that the Obama and Biden administration’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump. This political weaponization has caused critical damage to our institutions and is one of the biggest political scandals and cover-ups in American history. The new Trump administration has a tremendous responsibility to the American people to fix the damage done and do so with maximum speed and transparency,” Grassley said.

    “For years, I’ve fought to assemble and publicize all the facts surrounding Durham’s investigation, Crossfire Hurricane and related matters. The American people shouldn’t be shortchanged or strung out on matters of significant public interest, and that firm belief fuels my tireless oversight. It’s been a refreshing change to see Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel’s increased efforts to bring transparency to a very dark corner of the people’s government. I hope that attitude continues, and you can be sure my oversight work will continue as well, because there’s much work yet to be done,” Grassley concluded.

    Read the Durham annex HERE.

    Key Findings of the Durham Annex:

    The Clinton Campaign Plan

    In 2016, the Obama administration obtained intelligence information from a source contained in two separate memoranda – one memorandum from January 2016 and another from March 2016. The two memoranda “described ‘confidential conversations’ between then-Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and two individuals at the [Soros] Open Society Foundations (i) [Leonard] Benardo and (ii) Jeffrey Goldstein.” (Pgs. 2-3)

    • This memo stated, in part, that “[the Democratic Party’s] opposition is focused on discrediting Trump…. [a]mong other things, the Clinton staff, with support from special services, is preparing scandalous revelations of business relations between Trump and the ‘Russian Mafia’”. (Pg. 4)

    • According to the Durham annex, based on an analysis and translation of the intelligence, FBI analysts believed that, at the time, the “special services” in the March 2016 memorandum could refer “to the FBI and the CIA or more broadly to the intelligence and law enforcement communities” in the United States, or, analysts speculated, it could refer to “Trump dossier author Christopher Steele.” (Pg. 5)

    • When the Obama administration received this intelligence in March 2016, Fusion GPS was preparing open source opposition research regarding purported ties between Trump and Russians. The research was paid for by Clinton’s campaign and the DNC. (Pg. 5).

    • Notably, on April 15, 2020, Grassley released Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) footnotes showing that Russian intelligence was aware of Steele’s anti-Trump research in early July 2016. Further, the FBI had reports in hand in 2017 that the Dossier may have Russian sources and was potentially Russian disinformation.

    On March 31, 2016, FBI personnel, including then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, shared the intelligence regarding the potential Clinton Campaign Plan with high-ranking career officials at DOJ. (Pg. 5)

    FBI Receipt of Additional Intelligence Information on the Clinton Campaign Plan

    The Durham annex describes that, in July 2016, the FBI received additional intelligence regarding a possible Clinton Campaign Plan, including documents with purported emails allegedly sent by Leonard Benardo, Senior Vice President of Soros’ Open Society Foundations. The intelligence included data providing specificity on the plan and the attempt to smear then-candidate Donald Trump by falsely linking him to Russia, while apparently counting on the support of the FBI to open up an investigation. (Pgs. 7-11)

    The intelligence the FBI received also included information and analysis from purported Leonard Benardo emails that stated, in part:

    • “During the first stage of the campaign, due to lack of direct evidence, it was decided to disseminate the necessary information through the FBI-affiliated…technical structures… in particular, the Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect companies, from where the information would then be disseminated through leading U.S. publications.” (Pg. 8)

    • “The point is making the Russian play a U.S. domestic issue… In absence of direct evidence, Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect will supply the media, and GRU [Russia’s Main Intelligence Directive] will hopefully carry on to give more facts.” (Pg. 11)

    Assessment of Authenticity of the “Benardo Emails” Intelligence

    • The Durham annex states, “Analysts and officers whom [Durham’s team] interviewed, and who were well-versed in the Sensitive Intelligence collection, stated that their best assessment was that the Bernardo emails were likely authentic.” (Pg. 11)

    Durham’s team conducted investigative work to inform their assessment. Per the Durham annex:

    • Communications the Durham team reviewed provided additional support that the Clinton campaign was engaged in a plan to tie Trump to Russia and that the campaign wanted or expected the Office of the Vice President, the FBI or other parts of the Intelligence Community, such as the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), to aid that effort. (Pgs. 16-17)

    • The Durham annex states, “The Office’s best assessment is that the … emails that purport to be from Benardo were ultimately a composite of several emails that were obtained through Russian intelligence hacking of the U.S.-based Think Tanks, including the Open Society Foundations, the Carnegie Endowment, and others.” (Pg. 17)

    • The Durham annex concludes, “It is a logical deduction [redacted] [Julianne] Smith was, at minimum, playing a role in the Clinton campaign’s efforts to tie Trump to Russia,” and that the communications it reviewed “certainly lends at least some credence that such a plan existed.” (Pg. 17)

    The Obama-Biden Administration’s Response to Intelligence on the Clinton Campaign Plan

    • According to the Durham annex, following the receipt of this intelligence, multiple high-ranking U.S. officials were briefed on the matter, including an August 3, 2016 briefing in the White House by CIA Director John Brennan to President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director Comey, among others. As described in Durham’s Unclassified Report, ultimately, the CIA sent the FBI an investigative referral that included the “purported Clinton campaign plan.” (Pg. 18)

    • In 2017, the “CIA prepared a written assessment of the authenticity and veracity of the above-referenced intelligence. The CIA stated that it did not assess that the above [redacted] memoranda, or [redacted] hacked U.S. communications, to be the product of Russian fabrications.” (Pg. 19)

    • The Durham annex notes that “FBI was fully alerted to the possibility that at least some of the information it was receiving about the Trump campaign might have its origin either with the Clinton campaign or its supporters, or alternatively, was the product of Russian disinformation.”

    • The Durham annex concludes, in part, that “[d]espite this awareness, the FBI appears to have dismissed the [intelligence information] as not credible without any investigative steps actually having been taken to either corroborate or disprove the allegations.” (Pgs. 22-24)

    The Threat of Foreign Election Influence and Assessment in FISA Renewal Applications

    As the Unclassified Durham Report noted, “[b]eginning in late 2014… the FBI learned from a well-placed Confidential Human Source that a foreign government (“Foreign Government-2”) was planning to send an individual (“Non-U.S. Person-I”) to contribute to Clinton’s anticipated presidential campaign, as a way to gain influence with Clinton should she win the presidency.”

    The Durham annex notes that “Non-U.S.Person-I” was “directly tasked by the leader of Foreign Government-2” with facilitating this plan, but had indicated plans to travel to the U.S. in late 2014.

    • However, as known from the Unclassified Durham Report, the FISA “application lingered because ‘everyone was super more careful’ and ‘scared with the big name [Clinton]’ involved.”

    • Ultimately, after four months, the FISA authority was authorized following a commitment that Clinton and others targeted by Foreign Government-2 would receive defensive briefings. (Pgs. 23-24)

    The remainder of the Durham annex reinforces that the FBI provided false and misleading information to the FISA court in pursuit of FISA renewals, and at least one Confidential Human Source lied to his handlers.

    The information in the Durham annex, taken together with previously released details in the Unclassified Report, reinforce the FBI’s disparate treatment of Trump versus Clinton. Despite lacking probable cause and relying on false information, the FBI secured a FISA warrant and multiple renewals to surveil Carter Page and did not provide Trump a defensive briefing equivalent to Clinton’s briefings.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley Joins America’s Newsroom to Discuss His Release of the Durham Annex

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined “America’s Newsroom” on Fox News to discuss his successful efforts to secure the declassification and release of the formerly Classified Appendix (“Durham annex”) to John Durham’s 2023 Special Counsel report.

    The Durham annex exposes a reported Hillary Clinton campaign plan to falsely tie President Donald Trump to Russia, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) failure to investigate intelligence suggesting the Clinton campaign fabricated the Russia collusion hoax.

    Video and excerpts of Grassley’s remarks follow:

    [embedded content]

    VIDEO

    On the reported Clinton Campaign Plan to generate the Russia collusion hoax:

    “[The Durham annex] gives us information that the FBI had eight to 10 years ago that they never followed up on. It actually brings attention to the fact that there was either a Clinton conspiracy to make this happen, or Russia disinformation. Either way, it was an attempt to stop Trump, and it proves that the FBI had a hand in it.

    “And now, after these eight years, three years of mine trying to get the document, we know that the Steele dossier [was] paid for by the Democrats and the Clinton campaign. That it was all an effort of total distraction and to make it look like Russia was playing a very major role in helping Trump be elected. Now we know none of that was true, and now with this Durham report annex out, it finally proved that the FBI was covering up.”

    On the classified Durham annex being discovered inside burn bags at the FBI:

    “I think it’s evidence of the great depth that the deep state will go to cover up weaponization that was going on in the FBI and the executive branch of government, generally, under the Obama administration.

    “I want to thank Kash Patel of the FBI and Pam Bondi, our Attorney General, for releasing these documents. Because, after eight years – and it took us three years to get this information – but after eight years, I think we need maximum transparency on all the schemes that were going on 10 years ago to either stop Trump from being elected or, after he’s elected, to ruin his presidency. And that’s what this Durham report is all about.”

    On former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan’s and former Director of National Intelligence Director James Clapper’s attempts to cover up their involvement in the Russia collusion hoax:

    “I think that they have been in the news so often recently, along with [former FBI Director James] Comey, [for being] in the center of this conspiracy. They’re trying to cover their hind end.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Presses President Trump’s New NTIA Administrator on Day One: Stop Delaying Broadband Funds for New Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, called on Arielle Roth, the recently confirmed Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to fulfill her responsibility to fully implement programs authorized and funded by Congress – specifically, the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Senator Luján urged Roth to make her first act as Administrator the immediate restoration of suspended digital equity grants and the release of approved federal funding to connect all New Mexicans to broadband.

    “Now that you have been confirmed as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), I urge you to fulfill your commitments to Congress that you will ‘follow the law,’ ‘act impartially,’ and ‘deliver the best broadband service possible for all Americans,’” said Senator Luján. “Your first act as Administrator should be to immediately restore the suspended digital equity grants and swiftly approve and release BEAD funding to states like New Mexico.”

    “Congressionally appropriated funds for the Digital Equity Act and the BEAD program are not optional – they are essential.  They represent not only a historic investment in our infrastructure, but a statutory obligation to the people of New Mexico and every unserved and underserved community across this country,” concluded Senator Luján.

    As Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Senator Luján is a strong champion for 100% broadband connectivity. Senator Luján has  pressed Commerce Secretary Lutnick multiple times and called on President Trump directly to release funding for the BEAD program.

    In the 118th Congress, Senator Luján introduced the bipartisan Tribal Connect Act to make it easier for Tribes to secure high-speed internet access at Tribal Essential Community-Serving Institutions through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries Program, or E-Rate program. 

    In the 117th Congress, Senator Luján introduced legislation to help close the homework gap by equipping school buses with Wi-Fi technology and improving financing options for broadband deployment.

    The full letter can be found here or below:

    Dear Ms. Roth: 

    Now that you have been confirmed as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), I urge you to fulfill your commitments to Congress that you will “follow the law,” “act impartially,” and “deliver the best broadband service possible for all Americans.”

    This responsibility includes fully implementing programs authorized and funded by Congress under the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Your first act as Administrator should be to immediately restore the suspended digital equity grants and swiftly approve and release BEAD funding to states like New Mexico. 

    The Digital Equity Act represents a Congressionally mandated $2.75 billion investment to advance digital inclusion for historically underserved populations across this county. New Mexico, a state with deep rural divides, Tribal lands, and persistent poverty, was awarded more than $8 million to launch programs such as digital navigators, workforce development, and cybersecurity training. These funds were designed to reach nearly two million residents who still face significant barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the digital world. 

    As you noted, “[m]aking sure Americans have the resources and skills they need to participate in the digital economy was part of the IIJA and I will follow the law.” 2 You also stated that once confirmed you would “commit to implementing NTIA’s statutory requirements, including with respect to the Digital Equity Act.” 3 Distribution of these digital equity funds is not a discretionary choice, it is a statutory obligation. You must uphold your commitment to follow the law by immediately reinstating and resuming the disbursement of funds awarded under the Digital Equity Act.

    Congress also created the $42.45 billion BEAD Program to finish the job of connecting nearly 25 million Americans that continue to wait for affordable, high-speed, reliable internet service. The BEAD program is our once-in-a-century opportunity to finish closing the digital divide and states have already invested years in developing implementation plans tailored to local needs, technical realities, and the bipartisan intent of Congress. 

    As NTIA Administrator you must uphold the statutory flexibility given to the states. This includes:

    1. No new delays. The BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice should not be used to further delay approvals or revisit established allocations—such as the over $675 million allocated to New Mexico.
    2. A meaningful low-cost service option. Internet service providers that win BEAD funding must offer a low-cost service option that is affordable and high-speed, not just a box checking exercise. 
    3. Deference for local expertise. States are best suited to determine what technology is appropriate for their terrain and therefore must be afforded deference on priority project determinations, so long as they meet the speed, latency and scalability requirements of IIJA.

    Failing to adhere to these statutory requirements and current approval timeline risks setting broadband deployment back by years.

    Moreover, Congress also explicitly authorized states to use BEAD funding for a variety of uses beyond deployment. These uses include data collection, broadband mapping, planning, installation of Internet connections within multifamily residential buildings where low-income residents live, broadband adoption efforts, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices, and other uses as determined by the Assistant Secretary. It is important to follow the law and release non-deployment guidance as soon as possible.

    I request that you respond to these questions by August 15, 2025.

    1. The IIJA included $2.75 billion to support three grant programs under the Digital Equity Act to equip individuals and communities with the skills and tools needed for full participation in all aspects of society. Earlier this year, the states’ Capacity Grants were wrongfully terminated as were the Competitive Grant grantees and the others recommended for an award. In accordance with the law, when will you reinstate the grant programs under the Digital Equity Act? Please provide a specific date.
    2. States would already have shovels in the ground if not for the delays this administration introduced with the initial 90 day extension and subsequent June 6th Public Notice. Will you commit to no further delays and approve States’ BEAD Plans within 90 days of submission?
    3. Congress authorized BEAD funds for non-deployment uses, including affordability and adoption. Further guidance from NTIA should not hinder states’ ability to exercise discretion granted by statute to use funds for non-deployment. When will you release the updated guidance for these uses? Please provide a specific date.

    We share the goals of connecting every American to broadband and ensuring that broadband is affordable to low-income Americans. Congressionally appropriated funds for the Digital Equity Act and the BEAD program are not optional – they are essential. They represent not only a historic investment in our infrastructure, but a statutory obligation to the people of New Mexico and every unserved and underserved community across this country. 

    I look forward to your response.

    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Bill Blocks Federal Judges from Appointing U.S. Attorneys

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to restore the President’s right to appoint acting United States Attorneys, a power usurped by Democrats and handed to judges under arbitrary time limits, creating conflicts of interest and power imbalances within courts. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) cosponsored the legislation.

    “President Trump deserves to pick the people working for him,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Judges shouldn’t get to choose the US Attorney who will be arguing cases before them, just as they would never let a President name their law clerks. Congress took this provision out once before, and Democrats revived it to hamper the Bush administration almost 20 years ago. It’s time we restored this prerogative to the leader of the Executive Branch.”

    Background

    U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and subject to approval by the Senate. While awaiting Senate approval, the Attorney General selects an interim U.S. Attorney to serve for 120 days. If the presidential appointee is not confirmed within those 120 days, current law allows district courts to then select yet another interim U.S. Attorney – an opportunity sometimes exploited for political retaliation.

    This shift of appointment authority away from the executive branch to the courts creates a conflict of interest, weakening the separation of powers by allowing courts to select their own interim U.S. attorneys.

    Senator Lee’s legislation will correct this miscarriage of justice by restoring the authority to make U.S. attorney appointments to the executive branch.

    Read exclusive coverage by The Federalist here.

    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Non-Partisan Watchdog: President Trump and Russ Vought Continue to Steal from America’s Students and Schools

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, OH — Today, the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a decision finding that the Department of Energy violated the Impoundment Control Act. After investigating delayed awards for the Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools Program, GAO confirmed what we already knew: President Trump and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought’s theft of appropriated funds violates the Impoundment Control Act.

    This decision respects Congress’s constitutional primacy over appropriations and the Congress’s role in passing annual appropriations Acts, including appropriations to provide funding for schools to help schools decrease energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments.

    “GAO’s legal determination confirms the illegality of DOE’s wider pattern of freezing appropriated funds for energy programs. DOE’s delays of critical energy funding for policy reasons lay bare an appalling betrayal of working families,” said Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “These program freezes cede our global clean energy leadership to Communist China and force Americans to pay higher energy bills. DOE’s partisan overreach must end now. They must release the funds immediately so communities and families can drive down costs, improve our infrastructure, and secure America’s energy independence in perpetuity.”

    “President Trump, Russ Vought, and Secretary Wright continue to steal from Americans to concentrate absolute power in the executive branch. This time, they are stealing from our nation’s schoolchildren, who deserve a healthy environment to learn in – and from school districts looking to lower their energy costs. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), our government’s preeminent nonpartisan watchdog, has yet again plainly demonstrated that the Department of Energy is engaged in a broad pattern of unlawfully freezing critical energy investments, forcing Americans to pay higher energy bills,” said House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “Their unlawful impoundments are not limited to Renew America’s Schools; they are threatening vital clean energy and efficiency initiatives that help drive down costs and modernize our infrastructure. I will continue to say it: Russ Vought is behind the lawless destruction and upheaval of our government and must be removed from his position. Russ Vought is an unelected bureaucrat, much like those he professes to detest, and he has decided that his views, and his priorities, are superior to the priorities, directives, and decisions of the Democratic and Republican representatives in the United States Congress. He has shown time and again that he is willing to break the law and hurt Americans in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. He must be stopped.”

    The US Department of Energy (DOE) launched the $500 Million Renew America’s Schools Program to promote the implementation of energy improvements at K-12 public schools across the country. This first-of-its-kind investment aims to help school communities make energy upgrades that will decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments. To date, the Renew America’s Schools Program has invested hundreds of millions in public school districts across America, supporting capacity-building initiatives for energy management at over two dozen Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), and funding improvement projects at more than 400 facilities across 36 states – directly benefitting over 197,000 students and 14,000 teachers.

    In April, Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray first released a joint tracker on the funds President Trump and Russ Vought are stealing from American communities. This tracker — the first of its kind — puts a spotlight on the frozen funds across our government, including the $77 Billion for Department of Energy programs. See the updated tracker here.

    Ranking Member DeLauro has been sounding the alarm on impoundment since President Trump was reelected. In December 2024, she released this fact sheet laying the groundwork on President Trump’s uninformed and unconstitutional impoundment plan.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Quigley, Pingree Call for Trump Administration to Preserve Legal Status for Ukrainians

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, OH – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Congressman Mike QuigleyCo-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, together with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), led 33 members of Congress in calling on the Trump administration to rapidly address applications for legal status and work authorization by Ukrainians currently in the United States.

     “Murderous Dictator Putin continues his unprovoked war of aggression, unleashing daily barrages of rockets and terror on innocent Ukrainian civilians. The United States and the Free World have a moral obligation to protect those who may yet fall under his murderous rampage. Since the full scale escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine in February, 2022, more than 270,000 Ukrainians have sought refuge in America. For more than 3 years, Ukrainian refugees have contributed greatly to communities nationwide, including in the greater Toledo and Cleveland areas in my home state of Ohio.” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. “The success of the U4U program is unquestioned, with more than 175,000 Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States through this program. I was pleased to hear and echo President Trump’s sentiment earlier this week that we must continue to grant them the safety and shelter that prevents them from being forced back into the setting of war. America has long been a refuge for those whose lives are threatened by immediate danger, and we must continue serving as a shining light for Liberty for those fleeing tyranny and terror.” 

    Since Russia invaded Ukraine, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have sought refuge in the United States through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. Now, many are seeing their statuses lapse as a massive backlog has developed within US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Following President Trump’s recent encouraging comments about the U4U program, the bipartisan group of members is urging the administration to adjudicate outstanding requests for legal status and work authorization and to extend parole for Ukrainians with expiring statuses.

    The members wrote, in part in their letter, “After years of being employed, paying taxes, and contributing to our neighborhoods, Ukrainians in our districts now live in uncertainty–a state of limbo that hurts communities and employers alike who’ve sought to help this population.”

    Other signers of the letter include Representatives: Ukraine Caucus Co-Chair Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Danny Davis (IL-07), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Adam Smith (WA-09), Dina Titus (NV-01), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Greg Casar (TX-35), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jason Crow (CO-06), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), and Jim Costa (CA-21). 

    A copy of the signed letter is available HERE. The full text of the letter is available below:

    Dear Secretary Noem and Director Edlow,

    We write to express our continued support for Ukrainians who have been granted temporary status in the United States through the Uniting for Ukraine program. We ask your administration to take swift, decisive actions to preserve legal status and work authorization for Ukrainians who have found safety in the United States amid the devastating conflict brought upon their homeland.

    Five months ago, we marked three years since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale, unprovoked, and illegal invasion of Ukraine. This brutal assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy has forced millions to flee their homeland in search of safety. Since February 24, 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have sought refuge in the United States. For many of them, the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program has provided a vital humanitarian lifeline, offering a pathway to safety, dignity, and hope.

    Many individuals and families from Ukraine received travel authorization to the United States, a lawful status and temporary basis for work authorization through the Uniting for Ukraine program for up to two years. However, Ukrainians in our districts are increasingly seeing their statuses and work authorization lapse under expiring grants of parole offered under the program. After years of being employed, paying taxes, and contributing to our neighborhoods, Ukrainians in our districts now live in uncertainty–a state of limbo that hurts communities and employers alike who’ve sought to help this population. We believe a series of limited, concrete actions within your authority could protect this population as hostilities continue in Ukraine, such as:

    1)      Adjudicate outstanding requests for lawful status, work authorization: Many Ukrainians have applied for re-parole, Temporary Protected Status, and work authorization but have not had their applications adjudicated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under an administrative hold. We urge USCIS to swiftly adjudicate outstanding employment authorization and other benefits requests from U4U beneficiaries under the June 9 “Adjudication of Requests filed by Parolees Under Specified Parole Programs” memo. Backlog reduction efforts would make a substantial difference in providing certainty and clarity to thousands of Ukrainian individuals and families who sought relief in a timely manner.

    2)      Re-parole and/or parole extensions for Ukrainians with expiring parole: Under the operational lifting of the USCIS administrative pause, DHS should accept, consider, and adjudicate new applications for re-parole from U4U beneficiaries, or deploy a limited parole extension process on a case-by-case basis. These processes would provide an orderly framework for Ukrainians to preserve an expiring status and/or work authorization outside of the backlogged asylum system.

    We are grateful for your administration’s support for peace in Ukraine. Until that is achieved, we ask you to preserve protections for those affected by this terrible war.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bimini Capital Management Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VERO BEACH, Fla., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTCQB: BMNM), (“Bimini Capital,” “Bimini,” or the “Company”), today announced results of operations for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025.

    Second Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • Net income of approximately $43 thousand, or $0.00 per common share
    • Book value per share of $0.74
    • Company to discuss results on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET

    Management Commentary

    Commenting on the second quarter results, Robert E. Cauley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “When we announced our first quarter results, the second quarter of 2025 was off to a very rough start.  Markets were in turmoil as a result of the extensive reciprocal tariffs announced by the Trump administration. While these conditions abated gradually, all the companies in the mortgage REIT sector that have reported second quarter earnings to date reported losses for the quarter. Our MBS segment produced a loss of $1.3 million as well but our advisory services segment generated earnings of $1.9 million and Bimini as a whole generated modest net income of approximately $43 thousand.  For the six months ended June 30, 2025, Bimini recorded net income of $0.6 million, or $0.06 per share, representing a return on stockholders’ equity of 8.7%, unannualized.

    “Our advisory service revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2025 increased by 20% and 21%, respectively, over the comparable 2024 periods. While we sold $9.8 million of MBS early in the second quarter in response to the adverse market conditions mentioned above, our interest revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2025 increased 23% and 24%, respectively, over the comparable 2024 periods. As our cash positions have increased over the past few months, we anticipate resuming growth of the RMBS portfolio in the near-term.

    “As the third quarter unfolds markets are considerably calmer than when the second quarter was starting, and Agency RMBS are still trading at attractive levels.  Market conditions generally are quite favorable for RMBS – a positive development for both Bimini and Orchid Island as well.  As long as we have no new adverse developments with respect to reciprocal tariffs and interest rate volatility remains low, the sector should perform well.  With respect to the macroeconomic backdrop, the economy has remained surprisingly resilient, but in the event that conditions deteriorate, the Federal Reserve appears likely to act and reduce over-night rates, which should buttress the economy.”

    Details of Second Quarter 2025 Results of Operations

    Orchid reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2025 of $33.6 million and generated a (4.66)% return on its book value for the quarter – not annualized. Orchid also raised $139.4 million during the quarter and its stockholders’ equity increased from $855.9 million at March 31, 2025 to $912.0 million at June 30, 2025. As a result, Bimini’s advisory service revenues of approximately $3.8 million represented a 20% increase over the second quarter of 2024 and a 6% increase over the first quarter of 2025. 

    Royal Palm sold approximately $9.8 million of its MBS portfolio in the second quarter of 2025 after increasing its MBS holdings throughout 2024. Interest revenue increased 23% over the second quarter of 2024, but decreased 9% from the first quarter of 2025.  With funding costs down as a result of Fed rates cuts late in 2024, net interest income, inclusive of dividends from holdings of Orchid common shares, increased approximately 78% over the second quarter of 2024, but decreased by approximately 7% from the first quarter of 2025 owing primarily to the sale of assets in the MBS portfolio.  These amounts represent the net interest income from the investment portfolio and do not include interest charges on our trust preferred or other long-term debt.

    Interest charges on the trust preferred and other long-term debt of $0.54 million were virtually unchanged from the first quarter of 2025 and were down 11% from the second quarter of 2024. Expenses of $2.82 million decreased by 4% from the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 1% over the second quarter of 2024.  Bimini recorded an income tax provision of $6.5 thousand for the second quarter of 2025.

    Management of Orchid Island Capital, Inc.

    Orchid is managed and advised by Bimini. As Manager, Bimini is responsible for administering Orchid’s business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of a management agreement, our subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini also maintains a common stock investment in Orchid, which is accounted for under the fair value option, with changes in fair value recorded in the statement of operations for the current period. For the three months ended June 30, 2025, Bimini’s statement of operations included a fair value adjustment of $(0.3) million and dividends of $0.2 million from its investment in Orchid common stock. Also, during the three months ended June 30, 2025, Bimini recorded $3.8 million in advisory services revenue for managing Orchid’s portfolio, consisting of $3.0 million of management fees, $0.6 million in overhead reimbursement, and $0.2 million in repurchase, clearing and administrative fees.

    Book Value Per Share

    The Company’s book value per share on June 30, 2025 was $0.74. The Company computes book value per share by dividing total stockholders’ equity by the total number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. At June 30, 2025, the Company’s stockholders’ equity was $7.4 million, with 10,005,457 Class A Common shares outstanding.

    Capital Allocation and Return on Invested Capital

    The Company allocates capital between two MBS sub-portfolios, the pass-through MBS portfolio and the structured MBS portfolio, consisting of interest-only and inverse interest-only securities. The table below details the changes to the respective sub-portfolios during the quarter.

    Portfolio Activity for the Quarter
              Structured Security Portfolio          
                  Inverse                  
      Pass     Interest-     Interest-                  
      Through     Only     Only                  
      Portfolio     Securities     Securities     Sub-total     Total  
    Market Value – March 31, 2025 $ 118,704,355     $ 2,252,898     $ 7,871     $ 2,260,769     $ 120,965,124  
    Securities purchased   –       –       –       –       –  
    Securities sold   (9,786,053 )     –       –       –       (9,786,053 )
    (Losses) gains on sales   (178,140 )     –       –       –       (178,140 )
    Return of investment   n/a       (79,850 )     (379 )     (80,229 )     (80,229 )
    Pay-downs   (3,198,435 )     n/a       n/a       n/a       (3,198,435 )
    Discount accreted due to pay-downs   (42,251 )     n/a       n/a       n/a       (42,251 )
    Mark to market (losses) gains   (65,709 )     10,292       (970 )     9,322       (56,387 )
    Market Value – June 30, 2025 $ 105,433,767     $ 2,183,340     $ 6,522     $ 2,189,862     $ 107,623,629  

    The tables below present the allocation of capital between the respective portfolios at June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, and the return on invested capital for each sub-portfolio for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025. Capital allocation is defined as the sum of the market value of securities held, less associated repurchase agreement borrowings, plus cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash associated with repurchase agreements. Capital allocated to non-portfolio assets is not included in the calculation.

    Capital Allocation
              Structured Security Portfolio          
                  Inverse                  
      Pass     Interest-     Interest-                  
      Through     Only     Only                  
      Portfolio     Securities     Securities     Sub-total     Total  
    June 30, 2025                                      
    Market value $ 105,433,767     $ 2,183,340     $ 6,522     $ 2,189,862     $ 107,623,629  
    Cash equivalents and restricted cash   6,583,906       –       –       –       6,583,906  
    Repurchase agreement obligations   (101,742,000 )     –       –       –       (101,742,000 )
    Total $ 10,275,673     $ 2,183,340     $ 6,522     $ 2,189,862     $ 12,465,535  
    % of Total   82.4 %     17.5 %     0.1 %     17.6 %     100.0 %
    March 31, 2025                                      
    Market value $ 118,704,355     $ 2,252,898     $ 7,871     $ 2,260,769     $ 120,965,124  
    Cash equivalents and restricted cash   5,500,438       –       –       –       5,500,438  
    Repurchase agreement obligations   (115,510,999 )     –       –       –       (115,510,999 )
    Total $ 8,693,794     $ 2,252,898     $ 7,871     $ 2,260,769     $ 10,954,563  
    % of Total   79.4 %     20.5 %     0.1 %     20.6 %     100.0 %

    The returns on invested capital in the PT MBS and structured MBS portfolios were approximately (4.1)% and 1.9%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2025. The combined portfolio generated a return on invested capital of approximately (2.9)%.

    Returns for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2025  
              Structured Security Portfolio          
                  Inverse                  
      Pass     Interest-     Interest-                  
      Through     Only     Only                  
      Portfolio     Securities     Securities     Sub-total     Total  
    Interest income (net of repo cost) $ 357,713     $ 33,052     $ 23     $ 33,075     $ 390,788  
    Realized and unrealized losses (gains)   (286,100 )     10,292       (970 )     9,322       (276,778 )
    Hedge losses   (430,791 )     n/a       n/a       n/a       (430,791 )
    Total Return $ (359,178 )   $ 43,344     $ (947 )   $ 42,397     $ (316,781 )
    Beginning capital allocation $ 8,693,794     $ 2,252,898     $ 7,871     $ 2,260,769     $ 10,954,563  
    Return on invested capital for the quarter(1)   (4.1 )%     1.9 %     (12.0 )%     1.9 %     (2.9 )%
     
    (1)   Calculated by dividing the Total Return by the Beginning Capital Allocation, expressed as a percentage.


    Prepayments

    For the second quarter of 2025, the Company received approximately $3.3 million in scheduled and unscheduled principal repayments and prepayments, which equated to a 3-month constant prepayment rate (“CPR”) of approximately 9.9%. Prepayment rates on the two MBS sub-portfolios were as follows (in CPR):

      PT   Structured    
      MBS Sub-   MBS Sub-   Total
    Three Months Ended Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
    June 30, 2025 10.3   7.3   9.9
    March 31, 2025 7.5   6.2   7.3
    December 31, 2024 10.9   12.5   11.1
    September 30, 2024 6.3   6.7   6.3
    June 30, 2024 10.9   5.5   10.0
    March 31, 2024 18.0   9.2   16.5


    Portfolio

    The following tables summarize the MBS portfolio as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:

    ($ in thousands)                                      
                              Weighted          
              Percentage             Average          
              of     Weighted     Maturity          
      Fair     Entire     Average     in     Longest  
    Asset Category Value     Portfolio     Coupon     Months     Maturity  
    June 30, 2025                                      
    Fixed Rate MBS $ 105,434       98.0 %     5.60 %     333       1-Aug-54  
    Structured MBS   2,190       2.0 %     2.87 %     277       15-May-51  
    Total MBS Portfolio $ 107,624       100.0 %     5.25 %     332       1-Aug-54  
    December 31, 2024                                      
    Fixed Rate MBS $ 120,056       98.1 %     5.60 %     341       1-Jan-55  
    Structured MBS   2,292       1.9 %     2.85 %     281       15-May-51  
    Total MBS Portfolio $ 122,348       100.0 %     5.26 %     340       1-Jan-55  
    ($ in thousands)                              
      June 30, 2025     December 31, 2024  
              Percentage of             Percentage of  
    Agency Fair Value     Entire Portfolio     Fair Value     Entire Portfolio  
    Fannie Mae $ 30,700       28.5 %   $ 32,692       26.7 %
    Freddie Mac   76,924       71.5 %     89,656       73.3 %
    Total Portfolio $ 107,624       100.0 %   $ 122,348       100.0 %
      June 30, 2025     December 31, 2024  
    Weighted Average Pass Through Purchase Price $ 102.99     $ 102.72  
    Weighted Average Structured Purchase Price $ 4.48     $ 4.48  
    Weighted Average Pass Through Current Price $ 100.84     $ 99.63  
    Weighted Average Structured Current Price $ 14.01     $ 13.71  
    Effective Duration (1)   2.931       3.622  
    (1) Effective duration is the approximate percentage change in price for a 100 basis point change in rates. An effective duration of 2.931 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 2.931% decrease in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at June 30, 2025. An effective duration of 3.622 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 3.622% decrease in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2024. These figures include the structured securities in the portfolio but not the effect of the Company’s hedges. Effective duration quotes for individual investments are obtained from The Yield Book, Inc.


    Financing and Liquidity

    As of June 30, 2025, the Company had outstanding repurchase obligations of approximately $101.7 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 4.49%. These agreements were collateralized by MBS with a fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $107.8 million. At June 30, 2025, the Company’s liquidity was approximately $5.7 million, consisting of unpledged MBS and cash and cash equivalents.

    We may pledge more of our structured MBS as part of a repurchase agreement funding but retain cash in lieu of acquiring additional assets. In this way, we can, at a modest cost, retain higher levels of cash on hand and decrease the likelihood that we will have to sell assets in a distressed market in order to raise cash. Below is a list of outstanding borrowings under repurchase obligations at June 30, 2025.

    ($ in thousands)                              
    Repurchase Agreement Obligations
                      Weighted     Weighted  
      Total             Average     Average  
      Outstanding     % of     Borrowing     Maturity  
    Counterparty Balances     Total     Rate     (in Days)  
    Marex Capital Markets Inc. $ 22,925       22.6 %     4.47 %     53  
    DV Securities, LLC Repo   18,420       18.1 %     4.48 %     28  
    Mirae Asset Securities (USA) Inc.   18,238       17.9 %     4.53 %     136  
    South Street Securities, LLC   15,806       15.5 %     4.47 %     85  
    Clear Street LLC   15,696       15.4 %     4.48 %     84  
    Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.   10,657       10.5 %     4.52 %     15  
      $ 101,742       100.0 %     4.49 %     69  


    Summarized Consolidated Financial Statements

    The following is a summarized presentation of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, and the unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the six and three month periods ended June 30, 2025 and 2024. Amounts presented are subject to change.

     
    BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited – Amounts Subject to Change)
     
      June 30, 2025     December 31, 2024  
    ASSETS              
    Mortgage-backed securities $ 107,623,629     $ 122,348,170  
    Cash equivalents and restricted cash   6,583,906       7,422,746  
    Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock, at fair value   3,989,188       4,427,372  
    Accrued interest receivable   525,593       601,640  
    Deferred tax assets, net   15,743,570       15,930,953  
    Other assets   4,281,649       4,122,776  
    Total Assets $ 138,747,535     $ 154,853,657  
                   
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
    Repurchase agreements $ 101,742,000     $ 117,180,999  
    Long-term debt   27,357,495       27,368,158  
    Other liabilities   2,231,331       3,483,093  
    Total Liabilities   131,330,826       148,032,250  
    Stockholders’ equity   7,416,709       6,821,407  
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 138,747,535     $ 154,853,657  
    Class A Common Shares outstanding   10,005,457       10,005,457  
    Book value per share $ 0.74     $ 0.68  
     
    BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (Unaudited – Amounts Subject to Change)
     
      Six Months Ended June 30,     Three Months Ended June 30,  
      2025     2024     2025     2024  
    Advisory services $ 7,393,135     $ 6,096,316     $ 3,810,846     $ 3,167,055  
    Interest and dividend income   3,733,656       3,091,156       1,786,616       1,492,191  
    Interest expense   (3,575,435 )     (3,577,794 )     (1,731,415 )     (1,762,116 )
    Net revenues   7,551,356       5,609,678       3,866,047       2,897,130  
    Other (expense) income   (1,025,540 )     646,728       (997,795 )     (280,003 )
    Expenses   5,743,131       5,811,971       2,818,974       2,782,576  
    Net income (loss) before income tax provision   782,685       444,435       49,278       (165,449 )
    Income tax provision   187,383       505,172       6,546       108,396  
    Net income (loss) $ 595,302     $ (60,737 )   $ 42,732     $ (273,845 )
                                   
    Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) Income Per Share of:                              
    CLASS A COMMON STOCK $ 0.06     $ (0.01 )   $ 0.00     $ (0.03 )
    CLASS B COMMON STOCK $ 0.06     $ (0.01 )   $ 0.00     $ (0.03 )
      Three Months Ended June 30,  
    Key Balance Sheet Metrics 2025     2024  
    Average MBS(1) $ 114,294,375     $ 87,539,021  
    Average repurchase agreements(1)   108,626,500       83,737,499  
    Average stockholders’ equity(1)   7,395,343       8,203,927  
                   
    Key Performance Metrics              
    Average yield on MBS(2)   5.54 %     5.88 %
    Average cost of funds(2)   4.39 %     5.53 %
    Average economic cost of funds(3)   3.97 %     5.32 %
    Average interest rate spread(4)   1.15 %     0.35 %
    Average economic interest rate spread(5)   1.57 %     0.56 %
    (1) Average MBS, repurchase agreements and stockholders’ equity balances are calculated using two data points, the beginning and ending balances.
    (2) Portfolio yields and costs of funds are calculated based on the average balances of the underlying investment portfolio/repurchase agreement balances and are annualized for the quarterly periods presented.
    (3) Represents interest cost of our borrowings and the effect of derivative agreements attributed to the period related to hedging activities, divided by average repurchase agreements.
    (4) Average interest rate spread is calculated by subtracting average cost of funds from average yield on MBS.
    (5) Average economic interest rate spread is calculated by subtracting average economic cost of funds from average yield on MBS.


    About Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

    Bimini Capital Management, Inc. invests primarily in, but is not limited to investing in, residential mortgage-related securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Its objective is to earn returns on the spread between the yield on its assets and its costs, including the interest expense on the funds it borrows. In addition, Bimini generates a significant portion of its revenue serving as the manager of the MBS portfolio of, and providing certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services to, Orchid Island Capital, Inc.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Statements herein relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned that such forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and on management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences are described in Bimini Capital Management, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Bimini Capital Management, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Bimini Capital Management, Inc. assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable law.

    Earnings Conference Call Details

    An earnings conference call and live audio webcast will be hosted Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET. Participants can register and receive dial-in information at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI93827b97dab34b2f8cabd3a04f5bddd5. A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/jgk2gti4 or via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.biminicapital.com. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

    CONTACT:
    Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
    Robert E. Cauley, 772-231-1400
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    https://ir.biminicapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Auchincloss: New CBO Analysis Shows Trump Cuts to R&D Programs Will Harm the U.S. Economy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Auchincloss (Massachusetts, 4)

    July 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – As the Trump Administration continues to attack federal research and development (R&D) investments, new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirms that these investments spur economic growth and reduce the long-term cost of innovation.

    This analysis, requested by Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), demonstrates that increasing federal investment in nondefense R&D over the next 10 years would boost the nation’s real economic output over the next three decades due to increased innovation and higher productivity. The increased federal investment would also reduce the cumulative federal deficit over the next 30 years. CBO’s analysis also indicates that cutting federal R&D investments would have the opposite effect, reducing economic growth.

    “Funding science is a good investment. Every dollar spent returns multiples from which all Americans benefit, through higher standard of living, healthier families, and national defense,” said Congressman Auchincloss. “I am encouraged that the CBO is quantifying the bounty of science, as it will support Congress in investing in our future.”

    “Federal R&D investments drive innovation, create jobs, and help keep America competitive,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “In Philadelphia, we see the impact every day through cutting-edge medical research and a growing R&D sector that supports good-paying, stable jobs. This report makes clear that these investments strengthen our economy and reduce the cost of innovation. It also shows that Trump’s cuts to R&D programs are short-sighted and harmful. They stall progress, threaten jobs, and put our future at risk.”

    Read CBO’s new analysis here.

    MIL OSI USA News –