'Food security is national security': Hegseth says DoD serious about Chinese farmland near US bases

ecretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared that the Pentagon is getting serious about the threats posed by Chinese ownership of farmland near U.S. military bases and installations, with the Defense Department declaring that “food security is national security.”

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins rolled out a new “National Farm Security Action Plan” for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday, where she was joined by Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, with the group uniting to warn about the threats posed to U.S. agriculture and to U.S. national security by foreign adversaries.

“Foreign ownership of land near strategic bases and U.S. military installations poses a serious threat to our national security,” Hegseth said Tuesday. “The Farm Security Plan will put America First and keep our bases across the homeland secure.”

The USDA said Tuesday that the National Farm Security Action Plan “takes aggressive action across seven critical areas.” Among those areas, USDA said, are the need to “Secure and Protect American Farmland – Address U.S. foreign farmland ownership from adversaries head on. Total transparency. Tougher penalties.” The USDA said it would also “crack down on bio-threats before they ever reach our soil” and “Protect Critical Infrastructure — Farms, food, and supply chains are national security assets — and will be treated as such.”

Hegseth: A plan that "Puts America First"

Hegseth said Tuesday that “energy security, food security, water security is national security” and that “we care about homeland security” at the Defense Department.

"And so when you look at our bases here in the United States or around the world, we ought to know who owns that land around strategic bases. Where are they from? Are they Americans, and if not, why? … Your plan helps us address that,” Hegseth told Rollins. “We're excited to partner with you. Thank you for your leadership. Anything we can do, let us know, and this is all part of securing America and American citizens and putting America first — it's common sense for us."

A graphic produced by USDA and shared by the Defense Department depicts Chinese land ownership near 17 U.S. military bases and installations: Fort Lewis in Washington, Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin in California, Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, Hill Air Force Base and Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, Fort Hood and Camp Bullis in Texas, Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort Benning in Georgia, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, MacDill Air Force Base and Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

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Pressure builds for Musk to ditch third party in favor of backing Convention of States

Elon Musk's decision to create a third party has roiled the political landscape, but pressure is building on the right to push the billionaire entrepreneur toward a different path to achieving greater spending cuts: embracing the Convention of the States movement.

Musk launched the America Party over the Fourth of July holiday after the passage of President Donald Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, arguing that the Democratic and Republican parties are bankrupting America.

But since then, political figures like the Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro and Fox News' Mark Levin have floated the idea of Musk redirecting his ambition into pursuing a convention of states, a vehicle the Founders created in the Constitution.

"I want to float another idea that Ben Shapiro, myself, Mark Levin…good friends of mine have been talking about the last couple of days," Just the News founder John Solomon said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show on Tuesday.

"Rather than Elon Musk go out and create a third party, which will only, as history has shown, split the vote, probably let Democrats win, even with pluralities in some districts…a better option for Elon Musk would be to put his money and his effort behind the Convention of the States [which is] the effort by states to call a constitutional convention, and for the first time since the founding of this country, rein in the central government with the power our founding fathers gave us in federalism."

The Convention of States is a movement that calls for a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution to limit the power of the federal government and give term limits to members of Congress.

So far, 19 states have called for a convention, which is over half needed to begin the process. Thirty-four states total are needed.

“Of course, we would love to have a huge public figure like Elon behind our movement,” Convention of States Action President Mark Meckler told Just the News in a statement, adding that there is a structuring problem in Washington, D.C., and that Musk is noticing.

Meckler was also the co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots in 2012, a group that advocated for limited government and to get spending under control. Meckler told Just the News that for years, he tried to change D.C. from the inside, but realized the only way the government's spending problem would be fixed was from an outside force.

“Elon’s help could push us over the finish line," Meckler said.

When asked, Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said Tuesday he thought Musk potentially supporting the Convention of States was a good idea.

"I think it's a great suggestion," Harris said. "I mean, honestly, I think a lot of us were very frustrated, a little bit surprised to hear Elon Musk announce that he was going to form a third party. If you've been around politics for any length of time, this never ends well."

Shapiro suggested Musk back the Convention of States idea on his podcast.

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X CEO Linda Yaccarino abruptly resigns

Linda Yaccarino has resigned as the CEO of X, just one day after the platform's built in AI Grok posted a string of racially charged responses online.

"After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of 𝕏," she announced on Wednesday. "When [Elon Musk] and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App."

Though she did not state a reason for her departure, she asserted that "the best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with

@xai."

On Tuesday, XAI confirmed that its efforts to modify Grok had led to its string of sensitive posts. The AI's activity went viral on the platform as it declared itself "MechaHitler", made a string of anti-Semitic posts, and participated in post towers to spell racial slurs.

https://justthenews.com/nation/technology/x-ceo-linda-yaccarino-abruptly-resigns

Stephen Miller gloats as LA witnesses improved traffic, declining crime amid deportations

"Dear Lord. Monday evening rush hour… it’s just gone," posted Joshua Steinman. "Turns out the solution to LA traffic was mass deportations."

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller is gloating over immigration enforcement in Los Angeles as locals begin to notice a decline in traffic jams and violent crime.

"What if, this entire time, the key to fixing our cities was enforcing our immigration laws?" he posted on X in response to a post showcasing a commute to work in Los Angeles with virtually no traffic on the road.

City residents have also posted traffic maps of the city, showcasing the absence of traffic jams and large green (meaning unimpeded) major roads.

"Dear Lord. Monday evening rush hour… it’s just gone," posted Joshua Steinman. "Turns out the solution to LA traffic was mass deportations."

It's not just improvements in traffic either. LA Mayor Karen Bass faced brutal online mockery on Wednesday after celebrating an LA Times report that the city was on pace for its lowest murder rate in nearly 60 years and appearing to take credit for the development. Most of the respondents attributed the development to the National Guard's presence.

Los Angeles became the site of violent anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots earlier this year, leading President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines to restore order. The military maintains its presence in the city and ICE raids continue unimpeded.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/stephen-miller-gloats-la-witnesses-improved-traffic-declining-crime-amid

Trump again knocks 'too late' Jerome Powell as WH vets Fed candidates

President Donald Trump on Wednesday continued his criticisms of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, asserting that he had kept interest rates too high.

"Anybody but 'too late,'" Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing Powell through one of his trademark nicknames.

"Our Fed Rate is AT LEAST 3 Points too high," he added. "'Too Late' is costing the U.S. 360 Billion Dollars a Point, PER YEAR, in refinancing costs. No Inflation, COMPANIES POURING INTO AMERICA. “The hottest Country in the World!” LOWER THE RATE!!!"

Powell's term is set to expire in early 2028, meaning Trump will have the opportunity to replace him, though he has suggested he may seek to fire him earlier. The president's authority to do so remains ambiguous.

In the meantime, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as a contender for the role, though the Wall Street Journal has reported that National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is a close contender.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/trump-again-knocks-too-late-jerome-powell-wh-vets-fed-candidates

Trump mulls federal takeover of D.C.

In March of 2023, moreover, President Joe Biden signed legislation to block a sentencing reform plan that the city approved that many viewed as soft on crime.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that he was exploring the prospect of direct federal administration of Washington, D.C.

“We have tremendous power at The White House to run places when we have to. We could run DC. We're looking at DC … we would run it so good … we're thinking about doing it, to be honest with you," he said during a Cabinet meeting.

The District of Columbia is a federal territory administered by a local government, though Congress maintains the right to overrule its mayor and city council.

Trump's remarks come amid clashes with the local authorities, including a recent incident in which Trump pressured local authorities to sweep homeless camps in the city.

In March of 2023, moreover, President Joe Biden signed legislation to block a sentencing reform plan that the city approved that many viewed as soft on crime.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/trump-mulls-federal-takeover-dc

Tick bite related ER visits near record highs

Young children and senior citizens are the most at risk, according to recent CDC data. The Northeast region has the highest rates.

This summer has been one of the worst tick seasons in years, with tick bite-related emergency room visits nearing all-time highs, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

July’s ER visits have already reached the highest level nationwide since 2017, CDC data shows, with the Northeast in particular reporting the most cases.

In June, the CDC recorded 229 tick bites per every 100,000 ER visits in the region. In June 2024, the agency recorded 167 bites per 100,000 visits.

Children under the age of 10 and those over the age of 70 are the most at risk, according to data.

The black-legged tick, or deer tick, is the most common tick in the Northeast. And the risk of being bitten by one in the area this week is very high (9 out of 10), according to estimates by Fordham University’s Tri-State Tick Risk.

Dr. Thomas Mather, the Director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, told CBS, that hot and dry days typically kill deer ticks. However, with less hot days this spring more ticks survived into the summer.

The CDC suggests preventing tick bites by treating clothes with permethrin, using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents, and learning where to expect them.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/health/tick-bite-related-er-visits-near-record-highs

Pulitzer Follies: Trump lawsuit exposes uncomfortable truths about journalism's highest award

New intel community report on Putin's intentions also undercuts factual basis of one of the award-winning submissions by The Washington Post.

resident Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board is forcing into the public eye uncomfortable revelations about how the news industry’s top prize giver handled the unraveling of Russia collusion allegations, exposing conflicts in testimony and an admission that people other than Trump complained about its 2018 awards to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of the now-discredited scandal.

While the litigation in an Okeechobee County, Florida courthouse makes its way to the Florida Supreme Court, new admissions by the intelligence community have undercut the factual basis underlying some of the stories that won the two newspapers the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting.

One of those stories was a December 2017 report by The Washington Post that accused Trump of ignoring or trying to downplay U.S. intelligence claims that Putin tried to help him win the 2016 election. “Nearly a year into his presidency, Trump continues to reject the evidence that Russia waged an assault on a pillar of American democracy and supported his run for the White House,” the Post's award-winning story declared.

While there remains widespread consensus inside U.S. spy agencies that Russia hacked Democratic National Committee emails that embarrassed Hillary Clinton, the narrative the news stories spawned namely, that Russia’s intent was to help Trump win the election is disputed.

The claim that Putin was specifically trying to help Trump was included in a December 2016 Obama administration intelligence community assessment (ICA), but in fact there were concerns about that claim and the way that review was done inside the intelligence community, according to new evidence made public this month.

CIA's Russian experts objected to Brennan's inclusion of Steele Dossier

CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed last week that the two top career CIA officials for Russia directly objected to former Director John Brennan’s inclusion of the Steele dossier in the Obama-era ICA and that its conclusion that Russia’s intent was to help Trump was not strongly supported by the evidence.

Ratcliffe’s new report directly assailed the Obama-era Russia assessment that anchored the Post’s December 2017 story, concluding it suffered from significant failures of spy tradecraft and other irregularities.

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