“Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino praised a federal agent who shot a Chicago woman during an immigration crackdown last year, according to evidence released Wednesday by attorneys who accused the Trump administration of mishandling the investigation and spreading lies about the shooting. Marimar Martinez, a teaching assistant and U.S. citizen, was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October while in her vehicle. She was charged with a felony after Homeland Security officials accused her of trying to ram agents with her vehicle. But the case was dismissed after videos emerged showing an agent steering his vehicle into Martinez’s vehicle. Her attorneys pushed to make evidence in the now-dissolved criminal case public, saying they were especially motivated after a federal agent [murdered] Minneapolis woman Renee Good under similar circumstances.” (02/11/26)
“An article from QNS, a local news outlet covering Queens, New York, released an interesting article about a local high school under investigation by New York City Public Schools. Teachers at the school claim they are forced to pass failing students. Such blatant grade-inflation policies are uncommon, but I suspect softer versions of the policy are rampant in our public schools nationwide, including here in Missouri.” (02/11/26)
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Artis Shepherd
“It seems the housing market is destined to be the target of yet another administration’s clumsy tinkering. In another quiet-part-out-loud incident at the White House recently, the president was asked whether he would declare a national emergency in order to act on housing affordability. Trump responded that he doesn’t want house prices to go down because home valuations are such a large part of the ‘net worth’ of homeowners, especially those in ‘their later years.’ The exchange is worth watching. Note the collectivist premises underlying both the reporter’s question and the president’s answer.” (02/11/26)
“The House on Wednesday passed a resolution disapproving of President Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada, a blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and a rare Republican rebuke of the president’s signature economic policy. The resolution cleared the House 219-211, with several Republicans crossing the aisle to support it. One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, voted against the measure. The tariff resolution, introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., was considered a day after a procedural vote on a rule that would have barred House challenges to Trump’s tariffs failed with the support of three Republican members. Trump warned Republicans during the vote that there would be consequences for overriding him on tariffs. ‘Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!’ Trump posted to his TRUTH social account during the vote.” (02/11/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Angelo Monaco
“While we see in some states a move to allow greater choice among public schools it generally does not resolve the failings of public education. The promotion of school vouchers still involves government collection and redistribution of wealth and keeps the government-school system in existence. We need to go well beyond that idea. Entirely dismantling the tax-supported government K-12 school system would not only eliminate the immense overhead and regulatory costs associated with public schools, it would also improve the overall quality of education through free-market competition, especially for those in underserved communities. As for our colleges and universities, what will make things better is to withdraw all government support, which would force each school to shed the protections that are provided through politics and lobbying.” (02/11/26)
“A U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. military earlier this week shot down what was later determined to be a party balloon near El Paso, Texas, after initially assessing it as a possible foreign drone. The misidentification eventually led to a total shutdown of airspace around the El Paso airport. A separate U.S. administration official had told Fox News that Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace near El Paso and that counter-drone measures were taken to disable them. The Pentagon has been testing out new counter-drone technology, including a high-energy laser, near the Army base at Fort Bliss, Texas. That laser was used to shoot down what appeared to be foreign drones — and was later identified as a balloon — prompting the airspace closure by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an official told Fox.” (02/11/26)
“Conservatives should oppose the SAVE America Act for the same reason many of us spent years opposing Democratic efforts to nationalize election administration: because elections in the United States are run by the states. That principle didn’t disappear just because Republicans are now the ones pushing the bill. If anything, this is exactly the kind of legislation conservatives used to warn about — federal mandates, national standards, and Washington inserting itself into decisions that have traditionally been made at the state and local level. For years, conservatives argued — correctly — that sweeping federal election laws undermine federalism, weaken local accountability, and create tools that will inevitably be abused by a future administration.” (02/10/26)
