Austin City Council will fund Defense for Illegal aliens

Austin City Council Uses Consent Agenda to Pass $850K in Taxpayer Funding for Illegal Alien Deportation Defense

On Consent Agenda so no discussion or debate

There was a time when “sanctuary city” was the most offensive label a municipality could earn. Those days are long gone.

Across America, a growing number of blue-city governments have graduated from passive non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to something far more aggressive: organized, taxpayer-funded legal warfare designed to keep illegal aliens planted firmly on American soil. Forget symbolic gestures and sternly worded press releases.

Your money is now being wired directly to attorneys whose entire job is to defeat your own country’s laws.

So what happens when a city government decides its allegiance belongs not to the citizens paying the bills, nor to the Constitution its officials swore to defend, but to foreign nationals whom a federal judge has already ordered removed?

One Texas city just answered that question – and they went to remarkable lengths to make sure nobody noticed.

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Austin is home to the University of Texas widely recognized as the most liberal major city in Texas, and often described as a progressive "blueberry in the tomato soup" of a predominantly conservative state.

Washington Is Reviewing the Europe Footprint

Hegseth Review Could Withdraw Up to 40,000 U.S. Troops From Europe

The United States is weighing a major force-structure shakeup that could pull thousands of troops out of Western Europe, according to a new report from NBC News. One scenario could remove up to one-third of the troops stationed there, or about 25,000 service members. Other estimates put the possible number at 40,000, which would be roughly half of the U.S. forces based in Europe.

These figures describe possible scenarios, not a final troop movement order. Still, the review signals that Washington is taking a hard look at where American forces are stationed and how much of Europe’s defense the United States should continue to carry.

European Governments Are Alarmed--The possibility of such dramatic cuts has alarmed lawmakers from both parties and European governments worried that Russia could be emboldened. Germany, Italy, and Spain are likely to be impacted, NBC News reported, citing officials it did not name.

Those countries have some of the largest concentrations of American troops in Europe. They were also at odds with President Donald Trump over the war in Iran. The message from Washington is becoming difficult to miss: NATO allies cannot expect America to handle the heavy lifting forever.

Trump Points to Poland--Even as the review raises questions about the U.S. presence in Western Europe, Trump said America will not abandon its allies. He pointed to Poland as a possible location for a new U.S. Army base. “Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland,” Trump wrote.

He added that if the plan moves forward, the location would be announced very soon, calling it a historic step for the U.S.-Polish alliance. The post placed Poland at the center of Trump’s message about maintaining strong partnerships while reviewing America’s broader military posture.

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West Palm Beach Corporation wins $90 million Air Force Contract

Powerus subsidiary wins Air Force contract worth up to $90M

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Autonomous Power Corporation, operating as Powerus (NASDAQ:PUSA), announced Monday that its subsidiary Tandem Defense LLC received a contract from the U.S. Air Force for Group 1 aerial-denial unmanned aircraft systems.

The competitively awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a ceiling value of $90 million and extends through mid-2028, according to a press release statement. The contract includes ancillary support equipment, operator training, and field service representative support.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio manages the contract. Under the IDIQ structure, the Air Force may place individual orders against the ceiling as requirements arise, with work locations to be determined by follow-on task orders.

Powerus stated that actual revenue will depend on individual task orders placed by the Air Force and may be materially less than the $90 million ceiling. The contract remains subject to government funding availability, task-order issuance, and the government’s right to terminate for convenience. The Air Force has obligated initial funding as of the announcement date.

Tandem Defense manufactures unmanned aircraft systems for military, government, and law enforcement customers in the United States.

Powerus (Nasdaq: PUSA), is a defense technology company headquartered at 515 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, Florida. The company builds unified autonomous drone and counter-UAS systems for military and commercial operations.

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Trump questioning the alliance with NATO

Rethinking the purpose of Cold War's NATO in the 21st century

The worst offender in this regard was Spain, which refused to allow U.S. planes involved in the Iran war to use its airspace. Spain is also the only NATO member that has not committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense.

President Donald Trump is furious at the unwillingness of America’s European allies to aid the U.S. in reopening the Strait of Hormuz — so angry, in fact, that he is calling the continued usefulness of the alliance into question.

“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again,” Trump fumed in an all-caps Truth Social post after a Wednesday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He added a gratuitous jab at Denmark, “Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!!!”

Trump’s anger at NATO has been festering for weeks. On March 26, the president wrote (again in all caps), “NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran. The U.S.A. needs nothing from NATO, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time!”

Trump does not have unilateral power to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act forbade the president from “suspend[ing], terminat[ing], denounc[ing], or withdraw[ing] the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty” without the advice and consent of the Senate.

But he can begin a conversation about NATO’s purpose, some 77 years after its creation, and that is just what President Trump has chosen to do.

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America's return on investment from NATO

Rubio Accuses NATO of Falling Short — Can Allies Be Counted On?

Rubio’s Straight Talk to NATO--

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not sugarcoat his view on NATO during a recent TV interview. He told Sean Hannity that after decades of the United States footing the bill and hosting troops in Europe, allies refused a simple request to allow U.S. forces to use their bases for Operation Epic Fury.

Rubio said this refusal shows NATO is acting like a one way street where America gives and gives and gets little in return. He suggested that after the current crisis is resolved, the United States will need to re examine what the alliance actually delivers to American security.

What Rubio Actually Said About Bases--

Rubio made a clear point. He said the U.S. did not ask European partners to fight or to strike. The ask was limited to landing rights and access to bases Americans helped pay for and maintain.

When allies answer no to that request, Rubio asked why U.S. forces are even stationed there in the first place. He reminded viewers that American presence in Europe has long been about projecting power and deterring threats far beyond the continent. If those facilities are off limits when the United States needs them, their strategic value is compromised.

This is not just a diplomatic complaint. Allowing or denying access to bases can shape how quickly the United States can respond to threats and protect American lives.

Rubio argued the United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars and placed troops overseas to keep the peace and to deter bad actors. If allies block access during a crisis the practical benefit of those investments comes into question.

Rubio said these are questions the president will have to face when reassessing America’s relationship with NATO."

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As of February 2025, 51% of Republican or Republican-leaning voters believe that the United States does not benefit from NATO membership, in contrast to 17% of Democratic or Democratic-leaning voters.

Our U.N Ambassador quizzed by NBC host on Iran

Mike Waltz fires back at NBC host pressing on Iran: 'President Trump is ending it

' United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz delivered a pointed rebuke to "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker on Sunday after she repeatedly pressed him on whether the United States was "at war" with Iran. She kept asking.

Waltz refused to play the semantic game, redirecting the conversation to the decades of American blood spilled by Iranian proxies and the administration's resolve to finally end the threat.

The exchange came days after President Donald Trump announced in a video posted to Truth Social early Feb. 28 that the United States military and Israel Defense Forces had launched strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran's regime. Six American service members were killed on March 1 when an Iranian strike hit a technical operations center in Kuwait.

Welker opened by framing the question around language, telling Waltz that "words matter" and asking whether the Trump administration described its operations as a war against Iran. Waltz didn't bite.

The framing of Welker's question is worth pausing on. The implication was clear: pin the administration down with a single word so it can be weaponized in the next news cycle.

If Waltz says "war," Democrats get a talking point about unilateral escalation. If he says it's not a war, the press gets to call the strikes disproportionate to whatever lesser term he uses. It's a familiar trap, and Waltz walked right past it.

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The Union in the UK is running the show

British Navy's response to Iran delayed since repair yard only works 9-to-5

The Royal Navy's mission to intercept Iranian drone threats has stalled in port because the Portsmouth repair yard now operates on a "nine-to-five" schedule.

The high-stakes mission to protect a British airbase from Iranian drone strikes remains on hold while maintenance crews finish welding and system overhauls during standard business hours, according to union officials, The Telegraph reported.

The deployment of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer designed to intercept high-speed missile and drone threats to Cyprus has been delayed because the Ministry of Defence and private contractor Serco reportedly introduced these restricted shifts as a "cost-cutting" measure that sacrifices military readiness for budget targets.

As the HMS Dragon sits in dry dock, the U.K. finds itself lagging behind international allies who have already moved assets into the region. Military analysts point out that the air-defense destroyer is now expected to arrive in Cyprus a full two weeks after French and Spanish warships have already reached the theater of operations.

The sources told The Telegraph that the new £1 billion (approx. $1.34 billion) contract reduced essential cover and forced the Navy to rely on staff volunteering for weekends to get the ship combat ready, which it didn't.

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No vote, no proposal, no problem. Just a flight to Bavaria.

Congress jets off to Munich as the DHS shutdown kicked in at midnight Friday

The Department of Homeland Security shut down at midnight Friday after Congress failed to pass either a full-year funding bill or even a two-week temporary extension. And where were your elected representatives when the lights went out?

Fox News reported that eleven senators were on their way to Germany for the Munich Security Conference — a beer-friendly gathering about European defense — while the actual defense of the United States went unfunded.

The optics alone would be devastating for any institution that still cared about optics. But Congress long ago stopped pretending.

At least a handful of House Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also made the trip. House rules technically prohibit official congressional delegations during a shutdown — a detail that apparently troubled no one enough to stay home.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole didn't mince words during a hearing on the shutdown's impact:

"I'm sure Munich is a great place. I've been there many times. The beer is outstanding. But we don't need to go to a defense conference someplace in Europe when we're not taking care of the defense of the United States of America."

Read about the useless Congress

The Democratic playbook here followed a familiar rhythm: block the Republican-led solution, blame Republicans for the result, then leave town before anyone can ask follow-up questions.

And Slimy Newscum is there as well and bad-mouthing Trump and America...such a cool guy.

Why Greenland is so important

Interior Sec. Doug Burgum — Greenland and Venezuela Are Strategic Priorities for Defense and Energy

In an appearance on Breitbart News Daily, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum made the case for Greenland’s strategic value to American national security and Venezuela’s potential to re-anchor U.S. energy dominance in the Western Hemisphere, casting both regions as crucial to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and economic agenda.

Burgum likened the acquisition of Greenland to historic U.S. territorial expansions. “President Trump understands that the same way that Thomas Jefferson understood the Louisiana Purchase was going to change the course of our country,” Burgum said, drawing another direct parallel to Seward’s purchase of Alaska, which he described as “a resource that is for us today.”

While Greenland remains a self-governing territory of Denmark, Burgum questioned the intensity of Danish attachment to the island, noting, “I’m guessing that the vast majority of people in Denmark have never been to Greenland and have no plans to go.” He suggested that Danish reluctance might be tied to “a holdover of colonial pride.”

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The United States "accepted the legal obligation to defend against any attack" on Greenland in a 1951 treaty with Denmark. It has had bases there since the Second World War. It costs us multi-millions a year defending Greenland and ultimately the United States.

Greenland is the center of U.S. defenses against Russian and/or Chinese nuclear missile attacks. At Pituffik Space Base they have a runway, a seaport and a lot of radar and gigantic satellite dishes.

U.S. Space Force Guardians operate the early-warning radar system to spot intercontinental ballistic missile threats and sea-launched missiles coming out of Russia, China or anywhere else.

The squadrons also provide tracking and command and control for U.S. satellites and all other objects up in space, such as China’s 1,300 satellites. America would be blind without this surveillance.

Defense gets a big win in the Senate despite Chuckie

Senate approves $901B defense package amid boat strike, airspace debates

The Senate just pushed through a massive defense bill that’s got more drama than a reality TV finale.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted 77-20 in a bipartisan show of force to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, a whopping $901 billion package, sending it straight to President Donald Trump for his signature, as Fox News reports.

This annual bill, typically a snooze-fest of routine funding for defense priorities, hit some serious turbulence this year with contentious provisions sparking heated debates in both the House and Senate.

One sticking point was a provision rolling back safety measures in Washington, D.C., airspace, especially contentious after a tragic collision earlier this year between a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which claimed 67 lives.

Chuck Schumer wasn't the least bit happy. Is he ever?

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Years back, Obama vetoed this Act.

Ukraine Corruption Uncovered

Ukraine’s Anti-Graft Agencies Say They Uncovered Major Drone Procurement Bribery Case

The move follows a dramatic reversal of law that had curbed the anti-corruption agencies and sparked rare wartime demonstrations.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said on Aug. 2 that they had uncovered a large-scale bribery scheme involving the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment.

This came just days after the agencies’ independence was restored following mass protests over government efforts to curb their powers.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said in a statement on Aug. 2 that the alleged plot involved a sitting lawmaker, current and former regional officials, National Guard personnel, and a corporate executive.

Investigators alleged that those involved had refined a scheme over the past two years to systematically siphon off funds allocated by local authorities for defense needs, and to secure “unfair benefits in particularly large quantities.”

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War is profitable especially for crooks. I always remember that Zelensky said he was not getting the money. How much has the U.S. Spent on the War in Ukraine?

Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, Congress has passed five major bills aiding Ukraine, which together amount to $175 billion in spending. Most of this is aid going to the government of Ukraine, but a large portion is funding other U.S. government activities associated with the war. Additionally, in December 2024 the U.S. provided a $20 billion loan to be paid back with interest from frozen Russian assets. The total amount of aid committed to the government of Ukraine is $128 billion.

Trump’s pressure campaign on NATO worked exactly as planned

NATO Secretary General Just Delivered One Message That Left Democrats Seeing Red

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte just threw cold water on the Left’s favorite talking point about Donald Trump.

Democrats spent years claiming Trump was destroying America’s alliances.

But NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte just delivered one message that left Democrats seeing red.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made a stunning admission that completely vindicated Donald Trump’s long-standing criticism of European defense spending, saying, "For decades, the United States sought to get Europe to truly step up now. European allies and Canada who equalize their defense spending with the United States."

Then came the moment that had to make Democrats cringe.

"So let me salute President Trump’s long-standing leadership in calling for NATO to increase defense spending," Rutte stated. "Today, I am pleased to announce that NATO has already added an additional one trillion dollars in defense spending over the past decade. Mr. President, dear Donald, that is thanks to you pushing us."

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Pete Hegseth warns Asian Allies about China

Hegseth Warns Asian Allies To Bulk Up For ‘Imminent’ China Threat

"Defense Secretary Hegseth urged allies to raise defense spending and warned that China may pose an “imminent” military threat in a landmark speech on the Trump administration’s approach to Asia.

Hegseth also used a key address here in Singapore to assert that while the U.S. doesn’t seek war with China, it also will not be pushed out of the “critical” Indo-Pacific theatre. Nor will it allow its partners and allies in the region to be “subordinated and intimidated.”

China denounced Hegseth for calling the Asian country a threat, accusing him of touting a Cold War mentality as tensions between Washington and Beijing further escalate.

U.S. is also urging Australia to surge defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, almost a third above the target Canberra has set even for the early 2030s. [AmericanLibertyNews]

Golden Dome Defense Shield - Keeping America Safe

China Fears Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Golden Dome Defense Shield

President Trump offered new details about his ambitious Golden Dome missile shield, which he expects to have a price tag of around $175 billion and be completed before the end of his term.

This amount is a far cry from the one trillion figure thrown around by its critics.

“I’m pleased to announce that we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors,” Trump said.

“Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they’re launched from space. And we will have the best system ever built.”

The layered missile shield is expected to include a mix of ground and space-based interceptors designed to defeat a spectrum of threats — from lower-end weapons to advanced hypersonic and cruise missiles.

While the current homeland missile defense system focuses on threats from rogue nations like North Korea and Iran rather than from peer adversaries like China or Russia, Trump’s shield would focus on addressing threats from all adversaries.

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Golden Dome Missile Defense System

Trump Announces $175B 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense System for US

The Department of Defense has selected a design for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative, Trump announced on May 20.

“I’m pleased to announce that we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea, and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

In his first week in office and inspired by Israel's defense system, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to devise a plan to implement his missile defense proposal.

“It should be fully operational before the end of my term. So we'll have it done in about three years,” the president said.

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U.S. to remain a dominant force in Global Affairs under Trump

U.S. Military Confidence And Defense Spending On The Rise: Survey Reports

The latest findings from the Reagan National Defense Survey have been unveiled, revealing a positive shift in American sentiment towards the military.

This shift comes just days after the 2024 Presidential election, marking a significant moment as the nation prepares for a new administration.

According to the New York Post, the survey highlights a growing trust in the military, coupled with a strong push for increased defense funding as President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his term.

Conducted annually by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, the survey reflects the opinions of the U.S. citizenry on national defense issues. This year, 51% of participants stated they have "a great deal of confidence" in the military, a 5% increase from last year.

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We are at War and no one is talking about it

US Personnel Wounded in Attack Against Base in Iraq

Several U.S. personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq, U.S. defense officials said Monday, in what has been a recent uptick in strikes on American forces by Iranian-backed militias.

The attack comes as tensions across the Middle East are spiking following the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran, in suspected Israeli strikes. Both groups are backed by Iran.

The U.S. defense officials said troops at al-Asad air base were still assessing the injuries and damage. Earlier Monday, Iraqi security officials confirmed the attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.

The attack comes amid extremely high tensions in the Middle East, as the US has been bracing for Iranian retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

Israel has not commented on the killing of Haniyeh. Hezbollah in Lebanon has also vowed retaliation on Israel after the assassination of one of its top commanders in Beirut less than a day before Haniyeh’s killing.

It also comes just days after Austin ordered additional military assets to the region, sending a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the Middle East.

US officials have long blamed attacks on troops in Iraq and Syria on Iran-backed militia groups.

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Navy says it urgently needs $1 Billion in Munitions

Navy seeks urgent replenishment of $1B in munitions spent countering Iran-led attacks in Middle East

The Navy urgently needs Congress to pass a stalled national security spending plan to replenish the nearly $1 billion in munitions spent to counter attacks by Iran and its proxies in the Middle East in the past six months, the Navy secretary said Tuesday.

Expenditures on munitions have skyrocketed since October, when the Hamas-Israeli war started in the Gaza Strip. U.S. forces continue to guard Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, and American service members helped shoot down missiles launched over the weekend by Iran against Israel.

“It’s critical for Congress to pass a supplemental [spending bill] this week so that we could actually get the additional resources to be able to supplement those munitions,” Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said during testimony to a subpanel of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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The Defense budget is $29 billion more than last year. China, Europe, and cheap drones all figure heavily in the new spending. The Navy has been firing SM-2 missiles, SM-6 missiles and most recently SM-3 missiles to counter the ballistic missile threat from Iran.

Unwavering Courage and Determination by Octogenarian

WOW! 82-Year-Old Vietnam Veteran Beat Armed Intruder To DEATH

80 year olds are not all like Joe Biden!

In a terrifying turn of events, an 82-year-old Vietnam veteran found himself facing an armed intruder in his own home.

However, instead of becoming a victim, the elderly man put up a courageous fight and managed to beat the robber to death, saving both his own life and his wife’s. The shocking incident took place in the Parrish’s home in South Carolina, and neighbors were stunned by the sudden violence in their usually peaceful community.

According to Lois Parrish, she opened the door to a man claiming to be looking for his lost dog. “I told him no, I hadn’t,” she recalls. But this was just the beginning, as the disguised robber forced his way into the Parrish home and attacked Lois with a knife, leaving a deep gash on her forehead.

It was at this point that her husband, Herbert, decided it was time to defend his family and his home from the armed intruder.

Motto: Have a loaded gun to which you can have quick access and don't let Biden take away your guns.

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National Defense Budget passed in House decreasing Wokeness

House Passes Defense Bill With Restrictions on Abortion, Transgender Procedures

The vote was largely along party lines, a departure from the typical bipartisan support for a bill that has passed every year since 1961.

On a vote of 219 to 210, the House on passed a sweeping annual defense bill that includes GOP-led amendments to restrict abortion coverage and transgender procedures, and eliminate diversity initiatives at the Pentagon. Mostly Democrats voted against the bill (they like wokeism), with four in support.

The $886 billion defense package includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members and incorporates measures aimed at addressing the challenges posed by China, highlighting the importance of strategic considerations in national defense planning.

The House measure includes initiatives to counter China and an additional $300 million to support Ukraine as it responds to the February 2021 invasion by Russia.

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