GOP ensures ICE funding through Trump's term in office

The GOP-led Senate wasted no time early Thursday morning, ramming through a budget plan that funds the Department of Homeland Security and pours another $70 billion into immigration enforcement for the rest of President Trump’s term in office. 

Democrats were livid that illegal aliens could not remain in their voter base.

The measure cleared the narrowly divided chamber on a 50-48 party-line vote, with every Republican in support and Democrats unified in opposition. For all Republicans to stand together on any issue is known as "The Miracle on Capitol Hill."

GOP leaders hailed the passage as a critical step to lock down the border [and level the voter playing field]. The resolution now heads to the House and sets up the reconciliation process, allowing Republicans to advance the funding bill without Democrats’ filibuster roadblocks.

“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end, Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-ND).

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) ripped into Democrats for blocking DHS funding 16 times. The department has gone without proper funding since February 14, 2026.

“Democrats are playing to the most radical members of their party. Through their actions, Democrats are putting the safety and security of our nation behind the safety and security of their own political careers,” he said from the Senate floor.

Democrats spent the debate pushing amendments they insisted would tackle housing, childcare, and health care costs.

“Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.

Several Republican priorities fell short after moderate [aka RINO] GOP senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) crossed the aisle to join Democrats. The pair helped kill a proposal from Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) to strip funding from Planned Parenthood.

“One recent study found that in three years alone, Planned Parenthood got a billion and a half dollars from Medicaid and Medicare. Money to be used on these risky surgeries and [transgender] procedures for our children. This is wrong,” Hawley said. “This is a terrible misuse of federal funds, and we should put a stop to it today.”

Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Murkowski, and Collins also teamed up with Democrats to block Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) from attaching the SAVE Act, which would require photo ID to vote in federal elections, to the budget measure.

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. If you really want to help support my work here, you can Buy Me A Coffee or click on the ads alongside this page--it really helps. You can even subscribe to Brain Flushings--it's free.

Tweet

GOP confirms Trump-aligned judge, defeating obstructionist Democrats

The Republican-led Senate just rammed through Emil Bove's confirmation to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 50-49 squeaker, and the Democrats are crying foul louder than a toddler who needs a diaper change. 

Bove, a former Trump legal eagle, got the nod despite weeks of blue-team bellyaching and enough whistleblower complaints to fill a soap opera script.

The vote was tighter than a well digger's butt in winter, with RINOs Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins siding with the Dems to try to tank Bove's lifetime appointment. No dice, ladies, Trump's guy is headed to the bench. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi was practically doing cartwheels on X, gushing, "Congratulations to our dear friend Emil Bove on his confirmation to serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals! This is a GREAT day for our country." She went on to praise his "tireless work" at the Justice Department, adding, "He will be missed, and he will be an outstanding judge." 

Take that, haters.

Bove's resume reads like a conservative fever dream. He was Trump's go-to lawyer when Biden's cronies tried to bury the former president under a pile of classified documents and election interference charges. He also had a front-row seat in the New York hush money circus, where Trump got slapped with 34 felony counts but walked away with what amounts to a judicial shrug. Before that, Bove was a federal prosecutor in New York, locking up drug dealers and terrorists.

But the Democrats have been clutching their pearls since Trump floated Bove's name, screaming about whistleblowers who claim he told Justice Department folks to ignore judicial orders. They're also steamed about his role in canning some January 6 prosecutors and spiking the case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Naturally, they’re painting him as the second coming of Darth Vader.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wasn't having it, firing back at the Dems for trying to "weaponize" the whistleblower process. "He has a strong legal background and has served his country honorably," Grassley said, defending Bove like a pitbull. "I believe he will be a diligent, capable, and fair jurist." He also took a swipe at the opposition, slamming their “vicious rhetoric, unfair accusations and abuse” as crossing the line. Tell 'em, Chuck.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck 'Nostrils' Schumer (D-NY) was out here acting like the sky just fell. "It’s unfathomable that just over four years after the insurrection at the Capitol, when rioters smashed windows, ransacked offices, desecrated this chamber, Senate Republicans are willingly putting someone on the bench who shielded these rioters from facing justice, who said their prosecution was a grave national injustice," he wailed. Dark day, Chuck? Maybe take a deep breath and a sip of chamomile tea, just don't barbecue any cheeseburgers.

Hey guys, if you enjoy Brain Flushings, I hope you'll consider supporting my work with a small donation to Buy Me a Coffee. It fuels my late-night writing sessions with fresh ideas. No pressure.

Look, the left is throwing a tantrum because their smear campaign didn't stick, and the right is popping champagne because they got their guy. Business as usual in D.C. Bove's on the bench, and the outrage machine is already revving up for the next fight. 

Tweet

PBS and NPR losing their funding as Senate sides with Trump's rescissions package

Hey guys, the Senate just delivered a win for President Trump and taxpayers everywhere, passing his rescissions package on a nail-biting 51-48 vote. That’s $9 billion in cuts, including a long-overdue ax to every last federal dime propping up National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Finally, we’re one step closer to defunding biased outlets that sneer at us and the America we love. NPR and PBS are not vanishing, but they’ll have to hustle like the rest of us in the media game. Sink or swim,  it's welcome to the real world. The Senate, in its usual vote-a-rama circus, tweaked the bill, so it’s headed back to the House for another round. Politico’s got the scoop:

Senate Republicans early Thursday greenlit President Donald Trump’s proposal to claw back billions in global health and public media funding, pushing past frustrations within the GOP conference about the White House’s transparency during the process. The White House requested spending cuts narrowly made it through the Senate in a 51-48 vote after GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine voted “no” alongside Democrats because they are RINOs and we all know it.

Because Senate Republicans made changes to the legislation it will need to bounce back to the House, which is expected to vote on it later Thursday. Trump will need to sign the rescissions bill by the end of Friday, otherwise he will be forced to spend the money Congress previously approved.

Meanwhile, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) missed the vote, laid up in the hospital after feeling under the weather Wednesday night. Speedy recovery, Senator, but your absence didn’t stop the train.

The House has until Friday to get this done and send it to Trump’s desk for his John Hancock. That’s tomorrow, folks.  If they miss the deadline, the money Congress already approved gets spent, and we’re back to square one. Let’s hope the House doesn’t fumble this one as is their wont. Time to keep the pressure on.

Hey amazing readers! If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting Brain Flushings. A quick coffee donation via Buy Me a Coffee fuels late-night writing sessions and fresh ideas. Every sip—er, dollar—helps me create more of the posts you enjoy. Join the crew, toss in a coffee, and let’s keep the good vibes brewing! 

Tweet

Schiffless cites CBS "head on pike" BS angering GOP

The Senate Republicans, even the potential swing-voters, are infuriated after Adam Schiff, House Impeachment Manager, (D-CA) made reference to a report by Complete Bull S*** News (CBS) that GOP members were threatened with dire consequences if they voted to convict President Trump. The only fact in this claim is that CBS made the fake news report.

"CBS News reported last night that a Trump confidant said that key senators were warned, ‘Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.’ I don’t know if that’s true," Schiff lied, while trying to manipulate Senate Republicans to vote with "moral courage" rather than in their political self-interest [or lack of any evidence].

Several senators went on record objecting to Schiff's BS.

"I thought he was doing fine with [talking about] moral courage until he got to the 'head on a pike.' That's where he lost me,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK) said. She previously stated that she would be open to calling witnesses in the trial. "He's a good orator. ...It was just unnecessary," she added.

After the bug-eyed liar made his remark, several Republican Senators reportedly shook their heads and said, "That's not true," after Schiff made his repugnant remark.

“I hope it’s not true,” Schiff lied. He hates Trump and has repeatedly lied about nonexistent "facts," and non-existent "evidence."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), considered another key Republican vote, agreed with Murkowski. ["I would like to kick Schiff right in his solar nuts," she was probably thinking.]

“Not only have I never heard the ‘head on the pike’ line but also I know of no Republican senator who has been threatened in any way by anyone in the administration," she told reporters.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), called the story "baloney." She said she was listening to Schiffhead, "until he got to the part where he just completely made a bunch of bullcrap up," [aka BS].

Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], said, "No Republican senator has been told that. What he has proven to all of us is, he is capable of falsehoods [aka BS] and will tell it to the country. And would tell it to us when we are sitting in the Senate chamber. When every one of us knows it is not true."

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), who has a great announcer's voice, also said he would be open to witnesses and old reporters it’s “completely, totally false.”

“None of us have been told that,” he said. “That’s insulting and demeaning to everyone to say that we somehow live in fear and that the president has threatened all of us.″

Even some Democrats were miffed by the remark.

Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-W.VA.), hasn’t revealed how he plans to vote. Regarding Schiff's BS, Manchin said, "That could have been left out, that's for sure."

Other Democrats scoffed, suggesting the outrage was a made-up excuse to oppose calling witnesses. This too is BS--the Republicans would be happy to call witnesses that make the President's case, such as the main witness, Hunter Biden.

Minority Leader Chuck "Nostrils" Schumer (D-NY), told Communist outlet MSNBC, "The Republicans are so afraid to confront the actual facts here ... they're always looking for a diversion."

The actual facts, as Schumer says, are in the transcript of the phone call, the fact that the left, since the day Trump got elected, planned to impeach him, and the fact that Adam Schiff vetoed every witness the Republican House wanted to testify.

Trump’s defense team will begin their opening statements in the trial Saturday morning after the 28,000 pages of House BS is delivered.

Please consider following this blog, and remember, every time you click on an ad, an angel gets its wings.

Tweet

Kavanaugh confirmed!

The voting for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh began at around 4 p.m. Saturday and, zippidee doo dah . . . he has been confirmed and could be on the job as early as Monday.

This has been the most disgusting confirmation hearing ever. The Democrats still are upset with the results--lipless Patrick Leahy (D-VT) , the senior old white guy senator said that he couldn't understand why the Senate couldn't wait to vote after all the investigation was complete [and he would be dead of old age].

The chamber voted to confirm 50 to 48, and the only Democrat to vote 'aye' was Joe Manchin of West Virginia.  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was a 'no,' but voted 'present' as a courtesy to Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) who was walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.

Murkowski is toast, I suspect.

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made his speech entirely through his left nostril but it didn't have the desired effect as the confirmation is now history.

After the confirmation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke and congratulated Brett Kavanaugh and the President. Then he took questions from the media.


Click the "Follow Posts" button in the margin and be sure to get the latest Brain Flushings at a computer near you. Also, please visit the ads on this page because it helps the economy and me.



Tweet

Crunch time for Kavanaugh

The testimony from Christine Blasey Ford had some credibility but her inability to keep parts of her testimony straight leaves questions. She feared flying and couldn't testify on Monday, but she flew to Washington, D.C. anyway, and flies every year to see her family.

Her claim that she didn't know how to go about contacting her local congressional representative also makes one question her actual intelligence, while her inability to remember certain details, like who paid for the polygraph, when and where did this all take place, and who was in the room--just Judge and Kavanaugh or was it our people, makes one wonder her veracity.

The heartfelt opening by Judge Kavanaugh was very moving.

But the fact of this entire political embarrassment is the idea that while Ford's testimony may have been credible to many, especially those on the left, there was not a shred of corroboration to her claims by people she cited were there, and even her close longtime friend said she didn't know Brett Kavanaugh or remember the party where he was alleged to have raped her.

After the hearing, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) got together to discuss the nomination.

Jeff Flake isn't running for another term so his vote is anyone's guess. Joe Manchin is a Democrat in a heavily red district. Lisa Murkowski is a moderate and may have allegiances to her gender over the lack of evidence or corroboration. And Susan Collins just talks funny--kind of like a lady in a flower store.

The group huddled together for about a half hour before a GOP conference meeting Thursday evening ahead of Friday's Judiciary Committee vote on whether to move forward on Kavanaugh's confirmation to the full Senate.

After Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) gave a powerful speech admonishing the tactics the Democrats used to get the committee to this point, while destroying the reputation of Kavanaugh, and even hurting Ford, his accuser, it seems that any Republican voting against the nominee will be kissing their political career adieu.

The feeling seems to be that if Kavanaugh is somehow not confirmed, the GOP will be destroyed in the November mid-term elections.

It's possible that Ford is telling the truth. It's possible she is mistaken that it was Kavanaugh who was sexually inappropriate. It's even possible she's lying, but it seems as if she believes her story, which would explain why she passed the polygraph test.

But we cannot ruin a person's life and career based on allegations, because if we do, nobody in their right mind would agree to go through this horrible process.

The Senate embarrassed itself today.


Click the "Follow Posts" button in the margin and be sure to get the latest Brain Flushings at a computer near you. Also, please visit the ads on this page.


Tweet