The Daily Signal

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner is just a few weeks on the job, but he’s already saving money for American taxpayers. The HUD secretary spoke with The Daily Signal from CPAC today. It took an all-night vote-a-rama, but finally at 4:45 a.m. the U.S. Senate approved a $340 billion budget reconciliation bill. The final vote was 52 to 48, with just one Republican—Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky—voting against the measure. President Trump met with the nation’s governors at the White House today, and he used the occasion to call out Maine Gov. Janet Mills over the issue of male athletes competing against women in sports. Plus, our news flash: Sen. Josh Hawley reintroduced legislation to assign a special inspector general to investigate U.S. funding for Ukraine. Hamas handed over the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages Thursday, but one of them was not Shiri Bibas. New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ upcoming trial date was vacated, but Judge Dale Hol refused to dismiss the federal charges. President Trump will close out the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. The Daily Signal will be at CPAC to cover his remarks. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pentagon’s budget is going to shrink and Americans are going to get a better “bang for their buck” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “Did you notice that of all the controversial Trump nominees—Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, RFK, Tulsi Gabbard—the Left went after Pete Hegseth the most vehemently? And he required JD Vance to break that tie. There was a reason for that. He is proposing radical changes in the Pentagon. Remember where we are right now with the Pentagon. We spend $820 billion a year. It's about 14% of the entire budget and it's immune to criticism. It really is. “And we are building $14 billion carriers. We're building $85 million F-35s. We have built $140 million F-22s. And we're watching, in Ukraine and the Middle East, the entire mode of 21st-century warfare being revolutionized. It's more of—not that we're going to have bad quality, but it's more quantity than quality. They're flooding the zones with cheap drones—cheap drones on the ocean, in the air, and on land. “And we're not there yet. We're not doing it. So, what Pete Hegseth wants to do is change the entire manner of procurement.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Trump’s approval rating one month after he took office. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he won’t seek reelection in 2026. Former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has been critical of President Trump in recent years. And today, she did not hold back that criticism. Haley said that when the President criticizes Ukraine, he is giving Puting exactly what he wants. Also on today’s show: The Senate confirms Kash Patel to be the next FBI director. The bodies of four slain hostages are returned to Israel. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson discusses the misleading information about the first 30 days of the Trump administration’s actions, comparing it to FDR’s first hundred days. On this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson describes the current period as a “Trump restoration” rather than a revolution, emphasizing it as a counterrevolution against the changes brought by the Obama administration. “ We don't really appreciate what we've been through with eight years of the Obama revolution and the four-year, more radical third term of Obama using or employing the wax effigy of Joe Biden. A revolution that we've experienced was a cultural, economic, political, social revolution. It was very similar to the French Revolution under the Robespierre brothers. You should remember what they tried to do. They changed the days of the week. They renamed things. They tore down statues. They went after the churches. Does this sound familiar? … “ So this was a revolutionary movement. Movies were different. Sports were different. Take a knee. And Donald Trump came in and it was not sufficient to say we’re going to stop the madness of $37 billion. … It’s a return to normalcy. It’s a return to common sense. It only looks revolutionary to revolutionaries. But to the rest of the people, it is a counterrevolution to restore normalcy and bring the country from the far-left fringes back home again.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Senate Majority Leader John Thune says “it’s time to act” on a budget reconciliation bill that provides funding to secure the border, rebuild America’s defenses, and promote domestic energy production. President Trump and Elon Musk sat down for a joint interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity to talk about the Department of Government Efficiency and the Left’s efforts to sow division between the two men. The White House banished the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One over a dispute on the newly renamed Gulf of America. Plus, our news flash: Tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelenskyy escalated today following a meeting between Russian officials and Trump’s team in Saudi Arabia. President Trump says he is firing all the Biden-era U.S. attorneys in a move to restore confidence at the Department of Justice. Kelly Loeffler was confirmed by the Senate today to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. That sets the stage for a vote on Kash Patel to serve as the next FBI director. CPAC starts Thursday on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., and Vice President JD Vance is slated to kick off the event. The Daily Signal will have a spot on CPAC’s media row. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his trip to Europe last week, Vice President JD Vance said to European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, “The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values—values shared with the United States of America.” In the face of mounting inflation and rampant illegal immigration, Europe’s leaders must listen to their people and not take a “hard left,” plunging the country into a Joe Biden-level, continentwide nightmare, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “[Vance’s] criticism was multifaceted: Close your borders. Legal-only immigration. Up your defense budget. Allow for free speech. We've gone through the Biden nightmare at home. We know what it was like to go hard left. Don't go that way. Deregulate. ... “Germany and Europe better be very careful. Germany's fertility rate is 1.45. Europe's, in aggregate, is only about 1.5. We're at least 1.6. We said years ago in 2014, NATO, pay 2% of GDP and hold your own and pull your own weight. And now it's 10 years, 11 years later and we still have nine NATO countries that will not do it, especially Germany. ... “They have 16% of the population was not born in Germany. France is almost as bad. And they do not assimilate, intermarry, and integrate like we do. They are looking at this huge Russian-Ukrainian war on their borders where maybe 1.5 million people have been killed or wounded or missing. And they're critical of the United States that pays the greatest proportion of the NATO budget and who puts Europe under its nuclear shield. And they are damning us.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Russia has agreed to engage in talks over ending the war with Ukraine. Hamas announces that they will release the bodies of four deceased hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young children. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is under pressure to resign. Also on today’s show: President Trump’s acts to end DEI practices. All passengers survive a Delta airplane crash landing. Pope Francis has pneumonia in both his lungs. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presidential historian and former Bush administration official Tevi Troy discusses his new book, "The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry." Troy explores the complex relationship between CEOs and presidents throughout presidential history—from historical examples like John D. Rockefeller to modern tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg. The evolving role of business leaders in politics is already evident in President Donald Trump's second term, most notably with Elon Musk shaping policy and directing DOGE's efforts to streamline government. Troy examines how CEOs must navigate Washington's corridors of power while balancing corporate interests and political pressures. The conversation also covers pressing issues like AI regulation, tariffs, and the shifting landscape of corporate America's stance on social issues. Listen to the full conversation on this special interview edition of "The Daily Signal Podcast." Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Europe’s largest and deadliest war since 1945 needs to come to an end, argues Victor Davis Hanson in this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” As rumors of peace talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine spread, Hanson talks shop about the likely outcomes and why President Donald Trump is the only one who can end Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II: “What did Donald Trump do when he came in? He started giving offensive weapons to Ukraine. He killed 300 to 400 of the Wagner Group in Syria. Nobody had ever done that in the Cold War, killed that many Russians. He got out of an asymmetrical missile deal. He sanctioned the oligarchs at a higher level. He started flooding the world with cheap oil that could bankrupt Russia. He was the best friend that Ukraine ever had.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: The Vice President makes his debut in Europe. President Donald Trump met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Legacy media outlets and liberal interest groups have recently claimed that a proposal requiring proof of citizenship disenfranchises women. Vance slams the Wall Street Journal. The second American to be released in the latest phase of the hostage deal is coming home. Trump all might run against Kamala Harris in California governor’s race. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Senate votes 52-48 to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Linda McMahon, President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education, testifies before the Senate. Trump announced that the U.S. will impose reciprocal tariffs on all major U.S. trading partners, including allies. Also on today’s show: The Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance Kash Patel to a full Senate vote. The Hill reports that GOP leadership in the House has struck a deal with the more conservative contingent of House members on a budget resolution. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservatives across the country might be supporting leftist causes through their investments but have no idea they are doing so. A new investment services consulting company is working to change this. “Prospr Aligned is committed to equipping institutional investors with the tools, insights, and partnerships necessary to ensure their investments deliver reliable returns and reflect the values of their investors and beneficiaries,” according to Derek Kreifels, the company's CEO. Through Prospr Aligned, Kreifels says he helps “institutional investors across the country make sure that their assets are being managed in a way that is actually aligned with their values.” While this might sound simple, Kreifels says, “you would be surprised how many investors are not aware of how asset managers are voting their shares.” Prospr Aligned advises both clients of private and public investment funds on the best investments they can make, placing the priority of financial returns first, while also ensuring investments are not in contradiction with a client's values. Before launching Prospr Aligned, Kreifels headed the State Financial Officers Foundation for 12 years and served as the Assistant State Treasurer of Kansas for the five years prior. Kreifels joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss values-based investing and the unique mission of Prospr Aligned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the height of World War II, Henry Morgenthau, treasury secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, proposed a plan to deliberately deindustrialization, depopulate, and disarm postwar Germany. The Morgenthau Plan, as it was known, would transition Germany back to an agrarian society, making the prospect of future war unimaginable. Although Morgenthau’s ideas would never see the light of day, now, more than 80 years later, Europe’s powerhouse is poised to embrace this grim reality. “Germany represents the powerhouse, traditionally, of the European economy, and even culture, and it’s starting to implode,” warns Victor Davis Hanson in this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “They only have about 125 attack aircraft. They have very few armored vehicles. Their active military is only about 180,000 soldiers. They have 84 million people in the country. The fertility rate is getting very close to 1.4. … “They have had a million to 2 million illegal aliens just prance into Germany, especially during the last years of the Merkel chancellorship. In terms of percentage of foreign-born, Germany has more foreign-born than does the United States, which doesn't have a border in the south, at least until Donald Trump comes in.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: The House of Representatives’ newly created DOGE Subcommittee held its first hearing Wednesday with a focus on the “War on Waste.” The subcommittee is running parallel to President Trump and Elon Musk’s audit of the federal government. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spent Wednesday in Brussels, where he told members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to have a dose of realism about the outcome for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The White House is turning up the pressure on federal judges who have blocked many of Trump’s executive actions. White House press secretary Karoline Levitt spoke about the so-called constitutional crisis between the two branches of government at Wednesday’s briefing. Plus, our news flash: The U.S. Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence in a 52-48 vote Wednesday with Sen. Mitch McConnell as the sole Republican in opposition. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem retrieved the $59 million that FEMA allocated last week to house illegal aliens in New York City. Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Scott Perry introduced Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallet Act to rein in the amount of time federal employees spend on union business. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did President Barack Obama start using words like “diversity, equity, and inclusion” instead of the typical "affirmative action"? Affirmative action was created to right the historic wrongs imposed on African Americans during the Jim Crow era, which included about 10% of the U.S. population. Obama used DEI to expand the terminology to anyone who isn’t white. Why? Victor Davis Hanson argues in this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” that it was to dramatically increase the size of the historically marginalized constituency, allowing the Obama administration to implement its expansive woke agenda: “Affirmative action was created during the civil rights era, 1964 and '65, and then, now, it has been with us almost 60 years. But remember what it was originally designed for—to address the historic racism and oppression of black Americans through slavery and Jim Crow, de facto segregation in some of the Northern states, but de jure segregation in the South. "And it said that because of that African Americans had not been given equality of opportunity. Statute never said anything about quotas or equality result ... “When the Obama administration came in, they saw that that constituency was not big enough for the type of woke agenda that they were envisioning "So, they recreated it. They used a word, “diversity.” And diversity then would morph in, during the Obama years, to “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” They added the “equity and inclusion” so you didn't obsess on race, which was the obsession. But they didn't want you to think about that. So then, all of a sudden, anybody was diverse on one qualification. "They were not white." For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Donald Trump calls for the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Trump ally Steve Bannon pled guilty to fraud charges regarding the funding of part of President Donald Trump‘s border wall. President Donald Trump signs an executive order bringing back plastic straws. The United States Agency for International Development pours money into terrorist organizations President Donald Trump meets with the leader of Jordan, King Abdullah. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the Left taking the bait? While many in the legacy media continue to berate Elon Musk for his role in defunding bloated federal programs and agencies, Donald Trump remains largely unscathed. Is this part of a larger strategy by the president, wonders Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “He's more legitimate—or he has more statutory legitimacy—than earlier presidential advisors, like Harry Hopkins, who moved into the White House under the FDR administration, or Bernard Baruch, who basically ran two world wars, in terms of domestic production, under Woodrow Wilson and FDR. So, let's just dispel the idea that he's doing anything unusual. ... “As far as the executive orders that created the DOGE program and eliminated USAID—that was perfectly legal in itself—USAID was created by John F. Kennedy in 1961 by an executive order. There was a statutory direction for the president to disperse foreign aid into a comprehensive body, but it didn't say USAID—he could do whatever he wanted. ... "And so, Donald Trump has decided to end an autonomous USAID and fold it into the State Department for disaster relief or poverty relief or famine relief. ... “All Donald Trump is doing is saying, ‘I don't believe the impoundment act is legal. We'll see what the Supreme Court says—but I'm just following the precedent that Joe Biden did.’ But now, the shoe's on the other foot." For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Trump is imposing more tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. The president is imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. Hamas has accused Israel of violating its current ceasefire agreement, and becasue of this, Hamas says it will postpone the hostage release that was scheduled for this coming Saturday. A third judge has blocked President Trump’s executive action to end automatic birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens. Also on today’s show: President Trump says that under his plan to revitalize Gaza, Palestinians would not return until the rebuilding was complete. A new CBS News YouGov poll shows that Americans have a favorable view of President Trump just a few weeks into his second term. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of military service, and long before running for Congress, Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., and his wife started a family and focused on growing their business in North Carolina. The couple had “nothing to do with politics until Afghanistan came crashing down” in 2021. Watching Afghanistan fall so quickly back into the hands of the terrorists that Harrigan had fought to defeat during his military service was one of the reasons Harrigan says he decided to run for Congress. “Our politicians failed us,” he said. “Our military leaders failed us. And at some point, you just step back and you realize, if we're structurally so weak that we would lose Afghanistan the way that we lost it, we're just asking our adversaries to attack us.” “I really do believe that the way that we left Afghanistan condemned the next generation of Americans to conflict,” Harrigan added. “And I want to do everything that I can possibly do here in Washington to deter that next conflict that I think is very likely to happen. And in the event we are not able to deter it, I want to set the conditions to win it because there's no substitute for winning.” Harrigan’s passion for strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base began to take form during his years of military service, going back to when he was 23 and found himself in Afghanistan overseeing about 350 Americans, Afghans, and expatriates at a small combat outpost. The position was “very difficult,” Harrigan says, but also a “very rewarding leadership experience that really shaped a lot of who I am today.” Harrigan, a graduate of West Point, returned to Afghanistan in 2015 after becoming a Green Beret. The congressman joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” just one month into his term to discuss how the Trump administration can restore U.S. military readiness, and decrease wasteful use of military resources that is adding to the U.S. national debt. Please enjoy my conversation with Rep. Pat Harrigan! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words”, Hanson talks about the current status of the Mexican-American relationship. Currently, the United States has a $100 billion plus trade deficit with Mexico. Days after taking office, President Trump directed the U.S. military to begin deportation flights to Mexico. Mexico initially refused, only to concede days later. Trump threatened to impose a 25% on Mexican imports unless America’s southern neighbor took concrete action to curb the flow of illegal aliens and drugs across its borders. A day later, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum caved, sending 10,000 national guard troops to the U.S. southern border. “What is the Mexican-American status quo now? It's very disturbing. We sent deported criminals back to Mexico and they would not allow them to land in Mexico. We had people of the cartel shoot an American citizen on U.S. land and shoot at our Border Patrol. So, what is Mexico? Is it a neutral? Is it an ally? Is it an enemy? Is it a frenemy?” “So, I don't know what Mexico is, but I know what we can do about it. 20% tax on anybody who sends, anywhere in the United States, money back to Mexico. That would raise about $12 billion dollars. That would send a message. And then we have a tariff. Donald Trump says he's going to do it very quickly and that would tell Mexico, “you're not going to run up a $167 billion under the guise of the North American Free Trade [Agreement].” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories, like this one, without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: The White House issues a memo calling for the review of all the federal funds the U.S. sends to NGOs. The Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba was in Washington D.C. today and met with President Trump. The January jobs report is out. The U.S. added 143,000 jobs to the economy in January. The Labor Department also reports that the unemployment rate fell to 4%. Also on today’s Show: A search is underway for a small airplane in Alaska that has vanished. The Daily Signal’s Elizzabeth Mitchell reported today that Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy has introduced a bill to prevent passports from being used to promote “radical gender ideology.” Trump announced today that he is doing away with the paper straw push. Trump will be at the Superbowl on Sunday. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is not using tariffs for their historical purpose, which is to protect and promote domestic industry. Instead, Trump, as Victor Davis Hanson argues, is using tariffs to hold countries, like Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and China, accountable. And it’s working. On this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson dispels the Left’s hysteria over President Trump’s tariff policies: “So, if you take Venezuela and Colombia, he's saying that ‘you people deliberately emptied your jails and you sent them to the United States—sent them being felons—violent felons. And you're not going to do that anymore’ And they said, ‘we're not taking them back’. He said, ‘you're going to take them back, or I'm going to put a tariff’. So, it was a lever of diplomacy, and it worked. They backed down completely.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Donald Trump’s speech to members of Congress and faith leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast. He promised to make America faithful again and signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to create a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” Players from the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles who are speaking openly about their faith. Each team’s star quarterback—Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles—spoke about the role of Jesus Christ in their own lives during Super Bowl media day. The NCAA’s decision to comply with Trump’s executive order banning men from women and girls’ sports is already having an impact. The NCAA was ground zero for many of these controversies, sparking outrage from student athletes like swimmer Riley Gaines. Plus, our quick hits: Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers targeted multiple apartment complexes across Aurora, Colorado, but the operation netted only one member of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang due to a suspected leak. Democrats successfully delayed FBI director nominee Kash Patel’s confirmation until next week. The Trump administration ousted members of the board that would hire Kari Lake to head up the Voice of America, potentially easing her appointment to the long-troubled international broadcasting agency. Federal workers have a few more days to decide if they want to take the Trump administration’s buyout offer thanks to a judge’s ruling Thursday. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you live by executive order, you can be canceled by executive order,” says Victor Davis Hanson on this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” when talking about the Trump administration’s decision to restructure the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), originally created by President John F. Kennedy via executive order in 1961. “It's been released that they were subsidizing everything from trans festivities overseas to gay comic books. But what was very interesting was there was a $40 million-plus grant to the Wuhan virology lab and channeled, apparently, through EcoHealth, Peter Daszak’s organization. This is important because under testimony, we were under the impression that Anthony Fauci only had his hands on $600,000.” “At the very time the Democratic Party is polling, according to Quinnipiac—a very liberal polling organization—just 31% approval, a historical low—they all know what they have to do. And that is move to the center. But Donald Trump has moved so fast, and in so many untraditional ways, that their natural hysteria has overcome their sense of reality.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Donald Trump said the U.S. will “take over the Gaza Strip.” President Trump signs executive order banning men from women and girls’ sports. The Senate confirms Trump’s nominees for attorney general and housing and urban development secretary. The CIA offers buyouts to all employees unwilling to return to fully in person work. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, slams the U.S. Agency for International Development. The NFL will remove the words "End Racism" from the end zones at Caesars Superdome. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If DEI proponents were being honest, they’d say, “We're going to bring in people that may not have traditional criteria or traditional resumes, but we're willing to take that risk with your life,” argues Victor Davis Hanson on this edition of “Victor Davison Hanson: In His Own Words.” After President Donald Trump’s critics lashed out last week when he broached the idea that DEI hiring standards may have played a role in the disastrous midair collision over the Potomac River, a class action lawsuit surfaced, claiming that the Federal Aviation Administration turned away “1,000 air traffic controller applicants, solely based on their race,” reported Fox News. The FAA "disbanded a lot of university programs that encourage people with military experience or encourage people that had courses in scientific disciplines or mathematics or aeronautics, not to apply.” “The thing about DEI—what Trump brought up with the FAA—ask yourself something: If it's so good, why don't people just say that? Why don't they just say, we're willing to have collateral damage? We're going to bring in people that may not have traditional criteria or traditional resumes, but we're willing to take that risk with your life. They never say that.” For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advances in his Senate confirmation process. China responds to tariffs levied by President Donald Trump by imposing tariffs on some U.S. imports. Mexican drug cartels are ordering their members to attack US Border Patrol agents. Tulsi Gabbard faces a closed-door vote to be confirmed as Director of National Intelligence. The White House anticipates a "spike" in federal resignations. Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., introduces a bill to require universities to disclose any contracts they have with foreign adversaries Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” a Daily Signal original series, Hanson discusses the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's blunt comments about diversity, equity, and inclusion potentially being at fault in the recent commercial jet/Army helicopter collision outside of Washington. “ We do know this, and Donald Trump brought it up, and that was that the FAA consistently under Joe Biden had racial quotas, and they abolished programs, and universities that encouraged people who had either expertise through the curriculum or prior military experience who would do well on meritocratic exams to try to join the FAA—and they were rejected because of their race.” “ My point is that when [Trump] did that, everybody in the media thought it was awful. But then people who probably didn’t even vote for him said, 'Wait a minute. I want to be safe. I want my daughter to be safe. I want my husband to be safe. You mean there’s people in these control towers that were selected for criteria other than merit?'” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Donald Trump reached an agreement with the president of Mexico to pause new tariffs for a month. The Trump administration moves to close USAID. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington, D.C. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is surging resources to America’s southern border, including military personnel, and has every right to do so, according to Robert Greenway. “It is not unprecedented for the military to be called in [to the border] when the capacity of our law enforcement agencies is exceeded, and that’s almost certainly the case now,” said Greenway, director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation. In a new Heritage report titled, “How the President Can Use the U.S. Military to Confront the Catastrophic Threat at the Border with Mexico,” Greenway, who is also a former member of the National Security Council, Greenway breaks down the specific ways the military can step in to secure the border. The military can help in three general capacities at the border, Greenway explains. First, the military can help with transportation and housing of illegal aliens in the deportation process. Second, the military can provide assistance with the physical security of the border through increased personnel, surveillance, and assistance in the construction of the border wall. And finally, the military can work outside of the U.S. with other countries to help them police their own borders more effectively. “I think there’s a huge role for the military to play, and advise, equip, support, and assist our partners and allies south of the border,” he said. “The military is uniquely capable of doing that.” Greenway joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss past cases in which the U.S. deployed the military to the U.S. border, and why it is an effective strategy for stopping the flood of illegal immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson discusses the implications of Donald Trump's executive orders, particularly those targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) quotas in government. He delves into recent incidents at Columbia University and NYU involving pro-Palestine protests and their potential consequences for student visas: “My point is this, all of these Elite students at these elite universities talk a great game, but when they've never faced any consequences, if Donald Trump and if these universities are afraid of Donald Trump and they clamp down, I think you're going to see deterrence start to work to discourage other protests, because one thing we know about all these young students, they are careerist and they are careerists used to being pampered…” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announces Trump will install tariffs on Mexico, Canada, on China starting Saturday. The Trump administration’s Department of Education releases a “dear colleague” letter rejecting the Biden administration’s attempt to change the meaning of “sex” in Title IX. New evidence arises about the cause of Wednesday night’s plane crash in DC. Sen. Jim Banks requests an investigation into reports that a foreign aid agency pushed abortion on Sierra Leone Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirms that some criminal illegal immigrants will be sent to Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The Trump administration eliminates the Pentagon’s policy of funding abortion travel. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson cuts through the hysteria surrounding Donald Trump's decision to end the security details for Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and Anthony Fauci, highlighting their financial standings and Trump's stance on their protection: Donald Trump said, when he was pressed about this, “aren't you worried that you may be culpable if any of them are harmed, since, supposedly, right-wingers don't like Fauci and the Iranians are mad at Bolton and Pompeo?” And he said, “do we give security details forever?” “Donald Trump will do more to keep Pompeo and Bolton safe by confronting Iran. And he already has told Iran that they are going to be held responsible, not just for threatening Bolton's life or Pompeo's, but his life.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Americans search for answers about Wednesday night’s fatal plane crash. Tulsi Gabbard faced Senate scrutiny on Thursday during her confirmation hearing to be Director of National Intelligence. Kash Patel had his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday to serve as President Donald Trump’s FBI director. Senate Democrats on the Budget Committee boycotted the meeting to advance the nomination of Russell Vought. Meta will pay President Donald Trump $25 million for suspending his Facebook and Instagram accounts in 2021. Trump issues executive orders on education . Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson delves into the controversies surrounding Kash Patel's nomination as the FBI director. Despite Patel's extensive background as a public defender, federal prosecutor, and involvement in the executive and legislative branches, his role in the Nunes memo and association with Donald Trump have stirred significant opposition from the Left: “So, in all of these aspects, he seems like the perfect FBI director. But there's two reasons why people are very angry about him, of course. One is, he was the point man for Devin Nunes House Select Intelligence Committee investigation of the FBI. And he helped draft the Nunes memo, which detailed, quite accurately, all of the FBI's machinations to collude with their paid informant, Christopher Steele, to fabricate a false dossier that incorrectly alleged that Donald Trump was a Russian asset.” For Victor's latest thoughts, please go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee. There has been a lot of confusion over the Trump administration’s order to freeze federal aid, so much confusion in fact that the memo announcing the freeze has now been rescinded. The new national report card shows abysmal math and reading scores among U.S. students. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do those who opposed Pete Hegseth’s nomination really believe he will be worse than former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin? On this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson discusses the contentious Senate confirmation process for Trump administration nominees. He highlights past and upcoming nominations, such as Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and RFK Jr., and the crucial role swing-state senators play in these votes: “There's a general rule, though, that we can make sense that, I think, will apply—has applied, to Pete Hegseth. It will apply to Kash Patel, especially, RFK Jr. and others. And that is three things: The more important the Cabinet position is, the more controversial the vote; the more likely a Republican nominee is going to try to make fundamental and needed changes, the more controversial the vote; and, the more that senators in swing states worry about being reelected, the more controversial vote.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10: Reporters peppered White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt with questions on a range of topics during her first briefing. She promised to reverse former President Joe Biden’s decision to revoke the White House press credentials of 440 reporters. The Daily Signal’s Fred Lucas was among those who lost his credentials in 2023. The White House announced it is freezing federal grants and loans while it undertakes a sweeping review of such spending to ensure it is aligned with the president’s priorities. In fiscal year 2024, he said the government distributed more than $3 million in federal financial assistance. That’s approximately 30% of the $10 trillion it spent. House Republicans are gathered in Florida for a three-day meeting to sort out their strategy for enacting President Trump’s agenda. The Daily Signal’s Elizabeth Mitchell is in Miami for the meeting and interviewed several members of Congress about their plans for budget reconciliation and other upcoming legislative debates. Additional headlines: After dominating the news for weeks last year, Levitt announced the drones flying over New Jersey were authorized to be flown by the Federal Aviation Administration. President Trump has another member of his Cabinet today after the Senate voted 77 to 22 for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is suggesting that the government enlist private citizens—or privateers—to help combat Mexican drug cartels. Google Maps will comply with President Trump’s directive to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and rename Denali to Mount McKinley. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 10,000 homes destroyed, and $50-$100 billion in damages as California battles another explosive wildfire. Find out why nothing has changed and who's accountable: “The estimate of the damage is somewhere now between, perhaps, $50 and $100 billion, and we don't have enough homes for the people who were left. But here's my point, nothing has really changed. Karen Bass is still the mayor. The deputy mayor, Brian Williams, is still under house arrest, or he's under investigation for phoning in a bomb threat.” “And we still have this mysterious thing, don't we? Who causes these fires? It's taboo. You cannot mention the word homeless, but there are no lightning strikes. There are no other exegesis that might explain why these things keep happening. But you do have tens of thousands of homeless people spread all over the L.A. area, of 18 million people, many of them in the hills that camp out. So, my point is, we now have another fire.” “So, my point is, the perfect storm of water mismanagement, timber mismanagement, insurance mismanagement, civic government mismanagement, the role of DEI—they're all in place.” For Victor's latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Pete Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon this morning for his first day of work as Secretary of the Department of Defense. Chinese artificial intelligence caused some big issues in the stock market today. An AI model known as DeepSeek led to several technology stocks taking a big hit. Texas and the U.S. government are working hand in hand to secure the border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is sending some helicopters and 400 soldiers to the border to help with President Trump’s federal border security efforts. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump appointed Andy Puzder ambassador to the European Union this past week. But before he heads to Brussels, Puzder is warning about the left-wing scourge of stakeholder capitalism. As the former chief executive of CKE Restaurants, a major fast food corporation operating Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, Puzder knows what it takes to run a successful business. That’s why he’s so alarmed at the trends he’s witnessing in corporate America. He spoke to The Daily Signal about his new book, “A Tyranny for the Good of its Victims: The Ugly Truth about Stakeholder Capitalism.” In this episode, we cover: • How BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street accumulated unprecedented control over U.S. corporations • The real meaning behind ESG policies and their impact on American business • Why major brands are adopting policies that seem to conflict with their customer base • The effectiveness of consumer boycotts against woke corporate policies • Capitalism’s historic role in reducing global poverty Purchase your copy of “A Tyranny for the Good of Its Victims” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ayJ1gZ Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” a Daily Signal original, Hanson discusses the initial days of the Trump administration and the backlash from the Left. He compares the costs associated with corrective measures to those of the policies originally enacted by the Left. “Over these first few days of the Trump administration, we've seen these bold measures. And it's starting to incur a big backlash, or anger, or counter response from the Left.” “They're saying, well, Donald Trump wants to build the wall. Does he have any idea what it's going to cost? Well, a couple of things: What was the cost of letting 12 million people in here? Twelve million people. We have no idea. What was the cost of allowing 80 to 100,000 people to die every year from cartel-imported fentanyl? So, there was a cost. And that cost was much greater than building the wall.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: President Donald Trump took his first trip as the 47th president today. The president visited western North Carolina to see the devastation caused last year by hurricane Helene and talk with some of the victims from that hurricane. Vice President JD Vance speaks at the March for Life. On Friday morning, military airplanes began deporting illegal aliens out of the U.S. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Follow the money.” It’s one of the age-old principles of investigative journalism because it can lead to the discovery of a “dark money cabal,” as it did for author Tyler O’Neil. After years of reporting on the organizations and people who funnel money into leftist causes, O’Neil determined that “their nefarious influence” needed to be exposed and wrote "The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government.” The Constitution “you learned about in school with its nifty checks and balances, that's not really how it works,” O’Neil says. “I think our government today is less a republic and more it operates like a classical monarchy, where you have this administration that … is handing down all these rules,” O’Neil says. “And Congress still has the ability to check them, but rarely does so to the degree that it should, as the founders intended. From green energy policies to gender ideology, and even law enforcement, the tentacles of the wealthy woke have been, and are, at work. Take energy policy, and consider that “a lot of the bureaucrats who run the [Environmental Protection Agency] and some of these other agencies, they came from woke activist groups,” O’Neil tells "The Daily Signal Podcast." The issue, according to O’Neil, is that “a lot of the laws, a lot of the rules that we have to live by are passed in the administrative state” and not through elected leaders in Congress who are answerable to the American people. O’Neil join “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the ways the radical left “Woketopus” has infiltrated nearly every aspect of the U.S. government, and how the Trump administration can pull off the tentacle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson delves into the inauguration of Donald Trump and its coinciding with the annual meeting of the elite, ’smart people,’ the World Economic Forum’ at Davos, Switzerland. For Victor's latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: Sen. Mike Lee introduces a bill to repeal the FACE Act. President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum today. Justice Department lawyers were in court today for an initial hearing defending Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born to illegal aliens. Links From Today’s Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wwzj29kuvo Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” a Daily Signal original, Hanson discusses the significant media and public opinion shifts following the Nov. 5 presidential election through the inauguration. “There's been a whole change of mentality from the trivial to the existential. We can't quite believe that. Mika and Joe Scarborough made a religious journey, as it is, to Mar-a-Lago. Snoop Dogg once cut a film about shooting Donald Trump. Now he has endorsed him. And that is true all over the media. They just fired the head of MSNBC. Now we also learn these disclosures. Why now?” “I think people as they look back, they think we were in a coma. We were drugged. This was a aberration. Maybe it was the COVID lockdown. Maybe it was the George Floyd. Maybe it was the hatred of Donald Trump. Maybe—I don't know what it was, but it was a four-year aberration.” For Victor's latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Top News in 10, we cover: By Wednesday night, all diversity equity and inclusion personnel will lose their job. Trump’s Department of Justice calls federal prosecutors to investigate states or officials who obstruct deportation orders. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issues a diagnosis for America’s broken health care system. Sen. Joni Ernst introduces a bill to require states to accurately report abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Joe Biden pens a parting letter to his successor. President Donald Trump threatened “Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions” on Russia and its allies. Links From Today’s Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” a Daily Signal original, Hanson critically analyzes Joe Biden's farewell address, pointing out the hypocrisy in Biden's warnings about a new oligarchy. Hanson compares Biden's speech to Dwight D. Eisenhower's historic warning about the military-industrial complex and argues Biden lacks credibility. “But remember Joe Biden is no Dwight Eisenhower. He had credibility. He was a two-term president. He was the hero of what he called the American crusade in Europe, from the beaches of Normandy in June 1944, all the way into the interior of Germany. So, people believed him. Unfortunately, Joe Biden has no such credibility.” ”I'm not a big fan of Mark Zuckerberg, and he was a hostile opponent of Donald Trump, but whether you like him or not, he revolutionized Facebook. So, these so-called oligarchs, David Sachs, or Peter Thiel, or Elon Musk, or Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos, they are ‘can-do’ people. And Trump has them around him now. They're making kind of a hajj to Mar-a-Lago, not because he wants to have some consortium and rig the market or punish his enemies, but because they make things. They're very similar to the captains of industry, the ‘dollar-a-day’ men, that Franklin Delano Roosevelt enlisted to win World War II.” The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories, like this one, without the support of our viewers: https://www.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump made good on his promise to take action to secure the border on Day One of his administration with 10 executive orders. The ink was barely dry Tuesday when 18 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit over his order to end universal birthright citizenship. Marco Rubio was the first Trump nominee to secure Senate confirmation Monday night on a vote of 99-0. The former Florida senator was sworn in as secretary of state Tuesday by Vice President JD Vance. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington lectured Trump and Vance on being kind to transgender people and immigrants at Tuesday’s National Prayer Service. Additional headlines: • Congressman Andy Biggs, a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, announced Tuesday that he’s exploring a run for governor of Arizona. • Ryan Corbett‘s 894-day captivity in Afghanistan is coming to an end. His family announced Tuesday that he was freed by the Taliban, hours after President Trump was sworn into office. • The Ohio State Buckeyes won the college football playoff national championship Monday night, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 34-23. But it’s what happened after the game that’s making news. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email Subscribe to our other shows: The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown Follow The Daily Signal: X: https://x.com/DailySignal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/ Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices