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Trump Launches ‘Make America Beautiful Again’ to Save Public Lands

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Trump Launches ‘Make America Beautiful Again’ to Save Public Lands
  • Trump reverses course on public land sales, launching the “Make America Beautiful Again” commission to focus on conservation instead of development.
  • The shift follows backlash over a proposed 1.2 million-acre land sell-off, which was pulled from a major tax bill due to concerns over foreign buyers.
  • The MABA commission, led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, will promote economic growth through tourism, park upgrades, and preservation of public lands.

The Center Square reports:

After public backlash to the proposed sale of millions of acres in public land in Western states, the Trump administration appears to have taken a 180-degree turn on land conservation.

The Make America Beautiful Again commission will advise President Donald Trump on conservation of, in Trump’s words, America’s “national treasures and natural resources.”

“America’s national parks, forests, waterways, and public lands have inspired generations and kindled our Nation’s spirit of exploration,” read a July 3 executive order signed by Trump. “To ensure that the next generation of Americans inherits this same sense of duty and adventure, my Administration will prioritize conserving our great American national parks and outdoor recreation areas.”

Two MABA commission executive orders were signed the day before the federal government’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law. The massive tax bill had been set to include the sell-off of over 1.2 million acres of public lands, a large portion of which would have been in Nevada.

But late in the months-long negotiations for the bill, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who had proposed the public lands sale, pulled the provision.

“I was unable to secure clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families – not to China, not to BlackRock and not to any foreign interests,” Lee wrote on social media. “I’ve made the decision to withdraw the federal land sales provision from the bill.”

Earlier this year in April, the Bureau of Land Management sold 6,800 acres of public land for oil and gas development.

Instead of development, Trump’s MABA commission will focus on conservation and economic impact from Western public lands. The apparent U-turn on public land sales will look to increase entrance fees, attract more foreign tourists and expand national park infrastructure to generate more revenue from the country’s natural lands.

Made of 11 of President Trump’s cabinet members, the MABA commission will be headed by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor who has drawn criticism for his close ties to the oil industry.

With over 80% of Nevada’s land publicly owned, the MABA commission could have a large impact on the state in the coming years.

“Given the all-out assault on clean water, public lands and wildlife protection from the Trump administration, it’s hard not to be skeptical of anything it announces,” said Andrew Wetzler, senior vice president for nature at the Natural Resources Defense Council, as per The Washington Post.

The executive orders call for economic development through conservation efforts, but vague details leave out most information on how the economics and conservation will be balanced.

The Center Square reached out to the BLM for further detail but did not receive an immediate response.

Nation’s Largest Teachers Union Rallies Against Trump Agenda

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Nation’s Largest Teachers Union Rallies Against Trump Agenda
  • The National Education Association passed secretive resolutions labeling Trump a fascist and urging resistance to his agenda.
  • The union condemned ICE operations, cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League, and adopted radical language changes like calling deportations “kidnappings.”
  • Critics say the NEA is pushing a far-left agenda on educators and students, while the union claims it’s defending democracy and public education.

The Center Square reports:

The National Education Association adopted new resolutions encouraging resistance to the Trump administration.

The NEA, the largest U.S. teachers union with over 3 million members, approved multiple business items that oppose any kind of action by the Trump administration and characterized the president as a fascist. It also said it would no longer endorse the Anti-Defamation League, a longtime organization known for combatting antisemitism.

The union OK’d the resolutions during its annual convention July 3-6 in Portland, Oregon.

Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project, obtained a copy of the NEA’s resolutions and posted them on X.

“I just received a copy of the National Education Association’s resolutions that they passed at their annual convention,” said DeAngelis. “They kept them private this year.”

Throughout the X thread, DeAngelis exposes each newly adopted business item.

“NEA pledges to defend democracy against Trump’s embrace of fascism by using the term facism [sic] in NEA materials to correctly characterize Donald Trump’s program and actions,” according to the union’s resolution. “NEA will use existing media channels to oppose any move to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education as an illegal, anti-democratic, and racist attempt to destroy public education and privatize it in the interests of the billionaires.”

The NEA changed the language of deporting illegal immigrants to “kidnapping” and expressed its support for students protesting against ICE raids.

“NEA opposes Immigration and Customs Enforcement kidnapping student leaders and supports students’ right to organize against ICE raids and deportations,” read another resolution.

The NEA stated it will no longer endorse or publicize material from the Anti-Defamation League, an organization founded to combat antisemitism.

“Allowing the ADL to determine what constitutes antisemitism would be like allowing the fossil-fuel industry to determine what constitutes climate change,” NEA delegate Stephen Siegel said at the convention.

ADL found the NEA’s actions disturbing and said it will continue to support Israel and reach students through education programs.

“It is profoundly disturbing that a group of NEA activists would brazenly attempt to further isolate their Jewish colleagues and push a radical, antisemitic agenda on students,” ADL said. “We will not be cowed for supporting Israel, and we will not be deterred from our work reaching millions of students with educational programs every year.”

After DeAngelis’s X post, the NEA blocked him.

The Center Square reached out to the NEA for comment but has not received a response.

At the convention, NEA President Becky Pringle encouraged the audience by stating educators will leave the convention excited and ready to keep advocating for students and their communities.

“Our educators will leave energized and prepared to carry their learnings back to every corner of the country — ready to engage with school boards, town halls, state legislatures, and even Congress,” said Pringle at the convention. “United in purpose, they are ready to keep advocating for their students, schools, and communities — facing the challenges to public education head-on with renewed strength and solidarity.”

White House Blames Democrats for Surge in Anti-ICE Attacks

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White House Blames Democrats for Surge in Anti-ICE Attacks
  • White House Blames Dems: Trump admin cites “inflammatory rhetoric” for a 700% surge in attacks on ICE agents, linking it to recent legislation pushing to unmask officers.
  • Coordinated Violence: Multiple ICE facilities targeted in Texas, Oregon, and California—with officers shot, beaten, and hit with incendiary devices on July 4.
  • VISIBLE Act Sparks Tensions: Dems claim face coverings erode trust; critics say it endangers officers and fuels anti-ICE hostility nationwide.

The Center Square reports:

As more Democrats push to unmask U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, the White House is pointing fingers at a surge in targeted violence against law enforcement agents.

The White House put out a fact sheet Wednesday afternoon highlighting the rise in violence against ICE agents, a day after legislation was introduced in Congress by several Democrats, citing transparency in an effort to prohibit federal immigration officials from covering their faces.

The Trump administration claims ICE agents are “facing a 700% surge in assaults,” blaming Democrats as a result of “dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric” directed at immigration officials.

In the last week, several immigration officials have been injured in attacks around the country, according to the White House.

On Monday, a Michigan shooter fired dozens of rounds into a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, shooting one police officer before he was killed by Border Patrol agents. It was the first of two officer involved shootings outside of a federal immigration facility in Texas within days, The Center Square first reported.

On Independence Day, July 4, two ICE facilities in Texas and Oregon were targeted in attacks by what the White House describes as alleged “leftist criminals.”

In Alvarado, Texas, the White House says, “assailants lured officers out of the building and opened fire, shooting one officer in the neck.” In addition, vehicles at the ICE facility were defaced “with anti-ICE graffiti – including ‘ICE pig’ and ‘F – you pigs,” according to the Trump Administration. Ten people were arrested for perpetrating the “planned ambush” with Texas DPS issuing an alert for another suspect at large considered to be armed and dangerous, The Center Square reported.

On the same day in Portland, Ore., which has been a hotbed for political violence in recent years, the White House says, “deranged rioters viciously assaulted federal agents” at the ICE facility. “Officers were kicked, punched, and targeted with an ‘incendiary device,'” according to the White House.

The attacks follow a recent violent uprising of attacks on immigration officials in Los Angeles that erupted into riots in the city, leading President Donald Trump to send in the military to restore law and order.

Democrats have accused immigration officials of carrying out masked raids in unmarked tactical gear, with some comparing the agents to the “Gestapo” or “brown shirts,” harkening back to Nazi Germany.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., one of the senators spearheading the legislation, claims the operations “lack of transparency” while endangering “public safety by causing confusion, fear, and mistrust, especially in communities already subjected to heightened immigration scrutiny.”

Padilla further claims the masking “increases risks for law enforcement personnel,” adding that “individuals cannot distinguish real officers from impersonators.”

“When federal immigration agents show up and pull someone off the street in plainclothes with their face obscured and no visible identification,” Padilla wrote in a news release. “It only escalates tensions and spreads fear while shielding federal agents from basic accountability.”

If the proposed legislation, the VISIBLE Act, is approved, it would require immigration officers to display their agency, last name or badge number. It would also prohibit agents from wearing nonmedical face coverings; however, it does make exceptions for “environmental hazards or covert operations.”

Border czar Tom Homan has been vocal in recent days, criticizing rhetoric from Democrats.

“The rhetoric against the men and women of ICE is skyrocketing, especially by members of Congress,” Homan told Fox News on Monday. “We have senators, we have congresspeople [who] compare ICE to the Nazis, compare ICE to racists, and it just continues. So the public thinks, well, if a member of Congress can attack ICE, why can’t we?”

Churches May Soon Regain Right to Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit

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Churches May Soon Regain Right to Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit
  • Churches may soon regain the right to endorse candidates without losing their tax-exempt status.
  • A proposed court order challenges the Johnson Amendment as a violation of free speech and religious freedom.
  • The order states political messages shared during religious services are protected if rooted in faith.

A federal court may soon roll back restrictions that have silenced churches from speaking out on politics for decades. If a judge approves a proposed court order, the IRS will no longer punish churches for endorsing candidates from the pulpit—a move that could restore long-lost First Amendment rights.

The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954 and named after then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, bars nonprofits from “directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate,” according to the IRS. Historians say Johnson pushed the measure to suppress opposition during his reelection bid.

Now, thanks to a legal challenge by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and several churches, the tide may be turning. The plaintiffs argue the amendment violates constitutional rights—free speech, religious liberty, and equal protection under the law.

The proposed order clarifies that “communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment.”

The IRS has not responded to requests for comment, and both NRB and its legal team are waiting for a judge’s final approval before making public statements.

Critics, including the National Council of Nonprofits, argue the change could open the door for campaign finance abuse. But supporters, like Alliance Defending Freedom, call it a necessary correction. “Churches have the constitutional right to speak freely,” said ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker.

Indiana Search Team Deployed to Texas as Flood Death Toll Rises

Keely Compson
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Indiana Search Team Deployed to Texas as Flood Death Toll Rises
  • Indiana Task Force 1 deployed to Texas to assist in search efforts after deadly floods along the Guadalupe River.
  • At least 118 people are confirmed dead, with over 160 still missing in Kerr County alone.
  • The 49-member rescue team deployed on Tuesday to support local recovery efforts.

Indiana Task Force 1, an elite urban search and rescue team, was deployed Tuesday night to Kerr County, Texas, where historic flooding has left over 160 people unaccounted for and claimed at least 118 lives.

The flooding began early Friday morning along the Guadalupe River, devastating communities across the Texas Hill Country. Search crews have recovered 87 bodies so far in Kerr County alone, and hopes of finding more survivors are fading fast, according to Texas officials.

Indiana Task Force 1 is made up of 49 highly trained personnel, including firefighters, medics, and search dogs. The team is led by Battalion Chief Jay Settergren of the Indianapolis Fire Department. The group left from their Indianapolis headquarters Tuesday evening and is headed for a staging area in San Antonio before moving into the disaster zone.

“Our mission is to support local agencies, locate missing persons, and bring closure to families who are living through unthinkable loss,” said a spokesperson for the task force.

While the nation has grown weary from ongoing political division, moments like these remind us of the power of unity and service. In a time of disaster, Americans answer the call—regardless of state lines or party affiliation.

The deployment reflects a long-standing commitment to national disaster response and serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s force—and the courage of those who respond to it.

Rep. Clyburn Compares Medicaid Work Requirements to Jim Crow-Era Policies

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Rep. Clyburn Compares Medicaid Work Requirements to Jim Crow-Era Policies
  • Rep. James Clyburn slammed new Medicaid work requirements, calling them “the worst” legislation he’s seen
  • He compared the policy to Jim Crow-era tactics, claiming it targets people who are already working
  • Supporters argue the rules promote accountability, while critics say they could hurt vulnerable recipients

During Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN’s Laura Coates Live, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) made waves with a sharp critique of the new Medicaid work requirements included in the recently passed reconciliation bill.

Clyburn compared the policy change to one of the darkest periods in American history. “[T]his awful piece of legislation, I think it’s the worst thing I’ve seen in my lifetime. And it mirrors stuff that I’ve studied in history,” he said. “We are seeing an attempt on the part of this administration to replicate that which took place when we saw the creation of Jim Crow.”

The new policy requires certain Medicaid recipients to meet work-related criteria to continue receiving benefits. Supporters say it’s about encouraging independence and accountability for able-bodied adults receiving government aid. But Clyburn argues the policy unfairly targets people who are already working.

“85% of the people who get this aid or Medicaid are already working,” he said. “And so, what we’re going to do is say that, even though you’re already working, we’re now going to subject you to a new test, which could very well result in your not working at all.”

Conservatives argue that Medicaid should be a safety net, not a lifestyle. But critics like Clyburn believe the new work rules are unnecessary and burdensome. The debate highlights the growing divide over how to reform welfare without punishing those genuinely trying to get ahead.

‘Trump Boulevard’ Coming Soon! Florida Passes Roadway Rename

Keely Compson
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‘Trump Boulevard’ Coming Soon! Florida Passes Roadway Rename
  • Palm Beach County will soon rename a stretch of Southern Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago as “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard”
  • The Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis approved the designation; and local commissioners voted Tuesday
  • Signage will go up soon, with similar Trump-named roads already appearing in other states

A busy stretch of road near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate will soon carry a name that’s hard to miss: “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.”

Palm Beach County commissioners voted Tuesday night on a resolution to give an honorary designation to 4 miles of Southern Boulevard, stretching from Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-a-Lago.

The Florida Legislature passed the measure earlier this year, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law last month. But final approval had to come from local officials before signs could go up.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the president is grateful. “The great state of Florida is honoring President Donald J. Trump, whose beautiful Mar-a-Lago Club is a long-standing staple in the Sunshine State,” Rogers said. “Renaming this road to ‘Donald J. Trump Boulevard’ commemorates his iconic legacy and the historically significant moments that have made this President the greatest of all time.”

“The President will always be grateful to Floridians for their unwavering support as MAGA loyalists, who voted for him all three times,” she added.

The road will still be officially known as Southern Boulevard for mail and emergency services, but Google Maps has already started showing the Trump name.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be installing honorary signage in the coming weeks. The renamed route will cut through West Palm Beach and Palm Beach, though neither city has taken a formal stance.

Similar efforts to honor Trump have popped up across the country—in states like Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, and Montana.

Homan on Afghan Evacuees—’We’re Going to Vet Every Single One’

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Homan on Afghan Evacuees—’We’re Going to Vet Every Single One’
  • Tom Homan vows the Trump administration will re-vet Afghan refugees who were not properly screened under Biden.
  • A 2022 DoD report revealed thousands of evacuees skipped full background checks, raising security concerns.
  • Homan backs legislation to ensure accountability and national security, following Trump’s pause on the refugee program.

The Center Square reports:

Border czar Tom Homan vows the Trump administration will thoroughly vet Afghan refugees after a government report noted the group was not properly vetted after the U.S.’ deadly withdrawal from the country during the Biden administration.

Homan told The Center Square that the Trump administration would be doing things the “right way” by revisiting the vetting process.

“We’re going to re-vet them because we don’t think the last administration properly vetted them. … This administration will do things the right way, we’ll make sure everyone is vetted properly,” said Homan.

The border czar pointed to a 2022 Department of Defense Inspector General report that admitted thousands of Afghan evacuees who entered the U.S. following the American military evacuation in August 2021 were not properly vetted.

“[The DoD] found that Afghan evacuees were not vetted by the National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) using al DoD data prior to arriving in CONUS,” the report said.

“This occurred because Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) enrollments were compared against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) data, which did not initially include all biometric data located in the DoD Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) database and because the DoD’s National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) has agreements with foreign partners that prohibits the sharing of some ABIS data with U.S. agencies outside of the DoD.

“Subsequently, in August 2021, NGIC personnel expanded their normal analytic review of all biometric watchlist matches to also include non‑watchlist matches of Afghan evacuees using all DoD data to close these gaps. Because NGIC personnel needed access to CBP records to complete this analysis, the NGIC entered into an agreement with the DHS to access the necessary CBP records. This agreement was set to expire December 27, 2021, prior to NGIC completing a full review of all Afghan evacuees,” the report added.

The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security says nearly 80,000 Afghan refugees were admitted into the U.S. between July 2021 and January 2022.

Following the evacuation of Afghan refugees, 4,000 were housed at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia, according to the report.

Task Force Quantico personnel “did not have controls in place to ensure the accountability of the 3,755 Afghan evacuees under their supervision. As of Sept. 27, 2021, there were no additional accountability checks of Afghan evacuees after initially documenting names upon their arrival,” according to the audit.

The report noted that personnel “relied on Afghan leaders and interagency partners to inform the Command when individuals went missing or did not show up for scheduled appointments.”

Personnel admitted that “without proper accountability of personnel, it was difficult for TF Quantico personnel to determine if any Afghan evacuees were missing in an emergency or other unexpected events.”

Homan’s comments support legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this year by Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Joni Ernest, R-Iowa, titled the Afghan Vetting Accountability Act, which followed an announcement by President Donald Trump to pause the refugee program.

The senators claim the Biden administration “botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” which allowed “entry to persons of national security, public safety threats and a terrorist planning an attack on our nation,” according to a release from the lawmakers.

NIH to Cap Journal Fees, Make Taxpayer-Funded Research More Accessible

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NIH to Cap Journal Fees, Make Taxpayer-Funded Research More Accessible
  • NIH will cap how much publishers can charge to make taxpayer-funded research publicly accessible
  • The move aims to boost transparency and stop double-dipping by major publishing companies
  • New policy takes effect in 2026 as part of NIH’s effort to rebuild public trust in science

In a move aimed at restoring trust in public health and protecting taxpayers, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced plans to cap how much publishers can charge researchers to make their findings publicly available.

“Creating an open, honest, and transparent research atmosphere is a key part of restoring public trust in public health,” said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. “This reform will make science accessible not only to the public but also to the broader scientific community, while ending perverse incentives that don’t benefit taxpayers.”

Right now, some publishers charge scientists as much as $13,000 per article for “open access” publishing—even when the research was publicly funded. On top of that, the NIH pays these same publishers millions more in subscription fees, making taxpayers pay twice: first for the research, then to read it.

Starting in fiscal year 2026, the NIH will introduce a cap on publication costs. The goal is to rein in skyrocketing fees, boost transparency, and ensure more people—not just insiders—can benefit from federally funded research.

This new policy builds on previous NIH efforts, like the Public Access Policy, the Data Management and Sharing Policy, and online tools like RePORT, which allow anyone to see how NIH dollars are being used.

“This policy marks a critical step in protecting the integrity of the scientific publishing system while ensuring that public investments in research deliver maximum public benefit,” Dr. Bhattacharya said.

To learn more, visit www.nih.gov.

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