đłď¸ Illegal Immigrants From Multiple Countries Arrested for Casting Ballots in U.S. Elections Over Many Years
Federal authorities have arrested and charged non-citizens from nations including Mauritania, Canada, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Ukraine, and others for illegally registering to vote and participating in federal elections, sometimes spanning more than a decade. One Mauritanian national, who was ordered removed decades ago, voted in every federal election since 2008 before his recent arrest in Pennsylvania on voter fraud charges. A Canadian pleaded guilty in North Carolina for false citizenship claims in the 2022 and 2024 elections after voting as far back as 2004. A Chinese university student faced charges for a 2024 ballot and fled the country, while others, including a Cuban with a long-standing removal order, two Ukrainian women on visas in Florida, and individuals from Arkansas, faced similar prosecutions for 2024 voting or related perjury. These incidents, uncovered amid glitches like Pennsylvaniaâs motor-voter errors that improperly registered thousands of non-citizens, have renewed calls for measures such as the SAVE Act to mandate proof of citizenship and tighten voter rolls.
Sources: The Post Millennial, US Dept of Homeland Security
đ U.S. Intelligence Long Aware of Chinese Access to American Voter Files Since 2020
U.S. intelligence officials possessed evidence by spring 2020 that Chinese intelligence had obtained and analyzed voter registration data from multiple states for public opinion research tied to the general election. A once-classified April 2020 National Intelligence Council memo titled âCyber Operations Enabling Expansive Authoritarianismâ noted this activity but remained heavily redacted and largely unnoticed after quiet declassification years later. Voter registration records include personal details such as driverâs license information and partial Social Security numbers, which could aid foreign actors in crafting influence operations or forging requests. Officials familiar with the matter reported additional raw intelligence and at least one presidential daily briefing on the issue, yet Congress and the public received limited disclosure. Efforts to brief senior leaders faced internal resistance, including blocks by some CIA personnel. The matter surfaces now as the Senate considers election security measures, with current intelligence leaders pursuing further declassifications.
Sources: Just The News, FOX News
đ National Counterterrorism Chief Quits Over Iran Conflict
Joe Kent resigned Tuesday as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, citing his inability to support the ongoing U.S. military operation against Iran known as Operation Epic Fury. The combat veteran and Gold Star husband posted his resignation on X along with a letter to President Trump, arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and that the strikes resulted from pressure by Israeli officials and their American supporters rather than American interests. He referenced his own extensive deployments and the loss of his wife in a 2019 Syria bombing, stating he would not back sending another generation into a conflict that offered no clear benefit to the American people. Administration officials pushed back, with White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noting the president acted on compelling intelligence of an impending Iranian attack and had offered the regime multiple off-ramps to abandon its nuclear program. A senior official described Kent as a known leaker previously sidelined from briefings, while House Speaker Mike Johnson affirmed the existence of a genuine threat based on his own briefings. The resignation marks the first notable internal dissent amid the third week of sustained strikes and Iranian retaliation.
đ° Virginia Democrats Approve Payroll Tax for Paid Leave Despite Affordability Promises
Virginia Democrats wrapped up the 2026 General Assembly session by passing a new payroll tax to finance up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Employers must contribute 0.72 percent of payroll into a state fund, with up to half that amount withheld from employee paychecks. A typical worker earning the state average of roughly $71,000 faces about $282 taken out each year, while the Virginia Employment Commission holds authority to raise the rate later if needed to cover costs. Governor Abigail Spanberger, who campaigned on cutting expenses for working families, now prepares to sign the bill into law. Republicans called the move a roughly $1.5 billion annual burden that trims take-home pay for everyone, whether they use the leave or not. Lawmakers added taxes on recreational marijuana sales and skill-game revenue, but set aside other proposed fees on deliveries, gym memberships, and top earners. A separate sick-leave requirement piles on extra expenses for businesses.
Sources: The Washington Times, The Center Square
đď¸ Lawmakers Push Bill to Stop Chinese Nationals Hauling U.S. Military Cargo
Senators and representatives introduced the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act on March 12, 2026. The bicameral measure would ban Chinese nationals from operating trucks that carry Department of War cargo. It would also require trucking companies handling such freight to certify they have no ownership, control, or significant business ties to Chinese Communist Party entities or Chinese military-linked companies listed under relevant national defense law. Proponents cited ongoing concerns that adversaries exploit these transportation roles to gather intelligence on American military technology and movements. The legislation aims to close what backers call an existing loophole in federal rules governing defense supply chains.
Sources: The Epoch Times, CDL Life
â Jackson Family Retracts Posthumous Endorsement for Illinois Senate Candidate
The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson withdrew a claimed posthumous endorsement of Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin. Stratton had announced on Saturday that she received Jacksonâs personal endorsement before his death last month and highlighted a sample ballot from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition that listed her among supported candidates. On Monday, Yusef Jackson clarified that the ballot was a draft released without authorization since his father had only begun reviewing candidates and never finalized any endorsements. The Jackson family stated it would not issue public endorsements this cycle out of respect for the unfinished process. Strattonâs campaign maintained that officials at a Womenâs History Month event had informed her of the endorsement and encouraged her to publicize it. Jacksonâs widow, Jacqueline, reportedly apologized to opponent Rep. Robin Kelly, while Rep. Jonathan Jackson criticized the move as smelling of desperation, noting his father avoided Black-on-Black political fights. The primary occurs on Tuesday, with the winner heavily favored in the solidly Democratic general election.
Sources: NewsMax, The Chicago Sun-Times
đ¨ USPS Postmarks Now Applied One To Two Days After Mail Pickup In Many Areas
The United States Postal Service has adjusted its operations under the Delivering for America plan and Regional Transportation Optimization initiative so that many first-class letters dropped in mailboxes or blue collection boxes no longer receive a postmark on the day of deposit. Instead the postmark reflects the date the item reaches a regional processing facility and enters automated sorting equipment, which often occurs one or two days later and can stretch to three days around weekends or holidays. This shift stems from fewer evening pickups at roughly 24,000 post offices, longer truck hauls after cutting most air transport, and consolidation of processing plants, with rural and less dense ZIP codes hit hardest while major cities with nearby facilities see little change. Customers can still obtain a same-day hand-stamped postmark by presenting mail at a retail counter, but the change raises risks for ballots, tax returns, payments, and legal filings that rely on timely postmarks to meet deadlines.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, FOX News
âď¸ Judge Halts RFK Jr. Appointees to Vaccine Advisory Panel
A federal judge in Boston issued a temporary block Monday on key vaccine policy shifts pursued by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The ruling prevents implementation of a reduced childhood immunization schedule that would have cut broad recommendations for shots against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain meningitis strains, and RSV. It also suspends the appointments of 13 members to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices after Kennedy dismissed the prior panel and installed new members. The judge determined that the changes likely bypassed proper federal procedures under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and lacked sufficient justification from the expert body, prompting postponement of the committeeâs scheduled meeting this week and invalidating prior votes by the reconstituted group. Lawsuits from medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, drove the challenge, with the administration able to appeal the decision.
â ď¸ Antifa Activists Target Judgeâs Wife With Threats After Prairieland ICE Attack Convictions
Antifa members responded to the federal convictions of nine North Texas Antifa cell operatives by posting online threats against the wife of US District Judge Mark Pittman. They accused her of supporting the late Charlie Kirk after she shared a religious message on Facebook following his death. The activists also directed threats toward jury members and journalist Andy Ngo while calling for retaliation against the justice system over the guilty verdicts. A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted the defendants on March 13, 2026, for their roles in the July 4, 2025, attack on the Prairieland ICE detention facility near Alvarado, Texas, during which an Alvarado police officer was shot in the shoulder. Eight of the nine faced convictions for providing material support to terrorists along with additional charges that included rioting, use of an explosive device, and attempted murder in one case. The original incident involved protesters in dark clothing who vandalized vehicles and property before the shooting occurred.
Sources: The Post Millennial, US Justice Dept
âď¸ Univ. of Florida Faces Lawsuit Threat After Disbanding College Republicans Chapter Over Alleged Nazi Salute
The University of Florida temporarily disbanded its College Republicans chapter after the Florida Federation of College Republicans reported a pattern of misconduct that included an antisemitic gesture. A photo circulated online showed two students appearing to perform the Nazi salute in a now-shuttered gaming chatroom. University officials complied with the federationâs request to deactivate the group as a registered student organization while it reorganizes under new leadership. The local chapter operates under the national College Republicans of America rather than the state federation and accused the latter of fabricating claims to target the club. GOP Lake County commissioner and attorney Anthony Sabatini announced plans to file a First Amendment retaliation lawsuit under Section 1983 seeking an injunction against the university for what he described as viewpoint discrimination. Controversial gubernatorial candidate James Fishback pledged to submit an amicus brief in support of the groupâs free speech rights.
Sources: Gainesville.com, The New York Post
đ Iranian Missile Debris Rains On Jerusalem Holy Sites
Fragments from intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and Israeli interceptors fell across Jerusalemâs Old City on March 16, 2026, landing near the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall plaza, the Jewish Quarter, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israeli police and officials reported no major structural damage to the sites or widespread casualties, though one person suffered light injury from touching hot debris, and authorities closed the holy places along with schools and restricted gatherings because the area lacks sufficient shelters. Police collected large missile fragments from rooftops and plazas while stressing that the incoming fire showed disregard for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim worshippers alike.
Sources: The Daily Wire, Reuters
đĽ Israeli Strike Eliminates Iranâs De Facto Leader Ali Larijani in Tehran
Israeli forces conducted a precise overnight airstrike near Tehran that eliminated Ali Larijani, secretary of Iranâs Supreme National Security Council and the regimeâs effective leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Defense Minister Israel Katz and the IDF confirmed the operation, which also took out Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani and other top paramilitary officials along with a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figure. Larijani, a longtime Khamenei associate recently appointed to the council role and viewed as a potential successor, had publicly threatened President Trump just days earlier while directing Iranâs responses amid ongoing conflict. Reports noted public celebrations in parts of Tehran after the news broke on March 17, 2026, as the strike deepened the leadership crisis in a regime already reeling from prior losses.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, Al Jazeera
đ Nigerian Christians Receive Convert-or-Die Ultimatums From Islamist Militants
Armed militants linked to groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province have stepped up attacks on Christian villages in Nigeriaâs northeastern and Middle Belt regions. They give residents the choice to convert to Islam, pay the jizya religious tax, or face death. In one February incident in Madagali County of Adamawa State, fighters killed at least 25 Christians and burned homes. Eyewitnesses describe gunmen on motorbikes firing on churchgoers during services while shouting âAllahu akbar.â Survivors report similar threats in Benue, Plateau, and Taraba states, where families lose homes and flee as internally displaced persons. Church leaders note that religious extremism drives much of the violence, which international monitors say makes Nigeria the leading site of Christian killings worldwide, with thousands dead in the past year alone. A U.S. congressman highlighted the targeting and warned that American security ties with Nigeria may hinge on better safeguards for these communities.
Sources: The Washington Times, Metro Daily Nigeria
âď¸ North Korean Operatives Slip Into U.S. Tech Jobs From Afar
North Korean operatives have been securing remote technology positions at American companies by using stolen identities and fabricated credentials. They pose as U.S.-based applicants for roles in software development and artificial intelligence. Once hired, the workers often operate from locations such as China while U.S.-based facilitators maintain the deception through laptop farms that house company-issued devices. Salaries reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars flow back to the regime in Pyongyang, helping it evade sanctions and support weapons programs. Cybersecurity researchers at Nisos documented networks applying to thousands of jobs, and officials note the scheme affects hundreds of firms while raising risks of data theft and persistent system access.
đď¸ Cuba Opens Private-Sector Investment to Nationals Living in the US
Cuba is preparing to let its nationals living in the United States invest in and own private businesses on the island. Deputy Prime Minister Oscar PĂŠrez-Oliva Fraga told NBC News that Havana seeks a fluid commercial relationship with US companies and with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants. He said the policy would cover not only small investments but also larger ones, especially in infrastructure. This marks a departure from long-standing restrictions that had barred most Cubans abroad from direct investment, even as the island has allowed small private businesses since 2021 and recently approved public-private partnerships. The move comes as Cuba grapples with severe economic troubles, including power blackouts, fuel shortages, reduced tourism, and limited oil from allies like Venezuela. Fraga blamed the US embargo for blocking financing, technology, and markets. US sanctions remain in place, and any diaspora investments would still face legal hurdles from the longstanding embargo.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, CBS News
âď¸ Suspected Uruguayan Drug Kingpin Captured in Bolivia and Handed Over to U.S. Authorities
Sebastian Marset, a 34-year-old Uruguayan national accused of leading the First Uruguayan Cartel and one of the DEAâs most-wanted fugitives with a $2 million bounty for alleged money laundering and cocaine trafficking, was arrested by Bolivian police in an upscale neighborhood of Santa Cruz. Hundreds of officers took part in the dawn operation on March 13, 2026, with no injuries reported. Bolivian authorities quickly transferred him to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents at the local airport, after which he was placed on a U.S. plane and flown out of the country to face charges. The move comes after Bolivia recently resumed cooperation with the DEA following years of strained relations.
Sources: Reuters, The South China Morning Post