International
Senate Judiciary Committee approves Kash Patel’s FBI nomination in party-line vote

Quick Hit:
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI. Patel, a close ally of President Donald Trump, now faces a full Senate vote. His nomination has drawn strong support from conservatives and fierce opposition from Democrats.
Key Details:
- The Judiciary Committee approved Patel’s nomination in a 12-10 vote, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed.
- Patel, a former national security official, has vowed to reform the FBI and address allegations of political bias within the agency.
- Democrats criticized his close ties to Trump and questioned his past role in declassifying intelligence documents.
Diving Deeper:
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote clears the way for Patel’s nomination to head to the full Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. If confirmed, Patel would oversee the FBI at a time of heightened scrutiny over its handling of politically sensitive investigations.
Patel has promised to root out what he describes as entrenched political bias within the FBI. He has been a vocal critic of the agency’s past handling of Trump-related investigations, particularly the now-discredited Russia probe. During his confirmation hearing, Patel emphasized the need to restore public trust in federal law enforcement.
Democrats, however, have fiercely opposed his nomination, arguing that Patel’s close relationship with Trump undermines the FBI’s independence. They have pointed to his role in efforts to declassify intelligence documents related to the 2020 election as a sign that he would be a political operative rather than an impartial law enforcement leader.
Despite Democratic resistance, Patel is expected to secure confirmation in the full Senate, barring any unexpected defections. His appointment would mark a major shift in the FBI’s leadership and direction, reflecting the 47th president’s commitment to restructuring federal agencies that conservatives say have been weaponized against them.
“Kash Patel” by Gage Skidmore, licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0.
Crime
Cartel threats against border agents include explosives, drones

MxM News
Quick Hit:
Cartels are intensifying their threats against U.S. Border Patrol and ICE agents, employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, including drones, wireless tracking devices, and potential explosive attacks. As President Donald Trump strengthens border security measures, agents face growing dangers both at and beyond the southern border. Experts warn that these threats are an effort to counteract the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Key Details:
- Cartels are using drones and wireless tracking to monitor and potentially attack Border Patrol and ICE agents.
- The discovery of a security risk tied to body cameras has led CBP to suspend their use to prevent agents from being tracked.
- Leaks of ICE raids pose additional threats, increasing the risk of ambushes against agents conducting enforcement operations.
Diving Deeper:
Cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border are becoming more aggressive as President Trump enforces stricter immigration policies, with reports indicating that border agents are facing an escalating range of security threats. Fox News reports that Mexican cartels are leveraging new technology to track and potentially harm Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, emphasized that cartels are feeling the pressure from Trump’s border policies and are resorting to dangerous countermeasures. “The cartels are losing business. The encounters at the border are the lowest they’ve been in decades, and the cartels are not just going to give up that business quietly,” Ries told Fox News.
Among the threats agents face are drones used for surveillance, gunfire from across the border, and even the possibility of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A recent internal memo warned that cartels might be planning to use snipers positioned in Mexico to attack U.S. agents. Additionally, agents are now vulnerable to tracking through wireless technology, prompting CBP to suspend the use of body-worn cameras after a social media post revealed they could be exploited via Bluetooth scanning apps.
The suspension of body cameras has raised concerns about increased false claims against border agents. Ries warned that “the number of claims of abuse are about to jump to exploit this lack of camera use,” underscoring the challenges agents will face without recorded footage of their encounters.
Beyond external threats from cartels, agents must also contend with internal security risks. Leaks about upcoming ICE raids have made enforcement operations more dangerous, potentially exposing agents to ambushes. Ries noted, “That subjects ICE agents to an ambush… Worse would be if aliens stay here and attack ICE agents, that is a risk.”
To counter these threats, border security experts stress the need for increased congressional funding to provide CBP and ICE agents with enhanced technology, equipment, and manpower. Ries urged lawmakers to act swiftly, stating, “Congress needs to hurry up” to ensure agents have the necessary resources to carry out Trump’s mass deportation efforts and secure the southern border.
As cartels escalate their tactics in response to Trump’s immigration policies, the safety of border agents remains a growing concern, highlighting the urgent need for stronger enforcement and security measures.
Business
Elon reveals millions of people in Social Security database between the ages of 100-159

Quick Hit:
Elon Musk revealed on X that millions of individuals in the Social Security database are recorded as over 100 years old, with no death record attached. The billionaire suggested the findings could indicate massive fraud within the system.
According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!
Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025
Key Details:
- Musk shared a chart showing over 20 million people in the database listed as 100+ years old, including 3.9 million between 130-139, 3.5 million between 140-149, and 1.3 million between 150-159.
- The 2020 U.S. Census recorded just over 80,000 people aged 100 or older, casting doubt on the accuracy of the Social Security data.
- Musk suggested that the Social Security system is riddled with inconsistencies and could be facilitating large-scale fraud.
Diving Deeper:
On Sunday, Elon Musk took to X with a shocking revelation about the Social Security database, suggesting it contains massive inaccuracies—possibly enabling widespread fraud. Musk pointed out that millions of individuals are recorded as being 100 years or older, yet their death status remains unmarked.
“According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security,” Musk quipped, sharing a chart showing over 20 million centenarians in the system.
The data he highlighted included staggering figures: more than 3.9 million individuals listed as 130-139 years old, 3.5 million aged 140-149, and over 1.3 million aged 150-159. These numbers are vastly out of sync with U.S. Census data, which recorded just over 80,000 people aged 100 or older in 2020.
Musk didn’t stop there. He went on to criticize the complexity and lack of oversight in Social Security operations, calling the system’s logic “INSANE.” According to Musk, “No one person actually knows how it works. The payment files that move between Social Security and Treasury have significant inconsistencies that are not reconciled. It’s wild.”
Perhaps the most damning accusation Musk made was in a follow-up post where he warned that the Social Security system might be one of the largest fraud schemes in history. “There are FAR more ‘eligible’ Social Security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history,” he posted.
-
Business2 days ago
Global Affairs goes on March Madness spending spree, buys $9,900 Lego set
-
Censorship Industrial Complex1 day ago
Germany’s Shocking War on Online Speech: Armed Police Raids for Online “Insults,” “Hate Speech,” and “Misinformation”
-
Business2 days ago
There are smart ways to diversify our exports
-
Bruce Dowbiggin2 days ago
Team Canada Hits American Wall. Wall Wins. Now What?
-
International1 day ago
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Fires Back At CBS’s Suggestion Free Speech Leads To Genocide
-
conflict2 days ago
U.S. Tells Europe To Handle Its Own Defense
-
Energy2 days ago
New paper shows clouds are more important than CO2
-
Disaster1 day ago
Delta flight crashes and flips upside-down at Toronto airport as 3 are left critically injured