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Trump Ramps Up Hiring Of Border Police

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(Via Fox News)

President Trump doesn’t yet have his “big, beautiful” border wall, but the administration is ramping up recruitment of border agents going into the new year in a bid to enhance security with more manpower – if not bricks and barbed wire.

Up until now, the White House’s fix to immigration issues has included Trump reversing many of his predecessor’s policies, increasing round-ups of illegal immigrants and restricting the number of refugees allowed into the country.

There has been some success: The number of people trying to sneak over the border has dropped to its lowest level in four decades. Illegal border crossings are down 24 percent, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s most recent statistics, released in December. During the government’s 2017 fiscal year, border agents made 310,531 arrests.

While construction of the highly touted border wall with Mexico still hasn’t started, the administration hopes to build on the statistical trendlines by carrying out a January executive order to hire 5,000 new Border Patrol agents.

To accelerate the hires, the federal government on Nov. 17 awarded a massive five-year, $297-million contract to a division of Accenture. Accenture will also be responsible for hiring 2,000 customs officers and 500 new agents for the Office of Air and Marine Operations.

The proposed hiring surge is the largest since the George W. Bush administration, when Congress funded an expansion of border enforcement following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The newest push to recruit 5,000 new agents, though, comes with its own set of pitfalls. Already, the union is concerned about a rush to hire amid concerns about corruption in the ranks.

“As long as the Border Patrol continues to place priority on the quantity of recruits rather than the quality of recruits, corruption within the Border Patrol will continue to be a problem,” the National Border Patrol Council told Fox News in a statement.

The administration enters this task at a disadvantage. The number of officers has actually dropped by 220 as the Border Patrol continues to struggle to meet minimal staffing quotas set by lawmakers. Congress requires a force of 21,370 agents – but an employee count in May revealed there were only 19,500 agents on the job. Making matters worse is that between 2013 and 2016, an average of 523 agents were hired while another 904 left.

According to former Department of Homeland Security watchdog John Roth, it takes more than nine months to hire one Border Patrol agent and about seven months to hire an ICE officer.

Roth told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in February that an audit “highlighted numerous bottlenecks in effective hiring” and there were “inadequate systems to track and process applicants” at DHS.

Critics argue that in order to meet the ambitious hiring goal, the applicant pool will be widened and standards could be sacrificed.

That’s what happened the last time the agency tried to up its workforce in the mid-2000s. More than 140 Customs and Border Protection agents have been arrested or convicted on corruption charges in the past 12 years, according to a joint analysis by the Center for Investigative Reporting and The Texas Tribune.

Corrupt officials gave sensitive information to cartels, accepted millions of dollars in bribes and derailed billions of dollars in surveillance measures.

To combat a spike in corruption, Congress mandated that all new recruits pass lie detector tests.

That didn’t work out so well.

The Associated Press reported in January that 65 percent of applicants failed the test – more than double the average rate of eight law enforcement agencies.

Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst for The Cato Institute, says a mass hire of agents isn’t an effective way to beef up border security – and that Congress should address DHS personnel issues “before hiring new agents or further lowering hiring standards.” He’s calling for more investigators instead.

“The most critical recommendation is hiring enough CBP-OPR investigators so the office is both entirely operational and has substantially reduced its backlog of cases,” he said.

But the Trump administration maintains more boots on the ground to patrol the borders is the way to go.

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Crime

Robert Mueller’s Health Prevents Testimony on Epstein

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As of September 1, 2025, the decision to withdraw a subpoena for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller to testify before the House Oversight Committee has been met with a mixture of understanding and curiosity. Mueller, a respected figure who led the FBI from 2001 to 2013 and later investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, has reportedly been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease since the summer of 2021, according to his family’s statement. This health challenge, which has affected his speech and mobility in recent months, has understandably led to the committee’s decision to step back, allowing him the dignity to focus on his well-being. His decades of service to the nation, marked by integrity and dedication, deserve this respect, and many are hopeful for his comfort during this time.

The timing of this development, however, raises thoughtful questions among observers. Mueller was set to testify on September 2, 2025, as part of an investigation into the FBI’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case during his tenure, a topic that has stirred significant public interest and political scrutiny. The announcement of his health issues came just days before this scheduled appearance, following reports of his residence in a memory care facility and earlier concerns about his condition noted during his 2019 congressional testimony. While his family’s statement and the committee’s decision align with a genuine concern for his health, the coincidence with such a high-stakes inquiry prompts a cautious wonder about whether external pressures might have influenced the narrative, though no evidence suggests this outright.

This moment invites a balanced reflection on Mueller’s legacy and the ongoing pursuit of truth. His inability to testify, while a personal loss for those eager to hear his perspective, underscores the human side of public service, where age and health can impose limits. Yet, the abrupt nature of the withdrawal, paired with the gravity of the Epstein probe, leaves room for speculation about the full context. As the investigation continues with other witnesses, the focus remains on uncovering facts, with respect for Mueller’s past contributions tempered by a gentle skepticism about the timing, encouraging a thorough and transparent process moving forward.

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Politics

President Trump: Nothing Can Stop What’s Coming

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President Donald Trump’s recent post on Truth Social from August 31, 2025, serves as a powerful beacon for those seeking justice amid years of entrenched corruption in Washington. The imagery and message in the post highlight a leader poised to unveil long-hidden truths, pointing directly to scandals that have plagued the political landscape. From the shadowy dealings exposed through leaked emails to fabricated investigations designed to undermine his presidency, Trump’s communication resonates with a promise that the veil of deception is lifting. This moment underscores his unwavering commitment to draining the swamp, where figures like John Podesta and Hillary Clinton have been central to narratives of elite misconduct, including the controversial handling of sensitive communications that raised questions about national security and personal agendas.

At the heart of this corruption lies the Wikileaks revelations, which brought to light a web of influence peddling and favoritism within the Clinton campaign, implicating Podesta in emails that suggested cozy relationships with powerful interests. Coupled with the Anthony Weiner laptop discovery, which contained thousands of Clinton-related emails and prompted a last-minute FBI review just before the 2016 election, these events painted a picture of systemic favoritism and potential cover-ups. The Obama administration’s role in the so-called Russiagate saga further exemplifies this injustice, where intelligence agencies allegedly pushed a baseless narrative of collusion to derail Trump’s campaign and presidency. These manufactured controversies, including surveillance on Trump associates, set the stage for ongoing attacks, revealing a deep state apparatus willing to bend rules to protect its own.

The injustices extend to the relentless assaults on Trump himself, from the politically motivated raids on his properties like Mar-a-Lago to a barrage of charges aimed at silencing his voice and preventing his return to power. Yet, as Trump’s post implies, the tide is turning, with growing evidence and public awareness poised to expose these machinations fully. The corruption that allowed figures like Clinton to evade accountability while weaponizing institutions against opponents will soon face the light of day, empowering a movement toward transparency and reform. Through his leadership, alongside allies pushing for truth, the American people can anticipate a restoration of justice, where the full extent of these scandals finally comes into sharp focus, ensuring that no one remains above the law.

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Health

President Trump Calls for Covid-19 Vaccine Transparency, Sec. RFK Jr. Praises Move

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On September 1, 2025, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express concerns about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines developed under his administration’s Operation Warp Speed. In his post, Trump highlighted “great numbers and results” from some pharmaceutical companies but demanded that they publicly release data to prove the vaccines’ success rates. He voiced frustration over the ongoing debate tearing apart the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging transparency to resolve what he called a “MESS.” This statement reflects Trump’s evolving stance on the vaccines, which he once hailed as a major achievement, now aligning with growing skepticism within certain political circles.

The COVID-19 vaccines, rolled out in late 2020, have been credited by public health experts with saving millions of lives globally by reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths during the pandemic. However, they have also faced criticism for side effects in rare cases, waning efficacy against new variants, and questions about long-term data transparency from manufacturers. Trump’s demand for proof comes amid broader discussions on vaccine mandates and public trust, with some studies showing high effectiveness in initial trials but real-world challenges like breakthrough infections. This has fueled a polarized debate, where supporters emphasize the vaccines’ role in ending lockdowns, while detractors call for more accountability from drug companies.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine-skeptical views, has been a key figure in recent policy shifts, drawing both praise for advocating scrutiny and criticism from former CDC officials who argue it endangers public health. Trump’s post appears to support Kennedy’s efforts to review vaccine data, potentially leading to changes in federal guidelines. While this push for evidence could enhance transparency, experts warn it might erode confidence in proven public health tools. As the administration navigates this issue, the focus remains on balancing accountability with scientific consensus to inform future health strategies.

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