The Daily Signal - Trump’s Cabinet Meeting, House Hearing Uncovers ‘Dark Money,’ Illegal Aliens Told to Self-Deport | Feb. 26

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Starting point is 00:00:25 We'd love to talk, business. President Trump met with his cabinet today and top of the agenda was discussions over cutting government waste. I'm Virginia Allen and this is the Daily Signal, top news, for Wednesday, February 26th. President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting today. The cabinet meeting began with a prayer before the department heads began their discussion. During the meeting, Trump emphasized his administration's commitment to fiscal responsibility and his desire to get inflation down. We're fighting every day to get the prices down. The inflation is stopping slowly, but part of the reason is stopping is stopping is because

Starting point is 00:01:16 of high interest rates and other problems that we inherited. Elon Musk was also at the cabinet meeting. Musk is, of course, leading the Trump administration's effort to cut waste in the federal government. Musk discussed a plan to reduce the federal budget by $1 trillion just within the first year of Trump's presidency. and he warned that these cuts are not optional. We simply cannot sustain a country two trillion dollar deficits.

Starting point is 00:01:44 The interest rates, just the interest on the national debt, now exceeds the Defense Department spending. We spend a lot on the Defense Department, but we're spending over a trillion dollars on interest. If this continues, the country will become de facto bankrupt. It's not an optional thing. It is an essential thing. That's the reason I'm here.

Starting point is 00:02:07 In response to questions about must growing influence, President Trump remarked, Elon brings a unique perspective and expertise. The cabinet is pleased with his contributions. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson expressed support for must efforts to cut spending. The Treasury Secretary said these cuts are essential to ensure the nation's long-term economic health. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that, that while fiscal efficiency is important, we must ensure that essential services remain unaffected. President Trump said the government won't touch Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security funding,

Starting point is 00:02:45 but said his administration will look to eliminate fraud in each of these areas. The House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing today. The hearing was titled America Last, how foreign aid undermined U.S. interests around the world. The hearing focused on examining the ways that America's foreign aid programs have often failed to place U.S. interests first and have sometimes even worked in opposition to U.S. interests. The Daily Signal's own, Tyler O'Neill, testified during that hearing. He joins us now. Tyler, thanks for being with us in studio. Thanks for having me, Virginia. You rush back from the hill, so thanks for giving us the latest.

Starting point is 00:03:27 Well, Tyler, you are, of course, the author of the book, The Woktipus, the Dark Money Cabal, manipulating the federal government. We've had you on the show to talk about that. Much of this hearing was really focused on issues that you touch in your book, focused on how specifically USAID and the programs that it has funded. What exactly, you know, some of that aid money has gone to over the years. What was the message that lawmakers today really sent regarding how USAID has used its aid money in recent years? And what was the message that you wanted to get across to lawmakers? Yeah, I think members on the majority of the committee, the Republicans, sent the message that the American people are fed up with seeing their tax dollars go toward, you know, gender ideology, climate alarmism, and DEI priorities. And that came across very firmly from each of the Republican members.

Starting point is 00:04:23 And they were talking about, and it was very interesting to see the Democrats respond because some of them were saying, oh, no, you know, USAID is a drop in the bucket. and it's like, well, yes, but this is also U.S. taxpayer dollars. So, of course, my testimony focused on the alignment between the left Stark Money Network that I expose in the book and the USAID. In particular, USAID has awarded $27 million in grants to the Tides Foundation, which, you know, I talk about a lot because they fund the Southern Poverty Law Center. They have an in-house nonprofit providing legal advice and representation to, anti-Israel rioters. But then there's also, you know, the big Soros connection with open society,

Starting point is 00:05:08 Alex Soros now running it. And I found some interesting connections with Arabella advisors as well, former USAID staff who went to work for Arabella advisors. The most interesting of all of them was this one former USAID staffer who had worked on political transitions in other countries. And she's now working with Open Society foundations. Wow. So that direct connection, that direct line, so evident. Now, Democrats took some time to express their own views, like you mentioned. They took some of their time to discuss Elon Musk, elements about Elon Musk that they are not pleased with. What did you make of lawmakers' comments during the hearing? And is there any hope of bipartisanship on this issue of really investigating how and ways?

Starting point is 00:05:59 U.S.A. has been used and has gone over the past several years. You know, I really wish I could have a different answer than this, but I don't see much bipartisanship. It's interesting the way that the Democrats on the committee repeatedly suggested, you know, this is a drop in the bucket of federal spending, therefore we shouldn't worry about it. We had one Democrat who went up there and said, you know, soft power. The only question she asked was, do you think that soft power is important? And of course, I was under oath, so I wasn't going to say no to that answer.

Starting point is 00:06:32 But, you know, I think, and Max Primarach of Heritage testified very effectively that we are actually undermining soft power by funding these woke initiatives and making the United States less impactful across the globe. And Democrats never acknowledged that aspect of it. And they never acknowledged, you know, they consistently brought up Elon Musk as though he were, you know, their get out of jail free card on all this. But there was one really revealing exchange where the Democratic witness essentially said, yeah, I think it's in the United States interest to fund transgender surgeries abroad. And it was just like, that's crazy talk. Like the American people don't agree with you on this.

Starting point is 00:07:18 And you could tell he didn't want to say that. But one of the Republican members just kept asking, you know, is it in America's interest to do X? Isn't it in America's interest to do why? And he said it wasn't America's interest to fund DEI efforts. And it's just like, all right. Well, and this guy comes from a nonprofit that's received USAID funding. That's interesting. Yes.

Starting point is 00:07:42 Well, for anyone that wants to hear or read all of Tyler's testimony, you can check out the Daily Signal website, DailySignal.com, or you can click the link in today's show notes. Tyler, thanks for joining us. Thanks again, Virginia. Trump's Department of Homeland Security. says it will use every available tool to compel illegal aliens to self-deport. DHS has put out a memo telling all illegal aliens in the U.S.

Starting point is 00:08:09 they should leave the country. DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, says President Trump and DHS Secretary Christy Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally. Leave now. McLaughlin says that illegal immigrants who leave now may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream. DHS officials say they will be enforcing the Immigration and Nationality Act. The law has been on the books for decades, but has not always been enforced. Part of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires illegal aliens to register with the federal government, be fingerprinted, and report their current address. DHS says that illegal aliens who

Starting point is 00:08:52 fail to comply and register themselves could face criminal penalties. I asked the Heritage Foundation Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center, Laura Reese, about the enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act. She told me that enforcing the registration portion of the act is critical. Rees said, we have no idea who is here and where many of them are. It is common sense to require aliens to tell the U.S. who and where they are. And if they do not, it is a ground for deportation, which should be fully enforced. Right now, migrants are being directed to create an account with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. U.S.CIS says a form to register will be available soon.

Starting point is 00:09:35 Up next is today's news flash. Today, the Trump administration issued a memo directing federal agencies to prepare for large-scale layoffs. Agencies must submit reduction plans by March 13th. This initiative is led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, and it aims to downsize the federal workforce. There are some exemptions, including law enforcement, national security, and public safety. Representative Byron Donald's of Florida has announced his candidacy for Florida governor in 2026.

Starting point is 00:10:10 President Donald Trump has endorsed Donald's calling him a total winner. Donald's aims to continue Governor Ron DeSantis's legacy. Finally today, President Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington, D.C. on Friday. They planned to sign a significant mineral deal. Trump described it as a very big agreement. This deal aims to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. Kiev has not yet confirmed the visit. With that, we're going to leave it there for today.

Starting point is 00:10:42 Thanks for joining us for The Daily Singles Top News in 10. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss out on brand new shows. And if you would, take a minute to leave us a five-star rating and review. We love hearing your feedback. Today's show was edited and produced by John Pop and Keith Koffler. We'll see you right back here at the same time tomorrow.

The Daily Signal - Trump’s Cabinet Meeting, House Hearing Uncovers ‘Dark Money,’ Illegal Aliens Told to Self-Deport | Feb. 26

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