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LANSING, Mich - After receiving $1.9 billion in state-authorized rate hikes since 2013, Michigan’s energy monopoly companies were granted $14.04 billion in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy for green energy projects.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mandated the state’s energy companies to derive all their energy from so-called clean energy by 2040.

The Loan Programs Office of the U.S. energy department announced the loans on its website on Jan. 16.

DTE Energy will receive $8.81 billion from two loans and CMS Energy will receive one loan for $5.23 billion.

The loan office noted that the loans would offer recipient companies lower interest rates, and said this would mean savings for their customers. A representative of one of the companies confirmed that it would save on interest costs. Click here to read more.

 

PASADENA, Texas - A “potential tragedy was averted” when a group of good Samaritan parents subdued an older gunman at a high school band competition in Texas on Saturday, officials said.

Dennis Erwin Brandl Jr., 83, is facing charges after allegedly opening fire at the Texas Color Guard Circuit drum line competition at Pasadena Memorial High School. He injured one man before he was tackled by a parent, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

According to police, Brandl entered the high school’s south side doors at around 6 p.m. Saturday. Two two minutes later, he fired a small caliber weapon, striking a 26-year-old man who was hospitalized in stable condition.

“A citizen tackled the male with the weapon and with the help of others, was able to disarm and detain the male until police arrived,” police said. Click here to read more.

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WASHINGTON D.C. - The Biden administration wasted $236 billion in improper payments throughout 71 federal programs in 2023, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The improper payments underscore President Donald Trump’s vow to clean up the administrative state and his support of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and of Elon Musk’s audit of the federal government to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.

The massive sum — three-quarters of which was reportedly overpayments – was just a portion of the federal deficit ($1.8 trillion) under the Biden administration.

The New York Times reported the Government Accountability Office’s analysis:

Mr. Musk has told administration officials that he thinks they could balance the budget if they eliminate the fraudulent payments leaving the system, according to an official who discussed the matter with him. It is unclear what he is basing that statement on. The federal deficit for 2024 was $1.8 trillion. The Government Accountability Office estimated in a report that the government made $236 billion in improper payments — three-quarters of which were overpayments — across 71 federal programs during the 2023 fiscal year.

The massive waste will likely encourage the Trump administration to clamp down on government outflows. Click here to read more.

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a violent Venezuelan gang, in Kissimmee after a coordinated operation with federal partners.

The arrests were made on Monday in collaboration with FDLE, the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Tampa office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tampa division, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ERO Miami.

Officials seized a variety of illicit materials, including drugs, firearms and cash from the suspects, according to the FDLE.

“These were just a few of the suspected TdA gang member arrests that FDLE assisted with across the state on Monday, including one arrest right here in our Capital City,” the department said. Click here to read more.

 

LANSING, Mich - Michigan House Republicans want to amend the state Constitution to ensure only U.S. citizens can vote, but Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson thinks it’s a bad idea.

“The politicians pushing this plan are taking something we all believe and know is true – that only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections – and using that as cover to gut Michiganders’ voting rights in our state constitution,” Benson, who is running to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026, said in a recent statement.

Benson contends the “failed policy” hasn’t worked in other states, pointing to legal challenges from progressive groups that have derailed similar efforts.

The former hate crimes investigator for the disgraced Southern Poverty Law Center claimed without evidence laws that require residents to prove who they are before voting have “blocked tens of thousands of eligible voters from casting their legal ballots in an election,” though she did not specific when or where. Click here to read more.

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This email is free weekdays, but the in-depth investigations and shows I produce rely on your support.

I left a high-paying media job to bring you real, independent journalism.

For just $6/month, you can help keep this work alive. Cancel anytime. Click the red subscribe button to join!

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and ten others spent $69,203 on a five-day trip to Spain in November.

The Michigan Enjoyer first reported the details, which it obtained through a records request.

Here’s the breakdown: airfare, $36,562.75; hotel, $14,901.61; miscellaneous, $14,179.36; food, $2,984.99; and entertainment, $574.32.

The trip itinerary lists 11 names: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Lluisa Oliveras, director of the Trade Commission of Spain in that country’s consulate in Chicago; Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Zack Pohl, the governor’s principal deputy chief of staff; Christina Grossi, the governor’s chief legal counsel; Vlatko Tomic-Bobas, MEDC investment director; and Maci Gilmore, the MEDC assistant chief of protocol. Click here to read more.

 

NASHVILLE, TN - During a legislative special session on Thursday, the Tennessee Senate passed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 by a vote of 20 to 13. The bill had passed the House 54 to 44 earlier in the day. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. With the stroke of Gov. Bill Lee’s pen, Tennessee will become the 13th state in the nation to enact universal (or near-universal) school choice.

While it’s not official yet, there is no question regarding whether Gov. Lee will sign the bill into law. He has been an enthusiastic education freedom champion and called the Tennessee General Assembly for a special session with the purpose of passing the Education Freedom Act. Last month, Gov. Lee said, “When it comes to education, more freedom is what our children need to succeed. That means empowering parents with school choice…. that’s why we need to pass the Education Freedom Act in Tennessee.” Click here to read more.

 

ASTFORD, CT. - A woman in Connecticut is accused of attaching GPS trackers on a teddy bear and the victim’s vehicle.

Police said they started their investigation on July 29, 2024 after they received a report from a victim that a tracking device was found on a vehicle.

In August 2024, they said they responded to another call from the victim. This time, a tracker was found on a stuffed teddy bear.

The victim told troopers that he believed 36-year-old Jessica Benoit was responsible for the trackers.

Troopers learned that Benoit had been previously in a relationship with the victim.

According to the arrest warrant, she used the name of another person when she went online to register the tracking devices.

By Oct. 16, search warrant was obtained to gain account information about the tracker in the bear, state police said. Click here to read more.

 

SPRINGFIELD, VA - A Virginia school district has reinstated a substitute teacher after initially removing her upon discovering her Christian views on gender ideology.

The teacher, identified by The Daily Signal as Lindsay Rich, was restored this week after an intervention by the Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit Christian legal group.

School officials escorted the teacher from an assignment in September 2024 only two hours after she arrived, and the school board met in a closed session that day to take her off the list, the Liberty Counsel said.

The substitute teacher said her religious views informed her belief that God created humans as male and female, and opposed male students being allowed to enter facilities reserved for female students. Click here to read more.

 

NEW YORK, NY - CBS says it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing fight with the network over how it handled a story about his opponent.

Trump sued CBS for $10 million over the “60 Minutes” interview, claiming it was deceptively edited to make Harris look good. Published reports said that CBS’ parent company, Paramount, has been talking to Trump’s lawyers about a settlement.

The network said Friday that it was compelled by Brendan Carr, Trump’s appointee as FCC chairman, to turn over the transcripts and camera feeds of the interview for a parallel investigation by the commission. “60 Minutes” has resisted releasing transcripts for this and all of its interviews, to avoid second-guessing of its editing process. Click here to read more.

This email is free weekdays, but the in-depth investigations and shows I produce rely on your support.

I left a high-paying media job to bring you real, independent journalism.

For just $6/month, you can help keep this work alive. Cancel anytime. Click the red subscribe button to join!

Become a Supporter

 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and ten others spent $69,203 on a five-day trip to Spain in November.

The Michigan Enjoyer first reported the details, which it obtained through a records request.

Here’s the breakdown: airfare, $36,562.75; hotel, $14,901.61; miscellaneous, $14,179.36; food, $2,984.99; and entertainment, $574.32.

The trip itinerary lists 11 names: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Lluisa Oliveras, director of the Trade Commission of Spain in that country’s consulate in Chicago; Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Zack Pohl, the governor’s principal deputy chief of staff; Christina Grossi, the governor’s chief legal counsel; Vlatko Tomic-Bobas, MEDC investment director; and Maci Gilmore, the MEDC assistant chief of protocol. Click here to read more.

 

NASHVILLE, TN - During a legislative special session on Thursday, the Tennessee Senate passed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 by a vote of 20 to 13. The bill had passed the House 54 to 44 earlier in the day. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. With the stroke of Gov. Bill Lee’s pen, Tennessee will become the 13th state in the nation to enact universal (or near-universal) school choice.

While it’s not official yet, there is no question regarding whether Gov. Lee will sign the bill into law. He has been an enthusiastic education freedom champion and called the Tennessee General Assembly for a special session with the purpose of passing the Education Freedom Act. Last month, Gov. Lee said, “When it comes to education, more freedom is what our children need to succeed. That means empowering parents with school choice…. that’s why we need to pass the Education Freedom Act in Tennessee.” Click here to read more.

 

ASTFORD, CT. - A woman in Connecticut is accused of attaching GPS trackers on a teddy bear and the victim’s vehicle.

Police said they started their investigation on July 29, 2024 after they received a report from a victim that a tracking device was found on a vehicle.

In August 2024, they said they responded to another call from the victim. This time, a tracker was found on a stuffed teddy bear.

The victim told troopers that he believed 36-year-old Jessica Benoit was responsible for the trackers.

Troopers learned that Benoit had been previously in a relationship with the victim.

According to the arrest warrant, she used the name of another person when she went online to register the tracking devices.

By Oct. 16, search warrant was obtained to gain account information about the tracker in the bear, state police said. Click here to read more.

 

SPRINGFIELD, VA - A Virginia school district has reinstated a substitute teacher after initially removing her upon discovering her Christian views on gender ideology.

The teacher, identified by The Daily Signal as Lindsay Rich, was restored this week after an intervention by the Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit Christian legal group.

School officials escorted the teacher from an assignment in September 2024 only two hours after she arrived, and the school board met in a closed session that day to take her off the list, the Liberty Counsel said.

The substitute teacher said her religious views informed her belief that God created humans as male and female, and opposed male students being allowed to enter facilities reserved for female students. Click here to read more.

 

NEW YORK, NY - CBS says it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing fight with the network over how it handled a story about his opponent.

Trump sued CBS for $10 million over the “60 Minutes” interview, claiming it was deceptively edited to make Harris look good. Published reports said that CBS’ parent company, Paramount, has been talking to Trump’s lawyers about a settlement.

The network said Friday that it was compelled by Brendan Carr, Trump’s appointee as FCC chairman, to turn over the transcripts and camera feeds of the interview for a parallel investigation by the commission. “60 Minutes” has resisted releasing transcripts for this and all of its interviews, to avoid second-guessing of its editing process. Click here to read more.