Political Pistachio
By Douglas V. Gibbs
This weekend, California Governor Gavin Newsom shut down a major artery of Southern California, Interstate 5 between San Clemente and Oceanside, for several hours during a Marine Corps event at Camp Pendleton. The reason? Live fire exercises. The same kind of exercises the Marines have conducted for decades without incident. The same kind of exercises that never required a freeway closure before.
Gavin Newsom is a hard-left progressive who hates Trump and hates American show of military strength. Knowing that, understand that the whole “shut down the freeway” idea was never about safety. It was about optics. And the optics are ugly.
The Marine Corps had already stated publicly that no highways would be closed. They didn’t request it. They didn’t need it. But Newsom’s office, citing “extreme life safety risk” and “distraction to drivers,” overrode that. Apparently, the sound of Marines doing their job is now considered a public hazard.
This is the same Camp Pendleton that has trained warriors for every major conflict of the last century. Established in 1942 the Marine Corps Base in Southern California has been on the front lines in training U.S. Marines from the Pacific Theater in World War II to Vietnam, and Kuwait to the present. During the last eighty-plus years United States Marines have deployed from Camp Pendleton’s California shores to defend liberty. But on the 250th anniversary of the Corps, the message from Sacramento was: “We don’t trust you.”
Vice President JD Vance, himself a Marine veteran, attended the event. He didn’t comment on the closure because he was busy honoring the men and women who serve. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was there too. But the real fireworks weren’t on Red Beach. They were in Newsom’s press release.
Calling the celebration an “absurd show of force,” Newsom accused President Trump of using the military to “intimidate people” he disagrees with. That’s rich, coming from a governor whose own party has spent years undermining law enforcement, defying federal immigration law, and tolerating violent protests in the name of “social justice.”
Saturday’s event coincided with the second wave of “No Kings” protests, an erroneously named anti-Trump movement that conveniently paints any display of strength as tyranny. So when Marines fire live rounds in a controlled exercise, it’s “chaos.” But when masked agitators block freeways and torch businesses, it’s somehow an American thing to do.
Let’s talk Constitution. Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to call forth the militia to suppress insurrections and execute federal law. Article II gives the President the authority to execute those laws. The National Guard (and our U.S. Military) is not a rogue force. It’s a constitutional tool. And when cities burn, it’s not “intimidation” to restore order. It’s duty.
Newsom’s decision to shut down I-5 wasn’t about protecting drivers. It was about protecting a narrative: that the military (he includes the National Guard in his assessment) is dangerous, untrustworthy, and that it is being politically weaponized by Donald Trump. That’s the story the left needs people to believe if they’re going to sell the idea that Trump is some kind of dictator for using the Guard to constitutionally execute the law.
I truth, the military isn’t the threat. The threat is the erosion of trust in the very institutions that defend us. When governors treat Marines like liabilities, and freeway closures like political statements, we’ve crossed a line.
The Marine Corps didn’t ask for this drama. They asked for respect. And on their 250th birthday, they deserved better.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
By Douglas V. Gibbs
As the Supreme Court’s upcoming redistricting decision may reshape the electoral map if the justices rule that maps based on race violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause, there are other reasons that the 2026 Midterm Elections may create a political earthquake in the United States.
Historically, the opposition party tends to win midterm elections. It’s a pattern that reaches back a couple centuries. But, I believe it is very possible that 2026 will break that mold. Why? Because Donald Trump isn’t just holding the line, his presidency has been flipping the script.
The economy is roaring back. Prices are dropping. He just convinced the Middle East to reduce their oil prices. American industry is rising from the ashes. We’re seeing the early stages of a manufacturing renaissance that is poised to create real jobs, real wages, and real investment in the American worker. And then there’s the unthinkable: a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Even Democrats who can’t stand Trump are admitting that what President Trump pulled off was nothing short of a diplomatic miracle.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Dominion Voting Systems has been purchased by a conservative Republican in a deal by founder and chairman of Liberty Vote, Scott Leiendecker. The lawsuits against conservatives are fading; a condition of the deal. Remember, this is the same company that went after Fox News and scored a huge settlement in a case that also led to the firing of Tucker Carlson. Dominion also launched a $1.3 billion case against Mike Lindell, accusing him of spreading false claims about the company’s role during that 2020 presidential election. The company also filed a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Sidney Powell, and another against former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. All of those lawsuits are being dropped by Dominion Voting Systems as a part of the acquisition agreement. Under the new leadership the plan is to move all operations entirely into the United States, and implementing third-party auditing standards. In a press release Leiendecker stated, “Liberty Vote is committed to delivering election technology that prioritizes paper-based transparency, security, and simplicity so that voters can be assured that every ballot is filled-in accurately and fairly counted.” The hand-marked paper ballots initiative the company plans to establish aligns with President Trump’s executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” That means the cloud of suspicion that’s hung over our elections since 2020 is beginning to lift. And with it, the alleged shenanigans that many believed compromised the integrity of the vote in 2020.
Now add to that the Trump administration’s push for voter ID, the cleanup of bloated voter rolls, and a renewed focus on election security. For the first time in decades, we may actually see elections that are truly safe and secure: not just in name, but in practice.
But there’s one more piece of the puzzle: vote by mail.
I’m not talking about absentee ballots for valid reasons. I’m talking about the mass mail-in voting systems we’ve seen in blue states, and in Oregon since 1998. These mail-in ballot systems open the door to fraud, ballot harvesting, and manipulation. Trump is working to rein that in too.
And let’s not forget the border. As Rush Limbaugh used to say, the “undocumented Democrats” (a.k.a. illegal aliens) are being deported. That means fewer non-citizens on the rolls, fewer loopholes, and more confidence in the system.
So what does all this mean?
It means the red wave in 2026 won’t just be a reaction, it’ll be a realignment. If the Supreme Court rules as expected regarding how district lines are drawn, if voter ID becomes the norm, if vote by mail is curtailed, and if the Trump agenda continues to deliver results, Republicans may not just win, they may win big. Big enough to finish the job. Big enough to govern without Democrat interference.
This isn’t just about politics. It’s about restoring the republic.
This all is tied into the future of federalism, and how the states and We the People are reclaiming our rightful place under the Constitution.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The United States Supreme Court has heard opening arguments for the Louisiana v. Callais case, a case I believe could reshape how congressional districts are drawn across the country. At issue is whether Louisiana’s attempt to create a second majority-Black district, allegedly to comply with the Voting Rights Act, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Now, let’s be clear. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born out of a noble desire to ensure fairness in the electoral process. But over time, its application has drifted from equal protection toward preferential treatment. And that, my friends, is where the constitutional problem begins.
The Fourteenth Amendment does not call for special laws for certain groups. It calls for equal protection under the law… for individuals, not collectives.
When race becomes the driving factor in redistricting, we’re no longer talking about equality. What we have been seeing is a form of affirmative action which undermines the very principle of neutrality.
From my originalist perspective, the Voting Rights Act itself is constitutionally suspect. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to “make or alter” election regulations, which means it is their job to negative state election laws after a state has acted if they believe the law to be tyrannical. It does not grant Congress preemptive authority to dictate how states draw their districts. In fact, the idea of Congress being able to negative state laws was proposed by James Madison during the Constitutional Convention, and it was rejected. Any federal influence on the states was designed to be rare, and specifically indicated in the Constitution if it could happen at all. The Founders understood that federal intervention must be rare, and a reactive move used only when necessary.
So what’s really happening here? Louisiana drew its map. A group of plaintiffs argued that it didn’t give enough representation to Black voters. But the Supreme Court now seems poised to say: race cannot be the reason districts are drawn. Period. And if that happens, it won’t just affect Louisiana. It will ripple across the country. California, New York, Illinois; places where race-based gerrymandering has become a political tool.
Much of what is going on in the world of redistricting is a response to Texas. Critics say Republicans are gerrymandering there, so the Democrats have decided to wage a gerrymander war. The problem is, what is going on in Texas is simply the GOP undoing the gerrymandering that Democrats embedded years ago. The goal should be neutrality and districts that don’t look like salamanders…not racial engineering, not partisan manipulation.
If the Court rules as I expect, it will be a victory for constitutional clarity. It will affirm that equal protection means equal, not engineered. It will remind us that the way to end discrimination is not through reverse discrimination, but through a return to principle.
Stay tuned, folks. The decision could be seismic.
By Douglas V. Gibbs
We’re told it’s in our best interest to use every digital protection available to secure our information. Change your passwords often. Use multi-factor authentication. Many of us comply. We see no reason not to. We want to keep our information safe so we use PIN numbers, fingerprint scanning, facial recognition and other biometric methods. In this age of technology it is a no-brainer to do all you can to prove we are who we say we are, and to ensure only we access our accounts.
Biometric verification is touted as a powerful tool for privacy and security, and it is. It relies on unique biological traits: fingerprints, irises, facial geometry. These things are nearly impossible to replicate.
The effectiveness of biometric verification is not the problem. The problem is regarding who runs the system. Can we trust the watchers who hold our data and biological markers?
Vietnam recently deactivated over 86 million bank accounts under a new biometric verification mandate. The State Bank of Vietnam claims this initiative will combat fraud and cybercrime. Funds weren’t seized, they say. Just locked away until account holders submit to biometric authentication.
Did they take a page out of the Borg playbook?
Resistance is futile.
To many, this reeks of what Christians call the mark of the beast. It echoes warnings from the Trump Administration about Central Bank Digital Currency. It mirrors Canada’s freezing of truckers’ accounts when they defied government orders. And when paired with the U.K.’s new digital ID system, one wonders: is this the blueprint for total surveillance and control?
Should Americans who value liberty and individual choice be concerned?
Absolutely. Vietnam’s actions and the broader global shift toward digital IDs and biometric verification raise serious questions about privacy, autonomy, and government overreach. Though marketed as tools for security and efficiency, these systems can easily become instruments of control. The examples from Vietnam, Canada, and the U.K. show how financial access can be weaponized to enforce compliance. And, don’t be fooled. They do indeed set a precedent that could reach American shores.
Let’s not forget Greece during its financial crisis. The government imposed capital controls, limiting how much citizens could withdraw from their own accounts. Allegedly to prevent a bank run, the move exposed just how fragile personal financial access can be. Tyranny wears many masks. When governments assume authority over individual finances, liberty is already under siege.
Combine Greece’s capital controls with Vietnam’s biometric mandates, Canada’s account freezes, and the U.K.’s digital ID rollout and a tyrannical pattern emerges. A pattern of vulnerability. A warning about the ease with which governments can restrict financial access. A call to defend individual financial freedom.
We must recognize and resist the erosion of liberty and the expanding reach of government surveillance. Digital IDs, biometric verification, and financial restrictions are not isolated innovations, and I get it when as individuals we decide to use these technologies, but also understand that they are also a part of a larger architecture of control. As technology becomes inseparable from daily life, the solutions to modern challenges increasingly rely on the very systems that threaten our autonomy. We’ve embraced these tools because they’re convenient. But convenience and safety is a poor trade for freedom if we allow governments to have unfettered access and use of these technologies.
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
We shudder as we watch global events unfold, sensing the alarms in our minds. Then we close our eyes, unsure what to do, and go about our day paying for everything with a phone or a plastic card.
Forget “Resistance is Futile.” We’ve raised the flag of serfdom ourselves. If we don’t reclaim control of the system, the system will finish its march to control us. A part of keeping some control is to keep physical currency in play. Use cash when you can. Keep cash king. Without it, the cell doors will slam shut, and we will be imprisoned inside a surveillance fortress that we may never escaped from save from a total loss of worldwide electricity.
If that happens, the dystopian vision behind the World Economic Forum’s “Welcome to 2030” essay will no longer be speculative. “You’ll own nothing and be happy” will slam into place as the cold and honest truth.
Angry? Good. What are you going to do about it? How are you going to influence the system? Attend political meetings? Run for office? Use cash most of the time?
The clock is ticking.
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The deal has been made. Trump signed the peace deal in Egypt, and for now we have something nobody had been able to pull off before: Peace in the Middle East. Trump commented that the deal took thousands of years to finally come to fruition. “Can you believe it?” he said. “And it’s going to hold up, too.” Except, that is not how Islam operates. It’ll hold up for now. It’ll last until they believe it is in the will of Allah to attack again.
Don’t get me wrong. Trump is the great dealmaker, and this is more than simply a hostage exchange and ceasefire; Trump aims to be a businessman about it and bring to Gaza something it never had before. Investors. It’s peace the way a businessman would broker it. He sees it as a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
Donald Trump is the greatest comeback story in history with a long list of accomplishments, but the President said this might be his greatest accomplishment, yet. It is something the world has been waiting for since the reestablishment of Israel as a nation. Politicians and historians have suggested it may never happen, yet here it is. No one thought it was possible, but the great negotiator took the art of the deal to a whole new level.
Trump said it was a moment where everyone came together in a way that six months ago would not have been possible. According to President Trump, “they all wanted this to happen. And, it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
Everybody has always wanted this, but it never worked because the negotiators were appeasers and Islam back then knew they had the patience and ability to regroup, re-arm, and hit back again when they believed the environment was on their side. Perhaps, that’s their thinking now. But then again, they never had a deal like this, before.
One thing I’ve always said is that Islam only responds to strength. Trump bombed Iran. He refused to give them, or their proxies, weaponry. He got out of the way when Israel responded to October 7 two years ago, and watched as they waged their war on Hamas. He waited, and didn’t try to stick his nose into the mess until it made sense. Timing is everything, sometimes, and when it comes to making deals Donald Trump is a master when it comes to timing.
Trump hasn’t fallen for the cries for a Palestinian statehood, he hasn’t stumbled under the hard-left’s pleas for going against Israel, but he also recognized that while Islam and Hamas are a part of a bloodthirsty belief system, even they have things they want that can be leveraged when making a deal.
Israel respects Trump’s resolve, and Islamic leaders respect his bold strength and willingness to hit them with military strikes if necessary. The bunker buster in Pakistan during this first term, and the strikes against Iran’s nuclear aspirations during this term was enough to get their attention. This is a man not to be trifled with, but if you work with him the deal-making can be good for you.
Now, as a result, families are being reunited. Hostages held for two years are coming home. “The hostages are back,” Trump said in Jerusalem. “It is a good feeling. Isn’t that nice to say? … It feels so good to say it.”
Crowds in Hostages Square erupted into chants of “Thank You Trump.”
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu proclaimed, “Donald Trump is the greatest friend the State of Israel has ever had in the White House,” before a cheering Knesset.
Middle East investors are now contacting Trump saying they want to contribute to the rebuilding of Gaza. They are willing to put up whatever money is necessary according to Trump. The Middle East, and in particular the Palestinian zones, have always been violent places beyond hope, sucking in American money for the wrong reasons. Now, Trump has turned Gaza into an investment opportunity, and everyone wants to participate.
Calls for a Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump have been deafening. The vote went to someone else, but Pakistan is not only adding to the long list of countries and people wanting Trump to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, but added, “I think that you’re the man this world needed most at this point in time.” In other words, it’s time for a recount.
Trump has made peace in the Middle East largely through the help of another past rival, Marco Rubio. The once big-time establishment Republican from Florida has become one of Trump’s biggest allies and accomplices in the road to peace in the Middle East. Trump said, “Marco will go down, I mean this, as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of the United States… and he and I we really fought it out… he was tough. He was nasty. Who the hell thought this was going to happen, Marco, right?”
Steve Witkoff, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, also got a shout out by President Trump. “Steve just wants to get the job done. He wants to do what’s right.”
Despite the attacks, the doubts and lack of faith exhibited by Trump’s political opponents, he did what they couldn’t do. The businessman did what politicians could never accomplish. The so-called experts called him someone who had no business in politics. Hillary Clinton claimed he didn’t have the temperament to pull something like this off. The Democrats claimed what they do about every Republican since Barry Goldwater – he’ll start wars. You can’t trust him with the nuclear button.
“Actually, I have a personality that is all about stopping wars,” Trump told a crowd in Jerusalem. “[and] it seems to work.”
It’s gotten to the point that some of the Democrats, even his staunchest opposition in the political ranks and the media, are beginning to give President Trump credit for his peace process in the Middle East. Politicians. Media personalities. Journalists. Except for the loudest voices against Trump regarding Israel. People like Rashida Tlaib. Ilhan Omar. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). Regarding the peace deal? Silence.
Senator Fetterman addressed that silence, wondering why there are those out there not willing to admit the truth. “Absolute elation…you’ve had human beings held underground for over two years and tortured and beaten and starved. Forced to dig their own graves and things. And now they can finally come back home. And now everyone, now everyone should be celebrating these things.”
But, the winning isn’t over just yet. Now, Trump is ready to make a deal with Iran. He said, “…even to Iran whose regime has inflicted so much death on the Middle East the hand of friendship and cooperation is open. I’m telling you, they want to make a deal. That’s all I do in my life. I make deals. I’m good at it. I’ve always been good at it. And I know what they want.”
Then?
Trump is ready to turn his eyes northward from the Middle East. If Israel and Hamas can come to an agreement, so can Russia and Ukraine.
And this is only the beginning. More than three years still remains of Trump’s presidency. If he can do all of this in a little over six months, what can he accomplish in the next three years? And if the Mid-Term Election strengthens the Republican majority in both Houses of Congress, the sky’s the limit. Peace, prosperity, and making America great again will be just the appetizers.
With all of this winning, I am beginning to feel pretty good about President Trump’s upcoming meeting with the Chinese in South Korea next month. He has a record that can’t be contested, both in strength and deal-making. I wonder if he will be able to make China’s Xi Jinping become putty in his hands. Stranger things have happened…you know, like Israel and Hamas agreeing to one of Trump’s deals.
President Trump is a historic figure that keeps winning in everything he touches, and the world is beginning to realize it.
But…
Islam never decides anything permanently. In a world with Islam lurking in the shadows the reality is that as a threat they will always be there. Another October 7 always whispers as a possibility in the darkness. Public killings still remain in Muslim countries. Women being treated lower than animals is a part of their culture. Fear if one dares to step out of line just a little bit resides in the minds of those who live in Muslim countries. Muslim gangs and violence continues to rock the world no matter which country it is. Islam is not defeated. Peace has simply been achieved for now in a small corner on the south side of Israel… for now. Peace when it comes to Islam occurs when they are too fearful to do otherwise. It is monumental what President Trump has accomplished, and I hope the peace is lasting for a reasonable amount of time, and perhaps even influences other locations around the world; but be assured the primary aim of Hamas is to regroup, re-arm, and prepare for their next opportunity to kill Jews, kill Christians, kill Americans, and kill anyone else they deem their enemy. That is not being doubtful – it is a recognition of a reality that goes back in time longer than the existence of America.
For now, however, the great dealmaker is winning. The dealmaker has brought peace. Blessed be the dealmakers, for people like Trump impacts the world in ways that even the political left cannot deny.
Shutdown, Medicaid and Cost of Illegal Aliens
By Douglas V. Gibbs
The government shutdown continues. Despite the media spin, it is crystal clear that the Democrats are holding out to protect healthcare benefits for illegal aliens. ABC tried to muddy the waters with a so-called “study” claiming that Medicaid spending on illegal aliens is insignificant. Once we take a closer look, it turns out that the study itself admits that data from eleven states wasn’t even available. That’s nearly a quarter of the country. And opposition researchers have pointed to more complete data from 2023 and 2024 showing that Medicaid spending on illegal immigrants has doubled since 2022.
Even if we accept ABC’s number, 0.4% of Medicaid spending, that still amounts to $3.3 billion. That’s Billion, with a “B.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
County hospitals across America are absorbing massive costs when illegals walk in for treatment, whether it’s for childbirth, a cold, or an earache. These aren’t insured patients. Illegal aliens don’t walk into the country and first shoot straight to the closest insurance agent to get medical insurance. We know for a fact that people not willing to follow the rules regarding how to enter this country are not going to follow any other rules, especially when it comes to health. My wife, originally born in Mexico, legally entered the country with her family as a child, and now is a naturalized citizen, tells me that the forces against America have set up billboards in Mexico telling people to come to America for free health care. They have been encouraged to take advantage of the American taxpayer. They are not paying into the system. That’s a fact. And if we then apply just a little bit of critical thinking and logic, it becomes apparent that for all of the illegal aliens walking into hospitals the taxpayers are footing 100% of the bill for their healthcare.
Let’s be honest. Most Americans are fed up. We the People are tired of watching our hard-earned dollars go to people who aren’t supposed to be here, who haven’t paid a cent in taxes, and who receive services that many citizens struggle to afford.
As for the argument the Democrats and their allies use about being against immigration if you don’t hold their water regarding illegals? My wife is an immigrant. I love immigrants. I agree that immigration is an important part of this country’s history, and a part of what makes the United States a wonderful place in the world. But as a business owner you wouldn’t just throw the door open and hire as an employee anyone who walks through the door. We know that if any business is going to be successful, one of the key components is a group of solid employees. Business owners take hiring new people very seriously. They interview people, reject people, accept people, train people, and even have a probation period to protect themselves if they screwed up and it turned out the employee was a bad choice. Should not our country be the same? We want the best and the brightest. We used to be very particular regarding who we let into the country. You had to have a sponsor, or you had to show that you are skilled in something. Upon naturalization as a citizen we still required constitutionally that the “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” part of the Citizenship Clause was met by requiring new citizens to renounce their previous citizenship. From a historical perspective, we made it clear that if you were going to become a part of this country you must have no other allegiance. You were required to show that you were subject to no foreign power.
The Democratic Party has shifted on this issue. Thirty years ago the same idiots screaming for open borders were criticizing loose policies regarding the illegal alien population and with Republicans were willing to take steps to get them out of this country. Then, they realized that as conservatism was growing. The needed more loyal voters. And, as America was prospering under Donald Trump’s first term as President, their utopian dream of a bunch of equitable automatons serving the government like a bunch of mindless oxen in the field was slipping through their fingers. They came to the conclusion that they needed to find a way to create chaos, and create a system full of government-dependent cheap laborers. Obama had begun the process, but during Biden they needed to double-down on it. Slavery had vanished, and the government plantation that replaced it wasn’t being embraced by Americans like it used to. So, increased their change regarding illegal immigration, happy to throw open the border as wide as they could and tossing taxpayer money around like it was candy for children.
This shutdown isn’t just a budget standoff. It’s a moral reckoning. And it’s not a good look for the Democrats. They’re prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens. They’re holding the government hostage to protect a system that’s bleeding taxpayers dry because it is among their last ditch efforts to hold on to their power.
And come 2026, this will be remembered.
It’s yet another factor that could fuel a red wave in the midterms. Voters want accountability. They want integrity. They want a government that puts Americans first. And if the shutdown drags on, it may become the Democrats’ undoing.
And in the end, they want nothing to do with constitutional limits of federal spending or common sense limits on who walks into this country as an immigrant. The Founders never intended for Washington to become a welfare state for the world, and thanks to this latest term of President Donald J. Trump, more and more Americans are realizing the truth.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary