Salem News Channel

President Donald Trump had McDonald's food delivered to the Oval Office on Monday in a bid to promote his lowering of taxes on tips, and handed the driver what appeared to be a $100 bill when asked if White House staff were good tippers. Wearing a red "DoorDash Grandma" T-shirt, Sharon Simmons - from Arkansas - knocked on the door carrying two bags of fast food as the media watched. Trump answered and then took questions from reporters on a variety of topics, flanked by Simmons, who said she has saved a substantial amount of money after taxes on tips were scrapped in January. With control of Congress up for grabs in November's midterm elections, Trump aides entered the year hoping to focus on promoting the strength of the U.S. economy. The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has stymied those efforts, particularly as surging oil prices have driven fuel costs higher, offsetting the effects of cuts to taxes on tips, Social Security retirement payments, overtime pay, car loan interest and state and local tax bills that were part of last year's Republican-backed tax-cut legislation. Indeed, last month, DoorDash and other companies whose business models depend on independent delivery drivers rolled out measures to try to cope with rising gas prices. When a journalist asked Simmons if the White House were good tippers, she said: "Ummm, potentially." Trump interjected, "wait," as he stuck his hand in his pocket and handed her what appeared to be a $100 bill. "Thank you, you reminded me," he said. When asked about the tip later on Fox News, Simmons said: "He took good care of me." But she did not disclose how much she was given: "I don't talk money." Simmons also diplomatically batted away questions from Trump in front of reporters. Trump asked her: "Do you think that men should play in women's sports?" To which she replied: "I really don't have an opinion on that ... I'm here about tax on tips." He also asked if she voted for him. With a smile, Simmons said: "Ummm, maybe."

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The Future of Israel and Iran

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President Donald Trump said on Monday (April 13) that Iran wants to make a deal and that he will not come to any agreement that allows Tehran to have a nuclear weapon. "We've been called by the other side. They'd like to make a deal very badly. Very badly," said Trump. A reporter asked: "What was the sticking point over? You said it was over nuclear." Trump responded with: "It was over nuclear. Very similar. Yeah. Very good. I guess you're listening. It's over. The fact that they will never have a nuclear weapon. Iran. You marking it down? Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And we agreed to a lot of things, but they didn't agree to that. And I think they will agree to it. I'm almost sure of it. In fact, I am sure of it. If they don't agree there's no deal. There will never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And we're going to get the dust back. We'll get it back. Either we'll get it back from them or we'll take it." When asked about the end goal of the blockade, Trump responded with: "We can't let a country blackmail or extort the world because that's what they're doing. They're really blackmailing the world. We're not going to let that happen." Trump said that talks had hit a roadblock related to nuclear issues and that a "blockade" of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz had begun. He said that Iran had "called this morning" and that "they'd like to work a deal." Reuters could not immediately verify the claim.

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she’s actively considering another presidential bid. She made the comments on Friday during the National Action Network’s annual convention, where more than a half-dozen Democratic 2028 presidential prospects appeared hoping to make inroads among Black voters. Host Al Sharpton asked Harris directly if she was gong to run again for president in 2028. Harris responded, “I might. I'm thinking about it." The Democrats’ next presidential primary season won’t really begin until after November’s midterm elections, but this week’s conference is showcasing a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what should be a crowded competition. Harris drew a standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect at this week's convention.

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The House Ethics Committee has begun an investigation into whether Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision, the panel announced Monday. The announcement comes one day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor after the emergence of allegations that he continues to deny.

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The Trump administration has agreed to keep flying a rainbow Pride flag on a federal flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument, reversing course after removing the banner in February. The government revealed the decision on Monday as it seeks to settle a lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups who had sought to block the removal. A judge must still approve the agreement. According to court papers, the Interior Department and National Park Service “have confirmed their intention to maintain a Pride flag at Stonewall.” It won’t be removed, except for “maintenance or other practical purposes.”

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Iran is Bleeding Out

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A dangerous super typhoon in the Pacific Ocean is barreling toward a group of remote U.S. islands. Super Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to make landfall Tuesday in the Northern Mariana Islands and bring destructive winds, widespread heavy rain and flooding, the National Weather Service said Monday. Power outages on the islands could be lengthy, forecasters warned. Guam, a U.S. territory with American military installations and about 170,000 residents, also could see damaging winds and is under a tropical storm warning. The U.S. Coast Guard issued flood and high wind warnings over the weekend. The tropical typhoon — the strongest on Earth so far this year — was producing sustained winds of 173 mph (278 kph) on Monday as it neared the islands of Rota, Tinian and Saipan, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. While it's expected to weaken slightly over the next few days, Sinlaku should cross near the islands as a Category 4 or 5 typhoon. About 50,000 people live on the three islands, with most on Saipan, known for its laid-back resorts, snorkeling, and golf as well as the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. Saipan was the site of one of World War II’s bloodiest battles in the Pacific, in which more than 50,000 Japanese and American soldiers and local civilians died. In Guam, where Typhoon Mawar knocked out power for days in 2023, U.S. military officials warned personnel to prepare for the storm and shelter in place. The military controls about one-third of the land on the island, a critical hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific. President Donald Trump on Saturday approved emergency disaster declarations for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, allowing for additional help with emergency services. A super typhoon is a name given to the strongest tropical cyclones that brew in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, where Earth’s most intense storms usually form. Monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Guam, super typhoons are the equivalent of category 4 or 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic, with winds of at least 150 mph (240 kph). There have been more than 300 super typhoons identified since the warning center started using that name nearly 80 year ago.

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Eric Swalwell Drops Out Of CA Governor's Race

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Trump Imposes Naval Blockade Of Iranian Ports In Strait Of Hormuz

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Mayor Mamdani: 100 Days Later

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Mark Davis fills in for Josh and breaks down the latest Iran developments following the ceasefire talks over the weekend. He also discusses Eric Swalwell suspending his run for California governor and the reaction from fellow Democrats, plus the pope’s recent comments and what the return of Artemis means for the future of space exploration.

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President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran wants to make a deal and that he will not come to any agreement that allows Tehran to have a nuclear weapon. Trump said that talks had hit a roadblock related to nuclear issues and that a "blockade" of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz had begun. He said that Iran had "called this morning" and that "they'd like to work a deal." "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We can't let a country blackmail or extort the world." Trump says the American military has begun a blockade of Iranian ports. Trump's statement on Monday was part of his effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks. Iran responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, taking aim at U.S.-allied countries. That set the stage for an extraordinary showdown that posed serious risks for the global economy and raised the specter that the ceasefire could collapse and the war could resume.

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The Blockade Will Crush Iran's Economy

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President Trump delivered a no-holds-barred Truth Social post calling out Pope Leo’s Left-Wing Tilt.

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Beyond The Diamond, Phil Garner Dies At 76

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President Donald Trump is facing criticism after sharing an AI-generated image on Truth Social that appears to depict him in a religious-style portrayal. The post quickly circulated online and sparked backlash from critics. The controversy comes as Trump continues to trade sharp exchanges with Pope Leo XIV over the ongoing conflict in Iran and broader U.S. foreign policy. The Pope responded earlier, saying the Vatican’s calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and not political opposition to the administration. He emphasized that his message is a broader appeal to end violence, not a direct attack on the president. Speaking separately, the Pope reiterated concerns about escalating global conflict and urged diplomacy amid rising tensions in the region. Trump fired back on social media and in remarks to reporters, calling the Pope too liberal and “weak on crime” and foreign policy, while also criticizing the Vatican’s stance on U.S. actions abroad, including Venezuela. The exchange marks a continued escalation in rhetoric between the White House and the Vatican as tensions remain high over international conflicts.

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With Professor Nicholas Giordano, professor of Political Science at Suffolk Community College in New York and Campus Reform Higher Education Fellow | @PasReport

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Faith & Freedom 250 - Episode 22: Why America's Founders Rejected Socialism Courtesy of The Herzog Foundation.

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With Neil McCabe, National Political Reporter @ Real America’s Voice ||| @ReporterMcCabe

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