Free Republic

The Trump’s administration’s Office of Management and Budget released a memo Wednesday rescinding a controversial order that froze a wide swath of federal financial assistance, which had paralyzed many federal programs and caused a huge uproar on Capitol Hill. The decision came amid strong behind-the-scenes pushback from Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to a GOP senator who was apprised of the decision to reverse the policy order. The reversal was signed by Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the White House budget office. One GOP senator expressed relief over the decision. “Chaos is never good,” the lawmaker said.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed an executive order Tuesday rescinding a protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state workers put into place eight years ago by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius’ executive order in 2007 said state workers could not be discriminated against, fired or harassed because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Brownback, a Republican, issued an additional executive order affirming that state employees could not be discriminated against because of their race, religion, gender, age or country of national origin. “This Executive Order ensures that state employees enjoy the same civil rights as all Kansans without creating...

As Martin Solomon writes, “I guess she’s taken back her apology,” but then, did anybody buy it in the first place, after she attempted to save her Palpatine-esque face in the immediate aftermath of her spectacularly anti-Semitic meltdown back in June into a Flip video camera? The Detroit Free Press reports, “Defiant Helen Thomas defends remarks that led to exit:” Striking a defiant tone, journalist Helen Thomas, 90, said today she absolutely stands by her controversial comments about Israel made earlier this year that led to her resignation. But she stoked additional controversy with new remarks, claiming that “Zionists” control...