Salem News Channel

Trump pushes federal gas tax suspension

Donald Trump says he wants to suspend the federal gas tax as Americans deal with soaring fuel prices tied to the ongoing Iran war. The president said the move could provide relief to drivers facing rising transportation costs, but he cannot suspend the tax on his own. Any federal gas tax holiday would require approval from Congress. The current federal tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon to gasoline prices and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel, in addition to state taxes that vary across the country. According to AAA, the national average price for gasoline climbed to $4.52 per gallon Monday — roughly 50% higher than before the conflict escalated. Lawmakers from both parties have previously supported temporary gas tax suspensions during periods of sharply rising fuel costs.

Trump, Xi to Hold High-Stakes China Talks

Donald Trump is headed to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as tensions over Iran and global trade continue to grow. The White House is pressuring China to use its influence over Iran to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. China, one of Iran’s largest oil customers, has publicly called for an end to the war while U.S. officials continue accusing some Chinese companies of supporting Iran’s military operations. Despite the tensions, administration officials are downplaying expectations for any major breakthroughs during the trip. Instead, both countries appear focused on maintaining stable trade relations and preventing additional turmoil in global financial markets. The summit comes at a time of heightened uncertainty for the world economy, with energy prices and shipping concerns already impacting markets worldwide.

Supreme Court Temporarily Extends Women's Access To Widely Used Abortion Pill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect. Justice Samuel Alito’s order Monday allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. It prevents restrictions on mifepristone imposed by a federal appeals court from taking effect for now. The court is dealing with its latest abortion controversy four years after its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. Louisiana leads the current challenge.

U.S. Marshals Capture 17-Year-Old Suspected In Mass Shooting On Iowa City Pedestrian Mall

Federal authorities on Monday arrested a teenager in Georgia who is accused of opening fire last month near a popular University of Iowa nightlife district, injuring five people. Iowa City officials announced in a news release that U.S. marshals captured Damarian M. Jones, 17, of Cedar Rapids, near Atlanta. He faces multiple charges, including five counts of attempted murder and five counts of assault. He was being held in the Clayton County Jail in Georgia pending a hearing on extradition to Iowa. The release did not explain how the marshals tracked Jones down, exactly where he was arrested or whether he resisted them. It wasn't immediately clear whether he has an attorney. Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith, who would prosecute the case if Jones is moved back to Iowa, said she didn't have any details about the circumstances of the arrest and didn't know if Jones had an attorney. Messages left at the U.S. Marshals Office in Des Moines and the Iowa City Police Department weren’t immediately returned. Police have said Jones was part of a large fight that broke out along a pedestrian mall lined with shops, bars and restaurants near the Iowa campus just before 2 a.m. on April 19. During a break in the fighting, he allegedly fired six shots toward the crowd and then fled. One person was shot in the head and another in the arm and chest. Two more people were hit in at least one leg and another person was struck in the stomach. The news release Monday said one victim remained hospitalized but did not specify which one or elaborate on that person's condition.

Democrats are race obsessed

Democrats Are Race Obsessed

Trump Signing Orders To Boost Beef Imports, Rebuild Cattle Herd

CHICAGO, May 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign executive orders on Monday to allow increased beef imports into the U.S. and to support renewal of the U.S. cattle herd in an effort to address high beef prices, a White House official said. The official did not provide details on the two executive orders, which come at a time when the U.S. cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level in 75 years and beef prices continue to climb. The Wall Street Journal earlier had reported that Trump would temporarily suspend tariff-rate quotas on beef, which would allow more of the meat to enter the U.S. at lower tariff rates. The newspaper also said that Trump would direct the Small Business Administration to increase lending to ranchers and to reduce protections for gray and Mexican wolves that prey on herds under the Endangered Species Act.

Will Trump get Jimmy Lai free?

Will Trump Get Jimmy Lai Free?

M and M Extra: Faith Under Fire

Erika Kirk's commencement speech at Hillsdale College reminds us that, although we live in a time when Christian leaders are routinely targeted for their faith, it is important for believers to challenge the status quo.

Iran Blows Off U.S Deal

The President Says the Iran Ceasefire is on Life Support

Trump: Iran Ceasefire 'On Life Support'

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 11 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday that a ceasefire with Iran was "on life support" after he rejected Tehran's response to a U.S. peace proposal, fuelling concerns of a resumption of hostilities in the 10-week-old conflict that has killed thousands and halted vital energy flows. Days after Washington floated a proposal aimed at reopening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where U.S. ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. The response had been swiftly rejected by Trump. Asked where the ceasefire stands, Trump told reporters on Monday. "I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it," he said. In its response, Tehran also demanded compensation for war damage, emphasised its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the U.S. to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions and remove a ban on Iranian oil sales. The U.S. had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran defended its stance on Monday. "Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (U.S.) blockade and piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to U.S. pressure," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. "Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous and responsible offer." Brent crude oil futures traded 2.7% higher at around $104 a barrel, as the deadlock left the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Before the war began on February 28, the narrow waterway carried one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, and has since become a central pressure point in the conflict. Disruption caused by the near-closure of the strait has forced oil producers to cut exports, and OPEC oil output dropped further in April to the lowest in more than two decades, a Reuters survey showed on Monday. TRICKLE OF SHIPPING THROUGH HORMUZ Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at a trickle compared with before the war. Shipping data on Kpler and LSEG showed that three tankers laden with crude exited the waterway last week, with trackers switched off to avoid Iranian attack. A second Qatari LNG tanker was attempting to transit the strait, the data showed, days after the first such cargo crossed under an arrangement involving Iran and Pakistan. Sporadic flare-ups around the strait in recent days have tested a ceasefire that has paused all-out warfare since it took effect in early April. In the United States, surveys show the war is unpopular with voters facing sharply higher gasoline prices less than six months before nationwide elections that will determine whether Trump's Republican Party retains control of Congress. Washington has also struggled to build international support, with NATO allies refusing to send ships to reopen the waterway without a full peace deal and an internationally mandated mission. Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, which has been liaising closely with the U.S., Iran and mediator Pakistan since the start of the war, will hold talks in Qatar on Tuesday on the conflict and on ensuring navigational safety in the strait, a Turkish diplomatic source said. TRUMP SET TO DISCUSS IRAN IN BEIJING The next diplomatic or military steps remain unclear. Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, where Iran is set to be among the topics discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump has been leaning on China to use its influence to push Tehran toward a deal with Washington. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei suggested China could instead use the visit to push back against U.S. objectives in the Gulf. "Our Chinese friends know very well how to use these opportunities to warn about the consequences of the U.S.' illegal and bullying actions on regional peace and security," he said. Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday: "They are defeated, but that doesn't mean they're done." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was not over because there was "more work to be done" to remove enriched uranium from Iran, dismantle enrichment facilities and address its proxy forces and ballistic missile capabilities. Netanyahu told CBS News' "60 Minutes" that the preferred route was diplomacy, but he did not rule out the use of force. Clashes have also continued in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced on April 16.

Democrats Now Want to Fight the Supreme Court

AOC Knows Nothing About History

6 Found Dead In Cargo Train Boxcar In Texas Border Town

LAREDO, Texas (AP) — Police report that six people were found dead inside a cargo train boxcar at a Union Pacific rail yard in Laredo, Texas. Police in Laredo say workers discovered the bodies on Sunday while inspecting the car. The deceased include five men and one woman. Autopsies are planned, but the cargo car's travel history is unknown. Laredo is a busy trade port on the U.S.-Mexico border. Last year, two men were sentenced to life in prison in connection with a deadly human smuggling attempt in 2022 during which a cargo car traveled from Mexico to Laredo and went on to San Antonio. A total of 53 migrants died.

Family Of Florida Mass Shooting Victim Sues OpenAI In U.S. Court

May 11 (Reuters) - The family of a man killed in a 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in a U.S. court, claiming the shooter was aided by ChatGPT in planning the attack. The family of Tiru Chabba filed the lawsuit on Sunday in Florida federal court against the company and the man charged in the shooting, Phoenix Ikner. It is at least the second lawsuit filed in the U.S. accusing OpenAI of facilitating a mass shooting. The lawsuit claims ChatGPT served as a co-conspirator in the shooting, because Ikner planned and carried it out using information provided by ChatGPT in conversations in the preceding months. Despite conversations about mass shootings, the lethality of Ikner’s weapons and when the FSU student union was busiest, the chatbot did not flag or escalate the conversations, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit, which seeks compensatory and punitive damages, accuses OpenAI of designing a defective product and failing to warn the public about its risks. "Last year's mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime," OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said in a statement. "In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity." Pusateri said the company identified an account believed to be associated with the suspect after the shooting and proactively shared it with law enforcement. The company continues to cooperate with law enforcement and is continuously working to improve detection of harmful intent, he said. Ikner, a deputy sheriff's son, killed two people and wounded four others at the school in Tallahassee, Florida, before he was shot by officers and hospitalized, authorities said. He faces two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to court records. A lawyer for Ikner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced in April that he was launching a criminal investigation into ChatGPT's role in the FSU shooting after prosecutors reviewed the chat logs between Ikner and the program. OpenAI has said it trains its ?models to refuse requests that could "meaningfully enable violence," ?and notifies law enforcement when conversations suggest "an imminent and credible risk of harm to others," with mental health experts helping assess borderline cases. AI companies are facing a growing wave of lawsuits accusing them of failing to prevent chatbot interactions that plaintiffs say contribute ?to self-harm, mental illness and violence. Last month, family members of victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings filed a group of lawsuits against OpenAI and CEO Sam ?Altman, alleging the company knew eight months before the attack that the shooter was planning it on ChatGPT but did not warn ?police.

2 more passengers evacuated from cruise ship test positive for Hantavirus

OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — A French woman and an American have tested positive for the hantavirus as nations around the world repatriated passengers from a cruise ship hit by an outbreak and quarantine or isolate them. French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said Monday that the woman was among five French passengers repatriated Sunday to Paris from the MV Hondius. U.S. health officials said Monday that one of the 18 passengers flown from the ship to the United States also tested positive for the hantavirus but is not showing any symptoms, while another had mild symptoms. The World Health Organization recommended close monitoring of the former passengers, and many countries quarantined them.

Voters Call For Fair Redistricting, Free Speech, & No Property Taxes

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette joined Mike to outline her bold vision as she runs for governor.

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Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

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