Vice President JD Vance swears-in newly confirmed Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary.  Both Vice-President Vance and Secretary Hegseth delivered remarks during the ceremony. WATCH:

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From the White House:

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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For 20-years we have called out the Machievellian nature of Mitch McConnell and his duplicitous agenda to support the UniParty apparatus in Washington DC.  Heck, even the name of this site, “The Last Refuge” came from our non-pretending association as to the nature of the root cause of our problems within the Republican apparatus.  Mitch McConnell has always been working for the other side.

Last night in the confirmation vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Mitch McConnell voted no.  In an almost identical way to former Senator John McCain refusing to repeal Obamacare, Mitch McConnell ends his time in the senate with a very planned, purposeful and public rebuke of President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the military.

Do not overlook that Senator McConnell intentionally waited, just like McCain, to cast his ‘nay’ vote until the end of the vote call.  McConnell did this with purpose and public intent, just like McCain.  Vice-President JD Vance then steps-in to a 50/50 vote to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Mitch McConnell now exits the chamber as Pete Hegseth is now confirmed despite him.

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President Trump was asked about Mitch McConnell’s vote as he departed California for the return to DC.  Video Below:

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California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t have a choice, not really.  Newsom knows President Trump, and he knows what pragmatic common sense means in the aftermath of crisis.

The California Governor knew President Trump would stand amid the wildfire chaos that was made worse by leftist ideology and speak in commonsense terms about optimal solutions, solutions that come from allowing people, free markets and efficient response to recover themselves with government support.

Newsom knows the dependent and all-encompassing bureaucracy that permeates the ideology of leftist government becomes more visible when disruptions to the social order are boldly staring at the faces of the residents.  The rubble sits there, while President Trump starts talking about getting things done and making sure the same problems do not recreate in the future.  The problem at the core of the matter is leftist control of government.

That’s why Governor Gavin Newsom had to show up to meet President Trump, he had no choice.  From the moment Trump arrived in California there was going to be a massive contrast between a pragmatic problem solver and the Democrats who know nothing about how to restore.

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Leftism is parasitic, it needs a host to feed.  When the host is dead or destroyed by nature or circumstance, the parasitic nature of the left is suddenly in the spotlight.  The left only knows how to consume, not create.  Democrats do not know how to build, only how to destroy.

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During a press conference following a review of the devastated area, President Trump questioned why he was being told by Los Angeles residents that it would take 18 months for permits to begin the rebuilding process.

Los Angeles area officials are not permitting residents to clear their own lots after the fire.  Under the auspices of “hazardous material concern” the LA officials are telling residents they must wait for local officials to clear the area.  This ridiculous impediment resulted in President Donald Trump confronting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over the timing of when displaced residents can legally return to their properties to clear out debris after the recent fires.

President Trump drowned Karen Bass in buckets of common sense.  WATCH:

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Several videos below.

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Current livestream.

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President Trump holds a briefing with North Carolina emergency responders on the response to Hurricane Helene. Press conference below.

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive in Asheville, North Carolina, to show support for those in Western North Carolina devastatingly impacted by Hurricane Helene.  President Trump has vowed to support the long-term recovery of the region and correct the negligent approach by Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

President Trump has said he increasingly sees the FEMA results as fraught with too much bureaucratic red tape and negligent positive results.  He is now holding the opinion that a better use of federal support funds is to allow the states to operate the recovery operations with federal assistance.

Upon arrival at the airport, President Trump and First Lady Melania delivered remarks to the assembled press pool as well as morale boosting conversations with those impacted.

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President Trump and Melania signed autographs and walked the rope line of supporters. video below.

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Chopper pressers are the best pressers, AND THEY’RE BACK!

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart the White House en route to severely impacted North Carolina and later to Los Angeles. As they depart the White House the press pool asks questions.  WATCH:

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