Salem Radio Network News Monday, January 26, 2026

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Greg Clugston

SRN Correspondent Greg Clugston keeps you informed about all the news coming from the White House.

Physician deems Trump “fully fit” to execute duties of office

Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 11:35 am
At age 78, President Trump has been deemed to be in “excellent health” by the White House physician.
Dr. Sean Barbabella said the president exhibits “robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function” based on Friday’s physical exam. In a White House memo, Donald Trump is described as being in “excellent cognitive and physical health” and “fully fit to execute the duties” of his office. The report listed the president’s weight at 224 pounds, his total cholesterol at 140, and all other lab results in the normal, desirable, and optimal categories.
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Trump joins with Christians observing Holy Week

Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 11:21 am
President Trump says he joins with Christians observing Holy Week. In a presidential message released by the White House, Donald Trump said “this week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus’ crucifixion and to prepare…for His miraculous resurrection.” The president did not attend Palm Sunday services here in Florida, but the White House has planned Holy Week events in the run-up to Easter. The president also said his administration is committed to defending the Christian faith in the public square, safeguarding the right to religious liberty, and upholding the dignity of life.
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More Iran nuclear talks scheduled for next weekend

Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 7:07 am

The United States and Iran have agreed to hold more negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. During talks this weekend, U-S Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister “briefly spoke” face to face — the first time the two nations have done that since the Obama administration. The White House described the discussions as “very positive and constructive,” and said “the sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.” President Trump has threatened military action against Iran if a nuclear deal isn’t reached.

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Judge eases DOGE ban on accessing sensitive Treasury information

Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 7:03 am
A judge has relaxed a ban preventing Elon Musk’s efficiency office from accessing sensitive Treasury Department information. The judge, who had issued the ban, will allow one DOGE worker to access sensitive payment and data systems under certain conditions. The worker must complete training that Treasury employees typically go through before being given such access and submit a financial disclosure report. The ruling came in a lawsuit over privacy issues and concerns about protecting such sensitive information as Social Security and bank account numbers.
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White House calls Iran talks “positive and constructive”

Sat, Apr 12, 2025 at 4:40 pm

The White House says the first round of nuclear talks with Iran were “very positive and constructive.” This weekend’s talks lasted more than two hours and the two sides agreed to meet again next Saturday. In a statement, the White House described the direct communication with Iran’s foreign minister as “a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.” Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told the Iranians that President Trump wants to resolve the two nations’ differences “through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible.”

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Electronics to be exempt from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs

Sat, Apr 12, 2025 at 4:17 pm
The United States will exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. The announcement from the Trump administration could help keep the prices down for popular consumer electronics that aren’t usually made in the U-S. Excluding those items would also benefit big tech companies like Apple and Samsung. U-S Customs and Border Protection said items like smartphones, laptops, machines used to make semiconductors, and flat-panel monitors would be exempt from the higher taxes.
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Trump open to returning mistakenly deported Maryland man

Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 10:42 pm

President Trump is open to bringing back a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. A federal judge told a government lawyer it was “extremely troubling” that he had no information about the whereabouts of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. A day earlier, the Supreme Court said the administration must facilitate the man’s return to the U-S. And President Trump indicated to reporters on Air Force One he would do that if that’s what the justices want. On Monday, the president will host El Salvador’s president at the White House.

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Ahead of talks, Trump says Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon

Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 10:20 pm

President Trump says preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon (is/was) the goal of Saturday’s diplomatic talks with Iranian officials.  When it comes to Iran, the president says the goal is simple: “I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.” The president says he prefers a diplomatic solution, even as he warns that Iran will face “great danger” if talks don’t go well.

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Trump says he did “well” in his annual physical exam

Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 10:04 pm

President Trump is feeling upbeat after completing his annual physical exam. Following several hours of tests at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the president told reporters about Air Force One, “I think I did well.” The 78-year-old president also said he underwent a cognitive exam. Over the years, Donald Trump has released few details about his health. He said a report from White House doctors should be released this weekend.

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Trump says tariffs will be “beautiful” after “transition cost”

Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 6:48 am

President Trump is upbeat about the U-S economy despite falling stock prices and consumer confidence. The president continues to preach patience when it comes to his tariffs policy. Trump acknowledged “there will be a transition cost” as the tariffs take hold. He said he’s “very happy with the way the country’s running” even though stock prices have swung wildly this week and surveys show a drop in consumer confidence.

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Trump to get first physical exam of his second term

Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 6:44 am

President Trump is getting his annual physical exam. It’s the president’s first physical exam of his second term, and it will be conducted at Walter Reed National Medical Center. Earlier this week, he wrote online that he has “never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done.” In November 2023, the Trump campaign issued a doctor’s statement saying Trump’s “overall health [was] excellent.” At age 78, Donald Trump is the oldest person sworn in as president.

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Treasury Secretary says market volatility “nothing unusual”

Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 2:24 pm

President Trump’s treasury secretary says there’s “nothing unusual” about recent stock market volatility.
Commenting on Thursday’s market drop after Wednesday’s rally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to project confidence about the wild swings on Wall Street. He said “the up 2, down 1 is not a bad ratio.” Bessent predicted there would be “great certainty” after 90 days of negotiating trade deals and the president declared the country is in “good shape.”

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Some tariffs are on hold, but trade war is far from over

Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 1:43 pm

Some of President Trump’s tariffs have been paused, but the trade war is far from over. The president’s 90-day delay for newly announced reciprocal tariffs led to a huge market rally and some collective relief on Wednesday. But America’s trading partners still face a 10 percent universal tariff. Plus, the 25 percent steel, aluminum, and foreign car tariffs are still in effect, as is the 25 percent tax on certain Canadian and Mexican imports. And don’t forget China, which is dealing with a 145 percent tariff on its goods.

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Stocks skyrocket after Trump pauses most tariffs

Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 6:06 pm

The stock market responded positively to President Trump’s decision to pause  tariffs on most nations. Hours after sweeping reciprocal tariffs went into effect, the president announced a 90 day pause for countries that did not retaliate. But he raised the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125 percent. Investors cheered the news, pushing stocks sharply higher. The Dow gained nearly 8 percent. The S&P 500 was up almost 10 percent. And the Nasdaq rose by more than 12 percent.

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Trump pauses most tariffs for 90 days, but raises tax on China

Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 6:05 pm

President Trump has paused his tariffs on most nations while jacking up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125 percent. The president explained that more than 75 countries have contacted the U-S government for trade talks since the announcement of reciprocal tariffs. He also said he was monitoring the bond market and thought people were getting a bit “yippy,” afraid. The president’s pause on some tariffs sent stocks sharply higher. e by more than 12 percent.

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Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs go into effect

Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 8:15 am

President Trump’s global reciprocal tariffs are now in effect. The president defends his newly launched trade war, claiming the tariffs are bringing two-billion dollars into the U-S every day, and dozens of nations want to negotiate. Even though some economists have warned of higher prices, the president slapped another 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods —. raising the combined total to 104 percent against China.

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White House says “boys will be boys” as advisers feud

Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 6:42 am

The White House isn’t too worried about a public spat over tariffs between two of President Trump’s advisers. Trump adviser Elon Musk called the president’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro had criticized the Tesla CEO for opposing tariffs. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shrugged off the trash talk, saying “boys will be boys.” Both men work for a president who’s known for trading insults.

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Judge orders White House to restore AP’s full press access

Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 5:43 pm

A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore The Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events. The judge ruled that it’s unconstitutional for the White House to block AP journalists from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other presidential events over an editorial policy. The Trump-appointed judge cited the First Amendment, saying journalists cannot be barred “because of their viewpoints.” The White House limited AP’s access after its decision not to follow the president’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The judge’s ruling won’t go into effect until Sunday to give the Trump administration time to appeal.

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Trump willing to negotiate trade deals after announcing tariffs

Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 2:32 pm

The Trump administration says several dozen countries have lined up to negotiate trade deals with the United States. After first saying there would be no negotiations to reduce the Trump tariffs, the White House now says the president’s willing to talk. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says as many as 70 nations want to negotiate with the U-S following last week’s unveiling of reciprocal tariffs.

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White House welcomes Supreme Court ruling on deportations

Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 2:11 pm

The White House is cheering the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Alien Enemies Act. Justices this week ruled that the Trump administration can invoke a 1798 wartime law to deport Venezuelans. While it’s a legal victory for the president, the Supreme Court said migrants must get a court hearing before they are taken from the United States.

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Supreme Court halts reinstatement of fired federal workers

Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 12:34 pm

The Supreme Court says the Trump administration does not need to rehire thousands of fired federal workers. The emergency ruling puts on hold a lower court order that required six federal agencies to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were let go in mass firings. According to the Supreme Court, the government employee unions didn’t have legal standing to sue. It’s a temporary victory for the Trump administration because there’s a second lower court order that reverses the layoffs. And for now, that injunction protecting many jobs is still in effect.

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Trump notches two Supreme Court wins on deportations

Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 6:46 am
The Supreme Court delivered two rulings this week that were favorable to the Trump administration. In a major legal victory for Donald Trump, justices on the high court allowed his administration to use the 18th century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. However, migrants must be given “reasonable time” to go to court before deportation. The high court was split 5 to 4. Separately, Chief Justice John Roberts agreed to pause a midnight deadline for the administration to return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
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Supreme Court allows use Alien Enemies Act for deportations

Mon, Apr 7, 2025 at 7:36 pm
The Trump administration won a legal victory in its use of an 18th century wartime law to deport migrants. A divided Supreme Court allowed the administration to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants, but said they must get a court hearing before they are taken from the United States. Justices said the Venezuelans must be given “reasonable time” to go to court. And the conservative majority ruled that legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of a Washington courtroom.
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Trump not looking to pause tariffs, but open to negotiations

Mon, Apr 7, 2025 at 7:07 pm

President Trump has no plans to pause his newly announced tariffs, but he’s open to negotiations. The president said he was not looking at a pause on tariffs, which have sent global stock markets sharply lower. But he said would talk to China, Japan and other countries about the import duties. The president has threatened to add another 50 percent tariff on Chinese imports unless Beijing withdraws its threat to add a 34 percent tariff on its goods.

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