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Trump energy czar says Iran conflict gas spike is ‘temporary blip’ as drilling push ramps up

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EXCLUSIVE: Despite the ongoing conflict in Iran, President Donald Trump’s “energy czar,” Doug Burgum, is confident the “temporary blip up” in gas and energy prices facing Americans will come back down very soon as the president’s “drill baby drill” agenda takes effect.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Burgum, who leads the Interior Department and chair of Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council, said: “It’s all about supply.”

“You want prices to go down? Supply has got to go up,” he said. To this end, he said his agency approved a record 6,000-plus drilling permits on U.S. soil, reversing the Biden administration’s trend of increased regulation that he said had stunted the country’s energy independence.

“We have a temporary blip up now because of the conflict in the Middle East, but as you heard the news earlier this morning, energy prices dropped a lot today, and stock markets [are] up and energy prices down; those are all positive things for working Americans to have those two things happening simultaneously,” he said.

TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE

Despite criticism of the president’s actions on the global stage, Burgum said these moves, such as the military intervention in Venezuela and negotiations with leadership, are going to help reduce prices for Americans.

“What happened in Venezuela actually helps Americans a lot because now we’ve got Venezuelan oil flowing towards Gulf of America refineries in Louisiana and Texas,” he said.

Another major policy shift Burgum said he expects to make a big difference for Americans is the administration’s actions to “unleash Alaska.”

“The Biden administration had taken over 70 legal actions, executive orders from President Biden to regulatory actions, which were essentially sanctioning Alaska more than we sanctioned Iran during the last administration,” he explained.

Pressed on when Americans can expect to start seeing prices tick back down, Burgum said, “I think we started to see how they were happening and they happened quite effectively over the first year of the Trump administration.” He also pointed out that prices “vary a lot” depending on which state you live in and the extent of regulation and taxes placed on oil and gas production.

“Consumers need to understand that it is not just federal action, but it’s state and local action that’s often driving up the cost of your energy,” he said. “It’s not quite as simple as red state versus blue state. But if you take a look at gas prices before the war, red states were among all the lowest states in the country, blue states were among the highest in terms of that. And it was a reflection of the policies of those state legislatures and those governors that were driving energy prices up.”

US AND IRAN SEND CONFLICTING SIGNALS ON TALKS TO END THE WAR

As an example, he said that just a month ago, gas prices in Iowa were under $2 per gallon, while the price in California was $5.

“California imports 63 percent of its oil from foreign countries,” he explained, adding, “At the time of this breakout with Iran … California, by their own data, provided by the state of California, the number one country they were importing oil from in California was from Iraq.”

“They always brag about, ‘Oh, if we were a country, we’d have one of the world’s largest economies.’ And if they were a county, they would have designed for themselves one of the most energy-dependent and energy-expensive economies,” he said of California.

“They’re not saving the planet by using foreign oil in California when you could have been getting clean, reliable, affordable energy, say from the Permian Basin in Texas or New Mexico,” he continued. “When you think you’re saving the planet by blocking U.S. infrastructure, you artificially raise the prices.”

To push back on this, Burgum said that, authorized by Trump’s energy emergency declaration, Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently ordered California to reopen its Santa Ynez pipeline system to resume pumping domestic offshore oil. The order is being challenged by California in court; however, oil has already begun being pumped.

IRAN CHOKES STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITH REPORTED $2M TANKER TOLL, REGIME THREATENS GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY

He framed the administration’s “energy abundance” agenda as a move back to reality after four years of “climate fantasy” under former President Joe Biden. This move, he said, stands in stark opposition to policies still being pursued in blue states like California.

“We’re focused on energy reality, which is all Americans deserve and need to have reliable, affordable, and secure energy,” he said. “We’re fighting for every citizen in the country, regardless of what state regime they’re under. Because like I said, every American, no matter where you live, deserves to have affordable, reliable, and nationally secure energy.”  

Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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‘Reacher’ star Alan Ritchson drops cryptic ‘enemy’ quote after alleged front yard brawl with neighbor

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“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson left fans divided after seemingly sharing a cryptic message in the wake of his front yard brawl.

Ritchson can allegedly be seen throwing punches at his Tennessee neighbor as his kids watch from the street in video obtained by TMZ

The 43-year-old model-turned-actor took to social media Monday as conflicting accounts of what led to the physical altercation emerged.

‘REACHER’ STAR ALAN RITCHSON ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT ON VIDEO THROWING PUNCHES AT NEIGHBOR AS HIS KIDS WATCH

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake,” a quote shared by Ritchson on Instagram read.

Ritchson’s cryptic message didn’t sit right with some in his comments.

“Kind of like getting CAUGHT on camera being a bully,” one user wrote. “Man. Shame on you. True masculinity defends the weak and serves those around us. Not what you do. I stand against bullies. Come on over. You are welcome to try and bully me.”

“Bro beat a guy’s a– and aura farms afterward,” another added.

“Disgusting,” a user wrote. “Don’t talk about Church and Jesus ever again. You should be 100% canceled.”

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However, the “Titans” star also received support.

“@alanritchson I know you’re way too good of a dude to do that unprovoked,” a commenter wrote. “I’m with Alan all the way on this one.”

“Need more guys like you around brother,” another added.

“True fans love you @alanritchson i don’t for a second believe you would have acted that way without being provoked or assaulted first,” one said.

Brentwood, Tennessee police have closed the investigation, concluding that the star acted in self-defense, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

No charges will be pursued, per the outlet. 

The actor also declined pressing charges against Taylor.

“After reviewing available evidence, including video footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued. Mr. Ritchson’s actions were found to be in self-defense,” Captain Steven Pepin of the Brentwood Police Department told THR.

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The actor’s neighbor and alleged victim, Ronnie Taylor, claimed the drama began Saturday, TMZ reported.

According to Taylor, Ritchson was seen riding his green Kawasaki bike through the neighborhood Saturday at an excessive rate of speed. The actor returned Sunday around noon, this time with his two kids in tow on their own motorbikes. Taylor confronted Ritchson, leading to a physical altercation.

Sources close to Ritchson told TMZ that the actor did not instigate the fight. While riding motorbikes around the neighborhood, Taylor allegedly ran into the street in a “really aggressive” manner to stop Ritchson.

The insiders claimed Taylor pushed Ritchson off the motorbike twice before the brawl ensued. According to the outlet’s sources, Taylor allegedly “initiated and instigated” the entire confrontation.

Taylor told the Daily Mail that he did not know who the neighbor was and only found out after the altercation. The actor declined to respond when asked if he started the alleged fight.

“I can’t answer questions about that right now, there’s an active investigation,” he told the outlet.

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Vince Vaughn calls out late-night shows all feeling ‘the same,’ becoming ‘agenda-based’ scolding

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Actor Vince Vaughn said late-night talk shows have all become the “same” and are too “agenda-based” for people to watch.

“I think that the talk shows to a large part became really agenda-based,” Vaughn said Tuesday. “They were going to [evangelize] people to what they thought. You know what I mean? And so people just rejected it because it didn’t feel authentic. It felt like they had an agenda. It stopped being funny and it started feeling like I was f—— in a class I didn’t want to take. You know? I’m getting scolded.”

The “Wedding Crashers” actor made the remarks on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast after Von noted how late-night shows have been struggling after only targeting “White redneck kind of people” in their comedy routines.

MARK NORMAND SAYS LATE NIGHT IS ‘DYING’ — HOW THE STAND-UP COMIC KEEPS UP IN A CHANGING COMEDY SCENE

Vaughn added that people have likely become more drawn to podcasts over late-night shows for authenticity and to “feel like people are having a real conversation.”

“If you look at what happened to the talk shows and why their ratings are low, it’s got only to do with the fact of what you just said, which is they all became the same show. And they all became so about their politics and who’s good and who’s bad. And it’s like, imagine sitting next to someone like that on a f—— plane,” Vaughn said.

VINCE VAUGHN DISCUSSES BACKLASH HE RECEIVED AFTER THE ACTOR WAS SEEN CHATTING WITH TRUMP EARLIER THIS YEAR

Vaughn has been criticized in the past for images of himself interacting and acting cordial with President Donald Trump going back as far as 2020. Last year, he visited the White House and took a “Wedding Crashers” parody photo with the president.

Von asked whether he had ever felt ostracized by Hollywood because of his beliefs and actions.

“I got along with people for the most and always was, you know, always try to be honest about who I am. But yeah, there’s times you felt like it would have been easier. It’s almost like a career move. You know what I mean? But I was always the other way too. Like I’m not jumping on 100% this or this because I have opinions on both sides. There’s s— I don’t agree with at all and then there’s s— I don’t agree with at all,” Vaughn said.

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Vaughn has described himself as a libertarian and said that he ultimately believes in “allowing individuals to make choices.”

“I’d rather say let people make their choices, and they can make different choices and have the consequences of their choices,” he told The New York Times in 2024.

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Minnesota sues Trump admin to access evidence in federal shootings, including Alex Pretti, Renee Good cases

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The state of Minnesota is suing the Trump administration for access to evidence related to a series of shootings involving federal agents that sparked condemnation from Democrats during a federal crackdown on illegal immigration. 

The lawsuit, filed in Washington D.C., by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO), the state, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, names the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, as well as the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. 

The suit seeks evidence related to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and non-fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, an illegal immigrant, saying federal authorities are intentionally withholding the materials. 

TRUMP CONFIRMS FEDERAL REVIEW OF MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING THAT KILLED NURSE: ‘REVIEWING EVERYTHING’

Federal and local authorities have sparred over information about the shootings, which occurred during the administration’s massive crackdown. 

“It is extraordinary that we need to file this lawsuit at all,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “Cooperation between federal and state law enforcement in Minnesota is entirely routine: local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on the ground in Minnesota have decades of relationships with each other and share a desire to solve crime and keep people safe.”

“It should go without saying that we share jurisdiction with the federal government in this case: these incidents happened in Minnesota and fall under state law, regardless of the fact that federal agents are involved,” he added. 

Minnesota officials have blamed federal agents for the shootings, despite immigration authorities facing opposition from anti-ICE agitators while trying to arrest criminal illegal immigrants.

“These shootings are just three examples of the violent actions committed by federal agents in Minnesota during the Surge,” the complaint said. “Federal agents also carried out illegal stops, sweeps, arrests, and dangerous raids in sensitive public spaces. The Surge created widespread fear among Minnesota residents, both citizens and noncitizens.”

GOP SEN. CASSIDY BREAKS WITH TRUMP OVER DEADLY SHOOTING BY BORDER PATROL AGENT IN MINNEAPOLIS

Good was shot and killed on Jan. 7 when she attempted to ram her vehicle into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, DHS said. 

Pretti was fatally shot on Jan. 24 while confronting agents, which sparked outrage among critics of the surge. Sosa-Celis was shot on Jan. 14 after authorities said he attacked them with a shovel.

However, charges against the Venezuelan national were dismissed after video evidence suggested the officers involved may have made “untruthful statements,” ICE Director Todd Lyons said at the time. 

Operation Metro Surge ended soon after the Pretti shooting and federal agents were pulled out of Minnesota in February. 

The lawsuit alleges that the federal government’s policy of withholding evidence is unlawful and prevents local authorities from fulfilling a core duty to the people of Minnesota.

“That responsibility rests primarily with Minnesota’s law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities — in this case, Plaintiffs — who must gather the evidence, evaluate the facts, and decide whether Minnesota criminal law was violated,” it states. 

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