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  • Trump’s wide ambitions for Board of Peace sparks new support for the United Nations

    Trump’s wide ambitions for Board of Peace sparks new support for the United Nations

    UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to sidestep the United Nations through his new Board of Peace appears to have inadvertently backfired after major world powers rejected U.S. aspirations for it to have a larger international mandate beyond the Gaza ceasefire and recommitted their support for the over 80-year-old global institution.

    The board to be chaired by Trump was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing his plan for Gaza’s future. But the Republican president’s ambitions have expanded to envisioning the board as a mediator of worldwide conflicts, a not very subtle attempt to eclipse the Security Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security.

    The board’s charter also caused some dismay by stating Trump will lead it until he resigns, with veto power over its actions and membership.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to ease concerns by saying the board’s focus right now is only on the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire plan.

    “This is not a replacement for the U.N., but the U.N. has served very little purpose in the case of Gaza other than the food assistance,” Rubio said at a congressional hearing Wednesday.

    But Trump’s promotion of a broadened mandate and his floating of an idea that the Board of Peace “might” replace the U.N. have put off major players and been dismissed by U.N. officials.

    “In my opinion, the basic responsibility for international peace and security lies with U.N., lies with the Security Council,” Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. “Only the Security Council can adopt decisions binding on all, and no other body or other coalition can legally be required to have all member states to comply with decisions on peace and security.”

    In Security Council statements, public speeches and behind closed doors, U.S. allies and adversaries have dismissed Trump’s latest plan to overturn the post-World War II international order with what he describes as a “bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”

    “The U.S. rollout of the much broader Board of Peace charter turned the whole exercise into a liability,” according to the International Crisis Group’s Richard Gowan, a U.N. watcher and program director. “Countries that wanted to sign on to help Gaza saw the board turning into a Trump fan club. That was not appealing.”

    “If Trump had kept the focus of the board solely on Gaza, more states, including some more Europeans, would have signed up,” he said.

    Key Security Council members haven’t signed on

    The four other veto-wielding members of the Security Council — China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom — have refused or have not indicated whether they would join Trump’s board, as have economic powers such as Japan and Germany.

    Letters sent this month inviting various world leaders to be “founding members” of the Board of Peace coincided with Trump’s vow to take over Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and punish some European countries that resisted. That was met with stark rebuttal from Canada, Denmark and others, who said Trump’s demand threatened to upend an alliance that has been among the West’s most unshakeable.

    Shortly after, Trump pulled a dramatic reversal on Greenland, saying he had agreed with the NATO secretary-general on a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security.

    Amid the diplomatic chaos, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who at the time had not responded to Trump’s Board of Peace invitation, met with Guterres in London and reiterated “the UK’s enduring support for the UN and the international rules-based system,” according to a statement.

    Starmer emphasized the U.N.’s “pivotal role in tackling global problems which shape lives in the UK and all over the world.” The United Kingdom later declined to join the board.

    France, Spain, and Slovenia declined Trump’s offer by mentioning its overlapping and potentially conflicting agenda with the U.N.

    French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that the board goes beyond “the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question.”

    Spain would not join because the board excluded the Palestinian Authority and because the body was “outside the framework of the United Nations,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.

    Some countries are urging a stronger U.N.

    America’s adversaries also have shunned the board.

    “No single country should dictate terms based on its power, and a winner-takes-all approach is unacceptable,” China’s U.N. ambassador, Fu Cong, said at a Security Council meeting Monday.

    He called for the United Nations to be strengthened, not weakened, and said the Security Council’s status and role “are irreplaceable.”

    In a clear reference to the Board of Peace, Fu said, “We shall not cherry-pick our commitments to the organization, nor shall we bypass the U.N. and create alternative mechanisms.”

    So far, about 26 of some 60 invited countries have joined the board, and about nine European countries have declined. India did not attend Trump’s signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week but is reportedly still deciding what to do. Trump revoked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation.

    “It’s hardly surprising that very few governments want to join Trump’s wannabe-U.N., which so far looks more like a pay-to-play club of human rights abusers and war crimes suspects than a serious international organization,” said Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director for Human Rights Watch. “Instead of handing Trump $1 billion checks to join his Board of Peace, governments should work on strengthening the U.N.”

    Eight Muslim nations that agreed to join the board issued a joint statement that supported its mission in Gaza and advancement of Palestinian statehood. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates made no mention of Trump’s global peacemaking plan.

    The Crisis Group’s Gowan said their focus could be a way to “get a foothold in discussions of Gaza” at the start, as Trump’s ceasefire plan has already faced several setbacks.

    “I remain unconvinced that this is a real long-term threat to the U.N.,” Gowan said.

  • Will there be a government shutdown this weekend? Here’s what we know.

    Will there be a government shutdown this weekend? Here’s what we know.

    New year, same you googling repeatedly, “Is a government shutdown happening?” We see you. We get it. And the answer is: “Maybe.”

    The likelihood of a partial government shutdown this weekend has ramped up following a surge in immigration enforcement and related backlash in Minnesota.

    The highly publicized presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security in Minneapolis, alongside the death of Alex Pretti, the second person federal agents have fatally shot in the state, has reinvigorated efforts among Democrats to reject a bill to fund DHS.

    “The appalling murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis must lead Republicans to join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] to protect the public,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Sunday. “People should be safe from abuse by their own government.”

    Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Democrats would not support keeping the government fully open if it means funding the Department of Homeland Security. Other Democratic senators have joined in calling for Senate Republicans to collaborate on advancing five other pending bills, aside from the DHS bill, and separately retooling the DHS measure.

    In case you need a refresher, here is what you need to know about deadlines, what a partial government shutdown looks like, and more.

    What’s a government shutdown vs. a partial government shutdown?

    A full government shutdown happens when all (or most) federal agencies have not secured funding. It usually means widespread furloughs, sometimes layoffs, and any nonessential government services are put on pause.

    Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown happens when Congress has funded only certain federal agencies, leaving others in limbo. In turn, some parts of the government would close while others keep operating.

    When a partial shutdown happens, some federal agencies and operations, like Social Security and air traffic control, keep running as usual. But other federal employees are furloughed.

    In this instance, agencies at risk of expiring funding include the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, and State; the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the federal court system, according to Reuters.

    Democrats are pushing Republicans to decouple the spending bill so disagreements over DHS don’t fuel disruptions to the other agencies. But Republicans so far say they will not break up the spending bill.

    When does government funding expire?

    Federal funding is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. A partial shutdown would occur if Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration do not reach an agreement by then.

    Where does the DHS funding bill stand?

    The House has done its part and is in recess until February. But Senate Democrats are pushing back on approvals, citing the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants. That leaves the Senate with only a few options to avoid a shutdown if it cannot pass the current measures.

    Most legislation in the Senate needs 60 votes to move forward. Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning they need bipartisan support to pass the existing measure, which covers about $1.3 trillion in annual government spending, including military and social service funding.

    But Democrats want new guardrails on immigration enforcement and added oversight on DHS. Some demands include requiring judicial warrants for immigration arrests, and agents to wear visible identification, Time reported.

    Several Democratic senators who broke with their party last year to keep the government open say the killings of Pretti and Good at separate protests have changed their stance.

    Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), who has historically broken with the Democratic Party to avoid government shutdowns, released a lengthy statement Monday saying that he wanted to see the DHS operation in Minneapolis end but would not support a government shutdown. But on Thursday, in a surprising break, Fetterman voted against advancing the six-bill package.

    His vote, along with 54 other senators who voted “no,” meant the financial package could not move forward.

    It is also worth noting that DHS would continue to operate and receive funding under a government shutdown. That is because DHS agencies received major funding through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. In turn, ICE and other parts of the agency would continue operating under a shutdown.

    Who is affected by a government shutdown?

    Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are affected, since many would be expected to work but would not receive pay until after the shutdown is lifted. Employees are typically guaranteed back pay.

    Many employees are also at risk of being furloughed and would not be allowed to work (but would also receive back pay thanks to legislation passed in 2019).

    Some of the main groups of employees that a shutdown could affect include (but are not limited to) active members of the military, federal law enforcement, federal transportation workers (like air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, but not SEPTA workers), scientific researchers, and the IRS.

    The federal court system said it would not be able to continue full operations past Feb. 4, which could disrupt hearings and other activities, Reuters reported. Data and research activity from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Institutes of Health could also go dark.

    What about tax season?

    This potential partial shutdown comes during tax season.

    If a shutdown happens, funding for the IRS could lapse, which would in turn mean tax processing — and refunds — could be disrupted.

    During last year’s shutdown in October, the IRS approved a contingency plan that let the agency continue some activities under a shutdown. But, the agency said, refunds would be delayed aside from some direct electronic returns that could be automatically processed and direct-deposited. Taxpayers were still expected to file and pay their taxes on time.

    The IRS has not yet commented on a potential shutdown. Trump previously touted larger refunds this year because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Some experts say that emphasis could play a role in the agency remaining partially open.

    When would the government shut down?

    Congress and the Trump administration need to reach an agreement by midnight Friday. If they don’t, a shutdown would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

    What was the longest government shutdown?

    The longest government shutdown was the most recent one, which began on Oct. 1, 2025, and lasted 43 days. It broke the record for the longest shutdown on the 36th day.

    What could a government shutdown mean for Philly?

    In Philadelphia, the October shutdown led to the closing of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center, to the chagrin of tourists. But that would not happen this time, because the national parks are funded by the Department of the Interior, which secured its funding through an already passed appropriations bill for the year.

    SNAP benefits would also not be affected this time.

    The Department of Transportation would close during this shutdown, but air traffic controllers would be required to work without pay. Similar to the last shutdown, this could lead to flight delays and cancellations.

    Other impacts could be in store as the shutdown’s implications become more clear.

  • Trump’s border czar suggests a possible drawdown in Minnesota but only after ‘cooperation’

    Trump’s border czar suggests a possible drawdown in Minnesota but only after ‘cooperation’

    MINNEAPOLIS — The number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota could be reduced, but only if state and local officials cooperate, President Donald Trump’s border czar said Thursday, noting he has “zero tolerance” for protesters who assault federal officers or impede the ongoing operation in the Twin Cities.

    Tom Homan addressed reporters for the first time since the president sent him to Minneapolis following last weekend’s fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti.

    The news conference comes after President Donald Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area after Saturday’s deadly shooting, the second this month. But Homan also emphasized that the administration isn’t backing away from its crackdown on illegal immigration.

    Philly City Council members will soon consider seven ‘ICE Out’ bills. Here’s what the proposals would do.

    Vowing to stay until the “problem’s gone,” he seemed to acknowledge missteps while warning protesters they could face consequences if they interfere with federal officers.

    “I do not want to hear that everything that’s been done here has been perfect. Nothing’s ever perfect,” Homan said.

    He added later: “But threatening law enforcement officers, engaging and impeding, and obstruction, and assault is never OK, and there will be zero tolerance.”

    Homan also hinted at the prospect of drawing down many of the roughly 3,000 federal officers taking part in the operation, but he seemed to tie that to cooperation from state and local leaders and a reduction in what he cast as interference from protesters.

    “When the violence decreases, we can draw down the resources,” he said. “The drawdown is going to happen based on these agreements. But the drawdown can happen even more if the hateful rhetoric and the impediment and interference will stop.”

    Gov. Mikie Sherrill says N.J. will create a database for uploading videos of ICE: ‘Get your phone out’

    He also said he would oversee internal changes in federal immigration law enforcement, but he gave few specifics.

    “The mission is going to improve because of the changes we’re making internally,” he said. “No agency organization is perfect. And President Trump and I, along with others in the administration, have recognized that certain improvements could and should be made.”

    Despite Trump softening his harsh rhetoric about Minnesota officials — he said this week they were on a “similar wavelength” — there was little sign on the ground Wednesday of any big changes in the crackdown.

    Pretti, 37, was fatally shot Saturday in a scuffle with the Border Patrol. Earlier this month, 37-year-old Renee Good was shot in her vehicle by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

    On Thursday, Homan doubled down on the need for jails to alert ICE to inmates who can be deported, and that transferring such inmates to the agency while they’re still in jail is safer because it would mean fewer officers having to be out on the streets looking for immigrants in the country illegally. ICE has historically relied on cooperation from local and state jails to notify the agency about such inmates.

    “Give us access to illegal aliens, public safety threats in the safety and security of a jail,” he said.

    Mikie Sherrill supports enshrining NJ’s existing sanctuary policy into law as immigrant rights groups push for an expanded version

    Homan acknowledged that immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota haven’t been perfect, but he was also adamant that the administration isn’t surrendering its mission.

    He also seemed to suggest a renewed focus on what ICE calls “targeted operations” designed to focus its efforts on apprehending immigrants who have committed crimes. He said the agency would conduct “targeted strategic enforcement operations” prioritizing “public safety threats.”

    Homan’s arrival in Minnesota followed the departure of the Trump administration’s on-the-ground leader of the operation, Greg Bovino. Homan didn’t give a specific timeline for how long he would stay in Minnesota.

    “I’m staying until the problem’s gone,” he said, adding that he has met elected officials and law enforcement leaders across the city and state, seeking to find common ground and suggested that he’s made some progress.

    Operation Metro Surge began in December with scattered arrests, as Trump repeatedly disparaged the state’s large Somali community. But the operation ramped up dramatically after a right-wing influencer’s January report on Minnesota’s sprawling human services fraud scandal, which centers around the Somali community.

    Federal officials announced thousands of immigration agents were being deployed, with FBI Director Kash Patel saying they would “dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.”

    But talk of the scandals was almost immediately forgotten, with federal authorities instead focusing on immigrants in the country illegally and so-called sanctuary agreements that limit cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and jails with immigration authorities.

  • Amazon to lay off nearly 1,000 Philly-area workers at shuttering Amazon Fresh stores 

    Amazon to lay off nearly 1,000 Philly-area workers at shuttering Amazon Fresh stores 

    Amazon plans to lay off nearly 1,000 Amazon Fresh employees in the Philadelphia region as it closes all of the grocery stores.

    The layoffs are planned for the end of April, according to a Thursday WARN Act filing with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. They include the employees of all six Philly-area Amazon Fresh locations — 205 at the Northern Liberties store, 189 in Broomall, 161 in Bensalem, 157 in Langhorne, 144 in Warrington, and 127 in Willow Grove, according to the filing.

    The e-commerce giant announced on Tuesday that it would be closing all of its physical Amazon Fresh stores. Some will be converted to Whole Foods Markets, according to Amazon, but the company has yet to say which.

    By the end of April, Amazon also plans to lay off nearly 900 New Jersey employees, the vast majority of whom work in northern counties where there are Amazon Fresh stores, according to a WARN Act filing with New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

    All Amazon Fresh stores, including six in the Philly area, are closing

    The day after announcing the Amazon Fresh closures, Amazon said 16,000 employees companywide would be losing their jobs as part of a broader reorganization.

    “We’ve been working to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy,” Amazon said in a statement announcing the layoffs.

    The company said most U.S. employees will have 90 days to look for a new role internally. After that, those leaving the company will receive severance pay, “outplacement services,” and health insurance benefits, as applicable, according to Amazon.

    With its move to shutter the Fresh stores, Amazon has said it will “double down” on online grocery delivery and expand its Whole Foods footprint. Whole Foods, which Amazon bought in 2017, has more than a dozen locations in the Philadelphia area.

    The announcement of Amazon Fresh closures came a year after Philadelphia Whole Foods workers voted to form a union. The workers have since struggled to get the company to negotiate a contract.

    “Amazon Whole Foods, a trillion dollar entity, treats us like robots to be exploited and squeezed for maximum profits,” Jasmine Jones, a Philadelphia Whole Foods worker and member of Whole Foods Workers United, said Tuesday in a statement that noted the company’s Whole Foods expansion plans. “They are making billions of dollars off of our labor and we deserve better pay and benefits.”

  • Philly, here are 15 great places to get party trays for Super Bowl LX

    Philly, here are 15 great places to get party trays for Super Bowl LX

    If you’re hosting or attending a Super Bowl party, food is a must — lots of it.

    The Philly area offers an abundance of options for trays, platters, and à la carte items. From traditional Italian fare and charcuterie boards to savory Indian, Middle Eastern, and Argentinian party foods, the variety is impressive.

    Here are some excellent spots around Philly for picking up a spread for your Super Bowl party. And since the Eagles aren’t playing, the hardest part of your day will be deciding what to eat.

    Philly Pretzel Factory

    You can’t go wrong with a pretzel tray, especially when it’s from a Philly favorite. Get the large size rivets party tray for 20 to 25 people with three dips or the classic Philly Pretzel-style beef pretzel dogs and dips for 20 to 25 guests. The pepperoni melts — basically a pretzel pizza — are another good option for large parties. Order at any of the various locations.

    📍1532 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 (and other locations from Woodbury to Springfield), 📞 215-569-3988, 📷 @phillypretzelfactory, 🌐 phillypretzelfactory.com

    Veda

    From quarter trays for 10 people to full ones serving 50 people, this Center City restaurant has all the veggie samosas, tandoori chicken, and pork ribs for you and your crew. Choose from lamb, chicken, vegetarian, and seafood entrees, rice and biryani items, soups and salads, and desserts, including gulab jamun and kheer. Mango lassi is also offered.

    📍1920 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 📞 267-519-2001, 📷 @vedaphilly, 🌐 vedaphilly.com

    Di Bruno Bros.

    If you’re looking for a cheese tray or charcuterie board, it’s tough to beat this Philly institution. The shop has a catering arm for premade cheese boards, charcuterie trays, sandwich trays, crudités platters, colossal shrimp cocktail, desserts, and just about anything else you can think of — all available for pickup or delivery. You can also build your perfect board from a substantial selection of cheeses, cured meats, and other specialty items with the help of Di Bruno Bros.’ expert cheesemongers.

    📍930 S. Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147 (locations throughout Philadelphia), 📞 215-922-2876 (or 215-665-1659 for catering), 📷 @DiBrunoBros, 🌐 dibruno.com

    Termini Brothers Bakery

    This Philly classic, established in 1923, offers an array of sweets including cannoli, cakes, sfogliatelle, and almond horns, along with roughly a dozen types of cookies. Termini’s cookie trays showcase eight varieties, such as pignoli, coconut macaroons, imbutitti, and scumetti, and can serve up to 35 people depending on the tray size. Biscotti boxes and cannoli trays are also available for those looking for more variety, or you can opt for a prepackaged cookie tin, which is available for shipping.

    📍 1523 S. Eighth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147 (locations also in Packer Park Shopping Center, Reading Terminal Market, Comcast Center, and Live! Casino & Hotel), 📞 215-334-1816, 📷 @Termini_Bros, 🌐 termini.com

    Campo’s Deli

    Yes, Campo’s has been slinging good steaks since 1947, but the deli also has other extremely Philly party trays. The pretzel tray, for example, includes enough pretzels, Peanut Chews, whiz, and mustard to serve up to 30 people, or you can go full dessert mode with a variety platter of Tastykakes that will feed up to 25.

    📍 214 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106 📞 215-923-1000, 📷 @CamposPhillyCheesesteaks, 🌐 camposdeli.com

    Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop

    If you’re going the sandwich route to feed a crowd, this South Street spot has a ton of options ranging from a cheesesteak made with shaved rib-eye and truffle whiz to a vegan-friendly falafel sandwich with roasted beets. Woodrow’s signature sandwich tray comes ready to serve 10 people and includes three sandwiches of your choice. Or, if you want it a little more DIY, grab a hot tray of meatballs, coffee barbecue brisket, or hot pork that can feed up to 25 people and have folks serve themselves.

    📍630 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, 📞 215-470-3559, 📷 @WoodrowSandwich, 🌐 woodrowsandwich.com

    Isgro Pastries

    This South Philly institution, a 2024 James Beard semifinalist, has been delighting customers with specialties like cannoli, rum cake, and ricotta cookies since 1904. Among its standout party offerings is the Chip and Dip tray — but forget about tortillas. This innovative take on the traditional cannoli platter comes in two sizes, serving either 12-15 (small) or 20-25 people (large), and features crispy cannoli chips paired with chocolate cream, vanilla cream, and ricotta with dark chocolate chip dips, ensuring that soggy party cannoli are a thing of the past.

    📍 1009 Christian St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147 📞 215-923-3092, 📷 @IsgroPastries, 🌐 isgropastries.com

    Indeblue

    This Cherry Hill restaurant offers an array of party tray and catering options perfect for any gathering. Choices include tandoori lollipop lamb chops, veggie or paneer shashlik, veggie samosas, fresh naan, and more. For dessert, indulge in kheer and chai or chocolate pot de crème — most options are designed to serve up to 20 people, depending on the size selected. If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst, consider grabbing a bottle of mango lassi, house-made chai, or mint lemonade, each bottle serving 15.

    📍65 Barclay Farms Shopping Center, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, 📞 856-230-4633, 📷 @Indeblue, 🌐 indebluerestaurant.com

    Manakeesh Cafe, Bakery & Grill

    This University City spot gets its name from a traditional Lebanese flatbread made with crispy dough and vegetarian or halal meats. And, of course, you can order them for a crowd topped with beef, lamb, labneh, cheese, and more. Or you can go with other savory options like beef or chicken shawarma, platters of dips like hummus and baba ghannouj, falafel, grape leaves, and more — and finish with trays of the cafe’s famous baklava; creamy, cheesy kanafe; or basboosa (a semolina cake soaked in syrup).

    📍 4420 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 📞 215-921-2135, 📷 @ManakeeshCafe, 🌐 manakeeshcafe.com

    Jezabel’s Argentine Café & Catering

    Grab a savory platter from chef Jezabel Careaga, like empanadas that run the gamut from spicy beef or chicken to ham and mozzarella or vegan-friendly lentils (they come in packs of 12 or in an assorted box of eight). Or, keep it sweet and check out Jezabel’s alfajores (a kind of Argentinian cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche), egg custard tarts or torta de ricotta.

    📍 206-208 S. 45th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 📞 215-554-7380, 📷 @Jezabels.PHL, 🌐 jezabelsphl.com

    Corropolese Italian Bakery & Deli

    If the occasion calls for tomato pie, Corropolese is the place to go. You can grab quarter (eight slices) or full sheets (30 slices) of its famous tomato pie from any of four Pennsylvania locations, either plain or topped with add-ons like sweet peppers, fried eggplant, or pepperoni. If you want something a little more refined, the Norristown and Limerick locations offer catering options that can serve up to 24 people, with offerings like antipasto, bruschetta, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and a variety of hot hors d’oeuvres (72 hours’ notice required, pickup only).

    📍 2014 Old Arch Rd., Norristown, Pa. 19401 (locations also in Limerick and Audubon, Pa.), 📞 610-275-6664, 📷 @CorropoleseBakery, 🌐 corropolesebakery.com

    Johnny Paisano’s

    Located in Springfield, Delaware County, this beloved local establishment offers an extensive selection of “red gravy” Italian dishes, hoagies, wraps, and finger foods. À la carte platter options feature full sheets of pizza (24 slices) in more than a dozen varieties, massive strombolis (a large serves 70 slices), hoagie trays (up to 32 pieces), and appetizers like bruschetta and fried ravioli. For events feeding 50 or more people, consider the catering packages, which can simplify menu planning for you.

    📍 143 S. State Road, Springfield, Pa. 19064, 📞 610-690-0150, 📷 @JohnnyPaisanos, 🌐 johnnypaisanos.com

    Streetside BBQ

    To keep your parties a little smoky, head to Willow Grove for a bevy of BBQ platters, desserts, classic sides, and, of course, meat by the pound. Streetside has everything from baby back ribs, brisket, smoked wings, and pulled pork to prime rib, beef tenderloin, and smoked Italian sausage and leg of lamb — plus sides like half pans (serves 20 to 24 people) of baked beans, collard greens, smoked veggies, and more.

    📍 801 W. Moreland Rd., Willow Grove, Pa. 19090, 📞 215-821-7665, 📷 @Streetside_BBQ, 🌐 streetsidebarbecue.com

    Carlino’s Market

    Folks out in the western ‘burbs probably know this longtime favorite, seeing as it’s been a destination for gourmet Italian fare and ingredients for roughly 40 years now. Like its urban counterpart Di Bruno Bros., Carlino’s list of offerings is almost endless. If you’re after game-day eats, you’ll want to get quarter tomato pie with football stencil, and six-inch stadium cannoli cake, miniature football eclairs, and chocolate dipped football strawberries.

    📍 2616 E. County Line Rd., Ardmore, Pa. 19003 (and in West Chester), 📞 610-649-4046, 📷 @CarlinosMarket, 🌐 carlinosmarket.com

    Grazing Affair

    It’s all about grazing at this Medford shop, which focuses on “grazing boards” and boxes. Choose from a ton of custom-made boards and takeaway boxes with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, bread, dried fruits, veggies, nuts, olives, and dips (boards, meanwhile, come with flowers and herbs for style points, and you can even keep the pine board they come on). Or, for something unique, check out the charcuterie cones. Note: Grazing platters start at $180 and require a week’s notice.

    📍5 S. Main St., Medford, N.J., 08055, 📞 609-975-8069, 📷 @GrazingAffair, 🌐 grazingaffair.com

    Beatrice Forman contributed to this article.

  • John Fetterman joins other Democrats in voting against advancing DHS funding as potential shutdown looms

    John Fetterman joins other Democrats in voting against advancing DHS funding as potential shutdown looms

    U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) on Thursday voted against advancing a highly contested government funding package that includes allocations for the Department of Homeland Security, despite noting his objections to shutting down the government.

    The Senate voted 45-55 on the key procedural vote, failing to advance a budget package as the country moves closer to a partial government shutdown this weekend.

    With Fetterman aboard, every Democrat voted against the appropriations package because of the inclusion of funding for DHS. The party previously vowed to block DHS funding in the aftermath of federal immigration agents’ fatal shooting of two Americans in Minneapolis this month.

    Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) voted to advance the bill.

    Fetterman’s vote came as a surprise given the senator’s comments earlier in the week, when he said he would “never vote to shut our government down, especially our Defense Department,” one of the agencies that would have received funding from the appropriations package.

    It was unclear Thursday why Fetterman voted against the package, but it is unlikely to be the final version considered by the Senate, as eight Republicans also voted no. A shutdown is slated to begin Saturday if Congress does not pass a package this week.

    A spokesperson for Fetterman did not immediately return a request for comment on the senator’s vote.

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) was among the Republicans who voted no so that he could make a motion to reconsider the legislation.

    DHS oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, the agencies involved in the fatal Minnesota shootings. Democrats have been calling for a halt to additional funding in the wake of the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

    But Fetterman noted Monday that the department received $178 billion from last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he opposed, and that ICE would continue to operate during a shutdown.

    “A vote to shut our government down will not defund ICE,” Fetterman said.

    Fetterman has previously suggested removing DHS funding from the package under consideration as a compromise. He has also urged President Donald Trump to fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

    A reporter from the Hill posted on X minutes after the vote that Fetterman saw his no vote as setting the stage to decouple DHS funding from the other five bills under consideration, rather than triggering a shutdown.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has pushed Republicans and the White House to strip the Department of Homeland Security funding from the rest of the bill. In a deal reached with the White House, DHS would still be funded, but for a short time to allow for negotiations on the Democrats’ demands. Other agencies included in the bill would be funded through the end of September.

    Negotiations remained ongoing Thursday.

    Within the last week, Fetterman faced mounting pressure from fellow Pennsylvania Democrats and constituents to vote against the package as tensions in Minneapolis continued to escalate.

    On Tuesday, every Democratic member of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation cosigned a letter urging Fetterman and McCormick to vote against the funding. Constituents also gathered outside Fetterman’s office in Philadelphia on Tuesday to protest his stance.

    “We can no longer continue to give Homeland Security a blank check,” U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa.) said Thursday morning in a virtual news conference with U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Pa.).

    Boyle was an outspoken critic of Fetterman’s votes against the previous government shutdown last year during a fight over healthcare subsidies.

    McCormick voted as expected to advance the GOP-led legislation.

    “I’m just not in favor of shutting down the government or stopping funding the government, and that’s the position that I’ve had through the last shutdown,” McCormick said about his support for the funding on a tele-town hall Tuesday night. “I’m not in favor of ever shutting down the government. It doesn’t matter what party is in power, but some people see that differently.”

    If lawmakers fail to pass a package by Friday, the federal government will undergo its second shutdown in four months, starting Saturday, potentially demoralizing federal workers and inconveniencing members of the public who rely on affected services.

    The previous shutdown started on Oct. 1, 2025, and lasted 43 days — the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

    This shutdown would be a partial one, affecting the Departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Education, Labor, Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development in addition to DHS.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provides nutrition assistance to needy families, would not be affected.

    The other four Democratic senators from the Philadelphia region — Sens. Andy Kim and Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware — all joined Fetterman in voting no Thursday.

    Kim argued the vote was a bipartisan rebuke of the Trump administration’s immigration strategy and said he would be working with colleagues to deliver “real security” to the American public.

    “Their lawlessness has taken lives on the streets of our neighborhoods, and I’ve heard from so many about an overwhelming fear that they can be targeted next,” Kim said in a statement. “We need real changes to fix a broken and lawless system that has led to so many Americans losing trust in their government to keep them safe.”

    This story is developing and will be updated.

    Staff writer Aliya Schneider contributed to this article, which contains information from the Associated Press.

  • Here’s who Stacy Garrity has picked for a running mate in the Pa. governor’s race against Josh Shapiro

    Here’s who Stacy Garrity has picked for a running mate in the Pa. governor’s race against Josh Shapiro

    Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Thursday announced her pick for a running mate in the governor’s race, as state Republicans mount their campaign to more seriously challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in November’s election.

    Jason Richey, a longtime Pittsburgh attorney and chair of the Allegheny County GOP, announced his campaign for lieutenant governor on Thursday morning. Garrity, the state party-endorsed candidate for governor, quickly endorsed him afterward.

    The race between Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity for Pa. governor has officially begun. Here’s what you need to know.
    Jason Richey, Aliquippa, Pa., Republican Candidate for Governor speaks with Inquirer Reporters at the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association held at The Metropolitan Club in New York, N.Y., on Saturday, Dec., 4 2021.

    Garrity said Richey “rose to the top” as the best candidate to be her running mate to challenge Shapiro.

    “Jason understands the potential Pennsylvania has, but only if our Commonwealth has the right leadership,” she said in a news release, noting that he shares her concerns with Shapiro’s tenure as governor. “Jason Richey will not just be an incredible running mate on the campaign trail, but a terrific partner in governing for all the people of Pennsylvania.”

    An ‘America First Patriot’: President Donald Trump endorses Stacy Garrity for Pennsylvania governor

    Until Richey’s announcement, few moderate candidates had emerged to run alongside Garrity. Meanwhile, other potential candidates declined to run with her in the uphill battle election against Shapiro, a popular incumbent with a $30 million war chest and a growing national profile. Garrity announced earlier this month she had raised nearly $1.5 million in the first few months of her campaign, from August to December.

    Richey is running to be Garrity’s No. 2 among a field of several other potential lieutenant governor candidates, including State Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson) and Bucks County businessman and political newcomer Brian Thomas. Other candidates who have considered a run for lieutenant governor but have yet to announce include former gubernatorial nominee State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) and former State Rep. Rick Saccone (R., Allegheny).

    Facing an uphill battle against Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $30 million war chest, Stacy Garrity still has to convince top Republicans she’s worth investing in

    In Pennsylvania, candidates for lieutenant governor and governor run in the primary election separately. Whoever wins the primary nomination joins on one ticket for the general election. For example, Mastriano won the primary nomination but his endorsed lieutenant governor candidate did not, leading him to run with another running mate in November. At least one of the lieutenant governor candidates — Dush — said he would run for the office in the primary election even without the party’s support.

    Shapiro is expected to again run unopposed in the Democratic primary, alongside Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, the first Black person elected to Pennsylvania’s executive branch.

    “We must turn Pennsylvania around now and I believe that Stacy Garrity is the person who can fix Pennsylvania,” Richey said in a release Thursday. “I’m excited to join Stacy on the ticket that’s going to save Pennsylvania. Stacy has demonstrated leadership, fiscal discipline, a deep commitment to serving Pennsylvanians and the ability to win statewide.”

    In an interview weeks before he decided to enter the race, Richey said he believed Garrity should pick a lieutenant governor candidate who is politically moderate and comes from Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, the state’s population centers.

    Earlier this month, Richey said a running mate who has “a little more urban understanding,” since Garrity hails from a rural part of the state, “would make a lot of sense” on the Republican ticket.

    Garrity secured the state party endorsement for governor last fall, as Republicans sought to coalesce around a gubernatorial candidate after their failures to do so in 2022 led to Mastriano’s nomination to oppose Shapiro. Mastriano went on to lose to Shapiro by nearly 15 percentage points, or 800,000 votes.

    Richey ran in 2022 for governor as part of the crowded GOP primary, but withdrew and did not appear on the ballot with the other nine candidates in the running.

    Garrity, of rural Bradford County, captured President Donald Trump’s endorsement earlier this week, in which Trump called her a “true America First Patriot, who has been with me from the beginning.” Garrity will appear in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center on Thursday for a live taping of the political podcast RUTHLESS, alongside Fox News analyst Guy Benson.

    In addition to his duties as chair of the Allegheny County GOP, Richey is a partner at K&L Gates law firm in Pittsburgh with a focus on energy law.

    Richey, 54, lives in a suburb of Pittsburgh with his wife and has three sons.

    Staff writer Katie Bernard contributed to this article.

  • She planned to sell her old pot for $20. It just fetched $32K at auction.

    She planned to sell her old pot for $20. It just fetched $32K at auction.

    A 30-gallon stoneware crock sat in the corner of Lois Jurgens’ back porch for nearly three decades, collecting dust through Nebraska summers and snow through the winters. Her late husband used it as a makeshift table to rest grilling tongs and platters. They almost never thought of it.

    On Jan. 10, that same crock sold at auction for $32,000.

    “I just couldn’t believe it,” said Jurgens, who turned 91 on the day the crock was sold. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever gotten on my birthday.”

    The crock was manufactured by Red Wing Stoneware, probably between 1877 and 1900. The nearly knee-high crock features molded side handles and a cobalt blue butterfly, along with the company name stamped twice. Unlike later models finished with a smoother zinc glaze, the crock is salt glazed, giving it a coarser texture. Despite its many years outdoors, it is still in good condition.

    “It’s very unusual,” said Ken Bramer, the owner of Bramer Auction & Realty in Amherst, Nebraska, which sold the piece. “That’s the first one of those I’ve seen in 40 years of auctioneering.”

    Jurgens, who lives in Holdrege, Neb., said she can’t recall how or when she and her husband acquired the crock.

    “I really don’t know how it came into the family,” said Jurgens, whose husband died in 2022. She has three children and four grandchildren.

    Whatever its origins, Jurgens said, she never imagined it might be valuable. Stoneware crocks were common household items, historically used for food preservation before modern refrigeration. Today, some are still used for fermenting or as decorative objects, and pieces like Jurgens’s are seen as rare collectors’ items. In 2019, a salt-glazed stoneware cooler sold for $177,000.

    “Some people collect strange things,” Bramer said.

    Jurgens had spent the past several months clearing out items from her home that she no longer needed. Last summer, she had a garage sale and considered putting the crock out with the rest, but it never made it to the driveway.

    “It was too heavy for us to handle,” Jurgens said, adding that her daughter helped her with the garage sale. “We just decided we weren’t going to bother with it.”

    Then, earlier this month, she saw a notice in the local Holdrege Daily Citizen newspaper about an upcoming auction for antiques and collectibles, including many Redwing crocks. She called Bramer Auction & Realty, and Bramer offered to stop by Jurgens’s house and take some photos of the crock.

    “I said, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s a good one,’” Bramer said, telling her: “I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what it brings.”

    Jurgens’s son let Bramer know they were prepared to sell it for $20 at the garage sale, and they’d be glad if it fetched more than that.

    “She was hoping for $100,” Bramer said.

    Bramer posted pictures of the crock on his website and Facebook, and offers started pouring in.

    “I was getting calls from collectors all over the United States,” Bramer said. “I knew it was a good piece, but I really didn’t know how good.”

    Since so many calls came in from bidders outside Nebraska, Bramer said he allowed people to call in with offers during the auction on Jan. 10. Jurgens did not attend the auction, as she was at church for a funeral.

    He started bids at $1,000 for the crock, and things escalated quickly.

    “People just started bidding like crazy,” Bramer said, noting that the most he had sold a crock for was about $5,800 last year. “People were standing up in the crowd, and they all had their cameras out, taking pictures and videos of it … it’s something that doesn’t happen every day.”

    The bidding war ended when a crock collector in Kansas offered a whopping $32,000 for the crock. About an hour later, while the auction was still happening, Jurgens walked in with her daughter.

    “I stopped the auction and asked Lois if she’d come up to the front,” Bramer said. “I introduced her to the crowd and said, ‘This is the young lady who had the crock on the back porch.’”

    He asked her how much she thought it sold for.

    “I hope you got $100,” Jurgens said.

    “I think we did just a little bit better,” Bramer replied.

    When he revealed the final number, “she kind of went weak in the knees,” Bramer said.

    Jurgens said she was — and still is — in disbelief.

    “The whole situation kind of left me in shock. Thankful, but in shock,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”

    Bramer said he, too, was stunned by the outcome.

    “It was really fun for both of us to be surprised,” Jurgens said. “I feel guilty that I didn’t even pretend to take care of it.”

    Jurgens said that since the auction, people stop her when they see her out and about and ask her to tell the story. It was first reported by local news personality Colleen Williams.

    “I can’t go anywhere or they recognize me,” Jurgens said.

    She said she plans to give part of her windfall to her church, and she’s still thinking about what to do with the rest.

    “It would have been fun to share with him if he was still alive,” she said of her husband.

    He would have gotten a kick out of his trusty makeshift table being an actual treasure.

    “It was a special day,” she said.

  • ‘Philadelphia’ among newest selections to added to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress

    ‘Philadelphia’ among newest selections to added to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress

    It’s hard to go wrong with Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, and the City of Philadelphia — and the Library of Congress apparently agrees.

    Philadelphia, the Oscar-winning 1993 legal drama that helped bring America’s AIDS crisis into mainstream media, was among 25 films selected Thursday for inclusion in the Library’s National Film Registry for Preservation, based on “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance.”

    “When we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come,” said acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen, in a statement announcing the selections. “These selections for the National Film Registry show us that films are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation’s story.”

    Philadelphia — which The Inquirer named the fourth on its list of best Philly movie of all-time — features Hanks as a law partner fired after it becomes known he has AIDS, with Washington as the attorney hired to fight the termination.

    In addition to Philadelphia, Ten Nights in a Barroom — a 1926 film produced by the Colored Players Film Corporation of Philadelphia — was also among the selections.

    A silent film adapted from an 1854 Timothy Shay Arthur novel and subsequent play, the film featured an all-Black cast and represents one of only two surviving films produced by the company.

    Philadelphia and Ten Nights in a Barroom are among several Philly-tied films to be honored by the Library of Congress throughout the years, joining the 1976 Sylvester Stallone film Rocky and 1940’s The Philadelphia Story starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

    Though the 25 films announced on Thursday span more than a century of filmmaking, several contemporary films earned recognition; 11 of the 25 films selected this year were released in the 1990s or later. That includes seven films released after 2000, including Frida, The Hours, The Incredibles, Christopher Nolan’s Inception, and Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

    Here’s a complete list of the 25 films selected for the 2025 National Film Registry:

    • The Tramp and the Dog (1896)
    • The Oath of the Sword (1914)
    • The Maid of McMillan (1916)
    • The Lady (1925)
    • Sparrows (1926)
    • Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
    • White Christmas (1954)
    • High Society (1956)
    • Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
    • Say Amen, Somebody (1982)
    • The Thing (1982)
    • The Big Chill (1983)
    • The Karate Kid (1984)
    • Glory (1989)
    • Philadelphia (1993)
    • Before Sunrise (1995)
    • Clueless (1995)
    • The Truman Show (1998)
    • Frida (2002)
    • The Hours (2002)
    • The Incredibles (2004)
    • The Wrecking Crew (2008)
    • Inception (2010)
    • The Loving Story (2011)
    • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
  • Trump faces fresh MAGA blowback for efforts to ‘de-escalate’ in Minnesota

    Trump faces fresh MAGA blowback for efforts to ‘de-escalate’ in Minnesota

    President Donald Trump’s efforts this week to “de-escalate” controversial deportation tactics in Minnesota in the face of widespread public dismay have caused a new wave of blowback from his base of hard-line anti-immigration advocates.

    The president is caught between competing interests: a loyal base of voters who elected him on a campaign promise of “mass deportations,” and a broader electorate that is increasingly uncomfortable with an aggressive approach that has led to the shooting deaths of two American protesters by federal agents this month.

    The conflicting viewpoints are evident within the administration, too, with advisers divided along similar lines and offering opposing feedback on whether and how drastically to shift Trump’s immigration strategy, according to people aware of the conversations.

    Federal agents deploy tear gas near the intersection of Park Avenue and 34th Street in Minneapolis on Jan. 13.

    Trump is also navigating a collision of his own instincts: his desire for flashy roundups of foreign-born criminals, and his recognition that the broader public, including business leaders he identifies with who rely on immigrant labor, have soured on the expansion of those roundups to noncriminals in workplaces.

    The conflict has put the normally resolute Trump in an unusual spot, needing to tread carefully on an issue that he has previously plowed ahead on with threats and swagger. The result has been mixed signals from the White House — and fresh evidence of the difficult task Trump faces in a midterm election year of appeasing both his MAGA base and a broader swath of voters.

    Earlier this month, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to allow him to send the military to Minneapolis — and suggested that “THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING.” He also sharply criticized two Minnesota Democrats, Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling them “useless” earlier this month.

    This week, however, the president characterized conversations with Walz and Frey as positive and productive. He told Fox News that he wanted to “de-escalate a little bit” and that his talk with Walz “couldn’t have been a nicer conversation.”

    Yet Trump has not articulated a clear shift in immigration strategy, leaving the public unsure of where he actually stands or what comes next.

    He sidelined Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem from the Minnesota operation — a tacit but rare show of disapproval toward a cabinet member. He has not taken parallel action against senior aide Stephen Miller, who is widely viewed as the architect of Trump’s immigration policies — and who advised Noem on how to respond publicly to the shooting death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, according to a person who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal conversations.

    In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, both Miller and Noem labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist.” Miller also called him an “assassin.” Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt have not defended the officials’ rhetoric but also have not publicly criticized their job performance.

    In a statement to the Washington Post, Miller said the initial information he received about the shooting from the Department of Homeland Security was “based on reports from CBP on the ground.” Miller said the White House is now working to determine why Customs and Border Protection at the time of the incident was not using the extra personnel that DHS had sent to Minnesota for “force protection.”

    Stephen Miller, deputy White House chief of staff for policy, on Tuesday at the White House.

    Noem asked for a meeting with Trump on Monday evening — after Trump announced that his border czar, Tom Homan, would be taking over operations in Minnesota. The gathering lasted for hours, according to two people who spoke anonymously to describe a private meeting. Noem and her top aide, Corey Lewandowski, joined the president and other aides to discuss issues including the border wall and Minneapolis, one of the people said. Separately, Lewandowski and Homan, who have previously clashed, have spoken and agreed to work together, the person added.

    The White House’s efforts to make adjustments on tactics have not stanched the bleeding in public opinion.

    The most recent flood of criticism has come from pro-Trump users online and top influential MAGA commentators. Some called Trump’s pivot a “betrayal.” Others warned, as they have about other issues for months, of the risk that the base could sit out November’s elections.

    Fresh public polling showing increased “anti-ICE sentiment” and “increased support of sanctuary cities” makes clear that the administration must change its deportation tactics, said Mark Mitchell, head pollster at the conservative Rasmussen Reports.

    An Economist/YouGov poll released this week — with most respondents answering after the Pretti shooting — found that 55% of Americans have little confidence in ICE, an increase of 10 percent since mid-December. The decline in trust for ICE has been most pronounced among independent voters, the poll found, with 67% now saying they have little confidence in the immigration agency, compared with 49% last month.

    By contrast, 60% of Republicans say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in ICE, highlighting the gap between Trump’s own party and independents and Democrats.

    And the president’s sudden interest in cooperating with Walz and Frey and his suggestions about going easy on longtime immigrant workers have amounted to a “rug pull” for the base in his rhetoric, Mitchell said. While polling hasn’t yet showed Trump’s base punishing him, the midterms already look increasingly problematic for the GOP, Mitchell said, and concern remains about declining enthusiasm among Trump supporters. Mitchell met with Trump in November to warn him of frustration within his populist base.

    “Ten years, this has been the core part of his platform — ‘They all have to go home … Build the wall,’” Mitchell said. Trump talking about only focusing on removing violent criminals sounds like he has “caved on the major campaign promise.”

    Within the MAGA base, the president’s supporters want as aggressive an offense as Trump can conceive.

    “This is an inflection point — you blink now and you’re going to blink forever. You bend the knee now, you’ll bend the knee forever,” Stephen Bannon, a former Trump adviser and influential MAGA commentator, said on his show Wednesday as he continued urging the Trump administration to ramp up deportations and to not “de-escalate” or draw back federal agents from Minnesota. “I don’t care how many people I’ve got to deport. I don’t care.”

    Federal agents threaten to spray a chemical agent as they confront journalists and rapid responders in Minneapolis on Jan. 14.

    Some prominent Trump supporters are also concerned about the actions by some members of Congress, possibly emboldened by Trump’s recent change of tone, to renew efforts to pass immigration reform.

    The White House has pushed back on the notion that Homan’s elevation amounts to a dialing back of deportations. A White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss strategy, said the administration has “not wavered” in its deportation mission, but Trump doesn’t want to see Americans injured because of clashes with immigration officials.

    In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the administration “will never waver in standing up for law and order and protecting the American people.”

    “Any left-wing agitator or criminal illegal alien who thinks Tom’s presence is a victory for their cause is sadly mistaken,” she said.

    This isn’t the first time in Trump’s second term that the MAGA base has erupted over his comments on immigration policy, which have consistently revealed his sensitivity to the concerns of business leaders and average conservatives put off by the deportation of otherwise law-abiding immigrants.

    In late spring, after hearing complaints from friends and donors about deportation roundups at farms, hotels and restaurants hurting operations and scaring off workers, Trump announced that “changes are coming” to spare the agriculture and hospitality fields.

    Trump’s base similarly went off on him. Even some top advisers were blindsided, privately insisting that no such policy changes were in the works and chalking up the suggestion to Trump’s habit of trying to smooth public conflicts with rhetoric.

    Miller at the time raised concerns to the president about his stated plans for “changes” to protect migrant workers, according to a person who spoke anonymously to describe private conversations. Miller had been calling for a drastic increase in deportation numbers to keep up with the administration’s aggressive goals. Homan told the Washington Post soon after Trump’s announcement that he had not discussed any such changes with the president and wasn’t a part of crafting a policy to carve out workers.

    During a speech a few weeks later in Iowa, Trump acknowledged he had gotten “into a little trouble because I said I don’t want to take people away from the farmers,” before describing supporters who were unhappy with his comments as “serious radical-right people.” The comment further inflamed tensions, with influential MAGA commentators including Bannon and Charlie Kirk, the head of Turning Point USA shot dead later last year, accusing the administration of preparing to offer amnesty to some illegal immigrants.

    A number of Republicans in Minnesota said they were glad to see Trump shift course this week. They said they welcomed the arrival of Homan and the apparent truce between Trump and local leaders.

    “I’m just grateful that we’re moving in a direction to get back to being sensible,” said Jim Abeler, a GOP state senator in Minnesota who worried that federal agents were violating people’s rights. “There are people afraid, there are citizens afraid to leave their homes, to go buy groceries because of their skin color or their nationality … It’s past time.”

    Yet on Wednesday, the president also signaled that he was aware of the latest criticism from within his base. A day after speaking favorably of his conversation with the Minneapolis mayor, Trump posted on Truth Social that Frey was “PLAYING WITH FIRE” by saying he would not enforce federal immigration laws.