The litigious hopes of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California came to a humiliating end on Friday when he dropped a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Swalwell, who is also a California gubernatorial candidate, had accused the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency of improperly accessing his private information in order to punish his anti-Trump efforts.

‘There’s a reason the First Amendment — the freedom of speech — comes before all others.’

FHFA Director Bill Pulte accused the 45-year-old of mortgage fraud and cited information gathered from the agency.

When Swalwell announced the lawsuit in Nov. 2025, he cast himself as a defender of free speech and a martyr for the cause of constitutional rights.

Four months later, he abandoned the cause.

The filing Friday said that Swalwell and Pulte had agreed to bear their own fees and costs in order to dismiss the lawsuit.

“Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents. To silence them,” Swalwell said when he filed the lawsuit. “There’s a reason the First Amendment — the freedom of speech — comes before all others.”

The lawsuit was scheduled to be presided over by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg, a well-known critic of President Donald Trump who has been accused of political bias by the administration.

Swalwell filed to request the court to order Pulte to withdraw his criminal referral and demanded damages to be awarded for the alleged violations of the Privacy Act.

He quoted George Orwell, author of “1984” and “Animal Farm,” novels dedicated to warning against totalitarianism.

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear,” Swalwell posted.

RELATED: Trump says he will fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve if she doesn’t resign

Swalwell also cast himself as a stalwart opponent to Trump in hopes of persuading Democratic voters in California to support his campaign for governor.

The latest polling shows Swalwell taking a slight lead against the other field of Democratic candidates, but his Republican competitors are also surprisingly strong. One Democrat is expected to pull ahead as the others drop out, however.

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President Donald Trump said he is considering winding down the military campaign in Iran and added that the Strait of Hormuz must be defended by other nations.

The president posted the update on the war with Iran in a statement on Truth Social on Friday, after 21 days of the military campaign.

‘Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.’

“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” the president wrote.

He went on to say the strikes had completely degraded Iran’s missile capabilities, eliminated its navy and air forces, and destroyed its ability to obtain nuclear weapons. He then addressed the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a contentious issue.

“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” he added. “If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.”

The threat of strikes from Iran has caused oil tankers to stop transporting oil through the strait and sent gas prices skyrocketing across the globe.

He added that the U.S. had accomplished protecting Middle Eastern allies that included Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

The president previously demanded that other countries help defend the strait, but claiming that the U.S. does not use it appears to be an escalation of his claim. About 20% of the global source of oil flows through the strait.

On Thursday, a group of European countries and Japan issued a statement condemning Iran’s actions in the strait and pledging to protect the key trade route.

“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” reads the letter from the nations’ leaders. “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”

RELATED: US allies have change of heart on defending Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks after oil prices continue to surge

Trump reassured those who might defend the Strait of Hormuz that it would be easy.

“Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

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The president of a Latin American country is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for his alleged drug trafficking ties, according to a New York Times report.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called President Donald Trump a “barbarian” for ordering lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean identified by the U.S. as participating in drug trafficking.

He also warned against reviving ‘the age of the Crusades.’

On Friday, the Times cited three people with knowledge of the investigation into Petro by at least two U.S. attorney’s offices.

The investigations focus on whether Petro’s presidential campaign solicited donations from drug traffickers and held meetings with traffickers. The report said the probes are in the early stages, and it’s not clear whether they will result in criminal charges.

The report said the two U.S. attorney’s offices investigating Petro were in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Petro, who is a leftist and former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group, has criticized the Trump administration for promoting a “white, Christian, Western civilization.” He also warned against reviving “the age of the Crusades” and added that such efforts could lead to an “enormous level of violence within each society.”

Trump said back in December, “Colombia is a major manufacturer of drugs, meaning cocaine,” and warned Petro to “wise up.” Petro and Trump then appeared to settle some of their differences after a meeting at the White House in February.

RELATED: Liberals pounce to defend drug cartels after Trump reveals strike on drug-running gang members near Venezuela

Petro has also touted his administration’s efforts at combating and defeating drug traffickers, including the seizure of 3,300 tons of cocaine and the handing over of 800 drug traffickers to the U.S.

Representatives from both prosecutors’ offices declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Petro did not respond to a comment request, according to the Times.

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This morning, news broke that Chuck Norris — the legendary martial artist and action star best known for “Walker, Texas Ranger” — died at age 86.

Glenn Beck was in the middle of recording his morning show when he got the news of Norris’ passing. He stopped everything in that moment to reflect on the life and legacy of his dear friend.

“We have known each other for the longest time. He was one of the most giving men I have ever met,” Glenn says, fighting tears.

“Here’s a guy who is known all over the world, is a mega-star. Everywhere he goes, everyone loves him. And he was Chuck. He was just a normal guy who dedicated himself to making the lives of children better,” he continues.

Glenn highlights Norris’ nonprofit “Kickstart Kids” — a character development program that integrates karate instruction into the school day, teaching core values like discipline, respect, responsibility, and honesty to middle and high school students in dozens of public schools across Texas to help them build strong moral character and avoid negative influences.

“It changed kids,” Glenn says.

He then shares a heartfelt story about his own son’s experience being shepherded under Norris’ wing.

“My son was really struggling when he was younger, and we were over at Chuck and Gena’s house. And we stayed overnight, and the next morning I see him and my son walking outside,” Glenn tearfully reminisces.

“He said, ‘I’m sending somebody to your house because I see greatness in you, and I know you’re struggling. I’m sending somebody to your house to get you started on your black belt because once you learn this discipline, everything will change in your life.”’

This kindness, Glenn says, extended to every child Norris met.

The magic of Chuck Norris, he says, is that he reached the pinnacle of stardom but wasn’t changed as a result of fame and fortune.

“I can’t tell you I have met a bigger star than Chuck Norris … and a more regular guy than Chuck Norris,” he says.

“He has left more than jokes on how tough he is behind. He has left a legacy of good and strong young men and women.”

To hear more — including the hilarious story behind the virality of Chuck Norris jokes — watch the video above.

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