Why Is DEI Dying?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the approaching death of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) program. President Donald Trump ended federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government by signing an executive order. Many companies followed his example. It was as though Trump turned on the light, and the cockroaches scattered.

John Stossel wrote about the coming demise of DEI in so many companies, the latest being Disney after “squandering $270 million shareholder dollars on a moronic new version of ‘Snow White,’ joined the mob of companies dropping DEI programs.” He asked the question, “Why?” and then answered his own question: “The problem is that DEI programs were captured by activists who obsess about victimhood. They divide people more than they empower.” 

Stossel learned that activist Robby Starbuck is behind the companies quitting their DEI programs.

Before Trump ended federal DEI programs by executive order, Starbuck ended them at some companies merely by using the power of speech. His strategy: warn companies that he’ll tell his social media followers what stupid things they do.

Remarkably, that worked!

After he criticized John Deere on Twitter for encouraging “preferred pronouns” and holding woke diversity trainings, John Deere quickly dropped those policies.

Toyota, Target, and Harley Davidson did, too.

“Why did they listen to you?” I ask.

“We go to them like any other investigative journalist, and we say, ‘Hey, we have a story we’re working on.’”

Then, if they don’t change their policies, he goes public – posting the policies and his criticism on YouTube, Twitter, etc.

One week after he posted that Toyota sponsored pride parades and divided workers into identity-based groups such as LGBTQ, black, and Christian, Toyota stopped sponsoring LGBTQ events and opened employee groups to all workers.

Coors has been requiring DEI trainings and donating to pride events. All it took was Starbuck looking into the company, and they stopped.

So did Jack Daniels, McDonald’s, Walmart, AT&T, Lowe’s, and Ford….

In my years of reporting, I’ve never seen changes this fast.

DEI activists are angry about it.

The president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation says, “We will not be erased!”

“What existed before DEI?” replies Starbuck. “Did black people not exist before that?”

On “The View,” host Sunny Hostin claims, “This will specifically harm women … African Americans and Latinos.”

“What she’s actually saying is that minorities are not going to be able to get jobs if the sole thing you’re looking at is merit. The way I was raised, you call that racism,” replies Starbuck. “She’s being racist.”

I push back:

“They’re just saying, ‘We have a history of disadvantage. We were slaves in this country.’”

“None of them were,” he points out. “I’m Cuban. I could say my family went through this and that. I didn’t go through it. I’m not going to claim their disadvantage as my own.”

“We’re not going to fall for the same stupid stuff anymore. We’re going to judge people based on merit.”

I agree with Starbuck. Each one of us should be judged on our personal merit – not on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, or anything else besides merit. All of us are blessed with personal characteristics and talents. Those who work hard to gain knowledge and to develop skills should be richer in money and blessings than those who sit around doing little or nothing.

Why Is Greenland So Important to the United States?

Americans did not hear much about Greenland until the inauguration of Donald Trump. Since then the topic has been in the news numerous times. Last Friday, Vice President JD Vance led a delegation to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland. While speaking to military troops, Vance called “for an American partnership with the people of Greenland to counteract Russian and Chinese influence in the region.” George Caldwell at The Daily Signal reported the following. 

The vice president chose as his backdrop the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the Space Force has missile-warning and defense systems, as well as space-surveillance sensors for tracking objects in space. He cited the base as an example of Greenland’s strategic importance.

“If a missile was fired from an enemy country or an enemy submarine into the United States, it is the people here before us who would give notice to our brave men and women further south in the United States to let people know what was coming and, God willing, to try to shoot it down and prepare for it.”

Vance also drew attention to Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, which he says justifies the need for increased U.S. attention to Greenland.

“We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways, in Arctic naval routes, and indeed in the minerals of the Arctic territories,” he said.

“We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic, because we know if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap where we fall behind.”

Vance also accused Denmark of neglecting the welfare of Greenland and not allowing it to have self-determination, thereby threatening America’s interests.

“If Greenland doesn’t have self-determination, if the people of Greenland have their future controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, it’s not going to make their lives better off, and most importantly, it’s going to make American and … world security much, much weaker.”

Was the Signal Chat A Mistake or A Political Tool?

Democrats – and by extension America’s enemies – were handed a gift last week when Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, exposed breach of security of the Trump administration. Earlier in March 2025, Goldberg was accidentally added to a conversation on Signal between senior national security officials that should have been confidential.

The U.S. officials included on the call were Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pet Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. They were discussing sensitive – not classified – military plans about an imminent attack against Houthi rebels located in Yemen.

Democrats and their allies in the media have made a big deal about the breach of security, acting as though it was the worst thing that has ever happened in America. The fact is that the mission went off without any loss of life or equipment, and it has been declared to be successful. Democrats forget the terrible things that happen under their direction – Bengasi where an ambassador was killed and Afghanistan where we lost 13 military members during the withdrawal to name just two. They jumped all over Trump and Republicans even as the Trump administration is working hard to clean up messes all over the world that happened during the Biden administrations.

The bottom line is that the Signal discussion was either classified, or Goldberg should be charged with sharing classified information with the general public. He is a dirtbag for staying in the discussion when he understood what it was, and he is a bigger dirtbag for using the discussion for political purposes.

The mistake should not have happened. Goldberg should not have been added to the chat. Someone in that group chat should have noticed that the conversation was veering close to classified material. A positive thing for Goldberg is that, for whatever reason, he did not disclose the information until after the mission was completed. However, Yassin Fawaz, a contributor on American Thinker, added other information and made an interesting point. 

The fact that Goldberg was added to this chat was an unfortunate mistake, but the way The Atlantic and its allies have handled the leak is telling. This wasn’t a situation where a massive intelligence breach occurred because of a careless or malicious act by the Trump administration. Instead, it was a technical error – someone mistakenly added Goldberg to the group chat. However, while Goldberg may have been initially added by mistake, his decision to remain in the group was neither accidental nor innocent – it was a deliberate and malicious act. His continued participation in the conversation suggests an intent to exploit sensitive information, reflecting a deeper agenda to undermine the administration. [Emphasis added.]

It is crucial to recognize the broader context of what’s going on here. The real issue is not the accident that led to Goldberg’s inclusion in the chat but the weaponization of this mistake by the media and individuals who seem intent on destabilizing the administration. Goldberg and The Atlantic have taken this unintentional error and turned it into an attack on Trump’s leadership, yet this leak serves a greater purpose in their eyes: advancing a narrative that undermines America itself. [Emphasis added.]

It’s important to note that mistakes happen. Even highly secure systems can be vulnerable to human error. Imagine, for instance, if a government official had mistakenly dialed Goldberg’s number while discussing the plans – he could have simple overheard the conversation. The fact that Goldberg was added to the chat doesn’t change the fact that the leak serves a greater narrative – one that is critical of the Trump administration, portraying it as chaotic and incompetent.

Yet, the true nature of this leak isn’t about the technical mistake; it’s about how certain individuals are taking advantage of this mistake to push an anti-American agenda. The media and their allies in the political establishment have jumped on the opportunity to embarrass the administration, but this leak was not an act of exposing government wrongdoing – it was about creating a false narrative of disarray. Goldberg, with his anti-Trump stance, turned a minor oversight into a major scandal, amplifying it for political gain. In doing so, he isn’t just criticizing an administration; he is actively attempting to weaken the nation’s standing on the global stage…. [Emphasis added.]

Goldberg and The Atlantic may be quick to point out the leak, but they are silent on the larger picture. The Trump administration’s actions have consistently protected American interests, restored the military’s strength, and ensured that the U.S. has a more prominent position on the world stage….

This leak, and the media’s sensationalism around it, is not just about a mistake – it’s about undermining the Trump administration and American power…. [Emphasis added.]

This leak, while unfortunate, should serve as a wake-up call not just to the Trump administration but to the American public. The real threat here is not the leak itself, but the way it is being used to push an anti-America narrative. The true objective of the individuals behind this story is to create a divide, to paint the Trump administration as inept, and to erode the trust Americans have in their government. [Emphasis added.]

It’s time for the American people to see through this….

We must see the Signal leak for what it truly is: a political tool designed to create chaos and promote a narrative that undermines American leadership. Rather than focusing on sensationalizing the leak, it’s crucial to recognize the broader context. The Trump administration has delivered real results for the country, and its leadership continues to be a force for positive change in the world. [Emphasis added.]

Who Is Elise Stefanik?

My VIP for this week is Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York because she is a team player rather than looking for her own glory. Blaze News reported that Stefanik withdrew her nomination on Thursday to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations. Her reason? President Donald Trump asked her to withdraw her nomination in order to strengthen the Republican majority in the U.S. House. 

During the November 2024 election, Republicans retained control of the House, but their margin was decreased. Then, President-elect Trump pulled several members of the House into his cabinet. Another problem is that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (Democrat) sent out signals of her intention to “slow-walk Stefanik’s replacement if she left her seat.” In Trump’s statement on Truth Social, he praised Stefanik’s sacrifice.

‘Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.’ …

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” wrote Trump.

He went on to say that he asked Stefanik to remain in Congress to maintain the “tight” majority.

“I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” he added. “There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson “confirmed that Trump pulled the nomination and Stefanik agreed with the decision.” Johnson went on to explain that Republicans hold “a razor-thin House majority” in the House. “Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies.”

Cami Mondeaux at The Deseret News added valuable information to the discussion when she wrote the following. 

The decision marks a blow to Stefanik, who has waited patiently for months to be confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet after having her nomination advanced out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January. However, the White House has slow-walked a final vote for her confirmation amid a historically slim GOP majority in the House, which has left Republicans with only a one-vote margin.

What Does Trump’s Executive Order Mandate on Elections?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns overhauling the electoral system of the United States. On March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to overhaul the American voting system. The order includes requirements for voter identification and when ballots must arrive at polling stations in order to be counted.

According to Sydney Jezik at The Deseret News, here are the key points of Trump’s executive order that “mandates sweeping change for electoral systems across the nation.” The order requires the following: 

·         Voters present proof of citizenship when they vote, including a passport or a compliant driver’s license.

·         Voters present proof of eligibility to vote in elections in the state in which the voter is attempting to vote.

·         States do not count absentee or mail-in ballots that arrive at their offices after Election Day.

·         The commissioner of Social Security supply citizen information to electoral databases to ensure that votes are only cast by living, eligible citizens.

·         The attorney general take “appropriate action” to censure states that do not comply with election integrity laws.

In addition, the order “tightens protocols around the interference of foreign nations in elections, including by preventing foreign entities from making donations to candidates.”

What Is the Armor of God and How Do We Put It On?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 27-28 in a lesson titled “All Things Must Be Done in Order.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Revelation was still a relatively new concept for the Saints as the Restoration continued to unfold. Early Church members knew that the Prophet Joseph Smith could receive revelation for the Church. But could others? Questions like this became critical when Hiram Page, one of the Eight Witnesses of the gold plates, believed he had received revelations for the Church. Many faithful Saints believed that these revelations were from God. The Lord responded by teaching that in His Church “all things must be done in order” (Doctrine and Covenants 28:13). This meant having only one person “appointed to receive commandments and revelations” for the entire Church (Doctrine and Covenants 28:2). Others, however, could receive personal revelation for their part in the Lord’s work. In fact, the Lord’s words to Oliver Cowdery are a reminder to all of us: “It shall be given thee … what thou shalt do” (Doctrine and Covenants 28:15).

The scripture block for this week contained the following principles: (1) I take the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 27:1-4), (2) The Lord gives His servants priesthood keys to direct His work (Doctrine and Covenants 27:5-14), (3) The armor of God helps me stand against evil (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18), (4) Jesus Christ directs His Church through His living prophet (Doctrine and Covenants 28), and (5) Why was a mission to the Lamanites significant? (Doctrine and Covenants 28:8-9).

This essay will discuss principle #3 “The armor of God helps me stand against evil” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18). Those people familiar with the New Testament will know that the Apostles Paul discussed the armor of God in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:11-18). We will begin the discussion by looking at the scripture reference.

15 Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.

As you study these verses, you might write the name of the piece of armor, the protected body part, and what the body part might represent. For example, the breastplate of righteousness protects the heart, which represents desires and affections. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following: 

There is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil” (“Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign, July 2004, 8).

How Should Teenagers Spend Their Time?

Families, communities, states, and nations are stronger when adolescents use their time appropriately. While studying adolescents over the past three months, I learned some interesting information about teenagers that may help parents today.

Concerning part-time work while attending high school can damage school performance in several ways. This is particularly true if the adolescent works more than ten hours per week. Beyond working ten hours per week, the more that a teenager works:

·         “The lower their grades.

·         “The less time they spend on homework.

·         “The more they cut class.

·         “The more they cheat on their schoolwork.

·         “The less committed they are to school.

·         “The lower their educational aspirations” (Arnett & Jensen, 2023, 301).

As in all things, much depends on the individual adolescent. They may be working more because they dislike school. They may be capable of working more hours without work affecting school. They may take easier courses in order to work. They may be too tired after work to do homework. “In the course of the study, students who increased the number of hours they worked also reported declines in school commitment, whereas those who decreased the number of hours they worked reported increased school commitment” (Arnett & Jensen, 2023, 301).

With regard to leisure, when an adolescent has too much leisure time, it may interfere with their “attention to school and schoolwork” (Arnett & Jensen, 2023, 301). The time that teenagers spend with their friends can affect their grades negatively. Here is some interesting information: “adolescents who participate in organized activities (such as sports and music) have better academic performance and re less likely to drop out of high school” (Arnett & Jensen, 2023, 301). This means that “unstructured socializing is negatively related to academic performance, but structured leisure in organized activities appears to have positive effects” (Arnett & Jensen, 2023, 301).

Wise parents will monitor how their teenagers spend their time. The results of studies show that too many hours of work negatively affect school. Studies also show that too much unstructured leisure also affects school negatively. Parents can help their children to succeed – to earn just enough money, to have just enough leisure time that school attendance and performance will not be affected negatively. By doing so, parents can strengthen their family, community, state, and nation.

Reference: Arnett, J. J., & Jensen, L. A. (2023). Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach (7th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://byui.vitalsource.com/books/9780138063054