Pentagon Chief James Mattis applauds spending deal: 'America can afford survival' S.A. Miller reports that Secretary of Defense James Mattis "heralded the two-year spending deal" struck on Capitol Hill—one that provides the Pentagon with sufficient long-term funding to keep America safe through military technology and personnel. Thanks to new spending caps, in Mattis' words, "America can afford survival." Click here to read more. ------------ In Politico, Darius Dixon writes that President Trump has already scored a win on infrastructure by passing the massive tax cut bill last year. America's utility companies are "finding themselves with vast amounts of excess cash as a side effect of last year's tax code rewrite," which Dixon suggests "could become available for a massive buildout of energy infrastructure." ------------ In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Andy Puzder breaks down progressives' refusal to give President Trump credit for the current job market. Even with "hundreds of thousands of Americans . . . moving from part-time work to full-time employment," Puzder notes that progressives say the economy "isn't really booming" and that even if it is, the left would rather attribute any positive economic news to the Obama Administration. ------------ A news story in The Washington Times highlights the urgent need for immigration reform. According to the Times' analysis of lists kept by the Department of Homeland Security, some "repeat illegal immigrants" have been deported upwards of 30 times each—with one individual deported "44 times in 15 years." ------------ An op-ed in USA Today by evangelical leader Tony Perkins details the ways that President Trump is keeping his promises to the Christian community. Perkins praises the President for appointing pro-life judges and "advancing policies essential to making America good and prosperous." Perkins explains that evangelicals are "offering reasoned support for a leader who is keeping his promises."