A surprising change is coming at the top of the nation’s Border Patrol union.
Late last week, the National Border Patrol Council announced that its president, Brandon Judd, would be retiring on May 18. The union stated that Judd had “tirelessly served our members in the U.S. Border Patrol for many years, and we are excited that he is looking forward to pursuing future interests. We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Brandon Judd will be retiring as the President of the National Border Patrol Council on May 18, 2024. Brandon tirelessly served our members in the U.S. Border Patrol for many years, and we are excited that he is looking forward to pursuing future interests. We thank him for his…
— Border Patrol Union – NBPC (@BPUnion) May 4, 2024
Karrin Taylor Robson, a former contender for the Republican nomination for Arizona Governor in 2022, recognized the retiring union president, writing, “Brandon Judd’s service as President of the Border Patrol Union extended well beyond the Council’s membership; his service benefited EVERY American. Thank you, Brandon, for your staunch advocacy for border policies that make every American safer. Your leadership will be missed.”
Brandon Judd’s service as President of the @BPUnion extended well beyond the Council’s membership; his service benefited EVERY American.
Thank you, Brandon, for your staunch advocacy for border policies that make every American safer. Your leadership will be missed!… https://t.co/vbqvenBzTL
— Karrin Taylor Robson (@KTaylorRobson) May 6, 2024
Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the NBPC, weighed in on his colleague’s imminent departure. He said, “Well, the news is out. It saddens me but I look forward to seeing all the other things my friend and brother can accomplish. I’ve been side-by-side with him in the trenches for many years, and I truly don’t even have the words to make everyone understand all the sacrifices that he has made. His accomplishments speak for themselves. Agents are blessed to have many privileges because of the hard work Brandon Judd has done throughout the years. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have learned so much from him, not just from a work standpoint but from a life and faith in GOD perspective. I could go on and on with so much more, but I’ll save it for the book. THANK YOU my brother.”
Ali Bradley, a Network Correspondent for NewsNation reported that “NBPC Executive VP Paul Perez will fill the remainder of Brandon’s term which was set to end in March of 2026.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen were key speakers for the McCain Institute’s 2024 Sedona Forum.
The McCain Institute is a D.C.-based organization within Arizona State University (ASU).
Blinken’s remarks were the headline of the forum, where he discussed global threats to U.S. interests, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and relations with China. Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney joined Blinken on that panel.
A transcript of Blinken’s full remarks are available here.
Great to join @SenatorRomney at the @McCainInstitute’s Sedona Forum to talk about the importance of U.S. leadership in the world. Our commitment to an engaged America is more important than ever as we address challenges in the Middle East, Ukraine, with China and beyond. pic.twitter.com/Y5RQOjMXnp
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 4, 2024
Yellen’s speech, “Democracy Delivers: An Economic Case for an Uncertain Era,” focused on improving the American economy to better ensure democracy and support the nation’s allies.
A transcript of Yellen’s full remarks are available here.
TUNE IN: I am about join the @McCainInstitute’s Sedona Forum to deliver major remarks on the importance of democracy to America’s economic success. https://t.co/h5WIcuz7Zd
While in Arizona, Yellen also visited Mesa with Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers and Mesa Mayor John Giles. In her Mesa remarks, Yellen claimed that the economy under the Biden administration had recovered historically and only grown in strength. Yellen also claimed that the job market was healthy, and that families were spending more from their savings and extra income.
The two-day forum featured remarks from mainly Democrats, with a few Republican elected officials sprinkled in: Gov. Katie Hobbs; Sen. Mark Kelly; Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook COO and founder of a nonprofit dedicated to establishing female leadership across the public and private sectors; David Axelrod, ASU professor and formerly Obama’s chief campaign strategist and senior advisor; Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow; West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin; Damon Wilson, National Endowment for Democracy president and CEO, and formerly a top longtime NATO strategist; Sarah Margon, director of Democratic dark money tycoon George Soros’ Open Society Foundations; David Pressman, U.S. ambassador to Hungary, formerly Obama’s assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security and UN ambassador; Vermont Sen. Peter Welch; Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan Boyle; Jon Finer, deputy national security advisor, formerly an Obama administration staffer; Colorado Congressman Jason Crow; and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.
Other left-leaning individuals who spoke at the event included Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
Other notable attendees included Alex Soros, the heir apparent to Democratic dark money tycoon George Soros’ $25 billion empire; Carl Bildt, co-chair of European Council on Foreign Relations and World Health Organization special envoy; and Nat Rothschild, of the famed trillionaire family.
McCain Institute forum in Sedona this weekend and was glad to get time to catch up with Senator @SenMarkKelly in his home state. Inspiring as ever and attentive to the threat posed in November if Trump wins. #SedonaForum2024pic.twitter.com/BhOhYih7s3
The McCain Institute’s executive director, Evelyn Farkas, was Obama’s deputy assistant secretary of defense to Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia. While in that role, Farkas advised on Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014. Farkas was largely responsible for Russian escalation with her role in initiating the admission of Montenegro into NATO, an apparent threat to Russia. All the while, Farkas urged greater U.S. involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Farkas’ work on these European relations was key to her resignation from the Obama administration.
Farkas was one of the first to push the Russiagate conspiracy against President Donald Trump.
After war escalated again between Russia and Ukraine, Farkas again advocated for more U.S. involvement.
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