MMN Editor

The Department of Homeland Security revealed that a suspect who fled to China after allegedly planting a deadly explosive device at an important military base is the child of two Chinese illegal immigrants.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Chinese nationals Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, both of whom were living in the U.S. illegally, Homeland Security said. Their arrests came following two of their adult children, Ann Mary Zheng and Alen Zheng, being connected to a failed plot to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED) at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in mid-March. The base, located in Florida, is home to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, and Special Operations Command, which oversees all special operations forces across the Department of War.The alleged perpetrators of the attempt were born in the U.S. after their parents illegally entered the country, according to the Department of Homeland Security. ICE DETAINS PRESIDENT OF WISCONSIN’S LARGEST MOSQUE, ALLEGING HE HID CONVICTION FOR ATTACKS ON ISRAELISThe agency asserted the case “illustrates why the improper recognition of ‘birthright citizenship’ for children of illegal aliens is not only inconsistent with the Constitution, but endangers all Americans.”Birthright citizenship refers to the principle that anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically granted U.S. citizenship. The FBI said Alen Zheng, who is believed to have planted the improvised explosive device at MacDill Air Force Base on March 10, is currently in China. He is facing charges of attempted damage to government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device and possession of an unregistered destructive device, which carry a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison.FBI Tampa arrested Ann Mary Zheng March 17 following her return to the U.S. from China, where she had fled with her brother. She has been charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence, facing up to 30 years in prison. She is accused of hiding or damaging a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to prevent its use in legal proceedings, court documents show. Prosecutors allege that the siblings attempted to cover their tracks by selling the vehicle to car dealer CarMax. Despite being vacuumed and cleaned, investigators later discovered trace explosive residue inside the vehicle.The day after Ann Mary Zheng’s arrest, ICE apprehended both parents, Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng. They are currently in ICE custody, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Both parents applied for asylum in the U.S. but were denied and ordered removed by an immigration judge in 1998, according to the agency. The Department of Homeland Security said the Bureau of Immigration Appeals denied multiple attempts by the parents to have their case reopened. Despite this, both remained living in the U.S. illegally for nearly three decades.The department is positing that this case highlights the “grave danger” of current U.S. law granting automatic citizenship to anyone born on American soil, including the children of illegal immigrants.WATCH: PRESIDENT TRUMP REVEALS FAMILIES OF SLAIN US SERVICE MEMBERS URGED HIM ‘FINISH THE JOB’Following the parents’ arrests, Acting Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said that “automatically granting citizenship to children of illegal aliens born in the U.S. … poses a major national security risk.””That reality became apparent last week when two U.S.-born children of Chinese illegal aliens were indicted for planting a potentially deadly explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base in Florida,” said Bis, who added that, “This incident underscores the severe national security threat that illegal immigration and birthright citizenship pose to the United States.”Bis also asserted that the policy of granting automatic birthright citizenship “is based on a historically inaccurate interpretation of the Citizenship Clause” of the 14th Amendment.The Supreme Court is currently weighing the constitutionality of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. Trump signed the order on his first day back in the Oval Office in 2025. PETE HEGSETH SIGNS MEMO OPENING DOOR FOR TROOPS TO CARRY PERSONAL FIREARMS ON BASESThe court held oral arguments on the case this Wednesday, with justices appearing skeptical of Trump’s order.Amy Swearer, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, described the court’s line of questioning as “disappointing” for proponents of Trump’s stance on birthright citizenship.”Most people understood coming into this, and I suspect even the government understood coming into this, that this was probably going to be a bit of an uphill battle,” Swearer said.Despite this, Swearer said, “I do think there’s a path forward” for a Trump victory, though it would likely be narrow and partial.

Nancy Travis believes Americans are “more alone than ever,” fueling a stronger connection to stories of resilience.The “Last Man Standing” alum stars in Lifetime’s “Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story,” based on the 2017 case of a couple who were abducted from their home and locked in a hidden bunker while their captor tried to drain their life savings.”I think people feel more alone than ever,” the actress told Fox News Digital while discussing America’s growing appetite for films with a message of hope.TIM ALLEN COMPLETES 13-MONTH BIBLE JOURNEY: ‘I WILL BEGIN IT AGAIN’”I think a lot of our lives are lacking in community,” she said. “They’re certainly lacking since COVID. There’s a lack of in-person community. Some people spend a lot of time at home behind a computer, and that’s their human interaction. I think people are looking for some kind of connection and some kind of feeling, especially now.””First of all, for many, it’s hard to get a job,” she said. “It’s hard to make ends meet. Times are difficult. And I think that resonates in that people feel like there’s no support system. This story is an extreme example of something catastrophic happening, but I think there’s that fear that even on a smaller level, something catastrophic could happen.””I see myself as a very positive, glass-half-full kind of person, but I definitely feel around me just fear. A lot of fear,” the 64-year-old added.WATCH: PATRICIA RICHARDSON WASN’T SHOCKED TIM ALLEN BECAME A MOVIE STARThe star shared that while working on the film, she spoke to Connie. It changed her perspective.”They have a strong faith,” she said about the couple. “I personally feel that you need some kind of faith, whether it’s in yourself, your community or your God. It’s anything that helps get us by. And I think what drew me to Connie and Larry’s story is that they’re ordinary people, and this extraordinary thing happened to them. They managed to persevere through their faith, and they made it through.””The message they want to tell people is that regardless of your hardship, you’re not alone,” Travis said. “They’re Christians. They believe in Jesus and God, and that gave them comfort. They would even say that it helped guide them to survival. It also gave them a certain type of peace — that if things didn’t work out, if they didn’t survive this ordeal, they were not alone in that trial.”Travis said that in her life, family has been central to supporting her, even during challenging moments.”I’m thankful that I am not alone, that I do have family,” she said. “The theme of this film is that, with faith, everything will turn out OK at the end of the day, even if it doesn’t mathematically add up to that OK. I think just knowing that takes an anxiety away. It doesn’t mean that it takes away grief, because I think grief is very profound and manifests in people in different ways. But it’s knowing that in hard situations, you do everything that you can, and it’s enough to know that you’ve done that.”Travis also leans on the family she’s made in Hollywood. She described how the “Last Man Standing” cast has remained close over the years. The sitcom, starring Tim Allen, concluded its nine-season run in 2021. The show was previously canceled by ABC in 2017 despite high ratings but was revived by Fox.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER”[Tim and I] have certainly had a very long partnership,” she said about the actor, 72. “We did that show for nine years and had no idea that it would have that longevity. But he’s such a wonderful comedian and actor. And he’s very generous with what he does. He doesn’t have to have all the punchlines. He doesn’t have to be the center all the time. And I was very impressed that he was willing to share that and share his talent with us.””We were so blessed to be on that show,” she reflected. “We really did create a family. I am still close to all of the actors. It’s just a nice thing in this business, especially when jobs really come and go. And it’s so wonderful that we all remained friends. I’m still friends with Tim. I was happy to be asked to be on his show, ‘Shifting Gears,’ for a few episodes. And that’s the other thing. He keeps his acting family close.””The ‘Last Man Standing’ family always showed up for each other off camera,” she continued. “There were weddings. Children were born. There were passings. My kids had a bar mitzvah, and everyone showed up. Everyone has become an integral part of each other’s lives. We shared so many of life’s milestones and celebrations. Those things really stand out in your mind.”CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERToday, Travis is eager to tell more stories that will speak to everyday Americans.”I feel as a performer, I just really want to tell the truth,” she said. “I want to be honest in my performance so that there isn’t a fake moment, whether it is something like ‘Rescued by Faith’ or ‘Last Man Standing.’ Even when I’m on stage, I want to tell the truth in a way that resonates with people. I hope that they are moved or entertained or just take something away that impacts their day in some way. We are all human with different journeys.”

Singer LeAnn Rimes has gone viral for her reaction while receiving jaw release therapy.In a session with Garry Lineham, co-founder of Human Garage in California – a resource for self-healing practices – Rimes received an intra-oral massage, releasing the tension in her jaw. She seemed to instantly feel relief, sobbing on the table.Jaw release therapy, which involves the massaging or stretching of muscles in the face, is popular for relieving TMJ pain, headaches and jaw clicking, according to experts.LEANN RIMES BREAKS DOWN INTO TEARS WHILE UNDERGOING ‘DEEP JAW RELEASE’In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lineham shared that stress has an immense impact on human health, especially on muscle tension and pain.”We hold emotions in our body,” he said. “Emotions cause a sympathetic response or a stress response in the body.””Stress is one thing that impacts every disease, whether it’s emotional or physical, whether it is genetic,” he went on. “Stress is the thing that makes genetics pop. If you take away stress, those genetic markers no longer express themselves.”STUDY REVEAL WHY CHEWING GUM MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP WITH FOCUS AND STRESS RELIEFClenching the jaw can create stress, which happens naturally with physical and emotional exertion, according to Lineham.”If you clench your jaw and hold it there for three to five minutes … you’ll actually fire adrenaline and norepinephrine (hormones and neurotransmitters),” he said.This sends a message to the body that you’re bracing for an “attack,” releasing hormones like stress, Lineham added.Jaw release therapy targets the fascia, or the connective tissue that supports the body’s muscles, organs and joints. Stretching the fascia also allows the muscle to stretch, providing relief, Lineham said.”When you release the jaw, then instantaneously you come out of that fight or flight mode,” he said. “And if you’ve been there for a long time, like most people have, it instantaneously shocks the nervous system in a good way.”CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESDr. Justin Richer, oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey, shared the benefits and risks of jaw release treatment with Fox News Digital.Certain muscles in the body, such as the shoulder or back, can tense up and “overreact to problems that are going on within them,” said the doctor, who did not treat Rimes.”Jaw release is almost like a massage or similar technique, to put pressure on the muscles and let the tension that’s built up just kind of relax away,” he said. “It’s not something that a lot of people do.”CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERThe procedure is most beneficial for those with symptoms of TMJ, facial and muscle pain, and tightness, according to Richer.Some physical therapists and massage therapists offer this treatment, but Richer recommends seeking help from an oral-facial pain specialist or surgeon who “really understands the anatomy of the jaw joint.””If it’s done properly, there’s very minimal risk,” he said. “What we get concerned about is undue manipulation of the joint, so either cracking or distorting or trying to forcefully move the joint … that can actually cause undue harm from an orthopedic perspective.”TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZDespite the benefits, Richer stressed that this kind of therapy may be a temporary fix, as it could be treating only the symptoms of an underlying problem.”Get a diagnosis first before you go ahead and start manipulating things,” he advised.

The president of Georgia’s largest teachers union is sounding the alarm on school choice, claiming that “extreme” policies and “disinformation” are leaving traditional public schools “grossly underfunded.”Verdaillia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, told Fox News Digital that a decades-long push for alternative education has misled the public about the health of the state’s education system.”People have been told through a campaign that schools fail, and that’s not true. They have not been given the systemic reasons why the state has failed the schools here,” Turner said.LINDA MCMAHON SAYS FEDERAL TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP PARENTS MOVE THEIR CHILD OUT A ‘FAILING SCHOOL’Turner pointed to a 20-year effort in the Peach State to elect “extreme right-wing” and some Democratic officials who support “so-called choice.” While charter schools have become a staple in the Atlanta metro area, Turner argued that many residents are being sold a bill of goods.”Some [Democrats] were former state representatives that are now running charter school groups and charter school associations, and they’re making their living… miseducating the public with disinformation and false information,” she claimed.TEXAS PARENTS FLOOD SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM, FAR EXCEEDING THE INITIAL 90,000 STUDENT CAPACITYThe tension comes as school districts nationwide grapple with a declining enrollment. In December 2025, the Atlanta Board of Education took the drastic step of voting to close 16 schools starting in the fall of 2026.The numbers tell a stark story: Atlanta Public Schools (APS) currently has a capacity for 70,000 students, yet only 50,000 are enrolled. This 20,000-seat surplus has forced officials to “right-size” the district to account for the overhead of maintaining half-empty buildings.Teachers unions have long argued that “money follows the student” policies siphon critical per-pupil funding away from neighborhood campuses. Critics of the choice movement contend that if those funds remained in the traditional system, they could be used to bolster teacher salaries, modernize aging facilities, and improve recruitment.”Who owns those schools? Who are the stockbrokers behind it? Why are they pushing it? What’s the evidence that it works?” Turner asked, calling for “evidence-based solutions” that are “sustainable and scalable.”TEXAS CONSERVATIVES TOUT RECORD-BREAKING SCHOOL CHOICE SIGNUPS AFTER LONG BATTLE WITH TEACHERS UNIONSThe debate in Georgia mirrors a national trend. Parents, frustrated by pandemic-era lockdowns and shifting curricula, have increasingly sought out homeschooling, private education, and charter options.In response, several GOP-led states have passed universal school choice legislation. On the federal level, the Trump administration has proposed aggressive tax credits for donors who fund scholarships, allowing parents to move their children from underperforming public schools to private institutions.Dept. of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said this week that the federal tax credit scholarship will help parents flee failing schools.”This is money from the private sector added into the education pot,” McMahon told “The Faulkner Focus” on Monday. “Those scholarship granting organizations which are approved by the governor in the state can then award scholarships to parents who want to move their child out of a failing school or have private tutors or if they have kids with special needs, they can supplement that all at no cost to taxpayers whatsoever.”Turner, however, views these incentives as a manufactured threat to the public good.”The ground has been tilled and fertilized for all types of schools to come in, and there has been a scaffold of legislation to make sure that these schools exist at the state level,” Turner said. “Different types of incentives are given to so-called choice.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said critics who disapprove of the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the federal department suffer from what she described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”McMahon discussed her unusual mandate from President Donald Trump to fire herself by eliminating the department and how politics should be handled in the classroom during an appearance on “Planet Tyrus.””I think there is some ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ out there that they just have to push back automatically about it, and, ‘How crazy are you to think that you can do away, if you will, with the Department of Education?’” she told host Tyrus on his podcast this week.Trump intends to shutter the Department of Education during his presidency, claiming that individual states can handle responsibilities without federal oversight.SEC. MCMAHON RESPONDS TO NEWSOM’S OFFICE USING WWE CLIP MOCK TITLE IX ENFORCEMENT AMID TRANS ATHLETE FEUDMcMahon revealed that when Trump offered her the role of education secretary, he encouraged her to fire herself.”When he called and asked me to take on this job, he said, ‘Look, you’re going to be successful when you fire yourself.’ And I said, ‘OK,’” she said. “And he said, ‘If everything works the way we want it to, you will be the last secretary of education.’ And I said, ‘Do you know what? It’s a challenge, but I think it’s the right thing to do.’”McMahon studied to become a French teacher but never taught in a classroom. Instead, she co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with her husband, Vince McMahon, and left the company in 2009 to pursue politics.TRUMP ADMIN CUTS RED TAPE AS IOWA JOINS EFFORT TO RETURN EDUCATION TO STATESShe argued that the federal Department of Education is unnecessary, citing that it’s been operating since 1980.”1980, and before that, the Title I funding was there, special needs funding was there — all of that was in place, and it managed to get done.”McMahon claimed her efforts to downsize the department will save taxpayers millions of dollars annually.MCMAHON RECOUNTS STORY OF REASSURING PARENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS THAT FUNDING WILL CONTINUE AS DEPARTMENT SHRINKS”We’re relocating to a smaller building. So, we’re going to save taxpayers about $4.5 million a year just relocating to a smaller building,” she said.The education secretary also discussed the positive role politics can play in a classroom if executed fairly, recalling a personal experience.During the 1960 presidential election between Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard Nixon, McMahon said her teacher asked her to debate for the candidate she opposed.”He said, ‘Who do you hope wins the election?’ And I said, ‘Well, I really do hope that Mr. Nixon wins the election, and here’s why.’ And he said, ‘OK, so we’re gonna have a debate in class, but you’re gonna have to debate for Kennedy,’” McMahon explained.”I had to debate the opposite side and then the class voted as to which one, and I thought, that’s the way you ought to teach.”Watch McMahon’s full conversation with Tyrus on the “Planet Tyrus” on YouTube.

Palm Sunday just passed and Easter is upon us. We know the scriptural accounts. We’ve heard them many times. But this year, we might look for something more — the rest of the story.When Jesus first called Peter, Peter didn’t want the job.He was a working fisherman. He ran his own boat, managed a crew, negotiated prices at the docks. He was comfortable in his own sun-hardened skin. When Jesus approached him, Peter’s first response wasn’t confidence. It was humility: “Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man.”He likely understood what Jesus was asking—not just to follow, but to help carry a mission whose full cost wasn’t yet visible. Peter said yes. And then he stumbled.JONATHAN ROUMIE REVEALS ‘INTENSE’ SPIRITUAL TOLL OF FILMING CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION FOR ‘THE CHOSEN’He misunderstood Jesus. He argued with Him. At one point, Jesus rebuked him sharply: “Get behind me, Satan.” On the night of Jesus’ trial, Peter denied even knowing Him — three times. At the crucifixion, he was nowhere to be found. Afterward, he returned to what he knew: fishing in Galilee.The resurrected Jesus found him there.That’s the part we shouldn’t miss.BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: EVEN JUDAS? RETHINKING SIN, DESPAIR AND DIVINE MERCY THIS PALM SUNDAYJesus did not choose Peter because he was flawless. He chose him knowing exactly who he was — impulsive, brave, fearful, devoted, weak. In other words, human. Peter was the sinner making right and wrong decisions. Lest this point be missed, that means you and me. Saints were first sinners.Peter’s occupation as a fisherman was a nearly perfect model for the ministry Jesus was designing. Fishermen had to be extraordinarily patient, knowing momentary successes were interspersed among distressing failures. It was an occupation of inescapable frustrations. Jesus knew his ministry would follow the same pattern.Then came the turning point.NIGERIA’S CHRISTIANS ON EDGE FOR EASTER AFTER PALM SUNDAY MASSACREWhen Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded with full voice: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”One cannot miss its significance. Jesus was declaring that it was not him, the Son, but God the Father who disclosed this to Peter. To lock in the magnitude of that, Jesus added: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONIt was a staggering promise — made to a man who would fail publicly within months.Yet two thousand years later, Christianity remains the world’s largest faith. Peter — joined later by Paul — helped carry it beyond Jerusalem and into history. Both would be executed for that mission.This is the rest of the story: not just resurrection, but restoration. Not just divine power, but human frailty redeemed and commissioned.And that matters, because Peter’s story is ours. The church was not built on perfection. It was built on forgiven men and women who said yes — and kept going.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (on right), with Erica Kirk (on left), answers a question during a TPUSA event at George Washington University. Credit: C-SPAN screenshot
A young man experienced the humiliation reporters suffer at the hands of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event this week.
As The New York Post reported, Leavitt joined conservative activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erica Kirk, on stage at George Washington University in Washington, DC, Thursday night. At the close of the event, a liberal student shouted a loaded question, which contained assertions that Leavitt found “frankly insulting.”
He demanded to know why Congress should pass the SAVE America Act when voter fraud is supposedly “incredibly rare,” citing the Heritage Foundation as a source. The student also stated that, according to the Brennan Institute for Justice, passing the legislation would cause millions of Americans to lose their voting rights.
Leavitt fired back, questioning the student’s sources and asserting that voter fraud is much more widespread. She then asked this question, which brought the audience to their feet:
Why are you okay with any voter fraud in the United States of America?
The White House Press Secretary went on to say that it’s “frankly insulting” to say the Save America Act would disenfranchise voters because it implies Americans are too stupid to get proper identification.
Leavitt closed her answer with a common-sense case for the passage of the SAVE America Act.
WATCH:

BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt just MIC DROPPED a liberal on the SAVE America Act
Q: Voter fraud is rare…is it worth passing to risk millions of Americans from voting?!
LEAVITT: “Why are you OK with ANY voter fraud?!”
*Crowd erupts*
pic.twitter.com/RRCxNuFqPq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 3, 2026

STUDENT: My question is about the SAVE America Act…Vote fraud is incredibly rare. According to the Heritage Foundation, there have only been a few hundred voter fraud cases since 1982 out of hundreds of millions of votes.
According to the Brennan Institute of Justice, there are 21.8 million Americans without easy access to proof of citizenship. So my question to you is: is it worth passing to risk millions of Americans from voting in order to prevent a few hundred cases of voter fraud?
LEAVITT: Thank you for the question…First of all, I have not seen the data you have provided, so I’d like to go check it myself.
There is certainly much more, I believe, voter fraud in this country, and I’m sure those statistics back it up, than what you cited with one survey.
And why are you okay with any voter fraud in the United States of America?
(crowd cheers and applauds for several seconds)
We are the greatest country on the face of the earth, and we should have the safest and most secure elections of any country on earth.
And it is absolutely absurd that voter ID is not the law of the land in this country…The idea that the SAVE America Act would disenfranchise anyone is frankly insulting.
(It implies) Americans are not smart enough to get the proper identification to show up and go vote.
I will end by saying we absolutely should pass the Save America Act. It’s a common-sense piece of legislation, and Democrats would be wise to get on board with this, because the only people in the world, except for maybe this gentleman who asked the question, seem to be politicians in this city who don’t want voter ID and proof of citizenship in American elections.
The post WATCH: Karoline Leavitt Drops the Hammer on Liberal Student Shouting an “Insulting” Question During TPUSA Event with Erica Kirk appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Tax refund season can feel like a rare financial exhale. But for millions of Americans, that money is not “extra” cash. It is a lifeline.The IRS reported the average federal refund for the week ending March 6, 2026 came in at $3,676, up 10.6% from the same point last year. New deductions introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including breaks for eligible seniors, qualified tips, and overtime income, are partly driving larger refunds for some filers this season.But a bigger check does not always mean a better outcome. How you deploy it matters far more than how large it is.What Americans are actually doing with refundsNearly half of filers, 46%, say they are relying on getting a refund this year, up from 42% last year and 40% in 2024, according to a LendingTree survey. Two-thirds say the refund is very or somewhat important to their financial situation. More than half say they would need to spend it within a month of receiving it.The top planned uses tell a sobering story. About 34% of filers say they plan to use at least part of their refund for everyday expenses such as groceries, rent, or bill. Another 34% plan to put it toward paying off debt. About 32% plan to save at least some of it.Related: Expert reveals which health care costs are tax-deductibleRobert Jackson, 33, a server at two restaurants in St. Petersburg, Fla. and father of three children under 10, captures the reality many households are navigating. “Refund time has always been a survival thing,” Jackson said. “I feel like I’m paralyzed half the year, waiting on these taxes to come in.”This dynamic is not limited to lower-income households. The LendingTree survey found that even among those earning $100,000 or more, 70% say their refund still matters to their financial picture.What financial planners actually recommendThe experts are consistent in their guidance, even if the specific priority depends on your situation.If you are carrying high-interest credit card debt, that is the first place the refund should go. Paying down expensive revolving debt cuts future interest costs, frees up monthly cash flow, and reduces the risk that one unexpected expense triggers a longer financial spiral. That is the view of Patrick Yaghoobians, a certified financial planner and founder of Noor Planning.More Personal Finance:Retirees following 4% rule are leaving thousands on the tableFidelity says a $500 policy could protect your entire net worthFidelity’s 4 Roth strategies could save your family a fortune in taxesIf your debt is manageable but you have no emergency fund, building one is the next priority. Most planners recommend three to six months of living expenses, but even a modest cushion makes a real difference when an unexpected bill hits.”Any time you’re receiving a lump sum of money, such as a bonus, inheritance, or tax refund, I think it’s important to make a plan for how you want to use those funds, and, importantly, how you should use those funds,” said Scott Oeth, CFP and principal at Cahill Financial Advisors in Minneapolis. Without a plan, he warned, it is easy for the money to slip away or go toward impulse purchases.For those whose bills, debt, and emergency savings are in reasonable shape, the refund opens the door to longer-term goals: contributing to a retirement account, building a sinking fund for irregular expenses, or pursuing a specific financial objective that has been on hold.How financial planners rank the best uses of a tax refund:Pay off high-interest credit card or personal loan debt first, where rates can exceed 20% annuallyBuild or top up an emergency fund covering three to six months of living expensesContribute to a retirement account such as a 401k or IRA, especially to capture any employer matchPut it toward a specific savings goal such as a down payment, irregular expense fund, or education savingsSet aside a small portion, even 5%, toward a personal goal to build positive financial habits

A tax refund doesn’t have to be spent on one thing: it can be divided among several priorities. Celik/Getty Images

A split strategy can work tooYou do not have to choose just one use. For many households, the best approach is to allocate the refund across several goals at once. A portion to debt, a portion to savings, and a smaller portion to a near-term personal priority can all coexist without undermining each other.”Small steps can help build momentum and create better financial habits over the long run,” Yaghoobians said. Even setting aside 5% of a refund can add up and make a meaningful difference down the road, he added.Why a bigger refund is not always betterIt might feel like a win to get a larger check from the IRS, but a big refund can actually signal a problem. It typically means too much tax was withheld from your paycheck throughout the year, meaning you effectively gave the government an interest-free loan.”Those dollars could have been accruing interest for you in a high-yield savings account,” Oeth said. Money sitting with the IRS is money not working for you.That said, for people who struggle to save throughout the year, the forced-savings effect of overwithholding has real value. A lump sum once a year is easier for some households to deploy strategically than smaller amounts spread over 12 months.The IRS offers a Tax Withholding Estimator that can help you calibrate how much is taken out of each paycheck, so next year’s refund reflects what you actually need rather than what you accidentally overpaid.Whatever the size of your refund this season, the advice from financial planners is the same: make a plan before the money arrives. Without one, it tends to disappear faster than it came.Related: Expert reveals which health care costs are tax-deductible

“No matter what I do, the beds still look a bit creased and worn, even grubby, in pictures.”

The White House on Friday requested $152 million to begin reopening Alcatraz as an operational prison.The funding proposal, included in the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request, would cover the initial phase of rebuilding the long-closed facility into what officials describe as a “state-of-the-art secure prison facility.”Congress will ultimately decide ultimately decide whether to approve the funding.NEW ICE DETENTION FACILITY ‘LOUISIANA LOCKUP’ OPENS AT NOTORIOUS PRISONPresident Donald Trump first pushed the idea last year, directing the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to reopen and expand Alcatraz to detain what he called America’s “most ruthless and violent offenders.””REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” the president said in a Truth Social post last May. “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering.Located in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz has been closed since 1963 and currently operates as a popular tourist destination under the National Park Service.Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed the proposal in a post on X on Friday.TRUMP 2027 BUDGET PREVIEW HINTS AT SWEEPING SCALE-UP IN CORE AGENDA”Rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern prison is a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to the intelligence of the American people,” Pelosi wrote. “Alcatraz is a historic museum that belongs to the public, and San Franciscans will not stand for Washington turning one of our most iconic landmarks into a political prop.”Originally opened as a federal prison in 1934, Alcatraz was widely considered one of the most secure facilities in the country.The prison once housed notorious criminals including mob boss Al Capone.EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EYES ALCATRAZ REOPENING TO HOUSE NATION’S ‘WORST OF THE WORST’Alcatraz first served as a military prison in the 1850s. At its peak, the facility held more than 300 inmates, along with staff and their families.Despite its reputation, Alcatraz was ultimately shut down because of high operating costs.According to the Bureau of Prisons, it was nearly three times more expensive to run than other federal prisons at the time.The White House and the Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.