Remembering
James Robison

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The Brew: Alcatraz Redux, Hollywood Tariffs, and Deportation Stats

By Gayle McQueary Published on May 6, 2025

Sometimes an idea is just an idea. Other times an idea is so good, it should become reality — but what if a good idea is not realistic? Today we’re stirring the pot from a prison island’s revival to Hollywood’s tariff troubles, Biden’s cooked deportation data books, and a Utah teacher’s victory as an answer to prayer. Grab your coffee and a rowboat, because this first story can’t be reached by land.

A Costly Deterrent

President Donald Trump is stirring the pot with a bold move to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous federal prison in San Francisco Bay that’s been shuttered since 1963. In a fiery post on X, Trump declared, “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders… We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job.”

He’s directing the federal Bureau of Prisons, alongside the DOJ, FBI, and Homeland Security, to transform the island into a fortress for “America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”

The symbolism is clear: Trump wants Alcatraz to become a beacon of “Law, Order, and JUSTICE,” harking back to a time when, as he puts it, “we were a more serious Nation.” Once home to notorious figures like Al Capone, Alcatraz was closed due to its sky-high operational costs — nearly three times more expensive than mainland prisons. Today, it’s a National Park Service gem, raking in $20 million to $34 million annually in tourism revenue.

But the plan has critics clutching their wallets. Renovating Alcatraz could cost up to $350 million, with annual operating expenses ballooning to $40 million, thanks to the logistical nightmare of barging in supplies and barging out waste. The saltwater environment doesn’t help — corrosion is a constant, costly headache.

As one X user, Brian Krassenstein, pointed out, “Reopening Alcatraz isn’t ‘tough on crime.’ It’s tough on taxpayers, and easy on rust.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal “not a serious one,” emphasizing the island’s current role as a tourist draw. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin believes the symbolism alone in reopening Alcatraz would be enough of a deterrent for the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders, and that other criminals will see us as a nation of laws again.

Will Alcatraz become a renewed symbol of justice, or just an idea that costs too much to bring to fruition?

100% Tariffs on Foreign Films

Trump’s not stopping at prisons — he’s taking aim at Hollywood with a 100% tariff on movies “produced in Foreign Lands.” Labeling foreign films a “national security threat,” Trump claimed on Truth Social that the U.S. film industry is “dying a very fast death” due to overseas incentives luring American filmmakers. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he thundered, directing the Commerce Department to enact the tariff immediately.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X with a simple. “We’re on it,” but details remain murky. The move comes as on-location film production in Los Angeles has dropped 22% in the first quarter of 2025, while countries like Australia and New Zealand offer hefty tax credits to attract studios. Globally, filmmakers expect to spend $248 billion on content production in 2025, and nations are eager for a slice of that pie.

The tariff has already sparked international backlash. China, the world’s second-largest film market, retaliated by slashing quotas for American movies, a move that could further squeeze Hollywood’s bottom line. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke vowed to fight for his country’s film industry, while experts warn of broader economic fallout. Former Commerce official William Reinsch, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Guardian, “The retaliation will kill our industry.”

This new Trump tariff strategy could send global markets reeling further after his earlier moves against China. Critics argue this latest salvo could backfire, driving up costs for consumers and stifling creativity while limiting the demand viewers have for different types of film. Supporters, however, see it as a patriotic push to revive American filmmaking and bring in another golden age for Hollywood. Either way, Tinsel Town is feeling the heat — and it’s not from the California sun.

Deportation Data Drama: Biden’s Numbers Inflated, Trump’s Success Masked

On the immigration front, a new report from Just The News reveals a statistical sleight of hand in Biden-era deportation numbers that’s obscuring Trump’s early wins. At first glance, Biden’s final year saw ICE deport 271,484 aliens — about 740 per day — outpacing Trump’s first 100 days in his second term when ICE removed 65,682 of them. But dig deeper, and the picture shifts dramatically.

More than 80% of Biden’s “deportations” were actually “turnarounds” — migrants apprehended at the border by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and sent back before entering the U.S. interior. These aren’t true deportations, which involve removing aliens already residing in the country. Adjusted for this, Biden’s interior removal rate drops to about 130 per day, while Trump’s hits 650 — five times higher.

Trump’s team is also ramping up arrests, with 66,000 in just 100 days compared to Biden’s 113,431 for all of FY2024. Three-quarters of those arrested under Trump have criminal records, aligning with his promise to target dangerous individuals. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is prepared to “ramp up” raids and hopes House Republicans will help increase the staggeringly low number of deportation officers, which is around 5,500 for the entire country!

These deportation numbers paint a stark contrast: Biden’s stats were padded, while Trump’s policies are showing tangible results. It does beg the question: If the Biden administration padded deportation numbers, did they also minimize the number of crossings?

RFK Jr. to Testify to Senate on May 14

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on May 14 about his department’s proposed 2026 budget. This marks Kennedy’s first appearance before the committee since his Senate confirmation in February.

The new federal budget starting in October allocates $500 million to advance the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, environmental impacts, and food and drug safety. Kennedy endorsed the plan and offered his thanks to Trump, saying, “For decades, we’ve watched rates of autism, asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders, and obesity skyrocket while our health institutions looked the other way. That ends now.”

However, the budget also cuts funding for programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which drew harsh criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) over cuts to programs like Head Start. Recently, HHS fired 10,000 workers — following another 10,000 terminations or buyouts — to streamline operations.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the committee chairman, supported Kennedy’s confirmation, citing shared goals like eliminating the production of ultra-processed foods and Kennedy’s commitment to maintain existing vaccine safety systems, including the CDC’s recommendations. Still, Kennedy has floated removing COVID-19 from the childhood vaccination schedule and noted flaws in current safety monitoring, prompting HHS to build new systems.

The hearing also follows HHS efforts to ban artificial dyes and research treatments for measles, reflecting Kennedy’s controversial push for public health reform.

Prayer Chain Victory: Utah Teacher Wins Right to Post Flyer

In a small but significant win for religious freedom, a first-grade teacher in Heber City, Utah, has secured the right to post an invitation to a prayer chain in her school’s faculty lounge. The Wasatch County School District had forced her to remove the flyer, prompting a legal challenge from First Liberty Institute and the National School Boards Association.

The district initially cited concerns over church-state separation, but after negotiations, reversed its decision. The district emphasized its commitment to balancing constitutional protections with neutrality. This small act of faith is a big win for religious expression!

Along The Stream…

Jules Gomes shares how French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to play “Popemaker” ahead of the conclave that begins tomorrow.

Later this afternoon, Victor Davis Hanson details the major power shift taking place within the Democratic Party in “Democrats’ Radical Changing of the Guard.”

Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media coordinator. She has a background in production and is a scary judge of people trying to stop others from praying.