May 8, 2026
Military Spouse Day 2026, WWII Victory Day, America 250 The Townshend Acts, And More
On May 7, 2026, President Trump signed the Proclamation Military Spouse Day, 2026 making the day the 42nd yearly celebration of Military Spouse Appreciation Day since Ronald Regan signed it into being in 1984. In my May 10, 2025 ANP Article President Trump explained that military spouses had a 21% unemployment rate with a 25% wage gap when compared to their civilian counterparts. This year, President Trump announced policy changes improved opportunities for military spouses within the Federal Government, including enhanced remote work and flexible job options. In addition, President Trump's Administration increased licensure portability for military spouses. While this is progress, President Trump cautions that more work is needed to provide access to quality housing, affordable childcare, accessible healthcare, and education.
President Trump writes:
The spouses of our service members share with their loved ones a noble but demanding calling. In times of peace and in the crucible of conflict, they rise to meet every challenge and bear the pressures and sacrifices with relentless grace and fortitude. Today, the First Lady and I join a grateful Nation in saluting these patriots and heroes. May God bless our Armed Forces, our military spouses, and their families. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2026, as Military Spouse Day.
On May 7, 2026, President Trump signed the Proclamation Victory Day for World War II, 2026 focusing on the monumental triumph over tyranny and evil in Europe by the US and her allies. In my May 8, 2025 ANP Article I noted that there are 2 Victory Days surrounding the end of WWII. The first is May 8 which is celebrated world-wide and the second is May 9 which is when the Soviets celebrate. More than 250,000 Americans gave their lives in this War. President Trump writes:
Their heroic sacrifice reminds us that the sacred freedoms we cherish are forged in sacrifice and must be fiercely defended both at home and abroad. Let us remember them, and the millions of innocent souls who endured horrendous atrocities, and lost their lives, at the hands of national socialism. As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we carry their legacy forward by ensuring our Armed Forces remain the most dominant in the world, ready to safeguard our sovereignty, to confront any threat, and preserve the flame of liberty they fought so valiantly to defend. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2026, as a day in celebration of Victory Day for World War II.
The sad part is our country is no longer teaching true history, so our children are not learning about the pitfalls of socialism. Because of that, our young are now electing socialists into office, like the Mayor of New York City, the governor of Virginia, and of course all the socialists in California's government. As we watch these places collapse through their socialist policies, I hope every one everywhere else takes note and votes against the installation of these "democratic socialists."
Russia's celebration of their Victory Day will be held under duress because Ukraine's President Zelensky is warning world leaders to stay away from Russia's celebration. But Russia's President Putin will not be cowed. In addition, Ukraine will not honor a ceasefire for the day.
Both chambers met today but NOT to conduct any "We The People" business (like passing the SAVE America Act) - instead they met to extend their "pro forma" vacation through Monday, May 11. By holding these "pro forma" meetings every 3 days, they can keep President Trump from making recess appointments while they are on vacation. These are just more games being played by Congress Members to stall the President's We The People agenda. Those going along with these shenanigans need to be primaried at their next election (or recalled if people would be willing to go through that process if the member is not up for reelection in November)!
The SENATE is still on a "pro forma" vacation - they will next convene on May 11, 2026 at 3pm.
The HOUSE is still on a "pro forma" vacation - they will next convene May 11, 2026 at 10:30am.
The Layoff Tracker 2026 – Recent Layoffs update:
- May 07, 2026: Freshworks plans to lay off about 500 employees globally as part of an AI-led restructuring.
- May 06, 2026: reAlpha Reduces Workforce by Approximately 25% and Consolidates Vendor Spend.
- May 05, 2026: Coinbase lays off nearly 700 workers in ‘AI-native’ restructuring.
- May 04, 2026: Nearly 800 Orlando workers lose jobs amid Spirit Airlines shutdown.
- May 02, 2026: Cognizant plans to cut about 4,000 jobs (about 1% of its workforce) under its “Project Leap” initiative to boost AI capabilities.
President Trump's Presidential Actions published in the Federal Register (FR) to date:
- 258 Executive Orders
- 141 Proclamations
- 137 Presidential Orders, Memoranda, Determinations, Permits, and Notices
On May 7, 2026, the FR published the following Presidential Documents:
- EO 14404 Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy (discussed in my May 2, 2026 ANP Article)
- Proclamation 11025 Jewish American Heritage Month, 2026 (discussed in my May 5, 2026 ANP Article)
- Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Central African Republic signed May 4, 2026 and sent straight to the FR for publication. This notice extends EO 13667 signed May 12, 2014 due to a marked breakdown of law and order; inter-sectarian tension; widespread violence and atrocities; and the often forced recruitment and use of children as soldiers. These actions threaten the peace, security, and stability of the region and extend to neighboring states. Therefore, this notice is being extended for another year.
- Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Stabilization of Iraq signed May 4, 2026 and sent straight to the FR for publication. This notice extends EO 13303 of May 22, 2003 due to the obstacles surrounding the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of peace and security in Iraq, and the development of political, administrative, and economic institutions in Iraq. These obstacles continue to pose an extraordinary threat to US national security as well as US foreign policy. Therefore, this notice is being extended for another year.
Before the American Revolutionary War, before Paul Revere (discussed in my April 16, 2026 ANP Article) made his midnight ride, before the Declaration of Independence, before the Boston Tea Party, there was the Stamp Act and the creation of the Sons of Liberty (discussed in my March 25, 2026 ANP Article). When delegates from 9 colonies protested "taxation without representation" in October of 1765, it forced the Stamp Act to be repealed on March 18, 1766 (discussed in my March 21, 2026 ANP Article). This led to the Townshend Revenue Acts, where between 1766 and 1767, the British again tried to tax the colonists with a variety of new taxes. These taxes were proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend. They included:
- The Revenue Act 1767 passed on 29 June 1767 with little fanfare. The Act would be used to pay salaries of governors and judges (with the hope that those being paid would remain loyal to Britain). Taxes were applied to imported glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. It also gave the supreme court in each colony the right to issue general warrants (writs of assistance) that allowed customs officers search private property looking for smuggled goods. However, these warrants violated Britain's right for citizens to be secure in their own private property. The British thought since colonists didn't like the "direct" tax of the Stamp Act, they would accept the "indirect" taxing of imports (goods not produced in the colonies) that colonists were only allowed to buy from Britain. They were wrong. Townshend explained that this would set a precedent for taxing the colonies. Once accepted, the tax could be expanded gradually until the colonies paid for themselves.
- The Commissioners of Customs Act 1767 passed on 29 June 1767 to create more effective means of enforcing compliance with trade regulations by creating a new Customs Board in Boston that would house 5 customs commissioners to start with more offices opening in other ports. The board would enforce shipping regulations and increase tax revenue. By housing the Customs Board within the colonies, Britain could more readily control tax collection and prosecute smugglers. The enhanced Customs operations in Boston led to many incidents and ultimately led to the British occupation of Boston and the Boston Massacre of 1770 (discussed in my March 13, 2026 ANP Article).
- The New York Restraining Act 1767 passed on 2 July 1767 was created to punish the Province of New York because they refused to comply with the 1765 Quartering Act. This act required New York authorities to house, feed, and provide supplies to British troops stationed in New York. New York resisted this act because it did not limit the number of troops and because the colony could not be taxed by Britain without the colony's consent.
- The Indemnity Act 1767 passed on 2 July 1767. This act was a response to the colonies smuggling tea from from Holland because it was cheaper than paying for the higher priced tea from the East India Company (EIC). Back then, all trade goods had to travel to Britain first, taxes paid, then exported elsewhere for sale. The act removed the taxes EIC was paying to re-export the tea, making the tea less expensive than what the colonists were smuggling from Holland.
- The Vice Admiralty Court Act 1768 passed on 8 March 1768 established the precedent that the British Parliament had the right to tax the colonies. Lord Charles Townshend died in September 1767, so he did not introduce this act. The act gave admiralty courts (rather than the colonial courts) jurisdiction over customs violations and smuggling. It added a 3 new courts, one each in Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston. The judges were appointed by the British crown and their salaries were paid from fines levied when they found someone guilty. All decisions were made by the judge. There was no option for a trial by jury, which was considered a fundamental right of British citizens. The person being prosecuted had to pay their own way to the court. Anyone who did not appear in court was automatically judged guilty. It behooved the judges to find people guilty and collect fines whenever they could regardless of the innocence of the defendant.
These acts did not create the instant uproar among the colonists that the Stamp Act did. Instead opposition spread over the following year. John Dickinson (discussed in my March 19, 2026 ANP Article) wrote 12 essays entitled Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (ironically, John was not a farmer, he was a lawyer who wrote well.) John argued that taxes were taxes and taxes imposed by the British Parliament to raise revenue were unconstitutional.
Boycotts were organized to put economic pressure on Britain. Effective January 1, 1768, merchants suspended the import of some British goods. Other colonial ports, including New York City and Philadelphia eventually joined the boycott. George Washington (discussed in my February 10, 2026 ANP Article) and George Mason organized the boycott for Virginia. The boycott started to fail because many merchants did not participate. The boycott ended in 1771.
British troops were sent to Boston and with them came the Customs Officials to staff the Boston Office. This escalation generated much resentment on the part of the colonists. On February 22, 1770, when Boston teenager Christopher Seider was killed by a customs employee the resentment escalated. By March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre happened in which 5 civilians were killed (discussed in my March 13, 2026 ANP Article) one of whom was Crispus Attucks (discussed in my December 11, 2025 ANP Article) who is considered the first death of the American Revolutionary War.
Also on March 5, 1770, a partial repeal of the Townshend Revenue Act was made, but they retained the tea tax. This set the stage for the Boston Tea Party.
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