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Microsoft founder Bill Gates used an appearance with the far-left co-hosts of ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday to complain about fellow billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to shutter USAID.

“Well, Elon, his private sector work, you know, has been very innovative, really fantastic,” Gates said following news that USAID offices had been closed and the charity’s funds frozen.

“A lot of private sector people, when they get into government, they don’t take the time necessarily to see what the good work is or why it’s structured the way it is, so I’m a little worried, particularly with this USAID stuff,” Gates continued.

“My foundation partners with USAID on nutrition and getting vaccines out, and, you know, there’s incredible people,” he added. “You know, they’re not actually worms that work there. So, you know, hopefully, we’ll get some of that work back in shape. In fact, if we don’t, you know, you could have literally millions of deaths.”

USAID has recently come under scrutiny as part of Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative to reduce government waste and spending, placing added focus on the record of Samantha Power, the agency’s administrator throughout much of the Biden administration, Fox News noted.

Power, who served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017 during the Obama administration after a role on his National Security Council, took leadership of USAID in the early days of the Biden administration. She was tasked with overseeing the tens of billions of dollars allocated for foreign aid.

“One of the most pressing challenges facing our nation is restoring and strengthening America’s global leadership as a champion of democracy, human rights, and the dignity of all people,” then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said in a statement at the time of Power’s appointment. “Few Americans are better equipped to help lead that work than Ambassador Samantha Power.”

Power was directly involved in the Obama administration’s surveillance of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and attempted to obtain Michael Flynn’s redacted identity through an “unmasking” request on at least seven occasions, as previously reported by Fox News Digital.

This came despite her testimony under oath before the House Intelligence Committee, where she claimed to have “no recollection” of ever making such a request, even once.

Supporters of Power argue that she has played a crucial role in delivering U.S. assistance to war-torn regions such as Ukraine and Gaza, as well as providing aid for humanitarian crises in countries like Haiti, Armenia, and Sudan.

USAID has faced growing criticism from Republicans over its alleged funding of coronavirus-related research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Additionally, the agency has come under scrutiny for millions of dollars in aid supporting LGBT rights abroad, as well as substantial funding for migrant crises in other countries.

This includes nearly $45 million earmarked for emergency food assistance and economic support for Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, Fox noted.

Musk announced in an audio-only message on X over the weekend that “we’re in the process” of “shutting down USAID.”

A Fox News Digital review of USAID’s recent history reveals that the agency has long been accused of financial mismanagement and corruption, well before Trump’s second administration. The spending that occurred under Power’s leadership is expected to remain a focal point of discussion among Republicans.

A 53-year-old Syrian national, Mahmoud Al Hafyan, was charged in November 2024 for allegedly diverting over $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid to terrorist groups, including Al-Nusrah Front, Fox reported.

Though he is still likely to be confirmed, Democrats postponed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on FBI director nominee Kash Patel on Thursday.

Democrats moved to “hold over” the nomination when the Senate Judiciary Committee met to decide whether to approve Patel, Forbes reported.

This means the committee’s vote will be postponed for a week. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the ranking member of the committee, argued Patel “does not have the temperament for the job.”

During a contentious hearing in the Senate last week, Patel dismantled the Democrat narrative regarding events leading up to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol Building.

The nominee battled with several Democrat senators during the hearing, but his most telling revelation came when he spoke to a much friendlier Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Patel blamed former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York for the trespassing that occurred on that day, claiming she was told about the dangers.

“Days in advance we were in the Oval Office on an unrelated national security matter with the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and myself, and the President authorized up to 20,000-plus National Guard men and women to secure any security measures necessarily related to the capital. We were moving to the fullest extent of the law before the requisite request came from a local governing authority days ahead of time,” Patel said during testimony.

“What were you doing on that day?” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz asked.

“On that day, specifically, responding to, preparing to mobilize and employ the National Guard once we got the lawful request from the local governing authority, which was the mayor of DC and the Speaker of the House,” Patel responded.

“While you were Chief of Staff at DOD, how many times did DOD approach Capitol Police and ask if they needed National Guard assistance?” Cruz asked.

“I believe those letters are well-documented. Numerous instances, and numerous of those instances, those requests were shut down,” the nominee responded.

“Now, am I correct that the Capital Sergeant at Arms said assistance was unnecessary?” Cruz asked.

“That’s correct, Senator,” Patel answered.

“Who did the Sergeant at Arms report to?”  the senator inquired.

“The speaker of the House,” Patel responded.

“That would have been Nancy Pelosi at the time. Is that correct?” Cruz pressed.

“Yes, Senator,” Patel said.

“Would that also be Chuck Schumer, then the Senate Majority Leader?” the senator said.

“The Sergeant at Arms, yes, Senator, reports up there,” the nominee replied.

Meanwhile, Patel remained upbeat despite facing intense questioning from lawmakers last week.

The nominee walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing late on Thursday night and told reporters that “it was a fantastic day” when asked how he thought the process was going.

The hearing got particularly heated when he got into a tense back-and-forth with Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar when she tried to smear him as being unqualified.

“Simply this: if the best attacks on me are going to be false accusations and grotesque mischaracterizations, the only thing this body is doing is defeating the credibility of the men and women at the FBI. I STOOD with them, here in this country, in every theater of war we have – I was on the ground in service,” Patel said.

“And any accusations that I would put political bias before the Constitution are grotesquely unfair and I will have you reminded I have been endorsed by over 300,000 law enforcement officers to become the next director of the FBI. Let’s ask them,” he added.

Patel rejected Democrats taking his old comments out of context to “score cheap political points.”

“In the collective, all of those statements are taken out of grotesque context,” he said.

Patel accused his critics of “intentionally putting false information into the public ether and creating more public discourse. “The only thing that will matter if I am confirmed as director of the FBI is a de-weaponized, depoliticized system of law enforcement completely devoted to rigorous obedience of the Constitution and a singular standard of justice,” he told the Senate panel.

Newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi will arrive for her first day at the Justice Department Wednesday after she was sworn in at the White House.

President Donald Trump joined Bondi in the Oval Office as she was sworn in to serve as attorney general by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Bondi issued a sweeping memo filled with new Justice Department directives immediately after being sworn in Tuesday evening that included cutting off funds to “sanctuary” jurisdictions that shield illegal immigrants from federal authorities.

Bondi has been a strong critic of sanctuary cities, particularly those led by Democrats, which refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. She has argued in the past that these policies undermine law enforcement and national security.

Bondi, in her memo, also directed the DOJ to identify and reassess all funding agreements with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that assist illegal immigrants, Fox News first reported, among other wide-ranging directives.

The memo includes a directive regarding “zealous advocacy,” where the new AG noted that the responsibility of DOJ attorneys includes “aggressively enforcing criminal laws passed by Congress, but also vigorously defending presidential policies and actions on behalf of the United States against legal challenges.”

Bondi recently shared her opinions about the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein client list in an interview with Fox News.

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Epstein had clients in such high positions that their names could potentially topple the political hierarchy overnight. In 2019, while awaiting prosecution for sex trafficking, Epstein passed away in his prison cell.

The list of customers who visited Epstein’s island, Little Saint James, in the U.S. Virgin Islands will eventually be made public by the incoming Trump administration, after being postponed for the previous four years under Joe Biden.

Below is a transcript of a recent interview on Fox News with host Sean Hannity:

GERAGOS: “And I’ve had countless clients that have been innocent, and we have proven it.”
Hannity: “What about Bill Clinton? How does he factor into this when we know he’s a liar, we know the issue of Monica Lewinsky? I’ve got to believe that a lot of Americans suspect there might be some truth to this, especially the number of times he was on the plane, which I believe contradicted his public statement, if I recall correctly correctly. Pam?”

GERAGOS: “Well, Sean — “

Hannity: “Hang on, Pam first. Pam?”

BONDI: “Well, we know he was on the plane not only a couple times, multiple times. He traveled internationally, internationally with Jeffrey Epstein, and he was on the plane called the Lolita Express because it supposedly had a bed in there where Jeffrey Epstein had young girls. He has been a friend of his, a continuing friend of his, for years and years. Contrast that with Donald Trump, who hasn’t spoken to him in many years, over a decade after he kicked him out of Mar-a-Lago for bad behavior. So that’s the difference there, and I think Americans see the two-tiered justice system. But, you know, we don’t know — they are saying Clinton has not been to his private island, but he’s traveled all over the world with Jeffrey Epstein.”
Hannity: “Over time, let’s see. If the judge has other information that would add context and texture to the list, I do believe the judge has an obligation to release it, especially because people’s names and reputations are at play here.”

In September 2024, Trump said that he would have “no problem” releasing more official files related to Epstein, including the late sex offender’s “client list.”

During an appearance on “The Lex Fridman Podcast,” Trump maintained that “a lot of big people” visited the infamous private island where numerous young women and underage girls were allegedly abused, but that he never went there.

“I don’t think – I mean, I’m not involved,” the Republican nominee for president said when host Lex Fridman suggested that he had shown “some hesitation” about releasing documents related to Epstein.

“I never went to his island, fortunately, but a lot of people did,” Trump continued.

When asked why so many powerful politicians, businesspeople, and members of the royal family have been connected to the multimillionaire pedophile, the former president claimed that Epstein was a “good salesman” who “had some nice assets that he’d throw around, like islands.”

Have you ever wandered through a cemetery and noticed a glint of metal resting atop a gravestone? Those small tokens, left by visitors, carry a deep sentiment that goes beyond their humble appearance. Each coin tells a story of honor, camaraderie, and remembrance.

The act of leaving coins on gravestones has a profound significance. It’s a way for people to pay their respects and honor individuals who have served their country through military service. When you come across these coins, you’re witnessing a tradition that speaks to the pride and appreciation we feel for those who dedicated their lives to protecting our nation.

But why coins, you might wonder? Each type of coin carries its own meaning, reflecting a unique connection between the visitor and the departed. Let’s uncover the emotions tied to each coin denomination:

Penny: A penny left on a gravestone symbolizes that someone has visited the final resting place. It’s a small yet poignant way of saying, “You are not forgotten.” This simple act bridges the gap between the living and the deceased, letting them know that their memory lives on.

Nickel: If you encounter a nickel on a gravestone, it signifies a special bond. The person who left it behind likely went through boot camp alongside the individual buried there. It’s a tribute to the shared experiences and the enduring camaraderie formed during their military training.

Dime: The presence of a dime carries a powerful message. It indicates that the visitor served together with the deceased military member. This coin represents a deep connection forged on the battlefield, highlighting the sacrifices made side by side.

Quarter: A quarter left on a gravestone reveals that a previous visitor was present when the soldier passed away. This coin holds the weight of shared grief and the memory of that somber moment. It’s a way to acknowledge the significance of being there in their final hours.

The tradition of leaving coins on gravestones is a remarkable one. It transcends words, allowing emotions to be expressed through these small tokens. For the families of those who served in the military, these coins carry immense significance. The knowledge that their loved ones are remembered and respected brings comfort during their times of reflection.

This tradition is a reflection of the enduring impact that military service has on individuals and their communities. It underscores the bonds formed in times of hardship and the unbreakable connection between those who have served. When you see these coins on gravestones, take a moment to acknowledge the stories they tell and the lives they honor.

From pennies to quarters, each coin represents a unique connection to the departed and the shared experiences that bind us all. The sacrifices made by military members echo through time, and their memories live on in the hearts of those who pay their respects. So, the next time you come across a coin on a gravestone, you’ll know that it carries a story of remembrance, camaraderie, and honor.

Kathy Bates got a lot of attention at the Golden Globes, as did many other actors who were there to cheer on others and to show up on the red carpet.

She is also someone who had a nice surprise for us. One of the reasons why Kathy Bates was at the Golden Globes was because of her role in Matlock.

She was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a television series drama, so she was there for a great reason

Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by President Trump as co-chair of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will not assume the role.

Hours after news broke, sources confirmed he was no longer affiliated with DOGE.

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, is expected to announce a campaign for Ohio governor next week. He previously helped create DOGE alongside Elon Musk but must step away due to the structure of the organization.

His move follows Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s decision to appoint Jon Husted to the Senate, spurring Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial ambitions.

Ramaswamy’s past presidential bid ended after a poor finish in the Iowa caucuses, and he became a vocal Trump supporter, which may enhance his gubernatorial prospects in the red state.

In the presidential election, not only did President-elect Donald Trump prevail over Vice President Kamala Harris, but he also triumphed over former President Barack Obama.

Throughout the entirety of Harris’s campaign, Obama was a staunch supporter of Harris, and he warned voters that the election of 2024 will be a struggle between character and beliefs rather than ideas.

The choice of the people is clear, however, given that Trump won the Electoral College with a resounding 312 to 226 margin. This victory was made possible in part by the fact that Trump became the first Republican to win the popular vote by nearly three million votes since former President George W. Bush in 2004.

The legacy of Barack Obama, the de facto head of the Democratic Party, has been severely harmed as a result of this decision, and the party will remain essentially impotent in Washington, District of Columbia, until at least the year 2026. 

Washington — House Republicans on Thursday blocked two Democratic resolutions that would have compelled the House Ethics Committee to release a potentially damaging report on its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, voting to refer the matter back to the committee.

Democratic Reps. Sean Casten of Illinois and Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced twin privileged resolutions, forcing floor action within two legislative days. In a 206 to 198 vote, all but one Republican voted to refer Casten’s

resolution back to the Ethics Committee. Cohen’s resolution met the same fate in a 204 to 198 vote, with one Republican voting with Democrats. Republican Rep. Tom McClintock of California was the only member to cross party lines.

In a statement, Casten accused his Republican colleagues of voting “to sweep these allegations under the rug and set an unfortunate precedent.” He said he would continue to pursue the report’s release. 

On January 29, Andy Beyer was waiting in the parking lot outside the Reagan National Airport, texting his wife, who was on American Airlines 5342 with their daughter Brielle, a 12-year-old cancer survivor who was a competitive figure skater.

But instead of greeting the girls he “loved more than anything,” he watched firetrucks blazing by, not realizing he had just lost his “soulmate” and “princess” to the deadly midair crash that claimed the lives of 67 people.

On January 29, Brielle, 12, was traveling with her mom, Justyna, from Kansas to her home in Northern Virginia, where she lived with her dad, Andy and baby brother, 6-year-old Kallen.

Brielle was part of a select, elite group of the nation’s top young figure skaters, and the mother-daughter duo were returning home after six days of intensive training in Wichita.

“Six days was the longest we had ever been apart. It was it was hard. I really missed them. I was really looking forward to give them a hug,” Beyer told NBC, adding that his daughter was “just meant to sparkle.”

It was a huge accomplishment for the young girl, who as a baby, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer “that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

The Washington Post reports that Brielle went through several surgeries, and spent some time on a ventilator.

Though Brielle was in recovery, she had some “residual nerve differences in her legs,” which made skating challenging, yet, nationally, she was still one of the top girls in her age group.

“This sport can be a grind, and it’s so important to find those moments where you are just filled with the joy of the whole thing,” Beyer, 44, told the Washington Post, adding the trip to Wichita “was one of those moments.”

“It was a big life goal of [Brielle’s], and she was so proud of herself. And Justyna was so proud of her, too,” Beyers adds of his wife, 42, who gave up her job in nursing to help their daughter realize her dreams.

‘Something was wrong’

After speaking with Justyna and Brielle every day, Beyers was excited to know the two were heading home.

The grieving father told the Washington Post that his wife texted him before the American Eagle Flight 5342 took off, reveling over the free glass of wine she received from a flight attendant.

While he and his son waited eagerly for the plane to land, he texted her, asking if they’d be landing soon.

But instead of reading a response text from Justyna, he watched emergency officials blazing by.

“Firetrucks started going by. At that point I knew something was wrong,” the teary-eyed father told CNN.

Deadly crash

About 9 p.m., the aircraft – part of the American Airlines group – collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

All 60 passengers and four crew members on board the commercial flight were killed, along with three soldiers on the helicopter.

‘Lived my life for them’

The day after the horrific crash, the heartbroken father shared an emotional post on Facebook, along with photos that shows the family enjoying time together.

“I’m still in shock, but I lost my soulmate and my princess last night. In case you didn’t know, Brielle was an amazing figure skater, among many other amazing things about her, and she had achieved one of her life goals of qualifying for the national development team for US Figure Skating.”

Beyers continues, “She and Justyna were on the flight that crashed returning from Wichita, where they had the high-performance camp…They were truly beautiful people inside and out.”

He ends the post writing, “I really lived my life for them, I loved them more than anything, and I’m going to miss them so much.”

Please send your very best wishes to the Beyers in the comments section below, along with those to all who lost their lives on American Airlines 5342.

The Grammys was a huge night for the world of music and its many artists, producers, and writers. Though there were no end of people to honor and praise for their contributions to music, hardly anyone now remembers anything that occurred after the red carpet.

Bianca Censori, Kanye West’s wife, decided that the night was all about her, disrespecting an entire industry by choosing to wear an outfit that was near-nude. In my opinion, she should never be welcomed back to the Grammy’s – or invited to any other big event, for that matter.

Censori became known to the world through her marriage to Kanye West, and has many times donned provocative outfits in public, flaunting her body and pushing the boundaries of what’s considered the usual social norm.

Now, the fact that she’s wearing clothes that reveal a lot of her body isn’t necessarily the end of the world. After all, fashion and the way we dress has changed a lot over the years, and that one has to always “cover up” is an outdated, obsolete way of thinking. However, there has to be a limit as to what – and when – to wear things (or not, as the case may be).

Alongside husband ‘Ye’, Bianca stole the spotlight at this past Sunday’s Grammy Awards, dropping her fur coat to reveal a transparent dress that exposed her entire body, both front and back. The true reason as to why she wore what she was wore isn’t known yet, but some users on social media have argued that it might have been Kanye who made the decision for her.

That’s a scary thought in and of itself. Controlling ones partner to such an extent is, of course, never acceptable, but since this theory has no evidence beyond mere rumor, we can park it there for now. Irrespective, Censori’s wardrobe choice became the focus of the entire awards show. Consider the fact that she wasn’t even close to being nominated for an award – she’s not an artist but a model, after all – and you begin to see the issue.

Over the years, we’ve seen many extraordinary outfits that have brought both positive and negative attention. Who can forget Lady Gaga’s “Meat Dress” at the 2010 MTV Music Awards, for example? Or Rihanna’s “Naked Dress” at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards?

Bianca Censori shows up “nude” at Grammy Awards

We should all be able to express ourselves in the way we want, but there has to be a limit as to how much flesh one can bare in public, as is true in real life. Should celebrities be spared from considering what’s appropriate when it comes to walking the red carpet? It’s a question worth bringing up and debating.

If you ask me, Bianca Censori made a fool out of herself by wearing the nude dress to the Grammy Awards, especially since she was there only by virtue of being the wife of Kanye West. Were she not, she would not have been invited in the first place.

Using such an event as a platform to promote yourself or create a buzz when it’s so far away from your profession is just wrong. Censori has more than 70,000 followers on Instagram, and as a celebrity in the world of social media today, it’s important for them to understand that they’re role models.

I’ll always champion individuals who choose to express themselves, but that doesn’t mean they have free rein to parade naked in front of hundreds of photographers.

The Grammys – and other big award shows, for that matter – should take this seriously and ban Censori from attending their shows for life. If nothing else, it would serve as evidence that we still have some morals left as a society.

I don’t want to sound like a grumpy old man, preaching about how people should cover up and refrain from showing any skin, crying that it was “better in the good old days.”

But in the end, where must draw a figurative line at some point, or else accept that the world has gone completely mad. If that line hasn’t been drawn already, this might be the ideal time to get the pen out.

President Donald Trump sounded a defiant and confident tone on Thursday after the leaders of Egypt and Jordan stated they would not accept and resettle Palestinian refugees from Gaza.

Earlier in the day, reports said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the Egyptian government supports “the Palestinian people’s insistence to remain on their land, defending their legitimate rights and respecting international law.” Voice of America reports that Egyptian public opinion is strongly against taking in refugees from the war-torn region.

The ministry also promised to reject “any infringement upon those inalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, annexation of land, or the eviction of the rightful owners through displacement or encouraging the transfer or uprooting of Palestinians from their land, whether temporarily or permanently.”

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi recently told a group of military officers that relocating Palestinians to the Sinai would be feasible, but the challenge would be gaining acceptance for such an idea among the Egyptian population, VOA reported.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also rejected Trump’s proposal, saying that “Palestine is for the Palestinians and Jordan is for the Jordanians and that the solution to the Palestinian problem is located on Palestinian soil and embodied by a Palestinian state.”

But during a question-and-answer session with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump waved off those statements when a reporter asked him about the situation.

“Mr. President, Egypt’s president and the King of Jordan have both said that they won’t take in displaced people from Gaza like you suggested. Is there anything you can do to make them do that? I mean, tariffs against those countries, for example?” the reporter asked.

“They will do it,” Trump said before pausing. “They will do it.”

“What makes you say that?” the reporter followed up.

“They’re going to do it, OK? We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it,” the president said.

On Monday aboard Air Force One, Trump also addressed the Egyptian and Jordanian refusals, saying that he had already been in contact with El-Sisi.

“I wish he would take some,” Trump told reporters, per the Washington Examiner. “We helped them a lot, and I’m sure he’d help us.”

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Trump referred to El-Sisi as “a friend of mine,” leading a nation in “a very rough part of the world, to be honest.”

“As they say, it’s a rough neighborhood,” Trump added. “But I think he would do it, and I think the king of Jordan would do it too.”

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza amid the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The region’s infrastructure and basic living conditions have been devastated by 15 months of intense warfare, leaving many areas uninhabitable and in dire need of humanitarian aid.

“There have been various civilizations on that strip. It didn’t start here. It started thousands of years before, and there’s always been violence associated with it,” Trump said Monday. “You could get people living in areas that are a lot safer and maybe a lot better and maybe a lot more comfortable.”

The president originally said during a press gaggle on Saturday that he would like to “build housing at a different location” for the refugees, either “temporarily or long-term,” with the help of El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II so that Palestinians “can maybe live in peace for a change.”

Countries and institutions critical of Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank fear that the displacement of Palestinian residents to other nations could serve as a precursor to the full annexation of the territory, the Examiner said.

Many continue to advocate for a two-state solution, which would establish a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, the mass relocation of Gazan residents is seen as a potential obstacle that could undermine efforts to achieve this long-sought resolution, the outlet added.

Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said during an interview with Fox News that the biggest reason Democrats like Sen. Adam Schiff of California and others “fear” Kash Patel to lead the FBI is because he knows their roles in perpetuating the “Russian collusion” hoax during President Donald Trump’s first term.

“I think, too they are very fearful of Kash Patel because Kash Patel knows what Adam Schiff and some of the others did with Russia collusion, and they know that he — knows the dirt on them, if you will, and I think they’re fearful of what he’s going to do and what he’s going to reveal and what he’s going to make known to the American people,” Blackburn told guest host Charlie Hurt on “Fox & Friends” Sunday

“And they recognize that one thing Kash Patel is very devoted to is bringing transparency to what’s going on in Washington,” Hurt replied, which drew agreement from Blackburn.

“So to what degree with RFK Jr.. like Tulsi Gabbard do you think Democrats might hold it against them?” Hurt asked. “Because I think you’re right. I think that one of the things that really, really enraging them is that these are former Democrats, and they feel like they have to — I think it just drives them crazy and makes them so mad that these are Democrats who found a way to work on common sense solutions with President Trump.”

Blackburn responded: “You’re exactly right about that. It does make them angry, and so they’re wanting to punish them and the way they can punish them is to withhold their vote or to slow down their nomination. RFK Jr.. is going to do a great job at HHS and I tell you one thing.

“He is going to help us find these 300,000 children. I’ve been trying to find these kids since it was 75,000, and the Biden Administration has never responded to where these children are. RFK is going to get in there. He’s going to rework CMS with Dr. [Mehmet] Oz. He is going to work with [Dr.] Marty Makary to straighten out the FDA. He’s going to work with Dr. [Jay] Bhattacharyaat NIH,” Blackburn said.

“You’re going to see transparency. People want to know what really happened with COVID. I think we’re going to be able to find out what happened,” she added.

“Notably, Bhattacharya was a critic of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and was the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, Murthy v. Missouri, where he argued that he was ‘unfairly censored’ on social media by the government for his views on the issue,” notes the Consortium of Social Science Associations regarding the professor of health policy at Stanford University’s nomination by Trump.

“While the case gained national attention, it was ultimately unsuccessful in a 6-3 ruling,” the organization noted further.

Of his NIH nominee, Trump said, “Dr. Bhattacharya will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.”

A former federal prosecutor, Patel was appointed as senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Select Committee on Intelligence in 2017 and later served as senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate at the U.S. National Security Council in 2019.

He previously worked as a senior aide to then-Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) during Nunes’ tenure as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. In that role, Patel played a pivotal part in assisting Republicans with investigations into Trump and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Patel played a key role in drafting the 2018 Nunes memo, which accused the FBI of misconduct in its application for a surveillance warrant on a Trump 2016 campaign aide.

A man was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service outside the White House after he climbed an outer fence on the South Grounds.

The entire incident, which occurred on February 3 at approximately 4:20 p.m., was captured on video by witness David Stanley. In his post on X, Stanley claimed that the man passed him, yelled, “F*** it,” and started to scale the fence.

The suspect’s identity has not yet been made public, and it is unclear whether he is being charged. David Stanley is credited with the video.

Stanley reports that rooftop snipers were “scurrying around” and K9s were racing on the lawn when Secret Service officers arrived on the scene of the climb.

After that, our officers took the person into custody. As of right now, the Secret Service has not disclosed the man’s identity or the reason he started scaling the fence.

Mission support staff, uniformed officers, special agents, and cutting-edge security measures guard the 18-acre White House complex.

According to Secret Service protocol, the agency will review protective operations about this incident, including security measures and response. Whether the suspect will be charged is still up in the air.

*Note: Video contains some profanity*

WATCH:

The Secret Service has “deep flaws” that allowed the attack at the Trump campaign rally, according to an independent panel that reviewed the July assassination attempt against then-candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The panel also called for “fundamental reform” of the agency to fulfill its mission of protecting top government officials worldwide.

The independent review panel noted in a letter signed by all four members that it had discovered “numerous mistakes” during its investigation that resulted in the attempted assassination of Trump, but also “deeper systemic issues that must be addressed with urgency.”

“The Secret Service as an agency requires fundamental reform to carry out its mission,” the members said. “Without that reform, the Independent Review Panel believes another Butler can and will happen again.”

The panel dedicated its work to Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the shooting, and James Copenhaver and David Dutch, who were injured, as well as their families.

“These actions will be responsive not only to the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt but, importantly, to what the Independent Review Panel describes as systemic and foundational issues that underlie those failures,” the members said.

The group also cited “deeper concerns” it had discovered regarding the Secret Service, such as a “troubling lack of critical thinking” by Secret Service personnel in the days leading up to and following the assassination attempt, “corrosive cultural attitudes” regarding resources, and a “lack of clarity” regarding who has security ownership of a protectee’s site.

It criticized Secret Service leadership for what the panel claimed was a “insufficiently experienced-based approach” by Trump’s detail regarding the choice of agents to carry out security-critical tasks and a failure to assume responsibility for security planning and execution at the Butler rally.

The breakdowns “reveal deep flaws in the Secret Service, including some that appear to be systemic or cultural,” according to the report.

It recommended new Secret Service leadership with outside agency experience and a return to the agency’s “core protective mission” to address the problems the panel had identified.

“The Secret Service must be the world’s leading governmental protective organization,” according to the report. “The events at Butler on July 13 demonstrate that, currently, it is not.”

This comes as President Donald Trump nominated Sean Curran, the head of his personal Secret Service security detail, to serve as director of the U.S. Secret Service.

Curran, one of several quick-thinking agents who hurried onstage to defend Trump during an attempted assassination on July 13, was already anticipated to be appointed to the role.

Trump called the appointment of Curran an “honor” in a Truth Social post.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tore into reporters during a gaggle when many continued to scream and shout questions at two Trump administration officials.

Leavitt attended a gaggle with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz at the Stakeout Location in front of the White House as they took questions about several foreign policy issues.

After reporters were screaming questions so loudly that Waltz and Witkoff could not respond, Leavitt emerged from behind them and scolded the media.

“Guy, please. Let’s act like adults here. They are generously offering their time to answer your questions. You don’t need to scream at them like a bunch of school children,” Leavitt said.

WATCH:

Leavitt made headlines on Tuesday when she announced that the first flights carrying illegal aliens to be housed at Guantanamo Bay were officially “underway.”

During an interview on Fox Business, Leavitt told host Stuart Varney that President Donald Trump was not “messing around” with his plan to deport violent illegal aliens from the United States and return them to their home countries.

“He’s no longer going to allow America to be a dumping ground for illegal criminals from nations all over this world,” Leavitt said.

“Venezuela as well has agreed to repatriation flights and Colombia also agreed to cooperate with the repatriation of illegal Colombian nationals that we have found in the interior of our country,” Leavitt added. “And I can also confirm that today the first flights from the United States to Guantanamo Bay with illegal migrants are underway.”

Leavitt also addressed New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy suggesting earlier this week about housing an undocumented immigrant in his home. The governor recently walked back his comments that he had invited an illegal immigrant to live with him.

“I will say that this administration will hold Democrat governors and leaders across the country accountable if they break the law, if they harbor illegal aliens, or if they are not abiding by the federal immigration laws,” Leavitt warned.

WATCH:

Leavitt shredded the legacy media on Monday night for the way it mocked President Trump and many conservatives during the height of the COVID pandemic when the president and others said they believed that the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Her comments came after Trump’s new CIA director, John Ratcliffe, confirmed that intelligence indicates that the virus originated from the lab.

“Many years too late, the Biden administration had a chance to let the American people know the truth about that, and for some reason, they chose not to,” Leavitt said during a White House press briefing this week.

Ratcliffe discussed the discrepancy in an interview with Breitbart News.

“I know from conversations with the president about where his priorities are and where he wants things to be as it concerns foreign threats to America’s national security posture, and it starts with China,” Ratcliffe said. “One of the things that I’ve talked about a lot is addressing the threat from China on a number of fronts, and that goes back to why a million Americans died and why the Central Intelligence Agency has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID.”

“That’s a day-one thing for me,” he said. “I’ve been on record, as you know, in saying I think our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictates that the origins of COVID was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But the CIA has not made that assessment or at least not made that assessment publicly. So I’m going to focus on that and look at the intelligence and make sure that the public is aware that the agency is going to get off the sidelines.”

Former Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who turned against then-President Donald Trump during his first term and joined then-Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, could be forced to provide testimony under oath to a GOP-led House committee despite being given a pre-emptive pardon by former President Joe Biden.

Shortly after gaveling in their slim majority last month, at the direction of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Republicans formed a new committee to examine the machinations and workings of the January 6 Committee featuring Cheney as co-chair and a panel comprised chiefly of Democrats hand-picked by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

Reports over the past couple of years have exposed the committee as having been highly politicized rather than focused on what led to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The committee’s members, it turns out, concentrated on placing all of the blame on Trump while allegedly hiding evidence to the contrary.

During the committee’s proceedings, Cheney was vocal in her criticism of Trump. In a June 2022 address, she admonished her party members, stating, “There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.”

In December 2024, the House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight, chaired by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), released a report suggesting that Cheney be investigated for potential witness tampering. The report accused her of engaging in unethical communications with former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson during the committee’s investigation.

On January 20, just before leaving office, Biden granted preemptive pardons to members of the January 6th Committee, including Cheney, to shield them from potential political retaliation by the incoming administration. Biden stated that these pardons should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing, but rather as an acknowledgment of their service.

However, legal experts have highlighted an important consequence of presidential pardons: they strip the recipient of the ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination for pardoned offenses.

The Fifth Amendment ensures that individuals cannot be forced to testify against themselves in criminal cases. However, a long-standing legal precedent established in the 1896 Supreme Court case Brown v. Walker dictates that once a pardon is granted, the recipient can no longer claim the privilege, as the pardon effectively removes the criminal liability tied to the offense.

The Cowboy State Daily was the first to report on Cheney’s potential legal exposure and the impact the presidential pardon could have on her ability to avoid testifying. In Cheney’s case, this could mean that if she is subpoenaed by the new subcommittee, she may be legally required to testify about her role in the January 6 investigation.

Journalist Matt Taibbi said during an interview with former Fox News star Tucker Carlson on his podcast late last month that Biden’s preemptive pardons for Cheney, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others could wind up backfiring under certain circumstances.

“The thing is, about these pardons, they’re a mistake. If you want to know what’s happening, they just made it a lot easier for us to find out,” Taibbi said regarding suspicions that Biden preemptively pardoned several individuals who likely were involved in some form of criminal activity.

Taibbi said that according to legal experts he has spoken with, the pardons would not allow them to plead the Fifth or cover them if they are caught lying under oath.

“Now, once the pardon’s delivered, the person can’t plead the Fifth. If they are brought before a grand jury, they can’t take the Fifth anymore, or if they’re brought before a congressional committee, they can’t evoke their right against self-incrimination, so they have to say something,” the journalist explained.

“And this is what’s so interesting because I’ve been talking to criminal defense attorneys, people who are former Senate investigators, some current Senate investigators, and they all kind of said the same thing,” he said. “It’s so illogical to give somebody a pardon if you’re trying to cover up things that the only reason you would really do it is if there are very serious crimes involved, right?”

First-term GOP Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas is calling on the Trump administration to send Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) back to her homeland of Somalia.

“America would be a better place if @IlhanMN were deported back to Somalia,” Gill wrote Tuesday on the X platform.

Included in Gill’s tweet was a video clip featuring Omar, where she appears to be coaching fellow Somalis living in the U.S. — perhaps illegally — how to resist federal immigration officials. The video was posted by conservative influencer Greg Price, who wrote: “Ilhan Omar is now hosting workshops for Somalians living in the country illegally to advise them on how to avoid being deported.”

Several X users backed Gill.

“100%! She’s anti-American as they come. She pledged allegiance to the United States and has only ever acted against it. She’s a fraud, liar, and traitor to this country!” one wrote.

“Isn’t this against the law? Expel her!” said another.

Another user offered: “She is committing federal crimes by telling illegal immigrants how to avoid ice. She deserves to be investigated and prosecuted.”

Later, Gill wrote that “we should have never let Ilhan Omar into our country.”

A spokesperson for Gill told The Hill, “Representative Omar’s conduct raises questions about to whom she is most loyal- the American people or illegal aliens from Somalia. Representative Gill simply stated that it is disgraceful for a sitting Congresswoman and US citizen to facilitate the invasion of our country by illegal alien Somalis.”

In the clip, Omar outlined what Somalians who are “undocumented or who their documentation might have lapsed” should do if they are questioned by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

“You are not obligated to answer their questions. Just state that your are advised by a lawyer not to answer questions,” Omar told the reporter. “Disclosure of your name, immigration status, and the mode of entry is not mandatory. Learn the laws and prepare yourself and refrain from disclosing information that you prefer them not to know.”

Omar’s instructions come as President Donald Trump’s nascent administration gets to work on his campaign pledge of implementing mass deportations, beginning first with illegal migrant criminals. Border czar Tom Homan, who spent decades as a Border Patrol officer and senior federal immigration official, has said that while criminal aliens are the administration’s first priority, anyone found to be in the country illegally is subject to arrest and deportation.

“In sanctuary cities, expect a lot of collateral arrests. I mean, not priority criminal arrests. We can’t get the bad guy in jail. That means we have to go into the communities and find them, and there may be others. We expect a lot of collateral arrests,” Homan said in December, before he and Trump took office

“There’s over 700,000 criminal aliens with criminal convictions,” Homan added. “ICE is going to do what they’re good at.”

“We’re starting across the country on the same day” that Trump takes office, he said.

“Twenty-four [ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations] field offices — some cover two or three states,” Homan added. “Every field office will be given the direction that they are to begin looking for, arresting, detaining, removing those in the United States that have been arrested for a crime.”

Also in December, the border czar obliterated CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during a tense interview about the administration’s mass deportation operation.

During an interview on “The Source,” Homan held his ground when Collins asked about ICE agents going after illegal aliens hiding out in schools, churches, and hospitals so they could avoid being deported.

“What is the standard, I guess, to go into an elementary school?” Collins asked. “Because what we had heard from immigration advocates is that this is going to provide a chilling effect to parents in the school drop-off line or something of that matter.”

“It shouldn’t be a chilling effect unless your child is a terrorist or a public safety threat. If they are a public safety threat, a national security threat, they should be chilled. They should be afraid, because we’re looking for them,” Homan responded.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a step closer to becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services on Tuesday.

In a 14-13 party-line vote, the Senate Finance Committee advanced Kennedy’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services to the full Senate. The vote was in doubt following tense hearings last week, where GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor, expressed uncertainty about supporting Kennedy, according to CBS.

On Tuesday, Cassidy stated that he reached his final decision on Kennedy with assistance from Vice President J.D. Vance, who is a former colleague of Cassidy in the Senate.

“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy wrote on X Tuesday morning.

“I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” he wrote.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) stated that Kennedy embodies the change the nation needs.

“Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, will have the opportunity to deliver much needed change to our nation’s health care system,” he said, according to the New York Post. “He has spent his career fighting to end America’s chronic illness epidemic and has been a leading advocate for health care transparency, both for patients and for taxpayers.”

The chairman noted further that RFK Jr. answered more than 900 questions from the panel.

Cassidy was concerned about Kennedy’s opposition to vaccines and his past comments linking vaccines to autism, according to NBC.

President Donald Trump touched on the rise in autism in a Tuesday post on Truth Social.

Trump wrote, “20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT.”

An organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence ramped up a pressure campaign late last month to convince Republican senators to reject RFK Jr.’s nomination to become secretary of Health and Human Services.

Pence — who served as Trump’s vice president in his first term — is opposed to RFK Jr. due to his previous support for abortion.

“Whatever the merits of RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again initiative—indeed, whatever other qualities a nominee might possess—an HHS Secretary must have a firm commitment to protect unborn children, or else bend under the pressure and pushback surrounding these daily, critical decisions,” Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff, wrote in a letter to senators.

“While RFK Jr. has made certain overtures to pro-life leaders that he would be mindful of their concerns at HHS, there is little reason for confidence at this time,” they wrote.

This marks the second formal effort by Pence and his organization to block Kennedy’s confirmation. Shortly after Trump announced Kennedy’s nomination, Pence issued a statement urging senators to reject him due to his past support for abortion, The Hill reported.

Kennedy, who initially launched a 2024 presidential campaign as a Democrat, had endorsed a ban on abortion after the first trimester but soon backtracked. He also expressed opposition to banning abortion before fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

On his campaign website, Kennedy said he is “a firm supporter of the principles laid out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade” and that “if the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore abortion rights, he will support legislation to accomplish the same.”

Kennedy reassured Republicans by stating that his personal views are irrelevant and that he will implement all the anti-abortion policies from the first Trump administration.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fell down the stairs at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, prompting new concerns about his health.

Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram broke the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Fox confirms. McConnell falls down Senate stairs after voting to confirm Scott Turner as HUD Secretary. Unclear about injuries. But Fox is told he appears to be ok. McConnell was helped up by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK),” Pergram tweeted.

Several on social media last month called on McConnell to step down after being photographed on looking weak after he hurt himself the day before by falling and hurting himself.

The 82-year-old leader of the Senate Republicans has had several health problems over the years, including several falls, one of which led to a concussion.

When the Republican fell, it shocked everyone in the Capitol. The press rushed to his office to see the leader and make sure he was okay. An image of McConnell went viral online after his fall, as someone can be seen pushing the top Republican in a wheelchair.

McConnell’s spokesperson provided an update after the Kentucky Republican fell late last year.

“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” a McConnell spokesman said.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), who will succeed McConnell as Senate GOP leader in January, told reporters following the weekly Senate GOP policy luncheon that McConnell is “fine” and “in his office.” He referred any questions about McConnell to the senator’s staff.

Medical staff with a wheelchair were reportedly called to assist the senator after his fall. Republican Sen. John Barrasso, the incoming whip, told the Daily Mail that McConnell “is fine.”

McConnell, who was examined by a medical team, “has been cleared to resume his schedule,” his office said.

The outgoing Senate Republican leader has had several health scares in recent years.

Last year, McConnell revealed that he’s “not leaving the Senate” and that he’s focused on combating the Republican Party’s “isolationist movement,” which some viewed as a shot at President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming team.

During an interview with WHAS radio host Terry Meiners, McConnell vowed to use his remaining time in the Senate to hit back against GOP colleagues who aim to rein in U.S. support for foreign allies such as Israel and Ukraine.

Despite his plans to step down as party leader, McConnell said, “I’m not leaving the Senate.” He added, “I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.”

McConnell mentioned Ukraine’s fight against Russia, a cause to which the US has allocated tens of billions of dollars.

“The symbol, lately, is ‘are we gonna help Ukraine or not?’ And I think it’s extremely important that we do that,” McConnell said.

Meiners noted that Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul has criticized McConnell and said he is out of touch with the people in Kentucky.

“Paul would be the first one to say that he’s an isolationist. He has been all along. This is not anything new for him. And he and I have always disagreed on this kind of issue,” McConnell said, referring to Paul.

McConnell said that he finds it “more troublesome” that others appear to be “heading in that direction, making arguments that I think are easily refuted.”

He added, “We’re not losing any of our troops, the Ukrainians are the ones doing the fighting. If the Russians take Ukraine, some NATO country would be next and then we will be right in the middle of it.”

Several GOP senators are already planning for a post-Mitch McConnell world after they have grown increasingly frustrated with how he’s done his job and are confident that the party’s next Senate leader will be better.

The senators told The Daily Caller that his walled-off, McConnell-centric style of leadership is no longer appropriate in today’s political climate, adding that most Republicans in the chamber believe they should work together.

McConnell revealed in late February his decision to relinquish his role as Senate Republican leader come November.

The Kentuckian stated his intention to fulfill his term, concluding in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.”

Newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi will arrive for her first day at the Justice Department Wednesday after she was sworn in at the White House.

President Donald Trump joined Bondi in the Oval Office as she was sworn in to serve as attorney general by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

“I will restore integrity to the Justice Department and I will fight violent crime throughout this country and throughout this world and make America safe again,” Bondi said.

To set the tone for her tenure as the nation’s top law enforcement official, Bondi will take several swift and dramatic steps on her first day in office to look into and reverse legal actions taken by the Biden administration, according to people familiar with her plans who spoke to CNN.

“Those actions will be a series of department-wide memos and orders, a law enforcement official said, that officials hope will shift the narrative coming out of the Justice Department away from the January 6 pardons and FBI employee purges that have led the headlines,” CNN reported.

According to sources who spoke to CNN, Bondi is anticipated to retract memoranda that were released during the Biden administration, including one from the FBI field office in 2023 that appeared to indicate the agency was pursuing “radical traditionalist” Catholics. Though it was nearly immediately removed, the memo—which then-Attorney General Merrick Garland described as “appalling”—was never formally withdrawn.

Bondi will also rescind a 2021 memo from Garland that addressed the “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” levied at schools, sources said.

The new AG is also anticipated to mandate an examination of the over 1,500 criminal cases related to January 6.

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted to confirm Bondi late on Tuesday night to serve as attorney general following her nomination to the role by Trump.

Bondi was confirmed on a 54-46 vote by the full Senate.

Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, testified before the Judiciary Committee in a confirmation hearing last month.

“If confirmed, I will fight everyday to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice and each of its components,” Bondi said. “The partisanship, the weaponization, will be gone. America will have one tier of justice for all.”

Bondi made waves when she clashed with some of the committee’s Democrat members, including California Sen. Adam Schiff.

During his questioning, Schiff tried to secure a commitment from Bondi that she would essentially oppose her boss, the president, on certain pardons that Trump has said he is looking to grant, including many Americans convicted of low-level crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

“Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice to the President?” Schiff pressed.

Bondi replied, “Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.”

The newly elected senator pressed further and questioned Bondi’s ability to handle the workload. “And will you be able to review hundreds of cases on day one?” he asked.

“I will look at every file I am asked to look at,” she said before Schiff then insinuated that she won’t because she wouldn’t have the time, which set Bondi off and led her to bring up the fact that Schiff, as a former member of the House Intelligence Committee, was censured by the chamber shortly after Republicans took control following the 2022 elections.

“You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!” Bondi fired back as Schiff talked over her.

The tension escalated further when Schiff turned his attention to an apparent investigation involving former Wyoming Republican and Jan. 6 Committee co-chair Liz Cheney.

A GOP-led subcommittee claimed that Cheney secretly communicated with witness Cassidy Hutchinson through encrypted apps, circumventing Hutchinson’s attorney. The panel has called on the FBI to investigate possible legal violations.

Cheney has denied the allegations, describing them as false and politically motivated to shield Donald Trump. The FBI has yet to confirm whether it will act on the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Schiff asked, “I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney.” Before pivoting to criticize California’s crime rate, Bondi replied, “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.

If her previous remarks are any indication, Bondi might be the driving force behind the long-awaited public release of Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. In a recent interview with Fox News, she shared her opinions about the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein client list, suggesting it should be made public.

Also, in September, Trump said that he would have “no problem” releasing more official files related to Epstein, including the late sex offender’s “client list.”

Epstein had clients in such high positions that their names could potentially topple the political hierarchy overnight. In 2019, while awaiting prosecution for sex trafficking, Epstein died under controversial circumstances in his prison cell.

A House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday descended into chaos after Democratic lawmakers were prevented from subpoenaing billionaire Elon Musk.

After Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) started cutting federal budgets and executive branch staff, Democrats went into a state of panic.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) moved to subpoena Musk before the committee on Wednesday, claiming that Musk was trying to “dismantle federal agencies, fire people, transfer them, offer them early retirement, and have sweeping changes to agencies without any congressional review.”

The motion was promptly dismissed by Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), which infuriated Democratic members of the committee, including Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM).

Below is a transcript of the brief exchange:

STANSBURY: Mr. Chairman. I think it’s outrageous that this committee will not even entertain a motion to subpoena-

COMER: State your point of order! That’s not a point of order!

STANSBURY: -Somebody who is breaking the law and dismantling our federal agencies and firing federal employees…

COMER: Out of order!

STANSBURY: And you will not even entertain a motion to bring him in front of the Oversight Committee?!

COMER: …Miss Stansbury you are out of order! You know you’re out of order! You know the rules of this committee.

STANSBURY: Mr. Elon Musk is out of order!

WATCH:

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced questions on Monday about whether Elon Musk had received security clearance or passed a background check.

“Can you confirm that Elon Musk is a special government employee?” asked CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins. “And what kind of security clearance does he have?”

“I can confirm he’s a special government employee. I can also confirm that he has abided by all applicable federal laws. As for his security clearance, I’m not sure, but I can check back with you,” Leavitt responded.

Collins pressed, “Did he pass a background check, do you know?” That led the press secretary to respond, “I don’t know about the security clearance, but I can check.”

Pressed further as to whether she knew if anyone on Musk’s team had received a security clearance, Leavitt again responded, “I don’t, no, but again, I can check on that for you.”

Also Monday, CNN reported that Musk’s designation as a special government employee means he “is not a volunteer but also not a full-time federal employee.” The outlet also reported that an unnamed source claimed that Musk had been given “a top-secret security clearance.”

CNN guest and attorney Arthur Aidala argued last month that Musk shouldn’t need a background check to work in government because he had “gotten us into space” and “gotten us to the moon.”

On that point, Musk vowed in January to bring home two astronauts who have been stranded in space for nearly eight months “as soon as possible” and criticized the Biden White House for failing to retrieve them sooner.

The SpaceX CEO and head of the Department of Government Efficiency revealed in a social media post that President Donald Trump personally requested his help in rescuing astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The pair has been in space since last June on what was originally planned as a weeklong mission.

Plans to use a SpaceX capsule for their return had been in place since Biden’s presidency, but the mission was repeatedly delayed, the New York Post reported.

The two NASA pilots traveled to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner, which was Boeing’s first flight into space. However, issues arose with the capsule, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. As such, NASA ordered the Starliner back to Earth last year after technicians determined it was not safe to have humans aboard.

“The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @SpaceStation as soon as possible. We will do so,” Musk wrote on his social media app, X, Tuesday evening. “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

NASA had initially planned for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule by February. However, the mission was pushed back to March or early April due to delays.

While the SpaceX capsule designated for their return is already in orbit, Musk’s company postponed the launch of the replacement crew, who must first arrive at the space station before Wilmore and Williams can depart, The Post noted.

The outlet said that typically, NASA likes to have overlapping crews at the station for an easier transition. SpaceX, meanwhile, postponed the launch of its capsule to work on it.

Initially, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were tapped to lead DOGE, though Ramaswamy has since bowed out to run for governor of Ohio.

Both were vocal throughout Trump’s campaign about the need to reduce the size and power of the federal government.

Over the years, they have developed mutual trust and support, and now they cannot be separated.

Since assuming this prominent role for the second time following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, has continued to attract significant media attention.

Every aspect of her life has been scrutinized, from her dietary preferences to her fitness regimen. The media has also focused on her close friends and family.

One particular area of public curiosity revolves around a question: Does Melania have a confidante with whom she can share her thoughts freely? The answer is affirmative.

You may have encountered her name in the media previously, and she is likely familiar to many. However, she is not an actress, singer, or other celebrity. Ines Knauss, Melania’s sister residing in Slovenia, is indeed her closest friend.

Ines, being the elder sibling, prefers to maintain a low profile away from the public eye. Consequently, little is known about her or her family. She is married to a businessman and has children. Due to her aversion to publicity, the media seldom covers her personal or professional life. Although Melania and Ines do not frequently appear together in public, their positive relationship is well acknowledged.

Melania confides in Ines about everything. She serves as Melania’s most trusted ally in both personal and professional matters. Melania often seeks her sister’s advice on fashion choices.

Ines, being the elder, has also provided guidance to Melania on parenting Barron, her son. Ines makes an effort to visit her sister whenever possible, and when in-person meetings are not feasible, they maintain regular communication through social media and other means. They strive to nurture their strong bond and continue to be each other’s most significant source of support.

Cystitis is a bacterial infection of the urinary system. It is more common in women; around 20% of women experience at least one episode of cystitis in their lifetime.

The reason it is more common in women than in men is due to the urethra; in women, it is shorter, so bacteria travel a shorter distance.

That’s why it’s important to maintain proper hygiene.This condition is often transmitted through contact with another person’s bodily fluids.

For this reason, it is essential to consider what happens when you or your partner urinate in the shower.

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Pam Bondi to serve as attorney general following her nomination to the role by President Donald Trump.

Bondi was confirmed on a 54-46 vote by the full Senate.

This comes as Senate Democrats postponed the vote by one week.

The Judiciary Committee announced last week that it had canceled its scheduled hearing when members would have had the opportunity to vote to move Bondi’s nomination to the entire Senate.

“Per Judiciary Committee Rule I.3, any member of the Committee may request an item on the Committee’s agenda be held over for a minimum of seven days. Holds are common practice in the Senate Judiciary Committee,” the notice said.

“Pursuant to this rule, the Minority will hold Bondi’s nomination for seven days. As a result of this hold, which goes into effect tomorrow, the Committee will not meet in person for this week’s executive business meeting,” the advisory added.

Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, testified before the Judiciary Committee in a confirmation hearing last month.

“If confirmed, I will fight everyday to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice and each of its components,” Bondi said. “The partisanship, the weaponization, will be gone. America will have one tier of justice for all.”

Bondi made waves when she clashed with some of the committee’s Democrat members, including California Sen. Adam Schiff.

During his questioning, Schiff tried to secure a commitment from Bondi that she would essentially oppose her boss, the president, on certain pardons that Trump has said he is looking to grant, including many Americans convicted of low-level crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

“Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice to the President?” Schiff pressed.

Bondi replied, “Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.”

The newly elected senator pressed further and questioned Bondi’s ability to handle the workload. “And will you be able to review hundreds of cases on day one?” he asked.

“I will look at every file I am asked to look at,” she said before Schiff then insinuated that she won’t because she wouldn’t have the time, which set Bondi off and led her to bring up the fact that Schiff, as a former member of the House Intelligence Committee, was censured by the chamber shortly after Republicans took control following the 2022 elections.

“You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!” Bondi fired back as Schiff talked over her.

The tension escalated further when Schiff turned his attention to an apparent investigation involving former Wyoming Republican and Jan. 6 Committee co-chair Liz Cheney.

A GOP-led subcommittee claimed that Cheney secretly communicated with witness Cassidy Hutchinson through encrypted apps, circumventing Hutchinson’s attorney. The panel has called on the FBI to investigate possible legal violations.

Cheney has denied the allegations, describing them as false and politically motivated to shield Donald Trump. The FBI has yet to confirm whether it will act on the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Schiff asked, “I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney.” Before pivoting to criticize California’s crime rate, Bondi replied, “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.

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With just days left before his inauguration, a photo of Donald Trump and Melania Trump sharing a kiss has taken the internet by storm, sparking a wide range of reactions online.

The undated image shows the couple locking lips during a baseball game. The photo is garnering attention at a time when Melania has largely stayed out of the public eye, making few appearances alongside her husband during the 2024 presidential campaign. This rare moment captured on social media has many questioning the dynamics between the Trumps, especially considering recent media reports suggesting a growing distance between the two.

After the photo hit social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reactions flooded in. Supporters of the couple were quick to praise the affectionate display, with one user writing, “Now THAT is how to handle the kiss cam kiss.” Another excitedly added, “32 days until these 2 are back in the White House!” A third simply posted, “That’s my President!!!!” These comments reflect the positive reception of the moment, particularly among Trump’s base.

However, the image also invited its fair share of critics. Some pointed out that this moment might contradict the media’s portrayal of Melania and Donald’s relationship, with speculation that the couple’s bond may not be as strong as once thought. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of comments seem to reflect support for the couple’s closeness, with many calling it a sweet gesture.

The Trumps were last in the headlines together during the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier this year, when Donald Trump, after receiving the Republican nomination for the 2024 election, shared a kiss with Melania. This public moment sparked discussions about their relationship, showing the continued interest in their personal life.

In another moment this week, Trump caught the public’s eye again, this time at the Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach. His distinctive “hat hair” had social media buzzing, with many initially thinking he had debuted a new, sleek haircut. However, it was quickly revealed that the unusual appearance was simply the result of his trademark “hat hair” – a familiar look for the former president.

As the countdown to his inauguration continues, Donald Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, are set to be sworn in on January 20 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The couple’s every move continues to fuel conversation and speculation, keeping them in the public eye as they prepare for another term in office.

Sources: News 18

Investigators examining the black box data from the recently crashed aircraft have discovered a major discrepancy that could offer critical insight into the cause of the tragic collision.

Preliminary findings from the investigation into the fatal crash involving an American Airlines CRJ-700 jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which resulted in the loss of 67 lives, point to a significant altitude discrepancy at the time of the incident, according to DailyMail

The jet’s flight recorder revealed it was flying at approximately 325 feet, while data from the control tower indicated the helicopter was at 200 feet. This 125-foot discrepancy is now being closely examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as part of their investigation into the fatal incident.

Investigators are exploring several potential causes for the conflicting altitude readings, including whether there were errors in the reported altitudes, if the helicopter exceeded its maximum allowed altitude of 200 feet for its flight path, and how the crew’s use of night-vision goggles may have affected the situation.

Recorded alerts from air traffic control to both the helicopter and the airplane, along with the aircraft’s last-second evasive maneuvers, are being analyzed to further understand the dynamics of the incident.

“That’s what our job is, to figure that out,” NTSB member Todd Inman said, according to DailyMail.com, as he exhibited some frustration with reporters who pressed him about the recorded altitude discrepancy. He added that there was some difference of opinion among NTSB investigators as to whether the discrepancy should have been revealed before they had more information, the outlet reported.

Investigators are working to reconcile the differing altitude readings with data from the helicopter’s black box, which has been delayed because the recorder was waterlogged after falling into the Potomac River.

“We currently don’t have the readout from the Black Hawk, so we cannot provide information about the altitude at which the helicopter was flying,” Inman noted, adding that “obviously an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment.”

“Some wanted to give us hugs. Some are just mad and angry,” Inman said in reference to family members of the victims. “They are just all hurt. And they still want answers, and we want to give them answers.”

“Our job is to find the facts,” Inman continued. “More importantly, our job is to make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen again – regardless of what anyone may be saying.”

“This is a complex investigation,” said Brice Banning, NTSB investigator in charge. “There are a lot of pieces here. Our team is working hard to gather this data.”

Banning also discussed the final moments captured by the jet’s two black boxes, which recorded cockpit sounds and flight data.

“The crew had a verbal reaction,” Banning told reporters, noting that the flight data recorder showed that “the airplane beginning to increase its pitch.”

“Sounds of impact were audible about one second later, followed by the end of the recording,” he added.

First responders confirmed on Sunday that 55 of the 67 victims in America’s deadliest crash since 2001 have been identified. Officials are also planning a “lifting operation” on Monday to remove the wreckage from the river.

While full investigations usually take a year or more, officials say the NTSB aims to release a preliminary report within the next 30 days.

An unnamed firefighter at the scene told reporter Brian Entin that he and his colleagues are “emotionally wiped out” after witnessing the horror firsthand. The firefighter shared that the water was “actually very clear,” and with the aid of their flashlights, they “saw horrible things when they arrived.”

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Montana Republicans’ attempts to use a variant of the so-called “independent state legislature” theory to overturn two state election laws.

According to the maximalist version of the theory, which the justices rejected in 2023, state legislatures would have almost complete authority over election regulations since state courts would not be able to stop them.

State courts can perform judicial review, the Supreme Court ruled, but the majority opinion emphasized that they do not have “free rein.”

The high court’s ruling did not establish a precise standard for identifying when the Constitution’s Elections Clause prohibits judges from interfering with state legislators’ power to oversee federal elections.

In her appeal, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen (R) asked the justices to consider that open question to resurrect two state laws that prohibit same-day voter registration and paid ballot collection on election day in Montana.

A challenge by the Montana Democratic Party and other interest groups led Montana’s highest court to invalidate the laws under the state constitution in a split 5-2 ruling.

“In short, the Montana Supreme Court has assumed a de facto new role as the final and exclusive arbiter of all federal election legislation in Montana. This Court’s review is urgently needed,” Jacobsen, represented by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), wrote in court filings.

“Montana’s high court petition was backed the National Republican Senatorial Committee, 15 other Republican state attorneys general and the America First Legal Foundation. Montana Democrats urged the nation’s highest court to let the lower ruling stand, noting that the case also involved other election laws and legal arguments,” The Hill reported.

“The court’s analysis was based on the ample trial record in this case and firmly grounded in existing Montana law. There was nothing extraordinary or inappropriate about it,” they wrote in court filings.

Last week, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal challenging Delaware’s ban on assault-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as a case regarding Maryland’s handgun licensing requirements.

By doing so, the Court avoided addressing two significant cases involving the contentious issue of gun rights.

The justices turned away an appeal from a group of gun enthusiasts and firearm advocacy organizations, who sought to block Delaware’s ban on “assault weapons” and magazines capable of holding more than 17 rounds, following a lower court’s decision not to issue a preliminary injunction.

Reuters noted that such weapons have been used in several mass shootings in the U.S., but according to FBI crime states, the vast majority of gun-related homicides are committed with handguns.

The justices also declined to hear an appeal from the gun rights group Maryland Shall Issue and other plaintiffs, who were challenging a lower court’s ruling that upheld the state’s licensing law as consistent with the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear weapons.

While the justices declined to hear these two cases, the court did not take action on two separate appeals challenging Maryland’s ban on assault weapons and one in Rhode Island regarding large-capacity ammunition magazines.

With its 6-3 conservative majority, the Supreme Court has consistently adopted an originalist interpretation of gun rights in significant rulings dating back to 2008.

Delaware’s gun safety laws, enacted in 2022, ban several semi-automatic “assault” rifles, including the AR-15 and AK-47, but allow individuals who owned these weapons before the law’s passage to retain them under specific conditions. The law also prohibits large-capacity magazines, affecting devices owned before its enactment.

The challengers in the case include state residents attempting to purchase the banned firearms or magazines, a firearms dealer, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and the Second Amendment Foundation.

They have said that the lower courts wrongly rejected their argument that a “deprivation of Second Amendment rights necessarily constitutes an irreparable injury.” A federal judge denied the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction in 2023. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Philadelphia, upheld that decision in 2024.

That 3rd Circuit questioned the plaintiffs’ contention that an injunction is essentially required in the case. “Preliminary injunctions are not automatic,” the 3rd Circuit ruled.

“Rather, tradition and precedent have long reserved them for extraordinary situations. We see nothing extraordinary here,” the court added.

Maryland’s 2013 law mandates that most residents obtain a qualification license before purchasing a handgun. This process requires applicants to be fingerprinted, complete training, and undergo background checks.

The challengers argue that the process is too burdensome and that the requirement, which “can take a month or longer” to complete, discourages people from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Maryland, however, asserts that the fingerprinting and safety course requirements provide “significant public safety benefits.” The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Virginia, ruled in favor of the state.

Fox News liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov sparked controversy with her remarks about Karen Pence’s interaction—or lack thereof—with Melania Trump during former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

“The Five” co-host referred to the moment when Karen Pence appeared to avoid eye contact or acknowledgment of the Trumps as one of her “favorite moments” of the event. While Melania Trump kept her composure with a gracious smile, the apparent snub reignited discussions about the strained relationship between the Trumps and Pences.

“Two favorite moments, definitely [George] W. doing the little tummy pat on Obama, showing a real camaraderie between them. I thought that was very sweet. And the most interesting person to me was Karen Pence, who would not look up at Trump,” Tarlov said during the segment.

“She was head down, like, ‘If you think my husband should have been hanged for certifying the election results, I have no time for you,’” Tarlov said, claiming that President-elect Trump expressed support for ‘hanging’ his then-vice president.

But that claim comes from former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who made it “without providing further evidence,” ABC News noted. Trump has denied ever expressing support for ‘hanging’ Pence.

Also, Hutchinson’s claims that Trump tried to ‘commandeer’ the presidential limo from his Secret Service driver the day of the Capitol riot — Jan. 6, 2021 — have also been shown to be false.

“You know, Mike Pence obviously got up and shook hands, but that’s my take,” Tarlov concluded.

Her comments were shredded on social media. “Admiring of disrespect for Trump,” one user wrote on the X platform. “Tummy pat? What is she, a toddler?” wrote another. “Long TDS,” said another, which appeared to combine “long COVID” and ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

“Really? @FoxNews You think this content from the squeaky intellectually inferior woman is what we want to see? GAG. Melania was in a beautiful Valentino and Indiana Pence was small and mean,” yet another wrote.

Still another user added: “Many Hoosiers agree with you. Karen Pence came across as classless in her (in)action. The display was noticeably disrespectful to the Trumps. What a judgemental, egotistical, hypocritical personality she must have. Meaningless … & apparently miserable. Why else act like that?”

“Jessica Tarlov says one of her favorite moments of the Jimmy Carter funeral was when Karen Pence wouldn’t look at Trump or Melania. What a deranged individual,” the johnny MAGA account noted.

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For his part, the former vice president said on Friday that he “welcomed” his interaction with his one-time boss and running mate when the two men met face to face for the first time in four years at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

The service’s broadcast featured several memorable moments, including a notable conversation between Obama and Trump within earshot of Vice President Kamala Harris.

“The opportunity to speak to the president yesterday is something that I appreciated, I welcomed,” Pence told Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Russell Moore for a podcast episode slated to air Wednesday.

“I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake and, in that handshake, saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days,” he continued. “That’s certainly my hope.”

Trump “greeted me when he came down the aisle. I stood up, extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he said, ‘Thanks, Mike,’” Pence said. “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture, but we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.”

Data records show that Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley raced at 140 mph towards the military helicopter in a desperate attempt to save every person on board.

On Wednesday, January 29, at 8:47 p.m. ET, a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three US soldiers on a training excursion was struck by a PSA Airlines aircraft, which is owned by American Airlines.

When the mid-air collision occurred, Flight 5342 was on its way to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, transporting 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC.

The debris of both the plane and the helicopter fell in the Potomac River, making it the deadliest plane accident in the United States since 2001 and the country’s first significant aviation event in the past 16 years. Despite the efforts of 300 first responders to render aid, no survivors were found.

In the closing seconds before the crash, 34-year-old pilot Campos and his 28-year-old co-pilot Lilley tried to lift the plane up, according to data from the aircraft’s black box.

“At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official Todd Inman stated during a press conference on Saturday, February 1.

Additionally, according to the safety board, the control tower’s recording of the plane’s height at the time of the crash did not match the preliminary data from the aircraft’s flight recorder (via CNN).

At the moment of contact, the flight recorder reported the helicopter’s altitude at about 325 feet, whereas the control tower recorded it at 200 feet.

Although investigations are still underway, if the crash did occur at 325 feet, it would have indicated that the helicopter had risen above the 200-foot maximum altitude at which helicopters are permitted to fly in the region.

“Obviously an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment,” Iman continued, adding that they do not have the data from the helicopter.

Campos spoke with his uncle on the phone before the collision.

His uncle John Lane told the MailOnline that he talked to his nephew “for 10 minutes” when he was getting on the plane and that he “sounded really happy.”

He said: “I can’t believe it. He sounded really happy. He was looking forward to going on a cruise next week on the Icon of the Seas, the cruise ship.”

“Ten family members were going to fly to Florida to take the trip with him. It was going to be a big celebration.”

American Airlines released the following statement regarding the incident:

“American Eagle Flight 5342 en-route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.”

“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

The political landscape of the United States has been irrevocably altered following President Donald Trump’s resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the most recent election. What was expected to be a fiercely contested race quickly became one of the most dramatic and unpredictable election cycles in modern political history.

As the dust settles from the historic results, the aftermath has ignited a fierce blame game within the Democratic Party, with various leaders and factions pointing fingers at each other. Among the most prominent figures facing significant scrutiny is former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has become a central target in the growing wave of criticism.

Pelosi, a long-standing and influential figure in the Democratic Party, had been a key player in the party’s strategy during the campaign season. Her leadership was central to the party’s efforts in Congress,

where she has held significant sway over legislative agendas. However, as the election results came in and Harris’ loss to Trump became apparent, many within the party began to question whether Pelosi’s influence and decisions had played a role in the ultimate defeat. 

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear challenges regarding state and local lawsuits targeting oil companies for climate change-related damages.

These lawsuits, filed by energy-producing states, oil companies, and industry groups, seek to compel oil companies to compensate for climate change impacts.

Critics argue the lawsuits push anti-fossil fuel policies and would lead to higher costs for consumers. Advocates, however, claim they are necessary to hold companies accountable for environmental harm.

The cases, which use state-level nuisance laws, could set a precedent for future lawsuits against other industries. Some worry that these lawsuits, backed by liberal advocacy groups, could result in policy changes through courts rather than legislation, potentially influencing future energy regulation.

The Secret Service has “deep flaws” that allowed the attack at the Trump campaign rally, according to an independent panel that reviewed the July assassination attempt against then-candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The panel also called for “fundamental reform” of the agency to fulfill its mission of protecting top government officials worldwide.

The independent review panel noted in a letter signed by all four members that it had discovered “numerous mistakes” during its investigation that resulted in the attempted assassination of Trump, but also “deeper systemic issues that must be addressed with urgency.”

“The Secret Service as an agency requires fundamental reform to carry out its mission,” the members said. “Without that reform, the Independent Review Panel believes another Butler can and will happen again.”

The panel dedicated its work to Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the shooting, and James Copenhaver and David Dutch, who were injured, as well as their families.

“These actions will be responsive not only to the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt but, importantly, to what the Independent Review Panel describes as systemic and foundational issues that underlie those failures,” the members said.

The group also cited “deeper concerns” it had discovered regarding the Secret Service, such as a “troubling lack of critical thinking” by Secret Service personnel in the days leading up to and following the assassination attempt, “corrosive cultural attitudes” regarding resources, and a “lack of clarity” regarding who has security ownership of a protectee’s site.

It criticized Secret Service leadership for what the panel claimed was a “insufficiently experienced-based approach” by Trump’s detail regarding the choice of agents to carry out security-critical tasks and a failure to assume responsibility for security planning and execution at the Butler rally.

The breakdowns “reveal deep flaws in the Secret Service, including some that appear to be systemic or cultural,” according to the report.

It recommended new Secret Service leadership with outside agency experience and a return to the agency’s “core protective mission” to address the problems the panel had identified.

“The Secret Service must be the world’s leading governmental protective organization,” according to the report. “The events at Butler on July 13 demonstrate that, currently, it is not.”

This comes as President Donald Trump nominated Sean Curran, the head of his personal Secret Service security detail, to serve as director of the U.S. Secret Service.

Curran, one of several quick-thinking agents who hurried onstage to defend Trump during an attempted assassination on July 13, was already anticipated to be appointed to the role.

On Wednesday, Trump called the appointment of Curran an “honor” in a Truth Social post.

“Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service,” the president wrote.

“He is brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World. He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump also announced late on Wednesday that he was nominating Andrew F. Puzder to become the next U.S. ambassador to the European Union.

Eight people have been taken into custody by federal authorities concerning a massive smuggling operation that allegedly used the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to bring illegal and counterfeit goods into the United States from China.

It is estimated that the scheme, which involved dishonest truck drivers, warehouse owners, and logistics firms, smuggled at least $200 million worth of goods. The lead orchestrator, another defendant, is still at large and is believed to be in China. The defendants are accused of breaking customs seals, smuggling, and conspiracy, among other offenses.

During a smuggling bust at the ports in Los Angeles, federal investigators discovered $200 million worth of counterfeit and/or “dangerous” goods, Fox Los Angeles reported.

Nine defendants are accused of conspiracy, smuggling, and breaking customs seals in a 15-count indictment filed by federal law enforcement. The defendants allegedly used logistics firms to help smuggle counterfeit goods into the United States by working with Chinese partners to manipulate shipping containers that were flagged for inspection.

The organization is thought to have smuggled at least $200 million worth of goods through this scheme, and investigators have seized over $130 million in contraband. The operation’s main targets were the busiest container ports in the Western Hemisphere, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The plot, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally, involved dishonest truck drivers, warehouse owners, and logistics firms conspiring to violate U.S. customs regulations. The defendants and their Chinese partners loaded illegal chemicals and counterfeit goods into shipping containers. By learning the distinct serial numbers of security seals and producing duplicate fake seals, they were able to get around the security system. The United States received these fake seals from China.

Corrupt truck drivers transported the containers to offsite warehouses when shipments arrived at the port rather than to secondary inspection locations. Before delivering the containers to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for examination, the seals were cut, the contraband was taken out, and fresh fake seals were put on. In order to transport the containers illegally, truck drivers were paid much more than they would normally be paid.

The conspiracy described in the indictment took place between at least August 2023 and June 2024. The plan was to load illegal chemicals, counterfeit goods, and contraband into shipping containers in China.

The conspirators had previously acquired the number of the distinct security seals used to seal these containers to fabricate duplicates. Before the containers were presented for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection, they were diverted to offsite warehouses rather than secondary inspection sites upon arrival in the United States. There, the contraband was removed and new counterfeit seals were applied.

An eighth defendant was arrested on Saturday after seven were arrested on Friday. The seven arrested entered not-guilty pleas at their arraignment on Friday, and a trial date was set for March 18. The arraignment of the eighth defendant is anticipated shortly.

Executives from logistics firms, warehouse owners, and dishonest truck drivers were all involved in the smuggling operation, which involved shipping illegal goods from China to the United States via the Port of Los Angeles. In order to avoid detection, the defendants allegedly broke security seals on containers, removed contraband, and replaced the seals with fake ones in order to get around customs inspections.

The smuggling operation hurts American companies and consumers, said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally, who underlined the significance of secure borders and seaports for national security. Eddy Wang, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Los Angeles, emphasized the intricacy of the smuggling operations and how they affect lawful trade practices.

If found guilty, the defendants could receive lengthy prison terms: up to five years for each conspiracy count, ten years for each customs seal violation, and twenty years for each smuggling count.

The total value of the dangerous and counterfeit materials seized in connection with this scheme is $130 million.

The estimated value of the smuggled goods linked to this scheme is $200 million.

The value of the smuggled goods used in this and other similar schemes that are being investigated is $1.3 billion.

Assistant United States Attorneys Colin S. Scott and Amanda B. Elbogen are prosecuting the case. The lead defendant is still at large, while eight of the nine defendants have been taken into custody.

Dismantling high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States is the goal of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which includes the investigation.

Similar smuggling operations are also being dismantled by authorities, and more developments are anticipated as the trial date draws near.

CEO Chris Wright has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Energy, where he will play a key role in shaping the president’s “Drill, baby, drill” energy agenda.

Wright earned bipartisan support from Senate members after being selected by Trump to lead the Department of Energy under his administration.

A nominee with extensive experience, Wright has served as CEO and founder of Liberty Energy Inc. since 2011. His nomination passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before being brought to the floor for a final vote, where he was confirmed 59 to 38.

Upon his swearing-in, Wright will work closely with President Trump to lead the charge on his energy agenda for the next four years. The 47th president has prioritized energy in his first two weeks in office, declaring an “energy emergency” on his first day, ending former President Joe Biden’s pause on liquefied natural gas exports, and rolling back climate standards set by the previous administration.

Wright’s energy vision is aligned with Trump’s, as he stated during his confirmation hearing that his primary focus would be to unleash American energy and enhance energy production in the U.S.

Trump cited the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (“NEA”) and section 301 of Title 3, United States Code, in declaring the energy emergency.

“This active threat to the American people from high energy prices is exacerbated by our Nation’s diminished capacity to insulate itself from hostile foreign actors.  Energy security is an increasingly crucial theater of global competition,” the order states.

“In an effort to harm the American people, hostile state and non-state foreign actors have targeted our domestic energy infrastructure, weaponized our reliance on foreign energy, and abused their ability to cause dramatic swings within international commodity markets. An affordable and reliable domestic supply of energy is a fundamental requirement for the national and economic security of any nation,” the order continues.

It adds:

The integrity and expansion of our Nation’s energy infrastructure —- from coast to coast -— is an immediate and pressing priority for the protection of the United States’ national and economic security. It is imperative that the Federal government puts the physical and economic wellbeing of the American people first.

Moreover, the United States has the potential to use its unrealized energy resources domestically, and to sell to international allies and partners a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy. This would create jobs and economic prosperity for Americans forgotten in the present economy, improve the United States’ trade balance, help our country compete with hostile foreign powers, strengthen relations with allies and partners, and support international peace and security. Accordingly, our Nation’s dangerous energy situation inflicts unnecessary and perilous constraints on our foreign policy.

“The policies of the previous administration have driven our Nation into a national emergency, where a precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid, require swift and decisive action,” says the order.

“Without immediate remedy, this situation will dramatically deteriorate in the near future due to a high demand for energy and natural resources to power the next generation of technology,” it adds. “The United States’ ability to remain at the forefront of technological innovation depends on a reliable supply of energy and the integrity of our Nation’s electrical grid.

“Our Nation’s current inadequate development of domestic energy resources leaves us vulnerable to hostile foreign actors and poses an imminent and growing threat to the United States’ prosperity and national security,” the emergency order continued.

“The United States’ insufficient energy production, transportation, refining, and generation constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to our Nation’s economy, national security, and foreign policy.  In light of these findings, I hereby declare a national emergency,” Trump wrote.

Fox Sports 1’s Colin Cowherd left viewers stunned on Monday afternoon when he unexpectedly exited his show, The Herd, less than 15 minutes into the first hour.

The seasoned sports media personality, known for his bold opinions and lively commentary, was talking about the recent blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers when he abruptly stopped mid-sentence and cut himself off.

“The bottom line here is I think we’re going to get a more dedicated Luka. Folks, I’m going to take a break. I am getting very, very sick very, very quickly on this set, and we will return,” Cowherd said before cutting the broadcast.

The unexpected moment quickly ignited speculation online, with fans and sports media personalities sharing their thoughts on social media. Some viewers pointed out that Cowherd appeared visibly unwell before leaving the set, while others took a more humorous approach, joking that the shocking Luka trade might have actually made him sick.

WATCH:

Fox Sports 1 promptly issued a statement about Cowherd’s condition to reassure worried fans. “Colin is doing OK. Thank you for your concerns. Colin is under the weather, and Jason McIntyre is filling in,” the show’s official account posted on the X platform.

Currently, there are no additional details about Cowherd’s condition, and it is unclear whether he will return to the show immediately or need time off for recovery.

Some fans wished Cowherd well while others made light of the situation.

“Cowherd said later he became ill because he had the thought go through his mind that Kamala cheated in the election like Brandon and was actually elected president,” one X user wrote.

“The Luka trade even makes him sick,” said another.

“Flu or norovirus. I can speak from recent experience, it is a sudden, overwhelming onslaught of awfulness. Glad I was on my couch when it hit. Couldn’t imagine being live on air,” wrote someone else.

“Trade was so trash he had to go throw up,” said another

Cowherd is widely recognized for his bold and frequently provocative opinions on sports. He is the host of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, a daily sports talk show airing on Fox Sports Radio and FS1.

Cowherd began his career in local radio before achieving national prominence at ESPN, where he hosted The Herd from 2004 to 2015. After leaving ESPN following a controversial remark about Dominican baseball players, he joined Fox Sports, where he has continued his career.

Beyond his radio and TV work, Cowherd co-founded The Volume, a podcast network that covers both sports and pop culture topics.

Newly-minted solo Fox News host Will Cain, who heads up the aptly named “The Will Cain Show,” broke a record in his debut, according to a ratings report last month.

His new daytime show debuted and garnered 3.5 million viewers, with 451,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to the network.

“Rookie mistake. Set the bar too high,” the host said in celebration of the achievement.

“The Will Cain Show with 3.5 million P2+ and 451,000 A25-54. Will Cain increases the 4pm slot vs. same period last year by more than double with P2+ and by more than triple with A25-54 and A18-49. Will Cain’s share of the cable news audience for his debut was 68% with P2+, 73% with A25-54 and 71% with A18-49. Debut was a top 10 telecast in all TV vs. all cable and broadcast prime Thank you! Awesome start!” he wrote on the X platform.

Former President Joe Biden secured representation with a major Hollywood agency just weeks after leaving office.

He has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which previously represented him from 2017 to 2020.

“President Biden is one of America’s most respected and influential voices in national and global affairs,” CAA co-chairman Richard Lovett said in a statement. “His lifelong commitment to public service is one of unity, optimism, dignity, and possibility. We are profoundly honored to partner with him again.”

Under his previous stint with the agency, Biden released his memoir “Promise Me, Dad” in 2017, as well as his post-vice presidency “American Promise” speaking tour, which only sold about “85,000 tickets nationwide,” according to CAA’s press release.

The agency also reps former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, Fox Business reported.

Even though Biden has once again joined CAA, it’s not at all clear that he will be out and about much, given reports following his presidency that his mental decline began more than four years ago and was noticed by people on the 2020 campaign trail with him.

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy blasted his colleagues in December for helping to cover up Biden’s deteriorated mental status for years.

Doocy’s comments came following a bombshell Wall Street Journal report that cited more than 50 sources who claimed that not only has Biden’s mental capacity been suspect since before his 2020 election victory, but that staffers and those close to him have covered up how bad it was for his entire term.

Doocy, filling in on Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday, pointed out that none of his colleagues in the White House press briefing room raised questions about the detailed WSJ report after it was published this week.

The report featured accounts from numerous Democratic aides, lawmakers, and donors expressing long-standing concerns over President Biden’s mental acuity and age, according to Mediaite.

“There were limits over who Biden spoke with, limits on what they said to him and limits around the sources of information he consumed,” the  WSJ report said.

The report’s most striking revelations included claims that meetings were often canceled on Biden’s “off days” and that one-on-one interactions with him were deliberately minimized.

Doocy called the revelation that Biden’s been mentally incapable of being president the “biggest cover-up” in Washington, D.C., since Watergate.”

“We have another story that’s near and dear to my heart. It has to do with the White House press briefing room. Yesterday there were zero questions about this huge Wall Street Journal story that cites 50 people familiar with, apparently, the biggest cover-up in Washington since Watergate,” Doocy said on Saturday.

“The story, it was 18 pages long when I printed it, but the gist is that there were staff, unelected White House staff, who knew during the last campaign and transition that President Biden might be diminished, and they actively worked to hide that information from the American public,” he continued.

“And we don’t know what it necessarily means for his decision-making, but this is a huge story, and somehow there was no curiosity, and our colleague, Jacqui Heinrich, was in the room. She was not called on. I have a source familiar that this was on her list,” Doocy added.

Doocy observed that most questions during the briefing focused on Congress and the impending government shutdown, which was ultimately averted at the last minute. He mentioned that his colleague, Fox correspondent Heinrich, had planned to ask about the Wall Street Journal report, and he would have done the same if he had been present in the room.

A montage of clips was then shown featuring President Biden throughout his presidency, defending his administration’s actions on the southern border, the withdrawal from Afghanistan (which resulted in the deaths of 13 service members), and his promise to accept the outcomes in his son Hunter Biden’s legal cases. Despite this, after Hunter was convicted on gun and tax charges, the president ultimately pardoned him.

“I wish I had answers. I can’t get in their heads,” Doocy said about his fellow White House correspondents. “Sometimes I would like to, most of the time I don’t want to.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the first flights carrying illegal aliens to be housed at Guantanamo Bay were officially “underway.”

During an interview Tuesday on Fox Business, Leavitt told host Stuart Varney that President Donald Trump was not “messing around” with his plan to deport violent illegal aliens from the United States and return them to their home countries.

“He’s no longer going to allow America to be a dumping ground for illegal criminals from nations all over this world,” Leavitt said.

“Venezuela as well has agreed to repatriation flights and Colombia also agreed to cooperate with the repatriation of illegal Colombian nationals that we have found in the interior of our country,” Leavitt added. “And I can also confirm that today the first flights from the United States to Guantanamo Bay with illegal migrants are underway.”

Leavitt also addressed New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy suggesting earlier this week about housing an undocumented immigrant in his home. The governor recently walked back his comments that he had invited an illegal immigrant to live with him.

“I will say that this administration will hold Democrat governors and leaders across the country accountable if they break the law, if they harbor illegal aliens, or if they are not abiding by the federal immigration laws,” Leavitt warned.

Leavitt shredded the legacy media on Monday night for the way it mocked President Trump and many conservatives during the height of the COVID pandemic when the president and others said they believed that the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Her comments came after Trump’s new CIA director, John Ratcliffe, confirmed that intelligence indicates that the virus originated from the lab.

“Many years too late, the Biden administration had a chance to let the American people know the truth about that, and for some reason, they chose not to,” Leavitt said during a White House press briefing this week.

She mentioned how the media responded with ridicule when, in 2020, Trump veered from the accepted narrative that the virus originated from a bat.

“Many members in this very room mocked him for that, said he was spewing conspiracy theories. He was not,” she said, scolding the press. “We now know that to be the confirmable truth. It took many years for it to come out, but the president was right in this instance again.”

Ratcliffe discussed the discrepancy in an interview with Breitbart News.

“I know from conversations with the president about where his priorities are and where he wants things to be as it concerns foreign threats to America’s national security posture, and it starts with China,” Ratcliffe said. “One of the things that I’ve talked about a lot is addressing the threat from China on a number of fronts, and that goes back to why a million Americans died and why the Central Intelligence Agency has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID.”

“That’s a day-one thing for me,” he said. “I’ve been on record, as you know, in saying I think our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictates that the origins of COVID was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But the CIA has not made that assessment or at least not made that assessment publicly. So I’m going to focus on that and look at the intelligence and make sure that the public is aware that the agency is going to get off the sidelines.”

Ratcliffe also revealed last week that Trump’s administration is exploring the idea of establishing a national laboratory, similar to the Manhattan Project, to drive the development and direction of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“When you talk about AI, one of the things I want to explore is whether we can expand and establish a national laboratory for the development of AI to help the U.S. government leverage emerging technology to make sure American leadership is that,” Ratcliffe said.

The former Texas lawmaker and federal prosecutor, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and who was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate, spoke about his plans to fulfill the president’s directive to depoliticize the world’s leading intelligence agency and refocus it on its core missions of intelligence gathering and providing the U.S. government with the most accurate national security information possible.

He suggested that Trump’s recent announcement of “Project Stargate,” a half-trillion-dollar initiative to advance AI, could be expanded to include additional public-private partnerships modeled after the Manhattan Project. Such efforts, he said, would position the U.S. ahead of its adversaries in the race for AI dominance, Breitbart noted.

“You saw this initiative the president discussed—Project Stargate—which is the four-year, $500 billion AI infrastructure project that’s been proposed with all of our great technology companies,” Ratcliffe said. “We could expand on that with a public-private partnership where a government element could participate, and we’ve done this before—our constellation of national laboratories can be traced back to the Manhattan Project, which we used as a public-private partnership to develop the first nuclear weapon to win World War II.

“We need to be thinking about the ways we can do that to counter how our adversaries are using things like the cyber threats to their strategic advantage and putting our national security interests in a place where we’re able to harness the data and computational speed of AI to understand trends and events and threats and opportunities faster than our adversaries do,” he added.

Despite public and private opposition from Senate Republicans, the Trump administration is certain that three of his most contentious cabinet choices will be confirmed in the end, people with direct knowledge of the process told Mediaite.

The Senate will begin voting on the nominations this week on Tuesday after confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, and Kash Patel for Director of the FBI were completed.

The entire Senate will have the opportunity to vote on their nominations if they pass their respective committees. A candidate’s chances will be ruined if four Republicans and every Democrat vote against them.

Kennedy faced strong opposition during his hearing last week, which mostly focused on his history of anti-vaccine advocacy and conspiracy theories about science and health. Kennedy ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential election as an independent and negotiated a deal to drop out in exchange for the opportunity to serve in Trump’s administration.

“The sharpest opposition is likely to focus on RFK Jr., setting the stage for a contentious battle over his nomination,” one source familiar with internal conversations regarding the hearings told Mediaite.

According to the source, that opposition won’t matter in the end. They cited the “political realities,” such as the “threat of primary challenges and the risk of backlash,” as sufficient to allay Senate Republicans’ concerns.

Kennedy’s nomination was advanced to the full Senate on Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee, which voted along party lines. Kennedy’s history of disseminating misleading information regarding vaccines raised serious concerns, according to one Republican. During the hearings, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a former doctor who entered politics, questioned Kennedy and claimed that his stance on vaccines was the reason he was “struggling” with the nomination.

Cassidy was under pressure from Trump and Kennedy supporters over the weekend to back the latter’s nomination. He cast the decisive vote to move his nomination along on Tuesday.

Kennedy has been clearly opposed by Democrats. In a letter dated February 2, Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren charged Kennedy with having “serious conflicts of interest” because of his “financial stake in anti-vaccine cases against HHS-regulated companies.”

“These conflicts, combined with your decades-long career casting doubt about the safety and efficacy of life-saving vaccines, give us grave concern about your fitness to serve as Secretary,” they wrote.

In addition to Kennedy’s scientific beliefs, Democrats have recently questioned the political scion over two allegations of sexual misconduct against him that resulted in compensation for the alleged victims. One of the women was paid almost $1 million to sign a nondisclosure agreement after accusing Kennedy of sexual misconduct, according to a Monday night Mediaite report.

However, a source close to the Kennedy team stated that they are confident he will overcome the opposition due to pressure from Trump and his supporters.

“The overall feeling is that Kennedy will be confirmed,” they said. “No one wants to go against Trump at this point.”

Another Kennedy insider agreed.

Senate Republicans expressed their reluctance to initiate a conflict with Trump immediately.

Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to run the FBI, is also seen by the Trump camp as almost certain to be confirmed by the Senate.

He “has built considerable momentum by meeting with senators and emphasizing his extensive experience as a public defender and prosecutor,” said one Patel ally.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence and a former Democrat and presidential candidate, faced a challenging start to her nomination process.

According to one source with knowledge of Gabbard’s private meetings with lawmakers, she did not “take her meetings seriously” at first and was “underprepared.” According to the source, she changed the tone at the confirmation hearings after being subjected to challenging questions during those private sessions.

All three cabinet candidates will be confirmed, according to a Trump insider.

They cited the example of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who was confirmed as Secretary of Defense last month despite severe concerns about his qualifications and behavior, as proof that scandal-plagued nominees would likely pass the Senate with little opposition.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shredded the legacy media for the way it mocked President Donald Trump and many conservatives during the height of the COVID pandemic when the president and others said they believed that the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Her comments came after Trump’s new CIA director, John Ratcliffe, confirmed that intelligence indicates that the virus originated from the lab.

“Many years too late, the Biden administration had a chance to let the American people know the truth about that, and for some reason, they chose not to,” Leavitt said during a White House press briefing this week.

She mentioned how the media responded with ridicule when, in 2020, Trump veered from the accepted narrative that the virus originated from a bat.

“Many members in this very room mocked him for that, said he was spewing conspiracy theories. He was not,” she said, scolding the press. “We now know that to be the confirmable truth. It took many years for it to come out, but the president was right in this instance again.”

Ratcliffe discussed the discrepancy in an interview with Breitbart News.

“I know from conversations with the president about where his priorities are and where he wants things to be as it concerns foreign threats to America’s national security posture, and it starts with China,” Ratcliffe said. “One of the things that I’ve talked about a lot is addressing the threat from China on a number of fronts, and that goes back to why a million Americans died and why the Central Intelligence Agency has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID.”

“That’s a day-one thing for me,” he said. “I’ve been on record, as you know, in saying I think our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictates that the origins of COVID was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But the CIA has not made that assessment or at least not made that assessment publicly. So I’m going to focus on that and look at the intelligence and make sure that the public is aware that the agency is going to get off the sidelines.”

Ratcliffe also revealed last week that Trump’s administration is exploring the idea of establishing a national laboratory, similar to the Manhattan Project, to drive the development and direction of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“When you talk about AI, one of the things I want to explore is whether we can expand and establish a national laboratory for the development of AI to help the U.S. government leverage emerging technology to make sure American leadership is that,” Ratcliffe said.

The former Texas lawmaker and federal prosecutor, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and who was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate, spoke about his plans to fulfill the president’s directive to depoliticize the world’s leading intelligence agency and refocus it on its core missions of intelligence gathering and providing the U.S. government with the most accurate national security information possible.

He suggested that Trump’s recent announcement of “Project Stargate,” a half-trillion-dollar initiative to advance AI, could be expanded to include additional public-private partnerships modeled after the Manhattan Project. Such efforts, he said, would position the U.S. ahead of its adversaries in the race for AI dominance, Breitbart noted.

“You saw this initiative the president discussed—Project Stargate—which is the four-year, $500 billion AI infrastructure project that’s been proposed with all of our great technology companies,” Ratcliffe said. “We could expand on that with a public-private partnership where a government element could participate, and we’ve done this before—our constellation of national laboratories can be traced back to the Manhattan Project, which we used as a public-private partnership to develop the first nuclear weapon to win World War II.

“We need to be thinking about the ways we can do that to counter how our adversaries are using things like the cyber threats to their strategic advantage and putting our national security interests in a place where we’re able to harness the data and computational speed of AI to understand trends and events and threats and opportunities faster than our adversaries do,” he added.

Republican firebrand Kari Lake is reportedly one of the top candidates to be President-elect Donald Trump’s ambassador to Mexico.

Lake, who has had Trump’s support for years and strongly supports strict border security, came up short in her bid for the Arizona Senate last month to Ruben Gallego, a Democrat. She also lost the 2022 election for governor of Arizona.

“A staunch Trump ally, Lake has remained close to the president-elect over the last few years, backing his unproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen. During her most recent run for office, Lake sought to moderate some of her positions, particularly on the topic of abortion. She also made efforts to mend fences with some establishment Republicans whom she had sparred with in the past,” Semafor reported.

“Lake has echoed Trump in backing strict limits on immigration. On the campaign trail, Lake described the influx of migrants entering the US as an ‘invasion.’ She campaigned on finishing the wall at the US southern border, increasing the number of judges who hear asylum claims, stepping up quick deportations of undocumented immigrants who cross outside official ports of entry, and building additional border detention facilities,” the outlet added.

Last week, Lake used an appearance on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast to address a report that she planned to join the conservative media outlet Newsmax.

“That reporting yesterday was absolutely fake news,” Lake told host Steve Bannon, who also remains close to President-elect Donald Trump. “Think about how bad the media is. You cannot hate them enough, Steve. You really, really can’t.”

Lake outlined the series of events that resulted in the false report, stating that both she and Newsmax refuted the allegations prior to the publication of the story.

“They reached out to me, asked if I was negotiating with Newsmax. I said, no, you know, get better sources. You’re wrong. Apparently, they reached out to Newsmax. Newsmax said it’s false, and they run the story anyway,” Lake explained.

Calling out what she sees as a failing media industry, Lake, who spent decades working as a Phoenix-area newscaster, didn’t hold back.

“We cannot possibly have enough ire toward the absolute fake news that we already have. Thankfully, it’s starting to collapse. They’ll just run any fake hit piece for clicks to try to disparage me, and I’m used to it,” she told Bannon.

Kari Lake compared her experiences with the press to the intense scrutiny endured by President-elect Donald Trump.

She expressed support for Trump’s proposal to revoke broadcasting licenses from media outlets accused of spreading misinformation and sowing division, highlighting FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr as a key figure in efforts to reform media accountability.

Regarding her future, Lake stated she is taking time to recharge after leading a grassroots movement in Arizona for over three years. However, she emphasized that she has no plans to exit the political arena.

“I will tell the people listening to this, especially if you’ve got some of the leftists who despise our movement, I’m not going away,” Lake said.

“As much as they want me to go away, I am not going away. And so they can’t get rid of me. They can write as many nasty stories about me, filled with lies as they want. We are not going away,” she added.

Lake spent over two decades as an anchor at Phoenix’s Fox 10 television station. After leaving the station, she became one of the most vocal allies of Donald Trump and later ran for governor of Arizona in 2022. She lost to now-Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who refused to debate the former newscaster ahead of the election.

If you’re looking for an effortless, mouthwatering dinner that practically cooks itself, this slow cooker chicken drumstick recipe is the answer. With just three simple ingredients, you’ll have tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken packed with flavor—and you won’t believe how easy it is!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ Minimal Effort: Toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work.
✔ Incredible Flavor: These three ingredients create a savory, slightly sweet, and rich sauce.
✔ Family Favorite: Kids and adults alike will be asking for this meal every night!

The Magic 3-Ingredient Recipe

All you need are:
✅ Chicken drumsticks – About 6-8 pieces.
✅ Honey BBQ sauce – For that perfect sweet and smoky glaze.
✅ Soy sauce – Adds umami depth and a slightly salty balance.

How to Make It

1️⃣ Place the drumsticks at the bottom of your slow cooker.
2️⃣ Pour in the honey BBQ sauce and soy sauce, making sure each drumstick is coated well.
3️⃣ Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

By the time the cooking is done, the drumsticks will be unbelievably tender, infused with rich flavor, and coated in a sticky, delicious glaze.

Optional Additions

🌶️ Want a little heat? Add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
🧄 Love garlic? Toss in a few minced cloves for extra depth.
🥦 Make it a full meal! Add baby potatoes and carrots for a complete one-pot dinner.

Final Touch

For a crispy finish, transfer the drumsticks to a baking sheet and broil them in the oven for 5 minutes. This caramelizes the sauce and adds a slight crunch—next-level delicious!

🔥 Try this once, and you’ll be hooked. Your family will beg for this meal every night!

📌 Save this recipe for later! And let us know how yours turned out in the comments! 💬👇

The acting head of the Justice Department has fired more than a dozen officials and career attorneys who worked with former special counsel Jack Smith to charge and attempt to prosecute President Donald Trump
for more than a year leading up to his November election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Fox News Digital first reported that Acting Attorney General James McHenry wrote letters to the prosecutors stating that he was letting them go because they could not be trusted to ” faithfully implement the president’s agenda.

The acting head of the Justice Department has fired more than a dozen officials and career attorneys who worked with former special counsel Jack Smith to charge and attempt to prosecute President Donald Trump

for more than a year leading up to his November election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.Fox News Digital first reported that Acting Attorney General James McHenry wrote letters to the prosecutors stating that he was letting them go because they could not be trusted to ” faithfully implement the president’s agenda.

Beyoncé’s Best Country Album win at the 67th Grammys sparked both praise and debate. This moment also reignited Jay-Z’s past criticism of the Recording Academy.

Beyoncé won Best Country Album for “Cowboy Carter” at the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2. Taylor Swift announced her as the winner, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However, her win also sparked curiosity and discussion online.

As Swift read the winning album’s name, Beyoncé froze in shock, her eyes widening as she remained seated. Her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, encouraged her before she made her way to the stage, hugging them both in an emotional moment.

Beyoncé’s victory came in a stacked field, beating nominees Kacey Musgraves with “Deeper Well,” Chris Stapleton with “Higher,” Lainey Wilson with “Whirlwind,” and Post Malone with “F-1 Trillion.” The audience erupted in applause as she embraced her family before accepting the award.

Taking the stage, the 43-year-old singer delivered a heartfelt speech, still in shock. “Wow. I really was not expecting this. Wow. I wanna thank God – oh my God – that I’m able to still do what I still love after so many years. Oh my God. I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this album. We worked so hard on it,” she said.

Beyoncé acknowledged that genres can sometimes limit artists and encouraged others to break boundaries and “stay persistent” in pursuing their passions. She credited her family, collaborators, and fans for their support, emphasizing that the album wouldn’t have been possible without them.

With ten nominations across multiple categories, Beyoncé was already a dominant presence at the Grammys. She competed in major categories such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Duo/Group Performance, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album.

While her Best Country Album win marked a career milestone it ignited a debate online. “That had to be rigged!” one AmoMama reader exclaimed. Another bluntly stated, “She should not have won!” A third critic felt it was a blow to the genre itself, “What an embarrassment to country music..”

The backlash continued as fans of other nominees, particularly Kacey and Lainey, voiced their disappointment. Some critics argued that simply adopting country aesthetics does not make an artist genuinely part of the genre.

Syven and Tori’s journey to parenthood is a testament to their love and determination, overcoming challenges and misconceptions along the way. This transgender couple defied societal expectations to bring two beautiful children into the world.

The couple, who both transitioned during their youth, shared their dream of having children but faced uncertainty due to their transgender identities. However, when they discovered that Syven, who was assigned female at birth, could conceive naturally, they embarked on a remarkable journey to expand their family.

Their one-year-old son, Prophet, and one-month-old daughter, Wynter, are a testament to their love and resilience. Despite initial doubts, Syven’s pregnancy proved that parenthood knows no bounds.

However, their unique situation did not come without challenges. People’s misconceptions about transgender individuals having children led to mixed reactions. While some were supportive, others smirked and giggled when they saw Syven’s pregnant belly. Negative comments questioned their decision to have a child, often emphasizing traditional gender norms.

Pregnancy as a transgender man presented its own set of challenges, particularly during medical appointments where Syven was met with disbelief and discomfort from fellow patients. These experiences highlight the need for more understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals during their journeys to parenthood.

Syven’s transition began at a young age, and while it was marked by some difficulties, he remained steadfast in his identity. Tori, assigned male at birth, embarked on her transition in her late teens, navigating the challenges of school and societal expectations.

Despite facing adversity, the couple’s bond remained strong, and they credit their close-knit extended family for their support during their transitions and as they welcomed their children into the world.

The couple has encountered judgment as parents, with people telling Tori that she could never be a mother. However, they prioritize the health and safety of their family above all else, having faced medical complications during their pregnancies.

Their experiences have transformed them, making them more mature and focused on the well-being of their family. They are determined to set positive examples for their children and encourage others to mind their own business and refrain from making negative comments.

Syven and Tori hope for more support for pregnant transgender individuals and their families, advocating for a more inclusive society where everyone can pursue their dreams of parenthood without judgment.

Their story is a powerful reminder that love, determination, and family support can overcome adversity, and they serve as an inspiration to all who face challenges on their path to parenthood.

Sources: Daily Mail

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be thankful that the last time you had to work out a vexing math sum or tackle an algebraic problem was way back in high school.

I’m well aware that some people are wired to enjoy math, just as certain others (myself included) are wired to loath it. I like to think of myself as more of a creative soul than a logically-thinking one. But hey, everyone’s different.

That said, while I certainly had no love for tackling math in stuffy classrooms packed full of disobedient kids, I have taken something of an unlikely pleasure in solving online problems when and where I find them. It’s all done in my own sweet time of course (and absolutely not in any sort of hurry), but the process of working my way through internet riddles and puzzles is something I’m now quite taken with…

… and I know I’m not the only one. No, it appears there are a whole host of folks out there who pride themselves on being able to spot patterns and work out challenging math problems.

It’s to that end that we decided to put the minds of our beloved readers to the test, with a bran-teasing issue that’s left plenty of people across the internet scratching their heads.

So, got your thinking cap on? Ready for this week’s exercise in mathematical gymnastics? I certainly hope so… because here it comes:

If 1+4=5, 2+5=12, and , then what is the value of 5+8?

Perhaps it’s easier if you see it written out as follows:

1+4=5
2+5=12
3+6=21
5+8=?

It appears that this particular problem has left a large portion of the internet scratching their heads, and a lot of people split on what the correct answer actually is. Much of it depends on how you approach the exercise of course; what exact method you employ to try and help you find the right answer.

And the crux of it all? There’s more than one correct answer! In fact, there are quite a few if our research is anything to go by. If you’ve had a go at the problem yourself and want to see if you’ve got it right (or if, like me, you were ultimately left so frustrated that you simply have to be given the answer) see below for five different ways the problem can be tackled.

Solution one

1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 2 + 2(5) = 12
3 + 6 = 3 + 3(6) = 21
5 + 8 = 5 + 5(8) = 45
ALGORITHM: A + A(B) = C
ANSWER = 45

Solution two

1 + 4 = 1 + 4 + (0) = 5
2 + 5 = 2 + 5 + (5) = 12
3 + 6 = 3 + 6 + (12) = 21
5 + 8 = 5 + 8 + (21) = 34
ALGORITHM: A + B + C’ = C, where C’ is the previous answer
ANSWER = 34

Solution Three

1 + 4 = 5 = 5
2 + 5 = (5 + 2) + (5) = 12
3 + 6 = (7 + 2) + (12) = 21
5 + 8 = (9 + 2) + (21) = 32
ALGORITHM: for {X=5, C = X + C’ , X = X+2 };, where C’ is the previous answer. A and B not used in equation,
ANSWER = 32

Solution Four

1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 7 (base 5) =12
3 + 6 = 9 (base 4) = 21
5 + 8 = 13 (base 3) = 111
ALGORITHM: for {X=6, C = (A + B)^(10 -> X), X -1} (First answer in Base6, then Base 5, then 4, etc…)
ANSWER = 111

Solution Five

1 + 4 = 5
2 + 5 = 7 (base 5) =12
3 + 6 = 9 (base 4) = 21
4 + 7 = 11 (base 3) = 102
5 + 8 = 13 (base 2) (aka binary) = 1101
ALGORITHM: for {X=6, C = (A + B)^(10 -> X), X -1} (First answer in Base6, then
Base 5, then 4, etc…including “missing” numbers
ANSWER = 1101

What answer did you get? Was it any of the above? Do let us know in the comments section on Facebook!

Actor and comedian Rob Schneider announced the launch of a women’s talk show under his new media company, positioning it as an alternative to ABC’s The View.

“‘No Apologies Media,’ my new company, we’re going to do an all-ladies talk show that won’t be like ‘The View,’” Schneider said. “It will be the opposite because this will be entertaining. It’ll be funny,” he said during an appearance on “Fox News @ Night” on Monday.

“It’ll have funny women on it that are going to tell jokes and tell stories, and health and wellness,” he continued.

The new show will feature “household names,” the comedian said, and will begin filming episodes before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to Fox News.

The “Saturday Night Live” alum noted that, unlike “The View,” this new talk show will focus on making people laugh rather than “shaming them” with politics.

“People are sick of it,” Schneider said of divisive politics. “We’re going to have an entertaining show with people — from all over America. We’re not just trying to bring people who are angry and bitter and reinforcing their political echo chamber,” he added.

In his new book, You Can Do It!, named after his iconic movie catchphrase, Rob Schneider urges Americans to speak their minds boldly and to actively defend their First Amendment rights.

“Now’s the time to stand up. Now’s the time for courage. I mean, this government and our freedoms require something – eternal vigilance. Or we’ll lose it,” Schneider told Fox News Digital after the book launch in September.

“Unfortunately, my book is timely, and I mean that because it’s unfortunate that we need to have to talk about and reinforce what this nation is – one of its principal foundational beliefs – which is that, freedom of speech is the First Amendment, not third, not fourth, not even second,” he said then.

Drawing from America’s historical roots, the actor told Fox News: “Even before guns. Our government, our Founding Fathers, realized that the real weapon to prevent tyranny, and this nation turning to tyranny – even more important than guns – was unfettered free speech.”

In addition to offering candid insights into his relationships with legendary comedians like David Spade and Chris Farley, Schneider’s book features some of the most compelling sections, such as brief profiles of famous 20th-century American comedians. Many of these trailblazers risked their careers—and, at times, even their lives—to deliver jokes that challenged and offended the dominant culture of their era.

The stories underscore one of the book’s central themes: comedians have historically been, and continue to be, at the forefront of defending Americans’ First Amendment rights by pushing the boundaries of what can be said or thought in the public sphere. S

Schneider emphasized that this instinct is particularly vital today, as media outlets and powerful corporations, which he claims have been “captured” by liberal ideologies, increasingly suppress dissenting voices.

He told Fox News about the current threat to free speech, stating that it’s alive and well in the Democratic Party and in Vice President Kamala Harris’s agenda for the country.

“And that is under attack by these, you know, Marxists in our government, and I say Marxist in the traditional meaning of it. We are dealing with – Kamala Harris is a Marxist. Democrats don’t watch free speech… Our system is corrupt, and if you want it to continue to get more corrupt then f—–g vote for Kamala,” he said.

“At what point do we have to take responsibility and say ‘Enough’? Or unless, we are just going to give it over,” he said, adding that his book represents him saying “Enough.”

“I’m one of those people. I wrote a book. I’m doing what I can daily. I’m telling people if they want to listen to it, they can listen to it,” he said.

Georgia Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk disclosed that House Speaker Mike Johnson assured him that his inquiry into the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, would be “formalized as a new committee.”

Republicans, who now control both houses of Congress and the White House, have a larger plan to continue the investigations they began in the previous Congress.

Loudermilk told CNN that while the specifics of the new committee are still being worked out, one possibility is to give Johnson more control over the panel’s composition (referred to as a “select committee”) and operations.

The creation of a new committee to draw attention to Loudermilk’s work—which included a report that recommended the FBI charge former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney—keeps the Republican campaign focused on preventing President Donald Trump from being held accountable for the January 6 violence.

Loudermilk described the previous January 6 select committee, which Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney assisted in leading, as “so singularly focused that basically Trump created this entire problem.” “When, in fact, there were numerous failures at various levels.”

Johnson has declared in public that the new investigation into January 6 will be “fully funded.”

“Continuing its investigation into the previous January 6 select committee – which featured Cheney as a vice chair and had another Republican member – and broader security response to the Capitol attack is not the only way Republicans plan to use their new majority to carry over their previous investigations that remain politically charged,” according to CNN.

According to two people familiar with the situation, Republicans reissued subpoenas on Monday regarding two Justice Department tax investigators who worked on the Hunter Biden case and special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, CNN reported. The outlet also stated that those subpoenas would revive previous Congress’s efforts that have been contested in court and not settled for months.

This week, Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, discussed the Jan. 6 committee and rumors that President Joe Biden was thinking about pardoning him, Cheney, and other individuals.

Schiff stated on Monday that he does not want Biden to establish a “precedent” by pardoning him and others in advance for their work on the House Jan. 6 committee.

Setting such a precedent would be incorrect. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Schiff stated, “I don’t want to see each president go out the door now issuing a broad category of pardons.”

Schiff said, “Well, and here I’m just speaking for myself, those of us that were on the Jan. 6 committee who [President-elect Trump] has put in the crosshairs, we’re all enormously proud of the work that we did,” in response to a question about the possibility of a more focused pardon

“We maintain our position. We believe that the Speech and Debate Clause protects us. He continued, “So, I—my own feeling is, let’s just avoid this kind of broad precedent.”

Schiff said of Biden, “I’m urging that he not go down that road,” without going so far as to say he would “no” to such a pardon if it were offered.

Some Democrats have said that before Biden leaves office at the end of the month, he should pardon people who Trump and his administration might target.

“We’re back in this conundrum again, where a Democratic president can do things for a very good reason, a laudable reason, a legitimate reason — in this case, that people are being threatened improperly by an incoming president — but then that precedent can be abused,” Schiff said in his Monday CNN appearance.

After stepping down from his Senate leadership position, Sen. Mitch McConnell is already back to attacking President Donald Trump.

During a “60 Minutes” interview with anchor Leslie Stahl, the Kentucky Republican attacked Trump for pardoning the Capitol rioters while revealing he has not spoken with the president for “quite a while.”

Trump pardoned nearly 1,500 people currently imprisoned for rioting at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, just hours after being inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Below is a transcript of the exchange:

STAHL: “How would you describe your relationship with President Trump?”

McConnell: “Well, we haven’t spoken for quite a while. I was very upset about what happened January 6.”

STAHL: “You had to be evacuated from the Senate, along with other leaders. Your staff was in your office. The rioters were banging on your door. Someone with a flagpole broke a window into your office.”

McConnell: “Well, my staff in the Capitol was putting furniture up against the doors.”

STAHL: “To prevent them from — “

McConnell: “To prevent the rioters from outside from breaking the doors and getting at them. And what was it about? To try to prevent the orderly transfer of government, which has never happened in our country.”

STAHL: “Your staff, after the crisis was over, you went and spoke with them. It was a highly emotional situation. You remember?”

McConnell: “Oh, I remember well.”

STAHL: “Do you remember what you told them?”

McConnell: “That — yeah, I remember what I told them.”

STAHL (voice-over): “That emotion turned to fury.”

McConnell: “President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.”

McConnell: “That’s the way I still feel about it.”

STAHL: “What are your views on President Trump and his supporters trying to change what happened on

January 6? They’re calling it a ‘day of love.’ They called the rioters ‘martyrs.’”

McConnell: “Yeah. No, it — it was an insurrection.”

STAHL: “What about the pardons for the people who stormed the Capitol that day?”

McConnell: “I think pardoning the people who’ve been convicted is a mistake.”

McConnell came under fire last month when he voted against Pete Hegseth, who went on to be confirmed as the Secretary of Defense.

Republicans on X were furious with the 82-year-old senator, and they let him know about it.

“WTF? Mitch McConnell immediately walked over and CELEBRATED with the Democrats after voting against Hegseth This man HAS TO GO in 2026. The people of Kentucky voted for Trump’s mandate—not this anti-Trump BS,” conservative commentator Nick Sortor said with a video showing the interaction

“After voting against Pete Hegseth, Mitch McConnell went to the left side of the aisle to hang out with Democrats,” Tim Young said in the caption of a photo.

“Mitch McConnell just voted NO on President Trump’s secretary of defense nominee This led to VP Vance having to rush down to cast a tie-breaking vote, only the 2nd such vote in U.S. history As Republican Senators gather around to congratulate Vance, notice McConnell walk over and SHAKE HANDS with the Democrats. If you thought RFK Jr and Tulsi was going to be easy—think again. The GOP Establishment isn’t going down without a fight. Get ready,” another X user said, offering a prediction for some of President Donald Trump’s more controversial nominees.

“Mitch McConnell is the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Sub Committee. Majority Leader, John Thune should remove him from that committee,” another said.

“Mitch McConnell should be censured, primaried, voted out of office, and ostracized from the Republican Party. There is no place for deep state RINOs in President Trump’s GOP,” Brigitte Gabriel, the founder of ACT for America, said.

A reporter asked Trump what he thought about McConnell’s “no” vote, but he said he didn’t know how McConnell had voted until just then. “Winning is what matters, right?” he said.

The CEO of Canada’s second-largest publicly traded company stated that Canadians support the actions President Trump is calling for and criticized outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not averting the trade war, according to a Sunday report.

On Saturday, Trump, 78, signed an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on Canada, citing the country’s failure to meet his demands to help curb the fentanyl trade and illegal immigration.

“Canada thrives when it works with America together. Win by helping America win. Trump believes that Canada has not held its side of the bargain,” Tobi Lutke, who co-founded Shopify, wrote on the X platform.

“These are things that every Canadian wants its government to do, too. These are not crazy demands, even if they came from an unpopular source. These tariffs are going to be devastating to so many people’s lives and small businesses,” he added.

Lutke’s scathing critique came in response to a clip of Trudeau announcing 25% retaliatory tariffs on $107 billion worth of U.S. goods and advocating for policies targeting red states, the New York Post reported.

Shopify, the e-commerce giant co-founded by Lutke in 2006, is valued at around $150 billion. It is Canada’s largest tech company and the biggest startup in the country’s history, second only to the Royal Bank of Canada in size, The Post added.

Lutke, who is worth around $10 billion, is Canada’s richest citizen, the report noted further.

“Leadership is about doing what’s right, not what is popular. And hitting back will not lead to anything good. America will shrug it off. Canada will decline,” Lutke said regarding Trudeau’s planned counter-tariffs. “It’s simply the wrong choice in a possibility space where much better options would have been available.”

In 2023, Canada was America’s largest overall trading partner, with over $900 billion in goods and services exchanged between the two nations.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, last year, the U.S. imported approximately $377 billion worth of goods from Canada while exporting $322 billion.

The tariffs are expected to impact Canada particularly hard, as roughly 75% of its exports are directed to the U.S., while only about 13% of American exports go to its northern neighbor, The Post said, citing Census data.

Trump’s substantial tariff on Canada also includes a reduced 10 percent tariff rate on energy resources. For context, in 2023, Canadian crude oil exports made up about 24 percent of U.S. refinery production, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

Trudeau, 53, who is set to remain Prime Minister until his Liberal Party elects a new leader in March, traveled to Mar-a-Lago in November to meet with Trump after the then-president-elect first issued the tariff threat.

During the meeting, the outgoing Canadian leader sought to smooth over relations with Trump and persuade him not to follow through on the tariff threat, which could severely damage Canada’s economy. But at the same time, Trudeau’s visit was blasted by critics who claimed that it made him look weak and inferior.

On Sunday, Trump acknowledged that the tariffs will “maybe (and maybe not!)” cause “some pain” but argued that the move will be “worth the price that must be paid.” The 47th president expressed frustration about the United States assisting Canada through its trade policies.

“We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason. We don’t need anything they have,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection…AND NO TARIFFS.”

Canadian elections are scheduled for October, The Post noted.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Friday that Trump’s tariffs were coming.

“On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at our southern border to end the four-year-long invasion of illegal aliens under the previous administration,” she told reporters.

“Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order to end catch and release and finish construction of his effective border wall.  By using every lever of his federal power, President Trump has sent a loud and clear message to the entire world: America will no longer tolerate illegal immigration,” she added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered some praise for President Donald Trump in an interview published over the weekend in expressing hope that the U.S. leader would “restore order” throughout the European continent amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Trump, with his character and stubbornness, will restore order there quickly. And all of them – you will see – it will happen swiftly. Soon they will all sit at the feet of their master and gently wag their tails,” Putin said, according to a translation published by The Daily Wrap.

The Russian president also claimed that Trump’s candidacy was widely opposed throughout Europe and that some countries may have actually interfered in the U.S. election because “mentally, the then-president Joe Biden suited them more.”

Putin added that “Trump has different ideas about what is good and what is bad – also in matters of gender policy and other issues. And they apparently do not like that,” the outlet reported.

Meanwhile, Trump on Friday suggested that the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine could be close to a negotiated settlement to the war that began with Russia’s invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

“We will be speaking, and I think we’ll perhaps do something that’ll be significant,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office, per ABC News. “We want to end that war. That war would have not started if I was president.”

Trump did not say who in his administration had been in direct contact with either Putin or the Kremlin. Asked if he had personally spoken with the Russian president, Trump evaded: “I don’t want to say that.”

Since taking office, Trump has been critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not making a deal with Putin to avoid the conflict in the first place.

In another recent interview with Russian state television, Putin praised Trump as a “clever and pragmatic man” who remains laser-focused on putting U.S. interests first.

“We always had a business-like, pragmatic but also trusting relationship with the current U.S. president,” Putin said. “I couldn’t disagree with him that if he had been president — if they hadn’t stolen victory from him in 2020, the crisis that emerged in Ukraine in 2022 could have been avoided.”

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized the Biden-Harris regime for pumping tens of billions of dollars into Ukraine’s war effort rather than seeking a negotiated settlement. To that point, however, Zelenesky said in an interview published at the weekend that he had no idea where Trump’s stated figure of “$200 billion” in assistance comes from, adding that his government has only received a fraction of that amount.

“When it is said that Ukraine received $200 billion to support the army during the war – that’s not true. I don’t know where all that money went. Perhaps it’s true on paper with hundreds of different programs – I won’t argue, and we’re immensely grateful for everything. But in reality, we received about $76 billion. It’s significant aid, but it’s not $200 billion,” he said.

Since 2022, Congress has authorized roughly $175 billion for Ukraine, but a significant portion of that funding has reportedly gone to American industries and various US government activities related to the conflict, RT.com reported.

According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, as of October 2024, the US had allocated approximately $92 billion in financial and military aid to Ukraine, while EU countries and the UK had allocated $131 billion.

Zelensky also insisted that he has seen little actual cash, as more than $70 billion of the aid came in the form of direct military assistance.

“There are also many other humanitarian programs I’m uninformed about, except for knowing of their existence. Perhaps the US president’s administration will audit these programs and find additional billions, but I don’t know where those funds went,” he said.