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The Trump administration fired a group of prosecutors involved in the January 6 criminal cases on Friday and demanded the names of FBI agents who worked on those investigations, potentially paving the way for their likely removal, reports said on Saturday.

The actions reflect the White House’s efforts to assert control over federal law enforcement and purge agencies of career employees who have been identified as unable to execute their duties and President Donald Trump’s agenda unbiasedly, the Associated Press reported.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the dismissals of the January 6 prosecutors just days after President Donald Trump granted sweeping clemency to more than 1,500 individuals charged in the U.S. Capitol attack, according to a memo obtained by The AP.

Around two dozen employees at the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington were terminated, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In a separate memo, Bove identified more than a half-dozen senior FBI executives who were ordered to either retire or be fired by Monday. He also requested the names, titles, and offices of all FBI employees who worked on investigations into the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

The bureau’s acting director indicated that the list could include thousands of employees.

Bove, who defended Trump in his criminal cases before he agreed to join the administration, said Justice Department officials would then carry out a “review process to determine whether any additional personnel actions are necessary.”

“As we’ve said since the moment we agreed to take on these roles, we are going to follow the law, follow FBI policy, and do what’s in the best interest of the workforce and the American people — always,” acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll wrote in a letter to the bureau’s staff.

The prosecutors dismissed from the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office were initially hired for temporary assignments to support the January 6 cases but were moved into permanent positions by the Biden-Harris administration following Trump’s victory in November, according to the memo obtained by the AP.

Bove, in his memo, said he would not “tolerate subversive personnel actions by the previous administration.”

When questioned during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, stated that he was unaware of any plans to terminate or punish FBI employees involved in the Trump investigations. Patel emphasized that, if confirmed, he would adhere to the FBI’s internal review processes for taking action against employees, the AP reported.

Queried by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) over whether he would reverse any decisions made before his Senate confirmation that did not follow that standard process, Patel said, “I don’t know what’s going on right now over there, but I’m committed to you, senator, and your colleagues, that I will honor the due process of the FBI.”

Democrats and other detractors in the media have complained that Trump is attempting to ‘bend’ federal law enforcement to his will. However, it should be noted that the Biden-Harris administration took the unprecedented step of using the FBI and the Justice Department to prosecute Trump, then a former president, after he left the White House — in one case for something the then-president, Joe Biden, himself was allegedly guilty of — improperly retaining classified documents.

Those cases have since been dismissed, but supporters of the current commander-in-chief further note that it would be virtually impossible for many of those agents and federal prosecutors, many of whom voluntarily signed on to the cases, to now set aside their biases and serve the man they once tried to imprison dispassionately.

Asked if he had anything to do with the DOJ and FBI purges, Trump said on Friday, “No, but we have some very bad people over there. It was weaponized at a level that nobody’s never seen before. They came after a lot of people — like me — but they came after a lot of people.”

He added: “If they fired some people over there, that’s a good thing because they were very bad.”

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman blamed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the Democrats were walloped in the 2024 elections.

During an interview with Politico, Fetterman went after Pelosi when asked if he thought President Joe Biden should have dropped out of the race after the terrible debate with Donald Trump.

“People like [Nancy] Pelosi, she really tried to — what’s the word I’m looking for? — she embraced this ‘she’s the godmother, she’s the enforcer.’ And now she’s blaming Biden,” Fetterman said, holding nothing back while blaming Pelosi for trying to pull power moves.

“Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted,” he added, referring to Biden’s ouster and the installment of Kamala Harris, “and now you’re still blaming Biden.”

Democrats have split into various feuding factions and are blaming one another for their failure to retake the House of Representatives, their loss of the Senate, and their defeat by Trump in the presidential race. Pelosi has claimed that Biden should not immediately have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and suggested that the decision led to her embarrassing defeat.

“I think it’s really ironic that you have a woman at age 84, and she is still hanging on. Why not give a younger generation an opportunity to occupy that seat?” he added.

He then spoke out against Harris and other Democrats who say Trump followers are “fascists” because of their political views.

“I love people that are absolutely going to vote for Trump. They’re not fascists. They’re not those things. I think if you go to the tickle switch, use those kinds of terms, then it’s kind of hard to walk back on those things,” he continued.

“That’s kind of a word that really isn’t part of the vernacular for voters. Scolding harder or clutching the pearls harder, that’s never going to work for Democrats,” Fetterman concluded.

Pelosi faces calls to step aside after Democrats were battered in the 2024 elections.

During an interview on Fox News with host Neil Cavuto, Teamsters International President Sean O’Brien called on Pelosi and New York Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer to step aside after Republicans won back the White House and Senate and kept control of the House.

After securing a 20th term last week, the 84-year-old submitted a statement of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. The documents are an early sign of Pelosi’s plans for the next election, but a representative for the lawmaker refuses to confirm if she is seeking reelection.

Pelosi’s recent comments regarding Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 campaign and support Kamala Harris prompted the comments.

In an interview with the New York Times podcast on Saturday, Pelosi stated that there was a belief that Biden would resign sooner rather than later, allowing for a more competitive selection process for his successor that could have improved the Democrats’ reaction to Trump.

After a dismal debate performance and growing worries about his age, Biden announced his resignation from the campaign and endorsed Harris in July, joining an increasing number of Democrats who believed he was unfit to challenge Trump.

According to reports, Pelosi advised contributors and other Democrats she dealt with behind the scenes to “speak their conscience” if they had reservations about Biden.

A House Democrat told NBC News then that a recent wave of party members speaking out against Biden’s campaign was “all Nancy’s doing.”

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up challenges of state and local lawsuits against oil companies that seek to compel them to compensate for alleged climate change-related damages.

Energy-producing states, oil companies, and industry groups filed two challenges to waves of climate lawsuits. Critics claim these lawsuits are being used to push anti-fossil fuel policies through the states. If they are successful, oil companies will pay them billions of dollars, which will be passed on to customers.

“Consumers are not helped by these cases, which seek to wipe products from store shelves and funnel money to left-wing causes,” said O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers, a consumer advocacy nonprofit.

“Here is hoping the targets of these lawsuits continue to fight these cases, as they have consistently prevailed in the final stages of review and that is the only way for consumers to not be sacrificed before the left-wing onslaught here.”

Last year, the Alliance for Consumers published a report exposing the extensive dark money campaign being used by liberal advocacy groups to finance the lawsuits. The report’s conclusions are consistent with those of other studies.

In December, Skinner told Just the News that if these lawsuits, which target energy companies using state-level nuisance laws, are successful, oil companies will have to either cease oil production or take expensive steps to reduce emissions.

Additionally, he stated that in the end, all of these cases would result in the Green New Deal, which was unsuccessful, being passed by court orders rather than through the legislative process.

Any major emitter will be susceptible to these lawsuits, so they are anticipated to target other industries. In addition to automakers and the U.S. steel industry, utilities are also being targeted.

The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, stated that not hearing the Honolulu case now could result in more lawsuits from activists seeking to become the nation’s energy regulators.

“I hope that the Court will hear the issue someday, for the sake of constitutional accountability and the public interest,” said Adam White, a senior fellow at the institute.

In May, a 19-state coalition of attorneys general, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, filed a constitutional challenge to similar cases filed by California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, told Just the News that Prelogar’s arguments are a departure from what you’d typically expect the federal government to argue.

When state or local litigation affects the entire nation or assumes authority over what a federal agency does — for example, the EPA regulating emissions — the solicitor general has historically protected federal authority.

Yet, in the case of climate lawsuits, the Biden-Harris administration is arguing the lawsuits aren’t ready for high court review.

“It looks like they’re motivated by allegiance to the dark money backers behind these cases,” Skinner said.

Anti-fossil fuel activists have accused the firms taking up these cases, including San Francisco-based Sher Edling, of being supported by a dark money campaign aimed at advancing laws through the U.S. judicial system that would not pass in legislatures.

To learn more about the “wealthy liberals” who are financing the lawsuits “aimed at bankrupting oil and gas companies,” the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability opened an investigation into Sher Edling last year.

The firm replied that since the companies wouldn’t be able to pay the settlements, it wouldn’t be in their best interests to bankrupt them. The firm further contended that their clients are only requesting damages for the effects of climate change that are purportedly brought on by the companies’ purported deceit, not for all of the effects.

President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in Congress are expected to take a sharply different view of environmental law and energy production than the Biden-Harris administration.

A Fox Business anchor broke down in tears live on the air as he recounted a family experience while he was growing up. Charles Payne recalled how his family took a major financial risk when they bought a farm in Alabama in 1951.

During Payne’s Thursday town hall, titled “Maintaining Unstoppable Prosperity,” the host encouraged viewers not to fear taking financial risks when investing in the market. To drive his message home, Payne shared a personal story about his grandparents, reading the deed and describing the sacrifices they made

Payne told the audience that a family member finally found the deed to his grandparents’ farm, adding that they were “a black family that saved up everything.”

“I got to share some of this with you because it is so powerful for anyone out there who thinks buying Amazon is a great risk. They gave everything they had for the property,” Payne said before reading the deed.

“It says, ‘we do hereby grant bargain and sell and convey unto the to the seller to describe the personal property and crops which are owned by us freely. One red horse mule named Red. One gray horse mule named Jack. One two-horse wagon, one hay mover, one hay press, nine head of mixed cattle, a cell hog, some wagons, mowers, presses,” the host added, as his voice began to shake.

“My grandparents gave everything. Everything they had. They worked their a** off for years, and they gave it all for 60 acres to have their own. That’s a risk, folks. That’s a risk. I’m so grateful,” he said.

Last year, Payne got into a heated on-air exchange with now-former Fox News contributor Geraldo Rivera after the latter made a goofy statement and then an outright false claim during a segment on “Hannity” over President Joe Biden’s trip to Ukraine.

Hannity argued that the president was not doing enough to assist Ukraine after he nixed a deal to send Polish fighter jets to the war-torn nation this year.

“If we’re going to give $120 billion to Ukraine and then Joe Biden has now not once, but a number of times, he has vetoed other European countries from giving fighter jets so that they can compete with Putin in the air,” the host said. “And there’s no reason to do that except, he’s not fighting to win the war.”

“It’s a proxy war,” Payne, who is a host on Fox Business, said. “I think the administration’s happy if it’s just bogged down. If you can bog Russia down, they lose a lot of people.”

“The only thing I did not like about President Biden’s visit was the air raid sirens. That was the most phony baloney stuff. The air raid sirens hadn’t gone on ’cause they hadn’t gone off for five days. It was …” Payne said before Rivera interrupted by saying, “They’ve lost 100,000 people.”

“Air raid sirens had not gone off in that city in five days. It was phony baloney Hollywood junk,” Payne said.

“I absolutely disagree,” Rivera snapped back.

“They didn’t need that,” Payne insisted.

“That is a little partisan jab that you didn’t have to make. They have lost 100,000–,” Rivera said

“Russia was notified that Biden was coming. Do you think Russia was gonna drop a bomb on President Biden?!” Payne exclaimed.

“Russia was not notified,” Rivera said.

“Yes they were!” Payne said, which was true.

“We did notify the Russians that President Biden would be traveling to Kyiv. We did so some hours before his departure for deconfliction purposes,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in a press briefing, ABC News reported at the time.

“Because of the sensitive nature of those communications, I won’t get into how they responded or what the precise nature of our message was. But I can confirm that we provided that notification,” he added.

Discover why fingers turn white in cold weather, the symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon, and strategies to manage this condition.

Experiencing fingers that turn white in cold weather. This condition, known as Raynaud’s phenomenon, occurs when blood vessels in the fingers and toes constrict in response to cold or stress, reducing blood flow and causing the skin to turn white or blue.

During a Raynaud’s phenomenon attack, affected areas may feel cold and numb. As circulation improves, the skin might turn red and throb or tingle. While fingers and toes are most commonly affected, the condition can also impact the nose, ears, lips, and even nipples.

Common triggers include exposure to cold temperatures and emotional stress. Activities involving repetitive motions or vibrations, such as typing or using vibrating tools, can also contribute. Raynaud’s is more prevalent in women and those living in colder climates.

To manage Raynaud’s phenomenon, keep warm by wearing gloves, socks, and layered clothing. Avoid smoking, as it can constrict blood vessels, and manage stress through relaxation techniques. In severe cases, consult a healthcare provider for potential treatments.

While Raynaud’s is often manageable, severe cases can lead to complications like sores or tissue damage. If you experience persistent symptoms or develop sores in affected areas, seek medical advice to rule out underlying conditions.

Understanding Raynaud’s phenomenon empowers you to proactively manage symptoms and maintain a comfortable lifestyle during colder months.

On Sunday, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) expressed skepticism about the preemptive pardons then-President Joe Biden granted to his family members in the final days of his administration, stating that he didn’t believe they would “hold up in court.” Just minutes before

Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term last week, Biden announced pardons for several family members, including his brother James B. Biden, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, Valerie Owens’ husband John T. Owens, and his brother Francis W. Biden, citing the possibility of “politically motivated investigations.”

Biden had previously pardoned his son, Hunter, who had been convicted of tax evasion and gun crimes. Comer, who led an impeachment investigation into Biden focused on corruption and authored a book about his inquiry, described the preemptive pardons as
an “admission of guilt.” He also suggested during an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo that scrutiny of the Biden administration could continue, when asked if viewers should expect that the Bidens “got away with it.” 

On the evening of January 29, tragedy struck near Washington, D.C., when a devastating plane crash claimed the lives of all 67 passengers aboard. Among them were 42-year-old Justyna Beyer and her 12-year-old daughter, Brielle, whose bright future was cut short just as she had reached a major milestone in her young life.

Brielle, a resilient cancer survivor, had recently fulfilled her dream of joining the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp, a testament to her determination and love for the sport. Her father,

Andy Beyer, was on his way to the airport, eager to reunite with his wife and daughter, when the unthinkable happened. Instead of welcoming them home, he was met with heartbreaking news that shattered his world.

The figure skating community, deeply affected by the loss of one of its promising young athletes, has rallied around the grieving family. In an effort to provide support during this unimaginable time, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched, offering a way for friends, loved ones, and well-wishers to extend their condolences and financial assistance.

A photograph of first lady Jill Biden seated next to Vice President Kamala Harris with just days to go before President Joe Biden’s term ends has gone viral online amid reports of increasing tension in the White House.

The photo also features second husband Doug Emhoff and first son Hunter Biden, and while it appears a bit out of focus, some online users believe that there is a great deal of unease in the room.

“Kamala and Jill sitting next to each other during Biden’s Farewell Address. You can feel the tension,” the Johnny Maga X account posted along with the photo.

Several other users chimed in as well and made similar observations and comments:

Reports have surfaced throughout Joe Biden’s presidency that the first lady and the vice president did not get along. In 2022, for instance, a newly released book claimed that Jill Biden did not want Harris on the ticket after what she said about her husband during the 2020 Democratic debates.

The book, titled “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future,” authored by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, also said that Joe himself had reservations about adding Harris to his ticket.

“There are millions of people in the United States. Why do we have to choose the one who attacked Joe,” Jill Biden said in a conversation after she discovered that Harris was in the lead for the job, Fox News reported.

But there was support for her among some on Biden’s staff, including Ron Klain who is now the White House chief of staff, was in charge of the vetting for vice president and had Harris pegged for the job.

“Yes, Harris had attacked Biden more harshly than any other major candidate in the Democratic primaries. Yes, the Biden family had seen it as a smear and a betrayal. In Klain’s assessment, that would work to Biden’s advantage,” the book said. “Choosing Harris will show people that you are magnanimous and forgiving, Klain told Biden. It will show the country just what a unifying leader you can be.”

More recently, CNN’s Jake Tapper noted the tense greeting between Joe Biden, Harris, and their spouses at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, saying it was not “particularly warm.”

Cameras inside the National Cathedral captured the moment. There did not appear to be much eye contact or handshakes among the four of them.

“There’s President Joe Biden and first Lady Joe Biden. And I think he has 11 days left as president of the United States. Obviously an eventful year, one that he did not plan for,” Tapper noted, as he narrated the unfolding scene.

”Started the year as a would-be Democratic presidential nominee, and we all know what happened after that. Again, you didn’t see a particularly warm greeting between the first couple and the second couple. But again, we are at a funeral, so one has to take that into account when trying to read the body language of the individuals there,” he added.

A recent photo of former First Lady Melania Trump has sparked heated speculation about her beauty routine, with many questioning whether her iconic long locks get a little extra help from hair extensions.

The buzz began after Vice President-elect J.D. Vance shared a photo on December 12 via X (formerly Twitter). The snapshot showed Donald and Melania Trump watching the New York Stock Exchange on television, but it wasn’t the market activity that caught everyone’s attention. Instead, the back of Melania’s head appeared to reveal what some identified as tape-in hair extensions.

“Vance captioned the post with enthusiasm, writing, ‘Ready to ring the bell on the New York Stock Exchange.’ He followed up with a confident declaration: ‘President Trump will lead a great American comeback!'”

While Melania’s perfectly styled brunette hair has long been a hallmark of her look, recent photos have prompted questions about whether she’s enhancing her volume and length with extensions.

To get to the root of the matter, DailyMail.com consulted top hairstylists. Julia North, founder of luxury wig brand Wigonia, weighed in. “Based on the photo, it does appear she’s wearing tape-in or beaded-row extensions,” North said, noting the subtle transition where natural hair meets the added pieces.

“She’s likely using premium European human hair extensions, around 18 to 20 inches long,” North added. She speculated that Melania might use a hybrid system, combining tape-ins for volume and individual beaded rows for length.

Another expert, Saraphine Nurse, an extension specialist with UNice, agreed. “The fullness and texture at the ends indicate the addition of volume or length,” Nurse explained. She pointed out that clip-ins or tape-ins are popular among public figures because they offer flexibility and natural movement.

Despite the photo revealing what looks like extension tape, Melania’s overall look remains flawlessly polished. “The color work is exceptional,” North said. “Her extensions are flawlessly matched to her natural hair, ensuring a seamless blend.”

Celebrity stylist Mia Santiago echoed these observations, explaining, “Extensions often hold curl tighter than finer natural hair, which you can spot in this case.” Santiago humorously added, “If I were a betting woman, I’d say she’s definitely wearing them.”

Interestingly, Melania’s hair lengths have varied in her public appearances, suggesting she alternates between different extension styles depending on the occasion. Experts note this strategy is common among high-profile individuals to protect natural hair while achieving a consistent signature look.

Melania is known for her meticulous grooming, even frequenting New York’s exclusive John Frieda Salon during a particularly tumultuous time for the Trump family in 2022. Whether or not extensions are part of her routine, her dedication to her appearance is unmistakable.

Sources: Daily Mail

President Donald Trump is taking a sledgehammer to the remnants of former President Joe Biden’s regime.

When a new administration enters the White House, it is normal for those who worked for the previous White House to resign, but sometimes, there are those who hang on and wait to be fired.

Rohit Chopra was one of those, but last week Trump removed him as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

On Saturday, the former director posted on his X account, thanking those he worked with.

“It’s been an honor serving as your (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) Director. Every day, Americans from across the country shared their ideas and experiences with us. You helped us hold powerful companies & their executives accountable for breaking the law, and you made our work better. Thank you,” he said, along with a gracious letter he sent to the president thanking him and vowing to work with whoever the new director will be.

Trump picked Chopra to be a Democrat member of the board during his first stint in the White House.

Chopra had offered to stay on if the president wanted him to, but he was fired instead, Newsweek reported.

It came after Chopra’s critics in the business industry called for him to be removed by the president.

“The longer Director Chopra stays, the harder it will be for this pro-growth administration to undo the politically-driven, government-price setting agenda that former President [Joe] Biden’s appointee has engaged in over the last several years at the Bureau,” Consumer Bankers Association press secretary Weston Loyd said.

Electronic Payments Coalition executive chairman Richard Hunt said Chopra’s tenure “was marked by witch-hunts and political weaponization” of the bureau, arguing that Chopra’s policies reduced the access that “vulnerable consumers” had to financial credit.

However, Democrats said that Chopra worked to give back billions of dollars to American consumers.

California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters, the top minority party member on the House Financial Services Committee, issued a scathing press release denouncing Chopra’s termination.

“President Trump’s decision to fire CFPB Director Rohit Chopra marks the end of an era of strong consumer protection and the beginning of a plan to end this important agency. Since taking the helm of the CFPB in 2021, Director Chopra has worked tirelessly to ensure the agency fulfills its critical mission of protecting American families in the financial marketplace,” the congresswoman said.

“In the face of repeated and coordinated attacks, Director Chopra’s fearless advocacy on behalf of working-class families has returned more than $6 billion to harmed consumers. That’s not all. Director Chopra has taken decisive action to address the harsh reality that hardworking families are increasingly stretched thin and living paycheck to paycheck,” she added.

“Under his leadership, the CFPB has taken action to eliminate costly and illegal junk fees imposed by big banks, hold student loan servicers like Navient accountable for defrauding hardworking students, protect servicemembers from high-interest loans, promote transparency in the small business lending market, ban medical debt from being used to block creditworthy borrowers from accessing credit, tackle discrimination in housing and the economy, and take on big banks like Wells Fargo for repeatedly breaking the law and exploiting the very consumers they claim to serve,” she continued.

“While his accomplishments are too long to list, Director Chopra also advanced reforms to promote competition and strengthen privacy protections for consumers, actions that earned him unusual praise from Congressional Republicans. It’s no wonder why four out of five Americans support the CFPB, including a staggering 77% of Republicans. Even a conservative Supreme Court hostile to all kinds of regulatory agencies agreed that the CFPB and its funding is constitutional,” she said.

“Director Chopra, we thank you for your years of public service and remain grateful for the incredible work you have done in the past few years leading the excellent CFPB staff in protecting our nation’s consumers,” Rep. Waters said.

President Donald Trump set off a firestorm among Democrats when the USAID website suddenly went offline on Friday as he reportedly eyes moving the agency under State Department control.

Some even believe that the president wants to eliminate the organization altogether, a decision that is already being celebrated by opponents of massive U.S. foreign aid.

Former CBS News reporter Lara Logan was in favor of the president’s decision and warned that USAID was a CIA front.

“Like I said before, USAID is a front for the CIA. And together with NGO’s like the Open Society Foundation, they have been using US tax dollars & govt resources as their personal piggy bank. It has been infuriating to watch. Hopefully now the whole truth will come out,” she said on X.

“Abolish USAID and all foreign aid,” Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul said in response to an X post by Senate Minority Leader and New York Sen. Charles Schumer, one of many Democrats angry about the president’s reported move.

“Trump’s been purging and intimidating USAID employees. Now there’s a rumor he’ll dissolve USAID as an independent agency. It was created by JFK and established in law to further our national security and spread hope. This’d be illegal and against our national interests,” the Senate Minority Leader said.

But not many were as apoplectic as Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

“Let me explain why the total destruction of USAID – happening as we speak – matters so much. China – where Musk makes his money – wants USAID destroyed. So does Russia. Trump and Musk are doing the bidding of Beijing and Moscow. Why?” he claimed without basis on X.

“Over the last week, 50% of the Global Health Bureau and 60% of the Humanitarian Assistance Bureau have been fired. Aid programs everywhere have been closed. The U.S. is in full retreat from the world. Dystopian. No good reason for it,” he said in what could objectively be called a meltdown.

“The immediate consequences of this are cataclysmic. Malnourished babies who depend on U.S. aid will die. Anti-terrorism programs will shut down, and our most deadly enemies will get stronger. Diseases that threaten the U.S. will go unabated and reach our shores faster,” Murphy added.

“And China will fill the void. As developing countries will now ONLY be able to rely on China for help, they will cut more deals with Beijing to give them control of ports, critical mineral deposits, etc. U.S. power will shrink. U.S. jobs will be lost,” the senator said.

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“But Trump isn’t satisfied just to close programs and fire staff. He is now planning to ELIMINATE THE ENTIRE AGENCY. Maybe this weekend. a. That would be illegal. He cannot unilaterally close a federal agency. Another assault on the Constitution. b. Another gift to China!” he said.

“But why? Why hand a victory to terrorists and China and Russia? Why kill babies intentionally? Who benefits when Trump is so soft on our enemies? Maybe billionaires like Musk who make $ in China? Maybe someone buying all that secret Trump meme coin? It all feels so corrupt,” Murphy droned on.

But as Sens. Schumer and Murphy and other Democrats claim that the president does not have the power to eliminate the agency by executive order, the fact is it was created by executive order of the late former President John F. Kennedy.

“President John F. Kennedy created USAID at the height of the Cold War to counter Soviet influence. Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961, and Kennedy signed that law and an executive order establishing USAID as an independent agency,” CNN reported.

While abolishing the Foreign Assistance Act would take an act of Congress, eliminating USAID or moving it under the umbrella of the State Department would not.

“Live by executive order, die by executive order,” Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk said on Saturday.

President Donald Trump provided a major update on Thursday to Americans on the deadly midair collision at Reagan National Airport.

While speaking in the White House briefing room, the president began things by holding a moment of silence for all of the victims, calling it a moment of “anguish.”

“Sadly, there are no survivors,” Trump said.

“Together we take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac, but in the warm embrace of a loving God,” Trump said.

Trump added: “They are working tirelessly to figure out exactly what happened. We will state certain opinions, however. I’m also immediately appointing an acting commissioner to the FAA, Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the agency, highly respected. Christopher, thank you very much. Appreciate it.”

Trump also tore into DEI and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling him a “disaster” who just had a “good line of bullsh*t.”

“The FAA website shows that the agency’s guidance on diversity hiring were last updated on March 23rd of ‘22. They wanted to make it even more so. And then I came in, and I assume maybe this is the reason. The FAA, which is overseen by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a real winner, that guy’s a real winner. Do you know how badly everything’s run since he’s run this Department of Transportation? He’s a disaster. He was a disaster as a mayor. He ran his city into the ground, and he’s a disaster now. He’s just got a good line of bullshit. The Department of Transportation, his government agency charged with regulating civil aviation. Well, he runs it, 45,000 people, and he’s run it right into the ground with his diversity,” Trump said.

Trump made a statement on Wednesday evening after a passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C.

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan International Airport,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “May God Bless their souls.”

“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise,” he added.

The president then followed up his original posts raising some questions about what may have happened.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time,” he wrote. “It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

He concluded, “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

Canada and Mexico have responded after President Donald Trump imposed huge tariffs, with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau warning his actions will have ‘real consequences for the American people’.

President Trump has been back in The White House for nearly two weeks, and he’s made a ton of amendments to the way the US is run in that short space of time.

Heck, Trump broke records for the number of executive orders signed on his first day as president, with changes to passports and immigration among some of his first moves.

The Trump administration has also imposed higher tariff imports on countries like China, Canada and Mexico, with import tariffs at 25 percent for Mexico and Canada, while there’s ten percent tariffs on goods from China.

As you can imagine, the new changes haven’t gone down well with Canadian, Mexican and Chinese officials.

Donald Trump has introduced many executive orders (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Speaking shorty before the hiked tariffs were detailed on Saturday (February 1), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “We’re ready with a response, a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response.”

And during a press briefing on Friday (January 31st), Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said: “We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, depending on what the government of the United States decides.

“It is very important for the people of Mexico to know that we will always defend the dignity of our people, that we will always defend respect for our sovereignty, and engage in dialogue as equals, as we have always stated, without subordination.”

Both the Canadian and Mexican president announced counter-tariffs on Saturday evening as a direct response to Trump’s executive order.

The Canadian prime minister has hit back (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada is imposing 25 percent tariffs on CA $155 billion of US goods.

Trudeau said: “It will have real consequences for you, the American people.”

Speaking in an address on Saturday, the Canadian prime minister added: “The actions taken by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together.”

Meanwhile, Sheinbaum revealed in a post on Twitter that she’s ordered her economic minister to implement measures to protect Mexico’s best interests.

Claudia Sheinbaum is taking measures too (ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)

“We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organisations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory,” Mexico’s president wrote.

“If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don’t do, and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population.”

Donald Trump’s middle name is something that might surprise you, and it’s got everything to do with its meaning.

As the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Trump has made a significant impact on the nation.

From his 2016 presidential term, to his second inauguration just less than two weeks ago, he has always had a very strong stance on a few topics, from immigration to abortion to trans rights.

Donald Trump’s middle name is surprising (Joe Raedle/Getty Image)

However, his middle name showcases a surprising meaning.

Trump carries the middle name John, and while that might seem common to you, it’s very telling of his roots.

To find out why it’s so surprising that Trump has this as his middle name, you first need to know his heritage.

Trump’s parents were Fred Trump, a real estate developer, and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.

His mother was an immigrant from Scotland, which is probably why is first and middle name have strong roots in Scotland, with John also being found in German history too.

Not only did Mary Anne have a brother named John George MacLeod, but John is a name that many people in the US use to carry on remembrance for relatives who have passed.

So, it’s quite surprising that a president who is stringent on immigration came from an immigrant mother himself and further went on to marry Melania– an immigrant- and have a child with her too.

Even more shockingly, people have only recently been realising what his full name means, and it’s arguably fitting, depending on which side of the fence you sit on his presidency.

The name John originates from Hebrew, and is derived from the word ‘Yohanan,’ which means to be ‘graced by Yahweh.’

Donald is of Scottish origin, and means ‘world ruler‘.

His middle name is John (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump is German and comes from the word ‘trumpe,’ which goes on to mean ‘drum’ or ‘to trumpet.’

All in all, Donald John Trump means: world ruler, graced by God, who proclaims loudly.

It’s a name that could only happen as a fluke, or by very careful consideration from his parents.

However, he doesn’t actually use his middle name in his life, and simply chooses to forgo it when signing documents and in person.

But, he did once go by the name ‘Barron’ and ‘Baron’ respectively a few decades ago, which might be a nod to Barron Hilton, the hotel entrepreneur who Trump once did a business deal with.

Although, their relationship soured.

Trump also used this name when he was having an affair and used it to sign off his risky messages to his lover.

He then went on to name his youngest son, Barron.

So, it’s safe to say that even though he’s not using his middle name, he definitely has another name that he’s keen on keeping around.

Donald Trump has been branded historically unpopular despite being elected as president by US voters just months earlier.

It’s safe to say that Trump has had an interesting 11 days since being sworn into office on January 20.

When the US election results were announced in November 2024, it was claimed that Trump had won the ‘popular’ vote among the people of America.

He historically won places where Republicans usually do well, and also places where Democrats generally have an edge.

But just months after the election, it seems as though Trump isn’t quite as popular as he was made out to be – and he’s broken a record for all the wrong reasons.

A new poll, released by Gallup, reported that the president’s initial approval ratings are actually at an all-time low.

The president has broken a world record – but not one he’ll be happy about. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Megan Brenan, a senior editor who worked on the research, said: “At 47%, President Donald Trump’s initial job approval rating for his second term is similar to the inaugural 45% reading during his first term, again placing him below all other elected presidents dating back to 1953.”

Breaking records, she added: “Trump remains the only elected president with sub-50% initial approval ratings, and his latest disapproval rating (48%) is three percentage points higher than in 2017.”

According to the study, John F Kennedy was, and remains, the most popular modern president at the start of his term.

Followed by this is Dwight Eisenhower (1953) and Barack Obama (2009), who scored 68% – the next-highest approval ratings.

But it seems as though Trump is an anomaly, as Brenan said: “Most presidents have experienced a ‘honeymoon period’, with strong job approval ratings in the initial months of their presidencies that then fade as time passes.”

A study revealed the president is historically unpopular. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Interestingly, she added: “Initial evaluations of Trump differ [from other presidents] in that Americans are much more likely to disapprove of his performance rather than have no opinion.”

However, other research has suggested that Trump has slightly higher approval ratings.

Many celebrities have been open about moving from the US since Trump was elected.

Eva Longoria was one of the first to share that she has left the US, as she now splits her time between Spain and Mexico.

The actress told Marie Claire of Trump’s plans: “If he keeps his promises, it’s going to be a scary place.”

“I’m privileged,” she added. “I get to escape and go somewhere.

“Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have also moved away from America.

The former talk show host has now moved to the UK with her partner, vowing that they will ‘never return’ since Trump’s election.

An anonymous source close to the couple told The Wrap that the pair are living in the Cotswolds and have no intention of heading back to America, particularly not while Trump remains in charge.

President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has dropped a case brought by the Biden administration against a doctor who leaked that a Houston hospital was performing transgender surgeries on minors.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted prosecutors’ request to get rid of the four felony counts against Dr. Eithan Haim, 34, who was accused of accessing patient records from Texas Children’s Hospital under false pretenses, The New York Post reported.

The doctor gave the records to conservative journalist Christopher Rufo in 2023.

“Last spring, executives at Texas Children’s Hospital announced that they would cease performing transgender medical procedures on children, citing potential legal and criminal liability. The hospital’s chief pediatrician, Catherine Gordon, an advocate for ‘gender-affirming therapy,’ abruptly resigned,” Rufo said in his story for City Journal.

“I have obtained exclusive whistleblower documents showing that, despite its public statements, the Houston-based children’s hospital—the largest in the United States—has secretly continued to perform transgender medical interventions, including the use of implantable puberty blockers, on minor children. (When reached via email, hospital spokeswoman Kelley Carville responded: ‘We have no comment.’),” he said in the report.

The doctor’s trial was set to begin on February 10, and prosecutors did not offer a reason for why they wanted to drop the charges.

But Haim’s team celebrated the decision and said that their client was “vindicated.”

“The United States has finally agreed to drop the case against Dr. Haim, and the Court just granted dismissal,” defense attorney Marcella Burke said.

“The fight against the evils he exposed continues, but this dismissal represents a repudiation of the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the first step in accountability for the misdeeds we have all witnessed in this case,” she added.

The decision to drop the case is one of many changes to former President Joe Biden’s administration’s policies since President Donald Trump was inaugurated less than a week ago.

The new administration is moving to mass deport migrants who were allowed into the nation temporarily under Biden administration parole programs.

In a memo signed on Thursday by the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials were given instructions on how to use powers to quickly deport the migrants that were previously given only for encounters at the southern border in certain circumstances under the Biden-Harris regime, The New York Times reported.

It also seems to provide officials with the authority to expel migrants from two significant Biden-era programs that have permitted over a million people to enter the country temporarily.

“Those programs — an app called CBP One that migrants could use to try to schedule appointments to enter the United States, and an initiative that let in certain migrants fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti — were key pillars of the Biden administration’s efforts to discourage illegal entries by allowing certain legal pathways. Immigrant advocates also worried that the memo could apply to Afghan and Ukrainian immigrants brought to the United States under separate programs,” the report said.

“The decision indicates that President Trump will try to use every facet of the immigration enforcement apparatus to crack down on a system he has long said has been abused, and that he intends to target not just those who sneaked across the border but even those who followed previously authorized pathways to enter,” the Times added.

The migrants, who are often from dangerous nations, were granted a two-year period known as “parole” to stay in the United States legally, but the memo appears to allow for them to be deported sooner if not immediately.

Republicans have criticized the two Biden programs, likening them to a quasi-legal way to facilitate illegal immigration as approximately 1.4 million migrants utilized these programs to enter the country under Biden’s watch.

The U.S. Army helicopter involved in Wednesday’s midair collision with American Airlines flight 5342 had been conducting a training exercise for a potential attack on the capital.

Officials have confirmed that the three soldiers, who tragically lost their lives, were rehearsing a plan to evacuate the White House when their Black Hawk collided with the passenger jet just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Defense sources confirmed the details of the training exercise to CBS News after internet sleuths had speculated online that it was, in fact, focused on that very scenario.

Theorists flooded social media with claims that the helicopter was carrying out an emergency evacuation route for the president as part of a Continuity of Government (COG) contingency plan, DailyMail.com reported.

A Continuity of Government mission in the U.S. refers to a series of policies and procedures designed to ensure that essential government functions continue during and after catastrophic events, such as a nuclear attack, natural disaster, cyberattack, or terrorist incident. One key component of a COG mission is the protection of critical personnel and infrastructure.

On Friday, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, the pilot in charge, and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, the crew chief, were named as the two soldiers on board the helicopter.

After some delay, the Army finally identified the third soldier, Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, who “served as an aviation officer in the Army since July 2019 and had around 500 hours of flying time in the Black Hawk,” Fox News reported. Her family had initially asked the Army to keep her identity a secret following initial unsubstantiated claims that DEI was a factor in the crash.

Lobach was also a former White House social media aide during the Biden administration, reports said.

An investigation into the cause of Wednesday night’s collision between an American Eagle plane carrying 64 people and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter is continuing.

The two aircraft collided, causing a massive fireball, which was captured on dashcams of cars driving on nearby highways as well as surveillance cameras before both aircraft plunged into the river.

The black box recorder from the helicopter, which includes both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data receiver, was recovered from the wreckage on Friday. On Thursday night, salvage teams successfully retrieved both black boxes from the American Airlines flight.

On Friday, another air disaster unfolded as a medical Lear 55 jet plunged into a Philadelphia neighborhood shortly after take-off, killing all six passengers and crew, as well as another person on the ground.

Fox News reported that the aircraft was operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance and had just departed from a northeast Philadelphia airport shortly before it crashed. Fox also obtained chilling audio from air traffic control in the final moments before impact.

The audio, obtained by Fox News Digital, was recorded just before the plane took off. In the recording, operators can be heard urgently attempting to make contact with the plane before it crashed.

“What’s going on down there?” one air traffic controller can be heard saying.

“We have a lost aircraft. We’re not exactly sure what happened. So, we’re trying to figure it out,” replies another air traffic controller. “The field is going to be closed so no inbounds-outbounds.” The plane departed the airport around 6:55 pm EDT.

All passengers and crew — two pilots, a physician, a paramedic, a pediatric passenger, and a mother– were all Mexican nationals, Fox reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that six people were aboard the plane, which was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.

Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Air Ambulance, told Fox News Digital that the patient on board was a Mexican national receiving life-saving medical treatment in the U.S. Upon completing her treatment, she was discharged and preparing to return home.

The scope of what has become an unprecedented media cover-up of former President Joe Biden’s mental decline and son Hunter Biden’s legal issues since before he became president is finally being revealed.

Critics of legacy media have long accused news organizations of protecting the 46th president from negative coverage, especially regarding revelations about his family’s questionable financial dealings and his cognitive decline, which was notably evident during last year’s CNN debate and ultimately led to his exit from the 2024 presidential race, Fox News noted in a Saturday report.

In fact, the report said, efforts to shield Biden from scrutiny reportedly began as early as May 2019, while the primary race for the 2020 Democratic nomination was underway.

Last week, former Politico reporter Marc Caputo revealed a report he had written at the time that utilized opposition research sourced from Biden’s Democratic rivals. The report highlighted a “tax lien” on Biden’s son Hunter related to his work with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

At the time, the former vice president was enjoying a significant lead over other Democratic candidates in the polls.

“And I wrote what would have been a classic story saying, you know, ‘The former vice president’s son was slapped with a big tax lien for the period of time that he worked for this controversial Ukrainian oil concern, or natural gas concern, which is haunting his father on the campaign trail,’” Caputo said on the “Somebody’s Gotta Win” podcast.

“That story was killed by the editors. And they gave no explanation for that either,” Caputo added.

By October 2020, Biden had secured the Democratic nomination and held a narrower lead in the polls against then-incumbent President Trump. The New York Post published its explosive report on Hunter Biden’s laptop, providing unprecedented details about his overseas finances and their potential connections to his father.

“I was covering Biden at the time, and I remember coming to my editor and saying, ‘Hey, we need to write about the Hunter Biden laptop.’ And I was told this came from on high at Politico: Don’t write about the laptop, don’t talk about the laptop, don’t tweet about the laptop,” Caputo said.

The journalist, who has since moved on and is now writing for Axios, recalled Politico’s one and only story about the laptop, which he said came under the “ill-fated headline” that read “Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say.”

The report, like many others from the legacy media at the time, made reference to an open letter signed by 51 intelligence officials declaring that the material from the laptop had “all the earmarks of a Russian intelligence operation.”

During his second debate with Trump, candidate Biden referenced the letter as he dismissed The Post’s report about the laptop as a “Russian plant.”

Politico wasn’t the only outlet accused of ignoring Hunter Biden’s laptop. A leaked audio recording obtained by Project Veritas revealed top CNN executives instructing staff not to cover it.

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“Obviously, we’re not going with the New York Post story right now on Hunter Biden,” CNN political director David Chalian said during an Oct. 14 conference call, the same day the NY Post published its first story on Hunter Biden’s emails.

Former Politico reporter Tara Palmeri, who broke the story of Hunter Biden’s gun incident that led to charges, also said her outlet slow-walked her reporting.

“I spent three months on it, I went to the laptop shop, and I did all of the reporting in Delaware, and I did all of that. But yeah it had, it had to be like much- it had to be 100% nailed down,” Palmeri told Caputo on the podcast. “I had everything, you know, the police reports… I’m a solid reporter. But I do wonder if it could have, if it would have been published a little quicker if it was a different type of story.”

“I just think if it was a Trump kid, it would have been published much sooner,” Palmeri added.

The protection of Joe Biden expanded beyond concerns about his family’s finances to include questions about the president’s own health. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that as early as spring 2021, Biden was experiencing “good days and bad days” that White House staff had to manage.

“Yet a sign that the bruising presidential schedule needed to be adjusted for Biden’s advanced age had arisen early on—in just the first few months of his term. Administration officials noticed that the president became tired if meetings went long and would make mistakes,” the Journal reported.

Other journalists told Fox on condition of anonymity they noticed early on Biden was “stiff” and “old” in his appearance and that his answers to questions were purposefully short as if he were “coached.”

Some people’s passports will be impacted by one of the executive orders that Donald Trump signed recently.

Since his historic return to the White House earlier this week, Trump has been in the news. He signed a number of executive orders almost immediately after entering the White House.

His proposals will have an impact on a number of issues, including immigration, climate change, and US jobs.

Trump signed more than 200 directives on Monday, January 20, according to BBC News. According to the news agency, an executive order is a written directive from the president to the federal government that is not subject to congressional approval.

‘Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government’ is one of the executive orders that the 78-year-old signed.

The notion that there are only two genders—male and female—is one of the major adjustments the measure introduces. Transgender women will no longer be held in female jails in light of this.

The order will also impact the passports of non-binary individuals.

We all know that sugar is in cakes and desserts, but it sneaks into so many other foods — bread, sauces, and even so-called “healthy” snacks.
While a little sweetness in life is fine, too much sugar can cause a range of health problems, some of which you might not even realize are connected to your diet. Here are ten warning signs that you may be overdoing it on sugar.

1. Constant Cravings for Sweets
If you find yourself reaching for something sweet after every meal, your body might be hooked. Sugar can be addictive, creating a cycle where the more you eat, the more you crave. Cutting back slowly can help break the habit.

2. Frequent Fatigue and Low Energy
A sugary snack might give you a quick burst of energy, but it often leads to an energy crash soon after.

This happens because it spikes your blood sugar levels, only for them to plummet shortly after, leaving you feeling drained, per Backus Hospital.

3. Increased Hunger, Even After Eating
Sugar interferes with the hormones that regulate hunger, making it easier to overeat, Everyday Health details. If you’re always hungry, even after a meal, too much sugar could be throwing your appetite out of balance.

4. Frequent Breakouts or Skin Issues
Excess sugar can cause inflammation in the body, which may show up as acne, redness, or other skin problems. If you notice your skin acting up, cutting back on sugar could help clear things up.

5. Weight Gain, Especially Around the Belly
Sugary foods are high in empty calories, meaning they don’t provide essential nutrients but can still contribute to weight gain. They also increase fat storage, especially around the midsection.

6. Joint Pain and Stiffness
Sugar promotes inflammation, which can make joint pain worse. If your knees, fingers, or other joints feel achy, your sugar intake could be playing a role.

7. Brain Fog or Trouble Focusing
If you find it hard to concentrate or experience frequent memory lapses, sugar could be to blame. High sugar consumption has been linked to impaired brain function and even an increased risk of cognitive decline over time.

8. Frequent Bloating or Digestive Issues
Too much sugar can feed bad bacteria in the gut, leading to bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. Cutting back and increasing fiber intake can help restore balance.

9. More Frequent Colds and Infections
Sugar weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections. If you find yourself getting sick often, reducing sugar could help strengthen your immune defenses.

10. Trouble Sleeping
A sugar-heavy diet can disrupt sleep patterns, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Balancing your blood sugar by avoiding sweets before bed can improve sleep quality.

How to Cut Back
If you recognize these warning signs, the good news is that making small changes can help. Try swapping sugary snacks for whole foods, reading labels carefully, and choosing natural sweeteners like honey or fruit in moderation. Over time, your body will adjust, and you’ll feel the benefits of a healthier diet.

Did this help you? Let us know your thoughts!

A report indicates the duties of handling military helicopters and commercial flight arrivals were combined on Wednesday evening

The responsibility of handling air traffic control for helicopters and incoming planes at Reagan National Airport were combined on Wednesday night ahead of a deadly collision, a report said.

Sometime before an American Airlines flight crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, an air traffic controller was assigned both duties by their supervisor, the New York Times reported,citing a source briefed on staffing and an internal preliminary FAA safety report.

Usually, the duties of handling helicopter traffic and managing planes are divided from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the airport, the Times reported. After 9:30 p.m., when traffic slows down, those duties may be combined.

However, on Wednesday, an air traffic control supervisor combined those duties sometime before 9:30 p.m. and allowed one air traffic controller to leave the job early, the Times reported.

The FAA preliminary safety report found that staffing at the airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” The Associated Press reported

It was a quiet, peaceful afternoon as I rode along a mountain trail, feeling enveloped by the beauty and calmness of nature. Wanting to capture the moment, I quickly took a photograph of myself with the horse, the vast scenery stretching out behind us, and sent it to my husband without a second thought. It was meant to be a simple snapshot of my day—nothing more than me, the horse, and the landscape.

Later that evening, an unexpected message from him caught me off guard.

At first, I brushed it off as an odd coincidence. Saddles could be old, repurposed, or carry markings that mean nothing specific. But my husband didn’t see it that way. He was disturbed, convinced this wasn’t a random coincidence but rather a sign of lingering ties to my past. He sought out someone who could analyze the image, eager to confirm his suspicion that the initials weren’t just random—they represented a connection that felt too close for comfort.

I tried to explain it away. After all, it could have been any saddle with any initials. Yet for him, those two letters, “A.M.,” seemed like irrefutable proof that my past was closer than I’d let on. Read more below

President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has already impacted 395 government employees, according to a senior administration official who spoke to Fox News on Saturday.

In addition, the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced on X (formerly Twitter) Friday that approximately $420 million in current and impending contracts—primarily focused on DEI initiatives—had been canceled, Fox added.

Following Trump’s signing of the order on Inauguration Day, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructed agency and department heads to begin shutting down all DEI offices by the close of business Wednesday. Employees in those offices were placed on paid leave, though it remains unclear when or if they will face termination.

Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management Charles Ezell issued a memo to department and agency heads on Tuesday evening, outlining strict directives for the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The memo required that by the close of business on January 22, agencies must inform all employees about the DEI shutdown.

Additionally, employees directly involved in DEI were to be placed on paid leave immediately, all DEI-related websites and social media accounts were to be taken down, related contracts or training canceled, and employees were instructed to report any attempts to disguise DEI programs through coded or vague language.

By noon on January 23, agency and department heads were required to provide OPM with detailed lists of all DEI offices, employees, and contracts active as of November 5, 2024.

Furthermore, by 5 p.m. on January 24, agency heads were mandated to submit to OPM a written plan for executing reduction-in-force actions targeting DEI employees, along with a comprehensive list of any contract descriptions or personnel position descriptions altered since November 5, 2024, to try and hide their connection to DEI programs, Fox noted further.

The executive order was one of many signed by Trump on his first day in office. It included government recognition of only two genders and the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

On Tuesday, he issued two additional executive actions targeting DEI initiatives. One executive order aimed to end workplace and higher education discrimination by prohibiting race- and sex-based preferences implemented under the guise of DEI.

The other was a memo rescinding a Biden-era policy that prioritized DEI-focused hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Trump’s Monday executive order rescinded President Joe Biden’s promotion of diversity initiatives, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” which he signed on his first day in office, noted Fox.

Trump is moving at a breakneck pace to implement his agenda, observers noted as he nears the end of his first week in office.

Besides issuing dozens of executive orders, the president surveyed disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California, and supported his Cabinet nominees during contentious Senate confirmation battles.

In his inauguration address on Monday, the 45th and 47th president vowed that things across the country would “change starting today, and it will change very quickly.”

And moments later, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich took to social media to tease, “Now, comes SHOCK AND AWE.”

They weren’t exaggerating, noted Fox News. Within his first eight hours in office, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders and actions, delivering on several key campaign promises while showcasing his executive authority and addressing some long-standing grievances.

Trump immediately cracked down on immigration, moving toward a trade war with key allies and adversaries and rolling back many of former President Joe Biden’s policies. These included dismantling much of Biden’s federal diversity initiatives and energy and climate provisions

The president also stirred significant controversy by pardoning or commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Among those granted clemency were individuals who had assaulted police officers, leading to critiques from some GOP lawmakers.

In addition, Trump dismissed several top government officials, announced a high-profile half-trillion-dollar tech investment, and held unscripted, wide-ranging news conferences during his first two days back in the White House.

He even made headlines by renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”

Are you still boiling your potatoes in plain water for mashed potatoes? If so, you’re missing out on a game-changing technique that my grandma swears by! When I told her I boiled potatoes in water, she literally laughed—and then shared her secret ingredient that transforms ordinary mashed potatoes into the creamiest, most flavorful comfort food you’ve ever tasted.

The Secret Revealed: Boil Your Potatoes in Milk (and a Little Cream!)

Instead of using water, swap it out for milk! Grandma always boiled her potatoes in a mixture of milk and a splash of heavy cream. This method infuses the potatoes with rich flavor right from the start, ensuring every bite is creamy and decadent. Not only does this create a smoother texture, but it also enhances the overall taste, taking your mashed potatoes to a whole new level.

Why Milk Instead of Water?

• Enhanced Flavor: Potatoes absorb the milk as they cook, resulting in a natural creaminess that water just can’t provide.
• Smoother Texture: The fat content in milk (and cream) creates a velvety mash that feels luxurious on your palate.
• Nutrient Boost: Milk adds extra protein and calcium, making your side dish a bit more nutritious.

Grandma’s Ultimate Mashed Potato Recipe

Here’s how you can make the best mashed potatoes ever—just like Grandma used to do:

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds of russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 2 garlic cloves (minced) for extra flavor
• Optional: A handful of chopped fresh chives or parsley for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prep the Potatoes:
   Peel and cut your potatoes into evenly sized chunks. Rinse them under cold water to remove excess starch.
2. Boil in Milk:
   In a large pot, combine the whole milk and heavy cream. Add the potato chunks (and minced garlic, if using) to the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Make sure the liquid covers the potatoes; add a little extra milk if needed.
3. Cook Until Tender:
   Let the potatoes cook in the milk mixture until they are fork-tender, about 20-25 minutes. The potatoes will absorb the creamy liquid, building flavor from the inside out.
4. Mash It Up:
   Drain any excess liquid (if necessary) and return the potatoes to the pot. Add the butter and mash the potatoes until smooth. For an extra creamy consistency, use a hand mixer or potato ricer.
5. Season to Perfection:
   Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning, and if you’d like, fold in chopped chives or parsley for a burst of color and freshness.
6. Serve and Enjoy:
   Serve your ultra-creamy mashed potatoes warm, and prepare for compliments! They pair perfectly with your favorite meats, gravies, or as a standalone comfort food.

Final Thoughts

Next time you reach for water to boil your potatoes, remember Grandma’s advice—skip the water and use milk instead! This simple swap will infuse your mashed potatoes with an unmatched creaminess and flavor that will leave your family and friends speechless. Try out the recipe above, and join the revolution of perfectly creamy mashed potatoes that everyone is raving about!

Happy cooking, and enjoy every luscious bite!

Fox News host Harris Faulkner got some fantastic news and it is likely to have liberal heads exploding.

For the first time, her Fox News show, “The Faulkner Focus,” drew more viewers this week than the ABC daytime left-wing gabfest “The View,” Forbes reported.

“Heartfelt gratitude to the beloved viewers of FOX and Faulkner Focus. And big thanks to Forbes for showing our 11am ET daytime team some love,” the Fox News host said on X.

It is more impressive when you consider that “The View” is available to a much wider audience since it is on broadcast TV, but Faulkner’s program is only available to cable subscribers and, as more and more people “cut the cord,” the potential audience is getting smaller.

“I could not grab this big win without my wonderful team,” Faulkner told Forbes. “It’s a testament to the hard work and passion we put into bringing Americans the latest news and analysis on what matters most to them. The Faulkner Focus is a place where audiences can tune in and know their questions about the day’s headlines will be answered with respect for all sides, and we are proud viewers continue to choose us at 11 a.m.”

Fox News also had its best month ever as its primetime shows averaged an audience of 2.8 million with an average of 353,000 viewers in the key demographic of adults 25-54 that is most coveted by advertisers.

“As we mark 23 years as America’s most-watched cable news network, I would like to thank our incredible team both on and off the camera for their dedication to delivering the best product in news,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said. “Each year, we surpass new milestones, continue to innovate, and outperform the competition due to their tireless efforts and I could not be prouder.”

Other networks have not been having the same success.

In what senior executives are calling an attempt to modernize their business model, CNN and NBC are planning to lay off hundreds of staffers, though for the time being, the cuts will not extend to on-air talent.

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CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced that job cuts were coming in a memo to staff on Thursday, confirming CNBC’s report from Wednesday about the upcoming reductions. In the memo, Thompson stated that CNN does not anticipate a significant decrease in total staff this year, as the company plans to invest $70 million in new digital initiatives.

“I know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on the individuals involved can be immense,” Thompson wrote in the memo, obtained by CNBC. “The process of change is essential if we’re to thrive in the future, but I both acknowledge and regret its very real human consequences.”

In all, the cable broadcaster is planning staff reductions of about 6 percent, or somewhere in the neighborhood of 210 job cuts.

The layoffs come as CNN restructures its linear TV programming as well and focuses on expanding its digital subscription offerings. The cuts are intended to reduce production costs and streamline operations, according to sources familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal decisions. Some shows produced in New York or Washington may be relocated to Atlanta, where production costs are lower, the sources added.

The job cuts are not expected to impact CNN’s high-profile on-air talent, who are under contract, the sources said. CNN currently employs approximately 3,500 people globally, CNBC reported.

CNN has announced several new initiatives in a memo to staff. The company is developing a new method for digital subscribers to stream CNN content outside of CNN Max, which is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s larger Max streaming service.

President Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, laid waste to the Democrat narrative regarding events ahead of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol Building during a contentious hearing in the Senate earlier this week.

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.

“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.

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Patel, meanwhile, was in high spirits after he was grilled by lawmakers this 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.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a daunting warning to mayors and other leaders of cities and communities that provide “sanctuary” to people in the country illegally: You could be subject to federal prosecution.

During a Friday appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” Noem was asked whether the administration is ready to take action against officials who declare they will obstruct federal authority

“Nobody’s above the law. Of course, we will. But that’s up to President Trump. President Trump gives us a direction. I don’t sit here and make up a decision on what I do. I follow the law,” Noem said.

“We treat everybody the same in this country now that we have President Trump in the White House, and he’s going to give us direction on how we’re going to go after these individuals,” she added.

Noem emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that it is crucial to inform the public about how their leaders may protect wrongdoers under the pretense of local ordinances.

“The reality is, these sanctuary cities, their laws have caused us problems. They are limiting some of our tools that we want in our toolbox, but we’re going to continue to go in and use our operations and then show in other cities how it’s working and tell our story to the American people,” Noem said. “The people in their community need to hear how their mayors, their elected officials, are protecting the criminals.”

Last week, the Senate confirmed Noem as DHS secretary. In this role, she is tasked with implementing Trump’s executive orders on border security and immigration, as well as overseeing operations at Customs and Border Protection, the Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other agencies.

During his campaign, Trump vowed to implement a mass deportation plan, which would begin with DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement first targeting violent illegal migrants and criminals.

The Trump administration has been moving forward with deporting illegal immigrants while also reducing deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans—protections that President Joe Biden had extended just days before leaving office.

According to a DHS memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, the department revoked an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status that had been granted to roughly 600,000 Venezuelan nationals earlier in January.

In a memo signed last week by the acting head of ICE, officials were given instructions on how to use powers to quickly deport the migrants that were previously given only for encounters at the southern border in certain circumstances under the Biden-Harris regime, The New York Times reported.

It also provides officials with the authority to expel migrants from two significant Biden-era programs that have permitted over a million people to enter the country temporarily.

“Those programs — an app called CBP One that migrants could use to try to schedule appointments to enter the United States, and an initiative that let in certain migrants fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti — were key pillars of the Biden administration’s efforts to discourage illegal entries by allowing certain legal pathways. Immigrant advocates also worried that the memo could apply to Afghan and Ukrainian immigrants brought to the United States under separate programs,” the report said.

“The decision indicates that President Trump will try to use every facet of the immigration enforcement apparatus to crack down on a system he has long said has been abused, and that he intends to target not just those who sneaked across the border but even those who followed previously authorized pathways to enter,” the Times added.

The migrants, who are often from dangerous nations, were granted a two-year period known as “parole” to stay in the United States legally, but the memo appears to allow for them to be deported immediately.

President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, has traveled to Venezuela to personally deliver a message to socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, demanding that his government accept the return of violent criminals deported from the United States.

During a call with reporters on Friday, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S. special envoy to Latin America, stated that Grenell would make it clear to Maduro that Venezuela must take back all Venezuelan criminals and Tren de Aragua gang members who have been “exported to the United States” without conditions or delay, Fox News reported on Friday.

Additionally, Grenell is expected to demand the immediate release of American hostages being held in Venezuela, Claver-Carone added.

The trip “focuses on two very specific issues. That we expect that Venezuelan criminals and gangs will be returned, as they are, to every country in the world, without conditions, and two, that American hostages need to be released immediately, unequivocally,” he explained.

“This is not a quid pro quo. It’s not a negotiation in exchange for anything. President Trump himself has made that very clear,” the envoy added.

Also Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Grenell, who served an intelligence role in Trump’s first term, had arrived in Venezuela for talks.

Despite wide belief among Venezuelan citizens and much of the rest of the world that Maduro lost the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election to opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, he was nevertheless sworn in for his third six-year term earlier this month.

The U.S. does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado has urged Venezuelan citizens to take to the streets in protest against the Maduro regime, insisting that González be recognized and installed as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

Up to 10 Americans are currently held in Venezuela, though the State Department has not classified their detention as wrongful. Three of them are U.S. citizens who, according to Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, are accused of participating in a scheme to destabilize the country.

The State Department has denied any U.S. involvement in a plot to oust Maduro, Fox added.

The exact number of Americans currently held in Venezuela is unclear following the major prisoner exchange in 2023. In that deal, Washington and Caracas negotiated the release of dozens of prisoners, including 10 Americans, in exchange for Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of Maduro.

Saab was detained during the first Trump administration on charges tied to a $350 million bribery scheme.

Elsewhere, 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.

If you find yourself repeatedly encountering the number 2222, here are a few steps you can take to open your heart and mind to its potential meaning:

1. Pause and Reflect: The next time you see 2222, take a moment to stop and breathe. Ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now? What could my intuition be trying to tell me?”
2. Journal Your Thoughts: Write down the circumstances in which you see 2222. Over time, patterns may emerge that offer insights into areas of your life that need attention.
3. Meditate: Spend a few minutes in quiet meditation, focusing on the number and the energy you feel it represents. Allow your inner guidance to surface.
4. Set an Intention: Consider setting an intention based on what you learn from these reflections. Whether it’s to find balance, trust your journey, or take a courageous step forward, an intention can help you channel the energy of this message into meaningful action.
5. Stay Open: Divine messages often come when you least expect them. Remain open and receptive, even if the sign seems small or fleeting.

The Takeaway

The appearance of 2222 is more than just a quirky numerical coincidence—it may be a profound sign that your guardian angels are communicating with you. Whether you interpret it as a call for balance, trust, or transformation, the message is clear: the Universe cares about your journey and is ready to guide you, if only you take the time to listen.

Next time you see 2222, don’t rush by. Instead, pause, reflect, and embrace the possibility that your angel is trying to show you the way. After all, some messages are simply too important to ignore.

Pete Hegseth has been confirmed as the new secretary of defense, but it was not without some drama from a handful of Republicans.

Chief among them was former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who voted ‘yes’ to get Hegseth out of committee and to a full Senate vote but who then voted ‘no’ on his confirmation.

Republicans on X were furious with the 82-year-old senator, and they let him know about it, as some even shared photos of McConnell walking over to the Democrat side of the aisle after casting his vote.

“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.

“Dear Kentucky, Mitch McConnell has proven to you that he’s out for himself. He couldn’t care less about you, he couldn’t care less about the direction of the country, and he couldn’t care less about draining the swamp. He’s a key part of the swamp. When his old, geriatric, wrinkled, turkey-necked, b***sack-looking a** is up for re-election, you know what to do. Make the rest of us proud. We love you,” conservative commentator Zeek Arkham said.

However, the vitriol was not reserved only for McConnell, as Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also faced backlash over their ‘no’ votes, creating a 50-50 tie and forcing Vice President JD Vance to cast his first tie-breaker.

“This is Susan Collins. Susan doesn’t represent the American people. Susan doesn’t realize that she works for us. She plans to seek reelection in 2026. She needs to be primaried, one X user said with a meme of Collins that referred to her as an “undocumented Democrat.”

“Susan Collins voted against Pete Hegseth. Let’s all work together to primary her and get her out of office!” Young also said.

“I totally understand why Susan Collins, who represents a blue state, Maine, might not be able to support every Trump agenda item in the Senate. But Lisa Murkowski needs to go in Alaska. Trump won Alaska by 13 points. Murkowski should support him on everything. Period,” Outkick.com founder Clay Travis said.

Trump, meanwhile, voiced confidence in Hegseth after his rocky confirmation when he was approached by reporters in California.

“I’m honored to have Pete. I think Pete’s gonna be a great Secretary of Defense and we’re honored to have him,” Trump said as he prepared to board Air Force One in Los Angeles following a whirlwind day where he visited storm-ravaged North Carolina and saw the devastation left behind by wildfires in the country’s second-largest city.

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.

After learning his son was killed in the deadly midair crash, the father of 28-year-old Sam Lilley – one of two pilots on the American Airlines flight – shared an emotional post on Facebook, saying “it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep.”

Tragedy struck the skies over Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 29, when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The devastating incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. local time, claimed the lives of all 60 passengers and four crew members on board the commercial flight. Three soldiers on the helicopter are also feared dead.

Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, confirmed that his 28-year-old son, Sam Lilley, was one of two pilots on the American Airlines flight who died in the fatal midair collision.

“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Timothy told Fox 5.

The now grieving father explained that he shared a passion for flying with Sam, who started flight training in 2019. He verified that Sam was working with PSA Airlines, a regional group owned by American Airlines, for two years. Sam was also engaged to be married.

At the time of the crash, Timothy was in New York for work and hadn’t realized his son was on the flight: “Last night when I saw on Fox News there was a crash in DC, I really didn’t think there was any way that was my son,” Timothy said.

But when he didn’t hear from Sam, who frequently stayed in touch, Timothy knew the worst had happened.

‘Hurts so bad’

The next day, the proud but heartbroken dad shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook, expressing his profound grief.

“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot.  Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking,” he captions the post that includes an photo of Sam standing in front of an APT (Advanced Pilot Training) aircraft. “He was doing great in his career and his personal life.  He was engaged to get married in the fall.”

He continues, “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC [January 29]. It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much.”

His post resonated deeply, garnering an outpouring of support from family, friends, and even strangers who were moved by his loss.

“My heart goes out to you Tim,” shares one user. Another offering support to Sam’s father and mother, Sheri, writes, “I have no words. My heart aches for you and Sheri and the whole family.”

‘Grave error’

A third, praising Sam as a pilot, pens, “My heart breaks for you and your family. Knowing he was your son, I would have boarded any plane he was in command of and not thought twice about it. I wish you peace and comfort in the upcoming days and weeks.”

But Timothy, who served 20 years as an army helicopter pilot, is finding little peace in what happened.

Turning to his experience, Timothy tells Fox 5: “In the ’90s, I used to fly in and out of the Pentagon regularly, and I can tell you if you are flying on the route over the Potomac and wearing night vision goggles, it’s going to be very hard to see that plane. If you’re not wearing the goggles, then you might have a chance,” he explained.

“From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet,” Timothy said of the U.S. Army Black Hawk. “I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead,” Timothy said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is now leading an investigation with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to People.

Our thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones in this tragic crash. Please share your thoughts with us and then share this story with others so we can all send our very best wishes to those who are grieving right now.

The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior late Thursday, solidifying President Donald Trump’s push to expand domestic fossil fuel production under his administration.The vote was 79-18, with more than half of Senate Democrats joining all 53 Republicans in supporting Burgum, the Associated Press reported.

Burgum served two terms as the state’s governor, overseeing a booming oil and gas industry. In 2023, he launched a presidential campaign but withdrew a few months later, quickly endorsing Trump.

Beyond leading the Department of the Interior, Trump has tapped Burgum to chair the newly created National Energy Council, which will focus on securing American energy dominance. In a historic move, Burgum will also hold a seat on the National Security Council, making him the first Interior Secretary to do so.

His directive from Trump is to simplify the process for energy companies to access fossil fuel resources, including those on public lands. Trump has also tasked Burgum with boosting American oil production beyond its current capacity.

In a striking and polarizing move, former President Donald Trump signed several executive orders on Thursday, including one granting clemency to pro-life activists imprisoned during President Biden’s administration. The decision underscores Trump’s continued dedication to addressing

what he and his supporters have labeled as “politically motivated” prosecutions. This action has reignited fierce debates on both sides of the political aisle, with supporters lauding it as a fulfillment of campaign promises and critics viewing it as a controversial use of presidential power.

Trump’s clemency grants align with his broader agenda to address cases where he believes individuals were unjustly prosecuted due to their ideological or political stances. This latest step comes as part of a larger effort to champion free speech and religious liberties, causes he often emphasized during his presidency and subsequent campaigns.

The move has already drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders and civil rights groups, who argue that it sets a dangerous precedent by intertwining the justice system with political allegiances Read more below

A New York judge threw out Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation suit against Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov and ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s legal bills.

“Before the Court is Tarlov’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and motion for attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law.

For the reasons that follow, the motion to dismiss is granted. And because the Court concludes that the mandatory fee-shifting provision of New York’s anti-SLAPP law applies in federal court, Tarlov’s motion for attorney’s fees is also granted,” District Judge J. Paul Oetken said in his decision….

A New York judge threw out Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation suit against Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov and ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s legal bills. “Before the Court is Tarlov’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and motion for attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law.

For the reasons that follow, the motion to dismiss is granted. And because the Court concludes that the mandatory fee-shifting provision of New York’s anti-SLAPP law applies in federal court, Tarlov’s motion for attorney’s fees is also granted,” District Judge J. Paul Oetken said in his decision…. 

Read more below

3 Night Symptoms That May Indicate Serious Health R.i.s.k.s

Nighttime symptoms are commonly dismissed as normal pain, but certain repeated patterns may indicate more serious underlying health issues, including can:cer. The following are three essential indications to look for, especially if they persist:

1. Night Sweats

Description: Sweating profusely when sleeping, which often soaks through clothes and bed sheets.

Possible Causes: Possible causes include hormonal changes (such as menopause in women). Infection or fever. More concerning: Certain malignancies, such as lymphoma, are known to produce night sweats.

Unique jewelry designs

When to Act: Seek medical attention if night sweats occur frequently and are accompanied by fever or weight loss.

2. Unexplained Pain or Discomfort

Description: Persistent or recurring pain in certain parts of the body (e.g., back, joints) that worsens at night.

Possible Causes: Musculoskeletal difficulties. Can:cer can cause nerve compression or bone involvement.

When to Act: Seek medical attention if your pain is severe, interferes with your sleep, or does not improve with over-the-counter treatments.

3. Difficulty Breathing or Chest Tightness

Description: Shortness of breath or feelings of suffocation while lying down.

Possible Causes: Sleep Apnea. Heart conditions. Lung disease or tumors pushing on the airway.

When to Act: If breathing issues continue or worsen, seek immediate medical attention.

What to Do if You Notice These Symptoms

Monitor Patterns: Keep a symptom diary to track frequency, intensity, and other relevant aspects.

Seek Medical Evaluation: Effective management of major health issues requires early discovery.

Improve Sleep Hygiene: While addressing underlying problems, prioritize providing a supportive sleep environment.

In a startling incident that has shocked the local community, Philadelphia authorities are investigating a plane crash reported early this morning. Details remain scarce as emergency services work to secure the scene and determine the cause of the accident.

According to initial reports, a small aircraft reportedly crashed in a residential area of Philadelphia around 6:30 a.m. Witnesses described hearing a loud noise followed by a plume of smoke rising in the early light. Emergency responders from the Philadelphia Fire Department and EMS rushed to the scene, where they found debris scattered across a few city blocks.

According to initial reports, a small aircraft reportedly crashed in a residential area of Philadelphia around 6:30 a.m. Witnesses described hearing a loud noise followed by a plume of smoke rising in the early light. Emergency responders from the Philadelphia Fire Department and EMS rushed to the scene, where they found debris scattered across a few city blocks.

Philadelphia Mayor [Name] addressed the media shortly after the incident, saying, “We are deeply saddened by this event and are working around the clock to determine what led to this crash. Our priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.”

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Investigators will consider several possibilities, including mechanical failure, pilot error, or adverse weather conditions. For now, the focus remains on securing the scene and gathering evidence that may help piece together the events leading up to the crash.

Residents in the vicinity expressed shock and concern over the incident. Social media platforms have been abuzz with updates and firsthand accounts from witnesses. Local community groups are calling for increased safety measures around the crash site until the area is deemed secure.

Officials have promised to provide regular updates as the investigation unfolds. In the meantime, anyone with additional information or eyewitness accounts is encouraged to contact local authorities. The NTSB’s involvement suggests that this will be a thorough inquiry into the factors behind the crash.

While details remain limited at this early stage, the incident has already had a significant impact on the local community. As emergency crews and investigators work tirelessly to uncover the cause, residents are urged to stay informed through official channels. This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Investigators have recovered the black boxes from the midair collision near Reagan National Airport, which could provide crucial insights into the tragedy. New findings also reveal that something was “not normal” about the day of the crash that claimed 67 lives.

A devastating midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has left investigators searching for answers as new findings emerge about the crash.

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, commonly known as black boxes, have been recovered, offering crucial insight into the moments before impact.

The collision occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday when a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.

The jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carried dozens of passengers, including members of the U.S. figure skating team, their mothers, and two Russian coaches.

Upon impact, both aircraft plunged into the icy waters, with the plane breaking into multiple pieces and the helicopter overturning before sinking.

Investigators located the black boxes late Thursday night and transported them to a National Transportation Safety Board lab for analysis.

While the NTSB continues its investigation, with a preliminary report expected to be released in 30 days, concerns about air traffic control staffing at Reagan National have surfaced.

Normally, two controllers manage air traffic in the highly controlled airspace — one dedicated to helicopters and another for fixed-wing aircraft. However, according to reports, on the night of the crash, a single controller handled both roles.

An FAA preliminary report, first noted by the New York Times, stated that this staffing situation was “not normal.”

The controller was responsible for managing helicopters flying below 200 feet along the Potomac’s east edge, while simultaneously instructing commercial jets arriving and departing from the airport’s runways.

This increases the workload for the air traffic controller and can complicate the job. One reason is that controllers use different radio frequencies to communicate with pilots flying planes and pilots flying helicopters.

While the controller is communicating with both pilots of the helicopter and the jet, the two sets of pilots may not be able to hear each other. Like most of the country’s air traffic control facilities, the tower at Reagan National has been understaffed for years.

The tower was nearly a third below targeted staff levels, with 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023, according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, an annual report to Congress that contains target and actual staffing levels.

The targets set by the FAA and the controllers’ union call for 30. The shortage — caused by years of employee turnover and tight budgets, among other factors — has forced many controllers to work up to six days a week and 10 hours a day.

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the FBI, is in high spirits after he was grilled by lawmakers this week on Capitol Hill.

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

The hearing heated up when Patel 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.

WATCH

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.”

“I have always respected law enforcement,” Patel said. “I have taken that oath and will take that oath again, God willing, to be the next director of the FBI.”

Patel again reiterated that “there can never be a tolerance for violence against law enforcement and anyone that commits an act of violence against law enforcement must be investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned. On Jan. 6, I said the same thing about acts against law enforcement.”

He praised the Capitol Police for their response on Jan. 6 and said he will call out corruption in government because it is a “privilege to serve this nation.”

Patel also rejected claims that he has promoted QAnon conspiracy theories.

“I have publicly … rejected outright QAnon baseless conspiracy theories or any other baseless conspiracy theories. They must be addressed head-on with the truth,” he said.

Patel used his opening statement to say that he is committed to “justice, fairness and the rule of law,” and said American values have been the “driving force” of his career.

“Protecting the rights of the Constitution is of the utmost importance to me,” Patel said.

Patel said that working as a public defender early in his career made him realize how important it is to follow the law.

Patel then explained his two-part plan to make people trust the FBI more.

“We must tackle violent crime,” he said. “The priority of the FBI, if I am confirmed, is to ensure that our communities are protected and safeguarded and our children have parks to play in and not needles to walk over. The way we do this: we let good cops be cops.”

The second prong, he said, is aggressive constitutional oversight from Congress.

“The public trust can only be restored if there is full transparency,” he said.

Patel promised to quickly and completely answer any questions from Congress that were appropriate.

“I am committed to working alongside the dedicated men and women of the FBI,” he said. “They are our warriors of justice and I will always have their backs because they have the backs of the American people.”

Chuck Todd, the former host of “Meet the Press,” is departing NBC News, as he informed his colleagues in a memo on Friday.

The decision comes as Todd seeks new opportunities outside the NBCUniversal family, Variety reported.

In recent weeks, Todd has reportedly been in discussions with other news organizations and potential employers. His contract with NBC News, which was set to expire after the 2024 election, had been expected to come to an end around that time.

“There’s never a perfect time to leave a place that’s been a professional home for so long, but I’m pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality,’ Todd told NBC News staffers in a memo Friday, per Variety. “So I’m grateful for the chance to get a jump start on my next chapter during this important moment.”

He said his “Chuck Toddcast” podcast would be “coming with me,” while also urging colleagues to “stay tuned for an announcement about its new home soon.”

Todd plans “to continue to share my reporting and unique perspective of covering politics with data and history as important baselines in understanding where we were, where we are and where we’re going,” he said in the memo.

NBCUniversal management has also responded to the host’s impending departure.

“We’re grateful for Chuck’s many contributions to our political coverage during his nearly two-decade career at NBC News and for his deep commitment to Meet the Press and its enduring legacy,” NBC News said in a statement. “We wish him all the best in his next endeavors.”

In recent months, many employees at traditional TV networks have been exploring opportunities with digital and tech-focused outlets, reflecting the tougher economics of national newsgathering today. Earlier this week, CNN anchor Jim Acosta revealed he was leaving the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed network to start his own Substack.

Former CNN host Don Lemon and former Fox News star Megyn Kelly are also among the prominent TV anchors who have transitioned to digital media, though Kelly’s show has been far more popular.

Told told staffers he expected to continue to try to build new media businesses.

“The media has a lot of work to do to win back the trust of viewers/listeners/readers and I’m convinced the best place to start is from the bottom up.  At my core, I’m an entrepreneur — I spent my first 15 years professionally working for the company that started the political newsletter craze that dominates today.  And this is a ripe moment,” he said.

“The only way to fix this information eco system is to stop whining about the various ways the social media companies are manipulating things and instead roll up our collective sleeves and start with local,” Todd continued. “National media can’t win trust back without having a robust partner locally and trying to game algorithms is no way to inform and report.

“People are craving community and that’s something national media or the major social media companies can’t do as well as local media,” said Todd, who, like most others in the ‘legacy’ media, has long since fallen out of favor with a majority of Americans over left-wing bias.

“For the third consecutive year, more U.S. adults have no trust at all in the media (36%) than trust it a great deal or fair amount. Another 33% of Americans express ‘not very much” confidence,’ Gallup reported in October.

Trust in the media hit a high of 72 percent in 1976, according to the polling firm, with just 22 percent of Americans expressing little or “not very much” confidence in the major news outlets of the day.

Trust has nosedived since, falling nearly every year to its current level.

A person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are drastically changed by depression, a complicated and incapacitating mood condition. Depressed people frequently struggle with issues including low energy, motivation, trouble focusing, and poor decision-making, which makes even the most basic chores difficult.

Depression’s emotional symptoms include:

• Constantly depressed or hopeless feelings
• Loss of enjoyment or interest in once-enjoyed activities; remorse or feelings of inadequacy
• Frustration or irritability
• Inability to focus, recall, or make decisions
• Recurring suicidal or d3ath-related ideas

Here are seven terms that persons with depression frequently use, along with suggestions for helping someone who is struggling:

1. “Always”

People who are depressed frequently feel stuck in bad circumstances and use terms like “always” to characterize them as unalterable. Motivate them to see areas that could use improvement and change.

2. “Never”

Like “always,” people who are depressed may use “never” to describe unpleasant situations they think would never end. Encourage a more optimistic mindset and assist them in seeing that change is possible.

3. “Nothing”

People who are depressed may convey their feelings by using “nothing” since they are gloomy about the future. Remind them of their accomplishments and talents while urging them to get expert assistance.

4. “Empty”

Depressive symptoms might include a sense of emotional detachment or emptiness. Show them support by acknowledging and validating their sentiments.

5. “Worthless”

Depression is frequently accompanied by low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Urge them to pursue cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in order to confront and swap out negative self-perceptions for constructive, growth-oriented ideas.

6. “Sad”

Depression is characterized by a protracted sense of melancholy and despair. Urge them to get treatment, medicine, or assistance in order to control their symptoms and enhance their quality of life. Provide encouragement and emotional support.

7. “Tired”

One of the most prevalent signs of depression is fatigue. To combat weariness, encourage them to get medical attention, exercise frequently, eat a healthy diet, and maintain proper sleep hygiene.

The United States is still reeling in the wake of the worst aviation disaster in decades.

Sixty-seven lives were lost in the tragic D.C. plane crash Wednesday night, including sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston and their parents, Donna and Peter.

The Livingston family was among the many victims of this devastating disaster.

Final post on social media

Pennsylvania-based news station WTAJ reports that Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two daughters, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were among those on board American Airlines Flight 5342.

Everly and Alydia were talented figure skaters and members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, according to Daily Mail. They trained at the Ashburn Ice House, a hub for their local skating community in Virginia.

Just days before the crash, their father captured a photo of the girls in Kansas — one of many cherished memories of their passion for life and skating.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFN6-GLyTEB/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9959ddb7-84c7-4eff-9557-77224d7b5d37

”If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this,” the caption read. ”But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”

Just last year, 13-year-old Everly spoke with FOX 5 DC about her achievements on the ice, quickly becoming a rising star in the figure skating world. In a touching interview, she shared her thoughts on the challenges and beauty of the sport, expressing her hopes for the future.

”My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,” she said, beaming with a bright smile.

Family friend shares memory

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed several members of their community were on board the flight, and tributes quickly poured in. A growing memorial at the Ashburn Ice House reflects the deep impact of the tragedy.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to all affected,” the Ashburn Ice House’s management shared in a statement. ”The figure skating community is a close-knit, worldwide family, and our hearts are broken.”

The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club also expressed their grief in a social media post, stating: “Many of us have lost personal friends. We will hold a moment of silence at our next Club Ice in honor of those we’ve lost.”

Family friend Cassandra Atkins, a designer from Australia, created custom skating outfits for the girls through her business, Frozen Couture. Though she never met the family in person, she frequently connected with Donna, exchanging photos and videos of Everly and Alydia.

The girls’ mother, Donna, worked at Comcast, while their father, Peter, was a real estate agent. They were described as among the most dedicated parents, balancing the challenges of raising two skaters while spending countless nights in hotels, traveling between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia in recent months.

Deadliest air disaster in 24 years

The crash occurred when an American Airlines flight collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise. The commercial plane, preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, spiraled into the Potomac River after the collision. It was the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.

Many of those aboard the ill-fated plane, en route from Kansas, were from the figure skating world — athletes, coaches, and their families. The Skating Club of Boston has confirmed six victims, including Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 World Champion pair skaters.

Ice rinks along the U.S. East Coast are now mourning the loss of their skaters.

As investigators work to uncover the cause of the crash, communities across the nation mourn the loss of Everly, Alydia, and so many others whose lives were cut tragically short. Their vibrant spirits and love for skating will not be forgotten.

TikTok has given us plenty of wild trends, but vabbing might just top the list. The viral trend claims that dabbing vaginal secretions on your pulse points makes you irresistible to the opposite sex, and influencers swear by it.

But before you reach for your secret fragrance – a practice called “revolting” by some – let’s see what actual science has to say.

Spoiler alert: Scientists say it makes no sense.

Vabbing – a mashup of vagina and dabbing – involves dabbing vaginal fluids onto pulse points like the wrists, neck, and behind the ears, just like perfume.

The idea is that these secretions contain pheromones, invisible chemical signals that supposedly enhances attraction.

The trend exploded when influencer Mandy Lee claimed in a viral TikTok that vabbing was the secret to getting more dates: “I swear if you vab, you will attract people, like a date or a one-night stand,” she said, as per Daily Mail.

She said: “Get up there, give ’em a swipe. You don’t have to be fresh out of the shower clean but relatively clean. Dab vab behind the ears, on the wrists, maybe a little on the neck. 

“I don’t know what they’re putting in pheromone perfume but it can’t replicate your own smell and your own personalised chemicals. Proceed with caution — because it works.” 

That video racked up over 1.5 million views before it was deleted by the platform, and suddenly, vabbing was the internet’s newest obsession, with new clips popping up, praising the trend that some users insist makes them more desirable.

“You guys aren’t going to believe me,” says TikToker @jewlieah in a clip captioned “Vabbing at the gym for the first time.” “…it worked, the vabbing worked!”

Meanwhile on X, a user who goes by the name pick me, writes: “I want everyone to know that vabbing works. Not a joke.”

But before you jump on the trend, let’s dig into what actual science says about pheromones, and whether vabbing is just another case of TikTok wishful thinking.

Humans and pheromones

The logic behind vabbing is simple: If animals use pheromones to attract mates, humans must too, right?

Pheromones are well-documented in animals. Many species use them for marking territory, signaling danger, or attracting mates. For example, a female moth can release pheromones that draw males from miles away.

But humans aren’t so lucky.

According to a study on “body odors” and sexual attraction, “pheromones play an important role in how animals communicate with each other,” but “research is divided as to whether pheromones play a significant role in sexual and romantic compatibility for humans.”

Speaking with Cosmopolitan, sex expert Edwina Caito agrees. She explains the idea that human pheromones influence attraction is questionable at best.

“Humans do secrete sex pheromones, but the jury is still out on whether or not they still create a reaction as they once did…although our vaginal secretions do have a small amount of pheromones, it’s not enough to brew up a pheromone perfume” Caito adds.

Professor Erick Janssen, a neuroscientist at KU Leven in Belgium told EuroNews that in animals, pheromones “impact sexual and reproductive behaviour, and possibly partner preference and selection.”

But, for humans, he “seriously questions the validity of the claims involved” in the viral trend that he calls a “fad” or “vad.”

“Pheromones are not things we consciously smell,” Janssen said.

So, while vabbing might sound convincing, it’s unlikely to be the pheromone powerhouse TikTok claims.

Placebo effect

However, the placebo effect could be at play – people might feel more confident when they vab, which makes them naturally more attractive.

“If the act of vabbing makes you feel more attractive, that will be perceived as outward confidence, which in and of itself is beautiful,” Caito shares.

Risks with vabbing

If you still insist on vabbing, make sure you’re aware of the risks.

Hygiene matters

Before you vab, wash your hands. Inserting dirty fingers into the vagina increases the risk of introducing bacteria, which can lead to infections, or even infertility, warns Dr Paraskevi Dimitriadi, a gynaecologist in London.

9 Early Morning Signs That May Indicate C.a.n.c.e.r

Recognizing early warning symptoms is critical for timely medical treatment. If you suffer any of the following symptoms in the morning, see a doctor right away.

1. Persistent Fatigue

Unexplained exhaustion, even after a full night’s sleep, may suggest immune system problems or can:cer of the liver or blood (leukemia).

2. Drastic Weight Loss

Rapid weight loss without diet or activity changes may indicate diseases such as stomach, pancreatic, or esophageal can:cer.

3. Chronic Cough or Hoarseness

Continuous coughing, blood in phlegm, or vocal changes may indicate lung or throat can:cer.

4. Unusual Lumps

Any new lumps in the neck, armpits, or groin may suggest lymphatic or breast can:cer.

5. Persistent Fever

Fever that does not go away, especially if there are no signs of illness, could be an indicator of blood-related can:cers such as lymphoma.

6. Blood in Urine or Stool

The presence of blood in one’s secretions may indicate colon, kidney, or bladder can:cer.

7. Severe Morning Headaches

Frequent headaches, particularly those accompanied by vomiting or vision issues, may suggest brain tumors.

8. Night Sweats

Extreme sweating at night, especially in cool conditions, has been linked to hormonal changes caused by certain can:cers.

9. Persistent Pain

Ongoing and inexplicable discomfort in certain places, such as the back, abdomen, or bones, may signal can:cer growth.

What to Do

Seek Medical Advice

Don’t dismiss these symptoms, especially if they last for weeks.

Undergo Screenings

Early detection by screens such as blood testing or imaging improves treatment outcomes.

Maintain Health Records

Document any changes in your symptoms and communicate them with your healthcare physician.

Stay Informed

Being aware of potential threats is essential for taking preventative steps.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, would you prefer recommendations for appropriate medical exams or nearby specialists?

Chaos unfolded in the skies near Reagan National Airport as a commercial jet and a military helicopter collided mid-air, sending emergency crews rushing to the scene.

A mid-air collision between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport on the evening of January 29, 2025. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the incident took place at approximately 9 p.m. local time while the jet was approaching Runway 33.

A witness, Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina, described what he saw and heard at the time of the collision. “I have an advantage view of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, the military base. I have cinematic view so I could see everything that is happening from the moment the crash happened [sic],” he said.

Ismail recounted that he was watching television when he heard a loud and unusual sound. “It was a bang, bang, very loud bang, bang. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear,” he stated.

Upon looking out his window, Ismail saw smoke rising from the south side of the airport. At first, he struggled to comprehend what had happened. However, within minutes, emergency responders, including the DC Park Police, Coast Guard, DC Police, Arlington Police, and fire trucks, arrived at the scene.

“Every resource within DC were heading toward the crash scene. That’s when I took the video. Somewhere around 8:50 p.m. [sic],” he recalled.

As emergency responders worked through the night, more details emerged about the challenges faced at the crash scene. Ismail noted that the Potomac River was frozen due to the 39-degree temperatures, complicating rescue efforts. “That’s another hassle that the U.S. Coast Guard has to maneuver through all this ice in order to get to the crash scene,” he explained.

He also pointed out that based on what he had observed and heard from contacts at DC Park, the situation had shifted from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery effort.

“The crash scene is about two miles from where I’m at. Based on what I see, I have friends that work at the DC Park. Based on their analysis on the site, this is not a search and rescue mission at this point. Unfortunately, it’s a recovery mission [sic],” he said.

The stage is set for Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, and while fans are excited for the clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, it’s the halftime show that’s stealing the spotlight.

This year, the headliner is none other than Kendrick Lamar, a rapper widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

Known for his technical brilliance and thought-provoking lyrics, Lamar is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage, having previously appeared as a guest during the iconic 2022 halftime show featuring Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.

But this time, it’s Lamar’s moment to shine, and fans are buzzing. The announcement came in September 2024 alongside a teaser trailer from Apple Music, the official halftime show sponsor.

Grammy-winning artist SZA will join Lamar for what promises to be a show-stopping performance.

Mixed reactions from fans

While many are thrilled about Lamar taking center stage, reactions online have been a mixed bag.

“Kendrick deserves it,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Back in like 2016 I said Kendrick is the GOAT, I’m happy he has proven me right every step of the way.”

Others, however, weren’t as enthusiastic.

“It’s fine, I suppose, but I don’t watch football, so I probably have no stake. He’s no scandal, generally well-liked, better than TS or something like that lol,” one person shared.

Not everyone is a fan of his live performances either. “I love Kendrick but never found him to be the most fun live performer. Seems like he can’t rap all his verses with that same passion live,” another commented.

For some, Lamar’s presence on the halftime stage is a letdown.

“Why does he get to be there twice? I pay no attention to that kind of music,” one critic shared. Another declared, “Sick of rap at Super Bowl. It is the lowest denominator of music IMHO.”

One particularly harsh take read, “Huge disappointment. Not a fan of Kendrick Lamar at all and this will be the first halftime show I won’t care if I miss.”

Louisiana’s musical roots shine

For those who may not be Kendrick Lamar fans, the NFL has added a lineup of Louisiana-born artists to honor the rich musical heritage of the Super Bowl’s host state.

Jon Batiste, a jazz musician and multi-instrumentalist, will perform the national anthem. “I’m excited to figure out an arrangement that lasts the test of time, and I look forward to sharing it,” Batiste said.

Christian singer Lauren Daigle and jazz musician Trombone Shorty will collaborate on “America the Beautiful,” while R&B legend Ledisi will deliver a powerful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Lil Wayne speaks out

One person who wasn’t thrilled with Lamar’s selection as the halftime headliner is Louisiana’s own rap icon, Lil Wayne. Many fans had expected Wayne to take the coveted slot in his home state, and the rapper himself had seemingly hoped for the same.

In an emotional Instagram video, Wayne opened up about his disappointment.

“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position,” he said.

Reflecting on the magnitude of the moment, Wayne added, “But I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt.”

Kendrick’s response

Lamar, who is known for keeping a low profile, didn’t address Wayne’s comments directly — but his new music may have done the talking for him. On November 22, Lamar surprise-released his sixth album, GNX, which includes the opening track “Wacced Out Murals.”

In the song, Lamar seemingly acknowledges Wayne’s disappointment:
“Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Whatever though, call me crazy, everybody questionable.”

Will Kendrick Lamar diss drake during the Super Bowl halftime show?

The tension between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has escalated, with reports claiming that Kendrick plans to perform a controversial track, Not Like Us, at the Super Bowl halftime show. According to The U.S. Sun, the song contains lyrics that seemingly take aim at Drake, even insinuating inappropriate behavior.

Legally, there appears to be nothing Drake can do to prevent Kendrick from performing the song.

The feud between the two rap heavyweights goes back years, rooted in subtle jabs and competitive one-upmanship. It all started with Kendrick’s explosive verse on Big Sean’s Control in 2013, where he called out several rappers, including Drake, challenging them to step up their game. While many saw it as competitive, Drake later hinted in interviews that he felt disrespected.

All eyes on February 9, 2025

As the big day approaches, the buzz around Super Bowl LIX continues to grow. Whether you’re tuning in for the game, the halftime show, or both, one thing is clear—this year’s event promises to be unforgettable.

If you’re ready to catch all the excitement on February 9, Super Bowl LIX will be available to stream on several platforms. You can tune in through the Fox Sports app on iOS or Android, Tubi, FoxSports.com, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, or Sling TV.

What do you think about Kendrick Lamar headlining the halftime show?

Are you excited, or would you have preferred to see someone else take the stage? Share your thoughts below!

The tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., involving a passenger plane and a military helicopter, has shaken the entire nation.

The U.S. Figure Skating Association confirmed that skaters, officials, and their family members were on board the flight.

Among those reportedly involved, according to the Russian news agency Tass, were former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

No survivors in tragic the collision

Authorities have stated that no survivors are expected after a tragic midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter near D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.

On Thursday, the fire and EMS chief confirmed that crews have transitioned to a recovery operation. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, including 27 from the plane and one from the Black Hawk helicopter, according to ABC News.

Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly referred to the situation as “highly complex,” noting the challenging conditions, including strong winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility in the dark waters.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that around 9:00 PM local time, a passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army helicopter as it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Reports indicate that the commercial passenger jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three soldiers aboard, reportedly on a training mission.

Disturbing CCTV footage from a nearby building has emerged online, capturing the moment of the collision. A massive explosion of flames erupts on impact, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River shortly afterward.

Skaters and coaches among victims

As more details emerge about the tragic crash, pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place regarding who was aboard the plane.

For example, U.S. Figure Skating previously confirmed that several skaters, coaches, and family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp that followed the national championships, which wrapped up Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Later in the day, more details emerged. Two young figure skaters, two of their parents, and two highly-regarded Russian figure skating coaches were among those killed, according to Doug Zeghibe, the chief executive at the Skating Club of Boston.

According to AP, Zeghibe said that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among those killed, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

“This will have long-reaching impacts for our community,” he said during a news conference where he was visibly emotional.

Russian skating legends confirmed dead

Russian news sources also confirmed the tragic loss of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Kremlin confirmed that the renowned pair were aboard the flight. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were celebrated skaters in their own right, having won the pairs world title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan.

After their competitive careers, they relocated to the U.S. to pursue coaching, initially at the International Skating Center in Connecticut, and, since 2017, at the Skating Club of Boston.

Reports have indicated that their son, Maxim Naumov, a competitive skater who recently competed in the U.S. Championships in Wichita, might have been on the flight. Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion, has placed fourth at senior nationals for the past three years, just missing the podium this past Sunday while his parents were in the stands at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.

Figure skating community mourns

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a pair of Russian-born figure skating coaches, had made the U.S. their home since at least 1998.

The couple, who married on August 7, 1995, not only had a personal relationship but also competed together on the ice until 1998.

Both hailing from Soviet Leningrad, Naumov, who was three years older than Shishkova, began skating at the age of 10 in 1979. Shishkova, on the other hand, started skating at 8 and initially trained as a singles skater for three years before switching to pairs and partnering with Naumov, according to Daily Mail.

The figure skating community and fans have expressed their shock and sorrow over the tragic news. One person shared on social media, “I remember them competing. What a tragedy.” Another wrote, “May they all rest in peace.”

Ludmila Velikova, their childhood coach, expressed her deep sorrow at the tragic loss. ”They were my favorite sports people,” Velikova shared with Daily Mail.

”They were part of my first attempt at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were talented and beautiful people.”

She continued, ”Apart from anything else, they were like my children. Zhenya (Shishkova) trained with me from the age of 11, and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. What’s happened is awful. The best people have been taken away from us.”

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. In times like these, it’s the love and support of those around us that help us navigate through unimaginable pain. Let’s hold their memory close and keep their families in our thoughts as we await more updates on this heartbreaking story.

Grilled cheese is a dish that never goes out of style, but this mouthwatering version takes it to the next level. Picture golden, crispy bread with perfectly melted cheese oozing out from every bite—just like the one in the image! Here’s how you can achieve this irresistible perfection at home.

1. Choose the Perfect Bread

The bread is the foundation of your grilled cheese. For a crispy, buttery crust:

• Sourdough: Adds a tangy flavor and holds up well to melting cheese.
• Brioche: Slightly sweet and soft, ideal for a rich, decadent twist.
• Artisan White Bread: A classic choice that toasts evenly for maximum crunch.

2. Use the Right Cheese Blend

For gooey perfection like in the photo, a combination of cheeses works best:

• Mozzarella: For that stretchy, melty pull.
• Sharp Cheddar: Adds a tangy depth of flavor.
• Monterey Jack: A creamy option that blends beautifully.
• Provolone: Perfect for a mild, melty finish.

Pro tip: Shred the cheese yourself to ensure it melts evenly.

3. Butter and Toast Like a Pro

The secret to that golden-brown crust is in the butter:

• Spread softened butter evenly on the outside of the bread.
• For an extra flavor boost, mix in a touch of garlic powder or Parmesan cheese with the butter before spreading.

Cook the sandwich on medium-low heat to allow the cheese to melt fully while the bread toasts to a crisp.

4. Add a Flavorful Twist

If you’re feeling adventurous, take your grilled cheese up a notch with these additions:

• Caramelized Onions: Adds a touch of sweetness.
• Tomato Slices: Perfect for a fresh, juicy contrast.
• Crispy Bacon: For an indulgent smoky flavor.
• Hot Honey Drizzle: A sweet and spicy kick to balance the richness.

5. Serve It Right

For the ultimate comfort food experience, serve your grilled cheese with:

• Tomato Soup: The classic pairing for dipping.
• Pickles: A tangy side to cut through the richness.
• Potato Chips: Adds a satisfying crunch to your meal.

With these tips, you can make a grilled cheese so good it looks like it belongs in a magazine (or on your Instagram feed). Give it a try and watch the cheese pull wow everyone at the table!

A plane flying from Wichita, Kansas, collided mid-air with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Authorities have yet to report any survivors.

Hamaad Raza was in the middle of texting his wife as he waited for her arrival at Reagan Washington National Airport when, suddenly, his messages stopped delivering.

A sense of unease crept in Raza, which soon turned to dread when news broke that a flight from Wichita, Kansas, his wife’s flight, had collided mid-air with a helicopter while on approach to runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport. The tragic crash sent the aircraft plunging into the Potomac River around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.

Raza shared the last message his wife sent him before his messages went undelivered. It read, “We’re landing in 20.” He attempted to respond, but his texts failed to go through and that’s when a sinking feeling set in. Now he is deeply worried about his 26-year-old wife, whom he has been married to for just over two years.

“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river right now as we speak. That’s all I can pray for. I’m just praying to God,” said Raza. He shared that his wife had traveled to Wichita for work and always had a fear of flying, making the tragic incident even more heartbreaking.

Raza is a senior associate at EY-Parthenon, a business consulting and services firm. He attended the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and graduated from John Burroughs School.

After viewing video footage of the Washington plane crash, netizens are confused about how such a collision could take place, with some expressing their belief that something is amiss.

News outlets have released videos capturing the moment a helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025. The widely discussed posts come after the FAA released a statement concerning what happened.

A video shared by the Daily Mail on TikTok shows the mid-air collision, where the airplane was approaching the airport when the helicopter, flying directly opposite the plane, crashed into it, triggering a massive explosion.

From the camera’s vantage point, the crash appeared as a flash of light before plumes of smoke rose and both the plane and helicopter fell into the Potomac River.

The Daily Mail’s TikTok caption reads, “The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened [sic].”

The outlet also mentioned, “NBC Washington are [sic] reporting that at least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams survey the crash site.”

Additionally, first responders are searching the Potomac River near the airport. Upon seeing the footage from Daily Mail, many netizens flocked to comment sections, sharing their reactions to what happened.

“As a pilot, I’m shocked this happened. You have controllers that are meant to avoid this, & there’s less [sic] collisions actually at night cause of the anti-collision lights on each aircraft. :/,” asserted a TikToker.