Author name: Chase Brennan

Brown University Completely Outsmarted by Homeless Man Who Cracked the Case Wide Open
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Brown University Completely Outsmarted by Homeless Man Who Cracked the Case Wide Open

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Authorities searching for answers after a deadly shooting at Brown University say the case only came together after an unexpected tip from a homeless man who noticed details investigators had missed.

For four days following the shooting, law enforcement agencies reviewed hundreds of surveillance cameras and deployed elite investigators, yet were unable to identify a suspect.

Brown University, one of the nation’s wealthiest institutions, became the center of an intensive investigation that yielded few leads until the man, publicly identified only as John, came forward.

State and federal officials now credit John with providing the key information that led investigators to identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect in the Brown University shooting, as well as a separate killing of an MIT professor that occurred days later.

According to the New York Post, federal officials say John is likely “entitled” to a $50,000 reward.

“He blew this case right open,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

John’s role in the investigation became public after police released his image and asked for help locating him.

By that point, John had already drawn attention online. According to court records, he posted on Reddit after recognizing the suspect from police images circulated following the Brown shooting.

“I’m being dead serious,” the post said.

“The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental.”

In the post and later statements to investigators, John described behavior that struck him as suspicious. He said he watched the suspect approach a grey Nissan, unlock it using a key fob, then abruptly back away and relock it.

John said the man then circled the block, prompting him to check the license plate.

At the time, investigators had not confirmed any vehicle connected to the suspect.

Authorities later verified that Valente had been driving a rental car matching the description provided by John.

That information allowed investigators to narrow their focus and connect additional surveillance footage and records to Valente.

Court documents show John also told investigators he had encountered Valente earlier inside a bathroom at Brown’s engineering building. He noted that Valente’s clothing appeared “inappropriate and inadequate for the weather.”

Sources told Fox News that John had been living in the basement of the engineering building at the time, a fact university officials were reportedly unaware of.

That circumstance placed him in proximity to the suspect during critical moments before and after the shooting.

John later described a tense encounter outside the building, according to an affidavit.

He said he followed Valente and confronted him about the vehicle.

“Your car is back there, why are you circling the block?” John yelled, according to court records.

Valente responded angrily, telling John, “I don’t know you from nobody,” and accused him of harassment before walking away.

Federal investigators said the information John provided proved decisive in breaking the case.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said the tip met the criteria for a federal reward.

“It would be logical to think that, absolutely, that individual would be entitled to that,” Docks said.

The case has drawn attention not only for the crimes involved but also for how it unfolded.

Despite extensive institutional resources and days of investigative work, authorities said the critical break came from an individual living on the margins, whose observations filled gaps left by technology and formal investigative efforts.

Officials have not disclosed when or how John may receive the reward, nor have they released further details about his current status.

Law enforcement sources indicated the investigation into Valente’s alleged actions remains ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to review evidence related to both killings.

59% of Illegal Alien Families On Welfare Programs, Costing Billion: Scott Turner
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59% of Illegal Alien Families On Welfare Programs, Costing $42 Billion: Scott Turner

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Housing and Urban Services Secretary Scott Turner said a majority of illegal alien families in the United States rely on taxpayer-funded welfare programs, costing tens of billions of dollars each year and placing significant strain on housing, healthcare, education, and public safety systems.

Turner said roughly 59 percent of illegal alien families use at least one welfare program, at an estimated annual cost of $42 billion.

He argued those funds should instead be focused on helping American citizens achieve independence rather than long-term reliance on government assistance.

“That for you, 59% of illegal alien families use one or more welfare program in our country, costing about $42 billion a year,” Turner said.

“So if you think about almost 60% of illegal alien families using our welfare system, one or more of them costing about $42 billion a year, which should be prioritized to help the American people not to remain on subsidies, if you will, but to get a hand up and then to get off of government subsidies to live a life of self sustainability.”

Turner said the financial burden created by illegal immigration affects multiple sectors, including housing availability, affordability, medical services, corrections, and education.

He said the influx of individuals into the country increases demand on systems already under pressure.

“And so you have housing, you have affordability, you have housing supply, you have medical you have the corrections, you have education,” Turner said.

“And so when you get all of these people coming into our country, it puts a strain on us.”

Turner credited President Donald Trump with restoring fiscal discipline and taking steps to secure the border, saying those actions are already producing positive results across the economy.

He said efforts under the Trump administration are focused on improving affordability and increasing housing supply while reducing the financial impact of illegal immigration.

“But thank God you know, under President Trump’s leadership, we’re getting our fiscal house back in order,” Turner said.

“The border is being secured. Affordability is coming around.”

Turner said he believes the effects of those policies will become more apparent in the coming year, leading to improvements in economic stability and public safety for Americans.

“And I believe that next year, because of the things that have happened thus far in President Trump’s leadership and in this administration, that next year, from a financial standpoint, from an economic standpoint, from a safety standpoint and more, that the American people will begin to thrive once again,” Turner said.

WATCH:

Australian Police Ram Vehicle to Stop Suspected Second Terror Plot After Bondi Attack
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Australian Police Ram Vehicle to Stop Suspected Second Terror Plot After Bondi Attack

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Australian authorities reportedly used a police vehicle to ram a car in Liverpool, a suburb of Sydney, in an effort to disrupt what was described as a suspected second violent plot in the country within days, according to multiple reports, as reported by The Daily Caller.

Video and photographs circulating online showed a police Land Cruiser crashed into another vehicle as heavily armed officers escorted several men with zip-tied hands to sit or kneel against a wall.

The incident unfolded as law enforcement agencies responded to intelligence indicating a possible “violent act” was being planned.

According to a statement from New South Wales (NSW) Police, officers from NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) acted on a tip involving a potential threat.

The men inside the vehicle were believed to be traveling toward Bondi Beach, though authorities did not specify the purpose of the trip.

News.com.au reported that five men were arrested following the operation.

NSW Police, however, did not confirm arrests, instead stating that seven men were “assisting police” and that the operation had “concluded.”

Police also said they had not found “any connection” between this incident and the recent deadly attack at Bondi Beach, according to multiple reports.

The police operation came just days after a father-son duo of Pakistani descent carried out a shooting at a beachside Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.

That attack killed at least 15 people and injured more than 40 others. An unarmed civilian intervened during the attack and helped stop the gunfire.

As the Liverpool incident unfolded, Bondi Beach remained under heightened scrutiny.

The development also coincided with the funeral of Matilda, identified as the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach shooting, who was laid to rest elsewhere in Sydney.

Australia has remained on high alert following the Bondi attack.

AFP Commissioner Chrissy Barrett announced that authorities were conducting “further search warrants” and pursuing “ongoing investigations into … hate preachers” as part of efforts to prevent additional violence.

Australia has maintained strict firearm laws since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania.

Under those laws, firearms are restricted to applicants who can demonstrate what authorities define as a “genuine reason,” a legal term that does not include personal protection.

Despite those restrictions, Sajid Akram, who was killed at the scene of the Bondi Beach attack, reportedly possessed a firearms license.

According to the Daily Caller, Akram was not listed on any terror watch lists, despite reported extremist connections involving his son.

Video footage from the Bondi attack appeared to show the use of a shotgun, a firearm category that is specifically prohibited under Australian gun law.

Authorities have not released additional details about the Liverpool incident, including whether charges will be filed or what prompted the initial intelligence tip. Investigations related to both incidents remain ongoing.

Jewish Man Stabbed Near His Heart Speaks Out After Brooklyn Antisemitic Attack
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Jewish Man Stabbed Near His Heart Speaks Out After Brooklyn Antisemitic Attack

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A Jewish New Yorker described how he was stabbed just centimeters from his heart during an antisemitic attack on a Brooklyn street, an incident that police are investigating as a hate crime and that occurred during the Hanukkah holiday.

Elias Rosner, 35, a member of the Lubavitch Hasidic community in Crown Heights, said the attack unfolded Tuesday afternoon after he left a temple and encountered a man shouting antisemitic threats.

In an interview with The Post on Wednesday, Rosner said the suspect made explicit statements before launching the attack.

“I’m going to kill a Jew today,” the man said, according to Rosner.

Rosner said he first noticed the suspect while standing in a crowd of Jewish people.

“I was waiting in a crowd of Jewish people and this guy started spouting stuff,” Rosner recalled.

According to Rosner, the man continued making violent statements.

“I’m going to kill Jewish people, I’m going to kill a Jew today, I don’t give a f**k … We wouldn’t be in this mess if the Holocaust had happened,” the man said, as recalled by Rosner.

Rosner said the man appeared serious and that he chose not to look away.

“I guess I was the one guy that had the bravery to look him in the eye,” he said.

Rosner said the suspect appeared to anticipate a confrontation.

“So, he was waiting. He set a trap up for me a block ahead. He came around the corner and it just started happening,” Rosner said.

The stabbing occurred around 4 p.m. at the corner of Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place, according to police. Rosner was stabbed once in the chest.

The NYPD said the attack is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. The incident took place on the third night of Hanukkah.

Rosner said he narrowly escaped with his life and credited his clothing with preventing a fatal injury.

He said a sweater helped stop the blade before it reached his heart.

Rosner works at a pop-up Hanukkah donut shop on Kingston Avenue and said he has training in martial arts.

He said that training influenced how he reacted when confronted with the knife.

“So, he brandishes his knife … I’ve been standing all day, and between fight, freeze and flight. I really only had to choose between freeze and fight, and I chose to fight,” Rosner said.

“I believe in standing up to bullies,” he said.

“I knew it was on. I luckily had taken off my sweater to use as a sarong to catch the blade. I could just tell he wasn’t going to be doing anything fancy…”

“I was able to catch most of the force of the blade with the sweater and that’s basically what saved my life,” Rosner said.

Rosner suffered a deep gash near his heart but was able to walk away without serious injury.

He was treated at Kings County Hospital and later released.

As of Wednesday, the attacker had fled the scene and remained at large.

The NYPD released surveillance footage of the attack and images of the suspect.

Police described the suspect as wearing blue jeans and a black varsity jacket with the word “Genuine” on the back and the number “91” on the sleeve.

Rosner said he believes the attack reflects a broader increase in antisemitic sentiment following Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which he said has affected neighborhoods throughout New York City, including college campuses and the subway system.

In recent weeks, the city’s Jewish population, the largest in the world outside of Israel, has experienced multiple antisemitic incidents, including physical assaults, verbal harassment, and vandalism.

“It used to be when I was a kid we’d come out from a party late at night, and the worst thing we had to worry about was, ‘stop and frisk,’” Rosner said.

“Nowadays, it’s a lot tougher, but my motto is, ‘If you stay ready, you ain’t got to be ready.’”

Despite heightened concern, NYPD data show that anti-Jewish hate crimes were down 9% this year through Monday compared to the same period in 2024.

Police statistics show that 305 of the 550 total hate crimes reported this year targeted Jewish residents or property.

In 2024, police reported 646 bias incidents, 334 of which were classified as antisemitic.

Rosner said he believes confronting hatred remains necessary.

“Here in America, everybody has a right to live free of oppression,” he said, “and we also have to stand up to bullies who are trying to take that away from people.”

Minnesota’s Massive Fraud Scandal Deepens as More and More Info Emerges
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Minnesota’s Massive Fraud Scandal Deepens as More and More Info Emerges

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Minnesota officials and prosecutors are warning that the state is confronting an unprecedented fraud crisis across its social service programs, with potential losses estimated to exceed $1 billion and possibly climb beyond $2 billion, according to lawmakers and investigators familiar with the cases.

Republican state Sen. Michael Kreun said Minnesota has been aware of widespread fraud for years but failed to rein it in.

“Minnesota has an epidemic of fraud, as the rest of the nation is learning,” Kreun said.

“We’ve known here in Minnesota for quite some time that we’ve had a massive fraud problem. And it’s turning out that probably Minnesota is the epicenter of fraud in the United States right now.”

The warnings come in the wake of the Feeding Our Future case, one of the largest pandemic-related fraud prosecutions in U.S. history, and amid increased scrutiny of other state programs, including Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) and autism-related services.

The HSS program has emerged as a key example cited by lawmakers as evidence of how fraud allegedly spiraled out of control.

The program was launched nearly four years ago and was originally projected to cost approximately $2.6 million per year.

Instead, spending ballooned to more than $100 million last year and was on track to exceed $120 million this year before the program was shut down.

“We’re learning [it is] probably at least $300 million in fraud right now,” Kreun said.

“And the fraud was so pervasive that they basically had to shut that program down.”

An in-person investigation conducted by Fox News Digital found that numerous addresses listed in HSS and Feeding Our Future claims were fabricated.

Some addresses led to empty parking lots, nonexistent office suites, or legitimate businesses that had no connection to the organizations submitting the claims.

Kreun said similar patterns may exist in other Minnesota social service programs, including autism services.

“The autism services program, for example, probably has that level of fraud, maybe even more,” he said.

Federal investigators uncovered allegations involving Asha Farhan Hassan, who is accused of defrauding Minnesota’s autism-treatment program of roughly $14 million.

Prosecutors allege Hassan billed Medicaid for therapy sessions that never occurred, employed untrained staff, and paid parents between $300 and $1,500 per month to keep their children enrolled in the program.

Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars were sent overseas, including funds used to purchase real estate in Kenya.

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the autism program’s budget surged from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023.

At least 85 entities connected to the programs are currently under investigation.

Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab, who briefly worked on the Feeding Our Future case, said the scheme stood out not only for its scale but also for how easily it was carried out.

“Honestly how easy this fraud was to do,” Teirab said.

“These fraudsters were just saying that they were spending all this money on feeding kids… and they were just making up these PDFs, putting false names into Excel sheets.”

“I could do that in five minutes on a computer if I had absolutely no conscience,” he added.

Teirab said failures in oversight within the Minnesota Department of Education and other agencies contributed significantly to the problem. He also cited political pressures as a factor.

“There were huge incentives to just turn the other way,” Teirab said.

“There’s a sense of, ‘If we say something, are they going to call us racist?’ And that’s exactly what happened.”

A whistleblower account from within the Minnesota Department of Human Services alleged that employees who raised fraud concerns internally were ignored, reassigned, or sidelined, aligning with Teirab’s account.

Townhall columnist Dustin Grage said political pressure intensified after the Minnesota Department of Education temporarily halted payments to Feeding Our Future over fraud concerns.

“Omar Fateh… as well as Jamal Osman, a city councilman in Minneapolis, they actually ended up lobbying to the governor and saying, ‘Hey, this is racist if you are to do this,’” Grage said.

Although a lawsuit was filed against the state after payments were suspended, it was later dismissed.

Payments resumed, and restrictions were eased. Grage also noted that the governor had the authority to subpoena bank records tied to Feeding Our Future but did not do so.

“They have that tool in their disposal, and they refuse to use it for whatever reason,” Grage said. “Maybe they knew about it. Maybe it’s just complete incompetence.”

Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and local restaurant owner Salim Said were convicted for their roles in the scheme.

Prosecutors said they used fraud proceeds on luxury homes, vehicles, and lavish lifestyles. Authorities said the organization falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals and fraudulently obtained nearly $250 million in federal funds.

Teirab said Feeding Our Future was not an isolated case, pointing to another nonprofit, Partners in Nutrition, also known as Partners in Quality Care, which has been identified in Fox News Digital reporting.

When combining alleged fraud linked to Feeding Our Future, Partners in Quality Care, housing stabilization, and other programs, losses exceed $1 billion. Teirab and former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the total could surpass $2 billion.

“So that is what we’re dealing with,” Teirab said.

“It’s a travesty that our hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being wasted away.”

Investigations and audits remain ongoing as lawmakers and prosecutors warn that without major reforms, similar fraud schemes could continue to operate undetected across Minnesota’s social service programs.

Fani Willis Has A Complete Meltdown When Questioned About Payments to Nathan Wade
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Fani Willis Has A Complete Meltdown When Questioned About Payments to Nathan Wade

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testified Wednesday before the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations, where lawmakers questioned her about financial records and her past relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade in connection with the RICO case brought by her office against President Donald Trump, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Willis appeared after attempting to block subpoenas requiring her testimony before the state Senate committee.

The subpoenas were issued as part of a broader inquiry into her conduct, including her relationship with Wade and the financial arrangements surrounding his employment by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

It has previously been established through court filings and testimony that Willis engaged in a romantic relationship with Wade, whom she hired in November 2021 to serve as a top prosecutor in the election-related RICO case.

Both Willis and Wade testified in court that their romantic relationship began in 2022, after his hiring.

However, subsequent filings contradicted those claims. Cell phone location data showed that Wade visited the Yeartie condominium where Willis was living before his November 2021 hiring.

Those records raised questions about the accuracy of their sworn testimony.

Additional court filings detailed Wade’s financial expenditures during the period in question. According to those records, Wade paid for luxury vacations taken with Willis, including trips to Napa Valley and a Caribbean cruise.

The filings further alleged that Wade used funds earned through his Fulton County contract to cover those expenses.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported:

“County records show that Wade, who has played a prominent role in the election interference case, has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022. The DA authorizes his compensation.”

Financial documents presented in court also showed Wade purchased airline tickets for Willis, including flights to Miami and San Francisco.

Bank statements indicated Wade paid for hotels, air travel, a cruise, Uber rides, and flowers for Willis during the period of their relationship.

During Wednesday’s Senate hearing, Willis reacted sharply when investigators questioned her about documents detailing how much money Wade received and how those funds were spent.

At one point, Willis accused her critics of racial bias.

“Why don’t you investigate how many times they’ve called me the n word?” Willis said during the hearing.

Willis also forcefully defended Wade before the committee, raising her voice while addressing lawmakers and rejecting allegations that their relationship created conflicts of interest or ethical violations.

The Senate hearing comes after significant developments in the underlying RICO case. In November, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis and her entire office from prosecuting President Trump.

The court cited the appearance of impropriety stemming from Willis’s relationship with Wade and the financial entanglements connected to his role in the case.

The disqualification marked a major setback for the prosecution and followed months of litigation focused on whether Willis and Wade had been truthful under oath and whether taxpayer-funded payments created improper personal benefits.

The Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations continues to review evidence related to Willis’s conduct, including her testimony, financial disclosures, and communications.

Lawmakers have said the inquiry is focused on accountability, ethics, and the proper use of public funds.

Neither Willis nor her office has indicated whether additional legal challenges will be filed related to the Senate investigation. The committee has not announced when it expects to conclude its review.

Jewish Man Stabbed Near His Heart Speaks Out After Brooklyn Antisemitic Attack
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Jewish Man Stabbed in Brooklyn as NYPD Hunts Antisemitic Suspect

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New York City police are searching for a suspect accused of stabbing a Jewish man in the chest during what authorities describe as an antisemitic attack in Brooklyn on Tuesday afternoon.

According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 4:10 p.m. near the intersection of Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place, within the confines of the NYPD’s 77th Precinct.

The victim, a 35-year-old man, was walking in the area when he was approached by an unidentified individual following what authorities described as an apparently random encounter.

Police said the interaction escalated after the suspect made anti-Jewish statements toward the victim.

“At approximately 4:10 P.M., in the vicinity of Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place, in the confines of the 77th Precinct, a 35-year-old male victim was walking when he was approached by an unidentified individual. The unidentified individual made anti-Jewish statements and then proceeded to stab the victim in the chest with a knife,” police told Fox News Digital in a statement.

The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he received medical treatment.

Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Authorities released images and a brief video of the suspect in an effort to identify and locate him.

As of the latest update, the suspect remains unidentified and at large.

“The individual was last seen fleeing the location on foot towards Sterling Place and Albany Avenue,” police said in their statement.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has taken over the investigation.

Police confirmed the stabbing is being investigated as a possible bias crime based on the statements allegedly made by the suspect during the encounter.

Video footage circulating on social media appears to capture the moments leading up to the stabbing.

The footage shows the two men engaged in a verbal dispute that lasts several minutes.

At one point, the confrontation appears to break off, with the suspect walking away.

The victim then follows the suspect, at which time the suspect turns around and stabs at him, according to the video.

Investigators are reviewing the footage along with other evidence as they work to piece together the sequence of events.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the attack in a statement, calling it an act of antisemitic violence and expressing support for the victim.

“Evil, hateful, antisemitic violence must come to an end. We cannot let this hate persist in our city, and we will never back down. We are praying for this man and his family, and the NYPD Hate Crimes Division is investigating this incident as we speak,” Adams said.

The incident adds to growing concerns about antisemitic attacks in New York City. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly emphasized that hate crimes targeting Jewish residents are taken seriously and investigated aggressively.

Police urged members of the public to assist with the investigation by coming forward with any information that could help identify the suspect or determine his whereabouts.

Anyone with information related to the stabbing is asked to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Spanish-speaking callers can dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Tips can also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers website or on X by contacting @NYPDTips.

Police said tips can be submitted anonymously.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Democrats’ Voter Registration Advantage Has ‘Crumbled,’ Key Swing State Trending Red
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Democrats’ Voter Registration Advantage Has ‘Crumbled,’ Key Swing State Trending Red

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Democrats are facing declining voter registration numbers across multiple states, but new data from North Carolina shows one of the most dramatic shifts yet in a longtime political battleground.

According to the latest figures from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the gap between registered Democrats and Republicans in the state has narrowed to just over 1,000 voters.

A decade ago, Democrats held an advantage of nearly 750,000 registered voters over Republicans.

Representative Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said the change reflects voter dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership and growing support for Republicans across the state.

“Voters across North Carolina are rejecting the Democrats’ failed agenda and choosing Republican leadership,” Hudson said.

“This shift didn’t happen overnight, it’s the result of years of good common sense Republican governance and our focus on offering serious solutions on the issues that matter to the people.”

State-level data shows that between 2005 and 2015, the difference in registered Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina remained relatively stable, with Democrats maintaining an advantage of roughly 670,000 voters during that period.

That margin began shrinking in 2015 and continued to narrow over the following years.

By 2020, Democrats still held a lead of just under 380,000 registered voters.

As of the most recent update from the State Board of Elections, that lead has dropped to only 1,216 voters.

The changes in North Carolina mirror a broader national trend.

Earlier this year, a New York Times analysis found that Democrats lost approximately 2.1 million registered voters between 2020 and 2024 across 30 states that track voter registration by party.

During the same period, Republicans gained about 2.4 million registered voters.

Combined, the data reflects a net swing of roughly 4.5 million voters away from the Democratic Party over four years.

Former Republican National Committee chairman and North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley said Democratic policies at both the state and federal levels are contributing to the decline.

“The reality is that bad Democrat policies coming out of Washington are driving voters away from the party here at home,” Whatley said.

He also criticized state and national Democratic leaders, citing their electoral performance in North Carolina.

“Insane policies supported by Roy Cooper and pushed by DC Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris are completely out of step with North Carolinians,” Whatley said.

“Democrats couldn’t win Senate races here even when they had a cash advantage and a huge voter-registration edge.

Now they’ve lost that registration advantage too, and voters are making it clear they’re done with failed Democrat leadership.”

Democrats have responded by pointing to changes in voter affiliation trends.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the Republican share of registered voters statewide has declined, while the number of unaffiliated voters has increased.

However, voter registration data shows the rise in unaffiliated voters has affected both parties, with Democrats experiencing a significantly larger decline in total registered voters over the last decade compared to Republicans.

Madison Andrus, the DCCC’s regional spokesperson for North Carolina, attributed the changes to Republican actions in the state.

“Despite their repeated attempts at gerrymandering the state to subvert the will of the voters, Republicans have not managed to increase their share of registered voters in nearly four decades,” Andrus told Fox News Digital.

She also argued that Republican policies are contributing to voter dissatisfaction.

“Now, with this latest scheme top of mind, voters across the state are souring on Republicans’ failing agenda that has led to higher grocery prices, more expensive health care, and greater difficulty making ends meet,” Andrus said.

“Republicans have abandoned North Carolina’s working families and people are taking notice.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters disputed that assessment, saying the data shows a fundamental shift in voter behavior.

“North Carolina is undergoing a historic shift,” Gruters said.

“Democrats’ advantage has crumbled.”

Gruters also referenced recent election results as evidence of broader voter sentiment.

“Voters rejected Kamala Harris last year, and they’re continuing that trend as they turn away from the failed policies of Roy Cooper and Josh Stein,” he said.

With registration numbers nearly even for the first time in decades, North Carolina’s changing voter rolls are drawing national attention as both parties prepare for upcoming statewide and federal elections.

Trump Makes Major Moves to Choke Out Maduro and His Narco-Terrorists
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Trump Makes Major Moves to Choke Out Maduro and His Narco-Terrorists

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President Donald Trump has declared the Venezuelan regime a foreign terrorist organization and ordered what he described as “a total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from the country, marking a major escalation in U.S. pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The move follows an ongoing U.S. drone strike campaign targeting drug-smuggling boats in the region, which has killed 95 people to date.

Trump is now expanding that effort as part of a broader campaign against Maduro, whom he has repeatedly described as illegitimate and has previously urged to flee Venezuela.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump said.

Trump stated that Maduro must return oil, land, and other assets that he said were stolen from the United States.

He accused the Venezuelan leader of using illicit oil revenues to fund narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and personal enrichment.

“For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” Trump said.

“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace.”

The announcement follows a sharp escalation last week, when U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration accused of smuggling illicit crude.

Trump also demanded that Maduro’s “hostile regime” return American assets “IMMEDIATELY.”

The blockade order coincides with a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean.

Trump has paired the ongoing strikes with the deployment of major naval assets, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier and multiple additional warships.

U.S. military aircraft have also conducted repeated flights along Venezuela’s coastline in recent weeks.

While Trump and his administration have said the military buildup is aimed at combating drug trafficking, Maduro has accused Washington of using narcotics smuggling as a pretext for regime change in Caracas.

The United States has sought to link the two issues, accusing Maduro of leading the alleged “Cartel of the Suns,” which was designated a “narco-terrorist” organization last month.

The U.S. has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture.

The U.S. military presence in the region is now the largest in decades.

American forces have launched a series of deadly strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Trump administration has said the campaign is focused on stopping drugs bound for the United States.

However, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, appeared to confirm in a Vanity Fair interview published Tuesday that the campaign is also intended to pressure Maduro.

Wiles said Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order placing fentanyl in the same category as nuclear and chemical weapons, a move intended to signal the seriousness of his administration’s efforts to stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

Trump has also said that land attacks are coming, though he has not provided details on timing or location.

At the Pentagon, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has faced continued questioning over his approval of strikes on Venezuelan drug vessels, including a second strike following an initial attack in September that killed two survivors.

The incident involved a speedboat in the Caribbean Sea that the administration said was carrying cocaine en route to the United States.

After a missile disabled the vessel and killed most of those onboard, two survivors were seen clinging to the wreckage and were believed to be attempting to radio for help.

Pentagon officials have defended the decision to authorize the second strike on September 2, arguing it was based on a perceived ongoing threat.

Lawmakers have since demanded unedited video footage of the strikes.

Hegseth told congressional leaders he was still weighing whether to release the footage and instead provided a classified briefing alongside Rubio and other senior national security officials.

That same day, Admiral Alvin Holsey, who is retiring from U.S. Southern Command this week, held separate discussions with the Republican chairman and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In late November, Trump warned Maduro to flee the country with his wife or face consequences as U.S. warships and troops continued to deploy to the region.

Trump reportedly offered Maduro, his wife, and son safe passage if he resigned immediately, according to The Miami Herald.

A source familiar with the call said Maduro requested global amnesty, which Trump rejected, before proposing that he retain control of the Venezuelan armed forces in exchange for free elections.

Trump declined that proposal as well, and Maduro ultimately rejected the idea of resigning.

Trump later confirmed that the talks had taken place as tensions between Washington and Caracas intensified.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has relied heavily on military loyalty, appointing officers to senior government roles.

The United States has condemned his rule, citing his claimed election victory in 2024 despite evidence that his opposition received more votes.

The current wave of U.S. deployments began in August with the arrival of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.

In October, the Pentagon announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, would join the mission.

Aerial drone photo of USS Gerald R. Ford latest technology nuclear powered aircraft carrier anchored in deep blue open ocean sea

The carrier entered Caribbean waters on November 11 with more than 4,000 sailors, fighter jets, and support vessels, including the USS Thomas Hudner, USS Rampage, and USS Normandy.

The Pentagon has named the operation “Operation Southern Spear,” with more than 15,000 U.S. troops and 11 warships estimated to be operating in the region.

Meanwhile, Maduro has said that eight million civilians in Venezuela are training in militias, though much of the country’s military equipment dates back decades and was largely purchased from Russia in the early 2000s.

Viral Video Shows Restaurant Owner Confronting Breastfeeding Mother in Georgia
Entertainment

Viral Video Shows Restaurant Owner Confronting Breastfeeding Mother in Georgia

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A Florida mother says she was yelled at and ordered to leave a popular riverside restaurant in Georgia after breastfeeding her infant, an encounter she says she recorded on her cellphone and later shared online, triggering widespread scrutiny of the business and renewed discussion of legal protections for nursing mothers.

The incident occurred at Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge, Georgia, according to Aris Kopiec, who told FOX Business she was dining with her husband, three young daughters — ages 4, 2, and 4 months — and family friends when her baby began to cry.

Kopiec said she latched her infant, immediately covered herself, and ensured she was fully concealed from the view of anyone outside her own table.

“The only people who could see me were at my table,” Kopiec said.

“I covered myself immediately.”

Kopiec said she then pulled her shirt back down and prepared to take her older children outside.

As she moved through the crowded enclosed porch area, she said she bumped into either a chair or another guest.

She said that was when a man she believes to be the restaurant’s owner approached her.

“He looked at me and said, ‘You can’t do that here,’” Kopiec recalled.

“I wasn’t even breastfeeding at that point. I was holding my baby in one arm and helping my kids with the other. He wouldn’t let me get any words out. He kept saying, ‘I have to protect my restaurant. You need to go to a corner.’”

Kopiec said she and a friend took the older children outside while their spouses stayed behind to pay the bill.

She said restaurant staff apologized to the men in the group, but not to her.

When Kopiec returned to collect her belongings, she said the confrontation escalated.

She said she calmly informed the man she believes is the owner that Georgia law explicitly protects breastfeeding in public places.

“I just told him, if he wanted to protect his restaurant, he should follow the law,” Kopiec said.

“That’s when he lost his mind.”

Kopiec said the man refused to provide his name.

After a friend mentioned having his photograph, Kopiec began recording video on her phone.

 

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A post shared by Aris Kopiec (@ariskopes)

In the video shared with FOX Business, a man standing behind the counter is heard shouting, “Get on out of here!” as Kopiec holds her infant in her arms.

“It was so aggressive,” Kopiec said.

“I knew I had to get my kids out of there.”

She said she left the restaurant shaken by the encounter.

“Honestly, I felt like I was in the wrong,” Kopiec said.

“My instinct was to apologize. But then I reminded myself — women have a legal right to breastfeed. I did nothing wrong.”

Public records and local business listings identify 67-year-old Tim Richter as the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant.

A Facebook post from the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce in September praised Richter as a longtime owner and highlighted the restaurant’s hospitality, a description that many online commenters have contrasted with the tone captured in the viral video.

In a phone call with FOX Business, a man who identified himself as the restaurant’s owner declined to confirm whether he is the individual shown in the video.

He defended the business, stating, “I’ve had the restaurant for thirty-three years. We’ve been breastfeeding for thirty-three years,” and claimed the incident had been “staged for clicks.”

Georgia law provides that a mother may breastfeed “in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be,” protecting nursing mothers from being removed or restricted for feeding their children in public or private spaces.

Etiquette expert and author Alison Cheperdak told FOX Business the incident raises serious concerns about how guests are treated. Cheperdak, whose etiquette book “Was it Something I Said?” is scheduled for release early next spring, said the video shows conduct that conflicts with basic standards of hospitality.

“Breastfeeding is natural and legally protected,” Cheperdak said. “Hospitality is about care, not confrontation, and raising one’s voice at a guest is never acceptable.”

She added that mothers should not feel compelled to apologize for feeding their children.

“A calm explanation is appropriate, but the responsibility is on the restaurant to treat her with respect,” Cheperdak said. “Even if a restaurant wants a quieter atmosphere, policies should never undermine basic respect for families.”

The restaurant has previously faced controversy. In 2023, local Atlanta outlets and Food and Wine reported that Toccoa Riverside drew backlash after posting an “adult surcharge” for parents deemed “unable to parent.” A FOX 5 Atlanta report on the issue said some parents claimed the owner scolded their children and that a 3-year-old was allegedly made to cry.

Kopiec said she hopes the attention surrounding the incident leads to change.

“Every nursing mom deserves to feel safe feeding her baby,” she said. “We have a legal right to breastfeed, period.”

She said she does not intend to hold onto anger over the encounter.

“I’ve chosen to forgive,” Kopiec said.

“But I would really like to see them welcome breastfeeding moms.”

 

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A post shared by Aris Kopiec (@ariskopes)


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