Author name: George Fitzpatrick

Minnesota Fraud: .2 Million from a PO Box, Unanimous Jury Decision Overturned
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Minnesota Fraud: $7.2 Million from a PO Box, Unanimous Jury Decision Overturned

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Dustin Grage accused Minnesota state government agencies of failing to carry out basic oversight requirements for years, arguing that the absence of site visits in high-risk programs has allowed large-scale fraud to go unchecked.

Grage said the issue dates back more than a decade and centers on the Child Care Assistance Program.

“This going back to 2013 with CCAP. This is where it started,” Grage said.

He explained that the programs were supposed to include routine verification.

“But you know, there’s at least an annual site visit in there, in these 14 high risk programs right now,” he said.

According to Grage, even those requirements are no longer being enforced.

“Jason, site visits aren’t even required in many cases,” he said.

Grage pointed to a recent criminal case in Minnesota as an example of how the lack of investigation has had legal consequences.

“We actually had a recent jury conviction get overturned by a judge here in Minnesota,” he said.

He said the reversal was tied directly to the state’s inability to verify basic facts.

“And in that case, a DHS investigator stated that, well, we couldn’t go investigate it to find out that this business was just simply run out of a PO Box and was legitimate.”

Grage said the justification given by investigators was a lack of resources.

“We can’t afford to do that,” he said.

He contrasted that explanation with the scale of alleged fraud he says has occurred.

“But for some reason, we can now afford anywhere from eight to $19 billion in fraud, but we can’t afford to do site visits.”

Grage also cited a recent example he said illustrates how little oversight is taking place.

He referenced video footage involving a Minnesota learning center.

“And one of the funny videos you’ll see out there recently is Nick Shirley coming to Minnesota a learning center,” Grage said.

He said the condition of the building itself raised questions about whether inspections had occurred at all.

“Except the problem in this case, and this is how you know these site visits aren’t actually occurring, because on the side of the building it says Learing Center,” he said.

“They couldn’t even spell Learning Center correctly.”

Grage said that detail reflected a broader failure to investigate. “And that just goes to show how deep the fraud is and how people are unwilling to investigate it at all,” he said.

“It’s absurd.”

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Mike Benz ‘Absolutely BLOWS THE LID off Epstein’ and Explains His Meteoric Rise
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Mike Benz ‘Absolutely BLOWS THE LID off Epstein’ and Explains His Meteoric Rise

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Mike Benz said the origins of Jeffrey Epstein’s power, wealth, and long-running protection from prosecution can be traced to his early career at Bear Stearns and the bank’s alleged role in handling covert intelligence financing connected to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI).

In a detailed statement, Benz argued that Epstein’s work at Bear Stearns in the late 1970s and early 1980s placed him at the center of clandestine financial operations involving U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies, helping explain Epstein’s rapid ascent and his later connections across global intelligence networks.

“It opens correspondent account for the fledgling BCCI Luxembourg, 25 million daily turnover,” Benz said.

“That’s the very year Jeffrey Epstein joined Bear Stearns, right as BCCI is being scaled up by Kamal Adnan, the very counterparty in the Bear Stearns trades specifically to launder Safari Club Petro dollars.”

Benz said Epstein’s work coincided with key figures in intelligence-linked financial operations, including Kamal Adnan, whom he identified as a Saudi intelligence figure involved in the creation of the Safari Club, a joint intelligence arrangement involving the CIA and Saudi intelligence.

“And Jeffrey Epstein was working on the oil deals right in 1980 when he got the fake Saudi passport,” Benz said.

“And Kamal Adam is the Saudi spy master who created the joint CIA Saudi Safari Club.”

Benz pointed to Ace Greenberg, the longtime Bear Stearns executive, as central to Epstein’s rise within the firm and his entry into these transactions.

“Ace Greenberg, hey, that name sounds familiar,” Benz said.

“Ace Greenberg set up the BCCI Luxembourg account to scale up BCCI and the CI Saudi intelligence Safari Club.”

Benz said Greenberg’s relationship with Epstein went beyond routine employment and placed Epstein inside some of Bear Stearns’ most sensitive operations.

“Isn’t this the guy who hired Jeffrey Epstein and set him up with his daughter and made Jeffrey Epstein a made man,” Benz said.

“Jeffrey Epstein is personally green lighting Bear Stearns this activity with the CIA to scale up the CIS proprietary bank.”

According to Benz, Epstein’s involvement with BCCI-linked transactions explains nearly every aspect of his subsequent career.

“Guys, we just broke the entire Jeffrey Epstein story,” Benz said.

“If Ace Greenberg brought Jeffrey Epstein into the BCCI deal, deals at Bear that explains literally everything.”

Benz said Epstein’s meteoric rise inside Bear Stearns, his ability to attract powerful clients, and his early access to intelligence officials all stemmed from this role.

“It explains Jeffrey Epstein’s meteoric rise. It explains how he moved up in the company so quickly,” Benz said.

“It explains how he got all these huge clients so quickly.”

He said Epstein was already meeting with senior intelligence and political figures by the early 1980s.

“It explains how he in 1981 in 1982 he’s already meeting with major CIA mi six, Saudi intelligence officials,” Benz said.

“He’s meeting with Doug Lee, Stan Pottinger, Adnan Khashoggi, Middle Eastern shakes.”

Benz argued that Epstein’s alleged role involved disguising illegal arms sales and covert financing as legitimate financial transactions tied to commodities and oil.

“Here are the lucrative deals you immediately have Jeffrey Epstein handling CIA financing disguising illegal weapon sales as complex financial transactions for commodities or oil,” Benz said.

Benz said this role also explains Epstein’s later legal protection.

“That explains how he was protected every time he got in trouble with fraud,” Benz said.

“The Justice Department takes action against Jeffrey Epstein for securities laws violations. Jeffrey Epstein openly says in court that Bear Stearns was actually secretly moving money for the CIA.”

According to Benz, prosecutors backed off to avoid exposing sensitive operations.

“Well, that can’t come out in open court,” Benz said.

“Okay, let’s not move forward with prosecution. Don’t want to reveal national security secrets.”

Benz connected Epstein’s alleged intelligence role to his ties with British, French, Israeli, Saudi, and U.S. intelligence agencies, citing BCCI’s international reach.

“That explains how Jeffrey Epstein has these French intelligence connection points,” Benz said.

“That explains how he’s got these British intelligence connection points… and that definitely explains how he has all these CIA connection points.”

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America’s Youth Are Turning to God and Family Over Wokeness: Benny Johnson
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America’s Youth Are Turning to God and Family Over Wokeness: Benny Johnson

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Conservative commentator Benny Johnson said the United States is witnessing a significant cultural and political shift driven by younger generations who are increasingly embracing faith, family, and conservative values, crediting Charlie Kirk with playing a central role in that transformation.

In a statement discussing recent trends among young Americans, Johnson said a unified political movement has emerged alongside what he described as an unprecedented revival of Christianity among the nation’s youth.

“Who put together the most powerful political movement and the most powerful unified movement in American history, and is having incredible results,” Johnson said.

He pointed to personal connections as part of that broader cultural moment, adding, “That woman there is talking about her children, you are a mother. I’m a father.”

Johnson said current data and social trends show younger Americans practicing religion at higher rates than previous generations, a development he said has no historical precedent.

“Right now in America, we are witnessing a miracle,” Johnson said.

“This generation, the young generation, believes in God and is going to church at higher rates than their parents. That’s never happened before in the history of all civilization. That is incredible.”

Johnson also highlighted political changes among young men, saying their ideological leanings and priorities reflect a sharp break from trends seen in prior decades.

“Young men are more right wing than they have ever been measured,” Johnson said.

He said those shifts are especially evident among young men who supported President Donald Trump, noting that their priorities extend beyond politics.

“And most importantly, young men who voted for Trump, their number one priority Kaylee, is starting families and having children,” Johnson said.

Johnson attributed that focus on family and faith to the influence of Charlie Kirk, whom he said consistently emphasized those values.

“That’s what Charlie was always preaching about, because that’s God’s first command to us, go be fruitful and multiply,” Johnson said.

“That’s what God says in the book of Genesis to Adam.”

According to Johnson, Kirk’s message resonated with young men by grounding politics and personal choices in Christian belief and purpose.

“And young men, because they’ve been Christ centered in their life through Charlie Kirk and his legacy,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Kirk’s life and death reinforced the credibility of his message, particularly his emphasis on truth.

“And they saw Charlie lived for and died for the truth,” Johnson said. “No man dies for a lie. Charlie died for the truth.”

Johnson concluded by describing what he said was the core of Kirk’s message to young Americans.

“And that truth was God wants you to be happy,” Johnson said. “God wants you to be joyous. Fall in love, get married, have children, and that’s the legacy of Charlie Kirk.”

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U.S. Pounds ISIS After Terrorists Kill American Troops in Syria
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U.S. Pounds ISIS After Terrorists Kill American Troops in Syria

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The United States military carried out a large-scale strike against Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday following the deaths of two U.S. service members and a military interpreter, according to Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The operation came in direct response to a December 13 attack in the Syrian city of Palmyra, where a lone Islamic State gunman ambushed U.S. forces, killing two American troops and an interpreter and wounding three additional U.S. service members.

President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” following the attack.

According to Fox News, the U.S. operation struck more than 70 targets linked to ISIS.

A senior U.S. official told the network that the targets included “ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites.”

Hegseth announced the operation publicly, stating that U.S. forces had initiated a coordinated military response aimed at dismantling Islamic State capabilities in the region.

“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth wrote on social media.

The United States maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, primarily tasked with counterterrorism operations and advising allied forces as part of the ongoing mission to prevent an ISIS resurgence.

Hegseth emphasized that the strikes were intended as a targeted response rather than a broader escalation, while underscoring the administration’s posture toward attacks on U.S. personnel.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth said.

“The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”

The December ambush in Palmyra marked the first U.S. combat fatalities in Syria since the collapse of the Assad regime in 2014.

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia after Turkish-backed Islamic militants seized control of the government, reshaping the country’s political and security landscape.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that despite territorial losses in recent years, ISIS continues to pose a threat through insurgent attacks and targeted violence, particularly against U.S. and allied forces operating in the region.

Hegseth reiterated the administration’s position that any attack on Americans abroad will be met with decisive force.

“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he wrote.

“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies,” Hegseth added.

“Lots of them. And we will continue.”

 

Marines Overhaul Combat Arms PFT as Sex-Neutral Standards Take Effect
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Marines Overhaul Combat Arms PFT as Sex-Neutral Standards Take Effect

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The Marine Corps is moving to a sex neutral scoring system for the physical fitness test for Marines with combat military occupational specialties, effective January 1, 2026. This change accompanies a broader update to body composition rules that tracks with Defense Department direction.

Under the plan, combat arms Marines will be required to reach a minimum PFT score of 210 points, or 70 percent of a perfect score.

If that standard is not met by the end of the reporting period, Marines face remedial physical training, possible reclassification with a new MOS, or restrictions on promotion. These consequences underscore the seriousness with which readiness is being treated.

“Our combat arms MOSs require rigorous physical readiness for direct ground combat,” Col. James Derrick, director of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, said in a release. “These changes ensure all combat arms Marines meet the same high sex-neutral standards.”

The words repeat a clear expectation: every member who serves in the most demanding roles must be measured against equal, objective criteria.

The service is also shifting away from the old height and weight tape test toward a waist-to-height ratio method. That adjustment will be phased in over time, with specific body composition standards to be published once the defense secretary provides further guidance.

The move aims to produce a clearer, results oriented approach to fitness that aligns with modern health expectations.

Non-combat arms Marines will continue to be tested under the current sex- and age-normed standards. In contrast, all combat Marines, regardless of sex, will be governed by male, age-normed guidelines.

The distinction reinforces the emphasis on direct ground combat readiness, even as the service remains attentive to evolving personnel policies.

The changes come in the wake of a Sept. 30 memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which stressed a renewed emphasis on physical readiness. The policy shift is designed to ensure every service member meets the physical demands of combat and leads by example.

“to ensure every service member meets the physical demands of combat and leads by example,” the memo states in part, as reported in the Marine administrative release.

Speaking to hundreds of senior military officials at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth underscored the connection between fitness and battlefield effectiveness.

He made a point that resonates with conservative leaders who want to see clear, enforceable standards across the services. He also argued that combat effectiveness “all starts with physical fitness and appearance.”

The timing for the broader implementation is deliberate. Manpower information system upgrades will be phased in over six to eight months, with the full installation expected within a year.

This staged approach is meant to minimize disruption while establishing the new norms across units that train for high-intensity operations.

Supporters of the policy argue that it preserves rigorous standards without bias and that it strengthens readiness by insisting on accountability at every rank. They contend that a universal measure across combat arms provides a fair, objective baseline.

In a period of rising global tension and shifting threats, the emphasis on physical capability is presented as a necessary foundation for deterrence and decisive action.

Critics may worry about the pace of change or potential unintended consequences for particular communities. Yet the leadership insists that the goal is not to penalize individuals but to elevate the entire force.

By establishing clear expectations, the Marines aim to produce formations that can sustain demanding operations and project strength when it matters most.

In this moment, the policy aligns with a broader national posture that prizes leadership by example and readiness. The administration’s approach is to insist that those who stand on the line of duty must meet uncompromising standards of fitness.

The United States has long demanded peak performance from its servicemen and servicewomen, and these updates reflect that insistence in a modern framework.

Ultimately, the changes are designed to ensure that Marines who operate in the most dangerous environments can rely on a common standard. They reflect a disciplined effort to synchronize physical readiness with operational readiness.

The result, supporters say, will be a more capable and confident force prepared to meet any challenge.

Hollywood’s James Cameron is Big Mad at Trump for Not Buying the Climate Crisis Narrative
Entertainment

Hollywood’s James Cameron is Big Mad at Trump for Not Buying the Climate Crisis Narrative

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Avatar director James Cameron lashed out at President Donald Trump in a recent interview, accusing the president of pushing the world “backwards” by rejecting the claims and policy demands of global warming activists.

Cameron directed his criticism at Trump personally, using explicit language while discussing climate change, artificial intelligence, and the future of Hollywood.

Cameron made the remarks during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he expressed frustration with what he described as humanity’s refusal to accept climate change warnings.

He claimed that President Trump’s resistance to climate activism has placed the world on the wrong trajectory.

“I’m frustrated because the human race seems to be delusional about what they think is going to happen next. We are going backwards,” Cameron said.

The filmmaker escalated his criticism by singling out Trump, referring to him in personal terms while granting permission for the remarks to be published verbatim.

The Terminator creator described President Trump as the “most narcissistic a**hole in history since f**king Nero,” before adding, “Yeah, you can quote that.”

Cameron argued that opposition to climate change activism is only one of several threats facing humanity.

During the interview, he also raised concerns about artificial intelligence and what he sees as the decline of the Hollywood film industry.

He suggested that his own work has played a role in shaping public awareness, though he acknowledged that there is no direct way to measure its impact.

“Who’s to say we wouldn’t be going backwards even faster if it wasn’t for these films? There isn’t an alternative Earth without ‘Avatar’ we can point to and say, ‘It made this measurable difference,’” Cameron said.

He added that he believes both he and his films are on what he called the “right side of history.”

Cameron has been a vocal advocate for climate-related causes for decades and has frequently used his platform to promote environmental activism.

His criticism of President Trump reflects long-standing tensions between Hollywood figures and political leaders who question or reject climate policy proposals favored by environmental groups.

In recent months, Cameron has also focused attention on artificial intelligence, expressing concern about how rapidly the technology is advancing.

Only weeks before the interview, Cameron said he was “horrified” by the possibility that AI could be used to create artificial actors indistinguishable from real people.

He warned that such developments could disrupt the entertainment industry and raise serious ethical questions.

Earlier this year, Cameron expanded his concerns beyond film, warning that artificial intelligence could pose serious risks if applied to military technology.

In August, he cautioned that allowing AI to control real-world weapons systems could lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity.

Beyond technology and climate issues, Cameron has increasingly criticized changes within the entertainment business itself.

He has emerged as a vocal opponent of streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, and has publicly objected to the idea of streaming productions being considered for major film awards.

Cameron has argued that the inclusion of streaming content in Oscar nominations undermines traditional filmmaking and theatrical releases.

His opposition to Netflix extends to corporate consolidation within the media industry.

Cameron has said he supports Paramount’s hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery, stating that he believes Netflix acquiring Warner Bros.

Discovery would harm Hollywood.

He described such a move as a “disaster” for the industry.

Cameron’s comments come as President Trump continues to reject climate alarmism and related policy initiatives, emphasizing economic growth, energy independence, and skepticism toward international climate agreements.

Trump has consistently questioned predictions made by climate activists and has opposed regulations he argues would damage American industry and workers.

The interview adds to a long history of public criticism from Hollywood figures directed at President Trump, particularly over environmental policy and cultural issues.

Cameron’s remarks stand out for their blunt language and for tying his personal filmmaking legacy to broader political and social debates.

While Cameron continues to promote his views through interviews and public statements, the Trump administration has remained firm in its approach to climate policy, rejecting what it describes as exaggerated claims and focusing instead on domestic economic priorities.

Cameron has been going at this for at least 15 years.

That’s before they changed the narrative to ‘climate change.’

Woman Arrested After Razor Blades Found Hidden in Walmart Bread
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Woman Arrested After Razor Blades Found Hidden in Walmart Bread

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Police said the alleged tampering occurred at two Walmart locations in Biloxi: a Walmart Supercenter and a nearby Walmart Neighborhood Market. Over the course of more than a week, several customers reported discovering razor blades inside loaves of bread they had purchased from those stores, as reported by Fox News.

The first reported incident occurred on Dec. 5 at the Walmart Supercenter, when a customer alerted store employees that a razor blade had been found inside a loaf of bread, according to reporting from The Associated Press.

A second complaint followed three days later on Dec. 8 at the Walmart Neighborhood Market, involving a similar discovery.

On Dec. 14, six days after the second complaint, another customer reported finding a razor blade in bread purchased from the Supercenter.

That report prompted store employees to inspect additional bread products on the shelves.

During the inspection, employees discovered several more loaves that appeared to have been tampered with, according to law enforcement officials cited by the AP.

Police said two additional complaints were reported on Dec. 15, further confirming a pattern of alleged product tampering across the two locations, Fox 26 Houston reported.

Investigators have not determined a motive for the alleged actions. The Biloxi Police Department said officials currently do not believe any other stores beyond the two Biloxi Walmart locations were targeted.

As a precaution, police advised customers who purchased bread from Walmart stores within the city to inspect their products carefully for sharp objects.

Customers who believe they may have purchased a tampered product were urged to dispose of it immediately and contact their local Walmart store for a refund.

Walmart confirmed it took action once the reports were brought to its attention.

“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

“We have removed and thoroughly inspected all potentially affected products at impacted stores in Biloxi. We appreciate law enforcement for their swift action and will continue cooperating with them as they investigate.”

Authorities said no serious injuries have been reported in connection with the incidents.

The Biloxi Police Department continues to investigate the case and has not released further details regarding how the razor blades were inserted into the bread or whether additional charges could be filed.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the Biloxi Police Department for additional information but had not received further details at the time of publication.

JD Vance Claps Back After Reporter Raises ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ Label
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JD Vance Claps Back After Reporter Raises ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ Label

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Vice President JD Vance addressed comments attributed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in a Vanity Fair article during an exchange with a Washington Post reporter, using the moment to defend his record, praise Wiles’ loyalty, and describe what he said is the authentic character of President Donald Trump behind the scenes.

The exchange occurred after Jacob Bogage of The Washington Post raised the Vanity Fair profile while questioning the vice president.

“Mr. Vice President. Jacob Bogage from The Washington Post, it’s good to see you. Good to see you too. Merry Christmas. Thank you. Same to you,” Bogage began.

He then pivoted to the article.

“Unfortunately, I have to ask a bit of an off topic question from affordability, because news events do intervene, and that is the interviews that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles gave to Vanity Fair, in which she’s quoted as referring to you as, excuse me again, not my words, sir, but a conspiracy theorist of a decade, and described your transformation from someone who once opposed President Trump to now his vice president as an act of political expediency. And I’d like to give you the chance to respond to that Sir,” Bogage said.

Vance responded by noting that he had not read the article, but addressed the label directly.

“Well, first of all, if Susie, I’ll trust. I’ll trust what you said. I haven’t looked at the article. I of course, have heard about it,” Vance said.

“But conspiracy theorist, sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist, but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true.”

He added that the characterization was not new between him and Wiles.

“And by the way, Susie and I have joked in private and in public about that for a long time,” Vance said, before listing examples of positions he said were once dismissed but later validated.

“For example, I believed in the crazy conspiracy theory back in 2020 that it was stupid to mask three year olds at the height of the covid pandemic, that we should actually let them develop some language skills,” he said.

“I believed in this crazy conspiracy theory that the media and the government were covering up the fact that Joe Biden was clearly unable to do the job. And I believed in the conspiracy theory that Joe Biden was trying to throw his political opponents in jail rather than win an argument against his political opponents.”

Vance argued that such claims often become accepted long after they are initially dismissed.

“So at least on some of these conspiracy theories, it turns out that a conspiracy theory is just something that was true six months before the media admitted it, and that’s that’s my understanding,” he said.

The vice president then shifted to discussing Wiles personally, emphasizing her consistency and loyalty.

“Now, look, I do want to say something about Susie, though, because, again, having not read this article, Susie is a person I’ve come to know very, very well,” Vance said.

He described what he said is the reality inside the Trump White House.

“And you know a lot of you probably ask yourself, what is it like behind the scenes? What’s going on actually behind the scenes of the Trump administration? And I’ll tell you, the President is exactly in private who he is in public,” Vance said.

He recounted a personal anecdote involving President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and himself.

“Like I’ll tell you a little story a few, maybe, actually, a week or so ago, I walk into the Oval Office, and Marco and I are sitting there talking with the President about something,” Vance said.

“He says, stop. And he looks at our shoes and says, You guys have terrible shoes. So he goes and gets a shoe catalog.”

Vance continued, “And remember, it’s the Christmas season, so the President’s got some holiday cheer. He goes against the shoe catalog and gets his favorite shoes and orders like, four pairs of shoes for me and four pairs of shoes for Marco, because he’s like, you know, we need our Vice President or Secretary of State to look their very best.”

Afterward, Vance said, the conversation returned to official business.

“And, you know, then we went back to talking about whatever major, you know, international issue we were talking about,” he said.

“Again, he is exactly in private who he is in public. That’s not true of most people in Washington, DC.”

Vance contrasted that with what he said is common behavior among politicians.

“And I’ve seen so many people who will say one thing to the President’s face, Democrats and Republicans, and then we’ll do the exact opposite behind the scenes,” he said.

He then returned to praising Wiles.

“You know why I really, you know what they are, and you know why I really love Susie Wiles, because Susie is who she is in the President’s presence, she’s the same exact person when the President isn’t around,” Vance said.

“I’ve never seen Susie Wiles say something to the President and then go and counteract him or subvert HIS WILL behind the scenes.”

Vance said that loyalty matters because voters elected the president, not staff.

“Because as much as I love Susie, the American people didn’t elect any staffer. They elected the President of the United States,” he said.

“And what you want and what you want in a staffer is a person who understands they are there to effectuate the will of the American people, and they’re there to follow the orders of the duly elected Commander in Chief of the United States.”

He concluded by calling Wiles the best choice for the role and criticizing media access.

“And Susie Wiles, we have our disagreements. We agree on much more than we disagree, but I’ve never seen her be disloyal to the President of the United States, and that makes her the best White House Chief of Staff that I think the President could ask for,” Vance said.

He added, “if any of us have learned a lesson from that Vanity Fair article, I hope that the lesson is we should be giving fewer interviews to mainstream media outlets.”

Vance then ended the exchange by thanking voters and supporters.

“This is the coolest job I’ve ever had,” he said.

“I will never forget that my job every single day is to make it so that you guys can have a safe and prosperous.”

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Trump’s ‘Dizzying Campaign To Increase Violence’ to Blame for Brown Shooting: Chris Murphy
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Trump’s ‘Dizzying Campaign To Increase Violence’ to Blame for Brown Shooting: Chris Murphy

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In the aftermath of a deadly mass shooting at Brown University, Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy used a Sunday appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” to accuse President Donald Trump of pursuing what he described as a deliberate effort to increase violence in the United States, a claim that prompted visible pushback and follow-up questions from host Dana Bash.

The shooting occurred Saturday evening on Brown University’s campus, where officials confirmed that at least two people were killed and at least nine others were injured.

Authorities launched a manhunt for a suspect reportedly dressed in all black.

By Sunday morning, officials announced that a person of interest in his 30s had been taken into custody. Law enforcement has released few additional details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

During the broadcast, Bash framed the discussion around renewed Democratic calls for congressional action on gun legislation.

She noted that Rhode Island already maintains what she described as relatively strict firearm laws and suggested that the issue extended beyond gun policy alone.

Murphy responded by asserting that legislation directly affects crime outcomes.

He argued that states including Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and California have seen reductions in gun violence, murder, and mass shootings as a result of strict firearm regulations.

After outlining that position, Murphy turned his focus to President Trump, accusing him of taking actions that he said would increase violence nationwide.

“But this is not shocking, because over the last year, President Trump has been engaged in a dizzying campaign to increase violence in this country. He is restoring gun rights to felons and people who have lost their ability to buy guns. He eliminated the White House Office of Gun Violence Protection,” Murphy said.

Murphy continued by alleging that President Trump had cut funding for programs aimed at addressing mental health and community violence, which he said had previously enjoyed bipartisan support.

“He has stopped funding mental health grants and community anti-gun violence grants that Republicans and Democrats supported in that 2022 bill. So, he has been engaged in a pretty deliberate campaign to try to make violence more likely in this country,” Murphy said.

“I think you’re, unfortunately, going to see the results of that on the streets of America.”

Bash then pressed Murphy on the scope of his claim, emphasizing the seriousness of accusing a sitting president of intentionally increasing violence.

“That’s a pretty big statement. He’s in a campaign to make violence more likely?” Bash asked.

Murphy doubled down on the allegation, arguing that policy decisions involving firearm rights and funding levels for mental health and violence interruption programs would inevitably produce negative outcomes.

“Of course,” Murphy said.

“I mean, he’s knowingly restoring gun rights to dangerous people. He is cutting off grants that have bipartisan support to try to interrupt violence in our cities or to try to get necessary mental health resources to families and children in need. The evidence tells you that when you stop funding mental health, when you stop funding community anti-gun violence programs, when you give gun rights back to dangerous people, you are going to have an increase in violence that is knowable and that is foreseeable.”

Democrats have consistently pushed for stricter gun control measures at both the state and federal levels, often pointing to states such as California, which has been under unified Democratic control for roughly 15 years, as examples of aggressive regulation.

Following major shootings, Democratic lawmakers and allied commentators have frequently renewed calls for additional restrictions while criticizing Republicans and President Trump for opposing those proposals.

The debate also unfolded against the backdrop of national firearm mortality data.

According to statistics compiled by the Pew Research Center using information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46,728 people died from gun-related causes in 2023.

The data indicates that 58 percent of those deaths were suicides, while 38 percent were homicides.

The remaining deaths involved law enforcement actions, accidents, or cases with undetermined circumstances.

As investigators continue to work through the evidence related to the Brown University shooting, officials have urged the public to await verified findings.

Meanwhile, Murphy’s remarks have intensified an already heated national debate over gun policy, public safety, and the role of federal leadership in addressing violent crime.

Minnesota Sheriff: Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison Put Politics Over Public Safety
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Minnesota Sheriff: Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison Put Politics Over Public Safety

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Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton defended his department’s participation in a federal immigration enforcement partnership, arguing that cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is critical to public safety, while criticizing Minnesota’s top Democratic leaders for opposing those efforts.

Burton made the comments during an exchange with journalist Liz Collin while discussing the county’s involvement in the federal 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE. Burton said the decision to participate was rooted in preparation and safety.

“You know, I think failing to prepare is is preparing to fail. I’ve always said that,” Burton said.

“And so for for us, it was more just preparation. And anything we can do to partner with our federal partners, to make the county safer, I think, is a good thing.”

Collin asked Burton to explain how Mille Lacs County operates under the 287(g) task force model.

“So there are three types of, 287(g) agreements that you can enter into. You’re in what’s called the task force model. Explain how that works,” she said.

Burton outlined the differences between the available agreements and emphasized that the task force model focuses on targeting dangerous offenders.

“Yeah. So you have three, three agreements you can enter into. You’ve got like a jail model, which mostly involves detaining of folks that are here illegally. You’ve got a warrant, a Warrant Officer model, and then you have the task force model, which is what we’re in,” he said.

He said the model allows local deputies to work directly alongside ICE agents in the field.

“That’s more of a collaboration between us and ICE agents. It allows us to go out in the field and assist them in apprehending certain individuals who they deem to be kind of the most dangerous,” Burton said.

Burton referenced federal priorities that focus on removing individuals who pose the greatest threat.

“You’ve heard, I’m sure, representatives from DHS talk about our priority right now is the worst first,” he said.

“Certainly the worst first would be those who are here, not only illegally, but have also committed, you know, violent or heinous crimes while they’re in the country illegally.”

Collin contrasted Minnesota’s stance with that of other states that cooperate with ICE, citing her own experience on a ride-along.

“You know, Sheriff, we were able to accompany ice on a recent ride along,” she said.

“You could clearly see how these partnerships are so valuable in many states. There is that cooperation. Not the case in Minnesota.”

She noted that without local cooperation, ICE agents are forced into more dangerous situations.

“You could see how these agents are basically then forced out into the field, whether it’s homes or businesses, rather than just doing a pickup from the local jail,” Collin said.

She questioned why Minnesota’s leadership opposes such partnerships.

“You have to kind of wonder that this is our Attorney General in Minnesota, our top law enforcement officer. I mean, that’s what the attorney general of any state is. So why would they be against something like this that really centers around safety?”

Burton pointed directly to opposition from Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, saying their rhetoric undermines law enforcement.

“That’s a great question,” Burton said.

“And, you know, I think it’s the Attorney General and the governor of Minnesota have both been very much opposed to the President’s stance on illegal immigration, cracking down on border security.”

Burton cited Walz’s past comments about federal immigration agents.

“I mean, our governor has been quoted publicly referring to, you know, ICE agents as the Gestapo,” he said.

A clip of Walz was then played, in which the governor said, “Donald Trump’s modern day Gestapo. Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets. They’re in unmarked vans wearing masks, being shipped off to foreign torture dungeons, no chance to mount a defense, not even a chance to kiss the loved one goodbye, just grabbed up by masked agents, shoved into those vans and disappeared.”

Burton said such language has real-world consequences.

“So you know, when you have that kind of rhetoric being fed by top level officials such as the governor and now the attorney general, who is clearly not in support of this program. It’s troubling,” he said.

He added that opposition to immigration enforcement is rooted in partisan politics rather than public safety.

“I mean, their political party, they’re both democrats, that’s no secret, has very much not been in support of, you know, the current administration’s efforts to secure the country,” Burton said.

“And the reality is, the vast majority of America voted for this.”

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