Author name: RVM News

Teens Charged After High School Swimmer Drowns in Texas Lake as Family Demands Justice [WATCH]
News

Teens Charged After High School Swimmer Drowns in Texas Lake as Family Demands Justice [WATCH]

/

Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of an 18-year-old Texas high school swimmer after authorities alleged they discarded his belongings and deleted evidence following his drowning at a Dallas-area lake, as reported by The New York Post.

Daniel Erving, an honor roll student and member of his school’s swim team, disappeared in April after he and two friends jumped from a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard in the eastern suburbs of Dallas.

His body was recovered from the lake on April 17, four days after he vanished. A medical examiner later ruled that Erving died from an accidental drowning.

According to the Dallas Police Department, 19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile did not report the incident to authorities and instead allegedly disposed of some of Erving’s personal belongings after leaving the scene.

The two suspects were arrested on July 9, and each faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News, Roper and the juvenile left the area after Erving drowned.

Investigators allege that Roper threw Erving’s clothing into a tree line near the railroad bridge.

The affidavit further alleges that the juvenile threw Erving’s cellphone from the vehicle into a roadside ditch after Roper instructed him to do so.

Investigators also allege that Roper deleted communications between himself and Erving from his cellphone because “he was aware that there would be an investigation into Daniel Erving’s death and he did not want to get into trouble,” according to the affidavit.

KCENTV reported that during a voluntary interview with detectives on April 20, Roper allegedly admitted that he “panicked” after Erving drowned.

Although investigators have charged the two teenagers with evidence tampering, Erving’s family believes additional criminal charges are warranted.

The family has publicly called for murder charges and has criticized investigators for what they describe as a lengthy delay before making arrests.

Family members noted that police interviewed both suspects within days of Erving’s disappearance, yet arrests were not made until nearly three months later.

Speaking to FOX 4, Erving’s mother, Tameca Erving, questioned why anyone who was innocent would allegedly discard evidence rather than seek help.

“A reasonable-minded person would know if you are not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his clothes and delete messages and not even call his mother?” she said.

“I want justice for my son,” she added.

Erving’s sister also said her brother had been preparing to join the military and serve his country before his death.

The family’s attorney, Sean Daredia, is urging the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present the case to a grand jury and pursue homicide charges.

During a Monday press conference, Daredia argued that the suspects’ actions after the drowning raised serious questions.

“Those two suspects let Daniel Erving… sit on the bottom of Lake Ray Hubbard for four days. They went to school. They lived their lives,” Daredia said.

He also questioned the decisions investigators allege were made after the incident.

“If it’s an accident, why hide the clothes? Why flee the scene? Why toss Daniel Erving’s cellphone off the car?” he asked.

Daredia concluded his remarks by urging prosecutors to seek additional charges.

“We won’t accept tampering charges. Take this case. Take the facts. Take the evidence to a grand jury and bring the appropriate charges,” Daredia said.

The investigation remains active and is being led by the Dallas Police Department.

Officials said the agency assumed primary responsibility after jurisdictional issues arose with the Rowlett Police Department during the early stages of the search.

In a statement, the Dallas Police Department extended condolences to Erving’s family while declining to discuss additional details.

“Because this matter remains an active criminal investigation and pending prosecution, the department cannot provide additional details at this time,” the department said.

The Rowlett Police Department also confirmed that Dallas police are serving as the lead investigative agency.

“The Rowlett Police Department is assisting the Dallas Police Department as requested and will continue to provide support throughout the investigation,” the department said.

WaPo Declares Mitch McConnell Hospital Photo Authentic After Social Media Frenzy
News

WaPo Declares Mitch McConnell Hospital Photo Authentic After Social Media Frenzy

/

Questions surrounding a hospital photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell prompted the Washington Post to conduct a fact-check after social media speculation claimed the image had been generated using artificial intelligence.

The controversy centered on a photograph released Sunday by McConnell’s office showing the Kentucky Republican holding a copy of the Washington Post while recovering after a recent hospitalization.

Online speculation quickly spread, with some users claiming the image had been digitally created rather than taken in a hospital.

The Washington Post reported that it reviewed the original image provided by McConnell’s office and concluded that the photograph was authentic.

According to the newspaper, a fact-check prepared by one of its interns examined metadata from the original image and consulted a digital forensics specialist before reaching its conclusion.

“An independent digital forensics expert also said there appeared to be no evidence that the image is fake,” the outlet wrote, citing Hany Farid, a digital forensics professor at the University of California.

Farid determined that neither McConnell nor his wife, Elaine Chao, displayed visual distortions commonly associated with AI-generated images.

He also concluded that the lighting in the room appeared “plausible,” according to the Washington Post.

The newspaper further verified that the copy of the Washington Post visible in McConnell’s hands was its July 12 sports section, matching that day’s published edition.

The photograph was released after weeks of questions surrounding McConnell’s health following his hospitalization on June 14.

Dispatcher audio from that day indicated McConnell may have experienced some type of cardiac event, but the senator disputed that characterization in a statement issued by his office.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell said.

Instead, the longtime Kentucky senator said he suffered a fall and briefly lost consciousness for reasons that remain unknown to his medical team.

Following the incident, McConnell said he was treated for “mild case of pneumonia” before entering a rehabilitation center to continue his recovery.

His medical team also determined that his post-polio condition likely played a significant role in the fall.

McConnell contracted polio when he was 2 years old, leaving his upper left leg partially paralyzed for the remainder of his life.

Before Sunday’s statement and photograph were released, McConnell’s office had disclosed few details about his condition.

While a spokesman announced the senator’s hospitalization when it occurred, additional medical information was withheld until Sunday.

The limited public information fueled widespread speculation online about McConnell’s health.

Among those questioning the situation was conservative commentator Laura Loomer, who claimed McConnell was brain-dead and later argued that the hospital photograph had been created using artificial intelligence.

“Why does the text on the newspaper McConnell’s staff claim he’s holding look AI-generated?

The text is blurry, and the tag on his shirt is blurred.

Also, if he’s in the hospital, why is there no IV connected to him to monitor his health?

This is such bullshit. His staff are…”

Despite repeated assurances from people close to the senator, speculation continued across social media.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and McConnell’s former adviser, Scott Jennings, both said they had spoken with the Kentucky senator by phone during his hospitalization. Their statements, however, did little to quiet online rumors.

McConnell’s office ultimately released both the photograph and the medical statement on Sunday.

The release came one day after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who died Saturday from heart issues.

Historian Cries Racism After Her Slavery Book Pulled Over Major Inaccuracies
News

Historian Cries Racism After Her Slavery Book Pulled Over Major Inaccuracies

/

An award-winning historian is alleging racism after her work came under increasing scrutiny from fellow scholars over disputed claims, factual errors, and citation problems that have led to professional consequences and renewed examination of her published research, as reported by The New York Post.

Kerri Greenidge, author of the 2022 book The Grimkes, has pushed back against criticism from historians who questioned the accuracy of her work.

The book chronicles the story of the prominent South Carolina Grimke family, slaveholders whose descendants later became involved in the abolitionist movement.

The book received widespread praise upon its release and earned the American Historical Association’s Joan Kelly Memorial Prize.

Questions surrounding the book intensified after historians began examining its sourcing and factual assertions more closely.

Among the critics was Myra Glenn, an author and retired American history professor at Elmira College.

In a 2024 review of The Grimkes, Glenn described the book as “deeply flawed,” writing that Greenidge “all too often lacks the evidence to substantiate many of her major claims.”

Glenn also concluded that “her work is also riddled with factual errors and repeatedly omits needed endnotes.”

After the New York Times presented Greenidge with Glenn’s findings and other disputed issues identified through the analysis, Greenidge rejected accusations that she had fabricated or plagiarized material and instead argued that the criticism reflected broader treatment of Black women in academia.

“I am heartbroken that a field I have given my life to can treat me this way,” Greenidge told the newspaper.

“The attack on Black women academics is real.”

Although Greenidge denied engaging in plagiarism or fabrication, she acknowledged that citation mistakes may exist.

Though she claimed to have never plagiarized or fabricated anything, she conceded, “Are there citations that were misattributed? Probably.”

The controversy has produced several professional repercussions. The Grimkes have been removed from Greenidge’s author page on her publisher’s website.

In addition, her listing as a recipient of the Joan Kelly Memorial Prize no longer appears on the American Historical Association’s homepage.

Greenidge also appears to have left her position as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora at Tufts University.

A university spokesman told the New York Times that Greenidge was no longer employed by the institution but declined to provide any additional explanation regarding her departure.

As additional questions emerged surrounding her scholarship, including the reported loss of her university position and recognition tied to her awards, Greenidge again argued that racial bias was responsible for the developments.

She accused two senior historians who served on Tufts University’s peer review panel of being “hostile toward black women in academia.”

Greenidge also asserted that the university’s review process began after complaints were filed by a white female scholar, though she declined to identify any of the individuals involved.

Greenidge further suggested that her race influenced the New York Times’ decision to report on the allegations surrounding her work.

The scrutiny has now expanded beyond The Grimkes. Another of Greenidge’s books, Black Radical, is also receiving renewed attention from historians.

Published in 2019, Black Radical is a biography of journalist and civil rights activist William Monroe Trotter.

The book received favorable reviews, including praise from the New York Times, and won the Mark Lynton History Prize, presented by Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Historian Stephen Fox, who authored a biography of Trotter in 1970, said he began reviewing Greenidge’s citations after Black Radical was published and found that many of the cited sources did not correspond with the underlying material.

After learning about the controversy surrounding The Grimkes, Fox said his concerns grew beyond what he initially viewed as simple mistakes.

Heroic Wife Saves Husband as Ryanair Flight Horror Unfolds at 20000 Feet [WATCH]
News

Heroic Wife Saves Husband as Ryanair Flight Horror Unfolds at 20000 Feet [WATCH]

/

A woman has described the moments she fought to keep her husband from being pulled through a damaged airplane window after a Ryanair flight experienced an in-flight emergency over Greece, saying she believed they would face whatever happened together, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident occurred about 30 minutes after the early morning flight departed from Thessaloniki, Greece, on Friday en route to Memmingen, Germany.

According to Serbian media outlet Nova, Serbian national Ljubiša Karović, 61, was seated near a window when it was shattered after being struck by debris from one of the aircraft’s engines.

His wife, Svetlana Grković, said the sudden loss of cabin pressure pulled her husband toward the opening.

“The pressure pulled Ljubiša; luckily, he was strapped in, but half of his body was sticking out of the plane,” Grković told Nova.

She immediately grabbed onto him in an effort to keep him inside the aircraft.

“I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought, ‘If we die, we die together.’ It was horrible,” she said.

According to Grković, the rapid loss of cabin pressure caused her husband to lose consciousness multiple times during the emergency.

She said another passenger joined her in holding Karović’s legs as the aircraft turned back toward Thessaloniki.

Grković said her husband suffered significant injuries during the incident.

“His hand is particularly badly injured, and he’s got burns,” she said.

She also explained that Karović has little memory of what happened during the ordeal.

“He’s not able to communicate; he doesn’t remember the whole event.”

Despite his injuries, Grković said she remains grateful that he survived.

“But, it’s important to me that he’s alive.”

Karović, who sells and rents apartments in Greece, was described by his wife as being “seriously injured and in shock” following the emergency landing.

Other passengers also described the frightening events inside the cabin.

According to Greek news outlet Protothema, witnesses said Karović had “blood on his head and kept passing out” while the aircraft was returning to Thessaloniki.

As the emergency unfolded, passengers donned oxygen masks while the crew diverted the aircraft back to its departure airport.

“We were all wearing oxygen masks and didn’t know if we’d make it,” one passenger said.

The aircraft landed safely in Thessaloniki without further incident.

Images and video captured after the landing showed extensive damage to one of the aircraft’s engine nacelles, the protective housing surrounding the engine.

Footage also appeared to show one engine blade missing.

Ryanair confirmed the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki after a window became damaged during the flight.

A spokesperson for the airline told The New York Post that the aircraft returned to the airport after a window “dislodged in flight.”

The airline said one passenger received medical assistance after the aircraft landed safely.

According to Ryanair, the remaining passengers were accommodated on a replacement aircraft that departed Thessaloniki later the same morning to continue the trip to Memmingen.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine exactly what caused the engine debris to strike the aircraft and damage the window during flight.

The emergency drew attention after passengers shared accounts of the rapid decompression and the actions taken by Grković and another traveler to prevent Karović from being pulled farther toward the opening as the aircraft descended and returned to Greece.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Trump’s One-Time GOP Foe Became His Closest Counselor on War and Peace
News

Trump’s One-Time GOP Foe Became His Closest Counselor on War and Peace

/

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s political relationship with President Donald Trump evolved from one of the Republican Party’s most public rivalries into one of the administration’s closest foreign policy partnerships, culminating in Graham becoming one of Trump’s most trusted advisers on international affairs before his death.

Graham died Saturday at age 71 after returning from his 10th trip to Ukraine.

He had been preparing to advance bipartisan legislation imposing additional sanctions on Russia and remained actively engaged in several major foreign policy initiatives involving Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and NATO.

The relationship between Trump and Graham began on contentious terms during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

In 2015, Graham called Trump a “jackass” and warned fellow Republicans that nominating him would be a mistake.

Trump responded during the campaign by publicly reading Graham’s personal cellphone number at a rally and encouraging supporters to call the South Carolina senator.

Despite that early conflict, the two men developed a close working relationship over the following decade.

Trump entered office promising to end what he described as America’s “endless wars” while challenging long-standing Republican foreign policy positions.

Graham, meanwhile, remained one of Congress’ strongest advocates for projecting American military power overseas.

Rather than distancing himself from Trump, Graham became one of the few Republican lawmakers with consistent access to the president on matters involving national security.

Throughout his Senate career, Graham focused heavily on foreign policy. He frequently traveled overseas, meeting with world leaders, visiting conflict zones, and participating in diplomatic discussions involving U.S. allies.

By the final years of his Senate service, Graham’s office had become a regular destination for foreign officials seeking insight into the Trump administration’s foreign policy priorities.

Following Graham’s death, Trump reflected on their relationship during interviews.

“He would call me all the time,” Trump told Fox News on Monday.

“I’d say, ‘Stop calling me, Lindsey.’ It was amazing. He just never stopped. He was a worker — a total workaholic politician.”

Trump also described Graham as “like a member of the family” and said the senator was among the final people he spoke with after Graham returned from Ukraine only hours before his death.

According to colleagues, Graham remained focused on Senate business until the end of his life.

Before his death, Graham reportedly told a confidant that he was not feeling well but joked he could not die because he still had work to finish.

Among his priorities were advancing a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, continuing efforts toward Saudi-Israel normalization, and addressing the Trump administration’s approach toward Iran.

His most recent overseas trip marked his 10th visit to Ukraine. Graham maintained relationships with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and other foreign leaders.

Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and a Fox News senior strategic analyst, said Graham believed diplomacy required direct engagement.

“He wasn’t interested in writing op-ed pieces or making speeches, he wanted firsthand contact with leaders of the world,” Keane told Fox News Digital.

“He was interested in getting the results.”

Keane also recalled Graham’s assessment after the 2016 Republican primary.

“He understood the American people better than we did, and shame on us for not doing it as effectively as him,” Graham said at the time, according to Keane.

Keane said Graham deliberately sought to become an adviser to Trump.

“Graham knew the world better than almost anyone in Washington, and he likely knew many foreign leaders better than President Trump’s own appointees,” Keane said.

“He made a conscious decision to help the president by offering advice and counsel, which grew into both a personal and professional relationship.”

Graham’s foreign policy views were shaped alongside the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and the late Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.

The three lawmakers, commonly known as the “Three Amigos,” frequently traveled together and promoted an interventionist approach to American foreign policy.

Although Graham occasionally differed with Trump on specific issues, including negotiations with Iran and U.S. policy toward Russia, he continued working closely with the White House.

After Trump announced a memorandum of understanding with Iran in June, Graham argued that any permanent agreement should receive congressional review and suggested Vice President JD Vance would eventually defend the proposal before Congress.

In the weeks before his death, Graham reached an agreement with the administration to move his long-delayed Russia sanctions legislation forward after more than a year of negotiations with the White House.

Graham also remained a strong supporter of NATO and advocated for increased defense spending among European allies while maintaining that the alliance remained essential to deterring Russia.

Support for Israel remained another cornerstone of his foreign policy agenda. Graham spent years working to strengthen cooperation between Israel and Arab nations and viewed Saudi-Israeli normalization as a significant strategic objective.

Following Graham’s death, lawmakers and administration officials reflected on his influence.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., wrote on X that Graham possessed a “kid-like exuberance about his job and the responsibilities he was given.”

“Even in his sixties, he would get off a plane in a foreign land with a twinkle in his eye and look at me as if to say, can you believe we are actually here and doing this?” she wrote.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also paid tribute on X.

“Very rarely in life do you get to be exactly where you want to be, when you want to be there, with who you want to be with, doing precisely what you want to do — that was every moment for Lindsey,” Miller wrote.

“Lindsey was a senator’s senator. The job was everything to him. Truly did he believe in the splendor of the office and the noble lineage behind it, of which he was the worthy heir.”

Ukrainian officials also expressed concern about the loss of one of Kyiv’s strongest advocates in Washington.

“Huge and absolutely unexpected loss,” Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party, told the Associated Press.

“He was truly indispensable. I even don’t know who might be as important for us now in Trump’s entourage.”

“He was the closest link between Ukraine, our president, and Trump,” Merezhko added. “Our position in Trump’s entourage might be weaker.”

It remains uncertain who will lead Graham’s Russia sanctions legislation through the Senate or assume the role he played as a bridge between the White House, Congress, and foreign leaders.

California Nurse Sparks Fury After Death Wish Post Targeting Trump, McConnell, And Graham
News

California Nurse Sparks Fury After Death Wish Post Targeting Trump, McConnell, And Graham

/

A California registered nurse is facing criticism after social media posts circulated online that appeared to express a wish that President Donald Trump and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would die, as reported by Fox News.

The posts have also prompted questions about whether his former employer is reviewing the matter.

According to Fox News Digital, the Instagram story was posted by Robert Acuna-Bagshaw, who previously worked as a registered nurse at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Memorial Children’s Hospital.

The hospital has since stated that Acuna-Bagshaw has not been employed there since 2025.

The Instagram story featured a collage of three Republican leaders: Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, President Trump, and Sen. Graham.

McConnell’s photo appeared alongside a skull power-plug emoji with flashing text reading, “Pull the plug.”

Trump’s image included a countdown graphic, while Graham’s photo displayed a gray tombstone graphic with the words “R.I.P.”

At the bottom of the post, blue text stated, “If all 3 of these f—ers die this week, I might become religious again.”

The Instagram account shown in the story appeared to be “lb_buddha,” with Acuna-Bagshaw’s name displayed on the account profile beneath an orange cross graphic.

The post was made days before Graham’s death.

Graham, 71, died at 10:23 p.m. Saturday. An autopsy performed Sunday suggested he died from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

A statement from Graham’s office explained that additional testing is still underway.

“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement said.

McConnell, who has been hospitalized for nearly a month, also released an update Sunday regarding his health.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” McConnell said. “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages.”

McConnell said his hospitalization followed a fall related to complications stemming from childhood bouts with polio. He did not provide a timeline for returning to the Senate.

On Monday, Acuna-Bagshaw posted another Instagram story responding to the criticism he said he had received following the earlier post.

“What’s funny is that MAGA morons are messaging me on all my socials, threatening my life, calling my work trying to get me fired, looking up my address and insinuating attacks to the property owners of the listed address etc. because I’ve reposted memes, all the while not realizing all of their internet activity, which they can’t delete, is being tracked. When one of the morons actually does something, because that’s what MAGA does, they’ll all be suspects,” he wrote.

Acuna-Bagshaw continued, “If you’re new just yesterday and I don’t know you, expect a call. I’m fortunate enough to have made a life with friends in positions that specialize in these situations. It’s sad that MAGA are like this and personally attack people to shut them up when nothing was done to them. I guess they missed that part in the Bible about false prophets.”

He also wrote, “What’s funny is they attack me for being a nurse & assume I’m as racist and bigoted as they are. They’re exactly what’s wrong with this world. Attacking and insinuating about people they know nothing about. Oh, this is just a few I stitched together for this post. I have you all. . . .”

The White House condemned the social media posts and any rhetoric encouraging political violence.

“Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital.

“They should also immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head.”

Fox News Digital reported that it contacted both Acuna-Bagshaw and McConnell for comment but did not immediately receive responses.

The controversy follows renewed attention on threats directed at elected officials and public figures as federal authorities continue monitoring incidents involving political violence and intimidation.

Governor McMaster Selects Lindsey Graham’s Sister to Temporarily Fill Late Senator’s Seat [WATCH]
News

Governor McMaster Selects Lindsey Graham’s Sister to Temporarily Fill Late Senator’s Seat [WATCH]

/

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Darline Graham Nordone to serve the remainder of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s term, sending the longtime public figure’s sister to Washington after his death over the weekend, as reported by Breitbart.

Nordone will serve as South Carolina’s interim U.S. senator until January, when the winner of the upcoming election takes office.

A Republican special primary scheduled for next month will determine the party’s nominee for the general election in November, where the Republican candidate will face Democrat Annie Andrews.

Although Nordone has never held elected office, she has remained closely involved in her brother’s public life for decades, appearing with him at speeches, campaign events, and political advertisements.

Her appointment follows a lifetime marked by the close relationship she shared with Graham, who became her legal guardian after the deaths of both of their parents while they were still young.

Their mother died in 1976 following a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Fifteen months later, the family suffered another tragedy when Nordone, then 13 years old, found their father after he died from a heart attack in his sleep.

At the time, Graham was 22 years old and beginning law school at the University of South Carolina. Following the deaths of their parents, he shifted his focus to caring for his younger sister.

“I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in the living room of that house, absolutely scared to death,” Nordone told NPR in 2015.

“Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me he would always be there for me and always take care of me.”

While attending law school in Columbia, Graham regularly traveled to Seneca, where relatives were helping care for his sister. He later became her legal guardian.

After joining the U.S. Air Force as a military lawyer, Graham adopted Nordone so she would qualify for his military benefits.

The relationship between the siblings remained a defining part of Graham’s life throughout his political career.

Graham, who never married or had children, even joked during his 2016 presidential campaign that his sister could be among a “rotating” group of White House hosts serving in place of a first lady.

Nordone frequently appeared alongside Graham during major political moments.

When he filed his candidacy paperwork in March for this year’s Senate election, she attended with her children and grandchildren.

Speaking during that filing, Graham reflected on the hardships he and his sister overcame together.

“What have I learned in this life I’ve led? I take nothing for granted. I count every blessing, every day,” Graham said.

He continued by recalling the challenges they faced after losing their parents before adding, “I understand what a blessing my life has been and the only way I can pay you back for the blessings I’ve received is to be the most thoughtful, relevant, aggressive senator.”

Nordone later married, raised children and grandchildren, and has worked with people with disabilities.

During a 2015 interview with C-SPAN, Graham said his sister’s accomplishments represented the greatest achievement of his own life.

Speaking about Nordone, Graham said her success “is the highlight of it, by far.”

Former Graham campaign consultant Bob McAlister said the siblings’ childhood experiences shaped Graham throughout his career.

“He grew up with nothing,” McAlister said.

“The back of the bar where he and his sister grew up was always kind of top of mind to him… And I think the way he and Darline grew up just had an indelible impact on him, and for some reason, it gave him the drive that he had to do what he did.”

McAlister added, “A lot of people have different ideas about Lindsey from what they’ve seen on TV and all that, but everything about him can be traced back to his boyhood, the way he grew up, the way he took care of his sister.”

Nordone also appeared in one of Graham’s 2014 Senate campaign advertisements while he sought a third term.

Reflecting on her brother’s commitment after the deaths of their parents, she said:

“He never let me down. Never. I don’t see how he did it, to take on the responsibility of raising a little sister.”

“That came from within for Lindsey,” she added.

Hours before McMaster announced the appointment, President Donald Trump revealed on social media that he had recommended Nordone for the interim Senate seat.

Trump described the selection as “a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

Nordone will now represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate until the newly elected senator takes office following the November election.

President Trump Unleashes on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Over Iran Question, Boots Press From Room [WATCH]
News

President Trump Unleashes on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Over Iran Question, Boots Press From Room [WATCH]

/

President Donald Trump criticized CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a White House event on Monday after signing executive proclamations modifying the boundaries of two national monuments in Utah before taking questions from reporters.

The event focused on proclamations affecting the Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, according to the White House, the changes were intended to reverse expansions made during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

“The Proclamations reduce these monuments to appropriate sizes that allow for common sense land use in these areas,” the White House said.

The White House said one proclamation reduces the size of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from approximately 1.87 million acres to about 181,500 acres.

A second proclamation reduces the size of the Bears Ears National Monument from approximately 1.36 million acres to approximately 121,100 acres.

According to the White House, the protected landmarks, structures, and objects covered under the Antiquities Act will continue to receive protection.

The administration said the surrounding land not directly associated with those protected sites will be available for multiple-use, sustained-yield management.

After signing the executive orders, Trump answered several questions from members of the press.

During the exchange, CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins questioned the president about comments he had made regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Collins asked Trump who would reimburse the United States after he previously said America was “going to get paid for guarding” the strategic waterway.

Trump responded by criticizing Collins and CNN.

“You read fake news like you network, CNN…the fake news would rather us lose the war, which is really treasonous!” Trump said.

The exchange came as the administration continued military operations targeting Iran. Earlier Monday, Trump announced that U.S. forces were conducting another round of military strikes against Iranian targets, marking the third consecutive night of operations.

Before ending the question-and-answer session, the president referenced the ongoing military action.

“We’re doing a major attack tonight…for 47 years, nobody’s hit them militarily. We’re hitting them very hard. Thank you very much!”

Trump said as he concluded the event and directed members of the press to leave the room.

The confrontation followed a series of public comments by Trump regarding U.S. operations involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, where he has said the United States intends to maintain security in the strategically important shipping lane.

The monument proclamations signed on Monday also represent another reversal of environmental and land management policies adopted during the Biden administration.

According to the White House, the revised boundaries are intended to balance preservation of historically and scientifically significant sites with broader land-use opportunities outside those protected areas.

The White House maintained that the Antiquities Act protections for designated landmarks, structures, and objects remain unchanged under the new proclamations, while lands not directly connected to those resources will be managed under multiple-use policies.

The exchange between Trump and Collins quickly drew attention as it unfolded during the press availability following the signing ceremony.

The president ended the session immediately after responding to Collins’ question and referencing the ongoing military campaign.

The White House has continued to emphasize both its land management initiatives and its military actions in the Middle East as major priorities of the administration.

Dem Senator Says the Quiet Part Out Loud About the Save America Act [WATCH]
News

Dem Senator Says the Quiet Part Out Loud About the Save America Act [WATCH]

/

Several Republican lawmakers are pushing back against comments made by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., after she claimed the SAVE Act would make it more difficult for married women to vote, as reported by Breitbart.

During a town hall meeting, Slotkin criticized the legislation, arguing it was intended to benefit Republicans at the ballot box.

She said the SAVE Act was designed to “rig our democracy so that it would be hard for any Democrat in any state to win any election.”

Slotkin also argued that the proposal would negatively affect married women by creating additional documentation requirements for voting.

She said the legislation would “disenfranchise all married women,” adding that women who changed their last names after marriage would have to present their birth certificates at polling places.

Her remarks prompted responses from several Republican senators, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who rejected her claims in posts on X.

Paul called Slotkin’s argument inaccurate and said the proposal simply requires voters to verify their U.S. citizenship.

“This talking point from the Left is not only false, but it also paints women as incapable, which we all know is not the case. Showing up to the polls to vote with an ID that proves you’re an American citizen – whether you’re married or not – is common sense. We need to pass the SAVE America Act,” Paul wrote.

Lee also disputed Slotkin’s assertion by comparing the identification requirements to employment verification already required under federal law.

“By that same logic, no married woman in America could fill out an I-9 form, which every American must do when starting a new job. This is absurd. And it highlights why we need to pass the SAVE America Act,” Lee wrote.

The debate over the SAVE Act comes as voter identification laws continue to be a point of disagreement between Republicans and Democrats nationwide.

Supporters of voter ID laws have pointed to election participation data in Georgia following the state’s election reforms as evidence that stricter voting requirements have not reduced turnout.

According to the available election data, Georgia experienced either stable or increased voter participation after implementing election law changes.

During the 2022 midterm elections, early voting tripled compared to the 2018 midterm elections and doubled compared to the 2020 election cycle.

Black voters also cast more than 100,000 additional early ballots than they did during the 2018 midterms.

Georgia also recorded another high level of participation during this year’s primary elections.

According to WABE, approximately one million voters cast ballots during the early voting period before polls closed on Friday.

The outlet reported that the previous Georgia primary record for early voting was approximately 857,000 ballots cast in 2022.

“About 1 million people turned out for early voting as polls closed Friday, according to the Georgia secretary of state’s office. The previous record for early voting in a Georgia primary was about 857,000 in 2022,” WABE reported.

The report also noted changing turnout patterns between the two major political parties compared with the last primary cycle.

“And Democrats have flipped the script on Republicans this year compared to the early voting period in the 2022 primary,” the outlet added.

The report further noted that Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has become “concerned about the Democratic turnout advantage” as early voting numbers increased.

Republicans backing the SAVE Act have argued that requiring proof of citizenship strengthens election integrity while maintaining access to the ballot for eligible voters.

Democrats, including Slotkin, have continued to argue that the proposal could create additional barriers for some voters, particularly married women who have changed their surnames.

The exchange has become the latest flashpoint in the broader national debate over election security, voter identification requirements, and access to the ballot ahead of future federal elections.

President Trump Orders Relentless Third Night of U.S. Airstrikes Hammering Iran’s Military Strongholds [WATCH]
News

President Trump Orders Relentless Third Night of U.S. Airstrikes Hammering Iran’s Military Strongholds [WATCH]

/

President Donald Trump ordered another round of U.S. military airstrikes against Iran on Monday, marking the third consecutive night of operations targeting the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure, according to U.S. Central Command, as reported by The New York Post.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office shortly after the strikes began, Trump said the military campaign would continue as the United States sought to weaken Iran’s offensive capabilities and secure the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re hitting them very heavy tonight, as you know,” the president said.

“We have tremendous amounts of ammunition. We have numbers that we haven’t had in years, and we’re hitting them very hard, and it’ll continue, and we’ll see what happens. But we’re knocking out all of their offensive capability, and we’re controlling the straits.”

U.S. Central Command announced the operation in a statement posted to X, saying the latest attacks began at 4:45 p.m. ET.

“At 4:45 p.m. ET today, US Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the statement said.

CENTCOM added that the military campaign was intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilians in the region.

“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command stated.

According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces concluded the five-hour operation at 10:15 p.m. ET after striking multiple military objectives throughout Iran.

“During the five-hour mission, U.S. forces successfully struck military targets across Iran, including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said.

“CENTCOM forces employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities.”

The military also emphasized that the more than 50,000 U.S. service members stationed throughout the Middle East “remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”

Iranian state media and unconfirmed reports on social media indicated explosions occurred in several cities along Iran’s Persian Gulf coastline, including Jam, Konarak, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Bandar Kangan. Reports also suggested possible strikes on targets located on the islands of Kish, Qeshm, and Abu Musa.

Earlier Monday, Trump suggested that Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site believed to potentially house uranium stockpiles, could become a future military target.

“We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready,” Trump said during an interview with Hugh Hewitt.

“We’re watching [it] closely. We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear situation. Every time we hear about it, we blow it up. So they don’t like talking about it. But we’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon.”

The president formally notified Congress on Friday that the United States resumed what he described as “limited” and “measured” kinetic strikes against Iran beginning July 7.

During his Oval Office remarks on Monday, Trump also confirmed that the United States had reinstated a naval blockade targeting Iran.

“We’re putting the blockade back, and it’s a blockade not for anybody but Iran,” Trump said.

ICE Officers Fatally Shoot Man Who Tried To Ram Agents During ME Immigration Operation [WATCH]

“In other words, anybody doing business with Iran can’t go through. Everyone else will be able to go through.”

Trump argued that combining military strikes with the naval blockade has proven to be the most effective strategy for increasing pressure on the Iranian regime after Tehran declined to comply with the terms of a preliminary peace agreement reached last month.

The president also claimed that Washington had reached an agreement with Iran before negotiations collapsed.

Trump said the United States had a “deal with [Iran] two days ago” before Tehran backed out, while maintaining that a negotiated settlement to end the conflict remains possible.

The latest operation follows another large-scale military campaign carried out Sunday night.

According to CENTCOM, U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones struck dozens of targets at multiple locations across Iran, including military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats.

Before Monday night’s strikes began, Trump previewed the continued military campaign during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” where he vowed the United States would maintain control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re taking over the strait. They have nothing. They’ve got nothing,” Trump said when asked about Iran’s claims that it had closed the waterway.

“So we’re just going to hit them very hard, and we’re going to, we’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it,” the president later added.

“We’ll become the guardians of the strait. Maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the strait, and we should be reimbursed for that … We guarded it for nothing, and now we’re going to guard it — we’re going to get paid for guarding it.”


Scroll to Top