Author name: RVM News

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CNN Corners Michigan Democrat on His Defund the Police Flip Flop [WATCH]

It is never a good sign for a Democrat candidate when even CNN decides to call them out. That is precisely what happened this week to Abdul El Sayed, the far-left favorite running in Michigan’s Democrat Senate primary.

The man who once proudly waved the Defund the Police banner now wants voters to believe he never said it, and CNN came armed with proof to the contrary, as reported by Red State.

El Sayed’s campaign has been trying to polish his radical image as the race heats up. But when CNN’s Manu Raju rolled the tape during a Sunday interview, things got uncomfortable fast.

Raju asked why El Sayed had repeatedly denied ever calling for police defunding when there were multiple videos and tweets from 2020 showing otherwise.

Flustered, El Sayed launched into an incoherent response about libraries, Iraq, and excess military hardware.

“You fixate on the word ‘defund,’ but what I’m talking about is war material that we made too much of during the war in Iraq,” he said.

“We had to sell it to local police departments.” It was a performance that looked more like verbal gymnastics than a straightforward answer.

The Democrat hopeful then tried to spin it as a semantic misunderstanding. He claimed that defunding did not actually mean taking money away from law enforcement.

It supposedly meant reallocating funds to things like social work or after-school programs.

Unfortunately for him, Americans heard the Defund the Police crowd loud and clear in 2020 as they demanded massive cuts to police budgets across major cities.

The exchange highlighted two big problems for El Sayed’s campaign. First, his record shows that he did support defunding law enforcement when it was trendy on the far left.

Second, he is now trying to run from that record, knowing that Michigan voters want stronger police support, not weaker. The phony rebranding is not fooling anyone.

CNN, usually a safe haven for Democrats, did not let him off easy.

Raju pressed again, pointing out that in past interviews, El Sayed had explicitly said police budgets should be reduced to fund community resources.

That is the very definition of defunding, no matter how he tries to dress it up.

This embarrassment comes on top of another credibility issue. El Sayed was recently caught calling himself a “physician,” despite not holding a valid medical license in Michigan or New York.

Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan grilled him over the misleading title, pointing out that without a license, one is not legally considered a physician. His dismissive response only made him look more arrogant and untrustworthy.

The pattern is clear. Whenever cornered about his record or résumé, El Sayed dodges and plays word games.

He acts as though voters are too ignorant to understand the plain meaning of his past statements.

But the “Defund the Police” slogan is not one that people easily forget. They saw cities like Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Oakland cut funding, fire officers, and suffer surging crime as a result.

Democrats know the slogan is political poison now. They are desperate to rewrite history and pretend it was all just about “reform.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made it brutally clear years ago, saying:

“Defunding police means defunding police.”

Those words were not taken out of context. They were a demand from the left to strip police of budgets and power. El Sayed was part of that movement until it became inconvenient.

Michigan voters remember what happened when politicians chose ideology over safety. The spike in violent crime after police budget cuts in blue cities was not a coincidence.

Families want safer neighborhoods, not lectures on “reimagining public safety.” The backlash to the Defund movement is one reason Republicans remain competitive in Michigan despite the state’s blue tilt.

El Sayed’s effort to hide his true position only proves how out of touch his ideology really is. Instead of acknowledging the obvious failure of the Defund agenda, he lashes out when confronted with his own words.

Watching him squirm as even CNN demands answers says everything about how far he has fallen from the spotlight he once craved.

Democrats can repackage their message however they want, but voters have long memories. They saw who cheered during the summer of 2020 while police officers were assaulted and precincts burned.

They know who demanded budget cuts in the name of “justice.” Abdul El Sayed cannot erase his fingerprints from that movement, no matter how many interviews he gives or tweets he deletes.

If El Sayed keeps unraveling under friendly fire from establishment media, Republicans could have an even stronger path to victory in Michigan’s Senate race.

The only thing more damaging than bad policy is a candidate who cannot tell the truth about it.

News

CNBC’s ‘Worst States’ List Accidentally Becomes a Love Letter to Red America

It is always amusing when liberal media giants accidentally praise the very people they intend to insult.

This week, CNBC stepped right into that trap with their latest “10 Worst States to Live In for 2026” list.

The outlet’s editors clearly hoped to shame conservative states for refusing to bend to the left’s woke demands.

Instead, they revealed just how thriving, confident, and unapologetically free red America really is.

The so-called worst states on CNBC’s list were almost exclusively Republican strongholds. Each one regularly ranks among the best places to do business, has solid economic growth, and attracts new residents fleeing high-tax blue states.

The reason is simple. Red states value family, freedom, and faith, all the things the liberal media cannot stand.

The network’s “key points” read like a college activism pamphlet rather than a serious business ranking. They evaluated states on environmentalism, so-called inclusiveness, free healthcare access, and union strength.

In other words, CNBC’s version of “quality of life” is code for leftist social priorities that have nothing to do with how real people live.

Take Oklahoma. CNBC attacked the Sooner State for protecting unborn life and for not mandating higher minimum wages.

They complained that state law prevents local governments from creating higher rates. In the eyes of liberal media, letting taxpayers keep more of what they earn and defending pro-life values somehow makes a state unbearable.

Next came Alabama, another target of the network’s moral scolding. CNBC cited the lack of “paid sick leave” mandates and public accommodation laws for special interest groups.

What they call discrimination, most Alabamians would describe as personal responsibility and respect for small businesses.

Georgia, the home state of the author from PJ Media, earned a solid F from CNBC. That failing grade is a badge of honor.

“Georgia still remains a state where there is no place for hate,” Governor Brian Kemp said earlier this year. He signed a bill protecting religious freedom, which the left immediately smeared as “discrimination.”

CNBC accused the Peach State of offering “minimal worker protections” and of being “one of the least inclusive states.” Translation: Georgia refuses to go woke.

Tennessee took top honors, or rather bottom honors in CNBC’s view, for having the supposed audacity to promote family values during Pride Month.

The report sneered at Governor Bill Lee for signing a resolution designating June as “Nuclear Family Month.”

That statement celebrated “one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children.”

The resolution described this as God’s design and the foundation of society. That was apparently too unbearable for CNBC’s editors.

Tennessee also prohibits local governments from creating their own anti-discrimination ordinances and enforces biological truth in public restrooms.

For the liberal crowd at CNBC, that makes the Volunteer State a horror show. For most Americans, it represents moral sanity.

The irony is that CNBC’s “worst states” are actually the same ones where people from around the world come to experience genuine community and hospitality. Visitors from Europe who traveled to the South for the World Cup last year found good food, kindness, and safety.

Those travelers did not see the hateful dystopias the media insists exist. Instead, they found people proud of their heritage and comfortable in their own skin.

While CNBC clutches its pearls and faints over red states, those states keep booming. Their economies are stronger than most of the blue states the network adores.

Their schools are improving, businesses are growing, and families are putting down roots. These are the places where parents can raise children without rainbow flags hanging from every government building.

The left’s obsession with forcing every state to conform to its social experiments backfires every time. By ranking conservative-run states as “the worst,” CNBC only proves that freedom, faith, and family success trigger the woke establishment.

The network’s obsession with “inclusiveness” and “reproductive rights” shows how detached these so-called business journalists are from the heart of America.

If CNBC wants to believe that life in New York or California is paradise while people in Tennessee, Georgia, and Oklahoma are miserable, that is their delusion.

But Americans are voting with their feet. Census data shows the population in red states growing fast while blue strongholds lose residents and tax revenue. The marketplace of freedom decides what quality of life really means.

In the end, CNBC’s list was supposed to embarrass conservative states. Instead, it became a glowing advertisement for them.

These Republican-led states are thriving, their people are happy, and they refuse to be shamed into submission by network pundits sitting in Manhattan offices.

When the left attacks conservative America, you can be sure somewhere, freedom is winning.

News

Pete Hegseth Goes to War Against Deep State Leakers With New Task Force [WATCH]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice have established a joint task force aimed at identifying and prosecuting individuals responsible for leaking sensitive government information, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The announcement, made July 13, comes as the Pentagon moves to strengthen its response to unauthorized disclosures involving national security matters.

According to Hegseth, the new initiative will expand the Defense Department’s ability to investigate leaks and coordinate enforcement efforts with the Justice Department.

The Hill reported that the task force will focus on identifying individuals who improperly disclose sensitive information and pursuing criminal prosecution when warranted.

As part of the new policy, Hegseth said the Defense Department’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) will have authority to request and receive information, records, and support from across the Pentagon in connection with investigations involving leaks to the news media.

Under the directive, every Defense Department component and employee will be required to prioritize those requests.

Hegseth said any taskings issued by the Office of General Counsel must receive a “full and complete” response within two days after the request is submitted.

In a video lasting approximately two and a half minutes that was posted on X, Hegseth said unauthorized disclosures pose a direct threat to the nation’s military and security operations.

“Leaked information risks lives. These new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force. The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines,” Hegseth said.

He also warned that individuals entrusted with classified information who violate that responsibility will face legal consequences.

“Access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law.”

The task force represents a formal partnership between the Pentagon and the Justice Department as the administration seeks to increase accountability for unauthorized disclosures involving defense-related information.

According to The Hill, the Office of General Counsel will oversee requests for records and investigative support across the Defense Department, with mandatory cooperation required from Pentagon personnel.

The expedited two-day response requirement is intended to accelerate leak investigations and improve coordination between the department’s legal office and federal law enforcement.

The announcement follows ongoing concerns within the federal government over unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information.

Leak investigations have periodically been launched by multiple administrations, but Hegseth said the Pentagon is implementing additional tools and procedures designed to strengthen enforcement.

The new initiative takes effect immediately, according to Hegseth’s announcement.

The Defense Department’s updated process is intended to ensure that requests made through the Office of General Counsel receive prompt attention while allowing investigators to gather records and information needed to identify the source of unauthorized disclosures.

Hegseth’s announcement was accompanied by a social media post highlighting the creation of the task force and its mission to prosecute individuals who leak sensitive national security information.

The announcement comes as federal authorities continue efforts to investigate unauthorized disclosures involving government operations.

News

Records Show Walz Pardon Board Cited Immigration Concerns Before Convicted Child Abuser Was Deported

Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital show that members of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission recommended a full pardon for Laotian national Tue Lue Vang largely because of concerns that he faced deportation, despite his conviction for repeatedly sexually abusing a child over several years, as reported by Fox News.

The commission voted 4-2 to recommend clemency for Vang, a 42-year-old illegal immigrant who had been convicted of criminal sexual conduct.

According to the documents, commissioners supporting the recommendation repeatedly referenced the immigration consequences Vang faced if he was not granted a pardon.

Walz Grants Pardon to Illegal Migrant Who Sexually Assaulted 10-Year-Old Girl

The recommendation was later approved by the Minnesota Board of Pardons, which consists of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson.

The board granted Vang a full pardon on June 10, effectively clearing his criminal record as he was facing removal proceedings.

Commissioner Zach Lindstrom acknowledged the difficulty of the case while explaining his support for the recommendation.

“Very tough case, but the kids not having a father is not in the best interest of society,” Lindstrom wrote, referring to Vang’s six children.

Commissioner Artika Roller also cited immigration issues in supporting clemency, writing, “The applicant stated the need for clemency related to immigration issues.”

Vang entered the United States through California in 1994 and later received legal status during the Clinton administration. Court records show that between 2002 and 2004, when Vang was between 18 and 20 years old, he repeatedly had sexual intercourse with a girl beginning when she was 10 years old. The abuse occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County.

Fox News Digital reported that documents from the case stated the victim “did not understand what Vang was doing, so she let him.”

As time passed, she confided in friends, who later testified she was “angry and sad” about what had happened. The records also state that Vang once offered the victim $10 to remain silent.

Ramsey County Assistant Attorney Tami McConkey formally opposed the pardon.

While Ramsey County District Court Judge Sara Grewing did not take a position on the request, McConkey argued against granting clemency.

According to her filing, prosecutors had originally offered Vang a dispositional departure because the then-12-year-old victim faced pressure from family members not to cooperate with law enforcement following his arrest.

Vang ultimately received a 12-year prison sentence, but the sentence was stayed in favor of 30 years of supervised probation that included one year of local confinement.

He served approximately eight months at the county correctional workhouse before being released and was discharged from probation early in 2019.

McConkey also cited additional aggravating factors, including that the abuse continued over an extended period, that Vang transported the victim to his residence during one incident, and that no protection was used.

According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Fox News Digital, Vang told investigators after his arrest:

“I made a mistake, but this is a minor thing. It is a cultural thing in Thailand to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12.”

The complaint also states, “Vang stated [the victim] should be arrested also because she was as much at fault.”

McConkey further wrote:

“while Mr. Vang expresses shame and regret about what his children experience when they learn of the offense, he does not share any thoughts or insight about what the victim must have gone through.”

Several commissioners nevertheless cited the victim’s support for clemency as part of their recommendations.

Commissioner Nadine Graves wrote:

“The victim supports this pardon. His [Vang’s] wife stayed and has forgiven. He also has immigration concerns. He has remorse and was discharged from probation.”

Graves also wrote that Vang “retracted his prior statement about this being a result of culture. He admits this was wrong then and will always be wrong.”

Lindstrom likewise noted, “applicant’s wife supports” and “victim supports” a pardon.

Commissioner Perry Moriearty wrote:

“Despite the extraordinary severity of the underlying offense, there is substantial evidence of rehabilitation, remorse, and acceptance of responsibility.”

He also noted that Vang “is facing deportation” and “victim supports.”

In his clemency application, Vang wrote, “I carry deep shame and regret for the harm I caused.”

He explained that he had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in December and was subject to a final removal order.

He also wrote that if deported, he “would be sent to a place entirely unfamiliar to me, with no family, no home, and no future.”

Vang added, “My fear is that, if deported, my children will grow up without a father, like I did,” and “I will do all that I can to be here and to protect them from the outcomes of my deportation.”

Following the pardon, Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized the decision.

“Governor Tim Walz’s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting,” Bis said.

“These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting.”

Despite the pardon, the Trump administration proceeded with Vang’s removal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that he terminated Vang’s legal status, resulting in his deportation to Laos.

Rubio told Fox News Digital, “Americans should never have to live in fear that foreign sex predators — shielded from deportation by their own elected officials — could endanger them or their children.”

“That’s why I terminated his legal status in the United States,” Rubio continued. “Vang has now been removed from our country and will never pose a threat to any American ever again.”

News

Democrat House Hopeful’s Campaign Rocked by Sex Offender Brother-in-Law Scandal

Democratic congressional candidate Aaron Gies is facing criticism after acknowledging that his brother-in-law, Christopher Nathan White, attended and helped film a campaign event despite being listed as a registered Level 2 sex offender in New York, as reported by The New York Post.

Gies, a theology professor at St. Bonaventure University, is seeking to unseat two-term Republican Rep.

Nick Langworthy in New York’s 23rd Congressional District. The controversy centers on a Dec. 26, 2025, “Polar Plunge” campaign event where participants wearing bathing suits jumped into a cold pond at a private residence.

According to Gies, White attended the event and assisted with filming video footage.

“He was there,” Gies told The Post Sunday when asked about the campaign event.

Gies maintained that White has no formal role in his congressional campaign.

“Chris is not part of my campaign,” he said, while adding that White “did his time” for his crimes.

Gies described the issue as a “distraction” from his campaign platform, which focuses on expanding health care and housing opportunities.

The Democratic candidate also defended himself by stating, “I have not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing and have not covered up criminal wrongdoing on the part of others.”

The issue has drawn attention because Gies recently criticized other political figures over allegations involving sexual misconduct.

Last week, he called on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to end his campaign over claims of sexual assault.

He also criticized Langworthy, alleging the congressman had used his position on the House Oversight Committee to block “accountability for people in the Epstein files.”

Those statements came after White had appeared at Gies’ own campaign event.

White previously worked as a teacher in North Carolina before being convicted of one count of second-degree sexual offense and two counts of sex offense involving two teenage students, ages 15 and 17. He served five years in prison before relocating to New York.

Following his release, White moved to Olean, where he now works at a veterinary clinic operated by Gies’ wife and White’s sister.

He is listed as a Level 2 Sex Offender in the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Sex Offender Registry.

Retired Marine Chris Hahn, who attended the Polar Plunge fundraiser with his 15-year-old daughter, said he was surprised after learning who had filmed video during the event.

“I was shocked to see someone like that would be on the campaign trail — brother-in-law or not,” Hahn said.

“Wow. Do people who want to vote for Geis know this?” Hahn told The Post. “You don’t have a leg to stand on. You’re not setting a good example.”

Langworthy also criticized his opponent’s decision to allow White to attend the campaign event.

“To bring a convicted sex offender and someone guilty of 2nd degree rape of a minor to campaign events is deeply, deeply disturbing and shows an alarming lack of judgment for any adult, let alone someone seeking public office,” Langworthy told The Post.

“As members of Congress, we have an enormous responsibility to put in place laws that protect victims and children, not put them at risk.”

Gies is challenging Langworthy in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, which covers a large portion of western New York outside the Buffalo metropolitan area.

According to the latest enrollment figures from the New York State Board of Elections, the district has 209,390 active registered Republicans, 144,342 active registered Democrats, and 132,176 voters who are not affiliated with either major party.

News

Israeli Ambassador Obliterates Rep Ro Khanna Over False Detention Tale [WATCH]

Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna managed to find himself in another embarrassing tangle after spinning a story about being “detained” in the West Bank, as reported by Red State.

The problem for Khanna is that Israel, including its own Defense Force and now its top diplomat in Washington, says that is not what happened at all.

The Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Leiter, has now publicly dismantled Khanna’s account, exposing what appears to be an attempt at political theater dressed up as a victim narrative.

According to Khanna’s version, he and his group were “detained” by the Israeli military while traveling near a Palestinian area. But when the Israeli Defense Force responded to his claims, they made it clear they were not responsible for any detention.

In fact, they said they arrived to help resolve a situation in a restricted zone. Israeli police added that the location in question was a closed military zone, meaning civilians had no business being there to begin with.

Leiter did not hold back after hearing Khanna’s statements circulate through sympathetic media.

He revealed that Israel reached out to Khanna’s office upon learning of his trip, offering briefings, a chance to meet survivors of the October 7 terror attack, and opportunities to understand the nation’s ongoing security challenges.

Khanna, apparently uninterested in that side of the story, “ignored that” and instead toured around the region with Palestinian activists.

“Maybe this would not have happened if he had coordinated properly,” Leiter stated.

According to the ambassador, Khanna’s office did not coordinate anything meaningful with the Israeli government.

All they did was ask a question about visas, which Leiter described as being far from genuine coordination.

Leiter’s criticism quickly took a sharper edge as he pointed out the suspicious timing of Khanna’s “detention” story.

The incident reportedly occurred on a Wednesday, but Khanna did not go public with it until Saturday.

“Maybe this had more something to do with his support of Graham Platner beforehand, and the difficulties he had with that,” Leiter speculated.

“Trying to shift the focus to something else, perhaps? I’m asking a question.” The point was clear, and it hit home.

Adding even more mockery to the mess, Leiter implied that Khanna was using this media moment as a way to test the waters for a possible presidential campaign.

“You know, to declare a presidential run,” Leiter joked, drawing laughter even from CBS host Margaret Brennan.

That idea has been floating around elite Democrat circles recently, with Khanna seemingly hinting at a 2028 run. It looks like Israel is not taking that “threat” particularly seriously.

Khanna had also claimed that “it wasn’t a good idea to detain long-shot presidential candidates” and warned Israel that this was “not how you’re going to build goodwill with the next American president, whoever that is.”

If he was trying to sound presidential, it did not work. Leiter did not flinch and seemed more amused than alarmed.

Instead of letting the story fade quietly into the background, Khanna doubled down.

In response to Leiter’s interview, he posted on social media, insisting that if American officials were “detained illegally by settlers and the military of any other nation, the Ambassador would beg the American people for forgiveness.”

Khanna then called Leiter’s approach “the height of arrogance.” That line only added to the perception that the Congressman is trying much too hard to pick a fight for attention.

The truth is, if what the Israelis are saying is accurate, Khanna and his group wandered into a restricted area without proper coordination, in a nation still on high alert after the horrors of October 7.

For a member of Congress who should know better, that kind of misstep is more reckless than brave. To then play the victim card afterward only makes the situation worse.

Republicans are already pointing out the hypocrisy. Imagine the outrage from Democrats and media pundits if a GOP lawmaker pulled a stunt like this.

But because Khanna belongs to the progressive crowd that loves scolding Israel whenever possible, he gets front-page sympathy coverage from outlets eager to amplify his version of events.

“The height of arrogance” might not describe Israel’s actions here, but it perfectly sums up Khanna’s own behavior.

Praising himself as a “long-shot presidential candidate” while taking shots at an ally fighting to survive in one of the most dangerous parts of the world makes him look less like a leader and more like a headline chaser.

The arrogance is layered thicker than talking points in a CNN green room.

For a man hoping to be seen as a future statesman, Khanna is instead reminding American voters why so many are tired of political posturing and selective outrage.

His version of events has collapsed under scrutiny, and once again, Israel’s own officials had to clean up the mess. The attempt to score political points at Israel’s expense fell completely flat.

Given how poorly this latest play has unfolded, maybe Khanna should spend less time pretending to be an international victim and more time understanding basic rules of diplomacy.

If nothing else, this fiasco serves as a lesson in how not to handle foreign relations, especially when dealing with one of America’s closest allies.

News

Two Teens Arrested After Five Family Members Gunned Down in Illinois [WATCH]

Five members of the same family were killed Sunday in a series of shootings across East St. Louis, Illinois, prompting a multi-agency investigation led by the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement authorities, as reported by Fox 2 Now.

Illinois State Police confirmed that two juvenile suspects, ages 15 and 16, are in custody in connection with the killings.

Authorities initially reported earlier in the day that both suspects were 16 years old, but later clarified their ages in an updated statement.

The two teens were arrested in Frank Holten State Park. Illinois State Police said they are seeking criminal charges through the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to investigators, the shootings occurred at multiple locations throughout East St. Louis.

One person was killed near the intersection of North 39th Street and Summit Avenue, while three additional victims were found dead at the Samuel Gompers Housing Development.

Another shooting occurred at Jones Park, located across the street from the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.

Three people were shot there, with one victim later dying. The two surviving victims were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities identified the five people killed as Quentin L. Thompson, 21; Devin D. May, 24; Shania W. Thompson, 25; Cherie L. May, 49; and Patricia A. May, 74.

Illinois State Police also confirmed that one of the juvenile suspects is related to at least one of the victims.

Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shootings, though officials indicated that the investigation has begun to provide a clearer understanding of what occurred.

Kelly, speaking during a news conference, said the investigation remains active but emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the general public.

“We have Illinois State Police special agents, troopers, and officers from our local partners investigating those questions, and I think that will become apparent over time,” Kelly said.

While describing the violence as unprecedented for the area, Kelly stressed that the attacks should not define the city or overshadow recent progress within the community.

“It will not keep this city down. The progress we have made will not be lost as a result of these terrible acts of violence that have occurred in this community today,” he said.

Kelly also characterized the killings as “terrible” and “evil.”

Residents who live near the crime scenes said the violence came as a shock to a neighborhood they consider close-knit.

“This feels like something that would happen on ‘The First 48’, not right across from you,” Gompers Public Housing resident Keveon Johnson said.

Neighbor Samuel McClain Jr. said the shootings were unlike anything the community typically experiences.

“It’s a peaceful neighborhood, so when everybody got woke up and heard that a female was deceased, that’s a lot because we’re not used to it,” McClain said.

East St. Louis City Councilman Courtney Hoffman also urged residents not to view the incident as a random attack against the broader public.

“This is not a mass shooting where you have to worry about going to the grocery store and someone opening fire,” Hoffman said.

“This is a one-off in a sense, so it’s not something for the whole community to be afraid of.”

Neighbors described the Samuel Gompers Housing Development as a community where residents know one another and regularly look out for each other.

Johnson said the killings have had a profound impact on those who live there.

“We’re brothers and sisters,” Johnson said.

“I don’t like to see my women lose their lives. I don’t like to see anybody lose their lives, especially here. I see connection, brotherhood, and sisterhood. So, to see anything like this, it’s hard for me.”

Authorities have not released additional details regarding the relationship between the suspects and the victims or what investigators believe led to the series of shootings.

The Illinois State Police continues to work alongside local law enforcement agencies as the investigation proceeds.

Officials said the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office will review the case as investigators seek formal charges against the two juvenile suspects. The investigation remains ongoing.

News

Bystanders Rescue 7-Year-Old Girl After Naked Man Tries to Kidnap Her in Portland Park [WATCH]

A shocking scene unfolded in Portland, Oregon, over the weekend as a naked man attempted to abduct a 7-year-old tourist from her mother at a public park while bystanders rushed in to save the child, as reported by the New York Post.

The disturbing episode added yet another chapter to Portland’s ongoing collapse into disorder and lawlessness.

Police said the incident began shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday when calls came in to report a nude man running around Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

One caller claimed the man tried to punch them in the head, but with officers tied up on other calls, no one was immediately available to respond.

Even as people pleaded for help, Portland’s thinly stretched police force, decimated by political defunding and years of anti-police rhetoric, could not arrive in time.

Just twelve minutes later, a second call came in. The situation had escalated into something every parent dreads.

The suspect had grabbed a young girl and was trying to pull her away from her mother. According to witnesses, the frantic struggle became a tug-of-war over the child’s body as her mother and father fought the attacker with the help of brave passersby.

When police finally arrived, the man was found naked and splashing in the Willamette River, apparently trying to get away.

Officers arrested 31-year-old Daniel Vasey, hauling him to the Multnomah County Detention Center, where he was booked on several serious charges.

Those included first and second degree attempted kidnapping, first degree custodial interference, third degree assault, and harassment.

The young girl was fortunate not to have been seriously hurt. Paramedics treated her at the scene for scratches, and she did not require hospitalization.

That small mercy was owed entirely to her parents’ determination and the courage of ordinary citizens who intervened without hesitation while authorities were nowhere to be found.

Investigators said the man grabbed the child by her arm before the girl’s mother seized her other arm to fight him off.

The struggle was so intense that the girl was lifted off the ground between the two adults.

Her father and bystanders quickly stepped in, punching and slapping the suspect until he let go. One witness deployed pepper spray to prevent him from lunging at anyone else.

The family, visiting Portland from out of state, must have imagined they were taking a simple sightseeing trip near the city’s waterfront.

Instead, they witnessed firsthand what too many locals already know.

Portland’s streets have become a dangerous playground for criminals, vagrants, and the mentally unstable, while law enforcement resources remain stretched to the breaking point under progressive leadership.

The fact that officers did not respond to the first emergency call underscores how much the city’s policing capacity has suffered.

Politicians who once sneered at traditional law enforcement are now presiding over a city where a naked man can run wild in a public park for more than ten minutes before help arrives. The promise of “reimagined” public safety has turned into a grim farce.

Even worse, the spectacle unfolded in a place intended for families and tourists. Tom McCall Waterfront Park is often touted as a crown jewel of downtown, but like much of Portland, it has become a magnet for bizarre displays of disorder that city leaders often try to downplay or excuse.

Visitors rarely hear about the constant stream of disturbances, drug use, and violent outbursts that local residents endure.

It took the instincts of bystanders and a father’s rage to stop the attempted kidnapping before it turned tragic. Their quick thinking saved that little girl’s life.

It is not an exaggeration to say that without them, Portland’s weekend could have ended with an unspeakable headline about a missing child instead of an arrest report.

Daniel Vasey’s motives remain unclear, though the details — naked, violent, unprovoked — suggest serious instability.

Too often, such offenders are quickly released or shuffled through the revolving door of what progressive prosecutors call “restorative justice.”

Portlanders have little faith that real accountability will follow.

For many residents and visitors alike, the story will only deepen doubts about the safety of Portland’s parks and public spaces.

It reflects a city in crisis, one where ordinary families have to rely on their own strength and the courage of strangers because city leadership has rendered law enforcement impotent.

While the immediate danger was stopped, the larger problem remains. Portland’s permissive approach to crime and mental illness has created a breeding ground for chaos.

Until the city admits that reality and fully restores order, parents will continue to look over their shoulders, wondering when the next horror might show up in what used to be a family-friendly park on the river.

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Deep Blue NYC: Rent Crisis Hits New Record as Apartments Slip Further Out of Reach [WATCH]

Rental prices across New York City have reached new record highs, with Manhattan and Brooklyn posting their highest median rents on record as housing inventory continues to tighten across the five boroughs, as reported by Pix11.

New data released by the real estate firm Corcoran found that the median monthly rent in Manhattan reached $5,295 in June, the highest level ever recorded for the borough.

Brooklyn also set a new record, with median rents climbing to $4,350 per month. Both figures represent an 8% increase compared to June of last year.

The increases are also spreading beyond Manhattan and Brooklyn into other parts of the city.

According to a separate report from real estate firm MNS, rental prices have continued rising in Queens and the Bronx, with several neighborhoods seeing significant year-over-year increases.

Rego Park experienced some of the sharpest increases.

Average rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12% between May 2025 and May 2026, while studio apartment rents increased by more than 20% during the same period. Two-bedroom apartments provided the only relief, with average rents declining by about 3%.

The higher prices are affecting new residents relocating to New York from less expensive housing markets.

Almo Regazi recently moved from Tampa, Florida, to Rego Park to attend medical school and said the difference in housing costs was immediately noticeable.

“It’s pretty expensive. It’s definitely a premium to live in New York, but it is a very nice city,” Regazi told PIX11 News.

He said his monthly rent increased substantially after relocating.

“It’s probably about a grand more a month. Back in Tampa, it was about $ 1,300; here it’s about $2,300.”

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine said the continued rise in rents comes down to a basic imbalance between supply and demand.

“Rents are going up everywhere for one simple reason: we don’t have enough housing,” Levine said.

“Especially affordable housing. We’re probably short, Derick, by half a million units, so that means we’re seeing bidding wars even on rental apartments.”

Levine said increasing the city’s housing inventory will require additional residential construction as well as continued efforts to convert older commercial buildings into apartments.

His comments came after a construction incident last week at the former Pfizer Building in Midtown Manhattan prompted evacuations and road closures while crews worked to stabilize a leaning structure during an office-to-residential conversion project.

Levine said the incident should be fully investigated, but warned against allowing it to halt similar redevelopment efforts.

“It would be a terrible mistake because of this horrible construction accident, which is serious, which does need to be investigated; we have to look at all the inspections and engineering strategies, etc,” Levine said.

“But if we let this one construction accident stop this very successful conversion strategy to housing, it would be a terrible mistake.”

Supporters of office-to-residential conversions have argued that repurposing vacant commercial buildings could help expand the city’s housing supply at a time when available rental units remain scarce.

Corcoran’s June report underscores that shortage.

The firm found that Manhattan’s vacancy rate continues to decline, with only 1.49% of apartments in the borough currently available for rent.

Such a limited supply has contributed to increased competition among renters, with prospective tenants often facing bidding wars for available units.

The combination of historically low vacancy rates and continued demand has placed additional pressure on renters throughout New York City, extending price increases beyond traditionally expensive neighborhoods into surrounding boroughs.

While Manhattan and Brooklyn continue to command the city’s highest rents, the latest data indicate that rising housing costs are becoming increasingly widespread, affecting neighborhoods throughout Queens and the Bronx as well.

Real estate analysts and city officials continue to point to the lack of available housing as a primary factor behind the city’s record rental prices, with discussions ongoing over expanding housing development and accelerating office-to-residential conversion projects in an effort to increase inventory and ease pressure on renters.

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FBI Floods Fulton County With Hundreds of Agents in Deep Dive on 2020 Election Fraud [WATCH]

More than 200 FBI agents have poured into Fulton County, Georgia, in what the bureau is calling a top-priority probe into alleged fraud tied to the 2020 presidential election, as reported by PJ Media.

The agency’s memo described the deployment as a high-level investigation involving 260 agents who are now combing through troves of evidence, raising eyebrows and questions about what exactly has been uncovered in Georgia’s most controversial county.

According to several reports, this massive federal presence is focused on reexamining ballots, machines, and voter rolls from the 2020 election, which have been locked away in storage since last January.

Pararescue Heroes Leap 700 Miles Out to Save Fisherman’s Life at Sea

The Department of Justice made an earlier attempt to obtain personal contact information for every election worker from that year, only to have that subpoena struck down by a judge.

That setback did not stop the swarm of federal agents from rushing in.

A pair of FBI employees, a married couple, was allegedly fired after refusing to take part in the Fulton County assignment.

That revelation has fueled speculation among conservative observers that even within the bureau, there are concerns about the political overtones surrounding the investigation.

The operation comes as frustration continues to mount among voters who never believed the official narrative that Georgia’s 2020 vote was conducted fairly.

An audit performed earlier this year found a measurable difference between hand-marked and machine-marked ballots.

Georgia’s secretary of state admitted that such discrepancies could translate into thousands of mismatched votes in a statewide contest.

That small but significant error rate was enough to restore doubts among those who have long questioned the voting systems used during the last presidential election.

Fulton County officials themselves seemed taken aback by the extent of the new probe. They called the influx of agents one of the clearest signs yet of how serious this investigation has become.

Agents reportedly have until mid-July to conclude their review and issue findings. Even so, the fast-moving nature of the operation suggests that something beyond routine scrutiny may be at play.

Predictably, the corporate media has already dismissed the operation. Outlets such as the Associated Press continue insisting there was nothing to see in 2020 and that all three counts of Georgia’s presidential votes, including the hand recount, confirmed Joe Biden’s win.

However, the same voices refuse to address inconvenient data like duplicate ballots, irregular vote batches, and tens of thousands of unexplained votes.

Much of this renewed interest stems from earlier complaints filed against local prosecutors, particularly District Attorney Fani Willis.

The same Fani Willis, often described as Soros-backed, tried to launch a racketeering case against President Donald Trump and his allies for simply questioning the 2020 outcome.

That case collapsed, and Willis was later fined for violating her state’s open records law while attempting to keep certain communications secret.

The timing of the FBI’s surge into the county is drawing skepticism from several directions. Conservatives see it as a delayed effort to sanitize or redirect public scrutiny before more facts surface about what truly happened four years ago.

Others suspect this may be an internal house cleaning after media narratives about perfect elections have lost credibility. The truth might lie somewhere deeper within the piles of confiscated ballots and machines now under federal guard.

Evidence details released so far show records of duplicate ballots and large numbers of votes with no physical paper trail. Reports have even highlighted unreported tabulator results that allegedly accounted for over twenty thousand votes of uncertain origin.

Those gaps do not sound like trivial clerical mistakes. They look more like system-wide breakdowns in oversight and accountability.

The addition of sixteen thousand new votes to official reports during the certification period only added more fuel to an already raging fire.

How that chain of events unfolded remains in question, though these are precisely the sorts of inconsistencies that have led to growing public distrust.

After all, a government that claims to protect democracy should never bristle at basic transparency when millions of citizens are demanding answers.

As the agents work in Georgia, Republican leaders across Capitol Hill are watching closely. Many believe the political establishment that once mocked election integrity concerns is now quietly backpedaling.

If even a fraction of the irregularities being examined turn out to be credible, the credibility of past investigations could crumble.

For grassroots conservatives, this operation is the long-awaited test of whether Washington still has any commitment to accountability.

If the bureau does the job that Americans expect, there will be nowhere left for local politicians and their enablers in the media to hide.

If not, it only deepens the suspicion that justice has one set of rules for Democrats and another for everyone else.

Either way, this story is far from over. The American people are watching. And for once, it looks like the FBI might be forced to produce more than press releases.


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