Author name: RVM News

Karen Bass Torched After Boasting Los Angeles Will Multiply Campaign Cash with Taxpayer Money [WATCH]
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Karen Bass Torched After Boasting Los Angeles Will Multiply Campaign Cash with Taxpayer Money [WATCH]

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing a fierce online backlash after promoting a city program that uses public money to multiply qualifying donations to her reelection campaign.

Her pitch may comply with local rules, but enraged residents are asking why taxpayers must help finance an incumbent mayor’s political machine, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Bass made the appeal on social media while urging supporters to open their wallets. She wrote, “When you donate to our campaign, the city can match your donation 6 to 1! If you donate $5, the city turns it into $35.”

She continued, “Our campaign is powered by YOU! Click the link in our bio to make your matching donation today!”

That boast quickly became political ammunition for critics who saw taxpayers lurking behind every supposed grassroots contribution.

Bass later declared, “Our campaign is powered by YOU,” but the math tells a rather different story. For every qualifying dollar from a supporter, the city can supply another six dollars from public funds.

The mayor also celebrated the remarkable transformation by saying, “The city turns it into $35.”

Of course, City Hall does not operate a money tree, despite the determined efforts of progressive politicians to pretend otherwise.

A contribution of $5 allows the city to add $30, leaving the campaign with $35 in total.

That extra cash comes from taxpayers, including residents who may strongly oppose Bass and have no interest in financing her reelection effort.

The totals climb quickly as donations increase. A $20 contribution can bring another $120 from the city, resulting in $140 for the campaign and giving Bass a sizable public subsidy from one relatively small donation.

If a supporter contributes $25, the city can add $150, producing a total of $175. A $30 donation can trigger $180 in public money, providing the campaign with $210 under the matching arrangement.

The promotion immediately drew ridicule and anger online. One user on X responded with the question many frustrated residents were already thinking: “How is this legal lol?”

Dr. Houman Hemmati, a Los Angeles physician and former congressional candidate, delivered an even sharper response.

He asked, “Why on EARTH are LA City taxpayers, who can’t even afford to clean up their streets or have water in their fire hydrants, forced to match contributions to Bass’ Mayoral reelection campaign 6:1?!?”

That criticism strikes at the political heart of the controversy. Los Angeles residents have endured sprawling homeless encampments, public disorder, filthy streets, strained services, and serious questions about the competence of city leadership.

The city has also faced intense scrutiny over its preparedness and basic infrastructure during destructive fires.

Against that background, Bass advertising taxpayer matching funds for her own campaign was bound to land like a lead balloon.

The uncomfortable answer is that the program is legal. Los Angeles voters approved a public matching funds system decades ago, allowing qualifying donations from city residents to receive a six-to-one match under specific conditions.

Candidates must choose to participate, satisfy eligibility thresholds, and accept campaign spending restrictions.

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission administers the program and controls the limited pool of public money available for eligible campaigns.

Bass has already benefited handsomely from the arrangement.

During her 2022 mayoral campaign, she collected more than $1 million in public matching funds, demonstrating just how lucrative the system can become for a qualifying candidate.

Supporters of such programs often claim they encourage small donors and reduce the influence of wealthy contributors.

Critics counter that the scheme compels taxpayers to bankroll politicians they oppose while providing incumbents with another pathway to public cash.

Legal does not automatically mean wise, responsible, or politically legitimate.

A city struggling to handle basic services should expect outrage when its mayor cheerfully announces that public money can enlarge donations to her own reelection campaign.

Bass may have intended the post as a routine fundraising appeal, but it instead exposed the raw mechanics of the program.

Residents contribute a little, City Hall contributes much more, and the mayor celebrates the result as if taxpayers were merely background scenery.

For Angelenos watching their city stumble from one crisis to another, the message was difficult to miss.

City leaders may struggle to deliver clean streets, reliable infrastructure, and competent government, but apparently the machinery for multiplying campaign donations is working just fine.

Anti-Rich DSA Boss Exposed Living in Lavish Brooklyn Home Bought by Millionaire Parents [WATCH]
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Anti-Rich DSA Boss Exposed Living in Lavish Brooklyn Home Bought by Millionaire Parents [WATCH]

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Gustavo Gordillo, the 38-year-old co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, is facing renewed scrutiny over his living arrangements after records showed that his parents purchased a Brooklyn property where he and his brother now reside, as reported by the New York Post.

The two-story Bedford-Stuyvesant row home, which measures nearly 2,000 square feet, was purchased in 2019 for just under $1 million through Chucuito LLC, according to property records.

The property has since undergone extensive renovations, including work on the front facade, landscaping, interior improvements, and the addition of two decks.

Gordillo’s father confirmed the arrangement to the New York Post.

“My son and my other son both live there,” Gordillo’s father said when reached by phone. “The LLC purchased the home, and then we did the renovations.”

The property has been at the center of attention because of Gordillo’s political advocacy.

As a leader within the DSA, Gordillo has supported positions challenging traditional private property ownership and has advocated for redistribution of land “from landowners to the landless.”

He also criticized landlords during a Fox News interview in July, saying, “We don’t think that anybody should have the constitutional right to double-digit returns on their investment.”

The contrast between those political positions and his family’s real-estate holdings has drawn criticism from New York renters.

Faith Smith, a 36-year-old local renter, called Gordillo a hypocrite after learning about the property arrangement.

“I wish my family could afford to buy me a million-dollar home,” Smith said.

“It’s a rich kid,’’ she added. “That’s basically people who don’t have to deal with the struggles we have to deal with.”

The Brooklyn property has changed substantially since the Gordillo family acquired it.

Plans filed with the borough in 2023 show renovations to the facade and interior, landscaping work, and additions including rooftop and front-door decks. Work on the second floor was still underway Tuesday, according to the report.

The property arrangement was not the family’s first time providing housing for Gordillo in New York.

His father told the Post that the same LLC rented a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on the Lower East Side for Gordillo from 2016 through 2019 at a monthly cost of $2,600.

Gordillo worked at an art gallery during those years before later becoming an electrician, according to City and State.

It remains unclear whether Gordillo reimbursed his parents for that rent. His calls were not returned.

Gordillo has described himself as a blue-collar union electrician and used the X handle @UnionGordillo. Records indicate he joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 2019.

Since 2024, however, he has stopped identifying himself specifically as an IBEW Local 3 member and instead has described himself more generally as a union worker.

There are no records indicating that Gordillo completed the seven-year journeyman process. He told the New York Times earlier this year that he was no longer working as an electrician. His current source of income is unclear.

Before moving to New York City, Gordillo studied art at Yale University and graduated in 2010.

Gordillo was born in Peru and grew up in South Florida. His parents later established significant assets in the United States.

Property records show that they own a more than 5,000-square-foot home in Boca Raton with five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

The property is currently listed for $3.1 million. The family also owns another home in Weston, Florida, valued at about $3 million. That property has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

Gordillo’s father, also named Gustavo, built his wealth as the founder of Draftpros Inc., an engineering and consulting company.

The family’s real-estate holdings and financial support for Gordillo have prompted questions because of the DSA leader’s public criticism of wealth, landlords, and private property ownership.

The issue comes as Gordillo continues to hold a leadership role in the New York City DSA and advocate for a broader socialist political agenda.

The details of his family’s property ownership do not establish wrongdoing, but they have provided ammunition for critics who argue that some activists’ personal circumstances can look rather different from the economic system they publicly condemn.

For now, the Brooklyn home remains family-owned, with Gordillo and his brother living there, while questions continue about the political implications of a socialist leader benefiting from substantial family wealth and property ownership.

Fauci’s Right-Hand Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding America Over COVID Cover-Up [WATCH]
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Fauci’s Right-Hand Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding America Over COVID Cover-Up [WATCH]

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David M. Morens, a former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge involving the handling of government records and Freedom of Information Act requests, as reported by Red State.

The Department of Justice announced the plea involving Morens, 78, of Chester, Maryland, who served as a senior adviser in NIAID’s Office of the Director from 2006 through 2022.

According to prosecutors, the case stems from communications concerning coronavirus research grants and an alleged effort to evade federal records requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morens pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit offenses and to defraud the United States.

The charge concerns an alleged scheme involving Morens, two other individuals identified in court documents as Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 2, and communications related to a coronavirus research grant.

The grant, titled Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence, was awarded by NIAID to a company identified in court documents as Company 1.

Company 1 subsequently issued a subaward to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China.

NIH later terminated the grant after allegations emerged concerning the possibility that COVID-19 had emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Following the termination, prosecutors said Morens and another individual agreed to assist Co-Conspirator 1 in seeking to restore the grant and challenge claims that the virus had originated through a laboratory leak.

According to the Justice Department, the individuals anticipated that their communications could become subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Prosecutors said Morens, Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 2 therefore agreed in writing to conduct certain communications through Morens’ personal Gmail account rather than his official government email account.

The case places renewed attention on questions surrounding federal records, coronavirus research and government transparency during the pandemic.

Morens’ guilty plea also comes amid continuing congressional scrutiny of Fauci and the government’s handling of records concerning the origins of COVID-19.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, previously called on Fauci to appear before the committee and address questions about government records.

In September 2025, Paul cited Fauci’s June 2024 testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

During that testimony, Fauci was asked whether he had ever deleted records and responded, “No.”

Fauci was also asked whether he had attempted to obstruct the Freedom of Information Act or the release of public documents and whether he had deleted emails or other records concerning the Wuhan laboratory or the origins of COVID-19. He again responded, “No.”

However, a Feb. 2, 2020, email obtained by the Senate committee showed Fauci directing then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to “please delete this e-mail after you read it.”

The email has become part of the broader congressional examination of how federal officials handled communications during the early stages of the pandemic.

Fauci has also faced scrutiny in connection with congressional investigations and testimony. The material provided states that he invoked the Fifth Amendment during questioning more than 100 times.

Separately, Paul forwarded a committee party-line vote recommending that Fauci be held in contempt of Congress to the Department of Justice.

Several states have also opened criminal investigations involving Fauci, according to the material provided. Those states include Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

The investigations have added another layer to the continuing debate over whether federal officials properly handled records and congressional inquiries during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Justice Department has not publicly determined whether Fauci will face federal prosecution in connection with the matters described above.

The department’s decision regarding any potential prosecution remains separate from Morens’ guilty plea.

Morens’ case is narrower than the broader political and scientific disputes surrounding the origins of COVID-19.

His guilty plea concerns the alleged concealment and handling of federal records and communications related to a coronavirus research grant.

The plea does not by itself establish how COVID-19 originated. The circumstances surrounding the virus’s origins remain the subject of continuing investigations, competing scientific assessments and congressional scrutiny.

The federal case nevertheless places a former senior NIAID official directly under criminal accountability for conduct involving government records.

It also comes as lawmakers continue examining the federal government’s actions during the pandemic and its response to requests for information.

With Morens now having entered a guilty plea, attention is likely to remain focused on what additional information emerges from the case and whether other individuals face further scrutiny over the handling of records related to coronavirus research.

Far-Left Nixon Stuns Vindman in Brutal Florida Senate Primary Upset [WATCH]
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Far-Left Nixon Stuns Vindman in Brutal Florida Senate Primary Upset [WATCH]

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Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, delivering a victory to the party’s progressive wing and setting up a November matchup against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, as reported by The New York Post.

With most of the expected vote reported, Nixon held a 56% to 44% advantage over Vindman in the Aug. 18, 2026, special Democratic primary.

Nixon, 42, has represented parts of her hometown of Jacksonville in the Florida House of Representatives since 2020.

She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and campaigned on a platform that includes “Medicare for all,” abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ending U.S. aid to Israel.

Her victory came despite Vindman’s substantial financial advantage and national name recognition. Vindman raised more than $16 million for his campaign, while Nixon raised approximately $975,000, according to Florida Politics.

Vindman became nationally known during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment proceedings.

At the time, he served as a key witness in the House inquiry involving Trump’s request that then-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate the Biden family’s business dealings in connection with the release of $400 million in U.S. military aid.

Vindman later built his Senate campaign around his opposition to Trump.

In his campaign launch video, he referenced his earlier testimony and said, “The last time you saw me was … swearing an oath to tell the truth about a president who broke his.”

Trump was ultimately acquitted by the Senate following his first impeachment.

He was impeached again in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and was again acquitted by the Senate before returning to the White House for a second term.

After the Florida primary was called for Nixon, Trump responded to Vindman’s defeat on Truth Social.

“SleazeBag Vindman loses tonight to a Radical Left Lunatic. How cool is that???” the president wrote.

Nixon’s campaign received support from several prominent progressive Democrats.

Her endorsements included Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, all members of the House’s progressive wing.

She also received backing from former Missouri Rep. Cori Bush and children’s YouTube personality Ms. Rachel, according to the campaign’s reported endorsements.

Nixon’s victory means she will face Moody in November. The Republican senator, a former Florida attorney general, faced limited opposition in the GOP primary and received nearly 80% of the vote.

The special election will determine who serves the remainder of the six-year Senate term that Marco Rubio won in 2022 before becoming Secretary of State.

The November contest is expected to present Nixon with a considerably different political environment from the Democratic primary.

A University of North Florida poll conducted last month showed Moody leading Nixon by eight percentage points.

Nixon will therefore enter the general election as the underdog, according to the polling cited in the race.

The primary result nevertheless represents a notable setback for Vindman, whose campaign benefited from both national recognition and a substantial fundraising operation.

His military background and role during Trump’s first impeachment had made him one of the better-known candidates in the Democratic field.

Nixon, meanwhile, ran a campaign centered on issues favored by the Democratic Party’s progressive and socialist factions.

Her support for Medicare for all, eliminating ICE, and ending U.S. assistance to Israel placed her firmly on the left side of the Democratic primary.

The result also gives Florida Democrats a nominee whose political profile differs sharply from that of Vindman.

Rather than relying primarily on his national profile from Trump’s impeachment, Nixon will enter the general election as an established state lawmaker with support from progressive organizations and Democratic figures.

Moody will now prepare for a general election campaign against Nixon as Republicans defend the Senate seat for the remainder of Rubio’s term.

For Democrats, Nixon’s primary victory demonstrated the strength of the party’s progressive coalition in a race where the better-funded and more nationally recognized candidate ultimately fell short.

For Republicans, the November contest presents a substantially different test, with Nixon facing a statewide Republican incumbent and polling that currently favors Moody.

President Trump Erupts After Census Analysis Flags Over 24000 Noncitizen Votes in 2020 [WATCH]
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President Trump Erupts After Census Analysis Flags Over 24000 Noncitizen Votes in 2020 [WATCH]

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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that an ongoing review of 2020 election records by the U.S. Census Bureau has identified more than 24,000 voter records associated with noncitizens among the first 128 million records examined, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Trump made the claim in a Truth Social post on Aug. 18, 2026, while calling for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. He also repeated his longstanding assertion that he won the 2020 presidential election.

“The Census Bureau has begun checking the Voter Records from 2020 against their Citizenship Records. On the first 128,000,000 Voters, the Census Bureau proves that over 24,000 Noncitizens voted illegally! The Census Bureau is going to analyze the next 32,000,000 Voters, and this number will explode. I WON THE ELECTION! We must pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

According to the figures cited in the report, approximately 160 million ballots were cast in the 2020 general election.

Of the records Trump referenced, 128 million have reportedly been linked to U.S. citizens, while more than 24,000 were identified as being associated with noncitizens.

Another 32 million records remain under review, according to the figures cited by Trump.

The distinction between identifying a voter record associated with a noncitizen and establishing that a noncitizen illegally cast a ballot is significant.

The material provided does not independently establish that every one of the more than 24,000 records represents an illegal vote, nor does it establish whether any such votes affected the outcome of the 2020 election.

The review described by Trump is focused on matching voter information with federal citizenship-related records.

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The information cited in the report says individuals were classified as noncitizens based on the absence of available citizenship documentation combined with federal records indicating a noncitizen status.

Those records reportedly include green-card records, visa records, foreign-student records, immigration-enforcement records, DACA approvals, agency noncitizen codes, and taxpayer identification numbers issued to noncitizens.

The report also listed the countries of birth associated with many of the records identified in the preliminary review.

Mexico accounted for approximately 3,800 records, followed by Canada with 950, the Philippines with 900, Jamaica with 900, Germany with 700, and the United Kingdom with 650.

Cuba accounted for approximately 450 records, while Vietnam, Haiti and South Korea each accounted for about 400, 400 and 350 records, respectively.

Birth-country information was reportedly unavailable for approximately 7,000 of the identified noncitizen records.

The figures have emerged as election eligibility and citizenship requirements remain major political issues in Washington.

Trump has called for passage of the SAVE America Act, which would establish additional documentary requirements related to citizenship and voter registration.

The existing Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, legislation has also generated substantial debate over election administration and voting access.

Federal lobbying disclosures show that organizations on both sides of the issue are actively engaged in congressional debates surrounding the legislation and its successor proposals.

The Census Bureau’s role in the reported review is particularly significant because the agency traditionally conducts the decennial census and produces demographic data rather than administering elections.

Publicly available Census Bureau materials reviewed independently do not, by themselves, verify Trump’s characterization that the preliminary records constitute more than 24,000 confirmed illegal votes.

The distinction matters because voter-record matching can identify records requiring additional investigation without necessarily establishing that a person actually cast an unlawful ballot.

Additional verification would be required to determine the circumstances surrounding individual records.

Trump nevertheless used the preliminary figure to renew his call for changes to election law and to repeat his assertion concerning the 2020 election.

The next phase of the review is expected to examine the remaining 32 million records cited in Trump’s statement.

The results of that work could provide additional information about the number of voter records that require further examination.

For now, the more than 24,000 figure remains a claim attributed to Trump’s description of the ongoing analysis rather than an independently established count of illegal votes.

Any final determination would depend on the completion of the review and verification of the individual records involved.

Boston Mayor Wu Vows to Thwart Owners Leasing Private Parking to ICE [WATCH]
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Boston Mayor Wu Vows to Thwart Owners Leasing Private Parking to ICE [WATCH]

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city will take steps to identify property owners who may lease parking spaces to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the federal agency expands immigration enforcement operations, as reported by The Post Millennial.

Wu made the comments after reports indicated that ICE has been seeking to lease 250 parking spaces in Boston, a city that has declared itself a sanctuary city and has maintained policies limiting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration officials.

During an interview with WCVB Channel 5’s “On the Record,” Wu, a Democrat, said Boston would submit Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain information about responses to ICE’s search for parking in the area.

Wu said the city would then use that information to identify property owners who could potentially provide parking to the federal agency.

“We, as a city, will be filing another FOIA request for any responses that have come in for the Boston area so that we know what information they may be sifting through,” said Mayor Wu.

Wu said the city opposes an expansion of federal immigration enforcement activity in Boston and indicated that officials would contact property owners.

“We strongly oppose any expansion of their efforts here,” she continued, asserting that her office would “be reaching out to property owners to try to make sure that they’re not adding to a surge of unlawful and dangerous activity.”

The Department of Homeland Security responded sharply to Wu’s comments, arguing that the federal government has the authority to use private property for lawful operations and accusing the city of attempting to pressure property owners.

“She knows she has NO authority to block us from using private property,” DHS wrote on X. “So she’s hunting down private property owners and threatening them for working with ICE — because she’s rather intimidate law-abiding Bostonians than get criminal illegal aliens OFF the street.”

The dispute reflects a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Boston over immigration enforcement.

Boston’s sanctuary-city policies limit the circumstances under which local law enforcement agencies can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The city’s approach has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, particularly over cases involving individuals who were released from local custody despite federal immigration interests.

President Donald Trump began his second term with an emphasis on expanding immigration enforcement and carrying out mass deportations.

ICE operations have subsequently become a major point of conflict between the federal government and jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The administration has repeatedly criticized Boston over its handling of individuals described by federal officials as criminal illegal aliens.

Federal officials have argued that releasing such individuals can create additional public-safety risks when they subsequently face allegations of new criminal conduct.

Wu’s comments add another layer to the dispute by focusing on private property owners rather than local government cooperation alone.

Her proposed FOIA requests would seek information about property owners who have responded to ICE’s parking-space search, after which city officials could contact those owners.

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The federal government, meanwhile, maintains that local officials do not have authority to prevent ICE from conducting lawful federal operations on private property.

The disagreement also raises questions about how far a sanctuary city’s policies can extend when federal agencies seek to conduct operations within municipal boundaries.

While Boston can establish rules governing its own employees and resources, DHS maintains that federal immigration authorities remain entitled to carry out federal responsibilities.

The parking dispute comes as immigration enforcement remains one of the most contentious issues between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities.

Boston’s sanctuary policies have made the city a frequent target of criticism from federal officials who argue that local restrictions interfere with federal enforcement.

Wu’s administration has made clear that it intends to oppose what it views as an expansion of ICE activity in Boston. DHS has made an equally clear argument that the city cannot prevent federal authorities from using private property for lawful purposes.

The disagreement over 250 potential parking spaces is therefore part of a larger confrontation over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and the limits of local sanctuary policies.

Kamala Harris and James Talarico Progressive Summit Collapses Into Spectacular Empty Room Fiasco [WATCH]
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Kamala Harris and James Talarico Progressive Summit Collapses Into Spectacular Empty Room Fiasco [WATCH]

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A progressive political gathering in Austin, Texas, featuring several prominent Democratic figures drew attention Tuesday after social media footage appeared to show sparse attendance inside the venue, as reported by Townhall.

The DemocracySummit 2026 was scheduled as a youth-focused political event described by organizers as “a powerful day of organizing, learning, and civic renewal.”

The event featured a lineup that included former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sens. Mark Kelly and Chris Murphy, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin.

Despite the high-profile guest list, images and videos circulated online showing portions of the venue with substantial amounts of empty seating.

The event took place in Austin, a major Texas city and a Democratic stronghold in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide elections for years.

Talarico, a Democrat seeking a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, has emerged as one of the party’s more prominent figures in the state.

Footage posted to social media by Turning Point executive Tyler Bowyer showed an apparently lightly attended room during remarks by Kelly.

The Arizona senator has been discussed as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Additional footage published by Current Revolt showed comedian Alex Stein appearing to attract a comparatively large audience following a debate with progressive streamer Destiney.

The clips circulated online as conservative commentators questioned whether the event’s turnout matched the prominence of its advertised speakers.

The attendance became a point of discussion because the summit was promoted as an opportunity for Democrats and progressive activists to organize and engage younger Americans.

Harris, who served as vice president under former President Joe Biden, was among the most prominent names attached to the gathering.

Kelly and Murphy are both sitting Democratic senators, while Martin leads the Democratic National Committee. Talarico has become increasingly visible nationally while campaigning for the Senate in Texas.

The event’s organizers have sought to build political participation and civic engagement among younger Americans.

The DemocracySummit 2026 was billed around organizing, education, and political involvement rather than as a conventional campaign rally.

However, the footage that emerged from the event raised questions about the level of in-person enthusiasm among attendees.

The turnout also carries political significance because Democrats are seeking to expand their presence in Texas.

Republicans have controlled statewide elected offices in Texas for decades, and the state remains an important part of the GOP’s electoral map.

Talarico’s campaign is particularly significant because of his effort to win statewide office in a traditionally Republican state.

His political profile has grown rapidly, making him one of the Democrats’ more closely watched candidates in Texas.

The summit’s sparse-looking crowd does not by itself establish broader trends among young Democratic voters or determine the outcome of future elections.

Attendance at a single political event can be influenced by numerous factors, including scheduling, venue capacity, competing events and the structure of the gathering.

Still, the images provided an unusual contrast between the national profile of the speakers and the apparent size of the audience visible in portions of the venue.

The event comes as both parties prepare for an increasingly active 2026 election cycle and begin positioning potential candidates for the 2028 presidential race.

Kelly’s presence was particularly notable given speculation surrounding his future political ambitions, while Harris remains one of the Democratic Party’s best-known national figures.

For Texas Democrats, the challenge extends beyond attracting attention from national political figures.

Candidates seeking statewide office must build support across a state where Republicans continue to hold a significant electoral advantage.

The DemocracySummit 2026 was intended to promote organizing and political participation.

The footage circulating afterward instead placed the event’s attendance under the spotlight, giving political observers another data point to consider as Democrats attempt to build their coalition in Texas and nationally.

Scandal Battered GOP Congressman Cory Mills Crushed in Florida Primary [WATCH]
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Scandal Battered GOP Congressman Cory Mills Crushed in Florida Primary [WATCH]

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Former television news anchor Ryan Elijah defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Cory Mills in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District on Aug. 18, ending Mills’ bid for another term in the House, as reported by Trending Politics News.

Decision Desk HQ projected Elijah as the winner at approximately 7:53 p.m. Eastern Time, less than an hour after polls closed. Multiple news organizations subsequently reported Elijah’s victory.

At the time of the race call, with roughly 64% of the expected vote counted, Elijah had 18,726 votes, or 43.2%. Mills had 16,029 votes, or 37.0%.

Businesswoman Sarah Ulrich had 4,942 votes, or 11.4%, while Michael Don Johnson, a retired Department of Defense program manager and previous primary challenger, had 3,638 votes, or 8.4%.

The district includes all of Seminole County and portions of southern Volusia County. Mills was first elected to Congress in 2022 and won reelection in 2024 with 56.5% of the vote in the general election.

Mills had received an endorsement from President Donald Trump in February.

Trump described Mills at the time as a successful entrepreneur, U.S. Army combat veteran, and Bronze Star recipient with an understanding of the requirements involved in defending the country and supporting the military.

Mills prominently featured the endorsement in his campaign materials. Trump later did not include Mills in some public lists of endorsed candidates released before the primary. Recent reporting confirmed that Elijah ultimately defeated the Trump-backed incumbent.

Mills’ campaign also faced an ongoing investigation by the House Committee on Ethics. The committee established an investigative subcommittee in November 2025 to examine allegations involving Mills.

In a May 11, 2026 statement, the committee said the investigation had authorized more than 20 subpoenas, collected thousands of documents, and contacted dozens of witnesses.

The panel described the allegations as serious and complex and said it would conduct a full and thorough investigation.

The investigation includes allegations concerning Mills’ business interests and federal defense contracts, financial disclosures and campaign-finance matters.

The committee has also examined allegations involving personal relationships and a February 2025 incident in Washington, D.C., in which police responded to a report involving Mills and a woman with whom he had been in a relationship.

The Metropolitan Police Department did not charge Mills following that incident.

The House Ethics Committee emphasized in its May statement that the decision not to bring charges was not a finding of innocence or “no wrongdoing.”

The committee is also reviewing circumstances surrounding an October 2025 court-issued injunction involving Mills and another woman.

The order restricted certain forms of contact and prohibited Mills from going within 500 feet of the woman’s residence or workplace. Mills has denied wrongdoing involving the various allegations.

Elijah entered the congressional race in the spring after working as a co-anchor and host at WOFL Fox 35 in the Orlando area.

He received endorsements from Florida Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, state Sen. Tom Wright, and other political figures.

Financial reports also gave Elijah an advantage during key periods of the primary campaign.

His campaign raised more money than Mills during several reporting periods and spent more during the final months before voters went to the polls.

Mills’ defeat ends his current tenure in Congress, which began in January 2023. He won the seat after defeating Democrat Stephanie Murphy in 2022.

Before entering Congress, Mills founded companies involved in security and munitions and participated in efforts connected to evacuations from Afghanistan.

Elijah will now represent the Republican Party in the November general election for the district.

The result adds Mills to the list of congressional incumbents who have lost their party primaries during the 2026 election cycle.

The outcome also places Elijah at the center of a closely watched Florida House race as Republicans prepare for the November general election.

Michigan Sheriff Drops Bombshell on Alleged Noncitizen Voter Registration Scheme [WATCH]
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Michigan Sheriff Drops Bombshell on Alleged Noncitizen Voter Registration Scheme [WATCH]

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Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf says a confidential source inside the Michigan Secretary of State’s office has provided information alleging that non-citizens can be automatically added to the state’s voter rolls when they update their addresses, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Leaf discussed the allegations on Aug. 18, 2026, saying the information came from a whistleblower who works for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office.

The claims center on the state’s customer and automotive records system and its connection to voter registration procedures.

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According to Leaf’s account, the whistleblower said non-citizens are automatically registered to vote when they change their address through the state system.

The system allegedly sends a message congratulating the individual and informing that person that they have been registered to vote.

The allegations have not been independently established in the material provided, and they concern the operation of Michigan’s voter-registration system rather than proof that any particular non-citizen actually cast a ballot.

Leaf said the whistleblower brought evidence to a supervisor. According to the sheriff, the supervisor responded that county clerks would identify and remove people who were ineligible to vote.

Leaf disputes that explanation. He said county clerks receive access to the Qualified Voter File, or QVF, only after the Secretary of State’s office has already registered an individual.

He further claimed that the QVF does not provide a citizenship-status flag that would allow clerks to easily identify non-citizens.

The sheriff also alleged that once someone is placed on the voter rolls, that individual can request a mail-in ballot or vote in person using an identification card. According to Leaf, polling locations do not independently verify citizenship status.

The allegations have prompted Leaf to refer the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice. He said his office is seeking an investigation into possible violations of federal law, including 18 U.S.C. § 611, which addresses voting by certain non-citizens.

Leaf also said the issue could extend beyond elections because Michigan’s voter-registration records are used in determining jury pools. He is asking the Michigan Legislature to examine the alleged registration process and take action.

The sheriff encouraged anyone with additional evidence concerning the allegations to contact his office or their local sheriff. He closed his appeal by saying:

“You know this is wrong, it’s time to act.”

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is also a central figure in the dispute.

The allegations concern systems administered by the Secretary of State’s office, but the material provided does not establish that Benson personally directed the alleged registration activity or that she was aware of the whistleblower’s claims.

Leaf has previously been involved in Michigan election-related investigations and disputes. His latest allegations add another issue to the continuing debate over voter-list maintenance, citizenship verification and election administration in the state.

The controversy also comes as national lawmakers continue debating whether voters should be required to provide proof of citizenship when registering or voting.

Supporters of such requirements argue that election officials should have clear procedures for confirming voter eligibility. Opponents have raised concerns about administrative burdens and access to the ballot.

For now, the allegations described by Leaf remain allegations awaiting investigation.

His referral to the Justice Department could provide an opportunity for federal authorities to examine the claims, review the relevant state systems, and determine whether any laws were violated.

The matter also puts renewed attention on a basic election-administration question: how Michigan identifies eligible voters and ensures that people who do not meet the legal requirements are not placed on the rolls or used in jury selection.

Those questions are likely to remain in the spotlight as state officials, lawmakers, and federal investigators consider the claims raised by the Barry County sheriff.

Treasury Yields Reach Generational Highs as National Debt Races Toward 40 Trillion [WATCH]
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Treasury Yields Reach Generational Highs as National Debt Races Toward 40 Trillion [WATCH]

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U.S. Treasury yields have climbed to multi-decade highs as investors weigh the nation’s rapidly expanding debt, persistent inflation concerns, and large federal budget deficits, as reported by Fox Business.

The U.S. national debt is approaching $40 trillion, increasing pressure on financial markets as the federal government continues borrowing to cover the gap between spending and revenue.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency, projects the government will run a budget deficit of roughly $2.1 trillion during the current fiscal year.

Recent Treasury auctions highlighted the changing environment for government borrowing. A sale of 10-year Treasury notes last week cleared at a high yield of 4.683%, the highest level reached in 19 years.

A separate auction of 30-year Treasury bonds produced a yield of 5.216%, marking a 25-year high.

Despite those elevated yields, investor demand for Treasurys has remained relatively steady.

Markets have been watching for signs that investors might demand substantially higher compensation to hold U.S. government debt because of concerns about federal spending, inflation and the nation’s long-term fiscal position.

Analysts said recent auctions did not show evidence of an abrupt deterioration in demand from either domestic or foreign buyers.

There also has not been a clear indication that so-called bond vigilantes are aggressively selling Treasurys.

The term generally refers to investors who respond to concerns about fiscal policy or inflation by selling government bonds and demanding higher yields.

One reason U.S. debt continues to attract buyers is that Treasury yields remain comparatively attractive against government debt issued by other developed nations, including Japan.

Jim Barnes, director of fixed income at Bryn Mawr Trust in Pennsylvania, said in a Reuters report that the “appetite for Treasurys is still there and it’s just a matter of – at what yield,” adding that the “10-year at close to 5% and the 30-year at multi-decade highs will attract more buyers for risk-free Treasurys.”

Treasuries are generally viewed as “risk-free” because investors consider the possibility of a formal U.S. government default to be extremely low.

The federal government has taxing authority and controls the nation’s money supply through the Federal Reserve. That does not eliminate other investment risks, however, including the effects of changing inflation and interest rates.

Higher Treasury yields can also affect Americans outside the bond market.

The 10-year Treasury yield is an important benchmark for mortgage rates, which generally move in the same direction.

Higher mortgage rates can increase monthly payments for prospective homebuyers and may discourage homeowners with lower-rate existing mortgages from selling. Higher borrowing costs can also weigh on construction activity.

Other consumer loans, including auto loans and fixed-rate borrowing, can become more expensive as market rates rise, although the effect does not always occur immediately or move in lockstep.

Credit card rates are more closely tied to banks’ prime rates, which generally follow Federal Reserve policy.

The government’s own borrowing costs are also affected. When Treasury yields rise, the federal government generally pays more to service its outstanding debt, potentially adding to future deficits and creating another challenge for a country already carrying an enormous balance.

The Congressional Budget Office projected earlier this year that net interest costs on the federal debt will exceed $1 trillion in fiscal year 2026.

Those costs are expected to equal about 3.3% of gross domestic product and nearly 14% of total federal spending this year.

The pressure is projected to increase over the coming decade. According to the CBO’s 10-year budget and economic outlook, annual federal interest costs could reach $2.1 trillion by fiscal year 2036.

At that point, interest payments would equal approximately 4.6% of GDP and account for about 19% of federal spending.

For investors, the recent Treasury auctions underscore a straightforward reality: Washington’s borrowing needs remain enormous, but the market continues to demand a price for financing them.

With deficits measured in the trillions and interest costs moving higher, the government’s debt burden is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.


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