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Armed Trump Golf Course Suspect Had Startling Details on Melania and the Secret Service [WATCH]
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Armed Trump Golf Course Suspect Had Startling Details on Melania and the Secret Service [WATCH]

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An armed man arrested at President Donald Trump’s California golf course earlier this month allegedly possessed hundreds of pages of notes containing information about First Lady Melania Trump’s schedule, U.S. Secret Service personnel and security arrangements, according to reports presented during a Los Angeles County court hearing, as reported by Fox News.

Jeanine John Taele, 38, was arrested Aug. 2 at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, days before President Trump was scheduled to visit the property.

Supreme Court Delivers Trump Major Victory on Ballot Security and Postal Voting [WATCH]

According to The Associated Press, Taele had more than 200 pages of writings, including schedules for the first lady and members of the president’s Secret Service detail.

Prosecutors also said Taele possessed seven notebooks containing 208 pages of drawings and sketches of the golf course, lists of Secret Service schedules, information about individual security personnel and copies of Melania Trump’s schedule.

The writings reportedly also contained detailed lists concerning how to survive “off the grid.”

Los Angeles County Judge John Lonergan Jr. described the allegations as “alarming” during a hearing Wednesday.

“This case itself is alarming in this day and age with the violence that is creeping into our everyday lives, especially with our partisanship in the political environment” ahead of the midterms, Lonergan said, according to the AP.

The judge suspended the criminal proceedings after a pretrial evaluation found Taele was not mentally fit to stand trial. The case was transferred to mental health court, where Taele is scheduled to appear for a hearing on Sept. 9.

Taele will remain in custody until that hearing.

He previously pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges stemming from his arrest outside the golf course.

Authorities said plainclothes federal agents observed Taele walking around the property, taking photographs and videos, and appearing to monitor security preparations ahead of Trump’s scheduled visit.

Deputies who detained him allegedly found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pants pocket, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities then searched his vehicle and recovered a loaded pistol and another magazine containing hollow-point ammunition.

Taele reportedly told authorities that he worked for the State Department and was at the golf course as part of a security detail.

Investigators later searched his home in Downey, California, where they recovered an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk ammunition, radio signal devices and multiple notebooks containing what authorities had previously described as “concerning statements.”

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the case.

Taele is a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. His public defender, A.J. Bayne, urged the public not to draw conclusions about his client’s motives.

“He’s a veteran, he served our country, and I don’t know enough right now, but he has a family that loves him, that has huge support for him,” Bayne told the AP.

Bayne added that “people assume too much” about Taele’s motives.

The Secret Service has said it does not discuss specific protective intelligence matters but stated that it “thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection.”

Trump also addressed the arrest earlier this month during an appearance on “Fox News @ Night.”

“Well, the only thing I get a little solace from is, they say only consequential presidents. And I am definitely consequential,” Trump said.

The White House and the Office of the First Lady were contacted for comment.

Frustrated Fox Liberal Jessica Tarlov Is Now Saying She Wishes Trump Had Won in 2020 [WATCH]
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Frustrated Fox Liberal Jessica Tarlov Is Now Saying She Wishes Trump Had Won in 2020 [WATCH]

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Fox News liberal Jessica Tarlov has reached a rather awkward conclusion.

She now wishes Donald Trump had won the 2020 presidential election, not because she appreciates his record, but because she believes Democrats could have been finished with him by now, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Millions of Trump supporters would answer that lament with two simple words: HE DID.

Donald Trump Storms to Yet Another Golf Tournament Victory at His Own Club

What Tarlov apparently means is that she wishes Trump had been declared the winner and served another four years, preventing his triumphant return to Washington.

That is some extraordinary buyer’s remorse from a Democratic political strategist.

The party spent years insisting that removing Trump was a national emergency, only to discover that its supposed solution gave him time to build an even stronger movement.

Tarlov, a rotating cohost of The Five, offered her assessment during an interview with The New Yorker. She said she wishes Trump had won because “we were done” with him by this point.

Her explanation centered on the argument Democrats used to promote Joe Biden in 2020.

“I look back to the 2020 lines of argumentation about why we needed Donald Trump out and what Joe Biden could provide, and it was a safe pair of hands,” Tarlov said.

She also argued that Trump probably would have secured another term without the COVID pandemic. Tarlov then delivered the line Democrats will not enjoy hearing: “I wish that he had. I wish we were done now.”

That confession says plenty about the political disaster Democrats created for themselves.

Biden was presented as stable, moderate, and reassuring, but his presidency helped revive Trump and reminded voters exactly why they supported the America First agenda.

Tarlov compared Trump to Ursula, the villain from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. “Because he, like Ursula, got stronger in those four years. He established a cadre of advisors that understood the challenge,” she said.

She then pointed to several influential figures and organizations surrounding Trump’s return. “Like, Russ Vought wasn’t as powerful round one. Stephen Miller is certainly not as powerful. Project 2025, not a thing, right?”

Tarlov clearly understands that Trump used his years outside the White House to prepare for another administration.

Democrats, meanwhile, spent that same period preaching to their own activists, defending Biden, and pretending that voters were thrilled with their record.

She complained about what Trump and his team could now accomplish, saying she hates “that we gave them four years to take a sledgehammer to the country, and [the Democrats ] haven’t found a way to deliver our vision for the future in simple slogans.”

New Yorker host David Remnick asked why Democrats have struggled to communicate, wondering, “Because we’re too decorous? Too mild?” Tarlov did not exactly offer a ringing defense of her party’s political instincts.

“I don’t know,” Tarlov answered. “I mean, I have a Ph.D, so I get it. I get why it’s interesting to write a big policy paper or dig deep into what happened. But for me, it’s like, just give me the bumper stickers.”

She continued by asking, “Where’s your ‘no tax on tips’?”

That question gets to the heart of the Democrats’ problem, since Trump delivers clear proposals while liberals produce lectures, policy papers, and endless academic jargon.

Tarlov admitted as much when she said, “But we, like good liberals, have ingested all of these learnings and have yet to spit something out that can win an election on our ideas and our merits, and not just not being the other guy.”

That is a remarkably candid diagnosis from someone employed to defend the Democratic perspective on television.

Democrats relied on fear of Trump while failing to offer a persuasive vision, and voters eventually noticed that the promised return to normal was anything but normal.

Now Tarlov wishes history had unfolded differently because Trump returned stronger, better prepared, and surrounded by advisers who understand the Washington machinery.

Sorry, Jessica, but Democrats made this bed through their own arrogance and failures, and now they can enjoy lying in it.

Gavin Newsom is Apparently So Wealthy He Missed His Mansion’s Massive Wine Cellar
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Gavin Newsom is Apparently So Wealthy He Missed His Mansion’s Massive Wine Cellar

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Imagine owning a mansion so large that one of its most extravagant rooms apparently escapes your attention. California Gov. Gavin Newsom would like voters to believe that is exactly what happened at his $7.5 million Sacramento-area residence, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are selling the sprawling property, which includes a wine cellar capable of holding 5,000 bottles.

Somehow, the governor claims he did not know the cellar had that much capacity until news reports informed him.

That explanation might sound slightly more believable coming from someone unfamiliar with wine. Newsom, however, has an ownership stake in a winery, making his sudden confusion about the cavernous cellar especially convenient.

During a press conference, Newsom was asked whether he had ever filled the massive space. The Democrat responded with theatrical surprise, asking, “Are you serious? Really?”

“No, I never filled it. I didn’t even know I had that much.” Newsom then insisted the media had educated him about an amenity inside his own multimillion-dollar home.

“I literally didn’t even know,” the governor added. Apparently, keeping track of thousands of square feet becomes difficult when a politician is busy lecturing ordinary Californians about sacrifice, taxes, and responsible living.

Newsom also offered an explanation for what occupied the cellar if thousands of wine bottles did not. “By the way, I put books in there,” Newsom claimed, presenting an image that strains credulity almost as much as his original answer.

“There’s no wine there, it’s books,” he continued. Newsom suggested those books were his “only inheritance” from his father, former judge William Newsom, who also served as an adviser to billionaire Gordon Getty.

The governor’s story raises obvious questions. If Newsom knew the space well enough to fill it with inherited books, how did he remain unaware that it was a gigantic wine cellar designed to hold 5,000 bottles?

Newsom has said he is dyslexic, which makes the picture of him converting a massive wine storage room into a personal library even more curious.

Perhaps California voters are simply expected to stop asking questions whenever the governor’s polished narrative starts wobbling.

This is also the same Gavin Newsom who imposed sweeping restrictions on California businesses during the pandemic while attending a dinner at the expensive French Laundry restaurant.

Working families watched their livelihoods suffer while the governor enjoyed rules that seemed considerably more flexible for the ruling class.

Now Newsom is selling a mansion described as having been “gifted” to him.

Most Americans will never receive a luxury estate, much less discover through the press that it contains a cellar large enough to stock a commercial wine collection.

That disconnect matters because Newsom routinely supports the Democratic habit of demanding more taxes from wealthy Americans.

He speaks the language of economic fairness while living inside a world of mansions, wineries, billionaire connections, and apparently forgettable luxury rooms.

The performance appears designed to make Newsom seem “relatable” as speculation continues about his national ambitions in 2028.

Yet pretending not to recognize the features of a $7.5 million mansion does not make a wealthy politician relatable; it makes him look detached from reality.

Ordinary Californians know whether their homes have basements, garages, spare rooms, or leaky closets because they pay for every square foot.

They do not need a news report to reveal a 5,000 bottle wine cellar hiding somewhere under the family residence.

Newsom may believe a startled response and a story about books can put the issue to rest.

Instead, the episode offers another glimpse of an elite politician who wants to manage everyone else’s life while appearing remarkably unfamiliar with his own mansion.

Ted Cruz Hints at Possible 2028 Showdown With JD Vance: ‘I Want to Be President’ [WATCH]
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Ted Cruz Hints at Possible 2028 Showdown With JD Vance: ‘I Want to Be President’ [WATCH]

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says his presidential ambitions have not disappeared, acknowledging this week that he still wants to occupy the White House while declining to say whether he will enter the 2028 Republican primary, as reported by the New York Post.

Cruz made the comments Wednesday during an interview on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast, just days after arguing that the Republican Party is not prepared to simply hand its next presidential nomination to Vice President JD Vance.

“It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said.

When asked whether he intended to make another run for the White House, Cruz did not provide a direct answer.

“Time will tell,” the senator said.

Cruz, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, suggested that presidential ambitions can be difficult for politicians to abandon once they have taken hold.

“I will say, this is a bug that history has proved is rarely ended,” Cruz said. “It is a permanent and often fatal bug.”

The Texas senator’s comments came after an interview Monday with MS NOW host Ali Vitali, during which Cruz pushed back against the idea that Republicans have already settled on Vance as President Donald Trump’s successor.

“Oh, no – there is going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe,” Cruz said.

“I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” he added.

Cruz argued that Republicans should have a significant debate before selecting their next presidential nominee.

He said one major question will involve the party’s foreign policy direction and whether Republicans want to become “an isolationist party that withdraws from the world or do we believe in American leadership.”

The Texas Republican also said the GOP will face an economic debate over whether it remains “a small-government, free-market conservative party” or moves toward becoming a “big-government, nanny-state party.”

Cruz’s comments add another potential name to what could become a crowded Republican field in 2028.

Vance is widely viewed as an early favorite to seek the presidency after serving as Trump’s vice president, although he has said he will not make a decision about a potential campaign until after the midterm elections.

The prospect of a Cruz-Vance contest could also put the future direction of the Republican Party at the center of a competitive primary.

Cruz has made clear that he does not believe the nomination should simply be treated as a coronation for any one candidate.

President Trump has also mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible part of the Republican Party’s future presidential ticket.

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose current term ends in January, is also believed to be considering another presidential campaign after his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in 2024.

For Cruz, the immediate answer remains that “Time will tell.”

But after openly acknowledging that he still wants to be president, the Texas senator has made one thing clear: the 2028 conversation may have another serious participant.

FULL EPISODE:

Michigan Democrat Melts Down, Demands Reporters Stop Asking About Hasan Piker [WATCH]
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Michigan Democrat Melts Down, Demands Reporters Stop Asking About Hasan Piker [WATCH]

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Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., is asking reporters to stop bringing up controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker as Democrats campaign for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, as reported by Fox News.

Dingell made the remarks Wednesday during a student town hall in Ann Arbor alongside El-Sayed and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. Rather than allowing questions about Piker to continue dominating attention around the campaign, Dingell directly addressed reporters and said she would no longer discuss the streamer.

“I am done, so don’t any reporter ask me again about Hasan Piker,” Dingell said.

“It’s not what November is about. Republicans are trying to make it. They’re trying to divide us, and we got to stop letting them try to divide us. I don’t agree with Hasan Piker on a lot of stuff, and I really don’t agree with him on some of the woman things he said. And I’m still trying to figure out, is it the reason he exercises and looks buff is why he has so many followers.”

Dingell repeated her criticism of Piker later Wednesday during an appearance on CNN’s “Situation Room.”

“Look, I’m going to say this to you: I’m tired of people trying to drag me into it. I strongly disagree with many of the things that Hasan Piker has said, from Israel to, quite frankly, if you’re a woman who has fought against sexual violence and domestic violence her whole life, what he has said about rape, etc., is simply inexcusable,” Dingell said.

“I don’t understand some of the followers and why they follow people. And I got in trouble when I said, maybe it’s generational, he works out, and they say he looks buff. What he has said is just wrong.”

Dingell then sought to redirect attention toward issues she believes will determine the November election.

“I think that — what I know that this election’s about in November is being able to reverse the healthcare cuts that we’ve had in this country, the millions of Americans who don’t have healthcare right now, the kids that are already going hungry, and the seniors, because we’ve cut the SNAP program. And we have to elect somebody that is not going to be a rubber stamp to the Trump policies we have seen the last two years. I think it’s incumbent upon Abdul to make it very clear to people that he doesn’t agree with things that Hasan Piker says. I pray we’re not going to see him in Michigan from now until the election.”

Dingell’s comments come as several Democratic politicians have publicly criticized Piker following a series of controversial remarks by the far-left streamer.

The criticism has included comments from Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.; Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.; Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Brad Schneider, D-Ill.; Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.; and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., have also condemned Piker.

El-Sayed previously campaigned with Piker but has since sought to distance himself from the streamer.

In a statement released Monday, El-Sayed attempted to shift the focus of his campaign toward economic and domestic concerns.

“[W]hile politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools, and healthcare. Because that’s what Michiganders keep asking about,” El-Sayed said.

Dingell’s spokesperson, Matt Krack, also confirmed that the congresswoman does not intend to continue answering questions about Piker.

“Congresswoman Dingell made clear this afternoon she will not answer any more questions about him. She doesn’t agree with him on many things, but this election isn’t about him. It’s about healthcare, affordability, hunger and other issues that impact working men and women,” Krack said.

The controversy has nevertheless followed El-Sayed into the Senate campaign after his previous appearances with Piker.

The growing number of Democratic officials publicly distancing themselves from the streamer has placed additional attention on the campaign’s relationship with him.

Fox News Digital reached out to Piker for comment.

Missouri Deputy AG Found Alive After Six Harrowing Days Near Wyoming’s Tallest Peak
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Missouri Deputy AG Found Alive After Six Harrowing Days Near Wyoming’s Tallest Peak

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A Missouri deputy attorney general who vanished while attempting to reach Wyoming’s highest summit was found alive Wednesday, ending a tense six-day search across some of the most punishing wilderness in the American West.

The rescue brought enormous relief to his family, colleagues and crews who refused to quit, as reported by Fox News.

Shaun Mackelprang was located Wednesday morning near Scott Lake in the rugged Wind River Range, according to the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office.

Search teams had spent days combing the vast region from the ground and air as concern mounted about his condition.

Rescuers reached Mackelprang and began preparing him for evacuation from the backcountry by helicopter at about 9:45 a.m.

Finding him alive after nearly a week in the mountains was the outcome everyone had prayed for, but no one could take for granted.

Mackelprang was dehydrated and disoriented when crews finally reached him, his brother, Romel Mackelprang, told Cowboy State Daily.

The precise nature of the trouble he encountered remains unclear, leaving authorities and family members to piece together how his ambitious climb became a survival ordeal.

Romel said his brother has been steadily pursuing the highest points in all 50 states.

Gannett Peak, which rises to 13,804 feet and stands as Wyoming’s tallest mountain, was next on a list that few casual hikers would dare attempt.

“This is number 45,” Romel told the outlet.

Rescuers reportedly determined that Mackelprang had signed the register at the summit, suggesting that he successfully reached the top before something went seriously wrong during his descent.

That detail narrowed the mystery but did not explain how Mackelprang became stranded near Scott Lake. Mountain descents can be every bit as dangerous as the climb, particularly in isolated terrain where weather, injury, exhaustion or one wrong turn can quickly become a life-threatening crisis.

Romel acknowledged that his brother may not have been able to endure the conditions much longer. “There’s only so much you can handle,” Romel said.

“So we just are so grateful for everything that everyone has done on his behalf.”

Mackelprang began his trip from the Green River Lakes Trailhead on Aug. 20, 2025, intending to reach Gannett Peak.

When he failed to return and was reported missing, authorities located his vehicle at the trailhead and launched an intensive search operation.

Personnel from Tip Top Search and Rescue and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office took part in the mission.

They were supported by the sheriff’s drone team and a rescue helicopter, combining modern equipment with the grit of volunteers navigating a landscape that offers little room for mistakes.

The operation continued for days as crews searched from above and worked through the wilderness on foot.

It was the kind of patient, determined public safety effort that rarely gets enough credit, especially when rescuers put themselves in difficult conditions to bring a stranger home.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway celebrated the news after Mackelprang was located.

“We are thrilled to hear that Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang has been located,” Hanaway said in a statement.

“Our office is beyond grateful for everyone’s prayers and the steadfast work of the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and drone team, Tip Top Search and Rescue’s volunteers and helicopter crew, and Wyoming State leaders,” Hanaway added.

Her statement reflected the widespread gratitude surrounding a rescue that could easily have ended in tragedy.

The sheriff’s office also thanked hikers and members of the public who provided information, reviewed photographs and examined GPS data during the search.

Others helped circulate word of Mackelprang’s disappearance, giving the mission broader reach while trained crews focused on the mountain.

Authorities have not yet explained what happened during the six days Mackelprang was missing. For now, the most important fact is simple: an unforgiving mountain tested him, rescue crews answered the call, and Mackelprang made it out alive.

Coast Guard Crushes $54 Million Cocaine Run Near Puerto Rico, Takes Five Into Custody [WATCH]
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Coast Guard Crushes $54 Million Cocaine Run Near Puerto Rico, Takes Five Into Custody [WATCH]

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The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a suspected drug-smuggling boat carrying an estimated 7,250 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Puerto Rico, resulting in the detention of five people and the seizure of narcotics valued at approximately $54.5 million, as reported by Fox News.

The interception occurred Saturday, Aug. 22, nearly 50 miles off the coast of the U.S. territory. The operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon and Customs and Border Protection air and marine operations.

Federal authorities said the vessel was suspected of transporting the large cocaine shipment when Coast Guard personnel moved to stop it. Investigators subsequently discovered more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine aboard the boat.

Five individuals aboard the suspected smuggling vessel were detained and taken into custody as authorities continued investigating the operation. The Coast Guard has not announced criminal charges connected to the seizure.

The vessel itself was later destroyed after officials determined it presented a danger to other vessels operating in the area.

The Coast Guard said the boat was destroyed because it “posed a hazard to navigation.”

The seizure represents another major narcotics interception in the Caribbean as federal agencies continue working together to disrupt maritime smuggling operations.

Lieutenant Commander Michael D. Torgesen credited the Coast Guard crew and its federal partners for successfully stopping the shipment.

“An outstanding team effort thanks to seamless coordination with Coast Guard and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] air assets, cutter Richard Dixon was in the right place at the right time to stop a major shipment. I’m constantly humbled by my crew’s dedication and am proud to serve alongside them as we strike a direct blow against transnational smuggling operations and protect the nation’s maritime borders in the [Caribbean],” Torgesen said.

Coast Guard Southeast District Commander Admiral Adam Chamie also highlighted the cooperation among the agencies involved.

“This interdiction shows what ready crews and strong interagency partnerships can achieve in the maritime domain,” Chamie said.

The operation comes as federal authorities report a broader increase in the amount of illegal narcotics being intercepted and processed through U.S. ports.

Earlier this week, the Coast Guard announced that more than 75,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, with an estimated value of $473 million, had been offloaded Monday at Port Everglades in Miami, Florida.

That offload represented a milestone for the agency and followed numerous interdictions involving suspected maritime drug-trafficking operations.

The latest seizure near Puerto Rico adds another substantial amount of narcotics to the total being taken off the streets by federal authorities. Investigators are continuing to examine the vessel, the people detained aboard it, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged smuggling operation.

Officials have not yet announced what charges, if any, the five detained individuals will face.

Puerto Rico remains an important location for federal maritime and law enforcement operations because of its position in the Caribbean and its proximity to established trafficking routes.

The Coast Guard and CBP routinely coordinate air and maritime resources to identify and intercept vessels suspected of transporting illegal drugs.

In this case, the cooperation between the Richard Dixon crew and CBP air assets allowed authorities to locate and stop the suspected smuggling vessel before its cargo could reach its intended destination.

The investigation remains active, and additional information could be released as authorities determine the next legal steps involving those detained.

Iowa Democrat Wants Biden and Harris Nowhere Near His Governor Campaign [WATCH]
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Iowa Democrat Wants Biden and Harris Nowhere Near His Governor Campaign [WATCH]

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Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand is trying to convince voters he represents a fresh direction, and he has made one point unmistakably clear.

He does not want Joe Biden or Kamala Harris showing up in Iowa to lend him a hand, as reported by Fox News.

During an interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin, the Iowa auditor of state was asked directly whether he would welcome the former president on the campaign trail.

Sand did not reach for the usual evasive language politicians use when party elders become political liabilities.

When Martin asked whether Biden should campaign for him, Sand answered, “No. Can he even do that right now? I’m sorry.”

That blunt response left little mystery about how Sand views the value of a Biden appearance.

Martin then asked whether Sand would want Harris to campaign for him. “No thanks,” Sand replied, delivering another unmistakable rejection of the Democratic Party’s most recent presidential ticket.

Sand followed that dismissal with an even broader message about the party’s future. “Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.”

For Democrats who spent years defending Biden and enthusiastically promoting Harris, Sand’s remarks are an awkward admission.

The candidates who occupied the White House are apparently not considered useful messengers in a competitive Iowa race.

Martin also pressed Sand about whether Harris should seek the presidency in 2028, asking, “You don’t think Harris should run in 2028?”

Sand’s comments about new leadership certainly did not sound like an invitation for another Harris campaign.

Harris has not ruled out another run for the White House. When Al Sharpton asked her in April about the possibility of running again, Harris said, “I might” and added that she was “thinking about it.”

Biden entered 2024 as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, but his campaign unraveled after a widely panned debate performance raised serious concerns about his ability to continue.

He later abandoned his reelection bid and endorsed Harris as his replacement.

Harris went on to lose the general election to Donald Trump, who returned to the White House after Democrats had insisted voters would rally behind their agenda.

Sand now appears eager to keep that losing ticket far from his own campaign.

Sand is running against Republican Zach Lahn in Iowa’s 2026 gubernatorial contest.

Lahn has secured Trump’s endorsement and is campaigning as an America First conservative in a state where the president has repeatedly demonstrated strong electoral support.

Trump announced his support for Lahn in a Truth Social post last month.

He wrote, “It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Zach Lahn, a tremendous Candidate running to be the next Governor of the Wonderful State of Iowa, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!”

That endorsement gives Lahn a powerful ally among Iowa Republicans and grassroots conservatives.

It also creates a striking contrast with Sand, who is publicly declining help from the two Democrats who most recently led his party’s national ticket.

The race follows Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement that she would not seek reelection.

Her departure created an open contest for control of the governor’s office and raised the stakes for both parties heading into 2026.

Sand is not the only Iowa Democrat keeping Harris at a safe political distance.

Democratic United States Senate candidate Josh Turek, who has received backing from former President Barack Obama, offered a similarly direct response.

Turek was asked, “Rob Sand was recently interviewed and asked if Kamala Harris should campaign for him; he flatly said no. What do you think?” His answer was simply, “No.”

Those answers reveal the uncomfortable position facing Democrats in Iowa.

Biden and Harris remain two of the party’s most recognizable figures, yet candidates on the ballot would apparently prefer that both remain somewhere other than the Hawkeye State.

Sand wants to sell voters on new Democratic leadership while escaping the baggage created by the old leadership.

Iowa voters will decide whether that attempted separation is convincing, or whether changing the campaign guests does nothing to change the party’s policies.

Florida Slams the Welfare Cash Door on Tattoos, Vapes and Theme Park Splurges
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Florida Slams the Welfare Cash Door on Tattoos, Vapes and Theme Park Splurges

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Florida is drawing a bright line around public assistance, becoming the first state to block welfare cash from being spent on tattoos, vaping products, theme park admission, video games, and other purchases that have little to do with keeping a struggling family afloat, as reported by Fox News.

The restrictions apply to Temporary Cash Assistance, which Florida funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The cash is loaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards, commonly known as EBT cards.

Temporary Cash Assistance is separate from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, even though qualifying families can receive both benefits through different balances on the same card.

That distinction matters because the new policy governs cash assistance rather than only food purchases.

The Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Children and Families, approved Florida’s updated plan Thursday.

In a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, federal officials praised the state for establishing common-sense limits on luxury and unnecessary spending.

Florida already prohibited EBT transactions involving alcohol, casinos, commercial bingo operations and adult entertainment establishments.

The new rules go further by targeting individual products and services sold by retailers that may otherwise accept the cards.

Prohibited purchases will include tattoos, body piercings, theme park tickets, video games, pornography, vaping supplies and other nicotine products.

Psychic readings and fortune-telling services also made the list, apparently because taxpayers should not need a crystal ball to know welfare money belongs with basic necessities.

DeSantis said assistance should remain available to Floridians who truly need help while ensuring the program works as taxpayers were promised.

“We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”

The state previously launched its Healthy SNAP initiative, which prevents food benefits from being spent on soda, energy drinks, candy and heavily processed prepared desserts.

Florida will now extend those food restrictions to its cash assistance program while adding limits covering unnecessary nonfood purchases.

Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said Temporary Assistance for Needy Families should provide brief support for genuine needs, not function as a blank check.

The restrictions do not reduce the amount of assistance that any qualifying household receives.

Florida officials say the average participating household receives about $250 each month. “No one loses any of their benefit,” Adams said.

“What this is saying is, if an individual or a family is going to come to the government to cover their basic needs, it is the government’s expectation that they be used for those basic needs.”

The changes will be introduced gradually as Florida coordinates with its EBT contractor and participating businesses.

Retail systems will need to identify prohibited items and reject those transactions while continuing to process legitimate purchases such as food, clothing and household necessities.

Cash withdrawals will also face tighter controls under the final plan.

Recipients will be permitted to withdraw Temporary Cash Assistance funds only at financial institutions accepting EBT cards and retailers authorized to participate in the federal food assistance program.

Federal officials hope other governors and legislatures will study Florida’s approach.

Adams said 27 states currently have no EBT location restrictions beyond federal requirements, while most states have not adopted detailed limits on what Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash can purchase.

“While Florida is the first state, hopefully it’s not the last state,” Adams told Fox News Digital.

He said the administration intends to promote Florida’s policy as “a best practice” for states interested in protecting taxpayers and restoring the original purpose of temporary assistance.

The policy reflects a straightforward principle that Washington and state capitals too often manage to complicate.

Public benefits exist to help vulnerable families cover essential expenses and move toward independence, not to subsidize tattoos, thrill rides, nicotine habits or a visit with the neighborhood fortune teller.

Jon Ossoff Condemns Hasan Piker’s Dangerous Rhetoric, Piker Crashes Out on Livestream [WATCH]
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Jon Ossoff Condemns Hasan Piker’s Dangerous Rhetoric, Piker Crashes Out on Livestream [WATCH]

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Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has publicly rejected comments made by far-left political streamer Hasan Piker, days after Piker described the Georgia Democrat as a potential “dark-horse” candidate for the 2028 presidential election, as reported by Breitbart.

A spokesperson for Ossoff said Thursday that the senator “unreservedly rejects” Piker’s rhetoric after the online commentator made remarks suggesting that American Jews could face violence because of their support for Israel.

The spokesperson said Ossoff rejects “reckless and dangerous rhetoric suggesting that policy advocacy invites violence against the Jewish community or any community.”

Ossoff, Georgia’s first Jewish senator, also addressed the broader issue of Americans being able to advocate for political causes without fearing retaliation.

“American Jews and all Americans must have the freedom and security to speak out and petition their government without fear of reprisal,” Ossoff said.

The controversy stems from an Aug. 20 livestream that lasted nearly seven hours. During the broadcast, Piker displayed a photograph of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss on screen.

“If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action, not against the State of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews,” Piker said.

Moss, who is Jewish, is also the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District. He said an audio clip circulating online had been fabricated.

The clip portrayed him as claiming that his campaign for Congress existed solely to maintain continued U.S. support for Israel.

Piker’s remarks prompted criticism from several prominent Democrats.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) condemned the comments Monday without initially naming Piker.

When asked on CNN the following day whether he was referring to the streamer, Jeffries confirmed that he was.

“Those comments were dangerous, malicious and antisemitic and should not be tolerated by anyone in the public square,” Jeffries said.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) also criticized Piker during an appearance on CNN’s Inside Politics, describing the streamer’s argument as a “Nazi-like formula” and arguing that elected officials who refuse to condemn such rhetoric bear responsibility for remaining silent.

“You’re complicit if you refuse to condemn comments like that,” Gottheimer said.

Piker responded to the criticism by blaming the pro-Israel lobby. He claimed that an “AIPAC boss call was made” and said lawmakers speaking out against him were “unanimous in their hatred.”

He also suggested examining how much money his critics had received from AIPAC and described the growing backlash as a “coordinated smear campaign.”

The controversy has also drawn attention because of Piker’s involvement in Democratic politics during the current election cycle.

Piker has used his large online platform to promote Democratic candidates and causes.

Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed held a primary election event at a Detroit pool party attended by Piker, although El-Sayed’s statement addressing the controversy did not mention the streamer by name.

Piker has also spoken favorably about Ossoff, previously describing the Georgia senator as a “dark-horse” presidential prospect for 2028.

Ossoff’s response now places him among a growing list of Democratic officials publicly distancing themselves from Piker’s remarks.

Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins has also pointed to Piker’s praise of Ossoff while framing the Georgia Senate race.

“This race is simple: It’s America vs. the people who hate it.”

The dispute has added another political dimension to the controversy surrounding Piker as Democratic officials face increasing pressure to address his remarks.

For Ossoff, who had previously been mentioned favorably by the streamer as a possible future presidential candidate, the message from his office was clear: praise for a 2028 run does not amount to a free pass when the rhetoric crosses the line.


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