Author name: RVM News

New Jersey Diner Blasts Upscale Restaurant Over Cruel Wheelchair Birthday Dessert Message
News

New Jersey Diner Blasts Upscale Restaurant Over Cruel Wheelchair Birthday Dessert Message

/

A New Jersey singer-songwriter says her birthday celebration turned into a humiliating ordeal after an upscale restaurant delivered dessert with a message identifying her by her wheelchair.

What should have been a festive ending instead left the guest shocked, shaking, and demanding answers, as reported by the New York Post.

Antonia Sinbaldi was celebrating her 29th birthday with friends and family at Blu on the Hudson in Weehawken in June. She ordered an Apple Tart Tatin, described as puff pastry served with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel.

When the dessert arrived, sauce across the plate spelled out, “Happy Wheel Chair Birthday.” A video shared from the celebration captured the sweet treat, the gathering of loved ones, and the insulting notation that somehow made it all the way from an order ticket to the plate.

Sinbaldi later addressed the incident on Instagram. She wrote, “Not to complain about a fairly new restaurant in my town, but why would you make my dessert say this?” and added, “What was written on my plate probably set my employee off more than me. I would never expect that in my town.”

The message carried particular weight because Sinbaldi has used a motorized wheelchair since suffering a cervical spinal injury as a child. She was 2 years old when a drunk driver struck the vehicle she was riding in, and she has also needed a ventilator.

Sinbaldi said the sight of the plate triggered an immediate physical response before she could fully process what had happened.

“Body started shaking, body started spasming. My body reacted faster than my mouth or my mind,” she told WNBC.

Once the initial shock passed, members of the birthday party confronted management at the restaurant, which opened in 2023.

They wanted to know how such a message could be prepared, plated, and carried to the table without anyone stopping to question it.

According to Sinbaldi, the establishment offered the group complimentary drinks. That gesture apparently did little to address the embarrassment of having her wheelchair turned into a birthday label at an upscale restaurant.

“It offended me. This whole thing doesn’t sound real,” Sinbaldi told the outlet. The bizarre episode certainly had the feel of a bad joke, except the guest was the one forced to sit through it.

Restaurant management said the message resulted from a misunderstanding between employees.

According to the establishment, the wheelchair notation was intended only to help staff identify which guest at the table should receive the birthday dessert and candle.

“We sincerely apologize to the guest and to everyone who was hurt or offended by this incident, which took place on June 20, 2026. Treating every guest with dignity, respect, and care is fundamental to who we are as a company,” the restaurant said in a statement to WCBS.

“Our standard operating procedure is to use table and seat numbers on tickets to identify where each dish should be delivered. In this instance, the word ‘wheelchair’ was used as a reference to identify where a birthday dessert with a candle should be delivered,” the management said.

“Unfortunately, that notation was misunderstood and was written on the plate itself. There was absolutely no malicious or disrespectful intent behind the notation. However, we fully understand how seeing that word written on a plate could be deeply hurtful and upsetting.”

That explanation did not satisfy Sinbaldi, who described it as a “bs response.”

Whatever the original intention, several points in the process apparently passed without anyone noticing that the identifying note had become the actual birthday greeting.

“My chair is not my identity,” Sinbaldi wrote on Instagram. She also explained why she did not immediately leave, writing, “Like I said, my body was reacting faster than my mind so I couldn’t leave that fast.”

Sinbaldi, who advocates for disability rights, said she wants people to learn from the restaurant’s blunder. “Don’t bring my disability [up] in every sentence; it’s what people, they should know,” she told the outlet.

A birthday dessert should recognize the person celebrating, not reduce that person to a piece of medical equipment.

Blu on the Hudson insists the incident was accidental, but Sinbaldi made clear that careless words can still land with cruel force.

Target Scrambles to Pull ‘Offensive’ Halloween Costume After Blackface Backlash [WATCH]
News

Target Scrambles to Pull ‘Offensive’ Halloween Costume After Blackface Backlash [WATCH]

/

Target has removed a Halloween costume from its stores and website after the product generated online backlash from critics who accused the design of evoking blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows, as reported by The New York Post.

The Minneapolis-based retailer apologized for the costume Tuesday after the product attracted attention on social media.

The costume had been marketed as the “Kids’ Glows Under ‌Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume” and was part of Target’s seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand.

Target said the costume should not have been included in its merchandise assortment and is no longer available for purchase.

“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale,” company spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said in a statement to FOX Business.

Harper-Tibaldo said the company was also considering how the product made it through its review process and what changes could be made to prevent a similar situation from happening again.

“We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners. Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again,” he continued.

The costume’s removal followed criticism on social media, where some users accused Target of selling merchandise that recalled racist imagery.

One user on Threads questioned how the product made it through the company’s review process, writing, “You really don’t have anyone left in Minneapolis to say, ‘Hey, that’s racist’? Y’all cut DEI, and now you’ve got a minstrel clown costume for kids on your website.”

The controversy comes as Target continues to deal with the fallout from several high-profile business and reputational disputes in recent years.

The retailer faced significant criticism surrounding its Pride Collection in 2023, while its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has also changed.

Target scaled back several DEI initiatives after President Donald Trump returned to the White House and issued executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The company subsequently reduced initiatives designed to increase representation among Black employees and support Black-owned businesses and suppliers.

Target said the changes were necessary to remain aligned with “the evolving external landscape.”

Those changes themselves prompted criticism from some Black consumers and business owners who had supported or benefited from Target’s previous diversity programs.

The Halloween costume controversy now adds another issue for the retailer as it enters the important fall shopping season.

Target sells a wide range of Halloween merchandise each year, including costumes and decorations through its seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand.

The specific costume has since been removed from sale, and Target said it is examining how the item was approved and included in its assortment.

The company did not provide additional details about how many of the costumes were sold or how long the product had been available before it was pulled.

The controversy centered on the appearance and design of the costume, with critics arguing that it evoked historical imagery associated with blackface and minstrel performances.

Target’s decision to remove the product followed the online criticism rather than waiting for the controversy to continue growing. The company characterized the removal as an initial step while it reviews its internal processes.

The episode arrives at a time when major retailers remain under close scrutiny over the products they sell and the cultural positions they take.

Target has previously faced consumer backlash over its merchandise and corporate policies, making the latest dispute another challenge for the Minneapolis retailer.

For now, the costume is no longer available for purchase, and Target says it is reviewing what led to the product appearing in its Halloween assortment in the first place.

Trump Torches Canada with Lake America Taunt as Trade Rift Explodes [WATCH]
News

Trump Torches Canada with Lake America Taunt as Trade Rift Explodes [WATCH]

/

President Donald Trump turned up the heat on Canada Tuesday, openly considering whether Lake Ontario should be renamed Lake America as trade relations between Washington and Ottawa sink deeper into hostility.

The proposal delivered another unmistakable message that the days of Canada receiving automatic economic favors may be finished, as reported by Fox News.

“The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don’t expect to be doing much business with Ontario any longer,” Trump wrote Tuesday morning on Truth Social.

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

The jab came after negotiations collapsed and both governments began preparing additional tariffs.

Trump also accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of inventing claims that the United States sought concessions involving protections for the French language.

Carney has attempted to portray the dispute as a defense of Canadian language and culture, a narrative the Trump administration flatly rejects.

“I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French!” Trump wrote. “In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing.”

Trump then aimed directly at Carney and his political standing in Quebec.

“This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec,” Trump added. “I love French Canadians!”

Carney announced Saturday that Canada was suspending negotiations, saying, “We were not prepared to compromise on the protection of the French language and our culture.”

He also claimed those matters were “never on the table” from the Canadian perspective.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pushed back on Monday, describing Carney’s account as a “funny, fake story.”

Greer said American negotiators were actually concerned about regulations affecting United States streaming companies, not whether Canadians could continue speaking French.

The controversy lands at a particularly sensitive moment for Ontario, the most populous Canadian province and a major center of automobile production.

Lake Ontario is shared by Ontario and New York, giving Trump’s proposed name change extra bite as the neighboring governments trade accusations.

Trump has previously used geographic names to make political points, most notably by directing the Gulf of Mexico to be called the Gulf of America.

Critics predictably erupted, but Trump once again demonstrated his talent for dominating the conversation while forcing foreign leaders to respond on his terms.

Vice President JD Vance carried the administration’s trade argument into Maine on Monday, accusing Canada of giving Chinese imports better treatment than goods produced by Americans.

His message was blunt, especially for residents whose businesses depend on access to Canadian markets.

“They treat Chinese goods more fairly than they do the goods that come from the people of Maine: It’s insanity,” Vance said during an event in Brewer. “And what we’ve said to Canada is stop it.”

Vance said Washington and Ottawa had appeared close to reaching an agreement before Canadian officials introduced unreasonable demands near the end of negotiations.

In the administration’s telling, Canada tried the familiar routine of expecting American flexibility while refusing to offer basic fairness in return.

Trump also announced Monday that tariffs of 50 percent on Canadian automobiles, automobile parts, trucks and steel would begin Jan. 1, 2027.

The move gives industries time to prepare while placing enormous pressure on Ottawa to reconsider its negotiating posture.

“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” Trump wrote Monday.

That accusation captures the administration’s broader view that friendly countries should not mistake American patience for permission to exploit American workers.

Despite the increasingly sharp rhetoric, Vance suggested a workable agreement remains possible if Canada returns with realistic terms.

“I think that we should have a deal,” he said. “We expect fairness in our trade policy.”

The ball now sits squarely in Ottawa’s court, where Carney must choose between political theater and serious negotiation.

Trump’s Lake America taunt may sound playful, but the economic warning beneath it is clear: Washington is no longer interested in business as usual.

Schiff’s Trump Race Attack Crashes After IndyCar Driver Exposes Glaring Contradiction [WATCH]
News

Schiff’s Trump Race Attack Crashes After IndyCar Driver Exposes Glaring Contradiction [WATCH]

/

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington as the capital hosted its first IndyCar race.

Trump greeted racing officials and drivers before waving the green flag on the 1.7-mile street circuit surrounding the National Mall.

As Fox News reported, the patriotic spectacle celebrated America’s 250th birthday with roaring engines, packed crowds, and a prominent presidential appearance.

Naturally, Senator Adam Schiff looked at Americans enjoying themselves and decided someone needed a lecture.

The California Democrat accused Trump of wasting taxpayer money on personal promotion while Americans faced higher prices.

Schiff also claimed the president wanted the race to distract the public from economic concerns and policy failures.

“While you struggle with the cost of gas, Trump offers you the spectacle of an IndyCar race hoping you will not notice,” Schiff wrote Sunday.

He posted the criticism alongside video showing Trump waving the green flag as FOX Sports announcer Leigh Diffey opened the race.

There was one rather inconvenient problem with Schiff’s accusation. Penske Corporation, the major automotive and logistics company led by Roger Penske, funded most of the event rather than leaving taxpayers with the bill Schiff suggested they were paying.

IndyCar veteran Graham Rahal quickly corrected the senator and defended the race as a celebration of racing, patriotism, and national pride.

Rahal finished thirteenth in the event and is the son of respected motorsports driver and executive Bobby Rahal.

“No, no, Adam. He wanted you to notice and bask in the pride of being American, watch great racing and patriotism on display,” Rahal responded on X.

That response went directly at Schiff’s gloomy assumption that a public celebration must be some sinister political distraction.

Rahal then pointed to the private financing behind the event and the economic activity generated by visitors. Thousands of racing fans traveled to Washington, filled local businesses, and explored a capital many had never previously visited.

“Not only that, this was privately funded, not government, although it drove thousands of folks to the DC area that have never been.

That’s economic impact for you,” Rahal wrote. In other words, the event brought money into Washington rather than simply draining it from government accounts.

The crowds also crossed political and national boundaries, with Americans of different political views joining visitors from around the world.

That kind of shared celebration apparently proved too cheerful for Schiff, whose attack landed with all the precision of a car missing the first turn.

Breitbart editor Joel Pollak offered a blunt assessment of the senator’s complaint. “What kind of loser posts this?” Pollak asked, before adding the painfully obvious point that “People had fun.”

Penske President Bud Denker confirmed the company’s role when Washington’s NBC affiliate asked who was paying for the Freedom 250.

“We are,” Denker answered, explaining that sponsorships and suites along the course would generate some revenue but were not expected to cover the massive investment.

Penske did not pay every related expense, since local and federal law enforcement handled security for the major public gathering.

Federal funding already provided to Washington for major events helped cover those operations, but that reality was far removed from Schiff’s sweeping claim that taxpayers financed Trump’s personal spectacle.

The White House also fired back, accusing Schiff of allowing his hostility toward Trump to overshadow a historic national celebration.

Spokesman Davis Ingle said the senator was trashing America’s 250th birthday festivities simply because of his animus toward the president, adding that Californians deserved better representation.

Former electronics executive Sam Antar said Schiff apparently failed to determine who funded the race before firing off his accusation.

“Schiff saw Trump, started typing, and skipped the part where you check the facts first. That’s how you end up volunteering for your own Community Note,” Antar wrote.

Trump has repeatedly embraced American motorsports and has spoken warmly about his friendship with Roger Penske.

He also became the first president since Ronald Reagan to attend the Daytona 500 and has welcomed NASCAR figures, including drivers and former circuit executive Brian France, into his political orbit.

The Freedom 250 combined racing, tourism, and unapologetic American pride during a landmark birthday celebration.

Schiff tried to turn that scene into another anti-Trump grievance, but a driver armed with basic facts sent the senator’s argument straight into the wall.

Immigrant Grocers Sue Mamdani as City Grocery Stores Threaten a Taxpayer Funded Rout [WATCH]
News

Immigrant Grocers Sue Mamdani as City Grocery Stores Threaten a Taxpayer Funded Rout [WATCH]

/

Immigrant-owned grocery stores and bodegas in New York City are taking legal action against Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his plan to establish five government-owned supermarkets, arguing that the proposed stores could create an unfair competitive advantage over privately owned businesses, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The Multicultural Business Coalition, which represents 50 chambers of commerce serving ethnically diverse businesses, filed two lawsuits in New York state court Monday.

One of the lawsuits is a seven-page class-action complaint brought on behalf of “hundreds” of store owners who are described in the filing as members of groups that have historically faced discrimination.

According to court documents, the class-action lawsuit argues that the business owners’ civil rights would be violated if the municipal grocery stores are permitted to open.

The legal challenge centers on the potential competitive impact of stores operated by the city.

The plaintiffs argue that government-owned supermarkets could have advantages unavailable to privately owned grocery stores, particularly if the municipal locations sell common food products at significantly reduced prices.

A second lawsuit, a 13-page filing submitted in New York State Supreme Court, compares the proposed municipal supermarkets to the competitive threat that Walmart could pose to existing businesses.

Walmart, the Arkansas-based retail giant, has made several attempts to enter the New York City market over the years but has faced opposition from city politicians, legislators and labor unions.

Critics of Walmart’s expansion have argued that the retailer could severely hurt smaller businesses.

The second lawsuit makes a similar argument about Mamdani’s proposed grocery stores. The filing states that the municipal stores “have pledged to sell food items 30% below the market rate, a rate that rivals or exceeds Walmart discounts.”

The lawsuits were filed as Mamdani moves forward with a campaign promise to create government-owned grocery stores in New York City.

The proposal calls for five city-owned supermarkets intended to provide lower-cost food to residents.

Supporters of the plan have argued that municipal grocery stores could help make food more affordable, while private business owners challenging the proposal say the city should not compete directly with businesses that already operate in the communities.

The Multicultural Business Coalition’s involvement highlights the potential impact on immigrant-owned businesses, many of which operate neighborhood grocery stores, bodegas and other small retail establishments.

The legal filings contend that the city-owned stores could put those businesses at a disadvantage because municipal stores would be backed by the city while competing for the same customers and selling many of the same products.

The dispute also puts Mamdani’s campaign promise under scrutiny as his administration works to turn the proposed grocery store program into a reality.

Rather than relying exclusively on private supermarket operators to expand access to food, the plan would establish city-owned locations.

The lawsuits will now put the proposal before the courts as business owners seek to prevent what they describe as an unfair competitive situation.

The first complaint specifically seeks class-action status on behalf of affected business owners, while the second lawsuit focuses on the competitive consequences of the proposed government-run supermarkets.

The legal challenge comes after years of political debate in New York over how the city should encourage grocery stores and other retailers to operate in neighborhoods where residents have fewer options.

The dispute involving Mamdani’s proposal now adds questions about the proper role of city government in operating businesses that would compete with existing private establishments.

For the immigrant-owned grocers and bodegas involved in the lawsuits, the central issue is whether the city should become a direct competitor while offering prices that could undercut privately owned stores.

The courts will ultimately determine whether the lawsuits can proceed and whether the proposed city-owned supermarkets can move forward under the legal challenges brought by the business coalition and its members.

NBC’s Welker Flails as Tim Scott Refuses to Ignore El Sayed Terror Ties [WATCH]
News

NBC’s Welker Flails as Tim Scott Refuses to Ignore El Sayed Terror Ties [WATCH]

/

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) pushed back Sunday against NBC’s Kristin Welker after the Meet the Press host challenged Republican advertising about Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and allegations involving members of his family, as reported by PJ Media.

The exchange centered on whether Republicans should continue highlighting alleged connections between El-Sayed’s relatives and organizations that the U.S. government has previously identified as supporting terrorism.

Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), rejected Welker’s argument that there was no evidence tying El-Sayed himself to terrorist organizations.

El Sayed Flaunts Pastor Backing Despite Farrakhan Praise and Termite Slur Firestorm

Welker repeatedly sought to distinguish El-Sayed from the activities and associations of relatives and political allies.

Welker began by telling Scott that the NRSC had continued publishing social media posts claiming El-Sayed had “terrorist ties.”

“The NRSC continues to put out social media posts claiming that Abdul El-Sayed has un/unquote terrorist ties. And yet, there is no evidence that he has terrorist ties, Senator. Should the NRSC stop running those ads?”

Scott responded by pointing to allegations involving El-Sayed’s family.

“Well, we know- we know without question that he had family members who helped resource Osama bin Laden. We know without question that he campaigns with Piker, who said at one point that America deserved 9/11.”

Welker then attempted to narrow the discussion to El-Sayed’s own statements and beliefs.

“Let’s stay focused on El-Sayed and what he has said and believes in. There’s no evidence…”

The dispute comes as Republicans seek to make national-security issues part of the Michigan Senate contest between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.

Among the allegations cited in the discussion are claims concerning El-Sayed’s birth mother, Fatten Elkomy, who reportedly worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency, also known as the Islamic African Relief Agency.

According to the material cited in the original report, the Treasury Department designated IARA in 2004 as an organization supporting terrorism and alleged connections involving al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and Hamas.

El-Sayed’s maternal uncle, Mohamed Elkomy, also reportedly worked for IARA.

Another focus has been El-Sayed’s father-in-law, Dr. Tayeb Jukaku. The original report says Jukaku was associated with three organizations described as Muslim Brotherhood-related organizations that were identified as unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation case.

It also says Jukaku served on the Founders Committee of the Islamic Society of North America and was president of CAIR Michigan for five years. The report further states that he remains on CAIR’s board.

The Republican side has also highlighted El-Sayed’s political relationship with Hasan Piker. Scott cited Piker during the NBC interview while arguing that political associations should be considered when voters evaluate candidates.

Welker again disputed the broader characterization, telling Scott, “Just to be very clear, there is no evidence that El-Sayed supports any terrorist organization.”

Scott also raised other positions attributed to El-Sayed, including support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The discussion turned toward El-Sayed’s views on Islam and Sharia law after Welker referenced a Washington Post opinion article concerning coverage of the Democratic candidate.

She asked Scott whether Republicans were attempting to frighten voters.

“Are Republicans trying to scare voters?”

Scott answered, “Not at all.”

The NRSC has continued backing Rogers as the Republican alternative in the Michigan race. The campaign is expected to remain closely watched as both parties attempt to frame the contest around national security, immigration and the candidates’ political associations.

The Sunday exchange also drew criticism from conservative media figures, with NewsBusters’ Jorge Bonilla characterizing Welker’s questioning as “running crisis comms” for El-Sayed.

At the center of the dispute is a basic campaign question: how much weight should voters give a candidate’s own statements and positions versus the associations and activities of relatives and political allies?

Republicans are emphasizing those connections, while Welker pressed Scott for evidence that El-Sayed himself supports a terrorist organization.

That distinction is likely to remain part of the Michigan Senate debate as the campaign moves forward.

LA GOP Leader Cries ‘Send Help’ After Bass Campaign Video Stuns Taxpayers [WATCH]
News

LA GOP Leader Cries ‘Send Help’ After Bass Campaign Video Stuns Taxpayers [WATCH]

/

A viral campaign pitch from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has turned a city financing rule into a national spectacle, prompting Los Angeles County GOP Chair Roxanne Hoge to plead with Republicans to “send help.”

Her warning is blunt: outsiders still do not grasp how deeply California Democrats have embedded their power into government, as reported by Fox News.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hoge addressed the stunned reaction to Bass promoting public matching money for her mayoral campaign.

Karen Bass Scrambles to Justify Broken Homelessness Promise, Blames Bureaucrats for Her Own Failures

“The rest of the country doesn’t understand what we’re living under here,” Hoge said.

Hoge argued that California progressives have not merely pushed questionable political practices; they have written them into law.

“What normal people consider cheating or weirdness in the electoral process? It’s all in the rules [here].”

Bass told viewers that “when you donate to our campaign, the city can match your donation 6 to 1,” and added, “If you donate $5, the city turns it into $35.”

For taxpayers already watching Los Angeles struggle with crime, homelessness, fires, and failing basic services, the sales pitch landed like a brick.

The mayor explained that “thanks to LA’s super match program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles residents is matched six to one by the city.”

In plain English, public money can multiply a qualifying private campaign donation six times.

Bass said her campaign faced a reset after the mayoral primary, where Republican candidate Spencer Pratt attracted significant support.

She declared that “we had to start over from scratch,” before urging supporters, “So, we need you to rush in your matching donation right now, to help fuel this campaign.”

The video quickly drew outrage across social media. Conservative activist Billboard Chris asked, “How is it legal to take money from Los Angeles taxpayers to fund your own re-election campaign?”

Commentator Matt Van Swol was equally stunned, writing, “Can someone please explain to me like I’m 5 years old how this is not COMPLETELY illegal?????” Author Michael Shellenberger offered a shorter verdict: “This is grotesque.”

Los Angeles doctor and political commentator Houman David Hemmati also erupted over the arrangement.

“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?!? … HUH?! Insanity!”

Despite the public fury, Hoge explained that the program is legal under Los Angeles law.

Voters approved public campaign financing in 1990, and the City Council later expanded that system into the current six-to-one arrangement, complete with donation limits and eligibility requirements.

Hoge said the proposal originally sounded harmless enough to voters.

“Voters passed something that sounded so good; they always sound so good at the beginning. Public financing matching funds for campaigns on a one-to-one basis. That seems great, right?”

The program now applies beyond the mayoral contest, including campaigns for seats on the Los Angeles City Council.

Hoge noted that those races “Have many active [Democratic Socialists of America] members currently sitting and running.”

For Hoge, Bass was broadcasting the same warning California conservatives have heard from entrenched political interests for decades. “And that is, ‘Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown. Don’t try to go against City Hall,’” she said.

Hoge pointed to Pratt as proof that a basic message of competence and common sense can still energize voters.

“We saw Spencer Pratt mount a very strong argument for sanity and good governance. It wasn’t partisan, what he was saying. It was pure common sense, and they rose up because they were threatened.”

She also rejected the tired assumption that conservatives should surrender America’s most populous state to the progressive machine.

“California is totally worth fighting for because it is an absolute gem,” Hoge said, comparing its controlling political culture to people who would “gleefully would reach into the shower and change the temperature while you’re having a bath.”

Addressing Republicans, Hoge said, “We belong to the leave me alone party.”

She added, “California, being in the West, is the ultimate place where you should be free to write your own story. And that, I think, is the number one thing people have to remember,” before repeating her urgent plea: “They need to send help.”

Authorities Still Cannot Find Penn Station Mole People as 9/11 Fears Erupt [WATCH]
News

Authorities Still Cannot Find Penn Station Mole People as 9/11 Fears Erupt [WATCH]

/

New York City police have not made any arrests after three unidentified people were captured on video emerging from a manhole near Penn Station in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, as reported by the New York Post.

The incident occurred around 4:19 a.m. at the southeast corner of West 31st Street and Seventh Avenue, roughly 150 feet from the main entrance to Penn Station and about a block from Madison Square Garden.

The three individuals were seen wearing headlamps and overalls as they climbed out of a sanitation and drainage manhole before quickly leaving the area.

The unusual footage later circulated on social media, prompting questions about why the group had been inside New York City’s underground sewer system in such a heavily trafficked part of Manhattan.

The NYPD said Monday that investigators are working to identify the individuals.

“The NYPD is aware of the incident and is actively investigating,” the Police Department said in a statement.

“There are no arrests, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred on August 18, 2026, at 0419 hours at the southeast corner of West 31st Street and 7th Avenue.”

Police became aware of the incident Sunday after additional video of the so-called “mole people” began circulating online.

Law-enforcement sources said investigators have collected surveillance footage that could help identify the three people through facial recognition technology and determine what they were doing underground.

The strange sight has raised security concerns because of the location. Penn Station is one of the busiest transportation hubs in New York City, while Madison Square Garden sits nearby.

“I just immediately thought, reconnaissance, 9/11,” said an Arizona tourist named Mark while speaking to The Post in Manhattan’s crowded Herald Square.

“If you’re an Iranian soldier, you need to cripple New York City? Under Penn Station? Under Madison Square Garden? Aren’t all the train lines crisscrossing here?”

However, law-enforcement sources cautioned against assuming the group was involved in a broader criminal or security operation.

One law-enforcement source said, “There is nothing to indicate there is any criminal activity here besides trespassing.

“The manhole covers lead to the sewer system. But who knows what someone is doing down there if they are looking to cause trouble.”

Another source described the activity as “not uncommon,” saying people sometimes enter sewer systems in search of valuables.

“Mostly people who do this think there’s treasure. Precious metals. Lost property.

“Yes, [the sewer-hunting is] not ideal from a security standpoint. But it’s [the city Department of Environmental Protection’s] infrastructure to secure,” the source added.

A worker with Vornado Realty Trust, the developer involved with the nearby Penn 2 project, said he was aware that police had been looking into the incident and collecting potentially useful surveillance footage.

The incident also resembles several unusual sewer-related episodes reported in Brooklyn earlier this year.

In May, people were recorded entering or emerging from manholes in Williamsburg and Gravesend, leading to an NYPD investigation.

Seven people were reportedly spotted coming out of a manhole in Williamsburg on May 29.

At least four people were subsequently charged with trespassing in connection with those incidents. Law-enforcement sources told The Post that investigators believed some of those individuals were searching for valuables.

The latest Manhattan incident could have a similar explanation, according to law-enforcement sources.

Other sources, however, suggested the people may have been seeking social-media content because the activity was recorded and appeared to have been staged or documented for TikTok.

“It could be anything,” said Ari, a fashion worker in the Manhattan neighborhood. “Kind of sketchy the way they’re running away after they come out of the hole.”

The city’s Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees thousands of miles of sewers and drainage infrastructure, was asked about the incident Monday.

The agency referred to a statement issued Sunday saying an inspection found no damage to the sewer infrastructure.

“Members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole or outfall,” the DEP said.

For now, police have not announced any arrests or identified the three individuals seen emerging near Penn Station. Investigators are continuing to review surveillance footage as they try to determine who entered the underground system and what they were doing there.

Usha Vance Delivers Perfect Answer to Abdul El Sayed’s Ugly Attack on Her and JD [WATCH]
News

Usha Vance Delivers Perfect Answer to Abdul El Sayed’s Ugly Attack on Her and JD [WATCH]

/

Second Lady Usha Vance responded to Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s recent comments about her Indian heritage and her husband, Vice President JD Vance, saying she found the remarks more amusing than offensive, as reported by The New York Post.

“I have to admit I kind of laughed,” Usha Vance said during an interview with Fox & Friends, according to a preview released Monday. The full interview is scheduled to air Wednesday.

El-Sayed made the comments Saturday after Vice President Vance criticized the Michigan Democrat over his views concerning Sharia law.

El Sayed’s Lifelong Sharia Obligation Exposed After Stunning Senate Primary Victory

The vice president had invoked the memory of his late grandfather, whom he called “Papaw,” while arguing that the Democratic Party has moved away from the working-class voters who once formed its political base.

In response, El-Sayed brought Usha Vance into the exchange.

“So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…” El-Sayed said, appearing to reference the second lady’s Indian ethnicity.

Usha Vance said she never had the opportunity to meet JD Vance’s grandparents, who died years before the couple met in 2010 while attending Yale Law School.

But she said her experience with the family members they raised left her with little doubt about how she would have been treated.

“Yes, I never met JD’s mamaw and papaw,” she said.

“I do know and love the children that they raised: his mom, his aunt and uncle. And they have never been anything but incredibly loving. His aunt is like a second mother to me. I have to think that, if they raised children like that, they would’ve been loving as well, and I would have really, really, really loved to have met them,” she said in the interview.

The second lady also described her first experiences in Ohio after she began dating Vance. She said she had never visited the state before their relationship and that her assumptions about it quickly changed.

“It’s a culturally diverse place,” she said. “The people have been so welcoming. Everyone has been so loving. They are my family. They treat me like their family.”

The exchange followed comments Vice President Vance made while campaigning in Ohio earlier this week.

Vance discussed his late grandfather, James Vance, who worked as a welder for 40 years and supported Democrats because he believed the party represented “the party of union men.”

Vance argued that the views expressed by El-Sayed show how dramatically the Democratic Party has changed from the one his grandfather supported.

“I’d love to go back in time and tell my papa that there is a man who claims to stand for working people who says not only should we have Sharia law, but if you criticize it you’re a white supremacist. That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party,” Vance said.

James Vance was a stabilizing and influential figure in the vice president’s childhood, according to Vance’s past accounts. Both of Vance’s grandparents died before he met Usha Vance at Yale Law School in 2010.

Republicans were quick to defend the Vances after El-Sayed’s remarks circulated online.

“Why does Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed just assume that all white Midwestern grandparents are racist?” asked Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas).

The dispute has added another flashpoint to Michigan’s Senate race, with Vance using El-Sayed’s past statements on Sharia law and criticism of the Democratic Party’s shift away from its traditional working-class base.

Meanwhile, Usha Vance’s response offered a noticeably different approach: no outrage, no escalation, and apparently no need for a lecture from the Democratic nominee about what her husband’s family might have thought of her.

Trump Administration Prepares Largest Mass Visa Revocation in American History [WATCH]
News

Trump Administration Prepares Largest Mass Visa Revocation in American History [WATCH]

/

The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas held by as many as 200,000 foreigners who entered the United States temporarily before seeking asylum.

If completed at that scale, the action would become the largest mass visa revocation in American history, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

Documents cited by The Associated Press indicate the review covers B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026.

The State Department and Department of Homeland Security are expected to coordinate the revocations through a continuing review process.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that officials are identifying foreigners who presented themselves as temporary visitors but later filed asylum claims to remain permanently.

He declined to provide a final number because the government review remains underway.

B1 visas are reserved for temporary business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits, and medical care.

Applicants are supposed to demonstrate that they intend to leave the country after completing the purpose of their visit.

Current applicants must also affirm that they do not intend to pursue asylum after entering the United States.

Trump officials see an obvious contradiction when someone promises a temporary visit, gains admission, and then quickly attempts to secure a permanent foothold.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau delivered the administration’s case bluntly on Monday. “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” he wrote on X.

“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” Landau added.

He argued that questionable claims can linger for years, allowing applicants to obtain work permits, build lives in American communities, and make eventual removal far more difficult.

The administration maintains that asylum exists to protect people facing genuine persecution because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a recognized social group.

It was not designed as a convenient substitute for lawful immigration by visitors who simply decide they would rather stay.

Officials have highlighted Colombian national Humberto Coral as an example of how the system can be manipulated.

Coral entered with a tourist visa in 2015, sought asylum shortly before it expired, and later received employment authorization that was reportedly renewed for years.

Landau accused Coral of using his extended presence to support Colombia’s far-left government while attacking American immigration enforcement.

Coral even accused United States authorities of operating “concentration camps,” while his case helped illustrate how a temporary visit can become a decade of residence.

Revoking a visa would not automatically result in immediate deportation for every affected person.

Foreigners with pending asylum cases could remain in immigration proceedings, but they would lose the separate visitor status that originally allowed them into the country.

That distinction fits Trump’s wider effort to connect visa enforcement, asylum reviews, work authorization, and deportation into one functioning system.

For years, bureaucratic silos helped temporary visitors transform short stays into effectively indefinite residence, with taxpayers left watching the legal carousel spin.

The State Department has already revoked roughly 175,000 visas during the past 18 months.

Many of those cases involved foreign nationals accused or convicted of drunken driving, robbery, rape, and other serious offenses that should make continued admission an easy question.

The guiding principle is refreshingly simple. Entry into the United States is a privilege, not an entitlement handed out forever to anyone who crosses the border, violates visa terms, commits crimes, or finds a clever bureaucratic loophole.

The administration has applied similar scrutiny to birth tourism, in which foreign women allegedly use temporary visas to enter the country, give birth, and secure American citizenship for their children.

Trump has also pursued restrictions on birthright citizenship, although courts have blocked several of those efforts.

Work authorization represents another major pressure point because asylum applicants can eventually become eligible for legal employment.

Even a weak claim may therefore provide years of access to the American labor market while overloaded immigration courts slowly process enormous backlogs.

Commercial trucking exposed the consequences of that arrangement, since asylum applicants with federal employment authorization had been eligible for commercial driver licenses issued to people without permanent state residence.

Federal regulators tightened those rules earlier this year as concerns about enforcement and public safety intensified.

Indian nationals were among the groups recording a dramatic increase in asylum applications during the Biden administration.

Homeland Security figures showed filings from Indian citizens soaring from 4,330 in fiscal 2021 to 41,030 in fiscal 2023.

If officials ultimately revoke 200,000 visas, the move will signal that Trump’s immigration agenda extends far beyond the physical border.

America will decide who enters, who remains, and whether temporary admission has been abused as a one-way ticket to permanent residence.


Scroll to Top