Author name: Robert Walsh

‘There’s Never Been a Situation Like This,’ Halperin Tells Megyn Kelly About Vance 2028
News

‘There’s Never Been a Situation Like This,’ Halperin Tells Megyn Kelly About Vance 2028

/

Vice President J.D. Vance received overwhelming support for a potential 2028 presidential run during a live taping of The Megyn Kelly Show in Fort Worth, Texas, earlier this week. The event, part of Kelly’s national tour, featured several prominent conservative figures and drew a large audience to Dickies Arena.

During the discussion, which was released Friday as a podcast episode, Kelly and her guests debated the political landscape looking ahead to the 2028 election.

Panelists included media host Glenn Beck and political analyst Mark Halperin, among others.

The conversation turned to Vice President Vance’s prospects as a future presidential candidate and his standing within the Republican Party as President Donald Trump’s running mate and second-in-command.

Kelly noted that President Trump has occasionally mentioned both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when asked about potential successors but questioned whether any other candidate could seriously challenge the vice president in a Republican primary.

“Trump gets asked this question, he says, yeah JD, yes, or Marco. He always throws Marco in there, who we love. But is there realistically any way that Marco gets it over JD?” Kelly asked.

Halperin then turned to the audience to gauge their views.

“I’m going to ask you all to vote by show of hands. If you’re uncomfortable voting in front of the others, you can close your eyes as you vote. Raise your hand if you’d like JD Vance to be the nominee,” he said.

The response was immediate.

The audience erupted into cheers, and a wave of raised hands filled the arena.

Halperin followed up by asking who would prefer another candidate.

“Okay, next to no one, right?” he said after observing only a few hands raised in the crowd.

Halperin noted the unprecedented level of enthusiasm for a sitting vice president so far ahead of an election cycle.

He compared Vance’s position within the Republican Party to past vice presidents who struggled to consolidate early support.

“There’s never been a situation like this,” Halperin said.

“Incumbent vice president, Bush 41, Reagan’s vice president. Not only did Reagan not endorse him until after the nomination fight was over, but literally at the endorsement event, you can go watch it on YouTube on C-SPAN, he called him, ‘I’m here to endorse my vice president, George Bosch.’ So he mispronounced his name.”

Halperin continued, referencing other administrations.

“Clinton made his life miserable. When Biden was vice president, Obama said, ‘sorry, I’m endorsing Hillary.’ We’ve never had an incumbent vice president with the full support to do all the things he does — overseas trips, domestic trips, political operation, finance chair of the Republican National Committee.”

Polling data supports the sentiment expressed at the Fort Worth event.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Vice President Vance currently holds a dominant lead in early 2028 hypothetical matchups, with an advantage of 36.7 percentage points over his nearest potential challenger.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the presidency in 2024, trails with 10.3 percent support.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows at 9.3 percent.

Rubio has publicly praised Vance’s leadership and suggested he would support him should he pursue the presidency.

Speaking to Fox News in July, Rubio said, “Well I think J.D. Vance would be a great nominee. And if, you know, if he decides he wants to do that. And so, you know, I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend and I hope he intends to do it.”

The discussion in Fort Worth highlighted the growing confidence among conservatives in Vice President Vance’s political trajectory as President Trump’s second term progresses.

With strong polling, early public enthusiasm, and support from key Republican figures, Vance’s potential candidacy is shaping up as a dominant force ahead of the 2028 election cycle.

Democrats Engineered SNAP Shutdown Chaos Backfires as Country Shifts Against Them
News

Democrats Engineered SNAP Shutdown Chaos Backfires as Country Shifts Against Them

/

Pollster Matt Towery said Friday that Democrats’ attempts to generate outrage over disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be backfiring as the government shutdown continues.

His comments came during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” where he discussed the political fallout from the lapse in food aid funding.

Democrats have blocked a temporary funding measure that would restore the program, which provides assistance to more than 40 million Americans.

Towery said the effort to leverage the shutdown’s impact on SNAP for political gain is beginning to fail with the public.

“I think the public is just now beginning to hear the information about how many people who are receiving food stamps, who simply are not from this country and came into the country illegally,” Towery told host Laura Ingraham.

“And I think as more of this information comes out, you’ll see more resentment for that aspect. Now there’s always been a sympathy among voters for the social safety net. And I just want to add one thing about what the Democrats were doing.”

Towery said the plan to weaponize the issue may be producing the opposite result.

“I don’t know that these decisions by these judges are helping them because the Democrats really wanted people to not get this assistance and be up in arms and very upset, and cause more turmoil over the next week,” he said.

“And these judges have stepped in and said, ‘Oh well, we think we’re going to feed you. How we’re going to do it. I don’t quite know.’ I do think that we’re seeing a change in public opinion towards all of these benefits.”

Towery added that a broader political shift may be taking shape, particularly among younger Americans who are entering the workforce and reassessing their views on government programs.

“There’s a slow shift. You won’t see it from the legacy pollsters, and you won’t hear from the legacy media. But the country is beginning to shift. And I think it starts with the youngest of voters, the ones who are having to get out there and make money and find jobs,” he said.

Two federal judges ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must access a contingency fund to keep SNAP operating amid the ongoing shutdown.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that the $5 billion reserve would be used to temporarily sustain benefits, though she noted the funds would not cover even half of November’s needs if the government remains closed.

“While these funds will allow us to continue operations in the short term, they are not a long-term solution,” Rollins said in a statement.

She added that without congressional cooperation, SNAP and other nutrition programs could face serious shortfalls before the end of the month.

The Department of Agriculture has previously warned that reallocation of funds outside legal parameters is restricted.

However, the administration has already redirected certain tariff revenues and leftover Pentagon research funding to maintain payments for military personnel and continue the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) nutrition program.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he directed White House attorneys to seek a court ruling clarifying whether the administration can lawfully extend SNAP funding during the shutdown.

He accused Democrats of deliberately blocking relief for millions of Americans dependent on the program and said his administration would act immediately once given legal approval.

According to the Department of Agriculture, SNAP serves roughly 42 million Americans each month at a cost of about $9.2 billion.

Off-Duty Deputy Shoots Suspect Trying to Enter Car With His Baby Inside
News

Off-Duty Deputy Shoots Suspect Trying to Enter Car With His Baby Inside

/

A fatal shooting occurred Friday afternoon in Atascocita, Texas, after an off-duty Harris County sheriff’s deputy opened fire on a man who allegedly tried to enter his vehicle while his young child sat inside, officials said.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the incident took place around 2:45 p.m. northeast of downtown Houston.

The deputy had contacted 911 to report that he had a suspect at gunpoint before the shooting occurred.

Maj. Ben Katrib told reporters that the deputy had just placed his child in a car seat when an unknown man, later identified as 27-year-old Darrius Williams, allegedly attempted to open the vehicle’s door.

The deputy reportedly issued multiple verbal commands, which Williams ignored before opening the passenger-side door.

Katrib said the deputy fired several shots, striking Williams multiple times.

Emergency responders provided medical aid at the scene, but Williams was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to FOX 26 Houston.

Authorities said the deputy and his child were unharmed.

The deputy’s name has not been released.

It remains unclear how many shots were fired or whether Williams had a weapon at the time.

Williams’ mother, Tieneeshia Williams, told FOX 26 that her son had been released from jail just one day earlier and had been struggling with mental health issues.

She said her son was taken into custody Thursday night after being stopped for walking into oncoming traffic.

“Last night they picked him up for walking into oncoming traffic and ran his name. So he had a warrant for failure to appear from the last episode,” she told FOX 26.

“The officer called me when she was there with him on the scene and asked me a lot of questions, and I said, ‘Ma’am, why don’t you just take him to the psychiatric ward. He’s walking into traffic.’ She said, ‘Oh no, we’re going to deal with this warrant, he’s going to jail.’”

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that both the department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office have launched separate investigations into the shooting.

Maj. Katrib said the deputy immediately notified dispatch and remained on scene until responding officers arrived.

Sources told FOX 26 that a Ring doorbell camera in the area may have recorded the confrontation, and investigators are reviewing the footage as part of their inquiry.

Authorities said the evidence gathered will be forwarded to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a grand jury, which will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Sheriff Gonzalez said that the deputy involved is a current employee of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and that his actions are being reviewed in accordance with standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.

CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins Fact-Checks Rep. Jasmine Crockett Over False Trump Ballroom Claim
News

CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins Fact-Checks Rep. Jasmine Crockett Over False Trump Ballroom Claim

/

CNN host Kaitlan Collins corrected Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) on-air Monday night after the congresswoman repeated a false claim that President Donald Trump’s top priority during the government shutdown was the construction of a new White House ballroom, as reported by The New York Post.

The exchange took place on The Source, when Crockett was asked about the ongoing shutdown but shifted the discussion to criticize Trump’s East Wing renovation project.

WASHINGTON D.C., USA – FEBRUARY 4, 2025: Kaitlan Collins speaks ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump news conference in the East Room of the White House.

“The president has time to do everything but what he needs to focus on,” Crockett said. “In fact, we heard the press secretary say his main priority is the ballroom — the ballroom that no one asked for. The ballroom that requires him to destroy historic pieces of the White House.”

Collins interjected to correct the record, explaining that Crockett’s comment misrepresented a previous statement by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“Yeah, and that context of the comment from Karoline Leavitt — she was asked if the president was working on any other renovations when it came to the White House,” Collins said. “And she was saying his focus was the ballroom.”

The fact-check followed several days of confusion over remarks Leavitt made during an October 23 White House briefing, which were later circulated in a misleading clip by Acyn Torabi of MeidasTouch, a progressive media outlet.

During that briefing, Leavitt was asked whether President Trump was pursuing “any other renovations or significant projects” beyond the new ballroom and Rose Garden patio.

She responded, “Not to my knowledge, no. But he’s a builder at heart, clearly. And so his heart and his mind is always churning about how to improve things here on the White House grounds. But at this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president’s main priority.”

Torabi’s edited version omitted the question’s context and only included the line, “At this moment in time, the ballroom is really the president’s main priority.”

The shortened clip received over two million views on X and was shared widely by Democratic officials and commentators, who accused President Trump of focusing on “vanity projects” while government operations remained halted.

Among those reacting were California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). Newsom posted, “Good to know.” Schumer wrote, “Honestly, you can’t make this sh*t up.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer holds a can of insect repellant as he speaks outside the county health department offices in Pomona Oct. 9, 2024. Schumer, along with Rockland County Executive Ed Day, was on hand to talk about mosquito control and the danger of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the potentially fatal virus that humans can contract through the bite of an infected mosquito.

The viral post was later debunked by multiple outlets that clarified Leavitt had been referring solely to ongoing renovation work, not the president’s governing priorities. The ballroom project — estimated to cost around $300 million — is being funded entirely by private donors, according to the White House.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) joined other critics in suggesting that future Democratic administrations should “tear down” the ballroom if elected.

Crockett’s office has not commented on her remarks or the correction issued during the interview. She told Collins during the segment that she had “no idea” when the shutdown might end.

Kamala Harris Grilled by Reporter, Called Out for ‘World-Class Pivot’ to Avoid Answering Question
News

Kamala Harris Grilled by Reporter, Called Out for ‘World-Class Pivot’ to Avoid Answering Question

/

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was pressed by an Australian journalist this week after repeatedly avoiding questions about former President Joe Biden’s health and her own role in his administration, prompting the interviewer to accuse her of delivering a “world-class pivot,” as reported by Fox News.

During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Sarah Ferguson, Harris was questioned about her responsibility for not addressing public concerns over Biden’s cognitive and physical health during his presidency.

The exchange took place during Harris’s international tour promoting her new memoir, 107 Days, which recounts her brief 2024 presidential campaign.

Two days before Election Day, U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate Kamala Harris answers questions about Republican Nominee Donald Trump’s recent comments about election fraud and discounting the vote after speaking at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ and stops in the chapel to talk the media after and answer a few questions in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

“Didn’t you also have a responsibility?” Ferguson asked. “You were one of the people in the room…. Didn’t you have a responsibility as an American to step up and say something at that point?”

“I did not question Joe Biden’s capacity to be president at all,” Harris said.

Ferguson followed up, pressing Harris on whether Biden’s alleged refusal to acknowledge his own limitations had placed her in an “impossible position” during the election.

Harris shifted the discussion toward her campaign against President Donald Trump, claiming she ran against him because of what she called “misrepresentations” to voters.

Interrupting, Ferguson responded:

“I want to interrupt you because that is a world-class pivot, but it is not the question that I asked you, which is about Joe Biden’s failure to recognize his own frailties and what that did to you. The question is about Joe Biden. Are you still reluctant to criticize the former president?”

“In what regard, please?” Harris replied, asking Ferguson to clarify.

Ferguson then asked whether Biden’s inability to acknowledge his age and condition had hindered her during the 2024 election cycle. “He was not frail as president of the United States,” Harris insisted.

“But he had frailties,” Ferguson shot back. “We all saw the debate.”

“I do believe that Joe Biden had the capacity to be president of the United States, and I have never doubted that he had the capacity to be president of the United States,” Harris said.

“If you want to talk about whether he had the ability to endure what a race for president of the United States would require in that political environment in 2024, as I’ve said in the book, I had concerns.”

When Ferguson asked whether Harris was being less candid in the interview than she had been in her book, Harris pushed back. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have written the book if I didn’t want to be frank about that,” she said.

The exchange ended with Ferguson asking, “Does it make you angry that former President Biden still says he would have won?”

“I… am focused on the present,” Harris responded, declining to elaborate.

The tense back-and-forth quickly spread online, with clips of the “world-class pivot” exchange gaining traction across social media platforms following the interview’s airing earlier this week.

Massachusetts Dem Governor’s Deputy Busted, Over 20 Kilos of Cocaine Seized
News

Massachusetts Dem Governor’s Deputy Busted, Over 20 Kilos of Cocaine Seized

/

A staffer for Democratic Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey was arrested and charged with drug trafficking following the seizure of more than 20 kilograms of cocaine by state authorities.

LaMar Cook, 45, who served as deputy director of Healey’s western Massachusetts office since 2023, was charged with trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced Wednesday.

Authorities said Cook was taken into custody Tuesday during a traffic stop, three days after investigators carried out a controlled delivery operation of eight kilograms of cocaine to the Springfield State Office Building, where Cook worked.

According to the district attorney’s office, multiple parcels totaling roughly 21 kilograms of cocaine have been seized by Massachusetts State Police as part of the ongoing investigation into Cook.

Additional parcels containing about 13 kilograms of the drug were previously recovered at the Hotel UMass in Amherst, where Cook had been employed before joining the governor’s office.

“Evidence collected during that operation was consistent with the narcotics recovered during the most recent controlled delivery in Springfield,” Gulluni said in a statement.

Cook was arraigned Wednesday in Springfield District Court and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His bail was set at $25,000.

A LinkedIn profile under Cook’s name described his duties as serving as a key liaison between the state government and western Massachusetts.

“In this role, I effectively manage and coordinate government initiatives and policies in 4 counties,” the profile stated.

Following the arrest, a spokesperson for Governor Healey confirmed that Cook had been terminated from his position.

“The governor’s office has been made aware of the arrest of an employee, Lamar Cook. The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust,” the statement said.

“Mr. Cook has been terminated from his position effective immediately. This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work.”

District Attorney Gulluni said Cook’s arrest followed weeks of coordinated surveillance operations and investigative work by the Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement agencies.

The drugs were discovered after authorities tracked suspicious packages and intercepted shipments believed to be linked to Cook.

The Springfield State Office Building, where the controlled delivery occurred, houses several state agencies and is a hub for western Massachusetts government operations.

Investigators said no other state employees have been charged in connection with the case, but the probe remains active.

Cook’s arrest drew swift reaction from political figures across Massachusetts, including Republicans challenging Healey in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Mike Kennealy, a Republican former state official, criticized Healey’s administration on X, writing, “Healey has lost control of every aspect of her administration. When I’m Governor, we’ll clean up the mess that Maura Healey created.”

Brian Shortsleeve, former head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, also condemned the incident.

“A top aide to Gov. Maura Healey is a drug trafficker. This is beyond shocking,” he wrote.

“This is a reflection not just on our governor and her failed leadership and management skills, but on our entire state, and we shouldn’t tolerate it. Gov. Healey owes Massachusetts an explanation.”

Authorities have not released further details on whether additional arrests are expected.

Cook remains free on bail pending a pretrial hearing in Springfield District Court later this month.

Former Japanese Prime Minister’s Accused Assassin Pleads Guilty in Japan as Trump Meets New Prime Minister
News

Former Japanese Prime Minister’s Accused Assassin Pleads Guilty in Japan as Trump Meets New Prime Minister

/

The man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty on Tuesday, the same day President Donald Trump visited Japan and met with the country’s new leader, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as reported by Fox News.

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, appeared at the Nara District Court, where he admitted to shooting Abe in 2022 during a campaign speech.

“It is all true. There is no doubt that I have done all this,” Yamagami told the judge, according to The Japan Times. He added that he would consult with his attorneys on legal matters.

Prosecutors allege Yamagami used a homemade firearm to kill Abe because he held a grudge against the Unification Church, which he believed was connected to the late leader and other Japanese politicians.

Yamagami’s mother had reportedly donated large sums to the church, leading to the family’s financial ruin.

While Yamagami acknowledged his role in the killing, his defense team disputed parts of the indictment, arguing that the homemade weapon used in the shooting did not meet the legal definition of a firearm under Japanese law at the time.

The law was amended following Abe’s assassination. The trial, being held in Nara, is expected to conclude by mid-December, according to Japan’s Kyodo News agency.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister since World War II, was 67 when he was fatally shot during a campaign event in July 2022. His death shocked the country and the world.

President Trump, who was in office during much of Abe’s tenure, released a statement at the time calling the news “really bad for the world.”

“Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in 2022.

“He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan. Shinzo Abe will be greatly missed. There will never be another like him.”

Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday for meetings with Prime Minister Takaichi, who took office earlier this month after the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba.

Takaichi, 64, is Japan’s first female prime minister and a longtime ally of Abe’s policies, including efforts to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution and strengthen its national defense.

During their joint appearance, Trump praised Takaichi as “a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend.” He described the U.S.–Japan partnership as entering a “golden age” and promised strong cooperation on trade, security, and defense.

“Anything you want, any favors you need, anything… to help Japan,” Trump told her, according to the BBC.

The two leaders signed new trade and rare earths agreements aimed at deepening economic and strategic ties between the nations.

Speaking aboard the USS George Washington at Japan’s Yokosuka Naval Base, Trump announced that “the first batch of missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets will arrive this week.”

Takaichi said Japan was “committed to fundamentally reinforcing its defense capability” and “ready to contribute even more proactively to peace and stability in the region.” Trump called the U.S.–Japan alliance “one of the most remarkable relationships in the entire world.”

Comer Blasts Biden’s Autopen Signings, Urges DOJ Investigation and Doctors’ Review
News

Comer Blasts Biden’s Autopen Signings, Urges DOJ Investigation and Doctors’ Review

/

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is calling on the Department of Justice to launch a comprehensive investigation into former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen and the broader handling of executive actions during his time in office.

The demand follows the release of a detailed 100-page report Tuesday morning from the committee’s Republican majority.

The report focuses on what it describes as efforts by Biden’s inner circle to conceal signs of his cognitive decline, including whether official documents were signed via autopen without the former president’s full awareness.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month event held at the White House. President Joe Biden speaks at the event. Washington DC USA. 05.14.2024

“Faced with the cognitive decline of President Joe Biden, White House aides — at the direction of the inner circle — hid the truth about the former president’s condition and fitness for office,” the report stated.

Comer’s report also highlighted what it described as a “haphazard documentation process” for presidential pardons, suggesting that in some cases, there may be uncertainty as to whether Biden personally authorized the actions in question.

“In the absence of sufficient contemporaneous documentation indicating that cognitively deteriorating President Biden himself made a given executive decision, such decisions do not carry the force of law and should be considered void,” the report continued.

The Oversight Committee urged the Department of Justice to review all executive actions taken during Biden’s term, from January 20, 2021, through January 19, 2025.

“Given the patterns and findings detailed herein, this review should focus particularly on all acts of clemency. However, it should also include all other types of executive actions,” the report said.

The investigation also examined Hunter Biden’s alleged involvement in the pardon process.

Fox News Digital previously reported that former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients told committee investigators that Hunter Biden was present for discussions about several pardons, including those granted to relatives.

“It was towards the end,” Zients said in a transcript excerpt included in the report.

“What comes to mind is the family discussions. But I don’t know — that doesn’t mean that was it. It was the pardons towards the end, very end of the administration. And I think it was a few meetings, not many meetings.”

According to the Oversight report, “Zients testified that President Biden included his son, Hunter Biden, in the decision-making process for and meetings about pardons.”

Washington DC USA – July 26, 2024 – President Biden, wearing Team USA Olympic jacket and accompanied by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, boards Marine One for a weekend at Camp David

The document also claimed those discussions included potential pardons for five Biden family members, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members of Congress who served on the January 6 Select Subcommittee, along with their staff.

Over a three-month period, the committee interviewed 14 witnesses, including several long-serving Biden aides. Despite nearly 47 hours of interviews and depositions, Comer said that not one witness acknowledged having any concerns about Biden’s cognitive health.

“Throughout the Committee’s investigation, senior Biden White House aides presented a perspective of President Biden’s cognitive health completely disconnected from that of the American public,” the report said.

“Not one of the Committee’s 14 witnesses was willing to admit that they ever had a concern about President Biden being in cognitive decline. In fact, numerous witnesses could not recall having a single conversation about President Biden’s cognitive health with anyone inside or outside of the White House.”

The committee’s findings also criticized Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who served as White House physician during Biden’s presidency. O’Connor invoked his Fifth Amendment right to nearly every question during his deposition, responding only to confirm his name.

Comer has asked the D.C. Health Board of Medicine to investigate O’Connor’s actions and determine whether disciplinary action is warranted.

The report described O’Connor’s decision not to conduct a cognitive exam on Biden as “reckless” and accused him of issuing “grossly misleading medical assessments.”

It added, “His refusal to answer questions about the execution of his duties as physician to the president — combined with testimony indicating that Dr. O’Connor may have succumbed to political pressure from the inner circle, influencing his medical decisions and aiding in the cover-up — legitimizes the public’s concerns that Dr. O’Connor was not forthright in carrying out his ultimate duties to the country.”

Comer’s letter accompanying the report recommended that the Board of Medicine review whether O’Connor produced “false or misleading medical reports to the American people.”

The Biden Autopen Presidency Decline, Delusion, and Deception in the White House 

O’Connor’s legal team told Fox News Digital that he invoked the Fifth Amendment to protect doctor-patient confidentiality.

Biden allies have denounced the report as politically motivated.

Some former officials who spoke to the committee said public concerns about Biden’s mental acuity were amplified by media coverage and Republican commentary following his widely criticized June 2024 debate performance against President Donald Trump.

In a July interview with The New York Times, Biden said he “made every decision” on his own while in office.

Transgender Indiana Teen to Plead Guilty in Planned Valentine’s Day School Shooting Plot
News

Transgender Indiana Teen to Plead Guilty in Planned Valentine’s Day School Shooting Plot

/

An 18-year-old transgender-identifying female from Indiana has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to a planned mass shooting targeting her former high school, according to prosecutors.

Authorities say the teenager, identified as Trinity “Jamie” Shockley, built a shrine in her bedroom honoring Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz.

The Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Shockley will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. The plea agreement, filed on October 24, calls for a prison sentence of up to 12 and a half years, followed by five years of probation.

Investigators said Shockley had been plotting to carry out a mass shooting on Valentine’s Day, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, high school massacre that killed 17 people.

Police said the suspect was “in love” with Cruz and had spent months researching mass shootings and communicating admiration for previous attackers.

Authorities began investigating in February after receiving a tip that Shockley had access to an AR-15-style rifle, had purchased a bulletproof vest, and had expressed an obsession with mass shooters.

Officers from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the teen’s home, where they discovered detailed plans for an attack and a bedroom shrine dedicated to Cruz and other perpetrators of school shootings.

Investigators also found writings and digital files outlining plans for a Valentine’s Day assault on Shockley’s former school. Law enforcement officials said the evidence included online discussions, maps, and timelines suggesting the suspect intended to mark the Parkland anniversary with a copycat attack.

Following the arrest, Shockley was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, intimidation, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Under the terms of the plea deal, Shockley will face strict post-release conditions, including a permanent ban on firearm ownership and a requirement to abstain from any online searches or research related to school shooters.

The agreement also mandates ongoing internet monitoring through accountability software.

In addition, Shockley must undergo mental health counseling and pay for all associated treatment costs. The court has scheduled the formal plea hearing for November 24.

Morgan County prosecutors said the plea agreement reflects the seriousness of the charges while ensuring the defendant will remain under supervision and treatment after release. Authorities credited the initial tipster for helping prevent what they described as a potentially catastrophic school shooting.

Police reports indicate that Shockley’s case drew comparisons to several other instances in which young individuals fixated on previous mass shooters.

In this case, investigators found what they described as “disturbing personal writings” and multiple online communications that celebrated Cruz and other attackers.

Officials said the investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement reviews Shockley’s online activity to determine whether anyone else was aware of or involved in the planning.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the case underscores the importance of public vigilance and early reporting of threats. “Tips from the public are often the first line of defense in stopping tragedies like this before they occur,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Shockley remains in custody pending the formal plea hearing, where the court will determine final sentencing and probationary terms.

Biden Declares ‘Dark Days’ Under Trump, Praises Late-Night Hosts as Heroes
News

Biden Declares ‘Dark Days’ Under Trump, Praises Late-Night Hosts as Heroes

/

Joe Biden delivered a speech in Boston on Sunday night describing the current political climate as “dark days” under President Donald Trump and urging Americans to “get back up” by standing with late-night television hosts, whom he called “brave moral exemplars” of free speech.

Biden, 82, spoke publicly for the first time since completing a round of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The Associated Press reported that he appeared at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to accept its Lifetime Achievement Award and used the occasion to issue a pointed warning about what he described as the erosion of democratic norms during Trump’s administration.

“Since its founding, America served as a beacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in the history of the world,” Biden said.

“The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than any dictator.”

Biden told the audience that the nation’s strength depends on the separation of powers and the balance among its governing institutions.

“America depends on a presidency with limited power, a functioning Congress and an autonomous judiciary,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing government shutdown—the second-longest in U.S. history—Biden accused Trump of using the funding lapse “as a way to exercise new command over the government.”

Biden framed his message around themes of resilience, warning that the country was facing one of the most challenging periods in its modern history.

“Friends, I can’t sugar coat any of this. These are dark days,” he said.

“But we will find our true compass again and emerge as we always have — stronger, wiser and more resilient, more just, so long as we keep the faith.”

The former president, who has largely remained out of the public eye during his cancer treatment, has continued to speak critically of Trump’s leadership since leaving office.

In his remarks Sunday, Biden pointed to cultural figures, particularly late-night television hosts, as examples of individuals who he said are keeping the spirit of free speech alive despite public backlash and declining ratings.

“The late night hosts continue to shine a light on free speech knowing their careers are on the line,” Biden said.

He praised them for what he described as their willingness to speak out even as entertainment media faces diminished influence in political life.

Biden’s comments came amid renewed tensions in Washington, where congressional negotiations over funding have stalled and the government shutdown continues with no resolution in sight.

He tied his criticism of Trump’s handling of the shutdown to broader concerns about the health of American democracy, telling the audience that the nation’s founding ideals are being tested.

According to the Associated Press, Biden appeared composed but spoke in somber tones throughout the address.

He concluded by repeating a message of perseverance that has become a recurring theme in his public remarks. “Get back up,” he told the audience, receiving a standing ovation as he ended his speech.

The event marked Biden’s first major public appearance since undergoing cancer treatment earlier this fall.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute said the Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Biden’s “decades of public service and commitment to democratic values.”


Scroll to Top