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TikTok Users Threaten Looting and Violence as Food Stamp Funds Run Dry
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TikTok Users Threaten Looting and Violence as Food Stamp Funds Run Dry

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Social media videos circulating on TikTok show users urging theft and violence as federal food stamp benefits face interruption because of the ongoing government shutdown, raising alarms among law enforcement and Republican critics who say the posts threaten public safety.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned this month that SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — will not have sufficient funds to cover full November benefits for roughly 42 million people across the country because of the “current lapse in appropriations.”

The announcement prompted an outpouring of clips on TikTok and other platforms in which users celebrate or promote looting, fighting and other criminal conduct should benefits fail to arrive.

In one widely shared video a man, irate over what he described as increased loss-prevention staff at a major retailer, urged viewers to resist store security and help others take goods.

“It just became ‘Help People Steal’ November. It just became ‘Help People Live’ November,” the man says in the clip.

“People deserve to eat, I dont give a fuck about Walmart’s profit margins. I personally will hold back a security guard. I will fight back a security guard if they try to stop someone from stealing food they need to fucking live.”

Other posts collected by reporters and law-enforcement monitors include threats and taunts directed at private citizens and public institutions.

One woman in a video threatened to “hunt” down white people and cannibalize them if food-stamp payments do not arrive, while another urged looting of stores that limit in-person shopping, adding the phrase “fuck Trump” in the video.

Users have also posted taunting calls to action.

One clip’s caption reads “time to start LOOTING,” while a young woman said she would “go to the White House and start windmilling,” adding, “Everybody getting slapped,” and naming “babies” and “Trump” among those she would hit.

In a separate post, a user wrote, “We robbing White people on 11/1,” and in video urged viewers to “clutch” their purses.

Several videos show users boasting about shoplifting success. In one, a woman pulls out allegedly stolen items from a designer handbag; in another, a woman displays the size of her purse as proof of how many stolen items she can carry.

A young man in one video declared, “Stealing is never wrong,” as he discussed the prospect of SNAP benefits pausing.

Local and federal law-enforcement officials have said they are monitoring social-media threats tied to the SNAP pause and the broader shutdown.

Some retailers have increased loss-prevention staffing and adjusted store policies to reduce the risk of theft.

Authorities have warned that incitement to violence and organized theft are criminal offenses and that those who post threats or coordinate criminal activity online could face prosecution.

Republican lawmakers called attention to the social-media posts as evidence of the consequences they say flow from Democrats’ stewardship of federal spending decisions.

Conservative critics argue the threats underscore the need for swift legislative action to restore appropriations and avoid disruptions to benefit programs.

USDA officials have not specified the precise timeline for addressing the funding shortfall but said in a public notice that the agency expects “insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits” unless Congress acts to end the lapse in appropriations.

With roughly 42 million people enrolled in SNAP, the agency’s notice prompted immediate attention from both advocacy groups and political leaders who warned of potential hardship if payments are delayed.

Retailers and local officials are preparing contingency plans to protect stores and communities should shoplifting and looting increase.

Law-enforcement agencies urged store employees and shoppers to avoid confrontations and report threats to authorities.

The social-media clips have drawn condemnation from a range of public-safety officials and politicians who say the posts amount to irresponsible encouragement of criminal conduct.

Investigations into particular accounts and videos are ongoing as officials assess whether coordinated criminal activity is being organized through social platforms.

Four ‘Republicans’ Side with Democrats in Attempt to Block Trump’s Canada Tariffs
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Four ‘Republicans’ Side with Democrats in Attempt to Block Trump’s Canada Tariffs

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The Senate voted Wednesday evening to approve a resolution blocking President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, marking a symbolic challenge to the administration’s ongoing trade policies.

The measure, led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, passed with bipartisan support.

Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats in voting to terminate the national emergency declaration that serves as the legal foundation for the tariffs.

The resolution followed Tuesday’s separate vote to overturn Trump’s 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, which passed with support from five Republicans.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis voted in favor of the Brazil measure but opposed the effort to block the tariffs on Canada. Both resolutions required a simple majority to pass.

“Massive tariffs on close trading partners such as Brazil and Canada are ill-advised abuses of presidential power that will make Americans poorer,” Kaine and Paul wrote in a joint op-ed for The Washington Post on Wednesday.

“Further, Trump is misusing an unrelated emergency statute to do it. His reckless, unconstitutional actions risk sending our country full steam ahead into economic chaos.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement explaining his vote in favor of the resolution, citing the impact of tariffs on consumers and his state’s farming sector.

“These tariffs have increased prices for Kentucky families and hurt our agriculture industry,” McConnell said.

Despite the Senate’s vote, the resolution is unlikely to advance further.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is not expected to bring the measure to the floor for a vote, effectively halting its progress.

The Senate’s action comes in response to President Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Canadian imports to 35%, following an Ontario government-funded television advertisement that featured remarks by former President Ronald Reagan criticizing protectionist trade policies.

The ad included Reagan warning that tariffs “hurt every American worker and consumer.”

The Trump administration defended the tariffs as a necessary tool to rebalance trade relationships and protect U.S. manufacturing.

White House officials have maintained that Canada’s trade practices, particularly in the agricultural and steel sectors, have placed American workers at a disadvantage.

Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking to reporters Tuesday after a Senate Republican luncheon, urged party members to support the president’s approach.

“Tariffs give us the ability to put American workers first,” Vance said.

“They force American industry to reinvest in the United States of America instead of a foreign country. They’re also incredible leverage for the president of the United States in negotiating these trade deals overseas.”

The Senate previously voted to nullify the president’s emergency declaration tied to tariffs on Canada earlier this year.

Paul, McConnell, Murkowski, and Collins also joined Democrats in that vote, citing similar concerns about executive overreach and economic fallout.

Administration officials argue that the tariffs are part of a broader strategy to counter what they describe as unfair trade practices and to strengthen domestic production.

President Trump has defended his decision to invoke emergency powers under existing trade law, stating that tariffs are a temporary measure designed to encourage new negotiations with allies and competitors alike.

Lawmakers expect additional votes related to the president’s trade authority later this week.

A bipartisan group of Senate Democrats, along with Paul, is preparing to introduce another resolution aimed at ending the emergency powers that justify the administration’s global baseline tariffs.

The White House has not indicated whether President Trump would veto any legislation limiting his tariff authority.

The administration’s trade team has said the current policy is vital to maintaining leverage in ongoing negotiations with both allied and rival nations.

Purple-Haired Dem Lawmaker Freaks Out on House Floor Over SNAP Benefits
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Purple-Haired Dem Lawmaker Freaks Out on House Floor Over SNAP Benefits

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Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut sparked controversy on Tuesday after claiming that President Donald Trump was “illegally” blocking food stamp funds amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its fourth week.

DeLauro, 82, who has represented Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District since 1991, made the remarks during a House gathering as lawmakers remained deadlocked over federal spending.

The dispute has centered on appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to roughly 42 million Americans.

Speaking to reporters, DeLauro accused the Trump administration of failing to release SNAP payments from a contingency account.

She argued that the funds were legally obligated to be disbursed despite the shutdown.

“This administration is illegally blocking these funds,” DeLauro said.

“They are required by law to ensure these payments go out.”

However, officials familiar with the ongoing budget negotiations said the lapse in SNAP funding stems from the lack of an approved budget, not executive action.

Under current law, SNAP payments are dependent on annual congressional appropriations. With Democrats repeatedly voting against continuing resolutions to reopen the government, the program’s funding has stalled.

The dispute over SNAP payments has become a flashpoint in the broader budget impasse between the Republican-controlled White House and the Democratic-led Senate.

Democrats have voted against multiple House-passed funding measures since the shutdown began, citing opposition to proposed spending caps and policy riders.

Republicans have argued that the only obstacle to restoring federal payments, including SNAP, is the Senate’s refusal to advance appropriations bills.

“The solution is simple — reopen the government,” one House GOP lawmaker said.

“Democrats have voted no more than a dozen times on funding bills that would restore these payments. The president isn’t blocking the money. Congress is.”

House Republicans have repeatedly emphasized that the contingency fund DeLauro referenced was not designed to substitute for normal congressional appropriations.

The account is intended for short-term emergencies or natural disasters, not to finance programs indefinitely during a shutdown.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that SNAP benefits could run out as soon as early November if funding is not restored.

The agency said it lacks sufficient authority to draw from other accounts to maintain payments during the lapse in appropriations.

DeLauro’s remarks came as Democratic leaders sought to shift political blame for the shutdown to the White House.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has maintained that Democrats are standing firm to gain “leverage” in negotiations over budget priorities.

“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer said earlier this week.

Republican officials have countered that the strategy has backfired.

Polling data released this week shows an uptick in Republican approval ratings since the shutdown began, with GOP leaders attributing the shift to growing frustration with congressional gridlock.

As the standoff continues, federal employees and benefit recipients face uncertainty about when government operations will resume.

While negotiations are ongoing, both parties remain far apart on key spending provisions.

President Trump has said he will not approve any spending bill that fails to meet his administration’s fiscal and policy requirements, but he has not taken executive action to block SNAP payments.

Administration officials maintain that only Congress can authorize the release of additional funds.

The House and Senate are expected to reconvene later this week to continue negotiations on a short-term spending resolution that could temporarily reopen federal agencies and restore benefit programs, including SNAP.

Antifa Finds Out as Feds Arrest Members Behind Attacks on ICE Agents in Two States
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Antifa Finds Out as Feds Arrest Members Behind Attacks on ICE Agents in Two States

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Federal authorities have announced a series of arrests connected to violent ambushes targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other law enforcement officers in California and Texas last summer.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that several individuals accused of organizing or participating in the attacks have been taken into custody in recent days, with others still at large.

The operations, carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Justice, stem from two high-profile incidents: the July 10 raid on a marijuana cultivation facility in Ventura County, California, and a separate July 4 ambush at an ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas.

Both incidents involved coordinated assaults on law enforcement personnel by organized groups, including members of Antifa-linked organizations and self-described “rapid response” networks.

According to court filings from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Ventura County incident occurred during a federal raid on the Glass House marijuana farm, where ICE and other federal agents discovered underage workers and detained more than 300 people.

Before the operation was completed, individuals affiliated with a local activist network known as VC Defensa were alerted to the raid through social media and arrived at the site to disrupt the operation.

VC Defensa, described by authorities as a volunteer organization that monitors ICE and DHS activity, reportedly mobilized a group of individuals who constructed makeshift barricades with farm machinery to block access to the facility.

Investigators said some participants carried weapons, while others used farm tools and rocks to attack federal vehicles.

Federal agents said one protester fired a handgun at officers.

Another suspect, identified as Isai Carrillo of Oxnard, California, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.

Prosecutors allege Carrillo and another individual, Virginia Reyes—who remains at large—threw large rocks at government vehicles during the confrontation.

Both face potential prison sentences of up to five years if convicted.

Officials said the same investigation led to additional arrests in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where several individuals were accused of attacking California Highway Patrol officers with rocks, bicycles, scooters, and incendiary materials during protests connected to immigration enforcement operations.

Ten people have been charged with obstructing and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder. Each count carries a maximum five-year federal prison term.

“While the Constitution protects the freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceably assemble, it does not provide for the freedom to assault federal officers, impede or obstruct federal officers or conspire to do so, or destroy government property,” said Eddy Wang, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Los Angeles.

Authorities said that during the Glass House confrontation, rioters damaged at least four government vehicles and injured one officer.

The Justice Department indicated that more arrests may follow as investigators analyze digital communications and surveillance footage from the scene.

In a related case in Texas, federal prosecutors confirmed progress in the ongoing investigation into the July 4 attack at the Prairieland ICE facility in Alvarado.

That incident involved members of the Socialist Rifle Association and the John Brown Gun Club, groups linked to Antifa activity in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

According to law enforcement sources, explosives were detonated outside the facility to lure officers into an ambush, during which a police officer was shot in the neck. The officer survived.

Eighteen people have been arrested in connection with the Texas plot, with two facing terrorism charges.

In recent days, another suspect—identified as 35-year-old Janette Goering of Carrollton, Texas—was arrested on state charges of aiding the commission of terrorism.

Goering, who authorities said used the alias “Anarchy Marie,” is accused of providing technical and material support to the group, including electronic devices designed to evade detection.

She allegedly supplied a Faraday bag to the cell’s leader, who authorities described as a self-styled extremist with ties to other anarchist organizations.

Officials said the Antifa-aligned network behind the Texas plot employed tactics similar to those used in the 2019 attack on an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington, in which an armed assailant attempted to ignite propane tanks and open fire on law enforcement officers.

Federal officials emphasized that the investigations into both the California and Texas incidents are ongoing and that additional arrests are expected.

Authorities said they intend to pursue the cases as examples of coordinated efforts to obstruct federal law enforcement and intimidate officers engaged in immigration and anti-trafficking operations.

The Justice Department reiterated that violence against law enforcement officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Assaulting or obstructing a federal officer is not protest—it is a felony,” one DOJ official said in a statement.

“Those who attack law enforcement in the name of political activism will be held accountable.”

Parents Groups Demand 50-State Audit to Eliminate DEI in Schools
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Parents Groups Demand 50-State Audit to Eliminate DEI in Schools

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Dozens of parental rights and education organizations are urging governors in all 50 states to conduct full audits of K–12 school policies and laws, warning that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, poor hiring practices, and violations of civil rights protections remain widespread in public education, as reported by Fox News.

The coordinated effort, led by Defending Education and joined by more than 20 parental rights groups, was outlined in a letter sent to every state and Washington, D.C.

The letter calls for state leaders to review and repeal provisions that promote race or sex-based preferences in hiring and programming, or that conflict with federal protections under Titles VI, VII, and IX of the Civil Rights Act or the Equal Protection Clause.

“It has become common practice for states to violate federal law in the name of diversity,” said Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications for Defending Education.

“With so many ideological bullies in state government and in our schools, cowardice and ignorance have ruled the day for far too long. State laws, regulations and practices that promote (and even require) race and sex-based discrimination must be exposed and eliminated. It’s time that every state cleans up the mess they’ve made in the name of DEI.”

The letter also highlights concerns about inadequate teacher vetting, referencing the recent resignation of Des Moines, Iowa, Superintendent Ian Roberts.

Roberts, who entered the U.S. illegally from Guyana, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September after a car chase. Homeland Security officials confirmed that Roberts had a “final order of removal and no work authorization” and was facing prior weapon possession charges from February 2020. A loaded handgun was also found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.

The groups warned that inadequate screening processes have also allowed teachers accused of child sexual abuse to remain in the system.

The letter cites research showing that abusive educators are often transferred to other districts and can victimize dozens of students before facing legal or professional consequences.

“Collective bargaining agreements negotiated between teacher unions and school districts are a key contributor to the problem,” the letter stated, adding that personnel records are often scrubbed to conceal misconduct.

Among the organizations signing the letter are School Boards for Academic Excellence, Parents Unite, Protective Parent Coalition, Conservative Ladies of America, Awake Illinois, Power2Parent, and Californians for Equal Rights Foundation.

The Trump administration previously issued an executive order targeting DEI practices across federal agencies, the military, and schools.

However, many institutions have since rebranded DEI departments under alternative names such as “belonging” or “inclusivity,” according to Defending Education’s findings.

“Our assessment of state education laws coast-to-coast reveals a troubling reality: many state laws are at odds with federal anti-discrimination provisions and are going to invite federal scrutiny,” said Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president and legal fellow at Defending Education.

“The Civil Rights Act’s mandates of equality in educational programs aren’t being realized in too many American classrooms.”

A report released earlier this year by Defending Education found that DEI consulting firms have collected over $123 million in taxpayer-funded contracts from K–12 schools across 40 states.

The group said those contracts spanned both red and blue states, including Florida, Alabama, California, and Washington.

“Public education is a state responsibility,” Defending Education wrote.

“Yet every state that accepts federal funds must follow federal civil rights law. Too many states are out of compliance … Our organizations are calling for ‘legal housekeeping’ to ensure that schools operate lawfully, transparently, and in the best interests of students and families.”

Sean Duffy is ‘Over It’ as Shutdown Drags On and Air Traffic Controllers Go Unpaid
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Sean Duffy is ‘Over It’ as Shutdown Drags On and Air Traffic Controllers Go Unpaid

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Air traffic controllers across the United States missed their first full paycheck on Tuesday as the government shutdown entered its 28th day, according to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, as reported by Fox News.

During an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Duffy said the situation is increasingly difficult for thousands of federal employees who continue working without pay. “Today is the first day that air traffic controllers don’t get any money,” he said.

Rep. Sean Duffy speaks during a President Donald J. Trump’s Make America Great Again Rally on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.

“The first day is hard, but the second day is even harder than that. And the third day. Because they have gas, they have childcare costs.”

Duffy shared that he had personally spoken to one controller who described the financial strain his family was facing.

“I had one controller tell me, ‘my 10-year-old daughter made the traveling volleyball team, and it cost hundreds of dollars. I had to tell her I couldn’t pay the money because I don’t have a check coming in. I have to put food on the table.'”

Duffy praised the professionalism of air traffic controllers who continue to show up to work without pay. “You are safe to fly because these controllers come in, they’re the most amazing professionals. They do their job, they keep you safe,” he said.

“But again, I don’t want them driving DoorDash. I don’t want them going to the food bank. I want them focused on keeping you safe.”

Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers are employed nationwide. They are classified as essential workers, which requires them to continue working during a government shutdown without pay until back pay is issued after the shutdown ends.

Many already work six-day weeks due to a long-standing shortage in the aviation workforce.

The Senate is expected to consider legislation this week from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would provide pay for air traffic controllers during the shutdown. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not yet brought the measure forward for a vote.

“We’ll see what the temperature is of our senators,” Thune said, noting that reopening the government would be the simplest way to restore full pay to all federal employees.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., dismissed Republican criticism of Democrats for failing to approve temporary funding measures.

“Air traffic controllers have been really admirable in coming to work and doing their job,” he told Fox News Digital, adding that Democrats oppose piecemeal bills that fund select parts of the government.

Cruz criticized Senate Democrats for blocking the proposal, calling their inaction “reckless.” “The Democrats not paying air traffic controllers is reckless,” Cruz said. “This is about keeping our skies safe and ensuring that the people doing the work are paid for it.”

The shutdown continues to impact multiple federal agencies as negotiations over broader funding legislation remain unresolved.

MSNBC Host Says No Democrat Called Trump Hitler — Facts Disagree
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MSNBC Host Says No Democrat Called Trump Hitler — Facts Disagree

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MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace said Monday she does not believe any Democrat has compared President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler — a claim that stands in contrast to years of documented statements from prominent Democrats and media figures drawing those very comparisons, as reported by Fox News.

During a discussion with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on her podcast “The Best People,” Wallace dismissed the notion that Democratic officials have likened Trump to the Nazi dictator.

Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker speaks to Nevada democrats during a “Brews + National Views” gathering at Craft Wine & Beer in Reno on Aug. 8, 2025.

The conversation centered on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, during which Pritzker — who is Jewish — said that he saw echoes of authoritarian behavior in government actions but stopped short of labeling Trump a modern-day Hitler.

“I’m not suggesting, I haven’t suggested Donald Trump is Hitler,” Pritzker said.

“I don’t think any Democrat has,” Wallace replied. “And I actually think it’s a smear that they project back onto critics.”

Wallace went on to reference past comments from Vice President JD Vance, recalling that he once questioned whether Trump could become “America’s Hitler.” She added, “The attacks on Donald Trump as a fascist came from three generals who worked for him.”

WASHINGTON – February 22, 2025: President Donald Trump arrives at the White House South Lawn on Marine One after his visit to CPAC.

Despite Wallace’s assertion, several high-profile Democrats have repeatedly invoked Hitler’s name when discussing Trump. In November 2023, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton compared Trump to Hitler during an appearance on “The View.”

Clinton said, “Hitler was duly elected. All of a sudden somebody with those tendencies, dictatorial, authoritarian tendencies, would be like ‘OK we’re gonna shut this down, we’re gonna throw these people in jail.’ Trump is telling us what he intends to do.”

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., has drawn similar parallels for years. In a 2019 interview, Clyburn said, “I can only equate one period of time with what we experience now, and that was what was going on in Germany around 1934.”

Asked directly by Fox News host Neil Cavuto whether he was comparing Trump to Hitler, Clyburn responded, “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I said the 1930s in Germany.”

Other Democrats have used similar rhetoric.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, recently referred to Trump as “Temu Hitler,” while former Rep. Beto O’Rourke compared Trump’s immigration stance to Nazi Germany in both 2019 and 2023, stating that “simply being elected does not make a person any less of a dictator.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks as MoveOn Political Action launches its nationwide Won’t Back Down Tour with a rally in Phoenix on Aug. 3, 2025.

Filmmaker Michael Moore made the comparison in his 2018 documentary Fahrenheit 11/9, overlaying Trump rally audio with historical footage of Hitler addressing a crowd. “You are making a foolish mistake if you do not at least take a look at history and the patterns of history,” Moore said.

Wallace herself has drawn comparisons in the past. Following a 2018 Trump rally in which he described himself as a “nationalist,” she remarked on-air, “I watch enough History Channel to know that they cheered at Hitler, too.”

The record shows that while Wallace attempted to distance Democrats from the comparison during her interview with Pritzker, many in her own party — including top officials and media allies — have long invoked Hitler’s name when criticizing Trump’s leadership.

Obama Reportedly Confronted Pelosi Over Early Kamala Endorsement After Biden’s Exit: ‘What the F*ck Did You Just Do?’
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Obama Reportedly Confronted Pelosi Over Early Kamala Endorsement After Biden’s Exit: ‘What the F*ck Did You Just Do?’

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Former President Barack Obama expressed frustration with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following her swift endorsement of then–Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race, according to a new book.

The account, detailed in Retribution by ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, describes Obama as being caught off guard by Pelosi’s immediate public backing of Harris, just hours after Biden announced the end of his re-election campaign.

Pelosi released a statement less than 24 hours after Biden’s July 21, 2024, announcement, calling Harris “brilliantly astute” and saying she had “full confidence” that the former California senator could defeat President Trump in November.

Karl wrote that Obama, who had privately preferred that the Democratic nomination be decided through an open convention process rather than a swift endorsement, called Pelosi soon after her statement. According to a Pelosi confidant cited in the book, “The Obamas were not happy.

” The source summarized Obama’s reaction as:

“What the f*ck did you just do?”

Both Obama and Pelosi had reportedly agreed in the days leading up to Biden’s withdrawal that party leaders should avoid anointing Harris as the nominee without a formal process.

Karl noted that the two were “in regular communication” before Biden’s decision and had privately concluded that Harris should not receive the nomination unchallenged.

“That train has left the station,” Pelosi reportedly told Obama during their call, referring to Biden’s immediate endorsement of his vice president.

Los Cabos Baja California Sur, Mexico June 20 2013. United States President Barack Obama during a press conference at the G20 meeting in Los Cabos in 2013.

According to the book, Obama had significant concerns about Harris’ electability and readiness for a national campaign. Those reservations, Karl wrote, were shared among other senior Democrats, including members of the Obama network who privately questioned whether Harris could defeat Trump.

A source close to Obama told Karl that the conversation with Pelosi was “good-natured ribbing,” suggesting it was not confrontational. However, a Pelosi ally told Karl the former president “sounded genuinely irritated” during the exchange.

Obama delayed his own endorsement of Harris for five days after Biden’s exit, a decision that reportedly reflected his doubts about her ability to unify the party and win over swing voters.

Karl wrote that at least one senior Biden adviser believed Obama’s hesitation was deliberate. “There’s only one Black Jesus,” the adviser said, suggesting Obama viewed himself, not Harris, as the singular political figure capable of uniting Democrats in moments of crisis.

Even Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was taken aback by her decision. “Kamala?” he asked, according to Karl’s account. “Don’t start with me,” the former speaker replied.

ARMENIA, YEREVAN: 18 September 2022 U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks to the media during a briefing following her meeting with Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan.

Despite the tensions, Pelosi’s endorsement became a turning point for Harris’s campaign.

Within days, several top Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, followed suit in offering their support.

Karl wrote that with no other viable candidates stepping forward, Pelosi “had no choice” but to rally behind Harris to ensure party unity ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

“No other candidates had stepped forward — Kamala Harris was it. The only thing Pelosi could do was try to help her win the election,” he wrote.

The revelation adds new detail to the internal divisions that surfaced inside the Democratic Party after Biden’s withdrawal, highlighting the uncertainty and strategic disagreements among the party’s most powerful figures during the transition to Harris’s campaign.

Mamdani’s Attempt to Hit Back at Johnson After He Declares Jeffries’ Endorsement the Death of Democrats, Falls Flat on Impact
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Mamdani’s Attempt to Hit Back at Johnson After He Declares Jeffries’ Endorsement the Death of Democrats, Falls Flat on Impact

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A political clash erupted Monday between House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 27th day, as reported by Fox News.

The exchange followed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Mamdani’s progressive campaign, prompting Johnson to call it “the clearest sign yet that this radical insurgent movement in the Democrat Party is succeeding.”

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist running for Mayor. New York, US – 04 July 2025

Speaking at his daily press briefing, Johnson said Jeffries’ decision marked a defining moment for his party.

“After a months-long pressure campaign from the far left, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally relented. He gave in, and he gave his endorsement to the socialist running to be mayor of New York City. The House Democrats, they’ve shown the world what they really believe. There is no longer a place for centrists and moderates in their party,” Johnson said.

Johnson also labeled Mamdani “a Marxist,” adding, “Zohran Mamdani is expected to take the helm of one of the most important cities in the world and the largest city in America, and he now has the full blessing of the Democrat leader in the House of Representatives. It is shocking, and that leader and all the other Democrats are going to co-own the consequences of what they do to America’s largest city.”

Mamdani, speaking from Manhattan, dismissed Johnson’s remarks and accused Republicans of “seeking distractions” to cover for the effects of the federal shutdown.

“Speaker Johnson should be sitting members of Congress, as opposed to using his time to try and attack our campaign,” Mamdani said.

“But I understand if I was one of the leaders of the Republican Party that had led a campaign that promised Americans a lower cost of living and cheaper groceries, and all I could deliver for them was a government shutdown, then I, too, would be looking to distract in any way that I could from those lack of results.”

Jeffries, who represents Brooklyn in the U.S. House of Representatives, publicly endorsed Mamdani on Friday, praising his platform for “addressing the affordability crisis” and representing “all New Yorkers.” “I endorse the Democratic ticket,” Jeffries said.

Johnson urged reporters to press House Democrats on whether they agree with what he described as Jeffries’ “Marxist agenda,” declaring, “What we’re witnessing is truly the end of the Democratic Party, as we’ve known it.”

The shutdown remains at the center of the standoff. Democrats have said they will not support a federal funding bill unless it includes an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans’ short-term continuing resolution (CR) to extend FY2025 funding passed the House on September 19 but stalled in the Senate.

Republicans have blamed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for blocking the resolution to appease progressives, including Mamdani’s faction and allies of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who is reportedly weighing a run for Schumer’s Senate seat or a 2028 presidential campaign.

While Jeffries has now thrown his support behind Mamdani, Schumer has yet to do so. Fox News Digital reached out to both Jeffries and Johnson for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

House Oversight Committee Declares Biden Autopen Actions ‘Null and Void,’ Demands DOJ and Bondi Investigation
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House Oversight Committee Declares Biden Autopen Actions ‘Null and Void,’ Demands DOJ and Bondi Investigation

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The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY), released a 100-page report on Monday declaring that all executive actions and pardons signed using President Joe Biden’s autopen are “null and void.”

The committee is now calling on the Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi to open a full investigation into what it calls a “cover-up” orchestrated by Biden’s senior staff, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

According to the report, the White House used an autopen — a mechanical device that replicates a person’s signature — to sign official documents, including pardons and executive orders, while Biden was away from Washington.

The report describes these actions as constitutionally invalid, arguing that such documents must bear the President’s own signature to be legally binding.

Chairman Comer stated that his committee’s investigation “exposed the Biden Autopen Presidency,” revealing how “top aides misled Americans and worked to maintain the illusion of presidential control as Biden’s capacity declined.”

The committee’s findings assert that multiple Biden aides, some of whom invoked their Fifth Amendment rights during questioning, were directly involved in authorizing and concealing the autopen’s use.

The Oversight Committee’s report further demands that the D.C. Board of Medicine review the conduct of Biden’s personal physician, alleging that the doctor participated in obscuring the President’s true medical condition from the public.

“We have provided Americans with transparency about the Biden Autopen Presidency, and now there must be accountability,” the report concludes.

The controversy over the use of Biden’s autopen gained national attention earlier this year after the Oversight Project revealed that several executive actions and clemency decisions had been signed mechanically while Biden was on vacation.

In one documented case, six criminals were pardoned on December 30, 2022, while Biden was in St. Croix. The documents bore autopen signatures instead of the President’s handwritten ones.

The White House Counsel’s Office has reportedly launched its own review, examining over one million documents related to the autopen process.

While the administration has not commented directly on the committee’s findings, officials have maintained that the autopen is a long-accepted tool used in limited circumstances by previous presidents.

However, House Republicans argue that Biden’s use of the device went far beyond precedent, effectively delegating presidential authority to unelected staff. Comer said that such actions violate constitutional requirements and should be “considered void.”

President Donald Trump has previously weighed in on the matter, stating that those responsible for authorizing Biden’s autopen “committed treason.” The White House has not issued a formal response to the latest report.

The Oversight Committee’s move marks a significant escalation in its ongoing investigation into the administration’s transparency and the President’s capacity to fulfill his duties. The Department of Justice has not yet indicated whether it plans to pursue a formal inquiry into the matter.


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