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

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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.

‘We Now Know Everything’: Trump Drops Cryptic 2020 Election Truth Social Bombshell
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‘We Now Know Everything’: Trump Drops Cryptic 2020 Election Truth Social Bombshell

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President Donald Trump’s latest post on Truth Social has renewed speculation that his administration may have uncovered additional findings regarding the 2020 presidential election. The post, made Sunday night, drew widespread attention for its closing line: “We now know everything.”

In the post, President Trump compared alleged misconduct in professional sports to what he described as far more serious wrongdoing in the 2020 election.

“What’s worse, the NBA Players cheating at cards, and probably much else, or the Democrats cheating on Elections,” he wrote.

“The 2020 Presidential Election, being Rigged and Stolen, is a far bigger SCANDAL. Look what happened to our Country when a Crooked Moron became our ‘President!’ We now know everything.”

The remark quickly led to speculation online about whether Trump’s administration has recently obtained or compiled new evidence related to alleged voting irregularities during the 2020 race.

Many supporters interpreted “We now know everything” as a signal that previously undisclosed information could soon become public.

Throughout and after the 2020 election, Trump and his legal team maintained that widespread voting irregularities occurred in key battleground states.

Multiple lawsuits were filed challenging voting procedures and mail-in ballot handling, but courts often declined to review the evidence on procedural grounds, stating that the plaintiffs lacked standing.

Critics of those rulings argued that such dismissals prevented a full investigation into potential election misconduct.

Questions about turnout anomalies also persisted in several counties across the country. In some jurisdictions, voter turnout reportedly exceeded historical averages by wide margins, and in certain localities, observers raised concerns about discrepancies between vote totals and active voter registrations.

Allegations of “late additions” and unverifiable registrations following Election Day also drew scrutiny.

After the election, social media companies and major online platforms implemented strict policies restricting discussion of election-related claims. Posts questioning the integrity of the 2020 results were frequently labeled as “misinformation,” and several accounts were suspended or permanently removed.

The widespread moderation efforts became a point of contention among conservatives, who said they were being censored for raising legitimate concerns.

In his Truth Social post, President Trump again pressed the Department of Justice to take action. “I hope the DOJ pursues this with as much ‘gusto’ as befitting the biggest SCANDAL in American history! If not, it will happen again, including the upcoming Midterms,” he wrote.

The post reflects Trump’s ongoing stance that the Justice Department and other federal agencies should further investigate alleged coordination between Democratic officials, election administrators, and major technology companies.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that these entities worked together to suppress accurate reporting of vote counts and to shape public perception of the 2020 results.

While Trump’s message did not include specific details about new findings, it has intensified speculation that additional evidence may soon be disclosed by his administration or allied investigators.

Supporters have pointed to the phrasing “We now know everything” as an indication that a comprehensive account of election-related irregularities may be forthcoming.

The former president has continued to use Truth Social as his primary platform to communicate with the public and comment on ongoing political and legal developments.

His Sunday night post adds to a series of statements reiterating his belief that the 2020 election was compromised and that unresolved questions remain about how ballots were collected, verified, and counted in several states.

As of Monday morning, Trump’s remarks had been shared tens of thousands of times on Truth Social, with many users calling for the release of any evidence referenced in his statement.

The Department of Justice has not commented on whether any new investigations related to the 2020 election are underway.

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

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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.

Zohran Mamdani’s Emotional 9/11 Speech About His ‘Aunt’ Quickly Blows Up in His Face
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Zohran Mamdani’s Emotional 9/11 Speech About His ‘Aunt’ Quickly Blows Up in His Face

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New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has backtracked on a key detail of a story he told about a Muslim relative allegedly facing discrimination after the September 11 attacks. The clarification came after online scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in his account.

Last week, Mamdani, a practicing Muslim and self-described democratic socialist, appeared alongside Muslim community leaders and told reporters that his “aunt” had stopped taking the subway after 9/11 because she “did not feel safe in her hijab.”

His remarks were part of a broader speech accusing his opponents—Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo—of promoting what he called “Islamophobic” rhetoric during the mayoral race.

“I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab,” Mamdani said during the event.

His remarks were widely shared online and praised by progressive groups for what they described as a powerful condemnation of anti-Muslim sentiment.

However, the story quickly drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Detractors questioned why Mamdani framed Muslims as victims in a narrative centered on the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 American lives.

Vice President J.D. Vance was among those to publicly challenge the comments, writing, “According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.”

Over the weekend, social media users began examining the veracity of Mamdani’s story. Researchers located photographs of a woman identified as his aunt who appeared in multiple images without a hijab, contradicting the details of Mamdani’s remarks.

By Monday, the issue had gained enough traction that Mamdani held another press conference to address the controversy.

During that briefing, Mamdani acknowledged that he had misspoken and that the woman in question was not his aunt, but rather a distant relative. “I was speaking about Zehra fuhi, my father’s cousin, who passed away a few years ago,” Mamdani said.

He explained that he often referred to her as his aunt out of affection.

His campaign declined to provide the relative’s full name when contacted by the New York Post for verification. The admission appeared to confirm speculation that Mamdani’s initial account was inaccurate.

Adding to the confusion, internet users identified a woman named Masuma Mamdani—a public health consultant believed to be Mamdani’s only biological aunt—and circulated photos of her without a hijab.

The images intensified public questioning of the candidate’s original claim and drew attention to the lack of corroborating evidence.

When pressed about the discrepancy by reporters, Mamdani shifted focus to what he described as political bad faith from his opponents.

“For the takeaway from my more than 10-minute address about Islamophobia in this race and in this city, to be the question of my aunt, tells you everything you need to know about Cuomo and his inability to reckon with a crisis of his own making,” he said.

Despite the controversy, Mamdani continues to lead in polling ahead of New York City’s November mayoral election.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, he maintains a lead of more than 15 percentage points over his closest rival, positioning him as the likely next mayor of the nation’s largest city.

Portland’s Anti-ICE Protesters Melt Down After Police Enforce Laws
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Portland’s Anti-ICE Protesters Melt Down After Police Enforce Laws

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Portland police have moved to dismantle an anti-ICE protest camp outside the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility after weeks of escalating tension, federal scrutiny, and renewed attention from the Trump administration.

The development comes amid a legal dispute over whether the National Guard could be deployed to assist local authorities.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) had faced criticism for its limited response to ongoing protests that had obstructed access to the ICE facility and created safety concerns for both law enforcement and the public.

The encampment, which had been active for several weeks, was known for frequent clashes with federal agents.

Protesters had reportedly used spotlights to target officers’ eyes and then sought protection from local police when agents responded.

According to reports from Frontlines and independent journalists, federal agents had previously met with PPB leadership to discuss the growing safety concerns at the site.

Following those discussions, the PPB carried out a coordinated raid on the encampment near the ICE building late last week.

Officers cleared out multiple supply tents and directed protesters to stop blocking sidewalks and nearby streets.

Police also warned demonstrators that they would begin enforcing laws against jaywalking, blocking roadways, and other local ordinances often ignored during prior demonstrations.

Footage from the scene captured protesters arguing with police as officers removed materials from tents and extinguished open fires.

Some protesters pleaded with police for assistance in moving their belongings, while others expressed frustration over the sudden enforcement of local laws.

According to The Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt, officers detained at least one individual dressed in black bloc attire during the sweep.

Other journalists at the scene, including Nick Sortor, documented conservative counter-protesters nearby chanting “USA! USA!” as police worked to clear the area.

The raid followed an incident earlier in the week involving journalist Brandi Kruse, who reported being struck by one of the anti-ICE demonstrators during a confrontation near the encampment.

Police referenced the assault as one of several incidents contributing to their decision to take action.

In an updated statement, the PPB said it would begin enforcing municipal codes more strictly going forward, including pedestrian and traffic laws, to prevent further disruptions.

Officers also said anyone found blocking streets or impeding traffic could face arrest for disorderly conduct.

Federal officials have closely monitored the ongoing situation in Portland.

Trump administration aides and local law enforcement sources confirmed that discussions had taken place about deploying the National Guard to assist if city authorities continued to refuse enforcement.

Federal agents already operating in the area had repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of personnel and the impact of the protests on federal operations.

The anti-ICE demonstrations outside the Portland facility are among the longest-running protest actions in the country targeting immigration enforcement.

Despite the police raid, demonstrators have vowed to continue their activities, though with increased restrictions now in place.

As of Monday, a smaller number of protesters remained at the site under closer watch from local police and federal officers.

The PPB said further enforcement actions are possible if the protesters attempt to reestablish encampments or interfere with the operation of the ICE facility.

The Trump administration’s renewed pressure on Portland officials, combined with the police department’s recent enforcement actions, marks a significant shift from the city’s previous hands-off approach.

Authorities have not confirmed whether any additional arrests will be made or if the National Guard remains on standby pending future unrest.

Minnesota Man Accused of Offering ,000 to Assassinate Pam Bondi
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Minnesota Man Accused of Offering $45,000 to Assassinate Pam Bondi

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Federal prosecutors have charged a Minnesota man with making an online threat to kill Attorney General Pam Bondi, following a report that he posted a TikTok message offering $45,000 to anyone who carried out the act.

According to an affidavit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the FBI was alerted to the post on October 9 when another TikTok user reported it to authorities.

The report prompted an investigation that led to the arrest of 32-year-old Tyler Maxon Avalos on October 16.

He is charged with one count of Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure the Person of Another under Title 18, United States Code, Section 875.

The charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison.

Court filings include a screenshot of the alleged post, which featured a photo of Attorney General Bondi with what appeared to be a sniper’s red scope dot over her forehead.

The post’s caption read, “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 / DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD).” Investigators said Avalos also commented under the post, writing “cough cough” and “when they don’t serve us then what?”

In the affidavit, federal investigators said the content of the post met the criteria of a threat under federal law and that Avalos had demonstrated a pattern of violent behavior in the past.

“He has a multistate conviction history including a July 2022 felony stalking conviction from Dakota County, an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery from Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault from Dakota County, which appears to have been reduced from a felony domestic assault by strangulation charge,” the document stated.

Avalos was taken into custody by federal agents and is currently being held pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutors said they intend to argue that his criminal history and the nature of the alleged threat make him a danger to the community and a flight risk.

The case comes amid a broader national effort by the Department of Justice to pursue criminal charges against individuals who use social media platforms to issue or promote threats against government officials.

Investigators said TikTok cooperated with federal authorities in the case by providing account information tied to the post.

Pam Bondi, who currently serves as Attorney General of the United States, was appointed by President Donald Trump in November 2024 after former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role.

Bondi previously served two terms as Florida’s attorney general and spent 18 years as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County.

She also represented Trump during his first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted by the Senate.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing case but confirmed that federal law enforcement takes all threats against public officials seriously and investigates them thoroughly.

The affidavit notes that Avalos’ TikTok account was suspended following the discovery of the post, and that additional electronic evidence is being reviewed by federal investigators.

He remains in custody at a federal detention facility in Minnesota awaiting his preliminary court appearance.

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

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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.”

Federal Workers’ Union Turns on Democrats, Demands End to Schumer’s Shutdown
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Federal Workers’ Union Turns on Democrats, Demands End to Schumer’s Shutdown

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, is calling on Democrats to support a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) and reopen the government, which has remained shut down since October 1.

The AFGE, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents more than 800,000 non-postal federal employees across the country, including many based in Washington, D.C.

The union’s leadership released a public statement on Monday urging both parties to set aside political maneuvering and restore government operations immediately.

“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement shared with NBC News.

“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”

Kelley’s remarks place additional pressure on Senate Democrats, who have so far refused to support a stopgap funding bill without securing a deal on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

Those subsidies help offset premium costs for individuals purchasing coverage through Obamacare exchanges, and Democrats have insisted that any short-term funding package must include provisions to extend them.

Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, have maintained that the government should reopen first and that debates over healthcare subsidies and new spending should be addressed afterward.

The Senate stalemate began when nearly all Democrats voted against a clean CR on October 1, a move that triggered the current shutdown.

Only three Senate Democrats broke ranks to support the funding measure.

Kelley emphasized that the continuing standoff is causing direct harm to workers and their families.

“It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people, rather than on who is going to get the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike,” he said.

He added that lawmakers should focus on “a resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues,” including rising costs and recurring breakdowns in the federal budget process.

Democrats have continued to link their refusal to reopen the government to broader spending demands, which include funding for expanded healthcare access, environmental programs, and overseas initiatives.

Republicans have characterized those demands as unrelated to the immediate need to restore government operations.

In a post on X, Washington Examiner columnist Byron York called the AFGE’s statement a “huge development,” noting that the union is “urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.”

Speaking to NBC News, Kelley highlighted the toll the shutdown has taken on federal employees, many of whom are missing paychecks and seeking food assistance.

“When the folks who serve this country are standing in line for food banks after missing a second paycheck because of this shutdown, they aren’t looking for partisan spin,” he said.

“They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace.”

The union’s statement came days after Senate Democrats blocked a measure by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) that would have temporarily paid certain categories of federal employees during the shutdown.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Democrats opposed the proposal because they wanted all workers treated equally. “Our belief is that no federal employee, no one should bear the burden or be punished for a shutdown they have nothing to do with,” he said.

“So our view is that we want to make sure everybody gets paid at the end of the day.”

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) acknowledged that the shutdown would harm working families but described it as a necessary form of leverage.

“Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer,” Clark said in an interview.

“We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”

The AFGE’s call for a clean CR could provide Democrats with political justification to change course and vote to reopen the government.

As of Monday, however, there was no indication from Senate Democrats that a vote on the funding measure had been scheduled.

The Senate is expected to reconvene this week, but according to the chamber’s official calendar, the continuing resolution is not currently listed on the agenda.

Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Terminates’ Gavin Newsom and Jake Tapper on Gerrymandering
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Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Terminates’ Gavin Newsom and Jake Tapper on Gerrymandering

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Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed redistricting overhaul on Sunday, calling it a “fantasy” designed to secure long-term Democratic control of the state under the pretense of “temporary reform.”

Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Schwarzenegger said the measure, known as Proposition 50, would dismantle California’s independent redistricting commission — a body he championed during his tenure to prevent partisan manipulation of electoral maps.

The proposal, backed by Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders, seeks to replace the independent panel with a state-run process for at least the next decade.

Schwarzenegger said the move would “undo decades of reform” and warned that the decision could set a precedent that spreads beyond California.

“Well, I’m not really the spokesperson for the anti–Proposition 50 campaign. I just want to defend the work that I have done, because we worked so hard to get the independent redistricting commission in California,” Schwarzenegger said.

“California was in the leadership on that issue. Then we went around the country, promoted it around the country, and actually convinced about 30% of districts to have an independent commission. Now, all of a sudden, they’re undoing all of that.”

He said both major parties are guilty of manipulating political boundaries but accused Newsom’s allies of pushing the country “in the opposite direction.”

“There’s this war going on all over the United States — who can out-cheat the other one? Texas started it. They did something terribly wrong. Then all of a sudden, California says, ‘Well, then we have to do something terribly wrong,’” Schwarzenegger said.

“It saddens me to see that we’re going in the opposite direction rather than having an independent commission draw the district lines.”

Tapper noted that a CBS poll shows 62% of likely California voters support the measure. Schwarzenegger dismissed the argument, saying the proposal’s promise of a temporary change cannot be trusted.

“When they say this is temporary, there is no such thing,” he said.

“The longest programs are government programs that are ‘temporary.’ Just remember that — if it is a tax program or if it is a redistricting program — anything that is temporary with government is permanent.”

He added that once Democrats take control of the process, they will continue to justify its permanence.

“In the year 2032, when the independent redistricting commission is supposed to come back, they’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute, there’s still gerrymandering going on in Texas, in Ohio, in Florida. We have to continue with the gerrymandering.’ That’s what’s going to happen,” he said.

“They will find an excuse. Therefore, I don’t think it is temporary. That’s total fantasy.”

Schwarzenegger said politicians should focus on “outperforming” their opponents rather than manipulating district maps.

“To me, it’s all about competition — competition creates performance. What they’re doing with the redistricting commission is trying to draw district lines in such a way that they get voted in no matter if they work well or not for the American people,” he said.

“So the American people get cheated.”

When asked whether he blamed Republicans for starting the redistricting battle, Schwarzenegger rejected the idea, saying gerrymandering has been a bipartisan problem for two centuries.

“There’s such extreme gerrymandering that in a state like Massachusetts, 40% of the people voted for Trump — and the Republican Party has zero representatives sent to the House. Think about that,” he said.

“In New Mexico, if 45% of the people voted for Trump and vote Republican — zero representatives from the Republican Party. There’s crazy gerrymandering going on all over the country.”

Schwarzenegger said he originally established California’s commission to set a model for fair redistricting across the country.

“We wanted to try to stop it in California, and we did. Then we went around the country,” he said.

“This whole thing about finger-pointing — ‘They did it, so therefore we should do it’ — that’s not the way to go.”

The former governor said the focus should remain on fair competition and voter trust.

“One party should outperform the other party. It should be about performance,” he said.

“If you really want to fight for democracy, why would you go and destroy the Constitution in California — tear it up and redo the whole thing? To me, it just doesn’t make any sense at all.”

CSPAN Democrat Caller Rips Her Party For Government Shutdown, Holding Americans Hostage
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CSPAN Democrat Caller Rips Her Party For Government Shutdown, Holding Americans Hostage

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A retired federal employee and self-identified Democrat publicly criticized her party on Monday for refusing to reopen the government, as the shutdown entered its fourth week and millions of Americans face potential loss of food assistance on November 1.

The shutdown began on October 1 after Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, blocked a bipartisan continuing resolution that would have kept the government funded.

Only three Democratic senators supported the measure, including Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

Appearing as a caller on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, the retired worker said her party was to blame for prolonging the shutdown, warning that families depending on food aid could soon go hungry if lawmakers continue to stall.

“I hear people talking about ‘the president needs to get involved’ and ‘the Democrats are saying this,’ ‘the Republicans are saying this,’” the caller said.

“This is the truth: The Democrats, and I’m a Democrat, are the ones that actually, in the Senate side, shut down the government. They did not vote for a continuing resolution except for three of them. One is the senator of Pennsylvania, [John] Fetterman, and all.”

The caller urged Democratic senators to end the political gridlock, saying the party’s refusal to compromise was hurting ordinary Americans.

“They have to get together and stop holding Americans hostage,” she said.

“We’re about to have people without food come, what, November 1st, which is the end of this week. And that’s ridiculous.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to more than 40 million Americans, will lose funding on November 1 unless Congress passes a new funding measure.

Several states have warned they will be forced to suspend benefits if the shutdown continues.

“It is not worth it,” the caller continued.

“Plus, the health care companies have already said you’re way past the deadline for them to change their costs that they’re going to give out to the public for the health care. So November 1st is open season.”

The former federal worker also argued that the standoff was strengthening President Donald Trump’s hand, since Democrats are relying on him to intervene even though Congress holds the constitutional power to pass a funding bill.

“So they need to get together. I know they keep on saying the president needs to come back, but the power of the purse is with the Congress, not the president,” she said.

“You all talk about this president being a king, but if you want him to solve this problem, you’re making him a king. This has got to stop in America.”

She called on her party to negotiate instead of remaining deadlocked.

“I want the Democrats to fight, but I want them to fight in a negotiating way like I did when I was a union president versus sitting up here constantly bickering and the Republicans bickering,” she said.

“This has got to stop. And America has got to stop accepting it.”

Senate Democrats have consistently blocked efforts by Republicans to pass temporary funding bills.

Schumer and his caucus have refused to consider any resolution that does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and other Democratic spending priorities.

However, Senator Fetterman said he believes Democrats should vote to reopen the government before continuing negotiations over health care subsidies and tax credit extensions.

Speaking on Fox News’ Saturday in America, Fetterman said he trusts Senate Majority Leader John Thune to hold “a sincere conversation” after the government is back open.

“I do fundamentally believe [Senate Majority] Leader [John] Thune is an honorable guy and I do believe we could have a sincere conversation after we can open it up,” Fetterman said.

“Let’s just open it up, and then we have our SNAP, we have everyone’s paid, and then we can have that conversation and see if we can extend those tax credit deals because I do believe there are enough Republicans that would like to see that too.”

With food assistance and other federal programs approaching critical deadlines, the caller’s comments reflect growing frustration—even among Democratic voters—over the party’s refusal to reach an agreement.

Unless lawmakers act soon, millions of low-income families may begin losing benefits within days.


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