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Dems Panic as Their Phony Populist Gets Caught Living the Elite Life He Pretends to Hate [WATCH]
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Dems Panic as Their Phony Populist Gets Caught Living the Elite Life He Pretends to Hate [WATCH]

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The unraveling of Democrat Senate hopeful Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine is growing more chaotic with each new revelation, leaving his party panicked and scrambling to contain the fallout.

What began as a sleazy sexting scandal has now spiraled into a full-on implosion touching every corner of his carefully crafted public image.

For Democrats banking on Platner to unseat Senator Susan Collins, this is a nightmare made worse with each passing day.

Platner’s downfall started when reports surfaced that he maintained an account on a notorious hookup app reportedly frequented by pedophiles.

Leaked messages revealed explicit exchanges that painted him as both reckless and dishonest.

The scandal alone was enough to tarnish any candidate’s viability, but Platner’s problems did not end there.

Soon after, attention shifted to the backstory he told about buying his first house.

Platner frequently claimed he received a $200,000 loan from Veterans Affairs to purchase the property, holding himself up as the model of the struggling working-class Maine man.

The truth turned out to be less inspiring.

The loan came not from the VA but from his father.

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There was nothing illegal about it, but the lie shattered his folksy authenticity that Democrats had sold to Maine voters.

As if that were not enough, new revelations exposed that Platner’s much-touted oyster farm was less of a financial foundation and more of a public relations prop.

His real income stream came from Veterans Affairs disability payments.

Again, nothing illegal there, but the deception piled on top of his growing credibility crisis.

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For a man who styled himself as a humble veteran-entrepreneur standing up for working Mainers, his story looks increasingly like a scripted performance.

Party officials have been meeting behind closed doors to assess whether Platner’s campaign can still be salvaged.

Some are begging him to step down before further damage spreads to other Democrat candidates, while others insist that they must hold the line since Maine is critical to the balance of the Senate.

Platner reportedly met with several Democratic Senators today to discuss what many describe as a “shambolic” campaign barely holding together.

On social media, critics have pounced on every misstep.

The combination of a sex scandal, questionable online activity, Nazi-themed tattoos, and financial deception is political kryptonite.

Even some on the left admit privately that he cannot win now, no matter how much spin they attempt to apply.

The problem is that Democrats do not have a strong backup candidate waiting in the wings, and time is rapidly running out.

Republicans are watching with a mix of amusement and opportunity.

Senator Susan Collins now finds herself in a much safer position than analysts predicted just months ago.

Her campaign has been relatively quiet about the Platner meltdown, likely confident that voters are watching the Democrat self-destruct in real time.

Inside Democratic circles, frustration has reached a boiling point.

Donors are furious that the party backed a man whose skeletons were apparently buried in shallow dirt.

Campaign staffers are leaking to journalists, describing an operation in freefall.

One insider described Platner as “completely unfit” and said there was “no path to redemption” left.

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The Platner saga is the latest in a series of embarrassing scandals to batter the Democratic brand heading into a crucial election cycle.

From New York to California, the party has faced a wave of candidates caught in corruption, moral failure, or straight-up dishonesty.

Platner’s collapse is especially damaging because it undercuts their “integrity and truth” talking points that they routinely use against Republicans.

For conservatives, this implosion is a reminder of the left’s chronic hypocrisy.

While Democrats love to portray themselves as moral champions and protectors of women and minorities, they have no problem shielding their own when scandal hits.

Platner’s continued presence in the race proves the point. He would already be exiled if he wore an “R” next to his name.

Whether Platner stays or quits, the result is the same. The Democrat dream of retaking the Senate with a clean sweep of swing states now looks increasingly out of reach.

Maine voters are unlikely to rally around a scandal-plagued candidate drowning in deception.

What began as a promising campaign has turned into yet another ethical and political disaster authored by the modern Democratic Party.

While Platner attempts quiet damage control behind closed doors, the public has already decided his fate.

His campaign has become radioactive.

Every new headline only cements the impression that the man who promised authenticity turned out to be anything but.

For Democrats, the message is clear.

They bet on the wrong man, and now they are paying the price in full view of every voter in America.

California’s Medicaid Meltdown: One Crook, $270M, Zero Accountability Until Now [WATCH]
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California’s Medicaid Meltdown: One Crook, $270M, Zero Accountability Until Now [WATCH]

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In Southern California, tucked away in a federal evidence warehouse, rows of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and priceless sports memorabilia sit as silent proof of a massive taxpayer-funded crime spree.

Items like Mickey Mantle rookie cards and Kobe Bryant’s game-worn sneakers were purchased not with hard-earned wages, but with money stolen from the American people.

Federal officials estimate that between 500 billion and 1 trillion dollars vanish into fraud schemes annually.

Those numbers are so staggering they almost sound fictional, yet they are drawn from government records and investigations by agencies working around the clock to track down stolen funds.

The problem is so widespread that even skilled law enforcement teams struggle to claw back more than a sliver of it.

At the center of the federal crackdown is Bill Essayli, the hard-charging top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.

He has made it clear that reclaiming stolen taxpayer money is personal.

“It should offend every American taxpayer that these people are taking advantage of the system,” Essayli said.

For him, the fight is about principle, patriotism, and restoring justice in a system that has allowed too many fraudsters to live off the backs of honest citizens.

Essayli recently toured the site of one of California’s most brazen Medicaid scams, a sprawling eight-bedroom, ten-bath mansion once owned by convicted fraudster Paul Randall.

The estate, sitting above Orange County, now stands as a monument to greed.

“He was living like a king off us,” Essayli explained, as federal agents methodically cataloged the assets that will soon be liquidated in restitution.

Randall pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud after diverting more than 270 million dollars in taxpayer funds. Even more shocking, he had six prior fraud convictions yet managed to remain out on bond as he launched his latest scheme.

“Obviously there’s a breakdown in the criminal justice system if this guy was able to have six convictions and never did any real prison time,” Essayli observed.

That statement cuts straight to the heart of the issue, leniency toward habitual white-collar criminals has allowed the fraud epidemic to spiral.

While agents seize mansions and luxury cars here at home, experts say most of the stolen money is long gone overseas.

Haywood Talcove, the CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government, estimates that 70 percent of fraud proceeds end up in the hands of foreign criminal networks.

“It goes to Russia, it goes to China, it goes to Nigeria, it goes to Romania,” Talcove said.

His firm helps federal agencies trace illicit funds and uncover how sophisticated fraud rings are exploiting federal programs.

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Talcove issued a grim warning about the consequences of letting fraud metastasize.

He said taxpayers are unknowingly bankrolling operations that fund human trafficking, drugs, and even activities that pose risks to national security.

“Taxpayers are funding transnational criminals who are using this money for horrible things, child trafficking, drugs, threats to our democracy,” he said.

The image of American dollars flowing offshore into the hands of criminals and hostile regimes ought to outrage every voter.

Essayli and his team are pushing for tighter prevention systems, arguing that recovery after the fact is nearly impossible once funds cross borders.

In a digital age where money can move at the speed of light and bad actors hide behind crypto accounts, the need for stronger safeguards is clear.

“That is why it is so important that the money never goes out in the first place,” Essayli said.

“That’s why it’s important that we have systems in place to detect and prevent fraud.”

Federal officials have recovered some physical assets, but the warehouse full of seized Ferraris and trophy sneakers is only a fraction of what is lost.

Hundreds of billions likely remain unaccounted for.

Each car parked in that warehouse is a grotesque reminder that liberal bureaucracies have allowed the fraud machine to churn without real accountability.

The system too often prioritizes bureaucracy over vigilance.

The Trump administration pushed aggressively to crack down on these abuses, targeting programs like Medicare, food assistance, and hospice care, where fraud had become rampant.

That effort disrupted many schemes, yet some liberal critics opposed the enforcement campaigns as “too aggressive.”

The irony is painful. Stronger enforcement is precisely what America needs to stem the bleeding.

While Washington debates budgets and political rhetoric, schemers continue siphoning funds meant for health care, public safety, and struggling families.

The next time progressives lecture about expanding federal benefits, taxpayers might remember where much of their money really goes.

Until real deterrence exists, the criminals will keep cashing in.

Every fraudulent Ferrari and luxury sneaker bought with taxpayer dollars is more than theft—it is a confession that government oversight has failed.

Essayli’s crusade to fix the system is a reminder that, in the war on fraud, the first line of defense must be courage and accountability, not bureaucracy and excuses.

RFK Jr. Drops Hammer: $90M+ Medicaid Autism Fraud Ring Busted in Liberal Minnesota [WATCH]
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RFK Jr. Drops Hammer: $90M+ Medicaid Autism Fraud Ring Busted in Liberal Minnesota [WATCH]

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced what he described as the largest autism fraud bust in American history, pointing to a dramatic rise in spending within an early intervention and development program and alleging widespread fraud involving false diagnoses and services that never occurred.

Speaking about the investigation, Kennedy highlighted spending figures that he said illustrated the scale of the problem.

“I want to start. I thought I was going to have a slide here. I want to call your attention to this, which is in your, okay, here it is, which is in your packet. This was the cost of your early intervention and development program in 2020 it was 38 point 1 million. This is what we expected to be paying every year. Instead, this year hit 442 million, and I’m showing you that because that’s the magnitude of the fraud and the damage that we’re talking about today,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy thanked multiple federal agencies and officials involved in the operation, including the Department of Justice, FBI, HHS Office of Inspector General, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Oz, the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force, Vice President J.D. Vance, and investigators and law enforcement personnel.

“I want to thank Todd Blanch, who couldn’t be here today, Colin McDonald, and everyone at the Department of Justice for leading this effort. I want to thank also the FBI, who you’re going to hear from in a little while, the HHS Office of Inspector General, CMS, and especially Dr. Oz, the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force, and Vice President Vance, and the investigators, and law enforcement personnel, whose relentless work made today’s action possible,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the arrests stemmed from what he characterized as a coordinated criminal scheme targeting programs intended to help children diagnosed with autism.

“Today’s arrest represent the largest autism fraud bust in American history. This was not a paperwork error, it was not a technical violation. This was organized threat, organized theft that exploited the most vulnerable children in America. Deceived families stole taxpayer dollars meant to help children with autism with autism access legitimate care and support,” Kennedy said.

According to Kennedy, investigators uncovered billing for services that never existed, fraudulent diagnoses, and false care claims.

“Investigators uncovered brazen schemes that build taxpayers for nonexistent services, fraudulent diagnoses, and fake care, while criminals enrich themselves at public expense,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy argued that fraudulent diagnoses and claims ultimately reduce resources available to children who genuinely need assistance.

“Every fraudulent autism diagnosis steals time, care, and resources on the children for whom this program was for whom this program was denied, and who desperately need this care,” Kennedy said.

He also pointed to broader concerns about autism-related spending and fraud within government health programs.

“America is facing a real autism crisis today. Approximately one in every 31 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Medicaid finances a significant share of autism-related services nationwide, and spending has risen dramatically over the last decade, and a lot of that spending is because of fraud,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said healthcare fraud costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars each year and cited estimates placing the broader cost at $100 billion annually.

“When criminals exploit these programs, taxpayers lose billions, and vulnerable children lose their access to care. Health care fraud now costs the United States 10s of billions of dollars every year. Some, as some has placed the broader cost of health care fraud and improper payments at $100 billion annually,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy warned that unchecked fraud threatens the future of Medicaid and Medicare.

“That fraud drives up health care costs for all Americans. It weakens public trust, it drains taxpayer resources, and threatens the long-term stability of both Medicaid and Medicare. If we fail to confront the fraud aggressively, these programs will not survive for future generations in the form Americans rely upon them today,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy credited President Trump and Vice President Vance for directing what he called the most aggressive anti-fraud effort in American history and said the operation was completed with unusual speed.

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Vice President Vance, this administration is carrying out the most aggressive anti-fraud effort in American history,” Kennedy said. “That this was executed with a precision and speed that is unprecedented in the history of law enforcement, and it’s unprecedented now under Vice President Fances leadership and President Trump’s direction we are going to normalize this speed.”

Kennedy said the administration intends to continue targeting fraud while protecting federal healthcare programs.

“We’re restoring accountability, strengthening oversight, prosecuting criminal networks, and protecting the integrity of our public health systems, we will not allow criminals to treat children as billing opportunities, while American taxpayers foot the bill. This administration will continue rooting out fraud, because every stolen dollar is $1 taken from a child, a parent, a senior of a family who desperately needs help. We’re going to protect these programs and protect vulnerable children and restore integrity to American health care system.”

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Donald Trump Taps Bill Pulte to Lead Intelligence Post After Gabbard Steps Down
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Donald Trump Taps Bill Pulte to Lead Intelligence Post After Gabbard Steps Down

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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William “Bill” Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard after she announced plans to resign, as reported by Fox News.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, praising Pulte’s experience at the FHFA and his oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 trillion dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump wrote.

Trump said Pulte will continue serving as FHFA director and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while taking on the acting intelligence role.

“Congratulations to Director Pulte!” Trump added.

Pulte was confirmed earlier this year to lead the FHFA, which regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Trump also said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now oversee more than $10 trillion in assets, describing that figure as “a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago.”

The appointment follows Gabbard’s announcement last month that she would resign as director of national intelligence to support her husband after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Her resignation is scheduled to take effect on June 30.

Gabbard, who served as director of national intelligence during President Trump’s second term, oversaw efforts to declassify government records and pursued broader reforms within the intelligence community.

Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Intel Chief, Citing Husband’s Cancer as Trump Praises Her Service

Pulte’s acting appointment gives the White House a temporary replacement while the administration determines whether to nominate him or another candidate for the permanent role. If Pulte is later nominated to serve as director of national intelligence on a permanent basis, he would need Senate confirmation.

The director of national intelligence oversees the U.S. intelligence community and serves as a principal intelligence adviser to the president. The office coordinates work across multiple intelligence agencies and plays a central role in briefing the administration on national security threats.

Trump’s decision places a housing finance official with experience managing major financial institutions into one of the federal government’s most sensitive national security posts. The president’s announcement focused on Pulte’s financial oversight experience, particularly his work with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Pulte will remain in his current housing finance posts while serving in the acting intelligence position, according to Trump’s announcement.

The move comes as the administration continues to face intelligence, national security, and foreign policy challenges, including ongoing concerns in the Middle East and scrutiny from lawmakers over executive branch decisions.

Gabbard’s departure marks a significant change inside the Trump administration’s intelligence team. Pulte’s acting role will begin after her resignation takes effect at the end of June.

Mamdani Says Thirty Days Is Not Enough for Pride Month, Lectures New Yorkers on Trans Activism and Lib History
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Mamdani Says Thirty Days Is Not Enough for Pride Month, Lectures New Yorkers on Trans Activism and Lib History

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the start of Pride Month with a Monday post on X, saying one month would not be enough time to recognize what he described as the contributions of “queer and transgender” residents to the city’s history, as reported by Fox News.

June 1 marked the beginning of Pride Month, and Mamdani joined other Democratic officials and the Democratic National Committee in posting statements on X.

“It would take far more than a month to honor the contributions of queer and transgender New Yorkers,” Mamdani wrote.

The mayor then listed several historical references while arguing that New York City has been shaped by queer and trans residents.

“From the Cercle Hermaphroditos in 1895, the first trans advocacy group in the United States, to the drag balls of the Harlem Renaissance, to the Stonewall uprising, to the Lesbian Herstory Archives, to ACT UP!, founded in 1987 as queer people fought for their lives while the Reagan administration looked away, New York City’s history has long been shaped by queer and trans New Yorkers,” he continued.

Mamdani closed the post with a direct message to residents.

“To all our queer and trans neighbors: you deserve a City where you can afford to live safely, openly, and joyfully. Happy Pride, New York City,” he added.

The post came as Mamdani continues to face scrutiny from critics over his record and public positioning. Fox News noted that Mamdani attended the 2025 New York City Pride March on June 29, 2025, in New York City.

The Democratic National Committee also posted a Pride Month message on X, writing, “Love openly. Live authentically. Happy Pride!”

Other Democratic figures issued similar statements as June began.

Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., posted a message referencing San Francisco and broader national celebrations.

“During #PrideMonth we celebrate love, freedom and the courage to live authentically. From San Francisco to communities across our nation, we honor the trailblazers and activists who expanded the promise of equality and pledge to carry on the work they began. Happy #Pride!” Pelosi wrote.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also marked the month with a post on X.

“Pride is joy. Pride is courage. Pride is a celebration. And Pride is the ongoing fight to ensure every person can live as their authentic self. This month and every month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and all those continuing the fight for equality. Happy Pride!” Harris wrote.

The messages from Mamdani, the DNC, Pelosi, and Harris came as Democratic leaders continued to highlight Pride Month as part of their public messaging at the start of June.

Mamdani’s post focused heavily on New York City’s history, naming the Cercle Hermaphroditos, Harlem Renaissance drag balls, the Stonewall uprising, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and ACT UP! as examples of groups and movements he said shaped the city.

His message also tied the issue to affordability and public safety, saying queer and trans New Yorkers deserve a city where they can live “safely, openly, and joyfully.”

The Pride Month posts followed other recent coverage of Mamdani, including criticism from opponents and reports about his decisions as mayor.

Trump Defends White House ‘Drone Port’ Project as Essential National Security Measure
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Trump Defends White House ‘Drone Port’ Project as Essential National Security Measure

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President Donald Trump isn’t backing down from his vision of turning the White House into a high-tech fortress, complete with a sophisticated rooftop drone port.

Over the weekend, he tore into a federal judge’s decision to halt construction, invoking national security and sharply warning against judicial interference in matters of presidential protection.

In his unmistakable Truth Social style, Trump blasted U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, calling on him to “stop playing games with America’s Security.”

The president didn’t mince words, warning that if any harm came from these delays, Judge Leon would be “responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country.”

Trump’s frustrations stem from a federal injunction placed on the $400 million White House ballroom project — a massive undertaking aimed at reimagining part of the East Wing as both a ceremonial space and a cutting-edge defensive installation.

A lawsuit, filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, claims that the ballroom’s expansion violated procedural limits because congressional authorization wasn’t secured first.

Leon agreed with that argument in March, ordering a halt to the work. But an appellate court later put that decision on pause, briefly giving the project new life as legal wrangling continues.

Trump, however, is moving ahead mentally and politically, presenting the entire endeavor as a matter of national survival rather than mere architecture.

In his Sunday post, Trump showcased digital renderings depicting the White House roof lined with snipers and military-grade drones prepped for rapid deployment. He declared the “DronePort at the White House Ballroom” would be the most sophisticated in the world, defending Washington “long into the future.”

He reminded Americans that the age of simple sidearms is long gone, proclaiming that modern weapons mean “we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols alone.”

Trump Unveils Plans for Fortress Ballroom with High-Tech Drone Base and Underground Military Hub [WATCH]

The president personally toured journalists through the site in May, proudly describing how the new ballroom complex will double as a military-grade structure — featuring a medical wing, missile-resistant roofing, and unlimited drone capacity.

“This is all my money and donors’ money,” Trump emphasized, an unsubtle reminder that taxpayers aren’t footing the bill. “On top of the roof, we’re going to have the greatest drone empire you’ve ever seen, and it’s going to protect Washington.”

Critics on the left and in the bureaucracy are predictably recoiling, painting the project as excessive or symbolic. But in the real world, the need for heightened White House security has rarely been clearer.

In just the past month, three separate armed threats have erupted within shouting distance of the president — including one gunman fatally shot near the White House itself after opening fire.

At the start of May, another man was wounded in a firefight near the Washington Monument with the Secret Service, while in late April, an armed individual carrying multiple weapons tried to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Those consecutive close calls underscore why Trump’s insistence on advanced protective measures isn’t vanity. It’s prudence.

Trump Defends White House ‘Drone Port’ Project As Essential National Security Measure
President Donald J. Trump shows concepts of White House Drone Port, June 1, 2026

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reinforced that point in filings urging courts not to hamstring the project due to bureaucratic quibbling. “This second attack on the President this month underscores that critical need for top-level, state-of-the-art security at the White House, including the Ballroom,” Blanche argued.

His office described the facility as essential for ensuring the president “can perform his constitutional duties in a safe and heavily secured facility.”

For Trump, the fight is not just against the red tape that bogs down nearly every modern construction project within the federal apparatus — it’s against the mindset that prioritizes optics over protection.

While historic preservation activists fret about sightlines and heritage façades, Trump is looking ahead at the realities of 21st-century warfare and the need to shield America’s command post from every conceivable threat.

The president’s approach toward security has always carried a distinctly modern edge. Where bureaucrats see aesthetics, he sees tactical advantage.

Where traditionalists see a ballroom, he sees a secure assembly space where command and celebration coexist safely under the same reinforced roof.

The “DronePort” may sound futuristic, but experts in modern security are already warning that airborne threats — including weaponized micro-drones — are the next major frontier of domestic and presidential protection.

Trump’s instinct, as usual, is to be two steps ahead of the institutional crowd, ready to equip America’s first fortress with tools fit for real-world dangers, not hypothetical ones.

And that, ultimately, may be the defining feature of Trump’s presidency: a relentless commitment to keeping America secure, regardless of who complains, stalls, or sues.

In an era when too many in Washington prioritize process over protection, it’s refreshing to see the commander in chief thinking like a guardian rather than a bureaucrat.

Democrat Strategist Blasts Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Says Voter Revolt Could Hand Win to Spencer Pratt [WATCH]
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Democrat Strategist Blasts Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Says Voter Revolt Could Hand Win to Spencer Pratt [WATCH]

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Democrat strategist Melissa DeRosa said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is showing serious weakness in her reelection campaign, arguing during a Fox News appearance that voter frustration could help Spencer Pratt in the mayoral race, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

DeRosa appeared Monday on “The Story” with Martha MacCallum, where the discussion focused on Bass, Pratt, and voter anger in Los Angeles. The segment included video of Bass criticizing Pratt’s qualifications and campaign message.

“It’s not just that he has no experience in city government, but I don’t know if he’s ever held a job in his life other than to be a reality TV star. And I think that he doesn’t know the issues. He’s operating out of anger. And what our city needs is to move forward, and a city where people can live their lives without the fear of crime,” Bass said.

DeRosa responded by pointing to Bass’ polling position, despite backing from major Democratic power players and groups.

“Karen Bass is a Democrat with all of the establishment behind her. She has the union, and the governor, and Kamala Harris, but she can’t crack 26 or 27%,” DeRosa told MacCallum.

DeRosa said the numbers reflect a problem for Bass more than a sudden rise by Pratt.

“So, that is not about Spencer Pratt, that is about her,” DeRosa said.

“When you have a ceiling that low and you are the incumbent mayor, that is your constituents telling you, ‘You’re fired.’ So, Spencer Pratt — it’s fascinating to watch. A Republican has not been mayor in Los Angeles since 2001, so it’s been 25 years, and I think if he gets elected, he will get elected, yes, because people are angry, because they feel that the government has failed them.”

The comments came as Pratt, best known for reality television, continues to present himself as an outsider candidate in a city that has not elected a Republican mayor in a quarter-century.

DeRosa also predicted that the race could move into a runoff between Bass and Pratt, where she said Pratt could benefit from voters who want a change from City Hall.

“I think it’s gonna be a runoff between Bass and Pratt,” DeRosa said. “And then in a runoff, head-to-head, I actually think he can consolidate the anti-establishment vote, and he could come over the top, because she has a terrible record that she will defend for the next five months.”

Bass has sought to cast Pratt as unqualified, arguing that Los Angeles needs leadership focused on crime and city services rather than anger. Pratt’s campaign has centered on criticism of Bass’ handling of the city and the broader frustration among residents.

The exchange highlighted the challenge facing Bass as she runs with institutional Democratic support while still struggling to rise above the high-20s in polling, according to DeRosa’s comments.

MacCallum’s segment drew attention because DeRosa, a Democratic strategist, openly questioned the incumbent mayor’s strength and said voter anger could reshape a race that many Democrats once expected to remain safely in their column.

For Pratt, DeRosa’s analysis suggested a path built on anti-establishment sentiment rather than traditional political experience. For Bass, it added another round of scrutiny over whether her record can withstand months of attacks heading into a possible runoff.

Bernie Sanders Doubles Down on Platner Endorsement Despite Explosive Sexting Scandal
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Bernie Sanders Doubles Down on Platner Endorsement Despite Explosive Sexting Scandal

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Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is standing by his endorsement of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner despite recent reports that Platner exchanged explicit text messages with multiple women after marrying his wife in 2024, as reported by Fox News.

The controversy emerged after a report from The Wall Street Journal detailed concerns raised within Platner’s campaign regarding potential political liabilities connected to the messages.

According to the report, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, informed a campaign aide about the texts after Platner launched his Senate campaign and staff began reviewing issues that could affect the race.

Politico later reported that Platner’s campaign confirmed the exchanges had taken place.

Despite the reports, Sanders indicated Monday that he has no intention of withdrawing his support for the Democratic candidate.

Speaking to an MS Now reporter, Sanders argued that voters should focus on economic concerns rather than the controversy surrounding Platner’s personal life.

“Sixty percent of our people are living paycheck to paycheck. People can’t afford healthcare. They can’t afford groceries. They can’t afford to fill up their gas tanks. The oligarchs are planning to spend, I believe, some $90 million in a small state like Maine to defeat Graham Platner,” Sanders said.

“So I think maybe we should be focusing on the important issues facing working people throughout this country, not focusing on his marriage.”

When asked directly whether he was reconsidering his endorsement, Sanders responded, “Certainly not.”

The Vermont senator expanded on those comments by pointing to statements made by Platner’s wife.

“And my understanding is that his wife, Amy, who I’ve met, indicated they love each other. But maybe we focus on the issues facing the American people, the people of Maine, and not the marriage issues facing Graham Platner,” Sanders said.

Later Monday, Sanders was questioned again by reporters about whether he still supported Platner’s campaign. According to The Associated Press, he answered, “Of course,” before adding, “Why would I not?”

Platner has become one of the most closely watched Democratic candidates in the 2026 election cycle as he seeks a U.S. Senate seat from Maine.

The controversy stems from reports that Gertner discovered the messages months after the couple married in 2024. The issue resurfaced publicly during the Senate campaign, prompting renewed scrutiny of the candidate.

Over the weekend, Gertner publicly defended her husband and his campaign in a video posted to X.

“So it makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip, instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on — like healthcare, education, and childcare,” Gertner said.

She also addressed the challenges the couple has faced since their marriage.

“Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility, and a Senate campaign is hard,” Gertner said.

Sanders and Platner have appeared together at multiple campaign events in Maine, including stops on Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. One event took place in Portland on May 25, while another was held at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono on May 24.

The controversy has generated questions from some Democrats. Sen. Cory Booker previously acknowledged that Platner “has questions to answer.”

Even with the growing attention surrounding the reports, Sanders has made clear that his support for the Maine Senate candidate remains unchanged as the race continues.

Farewell Flight: Marines Honor Legendary Harrier Jet’s Final Public Ride
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Farewell Flight: Marines Honor Legendary Harrier Jet’s Final Public Ride

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After more than four decades of roaring takeoffs, vertical landings, and battlefield heroics, the Marine Corps is saying goodbye to one of its most iconic warbirds—the AV-8B Harrier II.

This week, the jet that has defined Marine air power for a generation will make its final public flight at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, closing a chapter written in grit, smoke, and American steel.

The “sundown” ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, will mark the retirement of the Harrier from Marine service.

The aircraft, famous for its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, has been a mainstay of Marine aviation since first entering service in 1985.

The retiring birds belong to Marine Attack Squadron 223, a unit that just last year was deployed to the Caribbean as part of a larger U.S. military operation culminating in the January 3 capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.

The event will draw thousands of spectators, including active-duty Marines, retirees, and families who know what this jet has meant to the Corps.

Senior Marine Corps leaders and local officials will join them as a formation of five Harriers performs a powerful flyover before landing in front of the crowd.

For many, that thunderous roar from the Harrier’s Rolls-Royce engine will be the sound of patriotism one last time.

Though the ceremony celebrates the end of Harrier operations, the jets aren’t done just yet.

Marine officials say some of the aircraft will make a few more flights as they are ferried to museums or storage sites. The official deactivation of Marine Attack Squadron 223 is set for September, wrapping up nearly forty years of service.

“Ace of Spades” Takes Final Harrier Flight as Marine Corps Advances to F-35 Era

When retired, many of these tactical legends will find their final rest at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona—America’s famed aircraft “boneyard.” It’s where icons go to sleep under the desert sun.

The Harrier entered Marine service in 1985, building on the British combat-proven design that earned its fearsome “Black Death” moniker during the Falklands War.

Its ability to leap off short runways or even small ships gave Marines air power unlike any other.

When enemy fighters or insurgents thought they had a safe zone, the Harrier came from seemingly nowhere—clearing the field with precision ordnance and roaring away vertically before the dust settled.

Retired Marine Lt. Col. Mike “Gravy” Rountree, who flew Harriers between 2003 and 2011, recalled early days in Iraq when Marine squadrons operated with almost no support. “They were a gunny and a tank of gas and a couple of ordnance Marines,” Rountree recalled.

Harrier Sundown Celebration Honors Legacy as Marines Prepare for Fifth Generation Fleet
The AV-8B Harrier II+ will reach the end of its planned service life in fiscal year 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps)

“They were able to land the jet, turn the jet, launch the jet with minimum ground support, and it did not depend on any tankers.” That rough-and-ready independence defined the Harrier spirit.

Rountree called the aircraft unique not because of its hardware, but because of how Marines used it.

“The Harrier didn’t need an airfield,” he said. “All it needed was a Marine flying it.” That independence exemplified the Marine ethos—self-reliance, lethality, and raw determination.

Marine Expeditionary Units used that flexibility to bring an airborne punch wherever the fight was hottest.

A Harrier could launch from an amphibious assault ship, support ground operations miles inland, and return to deck—all without needing traditional runways.

The jet gave every Marine commander a dedicated air power arm, tightening the Corps’ legendary Air-Ground Task Force concept.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II receives fuel over Iraq while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, Dec. 31, 2015. Operation Inherent Resolve is the coalition intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb
A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier lands on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima during the Combined Composite Training Unit Exercise in the Atlantic Ocean, Nov. 20, 2017. The Harrier crew is assigned to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 162 (REIN), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jon Sosner

“Now that MAGTAF commander, that ground commander, has his own air force with him all the time,” Rountree said.

“It’s not bringing a bomber’s weight of ordnance, but it’s bringing close air support fires right where it’s needed.”

The Harrier’s combat record speaks volumes. During the first Persian Gulf War, Marine Harriers were the first to the fight, flying 3,380 sorties totaling more than 4,000 flight hours while sustaining an astonishing mission readiness rate above 90 percent.

That kind of reliability didn’t come from fancy bureaucratic contracting—it came from Marines with grease-stained hands keeping their birds combat ready under fire.

Retired Marine Maj. Michael Decker, now with the RAND Corporation, noted that Harriers operated as close as 40 miles from the Kuwaiti border in 1991.

Their short runway requirement let them stay near the fight, something no other American jet could do at the time.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II receives fuel over Iraq while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, Dec. 31, 2015. Operation Inherent Resolve is the coalition intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb

As the last Harriers shut down their engines this week, generations of Marines will recall what that distinct, ear-pounding sound meant.

The Harrier was never just a machine; it was a Marine’s promise to the guy on the ground—that no matter how rough it got, close air support was coming fast.

The torch now passes to newer aircraft like the F-35B, which continues the vertical takeoff legacy with cutting-edge technology.

But there will always be a soft spot in Marine history for the stubborn, rugged, jump-jet workhorse that proved what American innovation and Marine grit could do together.

The Harrier is not just a retired aircraft—it’s a reminder that American warfighters will always find a way to dominate the sky, no matter the odds.

One final roar over Cherry Point will drive that truth home.

U.S. Forces Hammer Iranian Targets After Drone Shootdown, Intercept Missiles Over Kuwait
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U.S. Forces Hammer Iranian Targets After Drone Shootdown, Intercept Missiles Over Kuwait

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American forces didn’t mince words or fire this weekend as they struck back at Iran’s latest aggression.

According to U.S. Central Command, the War Department’s precision strikes pounded Iranian command-and-control sites and radar installations following Tehran’s reckless shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating legally over international waters.

U.S. fighter jets destroyed multiple Iranian air defense assets, a ground control station, and two suicide drones attempting to disrupt commercial and military traffic in international sea lanes.

In typical fashion, Iran thought it could poke the United States with impunity.

It quickly learned that President Trump’s military does not tolerate direct threats to American forces or allies.

CENTCOM described the response as “measured and deliberate,” language that underscores both the restraint and the readiness of U.S. forces.

While no American lives were lost, the strikes sent a clear signal: the War Department will not stand idle as Iran escalates.

The problem for the Islamic Republic is that every time it tests the Trump administration’s resolve, it exposes its own vulnerabilities.

The United States has the best-trained military on Earth, commanded under a War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, who believes in peace through overwhelming strength. And once again, that doctrine worked precisely as intended.

US Navy Takes Out Two Iranian Tankers Defying Blockade in Strait of Hormuz
An F/A-18E Super Hornet taxis on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on April 16, 2026. (U.S. Navy)

CENTCOM confirmed that even amid heightened military activity, the ceasefire that began April 12 remains technically in effect.

Yet everyone knows this so-called “ceasefire” is hanging by a thread thin enough to slice paper. Iranian militias and naval units continue testing limits in the Gulf, hoping American patience will falter. It won’t.

On May 25, U.S. forces carried out additional strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and boats actively laying naval mines.

Those aggressive Iranian operations directly threatened international shipping lanes and put countless lives at risk. Washington’s answer was swift and surgical—American hardware neutralized those hostile positions before they could cause greater harm.

Then, just as tensions seemed to cool, Tehran tried again. On Sunday evening, Iran launched two ballistic missiles aimed toward U.S. forces stationed in Kuwait.

The attack accomplished little besides proving that Trump’s military deterrence strategy is still needed.

Both missiles were intercepted midflight, an achievement demonstrating American technological superiority and constant readiness.

Naval Blockade Sparks Showdown as Destroyer Halts Iranian-Bound Cargo Vessel
The destroyers Spruance, front, and Decatur alongside the fleet oiler Carl Brashear. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Will Gaskill)

While military commanders handle operations on the ground, the Trump administration continues diplomatic maneuvering at the highest level. Reports suggest Washington and Tehran have been engaged in overtures about a potential deal that could end the Iran war.

But in a classic Trump move, the president reportedly modified the deal terms to force Tehran into accountability—a step critics say could finally bring real results after decades of failed “talks.”

The proposed resolution would not only wind down hostilities but also ensure Israel’s right to defend itself is not undercut. Iran would have to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reopening one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

For years, Iranian forces have used that strait as leverage against global trade and American influence. That leverage may soon be gone.

The pattern is as predictable as ever: Iran provokes, the U.S. retaliates, and the world watches to see if the regime can take a hint.

Each strike reminds the mullahs in Tehran that they’re not dealing with the indecisive bureaucracy of the Obama years—they’re up against the no-nonsense leadership of President Trump and War Secretary Hegseth, who put results before rhetoric.

As always, American forces remain focused on mission success, safety of personnel, and deterrence of future attacks. This is not nation-building or appeasement; it’s strategic dominance.

It’s the reassertion of what the War Department was meant to do: protect American lives and interests anywhere on the map.

Iran’s repeated provocations only prove how effective U.S. force projection truly is. Their desperation to disrupt stability in the Gulf region is a sign of weakness, not strength.

Every missile they launch and every drone they lose chips away at their shrinking power base and emboldens their internal opposition.

For now, the United States stands ready, steady, and fully capable of defending every inch of international waters, airspace, and land where our forces operate.

Iran, take note: when you fire at America, you will get hit back harder—and faster—every single time.


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