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‘What’s the Point of Food Stamps if It’s Just for Real Food?’: Missouri Welfare Queen
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‘What’s the Point of Food Stamps if It’s Just for Real Food?’: Missouri Welfare Queen

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A Missouri woman receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits criticized new restrictions on eligible food purchases after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved waivers allowing states to prohibit the use of benefits for candy, sugary drinks, and other items beginning in 2026.

According to a report by St. Louis television station KMOV, Hannah Moore told reporter John Kipper that the forthcoming restrictions were unfair and questioned the purpose of the federal assistance program if it is limited to what she described as “real food.”

“What is the point of food stamps if it’s just for ‘real food?’” Moore asked during the interview.

Her comments followed an announcement Wednesday by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who said the USDA had approved waiver requests from Missouri and five other states allowing them to restrict SNAP purchases of candy, sugar-sweetened beverages, and similar items after Oct. 1, 2026.

SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps, is administered by the Department of Agriculture in coordination with individual states.

The program is intended to supplement grocery budgets for low-income individuals and families so they can purchase “nutritious food essential to health and well-being.”

According to the USDA website, as of Tuesday, 18 states have received waivers to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for junk food.

Moore told KMOV that she was unhappy with the changes and expressed confusion about the policy direction.

“That’s not even cool, like why they do that?” she said. She later added, “I don’t know what Trump is doing or what is going on.”

The waiver approvals come as federal officials pursue broader efforts to address diet-related health concerns.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has advocated removing sugary drinks, including sodas, from SNAP eligibility, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. Kennedy has linked the effort to rising rates of chronic disease, which affect roughly three in five Americans, as part of an initiative often referred to as the Make America Healthy Again movement, or MAHA.

Moore told KMOV she was particularly concerned about how the changes could affect families with children.

“Thank God I don’t got kids, but the people out there with kids are not going to be cool,” she said.

Moore added that she worried parents would not be able to buy snacks their children enjoy.

The SNAP program has been the subject of ongoing debate over eligibility requirements, allowable purchases, and work mandates.

During the federal government shutdown in October and November, several federal district judges ordered the Trump administration to access contingency funds to continue SNAP benefits during the funding lapse.

Those orders were overturned by the Supreme Court on Nov. 8, shortly before lawmakers reached an agreement to end the shutdown.

More recently, changes to SNAP eligibility requirements have drawn public criticism.

In a Dec. 3 news report, a woman complained about new work requirements imposed on able-bodied adults up to age 64 as a condition of maintaining SNAP eligibility.

Those requirements were enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July.

Under the law, certain adults without dependents must meet work or training requirements to continue receiving benefits.

Supporters of the changes argue the requirements encourage workforce participation and self-sufficiency, while critics say they risk removing benefits from individuals who rely on the program.

The USDA has said the waiver approvals allowing states to restrict junk food purchases are intended to give states flexibility while aligning SNAP with its stated mission of promoting nutrition and health.

States that receive waivers are not required to implement the restrictions but are permitted to do so under federal guidelines.

Missouri officials have not yet announced how the state plans to implement the waiver or what specific items will be prohibited once the changes take effect in 2026.

The USDA has indicated that implementation details will vary by state and that additional guidance will be provided closer to the effective date.

As the debate continues, SNAP remains one of the largest federal assistance programs, serving millions of people each month.

Minnesota’s Massive Fraud Scandal Deepens as More and More Info Emerges
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Minnesota’s Massive Fraud Scandal Deepens as More and More Info Emerges

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Minnesota officials and prosecutors are warning that the state is confronting an unprecedented fraud crisis across its social service programs, with potential losses estimated to exceed $1 billion and possibly climb beyond $2 billion, according to lawmakers and investigators familiar with the cases.

Republican state Sen. Michael Kreun said Minnesota has been aware of widespread fraud for years but failed to rein it in.

“Minnesota has an epidemic of fraud, as the rest of the nation is learning,” Kreun said.

“We’ve known here in Minnesota for quite some time that we’ve had a massive fraud problem. And it’s turning out that probably Minnesota is the epicenter of fraud in the United States right now.”

The warnings come in the wake of the Feeding Our Future case, one of the largest pandemic-related fraud prosecutions in U.S. history, and amid increased scrutiny of other state programs, including Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) and autism-related services.

The HSS program has emerged as a key example cited by lawmakers as evidence of how fraud allegedly spiraled out of control.

The program was launched nearly four years ago and was originally projected to cost approximately $2.6 million per year.

Instead, spending ballooned to more than $100 million last year and was on track to exceed $120 million this year before the program was shut down.

“We’re learning [it is] probably at least $300 million in fraud right now,” Kreun said.

“And the fraud was so pervasive that they basically had to shut that program down.”

An in-person investigation conducted by Fox News Digital found that numerous addresses listed in HSS and Feeding Our Future claims were fabricated.

Some addresses led to empty parking lots, nonexistent office suites, or legitimate businesses that had no connection to the organizations submitting the claims.

Kreun said similar patterns may exist in other Minnesota social service programs, including autism services.

“The autism services program, for example, probably has that level of fraud, maybe even more,” he said.

Federal investigators uncovered allegations involving Asha Farhan Hassan, who is accused of defrauding Minnesota’s autism-treatment program of roughly $14 million.

Prosecutors allege Hassan billed Medicaid for therapy sessions that never occurred, employed untrained staff, and paid parents between $300 and $1,500 per month to keep their children enrolled in the program.

Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars were sent overseas, including funds used to purchase real estate in Kenya.

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the autism program’s budget surged from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023.

At least 85 entities connected to the programs are currently under investigation.

Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab, who briefly worked on the Feeding Our Future case, said the scheme stood out not only for its scale but also for how easily it was carried out.

“Honestly how easy this fraud was to do,” Teirab said.

“These fraudsters were just saying that they were spending all this money on feeding kids… and they were just making up these PDFs, putting false names into Excel sheets.”

“I could do that in five minutes on a computer if I had absolutely no conscience,” he added.

Teirab said failures in oversight within the Minnesota Department of Education and other agencies contributed significantly to the problem. He also cited political pressures as a factor.

“There were huge incentives to just turn the other way,” Teirab said.

“There’s a sense of, ‘If we say something, are they going to call us racist?’ And that’s exactly what happened.”

A whistleblower account from within the Minnesota Department of Human Services alleged that employees who raised fraud concerns internally were ignored, reassigned, or sidelined, aligning with Teirab’s account.

Townhall columnist Dustin Grage said political pressure intensified after the Minnesota Department of Education temporarily halted payments to Feeding Our Future over fraud concerns.

“Omar Fateh… as well as Jamal Osman, a city councilman in Minneapolis, they actually ended up lobbying to the governor and saying, ‘Hey, this is racist if you are to do this,’” Grage said.

Although a lawsuit was filed against the state after payments were suspended, it was later dismissed.

Payments resumed, and restrictions were eased. Grage also noted that the governor had the authority to subpoena bank records tied to Feeding Our Future but did not do so.

“They have that tool in their disposal, and they refuse to use it for whatever reason,” Grage said. “Maybe they knew about it. Maybe it’s just complete incompetence.”

Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and local restaurant owner Salim Said were convicted for their roles in the scheme.

Prosecutors said they used fraud proceeds on luxury homes, vehicles, and lavish lifestyles. Authorities said the organization falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals and fraudulently obtained nearly $250 million in federal funds.

Teirab said Feeding Our Future was not an isolated case, pointing to another nonprofit, Partners in Nutrition, also known as Partners in Quality Care, which has been identified in Fox News Digital reporting.

When combining alleged fraud linked to Feeding Our Future, Partners in Quality Care, housing stabilization, and other programs, losses exceed $1 billion. Teirab and former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the total could surpass $2 billion.

“So that is what we’re dealing with,” Teirab said.

“It’s a travesty that our hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being wasted away.”

Investigations and audits remain ongoing as lawmakers and prosecutors warn that without major reforms, similar fraud schemes could continue to operate undetected across Minnesota’s social service programs.

So Called Gender Affirming Care for Kids is Not Medicine, It is Malpractice: RFK Jr.
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So Called Gender Affirming Care for Kids is Not Medicine, It is Malpractice: RFK Jr.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced actions aimed at banning transgender sex-change procedures for children, arguing that such interventions violate basic medical ethics and cause lasting harm to minors.

Kennedy said his decision is based on scientific evidence, federal health findings, and an executive order issued by President Trump.

In a statement outlining the rationale for the move, Kennedy accused doctors and major medical organizations of abandoning their obligations to protect children.

“Doctors assume a solemn obligation to protect children,” Kennedy said.

“Doctors across the country now provide needless and irreversible sex, rejecting procedures that violate their sacred Hippocratic Oath, endangering the very lives that they are sworn to safeguard.”

Kennedy specifically criticized organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, accusing them of promoting what he described as false claims about transgender medical treatments for minors.

“The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics peddle the lie that chemical and surgical sex rejecting procedures could be good for children who suffer from gender dysphoria,” he said.

He argued that these positions have harmed a large number of young people.

“They betrayed the estimated 300,000 American youth ages 13 to 17, conditioned to believe that sex can be changed,” Kennedy said.

“They betrayed their Hippocratic oath to do no harm.”

Kennedy said procedures commonly referred to as “gender affirming care” have resulted in long-term damage.

“So called gender affirming care has inflicted lasting physical and psychological damage on vulnerable young people,” he said.

“This is not medicine, it is malpractice.”

According to Kennedy, his actions are supported by recent federal health findings.

He cited a peer-reviewed report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

“A peer reviewed report published by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health last month confirms that sex rejecting procedures imposed medical dangers and lasting harm on children who receive these interventions,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said his response includes multiple steps intended to halt these practices nationwide.

“So today, we are taking six decisive actions guided by gold standard science and the week one executive order from President Trump to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation,” he said.

He also announced the signing of a formal declaration addressing the use of these procedures on minors.

“This morning, I signed a declaration sex rejecting procedures are neither safe nor effective treatment for children with gender dysphoria,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy framed the actions as a break from what he described as ideology-driven medical practices and said the focus must return to child welfare.

“We’re done with junk science driven by ideological pursuits, not the well being of children,” he said.

WATCH:

‘Hold the Phone’: Democrats’ Poll Numbers Now at Lowest Point in Modern History
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‘Hold the Phone’: Democrats’ Poll Numbers Now at Lowest Point in Modern History

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CNN data analyst Harry Enten and anchor Kate Bolduan discussed collapsing approval ratings for Democrats in Congress during a recent segment, pointing to polling that shows historic lows across the electorate, including among independents and Democrats themselves.

Enten said congressional Democrats are facing unprecedented disapproval, citing long-running polling data.

“Right now? Yeah. I mean Democrats, in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead Sea,” Enten said.

“What are we talking about here? Well, let’s take a look the net approval rating for Democrats in Congress. You said it. Kate Bolduan, the lowest ever.”

Enten said the overall net approval rating for Democrats in Congress is deeply negative.

“Overall, they are 55 Points underwater. Their approval rating is south of 20%,” he said.

He added that the numbers are even worse among independents.

“It’s even worse when you look at Independence, look at this negative 61 points. That means that their approval rating is 61 points lower than their disapproval rating.”

According to Enten, the figures are the worst recorded since Quinnipiac began tracking the data decades ago.

“Quinnipiac has been polling this question for the better part of the 21st Century. They have never found Democrats, at least those in Congress, in worse shape than they are right now,” he said.

Bolduan pressed Enten on whether the collapse extended beyond independents.

“That’s independents and overall. But what about Democrats on Democrats?” she asked.

Enten responded that dissatisfaction within the Democratic base is now contributing to the overall decline.

“Yeah, what about Democrats on Democrats?” he said.

“So part of the reason overall is so low is independents are driving it low. But that’s not the only reason it’s so low.”

Enten said Democrats had not previously rated their own party negatively in congressional approval polling.

“Democrats, and that approval rating of congressional Democrats, I want you to keep in mind, they had never rated Democrats negatively until this year,” he said.

“And right now, what are we talking about? We’re talking about a net approval rating from Democrats. This is Democrats, and Democrats, their approval rating is actually lower, lower than the disapproval rating, and that is quite the drop from October.”

He attributed part of the decline to backlash following a government shutdown.

“I think during the shutdown, there was a bit of a boost for Democrats, right? There was a rallying around the flag effect going on, but Democrats did not like how that shutdown turned out. They have returned against Democrats in Congress,” Enten said.

Enten also referenced internal Democratic political consequences, mentioning Rep. Dan Goldman.

Feb 7, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; Feb. 7, 2023; Washington, DC, USA. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) during the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on border and immigration issues on February 7, 2023 in Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

“One of the reasons that Dan Goldman is in trouble right now in a potential primary against Brad Ladner is because at this point, the Democratic base is so upset with Democrats,” he said.

“So even if Democrats take back Congress, don’t be surprised if Dan Goldman ain’t there because of numbers like this one.”

Bolduan noted the scale of the shift reflected in the polling.

“This is quite a shift that you’re looking at here,” she said.

“I mean, so this gets to the midterms, of course. What is this? What does this do to Democrats chances of taking back majorities in Congress?”

Enten said Democrats could still regain control, but argued the numbers show a weaker position than in past cycles.

“Yeah, you know we’re talking about it. You mentioned it. What is this? 22 six? That’s a 28 point decline falling through the floor,” he said.

“But of course, the question is, Can Democrats still take back Congress, even with their ratings as low as this? The answer is yes, but in my mind, it’s definitely hurting them.”

He pointed to the generic congressional ballot as an example.

“Democrats are ahead, but they’re only ahead by four points. Historically, that is quite weak,” Enten said.

He compared the current numbers to previous cycles, noting larger Democratic leads during other periods.

“So we’re talking about a lead of less than half what we normally expect.”

Bolduan emphasized that the shift among Democrats themselves stood out.

“Especially if you see that change from October,” she said.

“Yeah, if you see when you see your base going a 28 point shift, and when you see numbers like this, you see this overall,” Enten replied.

Bolduan added, “A lot can change.”

“A lot a lot can change at this point,” Enten said.

He concluded by cautioning Democrats against overconfidence.

“Democrats are hoping that Donald Trump’s unpopularity can ride them to a congressional majority. But you know what? When you have numbers like this, hold the phone just a second.”

WATCH:

Inspector General Exposes Filthy Barracks and Leaking Facilities at Border Bases
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Inspector General Exposes Filthy Barracks and Leaking Facilities at Border Bases

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The Inspector General’s field review of soldiers stationed along the border reveals a troubling picture of maintenance neglect and leadership shortfalls that undermine readiness and morale, a matter that must concern every American who wants a strong, disciplined force protecting the nation.

The IG “observed unsanitary conditions in bathroom facilities” at soldiers’ barracks at Fort Bliss, Texas, and housing facilities at the Doña Ana Range Complex in New Mexico, which included “leaking raw sewage, non-functional toilets, and general disrepair of facilities.”

This level of neglect is unacceptable for a force kept ready for crisis and must be addressed with urgency because it directly affects the welfare and effectiveness of those guarding the frontier.

The review focused on housing for the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colorado, at a time when nearly 2,400 soldiers from the unit had deployed to the border, bringing Joint Task Force-Southern Border to nearly 9,000 personnel.

In May through August 2025, the brigade’s preventative medicine team flagged health and safety concerns at the Doña Ana Range Complex, noting that housing air conditioners caused respiratory symptoms for soldiers and that standing water from AC unit condensation and rain caused a “large increase in both the insect and mosquito population.”

They also documented outstanding work orders for clogged toilets and broken AC units, and soldiers told investigators that the air conditioners routinely didn’t work. Because air quality and humidity control are basic requirements for any housing, the findings illustrate a preventable drain on troop readiness.

Fort Bliss officials told the Inspector General that exceeding the housing areas’ electrical capacity could trip the circuit breakers, creating a fire risk in aging buildings, a risk that should never be tolerated in units tasked with border security and rapid response.

At the same time, the absence of reliable power undermines medical readiness and daily comfort, which in turn saps morale when the nation requires unwavering vigilance.

When U.S. Northern Command established the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, leaders requested barracks from the Fort Bliss Garrison, but Bliss personnel determined that they couldn’t meet the housing needs on post, so they decided to house some soldiers at the Doña Ana Range Complex.

The barracks on Fort Bliss were designated as “housing for transient personnel and not for continuous use,” reads the watchdog report, a designation that underscores the misalignment between housing policy and the demanding realities of border missions.

Beyond the unsanitary and unsafe conditions, regulators found that the housing itself ran afoul of regulations that specify the amount of time soldiers can be housed in cramped conditions, with exceptions that require waivers from commanders or medical personnel.

Fort Bliss housing had “as little as 45 square feet per soldier,” and Doña Ana Range Complex had “as little as 69 square feet per soldier.”

These figures reveal a breach not merely of comfort but of basic standard protections for service members in the midst of demanding deployments.

As of November 2025, soldiers at the border were no longer housed at the Doña Ana Range Complex, a development that signals both a corrective step and a warning that similar failures cannot be allowed to recur.

The episode should serve as a catalyst for reform, because a frontline force must be housed in conditions that reflect the seriousness of its mission and the nation’s commitment to its guardians.

This situation matters beyond the immediate mess on the ground, because it speaks to accountability at the highest levels and to the readiness of the armed forces under a President who has pledged bold leadership on national security.

The men and women who volunteer to defend the country deserve facilities that respect their service, especially when their duties place them at the most vulnerable frontiers.

In the current moment, the approach to border defense cannot tolerate bureaucratic inertia or excuses about infrastructure.

Accountability must accompany policy, because soldiers’ welfare and mission readiness depend on credible investments in housing, air quality, and electrical safety.

The report’s findings should spark not only corrective fixes but a broader reexamination of how the defense establishment allocates resources to sustain a force capable of meeting the challenges ahead.

President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would undoubtedly press for swift reforms, because a fighting force cannot operate from barracks that degrade health and morale.

Therefore, lawmakers and military leaders should regard this report as a call to action, ensuring every dollar spent on border security translates into secure, habitable, and capable housing for those who stand guard on our nation’s front lines.

BODYCAM: Judge Busted for DUI, Walks Free After 33 Minutes in Mississippi
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BODYCAM: Judge Busted for DUI, Walks Free After 33 Minutes in Mississippi

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Law enforcement officials have released body camera footage connected to the DUI arrest of DeSoto County Judge Karen Sanders, showing the moments leading up to the stop, questioning, and early stages of the investigation.

The judge was booked into the DeSoto County jail and released 33 minutes later, according to information included with the footage.

The video runs approximately 12 minutes and is taken from the body camera of the police officer who first reported observing Sanders’ vehicle.

The officer stated that Sanders drove into the grass after pulling out of a driveway on West Valley Street.

The footage documents the traffic stop from the moment officers approached the vehicle through their initial interaction with Sanders.

Early in the video, officers acknowledge that the driver is Judge Karen Sanders.

One officer confirms her identity to another shortly after the stop is initiated.

During that exchange, one officer is heard asking, “Is it pointless to test her?”

The comment is captured clearly on the released recording.

Throughout the encounter, officers repeatedly remind each other to act professionally.

Their conversations indicate an awareness of Sanders’ position as a county judge while they proceed with the traffic stop.

The footage reflects multiple instances where officers appear cautious in their wording and actions as they continue the investigation.

The officer who conducted the stop asks Sanders whether she had consumed alcohol that evening.

Sanders responds, “No ma’am.”

When the officer repeats the question, Sanders gives the same response, again saying, “No ma’am.”

The officer then asks Sanders for consent to administer a preliminary breath test.

“If I had an officer come over here and do a PBT, would you consent to a PBT?” the officer asks. Sanders responds, “Absolutely!”

Another officer arrives to conduct the breathalyzer test.

The video shows that officer administering the test.

After the test is completed, the officer is seen shaking his head.

The footage does not display the numerical results of the test.

During the stop, officers note observations about Sanders’ condition.

They describe her eyes as “glassy.”

The footage also shows Sanders placing her vehicle into reverse instead of park after pulling over.

The body camera recording ends shortly after the original officer asks Sanders to step out of the vehicle to perform a field sobriety test.

The video does not show the field sobriety test itself.

It also does not include footage of Sanders being placed under arrest or transported for booking.

The release does not include video of Sanders being processed or booked into the DeSoto County jail.

However, authorities confirmed that Sanders was booked and released 33 minutes later.

Sanders has been charged with careless driving and driving under the influence.

Court records indicate she has a municipal court date scheduled for April 1, 2026.

The hearing is set to take place in Hernando.

The released footage consists solely of the initial traffic stop and officer interactions at the scene on West Valley Street.

No additional body camera recordings have been included showing later stages of the arrest process.

Democrats Exposed for Defending Big Insurance Companies at American Families’ Expense
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Democrats Exposed for Defending Big Insurance Companies at American Families’ Expense

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Republican lawmakers Virginia Foxx and Jason Smith pushed back forcefully during a congressional hearing against Democratic claims that Republicans are responsible for millions of Americans losing health insurance, arguing instead that Democrats designed temporary subsidies, prioritized environmental spending, and continue to pour billions into a system they say is failing patients.

The exchange centered on the Affordable Care Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the Inflation Reduction Act, with a focus on enhanced health insurance subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month.

Foxx opened the questioning by directly challenging the accusation that Republicans had stripped health coverage from millions of Americans.

“Mr. Smith, what law did Republicans pass that throws 15 million people off their health insurance? That’s the accusation that was made a few minutes ago,” Foxx asked.

Smith responded by rejecting the claim outright and placing responsibility on Democrats for structuring the subsidies as temporary.

“It’s a great question I’ve been setting up here listening to the testimony Madam Chair, and it is, it is unacceptable, but that people are not being honest, and not being honest with the American people, because whenever you say that Republicans remove the subsidies, that’s a complete lie,” Smith said.

“It’s not false. It’s a lie because those subsidies were created solely by Democrats, and they chose to make them temporary.”

Smith said Democrats intentionally set the subsidies to expire in order to fund other priorities.

“In the American rescue plan and in the inflation Reduction Act, they set the sunset for the end of this month,” he said.

“You know why they set the sunset for the end of this month is because they spent all their money making permanent environmental tax benefits for their wealthy donors instead of the American people. And that is just a fact, Madam Chair.”

Foxx then addressed broader claims made during the hearing that there is only one pathway for Americans to access affordable health care.

“Thank you very much. I think you’re being very generous in what you are saying here, I also understand that a comment was made that there is only one way for Americans to access affordable health care, and that is through a discharge petition that has been introduced,” Foxx said.

“However, Americans have lots of opportunities to access affordable health care, and this bill will do that, as you said, for all Americans.”

She questioned whether Democrats were focusing their efforts on a narrow slice of the population.

“And what our colleagues are saying is they want to cover 7% of Americans. Did I hear you say that correctly? And have I heard our colleagues on our side of the aisle say that correctly?” Foxx asked.

Smith confirmed the figures and expanded on the numbers.

“That’s correct. There’s 300 and roughly 47 million Americans. There’s 24 million. That’s roughly on the exchanges, and all the conversation that you’ve heard from the other side today is about that 7% of the population,” Smith said.

He contrasted that with employer-sponsored insurance, noting, “the employer sponsored health care alone is 164 million people. Their premiums are going up, but they’re not putting forward any solutions to lower their premiums.”

Smith also accused Democrats of inconsistency on reform efforts.

“They say that they’re for PBM reform, but they’re not voting that way,” he said.

Foxx then turned to enrollment data on the health insurance exchanges, questioning whether the reported figures reflect actual use of health coverage.

“Correct. And would you like to explain about the ghost people that are being counted on the 24 million? We don’t even believe it’s 24 million. Is that not correct?” she asked.

Smith said nearly half of exchange enrollees never filed a medical claim.

“So out of the 24 million, it’s quite, quite disturbing that you look that almost just close to 12 million people last year never filed one medical claim, not one,” Smith said.

“You cannot tell me that those 12 million people did not have a medical claim.”

He attributed the discrepancy to automatic enrollment.

“These are people that are automatically enrolled in health insurance on the exchanges, and they don’t know that they have health insurance,” Smith said.

“That’s why they didn’t file a claim they had medical expenses.”

Smith argued that insurance companies benefited regardless.

“But guess what? Those insurance companies the Democrats are fighting and pushing for these major subsidies. They still got their subsidies, but the American people did not get their health care coverage,” he said.

Foxx sought confirmation.

“The health insurance companies are being paid for 12 million people who never filed a claim. Is that correct?” she asked.

“That’s correct. That was last year alone in 2024,” Smith replied.

Foxx concluded by highlighting the cost of the subsidies and criticizing Democratic policy over the long term.

“So if you say we are paying for 24 million, 12 million never filed a claim. So aren’t we talking about an even smaller group of people that our colleagues want to spend a lot of money on?” she asked.

Smith answered simply: “$40 billion a year.”

Foxx added that Democrats’ approach has remained unchanged for years.

“I’ve said what the Democrats always want to do, and that’s clear in this piece of legislation,” she said.

“That’s clear their defense of the unaffordable Care Act throw money at a problem that they think premiums in the individual market have been rising since the unaffordable Care Act was enacted, 129% since that bill was enacted, all our friends want to do is authorize more subsidies. To insurance companies. It’s the only proposal they’ve offered since 2014.”

WATCH:

Justice Served as Teens Who Mowed Down Retired Cop Are Sentenced
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Justice Served as Teens Who Mowed Down Retired Cop Are Sentenced

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Two Las Vegas men who pleaded guilty to deliberately running down a retired California police chief with a stolen car have been sentenced to decades in prison, closing a case that shocked the community and highlighted the brutality of the crime, as reported by Fox News.

Jesus Ayala, now 20, and Jzamir Keys, now 18, learned their sentences this week after entering separate guilty pleas in October for the August 2023 killing of retired police chief Andreas “Andy” Probst.

Probst was visiting Las Vegas when he was struck and killed while riding his bicycle.

Ayala, who was 17 at the time of the crime and driving the vehicle, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

In addition, he received an extra sentence of two to 10 years for battery, according to The New York Post. Keys, who was 16 at the time and riding in the passenger seat, was sentenced to 18 years to life.

Clark County District Court Judge Jacqueline Bluth addressed the severity of the crime during sentencing.

“The Probsts not only have to live with the fact of him being killed in this manner,” Bluth said, according to KTNV.

“They had to have been shown what their family member went through, and that is a completely different level of pain. There is no excuse for what you two have done and the damage and pain you have caused.”

Members of Probst’s family addressed the court before sentencing. His son, Michael Probst, spoke about the lasting impact of the killing.

“I can’t help to think that maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation if the defendants had one parent like my father,” he said, according to KTNV.

“The moment I learned of his death, all I could do was scream and yell. It felt like my heart was just torn into pieces. Our family is forever changed, and the emotional trauma will forever haunt us.”

Probst’s daughter, Taylor, also spoke, focusing on milestones her father will never experience.

“He’ll never have the opportunity to walk his little girl down the aisle and give her away. He’ll never have the opportunity to hold his first grandchildren. And that’s because it was stolen from him,” she said, according to The New York Post.

Probst’s widow, Crystal, described the loss as devastating.

“Andy was stolen from me in an act so cruel, so deliberate that it not only shattered my heart, but the heart of everybody who loved him,” she said, according to KTNV.

“Losing him did not just break my heart; it broke the foundation of my life.”

Ayala and Keys declined to speak when given the opportunity to address the court.

The killing occurred on Aug. 14, 2023. Probst was riding his bicycle when he was struck from behind by a Hyundai Elantra.

Video of the incident showed the driver asking, “Ready?” before the passenger, who was recording on an iPhone, responded, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, hit his a**.”

The vehicle then veered into the bike lane, striking Probst and leaving him fatally injured on the side of the road.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it became aware of the video on Aug. 29, 2023, after Keys allegedly shared it with friends on Instagram. Police said the suspects could be heard laughing as they fled the scene.

According to an incident report obtained by Fox News Digital, Ayala showed no remorse at the time of his arrest and bragged that he would receive a “slap on the wrist.”

Prosecutors also said Ayala and Keys had struck and injured a 72-year-old bicyclist earlier that same day, an incident the victim survived, before allegedly killing Probst.

Democrats’ Narrative on Trump Admin ‘Randomly Shooting Boats’ Sunk by One of Their Own
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Democrats’ Narrative on Trump Admin ‘Randomly Shooting Boats’ Sunk by One of Their Own

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Sen. John Fetterman addressed concerns about U.S. military operations near Venezuela during an exchange with broadcaster Chris Cuomo, rejecting claims circulating in the media that American forces are indiscriminately targeting boats in the region.

The discussion focused on recent reporting and commentary suggesting the United States could be sliding into a broader or prolonged military engagement involving Venezuela, particularly through naval or aerial strikes against vessels suspected of narcotics trafficking.

Cuomo asked Fetterman directly what information reassured him that the situation was not escalating into an extended conflict.

“What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we’re not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in Venezuela?” Cuomo asked.

Fetterman responded by describing what he characterized as a detailed and intelligence-driven operational process used by the U.S. military.

He said claims that the military is randomly attacking boats are inaccurate and not supported by the information he reviewed.

“Yeah, absolutely, I thought. I thought it was pretty, pretty comprehensive,” Fetterman said.

“And this, this idea, some things out in the media. It’s kind of putting out this that that the military is just picking off, you know, any boat that comes across. That’s just not true.”

Fetterman said U.S. forces rely on extensive intelligence before taking any kinetic action, including confirming the identities of individuals onboard and the nature of the cargo being transported.

“I mean, there’s extensive intelligence, and they know exactly who’s on that boat, and they know what’s actually on that boat right now,” he said.

He added that military commanders frequently choose not to engage even when vessels are under surveillance, reinforcing his claim that action is taken only when there is a high level of certainty.

“And it’s quite frequently they they decline to take it and to move on those things,” Fetterman said.

According to Fetterman, when strikes do occur, they are based on what he described as absolute confidence in the target’s involvement in criminal activity, including narcotics trafficking tied to Venezuelan networks.

“When they move on those kinetic kinds of strikes, you know, they have absolute confidence that who’s on it and what’s on it, and that’s exactly what it’s about,” he said.

Fetterman rejected suggestions that U.S. forces are acting recklessly or without clear authorization, stressing that the military does not conduct random attacks.

“They’re not just going around randomly, just shooting, shooting boats and those things,” he said.

“That’s just not the fact.”

WATCH:

AOC Scoffs at Classified Briefing, Labels Trump Boat Strikes ‘a Joke’
News

AOC Scoffs at Classified Briefing, Labels Trump Boat Strikes ‘a Joke’

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., sharply criticized a classified briefing provided to lawmakers Tuesday on the Trump administration’s policy of striking vessels linked to narcoterrorism, dismissing the session as inadequate and unserious, as reported by Fox News.

Ocasio-Cortez made the remarks after leaving the briefing on Capitol Hill, where members of Congress were briefed on the administration’s use of targeted strikes against boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 24: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks at an Earth Day Celebration in Astoria Park on April 24, 2021 in the Astoria neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Video of her comments was shared on X by MeidasTouch Network senior digital editor Acyn Torabi, showing her speaking with Migrant Insider editor Pablo Manríquez.

“Oh, hell no. That was a joke,” Ocasio-Cortez said when asked about the briefing.

She went on to argue that the session failed to meet the standard of other intelligence briefings lawmakers have received.

“There was not a single piece of intelligence that was shared that even rises to the level of any other briefing that we’ve seen on Ukraine, China, anything,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

She added that it “was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was a communication of opinion.”

The congresswoman also suggested that the administration’s actions could require further congressional authorization.

She said if President Donald Trump’s “administration wants to go to war… they need to go get it from Congress. And if Republicans want to defend this argument that cocaine is a weapon, they can go vote on that. But… this is just conjecture at this point.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment following Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The briefing addressed a controversial policy under which the Trump administration has authorized strikes against vessels accused of participating in narcoterrorism and large-scale drug trafficking.

Administration officials have argued that the policy is designed to disrupt transnational criminal networks that pose threats to U.S. security.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth participated in providing briefings to both Senate and House members on Tuesday, outlining the legal and intelligence framework supporting the strikes.

WASHINGTON – January 14 2025: Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense nominee, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Not all lawmakers shared Ocasio-Cortez’s assessment of the briefing. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., offered a markedly different view during an appearance Tuesday on the Fox News Channel.

Kennedy said his takeaways from the briefing were that the strikes “are legal” and “effective,” and that they are based on “exquisitely good” intelligence. He also said safeguards are in place to prevent harm to non-combatants.

“There are checks and balances to make sure innocent people who just happen to be in a boat are not hurt,” Kennedy said.

The contrasting reactions underscore ongoing divisions in Congress over the administration’s national security and counter-narcotics strategy.

Supporters of the policy argue it represents a decisive response to international drug trafficking operations tied to organized crime and violence, while critics have questioned both the scope of executive authority and the intelligence supporting the strikes.

The administration has maintained that the targeted operations are limited, lawful, and focused on disrupting criminal networks rather than engaging in broader military conflict. No formal vote in Congress has been taken specifically on the policy.

As debate continues, the classified briefings are expected to remain a point of contention between lawmakers who support the administration’s aggressive approach and those who argue for greater congressional oversight and authorization.


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