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Pelosi Blasts Biden Allies Who Hid His Decline While Claiming She Was Startled
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Pelosi Blasts Biden Allies Who Hid His Decline While Claiming She Was Startled

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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now criticizing unnamed allies of former President Joe Biden who, she says, knew about concerns surrounding his condition before the 2024 election campaign reached its breaking point, as reported by The New York Post.

Pelosi, 86, a California Democrat, made the remarks Tuesday at Politico’s “The California Agenda: Sacramento Summit,” where she discussed Biden’s final months in office and the Democratic Party’s decision to replace him as its presidential nominee.

Pelosi said those who were aware of Biden’s problems “should have acted upon that information” sooner.

At the same time, she maintained that she personally did not understand the extent of the former president’s difficulties until his disastrous June 27, 2024, debate against then-candidate Donald Trump.

“I do think that those who did know should have acted upon that information. Whoever knew,” she said. “There was staff saying the family knew. The family said the staff.”

Pelosi said she rarely saw Biden in person after Democrats lost control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections. According to her account, the June 2024 debate was when the seriousness of Biden’s condition became apparent to her.

“When you think of the debate and how sad that was, that’s really when we learned,” Pelosi told Politico correspondent Jonathan Martin. “I didn’t know, and I think he had his sort of ups and downs.”

Her comments, however, come amid earlier accounts suggesting Pelosi had concerns about Biden before the debate.

Author Chris Whipple wrote in his 2025 book, Uncharted, that Pelosi told a friend she was “startled by how much the president had aged” when Biden presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony in May 2024.

“He was not the same Joe Biden,” Whipple quoted Pelosi as saying.

That account stands alongside public statements Pelosi made shortly afterward defending Biden.

In June 2024, the Wall Street Journal published a report more than three weeks before the presidential debate detailing concerns from more than 45 Republican and Democratic lawmakers and staffers.

Those individuals described Biden as speaking so softly during meetings that participants sometimes struggled to understand him. Some also said he appeared unfamiliar with policies and relied on aides to answer questions.

Pelosi responded to the Journal report on June 5, 2024, calling it a “hit piece” and saying it “ignored testimony by Democrats” while focusing on criticism from Republicans.

The debate dramatically changed the political situation. Biden’s performance against Trump prompted widespread concern among Democrats and eventually led to a revolt inside the party over his candidacy.

Pelosi also pushed back Tuesday against accounts portraying her as the central figure who forced Biden out of the presidential race.

“I only said to President Biden, ‘I’ve come to question the polling that you have and how your campaign is being conducted,’” Pelosi said. “… Because, at that point, 72% of the American people didn’t think he should run.”

She said she encouraged Biden to undergo some form of cognitive examination and make the results public to reassure voters that he could “serve the next term.”

Pelosi has previously denied directly telling Biden to withdraw and has also denied making calls to Democratic lawmakers who later urged him to abandon his reelection campaign.

Her public position became increasingly difficult to ignore, however, after a July 10, 2024, appearance on “Morning Joe.” Asked whether Biden should remain in the race, Pelosi declined to give him an outright endorsement.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short,” she said at the time.

Pelosi and Biden, both longtime Catholic Democrats, have since maintained a strained relationship following the Democratic effort that ultimately ended Biden’s campaign.

Biden later announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. Former First Lady Jill Biden subsequently said she would not have advised her husband to seek a second term.

Pelosi’s latest comments again raise questions about what senior Democrats knew about Biden’s condition, when they knew it, and why voters were not given a clearer picture before the 2024 election.

For Democrats who spent much of the campaign insisting concerns about Biden were exaggerated, that remains an uncomfortable question.

John Kennedy’s Savage Jab Leaves Kamala Harris Looking Desperate [WATCH]
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John Kennedy’s Savage Jab Leaves Kamala Harris Looking Desperate [WATCH]

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Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana took aim at former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party’s growing socialist wing Monday night, giving Democratic Socialists of America members a new nickname that quickly spread across social media, as reported by The New York Post.

During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Kennedy questioned Harris’ political relevance following her defeat to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

He also mocked Harris for seeking closer ties with progressive activists and politicians as speculation continues about a possible 2028 presidential campaign.

“No disrespect, but Vice President Harris is no longer relevant. She had her shot, and she missed,” the senator told Hannity.

Kennedy then delivered his newest nickname for members of the Democratic Socialists of America, combining the name of the athletic apparel company Lululemon with Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary who founded the Soviet Union.

“She can cozy up to the ‘Lulu Lenins’ all she wants to,” Kennedy quipped.

The phrase quickly gained attention online, with supporters and even at least one self-described DSA member embracing the nickname.

One social media user joked, “As much as I like my Lululemons, whoever wrote Lulu Lenin into Senator Kennedy’s talking points deserves a Pulitzer.”

Another wrote, “New Sen. Kennedy banger just dropped: ‘Lulu Lenins.”

A self-described DSA member also conceded that the term was catchy, referring to themselves as a “Proud Lulu Lenin.”

Kennedy’s comments came as Harris has continued to leave open the possibility of another presidential campaign.

Harris previously said she is “thinking about” running for president in 2028, keeping speculation alive about whether she intends to seek the Democratic nomination again.

At the same time, Harris has reportedly been building relationships with some of the Democratic Party’s more prominent progressive figures.

Among them is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Harris and Mamdani recently held an extended private telephone conversation, according to reports.

Mamdani has emerged as one of the most prominent figures associated with the Democratic socialist movement.

Kennedy’s remarks reflect his longstanding willingness to use humor when criticizing socialism and the political left.

The Louisiana Republican, 74, has frequently used colorful language and jokes to attack socialist economic policies and Democratic politicians.

His latest nickname follows a July Fox News appearance in which Kennedy discussed countries that had attempted socialism and failed.

During that interview, he compared the length of the list to “King Kong’s genitalia.”

Kennedy also made headlines in February while discussing anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters.

He said some of them gave off what he described as an “I’ve got a freezer full of body parts in my basement” vibe.

Following criticism of that remark, Kennedy addressed the issue on social media and drew a distinction between controversial political expression and violence.

“They’re allowed to be deeply weird — but they’re NOT allowed to be violent,” Kennedy wrote on X.

The senator’s latest comments come as the Democratic Party continues to debate the influence of its socialist and progressive factions.

DSA-backed candidates and politicians have gained attention in several parts of the country, while more traditional Democrats have faced pressure to respond to the movement’s growing influence.

For Harris, the question of whether she will seek the presidency again remains unresolved.

Kamala Harris Demands Democrats Release Damning 2024 Campaign “Autopsy”

Her comments about potentially running in 2028 have kept her name in national political discussions, even as Democrats consider the direction of the party following the 2024 election.

Kennedy, meanwhile, appears content to keep criticizing the Democratic left in the manner that has become familiar to his supporters: sharp political attacks mixed with one-liners designed to get attention.

This time, “Lulu Lenins” appears to have accomplished exactly that.

Fitness Influencer Blocked From Boarding After Gate Agent Allegedly Calls Her Naked [WATCH]
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Fitness Influencer Blocked From Boarding After Gate Agent Allegedly Calls Her Naked [WATCH]

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A German fitness influencer says she was prevented from boarding a Lufthansa flight after a gate agent objected to her clothing during a record-breaking European heatwave, as reported by The New York Post.

Edda Elisa, a fitness influencer, reality television personality, and content creator from Germany, described the incident to her more than 641,000 followers on TikTok after the confrontation at the airport.

She said she was wearing an athleisure outfit consisting of black biker shorts and a V-cut sports bra when a Lufthansa employee stopped her at the gate.

According to Elisa, the employee told her that she could not board while dressed that way.

The influencer recalled the employee saying, “looked at me and said, ‘You can’t board like that…You’re not wearing anything. You’re naked.’”

Elisa said she was upset by what she considered the employee’s tone and objected to being stopped while traveling during a period of unusually hot weather in Europe.

Temperatures had approached 90 degrees, and a major heatwave had been affecting parts of the continent.

“What the f- -k?,” Elisa said while recounting the incident to her followers.

She argued that her clothing was appropriate given the weather and said she had never previously encountered an airline dress-code issue.

“She told me I wasn’t wearing normal clothes, and that I had to put something over it now,” said Elisa. “‘You go to the side now and you can only [board the plane] once you’ve got something on.”

Elisa then put on an oversized zip-up hoodie in an attempt to satisfy the gate agent’s request. She said the employee nevertheless instructed her to close the hoodie.

“‘No, you have to close it,’” Elisa recalled the employee saying. “‘And because of you [the plane] is delayed now, the whole flight is delayed because you’re holding up all the traffic.”

@edda.elisa♬ Originalton – Edda

The confrontation eventually became the subject of a social media post from Elisa, who said she wanted an explanation from the airline.

The influencer said she had “never once heard anything about a dress code on a plane,” but Lufthansa maintains that passengers are expected to meet basic standards for clothing while traveling.

According to reports, Lufthansa’s policy requires passengers to wear clothing “appropriate to the character of a public journey” and clothing that does not impair the well-being of other passengers from diverse backgrounds.

Airline dress codes are not unusual. Commercial carriers have maintained various standards governing passenger attire for years, including policies concerning clothing that is excessively revealing or otherwise considered inappropriate for the cabin environment.

Lufthansa also addressed Elisa’s account of the incident. The airline reportedly said that alleged comments using terms such as “naked” did not “correspond to our standards” and would not have been language used by its employees.

The airline said it takes reports of inconsistencies seriously and reviews such incidents internally.

Elisa, who has a combined social media following of more than 1 million people, has appeared on several reality television programs, including “Ex on the Beach.”

Her online presence is heavily focused on fitness and lifestyle content.

The dispute also comes as Europe was experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees in some areas.

Elisa maintained that the weather influenced her choice of clothing and said she believed her outfit should not have prevented her from traveling.

Airline clothing policies can involve more than questions of appearance.

Flight attendant Barbara Bacilieri has previously warned passengers that revealing clothing can create problems during an emergency evacuation, when exposed skin can be more vulnerable to injury.

“Sure, they might look cute on Instagram, but during an evacuation, they’re a recipe for burned thighs and scraped skin,” Bacilieri said. “Sliding down that inflatable ramp with your skin exposed – ouch.”

“It’s not glamorous; it’s painful and dangerous.”

Elisa’s complaint has since generated substantial discussion online, with supporters criticizing the airline while others pointed out that passengers are generally expected to follow carriers’ rules once they purchase a ticket.

For now, Lufthansa has indicated that it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the reported encounter, while Elisa has continued discussing the episode with her large online audience.

Former New Jersey Mayor and Husband Charged in Ballot Signature Scandal After DUI Plea [WATCH]
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Former New Jersey Mayor and Husband Charged in Ballot Signature Scandal After DUI Plea [WATCH]

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Former Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca and her husband, Jason Carty, are facing criminal charges after prosecutors alleged that false signatures were used on a petition connected to the June 2026 Democratic primary, as reported by Fox News.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges Tuesday, Aug. 11, involving the petition LaPlaca submitted in an effort to seek another term on the Lumberton Township Committee.

LaPlaca, 47, faces charges of making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records.

Carty, 49, was charged with knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records.

According to prosecutors, Carty submitted the petition to the Lumberton Township Municipal Clerk for the primary election.

The paperwork included an affidavit signed by LaPlaca stating that she “personally circulated the petition [and] that such petition was signed by each of the signers thereof in his/her own handwriting.”

An investigation by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office subsequently raised questions about multiple signatures appearing on the petition.

“An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that multiple individuals whose names and purported signatures appeared on LaPlaca’s nominating petition indicated they had neither signed the petition nor authorized anyone to do so on their behalf in support of the candidate’s nomination,” prosecutors said.

Authorities said LaPlaca and Carty had collected signatures for the petition.

Prosecutors further alleged that without the signatures investigators determined were fraudulent, LaPlaca would not have had enough valid signatures to qualify for the June 2026 Democratic primary for Lumberton Township Committee.

The case adds another legal issue for LaPlaca, who served as Lumberton’s mayor from 2021 through 2025.

Although she left the mayor’s office, she remained on the township committee. Her current term is scheduled to expire at the end of 2026.

LaPlaca sought another term during the June Democratic primary but finished third in a contest for two available seats. Mayor Terrance Benson and his running mate, Kendra Hatfield, finished ahead of her.

LaPlaca and Carty are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 21 in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

The election-related charges follow an earlier criminal case involving LaPlaca. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to DUI and child abuse charges stemming from a March 2025 incident involving her child.

According to prosecutors, LaPlaca was intoxicated when she picked up her child from daycare. Witness video reportedly showed her vehicle leaving its lane and nearly striking a utility pole while the child was inside.

Police said LaPlaca’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.30%, more than three times New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%.

LaPlaca received three years of supervision through a pretrial intervention program. The conditions included mandatory attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The latest case centers on the validity of the signatures used to qualify LaPlaca for the Democratic primary ballot. Prosecutors have not alleged that the entire election was invalid, but they said the questioned signatures were significant enough that the petition would not otherwise have met the required threshold.

The charges against LaPlaca and Carty are allegations, and they are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.

The proceedings are scheduled to continue in Burlington County, with the couple’s Sept. 21 court appearance expected to address the allegations involving the nominating petition and related records.

For LaPlaca, the allegations arrive after a turbulent period that has included her departure from the mayor’s office, an unsuccessful bid for another township committee term and the earlier DUI case. The new prosecution now places the validity of a local Democratic primary petition at the center of another legal proceeding.

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Lightning Strike at Ohio Prison Sends 16 People to Hospital [WATCH]
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Lightning Strike at Ohio Prison Sends 16 People to Hospital [WATCH]

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Sixteen people were transported to an outside hospital Tuesday evening after a lightning strike at an Ohio correctional facility, with one person requiring an airlift, according to state officials.

The incident occurred at Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County as incarcerated individuals were returning from their “evening meal,” according to JoEllen Smith, chief of communications for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, or ODRC, said in a news release that no deaths had been reported following the strike.

Sixteen people were taken to an outside hospital for treatment. One of those transported was airlifted, officials said. Authorities continued assessing the situation Tuesday night and monitoring those affected.

The lightning strike occurred as severe weather was moving through the region. The incident came amid a broader period of storms and flash-flood threats affecting portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, a thunderstorm moved through Lorain County during the 5 p.m. hour Tuesday and produced dozens of lightning strikes.

The timing of the storm placed the correctional facility in the path of active thunderstorms as people inside the prison were returning from their evening meal.

The ODRC did not immediately provide additional details about the condition of those transported to the hospital or explain the circumstances that led to the strike affecting multiple people.

The incident occurred during a stretch of severe weather that has affected communities across Ohio and other parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley.

Heavy storms and flash flooding have been reported in portions of the region, while strong thunderstorms have also contributed to widespread power outages.

More than 250,000 customers in Ohio alone were without electricity amid the storms.

The National Weather Service and other emergency officials routinely warn people to seek shelter inside substantial buildings when thunderstorms approach.

Lightning can strike even when the center of a storm is not directly overhead, making outdoor exposure particularly hazardous.

At Grafton Correctional Institution, the lightning strike occurred while incarcerated individuals were transitioning back from the evening meal.

Officials did not immediately say whether the storm had prompted any changes to normal movement procedures before the strike.

Grafton Correctional Institution is located in Grafton, Ohio, in Lorain County. The facility is operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

State officials said they were continuing to assess the incident and monitor the situation after the 16 people were transported for medical treatment.

No deaths had been reported as of the initial ODRC announcement.

The lightning strike adds to the list of weather-related incidents reported during the latest round of storms moving across the Midwest and Ohio Valley.

With additional storms possible in affected areas, authorities continue to urge residents and others outdoors to take severe-weather warnings seriously and move to appropriate shelter when thunderstorms develop.

Officials have not announced additional information about the hospitalized individuals beyond confirming that 16 people were transported to an outside hospital and that one was airlifted.

DSA Backed Favorite Suffers Stunning Wisconsin Primary Defeat After ‘Tabulation Error’ [WATCH]
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DSA Backed Favorite Suffers Stunning Wisconsin Primary Defeat After ‘Tabulation Error’ [WATCH]

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Wisconsin Democrats watched a presumed socialist coronation collapse early Wednesday as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Representative Francesca Hong in the party primary for governor.

The upset instantly became one of the most surprising results of the 2026 midterm cycle, as reported by Trending Politics News.

With more than 95 percent of ballots reported, Crowley had secured 313,321 votes, or 39.78 percent.

Hong received 310,110 votes, or 39.37 percent, leaving the candidates separated by roughly 3,211 votes when the Associated Press called the race shortly before 4 a.m. Eastern Time.

Hong entered election night as the heavy favorite after winning enthusiastic support from the Democratic Party’s far-left factions.

The Madison lawmaker openly styled herself as a Democratic Socialist and attracted backing from controversial online personality Hasan Piker.

The polling suggested Hong was cruising toward victory. A Marquette University survey released in late July showed her at 38 percent among Democratic primary voters, while Crowley was languishing at just seven percent.

When voters leaning toward a candidate were included, Hong climbed to 46 percent, and Crowley reached only 11 percent.

Those numbers painted the picture of a runaway socialist victory, but Wisconsin voters had other plans once actual ballots replaced polling projections.

Another survey from State Navigate, conducted from August 3 through August 6, placed Hong at 44 percent among likely Democratic primary voters.

Crowley stood at 22 percent, still trailing by a daunting margin during the closing stretch of the campaign.

Crowley’s path to victory was especially remarkable because his campaign appeared finished weeks earlier.

The Milwaukee County executive initially suspended his bid after struggling with polling and fundraising, then briefly endorsed Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez.

That changed when Rodriguez ended her campaign amid campaign finance issues.

Crowley jumped back into the race on July 18 and later received the prized endorsement of retiring Governor Tony Evers, giving his revived operation a badly needed boost.

Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes suspended his campaign on July 30, further reshaping the contest.

His departure left Crowley and Hong as the dominant contenders, with state Senator Kelda Roys and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan remaining in the field.

Roys finished with approximately 7.5 percent of the vote, while Brennan received about 4.7 percent.

Several candidates who had already withdrawn, including Barnes and Rodriguez, remained on the ballot and collected smaller shares.

The race remained tight throughout election night, with reporting delays adding another layer of drama.

A controversial USB error in Milwaukee County slowed the process, but Crowley’s thin advantage survived after those ballots and other outstanding votes were added.

All results remain unofficial until certification is completed in the coming weeks.

The margin was close enough for Hong to request a recount, yet her campaign chose to concede early Wednesday morning rather than extend the socialist heartbreak.

Crowley will now face Republican United States Representative Tom Tiffany in the November general election.

Tiffany dominated the Republican primary with approximately 95 percent of the vote, avoiding anything resembling the chaotic Democratic scramble.

Polling conducted before the primary suggested Crowley could be competitive against Tiffany.

An RMG Research survey from late July placed Crowley at 46 percent and Tiffany at 43 percent, though the primary results offered another reminder that polling is not the same thing as counting votes.

For Wisconsin Democrats, the outcome denied the party’s socialist wing a major statewide breakthrough.

For Republicans, it sets up a clear November contest against a Democrat who survived by barely slipping past a candidate once portrayed as nearly unbeatable.

RFK Jr. Says Biden Administration Gutted Anti-Fraud Staff Overseeing $2.2 Trillion in Payments [WATCH]
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RFK Jr. Says Biden Administration Gutted Anti-Fraud Staff Overseeing $2.2 Trillion in Payments [WATCH]

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, arguing that staffing reductions within the department’s program integrity division left federal health programs vulnerable to widespread fraud and contributed to billions of dollars in improper payments.

Speaking during a recent event, Kennedy described what he said he found after taking over the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees trillions of dollars in annual federal health care spending.

“My predecessor Xavier Becerra. He, when he came into my agency, there were only 80 people in program integrity. 80 people.”

Kennedy said those employees were responsible for monitoring an enormous volume of federal transactions.

“This is for 50 states and five territories. These are the people who are monitoring $2.2 trillion in payments annually from my agency, we do 4 million transactions a day.”

According to Kennedy, he believes the staffing level was already inadequate before additional personnel were reassigned.

“There’s only 80 people looking at those.”

He then alleged that Becerra significantly reduced the size of the unit after taking office.

“Xavier Becerra came in and transferred 76 of them out, so that when I came in, there’s only six people who are in charge of all program integrity for my department.”

Kennedy argued that the reduction in oversight created an opportunity for fraudulent actors to exploit federal health care programs.

“And it was an invitation for the fraudsters to come in and steal everything.”

He pointed to hospice programs in Los Angeles as one example of what he described as widespread fraud.

“And that’s why we have this hospice program.”

Kennedy said his department has since shut down thousands of hospice operations that he alleged were fraudulently billing the government.

“We’ve closed closed 1000s of hospices here in Los Angeles because they didn’t have patience.”

He claimed those operations were submitting claims for nonexistent patients.

“They were just billing us $6,000 a month for phony accounts.”

Kennedy also alleged that fraudulent activity extended beyond hospice care.

“And the durable medical equipment fraud, 10s of billions of dollars here in Los Angeles County, autism services 10s of billions of dollars all stolen because nobody was minding the store.”

A significant portion of Kennedy’s remarks focused on what he described as a payment policy implemented under Becerra’s leadership.

According to Kennedy, the policy instructed the agency to pay suspicious claims first and attempt to recover the money later.

“Xavier Becerra came in and he instituted a program called Pay and Chase.”

Kennedy explained how he said the policy functioned.

“What that means is when we get an invoice from a hospice that we know is fraudulent, we know that hospice is not treating patients. They’ve been busted before. We have algorithms that can identify that this is almost certainly a fraudulent case.”

Despite those indicators, Kennedy said the department was instructed to process the payments.

“His policy was: you pay them and then you chase it.”

He argued that recovering those funds after payment rarely proved successful.

“You go back and try to claw it back, which of course never happens.”

Kennedy described the policy as fundamentally flawed and said his administration has eliminated it.

“This was an insane policy. We shut that down.”

WATCH:

Throughout his remarks, Kennedy argued that restoring stronger oversight and expanding fraud prevention efforts are necessary to protect taxpayer dollars.

He contended that rebuilding the department’s program integrity operations and ending what he described as ineffective payment practices are central to preventing future fraud involving federal health care programs.

Fox Anchor’s Pericarditis and Fauci’s iPhone: COVID Booster Story They Don’t Want You Asking About [WATCH]
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Fox Anchor’s Pericarditis and Fauci’s iPhone: COVID Booster Story They Don’t Want You Asking About [WATCH]

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Fox News chief White House correspondent John Roberts reported that Republican Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have released what he described as the first batch of text messages recovered from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-issued iPhone, including a January 2021 exchange discussing COVID-19 vaccinations and pregnant women.

During his report, Roberts said the newly released messages involve conversations between Fauci, then-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, and then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy regarding possible risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

“Breaking right now, Republican senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul releasing the first batch of text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government iPhone.”

Roberts said one exchange focused on concerns Fauci raised about inflammatory responses following the second vaccine dose.

“In one exchange, from January of 2021, Fauci, then CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, and then Surgeon General Vivek Murthy discussed COVID vaccination and pregnant women, Fauci flags a potential concern after the second dose, writing that many people experienced quote significant cytokine storm and fever, and that this quote theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the first trimester.”

According to Roberts, Walensky responded by acknowledging Fauci’s observation.

“Walensky responds, ‘Definitely a good point, especially after dose two.'”

Roberts then explained what a cytokine storm is, describing it as an excessive immune response that can produce serious medical complications.

“A cytokine storm is essentially when the body releases too many inflammatory signals that could cause high fever, inflammation, and in extreme cases, life-threatening illness.”

He noted that the text messages are only now becoming public, several years after the discussions took place inside the federal government.

“So this is just coming to light now, Sandra.”

Roberts emphasized that the exchange showed Fauci discussing potential concerns related to the body’s inflammatory response after vaccination, particularly in the context of pregnancy.

“That Fauci had these concerns…”

During the segment, Roberts also shared his own experience after receiving COVID-19 booster shots, explaining that he experienced a heart-related medical condition following vaccination.

“And I remember when I got the boosters, I developed pericarditis.”

He said the condition improved before returning after another booster dose.

“Then that went away. Then when I had the second booster, it came roaring back again.”

Roberts used his personal experience to illustrate what he described as differences in how individuals respond to vaccines.

“So you know the body reacts differently to these things depending on who you are.”

WATCH:

The release of the text messages comes as congressional Republicans continue examining government decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson and Paul have both sought additional records related to federal public health officials’ internal discussions, arguing that Americans should have access to communications that influenced pandemic policy.

According to Roberts, the January 2021 messages provide another look at conversations taking place among senior public health officials during the nationwide vaccination campaign.

His report focused on the exchange involving Fauci, Walensky and Murthy, as well as Fauci’s reference to cytokine storms and the theoretical concerns discussed regarding first-trimester pregnancy.

WATCH:

Roberts concluded by noting that immune responses can vary significantly from person to person, pointing to his own experience with pericarditis after receiving COVID-19 booster shots as an example of how individuals may react differently to vaccination.

El Sayed’s Lifelong Sharia Obligation Exposed After Stunning Senate Primary Victory [WATCH]
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El Sayed’s Lifelong Sharia Obligation Exposed After Stunning Senate Primary Victory [WATCH]

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Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed previously described following Sharia law as a personal religious obligation that he intended to observe throughout his life, according to comments he made to The New York Times in 2009, as reported by Free Beacon.

The remarks have resurfaced following El-Sayed’s narrow Democratic primary victory last week and amid renewed attention to his views on religion, government and the separation of church and state.

In the 2009 interview, the Times identified El-Sayed as a 24-year-old medical student and Rhodes scholar who had recently purchased a $123,000 condominium in Ann Arbor using a mortgage structured to comply with Islamic financial principles.

“Ultimately, the question is, when I die, and I stand before God and go through everything I did in my life, I don’t want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah-compliant way. Not because of fear but because of obligation,” El-Sayed said at the time.

The comments have taken on added significance because El-Sayed is now seeking a U.S. Senate seat representing Michigan.

His campaign has emphasized that he believes in the separation of religion and government while also acknowledging that he continues to follow the rules of his faith in his personal life.

Campaign spokeswoman Roxie Richner told the Washington Free Beacon that El-Sayed continues to observe Sharia in his personal affairs.

“Abdul believes in the separation of church and state,” Richner said.

“While he personally lives by the rules of his faith, as many Americans of various faiths do, Abdul opposes any effort by any religious community to write their faith laws into the laws of our country.”

El-Sayed has made similar statements about religious freedom in more recent interviews.

In an interview with Religion News Service, he said he wants to “protect the kind of America where everybody can pray how they choose to pray, or choose not to pray at all.”

His public comments about Sharia, however, have varied depending on the setting.

During his unsuccessful 2018 campaign for Michigan governor, El-Sayed denied ever describing himself as “Sharia-compliant” during an interview with conservative journalist Laura Loomer.

He subsequently ended the interview and criticized his campaign staff for allowing the questioning to continue.

El-Sayed has also rejected claims that he sought to undermine the Constitution or establish Sharia law in the United States.

A documentary covering his 2018 campaign showed El-Sayed asking filmmakers not to record a bookshelf in his home because it contained the Quran and other books about Islam.

Among the books was A Thematic Commentary on the Qur’an, written by Sheikh Mohammed al-Ghazali, as well as Cutting the Fuse, a 2010 book concerning the causes of terrorism.

“You’re going to want to not get these things in the shot,” El-Sayed said in the documentary, How To Fix A Primary, while pointing toward the bookshelf. “We’re trying to keep the shot secular.”

The issue resurfaced in 2022, when El-Sayed spoke before the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

During that appearance, he criticized efforts to prohibit the implementation of Sharia law and compared a 2010 Oklahoma ballot measure with other historical events in the state.

“You cannot understand the challenges we face today without understanding white supremacy,” El-Sayed said.

“I don’t have to tell you that the same exact forces that drove native peoples from their land two centuries ago, destroyed Black Wall Street a century ago, bombed a building decades ago, and tried to ban Sharia law not a decade ago, that those forces are alive and well today.”

El-Sayed has also discussed how Islamic principles have shaped his personal life. A 2006 Michigan Daily profile described him as a particularly devout Muslim and detailed his relationship with his wife, Sarah Jukaku.

“Islamically, there are no premarital relations of any sort,” El-Sayed told the newspaper. “No touching, no nothing. Given that, the logical solution is to get married.”

The couple followed a traditional two-step marriage process that initially kept them living apart. They now have two daughters.

“Getting ice cream is the number-one thing we do together,” El-Sayed said in 2006 about his married life.

Financial records provide another look at El-Sayed’s adherence to Islamic financial practices. His latest Senate financial disclosure states that he and Jukaku hold between $150,000 and $425,000 in Amana Mutual Funds, which operate funds designed around Islamic investment principles.

Those funds exclude investments involving certain prohibited sources of revenue, including interest, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and pork.

The Free Beacon also reported that Amana co-founder and chairman Yaqub Mirza was identified in a 1988 FBI memo as a member or leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Federal agents raided Mirza’s home in 2002 as part of an investigation involving the Safa Group, a network of Islamic organizations based in Virginia.

No charges were filed, and Amana Funds itself was not subjected to serious scrutiny during that investigation.

Sam Westrop, director of the Middle East Forum’s Islamist Watch project, told the Free Beacon that the State Department’s January designation of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood “should theoretically have made Safa (and thus Amana) a law enforcement target again.”

He also said federal authorities have shown little interest in Safa since the early-2000s raids.

El-Sayed’s campaign maintains that his religious observance is separate from his approach to government.

The renewed examination of his past comments comes as he moves toward the general election and as voters consider his record, religious beliefs, and political positions.

Pentagon Gives Arms Makers 21 Days to Deliver Dramatically Faster Production Plans
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Pentagon Gives Arms Makers 21 Days to Deliver Dramatically Faster Production Plans

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Recent combat with Iran has placed fresh pressure on American munitions stockpiles, forcing the Pentagon to demand faster production and delivery of weapons critical to national security. The message to major arms manufacturers is blunt: the era of leisurely schedules and bureaucratic excuses is over.

Deputy War Secretary Steve Feinberg gave industry leaders 21 days to present credible plans for “significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.” His Aug. 5 memo calls for immediate action rather than another parade of studies, panels and promises.

“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”

The demand reflects an increasingly urgent reality for the American arsenal. Advanced interceptors can be fired in minutes during combat, but replacing them under the current industrial system can take several years.

Feinberg instructed companies to identify specific capital investments, manufacturing upgrades and facility expansions that could raise output. He also wants contractors to explain how they would cooperate with the Pentagon and demonstrate a willingness to “put skin in the game.”

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the industry responses will help shape the War Department’s fiscal 2028 budget request. That gives contractors an opportunity to identify real production barriers, but it also places responsibility on them to offer more than requests for larger checks from taxpayers.

The pressure follows heavy American use of advanced munitions during the conflict with Iran. Recent estimates indicate that inventories of some of the nation’s most important missile interceptors declined sharply during the latest operations.

An analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the American inventory of Patriot interceptors fell from 2,330 before the Iran war to between 759 and 827 afterward. The same analysis estimated that THAAD interceptor stocks dropped from 452 to between 234 and 278.

The central challenge is not simply determining how many interceptors were fired. Pentagon planners must figure out how to replace them quickly enough to preserve readiness for another crisis, especially while threats from Iran, China, Russia and their partners continue to grow.

Current delivery schedules expose the depth of that problem. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that Patriot PAC 3 MSE interceptors require about 42 months for delivery, while THAAD interceptors carry an estimated timeline of roughly 53 months.

That pace may have satisfied Washington’s old procurement culture, where delays were treated like weather and accountability rarely survived the next meeting. It is far less acceptable when American forces could face another missile barrage long before replacement interceptors arrive.

The 21 day deadline was sent to major manufacturers including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and RTX. These companies possess the workforce, facilities and technical experience needed to expand production, but the Pentagon wants specific answers about what can be delivered sooner and what resources are required.

RTX announced in July that it had received its first domestic American production order for GEM T Patriot interceptors in more than 30 years. The approximately $442 million Army contract comes as the Pentagon seeks greater output of both newer interceptors and the components needed to assemble them.

On July 27, the War Department announced seven year framework agreements intended to expand production of key propulsion components for Patriot PAC 3 MSE and THAAD interceptors. L3Harris said its Patriot agreement would nearly triple production across a range of propulsion products, while its THAAD agreement is designed to quadruple output of critical components.

Feinberg also asked companies to identify where production and delivery can be accelerated and what support they need from the Pentagon. Officials will use those responses to determine which contractors can move faster and whether additional funding, facilities or acquisition changes are necessary.

The initiative reaches beyond weapons used during the Iran conflict. Feinberg identified 16 critical programs for possible accelerated production or increased procurement, including the Next Generation Interceptor, NASAMS, a mobile air defense radar and a space based missile tracking system.

President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have emphasized military readiness and a stronger American industrial base, and this order puts that priority into practical terms. Modern deterrence requires more than impressive weapons on briefing slides because the United States must be able to build them rapidly, replace them after combat and keep troops supplied when enemies test American resolve.


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