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Autopsy Confirms Cause of Death of 19-Year-Old Ohio State Student Found at Stadium
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Autopsy Confirms Cause of Death of 19-Year-Old Ohio State Student Found at Stadium

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Authorities have confirmed that the 19-year-old Ohio State University student discovered dead inside the school’s football stadium in September died by suicide, as reported by The New York Post.

According to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, William Meyers of Fairfield, Connecticut, jumped to his death at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on September 26. The coroner’s report, obtained by People magazine, determined the official cause of death as suicide.

First responders located Meyers’ body in the northeast corner of the stadium around 10 a.m. the same morning, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Investigators ruled out foul play early in the investigation, though it remains unclear how Meyers entered the stadium before his death.

Meyers was a third-year accounting student at Ohio State, according to The Lantern, the university’s student newspaper. His online biography described him as an engaged student and community volunteer.

He co-founded a charitable organization with his older brother that collected and donated new and used sports equipment to local youth centers.

In his LinkedIn profile, Meyers emphasized his personal commitment to ethics and growth. “Some of my core values are respect, ethics, improvement, and integrity — all of which I want to bring with me when I enter the workforce,” he wrote.

A graduate of Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Meyers had expressed a love for word games such as Scrabble and enjoyed performing magic in his free time.

His death marks the second fatal fall at the Ohio State football stadium in less than two years. In May 2024, 53-year-old Georgia resident Larissa Brady died after jumping from a concrete wall during the university’s commencement ceremony.

Brady’s fall occurred during her daughter’s graduation, and officials said at the time that she had a documented history of mental health issues.

University officials have not commented further on Meyers’ case beyond confirming the coroner’s findings. Counseling resources were made available to students and faculty following the incident.

The Ohio State community held a private memorial to honor Meyers’ life and academic contributions. Friends and classmates have described him as intelligent, kind, and deeply involved in his coursework and community initiatives.

Authorities did not release additional details about the timeline leading up to Meyers’ death. The stadium was closed to the public at the time of the incident, and campus police have not indicated any security breaches.

JFK’s Grandson Criticized for Recreating Uncle’s Iconic Photos in Campaign
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JFK’s Grandson Criticized for Recreating Uncle’s Iconic Photos in Campaign

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Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and son of Caroline Kennedy, is facing criticism for using imagery reminiscent of his late uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. as he launches his campaign for Congress in New York’s 12th Congressional District, as reported by The New York Post.

Schlossberg, 32, announced Tuesday that he will seek the Manhattan seat being vacated by Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is retiring after more than 30 years in Congress.

Jack Schlossberg, former President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, speaks during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.

The campaign’s official website and promotional materials feature Schlossberg riding a bicycle through the streets of Manhattan wearing a dark suit, backwards cap, and backpack — an image strikingly similar to several well-known photos of his uncle, who died in a plane crash in 1999 at the age of 38.

In the photo, Schlossberg even rolls up his right pant leg — a small but recognizable detail mirroring JFK Jr.’s signature look when cycling around New York City.

Schlossberg’s website introduces his campaign with the message, “Each generation of Americans is tested. The 2026 midterms is our moment. I’m running for Congress because the best part of the greatest city on earth needs to be heard loud and clear in Washington and deserves a representative who won’t back down.”

The imagery and messaging have fueled comparisons to his famous uncle, with some political observers calling the approach contrived.

New York political strategist Hank Sheinkopf called the campaign “ridiculous,” telling reporters, “Here’s a guy with no record, no accomplishments, trying to make himself into something he’s not. It’s patently ridiculous. This whole family still thinks they are all entitled to something.”

Schlossberg, whose full name is John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School in 2022.

He has been active on social media, where he frequently posts videos and commentary to his 751,000 Instagram followers — many of which have drawn attention for mocking or criticizing his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Mar 26, 2024; Oakland, CA, USA; Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy jr. watches off stage after announcing his Vice President representative as Nicole Shanahan during a rally at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday Mar 26, 2024; Oakland, California, United States; Mandatory Credit: Brittany Hosea-Small-USA TODAY

The new campaign website features the tagline “A New Generation of Leadership for New York,” a slogan that appears to reference both the Kennedy legacy and the rise of younger progressive Democrats in the city following Zohran Mamdani’s recent mayoral victory.

Schlossberg joins three other declared candidates in the Democratic primary: state Assemblyman Alex Bores, representing Manhattan’s 73rd District; state lawmaker Micah Lasher, a longtime Nadler ally; and nonprofit founder Liam Elkind, known for creating the volunteer organization Invisible Hands.

Nadler, 78, announced his retirement in September, telling The New York Times that it was time for a younger generation of Democrats to take leadership roles in Congress.

Scott Jennings Drops a Well-Timed ‘Sucks to Be You’ On This Dem CNN Panelist
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Scott Jennings Drops a Well-Timed ‘Sucks to Be You’ On This Dem CNN Panelist

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A heated exchange unfolded during a recent CNN segment between Republican commentator Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Madeline Summerville as the two debated the outcome of the government shutdown and its political fallout.

The shutdown began after Democrats refused to pass a continuing resolution unless it included provisions for expanded health care coverage for illegal aliens and continued funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees NPR.

The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers rejected those demands, calling them unacceptable additions to a short-term funding bill.

After 42 days of negotiations, Democrats ultimately agreed to a deal that closely resembled the initial proposal from Republicans and the White House.

The agreement funds the government through January 30 and extends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 2026.

A separate vote on Affordable Care Act subsidies was scheduled for mid-October as part of the compromise.

Despite the outcome, Summerville claimed during the panel discussion that the situation “has to suck for Republicans,” prompting a sharp response from Jennings.

“I don’t know you very well, but I can assure you that Donald Trump being President versus Joe Biden in no way, shape, or form sucks for me,” Jennings said.

He added that Democrats had struggled to maintain leadership cohesion during the shutdown, saying Summerville and her party “couldn’t definitively point out who was in charge over the last four years.” Summerville acknowledged the point during the exchange.

The shutdown ended with little change from the Republicans’ original proposal.

The continuing resolution Democrats had previously rejected maintained spending at existing levels and was designed to provide several weeks for Congress to complete the remaining 12 appropriations bills.

Republicans and the Trump administration argued that Democrats’ prolonged opposition was a political maneuver that backfired.

The insistence on linking unrelated spending priorities—such as expanded health care coverage for non-citizens and funding for NPR—to must-pass legislation resulted in significant political and public pressure against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus.

The shutdown, now referred to by some lawmakers as the “Schumer shutdown,” marked one of the most contentious spending battles in recent years.

During the standoff, millions of federal employees faced delayed paychecks, and several public services were temporarily suspended.

Republicans emphasized that the delay also disrupted progress on key appropriations bills and delayed other legislative priorities.

According to budget officials, the continuing resolution now in place keeps government operations funded at levels consistent with those passed during the Biden-Harris administration, pending final appropriations discussions in early 2026.

Democrats’ handling of the issue has drawn criticism from across the aisle, including from members of their own party.

Several Senate Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), publicly questioned the wisdom of using a government shutdown as leverage over health care and cultural spending issues.

Analysts say the episode reflects deeper divisions within the Democratic Party over how to approach negotiations with a Republican-led Congress and the Trump administration.

Michelle Obama Recalls ‘Infuriating’ 2009 Air Force One Shorts Controversy on Podcast
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Michelle Obama Recalls ‘Infuriating’ 2009 Air Force One Shorts Controversy on Podcast

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama revisited a 2009 controversy that erupted after she wore Bermuda shorts while stepping off Air Force One during a family trip to the Grand Canyon, calling the experience “infuriating” during a recent episode of her podcast, as reported by Fox News.

Speaking on “IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson,” which she co-hosts with her brother, Obama described how the seemingly small wardrobe choice became a national talking point during her husband’s first year in office.

RALEIGH – OCTOBER 4: FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, speaking to students at NC State University. Other speakers were former governor Jim Hunt and Deborah Ross, on October 4th, 2016 in Raleigh, USA.

“The fact that we had to spend time thinking about that kind of stuff in ways that my husband didn’t — it was really infuriating,” Obama said. “Then an article, a negative article, still happened.”

The former first lady explained that the August 2009 trip marked the Obamas’ first vacation since President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

As the family prepared to deplane for a hike at the Grand Canyon, Michelle Obama said she wrestled with what to wear to appear appropriate for both the occasion and her public role.

“It was 100 degrees,” she recalled. “Barack — I was like, ‘Well, what are you wearing?’

He was like, ‘Well, I’m gonna throw on some sneakers, I’m gonna take my jacket off and roll my sleeves up,’ because that’s what men can do. White shirt, no collar, no tie. That was how he changed.”

She said she debated between wearing a dress or hiking shorts before choosing Bermuda shorts. “I can’t wear hiking shorts there, and I can’t wear a dress to hike,” she said.

“That would be crazy. People would call me ‘disconnected’ and ‘un-American.’ I was like, ‘That’s not how people go to the Grand Canyon.’”

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle acknowledge the crowd after President Obama delivered a farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. January 10, 2017.

Obama said she ultimately chose what felt natural. “I eventually opted for the thing that felt mostly me,” she said. “And it was the Bermuda shorts. Because if we’re going on a hike, this is how a normal person would go on a hike.”

The decision prompted a wave of media coverage, with headlines such as “Who Wears Short Shorts? Michelle Obama,” “First Lady’s Shorts Draw Some Long, Hard Looks,” and “Michelle Obama: The Shorts Heard Round the World.”

In 2013, Obama reflected that she would not wear shorts on Air Force One again, noting that the attention caused “a huge stink.” She said at the time the outfit was a casual choice because the family was “on vacation.”

The topic of first ladies’ wardrobes has often drawn scrutiny.

Former First Lady Melania Trump faced similar media criticism in 2017 for wearing jeans and a baseball cap while visiting Texas after Hurricane Harvey, and again in 2018 when she wore a green jacket with the phrase “I really don’t care. Do u?” on a trip to the southern border.

Melania Trump later said she wore the jacket to send a message to the media, explaining, “I want to show them that I don’t care.”

Fox News Digital reported that Michelle Obama’s office did not respond to a request for additional comment.

House Democrats Release Epstein Emails: Bombshell or Shutdown Failure Distraction?
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House Democrats Release Epstein Emails: Bombshell or Shutdown Failure Distraction?

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House Oversight Committee Democrats released a series of emails on Wednesday from the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that reference President Donald Trump.

The emails, which were exchanged between Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and author Michael Wolff, were obtained through a subpoena issued to Epstein’s estate earlier this year, according to CNN.

The release came just hours before Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona, was scheduled to be sworn into Congress.

Her vote is expected to be decisive in advancing a bipartisan petition to compel the public release of Epstein-related files.

None of the emails were directly sent to or received from President Trump.

The communications primarily predate his presidency, and Trump has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein or Maxwell.

One of the emails, dated April 2, 2011, shows Epstein writing to Maxwell, “i want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. (REDACTED) spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned. police chief. etc. im 75 % there.”

Maxwell replied, “I have been thinking about that…” The context of the exchange remains unclear, and the name Epstein referenced was redacted by the committee to protect the individual’s identity.

In earlier testimony this year, Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that she never saw President Trump behave inappropriately. She said she did not recall ever seeing Trump at Epstein’s home and that their interactions occurred only in public or social settings.

“The President was never inappropriate with anybody,” Maxwell said.

“In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.”

A separate email dated January 2019, about seven months before Epstein’s death in prison, appeared to reference Trump’s public statement that he had banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort. “trump said he asked me to resign,” Epstein wrote to Wolff, adding, “never a member ever. . of course he knew about the girls as he asked to Ghislaine to stop.”

The White House has stated that President Trump barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep” and that Epstein had “stolen” young female spa employees, prompting the end of their association.

Maxwell later told Blanche that she had not recruited anyone at Mar-a-Lago.

Another exchange from December 15, 2015, the day of a CNN Republican primary debate, included a message from Wolff to Epstein stating, “I hear CNN planning to ask Trump tonight about his relationship with you–either on air or in scrum afterwards.”

Epstein replied, “if we were able to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?”

Wolff responded, “I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt. Of course, it is possible that, when asked, he’ll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime.”

Following the release of the emails, the White House criticized Democrats for what it described as selective redactions intended to distort the contents.

According to a report from The Hill, White House officials said the redacted individual was Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, whose death earlier this year was ruled a suicide.

Giuffre previously stated that she worked at Mar-a-Lago as a teenager and repeatedly maintained that President Trump had never engaged in any misconduct.

“The Democrats selectively leaked emails to the liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump. The ‘unnamed victim’ referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

“The fact remains that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club decades ago for being a creep to his female employees, including Giuffre,” Leavitt added.

“These stories are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments, and any American with common sense sees right through this hoax and clear distraction from the government opening back up again.”

Stephen Miller Drops a Massive Immigration Truth Bomb on Jesse Watters
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Stephen Miller Drops a Massive Immigration Truth Bomb on Jesse Watters

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Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller joined Fox News host Jesse Watters on Jesse Watters Primetime this week to discuss U.S. immigration policy, arguing that a nation’s character and stability depend on the composition of its population.

Miller’s remarks come as the Trump administration continues to implement stronger border security measures and reverse several policies left over from the Biden-Harris administration.

“At the end of the day, what this really comes down to is this, Jesse: who lives in your country determines what your country is, right?” Miller said during the interview.

“Haiti doesn’t work as a country. It just doesn’t. People have tried forever. People spent billions of dollars trying to make Haiti work as a project. Haiti doesn’t work.”

Miller continued by saying that the same principle applies to other failed or unstable nations.

“If you take Haiti and you move it to America, it’s not going to work here. Somalia doesn’t work as a country, has never worked as a country. You take Somalia out of Somalia, you put it here, it’s not going to work any better,” he said.

He emphasized that his comments were not directed at individuals but at the larger impact of immigration policy.

“It’s not about how you feel about an individual immigrant. It’s about the policy at a systemic scale,” Miller said.

“If you move the third world to the first world, eventually we become the third world, and that’s not good for us. It’s not good for anybody who wants to live here in the future.”

The remarks come as President Donald Trump’s administration continues a broad enforcement campaign aimed at curbing illegal immigration and dismantling open-border policies implemented during the Biden era.

Since returning to office, President Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritize deportations of illegal aliens with criminal records, as well as to resume construction on key sections of the southern border wall.

Democrats have sharply criticized the administration’s stepped-up enforcement actions, calling them excessive.

Several Democratic governors and mayors have refused to cooperate with ICE, with some designating their cities as “sanctuary jurisdictions.”

Under the Biden-Harris administration, DHS had significantly expanded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs, including extensions for nationals from Haiti.

TPS was first granted to Haitians after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country.

The program was meant to provide temporary relief for displaced individuals, but repeated extensions over the past decade effectively allowed many to remain indefinitely in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security announced in February that it would end TPS protections for Haitians, which had covered approximately 520,000 people at the time.

DHS said the decision was part of a return to pre-Biden immigration policy that requires temporary programs to remain temporary.

Administration officials have said the goal of the new policy is to ensure immigration laws are applied consistently and to discourage continued mass migration from unstable nations.

President Trump’s team has also emphasized cooperation between federal and local law enforcement, allowing ICE and DHS to conduct joint operations across the country targeting individuals with criminal convictions or prior deportation orders.

Miller, who previously served as a senior policy advisor during President Trump’s first term, has been one of the key architects of the administration’s immigration agenda.

His comments on Jesse Watters Primetime echoed the broader message of the White House — that immigration policy should serve national interest and preserve the rule of law.

Liberal Woman Almost Cries When Confronted After Following ICE Agents
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Liberal Woman Almost Cries When Confronted After Following ICE Agents

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A woman is under investigation for allegedly interfering with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in North Portland on Thursday, during a federal enforcement action targeting illegal aliens with foreign gang affiliations, according to ICE officials and video obtained by The Post Millennial.

ICE officers conducting the targeted arrests noticed a woman driving erratically near the scene.

She allegedly ran a red light, nearly collided with a school bus, and began following ICE vehicles as they moved through the area.

The woman then reportedly attempted to box in the federal vehicles with her own, according to officials.

A Post Millennial reporter, who was on a ride-along with ICE at the time, recorded the encounter from inside a federal vehicle.

The footage shows the woman being pulled over by ICE agents after she followed the convoy and blocked its movement.

When an ICE officer approached her vehicle and told her she was impeding a federal investigation, the woman appeared apologetic.

“Don’t arrest me please. Give me a warning. I have kids… I’m just a mom,” she said, according to the video.

ICE officials confirmed that the agency’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit has launched an investigation into the incident.

Julio Hernandez, Deputy Field Office Director for ICE in Portland, said the woman’s actions endangered federal personnel and interfered with their operations.

“She placed our officers in danger. She blocked in our vehicles several times. We gave her multiple warnings to leave the area. This time, enough was enough,” Hernandez told The Post Millennial.

He said agents have seen an increase in activity from what they call “spotters” — individuals who attempt to disrupt ICE operations by alerting illegal aliens to the presence of officers.

“Spotters” have reportedly used vehicles, horns, or other signals to warn individuals targeted for arrest, often creating safety hazards for federal agents and the public.

The outlet also published a separate video clip taken earlier in the day, allegedly showing the same woman standing next to her car and making an obscene gesture toward ICE agents before the confrontation occurred.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and officials have not yet released the woman’s identity.

The event comes amid rising hostility toward federal immigration officers across the country.

A July report from Breitbart News cited Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data showing a sharp rise in physical assaults against ICE agents this year.

According to the report, attacks on ICE personnel have increased by nearly 700 percent since January.

Federal officials attribute much of the tension to anti-ICE rhetoric from several prominent Democratic leaders.

Political figures including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have criticized the agency’s enforcement practices.

In one recent statement, Jeffries referred to ICE agents directly, saying, “… every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes will, of course, be identified.”

Despite the rise in targeted hostility and public interference, ICE officials say the agency continues its work enforcing federal immigration law and removing individuals with criminal backgrounds or unlawful immigration status.

ICE operations are ongoing nationwide, with the agency emphasizing that its mission remains focused on public safety and compliance with U.S. law.

“Our officers will continue to perform their duties,” Hernandez said, “and we will not allow intimidation or obstruction to prevent us from doing our jobs.”

‘AWOL’ Pete Buttigieg Pops Up for Air Traffic Controllers, Gets Shot Down Immediately
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‘AWOL’ Pete Buttigieg Pops Up for Air Traffic Controllers, Gets Shot Down Immediately

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Transportation Secretary Duffy and former Secretary Pete Buttigieg exchanged sharp words on Monday after Buttigieg criticized President Donald Trump’s message to air traffic controllers amid the final hours of the record-long government shutdown.

Buttigieg, who served as Transportation Secretary Joe Biden, posted a response to the President’s message on X, writing, “The President wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they’ve been through – and the way this administration has treated them from Day One – he has no business shitting on them now.”

Duffy, who succeeded Buttigieg in the position, quickly replied, accusing his predecessor of neglecting the Department of Transportation during his tenure.

“Give me a break,” Duffy wrote.

“You were basically AWOL at the DOT. I spend my whole day dealing with your neglect and cleaning up your messes. Sit this one out.”

The exchange came as the government shutdown—now the longest in American history—appeared close to resolution, with air travel operations becoming a central point of concern as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, continued to face financial strain.

President Trump addressed the issue directly on Monday through a Truth Social post directed at air traffic controllers.

He praised those who continued working despite the shutdown and criticized those who did not.

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” the President wrote.

“Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked.’ For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.”

He continued, “For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country.”

The President also addressed those who refused to return to work, stating, “If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering.”

President Trump also criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of aviation systems, claiming billions of dollars were wasted on outdated infrastructure.

“The last ‘Administration’ wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated ‘junk.’ They had no idea what they were doing!” he wrote.

Secretary Duffy has received praise from several aviation and transportation groups for maintaining continuity during the shutdown and keeping essential travel operations functioning.

Industry analysts have noted that communication from the Department of Transportation under Duffy’s leadership has remained steady throughout the shutdown, minimizing potential disruptions to commercial flights and air traffic systems.

In contrast, Buttigieg faced criticism during his tenure for handling several transportation crises, including widespread airline cancellations, lengthy FAA system outages, and supply chain disruptions that led to significant economic fallout.

While President Trump’s comments drew strong reactions from both supporters and critics, Duffy’s exchange with Buttigieg reflected a broader debate over accountability within the Department of Transportation following years of strained infrastructure management.

As negotiations in Congress move closer to finalizing a deal to end the shutdown, administration officials have emphasized the importance of restoring federal operations and supporting the nation’s transportation workforce.

Leaked Call: USAID Employees Coordinated With Soros Groups Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration
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Leaked Call: USAID Employees Coordinated With Soros Groups Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

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Newly surfaced recordings shared on X by investigative reporter DataRepublican appear to show senior figures within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) discussing how they moved internal communications off federal systems and into encrypted Signal chats ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The material has prompted questions about whether a network of officials and contractors coordinated political activities outside the agency’s official structure.

The recordings, reportedly taken during a USAID virtual meeting, feature multiple staff members describing how internal groups prepared for what they viewed as a hostile incoming administration.

A staff member identified as “Van (she/her)” is heard explaining that, prior to January 20, USAID employees migrated discussions and data from government servers into private Signal chat groups.

“We saw the writing on the wall and the attacks that were already happening during the election cycle,” Van said.

“We had already moved our group away from the USAID main systems into Signal chats to protect our community there.”

Van said that after the inauguration, contractors established a “Stop Work Order” website and began forming private coordination groups in what she described as a rapid response to disinformation.

Within days, hundreds of USAID employees reportedly joined these encrypted communication channels as agency leadership changed and several officials were placed on administrative leave.

“We had all read Project 2025,” Van said, referring to a policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative organizations.

“We were somewhat prepared for this administration, and in other ways, not prepared at all.”

Van cited the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), a USAID division typically used in foreign crisis response and governance programs, as playing a key role in organizing internal communications. “OTI has been a major player. They pre-organized because they had organized during the previous Trump administration to respond to threats to our U.S. democracy,” she said.

Another USAID employee, identified as Rosarie Tucci, can be heard discussing collaboration between the agency, Johns Hopkins University, and other international partners to create what she called “coordination structures.”

“I think the 22nd Century will be a great place to build those connections,” Tucci said.

“Johns Hopkins is also working to bridge international and domestic democracy and conflict mitigation spaces… We can bring in actors or colleagues from around the world who have dealt with this directly on very specific issue sets, whether that’s tackling corruption, responding to corruption, or mobilizing around corruption.”

According to DataRepublican’s summary of the footage, the first large-scale protest linked to these internal networks occurred on February 5.

“We had our first large-scale protest, in which several congressional leaders stood up with us, along with agency leadership,” Van said in the recording.

DataRepublican alleged that the event was coordinated by progressive groups including 50501 and Indivisible, both of which have received support from organizations linked to billionaire George Soros.

The Heir: Inside the (Not So) Secret Network of Alex Soros

The reporter also claimed that the Office of Transition Initiatives’ participation in the domestic coordination effort could raise legal questions.

OTI operates under Section 491 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which authorizes programs to stabilize other nations in crisis.

The law does not list domestic civic engagement among the office’s functions.

“Lest you think it is harmless, they outright admit their goal is to create new ‘socio-political economic governance systems,’” DataRepublican wrote in one post.

“If that’s not a coup, I don’t know what is.”

In response to the revelations, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor to President Trump, urged action on X, writing: “IF IT LOOKS LIKE A COUP, IF IT SOUNDS LIKE A COUP, IF IT FEELS LIKE A COUP, IT’S A COUP!!!” Flynn added, “Mr. @POTUS @realDonaldTrump — Get our DOJ to hold all of these government and former government officials accountable. READ THIS THREAD NOW.”


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