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Hakeem Jeffries Launches Personal Attack on Karoline Leavitt, Calls Her ‘Sick’ and ‘Demented’
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Hakeem Jeffries Launches Personal Attack on Karoline Leavitt, Calls Her ‘Sick’ and ‘Demented’

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., launched a series of personal attacks against White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday, calling her “sick,” “out of control,” and “demented” during a heated press conference in Washington, as reported by Fox News.

The remarks came on day 17 of the ongoing federal government shutdown as Jeffries accused the Trump administration and Republican leaders of using inflammatory rhetoric against Democrats.

“You’ve got Karoline Leavitt, who’s sick. She’s out of control. And I’m not sure whether she’s just demented, ignorant, a stone-cold liar, or all of the above,” Jeffries told reporters.

“But the notion that an official White House spokesperson would say that the Democratic Party consists of terrorists, violent criminals, and undocumented immigrants makes no sense, that this is what the American people are getting from the Trump administration in the middle of a shutdown.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment following Jeffries’ remarks.

The exchange occurred as Jeffries fielded questions about a recent controversy involving a swastika that was reportedly found embedded in a small American flag pinned to a cork board inside the office of Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio.

The image was first reported by a local Ohio social media user who goes by “The Rooster” on X.

Taylor denied any involvement by his staff, saying the flag had been placed in his office without their knowledge. “New details have emerged from a coordinated investigation into the vile symbol that appeared in my office,” Taylor said in a statement to Fox News.

“Numerous Republican offices have confirmed that they were targeted by an unidentified group or individual who distributed American flags bearing a similar symbol, which were initially indistinguishable from an ordinary American flag to the naked eye.”

Taylor added, “After a full-scale internal investigation, I am confident that no employee of this office would knowingly display such a despicable image, and the flag in question was taken down immediately upon the discovery of the obscured symbol it bore.”

It remains unclear why Jeffries invoked Leavitt specifically in his comments, as neither she nor the White House had made public statements directly connected to the incident involving Taylor’s office.

Aug 21, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

The dispute unfolded as tensions between Democrats and Republicans continue to escalate over the government funding impasse. Senate Democrats blocked a GOP-backed federal funding proposal for the fourth time on Thursday before leaving Washington for the weekend.

Republicans had proposed a seven-week continuing resolution to extend fiscal year 2025 funding levels while negotiations continued for a longer-term fiscal year 2026 agreement.

Democrats have resisted the measure, demanding additional healthcare provisions, including an extension of pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025.

The standoff is expected to continue into its fourth week as both parties remain divided over spending priorities.

Don Lemon Urges Black and Brown Americans to Buy Guns and Arm Themselves Against ICE
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Don Lemon Urges Black and Brown Americans to Buy Guns and Arm Themselves Against ICE

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Former CNN host Don Lemon is under fire after suggesting that Black and Brown Americans should legally arm themselves in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to their homes, as reported by Fox News.

Lemon made the remarks Tuesday during an appearance on The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali, claiming that immigration officers are “rounding people up off the street without due process” and “sending them off to a gulag.”

Apr 30, 2022; Washington, DC, USA; CNN broadcaster Don Lemon arrives at the White House Correspondents Association annual dinner at the Washington Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Lemon prefaced his comments by saying he was not “condoning or promoting violence” but said he was “tired of the niceties.”

He continued, “If you believe in the Second Amendment, if you believe in the Constitution, Black people, Brown people of all stripes, whether you’re an Indian American or a Mexican American or whoever you are, go out in your place where you live and get a gun legally. Get a license to carry legally.”

He then questioned the government’s actions, saying, “When you have people knocking on your door and taking you away without due process as a citizen, isn’t that what the Second Amendment was written for?”

Lemon claimed he wanted to “knock some sense” into members of the Trump administration and went on to say that “nobody is illegal.”

He argued, “It is a misdemeanor to cross the border. Now, if you do it a number of times, then it becomes something else. But there’s nowhere near the level of criminality… and what Donald Trump did is at the highest level of criminality, except for taking someone’s life.”

When asked about the comments, podcast host Wajahat Ali defended Lemon’s statements in a response to Fox News Digital, saying Lemon was exercising his First Amendment rights.

“Don Lemon has a right to express his views in the United States of America thanks to the First Amendment, which is allegedly championed by the Trump administration,” Ali said.

“If anything, I’d assume Republicans would agree with him that Americans have the right to legally bear arms thanks to the 2nd Amendment. Unless, of course, they only believe that right exists for White Trump supporters? If so, they should admit that publicly.”

Fox News Digital reported that ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials strongly condemned Lemon’s remarks. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called his statements “unhinged” and “dangerous.”

“Calling for violence against law enforcement is un-American — officers are already facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them, including terrorist attacks, cars being used as weapons, rocks thrown at them and shot at,” McLaughlin said.

“Words have consequences, and this type of rhetoric is going to get one of our officers killed.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in August that assaults against ICE agents have surged by 1,000% since the agency began increased immigration enforcement operations.

As of Wednesday, Lemon had not issued a public statement or clarification regarding his comments.

Gov. Kathy Hochul Silent on ‘No One Is Above the Law’ Claim After Letitia James Indictment
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Gov. Kathy Hochul Silent on ‘No One Is Above the Law’ Claim After Letitia James Indictment

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has remained silent after repeated inquiries asking whether she still believes “no one is above the law,” a phrase she has invoked numerous times when referring to President Donald Trump’s legal battles, as reported by Fox News.

The governor’s silence follows the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

New York, NY – May 9, 2022: Attorney General Letitia James makes announcement about protecting access to abortion at AG New York office

A grand jury in Virginia indicted James on Thursday after a criminal referral earlier this year from Federal Housing Finance Director Bill Pulte, who alleged that James falsified mortgage documents to secure favorable loans.

She now faces charges of bank fraud and false statements related to financial institutions.

Following the indictment, Hochul expressed support for James on social media. “New Yorkers know @NewYorkStateAGJames for her integrity, her independence, and her relentless fight for justice,” Hochul wrote on X.

“What we’re seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, announcing the charges, stated: “No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.”

The statement from federal prosecutors mirrored the same language Hochul once used when celebrating court actions against President Trump.

In 2019, during Trump’s first impeachment, Hochul declared, “It’s really quite simple — NO ONE is above the law. Not now, not ever.” She praised House Democrats for their “patriotic duty” to hold Trump accountable.

Dec 8, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump stands with West Point cadets during the 119th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Throughout Trump’s presidency and subsequent legal battles, Hochul frequently commented on ongoing cases, including the 2023 civil fraud trial launched by James.

At that time, Hochul said, “His conduct has been a disgrace, and I have full confidence that Donald Trump will be held accountable for his actions.”

After Trump’s 2024 criminal conviction in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Hochul released a statement repeating, “Today’s verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law.”

Now, following James’s indictment, Hochul’s office has declined to answer questions about whether that same standard applies to the state’s top law enforcement official. Fox News Digital reported that Hochul’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

James’s indictment adds to years of political tension between her office and Trump. James campaigned in 2018 on a promise to “hold Donald Trump accountable” and later pursued dozens of lawsuits against him and his administration.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

She continued to challenge the Trump Organization and publicly vowed to oppose his policies after his re-election in 2024.

Trump has long accused Democratic officials of “weaponizing” the justice system against him, a point he emphasized again in January before his return to the White House. “They’re playing with the courts. It’s called lawfare, it’s called weaponization of justice,” Trump said.

Hochul, who previously celebrated Trump’s convictions as proof that “justice is blind,” has yet to address whether she stands by that belief now that her ally, Attorney General James, faces federal criminal charges.

Luigi Mangione Claims President Trump and DOJ Smeared Him as a Domestic Terrorist, Seeks Dismissal
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Luigi Mangione Claims President Trump and DOJ Smeared Him as a Domestic Terrorist, Seeks Dismissal

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Defendant Luigi Mangione has filed a new motion in federal court accusing the U.S. Department of Justice and President Donald Trump’s administration of carrying out a coordinated public smear campaign against him, alleging that their actions have tainted potential jurors and jeopardized his right to a fair trial.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Mangione’s filing centers on a memorandum issued by President Trump on September 25, 2025, titled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.”

2020 National Convention WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 27: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures after delivering his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn.

The memo, which designates “Antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization, includes references to several high-profile criminal cases. Mangione claims that one of those references was directed at him.

While the memorandum does not mention Mangione by name, it cites “the 2024 assassination of a senior healthcare executive” as part of the rationale behind classifying Antifa as a terrorist group.

Mangione argues that this description clearly refers to his alleged involvement in the December 4, 2024, fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Mangione and his attorneys — Karen Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan — claim that President Trump’s public comments and the DOJ’s coordination with UnitedHealthcare executives have unfairly influenced public perception of the case.

In their motion, they argue that the administration’s statements amount to government-led defamation that could impact jurors, calling it a deliberate attempt to prejudice the legal process.

The defense motion also cites a Wall Street Journal report alleging that senior officials from the Department of Justice met with UnitedHealthcare executives. Mangione’s team claims those meetings, reportedly arranged by DOJ staff, demonstrate coordination between the company and the federal government.

They also note that UnitedHealthcare’s leadership met separately with the White House Chief of Staff, though those discussions were described publicly as unrelated to Mangione’s prosecution.

Mangione’s attorneys have requested that the court dismiss his federal indictment and the DOJ’s Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty, citing what they call “prejudicial government conduct.”

In his separate state case, a New York judge previously dismissed terrorism-related charges against Mangione, ruling that prosecutors failed to establish that he conspired with any terrorist organizations or acted to spread political violence.

However, Mangione still faces multiple counts, including murder and the federal charge of using a firearm to commit murder, which carries a potential death sentence.

Mangione’s case continues to move through federal court, where prosecutors have yet to respond publicly to the latest defense filing.

Senate Democrats Block Bill to Pay American Troops During Schumer’s Ongoing Shutdown
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Senate Democrats Block Bill to Pay American Troops During Schumer’s Ongoing Shutdown

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Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked consideration of a defense appropriations bill that would have funded the Department of War for the remainder of the fiscal year and ensured that U.S. service members continued to receive pay during the ongoing government shutdown.

The vote failed 50–44, with only three Democrats—Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire—joining Republicans in support of the measure. The legislation required 60 votes to advance.

The bill would have guaranteed uninterrupted pay for active-duty military personnel and provided a scheduled pay raise for troops.

Despite broad bipartisan support when the measure passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in July, it became the latest casualty of a partisan stalemate that has now extended the federal government shutdown to its 16th day.

The Biden-Harris administration has relied on temporary funding measures authorized by President Donald Trump to ensure troops continue receiving paychecks.

However, Pentagon officials warned that those funds are limited and will not guarantee pay for service members if the shutdown extends into November.

Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD) sharply criticized Democrats for blocking the measure, noting that they had previously supported a defense authorization bill to raise troop pay but were now preventing the funds from being distributed.

“After voting last week for an authorization bill to increase troop pay, Democrats just voted against the bill that would actually pay the troops,” Thune said on the Senate floor.

“They’re happy to sacrifice any American and evidently any principle to their political goals. Democrats like to position themselves as the party of the little guy and the defender of hard-working Americans, but as this vote makes clear, who do Democrats really care about?”

Republican senators echoed Thune’s criticism, arguing that Democrats were putting politics ahead of national security and the welfare of military families.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) said the vote demonstrated that Democrats were “not serious about working on appropriations bills” and called their continued opposition “a losing argument with the American people.”

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut acknowledged earlier in the day that Congress has a responsibility to pay service members but still voted against the bill.

“We have an obligation, and now an opportunity, to pay our military in a lawful way instead of just moving funds from one account to another, as President Trump is doing,” Blumenthal said before the vote.

Earlier Thursday morning, Democrats also filibustered a bipartisan stopgap funding bill that would have reopened the federal government.

That marked the tenth time Democrats have blocked efforts to end the shutdown.

Sen. Fetterman, Sen. Cortez Masto, and Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, broke ranks to vote with Republicans in favor of reopening the government.

Republican leaders have accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) of intentionally prolonging the shutdown to gain leverage on unrelated policy issues.

Schumer has insisted that Democrats will not agree to a temporary funding measure unless Republicans accept additional healthcare provisions tied to the spending package.

The defense appropriations measure would have provided funding for the military through September 2026, including pay for more than 1.3 million active-duty troops and essential defense programs.

The Senate is not scheduled to reconvene until Monday, meaning the government shutdown—already one of the longest in recent history—is expected to continue into next week.

Thune said he intends to keep bringing funding measures to the floor until Democrats agree to reopen the government.

“At some point, reasonable Democrats are going to have to come to the conclusion that this doesn’t benefit anybody,” Thune told MSNBC’s Ali Vitali in an interview that aired Thursday.

“I don’t believe government shutdowns benefit anybody, and that used to be a position that was held by the Democrat leadership.”

As of Thursday evening, there was no agreement between party leaders on how to move forward.

The defense spending measure is expected to be reintroduced when the Senate returns to session next week.

Millions Missing: DOJ Charges Two in California Homeless Funding Scandal
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Millions Missing: DOJ Charges Two in California Homeless Funding Scandal

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Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced Thursday that two Los Angeles-area men have been charged in separate federal cases involving the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in public funds intended for homelessness and affordable housing programs.

Essayli, who leads the Central District of California, said the cases are part of a broader federal probe into the state’s homelessness spending, which has totaled billions of dollars over the past several years with little measurable progress.

“California has spent billions of taxpayer dollars to combat its homelessness crisis with very little to show for it,” Essayli said in a post on X.

“Six months ago, I announced the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force. Today, we begin to hold people accountable by announcing two cases where more than $50 million of homelessness funding was fraudulently obtained.”

According to the Department of Justice, one of the defendants, Cody Holmes, 31, of Beverly Hills, was arrested Thursday morning.

Prosecutors allege Holmes used falsified financial records to secure nearly $26 million from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) through a state program known as Project Homekey.

Holmes previously served as chief financial officer for Shangri-La Industries LLC, a Los Angeles-based development company that received funding to build affordable housing in Thousand Oaks.

The DOJ alleges Holmes diverted the money to pay personal expenses, including credit card bills and purchases at luxury retailers, instead of completing the state-funded housing project.

“Even though the developer received all the money from the state, the developer did not complete the construction of the Thousand Oaks project,” Essayli said at a news conference Thursday.

“Essentially, he stole the money.”

In a separate case, real estate developer Steven Taylor was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of fraudulently obtaining loans through false statements to financial institutions.

Prosecutors allege Taylor inflated property values to secure additional funds, including one property in Cheviot Hills that he later sold to a homeless housing developer for more than double its original price.

Essayli said both cases were uncovered as part of his office’s newly formed Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force, which launched earlier this year to investigate potential misuse of state and federal funding related to California’s ongoing homelessness crisis.

“Federal agents this morning arrested Cody Holmes, the former CFO of Shangri-La Industries, and a grand jury yesterday indicted real estate developer Steven Taylor, both of whom are charged with fraud in separate cases,” Essayli said.

“Holmes allegedly siphoned public funds for homelessness and used millions of dollars for his own use. Taylor is accused of lying to banks to fraudulently obtain loans.”

Project Homekey, the state program at the center of one of the cases, was launched in 2020 to convert hotels, motels, and other properties into permanent housing for the homeless.

The program has distributed billions of dollars in state and federal funds to developers and local governments.

Essayli said the arrests mark the beginning of a series of investigations into potential fraud linked to California’s homelessness programs.

He emphasized that federal authorities intend to pursue additional cases where evidence shows that public money was misused.

California has spent more than $20 billion on homelessness initiatives since 2018, according to state data, yet the state continues to have the largest homeless population in the country.

Federal officials said the new task force will focus on tracing where that money has gone and ensuring accountability for individuals and organizations that misused taxpayer funds.

Both Holmes and Taylor are expected to make their initial court appearances in the coming days in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

If convicted, they each face multiple counts of wire fraud and related financial crimes.

Essayli said his office will continue coordinating with federal and state agencies to ensure that taxpayer money intended to address homelessness is properly used.

“We will hold accountable those who exploit this crisis for personal gain,” he said.

Karoline Leavitt’s 20-Second Fox News Clip Has Leftists Losing Their Minds
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Karoline Leavitt’s 20-Second Fox News Clip Has Leftists Losing Their Minds

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A short clip of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaking on Fox News went viral Thursday afternoon, drawing widespread backlash from prominent Democrats and left-leaning media figures.

The 20-second segment, originally shared on X by liberal commentator Aaron Rupar, showed Leavitt delivering remarks that quickly became the subject of online debate.

The clip has since been reposted thousands of times across social media platforms, prompting reactions from Democratic officials and political commentators.

In the clip, Leavitt said, “The Democrat Party’s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals. That is who the Democrat party is catering to. Not the Trump Administration, and not the White House, and not the Republican Party who are standing up for law-abiding American citizens, not just across the country but around the world.”

The statement drew sharp criticism from several high-profile Democrats, including Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), former Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffer, and members of the left-leaning media organization MeidasTouch.

Each expressed outrage at Leavitt’s characterization of Democratic voters.

MeidasTouch wrote on its X account, “Officials who speak this way about their fellow Americans who simply have different beliefs should not be anywhere near government.”

Dan Pfeiffer also responded on X, writing, “This s##t is so f##king dangerous and everyone on the Republican side just nods along.”

Supporters of Leavitt, however, pointed out that her comments referenced specific groups associated with recent unrest and policy divisions, not general Democratic voters. Leavitt’s remarks came after weeks of large-scale demonstrations organized by pro-Palestinian groups in major U.S. cities and renewed debate over illegal immigration enforcement.

The clip shared by Rupar was viewed millions of times within hours of being posted. Rupar, known for his frequent curation of conservative media clips, captioned the post with criticism of the White House spokesperson’s tone.

Leavitt’s comments came during a discussion about national security and the administration’s stance on immigration and foreign policy.

She argued that Democrats have aligned themselves with groups she described as hostile to U.S. interests.

Her remarks echoed similar statements made in recent weeks by Republican lawmakers who have accused Democratic leaders of prioritizing leniency toward foreign nationals over public safety.

Leavitt, who previously served as a communications aide to President Donald Trump, was appointed White House Press Secretary in January 2025.

She has been one of the administration’s most visible spokespersons on issues related to border enforcement, public safety, and media transparency.

The controversy follows ongoing political clashes between the White House and Democratic lawmakers over immigration policy and foreign aid.

President Trump and his administration have repeatedly emphasized what they describe as a commitment to “law and order,” citing increases in illegal border crossings and incidents of violent crime in sanctuary cities as reasons for stricter federal enforcement.

While Leavitt’s remarks drew criticism from Democrats, they were praised by several conservative commentators and political figures who defended her statement as a blunt reflection of current political realities.

Conservative media personalities and Republican lawmakers quickly shared the clip, calling it a “truthful assessment” of Democratic priorities.

Jason Miyares Destroys Democrat Opponent in Debate for Threatening GOP Leader’s Kids
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Jason Miyares Destroys Democrat Opponent in Debate for Threatening GOP Leader’s Kids

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The Virginia attorney general debate Thursday night at the University of Richmond was dominated by controversy surrounding Democrat nominee Jay Jones and the resurfacing of violent text messages he sent in 2022 about Republican leaders.

Jones, a former delegate from Norfolk, has faced bipartisan criticism since the Richmond Times-Dispatch revealed text messages he sent to former Republican delegate Carrie Coyner in August 2022.

In the messages, Jones fantasized about killing then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and referenced the deaths of Gilbert’s children.

The messages, which circulated online last month, have shadowed his campaign and prompted widespread calls for him to withdraw from the race.

During the debate, Jones addressed the messages directly and repeated an apology. “I am ashamed, I am embarrassed, and I am sorry,” Jones said.

“I’m sorry to Speaker Gilbert. I’m sorry to his family. I’m sorry to my family. And I’m sorry to every single Virginian.”

Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, seeking reelection, responded sharply, saying Jones’s apology came only after public exposure of the texts.

“And right now you may say that you are sorry, but look at back at what happened,” Miyares said.

“You had three years to say you are sorry, Jay, and you didn’t. Three years to actually recognize what you did was horrific. You chose to stay silent.”

Miyares continued, “Carrie Coyner called you out then, you doubled down. It was after she called you out for these text messages that that is when you said you advocated for violence against children. And when this became public, we now know your first statement wasn’t saying ‘I’m sorry.’ The words ‘I’m sorry’ wasn’t even in your statement. It was to say we all send text messages we regret.”

He added that Jones’s comments were especially troubling given the position he is seeking.

“I find it a little bit stunning that today you say one of the pillars of your public safety platform is protecting children. Were you protecting Jennifer’s children when you said you wanted to see them die in their mother’s arms?” Miyares said, referring to Gilbert’s wife.

Miyares, who has served as Virginia’s attorney general since 2022, questioned how Jones could lead an office tasked with prosecuting crimes against children.

“How can anybody who’s ever worked in any of the crimes against children, all of the areas of federal and state local law department, how can they ever take you seriously, be the top prosecutor, knowing that you view that children should die to advance a political agenda?” he said.

“It’s unconscionable, and if you were truly ‘sorry,’ you would not be running for this office — because you disqualified yourself.”

In another exchange later in the debate, Miyares said Jones still failed to grasp the real-world impact of his words.

“He keeps saying that he is sorry. Jay, if you’re really sorry, you wouldn’t be running,” Miyares said.

“If you really understood the ramifications of what you said about an innocent mom and her children. You know Todd Gilbert. You served with him. Jennifer would come to the General Assembly. She would bring her children. We would see them run in the hallways. They were two and five years old at the time. This wasn’t a hypothetical. This wasn’t some figure that you know from far away. You actually know Todd. This is a flesh and blood, real husband. Jennifer is a real mom. These are real kids.”

Miyares told the audience that such comments disqualify Jones from serving as the state’s top law enforcement officer.

“How in the world could you ever show compassion and comfort a grieving mother that has ever lost a child of violence, because Virginians, there is no cry, like the cry of a mother that has lost her child. A prosecutor knows this because they’ve stood in that courtroom. Jay Jones had never understood this because he’s not a prosecutor, he’s a politician trying to save his career,” Miyares said.

The incumbent attorney general also criticized Jones’s legislative record, calling him “a criminal-first, victim-last politician.”

He cited multiple votes by Jones that he said favored leniency for offenders over justice for victims.

Jones, who served in the House of Delegates from 2018 to 2021, apologized again after the debate but maintained that he would not withdraw from the race.

He said he hoped voters would accept his apology and judge him by his “record of service.”

Miyares is seeking a second term as attorney general after being elected in 2021.

The general election is scheduled for November.

‘Bernie Sanders and AOC Said the Quiet Parts Out Loud’: Mike Johnson
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‘Bernie Sanders and AOC Said the Quiet Parts Out Loud’: Mike Johnson

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) criticized congressional Democrats on Thursday, marking Day 16 of the ongoing government shutdown, and accused top Democrat leaders of prioritizing political theater over public service.

Speaking alongside House Republican leaders during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, Johnson singled out Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), claiming they have been “saying the quiet parts out loud” and “bragging” about their party’s resistance to compromise.

Johnson said House Republicans are focused on mitigating the effects of the shutdown for working Americans while Democrats have chosen to “toast themselves” and perform for the cameras.

“Everywhere across America right now, we’re helping small business owners and farmers and ranchers and service coordinators navigate frozen loans and delayed emergency funds amid growing uncertainty about how to keep serving their communities,” Johnson said.

“All across the country, Republicans are dealing with the very real and painful consequences facing real Americans. Now that’s happening on the Republican side and what’s happening on the Democrat side, you can see it for yourself. Compare what I just told you with what they’re doing. Look at their own behavior. Look at their actions. Don’t listen to the words that people are saying. Look at what they’re doing.”

Johnson cited examples of what he described as partisan displays from Democrats over the last several days.

“Chuck Schumer and Democrats over the last 10 days, here’s a small sample of their activity, okay?” Johnson continued.

“We’ve seen performative stunts and TikToks and photo shoots across every inch of this Capitol. We’ve seen Democrats actually toast themselves on the balcony of the DCCC last night while their colleagues voted in the Senate to keep the government closed for the 10th time. We’ve seen not one, but two failed publicity stunts right outside my own office, the latest of which ended in a congresswoman storming the entrance and berating a Capitol police officer, who, by the way, is protecting her without pay.”

The Speaker also addressed comments made during a CNN town hall the previous evening featuring Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.

The two lawmakers blamed Republicans for the shutdown and rejected proposals from the GOP to temporarily extend federal healthcare subsidies in exchange for reopening the government.

“At some point, Democrats have to take ‘yes’ for an answer,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said in a statement to MSNBC, confirming the offer had been presented as part of the negotiations.

Ocasio-Cortez dismissed the idea during the CNN broadcast, saying, “I don’t accept IOUs. I don’t accept pinky promises. That’s not the business that I’m in.”

When asked whether a pledge from President Donald Trump would satisfy Democrats, Sanders replied sarcastically, “Oh yeah, no doubt, because the president is a very honest man.”

Johnson pointed to the town hall as evidence of what he called Democrats’ unwillingness to compromise. “Last night… many of you saw it. CNN hosted the first socialist town hall, where Bernie Sanders and AOC said the quiet parts out loud,” he said.

“They don’t know what they want to end the shutdown. They couldn’t provide a single viable solution for the mess that they themselves have gleefully created.”

“And by the way, those are the real leaders of the Democrat Party,” Johnson added.

“We all know it. AOC and Bernie. Good luck with that.”

He also addressed comments from Schumer made to Punchbowl News last week, where the Senate Democrat leader said, “Every day gets better for us.”

Schumer told the outlet that his party had anticipated the standoff for months, saying, “It’s because we’ve thought about this long in advance, and we knew that health care would be the focal point on Sept. 30, and we prepared for it… Their whole theory was — threaten us, bamboozle us, and we would submit in a day or two.”

Johnson called Schumer’s attitude unacceptable given the toll the shutdown is taking on families and workers nationwide.

“And amid all that, Chuck Schumer is actually bragging that every day gets better for his party. As you know, those are his words, not ours,” Johnson said.

“All this would be laughable if it didn’t come at the cost of American families. And it really is deadly serious. If it were up to Republicans alone, we would not be in this mess.”

The government shutdown began after negotiations over spending and healthcare funding broke down in late September. No agreement has yet been reached to reopen federal agencies or restore full services.

Wisconsin Mom Seething After Dems Give Daughter ‘Is He Dead Yet?’ Anti-Trump Bracelet
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Wisconsin Mom Seething After Dems Give Daughter ‘Is He Dead Yet?’ Anti-Trump Bracelet

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A Wisconsin mother says she was shocked when her 8-year-old daughter was handed a bracelet reading “Is he dead yet?”—a reference to President Donald Trump—by a volunteer at a Democratic Party booth during a local farmers market in Oshkosh.

Katy Neubauer described the encounter during an appearance Thursday on Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus, recounting how what began as a family outing turned into a disturbing incident involving political messaging directed at children.

The bracelet, according to Neubauer, was given out by a volunteer with the Winnebago County Democratic Party, which was operating a booth at the market.

“We were down at the farmer’s market having a conversation, my sister-in-law next to their booth and they had free children’s books out and bubbles blowing in the wind and the kids were having a great time and we didn’t think much of it and continued our conversation,” Neubauer told host Harris Faulkner.

“And out of the corner of my eye I see the man leaning over and giving one of our children a bracelet and I kinda waited for it.”

“I thought oh, this will be fun, you know, whatever,” Neubauer continued.

“But the child runs over, hands it to us and we both look down and my sister-in-law says I don’t really know what it says and I said it says, ‘Is he dead yet?’ and we both kind of look at each other in shock and I walk back over to the table and hand it back to him and I had said we don’t wear hate speech here. And I had to walk away because I was seething.”

The encounter came amid heightened political tensions following two failed assassination attempts against President Trump during the 2024 campaign.

Democrats had ramped up attacks in the final weeks of the race, with Kamala Harris calling Trump “a fascist” during an October 23 town hall on CNN and later describing him as “unstable” in a major campaign speech.

A Rutgers University survey published in April found that 56 percent of “left-of-center” respondents said assassinating Trump would be at least partially justifiable, highlighting a growing acceptance of political violence among some voters.

Neubauer said she later decided to confront the volunteers again after discovering more inappropriate bracelets.

“I went and continued and bought a few more items and then I decided to confront them a second time,” she said.

“So, at that point I started going through the bracelets and found others that contained not-so-nice language, including 8647, which I’m sure you’ve heard that one before.”

The “8647” reference—an online meme implying a desire for Trump’s death—gained national attention in 2021 when former FBI Director James Comey posted, then deleted, a beach photo featuring the number.

“I said are any of these appropriate for children? He said no, I suppose they’re not. And I said okay, then why are you handing them to my 8-year-old child?” Neubauer continued.

“I read off a couple others to them and he picked up the basket and said here, I will remove them then. I said okay, that would be a good start.”

The incident prompted swift action from market officials. Michelle Schmid-Schultz, manager of the Oshkosh Farmers Market, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the Winnebago County Democratic Party’s booth had been banned for the remainder of the 2025 season.

The group’s eligibility to return in future years will be reviewed in November.

Neubauer said she contacted the market immediately after the incident.

“I called the farmers market manager as I was walking home,” she said.

“We live very close to downtown, our kids actually have a farmer’s market booth every other week and we’re down there a lot and we know the manager and she was very kind and she said you aren’t the first person to call and complain about their booth today. In fact, there were about ten complaints total that particular day.”

The Oshkosh Police Department confirmed it had received multiple complaints related to the farmers market that day but did not indicate whether charges would be filed.

Local officials say they will revisit vendor policies to prevent future incidents involving political materials being distributed to children.


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