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Notes, Ammunition, and Hand-Drawn Maps Detailed in Hearing for Accused Killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO
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Notes, Ammunition, and Hand-Drawn Maps Detailed in Hearing for Accused Killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO

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A Pennsylvania police officer testified Monday that bullets wrapped in damp underwear were discovered inside the backpack of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan street last year, as reported by the New York Post.

The testimony came during an evidence suppression hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court, where prosecutors also revealed handwritten notes and checklists allegedly recovered from Mangione’s belongings.

Officer Christy Wasser of the Altoona Police Department testified that she opened a pair of gray Hanes underwear found in Mangione’s bag following his Dec. 9, 2024, arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona.

“When I opened it up, it was a magazine,” Wasser said, adding that the magazine was fully loaded. Body camera footage played in court captured another officer reacting to the discovery, saying, “Damn dude, it’s f–king him – 100%.”

Mangione, 27, was taken into custody five days after Thompson’s killing. Authorities also conducted a second search of his belongings at the police station, where additional items were documented.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann said investigators recovered handwritten notes that included a reminder to “pluck eyebrows” and listed several cities in Ohio, including Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Photos released by prosecutors showed tweezers among the contents of the backpack.

Prosecutors also presented a hand-drawn map of Pittsburgh, approximately 100 miles from Altoona, that showed possible escape routes.

Another note, styled as a checklist, included the instructions “Check Pittsburg redeyes,” “keep momentum,” and “FBI slower overnight.”

The gun allegedly used to kill Thompson, a silencer, and a red notebook described as Mangione’s manifesto were also recovered, according to testimony.

A photo of the notebook was displayed in court during the fourth day of the pre-trial hearing.

The defense is seeking to block several pieces of evidence, including the firearm, arguing that the Altoona officers did not have a warrant when they discovered the materials.

Prosecutors maintain the searches were lawful.

Wasser, a 19-year police veteran, testified she checked the bag because she did not want to “pull a Moser,” referencing an incident involving a former officer who unknowingly transported a bomb back to the station.

She said she routinely searches the bags of individuals placed under arrest.

Authorities testified that some evidence—such as a hoagie and a laptop—was placed into a McDonald’s bag before officers transported Mangione to the station.

Additional photos released by prosecutors over the weekend showed a checklist detailing a planned trip to Best Buy with items such as a USB 256 flash drive, digital camera, and light source dated Dec. 8.

The note also included “Hot meal + water bottles,” trash bags, “Intel check in,” and “survival kit” listed under “Future TO DO.”

Prosecutors also displayed items recovered at the time of the arrest, including a small flashlight, a USB drive attached to a silver necklace, a pocket knife, and thousands of dollars in $100 bills.

Mangione also had a bus ticket under the name “Sam Dawson” for travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on Dec. 4, 2024—the same day Thompson was shot. It remains unclear who purchased the ticket.

Mangione appeared in court on Monday after missing Friday’s session due to illness. Before proceedings began, he briefly flashed a fist pump toward the camera while seated at the defense table with his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both the Manhattan case and an unrelated federal matter. The hearing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

Pete Hegseth Shreds Fake News Washington Post Right to Their Face
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Pete Hegseth Shreds Fake News Washington Post Right to Their Face

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday forcefully rejected allegations reported by the Washington Post that he had ordered U.S. forces to kill all individuals aboard Venezuelan narcotics-trafficking boats targeted in recent kinetic strikes in the Caribbean Sea.

Hegseth addressed the claims during a panel conversation with Fox News Correspondent Lucas Tomlinson at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, where he delivered the event’s keynote address.

During the discussion, Tomlinson asked Hegseth whether he had ever instructed U.S. troops to kill everyone on board the boats during counter-drug operations.

Hegseth immediately criticized the report. “Is anybody here from The Washington Post? I don’t know where you get your sources, but they suck. Of course not,” he said.

Tomlinson then asked: “Did you at any time say that everybody on board should be killed?”

Hegseth responded: “Is anybody here from The Washington Post? I don’t know where you get your sources, but they suck. Of course not. Anybody that’s been in the situation room or there’s or has been in the war room there, the Secretary’s office knows you don’t walk in and say, ‘Kill them all!’ It’s just patently ridiculous. It’s meant to create a cartoon of me and the decisions that we make and how we make them. Just ridiculous. The chairman and Admiral Bradley and everybody shot it down immediately because anybody that knows, knows that’s not how things go. There’s a very defined process, specific criteria, go, no, go, yes, no, lawyers, Intel, analysts, everything. And then after that, you simply say, ‘cleared hot’ or not.”

Hegseth also discussed the planning and operational processes behind the strikes, including intelligence verification of targets.

He suggested that, after further internal review, the Defense Department may release the full video of the September 2 strike in which U.S. forces hit the same vessel twice.

That operation has drawn criticism from opponents who claim the incident was unlawful.

The Secretary has faced scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and various media outlets following the November 29 Washington Post report alleging that he ordered troops to “kill everybody” on board narcotics-trafficking vessels and authorized a second strike against survivors.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) described the operations as “blatantly illegal,” stating, “Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”

According to the report, anonymous sources claimed that Hegseth had given a verbal order “to kill everybody” during the September 2 strike carried out by U.S. special operations forces against traffickers moving narcotics toward the United States.

Eleven designated narcoterrorists were killed in that operation.

President Donald Trump posted footage from the strike on September 2, saying, “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”

The controversy comes as several Democratic members of Congress call on U.S. service members to refuse orders issued by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, arguing that the operations are unlawful.

The calls have generated significant reaction among lawmakers, military veterans, and national security experts.

Hegseth responded on Friday to what he termed “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting,” stating that the operations comply fully with U.S. and international legal standards.

“Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command,” he said.

According to prior reports, U.S. forces have continued the mission and recently conducted the 22nd strike against narcotics-trafficking boats in the region.

Nearly 100 designated foreign terrorist narcotics traffickers have been killed in total during these operations.

Somali-Born Minnesota Lawmaker is Big Mad at ICE While Criminal Aliens Run Wild in Her State
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Somali-Born Minnesota Lawmaker is Big Mad at ICE While Criminal Aliens Run Wild in Her State

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Minnesota state senator Zaynab Mohamed appeared on CNN and condemned the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state, calling them the actions of an “authoritarian government.”

The Trump administration has increased ICE activity in Minnesota following investigations linking significant fraud to individuals within the state’s Somali community.

Mohamed, who has served in the Minnesota Senate since 2023 and immigrated to the United States from Somalia, made her remarks during a televised interview.

“We are in a defining moment in our state and in our country to stand up to what is happening, and what we are seeing is an actual authoritarian government take place,” Mohamed said.

She continued by describing the scale of the enforcement activity.

“It has been a difficult few weeks…ICE agents have been here since Monday…deployed by the hundreds, spread across the state of Minnesota,” she added.

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that at least a dozen criminal illegal aliens were taken into custody during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

Among those arrested were five Somali nationals.

Officials stated that one of the individuals detained, Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, had previously been convicted of welfare fraud in Canada and should not have been granted temporary status in the United States.

DHS also noted that Ibrahim had been photographed with Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar and Governor Tim Walz.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the enforcement actions in a statement.

“Sanctuary policies and politicians like Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey allowed these pedophiles, domestic terrorists, and gang members to roam the streets and terrorize Americans. ICE law enforcement are risking their lives to protect Minnesotans while their own elected officials sit by and do nothing. No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens.”

The ongoing focus on Somali migrants comes as Minnesota confronts broader allegations of fraud within state programs.

The Trump administration has raised concerns that social services fraud has escalated in the state and accused officials of failing to prevent misuse of taxpayer funds.

The administration has described Minnesota as “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and has said that individuals within the Somali refugee population have disproportionately benefited from state programs tied to recent criminal investigations.

Earlier this month, a White House statement addressed developments in the case, noting that “78 of the 86 individuals charged so far are of Somali ancestry.”

As ICE enforcement continues, the political response in Minnesota remains sharply divided.

State and local officials have voiced differing views on both the nature of the operation and the impact on immigrant communities, while federal authorities maintain that the actions are part of a broader effort to identify and remove criminal illegal aliens from the country.

The investigation into fraud-related activity also remains ongoing as federal agencies continue reviewing evidence and coordinating enforcement measures.

Deputy ICE Director Asks the Question Democrats Can’t Answer About Criminal Illegal Aliens
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Deputy ICE Director Asks the Question Democrats Can’t Answer About Criminal Illegal Aliens

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The deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is raising concerns about efforts by elected officials to interfere with federal operations following claims made by newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).

Grijalva alleged that she was “pushed aside and pepper-sprayed” by ICE agents during an enforcement action near a Tucson restaurant earlier this week.

Homeland Security officials have publicly disputed her version of events, and the incident has prompted broader questions about how federal officers are treated when conducting operations.

Grijalva posted a video to X on Friday accusing ICE officers of aggressive conduct.

She stated that community members in Tucson stopped approximately 40 ICE agents near Taco Giro, a restaurant she described as a place she frequents weekly.

According to her account, the group intervened “because they were afraid they [the agents] were taking people without due process.”

“I was here — this is like the restaurant I come to literally once a week — and was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent, pushed around by others, when I literally was not being aggressive,” Grijalva said in the video.

“I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress.”

 

Her claims were challenged hours later by Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, who stated on X that Grijalva had not been directly targeted by officers.

“She was in the vicinity of someone who was pepper sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement,” McLaughlin wrote.

“In fact, 2 law enforcement officers were seriously injured by this mob that @Rep_Grijalva joined. Presenting one’s self as a ‘Member of Congress’ doesn’t give you the right to obstruct law enforcement.”

Grijalva later posted a second video showing her telling ICE personnel to “leave,” further highlighting the confrontation between federal officers and the group of individuals who attempted to halt the operation.

The incident occurred in the same week that ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan appeared on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham to address how the Afghan refugee accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., had entered the United States without proper vetting.

Sheahan said those responsible for national security under the Biden-Harris administration “let everyone into this country, and none of them were vetted. And now, Sec. Noem and ICE are trying to clean this up.”

She called the accused shooter “just another example of somebody who hates America, that comes to this country as a terrorist.”

In a follow-up appearance Saturday on Fox & Friends Weekend, Sheahan commented directly on the situation in Arizona and broader attempts by Democratic lawmakers to intervene in law enforcement operations.

“This is the classic move from the Democrats,” Sheahan said, “where they want to interfere with law enforcement. At what point in this country did we get to the point where you can [do that], and nothing happens to you?”

Sheahan emphasized the type of individuals ICE personnel encounter in the field.

“Our law enforcement officers are out arresting the worst of the worst, they’re arresting gang members, murderers, and rapists,” she said.

She then posed a question to voters. “If the Democrats choose to protect that group of people instead of the American people, I think…the Democrat voters need to decide what they truly believe in.”

ICE operations in Arizona are ongoing, and DHS has not released additional details about the enforcement action near Tucson.

Federal officials have stated that the injuries to law enforcement personnel are under review.

EV Hype Fizzles as Tax Credits End and Real Costs Smack Buyers in the Face
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EV Hype Fizzles as Tax Credits End and Real Costs Smack Buyers in the Face

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Interest in electric vehicles is declining among American consumers following the expiration of federal tax incentives and ongoing concerns about affordability, repair costs, and charging access, according to analysts assessing recent market activity.

Demand for EVs dropped after the Sept. 30 termination of federal tax credits — a $7,500 new-vehicle credit and a $4,000 used-vehicle credit — which were eliminated under President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” signed into law in July.

The approaching deadline prompted a wave of last-minute purchases before the incentives expired, but analysts say sales have since cooled.

“If you look at the most recent months — so October, November — you’re going to see that it hasn’t come to a halt, but a noticeable drop,” Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, told FOX Business.

He added that the industry will now get a clearer view of true consumer interest without the influence of federal subsidies.

Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, said the coming months will reveal how the market functions without federal incentives shaping buyer behavior.

“I think in the next six months, we’re probably going to really see the market get to that place of natural demand without that carrot of an incentive,” Valdez Streaty said.

The slowdown, however, began well before the credits ended.

A June survey released by AAA found that only 16% of U.S. adults said they were “very likely” or “likely” to purchase a fully electric vehicle as their next car.

That figure was down two percentage points from the previous year and nine points from 2022.

Major obstacles identified in the survey included high repair and battery replacement costs.

Valdez Streaty noted that EVs currently cost about $10,000 more on average than comparable gas-powered vehicles, contributing to hesitation among buyers.

“Affordability is a big issue with EV adoption,” she said, adding that many consumers are unaware that EVs typically come with battery warranties between eight and ten years.

Charging infrastructure remains another significant concern. “Infrastructure is another barrier,” Valdez Streaty said.

“I think consumers think about well, ‘What about when I have to go on that long commute or I have a vacation? I want to be able to have accessible, reliable, easy-to-use infrastructure.’”

Former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette echoed those concerns when discussing EV adoption trends.

He said he believes electric vehicles will continue to be part of the automotive landscape but argued that expectations should reflect current market realities.

“It’s a niche market at the moment — probably will continue to be that way for some time,” Brouillette told FOX Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” on Thursday.

“And I think the rules that the president is rescinding… he’s absolutely correct in this.”

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a reset of federal fuel standards that had been heightened under the Biden-Harris administration.

According to the White House, the change will save “$109 billion in total” for American families.

Industry analysts expect EV adoption to remain steady but limited in the near term, with affordability and infrastructure access continuing to shape consumer decisions as the market adjusts to post-incentive conditions.

The Deep State is Preparing to Steal the Midterms: Lara Logan
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The Deep State is Preparing to Steal the Midterms: Lara Logan

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Lara Logan told Eric Bolling that she believes political opponents are preparing a coordinated plan to damage the administration ahead of the midterms and set the conditions for an impeachment effort.

She said she does not think those opponents will wait multiple years to move, but instead are focused on the coming election cycle.

Logan stated, “No, I don’t think that. I don’t think they’re waiting three years. I think they’re waiting one year until the midterms. I think there’s a plan to steal the midterms, to either take both the house, take the house or the senate, or both, and then impeach him, and he’ll be gone, because this time, they will have both houses, and they will be able to get rid of him and and not only will they be able to get rid of him, you know why it’s going to work this time, because they’re going to use his own behavior and his his administration’s own actions, or specifically, their lack of action, as the reason that he’s going to be impeached.”

She argued that the case for impeachment would center on claims that the administration failed to prosecute criminal conduct or address citizens’ grievances.

Logan said opponents would rely on those failures rather than reviving earlier accusations used in past political fights.

She added that the constitutional right to petition government would be central to the strategy presented by those seeking removal.

Logan continued, “They’re going to take his failure this administration’s failure to prosecute and hold people accountable for their crimes and their failure to address the grievances. Remember, we have a constitutional right as American citizens for redress of grievances, and because this administration has so much evidence of all the crimes that have been committed and has not held anybody accountable, I think they’re going to use that against him.”

She said political operatives are not waiting out a full term but are instead buying time for a single year to position themselves.

Logan also claimed that earlier tactics centered on racial arguments have faded because the public has grown weary of them. She said communities across demographic groups recognize the pattern and no longer respond to it.

According to Logan, “People are sick to death of hearing about it. They also see through it. They see the hypocrisy. They know that these people don’t care about about race… those tactics don’t work anymore, because even black people, Hispanic people, Asian people, are standing up and saying, Oh, come on.”

She further argued that foreign allies are being told not to align too closely with the administration because insiders claim its leadership will not last.

Logan connected that view to past disputes involving diplomatic figures and said it reflects an attempt to assert control over government policy from within entrenched institutions.

Logan told Bolling, “What the system is doing right now is saying, you can’t survive without us, therefore you can’t prosecute us, and so don’t do it. But what they’re doing is they’re setting them up to fail.”

She said political and legal organizations, including the law firm Perkins Coie, are preparing materials aimed at administrators who do not enforce their oaths of office.

Logan described this as part of a broader plan already in motion, involving early steps to redefine administrative penalties.

She added that intelligence contacts told her preparations are underway for potential legal changes targeting officials who fail to provide remedies for citizen grievances or fail to hold people accountable.

Logan said supporters may feel betrayed if promised reforms do not materialize, creating the momentum needed for an impeachment effort.

She pointed to public claims from officials alleging serious wrongdoing by top figures from the prior administration and said the lack of consequences has fueled frustration.

Logan said, “They are guilty of treason and sedition… They haven’t held them accountable.”

Bolling responded by emphasizing the ongoing concern with inaction, stating, “Nope, that’s what we talk about every single day right here, Laura is that? Where’s the accountability? Where are the perp walks?”

JD Vance Breaks Down What Real Success on Immigration Means to Him
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JD Vance Breaks Down What Real Success on Immigration Means to Him

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Vice President J.D. Vance said the American public continues to support immigration enforcement while court rulings limit the government’s ability to carry it out.

Speaking about the current legal landscape, he argued that the courts are preventing elected leaders from delivering the policies voters expect.

Vance stated, “You cannot have a country where the American people keep on electing immigration enforcement and the courts tell the American people they’re not allowed to have what they voted for. And that’s where we are right now.”

Atlanta, Georgia, USA – 4th Nov, 2024. Ohio Senator JD Vance arrives with his wife Usha Vance at the Vice Presidential Nominee’s election rally at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

He said the administration will continue pursuing its objectives through the judicial system, including appeals that could reach the Supreme Court.

According to Vance, the effort involves working through immigration courts and higher courts to secure the authority needed to implement enforcement measures.

He said the administration is focused on moving forward within the legal framework while seeking broader clarity on the limits and responsibilities of immigration enforcement.

Vance also addressed the question of what constitutes success in the current effort.

He said he would like to see most of the illegal immigrants who entered the country during the prior administration removed, but he defined the primary measure of progress differently.

He explained, “Success, to me, is not so much a number, though, obviously I’d love to see the gross majority of the illegal immigrants who came in under Biden deported, that actually is a secondary metric of success.”

Vance said lasting progress depends on setting policies that the courts accept and creating the operational capabilities required to enforce immigration law at scale.

Vance added, “Success, to me is that we have established a set of rules and principles that the courts are comfortable with and that we have the infrastructure to do that allows us to deport large numbers of illegal aliens when large numbers of illegal aliens come into the country, that, to me, is real success.”

WATCH:

Maine Nonprofit Boss Ran for Somali Warlord While Collecting U.S. Tax Dollars
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Maine Nonprofit Boss Ran for Somali Warlord While Collecting U.S. Tax Dollars

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Carl Higbie and Steve Robinson examined the activities of Abdullahi Ali, a Somali American who became a U.S. citizen in 2009 and went on to build several organizations in Maine, including a multimillion-dollar migrant care service agency.

During the Newsmax segment, they outlined how Ali simultaneously pursued political power abroad while receiving taxpayer-funded contracts at home.

Higbie opened the segment by outlining Ali’s path and recent political ambitions.

He said, “Let’s introduce you to Somali American Abdullahi Ali, who came to the US from Somali in 2009 you’re looking at, obviously the man on my right who had discovered this story has he became a US citizen. Started a nonprofit to help immigrants, started several businesses, including a multi million dollar migrant care service agency. And in 2024 he ran for President as he raised money to bankroll a militia in Somalia.”

Higbie added that Ali admitted in an interview with Kenyan media that he raised money in the United States to purchase weapons and supplies for a paramilitary force he hoped to command as the president of Jubaland.

Higbie continued, “Yes, you heard that right. A US citizen who, according to the main wire, gave an interview with Kenyan media in which he said he raised money in the US to buy weapons, munitions and supplies for paramilitary force he had hoped to lead as the president of Jubaland, yes, that is a real state in Somalia. He was running for president in Somalia. Of course, he lost the election.”

Higbie noted that Newsmax attempted to reach Gateway Community Services, the organization Ali founded, but received no response.

Introducing Robinson, he said, “Ironically enough, the man who broke this report, Editor in Chief of the Maine wire, Steve Robinson, dude, this is crazy.”

Robinson described how Ali was running a taxpayer-funded operation while engaging in foreign political activity abroad.

He said, “You really can’t make this stuff up. I mean, the guy is running a migrant services agency that bills Main Care, which is what we call Medicaid, about $5 million a year at the same time that he’s running for president. And to be clear, in Somali that he’s running to be the warlord of Jubaland.”

Robinson explained the nature of political contests in the region, stating, “You know, elections in Jubaland aren’t exactly like elections in America. It’s, you know, whoever has the most guns is able to certify the election. So he needed to buy a paramilitary organization and paramilitary support in order to win that election, and he lost it.”

He then detailed how Ali received no-bid contracts from Maine’s Democratic governor Janet Mills while he was overseas pursuing political power.

Robinson continued, “But at the very same time that he was in Jubaland and and Kenya, trying to become a warlord in southern Somalia, he was getting no bid contracts from the administration of governor Janet Mills, a Democrat who has been in cahoots with Gateway Community Services from the very beginning.”

Robinson said the behavior is part of a broader political structure.

“So if there’s one thing that I would implore your listeners to understand, it’s in Minnesota and in Maine. It’s not just the Somali diaspora that has come over here and decided to engage in this criminal behavior. It’s a industrial complex with the Democratic Party that enables and turns a blind eye to this behavior, because they benefit from it through political support.”

Robinson also described how several former employees of Gateway Community Services have entered Maine politics.

He said, “And indeed, Abdullahi Ali is number two, his assistant executive director, is the former mayor of South Portland, Maine, and is currently a state representative from South Portland and a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Deqa Dhalac, one of his former employees, Yusuf Yusuf is a representative from Portland. Many, many Gateway Community Services alums have gone on to become involved in politics.”

He added that the state’s Office of New Americans was created with direct connections to the same network.

Robinson said, “And governor Janet Mills created the Office of New Americans specifically to cater to the new Americans, new Mainers, illegal aliens, and the only employee of that organization is El Cass Ahmed from Sudan, who is a former employee of Gateway Community Services.”

Higbie closed the segment with a blunt summary.

He said, “Like, I wish I had more time for this, but you’re on a roll, basically. Long story short is Maine’s got a bunch of fraud, with people taking money from the government and the taxpayers and then buying rocket launchers, sending them back to run for elections and president of whatever that place is, jubilant.”

He added that the same networks then work on political campaigns in Maine.

Higbie continued, “And then they’re also turning around and getting out the vote for Democrats in places like Lewiston Maine and Portland Maine. And when you drive into Maine, there’s a big sign that says, Maine, the way life should be, not the way I see it. Steve Robinson, we appreciate it.”

Robinson responded, “Thank you.”

Higbie ended the conversation by saying, “Get me off this planet.”

WATCH:

Senator Schmitt Utterly Embarrasses ABC’s Stephanopoulos on His Own Show
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Senator Schmitt Utterly Embarrasses ABC’s Stephanopoulos on His Own Show

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Senator Eric Schmitt defended President Trump’s actions against maritime drug smuggling during an exchange with George Stephanopoulos, arguing that Trump is exercising clear constitutional authority to target cartel operations at sea.

Schmitt said attempts to portray the administration as lenient on drug trafficking are politically driven and disconnected from the scale of the threat.

Stephanopoulos opened the discussion by asking, “In the Senate and Senator, let me just begin where we left off with Congressman Smith. You support this pardon of the former Honduran president.”

Schmitt responded that he did not have detailed knowledge of the specific case, but he took issue with the broader implication.

He said, “I’m not familiar with the facts or circumstances, but I think what’s telling here is to try to imply that somehow President Trump is soft on on drug smuggling is just ridiculous. It’s totally ridiculous. He’s the he’s provided border security like we’ve never seen before. And the fact is, these cartels now, because the southern border is closed, they’ve gone to the high seas.”

Schmitt argued that the President has both constitutional and congressional authority to act.

He told Stephanopoulos, “So President Trump is acting with his core article, two powers. No serious legal expert would doubt that the President has authority to blow Narco terrorists out of the water who are poisoning 100,000 Americans every year.”

He referenced recent major sporting events to emphasize the death toll, adding that the combined attendance of two championship stadiums equals the number of Americans killed by narcotics annually.

Schmitt noted that Congress has already delegated authority for designating terrorist organizations.

He said, “President Trump has been delegated the authority by Congress to designate terrorist organizations. He’s done that. He sent a letter to Congress saying he was going to initiate these strikes. We’ve had regular briefings about it, including from Secretary of State, Rubio, including from other high ranking officials in the Department of Defense. He’s executing those.”

He then accused Democrats of attempting to manufacture controversy for political purposes, saying, “What we have now are Democrats who have such x ray vision and clairvoyance that they know the intentions of Narco terrorists on boats, yet we’re so blind to see that they had a president for four years that was operating as a vegetable in Joe Biden.”

Schmitt said efforts to challenge Trump’s actions stem from opposition to a shift in foreign policy priorities.

According to Schmitt, “Forgive me if I’m a little skeptical that this isn’t all about politics and trying to take out Secretary hegset, that’s what this whole thing’s been about. George. They didn’t want him confirmed. They didn’t want a realist in place. They didn’t want to shift from their pet projects around the world and trying to build democracies in the sands of the Middle East. By the barrel of a gun, we have core national interests at stake, the homeland in the Western Hemisphere, in the rise of China. That’s what this administration is focused on. The Democrats are just upset about that, and they try to create some controversy each and every week, and it goes nowhere.”

Stephanopoulos pressed again, saying, “What do you mean? You’re not familiar with the facts and circumstances apart, and it’s been well reported all across the country as the former president of Honduras, he was convicted of conspiring to bring in 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, also also guns and other materials. It’s been front page news across the country, aren’t you? Aren’t you curious about that?”

Schmitt responded by criticizing the framing of the question and the direction of the interview.

He said, “Well, I’m curious about your pushback on that particular point. With your previous guest, you had zero pushback because he’s giving the Democrat talking points like you spew every single week, which is probably why your ratings are so bad.”

He then returned to the broader policy argument, stating, “But to make the point, what I’m saying is that you’re trying to you’re trying to divert here the attention from what the American people actually support. 75% of Americans support us blowing Narco terrorists out of the water in.”

WATCH:

NYC’s Socialist Mamdani Advises Illegal Aliens on How to Avoid ICE Deportation
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NYC’s Socialist Mamdani Advises Illegal Aliens on How to Avoid ICE Deportation

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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video Sunday outlining steps immigrants can take when approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, drawing criticism as New York City prepares for potential conflict with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.

Mamdani referenced an ICE operation in Chinatown that took place last weekend. During that operation, protesters blocked officers from exiting a parking garage.

It was the second significant action in the area within six weeks. Nine illegal immigrants were arrested during earlier raids carried out in October.

The information was delivered in a video posted to X, where Mamdani said he intends to “protect the rights of every single New Yorker,” including “the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home.”

In the recording, he told viewers that ICE “cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school, or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” and he displayed an example of a judicial warrant.

Mamdani said that individuals should say “I do not consent to entry” and keep doors closed if agents present administrative documents instead of a warrant.

Mamdani also said that individuals have the right to remain silent if approached by ICE.

He advised viewers to ask, “Am I free to go?” if they believe they are being detained.

He added that filming ICE operations is permitted as long as the recording does not interfere with an arrest. “New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest,” he said.

The video generated criticism online shortly after it was posted. Several commenters said Mamdani’s guidance encouraged obstruction of federal immigration authorities.

One user wrote that he was “aiding abetting and advising criminals” in response to the video.

The timing of the guidance has drawn attention as the city prepares for potential shifts in federal enforcement priorities under President Trump.

Federal officials have signaled increases in immigration-related operations in New York and other major cities.

Local leaders have acknowledged that disputes over jurisdiction and cooperation with federal agencies may continue in the months ahead.

Mamdani met with President Trump at the White House last month.

The meeting was described afterward as having gone better than expected, though no additional details were released publicly.


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