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Tennessee Voters Crushed Democrat Hopes as Van Epps Secures GOP Seat
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Tennessee Voters Crushed Democrat Hopes as Van Epps Secures GOP Seat

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Republican nominee Matt Van Epps won Tuesday’s special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, defeating Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn in a closely watched contest to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Mark Green, who resigned in June to take a private sector position.

The Associated Press projected Van Epps as the winner as ballots continued to be counted.

In his victory statement, Van Epps said, “This race was bigger than just one campaign. It represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country.”

Early returns showed him leading by roughly nine points.

The district, which covers central and western parts of the state and includes sections of Nashville, has been firmly Republican for years.

President Donald Trump carried it by 22 points in last year’s presidential election, and Green won re-election in 2022 and 2024 by more than 20 points.

Even so, polling ahead of the special election indicated a competitive race following Democratic gains in the 2025 elections.

Asked on Election Day whether the margin mattered, Van Epps told Fox News Digital, “a win is a win.”

He added, “we’re going to press as hard as we can to win by the biggest margin we can, and then we’re going to hold the majority in ’26.”

Behn, a state representative and former healthcare community organizer often compared to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, addressed supporters after the results came in.

“Although tonight is not the final result of what we wanted…it is the beginning of something so powerful in Tennessee and across the South,” she said in her concession remarks.

Speaking earlier at a Nashville Democratic Party office, she told supporters, “Whatever happens, win or lose, you’ve inspired a country. You’ve shown people the South has something to say.”

When asked by Fox News Digital whether she felt she had achieved a form of victory without carrying the election, Behn said, “For me, we’ve already won over the hearts and minds of so many Tennesseans and across the country. What starts here changes this country.”

She also said, “I think the electorate is shifting to accept a candidate like me that has a progressive track record.”

Behn centered her campaign on affordability and healthcare.

National Democratic groups highlighted her gains in the heavily Republican district.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a public statement,

“What happened tonight in Tennessee makes it clear: Democrats are on offense and Republicans are on the ropes.”

He added, “Aftyn Behn’s overperformance in this Trump +22 district is historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.”

House Majority PAC said, “Tonight’s results make it clear: No House Republican’s re-election should be considered safe next November.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee pointed to Van Epps’ background as a combat veteran and former Tennessee Department of General Services commissioner.

NRCC Chair Richard Hudson said, “Tennesseans know they can trust Van Epps to fight for their safety, security, and prosperity. No one is better positioned to take up the mantle and deliver results for Tennessee families, workers, and small business owners.”

President Trump endorsed Van Epps during the primary and congratulated him on social media following the win, writing that it was a “BIG Congressional WIN” and “Another great night for the Republican Party!!!”

Van Epps told supporters in his victory speech, “Our victory was powered by a movement of Tennesseans that are ready for change. We are grateful to the President for his unwavering support that charted this movement and catapulted us to victory. President Trump was all-in with us. That made the difference. In Congress, I’ll be all-in with him.”

Responding to Democratic claims about their momentum, Van Epps told Fox News Digital, “we have the resounding victory. This is a victory for Republicans. It’s a victory for our district. It’s a victory for President Trump. We are going to take this momentum forward, and we’re going to win in 2026.”

Outside groups from both parties poured millions into the race, and both national committees deployed staff to the district.

House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned with Van Epps on Monday, telling Fox News Digital, “Special elections are strange because a lot of people take for granted in a deep red district like this that the Republican is just going to win automatically. Nothing’s automatic.”

Johnson phoned President Trump during one rally, allowing him to address supporters by speakerphone.

“Let’s make it a sweeping victory,” Trump said. “The whole world is watching Tennessee right now.”

Later that evening, Trump joined Van Epps for a tele rally. Other Republicans, including Gov. Bill Lee, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and several members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, joined the candidate on the trail.

Democrats also sent notable figures to support Behn. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, LaTosha Brown of the Black Voters Matter Fund, and former Vice President Al Gore participated in a virtual rally the night before the election.

Behn faced sustained criticism from Republicans over past statements.

In a 2020 podcast, she said, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it.”

She said in a CNN interview that she was a “private citizen” when she made those remarks and described frustration with tourist congestion.

Republicans also pointed to a 2019 op-ed titled, “Tennessee is a racist state, and so is its legislature,” and resurfaced comments critical of law enforcement from an old social media account.

Van Epps said in an interview, “She does not represent the values of Tennessee or of America. She is as far left as you can get. She’s a radical.”

Johnson called her “a dangerous far leftist,” and Trump claimed she “hates Christianity” and “hates country music.”

Behn responded to the criticism by telling supporters, “Clearly, I’m living rent-free in President Trump’s mind,” and joked, “I always love to hear from my fans.”

She told Fox News Digital she was “running on a very simple message of addressing the affordability crisis that Tennesseans are facing, and they [Republicans] don’t have a remedy for it.”

‘Dead On’: Higbie and Donalds Torch Jasmine Crockett for Ignoring Illegal Alien Crisis
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‘Dead On’: Higbie and Donalds Torch Jasmine Crockett for Ignoring Illegal Alien Crisis

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Byron Donalds and Carl Higbie issued sharp criticism of Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s recent comments on immigration, arguing that her stance ignores the federal government’s duty to secure the nation and fails to address the strain illegal immigration places on communities, budgets, and housing markets.

Both said Crockett’s remarks appear driven by a desire for media visibility rather than public safety or responsible policy.

Carl Higbie opened by questioning Crockett’s position.

He said, “Your colleague, Jasmine Crockett. I just I don’t know where she gets this.”

Donalds responded that her approach is familiar on Capitol Hill.

“Neither do I, neither does anybody else. Look what Jasmine is trying to do is typical of unfortunately, what’s happening on Capitol Hill. You got a lot of members trying to get cute, trying to get on TV more. This is a very stupid take by her, it makes no sense at all,” he said.

Donalds argued that border security is a core federal responsibility.

“The federal government has a responsibility to secure the nation and to secure the people of America. That’s its job. So, yes, criminal illegal aliens must be deported, all of them. There can’t be any equivocation. People in the country illegally, they need to go home,” he said.

He outlined several reasons for removing criminal illegal aliens.

“Number one, our communities don’t have enough room. Number two, budgets at the local level, state levels are all being stretched. Number three, when you allow like Joe Biden did, and quite frankly, like Jasmine Crockett did, 15 million people to come into the country illegally. Where are they living? Where they’re living in is in apartments and in houses that are also helping to artificially drive up the cost of housing in the United States, and who suffers the consequences for that, people who are on the lower end of the economic spectrum in our country,” Donalds said.

Donalds said Crockett’s remarks serve media interests rather than the public.

“So Jasmine, once again, doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s trying to make sure she’s on MSNBC or MS NOW, or whatever the heck they call the thing, because nobody really watches it and nobody cares. It is another cheap take that makes no sense that leaves the American people less safe in their own country,” he said.

Higbie agreed fully with Donalds’ assessment. “Dead on, completely dead on, maybe less shrimp running on treadmills, more deportations. I like that,” he said.

WATCH:

Corruption in Newsom’s California is Worse than Tim Walz’s Minnesota: Steve Hilton
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Corruption in Newsom’s California is Worse than Tim Walz’s Minnesota: Steve Hilton

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Steve Hilton shared an account from the campaign trail to illustrate what he described as deep, systemic problems inside California’s welfare system.

The story involved a hotel owner near Sacramento and a new employee from Afghanistan whose situation, Hilton said, exposes the scale of benefits and the incentives built into the state’s programs.

Hilton said, “Here’s a story just from the campaign trail. A few weeks ago, I met a guy who owns a hotel, an Airport Hotel, near Sacramento, the seat of California’s government, and he he had a new employee to drive the shuttle bus to the airport from Afghanistan, an immigrant from Afghanistan.”

Hilton said the employee made an unusual request after being hired.

“After two days, this person said to the the owner of the hotel, could he please be paid in cash? And and the person I was talking said, Well, no, we don’t do it like that. You’re on payroll. Why do you want to be paid in cash? Well, I’m worried that I’ll lose all my welfare benefits,” he said.

Hilton said the employee then revealed the value of those benefits.

“Really. How much are they? Here’s the number, $7,000 a month. $7,000 a month. So even with, you know, Tim Walt’s level accounting skills, we can figure out that’s $84,000 a year,” he said.

Hilton contrasted that figure with other public numbers, adding, “In that post you mentioned from the president, he talked about 50,000 This is Sacramento County, $84,000 a year.”

Hilton said the hotel owner learned even more about the support the employee received.

“On top of that, he dug into it. This person from Afghanistan was told by social services in Sacramento, by Sacramento County, and don’t worry, we going to deliver groceries to to your house, because you shouldn’t go shopping because Americans are racist, and it’s safer for you to stay at home and we’ll deliver your groceries,” he said.

Hilton reacted to the situation by asking, “I mean, what are we doing in this country? What are we doing?”

Hilton said the situation reflects broader issues inside the state.

“And the point that I’m making today is that just as with everything else, whatever we’re seeing in Minnesota, you can be sure it’s much worse. In California, we’ve had longer period of uninterrupted one party rule, and we have a budget of over 320 $5 billion,” he said.

He pointed to documented cases of waste and fraud.

“We already know that over $20 billion was lost to fraud in the pandemic with what they call the EDD, the Employment Development Department, payments sent out to people in jail, people on death Row, people who had died $20 billion we know that that’s already gone. That’s just one part of the welfare state in California,” Hilton said.

Hilton also highlighted spending on homelessness.

“We know that over 20 billion was wasted on homelessness. Who knows where that ended up? I think the probable number in California is up to $100 billion that’s an estimate,” he said.

Hilton concluded by calling for an investigation into the state’s programs.

“What I’m calling for today is a thorough audit of every single part of California’s bloated welfare state to root out the fraud and corruption,” he said.

WATCH:

Adam Carolla Goes All the Way Off After Hearing FDA Memo on COVID Jabs Killing Kids
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Adam Carolla Goes All the Way Off After Hearing FDA Memo on COVID Jabs Killing Kids

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Mike Dawson and Adam Carolla discussed new revelations about an internal FDA memo concerning child deaths following COVID-19 vaccination, leading to a broader critique of how pandemic information was handled and how parents responded to official guidance.

The exchange centered on a staff memo from the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine division and Carolla’s reaction to the agency’s communication decisions.

Dawson opened by summarizing the memo.

He said, “New director of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine division told his agency in a staff memo that an internal review found that at least 10 children died after and because of receiving the covid vaccine.”

Carolla reacted by comparing the reported deaths to outcomes for healthy children who contracted COVID-19.

He said, “Well, look, if they’re healthy, then that’s more kids than died of covid while healthy. It’s all the kids. It all back to the kids. Every roads to the kids. That’s all they did was the kids.” Carolla argued that fear-based messaging targeted parents.

“That’s all they did was scare dumb mamas. Dumb mamas controlled the House, and dumb mamas became their foot soldiers and did their fucking bidding,” he said.

Carolla said he believed pandemic restrictions and recommended treatments were shaped through messaging directed at parents.

“So it’s basically like, you go, Look, what do you want? You go, Well, I want everyone to not take ivermectin and not take hydroxychloroquine and get vaccinated and stay in and shut shut, shelter in place and wipe everything out with pure out. You are not going to get that done with me. You will get it done with a dumb ass wife. You poison her brain and you get to her, and then she inflicts. She is the disciplinarian. She lays down all the rules, the covid rules at the house, right? And the way you get her is you scare her about kids. That’s what works with her so, kids, kids, kids,” he said.

Carolla argued that the public conversation about children and risk would have been different if health agencies had shared more information early.

“If they had just said at the beginning of this, you know, it doesn’t really appear to harm healthy kids. It just doesn’t, it just doesn’t seem to have it’s like maybe a flu or cold to a healthy young person. So it doesn’t really seem to affect kids. It would have been a totally different trajectory,” he said.

He added, “We would have shut the schools down. We wouldn’t have shut society if they have shut this told us what they knew about kids, then we would have gone a different direction.”

Carolla said he believed the FDA intentionally withheld information.

“But they never did. They never did. They wouldn’t because they held that they guarded that information,” he said.

He argued that releasing the information would have changed parental behavior.

“Once you let the kids off the danger hook, like if you said, it doesn’t appear to really be dangerous to Healthy Kids, then every mom in the world would have stopped enforcing all the retarded edicts they put before her,” he said.

Carolla said parents vaccinated their children based on fear and misinformation.

“That’s why the dumb moms got the fucking kids vaccinated and was totally unnecessary For them, absolutely and now it’s dangerous. Thanks, moms, great job,” he said.

He closed by urging parents to question guidance rather than follow it automatically, saying, “Next time ask a fucking question, would you please before you light your count your Fauci candle fucking dumb shits? Yep, everyone in this fucking safety sphere and all this thing, it’s fucking us up. You guys fucked up your kids in the name of safety. Good job. Moms, smart keep listening to dopes who lie to you.”

WATCH:

Scott Adams Suggests Kamala Chose Tim Walz Because She Knew He Was Corrupt
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Scott Adams Suggests Kamala Chose Tim Walz Because She Knew He Was Corrupt

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Scott Adams delivered an extended critique of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, focusing on allegations of large-scale corruption inside the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the treatment of employees who attempted to report it.

Adams said the scope of the alleged wrongdoing involved hundreds of millions of dollars and claimed that Walz was repeatedly warned but failed to act.

Adams said, “Speaking of Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, so Minnesota Department of Human Services, I guess there are 480 employees who have signed on to the idea that the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been stolen by mostly Somali related gangs who were pretending to have saved the panda and other charitable things, but really they were just completely corrupt, and they sold they stole hundreds of millions.”

He questioned how such activity could continue for an extended period without detection, saying, “How do you steal hundreds of millions over a lengthy period of time and nobody catches you? Nobody. There’s no red flag.”

According to Adams, the employees reported that Walz was repeatedly alerted.

He said, “According to 480 people in the Department of Human Services in Minnesota, Tim Walz was, in fact, informed on multiple occasions about all the red flags of corruption, and instead of looking into it and stopping the corruption, what do you think he did take a guess?” Adams framed the issue in political terms, saying Walz is “a Democrat, not only a Democrat, but the one that Kamala Harris thought would be good choice for her number two, her vice president.”

Adams continued by detailing what he said employees reported about Walz’s response.

“According to the Department of Human Services, 480 people, he retaliated against the whistleblowers. The worst thing a human can do, if you’re in government, is to punish the whistleblowers,” he said.

He added that internal oversight mechanisms were weakened: “They said he disempowered the Office of Legislative Auditor. Oh, so they at least had some hand waving at an audit, but he disempowered it so they wouldn’t be effective. He allowed agencies to disregard their own audit findings. Oh, okay, well, you can do the audit and you can find problems, but then we’re going to ignore them.”

Adams described the scale of the alleged activity as “a Ukraine Zelensky level corruption,” saying, “We’re not talking about small dollars. We’re not talking about your governor guided a contract to his cousin. We’re talking about enormous, organized theft.”

He questioned whether Walz had any personal motive, saying, “I can’t believe that waltz had no no benefit from that. Why would he try so hard to keep the criminals in power?”

Adams then speculated about Walz’s selection as Kamala Harris’s running mate.

“It also makes me wonder if that’s the reason he was chosen as vice president,” he said, arguing that some Democratic figures gain prominence because others “want to make sure that they have some kind of blackmail against them.”

He described the idea as “A big criminal enterprise,” adding that this creates “mutually assured destruction.”

Adams said he once viewed such theories skeptically.

“I would have said, honestly, a few years ago, I would have said, that’s nonsense, and that just sounds like conspiracy, thinking,” he said.

But he added that he now believes it is plausible: “Do you really think that Kamala picked for her vice president the most criminal person they could find, because that’s the person they could control, really. Scott, do you think that actually happened in the real world? Yes, I don’t have proof, but come on.”

He concluded with a broader accusation directed at the Democratic Party, saying, “It’s just starting to look so obvious that the Democrat Party is just a large criminal organization that depends on having people in it who aren’t willing to talk to turn in the other people who are in it.”

Adams added that he does not see the same pattern on the Republican side but said, “I wouldn’t rule it out. It right, there could be some pockets of that on both sides.”

WATCH:

TSA Employee Sues After Trump Policy Blocks Pat-Downs of Women
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TSA Employee Sues After Trump Policy Blocks Pat-Downs of Women

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A Transportation Security Administration employee who identifies as transgender has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Department of Homeland Security policy that restricts TSA pat-downs to an officer’s actual sex, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The policy stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office, which ended federal recognition of transgender status for workforce purposes.

Jan 20, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; President Donald Trump signs a stack of executive orders on stage during the inauguration parade for President Donald Trump at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-Pool via Imagn Images

The employee, Danielle Mittereder, began working for the TSA in June 2024 and is currently assigned to Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Mittereder’s lawsuit, filed earlier this month, argues that the new policy violates federal civil rights law.

According to the complaint, “Solely because she is transgender, TSA now prohibits Plaintiff from conducting core functions of her job, impedes her advancement to higher-level positions and specialized certifications, excludes her from TSA-controlled facilities, and subjects her identity to unwanted and undue scrutiny each workday.”

The filing states that Mittereder “identified and presented as a woman” throughout his employment and performed female passenger pat-downs between October 2024 and Feb. 7, 2025.

He conducted several pat-downs per shift during that period. After Feb. 7, however, the president’s executive order barred him from performing pat-downs on women.

The lawsuit contends, “By prohibiting Plaintiff from conducting pat-downs because she is transgender, TSA discriminates against her for failing to fulfill traditional sex stereotypes.”

Mittereder claims the policy caused “anguish and humiliation,” leading him to take leave for the remainder of his Feb. 7 shift as well as Feb. 8 and Feb. 11.

The Associated Press contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin responded in a statement reported by Fox News:

“Does the AP want female travelers to be subjected to pat-downs by male TSA officers?” She added, “What a useless and fundamentally dangerous idea, to prioritize mental delusion over the comfort and safety of American travelers.”

Jonathan Puth, an attorney representing Mittereder, said the administration’s policy is “terribly demeaning and 100% illegal.”

The case highlights the first major legal challenge to the Trump administration’s reinstatement of sex-based federal employee policies. No court hearings have been scheduled.

Mother Speaks After Gunfire Erupts During Toddler’s Birthday Party Where 4 Were Killed
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Mother Speaks After Gunfire Erupts During Toddler’s Birthday Party Where 4 Were Killed

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Four people — three of them children — were killed and 11 others wounded when gunfire erupted during a 2-year-old’s birthday party inside a Stockton, California banquet hall on Saturday, authorities confirmed, as reported by the New York Post.

The shooting broke out just as the toddler was cutting her birthday cake.

The child’s mother, Patrice Williams, described the chaos that unfolded as dozens of guests were gathered for the celebration.

“I actually thought it was my balloons popping. It was gunshots,” Williams said. “It was just unexpected. I don’t know what happened, and I’m just so shocked and lost.”

Williams said people immediately dropped to the ground when the gunfire began. She said her daughter was unharmed, though she did not get a clear look at the shooter or shooters and does not know why a child’s party would be targeted.

“They deserve to be in jail. They deserve to go to hell,” she said. “I’m sorry, but I just … it’s not respectable. It’s a kids’ party.”

Stockton authorities said three children — ages 8, 9, and 14 — were among those killed, along with a 21-year-old man. One of the wounded victims remains in critical condition.

Police identified two of the victims as 14-year-old Amari Peterson and 21-year-old Susano Archuleta.

Investigators have not announced arrests, but officials said early evidence points to the shooting being gang-related. Authorities have not released further details on the suspected motive or the number of shooters involved.

The mass shooting is one of the deadliest incidents in Stockton in recent years and adds to California’s ongoing struggles with violent crime. Local, state, and federal authorities are coordinating the investigation.

Williams said the birthday celebration had been planned as a cheerful gathering for her daughter before it was suddenly overtaken by tragedy.

She said she is still trying to understand how the violence unfolded so quickly and inside a venue crowded with children.

The investigation remains active, and Stockton police have urged anyone with information or video footage from the event to come forward.

China Builds Carrier Fleet That Reshapes Pacific Power Dynamics
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China Builds Carrier Fleet That Reshapes Pacific Power Dynamics

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China’s navy is steadily narrowing the gap with U.S. forces in the Pacific as the People’s Liberation Army Navy expands a modern carrier fleet and a growing cadre of amphibious ships, signaling a strategic shift that demands careful attention from policymakers and alliance partners alike.

This trend underscores a broader push to improve naval aviation, power projection, and regional influence in an era of evolving maritime competition.

The Type 003 Fujian, domestically built, uses electromagnetic catapults, a feature that marks a meaningful step toward parity with Western flattops.

That capability increases launch rates and widens the mix of aircraft the ship can field, including fighters, airborne early warning, and unmanned systems, signaling a substantive leap beyond earlier Chinese carriers.

Open-source analysis has signaled that China may be pursuing a nuclear-powered supercarrier, a move that, if realized, would place it among the select ranks of nations with such vessels and would greatly extend its reach and endurance in the theater.

If confirmed, this development would represent a significant shift in how the PLAN plans to operate at long ranges and sustain air operations without frequent refueling.

The newest Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, recently began sea trials and, like the Fujian, is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system for both manned aircraft and drones.

If Beijing ever contemplates an operation against Taiwan, ships like Sichuan could launch drones while keeping valuable pilots and airframes safer ashore, leveraging land-based airpower to support maritime operations.

China’s New Fujian Aircraft Carrier Now Undergoing Advanced Sea Trial

Taken together, these flattops serve multiple purposes in China’s long-term strategy by projecting power, building naval aviation experience, and widening the defensive perimeter beyond the First Island Chain that runs from Japan to Indonesia.

They are part of a broader plan to extend China’s reach while developing the competencies needed to operate complex carrier aviation at scale.

China’s carrier program has evolved from the Soviet-era Liaoning, a vessel acquired and renamed, to the Type 002 Shandong, and now to the Fujian, which comes much closer in size to American supercarriers.

The Fujian also features three electromagnetic catapults, compared with the Ford-class carrier’s four, a design choice that preserves range while enabling a higher sortie rate than before.

The Fujian’s electromagnetic catapults push the ship to launch a broader array of aircraft, including the J-15 Flying Shark, the J-35 stealth fighter, the GJ-11 stealth drone, and the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft.

This mix broadens the carrier’s mission set and increases its ability to operate in a contested environment with both manned and unmanned assets.

Satellite imagery from Shanghai’s Jiangnan shipyard has raised the possibility that Type 004 could be nuclear powered, a development that would give the vessel nearly unlimited range and the ability to operate far from home ports.

Yet operating nuclear carriers successfully requires disciplined maintenance, highly trained engineering teams, and decades of refinement, underscoring the caution with which such capability must be pursued.

Analysts observing the pace of PLAN expansion argue that U.S. policymakers and allied forces must adapt with both deterrence and modernization to preserve balance in the Indo-Pacific.

A focus on modernizing fleets, strengthening interoperability with partners, and maintaining credible deterrence will be essential as China’s carrier program continues to mature.

Schumer Says Three Offices Received Bomb Threats With ‘MAGA’ Emails
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Schumer Says Three Offices Received Bomb Threats With ‘MAGA’ Emails

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that three of his offices in New York received bomb threats sent by email, each containing the subject line “MAGA” and messages alleging that the “2020 election was rigged,” as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Feb 6, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) arriving prior to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting with Senate leadership on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images

According to Schumer, the threats were directed at his offices in Rochester, Binghamton, and Long Island.

“This morning, I was informed by law enforcement entities throughout New York of multiple bomb threats that were made at my offices in Rochester, Binghamton, and Long Island with the email subject line ‘MAGA’ and from an email address alleging the ‘2020 election was rigged,’” Schumer said.

Local and federal law enforcement responded and conducted security sweeps at the affected offices. Schumer said all staff were safe.

“Everyone is safe, and I am grateful for their quick and professional response to ensure these offices remain safe and secure for all New Yorkers.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer holds a can of insect repellant as he speaks outside the county health department offices in Pomona Oct. 9, 2024. Schumer, along with Rockland County Executive Ed Day, was on hand to talk about mosquito control and the danger of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the potentially fatal virus that humans can contract through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Schumer also issued a broader statement on threats toward public officials, saying, “As I have said many times, these kinds of violent threats have absolutely no place in our political system. No one—no public servant, no staff member, no constituent, no citizen—should ever be targeted for simply doing their job.”

He later addressed the threats from the Senate floor on Monday afternoon.

The announcement comes during a period of heightened national attention on security incidents.

Last week, two West Virginia National Guard members were shot in an ambush-style attack allegedly carried out by an Afghan national who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.

One service member, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries, and Andrew Wolfe remains hospitalized.

Law enforcement investigations into the threats against Schumer’s offices remain ongoing, and no additional details have been released about the sender or the origin of the emails.

‘Whacko Walz’ Panics as Minnesota Braces for ICE Storm, Homan Says ‘Focus is There’
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‘Whacko Walz’ Panics as Minnesota Braces for ICE Storm, Homan Says ‘Focus is There’

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The Trump administration has launched a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota’s Twin Cities aimed primarily at Somali nationals with final deportation orders, according to internal documents and an official cited by The New York Times on Tuesday.

The operation will bring roughly 100 federal agents from around the country into Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of what the Times described as an aggressive enforcement surge.

The deployment follows recent White House attention on a taxpayer-fraud case involving members of Minnesota’s Somali community.

ICE “strike teams” will focus largely on individuals with final removal orders while potentially detaining others with unresolved immigration cases.

The Times reported the initiative is part of a broader national push that has included recent actions in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment on “future or potential operations” but pushed back on suggestions that the plan targets specific groups.

“What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally,” McLaughlin told the Daily Caller.

The Times reported that the directive came as President Donald Trump intensified public statements regarding Somalis in the United States.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz sharply criticized the operation, characterizing it as a political maneuver rather than a legitimate public-safety effort.

“We welcome support in investigating and prosecuting crime. But pulling a PR stunt and indiscriminately targeting immigrants is not a real solution to a problem,” Walz posted on X.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday referenced a Times investigation into fraud committed by individuals within Minnesota’s Somali diaspora, saying Somalis in Minneapolis had “ripped off American taxpayers.”

The Times noted, however, that while fraud occurred, only a small number of individuals were convicted.

Minneapolis and St. Paul both have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, though recent federal actions have tested those boundaries.

A June enforcement operation near downtown Minneapolis led to clashes with protesters, and a mid-November Saint Paul raid resulted in 14 arrests, according to the Times.

The Times reported that ICE’s Minnesota operation is beginning this week and will serve as the latest component of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which includes fulfilling his pledge to carry out mass deportations.

Officials cited by the Times said the administration has used large-scale deployments not only to execute removal orders but also to deter unlawful presence by creating a heightened enforcement environment.

According to the documents reviewed by the Times, the Twin Cities surge will proceed despite opposition from local officials.

The operation adds to a growing list of large enforcement actions in major metropolitan areas as the administration moves forward with its national immigration agenda.


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