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Four Killed, Eleven Injured as Speeding Driver Plows Into Tampa Bar
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Four Killed, Eleven Injured as Speeding Driver Plows Into Tampa Bar

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Tampa police are investigating a high-speed crash that left four people dead and eleven others injured early Saturday morning after a car plowed into a group of people outside a business in the Ybor City neighborhood.

Authorities say the suspect, 22-year-old Silas Sampson, is in custody and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The incident began shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Saturday when officers with the Tampa Police Department observed two vehicles racing near Hanna Avenue and Nebraska Avenue.

According to Police Chief Lee Bercaw, the cars continued westbound on Hillsborough Avenue before one vehicle merged onto Interstate 275 South.

Sampson, driving the second vehicle, headed toward the downtown area and into Ybor City.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers joined the pursuit as the chase continued through city streets.

Investigators said troopers attempted a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, near Nebraska Avenue and Palm Avenue in an effort to stop Sampson’s car.

The maneuver was unsuccessful, and Sampson continued driving down 7th Avenue, one of Ybor City’s main commercial corridors.

Moments later, police said Sampson lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a local business, striking a crowd of people who had gathered outside.

Witnesses told investigators that the impact sent debris across the street and caused significant damage to the storefront.

Emergency responders pronounced three victims dead at the scene, while a fourth victim later died at a hospital, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Eleven additional individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical. All victims were adults over the age of 20, police said.

“This morning we had a tragic incident where at least four victims senselessly lost their lives and eleven others were injured as a result of a careless, reckless driver,” Chief Bercaw said in a statement.

Investigators said Sampson was taken into custody without further incident.

He faces four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude with serious bodily injury.

Authorities confirmed that Sampson’s car was heavily damaged, and he was treated for minor injuries before being booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.

Court records show that this was not Sampson’s first encounter with law enforcement for dangerous driving.

According to Hillsborough County court filings, he received a citation less than two months ago for speeding 99 miles per hour on Interstate 75, where the posted speed limit is 70 miles per hour.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are assisting Tampa police in reconstructing the crash to determine the vehicle’s speed and trajectory prior to impact.

Investigators are also reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras along 7th Avenue to better understand the sequence of events leading up to the collision.

The business struck by the vehicle has not been publicly identified by authorities.

Police confirmed it was a local bar where patrons were gathered outside when the crash occurred.

The area was closed for several hours on Saturday morning as officers and forensic teams processed the scene.

Officials said they are continuing to notify the victims’ families and urged anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded video to contact Tampa police.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected our city,” Chief Bercaw said.

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone impacted by this senseless event.”

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as evidence is reviewed.

Chuck Schumer Storms Off Senate Floor After Obamacare Loophole Exposed
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Chuck Schumer Storms Off Senate Floor After Obamacare Loophole Exposed

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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) abruptly left the Senate floor after a heated exchange with Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) on Thursday during ongoing negotiations to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The confrontation centered on Schumer’s proposal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for one year, a move Republicans say would continue COVID-era benefits for high-income earners and contribute to waste and fraud.

The exchange occurred as the Senate remains gridlocked on day 38 of the shutdown, with federal employees including air traffic controllers working without pay and agencies partially closed.

Schumer and Senate Democrats have voted 14 times against Republican-led measures to reopen the government, insisting that any funding agreement include an extension of ACA subsidies.

During the floor discussion, Senator Moreno asked Schumer whether Democrats had a formal proposal in writing to reform or fix the Affordable Care Act.

Schumer admitted that no written counterproposal had been submitted.
“We can’t give you a counter in writing, but it’s very simple,” Schumer said. “Because we have two sentences we would add to any proposal which would extend the ACA benefits for one year.”

Moreno pressed the issue, pointing out that the Affordable Care Act currently has no income cap, allowing even multimillionaires to qualify for taxpayer-funded subsidies.

“It does still have no income caps, so people who make $1, $2, $3 million a year,” Moreno said before Schumer interrupted.

“Once we pass the one-year fixed so people right now aren’t in difficulty, we would sit and negotiate that,” Schumer replied.

“The leader has said that he won’t negotiate before. We’re willing to negotiate once the credits are extended, plain and simple.”

Moreno continued questioning, asking, “So for one year, people making millions of dollars would still receive these COVID-era subsidies?”

At that point, Schumer accused Moreno of defending billionaires, then yielded the floor and walked away.

Following Schumer’s exit, Moreno addressed the chamber.

“I was going to ask him before he stormed out of the room because evidently he doesn’t want to hear any opposing views or actually engage in meaningful negotiation,” Moreno said.

“Would he continue 0 dollar premiums, which we know for a FACT have enormous levels of fraud?”

Moreno added that had Schumer remained, he intended to ask a third question: “Does he want these monies to go directly to insurance companies?”

The exchange, first reported by The Daily Wire, highlighted the growing frustration between the two parties as the shutdown entered its sixth week.

Democrats continue to push for the ACA subsidy extension as part of any deal to fund the government, while Republicans have rejected the demand, arguing it has nothing to do with reopening federal operations.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) reaffirmed that Republicans will only consider what he described as a “clean” funding bill to restore government operations.

“The Obamacare extension is the negotiation,” Thune said earlier this week, indicating that the GOP sees Democrats’ health care demand as a separate issue.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter, calling on Senate Republicans to redirect health care subsidy funds directly to consumers rather than insurance companies.

“Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

It should “be sent directly to the people so that they can purchase their own, much better, healthcare, and have money left over.”

The confrontation between Schumer and Moreno reflects deep divisions over the role of the Affordable Care Act in current budget negotiations.

With the government shutdown extending past five weeks, both chambers remain deadlocked, and prospects for a compromise appear uncertain.

Negotiations are expected to continue into next week as lawmakers seek a deal to restore federal operations and address growing pressure from workers and constituents affected by the funding lapse.

Trump Just ‘Backed Democrats Into a CORNER’ with Proposal Against Obamacare
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Trump Just ‘Backed Democrats Into a CORNER’ with Proposal Against Obamacare

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President Donald Trump unveiled a proposal on Friday to redirect hundreds of billions of dollars in Affordable Care Act subsidy payments away from insurance companies and send them directly to American citizens.

The announcement came amid tense negotiations in Washington over government funding, as Democrats attempted to tie a new spending bill to an extension of Obamacare subsidies.

The proposal, revealed in a Truth Social post early Friday morning, signaled a major policy shift that could reshape how healthcare funds are distributed.

“I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” President Trump wrote.

He added, “In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare. Unrelated, we must still terminate the Filibuster!”

The statement followed days of negotiations in Congress over a continuing resolution to reopen the federal government.

Senate Democrats had pushed for a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of their proposal, arguing that the temporary tax credits were essential to maintaining affordability in health insurance markets.

Republicans opposed the measure, calling it an unnecessary expansion of spending unrelated to the funding bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the Democrats’ offer as “a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability and begins a process of negotiating reforms.”

However, Republicans in the Senate quickly rejected the proposal.

Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) dismissed the idea, saying, “The Obamacare extension is the negotiation.”

The stalemate left the government partially closed heading into the weekend, with each party blaming the other for the impasse.

President Trump’s announcement appeared to shift the momentum in the talks. By proposing to redirect Obamacare funds directly to individuals rather than insurers, Trump positioned the plan as a direct benefit to consumers while challenging Democrats’ defense of insurance company subsidies.

Within hours of the post, several Republican lawmakers expressed support.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) said he would introduce legislation to put the president’s plan into action. “Totally agree, @POTUS! I’m writing the bill right now,” Scott wrote on X.

“We must stop taxpayer money from going to insurance companies and instead give it directly to Americans in HSA-style accounts and let them buy the health care they want. This will increase competition & drive down costs.”

The proposal comes as both parties continue to debate the future of the Affordable Care Act and federal health care spending.

Democrats have argued that subsidy extensions are necessary to prevent premium increases for millions of Americans, while Republicans have maintained that the current system wastes taxpayer funds by funneling them through private insurance providers.

Aides close to the negotiations said Trump’s announcement caught Senate Democrats off guard.

The administration’s shift from insurance subsidies to direct payments introduced a new dynamic into the ongoing talks, one that could alter both the budget debate and the broader conversation over health care reform.

While the White House has not yet released detailed legislative language, sources familiar with the discussions said the plan could mirror health savings account-style models that allow individuals to manage their own funds for medical expenses.

Lawmakers expect debate on the measure to begin once Congress resumes full sessions next week.

For now, government funding discussions remain at an impasse, but President Trump’s latest proposal has injected new urgency — and controversy — into the fight over the future of federal health care spending.

Pressure Builds as Americans Pay the Price for Washington’s Gridlock
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Pressure Builds as Americans Pay the Price for Washington’s Gridlock

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The government shutdown has entered its 40th day, and both Republicans and Democrats are facing growing pressure from voters, federal workers, and key industries as negotiations remain stalled in Congress.

With air travel disruptions mounting and federal employees missing multiple paychecks, lawmakers from both parties are bracing for political fallout in the weeks ahead.

If the shutdown continues into mid-November, consequences could extend beyond economic strain.

Federal workers are already without pay, food assistance programs such as SNAP are at risk of disruption, and flight delays across major U.S. airports are increasing ahead of the Thanksgiving travel season.

While both sides are exchanging blame, the latest standoff centers on healthcare subsidies linked to the Affordable Care Act.

Republican leaders argue that the subsidies drive up costs and funnel taxpayer dollars to insurance companies, while Democrats insist they are vital to helping Americans manage higher premiums.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News that the subsidies are “pumping money to insurance companies” and benefit a “select group” of about 24 million people — roughly 7 percent of the U.S. population.

GOP lawmakers have maintained that the broader issue lies with Obamacare itself, not the temporary funding measure.

The current impasse has turned the shutdown into another debate over the healthcare law enacted under President Obama in 2010.

Despite numerous Republican efforts to repeal or reform the law over the years, it remains intact, and Democrats have continued to tie government funding to healthcare policy.

Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, have stated that healthcare discussions can resume once the government reopens.

However, many Democrats are skeptical of that assurance.

Some Democratic senators are reportedly considering joining Republicans to temporarily fund the government through January while continuing to debate healthcare separately.

Such a move could deepen divisions within the Democratic Party.

Progressive senators have voiced frustration that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats previously joined Republicans in March to avoid a shutdown.

Party leaders fear that agreeing to reopen the government without resolving the subsidy dispute could provoke backlash among liberal lawmakers and their base.

Senate Republicans are working to attract enough Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster.

Fox News reported that air traffic delays and economic pressure are among the factors pushing some Democrats toward compromise.

A procedural vote could occur as soon as Sunday evening.

The proposal under discussion would extend funding for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress through September 30, 2026.

It remains unclear whether Senate Republicans will call for a vote without assurances that the measure can clear a filibuster.

After several failed procedural votes in recent weeks, GOP leaders are cautious about forcing another.

If the Senate does manage to advance the bill, a final vote could come early next week.

Sources indicated that some Democrats might expedite proceedings to reopen the government quickly, while others may use procedural tactics to delay progress and propose amendments tied to Obamacare provisions.

Once passed in the Senate, the legislation would move to the House, where its fate is less certain.

Moderate Democrats such as Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Jared Golden of Maine could become key votes if some Republicans break ranks.

Golden, who voted for a previous short-term funding bill in September, has since announced his retirement.

House math remains tight.

If Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona is sworn in before a vote, the chamber would have 433 members, with 219 Republicans and 214 Democrats.

That margin allows Republicans to lose only two votes before needing Democratic support to pass the measure.

After more than five weeks of a partial shutdown, both parties face an increasingly frustrated electorate.

Democrats risk division within their ranks if they fail to secure a deal on healthcare subsidies, while Republicans could face criticism for prolonging the impasse over a policy dispute dating back more than a decade.

Regardless of how negotiations unfold in the coming days, lawmakers on both sides are confronting what many in Washington are already calling a political reckoning.

Courtroom Chaos Erupts Over Repeat Offender Raping 12-Year-Old Girl in NYC
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Courtroom Chaos Erupts Over Repeat Offender Raping 12-Year-Old Girl in NYC

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Tensions erupted in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Saturday night when relatives of a 12-year-old girl allegedly raped in a Williamsburg housing complex confronted the suspect, 27-year-old Eric McMichael, during his arraignment.

The hearing broke down into shouting as family members cursed at the accused and the judge before officers cleared the room.

“Another outburst and everyone is leaving,” Judge Orville Reynolds warned during the proceedings.

McMichael, who is homeless, faces multiple felony charges after prosecutors said he attacked the girl in the stairwell of the Cooper Houses building on Morgan Avenue near Jackson Street on Thursday night.

Prosecutors said McMichael threatened to shoot the victim if she refused to follow him.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, McMichael was out on parole at the time of the alleged assault for a 2013 robbery conviction.

Prosecutors stated that McMichael approached the girl in the lobby, told her, “I need you to come with me, or I’ll shoot you,” and forced her into the stairwell before committing the attack.

Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Jordan Rossman described the incident during the arraignment.

“An eyewitness encountered them and saw the defendant with no pants on, and the complainant, who made an outcry for help,” Rossman said.

“The defendant fled. The eyewitness brought the complainant upstairs to her family’s apartment where her mother was, and the mother saw the child bleeding from her legs.”

Rossman said the child’s mother immediately contacted police and took her daughter to the hospital, where she was treated and reported to be in stable condition.

Authorities said McMichael was identified in surveillance footage recorded at a nearby laundromat.

His parole officer recognized him in the video, leading to his arrest on Friday afternoon. Prosecutors said McMichael admitted to being in the lobby of the building after his arrest.

“He admitted to being in the lobby of the building, encountering a woman, talking to her, kissing her, hugging her, grabbing her, pushing her and refusing to let her go home until somebody came and saw what happened,” Rossman told the court.

McMichael now faces a long list of charges, including four counts of first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree rape, second- and third-degree burglary as sexually motivated felonies, two counts of sexual misconduct, forcible touching, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, second- and third-degree sexual abuse, second-degree criminal trespass, and endangering the welfare of a child.

He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.

Court documents and prior reports show McMichael’s criminal history spans several years.

In October 2019, he was arrested after allegedly stealing a 29-year-old woman’s phone and raping her at knifepoint in an abandoned Staten Island building.

Police said he removed screws from a door to break into the location where the attack occurred.

McMichael pleaded guilty and was ordered to undergo mental health treatment, according to the Staten Island Advance.

In August 2023, McMichael was arrested again for allegedly pretending to have a gun while attempting to carjack a livery cab driver.

Before his most recent arrest, he had been living in a homeless shelter on Clay Street.

The case has prompted public outrage over how a repeat violent offender remained free under parole supervision.

Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing as authorities continue reviewing evidence and additional witness statements.

Thune Orders Senate to Stay Put Until Democrats End Shutdown Standoff
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Thune Orders Senate to Stay Put Until Democrats End Shutdown Standoff

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Saturday that the Senate will remain in session until lawmakers reach an agreement to end the government shutdown, which has now entered its 40th day.

Speaking to reporters during a rare weekend session at the Capitol, Thune said senators would not be released to go home until a deal is finalized.

Despite the House passing a clean continuing resolution in September to keep the government open through November 21, the Senate has yet to take action on the measure.

The continuing resolution, or CR, passed the House with bipartisan support, but Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked it, extending what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The House has not reconvened while awaiting Senate action, putting pressure on the upper chamber to resolve the stalemate.

Thune said he intends to keep senators in Washington until progress is made. “We’re not leaving town until the government is reopened,” Thune told reporters.

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have voted down the House-passed CR fifteen times, rejecting multiple attempts to advance the legislation.

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A sixteenth vote could come as early as Sunday as Republican leadership searches for new strategies to bring Democrats to the negotiating table.

Only three Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.M.), and independent Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) — have joined Republicans in supporting measures to reopen the government.

Democratic leadership initiated the shutdown to press for action on healthcare subsidies connected to the so-called Affordable Care Act, a topic they view as politically advantageous heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.

The debate centers on expiring Obamacare premium subsidies originally extended under pandemic-era relief legislation.

Thune and other Republican leaders have indicated they are willing to allow a separate vote on healthcare subsidies once the government is reopened.

However, Democrats have refused to support reopening the government without a guaranteed one-year extension of those subsidies included in the funding bill.

Schumer reiterated that demand on Friday, seeking to ensure the issue remains active through next year’s elections.

Thune rejected that proposal, calling it a non-starter.

“We’re not going to keep the government closed over partisan political demands,” a Republican aide familiar with the talks said.

The impasse has left federal workers unpaid for more than a month and caused growing delays in public services.

Air traffic disruptions, delayed food assistance payments, and stalled operations across several agencies have added pressure on both parties to reach a deal.

Republicans maintain that Democrats are prolonging the shutdown for political leverage, while Democrats argue that Republicans are refusing to negotiate on critical healthcare funding.

As the standoff continues, bipartisan frustration has grown, with a handful of senators privately urging leadership to find a compromise.

Thune has scheduled a working lunch for Senate Republicans on Sunday to discuss next steps and potential procedural maneuvers to advance legislation.

If the Senate votes again on the House-passed CR, it will mark the sixteenth attempt to overcome Democratic opposition.

As the stalemate enters its sixth week, congressional staff and leadership aides say there is no clear timeline for resolution.

However, Thune made it clear that senators will not be allowed to leave Washington until the funding impasse is broken and the government fully reopens.

Biden Handler’s Hot Mic Moment Adds Evidence to Cognitive Decline ‘Debate’
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Biden Handler’s Hot Mic Moment Adds Evidence to Cognitive Decline ‘Debate’

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Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic Friday evening being directed by a staff member immediately after speaking at the Nebraska Democratic Party’s “Ben Nelson Gala” in Omaha.

Biden delivered remarks at the annual fundraising event, where he criticized President Donald Trump and commented on this week’s election results.

During his speech, Biden claimed that voters had sent a message to the Trump administration.

“You work for us, Mr. President!” Biden shouted from the stage.

“We don’t work for you! You work for us! Not just billionaires and millionaires!”

He continued by declaring, “This is a democracy and the fact of the matter is there are no kings in democracies.”

After finishing his remarks, Biden appeared to begin leaving the stage before being stopped by a staff member who instructed him to remain.

The exchange was captured on a live microphone and quickly circulated online.

“You’re going to stay on stage,” the staffer was heard saying as she approached him.

“I am? Oh,” Biden responded.

The staff member then directed him toward a different exit, saying, “You’re going out by the side.”

“Oh, alright,” Biden replied before being escorted away.

The moment drew attention on social media, where clips of the exchange were widely shared by reporters and commentators.

The footage appeared to show Biden momentarily confused about where to go after completing his speech, prompting immediate assistance from his handler.

Biden’s appearance at the Omaha event marked one of his few recent public outings since leaving office.

Biden has maintained a relatively limited public schedule, occasionally delivering speeches to Democratic audiences and advocacy groups.

The “Ben Nelson Gala,” named after the former Nebraska senator and governor, is a key annual event for state Democrats.

The dinner, held at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, drew elected officials, local candidates, and party activists.

Biden’s speech focused largely on themes of economic inequality and his continued criticism of President Trump’s policies.

While Biden received applause for portions of his speech, it was the post-event exchange that dominated coverage afterward.

Political observers noted that such moments have become increasingly frequent during Biden’s public appearances, often prompting renewed scrutiny of his interactions with aides and event staff.

The hot mic clip was shared by multiple media outlets following the event.

It shows Biden briefly standing near the podium before the staffer steps in to guide him.

The exchange lasted less than 10 seconds but was picked up clearly by microphones still active from the event’s live broadcast.

The Omaha appearance was part of a weekend lineup of Democratic events in the Midwest, where party leaders are preparing for upcoming state and local races.

NYC’s New Mayor Mamdani Vows to Block ICE, Defy Federal Immigration Enforcement
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NYC’s New Mayor Mamdani Vows to Block ICE, Defy Federal Immigration Enforcement

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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that New York City will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement operations once he takes office, signaling a sharp policy shift from outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.

Speaking at the annual Somos conference in Puerto Rico, Mamdani said his administration will resist any federal attempts to assist with deportation efforts ordered by President Donald Trump.

The incoming mayor vowed that city law enforcement would not take part in federal operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“My NYPD will continue to not be of assistance to ICE whenever they are trying to terrorize New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” Mamdani told NY1.

He added, “I think that it’s important to continue a separation between NYPD and ICE, and I think it’s important to bring an end to a chapter which Eric Adams said on national TV, where he opened the door to civil immigration enforcement.”

The announcement drew attention both in New York and Washington, as the federal government continues to prepare for expanded immigration enforcement measures under President Trump’s renewed border directives.

Under Mayor Adams, New York City had allowed limited cooperation between local police and federal agents in specific cases involving criminal warrants and detainers.

Adams argued that such coordination improved public safety and ensured compliance with federal law.

Mamdani, however, ran on a campaign promise to end that cooperation and strengthen New York’s designation as a sanctuary city.

Mamdani, who previously served as a state assemblyman representing western Queens, has been a vocal critic of federal immigration enforcement.

He has described ICE as “a rogue agency, one that has no interest in laws, no interest in order,” and pledged to prevent city resources from being used in deportation operations.

During his campaign, Mamdani proposed new measures to block coordination between city departments and ICE, including limiting access to municipal records and prohibiting NYPD officers from accompanying federal agents during arrests or investigations involving immigration status.

His transition team has said those policies will be among the first executive actions considered after his inauguration in January.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized Mamdani’s immigration stance.

In a post on Truth Social on November 3, Trump warned that New York City could lose significant federal funding if Mamdani carries out his plans.

“If Mamdani wins, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” the President wrote.

Federal officials have not confirmed whether funding adjustments are under review, though the White House has maintained that sanctuary city policies undermine national immigration enforcement.

Mamdani’s position comes amid an ongoing rise in the number of illegal aliens settling in New York, with city shelters housing tens of thousands of migrants as of this month.

City agencies have warned that costs related to housing and social services have strained the municipal budget.

The mayor-elect has said that his administration will focus on “protecting New Yorkers” regardless of immigration status and that local resources should not be used “to enable deportation or intimidation.”

Mamdani is expected to formally take office in January following certification of the election results.

His administration will immediately face the challenge of balancing local sanctuary commitments with potential federal funding restrictions and enforcement directives.

Dems Again Refuse to Pay Military, Federal Workers While Pushing for More Obamacare Funding
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Dems Again Refuse to Pay Military, Federal Workers While Pushing for More Obamacare Funding

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Senate Democrats on Friday voted down a Republican-led effort to pay federal workers and military personnel while the government shutdown entered its 37th day.

The motion, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), sought to invoke cloture on legislation that would have ensured continued pay for government employees and service members despite the ongoing budget impasse.

The motion failed by a vote of 53–43, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance.

Three Democratic senators—Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock—broke with their party to vote in favor of moving the bill forward.

However, their support was not enough to overcome opposition from Senate leadership and the majority of Democrats, who argued that such measures would remove pressure to end the shutdown.

The defeat came amid renewed debate on the Senate floor over competing proposals to reopen the government.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) earlier in the day had floated a deal that would fund the government in exchange for a one-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies originally enacted during the COVID-19 era.

Republicans quickly rejected the proposal, calling it unrelated to the spending negotiations and arguing that it would add billions in new federal costs.

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) dismissed Schumer’s offer and instead introduced two separate bills aimed at holding lawmakers accountable during the shutdown.

Kennedy’s legislation would suspend paychecks for members of Congress and senators until the government reopens.

“I think we’re just going to have to get used to the fact that we’ve been in a shutdown, and we’re going to be in a shutdown for a while,” Kennedy said in a separate interview earlier this week.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) indicated after the vote that negotiations on a broader government funding measure remain at an impasse.

“It remains to be seen if something comes together for the Senate to vote on tomorrow,” Thune told reporters, according to Punchbowl News correspondent Samantha Handler.

“Fingers crossed,” he added when asked about the status of ongoing discussions over the pending appropriations package.

Following the vote, Thune adjourned the Senate until Saturday.

According to HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic, Thune also placed on the Senate calendar a new bill that would rescind unused COVID-19 relief funds from states—a move Republicans say could save billions in unspent federal dollars.

The measure could become part of a larger GOP push to reduce wasteful pandemic-era spending while continuing negotiations over government funding.

The proposal to reclaim unused COVID relief funds reflects a growing Republican effort to offset new spending by targeting unallocated or expired federal appropriations from previous years.

The issue has been a consistent point of disagreement between the parties, with Democrats opposing cuts to programs they say still serve public needs.

The current government shutdown began more than a month ago amid disagreements over long-term budget priorities, border security funding, and healthcare-related provisions.

Democrats have insisted that any deal to reopen the government must include extensions of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans have focused on spending reductions and border enforcement measures.

As the standoff continues, federal workers across multiple agencies remain furloughed or working without pay, and certain military operations face delays in compensation.

While both sides have introduced legislation aimed at mitigating the impact, none have secured enough bipartisan support to advance through Congress.

With the Senate set to reconvene on Saturday, lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations over a potential short-term continuing resolution or a broader funding package.

For now, the deadlock between Senate Democrats and Republicans shows little sign of easing, leaving the government partially shuttered for a 38th day as talks resume through the weekend.

House Democrats Caught Spreading False Video to Smear ICE Agents
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House Democrats Caught Spreading False Video to Smear ICE Agents

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The Department of Homeland Security issued a detailed rebuttal Friday after House Homeland Security Committee Democrats reposted and amplified a misleading video that misrepresented an ICE enforcement operation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The committee’s official account on X accused DHS of dishonesty, writing, “DHS will lie. They always do,” while sharing footage of the arrest.

The video, which circulated widely on social media, appeared to show a man having a medical seizure as ICE agents arrested his wife.

According to DHS officials, the footage was manipulated to create a false narrative portraying agents as abusive.

The department said the claim was untrue and that the man had faked the episode during the arrest of his wife, an Ecuadorian national wanted for a violent stabbing.

Officials also warned that the misinformation spread by lawmakers had fueled antisemitic threats and violent rhetoric targeting ICE agents.

The incident occurred Thursday when ICE officers conducted a targeted enforcement action to arrest Juliana Milena-Ojeda-Montoya, a 27-year-old Ecuadorian national.

DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said Ojeda-Montoya entered the United States illegally near Lukeville, Arizona, in 2023 and was later released into the country under Biden-Harris administration policies.

ICE officers sought her arrest following a criminal case in which she allegedly stabbed a coworker multiple times with scissors and threw a trash can at the victim in August.

McLaughlin said Ojeda-Montoya’s toddler was seated on her lap inside a vehicle during the arrest, not secured in a car seat as required by law.

When agents approached, Ojeda-Montoya refused to hand the child to her husband, identified by DHS as another illegal alien.

As agents attempted to take her into custody, the man began to shake and pretend to have a seizure, McLaughlin said.

Witnesses who gathered at the scene began shouting obscenities and threats at the officers. ICE requested assistance from the Fitchburg Police Department to maintain order.

According to a DHS press statement, individuals in the crowd yelled antisemitic slurs and violent threats, including “You probably support Israel too,” “You look like a Jew,” and “We’re going to kill you and your kids.”

DHS officials said several threats referenced the officers’ perceived religion and families.

The Fitchburg Police Department later issued a statement confirming that its officers responded to assist ICE agents in keeping the peace.

“The role of the Fitchburg Police Department in this type of situation is to keep the peace,” the department said.

“Keeping the peace includes making sure both the public as a whole as well as the federal law enforcement agents are safe.”

Medical personnel were called to assess the man who appeared to suffer the seizure, but DHS said emergency responders found no evidence of a medical crisis.

The man refused treatment and was released at the scene along with his toddler.

Ojeda-Montoya was taken into custody without injury and transported to the Cumberland County Jail in Scarborough, Maine, where she remains pending immigration removal proceedings.

DHS condemned the social media post by House Democrats as a deliberate misrepresentation of the facts and said the agency would continue to defend its officers against false accusations.

McLaughlin said spreading misinformation about targeted enforcement actions undermines public trust and puts federal agents at risk.

She emphasized that the operation was conducted lawfully and that agents followed all procedures to ensure the safety of the child and the public.

Ojeda-Montoya faces removal from the United States following her criminal case.

ICE said the enforcement action was part of ongoing efforts to locate and detain individuals who have committed violent crimes after entering the country illegally.


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