The Democrats’ ActBlue Scandal Just Went From Bad to Worse – RedState– redstate.com
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Pleading the Fifth in front of Congress is all the rage among the left’s elite this summer.
We just had Anthony Fauci do it 111 times as he refused to answer questions about his role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including U.S. funding for controversial virus research in Wuhan and whether he had previously misled Congress about it.
Afghanistan Freedom Front Claims Four Taliban Members Killed in Badakhshan Attack – thekabultribune.com
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Trump orders return to steam catapults for US carriers – does he have a point? – Forces News
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Xi Jinping praises Tiananmen crackdown on Jiang Zemin’s birth centenary, paints a bright future for China under his leadership – Tibetan Review
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China’s “Rename-and-Claim” Strategy in Arunachal Pradesh: A Multi-Year Campaign of Cartographic Aggression – HinduPost
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This obscure FTC proposal exposes the widening fight over what AI can say – Fast Company– news.google.com
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Court Records: Here’s What James Comey’s Own Relative Thought of the ‘86 47’ Post – RedState– redstate.com
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Even James Comey’s own family isn’t buying the spin. Well, one relative at least.
Court records released in his ongoing federal case over the “86 47” Instagram post show that one relative went nuclear, mentioning the connotations involved in his message and suggesting the former FBI Director belongs in prison.
In a text message sent to Comey’s wife, Patrice, the family member called the seashell photo a clear “call for violence.”
The message accused the couple of having gone “off the deep end” with Trump Derangement Syndrome. It got more personal from there.
“’86 47′ is a call for violence no matter how you spin it. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am thoroughly embarrassed to have ever defended the absolute coward that is your husband. You and Jim are some of the least accepting, most hypocritical people I’ve had the displeasure of knowing,” the individual said. “I hope Jim goes to jail for his crimes.”
Massachusetts Mayor Charged in Alleged $1.5 Million Pandemic-Era Loan Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme– www.westernjournal.com
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The Democratic mayor of Lawrence, Mass. has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small-business loans and misusing the money, the Department of Justice said Friday.
Brian DePeña, 61, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering and is set to make an initial appearance in a Boston federal court on Friday, the DOJ said in a news release. DePeña used the funds from the pandemic relief loans to fund his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and pay off more than $880,000 in high-interest mortgages, the department alleges.
“Mayor [DePeña] was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”
In 2020 and 2021, DePeña applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for Tenares Tire Services Inc., a Lawrence-based tire sales and automotive services business that he owned, the DOJ alleged, citing charging documents. The EIDL program provided loans and advances aiming to “help businesses recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic,” according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Working capital did not include financing a political campaign, paying personal taxes, or paying off mortgages, according to the DOJ.
DePeña’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
FBI seizes Swalwell’s devices, executes search warrants in sexual misconduct probe – CBS News
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Taiwan Unveils Record Defense Budget As China Threat Grows– dailycaller.com
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Taiwan is proposing a record defense budget for 2027 as the island pours more money into its military amid mounting pressure from China and calls from Washington for Taipei to shoulder more of its own defense burden.
Taiwan’s government proposed spending 1.12 trillion Taiwan dollars, roughly $35 billion, on defense next year, pushing military spending above 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the country’s Presidential Office. The spending plan would mark the first time Taiwan’s annual defense budget has exceeded 1 trillion Taiwan dollars and comes as Beijing continues sending military aircraft and vessels near the island while periodically conducting large-scale exercises in the region.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, while Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949.
“China is increasing its military spending and capabilities in unprecedented fashion,” a senior official from the Trump administration told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We strongly urge Taiwan to invest in defensive military drones. Further delays in drone funding are a concession to the CCP.” (
A 1-megaton nuclear blast could prevent 97% of a city-killer asteroid from hitting Earth – The Brighter Side of News
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Nigeria Braces for Another Heated Election Campaign – RANE Worldview
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Poll: Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed Virtually Tied in Michigan Senate Race– www.breitbart.com
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Michigan’s Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers and Democrat nominee Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed are virtually tied in the general election race, an AARP survey reveals.
The survey showed El-Sayed edging out Rogers by just one percentage point — 48 percent to Rogers’ 47 percent — in the general election race among all likely voters. However, Rogers has a comfortable lead among voters ages 50+, seeing 52 percent support to El-Sayed’s 43 percent support.
“When drilling down into older swing voters specifically — the segment of the Michigan electorate who are not straight-ticket Republican or Democratic voters — Rogers enjoys an even wider advantage, leading El-Sayed by 33 points,” the AARP poll revealed.
The survey also examined the state’s gubernatorial race, showing Democrat Jocelyn Benson with a wider lead against her Republican challenger, Republican Rep. John James (R-MI):
The picture is a little different in the Michigan gubernatorial race. Forty-nine percent of all likely voters would choose Democrat Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s current Secretary of State, compared with the 44 percent who prefer Republican House Rep. John James. Among voters 50-plus, James pulls ahead of Benson, but only by one point. And in this race, older swing voters are in Benson’s camp, giving her a 28-point lead over James.
Yemen : Houthis Claim Blocking 48 Saudi Oil Tankers, Launching Strikes Inside Kingdom – Yemen Online
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Forced Abortion in America is Rising and Abortion Pills are the Weapons– www.lifenews.com
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Thanks to the firm support of the American Rule of Law by President Trump and Congress, crime is trending down across the nation’s cities. While rape (except in Mamdani’s NYC), homicide, and robberies are all falling, one emerging category of heinous crime is on the rise: forced abortion.
These are quiet crimes, happening in the ups and downs of domestic relationships all across America. Often the police don’t get involved until the damage has been done and a baby has been delivered in the toilet. The murder weapon of choice? The abortion pill, Mifepristone.
What happens when the FDA removes safeguards on the dangerous abortion pill? Answer: More people are victimized.
Influential Democratic Donor Ditches Kathy Hochul and Backs Republican Opponent– www.westernjournal.com
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A major Democratic donor will support Republican Bruce Blakeman in his effort to oust Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, the widow of former Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, has crossed party lines, according to the New York Post.
“It’s the talk of the Hamptons,” said one Democrat who expressed surprise. “It’s a good get for Bruce.”
Lautenberg, a 79-year-old philanthropist, had donated $1,000 to Hochul’s re-election campaign in July 2025 as part of her longtime support of various Democrats.
Lautenberg confirmed she would hold a fundraiser to help Blakeman’s campaign.
“Bruce is a longtime friend and neighbor. He’s a great guy,” she said.
Blakeman said, “I am honored to have the support of Bonnie Lautenberg in my campaign for governor.”
U.S. Military Opens Hormuz Shipping Corridor, Restoring Millions of Barrels of Oil to Global Market › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
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The U.S. military has established a protected shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that is moving nearly 10 million barrels of oil a day into global markets despite continued Iranian attacks, according to U.S. officials.
The operation has been underway for several weeks, with 15 to 20 tankers regularly traveling through a southern channel near Oman, two U.S. officials told Axios. Current shipments amount to roughly half the oil that passed through the strait before the war disrupted traffic.
The effort provides a significant boost to global energy supplies after the conflict sent oil prices sharply higher.
“We have been controlling the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz for two months now,” one U.S. official told Axios. “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can be a nuisance, but they don’t control the strait. We do.”
The operation includes escorting loaded tankers out of the Persian Gulf while helping empty vessels enter, collect oil from Gulf countries and return safely through the strait.
Shapiro restricts data center development in Pennsylvania with executive order – eciks.org– news.google.com
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Trump admin halts construction of Big Bend border wall | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
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“CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while I visit and conduct a personal, on-the-ground evaluation.”
Trump’s US-Mexico border wall is on pause in the Big Bend National Park area of Texas. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced the pause this week, saying “CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while I visit and conduct a personal, on-the-ground evaluation.
“CBP is firmly committed to protecting America,” Scott continued, “and that includes our national treasures like Big Bend National Park (BBNP). We know the current and predictable national security threats and they are real. Now over the next couple of days, I will join a small team to evaluate the terrain and listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders to ensure that we secure our borders while simultaneously protecting BBNP for generations to come.”
Muslim kingdom prepares to celebrate baptism of Jesus — RT World News– www.rt.com
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Jordan wants to attract more Christian pilgrims for the 2,000-year anniversary in 2030
Jordan is preparing to mark the 2,000-year anniversary of Jesus Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, with the Muslim nation investing more than $100 million to draw Christian pilgrims to one of the world’s holiest sites.
Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan met with Christian leaders this month and signed agreements to develop the baptism site by building a village for Christian pilgrims and visitors, a museum dedicated to the baptism, a green corridor, and infrastructure upgrades leading to the site. The project is expected to cost $120 million, Vatican media reported.
The year 2030 is widely accepted as the two millennium anniversary of Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist, a moment that marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The ceremony took place at Bethany Beyond the Jordan on the east bank of the Jordan River, which today separates Jordan from the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
At the time of Jesus’ baptism, Bethany Beyond the Jordan was a part of Perea, a Jewish client state of Rome.
Longtime Cornyn Aide Joins Democrat Talarico’s Campaign Against Ken Paxton › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
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A longtime Republican congressional aide who spent five years working for Sen. John Cornyn has joined Democrat James Talarico’s campaign as the Texas Senate race against Republican nominee Ken Paxton takes shape.
Jacob Smith, who served as Cornyn’s deputy legislative director and policy adviser, is now Talarico’s deputy policy director, according to NOTUS.
“I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign,” Smith said in a statement released by the campaign.
Smith portrayed Talarico as focused on economic issues affecting Texans regardless of political affiliation. He also sharply criticized Paxton and encouraged other Republicans to oppose their party’s nominee.
“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell their futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power,” Smith said. “I’m encouraging all my fellow Republicans who know Ken Paxton is unfit to serve in the Senate to finally hold him accountable at the ballot box.”
Smith has spent much of his career working for Republican lawmakers. Before joining Cornyn’s staff, he worked for Republican Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma on the House Science Committee and served as a legislative aide to Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi.
Scientists may have finally proved that “empty” space isn’t really empty– www.sciencedaily.com
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Astronomers may have found some of the strongest evidence yet for one of quantum mechanics’ strangest predictions: even apparently empty space can influence the way light travels.
Known as ‘vacuum birefringence’, the phenomenon was predicted nearly 90 years ago by Werner Heisenberg, one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics. His work suggested that a perfect vacuum is not truly empty. Instead, it should contain ‘virtual particles’ that briefly appear and disappear.
Researchers, including Dr. Marcus Lower from Swinburne University of Technology, investigated this long-standing quantum mystery by studying a magnetar, a rare type of neutron star that possesses the strongest magnetic fields known in the universe.
Their observations may represent the first detection of vacuum birefringence occurring within a magnetar’s extraordinarily powerful magnetic field. If confirmed, the result could give scientists a new way to investigate the quantum universe. The findings were published recently in Nature.
Minnesota rewarded Somali Medicaid fraudster linked to sex trafficking operation with ‘Outstanding Refugee’ award | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
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In an archived version of a profile, Elmi wrote, “The biggest thing I hear all the time is that refugees are mooching off of the economy or being a non-productive member of society…”
A Somali man in Minnesota has been hit with criminal charges in a case involving over $1.5 million in Medicaid fraud. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Monday that Salman Ahmed Elmi has been charged with three counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindling and five counts of aiding and abetting theft by false representation.
Ellison’s office said that between 2024 and 2026, Elmi operated Reva Health, which claimed to provide adult rehabilitative mental health services (ARMHS) to Medicaid recipients. However, documentation was falsified to obtain Medicaid reimbursement, with Elmi and other co-conspirators being accused of instructing employees to pay recipients kickbacks in exchange for their permission to use their personal information in support of the claims.
Several co-conspirators of Elmi at Reva Health “ran separate criminal enterprises with connections to Reva and face charges filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office,” Ellison’s office said.
Those charges out of Hennepin County are against four people, with each being charged with 13 counts of promoting prostitution of an individual and receiving profits from prostitution. The defendants are 57-year-old Frank Reeves, who is accused of running the operation with former Anoka County Assistant Attorney Andrea Sampson, who is also a defendant in the case. Also charged is Viktoriya Komonash, 30, and Katherine Thomes, 36, per WCCO.
Romanian jet blasts drone near offshore gas platform, president blames Moscow – politico.eu
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Democrats Make South Carolina the First Contest in 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar – The New York Times
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Trump admin unveils new rule to crack down on DEI in higher ed accreditors– www.thecollegefix.com
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Rule also says no more recruiting based on race
Accreditors, the gatekeepers of higher education, may have to ditch their diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements in favor of policies that value “intellectual diversity” and “academic freedom” under a proposed U.S. Department of Education rule.
Introduced Wednesday, the rule also would make it easier for new accreditors to be approved, a department news release states.
“The proposed changes would break up entrenched accreditation monopolies and reorient the sector to prioritize innovation, academic excellence, and student outcomes,” the release states.
Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent blamed the current, “antiquated” system for creating expensive administrative bloat and pushing schools to adopt DEI.
North Korea Launches Missile Barrage After Trump’s Peace Overtures– www.breitbart.com
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According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea responded to President Donald Trump’s peace overtures on Thursday by launching about a dozen short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the Sea of Japan just hours after Trump scaled back U.S.-South Korean military exercises and offered to talk with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the North Korean launch at roughly 5:00 p.m. local time. The missiles originated from somewhere near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, flew for about 185 miles, and landed in the Sea of Japan, which Koreans refer to as the East Sea.
The launch was confirmed in an emergency alert from the office of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. The Japanese Coast Guard said the missiles appear to have come down outside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Under a staunch South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, our military is closely monitoring various North Korean activities as we maintain the capability and readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocation,” the South Korean JCS statement said.
Scholars, free speech advocates back Florida professor fired for ‘offensive’ assignment– www.thecollegefix.com
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Professor is suing after South Florida State College president allegedly called assignment ‘political’ and then fired her
A South Florida State College professor is receiving support from a campus free speech group and a faculty alliance after she allegedly was fired for a “political” assignment that offended a student and the institution’s president.
Professor Vinita Prabhakar is suing the South Florida State College District Board of Trustees and President Fred Hawkins for allegedly violating her First Amendment rights. She is represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
“Unfortunately, we see these types of situations all too often …” Greg Greubel, FIRE senior attorney, told The College Fix in a recent email.
He said that no date has been set for the case Prabhakar v. Hawkins yet, as the lawsuit is still in its early stages.
“We believe that the College’s decision to terminate Vinita violated clearly established First Amendment law protecting students’ and professors’ rights to engage with pedagogically relevant materials in the classroom, even when those materials make some students or administrators uncomfortable,” Greubel told The Fix.
China Blocks EU Probe of JD.com’s Takeover of German Retailer – Caixin Global
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New US carrier strike group arrives in Middle East to relieve long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln– www.euronews.com
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A new US aircraft carrier strike group has arrived in the Middle East, the US military announced on Thursday, after conditions aboard a long-deployed carrier provoked fresh criticism of President Donald Trump’s war against Iran.
“The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in Middle East during a scheduled deployment after arriving in the CENTCOM theatre yesterday,” Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US forces in the Middle East, said in a post on X.
The update comes just days after media reports on grim conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier, deployed since November 2025, had created an unwelcome distraction for Trump in his attempt to sell the already unpopular war.
Trump dismissed concerns last Friday over living conditions and the mental health of service members on the Lincoln, while confirming the ship would soon rotate out.
Asked by reporters whether family members were worried about the situation on the USS Abraham Lincoln, Trump said “no, they’re not.”
