Summary

Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI director pick, has no FBI experience but is deeply tied to far-right media, frequently hosting Steve Bannon’s podcast.

Patel promotes conspiracy theories, including claims of Chinese election interference and a "two-tiered justice system" targeting Trump allies. He has called for extreme measures, like arresting Attorney General Merrick Garland, and keeps a literal enemies list in his book Government Gangsters.

Critics compare Patel to J. Edgar Hoover, warning of potential abuses of federal power under his leadership. His proposals include prosecuting political opponents and journalists.

Patel’s nomination reflects Trump’s broader anti-establishment approach to governance.

Summary

Trump’s FBI director pick, Kash Patel, promoted unproven supplements claiming to “detox” Covid vaccines, a stance unsupported by scientific evidence.

Patel endorsed Warrior Essentials’ “Spike Protein Detox Protocol” on Truth Social, though experts confirm such products are ineffective.

The supplement company profits from anti-vaccine misinformation, despite Covid vaccines being safe and FDA-approved. Experts warn supplement claims often exploit regulatory loopholes and public distrust in science.

Patel’s promotion aligns with Trump’s broader trend of nominating vaccine skeptics, including figures critical of vaccine mandates and public health policies.

In conjunction with a line of questioning from Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson draws up an example to show how denying trans people medical care is discriminatory, as this same care is often granted to cisgender individuals.

Protesters accuse event organizers of screening attendees by religion and marketing Jews-only properties, both in violation of fair housing laws

Summary

Social media users criticized Donald Trump for pardoning Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, in 2020 and later nominating him as U.S. ambassador to France, while Trump supporters condemned President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter.

Charles Kushner, convicted of tax evasion and witness intimidation, joins a list of controversial pardons issued by Trump, including Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort.

All of these individuals were close allies or associates of Trump who were involved in scandals or investigations related to his presidency.

Summary

Elon Musk amplified Senator Mike Lee’s calls to overhaul Social Security, labeling it a “nightmare.”

Lee, known for advocating the elimination of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, criticized the program as deceptive and mismanaged.

Musk, co-chair of Trump’s advisory commission on cutting federal spending, faces accusations of aligning with GOP efforts to privatize or gut Social Security.

Advocacy groups denounce these moves as a threat to seniors and disabled Americans, warning that Republicans aim to shift earned benefits to Wall Street, despite broad public opposition to cuts or privatization.

Summary

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, faces scrutiny over past infidelity and allegations of misconduct.

A Vanity Fair report reveals Hegseth cheated on his first wife, Meredith Schwarz, multiple times during their four-year marriage, which ended in 2008.

His second marriage also ended in divorce after he fathered a child with his Fox News producer, now his third wife.

Additionally, a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which Hegseth denies, has resurfaced, raising concerns about his suitability for the role and complicating his confirmation process.

Summary

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) is forcing a House vote this week to release the Ethics Committee’s report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who resigned from Congress after being named and later withdrawing as Trump’s pick for attorney general.

The Ethics Committee deadlocked on making the report public, which investigates allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use.

Casten argues that resigning should not shield members from accountability, citing past cases where reports on former lawmakers were released.

Gaetz denies wrongdoing and may pursue future political roles.

Great job there Americans and a special shout out to White gen-X'ers for cutting your own soon to be retirement.

Summary

Democrat Adam Gray narrowly won California’s 13th Congressional District, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte by fewer than 200 votes in the final U.S. House race decided this year.

Gray’s victory leaves Republicans with 220 House seats to Democrats’ 215.

Duarte, who won the seat in 2022 by 564 votes, conceded, calling the loss part of the political process.

Both candidates emphasized bipartisan appeals, with Gray focusing on water, agriculture, and infrastructure, while Duarte prioritized inflation and crime.

The district, with a large Latino population, leans Democratic but sees lower turnout among working-class voters.

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Private equity firms play a key role in America’s prison system. If Trump carries out his plans for mass deportations, they stand to benefit.

from the too-little,-too-late,-and-actually-probably-nothing dept

Donald Trump is in danger of losing another one of his provocative Cabinet picks in a further blow to his bid to shake up Washington in his second term.

Last week Donald Trump made a bizarre threat on his Truth Social site that he would impose 100 percent taxes on the imports (tariffs) from any country that doesn’t take a pledge to not move away from the dollar as its reserve currency.

A recent neo-Nazi rally in Columbus, Ohio, drew national attention—but it was just one of dozens that increasingly-emboldened white power groups have held this year.