Donald Trump‘s most vocal supporters are demanding that Mitch McConnell’s office provide proof that the Kentucky lawmaker is still alive after he disappeared amid a three-week hospitalization.

McConnell, 84, was admitted to a hospital on the morning of June 14 following a medical emergency at his Washington, DC home. Paramedics responded to a report of an unconscious person believed to have suffered a ‘cardiac arrest,’ with a medic reporting ‘CPR in progress’ at the address.

The senator was not named on the call, and his office has never confirmed what sent him to the hospital, saying only that he is receiving ‘excellent ca

The speculation surrounding McConnell has intensified in recent days because his aides have refused to release new information regarding his condition or whether he will return to work as the GOP fights to maintain their razor thin majority.

Trump conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer claimed that an unnamed White House source told her that McConnell is in a ‘vegetative state’ or ‘brain dead’ and is ‘not coming back’ to work.

DC outlet The Hill even accidentally published an obituary-style look back at the senator’s political career which was swiftly deleted.

Independent journalist Desirée Townsend confirmed Loomer’s allegations: ‘I have heard the same thing from my sources for days. At this point, I am at the hospital for when they eventually decide to cut him off of life support and move his body.’

As online chatter continued to grow about McConnell’s health condition, MAGA activists like Breitbart editor Matthew Boyle wrote on X, ‘McConnell’s staff should produce proof of the senator’s condition one way or another right now.’

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Cases of a life-threatening lung disease are rising as officials report many of the patients are now hospitalized, with some in critical condition.

New York City is experiencing an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia spread through contaminated water vapor that kills one in 10 patients.

Fourteen cases were reported over the weekend, which grew to 18 on Sunday and grew further to 23 cases as of July 6.

Health Commissioner Dr Alister Martin said ‘many of them are hospitalized at this moment,’ with some in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

The city’s health department reports 17 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported to date.

On Sunday, visitors to and residents of New York City‘s Central Park and several Upper East Side neighborhoods were told to watch for symptoms of legionnaires’ disease, which can include fever, chills, cough and body aches.

Officials said the zip codes affected by the outbreak were 10075 and 10028, which cover Yorkville, and 10128, which covers Carnegie Hill.

Almost all the patients live, work or recently visited the area.

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Toyota is investing $3.6 billion to expand its San Antonio manufacturing campus, adding a second assembly line, creating about 2,000 jobs and bringing Tacoma production from Baja California to Texas over the next four years

Toyota is investing $3.6 billion to expand its San Antonio, Texas, assembly plant, a move expected to create about 2,000 new jobs and bring Toyota Tacoma pickup production from Mexico to the Lone Star State.

The automaker announced Monday that it will build a second vehicle assembly line at its San Antonio campus, allowing the facility to assemble the Tacoma alongside the Tundra and Sequoia.

As part of the expansion, Tacoma production will gradually transition from Toyota’s Baja California plant in Mexico over the next four years, according to the company. Toyota will continue producing Tacoma pickups at its Guanajuato, Mexico, plant.

The project will add about 2.5 million square feet to the manufacturing campus, effectively doubling the site’s size by 2030 and bringing Toyota’s total investment in the San Antonio operation to $8.3 billion since construction began in 2003. Toyota previously moved Tacoma production from San Antonio to its Guanajuato plant in 2020.

The Democratic Socialists of America are quickly gaining power within the Democratic Party, winning a string of high-profile House primary races in recent weeks.

After wins in New York and Colorado, DSA organizers are shifting resources toward Michigan and Wisconsin, where Abdul El-Sayed is running in a highly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, and DSA-backed Francesca Hong is seeking the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor.

Politico noted that DSA is planning to deploy prominent socialists, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and far-left streamer Hasan Piker, to help energize supporters ahead of the August primaries.

Democrats are now facing a massive internal power struggle after years of allowing socialists and Marxists into their DEI kingdom.

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There’s a showdown brewing between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the sanctuary county of Fairfax, Virginia, whose George Soros-funded prosecutor, Steve Descano, has repeatedly released violent illegals back into the community.

The latest case garnering headlines involves an illegal alien from El Salvador who was arrested last week for the rape and “strongarm kidnapping” of a woman in Fairfax. That illegal, Juan Arevalo Mendez, is a textbook case for how sanctuary city policies like those espoused by Descano – and reinforced by Virginia’s Democrat governor, Abigail Spanberger – put the commonwealth’s residents in danger every day.

Fox News’ Bill Melugin had the details behind Arevalo Mendez’s most recent arrest:

NEW: DHS confirms that a suspect arrested and charged with rape and strongarm kidnapping of a woman in Fairfax County, VA is a previously deported Salvadoran illegal alien and ICE has placed a detainer on him with local law enforcement asking them not to release him. DHS says Juan Arevalo Mendez has a lengthy criminal history prior to these charges, including assault, aggravated assault – weapon, strongarm aggravated assault – non-family, aggravated assault with a gun – non-family, drug possession, destruction of property, illegal re-entry, obstructing justice, and making a false report, as well as prior arrests for identity theft, drug possession, and larceny.

DHS statement:

“DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County to commit to not releasing this dangerous criminal from jail, and to instead turn him over to ICE custody so that we can remove him from our nation and end his crime spree in our country. Virginia sanctuary politicians need to stop playing Russian roulette with American lives and work with ICE law enforcement to keep criminals out of our communities.”

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Summary: 

• US strikes on Iran announced, as ‘heavy costs’ for earlier targeting of multiple commercial vessels
• Oil rises as Treasury revokes June 21 Iran oil waiver
• Hormuz Threat Level Raised To “Severe” 
• Three maritime incidents reported on Hormuz in last 24 hours 
• Another unidentified vessel hit by a Drone
• IRGC forces hit a Saudi Tanker 
• IRGC forces hit a Qatari LNG tanker

*  *  *

‘Four to Five Times Larger’ Than Earlier Strikes

US officials are vowing bigger, more sustained and prolonged strikes against Iran tonight, according to the latest being reported in CNN and Axios:

The U.S. has launched a significantly expanded wave of airstrikes on Iran that is four to five times larger than the strikes carried out 10 days ago, a U.S. official told Axios. The official said the operation is expected to continue for hours.

Iran state media is meanwhile reporting on an initial retaliation by its forces (though not initially confirmed in other international sources):

Iran fires several anti-ship missiles and drones towards US Navy warships in the Sea of Oman, Fars reports

More from state media on what could be mounting civilian casualties:

The state broadcaster reports that “most of the attacks” by the US in southern Iran have “targeted civilian areas”. This comes as the US claims its military hit Iranian missile and defence systems in its latest attacks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is demanding that governments complete negotiations on a permanent international system for transporting purported pathogens with pandemic potential and their proxies across the world, while simultaneously claiming that another pandemic is likely within the coming decade.

The proposal raises biosafety, international security, and national sovereignty questions about whether an unelected international organization should coordinate a permanent system for the cross-border movement of pathogens with pandemic potential and related biological materials and data.

The push comes as delegates from WHO Member States meet in Geneva from July 6 through July 17 to negotiate the final operational rules for the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, the last major component needed before the WHO Pandemic Agreement can enter into force.

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Primary-election successes don’t necessarily translate into a national political realignment.

here’s a great deal of worry on the right these days over the recent electoral successes of Democratic Socialist  candidates. (Democratic Socialist is a world class oxymoron. There’s no democracy when one’s life is totally controlled by politicians and bureaucrats.) But coming off this Independence Day weekend, I recommend calm. The nation’s travel agencies will not soon be booking tours to Lenin’s Tomb.

It appears now that the DSA is a mini-movement with, we can hope, a pretty short half-life. Alternately annoying and comic, more children-at-play than a real threat. No need to go to DEFCON-1. Yet.

With the exception of Comrade Mamdani, Grand Dragon of the People’s Republic of New York City (informally known as Mamdonistan) and the humorless haradans of “The Squad,” DSA wackadoodles have not captured significant offices. Their successes of late have been in the bluest of blue state primaries. Savvy TAS readers know that turnout in primary elections is low. People with real lives attend to them rather than voting on off-years. This is too bad because all the crazies — left and  right — vote early on primary days, and with the slack voting requirements Democrats insist on, perhaps often.

We’ll see in November what the full electorate thinks of these short rounds (an artilleryman’s term — think about it). Some may win, because in many blue precincts voters consider Republicans little more than limbs of Satan, not to be tolerated, let alone voted for. So whoever or whatever is put up on the D side, even if it has a tail, will carry the day. And the temptation to throw a spanner in the spokes of the Arch Fiend Donald is irresistible. This is why otherwise sensible Mainers will cast their November ballots for the “Oyster fisherman” Graham Platner, who has the IQ of an oyster and is crazier than an outhouse rat.

If many of these wingnuts get elected, they may do more damage to the Democrats than to the Republicans, making the D brand even crazier than it already is. There are hopeful signs that some Democrats, those nimble enough to count votes, are sobering up a bit, realizing that riding every leftwing hobby horse to come along and putting it up wet is not the way to stay in office. D foolishness is driving brisk pre-orders for my 2028 bumper strip which reads: “VOTE REPUBLICAN! — We’re not that great. But the other bunch is stone crazy.”

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After punching superstar Caitlin Clark in the thorat, Alyssa Thomas claims to be the “real victim” and alleges online death threats and gets a tepid response from WNBA. Sports media mogul Dave Portnoy jumped into the fray to defend Clark.

Arecent foul against WNBA star Caitlin Clark during a recent Indiana Fever v. Phoenix Mercury game fueled discussion about her treatment within the league.

A point guard for the Indiana Fever praised by legendary athletes like LeBron James, Clark has been credited with increased global viewership and interest in women’s basketball. She has also been subject to unusual amounts of physical aggression on the court, including flagrant fouls—the most severe category of foul.

The WNBA has an infinitesimal likelihood for players to receive a flagrant foul in a typical season. Clark, now in her third WNBA season, has been the target of 9 flagrant fouls, leading some to speculate that she is being unfairly targeted.

Sports world condemns Thomas and WNBA

The most recent flagrant foul, occurring on June 24, 2026, took place when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark scrambled for a loose ball on the floor. As Thomas got up, her closed fist made contact with Clark’s throat, and she also appeared to knee Clark in the groin. At the time that it happened, no foul was called by the referees, resulting in massive backlash by WNBA fans online.

At the post-game press conference, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White called the lack of response from referees “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful” toward Clark, who she referred to as a “generational star.” The following day, the WNBA retroactively labeled Thomas’ move illegal and issued a one-game suspension to the Phoenix player.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham believes that the WNBA and the referees “do nothing to protect” Clark. Her finger pointing gesture at players who commit flagrant fouls has in itself become an internet meme.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a major influencer in the sporting world, said on the “Wake Up Barstool” show, that “WNBA’s treatment of Clark reeks of ‘jealousy and hypocrisy,’ implying the league resents its biggest star because her popularity preceded the WNBA. “No one has ever come into the league like she has, it’s jealousy, it’s hypocrisy, and just not knowing where your bread is buttered […] They don’t like that she has been crowned this queen of the league before she even showed up, and they want to make a point about it, and they continue to make a point about it.”

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We made it to our two-hundred-fiftieth birthday, America.  What’s next?  Let’s get back to work, so that our descendants can celebrate one thousand.

Making sure the American Experiment endures is work, after all.  Protecting American ideals from our ideological enemies is never easy.

Well before our nation declared independence from Great Britain, the American system repudiated the whole “ruling class” hierarchy that — to this day! — still oozes from the infected abscesses of the United Kingdom and much of continental Europe.  After we fought two world wars in the twentieth century to save Europe from itself, we spent the Cold War period in a bit of a kumbaya stupor during which Americans often equated the beliefs of Western nobles with those who founded and built the United States.

But Europe and America have never been the same.  The people who built America left Europe behind for good reasons.  They rejected Europe’s aristocratic allegiances, its feudal social structures, and its false pretension that blue-blooded “elites” are divinely and innately empowered to rule over everyone else.

The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are not merely documents establishing America’s political separation from Britain and the legal foundations for its new government.  They are revolutionary statements of America’s intent to remove itself from the generational enslavement upon which monarchies, ruling classes, and feudal systems depend.

Taken together, the Declaration and Constitution assert fundamental truths that governments throughout human history have tried to obscure from their peoples.  Those truths include the recognition that all of us are equal before God; so-called noble aristocrats are not divinely given or entitled to receive more power or privilege than the common man.  Furthermore, our rights come from God, not the government.  Aristocrats, government officials, elected representatives, and bureaucrats cannot give us what only God provides for our well-being and happiness.

Additionally, because governments are artificial creations constructed by imperfect human beings, they are legitimate only when the people who live under those governments consent to their structure.  Governments that exercise power in defiance of the will of the people are unjust governments utilizing illegitimate powers.

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Doctors urge immediate public health consultation after any bat contact, even without a visible bite or scratch

An 11-year-old boy died of a rabies infection in Ontario, Canada, according to a medical journal article published Monday.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal did not identify the boy or his family but wrote that he was first brought to a hospital weeks after an encounter with a bat.

“The patient’s family reported that, during a visit to a cottage in northern Ontario 19 days before symptom onset, the boy had been awoken by a bat on his nose and mouth. He had swatted the bat off his face; his father had caught the bat in a cooking pot and released it outside,” CMAJ wrote.

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Around 10,000 teenagers flooded Brier Creek and Glenwood South as businesses shut doors to protect staff

The mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, is weighing whether to impose a curfew for minors following a series of shootings and chaotic events over the Independence Day weekend, in which several fights broke out and nine people were shot amid a series of teen takeovers across the country.

The violence over the holiday weekend prompted Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell to tell WRAL News she’s considering enacting a curfew for those aged 17 and under.

“As Mayor, I am grateful for the actions of the Raleigh Police officers in response to the situations of juvenile violence across the city on the night of July 4 and the morning of July 5,” Cowell told the news outlet. “Clearly, Raleigh is not exempt from the incidents of youth violence that are occurring across the country. We need to talk with the youth, their parents, schools, and the broader community to understand the root causes and to better coordinate strategies.”

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Investigators believe that the veteran NYPD cop shot during a chaotic confrontation with a gun-toting teen Sunday was struck by friendly fire, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

Detective Robert Karroll was hit in the back by a slug — and only saved from potentially deadly injuries by his bulletproof vest — around 4:15 a.m. when a deranged 18-year-old ran up on an unmarked police car in Crown Heights, authorities have said.

A vile Texas bully is facing assault charges after he allegedly filmed himself spraying homeless and disabled people with high-powered water guns.

Christopher Cayce, 34, went viral after he posted a series of TikTok videos that showed him riding in a car through Houston and pelting people with a motorized water gun out the passenger window.

He blasted people standing at bus stops, walking down the street and even targeted individuals who were obviously sleeping, the videos revealed.

n one disturbing clip, Cayce offered a dollar to a woman who was panhandling, but dropped it on the ground.

‘Oh, I’m sorry. My bad, baby,’ he is heard saying. ‘You don’t want to grab it? I say I’m sorry.’

As the woman, who is visibly deflated by his rude gesture, leaned down to retrieve the bill, Cayce sprayed her with the water gun and shouted: ‘SWAY OUT!’

He then urged the driver to ‘go, go, go,’ but continued to spray people sitting at bus stops as they drove past.

One clip saw Cayce shout ‘wake up your motherf*****g a**’ before he doused a sleeping homeless person with water. In another, he threw food at a man before blasting him.

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A group of feral teenagers were caught on camera assaulting a female police officer at a Fourth of July event.

The horrific footage of the brutal assault emerged following a block party in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday night.

The officer was seen being punched in the face by a female while a young man held her down, before another woman attacked her with what looked like a baton.

Another officer managed to intervene as the officer is dragged away, by pushing the woman with the baton to the ground and grabbing another of the teens.

He then resorted to using his taser which caused the horde of teens assaulting the officer to flee.

The young man continued to hold the female officer down throughout this, the male officer pinned his knee to his chest which caused him to finally release his grip.

He is then seen being placed in handcuffs alongside another individual, as a large group watched on.

The footage has since gone viral, with Conservative political activist Ann Coulter suggesting that it was a bad idea to deploy a young female officer.

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Unlicensed food trucks have taken over prime spots around the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and this problem persists at the Great American State Fair.

A small group of operators runs most of these illegal trucks as a coordinated network, Washingtonian reported. Longtime licensed food truck operator Zack Graybill walked around the National Mall during the fair with reporter Jessica Sidman and observed illegal trucks blocking traffic and hydrants, creating fire hazards, charging high prices and intimidating legal vendors through turf wars.

“For all the people eating food right here? The food isn’t being refrigerated. That’s fucked up. That’s gross,” Graybill told Washingtonian.

He observed that there was no generator running in one of the trucks and no ventilation.

“For all the workers, that’s miserable and shitty. And that’s not healthy. Dangerous,” Graybill emphasized.

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The Fourth of July weekend produced a viral photograph of a “black woman surrounded by white nationalists” on a Washington, D.C., metro train, but there’s a lot of issues with the circumstances of that moment that keep it from being part of the left’s narrative that we’re living in Nazi Germany.

Times Now reported that the photograph was taken Saturday, the Fourth of July, by Reuters photographer Cheney Orr.

The men surrounding this female passenger are reportedly part of the Patriot Front white nationalist organization, which was started in 2017.

The group held a demonstration at the nation’s capital on Saturday, marching with flags in hand and their faces covered.

The woman sits with a blank expression as the men surround her while traveling to their destination.

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A Fourth of July celebration turned chaotic as a white female police officer found herself outnumbered by three black partygoers turned alleged assailants.

A block party in Chicora Community Park in Charleston, South Carolina, has taken place every year for the last decade, and Saturday started no differently, as WCSC reported 400 attendees were there to celebrate our nation’s founding.

City officials coordinated with event organizers this year, but police became concerned when they started receiving reports of firearms going off and attendees shooting fireworks at passing cars.

North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho told the outlet that officers announced the event was over after arriving on the scene and confirming shots fired.

“Officers made repeated public announcements, advising that the event had ended and directing everyone to leave the area safely in an attempt to de-escalate the situation,” Camacho described.

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1. Frostburg

Frostburg is frequently ranked as the safest city in Maryland due to its extremely low violent and property crime rates. It is a small college town with a strong sense of community, largely driven by Frostburg State University. Residents benefit from active neighbourhood involvement, low population density, and a calm rural atmosphere. The city also enjoys a stable economy and affordable housing, making it attractive for families and retirees seeking peace of mind.

2. Ocean Pines

Ocean Pines is a planned coastal community known for its peaceful environment and gated residential layout. The area records very low violent crime rates and benefits from strong neighbourhood associations. Its proximity to Ocean City makes it desirable for retirees and second-home owners who want security and leisure combined. Community policing and well-maintained infrastructure contribute to its safety reputation.

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(EASTERN SHORE, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating two separate fatal crashes that occurred on the Eastern Shore over the Fourth of July weekend.

Around 10:15 p.m. on July 3, troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack responded to the area of eastbound Ocean Gateway (Route 50) at Mt. Holly Road for a report of a three-vehicle crash.

The driver of a Kia Soul, identified as James Demby, 43, of Cambridge, Maryland, was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of an Audi Q5, identified as a 40-year-old male; the driver of a Subaru Forrester, identified as a 17-year-old male; and a passenger in the Subaru, identified as a 17-year-old male, were all transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. An additional passenger in the Subaru, a 17-year-old male, was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local trauma center for treatment of his injuries.

The preliminary investigation indicates all three vehicles were traveling eastbound on U.S. Route 50 when, for reasons unknown, the Kia Soul attempted to cross between the Subaru and the Audi, subsequently striking the Subaru and then the Audi. The Audi came to rest in an embankment. The Subaru came to rest in the median. The Kia struck a light pole and then came to rest in a ditch.

Assistance on scene was provided by personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and Fire Department. Lanes were closed for more than three hours.

Then, around 9:43 a.m. on July 4, troopers from the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack responded to southbound U.S. Route 301 at Roberts Station Road for a report of a two-vehicle crash. One person believed to be the driver of the SUV was pronounced deceased on the scene. Their positive identification is pending autopsy results. No further injuries reported.

The preliminary investigation indicates that an SUV was traveling west on Roberts Station Road, approaching the intersection at U.S. Route 301, when for unknown reasons, it continued through the intersection and struck a tractor-trailer that was traveling south. The impact of the crash caused the SUV to become pinned under the tractor-trailer and catch fire. Both vehicles came to a rest on the shoulder of lane two. Police believe that speeding may have been a factor in the crash.

Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Automotive Safety Enforcement Division are assisting with the crash investigation. Personnel from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, and Natural Resources Police additionally assisted on the scene. Lanes were closed for more than three hours for the crash investigation.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team continues to lead these active and ongoing investigations.

On the Fourth of July, as Americans celebrated the nation’s founding and independence, Minnesota’s Somali Congresswoman Ilhan Omar released a video message declaring how she wants to make America into something “different.”

In the video, Omar reflected on joining Congress not to preserve or strengthen the United States as it exists, but to help create “a different kind of neighborhood, city, and country.”

WATCH:

The video confirms that her priorities and allegiance are not with Americans.

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A migrant driver of a semi-truck was arrested and charged with running down and killing a Chicago man who was trying to change his tire alongside a suburban highway late in June.

The accident occurred early in the morning of June 24 when 24-year-old Sebastian Stone pulled off to the side of I-80 near Torrence Ave. to change a flat tire. While in the process of changing the tire, Stone was struck and killed by a semi-truck, which did not stop after running him down, CWBChicago reported.

Police were called to the scene by witnesses, and officers found Stone dead on the side of the road.

Witnesses described the truck that struck the stranded motorist and gave police the license plate number, the name of the company on the side of the truck, and the truck’s company ID number. By 9 a.m., police had confirmed the witness statements with license plate reader data.

Officials also confirmed that the semi was being driven by Kulgeet Kang, 34, whose name is of Punjabi origin and common among Sikh communities.

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The Jews and the Left, Batya Ungar-Sargon’s latest book, takes readers through the long history of Jews in American political life, from George Washington’s praise for the Jews to FDR and the Civil Rights movement, concluding with the shock many Americans felt on October 7, when Hamas committed the 21st-century Holocaust that was not universally condemned.

Batya noted, “I wrote the book because the question that I get asked, maybe the most, especially by Christians, conservatives, Republicans, is ‘why do the Jews vote for the Democrats, when the Democrats hate them, and we love them?’”

Although the book ends with the aftermath of October 7, the results of the recent New York and Maine primary elections underscore the book’s relevancy today and are a dramatic postscript.  A direct threat to America’s values and ideals is the recently elected Democrat candidates that include Nazis, communists, and antisemites.

Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner has a chest tattoo of the Totenkopf, the skull-and-crossbones icon adopted by the infamous Nazi SS unit.  He retweeted a post that characterized Judaism as a “death cult” and praised the military tactics that Hamas used in 2014 in the horrific execution of five Israeli soldiers.

Batya addresses the Nazi tattoo directly.

The left told people who were not Nazis, “You are Nazis, you are white supremacists.  You are evil.”  And now they’re lining up behind a guy with an actual Totenkopf tattoo and who knew what it was.  And that’s not a deal breaker for them?

In my book, I have this quote that applies: ‘Many in the Democratic Party insist that it is the radical left that has turned on the Jews, not the mainstream of the party.  But, few of the Democratic politicians are willing to take on the extremists on their side.’  Just look at House minority Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), both supporting Platner.  We defeated the Nazis, because that was very important to us as Americans.  It’s not just Jews who should be upset about his candidacy.

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It’s 250 years and one day since the United States was formed, and we have radical Islamists nipping at our ankles to take over the country.

A Minnesota imam told Muslims they are here to replace Americans.

Speaking at an Islamic Center in Bloomington, he urged Muslims to rise to leadership through education and civic engagement, citing New York City’s Muslim mayor as proof that their moment has arrived.

“Americans are right to be scared that Muslims are here to replace them. We are the new kids on the block; this is our moment. They should be very scared.”

They don’t sound like they intend to ever assimilate. They come to Western nations to take us over because they are a supremacist, politicized religion.

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A man in North Carolina has been busted for a truly sickening crime, but the fact that he was even on the street to begin with was an absolute travesty.

As FOX Carolina reported, police on Sunday executed a search warrant for a home on Pebbleston Lane in Rutherfordton.

They were looking for a 30-year-old woman, Jordan Wishon. She had been reported missing on Friday.

During the search, the police discovered human remains buried on the property. It was later determined that these remains belonged to Wishon.

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Apparently, Toxic Queen Dodo Jasmine Crockett is desperately trying to stay relevant in Democrat circles after she lost to goofball Talerico in the Texas Senate primary.

That means this hateful idiot will not be back in DC next year after Texas Republicans altered the Congressional districts in the state. Certainly, MSNBC is saving a spot for this repulsive racist on their staff?

On America’s 250th Anniversary, Crockett lectured on the democratic contributions and inventions of black women. For that, Americans should honor specifically black women.

Via End Wokeness:

Jasmine Crockett: This Fourth of July, I say celebrate a Black woman that you know, because whether it’s an invention that she made or whether it’s the very democracy that still hangs by a thread right now, there is a Black woman to thank for her contributions.

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The United States declared its independence from Great Britain 250 years ago, but the flashpoint of the Revolutionary War which led to the Declaration of Independence happened when British forces marched to seize the colonists’ arms.

Thomas Gage, serving as the British commander in Boston and royal governor of Massachusetts, acted on intelligence about stockpiled rebel arms, ammunition, artillery and provisions in Concord, Massachusetts. The goal was to disrupt preparations for armed resistance or rebellion following the Coercive Acts, which led to “the shot heard around the world” during the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

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A female police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, was attacked and beaten by a mob during an apparent teen takeover-style event at a July 4 block party on Saturday. 

The North Charleston Police Department released a statement on the CRIMEWATCH platform, addressing the viral video of the incident in the Chicora-Cherokee community.

“A neighborhood block party had been permitted by the city of North Charleston in advance of the holiday,” they said. “Earlier that day, police leadership met with event organizers to discuss the event, including traffic and parking plans to ensure emergency vehicles could safely access the area if needed.”

At approximately 8:30 p.m., officers began receiving reports of gunfire and individuals firing fireworks toward passing vehicles. Officers responded immediately and were informed by attendees that several people had begun discharging firearms,” the statement continued.

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A new Federal Reserve working paper found the record surge in illegal immigration during the Biden administration triggered higher home prices and rents.

The findings arrive as immigration remains a polarizing political issue. Republicans argue former President Joe Biden’s border policies strained housing and public resources, while Democrats say immigration helped ease labor shortages and supported economic growth.

The paper, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, combines immigration court records with government administrative data to measure how the unprecedented wave of illegal immigration between 2021 and 2024 affected local labor and housing markets.

The authors caution the study is a preliminary draft circulated for professional comment and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas or the Federal Reserve System.

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Absolute chaos erupted in Newport Beach, California, on Saturday night as non-residents visiting the peninsula brawled, rioted, looted, and destroyed a grocery store on the 4th of July.

Newport Beach Police were forced to close beaches and bars due to the mayhem.

Mounted police broke up a massive brawl on the beach just north of the Newport pier.

More than 100 people were arrested.

Additional footage shows a Pavillions grocery store completely destroyed after the rioters looted the place.

The out-of-towners ignored a directive by Newport Beach Police and launched mortars on the beach.

Christian Zedig, a 32-year-old Swedish police officer and father of two young daughters, died following a violent assault by an African mob in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a World Cup viewing party.

Zedig, who was vacationing in Copenhagen, was watching the Norway vs. Ivory Coast World Cup match at a crowded fan zone/screening event at Islands Brygge when a fist fight broke out.

The off-duty officer tried to intervene and break it up, but was subjected to severe violence by the mob and was repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped, including multiple blows to the head, according to witnesses.

He was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries but died on July 2.

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Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker of the House and Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), is in the crosshairs of law enforcement… again.

Representative Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, has been charged with a misdemeanor after an alleged hit-and-run in the same spot he got one four years ago.

Paul, 86, has been accused of crashing into an unoccupied parked car on the shoulder of a roadway just after 2.30pm in Yountville, a small town in the Wine Country of California, on Thursday.

He was driving close to the palatial vineyard estate he shares with Speaker Emeritus Nancy in tony St Helena when he smashed into a parked car.

Cops say, rather than stopping, Paul continued to drive his brown convertible until it shuddered to a halt and blocked an intersection – the exact spot he previously got a DUI in 2022.

Yountville is a very small community, so the antics, including the drunk driving incidents, of Paul Pelosi are well known. As is the fact that, thanks to his high-profile and powerful wife, the majority of them have probably been swept under the rug.

The last time Paul Pelosi made headlines was in 2022, first because of a DUI where Pelosi crashed his Porsche and collided with another driver. Pelosi was arrested and booked on charges of driving while intoxicated. He pleaded guilty, and a Napa County judge sentenced him to three years of probation. In October 2022, Pelosi was attacked with a hammer by leftwing activist David DePape at the Pelosi’s Napa home. Pelosi suffered a brain injury, which required surgery and hospitalization. Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat cadre tried to blame the incident on Republicans and rightwing violence.

DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his crime.

The Daily Mail story linked above also mentions a 1957 incident when Pelosi was only 16. Pelosi was driving too fast, and flipped his sports car, killing his older brother David.

A newspaper report at the time said Paul would be cited for misdemeanor manslaughter. In the end, there was no court case, and he was exonerated by a coroner’s jury.

His brother had urged him to drive slower before the fatal smash, according to a patrolman quoted by the San Francisco Examiner.

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America’s midterm elections are four months away, and newly released polling shows a blaring warning sign for Republicans.

Although Republicans currently control the White House, the US Senate, and the US House of Representatives, there has been constant gridlock between the US House and the US Senate, preventing the Senate from passing many bills sent to it by the House.

Voters across the country, therefore, seem willing to give Democrats a chance to hold some power.

New polling conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail shows that if the election was held tomorrow, 50 percent of likely voters would select a Democratic candidate at the ballot box.

Just 42 percent would select a Republican candidate, while eight percent of respondents, all likely voters, were unsure of who they would vote for.

Turnout is an issue that causes headaches for political operatives in both parties,  particularly in midterm election years, but voting enthusiasm is high with both Democrats and Republicans.

Fifty-seven percent of Republicans and 56 percent of Democrats who responded to the Daily Mail’s poll noted that they were ‘very enthusiastic’ to vote in this year’s midterms.

Younger voters, aged 18 to 29, across party lines, were least likely to ‘very enthusiastic’ to vote in the midterms. Only 42 percent of voters in that demographic noted that response, the lowest of any other category.

Find out what cost $200 in 1790 but now costs more than $400,000.

By Sylvia Xu

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July 03, 2026Updated:July 03, 2026

As America celebrates its 250th year of independence, the USS Alabama, one of America’s most powerful symbols of service and sacrifice still stands watch over Mobile Bay.

The USS Alabama, the World War II battleship known as the “Mighty A,” has been the centerpiece of USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park for decades. For generations of Alabamians, the ship has served as more than a tourist attraction. It is a monument to the Americans who fought to defend the nation in one of history’s most consequential wars.

Commissioned in August 1942, the USS Alabama first operated along the East Coast before serving in the North Atlantic, where it helped guard against the threat of German heavy ships.

In 1943, the battleship was transferred to the Pacific, where it became part of the American campaign against Japan. Over the course of its World War II service, the USS Alabama helped support major operations across the Pacific and earned nine battle stars.

The ship’s wartime service ended in one of the most symbolic places imaginable. In September 1945, the USS Alabama led part of the American fleet into Tokyo Bay after Japan’s surrender, closing out a journey that had taken its crew from the Atlantic to the Pacific and through some of the most demanding years in modern American history.

The USS Alabama was home to a crew of roughly 2,500 Americans during its wartime service.

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The report says that the wreck remained one of history’s great lost treasures until famed salvager Mel Fisher finally located its main debris field in 1985 after a 16-year search. That breakthrough yielded hundreds of millions of dollars in treasure, but archaeologists and recovery teams have continued to uncover new artifacts from the sprawling debris field ever since.

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Tuesday’s birthright citizenship ruling by the Supreme Court has provided Americans with the answer to an ever-pertinent question — who is an American citizen?

Debates likely won’t cease as the highest court in the land issued a 6-3 ruling on President Donald Trump’s executive order — issued his first day back in office on Jan. 20, 2025 — saying the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution only grants birthright citizenship to persons who have at least one parent that is a permanent resident or citizen.

The court struck down this order, effectively saying that anyone born here under any circumstances whatsoever is a citizen.

That leads us to Illinois Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez. The circumstances of her birth are an example as to how this ruling is going to turn out when looking to the next generation of public officials.

In an article on Ramirez from January 2023, CNN noted her mother crossed the Rio Grande River when she was pregnant. Ramirez would be born into a family of Guatemalan immigrants on June 2, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois. In other words, her mother was an illegal alien and had a baby here that became a citizen anyway.

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Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, was captured by US Marshals in Colorado Springs and now faces murder charges in Philadelphia

A Pennsylvania teenager believed to be responsible for the death of Penn State student Billy Schmidt, who was shot as he walked home from an NBA Finals watch party, was arrested at the Colorado home of a distant relative following a month-long manhunt, hour before his accomplice surrendered to police, authorities said Thursday.

Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, was captured in Colorado Springs by the U.S. Marshals Service after he tried to deny his true identity, the agency said. He is being housed at a juvenile detention center pending extradition to Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, officials issued warrants for Outen-Fleming and 16-year-old Kaiseem Smith, who was also allegedly involved in the shooting death. Smith surrendered to the Philadelphia Police Department, the Marshals Service said hours after announcing Outen-Fleming’s capture.

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Summary:

• NatGas, Nuclear, Coal Power Generation Keep PJM Alive 
• First Day of Heat Dome Across Mid-Atlantic; Last Through Weekend 
• “Set Your AC To 78F”: NYC Socialist Pleads With Residents As Fragile Grid Faces Blackout Risk

GridStatus’ website shows the PJM Interconnection under severe peak-demand stress as heat-driven cooling loads surge across the Mid-Atlantic and eastern U.S.

PJM load is near 158 GW, net load is around 142 GW, and real-time power prices are sharply rising to about $929/MWh.

The fuel-mix chart shows the grid is heavily reliant on natural gas and coal, which together account for about 64.2% of all power, with nuclear at 20.6%. In total, gas, coal, and nuclear account for about 84.8% of the power being generated, while solar and wind remain in the high single digits.

Peak power prices across PJM are expected at around 6 p.m. local time.

The grid is operating near record load and relying heavily on gas-fired generation to prevent rolling blackouts.

Do not let climate-crisis socialists pretend otherwise: policies that reduce dispatchable fossil-fuel power leave grids extremely fragile and prone to failure when demand spikes.

Meanwhile, President Trump and the Energy Department are moving to keep fossil-fuel power generation online to preserve grid stability.

Why Democrats pushed for a power grid increasingly dependent on unreliable wind and solar, while stripping away the stable baseload capacity needed during peak demand, is no longer just an energy-policy question; it is a national security question.

“Set Your AC To 78F”: NYC Socialist Pleads With Residents As Fragile Grid Faces Blackout Risk

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A Maryland teenager received a get-out-of-jail-free card despite his involvement in a violent sex crime, thanks to the intervention of a woke state Democrat.

As WBFF reported, the State Attorney’s office revealed on June 29 that a 13-year-old has been released on probation with electronic monitoring despite being found to be involved in the rape of two 6-year-old girls in Calvert County.

The Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, recommended that the youth be placed in a secure “out-of-home” facility to receive treatment and counseling.

While this was already an outrageously soft recommendation, what happened next was more shocking. The teen was returned to the home where some of the abuse allegedly occurred.

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Yes, the city of Buffalo made sure to hoist the flag of a foreign nation on America’s birthday week after they had canceled fireworks on Independence Day.

Here’s Buffalo’s weenie mayor explaining why he canceled the fireworks show.

(Somehow, it was our nation’s founding holiday that lost out on the deal.)

City officials in Mogadishu Buffalo are on the hunt for some rapscallion who yanked the Somali flag from the Niagara Square flagpole because he apparently took exception to the city celebrating Somalia during America’s birthday week.

Something about pirating a pirate nation’s flag is just perfect.

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It appears that Minnesota officials aren’t the only ones putting their Somali residents first.

Buffalo, New York, has announced two things in a very unfortunate succession of events in a 24-hour period.

First, according to Spectrum News, there will not be a fireworks display this Saturday for the Fourth of July.

Second, the city wishes everyone a very happy Somali Independence Day. A group that included a city council member raised the Somali flag above City Hall to mark the nation’s independence from Italian and British colonialism on July 1, 1960.

This is a prime example of our officials putting America last.

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Update: Two people are dead in the shooting; three total were shot.

At least three people were shot at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday afternoon.

Per WXYZ: Sources are confirming to 7 News Detroit that multiple people have been shot at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn.

Metro Detroit News is reporting that there may be two shooters.

The condition of the surviving shooting victims is unclear.

The mall is on lockdown.

The gunman is still at large.

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Well, this isn’t as big a deal as the 250th anniversary of American liberty, but it’s worth raising a glass to; on Saturday, July 4th, federal subsidies for wind and solar energy projects will end. To date, these have cost the American taxpayers around $141 billion.

That’s good news.

The Trump administration is set to cut subsidies for new solar and wind power projects on Saturday. Estimates suggest the subsidies have cost taxpayers more than $141 billion over the past 16 years, more than any other energy source.

The Working Families Tax Cuts, a signature piece of President Trump’s tax legislation signed a year ago, set Saturday as the deadline for federal tax credit subsidies on any new solar or wind projects not currently under construction.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright touted the subsidy deadline and criticized solar and wind energy projects in a video posted to social media Thursday.

“The wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine,” Wright said. “They drive up the system costs and increase Americans’ electricity prices.”

That much is certain. This has always been one of the primary problems with these alternative energy sources; they are intermittent, in addition to being low energy density sources. Moving from a high-density source to a low-density one never did make good sense. Subsidizing it made even less.

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Pardons follow President Trump’s right-to-repair memo earlier in the week

President Donald Trump on Friday announced full executive pardons for more than half a dozen people he claims were “persecuted” by the Biden administration for simply “fixing their car.”

In a Truth Social post Friday afternoon, the president took aim at federal prosecutions he characterized as part of the “Weaponization and Stupidity” of the prior administration, saying, “I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!”

Those who received clemency were charged after circumventing emissions control regulations that are no longer in effect, a White House official told Fox News Digital.

They include: Joshua Davis; Matt Geouge; Jonathan Achtemeier; Tim Clancy; Ryan and Wade Lalone; Barry Pierce; Aaron Rudolf; and Mackenzie Spurlock.

President Donald Trump previously signed a presidential memo to make it easier for Americans to repair their own cars by protecting the right to fix vehicles and opening up more options for approving aftermarket parts. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Maryland is a state known for its rich history, diverse communities, and scenic landscapes. From the waterfront neighborhoods along the Chesapeake Bay to the vibrant streets of Baltimore and the state’s many historic towns, Maryland offers residents a unique blend of culture, education, and economic opportunity.

Like every state, however, Maryland experiences varying crime rates from one community to another. While many cities and towns remain safe places to live, work, and visit, some municipalities report higher-than-average violent crime rates based on annual law enforcement data.

Quick Guide

• State: Maryland
• Region: Mid-Atlantic, United States
• Ranking Based On: Violent crimes per 100,000 residents
• Includes: Assault, robbery, rape, and homicide
• Best For: Residents researching relocation, travelers, and safety-conscious visitors
• Important Note: Crime rates can vary significantly between neighborhoods, and many parts of these cities remain safe and vibrant.
• Source: areavibes

This ranking highlights the 10 cities in Maryland with the highest reported violent crime rates per 100,000 residents. The figures are intended to provide context rather than define an entire community. Crime levels can differ significantly between neighborhoods, and many of these cities continue investing in public safety initiatives, community policing, and crime prevention programs.

10. Hagerstown

• Population: 40,940
• 714 violent crimes per 100k
• violent crimes per day: 1.96
• chance of being a victim: 1 in 140
• Total Crimes / 100k: 3,177

Rounding out our list at #10 is Hagerstown, MD. With a population of 40,940 and a violent crime rate of 714 per 100,000 people (70% higher than the Maryland average), some parts of Hagerstown are incredible unsafe.

The violent crime rate consists of 409 counts of assault, 223 counts of robbery, 73 counts of rape and 9 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 140 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Antifa is not a “myth” or right-wing boogeyman, it is a real movement that has enjoyed leniency for too long…

The Department of Justice announced the entire Antifa cell in north Texas has been given heavy sentences after pleading guilty or were found guilty for their involvement in an attack on an ICE facility last year.

The long sentences were in response to the Trump administration designating Antifa as an international and domestic terrorist organization. Activists in the movement have long organized and carried out attacks under the guise of fighting “facism.” Most recently, Antifa militants have been carrying out attacks on ICE and DHS personnel and facilities in response to the Trump administration’s mass deportation plan.

The DOJ said the ringleader of the attack in north Texas, Benjamin Hanil Song, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. A responding local police officer was shot in the neck during the incident.

With the remainder of the defendants, the total sentence for time to serve in prison is over 556 years among the 15 individuals:

• Ines Soto was sentenced to 50 years
• Joy Gibson was sentenced to 15 years
• Rebecca Morgan was sentenced to 15 years
• Lynette Sharp was sentenced to over 9 years
• John Thomas was sentenced to over 9 years
• Seth Sikes was sentenced to 6 years in prison
• Nathan Baumann was sentenced to 22 months

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The Fourth of July is one of the busiest beach weekends, but scattered thunderstorms brought on by a historic and deadly heat wave have created a very dangerous situation for swimmers looking to cool off.

A family of four was struck by lightning while enjoying a beach day on Friday in Fort Myers, Florida. One was killed, and three were taken to a hospital where they are in stable condition, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Viktar Kiryk, 51, was identified as the sole fatality. Authorities said Kiryk was pulled out of the water by bystanders and first responders at around 2.20pm.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire District shared just after 3pm that they were still at the scene after a lightning strike involving multiple patients.

A bystander deployed an AED (automated external defibrillator) and started to perform CPR.

When the fire department arrived, Kiryk’s family members were transported to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The department warned residents and visitors to ‘immediately seek shelter when you hear thunder or see lightning,’ issuing a reminder that ‘when thunder roars, go indoors.’

‘This tragic incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder that Florida’s summer storms can develop rapidly,’ the sheriff’s department added.

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Donald Trump has long boasted that his record is deserving enough to be added to Mount Rushmore, but the President seems more convinced now than ever as he drops hints about his inclusion on the historic monument.

The President spoke at the South Dakota memorial on Friday night to kick off the long-anticipated and highly publicized America 250 celebrations.

Before taking the podium, Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting a gold-plated engraving of Mount Rushmore with his face added to the far right of the monument, alongside Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt.

‘I will be the greatest president for many, many years to come. And we’re gonna have a lot of fun tonight,’ Trump said in a voiceover as the camera panned the gold engraving.

The Trump administration also heavily hinted at Trump’s addition to the monument, handing out cookies on Air Force One showing his face etched in the mountain alongside Lincoln.

‘Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Black Hills, South Dakota. Five Presidents,’ was engraved in frosting.

The President’s new daughter-in-law, Bettina Trump, shared an image of the cookie on her Instagram stories.

Betsy Klein, CNN’s White House correspondent, also posted the cookies on X, writing, ‘The cookies served to the first family and to the press aboard Air Force One today were… different.’

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul, have spoken out after he allegedly crashed his convertible into a parked car in Napa County before fleeing the scene.

“Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,” a spokesperson for the Pelosis said in a statement to The California Post.

“Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul, have spoken out after he allegedly crashed his convertible into a parked car in Napa County before fleeing the scene.

The statement comes as Paul, 86, faces a recommended misdemeanor hit-and-run charge stemming from Friday’s crash in Yountville.

According to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the 6700 block of Yount Street at about 2:30 p.m. after a witness reported seeing a northbound vehicle slam into the rear of a parked car on the shoulder.

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Driver Michael Bon held an active non-domiciled CDL despite DHS terminating his parole and ordering him to leave the US

rdered to leave has been charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who had recently moved home to help care for his mother during her cancer treatment.

The crash is the latest in a series of fatal wrecks involving noncitizen commercial truck drivers that have prompted the Trump administration to tighten commercial driver’s license rules.

Michael E. Pahira Jr., 44, was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County on Wednesday morning when another semi-truck left the roadway, struck his marked patrol vehicle and the truck he was inspecting before hitting the trooper, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Both semi-truck caught fire after the crash. Pahira later died at a local hospital.

The driver, identified as 33-year-old Michael Bon, a Haitian national living in Brockton, Massachusetts, was charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and six additional lesser charges. He is being held at Schuylkill County Prison on $700,000 bail. His next court date is scheduled for July 15.

The Department of Homeland Security has lodged an immigration detainer against him.

Michael Pahira joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007 and most recently served as a Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector, conducting commercial vehicle inspections to help keep the state’s highways safe. (Pennsylvania State Police)

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Nine people in Maryland were injured after a docked boat exploded, with four airlifted to a hospital due to the severity of their injuries, police said.

The explosion occurred on July 4 around 4.20pm on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in Chesapeake City, a small town northeast of Baltimore on the border with Delaware, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. 

The 32-foot-long boat had just refueled in front of a seafood restaurant called Schaefer’s Canal House before the explosion.

Among those injured, seven were on the boat, and two were on a nearby dock, the fire marshal’s office said. None have been publicly identified. 

Maryland State Police Aviation Command airlifted four of the victims to a Christiana Care Health Net facility, while the remaining injured were transported to local hospitals by ambulance.

Vincent Hunter Dortenzo, a spokesman for the Maryland Natural Resources Police, told the New York Times that the airlifted victims suffered serious burns.

No fatalities have been reported. The current condition of the people who were injured is unclear. 

The explosion prompted a multi-agency response consisting of multiple helicopters, paramedics and more than half a dozen fire companies.  

Up until now, when it comes to real estate, Blackstone was best known in recent years for dumping many of its trophy office properties – which in the aftermath of work from home never recovered their projected cash flow potential – at a huge discount. Now, it may be pulling a page from its old, pre-Lehman playbook  by calling the top in yet another commercial real estate segment: data centers.

Two days ago we reported that Blackstone was selling its stakes in a trio of data centers across Northern Virginia for $3.5 billion, cashing out of part of a bet it made less than three years ago. According to Bloomberg, Digital Realty Trust would pay $1.2 billion of cash and offer $2.3 billion of its shares (which the PE giant has largely cashed in by now) to Blackstone funds; in exchange, the data center company will acquire Blackstone’s 80% interest in two 96-megawatt data centers in Manassas, Virginia, and a 50% interest in a 96-megawatt center in nearby Sterling.

We said that “the question is why did Blackstone decide to pull the cord now, just as fresh doubts are creeping whether the Mag 7s will continue funding the AI expansion with virtually unlimited capex.”

Two days later we have an answer.

The digital ink is barely dry on its Virginia data center sales, and we learn that Blackstone’s QTS (QTS Realty Trust) is again quietly fading its AI exposure by walking away from plans to build its portion (which at this point is the only portion left after its partner already pulled out days ago) of a 2,100-acre data center campus in Virginia – also known as Prince William Digital Gateway which would house as many as 37 data-center buildings – handing a win to residents who fought for years to topple the project. 

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The WNBA Commissioner, the Media, and Caitlin Clark’s Coach, Support Clark Attacker Rather than Clark.

These people are sick.

A quarter of the WNBA’s revenue is related to Caitlin Clark.  This is her impact on the league.

Clark puts up stats like this.

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Former First Lady Jill Biden’s memoir, View from the East Wing, debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller list on June 21. But how much of its sales were genuine sales from interested readers is unclear.

In fact, when the book appeared on the bestsellers list, it came bearing a dagger (†) symbol, the small mark the Times attaches when retailers report bulk purchases mixed in with regular sales. A book doesn’t earn that symbol by accident. It earns it because the paper suspects something other than organic demand is propping up the number.

Whatever propped it up didn’t hold.

The book slid to No. 3 the following week, then vanished from the list entirely. Circana BookScan, the retail data source most of the publishing industry actually trusts, tells an even blunter story: the memoir dropped from No. 2 to No. 5 to No. 16 on its hardcover nonfiction chart across successive weeks. By the week ending June 20, it had moved just 3,221 print copies, bringing its total U.S. print sales to 29,539. For a book marketed as a cultural event timed to a midterm cycle Democrats are already sweating over, those numbers look thin.

Statistician Nate Silver, the founder of FiveThirtyEight, noticed the pattern immediately.

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Secret Service missed 102 radio warnings and failed to block a known line-of-sight risk at the campaign rally, OIG said

The U.S. Secret Service “missed multiple opportunities” to prevent or disrupt the July 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump as he spoke to supporters during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General said in a report released Thursday.

The 64-page document detailed several lapses in security that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to get a line of sight of Trump as he stood on stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the July 13, 2024, event.

“The Secret Service’s overall lack of policy and processes coupled with limited intelligence sharing and poor collaboration and communication with protectee staff and state and local law enforcement set the conditions that led to missing opportunities to prevent and detect the attempted assassination,” the report states.

Among the OIG’s findings was a failure to warn Trump’s protective detail that Crooks had a range finder and a long gun and had climbed onto the roof of a nearby building due to a lack of communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement.

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July 4 is a license-free fishing day throughout Maryland, so if you have a friend or relative who doesn’t currently fish, take them out with you.

Large red drum are providing catch-and-release fishing for anglers near the mouth of the Potomac River.

White perch can be found in the tidal rivers and creeks, sometimes mixed in with spot and croaker.

All the tidal rivers have populations of blue and channel catfish, and the larger female blue catfish are showing signs of being finished with spawning; they are now on the prowl to build up body stores. .

Check out the full report.

Eight death row inmates could soon be marched into Idaho’s newly built $1.2million execution chamber, after the state officially made the firing squad its primary method of carrying out the death penalty.

Beginning July 1, Idaho became the only state in America where condemned inmates will, by default, face a hail of bullets instead of lethal injection—a dramatic policy shift prompted by last year’s botched attempt to execute convicted murderer Thomas Eugene Creech.

Republican Gov. Brad Little, who seeks a third term this November, signed both firing squad bills into law. The 2025 bill delayed implementation so IDOC had time to rebuild its execution chamber.

State officials have now unveiled the chilling blueprint for exactly how those executions will unfold in the Maximum Security State Prison, from recruiting volunteer police officers to pulling the trigger, to the possibility of a second volley of bullets if the unlucky inmate survives the first.

Rather than relying on prison execution specialists, Idaho will recruit six volunteer law enforcement officers to form each firing squad.

Three primary officers will fire the fatal shots from, while two alternates stand by in reserve. A sixth officer will act as team leader, loading the IDOC -owned rifles and directing the execution.

The identities of every volunteer will remain confidential under state law. Only the prison director and deputy director will know who the shooters are.

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Secret Service knew Thomas Crooks was on roof TWO MINUTES before he shot Trump, bombshell intelligence report reveals

The report details that local law enforcement notified the Secret Service of a ‘suspicious person’ on the roof at 6:09 pm. Trump was shot at eight times at 6:11 pm.

‘The Secret Service’s overall lack of policy and processes coupled with limited intelligence sharing and poor collaboration and communication with protectee staff and state and local law enforcement set the conditions that led to missing opportunities to prevent and detect the attempted assassination,’ the OIG report said.

The OIG report is based on 92 interviews, more than 70,000 documents, and a 3D model used used to reconstruct the event site and to identify the locations of individuals before, during, and after the shooting.

It found that the Secret Service failed to detect Crooks’s drone flight used to view the campaign event stage – citing both an under-trained operator, who had received just 20 minutes of informal training – as well as a broken ethernet cable that was fixed roughly one half-hour after Crooks had already flown his drone over the site, undetected.

The report also revealed that Trump’s own campaign staff refused to let agents park trucks blocking the shooter’s sightline because they’d be ‘too close to [President Trump’s] press shot.’

That was one of many damning revelations made in the report, which also faulted the lack of formal communications established with local law enforcement, thereby depriving them of additional communications regarding Crooks, as well as a lack of communications and intelligence sharing with leadership in the Pittsburgh Field Office.

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California has become so ashamed of this great nation and its founding principles that some homeowners’ associations now recoil at the very sight of an American flag.

That appears to be the case in one neighborhood in San Marcos, California, where the HOA has said flags must come down just days away from the Fourth of July.

The New York Post reported Sunday that Amy and Chris Cooke, along with their neighbor Terry Collins, alleged that the HOA has been acting vengefully in the wake of President Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.

Even prior to the election, the association sent out a letter saying the flag gave a “political or affiliative view” indicating it would “degrade the common area.”

Amy Cooke, 62, commented, “We are outraged, if you want to fly your flag fly it, this is America.”

“We are the land of the free and home of the brave, this is crazy,” she added.

“The American Flag is a symbol of freedom, we know where their brain is at.”

The Cookes have reportedly flown their flag for 20 years in honor of Chris’s grandfather, Alexander Christie, who died fighting in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. As his ship sank, Christie died trying to save anyone he could, being posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Navy Cross.

In the months before the 2024 election, the three neighbors were told by the HOA about flying flags only in “exclusive use” areas.

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