ABC Host Cuts Short Interview with Vice President JD Vance After Being Called Out on Coverage
During a Sunday broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos questioned Vice President JD Vance about allegations that Border Czar Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe in a September 2024 FBI sting operation, a claim the White House has dismissed as baseless and part of a prior administration’s political targeting. Vance defended Homan, calling the story a distraction from pressing matters like the government shutdown triggered by Senate Democrats’ refusal to advance a funding bill without provisions for immigrant healthcare, which has disrupted services for low-income families and military pay. He remarked that the fixation on the unproven report explained the program’s declining audience and eroding trust, urging a shift to “real issues” affecting everyday Americans rather than what he termed a “weird left-wing rabbit hole.” Stephanopoulos pushed back, insisting he had posed a straightforward question about the audio evidence, before interrupting Vance mid-sentence to end the segment and transition to commercial. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and mainstream outlets over coverage priorities amid fiscal gridlock.
Sources: Townhall.com, The Gateway Pundit
Appeals Court Maintains Federal Control of Illinois National Guard but Bars State Deployment
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined on October 11th, that the Trump administration can sustain federal authority over National Guard units stationed in Illinois but is prohibited from deploying them across the state as legal challenges proceed. This outcome largely preserves a temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge April Perry, issued on October 9th following a suit by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who argued the mobilization to safeguard Immigration and Customs Enforcement sites amid immigration enforcement protests lacked sufficient justification under federal law and risked inflaming local conditions. The decision allows roughly 500 troops, drawn from Illinois and Texas, to remain federalized without immediate repatriation, providing continuity for federal operations while preventing broader involvement that could undermine state-led policing efforts. Such measures highlight the enduring tension between national security imperatives and the constitutional protections afforded to states against unwarranted military intrusions, with the administration signaling intent to pursue vindication at higher levels to address persistent urban disorder.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Reuters
ICE Agents Detain WGN-TV Employee Over Assault During Immigration Raid
On October 10th, Debbie Brockman, a creative services employee at Chicago’s WGN-TV, was briefly detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in the city’s Lincoln Square neighborhood amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations, after authorities accused her of throwing an object containing a clear liquid at their vehicle, prompting an arrest for assault on a federal officer. Video footage captured agents restraining Brockman on the ground before placing her in custody, an incident that unfolded as federal teams navigated protests and vehicle blockades during “Operation Midway Blitz,” an initiative targeting undocumented immigrants. Brockman was released later that day without charges, according to WGN-TV and Department of Homeland Security statements, though Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino indicated on social media the following day that federal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 111 remains under consideration, underscoring the seriousness of interfering with law enforcement duties. The event drew attention amid a federal judge’s recent order protecting journalists from undue force, yet highlighted tensions between federal authorities and local observers in sanctuary city Chicago, where such raids have sparked community backlash.
Sources: FOX32 Chicago, The Gateway Pundit
Oregon National Guard Leader Testifies on Protecting Protesters During Portland ICE Facility Standoff
Amid escalating tensions at the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, where nightly protests led by Antifa militants have involved breaching barriers, hurling explosives, and injuring federal officers since early June 2025, Oregon National Guard commander Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold testified on September 30th before a state senate subcommittee that any deployed troops under his purview would focus on safeguarding protesters, fulfilling their oath to protect Oregonians while executing lawful orders from the Trump administration. This stance, reiterated in a letter to Guard members emphasizing duty without exception, has drawn mixed reactions, including praise, even as some question whether it aligns with restoring order in a city plagued by break-ins, homelessness, and fleeing businesses that local Democrat leaders have downplayed as peaceful. Federal courts, including a temporary stay by the Ninth Circuit upholding Judge Karin Immergut’s block on deployments from Oregon, Texas, and California, have kept troops sidelined pending further hearings, leaving residents to voice growing concerns over unchecked violence and governance failures that have eroded public safety since 2020.
Sources: MyNorthwest.com, Legal Insurrection
Over 30 Missing Children Recovered in San Antonio’s Operation Lightning Bug
Federal and local authorities in Texas conducted Operation Lightning Bug from late July to mid-August, successfully recovering more than 30 missing juveniles at elevated risk of exploitation by traffickers in the San Antonio area, while also identifying six survivors of sex trafficking who received essential victim services. The multi-agency initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force alongside the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety, yielded three arrests for harboring runaways, the execution of nine felony warrants, and the initiation of five new human trafficking probes, contributing to the closure of over 120 missing child cases as families regained custody of their loved ones. This coordinated push highlights the effectiveness of unified law enforcement in disrupting predatory networks that prey on the young and vulnerable, ensuring community stability through proactive measures against such threats. Experts point to the rising sophistication of traffickers, who exploit digital tools to extend their reach nationwide, reminding that safeguarding children demands sustained commitment to justice and border-to-heartland security alike.
Sources: KSAT-TV, US Marshal’s Service
Salesforce CEO Urges Trump to Send National Guard to Tackle San Francisco’s Security Challenges
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, a prominent tech leader with a history of substantial donations to progressive causes, has voiced strong support for President Donald Trump and called for the deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco to bolster policing amid ongoing concerns over crime and homelessness, particularly as the city prepares to host his company’s annual Dreamforce conference next week. In a recent interview, Benioff highlighted the local police department’s shortfall of about 1,000 officers, explaining that he personally funds off-duty law enforcement to secure event areas and expressing readiness to see troops step in if they could assist in maintaining order, remarking, “We don’t have enough cops, so if [the National Guard] can be cops, I’m all for it.” He praised Trump’s leadership, stating, “I fully support the president. I think he’s doing a great job,” a sentiment echoed during their recent encounter at a state dinner hosted by King Charles, where Benioff conveyed his appreciation for the president’s efforts. This appeal comes as Trump has previously authorized similar federal interventions in other cities to address public safety issues, though it has drawn sharp criticism from local officials like San Francisco’s district attorney, who warned of potential legal repercussions for any overreach. While crime rates in the city have declined this year, Benioff’s push underscores a persistent frustration among some business leaders with recruitment struggles and visible urban disorder, suggesting a pragmatic turn toward federal assistance to restore the sense of security that once defined the streets.
Sources: KTVU-TV, Fortune Magazine
Crowd-Hire CEO Cautions on Risks to ‘No Kings’ Protest from Paid Operatives and External Meddlers
As preparations advance for the October 18th “No Kings” nationwide demonstrations against perceived political elitism and government overreach, Adam Swart, CEO of the crowd-for-hire company Crowds on Demand, has raised alarms about the event’s vulnerability to infiltration by paid agitators, profit-seeking interest groups, and foreign entities intent on exacerbating American divisions for their own ends. Swart, whose firm was solicited for involvement but turned it down, describes the gathering as emblematic of a broader “protest industry” where opportunists—unaffiliated with traditional left or right causes—monetize chaos through social media outrage and shadowy funding, including a rejected $20 million offer earlier this year to stage anti-Trump actions, amid a 400% spike in such requests in Washington, D.C. Organizers maintain the movement remains a genuine, nonviolent expression of civic resistance, drawing on prior events that reportedly mobilized millions with minimal incidents and robust security protocols like de-escalation training and threat monitoring, yet Swart underscores the national security peril of polarization, echoing intelligence assessments on disinformation campaigns by nations such as Russia, China, and Iran that exploit these occasions to undermine U.S. stability. He advocates redirecting energies toward substantive dialogue over repetitive spectacles that only enrich those profiting from discord.
Sources: Patriot TV, FOX News
NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Accepts Thousands in Illegal Foreign Funds
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaign has come under investigation for receiving nearly $13,000 in contributions from foreign donors, raising serious questions about compliance with federal, state, and local election laws that bar non-U.S. citizens from funding American political efforts. Records from the New York City Campaign Finance Board reveal at least 170 such donations, totaling around $12,798 from addresses in countries including Canada, Germany, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, with notable examples like a $2,100 gift from an Australian environmental scientist and a $500 check from Mamdani’s mother-in-law in Dubai—funds the campaign has only partially refunded, leaving over $7,000 unreturned despite pledges to rectify violations. This development, emerging just weeks before the November election, has drawn criticism from rivals like Republican Curtis Sliwa, who warned of potential foreign manipulation in local politics and called for a deeper probe into any hidden influences, underscoring broader concerns over transparency in a race where Mamdani’s socialist platform has already attracted significant out-of-state and international attention. As the frontrunner after an upset primary win, Mamdani’s team maintains it was unaware of the origins and intends full compliance, but the episode highlights the risks of lax oversight in campaign financing that could erode public trust in democratic processes.
Sources: The New York Post, Belaaz
Brooklyn Church Usher Fatally Attacked in Random Subway Beating
A 64-year-old Brooklyn resident and dedicated church usher, Nicola Tanzi, lost his life on October 7th after a simple act of courtesy turned deadly outside the Jay Street-MetroTech subway station, where he held open a security gate for 25-year-old David Mazariegos, who responded by punching him repeatedly, stomping on his head more than 15 times in a ten-minute assault that left Tanzi unconscious and in need of hospitalization, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Mazariegos, a Bronx man with at least 33 prior arrests spanning assaults, robberies, arson, and other violent offenses—many of which saw charges downgraded or dismissed due to mental health considerations—confessed to the random killing upon his arrest in Times Square, claiming he took offense to Tanzi’s gesture and “took his spirit,” before using stolen credit cards to purchase a katana sword. Tanzi, an Italian immigrant who volunteered at St. Dominic’s Parish in Bensonhurst for over a decade, greeting elderly parishioners with warm smiles and “Buon Giorno” while often covering shifts for colleagues with families, was remembered by deacons as a “tremendous man of faith” and “simple, good person” whose glass-half-full outlook and concern for others exemplified quiet Christian service, even as the tragedy highlights the persistent risks posed by recidivist offenders navigating New York’s streets with limited accountability. This unprovoked violence, captured on surveillance and swiftly leading to Mazariegos’ murder charge and remand without bail, serves as a stark reminder that leniency in handling career criminals can exact a heavy toll on innocent lives dedicated to community and kindness.
Sources: The Catholic News Agency, Legal Insurrection
US Universities Receive Nearly $60 Billion in Foreign Gifts and Contracts Amid Calls for Greater Transparency
American colleges and universities have accepted close to $60 billion in gifts and contracts from foreign sources over the past several decades, with a significant portion originating from nations such as China, Qatar, and Russia that pose potential risks to national security and academic integrity, according to analyses of federal disclosures. Elite institutions like Harvard, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania top the list of recipients, collectively taking in more than $20 billion, often to support research in sensitive areas like artificial intelligence and biotechnology, while federal reporting requirements under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act have been routinely ignored, leading to billions in unreported funds that could enable undue foreign influence on American higher education. In response, the Trump administration has issued an executive order mandating stricter enforcement, including audits and potential withholding of federal funding for non-compliant schools, building on prior investigations that uncovered $6.5 billion in previously hidden contributions and underscoring the need for robust oversight to protect innovation and counter propaganda from adversarial regimes. Lawmakers and watchdogs alike emphasize that enhanced compliance measures, such as lowering reporting thresholds and prohibiting deals with hostile governments, are essential to safeguard the independence of U.S. campuses.
Sources: Americans for Public Trust, The White House
Department of Education Implements Workforce Reductions Amid Federal Funding Standoff
As the federal government shutdown stretches into its 10th day, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, including nearly the entire staff of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees programs for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This move comes as part of a broader wave of over 4,000 job cuts across seven agencies ordered by the Trump administration, which has pointed to Democrat resistance in Congress over funding extensions for health subsidies that would fund healthcare for illegal immigrants as the root cause of the impasse, arguing that such reductions are necessary to streamline operations and prioritize essential services during the lapse in appropriations. Labor unions have filed lawsuits claiming the firings violate legal notice requirements and threaten vital educational supports, though administration officials maintain the actions will enhance efficiency in a bloated federal bureaucracy that has already shed nearly 200,000 positions since January. With furloughs impacting 90% of Education Department staff and no back pay guaranteed, the developments underscore the high stakes of the budget battle, where Republicans seek to curb spending while Democrats demand protections for vulnerable programs.
CDC Enacts Staff Reductions Amid Shutdown, Retracts Some Notices After Errors
The Trump administration’s push to streamline federal operations during the ongoing government shutdown has led to substantial workforce reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with hundreds of employees receiving layoff notices across critical areas such as infectious disease surveillance, immunization leadership, and the agency’s flagship Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, reflecting efforts to address perceived redundancies and control taxpayer costs. While the Department of Health and Human Services projects cuts of 1,100 to 1,200 positions overall, exact numbers for the CDC remain unclear, though the moves have already eliminated entire teams in injury prevention and global health threat monitoring, prompting warnings from seasoned public health experts about risks to outbreak readiness at a time of rising measles cases and active Ebola threats abroad. Some terminations, however, stemmed from administrative coding errors that mistakenly targeted essential personnel on measles and Ebola response units as well as second-year Epidemic Intelligence Service members, with federal officials confirming rescission notices would follow shortly to reinstate those affected in just four offices. The White House and HHS spokespeople have framed the broader initiative as targeting non-essential roles aligned with fiscal responsibility, even as critics including Republican senators decry the timing and execution as disruptive to core agency functions.
Sources: Stat News, The Washington Examiner
Four Dead, Over 20 Injured in Overnight Shooting at South Carolina Island Bar
In the early hours of October 12th, a mass shooting unfolded at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, where four individuals lost their lives and at least 20 others suffered gunshot wounds, including four in critical condition, as deputies responded to reports of gunfire amid a crowd of hundreds enjoying a night out. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office arrived just before 1 a.m. to a chaotic scene, with victims and witnesses seeking refuge in nearby properties, and authorities have yet to identify a suspect or motive while urging the public to come forward with information to aid the investigation. Local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, expressed profound sorrow over the incident in this majority Black community, highlighting the ongoing challenges of ensuring safety in public gathering places. This event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that persist despite vigilant law enforcement efforts.
Sources: FOX13, The New York Post
DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COMMENTARY:
Sorry, Brandon, The Supremacy Clause Gives President Trump Purview To Crush Chaos in All Blue Cities
The federal government’s purview? Total and absolute. The Supremacy Clause subsumes Chicago’s Loop, L.A.’s sprawl, and Portland’s bridges under national sovereignty; no city ordinance or gubernatorial fiat can eclipse immigration law or the duty to quell insurrections. These hotspots aren’t sovereign enclaves—they’re American soil, where uprisings against federal agents trigger Insurrection Act invocation.…
Read and listen to more at UndergroundUSA.com
Hamas Mobilizes Security Forces to Purge Gaza of Israeli-Collaborators After Ceasefire
Following the implementation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended two years of devastating warfare initiated by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, the group has summoned around 7,000 internal security personnel via urgent phone and text alerts to reclaim authority in Israeli-withdrawn zones of Gaza, issuing stark commands to purge the territory of criminals and individuals suspected of aiding Israel. This rapid redeployment, which includes stationing operatives in civilian attire and police uniforms across key districts, accompanies the installation of five governors drawn from Hamas’s military ranks to oversee reconstruction and order, even as Palestinian police tentatively resume street patrols amid a landscape scarred by over 67,000 deaths and mass displacement. Such measures, while aimed at quelling looting and clan-based militias armed with war-looted weapons, have ignited fears of renewed factional bloodshed that could undermine the agreement’s provisions for hostage exchanges—48 Israelis for 2,000 Palestinians—and the demilitarization essential to lasting regional security. Hamas officials frame these steps as a necessary defense against chaos exploited by external forces, yet they highlight persistent doubts about the organization’s willingness to fully cede power in a demilitarized enclave, testing the fragile path toward stability under international oversight.
Sources: The Times of Israel, The Daily Mail
Israel Shifts Northern Front Priorities After Gaza Truce Takes Hold
In the wake of a hard-won ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, brokered under President Trump’s administration and hailed as a step toward broader Middle East stability, Israel has pivoted its military operations northward to counter Hezbollah’s persistent threats along the Lebanese border, launching targeted airstrikes on suspected terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon that resulted in one death and several injuries. This move comes amid concerns that the Iran-backed militia is exploiting the Gaza lull to rebuild its capabilities, violating prior agreements and endangering Israeli communities displaced during last year’s intense border clashes, which claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon alone. U.S. support for Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah, including a recent $230 million aid package to bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces, underscores the international push to enforce UN resolutions and prevent renewed escalation, though experts caution that incomplete measures could allow groups like Hamas to regroup covertly, much like Hezbollah’s enduring presence in Lebanon. Israeli officials maintain these actions are essential for long-term security, ensuring that the fragile peace in Gaza does not come at the expense of vulnerabilities on other fronts, as the nation remains vigilant against adversaries who have shown little regard for civilian lives or diplomatic commitments.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, FOX News
Dozens Killed in Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes
Overnight exchanges of fire along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on October 11th and 12th, have left dozens dead and heightened fears of regional instability, as Afghan Taliban forces launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani posts following alleged Islamabad airstrikes targeting militants in Kabul and a market in Paktika province. Kabul claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 border positions, while Pakistan reported 23 of its troops slain and asserted it neutralized over 200 Taliban fighters, destroying Afghan checkpoints in response. The skirmishes, concentrated in areas like Kurram, Bajaur, and Chitral in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, prompted Islamabad to seal key crossings including Torkham and Chaman, stranding traders and refugees amid accusations that the Taliban harbors Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants responsible for surging attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid affirmed control over Afghan borders and readiness to defend sovereignty, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised his military’s counteraction as necessary to curb provocations; international voices from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran urged restraint to avert broader conflict in a region already strained by militancy and disputed frontiers. These developments underscore persistent frictions over cross-border terrorism, where Pakistan’s efforts to secure its territory against groups like the TTP clash with Kabul’s denials, potentially complicating diplomatic overtures involving shared allies such as China and India.
Sources: The Daily Mail, BBC News
Madagascar Faces Reported Coup Attempt Amid Escalating Protests
In a concerning development for democratic stability in the Indian Ocean nation, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has warned of an illegal effort to overthrow the government by force, following claims by an elite army unit known as CAPSAT that it has assumed control of the military, a move that echoes the very 2009 coup that once propelled Rajoelina to power but now threatens the constitutional order he has since upheld through elections. The president’s office condemned the action as a destabilizing power grab without naming perpetrators, urging citizens and security forces to rally in defense of national sovereignty and the rule of law, even as no widespread violence was immediately reported on the streets of the capital Antananarivo. This crisis unfolds against three weeks of youth-led demonstrations by the “Gen Z Madagascar” movement, sparked by utility shortages but fueled by deeper frustrations over corruption, economic hardship, and governance failures, which have already claimed at least 22 lives according to United Nations estimates—figures disputed by authorities—and prompted the imposition of curfews along with the recent dismissal of the entire cabinet. While CAPSAT’s commander denied orchestrating a coup and highlighted clashes with loyalist forces that killed one of his soldiers, the episode underscores the fragility of institutions in a country with a long history of military interventions since independence, raising questions about the resilience of elected leadership amid public discontent.
Sources: EuroNews, The Washington Times
European Union Initiates Phased Biometric Entry/Exit System to Strengthen Border Controls
The European Union has commenced a six-month gradual rollout of its Entry/Exit System on October 12th, at external Schengen borders, requiring non-EU travelers to register biometric data including fingerprints and photographs alongside passport scans to better track stays, identify overstayers, and curb illegal migration and identity fraud. This digital framework, which will fully supplant manual passport stamping by April 2026, aims to fortify security across 29 participating countries while streamlining future entries through facial recognition for repeat visitors, reflecting a measured response to ongoing pressures for firmer migration management. Initial operations at sites like the Bajakovo crossing between Serbia and Croatia saw queues of about 20 minutes for processing that took roughly two minutes per person, with similar preparations underway at UK departure points such as Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar terminals for British citizens. Officials, including EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and UK Border Security Minister Alex Norris, have underscored the system’s role in safeguarding citizens and aligning border protections between the UK and EU, with no major disruptions reported on launch day and funding allocated to mitigate potential delays. As this technology integrates into routine travel, it promises enhanced vigilance against irregular entries without imposing pre-travel requirements on visitors.