Mamdani’s ‘God Squad’ Clerics, Activists Weaponize Islamophobia Claims to Shield Anti-Freedom Agenda
A cadre of clerics, activists, and political operatives dubbed the “God Squad” aggressively shields New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani by branding any scrutiny of his campaign as Islamophobic bigotry, even as they openly promote anti-U.S., anti-Israel, and anti-capitalist ideologies that undermine core American freedoms; Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who once served as a character witness for a convicted 1993 World Trade Center bomber and has labeled the United States “filthy and sick,” rallies behind Mamdani from his Brooklyn mosque; protest organizer Abdullah Akl chants for “globalizing the intifada” while dismissing the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre as an inadequate trigger for resistance; Muslim American Society youth leader Mohammad Badawi urges fighting Israel “by any means necessary”; CAIR official Basim Elkarra threatens to “teach AIPAC a lesson” through political retribution; media personality Mehdi Hasan, who previously tweeted “Make American Planes Crash Again,” conducts fawning interviews with Mamdani; theologian Yasir Qadhi celebrates the candidate’s ascent as a “civilizational victory” over Western values; chaplain Khalid Latif praises him as a vessel of “compassion” amid calls to dismantle capitalism; and longtime agitator Linda Sarsour, Mamdani’s mentor with a record of inflammatory rhetoric, coordinates defenses that equate policy critiques with religious hatred—all while this network of over 110 aligned nonprofits mobilizes to impose their restrictive worldview through democratic means in the November 4, 2025, election.
Sources: The New York Post, The Washington Examiner
Audit Uncovers Over $1 Billion in Federal Medicaid Funds Improperly Spent on Illegal Immigrants’ Healthcare
A preliminary audit by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that five states—California, Illinois, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon—along with Washington, D.C., improperly expended a combined $1,351,204,127 in federal Medicaid funds on healthcare services for illegal immigrants during 2024 and 2025, despite federal law limiting such reimbursements to emergency medical conditions only. California accounted for the majority of the expenditure, surpassing $1 billion, while Illinois contributed nearly $30 million and Oregon approximately $5.5 million; the audit, announced by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, highlights instances where states extended coverage beyond permitted emergency services, prompting the Trump administration to initiate aggressive recovery efforts and enhanced oversight to reclaim the misallocated taxpayer dollars and enforce program integrity.
Sources: The Epoch Times, The Washington Times
Obamacare’s Enduring Flaws Laid Bare in Prolonged Shutdown Standoff
The ongoing federal government shutdown, now exceeding 30 days as of November 1st, has spotlighted persistent shortcomings in the Affordable Care Act, with the impending expiration of enhanced premium subsidies on December 31st threatening to double costs for over 24 million enrollees and exposing systemic issues, including unfulfilled promises, insurer profiteering, and regulatory burdens that have eroded private medical practices. During the ACA’s 2013 rollout amid a prior shutdown, former President Barack Obama’s assurances that Americans could retain their existing plans and doctors proved false, as millions faced cancellations of non-compliant coverage and narrowed provider networks, a deception PolitiFact later deemed the “Lie of the Year.” Economists note that family premiums surged 129% from 2013 to 2019, contrary to Obama’s pledge of $2,500 annual reductions, while expanded subsidies under the 2021 American Rescue Plan and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act—now set to lapse—have enabled insurance companies to pocket billions in unused funds from “ghost enrollees,” boosting industry profits by over 240% and drawing bipartisan scrutiny for moral and fiscal lapses. Union leaders, including those from the Teamsters and UFCW, warned in 2013 that ACA mandates would inflate costs and disrupt benefits without adequate offsets, a concern echoed today as open enrollment begins November 1st, potentially deterring sign-ups amid “sticker shock.” Regulatory pressures have further consolidated practices, leaving only 42-47% of physicians independent in 2024, upending patient access and accelerating corporate dominance in healthcare delivery. Republicans advocate separating subsidy debates from funding resolutions to pursue reforms addressing fraud and market distortions, while Democrats condition reopening the government on extensions, prolonging uncertainty for federal workers, SNAP recipients, and marketplace participants. Read more on this issue in Underground USA’s featured article, “Obamacare: A Marxist-Progressive Scam That Enriched Cronies & Impoverished Patients.”
Sources: Just The News, FOX News
Secret Service Removes 17 Skimmers in San Antonio, Averting $17.7 Million in EBT Fraud Losses
The U.S. Secret Service, partnering with the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, executed a two-day Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud outreach operation on October 28th-29th, 2025, inspecting more than 4,300 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps, and ATMs at 712 businesses across San Antonio and successfully removing 17 illegal skimming devices, thereby preventing an estimated $17.7 million in potential losses to vulnerable consumers reliant on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Special Agent in Charge Brian Gibson of the Secret Service’s San Antonio Field Office highlighted the proactive removal of these devices as a key measure to block criminals from capturing card data before it can be exploited, while San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stressed the value of federal-local collaboration in upholding the security of public assistance programs. This initiative forms part of a wider national campaign encompassing over 20 comparable operations this year, as authorities observe a marked uptick in skimming incidents directed at EBT cards, which annually result in over $1 billion in fraud affecting families’ access to essential food and cash assistance; officials urged users to check readers for irregularities, opt for chip or contactless payments, and shield PIN entries to mitigate risks.
Sources: US Secret Service, NextGov.com
Indiana Sting Nets 223 Illegal Immigrant Arrests, Including Over 140 Truck Drivers
A joint operation between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Indiana State Police, conducted under the 287(g) program as part of the broader Chicago-centered Operation Midway Blitz, resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal immigrants along northwest Indiana highways near the Illinois state line, with 146 identified as commercial vehicle drivers operating semi-trucks, box trucks, buses, and similar vehicles. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the outcome on October 30th, during a news conference in Gary, Indiana, alongside Governor Mike Braun and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, emphasizing the enforcement’s focus on roadway safety amid concerns over unlicensed drivers. More than 40 of the detained drivers possessed commercial driver’s licenses issued by states including Illinois, California, and New York, while criminal histories among the arrestees encompassed convictions for drunk driving, drug trafficking, assault, child abuse, domestic violence, theft, burglary, prostitution, and fraud. The initiative, launched in September 2025, has contributed to over 3,000 total arrests nationwide, targeting public safety risks posed by undocumented individuals in commercial transportation roles.
Sources: US Dept of Homeland Security, FOX News
Appeals Court Halts Judge’s Mandate for Daily Border Patrol Briefings in Chicago Immigration Enforcement
The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay on October 29th, blocking U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’s order that required Customs and Border Protection commander-at-large Gregory Bovino to appear in her Chicago courtroom each weekday at 5:45 p.m. to provide updates on federal immigration operations under Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration initiative targeting enforcement in the city and suburbs. The ruling came hours before Bovino’s first scheduled appearance, following a Department of Justice appeal that described the directive as an overreach infringing on executive functions and separation of powers by micromanaging law enforcement activities. Ellis had imposed the requirement on October 28th after questioning Bovino under oath about alleged violations of a temporary restraining order, including incidents where Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls against protesters during arrests, prompting a lawsuit from media organizations, clergy, and demonstrators claiming First Amendment infringements and excessive force. The appeals court noted the order positioned the judiciary as an “inquisitor” supervising executive personnel decisions, pausing it pending further review while allowing Bovino’s deposition to proceed and upholding Ellis’s separate mandates for body cameras and incident report submissions by November 1st. The Department of Homeland Security welcomed the decision as a check on judicial interference, amid broader tensions over federal tactics in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Sources: The Epoch Times, FOX News
Baltimore County Ends Sanctuary Status, Aligns with Federal Immigration Enforcement
Baltimore County, Maryland, has reached a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, resulting in its removal from the federal list of sanctuary jurisdictions, as announced by the Department of Justice on October 31st. The agreement, the second such arrangement nationwide following Nevada’s earlier pact, formalizes existing procedures within the Baltimore County Department of Corrections, mandating at least 48 hours’ notice to ICE prior to releasing individuals subject to immigration detainers, thereby enabling federal authorities to assume custody where applicable. This development follows President Trump’s April 2025 executive order directing the identification and potential defunding of non-cooperative jurisdictions, with ICE’s initial nationwide sanctuary list published on August 5th, 2025, designating Baltimore County as Maryland’s sole such entity after a prior May listing was retracted amid widespread disputes. County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s administration, which had contested the August designation as erroneous, emphasized that the pact introduces no alterations to local operations and mirrors compliance practices across other Maryland jurisdictions, while Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward commended the county’s cooperation amid state-level constraints, describing it as a measured advancement in upholding public safety through adherence to national immigration statutes.
Sources: US Justice Dept, WBAL-TV
Economic Data Exposes Spanberger’s Trump Critique as Detached from Virginia’s Job Realities
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics reports reveal a stark contrast to Democrat Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s assertion that President Trump cannot aid the state’s economic recovery, as she likened him to an arsonist amid a federal shutdown halting official data releases; while national nonfarm payrolls added just 22,000 jobs in August 2025 with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3 percent, Virginia’s unemployment rate stood at a robust 3.4 percent in March 2025—well below the national average and reflecting pre-shutdown stability—and the commonwealth had already gained over 30,000 jobs in the first half of the year before federal workforce adjustments began, underscoring Trump’s pro-growth policies as a boon rather than a barrier for Virginians. Spanberger’s refusal to collaborate, voiced in a PBS NewsHour interview, ignores these figures and the broader context of a preliminary BLS benchmark revision in September 2025 that adjusted prior-year hiring downward by 911,000 nationally but affirmed Virginia’s outperformance through targeted federal efficiencies under Trump’s administration, which have preserved high-wage opportunities in sectors like defense and technology even as overall projections from the Weldon Cooper Center anticipate a modest 9,000-job dip by year-end due to temporary shutdown disruptions rather than inherent policy flaws. This ideological dismissal, echoed in her silence on Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones’ leaked violent texts while attacking Trump on Truth Social as “weak and ineffective,” prioritizes partisan rhetoric over the empirical evidence of sustained employment gains that have kept Virginia’s economy resilient, with RealClearPolitics showing her 7.4 percent polling lead now vulnerable to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ rebuttal on X that Spanberger’s “hatred for Trump outweighs” her duty to constituents.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trading Economics
SpaceX Secures $2 Billion Pentagon Contract for Advanced Missile-Tracking Satellite Network
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is poised to receive a $2 billion contract from the Pentagon to build a satellite constellation designed to track moving air targets such as missiles and aircraft, forming a key component of the broader Golden Dome missile-defense initiative funded through legislation signed by President Trump in July 2025. The agreement, which includes up to 600 satellites in low-Earth orbit, highlights SpaceX’s competitive edge in rapid satellite production and deployment, building on its existing Starlink network of over 10,000 satellites and prior defense collaborations. In addition to this core project, SpaceX is slated for significant involvement in two classified systems: MilNet for secure military communications and a network for monitoring ground vehicles. While the deal advances the Pentagon’s shift toward commercial providers for national security space capabilities, it has prompted cautions from lawmakers like Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) regarding the risks of over-reliance on one vendor, emphasizing the need for sustained competition in procurement processes. The Pentagon has not yet issued an official confirmation on the award.
Sources: FOX Business, NewsMax
UVA Staff Admit DEI Initiatives Persist Through Rebranding After Federal Scrutiny
University of Virginia employees and students candidly revealed that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the institution have not been eliminated following a March 2025 agreement with the Trump administration to dissolve the central DEI office and comply with federal civil rights laws, but rather rebranded with neutral terminology to evade ongoing oversight and preserve federal funding eligibility. Program coordinator Davon Lewis described renaming events such as “Queer Brunch” to “Cozy Brunch” and “Comida Comunidad” in the Latinx Student Center to “food and community,” stating, “We’re doing the same stuff, but like changing the names a little bit, so like it doesn’t bring scrutiny on the office,” while confirming the adjustments were made explicitly to avoid trouble. Student Asia added that affinity programs are now operating “under the radar” amid concerns over antisemitism and the prior ousting of university president Jim Ryan in June 2025 over DEI-related issues, with staff emphasizing caution in continuing programming. This development follows the UVA Board of Visitors’ unanimous resolution to end discriminatory practices and transfer permissible activities elsewhere, a move initially praised by Governor Glenn Youngkin as aligning with merit-based policies under Executive Order 14173, yet America First Legal has urged the Department of Justice to enforce compliance, audit funding since fiscal year 2021, and compel disclosure of personnel shifts, highlighting rebranded initiatives like “Inclusive Excellence” and “Viewpoint Diversity” that retain identity-based preferences in scholarships and roles across schools such as Darden Business.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, America First Legal
University Leaders Cite Iranian Encouragement in Coordinated Anti-Israel Campus Demonstrations
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud stated during a Washington, D.C. panel discussion that pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protests on U.S. campuses following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel were encouraged by Iran and involved few, if any, of the university’s own students, with many participants appearing as external activists using face masks to evade identification. Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier described the unrest as following an imported “playbook” indicative of organized networks, while Washington University in St. Louis Chancellor Andrew D. Martin noted that three-quarters of demonstrators at his institution had no affiliation with the university. The panel, hosted by Alums for Campus Fairness, highlighted a shift from initial organic expressions to more aggressive, coordinated actions demanding divestment from Israel and accusations of genocide, amid broader congressional probes into foreign influences and prior intelligence assessments confirming Iran’s financial support for such activities.
Sources: The Washington Free Beacon, Legal Insurrection
DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COMMENTARY:
Obamacare: A Marxist-Progressive Scam
That Enriched Cronies & Impoverished Patients
The original sales pitch was based on two bald-faced lies: premiums would fall by $2,500 per family, and “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” Both exploded on contact with reality. The average family premium has nearly tripled since 2013, from $5,800 to $16,400, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Deductibles now routinely exceed $8,000—money patients must spend before the “insurance” kicks in, rendering the policy a catastrophic coupon at best. Networks shrank as insurers fled unprofitable markets; the promise of keeping your doctor morphed into keeping whichever overworked stranger is on call at the in-network clinic—if you can get an appointment before next year…
Read and listen to more at UndergroundUSA.com
Maduro Turns to Russia and China for Urgent Military Aid Amid U.S. Caribbean Buildup
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has urgently requested military assistance from Russia, China, and Iran as U.S. naval forces amass in the Caribbean, according to internal U.S. government documents. In a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maduro sought defensive radars, repairs for Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter jets, and potential missile deliveries, with a senior aide tasked to deliver it during a recent Moscow visit. A separate missive to Chinese President Xi Jinping called for expanded military cooperation and accelerated production of radar detection systems, framing any U.S. action against Venezuela as an ideological assault on Beijing. Venezuela’s transport minister also appealed to Iran for GPS scramblers, passive detection equipment, and drones with a 600-mile range to bolster defenses against perceived threats. The requests come amid a U.S. deployment of warships and thousands of Marines, which the Trump administration describes as operations targeting drug cartels linked to Maduro’s regime, though Venezuelan officials denounce it as preparation for regime change. Despite longstanding ties, Russia, China, and Iran face domestic constraints and risks of U.S. sanctions that could hinder aid deliveries, leaving Maduro’s worn military in a precarious position as tensions escalate in the region.
Carney Apologizes to Trump for Misleading Anti-Tariff Ad Featuring Reagan
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump for an anti-tariff advertisement sponsored by the Ontario provincial government, which aired during the World Series and featured selectively edited clips from former President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address criticizing protectionist trade policies as harmful to workers and consumers. Trump halted trade negotiations with Canada in response to the commercial, which he described as fraudulent for distorting Reagan’s support for tariffs in specific national security contexts, such as against Japanese semiconductors, and imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports atop existing duties related to USMCA compliance and fentanyl concerns. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation confirmed the ad misrepresented the remarks by omitting context and using unauthorized edits, prompting Ontario Premier Doug Ford to pause the $75 million campaign after discussions with Carney. Despite the apology conveyed during a recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in South Korea, Trump stated he maintains a positive personal relationship with Carney but has no immediate plans to resume talks, emphasizing satisfaction with current trade arrangements.
Sources: The New York Post, The Washington Examiner
Houthis Announce Trial for Detained UN Personnel Over Suspected Israeli Strike Involvement
Yemen’s Houthi authorities, controlling the capital Sanaa, have declared that 43 local United Nations staff members will face trial on charges of aiding an Israeli airstrike in August 2025 that killed the Houthi prime minister and several senior officials, marking the first such attack to target high-level leaders in the Iran-backed group’s territory. Acting Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras stated the detentions, part of a broader sweep involving at least 59 UN personnel including those from the World Food Programme, proceeded under judicial oversight with accusations centered on a spy cell within UN operations that facilitated the strike. The United Nations has categorically denied any involvement by its staff, labeling the arrests arbitrary and demanding their immediate release to resume vital humanitarian efforts in Houthi-held areas amid ongoing regional tensions sparked by the group’s Red Sea shipping attacks since late 2023.
Sources: The Algemeiner, The Times of Israel
Forensic Analysis Confirms Returned Gaza Remains Not Linked to Israeli Hostages
The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the handover of three bodies from Gaza to Israel on Friday, with forensic examinations at the Abu Kabir Institute for Forensic Medicine concluding by Saturday that none belonged to any Israeli hostages held captive or previously deceased. This development follows the earlier identification on Thursday of two other remains as those of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, the last hostages from Kibbutz Nir Oz, which Hamas had withheld citing Israeli airstrikes in Rafah that resulted in the death of IDF reservist Staff Sgt. Efi Feldbaum. Residents of the Eshkol Regional Council gathered at the Gaza border’s Gama Junction to receive the convoy, underscoring ongoing community involvement in repatriation efforts. Israeli officials noted that while the latest transfer does not breach prior agreements, Hamas persists in failing to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law to return all remains of fallen captives, as emphasized by the ICRC’s role in neutral mediation and identification processes conducted solely by Israeli authorities.
Sources: Ynet News, Times of Israel
Finland’s Government Escalates Deportations Amid Undocumented Migrant Surge
Finland’s center-right government, in power since 2023, has intensified its immigration controls, resulting in a 30 percent increase in deportations to 2,070 foreign nationals between January and September 2025 compared to the previous year, as reported by the National Police Board. This policy shift, described by Interior Minister Mari Rantanen as a “paradigm shift,” includes stricter requirements for asylum, residence permits, family reunification, and citizenship, while prohibiting undocumented migrants from applying for work within the country and enforcing departures even during appeals of rejected applications. At the Helsinki-based House of Hope center, operated by a Christian organization, aid workers have noted a rise in visits from vulnerable individuals—primarily men aged 30 to 45 from Morocco, Somalia, and Iraq, alongside families, children, elderly, and trafficking victims from over 40 non-EU nations—who express fears of returning to unstable or dangerous home conditions, such as domestic violence or persecution. Estimates place the undocumented population in Finland between 3,500 and 5,000, amid a backdrop where 11 percent of the 5.6 million population has a foreign background, though work-related immigration and asylum claims have declined. Officials, including Chief Superintendent Janne Lepsu, emphasize closer scrutiny of residence rights to align with Nordic standards and bolster internal security, reflecting broader EU trends in tightening borders.
Sources: The Straits Times, France24
Globalist Climate Control Scheme: Fewer Than 60 World Leaders Confirm for Brazil’s Pre-COP30 Amazon Summit
Brazil’s chief negotiator, Mauricio Lyrio, announced on October 31st, that only 57 heads of state and government have confirmed participation in the Amazonian leaders’ summit scheduled for November 6th-7th in Belem, ahead of the main COP30 United Nations climate conference from November 10th to 21st—a sharp drop from 75 attendees at COP29 in Azerbaijan last year and roughly half the number at COP28 in Dubai in 2023—while many around the world now see the subject of climate change and the hysteria around it as a manipulative scheme by globalists to exercise control over populations. Logistical strains in the host city of 1.4 million residents have driven accommodation prices sky-high for the expected 50,000 participants, forcing organizers to secure private homes, university dorms, schools, and two cruise ships docked 20 kilometers from the venue, with environmental groups labeling the event potentially the most exclusionary in history amid these barriers and broader global political uncertainties. Confirmed attendees include leaders from Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Colombia, Chile, Cape Verde, Liberia, and Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin, with China’s President Xi Jinping represented by Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang; the United States and Argentina have yet to confirm any high-level delegation, continuing their reviews of multilateral climate engagements.
Sources: The Straits Times, Terra Daily