🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP
Federal Agents Search Home Of Rep. Ilhan Omar In Criminal Investigation
Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant early Monday at the Washington-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. The Department of Justice confirmed the action but gave no further details. Sources familiar with the probe said it concerns alleged immigration fraud involving paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child. Omar, who was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States as a refugee, posted on social media that the search is “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement” and that she “will not be silenced.” Her communications director, Jacklyn Rogers, called it “an outrageous abuse of power” and said, “The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong.” The search took place weeks before the midterm elections in which Omar is seeking reelection.
Editor’s Note: A judicially authorized warrant means a judge found probable cause.
🏛️ News & Politics
Wisconsin Democrat Gubernatorial Nominee Oversaw Millions In Rental Aid To Nonprofit Employing His Wife
Democrat Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley oversaw Milwaukee County as it distributed more than $65 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds through Community Advocates, a nonprofit that employs his wife. Ericka Crowley began working at Community Advocates in 2020, the year her husband took office as county executive, and was later promoted to director of the Rental Housing Resource Center. Community Advocates confirmed that Crowley ultimately approved the contract but said he “did not influence the decision-making process for the ERA2 funding.” A November 2022 county press release stated that $15 million in Treasury funds would continue the rental assistance program operated in partnership with Community Advocates. The release noted that the partnership had distributed a total of $65.4 million in ERA2 funds since Crowley took office. Crowley’s campaign did not respond to questions about any potential conflict of interest or changes to his wife’s compensation. He is running against Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the Nov. 3 general election.
New York Attorney General Faces Bar Complaint Over Cornell Case Comments
New York Attorney General Letitia James faces a bar ethics complaint for public statements about the “Cornell 7” case before Governor Kathy Hochul (D) appointed her special prosecutor. The National Legal and Policy Center filed a nine-page complaint with New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee, accusing James of a “flagrant, obvious and therefore shocking” violation of ethics rules after she posted on September 28: “What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers. To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.” Legal ethicist Jack Marshall concluded James has a “serious and incurable conflict of interest” and is obligated to recuse or be removed. Two accused former Cornell Chi Phi members have filed motions to disqualify her, arguing her statements show she has already concluded they are guilty. A hearing is set for October 29. James’ office said it will follow only the facts, evidence, and the law.
Businesses File RICO Suits Against Alleged Litigation Fraud Schemes
Businesses and insurers have filed nearly 300 lawsuits under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act since 2024, alleging organized fraud rings involving law firms, litigation funders, medical providers and others, according to a report by the American Tort Reform Association. The 1970 federal law was originally aimed at organized crime. Phil Melin, executive director of Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, said the suits represent a counterattack, telling The Center Square, “these businesses have filed lawsuits against some of these abusive law firms and have said, ‘Listen, these guys are kind of like organized crime.’” In Illinois asbestos cases flagged by the report, American Tort Reform Association Vice President Lauren Sheets Jarrell said patients “were coached on what to say and to perjure themselves.” Courts dismissed about 96 percent of more than 400 cases against one manufacturer. Melin said Illinois residents pay an estimated annual tort tax of $2,000. Madison, St. Clair and Cook counties rank on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s Judicial Hellholes list.
Scattered Ballots And Mail Theft Raise Concerns Over California Mail-In Voting
Election mail, including signed and unsigned mail-in ballots, was found scattered along Lake Wohlford Road in San Diego County’s North County last Thursday. Local resident Scott Harmes said the mail “was spread across the road” and “the way they were spread out it almost looks like they were thrown out the window of a car.” He added, “This discovery really shows we have to have greater concern for the chain of custody of ballots.” In a separate incident, federal postal inspectors are investigating a mail theft from a U.S. Postal Service truck in Sacramento’s College Glen neighborhood on Tuesday, one day after the county began mailing ballots. Surveillance footage shows a gray SUV pulling alongside the truck as a masked individual removes trays of mail. Officials said the stolen items may have included election ballots. A resident said she expected ballots for her great-grandchildren that never arrived. Postal inspectors have offered a reward for information leading to an arrest.
Majority Of Voters Concerned About Socialist Candidates Running For Office
A majority of American voters are concerned about democratic socialist candidates running for and winning elected office, according to a new poll. The Center Square Voters’ Voice poll found that 55 percent of registered voters are concerned, while 37 percent are not. Of those concerned, 35 percent are very concerned, and 20 percent are somewhat concerned. Of those not concerned, 17 percent are not too concerned, and 20 percent are not at all concerned. The poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights from Oct. 5-7 among 2,527 registered voters, comes as the Democratic Socialists of America reports multiple wins and candidates advancing in states including New York, Colorado, Michigan, California, and Florida. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said, “The Democratic Party is becoming the party of socialism. 58% view socialism positively. 50% view capitalism negatively. I’m a proud free market capitalist. This is lunacy.” An earlier August poll found 63 percent concerned about the growth of socialism or communism.
FEATURED ARTICLE:
⭐⭐⭐ Those Polls Are Turnout Weapons, Not News
BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE ARTICLE, LIKE IT & SHARE IT WIDELY
📢 The Fifth Column Watch
College Students Prefer Socialism To Capitalism In Buckley Institute Survey
A survey of 803 American undergraduates, conducted by Inquire LLC for the Buckley Institute at Yale between September 5 and 14, found that students prefer living under socialism to capitalism by a 42 percent to 28 percent margin, the largest gap in five years. A plurality of 47 percent said countries like Cuba and the Soviet Union offer a better economic model than the United States. Twenty-two percent said America deserved the September 11 attacks. Although 87 percent called the First Amendment important, nearly half favored speech codes or criminalizing offensive speech, while 46 percent supported shouting down speakers and 45 percent justified violence to stop hate speech. “During the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, America’s college students have swung heavily in favor of socialism,” said Lauren Noble, the Buckley Institute’s founder and executive director.
Teacher Breaks Down Over Class Where Only One Of 34 Students Passes
An elementary school teacher broke down while describing a class of 34 students in which only one passed an assessment, with many unable to correctly copy a simple word written on the board. Educators link the pattern to parents failing to instill basic discipline and listening skills. National data show an academic slide, with 2024 Nation’s Report Card results for 12th-graders at historic lows in reading and math, and surveys finding that many teachers report worse student behavior that they attribute to home environments. Teachers say children arrive without having learned to listen or follow directions. The teacher said, “I literally put the word on the board. I write it on the board, and I say copy it, and they’re copying it wrong — it’s almost scary because you’re like, dude — then you start questioning yourself. You’re like, is it me? Like, what? I’m exhausted.” She added that the situation “breaks my heart” and that it “comes down to the parents.”
El-Sayed Denies Family Muslim Brotherhood Ties While Sister’s Posts Differ
Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed denied on NBC’s Meet the Press that he or anyone in his family has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. When Kristen Welker asked whether he or his family had such ties, El-Sayed answered “No” three times. His half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, wrote in 2012 and 2013 social media posts that her family “has long been MB” and that she has “had family jailed for being a part of it.” Abdelhadi and El-Sayed share a mother, Fatten Elkomy, who emigrated from Egypt. The posts resurfaced as El-Sayed faced questions raised by Republican nominee Mike Rogers (R-MI) during a debate. El-Sayed’s father-in-law has served on the founding committee of the Islamic Society of North America, identified by federal prosecutors as having historical ties to the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
San Francisco Mayor Says Progressive Values Led City Down Wrong Path
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie (D) said the city got “so entrapped in our progressive values” that it lost its way on issues including crime, homelessness, drug use, housing and affordability. In an interview with Dana Bash, Lurie stated, “We lost our way as a city. We were focused on the wrong things.” He noted that 810 people died of overdose in San Francisco three years ago and that there were 30,000 car break-ins, adding, “There’s nothing progressive about that.” Lurie said car break-ins have dropped 90 percent. He added, “There’s nothing progressive about small businesses having to shutter because they’re a victim of crime over and over again.” Lurie, a Levi Strauss heir elected in 2024 after defeating incumbent London Breed, has prioritized public safety and cutting red tape for businesses. He has also worked with federal agencies while opposing the deployment of the National Guard.
Illinois Lawmaker And County Clerk Husband Remain In Office Despite Federal Charges
Illinois State Rep. Carol Ammons (D) and her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, remain in office and on the November ballot despite facing federal fraud and obstruction charges. A federal grand jury indicted them on July 7, 2026, and both pleaded not guilty on July 16. Prosecutors allege Carol Ammons orchestrated a scheme from 2017 to 2025 diverting campaign contributions and state grants for personal and family benefit, including payments to their daughter. Aaron Ammons faces charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice for allegedly encouraging a witness to “muddy the waters.” U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless, appointed by President Joe Biden, postponed their trial from November 17 to December 7. The clerk’s office has issued ballots with incorrect district information affecting hundreds of voters, including in the district where Carol Ammons is running. Both are seeking reelection.
ON THIS DAY IN 1492:
Christopher Columbus’s expedition made landfall in the Bahamas. This event marked the beginning of sustained European contact with the Americas and forms the historical origin of Columbus Day in the U.S.
🌐 International
Tehran Rejects U.S. Response To Iranian Conditions As Inadequate
Iran rejected the latest U.S. offer, which included partial concessions to its conditions for ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, calling it inadequate. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the United States had agreed to some of Tehran’s conditions, but the response still falls short and cannot be incremental or partial. “Iranian diplomacy has changed, and there will be no return to the status quo ante,” Rezaei stated. He demanded full compliance with Tehran’s conditions. Rezaei described President Trump as “deluded by the fantasy of conquering Iran,” who launched “one of the most idiotic wars in human history after being duped by Netanyahu.” Iran continues to assert control of the Strait of Hormuz. A major hang-up remains the nuclear file, with Iran insisting it will not discuss enrichment until after a negotiated end to the conflict. Trump has hinted at resuming bombing after the midterm elections.
Editor’s Note: It is stunning that the US—and, in fact, the world—is letting the IRGC dictate terms.
Abbas Postpones Palestinian Elections Until 2027
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree postponing legislative elections from next month until Sept. 11, 2027, and scheduling presidential elections for the same date, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. The move extends more than two decades without a vote for a new legislature since the last one in 2006, when Hamas won a majority. Abbas’ office and the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee cited Israeli restrictions, conditions in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and the need for suitable conditions for free and fair elections. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the claim, writing on X that it was “yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability.” Hamas welcomed the postponement as “a step in the right direction.” The delay allows leaders to remain in power without facing voters and comes as the Palestinian Authority’s role in Gaza remains uncertain under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan.
British Prime Minister Says Russia Interfered In Brexit Referendum
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, the first time a sitting UK leader has made the claim. In an interview on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Burnham said that when he arrived at Downing Street, he asked officials whether there had been Russian interference and received “the clear answer that, yes, there was.” He added that Britain had been “too much on the back foot” and had not informed the public sufficiently about foreign efforts to disrupt the political process. Burnham also warned of similar disinformation campaigns targeting politics in Germany and France, saying such information should be put on the record so voters understand that some politics is “instigated via our enemies, namely Russia.” The remarks mark a departure from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said in 2020 there was no evidence of such interference.
Investigation Finds Most Groups Behind French Student Protests Are Not Students
A Fox News Digital investigation found that only 15 of 50 organizations linked to France’s student protests are student or youth groups, with the rest consisting of labor unions, communist and socialist organizations, political parties and international amplifiers. The remaining 35 adult groups include a dozen labor unions, eight communist or socialist organizations, and four political parties, including La France Insoumise and the French Communist Party. Much of the international amplification has come through BreakThrough News, a New York-based outlet funded by American-born, Shanghai-based tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, who has financed a network of far-left groups. The protests began over school conditions but have drawn support from adult activists and media outlets framing them as a broader strike against austerity. On the ground, demonstrators have marched with hammer-and-sickle banners alongside Palestinian flags.
China Advances Global Governance Initiative Ahead Of Xiongan Forum
China is advancing its Global Governance Initiative ahead of hosting the first Xiong’an Global Governance Forum in Hebei Province this autumn and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has listed both events among priorities for implementing the initiative, which President Xi Jinping announced on September 1, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting in Tianjin. Wang said “a few countries monopolize global governance” and that this should no longer continue. The initiative’s five core concepts are sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and “real results.” Beijing has established the Group of Friends of Global Governance inside the United Nations, with nearly 40 founding members at its December 2025 launch. China has also created the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong and the World AI Cooperation Organization in Shanghai, joined by 29 countries including Russia. A June 2026 white paper claimed nearly 160 countries and organizations have backed the initiative.
