NASHVILLE — Banana Taffy, Dragon Drink, Hawaiian Fruit Punch. Those aren’t smoothies or soft drinks. Those are a sampling of the variety of vapes that continue to enter the United States illegally from China in 2025.
Cases of the brightly-colored devices lined the booths at this year’s Alternative Products Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. Some vape devices featured LED screens. Some were stackable, allowing up to three flavors, enabling the user to concoct their own mixture of candy-like vape flavors. Other vapes were stylized as designer purses. One wholesaler employee pitched a pastel vape device that doubled as a fidget toy.
And as of 2020, all of them were illegal.
<div id="attachment_966933" style="width: 453px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-966933" class="wp-image-966933 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6-443x576.jpg" alt="" width="443" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6-443x576.jpg 443w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6-231x300.jpg 231w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6-768x999.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6-1181x1536.jpg 1181w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_6.jpg 1516w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" />A promotional flyer for the Alternative Products Expo in Nashville, Tennessee.</div>
While American manufacturers like JUUL only sell vapes in menthol and tobacco flavors — the only legal flavors in the United States — wholesalers skirt Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations by importing vape products from China. These unregulated Chinese vapes are flooding the United States, despite warning letters and threats of seizure by the FDA. At the Alternative Products Expo, wholesalers promoted their illegal, Chinese vape products completely out in the open.
The Chinese company <a href="https://www.kangvapecig.com/">Kangvape</a> prominently displayed its TC8000 vape. The booth stocked the flavors Cool Mint, Miami Mint, Pineapple Coconut, Vintage, Virginia Tobacco, and Watermelon Ice. A flyer advertised an additional 23 flavors, including Rainbow Paradise.
Kangvape also sold its Speedy Beast vape in 20 flavors — none of which included tobacco or menthol. Instead, the Speedy Beast boasted the exotic-sounding Blue Laffi Taffi, Ruby Delight, and Tropical Starburst.
These are being openly hawked with no concern for past threats of action. The FDA <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/nfv-llc-dba-nfdvapes-and-nic-fix-doctor-673307-12122023">cited</a> the Rainbow Paradise flavor of the TC8000 in a warning letter from December 2023. Another FDA warning letter from April 2024 <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/highfi-vape-682420-04302024">noted</a> the illegal Kangvape Onee Stick. 
<div id="attachment_966947" style="width: 429px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-966947" class="wp-image-966947 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-419x576.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-419x576.jpg 419w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-218x300.jpg 218w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-768x1055.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-1118x1536.jpg 1118w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4-1490x2048.jpg 1490w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_4.jpg 1496w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px" />ZColors by ZLAB is another Chinese vape company that sells its products in the United States.</div>
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said cracking down on illegal vapes is a “top priority” for the agency, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-priority-fda-to-crack-down-on-illegal-chinese-vapes">reported</a>.
“Eighty-five percent of the vaping products sold in the vape stores are illegal according to the FDA’s list,” Makary said. “We don’t even know what’s in some of these vaping products.”
There are only 39 vape products that have been authorized by the FDA.
An FDA spokesman says a federal task force is facilitating actions against illegal products.
“FDA has taken numerous actions against unauthorized new tobacco products from international firms, including e-cigarettes that are most popular with youth,” the spokesman told The Daily Wire.
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The FDA reports that it has seized millions of dollars’ worth of illegal products. In January, the agency seized $7 million worth of vape products, including the brand Geek Bar, which an FDA press release <a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/ctp-newsroom/more-7-million-worth-illegal-e-cigarettes-seized-federal-operation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> “may appeal to youth.”
The seizures haven’t scared Kangvape. The company sold dozens of boxes of Geek Bar vapes at the Expo, featuring flavors ranging from Banana Taffy Freeze to Blue Razz Ice.
Federal action appears to have had little impact on Chinese vapes in general. The Expo featured wholesalers that have received FDA warning letters and seemingly ignored them.
One such wholesaler, Safa Goods, was a sponsor of the Expo. Its name appeared on Expo nametags, as did advertisements for two other illegal vape brands, Beri Crush and Raz LTX.
The warning letter to Safa, <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/safa-goods-llc-665079-10052023">sent</a> in October 2023, cited the illegal vape product EB Design BC5000 Blue Razz Ice. Safa’s booth didn’t advertise the EB vapes. But it did sell the illegal vape Raz LTX 25K, which was <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/vapejuicecom-709722-05302025">cited</a> in an FDA warning letter from May 2025.
The Raz LTX 25K is a <a href="https://mipod.com/blogs/mipodblog/what-happened-to-raz-dc25000-vapes?srsltid=AfmBOor8Y9qvgdp0D6RivbJ6vGd7lvXcRpp2AeXAOV_R7DvF28cbEUfl">rebrand</a> of the Raz DC25000, which has also been cited in multiple FDA warning letters. Safa’s Expo booth sold the flavor Mango Loco, which was <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/thesmokeplugcom-709720-05302025">named</a> in an FDA warning letter from May 2025.
<div id="attachment_967009" style="width: 452px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-967009" class="wp-image-967009 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-442x576.jpg" alt="" width="442" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-442x576.jpg 442w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-230x300.jpg 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-768x1000.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-1179x1536.jpg 1179w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7-1572x2048.jpg 1572w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Vape-Flyers_7.jpg 1612w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px" />Safa Goods, a U.S. company that distributes Chinese vape products, was a sponsor of the Alternative Products Expo in Nashville.</div>
Safa also sold dozens of flavors aside from menthol and tobacco in additional brands.
The company is the subject of a New York lawsuit <a href="https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-sues-nations-largest-vape-distributors-fueling-youth">suing</a> multiple vape distributors “for illegally distributing, marketing, and selling flavored disposable vapes.”
A primary concern with these vapes, with flavors more fit for a candy store than a tobacco shop, is that they appeal to children. Illegal e-cigarettes often attract children and teens through bright colors and fruit- and candy-based flavors, according to Makary.
The FDA spokesman said the agency works with “federal partners to combat these attempted illegal imports and enhance enforcement activities,” especially against vape products “that may be appealing to youth.”
An FDA seizure in 2023 included the illegal brand Lost Mary. Expo wholesaler Strictly E-Cig’s 2025 product catalog advertised 30 flavors of Lost Mary vapes, with names such as Dragon Drink, Rocket Popsicle, and Scary Berry. The Lost Mary products are available for purchase online.
Another wholesaler, Sol Trading, leaned into pastel colors and “cutie, fruity flavors” to market its UT Bar vape, which one employee pitched as both a vape and a fidget toy.
The UT Bar combines two flavors into one vape. The flavor combinations included B-Pop and Watermelon, Citrus Ice and Sour Fab, Cool Mint and Icy Mint, and Raspberry and White Peach.
Multiple sellers advertised flavor combinations at the Expo. Chinese-based company Ziip Lab sold its Z-Land vape, which allows the user to stack up to three vape pods for more than 125,000 flavor combinations, according to a handout from the booth.
The flyer advertised stacking flavors such as Berry Mix and Guava, as well as Blueberry, Green Apple, and Orange. Z-Land comes in a total of 51 flavors, including Milk, Rainbow Rain, and Skittle Ice Fruits.
Another wholesaler, Unishow, sold GeakNexx vapes at the Expo. Unishow <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/128992/download?attachment">received</a> an FDA warning letter in 2019 for selling illegal products. The GeakNexx vapes came in about a dozen illicit flavors, including Blue Oat Donut, Frozen Fcuking Fab, and Strawberry Banana.
The Alternative Products Expo, Kangvape, Safa Goods, Strictly E-Cig, Unishow, and Ziip Lab did not respond to requests for comment.
The illegal vapes didn’t stop with the wholesalers. The Alternative Products Expo itself advertised a giveaway of $50,000 worth of illegal vape products, including the disposable Geek Bar Pulse and the Raz DC25000, and the Raz TN9000. The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/denverelectroniccigarettescom-708988-05162025">Geek Bar Pulse</a>, Raz DC25000, and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/nepa-wholesale-inc-710957-06262025">Raz TN9000</a> have been cited in FDA warning letters.
The Expo promoted the illegal vapes giveaway with a large sign and a locked case of vapes just inside the entrance to the convention center. It also marketed the giveaway online and in the official show book.
The advertised flavors included Blue Razz Ice, Fire and Ice, and Miami Mint. An additional flavor, Strawberry Burst, did not contain nicotine.
The Expo was not only for vapes, but also “the full spectrum of alternative products,” including CBD-based products, mushrooms, and Kratom, another drug that’s become dangerously popular with America’s teenagers.
Many of these vapes are smuggled into the United States. A previous Daily Wire investigation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-is-flooding-america-with-illegal-vapes-and-more-than-90-fly-under-the-radar">found</a> that over 90% of imported Chinese vape products in 2024 were not included in U.S. import data. The companies often disguise their products by labeling them as battery chargers and flashlights.
“[What] we have been doing is laughable,” Makary said. “We’re going to start confiscating and seizing. We’re going to take this seriously.”

IMG_6982

From Banana Taffy To Dragon Drink: The Illegal Chinese Vapes Flooding The U.S. Market

Drugs

Investigation

Nashville

News

Vape

More than 30,000 wireless power banks have been <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/ESR-HaloLock-Wireless-Power-Banks-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Distributed-by-Waymeet">recalled</a> over risk of fire and explosions.
The recall involves ESR HaloLock Wireless Power Banks with model numbers 2G520, 2G505B and 2G512B, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The power banks have &#8220;ESR&#8221; printed on the back and the model number on the side. They also have &#8220;five circular LED display lights&#8221; on the side.
&#8220;The lithium-ion battery in the recalled power banks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers,&#8221; the CPSC said.
The CSPC added that consumers should stop using the power banks immediately and contact Waymeet for a refund.
There have been nine reports of the power banks catching fire and exploding, the agency said. There have been no reported injures, but the malfunctions caused about $20,000 in property damage.
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About 24,000 power banks were sold in the United States and about 10,000 in Canada between September 2023 and July 2025.
Consumers can email support@erstech.com with a photo of the recalled power bank with the model number and &#8220;recalled&#8221; written on the device in permanent marker.
The CPSC said consumers should dispose of the devices according to state and local guidelines. Lithium batteries pose a greater risk of fire than normal batteries and cannot be disposed in normal garbage or recycling bins.
More than one million Anker power banks were <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/More-than-One-Million-Anker-Power-Banks-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Manufactured-by-Anker-Innovations">recalled</a> in June for a similar problem, according to the agency.

Leisure monitor – Smartphone

Thousands Of Wireless Power Banks Recalled After Fires, Explosions

Business

Canada

Explosion

General

Recall

U.S.

As President Donald Trump looks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, he could receive a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from an old rival: Hillary Clinton.
Clinton told &#8220;Raging Moderates&#8221; podcast host Jessica Tarlov she would nominate Trump for the Peace Prize if he ended the conflict without ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia.
&#8220;I understand, from everything I&#8217;ve read, he very much would like to receive the Nobel Peace Prize,&#8221; Clinton said.
The failed Democrat presidential nominee explained how Trump would have to end the war to win her nomination: refuse to give up Ukrainian territory and convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw from seized territory.
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&#8220;[I]f he could bring about the end to this terrible war … without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory to the aggressor … to make it clear [that] there must be a ceasefire, there will be no exchange of territory, and that, over a period of time, Putin should be actually withdrawing from the territory he seized in order to demonstrate good faith efforts, let us say, not to threaten European security. Look, if we could pull that off, if President Trump were the architect of that, I&#8217;d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize,&#8221; Clinton said. &#8220;Because my goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin, aided and abetted by the United States.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet today in Alaska and even Hillary Clinton sees a path toward a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump (but it’s going to take a lot).
Here’s how: <a href="https://t.co/SPuj87qz48">https://t.co/SPuj87qz48</a> <a href="https://t.co/4GJPBmSnhs">pic.twitter.com/4GJPBmSnhs</a>
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessicaTarlov/status/1956340656550367371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“You know, you can dream, Jessica,” she continued. “You can dream, and I’m dreaming that for whatever combination of reasons, including the elusive Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump may actually stand up to Putin, not just on behalf of Ukraine and its democracy and its very brave people, but frankly, on behalf of our own security and interests.”
Trump is meeting with Putin today in Alaska to discuss a potential ceasefire agreement. The president has wanted to end the war since taking office.
On Fox Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show Thursday morning, Trump <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-reveals-his-gameplan-meeting-putin-alaska-its-like-chess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he believes Putin will make a deal.
“He’s going to make a deal. I think he’s going to. And we’re going to find out — I’m going to know very quickly,” Trump said.
Still, Trump said there is a 25% chance the talks fail. He said he would consider additional sanctions on Russia if they fail.
“There will be consequences,” Trump said <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5450498-trump-putin-meeting-ukraine-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to reporters</a> on Wednesday. “I don’t have to say. There will be very severe consequences.”
Follow The Daily Wire&#8217;s blog for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-the-trump-putin-summit?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+The+Trump-Putin+Summit">live updates</a> on Trump&#8217;s one-on-one meeting with Putin.

Clinton and Trump

Hillary Clinton Says She’ll Nominate Trump For Nobel Peace Prize If He Ends Russia-Ukraine War

Hillary Clinton Says She'll Nominate Trump For Nobel Peace Prize If He Ends Russia-Ukraine War

A London restaurant has closed over alleged frozen dog meat and multiple health code violations.
Vietnamese restaurant Pho Na shut down after inspectors found suspicious meat labeled &#8220;goat wrapped in leaves,&#8221; Metro <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2025/08/14/london-vietnamese-restaurant-shut-down-after-dog-meat-found-in-freezer-23911343/">reported</a>. An analysis confirmed the meat was dog, not goat.
The health inspectors also found cockroaches and mice droppings in the restaurant, the outlet said.
The owner, Vuong Quoc Nguyen, denied the health code violations in court Tuesday. His defense attorney said Nguyen was unaware that the product was dog meat, because it had been given to him by someone else. The attorney also said Nguyen never intended to sell the meat and had hired pest control to deal with the cockroaches.
The Lewisham Council said it did not order Nguyen to close Pho Na and said the store was &#8220;sold independently.&#8221;
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About 40% of people in Vietnam eat dog meat, <a href="https://www.humaneworld.org/en/campaign/ending-viet-nams-dog-cat-meat-trades">according</a> to the Humane World for Animals. The dog meat trade kills about five million dogs a year.
It is illegal to sell dog meat in the United Kingdom, but it is legal to kill and eat dogs if the animals are killed humanely.
The U.K. almost banned the consumption of dog meat in 2019, but the Ministry of Justice blocked the move over concerns that it was &#8220;culturally insensitive,&#8221; The Sun <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9934112/legal-ban-eating-dogs-blocked-far-east/">reported</a> at the time.
Former Member of Parliament Giles Watling told the outlet he was &#8220;surprised&#8221; by the decision.
&#8220;We do not eat [dogs], and that is a very important message to send to the rest of the world,&#8221; Watling said at the time. &#8220;It’s not culturally insensitive because we’re not telling them what to do – we’re just telling them what we do.&#8221;
The United States <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6720?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22dog+meat%22%5D%7D&amp;s=2&amp;r=2">banned</a> &#8220;knowingly slaughtering a dog or cat for human consumption&#8221; in 2018.

VIETNAM-DOG MEAT-CYCLISTS

London Vietnamese Restaurant Shut Down After Inspectors Find Frozen Dog Meat

Animals

Food

Health

U.K.

World

Faced with a choice between hating Pius XII for supposedly supporting Hitler and excusing Pius XII for supposedly supporting Hitler, there is a third option: the truth.
The truth, says Daily Wire host Michael Knowles, is that Pope Pius XII didn’t support Hitler at all.
In his new show “The Pope and the Führer: The Secret Vatican Files of World War II,” Knowles explores the real legacy of “the Silent Pope” and his response to the Third Reich.
“A journey into the secret Vatican archive, holding millions of documents related to Pope Pius’s pontificate, has revealed never-before-seen, primary accounts that upend the narrative we’ve been fed all these years,” Knowles says.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Some criticize Pope Pius XII for being &#8220;Hitler&#8217;s Pope.&#8221; Others praise him for it. The truth is none of the above.<a href="https://twitter.com/michaeljknowles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@michaeljknowles</a> joins <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JesseKellyDC</a> to talk Nazis, the Church, and the new DailyWire+ series, &#8220;The Pope and the Führer: The Secret Vatican Files of World War II.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/nifY5l4EVM">pic.twitter.com/nifY5l4EVM</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1956068541935059266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
The first episode, “The Secret Archive,” explores Hitler’s ascent and the response from the Vatican and the future pope, then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, from his post in Berlin.
“What we discovered is that history is not always as it may have seemed,” Knowles says. “And that in this world, and beyond, there are some weapons more powerful than tanks, guns, and screaming speeches. Weapons, in fact, that live in silence.”
Using once-secret files, made public in 2020 by Pope Francis, Knowles takes viewers through private correspondence and long-buried testimony that reshapes the legacy of a pope long accused of silence during Hitler’s reign. Knowles — a devout Catholic — is joined by a range of leading historians and Vatican scholars, offering new insight into the man who led the Catholic Church through one of history’s darkest chapters.
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“This is not just a story about Hitler and the Holocaust,” Knowles says. “One of the worst lies ever told about the Catholic Church is what she did or didn’t do in one of modernity’s darkest hours. Now, for the first time, the Vatican Secret Archive is open, and the truth is far more shocking than the fiction.”
In the four-part series, Knowles traces Pius’ rise to the papacy, Rome’s fight against Hitler, and the Church’s response to the rising Soviet Union.
Knowles is the host of “The Michael Knowles Show,” “Michael &amp;,” and “Yes or No” on The Daily Wire, as well as “The Book Club” on PragerU. In addition to his digital content, Knowles is the author of “Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds” and “Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide.”
The first episode of “The Pope and the Führer: The Secret Vatican Files of World War II” is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pope-and-the-fuhrer-the-secret-vatican-files-of-world-war-ii">now streaming</a> exclusively on DailyWire+. New episodes drop Wednesday.

Copy of 16×9

Michael Knowles Corrects False History Surrounding The Vatican And The Nazis

Multiple antiseptics, cleansers, and hand soaps have been voluntarily recalled over bacteria that could cause &#8220;life-threatening sepsis.&#8221;
DermaRite Industries is recalling DermaKleen antiseptic lotion with Vitamin E in 1,000- and 800- milliliter sizes, KleenFoam antimicrobial foam soap in 1,000-milliliter sizes, DermaSerra external analgesic in 7.5-ounce sizes, and PeriGiene antiseptic cleanser in 7.5-ounce sizes.
The products have expiration dates ranging from July 2025 to February 2027, the company <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dermarite-industries-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-dermakleen-dermasarra-kleenfoam-and">said</a> in a press release. They were distributed in the United States and in Puerto Rico.
The company recalled the products, which were intended to &#8220;decrease bacteria,&#8221; because of a bacterial &#8220;contamination identified as Burkholderia cepacia.&#8221;
&#8220;The contaminated products may be used by immunosuppressed individuals or by people attending to immunosuppressed individuals,&#8221; the press realease said. &#8220;In healthy individuals with minor skin lesions the use of the product will more likely result in local infections, whereas in immunocompromised individuals the infection is more likely to spread into blood stream leading to life-threatening sepsis.&#8221;
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The company told distributors and customers &#8220;to immediately examine available inventory and destroy all affected products.&#8221;
DermaRite said it &#8220;has not received any reports of adverse events.&#8221;
Burkholderia cepacia complex, also called B. cepacia or Bcc, is a bacteria group often found in soil and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is dangerous for people with compromised immune systems or chronic lung diseases, especially cystic fibrosis. It poses little risk to healthy individuals.
The CDC said B. cepacia can cause serious respiratory infections, as well as fever and fatigue. Individuals may also experience no symptoms. The bacteria&#8217;s resistance to antibiotics can make it difficult to treat.

Wash your hands

Hand Soaps, Antiseptics Recalled Over Bacteria That Could Cause ‘Life-Threatening Sepsis’

Disease

Economy

Fox News&#8217; late-night host Greg Gutfeld provided a massive ratings boost for Jimmy Fallon&#8217;s &#8220;Tonight Show&#8221; with his recent appearance.
The &#8220;Gutfeld!&#8221; host&#8217;s episode drew 1.7 million viewers, Fox News Digital <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-news-gutfeld-delivers-massive-ratings-boost-fallons-tonight-show-cross-network-appearance">reported</a>. His appearance marks a 57% increase in viewership, up from the show&#8217;s year-to-date average of 1.1 million viewers. The other guests to appear on the night of Gutfeld&#8217;s appearance were the Jonas Brothers.
Gutfeld also boosted ratings in the 25–54 demographic with 294,000 viewers, a 13% increase from the show&#8217;s average, according to Fox News.
The YouTube video of Gutfeld&#8217;s appearance has almost one million views as of Tuesday afternoon. The video of the Jonas Brothers, which was posted around the same time, has just over 138,000 views.
During his appearance, Gutfeld described his first meeting with Fallon in an illegal speakeasy owned by a mutual friend. Gutfeld said Fallon didn&#8217;t remember the meeting because both hosts &#8220;were wasted.&#8221;
&#8220;It looks like a place where special ops forces waterboard terrorists,&#8221; Gutfeld said.
Gutfeld described getting tackled by Fallon, who also stole the Fox host&#8217;s cigarettes. Fallon returned a few minutes later with a new pack.
&#8220;I go, &#8216;That’s really sweet, you want me to die,'&#8221; Gutfeld said.
The &#8220;Tonight Show&#8221; ratings boost comes as CBS <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cbs-cans-ultra-leftist-stephen-colberts-late-show-all-just-going-away">announced</a> the cancellation of &#8220;The Late Show&#8221; with Stephen Colbert.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,&#8221; the network said in a statement. &#8220;It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
One report claimed the show lost between $40 million and $50 million per year, prompting a profanity-laced tirade from Colbert, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/go-f-yourself-colbert-unleashes-anti-trump-tirade-amid-report-his-show-loses-40m-annually">reported</a>.
President and CEO of CBS, George Cheeks, did not specify how much money the show lost, but he confirmed that it was a “significant” amount in the “tens of millions of dollars,” The Daily Wire reported.
While many similar programs are losing viewership, &#8220;Gutfeld!&#8221; continues to be the highest-rated late-night show, consistently beating competitors from ABC, CBS, and NBC, Fox News reported.

NY GUTFELD

Gutfeld Boosts ‘Tonight Show’ To Highest Ratings Of 2025

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced plans Friday to request federal waivers to reform the state&#8217;s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The waivers would cut sugary processed foods and soda from the program and allow SNAP recipients to buy healthier options, such as grilled or rotisserie chicken, <a href="https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2025/8/8/gov--lee-seeks-federal-waivers-to-enhance-snap-program.html">according</a> to a press release from the governor.
&#8220;Tennessee’s proposed waivers will ensure SNAP fulfills its intended purpose of promoting healthier eating habits, supporting improved health outcomes and reducing chronic conditions for low-income families,&#8221; the press release continued.
Specifically, the proposal would exclude food &#8220;items listing sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or a similar caloric alternative as the primary (first) ingredient&#8221; and &#8220;beverages where carbonated water and sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or a similar caloric alternative are the first two ingredients,&#8221; the press release added.
“Tennessee is leading the nation in creating innovative solutions to enhance quality of life, and I’m proud to continue our legacy of responsible fiscal stewardship while also delivering nutritious food choices for hard-working families,” Lee said in the press release.“I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for its leadership to Make America Healthy Again, and thank our grocery retailers, convenience stores, food producers, and beverage manufacturers for working to ensure that healthier choices reach every community across our state.”
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Tennessee is leading the nation in innovative solutions to enhance quality of life, and that’s why we’re working to ensure SNAP fulfills its intended purpose of promoting nutritious food options and reducing chronic health conditions for low-income families.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee/status/1953840334733021261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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So far, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has authorized waivers from 12 states banning soda and sugary foods. The states approved to reform SNAP are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been adamant that U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to pay for unhealthy foods.
“We are spending $405 million a day on SNAP and about 10% is going to sugary drinks, and if you add candies to that, it’s about 13-17%,” Kennedy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-maha-wins-12-states-cutting-soda-candy-from-food-stamps">said</a> Tuesday.
“We all believe in free choice,” Kennedy said. “We live in a democracy — people can make their own choice about what they are going to buy and what they are not going to buy. If you want to buy a sugary soda, you should be able to do that, but the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it.”
“U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes,” Kennedy added.

US products in German retail

MAHA: Tennessee To Join States Banning Candy, Sugary Drinks From Food Stamps

President Donald Trump will welcome close to 100 past Purple Heart recipients to a White House ceremony on Thursday, honoring the veterans wounded in military action.
The ceremony will feature three veterans who gave their Purple Hearts to Trump following the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bodycam-footage-shows-law-enforcement-response-in-aftermath-of-trump-assassination-attempt">assassination</a> attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/07/trump-honors-purple-heart-recipients/85555752007/">reported</a>. The ceremony is set for 4 p.m. ET in the White House East Room on August to commemorate National Purple Heart Day.
Gerald Enter Jr., John Ford, and Thomas Matteo sent their medals to Trump last year.
Ford presented Trump with his medal at a rally in October 2024.
&#8220;Sir, I brought you a Purple Heart I want to present you for your injuries and for what a great job you&#8217;ve done for our country,&#8221; Ford said in a video <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBftWDMu7s8/?hl=en">posted</a> to social media.
Recipients in attendance include Kevin Willete and Brian Willete, a father and son who received the medal for service in Afghanistan; and Chris LaCivita, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who received a Purple Heart for service in the Gulf War and who was Trump&#8217;s 2024 campaign manager.
The Purple Heart is America&#8217;s &#8220;oldest military award and one of the most prestigious,&#8221; according to a social media post from the U.S. Marines.
&#8220;On Purple Heart Day, we pause to honor and remember the bravery and sacrifice of our wounded and fallen heroes,&#8221; the post said.
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Today we honor the brave
The Purple Heart is the oldest military award and one of the most prestigious the U.S. bestows upon its service members.
On Purple Heart Day, we pause to honor and remember the bravery and sacrifice of our wounded and fallen heroes.
Semper Fidelis <a href="https://t.co/rxUFvfm1fq">pic.twitter.com/rxUFvfm1fq</a>
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) <a href="https://twitter.com/USMC/status/1953460370242261054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Attendees also include Eli Cuevas, a former squad-designated marksman injured during his second mission in Iraq; Captain Andrew D. Ashford, a retired Green Beret who enlisted after 9/11 and was wounded in Afghanistan; and Major James Capers Jr., who won three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars in the Vietnam War.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan &#8220;Razin&#8221; Caine will attend the ceremony, USA Today reported.
George Washington <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-7/washington-creates-the-purple-heart">established</a> the Purple Heart in 1782, but it was largely forgotten until its revival in 1932, on Washington&#8217;s 200th birthday. More than 1.8 million Americans have received the award, according to USA Today.

Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall at Smith Park in Pico Rivera.

Trump To Honor Purple Heart Recipients At White House Ceremony

Alleged murder suspect Austin Drummond is in police custody following a six-day manhunt, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) <a href="https://x.com/TBInvestigation/status/1952736468973089085">announced</a> on Tuesday.
Drummond, 28, was caught in Jackson, Tennessee, the TBI said on social media. The agency released a photo of Drummond shortly after his capture and said it would provide more details &#8220;soon.&#8221;
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UPDATE: Here&#8217;s a picture of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNMostWanted?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNMostWanted</a> fugitive Austin Drummond, moments after having been taken into custody.
Thank you, again, to the local, state, and federal partners who worked diligently to bring Drummond into custody. <a href="https://t.co/Dg5BiiigHq">pic.twitter.com/Dg5BiiigHq</a>
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBInvestigation/status/1952737732163174894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, District Attorney Danny Goodman said the real work begins now that Drummond has been arrested.
&#8220;Investigations do not end when a person is arrested,&#8221; Goodman said. &#8220;We want [the families of the victims] to know that we are going to do everything we can to seek justice in this matter.&#8221;
Goodman called the cooperation between federal agencies &#8220;impressive.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I have every seen so many agencies work together and work in sync,&#8221; Goodman said. &#8220;It has been, what I would think, should be a blueprint for the entire county on how to run an operation.&#8221;
Drummond was wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and various firearm charges, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/07/31/suspect-wanted-in-deaths-of-4-people-in-lake-county/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a TBI press release. The suspect was spotted near a local church on Sunday, as surveillance footage showed him trying to enter locked doors while carrying a rifle, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/tennessee-quadruple-murder-suspect-spotted-wielding-rifle-police-release-new-surveillance-videos">reported</a>.
TBI Director David Rausch said authorities have found multiple weapons but did not say what the weapons were. Drummond was not armed when he was arrested, according to Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley.
Police located Drummond&#8217;s car in Jackson last Friday and focused the search on the area.
The TBI also arrested two men and one woman in connection with the quadruple murder. All three have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. One man was also charged with tampering with evidence, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/04/third-person-charged-in-connection-to-tiptonville-quadruple-murder/">according</a> to a TBI press release.
The four victims found dead last week were relatives of a baby girl who was discovered abandoned in a &#8220;random&#8221; yard in Dyer County last Tuesday, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-baby-was-abandoned-in-a-random-yard-her-family-was-found-dead-and-a-suspect-is-on-the-loose?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+Baby+Was+Abandoned+In+A+Random+Yard.+Her+Family+Was+Found+Dead%2C+And+A+Suspect+Is+On+The+Loose.">reported</a>. Authorities began searching for the baby&#8217;s family to question them about the child. A few hours after the baby was found, police found the bodies of her family in a wooded area of Lake County, the county to the north of Dyer.
The deceased were identified as the baby’s mother, Adrianna Williams, 20; father, James Wilson, 21; grandmother, Cortney Rose, 38; and uncle, Braydon Williams, 15.
Rausch said Drummond&#8217;s girlfriend is the sister of two victims and the daughter of one of the victims but gave no names. He said he could not comment on a suspected motive for the murders.
Drummond was convicted of armed robbery in 2014 in Madison County, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/relative-4-found-dead-tennessee-says-family-trusted-murder-suspect-run-rcna222379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. His prison sentence ended in September 2024. Two months later, he was charged with attempted murder and drug crimes. Drummond was out on bond at the time of the killings. Rausch said those prior charges would be taken into consideration as the justice process moves forward.
Drummond has been transported to an unspecified facility.
The baby is healthy and doing well, Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said.
U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Tyreece Miller said reported sightings of Drummond helped lead to the arrest.
&#8220;Tonight, families in West Tennessee can sleep more soundly. Austin Drummond is once again behind bars,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;He thought he could outrun us, but he was wrong.&#8221;
This article has been updated to include additional information.

TBI Suspect Austin Drummond (1)

Authorities Capture Quadruple Murder Suspect After Abandoned Baby Led To Discovery Of Dead Family

Murder

Police

Tennessee

Police identified the suspect they allege killed four relatives of a baby abandoned in a &#8220;random&#8221; yard in western Tennessee earlier this week.
The case began on Tuesday when authorities found a baby girl in a car seat abandoned in &#8220;a random individual&#8217;s front yard.&#8221; &#8220;A dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV&#8221; reportedly dropped the child off in a yard in Dyer County, according to a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1154669463364683">statement</a> made by the local sheriff&#8217;s office. A witness saw the infant in a car seat and called 911. Investigators identified the child and began searching for her family to question them about the incident.
A few hours later, authorities found the bodies of the infant&#8217;s family in a wooded area of Lake County, the county to the north of Dyer. The deceased were identified as the baby&#8217;s mother, Adrianna Williams, 20; father, James Wilson, 21; grandmother, Cortney Rose, 38; and uncle, Braydon Williams, 15.
The suspect, Austin Robert Drummond, 28, is wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and various firearm charges, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/07/31/suspect-wanted-in-deaths-of-4-people-in-lake-county/">according</a> to a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The police are still looking for Drummond, and he is considered armed and dangerous. There is a $17,500 reward for information leading to his arrest.
About a dozen agencies are working on the case, including the FBI. Authorities have not released a suspected motive.
District Attorney Danny Goodman <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/tennessee-manhunt-quadruple-murder-suspect-tied-targeted-attack-after-baby-found-abandoned-da">told</a> Fox News that authorities believe it was a targeted attack.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t think there’s a need for the community to be concerned, as far as it being some type of random act or anything like that,&#8221; Goodman said.
&#8220;The TBI has been actively working this case,&#8221; Goodman added. &#8220;It’s a twenty-four hour, round-the-clock operation right now. They have received several leads and they are following up with those.&#8221;
Goodman said Drummond knew the victims. Rose&#8217;s half sister is Drummond&#8217;s current girlfriend, according to the district attorney.
The exact relationship between Drummond and the half sister is unclear. A woman who identified herself as Rose&#8217;s sister-in-law said in a Facebook post that the girlfriend used to date Drummond. An obituary for another relative, however, said the pair was married.
The sister-in-law, Brier-Ashley Childress, said Drummond had been close to the family.
&#8220;We NEVER expected him to cause ANY harm to ANYONE, much less anyone in our family,&#8221; Childress said. &#8220;Cortney, Adrianna, Braydon, and Matthew THOUGHT they knew him. We all trusted him.&#8221;
Drummond was convicted of armed robbery in 2014 in Madison County, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/relative-4-found-dead-tennessee-says-family-trusted-murder-suspect-run-rcna222379">reported</a>. His prison sentence ended in September. Two months later, he was charged with attempted murder and drug crimes. Drummond was out on bond at the time of the killings.
Drummond is now on the TBI&#8217;s Most Wanted List. Authorities found his abandoned car on MCO Road in Jackson, Tennessee, on Aug. 1. In a press conference later that day, TBI Director David Rausch said the agency believes Drummond is still in the area.
&#8220;He has direct ties to Jackson and the vehicle being found here certainly heightens that focus,&#8221; Rausch said.
The TBI said people nearby have been told to lock doors and stay alert.
Lake County Sheriff Bryan Avery said the infant found in the yard &#8220;is safe and being cared for.&#8221;
The TBI arrested two Jackson men over the weekend for allegedly assisting Drummond. Tanaka Brown was <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/02/jackson-man-charged-with-accessory-after-the-fact-to-1st-degree-murder/">charged</a> with accessory after the fact to first degree murder and tampering with evidence. Giovonte Thomas was also <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/02/jackson-man-charged-with-accessory-after-the-fact-to-1st-degree-murder-2/">charged</a> with accessory after the fact.
Brown is out on bond, according to a TBI press release. Thomas was being held on charges unrelated to the murder and will be transferred to the Lake County Jail.
Drummond is still at large. Anyone with information about Drummond is encouraged to contact the authorities by calling 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.
This story has been updated to include additional information.

TBI Suspect Austin Drummond

A Baby Was Abandoned In A Random Yard. Her Family Was Found Dead, And A Suspect Is On The Loose.

Crime

Death

Former President Joe Biden&#8217;s top political aide, Mike Donilon, was paid $4 million for his work on Biden&#8217;s 2024 re-election campaign and promised an additional $4 million if Biden won, Donilon told congressional investigators on Thursday.
The news, first <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/31/donilon-biden-2024-reelection-testimony-congress">reported</a> by Axios, shows Donilon had a financial incentive to push Biden to run again and remain in the race as questions arose about the octogenarian president&#8217;s declining cognitive fitness and his ability to lead for another four years.
Donilon was interviewed during the GOP-led House Oversight Committee&#8217;s investigation into Biden&#8217;s fitness for office.
Donilon told the committee that Biden &#8220;continued to grow stronger and wiser as a leader as a result of being tested by some of the most difficult challenges any president has ever faced,&#8221; according to a copy of an opening statement obtained by Axios.
Donilon said he believed the nation overreacted to Biden&#8217;s debate performance, when both sides ridiculed him as appearing to be disoriented. Biden dropped out of the race less than one month later.
Donilon&#8217;s $4 million payday was first reported in the book &#8220;Original Sin,&#8221; which was co-written by Axios reporter Alex Thompson. The possible $4 million bonus if Biden won had not been previously reported. According to the book, Donilon left the White House to work on the re-election campaign in early 2024 and insisted on the multi-million-dollar deal. It also states that Biden&#8217;s campaign chair, Jen O&#8217;Malley Dillon, was paid $300,000 despite starting on the campaign at the same time as Donilon.
Donilon had worked for Biden for decades, Axios reported. Other Biden aides have suggested Donilon led the campaign into disaster because of his self-interest and affection for the former president, the outlet noted.
Axios said both Donilon and his spokesperson declined to comment.
&#8220;Original Sin&#8221; reported that Biden&#8217;s physician, Kevin O&#8217;Connor, believed the president&#8217;s aides were not doing enough to take care of Biden. He pleaded the Fifth when interviewed by the Oversight Committee about Biden&#8217;s mental state.

US-NEWS-BIDEN-SOCIAL-SECURITY-TB

Top Biden Aide Made $4M On Re-Election Campaign, Would Have Made Way More If They Won

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Catherine Maxwell