<p>A massive earthquake struck the island of Kyushu on Tuesday, registering a magnitude of 7.1 and causing the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto to collapse. &#8220;Quite a few&#8221; are feared dead, and more than two dozen remain missing from the mall alone.</p>
<p>Local outlet Kyodo News Agency reported that there may have been an <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2082042649071038541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">explosion,</a> possibly caused by a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/28/world-news/japan-earthquake-live-updates-reactions-photos-more/">gas leak</a>, just prior to the collapse, and an unknown number of people remained trapped inside. Search and rescue operations began almost immediately, as reported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.</p>
<p>Several people were reportedly pulled from the wreckage and as many as 30 employees remain missing after the mall&#8217;s collapse, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-earthquake-tsunami-09e6f40acbcc96053946c9c104e7a242">police</a> told the Kyodo News Agency. A Fuji TV reporter said that a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/28/world-news/japan-earthquake-live-updates-reactions-photos-more/">number of deaths</a> have already been reported at the shopping center — and that &#8220;quite a few&#8221; are still feared to be among the dead.</p>
<p>The epicenter of the quake was near Uto, just south of Kumamoto on Kyushu&#8217;s western coast, roughly 540 miles from Tokyo. The quake prompted a series of tsunami advisories in the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, all of which were lifted after several hours. Landslides were also a concern in the immediate aftermath of the quake, which was followed by a series of smaller tremors.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">The Kumamoto earthquake triggered a landslide on Mount Mayu in Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan. <a href="https://t.co/wXvNMDpJ84">pic.twitter.com/wXvNMDpJ84</a></p>
<p>— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2082042039357616270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bridges and roads were also damaged in the quake, causing problems for those who are attempting to evacuate the affected areas.</p>
<p>The quake was reportedly measured at just over six miles below the earth&#8217;s surface — relatively shallow — which means that the seismic waves have less distance to travel before reaching the surface and are often stronger near the epicenter than a quake of the same magnitude that began deeper beneath the earth&#8217;s surface. The end result is much greater damage focused near the epicenter of the quake, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/28/powerful-earthquake-strikes-southern-japan-causing-destruction/">reported</a>.</p>
<p>Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the press that cabinet officials had been dispatched to the area to review the damages, and the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned locals to be prepared for additional aftershocks in the coming days.</p>
<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-earthquake-tsunami-09e6f40acbcc96053946c9c104e7a242">Additionally</a>, nearly 50,000 households were left without power after the quake — and more than 300,000 people were told to leave their homes and head to evacuation centers for the time being. Local trains and airports have temporarily suspended operations and are undergoing safety checks.</p>
<p>Almost 100 people have already been taken to local hospitals — at least 40 in Yatsushiro and another 50 in Kumamoto.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are aware of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto, and USFJ leaders have been in touch with our partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Initial reports indicate no damage to any U.S. facilities in the region. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Japanese hosts,&#8221; U.S. Forces Japan <a href="https://x.com/USForcesJapan/status/2082092855842189688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">said</a>.</p>


TOPSHOT-JAPAN-EARTHQUAKE

Massive Earthquake Traps People In Collapsed Shopping Mall, ‘Quite A Few’ Feared Dead

Massive Earthquake Rocks Japan, 'Quite A Few' Feared Dead

Disasters

earthquake

Japan

Natural Disaster

<p>Dr. Anthony Fauci recommended White House adviser Stephen Miller move into a hotel for two weeks after his wife, Katie Miller, tested positive for COVID-19 while 10 weeks pregnant, according to newly released diary entries.</p>
<p>The entries were released Saturday by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who <a href="https://www.paul.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.07.24_Tonys-Diary-Package.pdf">obtained</a> them during his investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and gain-of-function research ahead of Fauci&#8217;s planned testimony on Capitol Hill in the coming week.</p>
<p>&#8220;COVID-19 hits the White House!!&#8221; Fauci wrote on May 8, 2020. &#8220;Yesterday, it was revealed that the personal valet of the POTUS tested positive for Sars-CoV-2. However, today it was noted that Katie Miller tested positive. She was negative yesterday and positive X2 today!!!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;She had sxs (sic) in the Sit room yesterday and sat next to Steve Hahn and behind Azar,&#8221; Fauci continued, listing a number of officials who had all attended the same briefing. &#8220;I was on the other side of the room from her, but she was coughing in the room. She sat next to Olivia Troye when she was coughing and, in the afternoon, yesterday, Olivia sat right next to me in the Ward Room of the West Wing for 45 minutes. In the room were Deb Birx, Steve Hahn, Bob Redfield, Tyler Ann, Seema Verma.&#8221;</p>
<p>Fauci went on to note that White House adviser Stephen Miller had tested negative even after his wife had tested positive — a relief for the White House chief medical adviser because he&#8217;d spent some time in close proximity to Miller.</p>
<p>&#8220;I spent much time on phone this evening advising Katie and Steve Miller as to what they should do,&#8221; Fauci continued. &#8220;She is 10 weeks pregnant. I advised that Steve must move out of the house into a hotel; he still has to self-isolate for 14 days. If he stays in the house, whether or not he gets infected, he still must self-isolate for 14 days after Katies (sic) tests negative. His clock will start after he separates from Katie and so he should start the clock now.&#8221;</p>
<p>Fauci explained that because he was a &#8220;low risk exposure,&#8221; he self-imposed a &#8220;modified quarantine&#8221; in which he would &#8220;get tested every day, would wear a mask ontinually (sic), and would spend most of my time either alone in my home office or alone in my NIH office and would go to White House or Congress with precautions of universal mask wearing and phycial (sic) distancing.&#8221;</p>
<p>He also noted that he was monitoring Katie Miller via phone, noting that she&#8217;d been very anxious about her health and that of her unborn child.</p>
<p>&#8220;She is very anxious about getting very ill since she is 10 weeks pregnant. Tonight she had an anxiety reaction. I calmed her over the phone. Her pulse Ox is fine and she is afebrile,&#8221; he wrote.</p>
<p>His other main concern was the fact that some of those who&#8217;d been seated close to Katie were not doing enough to mitigate the potential spread of the virus.</p>
<p class="p1">&#8220;Marc Short and others close to Katie really should do some sort of quarantine (even if modified), but they are not even wearing masks. Not a good metric,&#8221; he complained.</p>


Stephen Miller

Fauci Advised Stephen Miller To Leave His Pregnant Wife Alone With COVID, Get A Hotel

Alex Azar

Anthony Fauci

COVID

COVID-19

Donald Trump

Dr. Deborah Birx

Health

Media

Pandemic

Politics

Rand Paul

Robert Redfield

White House

<p>New York City&#8217;s democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani doxxed a wide swath of his own constituents — just days after a terrorist attack — by publishing a searchable database of properties impacted by his new &#8220;pied-à-terre&#8221; tax.</p>
<p>The database, uploaded by the New York City Department of Finance, includes the addresses and names of property owners of homes valued at over one million dollars that the city has determined are not being used as primary residences.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The city published a list of all properties &#8212; and the names of the owners &#8212; that *could be* subject to the new pied a terre tax in a very easy to search Excel sheet: <a href="https://t.co/d3iAikgERk">https://t.co/d3iAikgERk</a> <a href="https://t.co/cRjMmprBob">https://t.co/cRjMmprBob</a></p>
<p>— Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) <a href="https://x.com/bern_hogan/status/2080781054328062230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Mamdani touted his plan to implement the &#8220;pied-à-terre&#8221; — or &#8220;second home&#8221; tax — in an X post a week earlier, essentially taunting wealthy New Yorkers as he warned them, &#8220;You&#8217;ve got mail.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If you have a second home in New York City worth more than $5M, check your mailbox when you’re back in the five boroughs — because you&#8217;ve got mail.</p>
<p>Today, we sent notification letters to property owners, letting them know that our new pied-à-terre tax is coming soon.</p>
<p>The best…</p>
<p>— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2080381372510724286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The piece of mail he referenced was the city&#8217;s assessment identifying the property as subject to the new tax — aimed specifically at the wealthy — along with a form to be filled out by the property owners if they met the stipulated qualifications for exemption from the tax.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">New: <a href="https://x.com/NYCMayor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYCMayor</a> admin is now sending out letters to homeowners who *may* be subject to “pied a terre” tax — &amp; updated the city’s website including a form for owners/primary residents to contest the tax if they meet exemption qualifications —&gt;<a href="https://t.co/C8zyZupXKa">https://t.co/C8zyZupXKa</a> <a href="https://t.co/aYWqLFh4rZ">pic.twitter.com/aYWqLFh4rZ</a></p>
<p>— Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) <a href="https://x.com/bern_hogan/status/2080287876021948655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Mamdani teased the coming wealth tax with a video — in which he vowed to &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/escape-from-new-york-mamdanis-cash-cows-already-seeking-greener-pastures">tax the rich</a>&#8221; while standing outside a home owned by billionaire hedge fund manager <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/us-news/billionaire-ken-griffin-scales-back-nyc-jobs-in-response-to-mamdanis-tax-the-rich-antics-sparking-fears-wealthy-exodus-has-begun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Griffin</a>, majority owner of Citadel LLC.</p>
<p>Mamdani stood in front of Griffin’s Midtown penthouse to tout his plan for a “pied à terre” tax — which would slap additional taxes on second homes valued at over five million dollars — and as The Daily Wire previously reported, Griffin made it clear that he did not appreciate the gesture.</p>
<p>“We will add far more jobs in Miami over the next decade as an immediate and direct consequence of the mayor’s poor decision here with respect to his posting of that video,” Griffin said, calling Mamdani’s video “creepy.”</p>
<p>Indeed, Mamdani&#8217;s move to doxx some of his wealthiest constituents comes just days after an anti-ICE extremist allegedly firebombed 26 Federal Plaza. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-terrorist-meldown-over-ice-is-an-extension-of-mamdanis-mentality">suspect</a> reportedly used a makeshift incendiary device to carry out the attack.</p>


Mayor Mamdani Commemorates America’s 250th Anniversary

Mamdani Just Handed The Internet Thousands Of Names And Addresses

Mamdani Doxxes His Own Constituents Days After Terror Attack

Democratic Socialism

New York City

Socialists

terrorist

Wealth Tax

Zohran Mamdani

<p>While publicly urging Americans to avoid family gatherings and maintain &#8220;social distance,&#8221; Dr. Anthony Fauci was also busy behind the scenes cultivating a chummy friendship with CNN anchor Jake Tapper.</p>
<p>Fauci&#8217;s meetings and family dinners with the longtime CNN personality were revealed in a series of <a href="https://www.paul.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.07.24_Tonys-Diary-Package.pdf">diary entries</a> made public on Saturday by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who uncovered them during his lengthy and thorough investigation into Fauci and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>The former White House chief medical adviser thoroughly documented his actions throughout the pandemic — with a heavy focus on his own media appearances and coverage, particularly when it was overly flattering — and referenced an interview with Tapper that took place on April 12, 2020. During that interview, Fauci conceded that Tapper had asked tough — but reasonable — questions, and then had called him directly afterward to make sure that the interview had not caused him &#8220;any problems.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Potential big problem (we shall see). <i>NY Times</i> reporting on an answer to a question that I gave on CNN yesterday (see above). Jake Tapper asked me if we had closed down earlier, whould (sic) that have saved lives. I said it is complicated; he persisted and I said obviously, if you close earlier there would have been lives saved, but the decision was complicated,&#8221; Fauci wrote. &#8220;I could have answered the question better and with more clarity, but the Times is now saying that I was implying that the POTUS was to blame for additional deaths according to me. The far right is tweeting to fire me. The POTUS even re-tweeted the tweet that said to fire me. We shall see how the day goes &#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p>Fauci said that he later met with President Donald Trump, who said that he did not have an issue and business continued as usual.</p>
<p class="p1">Of the press briefing that followed, he said, &#8220;I went out and explained that I was being hoest (sic) in my answer to Jake, but that I was not implying that anyone was responsible for more deaths &#8230; Phone call with Jake Tapper. Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems.&#8221;</p>
<p>Later that month, Tapper spoke with Fauci about an interview he&#8217;d done with Coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx. Of that exchange, Fauci wrote, &#8220;I was not on Sunday shows. Deb was on CNN with Jake Tapper and did not answer the question of whether it was a mistake for the POTUS to talk about injecting or swallowing bleach. Jake wrote me a text afterwards and said: “Birx has lost her way I fear. She has chosen to focus on defending the president and attacking the press. Odd.&#8221;</p>
<p>On May 4, 2020, Fauci referenced a CNN interview in which Tapper had been hard on the Trump administration&#8217;s &#8220;inadequate&#8221; response to the pandemic — but had spared him the ire reserved for the president: &#8220;Jake Tapper did a segment last night on the inadequate response of the Trump administration to the pandemic. I came out relatively well.&#8221;</p>
<p>Later that month, when Katie Miller, a spokesperson for Vice President Mike Pence, tested positive, and Fauci was directly exposed to SARS-CoV-2, he got a call from Tapper making sure that he was all right.</p>
<p>&#8220;Jake Tapper called me and asked whether I was going inot (sic) quarantine. I explained to Jake that I would do a “modified quarantine” since I was a low risk exposure to Kstie (sic). Thid merans (sic) that I will get tested every day, would wear a mask ontinually (sic), and would spend most of my time either alone in my home office or alone in my NIH office and would go to White House or Congress with precautions of universal mask wearing and phycial (sic) distancing. I tested negative yesterday and will get tested every day for 14 days and then 1 time per week,&#8221; he wrote, adding in a subsequent entry that Marc Short was not taking enough precautions.</p>
<p>&#8220;Marc Short (whom I resally (sic) like) practically sits on Katie’s lap and he is vey (sic) close to the VP. Yet he is not even wearing a mask. He actually should be self-quarantining. He was at a much greater risk than I.&#8221;</p>
<p>On July 1, Fauci mentioned a dinner with Tapper and his wife: &#8220;Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper’s home in DC. Terrific couple. Friendship building.&#8221;</p>
<p>By late July, Fauci was feeding questions to Tapper ahead of interviews with other officials: &#8220;Brett Giroir on Tapper (State of the Union) talking bullsh*t about testing with Jake pressing him. I gave Jake some questions to ask him.&#8221;</p>
<p>And Tapper was calling Fauci to complain about President Trump: &#8220;Jake Tapper woke me up at 11:23 AM (I went to bed early) furius (sic) at POTUS for tweeting about the fact that Jake severly (sic) questioned Brett Giroir on SOTU CNN show today. Jake was really pissed at the craziness of it all.&#8221;</p>
<p>In later entries — into the fall of 2020, as Americans were preparing to host holiday dinners via Zoom — Fauci mentioned another dinner at the Tapper home: &#8220;Had dinner at my home with Jake and Jennifer Tapper. Relaxed, good time. Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tapper texts Fauci to attack Laura Ingraham and defend the integrity of Dartmouth <a href="https://t.co/pLW5c1zuja">pic.twitter.com/pLW5c1zuja</a></p>
<p>— Emily Jashinsky (@emilyjashinsky) <a href="https://x.com/emilyjashinsky/status/2081488487337906438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In a later exchange, after Fauci appeared on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham, Tapper texted to mock Ingraham, saying it was a shock that she&#8217;d graduated from Dartmouth.</p>


Inside Fauci’s Behind-The-Scenes Bromance With Jake Tapper

Jake Tapper

Legacy Media

Mainstream Media

Media Bias

<p>Just two days after the first case of the novel coronavirus was confirmed in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci was already imagining himself to be an adversary to President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Fauci wrote about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in a series of <a href="https://www.paul.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.07.24_Tonys-Diary-Package.pdf">diary entries</a> — published Saturday by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) ahead of Fauci&#8217;s planned Capitol Hill testimony on Wednesday — and it was clear that the former White House medical adviser fancied himself to be the guy who would tell the truth even if doing so provoked the ire of the president.</p>
<p>The first confirmed case — involving a man who had recently traveled from Wuhan, China, to Snohomish County, Washington — was reported on January 20, 2020.</p>
<p>Fauci wrote about that the following day, saying, &#8220;He walked into a clinical with fever and respiratory sxs and was smart enough to mention that he just came from Wuhan.&#8221;</p>
<p>He followed that comment with a list of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-fauci-diaries-reveal-celebrity-obsession-at-height-of-covid-crisis">nine interviews</a> he&#8217;d done with various media outlets about the rapidly spreading virus.</p>
<p>On January 22, Fauci noted that the United States was moving to contain the spread by routing all travelers from Wuhan through five airports where they could be screened upon arrival — &#8220;Chicago ORD and Atl airports added to entry screening with JFK, LAX, and SFO,&#8221; he wrote — and he noted that worldwide, there had been 400 reported cases and nine deaths.</p>
<p>Just above his usual daily list of media appearances, he wrote, &#8220;On the interview below (FOX Business with David Asman) one of the panel asked me to comment of a clip he played where Trump said that everything is under control. Xi Jinping told him everything is under control.&#8221;</p>
<p>He then suggested that Trump might view it as a direct contradiction when he said that the situation was being taken &#8220;very seriously,&#8221; adding, &#8220;I had to answer that we are taking this very seriously and that Americans should not be frightened or worry, but we are taking it seriously. Let us see if this pits me against the POTUS.&#8221;</p>
<p>If Fauci&#8217;s later entries are to be believed, Trump was clearly unbothered by that particular comment. Two weeks lates, on February 6, Fauci wrote, &#8220;When we walked in the POTUS was not yet in the room. When he walked in with Melania, the first thing he did was say, &#8216;Anthony, come here and say hello to Melania.&#8217; Then, to my embarrassment in front of everyone (Kellyanne, Mick, Bob O’Brien and many in Cabinet) he told Melania that I was the smartest person in the world.&#8221;</p>


Donald Trump Anthony Fauci

Fauci Already Imagined Himself As Trump’s Adversary In January 2020

Fauci Already Imagined Himself As Trump's Adversary In January 2020

<p>Dr. Anthony Fauci rejected questions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and funding sent from the United States to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, saying that he was &#8220;wasting&#8221; time by addressing the concerns posed by members of Congress.</p>
<p>Fauci&#8217;s private thoughts were presented for public consumption when Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) — who was responsible for asking many of the aforementioned questions — published a number of diary entries he&#8217;d uncovered while investigating the former White House medical adviser.</p>
<p>Paul shared a lengthy thread on X, complete with screenshots of some of the most relevant diary entries, and added some of his own notes ahead of Fauci&#8217;s scheduled testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">9/9 July 12, 2021. Fauci complains about &#8220;how many hours we are all wasting&#8221; answering letters he calls &#8220;fundamentally driven by conspiracy theories&#8221; — from senators he names, including me.<br />
Asking who funded the research is not a conspiracy theory. It&#8217;s oversight. <a href="https://t.co/ZgjIrsyAam">pic.twitter.com/ZgjIrsyAam</a></p>
<p>— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) <a href="https://x.com/SenRandPaul/status/2081093837397659942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>On July 7, 2021 — long after it was first posited in January of 2020 that a new coronavirus strain could have been leaked from the Wuhan lab, either intentionally or accidentally — Fauci wrote that he had actively encouraged members of the National Security Council to work with several &#8220;qualified&#8221;virologists to dig into the pandemic&#8217;s origins. Two of the four virologists he&#8217;d recommended to the NSC came out with a paper that same day arguing that the virus had occurred naturally.</p>
<p>On July 9, Fauci complained about &#8220;how many hours we are all wasting&#8221; taking questions about whether or not U.S. funding for the Wuhan lab had been used to conduct dangerous &#8220;gain-of-function&#8221; research that would have made the virus more deadly.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is important to point out how many hours we are all wasting in responding to the multiple letters from senators and congressmen fundamentally driven by conspiracy theories that the NIH has funded work at Wuhan institute of virology that led to SARS-CoV-2,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;For example, over the weekend I was on multiple zoom calls with my staff fine-tuning the letters in response to the multiple questions.&#8221;</p>
<p>He referenced Paul as one of the senators asking questions, and then voiced surprise that he&#8217;d also received questions from Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) because &#8220;he generally is a friendly person to me.&#8221;</p>


Fauci Complains Questions About COVID Origins Were ‘Wasting’ Time

Fauci Complains Questions About COVID Origins Were 'Wasting' Time

Wuhan Institute of Virology

<p>In a move that bore striking similarities to the 2024 emergency coronation of former Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrat Party bosses in Maine hand-selected a new nominee to replace disgraced former U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner: Troy Jackson.</p>
<p>The party announced the decision on Saturday, saying that Jackson had been &#8220;formally&#8221; selected by the Maine Democratic State Committee — meaning that not a single Maine Democrat had cast a vote for him to be their nominee in that race.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maine Democrats officially handpick socialist Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for&#8230;U.S. Senate.&#8221;</p>
<p>Troy Jackson received zero votes from Mainers. <a href="https://t.co/x7ddUTQT8V">pic.twitter.com/x7ddUTQT8V</a></p>
<p>— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081044514672689368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for the Maine Democratic Party&#8217;s candidate for U.S. Senate n the 2026 general election ballot.&#8221;</p>
<p>Maine Democrats&#8217; Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson praised the move, claiming that it was just one more example of &#8220;democracy&#8221; working exactly as it should.</p>
<p>&#8220;Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time,&#8221; she said.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maine Democrats’ Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson: “Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time.”</p>
<p>Not a single Mainer voted for Graham Platner’s replacement. <a href="https://t.co/jgAoNJQcGG">pic.twitter.com/jgAoNJQcGG</a></p>
<p>— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081041462746026306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A number of critics pointed out the similarities between Jackson&#8217;s rapid ascent and the vote-free installation of Harris as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, arguing that the party with an often-stated goal of &#8220;saving democracy&#8221; had very little interest in putting it into practice.</p>
<p>The Republican Party&#8217;s New England communications director Kristen Cianci called them out on X, sharing a post from Thursday marking two years from the day from that Harris had been gifted the presidential nomination.</p>
<p>&#8220;History is repeating itself in Maine. Troy Jackson will be crowned by @MaineDems this weekend without a single vote being cast. Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November,&#8221; she said.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">History is repeating itself in Maine.</p>
<p>Troy Jackson will be crowned by <a href="https://x.com/MaineDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaineDems</a> this weekend without a single vote being cast.</p>
<p>Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November. <a href="https://t.co/HcSEHJja12">https://t.co/HcSEHJja12</a></p>
<p>— Kristen Cianci (@kristencianci) <a href="https://x.com/kristencianci/status/2080425105046282380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Others, like the National Democratic Senatorial Committee, argued that Jackson offered little to no substantive difference compared to Platner.</p>
<p>&#8220;No tattoo. Same crazy,&#8221; the NRSC posted.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No tattoo, same crazy. <a href="https://t.co/jfgTxXUNO7">pic.twitter.com/jfgTxXUNO7</a></p>
<p>— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a href="https://x.com/NRSC/status/2081045608316436705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>


Maine Democrats Pick Ex-GOP Logger In Must-Win Senate Race

Democrat Party Bosses Crown New Nominee To Replace Graham Platner

Democrats

graham platner

Kamala Harris

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Maine Democrats

<p>One of the most obnoxious travel habits can now get passengers ejected from United Airlines flights at any point during their travel.</p>
<p>The airline, according to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/lifestyle/united-airlines-can-now-boot-passengers-for-annoying-phone-use/">report</a> from The New York Post, quietly added a line to its &#8220;Contract of Carriage&#8221; when it updated in late February. That line stated that passengers would not be permitted to use electronic devices with sound unless they used headphones.</p>
<p>Rule 21 of United&#8217;s <a href="https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.html?irgwc=1&amp;afsrc=1&amp;clickid=Shy1AYUDExyZRIYTKk1cBX2PUkuXuQSXUXRP1o0#rule-21">Contract of Carriage</a> — one of the boxes that all passengers check off, usually without reading the underlying fine print, prior to paying for their tickets — lists a litany of offenses that could potentially get them booted from the plane.</p>
<p>&#8220;Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content&#8221; risk being removed from flights just as those who &#8220;appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs,&#8221; who are &#8220;wearing or possessing on or about their person concealed or unconcealed deadly or dangerous weapons,&#8221; or who cause a disturbance or disobey instructions from any member of the flight crew — among other infractions.</p>
<p>In addition to removing passengers from the current flight, United Airlines also retains &#8220;the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis&#8221; — meaning that the passenger could face a permanent ban. Further, &#8220;any passenger who, by reason of engaging in the above activities in this Rule 21, causes UA any loss, damage or expense of any kind, consents and acknowledges that he or she shall reimburse UA for any such loss, damage or expense.&#8221;</p>
<p>The addition of the headphones requirement comes as Starlink is set to expand service on flights, meaning that more passengers will likely be streaming audio and video content in flight.</p>
<p>&#8220;We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones. With the expansion of Starlink (a high-speed, satellite internet service from SpaceX), it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage,&#8221; United Airlines told The Post in a statement.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Two girls laugh at something on their phone while traveling on a plane

The Obnoxious Travel Behavior That Could Get You Kicked Off The Plane

Air and Space

Air Travel

Airlines

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<p>President Donald Trump may be looking at potential strikes on another growing Islamic terrorist hotbed in the coming weeks — this time in the West African nation of Mali.</p>
<p>The Trump administration has reportedly been considering strikes against Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al Qaeda-linked militant group operating in the Sahel region that has attacked both local militias and international forces and has endeavored to enforce strict Islamic law throughout its areas of control.</p>
<p>The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/07/22/trump-administration-weighs-military-options-mali-officials-say/">reported</a> on Wednesday that the Trump administration is divided on military action — and said that one of those in favor of such is the current National Security Council’s senior director for counterterrorism, Sebastian Gorka.</p>
<p>One official did tell the outlet that, despite that division, the United States had been encouraging other nations in the region &#8220;to purchase U.S. equipment and services to support their war efforts against the terrorists.&#8221;</p>
<p>The entire region has been in a state of upheaval in recent years as a series of Russia-backed coups upended democratically elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — and the three nations have increasingly rejected ties with Western nations, instead joining together as The Alliance of Sahel States.</p>
<p>As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-kicked-america-out-now-theyre-being-hunted-by-jihadists">previously reported</a>, Niger overtly rejected the United States when President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration delivered an ultimatum just as the West African nation was inking a deal to provide Iran with Uranium. The Biden administration demanded that Niger cut ties with Russia and Iran, but the military junta running things at the time was disinclined to acquiesce. Instead, in addition to refusing Biden&#8217;s ultimatum, Niger ousted all remaining American military assets from the country — including a drone base that was used to target terrorists in the region.</p>
<p>Zineb Riboua, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, told The Daily Wire that the Biden administration&#8217;s presentation may have been the crux of the problem: &#8220;Instead of presenting it as an ultimatum, they could have presented an alternative. Instead of doing a uranium deal with Iran, why don’t you do one with the United States, and you get a school program or something in Niger, something they don’t have.&#8221;</p>
<p>But once the United States was gone, it was soon quickly apparent that the Russian security forces with whom they&#8217;d cast their lots were more of a liability than an asset. As previously reported, &#8220;The Russians were killing untold numbers of civilians and still somehow managing to cede ground to the jihadists. In fact, in Burkina Faso and Mali, the Russians and government forces <em>actually killed more civilians last year than the jihadists.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>The situation has only deteriorated in the years since, leading to the current consideration of possible military action.</p>
<p>&#8220;We urge regional partners and NATO allies to support the Alliance of Sahel States in their war against JNIM and ISIS,&#8221; the Trump administration official told The Washington Post, noting that partnership with Russia had clearly only allowed the terrorist factions to fester and grow. &#8220;We hope that other African nations take note of Russia’s terrible performance in combating terrorism.&#8221;</p>
<p>When asked, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not say whether he supported military action. Instead, the State Department said that the United States &#8220;unequivocally condemns the terrorist activity in Mali.&#8221;</p>


Trump Says Israel And Lebanon To Extend Ceasefire By Three Weeks

Trump May Have His Eye On New Jihadi Hot Spot To Bomb

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Joe Biden

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<p>Former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin has gone from interviewing political leaders to sleeping with them, then blogging about it.</p>
<p>Baldwin, 47, spent more than a decade behind the anchor desk and in the field at CNN. But since her ouster in 2021, Baldwin has taken to posting her own thoughts via Substack — and the most recent entry details her novel forays into &#8220;casual sex.&#8221;</p>
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<p>In the entry, Baldwin said that she&#8217;d recently tried a dating app — and had &#8220;lasted approximately three minutes&#8221; before she deleted it and moved on, or so she thought.</p>
<p>&#8220;Very recently, I gave it another shot,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Why? Maybe I wanted a distraction. Maybe I like to kiss. Maybe I’m a grown-ass woman who can do whatever the hell she wants. This time I made it&#8230; five whole days.&#8221;</p>
<p>And then &#8230;</p>
<p>&#8220;But here’s what’s fascinating. Over the last month or so, I’ve had the opportunity to sleep with four different men. This is not a humblebrag. Nor have I suddenly become Samantha Jones. (Though if that’s your lane&#8230; Do you, boo.),&#8221; she said, referencing the hyper-sexual character played by Kim Cattrall in HBO&#8217;s &#8220;Sex and the City.&#8221;</p>
<p>She then went on to describe the men.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I wonder what former head of state Brooke Baldwin is having “casual sex” with?</p>
<p>Trudeau is taken&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/r7DcoQy9F1">pic.twitter.com/r7DcoQy9F1</a></p>
<p>— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) <a href="https://x.com/SteveKrak/status/2079556787439583613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">&#8220;One literally flew in just to take me to dinner and spends his days trying to save our democracy one congressional district at a time,&#8221; she said, adding, &#8220;</span>One used to run a country. One is just &#8230; hot. That’s all you’re getting for now.&#8221;</p>
<p>Baldwin pivoted back to &#8220;Sex and the City&#8221; briefly, comparing herself instead to Sarah Jessica Parker&#8217;s character Carrie Bradshaw because she was sleeping with men and then blogging about them.</p>
<p>Baldwin&#8217;s &#8220;casual sex&#8221; entry came just weeks after another <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/media/fired-cnn-anchor-brooke-baldwin-comes-forward-with-shocking-sexual-assault-account/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;amp;utm_medium=social">post</a> detailing a sexual assault she said she experienced when she was just 20 years old.</p>
<p>&#8220;I woke up on the cold, hard bathroom tile floor of my Los Angeles hotel room with a man I did not know,&#8221; she wrote, adding, &#8220;For years, I did not have language for what I believed may have been done to me.&#8221;</p>


2018 DVF Awards

Former CNN Star Reduced To Posting Risqué Photos, Blogging About Sex Life

Apps

Brooke Baldwin

Dating

Journalism

Sex And The City

Sexual Assault

Substack

<p>Sen. Darline Graham&#8217;s (R-SC) odds of winning South Carolina&#8217;s special Republican primary skyrocketed from 14% to 80% in four days after President Donald Trump endorsed her, according to the prediction market Kalshi.</p>
<p>CNN data analyst Harry Enten argued Tuesday that Trump&#8217;s endorsement has made Graham the overwhelming favorite in the August 11 special Republican primary to fill the seat left vacant by the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Darline Graham&#8217;s now the favorite in SC. Why? Trump&#8217;s endorsement = most powerful I&#8217;ve ever seen.</p>
<p>In senate primaries with no elected incumbent, his picks have won ~95% since 2022 &amp; 100% in 2026.</p>
<p>His own party approval is highest this century for a prez at this pt in term 2. <a href="https://t.co/urpkkeI9vd">pic.twitter.com/urpkkeI9vd</a></p>
<p>— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://x.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2079616190679339503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;Darline Graham&#8217;s chances have rocketed up because rarely has the power of one man and his endorsements in primaries been as strong with Donald Trump,&#8221; Enten explained. He went on to cite the odds posted by Kalshi, which had Graham at 14% on July 17 and 80% just four days later — and he noted that the one major change in the interim was Trump&#8217;s endorsement, given before Graham had even declared her intent to seek a full term in office.</p>
<p>&#8220;Now, that&#8217;s not 100%,&#8221; Enten conceded, adding, &#8220;But it&#8217;s way, way higher than 14%. She&#8217;s the clear favorite to fill that seat, or at least win the primary.&#8221;</p>
<p>Enten noted that Graham was not an outlier, pointing to a number of recent primary races in which Trump had played kingmaker.</p>
<p>&#8220;When it comes to Senate primaries, Donald Trump&#8217;s record is magnificent,&#8221; he told anchor John Berman. &#8220;Since 2022, it&#8217;s about 95% of the time. This year, in fewer races, it&#8217;s 100% of the time. No wonder why the prediction markets and the conventional wisdom have moved so rapidly once Trump made that endorsement!&#8221;</p>
<p>Trump&#8217;s weight in recent primaries has been nearly insurmountable as candidate after candidate has soared to victory following a nod from the White House — and Graham now appears poised to follow suit in the August special primary for a seat Republicans are expected to retain in November.</p>


Graham’s Sister Sworn-In To US Senate Days After His Death

Lindsey Graham’s Sister Surges To Frontrunner Status On Back Of Trump Endorsement

Lindsey Graham's Sister Surges To Frontrunner Status On Back Of Trump Endorsement

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Harry Enten

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<p>Members of the far-Left &#8220;Squad&#8221; have built a reputation for their antisemitism — but apparently they struggle to tell individual Jews apart when attacking them for political positions.</p>
<p>Longtime Democratic commentator <a href="https://x.com/VanJones68/status/2078517905554288900">Van Jones</a> sparked the conversation with a post on X in which he called out the extremism within his own party. Clearly referencing the rise of the antisemitic democratic socialists, Jones said that he did not believe the party writ large should just open up the tent and &#8220;swear allegiance to crazy ideas.&#8221;</p>
<p>Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) reposted Jones&#8217; video, adding his concurring thoughts: &#8220;I’m glad to see other Democrats reiterating what I’ve been saying all along: the DSA are not Democrats. They’re socialists, who want to hijack the Democratic Party. The Democrats have a big tent. That’s our strength. We embrace a range of ideas — but there’s no room for anti-American bomb-throwers who oppose our ideas, values, &amp; leaders.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m glad to see other Democrats reiterating what I’ve been saying all along: the DSA are not Democrats. They’re socialists, who want to hijack the Democratic Party.</p>
<p>The Democrats have a big tent. That’s our strength. We embrace a range of ideas — but there’s no room for… <a href="https://t.co/4egn90PNm0">https://t.co/4egn90PNm0</a></p>
<p>— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) <a href="https://x.com/RepJoshG/status/2079234888918843442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Squad member Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) replied to Gottheimer, saying, &#8220;What about Dems who sign bombs and vote to drop them?&#8221;</p>
<p>It was not long before the Community Notes began to pour in, pointing out the fact that it was Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) who had signed the bombs destined to support Ukraine in the ongoing fight against Russia. &#8220;Different Josh,&#8221; the comments read.</p>
<p>&#8220;You know that’s the other Jewish guy named Josh, right?&#8221; Gottheimer replied in another post.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You know that’s the other Jewish guy named Josh, right? <a href="https://t.co/dCF0AtT0rY">https://t.co/dCF0AtT0rY</a></p>
<p>— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) <a href="https://x.com/RepJoshG/status/2079673421529600327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Card-carrying Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) rushed to Lee&#8217;s defense, firing back at Gottheimer, &#8220;He signed the bombs you voted to be dropped. Hope this helps!&#8221;</p>
<p>The Community notes on Omar&#8217;s post reminded her that Shapiro had signed bombs destined to defend Ukraine — not Israel — and Gottheimer quickly pointed out the fact that Omar herself had also voted to send aid to Ukraine.</p>
<p>&#8220;Ilhan, you know who else voted for it? You,&#8221; he said.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ilhan, you know who else voted for it? You. <a href="https://t.co/IjIQW4TNwF">https://t.co/IjIQW4TNwF</a> <a href="https://t.co/OwiNHHcXdz">https://t.co/OwiNHHcXdz</a> <a href="https://t.co/m8E8N4g8RD">pic.twitter.com/m8E8N4g8RD</a></p>
<p>— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) <a href="https://x.com/RepJoshG/status/2079730367397822598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Rep. Lee also voted in favor of H.R. 8035, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024.</p>


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Virginia Kruta