Former MTV reality star Spencer Pratt has repeatedly made it clear that he is not going to walk away silently after his loss in the Los Angeles mayoral race — and in his most recent video, he took direct aim at California&#8217;s election process and the potential for fraud.
Pratt, in a nine-minute video posted on Wednesday, laid out the reasons people believe California elections are rife with fraud — and why he believes they&#8217;re right to be worried.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I didn’t get cheated.
You did. <a href="https://t.co/ihDoZeEh9J">pic.twitter.com/ihDoZeEh9J</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2075036220803993958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;In judicial ethics, the mere appearance of potential fraud is disqualifying,&#8221; Pratt began — and then compared that to elections. &#8220;Whether or not there is widespread fraud occurring, there certainly could be. And it doesn&#8217;t matter how many times you scream, &#8216;There is no widespread fraud.&#8217; A lot of people believe there is.&#8221;
Pratt went on to explain how California, in particular, had built a system that at best enabled the appearance of fraud and at worst facilitated it: &#8220;This isn&#8217;t about whether fraud is swinging the election — the appearance of fraud already is swinging the election.&#8221;
Using his own election as an example, Pratt explained that the mail-in ballot system — which allows votes to be counted for days after the election — created the appearance of fraud even if that wasn&#8217;t what was happening. In the Los Angeles mayoral race, he explained, he was in second place on Election Day — and the mail-in ballots that came in after benefited Nithya Raman, who had been the third-place candidate.
&#8220;For some reason, only the third-place Democrat who needed the votes saw a disproportionate spike in votes several days after the election,&#8221; he said.
Pratt compared the whole system to a bank heist in which the bank owners &#8220;can&#8217;t lock the bank vault, you&#8217;re not allowed to have security cameras, and you can&#8217;t count the money inside the vault. Robbing the bank is still 100% illegal, but there&#8217;s no way to stop it from happening.&#8221;
&#8220;How can you secure the money if you can&#8217;t lock the vault?&#8221; Pratt asked. &#8220;How can you catch the robbers if you&#8217;re not allowed to monitor the vault? And how can you even identify if the vault were even robbed in the first place if you can&#8217;t even count the money? &#8230; The bank vault is wide open.&#8221;
Pratt called for an overhaul of the system, saying that the right way would not be easy, but it would end with &#8220;commie animals in handcuffs.&#8221;
&#8220;To all you fraudsters out there, we&#8217;ve been watching you,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And justice is coming.&#8221;

election night Spencer Pratt

Spencer Pratt Just Went Scorched Earth On ‘Communist’ Election Fraudsters

Spencer Pratt Just Went Scorched Earth On 'Communist' Election Fraudsters

2026 elections

California

Election Fraud

Elections

Los Angeles

Los Angeles mayor

Politics

Spencer Pratt

Lance Twiggs, the trans-identifying former boyfriend of accused assassin Tyler Robinson, said in audio released during Thursday&#8217;s preliminary hearing that Robinson had claimed he wanted to engrave bullets ahead of a planned &#8220;hunting&#8221; trip.
A police interview with Twiggs, originally recorded several months after the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated, was played for the first time during preliminary hearings ahead of Robinson&#8217;s trial.
Twiggs said that Robinson had mentioned a hunting trip he was planning with his family, and asked whether he had a Dremel tool that he could use to engrave bullets before they went. He confirmed that he did have the tool, and had told Robinson where he could find it — and that all of that had transpired about a month or so prior to the shooting.
&#8220;He said he was going hunting with his family and he asked if we had a Dremel he could borrow because he said he wanted to engrave messages on bullets,&#8221; Twiggs explained. &#8220;I just told him where the Dremel was and told him to make sure he doesn&#8217;t set off the bullet on accident in the house, but I didn&#8217;t really think about it until then.&#8221;
He recalled seeing Robinson the day after the shooting, and said that he&#8217;d appeared restless — as if he&#8217;d been attempting to keep himself busy, or to distract himself from what he had done.
Twiggs also said that he&#8217;d asked Robinson directly whether the things he&#8217;d said via text the night before — namely that he&#8217;d been the one to shoot Kirk — had been true.
&#8220;[He] didn’t go into detail. I just asked him in person if what he said was true the night before and he said it was, starting crying a little bit, and he says he wishes he hadn’t done it,” Twiggs said.
Some portions of the interview were redacted pursuant to an earlier ruling from Judge Tony Graf, in which he stated that about 16 minutes of the recorded interview — which initially took place earlier in the year — would be redacted in order to balance transparency of the proceedings with the rights of the defendant.
Robinson, 23, will potentially face the death penalty if he is convicted.

Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect Tyler Robinson Arraigned In Utah Court

Tyler Robinson’s Trans Furry Boyfriend Reveals Engraved Bullet Details

Tyler Robinson Claimed Engraved Bullets Were For 'Hunting,' Trans Furry Boyfriend Says

assassination

Charlie Kirk

Courts

Shooting

Judge Tony Graf Jr. denied a request from Erika Kirk and her late husband&#8217;s parents, saying that he would not display in open court all of the evidence in the assassination of the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Graf said that the court would weigh evidence on a case-by-case basis and that only some would be displayed in the gallery for all of those present at the hearing.
&#8220;The court has considered the request that exhibits be displayed in real time to the courtroom. After careful consideration, the court determines that not all exhibits will be visually displayed to the gallery and notes that it will use a tiered method as described first, whether it will be admitted to the court for consideration as it relates to probable cause. Second, whether it will be displayed only to the gallery, and third, if it will be published through the camera, to the public at large,&#8221; Graf said.
In a win for the Kirk family and the prosecution, Graf also agreed that several key pieces of evidence — specifically text messages and Discord messages — could be released to the public, despite objections from the defense.
As the preliminary hearings continue for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering Kirk last September at Utah Valley University, the Kirks submitted a filing through attorneys on Thursday. In it, they claimed that the victims of crimes — in addition to being allowed to be present in the courtroom during proceedings — should be allowed to see the evidence presented in open court.
&#8220;The Victim&#8217;s Family&#8217;s position is simple. At a minimum, every exhibit entered into evidence during the preliminary hearing must be visible to every person lawfully present in the courtroom,&#8221; the court filing read, noting that the family had waited months for the hearing to begin — and then, upon their arrival, found that they&#8217;d be unable to view some of the evidence.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/live-tyler-robinson-preliminary-hearing-day-4?contentProgram=Daily%20Wire%20News&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel">WATCH: Tyler Robinson Preliminary Hearing</a>
&#8220;To receive evidence in a manner shielded from those seated in the courtroom — as happened today — is not transparency. And in the absence of transparency, speculation and conspiracy theories related to the tragic assassination of Mr. Kirk will continue to proliferate in the public domain, breeding doubt and distrust in the judicial system. This is not what anyone should want.&#8221;
The filing went on to argue that the family&#8217;s guaranteed right to be present in the courtroom and to observe the court proceedings carried no real weight if they were not also able to see the evidence that was being presented.
&#8220;The right &#8216;to be present&#8217; is hollow if the victim or his representative is physically in the room but is prevented from seeing the evidence the Court is receiving. A right to attend that does not include the ability to perceive what is happening is not meaningful presence at all,&#8221; the filing explained.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Erika Kirk&#8217;s attorney claims in a new court filing that after waiting ten months for the preliminary hearing, Erika and Charlie Kirk&#8217;s parents have been denied the ability to meaningfully observe evidence in court <a href="https://t.co/YfBTsaQ0s6">pic.twitter.com/YfBTsaQ0s6</a>
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) <a href="https://x.com/MattFinnFNC/status/2075195265464856977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

JD Vance Speaks At Turning Point Tour Event At Ole Miss

Judge Issues Decision On Erika Kirk’s Demand For More Transparency In Court

Judge Denies Erika Kirk's Request, Will Not Display All Evidence In Open Court

Court

Erika Kirk

Murder

Recently obtained video shows disgraced Maine Democrat Graham Platner doing chores around his home after suspending his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Platner announced the end of his tumultuous campaign late Wednesday evening after a series of scandals — ranging from his Nazi-themed tattoo and raunchy social media posts to allegations of troubling behavior, sexual assault, and even rape. By Thursday morning, he was back to doing work around the house.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New video obtained by Fox News shows Graham Platner&#8217;s first public appearance since suspending his Senate campaign in Maine.
Platner was spotted briefly leaving his house days after a new wave of sexual assault allegations, including a rape accusation, became public.
The Maine… <a href="https://t.co/fz1jEvcwJp">pic.twitter.com/fz1jEvcwJp</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2075221617425150313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Platner&#8217;s decision to bow out gives his party just days to replace him on the ballot ahead of the November general election — and early reports suggested that Platner conditioned his exit on being allowed to exert some control over who could ultimately take his place as the nominee.
After ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot accused him of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN, the Maine Democrat immediately began hemorrhaging what support he had left. Platner held out until Wednesday before ultimately leaving the race as endorsements, support, and funding began to evaporate.
Platner responded with an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/platner-caves-suspends-senate-campaign">11-minute video</a> denying the allegations and blaming everyone but himself for the drama and scandals that were constant fixtures in his race.
&#8220;We believe that for the movement to continue, [the candidate] can’t be me,” Platner said. “And for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations &#8230; I have faced some very serious allegations, and I just want to make it clear, this is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It’s not real.&#8221;

Graham Platner

What Graham Platner Did After Suspending His Campaign

New Video Shows Disgraced Graham Platner Doing House Chores After Campaign Imploded

graham platner

Media

CNN ran with a quote from a parody account during a segment about Republicans who say they have spoken with ailing former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during his recent hospitalization.
Host Audie Cornish introduced the segment, which came as speculation continues to swirl about McConnell&#8217;s health. Cornish noted that several prominent Republicans had spoken up in recent days to say that McConnell was still recovering but doing well.
&#8220;You have a lot of Senate Republicans coming out, we&#8217;re going to show some onscreen, all saying, &#8216;I talked to him,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him for 20 minutes,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him for 45 minutes,'&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;re hearing these pundits talk not just about his potential health, but what they think the issue is: a special election deadline.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OOPS: CNN This Morning cites parody account of fake congressman <a href="https://x.com/RepJackKimble?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJackKimble</a> on list of quotes about Sen. Mitch McConnell&#8217;s health. <a href="https://t.co/GBXJ37bkoe">pic.twitter.com/GBXJ37bkoe</a>
— Nick (@nspin310) <a href="https://x.com/nspin310/status/2074860431240298947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But as Cornish spoke, the posts on the screen were from former McConnell adviser and CNN commentator Scott Jennings, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Majority Whip John Barrasso. A fourth post, attributed to &#8220;Rep. Jack Kimble,&#8221; was found to be a parody account.
The quote that appeared on the screen read, &#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes.&#8221;
But the full quote posted by the parody account took the joke a bit further: &#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes. He&#8217;s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He&#8217;s a great listener. After that we prayed silently for awhile and had a staring contest. Just like always, he beat me. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes. He&#8217;s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He&#8217;s a great listener. After that we prayed…
— Rep. Jack Kimble (@RepJackKimble) <a href="https://x.com/RepJackKimble/status/2074570956467577094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Other posts from Kimble&#8217;s account might have given it away as a parody as well.
July 6: &#8220;Donald Trump had no choice but to get Balogun reinstated. He’s a birthright citizen and The Supreme Court just ruled we can’t take away their citizenship or give them red cards. Blame the liberal judges.&#8221;
June 30: &#8220;The Supreme Court is just a regular court with sour cream.&#8221;
Kimble&#8217;s X bio should also have given CNN a clue, as it claims that he represents California&#8217;s 54th Congressional District. The state of California only has 52 Congressional Districts.

CNN World Headquarters

CNN Cites Fake Congressman’s Account Of Conversation With McConnell

CNN Cites Fake Congressman's Account Of Conversation With McConnell

Mitch McConnell

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) called out Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), arguing that he was part of the push to elevate embattled Maine Democrat Graham Platner.
Platner, who is Maine&#8217;s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, has faced a litany of scandals since he entered the race — from a Nazi-inspired tattoo and dubious social media history to multiple accusations of troubling behavior and even rape. Fetterman told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday that Sanders ought to apologize for so aggressively pushing Platner.
WATCH:
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Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) on Bernie Sanders support for Graham Platner:
“Honestly I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped elected” <a href="https://t.co/qMnv3HY4H4">pic.twitter.com/qMnv3HY4H4</a>
— DSA Watch (@DSA_Watch) <a href="https://x.com/DSA_Watch/status/2074825834842521703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ingraham noted that almost across the board — with few exceptions, of which Fetterman was one — the Democratic Party had been all too willing to ignore the questionable items in Platner&#8217;s history, and she asked whether any of them should be held responsible for the ensuing situation.
&#8220;I refused to overlook that,&#8221; Fetterman replied. &#8220;But honestly, I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator — more than anyone he helped [to] elect — and now apologize to the victims, especially the woman that she claimed that he raped her, so I don&#8217;t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people.&#8221;
&#8220;Maybe he should consider [sitting] a few out and stop pushing these kinds of communists, and now people like P. Hustle, now he has been credibly accused of rape — and that&#8217;s fairly recent, too, that was only less than five years ago,&#8221; Fetterman continued.
Fetterman has repeatedly challenged members of his own party over their support for Platner — and has argued that the scandals, even before the rape accusation, should have been disqualifying.

John Fetterman

Fetterman Calls Out Bernie Sanders For Elevating ‘Predator’ Platner

Fetterman: Bernie Sanders Should Apologize For Elevating Platner

Bernie Sanders

Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner released a video denying the accusations of sexual misconduct, disturbing and abusive behavior, and even rape — but some quickly noticed that his speech sounded familiar.
When viewed side by side with a video from disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — who resigned after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault — it was so similar that it might easily have been scripted by the same person.
WATCH:
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/foGKdXSoSW7Z00sAjbvTtzuU5XbQBEeDA?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=87a702c7-4863-4e0d-9987-d2ffbd45e30a&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-07-08%20Swalwell%20Platner%20Similar%20Denials&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Ffc7c88c6-7364-4e88-8a3e-c8e37312b26b.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">Platner responded</a> after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot came forward, speaking with both Politico and CNN about the night she said Platner showed up at her home and forced himself on her.
&#8220;I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me,&#8221; Platner began, speaking directly to the camera. &#8220;Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.&#8221;
Platner then spoke of his constituents, saying that he&#8217;d been &#8220;deeply humbled&#8221; by the amount of faith they&#8217;d placed in him and thanking them for welcoming him into their lives throughout his campaign.
&#8220;So regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,&#8221; Platner said, adding, &#8220;As Maine goes, so goes the nation.&#8221;
Swalwell gave a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-wont-drop-out-despite-his-metoo-era-kavanaugh-demand">remarkably similar statement</a> in the wake of sexual misconduct and assault accusations just a few months earlier, also speaking directly to the camera.
&#8220;A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,” Swalwell said at the time. “And I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly.”
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false, they’re absolutely false,” he added. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,” Swalwell continued. “But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am.”
Within days of releasing the video, Swalwell had dropped out of the California gubernatorial primary — which he was leading — and resigned from Congress.

SEE IT: Compare Swalwell, Platner’s Nearly Identical Denials

SEE IT: Compare Platner, Swalwell's Nearly Identical Denials

Eric Swalwell

Rape

Sexual Assault

Sexual Misconduct

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell&#8217;s (R-KY) wife Elaine Chao released a statement acknowledging her decision to remain in China despite her husband&#8217;s lengthy hospitalization.
After weeks of public speculation about McConnell&#8217;s condition — and even some rumors that he was not expected to recover — a spokesperson for Chao said she did not believe the senator&#8217;s health was considered serious enough to require cutting her planned trip short.
&#8220;The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family&#8217;s philanthropic endeavors. During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador. The senator&#8217;s health did not warrant an immediate return to the US,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.wlky.com/article/elaine-chao-mitch-mcconnell-health-statement/71858467?fbclid=IwY2xjawS6XxxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiR09rYlJIRlozV1lEWG10c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmqXHN1RvqPWm5GcAUKVkyU7NtTKYD_m1LlbAUC6G9RaZBwk-viy1fLmpXws_aem_TVpgFeulR4GNuDSq2V1PfQ">spokesperson</a> told CBS News affiliate WLKY.
The former Commerce Secretary left the country on June 12, just two days before the news broke that the Kentucky senator had been hospitalized. In the weeks since, Chao completed her travels and returned to the United States — and very little has been heard from Sen. McConnell or his office.
The silence surrounding McConnell led to speculation — both in traditional media and across social media platforms — that the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader could even be on life support.
On July 2, nearly three weeks after McConnell was first hospitalized, his office released a statement to WLKY: &#8220;Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.&#8221;
In the days that followed, several Republican allies said that they had spoken to the aging senator. CNN commentator and radio host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-republicans-speak-with-hospitalized-mcconnell-to-shut-down-rumors">Scott Jennings</a>, who previously worked as an advisor to McConnell, was among them.
&#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,&#8221; he said.

Donald Trump Announces Air Traffic Control Reform Initiative At White House

Mitch McConnell’s Wife Breaks Silence Amid Mysterious Health Saga

Mitch McConnell's Wife Breaks Silence Amid Mysterious Health Saga

Communist China

Senate

Jenny Racicot, 41, said during a CNN interview that aired Monday that Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat, had stopped briefly to apologize while he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">raping her</a>.
Racicot described the scenario to CNN anchor Jake Tapper, claiming that Platner had appeared to be &#8220;blackout drunk&#8221; when he came into her house — and although he did not listen when she told him to stop, there were periods where he &#8220;came to&#8221; and apologized before going right back to what he was doing.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ro Khanna and numerous other Democrats have dropped their endorsements of Graham Platner just in time.
Just minutes before CNN&#8217;s Jake Tapper conducted a lengthy exclusive interview with the woman accusing the Senate candidate of r*ping her. <a href="https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03">https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03</a> <a href="https://t.co/5VVWA7oVE1">pic.twitter.com/5VVWA7oVE1</a>
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) <a href="https://x.com/MediasLies/status/2074260143261290668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Racicot explained that she and Platner had been texting each other on the evening of the alleged assault, and that she must have said something that he had believed to be an invitation. She said she had not meant it that way, but he said he was going to come over. According to Racicot, she said again that he should not come over, and he stopped responding — at which point she believed he had gotten the message.
It was about thirty minutes later that she said he showed up, entered her home through an unlocked door, and got on top of her. Racicot said she told him several times that she was &#8220;not into&#8221; what he was doing, but that he did not listen. She said that as the assault continued, Platner had a blank look in his eyes.
She said that in the struggle, one of them had knocked over a sewing kit that she kept near the couch — and when the contents hit the ground and scattered, that was the moment she began thinking that she should &#8220;comply&#8221; for her own safety.
&#8220;That was me recognizing that this wasn&#8217;t just like oh, hey, somebody showed up and I&#8217;m going to tell him to go home, like he was heavily intoxicated, had intentions with me, and wasn&#8217;t listening when I said no,&#8221; she claimed.
As the assault continued, she said he seemed to be going in and out of moments of lucidity — and even said that he &#8220;would apologize&#8221; before going right back to what he&#8217;d been doing.
Racicot said that once it was over, she sat in her bathroom for quite some time attempting to process what had happened. The hardest thing, she said, was realizing that he had been someone she trusted and had been involved with before, was that it &#8220;was consensual until it wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;
By the time she came out of the bathroom, she said that Platner had fallen asleep in her bed. Realizing that he had driven to her house drunk and not wanting to put him back on the road in that condition, she said she waited until he woke up and told him to leave. He said he did not remember anything that had happened the night before — and Racicot told him that nothing he had done that night had been acceptable, demanding that he leave.
&#8220;He just got up and got dressed and didn&#8217;t seem concerned,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t ask me a single question &#8230; How can somebody that you&#8217;ve been in some type of a relationship with for this long tells you to never speak to [them] again because of something that you did and you don&#8217;t even ask what you did?&#8221;
Racicot told Tapper that she had been torn on whether to come forward, in part because she is a Democrat and would like to see a Democrat win the Senate seat in Maine — but that she felt like she couldn&#8217;t stay silent any longer.
&nbsp;

Maine Democratic Candidate For Senate Graham Platner Campaigns Across The State

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To ‘Apologize,’ Then Raped Her Anyway

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To 'Apologize,' Then Raped Her Anyway

Jake Tapper

Maine

U.S. Senate

Members of the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team were quick to celebrate the news that star striker Folarin Balogun would be available for Monday&#8217;s match against Belgium — once they realized the story wasn&#8217;t a fake-out created using Artificial Intelligence.
As The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/sports/how-usmnt-players-reacted-to-folarin-balogun-news-on-bus-to-practice/">reported</a>, defender Chris Richards said that the team was heading to Husky Soccer Stadium on the bus when they got the news — and that at first, they were not at all sure what to make of it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chris Richards tells <a href="https://x.com/JennyTaft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyTaft</a> the vibes are up for the USMNT after hearing about Flo Balogun&#8217;s suspension being lifted <a href="https://t.co/WeCcD1wATY">pic.twitter.com/WeCcD1wATY</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2073884412228649218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;To be fair, we were lit on the bus regardless. We had our speaker in the back listening to music,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Then one person said something, another person said the same thing and nobody wanted to confirm it. It was pretty much right when we got here that we found out it was true &#8230; a lot of us thought it was AI at first.&#8221;
But then Balogun boarded the bus — all smiles because he&#8217;d already been told that his one-match suspension had been suspended in favor of a probationary period — and it became apparent that he was going to be allowed to play.
Midfield and forward Christian Pulisic also reacted to the good news, saying, &#8220;I just saw a big smile on his face. I got to see him and dap him up after that. Knowing we’re gonna have him around tomorrow, it helps so much. It’s a big boost.&#8221;
Pulisic also noted that the lineup for Monday&#8217;s game against Belgium had not yet been adjusted to accommodate Balogun&#8217;s expected absence, explaining that the team would not be scrambling to rearrange things now that he could play.
&#8220;Of course you have other guys filling in and trying to figure out what the lineup could look like, but we didn’t have anything set. It’s not like some crazy adjustment we need to make,&#8221; he said.
The United States is set to play Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6.

USA v Paraguay: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

U.S. Team ‘Lit’ After Red Card Reversal News: ‘Thought It Was AI At First’

U.S. Team 'Lit' After Red Card Reversal News: 'Thought It Was AI At First'

Donald Trump

FIFA

Soccer

Sports

World Cup

President Donald Trump offered his thanks to FIFA — while Belgian officials fume and vow to evaluate &#8220;all potential options&#8221; — after the organization lifted a one-game suspension for U.S. star-striker Folarin Balogun.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his thanks, saying, &#8220;Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!&#8221;
A White House source confirmed to The Daily Wire that the president had made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the red card. Multiple reports suggested that during that call, Trump had informed Infantino that attorneys were preparing to challenge the use of slow-motion instant replay — which he said violated FIFA rules — and that the red card had been excessive.
Outkick founder Clay Travis said sources had told him that &#8220;President Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card.&#8221;
&#8220;Specifically they challenged the use of slow motion instant replay to give the red card, which they argued violated FIFA rules. The president also conveyed to Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, that the appeal had been filed and he believed the red card penalty was excessive,&#8221; he added. &#8220;FIFA’s independent committee reviewed the decision and agreed the penalty was incorrectly given, rescinding it under their rule 27 authority.&#8221;
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Sources: President Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card. Specifically they challenged the use of slow motion instant…
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2073851719297945674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The rule in question states that the slow-motion replay is only to be used to determine facts — where players were at the time of the offense or how contact occurred — and not to judge the severity of the offense. That, the rule states, should be determined by a replay at normal speed.
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I am not entirely convinced this part of the VAR protocols was followed here. <a href="https://t.co/W3GI2h3gxC">pic.twitter.com/W3GI2h3gxC</a>
— Lars Sivertsen (@larssivertsen) <a href="https://x.com/larssivertsen/status/2072496315913675189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Royal Belgian Football Association registered its displeasure with the decision in a statement published on Sunday: &#8221;
FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.&#8221;
&#8220;However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup,&#8221; the statement continued.
The precedent was already set at the beginning of World Cup play, when Portugal&#8217;s star player <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/sports/the-cristiano-ronaldo-precedent-that-changed-folarin-baloguns-red-card-fortunes/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> had a suspension overturned in favor of a probationary period. Ronald, who was shown a red card and given a three-match suspension last November, only missed one match before FIFA suspended the remaining two-match ban, placing him on probation but allowing him to play in his team&#8217;s opening World Cup match.
The United States is set to play Belgium on Monday, July 6, in the Round of 16.

USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina: Round Of 32 – FIFA World Cup 2026

Trump Thanks FIFA For Reversing ’Great Injustice’ As European Rivals Rage At World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo

White House

The United Arab Emirates made its position very clear over the July Fourth weekend, opting to skip the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&#8217;s funeral in Iran in favor of a red, white, and blue flyover for America 250 celebrations in New York City.
NBC News showed footage of the flyover, which featured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Flight Demonstration Team Al Fursan in a tight, seven-plane formation trailing red, white, and blue smoke. They flew alongside the U.S. Navy&#8217;s Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force in a stunning display.
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While some were mourning Khamenei, the UAE was busy celebrating America&#8217;s 250th Independence Day in New York.Those queuing in Iran were nowhere to be seen. In this region, the UAE has proven itself to be the strong, brave, and reliable ally. 
Now you know who the real friend is. <a href="https://t.co/6NJtoxMraO">pic.twitter.com/6NJtoxMraO</a>
— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) <a href="https://x.com/amjadt25/status/2073722548819464220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Navy Vice Admiral John Gumbleton described the scene as they flew over Liberty Island in New York Harbor: &#8220;We got the United Arab Emirates Flight Demonstration Team, and they&#8217;re flying the smoke of the red, white, and blue in honor of the nation&#8217;s 250th — and looking quite professional going by.&#8221;
According to several reports, in addition to not sending a delegation to the late Iranian Supreme Leader&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-wants-the-world-to-see-one-thing-at-khameneis-funeral">funeral</a>, the UAE also opted not to send condolences to the regime.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, the funeral is expected to be a massive spectacle designed to draw large crowds and give what is left of the regime legitimacy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as previously reported, called on citizens “of every ethnicity, religion, preference and political tendency” to attend, adding, “Your widespread presence will be a decisive response to the logic of terrorism, violence, and bullying, and a clear message to the world that the Iranian nation stands united and in solidarity in defending its independence and dignity.&#8221;

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Virginia Kruta