The 27-year-old New Jersey man who was convicted in February of stabbing and partially blinding famed novelist Salman Rushdie was hit with the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison on Friday.
Hadi Matar was convicted of second-degree attempted murder for the August 2022 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-famed-author-salman-rushdie-target-of-iran-death-sentence-stabbed-on-stage-in-new-york?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=BREAKING%3A+Famed+Author+Salman+Rushdie%2C+Target+Of+Iran+Death+Sentence%2C+Stabbed+On+Stage+In+New+York" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stabbing attack</a> that also injured the event&#8217;s moderator, Henry Reese, the co-founder of Pittsburgh&#8217;s City of Asylum, which helps exiled writers, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/assailant-who-stabbed-author-salman-rushdie-sentenced-25-years-2025-05-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Rushdie — who sparked the ire of the Iranian regime with his 1988 novel, &#8220;The Satanic Verses&#8221; — was stabbed by Matar between 10 and 15 times in the head, neck, torso, and left hand at a New York arts institute. After the book was published, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, calling for Rushdie&#8217;s assassination.
Video captured Matar rushing the stage where Rushdie spoke during a writers&#8217; event focused on protecting exiled writers. During the trial, a trauma surgeon testified that without immediate medical intervention, Rushdie would have died, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/salman-rushdie-stabbing-sentencing-attempted-murder-hadi-matar/story?id=121844226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The jury took just two hours to reach a verdict. Matar was also sentenced to seven years for second-degree assault in the stabbing of Reese, but that sentence will run concurrently with the longer one.
Before the trial began in Chautauqua County Court, Matar rejected a plea deal. Shortly after the jury reached its verdict, his defense attorney, Nathaniel Barone, said Matar plans to appeal the conviction. Matar has also been charged by the federal government with an act of terrorism. He will face those charges at a separate trial in Buffalo, according to Reuters.
Rushdie was born into a non-practicing Muslim family in British India, and now identifies as an atheist. “The Satanic Verses,&#8221; which was labeled as blasphemous by hardline Islamists, refers to verses of the Quran that Rushdie claimed had been removed. Rushdie said that his book is not blasphemous against Islam, adding, “I doubt very much Khomeini or anyone else in Iran has read this book or anything more than selected extracts taken out of context.”
After the sentencing hearing, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said that the stabbing attack still haunts the 77-year-old author.
&#8220;He&#8217;s traumatized. He has nightmares about what he experienced,&#8221; Schmidt said. &#8220;Obviously this is a major setback for an individual that was starting to emerge in his very later years of life into society after going into hiding after the fatwa.&#8221;

Hadi Matar

Sentence Is In For American Who Stabbed Novelist Salman Rushdie

attack

Crime

Iran

New Jersey

New York

Politics

Prison

Salman Rushdie

Stabbing

Republicans in the GOP-led House are struggling to reach an agreement for the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap being considered for President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill.&#8221;
In the 389-page tax package <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-gets-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> on Monday, there was a provision to increase the SALT deduction cap to $30,000 for individuals earning $400,000 or less, up from the current $10,000 limit from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that is set to expire at the end of this year.
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the tax measure in a 26-19 vote along party lines on Wednesday morning, but Republicans from high-tax blue states such as New York, New Jersey, and California are fighting for a higher ceiling.
After Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) posted on X a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-works-fry-cooker-at-mcdonalds-roasts-kamala-ive-now-worked-15-minutes-more-than-she-has" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photo</a> of Trump at McDonald&#8217;s and saying, &#8220;Thanks for playing, @WaysMeansCmte,&#8221; Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) <a href="https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replied</a>, &#8220;You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman. 🧂 🍟 <a href="https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla">https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla</a>
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) <a href="https://twitter.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
GOP lawmakers who want a SALT deduction cap increase have star power in Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who is considering a run for New York governor after Trump pulled her nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She joined other New York Republicans for a May 8 statement that <a href="https://x.com/theblaze/status/1922021280120766600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> a flat $30,000 SALT deduction cap would not get their support.
&#8220;[It] risks derailing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; they said. &#8220;New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get back — unlike many so-called &#8216;low-tax&#8217; states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of fairness. We reject this offer.&#8221;
Some House conservatives, who are focused on cutting how much the federal government spends and reining in a national debt that is approaching $37 trillion, have voiced reservations about the SALT deduction cap.
&#8220;The top Congressional districts taking advantage of SALT (State &amp; Local Tax) deductions (i.e., they have high state &amp; local taxes on high incomes. Mostly Dem, heavily CA, Swamp (MD, VA), &amp; NY,&#8221; Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1917715364605223414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X last month. &#8220;In fairness, property taxes in TX are horrible, but we shouldn’t subsidize that either!&#8221;
Democrats are pushing in the opposite direction.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/1920839627113480620" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> that he would rather not have a SALT deduction cap at all, as it was before the 2017 tax law, saying on X that Republicans &#8220;must now fully restore it or be completely exposed for their phony advocacy.&#8221;
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/14/us-news/house-lawmakers-debate-medicaid-reform-salt-deductions-caps-in-contentious-marathon-markup-sessions-for-trumps-big-beautiful-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) offered an amendment to increase the SALT deduction cap to $80,000 and pay for it by raising the tax rate on top earners from 37% to 39.6%, but that proposal was rejected by the Ways and Means Committee.
Trump himself seems to be on board with a change.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/17/trump-salt-tax-law.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on Truth Social that he would &#8220;get SALT back.&#8221; CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/salt-deduction-trumps-tax-cuts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that after Trump began his second term, he told Fox News that he would &#8220;love to see something happen on SALT.&#8221;
Lawmakers will now have to negotiate a resolution before the tax package is added to other parts of the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; and a final vote by the full House. Republicans have a <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">220-213 majority</a>, meaning there can only be a few defectors for the bill to pass if all Democrats vote against it.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly <a href="https://x.com/thehill/status/1922650573746082114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a> that Republicans would need until the weekend to reach a deal on SALT. He&#8217;s been gunning to have the House finish up with the overall spending bill by Memorial Day.
&#8220;We have a delicate balance to maintain to get 218 votes on one of the largest and most comprehensive and complex pieces of legislation that&#8217;s ever been drafted by Congress,&#8221; Johnson said, per a <a href="https://x.com/mychaelschnell/status/1922654897213673641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X from a congressional journalist. &#8220;So yeah, my concern is always the vote total, but I&#8217;m very confident that we&#8217;ll be able to deliver that.&#8221;

President Trump

This Tax Deduction Cap Threatens To Derail Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

California

Chip Roy

Congress

Donald Trump

Elise Stefanik

Spending Bill

Taxes

U.S. House of Representatives

A new statue of an overweight black woman placed in Times Square in New York City is inspiring a lot of reactions online, especially since it&#8217;s being compared to Michelangelo’s “David.” 
Times Square Arts recently erected the statue by artist Thomas J Price, which is called &#8220;Grounded in the Stars,&#8221; as a temporary display in the tourist-heavy area of Manhattan. There will also be a “Man Series” of billboards displayed in the area.
The Times Square website <a href="https://www.timessquarenyc.org/tsq-arts-projects/grounded-in-the-stars">says</a> of the piece: &#8220;Price’s multi-channel presentation on the screens and sculptural installation on the plaza below forms a two-part takeover in Times Square that foregrounds the intrinsic value of the individual and amplifies traditionally marginalized bodies on a monumental scale.&#8221;
The website notes that the statue depicts “a fictionalized character” who was “constructed from images, observations, and open calls spanning between Los Angeles and London.” 
“The young woman depicted in Grounded in the Stars carries familiar qualities, from her stance and countenance to her everyday clothing,” it says, noting that her “stance is a subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David.”
The site also says, “the woman in Grounded in the Stars cuts a stark contrast to the pedestaled permanent monuments — both white, both men — which bookend Duffy Square, while embodying a quiet gravity and grandeur.”
Social media users have had overwhelmingly negative reactions to the statue.
“They tear down statues of American heroes and replace them with statues of random obese black women. That’s because the Left has no historical heroes. Everyone who was born before approximately 2005 is inherently problematic,” Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh <a href="https://x.com/mattwalshblog/status/1920116456454328758?s=43&amp;t=BDz6oekueqrSVJ50bM62xw">wrote</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They tear down statues of American heroes and replace them with statues of random obese black women. That’s because the Left has no historical heroes. Everyone who was born before approximately 2005 is inherently problematic.
<a href="https://t.co/ypjxG1p2ZU">pic.twitter.com/ypjxG1p2ZU</a>
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1920116456454328758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“In 2021, NYC removed a statue of Thomas Jefferson from City Hall due to ‘racism.’ The city has now erected a huge statue of a rotund woman in Times Square,” conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey <a href="https://x.com/conservmillen/status/1920201578516263221">wrote</a>. 
“So, we’re taking down monuments to people who accomplished some of [the] greatest feats in human history, from which we are all still benefitting (sic), and instead honoring random people who have zero notable contributions. Doomed,” she added.
“Statues aren’t just art. they’re markers of who we are and what we stand for. But the Left doesn’t want heroes, they want a blank slate to push their woke agenda,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/OneXOneY/status/1920118030673072397">added</a>.

Grounded in the Stars

New NYC Statue Of Overweight Black Woman Touted As ‘Contrast’ To Monuments Of White Men

New NYC Statue Of Overweight Black Woman Touted As 'Contrast' To Statues Of White Men

General

History

Manhattan

New York City

Race

Statues

Times Square

U.S.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany, New York, have reportedly begun a formal criminal investigation into the real estate and mortgage transactions of New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James.
Last month, William J. Pulte, director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging that James might have “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms.” He said James had “potentially included … falsifying residence status for a Norfolk, Virginia-based home in order to secure a lower mortgage rate and … misrepresenting property descriptions to meet stringent requirements for government backed loans and government assistance.” He pointed out, “Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages.”
Two weeks ago, James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, wrote a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25913822-nyag-james-letter-to-ag-bondi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Bondi, stating, “I write to address the latest act of improper political retribution—this time directed at Ms. James—publicly instigated and endorsed by President Trump&#8230;. This so-called ‘Criminal Referral,’ which recycles long-disproven allegations and is ‘[b]ased on media reports’ lacks any credible foundation.”
“Mr. Trump has singled out Attorney General James dating back to her campaign in 2018, and ever more so during and after the trial and verdict in New York in which Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization were found liable for financial fraud and assessed a $454 million judgment,” Lowell claimed.
Lowell referred to what he called “baseless allegations,” saying:
<blockquote>
Director Pulte cherry-picked an August 17, 2023 power of attorney that mistakenly stated the property to be Ms. James’ principal residence and at the same time absolutely ignored her very clear and all caps statement two weeks earlier to the mortgage loan broker that “[t]his property WILL NOT be my primary residence[.] It will be Shamice’s primary residence.”  
</blockquote>
In 1983, James, then a recent college graduate, bought a Queens residence with her father, with some documents listing her as his “wife.’
“He asked his daughter (then a few years out of school) to help by allowing him to add her name to the mortgage application,” Lowell argued. “Mr. James filled out the mortgage material (wherein he described their relationship as being ‘spouses’) and purchased the home without his daughter’s involvement.”
“However, James, then 24 and a college graduate, signed the notarized mortgage, along with her father, on one of the document’s three pages that listed her as his ‘wife,’” the Times-Union <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/fbi-opens-formal-investigation-ny-attorney-20316868.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “One of those references to her being her father’s ‘wife’ was just below her signature. Lending experts consulted by the Times Union said that by listing themselves as husband and wife, the pair may have qualified for a loan — or received better borrowing terms — than had they not been considered a couple due to income requirements.”
James led a prosecutorial effort to investigate Trump’s business dealings, which ended with a judge ordering him, his two sons, and a Trump company official to pay more than $360 million.

NY Attorney Gen. James Holds News Conference Before Hearing On Case To Protect Citizens From Musk’s DOGE Accessing Private Data

FBI Officially Launches Probe Into New York’s Letitia James

Fraud

Investigation

Letitia James

Real estate

Three Democratic governors are set to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month as they face questions about state policies that inhibit federal immigration enforcement.
The House Oversight Committee said Tuesday that Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Tim Walz of Minnesota will appear on June 12 to testify about immigration enforcement in their states. As the Trump administration has promised mass deportations, Democratic officials across the country have indicated that they will not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security.
“Sanctuary policies only provide sanctuaries for criminal illegal aliens. Former President Biden created the worst border crisis in U.S. history and allowed criminal illegal aliens to flood our communities. President Trump has ended this crisis and now we have the most secure borders in decades,&#8221; House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) said.
&#8220;The Trump Administration is taking decisive action to deport criminal illegal aliens from our nation but reckless sanctuary states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York are actively seeking to obstruct federal immigration enforcement,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The governors of these states must explain why they are prioritizing the protection of criminal illegal aliens over the safety of U.S. citizens, and they must be held accountable.&#8221;
Illinois has been a sanctuary state <a href="https://www.fairus.org/issue/do-you-live-1-11-sanctuary-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since</a> 2017, when then-Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed the Illinois Trust Act, which blocked local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement actions. In New York, state agencies are not allowed to work with ICE, and a state court ruled that neither state nor local law enforcement should hold illegal immigrants at ICE&#8217;s request.
Legislation to make Minnesota a sanctuary state has failed in recent years despite pushes from Walz and the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
&#8220;My position on Minnesota becoming a sanctuary state boils down to who has the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws,&#8221; Walz <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/jeff-johnson-tim-walz-minnesota-sanctuary-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in 2018. &#8220;The role of law enforcement is to enforce state and local laws, not federal immigration laws, and I strongly believe that they should not do so.&#8221;
According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), there are currently eleven &#8220;sanctuary states,&#8221; including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, in addition to the District of Columbia.
The hearing with the governors follows one in April, where the House Oversight Committee also questioned the mayors of sanctuary cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York.

JD Vance And Tim Walz Face Off In Vice Presidential Debate In New York

Lawmakers Demand Dem Governors Explain ‘Reckless’ Policies Impeding Trump’s Immigration Agenda

House Oversight Committee

Illegal Immigation

Illinois

James Comer

JB Pritzker

Kathy Hochul

Minnesota

Tim Walz

A far-Left protester scolded New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) during a town hall event held Friday, accusing AOC of being a &#8220;liar&#8221; and a &#8220;war criminal.&#8221;
“I am a health care worker and I want to know what you’re doing about the genocide in Gaza!” the female protester yelled at Ocasio-Cortez. &#8220;I&#8217;m a nurse, shame on you!&#8221;
&#8220;Shame on you, you&#8217;re a liar. You&#8217;re a liar!&#8221; the protester continued to yell. &#8220;You&#8217;re a war criminal! War criminal!&#8221;
AOC has notably <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/24/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-israel-gaza-genocide-cnntv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> Israel of &#8220;genocide&#8221; following <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-year-later-the-7-lessons-of-october-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas&#8217; terror attacks</a> on Israeli civilians, and Israel&#8217;s subsequent actions against the terrorist group.
Some of AOC&#8217;s supporters loudly booed the protester or yelled, &#8220;Shame! Shame! Shame!&#8221; A few others, though, yelled that the protester should be able to speak.
For AOC&#8217;s part, the congresswoman said that she would be &#8220;happy&#8221; to respond to a question from the protester, and largely stayed quiet as numerous males escorted the far-Left woman out of the event.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
HAPPENING NOW: All hell breaks loose at AOC’s townhall. <a href="https://t.co/09g6yieTb0">pic.twitter.com/09g6yieTb0</a>
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) <a href="https://twitter.com/joma_gc/status/1918471987074048168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
During the same town hall event, Ocasio-Cortez challenged Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan to refer her to the Department of Justice for &#8220;using her free speech rights&#8221; to advise illegal immigrants on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/aoc-admits-she-was-openly-advising-illegals-on-how-to-avoid-law-enforcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to avoid law enforcement</a>.
&#8220;Come get me,&#8221; AOC taunted Homan.
“I was informing all of my constituents of their constitutional protections and, in particular, their constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure in the United States,” the lawmaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/aoc-admits-she-was-openly-advising-illegals-on-how-to-avoid-law-enforcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> back in March during an interview with NPR.
Notably, AOC seemed to concede that she was giving advice to illegal aliens on how to continue violating America’s laws, when asked by NPR. “I was giving advice to all of my constituents, yeah,&#8221; Ocasio-Cortez responded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> is challenging <a href="https://twitter.com/RealTomHoman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealTomHoman</a> to “come get her” for helping illegals avoid deportations.
Be careful what you wish for, sweetie. <a href="https://t.co/3dtH730lRK">pic.twitter.com/3dtH730lRK</a>
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/DogRightGirl/status/1918470924262592808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
AOC has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/you-are-being-rude-aoc-struggles-when-confronted-at-town-hall-about-war">confronted</a> by protesters numerous times while holding town hall events.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/you-are-being-rude-aoc-struggles-when-confronted-at-town-hall-about-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘You Are Being Rude!’: AOC Struggles When Confronted At Town Hall About War</a>

‘Shame! Shame! Shame!’: All Hell Breaks Loose At AOC Town Hall

‘Shame! Shame Shame!’: All Hell Breaks Loose At AOC Town Hall

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Gaza

Hamas

Israel

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was expelled from Congress last year after extensive fraud revelations, received a hefty 87-month prison term on Friday.
Santos, 36, pleaded guilty last year to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft while also admitting he “filed fraudulent FEC reports, embezzled funds from campaign donors, charged credit cards without authorization, stole identities, obtained unemployment benefits through fraud, and lied in reports to the House of Representatives,” per a Department of Justice press <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-congressman-george-santos-pleads-guilty-fraud-and-identity-theft#:~:text=In%20pleading%20guilty%2C%20Santos%2C%2036,to%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives">release</a>.
As U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert handed down the sentencing, Santos could be seen putting his hands over his head in apparent disbelief, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/former-congressman-george-santos-sentenced-to-seven-years-for-fraud-90d88f55">reported</a>.
Despite Santos saying in a Monday <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/852698897/Letter-From-George-Santos">letter</a> to the presiding judge that he &#8220;accepted full responsibility&#8221; for his crimes and was &#8220;profoundly sorry&#8221; for his actions, John J. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under President Donald Trump&#8217;s DOJ, had pushed for an 87-month sentence, characterizing Santos as “unrepentant,” and “blamed his circumstances on misplaced trust in others,” per The Wall Street Journal.
Judge Seybert reportedly concurred with this sentiment, saying at the sentencing, &#8220;Where’s the remorse? Where do I see it?&#8221;
After his expulsion from Congress, Santos attempted to monetize his notoriety, likely in an attempt to pay the $375,000 in restitution, through personalized videos on Cameo and launching a podcast aptly titled &#8220;Pants on Fire&#8221; – a possible reference to his numerous falsehoods about his education, work history, and personal background, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/nyregion/george-santos-sentencing-prison.html">according</a> to The New York Times.
Santos was making &#8220;twice his congressional salary&#8221; through the personalized video platform, according to The Times, with the former congressman pushing a &#8220;last week on Cameo&#8221; promotion in a last-ditch effort to raise money before his sentencing.
Durham <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.497086/gov.uscourts.nyed.497086.118.0.pdf">argued</a> in a supplemental court memo that Santos&#8217; recent social media posts claiming he is a “<a href="https://x.com/MrSantosNY/status/1909311390160240990">scapegoat</a>” and a victim of DOJ overreach and selective prosecution &#8220;suggested he had little remorse for his actions.&#8221;
“His actions speak louder than any words, and they cry out for a significant carceral sentence in this case,” the U.S. attorney said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hi my name is George Santos and the DOJ has had a hard on for me since December of 2022.
I refuse to let them break me or my spirit and that makes them big Mad… they have used elaborate language to drag me and hinder my ability to earn income…
Long story short, I will NOT…
&mdash; Pants On Fire with George Santos (@MrSantosNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSantosNY/status/1908567430403596655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Santos&#8217; dramatic fall began shortly after his 2022 election victory when it was <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-york-congressman-elect-santos-admits-to-lying-about-employment-history-and-college-education?utm_source=chatgpt.com">revealed</a> that he had fabricated much of his background, such as graduating from Baruch College, working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and even playing collegiate volleyball.
“I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume,&#8221; Santos admitted in 2023, adding, “I own up to that. … We do stupid things in life.”
Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives after fellow Republicans led the charge following a bipartisan House Ethics Committee report, which found that he had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors. Some funds were <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/onlyfans-botox-george-santos-ethics-report-b2457313.html">reportedly</a> spent on luxury goods, OnlyFans, and Botox.
His attorneys had requested the minimum 24-month sentence, arguing that his actions &#8220;stemmed largely from a misguided desperation related to his political campaign, rather than inherent malice,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/nyregion/george-santos-sentencing-prison.html">according</a> to The New York Times, with the judge ultimately accepting the prosecution&#8217;s recommended sentence.

Former Representative George Santos Faces Sentencing For Fraud

Disgraced Ex-Congressman George Santos Sentenced To More Than 7 Years In Prison

Corruption

Courts

Department of Justice

George Santos

CNN&#8217;s resident pollster Harry Enten raised the big red flags as he broke down the latest numbers for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — who has held one of New York&#8217;s two Senate seats since 1999 — noting that the Democratic leader&#8217;s future looks far from secure.
Enten, whose official job title is chief data analyst, joined anchor John Berman on Thursday&#8217;s broadcast of CNN News Central — and he laid out the details of a Siena College poll, explaining why those numbers should be setting off alarm bells for Schumer and his team.
WATCH:
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🚨NEW: CNN&#39;s Harry Enten warns Chuck Schumer it&#39;s officially time to PANIC about his political future🚨
&quot;Should Schumer stay as Senate leader? According to New York Democrats, just 50% say yes &#8230; 48% say no. This screams — sirens should be going off. Primary challenge. Primary… <a href="https://t.co/q1synv0V6y">pic.twitter.com/q1synv0V6y</a>
&mdash; Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/1915445411956801841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;New York Democrats on Chuck Schumer — view him favorably in December of 2024. That was just a few months ago — it was 73%. Look at where that number has fallen to in just a few months. It is now down to just 52%,&#8221; Enten explained, adding, &#8220;That is the lowest I could ever find in Siena College on how Democrats in Chuck Schumer’s home state view him.&#8221;
&#8220;And keep in mind, if you’re thinking about a primary challenge, it would be a few years away — but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s favorable rating among Democrats is considerably higher, in the 60s. So he is doing quite poorly in his own home state of New York,&#8221; Enten continued. &#8220;I never thought I’d see the day in which just 52% of New York Democrats view Chuck Schumer favorably. It’s almost unfathomable.&#8221;
Enten went on to note that other poll questions had given equally bad news for the New York Democrat — who has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2017 and was the Senate Majority Leader for the last four years.
&#8220;They simply don’t like the job he’s doing as Senate leader. I mean, look at this — should Schumer stay as Senate leader? Again, according to New York Democrats, just 50% say yes. Look at this number — 48% say no,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This screams — sirens should be going off. Primary challenge. Primary challenge. Primary challenge. When you’re a Democrat in New York and these are your ratings — this is a big wake-up call if you’re Chuck Schumer.&#8221;

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer

CNN Data Guru: It’s Time For Chuck Schumer To Panic, ‘Sirens Should Be Going Off’

CNN Data Guru: It's Time For Chuck Schumer To Panic, 'Sirens Should Be Going Off'

Chuck Schumer

Elections

Polls

On Thursday, Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on December 4, was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/us/luigi-mangione-indicted-federal-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicted</a> in federal court on a charge of murder, which could permit him to be executed.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said earlier this month that the Department of Justice would seek the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ag-directs-federal-prosecutors-to-seek-death-penalty-for-luigi-mangione" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death penalty</a> for Mangione.
“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” she <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-directs-prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-luigi-mangione" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
“As alleged, Luigi Mangione stalked and murdered UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024,” the DOJ declared. “The murder was an act of political violence. Mangione’s actions involved substantial planning and premeditation and because the murder took place in public with bystanders nearby, may have posed grave risk of death to additional persons.&#8221;
&#8220;Following federal murder charges handed down on Dec. 19, 2024, Attorney General Bondi has now directed Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky to seek the death penalty in this case,&#8221; the DOJ added.
The homemade gun that Mangione carried when he was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, matched shell casings found at the crime scene, according to authorities. In addition, investigators said that Mangione’s fingerprints matched the ones investigators found on items near the scene.
“First, we got the gun in question back from Pennsylvania. It’s now at the NYPD crime lab,” NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/us/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooter-wednesday/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “We were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide. We’re also at the crime lab able to match the person of interest’s fingerprints with fingerprints that we found on both the water bottle and the KIND bar near the scene of the homicide in midtown.”
When he was captured, Mangione had in his possession a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/nyregion/luigi-mangione-assassination-plan-notebook.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notebook</a> that described Thompson’s assassination, which occurred as Thompson, a father of two sons, was en route to the UnitedHealth Group&#8217;s Investors Conference. One passage in the notebook mentioned taking out “the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.”
“It’s targeted, precise, and doesn’t risk innocents,” Mangione allegedly wrote in the notebook, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/us/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooter-wednesday/index.html">reported</a>. Police also recovered a manifesto where Mangione allegedly called out “United,” adding, “To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone.”
The charges indicting Mangione include one count of murder with a firearm, another firearms offense, and two counts of stalking. The charge of murder through the use of a firearm has a maximum sentence of death if Mangione is convicted. The state of Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested, has also brought charges against Mangione. He was caught at a McDonald&#8217;s in Altoona after police spent nearly a week searching for him.
Mangione was celebrated by some; the audience at a Saturday Night Live show, roughly two weeks after Thompson’s death, cheered when his name was mentioned.
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SNL Weekend Update mentions CEO kiIIer Luigi Mangione and the crowd applauds &amp; cheers <a href="https://t.co/Hn6k2kTBp2">pic.twitter.com/Hn6k2kTBp2</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1870707787157959091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In the week after Thompson’s murder, “wanted” posters were <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wanted-posters-threats-mangione-arrest-unitedhealthcare-rcna183867" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plastered</a> in Manhattan showing photos of the CEOs of at least two health insurance companies.

Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione Indicted On Federal Charge Of Murder, Making Him Eligible For Death Penalty

Brian Thompson

Death Penalty

Pennsylvania

On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump circumvented an effort by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schumer-intervenes-block-trumps-us-attorney-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">block</a> one of his nominees for a key federal prosecutor role in New York.
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114349929882626042" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Truth Social that he was appointing Jay Clayton to become interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, sidestepping the Senate confirmation process that Schumer sought to jam, at least for now.
&#8220;I am pleased to announce that Jay Clayton will serve as the Interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. During my First Term, Jay served with great distinction as the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and earned the respect of everyone,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump noted that he first announced his intent to nominate Clayton for the Southern District of New York in mid-November and contended that his pick had received &#8220;wide, Bipartisan support.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;Now, after five months and, even though Jay was previously confirmed by the Senate on a Bipartisan basis, and has complied with ALL requests of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Schumer has announced that he is blocking all New York U.S. Attorney Nominees.&#8221;
Schumer said earlier on Wednesday that he intended to stop Clayton as well as Joseph Nocella Jr., a Long Island judge chosen for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, using the &#8220;blue slip&#8221; tradition in which home-state senators can effectively block a nominee if they do not support the individual.
&#8220;Donald Trump has made clear he has no fidelity to the law and intends to use the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney offices and law enforcement as weapons to go after his perceived enemies,&#8221; Schumer said in a <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-uses-blue-slip-to-block-trump-us-attorney-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
He added, &#8220;Such blatant and depraved political motivations are deeply corrosive to the rule of law and leaves me deeply skeptical of the [sic] Donald Trump’s intentions for these important positions. For that reason, I will not return the blue slip for the U.S. Attorney nominees for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.&#8221;
The Republican majority Senate Judiciary Committee has the power to disregard Schumer and proceed with the nominees in spite of his protest. However, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/schumer-trump-new-york-prosecutors.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> to The New York Times that his panel would not break the &#8220;blue slip&#8221; tradition.
In his Wednesday post, Trump stated that his administration remains committed to securing full Senate confirmation for Clayton, advancing past his temporary U.S. attorney role, as with Ed Martin and Alina Habba, interim top federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey, respectively.
&#8220;The Southern District leads the Department of Justice’s oversight over our Financial Markets, and fights for the safety of Millions of New Yorkers and the over 60 Million people who visit New York annually,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;The Southern District needs strong leadership NOW, and I thank Jay for taking on this role while we continue to pursue his Senate confirmation.&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Trump Outmaneuvers Schumer On Pick For Top Federal Prosecutor

Presidential nomination

U.S. attorneys

U.S. Senate

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced on Wednesday that he intended to stop two of President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominees for U.S. attorney positions in New York.
The move hinges on the &#8220;blue slip&#8221; tradition in which home-state senators can effectively block a nominee if they do not support the individual.
&#8220;Donald Trump has made clear he has no fidelity to the law and intends to use the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney offices and law enforcement as weapons to go after his perceived enemies,&#8221; Schumer said in a <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-uses-blue-slip-to-block-trump-us-attorney-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
He added, &#8220;Such blatant and depraved political motivations are deeply corrosive to the rule of law and leaves me deeply skeptical of the [sic] Donald Trump’s intentions for these important positions. For that reason, I will not return the blue slip for the U.S. Attorney nominees for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.&#8221;
The affected nominees are former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, picked to become U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph Nocella Jr., a Long Island judge chosen for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
If Republicans on the Judiciary Committee choose to disregard Schumer, they could advance the nominees. However, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) appears unwilling to depart from the norm.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/schumer-trump-new-york-prosecutors.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Grassley affirming, &#8220;The answer is yes,&#8221; when asked about adhering to the blue slip tradition. &#8220;If they are from the state the nomination comes from.&#8221;
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the judiciary panel, told the news outlet that the blue slip tradition &#8220;serves a useful purpose even when in Democratic hands.&#8221; He added, &#8220;Obviously we value the ability to, appropriately, stop some nominees.&#8221;
Democrats have employed another tactic to stymie a different U.S. attorney nominee.
Earlier this month, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) <a href="https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-sen-schiff-announces-hold-on-d-c-u-s-attorney-nominee-ed-martin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> that he would place a hold on the nomination of Ed Martin to be U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a role he currently serves in an interim capacity.
A hold requires Senate majority leadership to schedule a floor vote for a nominee, bypassing the faster unanimous consent process.
Trump allies have sounded the alarm.
Responding to a post on X about Senate Democrats obstructing Trump&#8217;s picks for top prosecutor roles, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., <a href="https://x.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1912490445818511451" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;We can&#8217;t let the swamp block my father&#8217;s picks for US Attorney!!!&#8221;

Schumer Intervenes To Block Two Of Trump’s U.S. Attorney Nominees

Chuck Grassley

John Cornyn

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is reportedly weighing a run for New York governor and signaled that she could jump into the race with a statement on Wednesday blasting New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Stefanik, who served as House Republican Conference chair from 2021 to 2025, steadily rose through the ranks of the GOP after first winning her seat in 2014. The Republican Congresswoman has been encouraged to run for governor by New York Republicans and some of Trump&#8217;s allies, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/stefanik-considering-run-for-governor-of-new-york-00293028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, citing &#8220;two people familiar with her thinking.&#8221; On Wednesday, Stefanik <a href="https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1912565080849555603" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> Hochul, pointing to new <a href="https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/the-state-of-new-york-april-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a> from Marist that shows the Democratic governor&#8217;s approval rating at 39%.
&#8220;This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK,&#8221; Stefanik wrote. &#8220;Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close.&#8221;
&#8220;Her incompetence, corruption, and radical failed Far Left policies have destroyed our great state causing businesses and families to flee from crushing high taxes, out of control regulations, inept fiscal mismanagement, wide open border sanctuary city policies putting illegals first and NYers last, and an out of control crime crisis due to Democrats’ failed bail reform defund the police policies,&#8221; Stefanik added. &#8220;This polling shows that we can WIN &amp; SAVE NEW YORK.&#8221;
The Marist poll also showed that 57% of New Yorkers &#8220;do not want Hochul to run for re-election in 2026,&#8221; a number that includes 40% of Democrats. Sixty-four percent of the state&#8217;s voters say that New York&#8217;s economy is deteriorating, which is a big spike from the 51% who said the same a year ago.
President Donald Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114347490565859534" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised</a> Stefanik in an early morning Truth Social post on Wednesday, writing without context, &#8220;Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!&#8221;
Stefanik, who has been a loyal supporter of Trump, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tapped</a> by the president to serve as U.N. ambassador in the new Trump administration, but her nomination was pulled as Trump deemed it more important to keep her in the House and &#8220;maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.&#8221; Stefanik&#8217;s 21st Congressional District is a competitive area, and Democrats held the seat for more than 20 straight years before Stefanik took it back for the GOP.
Hochul, who took over after former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2021, has already declared her candidacy for 2026. Former Democratic Rep. Jamaal &#8220;fire alarm&#8221; Bowman has <a href="https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/12/13/i-wish-i-didn-t-pull-that-damn-fire-alarm---rep--bowman-reflects-on-time-in-congress--primary-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hinted</a> at a potential run for governor, as has Democratic Rep. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/22/torres-hochul-governor-campaign-00191249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ritchie Torres</a>.
If Stefanik jumps into the race, she would likely be the leading Republican candidate. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) is also reportedly mulling a run.

‘We Must FIRE Kathy Hochul’: Rising Republican Star Signals Run For NY Governor

2026 Midterms

Republican Party

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