President Donald Trump dined with troops and federal agents dispatched to the streets of Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening, catering White House fare to law enforcement tasked with making “D.C. great again.”
Trump announced earlier Thursday that he planned to go on patrol with National Guard troops and law enforcement officers. In the evening, he visited a U.S. Park Police facility in Southeast D.C. The president brought with him burgers cooked by White House chefs and pizza from a local restaurant.
“You people are winners, and it’s such an honor to be with you,” said Trump. “We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C., Great Again. We’re making the country great again. The country is very close to being great. When they say it’s the hottest country in the world, they mean it. And this capital right now after four days, five days, it’s at a level you haven’t seen in a long time and it’s all because of you.”
“It’s an honor to be with you, and we’re always going to be with you for as long as I’m around. You’re going to be treated as nobody more important,” the president said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;You people are winners, and I just think it&#8217;s such an honor to be with you. We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C. Great Again,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to federal agents and National Guard soldiers.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll always be with you. We&#8217;re going to be with you for as long as I&#8217;m around.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/1GMzxyvdgX">pic.twitter.com/1GMzxyvdgX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958648554525786596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;I’ll eat with you, and we&#8217;re going to have a little fun. We’re gonna celebrate,” he added, “but then we&#8217;re going to get back to work and we&#8217;re going to take care of these criminals. We’re gonna put them where they have to be.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;You people are winners, and I just think it&#8217;s such an honor to be with you. We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C. Great Again,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to federal agents and National Guard soldiers.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll always be with you. We&#8217;re going to be with you for as long as I&#8217;m around.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/1GMzxyvdgX">pic.twitter.com/1GMzxyvdgX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958648554525786596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump used emergency powers under the 1973 Home Rule Act earlier this month to take control of the D.C. police to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. Last year, Washington, D.C., <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/fact-yes-d-c-crime-is-out-of-control/">ranked</a> as the fourth most dangerous city for homicides per capita in the United States.
Trump also called in law enforcement from various agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to curb crime and arrest illegal aliens in the city. The president activated the D.C. National Guard and received members from several other states, as well. Roughly 2,000 National Guardsmen have been stationed around the city to protect federal buildings and monuments and deter crime.
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The Trump administration has bolstered the ranks of prosecutors, too, assigning 20 Judge Advocate General, or JAG, attorneys to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for Washington, D.C.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said Thursday that the nation’s capital sailed through a murder-free week under Trump’s crackdown on crime.
&#8220;[T]here have been no recorded homicides in the city for the past week,” public information officer Michael Russo told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/dc-has-murder-free-week-ag-bondi-touts-77-more-arrests-federal-takeover">Fox News</a>. &#8220;Our last recorded homicide was August 13th.&#8221;
Since Trump enacted his emergency powers on August 11, at least 630 people have been arrested and 86 illegal guns have been taken off the streets.

Donald Trump

President On Patrol: Trump Feeds Agents, Troops Making ‘D.C. Great Again’

President On Patrol: Trump Feeds Agents, Troops Making 'D.C. Great Again'

Crime

Executive

Law Enforcement

National Guard

Politics

Washington D.C.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late Thursday that the State Department was not going to issue any additional work visas for commercial truck drivers, at least for the time being.
&#8220;Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,&#8221; he said in a post on X. &#8220;The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1958644528253948015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rubio&#8217;s announcement comes after an accident involving an immigrant from India — who received a work permit under former President Joe Biden and a commercial driver&#8217;s license from the state of California — resulted in the deaths of three American citizens in Florida.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-given-commercial-drivers-license-by-californias-newsom-charged-in-fatal-semi-truck-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harjinder Singh</a>, who entered the United States illegally in 2018, was granted a commercial driver’s license in California. He made an illegal turn from the outside lane at a spot marked “Official Use Only,” and his truck crushed a minivan that had been driving in the inside lane. Singh has since been arrested for vehicular homicide and was slapped with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.
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The tragedy that unfolded in Florida also sparked a battle between Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and the X account run by Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-tangles-with-dhs-over-illegal-accused-of-killing-three-americans-with-semi-truck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavin Newsom&#8217;s</a> (D-CA) Press Office when McLaughlin argued that three American citizens would still be alive if not for the license granted to Singh in California.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
3 innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine.
How many more innocent people have to die before <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GavinNewsom</a> stops playing games with the safety of the… <a href="https://t.co/chT7ln1TTZ">pic.twitter.com/chT7ln1TTZ</a>
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/1957433382230507868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Newsom’s press office responded to McLaughlin with a graphic, saying that California does not issue commercial licenses to immigrants who do not have legal status and blaming Trump for that because Singh entered the country illegally in 2018.
“Hey, genius: the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements — YOU issued him a work permit (EAD). As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless. p.s. @grok, who was President in 2018?”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hey, genius: the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements &#8212; YOU issued him a work permit (EAD).
As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless.
p.s. <a href="https://twitter.com/grok?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grok</a>, who was President in 2018? <a href="https://t.co/OHVnC3zS20">https://t.co/OHVnC3zS20</a> <a href="https://t.co/raF7hFWGkb">pic.twitter.com/raF7hFWGkb</a>
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPressOffice/status/1957460210110300656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
McLaughlin pushed back, however, noting that the Trump administration had denied Singh&#8217;s request for a work visa and that he was not able to get one until former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration took over.
&#8220;False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021. The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL,&#8221; McLaughlin wrote, concluding her post, &#8220;Sincerely, Genius.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.
The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses.… <a href="https://t.co/4YSs3qIj2B">https://t.co/4YSs3qIj2B</a>
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/1957503043710181746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Marco Rubio

‘Effective Immediately’: State Department Halts Worker Visas For Commercial Truck Drivers

'Effective Immediately': State Department Halts Worker Visas For Commercial Truck Drivers

Florida

State Department

Traffic

Ian Sams worked as an aide and spokesman for former President Joe Biden, and was often asked to defend the president’s physical health and cognitive abilities – but according to recent testimony, Sams only actually met with then-President Biden face-to-face on two occasions.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), House Oversight Committee Chairman, laid out the details after hearing Sams’ testimony on Thursday — remarking in particular that he himself may have spent more time with Biden than Sams had.
“Ian Sams, a top Biden White House spokesman, just admitted to Congress he barely ever interacted with Joe Biden — yet he was the loudest voice insisting Joe was ‘fit,’” Comer captioned a video of himself speaking with reporters after Sams’ testimony.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 Ian Sams, a top Biden White House spokesman, just admitted to Congress he barely ever interacted with Joe Biden—yet he was the loudest voice insisting Joe was “fit.”
Ian parroted talking points from Biden’s handlers, not firsthand experience. <a href="https://t.co/ySil6MPcg5">pic.twitter.com/ySil6MPcg5</a>
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1958561904273584520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Ian Sams, who was the White House spokesperson for a significant amount of Joe Biden’s time as president, interacted with him two times,” Comer told C-Span. “I interacted more with Joe Biden than Joe Biden’s spokesperson.”
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a>: &#8220;Ian Sams, who was the White House spokesperson for a significant amount of Joe Biden&#8217;s time as president, interacted with him two times&#8230;I interacted more with Joe Biden than Joe Biden&#8217;s spokesperson.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/x47pgyXsk1">pic.twitter.com/x47pgyXsk1</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1958571479269867772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Think about this: I had more face time with Joe Biden than his own spokesman Ian Sams did. In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with Joe Biden than Ian Sams did. Ian Sams had no standing to say Joe Biden was ‘on top of his game,’” Comer added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Think about this: I had more face time with Joe Biden than his own spokesman Ian Sams did.
In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with Joe Biden than Ian Sams did.
Ian Sams had no standing to say Joe Biden was ‘on top of his game.’ <a href="https://t.co/WNpPLsq1zn">https://t.co/WNpPLsq1zn</a>
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1958590530306363429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The fact that Sams had no regular, in-person contact with his boss did nothing to deter him from putting up a vigorous defense of his capabilities — a defense that the public now knows was baseless.
As former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer pointed out, “In July 2024 the same Ian Sams said: ‘When I deal with him, he’s sharp. He’s asking tough questions.’”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In July 2024 the same Ian Sams said:
“When I deal with him, he&#8217;s sharp. He&#8217;s asking tough questions.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/J27Dsul4nb">https://t.co/J27Dsul4nb</a>
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanspicer/status/1958617242691625107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comer released a full statement following Sams’ testimony:
<blockquote>Ian Sams frequently spoke publicly and with apparent authority about President Biden’s mental fitness and state of mind. However, Mr. Sams admitted he had very limited interaction with the President—identifying only two in-person meetings, one virtual meeting, and one phone call. In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with President Biden than Mr. Sams did.
Rather than drawing conclusions from firsthand experience, Mr. Sams received much of his direction from the White House Counsel and Biden’s inner circle. Mr. Sams repeatedly made broad public claims about the President’s cognitive condition, but he was not in a position to make these claims based on such limited contact.
Mr. Sams’s testimony raises serious questions about who is truly calling the shots in the White House. We will continue to press for answers to ensure full transparency for the American people.</blockquote>

Special Assistant To The President And Spokesperson For The White House Counsel’s Office Ian Sams Speaks To The Press

Aide Defended Biden’s Mental Capacity Dozens Of Times. Here’s How Many Times He Met With Biden.

Biden Administration

Joe Biden

Media

White House

President Trump told conservative talk show host Todd Starnes on Thursday that he <a href="https://x.com/toddstarnes/status/1958558198895436273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1958558198895436273%7Ctwgr%5Ec59d65d1c37ac27497715adc7e657d770b6af188%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2025%2F08%2F21%2Fus-news%2Ftrump-says-hell-patrol-dc-with-cops-military-tonight-as-part-of-his-crackdown-on-crime-in-the-city%2F">plans to join </a>D.C. cops and the military as they patrol the city tonight, consistent with his hands-on approach to the presidency in his second term.
“I’m going to be going out tonight, I think, with the police, and with the military, of course. So we’re going to do a job — the National Guard is great, they’ve done a fantastic job.”
A senior White House official said that the details of the evening were still being worked out.
His stunt was notably <a href="https://babylonbee.com/news/vigilante-justice-trump-dresses-up-as-bat-and-patrols-streets-of-dc">predicted</a> by the Babylon Bee a little over a week ago.
Social media users have already started to react. “There is NOBODY like Donald J. Trump. This is going to be amazing,” Eric Daugherty <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1958567744569258157">wrote</a>.
“Get your popcorn ready. Trump wants a first-hand look at how well the crime cleanup is going. I can’t wait,” Nick Sortor <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1958566896883716498">commented</a>. “Par for the course for the most hands-on President in modern U.S. history.”
This comes exactly two weeks after Trump called in the national guard in to help crack down on crime in D.C. Republican states have <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/6th-republican-led-state-sends-national-guard-troops/story?id=124787440">assisted</a> the president’s efforts by sending over some of their military members, bringing the total number of troops to around 2,000.
The National Guard is not making arrests at this time, according to the White House, although they may be armed for deterrence of violent crime and protection of federal assets and law enforcement officers.
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Residents are already saying that they feel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/folks-in-d-c-already-feeling-safer-praise-trump-for-crime-crackdown">safer</a>, while crime rates have gone down in the city. “For the first time in a long time, D.C. has gone seven days without a homicide. Carjackings have decreased by 83%, robberies by 46%, car thefts by 21%, and overall violent crime is down 22%,” <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/newsletter-daily/national-guards-presence-slashes-dc-crime-rates-with-seven-days-homicide-free">reports</a> Fox Baltimore.
So far, 630 arrests have been made, including the arrests of 251 aliens &#8212; many of whom possess outstanding warrants and convictions &#8212; and three known gang members. Last night alone saw 77 arrests, according to the White House.
Additionally, 86 illegal firearms have been seized, and one missing child has been recovered.
Yesterday, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also made a public appearance, when the two officials took members of the National Guard out to lunch at the Shake Shack in Union Station to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we7K6xygCmY">thank</a> them for their service.
President Trump has considered the idea of sending the National Guard to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/can-trump-send-national-guard-cities-around-us-2025-08-20/">other high-crime cities</a>.

Trump To Ride Along With Police Officers As They Make DC Safe Again

As of Thursday morning — less than 24 hours after Texas Republicans passed a new congressional map that could net them five additional seats — California legislators had already begun their retaliation.
The state&#8217;s new redistricting ballot measure legislation, updated Thursday morning, would allow any new map passed by California&#8217;s legislature to stand regardless of new maps passed by other states, according to a report from California Capitol Correspondent Ashley Zavala of KCRA News.
&#8220;California Democrats in Assembly this AM changed the state’s Redistricting ballot measure legislation, which basically now allows new Congressional maps to go into effect NO MATTER what other states do. Even if Texas backtracks or courts strike it down, CA would have new maps,&#8221; Zavala posted along with screenshots of the legislation in question.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: California Democrats in Assembly this AM changed the state’s Redistricting ballot measure legislation, which basically now allows new Congressional maps to go into effect NO MATTER what other states do.
Even if Texas backtracks or courts strike it down, CA would have new… <a href="https://t.co/eVJ5imy6S3">pic.twitter.com/eVJ5imy6S3</a>
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZavalaA/status/1958586712864825636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Zavala also noted that Governor Gavin Newsom had said only a month earlier that California would have &#8220;no need&#8221; to move ahead with a retaliatory map if Texas did not pass the new one as planned — but the new plan appeared to be to forge ahead even if the courts put an end to the Texas map.
&#8220;Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom told me if Texas didn’t move forward, California would have &#8216;no need&#8217; to change Congressional maps. Apparently, that’s out the window,&#8221; she posted, sharing video of Newsom&#8217;s previous statement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom told me if Texas didn’t move forward, California would have “no need” to change Congressional maps.
Apparently, that’s out the window. <a href="https://t.co/K5yGXjlxH7">https://t.co/K5yGXjlxH7</a> <a href="https://t.co/uRy2AWFCsT">pic.twitter.com/uRy2AWFCsT</a>
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZavalaA/status/1958590948881178800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Gavin Newsom Press Office account, which appears to exist primarily to troll President Donald Trump, followed with a declaration: &#8220;TODAY WE WILL MAKE THE MAPS GREAT AGAIN!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TODAY WE WILL MAKE THE MAPS GREAT AGAIN!
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPressOffice/status/1958546900585722362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If California follows through with threats to redraw congressional districts favoring Democrats even more than they already do, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/20/congressional-redistricting-states-midterms/">several other states</a> may also jump into the fray. Among them are: Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida. Even Illinois — a state that already redistricted Rep. Adam Kinzinger&#8217;s (R-IL) House seat out of existence — might also get involved.

California Governor Newsom Announces Lawsuit Challenging Trump Tariff Authority

‘That’s Out The Window’: California Already Moving To Retaliate Over New Texas Congressional Map

'That's Out The Window': California Already Moving To Retaliate Over New Texas Congressional Map

California

Gavin Newsom

Redistricting

Texas

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will be pulling more than $12 million from California over &#8220;gender ideology&#8221; in its sexual education programs.
The Health and Human Services&#8217; (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) put out a <a href="https://acf.gov/media/press/2025/hhs-defunds-californias-attempt-indoctrinate-children-gender-ideology">press release</a> announcing this move to stop California&#8217;s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) from receiving a massive amount of federal funding over the next few years.
Acting Assistant Secretary of the ACF Andrew Gradison wrote in the press release, &#8220;California&#8217;s refusal to comply with federal law and remove egregious gender ideology from federally funded sex-ed materials is unacceptable.&#8221;
&#8220;Accountability is coming for every state that uses federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology,&#8221; Gradison said.
According to the <a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DMCAH/CA-PREP/Pages/default.aspx">California Department of Public Health</a> (CDPH), the program aims at changing behavior, including delaying sexual activity, increasing condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, and reducing the number of sexual partners for youth ages 10-19.
The program receives all of its funding from the Health and Human Services&#8217; ACF and Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB).
Gradison appeared on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6377188148112">&#8220;America&#8217;s Newsroom&#8221;</a> on Thursday to explain the process that went into this decision.
Gradison pointed to materials that promoted the belief that &#8220;boys could be girls and girls could be boys and that the solution, oftentimes, was mutilating their genitals.&#8221;
&#8220;The American people elected President Trump to restore sanity and common sense in this country,&#8221; Gradison said. &#8220;Part of that is removing gender ideology from state sex-ed curriculum.&#8221;
President Trump also threatened federal funding from any state that chooses to disobey the guidance from HHS in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-ultimatum-california-schools-must-follow-transgender-policies-or-face-consequences">post</a> to Truth Social on Thursday.
&#8220;Any California school district that doesn&#8217;t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded,&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social. &#8220;Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;
This decision to pull all federal funding from California&#8217;s PREP is the product of months of back and forth between the Trump administration and California health officials. The ACF originally requested PREP documents from California in March. In June, it demanded that the state revise its program within 60 days.
California state health officials failed to respond until one day before the deadline, when they denied any medical inaccuracies on the part of the program and said it would not take the recommended corrective measures.
&#8220;In a disturbing and egregious abuse of federal funds, California has been using taxpayer money to teach curricula that could encourage kids to contemplate mutilating their genitals, &#8216;altering their body … through hormone therapy,&#8217; &#8216;adding or removing breast tissue,&#8217; and &#8216;changing their name.&#8217; It instructed teachers to &#8216;remind students that some men are born with female anatomy,'&#8221; HHS said in a Thursday press release of the teachings, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kennedys-hhs-terminates-california-sex-ed-grant-after-refuses-drop-radical-gender-lessons">according</a> to Fox News.
Previous grant <a href="https://acf.gov/fysb/grant-funding/state-personal-responsibility-education-program-prep-grantees">funding</a> shows California&#8217;s PREP program received just under $6 million from the federal government in fiscal year 2022.
This is the most recent step that the Trump administration is taking against what the president has called woke programs that affect students and young people. The president recently signed an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-olympic-committee-bans-men-in-womens-sports">executive order</a> to keep men out of women&#8217;s sports.
Trump is also currently in a litigation battle against California for continuing to allow transgender-identifying males to compete in female sports. The suit <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-president-means-business-trump-admin-sues-california-over-transgender-athlete-policy">argued</a> that California was depriving young girls of athletic opportunities.

Diverse people holding transgender flags

HHS Pulls Funding From California Over Failure To Remove ‘Gender Ideology’ In Sex-Ed Program

Department of Health and Human Services

Education

gender ideology

Social Issues

A New York appeals court on Thursday overturned the massive civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump, ruling the nearly half-billion-dollar fine was &#8216;excessive&#8217; under the Eighth Amendment.
The five-judge appeals court panel ruled that the $355 million penalty against Trump — not including interest — &#8220;is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-appeal-db39d93feff322eeeeedbc1ff75ccaf3">reported</a>. The total fine levied by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron against Trump and other executives in the Trump Organization, including Eric and Donald Trump Jr., exceeded $527 million when interest was factored in.
The civil fraud case against Trump was brought by New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, who alleged that Trump inflated his net worth to gain favorable terms from lenders. Judge Engoron sided with James, finding that between 2014 and 2021, the president overvalued his assets by up to $2.2 billion, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/21/trump-fraud-new-york-appeals.html">reported</a>. The judge ordered Trump to pay the massive fine, while also barring him from running his business in New York for three years.
While the appeals court threw out the massive fine, it kept the ruling in place that Trump committed fraud, leaving open the option for an appeal to the state&#8217;s highest court. The judges also kept the other penalties on Trump&#8217;s company in place, but said that the president can seek a further extension of the pause on those penalties.
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&#8220;TOTAL VICTORY in the FAKE New York State Attorney General Letitia James Case!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115067582190707382">posted</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;I greatly respect the fact that the Court had the Courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful Decision that was hurting Business all throughout New York State. Others were afraid to do business there. The amount, including Interest and Penalties, was over $550 Million Dollars. It was a Political Witch Hunt, in a business sense, the likes of which no one has ever seen before. This was a Case of Election Interference by the City and State trying to show, illegally, that I did things that were wrong when, in fact, everything I did was absolutely CORRECT and, even, PERFECT.&#8221;
Judge David Friedman ripped James for bringing the lawsuit, writing, “Plainly, her ultimate goal was not ‘market hygiene’ &#8230; but political hygiene, ending with the derailment of President Trump’s political career and the destruction of his real estate business. The voters have obviously rendered a verdict on his political career. This bench today unanimously derails the effort to destroy his business.”
Appellate Division Judge Peter Moulton said in a concurring opinion that &#8220;the calculation of the disgorgement in this case was far from a reasonable approximation.&#8221; The panel, however, was divided in its ruling, issuing more than 300 pages of concurring and dissenting opinions, according to the AP. While most of the judges agreed that the penalty was excessive, there was disagreement over whether the attorney general&#8217;s lawsuit against Trump was justified. Two judges said it was, but another judge argued that James exceeded her authority, adding that a lawsuit should have been filed by one of Trump&#8217;s lenders if they felt cheated, but no lenders took legal action against Trump.
The Democratic attorney general filed the suit against Trump after vowing on the campaign trail to &#8220;take on&#8221; the then-Republican presidential frontrunner. In one campaign video, James <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/21/james-lawsuit-trump-longstanding-battle-00058128">blasted</a> Trump as &#8220;incompetent&#8221; and &#8220;an embarrassment to all that we stand for.&#8221; Trump maintained his innocence and fought back against the charges throughout the case, calling the suit a politically motivated &#8220;Witch Hunt.&#8221;
Trump appealed the civil fraud judgment in February 2024, with his attorney Alina Habba saying, &#8220;Letitia James is not going to get away with it; the Biden administration is not going to get away with it.”
“President Trump has done nothing wrong,&#8221; Habba added at the time. &#8220;All he has done is win a campaign, and that is scaring them because they know when he goes back in November 2024 he is going to clean house, and that is truly the problem.&#8221;
In his lengthy post on Truth Social following the court&#8217;s decision on Thursday, Trump added that James &#8220;only brought this Case in order to hurt me politically.&#8221;
&#8220;She is a Trump Deranged Lunatic! They made me bond the outrageous sum, which never happened before, and which cost me Millions of Dollars a month. It should have never been allowed to happen, and everyone knew it!&#8221;

‘TOTAL VICTORY’: Trump Triumphs As Appeals Court Voids ‘Excessive’ Civil Fraud Fine

Court

Letitia James

New York

BERLIN/MILAN (Reuters) -A Ukrainian man was arrested at a holiday bungalow in Italy on suspicion of coordinating attacks on three Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022, officials said on Thursday, a breakthrough in an episode that sharpened tensions between Russia and the West.
Described by both Moscow and the West as an act of sabotage, the explosions largely severed Russian gas supplies to Europe, prompting a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict and squeezing energy supplies on the continent. No one has taken responsibility for the blasts and Ukraine has denied any role.
The arrest comes just as Kyiv is engaged in fraught diplomatic discussions with the United States over how to end the war in Ukraine without giving away major concessions and swathes of its own territory to Russia.
&#8220;Politically we are firmly on Ukraine&#8217;s side and will continue to be so,&#8221; said Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig when asked if the arrest would affect Berlin&#8217;s ties to Kyiv. &#8220;What is important for me is that Germany is a country of law, and crimes in our jurisdiction are fully investigated.&#8221;
The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, was part of a group of people who planted devices on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, a statement from the prosecutor&#8217;s office said.
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He and his accomplices had set off from Rostock on Germany&#8217;s northeastern coast in a sailing yacht to carry out the attack, it said. The vessel had been rented from a German company with the help of forged identity documents via middlemen, it added.
Authorities acted on a European arrest warrant for the suspect, who faces charges of collusion to cause an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of important structures.
An official in the Ukrainian president&#8217;s office said he could not comment as it was not clear who had been arrested. The official reiterated Ukraine&#8217;s denial of any role in the blasts.
Successive Ukrainian governments have seen the pipelines as a symbol of, and vehicle for, Russia&#8217;s hold over European energy supplies that Kyiv argued made it hard to act against Moscow ever since Russia&#8217;s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
FORMER UKRAINIAN OFFICER?
The Wall Street Journal reported that the suspect was a retired captain in Ukraine’s armed forces and previously served in Ukraine’s security service SBU, as well as in an elite unit that defended Kyiv in the early months of Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The officer purportedly headed a team of two soldiers and four civilian divers covertly recruited by a special Ukrainian military unit to lay explosives that damaged the undersea pipelines, the WSJ said, citing investigators.
German prosecutors declined to comment on the WSJ report.
Carabinieri officers arrested the suspect overnight in San Clemente on Italy&#8217;s Adriatic coast, where he was supposed to spend a few days with his family.
&#8220;Once his presence had been verified, the Carabinieri surrounded the bungalow and launched a raid, during which the man surrendered without resistance,&#8221; a statement by the Carabinieri said, adding the suspect was 49 years old.
A police official told Reuters the suspect was arrested because, when providing documents at a hotel check-in, an alert flagging he was wanted popped up at the police headquarters, which dispatched a Carabinieri police patrol.
In September 2022, one of the two lines of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was damaged by mysterious blasts, along with both lines of Nord Stream 1 that carried Russian gas to Europe.
Moscow, without providing evidence, blamed Western sabotage for the blasts, which cut off most Russian gas supplies to the lucrative European market. The U.S. denied having anything to do with the attacks.
The Washington Post and Germany&#8217;s Der Spiegel magazine have previously said the team that carried out the attack was put together by a former Ukrainian intelligence officer, who denied involvement.
In January 2023, Germany raided a ship that it said may have been used to transport explosives and told the United Nations it believed trained divers could have attached devices to the pipelines at about 70 to 80 metres deep.
The boat, leased in Germany via a Poland-registered company, contained traces of octogen, the same explosive that was found at the underwater blast sites, according to the investigations by Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered Europe&#8217;s deadliest conflict in 80 years, in which analysts say more than 1 million people have been killed or injured.
(Reporting by Rachel More, Philippe LeroyBeaulieu, Sarah Marsh, Giulio Piovaccari, Gavin Jones, Thomas Escritt, Tom Balmforth, Stine Jacobsen; writing by Matthias WilliamsEditing by Gareth Jones and Philippa Fletcher)

Gas leak at Nord Stream 2 as seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor on Bornholm

Ukrainian Man Arrested For Nord Stream Attacks Heightens Tensions Between Russia And The West

Global Politics

Italy

Nord Stream Pipeline

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

The European Union will move to end all tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and invest billions of dollars in the American economy as part of a wide-ranging trade deal, according to a framework of the agreement released Thursday. 
More details of the trade deal first agreed to last month were outlined in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/joint-statement-on-a-united-states-european-union-framework-on-an-agreement-on-reciprocal-fair-and-balanced-trade/">joint statement</a> from the White House and the European Union. The plan stipulates that the European Union will “eliminate tariffs” on all American industrial goods and give preferential market access to seafood and agricultural products from the United States. The deal will set the total tariff rate for most European goods coming into the United States at 15%, including pharmaceuticals, lumber, and semiconductors. 
“This Framework Agreement will put our trade and investment relationship – one of the largest in the world — on a solid footing and will reinvigorate our economies’ reindustrialization,” the statement said. “It reflects acknowledgement by the European Union of the concerns of the United States and our joint determination to resolve our trade imbalances and unleash the full potential of our combined economic power.”
The joint statement comes after President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-secures-biggest-of-all-trade-deals-with-eu">announced</a> that they had negotiated a trade deal last month in Scotland. 
The agreement adds that the European Union will also buy around $750 billion of American liquified natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy products through 2028 and buy $40 billion in American AI chips for its computing centers. Additionally, European companies are expected to invest another $600 billion into the American economy through 2028.
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“This investment reflects the European Union’s strong commitment to the transatlantic partnership and its recognition of the United States as the most secure and innovative destination for foreign investment,” the framework said. 
The United States will reduce tariffs on European cars and autoparts once Europe takes concrete steps to end tariffs on American industrial goods. Tariffs on European cars are currently set at 27.5%. 
Europe will also agree to “substantially increase procurement of military and defense equipment from the United States, with the support and facilitation of the U.S. government” to strengthen NATO and transatlantic defense cooperation. 
Von der Leyen <a href="https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1958485259407786268">said</a> the framework would bring “predictability for our companies &amp; consumers,” “stability in the largest trading partnership in the world,” and “security for European jobs &amp; economic growth in the long-term.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also praised the trade agreement, calling it “historic.”
“The America First Trade Agenda has secured the most important trading partner creating a major win for American workers, U.S. industries, and our national security,” he posted on X. “Tariffs should be one of America’s favorite words.”

TOPSHOT-BRITAIN-SCOTLAND-US-EU-TRUMP

White House Unveils Details Of ‘Historic’ Trade Deal With European Union

Economy

European Union

Free Trade

Federal agents took down and arrested a man in Washington, D.C., who is in the United States illegally and was arrested last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a child.
A journalist from NBC Washington witnessed the arrest take place on the National Mall and posted a video of it online. The man, an illegal alien from Mexico, can be seen getting out of his car and appearing to attempt an escape from federal agents on foot before he is thrown to the ground and detained.
“I don’t owe anything! I don’t owe anything!” the man yells in Spanish, according to <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/officers-detain-man-in-apparent-ice-enforcement-on-national-mall-as-he-screams-for-help/3977693/">NBC</a>. “Please! I’m not a criminal! I work here! I want to be with my family!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Just saw DC Police + federal agents detain a man on the National Mall. He appeared to try to escape, then was quickly tackled to the ground by several agents + was screaming in Spanish “please, I’m not a criminal, I work here, I want to be with my family” <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcwashington?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbcwashington</a> <a href="https://t.co/56IlXEvYbN">pic.twitter.com/56IlXEvYbN</a>
— Aimee Cho (@AimeeCho4) <a href="https://twitter.com/AimeeCho4/status/1958212673016898021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
The unlawfully present alien has been identified as David Perez-Teofani, 36. He has a court order to be deported from the United States, and has entered the country illegally at least three times, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The man was previously arrested in January of last year in Virginia on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 and indecent liberties with a child under 15. Prosecutors later dropped the charges.
“Yes, this illegal alien from Mexico was previously arrested in January 2024 in Fairfax County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13. Glad he is off of Washington DC’s streets thanks to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and ICE,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Perez-Teofani was later loaded into an SUV by federal agents.
“My family has papers! My family and my children! Please! Please!” he yelled.
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The D.C. police were put under federal control on August 11, followed by a court-approved deal that restored local command while keeping some federal oversight in place. The president cited out-of-control crime in his decision to exercise executive power to temporarily take control of the police force.
The White House has touted the results of Trump’s crime crackdown in the nation’s capital. 
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold actions to Make DC Safe Again, more than 550 dangerous criminals have been removed from the streets of our nation’s capital,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-white-house-touts-guns-drug-haul-removed-from-dc-streets-trumps-crime-blitz-nets-550-arrests">Fox News</a> on Wednesday.
&#8220;While the Fake News tried to sell a lie that D.C. was safe, these arrests reveal the truth,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Hundreds of violent criminals have been arrested by federal law enforcement agents for carrying illegal weapons, distributing deadly drugs, committing armed robbery, and having ties to dangerous gangs like MS-13. President Trump is making DC safe again by enforcing the law and everyday Americans support his commonsense, tough-on-crime policies.&#8221; 
Hundreds of those arrested since Trump announced the liberation of Washington from crime have been illegal aliens. Through Tuesday, federal agents and D.C. police had arrested 465 people, with 206 of those, or 44%, being illegal aliens, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-dc-immigration-raid-ab03b4bc">The Wall Street Journal</a>.

DEA patrol

DC Crime Crackdown: Feds Nab Illegal Alien Previously Charged With Child Sex Assault

Department of Homeland Security

Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to strip federal funding from California school districts that defy his administration’s transgender policies.
The Trump administration interprets Title IX as requiring schools to maintain separate bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams for males and females, a stance that directly conflicts with California state law allowing students to use facilities and join teams based on gender identity.
“Any California school district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115066339632774609">wrote</a> on Truth Social early Thursday morning. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s ultimatum comes after the Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-president-means-business-trump-admin-sues-california-over-transgender-athlete-policy">sued</a> California last month for continuing to allow transgender-identifying males to compete in female sports. The suit argued that California was depriving young girls of athletic opportunities. 
“Title IX was enacted over half a century ago to protect women and girls from discrimination. The Justice Department will not stand for policies that deprive girls of their hard-earned athletic trophies and ignore their safety on the field and in private spaces,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. “Young women should not have to sacrifice their rights to compete for scholarships, opportunities, and awards on the altar of woke gender ideology.”
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The California Department of Education was allocated around $44 billion in federal funding for fiscal year 2025.
Aside from California, other school districts across the country could also lose funding over transgender policies, including multiple districts in Northern Virginia. The Education Department <a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-places-five-northern-virginia-school-districts-high-risk-status-and-reimbursement-payment-status-violating-title-ix">said</a> this week that the Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County school districts are all in danger of losing federal funding for violating Title IX. 
“States and school districts cannot openly violate federal law while simultaneously receiving federal funding with no additional scrutiny,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. “The Northern Virginia School Divisions that are choosing to abide by woke gender ideology in place of federal law must now prove they are using every single federal dollar for a legal purpose.”
In February, Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/">executive order</a> saying that “it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-vows-large-scale-fines-on-california-after-boy-wins-girls-track-events">Trump Vows &#8216;Large Scale Fines&#8217; On California After Boy Wins Girls&#8217; Track Events</a>

Sir Keir Starmer visit to Washington DC

Trump Issues Ultimatum: California Schools Must Follow Transgender Policies Or Face Consequences

Department of Education

Sports

Title IX

Transgender

Transgender Athletes

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia targeted a U.S.-founded electronics manufacturer near Ukraine&#8217;s border with the European Union in a major air attack on Thursday as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought U.S. support to bring Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
The overnight attack, which included 574 drones and 40 missiles, was one of the largest of Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of its neighbour, now in its fourth year.
One person was killed and 22 were wounded, most of them in the attack that damaged storage facilities at the electronics manufacturer in Ukraine&#8217;s far-Western Zakarpattia region, authorities said.
&#8220;It was a regular civilian business, supported by American investment, producing everyday items like coffee machines. And yet, it was also a target for the Russians,&#8221; Zelenskiy wrote on X.
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&#8220;This is very telling.&#8221;
Mukachevo mayor Andriy Baloha said the damaged enterprise belonged to the U.S.-listed company Flex Ltd. The corporate headquarters of the company, a global technology, supply chain and advanced manufacturing solutions partner, is in Austin, Texas and its registered office is in Singapore.
The company employed thousands of the area&#8217;s residents, Baloha said. Flex, which grew from a family firm founded in Silicon Valley in 1969, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Ukraine&#8217;s western city of Lviv, the attack killed one person, wounded three others and damaged 26 homes, said Governor Maksym Kozytskyi. Authorities in southeastern Ukraine&#8217;s Dnipropetrovsk region also reported damage to businesses, homes and gas lines. Two industry sources told Reuters a key gas pumping facility had been attacked, without giving a location.
Russia said Putin had repeatedly said he was ready to meet Zelenskiy but that Ukraine was trying to undermine Trump&#8217;s efforts to resolve the conflict and its leader was illegitimate.
The defence ministry in Moscow said it had struck Ukrainian energy and airfield infrastructure as well as military industrial facilities overnight, and captured another frontline village &#8211; Oleksandro-Shultyne, Russian news agency RIA reported. Ukraine said it had hit a Russian oil refinery, a drone warehouse and a fuel base.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.
SECURITY TALKS
U.S. President Donald Trump met both Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin over the past week in pursuit of a diplomatic end to the fighting but has acknowledged that his Russian counterpart may not want to make a deal. Zelenskiy urged Trump to react firmly if that was the case.
&#8220;We are ready. But what if the Russians are not ready?&#8221; he said in comments released on Thursday. &#8220;If the Russians are not ready, we would like to see a strong reaction from the United States.&#8221;
U.S. and European military planners have begun exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, according to U.S. officials and sources, but the path to peace remained uncertain.
A defence ministry source in Turkey, which has opposed sanctions on Russia while also giving military help to Ukraine and joining a &#8220;Coalition of the Willing&#8221; to help it with post-conflict security, said peace was still far off.
&#8220;It is necessary to first secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, then determine the framework of a mission with a clear mandate, and clarify the extent to which each country will contribute,&#8221; the Turkish source said on condition of anonymity.
The Kremlin said Putin had discussed Ukraine with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, when Moscow also said attempts to resolve security issues without Russian involvement were a &#8220;road to nowhere&#8221;.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready for an honest talk about security guarantees for Ukraine and accused Ukraine&#8217;s European backers of &#8216;adventurism&#8217; by excluding Moscow from their discussions.
Russia, which denies targeting civilians, has used missiles and drones to strike Ukrainian towns and cities far from the front lines throughout the war.
Thousands of civilians, the vast majority of them Ukrainian, have been killed since Moscow&#8217;s full-scale invasion of February 2022. More than a million Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are estimated to have been killed or wounded.
(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Tomasz Janowski, Philippa Fletcher)
&nbsp;

Russian drone and missile strike in Lviv

Russia Slams Ukraine In Massive Strikes, Blames Kyiv For Blocking Peace Talks

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

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