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Ukrainian Negotiator: Humanitarian Truce With Russia to Start Tuesday

Ukraine’s top negotiator involved in a humanitarian mission led by U.S. first lady Melania Trump told The Associated Press that a local ceasefire with Russia will start Tuesday — two days before the mission begins — and last several days.

Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. negotiators reached a deal Friday to provide humanitarian assistance in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, in the war-divided region of Kherson in southern Ukraine.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and his country’s chief negotiator in the talks, said the ceasefire would take effect across the Kherson region and neighboring areas essential to the operation. He added that the initiative could act as a model for future humanitarian missions.

The White House said Melania Trump had initiated discussions after learning about the situation during an event she hosted during last month’s U.N. General Assembly session. It said she and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire. Russian officials also confirmed the arrangement.

Lubinets earlier Friday thanked Melania Trump for her involvement and said the deal would be tough to accomplish. He said the agreement calls for a ceasefire, followed by the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. Lastly, civilians will be allowed to leave Oleshky, he said in a video message posted online.

“The operation will be carried out gradually and is extremely challenging to implement,” Lubinets said.

The removal of mines comes first

Lubinets said the operation would involve removing mines on the way to Oleshky before the physical delivery of humanitarian aid and the arranging of evacuations.

He gave no further details on how the ceasefire or the aid mission would be monitored or implemented, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations. He declined to comment when asked if Melania Trump would travel to Ukraine but described her involvement as invaluable.

“When Melania Trump learned about the situation in Oleshky, the negotiation process began under her coordination,” he said. “For several weeks, we discussed many questions, initiatives and ideas. We established new approaches, mechanisms and tools to do everything possible to help civilians in Oleshky survive.”

The White House announced first lady Melania Trump has brokered an upcoming ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the war-ravaged Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians. As President Donald Trump departed the White House he was asked if she would be part of trilateral negotiations. 

Russia’s chief of the general staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said Russian forces “will cease fire on the Kherson axis” starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday in Moscow “in connection with the humanitarian operation near Oleshky.” Russian forces will also carry out “engineering reconnaissance” and ensure “safe movement of the humanitarian convoy” into the city, Gerasimov said.

Russia’s human rights ombudswoman, Yana Lantratova, confirmed Friday that Melania Trump had brokered an agreement on “organizing a humanitarian mission” in Oleshky. Lantratova, who said she participated in negotiations, said providing such assistance is Russia’s priority.

The first step will be to clarify what people need and organize the delivery of food, medicine, hygiene products and other essentials, Lantratova said in an online statement. Safe passage will be guaranteed for anyone who wants to leave the combat zone, she said, adding that it will require abiding by the ceasefire and creating safe conditions for humanitarian vehicles.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was grateful to the first lady. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump had recently discussed the effort.

Peskov said “those who want to leave it would be able to do so.” He would not say whether they would be taken to Russia- or Ukraine-held territory. He also demurred when asked how long the evacuation will last, saying only it would most likely take several days.

Saving children is the first lady’s focus, president says

Melania Trump has made helping children in conflict zones one of her signature issues in her husband’s second term. She hosted a U.N. Security Council meeting on the issue earlier this year, and last year wrote Putin about efforts to reunite families with children who have been displaced by the war. She has helped reunite nearly three dozen children, according to her senior adviser, Marc Beckman.

“What she wants to do is save children, and that’s her focus,” the president said about his wife during a question-and-answer exchange with journalists at the White House.

Beckman portrayed the first lady’s work on the ceasefire as an extension of her efforts to help reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families after they were separated by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv are rising

The development comes as tensions have increased to new highs between the Trump administration and Ukraine’s government. Kyiv has faced restrictions on the satellite internet system it relies on to knock down Russian attacks, with Trump and other top U.S. officials sending mixed messages about who was responsible for throttling the Elon Musk-made Starshield system.

Trump also recently waived new Russia sanctions, reached an agreement with Russia to import diesel fuel and pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal to end the war that Russia began in February 2022. In renewed efforts to revive the peace process, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Norway this week for talks with Zelenskyy before meeting Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Zelenskyy did not mention the ceasefire in Oleshky during a remote appearance at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank. He did note that American Patriot missile interceptors were still on hold and Starshield and Starlink speed limits were still in place.

He also spoke of the importance of the United States to renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, including a possible joint meeting with Trump and Putin.

The situation in Oleshky is dire

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers. There is no electricity, heat or running water. Roads leading from town are mined and dotted with burned-out cars. Drones buzz overhead.

Once a city of about 24,000 residents, Oleshky was captured by Moscow’s forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its buildings were shelled and burned, and its infrastructure damaged. In June 2023, floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was likely caused by the Russian military. Hundreds of residents were killed.

Those left in the city along Ukraine’s southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms. Ukraine has appealed repeatedly for a local ceasefire to organize evacuations. Russia, as the occupying power, is obligated by international law to ensure civilians under its control have what they need to survive.

Credit: newsmax.com 

 

Hoo Boy: Baier Nails El-Sayed on Multiple Points - His Incredible Defensiveness Is Something to See

One of the big problems with Democrat nominee for the Michigan Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, is his arrogance and defensiveness. 

He tried to sell himself as some kind of a moderate, as I wrote earlier, with an ad aimed at Fox viewers. But he just can't pull it off, because the obnoxiousness comes out. 

When he doesn't like a question, he simply refuses to answer it. Like, how dare you ask me that? He acts aggrieved, and is disturbed that you should even ask it. 

He had that on full display as Fox's Bret Baier was trying to ask him questions on a couple of critical issues - the concerns people have about any potential connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and how extreme his healthcare policy is. It happened Friday on Baier's "Special Report."

Baier tries to ask him a simple question about signing a letter that supported the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 2012. Listen to this answer, as he talks over Baier and tries to talk about everything else but the letter. 

He throws a hissy fit about "dual loyalty." Well, he's the one who said he was a "dual citizen" (although his campaign later claimed he was "mistaken), and he's the one who once claimed to be an immigrant from North Africa. The point was, Baier was asking him a straight question about the letter - he just didn't want to answer it. 

 

 But the fact that he refuses to answer the question and be straight about it tells you all you need to know. There's obviously a reason he keeps ducking these questions and doesn't want to answer them.

Mike Rogers is not attacking him over his faith; he's attacking him over his failure to answer questions just like this. And that failure keeps stoking the questions that people have about El-Sayed, and rightly so. If he refuses to even answer basic questions like this now, when he's auditioning for the job, if he gets it, he will completely blow them off. 

Oh, and he couldn't have voted for "Kamala Harris" in the last presidential primary, at least not for president, since she wasn't running. Remember, Abdul? Your "no kings" party swapped her into the position when Joe Biden dropped out. All done without any vote. He can't even give a straight answer about that - which shows he probably didn't vote for Biden. 

He refused to give a straight answer on anything. He was asked if taxes will go up under his healthcare plan. He dodges, claiming "prices" wouldn't go up. 

Translation: under him, taxes would go up. He's already admitted it previously, but now he's trying to avoid saying it. 

Baier also asked him about blowing people off by saying dismissively, "Well, sucks for them," over wait times. He claims he never said it. But Fox also points out that's a lie. 

He was also not telling the truth about the wait time for a cardiologist under the present system. The average wait time right now isn't two-and-a-half months; it's 32 days. 

If he can't even be straight about these basic questions, he doesn't deserve our vote. 

Credit: redstate.com 

 

Iran's Kill Plots Reach 'Advanced Stages,' but Trump Has a Message: 'Little Epic Fury'

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio an unclassified, one-page, very troubling memo Friday: the U.S. has "received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel." CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the warning.

Although Clayton did not reveal any specific plot, he said the remaining leaders are thirsty for revenge following the devastation that Operation Epic Fury and its aftermath unleashed on their country:

“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," the memo, the veracity of which was confirmed to Scripps News by a U.S. official, continues.

🚨 IRAN IS HUNTING OUR OFFICIALS!
DNI Jay Clayton says Iranian assassination plots against U.S. leaders are "advanced."
President Trump gave them fair warning: don't test us, or Operation Epic Fury is coming back.
He’s in office through 2029—DO NOT MESS WITH AMERICA! 🇺🇸🔥…

— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) October 24, 2026

Staff reductions were already underway in our Middle Eastern embassies before the memo was issued due to repeated attacks in the region by the Iran-backed Houthis. This threat will undoubtedly only accelerate that process.

The administration has reportedly confirmed that the DNI's caution, first reported on by Axios, is genuine:

US official confirms memo is legit. CNN has obtained a copy. Substance also broadly consistent with IC read on things, per source.

Some question as to why this would be communicated from DNI to SecState via this kind of memo, if not solely with intention of public release. https://t.co/qVRM6O7jjM

— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) October 24, 2026

Over in Florida, meanwhile, Trump warned at a rally for Florida GOP gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds that the Iranians might want to stop playing dangerous games. Perhaps it’s time for “Little Epic Fury,” he suggested.

"We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree."

President Trump teases another potential U.S. strike on Iran if Tehran doesn't reach a deal.

"If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're… pic.twitter.com/FzIkoiAl0L

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 23, 2026

If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart.

Clayton's memo apparently isn't meant to be some top secret, eyes-only document that only top leaders can see; he wants lower-level officials and U.S. citizens to be on high alert too:

Instead, Clayton stressed that the safety of government personnel abroad is "a top priority" for the administration, warning that the intelligence is "relevant to more individuals than are currently cleared to receive this information."

The materials have already gone to appropriately cleared senior staff on Rubio's team, according to the memo, and Clayton pledged to downgrade as much of the intelligence as possible so Rubio can share it with State Department personnel at his discretion.

Eric Daugherty of Florida's Voice made a salient point in an X post Friday evening:

Tehran should be VERY careful! 

Just remember that 47 is in office through Jan. 2029. The midterms have NO BEARING on that. He can unleash, whenever.

Credit: redstate.com 

 

Democrats' House of Cards Is Missing One Card

Federal prosecutors unsealed an eight-count indictment Thursday against Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat, alleging she led a marijuana distribution and money laundering operation. Lucas answered on X: "I grew up under Jim Crow. I've seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them." Her statement invoked history. The indictment alleges conduct, including that she used her post as chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to shield the operation.

The charges are allegations, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell said she is innocent until proven guilty. He's right. Lucas may beat the case, and she may even show the prosecution was political. That argument belongs in a courtroom, where evidence decides it, and a slogan can't stand in for the evidence.

I've watched this routine for years. A critic raises a fair question, and out comes the deck: the race card, the gender card, the fascist card. Every card gets played except one, and that one is accountability. Frank Underwood in House of Cards at least looked into the camera and told us what he was up to.

The tactic works because it ends the argument. Once a question gets labeled prejudice, nobody has to answer it. I've been deposed enough times as an expert witness to know that a claim is only as good as the evidence behind it. Real discrimination exists. That's exactly why the fakes do so much damage.

Consider Taral Patel, the Democrat candidate for Fort Bend County commissioner in Texas in 2024. He was accused of posting fake racist comments on his own pages, apparently to win sympathy. He was charged in September 2024, two months before he appeared on the ballot. In April 2025, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of misrepresentation of identity by a candidate. A courtroom is where that kind of victimhood gets audited, and the auditors rarely work for the campaign.

Jussie Smollett got the same instant embrace. In 2019, then-Sen. Kamala Harris called his reported attack an "attempted modern-day lynching." Police then said he had staged it. Harris deserves credit for what came next. She said she was "sad, frustrated, and disappointed" and warned that false reports divert resources from serious investigations. Smollett was convicted in 2021 on five counts of disorderly conduct. The Illinois Supreme Court threw out that conviction in 2024 over a prosecutor's agreement, a ruling the special prosecutor said had "nothing to do with" Smollett's innocence.

Sometimes the evidence gets manufactured outright. In October 2021, a group in khakis and tiki torches posed outside a Glenn Youngkin rally in Virginia to evoke Charlottesville. The Lincoln Project admitted it staged the stunt. Staffers on Democrat Terry McAuliffe's campaign amplified the scene, one calling it "disgusting and disqualifying." 

Duke shows what a rush to accuse costs. In 2007 North Carolina's attorney general dropped every charge against three lacrosse players, citing a "tragic rush to accuse" by an overreaching district attorney. Cornell is the live version, and I'm not predicting its ending. A woman alleges in a lawsuit that seven fraternity members assaulted her. Hochul then handed the case to Attorney General Letitia James, who had posted that the woman's ordeal was "horrific and unacceptable." Two accused men now argue James prejudged them. No one has been charged. Both sides deserve a prosecutor who waits.

Then there's the case where the grievance was real and the first reaction still missed. Two federal juries found that Talonya Adams, a black policy adviser, was discriminated against when she was fired from the Arizona Senate in 2015, in retaliation for complaining that she was paid less than white male policy advisers. She won a $2.75 million verdict. Katie Hobbs was Senate minority leader at the time. Her campaign's first answer to the verdict pointed to a pay gap between Democrat and Republican staffers. Within weeks, Hobbs apologized, calling her response "shortsighted, unnecessarily defensive, and failed to meet the moment." The missing card can be found. It just took a verdict to find it.

Critics will say Republicans deflect too, and they're right. But a party that claims the moral high ground on discrimination should hold itself to a higher standard of proof when a claim falls apart, because every collapse costs it the benefit of the doubt it asks voters to extend.

The cost lands on real victims. Every staged attack makes the next true report a little harder to believe, a point Harris herself made in 2019. Marcus Aurelius put the rule plainly in his Meditations: "If it is not true, do not say it."

The fixes are dull, which is how you know they might work. Officials should wait for facts before they amplify an incident, and Harris's 2019 statement and Duke's collapse show the price of skipping that step. Prosecutors should enforce false-report laws the same way for every party and every cause. Parties should drop nominees and staffers who fabricate grievances instead of hoping voters forget by November. Newsrooms should label charges as allegations and run corrections as prominently as the original claim. And the rest of us should ask our own side the same question we ask theirs: what's the evidence? None of this requires a new law or a new agency. It requires the nerve to apply one standard to both teams.

Lucas will get her day in court, and the presumption of innocence applies to her as it would to anyone. Any youth coach knows the oldest rule on the sideline. You own the loss, then you study the film. A party that answers every question with a grievance card eventually has no credibility left to spend. The house of cards stands only until someone asks for the receipts.

Credit: Jay Rogers is a financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and wealth management. He writes about issues in finance, constitutional law, national security, human nature, and public policy.

 

The Mess France Has Made of Itself — Again

Evil will always — always — take advantage of any weakness or hesitancy it perceives in goodness. Evil can do things that good can’t because evil has no conscience, no standards, no stopping point. There are just some things that good people cannot do, and that’s a limitation when dealing with those who have no morals, and who thus will commit any vile barbarity. Apparently, Charles Spurgeon was the first to say, "A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on” (1859), though Jonathan Swift wrote similarly in 1710, "Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it." John Stuart Mill said, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing” (1867). Unfortunately, this appears too often to be the truth.

But “good men” must all be on the same page. Everybody in America, and enough people in Europe, used to be there. Now, about half of Americans and probably more Europeans are reading a completely different book on what “goodness” and “evil” are. And that book ain’t called “The Holy Bible.”

Nations change, of course, and will eventually become completely different. France was called “Gaul” by the Romans, and when Caesar fought them, they were very primitive (some of whom fought in the nude). Rome then provided a semblance of order and stability, but it took hundreds of years of Christianity to truly civilize the country. Unfortunately, Christianity was unable to civilize Islam or the Left, and that is what we are seeing in France today — the rebellion of these two uncivilized monsters. Emmanuel Macron, being a leftist himself, hasn’t a clue what is happening or what to do about it.

Since 1789, and its “enlightened” revolution, France has had five constitutions and 13 changes of government. It lost its monarchy to a guillotine in 1792 — leftist violence. It then very briefly tried a republic, which was a disaster, and ended up with the Napoleonic Empire, which barely lasted 15 years itself. Eventually, France settled on a republic again and has tried to be one ever since, with varying degrees of success. So, its current problems aren’t surprising, nor, historically, would another change of its form of government be a shock. History. Something most people forget or know nothing about.

France — and Europe — and America — are probably not headed for a 1789 revolution, though I can’t know that for certain. Usually, changes of governmental forms take place gradually, though civil wars can make things happen rapidly. The American government, except in certain structural forms, doesn’t resemble the limited government with states-delegated rights our Founders established. Whether we’re going to end up as a Muslim or communist totalitarian nation remains to be seen. It doesn’t appear to be imminent, but again, barring a violent revolution, the change, as from what our Founders established, will be gradual, and most people won’t even notice. And probably not care, until the bullets or axes start flying.

Muslims have proven over their history that they will do whatever is necessary to fulfill the “will of Allah.” Leftists have also demonstrated historically that they, too, will do whatever they need to do, including kill as many people as required, to accomplish their goal of total political power. The West used to have the will to stand up to people like this, but, so far, that will appears to be noticeably diminishing. There just aren’t many Donald Trumps in the West anymore.

And so, France has been burning, and the country, and especially its leadership, doesn't know what to do, and probably don’t have the will anymore to do what needs to be done anyway. The effeminization and sissification of the West has been among the most dominant and tragic results of leftist ideology. Men of strength, courage, will, and determination are few and far between now. And if America doesn’t get some backbone soon — one man probably can’t save the country — it will likely burn, too, in the not-too-distant future.

Democrats are encouraging decline, and most Americans are simply too blind, or apathetic right now, to care. But they’ll start caring when it’s their house burning. By then, however, it will be too late. Evil will have triumphed.

What will be interesting to see — if it comes to this — is who will come out on top, Muslims or leftists. Two ideologies could hardly be more polar opposites. They need each other right now to defeat their common enemy — Western Civilization. But if the “West” falls, there will be a monumental struggle for power. Islam is not going to hand power to atheists, and communists won’t give it to a religion. Get out your popcorn and watch the fun. From a safe, underground sanctuary.

Since neither Islam nor the Left has any conscience, and they’ll both kill whoever gets in their way, a battle between those two would be a bloodbath. I don’t know who would win. Islam is the religion of Muslims, and communism is the religion of leftists, and they are both willing to kill and be killed in their defense.

Interestingly, The Liberty Daily had a recent headline: “France’s ‘Chaos, Inc.’ Exposed as the Global Islamo-Marxist Franchise Launching Revolutions With Plans to Spread to 12 Nations.” How much do you want to bet they leave China alone? Of course, the Left already has China. If Islam is smart, they will leave it that way. China won’t stomach any nonsense.

Western Civilization, founded upon Greek philosophy and democracy, Roman republicanism and law, and Judeo-Christian morality, can survive. The only question is, does it have the will to do so, and right now, that is extremely problematic. There is a time to turn the other cheek. But there is also a time to clean out the temple, which Jesus apparently did twice. He wasn’t above doing what was necessary to defeat evil, and we shouldn’t be, either.

Credit:  politicspresumptuous.com

 

Trump slams judge over delays in Kirk assassination trial: ‘Justice for Charlie’

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a forum dubbed the Generation Next Summit at the White House on March 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump criticized the judge overseeing Charlie Kirk’s murder trial, arguing that the proceedings should move forward much faster, calling for justice for Kirk.

On Friday, Trump took to Truth Social stating that Judge Tony Graf 

 

 is “desecrating” Kirk’s memory after Tyler Robinson’s defense team proposed a tentative trial start date in the third quarter of 2029.

“The judge in the Charlie Kirk case is doing a terrible job! This case should be tried within a month, not three years — and it should be over with! The judge is desecrating the memory of the Great Charlie Kirk, while taking forever to ask questions that people already know the answer to. The whole Country is mocking him and our ‘Legal’ System. JUSTICE FOR CHARLIE!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

President Trump criticized the judge overseeing the Charlie Kirk case, arguing that the trial should move forward much faster, calling for justice for Kirk.

Watch OAN on OAN Live for more updates. pic.twitter.com/rG7xluBHF9

 — One America News (@OANN) October 23, 2026

Robinson’s defense team argued that the complications of a jury selection and the vast amount of unreviewed evidence were justifications for their proposed timeline. 

The defense filing stated that the capital case required special attention because “death is different,” arguing that setting a firm trial date now would create a “false precision” that could jeopardize Robinson’s constitutional rights.

“It will create unrealistic expectations for the public and the victim’s representative, it may cause counsel for both parties to give short shrift to constitutionally required activities, it may rush this Court to deliberate upon and enter rulings on important and complex pretrial motions, and it may jeopardize Mr. Robinson’s right to a capital proceeding that has the utmost reliability,” the defense stated. 

In contrast, prosecutors anticipate being ready for trial by October 4, 2027.

Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk called the defense’s proposed timeline “grossly out of line” with similar cases and asked the court to set a trial for the earliest possible date in 2027. 

“Every additional day of delay carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his two young children who were just three and one year old when their father was murdered and would be seven and five years old by the time a verdict is handed down under the Defense’s proposed schedule,” the filing said.

Robinson has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.

Credit: oann.com 

 

Representative Ilhan Omar Will Move After Federal Raid Seized Devices

Representative Ilhan Omar’s first televised interview since federal agents searched her Washington residence gave us two clear things: a dramatic sound bite and a reminder that the rule of law can be messy when politics are involved. In the MS NOW interview, Omar said, “Obviously, I can’t continue to live there,” because her home address was public and she’s faced death threats. That line is the news peg. The rest is a developing federal probe that no one should treat as a political theater piece or a closed case.

What happened during the raid

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant at Omar’s home in a predawn operation. The Justice Department confirmed the search and described it as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Reporting says roughly 15–25 agents spent four to five hours in the house and seized electronic devices and other items. Prosecutors have issued grand‑jury subpoenas in Minnesota as part of evidence gathering. No criminal charges have been filed publicly.

Omar’s TV account: safety, denial and dignity

Omar told viewers she and her family were frightened and that the public posting of her address, combined with death threats, makes the house untenable. She said agents were largely “decent” even as she called the raid intimidating. She denied certain reported details, like DNA collection, and insisted she’s confident in her truth. Those are her statements — they matter, and they will be tested against court filings and any evidence the government presents.

Legal safeguards, speech protections and the real fights to come

Because Omar is a sitting member of Congress, the search raised constitutional questions. A magistrate judge imposed limits to protect materials that might be covered by the Speech or Debate Clause. Omar’s lawyers have since alleged those limits weren’t fully observed and have sought the return of seized material. The Justice Department disputes that claim. Expect litigation over whether prosecutors followed the court’s protections and whether media or the public will get to see the underlying warrant and affidavit.

Why this moment matters — for Omar and for the country

 

This story is about more than one representative’s living arrangements. It touches on accountability, due process and whether investigations involving high-profile politicians are handled fairly. Democrats will call the raid political intimidation. Republicans and others will say the investigation should proceed free of pressure. The facts still matter: a court authorized a search, devices were seized, and grand‑jury subpoenas were issued. The clearest path forward is transparency — unseal the warrant and allow the legal process to run its course. Until that happens, the public gets speculation, sound bites and a lot of political theater. Representative Omar says she’ll move. The country should insist investigators and courts move toward answers.

Credit:  https://patriotpowerednetwork.com/

 

Kamlager-Dove Admits California Lives Off a Handful of Billionaires

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove👇

 

 went on Bloomberg this week and said something very honest: California’s tax system depends on a tiny slice of ultra-wealthy people to pay the bills, and that makes state revenue “very volatile.” The timing mattered. Her remarks came after reporting that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and others are taking steps to prepare for the possible passage of Proposition 40, the so-called billionaire tax. If you think that admission will stop Sacramento from chasing big checks, think again.

Kamlager-Dove’s admission — and the obvious contradiction

On air the California Democrat acknowledged the core problem: a handful of residents generate a huge share of income-tax receipts. That is not opinion; it’s how California’s books work. But then she defended the push for a one-time wealth levy that targets billionaires. Translation: yes, our budget is fragile because a few people pay a lot, and we’ll make it riskier by chasing them out of the state. If the goal is steady revenue, you don’t torch the tree that bears the fruit.

Why the Zuckerberg headlines matter

Reports that Mark Zuckerberg and other wealthy Californians are planning for Prop 40 are not theater. Meta has taken corporate steps to give Zuckerberg options if the measure passes. Opponents of the measure are pouring hundreds of millions into the fight. Voters should not be surprised when CEOs and founders act like rational actors — because they are. Penalize success with a one-time 5% net-worth tax over $1 billion and some people will simply move, sell, or restructure. That’s not a conspiracy; it’s economics.

Better ways to fix volatility — spoiler: they don’t involve grandstanding

If Rep. Kamlager-Dove really cared about steady budgets, she would push for common-sense reforms that don’t scare away capital. Build up rainy-day reserves. Flatten out special carve-outs and loopholes that let income hide and then pop volatility into one year. Broaden the tax base with fair, growth-friendly changes instead of headline-grabbing wealth grabs. And yes, control spending. You can’t tax your way to stability by making your most productive residents feel unwelcome.

California deserves honest debate, not moralizing spectacles. Kamlager-Dove was right to highlight the risk of a revenue base concentrated at the top. What she didn’t do is explain why making that base flee is a good answer. Voters should weigh the trade-offs: a flashy one-time tax that promises programs today, or steady policies that preserve jobs, investment and the tax base tomorrow. If Sacramento wants revenue that lasts, it should stop chasing billionaires and start fixing the state’s economy and spending habits instead.

Credit:  https://patriotpowerednetwork.com/

 

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