House Democrats splintered on a private call Sunday over whether to vote for legislation that would keep the Department of Homeland Security funded for two more weeks, a half dozen sources on the call told Axios. Why it matters: The deal was the result of negotiations between Senate Democrats and the White House, but many House Democrats despise the idea of voting to fund DHS without reforms, even in the short term. - The fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have stirred overwhelming Democratic sentiment against the department. - Several lawmakers expressed firm opposition to voting for the funding measure, saying they are a "hell no," sources told Axios. - But another group of top Democrats also offered points in favor of…
AI:House Democrats are deeply fractured over a proposed two-week stopgap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, as internal divisions spill out during private discussions. Following recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, many liberal members have issued a "hell no" to providing any funding without significant reforms, facing pressure from activist groups to sabotage the measure. While Hakeem Jeffries has signaled he will not provide Democratic votes to help Republicans bypass procedural hurdles through a suspension vote, Speaker Mike Johnson intends to bring the bill to the floor under a rule requiring near-unanimous Republican support to overcome the looming government shutdown. The party remains…Open
In response to the appointment, some commentators and faculty critics have raised concerns about how Ostermann’s record aligns with Notre Dame’s Catholic mission
AI:Notre Dame University has appointed a global affairs professor to lead its Asian studies institute, sparking significant controversy among faculty members and religious commentators. The decision has drawn heavy criticism due to the appointee's vocal support for abortion, which many argue directly contradicts the fundamental Catholic mission of the institution. This appointment follows a broader pattern of ideological tension within religious educational institutions as they grapple with the influence of progressive agendas.Open
The runoffs were held in two races that had numerous candidates on Nov. 5 and no candidate received 50% of the vote
AI:Two Democrats secured victories in Texas runoff elections following a crowded field of candidates from the November 5 general election where no individual reached the required 50% threshold. These wins occurred amidst extremely low voter turnout, signaling a pattern of Democratic gains in previously reliable Republican strongholds through fragmented opposition and minimal civic engagement. This development follows a recent trend of progressive and Democratic upsets across various levels of government, highlighting the ongoing shifts occurring within state-level politics despite broader national trends.Open
According to testimony heard by the Oversight Committee this week, Kornak allegedly embezzled money from an elderly woman she was the conservator for.
AI:Michigan Republicans are demanding accountability from Attorney General Nessel following the indictment of a former Democratic treasurer for embezzlement. Testimony presented before the Oversight Committee revealed that the individual allegedly stole funds from an elderly woman under her care as a conservator, raising significant questions regarding the state's ability to police financial misconduct within political circles.Open
Western officials seized on a dubious death toll of 30,000 protesters to escalate against Iran. The number originates with a single, clearly compromised source. But a zealously pro-war Guardian reporter is doing her best to legitimize it.
This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The claim of “30,000 killed” during two days of protests and rioting across Iran appears to be based largely on a single anonymous source, who admitted extrapolating that figure by assuming without evidence that “officially registered deaths related to the crackdown likely represent less than 10% of the real number of fatalities.” That quote was attributed by The Guardian to an alleged doctor whose real name the newspaper refused to publish, but whose identity it claimed to have verified. Originating in TIME Magazine on January 25th, the dubious “30,000” claim was quickly amplified by The Guardian, a key…Open
AI:A dubious death toll claiming 30,000 protesters were killed in Iran is being exposed as a massive psy-op designed to manufacture consent for military intervention and regime change. This inflammatory figure originated from a single source—an Iranian monarchist lobbyist associated with the deposed Shah’s family—and has been aggressively amplified by The Guardian's Deepa Parent, a former Indian fashion blogger turned pro-war operative funded by billionaire Pierre Omidyar. While Western officials and media outlets use this unverified "big lie" to justify designating Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization, evidence suggests the numbers are being manipulated to pressure European leaders into sanctions and military action against the…Open
Trump said a complete closure, rather than doing work while the center remains open, is the best way to do renovations correctly.
AI:President Trump has proposed a full two-year closure of the Kennedy Center to facilitate comprehensive renovations, arguing that a complete shutdown is the only way to ensure the project is executed correctly rather than performing construction while the facility remains operational. This proposal follows a long-running saga involving the board's decision to renovate and restore President Trump's name to the building.Open
He was chastised for remarks ridiculing the pardons of two congressional campaign aides who had been convicted in a bribery plot.
AI:Federal Judge Robert Pratt has died at age 78 after a career marked by his vocal opposition to President Trump's use of executive clemency. Pratt gained significant notoriety for his decision to ridicule and criticize the pardons issued to two congressional campaign aides convicted in a bribery scheme, a stance that drew heavy criticism from legal circles and supporters of the administration.Open
A complete rundown of the artists, albums, songs and videos that took home trophies at the 68th annual awards.
AI:The 68th annual Grammy Awards concluded with a full list of winners across all categories, marking a historic night where K-Pop achieved mainstream recognition through "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters." The ceremony covered a wide array of talent, including standout performances and wins for R&B artists like Leon Thomas and global superstars such as Bad Bunny.Open
See what nominees and guests for the 68th Grammy Awards, including Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae and Tyla, wore to arrive to the ceremony.
AI:The 68th Annual Grammy Awards red carpet features fashion arrivals from various nominees and attendees in Los Angeles, highlighted by looks from Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla, and Addison Rae.Open
The plush toy was designed as a happy-faced Lunar New Year decoration, but a manufacturing mistake turned its smile into a frown.
AI:A manufacturing error has transformed a standard happy-faced Lunar New Year horse decoration into a frowning "crying horse" plush toy, sparking an unexpected craze across China that reflects widespread worker fatigue and the somber mood of the population.Open