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Biden Struggles To Raise Funds For Presidential Library

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    Joe Biden via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    More than a year after its launch, former President Joe Bidenโ€™s presidential library foundation has raised a modest sum, inviting questions about whether the project can move forward as a standalone institution.

    According to a report by The New York Times, public filings and donor interviews reveal that the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library Foundation expects to raise just $11.3 million by the end of 2027. The foundation received no new donations in 2024, and its initial funding came largely from $4 million leftover from Bidenโ€™s 2021 inauguration.

    As of late 2025, Biden has not held any major fundraising events for the library. The first donor reception was scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15, in Washington, D.C.โ€™s Georgetown neighborhood. The foundation has not disclosed how much it raised in 2025, saying only that Biden has begun fundraising more actively.

    The projected fundraising total places Biden far behind other recent presidents. The Obama Foundation has raised more than $1.5 billion for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Although the project has faced cost overruns and criticism from local residents, more than $850 million has already been committed to construction. Financial filings have nonetheless raised concerns about the centerโ€™s limited endowment and the potential for future taxpayer liability due to rising operating costs.

    President Donald Trump is also pursuing a far more ambitious library effort. Trump plans to build his presidential library in Miami and is hoping to raise nearly $1 billion. His project has already secured land and funding from private donations and legal settlements and received formal approval from the Florida Cabinet in September 2025, though a lawsuit presents potential issues. The library is being promoted as a major civic attraction.

    Bidenโ€™s fundraising challenges appear to be compounded by donor fatigue and dissatisfaction within Democratic fundraising circles. Several prominent donors have expressed reluctance to contribute. Longtime Democratic bundler John Morgan told The New York Times, โ€œHeโ€™ll be lucky to have a bookmobile,โ€ citing frustration with how Bidenโ€™s staff treated donors. Other contributors said they are prioritizing efforts to defeat Trump or were disillusioned with Bidenโ€™s presidency.

    According to Axios, Bidenโ€™s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, further alienated some Democrats, with several donors reportedly threatening to withhold support for the library effort.

    The Biden library foundation is chaired by Rufus Gifford, a Democratic fundraiser and former U.S. chief of protocol. Its executive directors include two of Bidenโ€™s closest aides, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. Over the summer, the foundation hired CCS Fundraising to evaluate its financial prospects. In September, Joe and Jill Biden sent letters to prospective donors inviting them to participate in 45-minute interviews to assess their willingness to give.

    Given the fundraising shortfall, some donors have suggested merging the future library with existing Biden-related institutions at the University of Delaware. The university has raised at least $22 million, including $20 million from the state of Delaware, to build โ€œBiden Hall.โ€ A merger could allow the library project to share resources and reduce costs, though both the university and the foundation declined to comment on whether such a consolidation is under consideration.

    At present, the Biden presidential library exists only as an entity listed on the National Archives website and as a corporate organization incorporated in December 2024. No specific site has been selected, though locations in Wilmington, Delaware, have been discussed. The foundationโ€™s stated fundraising goal of $200 million remains far out of reach.

    Nobel Laureate Praises Trumpโ€™s Tough Stance on Maduro

    By Kevin Payravi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179718533

    Nobel Peace Prize winner Marรญa Corina Machado, one of Venezuelaโ€™s most prominent pro-democracy leaders, is strongly backing President Donald Trumpโ€™s hard-line approach toward Nicolรกs Maduroโ€™s authoritarian regime. In a new interview that aired Sunday on CBSโ€™s Face the Nation, Machado said Trumpโ€™s strategy has given hope to millions of Venezuelans suffering under socialist rule.

    Asked whether she supports increased U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan officials and further U.S. seizures of illicit oil shipments, Machado was unequivocal.

    โ€œLook, I absolutely support President Trumpโ€™s strategy, and we, the Venezuelan people, are very grateful to him and to his administration, because I believe he is a champion of freedom in this hemisphere,โ€ Machado told host Margaret Brennan.

    Speaking from Oslo, where she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize after spending nearly a year in hiding, Machado noted that she had dedicated part of the award to Trump.

    โ€œI think that he finally has put Venezuela in where it should be, in terms of a priority for the United Statesโ€™ national security.โ€

    Machado argued that Maduroโ€™s regime is far more dangerous than a conventional dictatorship.

    โ€œThis is a very complex criminal structure that has turned Venezuela into a safe haven of international crime and terrorist activities, starting with Russia, Iran, Cuba, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Colombian guerrilla [groups], [and] the drug cartels operating freely and directed in partnership with Maduro and his regime.โ€

    Machado has long been one of Maduroโ€™s most effective opposition figures. After she overwhelmingly won the opposition primary in 2023, the regime barred her from running, then orchestrated an election that independent experts later declared โ€œmathematically and statistically impossible.โ€ Despite that, Maduro claimed victory and refused to relinquish power. Machado endorsed a stand-in candidate but remained the movementโ€™s central figureโ€”until she was forced into hiding for her safety.

    Now, speaking publicly for the first time in months, Machado is calling for increased international pressure.

    โ€œWe want every legal action through law enforcement โ€ฆ not only from the United States, also from other Caribbean, Latin American and European countries that further block the illegal activities of the regime.โ€

    Her argument is straightforward:

    โ€œWe need to increase the cost of staying in power by force. Once you arrive to that point in which the cost of staying in power is higher than the cost of leaving power, the regime will fall apart. And itโ€™s the moment where we advance into a negotiated transition.โ€


    Additional Context: Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize

    Machadoโ€™s praise comes as Trump has repeatedly been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, particularly for:

    • The Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nationsโ€”an achievement some foreign-policy experts called one of the most important diplomatic breakthroughs in decades.
    • His diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions with North Korea, which earned him multiple nominations from European lawmakers.
    • His support for democracy movements in Latin America, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

    Report: Trump Border Czar Homan, DHS Chief Noem Barely Speaking Or Meeting

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    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    A simmering feud between Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trumpโ€™s border czar Tom Homan has grown so strained that the two leaders reportedly barely speak or meet with each other, according to a new Axios report. Despite the tension, neither official is in danger of losing their job, and President Trump continues to stand by both as key figures in his aggressive border-security agenda.

    The clashโ€”with roots that appear more personal than ideologicalโ€”has raised eyebrows inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A White House adviser told Axios that Trump views the competition between Noem and Homan as a healthy dynamic that can improve overall performance. โ€œKristiโ€™s doing a great job,โ€ Trump reportedly said. โ€œHer and Tom donโ€™t get along, but theyโ€™re doing great.โ€

    Personality Clash, Not Policy Collapse

    Sources say the feud stems largely from a personality clash and differing leadership styles. While both leaders support tough enforcement of immigration laws, Noemโ€™s backers have criticized Homan for oversaturating conservative media with frequent appearances, especially on Fox News, which they say sometimes carries him past official channels or consultation with DHS communications staff. Homan has appeared on conservative outlets far more than Noem this year, which insiders say has aggravated the divide.

    Career Officials Bristle, But Trump Wants Results

    Career immigration officials have reportedly bristled at Noemโ€™s leadership style, including her public-facing promotion of policies like the CBP Home self-deportation app and the outsized influence of her senior adviser, Corey Lewandowski, who can only officially serve limited days under federal rules.

    At the same time, Noemโ€™s allies say Homanโ€™s media presence sometimes strays into self-promotion, making news on policy pronouncements without coordination. But neither side is backing down, and several White House sources say Trump is satisfied with the job both are doing.

    What This Means for Border Security

    Despite internal friction, the Trump administrationโ€™s border enforcement efforts remain robust. Deportations have reached record levels under this team, and DHS continues to pursue hard-line priorities. That focus on illegal immigration enforcement aligns with what Trump was elected to deliver and remains popular among the presidentโ€™s base.

    In public remarksโ€”such as Noemโ€™s recent testimony before the House Homeland Security Committeeโ€”Noem has defended the administrationโ€™s approach as strengthening national security and deterring illegal entries, insisting DHS is enforcing the law without selective leniency.

    Erika Kirk Says All livestreams ‘On Hold’ Until After Private Meeting With Candace Owens

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    Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Erika Kirk announced that she will meet privately with commentator Candace Owens, marking the first direct conversation between the two since a period of public disagreement and discussion following her late husbandโ€™s death.

    In a brief statement posted Sunday on X, Kirk said both women have agreed to pause all public commentary until after their meeting.

    โ€œCandace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15,โ€ Erika said.

    โ€œ@RealCandaceO and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you,โ€ she added.

    The planned meeting reflects a joint effort to move beyond weeks of escalating tension and online conspiracy theories by creating space for a more personal and thoughtful exchange.

    Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    During a recent CBS town hall, Erika spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the speculation surrounding her husbandโ€™s passing. When asked what she would say to those spreading unfounded claims, she responded, โ€œStop. Thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s all I have to say. Stop.โ€

    She also addressed the issue during a Dec. 10 appearance on Outnumbered, saying, โ€œWhen you go after my family, my Turning Point USA family, my Charlie Kirk Show family, when you go after the people that I love, and you’re making hundreds and thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love because somehow theyโ€™re in on this, no.โ€

    Despite their earlier collaboration and personal friendship, the relationship between Kirk and Owens has deteriorated sharply in recent months. Their decision to meet privately signals a mutual desire to communicate directly, clear up misunderstandings, and reduce further speculation.

    Since the tragic death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, in September, Erika has focused publicly on preserving his legacy while navigating the intense scrutiny surrounding the circumstances of his passing.

    Earlier this month, Charlie Kirk Show producer Blake Neff announced that Kirkโ€™s friends will be holding an event to refute Owensโ€™s incendiary claims. Owens has turned down an invitation to attend it in person.

    Owens has a reputation for spreading widely debunked conspiracy theories, including once staking her entire professional reputation on the claim that the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, is a man. Owens has also suggested that Israel was somehow connected to Charlie Kirkโ€™s death.

    Kirk, who founded the pro-Trump student group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at a Utah university in September, and his alleged assassin is currently awaiting trial on murder charges. Neff called Owensโ€™s claims โ€œeither lies or they are innuendos thrown around with a total, reckless disregard for the truth,โ€ and added, โ€œI would say we have suffered more harassment from these people than we have from Antifa supporters who overtly celebrate Charlieโ€™s murder.โ€

    He concluded by saying Turning Point will host a live stream to further debunk Owensโ€™s conspiracies and invited her to participate.

    โ€œWe wanted to use this segment at the top of this hour to say something important, something very important. For the past two and a half months, there is a topic that has flooded our Freedom inbox. It has been nonstop on social media, but which we have almost totally avoided on this show. You probably already know what Iโ€™m talking about, which shows just how ubiquitous it has been,โ€ Neff began.

    Read his full statement below:

    Ever since Charlieโ€™s murder, Candace Owens has leveled a flood of allegations against people at Turning Point USA, people at Turning Point Action, and people who work for this show. She has made them against some of Charlieโ€™s closest friends and against some of his most dedicated employees. She has suggested that Michael McCoy, Charlieโ€™s chief of staff, knew Charlie would be murdered, was happy that he died, and stayed silent because he was told he would be the next Charlie.

    She has suggested Michael is not his real name. It isโ€”I have seen his birth certificate myself. She has called it suspicious that Mikeyโ€™s wife, who works at Turning Point, helped plan the campus tour event where Charlie was murdered, which she didnโ€™t, by the way. She doesnโ€™t work on campus events.

    Candace has suggested the Utah Valley University event was unusual and its details suggested a quote โ€œinside job.โ€ She has claimed that foreign aircraft have followed Erica Kirk around the country and that Turning Point has lied about this happening. She has accused us of lying about Charlie wanting Erica to take over for him if he died. She has suggested Charlieโ€™s security team intentionally denied him first aid after the shooting to ensure that he died. She has raised suspicions about the head of our technical team because he took an SD card out of a camera. She has spread absurd claims that Tyler Boyer, who we just had on the show, sexually abuses male interns. She has suggested that TPUSA Faith-affiliated pastors, like theologian Frank Turek, who weโ€™ll have on in a moment, and Pastor Rob McCoy, are part of a military quote โ€œinfiltrationโ€ of Turning Point, either because they are veterans or because they have family members who are.

    Even if not everyone has been named specifically, though, Candace has effectively tarred everyone here with complicity in Charlieโ€™s death by repeatedly saying he was, quote, โ€œbetrayed by,โ€ quote, โ€œeveryone.โ€ She has said Charlieโ€™s murder, quote, โ€œhad to be approved by Charlieโ€™s friends,โ€ and then suggested those friends might have her murdered too for quote โ€œknowing the truth.โ€ She has made claims of financial impropriety and fraud at Turning Point, adding up into the millions of dollars, which again is not true. Charlie made sure the organization was audited by a third party every year. He personally reviewed and signed off on every expense report and literally every single bill paid by the organization down to a single United States dollar. We have never missed a 990 deadline.

    Candace has made other, stranger allegations involving French paratroopers in maroon shirts, Egyptian Air Force planes flying out of Provo, Utah, and potential underground assassins traveling through unseen tunnels. At one point in early November, she started wildly throwing suspicion on members of Utah Valleyโ€™s soccer team for wearing hoodies. I could go on. There is always something new coming up, and none of it ever pans out. Because from the start, there has been nothing there.

    The attacks and allegations from Candace are either lies or they are innuendos thrown around with a total, reckless disregard for the truth, so that Candace can manipulate and string along an audience of people who donโ€™t realize they are being played. Instead of being able to grieve properly after one of the most heinous murders in American history, a murder many of us had to witness, my friends have had to endure harassment from people who have gotten whipped up by what Candace is saying. I would say we have suffered more harassment from these people than we have from Antifa supporters who overtly celebrate Charlieโ€™s murder. And just like a lot of those Antifa members, many of these people take delight in how gross and unpleasant they can be. What our friends have had to endure is not funny and itโ€™s not insignificant. It is evil. I have seen it.

    For months, we have received hundreds, thousands, I suspect, of emails and calls asking us to respond. People have wanted us to invite Candace on the show. But for a long time, our approach was to say nothing. We did that for several reasons. First, we thought that her prevarications were so absurd that nobody would believe them. We shouldnโ€™t have to answer questions about secret tunnels or Egyptian Air Force planes. That sort of thing is justโ€”itโ€™s beneath contempt to respond to. Lastly, we didnโ€™t respond because Charlie always viewed Candace as a friend, and we were holding out hope that she would return that friendship and stop what she was doing.

    But a week from now itโ€™s going to be three months since Charlieโ€™s murder. Candace has not changed her behavior. She has continued to spread falsehoods about Charlieโ€™s friends, and she continues to concoct new ones about new people. Sheโ€™s using these falsehoods to enrich herself while dividing the conservative movement at an absolutely critical time for this country. And far too often, we here have heard from ordinary people, people who loved Charlie and who Charlie loved so much in return. These people have expressed the worry that we are staying silent out of cowardice or as some sort of tacit admission that some of the attacks are true. Neither is the case. Our silence has never been, and it will never be, equal to complacency or approval.

    Still, we decided Charlie would not allow this to go on. Charlie was not a coward. Charlie was a fighter. Charlie would not allow someone to spread lies about the people closest to him with impunity. And he would feel ashamed if other people were stepping up to defend his friends while he never did so himself. Candace has mentioned several times that the ball is in our court.

    So hereโ€™s what is going to happen. In the near future, there will be a livestream here in Phoenix where we address in a clear and comprehensive way the claims and accusations, the false accusations that have been made against Charlieโ€™s family, friends, and the people here at Turning Point. We plan to walk through everything carefully and thoroughly. If Candace is available, we would sincerely welcome her participation in that livestream at our studio here in Phoenix. At this point, we believe the ball is back in her court.

    Our motivation for doing this is not out of any obligation to Candace. It is about honoring Charlie. We feel a deep responsibility to protect his legacy, his work, and the truth. I feel that. I owe Charlie everything in my life. I feel it immensely. And that is why we feel compelled to speak clearly and openly now. Weโ€™ll have more on this in the near future.

    Report: FBI Thwarts New Years Eve Terror Plot

    Federal law enforcement officials announced over the weekend that they successfully disrupted a credible terrorist threat, arresting four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group who were reportedly planning coordinated bombing attacks in Los Angeles on New Yearโ€™s Eve.

    According to the FBI, the suspects self-identified as part of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF)โ€”an extremist organization driven by a combination of pro-Palestinian, anti-law-enforcement, and anti-government ideology.

    Federal agents say the group intended to deploy improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a series of synchronized attacks targeting five separate locations across the Los Angeles area. Authorities believe the suspects were preparing to test explosive devices in Lucerne Valley when they were taken into custody. Each of the four has been charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device.

    In a related development, the FBI announced Monday that a fifth individual believed to be connected to the same TILF extremist network was arrested in New Orleans in connection with a separate planned attack.

    Social media accounts linked to TILF describe the groupโ€™s mission as freeing what they call โ€œTurtle Islandโ€โ€”an Indigenous name used by some activists to refer to North Americaโ€”from the โ€œillegal American empire.โ€ One Instagram post attributed to the group declared: โ€œFree Palestine. Free Hawaii. Free Puerto Rico.โ€ The post continued, โ€œFreeing the world from American imperialism is the only way to a safe and peaceful future.โ€

    These arrests come amid a broader pattern of the FBI and other federal agencies disrupting terror plots across the country during President Donald Trumpโ€™s second administration. In recent months, federal authorities have thwarted an alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot in Michigan that involved suspicious encrypted communications and preparations at gun ranges, leading to multiple arrests before a planned attack could take place.

    Earlier this year, the FBI also intercepted another potential terror plot in Dearborn, Michigan, charging suspects with conspiracy to provide firearms and ammunition knowing they would be used to commit acts of federal terrorismโ€”again highlighting the agencyโ€™s proactive work in identifying and stopping threats before they materialize.

    These disruptions follow a national trend in which federal law enforcement has prioritized identifying and intercepting violent extremist plots before they can harm Americans. According to recent FBI press releases, multiple individuals have been charged or convicted this year for providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS and attempting to aid violent extremist causes from within the United States.

    Republican leaders have emphasized the importance of strong law enforcement and border security in preventing homegrown terrorism and protecting American communities. The arrests in Los Angeles and New Orleans underscore the ongoing threat from ideologically motivated violent extremists and the need for vigilant counterterrorism efforts.

    As the nation enters the holiday season, federal officials say their work will continue to ensure that Americans can celebrate safely, free from the specter of coordinated terror attacks.

    Watch:

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    Trump โ€˜Going To Campaign Like Itโ€™s 2024โ€™ Ahead of Midterm Elections

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    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said Monday that President Donald Trump will play a far more active role on the campaign trail ahead of next yearโ€™s midterm electionsโ€”signaling a strategic shift designed to energize the GOP base and capitalize on Trumpโ€™s unique voter appeal.

    In an interview with The Mom View, Wiles emphasized that Republicans intend to harness the enthusiasm Trump generates among grassroots conservatives, particularly low-propensity voters who often turn out only when the president is directly involved.

    โ€œTypically in the midterms itโ€™s not about whoโ€™s sitting at the White House. You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it. Weโ€™re actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters,โ€ Wiles said.

    Her comments underscore a growing recognition within the GOP that Trumpโ€™s presence remains the partyโ€™s strongest electoral asset. While midterms traditionally revolve around local issues, Republicans are betting that nationalizing the races around Trumpโ€™s leadershipโ€”and his policy agendaโ€”will boost turnout in key battleground states.

    Wiles noted recent election results as evidence of what happens when the president is not visibly engaged.

    โ€œWe saw a week ago Tuesday what happens when heโ€™s not on the ballot and not active,โ€ she said, referencing GOP underperformances in off-year contests in Virginia, New Jersey, and a special election in Tennesseeโ€™s 7th Congressional District. Despite strong fundamentals in these states, Republican turnout lagged noticeably without Trumpโ€™s direct involvement.

    โ€œI havenโ€™t quite broken it to him yet, but heโ€™s going to campaign like itโ€™s 2024 again,โ€ she added with a laughโ€”suggesting that the presidentโ€™s relentless campaign style, which galvanized millions of new Republican voters in both 2016 and 2024, will be making a return.

    So far in his presidency, Trump has spent less time on the campaign trail than in previous cycles, focusing instead on high-stakes foreign policy initiatives and diplomatic travel. But that dynamic may shift as early as Tuesday, when he heads to Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, to highlight the administrationโ€™s efforts to lower costs for American familiesโ€”a top priority for voters and a central theme in Trump’s economic messaging.

    Republicans hope that a more active presidential schedule will help counteract recent Democratic gains and re-energize the coalition that powered Trump to victory. With control of Congress on the line, the party is preparing for a midterm season unlike any in recent memoryโ€”one in which the sitting president will again be front and center.

    Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Block Trump From Putting Face on Dollar Coin

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    President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at preventing President Trumpโ€”or any sitting or living former presidentโ€”from appearing on U.S. currency. Their proposal, titled the Change Corruption Act, comes as the U.S. Treasury considers issuing a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trumpโ€™s image in recognition of Americaโ€™s 250th anniversary.

    The bill, cosponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), states plainly: โ€œNo United States currency may feature the likeness of a living or sitting President.โ€ The lawmakers argue that the measure reflects historical practice, noting that U.S. currency has traditionally featured only deceased presidents and statesmen.

    A Preemptive Strike on a Potential Semiquincentennial Honor

    The U.S. Mint is reportedly close to announcing whether it will release a limited-run Trump coin as part of the nationโ€™s celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026. Commemorative coinsโ€”distinct from circulating coinsโ€”are historically used to honor major anniversaries, public achievements, and historic figures. Past presidents, including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, have been featured posthumously on such special-issue coins.

    A draft image circulating within the Treasury Department shows Trumpโ€™s profile above the word โ€œLiberty,โ€ a standard placement for American coinage.

    Democrats Frame the Coin as a Threat to Democratic Norms

    In unusually heated language for a discussion about commemorative currency, Merkley compared Trumpโ€™s potential appearance on a coin to the behavior of authoritarian regimes:

    โ€œPresident Trumpโ€™s self-celebrating maneuvers are authoritarian actions worthy of dictators like North Koreaโ€™s Kim Jong Un, not the United States of America,โ€ Merkley said in a statement.

    He argued Congress must take action to limit the executive branchโ€™s influence over commemorative designs:

    โ€œWe must reject his efforts to dismantle our โ€˜We, The Peopleโ€™ republic and replace it with a strongman state by demanding strong accountability to prevent further abuse of taxpayer dollars.โ€

    Cortez Masto echoed Merkleyโ€™s claims, asserting that any depiction of a living president on U.S. coinage would resemble an outdated monarchical tradition:

    โ€œWhile monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king.โ€

    She added:

    โ€œOur legislation would codify this countryโ€™s long-standing tradition of not putting living presidents on American coins. Congress must pass it without delay.โ€

    ICE Tracking App Maker Sues Over Trump Administration Pressure

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    President Donald J. Trump participates in a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security at the U.S. Border Patrol Calexico Station Friday, April 5, 2019, in Calexico, Calif. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

    The creator of ICEBlockโ€”an iPhone app designed to alert users to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officersโ€”has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming federal officials violated his free-speech rights by urging Apple to pull the app from its store.

    Joshua Aaron, the developer behind the app, contends in his complaint that building, distributing, and promoting ICEBlock is โ€œFirst Amendment-protected speech.โ€ He alleges that Attorney General Pam Bondi and other administration officials engaged in a coordinated โ€œpressure campaignโ€ to force Apple to remove the app, calling the effort an unlawful act of censorship.

    โ€œWeโ€™re basically asking the court to set a precedent and affirm that ICEBlock is, in fact, First Amendment-protected speech and that I did nothing wrong by creating it,โ€ Aaron told The Associated Press on Monday. โ€œAnd to make sure that they canโ€™t do this same thing again in the future.โ€

    The lawsuit also asks a federal judge to bar any criminal prosecution of Aaron, citing what he describes as โ€œunlawful threatsโ€ from Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, and White House Border Czar Tom Homanโ€”all of whom, according to Aaron, indicated they would investigate him for creating the app.

    He told the AP that one of his motives for suing is โ€œto basically have them stop threatening myself and my family.โ€

    Why the App Was Removed

    Apple removed ICEBlock and similar apps in October after Bondi publicly warned that the tools endangered federal immigration officers by allowing the publicโ€”including individuals seeking to evade law enforcementโ€”to monitor ICE activity in real time.

    Bondi defended the removal in a Fox News interview, arguing that Aaronโ€™s app could compromise officer safety. โ€œHeโ€™s giving a message to criminals where our federal officers are. And he cannot do that,โ€ she said. โ€œAnd we are looking at it, we are looking at him, and he better watch out, because thatโ€™s not protected speech.โ€

    Broader Context: Trumpโ€™s Immigration-Enforcement Strategy

    The dispute comes amid the Trump administrationโ€™s continued efforts to restore aggressive federal enforcement of immigration lawโ€”an agenda that has been a central pillar of the presidentโ€™s policy platform. ICE has been directed to prioritize arrests of criminal offenders, expand cooperation with local law-enforcement agencies, and counter efforts by progressive โ€œsanctuaryโ€ jurisdictions to obstruct federal operations.

    Officials like Noem, Homan, and Bondi have repeatedly emphasized the dangers facing ICE officers on the ground. From hostile sanctuary-city policies to the rapid spread of mobile apps that help individuals avoid lawful apprehension, the administration argues that these challenges make it more difficult to enforce immigration laws and protect communities.

    Pulitzer Prize Board Doubles Down On Trump Legal Fight

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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Pulitzer Prize Board escalated its legal battle with President Donald Trump on Thursday, filing a discovery request in Trumpโ€™s 2022 defamation lawsuit and declaring it will “not be cowed by the president’s attempt to intimidate journalists or undermine the First Amendment.”

    Trump sued the Board after it awarded the 2018 National Reporting Pulitzer Prize to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russiaโ€”allegations Trump has long argued were baseless and politically motivated.

    Pulitzer Board Pushes Discovery, Demands Proof of Harm

    In its filing in Okeechobee County Circuit Court in Florida, the Pulitzer Board requested documentation supporting Trumpโ€™s claims that the award caused him reputational or financial harm.

    The Board insisted the president must meet the same legal standards as any plaintiff:

    “Just like any other plaintiff, the President must articulate and prove his claims with evidence. This filing is a standard step in the discovery process to assess a claim of damages and test their validity. The Pulitzer Board will not be cowed by the president’s attempt to intimidate journalists or undermine the First Amendment,” the organization told Fox News Digital.

    Trumpโ€™s lawsuit argues that the Pulitzer-winning stories relied on a โ€œdemonstrably false connectionโ€ between his campaign and Russia and that this flawed premise was the basis for awarding the prize.

    Award Recognized Reporting Later Undermined by Federal Investigations

    The Times and Post were honored for โ€œdeeply sourced, relentlessly reported coverage in the public interest that dramatically furthered the nationโ€™s understanding of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and its connections to the Trump campaign, the President-electโ€™s transition team and his eventual administration.โ€

    However, Trumpโ€™s complaint highlights several developments that have since cast doubt on the original reporting:

    • Special Counsel Robert Mueller failed to establish evidence of criminal collusion.
    • A Department of Justice Inspector General report identified significant misconduct and inaccuracies in the federal investigation into Trumpโ€™s campaign.

    These findings reinforced the belief among many conservatives that the Russia-collusion narrative was politically driven and amplified by a sympathetic media establishment.

    Trump Team Predicts Victory

    A spokesperson for Trumpโ€™s legal team said the president remains confident:

    “President Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in fake news, lies, and smears to account, and he will see this powerhouse lawsuit through to a winning conclusion. This case has always been about correcting the record, revealing the truth, and vindicating the president and his supporters against the lies told to the American people by the Democrats and their PR machine known as ‘legacy media.'”

    Trump previously sought a full correction or retraction from the Pulitzer Board, along with the rescinding of the 2018 awards, but the Board has repeatedly refused.


    Additional Context: Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize

    While Trump now challenges the Pulitzer Board over media accountability, he has also pursued global recognition for his foreign policy accomplishmentsโ€”particularly through nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

    • In 2020, Trump received several nominations for brokering the Abraham Accords, historic peace agreements that normalized relations between Israel and multiple Arab nations.
    • He also received nominations for facilitating Serbiaโ€“Kosovo economic normalization, as well as for his administrationโ€™s efforts in the North Korea diplomatic initiative.
    • Despite support from some foreign officials and conservative lawmakers, the Nobel Committee ultimately awarded the prize elsewhere, prompting many Republicans to argue that Trumpโ€™s diplomatic breakthroughs were undervalued for political reasons.

    Jack Smith Launches New Law Firm With Trump Prosecution Veterans

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      Gage Skidmore Flickr

      Jack Smith โ€” the former special counsel who led the federal prosecutions of President Donald Trump โ€” is starting a private law firm in January 2026. And heโ€™s bringing reinforcements: former federal prosecutors Tim Heaphy, Thomas Windom, and David Harbach.

      Heaphy previously worked at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and served as the lead investigator for the Jan. 6 committee. Windom and Harbach helped Smith run the Trump election interference and classified documents cases.

      The group says its new practice will focus on investigations and litigation for both public and private clients. Theyโ€™re pitching โ€œfull-service representationโ€ built on โ€œintegrity, commitment, and zealous advocacy.โ€

      With multiple veterans of the Trump-era investigations joining forces, Smithโ€™s new firm is poised to become a magnet for clients facing federal probes or regulatory scrutiny. Their background running some of the most complex, high-profile cases in the country gives them instant appeal to companies and individuals navigating an enforcement landscape thatโ€™s grown more unpredictable. And with recent turmoil inside the Justice Department, from shifting legal strategies to rapid staff turnover, demand is rising for lawyers who know exactly how federal cases are assembled.

      The timing isnโ€™t accidental. Earlier this year, the administration suspended security clearances for lawyers at a D.C. firm that offered pro bono help to Smith โ€” a sign of escalating friction around anyone tied to the Trump prosecutions.

      Smith remains under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, which is probing whether his Trump-era prosecutions crossed the Hatch Actโ€™s limits on political activity. But with his exit from government and the launch of a new private firm, he now has room to rebrand himself for civil and corporate work โ€” a shift likely to attract clients facing pressure from the federal government.

      The firm will open its doors next month, but details on fees, initial clients, or specific specialties remain unknown.

      Smith also still faces political and legal hurdles, including a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee for a closed-door deposition on his handling of the Trump cases.