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Trump Reveals Identity Of Secret Iran Negotiation Partner

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that his administration is engaged in talks with Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, identifying for the first time the official he has described as a key contact in ongoing negotiations.

The confirmation was reported by New York Post national security correspondent Caitlin Doornbos, who said Trump told her the U.S. is negotiating directly with Ghalibaf and suggested it would soon become clear whether the talks could produce results.

Trump “confirmed to me today that the US is negotiating with Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, saying we’ll ‘find out in about a week’ whether he is someone America can truly work with,” Doornbos reported.

The disclosure follows days of speculation after Trump announced on Truth Social that “VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS” were underway between the United States and Iran, even as tensions remained high following recent military escalation.

Trump’s announcement of talks came alongside a significant policy shift. Just hours after warning that Iran could face “total decimation” if it failed to comply with U.S. demands over the Strait of Hormuz, the president ordered a five-day pause on planned strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, citing progress in negotiations.

Before naming Ghalibaf, Trump had declined to identify his counterpart, telling reporters only that discussions were taking place with “a top person.”

“A top person. Don’t forget, we wiped out the leadership, phase one, and phase two and largely phase three. But we’re dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader. It is a little tough. We’ve wiped out everybody,” Trump said.

When pressed at the time on whether he was referring to Iran’s leadership, Trump ruled out direct contact with the country’s newly named supreme leader.

“No, not the supreme leader. Nobody has heard of the second supreme leader, the son. We have not heard from the son. Everyone said you’ve seen a statement made, we don’t know if he is living. But the people that seem to be running it, and they seem that based on, really, fact because things they’ve said have taken place.”

Following those remarks, The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump’s backchannel contact was Ghalibaf. The Iranian official quickly denied the claim, posting on X that no negotiations were taking place.

“Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved. No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

Despite the denial, Trump reiterated his position in comments to Doornbos, suggesting the administration is actively testing whether Ghalibaf represents a viable negotiating partner as conflict continues to unfold across the region.

“We’re gonna find out,” Trump told The Post when asked about Iran’s Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. “I’ll let you know that in about a week.”

Trump also indicated that recent developments inside Iran may have altered the diplomatic landscape.

“There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people. And thus far, they’ve been much more reasonable,” he said.

The conflicting accounts underscore ongoing uncertainty around the status of negotiations, even as the Trump administration signals optimism about a potential resolution

According to a report from The Hill, Pakistan on Sunday said it would host talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war, after diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in Islamabad.

“Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days in a comprehensive sentiment of the ongoing conflict,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a speech after the meeting.

It was not immediately clear if the U.S. and Iran would take part in the talks.

On Sunday, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said U.S. universities based in the Middle East “are legitimate targets” after its military said joint U.S.-Israeli strikes hit two colleges in the country. 

“The reckless rulers of the White House should know that from now on, all universities of the occupying regime and American universities in the West Asia region are legitimate targets for us until two universities are struck in retaliation for the Iranian universities that have been destroyed,” it wrote in a post on the social platform X. 

“All staff, professors, and students of American universities in the region, as well as residents in their surroundings, are advised to stay at least one kilometer away from these universities to ensure their safety,” the statement continued. 

Many American universities have satellite campuses in the region, including New York University, Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University and Texas A&M University. 

Additionally, President Trump threatened to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure on Monday morning in a Truth Social post:

“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately “Open for Business,” we will conclude our lovely “stay” in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet “touched.” This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year “Reign of Terror.” Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

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Trump Reveals Plans For ‘Massive Military Complex’ Under The White House

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1

President Trump said late Sunday that the U.S. military is constructing a “massive complex” beneath the White House as part of ongoing renovations tied to a controversial new ballroom project on the East Wing.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed new details about the underground development, which he suggested had only recently become public due to legal challenges.

“Now, the military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed,” Trump said. “But the military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that’s under construction, and we’re doing very well.”

The president described the above-ground ballroom as a highly fortified structure, emphasizing modern security features.

“We have all bullet-proof glass, we have drone-proof roofs, ceilings,” Trump said while displaying newly produced renderings of the project. “Unfortunately, we’re living in an age when that’s a good thing.”

Trump had previously indicated that elements of the project were intended to remain undisclosed. During a Cabinet meeting last week, he acknowledged a national security component tied to the construction.

“It was supposed to be secret, but it became unsecret because of people that are really unpatriotic saying things,” he said. “Now it’s no secret, the military wanted it more than anybody.”

The ballroom project—estimated at roughly $400 million—is being promoted by Trump as a long-overdue upgrade to the White House’s event capacity. He argued that existing rooms are too small to host major foreign dignitaries and large-scale gatherings.

“For 150 years, they’ve wanted to build a ballroom at the White House. Other presidents have wanted it,” Trump said. “When we have dignitaries coming like President Xi of China or anybody else, we have very small rooms. They’re not big enough to handle the kind of capacity that you need.”

He added that the new structure is designed to visually match the existing White House and could even accommodate presidential inaugurations.

“This is the same height as the White House. It’s an incredible fitting,” he said. “I think it will be the finest ballroom of its kind anywhere in the world.”

According to Trump, the ballroom is being funded entirely through private donations and personal contributions, with no taxpayer dollars involved.

“All of this money, all of the money paid is paid by myself and donors, it’s all donors,” he said. “There’s not one dime of government money going into the ballroom.”

However, the project has drawn scrutiny from preservation groups and architects. A recent report raised concerns about design choices, including claims about “faux windows,” which Trump forcefully denied.

“We have no fake windows,” he said. “The glass is extremely thick. It’s high-grade, bulletproof glass. So, all of the windows are bulletproof.”

The construction has also sparked a legal battle. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit arguing that the administration bypassed required approvals from Congress and federal planning agencies. A federal judge is currently considering whether to halt construction.

Despite the controversy, Trump insisted the project is progressing smoothly.

“We’re ahead of schedule and under budget,” he said.

He also framed the ballroom as secondary to the underground military infrastructure being built beneath it.

“The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under the military, including from drones and including from any other thing,” Trump said.

The plans are expected to face a key test later this week, when the National Capital Planning Commission is set to review the proposal for final approval.

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Mike Lindell Appears To Be Served Lawsuit During Live Interview

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO and a prominent Trump ally, appeared to be served with legal papers during a live interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, in an interruption that quickly drew attention online.

Lindell was speaking on camera with Michael Casey, a correspondent for O’Keefe Media Group, at the event in Grapevine, Texas, when a woman stepped into frame holding documents. In footage shared by Casey, the woman approached Lindell mid-interview and said: “Hi, sorry to interrupt. I have this for you. You’ve been served.”

Casey described the woman as a “deranged leftist,” though her identity and the nature of the documents have not been independently confirmed.

Lindell attempted to continue the interview, repeatedly asking the woman to move out of the shot. “We’re on TV here, please. We’re on TV, please. OK, we’re on TV,” he said, gesturing for her to step aside.

Watch:

As Casey pressed the woman about what she was delivering, Lindell added: “I’m not accepting it.” The woman insisted the papers had been served regardless. Lindell briefly took the documents before tossing them off camera behind him and continuing the interview.

It remains unclear whether the incident involved a legitimate legal filing or was a staged disruption. No details about the alleged lawsuit were immediately available.

Lindell has been a close ally of former President Donald Trump and one of his most vocal supporters since the 2020 election. He has repeatedly promoted Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen, using his platform, LindellTV, to amplify those assertions. Trump has publicly praised Lindell in the past, often highlighting his loyalty and willingness to fund efforts challenging the election results.

That alignment has also placed Lindell at the center of multiple legal battles. He has faced defamation lawsuits from voting technology companies over his election claims, and earlier this week, he lost a bid to overturn a related defamation verdict.

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DOJ To Pay Ex-Trump Adviser Michael Flynn $1M

By
Madeleine Jackson
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3
Susan A. Romano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Justice Department has agreed to pay roughly $1.2 million to former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, settling a lawsuit in which he claimed he was politically targeted during Trump’s first administration, according to ABC News.

The payout falls far short of the $50 million Flynn initially sought when he filed the lawsuit in 2023. Still, the settlement is likely to raise fresh questions about whether Flynn benefited from his continued loyalty to President Trump.

A federal judge dismissed Flynn’s case in 2024, siding with a Justice Department motion filed during the Biden administration and ruling that Flynn failed to meet the legal standard for malicious prosecution. After Trump returned to office, however, Flynn’s attorneys moved to revive the case. The department later confirmed in a court filing that it had entered settlement discussions with Flynn’s legal team.

In a statement, a Justice Department spokesperson framed the agreement as corrective action: “Those who instigated the Russia Collusion Hoax and Crossfire Hurricane abused their power to mislead the American people and tarnish the reputations of President Trump and his supporters. Today’s settlement, secured by this Justice Department, is an important step in redressing that historic injustice.”

Flynn had previously pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during a January 2017 White House interview about his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, part of the Mueller investigation.

In 2020, under Attorney General William Barr, the Trump Justice Department moved to drop the case entirely, sharply criticizing the FBI’s handling of the investigation and arguing the charges should never have been brought. The move drew skepticism from a federal judge in Washington, D.C., who questioned the department’s reasoning. Flynn was ultimately granted a full pardon by Trump after the 2020 election.

Since leaving government, Flynn has remained closely aligned with Trump’s inner circle and built a large following online, where he has promoted a range of conspiracy-driven claims.

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Trump Official Refers New York AG Letitia James For Prosecution – Again

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A senior Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said in a letter Wednesday to prosecutors in Florida that James may have falsified information on a homeowner’s insurance application submitted to Fort Lauderdale-based Universal Property Insurance. In a separate letter to prosecutors in Illinois, Pulte alleged that James may have also provided false information on an application to Allstate.

The referrals mark the latest development in a series of legal actions pursued by officials in President Trump’s administration against James, a longtime political adversary. In a Truth Social post Wednesday night, President Trump wrote that James had been “referred again for criminal prosecution for alleged homeowner insurance fraud.”

One of the referrals was sent to Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Quiñones is currently leading an investigation into Obama-era officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan, related to intelligence findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Trump. Last year, Quiñones also sought records connected to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump.

The second referral was sent to Andrew Boutros, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for James, rejected the allegations and criticized the administration’s actions.

“abusing their power to pursue a vendetta against her by trying to rename, refile, and repeat baseless allegations.”

“These desperate tactics will fail — just as every previous attempt has failed — and exposes an Administration that has abandoned its responsibility to the American people in favor of petty political payback,” Lowell said.

The new referrals follow a previously dismissed federal case against James. Last fall, she was charged in federal court with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, based on allegations that she misrepresented details about a property in Virginia to secure more favorable mortgage terms. James denied wrongdoing, and the charges were later dismissed.

The earlier indictment came after Pulte referred James for possible mortgage fraud, though the charges ultimately focused on a different property than the one cited in his referral. A federal judge dismissed the case in November, ruling that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been unlawfully appointed. A separate case brought by Halligan against former FBI Director James Comey was also dismissed, and two federal grand juries later declined to re-indict James on bank fraud charges.

According to the original indictment, James purchased a Virginia home in 2020 using a mortgage that required the property to be used as a second residence, but she allegedly rented it out as an investment property to obtain a lower interest rate.

James has argued that she is being targeted for political reasons, particularly after she sued Trump in civil court during the period between his presidential terms. A New York judge found Trump and his company liable for fraud and ordered them to pay hundreds of millions of dollars, though an appellate court later overturned the financial judgment.

In court filings last year, James’s attorneys accused Pulte of using the Federal Housing Finance Agency — which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — as a “weapon to be brandished against President Trump’s political enemies.”

CBS News previously reported that prosecutors have also examined financial transactions between James and her longtime hairdresser, Iyesata Marsh, as part of a separate line of inquiry. Pulte has since sought a protective security detail, citing threats he said were connected to the case.

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Top Trump Admin Official Shares Big Prediction About Energy Prices

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1

Energy markets could see a sharp reversal if tensions ease in the Middle East, as U.S. officials signal that a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran may be within reach.

The outlook comes after President Donald Trump said earlier Monday that negotiations with Iran have been “very good and productive,” announcing a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure to allow talks to continue.

Against that backdrop, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil prices could fall significantly if a deal leads to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has faced disruptions in recent weeks.

Wright made the comments during an appearance on FOX Business’ “Varney & Co.” with host Lauren Simonetti, emphasizing how closely energy markets are tied to developments in the region.

“They would go down quite a bit. If we see a pathway to have the Strait of Hormuz open soon and energy flowing again, you’d see energy prices drop pretty significantly,” Wright said.

Global markets have been reacting to reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Even temporary disruptions have driven fuel costs higher for consumers.

Wright suggested that the trajectory of energy prices will depend largely on whether Iran chooses to de-escalate and engage in negotiations.

“That could happen if a peace agreement is reached… If Iran thinks enough is enough, and they’re willing to make a deal… Then there’ll be a deal,” Wright said.

For now, officials caution that short-term volatility is likely to continue as negotiations unfold, though a sustained diplomatic breakthrough could quickly stabilize markets.

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Trump Issues Early Midterm Endorsement – Before Candidate Even Files To Run

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump is throwing his weight behind a potential new Republican candidate in Florida, publicly urging Sydney Gruters to enter the race for Congress in the state’s 16th District — and promising his full endorsement if she does.

In a Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump signaled strong support for Gruters, who has not yet officially declared her candidacy but is reportedly considering a run.

“Word is that Sydney Gruters, the wife of our GREAT Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Joe Gruters, is considering launching her Campaign for Congress in Florida’s 16th Congressional District!” Trump wrote.

“Should she decide to enter this Race, Sydney Gruters has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, SYDNEY, RUN!” the president added.

The endorsement comes as the seat opens up following GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan’s decision not to seek re-election, setting the stage for what could become a competitive Republican primary in a reliably conservative district along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Sydney Gruters is married to Joe Gruters, a prominent figure in Republican politics who currently serves as chair of the Republican National Committee and as a Florida state senator. Her potential candidacy would further cement the Gruters family’s influence within both state and national GOP circles.

Responding to Trump’s backing, Gruters expressed gratitude while stopping short of confirming her plans.

“I am deeply honored to have the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” she said, according to Florida Politics. “His leadership transformed our country and continues to inspire millions of Americans who believe in putting America First. I’m especially committed to advancing policies that lower the cost of living for hardworking families across our community. I’m grateful for his support and look forward to making an announcement about the path ahead very soon.”

Gruters currently serves as executive director and vice president of advancement for the New College Foundation, giving her a background in education and nonprofit leadership that could shape her campaign message if she enters the race.

Trump’s early endorsement — issued before an official campaign launch — underscores his continued influence in Republican primaries and his willingness to shape candidate fields well ahead of election season. His backing often carries significant weight among GOP voters, particularly in Florida, a state where he remains highly popular within the party.

In his post, Trump also outlined the policy priorities he believes Gruters would champion in Congress, framing her as a reliable ally of his political agenda.

“A Highly Successful Civic Leader and Public Servant, Sydney has dedicated her life to serving her Community, and she and her family are fierce advocates for our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump wrote.

“As your next Congresswoman, Sydney will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, Champion School Choice, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

With Buchanan stepping aside and Trump already signaling his preferred candidate, the race for Florida’s 16th District is quickly taking shape — even as Sydney Gruters weighs whether to officially enter the contest.

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Trump Floats Deploying National Guard To Help Fix Airport ‘Mess’

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Image via Pixabay

President Donald Trump announced he is considering deploying the National Guard into America’s airports as he urged Americans to “blame Democrats” for the security “mess” at some travel hubs.

Taking to his Truth Social platform in the morning, Trump accused Democrats of cheering for “our Country to do badly” and “fail.”

He then thanked the “patriots” of ICE, and floated the possibility of sending in the National Guard “for more help.”

A little over an hour later, Trump doubled down, fawning over the agency for “helping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas.”

“I am so proud of our ICE Patriots!” he posted. “They were unfairly maligned by the Lunatic Democrats for years, and now, at the Airports, in addition to what they are supposed to be doing, they are helping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas. They are so proud to be there!”

He added: “The fact is, they shouldn’t have to do this, but they are rehabbing a fake image given to them by Radical Left Democrat politicians. The Public is loving ICE, so the Democrats, unwittingly, did us a favor — They are Great American Patriots, they just happen to have much larger, and harder, muscles than most — which is what they’re supposed to have. Thank you to ICE for the GREAT job you are doing. America very much appreciates it!”

The partial government shutdown affecting DHS funding and the TSA has been going on for over 40 days, with little end in sight. Lawmakers are scrambling to end the partial government shutdown ahead of a planned two-week recess as both Democrats and Republicans find fault with a compromise plan.

President Trump indicated earlier this week that he was open to funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without new money for federal immigration enforcement.

As a result of the stalemate, some airports have been plagued with hours-long security lines and canceled flights.

President Donald Trump warned last week that he could deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports to arrest illegal immigrants if Democrats refuse to meet his budget demands to end the shutdown. Republicans have pushed for full Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, while Democrats have advocated for narrower measures that would fund agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) without supporting immigration enforcement operations.

On Wednesday, George Soros-backed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner threatened to arrest agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployed to the city’s airport to help with security amid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages. 

“This is how it works. You commit crimes within the jurisdiction that is the city and county of Philadelphia, I prosecute you. That is how it works. No, I don’t take a phone call from president saying, ‘Let them go.’ No, the president cannot pardon you,” Krasner said during a Wednesday press conference.

“I’ll say it again. The president cannot pardon you. And yes, I will put you in handcuffs and I will put you in a courtroom and, if necessary, I will put you in a jail cell if you decide to make the terrazzo floor of this airport, anything like what you did in the streets of Minneapolis, which involved the criminal homicide of unarmed, innocent people. We are not having that,” he added.

Without directly commenting on Krasner’s remarks, the White House lambasted separate comments from Krasner as he stood in front of a “Wooder Ice” mural for a video message.

Backed by ominous music, Krasner said Philadelphians enjoy Water Ice because it “doesn’t break the law [nor] bother us at an airport.” The “Rapid Response 47” team called Krasner’s video “sick and deranged,” adding, “If you don’t like it, Larry, tell your fellow Democrats to fund DHS.”

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Trump-endorsed Candidate Concedes Primary Following 23-Vote Margin

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Missvain, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger, one of the state’s most powerful Republicans, conceded his GOP primary race Tuesday after a second recount confirmed he trailed by just 23 votes. The razor-thin loss to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page ends Berger’s long tenure representing the Triad-area district and signals a potential leadership shake-up in a critical battleground state ahead of the midterms.

“While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory,” Berger said in a statement following the recount results.

“Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state’s outlook and reputation. It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation.”

Unofficial results showed Page winning 13,135 votes to Berger’s 13,112, capping a dramatic contest that initially saw Page ahead by just two votes on primary night. His margin grew slightly as election officials reviewed provisional and absentee ballots, and subsequent recounts failed to change the outcome.

Berger’s defeat marks a major upset in North Carolina politics. As Senate leader since 2011, he has been a central figure in shaping Republican policy in the state. His loss comes despite an endorsement from President Donald Trump and reported efforts by GOP leaders to persuade Page to step aside, underscoring tensions within the party as it prepares for a high-stakes election cycle.

The outcome is likely to reverberate beyond the district. North Carolina is one of the nation’s top political battlegrounds, and Republicans are working to defend their legislative supermajority while also competing nationally to maintain their narrow U.S. House majority in the midterm elections. Party leaders have been particularly focused on redistricting efforts, including recent changes to congressional maps aimed at flipping a Democratic-held seat.

Page, who had urged Berger to concede as recounts concluded, framed his victory as a call for unity heading into November.

“I thank him for wishing me the best moving forward,” Page said after Berger called to concede. “Now it’s time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November.”

He will face Democrat Steve Luking in the general election in what is considered a GOP-leaning district. Berger defeated Luking in 2024.

Despite the loss, Berger will remain in office through January and continue to preside over the Senate during the short legislative session. He emphasized his intention to support fellow Republicans as they prepare for the general election.

“Looking ahead, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the short session to ensure North Carolina continues to be the best state in the nation in which to live, work, raise a family, and retire,” Berger said. “In the months ahead, I will also do everything I can to support all Republican Senate candidates and protect our supermajority.”

With control of Congress and key state legislatures at stake, Republicans are increasingly wary of internal divisions and low-turnout primary surprises. Berger’s narrow defeat highlights how even entrenched incumbents can be vulnerable, adding a new layer of uncertainty as the party heads into a pivotal midterm season.

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Taliban Releases Detained American After Pressure From US

By
Madeleine Jackson
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2
President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

An American who was detained by the Taliban for more than a year without charges has been released and is now on his way home, according to U.S. officials.

Dennis Coyle, 64, had spent nearly two decades working in Afghanistan before he was taken from his home in Kabul in January 2025 by Taliban intelligence forces. He was held in near-solitary confinement and never charged with a crime, officials said.

Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said Coyle’s detention was unjust and that he had been used as leverage by the Taliban.

“The United States welcomes the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle, who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for more than a year,” Boehler said in a statement to Fox News.

“President Trump made clear: the United States will not tolerate the unjust detention of its citizens — anywhere. His personal determination — executed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a fully aligned interagency team — has driven a shift to accountability, pressure and results.”

Coyle’s family said he had been legally working in Afghanistan as an academic researcher supporting language communities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the release, calling it progress but emphasizing that other Americans remain detained.

“The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy,” Rubio said. “President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas – Dennis joins over 100 Americans who have been freed in the past 15 months under his second term in office.”

Rubio added: “We thank the United Arab Emirates for its support in securing Dennis’ release. We also appreciate Qatar’s continued support and advocacy for Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan.”

Coyle’s release comes amid broader U.S. pressure on the Taliban. Earlier this month, Rubio designated Afghanistan a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the group of unlawfully holding Americans and other foreign nationals.

Officials say several Americans are still believed to be detained in Afghanistan, including Mahmood Habibi and Paul Overby.

The Trump administration has made the return of detained Americans a central priority during the president’s second term. According to U.S. officials, 176 individuals — including more than 100 Americans — have been brought home from wrongful detention or captivity abroad.

That effort has included multiple high-profile cases. In Afghanistan, Americans such as George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett, and William McKenty were freed following negotiations involving U.S. envoys and regional intermediaries like Qatar.

Elsewhere, the administration secured the release of Americans held in Venezuela, Russia, and by Hamas in Gaza, including teacher Marc Fogel and American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel.

U.S. officials say many of these releases have relied on sustained diplomatic pressure and coordination with allies, particularly in the Middle East.

“In Israel, the president and his team’s dogged persistence resulted in the release of all hostages held by Hamas,” Boehler said.

“Behind these outcomes are professionals whose names will never be known—individuals who take real risks to bring Americans home. We will not accept hostage diplomacy. We will impose consequences. Americans remain detained abroad. We will not stop until every single American is home.”

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