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Trump DEA Nominee Withdraws From Consideration

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Simpson - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1011806/coast-guard-cutter-dependable-drug-bust, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127998859

Another one bites the dust…

President-elect Trumpโ€™sย choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on Tuesday he is withdrawing from consideration.

Floridaโ€™s Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronisterย said in a post on Xย Tuesday evening that he would instead tend to his current duties overseeing an area of the Sunshine State that includes Tampa Bay.

โ€œOver the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, Iโ€™ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,โ€ Chronister said.

โ€œThere is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling,โ€ Chronister continued. โ€œI sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.โ€

Trumpย just announcedย Chronister as his choice to lead the DEA in a Truth Social post on Saturday, tapping the local sheriff to take charge of the agency tasked with seizing illegal substances ranging from fentanyl to other opioids.

โ€œI am pleased to nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister for Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),โ€ Trump wrote.

โ€œFor over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriffโ€™s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE,โ€ Trump added.

Chronister marks the second nominee to withdraw from consideration after former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration to be the next U.S. attorney general.

Multiple House Democrats Report Bomb Threats On Thanksgiving

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On Thanksgiving Day, three House Democrats reported receiving bomb threats prompting law enforcement to investigate the concerning trend.

In each case, Reps.ย Jahana Hayesย (D-CT),ย Jim Himesย (D-CT), andย John Larsonย (D-CT) reported they wereย threatened with explosivesย early in the morning. After police got involved, each was deemed safe and the threats did not appear to be credible.

Himes said in a statement:

This morning, I was notified of a bomb threat targeting my home where I was celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. Thankfully, after a swift and thorough response from the United States Capitol Police, the Greenwich Police Department, and the Stamford Police Department, no evidence of a bomb was found. Mary, Emma, Linley, and I extend our utmost gratitude to our local law enforcement officers for their immediate action to ensure our safety. There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility.

Hayes also released the following statement:

At 7:47am I was notified by Chief Edward Stephens of the Wolcott Police Department that they received a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home. State police, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Sergeant at Arms were immediately notified. The Wolcott Police Department and State Police responded and no bomb or explosive materials were discovered and the scene was cleared.

At this time the investigation is ongoing. I thank law enforcement for their swift attention to this matter, their actions demonstrate there is no place in our country for political violence. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for my family and loved ones. I plan to spend the day with them and hope you all do the same. May you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Larson said in a statement he was visited early Thursday at his home by officers in East Hartford.

โ€œThe police determined no bomb was present at the property and the Larson family is safe,โ€ the congressman said. โ€œI would like to thank the East Hartford Police Department for their swift and professional response in ensuring the safety of my family. I am grateful that my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe. Thanks again to law enforcement at every level, from local, to state, to federal.โ€

The trio of threats comes days after incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that multiple Trump Cabinet nominees have also received death threats.

Nearly a dozen of President-elect Donald Trumpโ€™s Cabinet nominees and other appointees tapped for the incoming administration were targeted Tuesday night with โ€œviolent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,โ€ prompting a โ€œswiftโ€ law enforcement response.

The โ€œattacks ranged from bomb threats to โ€˜swatting,โ€™โ€ accordingย to Karoline Leavitt.

โ€œ[Tuesday] night and this morning, several of President Trumpโ€™s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,โ€ she told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. โ€œIn response, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.โ€ 

Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn Arrested

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Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn was briefly arrested this week in Cape Coral, Florida โ€” yet the setback may not slow what many believe is a mounting effort to reenter national politics.

Authorities took Cawthorn into custody on a warrant stemming from an August 19 citation for driving without a valid license in Naples. He was released shortly thereafter on a $2,000 bond and is expected to appear in court to resolve the matter. Supporters have dismissed the incident as a minor technicality, unlikely to derail his ambitions.


From Conservative Trailblazer to Political Lightning Rod

Cawthorn burst onto the national stage in 2020 as one of the youngest Republicans ever elected to Congress, winning his North Carolina seat at just 25 years old. He quickly became a symbol of youthful conservative energy and unapologetic defiance of the Washington establishment.

But his meteoric rise ran into turbulence during his lone term. In early 2022, he alleged that some D.C. elites had invited him to a cocaine-fueled โ€œorgy,โ€ a claim that drew sharp criticism from GOP leadership. Weeks later, police body camera footage showed him being pulled over while driving a car he mistakenly believed he owned, and he was also cited for bringing a firearm through airport security โ€” his second such incident in less than a year.

Republican leadership, once supportive, gradually distanced themselves. The controversies overshadowed his legislative work and contributed to his loss in the 2022 Republican primary.


Florida Could Offer a Second Act

Now, Cawthorn may be plotting a political revival โ€” this time from Floridaโ€™s 19th Congressional District, where Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is expected to step down to run for governor. Axios recently reported that Cawthorn has been exploring a run to fill the soon-to-be-open seat, potentially offering him a clean slate and new political base in one of the countryโ€™s most Republican-leaning regions.

If he enters the race, Cawthorn could return to Washington older, more seasoned, and still armed with the anti-establishment instincts that made him a grassroots favorite. For many conservatives, his resilience โ€” and willingness to challenge entrenched power โ€” could be the very qualities the GOP needs in its next generation of leadership. for the second time in nine months.

West Virginia Librarian Charged For Allegedly Recruiting People To Assassinate Trump

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Police image via Pixabay free images

A West Virginia woman was arrested in Ripley over the weekend after authorities said she used social media to issue threats against President Donald Trump.

Police arrested 39-year-old Morgan L. Morrow and charged her with making terroristic threats. Investigators allege Morrow attempted to recruit others online to help carry out violence against the president. (RELATED: Suspect Held Without Bail After Alleged Assault On Congressman)

According to the New York Post, Morrow was arrested over a TikTok video suggesting that finding a terminally ill sniper among 343 million Americans should not be difficult. The remark was cited in a criminal complaint obtained by Charleston-Huntingtonโ€™s WOWK.

Morrow is being held at the South Central Regional Jail. No bond has been set, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The Post continues:

The Jackson County Public Library staffer was detained at her home and allegedly admitted to police that the TikTok was โ€œintended as a threat directed toward President Donald J. Trump.โ€

Morrow revealed her โ€œpersonal reasons for wishing harm upon the president,โ€ according to the complaint, which did not elaborate on what they were.

Morrow claimed she had no intention to personally carry out the threat, the complaint said.

But deputies said such statements are โ€œdesigned to encourage, inspire or entice others to carry out the threatened act, regardless of whether the speaker publicly intends to personally do so.โ€

โ€œWhen you saddle up on the horse of stupidity, you have to be prepared for the ride that follows,โ€ Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger told local media(RELATED: Shot In The Butt: Fighting The Wrong Guy At The Wrong Apartment)

The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of threats against public officials. In recent years, federal authorities have prosecuted multiple cases involving threats, plots, or attempts targeting President Trump.

WATCH:

READ NEXT: 19-Term Incumbent To Leave Congress Amid Health Controversy

Campus Chaos Erupts At UC Berkeley Ahead Of Ending Tour by Turning Point USA

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On Monday afternoon in Berkeley, a bloody confrontation broke out near the campus of the University of California, Berkeley as the conservative student-activist group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held its final stop of the โ€œThis Is The Turning Pointโ€ tour. The event featured noted conservative voices Dr. Frank Turek and actor-activist Rob Schneider, and came just two months after the murder of TPUSAโ€™s founder, Charlie Kirk, at a campus event in Utah on Sept. 10.

According to video from Fox News Digital, the skirmish began around 4:30 p.m. PST. Two men were seen grappling in the altercation, with one suffering a serious facial injury and blood clearly visible. A mob of agitatorsโ€”many wearing keffiyehs and carrying left-wing protest signsโ€”surrounded the fight. The local police, including officers donning shields and batons, appeared challenged to regain control of the crowd.

The Berkeley Police Department reported at least two arrests by 6 p.m.โ€”one individual was arrested for battery. A university spokesperson clarified the brawl occurred off campus grounds and declined further comment.

Turek, in a recent interview ahead of the event, said he urged Kirk to make the Berkeley stop of the tour: โ€œIf I could go to any one event with him, it would be that oneโ€ฆ I wanted to go to UC Berkeley because it is so progressive and liberal in their views, and I wanted to provide evidence that Christianity was indeed true.โ€

As departure began, protesters reportedly surrounded all exits to the venue, heckled attendees, and shouted obscenities as they filtered out. It remains unclear how many individuals were injured in the fight.

Kirk, Trump & the Conservative Youth Movement
Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, with the mission of mobilizing conservative students on college campuses. His organization became a central pillar of conservative youth activism.

Kirkโ€™s relationship with Donald Trump evolved into a potent alignment:

  • Kirk was considered a key figure in helping Trump make inroads with younger voters, a segment Democrats long dominated.
  • He developed a direct line to the Trump orbit; multiple sources note that his influence extended beyond student activism into campaign strategy.

Kirkโ€™s impact on the GOPโ€™s youthful base, combined with his focus on campus organizing, made him a strategic asset to the Trump-aligned Republican coalition. As one analysis put it: โ€œKirkโ€™s efforts significantly contributed to Trumpโ€™s appeal among younger voters.โ€

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigatingย the protestsย at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, in the wake of several arrests at a Turning Point USA event.

โ€œWe saw all of this at Berkeley back in 2017. @UCBerkeley was sued, and settled the case,โ€ Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon wrote on the social platform X Tuesday, responding to another post claiming that โ€œAntifa has turned Turning Pointโ€™s event at UC Berkeley in California into an absolute WARZONE.โ€

โ€œThe @CivilRights will investigate what happened here, and I see several issues of serious concern regarding campus and local security and Antifaโ€™s ability to operate with impunity in CA,โ€ she added.

Anarchist Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Top Government Official

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A 29-year-old man has been arrested for what federal authorities describe as a brazen โ€œmurder-for-hireโ€ online plot targeting the U.S. Attorney General.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota resident Tyler Maxon Avalos was taken into custody on October 16 after a tipster notified them of his alleged TikTok post offering a $45,000 bounty on the life of Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General.

The post reportedly featured Ms. Bondiโ€™s photo with a red target icon over her forehead and the caption: โ€œWANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD). Beneath the image: โ€˜Cough cough. When they donโ€™t serve us, then what?โ€™โ€

Court filings reveal Avalos used the handle โ€œWackoโ€ on TikTok and had references to an โ€œAn Anarchist FAQ bookโ€ in his profile. Authorities further noted his criminal history of violence: a July 2022 felony stalking conviction in Dakota County (Minnesota), an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery charge in Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault in Dakota County (originally a felony domestic assault by strangulation). The affidavit describes media concerns that Avalos has โ€œanarchist ties,โ€ though the FBI has not publicly confirmed a full motive.

Federal prosecutors say Avalos now faces a charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person โ€” a federal crime carrying potentially years in prison. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, stated only that his client โ€œis not guilty of any crime.โ€

Recent incidents of violence targeting Republican or conservative figures

While the Bondi case is extraordinary, it aligns with a growing body of incidents in which political actors โ€” particularly those associated with the Republican side โ€” have been targeted:

  • In September 2024, at least one apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump (the Republican former-President and leading 2024 nominee) was reported.
  • More broadly, an analysis by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) found that between 2016 and 2025 there were 25 attacks and plots targeting elected officials, candidates, judges and other government figures motivated by extremist partisan beliefs โ€” more than triple the number in the previous 25 years combined.
  • While some of the high-profile cases involve Democratic officials (for example, the June 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators), the broader trend applies across the ideological spectrum: violence is trending upward, not just against one side but throughout governmentโ€”and conservatives are explicitly among the targets.

Polls & studies confirm the spike in political violence

The Bondi bounty scheme emerges against a backdrop of disturbing data indicating rising public concern and creeping acceptance of politically motivated violence:

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable โ€” yet they are concerned it will escalate.

A recent study found that 86 % of Americans believe political violence is either a major or minor problem โ€” the highest in two years. When asked whether political violence has increased over the past few years, 78 % said yes.

A Pew Research Center-sponsored survey found that Americans believe politically-motivated violence is increasing, and that polarization is seen as a key cause.

A PBS/NPR/Marist poll found that nearly one-third of Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to set the country back on track โ€” up from 19 % about a year and a half earlier.

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable โ€” yet they are concerned it will escalate.

Speaker Johnson Says Trump Deserves Nobel Peace Prize For DC Police Takeover

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Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is calling for President Donald Trump to be recognized on the world stage after his decisive leadership brought unprecedented safety to the nationโ€™s capital.

On Monday, Johnson said Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize following 11 straight days without a single reported murder in Washington, D.C. โ€” a stunning turnaround after Trump took charge of the cityโ€™s police force.

โ€œThere are MANY reasons why President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize โ€“ but 11 straight days with ZERO murders in Washington, D.C. might top the list,โ€ Johnson posted on social media. โ€œSAFER streets. STRONGER communities. AMERICA IS BACK!โ€

Trump Delivers Where Democrats Failed

The numbers come from the Metropolitan Police Departmentโ€™s own preliminary data: from August 14 through August 24, not one homicide was reported in the city.

This sharp decline follows Trumpโ€™s August 11 takeover of D.C.โ€™s police department, a bold move to re-establish law and order in a city long plagued by violent crime under Democrat leadership. Since Trump stepped in, only two killings have been reported โ€” one on August 11, and another on August 13.

Critics may try to downplay the results, noting there was a 16-day stretch earlier this year without a murder, but itโ€™s clear that Trumpโ€™s hands-on leadership and โ€œlaw and orderโ€ agenda have already had a direct impact on restoring peace and safety to Americaโ€™s capital.

A President Who Gets Results

President Trump has never hidden his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize โ€” and many argue he has already earned it for his historic Middle East peace agreements, his refusal to drag America into new foreign wars, and now, for bringing real results to Americaโ€™s streets.

Even world leaders agree. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing Trumpโ€™s unmatched record of delivering peace and stability.

The Bottom Line

While Democrats and the mainstream media remain silent, the facts are clear: Trumpโ€™s leadership is saving lives. Speaker Johnsonโ€™s call for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize isnโ€™t just political theater โ€” it reflects the reality that Trumpโ€™s America First agenda delivers real safety, real security, and real peace.

Kari Lake’s Office In Lockdown After Receiving Suspicious Package

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Image via Pixabay images

The situation is still developing…

A campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital that an intern at the campaign’s Phoenix office opened an envelope with a suspicious substance and a note that said, “caution anthrax.”ย 

The campaign called authorities, prompting a response from multiple law enforcement agencies and a hazmat team. 

Authorities have not confirmed if the substance was anthrax. The campaign spokesperson said the substance is now being tested. 

“The radical left, with help from the mainstream media, has escalated its attacks against me from baseless smears and legal harassment to physical threats. Today, my office received a suspicious envelope, potentially containing anthrax โ€” an attempt to intimidate and silence me,”ย Lake saidย in a statement. “This isn’t just about me; itโ€™s an attack on our movement. I wonโ€™t be intimidated, and those responsible must be brought to justice. The time to unite against these dangerous, un-American tactics is now.”ย 

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

Attempted Assassination Of Trump Trialย Delayed

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The trial for the man accused of plotting to assassinate President-electย Donald Trumpย at his West Palm Beach golf course has been delayed.

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Monday that the trial for 58-year-old Ryan Routh would begin on September 8, 2025, instead of the originally scheduled February 10. Routh is facing multiple charges including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. 

Cannon said that Routhโ€™s defense team โ€œhad not meaningfully respondedโ€ to prosecutorsโ€™ requests for evidence, the Washington Examiner reported. Cannon also noted that Routhโ€™s lawyers maintained that โ€œmental health evaluations are ongoingโ€ but hadnโ€™t yet decided if they would be pursuing an insanity defense. 

Routhโ€™s team has until February 3 to officially announce โ€œan insanity defenseโ€ or โ€œnote of expert evidence of a mental condition.โ€ 

Routh is accused of hiding in the bushes with a rifle near Trumpโ€™s golf course on September 15 allegedly with the intent of killing the then-presidential candidate. Law enforcement said Routh fled after being confronted by a Secret Service agent who shot at him after he saw a rifle barrel poking out of the bushes. 

He alsoย faces chargesย of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

In a separate case, Florida hasย chargedย Routh with attempted murder over a car crash that occurred as he was apprehended by law enforcement.ย 

State Prosecutors Hint At Possible New Charges After Trump Commutes Santos Sentence

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Former New York Republican congressman George Santos walked free on Friday after President Donald Trump commuted his federal sentence โ€” but the move may not end his legal ordeal. A local prosecutor on Long Island appeared to signal that state-level charges could be used to sidestep the presidentโ€™s act of clemency.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said on the social platform X that her office had been โ€œat the forefrontโ€ of the effort to โ€œbring Santos to justice.โ€ Donnellyโ€™s jurisdiction includes part of the district Santos once represented in Congress.

โ€œI am proud of the work my office has done, and the conviction achieved in partnership with the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s office,โ€ Donnelly said. โ€œWhile the office cannot comment on ongoing investigations, suffice it to say that I remain focused on prosecuting political corruption wherever it exists regardless of political affiliation.โ€

Her statement โ€” vague but pointed โ€” has fueled speculation that prosecutors could seek state charges mirroring the federal case, a move critics say would effectively undermine Trumpโ€™s commutation and keep Santos entangled in the court system despite his early release.

A spokesperson for the Nassau County D.A.โ€™s office declined to elaborate when asked whether an investigation was ongoing.

Trumpโ€™s Message: โ€œUnequal Justiceโ€ and Political Targeting

Announcing the commutation on Truth Social, President Trump praised Santosโ€™s โ€œCourage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN,โ€ suggesting the former lawmakerโ€™s punishment was disproportionate.

โ€œGeorge Santos was somewhat of a โ€˜rogue,โ€™ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that arenโ€™t forced to serve seven years in prison,โ€ Trump wrote.

Santos had served just 84 days of a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty last summer to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors had accused him of multiple financial and campaign-related offenses โ€” including money laundering and falsifying records โ€” but supporters argue that he faced harsher treatment because of his party affiliation and outspoken loyalty to Trump.

Possible State Move Seen as Political

Republicans are already warning that a state prosecution would represent another example of โ€œlawfareโ€ โ€” the use of legal mechanisms to target political opponents.

Santos himself, who had initially said he wouldnโ€™t seek clemency before later telling interviewer Piers Morgan heโ€™d accept โ€œwhatever the president is willing to give me,โ€ has yet to comment on Donnellyโ€™s remarks.

For now, the former congressman is free โ€” but the signals from Nassau County suggest that the battle between Trumpโ€™s justice reform message and New Yorkโ€™s prosecutors may be far from over.