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Social Media Erupts After Author Stephen King Makes False Claim About Trump’s Family

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Best-selling horror author Stephen King is facing backlash online after posting an embarrassing critique of President Donald Trump…

In a post on X, King wrote:

“Trump: has never had a child. Has been married 3 times. Ran several businesses into the ground. Never ran a home, couldn’t make a bed to save his a–. Calls people he works with dumb, losers, ect. Has never done sweat labor. Has never served on a local committee,”

“[He] has no life experience,” King added.

The remark that Trump “has never had a child” immediately caught fire on social media, due to the widely known fact the president is the father of five children.

One of Trump’s children, Donald Trump Jr., responded directly on X.

“Well, this is news to me… unless he means birthed a child which would also hold true for every male ever. TDS is real and it’s scary,” Trump Jr. posted.

The popular conservative account Libs of TikTok also criticized King’s statement.

“Trump literally has 5 kids. What is this sh–?” the account posted.

1776 Project PAC founder Ryan Girdusky similarly wrote, “Um… I’m pretty sure Donald Trump had children.”

Other conservative commentators joined in. Conservative writer Bonchie posted, “Is there a 25th Amendment for taking peoples’ phones away?”

Conservative reporter Jerry Dunleavy added sarcastically, “Donald Trump, famously childless,”

King’s comments came ahead of Trump’s scheduled address to the country on Tuesday evening for the 2026 State of the Union, the annual report to Congress outlining the administration’s agenda and accomplishments.

King’s cringe-worthy post mirrored earlier social media remarks about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) made by an account called “Stacy is Right,” which describes itself as a MAGA mother of three. In that post, the account criticized Ocasio-Cortez’s background, mocking her for not having children, never being married, never running a business, and never holding a “professional job.”

“[She] has no real life experience. Is a typical deadbeat socialist,” the account wrote.

King reshared that post before publishing his own critique of Trump, promptinga fresh barrage of criticism.

“You literally plagiarized an entire post…which was about AOC… and then applied it to Trump…… for whom it isn’t true and doesn’t make any sense. Why are you plagiarizing? I thought you were a writer?” Matt Van Swol, a former Department of Energy nuclear scientist, posted on X.

Monday’s post is hardly the first time King has used X to attack President Trump. Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, the author has repeatedly posted sharp commentary targeting the president and his policies.

Candace Owens Gets Swift Backlash After Unveiling New Project Targeting Erika Kirk

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Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Candace Owens announced Monday that her show will return to the air on Wednesday with a new “investigative series” targeting Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk — and the backlash was immediate.

The teaser trailer, which Owens shared on X, opens with news coverage of Charlie Kirk’s assassination before pivoting sharply to its apparent target: his widow. The trailer splices together clips of Erika Kirk with critical commentary about her, references to “Zionists” and Israel, and even an implication that the Turning Point USA CEO was somehow connected to a Romanian human trafficking scandal.

The series is titled “Bride of Charlie,” and its promotional banner depicts Erika wearing a crown — imagery that many critics have described as taunting and grotesque given the circumstances.

Owens, who has promoted a range of conspiracy theories about her former colleague’s death, initially claimed she would stop discussing the matter if Erika asked her to. Over time, however, her commentary shifted. What began as insinuation evolved into increasingly direct suggestions that the widow herself may have played a role in betraying her husband.

In the hours after Owens publicized the project, social media filled with condemnation from across the political spectrum.

“Everyday, there’s some new line being crossed by this lunatic that makes me wonder whether certain people will finally speak up,” mused RedState’s Bonchie. “They won’t, though. Not even this will be enough, and it’s probably time to start asking why they are so invested in Owens.”

The timing of Owens’ blistering attack is especially striking. It comes just as the criminal case against Tyler Robinson — the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk at a Sept. 10 event at Utah Valley University — reaches a critical juncture.

On Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. local time, Judge Tony Graf is scheduled to rule during a WebEx hearing on whether to disqualify state prosecutors over an alleged conflict of interest. Robinson is expected to listen from jail.

The defense has argued that a conflict exists because one of the prosecutors’ children was present at the university event where Kirk was killed. According to Robinson’s attorney, Richard Novak, that connection could compromise the integrity of the prosecution — particularly in a case where the state is seeking the death penalty.

There have already been two hearings on the issue.

During a Feb. 3 proceeding, Novak questioned Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray in an effort to determine when prosecutors decided to pursue capital punishment — a decision that was publicly announced shortly after Robinson’s arrest. An unnamed senior prosecutor, identified only as “Prosecutor A,” also testified about the office’s internal handling of the case and its decision to disclose the child’s presence to the defense.

The prosecutor said there was no recollection of a specific conversation with Gray about how to proceed given the child’s presence, though it was acknowledged that Gray routinely consults senior prosecutors in death penalty cases. The testimony also revealed that Gray expressed early on that he intended to seek the death penalty and wanted that decision announced at the same time charges were filed — earlier than is typical, as such notices often follow a preliminary hearing.

For its part, the state maintains there is no conflict of interest. Prosecutors have argued in court filings that thousands of people witnessed the shooting and that the child in question did not have a direct line of sight to the alleged gunman. Even if a conflict were found, the state contends, it would not justify disqualifying the entire prosecutorial team.

As the court weighs a decision that could significantly alter the course of the trial, Owens’ decision to launch a provocative series targeting the victim’s widow has only deepened the sense of outrage surrounding an already tragic case.

FBI Director Kash Patel’s Men’s Olympic Hockey Victory Celebration Goes Viral – It’s Easy To See Why

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Image via gage Skidmore Flickr

Team USA’s thrilling overtime win over Canada in the men’s Olympic hockey gold medal game on Sunday had Americans across the country on their feet — and FBI Director Kash Patel was no exception.

A 46-second clip posted to X by ProPublica reporter William Turton, who said it was sent to him by a source, shows Patel fully embracing the moment in the locker room after the victory. The FBI director is seen taking a hearty sip from a beer bottle, splashing some of it in celebration, pounding his chest and a nearby table, and jumping alongside players as a gold medal is draped around his neck.

Patel responded to the viral clip, confirming it was, in fact, him, and he had no regrets in celebrating the historic victory.

As the team belted out Toby Keith’s 2002 anthem “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue,” Patel lifted his beer and joined in, celebrating like any red-blooded American hockey fan would after a historic win.

And historic it was.

Team USA secured its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” team of 1980. The game was a nail-biter from start to finish. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivered a masterclass performance, stopping 41 shots and keeping the game locked at 1-1 to force overtime.

One save in particular had fans shaking their heads in disbelief. In the second period, Hellebuyck somehow turned away a wide-open shot from Canada’s Devon Toews using only his stick, spinning quickly to block the puck and preserve the tie. Without that moment — and dozens more like it — the outcome could have been very different.

Jack Hughes ultimately sealed the deal in overtime, scoring the game-winning goal past Canada’s Jordan Binnington. Hughes reportedly lost two teeth during the battle but etched his name into Team USA history with the golden goal.

The performance earned Hellebuyck a new nickname on social media: “Secretary of Defense.” United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth quickly endorsed the title. After watching the Americans defeat Canada, Hegseth — who previously held the “Secretary of Defense” title before the department reverted to its historic “Department of War” name last September — weighed in enthusiastically.

“Now we have a Secretary of War… and a Secretary of Defense!” Hegseth wrote over a post highlighting Hellebuyck’s incredible saves.

The celebration didn’t stop at the rink.

President Donald Trump has invited the gold medal-winning team to attend his State of the Union address this week, a fitting tribute to a team that delivered a moment of unity and pride on the world stage.

In the end, it wasn’t about politics. It was about country, competition, and a comeback win over a longtime rival. And as Toby Keith’s lyrics echoed through the locker room, one thing was clear: Team USA — and plenty of Americans watching — felt proud to be flying the red, white, and blue.

Trump FCC Chair Confirms He’s Started ‘Enforcement Proceedings’ Against The View

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/191819781@N02/53626268079/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147209317

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed Wednesday that the agency has opened enforcement proceedings involving ABC’s daytime talk show The View, citing concerns over whether the program qualifies for an exemption under federal “equal time” rules for political candidates.

Carr made the comments during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, where he discussed recent scrutiny surrounding political interviews on broadcast television and the FCC’s role in ensuring fairness during election cycles.

“Disney has a program called The View,” Carr said. “And they’ve been asserting the position that The View is what is known as ‘bona fide news’ in the statute. If you are bona fide news, you don’t have to give candidates equal air time.”

“But Disney and The View have not established that that program is, in fact, bona fide news,” Carr added. “We’ve started enforcement proceedings, taking a look at that.”

Investigation Comes Amid Colbert Controversy

Carr’s remarks came after late-night host Stephen Colbert claimed CBS lawyers discouraged The Late Show from airing an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat running in the state’s U.S. Senate primary.

Colbert suggested the network was concerned about new FCC guidance regarding the equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters using public airwaves to provide equal opportunities to opposing political candidates.

“This was Democrat-on-Democrat violence,” Carr told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. He argued CBS did not block the interview outright, but instead warned that airing it could trigger equal-time requirements for other candidates.

“CBS was very clear that Colbert could run the interview that he wanted with that political candidate,” Carr said. “They just said, you may have to comply with equal time… But instead of doing that, they claimed that they were victims.”

CBS later issued a statement denying it barred the interview.

“The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” the network said. “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates… and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.”

Carr Says FCC Will Hold Broadcasters Accountable

Carr framed the enforcement action as part of a broader effort to prevent what he described as legacy media influence over elections and public opinion.

“The equal-time rule at its core is about stopping legacy media from picking winners and losers in elections,” Carr said. “It’s so that the American people can decide.”

He added that the FCC intends to ensure broadcasters follow existing law.

“We’re going to enforce the law and hold broadcasters accountable,” Carr said. “The days that these legacy media broadcasters get to decide what we can say, what we can think, who we can vote for are over.”

Carr did not confirm reports suggesting the investigation into The View was triggered by the show’s own interview with Talarico earlier this year, but reiterated that the agency is reviewing whether the program legitimately qualifies as “bona fide news” under federal statute.

Carr also said the FCC would continue administering the equal-time rule in accordance with current law, particularly as political campaigns intensify ahead of upcoming elections.

“Perhaps Colbert and other establishment Democrats want to put the thumb on the scale… but we’re going to enforce the law,” he said.

DOJ Files Reveal Private Bannon–Epstein Communications, Including 25th Amendment Discussion

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Thor Brødreskift / Nordiske Mediedager, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Newly released Justice Department files have shed additional light on private communications between former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising fresh questions about the nature of their relationship during the final years of Epstein’s life.

The documents, which include text messages and emails from late 2017 through Epstein’s arrest in July 2019, show that Bannon — a key figure in the MAGA movement and former White House chief strategist — remained in contact with Epstein long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

The files indicate that the two discussed politics, the growing pressure on the Trump administration after Democrats regained control of the House in 2018, and even the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump.

One of the most notable exchanges began on New Year’s Eve 2018. In the conversation, Bannon wrote that the “WH,” widely understood to mean the White House, had “zero plan to punch back” amid intensifying political attacks.

Epstein replied, referring to Trump: “He is really borderline. Not sure what he may do.”

Bannon responded: “I think it’s beyond borderline — 25 amendment,” referencing the constitutional process that allows a president to be removed if deemed unable to fulfill the duties of office.

In another message, Bannon added that “we really need an intervention” regarding Trump.

The disclosure has sparked backlash among conservatives, many of whom have long demanded greater transparency surrounding Epstein’s network of powerful associates and the government’s handling of his case.

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn wrote on X that if “Bannon AND Epstein were behind it, Bannon needs to be brought in for questioning.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also criticized the relationship, writing that there was “no excuse for having such a friendly relationship with Epstein, post conviction, 2018-19. None.”

The release of these files comes as renewed scrutiny continues over Epstein’s ties to prominent figures across politics, business, and media — and as many Americans, particularly conservatives, have raised concerns that accountability has been unevenly applied depending on status and connections.

Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 under circumstances that remain the subject of ongoing public debate and unanswered questions.

Trump Commemorates Five-Year Anniversary of Rush Limbaugh’s Death With Oval Office Video

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The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump on Tuesday commemorated the fifth anniversary of the death of conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh, honoring the longtime broadcaster as “a really great man” who left a lasting mark on American politics and media.

In a video message filmed at his desk in the Oval Office and later posted to Truth Social, Trump reflected on his personal friendship with Limbaugh and praised the late host’s patriotism and influence.

“Well, this is the fifth anniversary of the loss of a really great man, a great conservative, somebody that loved our country, loved his family,” Trump said. “He was a friend of mine, Rush Limbaugh.”

Limbaugh, who died in February 2021 at age 70 after a battle with advanced lung cancer, was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern conservative media. For more than three decades, The Rush Limbaugh Show dominated talk radio, reaching millions of listeners daily and helping shape the ideological direction of the Republican Party.

Trump recalled that he had never personally met Limbaugh at the time the radio host endorsed his 2016 presidential campaign — an endorsement that many political observers viewed as a pivotal moment in the Republican primary.

“I’d never met Rush when I announced that I was running,” Trump said. “I’ll never forget, 2015 and I got a call all excited that Rush Limbaugh just endorsed you. I’d never met him. He liked my opening speech.”

Trump was referring to his June 2015 campaign launch, when he descended the escalator at Trump Tower and delivered remarks that focused heavily on border security, crime, and national sovereignty — themes that would become central pillars of his campaign and presidency.

“He liked when I got up in June and I said, ‘We got bad borders, we got bad crime, we got bad everything,’” Trump continued. “He liked it. I came down the escalator with now our first lady, and he thought it was great.”

Watch:

The endorsement from Limbaugh, a trusted voice among grassroots conservative voters, helped solidify Trump’s credibility with parts of the Republican base at a time when many party leaders were skeptical of his candidacy. Throughout Trump’s presidency, Limbaugh remained a vocal defender of the administration’s policies, particularly on immigration, trade, and judicial appointments.

In 2020, during his State of the Union address, Trump awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — shortly after the broadcaster publicly announced his cancer diagnosis. The emotional ceremony, conducted on the House floor, was met with sustained applause from Republican lawmakers and supporters.

Following his departure from office in January 2021, Trump made his first television appearance on the day of Limbaugh’s death, calling into Fox News to describe him as “irreplaceable.”

In Tuesday’s video, Trump echoed that sentiment, invoking fellow conservative commentator Sean Hannity’s oft-repeated phrase: “There will never be another Rush Limbaugh.”

“But it’s five years and we miss Rush,” Trump said. “To his family, his great wife and family, I just want to say we miss you all, we miss him, and they’ll never be anybody like him.”

Limbaugh’s impact on conservative media remains evident years after his passing. His pioneering model of nationally syndicated political talk radio reshaped the industry and paved the way for a generation of commentators across radio, television, and digital platforms. For many supporters, he served not only as a political analyst but as a daily companion and cultural touchstone during moments of national debate and partisan conflict.

As Trump’s message underscored, the connection between the two men reflected a broader political realignment that defined the past decade of Republican politics — one rooted in populist messaging, media influence, and direct appeals to voters outside traditional party structures.

Five years after his death, Limbaugh’s voice may be gone from the airwaves, but his imprint on American conservatism — and on Trump’s political rise — continues to be remembered by allies and supporters alike.h’s death, when he called into Fox News’ Outnumbered to praise the conservative juggernaut as “irreplaceable.”

O’Reilly Pushing Stephen A. Smith To Run For White House

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Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly is encouraging ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith to seriously consider a run for the White House in 2028, arguing that President Donald Trump’s political rise has created an opening for unconventional candidates.

“I think he should run, and I’m being serious now,” O’Reilly told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during an appearance on Cuomo.

“[President Donald] Trump opened the door for you,” O’Reilly quipped, speaking directly to Smith. “You should send Trump a big bouquet of flowers. He opened the door for you.”

Smith, one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, has recently begun softening his previous stance against entering politics. While he once dismissed the idea outright, he now says he is at least willing to think about it.

“Once upon a time, it was emphatically no. That has quelled to some degree,” Smith said, though he emphasized he was not eager to be “interrupting my quality of life.”

O’Reilly acknowledged that Smith would face steep odds in a presidential race but suggested his candidacy could still have a meaningful impact on the national conversation.

“You can run, and you — but don’t have any expectation of winning,” O’Reilly said.

“See, you’re what you’re doing is you’re taking a furlough from your dopey sports show, and you’re saying, I’ll be back, because I’m not going to win,” O’Reilly continued. “But you’re injecting yourself into the debate, the national debate, and you’re exposing the charlatans, which would be an amazing historical achievement.”

Smith, known for his blunt, firebrand style, agreed that the idea of debating career politicians holds strong appeal.

He said he would “give anything to be on a debate stage” with aspiring candidates, warning that they would face intense scrutiny if he decided to jump in.

“If you ever put me on that debate stage with some of these politicians aspiring for high office, with the nonsense that they’ve engaged in, with the behavior they’ve exercised, with the tendencies that they’ve displayed, and the lack of consideration to the American people going up against me, good luck,” he added.

Smith also cast himself as someone motivated by concern for the country, suggesting that the broad appeal he has built in television could translate into political support.

He argued that Americans want leaders who prioritize the nation’s well-being over partisan gamesmanship.

Still, Smith made clear that he would not enter a race simply to make headlines. If he ever launched a campaign, he said, it would be with the intention of winning.

“I don’t play to lose … and if I decide to do it, I’m telling you I intend to win,” Smith said. “Make no mistake about it. I won’t do it unless I believe I have a legitimate shot to win it, the presidency.”

Smith has also pushed back against claims—often promoted by left-wing pundits—that racism would be a decisive barrier if he pursued the presidency.

In an extended interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa for CBS Sunday Morning, Smith dismissed the notion that racial prejudice would define a potential campaign.

“Do you worry about racism if you ran for president?” Costa asked.

“No. I know it exists. I know that you can’t escape it, but I do not believe it is as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe,” Smith answered. “I do believe a vast majority of Americans judge you on the content of your character, rather than the color of your skin.”

He continued:

“I think a lot of people in America, especially in this day in age, now more so than ever before, it’s not about race. It’s about the fact they don’t give a damn about it, because they got their own problems.

That’s entirely different than believing they are superior to you and want to hold you back from ascending. That’s not what’s going on to the degree it was decades ago.”

Smith’s remarks reflect a view shared by many Americans: that everyday concerns such as inflation, border security, crime, and foreign policy matter far more to voters than the identity-focused narratives pushed by progressive activists.

If elected in 2028, Smith would become the second Black president, two decades after Barack Obama’s historic victory in 2008. But Smith has made clear that he does not see race as the defining issue of any potential campaign. Instead, he argues that leadership, competence, and a commitment to the American people are what voters ultimately care about most.

For now, Smith continues to hint—without fully committing—that a presidential run is no longer out of the question. And with figures like O’Reilly urging him forward, speculation about his political future is likely to keep growing.

Lara Trump Teases ‘Many’ Trumps May Run For Office

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Fox News host Lara Trump suggested on Tuesday that “many” members of the Trump family could eventually pursue political office, hinting that the political ambitions of President Donald Trump’s relatives may extend beyond his own career. Her comments came during an appearance on Miranda Devine’s Pod Force One podcast.

Reflecting on her father-in-law’s influence, Lara Trump said, “I have looked at my father-in-law over the past eleven, almost twelve years now, and I’ve watched the impact that he’s been able to make in people’s lives and it’s amazing. Look, he’s dealt with hell, right? He has gone through so much.” She added that watching Trump’s persistence has inspired “everyone in our family” and left open the possibility that more Trumps could enter electoral politics:

“…I’d consider running for a possible Senate seat. So I would never say never to anything. What I do feel like, and whether it’s for Donald Trump running… or a Senate run, or whatever it might be for me or I think anyone in our family, I think the timing has to be right…”

Lara Trump noted that timing thwarted her own past efforts, pointing to earlier years when a run “didn’t work out” — a reference to when she considered but ultimately declined Senate bids in 2022 and again in 2025.

Turning to the question of broader family ambitions, she said, “we’ve all kind of dipped our toe in the water of politics enough to know that it’s something that I think possibly interests many of us in our family…” before acknowledging that Democrats “would love to hear that it may not end just with Donald Trump.”

When asked whether former President Trump encourages potential family runs, Lara Trump replied that he has been “absolutely a champion” of her own political endeavors, calling her regularly with names of supporters urging her to run. She added that Trump “certainly would have their backs” if any of the family chose to seek office.

Devine closed the discussion by musing that the future might bring a “President Trump of the new generation,” perhaps from among “all three” of Trump’s children or close relatives.

Context: Past Speculation About Trump Family Political Runs

Lara Trump’s comments tap into ongoing speculation that the Trump family might try to extend its influence beyond Donald Trump’s own career:

• Lara Trump and the North Carolina Senate:
Before deciding not to run, Lara Trump was widely viewed as a potential Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina after Senator Thom Tillis announced his retirement, drawing substantial interest from GOP leaders and national strategists. Georgia Republicans had even paused their own campaigns pending her decision. However, she ultimately chose not to enter the race, and former RNC Chair Michael Whatley has since picked up key endorsements from Donald Trump and Lara for the seat.

• Other Trump family members:
There has also been public conversation about other Trump relatives entering politics. Eric Trump, the president’s second son, spoke in mid-2025 about the possibility that he — or other family members — could seek public office in the future, suggesting a “Trump political dynasty” might emerge beyond Donald Trump’s own presidency. Eric said a political career for the family “would be an easy one” if the relatives were willing to commit, though no formal campaigns have been launched.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. has maintained a high public profile through media and podcasting, and Ivanka Trump served as a senior adviser during her father’s earlier presidency, though she has since stepped back from active politics. Other younger family members, like Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, have been less involved publicly, and there is no indication they have declared political intentions

Report: DHS Spokeswoman To Leave Trump Admin.

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin is leaving the Trump administration, Fox News has reported.

McLaughlin, who has acted as one of the administration’s leading vocal defenders of President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, is set to leave the administration next week. 

Politico reports:

A former top communications aide to Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 presidential campaign and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, McLaughlin started planning to leave in December but delayed her departure amid the aftermath of the Renee Good and Alex Pretti shootings, according to the people briefed on her exit. (They were granted anonymity to speak about internal personnel matters.) In the instance of Good, McLaughlin was quick to characterize her actions as an example of “domestic terrorism.

It’s unclear what she will do next but asked by the paper if she would ever run for office if she returned to Cincinnati, McLaughlin, who’s married to GOP consultant Ben Yoho, said she “wouldn’t rule anything out.”

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

Massie Slams DOJ, Trump Administration Over Epstein Files: ‘This Is the Epstein Administration’

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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) delivered sharp criticism of President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi during a fiery appearance Sunday on ABC’s This Week, accusing the administration of failing to deliver real transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Speaking with host Martha Raddatz, Massie — one of the most outspoken Republicans pushing for full disclosure of Epstein-related records — questioned Bondi’s performance during last week’s high-profile House Judiciary hearing.

“She came with a book full of insults, one for each congressperson,” Massie said. “She obviously had one for me. And, you know, I’ve been there when [former AG] Merrick Garland was there. Obviously, politically, I don’t agree with him, but he performed much better in terms of at least not looking bad. And, unfortunately, we didn’t get the answers we wanted about the Epstein Files Transparency Act from her.”

Massie also took aim at Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over a letter sent Saturday claiming the Department of Justice has now produced “all” Epstein files.

“I know the DOJ wants to say they’re done with this document production,” Massie said. “The problem is they’ve taken down documents before we were able to go over to the DOJ and look at the unredacted versions. They took down some of the most significant documents. Two of them involving Virginia Giuffre’s case and other things, the picture of Epstein at — in a room where it’s got CIA written on the boxes. That’s been taken down. We want to be able to look at all these files. They can’t keep those documents down after they’ve already produced them.”

New Report Raises Questions About DOJ’s “Full Release” Claim

Massie’s concerns come as a new investigation by Channel 4 News is raising fresh doubts about whether the Justice Department has truly released the full Epstein archive.

According to internal emails reviewed by the broadcaster, federal investigators expected to process between 20 and 40 terabytes of data seized from Epstein’s properties — including his Florida mansion, New York townhouse, and private island. Other early-stage emails referenced totals as high as 50 terabytes.

In one internal email from 2025, officials reportedly said they were “looking at approximately 14.6 terabytes of archived data.”

By contrast, Channel 4 noted that the most recent release of roughly 3.5 million documents amounted to just over 300GB — which the outlet said represents only about 2% of the data investigators were discussing.

“They claimed that 6 million pages were identified, including duplicates — they released over 3 million,” Channel 4’s U.S. editor Asnushka Asthana said. “Both those numbers are tiny compared to the amount collected according to today’s emails.”

One investigator described the data dump as chaotic and incomplete:

“Imagine if we had seized the papers from approximately 100,000 filing cabinets. Then that all just got dumped in one big pile… And then any of those documents that was larger than 100 pages couldn’t be opened. That’s what we’ve got.”

Massie Turns Fire on Trump

Raddatz closed the interview by asking Massie directly about President Trump, who has thrown his support behind Massie’s primary challenger, Ed Gallrein, and has repeatedly attacked the Kentucky congressman over his push for transparency.

Massie did not hold back.

“Look, this is about the Epstein class, the people who are funding the attacks against me,” Massie said. “They may or may not be implicated in these files, but they were certainly rubbing shoulders with the people who are in these files. They’re billionaires who are friends with these people. And that’s what I’m up against in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump told us that even though, you know, he had dinner with these kinds of people in New York City and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent. But he’s not. He’s still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration, and they’re attacking me for trying to get these files released.”

Watch:

Bondi Stands By DOJ Position

Despite the mounting scrutiny, Bondi has insisted the Justice Department has complied fully with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

In a February 14 letter to lawmakers, she stated that the department had “released all ‘records, documents, communications and investigative materials’” in its possession, along with a list of “all government officials and politically exposed persons” referenced in the released materials.