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    Newsmax’s $40M Secret Settlement With Smartmatic Revealed In New Filing

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Image via Pixabay free images

    While the financial details of Newsmax’s settlement with Smartmatic Voting Systems remained hidden from public view, a new report reveals the eye-popping amount the network was forced to cough up.

    As Newsmax prepares to go public reports revealed the network paid Smartmatic $40 million and a stock warrant to end its legal battle against the conservative brand.

    The figure is buried in an investment prospectus released this week and discovered by The Independent‘s Justin Baragona.

    Mediaite reports:

    In the filing Newsmax, disclosed that it agreed to pay Smartmatic $40 million in cash — along with a five-year warrant allowing the tech firm to purchase 2,000 shares of the network’s preferred stock. Newsmax was accused of defaming Smartmatic by broadcasting false claims that the voting machine company played a role in rigging the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden over Donald Trump.

    The revelation comes as Newsmax faces another massive legal battle with Dominion Voting Systems, which is set to go to trial in April.

    Newsmax acknowledged the potential fallout in its filing, warning investors that “an unfavorable outcome in the matter could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.”

    For Newsmax, the settlement appears to represent a significant financial strain. The network pulled in $135 million in revenue in 2023, but its net losses hit $55 million in the first half of 2024. The company has also disclosed a separate, undisclosed settlement over a breach of contract dispute, with $34.6 million still left to pay.

    Maher Sounds Alarm – Trump Could Flip Marijuana Issue On Democrats

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2

    On Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the long-time cannabis advocate gave credit where credit’s due — to Donald Trump.

    Maher acknowledged Trump’s emerging strategy to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. It’s not full legalization, but it’s a significant shift that would loosen federal restrictions and move the ball forward on reform.

    He didn’t mince words. “I’ve been telling Democrats for years, the Republicans are gonna steal pot from you as an issue,” Maher said, half-joking, half-dead-serious.

    WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

    What’s notable here isn’t just the policy — it’s who’s moving on it. Trump, once again, is positioning himself as a disruptor who knows how to cut through noise and win over voters issue by issue.

    Decider offers more information on Maher’s grudging respect for Trump’s “genius” strategy:

    He drove it home with a riff on Trump’s playbook: “He’s the master at winning votes from small groups who are passionate about one issue, picking up a couple percent here, a couple there…” until Election Night turns into something like a bizarre Y-M-C-A celebration.

    And when it comes to timing, Maher confessed—with tongue in cheek—that Trump finally swung by his own camp. “Finally, he got around to me,” he teased during his “New Rules” segment—comparing his own potential shift to that of single-issue Black voters who helped Trump make gains in key cities.

    “What did you expect?” he shrugged. “He’s the master…” And amid all of this, Trump has already said he’ll have a decision on cannabis rescheduling “in the next few weeks”—a move that would send seismic ripples through the cannabis industry and potentially benefit Maher personally, since he co-owns The Woods, a West Hollywood consumption lounge.

    Maher, who still identifies as a Democrat but often breaks ranks — especially with the woke crowd — used the moment to throw up a red flag to his own party. He warned that if Democrats keep dragging their feet, Republicans could flip the script and claim an issue long seen as their turf.

    For all his usual sarcasm, Maher’s comments carried real weight: a unenthusiastic but clear nod to Trump’s political instincts — and a warning shot to Democrats who think this base-level issue is locked up.

    READ NEXT: Leaked Emails: Team Biden Caught Smearing Scientist After Train Disaster

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    Trump Jr: President-elect Could Close White House Briefing Room To Mainstream Media Outlets

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing on Friday, July 30, 2021, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott)

    The media landscape is changing…

    Donald Trump Jr., President-elect Trump’s eldest son, says his dad has discussed keeping some mainstream media outlets out of the White House press briefing room.

    Trump Jr., speaking on his podcast this week, said they discussed opening the briefing room to more independent journalists and social media influencers.

    “We had the conversation about opening up the press room to a lot of these independent journalists,” he said.

    “If The New York Times has lied, they’ve been averse to everything, they’re functioning as the marketing arm to the Democrat party,” Trump Jr. continued, asking, “Why not open it up to people who have larger viewerships, stronger followings?”

    Trump has consistently railed against mainstream media outlets and broadcast networks over coverage that is critical of him.

    Mainstream. media outlets are also struggling to remain relevant in an increasingly changing landscape.

    According to Nielsen data, MSNBC’s total viewership has dropped by 47 percent post-election, and its critical 25-54 demographic plummeted to just 63,000 during primetime—a sharp contrast to its pre-election numbers.

    CNN also faced steep declines, losing 33 percent of its total audience.

    Former CNN Host Reveals Who He Voted For In 2024

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

    You never expected to hear this…

    Former CNN host Chris Cuomo left podcaster Patrick Bet-David stunned on Tuesday when he revealed his unusual pick for president in the 2024 election.

    Cuomo and conservative star Charlie Kirk joined Bet-David on The PBD Podcast recently for some post-election analysis, and Bet-David got Cuomo to reveal who he voted for.

    “Would we be surprised if we could see who you voted for?” Bet-David said.

    “I probably shouldn’t tell, but I can tell you who I voted for,” Cuomo said. “You want to know?”

    “Yeah,” Bet-David said.

    “I voted for my brother,” Cuomo said, revealing he wrote in ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) name in on his ballot. “I wrote him in.”

    “Are you joking?!” Bet-David asked twice in shock as Cuomo pulled up a picture as proof.

    “He didn’t win by the way,” Cuomo joked.

    “Did you really vote for your brother?” Bet-David asked, noting his brother voted for Harris.

    “He’s a Democrat, so he does what he does,” Cuomo said. “My feeling is this: America can do better than these two candidates.”

    Watch:

    Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor of New York in 2021 amid multiple sexual harassment allegations.

    The Apprentice’ Star Sebastian Stan Scores Best Actor Oscar Nomination for His Portrayal of Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2

    Actor Sebastian Stan scored a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, a film that the now-president slammed as a “pile of garbage.”

    The film, written by Vanity Fair correspondent Gabriel Sherman, tracks Trump’s emergence in the world of business, long before his political career, focusing on his rise as a New York real estate developer and his mentorship under his former attorney Roy Cohn, played by Succession’s Jeremy Strong — who was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

    Stan will join several other of Hollywood’s top actors in the Academy’s leading role category including Adrien Brody for his role in The Brutalist, Conclave star Ralph Fiennes, Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown and Sing Sing’s Colman Domingo.

    The film was denounced by Trump in October in a fiery Truth Social post, days after its release, calling the work a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job” he said was an attempt to “hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country” – his campaign – ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He went on to blast the makers of the film as “HUMAN SCUM.” Trump’s lawyer also sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers.

    The Apprentice went on to bomb at the box office, as Trump had hoped, grossing just $1.58 million in its opening weekend. The lacklustre box office pull, however, has not stopped Hollywood from recognizing Stan and Strong for their performances.

    Despite Trump’s criticism, The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi told Mediaite’s Press Club host Aidan McLaughlin in October that the film was a “humanist project” and not a political one that he hoped would shed some light on the polarizing political figure’s origins.

    Vanity Fair Floats Melania Cover – Employees Are Staging A Meldtown

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    First Lady Melania Trump participates in the Senate Spouses Luncheon at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 21,2025. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

    The desperate anti-Trump lunacy is still going strong…

    Recent reports indicate that Vanity Fair is considering moving ahead with a magazine cover featuring First Lady Melania Trump in the coming months — but only if the feat can be pulled off before all the disgruntled employees walk out the door.

    According to a report published by Semafor on Sunday, the magazine’s new global editorial director Mark Guiducci had indicated a desire to put the first lady on the cover — but as The Daily Mail reported a day later, his staffers may not be entirely onboard with his plan.

    “I will walk out the motherf***ing door, and half my staff will follow me,” one editor told the outlet.

    Another staffer who did not give a name appeared to be in agreement, adding, “We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife; we’re just not going to do it. We’re going to stand for what’s right. If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do it. If [Guiducci] puts Melania on the cover, half of the editorial staff will walk out, I guarantee it.”

    One employee told The Daily Mail that the outrage was likely to amount to little more than a few loud complaints and protests, saying that it wasn’t likely many would actually sacrifice their careers to make a political statement about who was on the magazine’s cover.

    “It’s all talk. If they put her on the cover, people will protest and gripe about it, but I don’t see anyone quitting such a prestigious job over that. Honestly, there will be people who push back, but it’s ultimately Mark’s decision. He’s the one who will sink or swim over that choice, not the rest of us.”

    The first lady may not mind if she never makes it to the cover, however, if her last comments on the subject still stand. When the magazine passed over her for a cover during Trump’s first administration — despite featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama on several occasions — she brushed off questions about it and said that it wasn’t important.

    “Look, I’ve been there on the covers — on the cover of Vogue, on the covers of many magazines before,” Trump said, referencing her days as a model and then as Trump’s wife prior to him running for president. “We have so many other important things to do than to be on the cover of any magazine. I think that life would not change for anybody if I’m on the cover.”

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    Trump Announces Pardon For Reality Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud at the Royal Court Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    On Tuesday evening, President Trump revealed he will issues a full presidential pardon to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley after they were found guilty of fraud and tax evasion in 2022. 

    Todd and Julie, who rose to fame on the reality series “Chrisley Knows Best,” were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively. Their sentences were later reduced. 

    “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that OK? We’ll try getting it done tomorrow,” Trump told their daughter Savannah Chrisley and son Chase, in a phone call from the Oval Office on Tuesday that was posted onto an X account of a White House aide. The post was captioned in part, “Trump Knows Best!”

    “Thank you so much, Mr. President,” Savannah could be heard saying on the call. Chase, through tears, added, “I just want to say thank you for bringing my parents back.” 

    Trump told Savannah and Chase to give their parents his “regards and wish them a good life.” 

    “They were given pretty harsh treatment based on what I’m hearing, pretty harsh treatment,” Trump said. “Congratulate your parents, and I hear they’re terrific people. This should not have happened.” 

    He continued, “They have good children — you’re no longer children, but I’ll say it anyway. They have good children, don’t they, huh?”

    Standing behind Trump was Alice Marie Johnson, whose sentence on drug charges he commuted during his first term and whom he appointed as his pardon czar in February. 

    “Alice had a lot to do with this,” Trump told Savannah and Chase. 

    The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, told Fox News Digital the pardon “corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community. President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.” 

    After the phone call with Trump, Savannah posted a video on her Instagram saying she got the call from the president that he was signing pardon papers for her parents while she was walking into a Sam’s Club. 

    “So, both of my parents are coming home tonight or tomorrow and I still don’t believe it’s real!” she exclaimed. 

    She said she will be “forever grateful” to Trump and his administration as well as her lawyers and everyone else who “put in countless hours” to “make sure that my parents got home.” 

    “My parents get to start their lives over!” she added, saying she “vowed to stand next to you and your administration, exposing the corruption and continue fighting for the men and women who are in prison … Thank you, thank you, thank you and I will repay your kindness to every person that I meet, so thank God for a president like Donald J. Trump. Thank you, God, for a president who wants to restore families and loves people … and took the time to call me from the Oval Office to let me know my parents are getting their lives back.” 

    Since entering the White House, Trump has issued a number of high profile pardons including for January 6 defendants. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will pardon a former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins.

    Don Lemon Calls Trump Supporters ‘Dumb F—ing Idiots,’ During Meltdown

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    12
    Don Lemon via Wikimedia Commons

    Former CNN host Don Lemon unloaded on MAGA supporters in an expletive-filled rant posted to his YouTube channel. 

    Lemon called supporters of President-elect Donald Trump “dumb f—ing idiots” and mocked their “stupid MAGA brain,” during an episode of the Don Lemon Show. 

    “You’re so f—ing stupid and you deserve it. You f—ing deserve it because you’re so dumb,” he said. “Yes, I am gloating over your stupidity.”

    “You’ve been co-opted because you’re in a f—ing cult and you don’t even realize it because you have stupid MAGA brain and you don’t get it,” he added. “How stupid and dumb are you?” 

    Last week the MAGA base splintered after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shared their support for H-1B visas for skilled laborers. 

    However other Republicans such as former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, is against H-1B visas. Bannon called the visas a “scam” that “takes American jobs and brings over what essentially become indentured servants at lower wages” on his “War Room” podcast. 

    Trump sided with Musk and Ramaswamy over the weekend, stating his support for H-1B visas. 

    “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump told the New York Post Saturday.

    Trump said that he recognizes the visas on his properties, saying, “I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.”

    Lemon was fired from CNN in April 2023 after a series of scandals, including alienating female viewers and conservative audiences. 

    Trump Announces $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the paper of being a virtual “mouthpiece” for the Democrat Party and making an illegal “campaign contribution” in 2024 to opponent Kamala Harris.

    Trump announced the lawsuit late Monday on Truth Social and said it would be brought in Florida. This marks yet another legal action taken by the president against a major media organization after forcing settlements with ABC News and CBS News over the past year.

    “Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country, becoming a virtual ‘mouthpiece’ for the Radical Left Democrat Party. I view it as the single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER,” he wrote. “Their Endorsement of Kamala Harris was actually put dead center on the front page of The New York Times, something heretofore UNHEARD OF!”

    Trump accused the Times of engaging in a decadeslong campaign of “lying” about him, his business, family, and the MAGA movement.

    “I am PROUD to hold this once respected ‘rag’ responsible, as we are doing with the Fake News Networks such as our successful litigation against George Slopadopoulos/ABC/Disney, and 60 Minutes/CBS/Paramount, who knew that they were falsely ‘smearing’ me through a highly sophisticated system of document and visual alteration, which was, in effect, a malicious form of defamation, and thus, settled for record amounts. They practiced this longterm INTENT and pattern of abuse, which is both unacceptable and illegal. The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW! The suit is being brought in the Great State of Florida. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

    In the lawsuit, Trump said he had to overcome “persistent election interference from the legacy media,” that was led by the Times. 

    “All across our country, Americans from a wide array of backgrounds saw the truth about him and voted accordingly—the same truth that the New York Times refused to recognize as it continued spreading false and defamatory content about President Trump,” the suit states.

    The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Florida’s Middle District. The named defendants are the New York Times Company, reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker and Michael S. Schmidt, and Penguin Random House, which published “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success,” which was authored by Craig and Buettner.

    The New York Times endorsed Harris in 2024, no surprise in that its editorial board leans sharply to the left and has not endorsed a Republican for the White House since 1956. In its explanation, the board began by panning Trump as dangerously unfit rather than praising Harris.

    “It is hard to imagine a candidate more unworthy to serve as president of the United States than Donald Trump. He has proved himself morally unfit for an office that asks its occupant to put the good of the nation above self-interest,” the board wrote.

    The 85-page lawsuit called the endorsement “deranged” and also said “Lucky Loser” was a false and defamatory book. In 2023, a judge dismissed a lawsuit that he brought against the New York Times in 2021 for its prior reporting on his finances and claims he’d engaged in suspect tax maneuvers.

    gov.uscourts.flmd.447437.1.0Download

    Trump has already secured eight-figure settlements over suits he filed against ABC News and CBS News over the past year. 

    Veterans Paid the Price to Protect Tom Homan — Will You Stand With Them? [JOIN THE FIGHT]

    Axios To Use ‘Gulf of America’ In Compliance With Trump Admin.

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    Axios announced it will comply with the Trump administration’s decision to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” the “Gulf of America” in its reporting, saying its audience is mostly U.S.-based compared to other media outlets.

    “Our standard is to use ‘Gulf of America (renamed by U.S. from Gulf of Mexico)’ in our reporting because our audience is mostly U.S.-based compared to other publishers with international audiences,” said a statement from Axios released on the social platform X.

    “At the same time, the government should never dictate how any news organization makes editorial decisions. The AP and all news organizations should be free to report as they see fit,” the statement added.

    Axios’s announcement comes a day after the White House said it would limit the Associated Press’ access to the Oval Office and Air Force One over its decision not to use “Gulf of America” in its reporting.

    “The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich wrote in a post Friday on X.

    In a statement to The Hill Friday, the AP said, “Freedom of speech is a pillar of American democracy and a core value of the American people.”

    “The actions taken to restrict AP’s coverage of presidential events because of how we refer to a geographic location chip away at this important right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution for all Americans,” a spokesperson for the outlet added.

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