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Mark Zuckerberg To Host Trump Inauguration Reception

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© European Union, 2024, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg is co-hosting a black tie reception Jan. 20 after President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

The tech giant teamed up with Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertita, who is set to become the new U.S. ambassador to Italy, former Republican National Committee finance chair Todd Ricketts and his wife Sylvie Légère, and Republican mega-donor Miriam Adelson to host the event, according to the invitation obtained by NewsNation.

The soiree is set to last for three-and-a-half hours, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., prior to the evening inaugural balls in Washington, D.C. 

Zuckerburg’s has recently attended a series of meetings with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, made a $1 million donation to the inaugural fund and brought a swift end to Meta’s fact-checking program.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also planning to attend the 60th inauguration following his $1 million contribution to the ceremony. 

‘The View’ Host Admits She ‘Knew’ Her Question Sank Kamala’s White House Bid

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The truth hurts…

A panel member from “The View” admitted that her question to Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election was more than likely a contributing factor to her unsuccessful campaign.

Co-host of “The View” Sunny Hostin admitted on Tuesday that she had known in real time that her question — about what she might have done differently than then-President Joe Biden — could cost then Vice President Kamala Harris the 2024 presidential election.

Harris joined the hosts of ABC’s “The View” for their midday broadcast, where they discussed her upcoming memoir titled “107 Days” — which details the short-lived and ill-fated campaign upon which she embarked just hours after Biden announced his plan to withdraw from the race.

Cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin raised the question about the overall mood of the country at the time, asking whether Harris and her team might have missed signs indicating that Americans were desperate for a seismic shift away from Biden — and already viewed her, his vice president, as an extension of his presidency.

“Understanding that many people saw you as an extension of Joe Biden, were there glaring warning signs that, when there’s only two options to vote on, that you missed going into election day?” Griffin asked.

“I’m a loyal person, and I didn’t fully appreciate how much people wanted to know there was a difference between me and president Biden,” Harris replied. “I thought it was obvious, and I didn’t want to offer a difference in a way that would be received or suggested to be a criticism, and, you know, in the campaign full-time I was pointing out the differences.”

Hostin, who initially asked Harris the question heard around the world — what might Harris have done differently from Biden — said that she had understood the weight of the vice president’s non-answer in the moment.

“You write you had no idea you just pulled the pin on a hand grenade. In the moment, I knew,” Hostin said, and then argued that the real problem wasn’t Harris and her inability to answer the question, but the way that Trump’s campaign had made use of it. “The Trump campaign weaponized your answer against you; my question.”

Hostin asked Harris whether she felt like that question — and her answer — had tipped the election.

“Because Sunny doesn’t want to take the blame,” Joy Behar quipped.

“I absolve you,” Harris said to Hostin

VP Vance Predicts ‘Dumbest’ Democrat Candidate Will Secure Nomination In 2028

Vice President JD Vance took aim at the Democratic Party’s likely 2028 presidential contenders during a lighthearted but pointed exchange on Fox News, joking that the party’s “dumbest” candidate is most likely to emerge from the primary.

In an exclusive interview released Wednesday on Jesse Watters Primetime, Watters raised speculation about California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s national ambitions, noting the governor’s frequent media appearances and rumored White House aspirations.

“Gavin Newsom, obviously, is running for president. Have you seen this guy cross his legs? Have you ever seen anyone cross their legs like that?” Watters asked jokingly.

“My legs don’t cross like that, Jesse,” Vance replied with a laugh. “You can interpret that however you want to.”

Watters went on to frame the looming Democratic contest as a showdown between Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Gavin and Kamala are on a collision course,” Watters said. “Who’s gonna win?”

“The dumbest candidate will probably win,” Vance quipped. “That’s my guess with the Democratic Party.”

Vance argued that the current Democratic bench reflects deeper structural problems within the party, particularly its fixation on identity politics over competence.

“I mean, look, the Democrats have a couple of big issues, and one is that they lean so far into wokeism that they can’t see the obviousness of the fact, which is that Kamala Harris is not qualified to be president of the United States,” Vance said.

“That’s why she got the vice presidential nomination. That’s why she got the presidential nomination. This is who Kamala Harris is.”

Vance contrasted Harris with Newsom, describing the California governor as emblematic of failed progressive governance.

“Now, the flip side is, I think you have an unbelievably corrupt and incompetent governor in Gavin Newsom,” he said. “The fact that those are the two frontrunners just suggests how deeply deranged the Democrat Party is. Let them fight it out. We’ll figure it out.”

A Weak Democratic Bench for 2028

While Newsom and Harris dominate early speculation, Democrats face a thin and fractured 2028 field. Other frequently mentioned names include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—each of whom carries significant liabilities with general-election voters. Many Democrats privately acknowledge that the party lacks a unifying figure with broad national appeal, particularly as voters continue to recoil from progressive economic and cultural policies.

Republicans, by contrast, are positioning themselves as the party of stability, affordability, and public safety heading into the next election cycle.

Cost of Living and Accountability

Watters noted that Democrats are expected to campaign heavily on cost-of-living issues in upcoming elections, a strategy Vance dismissed as deeply hypocritical.

“That’s a pot-meet-kettle situation,” Vance argued, pointing to Democratic-led policies that fueled inflation, higher energy costs, and housing shortages.

He credited the Trump administration with reversing those trends.

“We haven’t even been in office for a year, and you’ve already seen prices start to come down. You’ve seen rents start to come down. You’ve seen groceries leveling off,” Vance said.

“Is there more work to do? Absolutely. But the people who are going to do that work is the Trump administration, is the president of the United States, who is solving the Democrats’ affordability crisis.”

“You don’t give power back to the very people who set the house on fire,” he added. “You give more power to the person who put the fire out.”

Impeachment Politics

When asked whether Democrats would attempt to impeach President Trump again if they regain control of Congress, Vance said such a move would be predictable—and revealing.

“I’m sure he’ll get impeached,” Vance said. “Look, they have nothing to actually run on or govern on.”

“Their entire obsessive focus of that party is they hate Donald Trump,” he continued. “So, if they ever get power, are they going to lower Americans’ taxes? No. Are they going to make your life more affordable? No. Are they going to solve the crime crisis? No.”

“What they’re going to do is they’re going to spend all their time and all of your money trying to get Donald Trump.”

Vance urged voters to focus on results rather than partisan theatrics.

“I think the American people should vote for the people who want to make their life more affordable, who want to make their neighborhoods safer,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to deliver every single day.”

Newsom Responds With a Meme

Newsom’s office responded to the interview with a digitally altered image of Vance crossing his legs in an exaggerated pose, captioned: “We all know JD copies Daddy.”

ABC News Suspends Terry Moran Over Deleted Post Blasting Stephen Miller

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He’s out…

ABC News has reportedly suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a deleted X post in which he called White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller a “world class hater.”

According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, ABC News said Sunday that Moran has been “suspended pending further evaluation” following his post.

“The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism,” Moran wrote in the deleted post. “Yes, he is one of the people who conceptualizes the impulses of the Trumpist movement and translates them into policy. But that’s not what’s interesting about Miller. It’s not brains. It’s bile. Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He’s a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate. Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred only a means to an end, and that end his his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.”

In its full statement obtained by Stelter, ABC News said Moran’s post was a violation of standards.

“ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others,” the network said. “The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation.”

The White House immediately denounced the comments — with Vice President JD Vance calling them an “absolutely vile smear.

Trump Named TIME Person Of The Year

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Gage Skidmore Flickr

An honor…

After surviving two assassination attempts and a landslide election victory Donald J. Trump has had a big year, to put it mildly.

“For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year,” the magazine wrote.

It was widely expected Time would pick Trump; the magazine has bestowed the honor on the winner of that year’s presidential election in every race since George W. Bush in 2000. Trump was also named Person of the Year in 2016 when he first won the White House.

“Since he began running for President in 2015, perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history than Trump,” Time wrote. “Trump is once again at the center of the world, and in as strong a position as he has ever been.”

Trump became just the second U.S. president after Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms after he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

Trump also became the first former president to ever be convicted of a crime in May. He was found guilty in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to covering up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. His sentencing has since been repeatedly delayed and Trump has sought to have the case thrown out.

Other criminal cases against him in Georgia and on the federal level have either been dismissed or are in limbo as he returns to the White House.

The other Time finalists this year included Harris, billionaire Elon Musk – who was named Person of the Year in 2021 – podcasting giant Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump Reveals Which Living President He Would Call for Advice

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President Donald Trump revealed which living predecessor he would be most inclined to call for advice while signing an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday.

“Well, I thought Bill Clinton was a very good politician. I don’t think he was used properly. I think they disrespected him when Hillary was running,” answered Trump. “He came back and he said, ‘You know, you better get up to Michigan and Wisconsin.’ You remember that, Peter. Every house has a Trump sign on it. And they all laughed at him because the Republicans had won Michigan and Wisconsin for decades, long time. And they all laughed at Bill Clinton. Like, the hell does he know? And he turned out to be right because I won both of them. And then we just won both in this election, too.”

“We won Wisconsin and Michigan and every other swing state. We won all the swing states, all seven. They talked about seven swing states, we won them all. So, but I-, Bill Clinton was, he had a great political sense, I think,” he concluded.

At that point, another reporter jumped in to observe that he seemed to be having “a good conversation” with former President Barack Obama at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this month.

“I was! And you’d like to know what it was — ooooooo,” teased Trump. “Everybody wants to know! No, no, I wouldn’t want to. But we were having some crazy conversations.”

Bill Maher Open To Voting Republican – But With Some Changes

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Comedian and longtime liberal commentator Bill Maher told Fareed Zakaria on CNN’s GPS that he could “of course” envision voting Republican — but only if the party becomes something markedly different than what it has been.

Maher, who has been a longtime critic of Donald Trump and a traditional supporter of Democrats, laid out a number of caveats before making such a move. “They would have to certainly lose the idea of ‘we don’t concede elections,’” he said.

He added his biggest concern:

“And my biggest worry is that they feel that the excesses of the left are so great, that they are so anti‐common sense. And again, they’re not completely wrong about that — that they are so — never met something that was counterintuitive that they didn’t embrace. That they just can’t let these people take power and, therefore, even if there has to — if democracy has to be sacrificed for hanging on to power,” Maher said.

Maher also questioned the GOP’s long‐term commitment to democratic norms after Trump:

“Will they still keep that idea that we cannot let these people take power? These people who just do not have any idea of common sense, they want to reinvent everything. They are revolutionaries in a country that is not asking for [a] revolution — they’re just asking for politicians to fix things. That is my biggest concern.” He noted a hope for a “return to normalcy” after Trump — though he expressed skepticism.

At the same time, Maher acknowledged areas where he believes Trump was right:

He pointed out the border, DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) initiatives, and NATO contributions. “He showed that you can close the border. It wasn’t something you needed congressional help for. You could just do it, and he did it. He just did it too far. And people don’t like to see people tackled at Home Depot and people they know who have been in this country for a long time.”

He wrapped up by hitting both parties:

“Why can’t either one be normal?” he asked rhetorically.


Why this matters for Republicans

Maher’s comments underscore a key opportunity and challenge for the GOP: there are non‐traditional voices who might vote Republican — but only if the party reaffirms core democratic norms and common‐sense governance rather than radical transformation. If Republicans continue to be associated with election denial, extreme rhetoric, or sweeping change beyond what voters ask for, they risk alienating such swing voices.

For Republican-leaning audiences focused on policy, governance, and institutional credibility, Maher’s remarks are a reminder that expanding the party’s appeal may hinge more on tone and norms than just raw policy wins.

Democrat Hits Musk With Graphic Insult In Viral Clip Before Facing Immediate Backlash

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Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) caused a social media firestorm after telling Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk to “f— off” in the latest example of her public opposition to the newly formed agency.

“F— off,” Crockett told reporter Joe Gallina outside Capitol Hill on Tuesday when asked what she would tell Musk if she could tell him anything.

Crockett’s reaction immediately drew blowback from conservatives on social media, who took issue with the liberal firebrand’s tone.

“The face of the American left, ladies and gentlemen,” conservative account Johnny MAGA posted on X.

Many Democrats in Congress have been highly critical of Musk and DOGE, arguing that the billions in cuts the agency has announced are slashing important government resources and being done too quickly.

“DOGE is pretty cruel. Let’s be blunt about that,” Hawaii Democratic Gov. Josh Green said during a press conference last week with other Democratic governors. “These are people in our states that have worked long careers, very dedicated servants, and they’re getting kicked out of their lives.”

recent poll, amplified by Musk on social media, suggests that a majority of the American people support DOGE’s mission.

The Harvard CAPS-Harris poll revealed a majority of Americans support reducing wasteful government spending. Most voters agree there should be a government agency dedicated to efficiency and that DOGE is helping to make major spending cuts, the nonprobability-based poll found. 

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Accuses CNN’s Anonymous Sources of ‘Treason’

CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff accused several anonymous CNN sources of “treason” on Tuesday.

In an exclusive report from CNN, three sources briefed on intelligence of the operation claimed that the damage done to Iran’s nuclear program “likely only set it back by months” despite Trump’s claims to have “completely and totally obliterated” it by U.S. bombing.

“This leaked intel assessment, it’s an early look at what was actually accomplished on the ground,” said Fox News host Laura Ingraham during an interview with Witkoff. “But it was leaked. Somebody decided to leak this from the DIA and it’s being used in the media, and it’s all over today, that, ‘Aha, Trump said it obliterated, but it’s not obliterated. It’s set back months, but it’s not over.’”

Witkoff replied, “Well, it goes without saying that leaking that type of information, whatever the information, whatever site it comes out on, is outrageous. It’s treasonous. So it ought to be investigated, and whoever did it, whoever’s responsible for it should be held accountable.”

He concluded, “It could hurt lives in the future. This leaking is a completely unacceptable thing.”

CNN spoke to seven anonymous sources in total, who described the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) assessment of the Trump administration’s strikes. Two of the sources “said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed,” according to the CNN report, while “one of the people said the centrifuges are largely ‘intact.’”

“Another source said that the intelligence assessed enriched uranium was moved out of the sites prior to the US strikes,” CNN reported.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lashed out at CNN’s report, calling it “flat-out wrong.”

“This alleged assessment is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community,” Leavitt said. “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

While Leavitt tried to pin the leak on a single source, CNN — in its report — cited “three people briefed” on the U.S. intelligence assessment.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a separate statement, likewise claimed the sites were leveled in the blasts:

Based on everything we have seen and I’ve seen it all, our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran. So anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the president and the successful mission.

In a statement to Mediaite, a CNN spokesperson said, “CNN stands by our thorough reporting on an early intelligence assessment of the recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which has since been confirmed by other news organizations. The White House has acknowledged the existence of the assessment, and their statement is included in our story.”

Federal Prosecutors ‘At Work’ To Bring Charges Against John Bolton

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Federal prosecutors are reportedly preparing charges against former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton, a longtime critic of President Trump, over his handling of classified materials — a move that comes after months of internal resistance from within the Justice Department.

According to CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland met over the weekend to hammer out the details of a potential indictment. Citing unnamed sources, Polantz reported that the Maryland team had initially pushed back against DOJ leadership’s push to charge Bolton, but those objections have now “lifted,” and the team is “at work” on the case.

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

Appearing on CNN’s The Situation Room with anchor Pamela Brown, Polantz explained that the disagreement was “about when to charge” Bolton — suggesting that some inside the DOJ were concerned about timing rather than substance.

“From what I had learned through sources,” Polantz said, “was that the dispute was over timing — whether to charge John Bolton very soon or prepare an indictment very soon to take it through the grand jury, or whether there needed to be more time since those searches of his home and office only took place a couple of weeks ago.”

In late August, FBI agents raided Bolton’s Maryland home and private office, seizing materials reportedly marked “secret,” “confidential,” and “classified,” including documents referencing weapons of mass destruction. Investigators also collected electronics and files labeled “Trump I–IV,” according to court filings.

Bolton — who has been a vocal Trump critic since leaving the administration — has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the items taken were “decades old” and insisted that his client “did nothing inappropriate.”