Former President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with attendees at the 2022 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. [Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons]
This could be big…
On Thursday, President Trump floated the possibility of holding a Republican National Convention ahead of the midterm elections.
While Trump did not offer any details about where the convention would take place or what would happen there, he touted various statistics that have been beneficial for the Republican Party this year.
The GOP is fighting to maintain control of both the House and Senate in 2026.
“The Republican Party is doing really well. Millions of people have joined us in our quest to MAKE AMERICA, GREAT AGAIN. We won every aspect of the Presidential Election and, based on the great success we are having, are poised to WIN BIG IN THE MIDTERMS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“We have raised far more money than the Democrats, and are having a great time fixing all of the Country Destroying mistakes made by the Biden Administration, and watching the USA heal and prosper. The results are incredible, a record pace!!! In that light, I am thinking of recommending a National Convention to the Republican Party, just prior to the Midterms. It has never been done before. STAY TUNED!” he added.
Historically, midterms have been tough elections for the party controlling the White House, typically losing roughly 25 seats in the House. Trump and the Republicans lost 41 House seats in the 2018 midterms.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Biden administration’s Justice Department has launched an aggressive investigation into former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, accusing him of mishandling classified information. According to an explosive New York Times report, the probe escalated dramatically last week when FBI agents raided Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland residence and his Washington, D.C. office.
Sources told the Times that investigators claim Bolton sent emails containing “sensitive information” over an unclassified system while drafting his 2020 book, The Room Where It Happened. The emails, allegedly shared with friends and associates assisting him with the manuscript, reportedly contained material that appeared to be drawn from classified documents Bolton had seen during his time in the White House.
Even more startling, U.S. officials say a foreign intelligence service later obtained those emails. At this point, it remains unclear which country’s spies were in possession of the material.
A Raided Home, No Arrest
Bolton, who has been a vocal critic of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, was at home during the FBI raid. Despite the dramatic nature of the search, he was not arrested. That fact alone has fueled speculation that the raid was more about spectacle than substance—an attempt to send a political message rather than to secure an immediate prosecution.
A Familiar Pattern of Double Standards
Republicans have already begun to highlight what they see as yet another glaring double standard. While the Biden DOJ aggressively pursues Bolton, questions linger about how the administration handled President Biden’s own mishandling of classified documents, discovered in multiple unsecured locations, including his Delaware garage. Unlike Bolton—or former President Trump, who continues to face relentless investigations—Biden has faced little in the way of raids or public spectacle.
This latest move against Bolton follows a broader pattern where the DOJ appears far more eager to go after figures associated with the Trump years while showing restraint when it comes to Democrats.
What’s Next
At this point, Bolton has not been charged with any crime. Legal experts note that the government would face serious hurdles in proving that Bolton knowingly mishandled classified material or intended to expose it to foreign governments.
By Niccolò Caranti - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21891838
President Donald Trump took direct aim at billionaire financier George Soros and his son Alex in a fiery Truth Social post on Wednesday, accusing the pair of fueling radical left-wing unrest across the country and hinting at potential RICO charges.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to ‘BREATHE,’ and be FREE. Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends.”
Trump concluded with a warning: “Be careful, we’re watching you!”
Who Are the Soroses?
George Soros, a Hungarian-born billionaire, is one of the Democratic Party’s largest donors and has been financing progressive causes for decades. His global influence has been tied to left-wing prosecutors, liberal DA races, and activist organizations that critics say undermine law and order in American cities.
In 2023, Soros handed control of his vast empire—including the Open Society Foundation—to his son, Alex Soros, who has pledged to continue funding progressive causes, often with an even more openly partisan edge. Alex has boasted of his close ties to the Biden White House and prominent Democrats.
The Soros network has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into elections and activist groups, often tipping the balance in favor of left-leaning candidates. Many on the Right argue this influence has led to skyrocketing crime rates, attacks on free speech, and deepening divisions in American society.
Trump’s threat comes less than a week after his FBI raided his foreign policy adviser-turned-critic John Bolton’s home and office as part of what he slammed as a politically motivated investigation.
Bolton, who was national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, has often clashed with Trump since leaving the administration. The raid on his home marked a significant escalation in tensions between the former president and his one-time adviser.
When asked about the raid, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he was not informed ahead of time but expected a briefing later.
President Trump openly confirmed he is considering launching an investigation into former ally and New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform late Sunday that Christie had lied about 2013 lane closures on the George Washington Bridge “in order to stay out of prison, at the same time sacrificing people who worked for him.” The president was referring to a decision by Christie’s associates to close access lanes to the bridge, which links New Jersey and Manhattan, in order to punish the Democratic mayor of a New Jersey town.
“Chris refused to take responsibility for these criminal acts,” Trump wrote. “For the sake of JUSTICE, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again? NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!”
The 2013 “Bridgegate” closures created days of traffic jams, and the scandal tarnished Christie’s reputation and helped to destroy his 2016 presidential candidacy. Christie has long denied any knowledge of the plan. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
It was not immediately clear what aspect of Christie’s Sunday appearance on ABC’s “This Week” had led President Trump to threaten him on social media.
Christie mentioned the president by name after he was asked by the journalist Jonathan Karl whether Vice President JD Vance, who has defended the criminal investigation into Mr. Bolton, is playing a role in it.
Christie responded by mentioning what he called the administration’s disregard for the idea of separation between the president and criminal investigations. He noted that Mr. Trump had recently described himself as the nation’s “chief law enforcement officer.”
“Donald Trump sees himself as the person who gets to decide everything, and he doesn’t care about any separation,” Christie told Karl. “In fact, he absolutely rejects the idea that there should be separation between criminal investigations and the politically elected leader of the United States. This is much different than it’s ever been run before.”
Watch:
Then on Monday, he doubled down after being asked if he plans “to investigate Chris Christie.”
“Look, Chris is a slob, everybody knows it. I know Chris better than anybody in the room. I always felt he was guilty. But what he did is he took the George Washington Bridge, which is very serious, he closed down the George Washington Bridge,” answered Trump. “And you had medical people, You had ambulances caught up. You know, this thing was closed down. And obviously he knew about it. But he blamed the young lady that worked for him, and another person, and they got into a lot of trouble. She ultimately was, I don’t know, exonerated, but she got out of it a little bit. But she went through hell. She was a young mother, nice person, I knew her a little bit. And another man went to jail. And Chris got off.”
“And so when I listen to Chris speak his hate, I say, ‘Oh, what about the George Washington Bridge?’ You know? ‘Tell me about the George Washington Bridge.’ He blamed other people, but he knew all about it. So, no, I don’t know. If they want to look at it — not for me. — if they want look at it, they can. You could ask Pam [Bondi]. I think we have other things to do, but I always thought he got away with murder,” he concluded.
Several members of Christie’s administration were ultimately convicted for their role in helping shut down multiple lanes of the George Washington Bridge back in 2013, though those convictions were later thrown out by the Supreme Court.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) might be the latest state leader to dive into the ongoing redistricting chaos across the country.
Governor Wes Moore appeared on CBS News’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday and said that, in the interests of “fairness,” he is considering gerrymandering the lone Republican in his state’s congressional delegation out of a U.S. House seat.
Republican Rep. Andy Harris in Maryland’s First Congressional District.
“I want to make sure that we have fair lines and fair seats,” said Moore.
Harris is the only Republican of Maryland’s ten members of Congress. The Daily Wire reported in 2024, President Donald Trump received over a third of Maryland’s vote. He lost the state to former Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 63% of the state’s vote.
Moore said his plan to potentially gerrymander Harris out of the first district is about fighting against “situations where politicians are choosing voters.”
“We need to be able to have fair maps, and we also need to make sure that if the president of the United States is putting his finger on the scale to try to manipulate elections because he knows that his policies cannot win in a ballot box, then it behooves each and every one of us to be able to keep all options on the table to ensure that the voters’ voices can actually be heard,” Moore said.
Watch:
“I want to make sure we have fair lines and fair seats": Maryland governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) told “Face the Nation’s” @margbrennan that “all options are on the table” regarding redistricting in Maryland, which currently has one Republican in its congressional delegation. pic.twitter.com/YCjljamtNl
Last week, the Texas state legislature passed a new congressional map that favors Republicans winning an extra five seats in the U.S. House in the upcoming midterm elections.
The GOP push to redistrict in favor of Republicans has sparked a backlash from Democratic state officials who want to lean further into gerrymandering. California Governor Gavin Newsom has put forward a plan to draw a new map that could claw Democrats another five seats in California’s already overbalanced congressional delegation.
However, in order for Newsom’s plan to succeed, California voters must approve the new map since redistricting congressional seats in the state is controlled by an independent commission under a 2010 law.
California Republicans filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to stop the Democrat-dominated state legislature from holding a vote by the end of this week to advance the redistricting push.
“Today I joined my colleagues in filing a lawsuit challenging the rushed redistricting process. California’s Constitution requires bills to be in print for 30 days, but that safeguard was ignored. By bypassing this provision, Sacramento has effectively shut voters out of engaging in their own legislative process,” Assembly member Tri Ta said on X.
Today I joined my colleagues in filing a lawsuit challenging the rushed redistricting process. California’s Constitution requires bills to be in print for 30 days, but that safeguard was ignored. By bypassing this provision, Sacramento has effectively shut voters out of engaging… pic.twitter.com/v5ysdRP9Ay
President Trump called Wednesday for the resignation of Federal Reserve board of governors member Lisa Cook following allegations by the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) that she committed mortgage fraud.
FHFA Director William Pulte wrote Wednesday morning on X that Cook had designated two of her houses as her primary residences.
“Lisa D. Cook, committed mortgage fraud by designating her out-of-state condo as her primary residence, just two weeks after taking a loan on her Michigan home where she also declared it as her primary residence,” he said.
Trump called for Cook to step down shortly thereafter.
“Cook must resign, now!!!” he wrote on his own social media website, Truth Social.
Pulte said his agency sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the allegations against Cook.
“I believe the DOJ will open a criminal investigation into her alleged mortgage fraud,” he said.
Trump accused Fed Chair Jerome Powell of fraud earlier this summer over an ongoing renovation project at Fed headquarters in Washington.
Following a report in July that Trump had discussed attempting to fire Powell with congressional Republicans, he later said it was “highly unlikely” that he would do so after the stock market dipped on his initial comments, “unless he has to leave for fraud.”
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump says he is "not planning" to fire Jerome Powell following reports saying he is considering it, but says it could happen if Powell committed "FRAUD" under the $2.7B renovation
"I don't rule out anything, it's highly unlikely, unless he has to leave for… pic.twitter.com/1DnLIstKiB
This week, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard revoked security clearances for 37 current and former intelligence community officials, accusing them of politicizing and manipulating intelligence.
Fox News reports that a DNI memo sent out on Monday included the names of officials who worked at the CIA, NSA, State Department and National Security Council, including former Obama DNI James Clapper, who Gabbard claimed told officials to “compromise” normal procedures to rush a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment related to Russia’s influence in the 2016 election.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” Gabbard wrote in an X post. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”
Notable officials include:
Brett M. Holmgren
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
Richard H. Ledgett
Former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA)
Stephanie O’Sullivan
Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Luke R. Hartig
Former Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council
Maher Bitar
Served on the National Security Council (NSC) under Biden
Emily Horne
Former NSC Spokesperson under Biden
Also included was Yael Eisenstat, a former CIA officer and White House advisor known for her involvement in the Facebook election integrity operation.
Gabbard said the decision was made at President Donald Trump’s direction.
“Our Intelligence Community must be committed to upholding the values and principles enshrined in the US Constitution and maintain a laser-like focus on our mission of ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people,” Gabbard wrote on X.
Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right. Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold. In… pic.twitter.com/23DUNuVAi0
The memo noted the revocation was effective immediately, and the officials’ access to classified systems, facilities, materials and information would be terminated.
Trump has revoked security clearances for a number of officials, including those who signed on to a letter saying the Hunter Biden laptop had the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign.
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 Monday, the Justice Department announced Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will step into the Trump administration as co-deputy director of the FBI.
Bailey, who stepped down from his role as attorney general effective September 8, will hold his newly-created position alongside current FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and serve under FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as our new FBI Co-Deputy Director,” according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche‘s post. “As Missouri’s Attorney General, he took on the swamp, fought weaponized government, and defended the Constitution. Now he is bringing that fight to DOJ.”
This marks the first time in FBI history that the agency has had two deputy directors.
“I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI. He has served as a distinguished attorney general for Missouri and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service,” Attorney General Pam Bondisaid. “His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission. While we know this is undoubtedly a great loss for Missouri, it is a tremendous gain for America.”
Bailey does not require Senate confirmation for the role.
Bailey, who has served as Missouri’s attorney general since 2023, reflected on his role in a post on X.
“To Missouri, thank you. My tenure as Attorney General has been the honor of my professional career, but what has made it truly meaningful has been the opportunity to serve my home state,” Bailey wrote. “Together, we have defended the rule of law and safeguarded our freedoms. I am forever grateful.”
To Missouri, thank you.
My tenure as Attorney General has been the honor of my professional career, but what has made it truly meaningful has been the opportunity to serve my home state.
Together, we have defended the rule of law and safeguarded our freedoms. I am forever…
— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) August 18, 2025
During his time as Missouri’s attorney general, Bailey challenged the Biden administration and filed a variety of culture war suits.
Bailey sued to stop the student loan cancellation plan pushed by the Biden administration and sued the Department of Homeland Security for data on whether illegal immigrants were being relocated to Missouri.
Last month, current Deputy Director Dan Bongino faced growing fallout over the Justice Department’s decision not to disclose any more records from its investigations into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (RELATED: Bongino, Patel Reportedly On Brink Of Resignation Over DOJ Epstein Memo)
CNN reports that Trump — who has been desperate to move past the Epstein story — was furious at Bongino, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel. Vice President JD Vance reportedly tried to hammer out a peace between the administration’s top Justice Department officials. But CNN reports that Bongino is still very much hanging by a thread.
“It remains to be seen if Bongino ultimately resigns, which he told others he was considering,” the CNN report stated. “But sources say his relationship with the White House has become basically untenable. Even if he does not quit now, some inside the administration believe he will not stay in the job long-term.”
However, President Donald Trump said he ultimately believes FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is “in good shape” following a reported clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has once again demonstrated her political acumen and judgment in securing the nomination for U.S. Attorney General. Bondi, who served two terms as Florida’s top prosecutor and was an early, prominent supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, weighed in on a sensitive matter involving longtime Republican ally Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Bondi and Gaetz have known each other since his early political career in Tallahassee, moving in the same Florida Republican circles and often appearing together at public events. Bondi even served as “godmother” to Gaetz’s dog, reflecting their close personal ties.
However, with Gaetz under congressional ethics scrutiny at the time, Bondi privately advised that he was not the right choice for Attorney General—a decision some sources say reflected her commitment to the integrity and reputation of the office. A Justice Department official, however, disputed this account.
When Gaetz stepped aside, Bondi’s proven experience and dedication made her the clear choice for Trump. Sources say Trump quickly recognized her as the top candidate, calling her personally to invite her to take the role. Within hours, Bondi’s nomination was announced, while Gaetz was offered a role in her office—a gesture he acknowledged with gratitude.
Trump even admitted that he had made a “dreadful error” in not considering Bondi over Gaetz, who had been accused of child sex trafficking and statutory rape four years earlier, a source told The New Yorker.
“He picked up the phone one morning about seven o’clock and called her and said, ‘I’ve made a dreadful error, and would you consider this?’” a senior administration official told the publication.
Hours after that call, Gaetz withdrew, and Bondi’s nomination was announced. Shortly after that, Gaetz called Bondi and got a job offer, he claims.
Recognizing that it had been a “tough week” for him, she said, “Come work for me,” Gaetz recalled. He opted against it but said, “I thought that was super kind of her.”
Her loyalty was repaid when she was confirmed as attorney general in February.
“She was like a cult figure with law enforcement. She’s a beautiful blond woman. She took these tough cases, she went to court, and won,” Gaetz told The New Yorker. “And what Pam did was she used the platform of her earned fame to dominate.”
Bondi’s strategic judgment, long-standing Republican loyalty, and demonstrated leadership in Florida positioned her to step into a national role at a pivotal moment, underscoring her reputation as a principled and capable public servant.
On Monday, President Donald Trump vowed to “lead a movement” to eliminate mail-in ballots and would sign an executive order to “help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.”
Trump’s latest push to abolish voting machines and mail-in voting comes days after telling Fox News that he’d received a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin during their Alaska summit that the practice makes “honest elections” impossible.
He told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Friday: “Vladimir Putin, smart guy, said you can’t have an honest election with mail-in voting.”
Taking to Truth Social just hours before a follow-up meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top European leaders, Trump raged that the voting methods allowed Democrats to “CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN” and promised to “bring HONESTY” to the 2026 midterms as he outlined his new plans:
I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly “Inaccurate,” Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election. We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting. All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections. Remember, the States are merely an “agent” for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do. With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender and “WOKE” for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM. ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS. I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS. THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!! REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Trump’s announcement marks a sharp return to an old MAGA position after a short departure when, in 2024, Trump’s own campaign launched “Swamp the Vote USA,” encouraging Republicans to embrace early and mail-in voting after years of the president pushing against the practice.
Two companies that manufacture voting machines, Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, were targets of baseless conspiracy theories accusing them of rigging the 2020 election. Each company filed major defamation lawsuits against multiple media companies, all of which were ultimately settled.
