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    Trump-aligned Texas Congressman Loses Primary

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,

    Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw of Texas lost his primary bid Tuesday night, marking a major upset and ending the four-term lawmaker’s run for a fifth term in Congress.

    Crenshaw was defeated by Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, a staunch conservative who successfully rallied support from the party’s most hard-line voters in the Houston-area district. The loss makes Crenshaw one of the first Republican incumbents to be ousted in the 2026 election cycle and underscores ongoing ideological divisions within the GOP.

    Although Crenshaw has voted consistently in support of former President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, he entered the race as the only House Republican in Texas on the ballot without Trump’s endorsement. Toth seized on that dynamic, presenting himself as the more reliable ally of the president and the conservative grassroots base.

    The contest intensified when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly backed Toth’s campaign and appeared in a political advertisement promoting the challenger.

    “You deserve an unwavering fighter, a Republican who walks the walk. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Steve Toth for Congress. Steve Toth has a strong record of standing up for limited government, faith and freedom, and fiscal responsibility. Washington needs a no-nonsense Texan like Steve Toth to secure our border, fight alongside Trump, and put money back in people’s pockets. Please join me in electing Steve Toth,” Cruz said in the ad, which was funded by the Alamo Freedom Fighters PAC.

    Toth also sought to portray Crenshaw as out of step with the party’s conservative base. During the campaign, he criticized the congressman for refusing to repeat Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and for supporting a bipartisan immigration proposal negotiated toward the end of the Biden administration.

    Crenshaw rejected the criticism and defended his conservative record in office.

    “I’m out there defending Trump in places where Republicans are too scared to go,” Crenshaw told The New York Times during the campaign.

    First elected in 2018, Crenshaw quickly became one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable figures. A former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan, he built a national profile as a foreign-policy hawk and vocal advocate for military veterans. In Congress, he often supported aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia and backed tough sanctions against Venezuela’s socialist government.

    Despite that record, Crenshaw’s relationship with segments of the conservative movement grew strained in recent years. His willingness to criticize some right-wing media personalities and his refusal to embrace claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent drew backlash from MAGA-aligned activists and commentators.

    The congressman also faced personal controversy last year after an incident during a congressional delegation trip to Mexico. According to Punchbowl News, Crenshaw was having drinks with a group of Mexican officials when one official made a crude remark that made a woman present uncomfortable.

    “During an August trip to Mexico, Crenshaw was having drinks with a group of Mexican officials,” reported Punchbowl’s Andrew Desiderio. “One Mexican official cracked a crude joke that made a woman present uncomfortable. Crenshaw toasted the remarks.”

    The incident led to a tense meeting between Crenshaw, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford (R-AR). Crawford ultimately banned Crenshaw from international travel with the committee for three months, a rare disciplinary step. Crawford also sought to remove Crenshaw from the Intelligence Committee entirely, though leadership declined to do so. Instead, Johnson shut down Crenshaw’s proposed cartel task force within the committee.

    Those controversies, combined with ideological attacks from the right, helped erode Crenshaw’s standing with Republican primary voters in the newly drawn district.

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    Leading Dem Frontrunner Reveals The One Republican ‘Scarier’ Than Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Casa Rosada (Argentina Presidency of the Nation), CC BY 2.5 AR via Wikimedia Commons

    In a recent interview with MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki, Newsom described Vance as “dangerous,” arguing that the former Ohio senator poses a more calculated political threat than the president himself.

    “Vance, for whatever reason, scares me, almost more than Trump,” the Democratic governor said. “Talk about a guy who put a mask on and his face grew into it.”

    Newsom accused both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio of abandoning earlier criticisms of Trump after joining his administration. But he singled out the vice president as uniquely concerning.

    “JD is a unique fraud and phony, and he’s a little more dangerous,” Newsom said.

    A Warning Shot Toward 2028

    The remarks amount to more than a passing critique. They reflect the early contours of what could become a defining political rivalry ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

    Newsom is widely viewed as a leading Democratic contender should he enter the race. The two-term California governor has built a national profile as one of the party’s most visible counterweights to Trump-era Republicanism, frequently clashing with GOP governors and positioning California as a policy and cultural foil to red-state leadership.

    At the same time, Vance has emerged as a potential heir to Trump’s political movement. As vice president, he has solidified his standing with the Republican base while cultivating relationships with conservative intellectuals and populist activists. Many analysts see him as a plausible frontrunner in a post-Trump GOP primary, particularly if he successfully fuses Trump-style populism with a more disciplined, ideologically coherent message.

    Newsom’s comments suggest Democrats are already thinking beyond Trump himself and preparing for what they view as a more strategic successor.

    Concerns About a Third Term and Election Security

    During the interview, recorded a day after Trump’s State of the Union address, Newsom also expressed alarm over Trump’s public musings about seeking a third term — an idea that would face significant constitutional barriers.

    The governor issued what he called a “code red” about the state of American democracy and election security, warning Democrats not to lose focus amid the daily churn of political controversy.

    “My fear is we get so easily distracted and they’re so effective on the other side,” Newsom said. “We must continue to be mindful, laser-focused on what’s in front of us every single day until the job is done.”

    His framing underscores a broader Democratic argument that the stakes of the next election cycle extend beyond standard partisan disagreements.

    Newsom’s Evolving Political Strategy

    Newsom’s sharpened rhetoric toward Vance also comes at a moment when the California governor has been experimenting with his own messaging style — at times attempting to adopt elements of Trump’s direct, combative approach.

    In recent months, Newsom has leaned more heavily into punchy social media posts, culture-war skirmishes, and headline-grabbing soundbites aimed at energizing Democratic voters. He has sparred publicly with Republican governors, amplified confrontations over education and immigration policy, and positioned himself as a national foil to conservative leadership.

    Some of those efforts, however, have drawn criticism from both Republicans and members of his own party. Detractors argue that mimicking Trump’s confrontational style risks undercutting Newsom’s attempts to present himself as a stabilizing alternative. In several instances, attempts at sharp-edged messaging have backfired, generating backlash for the California Governor.

    A Glimpse of the Next Political Chapter

    By identifying Vance — rather than Trump — as the Republican who most concerns him, Newsom may be signaling where he believes the long-term battle lies.

    Trump remains the dominant force in Republican politics, but Vance represents a new generation of conservative leadership that blends populist rhetoric with ideological ambition. For Democrats preparing for 2028, the prospect of facing a candidate who inherits Trump’s base while refining its message could be a formidable test.

    For now, both men are focused on their current roles — Newsom governing the nation’s largest state and Vance serving as vice president. But as early positioning for the next presidential cycle accelerates, Newsom’s warning suggests he sees the Republican field not as a one-man show, but as a movement with staying power.

    And in that movement, he appears to believe JD Vance may be the most consequential figure of all.

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    Tucker Carlson’s Show Once Acted as ‘Effectively a Senior Adviser’ to Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    At one point during Donald Trump’s presidency, Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program functioned as more than just a primetime show. According to a former Fox News producer quoted in Jason Zengerle’s new book, Hated By All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind, the program was “effectively a senior adviser” to the president.

    Zengerle reports that Carlson’s influence extended deep into the Trump White House. Alyssa Farah Griffin — now a co-host of The View who served in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2020 — said the show was considered required viewing for administration officials.

    According to the book, Jared Kushner once rebuked her after she admitted missing part of an episode. “You can’t work in this White House and not watch Tucker Carlson,” Kushner told her.

    The Daily Mail highlighted those revelations this week, along with another detail from Zengerle’s account: Trump was reportedly frustrated when he could not reach Carlson directly.

    “Tucker was the hot girl that didn’t want to f*ck him,” a former White House official said in the book.

    The same official added that Carlson’s reluctance to be easily accessible “intrigued” Trump and made him more “alluring,” as The Daily Mail described it.

    Carlson’s prominence at the time was reflected in his ratings. Tucker Carlson Tonight set a cable news record in October 2020, averaging 5.36 million viewers. The program routinely drew more than 4 million viewers per month before Carlson’s departure from Fox News in April 2023.

    Fox News experienced a ratings decline immediately following Carlson’s exit, but the network later regained its footing and maintained its position as the top-rated cable news channel. Mediaite reported Wednesday that Fox News averaged 34% more primetime viewers in February than CNN and MSNBC combined, crediting much of that performance to Carlson’s replacement, Jesse Watters.

    The relationship between Trump and Carlson appears to have evolved since Trump returned to the White House last year. Carlson has been seen visiting the White House several times. However, tensions may remain. According to Free Press reporter Eli Lake, Trump “has privately urged the popular podcast host to end his battle with prominent pro-Israel MAGA influencers,” believing the dispute could harm Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.

    President Trump is conducting an audit of MAGA voters and NEEDS a response from you! Time is ticking! [Record your response HERE]

    Trump’s Hockey Team Surprise Sends Shockwaves To Independent Voter Approval Rating

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6

    President Donald Trump’s introduction of the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address sparked largely positive bipartisan reactions, with Independent voters showing particularly strong approval.

    According to Lee Carter of the polling group maslansky+partners, Independent voters responded most enthusiastically when the team entered the House Chamber wearing their gold medals and USA sweatshirts, greeted by thunderous chants of “U-S-A.”

    “The USA hockey team and military recognition moments were widely noticed,” Carter said. “Visual, patriotic moments landed more consistently than policy-heavy segments.”

    Real-time dial testing conducted by the polling group showed the sharpest spike among Independent voters during the team’s entrance. Republican voters, who were already energized by the speech, showed additional gains in approval during the moment. Even Democratic voters—who overall were the least enthusiastic throughout the address—registered a modest uptick in reaction.

    Participants in the polling offered enthusiastic feedback, with comments such as, “What a great moment!” and, “Love it!” Even some critics acknowledged, “They deserve recognition,” and, “It’s a nice moment.”

    The president had invited the team to attend the State of the Union after their thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the Winter Olympics gold medal game.

    During the address, President Trump introduced the team to loud cheers from members of Congress and the audience, who once again broke into chants of “USA! USA! USA!”

    “Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much. We can’t take it anymore. We’re not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we were just always losing, but now we’re winning too much.’ And I say, ‘No, no, no, you’re going to win again. You are going to win big, you’re gonna win bigger than ever.’ And to prove that point, to prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud,” Trump said, adding:

    The men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team — come on in!

    After extended applause inside the chamber, Trump remarked, “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up. And actually, not all of them did get up, but they beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw, as did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.”

    The president also announced that he would honor goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After praising the team’s collective performance, Trump described asking players to vote on whether their goaltender deserved the nation’s highest civilian honor.

    “But I have to say that, and I told them this, and we took a vote of the team. I said, ‘Anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.’ So they stood there, and they weren’t about to say no because I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” said Trump.

    He continued:

    Think of it– 46 shots on goal. And I asked him, “The one shot, the one where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, you practice that or was that a little lucky?” He refused to answer that question, but I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote– and in this case, my vote was more important– that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor, which we will be given and which has been given to many athletes over the years. But when I say many, not too many, like 12. It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country. The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Great athletes have gotten that very great, the best. And I thought he deserved it. And I did take a vote. Every single one of them. I said, “I’m not giving it if anybody goes no.” And every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.

    The moment stood out as one of the evening’s most unifying highlights.

    President Trump is conducting an audit of MAGA voters and NEEDS a response from you! Time is ticking! [Record your response HERE]

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

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    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.

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    Hollywood Actor Robert De Niro Calls For ‘Vietnam-Style’ Protests Against Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    4
    By David Wilson - https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwilson1949/6056934707/in/photolist-5coszA-aeenEK-2CqzzK-8QZ5mo, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98841262

    Actor Robert De Niro said during a Monday interview that he believes President Donald Trump would “never leave” office voluntarily and argued that it would be up to the public to remove him.

    Speaking on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace’s podcast, The Best People, De Niro dismissed the suggestion that Trump’s term would simply end in three years.

    “I wonder what it is about people’s inability to see beyond the next three — he’s gone in three years,” Wallace said.

    “Well, he will never leave. We have to make him leave. You see, he jokes now about nationalizing the elections — he’s not joking. We’ve seen enough already. And everybody’s worried about it, but he means it,” De Niro replied.

    When Wallace again asked whether he believed Trump would leave in three years, De Niro doubled down.

    “He ain’t leaving. No, no way. Let’s not kid ourselves. He will not leave. It’s up to us to get rid of him,” the actor continued.

    De Niro also suggested that Trump might not respect midterm election results and called for widespread public demonstrations.

    “You start hearing it all over now,” the actor said. “It’s up to you. Damn right, it’s about the people. The people got — like Vietnam. You got to get out there and protest. The ‘No Kings’ coming. It’s got to be not 7, 8, 9 million. It’s got to be way, way more than that.”

    Longstanding Critic of Trump

    De Niro has been one of Trump’s most outspoken celebrity critics for nearly a decade, frequently using award show appearances, interviews, and public events to denounce the president in blunt and often profane terms. He has previously endorsed Democratic candidates and supported legal efforts against Trump, framing his activism as a defense of democratic institutions.

    In an earlier appearance on MSNBC in October, De Niro praised several Democratic leaders who have challenged Trump’s policies in court and in Congress.

    “There’s something,” De Niro said. “I like Hakeem Jeffries. I like… Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, they’re all great, strong. I like what Letitia James is doing. She’s fighting back. She’s saying, ‘f— you!’”

    After an audible reaction from host Jonathan Capehart, De Niro continued, “I’m sorry. This is where we are. It’s what she’s saying. ‘This is it. I will not be taken down by this person. I am not afraid of him.’ And God bless her for that. And that’s how other people have to be.”

    What “Vietnam-Style” Protests Could Mean Today

    De Niro’s reference to Vietnam evokes the mass anti-war demonstrations of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when millions of Americans participated in marches, campus protests, and large-scale rallies in Washington, D.C., and other major cities. Those protests included peaceful demonstrations, acts of civil disobedience, and, at times, clashes with law enforcement.

    In today’s political climate, a “Vietnam-style” protest movement would likely unfold across multiple fronts: coordinated national marches, sustained demonstrations in major cities, social media-driven organizing, and pressure campaigns aimed at lawmakers. Modern protest movements often rely on digital mobilization, viral messaging, and coalition-building across activist groups.

    At the same time, the U.S. Constitution sets fixed presidential term limits under the 22nd Amendment, and presidential elections are administered by the states under established federal and state laws. Any removal of a sitting president outside of an election would require constitutional processes, such as impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.

    De Niro’s comments reflect a broader concern among some Trump critics that he will not actually exit the White House following the conclusion of his second term.

    President Trump has frequently teased liberal meltdowns by joking he plans to pursue a third term in office.

    Shortly after returning to office, Trump again referred to another term at a rally in Las Vegas on Jan. 25.

    “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve, not once but twice — or three times or four times,” Mr. Trump quipped to applause from the crowd, before adding that “no, it will be to serve twice.”

    Then on Jan. 27, President Trump joked to Republican lawmakers about a third term. Speaking before the House GOP conference in Florida, Mr. Trump touted the money he’d raised for another race that he said “I assume I can’t use for myself.”

    “But I’m not 100% sure because, I don’t know,” the president continued, to laughter from House Republicans. “I think I’m not allowed to run again. I’m not sure. Am I allowed to run again?”

    President Trump is conducting an audit of MAGA voters and NEEDS a response from you! Time is ticking! [Record your response HERE]

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

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    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.

    President Trump is conducting an audit of MAGA voters and NEEDS a response from you! Time is ticking! [Record your response HERE]

    Lara Trump Teases ‘Many’ Trumps May Run For Office

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    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

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    Report: Bannon Told Epstein Trump Should Be Removed Via 25th Amendment

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    0
    Thor Brødreskift / Nordiske Mediedager, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Newly released Epstein files include private messages from 2018 between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein, revealing previously undisclosed political discussions involving President Donald Trump.

    According to reporting based on the documents, Bannon described Trump in late 2018 as “beyond borderline” and referenced the 25th Amendment, the constitutional mechanism for removing a president who is unable to perform the duties of the office.

    The remarks were made in private correspondence and were not public at the time. (RELATED: Report: Only Roughly 2% Of Epstein Files Public As DOJ Says ‘All’ Released)

    As Mediaite’s Isaac Shorr reports:

    Bannon has come under fire from a wide variety of critics — including conservatives — in recent days over his his relationship with Epstein.

    Documents released by the Department of Justice revealed that on the very day Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking in July 2019, he was texting with Bannon about the aforementioned documentary.

    A few months before that, Bannon advised Epstein: “First we need to push back on the lies ; then crush the pedo/trafficking narrative ; then rebuild your image as a philanthropist.”

    Another text exchange between the two men, dated Dec. 31, 2018, is under intense scrutiny.

    The conversation reads:

    EPSTEIN: Hell of. Year. Next will be biblicl

    BANNON: We either own 2019 or it will surely own us

    EPSTEIN: Im back in the f and b biz only

    BANNON: F and B director

    EPSTEIN: No it does not stand for fck and blw

    EPSTEIN: Spoke to my dems. This weekend. Boy are emotions running high

    BANNON: Going to blow him up right our of the box– WH has zero plan to punch back– Fort Apache with no cavalry enroute

    EPSTEIN: And no soldiers in the fort. He really is borderline. Not sure what he may do.

    BANNON: I think it’s beyond borderline — 25 amendment

    The records show the two men exchanged hundreds of messages about media coverage, legal matters, and political strategy. Some messages indicate Epstein offered advice on messaging and reputation management. (RELATED: New Documents Show Bannon Reached Out To Epstein During Vatican Fight)

    The communications also reference handling critical coverage following the Miami Herald’s 2018 investigative series on Epstein, which is widely credited with prompting renewed federal scrutiny and Epstein’s eventual 2019 arrest.

    The documents do not allege criminal conduct related to the exchanges.

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    Former Jack Smith Deputy Involved In Prosecuting Trump Announces Run For Congress

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    J.P. Cooney, a former top deputy to special counsel Jack Smith in the Biden-era Justice Department, has launched a Democrat bid for Congress in Virginia — centering his campaign on his role in prosecuting President Donald Trump.

    Cooney announced his candidacy in a post on X, writing: “I was fired by Donald Trump’s Department of Justice because of my work to prosecute him. But I won’t let Trump – or anyone – stop me from serving. I’m J.P. Cooney, and I’m running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District.”

    According to his LinkedIn profile, Cooney served as Principal Deputy to Special Counsel Jack Smith and was a lead prosecutor in the federal cases brought against Trump alleging obstruction of justice and conspiracy. Those cases, filed during a period of intense political division, were widely criticized by Republicans as unprecedented uses of prosecutorial power against a political opponent — particularly as Trump was running for president.

    Many conservatives have argued that the prosecutions reflected a broader pattern of what they describe as a “weaponized” Justice Department under Democrat leadership. House Republicans have held hearings examining federal law enforcement’s conduct in high-profile political investigations, questioning whether equal standards were applied across party lines.

    Smith, whose tenure as special counsel was sharply debated on Capitol Hill, praised Cooney in remarks reported by The New York Times. “I’ve known J.P. for a long time and I think the world of him as a person and as a public servant,” Smith said. “He’s a man of integrity who has committed his career to upholding the rule of law.”

    For Republican voters in Virginia, Cooney’s campaign is likely to revive debates about the legitimacy and timing of the Trump prosecutions. GOP leaders have consistently maintained that the legal actions were politically motivated and designed to damage Trump’s electoral prospects rather than to serve impartial justice.

    Adding another layer of controversy, Cooney is running in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District — a district that does not yet exist in its current proposed form. According to The New York Times, Democrats in Virginia are advancing a redistricting effort that would significantly alter the 7th District’s boundaries. That plan would face legal hurdles and would ultimately require approval via ballot referendum.

    Republicans in the state have criticized the redistricting push as an attempt to engineer a more favorable electoral map, particularly in competitive suburban districts that have swung between parties in recent cycles. Virginia’s 7th District has been one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the Commonwealth, reflecting broader national shifts in suburban voting patterns.

    In comments to the Times, Cooney framed his candidacy as a response to what he described as congressional inaction. “Never has there been a Congress that has been such a weak and ineffective check on a president’s abuses of power,” he said. “I lie awake every night worrying that Donald Trump does not have the best interests of our country in mind.”

    Those remarks are likely to energize Democratic primary voters but may also sharpen partisan contrasts in a state where divided government and razor-thin margins have become the norm. Virginia has trended more competitive in recent elections, with Republicans making gains in statewide contests and emphasizing issues such as public safety, parental rights in education, inflation, and federal spending.

    Cooney’s entry into the race signals that the legal battles surrounding Trump will continue to spill into the political arena.

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