The Senate voted to block an amendment from Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that would have made documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case publicly available. This mirrored a similar House effort to release Epstein-related records and sparked bipartisan support. Despite these calls for transparency, Senate Republicans, led by the Senate Majority Leader, called the amendment a “stunt” and voted to table it. The narrow vote highlighted the challenges of bipartisan cooperation and the ongoing debate about balancing transparency with protecting investigations and sensitive information.
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Leaders of Mexican megachurch indicted in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. It’s hard to ignore the sheer scale of this, the fact that we’re talking about leaders of a megachurch with millions of followers, people who essentially held cult-like power. They lived lives of extreme wealth, a generational kind of wealth that, frankly, should have come with a much heavier dose of responsibility. The irony is, they could have had it all if they’d just stayed away from the most egregious of sexual offenses.
Leaders of Mexican megachurch indicted in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. It begs the question of what these leaders were thinking.… Continue reading
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday morning while speaking at Utah Valley University. A video resurfaced following the shooting, showing Kirk defending gun rights and stating that some gun deaths were an acceptable cost to preserve the Second Amendment. The shooting occurred during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” as he was addressing a question about mass shootings. Initial reports were unclear, but Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s death, prompting public mourning and debate.
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Authorities were searching for Jamel McGriff, a paroled sex offender, after he allegedly murdered a Queens couple and set their home ablaze. McGriff gained entry to the Oltons’ home by feigning a need for assistance and was subsequently caught on camera leaving with bags. The victims, Frank and Maureen Olton, were found dead, with Frank tied up and stabbed and Maureen burned on the first floor. After an extensive manhunt, McGriff was apprehended in Midtown Manhattan by the NYPD. McGriff has a history of criminal behavior and was considered armed and dangerous.
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Protests against corruption in Kathmandu culminated in the destruction of the Hilton Kathmandu, Nepal’s tallest hotel, during escalating demonstrations. The hotel, targeted amid attacks on government buildings and residences, was set ablaze. This destruction of the landmark, which represented Nepal’s hospitality ambitions, prompted widespread reactions online. The 176-room hotel, with an ₹8 billion investment, was built by the Shanker Group and opened in July 2024 to elevate Nepal’s international hospitality.
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A recent UN report highlights a concerning shift, with more children globally now considered obese than underweight. This trend, documented across 190 countries, reveals that the prevalence of obesity among those aged 5-19 has reached 9.4%, surpassing the 9.2% underweight rate. The report attributes this rise to the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are replacing more nutritious options in children’s diets. Governments are encouraged to implement policies to combat this, including marketing restrictions and healthier food environments.
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A construction site near CIA headquarters was the scene of an attempted ICE raid on Wednesday, resulting in construction workers fleeing toward the agency’s complex. Some workers attempted to scale the perimeter fences surrounding the CIA headquarters. Due to the incident, the CIA temporarily restricted access to ensure the campus’s security. The workers did not breach security or pose a threat, according to the source.
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Governor JB Pritzker expressed caution regarding President Trump’s shifting stance on deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, noting silence from sources connected to the administration. Trump had previously indicated he would announce a deployment to a different city, a move that would be a political victory for Pritzker. While the threat of military deployment appears to have diminished for now, Pritzker anticipates an increase in federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. This announcement was made the same day Trump announced the “Midway Blitz,” a measure that has not yet significantly increased arrests.
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Despite Donald Trump’s attempts to broker peace with Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader has shown little interest in direct negotiations with Ukraine. Russia has escalated its aggression by attacking American-owned businesses, bombing civilians, and violating Poland’s airspace, leading to concerns within NATO. Even Republican lawmakers, including Senators Joni Ernst and Thom Tillis, are suggesting Putin is exploiting Trump, with some perceiving a lack of decisive action from the former president. This situation reflects a growing consensus that Putin is not cooperating and that the United States’ approach has been perceived as weak by the Russian leader.
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According to two American officials, the U.S. military destroyed a boat off the coast of Venezuela with an initial strike, followed by a follow-up attack that killed those on board. The boat was under surveillance and appeared to turn toward shore before being struck, possibly by drones operated by Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The Trump administration has offered no evidence to support the assertion that the targeted individuals were “narcoterrorists,” and some officials, including Senator Rand Paul, have expressed concerns about the legality of the strike, given the lack of due process. A former State Department lawyer stated the U.S. is asserting the power to engage in the premeditated killing of people outside of armed conflict.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
Charlie Kirk Shot: Death of a Gun Rights Advocate Draws Irony and Scorn
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday morning while speaking at Utah Valley University. A video resurfaced following the shooting, showing Kirk defending gun rights and stating that some gun deaths were an acceptable cost to preserve the Second Amendment. The shooting occurred during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” as he was addressing a question about mass shootings. Initial reports were unclear, but Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s death, prompting public mourning and debate.
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