Sinema’s Campaign Committee Paid Curious Sums After Termination

According to a new Federal Election Commission disclosure, a man accused of having an affair with former Senator Kyrsten Sinema received nearly $9,000 in October from Sinema’s old campaign committee. Matthew J. Ammel, who worked as a security guard for Sinema, received two payments totaling this amount. These payments are part of over $128,000 paid to Ammel between July 2024 and October 2025. This occurred after Sinema terminated her Sinema for Arizona committee, and the committee spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on unrelated expenses and refunded donors, while also reporting a cash discrepancy.

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Europe: EVs Outsell Gas Cars for First Time, But Context Matters

In a landmark shift, electric vehicles (EVs) outsold gasoline-powered cars in Europe for the first time in December of last year. Over 300,000 EVs were purchased, representing a 50% year-over-year increase, driven by the availability of more affordable models. While hybrids still lead in sales, the growth rate of EV registrations is significantly higher, narrowing the gap. This trend signals a notable transition in the European car market, with gas car registrations declining substantially.

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Russian Drone Strike on Ukraine Bus: 12 Civilians Killed, Anger and Calls for Action

A Russian drone strike on a bus in the southeastern city of Dnipro resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, and injured several others. The attack, which targeted mineworkers, caused a fire that was later extinguished by firefighters. This incident occurred amidst reports of a “massive terrorist attack” by Russian forces on a company mine in the region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia would proceed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

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Trump Claims Epstein Files Absolve Him, Despite Evidence to the Contrary

After the release of the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, Donald Trump claimed he was “absolved” of wrongdoing. Although the files mention him over a thousand times, they did not contain new allegations against him. Despite Trump’s earlier calls for complete file releases, he later dismissed them as a political “hoax.” The attorney general’s indication that this release concludes the government’s compliance with the law drew criticism for potential incompleteness.

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Epstein Files Handling: Attorneys Blast DOJ as “Mess” and Demand Transparency

The release of the latest tranche of Epstein-related documents has prompted criticism and calls for further accountability from survivors and their attorneys. Attorneys representing the victims point out that the released files contain errors that identify victims. Survivors and their advocates express concerns that the government is protecting powerful figures while exposing those who have been harmed. Several political figures have also expressed dissatisfaction with the Department of Justice’s handling of the files, demanding full transparency and adherence to the law requiring the release of all documents.

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Democrat Win in Deep Red District: Trump’s Reaction Questioned

In a stunning turn of events, a Democrat, Taylor Rehmet, defeated the Republican candidate in a special election for a Texas state senate seat, marking the first time in decades that a Democrat has held the position. The election took place in a district that Donald Trump had won by a significant margin in 2024, despite his endorsement and active campaigning for the Republican candidate, Leigh Wambsganss. Wambsganss, supported by prominent Republicans, conceded defeat. The victory for Rehmet, fueled by individual donors, has energized Democrats who see the results as a sign of growing momentum, while many Republicans remain silent on the matter.

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Rice Students Create Nationwide ICE Enforcement Tracker

Rice students are making waves by creating a nationwide ICE tracker, a tool designed to monitor immigration enforcement activities across the country.

This initiative is a testament to the students’ commitment to community and their desire to shed light on immigration enforcement practices. The tool, accessible online, provides a way for individuals and communities to stay informed about ICE operations in their areas. The creation of the tracker demonstrates a proactive approach to monitoring and understanding the scope of immigration enforcement.

One of the interesting observations is the connection between the tracker’s heat map and election results. It seems that the areas where the tracker highlights ICE activity often correlate with regions where Democratic voters are predominant.… Continue reading

Liam Conejo Ramos and Father Return to Minnesota: Asylum Seekers Face Trauma, Highlight Immigration Costs

AP News reports that five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have been released from an ICE facility in Texas and returned to Minnesota following a judge’s order. The father and son, who were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20th, were taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro confirmed their return and escorted them home. The release order from U.S. District Judge Fred Biery criticized the government’s actions, and the case drew outrage due to the circumstances of the boy’s detention.

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Elon Musk’s Starlink Claim Questioned Amid Russia’s Ukraine Use

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that actions taken to prevent unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia appear to be effective. Ukrainian officials had previously raised concerns about the use of Starlink in Russian drone operations, prompting cooperation with SpaceX to address the issue. Despite past disagreements, Ukraine continues to rely on Starlink for crucial military communications. This situation highlights the growing geopolitical influence of Starlink.

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