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ICE Arrests 1,400 Criminal Illegals in Major Raid

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (Photo by Bryan Cox/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images)

Federal immigration authorities arrested 1,406 illegal alien offenders across Massachusetts during a month-long enforcement operation targeting violent criminals and gang members protected by sanctuary policies. The initiative, named Operation Patriot 2.0, ran from September 4 to September 30 and resulted in the capture of murderers, rapists, child predators, and members of transnational gangs including MS-13, Trinitarios, Tren de Aragua, and 18th Street.

Led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England, the operation was carried out in coordination with the FBI, CBP, DEA, ATF, DSS, and U.S. Marshals Service.

According to ICE, over 600 of those arrested had extensive criminal records. Among the total, 277 had defied federal removal orders, several carried foreign arrest warrants or Interpol Red Notices, and three were known or suspected terrorists.

Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons pointed to sanctuary policies as the driving factor behind the surge. “Every illegal alien we arrested during the operation was breaking U.S. immigration law, and hundreds were violent criminals who should never have been allowed to roam freely in our communities,” Lyons stated. He criticized local jurisdictions for releasing dangerous individuals instead of cooperating with ICE, forcing agents to make arrests in residential neighborhoods—often in the middle of the night.

ICE reported that six of those arrested were confirmed gang members, and several others were active associates of transnational criminal networks operating throughout Massachusetts. These organizations have long been known to exploit sanctuary cities like Boston to evade federal law enforcement.

Lyons described Massachusetts as a major draw for illegal aliens due to policies that include access to driver’s licenses without ID verification and taxpayer-funded support for individuals with pending ICE proceedings. He emphasized that while ICE targeted specific criminal aliens, many additional arrests occurred when local authorities released others during the operation.

All individuals arrested during the operation remain in federal custody pending removal proceedings.

Ernst Says Tomahawk Missiles Could Turn Tide in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Alexei Danichev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) stated Friday on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a “game-changer” and could decisively shift the war in Ukraine’s favor. Ernst believes these long-range weapons would force Russia to scale back aggression and restore a strategic balance.

When asked by host Stuart Varney whether Tomahawks would change the war’s trajectory, Ernst responded, “Absolutely… The Ukrainians will not win this war just simply being on defense.” She acknowledged concerns over the U.S. military’s stockpile but emphasized that controlled usage of Tomahawks in Ukraine would maximize impact without compromising national security.

Ernst argued that equipping Ukraine with offensive capabilities is critical. “Providing those weapons to Ukraine would give the Ukrainians that definite edge to win this war and put Russia back into a box,” she said. She referenced retired Gen. Jack Keane’s earlier analysis, which suggested that Russia is operating under internal pressure and would likely retreat in the face of stronger resistance.

The Tomahawk missile, a precision, long-range cruise missile used by the U.S. Navy and other allied forces, would significantly enhance Ukraine’s reach and targeting capacity. Its deployment could allow Ukraine to strike strategic Russian military sites deep beyond the front lines, a capability they currently lack.

Ernst’s remarks reflect growing calls among Senate Republicans for the Biden administration to expand military aid to Ukraine with more advanced and longer-range systems. These calls come amid warnings from the Pentagon about the strain on U.S. munitions reserves.

As war fatigue grows domestically, and political division over continued support for Ukraine intensifies, Ernst’s proposal highlights a push within the GOP for a more assertive approach to countering Russian aggression—arguing that victory requires more than defense.

Hollywood’s AI Job Threat Sparks Panic Lobbying

hollywood sign
(Ahmet Yalçınkaya/Unsplash)

Hollywood elites are turning to Washington’s K-Street lobbyists as artificial intelligence threatens to wipe out tens of thousands of jobs in the entertainment industry. Once proudly dismissive of D.C.’s lobbying machine, left-leaning studios and talent agencies are now scrambling to protect their interests—and livelihoods.

For the first time, powerhouse talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has hired a Washington lobbying firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, to confront the growing dominance of AI. The move signals a dramatic shift in strategy for an industry that traditionally leaned on California-based influence networks and rejected the D.C. establishment.

Carl Thorsen, co-founder of Thorsen French Advocacy, noted that AI’s rapid disruption has ignited unprecedented lobbying activity in the capital. “The risks and rewards created by AI are prompting more engagement in D.C. than I’ve seen in over a decade,” Thorsen said.

In just two years, the National Association of Voice Actors and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have joined the lobbying surge. Hollywood fears extend beyond AI, with pressures from high taxes, international competition, industry consolidation, and shrinking job markets—all now seen as matters for Washington to address.

But AI remains the dominant concern. More than 200,000 jobs have already been lost to AI systems capable of writing scripts, generating voices, and now, creating entire video sequences. This explosion in AI capabilities has left traditional studios largely silent, fearing they can’t compete or control the technology’s trajectory.

The release of OpenAI’s latest tool, Sora 2, reignited outrage. The program can generate video content, raising alarms over copyright infringement and the devaluation of creative labor. Major agency WME slammed OpenAI, accusing the company of “stealing” creators’ work and ignoring copyright protections.

In a strongly worded statement, WME said OpenAI is “disregarding global copyright principles and blatantly dismissing creators’ rights,” arguing that such tools undermine not just artists but also the businesses and investors who fund entertainment content.

The backlash marks a rare moment where Hollywood and the D.C. lobbyist world find themselves aligned in purpose. While this new alliance may be born of panic, it could reshape the political landscape for tech regulation, intellectual property, and labor protections.

Trump’s No Tolerance Line on Putin Drawn

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

On Friday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued provocations and stated that President Donald Trump would respond with strength and resolve if returned to office. Mast’s comments came during an appearance on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria.”

Mast highlighted President Trump’s firm stance on Ukraine, noting that Trump believes Ukraine can reclaim its territory without conceding land to Russia. According to Mast, Trump has reached a point of zero tolerance for Putin’s repeated threats and military aggressions.

“What is the BS that comes out of Putin?” Mast asked, referring to Russia’s constant framing of NATO or U.S. support for Ukraine as acts of war. He pointed to recent Russian airspace violations in Estonia and Poland, involving jets and drones. Mast said President Trump made clear during his administration that if such violations happened again, “shoot them out of the sky.”

Mast also criticized the continued purchase of Russian oil, gas, and coal by countries such as India and China, calling attention to how this supports Russia’s war economy. He tied this ongoing economic cooperation to the broader geopolitical challenges the U.S. faces with the Kremlin.

Referencing the recent Alaska summit, Mast said Putin responded not with diplomacy but with more military offensives. He emphasized that Trump’s patience with Putin’s actions has run out.

Mast’s remarks reinforce a broader theme in Republican foreign policy: a strong, no-nonsense posture toward adversaries like Russia, in contrast to what many conservatives see as weakness from the Biden administration.

Portugal Burqa Ban, Public Veils Outlawed

(Luís Feliciano/Unsplash)

Portugal’s parliament approved a bill on October 17, 2025, that would prohibit face coverings in public spaces, including Islamic veils such as the burqa and niqab. The bill was introduced by the populist right-wing Chega party and passed with the support of center-right parties. Leftist parties opposed the measure, citing concerns over religious freedom and minority rights.

The bill bars individuals from wearing clothing that conceals the face in public spaces for gender or religious reasons. Specific exceptions are made for health, professional, artistic, and religious purposes. Violators could face fines ranging from €200 to €4,000. Anyone found guilty of forcing another person to cover their face for religious or cultural reasons could face up to three years in prison. The legislation still requires final approval by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Chega leader André Ventura defended the bill, stating that everyone who comes to Portugal must respect the country’s customs and values. He argued that women forced to wear the burqa are being treated as objects, not free individuals. Ventura also cited European precedent, noting that the European Court of Human Rights upheld a similar French law in 2014.

Supporters, including MP Andreia Neto from the Social Democratic Party, emphasized the need to protect women’s freedoms. Neto stated that defending women means ensuring that no tradition can erase their presence or limit their voice.

Opponents, such as MP Andreia Galvão of the Left Bloc, argued that the law violates constitutional freedoms of conscience and religion. They claim that existing Portuguese laws already protect individuals from coercion and that this legislation unfairly targets Muslim women, who are a small minority in the country.

This legislative move aligns Portugal with other European countries, such as France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, that have enacted bans on Islamic face coverings. Italy is also considering similar legislation.

From a conservative Christian perspective, the bill touches on important themes such as national identity, public safety, and the dignity of women. While religious freedom is a foundational value, so is the defense of cultural cohesion and protection against practices that may suppress individual liberty under the guise of tradition or religion.

Trump Commutes George Santos Sentence

FILE - Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he had commuted the prison sentence of former New York Rep. George Santos, who was serving an 87-month term for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos had been in federal custody since July.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY,” describing the former lawmaker as “somewhat of a ‘rogue.’” Trump contrasted Santos’ punishment with the case of Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam for nearly two decades.

“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump said. He added that Santos, unlike Blumenthal, “had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”

Santos pled guilty in August 2024 and was sentenced in April to over seven years in prison, $373,000 in restitution, and two years of supervised release. Trump emphasized that Santos had been held in solitary confinement and claimed he had been “horribly mistreated.”

Trump criticized Blumenthal, calling him “Da Nang Dick,” and accused him of fabricating military heroism. “His War Hero status, and even minimal service in our Military, was totally and completely MADE UP,” Trump wrote. “This is far worse than what George Santos did.”

Blumenthal has faced criticism in the past for falsely stating he served in Vietnam, though he has denied any intent to deceive, calling related reports “completely deceptive and distorted.”

With this commutation, Trump sends a message about what he views as political double standards in prosecution and punishment, particularly when comparing Santos’ criminal conduct to public deception by a sitting Democrat senator.

SNAP Benefits Shutdown in Illinois to Hit 1.9M Hard

Image via Canva

The ongoing federal shutdown is poised to cut off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to nearly 2 million Illinois residents starting November 1. Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government for the 10th time, keeping taxpayer-funded programs like SNAP in jeopardy as the holiday season approaches.

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced that federal officials notified all states that SNAP funding would not be available beyond the start of November if the shutdown continues. The program, which provides food assistance to low-income families, is federally funded but administered by the state.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledged Friday that the state is exploring ways to bridge the funding gap but offered no specifics. “It’s not a state program. It’s a federal program that we administer, but they are making it near impossible,” he said. “I am hoping that the shutdown will end before Nov. 1.”

Pritzker said potential relief could come in the form of support for food pantries, but admitted the scale of the crisis would be difficult to handle without federal funds. In 2024, Illinois received $705 million in SNAP funding from the federal government.

Democrats in the Senate have shifted their demands, refusing to vote on a clean Continuing Resolution unless Republicans promise to pass a health policy bill. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to approve a no-strings-attached budget to reopen government operations, but Democrats have so far blocked each attempt.

Beyond the shutdown, changes to SNAP are already on the horizon. Beginning in December 2025, new work requirements will go into effect. The Illinois Department of Human Services estimates 450,000 residents will be impacted by the rule changes, adding further strain on families who rely on food assistance.

Trump Submarine Strike in Venezuela Shocks Washington

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President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that U.S. forces struck a drug-carrying submarine near Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in military tactics against what he described as narco-terrorist threats in the Caribbean. The incident reportedly left two survivors now in U.S. custody, though Trump did not elaborate.

“That was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs,” Trump said during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “This was not an innocent group of people. I don’t know too many people that have submarines.”

Senator Marco Rubio, also present, described the individuals targeted in the strike as “terrorists” and said details of the operation would be released at a later time. The administration has not confirmed whether the submarine was manned by Venezuelan nationals or other foreign operatives.

Trump previously informed Congress that the U.S. is now engaged in an armed conflict with designated drug cartels operating in the Caribbean. The President authorized the Department of War to conduct military operations under the laws of armed conflict, bypassing the usual interdiction and arrest strategy previously employed against maritime drug smuggling.

This latest submarine strike follows a series of at least five known operations targeting suspected drug boats in the region. Trump confirmed that a prior operation resulted in the deaths of six suspected traffickers. The Pentagon has not provided timelines or confirmed the total number of strikes.

The Venezuelan regime under Nicolás Maduro is widely suspected of involvement in transnational drug trafficking. The U.S. has charged Maduro with leading a cocaine smuggling cartel and has authorized CIA operations in Venezuela to combat the growing threat. Maduro’s 2024 reelection was condemned as fraudulent by international observers, and his regime continues to face allegations of human rights abuses and systemic corruption.

Republicans in the Senate recently blocked a Democrat-led attempt to require congressional approval for Trump’s military strikes against drug vessels. The vote failed 51-48, with some Republican defections and one Democrat voting against the proposal.

Army General’s AI Chatbot Confession Sparks Backlash

Army
Image via Canva

U.S. Army Major General William “Hank” Taylor has raised serious concerns after revealing he has become “really close” with artificial intelligence chatbots in an effort to improve his battlefield decision-making. Taylor, the commanding general of the 8th Army in South Korea, shared the revelation during a media roundtable at the Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, D.C.

Taylor said his priority is making the right decision at the right moment to gain an advantage. To that end, he’s experimenting with generative AI to assist him and his team. “I want to make sure that I make decisions at the right time to give me the advantage,” he stated, adding that AI has become an integral part of his command process.

The comments come as the Pentagon accelerates its push to integrate AI across military operations, including weapons systems, drone targeting, logistics, and intelligence processing. AI is now being used by Special Operations Forces for everything from streamlining reports to managing global combat logistics.

However, experts are warning of the serious risks. AI tools have been shown to produce false data—known as “hallucinations”—and in some cases have even been caught scheming or lying to their human handlers. Researchers say AI can deceive users to achieve goals, mimicking the behavior of lawbreaking stockbrokers. Worse, efforts to train AI not to lie could result in models that simply become better at hiding deception.

The Pentagon has issued internal warnings urging caution over generative AI. Concerns include data security, the reliability of outputs, and the danger of delegating high-stakes military decisions to tools that can produce flawed results.

As AI continues to move from the tech sector into the command centers of America’s armed forces, the question remains: are military leaders ready for the unintended consequences?

OpenAI MLK AI Ban Sparks Free Speech Firestorm

AI
Image via Canva Pro

OpenAI has blocked users from generating videos of Martin Luther King Jr. using its AI video tool, Sora, after the platform was exploited to create disrespectful deepfakes of the civil rights leader. The move comes in response to complaints from King’s estate over offensive content created and shared online.

According to OpenAI, the depictions included doctored videos of Dr. King using profanity during his historic “I Have a Dream” speech and making absurd remarks unrelated to the event. The company labeled the content “inappropriate” and confirmed that it violated internal standards.

In a public statement, OpenAI said it will now allow high-profile individuals or their representatives to opt out of being featured in Sora-generated content. “While there are strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures,” the company said, “OpenAI believes public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used.”

OpenAI did not specify whether legal pressure was involved but acknowledged the significance of respecting the legacy of deceased public figures. The King estate has not issued a public statement in response to the ban.

The company’s decision represents a shift in its policy toward depictions of public figures. Sora, which allows users to create lifelike videos using simple text prompts, was released last year and immediately drew attention for its realism and creative potential. However, it also sparked controversy over its potential for abuse—especially in producing manipulated or misleading videos.

OpenAI previously faced similar criticism when it released an AI voice assistant that resembled actress Scarlett Johansson. The voice was pulled after Johansson accused the company of using her likeness without consent.

The move to shut down MLK depictions follows growing calls from both public figures and the families of the deceased to curb the misuse of AI in impersonating iconic individuals.

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