Rep. Smith Calls Trump’s Government Efficiency Plan ‘Absolute Lie’

October 4, 2025

Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) accused President Donald Trump of lying to the American people about his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, calling it a power grab disguised as reform. Speaking Tuesday on MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera Reports, Smith claimed the plan has “nothing to do with efficiency” and everything to do with consolidating control.

“If we identify what Trump and Musk are doing as what it is—which is basically trying to smash the federal government so that they can have greater power and control—this has nothing to do with efficiency and effectiveness,” Smith said. “You line up 100 CEOs in the country and ask if this is how you make your business more efficient—absolutely zero would say yes.”

The Washington Democrat argued that Trump’s DOGE initiative, developed with entrepreneur Elon Musk, is designed to “create a situation where they have the power to do whatever they want, whenever they want, without any checks on that power.”

Smith urged Democrats to “call it what it is” and continue using the courts to challenge the administration. “Use the courts to block the illegal actions that they’re taking,” he said, calling for a broader messaging campaign to rally opposition.

He also dismissed Republican arguments that the plan would improve fiscal responsibility, accusing Trump of hypocrisy. “They give impassioned pleas about the debt and the deficit,” Smith said. “And today they’re planning on voting for a budget resolution that is going to increase the debt by $2 trillion over the next decade.”

Smith concluded, “This is an absolute lie that Donald Trump is telling to the American people. Call them out on that lie and begin to build support to push back.”

The DOGE initiative, announced earlier this year, aims to streamline federal departments and reduce bureaucracy—a move the Trump administration says will cut waste and strengthen accountability. Critics, however, claim it threatens job stability and centralizes executive power.

Schumer Explodes Over Illegal Immigrant Healthcare Claims

October 4, 2025

During an interview Friday on CNN’s The Lead, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) angrily dismissed Republican claims that Democrats’ spending proposal would expand healthcare access to illegal immigrants, calling the accusation “a lot of bull.”

CNN host Jake Tapper pressed Schumer on GOP concerns that Democrats’ plan to repeal part of a Republican budget law would restore federal reimbursements for emergency Medicaid—payments hospitals use to treat uninsured patients, including illegal immigrants. Tapper noted the Trump administration had described this as a loophole allowing federal funds to reach undocumented individuals through emergency medical services.

Schumer rejected the characterization outright. “It’s all a lot of bull,” he said. “Not a single federal dollar goes to undocumented immigrants, not for Medicare, not for Medicaid, not for ACA.”

When Tapper pressed further, asking whether Schumer disputed that hospitals treating undocumented immigrants could benefit indirectly from the proposed funding increase, Schumer doubled down. “Any—no federal dollar is allowed, by law, to go to undocumented immigrants,” he said. “They just came up with this recently because they’re afraid to talk about the merits.”

Republicans argue that repealing the reimbursement reduction would, in practice, channel taxpayer funds to hospitals that treat large numbers of illegal immigrants—functioning as an indirect subsidy. The GOP maintains that Democrats’ proposal undermines the intent of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which limited federal spending on emergency Medicaid for hospitals treating noncitizens.

The dispute comes amid the broader Democrat-led government shutdown, which Republicans say is driven by Democrats’ refusal to accept a clean continuing resolution that maintains restrictions preventing illegal immigrants from accessing federally funded healthcare.

Schumer’s denial echoes statements by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who similarly claimed “not a single federal dollar” is provided to undocumented immigrants through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act—claims that conservative analysts say overlook indirect funding mechanisms benefiting hospitals serving illegal populations.

Cori Bush Launches Comeback Bid After Primary Defeat

October 4, 2025

Former Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has announced her bid to reclaim Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, just months after losing her seat in a contentious Democratic primary. In a new campaign video released Friday, Bush invoked her St. Louis roots and accused “big money” interests of pushing her out of office.

Bush, a former member of the far-left “Squad,” lost her 2024 primary race to St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, who secured 51 percent of the vote with backing from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying organization. Bush’s announcement video featured headlines referencing AIPAC and Republican donors, framing her defeat as the result of “outside money” and “lies” targeting her progressive agenda.

“But because I spoke truth, they pushed back,” Bush said. “Attacked my name, my motives, spread lies and hate.”

Bush has frequently clashed with AIPAC, calling it a “threat to democracy” and accusing it of trying to “buy congressional seats.” Her rhetoric intensified after fellow “Squad” member Jamaal Bowman lost his New York primary in a similar contest influenced by pro-Israel spending.

The former congresswoman’s career has been defined by controversy and hard-left positions. Bush opposed the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act,” which barred participants in the October 7 Hamas attacks from entering the United States — leaving her and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) as the only two House members to vote no.

She has also faced a federal investigation over campaign payments to her husband for “security services,” despite his lack of a security license. Her campaign reportedly spent over $770,000 on private security while she advocated for “Defund the Police.” Additional scrutiny followed revelations that her committee paid thousands to a “spiritual guru” with a history of antisemitic remarks.

Despite these scandals, Bush insists she represents working-class St. Louisans who “don’t answer to wealthy donors.” In her new announcement, she said, “All across America, we see our rights rolled back, our history being rewritten, our lives on the line. The stakes for our community have never been higher.”

Bush will now face an uphill battle to regain her seat in what promises to be another closely watched race in 2026.

Czech Dissident Author Ivan Klíma Dies at 94

October 4, 2025

Nazi Germany — (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Ivan Klíma, the celebrated Czech novelist, playwright, and anti-communist dissident whose work chronicled life under Europe’s totalitarian regimes, has died at 94. His son, Michal Klíma, told the Czech news agency ČTK that he passed away Saturday morning at home after a long illness.

Born Ivan Kauders in Prague on September 14, 1931, Klíma’s early life was scarred by the Nazi occupation. As a child, he and his Jewish family were deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where they miraculously survived the Holocaust. After World War II, he initially welcomed the rise of communism in Czechoslovakia — a sentiment soon replaced by disillusionment as the regime turned repressive.

Klíma joined the Communist Party in 1953 but was expelled in 1967 after openly criticizing the government’s censorship and oppression. Following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, his books were banned, forcing him into the underground dissident movement. His works circulated through samizdat publications while he endured state surveillance and censorship.

Among his most acclaimed novels are Judge on Trial, Love and Garbage, My Golden Trades, and his two-volume memoir My Crazy Century, in which he explored the moral and spiritual consequences of living under tyranny. “The craziness of the 20th century that I write about has to do with the totalitarian ideologies which were responsible for unbelievable crimes,” he said in a 2010 interview.

Klíma spent a year teaching at the University of Michigan in 1969–1970, where he formed close ties with American author Philip Roth, who helped publish Czech dissident writers in the United States. After the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Klíma became a symbol of intellectual resistance, honored by then-President Václav Havel with the Medal for Outstanding Service to the Czech Republic in 2002 and recipient of the Franz Kafka Prize the same year.

Reflecting on his life, Klíma once said the most defining moment was his liberation from the concentration camp: “There’s only life or death. Nothing else matters.”

Texas Border City Commissioner Charged in Money Laundering and Smuggling Case

October 4, 2025

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A city commissioner from McAllen, Texas, has been arrested on federal charges of money laundering and smuggling, accused of running an illegal used clothing operation that extended into Mexico. Authorities also arrested his wife, who allegedly helped arrange the cross-border transactions.

Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo, a McAllen city commissioner, appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge on Friday, where his bond was set at $100,000. His wife, Bertha Castillo, faced similar charges and received a $75,000 bond. The arrests followed coordinated raids on used clothing warehouses across McAllen, during which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents also detained several illegal migrants found working at the sites.

According to a federal criminal complaint, the case began in August when a confidential informant recorded a phone call with Castillo about purchasing and smuggling used clothing into Mexico. During the call, Castillo admitted to bribing Mexican federal police with about 20,000 pesos ($1,000 USD) per shipment to bypass customs regulations. He allegedly promised customers partial refunds if their goods were seized.

Mexico tightly restricts the importation of used clothing, and federal authorities say Castillo’s operation exploited those laws through bribery and corruption. Used clothing smuggling is often linked to organized crime and cartel activity in northern Mexico.

Investigators said an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent later met with Bertha Castillo at the couple’s business, Oro Ropa Usada, to hand over $20,700 for a shipment of clothing. On September 2, federal agents stopped a truck headed to Reynosa, Mexico, from the business and discovered improperly documented cargo, including clothing, motor oil, and food.

Subsequent searches seized 57 bales of clothing, 300 containers of motor oil, and 200 boxes of food. During Thursday’s raid at the Castillos’ home and business, agents also detained several illegal migrants allegedly employed at the warehouse.

Both Castillos remain under federal investigation and face potential prison time if convicted.

Tesla Cybertruck Crash Lawsuit Alleges Deadly Door Flaw

October 4, 2025

The parents of a 19-year-old California woman killed in a fiery Tesla Cybertruck crash last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, claiming the vehicle’s door handle design prevented their daughter from escaping the burning wreck.

Carl and Noelle Tsukahara filed the suit in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging Tesla’s electronic door system failed after the crash, trapping their daughter, Krysta Tsukahara, inside. The November 2024 accident in Piedmont, California, killed three people — driver Soren Dixon, 19, passenger Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara. A fourth occupant survived after a witness broke a window with a tree branch to pull them out.

The lawsuit argues Tesla’s Cybertruck doors are powered by a 12-volt battery that can lose power during collisions, rendering the electronic handles inoperable. It also contends that the interior manual release is “hidden and difficult to locate,” leaving passengers unable to escape in emergencies.

Attorney Roger Dreyer, representing the Tsukaharas, called the case a “horror story,” accusing Tesla of ignoring known safety flaws. “Tesla knows that it’s happened and that it’s going to happen,” Dreyer said. “They are doing nothing but selling the car with a system that entraps people and doesn’t provide a way of extraction.”

The 36-page complaint cites over 30 similar cases of Tesla door malfunctions, alleging Krysta survived the impact but died from smoke inhalation and burns because she could not open the door.

Tesla has not commented on the lawsuit. Federal regulators are already investigating the automaker for door issues linked to its Model Y SUVs, adding pressure on the company’s safety practices.

The California Highway Patrol determined that speeding and impairment were factors in the Piedmont crash, noting alcohol and cocaine were found in the victims’ systems. However, Dreyer insists Tesla bears responsibility for a design that “entombed” the occupants.

The Tsukaharas are seeking punitive damages, accusing Tesla of negligence and “conscious disregard” for consumer safety. Reports suggest Tesla is considering redesigning its door handles amid growing concerns about electronic failures trapping passengers.

Four-Time Deported Mexican National Arrested Outside Houston ICE Office

October 4, 2025

A previously deported Mexican national with a violent criminal history was arrested Thursday outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Houston Field Office after approaching the facility armed with a knife and carrying a crack pipe. Homeland Security officials say the incident underscores the daily dangers faced by immigration officers as they confront rising threats from repeat offenders.

In a statement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin identified the suspect as Jose Andres Rodriguez-Torrez, a criminal illegal alien who had been removed from the U.S. four times but later released under Biden administration policies.

“These are the types of threats and risks our officers face every single day as they work to remove the worst of the worst,” McLaughlin said. “This violence against federal law enforcement MUST END.”

Officers encountered Rodriguez-Torrez in a restricted parking area outside ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Houston. As agents approached, the suspect tensed and dropped to the ground, revealing a sheathed knife on his waist. Officers quickly disarmed and detained him. A search uncovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine.

A biometric background check confirmed Rodriguez-Torrez’s illegal status and extensive immigration history. Since first entering the U.S. near Tecate, California, in 2012, he has been arrested and deported four times. Despite these removals, he reentered the country repeatedly and was most recently released by Seattle authorities in 2024 after a burglary arrest in the sanctuary city.

DHS officials said Rodriguez-Torrez remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. “Thanks to Biden’s open border policies, he was allowed to continue to terrorize Americans,” a DHS statement read.

The arrest follows a September 24 shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, where a gunman opened fire, killing two illegal aliens and injuring a third before taking his own life. DHS reports a 1,000 percent increase in attacks on ICE agents since President Donald Trump began his renewed immigration enforcement initiative earlier this year.

Farage Warns of ‘Broken Britain’ After Synagogue Attack

October 4, 2025

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage issued a stark warning Friday following the Yom Kippur terrorist attack outside a Manchester synagogue, saying Britain is facing “societal breakdown.” His remarks came as pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted across the country within hours of the attack, which left two worshippers dead and several others injured.

Speaking in a video message, Farage condemned the killing of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, describing it as a “devastating act of evil.” He said, “The scenes of Jewish people being butchered on the streets of Manchester yesterday shocked many of us to the core. Our absolutely most sincere condolences go out to the victims and their families.”

Farage warned that the problem extended beyond the attack itself, pointing to the scenes that followed: “Within just a few hours, we saw in London, Glasgow, and elsewhere pro-Palestinian flags on the streets. They weren’t demonstrating—they were celebrating.” He said such open displays of hate showed Britain’s moral decline.

The Reform UK leader criticized the government’s weak response, calling Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s statement of “disappointment” wholly inadequate. “That’s the most the Home Secretary can say?” Farage asked. “Well, I hope all of you watching are outraged—and frankly frightened.”

Farage said Prime Minister Keir Starmer had “emboldened” extremists by recognizing a Palestinian state two weeks earlier. “Never forget, this is the prime minister who took the knee to an extremist group,” he said, warning that an upcoming “hate march” planned for London could further inflame tensions.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis echoed Farage’s concern, saying the attack came amid “an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, campuses, and social media.” Police identified the attacker as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian origin, who was on bail for rape allegations at the time.

Farage closed his message with a grim assessment: “I feel more worried about the state of broken Britain than I ever have before.”

FBI Cuts All Ties with SPLC, Citing ‘Partisan Smear Machine’

October 4, 2025

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has officially severed all ties with the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday.

In a statement posted to social media, Patel said the SPLC “long ago abandoned civil rights work and turned into a partisan smear machine,” condemning the organization’s history of labeling mainstream conservative and Christian groups as “hate organizations.”

“Their so-called ‘hate map’ has been used to defame mainstream Americans and even inspired violence,” Patel wrote. “That disgraceful record makes them unfit for any FBI partnership. In April, during our Anti-Christian Bias Panel, I made it clear that the FBI will never rely on politicized or agenda-driven intelligence from outside groups — and certainly not from the SPLC. Under this FBI, all ties with the SPLC have officially been terminated.”

The SPLC’s controversial “Hate Map,” created in 2000, has drawn increasing scrutiny for lumping conservative organizations alongside extremist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. In recent years, the SPLC labeled Turning Point USA, founded by free speech advocate Charlie Kirk, as an “anti-government extremist group.” Kirk was tragically assassinated in September while speaking at Utah Valley University.

The SPLC has also targeted parental rights organizations like Moms for Liberty, along with Gays Against Groomers, a group opposing the sexualization of children. Critics argue the SPLC’s actions have fueled harassment and violence against ordinary Americans.

Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec praised Patel’s move, writing, “Thank you to Kash Patel for severing the FBI’s ties to the SPLC. This organization is responsible for terrible acts in our country… America will be greater when these hate factories are discredited and disbanded.”

The FBI’s decision marks a major shift, distancing the agency from a group long accused of politicizing intelligence and spreading ideological bias under the guise of civil rights advocacy.

Oracle Extortion Campaign Tied to Clop Hackers

October 3, 2025

Google (1) — Google (Nathana Rebouças/Unsplash)

Security researchers from Mandiant and Google are investigating a new extortion campaign targeting corporate executives with claims that hackers stole data from Oracle’s E-Business Suite systems.

According to BleepingComputer, the campaign began in late September and involves emails sent from hundreds of compromised accounts. The messages threaten executives with the release of sensitive data allegedly stolen from Oracle systems unless ransom demands are met.

Charles Carmakal, CTO of Mandiant – Google Cloud, said at least one email account used in the campaign had ties to FIN11, a financially motivated group known for ransomware and extortion schemes. The extortion emails also contained contact details linked to the Clop ransomware gang, raising suspicions of their involvement.

Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) noted that the claims remain unverified. “Investigations are still in the early stages, and the claims made by the group behind the campaign have not yet been substantiated,” said Genevieve Stark, head of cybercrime intelligence at GTIG.

Following initial reports, individuals claiming to represent Clop contacted BleepingComputer directly, asserting responsibility for the campaign and alleging that they exploited a flaw in Oracle’s software. “Soon all will become obvious that Oracle bugged up their core product and once again, the task is on Clop to save the day,” the group claimed. They offered no proof, only insisting that they “do not damage systems” but expect “payment for services” to protect affected companies.

The U.S. State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information linking Clop’s ransomware activities to foreign governments, underscoring the threat level.

At this stage, there is no confirmed evidence that Oracle systems were actually breached, and researchers continue to investigate the extent of the campaign.