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House Passes Trump-Backed Spending Bill

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House Republicans passed a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

In a mostly-partisan vote, the bill passed in a 217-212 vote, with Republicans Victoria Spartz (IN), and Thomas Massie (KY) voting against it. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, voted in favor of the measure.

President Trump urged the House to pass the bill in a Thursday evening Truth Social post. “House Republicans are taking a very important Vote to pass a CLEAN TEMPORARY FUNDING BILL. The Leader of the Democrats, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, wants to shut the Government down,” he wrote. “Republicans want the Government to stay open. Every House Republican should UNIFY, and VOTE YES!”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said this week that the “short-term, clean continuing resolution” will “keep the government funded and operating at current levels while we continue all this work and doing our jobs and getting the remaining bills done.”

“This will not be a partisan CR, it’ll be a clean, short-term continuing resolution, end of story,” he reiterated. “And it’s interesting to me that some of the same Democrats who decried government shutdowns under President Biden appear to have no heartache whatsoever at walking our nation off that cliff right now. I hope they don’t. I hope that they’ll work with us so we can all do our jobs here. We get a short-term CR done, complete the appropriations bill, and get back to the regular order that we have all seen as necessary so we can be good stewards of taxpayers’ funds.”

The Senate is expected to consider the bill on Friday afternoon.

UNRWA Hamas Ties Exposed: Watchdog Warns of U.S. Taxpayer Fund Hamas-Linked Teachers

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A new investigation has revealed extensive UNRWA Hamas ties, showing how the terror group has dominated the U.N. agency’s Gaza operations for more than a decade. The report, released by U.N. Watch, alleges that Hamas leaders have embedded themselves into teaching and administrative positions within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), allowing them to spread extremist ideology using Western taxpayer dollars.

“By knowingly employing Hamas terrorist leaders as school principals and teachers, and by allowing terror chiefs to head the unions that oversee thousands of their teachers, UNRWA didn’t just tolerate extremism—the Western-funded U.N. agency institutionalized it, turning classrooms into incubators of hate,” the report states.

The 220-page document details how at least 22 Hamas members were appointed to significant posts since 2011. Among them was Suhail Al-Hindi, a Hamas leader who also served as an UNRWA school principal and union chief. Between 2006 and 2017, he oversaw 8,000 teachers and 220,000 students across 240 schools before joining Hamas’s politburo.

The report highlights additional cases, such as Fateh Sharif, a former UNRWA school principal in Lebanon, who Hamas later eulogized as its leader there after an Israeli airstrike killed him in September 2024. Despite years of public Hamas ties, UNRWA awarded Sharif a certificate of appreciation before suspending him earlier that year.

U.N. Watch argues the evidence shows a consistent pattern: “UNRWA turns a blind eye to its employees’ ties to Hamas, and to their incitement to Hamas terrorism and antisemitism, unless forced to take action to avoid scandal and preserve its public image in Western countries that are the primary donors.”

Thacker Pass Mine Uncertainty Jeopardizes US Lithium Supply, Risks Deepened China Dependency

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The future of the Thacker Pass lithium mine—the largest planned lithium project in the United States located in northern Nevada—now hangs in the balance after Department of Energy (DOE) officials cast doubt on its viability during a contentious June meeting in Washington, D.C.

The project, approved under the first Trump administration in 2020, has drawn widespread bipartisan support because it sits atop one of the world’s largest known lithium deposits. The mineral, essential for military technology and energy production, is currently dominated by China, which processes up to 70 percent of global supply.

Yet DOE loan chief Gregory Beard questioned whether Thacker Pass had enough buyers, pointing to China’s manipulated lithium prices. He proposed General Motors, a lead investor, sign a binding “take or pay” deal to purchase lithium from the mine for two decades. Without the $2.3 billion DOE loan for a processing facility, the project could stall indefinitely. “The largest lithium project in the country could go tits up,” warned one person close to the project.

Supporters argue Thacker Pass is vital to U.S. energy security. Nick Loris of C3 Solutions said, “Given the bang for your buck that we could get from the lithium production out of this mine, it is one of the, I think, most critical projects that we have in the United States.”

Despite bipartisan backing from Nevada’s governor and congressional delegation, the loan disbursement remains stalled. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently stressed, “The battery supply chain starts underground in America.” That reality underscores the stakes: without Thacker Pass, U.S. dependence on China’s critical minerals will only deepen.

Queens Teen Killed by Illegal Drunk Driver After Rejection

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A 16-year-old girl was killed in Queens, New York, after she and her mother were allegedly harassed by a drunk driver who then used his vehicle as a weapon. The driver, 38-year-old Edwin Cruz Gomez, is accused of making crude sexual advances toward the teen and her mother before running them down with his SUV early Saturday morning.

The incident began outside a restaurant where Gomez approached the girl and her family with inappropriate comments. A physical confrontation followed between Gomez and the girl’s stepfather, which bystanders broke up. As the family walked away, Gomez reportedly got into his vehicle and intentionally drove it into the group, pinning the teenager against a pole and injuring her mother.

The teenager died at the scene. Her mother is recovering in stable condition. Gomez fled but was later apprehended by police after crashing into a parked car nearby.

Authorities say Gomez is an illegal immigrant from Honduras with a long history of prior arrests, including multiple DUI charges and a prior deportation. His most recent arrest before this incident was earlier this year for driving under the influence, after which he was released. ICE has now placed a detainer on him.

Gomez faces numerous charges, including murder, attempted murder, and assault. The case has reignited concerns about immigration enforcement and public safety, especially regarding individuals with repeat offenses.

Oregon High School Teacher Sparks Outrage Over Kirk Assassination

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Students at Thurston High School in Oregon staged a walkout this week after a teacher sparked outrage by publicly celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Despite widespread backlash, the teacher remains employed at the school.

Bobby Nove, a teacher at the school, posted the word “good” in response to a news article reporting Kirk’s death on September 10. The brief but explosive comment immediately drew condemnation from students, parents, and members of the wider community.

“He said ‘good,’ and that kind of implies he would be okay with other murders,” student Trey Sonhill told local outlet KVAL. “That makes students and other teachers feel unsafe, so we are out here to stand for that and stand up for people that aren’t us.”

Another student, Rowan Taylor, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, saying, “That ideology and just believing that murder is OK is not OK. If he’s okay with this murder, it brings up the question, what other ones is he okay with?”

The students’ protest centered on demands for accountability and ensuring that the school environment remains safe and respectful for all students—regardless of political beliefs.

In response to the controversy, the Springfield Public Schools district issued a statement condemning the views expressed by the teacher. “The views expressed in the post do not reflect the values of SPS,” the district said. “We are taking this matter seriously.”

While the district did not confirm any disciplinary action taken against Nove, community members and students are continuing to call for his removal, arguing that a person who openly condones political violence should not be in a position of authority over children.

Pritzker Pushes Illinois Quantum Growth, Senator Cautions Cost

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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is making a national pitch for his state to become the hub of America’s quantum computing revolution. Speaking at the 2025 Quantum World Congress in Virginia, Pritzker invited top researchers, investors, and startups to consider relocating their operations to Chicago and beyond.

“We have Duality, which is the nation’s first quantum startup accelerator,” Pritzker told attendees. “We have the second-highest number of Fortune 500 companies, the customers for quantum, of any region in the nation.”

Pritzker highlighted that collaboration is already underway at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago, which he described as a nucleus of innovation where major corporations, government agencies, and academic researchers are building next-generation quantum hardware and software.

But not everyone is convinced the state’s quantum ambitions should proceed without scrutiny.

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) acknowledged the immense promise of quantum computing but said any deals made to attract companies must be closely examined to protect Illinois taxpayers and ratepayers.

“It all depends on how the deals are negotiated,” Rezin said. “We want to be conscious about the costs, especially on the ratepayers, on the taxpayers. Very important.”

Illinois has already invested tens of millions in state tax incentives to lure quantum businesses to the region. As the industry rapidly evolves, the competition among states to become the next quantum epicenter is intensifying.

Professor Brian DeMarco, Director of the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center at the University of Illinois, said the potential is transformative. Quantum computers, he explained, can solve complex problems that today’s most powerful supercomputers can’t handle—like managing energy grids or forecasting power demand at the state level.

Rezin echoed that sentiment but stressed that economic responsibility must accompany innovation.

“It is fair to say that once it is built out, many of the problems we’ve been trying to solve for decades might finally have solutions through quantum computing,” she said.

Mayor Sparks Outrage After “Glad Charlie Kirk Is Gone” Post

Bernville, Pennsylvania Mayor Shawn Raup-Konsavage (D) is facing severe backlash after he posted on social media that he is “glad” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is dead. His comment read, “This is what MAGA represents, This is what Trump lowered flags for. If this represents you then I don’t want to hear that you are offended that I’m glad he is gone.”

This post comes just over a year after another incendiary remark from the mayor. Following the July 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Raup-Konsavage wrote on Facebook, “Try harder.”

The inflammatory nature of the mayor’s comments has reignited controversy in the small Berks County town. Local resident Mark Rodriguez noted, “That Trump post that he had posted, there was a lot of controversy with that in this town, a lot of hatred towards him after that.”

“Me, I really don’t care honestly,” Rodriguez added. “But it’s sad when everybody judges this man based on his opinion. He’s done great things for this town; he’s helped a lot and with all this going on it seems like he just shelters himself now.”

Wayne Lesher, the Bernville Borough Council vice president, also condemned the mayor’s remarks. “He said what he wanted to on his own Facebook page which is freedom of speech and all that, but I certainly don’t agree with it and I think what he said was terrible. You’re celebrating the death of somebody; that’s nothing to celebrate.”

Lesher added, “It does have consequences. Several people have lost their jobs because of what they said, and you have freedom of speech to say what you want but you can pay for it too.”

As pressure mounts from both inside and outside the community, questions are now being raised over whether the mayor will resign or face disciplinary action from local government.

Trump Criticizes Jimmy Kimmel Over Charlie Kirk Remarks

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President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized Jimmy Kimmel harshly following ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely. The suspension came after remarks Kimmel made about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Trump said Kimmel should have been fired “a long time ago,” citing both low ratings and offensive commentary. “Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person,” Trump said. “He had very bad ratings, and they should have fired him a long time ago. So you know, you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.”

The controversy began after Kimmel suggested that supporters of Trump were trying to distance themselves from the suspect in Kirk’s murder while also politicizing it. That led to backlash from conservative figures and federals regulators. ABC affiliate groups, including Nexstar, dropped the show from their stations, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr spoke out against Kimmel’s comments as misleading.

Prominent Democrats—including former President Barack Obama—questioned whether this was an example of “cancel culture” and condemned what they saw as political pressure influencing ABC’s decision. Meanwhile, free speech advocates and media analysts warned that this could set dangerous precedents for broadcast media.

Trump, however, stood by the network’s actions, framing them as overdue. “They said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” he added. His comments further fueled debate over whether the show’s suspension is about accountability or politicking.

Harris Says Buttigieg Was First Choice for VP, But Ticket Risked Too Much

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Kamala Harris, in her memoir 107 Days, reveals Pete Buttigieg was her preferred running mate during the 2024 campaign — but ultimately, she decided against the pairing, believing the American electorate wasn’t ready. She writes that Buttigieg “would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight white man.”

Harris argued that she was already asking a lot of voters: to accept a Black woman, one married to a Jewish man, as vice president, and that adding the openly gay Buttigieg to the ticket would be pushing those boundaries too far. She admits part of her wanted to take the risk, but concluded the political cost was too high. “And I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness,” Harris writes.

She instead chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris praises Buttigieg’s communication skills and ability to convey liberal arguments in ways that resonate with critics. Despite her admiration, she believed the combination of her identity and his would pose vulnerabilities in the campaign.

Her memoir also reflects on other difficult decisions, including whether President Joe Biden should have stepped back earlier in the campaign, describing it as “recklessness.” Harris acknowledges the many pressures she faced as a candidate trying to break historical barriers while also trying to win.

Despite the controversy stirred by her admissions, Harris’s book has sparked renewed attention on the internal dynamics of the 2020 and 2024 Democratic campaigns. Political observers note that her comments could complicate relationships within the party as 2028 looms, especially if both she and Buttigieg decide to pursue the presidency. Critics argue the revelations may alienate key Democratic voter blocs, while others see it as a rare moment of candor from a politician long accused of being overly scripted.

Starbucks Clarifies ‘Charlie Kirk’ Name Policy for Orders

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Customers at Starbucks have been ordering Charlie Kirk’s favorite drink—Mint Majesty tea with two honeys—in tribute to the conservative activist who said he drank it daily to protect his voice. Many provide the name “Charlie” or “Charlie Kirk” when placing their order.

One video went viral showing a Starbucks employee refusing to write “Charlie Kirk” on a cup, stating that it was “political.” The customer asked why, and the barista reportedly responded that such names were not acceptable under store policy. The customer then canceled the order.

After backlash, Starbucks clarified in statements that the name “Charlie Kirk” or similar personal names may be used on orders. The company acknowledged previous guidance discouraged political slogans or phrases on cups, but emphasized that customer‑chosen names (even political ones) are allowed.

Starbucks also addressed claims that a barista labeled someone’s cup with “loser :)” beneath their name. The company said the insult was not written by a staff member and likely added after the cup was handed off. Starbucks said it is investigating and reiterated its policy: baristas should respect customers’ preferred names on their orders.

In the days following Kirk’s assassination, tributes have poured in across social media from conservatives and young activists, many of whom credit him with shaping their political views. The Mint Majesty tea order has quickly become a symbolic gesture among supporters, who say it’s a simple way to honor his legacy in everyday life.

While the controversy over names on coffee cups may seem trivial to some, for many it reflects a broader concern about political bias in corporate spaces. Supporters of Kirk have urged Starbucks to ensure its stores are neutral and respectful toward all customers, regardless of political beliefs, emphasizing that honoring someone who was murdered should never be treated as “controversial.”

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