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Durbin Explodes Over Trump’s ‘Secret Police’ in Chicago

MAY 11: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asks questions while U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense May 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. Lloyd, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley and Department of Defense Comptroller Michael McCord testified on proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Defense during the hearing. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago during a CNN interview Tuesday, calling it a “farce” and likening federal agents to “secret police.” The criticism came as a senior Border Patrol official faced legal scrutiny over tactics used during recent arrests in the city.

Durbin responded to video evidence allegedly showing the official deploying tear gas into a crowd. He denounced the operation’s approach, stating that 70% of those detained in recent ICE raids have no criminal record. The Illinois senator claimed agents were targeting community gatherings like church services and Halloween parades, suggesting the federal effort is more performative than protective.

The enforcement surge in Chicago is part of the Trump administration’s expanded crackdown on illegal immigration, aimed at arresting and deporting individuals with outstanding removal orders. The operation has faced mounting legal and political challenges over its tactics and the presence of heavily armed, often masked federal agents.

Durbin called the ongoing effort a “military presence” and an “outrage,” accusing the administration of using immigration enforcement to intimidate communities and erode civil liberties.

The legal battle continues as federal officials prepare to defend their actions in court amid growing resistance from Democrat-led cities like Chicago.

Florida AG Slams Insanity Defense After Child Killer Walks Free

Sakhorn38/Getty via Canva Pro

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling for the state to consider tightening its laws on the use of the insanity defense after a convicted child killer, released early from prison, was found living near two schools in Marion County.

At a press conference Tuesday, Uthmeier revealed that 42-year-old Ronald Exantus, originally from Kentucky, had been residing in a home directly adjacent to Sunrise Elementary School and just blocks from Horizon Academy. Exantus had failed to register as a convicted felon with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a violation of his parole conditions.

“The facts of this case are tragic,” Uthmeier said. “A 6-year-old was brutally stabbed in his sleep and killed. What’s even more tragic is that this guy was released after only seven years behind bars.”

Exantus was charged in 2015 with the stabbing death of 6-year-old Logan Tipton in Versailles, Kentucky. A jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity on the murder charge, convicting him instead of multiple assault charges. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but was paroled after serving only seven years.

After being located in Florida, Exantus was arrested for violating the terms of his parole and extradited back to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Uthmeier used the case to call for Florida lawmakers to join a small number of other states that have narrowed or eliminated the insanity defense in criminal cases. He argued that the defense is often abused and undermines the work of prosecutors.

“I believe the insanity defense is often abused and allows people to evade accountability and get out early,” Uthmeier stated. “It impedes the work of prosecutors who stick their necks out and go face to face with dangerous criminals every day in the courtroom.”

He added, “There is no excuse for stabbing a 6-year-old child repeatedly and ending his life.”

Trump DOJ Backs Arizona Election Law in Major Shift

Department of Justice (DOJ) (YinYang/Getty via Canva Pro)

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen praised the Trump administration for defending the state’s voter citizenship law, calling the Justice Department’s legal filing “a commitment to the rule of law and fair elections.” The Department of Justice recently submitted a legal brief supporting Arizona’s requirement that voters show documented proof of citizenship—a provision currently under legal challenge.

Arizona passed House Bill 2492 and HB 2243 in 2022, both aimed at strengthening voter verification procedures. HB 2492 mandates that those registering to vote in state or federal elections provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport. HB 2243 expands voter roll maintenance authority, allowing election officials to investigate and remove ineligible voters.

These laws were challenged in court by Mi Familia Vota, a left-leaning Hispanic activist group. In 2024, a federal district court struck down key provisions of both laws, ruling that requiring proof of citizenship and permitting local investigations violated federal law. The Ninth Circuit Court later upheld the lower court’s ruling.

After those setbacks, Petersen appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The DOJ’s latest brief supports Arizona’s position, arguing that states have the right to enforce eligibility standards and prevent voter fraud. The brief explicitly states that Arizona’s laws do not violate the Civil Rights Act and emphasized that safeguarding election integrity is a legitimate state interest.

Under President Trump’s leadership, the DOJ has reversed the previous administration’s stance. In April 2025, the Trump DOJ dropped the Biden-era lawsuit challenging Arizona’s voter verification requirements.

Petersen warned that failing to enforce citizenship laws could open the door to noncitizen voting in Arizona and undermine public trust. “Arizonans deserve to know that every ballot cast comes from an eligible U.S. citizen – nothing more, nothing less,” he said.

He added that if the Supreme Court declines to hear the case, it would be a green light for further erosion of election safeguards. But if the high court takes the appeal, he is confident justices will uphold Arizona’s authority to require proof of citizenship.

Most Americans agree. Recent polling from Noble Predictive Insights found that a large majority of voters support voter ID and citizenship verification—positions increasingly aligned with Arizona’s legislative direction under Republican leadership.

Conspiracy Obsession Is Murdering America’s Last Hope for Revival

(Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

The peril facing us is the siren call of conspiracy theories that are pulling us down rabbit holes that divide rather than unite. . .

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Milei’s Ballot Reform Shocks Argentina, Fraud Blocked

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - NOVEMBER 19: Newly elected President of Argentina Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza celebrates with his sister Karina Milei after the polls closed in the presidential runoff on November 19, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to official results, Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza reached 55,69% of the votes and Sergio Massa of Union Por La Patria 44,30%, with 99,25 of the votes counted. The presidential election runoff to succeed Alberto Fernandez comes as Argentinians have been hard hit by an annual 142,7% inflation. (Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images)

Argentina debuted a major electoral overhaul in Sunday’s midterm elections with the successful implementation of a Single Paper Ballot system, replacing the decades-old, corruption-prone method of individual party ballots. The reform was a key promise of President Javier Milei, who made election integrity a central pillar of his administration.

Until this election, Argentina required each political party to print and distribute its own ballots, funded by taxpayers. This system left elections vulnerable to manipulation. Cases of ballot theft and tampering—especially in tight races—were widespread, sometimes leaving voters unable to cast their vote for a preferred candidate when ballots went missing.

During the 2023 presidential runoff, for instance, a 16-year-old was arrested for attempting to steal large numbers of Milei’s ballots from a voting room. Despite legal penalties for ballot tampering, enforcement proved inconsistent. The reform effort had stalled in Congress for decades until President Milei pushed it through in October 2024.

The new Single Paper Ballot (BUP) system uses a single, government-printed document listing all political parties and candidates. Voters mark their selection with a pen and place the folded ballot in the box. The reform was supported with online simulators and educational tools to ensure voters understood the new process.

The midterm elections saw voters fill 127 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 in the Senate. Milei’s Liberty Advances party scored a dominant victory, gaining 64 new seats in the Chamber, bringing its total to 101 when counting allies. In the Senate, Liberty Advances now holds 20 seats.

The successful rollout of the new system played a key role in ensuring electoral transparency. Argentine media praised the reform, noting no reported irregularities or ballot theft. The vote count was swift, and null votes remained within expected margins for a first-time system.

In his victory speech, Milei credited the new ballot with restoring trust in the process. He stated, “We said we were going to do it, and we did it, because we are in favor of a transparent democratic system.”

Officials hailed the reform as a safeguard against electoral fraud and a model of efficiency. Guillermo Francos, Chief of Cabinet of Ministers, called the BUP system a “guarantee of transparency and efficiency.”

Milei’s electoral reforms now stand as a signature achievement, reinforcing both his mandate and his commitment to dismantling Argentina’s failed socialist legacy.

UFC Fighter Withdraws Support for Trump in Fiery Instagram Rant

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Bryce Mitchell, a featherweight competitor in the UFC, announced a dramatic reversal of his earlier support for Donald Trump, calling the former president a “corrupted leader” and accusing him of failing to release key documents, sending U.S. tax dollars abroad, and even likening him to the “Antichrist.”

Mitchell had publicly pledged loyalty to Trump in 2024, declaring he would “take a bullet for” him. In a recent Instagram video, he stated: “He talked a good game, he tricked me. I was fooled.” He also asked viewers—particularly Christians—to examine Revelation 13:3 and consider whether Trump fits the description of “the beast.”

In the rant, Mitchell cited specific grievances including Trump’s decision not to release what Mitchell refers to as “the Epstein files,” his criticism of beef‑farmers over rising prices, and his foreign‑aid policies toward Israel and Ukraine. Mitchell’s shift in viewpoint follows a pattern of provocative statements and controversies; earlier he made antisemitic remarks and praised Adolf Hitler, comments that were publicly condemned.

The disclosure from Mitchell adds another layer to conversations around athlete activism, political alignment in sports, and the interplay between religious rhetoric and public statements.

Metal Fragments Trigger Massive Jerky Recall at Costco and Sam’s Club

Costco
Costco (Grant Beirute/ Unsplash)

Over 2.2 million pounds of pork jerky sold nationwide through Costco and Sam’s Club have been recalled after reports of metal contamination. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a Class I recall—its most serious classification—stating there is a reasonable probability the product could cause serious health issues or death if consumed.

The affected product is Golden Island Fire-Grilled Pork Jerky with the Korean Barbecue recipe. Sold in 14.5-ounce and 16-ounce pouches, the jerky was distributed across the U.S. under establishment number M279A, marked inside the USDA inspection label. The recall covers best-by dates from October 23, 2025, through September 23, 2026.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed the contamination originated from a conveyor belt used during production. Metal fragments described as “wiry” were found inside the packaging. Although no injuries have been reported as of yet, the USDA urges consumers not to consume the product. Any affected packages should be discarded or returned to the retailer.

This recall underscores the importance of food safety vigilance, even at trusted retail giants. With processed protein snacks like jerky becoming increasingly popular among working families and health-conscious consumers, incidents like this raise questions about oversight and manufacturing standards.

Karine Jean-Pierre Turns on Democrats Then Falls Apart

Karine Jean-Pierre
Screenshot from The Post Millennial Live Rumble

Karine Jean-Pierre, the former Biden White House Press Secretary, has officially left the Democrat Party and now claims she’s an Independent. The move comes as part of a publicity push for her new book — and it’s already backfiring. In an interview with The New Yorker, Jean-Pierre failed to explain why she left the party, contradicted her own reasoning multiple times, and ultimately reduced her political logic to identity politics.

Jean-Pierre says she left the Democrat Party because of how it treated Joe Biden during his forced exit from the 2024 reelection race. Calling it a “betrayal,” she claims there was a campaign to “embarrass” Biden and force him out unfairly. However, when pressed for details, she pointed only to negative news coverage and vague accusations of party disloyalty — not specific actions or decisions.

She attempted to justify her view by pointing to her own identity: “a Black woman who is part of the LGBTQ community.” She claimed Democrats were failing to protect “vulnerable people” and framed Biden’s ouster as a broader rejection of people like herself and Kamala Harris. But when challenged, she couldn’t articulate why Biden’s treatment was unique or unjustified.

The contradictions piled up. Jean-Pierre said Democrats should have backed Biden and Harris to the end, but also criticized those who questioned Harris’s electability — even though she herself admitted she didn’t think Harris could win. When confronted with that inconsistency, her only defense was, “I wish you could walk in my body.”

Despite branding herself a Biden loyalist, Jean-Pierre dismissed concerns over Biden’s fitness by saying she saw no signs of cognitive decline — even after the debate disaster that tanked his polling. She downplayed the debate as a “one time” event and claimed she had “never seen him like that before.”

The meltdown continued when she tried to make Harris’s exclusion from the nomination process an issue of race and gender bias, calling it “an insult.” She argued that Black women are the “backbone of the Party” but are ignored when it’s time for leadership. Yet, when asked if Harris could win, Jean-Pierre said no — while simultaneously attacking others for saying the same thing.

Her biggest contradiction came when she downplayed her entire premise. After arguing Biden deserved better treatment, she dismissed concerns over his removal with, “Joe Biden is out of the picture. He’s out of the picture.”

Jean-Pierre’s attempt to pivot from Democrat loyalist to “Independent truth-teller” has collapsed under the weight of her own incoherence. What was meant to be a triumphant book tour now exposes the core problem of identity-first politics: buzzwords over substance, feelings over facts, and no clear convictions. Jean-Pierre has walked away from her party with no plan, no allies, and no answers.

Trump Cartel Strike Kills 14, No Mercy at Sea

warship
Warship (nathan Q/ Unsplash)

U.S. military forces launched coordinated airstrikes on four narco-smuggling vessels transiting a known trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The operation, directed by President Trump, resulted in the deaths of 14 narco-terrorists. One survivor was located after a joint U.S.–Mexican search effort.

According to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the strikes were carried out in three separate waves by U.S. military aircraft. The first strike eliminated eight terrorists, the second took out four, and the third neutralized three more. All incidents occurred in international waters, and no U.S. personnel were harmed during the operation.

Hegseth confirmed that U.S. forces under the U.S. Southern Command immediately launched a search-and-rescue mission following standard protocol. The effort was handed off to the Mexican Navy, which deployed air and sea assets to the site roughly 400 miles southeast of Acapulco. The survivor was located and is now in Mexican custody.

The Secretary released video footage of the strikes, which showed direct hits on fast-moving, heavily-laden vessels. One clip captured the simultaneous destruction of two boats operating side-by-side. Another showed a high-speed smuggling craft being obliterated mid-transit.

Hegseth stated the strikes are part of a new doctrine of proactive national defense. He declared that these cartels “have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda” and would be pursued, targeted, and destroyed like foreign terrorist groups.

Since President Trump launched the military campaign in early September, U.S. forces have carried out 14 strikes against smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific. An estimated 57 narco-terrorists have been killed.

This campaign follows President Trump’s executive order designating multiple violent criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The list includes MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and several Mexican cartels such as CJNG, Sinaloa, Gulf Cartel, CDN, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

Lukoil Asset Sale Shocker, Sanctions Hit Hard

Russia
Russia flag (Canva Pro)

On October 22, 2025, President Trump announced a new round of sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. The sanctions, imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department, are aimed at cutting off critical revenue sources for the Kremlin by banning American entities from doing business with these firms and threatening secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions. As a result, Lukoil announced it would begin selling off its international assets across 11 countries.

The sanctions prohibit U.S. companies from engaging with Lukoil, Rosneft, or their subsidiaries, and include penalties for foreign banks doing business with them. These secondary sanctions are significant because they restrict access to the U.S. financial system, making it risky for international actors to maintain ties with the targeted companies. The sanctions are designed to hinder Russia’s ability to fund its war efforts and weaken its broader economy.

In response, Lukoil released a statement on October 27 stating its intent to sell its international holdings due to the “introduction of restrictive measures.” The company is already reviewing bids from potential foreign buyers. The sales are being conducted under an OFAC wind-down license, which provides temporary authorization to manage operations and divestments. Lukoil also indicated it may request an extension of this license to ensure smooth transactions.

Lukoil’s international assets include oil refineries in Bulgaria and Romania, a 45% stake in a Dutch refinery, oil and gas operations in the Middle East and Africa, and roughly 5,000 gas stations worldwide. Among the first confirmed divestments is the sale of over 600 gas stations in Turkey, originally purchased in 2008 for $500 million. A former Lukoil executive told Politico that the company could lose 30% of its total revenue and may not survive the financial impact.

Governments in Bulgaria and Romania are working to expedite the sale of local Lukoil assets before the sanctions fully take effect on November 21. The Bulgarian government is particularly focused on ensuring continued operations at the Burgas refinery, which is vital to regional energy supply. Any disruption at the facility could trigger an energy crisis in Southeastern Europe.

While Lukoil is facing severe consequences, analysts believe Rosneft may fare better, as it has fewer foreign holdings and a stronger domestic market position. Oil markets responded to the sanctions with a third consecutive day of price declines. Investors are still assessing whether the sanctions will reduce Russian oil exports or simply shift them toward non-Western buyers.

These sanctions reflect a strategic effort to curtail Russia’s wartime economy by targeting its most valuable assets—energy exports. The measures also affirm the use of financial leverage as a tool to hold aggressive regimes accountable and defend international security and stability.