Melania Trump Slammed With Lawsuit After Author Fights Back

October 23, 2025

Author Michael Wolff alleged in a lawsuit that First Lady Melania Trump threatened to sue him if he did not retract defamatory statements pertaining to her interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.

Melania Trump spokesperson Nicholas Clemens said in a statement on the matter, “First Lady Melania Trump is proud to continue standing up to those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct.”

Wolff claimed in his lawsuit, as reported by the Associated Press, that Mrs. Trump and President Donald Trump “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with legal actions “to silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments and North Korean style confessions and apologies.” He further claimed the threats “are designed to create a climate of fear in the nation so that people cannot freely or confidently exercise their First Amendment rights.”

The lawsuit states that Wolff never said the First Lady was involved in Epstein’s criminal activities, but rather argued that it was fair to “find out what happened in Mr. Trump’s and Epstein’s 10 years of pursuing models, including supermodels, runway models, catalog models, Eastern European models, and girls who just dreamed of being models.”

The development stems from statements Wolff made to “The Daily Beast,” which later apologized for and retracted the podcast segment. “Upon reflection, we have determined that the article did not meet our standards and has therefore been removed from our platforms.”

“In response to a letter from the First Lady’s attorneys, The Daily Beast has also removed a portion of an episode of The Daily Beast Podcast titled ‘Trump’s Epstein Scandal Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ referencing the First Lady. The First Lady points to her bestselling book Melania as the definitive account of her life story. We apologize to the First Lady and our readers,” the outlet added.

IOC Slams Indonesia After It Bans Israeli Athletes From World Gymnastics

October 23, 2025

The International Olympic Committee is warning of severe consequences after Indonesia bans Israeli athletes from the World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta — a move that sparked international backlash and renewed debate over the politicization of sports.

“The IOC’s principled position is very clear: All eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to participate in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination from the host country,” the committee said in a statement. The IOC added that it will recommend “no international sporting events be held in Indonesia” and will end discussions about the country potentially hosting future Olympic Games.

Indonesian officials announced earlier this month that Israeli gymnasts would be denied visas due to the war in Gaza, prompting condemnation from multiple sports organizations. Israel’s delegation included 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat. The Israel Gymnastics Federation said Indonesia’s decision “constitute[s] a blatant violation” of competition rules, adding, “It is inconceivable that a country can bar another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by.”

Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation, agreed with the IOC’s stance, saying, “Sports is separate from politics. All athletes have an equal right to participate in the sports event. The IOC and FIG must protect that right.”

Indonesia’s refusal mirrors past controversies — the nation was stripped of hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup after Bali’s governor refused to allow Team Israel to play. The IOC’s latest action marks a rare rebuke aimed at defending neutrality in global athletics amid growing pressure on Israel’s participation in international sports.

Coca-Cola Rolls Out Cane Sugar Beverages

October 23, 2025

Coca-Cola has begun using cane sugar in its drinks months after President Donald Trump demanded it make a U.S. version of its Mexican Coke.

A company spokesperson told The New York Post that it will sell a “new 12-oz single-serve glass bottle in select US markets, offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with US cane sugar.”

In July, President Trump said he began “speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”

Shortly after Trump issued his comment, Coca-Cola defended its use of high fructose corn syrup. “The name sounds complex, but high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – which we use to sweeten some of our beverages – is actually just a sweetener made from corn,” the company said. “It’s safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body. The American Medical Association has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners.”

Coca-Cola later announced that it will offer products with cane sugar as well as high fructose corn syrup.

“As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,” the company wrote in its latest earnings report. “This addition is designed to complement the company’s strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.”

Niger Kidnapping Crisis Deepens — Expert Says Hostage Could Be Moved Tonight

October 23, 2025

Concern over the kidnapping of a Christian missionary by suspected Islamists has intensified as a security expert warned that the first 48 hours are critical while a U.S. missionary may already have moved through ISIS-controlled areas. Bryan Stern of Grey Bull Rescue told Fox News Digital that rapid movement and transfers make rescue harder. “What happens in most of these cases is whoever took the hostage isn’t who’s holding on to the hostage,” Stern said, stressing the urgency.

Stern explained that organized kidnappers typically trade or sell hostages, complicating any quick diplomatic or military response. “It’s easy to understand who took somebody, but once people start getting traded around like cards and stuff, it’s hard to then understand what the current holding party wants,” he said. He described the region as “31 flavors,” with competing actors ranging from Russian proxies to criminal gangs and Islamic fundamentalists.

U.S. officials confirmed awareness of the abduction in Niamey and said they are coordinating with Nigerien authorities. The embassy tightened security and limited staff movements as Special Operations likely monitor communications and movements in the suspected route north. Stern warned against rushed rescue attempts, calling them the highest-risk option: “All those different things play into how you’re gonna get somebody back, and the most dangerous thing to do is send ninjas in and shoot everybody,” he said.

For now, American priorities focus on proof of life and careful, coordinated action with local partners. Stern summed up the fear: “At some point, somebody will ask for something, you hope,” he said, underscoring the fragile window to recover the hostage alive.

Buffalo National River Tragedy: Arkansas Father Finds Son After 200-Foot Fall

October 23, 2025

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Arkansas at the Buffalo National River over the weekend when a father discovered his 13-year-old son dead after a 200-foot fall from a bluff inside the national park.

The Searcy County Sheriff’s Office received a report around 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, that a 13-year-old boy had fallen from a cliff near Brewer Bluff in the park’s Middle District, according to a Facebook post from Buffalo National River. Search-and-rescue volunteers, firefighters, and Survival Flight crews responded to the remote area. Members of the Harrison Fire Department rappelled about 260 feet down the bluff as rangers approached from the river below.

The victim, identified as Kayleb Lynn Eddings, was found unresponsive by his father, Toby Eddings, who was among the first to reach him, officials said. “Buffalo National River staff and I send our condolences to this young man’s family,” said park Superintendent Angela Boyers. “We also thank the responders from the local communities that showed up to assist with this incident.”

Officials said Kayleb had been with a friend when he lost his footing and slipped from a lookout point. The Department of the Interior confirmed there are no advisories in the area and no danger to the public but reminded visitors that the terrain “can be rugged and steep.”

Kayleb’s obituary described him as a joyful eighth grader whose “bright, jovial personality had no rival.” His family wrote, “While there are many words to describe Kayleb, the most accurate and profound word is LOVE.”

US Imposes Massive Sanctions on Russia

October 23, 2025

trump putin — (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The United States imposed massive sanctions on Russia as a result of its “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine,” the Treasury Department said.

“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war. We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions.”

The sanctions place more pressure on Russia’s energy industry and affect its ability to raise revenue for war build-up and the support of its economy.

Two oil companies, Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil), are affected “for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy,” the press release explains, noting that “all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons” being sanctioned “that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to [Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control].

Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire. Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary… https://t.co/tbJTyf8x2V
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) October 22, 2025

The sanctions come as the White House confirmed there are no plans for President Trump to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We canceled the meeting with President Putin,” Trump told reporters. “It just it didn’t feel right to me. It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get. So I canceled it. But we’ll do it in the future.”

U.S. Expands Military Strike Campaign—Hits Alleged Drug Vessel in Eastern Pacific

October 23, 2025

The Pete Hegseth‑led Pentagon announced Wednesday that U.S. military forces conducted another lethal strike in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, targeting a vessel the administration claims was operated by a designated terrorist organization and engaged in narcotics trafficking.

According to Hegseth, intelligence confirmed the targeted boat was transiting a known narcotics route and carrying illicit drugs. The strike was carried out in international waters under orders from Donald Trump, and resulted in the deaths of three alleged “narco‑terrorists.”

This operation marks a further shift in U.S. policy, as previous strikes under the Trump administration focused primarily on the Caribbean Sea. The latest action extends the campaign into the Pacific region, raising questions about the scope, legal basis and oversight of these military operations.

The operation signals a strategic expansion of U.S. counter-narcotics and counterterrorism efforts beyond traditional hotspots. While administration officials defend the action as a necessary measure to disrupt transnational crime, it raises broader questions about congressional oversight, rules of engagement, and long-term objectives in regions not formally designated as conflict zones. As the campaign continues, scrutiny over the legal and geopolitical implications of such strikes is likely to grow, especially as U.S. military force is increasingly used to confront non-state actors in international waters.

U.S. Missionary Kidnapped in Niger by Suspected Islamist Militants

October 23, 2025

A U.S. Christian missionary has been abducted in the West African nation of Niamey, Niger, under circumstances suggesting involvement of Islamist militant groups, according to multiple security sources.

The victim is reportedly a pilot working for the evangelical agency Serving in Mission (SIM) and was seized late Tuesday night in Niamey’s Plateau neighbourhood while en route to the airport. The three‑man kidnappers then travelled toward the western Tillabéri region of Niger—an area known to harbour militants linked to Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP) and Al‑Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

The U.S. State Department confirmed it is “aware of reports of the kidnapping of a U.S. citizen in Niamey” and is working with local authorities toward a safe recovery. Experts warn time is of the essence: the first 48 hours after an abduction like this are critical for recovery efforts, especially when hostages may be transferred to other groups or locations.

From a broader perspective, the incident highlights the growing instability in parts of West Africa where militant activity has expanded in recent years. It also reflects the dangers faced by humanitarian and religious workers operating in regions with weak state control and high terrorist activity. As efforts to locate and recover the abducted missionary continue, the case may influence future policies regarding American personnel in high-risk areas and the scope of international engagement in counterterrorism operations.

Rapaport Slams ‘Working‑Class’ Mamdani Dining at Luxe Sushi Spot

October 23, 2025

Comedian and podcaster Michael Rapaport sharply criticized mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani this week, accusing him of hypocrisy after footage showed Mamdani dining at upscale Manhattan sushi restaurant Omen Sushi—despite presenting himself as a “working‑class” candidate. Rapaport tweeted: “How’s a so‑called ‘working class’ mayoral candidate like Zohran Mamdani eating at OMEN SUSHI tonight—one of the priciest joints in NYC?”

The New York City assemblyman, born in Uganda and representing Queens, has built his campaign on a platform of housing reform, rent freezes, free transit, and government grocery stores for the working class. Rapaport seized on that message, writing: “You ain’t working class—you’re fraud class. #ZohranMamdani #ZoronTheMoron.”

Rapaport also questioned how Mamdani could afford such a meal while reportedly living in a rent‑stabilized apartment—suggesting the candidate is out of step with the voters he claims to represent. He added: “This clown lives in a rent‑stabilized apartment in Queens but dines like a diplomat on a Qatar‑funded per diem. Who’s paying for that toro … Zoron the Moron?”

Texas Dem Rising: Jasmine Crockett Considers U.S. Senate Bid After Redistricting Threat

October 23, 2025

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said she would “strongly consider” entering the U.S. Senate race in Texas, citing current polling that puts her in contention for the Democratic primary.

The announcement follows Texas Republicans’ redrawing of congressional district lines, which could displace Crockett’s House seat. She frames the possible Senate run as a response to what she sees as an attempt to take her seat of “766,000” voters and shift the contest to one involving all 30 million Texans.

Crockett told SiriusXM’s The Lurie Daniel Favors Show that recent polls show her with roughly 31 % support in the Democratic primary and that her decision will hinge on whether she and her team believe they can meaningfully expand the electorate beyond the traditional base.

While Crockett frames her potential Senate bid as a response to redistricting, critics argue it reflects political opportunism amid shifting electoral calculations. The timing of her announcement, coupled with uncertain district outcomes, raises questions about whether the move prioritizes personal advancement over stable representation. As Texas politics continue evolving, voters will need to assess not just policy positions, but the motivations and timing behind such high‑stakes decisions.