Defense attorneys for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain are set to begin presenting their case Wednesday in a corruption trial that has captured significant attention. The trial, which involves 23 counts of bribery, racketeering, and official misconduct, centers around the alleged "Madigan Enterprise" scheme in which utilities like ComEd and AT&T Illinois allegedly provided no-work jobs and contracts to individuals loyal to Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield.
At a Women's Republican Club (WRC) meeting in Salt Lake County, Utah, tensions erupted after Jeri Brummett, a trans-identified male, reportedly took control of the proceedings and physically blocked women from entering the event.
MSNBC's flagship morning program Morning Joe is facing a sharp decline in viewership, with ratings down 35% among total viewers and 37% in the key 25-54 age demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. The drop comes after co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski disclosed their controversial meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) indicated that she plans to support Pete Hegseth following "encouraging conversations." The move follows speculation that she and other senators expressed doubts about Hegseth's Senate confirmation.
While former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) faced criticism for meeting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, prominent Democratic leaders, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), had also met with Assad in the past. Pelosi’s 2007 visit to Damascus, where she conveyed a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, drew backlash from the Bush administration.
Officials in a New Jersey town are backtracking on elements of their "prop" policy, which prohibited residents from carrying American flags and the U.S. Constitution while speaking during town meetings.
President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, held high-stakes meetings in November with leaders in Qatar and Israel to advance a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, according to sources briefed on the discussions.
The corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan continues to unfold with significant testimonies and evidence presented by federal prosecutors. Madigan, along with co-defendant Michael McClain, faces 23 counts of bribery, racketeering, and official misconduct tied to an alleged scheme referred to as the "Madigan Enterprise."
