July 17, 2025
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Welcome to the news for independent thinkers
Leading the News . . .
GOP pressure mounting for Epstein files release . . . Furor over the Jeffrey Epstein memo is picking up steam in Washington, raising pressure on President Trump's administration to shift tacks even as the president ramps up efforts to castigate allies demanding more info. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Attorney General Pam Bondi will likely be brought before the committee after the August recess for annual oversight testimony and he expects the Epstein files will be brought up. MAGA influencer Laura Loomer called on the president to appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter. The Hill
Trump slams his own supporters as 'weaklings' for falling for what he now calls the Epstein 'hoax' . . . President Trump is lashing out at his own supporters, accusing them of being duped by Democrats, as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration's handling of much-hyped records in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this "bull——," hook, line, and sinker," Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." Associated Press
The administration will likely be forced to release more information, which will be skillfully redacted and fail to include certain files. Because someone — and more likely, some people — are clearly being protected here, and there is a calculation that taking the hit for not releasing the files is better than the consequences of transparency.
Politics
Maurene Comey, daughter of ex-FBI Director, fired from US Attorney's Office job after working Epstein case . . . Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was fired Wednesday from the powerful Manhattan US Attorney's Office — where she prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and, most recently, Sean "Diddy" Combs, sources told The Post. The reason for Comey's firing, which law enforcement and Department of Justice sources confirmed, was not immediately clear. She was informed that she was being axed under Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers of the president, the sources added. New York Post
Senate Republicans ram through Trump's clawback package with cuts to foreign aid, NPR . . . The final vote tally was 51-48, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining every Democrat in voting against it. The package will now be sent to the House, which has until Friday to pass it. The $9 billion rescissions bill tees up cuts to "woke" spending on foreign aid programs and NPR and PBS that Congress previously approved. Republicans have pitched the bill as building on their quest to root out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. Fox News
Woman Who Helped Kamala Harris Demonize Brett Kavanaugh Now Works for Trump at DOD . . . Then-Sen. Kamala Harris became notorious for vehemently opposing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 ahead of her 2020 presidential run, and a woman who advised Harris during the Kavanaugh confirmation now serves in the Defense Department under President Donald Trump. Samantha Goldstein, who gave more than $19,000 to Democrats in the past three years and called Trump "unfit to hold office," nonetheless works as an associate deputy general counsel in the DOD under him. Daily Signal
Trump Cancels All Funding For 'Incompetent Governor' Gavin Newsom's High-Speed rail
No more "train to nowhere." Now we're getting somewhere!
House Election Integrity Chair Makes 3 Big Election Proposals . . . "Zuckerbucks" and "Bidenbucks" shouldn't happen again and noncitizen voting shouldn't continue, contends the House Republican leading the charge on election reforms. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., the chairwoman of the House Election Integrity Caucus, is sponsoring three bills on the subject. One is aimed at preventing any noncitizen from voting, and two others seek to prevent either the government or wealthy individuals from tipping the scales when administering elections. Daily Signal
Jill Biden's 'work husband' refuses to answer questions in House probe of ex-president's autopen . . . Anthony Bernal, who was an aide to President Biden and first lady Jill Biden, refused to answer questions Wednesday from House lawmakers investigating the alleged cover-up of Mr. Biden's mental decline, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Mr. Bernal was Mrs. Biden's chief of staff and "work husband." Washington Times
Trump's State Department Pivots From Meddling in Foreign Elections . . . The State Department will pivot away from meddling in foreign elections in accordance with President Donald Trump's emphasis on national sovereignty, The Daily Signal has learned. State Department employees will no longer be allowed to publicly comment on foreign elections unless "there is a clear and compelling U.S. foreign policy interest to do so," according to a memo issued Wednesday morning. Daily Signal
Surrounded by Angel Parents, Trump Signs Bill Aimed At Ending Fentanyl Drug Crisis . . . President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday aimed at ending the fentanyl drug crisis while surrounded by mothers and fathers of young people who lost their lives to the deadly drug. The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances as "Fentanyl Analogs," a classification that would expire at the end of the month without the new legislation. An analog is a copycat fentanyl that has been chemically changed just enough to skirt the law, but is just as deadly. The White House argues it must be prosecuted in the same way. Daily Wire
Spanberger leads Virginia governor's race by 12 points . . . Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) holds a double-digit lead over Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the state's gubernatorial race, according to a poll released on Wednesday. The survey, conducted by the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, showed Spanberger leading Earle-Sears 49 percent to 37 percent among registered voters in the state. The latest results mark an uptick in support for Spanberger from the last poll, which showed her leading Earle-Sears 45 percent to 35 percent. The Hill
Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out Against Mamdani's Call To Stop Cops From Responding to Domestic Violence
Bernie Sanders Spends Another $230K on Private Jets To Fight the 'Oligarchy' . . . You think I'm gonna be sitting on a waiting line at United … while 30,000 people are waiting," Sander said during a Fox News interview in May in response to a Washington Free Beacon report on his private jet spending during the first quarter of 2025. "You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. [It is] the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people." Washington Free Beacon
Advocacy group CEO claims he was offered $20 million to recruit protesters for anti-Trump demonstrations . . . The CEO of an advocacy group said his organization turned down an offer that he said would have been worth around $20 million to help recruit for a national rally today against President Donald Trump. Interests aligned with the organizers of the July 17th movement have approached us and, in fact, we rejected an offer that probably is worth around $20 million dollars," Adam Swart, the CEO and founder of Crowds on Demand, told NewsNation's Brian Entin. Fox News
Remember, these demonstrations are not spontaneous. They are planned and paid for. Some demonstrators work 9-5 and take an hour for lunch.
Culture
GOP Lawmakers Aim to Repeal Teachers Union's Congressional Charter . . . Republican members of Congress are working to strip the National Education Association of its congressional "stamp of approval." "The National Education Association's time is over," Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said at a press conference Wednesday in unveiling his legislation to strip the teachers union of its congressional charter. "They call themselves a teachers union, but their true mission is clear: indoctrinating our children with toxic propaganda," Harris said. Daily Signal
National Security
First the shoes went back on. Now, at US airport security, more liquid in carry-ons may be at hand . . . Travelers giddy about being able to keep their shoes on while walking through TSA checkpoints at the airport again may have something else to look forward to: changes to how much liquid they can carry. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday during a conference hosted by "The Hill" that she is questioning "everything TSA does" and spoke of possible changes to the amount of liquids travelers can tote in their carry-on baggage. Associated Press
Cut to the Homeland Security to consider allowing carry-on bombs. But only if they can fit in the overhead luggage area.
John Kennedy Says Those Who Attack ICE Agents Should 'Spend Some Quality Time With Bubba'
International
A fire at a shopping center in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people . . . A fire engulfed a newly opened shopping center in eastern Iraq, killing more than 60 people, including children, Iraqi officials said Thursday. Civil defense teams rescued more than 45 people who became trapped when the fire broke out late Wednesday in the city of Kut in Wasit province, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Others are still missing, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency. Associated Press
You should also know
Trump says Coca-Cola will use real sugar in its US flagship drink. The company isn't confirming that . . . "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his social media site. "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!" A spokesperson for Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. said in a statement that the company appreciated Trump's enthusiasm and promised that more details on new offerings within its products would be shared soon. Associated Press
Well, get ready to pay more for a can of Coke. This is why government should not be meddling in private affairs.
Dana White Says White House UFC Event 'Will Be The Best Card We've Ever Done'
Renowned Evangelical Rev. John MacArthur Remembered for Upholding Truth to the Woke . . . Evangelical theologian John MacArthur has passed away at the age of 86, leaving a lasting impact on the Christian community. MacArthur, who died on Monday, refused to bend the knee to woke ideology and made national headlines in 2020 when he refused to follow California law to close his church during the COVID-19 pandemic. He pastored Grace Community Church for 56 years and served as president of The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California, since 1985, before transitioning to chancellor in 2019. Daily Signal
RFK Jr. and other Trump officials embrace psychedelics after FDA setback . . . For decades, proponents of psychedelic drugs have come to Washington with a provocative message: Illegal, mind-altering substances like LSD and ecstasy should be approved for Americans grappling with depression, trauma and other hard-to-treat conditions. A presidential administration finally seems to agree. "This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage if given in a clinical setting and we are working very hard to make sure that happens within 12 months," said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Associated Press
Far out.
Guilty Pleasures
One Man's Quest to Break Record for Birthday Freebies . . . The night before his birthday, Clint Svatos was up late worrying about whether everything would go to plan. His schedule was packed with stops all over Los Angeles, starting at 6 a.m. He anticipated eating a lot of sweets, receiving a bunch of gifts and returning home exhausted. But Svatos wasn't preparing for a day of traditional festivities. He was getting ready to embark on his annual quest to snag as many free or discounted gifts as possible. Competitive freeloaders plan for months to cash in on as many offers as they can on the big day; 'I like to push myself.' Wall Street Journal
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