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Pete Hegseth's making a 'grave mistake' with pet name for US-China relations: lawmaker

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has apparently come up with a new pet name for the relationship between the United States and China, and its name is raising the eyebrows of at least one Democrat, according to a new report.

The Hill reported on Wednesday that Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) had sent a letter to Hegseth regarding his use of "G2" to describe U.S.-China relations. Krishnamoorthi argued that the nickname for the relationship “carries deeply problematic connotations of depicting the United States and [China] as co-equal and primarily cooperate powers responsible for deciding global issues while sidelining U.S. democratic allies and partners," according to the report.

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VP jokes about banning '6' and '7' over viral meme craze among kids

Vice President JD Vance joked about banning the numbers “six” and “seven” on X, poking fun at a viral meme that has swept schools and social media. The meme, inspired by the 2025 song Doot Doot (6 7) and popularized through clips of basketball star LeMelo Ball, had Vance’s own five-year-old repeating the numbers obsessively during church, he said. Vance called for a “narrow exception to the First Amendment,” while lamenting the bewildering nature of modern viral trends.

Watch the video below.

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Trump admin ignites 'intense battle' with top allies over 'profound' change to Europe

The Trump administration has given its European partners a plan on how it wants to rebuild Ukraine and bring Russia back into the world market, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal report published Wednesday.

The appendices have not been publicly released; however, U.S. and European officials have described them to The Journal and have indicated that U.S. financial organizations and businesses will use about $200 billion in frozen Russian assets to help fund projects in Ukraine. Those efforts include a new, large-scale data center to be powered by a nuclear plant currently under occupation by Russian troops.

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'Something is very, very wrong': Trump's 'perfect' health brag echoes his mentor's demise

President Donald Trump's increasingly obvious age-related health decline, and his adamant refusal to engage with it or admit to it, has an ominous parallel, John Casey wrote for The Daily Beast on Wednesday.

This comes after the president fired off a tirade on his Truth Social platform, claiming The New York Times was "treasonous" for publishing a story about his health concerns.

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'No dolls for you!' CNN's Jake Tapper shakes his head as he mocks Trump's 'wild weave'

CNN's Jake Tapper mocked President Donald Trump's off-script speech about affordability from Tuesday, calling it a "wild weave" that seemed to show the president doesn't understand why so many Americans are concerned about the cost of living.

Trump spoke to an audience in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, a blue-collar swing district in the northeastern part of the state. The speech was billed to be about affordability, but Trump told the audience he was going to "weave" through other topics, as he often does.

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Ex-Senator warns boat strike scandal could 'consume' and topple Trump administration

Former Senator Claire McCaskill warned that the Trump administration could be undone by last month’s controversial boat strike in the Caribbean, which reportedly targeted survivors clinging to wreckage — actions that whistleblowers say may constitute war crimes. Appearing on MSNBC, McCaskill slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for withholding video footage, arguing the administration’s secrecy proves how damaging the strike is. She also criticized Trump’s handling of the military and highlighted growing Republican concern, calling the episode a “story that will consume” the administration until fully exposed.

Watch the video below.

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'2 private jets not enough?' Kristi Noem roundly mocked for pricey airplane purchase

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was roundly mocked by political analysts and observers on Wednesday after it was revealed that her agency is spending $140 million to buy new airplanes for its deportation operations.

The Washington Post first reported on Wednesday that DHS has signed a $140 million contract with a company called Daedalus Aviation, which was formed in August 2024, to purchase six Boeing 737 airplanes that a Trump administration official told the outlet will allow immigration agents to "operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns."

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'All that glitters is not gold': Trump's shiny new scheme brutally mocked

President Donald Trump's latest scheme got a brutal mocking on social media after months of imposing harsh regulations on visas, a looming social media policy for tourists, and anti-immigrant remarks.

Trump on Wednesday revealed that his "Trump Gold Card," which allows wealthy foreigners to effectively purchase residency in the United States for $1 million — with a $15 million DHS processing fee — was now available on the government's website. The policy is intended to replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which allows foreign entrepreneurs to apply for a U.S. work permit if they either invest $800,000 in the U.S. economy or create at least 10 U.S. jobs. The upcoming platinum card is slated to cost $5 million.

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World Cup host cities stuck with massive bill after 'worst FIFA deal in history'

Host cities for the 2026 World Cup are staring down a combined $250 million shortfall after what insiders call a disastrous, lopsided deal with FIFA — one so restrictive cities can’t even partner with local businesses to recoup costs. With FIFA keeping nearly all expected revenue and governments left holding the bag, sources describe the event as “the worst deal in World Cup history,” raising fears of cutbacks, financial desperation, and political fallout tied to Donald Trump’s close ties to FIFA leadership.

Watch the video below.

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Republican 'fissures are appearing' as Americans 'repulsed' by Trump's meltdowns: analyst

President Donald Trump's "affordability" speech in Pennsylvania this week was a "disgusting" display, said University of Virginia Center for Politics director Larry Sabato on MS NOW — and proof he's "getting worse" by the day.

This came amid a segment discussing Democrats' electoral victory this week, in which, among other things, they recaptured the mayor's office in Miami for the first time in decades.

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'You work for the Democrats!' Irked Trump ends roundtable after bashing CNN reporter

President Donald Trump was visibly irritated on Wednesday during a news conference at the White House after a reporter asked him about his Pentagon's strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.

Trump held a roundtable discussion with business leaders and cabinet officials. He took questions from reporters during the event, and many of them asked about the strikes and whether the administration would release video of one strike from Sept. 2 that has been heavily criticized on both sides of the aisle.

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'Better wise up or he'll be next':  Trump issues dark threat to foreign leader

President Donald Trump issued a dark threat to a foreign leader during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon at the White House.

Trump took questions from the press during a roundtable discussion at the White House with business leaders and cabinet officials. Multiple reporters asked Trump about the administration's 21 strikes against alleged drug boats in international waters, which have killed more than 80 people. One reporter asked him if he had considered reaching out to the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, about stopping the flow of drugs from his country into the United States.

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'We're doing so well!' Trump shrugs off concerns he killed tourism with new crackdown

President Donald Trump on Wednesday shrugged off criticism that he's harming tourism after the administration announced a new rule that tourists would be required to give their social media history.

A reporter on Wednesday asked Trump, following a roundtable discussion at the White House, if he was concerned about a decline in tourism next year following the announcement of the new policy. Under the new rule, international travelers would have to provide their social media history over the last five years.

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