President Donald Trump sparked widespread disbelief — and open laughter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — after claiming Sunday that Russia would help rebuild Ukraine because Vladimir Putin wants the country to “succeed.” The surreal remark came during a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort following peace talks, where Trump went on to describe Putin as “very generous” toward Ukraine, prompting Zelenskyy to visibly laugh. The comments ignited a social media firestorm, with journalists, analysts, and former officials blasting Trump for echoing Kremlin-friendly talking points and questioning his grasp on the reality of a war defined by Russia’s invasion, destruction, and mass civilian suffering.
A stunning twist emerged from the latest release of FBI files tied to Jeffrey Epstein after Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown revealed that her own 2019 flight itinerary was included in materials attached to a grand jury subpoena. Brown, whose reporting helped expose Epstein’s abuse network, said the discovery raises alarming questions about why the Justice Department was collecting or retaining travel records of a journalist during the final weeks of Epstein’s life under the Trump administration. The revelation triggered immediate backlash online, with journalists and analysts warning that DOJ surveillance of a reporter covering Epstein represents a scandal separate from — and potentially as serious as — the Epstein case itself.
Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, ignited a firestorm Sunday night after lashing out at MAGA influencers who criticized the Trump administration, repeatedly hurling vulgar insults and dismissing them as profiteers spreading “bulls---.” The extraordinary tirade came as Dhillon faced backlash from her own supporters over her failure to act on alleged election fraud claims, prompting critics to accuse her of inaction despite her powerful DOJ role. Rather than defuse the situation, Dhillon escalated, branding critics “hoes” and “useful idiots,” stunning even some conservatives and triggering warnings from right-wing commentators that her attacks risk alienating Trump’s base ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Speculation in Washington has grown over whether President Donald Trump might pursue a military intervention in Venezuela. Analysts say that is unlikely — not because of humanitarian concerns, but because the administration appears to be relying on a strategy it views as less risky: intensified economic pressure.
Venezuela has endured years of U.S. sanctions targeting its economy, particularly its oil sector, the country’s primary source of revenue. Despite those measures, the government has continued exporting oil through alternative channels. Critics argue the Trump administration is now attempting to shut those pathways down.
Rather than launching a military operation that would face public opposition and congressional scrutiny, the administration has tightened restrictions on Venezuelan oil exports. Humanitarian groups warn the move could deepen shortages of food, medicine, electricity, and other essentials funded by oil revenue.
Recent U.S. actions in the Caribbean, including the interception or rerouting of oil tankers linked to Venezuela, suggest a shift toward more aggressive enforcement. Legal experts note that interfering with civilian commercial vessels without a United Nations mandate raises serious international law concerns.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees freedom of navigation, and scholars argue that enforcing U.S. sanctions against third countries engaged in lawful trade may amount to collective punishment — which is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Analysts say the goal is to create economic conditions severe enough to destabilize the Venezuelan government. Past U.S. efforts in countries such as Cuba, however, have shown that prolonged economic pressure often entrenches political leadership while harming civilians.
Humanitarian organizations warn that tighter sanctions could accelerate migration, placing additional strain on neighboring countries including Colombia, Brazil, and Chile. Millions of Venezuelans have already fled amid economic collapse.
While most Americans oppose military intervention in Venezuela, sanctions are often seen as a less violent alternative. Research published in The Lancet suggests otherwise, finding that broad economic sanctions can increase mortality rates comparable to armed conflict, with children and the elderly most affected.
Observers warn that economic pressure, though less visible than war, can produce equally devastating consequences.
The Justice Department on Tuesday released a previously undisclosed FBI report documenting a tip submitted in October 2020 that included unverified allegations involving then-President Donald Trump and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The report was made public as part of the DOJ’s ongoing release of Epstein-related records. It summarizes claims from at least two individuals concerning an alleged incident said to have occurred in the 1990s. The allegations were not verified, and there is no public record indicating that law enforcement substantiated or pursued them.
According to the FBI report, the tip originated from an individual identified as a limousine driver in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The driver recounted a conversation that took place on Christmas Eve in 1999, during which the driver told a passenger about a prior encounter involving Trump in 1995, when the driver said he transported Trump to Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport.
The driver claimed that during that earlier ride, Trump spoke on a cellphone in a manner the driver described as disturbing. The report states that Trump repeatedly referenced the name “Jeffrey” and made remarks that the driver interpreted as references to abuse involving a girl. The driver said he did not know whom Trump was speaking to or who was being referenced.
After hearing the story, the passenger allegedly reacted strongly. According to the report, the passenger told the driver that Trump and Epstein had raped her. The passenger also described being taken by a woman with “a funny name” to a hotel or similar location. Earlier portions of the report suggest that the woman may have been Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, who is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking.
The driver reportedly urged the passenger to contact authorities, but she declined, saying she feared for her life. The report later claims that the driver attempted to follow up, only to learn that the passenger had died. The death was described in the report as a suicide, though no additional details were provided.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Department of Justice emphasized that the claims contained in the documents are unproven.
“The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein,” the statement said. “Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false.”
The DOJ said it released the documents to comply with transparency requirements and emphasized that legally required protections for Epstein’s victims remain in place.
The allegations described in the FBI report bear some similarity to claims made in lawsuits filed in 2016 by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” who accused Trump and Epstein of raping her when she was 13 years old. Those lawsuits were later withdrawn or dismissed, and Trump’s attorneys denied the claims as “categorically untrue.”
Vice President JD Vance drew criticism this week after publicly boasting about completing a 90-minute training session with Navy SEALs, an episode that sparked ridicule online and prompted sharp commentary from political observers.
In an op-ed published Tuesday in The New Republic, journalist Edith Olmsted characterized Vance’s appearance with the elite military unit as performative, describing it as a “cosplaying adventure.” Olmsted questioned the timing of the high-profile display, suggesting it may have been motivated by recent political pressures, including shifting poll numbers and the vice president’s efforts to consolidate support within conservative circles.
Shortly after completing the training session at Naval Base Coronado in California, Vance posted on social media that he planned to share photos from the experience. Online reaction to the announcement was swift, with critics mocking the spectacle. Vance later followed through, posting several images showing him jogging, carrying a heavy log, and climbing an obstacle-course cargo net alongside service members.
The following day, Vance appeared to lean into the criticism by reposting one of the photos — this time edited to replace his face with a viral meme version of himself — and captioned it simply, “Fixed it.”
Despite the self-deprecating gesture, Olmsted argued that the display was unlikely to achieve what she suggested was Vance’s broader objective: appealing to online hyper-masculine political subcultures sometimes referred to as the “manosphere.”
“No, JD Vance will not be our first ‘Chad’ president,” Olmsted wrote.
The episode comes as Vance remains a leading contender among potential Republican presidential hopefuls for 2028. However, recent polling suggests his support may be softening. A survey conducted by AtlasIntel found that fewer than 47% of Republican voters currently list Vance as their top choice, down from 54.6% in September.
President Donald Trump’s response to the release of court-ordered Jeffrey Epstein files suggests he is operating in an “alternate reality,” according to a USA Today column by Chris Brennan.
Brennan pointed to Trump’s public comments downplaying the controversy, including remarks such as “I thought that was finished” and claims that there was “tremendous backlash” because images were being released of people who “really had nothing to do with Epstein.”
While Trump was correct that the document release has triggered public outrage, Brennan argued that the anger is not directed at the individuals named — but at the Department of Justice itself. Congress passed a law in November requiring the full release of the Epstein files by Dec. 19, a deadline the DOJ failed to meet.
“Trump was right that the Epstein files have prompted a backlash,” Brennan wrote. “But that anger is directed at the Department of Justice for not obeying the law.”
Trump has sought to portray the controversy as a partisan attack driven by “mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans.” Brennan noted that this claim conflicts with the voting record: nearly every Republican in both the House and Senate voted alongside Democrats in favor of the legislation mandating the release of the files. Trump ultimately signed the bill into law on Nov. 19, after months of reportedly pressuring Republicans to abandon their support — an effort that became increasingly untenable as Epstein survivors testified before Congress.
The issue resurfaced this week with the release of additional documents, including an alleged letter from Epstein to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar that names Trump as a companion of underage girls. The Department of Justice has stated that the letter is not authentic.
Brennan contrasted Trump’s reaction with that of former President Bill Clinton, who also had documented social ties to Epstein. Clinton spokesperson Ángel Ureña criticized the DOJ for selectively releasing materials while failing to comply with the law.
“Someone or something is being protected,” Ureña said in a public statement, adding, “We need no such protection.”
Jeffrey Epstein received a troubling phone message in 2004 from an unidentified caller stating, “I have a female for him,” according to newly released Justice Department documents. The message was recorded just days before Epstein reportedly received calls from Donald Trump during a high-stakes bidding war over a luxury Florida property.
The timing of the messages was highlighted Friday by retired journalism professor and former prosecutor Seth Abramson, who said their proximity raises unresolved questions about Epstein’s activities during that period.
“As a former investigator, I would have questions,” Abramson wrote on X. “In the same week Epstein and Trump were reportedly playing phone tag and Trump wanted a significant favor, Epstein received a message saying someone had a woman for him.”
The handwritten note containing the unidentified caller’s message was dated Nov. 8, 2004, and addressed to “J.E.,” an apparent reference to Epstein. While the caller’s name was redacted by the Justice Department, the message itself was left unredacted in the latest release of thousands of Epstein-related files.
In July, The Palm Beach Post reported that phone messages documenting calls from Trump to Epstein were discovered during a 2005 police raid on Epstein’s Palm Beach home. Those notes included Trump’s name and phone number and were dated between Nov. 11 and Nov. 20, 2004 — days after the unidentified message referencing a woman.
At the time, Trump and Epstein were competing to purchase a 43,000-square-foot waterfront estate in Palm Beach. Trump ultimately won the bidding war, acquiring the property for more than $41 million.
Trump is not facing criminal charges related to Epstein, nor has he been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the newly released documents.
Far-right conspiracy theorist and InfoWars host Alex Jones is warning that President Donald Trump is mishandling the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein—and, in Jones’ view, playing directly into the hands of Democrats.
Speaking on his program Friday, Jones described the Epstein files rollout as a “disaster” for Trump, arguing that partial disclosures and redactions have created political vulnerabilities rather than putting the issue to rest. Jones claimed Democrats are selectively using the material to tie Trump to Epstein-era imagery while avoiding broader disclosures that could implicate other powerful figures.
Jones alleged that Democrats released only a small subset of the material—out of what he said were tens of thousands of files—to frame Trump in a damaging light, regardless of context. While Jones acknowledged that some claims circulating in the media have been quickly debunked, he argued that the political damage persists because of how the issue is being handled.
According to Jones, Trump now faces a stark choice: fully release the information and allow consequences to fall where they may, or continue limiting disclosures and risk ongoing political fallout. Jones warned that dismissing the Epstein controversy outright—as Trump has done at times by comparing it to “Russiagate”—is angering voters already frustrated by economic conditions.
Jones also claimed that Democrats are preparing to make the Epstein files a major political issue, predicting hearings and prolonged scrutiny. In his telling, Democrats are less interested in full transparency than in maximizing political leverage, while Trump, he said, is underestimating the strategic implications.
Although Jones’ commentary is known for its conspiratorial framing and inflammatory language, his remarks underscore how the Epstein files continue to reverberate across the political spectrum. As questions remain about what material has been released, what remains sealed, and why, the controversy shows little sign of fading—posing ongoing challenges for the Trump administration as it navigates public trust, transparency, and political pressure.
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk’s highly anticipated address at AmericaFest took an unexpected turn Thursday when she revealed her prepared remarks had vanished due to a technical failure. Taking the stage after a tribute video to her late husband and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, she told the crowd her iPad wouldn’t even turn on and she would have to improvise. The moment came amid internal MAGA infighting, as Kirk has publicly clashed with right-wing figures over conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s assassination, adding another layer of drama to the organization’s marquee event.
Watch the video below.
Erika Kirk says speech was wiped by 'technical difficulty,' wings keynote at AmericaFest
Democrats outmaneuvered Republican leadership in the final weeks of the year, forcing votes that exposed GOP divisions and sidelined House Speaker Mike Johnson. Using discharge petitions, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed Democratic priorities, particularly healthcare, onto the floor, compelling moderate Republicans to break ranks. While Republicans ended the record shutdown and passed modest reforms, the GOP’s internal fractures were laid bare, leaving Johnson under fire and Democrats positioned to exploit party weaknesses ahead of the 2026 midterms.
President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, stunned observers with a candid Vanity Fair interview in which she described Trump’s personality as “an alcoholic’s personality” and openly discussed ongoing retribution campaigns by the Justice Department. MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace told reporter Chris Whipple that Wiles’ remarks went beyond embarrassment, potentially exposing her to subpoenas from those targeted by Trump’s legal maneuvers. Whipple called her disclosures “stunningly candid” and “stunningly dangerous,” highlighting how Wiles’ willingness to speak so openly in the White House bubble was unprecedented for a senior official.
Republican insiders are openly criticizing President Donald Trump after his national address, saying he mishandled the cost of living crisis and failed to connect with voters. GOP aides told CNN and Politico that while Trump needs to focus on economic issues, his delivery was ineffective, and even loyal supporters considered the speech a flop. Ex-GOP strategist Rick Wilson called it a “deep scream of outright panic,” noting that Trump’s once-formidable MAGA appeal has faded, leaving the president struggling to regain political momentum amid a 38% approval rating.
