Krystina Alarcon Carroll

Krystina Alarcon Carroll has experience in every facet of the industry, including digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. She is also the author of "Politically Media: exposing bias and clickbait in the news." You can find Krystina on most social media as @KrystinaAlaCarr

'Especially vocal' Supreme Court Justice alienated from her colleagues: expert

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has been “especially vocal” against President Donald Trump’s agenda, and CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst Joan Biskupic believes it's alienated her from her colleagues on the high court.

The remarks came ahead of the final days of the Supreme Court’s term, according to CNN This Morning anchor Audie Cornish.

“We're watching closely as the justices prepare to release a flurry of rulings, decisions on birthright citizenship, LGBTQ+ books and schools, and how to keep minors from accessing porn websites,” Cornish said before introducing Biskupic.

“So one of the things I found interesting about the ruling yesterday was there's this little kind of battle in the comments,” Cornish said. “You had Ketanji brown Jackson kind of talking with Justice Thomas. They were going back and forth over an issue that at first I didn't think was actually related to Medicaid. Can you explain?”

“There has been so much drama in the writing between those two justices,” Biskupic said. “But let me just explain what upset Justice Jackson, who dissented yesterday, when the majority, with Clarence Thomas signing on, effectively endorsed the fact that South Carolina had pulled Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood because it does abortions.”

“The question was, could recipients of Medicaid and Planned Parenthood sue South Carolina for being denied recipients ability to have the physician of their choice?” the analyst said of the case.

“Justice Jackson's dissent said, if they aren't, you are undercutting this law not to let it be available for these women and Planned Parenthood to have a private right to sue,” Biskupic noted. “That was the actual issue: to sue. But Justice Jackson stepped back and said, 'You know, historically, look at how this law has been used.'”

Biskupic claimed “[Justice] Clarence Thomas took issue with that dissent, saying, you know, you're overreacting. This is not what's happening here and but this is exactly where the heat on this court has been joined, is that for Justice Jackson and her fellow liberals, this is not business as usual, [and] it should not be business as usual.”

“I think, Audie, we're going to we've seen that play out in other cases. She has been especially vocal. You'll remember she came on in 2022, succeeding Stephen Breyer, has not been a shy freshman.”

The expert noted that the justice's vocal positioning has caused even fellow liberal justices to separate themselves.

Watch the full interaction below or here.

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DOGE to change gun control rules: 'Dream come true for gun traffickers'

Elon Musk may be gone from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but that's not stopping the non-cabinet agency from “dangerously” changing the rules at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to an exclusive Washington Post report.

“The Administration seems hell-bent on ushering in a golden age for gun criminals, gutting the only agency specifically tasked with keeping communities safe from gun violence,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement to The Washington Post.

He went on to say, “These cuts would be a dream come true for gun traffickers, straw purchasers, and unscrupulous gun dealers — and a nightmare for law enforcement and public safety.”

There are now more than 50 rules which DOGE plans to change within ATF. The Post sources say Robert Leider, who works within DOGE, is overseeing the changes at ATF.

Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and vice president of Giffords Law Center, said, “The administration claims to support law enforcement and care about fighting crime, but they are proposing the most radical defunding of the police we have ever seen from the federal government.”

A spokesperson for the Justice Department, which oversees ATF, defended the changes, “As Attorney General Bondi has made clear, ATF is working hard to reduce regulatory red tape that burdens lawful gun owners and to ensure agents are doing real police work hunting down criminals and gang members — not knocking on the doors of lawful gun owners in the middle of the night.”

According to the Post, Trump has not nominated a director to the ATF. Currently, FBI director Kash Patel is temporarily leading the agency.

Aside from the rules change, the Justice Department has planned to cut the number of inspectors ATF is hiring. Roughly 541 of ATF’s more than 800 inspectors would lose their jobs, according to the report.

Ex-FBI head referred for criminal charges over Catholic targeting claims

The Oversight Project has recommended that the Department of Justice formally charge former FBI Director Christopher Wray, according to an exclusive report from The Blaze.

The referral, which was sent to the Justice Department on Thursday, is looking to hold Wray accountable for his role “in the apparent cover-up but for his alleged false or misleading statements to Congress regarding the infamous FBI memo targeting traditional Catholics,” the Blaze said.

The recommendation comes 18 months after the House Judiciary Committee accused the FBI of "abusing its counterterrorism tools to target Catholic Americans as potential domestic terrorists" and "violating the religious liberties of millions of Catholic Americans."

The Oversight Project’s referral claims Wray gave false testimony because “it failed to reveal the scope of the memo’s production and dissemination, but also because it failed to reveal the existence of a second draft product on the same topic intended for external distribution to the whole FBI."

The Oversight Project is a center-right initiative that advocates for government transparency and exposing fraud and abuse within the federal government.

'She should be ashamed!' Karoline Leavitt launches diatribe at CNN reporter

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt launched an over-the-top diatribe aimed at CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand.

The rant came after a reporter asked a question about how effective the strike was on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“I can assure you of what the CIA director said that when we look at the entirety of the intelligence that we have to this date, it concludes that these strikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities were absolutely successful. It was a total obliteration, as the president said,” Leavitt said.

She then dug into Bertrand, calling the reporter out by name, and reiterated the FBI is investigating to find out who leaked the report.

"Because it's illegal, and they should be accountable for that; leaked bits and pieces of an intel assessment to push a false narrative, and it's to the same reporter, I will add, Natasha Bertrand of CNN, who has done this in the past," she raged.

Leavitt then railed about Bertrand’s history of reporting.

“In 2020, it was Natasha Bertrand who had 51 intelligence analysts falsely lie to her, but she put it on paper for some reason, that the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation. We all know that's not true, right?"

Leavitt continued her angry tirade at Bertrand.

“Also in 2020, the same reporter Natasha Bertrand wrote that the top intel agency ruled out man-made lastly theory of the coronavirus theory, and against the president was right about that, and this reporter wrote the light in the intelligence community to prove what she wanted to prove, and now we know the truth.”

Leavitt pointed to an error in Bertrand’s reporting last year before saying, “She should be ashamed of herself.” The press secretary continued ranting, “Journalism is trying to find the facts and the truth. This week, we saw the same reporter being used to push a fake narrative, undermining the President of the United States and the fighter pilots who conducted one of the most successful operations in the United States' history.

The nearly 3-minute-long rant ended with Leavitt taking another question.

Watch the full remarks here or below:

Huckabee Sanders rebukes part of Trump spending bill: 'unintended consequences'

Republican Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling on her GOP colleagues to remove one part of President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill.”

According to her column in the Washington Post, “There is one very small portion of the bill that was added by Congress that would have unintended consequences and threatens to undo all the great work states have done to protect our citizens from the misuse of artificial intelligence.”

She said the bill in its current form would ban “state-level AI protections” for 10 years.

States across America (like Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Utah) have already taken action against AI. This includes passing laws which protect copyright and real people from AI's sexually explicit images being made of them.

Huckabee Sanders believes these laws are “changes that every state and Congress should get behind.”

“Americans are at risk from bad actors in the AI industry until lawmakers are allowed to establish basic rules and fairness — and 10 years is too long to wait,” Huckabee Sanders affirmed before calling the proposal to remove states' rights “the antithesis of what our founders envisioned when they established our federal system.”

The governor then warned how AI could be used by the United States' adversaries, like China, against American values.

She also suggested, instead of this AI legislation, Congress should take more action against China by following her state's lead, “kicking a Communist Chinese-affiliated company off our farmland,” and banning all Chinese-owned companies from owning property around critical infrastructure and military bases.

“As we compete with China, we cannot sacrifice the health, safety, and prosperity of our own people,” Huckabee Sanders said. “We must curb AI’s worst excesses while also encouraging its growth, which is exactly what states have done through the creation of their own regulatory frameworks.”

She ended her column by affirming the rights of every state: “Congress should continue to allow states to function as the laboratories of democracy they were intended to be.”

'Never seen this': Former CDC official rails against Trump nominee's latest move

Former CDC vaccine Expert Dr. Fiona Havers railed against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision for a private citizen to come and give a presentation to his vaccine panel.

Havers, who spent 13 years at the CDC, was a senior advisor on vaccine policy. Blitzer noted the doctor, “resigned last week in the wake of health secretary Robert F Kennedy's purging of the agency's vaccine advisory committee.”

“I know Doctor Havers, you've actually said that a lot of Americans potentially are going to die from vaccine-preventable diseases as a result of these latest changes,” Blitzer said. “Who is most at risk [with Kennedy’s changes]?”

“I think in general, young children,” Havers said. “We're going to see a return of vaccine-preventable diseases that we haven't seen in this country before. We've already seen two measles deaths since RFK Jr. took over as HHS secretary.”

She later added that older adults with “underlying medical conditions” are also at risk.

“I want to get your reaction,” Blitzer said, “to this new panel that's now sitting and making these major decisions. What do you see as the most troubling aspect of these new appointments?”

“Well, I will say that one can see from my CDC colleagues' presentations that they gave yesterday and today how thorough and evidence-based they are.” Havers added, “I will say that there were a number of questions from this committee that really revealed a lack of basic understanding of methodology.”

She additionally expressed concern about a presentation that is being given to the panel by a private citizen. “I'm also really troubled that this presentation that's going on right now by Lyn Redwood is happening on thimerosal. That is an unprecedented type of presentation to happen.”

Havers affirmed, “Never before have I seen a private citizen invited to come and give a sort of overview of the evidence that has not been reviewed by the work group.”

The doctor went on to say, “The type of presentation she's giving is usually given by a CDC official after a lot of clearance. The fact that she is presenting in this very well-respected, previously well-respected public forum is just yet another example of RFK Jr.’s interference in the CDC’s vaccine policy process.

Blitzer then ended the segment and tossed to a break.

Watch the full segment here or below or click the link.

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Democrats take 'victory lap' as GOP faces 'major blow' to spending bill: report

Senate Democrats are taking a “victory lap” after their GOP colleagues are facing major new issues with their so-called “one, big, beautiful, bill,” according to a Politico report.

Citing an internal memo, the Senate's parliamentarian advised that some of the GOP budget cuts wouldn’t be able to pass along party lines.

The Senate parliamentarian is Elizabeth MacDonough. Her job is to interpret the rules for the Senate. MacDonough has held this role since 2012.

She raised a flag to some of the changes the GOP proposed, including “hold down Medicaid costs by cracking down on a state provider tax,” Politico said.

“The Senate Parliamentarian is not elected. She is not accountable to the American people,” Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) posted on X. “Yet she holds veto power over legislation supported by millions of voters.”

The GOP now has to “rewrite major sections of their Finance bill or potentially leave out key policies,” the outlet said.

“Democrats fought and won, striking healthcare cuts from this bill that would hurt Americans walking on an economic tightrope,” said Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) in a statement to Politico.

The outlet said, “The ruling comes at a critical time for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other GOP leaders, who are already facing a revolt inside their conference from members wary of the practical and political impacts of the Medicaid changes.:

Politico later added, “Democrats took a victory lap after the ruling,” because it created a $250 billion hole in the GOP’s proposed savings.

Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was planning on holding the first vote for the bill on Friday. But even with the setback, one unnamed politico source said the parliamentarian’s decision is “not as fatal as Dems are portraying it to be” and that “Friday still not off the table.”

'You do need to listen': CNN host spars with GOP congressman over Iran reports

CNN anchor Kate Bolduan slapped down Congressman Mike Turner’s (R-OH) accusations that the outlet did not provide accurate information on the bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility in a live TV interview Thursday morning.

“Real quick,” the anchor said, “The ayatollah did issue his first statement since the Iran-Israel ceasefire went into effect and said quite a bit, said quite a bit, saying that victory over a fake Zionist regime in Israel, but also said as part of this, the Americans did not gain anything in this war.”

Bolduan asked, “What do you make of a statement like that from the ayatollah?”

“I think that's what's really unfortunate about the last couple of days of reporting,” Turner said, deflecting to answer the question. “Where the, you know, the leaked report was given weight. That is just not, you know, valid for the speculation that was coming from it because the where it was promoted as if it was even accurate or, you know, a true assessment of Iranian capabilities and a failure on the, on the part of this military action because it really bolsters the ayatollah."

The congressman later added, “You know, clearly he has been diminished. His regime has been diminished significantly. It is time now for Iran to move forward as a diminished regime, where the opportunity for peace is here, and it should take that opportunity.”

Bolduan then defended the network's reporting. “We've got to go... amd we are going to move past this because I'm going to reiterate one more time, as we as I did throughout the last hour, congressman, what we heard from Hegseth and what you what you were implying about CNN’s coverage of the DIA assessment, what we heard in the outrage over it is confirming what CNN reported from the beginning.”

“Though it might not be reporting that you enjoy or that the administration enjoys. I listed it out specifically, reading from parts of CNN's reporting.” She went on to say, “We reported that sources said the judgments were of low confidence that it was not coordinated with the wider intelligence community. I could go on and read it, but I already did that once in the last hour.”

“You can characterize it that way,” the congressman snaked.

“I'm not characterizing it–,” Bolduan attempted to reply before the two began speaking over each other.

After a brief, heated interaction, Bolduan regained control of the situation. “Congressman. I'm reporting exactly what our reporting was online and on air throughout this. You can hear part of it and not like it, but you do need to listen to all of it too.”

Watch below or click here.

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CNN anchor defends outlet's reporting after 'outrageous' Pete Hegseth comments

CNN Anchor Kate Bolduan not only defended her network but also railed against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s claim that the network's reporting was “inaccurate.”

Her remarks came at the end of Hegseth’s briefing on the bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility.

“First and foremost, there was some new detail offered on the mission, on the cruise that pulled off this mission,” Bolduan said. “It's great to get some more information on that, but at the same time, we do need to make clear that despite the emotional speech and outrage from the defense secretary, what he said about the DIA assessment is what CNN reported on."

She added, “His issue, that he took about it being preliminary, about it being low confidence. CNN reported on all of this. I was looking back just to make sure that we had it all throughout the reporting process."

The anchor continued to defend the outlet’s integrity. “CNN had reported that it is preliminary and, of course, can be updated, including these two parts. It is still early. We reported in our initial report for the U.S. to have a comprehensive picture of the impact of the strikes.”

“None of the sources described how the DIA assessment compares to the views of other agencies in the intelligence community,” Bolduan said. “The U.S. is continuing to pick up intelligence, including from within Iran, as they assess the damage.”

“Also,” She went on, “in CNN reporting, [the secretary] took real issue and seemed very upset about it not being stated that this was there was low confidence stated in this assessment. It's also in CNN reporting, including this, that the final U.S. military battle damage assessment by the DIA could take days or even weeks to complete, multiple sources familiar with the Pentagon's process told CNN.”

“And now a lot of the questions that still remain,” she said. “Honest, questions that everyone in that room should be asked, that he had been berating the honest questions about any U.S. military operation. Those do continue.”

Watch the full segment below or click the link.

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'I think I explained': Pete Hegseth cuts off 'difficult to manage' reporter

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got fiery with reporters after one asked a follow-up question bout the bombs dropped on an Iranian nuclear facility.

“I mean, what changed in the past three days that makes you —” the reporter asked before he was cut off by Hegseth.

“I think I explained what changed,” Hegseth raged, “There was a great deal of irresponsible reporting based on leaks, preliminary information in low confidence.”

Hegseth added, “Again, when someone leaks something, they do it with an agenda and when you leak a portion of an intelligence assessment, but just a little portion, just a little portion that makes it seem like maybe the strike wasn't effective, then you start a news cycle, whether it's the Washington Post or Fox News or CNN or MSNBC, you start a news cycle that starts to call into question the efficacy.”

He went on to ramble and rage about the accuracy of reporting on this bombing.

When the reporter went to ask a follow-up question, Hegseth replied, “See this is a point—” he stopped himself and changed gears. “This is how difficult it is to actually manage [the media].”

Hegseth went on to say, “You just watched a video of what this weapon is capable of. That's where we find our confidence and the skill of men and women and the capability of the systems.” He added, “Anyone with two eyes, two ears, and a brain could see the damage that's been done."

Watch below or click here.

'Nightmare': Trump's new move said to put us close to 'unimaginable catastrophe'

President Donald Trump has put the world one step closer to the “unimaginable catastrophe” with his actions against Iran, according to Newsweek columnist David Faris.

“President Donald Trump's reckless and illegal strikes on Iranian nuclear sites now threaten to blow up [80 years worth of work through the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)],” Farris said.

Faris, who is an Associate Professor at Roosevelt University, added, “Trump's aggression is more likely to lead to what scholars call a ‘proliferation cascade’ than it is to stop Tehran's nuclear program.”

Breaking down the NPT, he said there are two components. One, don't build nuclear weapons. Two, work toward an “abolition“ of nuclear weapons.

Faris noted the second piece to the treaty is “much less discussed, component required the five signatories already in possession of nuclear weapons at the time the treaty was signed (the U.S., USSR, U.K., France, and China).”

Today, there are nine nuclear-armed countries, and the professor notes they all “have basically abandoned” the “abolition” part of the treaty.

Although these nine countries hold nuclear arms, former National Security Council staffer Jon Wolfsthal believes there are “40 additional states that are technically advanced enough to build nuclear weapons if they chose to do so."

Faris believes “Because the nuclear-armed countries have now gone decades without serious disarmament efforts, that trust [to abolish the weapon] was already wobbly.”

Now, Faris said, Trump’s bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility “has basically just destroyed [that trust].”

“A world with a growing number of nuclear powers is less safe and more prone to almost unimaginable catastrophe.” The professor later added, “That has been the driving principle of America's successful nuclear policy for decades, and with one capricious order, President Trump has inadvertently made the nightmare of a proliferation cascade much more likely.”

Trump poised to 'make matters worse' for 73M Americans: analysis

President Donald Trump is about to make matters worse for the 73 million Americans who are on Social Security, according to MSNBC Opinion Editor James Downie.

His remarks come after the Social Security Board of Trustees announced the program will run out of money in 2034.

“Soon enough, Social Security will face a funding crisis — and President Donald Trump’s approach will only make matters worse,” Downie said.

According to reports, Social Security's finances were last "overhauled" in 1983. That's also when the program started to send out more than it took in.

To circumvent overspending, Social Security began taking money out of its savings, aka its two trust funds, “One for disability benefits and a much larger one for retiree and survivor benefits,” Downie said.

This money has allowed 73 million Americans to receive their full benefits since 1983. When the program runs out of money, those checks will become a lot smaller.

“What has the president done about this?” Downie rhetorically asked. “Trump has plunged ahead with policy proposals that, as I wrote last fall, risk moving the depletion date closer.”

Downie then raged at the GOP for their thoughts on fixing the program. “When Trump and his allies do talk about Social Security, they say they’re going after ‘waste, fraud and abuse.’”

“If ‘waste, fraud and abuse’ can’t make ends meet, what do Republicans have to offer?” Downie went on to say, “If you guessed ‘cuts,’ you’re right. Last spring, then-candidate Trump told CNBC, 'there is a lot you can do' to cut Social Security.'”

It’s a move 79% of Americans do not like.

“Social Security won’t go bankrupt, but its funding shortfall is approaching in much the same fashion.” Downie said, “And unless Trump acts with uncharacteristic sanity, the next president and the accompanying Congresses will have to clean up the mess he helped make.”

'Cheating again!' Trump lobs attacks at two 'bad and sick' media outlets

The New York Times and CNN are still catching President Donald Trump’s ire, as he raged at both news outlets on Truth Social.

“We just caught the Failing New York Times, working with Fake News CNN, cheating again!” Trump erupted. “They tried to demean the great work our B-2 pilots did, and they were wrong in doing so.”

He went on to rage, “These reporters are just BAD AND SICK PEOPLE. You would think they would be proud of the great success we had, instead of trying to always make our Country look bad. TOTAL OBLITERATION!”

The post comes after Trump railed against the two outlets during a press conference with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof.

“As you know, it was complete total destruction, and CNN turned out to be fake news as always. That's why they have no credibility,” Trump raged Wednesday morning. “That's why they have no viewers, but we're going to read it to you if you haven't seen it.”

He also called out CNN for being 'fake news' during a Q&A session at the Hague.

Chuck Grassley handcuffs Democrats from questioning Trump's court appointee

At the start of the confirmation hearing of Emil Bove to the Third Circuit Court, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) invented a new rule that restricted the questions and answers from Bove, claiming that it fell under a "deliberative process privilege."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took issue with the rule he outlined in the opening statement, saying that never has such a restriction been invoked for a witness before their committee.

"Before my time begins," Whitehouse said, "I would like to make a point of order. You indicated in your opening remarks that the committee be constrained by the deliberative process privilege and by the attorney-client privilege in the examination of this witness. My understanding is that Congress has never accepted the constitutional validity of either such privilege."

Whitehouse added he "does not intend to follow that direction" because he does not feel it was correct.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) also raised the concern with Grassley.

"This witness has no right to invoke that privilege. It's a privilege that belongs to the government of the United States," said Blumenthal. He remarked that the deputy attorney general was behind Bove and said that the deputy AG had not invoked privilege on behalf of the United States."

The Connecticut senator also added that Bove was irregularly invoking the privilege. "We've never accepted that tactic on the part of a witness," said Blumenthal. "This kind of selective revoking of a privilege smacks of evasion and defiance and reflects on us as a committee if we accept it in this context."

Legal analysts across Bluesky noted the controversy.

"Both Senators Blumenthal and Whitehouse make a point of order that deliberative process and attorney-client privileges don't apply in judicial nominee hearings. Whitehouse points out that Bove is using the privileges selectively, and doesn't even have the right to invoke it," Allison Gill said.

You can watch both remarks here or click here.

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Trump's exposing his 'vulnerabilities' with his 'wild' moves: analysis

President Donald Trump is exposing his vulnerabilities through his social media posts and live TV remarks, according to New York Times White House correspondent Tyler Pager.

“Most presidents deal with international crises in private — at most, they might release a carefully crafted statement. That has never been Mr. Trump’s style,” Pager said. “With this president, the entire world gets a view into his thoughts, gripes, and whims in ways that are often reminiscent of a chronically online millennial.”

The correspondent, who was reporting from the NATO summit, noted how the posts come “at all hours” and offer a “window into his psyche, a trove of insight into the intentions, moods, and vulnerabilities of the commander in chief.”

While the administration touts this window as making Trump “the most transparent and accessible president in American history,” Pager believes it causes several “complications.”

“He can inadvertently set off diplomatic crises, leave aides and allies out of step with his messages and, as was the case with his open musing over the past two weeks about bombing Iran, make his posts and public statements a threat to operational security,” Pager warned.

The correspondent then railed against several of Trump’s posts, like his warning to Israel: “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION.”

Pager called this a “wild reshaping” of how the White House communicates with the world.

But it’s not just his posts, Pager says, that give the world a look into his “vulnerabilities,” but also the way he appears on TV. Shortly after the Truth Social warning to Israel, Trump “unloaded to reporters on both Israel and Iran” for failing to keep the ceasefire in place.

Trump then “proceeded to post more than two dozen times on social media over the course of his six-hour-and-twenty-minute flight to the Netherlands,” Pager said.

The correspondent added, “Whether impulsive, canny or some combination, his openness has benefits, from rallying his base to keeping opponents off balance to simply dominating public attention.”